Transcript Highlights:

• who are going through residency programs in Minnesota and our fair share of professional firm registrations
• Chiropractors also have the opportunity to maintain registrations in five different areas.
• Chiropractors also have the opportunity to maintain registrations in five different areas.
• The board is a small agency with 23 employees that serves more than 26,000 licensees and registrants.
• It appears like we're almost duplicating more legal action as far as the pharmacy board.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Summary: The Senate Health and Human Services Committee met on January 28, 2025, to review Governor’s budget proposals for several health-related licensing boards. The chair said no formal action would be taken and noted that final budget language was not yet available. The committee began with an overview from Bridget Anderson of the health-related licensing boards, who explained that the boards are fee-funded, operate as independent executive agencies, and handle licensing, complaints, rulemaking, and disciplinary matters. She also noted that the Board of Dentistry’s budget includes the Administrative Services Unit and criminal background check program, which can make the budget graphs appear larger than the dentistry board’s own operations. The Board of Dentistry requested funding for a new administrative staff position, estimating about $100,000 in salary, insurance, and fringe costs, to replace support lost when an administrative position was reclassified. Anderson said the board handled more than 300 complaints last year, with cases becoming more complex, especially involving surgical and implant procedures and imaging. Members asked about dental Medicaid access, but Anderson said that issue would be better directed to DHS’s Medicaid oral health division. The Board of Behavioral Health and Therapy requested a full-time position due to rapid growth in the number of regulated professionals, from about 4,000 in 2014 to nearly 10,000 now, and also sought authority to set a fee for out-of-state applicants under the Counseling Compact, with a cap of up to $100 though the board expects to charge much less. The Board of Podiatric Medicine asked to raise its fee ceiling, saying fees had not been increased since 1999 and that the board now faces a structural deficit of about $40,000 per year and declining reserves. Several senators expressed concern about “not-to-exceed” fee authority, calling it too open-ended and suggesting the legislature should scrutinize specific fee needs rather than approve broad ceilings. Similar concerns were raised during the Board of Chiropractic Examiners presentation, where the board sought $100,000 in additional spending authority and a fee increase after 32 years without an adjustment; members questioned the proposed ceiling approach and asked for more historical information before deciding. The Board of Dietetics and Nutrition Practice also discussed fee-setting authority, with the executive director explaining that the board had previously lowered fees without clear authority and later faced audit questions; she requested funding for a vacant administrative position, saying applications and revenues have increased sharply and no fee increase would be needed. The final presentation began with the Board of Pharmacy, which said it serves more than 26,000 licensees and oversees the Prescription Monitoring Program and opioid product registration. The board requested an extension of previously appropriated general fund dollars through fiscal year 2027 to continue paying legal costs tied to the insulin safety net lawsuit, emphasizing that this was not a new funding request but an extension of existing authority. No votes or formal actions were taken during the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• So we have duplicated, but you can't really get more than.
• This is a question, do we We have people that are licensed in HCS, or is that more of... a registration
• And then for our EMS industries and community health worker registration programs, we are asking for
• And we said, wow, I think there's a duplication of effort here. What say you, Commissioner?
• fee-for-service agency, so we can reduce and we have but it seems like we always like end up kind of almost duplicate

Bills: SB1, SB 1

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:

• Fund, and the Texas Share Fund is another fund that receives funding from the $1 fee on vehicle registration
• I found out about it being a lot of administrative burden, basically, if they submitted to us a duplicate
• Um, so those are important to us, but we do that by providing a registration to those individuals that
• Um, we maintain registration programs for securities and, uh, licensed financial, uh, service providers
• and the geosciences, correct, the fees collected for the licensures, the certifications and the registrations

Transcript Highlights:

• . $3.7 million and two FTEs for an oil and gas authorized pit registration. system.
• intended to be self-funded from fees and the bill... fiscal note anticipate a ramp-up period where registration
• the upcoming biennium, and I know we're getting close, well, a little over a year for the the registration
• coordination. when it takes the parks and wildlife, so that one's not doing, where they're not duplicating
• historic historical appropriations and expenditures of the commission, low-level waste disposal and registration

Bills: SB1, SB 1

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:

