Transcript Highlights:

• 01:14:11.440><c> supports</c> this legislation promote uh supports this legislation promote uh supports
• </c> really interesting if if the legislator really interesting if if the legislator the<01:19:13.679
• Um, in looking at particularly page four of the legislation, is it the intention of this legislation
• legislation legislation um<01:25:42.560><c> is</c><01:25:42.800><c> it</c><01:25:42.960><c> the</c><
• </c> Senate Bill 657 inexpeding to legislate. Senate Bill 657 inexpeding to legislate.

Committee: Senate Judiciary

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Really, that's what we're legislating here today.
• </c><00:22:47.159><c> by</c> yes let that sink in this legislation by yes let that sink in this legislation
• This is a piece of legislation in search of a problem.
• This is a piece of legislation in search of a problem.
• </c> when uh the uh Title Nine legislation when uh the uh Title Nine legislation passed<01:47:18.440>

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> requiring uh legislative requiring uh legislative consideration<00:17:45.320><c> uh</c><00:17:45.559
• I’m general counsel and legislative liaison for the Bureau of Licensing and Certification at DHHS.
• You always bring a great perspective on these pieces of legislation.
• You always bring a great perspective on these pieces of legislation.
• </c><01:55:07.119><c> prevents</c> nothing in this legislation prevents nothing in this legislation prevents

Committee: Senate Health and Human Services

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And so it is a very important piece of legislation and one of the must-pass pieces of legislation each
• When the legislation left the House, I...
• When the legislation left the House, I think we had a close to unanimous vote here on it.
• That is a legislative duty.
• It was just a clarification of legislative intent.

Keywords: 926, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The proposed legislation provides a reliable funding mechanism which allows Aging and Independence to
• The proposed legislation provides a reliable funding mechanism which allows Aging and Independence to
• . both these provisions in the current legislation.
• Those are the three areas we would like to see included in this legislation.
• Is the proposed legislation adequate, or do you think you can deal with the other proposed Legislation

Bills: H5243 , H5376 , S3056 , S3057

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Aging and Independence

Keywords: rest home, rest homes, medication administration, medication management, assisted living, long-term care, elder care, older adults, senior care, nursing home, resident care, self-administration, licensed facility, Chapter 111, section 71, Responsible Person, caregiver, direct care staff, care facilities, funding

Transcript Highlights:

• This is a common sense piece of legislation that will, among other things, require piece of legislation
• So I’m not sure that the language about the helmet is required for this particular legislation.
• So I’m not sure that the language about the helmet is required for this particular legislation.
• I'm the legislative coordinator. Good evening, Mr. Chairman, members of the committee.
• I'm the legislative coordinator for Freedom of Road Riders.

Committee: House Transportation

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• , and I'd like to welcome you to our Republican media availability here on day 44 of the 60-day legislative
• ...working together to kind of change the sign-in process on the legislative website, or do you have
• working together to kind of change the sign-in process on the legislative website, or do you have any
• What is the Republicans' plan for that legislation when it comes to the Senate?
• There's a legislation from Senator Leas.

Keywords: 904, all

Summary: House and Senate Republican leaders held a media availability focused on the final stretch of the legislative session, with repeated criticism of Democratic budget proposals and several policy bills. They said they were especially concerned about an environmental crimes bill they argued would impose excessive penalties for workplace mistakes, as well as bills they described as anti-law-enforcement, including measures related to police face coverings and sheriff qualifications. They also discussed a proposed income tax, calling it unconstitutional and urging that it be sent to referendum if it advances. A major topic was the operating, transportation, and capital budgets. Republicans said the operating budget relies on one-time fund sweeps, raids the rainy day fund and pension assets, and assumes future income-tax revenue while cutting Medicaid, child care, schools, and other services. They said the transportation budget has some positive emphasis on road preservation but criticized ferry funding and the proposed sweep of the Public Works Trust. On the capital budget, they were less specific and described it as generally bipartisan. The lawmakers also addressed reports of fraudulent or duplicate sign-ins on the income-tax bill, saying any abuse should be investigated but that many duplicate entries may have been accidental rather than malicious. They said the system should be improved with better verification, but maintained that more than 100,000 unique people had signed in opposition. Other issues discussed included opposition to using pension funds to balance the budget, criticism of a Sound Transit proposal for 75-year bonds, concerns about a bill requiring arbitration before lawsuits against the state or local governments, and objections to child care budget changes they said would hurt rural and property-poor communities without broader regulatory reform.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm a budget and policy analyst with the Legislative Services Office.
• I'm a budget and policy analyst with the Legislative Services Office.
• Last year, there was legislation passed that also allowed me to implement fee holidays.
• If that legislation passes, yeah, we would continue to use what we have.
• I'm a budget and policy analyst with the Legislative Services Office.

