Transcript Highlights:

• It's a great technology, but it's different from batteries.
• I think it's in 35, but both batteries and this technology qualify as an energy storage technology, and
• I think it's in 35, but both batteries and this technology qualify as an energy storage technology and
• It's an energy storage technology. All this says is it's energy storage technology.
• It's an energy storage technology.

Bills: SB483, SB522, SB783, SB1239, SB1254, SB1255, SB1259, SB1341, SB1664, SB1762, SB1856, SB1877, SB1977

Keywords: utility, proprietary information, customer data, data protection, electric service, customer information, emergency communication, electric utility, privacy, certification, public accountants, interstate licensing, accounting, regulatory amendment, energy efficiency, construction regulations, building codes, Texas, sustainability, cost-effectiveness

Summary: The Senate Business and Commerce Committee met with a quorum and first took up pending business, voting out several bills. Senate Bills 1697, 1569, 1202 as substituted, 1029, 1364, 1185, 924, 1008 as substituted, 264, 1376, and 1358 as substituted were reported favorably, with some sent to the local and uncontested calendar. The committee also adopted a substitute for SB 1202 and later corrected votes on several measures. SB 924 and SB 1376 drew some opposition, while the rest of the pending bills were reported without dissent or with limited nays. The committee then heard testimony on SB 1856, which would create an annual capacity-cost recovery rider for Entergy Texas customers in the MISO region. The author and Entergy argued the bill would better match rates to actual capacity costs and improve transparency, while the Texas Association of Manufacturers and the Public Utility Commission raised concerns about the short 10-day review period, rider proliferation, and the preference for full rate cases over piecemeal adjustments. The bill was left pending. The committee also heard and left pending SB 522 on CPA reciprocity, SB 1664 requiring TDUs to provide clearer, standalone rate-change disclosures, SB 1877 expanding OPUC’s access to market data, SB 1254 and SB 1255 as TDLR cleanup bills on professional employer organizations and mold assessors, SB 1341 updating manufactured housing rules, SB 1239 on sovereign debt and Texas governing law, and SB 1259 streamlining the surveyor-in-training licensing process. Additional bills discussed included SB 1977, which would cap recoverable legal expenses in electric, water, and sewer rate cases; OPUC and some consumer advocates supported the idea as a way to reduce ratepayer costs, while utility representatives warned it could discourage participation and increase rate shock. The committee also heard SB 1762 clarifying that geothermal energy conservation wells are not battery resources, and SB 783 allowing SECO to proceed with future energy-code rulemaking for state-funded buildings. Both drew supportive testimony from industry and environmental groups. All remaining bills heard during the meeting were left pending, and the committee recessed subject to the call of the chair.

Transcript Highlights:

• It allows us to utilize technology.
• It helps us utilize technology, again, as radars and drones.
• It allows us to utilize technology.
• It helps us utilize technology, again, as radars, drones.
• Within the division, we are using technology.

Summary: The Natural Resources and Disaster Subcommittee met to discuss the use of artificial intelligence in emergency management and related public-safety applications. The panel included the Florida Division of Emergency Management, the University of Florida, and Florida International University. FDEM described current uses of AI for invoice anomaly detection, automated situation report drafting, and data synthesis in WebEOC, emphasizing that AI is used to speed analysis and improve efficiency but not to replace human decision-making. The agency also said counties retain access through backup communications such as Starlink and generators, and that WebEOC provides shared visibility, archived documentation, and a common operating picture across all 67 counties. University of Florida representatives highlighted Beacon, an AI-enabled public safety audio service developed with FDEM and public media partners to distribute official alerts across multiple platforms, including mobile devices and digital streams. UF IFAS described a geospatial AI “Gaia bot” that turns satellite data into natural-language answers and maps for crop damage assessment and flood-risk mapping, with a focus on making complex Earth-observation data more accessible to growers and policymakers. FIU presented AI models that predict water levels and flood mitigation settings much faster than traditional simulation tools, with comparable or better accuracy, and said the work includes explainability features and broader research on compound flooding. Members asked extensive questions about storm surge, hallucinations, whether generative AI or large language models were being used, data vetting, and hardware needs. The witnesses repeatedly stressed that their systems are not autonomous, that human review remains central, and that the models used are primarily data-driven predictive tools rather than chatbot-style generative AI. The meeting ended with thanks to the panelists and an announcement that the committee’s policy chief was leaving for another position. Representative Mooney then moved that the committee rise, and the meeting adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Prioritize data and technology-driven solutions outlines strategies top to manage long-term financial
• One Israeli distribute evenly a problem and states all if all states apply trounced, who has split in
• Recoup funds by CMS will be distributed to other states with the wars and the distributed to other states
• Nicole Smith modification is the method of surveying population distributions, using census tracks and
• While CMS will use this to award points for the rawness metrics, states are not required to distribute

