Transcript Highlights:

• He pitched a game yesterday in Rio Rancho for the Colos Wildcats. game yesterday in Rio Rancho for the
• We're talking also about social security income, is that right? Mr.
• And we're going to play 'speak behind the flowers' game.
• Opportunities for a highly skilled STEM workforce. Mr.
• Speaker, gentlelady, we've left out the social workers, but... Mr.

Transcript Highlights:

• We wish you the best of luck next month at the TGCA All-Star game. Mr.
• It is an incredible feat to win eight straight playoff games in a row.
• A report from the Social Security trustees shows that immigration improves the Social Security trust
• into Social Security taxes that take care of our seniors who are receiving Social Security today.
• No gimmicks, no games, no 10-year outyear savings for one-year spending. That's not hard.

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Wednesday, June 24, 2026, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• That program is Social Security. Yet, Mr.
• Nobody gets wealthy on Social Security. It's the safety net for capitalism.
• FOR ALL Americans. 10,000 baby boomers a day become eligible for Social Security.
• More than 70 million people get Social Security. And now Mr. Musk and Mr.
• SOCIAL MEDIA, PODCASTS.

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Monday, February 24, 2025, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• use skilled labor.
• use skilled labor.
• We want local skilled craftsmen to be able to live and work in their area.
• There's so many known harms, known harms of social media. There's also benefits.
• You know... ...of social media.

Summary: The committee first took up SB 1236, which would condition state economic development incentives on employers at subsidized companies using secret-ballot union elections and prohibiting neutrality agreements. The sponsor said the bill is meant to protect workers and taxpayer dollars, and he noted he would amend the Attorney General enforcement language to allow appeals. Supporters argued it protects secret ballots and transparency, while opponents said it is a form of union-busting, could conflict with federal labor law, and would burden contractors and workers. After debate, the committee reported the bill favorably on a roll call vote, with Senators Bracey Davis, Smith, and Errington voting no and the remaining recorded votes in favor. The committee then heard CS/SB 198, which regulates cryptocurrency kiosks to combat fraud, especially against seniors. The bill requires kiosk registration, fraud warnings, blockchain analytics, transaction limits, receipts, and refund protections for certain first-time transactions involving non-U.S. wallets. Supporters from consumer and senior advocacy groups said the bill would help stop widespread scams, while one industry witness praised the bill’s fraud protections but suggested narrowing the daily limits and new-customer period. The committee reported the bill favorably by roll call vote. Next, the committee considered CS/SB 1356 on dog breeding, pet sales, and breeder registration. The sponsor described it as a work in progress aimed at ending inhumane breeding conditions, improving consumer disclosures, and creating breeder standards and penalties; an amendment removed state oversight of local animal shelters. Pet store representatives supported many animal welfare provisions but objected to the three-day financing waiting period, shelter-space requirements, expanded reimbursement, and litigation exposure. Animal welfare supporters backed the bill, and the committee reported it favorably. The committee also heard SB 1722 on app stores and minors’ access to apps. The bill requires age verification, parental consent for minors, notice of app changes, and enforcement by the Department of Legal Affairs. Supporters said it would better protect children online and help enforce existing age-based restrictions, while opponents warned it could require overcollection of personal data, create privacy and constitutional problems, and duplicate tools parents already have. After debate, the committee reported the bill favorably. Finally, the committee took up CS/SB 422, which would bar use of ADS-B aviation data to calculate or collect certain airport fees, with an amendment adding departures to the covered activities. A pilot supported the bill as a safety and privacy measure, while airport advocates opposed it, saying it would undermine airport finances and force less efficient fee collection methods. The transcript ends during testimony on this bill, before final action is shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• So here's a way where an employer tests that skill set.
• How do we offer the right skills and training that they need?
• But again, it's a very different place to learn skills, to help people learn skills, and I would say
• Or to gain their education skills in other areas.
• To obtain a social worker licensure.

