Transcript Highlights:

• Senate Bill 1540 enhances the safety and privacy of our election officials and their staff.
• Concerns have been raised about the safety of individuals who work in elections.
• We thank you for hearing our concerns and taking this step to ensure the safety and privacy of the folks

Bills: SB1540, SB2610, SB2373

Keywords: election officials, confidentiality, personal information, government transparency, public safety, cybersecurity, data breach, breach of system security, exemplary damages, punitive damages, liability shield, safe harbor, small business, mid-sized business, Texas Business & Commerce Code, sensitive personal information, personal identifying information, identity theft, fraud prevention, NIST

Bills: SB 1888, SB 3003, SB 2417, SB 2459, SB 3055, HB 1393, HB 2884, SB 2943

Keywords: grand jury, jury qualifications, jury wheel, small counties, Texas legislation, age verification, obscene devices, online sales, juvenile protection, penalties, antitrust, attorney general, Texas Free Enterprise, business regulations, legal confidentiality, personal identifying information, data brokers, judicial safety, civil rights, data privacy

Bills: HB462, HB8, HB8

Keywords: emergency medical services, military training, licensure, public health, veterans, tobacco regulation, vaping, sales restrictions, youth protection, tobacco compliance, education programs, electronic nicotine delivery systems, campus chaplain, chaplain, school chaplain, volunteer, public K-12 schools, public schools, public charter schools, education policy

Bills: SB2037, SB1757, SB1758, SB1759, HB29

Keywords: rock crushing, permits, air quality, environmental monitoring, aggregate production, seismicity, public meeting, land use, SB 1758, cement kiln, portland cement, aggregate production operation, aggregate quarry, semiconductor wafer manufacturing, chip fabrication, semiconductor plant, vibration, seismic disturbance, liability limitation, TCEQ

Transcript Highlights:

• Public involvement expanded using Health and Safety 382.056.

Bills: SB2037, SB1757, SB1758, SB1759

Keywords: rock crushing, permits, air quality, environmental monitoring, aggregate production, seismicity, public meeting, land use, SB 1758, cement kiln, portland cement, aggregate production operation, aggregate quarry, semiconductor wafer manufacturing, chip fabrication, semiconductor plant, vibration, seismic disturbance, liability limitation, TCEQ

Summary: The Senate Committee on Natural Resources took public testimony on Senate Bill 1757 and its committee substitute, a measure dealing with aggregate production operations and a new permitting option for rock crushers/aggregate facilities. Testimony centered on whether the bill should remain focused on air permitting or also include broader quarry operations such as stormwater, reclamation, monitoring, and public participation requirements. Supporters of the substitute, including representatives of the Texas Aggregate and Concrete Association and Associated General Contractors, said the bill would provide a voluntary third permitting option, preserve existing authorizations, and create a more practical regulatory path for Texas growth. Opponents and critics, including representatives of Texas for Responsible Aggregate Mining, Job Materials, and Public Citizen, argued the bill as written was too weak or too broad in the wrong ways. They said best management practices should be set in statute or through negotiated rulemaking rather than left to TCEQ rulemaking, and they raised concerns about limited monitoring periods, vague air-monitoring standards, public notice procedures, and the inclusion of non-air requirements in an air permit. Several witnesses said the bill should better balance industry needs with neighborhood impacts and public health protections. Chair Birdwell questioned witnesses about ongoing negotiations between industry groups and said the bill was intended to be a practical compromise. After testimony and questions, public testimony was closed. The committee left SB 1757 and its committee substitute pending, with no vote taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• Public involvement, expand it using Health and Safety 382. That is pretty much my testimony.

