Transcript Highlights:

• We appreciate Chairman Lambert bringing this bill forward because we hear regularly from rural landowners
• They will be significantly impacted by the TxDOT expansion of I-35.
• You were not having good neighbors, and it was impacting quality of life.

Bills: HB246 , HB796 , HB 1056 , HB1544 , HB1846 , HB2001 , HB2618 , HB2625 , HB2869 , HB2898 , HB3069 , HB3114 , HB3157 , HB3228 , HJR98 , HB246

Committee: House State Affairs

Keywords: federal directives, state authority, Tenth Amendment, government enforcement, local governance, gold standard, legal tender, currency, transactional currency, financial transactions, electronic payment systems, state finance, regulatory compliance, electric trucks, charging infrastructure, advisory council, transportation, sustainability, criminal penalties, official information

Transcript Highlights:

• current operations, particularly with the dynamics and the change in administration, how that's impacting
• County alone had a 250% increase in migrants recovered; bodies were recovered in Brooks County on rural
• generally, you've done a masterful job getting this to just all volunteers that were, that we're not impacting

Committee: Senate Border Security

Summary: The Senate Committee on Border Security held its first hearing of the 89th legislative session, established a quorum, welcomed new and returning members, and adopted the committee rules without objection. The chair said the hearing would be limited to invited state agency witnesses and was intended as a status update for new members on current border operations, especially in light of the change in federal administration. Testimony came from the Office of the Attorney General, Texas Department of Public Safety, and the Texas Military Department. The Attorney General’s representative said border-related litigation is largely in a holding pattern while the new U.S. Department of Justice awaits additional leadership, and noted prior cases involving concertina wire, buoys, and the CBP One app. DPS described Operation Lone Star’s evolution from filling gaps when Border Patrol was overwhelmed to current operations focused on interdiction, criminal arrests, fentanyl and meth seizures, and national security concerns, while also noting improved morale and more voluntary deployments as border pressure has eased. The Texas Military Department reported more than 5,000 personnel on state active duty, extensive use of barriers, drones, boats, and rapid-response forces, and said Operation Lone Star has resulted in more than 531,000 apprehensions and a 90% reduction in illegal crossings. Members and witnesses discussed whether the state should maintain its current border-security footprint while federal policy settles, with the chair emphasizing preserving institutional knowledge and leaving tactical decisions to the governor. Questions also covered trooper fatigue, Border Patrol training under SB 602, and concerns about cartel-driven commercial trucking and fuel depots near the border. The committee heard that Border Patrol training with DPS has resumed, and the chair asked agencies to keep the Legislature informed as legal and operational circumstances change. No bills were heard and no votes were taken beyond adopting the committee rules.

Transcript Highlights:

• Likewise, we track the impacts of this.
• reduction of the nitrogen, but how did the farmers feel about, you know, the reduction and how does that impact
• Yeah. >> So I think the question for that Suwannee B map, it's a rural area.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Despite California's agricultural abundance, which this committee speaks about frequently, rural and
• community, like Los Banos, I go to Lone Pine, I had to write them down, Alturas, Bridgeport, these are all rural
• I have 11 counties, very rural.
• It's three hours to a Costco, I live in Modoc County in Alturas, it's very, very rural.
• So, you know, that's a convenience that rural living doesn't offer. district they're the ones sponsoring

Committee: House Agriculture

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I rise today to recognize extraordinary Black luminaries from Central Florida for their work and impact
• c><00:10:45.120><c> and</c> Central Florida for their work and Central Florida for their work and impact
• And that's what we had impacts policy.
• </c> the fact that there are unique impacts the fact that there are unique impacts uh<03:49:01.520><c
• areas, uh, some much needed in rural areas, uh, some much needed relief<03:52:47.279><c> and</c><03:

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Thursday, February 12, 2026, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The mental health impacts are also clear.
• They are real and impacting millions of California's children.
• The research shows that social media impacts youth differently.
• There are so many groups of children that have no voices to speak for them: kids in rural communities
• What about how chatbots are impacting it? What about how AI is impacting it?