Keywords: 989, all

Summary: The committee first heard a report from the Joint Millennium Fund co-chairs on recommended uses of Millennium Fund dollars. The recommendations included one-time funding for juvenile safety assessment centers and child advocacy centers, ongoing funding for the Upper River Youth Leadership Council Recovery Center, $5 million for a statewide drug awareness media campaign, and $25 million one-time for Medicaid claim payments to reduce the general fund impact in fiscal year 2027. Members asked about the Medicaid recommendation because the fund had previously been directed away from Medicaid; the co-chairs said the request was made in light of a revenue downturn and was intended as one-time funding, with any unused balance returned. The report was accepted by unanimous consent. The committee then reviewed the Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses. Legislative staff summarized the division’s consolidation of licensing boards, staffing, fee-balance management requirements, and the governor’s and committee’s budget recommendations, including vehicle replacement and IT hardware requests. Administrator Russ Barron said the division has reduced overall expenditures since consolidation, improved licensing and inspection timeliness, and used fee changes, fee holidays, and board mergers to keep board balances within the target range. Members questioned rising personnel costs, the use of opioid settlement funds for prescriber DEA fees, the continued need for a 10% transfer exemption, vehicle replacement timing, and how complaints and discipline are handled; Barron said complaints drive investigations, boards set fees subject to legislative approval, and a universal discipline bill could improve consistency. Finally, the committee heard the state lottery budget. Staff described lottery revenues, prize payouts, dividend distributions to schools and state buildings, and a small one-time request for replacement computers. Director Andrew Arulenandum said the lottery has reduced management layers, renegotiated major contracts for significant future savings, and is trying to improve performance without relying heavily on paid advertising. Members asked about the role of lottery detectives, the return on advertising spending, and the need for MacBooks and iMacs; he said detectives investigate theft and other lottery-related crimes, advertising results are hard to isolate from jackpot size, and the Apple equipment is needed for in-house design work. The committee concluded its business and adjourned, with a reminder about upcoming budget-setting work sessions.

Transcript Highlights:

• This legislation that is before you requires public school classrooms to give 60 seconds of moment of
• This legislation exists in over 35 states.
• We have an obligation—an obligation to pass legislation that has been tried and tested.
• It's a piece of legislation that is beautifully neutral.
• So I'm so happy to remind everybody of the legislation I passed in '23.

Committee: House Education

Summary: The committee first approved the minutes from February 16 and 17 without objection. It then heard House Bill 623, which would require a 60-second moment of silence at the beginning of each public school day. The sponsor and several supporters, including a rabbi, a pastor, a church representative, and a former teacher, argued that the bill is neutral, low-cost, and intended to promote calm, reflection, and better student behavior while protecting religious freedom and parental authority. Some members raised concerns about mandating the practice, local control, whether it could be seen as encouraging prayer, and how it would apply to late arrivals or charter schools. The sponsor said it would apply to public and charter schools but not private schools, and that students could silently read or pray if they wished. The committee passed HB 623 on a 10-4 roll call vote and sent it to the floor with a due pass recommendation. The committee then took up House Bill 728, a school funding and staffing definitions bill sponsored by Representative Church. She said the bill would clarify statutory definitions for instructional, administrative, classified, and per-pupil staff, and would move positions that are not directly instructing students into the administrative category, based on LSO review and Department of Education guidance. Supporters said the bill would improve transparency and accountability in how state education dollars are categorized and spent. Questions focused on how the new definitions would affect principals, superintendents, teacher-leaders, mentors, instructional coaches, and rural districts that split duties between teaching and administration. The Idaho Association of School Administrators testified in opposition, warning that the bill would reduce flexibility and could make instructional coaching unsustainable, especially in smaller districts with limited administrative allocations. Members debated whether to hold HB 728 for further clarification or move it forward. A substitute motion to hold the bill until February 27 failed on a 6-8 roll call. The committee then voted on the original motion to send HB 728 to the floor with a due pass recommendation, and that motion passed unanimously on the recorded vote.

