Transcript Highlights:

• school, I was an intern in the New York State Office of the Advocate for the Disabled, and I did some research
• A lot of good research done by the commission, which is why the bills were able to pass.
• And in researching this, I kept following it down the line.

Keywords: Disability Commission, 976, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And what I found out was, after doing some research, it’s because of the sediment that’s been introduced
• Right now, researchers are testing nanofuels, liquid fuels that are doped with metal oxide nanoparticles
• I did a little bit of research, and what I found was the jet engine manufacturers were the ones that

Summary: The House Natural Resources Committee met with a quorum and took up a series of hunting, wildlife, environmental, and property measures. It reported favorably HCR 79, which urges Congress and the U.S. Forest Service to allow deer hunting with dogs in Kisatchie National Forest, after testimony emphasizing the cultural importance of dog hunting and opposition from the Louisiana Wildlife Federation, which supported only the wounded-deer recovery component. The committee also reported favorably SB 419 on using pre-charged pneumatic devices during primitive firearms season, SCR 29 creating a study committee on Atchafalaya Basin water quality, and SB 111 setting black bass and crappie bag and size limits in the basin, with the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries saying it would continue sampling and monitor impacts. Members then approved SB 174 transferring state property in Caddo Parish from Louisiana Tech University to the Caddo Parish School Board, SB 189 prohibiting intentional release of fuels or chemicals for temperature-affecting purposes, and SB 99 modernizing DEQ communications to allow optional electronic notices. They also reported favorably HCR 54 requesting a federal study of flooded corn and migratory waterfowl behavior, and HCR 94 requiring annual boating safety reports from Wildlife and Fisheries; witnesses supported the reporting idea and suggested adding a 10-year average for context. The committee next approved HCR 104, which asks the Department of Conservation and Energy and the Louisiana Geological Survey to study collection and access to subsurface data, with LSU’s Greg Upton describing ongoing modernization of core samples, well logs, and 3D subsurface mapping. It also passed SB 331, which temporarily removes a section of the Louisiana Scenic Rivers Act for five years to allow work on the lower Pearl River; conservation groups opposed the bill, warning about precedent, flooding, erosion, and habitat impacts, while the author said the measure was narrowly tailored to address severe silting and channel problems. Finally, the committee created a task force on illegal dumping in HCR 85 after amending its membership, adopted a substitute for HR 216 to authorize a committee hearing on the 2022 Louisiana Climate Action Plan, and reported favorably HCR 87 supporting a U.S. senator’s migratory flyway correspondence and SB 505 revising the Motor Fuels Underground Storage Tank Trust Fund grant process and related tank requirements.

Transcript Highlights:

• And what I found out was, after doing some research, it’s because of the sediment that’s been being introduced
• Right now, researchers are testing nano fuels, liquid fuels that are doped with metal oxide nanoparticles
• I did a little bit of research, and what I found was the jet engine manufacturers were the ones that

Committee: House Natural Resources & Environment

Keywords: 965, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Lyons, when you did this, what is the average cost to these medications in your research?
• On some of those, you're actually correct, and during my research I made the mistake of being on my phone
• And that goes back to some of my research.

