Transcript Highlights:

• It would simply say that we do the GIS program—geographic information systems program—does go off of
• </c><00:30:55.880><c> uh</c> that we do the the gis program uh that we do the the gis program uh geographic
• information systems program geographic information systems program uh<00:30:59.240><c> does</c><00:30
• </c><00:52:42.720><c> um</c> launching a policy advocacy program um launching a policy advocacy program
• </c> work and reserve some funds per program work and reserve some funds per program and<01:03:11.920

Committee: Senate State and Local Government

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And then eventually he got with the program, and he wrote, when he signed that Convention of States bill
• I helped build the hemp program for the state of South Carolina with the first 20 growers.
• We're trying to figure out how to save our veterans and get them the right treatments.
• Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities Department to develop a new alcohol and safety action program
• The council has to develop a new program for this. We don't know how much that's going to cost.

Keywords: 977, all

Transcript Highlights:

• explicitly promote the use of adaptive reuse, rehabilitation, and restoration as part of our preservation program
• , as I said, because they can use quite a bit of water, will trigger major upgrades: conveyance, treatment
• required to identify their largest CI users, report them to the state, and develop water conservation programs
• This section of the bill just creates Programs to reduce demand.
• Programs like the Youth Opportunity Pass, which currently allows youth 18 and under to ride at no cost

Summary: The committee hearing covered a long agenda of local government and housing-related bills, with the chair repeatedly noting the committee was operating without a quorum for much of the meeting. Several measures were heard with no opposition, including AB 2639 on Merced County flood control coordination, AB 1788 on allowing best-value contracting for general law cities and the San Gabriel Valley Council of Governments, AB 2058 on reducing duplicative permitting and inspection costs for factory-built housing, AB 2576 on clarifying historic resource protections in a housing law, AB 2568 on increasing the compensation cap for water district board members, AB 2224 on updating county recorder fees and requiring electronic recording, AB 2469 on water-supply review and cost responsibility for data centers, and AB 2397 on requiring local governments to justify denials of certain housing-finance decisions. Most of these bills were presented as targeted fixes to improve efficiency, reduce delays, or modernize outdated statutes, and the authors generally requested aye votes and noted committee amendments where applicable. The most extended debate centered on AB 1751, which would streamline approval of qualifying townhome projects while setting a $28 hourly minimum wage floor for construction workers on covered private projects. Supporters argued the bill would expand homeownership opportunities, raise wages for largely non-union residential workers, and preserve existing prevailing wage law while adding enforcement tools and developer liability. Opponents, including several building trades and labor organizations, argued it would undercut prevailing wage standards, create a race to the bottom, and potentially affect wage-setting more broadly. Committee members asked detailed questions about land-use barriers, the relationship to prevailing wage, and whether the bill would affect unionized work; the author and supporters responded that it applies narrowly to private for-sale townhome projects and does not alter prevailing wage requirements. AB 2469 also drew a substantive split. Supporters said data centers should be required to provide water-supply assessments before approval, pay for infrastructure they trigger, and account for impacts on overdrafted groundwater basins and local ratepayers. Opponents from the Chamber of Commerce, Data Center Coalition, counties, and tech groups argued existing law already covers water planning, that the bill imposes unique and burdensome requirements on one industry, and that some reporting provisions could raise security concerns. The author responded that the bill is about front-end planning and local accountability, not daily reporting, and emphasized the hyperlocal strain data centers can place on small water systems. No final votes were taken during the hearing because the committee lacked a quorum, though members repeatedly indicated support or intent to vote aye once a quorum was present.

Transcript Highlights:

• And so we think it's easier to say something as a question, like, "You have these two programs, have
• , have you thought about merging programs, have you thought about merging them?
• </c> Or I'd like to change the program so that the administrators of the program can collect fees and
• 43.600><c> program</c><00:20:44.080><c> for</c> Wildlife Fish Art program for Wildlife Fish Art program
• </c> things their elementary school program things their elementary school program on<00:20:56.360><c

Keywords: 926, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Blood donations are essential for trauma care, cancer treatment, surgeries, emergency response, and a

Keywords: 981, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And so I think that most abuse victims want that kind of treatment.