Transcript Highlights:

• Idaho Board of Nursing, to present docket number 24-2601-2501, which starts on page 446 of your legislative
• Dentistry to present docket number 24-3101-2201, which can be found starting on page 449 of your legislative
• the Idaho Board of Dentistry to present docket number 24-3101-2501, which is on page 449 of your legislative
• of the Idaho Board of Nursing to present docket 24-3401-2501, which starts on page 453 of your legislative
• They can be found starting on page 441 of your legislative review book.

Committee: House Health and Welfare

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Lindsay Bachman, Director of Legislative and Executive Affairs for the Secretary of State.
• That the United States Congress passes a piece of legislation that would indeed allow something like
• , and it's— ...more time to review this piece of legislation, and it's not a light piece of legislation
• So the polling sites, if this is enacted and we are able to pass this legislation and then we bypass
• Is that the intention of this legislation? Madam Chair?

Summary: The subcommittee heard a bill aimed at protecting New Mexico elections from outside interference and codifying emergency election procedures. The sponsor argued New Mexico already ranks first nationally in election administration, but said the bill was needed in response to threats of federal interference, including possible deployment of federal agents at polling places. The bill would create state prohibitions on stationing troops or armed federal personnel at polling places, interfering with election workers or voters, or changing voter qualifications or election rules contrary to state law. It would also create civil enforcement authority for the Attorney General, Secretary of State, county clerks, or affected voters, with injunctions and civil penalties, and make violations a fourth-degree felony. A second major section would allow emergency changes to polling locations and voting procedures during declared disasters such as wildfires or floods without first obtaining a court order, including use of mobile voting units and secure online ballot return options for some voters. The Secretary of State’s office said these procedures were already largely in rule and that the fiscal impact would be minimal, with existing voter education materials and law enforcement guides covering implementation. The office also said the bill would extend who may request law enforcement assistance and strengthen existing election offenses by adding “under color of law” language and a new offense for intentionally obstructing access to a polling place. Committee members raised concerns about definitions, possible effects on military personnel, police, federal officers, county clerks, tribal jurisdictions, and polling places on federal property, as well as the scope of civil penalties and how intent would be proven. Several members questioned whether the bill was rushed, whether all analyses had been received, and whether the emergency provisions could disadvantage rural communities if notice requirements could not be met during disasters. The sponsor and Secretary of State representative responded that the bill would not prevent qualified voters, including military members, from voting, that local police were treated differently from federal personnel, and that courts would determine intent and appropriate defendants. No vote was taken; the chair said the hearing was being held as a subcommittee and would reconvene later, likely the next day, for a vote.

Transcript Highlights:

• I proudly represent the 40th Legislative District.
• This piece of agency request legislation replaces the old administration names. Thank you.
• This is department request legislation, and I thank Rep.
• There's no legislative obligation that would come with making this shift.
• I, for one, read that report and build legislation around that.

Bills: HB2455 , HB2468 , HB2529

Committee: House Early Learning & Human Services

Keywords: housing assistance, youth, foster care, pilot program, social services, terminology correction, healthcare, regulatory compliance, department reorganization, Washington, DCYF, Department of Children, Youth, and Families, accountability board, oversight board, child welfare, juvenile rehabilitation, juvenile justice, early learning, family preservation, children and families

Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you all for being here both in person and virtually to share your thoughts on the legislation before
• This legislation will alleviate those concerns by establishing a new minimum residential factor of 50%
• With this legislation, we do estimate the residential homeowner will see a more modest 4.2% tax increase
• So I encourage the committee and the General Court to consider and support this legislation to alleviate
• The town worked with its legislative delegation to pass a home rule petition establishing the program

