Transcript Highlights:

• The model maximizes and uses a mix of industry standards and practices, as well as where available.
• TCEQ strives to expedite permits for desalination projects under standard processes.
• it's energy efficient and has proven reliable for meeting drinking water quality standards.
• We need salinity standards if we are going to do desalination right.
• All you have to do is figure out what the standards are.

Committee: Senate Water, Agriculture and Rural Affairs

Summary: During the meeting, legislative members discussed the practice of municipalities diverting water and sewer revenues to their general funds, which impacts infrastructure maintenance and project delays. Vice Chair Sparks proposed limiting public testimony to two minutes, which was adopted without objection. The committee heard from various witnesses, including Perry Fowler from the Texas Water Infrastructure Network, who emphasized that utility revenues should primarily support water services and that transfers should be transparent and justified. He noted that many utilities face financial pressures that could hinder infrastructure projects. Larry French from the Texas Public Policy Foundation highlighted the significant financial impact of water loss and general fund transfers, estimating the annual loss at $1.5 billion. He argued that these transfers can create disincentives for municipalities to address water loss issues. Brian Butcher, Assistant City Manager of Sugar Land, defended the city's cost allocation model for general fund transfers, asserting that they are necessary for equitable service provision and operational efficiency. The committee also discussed the implications of rising construction costs and the need for better procurement processes to ensure effective use of taxpayer dollars. The second part of the meeting focused on the New World Screwworm and the state's preparedness to manage potential infestations. Dudley Hoskins from the USDA outlined the federal response efforts and the importance of collaboration with state agencies. He emphasized the need for ongoing surveillance and the production of sterile flies to combat the pest. Dr. Philip Kaufman from Texas A&M discussed the historical context of the screwworm and the challenges posed by its potential reintroduction, urging proactive management strategies among livestock producers. The committee acknowledged the need for increased resources and research to effectively address the threat of the screwworm.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> marketplace comply with ASM standards marketplace comply with ASM standards listed<00:26:33.200>
• </c><00:26:56.240><c> and</c> traceability of field standards and traceability of field standards and
• </c> institute of standards and technology. institute of standards and technology.
• </c> process of developing uniform standards process of developing uniform standards and<00:29:08.640
• </c> and measures standards. and measures standards.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• And so the standard of care, when I’m taking the standard of care and the lack of oversight from a medical
• Witness: Reasonable and prudent standard.
• Lower standards are wrong for patient safety.
• That's a totally lower standard than the standard in the House of Medicine.
• It's all very, very standardized.

Bills: HB216

Committee: House Public Health

Keywords: HB216, Texas abortion law, abortion-inducing drug, medication abortion, mifepristone, misoprostol, telemedicine, in-person exam, physician presence, out-of-state physician, reproductive healthcare, abortion regulation, Health and Safety Code, Occupations Code, consultation services, remote prescribing, pro-life, pro-choice

