Transcript Highlights:

• addresses additives in the state's existing law, without any deference to FDA's ongoing post-market assessment
• Without deference to FDA's ongoing post-market assessment of existing ingredients in the food supply,
• replica, I mean, I guess it didn't plow new territory there, because that's what those are current practices
• replica I mean I guess it didn't plow new territory there because that's what those are current practices
• “That would certainly be a policy consideration for the body as to the practical effect of that.

Keywords: 994, senate, all

Summary: The committee first approved the minutes and then took up House Bill 4852, a strike-and-insert bill revising West Virginia’s food additive restrictions. Counsel explained that it moved the existing additive list into a new code section, kept the 2028 effective date, added exceptions for dietary supplements, alcoholic liquor, non-intoxicating beer, and small sellers under $5,000 per month, and created civil penalties for knowing violations. Testimony split between industry witnesses, who argued the bill and last year’s law would raise costs, burden interstate commerce, and conflict with federal regulation, and advocates who said the law is already prompting companies to reformulate and that the bill clarifies vague language tied to a federal injunction. Several amendments were offered to tie the law to FDA action or exempt soda, pepperoni rolls, frozen confections, and snack foods; some were adopted and others failed. The committee then adopted the strike-and-insert amendment as amended and reported HB 4852 to the full Senate with a do-pass recommendation. The committee next considered House Bill 5484, which creates felony offenses for interfering with a victim’s access to medical treatment or forensic care related to a sexual offense, or for forcing a victim of a sexual offense who becomes pregnant to have an illegal abortion, along with a conspiracy offense. Counsel said the strike-and-insert added clarifying language and definitions. Members raised concerns that the conspiracy language could be read to include the victim herself, and the bill sponsor said the intent was to target traffickers and abusers who keep victims from medical care and force abortions outside medical facilities. An amendment was adopted clarifying that nothing in the subsection imposes criminal liability on the victim of the sexual offense. The committee then adopted the strike-and-insert amendment, reported HB 5484 to the full Senate with a do-pass recommendation, and adopted a title amendment. The final bill discussed in the excerpt was House Bill 4468, which narrows confidentiality protections for victims in criminal complaints by limiting redaction to names and addresses, while still allowing disclosure to other governmental entities and permitting victims to request redaction of addresses from appellate decisions after July 1, 2026. Counsel said the bill would replace broader existing confidentiality language and remove provisions allowing disclosure upon a showing of justice or by subpoena. Members questioned whether the change would weaken victim privacy protections, noting that identifying information can include much more than names and addresses. The committee then began hearing testimony from a county prosecutor on the bill, but the excerpt ends before any vote or final action on HB 4468.

Transcript Highlights:

• Initiate steps to ensure the accuracy of overtime payments in the future and assess recovery options
• Initiate steps to ensure the accuracy of overtime payments in the future and assess recovery options
• areas because, you know, you obviously have a department that's got a lot of overtime in normal practice
• overtime department that's got a lot of overtime in<00:58:52.319><c> normal</c><00:58:52.720><c> practice
• But if we can find in normal practice.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• And so a lot of the assessment structure, the exemption structure and the assessment limitation, the
• That 1.1 billion value from flowing in through your tax assessment and you are save our homes assessment
• Our homes assessment benefit.
• I hear there is a 10% assessment limitation.
• You have assessment limitations that how your assessed values able to grow.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><01:32:14.960><c> and</c> this bill is both practical and this bill is both practical and necessary
• </c><01:45:28.360><c> aiel</c><01:45:28.920><c> thank</c> new assessment aiel thank new assessment aiel
• </c> to use um the pet Pathway to practice to use um the pet Pathway to practice moving<03:47:18.920>
• </c><03:48:40.560><c> and</c> better practice and better practice and apprenticeship<03:48:42.479><c>
• </c> and customary native Hawaiian practices and customary native Hawaiian practices as<04:18:34.000>

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This regards physician assistants and nurse practitioners and we changed our scope of practice last year
• , modifies multiple aspects of the CLO to modernize and update the way that they implement their practices
• It promotes practical life-saving education.
• House Bill 4159 allows parents to request dyslexia screening after formative assessments yield questions