Committee: House Insurance

Summary: The House Insurance Committee met on April 15 and first considered HB 909, which would require commercial health insurance coverage for behavioral health crisis services. Representative Spell and Office of Behavioral Health interim assistant secretary Dr. Holly Howitt described the Louisiana crisis response system, the goal of reducing emergency room and 911 use, and the need to expand provider participation beyond Medicaid. A technical amendment and a stakeholder-driven amendment allowing insurers to require documentation of crisis, medical necessity, and follow-up plan were adopted, and the bill was reported as amended with support cards from several health care and local government entities. The committee then advanced HB 1151, which changes investment limits for domestic insurers, especially life insurers, by capping equity holdings and aligning the rules with solvency concerns. After questions about whether the bill would increase profits at consumers’ expense, the author and Department of Insurance staff explained it was intended to provide guardrails and keep insurers solvent; the bill was reported favorably. HB 1154, dealing with prior authorization for certain generic medications, also received technical and substantive amendments. The bill would generally eliminate prior authorization for non-opioid generics, with a $250 wholesale acquisition cost cap and physician-specialty exceptions; it was reported as amended after support testimony from the Louisiana Dermatological Society and other health groups. HB 869, which sought coverage for injectable drugs used for glucose control or weight loss, prompted extended debate over cost, obesity, and long-term savings. Several members raised concerns about premium increases and the large fiscal note, while the author argued the bill was preventive and could save money over time. Representative Jordan proposed a 25% coverage amendment, but the committee declined to take up the substantive amendment that day, and the bill was voluntarily deferred to the next meeting. Later, the committee reported HB 1196 favorably, clarifying that screening colonoscopies remain screening even if polyps are found, and HB 1176 favorably, restoring Medicare Advantage coverage for certain integrative cancer care services. The committee also heard HB 771, which would have changed Medicare coordination rules for retirees who return to state employment, but staff explained the issue is governed by federal CMS rules and preemption concerns; the bill was voluntarily deferred so the author could review the governing law. HB 751, dealing with term life insurance disclosures, was likewise voluntarily deferred after the author said more work was needed and noted concerns about existing law and consumer understanding. At the end of the meeting, the committee also deferred HB 920 and HB 1199 to the following week and briefly stood at ease before moving on to other business.

Transcript Highlights:

• made it known that they either were... ...going to renovate or remove the building and put a new research
• This is a situation where we've got a medical school who wants to expand their research department for
• in the community that are attempting to take away their right to expand in a modern way with that research

Committee: House Commerce

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• facial recognition tools and a lot of these age verification tools that we don't oppose, but our research
• safety of children, or are we just pushing a way forward that has flaws within it, flaws that our researchers
• Or are we just pushing a way forward that has flaws within it, that our researchers have found, have

Committee: Senate Rules

Summary: The Senate Rules Committee met to consider several governor’s appointments, bill referrals, rule-waiver requests, and floor acknowledgments. The committee approved a series of non-appearing appointments, including Peter Briar-T to the Southern Low-Level Radioactive Waste Commission, multiple appointments to the Acupuncture Board, Roy Mathur to the Board of Pilot Commissioners, and Davina Hurt to the California Water Commission, with most votes unanimous and Hurt’s appointment approved 3-2. The committee also approved bill referrals, rule waivers for guests on the Senate floor, and floor acknowledgments. The committee then heard testimony from Lillian Corral, appointed to the California Community Colleges Board of Governors. Corral emphasized her background as a first-generation college graduate and immigrant, and said her priorities would include helping students connect to livable-wage jobs, supporting Vision 2030, improving data and digital infrastructure, expanding dual enrollment, and considering regional bachelor’s degree programs at community colleges where workforce needs justify them. Senators questioned her about achievement gaps, the role of data in improving student outcomes, the expansion of community college bachelor’s degrees, faculty staffing, and her employer New America’s positions on privacy, age verification, and TikTok. The committee voted 3-0 to advance her appointment to the full Senate. The committee also heard from Paul Tupi, nominated to lead the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control. Tupi described a career in law enforcement and said he would focus on public trust, timely licensing, licensee education, and enforcement against irresponsible operators. Senators asked about ABC’s enforcement tools, including decoy operations, shoulder-tap checks, delivery compliance, and investigations tied to alcohol-related crashes; funding stability; delivery alcohol violations during COVID; and ABC’s approach to entertainment zones and other alcohol-policy changes. Support testimony came from industry and advocacy representatives, who praised his responsiveness and open-door approach. The committee approved his appointment 5-0 for consideration by the full Senate.

Transcript Highlights:

• The process to research, draft, and submit a demonstration can be a significant investment of time and
• potential, and we currently work with partners including MAG, Maricopa, Pinal, and Pima counties to research
• Maricopa, Pinal, and Pima counties to research and reach consensus for exceptional event influences and

