Transcript Highlights:

• Um, uh, Texas has already passed a law to prohibit patient steerage, but these laws currently only apply
• Senate Bill 1122 closes this loophole by clarifying that Texas law applies to all health benefit plans
• Just to reiterate and level set again, we have an attorney General's opinion that says this is the law

Bills: SB 502 , SB 513 , SB 622 , SB 670 , SB 731 , SB 732 , SB 916 , SB 961 , SB 1122

Committee: Senate Health & Human Services

Keywords: SB 502, Texas peace officers, Health and Human Services Commission, HHSC Office of Inspector General, OIG investigators, law enforcement classification, Schedule C, state employee benefits, injury benefits, peace officer status, commissioned officers, state auditor classification, Government Code, Code of Criminal Procedure, human services, health and human services, law enforcement compensation, public employee benefits, Texas state law enforcement, child welfare

Bills: HB2 , HB3 , HB799 , HB1039

Committee: Senate Revenue & Fiscal Affairs

Keywords: capital outlay, budget, infrastructure, appropriation, general obligation bonds, bond authorization, capital improvement, financial management, state treasury, boiler safety, inspection, licensing, state fire marshal, operating certificate, regulations, local sales tax, local use tax, sales and use tax, tax audit, local collector

Transcript Highlights:

• To be in compliance with a federal law change.
• I've become an expert in implementing the law as it was written.
• Just to clarify, has the law passed in 2024?
• ALJ, or administrative law judge, is more of a colloquial term. It's not a term of law.
• What was the original intent with an administrative law judge?

Bills: SJR50 , SJR51 , SJR52 , SJR53 , SJR54

Committee: Senate Administrative Rules

Keywords: Medicaid, federal funding, state law, healthcare, low-income adults, Oklahoma Constitution, healthcare regulations, Oklahoma Health Care Authority, permanent rules, joint resolution, OHCA, health care rules, administrative rules, major rule, Title 75, Title 317, Oklahoma Administrative Code, OAC 317:30, health policy, state health programs

Summary: The Senate Committee on Administrative Rules met with a quorum and considered five Oklahoma Health Care Authority and OMMA rules resolutions. Senate Joint Resolution 50 was presented as a federal-law conformity change allowing licensed professional counselors, LBHPs, and licensed alcohol and drug counselors to work as eligible providers in federally qualified health centers and rural health clinics; despite questions about the fiscal estimate, it passed 9-0. SJR 51 was amended to correct rule citations related to human genome sequencing, then failed on a 4-5 vote after members noted an estimated $860,000 fiscal impact tied to legislation. SJR 52, removing physician visit limits in Medicaid, was described as an access-to-care and rural health measure that could reduce ER use; it passed 8-1. The committee then took up SJR 53 from the Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority, which would align rules with statutes requiring prepackaging of medical marijuana products and other provisions. Members questioned OMMA extensively about the economic impact, the discrepancy between the agency’s estimate and Loft’s much larger estimate, and whether the rules were already being implemented under emergency authority. OMMA said the rules mirrored existing statutes and that the cost would fall on the industry and ultimately consumers, not the agency. After debate about regulatory fairness and the effect on the industry, the resolution passed 5-4. Finally, SJR 54, a non-major OMMA rule change renaming the adjudicator from administrative law judge to hearing examiner to match the Administrative Procedures Act, drew concerns about independence and whether OMMA should be required to contract for outside adjudicators. The director said the change was only a terminology alignment and would not alter current practice, and Senator Bergstrom said he would pursue legislation next year to require outside contracting. An amendment changed the committee’s position from disapprove to approve, but the underlying resolution still failed 4-5. The committee then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• of $90 million to be allocated annually from the State General Fund to be distributed as provided by law
• Expenses for the Law Institute increased $27,376, and that is the only change from last year's enacted
• Louisiana State Law Institute, $1.2 million.
• Representative Omade, the increase to the Law Institute, what is it for?
• The increase to the Law Institute, what is it for? Salaries or extra staff?

Bills: HB1 , HB312 , HB313 , HB314 , HB383 , HB983 , HB1126 , HCR3

Committee: House Appropriations

Keywords: state budget, appropriations, education funding, public health, social services, government operations, state institutions, budget, funding, state general fund, local government, fiscal year, economic development, state treasury, emergency response, education, voting technology, sustainability, revenue sharing, fund distribution

Transcript Highlights:

• My name is Clint Van Wolfen, and on behalf of the Arizona Sheriff's Office, I'm here in support of HB
• Chair and members, House Bill 2417 allows, effective July 1, 2027, a person to request that the Arizona
• The Arizona Constitution states that the sheriff is a county-level constitutional law enforcement officer
• Arizona Constitution enables the office of the sheriff.
• enforcement officers. ...and serve as the chief law enforcement officers.

