Bills: HR213, SB2607, SB2043, SB2396, SB2835

Keywords: Hawaiian Council, Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement, Native Hawaiian, Native Hawaiian community, Native Hawaiian advocacy, recognition resolution, ceremonial resolution, nonprofit, community development, economic development, cultural preservation, self-sufficiency, housing counseling, community development financial institution, CDFI, small business accelerator, trades academy, tourism, regenerative tourism, iwi kūpuna

Bills: HR213, SB2607, SB2043, SB2396, SB2835

Keywords: Hawaiian Council, Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement, Native Hawaiian, Native Hawaiian community, Native Hawaiian advocacy, recognition resolution, ceremonial resolution, nonprofit, community development, economic development, cultural preservation, self-sufficiency, housing counseling, community development financial institution, CDFI, small business accelerator, trades academy, tourism, regenerative tourism, iwi kūpuna

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm trusted as the last line in medical management between life and death for our community every day
• It requires the board to ensure that the privacy and confidentiality of all dispensing data, not just
• patient data, is collected and undisclosed unless otherwise specified.
• But the way the bill is written, where it says if you have any utilization management or steps on an
• say, I apologize—on behalf of the Arizona Association of Health Plans, which represents the Access managed

Bills: HB2408, HB2434, HB2725, HB2728, HB2729, HB2730, HB2731, HB2732, HB2733

Keywords: nursing board, regulatory actions, disciplinary actions, expungement, healthcare professionalism, controlled substances, prescription monitoring, opioid crisis, healthcare regulations, patient safety, prescription drugs, opioids, healthcare, pain management, utilization controls, AHCCCS, Department of Economic Security, social services, welfare programs, vocational rehabilitation

Summary: The committee first took up several continuation bills to extend state boards and agencies, including HB 2728 for the Department of Economic Security, HB 2729 for the State Board of Nursing, HB 2730 for the Board of Occupational Therapy Examiners, HB 2731 for the Physician Assistants Board, and HB 2732 for the Board of Pharmacy. Each was moved for a due pass recommendation, with HB 2731 amended to continue the physician assistant board for four years instead of two. All of these continuation bills passed the committee with strong support. The committee then heard HB 2408, a nursing board reform bill dealing with complaint investigation procedures, timelines, confidentiality, complaint prioritization, access to investigative files, expungement of certain disciplinary actions, and a revised definition of unprofessional conduct. The sponsor and supporters argued it would improve fairness, allow limited expungement for older non-patient-safety issues, and address long investigation delays. The nursing board president and other opponents warned it would raise the evidentiary standard, weaken patient safety protections, and erase useful disciplinary history. After extensive testimony, the committee adopted an amendment and passed the bill 7-4-1. Next, the committee considered pharmacy-related reforms. HB 2434 updated the controlled substances prescription monitoring program, including registration, reporting, confidentiality, and a compliance work group; it passed unanimously after amendment. HB 2733 allowed pharmacists and technicians to complete continuing education after renewal submission if finished before expiration, clarified prescription delivery locations, and addressed temporary operation during ownership changes; it also passed unanimously after amendment. Finally, HB 2725, which would have restricted access contractors from substituting non-opioid drugs and limiting non-opioid utilization controls, drew concerns that it was too broad and could affect many drug classes and costs. After amendment and debate, the committee failed to give HB 2725 a due pass recommendation by a 6-6 vote, and the meeting adjourned.

Bills: SB1192, SB1264, SB1284, SB1810, SB1921

Keywords: substance abuse, counseling, assessment fees, mental health, alcohol and drug programs, domestic violence, domestic abuse, assault and battery, assault, battery, strangulation, dangerous weapon, family or household member, intimate partner, pregnant woman, great bodily injury, batterers intervention program, batterers' intervention, anger management, victim safety

Bills: HB483, HB3345, HB3643, HB3821, HB3849, HB4472, HB4523, HB4524, HB5346, HB5347, HB5376

Keywords: high-speed rail, Texas Department of Transportation, TxDOT, public-private partnership, comprehensive development agreement, CDA, Interstate 35, I-35 corridor, Dallas, Waco, Austin, San Antonio, intercity passenger rail, rail infrastructure, private entity, transportation infrastructure, rail corridor, passenger rail, infrastructure finance, vehicle registration

