Transcript Highlights:

• And rules, they simply state that gifted students are in the instruction, and gifted education is part
• And so, because of federal issues with having gifted and Special ed together, we've run into issues.
• The last thing is I received a call this morning asking about the gifted program.
• Nothing will change for our gifted processes. Statutes are rules.
• students, but we have created great statutes around gifted, and we don't need the feds anymore on that

Bills: SB48 , SB64 , SB100

Committee: Senate Senate Finance

Keywords: State Fairgrounds District, fairgrounds bonds, public financing, bond authorization, gross receipts tax, gaming tax, tax-backed bonds, infrastructure funding, Albuquerque fairgrounds, State Fair Tid, economic development, municipal bonds, revenue pledge, capital projects, New Mexico finance, special education, office of special education, deputy secretary, public education department, IEP

Transcript Highlights:

• gifted and talented. And why was that?
• And if they gifted talented students.
• I know you made reference to the gifted and talented folder.
• </c> base to qualify them for gifted base to qualify them for gifted education.<02:07:30.960><c> I</c
• Um, thank you, Nate. gifted and talented programs in and of gifted and talented programs in and of themselves

Committee: House Education Policy and Administration

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So this bill we saw before, and So this bill we saw before, and it's kind of the bill that's a gift that
• and his brother, April Harriman, made a And Roland Harriman and his brother, Aval Harriman, made a gift
• The agreement is accepted, the state agreed to accept the gift, establish a state park subject to the
• A board is mandated by statute in accordance with the gift agreement to select a director on the basis
• You know, the original gift was 12 pages long.

Committee: House State Affairs

Summary: The committee first approved the minutes from March 17, 18, and 19. It then heard House Bill 894, a transparency measure clarifying that members of the public may photograph and videotape open local government meetings so long as they do not interfere, with exceptions for certain correctional, parole, and executive-session settings. Representative McCann presented the bill, and Ken Burgess of the Idaho Press Club testified in support, citing instances where school board meetings were closed to recording. The committee voted to send HB 894 to the floor with a due pass recommendation; Representative Palmer was recorded voting no. The committee next took up Senate Bill 1300, which would change the appointment process for the directors of Fish and Game, Parks and Recreation, and Transportation so they would be appointed by the governor and confirmed by the Senate rather than selected by their boards. Senator O'Connowitz argued the bill would make the process more open, align these agencies with other state agencies, and not violate the Harriman Park agreement. Opponents, including Thomas Dixon, Nick Fasciano, Michael Gibson, Jeff Bitton, Charlie Lanch, Allison Brown, and Matt Borg, argued the current board-based system protects merit, stability, science-based management, and the Harriman family’s intent to keep politics out of park management. Supporters said the bill would improve accountability and public review. After extended debate, the committee passed SB 1300 on an 8-6 roll call. Finally, the committee considered House Bill 888, which would place certain information technology procurement under the Office of Information Technology Services and allow use of third-party brokers for technical and financial analysis. Sponsor Representative Palmer said the bill would put procurement in the hands of technology experts. Testimony from Jeremy Chu, John White, and Nampa Police Lieutenant Jason Kimball supported the bill, saying it would improve expertise, competition, and cost savings; critics raised concerns about outsourcing and transparency. The committee voted to send HB 888 to the floor with a due pass recommendation, and then voted to hold House Concurrent Resolution 35 subject to the call of the chair before adjourning.

Transcript Highlights:

• who in the midst of darkness and chaos filled the world with light, we thank and praise You for the gift
• of another day, knowing our unworthiness of such a gift.
• who in the midst of darkness and chaos filled the world with light, we thank and praise You for the gift
• of another day, knowing our unworthiness of such a gift.
• ANOTHER DAY, KNOWING OUR UNWORTHINESS OF SUCH A GIFT, WE BEG YOU TODAY TO FORGIVE US OUR SINS AND TO

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Monday, March 9, 2026, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This bill is fundamentally about protecting the spirit of a gift.
• Um, I protecting the spirit of a gift.
• ,</c> considered charitable education gifts, considered charitable education gifts, not<01:10:51.040>
• This change clarifies conditional gift.
• HP 2304, Independent Schools and additional gifts.

