Transcript Highlights:

• the Army continue to refuse to provide the internal memo, this committee will exercise its full authorities
• The organizational design authorization that is expiring soon will need to be reauthorized.
• I'm sure you're aware that whistleblowers and others, including Ethiopian authorities, have suggested
• If they came to you right now and said, we want to give you an inspection. authority back today.
• I think that it is not appropriate this time for you to accept that delegation of authority.

Committee: Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee

Keywords: Boeing, aviation safety, safety management system, military aviation, air traffic control, transparency, oversight, accountability

Summary: The meeting primarily focused on significant safety concerns surrounding Boeing and its compliance with federal aviation standards. Lawmakers expressed frustration over the Army's failure to provide requested operational transparency regarding helicopter operations near Washington, D.C., amid recent incidents indicating a strained air traffic control situation. Several members called for reform in Boeing's oversight, emphasizing the need for a robust safety culture and mandatory safety management systems to prevent future disasters like the 737 MAX crashes. The discussions were passionate, with survivors and families impacted by past accidents present, highlighting the urgency and seriousness of the issues at hand.

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, members, any other questions for the bill's author? OK. Um, seeing none.
• Ms any questions for the bill's author. OK. Um, thanks.
• Uh, Representative members, any questions for the bill's author? All right, thank you.
• Uh, members, are there any questions for the bill's author? All right.
• Um, members, are there any questions for the bill's author?

Committee: House Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> funds that have been authorized funds that have been authorized appropriated<01:03:22.839><c> in
• </c><01:30:13.920><c> by</c> highlight this afternoon was authored by highlight this afternoon was authored
• </c><01:30:44.199><c> the</c> receive inaccurate bills authorizing the receive inaccurate bills authorizing
• </c> January Senator fren was a chief author January Senator fren was a chief author of<01:31:07.679>
• </c><01:32:10.159><c> of</c> Senator Weber was the chief author of Senator Weber was the chief author

Committee: Senate Energy, Utilities, Environment, and Climate

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• of HB 603 and the native authors of HB 603 and the native Hawaiian<00:40:07.280><c> caucus</c><00:40
• </c><00:47:31.079><c> to</c><00:47:31.200><c> do</c> do that by act we're authorized to do do that by
• So what do we do then without this type of statutory authority? That's the only way we could do it.
• </c><01:58:37.400><c> H</c> um I am reluctant to uh authorize H um I am reluctant to uh authorize H Holmes
• </c><01:58:53.880><c> the</c> amend this so that it authorizes the amend this so that it authorizes the

Committee: House Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on House Bill 410, the Office of Hawaiian Affairs’ biennium operating budget. OHA asked for a modest increase over its base budget, including $1.2 million to fund 13 new full-time positions for a strategy and implementation team tied to its long-term plan, with emphasis on housing, education, health, and economic resilience. OHA also described a broader effort to work directly with executive branch departments to improve outcomes for Native Hawaiians. Testimony was largely supportive, with several individuals speaking in favor and one testifier expressing strong frustration about Native Hawaiian rights and access to resources. The chair noted there were 38 additional written/supporting testimonies and three in opposition. Members asked about OHA’s funding sources and public land trust revenues; OHA said it is not receiving the full 20 percent share, described a public land trust working group and system issues, and said a related bill would seek funding to begin an inventory. No vote was taken in the portion provided. The committee then considered House Bill 304, which would make the Hawaiian version of a law binding when the law was originally drafted in Hawaiian and later translated into English. The Judiciary supported the bill, saying it reinforces Hawaiian as an official language and looks to the original language for legislative intent. The Attorney General supported the intent but recommended narrowing the bill with a proviso to avoid ambiguities, limiting it to laws originally drafted in Hawaiian that were not later amended, codified, recodified, or reenacted in English. Public testimony was generally supportive, though one speaker raised broader sovereignty concerns. Members questioned how many laws would be affected and whether the proposed amendment would undercut the bill; the Attorney General said the amendment was meant to address uncertainty in interpretation. No final action was reported. Finally, the committee heard House Bill 603, which would direct OHA to administer a Native Hawaiian business marketing program to promote Native Hawaiian-owned businesses through marketing and technical assistance. OHA supported the concept, saying a label or branding program could help consumers identify and support Native Hawaiian-owned businesses, but requested that funding be redirected to a working group to study program design, implementation, enforcement, and long-term viability. The chair noted four supportive testimonies had been received, and a member asked OHA to confirm that its programs serve all Hawaiians, not only those eligible for homelands; OHA said it serves all Hawaiians in the state. The transcript ends before any vote or further action on HB 603.

