Transcript Highlights:

• It should forbid any party from requiring you to wear these—you have to show these dynamics.
• And what happens if the AAMVA standards change to require digital IDs?
• Representative Tabke said that, on the use side, it is really important that they never require using
• He said that is why it is important to have a physical ID along with it, even though that requirement
• The process of obtaining a mobile ID requires going through a process on the phone, and the data that

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Additional training for jailers who interact with veterans, requirements for interpreters for defendants
• Transparency doesn't require revictimization.
• The others were required to do that, so I was glad to hear that it was going to be the same requirement
• In my experience, that requires some advocacy, right?
• So it requires the defense to say, we have reason to believe that these records do exist.

Bills: SB693 , SB781 , SB836 , SB860 , SB906 , SB993 , SB1101 , SB1321 , SB1370 , SB1537 , SB1563 , SB1610 , SB1637

Committee: Senate Criminal Justice

Keywords: notary public, notaries, acknowledgment, jurat, personal appearance, remote notarization, online notarization, e-notary, electronic notarization, fraud prevention, identity verification, real estate fraud, property transfer, state jail felony, Class A misdemeanor, secretary of state, continuing education, record retention, notarial act, Texas Government Code

Summary: The committee heard a series of criminal justice bills focused on victim protections, law enforcement tools, notary/deed fraud, sexually violent predators, veterans in jail, tribal policing authority, and peace officer records. Several bills were laid out, heard, and left pending because the committee lacked a quorum for final action on those items. Testimony was generally supportive on bills addressing interpreter appointments, fuel theft investigations, deed fraud, survivor privacy, veteran jailer training, tribal peace officer authority, and officer-record confidentiality, though some bills drew concerns about due process, scope, or drafting. Senate Bill 1537 would clean up criminal procedure language on appointing interpreters and align it with Government Code standards requiring licensed or certified interpreters; it received no public opposition and was left pending. Senate Bill 993 would let Comptroller Criminal Investigative Division officers directly seek warrants for mobile tracking devices in fuel-theft and tax-fraud investigations; it also drew support and was left pending. Senate Bill 693, as substituted, would create a criminal offense for notarizing documents without the signer personally appearing, with a higher penalty when real property is involved, and would add notary continuing education; a Dallas County prosecutor testified that notary fraud is a major driver of deed theft, and the bill was left pending. Senate Bill 1610, as substituted, would address safety, registration, and criminal penalties at the Texas Civil Commitment Office for sexually violent predators, including assaults on staff and sex-offender registration issues; agency witnesses described increased assaults and operational problems, while a public witness urged waiting for Sunset review and raised due-process concerns. Senate Bill 836 would add privacy protections for sexual assault survivors by limiting livestreaming of trials, expanding pseudonym use, and protecting forensic exam and invasive-recording evidence; survivors and advocates strongly supported it, and defense lawyers said they had no opposition to the substitute. Senate Bill 1563 would require county jailer training on interacting with veterans, with testimony from the Texas Veterans Commission and veterans’ advocates emphasizing suicide risk, PTSD, and the need for better identification and support in jails; the bill was left pending. The committee also heard Senate Bill 906, which would authorize the Ysleta del Sur Pueblo tribal police to be commissioned as Texas peace officers like two other federally recognized tribes in Texas; tribal leaders said the change would improve response times and coordination, and the bill was left pending. Senate Bill 781, as substituted, would standardize confidentiality rules for peace officer personnel and departmental files statewide, mirroring Chapter 143 civil-service practices; law enforcement witnesses supported it as a way to protect personal information and create uniform records practices, but several senators raised concerns that the bill could blur existing disclosure rules or bury misconduct complaints, and public testimony included an opposition witness describing a police shooting involving her brother.

Transcript Highlights:

• . requirements. requirements.
• </c> that I've drafted that would uh require that I've drafted that would uh require the the the um<01
• :37:01.520><c> require</c> um require um require the<01:37:04.000><c> essentially</c><01:37:04.320><c
• There are issues that you'll see in a contract about insurance requirements meeting state requirements
• </c> contract about insurance requirements contract about insurance requirements meeting<01:52:30.800

Committee: Senate Executive Departments and Administration

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This includes in the require helium.
• </c><00:08:03.759><c> a</c> launches into space requires a launches into space requires a significant
• . other industries requiring lift off. other industries requiring helium<00:08:08.800><c> chip</c><00
• </c> removes local authority to require removes local authority to require treatment<00:46:28.160><c>
• </c> exceptions to the warrant requirement. exceptions to the warrant requirement.

