Transcript Highlights:

• They do the research. They have the scientists.
• They research, they develop, they test, they manufacture a drug.
• So that's kind of a little high-level overview on how the drug goes from being made and researched and

Bills: AB93 , AB204 , AB414 , AB504 , AB598

Committee: Assembly Commerce and Labor

Keywords: public employees, police officers, benefits, appropriation, law enforcement, medical debt, collection agency, healthcare, consumer protection, financial assistance, occupational safety, air quality, greenhouse gases, employee monitoring, safety program, hemp, hemp products, cannabidiol, CBD, cannabis

Transcript Highlights:

• Justice does not publish data on incarcerated individuals suspected to be victims of trafficking, research
• Research surveys by advocacy groups indicate that nearly one in four incarcerated women have been trafficked
• In my research, what I've come across is I think we're talking about the same thing, and it's a nexus

Committee: House Criminal Jurisprudence

Summary: The Committee on Criminal Jurisprudence met with a quorum and heard a series of Senate bills, generally receiving sponsor explanations and, in most cases, no public testimony. SB 2595 would create a Class B misdemeanor for harassing, threatening, or intimidating someone while intentionally concealing identity with a mask, with broad affirmative defenses for legitimate mask use; SB 1980 would increase penalties for assaulting peace officers, parole officers, and community supervision officers and add related presumptions and interference protections; and SB 1896 would require magistrates to issue emergency protective orders in certain family violence, sexual assault, stalking, and aggravated cases, with law enforcement required to provide needed information. All three were left pending. The committee also heard SB 955, which increases trafficking of persons from a second-degree to a first-degree felony when the victim was recruited from a correctional facility, and SB 614, which would let the Texas Forensic Science Commission refer dismissed complaints to the Office of Capital and Forensic Writs when they reference a prior FSC report; both were left pending. Members then heard several forensic and criminal procedure bills. SB 1372 would resolve a discovery/access conflict involving the DPS crime lab portal by limiting portal access to defense attorneys rather than defendants directly, prompting questions from members about access for pro se defendants; DPS’s chief crime lab witness testified neutrally. SB 1936 would change the LSD “abuse unit” definition for unmarked/unperforated paper from a square-measurement method to a 10-milligram weight standard, and SB 1937 would require a subject matter expert from the testing lab to participate in pretrial meetings in capital cases involving biological evidence to help identify viable testing and conserve resources. SB 2580 would lower the population threshold for sheriff’s departments to independently use tracking equipment and access certain communications from 3.3 million to 500,000, expanding the authority beyond Harris County; it was described as a public safety and emergency response measure and left pending. The committee also considered SB 2798, which would extend the statute of limitations for certain financial crimes from three years to seven years, with testimony from a Montgomery County assistant district attorney supporting the change because fraud is often discovered late. SB 1099 would increase penalties for felony offenses committed by undocumented or unauthorized aliens, but drew strong opposition from the Texas Civil Rights Project, which argued immigration is a federal matter and that the bill would create difficult and potentially unfair status determinations for local courts; members raised concerns about the lack of an expert-testimony requirement. SB 1278 would create an affirmative defense to prostitution prosecution for trafficking victims compelled by their traffickers to commit the conduct, and testimony from advocates and a member’s personal account emphasized the coercive, traumatic nature of trafficking; members discussed whether the defense should be narrower or framed as mitigation, and the bill was left pending. Finally, SB 127 would extend the statute of limitations for failure to report or conceal child abuse, with members discussing mandatory reporting duties and the need to allow more time for delayed discovery of cover-ups; it too was left pending before the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• The Crime Prevention Research Center has numerous studies on this issue.
• We know, based both on research and lived experience, that violence and mental health concerns are on
• Among the multitude of research, the 2009 National Poll showed that police chiefs ranked the death penalty

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The Insurance Institute of Business and Home Safety, IBHS, is a scientific research organization that
• researches and then recommends safety and building standards to help create resilience to common and
• It's existed for a while and has done increasingly good research here, and the focus in this bill is

