Transcript Highlights:

• should be more upfront with LEAs and schools about what will be tested so they can focus on it.
• He said that should be something considered, but that all they have is the ACT test.
• Representative Hamilton said she is not saying to get rid of the test.
• She added that the ACT does not test what they teach in Arizona.
• We do not have nearly as much money in the rainy day fund as we need, according to stress tests.

Bills: HB2063, HB2271, HB2416, HB2478, HB2593, HB2692, HB2813, HB2992, HB2993, HB4044

Keywords: corrections oversight, appropriation, independent office, public safety, funding, firefighters, insurance rates, workers' compensation, firefighter cancer reimbursement, rate deviations, cost analysis, premiums, border security, drug trafficking, human smuggling, law enforcement funding, Arizona, immigration, education reform, K-12

Summary: The committee heard several appropriations and policy bills, with testimony often focused on public safety, education, and procurement. HB 263 would appropriate $1.5 million in FY2027 to the Independent Correctional Oversight Office; the sponsor and supportive testimony argued the office is needed to address serious problems in the corrections system, and the bill received a due pass recommendation, 17-1. HB 2993, as amended, would allow DPS to spend on legal services independent of the Attorney General and redirect $5 million from the Consumer Protection/Consumer Fraud Revolving Fund to the Gang and Immigration Intelligence Team Enforcement Mission Fund; the Speaker framed it as supporting law enforcement and public safety, and it passed 17-0. HB 2271 dealt with firefighter cancer coverage and insurance rates. The bill would allow an insurer covering firefighters and fire investigators to file a uniform rate deviation only if it is not reimbursed by the municipal firefighter cancer reimbursement fund. Testimony described the measure as a temporary shell pending a broader consensus agreement to bring fire districts into the reimbursement system; members stressed that firefighters should not see changes in claim handling, but several said the bill still needed work. It received a due pass recommendation on a 16-1-1 vote. HB 2416 would appropriate $20 million to DPS for local border support, including law enforcement positions, prosecution and detention costs, and equipment; sheriffs and the Arizona Sheriffs Association supported it as a continuation of existing funding for drug interdiction and border-related crime, and it passed 11-6-1. The committee also advanced HB 2692, which revises public construction procurement rules and authorizes progressive design-build and one-step competition for certain federally funded projects. Construction and procurement stakeholders said the bill was the product of a long consensus process, while some members worried about taxpayer impacts and the move away from standard procurement; it passed 10-7-1. HB 2478, as amended, creates the Arizona Commission on Student Outcomes to study K-12 accountability, standards, graduation requirements, early childhood education, and a trade pathways diploma, funded by Classroom Site Fund dollars; members debated whether the work should instead be done by ADE or the State Board, and the bill passed 11-7. The committee also heard HB 4044, which would create a Public Safety Parity Fund to support DPS and corrections salaries using investment earnings from the Budget Stabilization Fund and proceeds from forfeited digital assets; the sponsor and a troopers association witness argued it would provide a stable long-term funding source to address chronic vacancies and pay gaps.

Transcript Highlights:

• First, reducing training barriers by modernizing home care aide training and integrating testing into
• WABON, the Washington Board of Nursing, has moved CNA testing to training programs to similar results
• And certification backlogs and testing delays are three that I want to talk about today.
• And then funding to integrate testing into training.
• You heard about this from Aiden, but testing in the training sites is just, From Aiden, but the testing

