Transcript Highlights:

• So the ultimate check and balance on your concern, because I would share your concern, I don't want to
• But the ultimate check and balance is it takes 38 states, or...
• And you believe that is sufficient enough of a check and balance to prevent a runaway convention, for
• was one of the many great things that the framers of our Constitution put in place as a check and balance
• And I hope that people back home realize that that is a significant check and balance.

Summary: The Senate took up and passed Senate Bill 945, which concerns political shareholder proposals by insurers and insurance holding companies. Senator Hughes argued the bill would protect Texas-based insurers from activist shareholder pressure, especially proposals aimed at limiting insurance coverage for oil and gas companies for ESG or political reasons. The motion to suspend the regular order was adopted over objection, and SB 945 passed to engrossment on a 20-10 vote with one present not voting. The chamber also passed Senate Bill 1117, allowing any Texas-licensed dentist to administer botulinum toxin in oral or maxillofacial regions for aesthetic purposes, and House Joint Resolution 98, renewing Texas’s application for an Article 5 Convention of States to propose amendments on fiscal restraints, federal power limits, and term limits. Both measures advanced after debate and roll-call votes; SB 1117 passed unanimously after suspension of the three-day rule, and H.J.R. 98 was adopted on a 17-14 vote. Members then approved several other measures, including the committee substitute for House Bill 142 on HHSC’s Office of Inspector General and Medicaid overpayment recovery, Senate Bill 2373 on AI-enabled financial fraud and deepfake/phishing schemes, Senate Bill 2221 on fraudulent UCC financing statements, and Senate Bill 2681 on the basis for third-party voter-registration challenges. The Senate also adopted a resolution authorizing a Texas Life Monument replica at the Capitol complex, and passed S.J.R. 59 creating funds for Texas State Technical College capital needs. The body debated and passed Senate Bill 946, which would bar credit discrimination against organizations based on social, political, religious, or similar value-based considerations and require credit decisions to rest on creditworthiness. Senators raised concerns that the bill could create a special protected class for non-human entities or conflict with existing state policies, but the bill advanced to engrossment on a 20-11 vote. The Senate also passed Senate Bill 2477 to ease office-to-residential conversions in large cities after adopting an amendment negotiated with municipal stakeholders, and began consideration of Senate Bill 715 on ERCOT reliability requirements for generators, including existing generation, with extensive debate over impacts on renewables, power purchase agreements, and grid reliability.

Transcript Highlights:

• Some budgets are just balanced with imaginary money. This is borrowing from imaginary money.
• Some budgets are just balanced with imaginary money. This is borrowing from imaginary money.
• Some budgets are just balanced with imaginary money. This is borrowing from imaginary money.
• Because every budget is balanced. Some budgets are just balanced with imaginary money.
• I move to lay over the balance of the calendar to Wednesday, February 11th, 2026.

Keywords: 981, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The potential for cost savings and the desire to balance rate pressures is exactly why West Virginia
• rate pressures is desire to balance rate pressures is exactly<00:15:57.200><c> why</c><00:15:57.400>
• The overall goal, think of it this way, is that the size of Kentucky Power's balance sheet is this big
• </c> balance sheet is is this big right now. balance sheet is is this big right now.
• sheet the same time to promote balance sheet the same time to promote affordability<00:30:49.200><c>

Keywords: Meeting Start 00:00:00 Attendance Roll Call 00:01:28 Introduction of Guests 00:02:08 American Electric Power and Kentucky Power Presentation 00:03:31 SB 89 Discussion 00:53:55 SB 89 Roll Call Vote 01:07:46, 958, all