Bills: HB778 , HB 1266 , HB1576 , HB2213 , HB2517 , HB2518 , HB2841 , HB3306 , HB3320 , HB3388 , HB3508 , HB3520 , HB3689

Committee: House Insurance

Keywords: credentialing, healthcare, physician assistants, advanced practice nurses, managed care, hurricane, windstorm, loss mitigation, grants, insurance discounts, property retrofitting, insurance, Texas Windstorm Insurance Association, board composition, coastal counties, property insurance, taxation, Texas FAIR Plan Association, premium taxes, maintenance taxes

Transcript Highlights:

• support, including. including divisions focused on equity and inclusion, policy development and research
• We do have policy and research teams here at the Capitol.
• And I think this, you know, from research to reporting, we have a huge amount of information.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This is the section where we're talking about venture Capital Tax Credit program, the Rise Program, Research
• Is that they're 41 return on investment that some think that we're anticipating based on research and
• I would have to research what other states are doing in the reemployment space.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Research from other states indicates that certified midwife licensure leads to greater ethnic and racial
• Research from other states indicates that certified midwife licensure leads to greater ethnic and racial
• Research from other states indicates that certified midwife licensure leads to greater ethnic and racial

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• The research is clear: when offenders take accountability for their actions, they're actually less likely
• The research is clear: when offenders take accountability for their actions, they're actually less likely
• The research is clear: when offenders take accountability for their actions, they're actually less likely

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• I've done a lot of research, and I'm looking forward to talking to the committee.
• But as far as the cost of moving, this is why we're hiring a master planner; they'll do the research
• It's more about research on my end, just to understand the economic impact of these gaming compacts,

Committee: House House Appropriations & Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• We're going to give $100 million to Penn State law for ag research, ag law research.
• We're going to give $100 million to Penn State law for ag research, ag law research.
• We're giving more for Ag law research. I'm not sure what that is.

Summary: The Senate opened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, communications, committee reports, and leaves of absence. The journal was approved 50-0. The chamber then took up House Bill 1505, which drew extended debate over school funding and adequacy/tax equity. Senators Coleman and Keefer argued the bill continued to pour money into districts like Allentown without accountability or improved results, while Senators Costa, Miller, Haywood, and Anthony Williams defended the funding as a response to historic underfunding and the Commonwealth Court decision. A motion allowing Senator Coleman a third speaking turn was adopted 27-23, and the bill ultimately passed 45-5. The Senate then considered House Bill 2400, the General Appropriation Act. Supporters, including Senators Martin, Dush, Phillips-Hill, Costa, Ward, Street, Hughes, and Pittman, emphasized that the budget was balanced without using the rainy day fund or raising taxes, reduced the governor’s proposal, increased education and child care funding, supported nursing homes, rape crisis centers, infrastructure, and workforce programs, and shifted money from lapsed or unused accounts to current priorities. Opponents, including Senators Saval and Muth, said the budget failed to address structural deficits and omitted new revenue options, emergency services funding, and other major issues. The bill passed 44-6 with amendments and was returned to the House for concurrence. The Senate also passed a series of other bills, including House Bills 2412, 2413, 96, 858, 1042, 1286, 1646, 1851, 1862, 2017, 2024, 2401, and 2559, with varying margins, and sent them to the House, some with amendments. House Bill 1042 drew a negative recommendation from Senator Costa over a late amendment involving second-degree murder/felony language, but after reconsideration and vote changes it passed 30-20 with amendments. House Bill 1862, creating an Ignition Interlock Driver’s License, passed 45-5 after support from Senator Judy Ward. House Bill 1248 passed 43-7 and designates Pennsylvania rye whiskey as the official state spirit, with Senators Bartolotta and Robinson speaking in support. The chamber also adopted Senate Resolution 216, after defeating Senator Haywood’s amendment to narrow the scope of a proposed Legislative Budget and Finance Committee study of managed care organizations; the resolution passed 31-19. Several other bills were held over in their order, and the Senate later moved toward a condolence resolution.