Summary: The committee first heard AB 1159, which would update California student data privacy law for educational technology and college-level platforms. The author and supporters argued that students’ personal information is being collected and used far beyond educational purposes, including sensitive health and demographic data, and said the bill would limit misuse and add stronger privacy protections. Support came from privacy, labor, education, and civil rights groups, while opposition from college store and industry representatives focused on narrowing the definition of “operator,” preserving institution-related communications, and concerns about the bill’s private right of action. Members raised questions about how the bill would affect scholarships, financial aid, adult students, consent, and litigation; the author said the bill includes a right to cure and notice to the Attorney General. The committee voted 4-0 to pass the bill to Appropriations, with the measure placed on call. The committee then took up AB 1709, which would set a minimum age of 16 for social media accounts on platforms with specified addictive design features and create a youth safety commission. The author, pediatric and safety advocates, and several public supporters argued that social media companies intentionally design compulsive features that harm youth mental health, sleep, and development, and that the bill is a necessary product-safety response. Opponents argued the bill is overbroad, may be ineffective, raises First Amendment concerns, and could cut off vulnerable youth from important online support networks. Members focused heavily on possible amendments, especially a non-addictive feed option for younger users and strengthening the commission; the author said he was open to those changes and to further work with the committees. The bill was moved to Judiciary on a 5-0 vote and placed on call. At the end of the excerpt, the author began presenting a third measure, AB 2076, which would strengthen California’s Parents’ Accountability and Child Protection Act by adding nitrous oxide to the list of age-verified dangerous products, banning purchase with gift cards or store credit, and increasing penalties for large sellers. The author described nitrous oxide as increasingly accessible to minors online and cited enforcement gaps in the current law, but the transcript cuts off before testimony or action on that bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• But it has not impacted the health of our workers because you work with them already.
• Ryder was working for the Secretary of State at the time that he made this impactful decision.
• I'm the Senior Director of Policy and Impact for Youth Force.
• I'm the Senior Director of Policy and Impact for Youth Force.
• Well, Dollar Trees are located in largely suburban communities, some rural and some urban.

Committee: House Labor & Industrial Relations

Keywords: 965, house, all

Summary: The committee first disposed of several measures without debate, including deferrals of House Bill 460, House Bill 561, Senate Bill 322, and another deferred Senate measure, before taking up House Bill 819 by Chairman Cruz. HB 819 would replace Louisiana’s current workers’ compensation medical treatment schedule with ODG by MCG, a private evidence-based guideline system used in other states. Cruz and Troy Prevo argued ODG is more comprehensive, updated more frequently, and could reduce claim duration, medical costs, and premium rates; Dr. Jason Picard said Louisiana already uses ODG as a secondary reference for gaps in the state schedule and that the bill would not change appeals or variance procedures. Opponents, including injured-worker advocates Joseph Jola St. and Robin Crumholt, argued Louisiana’s current guidelines are working, that ODG is more cost-cutting and insurer-driven, and that the bill could increase denials and delay care. Members discussed amendments to add a two-year sunset, allow tacit approval when treatment follows the schedule, require payment within 30 days, and raise the carrier’s burden to challenge care; the committee adopted the amendments and then reported HB 819 favorably by a 7-6 vote. The committee then began Senate Bill 409 by Senator Myers, the Louisiana Living Donor Leave Protection Act. The bill would provide paid leave protections for living organ donors, set eligibility and verification procedures, and prohibit forfeiture of leave in certain circumstances for private employers. Myers said the measure is intended to remove job and paycheck barriers for people willing to donate organs and to support better transplant outcomes. Technical amendments were adopted at the start of the presentation, and the bill was introduced for further discussion.

Transcript Highlights:

• It is important to note that nothing in this bill package impacts the role of the citizens redistricting
• So our intent is to go up and down the state and talk about the impact of what happened in H.R. 1.
• The impacts of what's been happening in the past on this administration, but also the impacts of what
• Rural hospitals are going to be completely decimated.
• I have fought for reimbursement for providers in rural hospitals because they are leaving.

