Transcript Highlights:

• IT'S A VALIDATED TOOL.
• THESE ARE VALIDATED TOOLS AND INSTRUMENTS WE ARE USING.
• A LOT OF OUR PARTNERSHIPS ARE IN VALIDATION FOR THESE THINGS INCLUDING PARTNERSHIPS WITH THE FLORIDA
• THIS IS A VALID TOOL. THIS IS ABOUT HOW WE EFFECTIVELY PLACE KIDS.
• IT IS ANOTHER VALID TOOL TO HELP US DRIVE THE DECISIONS WE ARE MAKING.

Transcript Highlights:

• by a court of competent jurisdiction to be unconstitutional, then the provisions of the statute are valid
• unless the court finds the valid...
• The provisions of the statute are valid unless the court finds the valid, da, da, da, da, yes.

Committee: House Legislative Review

Transcript Highlights:

• Missouri law, under 546.456, that statute has been enacted for quite some time, and it deals with the validity
• Missouri law, under 546.456, that statute has been enacted for quite some time, and it deals with the validity
• as practicing attorneys in the state of Missouri was Missouri has, for centuries, recognized the validity
• You know, the traditional no contest clause, if you file a suit to contest the validity of this trust

Committee: House Financial Institutions

Summary: The Committee on Financial Institutions heard House Bill 2863, which would clarify Missouri’s trust “no contest” clause law under the Missouri Uniform Trust Code. Representative Cameron Parker said the bill was brought forward by the Missouri Bar to clean up and clarify existing law without changing its substance. Testimony from trust and estate attorney John Chalas and the Missouri Bar supported the measure, explaining that it would refine procedures for seeking court guidance, protect nominal defendants, preserve beneficiaries’ ability to challenge bad-faith trustee conduct, and clarify the effect of prior rulings. No opposition was offered, and the hearing on HB 2863 was closed. The committee then heard House Bill 2967, which would create the Missouri expungement fund to support technology and system maintenance for expungement-related work, including the statewide court automation system and the Missouri criminal history records system. Representative Parker described the bill as a framework to help handle growing expungement demands, including marijuana-related and clean slate expungements. Committee members asked about funding sources, the one-third allocation among agencies, whether personnel costs could be covered, and whether the fund should include language on interest and biennial sweeps. Eric Cheneings of the Judicial Conference testified in favor, saying the bill is largely a housekeeping measure that recognizes the ongoing, coordinated nature of expungement work and the need for stable funding. He noted that the bill’s proposed dedicated fund would help avoid annual lapses and support continuing maintenance of sealed records, while leaving funding source decisions to the legislature. No one testified in opposition, and the hearing on HB 2967 was also closed.

Transcript Highlights:

• So the bill does not currently have any presumption of validity, invalidity.
• this is that the burden shifts onto the consumer that they have to show that when the license was valid
• and wasn't valid in order to make the complaint that your license wasn't valid.

Summary: The Senate Business, Professions and Economic Development Committee heard three bills. SB 849 by Senator Weber Pearson would tighten restrictions on physicians and surgeons who committed specified sexual misconduct against patients by barring license renewal petitions, requiring automatic revocation in certain reinstatement cases, and making the changes retroactive to 2020. Support came from the California Medical Association and the American College of OBGYN; there was no opposition in the room. Members praised the bill as closing a loophole and protecting patients, and it passed 8-0 to the Appropriations Committee, placed on call for absent members. SB 96 by Senator Umberg would extend California’s ad volume rules to streaming services, podcasts, and similar content so advertisements cannot be louder than surrounding programming. The author said the bill was prompted by a child being awakened by loud streaming ads and was intended to mirror the federal CALM Act’s approach for television. There was no support or opposition testimony in the room. The committee discussed how the rule might work across platforms and states, then passed the bill 9-0 to Appropriations, also on call. SB 342 by Senator Umberg, the Contractors Licensure Fairness Act, would allow contractors to recover payment for work performed while licensed even if their license lapsed during part of a project, while still denying payment for unlicensed days and preserving penalties for starting work without a license. Supporters included the California Conference of Carpenters, State Building and Construction Trades, and several contractor associations. Committee members raised concerns about consumer protections, burden of proof, and whether the bill could create loopholes, but the author and staff said existing enforcement would remain and the bill would only limit forfeiture to the period of unlicensure. The bill passed 9-0 to Judiciary. At the end of the hearing, the chair announced all three bills were out of committee and thanked staff for their work.

