Transcript Highlights:

• California families are facing record-high electricity prices.
• It's scarcities driving up prices of these energy capacity contracts.
• It requires online public reporting so residents can see where the money is going.
• It requires online public reporting so residents can see where the money is going.
• So if we can give factories a price that is even close to the wholesale price, we can make it cheaper

Transcript Highlights:

• you're ready, and again, I apologize for the small crew, but I know several members are listening online
• These have been online for five hours with experts and presenters from across the nation.
• They're all online; you can go look at them through the NMED website.
• It is online now.
• Yeah, they're online. Okay, because we didn't get... I think mine's short.

Committee: House Legislative Health & Human Services Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• requiring the Attorney General to compile and maintain this information in a publicly accessible online
• Quickly within a matter of weeks to doing all of our hearings online.
• With natural gas, you need to consider about half a million for every dollar the price of gas is.
• So we know gas is the marginal fuel that sets the price of electricity in ERCOT.
• And we can't predict gas prices going forward.

Bills: HB111

Committee: Senate Business & Commerce

Summary: The committee heard a long series of House bills, with most measures laid out by Senate sponsors and then left pending after brief public testimony. Early bills focused on construction and licensing issues, including HB 305 on prompt payment for public construction audits, HB 5093 on restoring public access to notary contact information, HB 2037 on updating landlord-tenant repair and security deposit rules, HB 4214 on a centralized public information request contact database, and HB 5435 exempting higher education institutions from a 90-day notice requirement for certain public-private partnership projects. Testimony was generally supportive on these bills, and no votes were taken; each was left pending. The committee also considered several transparency and regulatory bills. HB 111 would expand the Public Information Act to certain nonprofit state associations and narrow some attorney-client and working-paper exceptions, with supporters arguing it would improve oversight of public funds and critics questioning the scope and thresholds. HB 5129 would protect occupational license holders’ personal identifying information from disclosure without consent, HB 4350 would allow peace officers to redact personal information from online real property records, HB 4748 would authorize multiple-award state purchasing contracts, and HB 4765 would clean up code enforcement officer licensing rules. HB 4134 would allow motor vehicle creditors to charge limited fees for electronic payment options while requiring a free alternative, and HB 1043 would direct a study of blockchain-based property title records; both drew testimony, with some concern about the practical effects and vendor implications of the blockchain study. Several bills addressed insurance, workforce, and digital-asset regulation. HB 3520 would reduce the insurance coverage required for transportation network companies during the period when a driver is en route to pick up a passenger, drawing support from Texans for Lawsuit Reform and opposition from trial lawyers who argued the higher coverage better protects the public. HB 3320 would create a self-insurance pool for religious institutions, with TDI explaining it would still be regulated but operate under a special statutory framework. HB 4233 would modernize rules for digital asset service providers by removing certain auditor-access requirements and updating reporting and licensing provisions. HB 3923 would reduce bachelor’s-degree requirements for some state jobs, though Every Texan argued low pay, not degree requirements, is the main driver of turnover. HB 4518 would create a legal structure for decentralized unincorporated nonprofit associations tied to blockchain governance; business law experts opposed it as unnecessary and potentially risky, while crypto advocates supported it. Finally, HB 1803 would join an interstate compact for dentists and dental hygienists, with supporters citing workforce shortages and opponents saying Texas already licenses quickly and that the compact could weaken state oversight. Throughout the hearing, the committee repeatedly closed testimony and left bills pending, and a quorum was eventually established before later items were heard.

Transcript Highlights:

• This raises prices for everyone.
• This raises prices for everyone.
• This is raising prices for consumers, right?
• It absolutely invisibly raises prices for just regular people because of how Amazon does its pricing,
• how Apple does its pricing, and so on and so forth.

