Transcript Highlights:

• program that PED is offering for young people who are in their senior year, are off track to graduation
• , and are likely not to graduate, doing a capstone project in an internship and getting paid.
• And then, in addition to what you provide here for the graduation, so after they complete an internship
• Wilson Hurley graduated from the United States Military Academy.
• Wilson Hurley graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1945 and served as a

Keywords: 996, all

Summary: The House Labor, Veterans and Military Affairs Committee met with a quorum and first addressed a point of order over whether HB 270 could be heard after being taken up earlier in the Transportation Committee. The chair ruled the bill could proceed because it was assigned to this committee and had been properly noticed. The committee then heard HB 280, which would create a three-year pilot program to support paid student internships through grants administered by the Department of Workforce Solutions. Supporters said the bill would help fund internships, mentoring, and transportation, and could improve workforce development, graduation outcomes, and pathways into apprenticeships or higher education. Members asked about administrative costs, student selection, rural and tribal access, payment mechanisms, and whether public entities, land grants, and dual credit could be included. The bill sponsor and witnesses said the program would likely serve about 100 students, use a sliding-scale matching model, and allow local flexibility in program design. The committee voted due pass on HB 280. The committee then heard House Memorial 46, honoring the Hurley family and especially Major General Patrick Hurley and his son Wilson Hurley for military service and artistic contributions in New Mexico. The memorial was presented as a tribute to a family of heroes, and members expressed support. The committee voted due pass on the memorial. Finally, the committee heard HB 270, which would amend the Public Works Apprentice and Training Act to require contributions to apprenticeship and training programs on most public works projects, including road and utility work, while exempting trades without approved programs. Sponsors said the bill would close loopholes, broaden participation, and strengthen the workforce pipeline. Opposition came from asphalt, contractor, and utility groups, which argued the bill would raise costs, duplicate existing training programs, and create access problems for nonunion and geographically distant contractors. Supporters from mechanical contractors, building trades, and labor groups said the bill would improve workforce development and keep training dollars in New Mexico. After debate over the earlier Transportation Committee action and the bill’s cost impacts, the committee voted due pass on HB 270 by a 5-3 roll call.

Transcript Highlights:

• The navy blue being less than a high school graduate, the light green being high school graduate, all
• the way on up to graduate or professional degree.
• Two graduates from our first cohort are from East Africa, and since they graduated, they have worked
• Two graduates from our first cohort are Two graduates from our first cohort are from<00:39:27.920>
• <01:25:47.679> for intentionally in building pathways for intentionally in building pathways

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• foreign medical school graduate foreign medical school graduate licensing<00:11:08.320> requirements
• The foreign medical school graduate licensing requirements bill.
• 00:13:02.680> bill graduate licensing requirements bill graduate licensing requirements bill line
• And I want to commend the representative for doing the foreign medical school graduation piece.
• medical school uh graduation piece. medical school uh graduation piece.

Bills: HF2435

Keywords: healthcare, dementia services, public health funding, opioid prevention, women's health, community health boards, mental health, 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• We have an 85.8% success rate where young adults have been able to graduate.
• One is a young man who wanted to be a real estate agent, but if he did not successfully graduate, he
• After he graduated, he moved out of state to work for his mother's real estate business.
• And she was able to graduate. She got into junior college. She was working.
• That said, I think the Legislature has also recognized that retaining certain judicial pathways where

