Transcript Highlights:

• and limited independent school district property tax levy growth to 2.5%.
• And for school taxes, now, there was a major change.
• And for school taxes, now, there was a major change.
• Because like the schools, we have looked at what we want to invest...
• Of course, school districts have an approximately 2.5% limitation.

Bills: SB9

Committee: Senate Local Government

Keywords: property tax, ad valorem tax, voter-approval tax rate, no-new-revenue tax rate, tax rate calculation, Tax Code, local government finance, municipality, county, special taxing unit, sales and use tax, property tax cap, tax rollback, tax levy, maintenance and operations, debt rate, disaster relief rate, Texas Legislature, local taxing unit

Summary: The Senate Committee on Local Government met to hear Senate Bill 9, which would lower the voter-approval tax rate for certain local taxing units from 3.5% to 2.5%. Sen. Bettencourt, the bill author, argued the change would continue the state’s property tax reforms begun in 2019, slow local levy growth, and give voters more say over larger tax increases. He and supporters cited data showing property tax levies have grown faster than population plus inflation, and said the bill would help protect taxpayers while preserving the state’s broader investments in school tax relief, water, rural law enforcement, and ambulance funding. Supporters included the Texas Taxpayers and Research Association, the Texas Association of Business, the Texas Public Policy Foundation, and the Texas Association of Manufacturers. They said the bill would improve transparency, encourage more disciplined budgeting, and create certainty for homeowners and businesses. They argued that lower tax-rate growth would help attract and retain employers and investment, and that voters would still be able to approve higher rates when needed. Local officials and other opponents said the bill would constrain cities and counties facing rapid growth, inflation, infrastructure needs, and public safety costs. Testimony from county judges, city finance officials, firefighters, and urban county representatives emphasized pressures from jail operations, roads, water, EMS, police and fire staffing, and unfunded mandates. Several witnesses asked for carve-outs or exemptions for public safety and disaster-related costs, warning that a one-size-fits-all cap could force service cuts or shift costs elsewhere. The committee heard extensive questioning but no final vote or disposition on the bill was taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• Would this language create a clean title or would this still recognize to a purchaser that there has
• </c><00:48:21.200><c> that</c><00:48:21.440><c> there</c> rec recognize to a purchaser that there rec
• recognize to a purchaser that there has<00:48:21.839><c> been</c><00:48:22.000><c> damage</c><00:48:
• So this will allow, if myself as an individual wanted to repair, we can purchase that car back, have
• </c> the dealer or purchaser. the dealer or purchaser. &gt;&gt; Uhhuh. &gt;&gt; Uhhuh.

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The Interim Joint Committee on Transportation approved the minutes from its September 16 meeting and then heard a presentation from Jason Sawala, deputy state highway engineer with the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, on rest areas and truck parking. He described Kentucky’s system of eight welcome centers, 14 rest areas, and four truck havens, and said the Cabinet spent just over $12 million in fiscal year 2025 to operate and maintain those facilities. He also explained that the Cabinet’s truck parking study found truck parking demand has increased 24% since 2012, driven by just-in-time delivery, stricter hours-of-service and electronic logging requirements, and fewer drivers. Sawala said the study looked not only at Cabinet-owned facilities but also private truck stops and lots, and identified unmet parking demand across the state, especially at 1:00 a.m. He noted that 11 sites, mostly existing rest areas, weigh stations, or welcome centers, were identified as promising expansion locations, with estimated project costs in the $30 million to $36 million range in 2022 dollars. He said the Cabinet is working on design and project development for those sites and is seeking federal funding opportunities where available. Members raised concerns about safety, congestion, and trucks parking on ramps or in residential areas, and several asked about funding, charging for parking, and whether autonomous vehicles might reduce future demand. Sawala said the 820 public rest-area spaces are marked spaces only, that he was not aware of any state charging for public truck parking, and that federal programs can help fund some expansions. He also said he was not aware of local-government parking programs offhand but would look into it. Members generally emphasized the importance of truck parking for safety, commerce, and avoiding burdens on local communities.