Transcript Highlights:

• So the bill does not currently have any presumption of validity or invalidity.
• reading of this is that the burden shifts onto the consumer, that they have to show that the license was valid
• and wasn't valid in order to make the complaint that your license wasn't valid.

Committee: Senate Business, Professions and Economic Development

Summary: The Senate Business, Professions and Economic Development Committee heard three bills. SB 849 by Senator Weber Pearson would address physician sexual misconduct by clarifying that physicians or surgeons who committed specified sexual offenses against patients cannot petition for license renewal, and by requiring automatic revocation in certain misconduct-related cases, including where a license was surrendered, revoked, or the person was convicted or required to register as a sex offender. Support came from the California Medical Association and the American College of OBGYN; there was no opposition in the room. The bill was moved do pass to Appropriations on an 8-0 vote, then later confirmed out on call. SB 96 by Senator Umberg would extend California’s advertising-volume rules to streaming services, podcasts, and similar content by requiring ads to be kept at the ambient level of the surrounding content. The author said the bill was inspired by a child awakened by loud streaming ads and argued it would update the earlier CALM Act for modern media. There was no support or opposition testimony in the room. The committee discussed how the rule might affect platforms operating statewide or nationally, and the bill passed do pass on a 9-0 vote, then was confirmed out on call. SB 342 by Senator Umberg, the Contractors Licensure Fairness Act, would allow contractors to recover payment for work performed while licensed even if they were unlicensed for part of a project, while still barring payment for unlicensed days and preserving existing prohibitions on starting work without a license. Supporters, including representatives of the California Conference of Carpenters, State Building and Construction Trades, and contractor associations, argued the current law can be overly punitive and can create windfalls for owners when a technical lapse is discovered later. Committee members raised concerns about consumer protection, burden of proof, and whether the bill could create loopholes, but the author and supporters said existing protections remain and the bill is intended to be proportional. The bill passed do pass to Judiciary on a 9-0 vote and was later confirmed out on call to Appropriations.

Transcript Highlights:

• This bill would not prevent a federal agent with a valid judicial warrant from doing their job.
• </c> not prevent a federal agent with a valid not prevent a federal agent with a valid judicial<00:20
• Thank you. law that a valid judicial warrant is law that a valid judicial warrant is required<00:35:04.640
• He had all the valid documentation.
• He had all the valid right away.

Transcript Highlights:

• amusement rides, it clarifies that rides must be inspected once annually and that an inspection is valid
• The inspection tags will be valid for one year from the date of issuance, whereas permits are valid until
• :08.720><c> is</c> once annually and that an inspection is once annually and that an inspection is valid
• :23:10.080><c> from</c><00:23:10.320><c> the</c><00:23:10.559><c> date</c><00:23:10.720><c> of</c> valid
• for one year from the date of valid for one year from the date of inspection.<00:23:12.320><c> This<