Transcript Highlights:

• Procurement authority in this agency lived in one person.
• They don't have release authority. But what they have and what they call it is placement authority.
• It gives you guys more authority.
• And that's a lot of authority and a lot of people don't want to have legislative limits on their authority
• And that's a lot of authority and a lot of people don't want to have legislative limits on their authority

Committee: Joint Judiciary Committee

Summary: The committee opened with a moment of silence honoring a deceased member, then approved the April minutes. The first major presentation was from Chelsea Florey of Child and Family Services on the Diversion Task Force and related grant programs created with one-time funding from HB 1012. She reported that five of six proposals were funded, with youth diversion services operating in Bismarck, Fargo, Grand Forks, Minot, and a Red River Children’s Advocacy Center program focused on problematic sexualized behavior. Members discussed barriers such as staffing shortages, voluntary family engagement, service fatigue, and the need for better coordination, broader outreach, and possible changes to diversion eligibility rules so low-level cases can remain in diversion longer. Several legislators pressed for more practical system changes and clearer service navigation, while Florey said the task force is trying to build a service array or hub and is leaning on the Children’s Cabinet for broader recommendations. The committee then heard from North Dakota Lottery Director Thomas Lawler, who gave an operational overview and biennium report. He described the lottery’s history, games, retailer commissions, Pick and Click subscriptions, Players Club membership, and revenue distribution. For the 2023-25 biennium, about $67 million in tickets were purchased, with roughly $16.2 million transferred overall, including money for the general fund, drug task force grants, and compulsive gambling prevention and treatment. Members asked about the compulsive gambling allocation and whether the amount is set by statute. A lengthy presentation followed from the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation on criminal justice data connectivity and reentry. Adam Anderson explained that North Dakota’s jail, court, HHS, and correctional systems use multiple separate databases that do not communicate in real time, requiring manual cross-checks and staff communication. He said the department is exploring a centralized hub or other integration approach, but noted challenges with identifiers, vendor contracts, confidentiality, and cost. Robin Schmolenberger then updated the committee on a Medicaid data-sharing project with HHS, saying monthly application assistance is now occurring in correctional facilities and that automated bi-directional data exchange is expected in late 2026 to help suspend and reactivate Medicaid coverage and identify former foster care youth. Members also discussed parole, probation, transitional housing, and the need for better real-time notifications and clearer data definitions. The committee also received an update from county representatives on the 24/7 sobriety program, including a recent attorney general opinion that if a court waives 24/7 fees, sheriffs may use the cheaper twice-daily breath test or urine testing instead of SCRAM bracelets or drug patches. Finally, Bruce Johnson of the Racing Commission presented on an audit report, acknowledging serious findings involving overspending from the promotion fund, grant documentation failures, a breeders fund eligibility reversal, and repeated procurement violations. He said the commission has already changed its procedures by tracking fund limits monthly, requiring grant applications and itemized reports, enforcing breeders fund rules as written, and routing purchases through procurement with written contracts. The committee asked follow-up questions throughout but took no formal votes on these presentations.

Transcript Highlights:

• And I'm very pleased today to be here with my joint author, Mr.
• Valencia, Thank you for all of your work, and I'm very pleased today to be here with my joint author,
• First of all, ACA 20 to the authors, to the governor, to the LAO's input.
• Gabriel mentioned Proposition 72 in 1988, which Paul Gann authored.
• I just want to thank the authors of this important measure.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• modifies phrasing for the underserved community zone designation criteria, requires the governing authority
• It authorizes a city to apply to a county governing authority to request the creation of an underserved
• It authorizes a city to apply to a county governing authority to request the creation of an underserved
• It clarifies the Governing authority to request the creation of an underserved community zone.
• This doesn't authorize any new tax exemption.