Summary: The Committee on Public Health met with a quorum and heard public testimony on a long agenda, with members repeatedly reminded of a two-minute limit for witnesses. Several bills were voted out favorably, including HB 2588 on cottage food, HB 1639 on cancer incidence and female firefighters, HB 2581 on a reporting form for contracted services for pregnant women, and SB 922 on electronic disclosure of certain sensitive medical information. Those measures generally passed on party-line or near-unanimous votes, while HB 216 on itemized medical statements was left pending after the committee substitute was withdrawn. The committee also left pending HB 5141, HB 4638, HB 2035, HB 4813, HB 2264, HB 4014, and HB 3829 after hearing testimony and questions. The final item introduced in the excerpt was HB 4408 on health care market transparency and corporate consolidation, but the discussion was cut off before testimony or action was completed. A major theme of the hearing was mental health diversion and access to treatment. HB 5141, by Rep. Howard, would allow Travis County to use vacated Austin State Hospital property for a local mental health jail diversion center; law enforcement, the Travis County sheriff, county judge, and urban counties group all testified in support, describing the lack of alternatives for people in crisis and the burden on jails and emergency rooms. Members asked about eligible offenses, bed capacity, and whether the facility would serve only Travis County, and the bill was left pending. HB 2264, by Rep. Schoolcraft, would create a friends-and-family form for loved ones to provide information to providers during emergency mental health treatment; NAMI and hospital groups supported it, while one neutral witness and several members raised concerns about patient control, credibility of information, and liability protections. The bill was also left pending. The committee also heard multiple psychedelic-therapy and drug-policy bills. HB 4813 would speed Texas rescheduling of Schedule I substances if the FDA reclassifies them, with testimony focused on psilocybin and MDMA and their potential use for PTSD and depression; members questioned whether the bill was too broad and how state rescheduling works, and it was left pending. HB 4014 would direct HHSC to study psychedelic therapies, building on prior state research, and witnesses said Texas should prepare regulatory and clinical infrastructure before FDA approval; it too was left pending. HB 2035 would require parents to be informed that they may seek substance-use treatment for a child even if one facility turns them away, prompted by a constituent’s account of a fatal fentanyl overdose after receiving incorrect advice; it was left pending. HB 4638 would extend and expand the Texas Pharmaceutical Initiative board and timeline, with the author saying the program is still in early implementation and needs more time, and it was left pending as well. Other bills addressed public health administration and animal welfare. HB 3829 would require a study of the animal-friendly account and its grant process for spay/neuter funding, with the author arguing that the current application and reimbursement process is too burdensome for shelters and nonprofits; no opposition was heard and the bill was left pending. HB 2581 and HB 1639 were reported favorably, while HB 216 drew discussion about enforcement of itemized medical billing and was held after the committee substitute was withdrawn. Throughout the hearing, members also discussed broader concerns about homelessness, competency restoration waitlists, jail overcrowding, and the need for more treatment options outside the criminal justice system.

Transcript Highlights:

• of recognition as the I think we should meet at least meet that standard of recognition as the word
• But that's a greater standard—that's a higher, better, more inclusive standard than the federal standard
• And, well, the federal standard is the 180 and 90...
• We have the Common Core standards that are now national; they took their model from Massachusetts and
• how we do our educational standards.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Veterans and Federal Affairs

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Veterans and Federal Affairs held its fourth public hearing of the 2025-26 session on recognitions, definitions, and designations related to veterans. Chairs John Velis and Joseph McGonagle opened the hybrid hearing with housekeeping rules and noted the committee’s reporting deadlines. The hearing focused on several bills honoring veterans and military-related service, including H. 3825 to include reserve components in flag half-staff recognition for service members killed in action, S. 2499 to place a State House marker honoring three Medal of Honor recipients from the war on terror, S. 2498 to add Merchant Marine recognition at veterans cemeteries and the State House and create a Massachusetts merchant mariner medal, and H. 2500/S. 2500 to have Massachusetts fly the Honor and Remember flag for Gold Star families and fallen service members. A major portion of the hearing centered on H. 3871 and S. 2467, which would update the Commonwealth’s definition of “veteran.” Testimony came from the Office of Veterans Services, veterans organizations, Public Health Service and NOAA representatives, National Guard and Reserve veterans, and Gold Star advocates. Witnesses argued the current state definition is inconsistent with federal law and excludes some service members who should be recognized, especially members of the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, NOAA Commissioned Officer Corps, reservists, and some National Guard members. Supporters said the bills would improve fairness, consistency, and access to benefits and services, while several speakers emphasized that service in uniform should be honored regardless of branch. Some testimony also urged a broader moral recognition of all who raised their right hand, while others focused on aligning state law with federal definitions and closing gaps in eligibility. Committee members asked questions about the practical and fiscal effects of broadening the definition, including how the proposed language would interact with existing federal standards and state benefit programs. Witnesses explained that the bills would remove the current 180-day and 90-day active-service calculations and instead recognize certain active service and six-year reserve or Guard commitments, though some members noted that this could create a broader state standard than the federal one. No votes or formal actions were taken during the hearing, and the committee concluded after hearing from the final witness and adjourning.

Transcript Highlights:

• Documentation of care or standard of care. It does not take power away from the board.
• And in one of my investigations, they did employ an endocrinologist to evaluate my standard of care.
• Now, Now in 2026, testosterone is standard of care.
• Now in 2026, testosterone is standard of care.
• fair dealing, which is the standard in the lines of well-established principles in the industry.