Committee: House Economic & Rural Development & Policy Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• We have the College of Social Work.
• skills, implementing universal wellness initiatives, and conducting behavioral health screening.
• They can be engaged with the Department of Social and Health Services.
• media, you're pretty much socially forced to be on your phone.
• much socially forced to be on your phone.

Bills: HB1634

Committee: House Education

Keywords: mental health, behavioral support, education, school districts, student assistance, 904, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And then in social studies and what that data looks like, both pre-COVID and since.
• Social and economic strength across the region.
• So TIA has been brought up; we are late to that game.
• Research shows that school closure leads to social closure.
• **Respondent:** Gaming the system at the expense of student opportunity?

Committee: House Public Education

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Specifically, their Bridging Outstanding Opportunities with Tradeswomen Skills, or BOOTS, their program
• role in the trades helps spur industry growth and innovation while also helping to fill. critical skill
• Good luck in the USA games and have a lot of fun Thank you, Mr.
• Trans people are the integral, vibrant threads in our social fabric of our communities, and our lives
• Many knew him as a dedicated member of the Rialto football community, where his love for the game and

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Okay, Social Security and benefit replacement pay. Mr. Posey, you can present.
• Recommendations for Social Security total $2.6 billion.
• In the numbers game, you're more at risk than the guy that came in last time.
• I represent the Game Warden Peace Officers Association.
• I'm also proud to say, like Senator Flores, I'm a retired Texas game warden.

Bills: SB 1

Committee: Senate Finance

Keywords: campground safety, youth camp regulations, flood safety, emergency evacuation, health and safety standards

Summary: The committee heard budget presentations from the Legislative Budget Board and agency officials on several agencies, starting with the Texas Historical Commission. LBB described a large biennial reduction driven mainly by the removal of one-time funding and discussed capital projects, rider changes, and exceptional items including Presidio La Bahia and the National Museum of the Pacific War. Senators asked about heritage trails, courthouse grants, unexpended balance authority, and the status of historical-site funding. Historical Commission leadership emphasized preservation, courthouse restoration, heritage tourism, coordination with the Alamo and other Texas Revolution sites, and requested additional IT, staffing, and vehicle funding. No votes were taken. The committee then reviewed the Pension Review Board and the Employees Retirement System. The Pension Review Board’s budget was largely unchanged aside from IT maintenance and salary adjustments, with an exceptional item for additional IT enhancements. Members discussed the Dallas Police and Fire Pension System’s funding dispute and the need for a workable restoration plan. ERS presented a much larger budget, including funding for the retirement system, the group benefits plan, and the legacy payment intended to reduce unfunded liability. Senators focused heavily on pension investment returns, benchmark comparisons, and rising health-care costs, especially pharmacy spending driven by GLP-1 drugs; ERS said the plan covers about 540,000 lives and that premiums would rise 8% while benefits remain unchanged. ERS also said it had no exceptional items, and committee members requested more detailed benchmark information. The committee also heard from the Texas Emergency Services Retirement System and the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas. TESSORS reported an unfunded liability, an infinite amortization period, and requested additional state support, staffing, and IT funding, including a statutory change to allow a higher contribution level; the agency warned that without more funding it may have to cut benefits. CEPRIT’s presentation covered its bond-funded cancer research and prevention portfolio, revenue-sharing from funded projects, and a request to increase salary limits for its CEO and chief scientific officer. Senators questioned CEPRIT’s accomplishments and return on investment, while CEPRIT cited screening, prevention, and research outcomes, including tens of thousands of detected cancers and precursors and hundreds of thousands of first-time screenings. The meeting ended after these presentations and questions, with no recorded committee action or vote.