Bills: HB115 , HB 115 , HB507 , HB1765 , HB1847 , HB2046 , HB2239 , HB2328 , HB2309 , HB2417 , HB2728 , HB2794 , HB3206 , HB3566 , HB3694 , HB3744 , HB4254 , HB4697 , HB4733 , HB4915 , HB5465 , HB2813

Committee: House Criminal Jurisprudence

Keywords: public funds, lobbying, political subdivision, government spending, transparency, HB 115, taxpayer-funded lobbying, local government lobbying, county association dues, municipal lobbying, lobbyist registration, Chapter 305, Government Code Section 556.0056, Local Government Code Section 89.002, county government, city government, injunctive relief, attorney's fees, state association of counties, sheriffs association

Transcript Highlights:

• When we think about treatments or prescriptions for certain ailments in the health care space, right,

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• At PACT, we have a significant amount of federal funds and multiple programs that will be hurt when the
• This will be a very critical blow to the state's Ready Keiki program should we lose the ability to serve
• Nonprofits that receive federal funding support programs in health centers, early childhood education
• </c> receive federal funding support programs receive federal funding support programs in<00:09:49.760
• On page one, line five, remove 'no person, including any public body,' and insert 'no treatment plant

Committee: Senate Ways and Means

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The committees considered a large number of Senate bills, with many measures advanced either unamended or with technical or substantive amendments. Early action included SB 88 and SB 11 SD1, both passed unamended, and SB 562 SD1 and SB 642 SD1, which were passed with amendments reflecting agency testimony. SB 1133 SD1 was amended to remove duplicative county requirements and clarify tax credit carry-forward eligibility, while SB 1569 SD1 on sports wagering was deferred. Later, SB 933 on nonprofit/federal funding support drew strong testimony from nonprofit and health advocates emphasizing the risk of federal funding freezes and the importance of protecting services such as early learning, domestic violence support, housing, and workforce supports; the committee recommended amendments to define eligible organizations, require reporting, and include the Judiciary. SB 934 and SB 935 were also amended, with SB 934 tying mass transit funding to Honolulu project milestones and SB 935 revising retirement-system language to change “fewer than five years” to “five or more years.” The committees then took up additional measures with targeted amendments. SB 1033 was amended to clarify that the bill applies to legal entities, not individuals, though members noted concerns about closely held family corporations and asked that the issue be reflected in the committee report. SB 1166, SB 1249, and SB 1256 were advanced with amendments or committee-report notes reflecting concerns from the Attorney General, Hawaii Cattlemen’s Council, and Hawaii Farmers Union United, respectively. SB 1432 and SB 137, both relating to electric utilities, were amended to require retention of covered employees after mergers or acquisitions and to direct the PUC to consider whether proposed transactions further state policy goals. SB 157 on antitrust was narrowed to focus on coordinator conduct in rental housing markets, SB 252 on invasive species received a defective effective date, and SB 336 on defense of state employers and employees passed unamended. SB 536 on the Hawaii Community Development Authority was deferred to a later hearing, and SB 1064 on medical cannabis was heavily amended to authorize cultivator licenses with limits on canopy size, license counts, physician fees, and a special-fund appropriation for enforcement. In the Ways and Means portion, the committee passed several bills unamended, including SB 19, SB 124, SB 264, SB 345, SB 422, and SB 741 and SB 747 later in the agenda. SB 361 was amended to remove references to the attorney general and delete an appropriation section, SB 438 was amended to redefine buffer zones and landfill-unit language, and SB 441 and SB 494 were amended to blank appropriations and, in SB 494, assign charter-school audit responsibility to the state auditor. SB 659 was substantially amended to promote local procurement, including county-level geographic preferences and higher thresholds for locally sourced purchases, and SB 732 was amended to adjust film tax credit provisions, including the streaming-platform definition and sunset-related language. SB 819 was amended to replace references to “educators” with “teachers.” Throughout, most measures were adopted without recorded opposition, though several members noted reservations on particular bills.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:05:04.880><c> and</c> surplus land revitalization program and surplus land revitalization program
• The program will and deal with it later.
• </c><00:16:35.440><c> which</c> through a combination of programs which through a combination of programs
• </c><01:16:26.560><c> are</c><01:16:26.880><c> very</c> programs.
• Um and those programs are very programs.