• HB 2667 adds duplicative state-level restrictions that are not narrowly tailored to address speculative
• This bill is overly broad and duplicative of existing state and federal law.
• proponent of this bill, Lexis, for providing insurance models to carriers without the required registration
• When we allow third-party vendors to bypass registration, we lose the ability to ensure that the algorithms
• proponent of this bill, Lexis, for providing insurance models to carriers without the required registration

Keywords: 1182, all

Summary: The House convened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, approval of the journal, and introductions of the Doctor of the Day and several guest groups, including families affected by pediatric cancer, Arizona Bleeding Disorders, and charter school representatives. Members also read a proclamation honoring Dr. Joseph Charles Torkelson for his long career in pediatric hematology/oncology and military service. The chamber then moved through multiple Committee of the Whole calendars, considering many bills and resolutions. On the first calendar, members adopted floor amendments and advanced HB 2117, HB 2744, HB 2751, HB 2917, HB 2939, HB 2957, HB 2970, and HCR 2038, with amendments generally described as technical fixes or clarifications. Notable discussion included HB 2957, which would protect non-Real ID data from sharing and preserve the choice between Real ID and non-Real ID, and HCR 2038, which addressed Colorado River conservation and expanded references to tribal communities and major population centers. All items on that calendar received due-pass recommendations. On later calendars, the House advanced additional measures including HB 2015, HB 2129, HB 2327, HB 2352, HB 2439, HB 2533, HB 2667, HB 2793, HB 2873, HB 2876, HCR 2044, HB 2014, HB 2055, HB 2145, HB 2185, HB 2267, HB 2413, HB 2418, HB 2440, HB 2661, HB 2665, HB 2763, and HB 2771, with several bills amended on the floor. Debate centered on housing assistance and corporate homeownership in HB 2667, homelessness coordination in HB 2533, school safety and firearms in HB 2076, parental rights in HB 2661, teen suicide prevention in HB 2665, and energy policy in HB 2267. HCR 2044, sent to voters, was defended as closing loopholes against discrimination and criticized by opponents as targeting diversity, equity, and inclusion programs. Most measures were approved by voice vote, but HB 2667’s proposed Villegas floor amendment was rejected on a recorded division vote of 23 ayes to 32 nays. Later, a motion to amend the Committee of the Whole report to include that rejected amendment also failed on a roll call vote of 22 ayes, 32 nays, and 6 not voting. HB 2267 also drew a division vote; after the final count, it was reported as passing as amended. The House adopted the Committee of the Whole reports, ordered the approved bills engrossed, and retained HB 2876 and HB 2720 on the calendar.

Transcript Highlights:

• with the administrative inefficiencies that 3 of those boards were suffering at HHSC and to try to duplicate
• These specific programs have experienced remarkable growth with a 60% increase in registrants and transfers
• boards across the country, Texas is not the highest fee when comparing the application and initial registration
• And Texas has one of the lowest subsequent registration fees in the nation.
• I'm sure we can find an expert in, looking for, I'm looking at your registration.

Transcript Highlights:

• Madam Speaker, recognizing the gentleman from Arundel. we don't have a duplication of efforts. we don't
• have a duplication of efforts.
• House Bill 844, Motor Vehicle Registration Fee Exemption for Unemployable Disabled Veterans, favorable
• House Bill 844, motor vehicle registration<01:39:09.240> fee<01:39:09.440> exemption<01
• :39:09.960> unemployable registration fee exemption unemployable registration fee exemption unemployable