Committee: Senate Privacy, Digital Technologies, and Consumer Protection

Summary: The committee heard several bills focused on AI, privacy, and surveillance. SB 903 would prohibit AI from independently providing psychotherapy or presenting itself as a licensed mental health provider, require disclosure and informed consent, and reinforce confidentiality and privacy protections for therapy records. Supporters, including a mother and therapist whose son died by suicide after extensive chats with ChatGPT, argued the bill is needed to prevent harmful, crisis-related interactions. Behavioral health groups and labor/privacy organizations supported the measure, while TechNet, the California Medical Association, and the California Hospital Association opposed unless amended, saying the bill could restrict useful clinical tools and create conflicts around triage, screening, and data use. The committee passed SB 903 4-0 to Appropriations, with members noting the need for further work on definitions and implementation. SB 1119 would create a broader framework for chatbot safety for children, including annual risk assessments, crisis response protocols, default child protections, parental controls, notice and time limits, restrictions on advertising and use of children’s data, incident reporting, audits, and a private right of action. The author and supporters again cited the death of Adam Raine as evidence that chatbots can reinforce suicidal ideation and isolate children. Common Sense Media and several labor and privacy groups supported the bill. CalChamber, TechNet, the California State Sheriffs’ Association, and other industry and local government groups opposed unless amended, raising concerns about vague standards, overlap with SB 243, prescriptive design mandates, and litigation risk. The committee approved SB 1119 4-0 to Judiciary, with amendments to be taken there. The committee also heard SB 1013, which would tighten rules for automated license plate reader data by requiring DOJ audits, employee training, and a 30-day retention limit for most data. Supporters said the bill responds to documented misuse and over-retention of data that mostly belongs to innocent drivers. Law enforcement groups opposed, arguing the retention limit would hinder investigations and reduce the usefulness of ALPRs in serious or delayed cases. The bill passed 4-1 to Appropriations. SB 1292, a local control bill for six cities, would allow camera or sensor-based enforcement of curb and loading zones, with a human reviewing each violation before issuance. Supporters said it would help cities manage congestion and unsafe blocking of bike lanes and loading zones; privacy advocates warned about expanding automated surveillance. It passed 4-1 to Appropriations. Finally, the committee heard SB 1101, which would require higher education institutions to notify students, faculty, and staff when personal information is shared with federal agencies and limit disclosure to what is legally required. Supporters framed it as a transparency and anti-doxing measure in response to recent federal investigations and subpoenas; there was no opposition testimony. The bill passed 5-0 to Appropriations. The committee then began hearing SB 951, the California Worker Technological Displacement Act, which would require advance notice and reporting when employers displace workers due to technology and give displaced workers priority for openings, but the transcript cuts off before the hearing concluded.

Transcript Highlights:

• It was no—I mean, the used car prices shot up.
• If you've done it online, that's great. We appreciate it.
• I did file a comment card online. My name is Chris Maddox. I did file a comment card online.
• It's public, public, not public, online testimony that was submitted.
• It's public, public, not public, online testimony that was submitted.

Committee: House Special Committee on Property Tax Reform

Transcript Highlights:

• Senator Price. Oh, Chairman Price. Now I'm back into... We involuntarily defer the senator's bill?
• Oh, Chairman Price, now I'm backing up now. I'm sorry, I can't do that to Chairman Price.
• It's online and in your folders.
• This set of amendments is coded 1642 in the upper right-hand corner, as online and in your folders.
• There's a new set of amendments being offered today, 2354, again in your folders and online.