Committee: Senate Environment, Climate, and Legacy

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• That's what we think the Constitution requires.
• or may not require testimonial evidence.
• So it's not a requirement to deny bail.
• As to reporting already required, that's already required by charitable bail organizations.
• It requires the magistrate to make findings.

Bills: HB36 , HB75 , HB76 , HB166 , HB799 , HB 1135 , HJR15 , HJR16 , HB36 , HB75 , HB76 , HB166 , HJR15 , HJR16

Committee: House Criminal Jurisprudence

Keywords: family violence, global positioning monitoring system, victim resources, electronic monitoring, protective orders, magistrate, criminal procedure, probable cause, written findings, law enforcement, bail bonds, bail fund, charitable bail fund, nonprofit bail organization, public funds, local government spending, political subdivision, county, city, taxpayer lawsuit

Transcript Highlights:

• federal requirements.
• requirements requirements um,<00:36:53.400><c> that</c><00:36:53.560><c> are</c> um, that are um, that
• </c><00:37:02.800><c> by</c> a person to satisfy the requirement by a person to satisfy the requirement
• . requirements. requirements.
• </c> &gt;&gt; This has the requirement. &gt;&gt; This has the requirement.

Committee: Senate Transportation

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• They take the steps that the law requires.
• Current law requires a face-to-face handoff to on-duty personnel.
• This bill does not require intent. It does not require fault.
• If we require the standard, that standard, before convicting an adult of a misdemeanor, we should require
• It requires clear standards and requires accountability.

Committee: House Public Safety

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:18:52.640><c> to</c> our landowners are not required to our landowners are not required to enroll
• For example, requirements of each state.
• Where it's required, I believe. However, let me clarify.
• However, &gt;&gt; Where it's required, I believe.
• Maine is not requiring this.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Summary: The meeting began with introductions and approval of the previous minutes, including a small amendment clarifying a note about “leakage” in a prior presentation. The committee then heard a presentation from Sarah Hall of the American Forest Foundation on the Family Forest Carbon Program, which she described as a voluntary carbon and forest management program for smaller landowners. She said the program provides annual payments and technical assistance, requires a forest management plan within two years, and is designed to support improved forest management while still allowing compatible uses such as recreation, hunting, and some harvesting. Hall emphasized that the program is intended as one tool among many and is not a fit for every property. She said most enrolled landowners did not previously have a forest management plan or work with a forester, and that the program helps bring “unengaged” landowners into active management. She also said the program is compatible with current use and other commitments on a case-by-case basis, and that landowners retain ownership of their land and timber rights while AFF holds the carbon rights for the contract term. She highlighted examples of landowners using the program to support taxes, family ownership, wildlife habitat, timber stand improvement, and continued recreational or business uses. Committee members asked about registry compliance in New Hampshire and the relationship between carbon markets and the program. Hall responded that AFF handles registry administration for landowners and would follow up on the specific registry count raised by a member. She explained that the program is funded through a mix of carbon market revenue, philanthropy, and grants, and that carbon credits are generated through landscape-level methodology and monitored using randomly selected plots compared with FIA data. She also noted that consulting foresters are key partners in the program and that AFF has paid more than $3 million to consultants nationwide.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> legislative authorization requirements legislative authorization requirements of<00:10:43.519><c
• c> usually</c> notification requirements that usually notification requirements that usually amount<00
• </c><00:43:55.520><c> to</c> Um that is not a current requirement to Um that is not a current requirement
• </c> &gt;&gt; the CFD would have would have required &gt;&gt; the CFD would have would have required
• Is already required to be disclosed. So, this bill simply requires it sooner.