Summary: The committee met for an initial natural resources hearing with a quorum present and introductory housekeeping, including prayer, roll call, and recognition of guests. Chair Smith outlined ground rules for questions and then invited Kentucky Power and American Electric Power representatives to the table to discuss a proposed plan involving the Mitchell Power Plant and future generation needs in Eastern Kentucky. Witnesses Cindy Wiseman, Alex Vaughn, and AEP CEO Bill Fehrman said the company’s goals are to stabilize and lower rates, reduce rate volatility, and expand generation in the Commonwealth. They explained that Kentucky Power seeks legislative authority to securitize its 50% interest in the Mitchell coal plant, describing securitization as a refinancing mechanism that would lower annual plant costs by about $34 million and help offset roughly one-third of the expected cost of adding new generation in Kentucky. They emphasized that the proposal is not intended to close Mitchell, and said Kentucky Power currently has no plan to divest its interest; the company still needs the plant to serve customers while it pursues additional dispatchable generation in Kentucky. Members pressed the witnesses on the plant’s book value versus fair market value, whether the Mitchell interest had ever been assigned a nominal value, how any divestiture proceeds would be handled, whether Kentucky Power owns Wheeling Power, and how long Mitchell can continue operating. The company said it values Mitchell at net book value for accounting purposes, not fair market value, and explained that Wheeling Power is a separate AEP affiliate and that West Virginia affiliates have already proposed securitization of their share. Witnesses said Kentucky Power’s interest cannot technically operate past 2028 without additional environmental control investment, while the West Virginia side is depreciating through 2040. They also described the financing timeline, saying securitization would require enactment of legislation, a PSC financing order, bond issuance, and then parallel work to acquire or build new generation, with any reinvestment terms to be addressed through the regulatory process.

Transcript Highlights:

• An alternative, and I have some similar comments, would be to address any budget balancer in the text
• </c><00:14:55.680><c> discussing</c> strike this budget balancer discussing strike this budget balancer
• </c> balancer suggestion. balancer suggestion.
• </c><02:39:14.560><c> at</c> going to end up with the LSA balance at going to end up with the LSA balance
• </c> would move the uh bud budget balancers would move the uh bud budget balancers transfer<02:40:00.080

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It would reduce the trust fund balance by $33 million, down to $353 million for a year-ending balance
• </c> it to go below that fund balance it to go below that fund balance reduction<02:05:11.000><c> um<
• </c> no change to the forecasted fund balance no change to the forecasted fund balance reductions<02:
• the fund balance reduction currently your<02:15:37.159><c> fund</c><02:15:37.400><c> balance</c><02:
• </c> get the benefit of fund balance get the benefit of fund balance reductions<02:31:05.040><c> they

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It's balanced for both 2026-27 and 2027-28 fiscal years.
• It takes a balanced approach, making targeted reductions, and adopting $5 billion in new revenues.
• Any reduction in costs are currently used to balance the budget.
• Costs are currently used to balance the budget.
• And so we do have to have a budget that balances.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And so the balance that the prosecutors believe needs to be struck is that voice of the victim having
• We're talking about balancing the scales of justice.
• And I think what I would challenge here is that this is necessarily a check without a balance.
• And I think what I would challenge here is that this is necessarily a check without a balance.
• And it should come with the appropriate checks and balances that address that.

Bills: HCR50, HB123, HB219, HB251, HB404, HB769, HB1065, SB58, SB81, SB92, SB97, SB141, SB156, SB181, SB207, SB396, SB410

Keywords: electronic monitoring, GPS ankle monitor, ankle bracelet, pretrial release, post-conviction supervision, bail monitoring, house arrest, corrections, criminal justice, law enforcement, prosecuting authority, court reporting, provider registration, LCLE, Louisiana Commission on Law Enforcement and Administration of Criminal Justice, data privacy, personal information, cybersecurity, confidentiality, monitoring violations

Transcript Highlights:

• Total reserves balances at $3 billion, and that's 7.1% of reserves.
• In line 10, this is the projected near general fund outlook ending balance.
• So this is the combination of near general fund balance and the Budget Stabilization Account.
• In line 10, this is the projected near general fund outlook ending balance.
• I acknowledge the difficult choices you've been faced balancing competing priorities.

Bills: SB5998

Keywords: fiscal appropriations, budget, state funding, financial management, operating expenses, 904, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Chair, Representative, I also just add, like Deputy Secretary said, that cash balance or that fund balance
• the start of FY26, I think the fund balance was 80 million.
• We were just looking at the balances. Thank you, Mr. Chair, thank you for that answer.
• Their projected unappropriated fund balance at the end of FY26 is about 15.3 million.
• So work life balance for all of my team is pretty frustrating.

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Together, these measures reflect a balanced approach.
• I know that we'll work to address this balance next year, and I look forward to continuing to see that
• And, you know, this is, cap-and-trade has always been that balancing act.
• We do believe that justice addresses both sides and balanced approaches are very helpful.
• We do believe that justice addresses both sides and balanced approaches are very helpful.