Summary: The committee first adopted a seven-bill consent calendar, then heard several public safety measures. AB 1127 by Assembly Member Gabriel would restrict sale of certain semi-automatic handguns that can be easily converted to automatic weapons with “switches”; supporters, including Everytown and Moms Demand Action, said it targets a specific Glock-style design flaw linked to mass shootings, while the NRA and gun-rights groups argued the bill duplicates existing federal law and effectively bans popular handguns. The bill was moved on a due-pass-as-amended motion to Judiciary and remained on call. AB 468, also by Gabriel, would increase penalties and clarify offenses involving looting and impersonating emergency personnel in evacuation zones and during disasters; firefighters, district attorneys, and law enforcement supported it as a deterrent, while public defenders and justice advocates warned it was overbroad and could worsen racial profiling. The committee approved the bill on a due-pass-as-amended motion to Appropriations, also held on call. The committee then heard AB 1187 by Assembly Member Celeste Rodriguez, which would require eight hours of firearm safety training, including live-fire instruction, before obtaining a firearm safety certificate and would add a requirement for new residents who import firearms. Supporters said California should require training comparable to other safety-sensitive activities and that the measure would reduce gun deaths; opponents argued the bill misunderstands the existing FSC process, would be hard to implement because of range and instructor limits, and would burden a constitutional right. The bill passed on a due-pass-as-amended motion to Appropriations and was held on call. The committee also heard AB 1424 by Rodriguez, which would require CDCR climate resiliency and heat-safety measures in prisons, including temperature monitoring, shade, showers, fans, and emergency planning. Prisoner-rights and labor groups strongly supported the bill, citing extreme heat, wildfire, and flooding risks, while one opponent said the monitoring mandate could be too costly; the bill was moved on a due-pass motion to Labor and Employment and held on call. Finally, the committee began hearing AB 1258 by Assembly Member Kalra, which would extend the sunset of the Young Adult Deferred Entry Program through 2029 for selected counties. Kalra and Santa Clara County Judge Erica You described the program’s success in reducing recidivism and providing wraparound services for young adults with felony charges, including housing, counseling, and parenting support. The transcript cuts off before the committee completed action on AB 1258.

Transcript Highlights:

• Can we clear the pathway so I can see. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Hold on.
• Can we clear the pathway so I can see? Rep. Trabulsy? Hold on.
• it's diversity, equity, and inclusion programs that have oftentimes given us the language and the pathway
• to be able to talk through and understand how to get... ...giving us the language and the pathway to
• care procurement, reimbursement, nursing home quality incentives, newborn screening requirements, graduate

Summary: The House convened with prayer, a moment of silence for former Senator Don Childers, the Pledge of Allegiance, and recognition of Officer Antonio Richardson as law enforcement officer of the day. The chamber announced it would take up 11 budget conference committee reports, with no third-reading bills or special-order calendar items. Members were reminded that conference reports were subject to debate but not amendment, and that the required review periods had been satisfied. The first major action was on HB 7031E, the tax package. Representative Duggan explained that the conference report included a mix of retained, modified, and new tax provisions, including sales tax holidays, property tax and homestead-related changes, reductions in certain gaming and carbon-related taxes, changes to child care and documentary stamp tax credits, a new refund process for public works construction tax paid by universities and colleges, and other tax administration changes. Debate focused on the bill’s consumer impact, the reduction of the child tax credit from three years to one, the inclusion of firearm accessories in a sales tax holiday, the absence of gas tax relief and combined reporting, and the homestead exemption provision for certain deployed diplomatic and foreign service personnel. Critics argued the package favored niche or corporate interests over broad affordability relief, while supporters said it provided targeted tax relief and reflected conference negotiations. The House adopted the conference report and passed HB 7031E by a vote of 88-11. The House then began presenting the conference report for HB 501E, the state budget, which totaled $114.5 billion for fiscal year 2026-27 and was described as below the prior year’s spending level while maintaining reserves. Subcommittee chairs outlined major budget areas: pre-K-12 funding included an increase in FEFP, salary increases for veteran teachers, stabilization funding, and support for declining enrollment; higher education included full Bright Futures funding, workforce programs, college operating support, university initiatives, and school guardian expansion; IT funding focused on Palm, ACCESS, APD’s I-Connect replacement, corrections systems, emergency management systems, and cybersecurity grants; health care funding covered Medicaid, nursing home rates, waiver provider increases, ADAP funding and restructuring, child welfare, and behavioral health; transportation and economic development included housing, cultural grants, jobs and rural infrastructure, Visit Florida, Space Florida, highway patrol equipment, and local transportation projects; justice funding included correctional construction, juvenile justice facilities, law enforcement grants, and clerk and due process reimbursements; state administration included fire stations, constrained counties, building maintenance, and Safe Florida Home; and agriculture/natural resources funding emphasized Everglades restoration, water quality, land acquisition, Florida Forever, state parks, and citrus research. Members then began questioning the budget details, including school voucher accountability, school funding formulas, public defender parity, prison technology, wastewater monitoring in prisons, ADAP policy, SNAP fraud controls and AI-assisted verification, Florida Forever funding, school lunch funding, and coral reef restoration. No final vote on HB 501E appears in the transcript excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• There are three legislative pathways we can consider given our case studies.
• There are three legislative pathways we can consider given our case studies.
• There are three legislative pathways we can consider given our case studies.
• There are three legislative pathways we can consider given our case studies.
• <01:03:23.520> this Are you None of you are graduating this Are you None of you are graduating