Committee: House Retirement

Summary: The Retirement Committee met on March 26, 2026, with a quorum present. House Bill 24 was voluntarily deferred at the start of the meeting. The committee then heard House Bill 20, which would have allowed retired teachers to return to work under superintendent discretion while drawing retirement benefits. Representative Bagley argued the bill would help address teacher shortages by letting districts hire experienced certified teachers, while Representative Taylor raised broader concerns about how returning retirees are treated. After discussion, HB 20 was voluntarily deferred. The committee next considered House Bill 25, a technical update to the Teachers’ Retirement System to conform with changes in the Internal Revenue Code, including benefit commencement and surviving spouse election provisions. Catherine Whitney of TRSL said the bill is routine compliance legislation reviewed periodically by the system’s tax attorney. An amendment was adopted, and HB 25 was reported favorably as amended. House Bill 23, a cost-of-living adjustment bill for LASERS retirees, was also amended to raise the benefit cap from $80,000 to $81,201 and then reported favorably as amended. House Bill 42 proposed a phased retirement program for higher education employees in the Teachers’ Retirement System, allowing partial retirement and part-time work with partial benefits. Bacala said it was intended to help retain talent at universities and was based on prior task force recommendations; an amendment was adopted to set the participation framework for universities, and the bill was reported favorably as amended. House Bill 32, a LASERS cleanup bill addressing disability retiree restoration, administrative errors, and benefit calculations, was described by LASERS as technical in nature and was reported favorably. House Bill 13, a State Police Retirement System reamortization bill, was amended to adjust timing and technical provisions and then reported favorably as amended. Finally, the committee took up House Bill 41 on the Firefighters’ Retirement System board makeup. A new amendment package replaced earlier amendments and would eliminate term limits, expand elected active-member seats from two to five, remove chief association appointments, and require vacancies to be filled by election. Supporters described it as a compromise intended to better represent the system’s active members, while the Louisiana Fire Chiefs Association objected that chiefs had been left out of the negotiations and said they provide important budget and governance expertise. Despite the opposition, the committee adopted the amendments and reported HB 41 favorably as amended.

Transcript Highlights:

• c><00:31:38.320><c> selling</c><00:31:38.640><c> price</c> selling price, if that selling price selling
• price, if that selling price continues<00:31:40.320><c> to</c><00:31:40.640><c> go</c><00:31:40.799>
• </c> and not the price of the ticket. and not the price of the ticket.
• </c> to lower the price of that food by 10%. to lower the price of that food by 10%.
• </c> potentially lower lower grocery prices. potentially lower lower grocery prices.

Committee: Senate Ways and Means

Transcript Highlights:

• bet, paying up front that a bot or a scalper will be able to buy, at some point, a ticket at a lower price
• There are many examples of fans getting price gouged by the practice of speculative ticketing.
• But these prices are so ridiculously high. To the same concerts that I used to go to.
• Once you miss that window of waiting online, forget about it. You can't afford it anymore.
• At 10 years old, I was groomed by predatory men online.

Committee: House Arts, Entertainment, Sports, and Tourism

Transcript Highlights:

• And Representative McLaughlin: Then, the next one would be often farm to market price or completely natural
• This ensures that registered brands are centrally stored in a searchable online database, making them
• An online system proposed by House Bill 147 will allow producers to register, renew, or update their
• The online database will be crucial to law enforcement, including TSCRA Special Rangers, allowing us
• This will make it easier and going up because cattle prices are going up as we're speaking.

Bills: HB147 , HB 1113 , HB 1203 , HB 1269 , HB 1276 , HB 1277 , HB1437 , HB147

Committee: House Agriculture & Livestock

Keywords: livestock, brands, marks, earmarks, tattoos, electronic registry, Texas Animal Health Commission, county clerk, Agriculture Code, cattle, hogs, sheep, goats, horses, animal identification, brand registry, livestock traceability, electronic filing, rerecording, law enforcement access