Bills: SB2037, SB1757, SB1758, SB1759, HB29

Keywords: rock crushing, permits, air quality, environmental monitoring, aggregate production, seismicity, public meeting, land use, SB 1758, cement kiln, portland cement, aggregate production operation, aggregate quarry, semiconductor wafer manufacturing, chip fabrication, semiconductor plant, vibration, seismic disturbance, liability limitation, TCEQ

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

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

Transcript Highlights:

• Disproportionately use of funds on physical safety. over the psychological safety, which we know is included
• currently in the school safety kind of plan.
• Despite this comprehensive definition of school safety, safety requirements have pushed districts to
• Shows that only 1.4% of the school safety allotment was used on psychological safety.
• HB3's increase school safety coordination provisions, including safety and security audits and semiannual

Bills: SB260, SB263, SB293, SJR18

Keywords: school safety, Foundation School Program, education funding, student allotment, Texas education, SB 263, Texas franchise tax, cost of goods sold, COGS, broadcasters, television broadcasting, radio broadcasting, media tax, broadcast license, FCC, 47 C.F.R. Part 73, 47 C.F.R. Part 74, film production, television production, tax deduction

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> that there are other public safety that there are other public safety concerns<00:04:05.640><c>
• </c> the death of three Public Safety the death of three Public Safety officers<00:04:54.520><c> I'd<
• just going over Public Safety.
• just going over Public Safety.
• just going over Public Safety.

Bills: HF7

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

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, SCR 55, supporting the findings and recommendations of the Hawaii Water Safety Coalition's Hawaii
• Water Safety Plan.
• Prieto-Asuncion, I wanted to acknowledge the work of Allison Shafer for writing the water safety plan
• and for showing up in this room every single time that something to do with water safety comes up for
• the safety of everybody in the state.

Bills: SCR173, SCR78, SCR114, SCR162, SCR48, SCR160, SCR87, SCR28, SCR74, SCR20, SCR32, SCR55, SCR69

Keywords: ticket scalping, task force, consumer protection, event accessibility, local economy, menstrual health, menstrual cycle, period education, period poverty, menstrual products, menstrual dignity, health education, sexual health curriculum, DOE, Department of Education, public schools, school health, reproductive health, puberty education, hygiene education

Transcript Highlights:

• information for Hawaii Kai and surrounding communities, sharing timely updates on everything from ocean safety

Bills: SCR48, SCR28, SCR74, SCR62, SCR60, SCR89, SCR147, SCR179, SCR182, SCR59, SCR54, SCR180

Keywords: affordable housing, housing credits, perpetual credits, development, Hawaii Housing Finance, Vietnam veterans, commemorative medal, recognition, working group, Hawaii, no-bid contracts, emergency procurement, audit, state agencies, public funds, accountability, emergency response, disability access, 911 systems, life-saving measures

Bills: SCR48, SCR28, SCR74, SCR62, SCR60, SCR89, SCR147, SCR179, SCR182, SCR59, SCR54, SCR180

Keywords: affordable housing, housing credits, perpetual credits, development, Hawaii Housing Finance, Vietnam veterans, commemorative medal, recognition, working group, Hawaii, no-bid contracts, emergency procurement, audit, state agencies, public funds, accountability, emergency response, disability access, 911 systems, life-saving measures

Bills: SCR48, SCR28, SCR74, SCR62, SCR60, SCR89, SCR147, SCR179, SCR182, SCR59, SCR54, SCR180

Keywords: affordable housing, housing credits, perpetual credits, development, Hawaii Housing Finance, Vietnam veterans, commemorative medal, recognition, working group, Hawaii, no-bid contracts, emergency procurement, audit, state agencies, public funds, accountability, emergency response, disability access, 911 systems, life-saving measures

Transcript Highlights:

• ... ...the following language: to the appropriate law enforcement agency is needed to protect the safety
• But basically what I'm intending to do is set a statewide baseline for transparency, public safety, and
• health safety in homeless shelters.
• It is to set minimum standards for very specific things: transparency, public safety, and health safety
• Public safety and health safety. So those three areas.

