Video & Transcript Research : 'hard drive'

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TX

Texas 89th 2nd C.S.

Appropriations - S/C on Articles I, IV, & V Feb 26th, 2025

Appropriations - S/C on Articles I, IV, & V

Transcript Highlights:
  • So being able to put recruit schools on in Florence, they can drive, they can shoot, they can PT, they
  • It's, it's hard to ask.
  • With all the public safety threats, it's hard to ask for bricks and mortar, but I can tell you that it
  • And The delays in getting licenses and getting driving tests and getting all those things that, um.
  • They have a driver license office close by, but they got to drive to the next town over in the Houston
TX

Texas 89th Regular

S/C on Disease Prevention & Women's & Children's Health Apr 17th, 2025

S/C on Disease Prevention & Women's & Children's Health

Transcript Highlights:
  • Because obesity drives so many other chronic diseases.
  • It's hard for me to believe it's solely genetic when I look at the tremendous uptick in obesity rates
  • This internal drive, the biological drive, causes the problem, and the behavior can help treat it.
  • But also, it's hard to keep the food in a climate-controlled...
  • I hope nobody's driving after this, right? Was it? Yeah. All right.
FL

Florida 2025 Regular Session

Senate in Session Mar 27th, 2025

Florida Senate Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • They are investigating the murder, they are investigating a drive-by shooting, they are investigating
  • Who is driving the car, that car might match the description of the car that just fled the scene.
  • Just let the drive.
  • But you don't know that down the street, around the corner, somebody driving the same color car just
  • committed a heinous crime, and you're driving in the same direction that car was reported to be driving
Bills: SJR37, SJR57, SCR8, SB8, SB108, SB125, SB251, SB318, SB378, SB379, SB396, SB472, SB487, SB503, SB533, SB565, SB583, SB608, SB650, SB686, SB689, SB707, SB710, SB763, SB854, SB875, SB916, SB924, SB925, SB958, SB961, SB965, SB987, SB988, SB1006, SB1019, SB1021, SB1024, SB1026, SB1038, SB1146, SB1185, SB1194, SB1202, SB1252, SB1253, SB1330, SB1343, SB1362, SB1497, SB1498, SB1499, SB1527, SB1547, SB1596, SB1697, SJR36, SJR12, SJR57, SJR37, SCR22, SCR12, SCR8, SB925, SB1362, SB565, SB765, SB62, SB666, SB707, SB888, SB687, SB847, SB1248, SB504, SB857, SB305, SB296, SB284, SB1497, SB1499, SB1498, SB241, SB304, SB621, SB1023, SB1024, SB686, SB371, SB204, SB609, SB670, SB850, SB854, SB413, SB1346, SB1033, SB1220, SB1073, SB810, SB1539, SB447, SB875, SB406, SB985, SB965, SB1119, SB1505, SB1194, SB1253, SB1215, SB1302, SB856, SB583, SB673, SB681, SB1172, SB1252, SB378, SB608, SB955, SB957, SB988, SB1019, SB1021, SB1120, SB251, SB541, SB379, SB1737, SB266, SB1415, SB1527, SB125, SB599, SB1330, SB53, SB916, SB1352, SB785, SB710, SB472, SB1450, SB1502, SB1566, SB414, SB1062, SB961, SB1038, SB578, SB711, SB746, SB942, SB1404, SB1448, SB1738, SB108, SB8, SB318, SB507, SB533, SB689, SB1026, SB1349, SB1355, SB1433, SB1434, SB1596, SB1403, SB1146, SB763, SB667, SB1059, SB617, SB1567, SB503, SB16, SB310, SB311, SB396, SB505, SB1209, SB1210, SB1470, SB264, SB924, SB1029, SB1185, SB1202, SB1358, SB1364, SB1569, SB1697, SB1376, SB1228, SB519, SB878, SB1350, SB462, SB1535, SB827, SB1585, SB207, SB1207, SB1619, SB1396, SB920, SB1484, SB1273, SB1741, SB7, SB927, SB1227, SB1229, SB1353, SB1366, SB1464, SB1709, SB1729, SB1733, SB1744, SB1772, SB1816, SB1841, SB2188, SB1147, SB879, SB1008, SB378, SB710, SB916, SB1019, SB1146, SB1194, SB1253, SB1499, SB213, SB925, SB1362, SR263, SR311, SR333, SCR8, SB2407, SB2722, SB2949, SB2407, SB2722, SB2949
MA

Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session

Senate Committee on Juvenile and Emerging Adult Justice Jun 21st, 2026 at 01:00 pm

Senate Committee on Juvenile and Emerging Adult Justice

Transcript Highlights:
  • He took his second chance and worked hard to improve in all areas.
  • And so it is a little bit hard to narrow down into specific cities and towns.
  • I don’t have the hard data to say that.
  • I drive home that...
  • hard, specifically time sense, like the adult system, they do not get credit for that time.
Keywords: 995, all
Summary: The Senate Committee on Juvenile and Emerging Adult Justice held an informational hearing focused on diversion programs and services for high-risk youth, with no bills before the committee and no votes taken. The chair and members emphasized that the session was intended to hear from invited testimony and discuss how to strengthen diversion, reduce court involvement, and improve outcomes for youth. The committee heard first from the Office of the Child Advocate and diversion providers, who described the Massachusetts Youth Diversion Program, its statewide expansion to 10 of 11 court counties, and its reported success rate of about 80% completion without reoffending. Testimony highlighted that diversion keeps youth out of court, connects them more quickly to community-based services, and can address needs such as mental health, education, and substance use. Witnesses also pointed to racial and ethnic disparities in arrests versus summonses, regional variation in diversion access, and the need for clearer statutory authority, more funding, and broader use of pre-arrest diversion. Committee members asked about the difference between arrest and summons, who can initiate diversion, why arrest rates have increased relative to summonses, and how diversion might prevent harmful downstream consequences such as detention or immigration enforcement involvement. Witnesses said police, clerk magistrates, district attorneys, and judges can refer youth to diversion, and argued that local policy, training, and legislative changes could expand use. They also discussed the impact of detention on youth, including stigma, lost school time, and the lack of credit for time served in the juvenile system. Testimony from Citizens for Juvenile Justice focused on prevention, school discipline, and the school-to-prison pipeline, arguing for more restorative practices, better data, and legislation to limit suspensions and expulsions, especially for younger students and nonviolent conduct. They also raised concerns about DCF-involved and foster youth, who are disproportionately represented in the juvenile system. The final panel, the Children's League of Massachusetts and transition-age youth providers, shifted to child welfare and young adult supports. They supported reducing court involvement in child requiring assistance cases, expanding family resource centers, and strengthening services for transition-age youth leaving DCF or DYS custody. Providers described housing instability, homelessness, and the need for education, employment, behavioral health, and supportive housing services for young adults ages 18 to 23. Across the hearing, witnesses consistently argued that early intervention, community-based supports, and diversion are more effective than court processing or detention for most youth, and that the legislature can help through funding, statutory clarity, expanded eligibility, and stronger data collection.
CA
Transcript Highlights:
  • I have a brother-in-law who works down in the ports in Long Beach and worked really hard, long, long
  • What gives me hope is that California has never shied away... ...from hard, tough problems and issues
  • And so that's something that I—it's hard.
  • That's something that I—it's hard.
  • Cash, check, cold hard, you know, in a briefcase, you know, in a parking, cash check, cold hard, you
Summary: The Assembly Budget Subcommittee 5 on State Administration heard presentations from Go-Biz and the Department of Financial Protection and Innovation on the Governor’s budget proposals. Go-Biz described California Jobs First, the state’s 10-year economic development strategy, and emphasized support for small businesses, workforce development, and targeted investment in sectors such as ag tech, life sciences, semiconductors, and advanced manufacturing. Members raised concerns about federal policy changes, tariffs, tourism, housing, child care, and whether state incentives are truly additive; Go-Biz responded that it tracks federal actions closely, works with chambers and advocates, and uses programs like California Competes to target jobs that would not otherwise come to California. The committee then reviewed the proposal to restore the California Competes grant program with $60 million. Go-Biz said the grant would help businesses that cannot use the nonrefundable tax credit, and explained the program’s five-year contracts, milestone-based awards, and recapture provisions. The Legislative Analyst’s Office said the grant could be effective but recommended stronger oversight and clearer eligibility criteria, while also noting the 30% cap in trailer bill language may be too restrictive given the smaller funding level. Public testimony supported the grant and suggested considering refundability or transferability for the tax credit to broaden access for smaller and startup businesses. Members also heard the CHIPS-related proposal for $25 million to support Natcast’s semiconductor design and collaboration facility in Sunnyvale. Go-Biz and public witnesses argued the state investment would help secure a major federal research facility, retain engineering talent, and leverage billions in broader investment, while the LAO recommended rejecting the item because of its dependence on uncertain federal funding and the state’s budget condition. The committee also considered a $17 million continuation of CA RISE, which supports employment social enterprises; Go-Biz and several grantees cited strong job placement and workforce outcomes, while the LAO recommended rejection absent a more rigorous evaluation, noting prior LA RISE evidence did not show long-term employment gains. Finally, the Department of Financial Protection and Innovation presented budget requests for IT security and rent increases, and a trailer bill to raise fees across several programs. DFPI said decades-old fee schedules, inflation, and new regulatory responsibilities have created a structural deficit and warned the department could face insolvency without adjustments. The LAO recommended approving the fee increases only on a three-year limited-term basis and asked for more detailed revenue plans for programs not covered by the proposal, so the Legislature can assess actual collections and market impacts before making the changes permanent.
FL