Summary: The House convened with prayer and the pledge, recorded 96 members present, excused absences, and approved the journal from January 27, 2026. The Senate clerk announced passage of Senate Bills 17 and 181 and requested concurrence. Committee reports advanced a number of bills on health insurance, judiciary, local government, and transportation topics, including measures on pharmacist reimbursements, hearing aid coverage, feeding and eating disorders, grooming a minor, local government liability, water fluoridation, cigar bars, chickens on residential property, highway pavement markings, motor vehicle titles, and pedestrian issues; all favorable reports were treated as first readings and placed on the calendar. The House then took up and passed House Bill 320 on human trafficking, with the sponsor explaining it would equalize penalties for promoting human trafficking with those for trafficking itself and increase the penalty when the victim is under 18. A member asked whether the bill included additional funding for cyber enforcement; the sponsor replied it was not an appropriation and would not require new funding, though prior budgets had increased support for anti-trafficking efforts. The House adopted a title amendment changing the bill’s title to combating human trafficking. The chamber also passed House Bill 366, which clarifies that materials portraying a sexual performance by a minor include computer-generated images and requires 85% service of the sentence before probation or parole; the sponsor said it was supported by law enforcement and prosecutors. House Bill 389 on reading and writing in schools also passed as amended by House Committee Substitute 1. The sponsor said it would require annual updates to the state dyslexia toolkit, expand professional development and coaching, require local school boards to develop processes for universal screening and diagnostic tools, and add dyslexia instruction to teacher preparation programs; the substitute added conformity with IDEA and revised the instructional language. Members spoke in support of early dyslexia detection and one member noted the bill updated prior legislation associated with former Rep. Bam Carney. House Bill 56, an omnibus Department of Agriculture bill, then passed; it addressed amusement ride inspections, grain warehousing penalties, egg handler licensing renewal timing, exemptions for small producers, and repealed obsolete tobacco and egg marketing board provisions. All three bills passed by roll call with 95 or 94 votes in favor and none opposed, and clinchers were applied. During announcements, members noted upcoming committee meetings and events, including a suits-and-sneakers day and cancer-related breakfast, caucus meetings, and committee meetings. New bills and resolutions were introduced, including measures on local occupational license fees, early learning and child care, tuition waivers, an adult workforce diploma pilot, motor vehicle usage tax, contract procurement, Fish and Wildlife Resources, adoption, veterans’ benefits, Cabinet for Health and Family Services operations, organ donation safety, hate crimes, prescription drugs, and resolutions on the Kentucky-Japan partnership and veterans’ benefits accreditation. The clerk also reported a petition of impeachment filed against Judge Julie Goodman. The House then referred a group of bills to committees, reported floor amendments for House Bills 321 and 416, and adjourned until 2:00 p.m. Thursday, January 29, 2026.

Transcript Highlights:

• And again, I'll reiterate that more time is needed to gather and validate data.
• As we look at the scope and as we move forward with validation.
• We're currently in a validation phase where we're really identifying what exactly we are doing.
• We're in the validation phase where we're really identifying what exactly we are doing, and then we're
• There are some considerations that we're certainly looking into, not only just at the validation phase

Bills: HB2330 , HB2338

Committee: House Capital Budget

Keywords: energy systems, capital funding, state campus, school infrastructure, sustainability, weatherization, energy efficiency, community projects, environment

Transcript Highlights:

• And again, I'll reiterate that more time is needed to gather and to validate data.
• But all of those things are kind of at play as we look at the scope and as we move forward with validation
• As we look at the scope and as we move forward with validation, even what we do with the $51 million,
• We're currently in a validation phase where we're really identifying what exactly we are doing. ...validation
• There are some considerations that we're certainly looking into, not only just at the validation phase