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Revenue

Summary: The Joint Committee on Revenue held a hybrid hearing on 17 miscellaneous and late-file bills, with testimony focused on several local tax and policy measures. The first major item was H. 4687 for Watertown, which would make permanent a temporary tax classification adjustment allowing the city to maintain a 50% minimum residential factor and a 175% commercial shift. Watertown officials and legislators said the change is needed because the city’s commercial growth has triggered an old statutory formula that would otherwise push a larger share of the tax burden onto homeowners, especially seniors and fixed-income residents. They said the current temporary relief expires in fiscal 2027 and warned that, without permanent action, residential tax bills could rise sharply; committee members asked about the regional business impact, commercial taxpayers such as Alexandria Real Estate, and Watertown’s stabilization and free cash balances. The committee also heard H. 4435, a Charlemont bill authorizing a tax on commercial recreation services. Town officials said the measure would help a small rural town with a large tourism and recreation economy cover increased police, fire, and EMS costs caused by visitors, while reducing pressure on local property taxpayers. A committee member questioned whether the proposal fit within existing tax law and whether it was more like a tax on entry than on services; town witnesses responded that it would apply to recreation-related services such as guides and lifts and was modeled on the meals and rooms tax. Finally, testimony was taken on H. 4722, which would promote fair tax treatment for zero-emission medium- and heavy-duty vehicles, including electric school buses and trucks, by capping sales and excise taxes at the level of comparable diesel vehicles. Supporters said the bill would remove an unintended tax penalty, help school districts and transportation providers afford electrification, and remain revenue-neutral. Representative Gentile also testified in support of H. 4722 and H. 4755, a Sudbury bill to amend the town’s means-tested senior citizen property tax exemption so the local program can continue without requiring a new special act if it lapses. No votes were taken; the hearing concluded after testimony and questions.

Transcript Highlights:

• It limits those requirements to situations where there is a specific appropriation of legislative funds
• I also want to note that this legislation addresses one particular reimbursement process, and that is
• I am Michael Keaton, State Representative for the 25th Legislative District.
• The Veterans Legislative Coalition has reviewed House Bill 2417, and we unanimously supported it.
• This legislation establishes clear basic rights, such as timely notice, protection from the accused,

Summary: The committee first met in executive session on several technology and economic development bills. Staff briefed proposed substitutes and amendments for House Bill 2157 on high-risk AI, House Bill 2225 on AI companion chatbots, House Bill 2351 on emergency responder protections, and House Bill 2186 on federal fund acquisition for economic development. Members discussed the competing approaches in the two proposed substitutes for HB 2225, including enforcement, disclosures, minor protections, and crisis-response requirements. The committee then voted to adopt the proposed substitute for HB 2225 and report it out with a due pass recommendation, with a 7-3 vote and three excused. It also passed HB 2186 out of committee with a unanimous due pass recommendation after discussion about reducing fiscal impact. The committee then held a public hearing on House Bill 2397, which would require timely reimbursement within 60 days for state agencies and local jurisdictions mobilized under the Washington State Fire Services mobilization plan. Fire officials and fire finance staff testified in support, describing reimbursement delays of six to ten months that strain local budgets and can discourage participation in wildfire deployments. Testifiers said the bill would improve cash flow and staffing stability, while also noting the need for technical clarification on when the 60-day clock starts and possible staffing needs at the State Patrol. No one testified in opposition. The final public hearing was on House Bill 2417, which would add victim-rights protections to the Washington Code of Military Justice, aligning state military justice procedures with the federal Uniform Code of Military Justice. The prime sponsor and military legal experts testified that the bill closes a gap so victims serving in the Washington National Guard receive the same notice, participation, and fairness protections regardless of whether they are in state or federal status. Veterans’ advocates also supported the bill, saying it would improve trust, reporting, and accountability. The bill was scheduled for future executive action, and the meeting adjourned after the hearings.

