Transcript Highlights:

• There's $117 million for local projects and infrastructure. $10 million is for an emergency flood response
• for the Public Works Board, and there's $42 million in other regional and local projects.
• Our community strongly supports the project, and our local delegation stands behind it.
• contractors, and delivering wood to local mills.
• There are some remaining local bond funds to keep momentum moving, Our project is scalable.

Bills: SB6003, HB2353, HB2431, HB1983

Keywords: capital budget, funding, infrastructure, state projects, budget allocation, HB 2353, predesign thresholds, capital construction, major capital projects, Office of Financial Management, OFM, Washington state, state agencies, infrastructure planning, construction costs, inflation adjustment, capital facilities, project review, allotments, lease approval

Summary: The committee heard a lengthy public hearing on the proposed Senate capital budget, Substitute Senate Bill 6003, followed by testimony on several other capital-related bills. Staff summarized the Senate capital proposal as using debt-limit bonds, CCA funds, and other cash resources for housing and homelessness, human services, local infrastructure, flood response, water conservation, clean energy, K-12 school modernization, and higher education projects. Senators and testifiers repeatedly contrasted the Senate proposal with the House version, especially on housing, permanent supportive housing, the Housing Trust Fund, and CCA-funded climate and water projects. Public testimony on the capital budget largely focused on project-specific requests or support. Housing and human services speakers urged more funding for affordable homeownership, the Housing Trust Fund, permanent supportive housing, weatherization, and preservation of manufactured housing communities. Other testifiers asked to preserve or add funding for projects including the Quinault Indian Nation courthouse relocation, food bank facilities, the Tubman Center for Health and Freedom, the Yakima Behavioral Health Hub sobering center, Ashley House, Housing Hope’s Alliance Place, the Washington State Health Home Program, the MAPS Youth Center, the American Indian Community Center’s Forever Home, the Congolese Integration Network’s welcoming and healing center, the Seattle Chinese Garden, and several tribal, community, and health-related facilities. K-12 and higher education speakers supported small district modernization, school seismic safety, Healthy Kids Healthy Schools, WSU minor works, Western Washington University minor works, and Cascadia College’s building project. Natural resources testimony centered on floodplain restoration, community forests, tribal land return, forest riparian easements, irrigation, dairy digesters, and waste tire cleanup. Speakers urged matching House funding for Floodplains by Design, the Community Forest Program, and trust land transfer, while others supported CCA-backed clean energy and climate resilience investments. In the final public testimony segment, local government and community representatives asked for support for public works assistance, a Snoqualmie Valley Food Bank facility, a Toppenish playground replacement, a Soxwattle recreation/emergency center, and the Seattle Chinese Garden. Committee members noted amendments were due the next day at noon. The committee then took public testimony on Engrossed Second Substitute House Bill 2251, which would reorganize CCA accounts into operating and capital accounts, adjust revenue distributions and allowable uses, expand tribal and overburdened-community reporting and consultation provisions, and change reporting frequency. Proponents said the bill better aligns CCA spending with climate, resilience, and equity goals, while critics argued it still lacks strong effectiveness requirements and weakens reporting. The committee also heard House Bill 2353 on raising the pre-design threshold for state capital projects from $10 million to $15 million with inflation indexing, Substitute House Bill 2133 making a senior center property tax exemption permanent, Substitute House Bill 2714 requiring caseload forecasts for SNAP and state food assistance, House Bill 2431 expanding fundraising days for nonprofit public assembly halls, and House Bill 1983 adjusting real estate excise tax treatment for timberland sold to governmental entities. Testimony on these bills was generally supportive, with some questions about the pre-design waiver process and the fiscal and policy effects of the tax and forecasting changes.

Transcript Highlights:

• certain measures to replace references to the term 'alien' with the term 'non-citizen' in state and local
• The amendment requires all state and local government statutes, codes, rules, regulations, and other
• use the term 'extraterrestrial' when referring to life forms from other planets, and urges state and local
• So I appreciated your focusing on data collection and using that position to ask the agencies to start
• So I'm encouraged that things will be going well in the agency and would like to give you the benefit

Bills: HB1759, HB2417, HB2632, HB2249, HB2574, HB2309, HB2235, SGA9066, SGA9246, SGA9268, SGA9267

Keywords: designation, commemoration, December 12, local observance, cultural significance, military justice, victims' rights, militia, Washington code, legal protections, citizenship, immigration, terminology, rights, legal status, HB 2249, Washington Technology Solutions, WaTech, civil service, classified service