Transcript Highlights:

• They're going to be nurses and masters in social work who know every resident well.
• So what happens to the person that really does need skilled nursing?
• What happens to the person that really does need skilled nursing, loses their funding, and really is
• A day in a skilled nursing facility. All right. Thank you. Thank you.
• And gee, if you want to organize a bridge game with lunch, you and a group of volunteers can do that.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The commission meeting focused on continuing care retirement communities (CCRCs), beginning with a presentation from Two Life Communities on its Opus Newton model, which is opening in the fall. Two Life described Opus as a middle-income, modern CCRC built around affordability, care coordination in residents’ apartments rather than separate care buildings, and resident-driven community life. Commissioners asked about financing, home care arrangements, affordability, Medicaid/MassHealth access, and the role of resident councils versus board representation. Two Life said it wants to remain within the CCRC framework, but expressed concern about proposals that would require multiple discrete care levels, impose deadlines on entrance-fee refunds, or require resident board seats. The commission then discussed possible recommendations. There was broad support for Senate Bill 478, which would require clearer disclosure of entrance-fee refund terms in a separate document for prospective residents. On refund timing, members were divided: some favored a one-year deadline or a deadline with waivers, while others opposed a fixed deadline because of financing risks and the potential impact on new development and current residents. Several members suggested keeping the status quo but adding better data collection and reporting on refund timing. On the CCRC definition and marketing, members debated whether the current statutory definition is too vague and whether the commission should recommend clearer standards or a certification-like process, while also noting resource limits for state oversight. Members also discussed the Age CCRC Consumer Guide, with general agreement that it should be updated and made more useful to consumers, possibly with clearer questions to ask and more information about facilities, though some cautioned against adding subjective financial-risk statements that would be hard to administer. On resident representation, several commissioners strongly supported requiring resident voting members on boards, while providers argued that strong resident associations and regular meetings with boards may be preferable and that communities should retain flexibility. The meeting ended with a request for written comments by July 11, draft recommendations to be circulated July 18, and a possible final meeting on July 21, with the commission aiming to finish by August 1.

Transcript Highlights:

• And the skilled labor is second to none within And the skilled labor is second to none within our union
• use skilled labor.
• We want local skilled craftsmen to be able to live and work in their area.
• We want local skilled craftsmen to be able to live and work in their area.
• There's so many known harms, known harms of social media. There's also benefits.

Committee: Senate Commerce and Tourism

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• said, I just want to be a game warden.
• And now we have to train up and get more experienced game wardens out there.
• Okay, game on.
• So at this point, Operation Lone Star is no longer using game wardens.
• About this time last year, I believe, is when we pulled game wardens back.

Committee: House Culture, Recreation & Tourism

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It feels like a big game.
• They do that in season specific game.
• </c> the case, but u um but and social work. the case, but u um but and social work.
• You brought up a little bit about the social emotional learning.
• </c> a little bit about uh the social a little bit about uh the social emotional<01:56:06.239><c> learning

Keywords: Call to Order and Roll Call - 0:00:00 Approval of Minutes – 0:03:50 Robotics Education – 0:04:18 Canopy KY – 0:14:15 Comprehensive Support and Improvement – 0:23:20 Postsecondary Credit Alignment – 0:53:15 Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in K-12 Settings – 1:21:25 Consideration of Referred Administrative Regulations – 2:05:15 Adjournment 2:05:41, 958, all

Summary: The committee opened with a roll call, confirmed a quorum, approved the minutes by voice vote, and recognized a guest of Senator Hickden, retired judge Dan Kelly. The chair then moved through a tight agenda and limited public presentations and questions. The first presentation was on robotics education in Kentucky, led by Representative Chris Lewis, Kentucky FIRST Robotics executive director Kelly Gowen, and students from Whitfield Academy. They argued that robotics should be expanded in high schools as a workforce pipeline for engineering, manufacturing, and advanced technology jobs. The presentation emphasized hands-on learning, industry certifications, teacher development, and a proposed framework to fund robotics education programs statewide. Committee members were not allowed to ask questions because of time constraints. The second presentation was from Canopy Kentucky, led by Adam Watson and founder Scott Collins. They described Canopy’s business and entrepreneurship education programs for fifth graders and high school students, including the NextGen Good Biz initiative and an eight-classroom high school unit. Canopy requested a one-time $750,000 appropriation for fiscal year 2026, matched by private funds, to expand into more schools and rural areas, train educators, and report outcomes. Members asked a brief question about how the programs fit into school schedules and the difference between the elementary and high school offerings. The final presentation, from KDE’s Kelly Foster and Todd Allen, reviewed the state’s school improvement classifications. Foster explained CSI, TSI, and ATSI status, the federal and state legal framework, and how House Bill 298 returned CSI identification to an annual cycle. She reported that Kentucky identified 50 CSI schools on the most recent release, with 53 CSI schools statewide, along with 39 TSI schools and 102 ATSI schools. She also outlined KDE’s support process, including education recovery staff, diagnostic reviews, turnaround plans, and required professional learning for CSI schools.