Committee: House Executive Departments and Administration

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• That program was established as a statewide program in September of 2021.
• Program, a different program built on that program that you did last year. This is long overdue.
• programs moving forward?
• programs.
• food shelter program.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Research shows that anti-poverty programs like CalWORKs and CalEITC are child abuse prevention programs
• CWDA co-sponsored the legislation in 2016 that established the program as a pilot program.
• And this is such a program.
• This program works.
• You could create a separate program that's modeled off that existing program.

Summary: The Assembly Budget Subcommittee on Human Services held an informational hearing on child welfare, foster care, child support, and related prevention efforts. The chair opened by emphasizing mandated reporting reform, foster care system improvements, and community-based prevention, and noted that no votes would be taken. Public testimony focused first on mandated reporting, where a lived-experience advocate and several organizations argued that the current system overreports families, especially Black, Native, and Latino families, causes trauma, and should be reformed through standardized training, clearer thresholds, and stronger community supports rather than more hotline referrals. Casey Family Programs cited data showing nearly 90% of reports are unsubstantiated, while CDSS said it is already forming a Mandated Reporting Advisory Committee, updating training, and exploring community pathways and possible changes to the list of mandated reporters. CWDA and SEIU supported training and alternative response concepts but stressed child safety, county capacity, funding, and the need for careful implementation and accountability. The committee then discussed a proposal to create a foster care multi-agency office within the California Health and Human Services Agency, led by a chief foster youth advocate with authority to coordinate across departments. Advocates said foster youth often need services from education, health, housing, and behavioral health systems that do not coordinate well, and argued that a central office with real authority could improve placement stability and access to services. CDSS responded that existing structures already provide coordination, including AB 2083 interagency teams, the Child Welfare Council, complex care steering committees, and the foster care ombudsperson, but said it was open to technical assistance. Members raised concerns about whether the new office would have enough authority and funding to avoid becoming another layer of bureaucracy, and the chair emphasized the need for real “teeth” and better interagency action. The final major topic was the continuation and expansion of Promise Neighborhoods. A community leader described strong early results from the state-funded neighborhoods, including improved kindergarten readiness, reduced chronic absenteeism, higher graduation rates, food access, housing supports, and mental health services, but warned that current funding sunsets in June 2025 and that a fiscal cliff could jeopardize staff and services. CDSS said the four funded neighborhoods have reported positive outcomes and valuable flexibility, but also noted challenges with one-time funding, student mental health, and long-term planning. Assemblymember Mia Bonta urged continued investment, saying the place-based model is difficult to rebuild once lost, and the chair asked LAO to help identify the minimum funding needed to preserve the existing infrastructure while evaluation results are still pending.

Transcript Highlights:

• We will also provide educational services such as conducting programs, workshops, and field trips for
• And this is another fees-for-feels program. Members. Chill out. Thank you. Continue.
• And this is another fees-for-feels program.
• </c> And then you have a voluntary program And then you have a voluntary program that<00:57:37.760><c
• And we already have programs for that.

Keywords: 981, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, so that's been an important program.
• </c> that's that's been an important program. that's that's been an important program.
• </c> promotional or incentive type programs. promotional or incentive type programs.
• </c><00:51:44.480><c> that</c> rather than having a a program that rather than having a a program that
• </c><00:52:02.079><c> is</c> kind of penetration that program is kind of penetration that program is

Committee: House Science, Technology and Energy

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So starting on page one of the Trustee Program. **KJ Curtis**: ...the Trustee Program.
• **Toby**: ...this program for many years.
• At the beginning of this program, I think...
• So that happened early in the program.
• So that happened early in the program.

Bills: SB1 , SB 1

Committee: Senate Finance

Keywords: appropriations, budget, state funding, education, healthcare, infrastructure, campground safety, youth camp regulations, flood safety, emergency evacuation, health and safety standards, 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• with victims, I have heard excruciating details of victims who have been subjected to this type of treatment
• > type</c><01:01:50.040><c> of</c> been subjected to this type of been subjected to this type of treatment
• 51.280><c> also</c><01:01:51.520><c> point</c><01:01:51.760><c> out</c><01:01:51.880><c> that</c> treatment
• I'll also point out that treatment.