Keywords: House streaming session for Thursday, March 19, 2026, 957, house, all

Summary: The House convened with 122 members present, opened with prayer, and approved the previous day’s journal. The chamber then took up two congratulatory resolutions: one honoring Layla Wishard of Hagerstown for winning gold with Team USA at the Junior Roller Derby Association World Cup in Australia, and another recognizing Delores Millhouse as the 2026 Maryland Mother of the Year. Both resolutions were read and adopted with applause. The House then considered a series of committee reports, primarily from the Committee on Economic Matters, and advanced multiple bills to third reading after adopting committee amendments and favorable reports. Measures included consumer contract protections in House Bill 103, workers’ compensation presumptions for hypertension in House Bill 347, broadband access and affordability in House Bill 382, housing and land-use changes in House Bills 548 and 894, data privacy in House Bill 711, franchise law changes in House Bill 730, a blockchain-based real property title pilot program in House Bill 810, bankruptcy exemptions in House Bill 1098, and telecommunications infrastructure protections in House Bill 1100. Several bills drew questions and were special ordered for further review. House Bill 711, the Data Privacy Act, prompted extended discussion about whether its geolocation provisions could affect stadium and venue security tracking; the sponsor said the bill was intended to close loopholes around cell phone and vehicle location data and would not change existing permission-based rules, but the bill was still special ordered until the next day. House Bill 894, the transit-oriented development bill, also drew questions about local government concerns and was special ordered, with the floor leader saying county and municipal groups were generally satisfied with the amendments. House Bill 1100 was also taken up after the amendments were adopted, and the title amendment process began as the transcript ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• There's no registration service for that.
• I have some concerns about being overly burdensome on registration requirements.
• It's only if you are a commercial beekeeper that you have to have registration.
• But it's very difficult when we don't have a registration where all our bees are.
• It's a little duplicative of 16 3 9, but it's on the books. The changes that are.

Transcript Highlights:

• >> Duplicity. >> Duplication. Anyway, yeah, duplication. >> Well, that ain't duplicity.
• >> Duplicity. >> Duplicity. >> Duplicity. >> Duplicity. >> Duplicity.
• Does she mean<04:07:46.560> duplicity? mean duplicity? mean duplicity?
• >> Duplic<04:07:52.640> duplicative. >> Duplic duplicative.
• >> Duplic duplicative.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This bill simply removes the requirement to hold a duplicative license for the same facility and the
• It prohibits license plate reader companies from Sharing sensitive vehicle registration information with

Transcript Highlights:

• Do we have your permission to delete one of those registrations?
• From confusing navigation and inaccessible mobile layouts to duplicative forms and broken search functions

Bills: HB565, HB3743, HB4310, HB5083, HB5129, HB5195, HB5331, HB5469, SB21, HB3185, SB 21

Keywords: constitutional amendment, fiscal impact, state budget, ballot measure, transparency in voting, management-to-staff ratio, state agencies, employee regulations, government efficiency, workforce management, public information, governing board, transparency, confidentiality, access rights, privacy, identifying information, state agency, consent, occupational license

Transcript Highlights:

• Agents Registration Act.
• the 18 agencies of the intelligence community are not wasting money, spending on things that are duplicative

Keywords: national security, intelligence community, Aaron Lucas, Joe Kent, John Eisenberg, China threat, terrorism, collaboration, oversight, intelligence capabilities

Summary: The committee meeting centered around significant discussions regarding national security and intelligence community leadership. Notably, nominees Aaron Lucas for Principal Deputy Director of National Intelligence, Joe Kent for Director of the National Counterterrorism Center, and John Eisenberg for Assistant Attorney General for National Security were introduced. Concerns were raised about the current state of U.S. intelligence capabilities, particularly in relation to threats posed by foreign adversaries such as China and ongoing risks from terrorism. The dialogue emphasized the necessity for robust oversight and the importance of collaboration within the intelligence community, as well as with international allies, to ensure effective security measures are in place.

Transcript Highlights:

• I've always thought there was a lot of duplication. Yes. Would that be correct? Mr.
• license and our criminal history takes place, information processing for our reports, sex offender registration
• And our sex offender registration is on page 12, along with criminal history records, and then we get