Committee: Senate Senate Natural Resources Committee of Reference

Summary: The committee approved the minutes from February 27 and March 3, 2026, then heard House Bill 2013, which would require ADEQ to submit an exceptional event demonstration to EPA when a wildfire on federally managed land affects Arizona air quality. The sponsor said the bill would help Arizona’s ozone/nonattainment situation by ensuring wildfire-related exceedances are excluded from official counts. Sierra Club opposed the mandate as duplicative and costly, and ADEQ said it was neutral but concerned about requiring submissions that may not meet EPA’s regulatory-significance standard and could take about 200 staff hours each. HB 2013 received a do-pass recommendation by a 5-3 vote. The committee also approved House Bill 2156, appropriating $250,000 to the Livestock Compensation Fund, after testimony from opponents raising transparency, conflict-of-interest, and funding concerns; supporters argued ranchers need help with depredation losses. HB 2156 passed 5-3. House Bill 2113, which would require RUCO to intervene in utility rate cases when a proposed residential rate increase is 100% or more, drew testimony from the sponsor about rural customers facing large increases and from RUCO saying it lacked the staff and budget to take on the added workload. The chair and sponsor discussed adding an appropriation or lowering the threshold, but no amendment was ready. Opponents argued the bill would divert RUCO from larger cases, while supporters emphasized protecting rural ratepayers. The committee gave HB 2113 a do-pass recommendation, 6-2. House Concurrent Memorial 2011, urging Congress to delist the Mexican gray wolf and return management to states and local authorities, was supported by the sponsor and ranching-focused testimony citing livestock losses, while opponents said the species remains endangered and recovery should stay science-based. HCM 2011 passed 5-3. The committee then considered House Bill 2026, which would let ADWR evaluate water availability for certain developments by looking only at the proposed source or sources, even if water is commingled in a delivery system. ADWR was neutral but warned that commingled systems make it difficult to track actual water use and could weaken groundwater safeguards; opponents said the bill could enable double counting or more pumping. HB 2026 received a do-pass recommendation, 5-3. House Bill 2056, which appropriates $100,000 for a feasibility study of brackish groundwater desalination sites, was supported by the sponsor as a way to explore additional water supplies; ADWR was neutral but said the study would be new for the agency and that brackish water is still regulated as groundwater. HB 2056 passed 5-3. House Bill 2098, modernizing Pinal County Water Augmentation Authority bonding and financing authority, drew support from Pinal County representatives and passed unanimously, 8-0. Finally, House Concurrent Resolution 2057, supporting a geothermal permitting roadmap and coordination among agencies, was backed by industry advocates as a way to unlock Arizona’s geothermal potential and also passed unanimously, 8-0.

Transcript Highlights:

• The process to research, draft, and submit a demonstration can be a significant investment of time and
• potential, and we currently work with partners including MAG, Maricopa, Pinal, and Pima counties to research
• Maricopa, Pinal, and Pima counties to research and reach consensus for exceptional event influences and

Bills: HB2013 , HB2026 , HB2056 , HB2098 , HB2113 , HB2156 , HB2158 , HCM2011 , HCR2057

Committee: Senate Natural Resources

Keywords: air pollution, wildfires, environmental standards, public health, Arizona Revised Statutes, assured water supply, groundwater, commingling, commingled water, water supply, Arizona Department of Water Resources, ADWR, active management area, AMA, subdivision plat, development approval, water rights, municipal provider, private water company, certificate of assured water supply

Transcript Highlights:

• First of all, what the research has shown through Warren Farrell, you know, First of all, what the research
• My doctoral research examined system design, architectural complexity, and how poorly designed systems

Summary: The Civil Rights and Judiciary Committee held a public hearing on House Bill 2735, the “Troxel 2” bill relating to establishing a constitutional floor in family law cases. Staff explained that the bill would add legislative findings and intent to Chapter 26.09 RCW, emphasizing parental fitness, equal standing for similarly situated parents, and a duty to cooperate. The prime sponsor and public testifiers largely supported the bill, arguing that family courts too often restrict fit parents’ access to children without sufficient due process and that the bill would restore constitutional protections and reduce conflict. Some testimony also framed the proposal as a way to improve child safety, stability, and outcomes. No action was taken on the bill during the hearing. The committee then moved into executive session on multiple bills. It advanced bills on garnishment forms (ESSB 5865), child hearsay/testimony rules (SSB 5169, amended), immigration-enforcement policies for health care and related facilities (ESSB 5906, amended), compensation claims for wrongly convicted persons (SSB 5520), reinstating the Indigent Defense Task Force (ESSB 5912), preserving streamlined administrative and land-use review procedures (SSB 6009), authorizing court security threat assessments (ESSB 6086), adding superior court judges in Skagit and Yakima counties (SB 5868), requesting reinstatement of the limited license legal technician program (SJM 8006), expanding personality rights to digital likenesses (SSB 5886), and liability protections for certain children’s item donations, including car seats (ESSB 6087). Several bills were amended before passage out of committee. Votes were recorded on each measure, with most passing on strong bipartisan margins. Notable split votes occurred on SSB 5169 and ESSB 5906, reflecting concerns about balancing child protection, due process, and immigration-related enforcement issues. The committee concluded by thanking staff and adjourned after reporting all listed executive-session bills out of committee with do pass recommendations, some as amended.

