Transcript Highlights:

• four inputs that affect the cost of housing: the cost of land, the cost of materials, the cost of labor
• With the cost of materials, labor, and money increasing by the day with no end in sight, the legislature
• The primary factors influencing the cost of housing are the price of labor and building materials, interest

Bills: HB24 , HB2015 , HB2149 , HB2559 , HB2701 , HB2797 , HB3172 , HB24

Committee: House Land & Resource Management

Keywords: zoning, public notice, local government, residential development, protests, water conservation, municipal utility districts, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, environmental regulation, groundwater management, nonconforming uses, zoning regulations, land use, property rights, municipal authority, municipal moratorium, development moratorium, property development, subdivision, site plan

Transcript Highlights:

• artistic talent with<00:24:07.919><c> hands-on</c><00:24:08.720><c> agricultural</c><00:24:09.440><c> skills
• </c><00:24:09.760><c> and</c> with hands-on agricultural skills and with hands-on agricultural skills

Keywords: 1136, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• who's performing better at a higher level and is demonstrating greater proficiency and mastery of the skills
• And there are people that have a better aptitude and better skills for the type of work that we do.
• then another part of that is that we want to make sure that the folks that are in those fields are skilled

Bills: HJR144 , HJR218 , HB40 , HB 101 , HB 112 , HB146 , HB168 , HB214 , HB413 , HB1523 , HB493 , HB521 , HB594 , HB557 , HB305 , HB549 , HB854 , HB 1057 , HB 1052 , HB842 , HB3174 , HB3311 , HB2486 , HB3196 , HB824 , HB 1039 , HB2529 , HB2713 , HB4936 , HB4995 , HB4830 , HB4864 , HB5219 , HB5263 , HB5154 , HB2674 , HB5525 , HB5623 , HB2545 , HB2587 , HB2625 , HB5520 , HB5436 , HB4926 , HB1573 , HB5165 , HB4811 , HB5081 , HB4755 , HB3179 , HB4310 , HB4611 , HB2159 , HB4626 , HB3637 , HB3153 , HB3066 , HB2786 , HB2966 , HB638 , HB640 , HB876 , HB497 , HB5539 , HB4809 , HB5308 , HB4687 , HB4070 , HB4421 , HB4412 , HB3284 , HB3369 , HB3420 , HB3449 , HB4098 , HB4281 , HB4120 , HB4504 , HB4370 , HB 1106 , HB2370 , HB2404 , HB3863 , HB2407 , HB2253 , HB2273 , HB2040 , HB1586 , HB3788 , HB3993 , HB4690 , HB4309 , HB4696 , HB2308 , HB 1142 , HB1533 , HB1621 , HB2242 , HB2012 , HB2193 , HB2442 , HB2464 , HB2348 , HB2313 , HB2289 , HB1942 , HB2011 , HB1629 , HB2993 , HB3592 , HB3824 , HB4076 , HB4535 , HB4623 , HB4773 , HB 1091 , HB5115 , HB5515 , HB3372 , HB5659 , HCR118 , HB 1233 , HB2239 , HB2379 , HB2863 , HB3368 , HB3787 , HB3815 , HB3898 , HB4023 , HB4285 , HB4329 , HB4331 , HB4429 , HB4646 , HB4904 , HB5200 , HB5320 , HB5651 , HB5662 , HB5668 , HB5670 , HB5672 , HB5674 , HB5676 , HB5679 , HB5688 , HCR108

Keywords: regional mobility, transportation authority, local law, constitutional amendment, public projects, Texas energy fund, energy efficiency, retail electric customers, electric generating facilities, business court, civil procedure, litigation, jurisdiction, arbitration, Texas State Guard, task force, professionalization, state missions, critical infrastructure, science park district

Transcript Highlights:

• over the last six years and the level of theft and fraud, in addition to the rapid change and the skill
• over the last six years and the level of theft and fraud, in addition to the rapid change and the skill
• over the last six years and the level of theft and fraud, in addition to the rapid change and the skill

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We would have to be moved into HSTA, which is a labor law change.
• We would have to be moved into HSTA, which is a labor law change.
• have to be moved into HSTA, which<00:31:21.200><c> is</c><00:31:21.360><c> a</c><00:31:21.520><c> labor
• </c><00:31:22.960><c> So,</c><00:31:23.200><c> it's</c> which is a labor law change.
• So, it's which is a labor law change.