Transcript Highlights:

• Francisco, City and County of Sacramento, City of Long Beach, Pequima Beautiful, Tobacco Education Research
• Joint Powers Authority, Environmental Action Committee of West Marin, California Public Interest Research
• , Pacific Beach Coalition, Sunrise Movement California, Save the Bay, Cal Poly Center for Health Research
• behalf of Action on Smoking and Health, Alameda County Tobacco Control Coalition, Al-Glita Marine Research
• We don't yet have the research to know the full damage that vaping will have on our youth.

Committee: Senate Revenue and Taxation

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• As a result, universities are facing termination of federal funding for cancer research, climate science
• How does taking hundreds of millions of dollars for medical research help that?
• explicitly oppose using antisemitism concerns for unrelated purposes like canceling funding for medical research
• And so a lot of the research that we do is what messages...
• And so a lot of the research that we do is what messages...

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The meeting began with roll call, approval of the May 5 minutes, and opening remarks thanking commissioners and the public for their attendance. The commission then heard testimony from former Ambassador Alan Solomont, who argued that antisemitism is rising in multiple forms, including white nationalist antisemitism and antisemitism tied to anti-Israel rhetoric after October 7. He said campus antisemitism should be addressed with nuance, distinguishing protected political speech from conduct that targets Jewish students, and warned against weaponizing antisemitism to attack higher education, civil liberties, or federal research funding. He urged the commission to use multiple definitions and frameworks, including IHRA, Nexus, and the Jerusalem Declaration, and to focus on campus-specific solutions, civic education, and civil discourse. Commissioners asked him about Tufts’ antisemitism training, the role of the federal government, the use of the IHRA definition, and how to improve civic education; he emphasized local campus responses, broader civics instruction, and protecting democracy and due process. The second major witness was Professor David Weber of Boston University, who testified on the BDS movement and anti-BDS laws. He described BDS as a campaign targeting Israeli businesses, universities, and institutions, and argued it functions as a propagandistic and discriminatory effort that fuels antisemitism and chills dialogue on campuses and in public life. He cited examples such as SodaStream, Ben & Jerry’s, and Brown University, and said anti-BDS laws in 37 states have been effective and constitutional because they regulate government economic activity rather than suppress speech. Weber urged Massachusetts to adopt an anti-BDS statute or executive order, saying the state’s large Jewish population and economic ties to Israel make the issue especially important. Commissioners questioned him about which states have such laws, the impact on dialogue and campus culture, possible legal frameworks, and whether BDS is really aimed at the Israeli government or at individuals and institutions; he maintained that BDS targets people and entities connected to Israel and that anti-BDS measures can help draw a line against illiberal conduct.

Transcript Highlights:

• hearing that is tied for the most of any special commission in Massachusetts that we have found in our research
• hearing that is tied for the most of any special commission in Massachusetts that we have found in our research
• or reframed, and having, you know, not just the many personal stories that we've heard, but the research
• or reframed, and having, you know, not just the many personal stories that we've heard, but the research
• And I think it's important because there's research that we've heard that backs up these feelings, so

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The commission held its 16th and final meeting to review and vote on revisions to its draft report on combating antisemitism. After roll call, members approved the prior meeting minutes, adopted a procedure for handling substantive and technical edits, and authorized limited technical corrections after the meeting. Senator John Velis’s letter was read into the record noting his military deployment and support for the final report, and the commission discussed the scope of the report, including its 118 findings and recommendations and the large volume of testimony received over the year. Members then worked through a series of amendments to the report. The chair’s prefatory statement was revised to restore language and data about Massachusetts Jews’ relationship to Israel and the impact on the commission’s work. Commissioner Liken’s proposal called for DESE guidance and teacher training to support intellectually diverse K-12 classrooms; members debated how to ensure it could not be used to justify biased or false material, and the amendment passed with discussion about existing guardrails. Commissioner Hay’s technical edits were adopted, and commissioners also discussed whether DESE’s new reporting system should anonymize data; the language was revised to specify anonymized data and approved. Additional amendments were adopted on public safety and higher education, including clarifying support for nonprofit security grants and personnel grants, refining language on academic boycotts, and adding references to Zionist identity and presumed Zionist identity as possible bases for antisemitic treatment. Commissioner Kipnis’s revisions to the prefatory statement were also considered, with some members objecting to the removal of language about minimization and traumatic invalidation and others supporting a more concise, fact-driven tone. The commission also approved language strengthening recommendations by changing several “should” statements to “must.” Treasurer Deborah Goldberg then delivered closing remarks praising the commission’s work and sharing personal family history to illustrate the persistence of antisemitism in Massachusetts. She said the report offers a practical roadmap, including bias reporting in schools, security coordination, and broader anti-discrimination training, and emphasized that the recommendations will help all communities. Commissioners thanked her for her leadership and testimony. The meeting continued with further amendments, including one on law enforcement security grants and another on higher education findings and recommendations, and the commission repeatedly voted by roll call, generally approving the revisions unanimously.

