Transcript Highlights:

• Day on the at the Capitol for our annual Day on the Hill.
• c> countries<00:10:13.280> have fact, yields in some countries have fact, yields in some countries
• My understanding is this is to create maximum potential access for people who are just starting.
• That said, the funding level has remained stagnant since 2007 at 186,000 annually.
• That said, the funding level has remained stagnant since 2007 at 186,000 annually.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• of offense is not detained in jail pending trial for a cumulative period that is longer than the maximum
• Cybercrime costs Texans billions of dollars annually, with ransomware, fraud, and identity theft affecting
• to allow correctional officers to voluntarily transfer up to eight hours of compensatory time or annual
• And with that, I will yield the rest of my time. And with that, I will yield the rest of my time.

Bills: HB75, HB108

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

Summary: The committee heard a series of criminal justice and public safety bills, with most measures focused on tougher penalties, victim protections, and procedural changes. Bills discussed included HB 75, requiring magistrates to make written findings when denying probable cause despite believing an arrestee committed an offense; HB 413, limiting pretrial detention so it cannot exceed the maximum jail term for the charged offense, with competency-related exceptions; HB 1422, expanding sexual assault survivor protections and increasing penalties for certain sexual offenses and voyeurism; HB 2073, increasing penalties for violating protective orders or bond conditions while armed; HB 2593, raising indecent assault penalties against elderly or disabled victims; HB 108, enhancing punishment when body armor is used during violent crimes; HB 3816, expanding cruelty-to-livestock offenses to include unlawful controlled-substance administration; HB 2854, requiring parole officers to notify hospitals or law enforcement when violent parolees visit hospital premises; HB 1871, increasing punishment for attempted capital murder of a peace officer and making such offenders ineligible for parole; HB 3463, clarifying notice methods in theft-of-service cases; HB 2348, allowing video-recorded depositions of elderly or disabled witnesses; HB 2594, expanding venue options for cybercrime and digital theft prosecutions; HB 2761, clarifying that children cannot be deemed to consent to prostitution-related offenses; HB 3185, authorizing administrative subpoenas in cybercrime investigations; HB 2017, increasing penalties for certain intoxication manslaughter cases involving undocumented immigrants with prior DWI convictions; HB 2306, making certain trafficking offenses ineligible for parole; HB 1607, allowing a rear-only license plate when a vehicle lacks a front bracket; HB 1828, creating a legislative leave pool for TDCJ correctional officers; and HB 3664, requiring prospective grand jurors to complete training and proposing additional changes to grand jury procedure in a future substitute. The committee also took up HB 3073, the Summer Willis Act, which would clarify consent in sexual assault law and address intoxication-related incapacity; the committee substitute narrowed the language to situations where the perpetrator knows the other person cannot consent because of intoxication or impairment, while removing withdrawal-of-consent and “reasonably should know” language from the House version. Several bills were laid out with committee substitutes adopted, including HB 3463, HB 2594, HB 3073, and HB 3073’s substitute, and most bills were left pending after no invited or public testimony or after hearing testimony. Public testimony was especially extensive on HB 3073, with survivors, advocates, and prosecutors supporting broader consent language, while some prosecutors said the substitute was an improvement but still favored the House version’s broader protections. HB 3664 drew significant opposition from district attorneys, who argued that mandatory transcription or recording of grand jury testimony would be costly, chill grand juror questioning, and complicate timely presentations; concerns were also raised about new-evidence requirements and grand jury shopping. No final votes were taken on the bills discussed in the transcript, and the committee recessed partway through to return to the floor before continuing its hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• Hugo responded that those are the maximum penalties.
• <00:48:40.400> reporting measure amends the annual reporting measure amends the annual reporting
• <00:49:20.520> report Department to publish its annual report Department to publish its annual
• If not, I'll yield. Thank you. Any other questions, members?
• If not, I'll yield. Thank you. Any other questions, members?

