Transcript Highlights:

• it relates to class sizes and a few other areas, so their school board decided to terminate the contract
• don't believe the federal government has revised the reimbursement rates to account for their modifications
• Do you all want to consider some kind of modification to the SEG to account for those potential lower
• Chair, members of the committee, the contract... The contractor in Gallup was Stride K-12.

Transcript Highlights:

• AB 783 would authorize the Department of General Services to negotiate and enter into contracts on a
• So I would encourage a modification. of the 90 days, and I would encourage the other thing, and that
• So anyway, those would be the two suggestions I would have for modifications.
• AB 598 directly addresses this gap by allowing school districts to contract directly with qualified vendors

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Pollish, line 1.19 of the bill is inserting new language allowing you to contract with non-governmental
• . contracting. contracting.
• with no money being exchanged contracts with no money being exchanged or<00:10:24.360><c> that's</c>
• </c> and making sure that we have contracts and making sure that we have contracts in<00:10:42.040><c
• </c><00:32:21.560><c> from</c> reflects substantial modifications from reflects substantial modifications

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• retail stores, Employment, and whereas revenue generated by Goodwill San Antonio's retail stores and contract
• The floor amendment simply adds health science centers into the institutions that can be contracted with
• The Secretary read the caption: Committee Substitute for Senate Bill 1923, relating to the modification
• Senate Bill 1923, relating to the modification of certain orders providing for the support of a child
• The Secretary read the caption: Committee Substitute for Senate Bill 1923, relating to the modification

Summary: The Senate opened with an invocation by Pastor Jim Harris of Tilden Baptist Church, followed by remarks from Senator Zaffirini recognizing his service and retirement as an agricultural teacher. The chamber also received a message from the governor on appointments to the Coastal Water Authority Board of Directors. Senators then adopted SR 434 honoring Goodwill Industries of San Antonio’s 80th anniversary, with Senators Gutierrez, Menendez, and Zaffirini praising its workforce training and second-chance employment mission; SR 435 recognizing Dr. Christine Ramos Camacho as Doctor of the Day; and a group of additional resolutions adopted by voice vote. Senator Zaffirini also introduced the McMullen County Day delegation, and Senator Gutierrez introduced the Doctor of the Day. The Senate then took up and passed several bills. SB 1951 addressed penalties for late property rendition filings and removed a financial incentive for appraisal districts; SB 1261 related to financing water supply projects in the state water plan; SB 1620 created a Texas Forensic Analyst Apprenticeship Pilot Program; SB 530 updated higher-education accreditation rules; SB 2183 standardized fireworks sales periods statewide; SB 2368 strengthened the Lone Star Infrastructure Protection Act and added foreign-affiliation safeguards for electricity market participants; SB 1398 limited children without placement (CWOP) practices and added community-based care transparency; and SB 1960 established digital replication rights for voice and visual likenesses. Each of these bills advanced through suspension of the regular order, passage to engrossment, suspension of the three-day rule, and final passage, with recorded votes generally showing strong support and some opposition on a few measures. The chamber also debated SB 825, which would require an annual study of the economic, environmental, and financial impacts of illegal immigration. Senators Middleton, Hinojosa, Gutierrez, and Eckhardt debated whether the study should include positive as well as negative impacts; an amendment to require that broader analysis failed, and the bill was left pending after passage to engrossment. Other measures passed included SB 2010, prohibiting political subdivisions from operating guaranteed income programs; SB 546, requiring reporting and continued implementation of school bus seat belts; SB 586, establishing the Historical Texas Cemetery designation program; SB 1150, requiring inactive oil and gas wells to be plugged or returned to production under a compliance plan; SB 1184, lowering the minimum age of wine eligible for sale by wine collection sellers; SB 2185, clarifying bilingual education allotment funding; SB 1923, making child support follow the child in certain temporary placements; SB 2252, expanding early literacy and numeracy supports and screening tools; SB 1870, barring local decriminalization of drugs; and SB 2405, the major TDCJ sunset bill, which included facility planning, parole and rehabilitation reforms, and an amendment protecting parole board discretion. Most of these bills were adopted after floor amendments and passed with recorded votes, often along party-line or near-party-line divisions.

Transcript Highlights:

• biennialize the statewide salary adjustments and increases in appropriated receipts and interagency contracts
• And we feel that athletics are... that aligns our contract salary staff with those at AISD, and we'd
• School districts can continue to utilize certain ESSER III funded contracted services through February
• That has some modifications to testing timelines, has some adjustment. to curriculum delivery and another
• Modification to state law, compelling districts to give teachers financial support if they're doing it

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And if it continues, penalties could also include loss of the state contract.
• State contract.
• And then... ...they can handle contract revisions as part of their normal legal operations.
• limit of $100,000, right, is that we don't end up imposing the... ...contracting limit of $100,000,
• I do know a local contract, large contract, ESI met with me.

