Transcript Highlights:

• Members, the committee substitute differs from the bill as filed in that it would clarify that a person
• The regulatory asset will be recovered in a natural gas utility's annual filing, known as the GRIP, or
• That's an improvement over the bill as filed that was added on, I believe, on the House floor.
• Things could always be improved, but I file every year an application with every city that we do business
• Every year, I would make a filing with every city that I do business in and the Railroad Commission.

Bills: HB1237 , HB2663 , HB3071 , HB4384

Committee: Senate Natural Resources

Keywords: occupational licenses, renewal, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, registration, license expiration, HB 2663, inactive well, plugging extension, Railroad Commission of Texas, RRC, oil and gas, orphan wells, well cleanup, well plugging, abandoned wells, surface equipment removal, electric service termination, administrative penalty, Natural Resources Code, Section 89.029

Transcript Highlights:

• permits to be issued by applicable permitting agencies within 60 days of a complete application being filed
• permits to be issued by applicable permitting agencies within 60 days of a complete application being filed
• :11:21.360><c> being</c> days of a complete application being days of a complete application being filed
• 22.000><c> single</c><00:11:22.240><c> family</c><00:11:22.480><c> and</c><00:11:22.640><c> multif</c> filed
• for single family and multif filed for single family and multif family<00:11:23.200><c> housing</c><

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The secretary will read the number of the Senate file numbers.
• The Senate files have been given their second reading.
• </c> file number 3949. file number 3949.
• Thank you, Senators, for hearing Senate File 3769.
• Senate file bill its third reading.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> accessible candidate filings accessible candidate filings website<00:20:36.640><c> on</c><00:20:
• petitions with the courts action to file petitions with the courts our<00:24:15.840><c> office</c><00
• Incorrect or incomplete files have been uploaded to the election reporting system when a results file
• within a time contests must be filed within a time frame<00:49:57.640><c> following</c><00:49:58.000
• </c><00:50:03.880><c> The</c> two election contests filed The two election contests filed The Residency

Committee: Senate Elections

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• After acquiring the needed signatures and filing the signatures with the Secretary of the Commonwealth
• , the measure is filed with the Legislature.
• We have to either accept it or reject it as it was filed, so the ability to do that is not with us at
• In your 2025 filings, you listed...
• In your 2025 filings, you listed $1.38 million in donations, and that was from three individuals total

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Special Joint Committee on Initiative Petitions held a public hearing on Initiative Petition No. 25-15, H.5505, “An Act to Protect Water and Nature.” Committee co-chairs outlined the Article 48 initiative process and explained that the hearing was divided into expert, proponent, opponent, and public-comment sections. The first witness, Undersecretary Stephanie Cooper of the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs, described current state and federal funding sources for land conservation and outdoor recreation, said existing programs are oversubscribed, and noted that the proposal aligns with the Commonwealth’s 30% land conservation goal by 2030 and 40% by 2050. She also flagged possible governance clarifications in the petition, including board structure and administrative authority, while saying the administration has the expertise to manage such a fund. Proponents from Mass Audubon, the Trustees of Reservations, Mount Grace Land Trust, the Massachusetts Rivers Alliance, the Authentic Caribbean Foundation, and Bemis Associates argued that Massachusetts needs a dedicated, sustained revenue stream for conservation, clean water, climate resilience, and public access to nature. They said current funding is inconsistent and insufficient, cited estimates that the state may need roughly $300 million or more annually to meet conservation targets, and emphasized benefits to public health, mental health, biodiversity, flood protection, and the outdoor recreation economy. Several speakers said the measure would dedicate a portion of existing sales tax revenue tied to sporting goods, recreational vehicles, and golf courses, and that it would support both urban and rural communities, including underserved communities. Committee members pressed witnesses on the bill’s fiscal and constitutional implications, including how much sales tax revenue would be redirected, whether the measure is constitutional, how funds would be allocated among communities, and why the proposal includes certain revenue sources but not others such as ticket sales. Proponents said the measure would likely direct up to about $100 million annually when fully phased in, that it was designed as a “subject to appropriation” mechanism, and that legal review had found it constitutional. They also acknowledged that the proposal would reduce general fund flexibility but argued it would create a long-term investment in natural resources. The hearing concluded after public testimony, and the committee announced it would accept written testimony until March 27 at 5 p.m.; no vote was taken on the petition at the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• I rise on the previous amendment that was withdrawn, but I want to thank the previous speaker for filing
• President, the amendment is consistent with language, again, that has been filed by the governor of the
• It is consistent with language, again, that has been filed by the governor of the Commonwealth, who is
• While other states allow for suits to be filed and to be brought to court, and the relief that you can
• While other states allow for suits to be filed and to be brought to court, and the relief that you can