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on HB 2185, which would add protections for sports officials. The Department of Education, the State Public Charter School Commission, the Hawaii Association of Independent Schools, HSTA, HGA, school administrators, the Hawaii High School Athletic Association, the Hawaii State Basketball Officials Association, and several individuals testified in support. The Department of the Attorney General offered comments and recommended amendments, especially on the bill’s civil-action provisions and criminal language, saying the measure should be made more consistent and narrowed to clarify who is covered. The Office of the Public Defender opposed the increased criminal penalties but said its concerns were limited to that portion of the bill. The chair repeatedly noted the committee’s education-policy focus and limited discussion of legal issues. The committee then took up HB 2621 on student misconduct. The Department of Education testified and answered questions about its student discipline data, explaining that much of the information is kept in the department’s internal Infinite Campus system and is not public, but that some additional information could be added to the annual report while still protecting student privacy. Members discussed whether the department tracks incidents consistently across schools and whether more public reporting would help identify where violence or discipline issues are occurring. The department said it was not seeing an increase in suspensions in the data it had, though it acknowledged internal data showed more detail than the annual report. HB 2179, concerning DOE and e-pipes, drew comments from the Department of Education, support from the Department of Health, the Hawaii Bicycling League, and other individuals. The committee then heard HB 2534, which would recognize robotics in schools as an interscholastic sport. The Department of Education offered comments, the State Public Charter School Commission supported the bill, and multiple students and robotics participants testified in strong support, arguing that robotics provides STEM opportunities, competition, and career pathways, and that formal recognition and funding would help sustain teams and compensate mentors. No votes or final actions were taken on the bills in the portion of the meeting provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• And one kid that may show gifted one day because they happen to hit the right button, they show that,
• of the gifted, I'm myself I'm not gifted, but I'm going to get to that in a minute.
• Chair, Representative, gifted education doesn't live in special education currently; it lives in the
• When we're talking about gifted education, they go through the same referral.
• for overseeing gifted education.

Summary: The committee first heard a detailed staff presentation on the LESC FY27 public school support recommendation. Staff reviewed the budget structure and explained that, despite a downward revision in state revenue estimates, the recommendation still relied on recurring and non-recurring revenue to support educator compensation, insurance, transportation, literacy, math, special education, and other school programs. Major recurring items included a 3% compensation increase, funding for an 80-20 health insurance cost share, insurance premium growth, and transportation adequacy funding. Staff also flagged a possible supplemental need of up to $35 million for virtual education tied to rapid enrollment growth in Chama and Santa Rosa, and members raised concerns about the quality, accountability, and funding model for virtual programs. Members asked questions about transportation for rural districts, the Martinez-Yazzie lawsuit fees, the treatment of enrollment declines in the school funding formula, and whether the word “average” in salary language should remain in the budget. Staff explained that the SEG should remain whole, that the insurance and transportation recommendations applied to all public school employees but not contractors, and that the budget included multiple math-related investments spread across several lines rather than one single appropriation. There was also discussion of out-of-school learning grants, school meals, literacy center operations, special education training, and the Public Education Reform Fund, including the use of multi-year, evaluation-based appropriations for high-impact tutoring and community schools. After discussion, the committee adopted the LESC budget recommendation. The committee then moved to endorsed legislation proposals. It endorsed a bill allowing the secretary to suspend an individual school board member, with notice and appeal procedures clarified, and a bill creating an 80-20 health insurance cost-share requirement for public school employees, along with a study of the sustainability of public school insurance programs. It also endorsed a bill on attendance provisions for students with severe medical conditions, which would keep those students from being classified as excessively absent. Finally, the committee discussed a teacher residency bill that would raise stipend levels, allow residents to complete service anywhere in New Mexico, and remove the requirement that sponsoring schools must hire them, though the bill did not include an appropriation. Members also raised questions about bilingual, Hispanic, and Black education funding, cultural and linguistic supports in teacher preparation, and where various programs should be placed in the budget or PERF framework.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:18:02.360><c> cards</c> Staters when they purchase gift cards Staters when they purchase gift
• </c> for the last 17 straight years gift for the last 17 straight years gift cards<00:18:10.120><c> are
• </c><00:18:39.320><c> cards</c> to steal the inactivated gift cards to steal the inactivated gift cards
• > activated</c> purchase as a gift and it is activated purchase as a gift and it is activated there<00
• </c><00:19:22.320><c> card</c> gift card then goes to use the gift card gift card then goes to use the