Transcript Highlights:

• Should we be manufacturing some of the higher-end technology here?
• The United States investing in space technology, at any level?
• Distribute that money on a yearly basis.
• This year we distributed $100 million.
• That $1.4 million would affect the grant fund and the distribution.

Transcript Highlights:

• It'll take about five minutes to set up the technology for it.
• five minutes to set up the technology five minutes to set up the technology for<00:08:32.640>
• S. 243, an act relating to distributing funds to the Vermont Language Justice Project, introduced by
• S243 an act relating to distribute S243 an act relating to distribute distributing<00:13:07.200>
• >> S 243, an act relating to distributing >> S 243, an act relating to distributing

Keywords: 927, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:04:57.680> Same labor and technology. Same labor and technology.
• been with evolution of technology been with evolution of technology changing<00:43:53.359> technology
• distribution and transmission. distribution and transmission.
• . distribution. distribution.
• <01:11:48.480> their to them, let alone distribute their to them, let alone distribute their

Bills: SB3326, SB2911

Keywords: renewable energy, energy storage, cost reduction, public utilities commission, Hawaii energy policies, intoxicating liquor, direct shipment, breweries, distilleries, Hawaii, 912, senate, all

Summary: The committees heard SB 3001 on artificial intelligence in a joint Commerce and Consumer Protection/Labor and Technology hearing. Testimony included support from the Department of Education and Google, comments from the Office of Consumer Protection and the Attorney General’s office, and late opposition from Agentic LLC. The Attorney General raised constitutional and vagueness concerns and suggested clarifying amendments, while Google said the bill’s risk-based approach and proposed amendments could help establish industry-wide safety standards for minors. The committees recessed and then voted to pass SB 3001 with amendments, adopting DCCA/OCP recommendations on data minimization for minors and UDAP clarity, the Attorney General’s proposed clarifications and deletions, and Google’s nonconflicting amendments; the effective date was deferred to July 1, 2050. The vote passed unanimously among members present, with some members excused. The Commerce and Consumer Protection committee then took up several previously heard measures in decision-making. SB 2045 on combat sports passed with amendments reflecting DCCA and boxing commission recommendations, including clarifying the on-site medical professional requirement, reporting duties, promoter payment, removal of the combat sports registry and ambulance requirement, and other technical changes; the effective date was deferred to July 1, 2050. SP 2347 on the residential landlord-tenant code passed with amendments striking landlord requirements so OCP could work on a multilingual tenant-rights notice, and SP 2495 on consumer protection passed with amendments requiring OCP to publish an annual report on potential code violations. SB 2777 on insurance was deferred to February 17, 2026 for further decision-making. At a later CPN decision-making agenda, SB 2471 and SB 2829, both relating to the powers of artificial persons, passed with amendments clarifying the preamble, removing language about foreign artificial persons, and making other consistency and non-substantive changes; both effective dates were moved to January 1, 2027. SP 2033 on renewable energy also passed with amendments clarifying the definition of grid-ready homes, cost-sharing provisions, applicability to interconnecting customers, and safety/certification compliance, with the effective date deferred to July 1, 2050. In each case, the committee voted to adopt the recommendations without objections from members present. The committees also heard SB 3000 on insurance, which would authorize the Attorney General to bring civil actions to recover costs and losses tied to climate-attributable harm and future climate risk, including costs incurred by state insurance-related entities. The Insurance Division and Attorney General’s office offered comments seeking clarification and warning about redundancy, implementation issues, possible representation of private insurers, and concurrent litigation concerns. Supporters, including the Center for Climate Integrity, a resident testifier, Sierra Club, and Green America, argued the bill would help shift insurance costs to fossil fuel companies responsible for climate harms and address rising premiums and nonrenewals in Hawaii. Opponents, including the American Petroleum Institute, argued the bill singled out one industry, raised constitutional concerns, and should be deferred because related climate litigation is already pending. The transcript ends with the committee continuing testimony and discussion on SB 3000 and then moving into SB 3326 on energy, where the consumer advocate and Hawaiian Electric opposed the bill’s proposed separation of generation from transmission and distribution, while the PUC stood on written testimony, Retail Merchants of Hawaii supported it, and Life of the Land raised concerns about assumptions and the need for more substance.