Bills: HB2059 , HB3920 , HB2992 , HB3267 , HB4457 , HB3800 , HB3818 , HB4425 , HB4427 , HB4430 , HB4431 , HB4333 , HB4340 , HB4343 , HB4344 , HB4363 , HB4229 , HB4230 , HB4236 , HB4246 , HB1979 , HB3431 , HB3052 , HB3047 , HB3048 , HB4092 , HB4302 , HB3261 , HB3704 , HB3312 , HB3546 , HB3849 , HCR1021 , HB4105 , HB4159 , HB4304 , HB3835 , HB3619 , HB4490 , HB3710 , HB4201 , HB3907 , HB3748

Keywords: health care, medication, inmates, Oklahoma Health Care Authority, reimbursement, county jails, medical expenses, sales tax exemption, nonprofit organizations, procurement, transplant research, Oklahoma Tax Code, HB2992, Data Center Customer Ratepayer Protection Act of 2026, Corporation Commission, Oklahoma utilities, ratepayer protection, data centers, artificial intelligence computing, AI data centers

Transcript Highlights:

• At home, she helps with daily routines and helps her sister follow multiple-step directions and practices
• This, this is what multiple-step directions and practices responsibility and independence.
• companion artificial intelligence products, declaring violations to be unfair or deceptive trade practices
• Legislative Education Study Committee to conduct a study of the use of screen time for instruction and assessment

Bills: HM19

Keywords: New Mexico Aviation and Aerospace Day, aviation, aerospace, space industry, missile programs, Spaceport America, White Sands Missile Range, White Sands Test Facility, Kirtland Air Force Base, drone, unmanned aircraft systems, commercial space transportation, NASA, aircraft, STEM education, research laboratories, Sandia National Laboratories, Los Alamos National Laboratory, flight testing, medical evacuation

Transcript Highlights:

• across the state, it is, again, this legislature has given me the authority and directed me to do an assessment
• I do want to just give you that has become a statewide best practice.
• So this has become a best practice.
• This is a national best practice.

Summary: The committee first heard a presentation from Major General James Hartzell of the Florida Department of Veterans’ Affairs on the agency’s outreach, benefits assistance, and state veterans nursing homes. He highlighted Florida’s large and growing veteran population, the decline in World War II and Vietnam-era veterans, and the increase in post-9/11 veterans moving to the state. Hartzell discussed the state veterans nursing home system, including a new Collier County facility that will include skilled nursing, assisted living, adult day health care, and outpatient therapy, and he said the department is also studying future adult day health care expansion and possible additional homes in underserved areas. He also reported on the dental program funded by the Legislature, saying 245 veterans were served in the first quarter of the fiscal year, with 1,631 procedures completed and more than $525,000 in savings, and he credited the added state veterans service officer positions with helping connect more veterans to benefits. Hartzell also noted a 13% year-over-year reduction in homeless veterans, emphasized mental health outreach through SaveFLVets.org and the Overwatch program, and announced a new deputy executive director, retired Colonel D.J. Reyes. Members asked about the need for additional veterans homes in South Florida, the criteria used to site new homes, the homeless veteran reduction, and whether adult day health care could be added at existing facilities. Hartzell explained that federal criteria focus on the availability of private skilled nursing beds for veterans 65 and older, and that adult day health care is state-funded and being studied for broader deployment. He also said the department tracks where homeless veterans are concentrated and works with local partners and organizations like Tunnels to Towers to provide housing and services that reduce recidivism. The committee also discussed Florida’s national reputation for veteran support, including Veterans Month and the state’s culture of veteran awareness. The committee then received a presentation from Kevin Guthrie, Executive Director of the Florida Division of Emergency Management, on disaster response, recovery, and technology systems. Guthrie described the State Emergency Response Team, the new Florida Central Operations and Coordination Office in Auburndale, and the new State Emergency Operations Center in Tallahassee, which is expected to be fully operational by spring 2026 and will significantly expand capacity and hardening. He reviewed recovery efforts for Hurricanes Helene, Milton, Debbie, Idalia, Ian, Irma, Michael, Dorian, Sally, Nicole, and others, including sheltering, travel trailers, debris removal, and FEMA reimbursement totals. Guthrie said Florida removed more than 31.6 million cubic yards of debris from Helene and Milton in 90 days on a 24/7 basis, and he described Elevate Florida, the Florida Recovery Obligation Calculation (FROC), the DEMES platform, and WebEOC as tools to streamline recovery, mitigation, and intergovernmental coordination. Members asked about flood-response resources for cities, the state’s use of pumps and mutual aid, and lessons learned from inland flooding after Milton. Guthrie said local governments should first use county and city mutual aid, then request state assistance when needed, and he encouraged more partnerships for staging and maintaining flood equipment. He also said future flood mitigation must address outdated development patterns, watershed flow, and the need for better drainage planning, while continuing temporary fixes and homeowner assistance programs. The committee ended with no votes or formal actions beyond adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• more appropriate, and there's an opening straight into housing, and doing an intake, a coordinated assessment
• Some of the other challenges we foresee is there are some unknowns on housing policies and practices
• We approached our city responders with seven best practices for addressing unsanctioned encampments.
• We based these practices on successful approaches from other areas.