Transcript Highlights:

• Class 2 right now is saturated, which means basically that there are no Class 2 RECs being purchased
• purchased by the utilities. utilities. utilities.
• </c> purchase class two certificates. purchase class two certificates.
• </c><00:05:20.479><c> alternative</c> to make to purchase alternative to make to purchase alternative
• </c> operation. um they were able to purchase operation. um they were able to purchase um<01:00:10.720

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee first took up House Bill 219, which would revise the renewable portfolio standard by changing several class definitions, eliminating Class 2, lowering the utility obligation for Class 1 thermal renewable energy certificates from 2.2% to 1.7%, and adjusting alternative compliance payments. Representative Vose said the bill would save ratepayers an estimated $5.7 million annually, arguing that Class 2 is already saturated and that the changes would not materially affect renewable energy development. Members questioned the fiscal impact, with an amended fiscal note cited as showing a $1.2 million reduction in general fund revenue, and some members raised concerns that the bill could weaken one of the remaining incentives for renewable investment. The committee also reviewed the bill’s history, including that it had been added to HB 2 and then removed in conference committee. No vote was taken in the work session. The committee then heard House Bill 164, concerning local records retention and the creation of a local records manager position. Secretary of State David Scanlan testified that the position has existed in statute for years but has never been funded, and said the need has grown as records management has become more digital and ADA accessibility has become more important. He described the bill as a way to help towns preserve and digitize records, especially for smaller communities with limited resources, while keeping records locally when possible. Members asked about the fiscal note, the potential cost of a public website and storage system, and whether the state could start by funding the position alone; the secretary said the staffing cost estimate remained accurate but that storage costs could rise over time. Several members expressed support and suggested further discussion with the Department of Information or other agencies. The work session was then closed without action. Finally, the committee opened House Bill 365, which would provide proof of U.S. citizenship assistance for indigent voters. Secretary Scanlan said the bill is intended to help voters comply with the new voter registration documentation requirements by allowing the state to verify eligibility through federal, private, and other state databases, and by providing vouchers to cover the cost of obtaining documents such as birth certificates. He compared the proposal to the earlier voter ID law, which he said was successfully implemented with accommodations for voters lacking acceptable ID. Members asked how “indigent” would be defined and how the process would work for out-of-state-born applicants; the secretary said indigency would likely be based on a voter’s statement of inability to pay and that the state would help identify where to obtain records and, if necessary, verify them through outside databases. The discussion continued as the transcript ended, with no vote recorded.

Transcript Highlights:

• What we are doing, though, to the prior speaker, it's about 40% of our high school students don't go
• We're working with the school for adults on their career foundations.
• ,</c><00:53:00.640><c> when</c> vertical act at the high school, when vertical act at the high school
• on their with the school for adults on their career<00:53:09.040><c> foundations.
• Chair recommends to small purchases.

Bills: HB2118 , HB2473

Committee: House Economic Development & Technology

Keywords: business development, arts, cultural affairs, Hawaii, commissions, administrative transfer, funding appropriation, Hawaiian culture, sense of place, land management, environmental stewardship, cultural preservation, 910, house, all