Summary: The State Government, Tribal Affairs & Elections Committee met on February 24, 2026, for its final regular meeting of the session. The committee first re-briefed a large slate of bills and gubernatorial appointments, then recessed briefly before returning to executive session. Members also noted that two bills, House Bills 2574 and 2637, would not be moved that day. The committee unanimously recommended confirmation of four gubernatorial appointments: Megan Matthews (9066), Reedy Mukapade (9246), Kiana Daniels (9268), and Gauri Shratria (9267). During discussion on Matthews’ appointment, senators raised issues of inclusivity, data disaggregation, and outreach to diverse communities, while several members praised her engagement with contractors and communities across the state. The committee advanced numerous bills, generally on unanimous votes, with several striking amendments adopted. Those included changes to the Washington Voting Rights Act bills (HB 1710, HB 1750, HB 1916, and HB 2123), voter registration challenge procedures, and election-related language. Other bills moved forward addressed military justice victim rights (HB 2417), replacing “alien” with “non-citizen” in state and local law (HB 2632, with the amendment withdrawn), shared leave for employees affected by hate crimes or immigration enforcement (HB 2411), civil service coverage for certain Washington Technology Solutions employees (HB 2249), language-accessible public services (HB 2475), higher small works roster limits (HB 2420), removing postgraduate degree requirements as the sole qualification standard (HB 2309), public records exemptions for firearm-related records (HB 2235), and privacy protections for personal information in agency records (HB 2637, not moved). The chair closed by thanking staff and adjourned the committee’s last meeting of the session.

Transcript Highlights:

• I appreciate our local newspapers.
• There are 16 steps to open a restaurant, 16 fees, 9 agencies involved, and 5 minimum activities.
• To open a food truck, there are 6 agencies involved.
• Well, when you start dealing with a bunch of state agencies and local governments that want to make sure
• agencies to issue certain licenses or permits, excluding occupational licenses.

Bills: SB36, SB39, SB40, SB12, SB29, SB121, SB131, SB12

Keywords: competitive bidding, procurement, disclosure statements, state contracts, contract protest, board governance, occupational licensing, Sunset Law, public accountability, training requirements, SB40, Houston/Hunter Act, firearm hold agreement, gun storage, temporary firearm storage, firearms dealer, federal firearms licensee, FFL, civil immunity, gun owner

Transcript Highlights:

• Agency decisions related to.
• . ...Education Agency.
• General and the local district attorney.
• Involving an agency, it's common practice to involve that agency.
• To prosecute it, but they're the lead now, could they force a local authority, a local DA to prosecute

Bills: HB8, HB12, SB 3, HJR1, SB 11, SB 16, SB 14, HB 8, HB 12, SB 3, HJR 1, SB 11, SB 16, SB 14

Keywords: HB 8, Texas public school accountability, school accountability, public school transparency, STAAR, state assessments, instructionally supportive assessment program, Student Success Tool, Texas Education Agency, TEA, accountability ratings, A-F ratings, through-year assessment, benchmark testing, norm-referenced assessment, college career military readiness, CCMR, local accountability plan, school district performance, campus turnaround

Bills: SB 324, SB 1978, SB 2139, SB 2401, SB 2587, SB 2610, SB 2858, SB 3016

Keywords: E-verify, employment verification, state contracts, immigration, labor compliance, Sunset Review, government accountability, Texas Lottery Commission, Texas Department of Criminal Justice, Texas Ethics Commission, government agencies, regulatory review

Transcript Highlights:

• Local accountability will be lost.
• Local likely be an impact of that.
• Committing state and local short term.
• </c> local impact note for this? local impact note for this?
• </c> with our local units of government. with our local units of government.

Bills: HF3422, HF3461, HF2904

Keywords: state grants, grant oversight, grants management, executive agencies, Minnesota Department of Administration, commissioner of administration, fraud prevention, waste prevention, grant monitoring, financial reconciliation, grant compliance, state government, public funds, grant recipients, competitive grants, grant administration, administrative oversight, monitoring visits, grant policy, legislative leave

Bills: HB139, HB172, HB156

Keywords: HB139, Alabama discrimination, civil rights, public accommodations, employment discrimination, equal access, protected classes, race discrimination, sex discrimination, religious discrimination, age discrimination, disability discrimination, national origin discrimination, school board discrimination, labor organization, employment agency, retaliation, private right of action, punitive damages, attorney fees

Transcript Highlights:

• During this hearing, we will hear from representative of state agencies, local governments, associations
• Does the local board, what did you call it, the local buying cooperative?
• At that point, the agency has to estimate the rule's impact to state and government cost. and local government
• I listed all the steps at an agency, all the analyses at an agency. has to do.
• They're not really compiled by agency, so you can't search directly by agency.