Summary: The Assembly Elections Committee met on August 19, 2025, to consider ACA 8, SB 280, and an informational hearing on AB 604. The meeting began with several failed motions to adjourn, to read public comments into the record, and to recess so members could review the roughly 16,000 public comments submitted through the committee portal. The chair emphasized the hearing’s expedited format, transparency measures, and rules limiting witness testimony, and noted a letter from Speaker Rivas authorizing Assemblymember Berman to present ACA 8. ACA 8, described by supporters as the “Election Rigging Response Act,” would place before voters a temporary congressional redistricting plan tied to AB 604 and triggered only if another state, especially Texas, adopts a partisan mid-decade redistricting. Supporters, including Assemblymember Berman, labor groups, CTA, Planned Parenthood affiliates, SEIU, and other allied organizations, argued the measure was a response to partisan gerrymandering elsewhere and a defense of democracy, with voters having the final say in a November 4, 2025 special election. Opponents, including current and former redistricting commissioners, good-government groups, business and taxpayer organizations, and many members of the public, argued the proposal undermines California’s independent redistricting model, was rushed without adequate public review, could cost roughly $200 million or more, and would invite litigation and partisan manipulation. The committee also debated a proposed amendment that would bar legislators who voted for ACA 8 from later running for Congress in districts adopted under the measure. After extended procedural disputes, the committee voted to lay the amendment on the table. The hearing then continued with extensive public testimony, overwhelmingly divided between strong support and strong opposition, but the transcript provided does not show a final committee vote on ACA 8 or SB 280 before the excerpt ends.

Transcript Highlights:

• , as well as greenhouse gas emissions in 16 overburdened communities highly impacted by criteria air
• of EITEs, such as impacts on local air pollution, health, employment, and changes to cap-and-invest
• Because we identified a really wide range of parties impacted by allowance allocation, we created not
• And because we are reinvesting all the money in Quebec, we have a positive impact on our GDP.
• Blackouts and price spikes hit workers, industrial employers, and rural communities the hardest.

Summary: The committee began with member and staff introductions, then held a work session on emissions-intensive trade-exposed facilities (EITEs) under Washington’s Climate Commitment Act. Ecology staff reviewed how cap-and-invest works, explained EITE no-cost allowance allocations, and summarized a new report to the Legislature on policy options for 2035-2050. Ecology recommended continuing no-cost allocations but adjusting them to fit the cap, considering a consignment approach that would require EITEs to invest part of the value of free allowances in decarbonization, and studying additional benchmarking and leakage-mitigation refinements. Quebec officials described their cap-and-trade system, including a consignment model that withholds part of free allocations, holds the value in trust for facilities, and requires technical studies and investment in mitigation projects; they said it has encouraged industrial investment and no business closures. Members asked about facility closures, compliance costs, eligible uses of consigned funds, and adaptation spending. The work session then closed. The committee then heard House Bill 2296, which would expand distributed energy resources by allowing portable plug-in solar devices and meter-mounted devices. The prime sponsor said the bill is intended to lower barriers and startup costs for renters and homeowners who want to electrify or add solar. Supporters, including a nonprofit promoting plug-in solar and a physician group, said the devices could broaden access to clean energy and reduce greenhouse gas and health harms. Utilities, labor, and industry groups opposed the bill as written, citing safety concerns, lack of national electrical code standards, possible backfeeding and fire risks, utility-worker hazards, unclear interconnection rules, and concerns about multifamily housing and small-utility review burdens. Some witnesses said they were open to continued work on the proposal. Next, the committee heard House Bill 2285, which would allow natural gas generation paired with carbon capture, utilization, storage, or mineralization to count toward Clean Energy Transformation Act compliance. The sponsor and supporters argued the bill would provide a “bridge” for firm power, help address reliability and transmission constraints, and support jobs while reducing emissions compared with conventional gas. Opponents said the bill would weaken CETA’s 100% clean electricity target by allowing resources that still emit carbon to qualify, and they questioned whether 75% capture is sufficient. Other testimony raised cost concerns and warned that carbon capture could increase ratepayer costs. The hearing on HB 2285 was later suspended and reopened briefly for additional testimony from Ecology, which said the bill would permanently weaken CETA standards and likely reduce emissions reductions. The committee also briefly received a staff briefing on House Bill 2272, a ski-area terminology bill, and then suspended that hearing to take it up later.

Transcript Highlights:

• And, Representatives, this bill was heard last year as well, but this bill will have a lot of impact
• The potential loss of the exemption will impose a significant impact on the labs and is projected to
• To put our impact into perspective, last year Sandia contributed $133 million to GRT in the state of
• impact. into the future.
• I'm curious, though, what impact does age have on? Accident rates and on premiums, Madam Chair.