Transcript Highlights:

• So the margin that we make today, we use that to support the teaching, research, and patient care missions
• And this state action immunity, I'll do a little research.
• And this state action immunity, I'll do a little research.

Committee: House Special Committee on Rural Issues

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• When we were researching the funding for ABC, it looks like to us in 2018 there was a small increase
• And I think we know kind of even what the research says around that investment in early learning and
• And then as we work with our local leads, we're getting a lot of good information and for research or

Committee: All EDUCATION- HOUSE EARLY CHILDHOOD SUBCOMMITTEE

Keywords: 1204, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Have you done the research on it if we switched that model, how that would affect our spending here?
• But I don't know if research was done there.
• with district needs, and I was wondering if you could provide an example that you found during the research

Committee: House Education

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And here's the other thing I learned about the whole research when they do on this: These development
• The Fire Trace Research, which is the national researcher for fire, says that the setback from a home

Summary: The House Utilities Committee resumed and then concluded a hearing on HB 2402 and HB 2816, both dealing with utility-scale solar development. The chair asked witnesses to testify for informational purposes where they supported some provisions but opposed others, and the discussion centered on setback distances, taxation, cropland conversion caps, local control, and decommissioning/oversight. Several witnesses described concerns about large solar projects encircling farms, impacts on neighbors, glare, fire risk, wetlands, and property values, while others emphasized the need for reasonable statewide standards and the importance of preserving Chapter 100 agreements and county flexibility. Testimony from landowners and advocacy groups largely urged stronger protections: higher setbacks, more local authority, lower caps on cropland conversion, and higher tax rates than the bill’s proposed $2,500 per megawatt. Some witnesses argued solar should be taxed as commercial property rather than agricultural land, while others raised constitutional concerns about changing agricultural assessment. A county commissioner described local regulations his county adopted, including road agreements, decommissioning bonds, hydraulic studies, and buffering, and said counties need clearer rules, especially where there is no zoning. Industry and utility representatives said the bills were generally workable but wanted further discussion on setbacks and tax treatment. They argued tax comparisons should account for the full package of taxes and incentives, not just nameplate taxes, and said higher taxes can raise electricity costs for customers. Ameren Missouri said most of the bill was acceptable, but cautioned about how real property would be assessed and noted its current and planned solar buildout. The committee took no vote; after hearing the final witness, the chair closed testimony on HB 2402 and HB 2816 and adjourned the committee.

Transcript Highlights:

• We also visited the Wang Labs at the UW, and the Wang Lab is doing research right now on solitary confinement
• other committee and legislative staff, have been invited to visit the lab and to keep abreast of the research
• She has taken on this research, so it was really, really quite interesting.

Bills: SB5966

Committee: Senate Human Services

Keywords: healthcare, nutrition, medically tailored meals, dietary support, food security, chronic illness, 904, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Concurrently, when FDLE started this program, When FDLE started this program, they also did some research
• Well, the FDLE team, their team of researchers, developed a true methodology to most accurately report
• And their research was just accepted into publication in a scientific journal.