Committee: Senate Judiciary

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• of the gifted.
• Gifted education doesn't live in special education.
• Chairman and John, actually, these kids that are gifted do have an IEP.
• So, the removal of the language of gifted education in 504s from the special...
• At PED, and there are folks responsible for overseeing gifted education.

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So I know what it was for a different gift card program.
• But, if you go back to the Texas Constitution and all of its various gifts...
• To give gift cards to Harris County residents instead of cash or a check.
• and create the gift cards.
• And when it comes to handing people or giving, gifting people gift cards, there's definitely an administrative

Bills: SB434 , SB844 , SB898 , SB1177 , SB1214 , SB1454 , SB1920 , SB1927 , SB1935 , SB1965 , SB2010 , SB2046 , SB2068 , SB2073 , SB2183 , SB2260 , SB3034 , SB907

Committee: Senate Local Government

Keywords: SB 434, Harris County Hospital District, hospital district police, peace officers, commissioned officers, law enforcement authority, Health and Safety Code, Code of Criminal Procedure, public safety, hospital security, county hospital district, local government, Texas criminal procedure, district police, armed security, SB 898, low income housing tax credits, LIHTC, affordable housing, Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• that, a $20 gift card, they activate that $20 gift card, that $20 gets stolen immediately from that
• gift card, and then you give your gift card to your nephew or your niece for their birthday, and then
• that that gift card is worth.
• </c> today so that if someone steals gift today so that if someone steals gift cards,<00:41:43.280><c
• I never on with these gift cards.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• support this bill not because it is perfect, but because we fought hard to make sure it wasn't just a gift
• Thomas Jefferson, the Declaration of Independence, which wrote that all men are created equal and endowed
• are created which wrote that all men are created equal<07:41:52.878><c> and</c><07:41:53.120><c> endowed
• by</c><07:41:53.760><c> their</c><07:41:54.000><c> creator</c><07:41:54.398><c> with</c> equal and endowed
• by their creator with equal and endowed by their creator with certain<07:41:54.878><c> inalable</c><

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Tuesday, March 24, 2026, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Don't drain buy a bunch of gift cards.
• ><c> numbers</c> take pictures of those gift card numbers take pictures of those gift card numbers and
• It will usually be some crypto and, more recently, gift cards.
• mailing those gift cards.
• mailing those gift cards.

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The committee held an informational briefing on fraud in the community, with presenters from ARP, CoinFlip, HPD, the Hawaii Bankers Association, DCCA’s Office of Consumer Protection, and the Department of Law Enforcement. The chair described widespread scams targeting kupuna and other residents, including impersonation of grandchildren, lottery/inheritance schemes, romance scams, online shopping fraud, investment scams, and tech-support scams. Members emphasized the emotional manipulation used by scammers, the difficulty of getting victims to report losses, and the need to educate the public on warning signs and available resources. ARP said scams are an epidemic and highlighted national data showing major losses among older adults, including $4.8 billion lost by people age 60 and over in 2024. ARP focused especially on cryptocurrency kiosks as a growing scam channel in Hawaii, citing 64 complaints totaling $922,000 in 2024 and noting that complaints nearly doubled from the prior year. ARP urged stronger safeguards such as limits on transactions, refunds, live customer support, and a law-enforcement contact for operators, and said its Fraud Watch Network can help victims freeze credit, identify next steps, and track current scams. The chair said he intends to introduce legislation to lower and ultimately eliminate the amount of Bitcoin that can be purchased through ATMs. CoinFlip said it supports consumer-protection regulation and described its compliance practices, including scam warning screens, anti-money-laundering controls, blockchain analytics, wallet pinning, transaction monitoring, and cooperation with law enforcement. The company said it is registered as a money services business, files suspicious activity and currency transaction reports, and holds money transmitter licenses in many jurisdictions. It also pointed to Illinois-style refund protections for new users and said it refunds fees to scam victims, though not the underlying funds. In response to committee questions, members and the company discussed whether crypto kiosks are necessary, how scams can be traced, and whether banks and kiosks can better intervene when suspicious activity is detected.