Transcript Highlights:

• prosecutors to issue administrative subpoenas for cybercrime investigations, mirroring the current practice
• data, while still maintaining the requirement to show probable cause for a warrant or court order to assess
• The bill requires the Office of Court Administration, as soon as practicable after the effective date
• I've been on both sides of the grand jury. ...I've seen some good improvements in grand jury practices

Bills: HB75 , HB108

Committee: Senate Criminal Justice

Keywords: building standards, youth camps, floodplains, safety regulations, environmental policies, drainage utilities, flood management, land use regulation, county authority, drainage fees, 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The committee substitute strikes a balance between practicability and resident safety.
• Would you say that that is a fair assessment? Yes. I agree. Yes.
• Department of Defense, that by contract, they were not obligated to comply with any good clinical practices
• I want to say that I also practice all kinds of other family law, and I'm not saying I approve of this

Bills: HB18 , HB37 , HB116 , HB18 , HB37 , HB116 , HB388 , HB879 , HB913 , HB1151 , HB2216 , HB2358 , HB2809 , SB577 , SB1590 , SB1782 , SB1887 , SB2744

Committee: Senate Health & Human Services

Keywords: HB 18, Texas Legislature, quorum break, quorum-busting, legislative walkout, absent legislators, political contributions, campaign finance, political expenditures, legislative caucus, specific-purpose committee, Texas Ethics Commission, civil penalty, show cause order, district court, Fifteenth Court of Appeals, session fundraising, travel lodging food expenses, legislative session, compelled attendance

Transcript Highlights:

• confirmed, the likelihood of them ever confirmed, the likelihood of them ever being taken off is practically
• pay them to go to these Employees and pay them to go to these prisons and go through an analysis assessments
• I don't know what they should be updated to other than current practice.
• I mean, if you want to just update it to current practice and you get a 60 or 70 or whatever conformance

Bills: HB202 , HB42 , HB146 , HB492 , HB285 , HB7 , HB454 , HB42 , HB7

Committee: House Judiciary

Keywords: law enforcement, immunity, civil liability, use of force, recruitment, bail reform, cash deposit, judicial discretion, criminal justice, Alabama law, youthful offender, capital murder, public safety, victims' rights, juvenile offenders, delinquent acts, juvenile court, nonfelony offenses, water safety offenses, illegal immigration

Transcript Highlights:

• part of foreign influence operations by adversaries of the U.S. as delineated in the annual threat assessment
• These provisions affect two significant sections of the Civil Practices and Remedies Code, Section 18
• In fact, it is common practice whenever you set a practice, at least when I came onto that our billed

Bills: SB1540 , SB2225 , SB2284 , SB2382 , SB2487 , SB2514 , SB2595 , SB2876 , SB2877 , SB3031 , SB2753

Committee: Senate State Affairs

Keywords: election officials, confidentiality, personal information, government transparency, public safety, spirit beverages, alcoholic beverages, Texas Alcoholic Beverage Code, distribution, taxation, firearms, local regulation, archery equipment, weapons, voter registration, statewide list, county requirements, election integrity, computer services contracts, mental health

Summary: The Senate Committee on State Affairs heard Senate Bill 3031, which would expand aggravated assault to cover certain road-rage shootings involving a person in or traveling to or from a motor vehicle, when a firearm is discharged and causes injury, property damage, or fear of serious bodily injury. Senator Schwertner laid out the bill for the author, described it as closing a gap in the law, and there was no public testimony; the bill was left pending. The committee then heard Senate Bill 2514, a measure by Chairman Hughes aimed at creating a DPS unit to identify, investigate, and monitor hostile foreign influence operations and to require ethics training for state employees. Supportive invited testimony from Dr. Jacqueline Deal, Ambassador Kelly Curry, and Michael Lucci emphasized threats from the Chinese Communist Party, transnational repression, cyber intrusion, and state-level influence efforts, and argued Texas should take a leading role. Public testimony included opposition from speakers who raised concerns about free speech, privacy, and potential overbreadth. The bill was left pending after testimony closed. Finally, the committee took up Senate Bill 30 as pending business and discussed a committee substitute. Senator Schwertner explained that the substitute would limit admissible medical expense evidence to amounts paid or up to 300% of Medicare, clarify treatment of provider testimony and attorney-referred providers, remove a requirement that plaintiffs use available health insurance to mitigate damages, strike a unanimous-verdict requirement for non-economic damages, and delete a remittitur provision. Senators questioned the impact on sexual assault and child abuse survivors, the use of Medicare as a benchmark, and whether the bill would still allow fair compensation. After discussion, SB 30 was left pending and the committee recessed subject to the call of the chair.