Transcript Highlights:

• I am a social studies educator for 24 years and a mom of two school-age boys.
• Part of HB 4 is eliminating the mandatory requirement of social studies assessments.
• that they are playing within before the game is actually played, and I believe the 2023 lawsuit was
• What I'm really here to do, though, is to testify against the shameful game of politics being placed.
• It's not an accurate measurement of the skills we have or don't.' We got our hopes up.

Bills: HB4 , HB20

Committee: Senate Education K-16

Keywords: district composition, congressional election, Texas, legislature, voting districts, fraudulent solicitation, disaster relief, nonprofit organizations, criminal penalties, consumer protection, fraud prevention, charitable donations

Summary: The committee first took up House Bill 2853, which would allow the UT System Board of Regents to adjust the University of Texas at El Paso student union fee above the current statutory cap, subject to student approval, to help fund a new student union building. Senator Blanco explained the bill and the committee substitute, there were no questions or witnesses, public testimony was closed, and the committee adopted the substitute and left the bill pending subject to the call of the chair. The committee then heard House Bill 610, which would limit severance payments for terminated independent school district superintendents to six months’ salary and benefits. Senator Paxton described large severance payouts and said the bill had passed the House overwhelmingly. There were no witnesses, public testimony was closed, and the bill was left pending. A lengthy hearing followed on House Bill 4623, which would waive school district immunity in certain cases involving negligent hiring, supervision, or employment of professional school employees who commit abuse or related misconduct against students. Senator Paxton and several witnesses, including survivors and parents, argued the bill was needed to address cover-ups, delayed reporting, and repeated failures to remove dangerous employees; some members raised concerns about liability caps, litigation, and how the bill would interact with the Tort Claims Act. The committee also heard from TEA staff and employee-group witnesses who discussed possible injunctions and stronger no-hire protections. Public testimony was then closed and the bill was left pending. Finally, the committee heard House Bill 4, an accountability and assessment bill that would restore A-F ratings, change the state testing system, and replace STAAR with shorter, more instructionally useful assessments. Senator Bettencourt explained the committee substitute, including annual ratings, limits on taxpayer-funded lawsuits, and a phased-in testing redesign with beginning, middle, and end-of-year assessments. Testimony was generally supportive from education and business groups, though some witnesses favored norm-referenced testing while others emphasized criterion-referenced, TEKS-aligned assessments; one witness noted social studies assessments were restored in the bill. The hearing concluded with additional invited testimony and no final vote reported in the transcript.

Transcript Highlights:

• Socialization.
• The skilled workforce, the skilled labor, we have a real shortage in those areas.
• What skills do we need?
• What skills do we need?
• What skills do we need?