Summary: The chamber reconvened after a late-night session and first adopted the consent calendar, including ACR 107 on the Diablo Range, by a 48-0 vote. Members then took up several Senate bills and Assembly measures, with repeated remarks about the long hours and the need to respect staff and keep proceedings moving. A vote change was also announced for Assembly Member Patel on SB 414, changing from aye to not voting. The main policy debate centered on energy, climate, and affordability. SB 237, dealing with oil and gas policy, refinery closures, pipeline safety, Kern County permitting, gasoline blend flexibility, and regional fuel coordination, drew strong support from members who framed it as a managed transition to stabilize fuel supply and protect jobs, and strong opposition from members who called it a giveaway to oil interests and a setback for climate goals. The bill passed 59-0. SB 254, an energy affordability and wildfire package, included wildfire mitigation financing, a successor wildfire fund, transmission cost reductions, clean energy permitting changes, and energization timelines; members raised some concerns about local control, but the bill passed 58-0. SB 840 and AB 1207 advanced the cap-and-invest reauthorization package, with supporters emphasizing emissions reductions, housing, transit, wildfire prevention, and community air programs, while opponents argued it would raise costs and function as a tax-and-spend scheme. SB 840 passed 54-15 and AB 1207 passed 55-10, both with urgency and immediate transmittal. Members also approved SB 352, which makes the Bureau of Environmental Justice permanent and requires air quality monitoring and reporting on AB 617 implementation, by 43-19. AB 825, authorizing California to help establish a Westwide electricity market, was presented as a way to lower bills, improve reliability, and reduce emissions; it passed 67-2 and was sent to the Governor. Additional actions included concurrence in Senate amendments to AB 8 on cannabinoids and AB 383 on firearms cleanup, and the chamber began consideration of AB 764 on wildlife as the transcript ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• Portion two is there's not enough securitization capacity in the market or within our balance sheet to
• But when you try to balance our entire portfolio of everything we're doing, you will likely add costs
• It's a very complicated balance between OEIS and the CPC, and I know there's a lot of bills that have
• between making us safer and... ...having that perspective about finding balance between making us safer
• There must be no questions regarding the neutrality of the PUC, which must be trusted to balance the

Summary: The committee heard several energy and utilities bills, with testimony largely focused on wildfire mitigation, affordability, clean energy planning, and utility accountability. AB 706, by Assembly Member Aguiar-Curry, would create a fund to support projects that use forest biomass waste from wildfire mitigation and forest restoration; supporters said it would reduce open burning and emissions while providing reliable renewable power, and the bill later passed 13-0. AB 39, by Assembly Member Zbur, would require larger cities and counties to adopt electrification planning strategies for transportation and buildings; it drew broad support from clean energy, labor, environmental, and local government advocates and passed 9-0. AB 1167, by Assembly Member Berman, would restrict investor-owned utilities from charging ratepayers for lobbying, promotional advertising, and similar shareholder-benefit expenses; supporters framed it as an affordability and transparency measure, while utilities argued the bill was overly broad and already covered by existing rules. It passed 7-0, with some members not voting and the roll left open. The committee also considered AB 1417 on offshore wind community funding transparency, which was amended to remove new fees and instead require reporting on developer support for local and tribal community capacity-building; opposition was withdrawn and the bill passed 9-0. AB 367, by Assembly Member Bennett, would require water districts in high fire-risk areas of Ventura County to have backup power, full tanks during red flag warnings, and hardened facilities; water agencies opposed unless amended due to cost and liability concerns, but the bill passed 10-0. The consent calendar, including multiple additional measures, was approved 11-0. Other bills drew more divided testimony. AB 745 would allow securitization to finance utility undergrounding and prohibit a return on equity for undergrounding projects; supporters said it would lower ratepayer costs, while utilities warned it would effectively discourage undergrounding and could raise other rates. The bill passed 7-4 and was left on call. AB 1423 would apply reliability standards to publicly funded EV chargers installed before 2024; supporters said taxpayers should get functioning chargers, while charging-network representatives objected to retroactive requirements and possible conflicts with existing agreements. It passed 13-0. AB 388 would create a narrow exception to utility regulation to facilitate green hydrogen projects using private power lines; supporters said it would unlock low-cost renewable hydrogen and jobs, while utilities raised concerns about customer protections and grid planning. It passed 12-0. The committee also began hearing AB 825, which the author said would address the high cost of financing major transmission and generation buildout, but the transcript cuts off before the full presentation and action on that bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• I think we need a balanced approach to this, right?
• This is a good step forward, but I want to make sure that there's balance.
• That's what Californians are asking for, is balance.
• I'd love to help in finding a balanced approach to this where we can come.
• So I would love to see a more balanced approach to this, yes I agree.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• SOME OF THE ISSUES RELATED TO FUND BALANCE LEVELS, BANK RECONCILIATIONS AS WELL AS DECENTRALIZED COLLECTIONS
• ALSO IN THIS REPORT IS INFORMATION ABOUT FINANCIAL TRENDS INCLUDING FUND BALANCE RATIOS, STUDENT ACCOUNTS
• RELATING TO EDUCATION AND GENERAL CARRYFORWARD REPORTING, FAU UNDERREPORTED THEIR CARRYFORWARD BALANCE
• THE PERSON THAT BALANCES THE CHECKBOOKS HAS NO ACCESS TO THE BANK.
• I LOVE THIS COMMITTEE, I THINK THIS IS THE CHECKS AND BALANCE SYSTEM AND THE BUCK STOPS HERE. >> Sen.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• But we have to operate on a balanced budget. expanding care for vulnerable Oklahomans.
• But we have to operate on a balanced budget. Money. But we have to operate on a balanced budget.
• Thanks to the people, we have to have a balanced budget.
• We do have to balance our budget.
• Thanks to the people, we have to have a balanced budget.

