Transcript Highlights:

• us another reason to go out and to vote for you all.
• To go out and to vote for you all.
• We don't have to wait for legislation to implement it.
• to do the work and to deliver for the constituency.
• Is there a way for us to waive certain permitting, waive certain items in the protections of the ordinances

Committee: House House Energy, Environment & Natural Resources

Transcript Highlights:

• I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands
• Colleagues, I ask for a point of personal privilege to make a comment and then to ask for a moment of
• So it took ten and a half hours for this alert to go out.
• So with that, I'd like to ask for a moment of silence for the life of Malika, Molly Boone, who was eight
• For the motion to adjourn? Seeing none, Mr. Majority Leader?

Transcript Highlights:

• I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands
• We have to set a timer every week for two hours, you know, to be considerate of our wives so that we
• Colleagues, I ask for a point of personal privilege to make a comment and then to ask for a moment of
• So it took ten and a half hours for this alert to go out.
• So with that, I'd like to ask for a moment of silence for the life of Malika, Molly Boone, who was eight

Summary: The Arizona Senate convened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, confirmed attendance, and approved the prior journal. Several senators then used points of personal privilege to introduce guests and recognize visitors, including Chaplain Ron Lagata, an Air Force air traffic controller apprentice shadowing Senator Gabaldón, a guest of Senator Farnsworth, and a group connected to Arizona’s space industry and Special Olympics Arizona. Senator Bolick read a proclamation for “Not in Our State,” condemning human trafficking and calling on Arizonans, schools, churches, nonprofits, law enforcement, and businesses to work together to prevent trafficking and support victims. Senator Tothley then gave an emotional statement about the death of an eight-year-old girl in his community, criticized delays in the turquoise alert system, and urged statewide changes so alerts go out more quickly and broadly. The Senate observed a moment of silence in the child’s memory. The chamber then moved through second reading of a long list of bills and resolutions covering topics such as counseling after traumatic events, military permitting, EMS reciprocity, election procedures, court-ordered treatment, assisted living, juvenile detention education, Alzheimer’s funding, gaming appropriations, short-term rentals, law enforcement mask prohibitions, fire district formation, prison and correction officer issues, port of entry funding, appeals court structure, and congressional term limits. Several bills were also referred to committees, including measures on voting centers, candidate petition circulators, weather modification, federal land acquisition consent, bleed control kits, foreign donations, unemployment benefits, and SNAP purchases. The Senate also announced upcoming committee meetings and then adjourned until Monday, January 26, 2026, at 1:15 p.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• to the day-to-day application of such in the private lives of citizens.
• I want to start by thanking Senator Foreman for trying to prevent the application of foreign law that
• I wouldn’t personally mind for this bill to be sent to the amending order to address all the concerns
• No age limit for the marriage for the girl to get married.
• If we're afraid to go forward with what we stand for and what a statement as to what we stand for and

Committee: Senate Judiciary and Rules

Transcript Highlights:

• for anybody who might wish to file a cause of action.
• With that, I move to pass and stand for questions.
• With that, it moved to pass and stand for questions.
• With that, I moved to pass and yield for questions.
• With that, I yield for questions and moved to pass.

Bills: HB4248 , HB4429 , HB2588 , HB3472 , HB4317 , HB3462 , HB2035 , HB3501 , HB3127 , HB3143 , HB3144 , HB3260 , HB4321 , HB3011 , HB3522 , HB3530

Committee: Senate Business and Insurance

Keywords: HB4248, hemp beverage, hemp drinks, THC beverage, cannabis beverage, intoxicating hemp, age restriction, under 21, minor possession, youth access, public health and safety, Title 63, Oklahoma Statutes, retail sales, alcohol-style regulation, controlled substances, beverage regulation, proxy advisory services, shareholder rights, financial transparency

Transcript Highlights:

• So if I go to a career tech program right now and I graduate that program, I go to work for ABC Plumbing
• The adjustment will go on to correct that for the nine members.
• With that, I will yield to questions and move for passage. Member yields for questions.
• TPD and Oklahoma City police say this will make it easier for them to force that straw owner to give
• Move for adoption and yield to questions. Member yields.