Transcript Highlights:

• You talked about potentially some GGRF spending going to technology.
• And so that, in my mind, it's an area of technology that... Going away.
• and subsidize, is battery technology.
• distributed electricity backup assets, or the SGs and DIVA.
• Demand-side grid support and distributed electricity backup assets, or the SGs and DIVA.

Summary: The Budget Subcommittee No. 4 hearing focused on the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund (GGRF) and cap-and-trade reauthorization, with members and panelists discussing how to balance climate goals, affordability, and legislative oversight. The chair emphasized the hearing as a broad review of past GGRF spending and future options, while the LAO outlined how GGRF revenues are generated, how variable they have been, and the tradeoffs between continuous appropriations and annual budget control. Two academic panelists, Dr. Kyle Meng and Danny Cullen Ward, argued that cap-and-trade remains an effective climate policy, but stressed that future revenue will depend heavily on market design, allowance allocation, and price levels. They also raised the idea that GGRF could be used more directly for affordability, especially by lowering electricity costs, and for targeted investments in technologies that the market would not otherwise support. Committee members pressed the panelists on where revenues come from, how much has actually been spent, and whether continuous appropriations reduce oversight. CARB staff said more than $33 billion has been generated to date and a little over $11–12 billion has been spent, with the rest committed or in process, and noted that project timelines can be lengthy. Members also asked about ways to lower electricity rates, reduce wildfire-related utility liabilities, and support electrification. The panelists said transportation fuels are the largest source of GGRF revenue, that industrial emitters receive a smaller share of free allowances, and that reducing wildfire liability and investing in grid-scale batteries could help lower costs and speed decarbonization. Public commenters largely urged the Legislature to preserve or expand continuous appropriations for specific climate programs. Speakers supported funding for nature-based solutions, natural and working lands, urban greening, agricultural climate solutions, waste and composting programs, clean transportation, AB 617 community air protection, clean cars, transit, affordable housing near transit, and dairy digesters. Several groups argued these programs are cost-effective, provide public health and affordability benefits, and should receive dedicated shares of GGRF. Others urged reducing free allowances and using more GGRF revenue to directly lower energy costs for households. No votes were taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• > new,<00:20:18.559> but Geothermal technology is not new, but Geothermal technology is
• In the different energy technologies.
• <00:53:41.920> grid impact on our distribution grid impact on our distribution grid continues
• and benefits of different distributed and benefits of different distributed solar<00:59:32.000><
• <01:18:07.920> solar that accurately values distributed solar that accurately values distributed

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• You may be a leader in technology today, but things are so fast that they change tomorrow.
• You may be a leader in technology today, but things are so fast that they change tomorrow.
• Today there are foundational technologies, and pretty much everyone in the world that has some skills
• Manufacturing involves large-scale production for national distribution.
• And I'm here representing the Chinese Communist Party today, the Vapor Technology Association.