Summary: The committee primarily considered House Bill 440, which would move Medicaid expansion language from the Oklahoma Constitution into state statute and send the change to voters in a special election. Supporters argued this would give the Legislature flexibility to manage the program, especially if federal Medicaid matching rates were reduced, and said it would help protect the state budget and allow future adjustments such as eligibility or work requirements. Opponents said the measure would weaken voter-approved constitutional protections, create uncertainty for more than 300,000 enrollees, rural hospitals, and providers, and could allow future cuts without another vote of the people. Members also discussed the possible fiscal impact of a federal match change from 90-10 to 60-40, with supporters saying the state could face roughly a billion-dollar annual cost and would need flexibility to avoid cuts to other services. Questions also focused on the choice of an August special election rather than the November general election, and on whether tribal governments and other stakeholders had been consulted. After debate, the committee tabled an amendment and passed House Bill 440 on a 14-2 vote. The committee then took up House Joint Resolution 1087, which would change the Avalon reimbursement program so the Legislature could manage funding levels and methodologies rather than being bound to the current structure. It passed 14-2. The committee also considered House Joint Resolution 1067, a trigger measure that would only appear on the November ballot if House Bill 440 failed in August; it would relieve the state of any obligation to fund Medicaid expansion for working adults if the federal match dropped below 90%. After adopting a committee substitute and tabling an amendment, the resolution also passed 14-2. The committee then laid over H.J.R. 1089 and adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• And this to me seems like a rule that's properly placed to be a checks and balances.
• That is the check and balance on the executive power.
• I do understand that it is a checks and balance. But then on that rule, there is.
• In that way, I do understand that it is a checks and balance.
• But then on that rule, there is a checks and balance as well.

Keywords: 989, all

Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum, offered prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, and approved the prior journal. It then received committee reports and gubernatorial messages, including reappointments to the Idaho State Racing Commission and State Building Authority, and several House bills were introduced and referred to committees. The chamber also advanced a number of Senate and House bills through first and second reading, with many measures sent onward for further committee consideration or engrossing. The Senate then resolved into the Committee of the Whole to consider several bills and amendments. Amendments were adopted on House Bill 494, Senate Bills 1294 and 1299, House Bill 728, House Bill 703, Senate Bill 1335, Senate Bill 1330, Senate Bill 1359, and Senate Bill 1348. The topics included background checks for temporary caregivers, infant hearing screenings and midwife timelines, digital ID enforcement, definitions cleanup, professional discipline and fines, veterinary licensing clarification, small claims attorney fees, virtual currency kiosk consumer protections, and a gun club location clarification. The committee reported these bills back as amended without recommendation, while several other measures remained on the 14th-order calendar. Back in third reading, Senator Zito moved to call House Bill 745 from committee under Rule 14E. After extended debate over whether the Senate should force the bill out of committee, the chamber voted by roll call to excuse the Commerce and Human Resources Committee, with 25 ayes, one nay, and one abstention, thereby keeping House Bill 745 in committee for the rest of the session. The Senate then reordered the third-reading calendar, moved to miscellaneous business, heard announcements about upcoming committee meetings, and adjourned until 10 a.m. Monday, March 16, 2026.