Summary: The committee first received a Commerce overview of capital budget grant programs, including behavioral health facilities, Building for the Arts, Building Communities Fund, early learning facilities, library capital improvements, and youth recreational facilities. Commerce described program eligibility, match requirements, funding cycles, and project examples such as an early learning center in Spokane, a rural library in Stevens County, and a youth clubhouse in Prosser. Members asked about behavioral health capital projects, including how many facilities have been opened and how capital planning aligns with operating funding; Commerce said it could provide more data later and noted it focuses on capital while HCA, DSHS, and DOH handle operating requests. Members also raised concerns about nonprofit financial stability, project licensure, siting, and the burden of non-state match, while Commerce emphasized shovel-ready projects, community match, and efforts to reduce application burden. The committee then heard an update on the Clean Buildings Performance Standard from Commerce. Staff reviewed Washington’s building emissions laws, compliance tiers, exemptions, incentives, and district energy system decarbonization planning under House Bills 1543, 1976, and 1390. Commerce reported nearly 5,000 inquiries in 2025, a fellowship program that has helped more than 250 buildings in 16 counties, and review of nearly 30 district energy plans. The presentation highlighted that over half of Tier 1 buildings are already meeting targets, that Tier 2 incentive applications suggest the 30-cent-per-square-foot incentive often covers compliance costs, and that district decarbonization plans face common challenges such as aging infrastructure, grid readiness, workforce, and inconsistent cost reporting. Members asked what additional legislative action might help, and Commerce said it was still learning from the new rulemaking and implementation changes. Western Washington University and Corex then presented on WWU’s campus heating conversion project and a possible off-campus thermal energy partnership with the Port of Bellingham. WWU described its aging steam system, high emissions, maintenance costs, and the $51 million in Climate Commitment Account funding it has received to transition toward an electric hot-water system using technologies such as geo-exchange, heat recovery chillers, and air-source heat pumps. Corex explained its existing district energy system at the Port of Bellingham, which uses industrial waste heat and is operating at very high efficiency, and said it is exploring a heat transmission line to WWU and possibly sewer-heat recovery. Testimony from WSU and UW supported the broader decarbonization effort but raised concerns about the scale of costs, deferred maintenance, and the need for predictable state funding. A contractor witness urged the state to think bigger about public-private partnerships and other financing tools rather than forcing campuses to compete for limited funds. The committee then held a public hearing on House Bill 2330, which would create a prioritization process for capital funding for state campus district energy system decarbonization projects. Staff said the bill would establish a Commerce committee to score and rank projects, issue a preliminary framework report by December 30 of this year, and provide biennial recommended project lists beginning in 2028, while also studying barriers to energy-as-a-service contracts and public-private partnerships. The prime sponsor said the bill is intended to create a thoughtful, predictable process for deciding which projects to fund, emphasizing energy savings, emissions reductions, operating cost reductions, shovel-readiness, and the value of public-private partnerships. Testimony was mixed but generally supportive: WSU and UW backed the bill as a way to advance compliance and predictability, though WSU warned that compliance costs could be very large and that the university would likely seek state help if fines were imposed. A contractor witness supported the concept but argued the bill should help build a larger funding “pie” through partnerships and financing tools rather than simply dividing scarce resources. The committee then opened and heard testimony on House Bill 2338, which would authorize community-scaled weatherization projects. Commerce staff said the bill would allow weatherization funds and matching funds to be used for neighborhood-scale projects affecting multiple dwelling units, while still prioritizing low-income households; the fiscal note estimated about $273,000 in FY 2027 and about $237,000 per biennium ongoing for administration. Supporters from community action agencies and Spark Northwest said the bill would improve health, safety, affordability, and contractor participation by allowing weatherization to be done at a community scale, especially in mobile home parks and low-income neighborhoods. No votes were taken in the transcript.

Transcript Highlights:

• EPA to validate molecular techniques for drinking water as water quality indicators.
• And this project was primarily for us to validate methods for detecting viruses, enteric viruses in water
• I have Utah, south of Jordan, is doing a very interesting membrane bioreactor DPR validation.
• monthly bases, Aurora, Colorado is doing the same, and I get engineering companies that they like to validate
• However, all of those need validation in the lab, experimentally, to then prove or disprove or make it

Summary: The Assembly Select Committee on Biotechnology and Medical Technology held an informational hearing at Bakar Labs on the UC Berkeley campus titled “Biotechnology Industries’ Role in Wastewater Treatment.” Chair Assembly Member Ward and Assembly Member Papan opened by framing wastewater as a major California challenge tied to water scarcity, aging infrastructure, regulatory demands, affordability, and the need for innovation. Bakar Labs described its biotech incubator and public-private model, emphasizing the role of state support in helping early-stage companies commercialize technologies and create jobs. The first panel focused on the current wastewater treatment landscape. BACWA Executive Director Laurie Fono described wastewater plants as part of a circular economy that can produce recycled water, environmental benefits, renewable energy, and biosolids for land application, but said agencies face major challenges from aging 1970s-era infrastructure, nutrient reduction mandates, climate change, sea level rise, evolving regulations, and Prop. 218 limits on rate structures. She highlighted PFAS as a major source-control issue, saying most of it comes from households rather than local manufacturing, and argued that treatment plants are not designed to handle everything entering the sewer system. Members asked about regional differences, energy generation, financing, smaller decentralized plants, and agricultural collaboration. The second panel highlighted biotechnology research and testing tools. A Berkeley Lab scientist described using microbial communities and machine learning to improve PFAS and produced-water treatment, while a CEL Analytical laboratory director discussed pathogen testing for direct potable reuse, wastewater surveillance, and the need for larger sample volumes and better filtration methods to validate log reductions. A Stanford researcher presented an anaerobic membrane bioreactor system that converts domestic wastewater into clean water and biogas with lower energy use and less biosolids, reporting a demonstration project in Redwood City that is net energy positive and can reduce operating costs. Legislators asked about AI, scaling technologies, pathogen detection, and funding needs. Panelists and public commenters urged more pilot funding, stronger utility-state-industry partnerships, and better coordination among regulatory agencies. The hearing ended with public comment from the California Association of Sanitation Agencies and adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• It also requires legislative updates from the Texas Education Agency on test development and the validity
• Sometimes there are sort of validity standards and reliability standards that are required, which is
• And that has to meet the same standards of validity and reliability.
• New authority to remove indicators at any time, without clear definitions of valid or reliable.
• That limits the role of teachers, raises validity concerns, and erodes public trust.