Summary: The House Committee on Agriculture and Livestock met with a quorum present and heard several bills, all of which were left pending. HB 1113, by Rep. Cain, would update Texas hemp law to keep state rules aligned with federal changes, require timely rule amendments by the Department of Agriculture, and create hemp research permits for universities and nonprofits. Supporters from the Texas Hemp Coalition said it would improve research, licensing, testing, and enforcement while helping the industry stay compliant and competitive; the author said the bill was intended to reward good actors and deter bad ones. HB 1203, by Rep. Gonzalez, would create an Office of Food System Security and Resiliency within the Department of Agriculture to address food insecurity and coordinate local food access efforts. Gonzalez said the office would build on a prior Department of Agriculture study and help connect farmers, agencies, schools, and local governments; members asked about the fiscal note, consumer costs, and whether the office would overlap with existing programs. HB 1269, HB 1276, and HB 1277 focused on plant disease and pest prevention, including a grant program and studies to identify gaps and track outbreaks. Gonzalez emphasized the need for a more intentional state response, citing crop losses from pests and a recent cotton disease outbreak in his district. HB 1437 would create a pollinator task force to address threats to Texas honeybees and related pollination industries. A Texas Beekeepers Association witness described major recent colony losses, emerging threats such as mites and hornets, and the need to bring agencies and researchers together; Gonzalez noted prior work adding a bee specialist at AgriLife Extension. Finally, HB 147, by Chairman Guillen, would modernize cattle brand registration by moving it to an electronic system at the Texas Animal Health Commission while keeping county clerks involved. Supporters said it would improve efficiency, accuracy, and access for ranchers and law enforcement, while an opponent warned about possible electronic tracking implications and costs for small producers. The committee took no final votes and adjourned after leaving HB 147 pending as well.

Transcript Highlights:

• In the world we're talking about, the online retailers of cigars and pipe tobacco, those who met the
• They were written very much for a brick-and-mortar situation and not applicable to the online world,
• It's then baked into the price that a retailer charges sales tax on to a consumer.
• In the world of an online transaction, though, these retailers mostly sit in Pennsylvania and Florida
• Because I get that it's online, but you also have private delivery, you have telephone, mail.

Committee: Senate Revenue and Economic Development

Transcript Highlights:

• We have several projects around online licensure.
• You mentioned online licensing.
• I had as much as 50% variance in the price.
• It is at 340B pricing. It is a negotiated VA pricing.
• We do get the benefit of negotiated pricing for that.

Committee: House A&B Health Subcommittee

Transcript Highlights:

• Number one: volatile and expensive gas prices.
• Number one, the price of gas is going up, way up.
• EIA predicts that gas prices will increase 33% or more in 2026.
• Clean energy and affordable. correlating drop in prices.
• Claire, I think, is online, perhaps. Claire, I think, is online, perhaps. Oh, okay.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy

Summary: The committee heard testimony on a wide range of late-file energy bills, with much of the discussion focused on battery storage siting, gas system expansion, propane consumer protections, gas workforce safety, and a Taunton home-rule petition on water rates for manufactured housing communities. Representative Sweeney urged support for H. 4689 and H. 4690, which would impose a moratorium and setback requirements for lithium battery storage facilities, citing fire risk, proximity to homes, and environmental concerns. Several local officials and residents from Oakham, Tewksbury, and other communities described proposed battery projects near homes, schools, wetlands, and conservation land, while industry and clean-energy advocates argued the bills would effectively block storage development and conflict with state energy goals and existing fire-safety standards. The committee also heard strong support for S. 2290/H. 3547, a bill to prevent gas expansion near environmental justice communities, from environmental justice advocates, municipal officials, and clean-energy groups. Testimony emphasized rising gas bills, the cost of new pipelines, methane and health impacts, and the need to avoid locking in long-term gas infrastructure costs. Witnesses also discussed related bills on gas workforce safety, gas shut-off valves, and gas meter replacement plans, with labor representatives supporting safety-focused measures and opposing changes they said would weaken inspections, while consumer and environmental advocates argued that some utility replacement practices are unnecessarily expensive and should be reined in to reduce ratepayer costs. Other testimony included support for H. 3518 on propane gas ratepayer protections, with the witness arguing for clearer contract terms and website price disclosure, and support for S. 2652, which would authorize Taunton to create a separate water billing rate for manufactured housing communities because residents there are effectively paying higher water costs through rent due to a single master meter. No committee votes or final actions were taken during the hearing, and members mostly asked brief clarifying questions or made no comment after testimony.

