Transcript Highlights:

• Is that correct, Sam Coop? You can call it that.
• experience.<00:03:09.120> Is<00:03:09.280> that<00:03:09.440> correct,<00:03:10.000> Sam
• Is that correct, Sam Coop? experience. Is that correct, Sam Coop?

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm Dan Lemus, and I'm with Chris Balderson, Sam Cummins, Andrew Craft, and Elliot Chapel, and we were
• I'm Dan lemus and I'm with Chris proceed I'm Dan lemus and I'm with Chris balderson<00:10:13.600> Sam
• cumins<00:10:14.440> Andrew<00:10:14.800> craft<00:10:15.079> and balderson Sam
• cumins Andrew craft and balderson Sam cumins Andrew craft and Elliot<00:10:15.560> chapel<00:
• Elliot chapel and we were from Sam Elliot chapel and we were from Sam margam<00:10:17.079> Mar

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The House Primary and Secondary Education Committee met and first took up House Bill 14, which would establish Alyssa’s Law in Kentucky public schools. The bill, as amended by committee substitute, would allow districts to implement wearable panic alert systems for school staff beginning in the 2025-26 school year. Sponsor Rep. Kevin Jackson and supporters described the system as a silent badge/button that can alert school offices, 911, first responders, and other personnel, with different button sequences for different emergencies. Testimony from Lori Alade, Alyssa’s mother and founder of Make Our Schools Safe, emphasized that “time equals life” and said the technology can help in active threats, medical emergencies, weather events, and other urgent situations. Students from St. Margaret Mary’s Kentucky Youth Assembly also supported the bill, citing the Georgia school shooting response as an example of how such systems can save lives. Members asked about vendor neutrality, costs, training, and whether the system could be used off campus; sponsors said the bill is intended to be vendor neutral, estimated statewide costs ranged from about $2 million to $6 million, training would be provided before the school year, and they would follow up on the off-campus question. The committee approved HB 14 with the committee substitute attached. The committee then reconsidered and approved House Bill 48, a cleanup measure related to school reporting requirements. The substitute was described as addressing department concerns about eliminating certain reporting forms while preserving district flexibility and reducing burdensome reporting. It would allow schools to maintain or use alternative reporting methods, provide KDE a timeline and guidelines for reporting on Cognia software used for CPS and C-dips, and require a written report to the LRC describing reporting requirements imposed on public schools and districts, with items not reapproved by the legislature sunsetting in 2026. The bill passed the committee with the committee substitute attached. Finally, the committee heard House Bill 190, as amended by committee substitute, which would shift the measure from a planning-and-action bill to a planning-only bill for advanced coursework and codify some gifted-student regulations. Rep. Duvall and Dr. Julia Link Roberts of WKU said the bill is intended to expand opportunities for high-potential students by requiring districts to set policies on advanced coursework or accelerated learning options for grades 4 through 12. The substitute changes the standard from “proficient” to “distinguished,” allows districts flexibility in how they implement the policies, and may require automatic enrollment for students scoring distinguished, with opt-out provisions and a principal exception if coursework conflicts with career pathways or CTE access. Members discussed how the proposal differs from current advanced programs, the broader inclusion of students, and district variation in available opportunities. No final vote on HB 190 was included in the transcript excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm proud to represent Texas's 7th congressional district in Houston and to chair the Texas Democratic
• , uh, Carol Alvarado, who is the, the chair of the Senate Democrats, and, and my friend also from Houston
• There was a Republican that testified in Houston that he didn't want them to do it either.

Transcript Highlights:

• Christi, Wichita, Wichita Falls, Austin, Waco, Lubbock, Amarillo, Houston, and a host of other cities
• In Houston, the way they do it today, you have two personnel files.
• open records request, a Freedom of Information Act request, regarding an officer under this, or in Houston

Bills: SB3073, SJR87

Keywords: Texas criminal procedure, magistrate, probable cause, written findings, arrest review, criminal justice, Article 15.17, pretrial release, judicial recordkeeping, court transparency, law enforcement, defendant rights, criminal proceedings, no probable cause, magistrate findings, bail reform, felony offenses, constitutional amendment, public safety