Bills: HB8

Committee: House Public Education

Transcript Highlights:

• is a very good bill, and I think that Representative Smith brought up a point that I think is very valid
• is a very good bill, and I think that Representative Smith brought up a point that I think is very valid
• [Music] that that is a valid very valid point I that that is a valid very valid point I think<00:20:07.600

Bills: HF1224 , HF1615 , HF2403

Committee: House Commerce Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• House Bill 356 clarifies the pathways, the initial examination..." certificate validity, certificate
• validity, expands<00:38:17.960><c> access</c><00:38:18.400><c> to</c><00:38:18.480><c> examinations,<
• of Controller came over and they talked about certain claims in the claims bill that did not have valid
• </c><00:50:06.200><c> contracts</c> bill, uh, did not have valid contracts bill, uh, did not have valid
• Of the 61 claims by the Cabinet for Health and Family Services, 23 are identified as having no valid

Committee: House Appropriations & Revenue

Transcript Highlights:

• We use this information to validate time sheets, to validate the work that is being done, the work that
• And then we go into other tools to validate that they were in there as well.
• </c><00:40:42.200><c> time</c> we use this information to validate time we use this information to validate
• ><c> work</c><00:40:44.480><c> that</c><00:40:44.600><c> is</c> sheets, to validate the work that is
• And we can go back and do that validation.

Summary: The committee received testimony from Personnel Cabinet Secretary Mary Elizabeth Bailey and Deputy Secretary Robert Long on the state’s telecommuting policy. Bailey explained that telecommuting in the executive branch is governed by a statewide policy requiring eligible employees to work in the office three days a week and telecommute up to two days a week. Eligibility depends first on the position, not the person: public-facing jobs, roles requiring special equipment or insecure document handling, and other duties that cannot be performed remotely are not eligible. Employees and managers must complete training, sign agreements, comply with safety and IT requirements, and telecommuting privileges can be revoked for poor performance or discipline. She said the cabinet audits compliance and that telecommuting has helped maintain services during inclement weather, disasters, and building renovations. Bailey also said about 33% of the workforce is hybrid, 11% telecommutes full-time, and 56% does not telecommute. Members asked about cost savings, eligibility, discipline, and technology requirements. Bailey said she did not have statewide cost-savings figures and referred that question to the Finance and Administration Cabinet. She said employees must have reliable connectivity and appropriate equipment, but there is no fixed broadband speed requirement; if an employee cannot connect, they must come into the office. She also said telecommuting postings indicate whether a position is eligible, and that performance issues are handled through progressive discipline rather than being ignored. Transportation Cabinet officials then described how their agency manages remote work. Deputy Secretary Mike Hancock, along with IT and human resources leaders, said the cabinet follows the executive branch policy and actively manages telecommuting employees through Microsoft Teams, VPN access, daily standups, project tracking, and manager oversight. They said more than 2,600 of the cabinet’s 4,000 employees cannot telecommute because their jobs are public-facing or field-based, while about 35% are eligible to telecommute up to two days per week. The cabinet also has 13 state employees and 94 contract employees working full-time remotely in IT. Officials said telecommuting has improved recruitment and retention, supported emergency response and weather operations, and allowed the cabinet to continue working during storms and other disruptions. Members asked about phone equipment, monitoring, and “mouse jiggler” devices; officials said phones are often forwarded to personal or state devices, Teams shows real-time availability, and managers rely on daily accountability and project management tools to monitor work.

