Transcript Highlights:

• I would like to start off by thanking committee staff. I am here to present AB 1892.
• I would like to start off by thanking committee staff for working with my staff on this bill.
• On that note, I'm grateful again to the committee and staff for your hard work.
• Thank you very much to you and your staff for the work on the bill. So thank you.
• Due to unclear guidance, there was a lot of department staff turnover.

Summary: The Assembly Housing and Community Development Committee heard a long agenda of housing-related bills, beginning with AB 1892 on HOA/Davis-Stirling Act cleanup provisions. The author and sponsor said the bill would clarify HOA responsibilities for utility service repairs in common areas, align election notice timelines, and require electronic voting ballots to be sent at least 30 days before an election. No opposition was presented, and the bill was set aside to be taken up later when a quorum was available. The committee then heard AB 1708, which would revise the Homeless Housing, Assistance and Prevention (HHAP) program to give smaller cities a clearer role in regional homelessness planning and access to funding. Mayors and city representatives from Bellflower, Paramount, and other cities testified that smaller jurisdictions are spending significant local funds on shelters and services but lack direct access to HHAP dollars. Some larger-city and housing advocates opposed or were opposed unless amended, arguing the bill could add administrative burden, but committee members broadly supported the goal of including smaller cities in regional responses. Members also heard AB 2058 on factory-built housing, AB 2576 on historic-resource protections under SB 79, AB 1751 on missing-middle townhomes, AB 1924 on homelessness prevention, AB 2626 on waiving certain monitoring fees for at-risk affordable housing developments, and AB 2089 on welfare-exemption and recertification procedures for affordable housing. Testimony generally emphasized reducing duplicative local permitting for factory-built housing, protecting state and national historic resources while still allowing housing near transit, expanding ministerial approval for townhomes, creating a statewide homelessness-prevention strategy with accountability measures, giving HCD flexibility to waive fees to preserve financially stressed affordable housing, and streamlining property-tax exemption recertification. Several bills were voted out of committee, including AB 1751 and AB 2626, both passing on 8-0 and 7-0 votes respectively, while other measures were discussed with motions pending or held open for absent members.

Transcript Highlights:

• I would like to start off by thanking committee staff. I am here to present AB 1892.
• I would like to start off by thanking committee staff for working with my staff on this bill.
• On that note, I'm grateful again to the committee and staff for your hard work.
• Due to unclear guidance, there was a lot of department staff turnover.
• I would like to thank the committee staff for their excellent work on this bill.

Committee: House Housing and Community Development

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I don't know who did that on whoever staff, but good job.
• Thank you. >> Um, further, I would like to recognize our staff.
• I mean, this is a staff, but good job.
• The document that you have our staff.
• ,</c> issues, uh, was prepared by our staff, issues, uh, was prepared by our staff, started<00:30:44.640

Committee: House Banking & Insurance

Keywords: Meeting Start 00:00 Call to Order and Roll Call 00:29 Discussion SB 153 01:25 Vote SB 153 10:35 Discussion SB 118 11:36 Vote SB 118 12:48 Discussion HB 380 13:40 Vote HB 380 40:12, 958, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Kudos to staff. They have tracked a labyrinthine budget.
• He had been sitting in that hospital room with a staff member who sat there with him 24/7.
• Every eight hours, a new staff member sitting in that hospital room. ...staff member who sat there with
• But I just want to express my deep gratitude to the OPR staff and our caucus staff, Devin, Eric, and
• staff and policy staff, and the Office of Program Research.

Bills: HB2289

Committee: House Appropriations

Keywords: appropriations, budget, fiscal matters, state spending, general fund, supplemental budget, biennial budget, substitute bill, public defense, civil legal aid, courts, judicial branch, homelessness, supportive housing, affordable housing, behavioral health, juvenile rehabilitation, youth services, child welfare, foster care

Transcript Highlights:

• For large cities with a full IT staff and finance staff, maintaining an online archive of financial documents
• </c><00:34:39.359><c> and</c><00:34:39.599><c> finance</c><00:34:40.079><c> staff,</c> with a full IT
• staff and finance staff, with a full IT staff and finance staff, maintaining<00:34:41.280><c> an</c>
• /c><00:34:55.599><c> A</c><00:34:55.839><c> lot</c><00:34:55.919><c> of</c> clerk, much less an IT staff
• A lot of clerk, much less an IT staff.