Transcript Highlights:

• Texas law with TxDOT's current agreement with the Federal Aviation Administration regarding the management
• TxDOT's current agreement with the Federal Aviation Administration regarding the management of state
• If we allow for market-based pricing, like tolling or managed lanes, we give Texas citizens the freedom
• HB5346 would further limit our tools to manage growth wisely, increase traffic, and place even greater

Bills: HB483, HB3345, HB3643, HB3821, HB3849, HB4472, HB4523, HB4524, HB5346, HB5347, HB5376

Keywords: high-speed rail, Texas Department of Transportation, TxDOT, public-private partnership, comprehensive development agreement, CDA, Interstate 35, I-35 corridor, Dallas, Waco, Austin, San Antonio, intercity passenger rail, rail infrastructure, private entity, transportation infrastructure, rail corridor, passenger rail, infrastructure finance, vehicle registration

Transcript Highlights:

• The goal is going to be market value and the quality of the data coming in when we're going to analyze
• Like many cities, we want to keep property taxes manageable.
• So I think that that's probably a data set that we will start to build on.
• I don't know that we have a broad scope of data on that yet. Okay.
• of data sets that we can take a look at for our own sales.

Bills: HB329, HB361, HB546, HB1547, HB1745, HB2786, HB3235, HB3370, HB3575, HJR83

Keywords: appraisal, property value, residential real estate, tax code, appraisal review board, property owners, property tax, homeowners, property owner rights, property appraisal, taxation, Texas Tax Code, real estate, ad valorem tax, homestead exemption, market value, condemnation, tax appraisal, open-space land, land use

Transcript Highlights:

• Gains permanent managing conservatorship of the child, ensuring long-term financial support, and instead
• HB 741 amends the family code to expand support services, which may now include case management services
• In addition to that, we would need some positions as well to be able to manage the number.
• Again, my name is Sara Saeed, I serve as the policy manager. Juntos.
• You manage to feed and change the baby and the next morning you wake up and it hits you.

Bills: HB741, HB 1199, HB2070, HB2402, HB2542, HB2665, HB2789, HB3096, HB3396, HB3595, HB3747, HB4116, HB4127

Keywords: child welfare, relative caregiver, monetary assistance, Department of Family and Protective Services, child custody, family law, emergency power, nursing facilities, assisted living, generator requirements, health and safety, emergency generators, power outage, emergency generator, assisted living facilities, power source, child abuse, neglect registry, court findings, Medicaid

Transcript Highlights:

• leading to the notification of certain persons concerning certain events related to children in the. managing
• It could be through a RMG. through our records management group that actually de-identifies and can send

Bills: HB741, HB 1199, HB2070, HB2402, HB2542, HB2665, HB2789, HB3096, HB3396, HB3595, HB3747, HB4116, HB4127

Keywords: child welfare, relative caregiver, monetary assistance, Department of Family and Protective Services, child custody, family law, emergency power, nursing facilities, assisted living, generator requirements, health and safety, emergency generators, power outage, emergency generator, assisted living facilities, power source, child abuse, neglect registry, court findings, Medicaid

Transcript Highlights:

• I can get you the data on the number of rural folks that go through our program.
• They create accountability that internal management doesn't always provide itself.
• plan that improves the efficiency and effectiveness of data-sharing and data-governance activities,
• that no new data center can qualify for data center equipment TPP exemptions during this period.
• are really angry about what's going on with data centers.

Bills: HB4154, HB4155, HB4156, HB4157, HB4158, HB4159, HB4160, HB4161, HB4162, HB4163, HB4164, HB4165, HB4166, HB4167, HB4168, HB4169, SB1847, SB1848, SB1849, SB1850, SB1851, SB1852, SB1853, SB1854, SB1855, SB1856, SB1857, SB1858, SB1859, SB1860, SB1861, SB1862

Keywords: general appropriations act, budget, biennial budget, state spending, fiscal year 2026-2027, appropriations, state agencies, public funding, education funding, health and human services, public safety, transportation, government operations, budget bill, fiscal policy, state finance, spending plan, legislative budget, capital appropriations, operating budget

Transcript Highlights:

• The data that's being cited and what we are relying on, first and foremost, was a nationally regarded
• There must be qualitative data that supports the quantitative data that we have.
• Additionally, since this bill has started moving, all of that quantitative data has been called into
• I don't have the data right in front of me, so I can find it if the committee is interested.
• And we need to look at, even if you had the data, you can't look at just raw data and numbers because

Bills: HCR11, HB153, HB278, HB424, HB454, HB455, HB687, HB816, HB833, HB942, HB1053, HB1097, HB1147, HB1148, HB1190, SB75, SB85, SB197, SB200, SB217

Keywords: Camp Beauregard, Louisiana National Guard, Youth Challenge Program, military affairs, Pineville, National Guard training, emergency response, youth development, alternative education, high school equivalency, GED, at-risk youth, leadership training, job skills, citizenship, veterans, state military operations, mobilization, logistics staging area, public service

Transcript Highlights:

• Right, she wants to attend Randall University to study business management.

Bills: HR1037, HR1043, SB1491, SB1451, SB1286, SB1581, SB1521, SB201, SB1290, SB169, SB1377, SB1991, SB1346, SB1509, SB1928, SB2028, SB2071, SB2110, SB2117, SB2127, SB2134, SB722, SB3

Keywords: National Poetry Month, poetry, education, cultural celebration, arts and humanities, child abuse, prevention, community support, family safety, child welfare, presidential electors, vacancies, oath of office, political party, elections, voter registration, election integrity, Secretary of State, cancellation of registration, gender neutrality

Transcript Highlights:

• insurance industry to regulate the insurance industry, and that's primarily where our money comes from to manage
• money comes that's primarily where our money comes from<00:11:12.079> to<00:11:12.320> manage
• <00:11:13.839> Uh<00:11:14.320> years<00:11:14.560> ago, from to manage our
• Uh years ago, from to manage our agency.

Bills: SB7, SB22, SB39, SB40, SB45, SB46, SB86, SB95, SB107, SB7, SB22, SB39, SB40, SB45, SB46, SB86, SB95, SB107

Keywords: voting rights, absentee ballot, protected classes, Alabama Voting Rights Act, felony conviction, election integrity, preclearance, Alabama Jobs Act, incentives, job creation, economic development, recapture provisions, capital investment, employment, board governance, occupational licensing, Sunset Law, public accountability, training requirements, SB40

Transcript Highlights:

• In order for us to effectively address these issues through data, then we must do so with the lens of
• to help design those outreach programs would be difficult if you couldn't look at the data when you're
• Members, uh, Senate Bill 825 is about data, transparency and giving our state leaders the tools they
• We need clear data to determine how taxpayer dollars are being stretched and where additional support
• or external estimates, but are equipped with comprehensive verifiable data grounded in Texas-specific

Bills: SB 231, SB 667, SB 689, SB 825, SB 965, SB 992, SB 1059, SB 1220, SB 2368, SB 2601

Keywords: temporary emergency electric energy facility, temporary generation, emergency power, backup generation, mobile generator, portable generator, grid resilience, power outage restoration, transmission and distribution utility, TDU, Public Utility Commission of Texas, PUCT, Utilities Code Section 39.918, competitive bidding, lease authorization, emergency procurement, bulk power system, locational marginal pricing, reliability model, black start

Transcript Highlights:

• to create a task force to study maternal mortality, for example, it could no longer look at racial data
• to do a public awareness campaign about sickle cell disease, you would assume that they, based on data
• I think it's also fair to say that even just gathering the data about which groups are being impacted
• We need clear data to determine how taxpayer dollars are being stretched and where additional support
• or external estimates but are equipped with comprehensive, verifiable data grounded in Texas-specific

Bills: SB231, SB667, SB689, SB825, SB965, SB992, SB1059, SB1220, SB2368, SB2601

Keywords: temporary emergency electric energy facility, temporary generation, emergency power, backup generation, mobile generator, portable generator, grid resilience, power outage restoration, transmission and distribution utility, TDU, Public Utility Commission of Texas, PUCT, Utilities Code Section 39.918, competitive bidding, lease authorization, emergency procurement, bulk power system, locational marginal pricing, reliability model, black start

Transcript Highlights:

• There's also a tremendous lack of long-term safety data, which we've learned in the past is critically
• And so I'm on the board of another nonprofit that gave a FOIA request to the CDC for the V-SAFE data,
• He had looked at the O3 data. He said, My cardiologist said, “Don’t take it.”
• He had looked at the O3 data. He said, “There’s issues with clotting. You don’t need it.
• questions, his anger management person got angry with him and kicked him out.