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I am a little disappointed we don't have more unit production for that pathway to home ownership.
• I am a little disappointed we don't have more unit production for that pathway to home ownership.
• no big deal until we, um, I tell you that we don't have enough residency slots for kids who are graduating
• no big deal until we, um, I tell you that we don't have enough residency slots for kids who are graduating
• no big deal until we, um, I tell you that we don't have enough residency slots for kids who are graduating

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I've got a graduate Saturday. We're going to Louisiana Tech University. Thank you very much.
• Given such, this model offers a pathway for patients to gain services in a way that is, I would offer
• Given such, this model offers a pathway for patients to gain services in a way that is, I would offer
• Given such, this model offers a pathway for patients to gain services in a way that is, I would offer

Bills: SB511, SB512, HB591, HB909, HB938, HB1154, HB1187

Keywords: automobile repairs, insurance transparency, repair shop liability, non-OEM parts, policyholder rights, automobile insurance, appraisal process, insurance policyholders, dispute resolution, claim valuation, family leave, insurance, paid leave, employment benefits, caregiver support, behavioral health, crisis services, mental health care, insurance coverage, healthcare access

Transcript Highlights:

• for all your graduates on whatever positions you have available.
• for all your graduates on whatever positions you have available.
• Graduation time, just send your notes to the university for all your graduates on whatever positions
• Graduates on all islands.
• Is that we create a career pathway for government service.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:29:00.640> to responsibility to make the pathway to responsibility to make the pathway
• pathway through that screening<01:52:57.040> process?
• So I teach seniors who are new graduate.
• their<02:37:17.200> BW<02:37:18.080> um graduating um with their BW um graduating
• The people I graduated with, most of them are in the same position I am.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Not at all because I mean this bill opens up all kinds of pathways for parents and so you know when a
• The parent has the choice and the ability to find the pathway that is best for their child.
• It's making this decision, the parents will find the pathway that best fits their kids.
• And this could create demand for that if parents seek that pathway.
• And it would be the same seven that would probably go through graduation with her.

Bills: HB3, HB3

Keywords: education savings account, educational expenses, certified educational assistance organization, school choice, funding, special education, tuition reimbursement, emergency communication, public safety, interoperability, Texas Interoperability Council, grant program, emergency communications, public safety radio, first responders, radio system, dispatch, 911, emergency management, Texas Division of Emergency Management

Transcript Highlights:

• And I graduated high school in 1987, and we got married in 1990.
• But we made a pathway now that creative people can stay home. And it's good.
• And so he may have graduated first in his class from OCU law school, but I did something he couldn't
• , Senate Bill 933 creates the right to try for. individualized treatment act establishing a legal pathway
• It establishes a careful, structured pathway for personalized next-generation therapies in Oklahoma.