Bills: HB10, HB 12, HB675, HB10, HB12

Keywords: regulatory reform, government efficiency, administrative law, rulemaking, agency deference, judicial review, de novo review, Texas Government Code, Administrative Procedure Act, state agencies, plain language, regulatory burden, regulatory reduction, cost-benefit analysis, fiscal note, public benefits and costs, contested case, rule challenge, Texas Regulatory Efficiency Office, advisory panel

Transcript Highlights:

• One, it requires that agencies have specific and explicit authority for every agency rule that they propose
• Two, it requires that all agencies inventory all existing rules within the next three years so that all
• One, it requires that agencies have specific and explicit authority for every agency rule that they propose
• Two, it requires that all agencies inventory all existing rules within the next three years so that all
• If you've got one issue that you run across, get with the agency, contact them, let me know that you're

Bills: SJR49, HB3281, HB4319, HJR1086

Keywords: wildlife, conservation, Oklahoma, regulations, permanent rules, administrative procedures, guidance documents, transparency, public inspection, rulemaking, rulemaking authority, specific authority, legislative review, agency rules, judicial rules, public safety, state agencies, legislative approval

Summary: The committee first considered Senate Joint Resolution 49, as amended, which revokes an Oklahoma Wildlife Department rule requiring oil and gas companies to post a surety bond. Senator Murdoch explained that the change was intended to eliminate what he described as duplicate regulation, since the Corporation Commission already requires security bonds, and said the Wildlife Department had agreed to the revision. Senator Merritt’s amendment narrowing the resolution to the surety bond provision was adopted by voice vote, and the resolution then passed 6-0. The committee then heard House Bill 3281, described by Senator Bergstrom as the same measure previously passed as Senate Bill 1433, the Guidance Transparency Act. It was advanced without questions or debate and passed 6-0. House Bill 4319 followed, requiring agencies to have explicit statutory authority for each rule and to inventory existing rules within three years so noncompliant rules would be automatically repealed by January 1, 2030; it passed 7-0 after a due-pass motion. Finally, House Joint Resolution 1086 was approved, which ratifies rules from the Board of Tests for Alcohol and Drug Influence, the Attorney General, the Department of Public Safety, the State Fire Marshal Commission, and the State Board of Licensed Social Workers. Senator Bergstrom said committee concerns had already been addressed in prior hearings, and the resolution passed 7-0. The chair then announced a meeting for the following Wednesday at 11:30, urged members to continue reviewing rules and raising concerns promptly, and adjourned the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• The agency operates four clinics in South Texas and one mobile health unit.
• Just in terms of the relationship with the Texas Education Agency.
• No, they uh, the agency doesn't have a contractual relationship with the vendors.
• That same commitment is reflected in how we operate at our local military base.
• It also requires the agency to include its economic benefit in its yearly reports, and the agency already

Bills: SB623, SB1266, SB1310, SB1373, SB1580, SB1952, SB2032, SB2269, SB2544, SB2653, SB2796

Keywords: pharmacist, vaccine administration, COVID-19, exclusive authority, healthcare, Medicaid, provider enrollment, credentialing, administrative burden, Texas Health and Human Services, senior retirement communities, emergency response, residential safety, contract provisions, health and safety regulations, medical staff privileges, hospital administration, healthcare regulation, Texas Health and Safety Code, consistency in privileges

Transcript Highlights:

• House Bill 4319 Primarily does two things: one, it requires that agencies have specific and explicit
• authority for every agency rule that they propose.
• Two, it requires that all agencies inventory all existing rules within the next three years.
• Committee members on these rules after these agencies responded to initial questions both in the House
• If you got one issue that you run across, get with the agency, contact them, let me know that you're

Bills: SJR49, HB3281, HB4319, HJR1086

Keywords: wildlife, conservation, Oklahoma, regulations, permanent rules, administrative procedures, guidance documents, transparency, public inspection, rulemaking, rulemaking authority, specific authority, legislative review, agency rules, judicial rules, public safety, state agencies, legislative approval, 914, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I know the agency and stakeholders are working to improve that automatic enrollment process, um, but
• The bill also removes any agency for these children, abused queer children, to be clear, to speak out

