Transcript Highlights:

• We do not want that data center there.
• Data center there because the city of Marana passed and allowed a data center to be built, the people
• And let's, yeah, how do people feel about data centers?
• This is not about data centers.
• The issue of data centers started with, actually, Tucson.

Summary: The Senate convened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, approved the journal, and announced that several House messages and Senate bills had been transmitted to the governor. Members also noted a planned recess to recognize the University of Arizona men’s basketball team later in the morning. The chamber then moved into Committee of the Whole to consider bills on multiple calendars. On Calendar 4, House Bill 2812, dealing with accumulated sick leave payments and compensation/insurance issues, received a do-pass recommendation after an amendment, but it later failed on third reading by a vote of 15-11. House Bill 2032, on school assessment accountability and testing, was amended with a floor change extending a timeline from four to six weeks and then passed 26-0 on third reading. House Bill 2033, also on school assessment accountability and written versus digital testing, drew debate over a Diaz floor amendment limiting written-test authority to grades 3-8; the amendment failed on a 15-10 division vote, and the bill then received a do-pass recommendation and passed the Senate. House Bill 293, relating to school curricula and mental health instruction requirements, prompted extended floor debate, with supporters arguing it preserved evidence-based mental health and social-emotional learning instruction for students; it passed 16-10. House Bill 4033, concerning education bond elections, also passed 16-10. In a second Committee of the Whole, members considered House Bill 2016 on tax administration and late filing penalties, House Bill 2140 on depository state money and financial institutions, House Bill 2308 on the State Board of Dental Examiners, House Bill 2320 on school district bonds and financial advisors, House Bill 2439 on public health and exempting certain submissions, and House Bill 2873 on competitive bidding. HB 2320 was retained on the calendar, while the others received do-pass recommendations, with HB 2439 and HB 2873 amended. HB 2873 generated the most debate: a Bullock floor amendment added an emergency clause, and supporters said the measure was needed to allow withdrawal of referendum petitions before ballot qualification, while opponents argued it would undercut the referendum process and voter rights, especially in the Marana data center dispute. The amended bill ultimately received a do-pass recommendation. The Senate then adopted the Committee of the Whole reports, including a failed attempt by Senator Diaz to add her HB 2033 amendment back into the report by roll call (10-16). After third readings, HB 2032 and HB 293 passed, while HB 2812 failed. The chamber then recessed to honor the University of Arizona men’s basketball team with a proclamation recognizing its 2026 Final Four appearance and Big 12 championships. The Senate later reconvened briefly, received committee announcements, and adjourned until Monday, April 13, 2026.

Transcript Highlights:

• My name is Erica Sanchez with New Mexico Center on Law and Poverty.
• Additionally, charter schools operate under two levels of accountability.
• So on page one, you'll see a map in the center there.
• who rely on accurate, independent data to manage operations responsibly.
• For these reasons, we respectfully, ...to manage operations responsibly.

Bills: SB64 , SB19 , SB44 , SB83

Committee: Senate Senate Education

Keywords: special education, office of special education, deputy secretary, public education department, IEP, individualized education program, students with disabilities, IDEA, Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, dyslexia, dyslexia screening, structured literacy, reading intervention, multilayered system of supports, MTSS, student assistance team, free appropriate public education, FAPE, special education compliance, charter schools

Transcript Highlights:

• Air Force bases and other military installations with training facilities operate training routes, including
• tower. ...tower to be provided to the Texas Department of Transportation, each federally owned or operated
• their websites and service portals, reduce reliance on paper forms where feasible, and adopt user-centered
• projects that have had great success in addressing healthcare workforce shortages in each of those regions
• However, if you're not in that region, you don't always know what that region is doing.