Bills: HB2713 , HB2730 , HB2297 , HB2487 , HB2382 , HB2089 , HB2431 , HB2451 , HB2590 , HB2325 , HB2278 , HB2224 , HB2322

Committee: House Finance

Keywords: private detention facilities, business tax, occupation tax, financial impact, state revenue, aerospace, tax preferences, effectiveness, economic impact, grocery stores, underserved communities, food access, incentives, economic development, insurance tax, state regulation, insurers, taxation, budget impact, excise tax

Transcript Highlights:

• will start with our first presentation, which is our secretary, cabinet secretary for health care authority
• This isn't just the Health Care Authority deciding how this is going to work.
• And again, that would be a decision not really made just by the health care authority.
• And this is with our attorney health care authority, Rose Bryant. Mr. Chair. authority Rose Bryant.
• That's a piece of the Opportunity Enterprise Program at the New Mexico Finance Authority.

Bills: SB193 , SB132 , SB35 , SB145

Committee: Senate Senate Finance

Keywords: SB193, acequia, community ditch, irrigation works construction fund, water infrastructure, ditch infrastructure, irrigation, New Mexico water law, agricultural water, farmers, Rio Grande, acequia association, forest land protection revolving fund, state fund transfer, irrigation projects, SB132, DOIT, Department of Information Technology, software replacement, equipment replacement

Transcript Highlights:

• Like you just said, this was authored by Senator Menendez, and I filed his companion bill.
• Once again, I want to thank my joint author, Representative David Lowe.
• I just realized, who was the author? That was Dr. Oliverson. While there was no...
• Yeah, we just realized we didn't have the author here, so we're going to go back and close.
• HB 5611 does not authorize any additional taxes for these services that ESDs provide.

Bills: HB2814 , HB4477 , HB5084 , HB5108 , HB5127 , HB5383 , HB5611 , HB5663 , HB5664 , SB1563 , HB2668 , HB3841 , HB4114

Committee: House S/C on County & Regional Government

Keywords: juvenile justice, release documents, children, identification, Texas Juvenile Justice Department, civil service, staffing requirements, local government, positions exemption, Texas legislation, fireworks, Lunar New Year, retail permits, public safety, Texas law, holiday sales, HB 5108, deaths in custody, custodial death, jail death

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> commission did not have this authority commission did not have this authority to<00:04:59.360><c
• ><c> tool,</c><00:05:20.000><c> the</c> given the authority or tool, the given the authority or tool,
• ,</c><00:05:32.880><c> they</c> they are given this authority, they they are given this authority, they
• </c> done through the commission's authority done through the commission's authority is<00:25:41.360>
• </c> you, in 1990, the legislature authorized you, in 1990, the legislature authorized those<00:59:17.599

Bills: SF0025 , SF0027 , SF0043 , SF0066

Committee: Senate Travel, Recreation, Wildlife & Cultural Resources

Keywords: landowner licenses, hunting, wildlife management, quota hunt areas, game and fish commission, game management, hunting regulations, black bear, tracking dogs, wildlife conservation, conservation, contracting, supervisor, funding, districts, hunting licenses, donated licenses, life-threatening illness, vision impairment, nonprofit organizations

Transcript Highlights:

• In terms of accountability, Section 9.1 establishes a new five-member Oversight Board with the authority
• And that authority was granted in combination both with the state superintendent, but then ultimately
• So in some ways, the state intervention is actually about returning some authority to the local school
• level where they're an authorizer and they're being competing authorizers.
• What's the appointing authority?

Committee: Assembly Education

Keywords: 909, all

Transcript Highlights:

• In fact, my 2017 NASA Authorization Act was one of the very first pieces of legislation President Trump
• And most significantly, in March of 2023, the FCC lost its authority to conduct spectrum auctions for
• This ongoing lapse in auction authority has cost jobs and has weakened America's global standing.
• auction authority, what would your recommendations be?
• So what would be the benefits of restoring the auction authority with a clear pipeline?

Committee: Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee

Keywords: state policy, governance, legislative processes, public concerns, policy improvement

Summary: During the committee meeting, various issues surrounding state policy and governance were deliberated. Although the specifics of bills under discussion were not highlighted, comments from several committee members indicated a focus on improving legislative processes and addressing public concerns. The chairman facilitated discussions that included several points of critique as well as suggestions for enhancement of existing laws. The atmosphere remained constructive despite the complexity of the topics at hand.