Summary: The committee began with an extended work session on the long-term care workforce. DSHS Assistant Secretary B. Rector described the new Home and Community Living Administration and outlined major workforce pressures: Washington had about 126,000 long-term care workers in 2022, with demand expected to outpace supply as the 85-plus population and dementia prevalence rise sharply. She emphasized that direct care workers are largely women, people of color, and immigrants, and that family caregivers are also a major part of the system. She highlighted recruitment and retention efforts funded through federal Money Follows the Person dollars, including high school training partnerships, a retention toolkit, transportation support, caregiver newsletters, tribal workforce navigators, and a remote caregiving pilot. Committee members asked about career pathways, technology use, and turnover drivers; Rector said wages, benefits, unstable hours, and workplace support are key issues and promised follow-up data. Aidan Swain of the Washington Health Care Association said skilled nursing and assisted living facilities face acute RN vacancies, wage pressures, and Medicaid reimbursement that does not cover costs, and urged modernization of training, better reimbursement, and continued support for facility-based care. Maddie Fouch of SEIU 775, representing about 55,000 caregivers, said low wages, weak benefits, lack of voice, and certification delays are driving turnover and shortages, and argued for higher compensation, better worker protections, and more transparent reimbursement. Catherine Smith of Behavioral Health Solutions described growing behavioral health needs in nursing homes, the role of expanded behavioral supports programs, and credentialing delays that slow hiring. No votes were taken; the panel was informational only. The second agenda item was an overview of the palliative care benefit work group report required by 2024 legislation. Nico Jansen of the Office of the Insurance Commissioner explained that the work group, convened with the Health Care Authority, studied a potential palliative care benefit for fully insured commercial plans and also Medicaid, PEBB, and SEBB. He said palliative care is a philosophy of care focused on symptom management, coordination, and support for serious illness, and is distinct from hospice because it can be provided alongside curative treatment. The actuarial analysis concluded that creating a new benefit would likely increase costs, estimating about a 28-cent per member per month increase overall and roughly $2.6 million to $4.5 million in annual state Medicaid costs if implemented in 2027. Jansen said the consultants did not find sufficient evidence to assume savings from avoided hospitalizations or long-term care, though several work group members disagreed and submitted response letters. Senators asked about other states, Medicare, health homes, and whether more research could clarify cost savings; OIC said some states, including Hawaii, are moving ahead with Medicaid palliative care benefits, Medicare covers some related services but not in the same way, and further evidence may emerge over time. OIC did not take a position on whether the Legislature should create the benefit. The final presentation covered health care price transparency tools in Washington and federally. Evan Klein and HCA Chief Data Officer Vishal Chaudry reviewed federal hospital and health plan transparency rules, the state all-payer claims database, prescription drug price transparency, the Health Care Cost Transparency Board, the Prescription Drug Affordability Board, and other reporting systems. They explained that the APCD contains claims from fully insured commercial plans, Medicaid, and public employee programs, but not self-insured employer data except for limited voluntary submissions. They also described how machine-readable files, consumer price tools, and aggregated dashboards are used, and noted that data limitations, delays, and complexity remain significant. Senators asked about voluntary self-insured participation, the role of AI in making data more usable, and whether transparency can really help consumers given access barriers and medical debt. HCA said AI is increasingly used by private entities to mine large transparency datasets, but state agencies still face limits in data access and analytic capacity. The committee did not take action; the session was informational and ended with a discussion of how transparency data might better inform policy and purchasing decisions in the future.

Transcript Highlights:

• A lot of the spending was largely federal, and I think the test scores through 2024 only reflect that
• We have seen some, obviously the test score data is sobering when you think about the achievement gaps
• So even though that's not a substitute for seeing improvements in the testing data that we want to see
• Sixty-five percent of our test takers in 2023-24 came from low-income families.
• New English learners, those tested for the first time, arrived in our. are schools with lower levels

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Chair, test, test. I don’t think I have any...” “I don’t think I have any... Test, test. Yes, test.
• Test, test. Test, test. How about now? Test, test.

Bills: SB1152, SB1156, SB1157, SB1213, SB1232, SB1268

Keywords: immigration, public benefits, asylum, verification, Arizona Revised Statutes, appropriation, public safety, detention, unauthorized aliens, local government funding, border security, fencing, appropriations, southern border, local government, immigration enforcement, probation, law enforcement, court notification, civil rights

Summary: The Military Affairs and Border Security Committee met and approved the January 26, 2026 minutes, then took up several bills related to veterans, immigration, and border security. SB 1268 was described as an emergency cleanup measure clarifying that a 100% service-connected disabled veteran’s primary residence is fully exempt from property tax, including when jointly owned with a spouse; county assessors supported it as needed to fix ambiguous language before the 2026 tax year, and it passed 7-0. SB 1152 would make people with pending asylum applications eligible for state or local public benefits until asylum is granted; supporters framed it as limiting state spending on pending cases, while opponents argued it was redundant, could encourage racial profiling, and conflicted with humanitarian and economic considerations. It passed 4-3. SB 1156 would appropriate $20 million to reimburse cities, towns, and counties for short-term detention costs involving unauthorized persons; supporters said local governments were bearing an unfair burden, while opponents said the money should go elsewhere and that the state was already spending heavily on border issues. It passed 4-3.