Summary: The committee heard several bills related to permitting and economic development. On HB 2603, relating to permits, the Office of Planning and Sustainable Development said it supported the measure with comments. Committee discussion focused on the fact that the state’s facilitated permit process appears to have been rarely or never used, the need to identify specific projects that would use it, and whether DBEDT would need dedicated staffing to administer it. DBEDT said it had found no projects under the current process, had no capacity to run the program as structured, and estimated it would need about 7 to 9 FTEs, including permitting, coordination, data, systems, and possibly legal support. The chair suggested exploring a staff assignment and comparing the concept to federal FAST-41-style expedited permitting. On HB 2140, relating to essential permitting positions, the Office of Planning and Sustainable Development again supported the bill with comments. Testimony and questioning centered on a pilot program to help counties pay competitively for permitting staff. A DBEDT representative said the issue of competitive pay affected both county and state permitting offices and that the bill was intended as a temporary pilot, though a more permanent solution would be preferable. When asked how counties would fund the salary support, the witness said that was not yet discussed with the counties and agreed to follow up. The committee also noted the bill applies to participating counties. On HB 2598, relating to the Hawaii Technology Development Corporation, the State Procurement Office and HTDC offered comments, and the Department of the Attorney General raised constitutional concerns. The AG said the bill’s residency-based certification requirements, when tied to procurement, could implicate the dormant Commerce Clause, and that the required 1% contribution tied to state contracts raised unconstitutional-conditions concerns. In questioning, the AG characterized these as legal risks rather than automatic lawsuits. The committee did not take a vote. The committee then heard HB 2141, relating to state enterprise zones. Taxation, DBEDT, HCDA, the University of Hawaii Cancer Center, and HTDC testified in support, while the Tax Foundation noted the program was intended to help economically depressed areas create jobs. HTDC said the bill would help preserve the Maui Research and Technology Center’s enterprise-zone status after rezoning. Committee discussion focused on whether the enterprise zone program is being used effectively, how the bill might attract businesses to areas where the state is investing, and whether the program’s labor requirements are too burdensome for new businesses. DBEDT explained that the program requires a 10% workforce increase in the first year, which must be sustained, and said it promotes the program through county coordinators and in-person outreach. No votes or final actions were taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:57:08.960><c> agreements</c> about why power purchase agreements about why power purchase agreements
• allowing power purchase agreements with existing<00:57:27.440><c> facilities.
• It doesn't require anybody to use a PPA to purchase any nuclear energy. It just enables it.
• </c><01:04:04.319><c> It</c><01:04:04.559><c> just</c> purchase any nuclear energy.
• It just purchase any nuclear energy. It just enables<01:04:05.280><c> it.

Committee: House Science, Technology and Energy

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• 00:27:42.960><c> older</c><00:27:43.279><c> to</c><00:27:43.440><c> obtain,</c><00:27:43.919><c> purchase
• ,</c><00:27:44.320><c> transfer,</c> or older to obtain, purchase, transfer, or older to obtain, purchase
• that the release of inform the purchaser that the release of 20<00:43:43.680><c> or</c><00:43:44.000
• that camp, we would see marine purchased that camp, we would see marine patrol<00:51:07.200><c> out<
• purchasing and the number<01:31:20.000><c> of</c><01:31:20.159><c> these</c><01:31:20.560><c> persons

Committee: Senate Judiciary

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This type of supplies, prices on school supplies.
• So we're thinking about school supplies and tax-free.
• The average elementary school student's back-to-school list in Pennsylvania contains 16 to 17 items.
• obligations to fully fund our public schools.
• Others that benefit: look at our school districts.

Summary: The Senate returned from recess and first handled routine calendar matters, laying several bills on the table or over in their order without objection. The chamber then took up Senate Bill 1400, which addresses sentencing for second-degree murder in response to the Pennsylvania Supreme Court’s Commonwealth v. Lee decision. Senator Street offered an amendment to replace mandatory life without parole with parole eligibility after 25 years and individualized review, but the Senate tabled the amendment by a 26-24 roll call. The bill then advanced to final passage after extended debate over whether it adequately met the court’s constitutional ruling and how it would affect victims, culpability, and retroactivity. It initially passed 31-19, then after reconsideration and a correction to one member’s vote, passed 30-20 and was sent to the House. The Senate next considered Senate Bill 1212, which tightens the handling of sexual assault evidence kits by removing discretionary language that had contributed to inconsistent testing practices. Supporters said it would improve statewide consistency, preserve a survivor’s right to decline testing, and help reduce the rape kit backlog. The bill passed unanimously, 50-0, and was sent to the House. The chamber then moved through additional calendar items, including re-referrals of several House bills to Appropriations and multiple bills being passed over. Later, the Senate took up House Bill 1667 on a supplemental calendar after suspending the rules. The bill became the vehicle for several amendments tied to affordability and tax policy. Senators adopted a back-to-school sales tax holiday amendment, a data-center tax exemption repeal amendment, and a school-choice-related amendment transferring EITC provisions and increasing scholarships by $25 million. Other proposed amendments, including a digital advertising tax and a combined reporting corporate tax reform, were tabled. After further debate on the bill’s impact on electric bills, data centers, and the state budget, House Bill 1667 was agreed to as amended and the Senate recessed.