Bills: HB 2646, HB 3941, HB 5153, HB 5155, HB 5394, HB 1106, HB 426, HB 4529, HB 3984, HB 4273, HB 1097, HB 3940, HB 1941, HB 4377, HB 3153

Keywords: child care, task force, high-quality care, affordability, prekindergarten partnerships, foster care, transitional living, Medicaid reform, youth assistance, independent living, services for youth, employment training, educational support, mental health services, health care, public health, child health program, reimbursement, local health entities, maternal health

Transcript Highlights:

• to state agencies.
• I'm here today to speak to you about House Bill 3512, which would state agencies, local government employees
• For state agencies and local government employees, any individual that uses a computer for 25% or more
• with the program and then with all these different agencies and like local governments utilizing and
• , it's a local factor.

Bills: HB512, HB2248, HB2679, HB2832, HB3112, HB3368, HB3490, HB3512, HB3623, HB3666, HB3700, HB3711, HB3770, HB3963

Keywords: grievance procedures, state agency, employee rights, workplace regulations, employment law, employees, employment actions, appeal, state employees, workplace rights, disciplinary actions, employment conditions, employment disputes, job protections, public information, transparency, government accountability, information access, notification requirements, federal funding

Transcript Highlights:

• that fall within these agencies.
• Look, our agencies and commissions should be lean, active.
• Yes, are there any employees in this agency?
• communities. local entity, governments.
• This has happened repeatedly, again, not with all agencies.

Bills: HB 111, HB1545, HB2145, HB2467, HB2520, HB4136, HB4181, HB4214, HB4218, HB4219, HB4359, HB4437, HB4822, HB111

Keywords: Texas Public Information Act, open records, public records, government transparency, confidentiality, attorney-client privilege, governmental body, Chapter 552, public information law, nonprofit association, quasi-governmental entity, economic development, trade secrets, proprietary information, commercial financial information, Alamo restoration, local workforce board, TDCJ contract facility, civil commitment facility, water supply corporation

Transcript Highlights:

• We're working with all the agencies to try to figure out what it would cost each of the agencies to participate
• We got some very good, positive feedback from the agencies.
• I think the ratings agencies generally... View those favorably.
• I don't think our agencies are doing anything wrong.
• Do you see the Comptroller's Office as a credit card agency at that point?

Bills: HB246, HB796, HB 1056, HB1544, HB1846, HB2001, HB2618, HB2625, HB2869, HB2898, HB3069, HB3114, HB3157, HB3228, HJR98, HB246

Keywords: federal directives, state authority, Tenth Amendment, government enforcement, local governance, gold standard, legal tender, currency, transactional currency, financial transactions, electronic payment systems, state finance, regulatory compliance, electric trucks, charging infrastructure, advisory council, transportation, sustainability, criminal penalties, official information

Transcript Highlights:

• Current law allows local authorities to regulate sound through permitting systems, fees, and local ordinances
• Local control in that fact pattern, would it?
• So as far as local...
• Then the local ordinance would be null and void. Is that correct?
• You're trying to preempt local control.

Bills: HB246, HB796, HB 1056, HB1544, HB1846, HB2001, HB2618, HB2625, HB2869, HB2898, HB3069, HB3114, HB3157, HB3228, HJR98, HB246

Keywords: federal directives, state authority, Tenth Amendment, government enforcement, local governance, gold standard, legal tender, currency, transactional currency, financial transactions, electronic payment systems, state finance, regulatory compliance, electric trucks, charging infrastructure, advisory council, transportation, sustainability, criminal penalties, official information

Transcript Highlights:

• Regarding that, you said separate agency, but this is not a separate agency under this bill.
• One would be a separate agency.
• I think it is a separate agency. It reports to the governor. It's kind of a separate agency.
• Currently under the Government Code, when state agencies or local governments experience a digital security
• Currently under the government code, when state agencies or local governments experience a digital security

Bills: HB146, HB150, HB1500, HB1545, HB1562, HB2067, HB2520, HB2818, HB3214, HB3250, HB3466, HB3512, HB3623, HB4063, HB4395, HB4464, HB4668, HB4690, HB5331, HB3833