Bills: HB2564 , HB2760 , HB2765 , HB2898 , HB3260 , HB3800 , HB4341 , HB4396 , HB5195

Committee: Senate Economic Development

Keywords: Defense Economic Adjustment, grant applications, economic assistance, local government, Evaluation panel, judicial review, Texas Workforce Commission, unemployment compensation, legal proceedings, labor law, rural development, infrastructure, Texas economic fund, private investment, job creation, meteorological evaluation towers, wind resources, aviation safety, regulations, construction notice

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm a senior attorney at the National Consumer Law Center.
• So a public bank could also operate sustainably.
• We work in all areas of anesthesia care, including operating rooms, GI centers, outpatient surgery centers
• birth center.
• , and birth centers.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Financial Services

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The committee held an informational opening hearing for the Financial Services Committee, with Chair Murphy and Senator Feeney introducing new and returning members and explaining that no bills were being heard that day beyond brief introductory testimony. Commissioner of Banks Mary Gallagher thanked the committee for last session’s money transmission modernization law, and several members echoed appreciation for her office’s work. The hearing then featured a long series of stakeholder introductions and overviews of their priorities for the session. Testimony covered a wide range of financial, insurance, housing, health care, and consumer issues. Banking and mortgage groups discussed housing affordability, foreclosure delinquencies, flood insurance, regulatory changes, and the impact of federal policy shifts. Insurance representatives raised concerns about auto and homeowners market pressures, labor rates, tariffs, rebates, e-titling, third-party litigation funding, and public adjuster restrictions. Consumer and advocacy groups highlighted debt collection reform, earned wage access, retirement savings access, public banking, and consumer protections in financial services. Several speakers also emphasized the need for committee expertise and offered themselves as resources for future bills. Health-related organizations focused on insurance mandates, prior authorization, behavioral health access, pharmacy benefit manager reform, community health center funding, maternal health and midwifery reimbursement, and anesthesia reimbursement parity. Other groups, including credit unions, retailers, auto dealers, dental and medical associations, and behavioral health providers, described their roles in the Commonwealth and previewed legislation or policy areas they expect to follow this session. No votes were taken; the meeting was informational and ended after testimony from the sign-up list and a few late additions.

Transcript Highlights:

• Recycling Grace Addiction Recovery Center in Poplar Bluff in southeast Missouri.
• While they're working, the center sets up a bank account for them.
• The CSECs are doing an amazing job doing regional collaboration.
• And there's many coalitions in the region across doing collaboration as well.
• The legislation is victim-centered.

Committee: House Children and Families

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• just thrown in there kind of last minute, not vetted, and makes absolutely no sense for people that operate
• heavy, and basically we're also going to shut down the standalone hemp stores, which are, again, operating
• Director of the Charleston Regional Development Association. He passed away last week.
• The Freedom Train came to Greenville out at Donaldson Center, and my grandparents took me out there.
• me think about a lot of what General Washington and our forefathers did, fighting in that war to secure

Keywords: 977, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So Chairwoman Huffman had a statewide regional hearing.
• She had a hearing in El Paso, and the Austin region, the Houston region, the Dallas-Fort Worth region
• West Texas had a region as well.
• Twelve regional hearings, twelve regional hearings.
• And right now we've got four, and they're going to be regional, correct?

Bills: SR5 , SB5 , SB11 , SB12 , SB25 , SB26 , SB28 , SB35 , SB5 , SB11 , SB12 , SB25 , SB26 , SB28 , SB35 , SB5 , SB11 , SB12 , SB25 , SB26 , SB28 , SB35 , SR5

Keywords: redistricting, Senate procedures, public input, Texas Legislature, amendments, Texas Senate, congressional districts, legislative procedures, legislative transparency, Senate rules, public hearings, committee procedures, hemp regulation, consumable products, cannabinoids, occupational licenses, criminal offenses, SB 11, Texas attorney general, election crimes

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><01:27:25.520><c> Having</c> operator employer licences. Having operator employer licences.
• </c> Center in Manchester. Center in Manchester.
• </c><04:00:56.080><c> guard,</c> woman's restroom by a security guard, woman's restroom by a security
• </c><04:52:41.760><c> Now,</c> they're operating in the field. Now, they're operating in the field.
• And this matters because New Hampshire... operational chaos that the secretary was operational chaos