Bills: SB2982 , SB2367 , SB2818 , SB2944 , SB2022 , SB2240 , SB2986 , SB2547 , SB2401 , SB3031 , SB3035 , SB3032

Committee: Senate Water, Land, Culture and the Arts

Keywords: foreign influence, campaign finance, contributions, state elections, transparency, election integrity, Ala Wai Small Boat Harbor, Ala Wai Harbor, DLNR, BLNR, Department of Land and Natural Resources, Board of Land and Natural Resources, state boating facility, small boat harbor, public-private partnership, PPP, marina management, harbor lease, fast lands, submerged lands

Summary: The committee heard testimony on several measures, beginning with SB 2982 on campaign finance, which would prohibit foreign entities and foreign-influence businesses from making contributions and expenditures. The Attorney General’s office testified first, followed by the Campaign Spending Commission, which supported the bill but asked for clarification on constitutional review authority and additional implementation time for certifications, forms, and procedures. Common Cause also supported the measure, arguing it would help protect elections from dark money and foreign influence. No vote was taken. The committee then took up SB 2367 on a state boating facilities lease program for the Ala Wai small boat harbor. DLNR supported the bill, while UPW opposed it, warning about privatization of a public asset and possible job displacement. Several members of the public supported the concept but urged amendments to protect public access, affordability, youth ocean programs, and state employee jobs. Committee members questioned DLNR about the scope of the lease, the role of the Board of Land and Natural Resources, and whether public access and existing concessions would remain protected. DLNR said current leases would remain, the board would retain approval authority, and employees would not necessarily be displaced, but members indicated more discussion and possible amendments were needed. For SB 2818 on boating penalties, DLNR testified in support and there was no opposition testimony. The committee also heard SB 2944 on conservation, which would require wildlife viewing guidelines that substantially conform to NOAA guidance and reporting requirements; DLNR said it stood on its written testimony. SB 2022 on water code penalties drew support from DLNR’s Commission on Water Resource Management, which said the bill’s two-tiered penalty structure would preserve deterrence while keeping the current $5,000 penalty for first-time or non-harmful violations. The Board of Water Supply submitted comments, and Ulupono Initiative supported the measure as a needed enforcement tool. Committee members discussed whether the higher penalty ceiling should be phased in and asked for stakeholder input on the amount of the penalties. Finally, the committee began SB 2240 on land use, which would require water availability certification from the Commission on Water Resource Management before a district boundary amendment proceeds to the Land Use Commission. DLNR supported the bill and said it often reviews project documents that lack sufficient information on water needs and availability, so the measure would allow earlier review and comment. The committee also indicated it would seek amendments and further feedback on the water penalty bill before it moved to the next committee.

Transcript Highlights:

• 15 credits, and access to Pell would require a student to be at least half time.
• </c> is the future going to need um require is the future going to need um require in<00:34:10.240><c
• In my career as a requirements.
• requirements but review those nursing requirements but they<01:03:40.079><c> must</c><01:03:40.400><
• Do we know that that requirement.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee heard updates from the chancellors of the state university system and the community college system on ongoing restructuring, collaboration, and enrollment trends. The university system said its office move to the NHTI campus is ahead of schedule and should save students about $250,000 a year while creating revenue for the community college system. Both systems described continued work on transfer pathways, direct-admit outreach, shared advising, and broader efforts to shrink footprints, reduce costs, and improve operational efficiency in response to declining enrollment and demographic pressure. A major topic was a possible federal change to Pell Grant eligibility that would require students to enroll in at least 7.5 credits. The chancellors said most community college students are part-time because of work and family responsibilities, and that the change could affect roughly 2,000 current Pell recipients and make it harder for students to afford or sustain enrollment. Members also discussed how the state’s governor’s scholarship statute largely benefits full-time students, suggesting possible future statutory changes. The chancellors explained how credits typically work, noting most courses are three or four credits and that students would likely need to add an entire course to meet the proposed threshold. The committee also discussed the broader higher education landscape, including declining high school cohorts, competition among New England institutions, and the need to right-size capacity. One member raised concerns about the health of regional campuses such as Plymouth and Keene; the chancellors said incoming enrollment is down at UNH and Plymouth and holding at Keene, attributing the trend to demographics rather than one campus drawing students away from another. They emphasized the importance of community colleges, adult learners, and short-term workforce programs as part of the state’s future education mix. Finally, the committee touched on the value of the university system’s research enterprise. The chancellor said about $250 million a year flows into the university system in federal research grants, with about $9.5 million currently under stop-work orders from federal agencies. She said the immediate concern is not DEI-related but federal cuts and possible caps on indirect cost recovery. Members noted that the R1 research designation supports business partnerships, student opportunities, and economic development projects such as West Edge in Durham.