Summary: The committee met to review the Attorney General’s budget and related agency operations, beginning with Legislative Council staff walking members through compliance reports and a blue-sheet base budget document. Staff highlighted current-biennium items such as FTE changes, one-time appropriations, litigation funding, opioid settlement receipts, continuing appropriations, and major special and federal funds. Members asked for clarification on items including the Missing Indigenous People Grant Fund, the Internet Crimes Investigation Fund, and the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit grant funding. Assistant Attorney General Clare Ness then gave an overview of the office’s structure, staffing, and budget pressures. She emphasized the office’s broad statutory duties, the value of its legal services to state and local government, and concerns about attorney pay lagging behind other agencies. Members discussed whether attorney compensation should be benchmarked more consistently across state government and whether some legal work could be consolidated within the AG’s office. Ness also addressed questions about AG opinion turnaround times, boards-and-commissions training, the new-and-vacant FTE pool, operating expense cuts, office leases, and the state’s criminal justice information systems. The crime lab presentation drew significant attention. Director Jennifer Penner described severe space, safety, and infrastructure problems at the current lab, including cramped work areas, glycol leaks, outdated fire and burglar alarms, air-handling limits, and equipment failures that have delayed toxicology work. She said the 2024 study projected a much larger facility would be needed and that the preferred location would be near the current health department site, but in a new building. Members asked about possible evidence risks, backlog status, and whether the proposed building would solve the current problems; Penner said it would and noted backlogs have improved overall, though some delays remain. The committee also heard from the new Medicaid Fraud Control Unit director, who described the unit’s civil and criminal work, federal-state funding split, and examples of fraud such as billing for services not provided or upcoding. The gaming division reported continued growth in charitable gaming and e-tabs, with members expressing concern about large trust-account balances, site competition, and possible misuse of proceeds. Finally, BCI outlined its caseload, cybercrime work, missing Indigenous persons task force, and the surge in CSAM cyber tips; members asked about AI-generated CSAM, and the AG’s office noted that last session’s law increased penalties and expressly allowed AI-generated CSAM to be prosecuted like other CSAM. No formal votes or actions were taken beyond approval of the minutes.

Transcript Highlights:

• The committee uses electronic witness registration.
• However, some states require licensure or registration for off-installation FCC providers, creating a
• duplicative process.

Bills: HB 107, HB742, HB1639, HB1700, HB2071, HB2187, HB2402, HB2516, HB3211, HB4529, HB5342, HB694, HB923, HB4655

Keywords: sickle cell disease, registry, health data, confidentiality, healthcare access, human trafficking, first responders, health care, training, reporting, protection, cancer, female firefighters, health study, state health services, fire protection, telemedicine, teledentistry, telehealth, health records

Summary: The committee heard testimony on a series of health and human services bills and left each one pending after public testimony. HB 4655 would expand financial literacy instruction for youth aging out of foster care to include credit scores, predatory lending, scams, banking, budgeting, and related consumer topics; the sponsor and Buckner International described the need to protect foster youth from financial pitfalls. HB 923 would add three public members and one physician to the Texas Medical Disclosure Panel; supporters said it would improve informed consent and patient voice, while a witness raised concerns about a House amendment requiring a physician majority for decisions and senators questioned scope-of-practice limits. HHSC said the panel is an independent body and the bill expressly bars it from changing scope of practice.

Transcript Highlights:

• The substitute strikes necessary duplicative provisions included in the filed version of the bill.
• There are 14 people registered to testify, with overall registration at 45-4, 27 again.
• But your registrations are closed; you may now testify. All right, thank you very much.

Bills: SB231, SB584, SB600, SB668, SB841, SB986, SB1003, SB1244, SB1625, SB1960, SB1963, SB1964, SB2026, SB2056, SB2368

Keywords: temporary emergency electric energy facility, temporary generation, emergency power, backup generation, mobile generator, portable generator, grid resilience, power outage restoration, transmission and distribution utility, TDU, Public Utility Commission of Texas, PUCT, Utilities Code Section 39.918, competitive bidding, lease authorization, emergency procurement, bulk power system, locational marginal pricing, reliability model, black start

Bills: SB 2, SB 3, SB 4, SB 5, SB 6, SB 7, SB 8, SB 9, SB 10, SB 11, SB 12, SB 13, SB 14, SB 15, SB 16, SB 17, SB 18, SB 34

Keywords: flash flood, flood warning, outdoor warning siren, emergency alert, disaster preparedness, flood mitigation, Hill Country floods, Texas Water Development Board, municipalities, counties, local government mandate, public safety, grant program, backup power, weather siren, emergency management, flood-prone area, warning system, redistricting, election

Transcript Highlights:

• into custody within 1 hour, is provided a simple list of materials: their A number, their alien registration
• into custody within 1 hour, is provided a simple list of materials: their A number, their alien registration
• into custody within 1 hour, is provided a simple list of materials: their A number, their alien registration
• And um at least in the Senate, the sheriff's association said that it was duplicative of section 1983
• association said that it was duplicative association said that it was duplicative of<01:01:40.400

Bills: HF3477, HF3414, HF103, HF3661, HF3146

Keywords: civil rights, law enforcement, federal collaboration, accountability, state law, constitutional rights, color of law, 42 U.S.C. 1983, section 1983, civil action, damages, injunctive relief, attorney fees, law enforcement task force, federal-state cooperation, intergovernmental agreement, federal agency partnership, Minnesota Constitution, U.S. Constitution, police accountability

Bills: SJR37, SJR57, SCR8, SB8, SB108, SB125, SB251, SB318, SB378, SB379, SB396, SB472, SB487, SB503, SB533, SB565, SB583, SB608, SB650, SB686, SB689, SB707, SB710, SB763, SB854, SB875, SB916, SB924, SB925, SB958, SB961, SB965, SB987, SB988, SB1006, SB1019, SB1021, SB1024, SB1026, SB1038, SB1146, SB1185, SB1194, SB1202, SB1252, SB1253, SB1330, SB1343, SB1362, SB1497, SB1498, SB1499, SB1527, SB1547, SB1596, SB1697, SJR36, SJR12, SJR57, SJR37, SCR22, SCR12, SCR8, SB925, SB1362, SB565, SB765, SB62, SB666, SB707, SB888, SB687, SB847, SB1248, SB504, SB857, SB305, SB296, SB284, SB1497, SB1499, SB1498, SB241, SB304, SB621, SB1023, SB1024, SB686, SB371, SB204, SB609, SB670, SB850, SB854, SB413, SB1346, SB1033, SB1220, SB1073, SB810, SB1539, SB447, SB875, SB406, SB985, SB965, SB1119, SB1505, SB1194, SB1253, SB1215, SB1302, SB856, SB583, SB673, SB681, SB1172, SB1252, SB378, SB608, SB955, SB957, SB988, SB1019, SB1021, SB1120, SB251, SB541, SB379, SB1737, SB266, SB1415, SB1527, SB125, SB599, SB1330, SB53, SB916, SB1352, SB785, SB710, SB472, SB1450, SB1502, SB1566, SB414, SB1062, SB961, SB1038, SB578, SB711, SB746, SB942, SB1404, SB1448, SB1738, SB108, SB8, SB318, SB507, SB533, SB689, SB1026, SB1349, SB1355, SB1433, SB1434, SB1596, SB1403, SB1146, SB763, SB667, SB1059, SB617, SB1567, SB503, SB16, SB310, SB311, SB396, SB505, SB1209, SB1210, SB1470, SB264, SB924, SB1029, SB1185, SB1202, SB1358, SB1364, SB1569, SB1697, SB1376, SB1228, SB519, SB878, SB1350, SB462, SB1535, SB827, SB1585, SB207, SB1207, SB1619, SB1396, SB920, SB1484, SB1273, SB1741, SB7, SB927, SB1227, SB1229, SB1353, SB1366, SB1464, SB1709, SB1729, SB1733, SB1744, SB1772, SB1816, SB1841, SB2188, SB1147, SB879, SB1008, SB378, SB710, SB916, SB1019, SB1146, SB1194, SB1253, SB1499, SB213, SB925, SB1362, SR263, SR311, SR333, SCR8, SB2407, SB2722, SB2949, SB2407, SB2722, SB2949

Keywords: voter ID, citizenship, election integrity, constitutional amendment, voting rights, central bank digital currency, CBDC, Federal Reserve, digital dollar, digital currency, cashless payments, financial privacy, cybersecurity, government surveillance, financial surveillance, money laundering, terrorism financing, illicit finance, banking policy, monetary policy

Transcript Highlights:

• >> Duplicative. >> Duplicative. >> Duplicative. >> Well, that ain't duplicity.
• >> Duplicity. >> Duplicity. >> Duplicity. >> Duplicity. >> Duplicity.
• Does she mean<04:07:46.560> duplicity? mean duplicity? mean duplicity?
• >> Duplic<04:07:52.640> duplicative. >> Duplic duplicative.
• >> Duplic duplicative.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee first held a public hearing and then an executive session on Senate Bill 401, which DHHS described as a cleanup bill. Testimony from the department explained that the bill would repeal obsolete reporting requirements tied to a repealed municipal reimbursement program and to the now-repealed commission on demographic trends. No one testified in opposition, and the committee voted 12-0 ought to pass, placing the bill on the consent calendar. The committee then heard Senate Bill 402, which would eliminate certain non-compete agreements for physician associates going forward. Senator Gray introduced the bill, and a representative of the New Hampshire Society of Physician Associates said it would improve workforce recruitment and access to care without changing scope of practice or affecting existing agreements. Committee members asked about the length of current restrictions and whether the change would make New Hampshire more attractive to PAs. The committee voted 12-0 ought to pass and sent the bill to the consent calendar. Next, the committee took up Senate Bill 426, which would repeal the permissible fireworks committee. Senator Uler and the deputy state fire marshal said the committee’s original purpose had been overtaken by later changes adopting federal fireworks standards, and that the fire marshal now has the necessary authority. The committee voted 12-0 ought to pass and placed the bill on the consent calendar. Finally, the committee began hearing Senate Bill 469, a DMV modernization bill allowing electronic signatures in place of wet signatures for certain motor vehicle title and registration processes. Senator Lang, Carvana, the New Hampshire Auto Dealers Association, Copart, and DMV staff all supported the measure, saying it would reduce delays, errors, and paperwork burdens. Members asked about AI, consumer protections, costs, and how electronic signatures would work in practice, including in cases involving deceased owners. The transcript cuts off during that hearing before any committee action on SB 469.

Transcript Highlights:

• They do an awful lot of inspections and, of course, registrations, and they also do all the testing for
• They do an awful lot of inspections and, of course, registrations, and they also do all the testing for
• They do an awful lot of inspections and, of course, registrations, and they also do all the testing for
• inspections and of course registrations inspections and of course registrations and<00:05:53.199
• maybe there were a lot of duplicate maybe there were a lot of duplicate names<00:56:19.960> on

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee heard an overview from the Agriculture Commissioner on the department’s major divisions and staffing. He described the Office of the Commissioner, Agricultural Development, Pesticides, Regulatory Services, Weights and Measures, Animal Industry, Plant Industry, and Soil Conservation, noting that many programs are federally funded or supported by dedicated fees and fines. He said the department has 44 full-time positions plus one DoIT employee shared with other agencies, and that HR services are now contracted through Administrative Services. He also explained that Soil Conservation is administratively attached to the department and funded through Moose Plate grants and county contributions, not direct state funding. Members asked about specific program functions and issues, including weights and measures inspections, animal health, bird flu response, internships, invasive species, and the Big E/New Hampshire building. The commissioner said weights and measures covers nearly all commercial measuring devices and products sold by weight, and that inspectors are currently part-time police officers, though the department is discussing removing that requirement. He said the department is actively involved in bird flu monitoring, including regular calls with USDA and the state veterinarian and collecting milk samples from dairy farms. On invasive species, he focused on Japanese knotweed and bittersweet, saying the department has only one staff person working on the issue, mainly as a coordinator with DOT and towns, and that eradication is extremely difficult. He also said the department does not run student internships and refers inquiries to UNH Cooperative Extension. The committee discussed budget and revenue issues, including three new general fund positions, one of which is the assistant commissioner and another a biological scientist for invasive species. The commissioner said the department had been in “triage mode,” that an assistant commissioner was needed because of workload, and that the department is a net positive to the General Fund each year. He said some fees and fines have not been updated in decades and would require legislation to change, including a proposed $5 fee for each animal database certificate to help fund a system that costs about $250,000 annually to maintain. In response to questions about budget reductions, he said the department protected personnel, reduced the cost-of-care fund, fair grants, and land preservation funding to about $25,000 each, and did not plan to buy new vehicles or computers. He also said he could not support including the $50,000 Conservation District resilience grant program in his budget under the current reduction targets, though he remained hopeful it might be funded another way.