Bills: HB2746, HB2750, HB2765, HB4036

Keywords: trade offices, committee, Arizona commerce authority, stakeholder input, efficiency, Arizona-Sonora, Sonora, Mexico, trade commission, cross-border trade, bilateral trade, international trade, economic development, foreign relations, border economy, investment, infrastructure, business exchange, academic exchange, legislative commission

Summary: The committee first heard a presentation from Berthold Barak Karlich of Benor Capital on investment, innovation, and trade from a European perspective. He argued that legacy is about enabling future generations through open, connected systems rather than isolation, highlighted Austria’s “hidden champion” SMEs and strong education/research base, and said innovation thrives through international collaboration. He also discussed AI and deep tech investment, emphasizing photonic computing and the need to support hardware that enables future AI systems. In response to questions, he said Arizona appears friendly and strong in deep tech and that he will explore opportunities there. The committee then considered HB 2746, which creates a study committee on trade offices under the Arizona Commerce Authority to review existing trade offices, gather stakeholder input, and make recommendations. Members discussed oversight of Arizona’s trade offices in several countries and the need to evaluate effectiveness. The bill passed with a due pass recommendation by a 7-0 vote. HB 2750, which establishes the Arizona-Sonora Trade Commission to improve trade, commerce, and tourism ties with Sonora, Mexico, also passed, with some members expressing interest in further discussion about its relationship to the Arizona-Mexico Commission; it received a 5-1-1 recommendation. The committee next took up HB 4036, a bill regulating compounded GLP-1 weight-loss drugs and related bulk drug substances, including restrictions on sale and distribution, testing and sourcing requirements, advertising disclosures, penalties, and pharmacy board inspection authority. Supporters, including representatives from Novo Nordisk and the Partnership for Safe Medicines, argued the bill addresses unsafe imported ingredients, misleading advertising, and a surge in unregulated compounded weight-loss products. Opponents from the Arizona Pharmacy Association, a compounding pharmacist, and a physician said the bill would burden lawful compounders, raise costs, reduce access, and could affect other legitimate compounded medications. After extensive debate, the motion for a due pass recommendation failed on a 5-5 tie. Finally, the committee heard a strike-everything amendment to HB 2765 creating a vapor product manufacturer licensing framework, fees, penalties, and Department of Revenue oversight aimed at stopping smuggled vape products. The sponsor said the measure was intended to target illegal imports and protect children, while opponents from the Vapor Technology Association and Arizona Innovates argued it would burden lawful businesses and that the real problem is illegal actors and targeted enforcement. The discussion continued with questions about federal law, flavored vape products, and whether the bill would affect compliant manufacturers, but the transcript ends before any final vote on HB 2765.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:28:17.120> also requirements the technology also requirements the technology also provides
• <00:48:23.800> and access to the tools Technologies and access to the tools Technologies and
• Technology um this funding was increased Technology um this funding was increased by<01:26:11.239>
• <01:26:31.320> which<01:26:31.480> is Enterprise technology which is Enterprise technology
• The way the funds are to be distributed is specified in statute.

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: Minnesota State Colleges and Universities presented an overview of the system and several budget riders. Board Chair George Soul described the system’s structure, noting 26 colleges and seven universities governed by a 15-member board, and emphasized that Minnesota State serves about 270,000 students annually, including many students of color, adult learners, Pell-eligible students, first-generation students, and veterans. He highlighted the system’s workforce role, saying it offers more than 4,000 programs, extensive employer partnerships, and that 86% of graduates find jobs in their field or a related field. He then turned the presentation over to system staff to discuss specific funding requests. Associate Vice Chancellor Kim Lynch focused on the Z-degree textbook program, which supports zero-textbook-cost courses and degrees. She said prior legislative support has produced about $3.1 million in savings in academic year 2024 and more than $12.6 million in aggregate savings, with 10 colleges now offering Z degrees and 12 more on track or exploring implementation. She described the program’s use of open educational resources, instructional design support, and library resources to fill gaps where free materials are not available, and said students save roughly $7 to $10 for every $1 invested. Members praised the program and asked about its expansion. Associate Vice Chancellor Paul Shepard discussed student support funding, including a centralized basic needs resource hub, the Mantra Health mental health platform, and the emergency grant program. He said student surveys showed significant food, housing, and homelessness insecurity, and that the basic needs hub has served over 2,400 students with a 97% positive response rate. He said Mantra provides telecounseling, peer support, self-paced courses, and crisis support, and clarified in response to questions that it is not AI-driven and does not sell student data; general usage data is collected, and follow-up with campus counselors occurs only at the student’s request. He also said the emergency grant program has distributed over $3 million to more than 4,800 students, with grants averaging just under $700, and that campuses use application review and recordkeeping to manage repeat requests. Members asked about counselor staffing, data privacy, and grant safeguards. The final item addressed sexual assault reporting and prevention funding. System staff said the appropriation supports technology infrastructure for statutory reporting, case management for investigations, campus prevention training, and professional development for Title IX coordinators and related staff. They noted that the statutory student training requirement is funded by individual colleges and universities, not by this appropriation. No formal votes were taken in the portion of the meeting provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• Last year, we distributed nearly $25 million in financial aid to our students.
• Well, and that's the distributed model.
• Well, and that's the distributed model.
• Our distributed model goes differently, Paul. Elizabeth can answer it then, Paul.
• So that's why we so strongly believe in the distributed model; we're going to NACA...