Keywords: HB 146, Texas Capitol, State Capitol, State Preservation Board, Congress Avenue, Travis County, traffic lanes, lane closure, road closure, municipal authority, local control, Capitol area, downtown Austin, special events, construction traffic plan, pedestrian safety, public works, transportation policy, government code chapter 443, cybersecurity

Summary: The committee took up several pending business items and reported a series of House bills out of committee, including HB 2467, HB 2468, HB 2518, HB 4310, HB 4386, HB 4490, HB 5323, and HB 149. Most of these were advanced on committee substitute motions and sent to the local and uncontested calendar or reported favorably to the full Senate. HB 2467 drew one nay vote, while the others were approved without opposition. HB 4310 and HB 4386 were described as committee-substitute versions with changes narrowing disclosure requirements and preserving attorney-client privilege in certain circumstances. A major portion of the meeting focused on HB 149, an AI governance bill. The substitute was explained as addressing biometric identifier capture and storage, exempting certain AI uses for security and fraud prevention, clarifying definitions, restricting AI systems that simulate explicit child sexual content, adjusting Attorney General investigative authority, refining sandbox program waivers, reducing Texas AI Council powers and membership, and adding DIR coordination provisions. The committee adopted the substitute and reported the bill favorably. The committee then heard extensive testimony on HB 1500, the DIR sunset bill. The author said the bill would continue DIR for 12 years, restructure its board, update advisory committees, require regular cybersecurity assessments and penetration testing for state agencies, improve IT procurement training, and transfer the e-grants program to the Comptroller. A Texas 2036 witness supported the bill as a way to strengthen governance, procurement, and cybersecurity. Members asked detailed questions about the bill’s structure and then left HB 1500 pending. The committee also heard a lengthy presentation on HB 150, which would create the Texas Cyber Command as a component of the University of Texas System, administratively attached to UTSA and located in San Antonio. The author argued the command would centralize cyber threat intelligence, incident response, and digital forensics, and would be able to support state and local entities, with optional services for local governments. Members raised concerns about university mission drift, governance, security, chain of command, procurement authority, gifts and donations, and civil liberties implications of proactive cyber monitoring. Witnesses from UTSA/NSCC and SecurityScorecard testified in support, emphasizing the security of the downtown San Antonio facility, the existing cyber ecosystem there, and the need for a dedicated cyber capability. The bill remained under discussion with no final committee action announced in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• I have you as Cole Weaver, representing CWAC. local 6154 and self and for the bill.
• Local 6154, understand the peer support provider role.
• Local 6154 and I respectfully urge this committee to support HB 999.
• So the 6,888 complaints were brought to us, we PIR-ed the Texas Education Agency.
• Conversations with the agency this just helps so apparent. It's art.

Bills: HB2646, HB3941, HB5153, HB5155, HB5394, HB 1106, HB426, HB4529, HB3984, HB4273, HB 1097, HB3940, HB1941, HB4377, HB3153

Keywords: child care, task force, high-quality care, affordability, prekindergarten partnerships, foster care, transitional living, Medicaid reform, youth assistance, independent living, services for youth, employment training, educational support, mental health services, health care, public health, child health program, reimbursement, local health entities, maternal health

Transcript Highlights:

• I know the agency and stakeholders are working to improve that automatic enrollment process, but this

Bills: HB2646, HB3941, HB5153, HB5155, HB5394, HB 1106, HB426, HB4529, HB3984, HB4273, HB 1097, HB3940, HB1941, HB4377, HB3153

Keywords: child care, task force, high-quality care, affordability, prekindergarten partnerships, foster care, transitional living, Medicaid reform, youth assistance, independent living, services for youth, employment training, educational support, mental health services, health care, public health, child health program, reimbursement, local health entities, maternal health

Transcript Highlights:

• Chairman, members, Senate Bill 1520 requires the state and its agencies to share any data requested by
• The bill requires the state and its agencies to share any data requested by the federal government regarding
• I would have to check with our agencies. Mr.
• to AZ POST estimates of 14,600 peace officers in the state, the vast majority of those being from local
• And frankly, whenever they have to hire a lawyer to deal with the state or a local government entity

Bills: SB1216, SB1391, SB1493, SB1520

Keywords: trauma, public safety, counseling, mental health, employee benefits, law enforcement, stress management, suicide prevention, workforce readiness, disciplinary action, appeals, termination, superior court, investigative process, reinstatement, immigration, data sharing, federal government, undocumented immigrants, visa overstays