Transcript Highlights:

• So I mean 16 authorizes fees if you have an election and 15 as amended in 2020 authorizes fees without
• </c><00:08:42.080><c> the</c> hiring staff and and authorizing the hiring staff and and authorizing the
• Nor would the 2020 authorization.
• Title 15 authorizes and purposes.
• </c> authority and other statutes. authority and other statutes.

Committee: Joint Select Water Committee

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The bill also requires the Water Infrastructure Finance Authority to administer the Brackish Groundwater
• And the Water Infrastructure Finance Authority, I don't think, has the expertise or the mandate to really
• Current law gives them broad authority to plan, evaluate, and manage state trust lands based on market
• House Bill 2975 micromanages that authority.
• Is this the right regulatory scheme, having the Commerce Authority being the main person of that?

Bills: HB2014 , HB2055 , HB2145 , HB2150 , HB2696 , HB2755 , HB2763 , HB2781 , HB2782 , HB2787 , HB2795 , HB2889 , HB2975 , HB2985 , HB2986 , HCM2009 , HCR2020 , HCR2038

Committee: Senate Natural Resources

Keywords: air emissions, fuel blends, environmental quality, feasibility study, Arizona Department of Agriculture, brackish groundwater, water supply development, desalination, Arizona Revised Statutes, water infrastructure, financial assistance, environmental reviews, fuel reformulation, gasoline standards, environmental regulations, ethanol supply, Air Quality, state land department, mineral lease, renewals

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, basically Authority Risk Management.
• The bill does not authorize eminent domain.
• The bill does not authorize eminent domain.
• </c><00:36:08.320><c> and</c><00:36:08.560><c> accept</c> authorized to take pre-orders and accept authorized
• The state treasur is authorized costs.

Committee: Joint Finance

Keywords: Finance - Room 216, 3 February, 2026; 10:30 AM, 925, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Chairman, members, House Bill 2312 authorizes a public school principal to allow representatives from
• And it’s very hard to figure out who has the regulating authority in that type of situation.
• I'm just noticing that it gives some rulemaking authority to the State Board of Education.
• I've expressed the concerns that I have with the delegation of rulemaking authority.
• So, for those reasons, you know, I do have the concern with any additional rulemaking authority.

Committee: House Education

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• culture is divided and the weight of leadership feels heavier than ever, we lift our eyes to you, the author
• As you may recall, I authored a bill that included identical provisions in Senate Bill 961.
• S.J.R. 60 proposes a constitutional amendment to authorize the Commissioner's Court to implement the
• Questions for the author. Senator Hinojosa, how do you yield? Yes. Thank you, Mr.
• Question for the author. Do you yield? Senator Johnson, what purpose? Question for the author.

Summary: The Senate met with a quorum, heard an invocation, dispensed with the previous journal, and received a House message. Members also recognized Dr. Namita Bardwaj as doctor of the day. The chamber then adopted Senate Resolution 554 honoring Christopher “Chris” Jake Stone of Santa Fe for his heroism during the 2018 Santa Fe High School shooting, with several senators and the lieutenant governor offering remarks about his sacrifice and the ongoing impact on his family and community. The Senate also signed a number of bills and resolutions and adopted Senate Resolution 533 recognizing the Texas Legislative Internship Program class, with multiple senators highlighting individual interns and the program’s role in developing future public servants. The floor then took up and passed several bills, often by suspending the regular order and the three-day rule. These included HB 1639 on a study of cancer incidence among female firefighters; HB 102 granting early registration for students in military-related programs; HB 4325 increasing civil penalties for barratry; HB 5342 creating a 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline trust fund and related funding study; HB 3370 allowing late timberland appraisal applications after an owner’s death; HB 3376 requiring certain guardians to complete dementia/Alzheimer’s training; HB 132 extending confidentiality protections to information about hostile acts by foreign adversaries; and HB 1978, which sought to restrict ERCOT interconnections, but its motion to pass to engrossment failed on a 20-11 vote. Additional measures passed included HB 511 on unsolicited voter registration mailings, HB 2187 on nurse staffing, retaliation, and overtime protections, HB 2510 creating offenses for unlicensed assisted living operations, HB 694 on DFPS notification timelines, HB 1893 making license plates in law-enforcement video nonconfidential for public information requests, HB 2733 updating barratry and solicitation laws for digital communications, HB 4506 allowing opt-in electronic zoning notices, HB 3751 transferring a TxDOT property to DPS, HB 3033 creating a grant program for nonprofits supporting injured or killed DPS employees, HB 4273 on Medicaid fraud prevention and eligibility verification, HB 3211 on vision care benefits, HB 4529 exempting certain DoD-certified child care facilities from state licensure, HB 2522 easing fingerprinting requirements for certain vehicle dealers, HB 4219 tightening public information request response requirements, and HB 4783 requiring a report on opioid antagonist programs. The Senate also received a House message noting passage of SB 9, and a nominations committee report was announced for future consideration.