Transcript Highlights:

• Ideally, what we're looking for is those students to be tested at least once in middle school and once
• It's not taking into account those health care facilities that are already doing these testing.
• It's not taking into account those health care facilities that are already doing these testing.
• who are reviewing those tests, not just cardiologists, but licensed cardiologists.
• A typical test is between $50 and $200.

Summary: The Health Policy Committee heard and advanced several health-related bills. SB 1546 on background screening for athletic coaches was explained as another extension of the deadline for coaches to be added to the background screening clearinghouse; it passed favorably with support from athletic and youth sports organizations. SB 958 on type 1 diabetes early detection was amended to match the House version, requiring the Department of Health to provide school districts, school boards, and charter schools with informational materials for parents; it was reported favorably as a committee substitute. CS/SB 1070 on electrocardiograms for student athletes drew extensive discussion about sudden cardiac arrest prevention, implementation timelines, costs, funding through private and public sources, and whether insurance, KidCare, or Medicaid should cover screenings; after supportive testimony from school and athletic groups, it was reported favorably as a committee substitute. The committee also heard SB 1060, which would create a joint legislative oversight committee for Medicaid managed care to review encounter data, financials, audits, and rebate calculations with assistance from an actuary and the Auditor General. The sponsor and several senators framed it as a transparency and verification measure in response to large mid-year Medicaid funding increases and concerns about network adequacy and vertical integration; it passed favorably. CS/SB 944, which shortens the insurer overpayment recovery look-back period for claims involving psychologists from 30 months to 12 months, also passed favorably with support from the Florida Psychological Association. SB 1370, moving ambulatory surgical centers into their own statute rather than under hospital licensure provisions, was supported by surgery center representatives and reported favorably. The committee approved SB 768, as amended, to narrow the foreign-country-of-concern licensure attestation for health care entities to direct controlling interests and clarify the “reasonable efforts” standard; it passed after questions about how the standard would work in practice. SB 1544 on opticianry prompted significant debate over whether the bill would limit nonlicensed staff in ophthalmology and optometry settings; after a proposed amendment was withdrawn and multiple witnesses spoke both for and against, the bill was temporarily postponed. Finally, the committee adopted a strike-all amendment to SB 1808 requiring health care practitioners and facilities to refund patient overpayments within 30 days, with enforcement through AHCA fines or professional discipline, and then reported the bill favorably.

Transcript Highlights:

• However, our industry has been somewhat hamstrung when it comes to the education portion and testing
• Paper testing on-site was clunky.
• Proctoring sometimes dozens of people on our decks with paper tests was difficult.
• the test prior to arriving with their phones, or we can provide iPads for them to take it on site.
• You know, they say, okay, you got to take a test. They go right down the street to the next one.

Summary: The Transportation Committee met and considered a series of bills, beginning with SB 266, which would exempt sales and use tax on electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft sold from manufacturers to operators. Senator Harold said the measure is intended to help Florida attract an advanced air mobility industry and create jobs. The committee adopted an amendment clarifying the definition of EVTOL aircraft and excluding drones, then reported the bill favorably. SB 350, by Senator DeSigley, was also reported favorably after a minor amendment; it allows local governments to permit vehicles to travel slowly on flooded streets without being treated as unlawfully impeding traffic. Supporters from the Florida PBA and Florida League of Cities waived in support. The committee next approved SB 706, designating part of U.S. 92/Gandy Boulevard as the Senator James A. Sebesta Memorial Highway. SB 628, Lucy’s Law, was heard with extensive emotional testimony from Lucy Fernandez’s parents and others. The bill strengthens boating safety by increasing penalties for reckless boating, requiring boating safety education after certain violations, and aligning some boating penalties more closely with motor vehicle laws. A substitute amendment was adopted, and the bill was reported favorably. SB 872, dealing with county and municipal price controls for the removal and storage of electric vehicles, was also amended and reported favorably after testimony from towing industry representatives about the added costs and storage constraints posed by damaged EVs; the Florida Insurance Council spoke in opposition. The committee then approved SB 650, which expands hazardous walking condition criteria for elementary school students to include walkways along freeways, ramps, and interchanges, regardless of speed limit. SB 1318, the hands-free driving bill, generated substantial testimony from safety advocates and families affected by distracted driving; it would rename Florida’s texting law as a hands-free driving law and prohibit handheld use of wireless devices while driving. The committee also passed SB 994, increasing driver education requirements for standard and learner’s licenses, and SB 662, designating a portion of West Beaver Street in Duval County as Harry Frisch Street. Several senators recorded affirmative votes on bills after the roll calls, and the meeting adjourned after all listed measures were reported favorably.