Transcript Highlights:

• physics, a field related to protecting persons and the environment from radiation exposure by risk assessments
• in the classroom no more than a few hundred feet away from where I was standing after my baseball practice
• to see how those funds are shared and dispensed, but we're also able to see what some of the best practices
• to see how those funds are shared and dispensed, but we're also able to see what some of the best practices

Bills: SB913 , SB1086 , SB1087 , SB1143 , SB1534 , SB1553 , SB1718 , SB1754 , SB2004 , SB2322 , SB2448

Committee: Senate Economic Development

Keywords: hotel occupancy tax, municipal revenue, tax code, local government funding, Texas legislation, county taxation, economic development, hotel industry, local government, counties, taxation, tourism, workforce development, youth programs, employment, education, technical training, health physics, higher education, nuclear energy

Summary: The Senate Economic Development Committee met to hear a series of bills and informational primers, with several resource witnesses from the Governor’s Office, the Texas Workforce Commission, and the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. The chair opened by noting the death of Senator King’s son and asking members to keep the family in their prayers. Most bills were laid out and left pending subject to the call of the chair after brief author presentations and public testimony. The committee heard several local hotel occupancy tax bills: SB 1553 for Kerr County, SB 1086 for Childress County, SB 1087 for Mason County, and SB 913 for Alpine. Supporters, including the Texas Hotel and Lodging Association and local officials, said the measures would allow counties or the city to use hotel tax revenue for tourism-related projects and local development. The committee also heard SB 1534, which would direct a study on health physics education and workforce needs in Texas; resource witnesses from TWC and THECB testified on the bill. All of these measures were left pending. A major portion of the hearing focused on SB 1754, which would prohibit local tax abatements for renewable energy facilities selling power at wholesale, with an exception for certain battery storage tied to dispatchable generation. The bill drew strong support from witnesses who argued counties should not subsidize wind and solar projects that can harm neighboring landowners and that renewables already receive substantial federal support. Opponents from the solar and storage industry argued the bill would remove a voluntary local economic development tool, raise power prices, and discourage investment. Senators also debated landowner impacts, grid reliability, and whether the bill was the right policy tool; the bill was left pending. The committee also heard SB 2322, a committee substitute related to the Jobs, Energy, Technology, and Innovation Act, which would exempt electric generation facilities from the program’s compelling-factor test so they can qualify for school tax limitation agreements. Supporters said the change would correct an unintended barrier for dispatchable generation, while Senator Johnson argued it would weaken the program’s purpose by subsidizing projects that would locate in Texas anyway. SB 1718 would add the NRA annual meeting to the major events reimbursement program; the NRA supported it, while gun violence prevention advocates opposed using state incentives for the organization. SB 2004 would add the Arlington Grand Prix to the major events program, and SB 2448 would create a rural workforce development grant program; both drew supportive testimony and were left pending. The committee also heard SB 1143, a substitute bill aimed at improving transparency and coordination in programs serving opportunity youth ages 14 to 24, with witnesses supporting better reporting and workforce alignment. At the end of the meeting, Senator Johnson moved that the committee stand in recess subject to the call of the chair.

Transcript Highlights:

• I consulted with them to learn about the practice is and what is happening in some of their practices
• do you respond to the concerns that the bill prioritizes ideology over science and medical best practice
• And these assessment surveys can provide tools and tools for them to advocate for themselves as well

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And so for the Air Force, we probably assess our... numbers a little bit different... differently or
• What actually happens is another practice.
• What's on paper and what's in practice are two different things, and it isn't just the inmates themselves
• counseling to... any family member of any incarcerated person through the university and the family practice

Committee: House S/C on Defense & Veterans' Affairs

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• mainly due to financial stress on alone, mainly due to financial stress on their<00:18:24.400><c> practice
• </c><00:18:25.120><c> in</c><00:18:25.360><c> response</c><00:18:25.679><c> to</c> their practice in
• response to their practice in response to unsustainable<00:18:26.720><c> reimbursements</c><00:18:27.440
• decade, anti-discrimination language for medical cannabis patients has existed in statute, but in practice
• </c> intensive case management, assess intensive case management, assess benefit<01:20:20.040><c> eligibility

Committee: Senate Health and Human Services

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> assessed valuation. assessed valuation.
• . assessments. assessments.
• So they had two assessments. Correct. So they had two assessments.
• </c> prepare for that assessment. prepare for that assessment.
• assessment?