Florida 2026 Regular Session

Education Pre-K - 12 Nov 18th, 2025

Education Pre-K - 12

Transcript Highlights:
  • Now, I just made that up driving here last night.”
  • It's going to be a hard one to follow. My name is Mike McAuliffe.
  • Drives everything, I think, that you do.
  • That's hard to do. But what could we do?
  • That's hard to do. But what could we do? In the legislature, that's hard to do.
Summary: The committee met to discuss student attendance and chronic absenteeism in Florida K-12 schools, with Chair Simon outlining the state’s attendance requirements and intervention process, including school contact after unexcused absences, child study team review, district superintendent referral, DJJ family services referral, truancy petitions, and possible parental prosecution and driver’s license consequences. Dr. Chris Curran of the University of Florida presented statewide data showing chronic absenteeism has risen sharply since the pandemic, with Florida at about 31.4% in 2023–24, and noted that absenteeism varies by district, school level, demographics, and urbanicity. He emphasized that causes are multifaceted—ranging from transportation, mental health, housing instability, safety concerns, and family circumstances—and said effective responses include early warning systems, text or phone outreach, multi-tiered interventions, mentoring programs like Check & Connect, and community partnerships. He also cautioned that punitive responses alone are often less effective than addressing root causes and keeping students engaged academically even when they miss school. Collier County Superintendent Leslie Ricciardelli described her district’s attendance efforts as a priority supported by attendance specialists, social workers, mental health staff, home visits, attendance contracts, and extensive parent communication. She said Collier’s chronic absenteeism rate was about 9% in 2023–24 and attributed success to consistent monitoring, family outreach, and community support, while stressing that students must be physically present to learn. She also argued that many absences are tied to barriers such as clothing, transportation, childcare, or family mental health, and that districts need resources to address those issues. Dr. Rachel Dawes added that Collier uses multilingual brochures, attendance awareness campaigns, vacation-planning guidance, door tags, automated calls and letters, and a truancy flow chart, with truancy court used as a last resort. Volusia County Executive Director Mike McAuliffe described a districtwide overhaul that included an attendance matters campaign, automated notices sent early and often, same-day and period-by-period notifications, a data dashboard, and tiered supports through MTSS. He said Volusia reduced chronic absenteeism from 34% in 2023–24 to a projected 29% and reported a first-quarter rate of about 20% in the current year. He highlighted community partnerships, including AdventHealth support for washers and dryers, bikes for students with transportation barriers, and monetary recognition for schools that reduce absenteeism. In response to questions, both district leaders emphasized that funding, staffing, and consistent follow-through are essential, and that attendance work is most effective when paired with family engagement, data monitoring, and practical supports rather than punishment alone.
SC