Bills: HB3239 , HB4317 , HB4321 , HB4322 , HB3832 , HB3673 , HB3783 , HB3800 , HB2956 , HB3960 , HB2471 , HB3338

Committee: House Business

Keywords: veterinary medicine, definitions, animal husbandry, board of veterinary examiners, telemedicine, veterinarian-client relationship, accounting, CPA, licensure, educational requirements, reciprocity, professional conduct, elevator safety, inspections, Department of Labor, safety standards, regulatory compliance, funeral services licensing, funeral director, embalmer

Transcript Highlights:

• We were happy to provide some technical input on the bill and want to thank Representative Macri for
• We have concerns about what the cost is going to be for the OIC to review the actuarial reports.
• Thank you to the committee for hearing this bill.
• Thank you for the opportunity to provide comments today.
• I hope to have continuing conversations and look for solutions to a way to move forward that addresses

Bills: HB2384 , HB2402 , HB2505 , HB1904 , HB2145 , HB2182 , HB2211 , HB2242 , HB2247 , HB2329 , HB2339

Committee: House Health Care & Wellness

Keywords: continuing care retirement community, CCRC, life plan community, senior housing, retirement community, long-term care, assisted living, nursing home, actuarial analysis, solvency, financial oversight, resident contracts, entrance fee, disclosure statement, registration, insurance commissioner, DSHS, consumer protection, elder care, aging services

Transcript Highlights:

• Meltzer's responsibility to pay for it or to pay to reverse it.
• They had the ability to go in for 30 days to drop it off or vote in person for whatever centers near
• “And I know the voters are going to continue to ask for it.
• I'm going to tell you to get some counseling for your drinking.'
• could make to bring forward policy to pay for that.

Bills: SB1015 , SB1049 , SB1066 , SB1081 , SB1092 , SB1133 , SB1134 , SB1139 , SB1147 , SB1148 , SB1168 , SB1189 , SCR1001 , SCR1002 , SCR1005 , SCR1010

Committee: Senate Judiciary and Elections

Keywords: gender transition, detransition, healthcare liability, medical malpractice, youth protection, legal action, Arizona law, child safety, dependency cases, attorney regulation, foster care, legal representation, probation, dangerous crimes, children, Arizona Revised Statutes, criminal justice, juvenile offenses, rehabilitation, candidate

Transcript Highlights:

• cost to do what's asked for?
• It's unusual for me to say that, but I applaud you for bringing it. ...in this, and I'd love to work
• so that experts can lend their expertise to the rulemaking and permit decisions for autonomous vehicles
• DPS will need to verify receipt of that plan for the DMV AV commission to issue a permit, in addition
• In addition to, for example, a requirement for AVs to be able to comply not just with rules of the road

Bills: HB1540 , HB3837 , HB5571 , SB370 , SB2425

Committee: House Delivery of Government Efficiency

Keywords: government review, Texas Sunset Act, regulatory oversight, agencies, sunset provisions, autonomous vehicles, regulation, safety, criminal offense, Autonomous Vehicle Commission, registration, regulations, Level 4 automation, Level 5 automation, self-driving technology, traffic laws, permit system, collision reporting, safety standards, Automated Vehicle Commission

Transcript Highlights:

• That's what you want to do. Uh oh, this is for the next one. Okay. I'm sorry. All right.
• Just for clarity's sake in the amendment, currently what is the tax rate going to be, and then what would
• process on how you make this educated decision to go to the less risk product for now.
• Um, I'm going to carry it for him with y'all. You got a motion? Second. We got a second.
• Um, because I'm all for economic development, is there going to be any… I'm going to use a word, but

Bills: SB107 , HB158 , HB353 , HB354 , HB357 , HB181 , HB465 , HB526

Committee: Senate Finance and Taxation General Fund

Keywords: SSUT, simplified sellers use tax, sales tax distribution, municipal revenue, municipal population, annexation, deannexation, incorporation, boundary change, federal census, decennial census, Department of Revenue, local government finance, revenue sharing, municipal boundaries, population recalculation, probate judge, Boundary and Annexation Survey, Alabama municipalities, HB158

Transcript Highlights:

• The port is responsible for adding more than $1 billion to the regional economy, $12 billion to the Texas
• In closing, I'd like to thank you, Senator Hinojosa, for filing SB 2841 and for his support of the Port
• Anyone wishing to testify for or against Senate Bill 1369?
• Anyone else like to testify for or against Senate Bill 1013?
• impairs the person's ability to ambulate to qualify for parking privileges.