Keywords: 989, all

Summary: The committee first approved the March 5 minutes without objection. It then heard an introductory presentation on House Bill 945, the AI Medical Services Act, from Dr. Tim Frost. He described the bill as creating a licensing and oversight framework for autonomous clinical AI in Idaho, with a new board under DOPL, human-in-the-loop safeguards, disclosure requirements, adverse-event reporting, and a provisional sandbox period. Members asked about scope, oversight, board appointments, and safety, and the bill was ultimately held in committee subject to the call of the chair. The committee next took up House Bill 947, which would restrict certain institutional investors, including REITs and hedge funds, from buying single-family homes in Idaho. Representative Crane said the bill was intended to preserve homeownership opportunities for Idaho families and noted that a prior foreign-ownership component had been removed. Members raised questions about supply and demand, rental housing, Idaho-domiciled investors, and possible workarounds. The bill was also held in committee subject to the call of the chair. Finally, the committee considered Senate Bill 1247, an E-Verify bill requiring state and local governments and private employers with more than 150 employees that contract with the state for over $100,000 to use E-Verify beginning January 1, 2027. Supporters said it would create a uniform verification standard for taxpayer-funded contracts and use existing federal infrastructure; opponents questioned the employee threshold, rulemaking authority, and whether the bill should be refined further. After debate and roll-call votes on several motions, the committee rejected motions to hold the bill and to send it to the floor, and then approved a motion to send Senate Bill 1247 to general orders by a 13-5 vote.

Transcript Highlights:

• with a term extending up to five years if the contract is for the procurement of educational materials
• The contract includes a cancellation clause allowing the local fiscal body to terminate the contract
• “The local fiscal body may terminate the contract at any time upon 30 days’ notice, and local fiscal
• bodies must justify entering into multi-year contracts by maintaining documentation of material fiscal
• The modification makes the credit against corporate net income taxes and the personal income tax for

Keywords: 994, senate, all

Summary: The Senate Finance Committee met with a quorum present, approved the prior meeting minutes, and then took up several House bills with strike-and-insert amendments. House Bill 5510 was amended to incorporate provisions from Senate Bills 1065 and 928, modernizing Alcohol Beverage Control licensing and adding rules for low-proof spirit alcohol products, including a $1.25 per gallon tax; the committee adopted the amendment and reported the bill to the full Senate with a do-pass recommendation. The committee then considered House Bill 5453 on school funding. After discussion of a proposed block-grant system and supplemental aid for special education, the committee adopted an amendment replacing much of the bill with weighted funding for level two and level three special education students, exempting those funds from block grant rules and limiting their use to direct instruction. The committee also adopted a clarification to extend the special education funding to charter school students and reported the amended bill to the Senate. House Bill 5412, dealing with multi-year technology licensing contracts for local fiscal bodies and science-of-reading training for K-5 teachers, was amended to clarify contract language, delay implementation dates, change “endorsement” to “training,” and require charter school teachers to participate; it was then reported. The committee next amended and reported House Bill 4006, which creates aerospace development and workforce grant programs, changing the funding mechanism to use Department of Commerce reporting and personal income tax proceeds rather than direct employee withholdings. It also took up House Bill 4009, combining voluntary portable benefits for independent contractors with microcredentialing and an expanded apprenticeship tax credit, adopted the Finance Committee amendment, and reported it. Finally, House Bill 4004 creating the Recharge West Virginia training reimbursement program was amended to raise the annual employer reimbursement cap from $50,000 to $100,000 while keeping the $10,000 per-employee limit, and the committee reported the bill. The meeting ended with adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• rules for the purpose of allowing members to co-sponsor bills and resolutions or to submit vote modifications
• The contract for this scholarship will include expeditious licensing following graduation, as well as
• The contract for this scholarship will include pursue an engineering career.
• The contract for this scholarship will include expeditious licensing following graduation, as well as

Keywords: Convene 00:00 Senate Message 04:29 Report of Committees 05:19 Orders of the Day/HB 470 06:54 HB 49 13:46 Motions, Petitions, and Communications 16:47 Introduction of New Bills and Resolutions 28:04 Recess for ConC/Rules Meeting 29:37 ConC/Rules Report 33:49 Floor Amendments 35:16 Adjournment 37:07, 958, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Second, a manufacturer or third party... ...entity or their contract pharmacy.
• Lack of transparency and runaway contract pharmacy costs are.
• Health centers contract with external pharmacies where patients fill their medications.
• HRSA oversees the contract entity arrangements.
• HRSA has said that they don't oversee the contract pharmacy arrangements in their audits.