Transcript Highlights:

• The legislation is absolutely clear.
• We will benefit from the legislation when California needs it the most.
• CAHP is proud to sponsor, with Cal Fire firefighters, a piece of legislation that will keep our best
• This piece of legislation is smartly written, overdue, and will help secure safety of the state, and
• amendments with our friends on the other side of this legislation.

Summary: The Assembly Committee on Public Employment and Retirement heard two bills. AB 1054 by Assemblymember Gibson would create a Deferred Retirement Option Program for eligible CHP officers and CAL FIRE firefighters, allowing them to work up to five additional years while their retirement benefits accrue in an interest-bearing account. Supporters, including representatives of CHP and CAL FIRE, said the bill would help retain experienced public safety personnel, address staffing strain, and remain cost-neutral to the state. Members generally supported the measure, and the committee passed it 7-0 and referred it to Appropriations. The committee then heard AB 1439 by Assemblymember Garcia, sponsored by the State Building and Construction Trades Council. The bill would require public pension and retirement systems to apply stronger labor standards when investing in California development projects, including prevailing wage, skilled-and-trained workforce, and labor neutrality provisions. Supporters argued that public pension investments should not back projects with wage theft, unsafe conditions, or poor labor practices, and that stronger standards improve project quality and returns. Opponents, including county retirement systems, builders, housing groups, and local government associations, warned the bill could interfere with fiduciary duties, increase costs, create litigation risk, and reduce housing and development activity. Committee members raised concerns about the bill’s scope, definitions, and possible impacts on housing and pension stability, but several said they were willing to give the author a chance to continue working on amendments. The author committed to further revisions and said the bill was still in early stages. The committee approved AB 1439 5-0, with one member not voting, and sent it to Appropriations. The meeting ended with brief farewell remarks for a committee consultant who is leaving for the Senate.

Transcript Highlights:

• Has the Department of Labor reviewed this legislation? Senator Bracey Davis. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
• Has the Department of Labor reviewed this legislation? Senator Bracey Davis.
• Now, many advocates like myself tried to warn legislators year after year, hey, if someone...
• Advocates like myself tried to warn legislators year after year, hey, if something big happens, this
• And if this legislation passes, and we're happy to work through some of the things, there's a lot of

Committee: Senate Commerce and Tourism

Summary: The Commerce and Tourism Committee first heard SB 410, which would add current and former licensed private investigators, and their spouses and children, to the list of people whose home address, phone number, date of birth, photographs, and related family information are exempt from public records disclosure. Sponsor Senator Trunow said the exemption is meant to protect investigators who work on sensitive matters such as fraud, missing persons, human trafficking, and abuse cases and may face retaliation. After a technical amendment was adopted, the committee heard testimony from a private investigator describing threats and safety concerns, then voted to report the bill favorably as CS/SB 410. The committee then took up SB 216 on reemployment assistance eligibility verification. Senator McClain said the bill is intended to combat unemployment fraud by requiring claimants to contact five prospective employers per week, appear for scheduled interviews, and undergo regular identity, immigration, employment, and incarceration checks, with fraud information shared among agencies and published annually. Opponents, including labor advocates and representatives of construction and rural workers, argued the bill would add barriers for legitimate claimants, worsen Florida’s already low recipiency rate, and create problems for seasonal, rural, and transportation-limited workers. Supporters said the system needs stronger fraud controls and that employers and taxpayers bear real costs from noncompliance. The committee reported SB 216 favorably after debate. In routine open-government sunset review business, the committee approved two committee bills. SPB 7014 extends for five years a public records exemption tied to Department of Legal Affairs investigations of a social media standards law, with staff noting the exemption has not been used because of ongoing constitutional litigation. SPB 7016 preserves a public records exemption for certain financial information held by an economic development agency when administering state or federally funded small business loan programs; supporters said the exemption protects applicants from fraud and harassment, while Senator Smith said he would vote no to remain consistent with his prior opposition. Both measures were submitted as committee bills and reported favorably, and the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• In the last legislative session, all public employees with the exception of educators, received an 80
• the LESC report on this issue and hope that the legislature will work with NEA New Mexico to pass legislation
• already offered to draft legislation.
• for an eighty-twenty split as coming out of this committee as endorsed legislation.
• Chair and Director Sena, I do think we should put some stuff together just so we as state legislators

Transcript Highlights:

• I'd like to preface my presentation with a statement that this is the most American piece of legislation
• When I talk about the collapse in 2020, I was on the phone with legislators, Republicans and Democrats
• This legislation is going in the wrong direction. We made changes in 2011.
• What this legislation is going to do, you know, back in 2020, we saw that we couldn't even get through
• This is legislation that is incredibly American, Rep. Salsman, and is all about freedom.