Bills: HB18, HB37, HB 116, HB388, HB879, HB913, HB 1151, HB2216, HB2358, HB2809, SB577, SB1590, SB1782, SB1887, SB2744

Keywords: rural health, hospital funding, healthcare access, mental health services, financial stability, perinatal bereavement, healthcare, hospital training, bereavement support, maternal care, fetal demise, stillbirth, neonatal death, parent-child relationship, involuntary termination, family law, child welfare, child protection, HB 388, HB388

Summary: The committee first reopened testimony on House Bill 2216, which would strengthen child welfare requirements by expanding “active efforts” to help families avoid removal and support reunification, while also raising standards related to removals and terminations. Supporters from child welfare and family defense groups said the bill would better protect families and align Texas more closely with ICWA-style principles, but several warned it would require significant new funding, staffing, and community services such as mental health care, housing, child care, and substance use treatment. The committee then left HB 2216 pending. The committee next heard Senate Bill 1782, aimed at boarding and group homes. Senator Miles said the bill closes enforcement gaps left by prior law by requiring retention of background-check records and creating misdemeanor penalties for failing to conduct or keep them, or for knowingly hiring people with serious convictions. Harris County sheriff’s investigators testified in support, describing illegal boarding homes, operators who evade permits and background checks, and exploitation of vulnerable residents; the bill was left pending. The committee also took up Senate Bill 481 on emergency preparedness for nursing facilities and assisted living facilities, adopted a new committee substitute that softened some requirements and removed the fiscal note, and left the bill pending. The committee then heard House Bill 388, which would require the Texas Department of Insurance to create a single standardized coordination-of-benefits form for dual health plans to reduce errors and surprise bills; it was left pending. Senate Bill 1590 would move paternity registry searches for adoptions to an electronic process with a 10-day target, and House Bill 2809 would track child suicide attempts in managing conservatorship and require related reporting and parental notice; both were left pending. The committee also heard Senate Bill 1887, which would prohibit administering mRNA-containing products for immunization for 10 years, with exceptions for cancer and genetic disorders. Supporters argued the bill was needed for safety, informed consent, and medical freedom, while opponents from the medical, research, and public health communities said mRNA vaccines are well-studied, save lives, and that the bill would harm access, research, and Texas’s biotech economy. The bill remained under discussion as testimony concluded.

Transcript Highlights:

• going to administer rural hospital systems and give them a practical on-hands approach of how they manage
• Our managed Medicaid reimbursement was also $1.1 million.
• Our managed Medicaid reimbursement was also $1.1 million.
• We're managed.
• We're not owned by Methodist, but we have a management agreement, which essentially means me and the

Bills: HB18, HB37, HB 116, HB388, HB879, HB913, HB 1151, HB2216, HB2358, HB2809, SB577, SB1590, SB1782, SB1887, SB2744

Keywords: rural health, hospital funding, healthcare access, mental health services, financial stability, perinatal bereavement, healthcare, hospital training, bereavement support, maternal care, fetal demise, stillbirth, neonatal death, parent-child relationship, involuntary termination, family law, child welfare, child protection, HB 388, HB388