Transcript Highlights:

• We have a clear, deliberate timeline designed to test thoroughly before deployment.
• test thoroughly before deployment. test thoroughly before deployment.
• These test scenarios will allow us to identify any areas needing improvement and refine our processes
• National Institute of Standards and Technology for comprehensive cybersecurity testing.
• This federal level security testing.

Keywords: Meeting Start 00:00:00 Attendance Roll Call 00:00:14 Approval of Minutes 00:00:40 State Board of Elections 00:00:56, 958, all

Summary: The House Budget Review Subcommittee on General Government met to hear an update from the State Board of Elections on its Bluegrass Books electronic poll book system. Rachel Pointer and Richard House described the project as an in-house modernization effort intended to improve security, customization, integration with the voter registration system, reduce voter wait times, streamline supplemental and provisional ballot processing, and provide year-round local support to county clerks and poll workers. They emphasized that the system is already a working product, not just a concept, and showed a workflow demonstration of voter lookup, signature capture, ballot issuance, manual lookup, and handling voters who have already voted. The agency also outlined the financial rationale for the project, saying the state currently lacks dedicated funding for replacing the iPads used for election-day poll books and that counties now bear vendor maintenance and support costs. Under Bluegrass Books, the state would seek to cover hardware replacement, maintenance, and on-site support through future appropriations, potentially using bulk purchasing to lower costs. When asked about the size of the appropriation request, the presenters said it was not yet finalized but noted roughly 7,000 devices are deployed statewide and replacement would likely be phased rather than done all at once. Members asked about security and whether the e-poll book could affect vote totals. The Board explained that the e-poll book is separate from ballot casting, that voting machines themselves are not connected to the internet, and that the poll book is networked only to update check-ins and prevent double voting. They said the device is locked down to the poll book application and can operate offline until connectivity returns. A member also asked how to recruit more poll workers; the response suggested higher pay is the main incentive, along with outreach to schools, community colleges, and possible pilot programs involving professionals. The meeting concluded without any votes or formal action beyond approval of minutes, and the next meeting was announced for January 29, weather permitting.

Transcript Highlights:

• items before the test?
• You know, we have to conduct a physical fitness test every single year.
• No, if you were to look at the new testing standards, I mean, they’re pretty rigorous.
• The new testing standards are pretty rigorous.
• The new testing standards, I mean, they're pretty rigorous.

Summary: The Senate Education Pre-K through 12 Committee met with a quorum and considered several education-related bills. SB 1036 on school counselors was amended with a technical clarification and reported favorably. SB 1136 on dental screenings for K-12 students was converted by delete-all amendment to place the screening definition in the School Health Services Act and align notice and parent-exemption procedures; it also passed favorably, with support noted from PTA and other witnesses. SB 920 on mathematics education was reported favorably after discussion of applied algebra courses tied to career pathways, while preserving Algebra I standards, the end-of-course exam, graduation requirements, and university admission eligibility. SB 1216 on public school personnel compensation, which would give districts more flexibility on pay, cost-of-living adjustments, and advanced degrees, also passed favorably with broad support from educators and former school board members. The committee then approved SPB 7022, which reenacts and extends a public records exemption for classroom examination and assessment instruments through 2031 and expands coverage to district school boards and public schools. SB 464 on observance of Veterans Day in K-12 schools was reported favorably after extensive debate about whether schools should be closed or could instead hold Veterans Day programs; supporters emphasized statewide consistency and honoring veterans, while some members raised scheduling and instructional-day concerns. SB 538 on physical education and extracurricular participation was amended to establish standardized eligibility rules for public, private, virtual, and home education students, limit duplicate participation across schools, require annual participation in the Presidential Youth Fitness Program, and leave coach compensation to district discretion; it was then reported favorably. SB 178 on athletics and public K-12 schools was amended to add a $15,000 annual cap on coach personal spending per team and was reported favorably after discussion about good-faith support for student-athletes, recruiting concerns, and the need for guardrails. A temporary postponement was announced for SB 430 on the oath of school personnel. At the end of the meeting, Senator Osgood recorded a favorable vote on SB 1036, and the committee adjourned without further business.