South Carolina 2025-2026 Regular Session

House of Representatives Jun 25th, 2026

South Carolina House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • If it is legal, then it's okay for a 15-year-old in South Carolina to drive up and go get that?
  • And my 17-year-old daughter can go get in the car, drive to a convenience store.
  • She can drive there, get it, and there's nothing that anyone can do.
  • We know that the FDA has said that 0.5 milligrams is too much to drive.
  • It's not safe to take this and drive. This is what we're going to do in South Carolina.
Keywords: 977, all
NV

Nevada 2025 Regular Session

Senate Floor Session May 29th, 2025 at 11:00 am

Nevada Senate Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • And I think it was genius in that we are funding hard-to-fill positions in Title I schools.
  • And I think it was genius in that we are funding hard-to-fill positions in Title I schools.
  • And I think it was genius in that we are funding hard-to-fill positions in Title I schools.
  • We have nothing in law to show that money is actually going to drive down costs.
  • We have nothing in law to show that money is actually going to drive down costs.
Keywords: 909, all
ND
Transcript Highlights:
  • So it's one thing, of course, to talk about the U.S. hard red spring wheat and the quality of hard red
  • This is what's driving our work as an institution.
  • What's kind of driving that? That's a great question.
  • What's kind of driving that? That's a great question.
  • Because we were able to test drive them.
Keywords: 908, all
Summary: The committee first reviewed the 2024-25 tuition waiver report for the North Dakota University System. Staff explained that waivers were reported for degree-seeking students and broken out by residency, institution, and waiver type. Members asked about partial versus full waivers, institutional discretion, athletic waivers, and whether campuses have published guardrails or transparency requirements. Staff said most waivers are set by institutions, with some statutory and board-required categories, and that athletic waivers are a small share of total waiver dollars. The report showed total gross tuition of $354.5 million, tuition waived of $38.9 million, and 11,193 of 42,040 students receiving some waiver. Members also discussed how waivers affect net tuition revenue, housing and food collections, and whether campuses are using waivers strategically compared with scholarships and other funding sources. The committee then heard a presentation on tuition rates by campus and State Board policy. Staff explained the board’s tuition factors for resident, Minnesota reciprocity, contiguous-state/U.S. nonresident, and international students, and noted that campuses often seek exceptions based on program-specific competition and enrollment goals. Members asked whether rates are based on cost or competition, and staff said campuses typically bring forward estimates and market comparisons when requesting special rates. The presentation also reviewed general fund appropriations versus net tuition revenue by campus, and members discussed how local tuition decisions and waivers do not directly affect the state funding formula, though they do affect institutional revenue and reserves. Questions were also raised about the Higher Learning Commission’s financial composite indicator and how it differs from the more intuitive reserve and revenue figures. The committee next received a broad overview of non-higher-education entities affiliated with the State Board of Higher Education, beginning with NDSU agriculture-related units. Dr. Greg Lardy described the State Board of Agricultural Research and Education, the NDSU Extension Service, the Agricultural Experiment Station, and the branch research centers, emphasizing their statewide role in crop and livestock research, extension education, and county-based outreach. He outlined funding mixes for extension, the experiment station, and branch stations, noting that grants and contracts support both research and education, while the agronomy seed farm is self-funded through seed sales. Members asked about the new and vacant FTE pool, R1 research status, matching requirements for grants, and whether state appropriations count toward research expenditures. Dr. Lardy also highlighted major research impacts, including crop varieties, virtual fencing, AI-assisted weed control, and NDAWN weather data. The Northern Crops Institute and the Upper Great Plains Transportation Institute also presented. NCI described its role in market development, technical services, and education for regional agriculture, its governance through the Northern Crops Council, and its funding from state appropriations, other states, and earned revenue. Members asked about the source of out-of-state funding, intellectual property, and the institute’s international reach. UGPTI then outlined its transportation research, federal and state funding structure, and work on road and bridge condition assessments, travel demand modeling, and workforce training. No votes were taken during the portion of the meeting reflected in the transcript.
MN