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The House Committee on Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs met on February 19, 2025, and first heard House Bill 150, which would prohibit lending a firearm to someone who does not have a firearm permit or a registered firearm. The Department of Law Enforcement and the Honolulu Police Department supported the bill, though HPD said enforcing any time limit on a loaned firearm would be difficult. Several members of the public opposed the measure, arguing it would interfere with lawful lending for hunting, competitions, training, military-related use, and family situations, and could create unintended criminal liability. One supporter said the bill would strengthen gun safety and encourage more responsible ownership. No vote was taken during the testimony portion described. The committee then heard House Bill 186, which would make harassment by stalking a class C felony. The Office of the Public Defender requested deferral, arguing the bill would remove a misdemeanor option that can help deter escalation and could be unnecessarily severe and burdensome. Honolulu Police Department supported the bill, saying stalking can be a precursor to more serious violence. The Hawaiʻi State Coalition Against Domestic Violence and the Department of the Prosecuting Attorney raised concerns about how the new felony would fit within the existing grading scheme, noting that aggravated harassment by stalking and first-degree terroristic threatening are already class C felonies. April Bautista testified in strong support, describing her own experience with domestic violence and stalking and urging passage of the bill. Committee members discussed whether other penalty structures might be possible, but no final action was taken in the portion provided. The committee also heard House Bill 991, which would delete the term “agent of the contractor” from criminal history record check provisions to comply with FBI requirements. The Hawaii Criminal Justice Data Center supported the bill with comments, explaining that the FBI had found the term too broad for fingerprint-based background checks tied to access to federal tax information. In addition, House Bill 995 was introduced, changing deadlines for annual firearms carry reporting; the Department of the Attorney General supported it, saying the revised deadlines would allow a more complete report, and HPD was also heard on the measure. The transcript ends before any votes or final committee actions on these bills.

Transcript Highlights:

• These starter homes will yield lower-priced homes.
• These starter homes will yield lower-priced homes.
• With that, I would yield my time back to the committee and be happy to answer any of y'all's questions
• Maximum property rights. That's how we get the kind of prosperity that we're looking for.
• It is death by a thousand cuts: an Olympic-sized swimming pool, a five-building maximum, minimum heights

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Summary: The committee met to monitor implementation of several housing-related bills from the 89th session, with the chair emphasizing Texas’s housing shortage and the need to review land-use laws. For House Bill 24, witnesses from the Texas Public Policy Foundation, Reason Foundation, a church-affordable housing project, Habitat for Humanity, developers, and housing advocates said the bill’s higher protest threshold and simpler council override had reduced procedural barriers to rezoning, helped projects move forward, and supported lower rents and more multifamily development. Public testimony largely praised HB 24 as working as intended, and the chair noted it had passed the committee 6-1, the House 83-56, and the Senate unanimously. The committee then heard testimony on Senate Bill 1567, which preempted certain municipal occupancy limits based on unrelated-adult restrictions. Supporters, including Texas Public Policy Foundation, Texas Realtors, Texans for Housing, and Texas A&M student leaders, said the law improved clarity, reduced arbitrary local limits, and helped students and property owners use existing housing more efficiently. Opponents from College Station and Bryan-College Station neighborhood groups argued the law has encouraged investor purchases, tear-downs, and “stealth dorms,” displaced working-class residents, and harmed family homeownership. The chair noted SB 1567 had passed the committee 5-1, the House 101-19, and the Senate 30-1. The committee also reviewed Senate Bill 15, which reduced minimum lot sizes in covered jurisdictions. Ed Pinto of AEI said the law had already led to thousands of new small lots and lower-cost starter homes, while recommending expansion to more counties and broader application to attached housing. Other witnesses from builders, Pew, and housing advocates said smaller lots can increase affordability, but some cities, such as College Station and Grand Prairie, were adding local standards that could blunt the bill’s effect. City representatives from El Paso described how they implemented the law by reducing lot sizes and widths, while urging broader applicability to more of the city. The chair said SB 15 had passed the committee 7-0, the House 86-43, and the Senate 24-7. Finally, the committee began hearing testimony on Senate Bill 840, a by-right multifamily redevelopment measure. City officials from Garland and Plano described how they had updated local standards to comply while preserving design and setback rules, and said the bill could help redevelop built-out commercial corridors and add housing without expanding city footprints. The transcript ended as the committee continued taking testimony on SB 840.

Transcript Highlights:

• whatever student information system they choose. information system they choose to, but to see the maximum
• For example, we want to see if the pre-K programs we are funding are yielding different results with
• And then the last thing I'll mention is that we also include annually a request for our fees associated
• This includes annual renewals, attendance tracking, and feedback reporting, all of which help maintain
• We have very high turnover of superintendents in the state, and that's consistent annually.

Transcript Highlights:

• Even the New York Times recently published an article stating that 85% of prenatal tests yield false
• Again, thank you, Chairman Kolkhorst, for your leadership on this issue, and I am happy to yield for
• of Guiding Star Southwest, as well as the Lilypad Maternity Home in El Paso, serving 3,000 women annually
• service model, which is absolutely critical to help reduce the 14,000 plus Texas women who travel annually
• They pass an audit, followed by annual reviews, that sort of thing.