Transcript Highlights:

• It includes $200 million to upgrade and replace culverts, a $500 million authorization for the road and
• We look forward to deploying the funding authorized in this bill to help make sure those improvements
• We look forward to deploying the funding authorized in this bill to help make sure those improvements
• No, I would just add, though, that the increase to Chapter 90 and then the boutique authorizations, if
• And now that we have the new CTF, or the new expanded authorization for the CTF credit, we do envision

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Bonding, Capital Expenditures and State Assets

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Bonding, State Assets, and Capital Expenditures held its first public hearing on House Bill 4257, a transportation bonding bill. The administration testified in support, describing the bill as a $1.185 billion authorization: $300 million for Chapter 90 municipal road funding and $885 million for statewide transportation capital programs. Officials said the bill would increase municipal aid by 50%, with $200 million distributed under the traditional Chapter 90 formula and $100 million based solely on road mileage to better help rural communities. They also highlighted $500 million for bridge and pavement lifecycle asset management, $200 million for culverts and small bridges, and $185 million for congestion, safety, ADA, sidewalk, and multimodal improvements. Committee members asked about how municipalities would apply, how the road-mile formula would affect rural towns, and how the bill would interact with federal funding uncertainty and debt financing. Administration witnesses explained that projects would be administered through MassDOT district offices and Grant Central, that the bill would not backfill rescinded federal funds, and that the proposal would likely use special obligation bonds backed by Fair Share revenues to reduce pressure on the Commonwealth’s general obligation debt limit. Members also pressed the administration on the shift from general obligation to special obligation financing and on whether the Chapter 90 increase keeps pace with inflation. Administration officials said the special obligation structure would be credit-rated separately and was intended to expand available capital without affecting the GO bond cap, while acknowledging that the Commonwealth’s debt portfolio would grow. They said the Chapter 90 increase would roughly restore purchasing power lost since 2012, though construction inflation has outpaced general inflation. Several members and witnesses emphasized the importance of the road-mile formula for rural communities and the need for technical assistance for small towns. The Massachusetts Municipal Association testified in strong support of the bill, calling Chapter 90 and the new infrastructure authorizations critical for cities and towns facing federal uncertainty and rising costs. The Massachusetts Aggregate and Asphalt Pavement Association also supported the bill, citing the importance of the funding for road and bridge work, the construction season, and the industry’s economic impact. A committee member asked about asphalt price inflation, and the witness said liquid asphalt costs rose sharply after COVID, including increases of around 20% in some years. At the end of the hearing, the chair said members would receive a poll by email to move the bill out quickly, and the committee then voted to adjourn.

Transcript Highlights:

• It's what I would just say is it relates to kind of a special exemption under existing authority.
• So, we're not adding any additional regulatory authority.
• </c> they have that administrative authority they have that administrative authority within<00:10:06.640
• Um, and so when it's complaint-driven, it's not a delegated authority like the feedlot law. 18B rests
• </c> gives the department the authority. gives the department the authority.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• to be used to employ professional educators and service personnel if the county board receives authorization
• Additionally, the insurance commissioner is granted rulemaking authority and is required to report on
• Next is relating to authorizing the Insurance Commissioner to promulgate a legislative rule relating
• But the relevant legislative... ...authority is also corrected.
• B&O taxpayers would be authorized to pay their taxes using this system.

Committee: Senate Finance

Keywords: 994, senate, all