Minnesota 2025 1st Special Session

Committee on Rules and Administration - 04/30/25

Rules and Administration

Transcript Highlights:
  • valid driving Park Nicollet system.
  • that this driver had valid driving that this driver had valid driving privileges<00:01:57.280>
  • drive with or without valid driving drive with or without valid driving privileges<00:05:10.560>
  • <00:05:25.919> without<00:05:26.320> valid<00:05:26.720> driving Driving without
  • valid driving privileges.
Keywords: 1187, senate, all
OK
Transcript Highlights:
  • in nature whether that is distracted driving, impaired driving, are really big contributors.
  • And it's hard to say this when it's 60 degrees outside right now, but it's snow and ice management.
  • So you know that's, kind of hard to wrap your mind around.
  • the driving surface up, and then on the foundational elements of the bridge.
  • We need another one and an improvement on 271 down in Choctaw County that's really taken a hard look
Keywords: 914, all
NH

New Hampshire 2025 Regular Session

Senate Judiciary (01/28/2025)

Judiciary

Transcript Highlights:
  • This bill adds wrong-way driving to the list of aggravating factors that can elevate a driving while
  • under the influence while driving the wrong way on a highway.
  • <00:46:59.559> while driving while driving while intoxicated<00:47:01.319> under<00:47:
  • the interstate issue with hard the interstate issue with hard sen<01:14:26.560> would<01:
  • <01:18:47.280> while charged with impair driving while charged with impair driving while they're
Keywords: 1191, senate, all
NM

New Mexico 2025 Regular Session

IC - Legislative Health and Human Services Nov 7th, 2025

Legislative Health & Human Services Committee

Transcript Highlights:
  • This was always his drive regarding what he used to do.
  • I mean, change is hard, and we all know that.
  • That we've been working really hard to get the work requirements in place.
  • Those two things don't drive for me.
  • But I feel bad for members of this committee who worked so hard.
MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

Committee on Education Policy - 03/24/25

Education Policy

Transcript Highlights:
  • So, and that would be really hard.
  • So, as we make our be really hard.
  • <00:20:59.679> Senior Posh from I'm a junior at Harding Senior Posh from I'm a junior at Harding
  • And the word really hard.
  • I drive much look at everything.
Keywords: 1187, senate, all
NM

New Mexico 2025 Regular Session

IC - Legislative Finance Jun 24th, 2025

Transcript Highlights:
  • Union, and Harding. And Mr.
  • That's Colfax, Curry, Harding, Quay, San Miguel, and Union Counties.
  • Um, So It's hard to say. I know it's hard to say, but.
  • No, no, and if you can't answer it, I mean just just say, you know, it's hard, it's hard to give me a
  • That just tells you how hard it is to build in New Mexico.
NM

New Mexico 2026 Regular Session

House - Consumer and Public Affairs Feb 7th, 2026 at 12:35 pm

House Consumer & Public Affairs

Transcript Highlights:
  • But actually, facility fees are driving up premiums.
  • You know, it was a hard, hard life.” “You know, my folks, they were divorced.
  • So if they did a drive-by shooting and they... That does not. Oh, okay.
  • So if they did a drive-by shooting and they harmed somebody that's serious, if they did a drive-by shooting
  • So if they did a drive-by shooting and they harmed somebody that's serious, if they did a drive-by shooting
Keywords: 996, all
HI