Bills: HB1316, HB2401, HB2557, HB2720, HB1073, HB2685, HB2640, HB2403

Keywords: postsecondary education, homelessness, foster youth, education access, support programs, commission, gender equity, boys, men, advocacy, state policy, special education, parental rights, educational access, evaluation reports, disability services, behavioral health, emergency services, health insurance, provider access

Transcript Highlights:

• if they if they they modifications if they if they they choose<01:45:50.560><c> to?
• </c> know in passing called a contracts know in passing called a contracts clause<01:57:47.840><c> and
• It is not quite that impair contracts.
• , contract, contract, this<01:59:19.440><c> bill</c><01:59:19.920><c> if</c><01:59:20.159><c> enacted
• </c> attempt to void a lawful contract attempt to void a lawful contract entered<02:26:17.439><c> into

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And the partner or the contract that we, the vendor we contract with, they'll have experience and background
• You mentioned 4,000 unique contracts.
• Those go to private contract labs.
• What are the two contracts going to be doing? What are the two contracts going to be doing?
• So I'm wondering, is their contract ending?

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• veterans benefit services accreditation disclosure requirements to veterans and veterans families, modifications
• c><00:07:01.199><c> families</c> veterans and veterans families veterans and veterans families modifications
• <c> provision</c><00:07:02.479><c> gold</c><00:07:02.560><c> and</c><00:07:02.720><c> blue</c> modifications
• provision gold and blue modifications provision gold and blue star<00:07:03.199><c> family</c><00:07
• And stop telling veterans to contract.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And the partner or the contract that we, the vendor we contract with, they'll have experience and background
• And the partner or the contract that we, the vendor we contract with, they'll have experience and background
• Those go to private contract labs.
• What are the two contracts going to be doing? What are the two contracts going to be doing?
• So I'm wondering, is their contract ending?

Summary: The hearing began with testimony from Let California Kids Hear and supporters urging action on pediatric hearing aid coverage. Advocates said California has repeatedly failed to enact a workable solution over the past eight years and argued that children need early access to sound to support development. The proposal discussed would limit the coverage mandate to the large-group market, which advocates said would cover roughly 70% to 80% of affected children and avoid the exchange-related cost issue that contributed to prior vetoes. Supporters, including parents, audiologists, and children’s health groups, backed the proposal, and the chair expressed sympathy and support while noting hope for a federal solution for exchange plans. The Department of Finance then gave opening remarks about the state’s structural deficit and the need to balance new investments against projected out-year shortfalls. HCAI followed with a broad overview of its programs, including CalRx insulin and naloxone initiatives, reproductive health grants, the Office of Health Care Affordability, hospital seismic compliance, workforce programs, and the diaper access initiative. Members asked about geographic targeting of workforce funds, the behavioral health workforce pipeline, and the status of the 21st Century Nursing Initiative, which HCAI said had reverted funds. The committee also discussed a proposed transfer of the Data Exchange Framework and Office of the Patient Advocate to HCAI, new reporting on long-term care staffing and health coverage waiting periods, and a Behavioral Health Services Act workforce proposal that would use BHSA funds to support training, stipends, and technical assistance while offsetting $100 million in General Fund spending; members and LAO questioned the offset and asked for more detail, and the item was held open. HCAI also presented the Rural Health Transformation Program, explaining that California received $233.6 million in federal funds for the first year and had to revise its proposal so that $35 million in provider payments would be tied to specific transformative activities rather than general financial relief. The program will fund rural care model redesign, workforce development, and technology/infrastructure improvements, with grants to be rolled out on a tight timeline and subject to CMS approval. Members asked about the size of California’s award, the use of funds for maternity care, labor and delivery access, dialysis, tribal set-asides, and the role of a technical assistance contractor. The department said the program will use supply-and-demand workforce modeling to target funding and that all funds must be obligated by October 30. Finally, the Department of Managed Health Care outlined its budget and two major bill-related proposals: SB 41 on PBM reform and SB 306 on prior authorization transparency. DMHC said SB 41 would require PBM licensure, ban spread pricing, require rebate pass-through, and regulate pharmacy network practices, while SB 306 would require reporting on prior authorization and create a list of services exempt from prior authorization. DMHC requested additional positions and funding to implement both measures.