Bills: HB42, HB125

Keywords: special prosecutor, state law, criminal justice, accountability, law enforcement, stormwater management, counties, regulation, environment, water quality

Summary: The Committee on Higher Education met to hear several bills and first corrected the minutes from its April 1, 2025 meeting to reflect that a committee substitute for HB 271 had been adopted before the bill was reported favorably. The committee then heard HB 3326, which would help Texas higher education employees, especially adjunct faculty, qualify for federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness by counting classroom hours toward full-time status, requiring institutions to verify employment within 60 days, and requiring annual notice to eligible employees. No witnesses testified against the bill, and it was left pending. Members then heard HB 2853, authorizing UTEP to phase in a student union fee increase to fund demolition and reconstruction of its aging student union. Representative Perez and UTEP student and university witnesses said the current facility is outdated and insufficient for a campus of more than 25,000 students, while some members raised concerns about the size of the fee increase and its impact on low-income students. UTEP representatives said most students receive aid, the fee would be phased in over time, and the project was student-approved; the bill was left pending. The committee also heard HB 4066, a one-line bill to abolish the Texas Research Incentive Program after the state cleared its backlog of matching obligations, with the author saying the program was no longer needed in light of newer research funding approaches. The bill was left pending. The committee spent substantial time on HB 125, which would create the Tarleton State University College of Osteopathic Medicine. Supporters, including Tarleton leadership, the founding dean, a rural hospital CEO, and a feasibility consultant, argued the school would address severe rural physician shortages by recruiting Texas and rural students, training them in rural settings, and developing new residency slots rather than competing for existing ones. Members asked about affordability, residency placement, and whether the school would draw students from rural Texas; Tarleton said it would seek to keep tuition and debt low, had already raised private donations, and would request $25 million in state support over the biennium. The bill was left pending. Finally, the committee heard HB 42, which would increase the annual Higher Education Fund appropriation and adjust its allocation methodology. The chair and university witnesses described rising deferred maintenance, inflation, cybersecurity needs, and enrollment growth at HEAF-eligible institutions, with witnesses from Texas Tech, Sam Houston State, and UNT saying the additional funding would help address aging facilities and technology needs. After testimony, the committee left HB 42 pending and recessed.

Transcript Highlights:

• —and then Betamax and DVDs, and now to streaming, each new technological revolution... ...has disrupted
• Look, my union has no desire to halt technological progress.
• We required every single technology company in the state to require this.
• We required every single technology company in the state to require this.
• Once it is distributed and continually distributed, the harm to the person is just perpetuated over and