Bills: HB3131, HB3380, HB3502, HB3552, HB3849, HB3886, HB3907, HB4201, HB4302, HB3448, HB3409, HB4095, HB3637

Keywords: homelessness, shelter standards, safety, accountability, state funding, local governance, regulation, Oklahoma Homeless Shelter Safety and Accountability Act, foster care, child welfare, Department of Human Services, educational opportunities, employment support, technology in child welfare, faith-based organizations, self-sufficiency, financial literacy, HB3502, Oklahoma, children's code

Transcript Highlights:

• agency is needed to protect...' ...to the appropriate law enforcement agency is needed to protect the safety
• But basically what I'm intending to do is set a statewide baseline for transparency, public safety, and
• health safety in homeless shelters.
• So I wanted to keep it really focused that these rules are 100% based on transparency, health, and safety
• It is to set minimum standards for very specific things: transparency, public safety, and health safety

Bills: HB3131, HB3380, HB3502, HB3552, HB3849, HB3886, HB3907, HB4201, HB4302, HB3448, HB3409, HB4095, HB3637

Keywords: homelessness, shelter standards, safety, accountability, state funding, local governance, regulation, Oklahoma Homeless Shelter Safety and Accountability Act, foster care, child welfare, Department of Human Services, educational opportunities, employment support, technology in child welfare, faith-based organizations, self-sufficiency, financial literacy, HB3502, Oklahoma, children's code

Summary: The committee first considered House Bill 3552, which would let child care providers bridge the gap between subsidy reimbursement rates and tuition rates. An amendment was adopted unanimously to make the bill subject to approval by the Administration for Children and Families, with the author explaining it was intended to protect federal DHS funding. The bill then passed on a 4-1 vote. Members then heard several child welfare and human services measures. House Bill 3380, on foster care reform and DHS transparency, passed 5-0 after questions about how public input and scoring would be documented. House Bill 3502, the parental rights and child welfare bill, passed 4-1 after debate over whether the bill addressed a real problem and whether resources would be better spent recruiting foster parents. House Bill 3849, updating and broadening a mentoring program for children and youth, passed 5-0, and House Bill 3886, requiring Health Department personnel to remain on site after an immediate jeopardy finding at a nursing home until a removal plan is accepted, also passed 5-0. The committee also approved House Bill 3907, which would prohibit certain facilities serving vulnerable juveniles and adults from being staffed through temporary staffing agencies, on a 5-0 vote. House Bill 4201, changing master teacher requirements in licensed child care from license capacity to actual enrollment, passed unanimously after discussion of how staffing ratios would work in practice. House Bill 4302, as amended, passed unanimously after removing subpoena language and instead allowing the Office of Juvenile System Oversight to disclose a complainant’s identity to law enforcement when needed to protect safety. House Bill 3448, requiring umbrella insurance coverage for certain child care caregivers, and House Bill 3409, streamlining recertification for five-star child care providers, both passed unanimously. House Bill 4095, reauthorizing and clarifying the 211 collaborative as the state lead entity for hotline services, also passed 6-0. The most extensive debate came on House Bill 3131, which would establish statewide baseline standards for transparency, public safety, and health safety in homeless shelters and create an advisory board. Members raised concerns about local control, rural county burdens, agency workload, and whether the bill duplicated existing requirements, while the author said he was open to further changes, including strike title and possible population-based exceptions. Despite objections, the bill advanced to the Oversight Committee on a 4-3 vote. Before adjournment, the chair said the committee would begin a deeper review of OCCY multidisciplinary teams and CAC child advocacy groups in upcoming meetings.

Transcript Highlights:

• It is not just a luxury feature to have modifications or adaptive devices, as they promote safety, mobility
• I serve as the Executive Director of New Mexico Safety Over Profit.
• the committee, Matthew Stackpole, on behalf of the Greater Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce, public safety
• perspective, this bill sends a clear message that New Mexico will protect young people and uphold community safety

Bills: HB99, HB38, HB165, HB127, HB72, HB151, SB40, SB104, SB136, SB164

Keywords: medical malpractice, malpractice reform, patient's compensation fund, PCF, health care liability, tort reform, damage caps, punitive damages, hospital liability, physician liability, nurse practitioner, certified nurse-midwife, outpatient facility, ambulatory surgical center, urgent care, free-standing emergency room, insurance surcharge, superintendent of insurance, New Mexico hospitals, medical review process

Transcript Highlights:

• We appreciate the legislature's efforts to strengthen both the safety and civil rights of those who live
• We believe the safety of your constituents comes first.
• The safety of our providers comes first, not third-party profiteers that will sell out our info to law
• that enforcement decision would be made by the Department of Public Safety.
• We learned, we were informed by Mexico's Chihuahua Department of Public Safety initially.