Bills: SB23 , SB71 , SB105 , SB109 , SB115 , SB131 , SB148 , SB165 , SB23 , SB71 , SB105 , SB109 , SB115 , SB131 , SB148 , SB165

Committee: Senate County and Municipal Government

Keywords: law enforcement, taser, restrained individuals, police procedures, civil rights, income tax, tax exemption, Alabama tax code, Section 40-18-3, civilian employees, Department of Defense, DoD, Armed Forces, military pay, combat zone, deployment, National Guard, Reserve components, emergency response, federal employees

Transcript Highlights:

• the involvement of the governor<00:23:49.120><c> and</c><00:23:49.280><c> his</c><00:23:49.520><c> staff
• </c><00:23:49.840><c> in</c><00:23:50.240><c> relative</c> governor and his staff in relative governor
• and his staff in relative importance?
• and safety towards the the staff and safety towards the incarcerated<00:32:10.720><c> individuals.
• </c> work with our team, work with the staff work with our team, work with the staff on<00:41:43.760>

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Now, we staff with one nurse on call.
• We staff the hospital with a nurse that is immediately available for a delivery.
• It equips medical staff to meet families where they are with empathy and understanding.
• It is important for medical staff...
• It is important for medical staff to not only be informed, but to be adaptable.

Bills: HB18 , HB37 , HB 116 , HB388 , HB879 , HB913 , HB 1151 , HB2216 , HB2358 , HB2809 , SB577 , SB1590 , SB1782 , SB1887 , SB2744

Committee: Senate Health & Human Services

Keywords: rural health, hospital funding, healthcare access, mental health services, financial stability, perinatal bereavement, healthcare, hospital training, bereavement support, maternal care, fetal demise, stillbirth, neonatal death, parent-child relationship, involuntary termination, family law, child welfare, child protection, HB 388, HB388

Summary: The Senate Committee on Health and Human Services met with a quorum and took up several House and Senate bills, with public testimony limited to two minutes per witness. The committee first heard HB 2358, a cleanup bill requested by HHSC that would repeal outdated training and conference requirements for long-term care facility surveyors and certain providers; there were no witnesses, and the bill was left pending. The committee then heard HB 18, the rural hospital stabilization bill, which would create financial assessment tools, a rural hospital finance office at HHSC, an academy for rural hospital officers, multiple grant programs, enhanced Medicaid reimbursement tied to average cost, OB/GYN add-on payments, expanded pediatric telehealth connectivity, and a rural pediatric mental health program. Senator Perry and witnesses from TORCH, a rural hospital, AARP Texas, and ARCHI strongly supported the bill as a way to stabilize rural hospitals, improve OB access, and address workforce and financial pressures. Committee members discussed rural hospital closures, low-volume quality metrics, system affiliation, and the need for predictable monthly reimbursement; the bill was left pending after testimony and questions. The committee next heard HB 37, which would create a perinatal bereavement care initiative for families experiencing stillbirth, neonatal death, or intrauterine fetal demise, including counseling, staff training, and access to cooling devices, with possible grants and a recognition program for hospitals. Senator Huffman explained the bill, and several witnesses testified in support, sharing personal stories about infant loss and the importance of time with the baby, trained staff, and cuddle cots or similar devices. A neonatologist also supported the bill while suggesting clarification that hospitals should not be penalized if state funding is unavailable and recommending use of regional advisory councils to help implement training. Public testimony was then closed and the bill left pending. The committee also heard HB 879, which would create a streamlined licensing pathway for veterans with medical or nursing experience to practice in Texas, and HB 913, which would add new state hospitals to statute and split the North Texas State Hospital into two separate hospitals with their own superintendents; both bills had no opposition testimony and were left pending. Later, the committee heard SB 2744, a heart disease screening bill that would update the 2009 Texas Heart Attack Prevention Act to require insurance coverage for coronary CT angiography with plaque analysis, including soft plaque detection, as a preventive screening tool. The author and invited witnesses argued the technology is more effective than calcium scoring alone, can identify patients before symptoms appear, and could save lives at a cost comparable to or lower than colonoscopy. An insurance industry witness opposed the bill, arguing the technology has not been recommended by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force for universal screening and that the mandated coverage and payment level would raise costs; the bill was left pending after testimony. Finally, the committee heard HB 1151, a parental rights bill clarifying that refusing psychotropic medication or psychiatric treatment is not neglect unless the child is harmed. Supporters, including parent advocates and attorneys, said the bill would protect parents from CPS overreach and preserve medical decision-making authority, while one witness urged broader attention to physical causes of behavioral issues. Public testimony was closed and HB 1151 was left pending.