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We have direct payments to individuals and the states such as Social Security.
• You see Department of Homeland Security, for example. 61% of their budget is federal funding.
• Uh, NMDOT's operating budget includes federal formula allocations for highway construction and transit
• They had a grant for school-based health centers, as well as the Central Regional Education Cooperative
• so there's, there's certain Medicaid payments that go out to help with kind of the foundational operating

Committee: House Federal Funding Stabilization Subcommittee

Transcript Highlights:

• Last week, y'all fired the head of operations and the head of the main pump. Is that correct?
• I know clearly [it is] vitally important to your region down there, and I would agree with you.
• Have we filled those two spots, the head of operations and the pump control manager?
• We’re now spending 20% of our budget on security.
• So we’re spending 20% of that budget on security now.” “It’s less than that. I think it’s 13%.

Summary: The Senate and Governmental Affairs Committee met on May 6, 2026, approved the April 28 minutes, and heard several bills before moving into confirmation hearings. HB 205, by Rep. Bacala, would allow local governing authorities to supplement election commissioners’ pay by up to $100 per day; supporters from clerks of court and the Secretary of State’s office said the increase is needed to recruit and retain qualified commissioners amid longer days, training demands, and election security changes. The committee also reported HB 210, a cleanup bill clarifying retroactive application of a prior ethics law, and HB 228, which recreates the Department of State Civil Service and related entities through 2033. It likewise reported SR 86, which bars eyeglasses with audio/video recording capability in the Senate chamber without the Senate President’s permission, and HB 1177, which protects the identities of lottery hunt winners until after the drawing. HB 1045, limited to Pointe Coupee Parish, raises an audit threshold for certain water districts from $500,000 to $600,000 to reduce audit costs, and HB 813 would move Orleans Parish sheriff terms so the sheriff takes office in January instead of waiting until May; all were reported favorably. Senator Miller also announced that SB 491 would not be taken up that day. The committee then questioned nominees to the Southeast Louisiana Flood Protection Authority East. The first group, including Peter Vicari and Ronald Schumann, was asked extensively about recent personnel actions, an internal investigation, and the authority’s handling of a report that members said would likely be released after a board vote. Senators focused on the firing of the chief of police/operations personnel, allegations of payroll fraud, and whether the authority had improperly combined the chief of police role with compliance duties in a way that may conflict with statute and Civil Service guidance. Committee members also raised concerns about the chief’s contract, whether it had board approval, and whether the authority’s bylaws and salary practices complied with law. The nominees and counsel said some matters were still under review and that a separate compliance position was being considered. The committee later heard from additional nominees, including David Martin, Gregory Marsiglia, and Elton Jude Myers, who described backgrounds in engineering, law, procurement, and governmental contracts. Senators again pressed them on the need to separate compliance/auditing duties from the chief of police role, and the nominees generally agreed that those functions should be distinct and that the authority should have qualified auditing expertise. The meeting ended with no public comment and adjournment after the confirmation discussion.

Transcript Highlights:

• home to tens of thousands of Marines and And their families, all embedded in the Southern California region
• of his distinguished career, he has served around the globe, including deployments in support of Operation
• He oversees transportation, aviation support, logistics, infrastructure, and operational readiness at
• at Camp Pendleton and served on the Joint Staff at the Pentagon, helping manage global military operations
• General Brown, we're incredibly proud of you in our region, and we're incredibly proud to have you here

Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum, opened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, and then moved through several privileges of the floor. Guests and student groups were welcomed, including students from Flore High School’s Law Academy and a fourth-grade class from Holy Spirit School. Senator Blakespear also introduced Brigadier General Nick Brown, commanding general of Marine Corps Installation West and Camp Pendleton, highlighting his military service and leadership. On the floor, the Senate took up Governor’s appointments. Andrew Rakestra’s appointment to the Board of Environmental Safety was confirmed on a 28-0 vote, and Indira Cameron Banks’s appointment to the Civil Rights Council was also confirmed, 28-8. Senators then announced upcoming budget subcommittee meetings on resources, health and human services, judicial branch funding, and state administration. The chamber also heard adjourn-in-memory tributes. Senator Archuleta honored Yoshi Nakamura, a World War II veteran, educator, artist, and community activist whose life included service in the 442nd Regimental Combat Team and decades of teaching in Whittier and at Rio Hondo College. Senator Blakespear honored Dr. Rosemary George Strayley, a Peace Corps pioneer and global advocate for education, women, and girls who worked with international organizations and co-founded Run Women Run. The Senate expressed condolences and recognition for both Californians. The session concluded with the desk cleared and the Senate announcing its next meeting date, then recessing until later in the day for an adjournment motion.

Transcript Highlights:

• GENERAL, FLORIDA COMMISSION ON OFFENDER REVIEW, STATE COURT, PUBLIC DEFENDERS, STATE ATTORNEYS, REGIONAL
• CONFLICT COUNCIL, STATEWIDE GUARDIAN AD LITEM, CAPITAL COLLATERAL REGIONAL COUNCIL, JUSTICE, AND JUSTICE
• 12 MILLION TO ADDRESSED FOOD SERVICE ADMINISTRATION AND WE ALSO INVEST 56 MILLION IN DEPARTMENT OPERATIONS
• RATES FORECOURT APPOINTED ATTORNEYS FUNDING TO ADDRESSED SHORTFALLS AND RESOURCES FOR A HOST OF OPERATIONAL
• FINALLY THE PROPOSED BUDGET PRIORITIZE PRIORITIZES COURT OPERATIONS WITH 6.7 MILLION COURT REPORTING,

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This is operated by our district.
• To my knowledge, the only district in the state that has a full-time staff for their garden operations
• Most districts operate with either a teacher volunteer or an after-school program or push-in or field
• We have regional professional development centers across the state, and we're asking for that one individual
• We have regional professional development centers across the state, and we're asking for that one individual

Committee: House Special Committee on Rural Issues

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Yeah, quick, if you can comment on that center a little bit.
• And also, yeah, I just totally... ...but comment on that center a little bit.
• Manufacturers also share that commitment and already, as mentioned in the analysis, operate under FDA
• I'm here on behalf of the Center for Baby and Adult Hygiene Products, BAHP for short, with an opposed
• Like many other small communities in our region, we are facing a unique challenge.

Summary: The Assembly Environmental Safety and Toxic Materials Committee heard three bills after beginning without a quorum and later establishing one. SB 328 would cap DTSC hazardous waste generation and handling fees for infill housing and master development projects and set response timelines for cleanup reviews. Supporters said the current fee structure has made some housing and remediation projects infeasible, while opponents warned that capping fees for one sector could shift costs to other hazardous waste generators. The committee discussed the need for broader DTSC fee reform, and SB 328 was approved on a 7-0 vote and sent to the Committee on Revenue and Taxation. SB 754 would require manufacturers of disposable menstrual products to test for and disclose concentrations of certain contaminants, with DTSC able to verify results and publish them. Supporters framed the bill as a transparency and public health measure, citing recent studies finding toxic metals in tampons and emphasizing consumer right-to-know. Opponents, including manufacturers and hygiene product groups, argued the bill adds duplicative testing, vague requirements, and public disclosure that could be misinterpreted, and urged amendments. The committee members generally supported the goal of transparency, and the bill passed 5-2 with not voting members, moving to Appropriations. SB 466 would provide temporary legal protections for public water systems that are complying with approved chromium-6 compliance plans while they work toward the new drinking water standard. Supporters from Los Banos, Coachella Valley Water District, and other water agencies said the measure would help avoid costly litigation during a lengthy and expensive compliance period, especially for systems dealing with naturally occurring chromium-6. Committee members raised concerns about limiting recourse for harmed individuals and discussed possible alternative language, but the author said the bill would not affect state enforcement authority. SB 466 passed 7-0 and was sent to the Committee on Judiciary. The committee also adopted a consent calendar of additional measures by voice vote.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:09:33.000><c> in</c> outdoor development Learning Center in outdoor development Learning Center
• </c> of two inlets Regional of two inlets Regional Park<00:09:54.160><c> 3.15</c><00:09:55.160><c> million
• Regional Trail Miram Junction Junction Junction and and and finally<00:10:32.079><c> 3.93</c><00:10:
• "The trust fund is operated similar to an endowment, and a percentage of the value of the fund can be
• </c> income the trust fund is operated income the trust fund is operated similar<00:41:03.119><c> to<