Committee: House Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on several Senate bills. On SB 2530, relating to campaign contributions, the State Procurement Office suggested clarifying that contractor disclosure information be submitted within 30 days of a fully executed contract, while the Campaign Spending Commission supported the bill but asked that the restriction on contributions by officers be expanded beyond compensated officers. Hawaii Alliance for Progressive Action supported the measure and urged keeping the Senate language, arguing it better addresses contractor influence, while no other testifiers appeared. On SB 2970, relating to standards of conduct, the State Ethics Commission supported the bill and proposed amendments to consolidate the new language into existing Chapter 84 contract provisions and use “department head” instead of “director.” The State Procurement Office supported the measure but recommended closing a perceived loophole by limiting the covered contracts to those under $10,000. No opposition testimony was offered. The committee then heard SB 2919, which would fund one full-time Deputy Public Defender position focused on immigration-related advice under Padilla v. Kentucky. The Office of the Public Defender, Hawaii Coalition for Immigrants’ Rights, and the ACLU of Hawaii supported the bill, explaining that the position would help public defenders advise clients about immigration consequences of criminal cases, not provide immigration representation. Members asked several questions about the scope of the position and whether it could assist with citizenship; testimony clarified that it would not handle civil immigration matters. The bill was also described as creating a statewide consistent resource for the public defender system. Finally, on SB 2446, relating to the judiciary, the Intermediate Court of Appeals supported adding a seventh associate judge position but noted the court has only recently been fully staffed at six judges and has improved output through internal changes. The chair emphasized that the bill authorizes the position without funding and encouraged the judiciary to return later if appropriations are needed. The committee also began hearing SB 2730, a criminal justice reform bill on warrantless arrests and citations. OHA supported reducing unnecessary arrests but objected to making citations visible on criminal records; the Department of the Attorney General opposed the bill, citing law enforcement flexibility, identification concerns, and possible litigation costs; and the Judiciary requested a later implementation date and suggested changes to citation-resolution language. The transcript ends while testimony on SB 2730 was still underway.

Transcript Highlights:

• prolonged type of illness, then there's not even pay involved, and they're not able to get in the donor program
• prolonged type of illness, then there's not even pay involved, and they're not able to get in the donor program
• are dealing with voting issues and things that are dealing with voters' registration and equitable treatment
• voters registration registration registration and<00:56:23.200><c> equitable</c><00:56:24.400><c> treatment
• Clair County Day Program to purchase prior service credits in the Teacher Retirement System of Alabama

Keywords: 1136, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So that's just for the loan program. We also have a number of projects. Mr.
• Can we fund a new wastewater treatment plant?
• So we're usually not focused on a large incentive program.
• With that said, we have done a program in Pflugerville for the first building.
• So career CTE programs.

Committee: House State Affairs

Summary: The Committee on State Affairs convened to discuss data centers and their impact on Texas's energy infrastructure. The meeting featured testimony from key representatives of the Public Utility Commission (PUC) and ERCOT, who outlined the evolving landscape of energy generation and the challenges posed by the rapid growth of data centers. Notably, ERCOT reported over 450,000 MW of generation resources planned for connection, with a significant portion attributed to data centers, which now represent around 87% of new large load interconnection requests. The committee explored proposed changes to the interconnection process, including a new 'batch study' approach aimed at streamlining the approval of multiple projects simultaneously. This change is intended to address the challenges of managing numerous simultaneous requests and to provide more certainty for developers regarding their energy needs. Testimonies emphasized the importance of ensuring that the costs of infrastructure upgrades are borne by the data centers rather than residential ratepayers, with discussions around the financial commitments required from developers. Several data center developers also provided testimony, highlighting the economic benefits of their projects, including job creation and increased local revenues. They expressed concerns about the potential for a moratorium on future growth due to the new interconnection rules and emphasized the need for a collaborative approach to address water usage and environmental impacts. The committee plans to continue discussions on these topics in future hearings, with a focus on balancing economic growth with energy reliability and resource management.

Transcript Highlights:

• So that's just for the loan program. We also have a number of projects. Mr.
• Can we fund a new wastewater treatment plant?
• So we're usually not focused on a large incentive program.
• With that said, we have done a program in Pflugerville for the first building.
• So career CTE programs. Rep.