Committee: House House Commerce & Economic Development Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• of the Mascoma Valley Regional School District, a five-town district that is fairly sprawling and rural
• Uh, as he said, we are one of the largest, very large rural districts, 30 miles from north to south,
• </c> the largest, we're very large rural the largest, we're very large rural district,<01:16:02.800><
• district like ours we service rural district like ours we service between<01:16:37.440><c> about</c>
• and making them implementation impact and making them happy<04:35:09.600><c> and</c><04:35:10.000><c

Committee: House Transportation

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• legislature, worked 2 and 1/2 years with DOT, and we put together a statewide transportation program from rural
• a statewide transportation<00:04:55.800><c> program</c><00:04:56.280><c> from</c><00:04:56.520><c> rural
• </c><00:04:57.000><c> to</c> transportation program from rural to transportation program from rural to

Bills: HB545

Committee: Senate Banking and Insurance

Keywords: HB545, legal tender, cash rounding, nearest five cents, nickel rounding, in-person cash transaction, cash transactions, change making, sales tax, Department of Revenue, merchant payments, consumer payments, currency rounding, cash payment, retail transactions, payment methods, 923, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It would expand access to care, which can be hard for rural schools and events, and it would ensure athletes
• Patients and athletes through improved access to timely care, rural and health care shortage areas by
• We work closely with athletic trainers, and we know for rural schools, well, for all schools, athletic
• So whether that is to enhance rural health care and underserved populations by having more licensed or

Committee: House Professional Registration and Licensing

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• A build of this magnitude really needs more input from all impacted stakeholders.
• </c> more input from all impacted more input from all impacted stakeholders<01:43:44.760><c> but</c><
• Most impacted stakeholders were not consulted.
• Most impacted stakeholders were not consulted.
• manufacturers but also just impacting manufacturers but also impacting<01:56:20.760><c> dealers</c><

Committee: Senate Commerce and Consumer Protection

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• All of these are impacting the available space.
• It is also impacting hiring, especially for young college graduates.
• It ensures policies are data-driven and grounded in real-world impacts.
• It ensures policies are data-driven and grounded in real-world impacts.
• And the impact is beyond what we understand.

Committee: Senate Privacy, Digital Technologies, and Consumer Protection

Summary: The committee heard several bills focused on AI, privacy, and surveillance. SB 903 would prohibit AI from independently providing psychotherapy or presenting itself as a licensed mental health provider, require disclosure and informed consent, and reinforce confidentiality and privacy protections for therapy records. Supporters, including a mother and therapist whose son died by suicide after extensive chats with ChatGPT, argued the bill is needed to prevent harmful, crisis-related interactions. Behavioral health groups and labor/privacy organizations supported the measure, while TechNet, the California Medical Association, and the California Hospital Association opposed unless amended, saying the bill could restrict useful clinical tools and create conflicts around triage, screening, and data use. The committee passed SB 903 4-0 to Appropriations, with members noting the need for further work on definitions and implementation. SB 1119 would create a broader framework for chatbot safety for children, including annual risk assessments, crisis response protocols, default child protections, parental controls, notice and time limits, restrictions on advertising and use of children’s data, incident reporting, audits, and a private right of action. The author and supporters again cited the death of Adam Raine as evidence that chatbots can reinforce suicidal ideation and isolate children. Common Sense Media and several labor and privacy groups supported the bill. CalChamber, TechNet, the California State Sheriffs’ Association, and other industry and local government groups opposed unless amended, raising concerns about vague standards, overlap with SB 243, prescriptive design mandates, and litigation risk. The committee approved SB 1119 4-0 to Judiciary, with amendments to be taken there. The committee also heard SB 1013, which would tighten rules for automated license plate reader data by requiring DOJ audits, employee training, and a 30-day retention limit for most data. Supporters said the bill responds to documented misuse and over-retention of data that mostly belongs to innocent drivers. Law enforcement groups opposed, arguing the retention limit would hinder investigations and reduce the usefulness of ALPRs in serious or delayed cases. The bill passed 4-1 to Appropriations. SB 1292, a local control bill for six cities, would allow camera or sensor-based enforcement of curb and loading zones, with a human reviewing each violation before issuance. Supporters said it would help cities manage congestion and unsafe blocking of bike lanes and loading zones; privacy advocates warned about expanding automated surveillance. It passed 4-1 to Appropriations. Finally, the committee heard SB 1101, which would require higher education institutions to notify students, faculty, and staff when personal information is shared with federal agencies and limit disclosure to what is legally required. Supporters framed it as a transparency and anti-doxing measure in response to recent federal investigations and subpoenas; there was no opposition testimony. The bill passed 5-0 to Appropriations. The committee then began hearing SB 951, the California Worker Technological Displacement Act, which would require advance notice and reporting when employers displace workers due to technology and give displaced workers priority for openings, but the transcript cuts off before the hearing concluded.