Bills: SB682 , SB1013 , SB1369 , SB1422 , SB2001 , SB2080 , SB2366 , SB2705 , SB2841

Committee: Senate Transportation

Keywords: memorial highway, Captain Kevin Williams, Firefighter Austin Cheek, Smith County, transportation, pedestrian right-of-way, sidewalk users, bicycle safety, micromobility, electric scooter, motor-assisted scooter, electric personal assistive mobility device, skateboard, roller skates, driveway crossing, alley crossing, traffic safety, yield law, Texas Transportation Code, vehicle-pedestrian collision

Summary: The Senate Transportation Committee heard several bills focused on transportation infrastructure, public safety, and local commemorations. SB 2841 would clarify the overweight corridor designation for the Port of Brownsville so all three statutorily approved bridges are treated uniformly for northbound and southbound overweight traffic; the Port of Brownsville testified in support, and the bill was left pending. SB 39 would restore the commercial motor vehicle “admission rule” framework in collision cases; Senator Birdwell explained the committee substitute, and the bill was later reported favorably. The committee also heard and later advanced SB 682, SB 1369, and SB 1422, which rename stretches of highway or a bridge in honor of fallen firefighters and military service members, with no opposition testimony and all left pending before final votes. The committee also heard SB 2366, which would create a grant program for short-line railroad projects through rural rail transportation districts for track, bridge, capacity, and restoration work. Senator Hughes and several witnesses from rural rail districts and rail advocacy groups supported the bill, while TxDOT explained current rail funding is limited and that the bill would be the first such grant program for Class 3 short lines; members discussed that the bill would need a floor amendment because state funds cannot be paid directly to railroads. SB 1013 would expand crosswalk protections under the Lisa Torrey-Smith Act to include certain driveway curb cuts along sidewalks; it was supported by the author and left pending before later being reported favorably. The committee also considered SB 2080, which would modernize port and navigation district rules by easing records and procurement requirements, exempting certain security and cybersecurity discussions from recording, and expanding some operational authority. Port Houston and the Texas Ports Association supported the bill, while the City of Corpus Christi raised concerns that the language could expand port economic-development authority beyond navigation purposes and affect local tax bases; the Port of Galveston also noted concerns about the filed version but supported the bill as presented, and the committee substitute was later reported favorably. SB 2001 would create specialty license plates and related parking/toll benefits for permanently disabled peace officers; SB 2705 would codify registration exemptions for certain farm equipment and some specialty plates. Both were supported by witnesses, adopted with committee substitutes where applicable, and reported favorably. Final votes on the reported bills were largely unanimous or near-unanimous, and the committee recessed after leaving some motions open briefly.

Transcript Highlights:

• There was a cultural shift that basically said for you to get a good job, you needed to go to college
• to build and then is going to operate for 100 years after that.
• to do so for up to 80 years.
• The demand for nuclear, the bipartisan demand for nuclear, is causing people to want to have the used
• for educational webinars on various topics related to nuclear, looking for written resources to support