Bills: SB397, SB481, SB596, SB760, SB855, SB1195, SB1196, SB1233, SB1257, SB1318, SB1368, SB1388, SB1398, SB1524, SB1558, SB1589, SB1677, SB1792, SB2034

Keywords: SB 397, telemedicine, telehealth, teledentistry, remote care, virtual care, consent documentation, patient consent, data collection, data sharing, audio-only telehealth, in-person examination, irreversible medical procedure, health professional regulation, Occupations Code, Texas Health and Human Services, medical records, provider compliance, data privacy, consumer rights

Transcript Highlights:

• President, I yield for questions.
• President, I yield for questions.
• With that, I urge adoption and yield for questions.
• President, I yield for questions and move for advancement.
• I'll yield for questions.

Bills: HJR1088, HJR1090, HJR1091, HB1370, SB2154, HJR1092, HJR1093, HJR1095, HJR1099, HJR1100, HB3021, SB893, SB206, SB248, SB259, SB423, SB563, SB604, SB633, HJR1077, SB667, SB1224, SB1257, SB1264, SB1319, SB1360, SB1437, SB1531, SB1543, SB1806, HB3004, SB1572, HB4342, SB1618, SB2, SB237, SB1632, SB1687, SB1726, SB1859, SB1894, SB1461, HB4432, SB1948, SB1589, SJR52, SR46, HCR1030, SB2071, SB2182, SB1451

Keywords: education rules, administrative rules, joint resolution, Oklahoma State Department of Education, higher education, State Regents for Higher Education, Teachers' Retirement System, charter schools, Statewide Charter School Board, career and technology education, CTE, OEQA, rule approval, legislative oversight, permanent rules, school governance, teacher retirement, education agencies, Oklahoma Register, Department of Agriculture, Food, and Forestry

Summary: The Senate met with a quorum, prayer, pledges, and recognition of two student pages before taking up a long agenda of House joint resolutions and bills, mostly related to administrative rules and agency approvals. The chamber advanced and passed H.J.R. 1088, 1090, 1091, 1092, 1093, 1095, 1099, and 1100, which approved permanent rules for education, energy and agriculture, business and commerce, building code, health-related agencies, general government agencies, the Oklahoma Health Care Authority, and OMES. Several senators criticized the process for moving rule resolutions quickly and without committee vetting, while supporters said the calendar delays required direct consideration. The Senate also adopted conference committee reports and passed SB 206, SB 248, and HB 3021, with HB 3021 making small changes to graduation requirements, including science/math course language, Oklahoma history flexibility for some military families, and personal financial literacy counting toward math in some cases. A major portion of the meeting focused on House Bill 1370, which was described by its author as repealing an automatic state trigger that would replace any federal gasoline tax if the federal government suspended it. Supporters argued the bill would prevent Oklahoma drivers from paying more if the federal gas tax were repealed and framed it as tax relief; opponents argued it could reduce highway and bridge funding and create a budget hole. The Senate suspended several rules to bring the bill up, but rejected a motion to suspend the fiscal-impact rule for a proposed amendment. After debate, the chamber passed the measure 41-7 and then approved it as an emergency measure. The Senate also took up Senate Bill 893, a conference report dealing with foreign ownership near critical infrastructure and agricultural land. The bill would restrict certain foreign adversary ownership or leasing within 10 miles of critical infrastructure, add training zones and other protected areas, delay implementation until July 1, 2027, and create an enforcement process involving Attorney General review and whistleblower-style reporting. Senators raised concerns about enforcement, possible misuse, and profiling, while the author said the bill was aimed at national security and infrastructure protection. The conference report was adopted and the bill passed. Later, the Senate received notice that the House was ready to convene in joint session, and the chamber briefly stood at ease before returning to continue its work.

Transcript Highlights:

• I yield for the witnesses. reserve the right to close. Thank you.
• It'll develop a hundred thousand acre feet of water annually utilizing our existing surface water.
• These additional structures can effectuate a 10 to 15% lower annual debt service payment.
• Are you aware that that exceeds the annual budget of several Groundwater Districts?
• Well, but what we've seen is a tremendous number. of new wells drilled on an annual basis.