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on HB 2485, which would require cardiovascular screening for student athletes. The Department of Education and Department of Health said they support the bill’s intent but noted that many screenings are already part of existing school-entry and well-child exams. The Attorney General’s office asked for clarifying language on who performs the screenings, where results go, how “positive findings” are defined, how referrals would work, and whether funding would be appropriated if DOE must hire health professionals. The American Heart Association strongly supported the bill, citing the risk of sudden cardiac arrest in young athletes and arguing that sports physicals are an effective opportunity for early detection. No vote was taken, and the committee moved on after testimony. The committee then heard HB 89, concerning a school psychologist working group and possible licensing or credentialing of school psychologists. The Department of Education and Board of Psychology supported the measure. The Hawaii Psychological Association said it supports licensing school psychologists but asked to be included in the working group, arguing it is an important stakeholder. The Hawaii Association of School Psychologists opposed including HPA, saying the issue is between school psychologists and DCCA and that HPA is not part of their organization. Testimony and discussion focused on the long-running disagreement over whether school psychologists should be regulated under the Board of Psychology or another mechanism, and on title protection and scope of practice. No action was reported during this portion. The committee also took up HB 2445, relating to standardized emergency responses for immigration enforcement at or near schools. The Department of Education said it already issued internal law-enforcement guidance and questioned whether the bill was necessary, while also raising concerns about the bill’s 1,000-foot buffer language and the limits of school authority over activity off campus. The Board of Education echoed those concerns and suggested the bill may need clearer definitions. Supporters, including the White Coalition for Immigrant Rights, the Legal Clinic, and an attorney testifying on Know Your Rights training, argued that recent federal changes have increased ICE activity near schools and that a law is needed to ensure clear, public protocols, staff training, and family protections. A student testifier said the measure was a top priority of the state student council. The transcript ends during testimony, with no vote or final committee action shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• But it is true we do have some areas where just in terms of from a national perspective we have high labor
• Um, some areas where just in terms of from a national perspective we have high labor costs, we have high
• perspective</c><00:35:10.480><c> we</c><00:35:10.720><c> have</c><00:35:10.800><c> high</c><00:35:11.040><c> labor
• </c> national perspective we have high labor national perspective we have high labor costs,<00:35:11.680

Committee: Senate Ways and Means

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm the interim associate vice chancellor for labor relations with Minnesota State Colleges and Universities
• associate Vice I'm the interim Vice CH associate Vice Chancellor<00:59:35.520><c> for</c><00:59:35.640><c> labor
• </c><00:59:35.880><c> relations</c><00:59:36.280><c> with</c> Chancellor for labor relations with Chancellor
• for labor relations with Minnesota<00:59:36.799><c> state</c><00:59:37.039><c> colleges</c><00:59:37.359
• Christopher Dale, interim Associate Vice Chancellor for Labor Relations with Minnesota State Colleges

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• from the Committee on Commerce Finance and Policy and be re-referred to the Committee on Workforce, Labor
• from the Committee on Commerce Finance and Policy and be re-referred to the Committee on Workforce, Labor
• on</c> re-referred to the committee on re-referred to the committee on Workforce<02:19:08.960><c> labor
• <02:19:09.399><c> and</c><02:19:09.639><c> economic</c><02:19:10.200><c> development</c> Workforce labor
• and economic development Workforce labor and economic development finance<02:19:11.719><c> and</c><02

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• So the professional ones, as the governor looked at that, if you go to the Bureau of Labor Statistics
• So the professional ones, as the governor looked at that, if you go to the Bureau of Labor Statistics
• So the professional ones, as the governor looked at that, if you go to the Bureau of Labor Statistics
• So the professional ones, as the governor looked at that, if you go to the Bureau of Labor Statistics
• Patti Anderson: So the professional ones, as the governor looked at that, if you go to the Bureau of Labor

Committee: House Taxes

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• The water delivery fee that we charge pays for all of the operational expenses, including labor expenses
• the labor expenses um moving that off the labor expenses um moving that off would<00:25:50.360><c> probably
• I really couldn't say how they're constructed, you know, their labor divisions or anything.
• I really couldn't say how they're constructed, you know, their labor divisions or anything.