Bills: HR1055, SB2170, SB1833, SB1198, HR1056, SB1730, SB563, SB1379, SB1645, SB2155, SB1280, SB1455, SB1456, SB1461, SB1457, SB1463, SB1465, SB1466, SB1344, SB1309, HR1054, SB2159, SB1948, HB1371, SB1365, SB1976, SB1975, SB2026, SB1565, SB1621, SB237, SB933, SB1427, SB1642, SB171, SB1873, SB2067, SB1623, SB1771, SB1805, SB1826, SB2072, SB444, SB2184, SB1966, SB1812, SB2117, SB2135, SB330, SB1239, SB1428, SB1531, SB1484, SB1405, SB3

Keywords: Oklahoma Agriculture Day, agriculture, farmers, ranchers, agribusiness, food production, wheat, cattle, beef, dairy, soybeans, cotton, poultry, pork, rye, rural economy, urban-rural, trade, commodity production, Oklahoma Department of Agriculture

Transcript Highlights:

• So this is the instructional once they graduate.
• options are, so that when they get to ninth grade, they're able to make informed decisions about what pathway
• So I'm just hoping we can capture this set of kids that are going to graduate in the next couple of years
• education experiences and kindergarten readiness, third-grade reading achievement, high school graduation

Keywords: 974, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So this is the instructional once they graduate.
• options are, so that when they get to ninth grade, they're able to make informed decisions about what pathway
• So I'm just hoping we can capture this set of kids that are going to graduate in the next couple of years
• childhood education experiences, kindergarten readiness, third-grade reading achievement, high school graduation

Bills: HCR26, HB28, HB195, HB283, HB316, HB319, HB363, HB380, HB386, HB392, HB406, HB636, HB738, HB807, HB905, HB992, HB1146

Keywords: human growth, development education, prenatal education, state standards, biological science, teacher certification, certification appeals, BESE, State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education, Teacher Certification Appeals Council, educator licensure, teaching license, teacher licensure, appeals process, certification denial, administrative appeal, special meeting, board president, retroactive application, education board

Summary: The committee met with a large docket and adopted the April 29 minutes. Several bills were heard and advanced, mostly on education, workforce, literacy, early childhood, charter schools, and student mental health. Testimony was generally supportive, with many witnesses waiving in favor; a few bills drew questions about implementation, student awareness, and whether proposals were sufficiently broad or specific. House Bill 406, requiring the Department of Education to study the direction and regulation of interscholastic high school athletics and report back by March 1, 2027, was reported favorably after testimony from a retired principal who urged an open-minded study and discussion from the bill author about compliance and the bill’s purpose. House Bill 380, creating a pilot program between community and technical colleges and local school systems to expand awareness of CDL, entry-level driver training, and related programs, was also reported favorably. House Bill 807, creating a workforce and structure capacity investment program and fund to help industry partner with colleges to train instructors, was reported favorably after support from higher education and industry witnesses; senators raised interest in adding a stronger health care component and in reaching students earlier, but the author said he would work on amendments. The committee also advanced House Bill 316 on adolescent literacy and high-dose tutoring, with amendments clarifying teacher training timing, existing statutory bans on outdated literacy practices, and charter school participation; House Bill 1146, consolidating early childhood governance into a commission; House Bill 28, creating an appeal path for denied teacher certification applicants through BESE; and House Bill 992, assigning early childhood education identification numbers to support data collection on outcomes. House Concurrent Resolution 26, urging BESE to add the science of human growth and development to science and health standards and provide approved instructional resources, was amended and reported favorably. House Bill 386, allowing local districts to let locally authorized charter schools operate as their own LEA under district rules, was amended and reported favorably. House Bill 392, expanding suicide prevention information requirements on school websites, ID cards, handbooks, and signage, was reported favorably as well.