Bills: HB1520, HB1525, HB1530, HB1535, HB2068, HB2091, HB2347, HB2372, HB2805, HB2815, HB2867, HB3154, HB3482, HB3483, HB3663, HB3781, HB3901, HB3915, HB4135, HB4153, HB4158, HB4329, HB4331

Keywords: Angelina and Neches River Authority, river authority, Sunset Advisory Commission, Texas Sunset Act, Special District Local Laws Code, local government, natural resources, board of directors, director training, board governance, public testimony, open meetings, public information, conflict of interest, ethics, complaint system, general manager, board president, staggered terms, removal of director

Transcript Highlights:

• This report serves as the foundation for annual pricing contract negotiations for growers and processors
• The requested language will authorize an amount specified in the annual Budget Act for transparency for
• The opportunity to complete these enhancements will yield a return on investment to the state.
• The opportunity to complete these enhancements will yield a return on investment to the state.
• We want to make sure we have the maximum amount of streamlining.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Is that an annual or biennial?
• And then it is reevaluated on an annual basis. And there's that lag there.
• That's an annual fund, right?
• I mean, an annual number of $7.1 billion that we spend in SNAP benefits.
• Okay, I yield back the rest. That's that sounded professional. Okay. I'll hurry.

Summary: The Senate Committee on Health and Human Services convened to discuss interim charges regarding fraud, waste, and abuse in Texas human services, particularly focusing on Medicaid and childcare programs. The meeting highlighted the importance of preventing misuse of taxpayer funds, with testimony from various stakeholders emphasizing the need for increased oversight and accountability in these programs. Key points included the alarming rise in healthcare fraud in other states, the necessity for Texas to enhance its fraud prevention measures, and the potential financial repercussions of failing to meet federal compliance standards. Several committee members expressed concerns about the impact of fraud on vulnerable populations, particularly those relying on Medicaid services. Testimonies from experts underscored the effectiveness of Texas's Office of Inspector General (OIG) in combating fraud, yet pointed out existing vulnerabilities, such as inconsistent enforcement and the need for better data sharing among agencies. The discussion also touched on the challenges faced by hospice care providers, with a significant increase in the number of hospices in Texas raising concerns about quality and oversight. The committee heard from various witnesses, including representatives from health plans and advocacy organizations, who provided insights into the complexities of managing Medicaid and the importance of maintaining program integrity. The meeting concluded with a commitment to further explore legislative solutions to enhance oversight and ensure that resources are directed to those in genuine need.

Transcript Highlights:

• This limits the annual bond issuance to $290 million.
• vehicle weight distance tax by 35%, increases vehicle registration fees by 25%, and introduces a new annual
• With that, I will yield, and I will let from our governor's office, Rebecca.
• And I'll talk about a little bit more, but you don't want to hit your maximum bonding capacity when we

Bills: SB2

Keywords: SB 2, State Highway Project Bonds, highway funding, transportation bonds, state road fund, motor vehicle fees, vehicle registration fees, electric vehicle fee, EV surcharge, plug-in hybrid fee, weight distance tax, road construction, infrastructure financing, Department of Transportation, State Transportation Commission, bonding authority, county road funds, municipal road funds, transportation improvement program, state highways

Transcript Highlights:

• It's extremely important that we understand that we are using these dollars to the maximum, and our students
• So as universities focus more on the high-yielding degrees and marketable skills, that number I would
• If you pick up an annual financial statement, audited financial statement by our audited general, and

Summary: The Appropriations Committee on Higher Education met to hear two presentations focused on the state university system: an update from the Board of Governors on performance-based funding and a state university efficiency study from Ben Watkins of the Division of Bond Finance. Chair Harrell emphasized accountability, maintaining Florida’s top-ranked higher education system, and getting the best return on state investment. A quorum was present, with several senators excused and one arriving later in the meeting. Sarah Donaghi outlined changes to the performance-based funding model. She said the current model will be used for 2026-27 funding, with only minor benchmark changes for metrics tied to programs of strategic emphasis, reflecting a statutory review that reduced the list of designated programs from about 800 to about 200. She also described a new “PBF 2.0” framework approved by the Board of Governors for implementation in 2027-28 funding, which will combine excellence and improvement measures, update benchmarks to the SUS 2030 strategic plan, reduce “layups” where many schools score perfect tens, expand the affordability metric to include students without loans, remove SUS transfer students from certain graduation metrics, and create a new transfer-student outcome metric. The board will run the new model alongside the current one before using it for funding, and no funding changes will occur this year. Watkins presented findings from an eight-month efficiency study ordered by executive order. Using audited financial data, student outcome data, and personnel data, he concluded that Florida’s universities provide strong value because of low tuition, rising degree production, and improved job placement and earnings outcomes. He said tuition remains the lowest in the country and that state support has increased, while per-student spending has also risen, driven largely by payroll costs. He argued that universities should operate more like business enterprises, with more granular budgeting, clearer financial reporting, and efficiency metrics such as operating expense per student and cost per degree, and he recommended that such measures be incorporated into performance funding and board oversight. Committee members asked about national comparisons, data transparency, payroll growth, admissions selectivity, and whether legislation should require more detailed institutional reporting. The meeting ended with no public comment and adjournment after Senator Bracey Davis moved to adjourn.