Transcript Highlights:

• School board members to go through at least one training on the basics of school fiscal management.
• I speak as a former school board member, I know a good number of you are former school board members,
• It's plaguing our children, schools, and environment.
• In our schools, vape pens are being confiscated at an alarming rate.
• Their local school has closed.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Many students that attend that school allow the school to do some capital improvement on the school campus
• Current penalties are enhanced for schools. So it just put schools on on par with the works.
• Not only do you have to go to undergraduate school medical school, then you have to do residency.
• School superintendents, school board members, mayors, City Commissioner Carey commissioners.
• This proposed legislation directs state agencies, District School boards and charter schools dubbed a

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• of access to job classifications that match the skill set required of my office, and a lack of purchasing
• to job classifications already used by other oversight agencies and would provide my office with purchasing
• to job classifications already used by other oversight agencies and would provide my office with purchasing
• Absent AB 1608, my office can develop its own classifications through SBB and can seek a purchasing delegation

Committee: House Appropriations

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• the definition that allows the bill to interstate warehousers to produce tobacco products or to purchase
• > d</c><00:08:08.720><c> or</c><00:08:08.960><c> to</c><00:08:09.599><c> to</c><00:08:10.000><c> purchase
• </c> tobacco products d or to to purchase tobacco products d or to to purchase tobacco<00:08:11.039><

Bills: HB66 , HB79 , HB95 , HB145 , HB66 , HB79 , HB95 , HB145

Committee: House Ways and Means General Fund

Keywords: elder abuse, financial exploitation, inheritance, joint tenancy, conviction effects, off-label, pharmacists, medical treatment, state board of pharmacy, employment protection, HVAC, air conditioning, heating, ventilation, warranty transfer, manufacturer warranty, consumer protection, home sale, residential real property, real estate

Transcript Highlights:

• Maybe we can make the argument that most of these purchases are being done by people that don't live
• Maybe we can make the argument that most of these purchases are being done by people that don't live
• We're going to incentivize the purchase of electric vehicles, and, Our error, we're going to incentivize
• the purchase of electric vehicles and make a great difference in our environment.

Summary: The Senate opened with a moment of silence for Senator Chris Gildon and his family after the death of his wife, Autumn. It then took up several bills on final passage, beginning with Substitute House Bill 2020, which establishes a 3.1% B&O tax rate for payment card processing activities and allows a deduction for certain related fees. Supporters said it resolves a long-running dispute with the Department of Revenue; it passed 47-0. The chamber also passed House Bill 2039, delaying the child support pass-through expansion from 2026 to 2029, and House Bill 2040, delaying the elimination of recoveries from the Aged, Blind, and Disabled Assistance Program from October 2025 to October 2028. Supporters framed both as timing changes, while opponents argued they would postpone benefits for families and vulnerable people. Both bills passed 25-22. Substitute House Bill 2051, dealing with payment to acute care hospitals for difficult-to-discharge patients, passed 27-20 after several proposed amendments were withdrawn. Supporters said the bill helps hospitals care for patients who have nowhere else to go, while opponents argued the state should not delay payment support for these patients. The Senate also passed In Gross Substitute House Bill 2061, imposing a 10% concession fee on duty-free sales to fund tourism promotion and sustainable aviation fuel, over objections that it was a tax increase passed on to consumers. Finally, Substitute House Bill 2077, which taxes certain business activities related to zero-emission vehicle credits, passed 28-19 after an amendment to remove or narrow parts of the tax was rejected. Supporters said the measure would encourage spending of credits and support clean transportation goals, while opponents called it a targeted tax on Tesla and warned it could raise EV prices. The Senate then concurred in amended Engrossed Substitute House Bill 1293, a litter and plastic bag measure that increases litter penalties and keeps the planned bag-thickness increase from taking effect, and passed it 27-20. The Senate adjourned until April 27, 2025.