Bills: HB2170 , HB2417 , HB2418 , HB2771 , HB2772 , HB4018 , HCR2059

Committee: Senate Public Safety

Keywords: procurement, foreign adversary, China, state contracts, information technology, security, speeding, speed limit, traffic enforcement, driver safety, speed inhibiting device, appropriation, law enforcement, task forces, funding, criminal justice, community supervision, rehabilitation, supervision fee, victim compensation

Transcript Highlights:

• Then we have HIPAA laws and we have other laws that protect those patients' identity and information
• </c> bill and what we have in the law bill and what we have in the law currently<00:09:34.240><c> is<
• My name is Chuck Slain and I am a partner at TSR Injury Law.
• </c> Injury Law. Injury Law.
• </c> purpose is inconsistent with the law. purpose is inconsistent with the law.

Bills: HF3521 , HF1807 , HF1270 , HF2070 , HF3136

Committee: House Health Finance and Policy

Keywords: hospital moratorium, hospital construction, bed capacity, hospital expansion, health care facilities, hospital licensing, safety-net hospital, level I trauma center, Ramsey County, Minnesota health law, hospital beds, new hospital exception, certificate of need, inpatient capacity, emergency care, trauma services, health system regulation, state moratorium, hospital modernization, health infrastructure

Transcript Highlights:

• But we do have a process in law now.
• I don't think I heard any reference to it, but we have in law a requirement to get a public interest
• I and I don't have a process in law now.
• I will say that current law requires DHS to have and maintain a drug formulary committee, which works
• Dohy said Minnesota's current law was written decades ago.

Bills: HF3521 , HF1807 , HF1270 , HF2070 , HF3136

Committee: House Health Finance and Policy

Keywords: hospital moratorium, hospital construction, bed capacity, hospital expansion, health care facilities, hospital licensing, safety-net hospital, level I trauma center, Ramsey County, Minnesota health law, hospital beds, new hospital exception, certificate of need, inpatient capacity, emergency care, trauma services, health system regulation, state moratorium, hospital modernization, health infrastructure

Bills: SF0050 , SF0068 , SF0084 , HB0087 , HB0029 , HB0061 , HB0090

Committee: Senate Agriculture, State and Public Lands & Water Resources

Keywords: groundwater, water resource management, state engineer, aquifer study, corrective controls, monitoring wells, public reporting, irrigation, water management, funding, maintenance projects, tax assessments, state law, water conservation, Colorado River, drought, water rights, voluntary program, interstate agreements, water development

Transcript Highlights:

• So, this law is, which is the county.
• that has some case law uh available and that has some case law uh available and associated<00:29:26.080
• </c> to liquor license law. to liquor license law.
• I'm Shane Schultz with Browning Law Firm on behalf of Cowboy Racing.
• </c> I think that's actually what the law I think that's actually what the law currently<01:05:17.760

Bills: SF0045 , SF0058 , SF0067

Committee: Senate Judiciary

Keywords: pari-mutuel wagering, simulcasting, historic horse racing, HHR terminals, horse racing, gaming commission, Wyoming Gaming Commission, local control, city approval, county approval, municipal approval, permit renewal, gaming permit, wagering regulation, racetrack, live pari-mutuel event, district court appeal, public notice, land use, public safety

Transcript Highlights:

• The section 7 is just an effective date section on that, and it's immediately upon the bill becoming law
• upon the on that and it's immediately upon the bill<00:16:03.759><c> becoming</c><00:16:04.160><c> law
• with</c><00:16:05.759><c> that</c><00:16:06.079><c> I</c><00:16:06.240><c> would</c> bill becoming law
• So with that I would bill becoming law.
• I have seen that many laws have been changed. I've never seen anything that stayed.

Bills: SF0050 , SF0068 , SF0084 , HB0087 , HB0029 , HB0061 , HB0090

Committee: House Agriculture, State and Public Lands & Water Resources

Keywords: groundwater, water resource management, state engineer, aquifer study, corrective controls, monitoring wells, public reporting, irrigation, water management, funding, maintenance projects, tax assessments, state law, water conservation, Colorado River, drought, water rights, voluntary program, interstate agreements, water development

Transcript Highlights:

• I currently chair our Energy Committee, Fish and Wildlife, Legislative, Law and Order Committee.
• Thank you. ...our Energy Committee, Fish and Wildlife, Legislative, Law and Order Committee.
• Under current law, it's the chair and staff that support him who engage in this G-to-G consultation,
• This law simply changes Energy Independence Act reporting.
• under different laws.