Committee: House Health and Welfare

Summary: The House Committee on Health and Welfare met on April 23 and first disposed of several items without hearing them, including HB 1093 and HB 1145, and voluntarily deferring HB 946. The committee then quickly reported HB 1095 favorably without objection. That bill would require nursing facilities to have fuel or another alternative power generation source to maintain power, and supporters said it preserves existing backup-power safety requirements while giving facilities more flexibility as technology changes. The committee then took up HB 926, which concerns vaccination status and admission to public buildings and seeks to prohibit medical mandates. After adopting an amendment set and additional changes clarifying exclusions for licensed health care providers and facilities, medical masks, and child welfare/school-related provisions, the committee heard testimony both for and against the bill. Supporters framed it as a civil-liberties measure limiting vaccine-card requirements for public buildings, while opponents warned it could interfere with public health measures, school immunization rules, and the ability of health care facilities to protect patients. The bill was reported favorably on an 8-4 vote. HB 1220, a cleanup bill for the Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners, was then reported favorably after a technical amendment set. HB 1227, which would require complaints involving medical judgment to be reviewed by a three-physician panel before formal disciplinary action, drew extensive testimony from a physician sponsor, a doctor describing his disciplinary experience, and the board’s executive director, who said the board already uses practicing physicians, nurses, and experts in its process and warned the proposed panel system could be impractical because physicians are difficult to recruit for such reviews. At the sponsor’s request, the committee voluntarily deferred HB 1227 for further work. Finally, the committee reported HB 1217 favorably with amendments to a pharmacy benefit manager transparency bill, after supporters said it would expose hidden pricing and rebate practices and opponents argued some provisions were duplicative or unnecessary. HB 1028, setting minimum Medicaid reimbursement rates for non-emergency medical transportation, was reported favorably and referred to Appropriations after supporters described the need for higher rates and members discussed funding. The committee also reported HB 1185 favorably, with amendments preserving the existing Rural Hospital Preservation Act while extending similar protections to additional rural-lookalike hospitals, and adopted HCR 76 to continue the Health Inequities and Disparities in Rural Areas Task Force for another year.

Transcript Highlights:

• Subsection 3 is liability standards.
• Retailers are held to a much narrower standard.
• Subsection three are liability standards. its components or materials.
• Subsection three are liability standards.
• Retailers are held to a much narrower standard.

Committee: Senate Commerce and Human Resources

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It applies the $1 million standard deduction to the individual, not a household, resulting in a combined
• standard deduction of $2 million for state-registered domestic partners and persons who are married.
• One of the things this bill does have built in is a $1 million standard deduction.
• This is a tax on the income derived, and that income has a standard deduction of $1 million.
• The amount of the standard deduction is $7,500 per person.

Summary: House Finance met in executive session on Gross Substitute Senate Bill 6346, the proposed “millionaires’ income tax” package. Staff reviewed the bill and a long list of amendments affecting the new income tax, related business tax changes, and several exemptions and implementation provisions. The committee adopted amendments to exempt diapers from sales tax, allow certain tribal income treatment clarifications, create an advisory group to help implement the tax, move up the repeal date for some business tax changes, and require the measure to go to the voters; several other amendments on federal conformity, agricultural income, pass-through entities, and the marriage threshold were rejected or withdrawn. The committee then adopted the striking amendment as amended and advanced the bill on a 9-6 do pass vote, with supporters arguing it would fund education, health care, child care, and tax relief, and opponents warning about competitiveness, capital flight, and the state’s spending growth. The committee then held a public hearing on Senate Bill 6097, which would add federally recognized Indian tribes as eligible entities for county Conservation Futures Program funding. Staff said the bill would not change the tax levy structure and would have no state revenue impact, while tribal witnesses said it would improve voluntary conservation partnerships for habitat, farmland, and open space. Members asked about the bill’s scope, and staff confirmed it applies only to federally recognized tribes. House Finance also heard Senate Bill 6162, a property tax reform measure that would consolidate the state school levy, expand senior and disability property tax exemptions, raise income thresholds, and simplify the application process with a standard deduction. The prime sponsor and county assessors supported the bill as a way to help seniors, disabled persons, and disabled veterans stay in their homes and reduce administrative burden, while several testifiers opposed it as a tax shift that would raise costs for others and potentially strain local revenues. Finally, the committee heard Senate Bill 6113, an administrative and technical tax cleanup bill related to last year’s tax changes; the Department of Revenue supported it and noted a possible clarifying amendment, while nonprofits, schools, libraries, health care groups, workforce training providers, and trade associations asked for additional exemptions for live presentations and related educational activities. The chair announced that Senate Bill 6097 would be added to Monday’s executive session, Senate Bill 6114 was removed, and amendments for Monday’s bills were due by 5 p.m. that day.