Transcript Highlights:

• The both dedication of all of our staff.
• </c> staff.
• Um, especially nonpartisan staff staff.
• ><c> Sharon</c><00:42:35.359><c> Goblish,</c> had great GOP staff Sharon Goblish, had great GOP staff
• Um, DFL staff, Declan sorry, AJ.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:08:14.000><c> this</c> department or nonpartisan staff this department or nonpartisan staff this
• Move back to nonpartisan staff for an answer.
• According to the LBO, I appreciate nonpartisan staff saying that they shouldn't have done something,
• Move back to nonpartisan staff for an answer.
• According to the LBO, I appreciate nonpartisan staff saying that they shouldn't have done something,

Bills: HF11

Committee: House Ways and Means

Keywords: Minnesota Paid Leave, paid family and medical leave, family leave, medical leave, implementation delay, premium collection, employer premiums, state payroll tax, workforce, labor, benefits administration, DEED, Department of Employment and Economic Development, employer notice, seasonal employees, private plans, actuarial study, outreach and education, employee rights, reinstatement

Transcript Highlights:

• We also have staff and psychiatrists there that are working in this building.
• We also have staff and psychiatrists there that are working in this building.
• We cannot wait to defer any well-being or health issues of the staff or the patients.
• or the uh patients we have the staff or the uh patients we have over<00:37:22.079><c> 300</c><00:37:
• uh walked through we hospital staff uh walked through we started<00:39:47.599><c> to</c> started to

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The committee held an informational briefing on construction defects and operational problems at the newly opened Hawaii State Hospital Halola building, a $160 million facility with 144 beds for forensic patients. Department of Health and DAGS officials described ongoing issues identified before and after occupancy in April 2022, including anti-ligature safety defects, roof and building-envelope leaks, drainage problems, plumbing failures, HVAC corrosion and moisture-control issues, mold, and corroding materials. They said the problems have affected patient areas, showers, hallways, the gym, and other parts of the building, creating daily operational and safety challenges for staff and patients. Officials said the state believes the defects are the responsibility of the design-builder, Hensel Phelps, but that they are working with the company and its subcontractors to address the problems while preserving the state’s legal position. The Attorney General’s office said it is conducting an inquiry and asked agencies to limit comments to factual matters. Witnesses explained that some defects appear to be latent and that repairs are being documented through photos, invoices, and testimony. They also said some work is being done by Hensel Phelps and some by other contractors, with efforts to preserve evidence for possible future claims. Committee members questioned how the defects were missed during design-build inspection, whether the state should pursue litigation sooner, and how evidence would be preserved if outside contractors make repairs. Officials said the state has two funding requests pending: about $8 million for emergency repairs and about $28.8 million for longer-term repairs, for a total near $40 million, while noting that additional defects may still be discovered. No votes were taken; the meeting was informational only.

Transcript Highlights:

• But co-chair Vang, thank you all the staff. Good work.
• But, Co-chair Vang, thank you all the staff. Good work.
• And members, I want to make sure we thank our staff.
• So Brad sure we uh thank our staff.
• </c><00:47:40.400><c> Every</c> staff for all your hard work. Every staff for all your hard work.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Chair, and each committee member and the staff for their hard work and continued support of farmers and
• Um, so that's a technical amendment that staff suggested.
• </c><00:36:16.960><c> And</c><00:36:17.200><c> then</c> amendment that staff suggested.
• And then amendment that staff suggested.
• So, want to thank the staff to close.