Transcript Highlights:

• access gaps as I as I mentioned, rural access gaps as I as I mentioned, reduce<00:53:08.440><c> travel
• We're actually going to see and provide a different opportunity for the more rural campuses.
• Kentucky, particularly those rural Kentucky KCTCS campuses.
• Kentucky, particularly those rural Kentucky KCTCS campuses.
• Kentucky, particularly those rural Kentucky KCTCS campuses. >> I like your emphasis on rural Kentucky

Committee: Joint Licensing, Occupations, & Administrative Regulations

Keywords: 00:00 Call to Order 02:45 Roll Call 05:25 Cosmetologists 13:48 Barbers 01:16:06 Adjournment, 958, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The Senate Indian, Rural and Cultural Affairs Committee will come to order.
• They will receive a do pass out of the Senate Indian, Rural and Cultural Affairs Committee.
• The Senate Indian, Rural and Cultural Affairs Committee will be in recess until next Tuesday.

Bills: SB216 , SB225 , SB248

Committee: Senate Senate Indian, Rural & Cultural Affairs

Keywords: Native American, language certification, cultural education, appropriation, education funding, tribal liaison, voter education, electoral access, translation services, Indian Affairs, communication, consultation, New Mexico, tribes, federal government, 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The Senate Indian, Rural and Cultural Affairs Committee will come to order.
• They will receive a do pass out of the Senate Indian, Rural and Cultural Affairs Committee.
• And the Senate Indian, Rural and Cultural Affairs Committee will be in recess until next Tuesday.

Summary: The Senate Indian, Rural and Cultural Affairs Committee met on a consent calendar for Senate Bills 216, 225, and 248. Members described the measures as appropriation bills, with one noted as a $33 million appropriation. There was brief discussion among committee members, but no concerns were raised about any of the three bills. The committee agreed to handle the bills individually for the record while voting on them together in practice. A motion was made to approve all three bills, and the motion was seconded. The committee then advanced Senate Bills 216, 225, and 248 with do pass recommendations, with no opposition recorded. At the close of the meeting, the chair announced the committee would recess until the following Tuesday. Members were told that two additional pieces of legislation were expected for full hearings at that next meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• It simply calls for an independent, fact-based study to evaluate potential rate impacts, infrastructure
• I just want to close and say we've seen and we've been impacted already by the investments of private
• I like our state taking a considered and thoughtful approach to what the impacts of private equity are
• I like looking into, I like our state taking a considered and thoughtful approach to what the impacts
• The impacts of private equity are in a variety of areas, and how we should be responding to them.

Bills: SM20 , SM9 , SJR6 , HB124

Committee: Senate Senate Rules

Keywords: youth violence, violence prevention, violence intervention, community violence intervention, credible messengers, peer support, restorative justice, violence interrupters, juvenile justice, at-risk youth, high-risk youth, public safety, Department of Health, New Mexico, statewide summit, data collection, reporting, interagency coordination, community-based organizations, law enforcement

Transcript Highlights:

• then it just ended with saying, "Lord, I just ask that you bless these pumpkins that they make an impact
• bless these pumpkins that they<00:09:01.279><c> make</c><00:09:01.360><c> an</c><00:09:01.600><c> impact
• </c><00:09:02.080><c> your</c><00:09:02.320><c> kingdom</c><00:09:03.120><c> and</c> they make an impact
• If you're in rural Kentucky, you'll know what I'm talking about.
• </c> enormous impact. enormous impact.

Committee: Senate Agriculture

Keywords: Meeting Start: 00:00 Attendance Roll Call: 00:12 SB 5 Discussion: 03:10 SB 5 Roll Call Vote: 18:05 SB 73 Discussion: 22:00 SB 73 Roll Call Vote: 22:40, 958, all