Transcript Highlights:

• One step forward in favor of upholding the highest standards of patient care, transparency, and choice
• . ...from providing care consistent with current best practice standards.
• This bill is important to bring families in Idaho the most current evidence-based community standards
• of care in the antepartum, intrapartum, and postpartum phases of the standards for transfer of care
• This bill will deliver current community standards of care. ...licensed midwife is outdated.

Summary: The committee first heard House Bill 528, which would codify the ability for patients to use self-donated or directed donor blood under federal testing and collection guidelines. Representative Chris Bruce said the bill was intended to ensure Idaho patients have that option in state law after some hospitals or facilities had denied requests. Supporters testified that the bill protects patient autonomy, religious freedom, and medical choice, and described personal experiences where directed donation was difficult or impossible to arrange in Idaho. Opponents, including representatives from Vitalant and the Red Cross, said directed and autologous donations are already available when medically indicated, that the bill addresses a problem that does not exist, and that it could add cost, complexity, and strain to an already severe blood shortage without improving safety. After debate over terms such as “detrimental” and “gross negligence,” a substitute motion to send the bill to amending order failed 7-9, and the original motion to send HB 528 to the House floor with a do pass recommendation passed 7-6. The committee then approved a rules docket for the Idaho Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired’s Business Enterprise Program, which updates and streamlines rules governing vending and food service facilities operated by blind entrepreneurs. The committee next took up House Bill 550, a midwifery bill updating Idaho’s existing statute to allow licensed midwives to administer additional medications within their training and scope of practice. The sponsor and several midwives, nurses, and other supporters said the changes would modernize outdated law, improve care in rural areas, reduce unnecessary hospital transfers, and better address postpartum hemorrhage and other maternal or neonatal needs. One testifier described a tragic homebirth outcome and urged stronger safety limits, while the Idaho Medical Association said it had worked with the sponsor on compromise language. At the sponsor’s request, HB 550 was held in committee and the related revised RS was moved forward. The committee then approved RS-33-250, which incorporated agreed-upon changes defining a formulary and protocol and clarifying maternal and neonatal care language, sending it to the second reading calendar with a do pass recommendation. The meeting adjourned after completing the agenda.

Transcript Highlights:

• It exempts factory-built housing using permit-ready plans from local zoning design standards and review
• And this bill helps to standardize that information.
• Third-party systems are widely used to streamline delivery, standardized formatting, and provide timely
• Failure to have these bills work together will result in confusion, exceptions, and unclear standards
• Reporting from the Washington State Standard shows that when local rules are loosened, ADU construction

Bills: SB6015 , SB6069 , SB6096 , SB6200 , SB6201 , SB6214 , SB6237 , SGA9280 , SGA9281

Committee: Senate Housing

Keywords: residential building, construction permits, housing development, planning efficiency, state regulations, affordable housing, homelessness, homeless shelter, emergency shelter, emergency housing, supportive housing, permanent supportive housing, transitional housing, low-income housing, very low-income, extremely low-income, housing crisis, land use, zoning, local preemption

Transcript Highlights:

• Last year, our Legislature passed SB 243, the first of its kind in the nation to set safety standards
• Indeed, as an example, leaked internal documents from Meta confirmed that their own risk standards say
• Sure, cheap and fast may be an option, but again, we have standards.
• We have standards.
• The standard for hydrogen sulfide was adopted in 1969 for the purpose of nuisance and odor control.

Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum, observed a moment of silence for Alex Prettie, offered prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, and recognized several visiting groups in the gallery, including UCLA Latino Policy and Politics Institute fellows and community college representatives. The body approved the Senate journals and then confirmed two gubernatorial appointments: Dr. Hernando Garsohn as Chief Medical Officer at the Emergency Medical Services Authority and Stephanie Weldon as Deputy Director of the Office of Health Equity at the Department of Public Health, both by 39-0 votes. The chamber then took up a series of third-reading bills. Measures that passed included SB 799 on the South Bay Regional Housing Trust, SB 33 on public contracts and contractor payment claims, SB 222 to streamline permitting for heat pump installations, SB 300 to strengthen protections for minors in AI chatbot interactions, SB 457 on community land trusts and affordable housing, SB 479 allowing certain cities to share information in homeless response teams, SB 719 extending a reporting sunset on automated decision systems, SB 722 protecting mobile home park residents from demolition-related displacement, SB 832 updating the Upper Los Angeles River working group, SB 342 on contractor license lapse rules, SB 490 on inspections of unlicensed treatment facilities, SB 828 requiring better state-local permit verification after the Esparto fireworks tragedy, SB 849 barring physician license renewal after specified sexual misconduct, SB 742 addressing decommissioned electrical lines and wildfire risk, SB 96 on over-amplified streaming and digital ads, SB 677 as a technical cleanup to last year’s housing law, and SB 58 on hydrogen sulfide monitoring and public health. Most of these bills passed unanimously or with overwhelming support; SB 222 and SB 677 drew some no votes but still passed. The most extended debate centered on SB 694, which would align California law with federal VA accreditation rules for those assisting veterans with benefits claims and impose penalties for unauthorized claims assistance and data access. Supporters argued it would protect veterans from predatory “claim shark” practices and ensure only accredited providers charge fees; opponents said it would reduce veterans’ choice and could limit access to needed help. After a motion to pull the bill from Rules and take it up immediately passed 29-9, the Senate approved SB 694 on a 29-10 vote. The session concluded with unanimous approval of the consent calendar and adjournment until January 27, 2026.

Transcript Highlights:

• The Working Families Tax Credit income limits are far below the need standards, in some cases around
• half or less of that standard.
• Thank you. and health services sets a need standard every year that reflects a more comprehensive cost
• The working families tax credit income limits are far below the need standards, in some cases around
• half or less of that standard.

Summary: House Finance heard testimony on two affordable housing bills. House Bill 1859 would expand an existing density bonus for housing on religious organization property by lowering the affordability threshold from 100% to at least 50% affordable units, requiring local policies to implement the bonus upon request, and creating a new state and local sales and use tax exemption for qualifying projects with at least 50% affordable units maintained for 10 years. The sponsor and supporters said the bill would help projects on church-owned land pencil out amid high construction and financing costs, while a county association raised concern that the bill would create an unfunded mandate for local planning departments. Several witnesses also asked that homeownership projects be explicitly included, and staff confirmed the exemption would be administered through an exemption certificate. The committee then moved to House Bill 1717, which would authorize cities and counties to create a local sales and use tax remittance program for affordable housing developments. Staff said the remittance would cover 100% of local taxes paid after project completion, with a 50% affordable housing threshold and 40-year affordability requirement, and the sponsor and local government and housing advocates supported it as a flexible tool to reduce development costs. Testifiers generally backed both bills, with some asking for more flexibility on income targeting and clarification on county-city interactions under HB 1717. No votes were taken; both public hearings were closed and the committee adjourned after a separate work session on the Working Families Tax Credit, where advocates urged broader eligibility, higher benefit amounts, and easier access, and a California researcher described data-linking methods used to improve tax credit take-up.