Committee: House Ways and Means

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:19:33.240><c> and</c> establishment of a court security and establishment of a court security
• Security is not a barrier to accountability.
• Security is not a barrier to audit.
• </c> Hawaii Regional Council of Carpenters. Hawaii Regional Council of Carpenters.
• </c><01:10:46.920><c> an</c><01:10:47.040><c> ongoing</c> Foundation operates an ongoing Foundation operates

Committee: House Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The committee began with resolutions HCR 93 and HR 85, which ask the Hawaii State Commission on the Status of Women, in collaboration with the Department of the Attorney General, to form a working group and report on ways to strengthen protections for survivors of image-based sexual abuse. The Attorney General’s office said it could support the effort as legal counsel to the commission but preferred not to be an active working-group member, and suggested the Legislative Reference Bureau could instead conduct a nationwide study for stakeholders. The Commission on the Status of Women supported the resolutions but urged broader scope to include prevention and intervention, expanded stakeholder membership, keeping the Attorney General involved, and adjusting the report deadline. Testimony in support also came from the Emoa Alliance, which emphasized the prevalence and harms of image-based abuse and the need for stronger protections. Members asked questions about current criminal and civil remedies, reporting barriers, and whether the commission could administer the effort without the Attorney General; no votes were taken on the resolutions during the excerpted discussion. The committee then heard HCR 113 and HR 106, supporting the Native Hawaiian Intellectual Property Working Group’s request for more resources and a timeline extension to fiscal year 2026-2027. The Office of Hawaiian Affairs testified in support, saying Native Hawaiian culture, traditional knowledge, and cultural expressions are increasingly being commercialized and exploited without adequate protection, and that the working group needs more time, resources, and community consultation to complete its work. The committee noted six supporters and no opposition or comments. The hearing also covered HCR 193 and HR 183, which would establish a court security and Department of Law Enforcement capacity working group to address staffing shortages and the use of private security at state courts. The Judiciary supported the intent, asked that the working group supplement rather than replace its budget request, and proposed allowing the chair to add members with relevant experience. In response to questions, Judiciary said it has requested $3.25 million for armed private security, which it said would cover about 18 contracted individuals, though with significant company overhead. The committee then moved through several bills: SB 2667, which restricts certain commercial vehicles and trailers from the far-left lane on multi-lane roads, received support from the Department of Transportation; SB 2851, which allows deaf vehicle owners to register a deafness designation for law enforcement access, drew testimony in support; SB 2521, which updates emergency vehicle rules and exempts EMS personnel from CDL requirements, received testimony from Honolulu Emergency Services; and SB 2466, which would make the Chief Elections Officer terminable only for cause, drew support from the League of Women Voters and opposition from Hawaiian Islands Republican Women, who argued the change could reduce accountability and create election disruptions if litigation over termination occurs.

Transcript Highlights:

• Regional land banks can be formed through interlocal cooperation.
• Regional land banks can be formed through interlocal cooperation.
• Uh because currently operating under.
• They hope Social Security is going to still be around for them.
• In Mississippi, the average Social Security payment is just $1,600 per month.

