Transcript Highlights:

• So, I mean, it really depends on the circumstance.
• So, I mean, it really depends on the circumstance.

Summary: The Labor and Workplace Standards Committee heard testimony on several bills. HB 2303 would prohibit employers from requesting, requiring, or coercing employees to receive subcutaneous microchip implants, with enforcement through L&I complaints, civil penalties, and private lawsuits; the sponsor said it was a preventive labor standard and noted there was no opposition. HB 2144 would require employers to give written notice before using electronic monitoring for employee performance evaluations, and testimony split between labor supporters, who said workers should know how they are monitored, and business, local government, trucking, retail, construction, and law enforcement representatives, who raised concerns about broad definitions, safety uses, and litigation exposure. HB 2190 would expand collective bargaining rights for language access providers so missed or canceled appointments could be bargained as compensation; interpreters and union representatives supported it, saying they lose income when clients no-show, while the sponsor said the bill would clarify bargaining rights without changing employment status. The committee also heard HB 2345, a technical change to the state paid family and medical leave premium split in response to IRS guidance. Staff explained the proposed substitute would shift the employer contribution from the medical share to the family share so benefits would not be treated as taxable wages, while keeping the overall premium burden roughly the same; supporters called it a common-sense fix, and some business and school district witnesses said they wanted to avoid additional taxes and preserve program stability. The most extensive debate was over HB 2191, which would make property owners and direct contractors liable for unpaid wages and benefits in construction projects, with exceptions for government and small residential properties. Workers, unions, the Attorney General’s office, and some contractors supported the bill as a way to combat wage theft and level the playing field, while industry groups and subcontractors argued it would impose broad liability on responsible contractors, raise costs, hurt small businesses and minority-owned firms, and should be narrowed with safe harbors or right-to-cure provisions. No votes were taken; the committee held hearings on the bills and adjourned after testimony.

Transcript Highlights:

• They will have the same percentage of the share, and the cost of their monthly amount would depend on
• which plan they've chosen and how many dependents they have.

Keywords: 989, all

Summary: The Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee opened the session with roll call, confirmed a quorum, and introduced new members, staff, and pages. Co-chairs and staff then reviewed JFAC’s role as the legislature’s main budget committee, the committee’s daily schedule, and the resources available through legislative staff, the impact team, and the newly released 2026 Legislative Budget Book and related budget tools. The committee received a detailed briefing from the Division of Financial Management on the JFAC calendar and then from Governor’s Budget Director Lori Wolf on the governor’s FY 2026 and FY 2027 budget recommendations. Wolf said the budget is balanced but tight, relying on a mix of ongoing reductions and one-time actions rather than reserve fund transfers. Major budget actions included a 3% ongoing reduction across most state agencies, reversions of certain one-time balances to the general fund, no recommended pay increase for state employees or teachers, and higher employee health insurance costs. The budget also proposed reductions or policy changes in Medicaid, virtual school funding, Idaho Digital Learning Academy, and some transportation and water-related funds, while preserving funding for public safety, education, water, and transportation priorities. Members questioned the assumptions behind the budget, especially the projected ending balances, the use of one-time transfers, the impact of rising health insurance costs on employees, the effect of Medicaid cuts on services and cost shifts, and the rationale for reductions to online education and IDLA. Several members also asked about the proposed federal tax conformity changes, including the timing of implementation and the treatment of Idaho’s existing R&E tax credit. Wolf said the conformity estimate was based on Tax Commission analysis and that the administration was not recommending use of the budget stabilization fund. No votes or formal actions were taken; the committee concluded by noting that the Economic Outlook Committee would meet later in the week and that JFAC would continue budget hearings the next day.

Transcript Highlights:

• You can get to a billion dollars fairly easily, depending upon production and prices.
• Depending on where you are within the bosque, access to get in and to even be able to fight fires is

Committee: House Water & Natural Resources Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• I mean, generally that's Depends on the size of the fair, the demographic in which they draw people to
• And it also depends on their economy. You know, I mean, reduction of days also is a...

Transcript Highlights:

• The content of that notice will vary depending on how the voter applied to be registered and whether
• Chair, Representative Hudson, the action that would be taken after a match is confirmed would be dependent

Committee: House Fraud Prevention and State Agency Oversight Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• better they know that earlier rather than later when they're fully invested and their family is now depending
• Some of our grant programs, the Department of Education actually has to review, depending if it's a workforce

Transcript Highlights:

• And then we depend on literally tens of thousands of responders from our state agencies or other local
• We went ahead and punted the funding last year because that is going to be dependent on Palm.

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.

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• receipts tax to make loans at below market interest rates, in this instance, zero or two percent, depending
• It just depends on how much work we want to do through the session.

Committee: House New Mexico Finance Authority Oversight Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• Additionally, these families and the entire community can no longer depend on their law enforcement agencies
• I oversee between 9 and 12 depending on how many reserves I have at that point in time.

Bills: SB 15

Committee: House Homeland Security, Public Safety & Veterans' Affairs

Keywords: law enforcement, department file, employee records, misconduct, confidentiality, Texas occupations code, 997, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Additionally, these families and the entire community can no longer depend on their law enforcement agencies
• I'm an agency of between 9 and 12, depending on how many reserves I have at the point in time.