Summary: The Assembly Privacy and Consumer Protection Committee met with a new membership roster and adopted its committee rules after quorum was established. The hearing then began with AB 412, the AI Copyright Transparency Act, which would require generative AI developers to provide copyright holders notice when registered copyrighted works are used in training data. The author and supporters, including SAG-AFTRA, the Transparency Coalition, voice actors, writers, labor groups, and other creators, argued the bill would give artists a practical way to learn whether their works were used and to vindicate their rights. Opponents, including EFF, CalChamber, RIAA, CCIA, Chamber of Progress, Bay Area Council, BSA, and TechNet, said the proposal was technically unworkable, could burden startups, conflict with existing law and pending litigation, and raise federal preemption concerns. Members discussed the bill’s amendments, including a fingerprinting approach and narrowing the bill to model developers, and the committee voted 8-2 to pass AB 412 as amended to the Judiciary Committee. The committee then heard AB 446, which would prohibit “surveillance pricing,” or the use of personal data to charge different prices for the same product or service. The author and supporters, including Consumer Watchdog, UFCW, labor organizations, and consumer/privacy groups, described examples of differential pricing tied to device type, location, shopping behavior, and digital price tags, and argued the bill would protect consumers from discriminatory and predatory pricing. Business and industry opponents, including CalChamber, grocers, retailers, travel, broadband, and other associations, said the bill could conflict with the CCPA, interfere with loyalty and rewards programs, and create confusion about personalized discounts and dynamic pricing. The discussion focused on how the bill would treat loyalty programs, whether existing privacy law already covers the issue, and whether the proposal would unintentionally affect legitimate discounts and promotions.

Transcript Highlights:

• And then how do we get all these distributed resources that now we're recognizing that distributed resources
• asks one common-sense question: Can a distributed battery or other distributed infrastructure solution
• DIDF helped identify where distributed resources could provide value.
• A 2025 Kavala grid lab study showed that distributed resources could avoid up to $13.7 billion in distribution
• I'm the Director of Distribution Planning and Project Management at SoCalGas.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Communist countries like China use advanced technology to track every citizen for social and political
• Communist countries like China use advanced technology to track every citizen for social and political
• Computer technology has put the privacy of Americans increasingly at risk.
• The Senate rule has been distributed to members' desks and will lie on the table.
• The Senate rule has been distributed to members' desks and will lie on the table.

Keywords: 907, all

Transcript Highlights:

• > don't<00:10:05.680> align, when policy and technology don't align, when policy and technology
• have to work with aging technology have to work with aging technology platforms<00:10:31.600>
• > has<01:09:45.199> increased years, our distribution has increased years, our distribution
• <01:09:50.480> nearly Last year alone, we distributed nearly Last year alone, we distributed
• <01:31:50.239> more over 650 families and distributed more over 650 families and distributed

Bills: HF45, HF1148, HF3624, HF3586, HF777

Keywords: HF45, Lake Benton, capital investment, bonding bill, state bonds, bond proceeds fund, Public Facilities Authority, public infrastructure, sanitary sewer, water main, storm sewer, utility replacement, U.S. Highway 75, road reconstruction, municipal infrastructure, local government grant, Minnesota bonding, capital appropriation, food insecurity, prepared meals

Transcript Highlights:

• the rest they consent to be distributed the rest they consent to be distributed as<01:03:26.480>
• <01:32:24.480> generation investments in distributed generation investments in distributed
• small distributed small distributed generation<01:35:09.199> resources<01:35:09.760> that
• , it is an unproven technology.
• technology, it's an unproven technology. technology, it's an unproven technology.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Summary: The committee began a work session on House Bill 1600, concerning access to the centralized voter registration database on election days. Secretary of State David Scanlan testified that the state already has a new statewide voter registration system connected to town clerks and supervisors of the checklist, and that the bill was probably unnecessary but acceptable if the legislature wanted it. He raised concern about language that could require direct electronic access in every polling place, noting that some polling locations lack reliable internet or cell service and that municipalities can change polling locations, which could make a rigid requirement expensive and impractical. Members discussed whether the bill should be clarified to allow direct or indirect access, including use of a phone-based workaround, and the secretary said that would address his concern. The committee then voted on HB 1600. Representative Maguire moved ought to pass with an amendment adding “direct or indirect access” on page one, line seven, and the motion was seconded. The amendment was adopted 9-0 by voice vote, and the committee then voted 9-0 to OTP the bill. The chair stated that HB 1600 would be placed on consent. The committee next took up House Bill 1197F FN, a technical correction to insurance laws. Members noted it had already passed the House with amendment and that the fiscal note was effectively indeterminate but would not affect the general fund because the insurance agency is self-funded. The committee voted 9-0 to OTP the bill; the chair said consent calendar placement would be decided by the full committee. Finally, the committee opened a work session on House Bill 11:30 FN regarding judicial performance evaluations. Representative Lynn, the bill’s sponsor, argued that the fiscal note overstated the immediate cost and said the judicial branch could likely manage through the current biennium while implementing the new system. He also supported making judges’ names public and said the bill’s anonymity provisions were aimed at protecting the identities of questionnaire respondents, not the judges being evaluated. Members asked about public disclosure, internal access to evaluation materials, and the removal of language allowing the governor and executive council to receive evaluations on request; discussion continued on those points, but no final vote on HB 11:30 FN was taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• We've held public listening sessions on sterile fly production technology, eradication tools and technologies
• And then there's other technology... ...will be, but I know it's a priority for them.
• And then there's other technologies outside of the GE fly.
• out that technology, I think, is still an open question for a number of our scientists.
• We know there would be an increase in production if that technology is proven out; it works.