Transcript Highlights:

• price of the product by adding a 95% tax would have unintended negative consequences for convenience
• This imbalance creates relentless downward pressure on wholesale prices.
• When wholesale prices collapse, the fiscal impact doesn't stop at the farm.
• This is a practical... ...the price of cannabis, the more youth are using the product.
• I do not believe that Aaron Wilson is online; if they're in person, no. Okay.

Summary: The committee heard testimony on several bills. SB 5882 would extend workers’ compensation PTSD presumptions to local correctional facility workers after 90 days of employment, with staff explaining the bill’s scope, fiscal note, and how claims would affect employers’ experience ratings. The sponsor and labor representatives supported the measure as a response to correctional officer trauma, while cities, retailers, and self-insurers opposed it over cost, system sustainability, and the need for more study. Labor and Industries said the estimated five-year state-fund claim cost ranges from $6.7 million to $15.3 million, and the hearing closed after testimony from both sides. The committee then heard SB 6196, which would impose a 95% excise tax on kratom products starting in 2027, create licensing and labeling requirements, and direct revenue to youth harmful substance prevention. Supporters argued kratom is unregulated and increasingly available to youth, and some urged age-gating and stronger restrictions on synthetic concentrated products. Opponents, including retailers and the American Kratom Association, said the bill is too punitive, would hurt legitimate businesses, and should be revised into a consumer protection framework rather than treated like a controlled substance. No vote was taken. SB 6204, allowing adults to grow up to six cannabis plants at home with a 15-plant household cap, drew strong support from cannabis advocates and some medical users, who said home grow should have been part of legalization and would help consumers understand the plant. Opponents from law enforcement, cities, and public health warned about youth access, enforcement problems, fire and chemical risks, and possible impacts on cannabis tax revenue. The committee also heard SB 6134, requiring notice to striking workers about possible UI overpayments if they later receive retroactive wages, which the sponsor said would prevent surprise repayment obligations; testimony was overwhelmingly supportive. Finally, SB 6195, aimed at reducing cannabis oversupply by tying producer canopy size to reported sales, drew broad support from cannabis businesses and trade groups, who said it would stabilize the market and address JLARC’s findings, with some stakeholders asking for implementation fixes and clearer language.

Transcript Highlights:

• Why do I care about the rule of law in connection with the price of eggs?
• And the response is the reason you care about the rule of law and the price of eggs is because without
• This started at the grassroots extremist level in terms of online campaigns harassing, just horribly
• As I've personally experienced trauma from having my legal dead name spread online for the purposes of
• “And I see it online. I’m not trans, but I see it online, and it is really scary.

Summary: The committee heard several bills focused on civil rights, family law, privacy, housing, and artificial intelligence. SB 477 would clarify FEHA procedures for the Civil Rights Department, including tolling deadlines by agreement and updating complaint definitions; it drew some concern about venue and convenience but was moved forward. SB 450 would confirm California jurisdiction over adoption proceedings for children born in the state even if families have moved away, and would require all legal parents to be listed on adoption orders; it received strong support, especially from LGBTQ family advocates, and passed to Appropriations. SB 683 would clarify that people whose name, image, or likeness is misused may seek TROs or injunctions under existing publicity-rights law; opposition from media and First Amendment groups focused on the 48-hour compliance default and speech concerns, but the bill advanced as amended to Privacy and Consumer Protection. The committee also considered SB 11, the AI Abuse Protection Act, which would regulate voice, image, and video cloning technology, require warnings, and direct the Judicial Council to develop evidence standards for AI; it passed to Public Safety. SCR 66, a resolution designating May 1 as Law Day and emphasizing the rule of law, was adopted unanimously after supportive comments from members. SB 808 would create expedited judicial review for housing permit denials that violate state law; supporters said it would reduce costly delay and help housing production, while the Judicial Council opposed it as imposing unreasonable timelines and staffing burdens. The bill passed to Appropriations despite concerns about court resources and broader housing-law issues. The committee then took up two privacy bills from Senator Wiener. SB 59 would automatically keep confidential court records for adult and retroactive gender/name change petitions, expanding protections previously enacted for minors; supporters described real-world doxxing and harassment, while opponents raised First Amendment and public-records objections, and the bill passed to Appropriations. SB 497 would require warrants for out-of-state law enforcement access to California prescription monitoring data, expand transgender shield protections for gender-affirming care records, and bar certain disclosures without legal process; the author framed it as a response to out-of-state anti-trans enforcement, and the bill was presented with support from trans advocacy groups.