Bills: HB99, HB38, HB165, HB127, HB72, HB151, SB40, SB104, SB136, SB164

Keywords: medical malpractice, malpractice reform, patient's compensation fund, PCF, health care liability, tort reform, damage caps, punitive damages, hospital liability, physician liability, nurse practitioner, certified nurse-midwife, outpatient facility, ambulatory surgical center, urgent care, free-standing emergency room, insurance surcharge, superintendent of insurance, New Mexico hospitals, medical review process

Summary: The committee first took up Senate Bill 40, a committee substitute addressing automated license plate readers (ALPRs) and privacy. Sponsor Sen. Worth said the bill was intended to preserve ALPRs as a law-enforcement tool while adding guardrails to prevent sharing or selling data for immigration enforcement, protected health care activity, or criminalizing constitutionally protected conduct. Supporters included state and local law enforcement, the ACLU, immigrant-rights, reproductive-rights, and sexual-assault advocacy groups. Law enforcement witnesses said the bill balanced privacy with public safety and cited cases where ALPRs helped locate kidnapped children, murder suspects, and stolen vehicles; opponents and some senators argued the bill was too narrow, too focused on immigration and health care, and raised concerns about federal law, data sales, and enforcement. After debate, the committee adopted an amendment removing subsection F, then approved the committee substitute and advanced SB 40 on a do-pass motion. The committee then heard Senate Bill 104, which would create a process for removing wildlife commissioners after the 2023 wildlife commission legislation and the governor’s veto of the prior removal language. Sen. Worth explained that SB 104 would allow the governor to initiate removal for malfeasance, incompetence, or failure to attend meetings, with notice, a hearing, and exclusive review by the state Supreme Court; he said it was modeled on the Board of Regents removal process and was intended to complete the wildlife commission reforms. The New Mexico Wildlife Federation, Audubon Southwest, and the Department of Game and Fish supported the bill, saying it would depoliticize wildlife management and provide stability. Senators asked about the existing “three consecutive meetings” vacancy language, current vacancies, and the prior removal of a commissioner. The committee discussed the governor’s earlier veto and whether the bill was necessary, but no amendment was adopted and the committee approved SB 104 on a do-pass motion.

Transcript Highlights:

• It is not just a luxury feature to have modifications or adaptive devices, as it promotes safety, mobility
• I serve as the Executive Director of New Mexico Safety Over Profit.
• the committee, Matthew Stackpole, on behalf of the Greater Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce, public safety
• perspective, this bill sends a clear message that New Mexico will protect young people and uphold community safety

Bills: HB99, HB38, HB165, HB127, HB72, HB151, SB40, SB104, SB136, SB164

Keywords: medical malpractice, malpractice reform, patient's compensation fund, PCF, health care liability, tort reform, damage caps, punitive damages, hospital liability, physician liability, nurse practitioner, certified nurse-midwife, outpatient facility, ambulatory surgical center, urgent care, free-standing emergency room, insurance surcharge, superintendent of insurance, New Mexico hospitals, medical review process