Transcript Highlights:

• It was given as a gift to Americans here, really to symbolize...
• This is a remarkable gift.
• People from around the world contribute their labor, traditions, and gifts to a shared future.
• People from around the world contribute their labor, traditions, and gifts to a shared future.
• Elizabeth Morgan, a gifted psychologist, a talented hairstylist, a salon owner.

Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum, opened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, approved the journals, and took up motions to remove several measures from the inactive file, including S.J.R. 9, SB 626, and SCR 89. The main item on the floor was SCR 106 by Senator Choi, which recognized January 13 as Korean American Day and highlighted the history and contributions of Korean Americans in California and nationwide. Senator Choi and many members spoke in support, citing Korean American business, civic, cultural, military, and community contributions, as well as local Korean American communities and landmarks across their districts. The resolution was adopted on a 38-0 vote. After passage, Senator Choi introduced Korean American guests in the chamber and invited members to a reception. The Senate then returned to motions and committee announcements, including upcoming meetings of the Senate Energy, Utilities and Communications Committee and the Senate Human Services Committee. Members also requested that SB 626 be returned to the Assembly for amendments. The remainder of the session was devoted to adjournment memorials. Senators Umberg, Allen, Pérez, and Menjivar honored Monica Lynn Martinez-Hays, victims of the Palisades and Eaton fires, and Sergeant Adrian Carrillo, respectively. The memorials recounted the lives and community service of the deceased and emphasized ongoing grief, recovery, and support for affected families and communities. The Senate announced it would recess until the next scheduled floor session on Friday, January 16 at 9 a.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• My questions are purposely intended to figure out now that you have...” “...the gift of hindsight in
• At 1:00 p.m., the first donations were arriving from the COAD, which helped with hotel vouchers and gift
• I used to work in that space of funneling that information and then saying it's like a gift registry
• I used to work in that space of funneling that information and then saying it's like a gift registry
• They provided diapers, dry goods, gift cards—anything people needed.

Summary: The joint Senate and House disaster preparedness and flooding hearing opened with quorum calls, prayer, testimony time limits, and remarks from legislative leaders emphasizing decorum, respect, and the goal of learning from the July 4 flood to prevent future loss of life. Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick and Speaker Dustin Burrows said the special session and hearings were intended to hear directly from local officials and residents, and that the state would pursue immediate and longer-term legislation and continue working beyond the current session. The committee then heard invited testimony from Kerr County, Kerrville, Kendall County, Real County, and the Upper Guadalupe River Authority, followed by member questions. Kerr County Judge Rob Kelly, Sheriff Larry Leitha, and emergency management coordinator William B. Thomas described the flood as a sudden, unprecedented event that overwhelmed local systems before many officials or residents understood the danger. They said the county received multiple National Weather Service and IPAWS alerts, but the rain fell in remote upstream areas with limited gauges, and the flood rose too quickly for normal response. They detailed the emergency response, including dispatchers handling heavy call volumes, deputies and volunteer firefighters conducting rescues, and state and federal partners assisting. County officials said 108 people died, including 37 children, and two remained missing. They called for better real-time flood detection, stronger rural emergency management resources, improved broadband and cell coverage, and more funding for swift-water rescue and warning systems. Kerrville Mayor Joe Herring and City Manager Dalton Rice said the city had floodplain rules, emergency plans, and prior preparedness efforts, but the event exposed gaps in communications and regional warning capacity. They urged the Legislature to fund a flood warning system, whether sirens, automated alerts, or a hybrid, and asked for support for predictive weather modeling, broadband expansion, a hazard mitigation fund, and disaster recovery resources. The Upper Guadalupe River Authority said it had long funded gauges and pursued flood-warning and mitigation projects, including a new software-based flood prediction system and possible retention dams, and planned to dedicate reserve funds to feasibility studies and infrastructure improvements. Kendall County Judge Shane Stolarczyk said his county’s emergency action plan and early alerts helped prevent deaths there, and he recommended easier access to alerting tools, a river-wide warning system, simpler grant applications, and regional coordination. Real County Judge Bella Rubio said rural counties face major challenges because of limited cell service, broadband, staffing, and funding, especially for camps and visitors along the Frio and Nueces rivers, and argued that reliable alert systems should be treated as a necessity, not a luxury. Members asked about the timeline of the flood, low-water crossings, communications failures, sirens, bridges, and funding, and several witnesses said the key lessons were better communications, better warning systems, and more investment in rural flood mitigation and emergency response.