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh first off, the requiring just two.
• :18:59.520><c> with</c><01:18:59.840><c> my</c> requirement, I disagree with my requirement, I disagree
• </c> colleague from the counties, uh requires colleague from the counties, uh requires unnecessary<01
• </c> together, but believe these requirements together, but believe these requirements are<01:24:14.000
• ,</c> language, community support requirement, language, community support requirement, and<01:28:28.480

Committee: House Taxes

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• requirement for amendments offered<00:03:21.000><c> to</c><00:03:21.080><c> those</c><00:03:21.320><
• Please note that a pre-filing requirement for these bills is now in place, and that concludes our agenda
• /c><00:03:46.200><c> pre-filing</c> Please note that a pre-filing Please note that a pre-filing requirement
• 03:47.440><c> bills</c><00:03:47.720><c> is</c><00:03:47.880><c> now</c><00:03:48.080><c> in</c> requirement
• for these bills is now in requirement for these bills is now in place<00:03:48.640><c> and</c><00:03

Committee: House Rules and Legislative Administration

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Our current law requires a person seeking to qualify for nomination as a candidate for partisan office
• Although the current law requires candidates to state such information in writing, courts have found
• the provision can be enforced if the person seeking to qualify did not actually comply with the requirement
• This legislation would create a substantive requirement in addition to the existing requirement that
• The current statutory requirement is for 365 days.

Committee: Senate Ethics and Elections

Summary: The Ethics and Elections Committee met with a quorum and considered two bills. Senate Bill 588, relating to campaign communications and repeated political text messages or calls, was introduced by Senator Leake. He explained it would create a cause of action to stop unwanted campaign communications and recover attorney’s fees, but said the bill may be too broad and asked to temporarily postpone it while he works with stakeholders to narrow it. The committee agreed, and a pending amendment by Senator Polsky became moot. The committee then took up Senate Bill 280, which would create a private right of action to enforce party-affiliation qualification requirements for candidates seeking partisan office. Senator Arrington said the bill would allow political parties or others with standing to challenge a candidate who did not meet the 365-day party affiliation requirement before qualifying, and that a court could disqualify the candidate from the ballot. She offered a strike-all amendment clarifying that the 365 days must be the consecutive days immediately preceding qualifying and narrowing who may bring suit to political parties and other candidates for the same office. After brief questions, the committee adopted the amendment and then voted on the bill as amended. The roll call was unanimous in favor, and SB 280 was reported favorably. The committee then moved to adjourn.

Transcript Highlights:

• If you require assistance in registering or testifying, please contact committee staff.
• Federal funding requirements come with the deal.
• DERs need to be able to get online, and that requires interconnection with utilities.
• I believe to incentivize utilities to do it, it would require legislation.
• It would require legislation. To incentivize utilities to do it, it would require legislation.

Committee: House State Affairs

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And so that required reprogramming and retesting and delay. Absolutely.
• I think it is going to require some work using the leverage.
• I think it is going to require some work using the leverage.
• What is the match requirement? Well, we get three pots of CCDF money.
• There's a required match on the match or maintenance of effort pot, and then there's no required match

Committee: House Budget

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> childhood vaccinations that are required childhood vaccinations that are required for<00:46:20.000
• These requirements are hurting both property owners and tenants.
• These requirements are hurting both property owners and tenants.
• These requirements are hurting both property owners and tenants.
• These requirements are hurting both property owners and tenants.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Second, the proposed committee amendments reinstate the requirement that certain personnel be uniformed
• at polling places, can remain safe. ...language access and disability access requirements at polling
• Existing law requires the sheriff to investigate public offenses which have been committed.
• And despite these... ...requires something different from what the statute provides.
• If that requires federal interference or investigation, so be it. We urge a no vote. Thank you.

Committee: House Public Safety

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Section two of the bill eliminates an outdated bond requirement.
• Section two of the bill eliminates an outdated bond requirement.
• Section two of the bill eliminates an outdated bond requirement.
• Section two of the bill eliminates an outdated bond requirement.
• Section two of the bill eliminates an outdated bond requirement.