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Senate considered a fiscal year 2025 close-out supplemental appropriations bill and a series of amendments, many of which were withdrawn, adopted, or rejected. Early debate focused heavily on funding for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in Massachusetts, with Senators O’Connor and Feeney arguing for restoring money for transportation, safety, and event readiness, citing projected ridership surges, economic benefits, and the need for Boston and the Commonwealth to invest. Senator Driscoll also won adoption of an amendment directing the MBTA to study and report on its local assessment formula, using Milton and Quincy as examples of perceived inequities in how communities are charged relative to service received. The Senate then took up several other amendments, including measures on fire survivor support, vaccine liability, mental health and sidewalk projects, council on aging and public safety items, disaster relief, service dogs, and MBTA assessments. Senator Tarr offered amendments on driver record transparency and energy cost reporting, but those were not adopted. A major roll-call vote rejected Tarr’s amendment to restore a larger share of excess capital gains to the stabilization fund; supporters argued for stronger rainy day reserves, while the Ways and Means chair defended the bill’s use of a deficiency reserve fund and warned of revenue losses from federal tax changes. The Senate also adopted an amendment on shelter and Home Base spending transparency, requiring renewed reporting on emergency shelter and housing assistance programs. Later, the chamber adopted Senator Edwards’ amendment creating a Massachusetts Federal Employee and Service Member Civil Relief Act to protect federal workers and service members in the event of a shutdown, including relief from eviction and foreclosure-related harms. The Senate also adopted Senator Rodrigues’s Ways and Means amendment, then approved the underlying supplemental budget as amended and ordered it to third reading. After the final roll call, the bill was passed to be engrossed by a 39-0 vote. The Senate concluded by agreeing to adjourn and by honoring Mrs. Anne Lee in memory, with a brief communication from Senator Cyr noting a prior remote-vote error for the journal.

Transcript Highlights:

• , want to rise in support of Amendment 1035, excuse me, and thank the gentleman from Falmouth for filing
• , want to rise in support of Amendment 1035, excuse me, and thank the gentleman from Falmouth for filing
• gentlelady from Northampton, who's been focusing on this issue, the gentlelady from Needham, who's also filed
• , want to rise in support of Amendment 1035, excuse me, and thank the gentleman from Falmouth for filing
• Some people might have noticed this: I filed a few amendments in this budget.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Senate met on the FY27 budget and began with several ceremonial introductions and brief amendment withdrawals. Senator Collins withdrew amendments related to restoring DCF social worker funding and educator pay. The chamber then ruled a package of tax-related amendments offered by Senator Tarr out of order on constitutional grounds, finding they would create money-bill provisions that must originate in the House; the Senate upheld that ruling by a vote of 35-4. Senator Tarr later offered amendments on a gas tax suspension and related tax relief themes, but those were not adopted. The Senate considered and rejected several other amendments, including proposals on commemorating Commonwealth history, naming a bridge, repeat offenders, and no-cost calls. One amendment by Senator Fattman to extend domestic violence leave protections to contract employees was adopted unanimously, with 39 votes in favor and none opposed. The chamber also adopted an amendment creating a special commission to study the adequacy, reliability, and distribution of unrestricted general government aid (UGA), after extended debate about inequities in municipal aid and local budget pressures. Members from across the chamber supported the commission, while some emphasized that adequacy of funding, not just redistribution, remains a concern. The Senate then took up Chapter 90, passing the municipal roads and bridges bill to be engrossed. It also adopted a community programming amendment and a Senate Ways and Means amendment, then adopted the Ways and Means budget amendment as amended and ordered the underlying FY27 appropriations bill to a third reading. After lengthy closing remarks from the Ways and Means chair, minority leader, and the Senate President praising the budget process and highlighting investments in local aid, education, public safety, and other priorities, the Senate voted 40-0 to pass the FY27 budget bill to be engrossed. The chamber then adopted an order to reconvene the following Tuesday at 11 a.m. and adjourned in memory of Trooper Kevin Thomas Traynor.