Transcript Highlights:

• And here, I wish to say to her now, is a smaller gift, not the archaic truth that you can never repay
• </c><00:01:54.440><c> for</c><00:01:54.560><c> my</c> strips into a lanyard, a gift for my strips into
• a lanyard, a gift for my mother. mother. mother.
• I wish to say to her now, is<00:03:04.280><c> a</c><00:03:04.320><c> smaller</c><00:03:04.800><c> gift
• , not the archaic truth is a smaller gift, not the archaic truth that<00:03:07.680><c> you</c><00:03:

Keywords: 926, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The next matter would be to expand the definition of family for gifts.
• Currently, if you make a gift to an individual over $100, it does not need to be disclosed if it's a
• This, as you know, is the annual gift form that you file only when you have something to report as a
• organizations having a governmental purpose, as well as gifts from particular governmental entities
• to file it, and we think that can be remedied by simply repealing some of the language within the gift

Committee: Senate Ethics and Elections

Summary: The Senate Committee on Ethics and Elections met with a quorum present and heard a presentation from the Florida Commission on Ethics on several proposed legislative changes. The commission asked for changes to the Whistleblower Act to better cover ethics complaints, a public records exemption for commissioners’ and staff members’ sensitive personal information, an expanded gift-disclosure family definition to include foster relationships, and a first-time waiver of fines for late financial disclosure filers. Staff also requested technical fixes, including treating a timely postmarked appeal as filed on time, clarifying Form 6 filing requirements for appointees to elected seats, extending ethics-training requirements to municipal appointees filling unexpired terms, and clarifying where Form 10 gift disclosures are filed. Commission staff reported high electronic filing compliance rates, the rollout of automated fines, and an average of 92 days for completed preliminary investigations in 2025. They also updated the committee on two federal court challenges involving the in-office lobbying ban and the Form 6 requirement for elected municipal officers. The committee then heard from Secretary of State Cord Byrd, who outlined preparations for the 2026 election cycle and several policy proposals. He discussed work with new supervisors of elections, ongoing election-crimes enforcement, cooperation with federal agencies on citizenship verification, and data-sharing agreements with other states. Byrd also proposed a statewide pre-certification audit system with grants for smaller counties, a more streamlined process for checking voter citizenship status after registration, and a modernization fix for voter records affected by randomized driver’s license numbers. Members asked about special elections, election-crimes investigations, returning-citizen voting determinations, chain-of-custody procedures, and interstate data-sharing agreements. Byrd said special election timing is controlled by the governor, the elections-crimes office investigates but does not arrest, returning-citizen applications are resolved within 90 days, and he is confident in current chain-of-custody practices. The committee also considered gubernatorial nominations. By unanimous vote, members approved a block of nominees, then separately took up Joshua Kellum’s nomination to the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. The committee heard sworn public testimony from Robin Blevins, who urged rejection of Kellum’s appointment and criticized his background and past involvement in FWC-related advocacy. After brief discussion, the committee voted unanimously to approve Kellum’s nomination as well.