Summary: The joint hearing focused on preparedness for the New World screwworm threat and brought together the House Committees on Culture, Recreation, and Tourism and Agriculture and Livestock. USDA officials, Texas Department of Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller, and Texas Animal Health Commission leadership described the pest as a serious risk to livestock, wildlife, rural economies, and beef prices, and emphasized coordination among federal, state, industry, and Mexican partners. Witnesses repeatedly stressed that Texas is currently seeing no confirmed U.S. detections, but that recent confirmed cases in northern Mexico, including Nuevo León, remain a concern because of their proximity to the border. USDA testimony outlined current surveillance and response efforts, including more than 120 screw worm-specific traps along the Texas border and neighboring states, thousands of additional dual-purpose traps, wildlife inspections, weekly coordination with Mexico’s Senasica, and a new USDA New World Screwworm Directorate. Officials said the existing Panama sterile fly facility is maxed out at about 100 million flies per week, while a dispersal facility in Tampico is helping move flies farther north in Mexico. They also described plans for a retrofitted sterile fly facility in Metapa, Mexico, expected to come online in 2026, and a new domestic production facility at Moore Air Base, with phase one targeted for late 2026 or early 2027 and phase two adding substantially more capacity later. Members pressed USDA on timelines, production capacity, the reliability of Mexican reporting, the risk from wildlife, and whether modular or mobile facilities could be deployed faster. USDA said it is also exploring innovative technologies, including a genetically engineered sterile male fly, but that such tools still require EPA review and field validation. Commissioner Miller highlighted Texas biosecurity efforts, five permanent inspection stations, cooperation with FDA and EPA on treatments such as Exzolt, and other pest issues affecting Texas agriculture. He also noted research into fly bait and private-sector efforts to speed sterile fly production. Texas Animal Health Commission officials described extensive state preparedness work, including weekly coordination calls, field response trainings, outreach to producers and veterinarians, and a Texas Screwworm Response Team. They said Texas has trained more than 100 inspectors and other personnel, with additional trainings planned, and that the state is expanding its cattle fever tick rider program. No votes or formal committee actions were taken during the hearing; the main action was the exchange of testimony and questions about readiness, surveillance, and facility timelines.

Transcript Highlights:

• , and are those satellite technologies more expensive than, let’s say...
• However, we keep an open mind, as technology keeps improving every single day.
• Sort of impacts of the technology on their agencies. Next slide, please.
• If you saw, there was the ability to transmit that to a wearable technology.
• Having that technology.

Transcript Highlights:

• asked to navigate rapid technological asked to navigate rapid technological advancement,<00:08:19.680
• <05:02:21.040> to invest in advancement in technology to invest in advancement in technology
• and for technology. and for technology.
• They have pioneered technologies that are changing warfare itself.
• They want our technology. our people. They want our technology.

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Thursday, June 4, 2026, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The other two individuals submitted their comments to me, and Paul will distribute them to the members
• The more money there is, the more benefits can be distributed to various beneficiaries.
• You can find our app at my address online, and we're happy to distribute those to you.
• On the next slide, slide 11, I mentioned I would come back to the power law distribution.
• It looks like they're all really in a new technologies kind of sector.