Transcript Highlights:

• And that is a typical standard, one that is adhered to and one that we certainly have and share a lot
• Blue Origin or whether it's fuel across today, as we've heard, at that 80,000-pound standard.
• That is the standard that is in place today.
• If it meets those standards, then that load must be divided to 80,000 pounds.
• And that is a typical standard, one that is adhered to and one that we certainly have and share a lot

Bills: SB2199 , SB2200 , SB2201 , SB2949 , SB2332

Committee: Senate Border Security

Keywords: overweight vehicle, vehicle weight limits, hazardous materials, hazmat, cargo tank, fuel transport, trucking, commercial vehicle, Transportation Code, criminal penalty, second-degree felony, loading violation, truck weight, axle weight, gross weight, public safety, commercial carrier, Texas, commercial truck, truck route

Transcript Highlights:

• Transmission distribution has been the standard for for decades and on undergrounding has been added
• Our new standard is a submersible type switch gear.
• When standards, the lateral hardening.
• Then it should be approved and see review and not the public interest standard.
• You know, the plan is adopted with the public interest standard.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><01:54:56.960><c> without</c> implement comparable standards without implement comparable standards
• We did not think reasonable standards.
• </c> standards create uneven protection standards create uneven protection without<02:11:15.280><c> clear
• We need specific standards, the times.
• ><c> these</c><02:13:51.360><c> companies</c> stronger standard on these companies stronger standard

Keywords: 981, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This includes such topics as type of gaming activity, fees for state regulation, standards of operation
• We believe these amendments strengthen transparently, and with the highest standard of integrity.
• So we have committed to maintaining the highest standards of regulatory compliance and integrity, and
• We implemented a vetting process as our standard practice to mitigate as much risk for the tribe as possible
• , as well as the gamer, which is also consistent with industry standards in many other markets.

Summary: A joint hearing of the Senate Business, Trade and Economic Development Committee and the House State Government and Tribal Relations Committee reviewed tentative tribal-state compact amendments involving the Tulalip Tribes and the Cowlitz Indian Tribe. Washington State Gambling Commission staff explained the compact approval process under IGRA and said the commission and ex officio legislators would take public comment and vote at an August 28 special meeting on whether to forward the agreements to the governor or send them back for further negotiation. The amendments would not take effect until published in the Federal Register. Tulalip Chairman Hazen Chappell testified in support of the Tulalip restated compact, describing tribal gaming as a governmental enterprise that funds health care, education, housing, elder services, public safety, natural resources, and other services. He said the tribe has employed more than 3,000 people, contributed over $113 million to charities and community programs since 1993, and continues to emphasize responsible gaming and regulatory cooperation. Commission staff said the Tulalip restatement consolidates 12 prior amendments, updates appendices and definitions, adds new appendices, removes some older provisions, and includes higher wager limits, jackpot sharing, and an option to increase player terminal allocations. Cowlitz Chairman William Ayala and Ilani Casino President Kara Fox LaRose presented the tribe’s sixth compact amendment. They highlighted the tribe’s history, community investments, education and elder programs, language revitalization, public safety support, and more than $35 million in foundation contributions since 2017. The proposed Cowlitz amendment would raise wager limits up to $1,000, create a special higher-limit player process with due diligence and responsible gaming safeguards, enhance signage and marketing requirements, allow temporary gaming areas, and adjust TLS ticket pricing when the state lottery raises ticket prices. Committee members asked about self-exclusion and credit practices; Cowlitz officials said hundreds of people have used the self-exclusion program and that higher-limit play is tied to front money or a $100,000 minimum credit line. No votes were taken at the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• And the idea is to move the state towards compliance with federal SORNA standards set forth in the Adam
• Mexico's current sex offender registration and notification system, bringing us closer to the federal standards
• this bill provides for further... ...and notification system, bringing us closer to the federal standards
• I can't remember where I read that, but meeting high standards already.
• Yeah, I just wanted to say thank you because I know we're trying to make this to the federal standard

Committee: House House Consumer & Public Affairs

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And the idea is to move the state towards compliance with federal SORNA standards set forth in the Adam
• Mexico's current sex offender registration and notification system, bringing us closer to the federal standards
• this bill provides for further... ...and notification system, bringing us closer to the federal standards
• I can't remember where I read that, but meeting high standards already.
• Yeah, I just wanted to say thank you because I know we're trying to make this to the federal standard