Summary: The Advanced Nuclear Energy Committee met to hear a series of presentations on the economics, financing, workforce, and community impacts of advanced nuclear deployment in North Dakota. William Bridge of Nucleon Energy presented the committee’s economic impacts and private-sector financing report, estimating construction and operating job impacts, local spending, and state/local tax effects for hypothetical SMR projects. He said the report assumes first-of-a-kind costs are still high, used a $6 million per megawatt nth-of-a-kind proxy, and estimated peak construction workforces of about 500 for a 200-MW plant and 1,000 for a larger facility, with roughly 100 operating jobs for a 200-MW plant. Committee members questioned security costs, capital cost assumptions, water and transmission siting constraints, and whether the model included fuel and waste; Bridge said the report included initial fuel in capital cost and that waste disposal is funded through existing federal mechanisms. Lori Brady of the Nuclear Energy Institute then outlined national nuclear workforce needs and NEI’s strategic workforce planning efforts. She described declining labor-force participation, retirements, and the need for a much larger future workforce, and said NEI has organized recommendations around career awareness, pipelines, training and qualification, policy support, retention, and nontraditional recruitment. She highlighted tools such as the Nuclear Works career website, the Nuclear Energy Academic Roadmap, the new federal Energy and Natural Resources career cluster, and the Nuclear Uniform Curriculum Program for community colleges. Members asked about AI, timing for training relative to plant development, and whether advanced manufacturing would reduce staffing needs; Brady said AI is not expected to replace workers and that training timelines depend on the specific project and staffing plan. The committee also heard from Gary Yaco, mayor of Red Wing, Minnesota, who described Prairie Island’s role in his community. He said the plant provides a large share of local property tax revenue, supports well-paid jobs, contributes to emergency preparedness funding and training, and is broadly supported by the city despite periodic protests and public concerns. He emphasized the plant’s security, regular drills with local and federal responders, and the absence of problems with dry cask storage. Later, Benton Arnett of NEI discussed the current financing landscape for advanced nuclear, explaining how tax credits, federal loan support, off-take agreements, and new business models are helping projects move forward. He said early projects face high upfront costs and long lead-time procurement, but that investor confidence is improving as federal policy and regulatory streamlining continue. The committee asked about waste funding, comparisons with natural gas, the effect of political shifts on investor confidence, and whether the market will narrow to a few winning technologies; Arnett said the industry is still sorting that out, but expects clearer winners in the late 2020s and early 2030s. The meeting concluded with an introductory presentation from Julie Kazeraki of DOE’s Office of Energy Dominance Financing, who said the office is focused on accelerating nuclear deployment through financing support.

Transcript Highlights:

• for that statute to be changed to allow for multiple complainants to be listed?
• You can stay there for up to a year.
• Al passed Senate Bill 251 that permits multidisciplinary grant applications to be made.
• of applicants for those positions.
• For the board member to respond, for the parole board to respond to that legislator making that request

Committee: House A&B Judiciary Subcommittee

Transcript Highlights:

• I want to say a special thank you all to the staff for all.
• Thank you for trying to make me better, for trying to make me a little more aggressive at times.
• And I just want to say thank you for being my brother. Thank you for being a great uncle to Jack.
• And I just want to say thank you for being my brother. Thank you for being a great uncle to Jack.
• Thank you for the question. So As you know, drilling rigs are not affixed to the ground.

Bills: SB1287 , SB1983 , SB1796 , SB1806 , SB1558 , SB2135 , SB483 , SB1198 , SB1265 , SB2154 , SB2139 , SB1552 , SB2118 , SB1775 , SB259 , SB1344 , SB1380 , SB2007 , SB1572 , SB2074 , SB1423 , SB1425 , SB1502 , SB1503 , SB1833 , SB1561 , SB1555 , SB2044 , SB1749 , SB904 , SB1565 , SB1500 , SB667 , SB1484 , SB1562 , SB1644 , HR1045 , SB227 , SB1627 , SB1475 , SB1966 , SB2049 , SB1531 , SB80 , SB1734 , SB1630 , SB1894 , SB1975 , SB1432 , SB1437 , SB1812 , SB346 , SB710 , SB1489 , SB1614 , SB2045 , SB1250 , SB1304 , SB1501 , SB1946 , SB592 , SB65 , SB1257 , SB444 , SB640 , SB2178 , SB1242 , SB1642

Keywords: abstraction, licensing, Oklahoma Abstractors Board, criminal background, good moral character, SB1983, foster care, resource family partner, resource family partners, Department of Human Services, DHS, child welfare, foster homes, foster children, placement data, data sharing, de-identified data, aggregated data, sibling groups, placement disruptions

Transcript Highlights:

• governor</c><01:27:53.880><c> to</c> withheld for for the governor to withheld for for the governor
• c><01:28:16.800><c> give</c> we have reserves for that but to to give we have reserves for that but to
• Otto was asking to increase that for a caregiver to grow for up to five patients.
• </c> doesn't allow for a caregiver to grow doesn't allow for a caregiver to grow for<01:52:19.239><c>
• c> to</c><01:52:29.719><c> five</c> For a caregiver to grow for up to five patients.