Summary: The Senate Committee on Health and Human Services met with a quorum and took up several House and Senate bills, with public testimony limited to two minutes per witness. The committee first heard HB 2358, a cleanup bill requested by HHSC that would repeal outdated training and conference requirements for long-term care facility surveyors and certain providers; there were no witnesses, and the bill was left pending. The committee then heard HB 18, the rural hospital stabilization bill, which would create financial assessment tools, a rural hospital finance office at HHSC, an academy for rural hospital officers, multiple grant programs, enhanced Medicaid reimbursement tied to average cost, OB/GYN add-on payments, expanded pediatric telehealth connectivity, and a rural pediatric mental health program. Senator Perry and witnesses from TORCH, a rural hospital, AARP Texas, and ARCHI strongly supported the bill as a way to stabilize rural hospitals, improve OB access, and address workforce and financial pressures. Committee members discussed rural hospital closures, low-volume quality metrics, system affiliation, and the need for predictable monthly reimbursement; the bill was left pending after testimony and questions. The committee next heard HB 37, which would create a perinatal bereavement care initiative for families experiencing stillbirth, neonatal death, or intrauterine fetal demise, including counseling, staff training, and access to cooling devices, with possible grants and a recognition program for hospitals. Senator Huffman explained the bill, and several witnesses testified in support, sharing personal stories about infant loss and the importance of time with the baby, trained staff, and cuddle cots or similar devices. A neonatologist also supported the bill while suggesting clarification that hospitals should not be penalized if state funding is unavailable and recommending use of regional advisory councils to help implement training. Public testimony was then closed and the bill left pending. The committee also heard HB 879, which would create a streamlined licensing pathway for veterans with medical or nursing experience to practice in Texas, and HB 913, which would add new state hospitals to statute and split the North Texas State Hospital into two separate hospitals with their own superintendents; both bills had no opposition testimony and were left pending. Later, the committee heard SB 2744, a heart disease screening bill that would update the 2009 Texas Heart Attack Prevention Act to require insurance coverage for coronary CT angiography with plaque analysis, including soft plaque detection, as a preventive screening tool. The author and invited witnesses argued the technology is more effective than calcium scoring alone, can identify patients before symptoms appear, and could save lives at a cost comparable to or lower than colonoscopy. An insurance industry witness opposed the bill, arguing the technology has not been recommended by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force for universal screening and that the mandated coverage and payment level would raise costs; the bill was left pending after testimony. Finally, the committee heard HB 1151, a parental rights bill clarifying that refusing psychotropic medication or psychiatric treatment is not neglect unless the child is harmed. Supporters, including parent advocates and attorneys, said the bill would protect parents from CPS overreach and preserve medical decision-making authority, while one witness urged broader attention to physical causes of behavioral issues. Public testimony was closed and HB 1151 was left pending.

Transcript Highlights:

• Bonds are appropriate for contractors responsible for building the project, not for project managers
• Imposing... on requirements of project managers for risks beyond their control is unreasonable.
• Policies that reflect the distinct role of professional project managers in public construction.
• Whether they're called "project managers," "program managers," or something else, they must meet a professional
• The project managers aren't, which is where we see issues.

Bills: HB178, HB178, HB1551, HB1939, HB2040, HB2354, HB2674, HB3029, HB3460, HB3631, HB3662, HB5201, HB5381

Keywords: efficiency audit, political subdivision, tax rate, fiscal management, government accountability, Texas education, public schools, curriculum, social studies, high school graduation requirements, State Board of Education, Education Code, ethnic studies, world history, world geography, U.S. history, government, economics, personal financial literacy, free enterprise

Bills: HB178, HB1551, HB1939, HB2040, HB2354, HB2674, HB3029, HB3460, HB3631, HB3662, HB5201, HB5381, HB178

Keywords: Texas education, public schools, curriculum, social studies, high school graduation requirements, State Board of Education, Education Code, ethnic studies, world history, world geography, U.S. history, government, economics, personal financial literacy, free enterprise, religious literature, Hebrew Scriptures, Old Testament, New Testament, ninth grade

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, Chad Ubel, city manager, City of Winona.
• All right, Winona City Manager Chad Uel.
• I'll defer that to our city manager. All right, Mr. Ubel? That's correct. Uh, yes.
• I have some additional data that may not be in that handout.
• Just some additional data that may not be in that handout.

Bills: HF604, HF1972, HF578, HF1951, HF629, HF864, HF874, HF1155, HF884, HF2365, HF643, HF234, HF2655, HF2637, HF2535, HF2530, HF2344, HF584, HF524

Keywords: airport funding, bonds, transportation, capital investment, Karlstad, community center, Breckenridge, state bonds, economic development, HF578, Faribault, River Bend Nature Center, bonding bill, bond proceeds fund, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, DNR grant, nature center, visitor center, environmental education, multicultural center