Committee: House Agriculture & Food Systems

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• challenge we face, and many businesses face, is demographic trends that forecast an increasing shortage of labor
• What we're doing is putting money into local economies for labor, for gasoline, for vehicles, for materials
• What we're doing is putting money into local economies for labor, for gasoline, for vehicles, for materials
• What we're doing is putting money into local economies for labor, for gasoline, for vehicles, for materials
• What we're doing is putting money into local economies for labor, for gasoline, for vehicles, for materials

Committee: Senate Transportation

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• He explained that the branch has a variety of employee groups, including three labor unions and many
• He said the branch has a variety of employee groups, including three labor unions and many unrepresented
• this fall and this winter, and one of the main reasons that they've been giving you is that their labor
• this fall and this winter, and one of the main reasons that they've been giving you is that their labor
• The main reasons that they've been giving you is that their labor costs are increasing in order to keep

Committee: Senate Judiciary and Public Safety

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I was previously in the Labor Committee, and this is my fourth term on this committee. Hi, thanks.
• He indicated that it was more than enough to go to the PLRB, the Labor Relations Board, for unfair practices
• to</c><01:24:09.480><c> the</c><01:24:10.000><c> plrb</c><01:24:11.000><c> the</c><01:24:11.199><c> Labor
• </c> than enough to go to the plrb the Labor than enough to go to the plrb the Labor Relations<01:24:

Committee: House Election Law

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The House Election Law Committee held an orientation and then opened a public hearing on House Bill 67-FN-A, which would make permanent the use of accessible voting machines in local elections and provide funding for additional systems. The chair outlined committee procedures, noting a heavy workload of roughly 70 to 80 bills, mostly Tuesday meetings, likely time limits on testimony, and a default of executive session unless a bill is specifically noticed. Members and staff were introduced, and the Secretary of State’s office described its election-related responsibilities, including voter registration, cybersecurity, ballot-counting equipment, and the Help America Vote Act (HAVA) program. Secretary of State David Scanlan and Deputy Secretary Aon Hennessy explained the current pilot program created by last year’s law, which requires accessible voting systems for local elections and allows the state to share machines with municipalities during the first half of 2025. They said the office has made hardware available, but towns have raised concerns about the speed of implementation and the cost of programming each election, especially for towns with multiple ballot questions. Scanlan said the state is also vetting longer-term options, including devices that could remain in polling places year-round, and suggested the committee consider delaying the bill’s effective date to January 1, 2026 to better align with implementation needs. Hennessy said the current state devices are older and complicated to reset for each election, and estimated programming costs could be about $600 for a small single-election ballot and much higher for towns with multiple elections. Supporters of the bill emphasized the importance of accessible voting for people with disabilities. Representative Robert Wy said the measure builds on 2024 law and would move the pilot into a permanent agreement, citing ADA concerns and prior testimony about discriminatory voting experiences. Fred Forier, a legally blind voter from Exeter, testified that accessible voting systems allow him to vote privately and independently and urged support for the bill. Committee members asked about the gap if the pilot ends before a permanent system is in place and about the cost range for programming. No vote was taken during the hearing, and the committee moved on after public testimony began.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The Environment and Agriculture Committee opened by noting member absences and then reviewed the governor’s HB 2 trailer bill language creating a solid waste site evaluation committee. The chair explained that Finance would want the committee’s input on the proposal and also announced a temporary change to the committee’s schedule, with additional Wednesday meetings planned around school vacation. The committee then moved into a work session on several bills. On HB 150, Representative Ktoa offered a simple amendment changing food-processing language from “washed and rinsed” to “cleaned and sanitized” in the processing area. Members agreed the change better matched food safety practice, and the committee indicated support for advancing the bill. On HB 307, dealing with homestead food production areas, members discussed proposed amendment language that would add clearer sanitary requirements, including handwashing access, sanitary storage, sanitizable food-contact surfaces, and pest exclusion. The committee also discussed whether to replace “potentially hazardous food” with “time temperature control safe food,” but several members favored keeping the existing term because it is already well defined in food safety law. The bill was held for further amendment work rather than being executed immediately. The committee spent substantial time on solid waste legislation. For HB 479, members recalled a prior plan for a letter to the solid waste working group and agreed to proceed with the bill in executive session, with an offer of drafting help from Representative Bixby. For HB 77, which would require DES to establish site-specific setback distances for proposed new landfills, Representative Penza said his amendment was not ready yet but was close, and the bill was left for further discussion. The most detailed discussion was on HB 2115, which would require landfill permit applicants to submit a report on the project’s harms and benefits. Representative Germana explained an amendment that would replace section one, expand the list of benefits to include economic potential and infrastructure improvements, and set up a third-party review process in which the applicant submits a list of reviewers, DES screens the list, and the commissioner selects a reviewer if no agreement is reached within 60 days. Members asked about who could serve as contractors, whether they had to be local, and how DES would judge qualifications; the response was that environmental engineering and similar firms could be used, local or outside the community, and that the process would remain somewhat flexible. Representative H. Haskins asked whether the legislature or subcommittee would be formally notified of preliminary review problems, and the chair said no additional notification process would be built in beyond existing practice. The committee planned to continue work on the bills in upcoming executive sessions, including after school break.