Summary: The Senate Committee on Criminal Justice met with a quorum present and took up three bills tied to bail reform and law enforcement records. Senator Huffman presented SJR 87, a proposed constitutional amendment that would require denial of bail for people accused of certain serious felony offenses if they have a prior conviction for, or are already on bond for, one of those offenses and there is probable cause to believe they committed another listed offense. Supporters said it would give judges a needed tool to detain repeat violent offenders; opponents from the ACLU of Texas and Texas Civil Rights Project argued it would mandate detention without individualized due process and weaken the presumption of innocence. The committee voted 7-1 to report SJR 87 favorably, with Senator Miles voting no. The committee then heard SB 3073, which would require magistrates who find no probable cause after an arrest to enter written findings supporting that determination. Senator Huffman said the bill was a narrow cleanup measure to improve transparency and provide guidance to law enforcement and prosecutors without limiting judicial discretion. With no invited or public testimony, the committee voted 6-1 to report SB 3073 favorably, again with Senator Miles dissenting. Finally, the committee considered SB 781, a committee substitute dealing with law enforcement file management and personnel records. Senator King explained that the bill would standardize policies already used in many Texas cities and under civil service rules, separating public and sealed personnel information while preserving access for criminal defense discovery. Senator Miles raised concerns that sealing exonerated allegations could hide patterns of misconduct and allow problematic officers to move between agencies. The committee adopted the committee substitute and voted 6-1 to report SB 781 favorably, with Senator Miles voting no. The committee then recessed subject to the chair’s call.

Transcript Highlights:

• resolution that's asking the federal government to move NASA's headquarters from Washington DC to Houston
• So we think this is a great opportunity for us to try to say we'd like to have that located in Houston
• So this makes the perfect sense for us to move this from Washington to Houston and have a whole space

Transcript Highlights:

• My name is Christina Morales, State Representative from Houston. to know that Texas leads the way when
• I am an autistic and transgender MSW student at the University of Houston Graduate College of Social
• went on to earn my GED. from community college and eventually found a space at the University of Houston

Keywords: education, curriculum, HB178, diverse history, equity, testimony, higher education crisis, representation

Summary: The meeting was characterized by impactful discussions focused primarily on education and the representation of diverse histories in Texas's curriculum. Notably, Representative Christina Morales advocated for HB178, a bill aimed at ensuring that all Texas high school students have access to Mexican-American and African-American studies as part of their graduation requirements, moving from elective-only status. This bill garnered support from both sides of the aisle, highlighting a cooperative effort to improve educational equity in Texas. Several representatives shared personal stories reflecting on the importance of inclusive education, showcasing the bill's far-reaching implications for students' sense of identity and history.

Transcript Highlights:

• Rachel Van Til, I represent my and also the clubs at Houston Oaks, where I am employed as a wine director
• Houston Oaks, so she needs to re-clarify that. You represent yourself and Houston Oaks.
• Houston Oaks? Yes. Okay, and not yourself? Correct. Okay. Just give us a second. Thank you.

Bills: SB650, HB3667, SB28, HB3201, SB1184, HB1800, SB 28

Keywords: permit issuance, regulatory framework, business operations, efficiency, application process, lottery, gambling, internet gaming, mobile application, criminal offenses, lottery regulations, occupational licensing, fraud prevention, criminal background checks, lottery couriers, SB 1184, Texas Alcoholic Beverage Code, wine collection seller, collectible wine, vintage wine

Transcript Highlights:

• We have four offices across the state in Austin, Dallas, Houston, and Lubbock.
• I'm also a community association lawyer with the law firm of Hoover Slobodchuk LLP in Houston.
• a committee of the Community Associations Institute. there's four chapters in the state of Texas, Houston
• We manage 205 communities in the Houston area. It's about 105,000 homes.

Bills: HB406

Keywords: local economic development, notification, workforce development, municipal agreements, county contracts, 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:26:26.399> New<00:26:26.600> Hampshire Remind us what SAM stands for.
• <01:27:51.800> New um I just want to say uh Sam New um I just want to say uh Sam New Hampshire
• Also signed up to speak is Sue Hamala from SAM New Hampshire. Thank you very much.
• Sam, uh, Sue Homa from Sam New Hampshire, uh, there are some—we're here to oppose this bill.
• affiliate a few times today project Sam affiliate a few times today project Sam is<04:44:12.000>

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I have also been honored to work alongside Senator Mike Gabbert and Representative Sam Kong in obtaining
• I have also been honored to work alongside Senator Mike Gabbert and Representative Sam Kong in obtaining

Bills: HB9, SB2723

Keywords: HB9, Hawaii Purple Heart state, Purple Heart, Purple Heart recipients, veterans, military, armed forces, service members, combat wounded, war veterans, military honors, state designation, symbolic legislation, honorary designation, Chapter 5 HRS, Hawaii Revised Statutes, military appreciation, veteran recognition, law enforcement, State Sheriffs Day

Summary: The Committee on Culture and the Arts heard testimony on HB 9 HD1, which would designate Hawaii as a Purple Heart State, and SB 2723, relating to State Sheriff’s Day. On HB 9 HD1, Takumi Abby of Purple Heart Chapter 483 testified in strong support, saying the bill would recognize the service and sacrifice of combat-wounded veterans and honor Purple Heart recipients and their families. Additional support was noted from the Office of Veterans Services, the Hawaii Military Affairs Council, and CARES, whose representative Angela Melody Young described related veteran-honoring efforts in Honolulu and across Oahu and said the state designation would extend that recognition statewide. Members then moved to decision-making on HB 9 HD1. One member briefly commented on family military service and the importance of remembering Purple Heart recipients. The committee voted to adopt the chair’s recommendation to pass the measure as is, with all members present voting aye. For SB 2723, the chair indicated the committee would further defer the date, while also recommending passage with amendments. The committee voted on the amended version and adopted the chair’s recommendation with no objections or reservations.

Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you so much for bringing forward this bill in honor of our previous colleague, Sam Killebrew.
• When an animal-friendly bill comes to us, I always think of Sam, and I'm hoping that this particular

Transcript Highlights:

• We have our staff director, Kevin Sweeney, our policy chief, James Bufanis, our legislative analyst, Sam
• We have our staff director, Kevin Sweeney, our policy chief, James Bufanis, our legislative analyst, Sam

Summary: The Select Committee on Congressional Redistricting held its first meeting, established a quorum, and opened with remarks from the chair outlining the committee’s purpose and scope. The chair said the committee will focus only on congressional redistricting, will not take public comment at this introductory meeting, and may consider whether to propose a new congressional map ahead of the 2026 session. He emphasized that the work would rely on the 2020 census data, the current congressional map, and the House’s map-drawing software, and he stressed transparency, record retention, and compliance with constitutional prohibitions on drawing districts to favor or disfavor a party or incumbent. House outside counsel Andy Bartos then gave an educational presentation on redistricting basics and legal standards. He distinguished reapportionment from redistricting, explained that Florida was apportioned 28 congressional seats after the 2020 census, and reviewed the one-person, one-vote rule, noting that congressional districts must be drawn with near-exact population equality. He also described census geography and how counties, tracts, block groups, and blocks are used to build districts, and explained that congressional redistricting follows the ordinary legislative process rather than the special process used for state legislative districts. Bartos also covered contiguity, explaining that districts must be one connected piece and that mere point-touching is not enough, while bodies of water within a district do not necessarily break contiguity. No questions were asked after the presentation, no votes were taken, and no public testimony was heard. The meeting ended after the chair thanked attendees and said the committee would meet again the following week.

Transcript Highlights:

• Hello, my name is Jordan Price, but I'll be reading the testimony of Sam Bartley. ... be reading the
• testimony of Sam Bartley, who couldn't be here today.

Bills: HB45, HB79, SB79

Keywords: Medicaid, colorectal cancer, screening tests, noninvasive tests, preventive care, off-label, pharmacists, medical treatment, state board of pharmacy, employment protection, sex-based terminology, gender identity, male, female, man, woman, boy, girl, single-sex spaces, women's rights

Transcript Highlights:

• , uh, my brother Fernando suffered a mental breakdown and had to see studies at the University of Houston
• James Carruthers, uh, Coalition for the Homeless, Houston Harris County in support of Senate Bill, uh
• At Coalition for the Homeless, we know who these individuals are in the greatest, greater Houston area

Bills: SB 53

Keywords: voter registration, election procedures, provisional ballot, change of address, residence requirements

Transcript Highlights:

• Hi everyone, my name is Christina Morales, state representative from Houston.
• I That I am an autistic and transgender MSW student at the University of Houston Graduate College of
• earn my GED, graduated from community college, and eventually found a space at the University of Houston

Transcript Highlights:

• Chair calls Melanie Houston. Chair calls Melanie Houston.
• I'm in Precinct 2 serving in the Lake Livingston area, just north of Houston.
• I've worked Houston, I've worked San Antonio, and I'm from Cameron County.
• I've worked Houston, I've worked San Antonio, and I'm from Cameron County.
• I work out at NRG Stadium in Houston.