Committee: House Consumer Protection & Commerce

Summary: The committee met on March 19, 2025, and first heard SB 137 SD2 HD1 relating to electric utilities. The Division of Consumer Advocacy and the Public Utilities Commission said they stood on their written comments, IBEW Local 1260 supported the bill, and Ulupono Initiative also supported it. Hawaiian Electric supported the intent but asked for an amendment, saying the bill’s definition of “acquiring entity” was too broad and could unintentionally cover purely local utility transactions. A later witness from Life of the Land supported the bill only if the merger/acquisition language were removed, arguing the PUC would not have a workable mechanism to let a cooperative intervene in a utility sale process. Committee members questioned whether the bill could still work without that section, and Ulupono said it was open to clarifying language but did not seek to remove the provision; the discussion ended without a vote in the excerpt provided. The committee then took up SB 1220 SD2 relating to a renewable gas tariff. The Division of Consumer Advocacy and the PUC again stood on written comments. HGas strongly supported the measure, saying it would create a faster, more cost-effective path for a voluntary renewable gas tariff without requiring a full rate case, while preserving PUC oversight and consumer protections. The Coalition for Renewable Natural Gas also supported the bill, emphasizing that it would expand consumer choice and help Hawaii’s clean energy goals while keeping the program voluntary and shielding non-participating customers from costs. Henry Curtis of Life of the Land opposed the bill, arguing that HGas already had an active rate case and could have raised the issue there, and that the proposal did not increase renewable gas supply or speed up acquisition; he called it a gimmick. In response, HGas said the bill was mainly a mechanism to speed filing and that the details would be worked out in a PUC docket. Committee members pressed HGas on whether the measure would actually add renewable gas, what source would be used, and whether customers would simply be paying more for the same gas; HGas said it had two projects in development, including banagrass and hydrogen-related work, and that the tariff would be a voluntary opt-in rate for customers seeking renewable natural gas to meet sustainability goals. No vote was taken in the excerpt provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• And to this end, Black Coloradans continue to advocate for and pioneer equity to achieve equality for
• Coloradoans continue to advocate for and pioneer equity to achieve equality for all.
• Coloradoans continue to advocate for and pioneer equity to achieve equality for all.
• Renewal fees for things like concealed carry permits. That's another $50 to $100 hit.
• to do these drills.

Transcript Highlights:

• to go by for the day, and for a majority leader's motion to effectuate that.
• to be mailed for failure to appeal in court.
• to be mailed for failure to appeal in court.
• House Bill 581 relates to a smart solar permitting platform for residential solar energy systems.
• We come to House Bill 1095, relating to high school students' completion of certain applications for

Transcript Highlights:

• The other thing we need time for is to get the test well drilled and confirm the water quality so that
• Brett Miller has made a motion to grant the extension for plans and specs to December.
• Yes, good to see you again. Thanks for being here. So. Wow. So we're asking for another $600,000.
• for the remaining capital program that needs to be done.
• to go forward for the permanent fix.

Summary: The committee met with a quorum, approved the April 16 minutes, and then took up several water-system funding and deadline matters. For Magnolia Plantation Water System, Division of Administration staff requested a long extension to complete plans, specifications, cost estimates, and matching-fund documentation for a wastewater treatment plant. After questions about the loan from LDH, the test well, and the approaching ARPA/state-fund spending deadline, members approved a shorter extension requiring plans and specifications by the end of the year, with the permit deadline remaining April 8, 2027. Members then considered St. Mary Parish Water and Sewer Commission No. 5’s request for an additional $619,850 to cover construction and engineering shortfalls and contingencies after a prior scope reduction. Staff explained the increase was tied to change orders and that the project was not expected to miss spending deadlines. The committee approved the additional funding. The committee also adopted revised phase two guidance to align emergency subfund rules with recently passed legislation, clarifying who may apply and the process for limited fiscal administrators and receiverships. Finally, members approved a $1.4 million emergency subfund request for the Tallulah water system to keep a temporary filtration skid in place while a limited fiscal administrator is appointed and a long-term fix is developed. The approval was made contingent on the appointment of the limited fiscal administrator, and staff said they would provide updated expenditure information and projections at the next meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• The other thing we need time for is to get the test well drilled and confirm the water quality so that
• Brett Miller has made a motion to grant the extension for plans and specs to December.
• Yes, good to see you again. Thanks for being here. So. Wow. So we're asking for another $600,000.
• And so the request is for emergency funds, which could then be utilized to pay for the skid and under
• for the remaining capital program that needs to be done.