Transcript Highlights:

• through a program under the Veterans Land Board to help eligible Texas veterans and military families purchase
• Oftentimes, even the purchase of a manufactured home requires a bank loan.
• this bill, as the agency that would have to carry it out, we did discuss the differences between purchasing
• I'm completely in favor of a grant program that assists in the purchase of a mobile home on the dirt

Bills: SB2007 , SB2104 , SB2543 , SB2545 , SB2926 , SB2938

Committee: Senate Veteran Affairs

Keywords: military status, vehicle registration, veterans, Texas transportation, state records, discrimination, employment rights, spouses of service members, labor code, SB 2543, Texas veterans cemeteries, state veterans cemetery, Texas Veterans Commission, Veterans Land Board, Natural Resources Code, veterans land fund, veterans housing assistance fund, veterans burial, burial eligibility, cemetery location

Transcript Highlights:

• Doherty, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance by our House page, Allie Silver of I-Succeed Virtual High School
• clerk's concern was that in a situation where maybe you have a candidate running for a really small school
• board, and that school board and that school Maybe you have a candidate running for a really small school
• board, and that school board, you know, there might be 70 voters.
• still does not allow candidates to use their personal credit card for expenses over $1,000 for a purchase

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We can prevent people from losing access to emergency services and avoid school shutdowns and other issues
• still provide some of those subsidies for affordability, in addition to supporting high costs and schools
• With our mobile broadband now, we provide, we were able to respond within months to primarily the schools
• As for the data that somebody wants to purchase after those minimum thresholds or whether more is offered
• , the state of New Mexico will continue to see some of those benefits from federal dollars to our schools

Committee: House Science, Technology & Telecommunications Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• Not hearing any the chair recognizes revenue school craft to close. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
• We estimate around 6500 licenses would not have been purchased if filed electronically.
• And in the process of being afraid of sharing that as a pastor and as a public school mentor or football
• which means they are often without legal authority to make decisions like enrolling the child in school
• children in kinship care situations compared to children in foster care with non-kin have better school

Committee: House S/C on Family & Fiduciary Relationships

Transcript Highlights:

• Authorizes FDOT to provide workforce development grants to state colleges and school districts to fund
• If you could okay and want to purchase. Thank you to yet.
• I'm a proud graduate of the University of Florida Law School and I bring that integrity that that school
• Barely graduating high school last generation and being able to get as George school last generation
• They provided land to the cities of Aventura for schools and for an for housing.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• She's from Lemberg High School in St.
• I'd like the body to welcome. school. Craig Carson is visiting us this morning.
• You've graduated from high school. Perhaps you already have a degree.
• Battle was the first Black principal in the Columbia Public School District.
• Elliott Battle has the Elliott Battle Elementary School.