Transcript Highlights:

• If I can, what comes to mind as well, I'll note is that we have been an investor in research around recycled
• based out of Berkeley Labs, is a partner, an incredible partner, in continuing to invest in the research
• , to your point, really expand the use of the work and the technology by focusing on fundamental research
• your point, just really expand the use of the work and the technology by focusing on fundamental research
• to face growing pressure from habitat loss and climate change. cutting environmental and natural research

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• When researchers say the Gulf reached an ancient shoreline north of Lake Pontchartrain, roughly 30 miles
• I mean, to me, if this research and data is accurate, it proves that mankind has no control, any government
• ...which was a historical wrong, I think at some point in time, I don't know, this would require research
• It might be some research. It might be worth reaching out to CPR, or I don't know who exactly.
• Some research. It might be worth reaching out to CPR, or I don't know who exactly.

Committee: House Natural Resources & Environment

Keywords: 965, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So, what this bill does, or what this provision of the package would do, is protect that research data
• So, what this bill does, or what this provision of the package would do, is protect that research data
• <00:04:17.799><c> is</c><00:04:18.120><c> protect</c><00:04:18.640><c> that</c><00:04:18.880><c> research
• </c><00:04:19.280><c> data</c><00:04:19.680><c> on</c> do, is protect that research data on do, is protect
• that research data on individuals.<00:04:21.160><c> Um</c><00:04:21.600><c> it</c><00:04:21.760><c>

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you for your research. Should have been a librarian, Senator Kunesh. Oh my gosh.
• Researchers Ryan Majors and Ed Cook. Thank you to our pages, Sharul and Jesse. Josie, excuse me.
• Researchers<00:42:58.320><c> Ryan</c><00:42:58.600><c> Majors</c><00:42:59.160><c> and</c><00:42:59.320
• </c> Researchers Ryan Majors and Ed Cook. Researchers Ryan Majors and Ed Cook.

Committee: Senate Education Finance

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I want to just note that in a lot of our research around this, there certainly is precedent already for
• Research shows that peers improve engagement, strengthen stability, and support outcomes like reunification
• The research is unambiguous. Work requirements do not increase employment.
• Now, research consistently and strongly shows that children placed with family caregivers experience.
• Now, research consistently and strongly shows that children placed with family caregivers experience

Committee: House Human Services

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• disinfection, and usage, this legislation ensures that Californians can safely access therapeutic and research
• This legislation ensures that Californians can safely access the therapeutic and research-backed benefits
• In fact, Consumer Financial Protection Bureau research and analysis reveals that people with medical
• Finally, I want to thank the many medical researchers and public health advocates who have worked in
• Research consistently shows that simple front-of-package labels like these help people identify and purchase

Committee: House Health

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• No, I've been doing research personally. I was just a hairdresser, ma'am. I'm not an expert.
• letters before they even start asking landowners whether their county has zoning, or they'll do the research
• So, we have done a lot of research on this.
• So, we have done a lot of research on this.
• Well, I'm going to have to do a little bit further research, and the only reason I bring this up, now

Committee: House Special Committee on Intergovernmental Affairs

Keywords: 959, house, all