Committee: House Municipal and County Government

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• What you're trying to do may be best practice.
• What you're trying to do may be best practice.
• </c> do that it it may be best practice do that it it may be best practice representative<01:12:19.480
• </c> continue practicing continue practicing businesses<02:43:49.120><c> for</c><02:43:49.279><c> your
• </c> do think the uh making the assessing do think the uh making the assessing office<05:01:55.160><c

Committee: House Municipal and County Government

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• As a result, this annual testing requirement can create substantial practical burdens.
• bill, we have two witnesses for expert testimony: Professor Catherine Krempe, clinical professor of practice
• retention period is necessary for investigations or public safety is just not borne out by actual practice
• an ADAS and level two vehicle involved, that they consider incorporating questions or content to assess
• Where it is practical and cost-effective.

Summary: The Assembly Transportation Committee met first as a subcommittee due to the lack of a quorum, then later obtained a quorum and took up several bills. The committee heard SB 1064, which would reduce the frequency of Clean Truck Check testing for low-use heavy-duty vehicles; supporters said it would ease burdens on rural agricultural businesses, while clean air advocates opposed it as weakening an important emissions program. The bill was approved and sent to the Assembly Appropriations Committee. The committee also heard SB 1174, which would give Caltrans bid preferences to construction firms with employee stock ownership plans; supporters argued it would build worker wealth and improve project quality, while contractor groups opposed it as likely to raise costs and reduce competition. That bill was approved and sent to the Assembly Judiciary Committee. The consent calendar items SB 607, SB 962, and SB 990 were also approved. The committee then heard SB 1279, which would allow Long Beach to place additional speed safety cameras on Pacific Coast Highway. Long Beach officials and several safety and advocacy groups supported the bill, citing high fatality rates and repeated pedestrian crashes on that corridor, while some members raised concerns about fines, affordability, and whether cameras would address pedestrian-related collisions. The bill passed as amended to the Assembly Privacy and Consumer Protection Committee. SB 1213, the Clean Truck Transportation Act, would require more price transparency for medium- and heavy-duty zero-emission truck incentives and direct agencies to explore alternative financing tools; supporters said it would improve affordability and competition, while one manufacturer and the trucking association raised implementation concerns. It passed to the Assembly Natural Resources Committee. The committee also heard SB 1013, which would tighten rules for automated license plate reader use by limiting retention to 30 days, requiring audits and training, and restricting access and hot list use. Privacy advocates supported the bill as overdue accountability, while law enforcement groups argued the retention limit would hinder investigations and that some technical definitions needed work. The bill passed to the Assembly Privacy and Consumer Protection Committee. SB 1315, dealing with advanced driver assistance systems, would prevent automakers from disabling a consumer’s ability to drive their own vehicle through software updates and would encourage DMV testing questions about ADAS responsibilities; after amendments, industry opposition softened and the bill passed to the Assembly Judiciary Committee. Finally, SB 1246, on autonomous vehicle emergency response, would require U.S.-based remote drivers, quicker on-scene response, and better coordination with local agencies; first responders and labor groups supported it, while AV industry groups remained opposed unless amended. The bill passed to the Assembly Communications and Conveyance Committee. The transcript ended as the committee began hearing SB 1250, a planning bill to incorporate wildlife connectivity into transportation asset management, with the sponsor and supporters explaining it would improve safety and habitat planning without mandating specific projects.

Transcript Highlights:

• As a result, this annual testing requirement can create substantial practical burdens.
• bill, we have two witnesses for expert testimony: Professor Catherine Krempe, clinical professor of practice
• retention period is necessary for investigations or public safety is just not borne out by actual practice
• person, where there is an ADAS and Level 2 vehicle involved, incorporating questions or content to assess
• Importantly, the bill does not divert funding away from... ...where it is practical and cost-effective

Committee: House Transportation

Keywords: 988, house, all