Summary: The committee first took up Senate Bill 38 and Senate Bill 101, both of which had already received public comment and questions earlier. In each case, a member moved a due pass recommendation, the motions were seconded, and both bills were approved on 4-1 votes, with Representative Locke voting no and the other members present voting yes. The committee then considered House Bill 199, as amended by a House Consumer and Public Affairs Committee substitute, dealing with sex offender registration and notification laws. The sponsor and Department of Public Safety explained that the bill is intended to bring New Mexico closer to federal SORNA standards under the Adam Walsh Act by creating a tiered registration system, shortening the reporting deadline from five business days to three, requiring in-person reporting for changes, expanding public website information, and adding some offenses to the registry. Supporters included DPS, State Police, and the Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce, while an opponent on Zoom argued the bill would hurt public safety and noted low recidivism rates. Committee members raised several drafting and policy questions, including definitions, tier placement for certain offenses, out-of-state registration, and the impact of publishing employment information. The committee adopted amendments to remove a superfluous definition of “sexually violent offense,” clarify “three business days,” and replace vague school language with “public or private school or an institution of higher education.” After the amendments, the committee voted 5-1 to give House Bill 199 a do pass recommendation, with the amended committee substitute moving forward to the next committee.

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, beef, you can go down the line in things that are just and they don't use the same standards to harvest
• or or use the same standards to harvest or or prepare or process the food substance that we do in this
• are just and they don't use<00:09:32.000><c> the</c><00:09:32.120><c> same</c><00:09:32.440><c> standards
• to</c><00:09:33.560><c> harvest</c><00:09:34.320><c> or</c><00:09:34.839><c> or</c> use the same standards
• to harvest or or use the same standards to harvest or or prepare<00:09:35.839><c> or</c><00:09:36.440

Bills: HB444 , HB444

Committee: Senate Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry

Keywords: HB444, vaccines, vaccine exemption, religious exemption, religious liberty, private school, church school, faith-based school, parochial school, school immunization, testing requirement, disease testing, parental rights, school enrollment, attendance requirements, CHOOSE Act, school choice, education funding, tax exemption, corporate income tax

Transcript Highlights:

• bill extends the maximum period The next bill on the list is Senate Bill 6274, concerning street standards
• The bill requires the county or city to evaluate whether local street, frontage, and right-of-way standards
• finally, the bill requires counties and cities to periodically review and, if necessary, revise street standards
• , frontage improvement requirements, and related public works design standards to ensure consistency
• establishes that a development agreement between a local government and an RTA may set forth development standards

Summary: The Senate Local Government Committee held its last Senate bill hearing before cutoff and then moved into executive session. The chair announced several bills were being removed from the executive calendar, including SB 6181, SB 6154, SB 6242, and SB 6279. Staff then summarized the remaining bills: SB 6211 would create uniformity for how GMA-planning cities implement real estate excise tax, with no amendments; SB 6234 would regulate sewage grinder pumps for new residential buildings, with a proposed substitute narrowing the bill to single-family residences, adding public utility districts, clarifying conditions for installation, and assigning maintenance responsibilities; SB 5633 would change subdivision and preliminary plat procedures, with a proposed substitute and a large Commerce fiscal note; SB 6291 would extend from two to four years the period a non-certified person may work on on-site wastewater treatment systems under supervision; SB 6274 would require housing and transportation planning to identify infrastructure barriers and review street and frontage standards; and SB 6309 would allow regional transit authorities more flexibility to apply for permits and construct facilities, with a proposed substitute expanding permit application authority and adjusting subdivision exemptions. In executive session, the committee adopted the proposed substitutes for SB 6234, SB 5633, and SB 6309. SB 5633 drew a no vote from one member, who cited concerns about the fiscal note and public input. The committee then voted do pass on SB 6211, SB 6234, SB 6291, and SB 6274, sending them to Rules. SB 5633 and SB 6309 were sent to Ways and Means after adoption of their substitutes. All measures were reported as passed subject to signatures.

Transcript Highlights:

• needed to amend it into a House bill, um, and this is required for us to meet our accreditation standard
• Uh, the terms, uh, material weakness and significant deficiencies are taken from the standards, the auditing
• standards issued by SCPA and also CASB, the general, the Government Accounting Standards Board, and
• the standards on, on auditing statements.

Committee: Senate Senate Tax, Business & Transportation