Transcript Highlights:

• You want to use contracts.
• Being contract canceled.
• We're contracting that already, so we already know what those contract numbers are.
• The health care authority is on the contract to, the health care authority contracted these entities
• As they enter into those contracts, there's different requirements for each contract.

Summary: The subcommittee heard budget presentations and questions from several health and human services agencies, with members repeatedly emphasizing that agency numbers had been posted since October and that questioning should stay focused and brief. The Office of Juvenile Affairs said its $5.45 million request would support 162 employees receiving a pay adjustment, and members asked about juvenile care conditions and staffing. The Department of Human Services discussed major changes to child care subsidy funding, including a reduced subsidy request, a $11.5 million child care teacher recruitment/retention request, and planned eligibility and reimbursement changes; it also reviewed SNAP administrative cost shifts under federal law, the state’s SNAP error rate, and the risk of large future state costs if the error rate is not reduced. DHS also addressed TANF reserves, the DDS waiver wait list, the Greer Center buildout, the Advantage waiver supplemental, and meal service options for waiver members. OCCY described a largely personnel-driven budget, requests for more oversight staff, and workload pressures in juvenile competency evaluations. The Office of Disability Concerns reported a flat budget and said it relies mainly on mediation and informal resolution rather than enforcement. OSU Medical Authority said its Tulsa expansion, VA skybridge, and c-section suites remain on schedule, that psychiatric residency funding is being phased in over several years, and that it is working to reduce contract labor and evaluate service lines. J.D. McCarty Center reported its new ABA outpatient clinic is on time and on budget and is nearing full capacity. OMMA said its lab is following required standards, its FTE count is below budgeted levels because hiring depends on lab accreditation and other unknowns, and dispensary numbers continue to decline as the market matures. Oklahoma Rehabilitation Services said it needs about $1.4 million to avoid a maintenance-of-effort penalty and discussed aging campus capital needs and staffing vacancies. The Oklahoma Health Care Authority then outlined a very large budget requirement driven by utilization growth and the shift to value-based care, saying FY26 is currently stable but FY27 would likely require additional appropriations if the request is not fully funded.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:58:46.000><c> Such</c><00:58:46.400><c> contracts</c> contract in several ways.
• Such contracts contract in several ways.
• Um, and yes, contracts beget contracts.
• Contracts beget contracts. Um, so I agree with the section that you've read from that testimony.
• a 10-year contract one-year contract a 10-year contract whatever<01:18:48.880><c> they</c><01:18:49.040

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> and services in provider contracts and services in provider contracts starting<00:14:11.680><c>
• It also requires the board to recommend any necessary modifications of statutes to ensure appropriate
• It also requires the board to recommend any necessary modifications of statutes to ensure appropriate
• It also requires the board to recommend any necessary modifications of statutes to ensure appropriate
• It also requires the board to recommend any necessary modifications of statutes to ensure appropriate

Keywords: 926, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The short answer is it depends on the managed care plan contract and agreed-upon rates.
• simply never establishing a contract at all.
• Only 16% of IHSS providers get health benefits through their contracts with the counties.
• Only 16% of IHSS providers get health benefits through their contracts with the counties.
• Home modifications like ramps or grab bars for the rising cost of housing.

Summary: The joint Assembly Budget Subcommittee hearing focused first on long-term services and supports for older adults, especially the “forgotten/overlooked middle” who earn too much for Medi-Cal but cannot afford private long-term care. Administration witnesses from DHCS, the Department of Aging, and Social Services described Medicare’s limited long-term care coverage, Medi-Cal’s role, the elimination of the Medi-Cal asset test, and ongoing state studies and listening sessions on financing options. Testimony from advocates and researchers emphasized rising homelessness among older adults, the need for better navigation and coordination across health, aging, housing, and social service systems, and short-term policy steps such as share-of-cost reform, housing stability supports, and protecting home- and community-based services. Members highlighted the need for a coordinated, no-wrong-door approach and asked for the most impactful budget investments to address affordability and homelessness risk. The second major topic was the Community-Based Adult Services (CBAS) program. CDA reported that CBAS helps participants remain in the community, that 304 centers operate statewide serving about 42,000 people, and that demand is stable but access gaps remain in some regions. DHCS explained that a 2024 rate increase authorized by SB 159 became inoperative after Proposition 35, and that a separate 10% rate change on the fee schedule was the result of a DHCS system error; the department said it would not require recoupment, though managed care plans may act under their contracts. CBAS providers and advocates warned that reimbursement rates have not kept pace with costs, that several centers have closed, and that clawbacks could trigger more closures. They requested $74.8 million ongoing General Fund to close part of the rate gap and preserve the program, while members expressed concern about closures and the cost savings of keeping people out of more expensive institutional care. The hearing then moved to In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) and statewide collective bargaining. CDSS reviewed provider recruitment and retention efforts, including electronic timesheets, direct deposit, and the now-completed IHSS Career Pathways program, which trained more than 59,000 providers. CDSS also summarized its AB 102 workgroup report on statewide versus regional bargaining, saying the final report would be sent to the Legislature soon and that statewide bargaining appeared more viable than regional bargaining, though it would require clear statutory scope and major fiscal changes. The department estimated that each $1 per hour statewide wage increase would cost at least $1.3 billion to $1.5 billion annually. Labor advocates argued that IHSS wages, benefits, and training are too inconsistent across counties and called for statewide bargaining, consumer participation, and ongoing state funding. County representatives supported stronger wages but cautioned that counties need protection from new costs and administrative burdens, and consumer advocates warned that moving bargaining to the state could weaken local consumer control and the program’s consumer-driven structure.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:43:30.400><c> with</c><00:43:30.640><c> the</c><00:43:30.800><c> A43</c> rebate modification
• contracting preferences, for the Metropolitan Council.
• It's basically the sheet with the modification just described.
• . modification. modification.
• </c> assisted bicycle rebate modification assisted bicycle rebate modification matter<01:15:27.199><c