Bills: HB2496 , HB2575 , HB2605

Committee: House Environment & Energy

Keywords: tribal consultation, energy facilities, site evaluation, environmental impact, policy regulation, environmental regulation, reporting obligations, energy laws, compliance, business impact, HB 2605, Washington asbestos law, naturally occurring fibrous silicate, asbestos-containing building materials, fibrous silicate materials, asbestos labeling, construction materials, renovation, repair and maintenance, EPA method

Transcript Highlights:

• When this bill was introduced last year, the underlying law in Section 1 was different.
• this is a technical amendment to update the language of Section 1 so we can proceed with the current law
• Well, Washington State condo law changed between when we exited this bill out of committee and the vote
• Washington State's condo law changes very rapidly.
• 20th said to me the other day, or earlier today, that he believes that it's ironic that the current law

Bills: HB1175 , HB1376 , HB1500 , HB1796

Keywords: HB1175, small business, residential zoning, land use, zoning reform, neighborhood store, neighborhood cafe, convenience store, minimarket, corner store, mixed-use, local government, city zoning, town zoning, code city, parking regulations, hours of operation, alcohol service, food requirement, commercial use in residential areas

Bills: HB1175 , HB1376 , HB1500 , HB1796

Keywords: HB1175, small business, residential zoning, land use, zoning reform, neighborhood store, neighborhood cafe, convenience store, minimarket, corner store, mixed-use, local government, city zoning, town zoning, code city, parking regulations, hours of operation, alcohol service, food requirement, commercial use in residential areas

Bills: SB 49 , SB 60 , SB 365 , SB 685 , SB 895 , SB 1191 , SB 1400 , SB 1401 , SB 1786

Committee: Senate Education

Keywords: junior college funding, performance tier, credentials, education, workforce development, Texas education law, performance tier funding, junior college, Texas education, student success, performance funding, education policy, state finance program, public junior colleges, educational outcomes, academic fresh start, higher education, student admissions, Texas Education Code, public university

Transcript Highlights:

• Officers must hold a permanent peace officer license under Texas law.
• on hospital district property, reducing dependency on external law enforcement.
• Additionally, it will decrease the burden on local law enforcement resources.
• It severely limits our authority that we don't have law enforcement officers on premises.
• We see some of the need in our community, and we know that this law enforcement...

Bills: HB334 , HB583 , HB605 , HB1327 , HB1646 , HB2115 , HB2379

Committee: House S/C on County & Regional Government

Keywords: family leave, leave pool, county employee, sick leave, vacation leave, family care, pandemic, guardianship, fencing, reservoirs, local government, regulation, land use, conservation capacity, property regulation, fence regulation, reservoir safety, county authority, fencing regulations, counties

Bills: SB 95 , SB 268 , SB 493 , SB 619 , SB 660 , SB 922 , SB 984 , SB 1098 , SB 1188 , SB 1307 , SB 1332 , SB 1822

Committee: Senate Health & Human Services

Keywords: immunization, written informed consent, civil liability, health care provider, vaccine compensation, administrative penalty, health care, licensing, complaint procedure, disciplinary action, law enforcement, conscience protection, health care services, civil remedy, health care providers, patient access, hospital safety, emergency room, bollards, traffic protection

Transcript Highlights:

• Are we just allowing the OIG then to write law?
• I don't think they really have a real-world effect like a law would on the rights of citizens.
• </c> need to be required and that is the law need to be required and that is the law and<00:27:06.399
• </c> Attorney General that enforces the laws Attorney General that enforces the laws that<00:27:12.520
• and the state law occurs.

Bills: HF1 , HF2

Committee: House State Government Finance and Policy

Keywords: Office of Inspector General, inspector general, legislative audit, fraud prevention, waste and abuse, public funds, grant oversight, state grants, grant management, whistleblower protection, retaliation, subpoena power, data practices, government transparency, accountability, law enforcement referrals, sanctions, debarment, payment withholding, public assistance fraud

Transcript Highlights:

• Authorizing law enforcement to place tracking devices on fleeing vehicles: the law was changed two years
• Authorizing law enforcement to place tracking devices on fleeing vehicles: the law was changed two years
• This is already against the law.
• This is already against the law.
• This is already against the law.