Transcript Highlights:

• 846 is a supplemental appropriation that appropriates $10 million from the unappropriated surplus balance
• 872 is a supplemental appropriation that appropriates $20 million from the unappropriated surplus balance
• 876 is a supplemental appropriation that appropriates $8,704,000 from the unappropriated surplus balance
• fiscal year 2021 within the Tourism Development Opportunity Fund appropriation to the unappropriated balance
• Consumer Protection Recovery Fund within the Office of the Attorney General to the unappropriated balance

Keywords: 994, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• On page 9, under Rule 400, fees were increased to make progress toward reaching a cash balance of at
• The board voted to decrease licensing fees at that time by $5, and they had a cash balance of $440,000
• This decrease in 2014 set the board on a steady decline in its cash balance.
• In 2020, when Executive Order 2020 was signed, the board had a cash balance of $273,048.
• That kind of zeroed out the board's cash balance.

Keywords: 989, all

Summary: The House Environment, Energy, and Technology Committee approved the minutes from February 10 and February 16, then took up a pending rule docket from the Drinking Water and Wastewater Professionals Board. The board explained changes to licensure tables, endorsement requirements, exam score validity, experience and continuing education rules, and fee increases intended to rebuild the board’s cash balance. After questions about the fee increase and the board’s finances, the committee approved the docket with Section 400, the fee section, struck, matching the Senate’s action. The committee then heard House Bill 593, a code cleanup bill from Representative Heather Scott that would repeal obsolete provisions related to the State Hazardous Waste Management Planning Committee and the Big Payette Lake Water Quality Act. During discussion, members raised concerns about overlap with another bill on the calendar. After testimony from a lobbyist and further clarification, the committee decided to hold House Bill 593 in committee to the call of the chair rather than advance it. House Bill 714 was also held in committee without hearing. Finally, the committee heard House Bill 687, sponsored by Representative Schurz, which would restrict state agencies from procuring, deploying, or using large language models unless they are developed and implemented in accordance with specified anti-DEI and ideological neutrality principles. The sponsor cited concerns about a state vendor, Recidiviz, and said the bill would require contract safeguards, agency procedures, and vendor responsibility for any decoupling costs. Members questioned how agencies could verify compliance and whether the bill would affect existing uses of AI; the sponsor said it was aimed at direct agency use of AI models. The committee voted to send House Bill 687 to the House with a due pass recommendation.

Transcript Highlights:

• The agency estimates that 90% of the FY25 ending balance of those funds, $310.5 million or $279 million
• This will leave a balance of approximately $31 million or 8% of the total award that will be paid out
• slide gives a visual representation of the funding fiscal year's spending and the fiscal year's balances
• The balances following are the previous year's balances less expenditures of that fiscal year.
• The $10 million includes several items: 7.4 million dollars to pay for the balance of Workday.

Keywords: 914, all

Transcript Highlights:

• But just looking at these pie graphs, trying to find if you wanted to balance the budget in a year, $1.9
• Just on cuts alone, that side of the balance sheet.
• In the order of 1.9 trillion to balance the federal government, federal budget, it's very difficult to
• billion in new ones, 450 billion in existing ones for a total revenue gap, if you want to have a balanced
• Continuing to be sustainable just from where I sit, having to put together for you all a balanced budget

Transcript Highlights:

• moving protects education and our public schools, historic workers' rights, health care, and it balances—we
• reduce the structural balance in 2026 and 20—I'm going to say that again.
• So, you know, we came in intent on balancing the budget. That's our obligation over two years.
• <00:03:06.000><c> not</c><00:03:06.239><c> necessary</c><00:03:06.640><c> to</c><00:03:06.879><c> balance
• </c><00:03:07.200><c> the</c> but it's not necessary to balance the but it's not necessary to balance

Keywords: 1187, senate, all