Transcript Highlights:

• really appreciate that, and I appreciate you working with Representative Wellenkamp to get this bill filed
• I appreciate you working with Representative Wellenkamp to get this bill filed.
• I mean, This is the same bill as Mary Elizabeth Coleman filed, so she had asked me to file the bill as
• This is the same bill as Mary Elizabeth Coleman filed, so she had asked me to file the bill as well and
• So you always have to—I always believe that bills are filed because we're trying to fix a problem.

Committee: House Conservation and Natural Resources

Summary: The Conservation and Natural Resources Committee first took up Senate Bill 953, which was described as ensuring environmental protection funds remain dedicated to that purpose. The committee substitute added provisions from House Bill 1885, changing Clean Water Commission membership conflict rules, and Senate Bill 1397, giving certain reservoir water storage contract holders exclusive rights to return flows. Members discussed the conflict-of-interest language and the water-return provision, then adopted a House committee amendment and the amended substitute by voice vote. The committee then voted the House Committee Substitute for Senate Bill 953 do pass by a 6-5 roll call, with Representative Wellenkamp voting no. The committee then heard House Bill 3193, a proposal by Representative Wellenkamp to reduce single-use plastic waste in state parks and historic sites by phasing out plastic bags, plastic water bottles, and Styrofoam/styrene containers, while allowing exemptions where needed. Supporters, including conservation groups, a Missouri River Bird Observatory representative, and others, said plastics harm parks, waterways, wildlife, tourism, and human health, and urged alternatives and better waste practices. Some members raised concerns about accessibility and the need for practical substitutes for people with disabilities and for emergency or park operations. The Missouri Beverage Association opposed the bill, arguing its plastics are recyclable and that education and recycling are better approaches than bans. Finally, the committee heard House Bill 3320, the Drinking Water Transparency and Accountability Act, which would assign Missouri public water systems A-F grades based on violations, finances, operations, and infrastructure, and would impose additional oversight and spending restrictions on systems graded D or F. The sponsor said the bill would make water-system problems easier for ratepayers to understand and help address chronic failures; supporters from Missouri American Water, Central States Water Resources, and the Missouri Chamber said it would improve transparency and support investment. Opponents from municipal utilities, the Missouri Municipal League, and the Missouri Water Association argued the bill oversimplifies a technical field, duplicates existing consumer confidence reports, could confuse customers, and may undermine trust in local systems. No vote was taken on HB 3193 or HB 3320 before adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you, Chair and Co-Chair Wolgamott, for the opportunity to present House File 3101.
• House File 3101 creates an intellectual freedom protection act, which creates viewpoint neutrality at
• And so, we're really grateful for you considering House File 3101 and for Representative Ryan Winkler
• In 2024, we filed suit to challenge a Minnesota law that imposed a racial quota for the Board of Social
• In 2024, we filed suit to challenge it.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• The journal will be filed in the office of the Secretary.
• designated substitute will receive that oath of office upon their arrival, and the correspondence will be filed
• And that said, substitute will also receive the oath of office upon arrival, and the Secretary will file
• Upon arrival and the Secretary will file the correspondence in the Office of the Secretary. Mr.
• Building Authority will also be referred to the State Affairs Committee, and the correspondence will be filed