Committee: Senate Labor

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We are still in jeopardy of recurrence and require careful continuity of care monitoring by our out-of-state
• vital form of consumer protection and helps ensure that physicians practicing here have met the requirements
• So there are significant requirements for that, as there is for the existing law.
• And for this Dental Assisting National Board exam, there is no requirement for any coursework at all
• And for this Dental Assisting National Board exam, there is no requirement for any coursework at all

Summary: The Senate Business, Professions and Economic Development Committee met initially without quorum and operated as a subcommittee before later obtaining quorum and taking formal votes. The committee first heard SB 1002 by Senator Nilo, which would extend existing telehealth access for eligible out-of-state physicians treating patients with immediately life-threatening diagnoses to continue care after those patients go into remission. Supporters, including a cancer survivor, argued the bill preserves continuity of care for patients who still need specialist monitoring, while the Medical Board of California and the California Medical Association opposed it, citing licensure, consumer protection, and enforcement concerns. Senator Caballero spoke in support, emphasizing access to care, especially for rural patients. The bill was ultimately moved out of committee on a 6-0 vote and later confirmed out on a 9-0 vote after quorum was established. The committee then heard SB 1311, which updates the Dental Practice Act so unlicensed dental assistants can satisfy infection control training requirements either through an approved course or the Dental Assisting National Board infection control exam. The author and the California Dental Association supported the bill as a workforce and access measure, but the California Academy of General Dentistry raised concerns that the exam lacks a hands-on coursework requirement and should not substitute for in-person training unless amended. The committee accepted amendments and passed the bill 6-0 to Senate Appropriations, later confirming it out on a 9-0 vote. Finally, SB 1416 was heard, a bill reducing from 30 days to 21 days the time a physician or dentist has to refund duplicate payments to consumers. The author described it as a modest affordability measure to return patient funds more quickly, and the California Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons supported it as reasonable given current financial pressures. With no opposition, the bill passed 6-0 to Senate Appropriations and was later confirmed out on a 9-0 vote. The committee also approved consent calendar items SB 1263, SB 1148, SB 1376, and SB 1391.

Transcript Highlights:

• Madam Chair, members, Senate Bill 1202 requires the Director of the Arizona Department of Water Resources
• It additionally requires an SMR co-located with a large industrial energy user...
• It additionally requires an SMR co-located with a large industrial energy user that does not obtain a
• The recharge permit statute contains the requirements for the permits.
• The recharge permit statute contains the requirements for the permits.

Committee: House House Natural Resources, Energy & Water Committee of Reference

Summary: The Committee on Natural Resources, Energy & Water considered several water and energy measures. Senate Bill 1202, which requires the Arizona Department of Water Resources director to include additional information on each groundwater basin in the five-year water supply and demand assessment, was described as similar to a bill vetoed in a prior session. After brief discussion, it was passed with a do pass recommendation by a 6-3 vote. Senate Bill 1418, dealing with small modular nuclear reactors, would limit county regulation in certain cases, expand siting definitions, raise the megawatt threshold for plant regulation, and allow replacement of existing thermal units with SMRs without a new certificate in specified circumstances. Members noted it contained language from previously vetoed bills, but it also passed 6-3 with a do pass recommendation. The committee also heard Senate Concurrent Memorial 1007, which urges Congress to divest the federal government and the Bureau of Indian Affairs of the San Carlos Irrigation Project Electric System and provide funding for a system study and improvements. Testimony from the sponsor and Arizona Municipal Power Users Association emphasized the system’s unreliability, aging infrastructure, and support from multiple local and federal entities for transferring control. The memorial passed unanimously, 9-0, with a do pass recommendation. Finally, Senate Bill 1785 would codify in statute a Department of Water Resources policy on the area of impact for recovery wells associated with underground storage facilities, generally reflecting a one-mile safe harbor unless a hydrologic study shows a different impact area. Supporters said the bill would provide certainty for permit applicants and align statute with long-standing department practice; DWR testified neutral and said it would like to work on technical language changes. The bill passed with a do pass recommendation by a 7-3 vote. House Senate Bill 1287 was held for additional information and no action was taken on it.