Transcript Highlights:

• This settlement addresses the licensee's failure to maintain a valid Louisiana Alcohol and Tobacco Control
• 2025, the licensee operated the video draw poker machines at its establishment without maintaining a valid
• actually current with the Louisiana State Board of Private Security Examiners, the failure to possess a valid
• The failure to possess a valid identification card at the time of the inspection constitutes a violation
• sending a request for a hearing to an individual who no longer works for the board does not constitute a valid

Summary: The Louisiana Gaming Control Board met on February 26, 2026, and first approved the January minutes and received revenue reports showing year-over-year gains in several sectors. Riverboat gaming, Caesars New Orleans, racetrack slots, video gaming devices, sports wagering, and daily fantasy sports all reported January activity and state fee collections, with board members asking no questions. The chairman also noted recent meetings with casino and racetrack general managers around the state to discuss operational challenges and possible regulatory efficiencies. The board then approved fourth-quarter 2025 employment and procurement compliance reports for riverboats and racetracks. Staff reported that some licensees met all goals, while others missed specific employment or procurement targets, including several riverboats and racetracks that fell short in Louisiana resident, female, or minority categories. The board also approved annual certificates of compliance for Bally’s Shreveport Casino and Hotel and Live Casino and Hotel after inspection reports showed deficiencies had been corrected or no issues were found. In other gaming matters, the board approved Jackpot Digital-related petitions allowing Alpha North Partners Fund and Alpha North Asset Management to qualify as institutional investors, approved a transfer of membership interest in Bonus Casino, LLC, and approved several settlements involving late filings, expired permits, ownership-notification failures, and an expired security ID card. Civil penalties ranged from $750 to $9,250. The board also considered two requests to reconsider prior license revocations: it granted reconsideration for Burritos Grill LLC, finding a good-faith but misdirected hearing request and technical issues warranted further review, but denied reconsideration for Toby’s Dead, Inc. doing business as The Gemini, concluding the licensee missed the hearing deadline and had not shown grounds for rehearing. The meeting adjourned after announcing the next meeting would be March 16, 2026.

Transcript Highlights:

• but then that would also allow for a time period for the office to digest that information, create validity
• but then that would also allow for a time period for the office to digest that information, create valid
• validity around that.
• And so typically speaking, if we're suggest that information, create valid validity around that.

Summary: The committee heard and advanced several insurance, financial regulation, and public safety bills. SB 1656, a large Office of Insurance Regulation bill, was taken up with a delete-all amendment and extensive discussion. The bill would increase transparency in insurance rates and mitigation data, update reciprocal insurer rules, limit use-and-file rate filings, expand cybersecurity breach notification, and strengthen oversight of continuing care retirement communities (CCRCs). Residents and senior advocates generally supported stronger oversight to prevent bankruptcies like the Unison case, while CCRC operators and industry groups warned that lien authority, reserve requirements, and other provisions could raise borrowing costs and burden well-run communities. The committee adopted the delete-all amendment and then reported the bill favorably after debate and public testimony. The committee also passed SB 1658 on the public records database for uniform mitigation verification forms, with a clarifying amendment protecting policyholders’ personal information. SB 1612 on financial institutions was reported favorably after an amendment and substitute amendment dealing with credit union investment limits and reimbursement rules for board members. SB 1740, an insurance bill aimed at reducing premiums and insolvency risk, was amended to prioritize rate-decrease filings and prohibit AI as the sole basis for claim denials; it was then reported favorably. SB 1212 on firefighter health and safety was amended to add occupational disease language and other firefighter protections, including safer gear, cancer prevention, and possible telehealth mental health services, and was also reported favorably. Finally, SB 1184 on residual market insurers was amended to preserve existing excess-and-surplus line standards, strengthen consumer disclosures, and clarify Citizens-related appointment rules before being reported favorably. Throughout the meeting, committee members repeatedly noted that several bills were still being refined with stakeholders, and multiple public witnesses testified in support of or opposition to the CCRC and insurance provisions, focusing on resident protection, financial stability, and unintended cost impacts.