Bills: SB 15

Committee: House Homeland Security, Public Safety & Veterans' Affairs

Keywords: law enforcement, department file, employee records, misconduct, confidentiality, Texas occupations code

Transcript Highlights:

• that there's transparency as folks are ordering things because as you've said people's lives can depend
• planning requirements for local governments and local and creating setbacks from sensitive receptors dependent

Committee: House Appropriations

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• In terms of millions of dollars, they occur, of course, depending on what each individual tenant might
• So I just want to preface that answering your question depends on what the real question is—what people

Committee: House Economic & Rural Development & Policy Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• individual business owner to leave the state or quit doing business because they were 100 percent. dependent
• Lots of conversation around veterans and potential armed to veteran community that are dependent upon

Bills: SB5 , SB11 , SB12 , SB9 , SB42 , SB15 , SB5 , SB11 , SB12 , SCR1

Keywords: hemp regulation, consumable products, cannabinoids, occupational licenses, criminal offenses, SB 11, Texas attorney general, election crimes, election law enforcement, criminal prosecution, Election Code, Government Code Chapter 402, local prosecutors, county attorney, district attorney, grand jury, probable cause reports, state election offenses, voter fraud, election integrity

Transcript Highlights:

• And that oftentimes depends upon the size of...
• What is the workforce for their spouse, depending on what they might be?

Committee: House Legislative Health & Human Services Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• But also because the rideshare marketplace depends on drivers signing up.
• expand Lifeline to broadband, and potentially increase taxes on wireless subscribers by 33, 35%, depending

Summary: The Assembly Communications and Conveyance Committee heard three bills. SB 371 by Senator Cabaldon would reduce uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage requirements for transportation network companies from $1 million to $100,000 per person and $300,000 per accident, with committee amendments adding findings and declarations, higher limits than originally proposed, and a joint study on UM/UIM impacts. Supporters, including Uber, Lyft, business groups, and some consumer advocates, argued the bill would lower fares and increase driver earnings by reducing insurance costs. Opponents, including consumer attorneys, labor groups, and consumer watchdog organizations, warned it would cut protections for riders and drivers and might not guarantee savings would be passed through. The committee approved SB 371 on a due-pass basis and re-referred it to Appropriations by a 9-0 vote. The committee then heard SB 716 by Senator Durazo, which would create a Home Internet Lifeline Program to let eligible low-income households apply Lifeline subsidies to home broadband service. Proponents said the bill addresses broadband affordability after the federal Affordable Connectivity Program expired, and that it would help students, workers, and families access reliable internet. Opponents from the wireless industry objected to the funding mechanism, arguing the surcharge would fall unfairly on wireless consumers, while one broadband group moved to neutral after amendments. The bill was approved on a due-pass basis and sent to Appropriations, but the roll was held open and later completed with the bill passing 7-1. The committee also took up SB 480 by Senator Archuleta relating to autonomous vehicles as a consent item, with no presentation or debate. It was approved on a due-pass basis and re-referred to Appropriations by a 9-0 vote. Throughout the hearing, members repeatedly focused on affordability, consumer protection, and whether savings from the bills would actually reach riders, drivers, or households.

Transcript Highlights:

• Depending on that person's performance, their experience, education, etc., that really dictates the starting
• So the maximum is 75%, but somebody could be hired. depending on their qualifications and what seems

Committee: House Legislative Council

Transcript Highlights:

• So then there's a question about how much people are going to be available over the weekend, depending
• all working really uniquely because each one of the committees has different things that come in depending

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Depending on the property in question, the Texas Comptroller's Office manages the unclaimed property.
• Also, within child pornography, depending on the number of images... ...or videos you have, your punishment

Bills: HB33 , HB45 , HB48 , HB1261 , HB1465 , HB1778 , HB2596 , HB5238 , SB2969 , HB45 , HB48

Committee: Senate Criminal Justice

Keywords: HB 48, oilfield theft, organized theft, petroleum products, oil and gas equipment, DPS, Department of Public Safety, Texas, Railroad Commission, criminal justice, energy resources, theft prevention, organized crime, border region, El Paso, law enforcement task force, asset recovery, pipeline theft, drilling equipment, equipment theft

Transcript Highlights:

• any personal property, usually financial assets that have been unclaimed for up to 5 years, and depending
• Also within child pornography, depending on the number of images or videos you have, your punishment

Bills: HB 33 , HB 45 , HB 48 , HB 1261 , HB 1465 , HB 1778 , HB 2596 , HB 5238 , SB 2969

Committee: Senate Criminal Justice

Keywords: HB 48, oilfield theft, organized theft, petroleum products, oil and gas equipment, DPS, Department of Public Safety, Texas, Railroad Commission, criminal justice, energy resources, theft prevention, organized crime, border region, El Paso, law enforcement task force, asset recovery, pipeline theft, drilling equipment, equipment theft

Transcript Highlights:

• that make it harder for patients to access the care they urgently need, often prolonging pain and dependence
• This could be true depending on the zip code that you live in because maybe you have a zip code with

Keywords: 988, house, all