Summary: The committee heard testimony on several public safety, criminal justice, and regulatory bills. HB 4995 would create a training and certification program allowing licensed physicians and certain EMS personnel assigned to tactical units to carry firearms during high-risk deployments, with supporters saying it would let tactical medical staff protect themselves while providing immediate care; the bill was left pending. HB 2609 would repeal the failure-to-appear-or-pay/OmniBase license-hold program, with the author and advocates arguing it creates compounding debt and unnecessary barriers to driving, while judges and municipal court representatives said the program is a voluntary, cost-effective tool that improves court appearances and reduces warrants; the bill was also left pending. HB 4879 would create a grant program to help local law enforcement pay for lab testing of suspected hemp/Delta-9 THC substances, and HB 5436 would let licensed auto recyclers buy certain untitled vehicles for scrap or parts to curb illegal sales, VIN cloning, and chop shops; both measures were left pending after brief testimony in support. The committee also heard HB 1777, which would require a discrete designation on driver’s licenses and state IDs for people required to register as sex offenders. The author and supporters argued the marker would help law enforcement and businesses quickly identify potentially dangerous offenders and prevent harm, while opponents called it a stigmatizing “scarlet letter” that would increase harassment, family harm, and reintegration barriers. The bill was left pending. HB 4155 would create a two-year Family Violence Criminal Homicide Prevention Task Force in the Governor’s Office to study family violence homicides, gather stakeholders, and recommend policy changes; the author, HHSC, the Texas Council on Family Violence, and a survivor testified in support, and the bill was left pending. The committee also heard HB 4514, which would authorize DPS to use facial image verification, with consent and privacy safeguards, to help businesses confirm identities and combat fraud; supporters from the lumber and identity-verification industries said it would reduce theft and fraud, and the bill was left pending. Finally, HB 5139 would clarify that peace officers and jailers are justified in using less lethal force weapons when acting within training and official duties; law enforcement groups supported the measure as a way to encourage use of less lethal tools without fear of prosecution, and testimony was underway when the transcript ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• And Carrie Buckley, Joe O'Donnell, Mike O'Pano, Regina Skinner, Chris Stewart, and Christina Sam Dee.
• Chris Stewart and Christina Sam Dee. Thank you all for the four of the students.
• news of our work out to our constituents, out to you, so you can send it out to your constituents: Sam

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Senate took up a long series of FY26 budget amendments during debate on the Ways and Means budget bill. Early on, an amendment on debt service and the Debt Affordability Committee was rejected. A major education amendment offered by Senator Lewis and supported by Senator Comerford was then adopted; it directs DESE to begin a public process, with $200,000 in funding, to review and recommend updates to the Chapter 70 municipal contribution formula and related school funding structures as the Student Opportunity Act nears full implementation. Senators argued that school districts across the Commonwealth are under severe fiscal strain, citing rising special education, transportation, health insurance, and Proposition 2 1/2 pressures, and that the current formulas are increasingly out of alignment with local needs. The chamber also considered and voted on many other amendments, with several adopted and several rejected. Adopted amendments included measures on public payroll transparency, regional EMS, a small business group purchasing cooperative pilot, simplifying Medicaid eligibility determinations, and early education background checks. Rejected amendments included proposals on first-time homebuyer savings accounts, population change studies, competitiveness studies, emergency contract reform, natural gas cost containment, a $200 per pupil aid increase, regional school reimbursement increases, a Foundation Budget Review Commission-related study, special education service studies, welfare benefit audits, short-term capital gains, and an MBTA sustainability plan. Senator Durant also spoke in support of Amendment 766, which would create a crumbling concrete assistance fund for homeowners affected by pyrrhotite, with tax-exempt aid, federal funding applications, audits, and a stakeholder working group. Near the end of debate, Senator D. DiDomenico praised the Shannon Grant program for gang violence prevention, and the Senate adopted a final corrective amendment containing technical fixes and local earmarks. The bill was then ordered to a third reading and, after a roll call on engrossment, passed to be engrossed by a vote of 38-2. The Senate also approved a motion to adjourn to the following Tuesday at 11:00 a.m. and recessed in memory of Yaron Lashinsky, Sarah Lynn Milgram, and Leslie A. Feeney.

Transcript Highlights:

• Sam Kerce chief of staff from Dbpr markers.
• And this is just a really quick question for Sam, 78, And this is just a really quick question for Sam

Transcript Highlights:

• Leslie Caldwell, Houston, for the California Public Defenders Association, in support.
• Leslie Caldwell, Houston, for the California Public Defenders Association, in support.
• Leslie Caldwell, Houston, for the California Public Defenders Association, in support.
• Leslie Caldwell Houston for the California Public Defenders Association.
• Leslie Caldwell, Houston, for the California Public Defenders Association in support.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• east side of Houston also because that's what should happen.
• You get to downtown maybe from East Houston but you don't get all the way to West Houston because you
• But with schools I know in Houston that are private, and I won't call names, but they're up to forty
• In Houston it's a big city... 640,000 miles wide.
• Ullman: The superintendent of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston will be testifying later, Dr.

Bills: HB 3

Keywords: emergency communication, public safety, interoperability, Texas Interoperability Council, grant program, emergency communications, public safety radio, first responders, radio system, dispatch, 911, emergency management, Texas Division of Emergency Management, public safety infrastructure, Project 25, P25, broadband emergency alerting, outdoor warning sirens, homeland security, disaster response