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• There's no criminal charges filed against him, and there's many other Companies I won't bring up, but
• started a new administrative actions tab where you can track all of the administrative actions we file
• Two cases have been filed against labs for inspections conducted in 2024 and 2025.
• By operation of law, it doesn't require a court pleadings or filings or anything.
• You and the whole team, Director Anderson we are getting more information from them so that we can file

Keywords: 914, all

Transcript Highlights:

• To qualify for amnesty, a business must file an amnesty application by August 17, 2026, pay all taxes
• for which amnesty is requested by October 1, 2026, and report and pay all taxes timely for filing periods
• So I filed it at 2 a.m. on the 26th when it was due on the 25th, and they let me know that my fine for
• late filing ...when it was due on the 25th, and they let me know that my fine for late filing was $34,000
• important to periodically allow those individuals who don't perhaps know or were unaware of their filing

Bills: HB2376 , HB2584 , HB2610 , HB2615 , HB2089 , HB2194 , HB2257 , HB2528 , HB2175 , HB2334

Committee: House Finance

Keywords: property tax, reform, local government, taxpayer, funding, agriculture, tax exemption, farm machinery, equipment, sales tax, HB 2610, property tax exemption, nonprofit housing, affordable housing, low-income housing, community use, temporary use, charitable property, Washington property tax, Department of Revenue

Transcript Highlights:

• attorney general authority to bring a civil action in response to retaliation against an employee for filing
• It specifies that only an authorized third party representative may file a civil action on the employee's
• A hearing may involve lengthy testimony and multi-page exhibit files.
• The judge may ask everyone at the hearing to turn to a certain page of the exhibit file.
• claimants with appeals will lose automatic access to paper versions of their notice of hearing and files

Bills: HB2188 , HB2563 , HB1571 , HB2144 , HB2191 , HB2218 , HB2243 , HB2372

Committee: House Labor & Workplace Standards

Keywords: transparency, industrial insurance, insurance rate increases, financial disclosure, regulatory oversight, unemployment, electronic notices, compensation, digital communication, order processing, workers' compensation, occupational disease, firefighters, fire investigators, law enforcement officers, first responders, heart disease, cardiac conditions, respiratory disease, cancer presumption

Transcript Highlights:

• So I filed the bill. It wasn't very good; it died. Last session, I filed a much better bill.
• Under the substitute and the bill as filed, co-ops would potentially not be able to own or operate DERs
• While there appears to be some improvement over the original... ...filed bill as well as SB1212.
• This has been a, it was filed last session.
• That's why I was especially saddened to hear that he filed this horrible legislation.

Bills: SB75 , SB715 , SB776 , SB1299 , SB1405 , SB1968 , SB2021 , SB2077 , SB2148 , SB2321 , SB2330 , SB2411

Committee: Senate Business & Commerce

Keywords: electric generation, reliability, ERCOT, Public Utility Commission, penalties, performance requirements, energy policy, construction contracts, compensatory damages, government delays, contractor, legislation, nonprofit donor privacy, membership lists, supporter confidentiality, volunteer privacy, association rights, public records exemption, Texas Public Information Act, government transparency

Transcript Highlights:

• will handle the leasing for gas exploration and development, including title research. research, filing
• Next up on our agenda is House File 737. **Representative Olson**.
• **Representative Olson**, as you are not a member of this committee, I will move that House File 737
• Thank you for the opportunity to testify on House File 737.
• I will renew the motion: House File 737, as amended, be laid over for possible inclusion.