Transcript Highlights:

• Seeing none, the motion forces the adoption of the Business, Labor, and Technology Committee report.
• And so this requires the Colorado Commission on Aging, the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment
• This requires the Colorado Commission on Aging, the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment, and
• Committee on Business, Labor, and Technology.
• SR9 will labor<04:47:14.320><c> until</c><04:47:14.638><c> Thursday,</c><04:47:14.958><c> May</c><04:

Keywords: 981, all

Transcript Highlights:

• . >> Senate File 5, hospital bankruptcy proceedings, an act relating to counties, sponsored by labor.
• Your committee number 10, labor, health, and social services will meet Monday, February 16th upon noon
• Your committee number<03:22:34.080><c> 10,</c><03:22:34.479><c> labor,</c><03:22:34.880><c> health,</
• c><03:22:35.200><c> and</c><03:22:35.680><c> social</c> number 10, labor, health, and social number 10
• , labor, health, and social services<03:22:36.560><c> will</c><03:22:36.800><c> meet</c><03:22:37.279

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• He was chairman of Labor and Industry. He was chairman of Labor and Industry.
• rates are going to stay flat or go down, um, because there's a lot of, um, a lot of it is tied to the labor
• rates are going to stay flat or go down, um, because there's a lot of, um, a lot of it is tied to the labor
• rates are going to stay flat or go down, um, because there's a lot of, um, a lot of it is tied to the labor
• with the fact that they regard us as being overly reliant on tourism and A lot of it is tied to the labor

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on Senate Bill 110, as amended by the Senate, which would establish fees for alteration-of-terrain applications and direct the Department of Environmental Services to adopt rules for a permit-by-notification process for certain projects. Trisha Milo introduced the bill for Senator Lang and noted that the department had worked on the amended language. Matt Mayberry of the New Hampshire Homebuilders Association said the industry strongly supported the bill, describing it as a public-private partnership that would speed review for developers without affecting local control, with builders paying the costs rather than taxpayers. Members focused heavily on how the bill’s fee structure and permit thresholds would work, especially for projects near shoreland, wetlands, and protected water bodies. Representative Opel raised concerns about whether the bill reduced review of habitat and shoreland impacts or shifted costs unfairly; Philip Trobridge of DES explained that the bill does not eliminate those reviews and that shoreland projects still receive greater scrutiny. He said the bill creates different tiers, with the permit-by-notification process applying to certain projects between 100,000 and 150,000 square feet that are not in protected shoreland, while larger or shoreland-affected projects remain under the standard review process. He also said the proposed fees were based on sustaining the program, covering added habitat and species review responsibilities, and keeping reviews efficient. Trobridge said the new fee structure would generate about $1.2 million in additional revenue and help fund additional staff and related program costs. He stated that the department had worked with the regulated community and believed the fees were fair and reasonable, though he acknowledged the bill’s wording was confusing and that the threshold could be revisited later if the new process works well. Members also discussed how the state process interacts with local approvals, and Trobridge said both state and local approvals are required before a project can begin. No vote or final action was taken in the portion of the meeting provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• 55.520><c> of</c> and fines identical to the Department of and fines identical to the Department of Labor
• and Industry from the state Labor and Industry from the state general<02:44:57.920><c> fund</c><02:44
• For example, the Department of Labor<02:49:28.000><c> and</c><02:49:28.160><c> Industry</c><02:49:28.479
• :49:28.720><c> to</c><02:49:28.880><c> keep</c><02:49:29.279><c> uh</c><02:49:29.439><c> their</c> Labor
• and Industry gets to keep uh their Labor and Industry gets to keep uh their funds<02:49:30.800><c> uh