Bills: HF7

Committee: House Judiciary Finance and Civil Law

Keywords: public safety, criminal justice, sentencing guidelines, Minnesota Sentencing Guidelines Commission, public sentencing database, felony dismissals, prosecutor reporting, bail notice, bond posting, law enforcement data, arrest data, public records, sex trafficking, human trafficking, mandatory minimum sentence, peace officer assault, police assault, fleeing police, vehicular flight, stolen motor vehicle

Transcript Highlights:

• Our move-over laws are on the books.
• Current law requires a safety belt to be properly fastened.
• This clarification will also assist law enforcement and prosecutors.
• We pass laws. These cities refuse to follow the laws all the way to On the side of the road.
• We passed laws.

Bills: HR170 , HR191 , HR206 , HR207 , HR208 , HCR53 , HCR60 , HCR68 , HB714 , HB762 , SB40 , SB48 , SB55 , SB56 , SB69 , SB115 , SB133 , SB151 , SB170 , SB235 , SB278 , SB330 , SB420 , SB438 , SB449 , SB489

Committee: House Transportation, Highways & Public Works

Keywords: U.S. Highway 90, US 90, Highway 90, St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development, DOTD, bridge removal, closed bridges, bridge demolition, transportation funding, federal appropriations, THUD appropriations, Transportation, Housing, and Urban Development, infrastructure, road reconstruction, evacuation route, hurricane evacuation corridor, New Orleans metro area, Mississippi Gulf Coast, public safety

Summary: The House Transportation Committee met on Tuesday, May 5, and considered a long agenda of mostly transportation, public safety, and local infrastructure measures. Among the bills reported favorably were Senate Bill 420, which adds Vermilion and Iberia Parish representation to the Lafayette Metropolitan Expressway Commission; Senate Bill 69, which updates appointments to the South Tangipahoa Parish Port Commission after redistricting; Senate Bill 40, which expands Louisiana’s move-over/safety protections for emergency and disabled vehicles; and House resolutions from Rep. Dickerson urging DOTD action on Highway 16 widening, turn lanes on Highway 1024, and a roundabout on Highway 1019. The committee also advanced HCR 53 creating a study committee on oversized vehicle permits, SB 438 increasing per diem for the Greater Lafourche Port Commission, SB 449 giving the New Orleans Public Belt more procurement flexibility, SB 115 allowing DOTD to assume certain federal NEPA duties to speed project delivery, and SB 489 authorizing third-party verification of vehicle insurance coverage. Members heard testimony on several safety and enforcement measures. SB 151 would flag OMV records for people who owe DNA samples under CODIS-related criminal provisions; State Police explained it would help law enforcement collect required samples and aid cold cases. SB 48 would create driver’s license reciprocity between Louisiana and Ireland, and SB 235 would clarify payment and liquidated damages rules for public contracts, with contractors and industry representatives saying it would help ensure timely payment to contractors, subs, and suppliers. SB 55 clarified that seat belts must be worn across both the lap and shoulder, and SB 278 required ignition interlock devices for DUI-related license reinstatement; committee members raised questions about due process, vehicle use, and how the devices would work, but both bills were reported favorably. Several measures drew more extensive debate. HB 762, as amended, would give OMV discretion over referring certain debts to the Office of Debt Recovery or Attorney General, and the amendment passed 14-2 after discussion about relief for drivers who cannot pay. SB 330 on school-zone automated speed enforcement received an amendment preserving existing compliant pavement markings, but a separate amendment to exempt Shreveport, Gretna, Livonia, and Westwego from the law failed on a roll call vote. HB 714, as substituted, would have created a railroad commission and required railroads to address blighted or abandoned lines, but after concerns about federal preemption, definition of blight, and whether a new commission was needed, Rep. Phelps moved to defer the bill, and the committee agreed. The meeting ended with adjournment after a brief recognition of committee staff and visitors.

Transcript Highlights:

• And it exports Texas law across state lines, trying to make our laws superior to the laws of every other
• Yet, House Bill 7 declares that Texas's laws are superior. to every other state's laws.
• That's been the law in America. for decades.
• That's always been the law in Texas.
• After all, that is a tool under the law. Absolutely not.

Bills: SB 8 , SB 1 , SB 2 , SB 5 , SB 10 , HB27 , HB7 , HB17 , HB1 , SB 9 , SB 7 , SB 17 , SB 4 , HB20 , HB18 , HB7 , HB17 , HB1 , HB20 , HB18 , SB9 , SB7 , SB17 , SB4 , SB1 , SR85 , SR87 , SB8 , SB5 , SB2 , SB10 , HB27

Keywords: sex designation, restroom access, civil penalties, private civil right of action, women's privacy, campground safety, youth camp regulations, flood safety, emergency evacuation, health and safety standards, disaster relief, flood preparedness, emergency funding, local government support, meteorological forecasting, abortion, healthcare, jurisdiction, civil action, qui tam