Bills: HF2446

Committee: House Agriculture Finance and Policy

Keywords: agriculture finance, broadband development, Department of Agriculture, Board of Animal Health, Agricultural Utilization Research Institute, Office of Broadband Development, food safety, food handler license, cottage food, home processed food, livestock dealer, meat packing company, milk marketer, milk marketing license, grain buyer, grain storage, beginning farmer, emerging farmer, farm down payment assistance, livestock investment grant

Transcript Highlights:

• Thanks to our staff for putting that together. Read the first bill. We're back, maybe.
• Representative Henson, I believe a staff review has been done on every bill.
• Was there a staff review done? I believe a staff review has been done on every bill.
• And I want to thank my colleagues and staff who keep this institution running.
• Thank you for all the help and to the staff.

Summary: The House convened with a prayer, pledge, quorum call, and recognition of Officer Cody Popple of the FSU Police Department for his actions during the April campus shooting. Members also observed a moment of silence for former Lee County Judge John Carlin. The Rules and Ethics Committee report setting the special order calendar was adopted, and the Speaker outlined the final week of session, noting that budget negotiations were still ongoing and that the House would continue taking up Senate bills and returning messages. The chamber then considered a series of mostly technical or sunset-review bills, including SB 100, SB 104, and SB 102 on the Florida Statutes, all of which passed unanimously. Several Open Government Sunset Review bills were also approved, extending or preserving public records and meeting exemptions for the Public Service Commission, the Department of Military Affairs, the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, cybersecurity records, emergency shelter information, conviction integrity units, the Florida Gaming Control Commission, and school testing materials; most passed with little opposition, though SB 7006, SB 7026, and SB 7022 drew some dissenting votes. The House also passed SB 7016 on small business loan records, SB 7008 on gaming commission records, SB 7000 on emergency shelter information, and SB 7004 on conviction integrity unit records. Members then moved into farewell remarks and recognitions, including an extended farewell speech by Representative Hart-Lowman reflecting on her service, family, district, and policy priorities such as criminal justice, housing, health care, and labor issues. The House also recognized visiting students from Osceola County and other guests in the galleries. Later, the House took up more substantive measures. SB 7040 recreated the emergency preparedness and response trust fund; after a lengthy debate over an amendment to let the fund expire and a strike-all restoring the House position, the bill passed 82-25. The chamber then passed CS/CS/SB 302 on coastal resiliency, CS/CS/SB 984 on firefighter cancer benefits, and CS/SB 474 on military affairs, all with broad support. The final portion of the transcript shifted to SB 488 on Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, where members debated vehicle registration requirements, license plate frames, and related amendments, including provisions for disabled veterans and dealer allocation rules, before the transcript ended mid-debate.

Transcript Highlights:

• We have a little bit more focus on policy staff with experience rather than one policy lead.
• Again, I didn't know if they were staff.
• They are smaller, with fewer staff and fewer judges for their courts.
• It would also allow us to bring a couple of staff in to create standards.
• Okay, on page 44 is a request that we have made for juvenile staff.