Transcript Highlights:

• And now they're playing the price, and the price that's being paid is your fault.
• </c> this online gaming space. this online gaming space.
• </c> participate in online gaming. participate in online gaming.
• So, I'm an avid online gamer. I have been for years. My gaming goes back before online.
• </c> So, I'm a avid online gamer. So, I'm a avid online gamer.

Transcript Highlights:

• Will there be an online? Will there be a grace period?
• Future expectations for production and price estimates and outcomes.
• on different prices of oil and natural gas.
• The main highlight here is to show which way the analytics firms expect prices to go.
• We're saying the price is going up, production's going down.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:50:53.760><c> and</c> resources, being able to be online and resources, being able to be online
• </c> get more online? get more online?
• So it's just setting a price. &gt;&gt; Yep. So it's just setting a price.
• So can I bid one price for the winter and a different price for the summer?
• </c> and revolution projects uh come online. and revolution projects uh come online.

Committee: House Science, Technology and Energy

Transcript Highlights:

• The price of gas is going up. It is volatile. The price of gas is going up.
• This raises the price for us as constituents driving during those times.
• We're all for lower gas prices. We're all for lower taxes. We're all for lower gas prices.
• Down gas prices, and what in particular have you done?
• I can tell you, and this is how important... ...is the price of that.

Bills: HB2014 , HB2113 , HB2145 , HB2331 , HB2340 , HB2389 , HB2400 , HB2401 , HB2428 , HB2494 , HB2696 , HB2756 , HB2795 , HB2955 , HCM2008

Committees: House Natural Resources, Energy & Water , House House Natural Resources, Energy & Water Committee of Reference

Keywords: air emissions, fuel blends, environmental quality, feasibility study, Arizona Department of Agriculture, utility consumer, rate intervention, public service corporation, Arizona Revised Statutes, residential rates, consumer protection, fuel reformulation, gasoline standards, environmental regulations, ethanol supply, Air Quality, energy reliability, electric service providers, reliable resources, public power entity

Transcript Highlights:

• So in the fall we moved to an online portal.
• So the other thing that they are doing: we are increasing the reference prices for future payment loss
• Two, we have to bring these other industries online.
• And what you saw, the effect on the crawfish industry was an immediate decrease in price on the value
• And what you saw, the effect on the crawfish industry was an immediate decrease in price on the value

Committee: House Appropriations

Transcript Highlights:

• sponsor, this was the issue, mandating that housing providers continue to accept payments or keep online
• Sites are limited, competition drives prices higher, and the time and cost of acquiring, holding, and
• Coordinating land banking allows me to become a trusted partner who isn't driven by the highest price
• As I mentioned, the cost of land is a key factor in the price builders can charge for homes.
• As I mentioned, the cost of land is a key factor in the price builders can charge for homes.

Bills: SB6139 , SB6214 , SB6237 , SB6091 , SB6096 , SB6200 , SGA9278 , SGA9279

Committee: Senate Housing

Keywords: rental payments, landlords, tenants, eviction, legal procedures, housing stability, land banking, property authority, housing development, urban planning, real estate management, SB 6237, Washington landlord-tenant law, Residential Landlord-Tenant Act, rental property disclosure, flood risk, flood hazard area, special flood hazard area, potential flooding, tenant notice