Transcript Highlights:

• Y'all said if I graduated from high school and if I got good grades that you'd help me go."
• So if you haven't heard my story, I was a teen mom turned first-generation college graduate, and I now
• Y'all said if I graduated from high up.
• We both graduated, and the connections made on those Saturday afternoons are still alive today.
• I'm not going to talk for a long time this evening, but I want you to know where some of the graduates

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• have a billion dollars in arts funding for arts and music, that we've passed a personal finance graduation
• would create the ability for students to go to college for free and then pay it back after they graduate
• of starting all school districts to start ethics studies beginning in the fall of 2025, with the graduation
• Limited ongoing resources do not allow us to provide funding for AB 101, the ethnic studies graduation
• You know, they graduate four or five kids in a high school class, but they are so proud of their schools

Summary: The Assembly Budget Subcommittee on Education Finance met for its annual Proposition 98 overview, with Chair Alvarez outlining the committee’s focus on K-12 funding, student outcomes, and use of one-time funds. Superintendent Tony Thurmond gave an update on education issues, including wildfire recovery support for affected school communities, ongoing concerns about federal threats to education funding and immigration enforcement, progress on literacy and math, dual-language immersion, educator housing, and support for dual enrollment. Members broadly expressed support for these priorities, while also raising concerns about implementation, funding stability, and the need for schools to remain safe places for students. The committee then reviewed the Governor’s Proposition 98 proposal. The Department of Finance said the 2025-26 Proposition 98 guarantee is projected at $118.9 billion, with higher revenues and TK-related rebenching driving the increase. The LAO said the budget adds about $7.5 billion over two years and discussed the volatility of the guarantee, especially in 2024-25, when changes in revenue could have an outsized effect on school funding. Members questioned the proposed $1.6 billion delayed settle-up payment, the legal basis for delaying it, and the impact of possible federal funding freezes. The LAO presented alternatives such as a reserve deposit or delayed disbursement, while Finance said the proposal is intended to manage uncertainty. Members also raised concerns that ethnic studies implementation was not funded in the January budget, and Finance said the administration was not proposing funding for it. The committee next heard on the Proposition 98 rainy day fund and education deferrals. Finance said the reserve would receive a mandatory deposit of about $1.2 billion in 2024-25 and a discretionary deposit of $376 million in 2025-26, leaving a balance of about $1.5 billion. The LAO supported rebuilding the reserve as a way to manage volatility. On deferrals, Finance described the Governor’s plan to eliminate remaining deferrals by 2025-26, and the LAO said paying them off improves cash flow and budget resilience. Members generally supported eliminating deferrals and rebuilding reserves, though some asked about acting earlier if revenues allow. The committee also reviewed the proposed $1.8 billion student support and professional development block grant; Finance said it would fund professional development, recruitment and retention, and dual enrollment, while the LAO recommended clearer language on local discretion and use for one-time costs. Members were divided, with some supporting flexibility and others warning that one-time block grants can create instability and confusion for districts.

Transcript Highlights:

• . pathway so it is equitable for our pathway so it is equitable for our students<00:42:54.800> in<
• This is certainly a pathway we choice.
• other nine pathways available to people. other nine pathways available to people.
• Let's saying, look, we have pathways.
• details are important in this pathway. details are important in this pathway.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Commissioner Gonzalez resides in Austin and brings serious experience to the commission, a graduate of
• I'm the first in my family to graduate from college.
• I'm the first in my family to graduate from college.
• The taxpayers' dollars that are spent, their own dollars, that they graduate with a degree that they
• I plan to attend graduation in a few days. Very good. All right.