Transcript Highlights:

• for the purchases related to restocking their stores, like the one here at the State Capitol, those gift
• understanding is that some of these shelves are having difficulty stocking these shelves at their gift
• My one question is, do we currently stock any state-use items in the gift shops?
• And with this, will we be bypassing putting state-use related items in the gift shops?
• Are there items that you know would be good in these gift shops that would come through state use, and

Bills: SB1307 , SB1425 , SB1826 , SB1365 , SB1696

Committee: Senate Economic Development, Workforce and Tourism

Keywords: Oklahoma Historical Society, Oklahoma Arts Council, J.M. Davis Memorial Commission, historical preservation, arts funding, museum, gun collection, state agency contracts, 501(c)(3), nonprofit corporation, public funds, sectarian, religious funding restriction, appropriations, fiscal oversight, cultural institutions, historical artifacts, SB1425, health care, healthcare workforce

Transcript Highlights:

• Page 10 says that they can receive gifts.
• It was prohibited from receiving gifts.
• It was prohibited from receiving gifts.
• It was prohibited from receiving gifts.
• It was prohibited from receiving gifts.

Committee: House Joint Committee on Rural Economic Development

Summary: The Committee on Economic Development met with 13 members present and first went into executive session. It voted House Bill 3095 and House Bill 3249 do pass, both by 12-1 votes, and also adopted a House committee substitute for House Bill 2142 that rolled in House Bill 2058 before voting the combined measure do pass by 12-1. The transcript does not describe the substance of those bills in detail, but records the committee’s favorable action on each. The committee then held a public hearing on House Bill 3262, Representative Peters’ proposal to create an interstate massage compact. Supporters, including the sponsor, a massage business operator, a former state massage board regulator, and the Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards, said the compact would improve workforce mobility, reduce duplicate licensing and background checks, and preserve state authority over standards and discipline. An opponent argued interstate compacts are unconstitutional, could supersede state law, and raise concerns about gifts and closed meetings. No vote was taken on HB 3262 during the hearing. The final hearing was on House Bill 3157, which would create a single statewide permit for mobile food vendors. The sponsor and supporters from the Institute for Justice and the food truck industry said the bill would reduce duplicative local permits and inspections, lower costs, and help food trucks operate across jurisdictions while keeping health and safety standards. Opponents, including Kansas City and Springfield-Greene County health officials, argued the bill would preempt local control, shift regulatory authority to the state, and create enforcement and fiscal concerns. Committee members raised questions about local inspection authority, fees, and a possible committee substitute, but no final action was taken in the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• to meet the unique needs of gifted and talented students from every cultural background who see the
• Being identified as gifted and talented is not a badge of honor. It is an educational need.
• Currently in Texas, there are 469,170 students identified as gifted and talented.
• and talented, but you yourself are not gifted and talented.
• I'll stipulate I'm not gifted and talented, but I am well-seasoned.

Bills: HB117

Committee: House S/C on Academic & Career-Oriented Education

Keywords: county regulation, impervious cover, land use, unincorporated areas, environmental management

Transcript Highlights:

• to meet the unique needs of gifted and talented students.
• Being identified as gifted and talented is not a badge of honor; it is an... Educational need.
• Currently, in Texas, there are four hundred sixty-nine thousand... 1,170 students identified as gifted
• But you yourself are not gifted and talented? That's correct. Okay.
• I'll stipulate I'm not gifted and talented, but... But I am well-seasoned.

Bills: HB 117 , HB2196 , HB2689 , HCR64 , HB117

Committee: House S/C on Academic & Career-Oriented Education

Keywords: early childhood education, task force, governance, Texas Education Agency, child care, education policy, virtual education, hybrid learning, school funding, average daily attendance, education technology, remote learning, education legislation, workforce development, adult education, high school diploma, industry certification, pilot program, gifted education, education support