Transcript Highlights:

• This is just not a workable program.
• c><00:19:05.559><c> could</c><00:19:05.760><c> be</c> program and a program that could be program and
• </c><00:19:16.520><c> um</c> this is just not a workable program um this is just not a workable program
• programs.
• </c><03:45:35.159><c> that</c> is uh it's essentially a program that is uh it's essentially a program

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee first took up HB 129, which would redefine “evidence-based” in public education. The Department of Education testified that the bill’s definition would conflict with federal definitions and be very restrictive, potentially affecting a wide range of instructional methods, curriculum materials, teacher training, civics requirements, suicide prevention training, and other programs. The department said the bill could force a broad overhaul of school practices, create local implementation burdens, and require at least one new state position, with a fiscal note estimating roughly $118,000 in FY 2026 rising in later years. Members also raised concerns about possible impacts on federal pass-through funding and whether the bill was workable. Representative Papovich moved to retain HB 129, and the motion passed 7-0. The committee then heard HB 133, a Department of Safety/DMV bill involving follow-up when a person votes using an out-of-state license or non-driver ID and then does not obtain a New Hampshire credential within the statutory timeframe. DMV officials said the bill would require a $40,000 technology upgrade plus a new full-time position, and that the fiscal note did not include postage or fully account for the manual work needed to match records, send notices, and review responses. They said the proposal also raised broader tracking issues because it would apply not only to voters but to anyone who had not obtained a New Hampshire license within 60 days, and they questioned whether DMV was the proper agency to make those inquiries. Committee members pressed the department on how the 60-day clock would be determined, whether the bill could amount to a kind of poll tax or raise privacy concerns, and whether voter ID cards or other exceptions would avoid that problem. The department explained that New Hampshire offers a free voter identification card through town clerks for people without a license or state ID, but said the bill did not exempt those cards and that the DMV would still be asked to investigate status after voting. Officials also said the bill would be difficult to enforce, that some cases would be ambiguous, and that any response from the DMV would likely amount to a request for information rather than an enforceable consequence. No vote on HB 133 was taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• Increase funding in B-1 and B-1-3 programs for the 26-27 biennium.
• Moving to the trustee programs, one of my favorites is the music incubator program.
• The next one is the Texas Moving Image Industry Incentive Program.
• So that happened early in the program.
• our child care programs.

Bills: SB 1

Committee: Senate Finance

Keywords: campground safety, youth camp regulations, flood safety, emergency evacuation, health and safety standards

Summary: The committee began with Article I budget items for the Secretary of State. LBB staff outlined recommendations that would reduce the agency’s appropriation by about $40.3 million, including changes to HAVA funding, removal of one-time business system replacement money, and a rider directing the agency to use Fund 5095 first. Secretary Jane Nelson and staff then defended several exceptional items, especially additional staffing for elections and business filings, a new website, digitization of records, cybersecurity tools, and renovation of the James Earl Rudder Building. Members focused heavily on election administration, cross-checking voter rolls, Harris County complaints, call-center response times, and whether online voter registration should be expanded. No votes were taken; the discussion was informational and budget-focused. The committee then heard the Office of the Governor and trustee programs. LBB presented a recommended $2.4 million decrease for the governor’s office proper and a much larger decrease in trustee programs driven by one-time funding and unexpended balances, while still preserving major border security funding and victim assistance funding. Governor’s staff emphasized Texas’ economic growth, the importance of border security, and efforts to seek federal reimbursement for the roughly $11 billion Texas has spent on border operations. Members discussed whether shifting National Guard deployment to federal control could reduce state costs, and they also reviewed the music incubator program, the Governor’s University Research Initiative, and the semiconductor innovation consortium. Staff highlighted a $5 million late-added request for grants to protect nonprofits from violence and terrorism. Again, the exchange was largely explanatory, with no formal action. Finally, the committee took up the Texas Facilities Commission and lease payments for revenue bonds. LBB recommended major reductions overall, including removal of border wall construction funding and capital complex bond funding, but added money for higher utility costs, renovation of the Rudder Building, and additional facilities staff. George Purcell also noted stable maintenance-and-renewal funding and new riders related to the Texas State Library and Archives Commission building, tenant communications, and space utilization. For lease payments, LBB recommended a smaller appropriation tied to revenue-bond costs allocated across agencies. The discussion was informational, with members asking about the Rudder Building renovation, border wall progress, and capital complex construction timelines; no votes were recorded.