Summary: The committee heard budget presentations from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, the Department of Juvenile Justice, and the clerks of court. FDLE outlined 28 legislative budget requests for fiscal year 2026-27, including funding for a new Fort Myers regional operations center lease, technology and data system upgrades, moving several programs off uncertain federal grants, expanding the wellness office, cryptocurrency seizure efforts, cybersecurity, forensic equipment, digital forensics, criminal history modernization, training, and the SAFE fentanyl enforcement program. Members asked about the reported 79% increase in officer misconduct cases, the role of body cameras and masking, public records request burdens on local agencies, and the status of Fibers and the Uniform Arrest Affidavit systems. FDLE said the misconduct data covers all sworn officers and corrections personnel, that many cases would not be affected by body cameras because they involve off-duty conduct or internal matters, and that it is working with agencies and vendors to improve participation in reporting systems. DJJ Secretary Matt Walsh updated the committee on the Florida Scholars Academy, describing the new unified education system across 39 residential facilities. He reported first-year enrollment, course completions, graduations, and compliance results, and said the program now provides in-person and blended instruction, individualized support, mental health services, and career and technical education. He also discussed staffing shortages in some detention facilities, the need for more residential beds, and the importance of recognizing and supporting staff. In response to questions, he explained how the program addresses students with disabilities and behavioral needs through one-on-one instruction, paraprofessionals, and immediate mental health support. The clerks of court presented a budget request centered on funding shortfalls and rising costs. Clerk and Comptroller Stacey Butterfield said clerks are operating with outdated funding levels despite increased statutory duties, higher postage and staffing costs, and growing workloads in priority case types such as injunctions for protection and other high-risk matters. The clerks requested $22 million in direct appropriations, including support for due process costs, jury management, and staffing for 37 new judges approved last session. Members also asked about Senate Bill 532, which Butterfield described as a CPI-based measure to update court fines and fees that have remained unchanged since 2008. The committee took no votes on the presentations and adjourned after discussion.

Transcript Highlights:

• You don't have the time to do the in-depth research on every single item countywide. to meet with us.
• You don't have the time to do the in-depth research on every single item countywide.
• Depth research on every single item countywide. You can think you do.

Summary: The subcommittee met to discuss Florida county commission districting options, with an overview from Ginger Delagall of the Florida Association of Counties. She explained the constitutional, statutory, local charter, and federal Voting Rights Act framework governing county commissions, including the default five-member at-large model for non-charter counties, the option for seven-member mixed boards with a referendum, and the broader flexibility available to charter counties, which can choose different board sizes, election methods, and term limits. She also described the current distribution of county structures across the state and noted a few counties in transition or litigation, including Orange, Lee, and Alachua. County commissioners from Bay, Madison, Pinellas, Polk, and Bradford counties testified about how their current systems work in practice. Commissioners from Bay and Polk defended at-large systems as promoting countywide accountability, broader perspective, and collaboration, especially in large or diverse counties. Commissioners from Madison and Bradford supported single-member districts as improving local access, clarity, and responsiveness, particularly in smaller rural counties. Pinellas Commissioner Dave Eggers described a mixed system in a large charter county and said it balances district-level responsiveness with countywide accountability. Several members asked about Orange County’s mayor-chair structure, the effects of single-member versus at-large representation, and whether counties had considered changing their systems. In questions and discussion, members raised concerns about accountability, representation, gerrymandering, countywide versus district-specific interests, and whether certain structures better serve rural or urban counties. Delagall said the association had not done cost or equity studies comparing systems. The panel repeatedly emphasized home rule and local choice, with commissioners and Delagall urging the Legislature to let counties and their voters decide their own form of government. No votes were taken on any bill or proposal, and the meeting ended with adjournment after the presentations and discussion.

Transcript Highlights:

• wildfire safety and risk mitigation program and allow the department to pursue a partnership to research
• university systems, charging the department with initiating a competitive grant program to create a research
• But, um, do At such a high level that we needed a statewide bill, but doing the research and understanding