Summary: The House opened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, approval of the prior day’s journal by a 117-0 vote, and a long series of guest introductions, including 911 officials, school groups, students shadowing legislators, international visitors from Quebec, family members, and various community advocates. The chamber then moved into floor debate on several measures, beginning with House Joint Resolution 115, which would extend personal property tax and homestead tax exemptions to 100% service-connected disabled veterans and surviving spouses. Members from both parties praised the sponsor’s eight-year effort, emphasized the financial burden on disabled veterans living on fixed incomes, and noted the measure’s broad support; the House adopted the committee substitute and ordered it perfected and printed. The House next took up House Bill 2151, a Fast Track workforce training program fix that raises household income eligibility thresholds from $40,000 to $50,000 for single filers and from $80,000 to $100,000 for joint filers without increasing the program’s overall funding cap. Supporters said the change reflects inflation and will help more adults and families access training for career changes and upskilling. The chamber then approved House Substitute for House Bill 2576, a naming bill that included several commemorative designations. Members adopted amendments designating January as Blood Donor Awareness Month, June 28 as Elliott and Muriel Battle Day, and March 26 as PANS Awareness Day; a proposed Josephine Baker Day amendment was withdrawn after concerns it could complicate the broader bill. The bill also included other memorial and honorary designations, including a highway naming for a Vietnam veteran and recognition of a former Pagedale mayor. The House also approved an amendment designating April 22 as Missouri Black Bear Awareness Day, with supporters saying it would promote public safety and education as bear populations increase. Another amendment added infertility awareness language, with members describing the issue as a disease that affects families in silence. The chamber then approved House Committee Substitute for House Bill 3175, known as Mason’s Law, which creates a system to flag certain driver records for law enforcement when a person has a condition affecting communication; an amendment expanded the notice to include driver’s licenses. Members said the bill would help officers safely interact with people who may have difficulty communicating during traffic stops. Finally, the House took up House Bill 1736, which allows local governments to use certain park-related sales tax revenues for natural disaster mitigation, including stormwater management and the purchase of repetitive-loss properties. Supporters said it would help communities address flooding without turning parks into hard infrastructure sites. The chamber then began debate on House Bill 1887 and related AI and digital-image protection provisions, including measures aimed at preventing nonconsensual deepfakes, protecting minors, and giving victims civil remedies and takedown processes. Members from both parties supported the goal of curbing AI abuse, though some raised technical drafting questions and one member suggested the legislature may eventually need a broader AI task force or sunset review. No final vote on HB 1887 was reached in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• The first four services are purchased if not entirely, mostly by businesses.
• businesses, government, or nonprofits, leaving 9% purchased by consumers.
• businesses, government, or nonprofits, leaving 9% purchased by consumers.
• businesses, government, or nonprofits, leaving 9% purchased by consumers.
• businesses, government, or nonprofits, leaving 9% purchased by consumers.

Committee: House Taxes

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• school.
• Missy likes school.
• So far, this school year, Missy's had a few absences from school.
• kid might be missing school, or a middle school child might be missing school.
• So that’s our school counselors, our mental health, our school psychs, our health clinicians, our school

Committee: Senate Education Pre-K - 12

Summary: The committee met to discuss student attendance and chronic absenteeism in Florida K-12 schools, with Chair Simon outlining the state’s attendance requirements and intervention process, including school contact after unexcused absences, child study team review, district superintendent referral, DJJ family services referral, truancy petitions, and possible parental prosecution and driver’s license consequences. Dr. Chris Curran of the University of Florida presented statewide data showing chronic absenteeism has risen sharply since the pandemic, with Florida at about 31.4% in 2023–24, and noted that absenteeism varies by district, school level, demographics, and urbanicity. He emphasized that causes are multifaceted—ranging from transportation, mental health, housing instability, safety concerns, and family circumstances—and said effective responses include early warning systems, text or phone outreach, multi-tiered interventions, mentoring programs like Check & Connect, and community partnerships. He also cautioned that punitive responses alone are often less effective than addressing root causes and keeping students engaged academically even when they miss school. Collier County Superintendent Leslie Ricciardelli described her district’s attendance efforts as a priority supported by attendance specialists, social workers, mental health staff, home visits, attendance contracts, and extensive parent communication. She said Collier’s chronic absenteeism rate was about 9% in 2023–24 and attributed success to consistent monitoring, family outreach, and community support, while stressing that students must be physically present to learn. She also argued that many absences are tied to barriers such as clothing, transportation, childcare, or family mental health, and that districts need resources to address those issues. Dr. Rachel Dawes added that Collier uses multilingual brochures, attendance awareness campaigns, vacation-planning guidance, door tags, automated calls and letters, and a truancy flow chart, with truancy court used as a last resort. Volusia County Executive Director Mike McAuliffe described a districtwide overhaul that included an attendance matters campaign, automated notices sent early and often, same-day and period-by-period notifications, a data dashboard, and tiered supports through MTSS. He said Volusia reduced chronic absenteeism from 34% in 2023–24 to a projected 29% and reported a first-quarter rate of about 20% in the current year. He highlighted community partnerships, including AdventHealth support for washers and dryers, bikes for students with transportation barriers, and monetary recognition for schools that reduce absenteeism. In response to questions, both district leaders emphasized that funding, staffing, and consistent follow-through are essential, and that attendance work is most effective when paired with family engagement, data monitoring, and practical supports rather than punishment alone.