Transcript Highlights:

• And that would be to test at the contractor's board and pass an aptitude test to determine if they were
• build this bridge that's going to cross the Mississippi River for billions of dollars by taking a test
• to address those people who go to LCCTS and obtain some type of education and to be able to take a test
• I thought we had spoken about if they failed that test, then put them in the hours.
• You want to continue or you want to test? I think, you know, you've got the bill in the posture.

Summary: The Senate Commerce Committee met on May 6, 2026, with five members present and approved the prior meeting minutes. The committee first heard HB 750, a “click-to-cancel” consumer protection bill requiring subscription cancellations to be as easy as sign-up and to be available through the same method used to subscribe. An amendment was adopted, testimony included support from labor and consumer advocates and opposition from some business groups, and the bill was reported favorably as amended. The committee then took up SB 414, which was narrowed to cap interest on medical debt at 3%. After reconsidering and replacing prior amendments, the committee adopted the new amendment set and reported the bill favorably as amended. HB 799, concerning inspection licensing for elevators, escalators, and boilers, was presented by the State Fire Marshal and reported favorably with little discussion. The longest discussion centered on HB 953, a major plumbing workforce and licensing reform bill. The bill was amended substantially: the original proposal to move plumbing oversight to the Contractors Board was removed, the plumbing board remained in place, apprenticeship and journeyman/master plumber hour requirements were revised, penalties and reporting requirements were added, and language was included to support workforce development and reentry training. The committee heard both support and opposition, including clarification from the State Plumbing Board that it already has an appeals process through the courts, and HB 953 was reported favorably as amended. Finally, HB 220, the “PROTECT Act,” was heard to require covered online platforms to maintain a clear and usable mechanism for reporting child sexual abuse material and exploitation. An amendment was adopted to account for platforms that require registration to access content, testimony was supportive, and the bill was reported favorably as amended. HB 952 was deferred, and HB 827, a related plumbing workforce bill, was amended to align more closely with HB 953 but then failed a motion to defer by roll call vote, allowing it to remain pending. The committee then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• There is also some good language consolidated... ...not just a chemical test.
• And the problem with this particular bill is that it has not gone through the tests to prove that it's
• reliable and that it's testing accuracy of what it's supposed to test.
• It says it has potential, but it has not gone through the litmus test to get that stamp of approval.
• And in Ohio, they said they were not accepting it as a valid test.

Keywords: 964, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We tested this out with our local referral sources such as sheriff's office, 211, school system, and
• And that's why it's a pilot program to test to see if we can do it.
• They followed up with the child's pediatrician, pediatrician requested additional testing.
• Genetic testing takes months and months as the system is moving swiftly to terminate rights.
• And it's important to know that credential is simply passing a test.

Transcript Highlights:

• For another means-tested program.
• So, back on our state assessment test.
• reason we moved away from that testing reason we moved away from that testing measure<01:40:33.840
• goes in that newspaper is that test goes in that newspaper is that test score<01:40:59.760> and
• No educator be a multiple choice test.

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The task force met with a quorum, approved the minutes from the August 20 meeting, and then heard testimony from Representative Steven Doan on House Bill 439, a school nutrition bill aimed at restricting certain ultra-processed foods in schools. Doan said the bill was inspired by his own health journey and his work in agriculture, and he described the measure as targeting specific chemical additives in foods served during the school day, not concession sales or after-hours activities. He said the bill would phase in later to give schools time to adjust and noted that the list of restricted additives was drawn from efforts in other states and advocacy groups. Members asked about the chemical abstract numbers, fiscal impact, summer meal programs, fundraisers, and whether the bill would affect parent-provided items; Doan said he had not done a fiscal note and explained that the bill was intended to apply only during instructional time on school property. Committee members generally reacted favorably, with some raising practical concerns about cost and implementation. One member asked about high fructose corn syrup, which Doan said was not included because it is too pervasive in the food system. Another member noted that schools already limit some homemade items and asked about the line between school-provided and parent-provided food. Doan also said the list was based in part on Turning Point USA materials and similar laws in other states, and he referenced federal efforts to define ultra-processed foods. The committee then heard from Kentucky Department of Education officials Matt Ross, Lauren Moore, and Katie Embry on school meals and nutrition programs. They outlined Kentucky’s school lunch, breakfast, summer meals, and other USDA child nutrition programs, including participation and reimbursement figures, and explained how community eligibility provision schools, meal patterns, offer-versus-serve, smart snacks, and local wellness policies work. They said USDA and FDA are currently seeking public input on a uniform definition of ultra-processed foods, that there are no current USDA requirements specifically on ultra-processed foods, and that schools already operate under federal and state rules governing competitive foods, including a state time restriction on smart snacks. They also discussed local purchasing, noting its benefits but also the procurement and staffing challenges schools face. No votes or final actions on the bill were taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:10:35.279> fires know if they're going to be test fires know if they're going to be test
• question I ask here I mean from the test question I ask here I mean from the test testimony<00:51
• test, that those animals do not have the disease.
• test, that those animals do not have the disease.
• Currently, the only way to test for it is a brain tissue test of a dead animal, so that's what we really