Committee: Joint Finance

Keywords: Finance - Room 216, 3 February, 2026; 10:30 AM, 925, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Currently, the Florida Press Association operates the largest public notice website in the state.
• That’s not land owned or operated by a local government for public park uses.
• I believe that housing needs to be on a regional level.
• I'm the director of the DeVoe Moore Center at Florida State University.
• I'm also a senior fellow and co-director of the American Enterprise Institute Housing Center.

Committee: Senate Community Affairs

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Summary: The committee took up a broad agenda of local government, land use, housing, and public notice bills. It reported favorably SB 984 on firefighter cancer benefits, SB 1612 requiring local governments to accept electronic payments, SB 1180 creating a recall process for community development district board members and adding related CDD provisions on synthetic turf and compact urban mixed-use districts, SB 936 on temporary door locking devices, CS/SB 380 expanding options for publishing legal notices, SB 962 clarifying that the Live Local zoning preemption does not unintentionally capture farms and farm operations, SB 1444 on state preemption involving religious gatherings, private clubs, and certain permitting issues, SB 218 narrowing hurricane-related land-use protections to affected counties, SB 1020 regulating chickee huts, and SB 1434 creating a redevelopment framework for environmentally impacted parcels in certain urban counties. Several of these bills were amended before passage, including SB 1180, SB 380, and SB 948. Testimony was mixed on the more controversial measures. Supporters of SB 984 said the bill clarifies benefits for firefighters diagnosed with occupational cancer. On SB 380, the Florida Press Association and Common Cause opposed shifting legal notices away from newspapers and warned that publication would become more fragmented and harder to find, while the sponsor argued the bill would save money and reflect digital practices. SB 1444 drew support from Florida Family Voice on religious freedom grounds, but the Florida League of Cities and Florida Association of Counties warned that the bill was broad, undefined in places, and could create unintended consequences for local zoning, parking, and permitting. SB 1434 on redevelopment of environmentally impacted land drew support from housing advocates but opposition from counties and cities, which said it would bypass local development review and could allow overdevelopment. The committee also heard substantial testimony on SB 948, which would create a statewide framework for starter-home and lot-split regulations in residential areas. Supporters, including housing advocates, a Gainesville city commissioner, and an urban economist, said local regulations have constrained housing supply and that the bill would help produce more starter homes. Opponents, including the Florida Association of Counties, 1,000 Friends of Florida, and the Florida League of Cities, argued it would function as a statewide zoning code, reduce local planning authority, and create infrastructure and litigation concerns. The bill was amended and then laid over for further consideration after extensive debate and public comment.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:16:28.079><c> electric</c> funds to capitalize or operate electric funds to capitalize or operate
• I am Senator Tim Lang from Senate District 2, covering the Lakes Region North.
• :13.200><c> and</c><00:30:13.360><c> they're</c> assets operate for decades and they're assets operate
• It’s kind of a standard operating procedure.
• 11:34.080><c> will</c><01:11:34.320><c> not</c> regional planning commissions will not regional planning

Committee: Senate Energy and Natural Resources

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• PURCHASE OF MITIGATION CREDITS OUTSIDE OF THE AREA BECAUSE THERE IS NO CREDITS AVAILABLE IN THAT REGION
• WE'VE SUFFICIENTLY PAVED OVER CERTAIN AREAS AND THAT WHEN THERE IS NO MORE CREDITS AVAILABLE IN THAT REGION
• I THINK IT'S NECESSARY IN PARTICULAR FOR AREAS WE HAVE NEAR OUR DISTRICT NEAR THE SPACE CENTER IS THAT
• BE NO NET DESTRUCTION OF WETLANDS, THAT THE REPLACEMENT CREDITS ARE SO FAR AWAY FROM THE IMPACTED REGION
• I'VE GOT TO FIND A SAFE PLACE, IT COULD BE A WALMART SHOPPING CENTER, A CUL-DE-SAC IF I AM IN A GATED

Keywords: 999, senate, all