Summary: The committee met with a quorum, approved the April 16 minutes, and then considered several water-system funding and deadline requests. For Magnolia Plantation Water System, members approved a deadline extension for plans and specifications to December 31, 2026, after hearing that the project still needed a test well, water-quality confirmation, and finalization of an LDH loan for matching funds. For St. Mary Parish Water and Sewer Commission No. 5, the committee approved an additional $619,850 to cover construction/engineering shortfalls and contingencies, bringing the grant total to $5,192,850 and requiring later JLCB approval. Members also approved revised phase two guidance, which updated emergency subfund language to align with recently passed legislation and clarified eligibility and process for limited fiscal administrators and fiscal administration. The committee then took up an emergency subfund request for Tallulah’s water system: staff explained that a temporary filtration skid must remain in place while permanent filters are designed and bid, and that the lease is expiring soon. After discussion of the timing, the need for a new engineer, and the possibility of a lease-purchase arrangement, the committee approved $1.4 million in emergency funding contingent on appointment of a limited fiscal administrator. Staff reported that the new payment process for the program is now moving funds more quickly and that updated expenditure projections will be provided at the next meeting. Members discussed the need to keep pushing projects toward closeout and acknowledged that some projects may need to be cut off if they cannot spend funds in time. The meeting ended with no further business and adjournment on a motion without objection.

Transcript Highlights:

• permit-to-drill reviews and six months for final authorization to inject, giving industry regulatory
• So I just basically want to touch on the air quality permits for a minute.
• to the authority of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality to issue permits for the land application
• Turning to the charge before the committee, SB 1145 transferred authority for permits for the land application
• to allow permits for anybody wanting to discharge into waters of the state, which is what this could

Committee: Senate Natural Resources

Summary: The committee heard introductory remarks from the new chair and members, who emphasized Texas’ energy leadership and the committee’s focus on natural resources, regulatory certainty, private property rights, and stewardship. The first agency update panel included the Railroad Commission, TCEQ, and the General Land Office. The Railroad Commission reported record oil and gas production, low flaring rates, progress on orphan well plugging, implementation of SB 1150 on inactive wells, new federal primacy for Class VI carbon sequestration permitting, and work on petroleum theft through the STOP theft task force. TCEQ described its broad environmental permitting and enforcement responsibilities, including air, water, waste, emergency response, and implementation of SB 1145 transferring land application permitting for produced water to TCEQ. The GLO discussed management of permanent school fund minerals, lease compliance, orphan well coordination, and emerging opportunities such as lithium extraction from brine and rare earth mining. Members questioned the agencies about orphan wells, bankruptcy as a cause of orphaning, priorities for plugging wells, contested permits, data center oversight, water rights, and the division of authority between the Railroad Commission and TCEQ. A recurring issue was the need for clearer jurisdictional lines, especially for treated produced water and related treatment, discharge, and land application activities. TCEQ said it was using existing TPDES and T-LAP frameworks, conducting rulemaking, and relying on technical staff and consortium data to develop site-specific permits. The Railroad Commission said it wanted clearer legislative guidance on where its authority ends and TCEQ’s begins. The committee then took up monitoring charges for SB 1145 and HB 49 on the treatment and beneficial reuse of produced water. Witnesses from the Railroad Commission, TCEQ, the Texas Independent Produced Water Association, the Texas Produced Water Consortium, and the Permian Basin Petroleum Association testified that produced water volumes are large and disposal capacity is tightening due to seismicity and pressure concerns. They argued that beneficial reuse, land application, and surface discharge could help sustain oil and gas production, but only if Texas creates prompt, predictable permitting pathways and liability certainty. TCEQ said it had received and was reviewing multiple discharge and land application applications, while consortium researchers reported that treated produced water can meet high water-quality standards and may be suitable for irrigation, river augmentation, and industrial use. Members pressed for faster permitting, clearer definitions, stronger standards, and more certainty about future capacity and agency roles.