Bills: HF47, HF434, HF1503, HF1702

Keywords: telecommunications, installation, certification, safety, underground utilities, HF434, cervidae, deer, elk, moose, chronic wasting disease, CWD, wildlife importation, animal health, biosecurity, zoo, Association of Zoos and Aquariums, AZA, USDA exhibitor, species survival plan

Transcript Highlights:

• Must be purpose-built to house the company's cultivation, manufacturing, testing, and distribution.
• That's manufactured must go through stringent in-house testing, including potency, contaminant testing
• , microbial, pesticide, and heavy metal tests.
• All those Certificates of Analysis (C of A) from the tests are reported directly to the DPS.
• Then inventory is randomly selected by the DPS to be tested again by a third-party lab.

Transcript Highlights:

• oversight of the hemp industry to protect the public, especially children, from unregulated and under-tested
• Every batch of every product that's manufactured must go through stringent in-house testing, potency,
• contaminant testing, including microbial, pesticide, and heavy metal tests.
• All those CFAs from the test are reported directly to the DPS.
• Then inventory is randomly selected by the DPS to be tested again by a third party lab to verify results

Transcript Highlights:

• Two of them scored higher than the cutoff on the screening test.
• down the road and they pull them over, they're going to administer the standardized field sobriety tests
• , oral fluid, or blood test, right?
• Since we conduct all the testing for all the law enforcement agencies and the criminal cases throughout
• And so when that evidence is submitted to us for testing, we've had examples where they're using the

Bills: SB191, HB84, HB79, SB132, HB108, HB109, HB110, HB114, HB118, HB120, HB122, HB124, HB126, HB128, HB129, HB131

Keywords: postpartum depression, mental health, Medicaid, screening, education, maternal health, Chiropractic, Board of Chiropractic Examiners, license renewal, continuing education, election procedures, off-label, pharmacists, medical treatment, state board of pharmacy, employment protection, SB132, Alabama, controlled substances, Schedule I

Transcript Highlights:

• And I will also mention that this test of what is considered obscene content...
• It's got to fit all three prongs of this test to meet that.
• My understanding is that would not pass this test; do you agree?
• Under three tests.
• Context matters, and so we have to look at that three-pronged test.

Bills: HJR138, HB42, HB 104, HB 129, HB677, HB426, HB668, HB1699, HB2017, HB2128, HB2038, HB3783, HB3717, HB2316, HB3686, HB2563, HB3883, HB4021, HB2788, HB2663, HB3305, HB3173, HB3474, HB 1105, HB3531, HB3490, HB3597, HB 1295, HB3512, HB3010, HB3112, HB4215, HB3223, HB3464, HB3120, HB4214, HB4511, HB3704, HB4081, HB4783, HB4063, HB2783, HB4937, HB5085, HB2510, HB3426, HB4361, HB 1169, HB2516, HB2347, HB4034, HB4700, HB3560, HB5150, HB3860, HB3146, HB3924, HCR98, HCR92, HB1520, HB1545, HB5265, HB1887, HB1914, HB2402, HB2306, HB2350, HB3000, HB3237, HB3326, HB3211, HB 1056, HB2081, HB2187, HB3092, HB3308, HB3526, HB3750, HB4219, HB4230, HB4290, HB5238, HB4804, HB4749, HB245, HB1465, HB294, HB793, HB809, HB3928, HB334, HB2037, HB1973, HB285, HB4341, HB 1043, HB 1234, HB 1193, HB1729, HB2498, HB1314, HB1353, HB3960, HB3923, HB2221, HB2517, HB2518, HB2213, HB5092, HB3748, HB5246, HB4344, HB1482, HB4044, HB2702, HB4264, HB2807, HB2898, HB3181, HB3250, HB2091, HB2115, HB2542, HB2768, HB3349, HB4406, HB1593, HB1899, HB3133, HB3133, HB4960, HB3214, HB2145, HB 1201, HB5061, SB29, SB879, SB65, SB1745, SB412, SB412, SB1746, SB1238, SB1341, SB522, SB1532, SB1378, SB1062, SB2066, SB1963, SB2204, SB1366, SB2077, SB1967, SB1151, HB1618, HB2156, HB2615, HB2615, HB2349, HB1926, HB569, HB1762, HB38, HJR138, HB42, HB 104, HB 104, HB 129, HB677, HB426, HB668, HB1699, HB2017, HB2128, HB2038, HB3783, HB3717, HB2316, HB3686, HB2563, HB3883, HB4021, HB2788, HB2663, HB2663, HB3305, HB3173, HB3474, HB 1105, HB3531, HB3531, HB3490, HB3490, HB3597, HB 1295, HB3512, HB3010, HB3112, HB4215, HB3223, HB3223, HB3464, HB3120, HB4214, HB4511, HB3704, HB4081, HB4783, HB4063, HB2783, HB4937, HB5085, HB2510, HB3426, HB4361, HB 1169, HB2516, HB2347, HB4034, HB4700, HB3560, HB5150, HB3860, HB3146, HB3924, HCR98, HCR92