Summary: The committee met to hear seven Senate bills, first approving two consent items, SB 352 and SB 804, on motions to do pass to Appropriations. SB 542 (Limón) would require public notice and comment before issuing a financial responsibility certificate for an oil pipeline and require hydrostatic testing before restarting pipelines idle for five years or more; it was supported by the Center for Biological Diversity and passed the committee on a due-pass motion to Appropriations. SB 616 (Rubio) would create an independent community hardening commission within the Department of Insurance to coordinate wildfire mitigation and insurance-related recommendations; it drew support from the Department of Insurance and several local and industry groups, while water agencies, special districts, and the building industry raised concerns about water infrastructure standards, and it passed on a due-pass motion to Insurance. SB 429 (Cortese), which would establish a public wildfire catastrophe model and related university-based research and education program, received support from the Department of Insurance and outside groups and passed as amended to Appropriations. SB 256 (Perez) would strengthen wildfire mitigation and emergency response by expanding planning, improving PSPS communication, requiring utility coordination with emergency centers, and directing removal of permanently abandoned electrical facilities; utilities and business groups were generally neutral after amendments, while the author emphasized the bill’s connection to recent wildfire losses, and it passed as amended to Appropriations. SB 509 (Caballero) would require specialized training for local law enforcement on transnational repression targeting diaspora communities; it received support from the California Police Chiefs Association and immigrant-rights advocates, but drew extensive opposition from Hindu and civil-rights organizations concerned about bias, implementation, and First Amendment issues. Committee members discussed amendments to clarify cultural competency, diversity, and constitutional protections, and the bill passed as amended to Appropriations. After the hearing, the committee took final roll-call votes on the bills, with the consent items and SB 429, SB 256, and SB 509 moving forward, while SB 542 and SB 616 were also reported out on earlier motions.

Transcript Highlights:

• But I think this is an area that we all should focus more on to research what other jurisdictions are
• But I think this is an area that we all should focus more on to research what other jurisdictions are
• Those rolls must be reliable, and year after year, our research has shown that they are not even close

Summary: The Assembly Elections Committee met on July 2, 2025, with a quorum present and took up eight agenda items, including four consent bills. The committee first approved the consent calendar, which included SB 280, SB 621, SB 851, and SB 852, all moving forward without objection. The committee then heard several bills from Senator Umberg focused on election administration and campaign finance, along with SB 408 on voter-roll maintenance. SB 249 would require county board of education elections to be consolidated with the statewide general election. Supporters, including the League of Women Voters, argued this would increase turnout and make those elections more representative; opponents, including Orange County education officials, argued it would override local control, increase costs, and add ballot fatigue. The bill passed 5-2 and was re-referred to the Committee on Education. SB 398 would make it a crime to pay or offer contingent payments or other valuable consideration to induce voting or voter registration, closing what supporters described as a loophole involving lotteries and incentives. It passed 5-0 as amended and was re-referred to the Committee on Public Safety. SB 42 would remove the state ban on public financing for campaigns in general law cities and counties, allowing local voters to decide whether to adopt such systems. Supporters from Common Cause, the League of Women Voters, and many local advocates said it would broaden participation and reduce the influence of big money; opponents raised concerns about taxpayer funding, guardrails, and local oversight. The bill passed 5-2 and was re-referred to Appropriations. Finally, SB 408 would require election officials to use U.S. Postal Service change-of-address data to help maintain voter rolls; supporters said it would improve accuracy and trust in elections, while one commenter questioned reliance on postal data. The bill passed unanimously 6-0 and was re-referred to Appropriations. The committee then completed the remaining roll calls and adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• AB 1486, Esmeralda Soria, Prop. 4 Research Farm Grants: two-year bill.
• AB 1505, Agricultural Committee on Agricultural Vertebrate Pest Control Research: do pass on an A roll
• AB 1505, Committee on Agriculture, Agricultural Vertebrate Pest Control Research: do pass on an A roll