Committee: House Budget

Summary: The committee first heard the Office of the Governor’s FY 2027 budget request from Adam Gresham. He explained the office’s staffing and noted a $500,000 core reduction, along with a reallocation of three positions and about $168,000 from the governor’s office to the mansion operating fund to better reflect where those employees work. Members asked about the National Guard emergency line, which Gresham said had already spent about $63,457 in FY 2026 and could be used again for disaster activations, though he did not expect to use the full $4 million. He also said the agricultural resiliency transfer fund had not been used and had no current transfer plans. Several members commented on the size of the governor’s cut and whether the judiciary and other offices were also being asked to reduce budgets. No votes were taken. The committee then moved to the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education’s Office of Childhood and early childhood-related budget items. DESE staff described funding for the Office of Childhood, MoQPK child care provider grants, LEA pre-K grants, early childhood special education, Parents as Teachers, First Steps, preschool coordination, after-school programs, and child care subsidy. Members asked extensively about the MoQPK grants, including why Head Start providers were eligible, how curriculum approval works, and what safeguards exist against fraud or improper payments. DESE said it conducts physical inspections, desk reviews, payment-system checks, and investigations as needed, and that it had not had findings in this area. Some members questioned whether DESE or DSS was the right home for early childhood programs, while others defended the partnership and the role of early educators in identifying child needs. A major portion of the discussion focused on early childhood special education and the child care subsidy program. DESE explained that First Steps serves children birth to age three, while early childhood special education covers ages three to five and is driven by IEP eligibility; members asked for more data on diagnoses, trends, and how many children come off IEPs. The committee also discussed the child care subsidy budget and the governor’s proposed shift to paying providers based on authorization and at the beginning of the month. DESE said the change is being piloted, that a wait list is expected to begin around March 1, and that a May rollout is being considered, but only if software testing and fiscal projections show the system is sustainable. Members expressed frustration that promised changes had been delayed and that providers had been told different timelines, while DESE said the delay was driven by software issues, fiscal caution, and the need to avoid repeating prior payment problems. The hearing ended with the committee in recess before later resuming discussion of the subsidy program; no final votes or actions were taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• I appreciate the work that House research and the front desk staff have done um on this and uh I urge
• It uh funds the chief sergeant-at-arms and their staff there, and that it funds the staff that supports
• </c><00:05:26.880><c> there,</c> sergeant-at-arms and their staff there, sergeant-at-arms and their staff
• </c><00:05:29.039><c> that</c> and that it funds the staff that and that it funds the staff that supports
• with some of their own partisan staff, but we had the revisers there.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Chairman, members, and staff. My name is Brian Siri.
• One of my staff members had an accident yesterday, totally not her fault.
• One of my staff members had an accident yesterday. Totally not her fault.
• Brown that his staff is aging out. The comments were made earlier by Mr.
• Brown that his staff is aging out. That is an industry-wide issue.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Financial Services

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Financial Services Committee heard testimony on several insurance, transportation, and labor-related bills. Senator Edwards supported bills addressing app-based delivery workers, arguing that food-delivery drivers should be treated as employees with protections and mileage reimbursement, and that a small surcharge on app-based deliveries could raise revenue for the Commonwealth and localities. Kevin Brousseau of the Massachusetts AFL-CIO also backed the delivery-worker bill, saying it would preserve employee status, add data transparency, and create a process for challenging deactivations. MAPC supported a bill to change transportation network company fees from a flat per-ride charge to a percentage-based assessment, saying the current fee is outdated and that a higher fee could raise more transportation revenue and help address congestion and emissions. A large portion of the hearing focused on auto insurance and collision repair issues. Insurance industry witnesses supported a bill to limit attorney’s fees in PIP cases by giving insurers 30 days after a complaint is served to pay amounts due without fee exposure, arguing that PIP litigation has surged, is clogging courts, and is being driven by out-of-state firms. They also opposed auto body labor-rate bills, saying the market is already adjusting and that a statutory floor is unnecessary. In contrast, auto body shop representatives and the Alliance of Automotive Service Providers of Massachusetts urged favorable action on bills to raise and regularly update collision repair labor rates, saying current reimbursement levels are far below market, have not kept pace with inflation or vehicle technology, and are making it hard to retain workers and keep small shops open. One witness also supported a bill to limit insurance surcharge points for low-damage accidents or minor moving violations. Committee members asked questions about deactivation rights for delivery workers, the mechanics of the PIP litigation issue, and the gap between body-shop and mechanical labor rates. Testimony emphasized that current auto body reimbursement rates are around the mid-$40s per hour, while mechanical work can be reimbursed at much higher rates, and that advisory-board discussions have produced only limited progress. At the end of the hearing, the chairs asked if anyone else wished to testify, then moved to close the hearing; the motion was seconded and approved unanimously.

Transcript Highlights:

• So we pray for your divine protection over them, their families, their staffs, shielding them from every
• And again, thanks to the staff, and happy to support it today and appreciate your work.
• President, I want to thank you for allowing me to work with your outstanding staff. Mr.
• President, I want to thank you for allowing me to work with your outstanding staff, with Tim Elwell and
• the rest of the Ediprope staff.