Summary: The committee heard House Bill 38, which would require insurance coverage for specialized wheelchairs, activity chairs, and related mobility devices for people with limb loss or other disabilities, with guardrails limiting the number of covered devices over time. The sponsor and supporters, including the Office of Superintendent of Insurance, Disability Rights New Mexico, the Disability Coalition, physical therapists, and disability advocates, said the bill would improve access, inclusion, and physical activity without significant premium impact. Questions focused on the substitute language, the device limits, and how Medicaid would handle coverage separately. The committee ultimately passed the House Health and Human Services Committee substitute for HB 38 on a 10-0 vote. The committee then approved House Bill 165, which expands the C-PACE financing program to businesses using industrial revenue bonds and clarifies that counties and municipalities are not liable for payments. Support came from economic development and business groups, who said the bill would remove a barrier to energy- and water-efficiency upgrades and encourage investment. The bill passed on a 10-0 vote. House Bill 127 also passed unanimously after discussion of its three parts: a provisional licensure pathway for internationally trained physicians, a telehealth registry for out-of-state providers, and changes to expedited licensure. Supporters said it would help address provider shortages, especially in rural and underserved areas, while the sponsor explained that the amended version includes safeguards such as exam requirements, supervised practice, and a provisional-to-restricted-to-full licensure path. The committee voted 11-0 to advance the bill. House Bill 72, which would increase penalties for distributing certain controlled substances, including methamphetamine, to minors, drew strong support from law enforcement and the chamber of commerce but significant concern from the Public Defender and several members over strict liability, mandatory sentencing, and the breadth of the penalty. After debate over whether the bill could reach low-level or peer-to-peer conduct and whether the penalty was proportionate, the committee voted to table the bill by a 6-4 vote. The committee then took up House Bill 151, a revised childhood sexual abuse statute of limitations bill. The sponsor presented a committee substitute that changed commission appointments, added reporting and solvency-related provisions, and adjusted procedures for compensation and appeals. Members raised concerns about parity, definitions, administrative costs, and how awards would be determined, but the committee approved the committee substitute on a 7-0 vote.

Transcript Highlights:

• By directing grants to the existing network for safety net sexual and reproductive health providers in
• While there are differing views, we share the same commitment to patient safety and quality care.

Bills: SB5899, SB6292, SB6094, SB6182, SB5947, SJR8206, SB5933, SB6138, SB5823, SB6210, SB5921, SB6226, SB6159, SB5924, SGA9291, SGA9307

Keywords: chiropractic, animal care, veterinary medicine, license endorsement, nonhuman animals, health care, financing, legislative committee, joint committee, policy management, pediatric care, transitional services, healthcare, licensing, children's health, abortion, reproductive health, pregnancy termination, clinic access, abortion access fund

Summary: The Senate Health and Long-Term Care Committee began with confirmation hearings for Ryan Moran, nominated to lead the Washington State Health Care Authority, and Dennis Worsham, nominated as Secretary of Health. Both nominees gave extensive opening statements about their backgrounds, priorities, and commitment to improving access, equity, public health, and agency operations amid federal policy changes. Senators asked about Washington’s health care system, social determinants of health, behavioral health, communication and public trust, and how each nominee would respond to federal disruptions such as HR1 and CDC changes. At the close of the hearings, the committee voted to recommend both appointments for confirmation. The committee then moved through executive session on a series of bills. It advanced measures including a chiropractic animal care endorsement bill, a joint legislative-executive health care financing committee bill, a pediatric transitional care facilities bill, an abortion savings program bill, a Washington Health Care Board bill, a constitutional amendment establishing a right to affordable health care, and an overdose mapping information bill. The abortion savings program bill drew the most debate, with several proposed amendments offered by Senator Christian; most were rejected, one amendment was withdrawn, and one amendment clarifying funding for contracted providers was adopted before the bill was sent forward. The committee also approved the gubernatorial appointments of Moran and Worsham in executive session. In the second group of bills, the committee advanced a patient advocate bill, a health plan certification process bill, a psilocybin bill, an audiologist clinical autonomy bill, and a pharmacist prescriptive authority bill. The pharmacist bill prompted comments about access, affordability, rural workforce shortages, and the role pharmacists already play in care delivery. All measures considered in executive session received do-pass recommendations or confirmation recommendations and were reported out of committee, and the committee then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• actually exist and that its passing may actually impede both the normal course of business and public safety
• which would be concerning because it could actually slow down that business and maybe impact public safety
• Senate Bill 1292 specifies that prohibiting the Public Safety Personnel Retirement System from owning

Bills: SB1180, SB1215, SB1270, SB1290, SB1292, SB1294, SB1430, SCR1028

Keywords: income tax, conformity, Arizona Revised Statutes, taxpayer, federal regulations, firefighters, occupational disease, workers compensation, cancer presumption, police officers, hazardous duty, SB1270, Arizona retirement system, public safety personnel, defined contribution plan, correctional officers, corrections officers, retirement contributions, supplemental contributions, retention incentive