Committee: House Environment and Natural Resources Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• I have a simple question: What inspired you to file this bill?
• It requires scholarship funding organizations to use this number when submitting a payment file to the
• Funds to the scholarship funding organization unless the students included in the payment file have a
• That the department must utilize to cross-check each payment file with the most recent FTE survey data
• It also establishes when the scholarship funding organization must submit a quarterly payment file to

Summary: The Pre-K through 12 Budget Subcommittee met during Budget Week and first considered three member bills. House Bill 1111, by Rep. Valdes, would eliminate the option for students to leave high school with a certificate of completion instead of a standard diploma. Valdes said the bill was inspired by students who met credit requirements but could not pass a required assessment, and argued the certificate does not provide access to college, trade school, or military service. The bill passed unanimously, 15-0. CS for House Bill 127, by Rep. Kendall, would support students with disabilities by using existing Florida Department of Education curriculum to create micro-credentials and coordinating with the Florida Center for Students with Unique Abilities and OSHA on workplace safety. Goodwill, the Florida Developmental Disabilities Council, Florida PTA, and others supported the bill, which also passed unanimously, 15-0. House Bill 1367, by Rep. Booth, addressed chronic absenteeism by requiring statewide definitions and more uniform attendance reporting, along with rules for excused and unexcused absences and early identification of chronically absent students. Testimony emphasized inconsistent district policies and the need for clearer data and interventions. The bill passed 13-0, with some members noting concerns about implementation details and future rulemaking. The committee then took up PCB-P-PKB-2501, the proposed conforming bill for the fiscal year 2025-2026 Pre-K through 12 budget. The chair said the bill was designed to align statutes with budget and scholarship funding procedures, especially around the Florida Education Finance Program and scholarship payments. The PCB would require Florida student ID numbers for scholarship students, standardize cross-checking against FTE survey data, set quarterly payment dates, and use one data source for both reporting and withholding scholarship-related FFP amounts. It also would reduce certain add-on weights by 50%, remove the budget stabilization program, and repeal the educational enrollment stabilization program. Several members raised concerns that the add-on weight reductions could hurt career and technical education, AICE, IB, and CAPE programs, while the sponsor argued the data showed too much spending in an “other” category and that the reductions were aimed at aligning funding with actual program costs. Public testimony was mixed: some supported tighter accountability and clearer payment rules, while others warned against undermining expensive career-readiness programs. The PCB passed 11-2. After the conforming bill, the chair presented the proposed fiscal year 2025-2026 Pre-K through 12 budget, totaling just under $21 billion, about $400 million below the current year. She said the budget reflects a need to slow spending growth and includes $20 million for New Worlds Scholarship Accounts, $7 million for security grants at Jewish day schools and preschools, $14 million for public school transportation stipends, an overall FEFP increase of about $747.7 million, $100 million for teacher salary increases, and increases in the base student allocation and funds per student. The committee did not vote on the budget recommendation at this meeting; it was distributed for review and will move to the Budget Committee next week.

Transcript Highlights:

• That report will be filed in the office of the Secretary.
• That correspondence will be filed in the Office of the Secretary.
• That correspondence will be filed in the Office of the Secretary.
• They have read through the file. The commission asked some pretty hard questions.
• They have read through the files. They know about what he has done.

Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum, heard prayer and the pledge, approved the journal, and received committee reports and messages from the Governor and House. Several bills and resolutions were moved through the calendar, including committee referrals, enrollments, and transmittals of already-passed measures. The chamber also received new first-reading bills, including appropriations measures and policy bills on elections, education, and endowment land leases. On the floor, the Senate adopted Senate Resolution 117 recognizing Idaho’s ties with Italy and the opening of an Idaho office in Italy. The resolution was supported with remarks about historical Italian immigration to Idaho and wartime cooperation involving Italian POW labor in Idaho agriculture. The Senate also adopted House Concurrent Resolution 30, which directs the Medicaid Legislative Review Panel to study and provide guidance on implementing comprehensive Medicaid-managed care; that measure passed by roll call, 20-10 with one absent. The Senate then adopted Senate Concurrent Resolution 114, adding a new joint rule to limit the number of bill drafts and RSs a legislator may bring in a year, with exceptions for budget bills, amendments, trailer bills, interim committee legislation, and leadership-approved exceptions; it passed 35-0. The chamber also adopted Senate Joint Memorial 115 urging federal action on pelican impacts to Idaho fisheries, and Senate Resolution 120 honoring State Police K-9 Kimber for her service. Later, House Bill 723 on child care licensing and protections for children in residential care facilities passed 32-3 after debate focused on abuse prevention, unannounced inspections, and a bill of rights notice for children. In the afternoon session, the Senate passed several appropriation bills, including Senate Bills 1380, 1381, 1382, 1383, 1384, 1385, and 1386, covering the Endowment Fund Investment Board, Idaho State Lottery, Fish and Game, Veterans Services, Public Utilities Commission, Industrial Commission, and Pardons and Parole. Most were described as enhancement or maintenance budgets funded largely through dedicated or federal funds, with debate emphasizing small hardware purchases, program restorations, and agency operating needs. Senate Bill 1382 for Fish and Game passed 23-12, and House Bill 848, the legislative branch appropriation bill, was brought up for consideration as the transcript ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• That report will be filed in the office of the Secretary.
• That correspondence will be filed in the Office of the Secretary.
• That correspondence will be filed in the Office of the Secretary.
• They’ve read through the file. The Commission asked some pretty hard questions.
• They’ve read through the files.

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• They file 990s. You can look up their 990s; they're available publicly.
• It was after Stewart Health filed for bankruptcy.
• And, you know, we do have more medical malpractice claims filed here than in other states.
• can file it, but there's no duplication.
• So some of you may have seen that when you did your campaign finance filings.

Bills: HB99 , HB49 , HB164 , SB30 , SB43 , SB50 , SB136

Committee: House House Judiciary

Keywords: medical malpractice, malpractice reform, patient's compensation fund, PCF, health care liability, tort reform, damage caps, punitive damages, hospital liability, physician liability, nurse practitioner, certified nurse-midwife, outpatient facility, ambulatory surgical center, urgent care, free-standing emergency room, insurance surcharge, superintendent of insurance, New Mexico hospitals, medical review process

Transcript Highlights:

• And then in November 2021 was called the trigger of the first public filing.
• That first public filing is the one that actually mentioned blast mining.
• Yeah, that's the public filing that goes through TCEQ; it's publicly available on their website.
• That first public filing is the one that 309 actually mentioned blast mining.
• OK, so we put the first TCEQ public filing in November of 2021.

Committee: House Environmental Regulation

Summary: The committee first took up SB 2203, relating to certification of discovery issues in TCEQ contested cases referred to SOAH. The chair noted the House had already passed the companion HB 3249, then moved SB 2203 without amendments. The motion prevailed on a 5-0 vote, and the bill was reported favorably to the full House. The committee then heard SB 1898, which would prohibit the use of PFAS-containing firefighting foam for testing and training, while still allowing it in emergency firefighting. The sponsor described PFAS as “forever chemicals” and said the bill would protect firefighters, water supplies, and public health. Testimony in support came from Environment Texas, which cited contamination concerns and noted other states and federal actions restricting PFAS foams. No one testified against the bill, and after closing testimony the committee left SB 1898 pending. The remainder of the hearing focused on SB 1758, a Grayson County pilot program aimed at addressing potential conflicts between Global Wafers’ semiconductor wafer facility and a proposed Black Mountain Cement/aggregate operation. Supporters, including Global Wafers, Grayson County officials, and manufacturing groups, argued that vibration from mining or blasting could threaten a major national-security semiconductor investment and that an independent BEG study was needed to set safe parameters. Opponents from Black Mountain Cement and related industry groups argued the bill would improperly interfere with a lawful permitting process, pick winners and losers, and harm Texas’ pro-business climate; they also said they had already revised operations and removed blast mining. The discussion included extensive questioning about geology, vibration, the permitting timeline, and whether the issue was really about mining rather than the air permit. No vote was taken on SB 1758 in the portion provided.