Hawaii 2025 Regular Session

AEN Informational Briefing 01-14-2025

Hawaii Senate Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • especially at high tide it also drives especially at high tide it also drives up<00:22:02.600>
  • and where the heat is it's really hard and where the heat is it's really hard to<01:10:22.360>
  • <01:25:39.639> every personal cars that we're driving every personal cars that we're driving
  • driving driving more um I did want to<01:26:26.320> give<01:26:26.440> you<01:26:26.560
  • Basically, it's if they were to drive, I think we worked it out, if they were to drive 70 miles a day
Keywords: 912, senate, all
ND
Transcript Highlights:
  • red spring wheat, hard red white wheat, barley, oats, potatoes, soybeans, durum, and lentils.
  • AgTech is and what AgTech can do and how it can drive economic development in areas.
  • We build this out, really driving these things into the market.
  • dollars back in... ...earlier drive and mission that Holly brought up as well.
  • I know you guys have worked hard to pull all this together.
Summary: The meeting began with approval of the prior minutes and opening remarks from NDSU President David Stewart, who emphasized NDSU’s land-grant mission of statewide service through teaching, research, and extension. He highlighted the university’s role in agriculture, water, soil health, and community outreach, and pointed to examples of research commercialization such as Lilac Agriculture’s work on nitrogen-fixing microbes for crops. He also said he is still early in his tenure and intends to spend time listening and learning across the state. The committee then received a detailed presentation on a state irrigation and drainage study from Tom Bodine on behalf of Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring. The study estimated that North Dakota could develop about 1.3 million additional irrigated acres, with major potential in counties such as McLean, Williams, Sargent, Burleigh, Mountrail, McKenzie, McIntosh, Dunn, and Bottineau. Testimony stressed the economic benefits of irrigation for crop yields, value-added processing, dairy, and potato production, while members also discussed water availability, aquifers, downstream water use, and the need for more flexible permitting. The drainage portion of the study found significant economic benefits from legal drains, and staff explained that the impacts were calculated through increased productivity and related input purchases. Greg Lardy then gave NDSU’s required agriculture update, saying agriculture accounts for more than $41 billion in annual economic activity, one in five jobs, and about 25 percent of state GDP. He reviewed the role of SBAR, the statewide research-extension network, new crop varieties, virtual fencing, AI and weather-network tools, and Extension’s county partnerships and youth programs. He also outlined NDSU’s priorities for the next session: restoring proposed budget cuts, increasing operating support, and addressing deferred maintenance. Members asked about storage shed construction, NDSU’s relationship with Grand Farm, and whether NDSU could help with water-related research tied to drainage and aquifers. The committee also heard from the North Dakota Water Resources Research Institute and a professor on water and data centers, who described graduate fellowships, a water workforce certificate program, and research on data center cooling, water use, and “Legendary Harvest” concepts that would reuse waste heat for greenhouse or aquaculture production. Questions focused on whether the cooling systems were closed-loop, who would own any related production facilities, and whether the project was still only a feasibility study. Finally, North Dakota AgTech described its NSF-funded “engine” project, saying it has brought millions in federal investment to the state, supported startups and on-farm trials, and is focused on commercialization, workforce development, and helping producers lower input costs and improve profitability.
FL
Transcript Highlights:
  • a motorcycle or driving a car on a public roadway.
  • It's a hard thing to get your hands around.
  • We're driving through areas. I don't want to go 45 miles an hour.
  • And I can speak on my personal experience, driving in my personal vehicle and then also driving in my
  • And I can speak on my personal experience, driving in my personal vehicle, and then also driving in my
Summary: The Appropriations Committee on Transportation, Tourism, and Economic Development met with a quorum and considered five bills. Senate Bill 628, naming a portion of South Navy Boulevard in Pensacola as Warrior Sacrifice Way to honor three Navy sailors killed in the 2019 Naval Air Station Pensacola attack, drew supportive remarks from senators and was reported favorably. Senate Bill 382 addressed electric bicycles and scooters by requiring riders to yield to pedestrians, limit speed near pedestrians, and use audible signals, while creating an e-bike safety task force and reporting requirements; witnesses from law enforcement, local government, and school boards supported the bill but urged clearer inclusion of e-scooters and better data collection, and the bill was reported favorably. Senate Bill 880 created a Miami Northwestern Alumni Association specialty license plate to fund scholarships and school programs, and Senate Bill 696 authorized online trademark registration applications and updated trademark classification and verification procedures; both were reported favorably with little opposition. The committee also took up Chair DeSigley’s CS for SB 654 on traffic infraction enforcement cameras for red-light running, school-zone speeding, and school-bus violations. The bill aimed to increase consistency, transparency, and fairness by limiting data use, requiring records retention, authorizing virtual hearings, restricting commissions, and adding school board approval and reporting requirements for school-bus camera programs. An amendment was adopted to clarify several provisions, including the definition of careful and prudent driving, limits on camera data use, contract timing for commission prohibitions, and reporting on violations outside authorized enforcement periods. Members raised concerns about privacy, surveillance, school-zone notice, and whether all-day school-zone enforcement should continue; Hillsborough County law enforcement testified in support of all-day enforcement based on crash data, while the sponsor said he would continue working on clarifications. After debate, the amended bill was reported favorably.
TX