Summary: The Senate convened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and several introductions, including recognition of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority’s Founders’ Day and a visiting debate student. The chamber then received and adopted, by a 39-0 vote, a committee report confirming 52 gubernatorial executive appointments to various state, regional, and local boards and commissions. The first major bill was SB 250 on rural communities, described as a broad “Rural Renaissance” package. Sponsor Senator Simon outlined provisions creating an Office of Rural Prosperity, a Renaissance Grant Program for counties facing population loss, housing and transportation investments, additional funding for rural education, and rural health care support. Two amendments were adopted to remove overlapping grant language tied to new federal rural health funding and to update hospital funding estimates. Senators from both parties generally supported the bill, though some raised questions about eligibility for certain rural areas and how funds would be accessed. The bill passed 39-0. The Senate then took up CS/SB 318 on educational scholarship programs. Senator Gates said the bill responds to Auditor General findings by separating scholarship funding from public school funding, requiring student identification and enrollment verification, reducing administrative fees for scholarship funding organizations, requiring annual audits, and directing the Department of Education to develop a competitive selection and performance-based business plan for those organizations. Three amendments were adopted, including changes to the stabilization fund and documentation requirements. Senators from both parties debated transparency, accountability, and implementation concerns, with some also urging future attention to declining-enrollment school districts and the quality of scholarship providers. The bill passed 38-0. At the end of the session, the Senate waived rules to immediately certify SB 250 and CS/SB 318 to the House, welcomed Palm Beach County visitors in the gallery, and adjourned until the next scheduled meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• If you require assistance in registering, please ask one of the staff members.
• If you require assistance in registering or testifying, please contact committee staff.
• This bill will also require that all staff be trained in basic water rescue.
• Last week, I visited every single one of your chiefs of staff. I was received...
• Some of your chiefs of staff mentioned that they actually had fake IDs in college.

Bills: SB650 , HB3667 , SB28 , HB3201 , SB1184 , HB1800 , SB 28

Committee: House Licensing & Administrative Procedures

Keywords: permit issuance, regulatory framework, business operations, efficiency, application process, lottery, gambling, internet gaming, mobile application, criminal offenses, lottery regulations, occupational licensing, fraud prevention, criminal background checks, lottery couriers, SB 1184, Texas Alcoholic Beverage Code, wine collection seller, collectible wine, vintage wine

Transcript Highlights:

• meeting in this room 8 a.m. sharp every Wednesday Unless notified otherwise, I want to introduce my staff
• And so if any of the committee members would like to recognize As their staff, Senator West?
• Thank you. turn but is now full-fledged policy staff Lauren Cobb. Senator Hagenboe. Mr.
• But I'm back, and I have my general counsel, Dale Ramirez. who will be in charge of interpretation staff
• Your staffs please let you won't give you a 10 minute warning. Thank you.

Bills: SB35 , SB284 , SB296 , SB305 , SB857 , SB995 , SB1121 , SB1555 , SB1902 , SCR25 , SB 35

Committee: Senate Transportation

Keywords: transportation, TxDOT, Texas Department of Transportation, road projects, highways, infrastructure, bridge construction, interchanges, corridor improvements, road widening, railroad grade separation, sound barrier, unified transportation program, legislative notice, project prioritization, capital projects, state highway system, Farm-to-Market Roads, San Antonio, Harris County

Transcript Highlights:

• If you have any issues filling out the form, please ask... ...staff member to assist.
• That's the briefing and I'm sure my staff love that I read none of their notes and So I thank you, I
• So my personal perspective would be one even a city is as tiny as 400 likely have staff and most MUDs
• operate without staff.
• So I have zero staff on my MUD. I have an attorney that represents us. I have a bookkeeper.

Bills: HB279 , HB310 , HB365 , HB391 , HB420 , HB422 , HB638 , HB279 , HB310

Committee: House Natural Resources

Keywords: HB 279, uranium mining, uranium permit, production area authorization, production zone, Texas Water Code, TCEQ, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, contested case hearing, administrative hearing, groundwater restoration, groundwater baseline, water quality, mining permit, restoration values, natural resources, environmental regulation, in-situ uranium mining, permit amendment, public hearing