Keywords: 908, all

Summary: The committee first reviewed the 2024-25 tuition waiver report for the North Dakota University System. Staff explained that waivers were reported for degree-seeking students and broken out by residency, institution, and waiver type. Members asked about partial versus full waivers, institutional discretion, athletic waivers, and whether campuses have published guardrails or transparency requirements. Staff said most waivers are set by institutions, with some statutory and board-required categories, and that athletic waivers are a small share of total waiver dollars. The report showed total gross tuition of $354.5 million, tuition waived of $38.9 million, and 11,193 of 42,040 students receiving some waiver. Members also discussed how waivers affect net tuition revenue, housing and food collections, and whether campuses are using waivers strategically compared with scholarships and other funding sources. The committee then heard a presentation on tuition rates by campus and State Board policy. Staff explained the board’s tuition factors for resident, Minnesota reciprocity, contiguous-state/U.S. nonresident, and international students, and noted that campuses often seek exceptions based on program-specific competition and enrollment goals. Members asked whether rates are based on cost or competition, and staff said campuses typically bring forward estimates and market comparisons when requesting special rates. The presentation also reviewed general fund appropriations versus net tuition revenue by campus, and members discussed how local tuition decisions and waivers do not directly affect the state funding formula, though they do affect institutional revenue and reserves. Questions were also raised about the Higher Learning Commission’s financial composite indicator and how it differs from the more intuitive reserve and revenue figures. The committee next received a broad overview of non-higher-education entities affiliated with the State Board of Higher Education, beginning with NDSU agriculture-related units. Dr. Greg Lardy described the State Board of Agricultural Research and Education, the NDSU Extension Service, the Agricultural Experiment Station, and the branch research centers, emphasizing their statewide role in crop and livestock research, extension education, and county-based outreach. He outlined funding mixes for extension, the experiment station, and branch stations, noting that grants and contracts support both research and education, while the agronomy seed farm is self-funded through seed sales. Members asked about the new and vacant FTE pool, R1 research status, matching requirements for grants, and whether state appropriations count toward research expenditures. Dr. Lardy also highlighted major research impacts, including crop varieties, virtual fencing, AI-assisted weed control, and NDAWN weather data. The Northern Crops Institute and the Upper Great Plains Transportation Institute also presented. NCI described its role in market development, technical services, and education for regional agriculture, its governance through the Northern Crops Council, and its funding from state appropriations, other states, and earned revenue. Members asked about the source of out-of-state funding, intellectual property, and the institute’s international reach. UGPTI then outlined its transportation research, federal and state funding structure, and work on road and bridge condition assessments, travel demand modeling, and workforce training. No votes were taken during the portion of the meeting reflected in the transcript.

Transcript Highlights:

• It's also skill.
• You think about connectivity with social media, video games.
• It could be a big game changer for them, in my opinion.
• PSRS do not pay into Social Security.
• do not pay into Social Security.

Committee: House Professional Registration and Licensing

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Page 38, item F21, back when the original code was written, eye gaming and online gaming did not exist
• patronized by people who are a little bit older, and we want to make sure that the integrity of the game
• We want to ensure that these costs are not socialized to other existing ratepayers.
• We want to ensure that these costs are not socialized to other existing ratepayers.
• , Representative Veley, that only being on the job about 90 days, I didn't know you had such great skill

Committee: House State Affairs

Summary: The committee first approved the minutes from March 16 and then considered several administrative rule dockets. The Idaho State Lottery explained changes to clarify ownership language, update references to online/draw gaming, and strengthen bingo paper verification; the Secretary of State’s office said its docket removed outdated lobbying and sunshine-reporting rules that had been moved into statute; and the Department of Administration described housekeeping changes to Capitol Mall parking rules, including streamlining obsolete language. All three rule dockets were adopted without opposition, though members asked questions about Capitol parking fees and possible legislative parking accommodations. The committee then heard Senate Bill 1258, which would create a specialty liquor license for certain rural distilleries, allowing them to serve their own products by the drink on-site and exempting them from food-service requirements. Sponsors said the bill was intended to help a Koenig Distillery location outside Caldwell that cannot access city liquor licenses despite available licenses in the city, and to support agritourism and rural economic development. The distillery owner testified in favor, describing the business, its agricultural roots, and potential job growth. The bill received supportive comments and was sent to the floor with a due pass recommendation. Finally, the committee considered House Bill 911, the Ratepayer Protection Act, which would codify Public Utility Commission practice for new large electric loads of 50 megawatts or more. Sponsors said the bill is intended to prevent costs for new large loads from being shifted to existing ratepayers, require a no-harm review, and ensure financial security for any needed infrastructure so stranded costs are avoided. Representatives from Rocky Mountain Power said the measure aligns with existing PUC practice and helps protect current customers while allowing growth. The bill was also moved to the floor with a due pass recommendation.