Transcript Highlights:

• into cabins again, to make sure on the lines starting at 317 that the camping cabin could not have a maximum
• if my buildings last longer, if they're more resilient, my customers stay longer, their CAM, their annual
• world grow the food it needs, and the fertilizer we produce is responsible for over 50% of the crop yields

Summary: The Natural Resources and Disaster Subcommittee met for its first meeting of session and heard four bills. HB 209, the State Parks Preservation Act, would limit development in state parks and require stronger public notice and participation for land management plan changes. Members discussed protections for cabins and existing lodging, and an amendment aligned the bill with the Senate and clarified conservation-based recreational uses. Support came from Audubon Florida, Nature Conservancy, and others, and the bill was reported favorably with committee substitute after a unanimous roll call. HB 143 would create a Florida Resilient Buildings Tax Credit for new construction and retrofits that meet LEED-based resiliency standards, with a new advisory committee under DBPR to help administer the program. An amendment moved the process under DBPR, added UCF and FIU to the advisory council, and made technical conforming changes. The bill drew supportive testimony from a Boca Raton city council member and was reported favorably with committee substitute, with one no vote. HB 295 would direct DEP to develop a comprehensive waste reduction and recycling plan based on its 2020 recycling report, including education, market development, and recommendations for statutory changes. Testimony emphasized that the plan would be voluntary and would not impose costs or mandates on homeowners or businesses. The bill passed without amendments and was reported favorably. HB 585 would let owners of former phosphate mining lands record notice and obtain a Department of Health radiation survey to support a narrow defense against strict liability claims; an amendment clarified the notice content and limited the definition to mined lands, not gyp stacks. The bill drew extensive questions about notice, radiation thresholds, disclosure to buyers, and liability scope, but supporters from Mosaic, the Florida Chamber, and a health physicist argued it would improve transparency and help redevelop lands. It was reported favorably with committee substitute, with one soft yes and one no vote.

Transcript Highlights:

• The stability to attain home ownership yields stability for our families, communities, and our state.
• The stability to attain home ownership yields stability for our families, communities, and our state.
• c> stabil the ability to attain home stabil the ability to attain home ownership<00:02:21.360> yields
• <00:02:21.800> stability<00:02:22.800> that ownership yields stability that ownership
• yields stability that stability<00:02:23.440> for<00:02:23.599> our<00:02:23.800> families

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Trunk highway projects could easily eat up the $700 million bonding maximum capacity authority.
• And so by maximum capacity authority.
• Let me be specific on this $75 annual registration fee.
• <00:24:36.400> If<00:24:36.640> you this $75 annual registration fee.
• If you this $75 annual registration fee.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, uh, but even if a district has 50 cents of INS taxing, which is theoretically the maximum, um, they
• If we were to have stayed connecting the yield for golden pennies to Austin ISD that we changed it in
• , annual, uh, pay, uh, I think these kinds of things are going to be critical for, for us to be able
• Um, it, it shows up in the TRS bill pattern, but it is, in fact, an annual, um, uh, expenditure and,
• So prior to the reduction in SARS, it was only about a $1.3 billion annual deficit.

Transcript Highlights:

• So I am going to yield.
• <00:10:58.560> So<00:10:58.720> that<00:10:59.360> I'll So I am going to yield
• So that I'll So I am going to yield.
• And 16: any offense punishable by a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years or more or by life.
• term of imprisonment of 10 years maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years or<00:44:10.720> more

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• H. 949, an act relating to homestead property tax yields, the non-homestead property tax yields, the
• H. 949, an act relating to homestead property tax yields, the non-homestead property tax yields, the
• bit on the yield bill yesterday. bit on the yield bill yesterday.
• <00:39:12.680> total 2031, and increases the maximum total 2031, and increases the maximum
• the yield bill. the yield bill.

Keywords: 927, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm wondering if Senator Abler would yield. Senator Abler, will you yield?
• Of course, my good friend will yield.
• <00:29:45.120> tax changes in the deal besides the tax changes in the deal besides the tax maximum
• 46.720> now<00:29:47.520> they<00:29:47.760> also<00:29:48.000> still maximum
• But now they also still maximum tax cut.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Even more remarkable, it has exceeded its budgeted operating income annually.
• Even more remarkable, it has exceeded its budgeted operating income annually.
• So, um, with that said, I'm happy to yield to questions, and Dr.
• So, um, with that said, I'm happy to yield to questions, and Dr.
• <02:11:23.679> to I'm you and happy to uh yield to I'm you and happy to uh yield to questions

Keywords: 1191, senate, all