Transcript Highlights:

• I think the commission has a valid presence to give direction to the legislature like it originally,
• I think the commission has a valid presence to give direction to the legislature like it originally,
• ><c> has</c><00:15:45.040><c> a</c><00:15:45.480><c> u</c><00:15:46.440><c> a</c><00:15:46.680><c> valid
• </c> the commission has a has a u a valid the commission has a has a u a valid presence<00:15:48.279>

Transcript Highlights:

• 2689 creates a minimum provider response rate requirement for a market rate survey to be considered valid
• additional audit staff at DCYF and additional resources at the DSHS office. rate survey to be considered valid
• by requiring all seven regions to achieve the 65% completion in order for a survey to be considered valid
• This would also... ...completion in order for a survey to be considered valid.

Bills: HB2487

Committee: Senate Ways & Means

Keywords: insurance tax, state regulation, insurers, taxation, budget impact

Transcript Highlights:

• Missouri law, under 546, 456, that statute has been enacted for quite some time, and it deals with the validity
• , the creation, the modification of trust and what And it deals with the validity, the creation, the
• as practicing attorneys in the state of Missouri was, Missouri has, for centuries, recognized the validity
• You know, the traditional no-contest clause, if you file a suit to contest the validity of this trust

Committee: House Financial Institutions

Transcript Highlights:

• First, it removes the water loss threshold for the validation and Chairman Perry: mitigation plans requirements
• result, all water systems with more than 150,000 service connections will be required annually to validate
• threshold's deletion, committee substitute changes the requirement for more detailed Chairman Perry: validation
• appropriately fits the length of time that large systems will need to conduct the more detailed validations

Bills: HB2018 , HB1633 , HB1689 , SB612 , SB3058

Committee: Senate Water, Agriculture and Rural Affairs

Keywords: agricultural conservation, land preservation, environmental protection, wildlife habitat, Texas Farm and Ranch, groundwater conservation district, Texas Water Code, water permit, permit amendment, groundwater permit, water rights, aquifer, well registration, exempt wells, beneficial use, water conservation, groundwater quality, well plugging, Hill Country Priority Groundwater Management Area, surface water resources

Summary: The Senate Water, Agriculture, Rural Affairs Committee heard several bills focused on groundwater management, water infrastructure, and agricultural land conservation. SB 612 would limit certain water districts in Hidalgo, Cameron, and Willacy counties from charging developers pipeline construction fees above actual, documented costs; the committee substitute removed a developer challenge mechanism to preserve district discretion over construction standards. HB 1633 would require groundwater conservation districts to consider registered exempt wells when reviewing or amending permits, and testimony from landowners, district representatives, and advocacy groups largely supported the bill as a way to protect domestic and livestock wells from drawdown caused by large export projects. HB 1689 would clarify that export fee revenues may be used for well operability, alternative water supplies, and aquifer monitoring, including through interlocal cooperation, and HB 3058 would give the Post Oak Savannah Groundwater Conservation District authority to use export fees for county road improvements and environmental programs tied to well inspection and groundwater management. HB 2018 would clarify that the Texas Farm and Ranchland Conservation Program is intended to purchase conservation easements only on working agricultural lands, with support from cattle raisers and Farm Bureau representatives. The committee also considered HB 29, which would require large water systems to validate water loss audits and submit mitigation plans; a committee substitute removed the water-loss threshold and adjusted the timeline for more detailed validation. Public testimony on the bills was generally supportive, with several witnesses describing declining well levels, road damage from export projects, and the need to preserve agricultural land and local water supplies. The committee adopted committee substitutes and voted favorably on HB 29, HB 1689, HB 2018, SB 612, and SB 3058, recommending several of them for the local and uncontested calendar; HB 1633 was left pending awaiting a committee substitute.