Summary: The Assembly Appropriations Committee held its May 23, 2025 suspense hearing and opened by emphasizing the difficult budget environment, rising costs for constituents, and the need to make tough choices. The chair said many bills would be held, amended to reduce costs, or made two-year bills because the state could not afford broad program expansions this year. The committee also noted the agenda was organized alphabetically by author and that results would be posted later that day. The committee then acted on a large suspense file, taking up hundreds of Assembly bills across topics including housing, health care, education, labor, public safety, climate, water, transportation, elections, and technology. Many bills were held in committee, while many others were approved with cost-saving, clarifying, or author’s amendments. Examples included measures on CalABLE, Covered California enrollment, wildfire and insurance issues, reproductive health, school and college programs, prison and juvenile justice matters, AI and data privacy, and local government and utility regulation. Several bills were converted to two-year bills to continue discussion. Throughout the hearing, the committee repeatedly voted on bills by A roll call or B roll call, often with Republicans not voting on amended measures. Some bills were advanced with notable amendments, such as narrowing scope, removing appropriations, delaying implementation, or striking costly provisions. The committee also approved a number of committee bills and omnibus measures, including emergency management, judiciary, insurance, and water-related bills. At the end of the hearing, the chair stated that the committee had moved 435 bills to the Assembly floor, either as do pass or do pass as amended, and adjourned the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• panel: Christy Gessler, Texas Realtors; Jeff Burdett, NFIB; and Carl Walker, Texas Taxpayers and Research
• right. uh, Christy Gessler, Texas Realtors, Jeff Burdett, NFIB, Carl Walker, Texas Taxpayers and Research
• Carl Walker, Texas Taxpayers and Research Association. We come in support of both HB 9 and HJR 1.

Bills: SB1331 , SB1375 , SB1443 , SB1578 , SB2251 , SB2519 , SB2553 , SB2655 , SB2764 , SB2907 , SB3030 , SB3033 , SB3035 , SB3036 , SB3037 , SB3043 , SB3047 , SB3050 , SB3051 , SB3056 , SB3057 , SB3063 , HB9 , HB467 , HB331 , HB1244 , HB1399 , HB2559 , HB2730 , HB3307 , HJR1 , HJR99 , SB3048 , SB3052 , SB3053 , SJR78 , HB1327 , HB2723

Committee: Senate Local Government

Keywords: civil service, firefighters, police officers, municipalities, local government, repeal, voter petition, health care, provider participation, continuation programs, population-based regulation, health care provider participation, Medicaid, hospital funding, voluntary compliance, mandatory payments, public health, healthcare program, county participation, nonpublic hospitals

Summary: The Senate Committee on Local Government heard several bills, most of them left pending after brief public testimony. House Bill 331, by Rep. Patterson and sponsored by Sen. Hinojosa, would create a presumption that firefighters, police officers, and EMTs who suffer a heart attack or stroke within eight hours after a strenuous shift were injured in the line of duty for workers’ compensation purposes; testimony from a firefighters’ association supported the bill, and it was left pending. Senate Bill 2655, by Sen. Flores, would authorize Burnet County to establish a local provider participation fund to help support local hospital services; a hospital administrator testified in support, and the committee substitute was left pending. Senate Bill 1443, by Sen. Hughes, would extend the Northeast Healthcare Provider Participation District in three counties, and House Bill 3307, by Rep. Noble, would allow property tax arbitrators to complete required continuing education online; both were left pending without opposition. Senate Bill 3048, by Sen. Birdwell, would create the Bluebonnet Hills Municipal Management District in Midlothian and was also left pending. The committee then took up House Bill 9 and HJR 1, sponsored by Sen. Bettencourt, which would raise the business personal property tax exemption from $2,500 to $125,000 and place the constitutional amendment on the November 4, 2025 ballot. Business groups, realtors, and taxpayers’ advocates testified in strong support, saying the change would provide meaningful relief to small businesses and help balance earlier homeowner tax relief. The City of Fort Worth testified in opposition, warning of a revenue shift to homeowners and budget impacts, but the committee adopted the committee substitutes and reported both measures to the full Senate on 6-0 votes. The committee also heard House Bill 1399 and HJR 99, by Sen. Nichols, to exempt animal feed from property tax when it is already sales-tax exempt; no one testified against them, and both were left pending. Senate Bill 2553, by Sen. West, would let owners of historic archaeological sites protest land and structure appraisals separately, and it was left pending after supportive testimony. Senate Bill 2907 and SJR 78, also by Sen. West, would exempt certain perishable inventory, including food and some prescription drugs, from property tax if approved by voters; pharmacists, business groups, a researcher, and a coalition of retailers and food/medicine advocates supported the bill, and it was left pending. Finally, Senate Bill 1331, by Sen. Hancock and explained by Sen. Middleton, would lower the population threshold for certain municipal civil-service-related petition restrictions from 950,000 to 70,000; law enforcement representatives and a San Marcos police association supported it, and it was left pending. The committee then recessed until 15 to 30 minutes after adjournment.