Summary: The Senate Committee on Nominations met with a quorum and first took up pending nominations from an earlier agenda. Members severed Douglas McReecken, nominated to the Texas Tech University System Board of Regents, from the rest of the list and then voted to report the remaining nominees to the full Senate by a 7-0 vote. The committee then voted on the severed nomination itself and reported Douglas McReecken to the full Senate as well, by a 5-2 vote. The committee heard testimony from Brooke Pop, reappointed as chair of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, and later from Commissioner Katarina Gonzalez, also of TCEQ. Questions focused on whether TCEQ rules comply with state law, ex parte restrictions, public transparency, concrete batch plant permitting, MUD approvals, water availability, illegal dams, enforcement, and the agency’s role in local environmental disputes. Both nominees said they follow the law as written, described internal legal review of rules, and emphasized transparency, public outreach, and enforcement; Gonzalez said she had already sent back two rules she believed did not comply with legislation. Members also discussed TCEQ’s authority limits and the need for clearer public communication about what the agency can and cannot regulate. The committee also considered Alethea Sullivan, nominated to the Texas Southern University Board of Regents. Questions centered on TSU’s status as an independent institution, the role of HBCUs amid DEI-related legal changes, and student outcomes. Sullivan said she would focus on ensuring taxpayer and student resources produce valuable credentials and noted concerns from her review of graduation and bar passage rates. The committee then heard from Benjamin Barkley, appointed chief executive and public counsel of the Office of Public Utility Counsel. Barkley said OPUC’s main need is additional funding to recruit and retain attorneys and expert witnesses, reduce turnover, and continue representing residential and small commercial consumers in utility rate cases; he said the office was involved in 73 contested cases and saved Texans $2.2 billion in FY 2024. No final action was taken on the later nominees, and the committee recessed with nominations left pending.

Transcript Highlights:

• We were 8th in the state this year as far as graduation rate with a 94.5%.
• We had a 63 per 3% graduation rate.
• Probably 8 years ago, African-American graduation rate of about 40%.
• African-american graduation rates are high school last year was not a 2%.
• Our overall graduation rate was a 2%.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And one of the goals that I personally have is we want to expand pathways for qualified licensed health
• We want to expand pathways for qualified licensed health care providers to really just help us meet the
• We propose that rather than criminalizing titles, California should create a regulatory pathway for our
• Fortunately, high-quality, high-volume spay and neuter offers a pathway to address this growing crisis
• I actually recently... ...and neuter offers a pathway to address this growing crisis.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Summary: The committee heard several health, professional licensing, consumer protection, and animal welfare bills. Early items included AB 1307, which would create a pilot program allowing up to 30 qualified dentists from Mexico to work in underserved California areas; the California Dental Association moved from opposition to neutral after amendments, and members discussed access to care and oversight. AB 1703 would restrict use of osteopathic titles and the practice of osteopathic manipulative treatment to licensed DOs; it drew strong support from the Osteopathic Medical Board and physician groups, but non-physician osteopaths opposed it, arguing they have long provided safe care and that the bill would criminalize their work. AB 2250 made technical cleanup changes to hemp enforcement laws and AB 1758 raised the seller-of-travel assessment for the Travel Consumer Restitution Fund; both had support and no opposition. AB 1794 would allow prescribed enteral formula to be shipped directly to patients’ homes, and AB 1939 would allow licensed professional fiduciaries to form corporations, both with support and no opposition. AB 1775 would expand expedited licensing and other state support for service members discharged under a federal transgender military policy; it received emotional support testimony and some committee concern about expanding priority categories, but no opposition. AB 2477 would create a limited provisional period for new pest control employees to work under supervision while licensing is pending, and members discussed amendments and oversight before moving it forward. AB 1999 would modernize veterinary law by creating shelter-veterinarian and retired-volunteer pathways, changing VCPR rules, and narrowing the owner exemption for surgery; it was strongly supported by veterinary and animal welfare groups, with some discussion of autonomy and implementation. AB 2010 would permit high-quality, high-volume spay/neuter clinics and mobile sterilization units without a separate surgical suite; the Veterinary Medical Board opposed unless amended, while animal welfare groups supported it, and members emphasized the need for safety and clarity. AB 2311 would let public health care district hospitals directly employ physicians, with amendments intended to protect physician autonomy; CMA remained opposed unless amended, while district hospitals and other supporters said it would improve recruitment and access. The committee also heard AB 2402, which would update the definition and fee structure for multi-service health club studios, but the discussion was cut off in the transcript. After quorum was established, the committee voted to pass several bills out on call, including AB 1307, AB 1598 consent, AB 1703, AB 1758, AB 1775, AB 1794, AB 1939, AB 1999, AB 2010, AB 2250, AB 2311, and AB 2477, sending them to the appropriate fiscal or policy committees, with some recorded no votes on a few measures.