Texas 89th 2nd C.S.

Homeland Security, Public Safety & Veterans' Affairs Apr 23rd, 2025

Homeland Security, Public Safety & Veterans' Affairs

Transcript Highlights:
  • We're trying to get people to drive safely.
  • But that wasn't the end of my journey to drive.
  • Just a reminder, we've got a hard stop at two minutes.
  • I guess I'm just having a hard time.
  • And so we've really tried to lean hard into that.
Summary: The committee heard testimony on several public safety, criminal justice, and regulatory bills. HB 4995 would create a training and certification program allowing licensed physicians and certain EMS personnel assigned to tactical units to carry firearms during high-risk deployments, with supporters saying it would let tactical medical staff protect themselves while providing immediate care; the bill was left pending. HB 2609 would repeal the failure-to-appear-or-pay/OmniBase license-hold program, with the author and advocates arguing it creates compounding debt and unnecessary barriers to driving, while judges and municipal court representatives said the program is a voluntary, cost-effective tool that improves court appearances and reduces warrants; the bill was also left pending. HB 4879 would create a grant program to help local law enforcement pay for lab testing of suspected hemp/Delta-9 THC substances, and HB 5436 would let licensed auto recyclers buy certain untitled vehicles for scrap or parts to curb illegal sales, VIN cloning, and chop shops; both measures were left pending after brief testimony in support. The committee also heard HB 1777, which would require a discrete designation on driver’s licenses and state IDs for people required to register as sex offenders. The author and supporters argued the marker would help law enforcement and businesses quickly identify potentially dangerous offenders and prevent harm, while opponents called it a stigmatizing “scarlet letter” that would increase harassment, family harm, and reintegration barriers. The bill was left pending. HB 4155 would create a two-year Family Violence Criminal Homicide Prevention Task Force in the Governor’s Office to study family violence homicides, gather stakeholders, and recommend policy changes; the author, HHSC, the Texas Council on Family Violence, and a survivor testified in support, and the bill was left pending. The committee also heard HB 4514, which would authorize DPS to use facial image verification, with consent and privacy safeguards, to help businesses confirm identities and combat fraud; supporters from the lumber and identity-verification industries said it would reduce theft and fraud, and the bill was left pending. Finally, HB 5139 would clarify that peace officers and jailers are justified in using less lethal force weapons when acting within training and official duties; law enforcement groups supported the measure as a way to encourage use of less lethal tools without fear of prosecution, and testimony was underway when the transcript ended.