Committee: House Commerce Committee

Summary: The committee took up eight bills and memorials and reported each favorably. It first passed HM 4063, a memorial urging Congress to lay the groundwork for a federal sovereign wealth fund. Sponsor Rep. Anderson described it as a long-term economic security measure, while several members questioned how such a fund would be structured, governed, and balanced against paying down debt. Ranking member Hunschofsky and Rep. Spencer raised concerns about transparency, market disruption, and the lack of specific parameters. The memorial passed on a recorded vote. The committee then approved CS/HB 139, allowing pawnbrokers to use digital transaction forms, with SMG testifying in support as a modernization and pro-business change. It also adopted an amendment and passed HB 1157, which tightens reemployment assistance requirements by adding work-search, interview, identity, immigration, and availability checks; the amendment added protection for missed interviews due to emergencies and removed an email reporting requirement. The Florida AFL-CIO and Florida Center for Fiscal and Economic Policy opposed the bill, arguing Florida’s unemployment system is already overly restrictive and that the proposal would further limit access to benefits, while supporters said it would ensure claimants are actively seeking work and verify eligibility. Members also passed CS/HB 497 to create nonprofit agricultural organization medical benefit plans for farmers and ranchers, with support from Americans for Prosperity, the Florida Hospital Association, and the Farm Bureau; CS/HB 729 to authorize veterinary professional associates to perform limited duties under veterinarian supervision, with testimony from veterinarians and advocates citing access and workforce shortages; and HB 311, a right-to-repair bill for motorized wheelchairs, which drew strong support from disability advocates who described long repair delays, high costs, and the impact on independence and health. Rep. Tramont praised the wheelchair repair bill during debate, and the committee voted it favorably. Finally, the committee passed CS/HB 1549, an Office of Financial Regulation agency bill intended to help regulate financial institutions more efficiently, and CS/HB 715, which allows licensed roofing contractors to perform roof-to-wall connections during reroof or repair projects and extends the emergency cancellation window to 180 days after a declared emergency. HB 715 was amended to require a contract notice advising property owners to verify insurance coverage before signing when the work is tied to an insurance claim. Roofing industry groups and home inspection representatives supported the measure as a way to reduce costs and improve wind mitigation. At the end of the meeting, the chair announced the agenda was complete and the committee rose.

Transcript Highlights:

• During the last two legislative sessions, we were able to ensure the University of Houston has received
• Senate Resolution 152 by Creighton et al. recognizing February 26, 2025 as orange and maroon Legislative
• Now therefore be it resolved that the Senate of the 89th Texas Legislative hereby honor the Consulate
• Senate resolution 133 by Paxton et al. recognizing February 25th to 26 2025 as Plano legislative days
• . legislative day's delegation who is here with us in the gallery and if you would please stand to be

Bills: SB26 , SB28 , SJR36 , SB26 , SB616 , SB565 , SB384 , SB28

Keywords: teacher compensation, education funding, public school educators, teacher retention, teacher designation, lottery, gambling, internet gaming, mobile application, criminal offenses, aquifer, water management, Edwards Aquifer, sustainability, regulatory framework, SB 565, Texas Water Code, TCEQ, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, compliance agreement

Transcript Highlights:

• I mean you guys are sworn legislator I mean you guys are sworn members<00:08:37.320><c> of</c><00:08
• If you want to talk about just that penalty piece of our legislative salary, yeah, I mean, you know,
• Being a legislator is not a no-show job.
• If you want to talk about just that penalty piece of our legislative salary, yeah, I mean, you know,
• Being a legislator is not a no-show job.

Keywords: 1183, house