Committee: Senate Judiciary and Public Safety

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Well, I would have to say that I know exactly why: because we had labor in the Fish and Game Committee
• that I know exactly why because<01:17:05.400><c> we</c><01:17:05.679><c> had</c><01:17:06.000><c> labor
• </c><01:17:06.679><c> the</c><01:17:07.000><c> labor</c><01:17:08.080><c> in</c><01:17:09.080><c> uh<
• /c> because we had labor the labor in uh because we had labor the labor in uh fishing<01:17:09.560><c

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The discussion focused on a cannabis legalization/regulation bill and whether it should be retained for further study or moved forward. Members debated the fiscal impact, with one side emphasizing that the bill would cost about $7.1 million in the first two years before generating revenue, while supporters argued the House should make a statement in favor of legalization despite likely opposition from the Senate and governor. There was also disagreement over strategy: some said retaining the bill until closer to the next election would give the issue more visibility, while others said delaying would only avoid sending a bill the Senate was unlikely to take up anyway. A major point of contention was whether cannabis should be regulated by a new cannabis commission or placed under the Liquor Commission. Supporters of the Liquor Commission argued it already has enforcement infrastructure, especially for age restrictions, and could handle cannabis more efficiently without creating a new bureaucracy. Opponents said cannabis is a different industry that would require specialized expertise, and they objected to expanding the Liquor Commission, which they described as unpopular and costly. The committee also discussed past versions of the bill, including concerns about limited licenses and the perception that the earlier approach favored large businesses. Members reviewed specific provisions such as licensing fees, THC limits, and cultivation categories. One member noted a $10,000 fee for retail cannabis stores and cannabis product manufacturers authorized to perform extractions, while a smaller tier-one cultivator fee was described as a lower-cost option for small growers. There was also discussion of whether the bill would allow sales through general retail outlets or only dedicated cannabis stores, and whether plants and seeds were covered. No final vote or action was clearly recorded in the excerpt, but the main procedural question was whether to retain the bill for more work or advance it as written.

Transcript Highlights:

• online, and then the students have to actually come to campus one day out of the week to take their skills
• online, and then the students have to actually come to campus one day out of the week to take their skills

Summary: The Tribal and State Relations Committee met at Standing Rock with tribal council members, state legislators, and agency representatives to discuss state-tribal coordination and local priorities. Early discussion focused on process concerns, including the short agenda time and the need for better communication, more advance notice, and more relevant state department staff at future meetings. Tribal leaders asked for lists of state tribal liaisons and bills affecting tribes, and state members said they would follow up, share grant and deadline information, and plan another meeting in Bismarck with program experts and agency staff. A major portion of the meeting centered on health, child welfare, law enforcement, housing, infrastructure, and sovereignty issues. Tribal speakers said rural health transformation funding and other state programs often do not fit direct-service tribes or IHS-funded systems, and they raised concerns about Medicaid, ICWA, foster care delays, human service zones, housing shortages, and the placement of Native children off-reservation. They also discussed missing and murdered Indigenous people, search-and-rescue cooperation, cross-deputization, extradition and banishment ordinances, and the need for stronger law enforcement partnerships that respect tribal sovereignty. Other concerns included poor roads, water and sewer needs in Sioux County communities, census accuracy, and the impact of data centers and other development on water and health. Economic development and regulatory issues were also discussed. Standing Rock representatives raised concerns about charitable gaming and e-pull tabs, saying the machines function like Class III gaming and have harmed tribal revenue while spreading into local businesses. They also described problems with county-issued fireworks permits and state/county liquor licensing rules that they said undermine tribal authority within reservation boundaries. In response, legislators said the committee would continue to look at these issues, and one member suggested possible legislation such as limiting e-tabs near tribal lands. The committee also heard from Joseph McNeil of Sage Development Authority about a 235-megawatt wind project on tribal, allotted, and fee land; he said federal permitting delays have stalled the project and asked for state support to help move it forward. The meeting concluded with a presentation from Dave Archambo of Wojou, a nonprofit focused on land regeneration, buffalo, food sovereignty, cultural programming, and youth wellness. He described the organization’s work on buffalo processing, gardening, fishing, hunting, language, and arts programs, and framed it as a response to historical trauma and community healing. The committee then broke for lunch and planned to resume with the Wojou presentation after the recess.