Keywords: carbon tax, carbon emissions, greenhouse gas, climate policy, fuel tax, emissions tax, Texas Constitution, Article VIII, tax limitation, environmental tax, fossil fuels, energy policy, legislative taxing authority, ballot proposition, constitutional amendment, higher education, funding, financial allocation, state budget, Texas A&M University

Transcript Highlights:

• Testing, testing, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14. 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22,
• Testing the audio garbledness. Testing one, two, three. Testing one, two, three.

Transcript Highlights:

• And the issue alcohol blood testing lab.
• So you know testing and stuff like that.
• At least it got sent out and the testing process has begun.
• got sent out and the the proc testing got sent out and the the proc testing process<01:39:40.159
• , section or SIS for DNA testing, section or SIS for DNA testing, ballistics,<01:48:24.960> sex

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The Senate Committee on Public Safety and Military Affairs held an informational briefing on violent crime clearance rates and what resources law enforcement and prosecutors need to improve them. Chair and members noted there would be no public testimony. The briefing was led by Marshall Clement of the Council of State Governments’ Justice Center, with later participation expected from state and county law enforcement and prosecutorial agencies. Clement argued that solving violent crime is a systemwide issue, not just a local police function, and said clearance rates have declined nationally over decades for homicide, rape, aggravated assault, and robbery. He said Hawaii’s reported data, limited to Oʻahu and Kauaʻi, shows overall violent crime rates are lower than the national average and have been relatively flat with a pandemic-era spike followed by declines in 2023 and 2024. He reported that Hawaii’s overall violent crime solve rate fell from about 52% in 2014 to about 40% in 2024, with 2024 rates of 50% for homicides, 48% for aggravated assaults, and 26% each for rapes and robberies. He also estimated unsolved cases over the past three years at about 17 homicides, 3,300 aggravated assaults, 1,200 rapes, and 1,700 robberies. Members asked about victim and witness support, staffing shortages, the Denver example, whether clearance rates include cases not prosecuted, and whether HPD’s size or structure might affect solve rates. Clement said support can include victim-witness programs and coordinators that help maintain cooperation and trust, especially where clearance rates are low. He said resources, training, technology, and detective caseloads matter, citing Boston, Denver, and Omaha as cities that improved solve rates through relatively low-cost operational changes; he highlighted Denver’s increase in non-fatal shooting clearance from 39% to 65% in seven months after dedicating more resources. He said he had no research showing that breaking up a large department would improve solve rates, and noted that clearance data can include exceptional clearances such as victim noncooperation, prosecutorial declination, or a suspect’s death. No votes or formal actions were taken during the informational briefing.

Transcript Highlights:

• It requires a certain test done by a certain group.
• It requires a certain test done compact.
• It requires a certain test done by<00:28:51.679> a<00:28:52.080> certain<00:28:52.320><
• collects the fees and does that testing. collects the fees and does that testing.
• Do you remember when they talked about the Marquette graduates not having to take a hand test?

Keywords: 1191, senate, all