Transcript Highlights:

• our social workers, not by huge numbers, but by some.
• We're up to 270 licensed social workers at CYFD.
• I talked about our social workers and what that has done.
• We have done a call out for retired social workers.
• The skill has to be taught, it has to be learned.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'll make a note on that lowest piece, the game and fish.
• I'll make a note on that lowest piece, the game and fish.
• That's the social security disability team. Uh, thank you for the question.
• </c><00:42:35.520><c> And</c> Social Service of Minnesota. And Social Service of Minnesota.
• That's the social security disability team. Uh, thank you for the question.

Committee: House Veterans and Military Affairs Division

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Not only will this hurt the Skilled labor to help complete jobs around the state.
• And the skilled labor is second to none within And the skilled labor is second to none within our union
• use skilled labor.
• We want local skilled craftsmen to be able to live and work in their area.
• We want local skilled craftsmen to be able to live and work in their area.

Bills: S0198 , S0422 , S1236 , S1356 , S1456 , S1722

Committee: Senate Commerce and Tourism

Keywords: virtual currency, kiosks, money services business, regulation, financial services, consumer protection, cryptocurrency, registration, ADS-B, automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast, aviation, airports, airport fees, landing fees, departure fees, touch-and-go landing, general aviation, pilot privacy, airspace radius, aircraft tracking

Summary: The committee first postponed SB 1456, then heard SB 1236, which would condition state economic development incentives on employers using secret-ballot union elections and prohibit neutrality agreements. The sponsor argued the bill protects workers from coercion and applies only to companies receiving taxpayer-funded incentives; opponents said it was government interference, likely to hurt contractors, apprenticeships, and business growth, and raised concerns about federal preemption and Attorney General enforcement. After debate, the committee reported SB 1236 favorably on a recorded vote. The committee then considered CS/SB 198, a measure to regulate cryptocurrency kiosks by requiring operator registration, fraud warnings, transaction limits, blockchain analytics, receipts, and refund protections for certain first-time transactions tied to fraud. Supporters from the banking industry, AARP, and others said the bill would help stop scams that are targeting seniors and vulnerable adults; one industry witness supported the bill but suggested narrowing the limits for existing users and shortening the new-customer period. The committee reported the bill favorably. Next, the committee took up CS/SB 1356 on dog breeding, pet sales, and breeder registration. The sponsor said the bill is intended to curb puppy mills, improve animal welfare, and add consumer protections, while an amendment removed state oversight of local animal shelters. Pet store representatives supported much of the bill but objected to the three-day waiting period for financed purchases, expanded reimbursement, and unfair trade practice penalties; others argued the bill would add red tape and litigation. The committee adopted the amendment and then reported the bill favorably. The committee also heard SB 1722 on app stores and minors, which would require age verification, parental consent for minors, app-content disclosures, and enforcement by the Department of Legal Affairs. Supporters said the bill would help parents protect children online; opponents warned it could force collection of sensitive personal data, create privacy and constitutional problems, and duplicate existing parental tools. Members debated the balance between child safety and privacy, and the committee reported the bill favorably. Finally, the committee heard CS/SB 422 on ADS-B aviation data, which would bar use of ADS-B information to calculate certain landing or access fees; an amendment added departures to the restriction. Pilots supported the bill as a safety and privacy measure, while airport representatives opposed it as undermining airport finances and shifting costs. The amendment was adopted, and the hearing on the bill began with testimony from both sides.