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• rules for the purpose of allowing members to co-sponsor bills and resolutions or to submit vote modifications
• or to co-sponsor bills and resolutions or to submit<00:05:30.040><c> vote</c><00:05:30.320><c> modifications
• </c><00:05:31.160><c> and</c><00:05:31.280><c> have</c><00:05:31.400><c> filed</c> submit vote modifications
• and have filed submit vote modifications and have filed the<00:05:31.800><c> proper</c><00:05:32.200
• by off-duty officers and compensated via service contracts and day labor payments.

Keywords: Convene 00:00 Senate Message 05:49 Calendar/2nd Readings 06:27 Report of Committees 08:12 Orders of the Day/HB 485 09:40 HB 43 23:13 HB 139 25:09 HB 414 31:49 HB 297 36:16 Motions, Petitions, and Communications 41:08 Introduction of New Bills and Resolutions 51:25 Recess for ConC/Rules Meeting 53:41 ConC/Rules Report 56:40 Floor Amendments 57:54 Adjournment 58:17, 958, all

Transcript Highlights:

• of anything then we would modification of anything then we would have<00:50:40.680><c> the</c><00:50
• And, uh, with DEBD, um, they have, to my understanding, um, establish a contract with a vendor, uh, to
• And, uh, with DEBD, um, they have, to my understanding, um, establish a contract with a vendor, uh, to
• And, uh, with DEBD, um, they have, to my understanding, um, establish a contract with a vendor, uh, to
• with a vendor uh to do work on contract with a vendor uh to do work on the<01:07:26.039><c> big</c><

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on House Bill 1077, a governor’s administration bill to increase transient accommodations tax revenue and split it between two new special funds: a climate mitigation and resiliency special fund and an economic development and revitalization special fund for tourism/resort areas. Supporters, including the Governor’s Office, recovery and resilience staff, climate and conservation groups, and several state agencies, said the bill would create a dedicated, more reliable funding stream for wildfire mitigation, coastal resilience, land clearing, infrastructure, and community-led projects. Some supporters also urged changes to the bill, including moving the fund to DLNR, adding DHHL and OHA representation, clarifying community grants, and ensuring the fund can support both state-led and community-led resilience work. The Attorney General’s office flagged a drafting issue, noting that the bill references fees deposited into the new fund even though the new chapter does not authorize fee collection, and recommended deleting that language or adding fee authority. The Climate Advisory Team representative also suggested adding DHHL to the decision-making body and requiring at-large members to have climate, resilience, conservation, or infrastructure expertise. The Tax Foundation of Hawaii and the Kohala Coast Resort Association opposed the measure, arguing that the special fund structure does not meet statutory criteria, that the bill functions as a tax increase, and that the transient accommodations tax is not being collected equitably across all lodging types before any increase is imposed. Other opponents, including tourism and lodging interests, warned that hotels and timeshares already bear most of the tax burden and that raising the TAT could hurt an already struggling visitor industry and drive tourists away. Supporters countered that current funding is far short of what is needed and that a dedicated revenue stream is necessary to address climate impacts now. Committee members questioned why the Legislature should cede spending decisions to a separate executive-branch process, and the administration responded that the bill is intended to create a transparent, recurring mechanism for funding priorities that can be adjusted over time. No vote or final action was taken in the portion of the hearing provided.