Transcript Highlights:

• Now let's say you're one of those, you're a new applicant or you're a Metro applicant, and that $8 million
• you're a new applicant or you're a Metro<00:13:05.760> applicant<00:13:06.760> and<00:13
• There's protect and fee without PILT.
• Other Extreme side of the protectant fee Other Extreme side of the protectant fee with<00:25:08.120
• They read every application.

Bills: HF1250

Keywords: outdoor heritage, land acquisition, wildlife management, conservation easements, environmental restoration, 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• bill um on that on those attorneys fees bill um on that on those attorneys fees is<00:01:58.479>
• rights uh Statute in order to claim fees rights uh Statute in order to claim fees from<00:06:55.400
• due soon the judgment on attorney's fees due soon the judgment on attorney's fees has<00:10:49.600
• permanent absentee ballot application permanent absentee ballot application request<00:52:43.559
• of the absentee ballot application of the absentee ballot application deadlines<00:52:59.559>

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• and creates a new secure applicant and creates a new secure applicant portal<00:05:26.160> to
• increase application processing times. increase application processing times.
• from fees. from fees.
• fee exemption process is not in statute. fee exemption process is not in statute.
• fee-for-service claims. fee-for-service claims.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• HB 10006 by Schoolcraft relate to the amendment of the restrictive convenience of applicability to certain
• AB 1033 by Morales of Maverick relating to the applicability of law governing a grant program for the
• It'd be 10:38 by Morales of Maverick relating to the applicability of law governing a grant program for
• Currency based on gold and silver authorizing a fee for the Committee on state affairs.
• AB 1050 by Derazio relating to the award of an attorney fees in certain suits involving a groundwater

Transcript Highlights:

• If the inspection fee is $100, do you think the inspection fee is adequate? Hard to say.
• So let's talk... double the fee so yes okay anybody else double the fee so yes okay anybody else want
• want to represent if the inspection fee want to represent if the inspection fee is<00:11:46.760>
• is $100 do you think the inspection fee is $100 do you think the inspection fee is adequate<00:11
• Insurance carriers can then submit applications—we call them eligibility applications—if an insurance

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee first heard from the Department of Labor on several House Bill 2 sections. Members discussed raising the annual elevator certificate fee, which had been $50 since at least fiscal year 2014; the commissioner said the Inspection Division generates more revenue than its costs, and members agreed to amend the fee to $75 and later voted unanimously to accept Section 137. The department also explained a proposed change to civil penalty/warning language in Section 139 to align enforcement across labor laws; that section was accepted unanimously. The commissioner then gave a detailed overview of the second injury fund, describing how it is financed by assessments on insurance carriers, how claims are reviewed for reimbursement, and how the fund is intended to reimburse certain workers’ compensation costs. Members questioned whether the program still serves its original purpose, whether it is revenue-neutral, and whether it should be sunset; the department said the fund is a mixed bag for the state and industry, but no sunset language was adopted. Sections 140 and 141 were then accepted unanimously. The committee next heard from the Judicial Council on Sections 125 through 127. The witness said the changes would streamline payment for indigent defense services other than counsel, reduce the number of bills requiring judge review, and expand the council’s ability to contract with providers for services such as translation and evaluations. He also explained a proposed fail-safe allowing the executive director to decline to process questionable invoices and send them to a judge instead. Members generally supported the streamlining, and Sections 125 through 127 were accepted unanimously. Toward the end of the discussion, members asked about the cost impact of changing the misdemeanor/felony threshold from $1,000 to a higher amount. The Judicial Council said felony cases are significantly more expensive than misdemeanors because they involve more hearings, more discovery, and more attorney time, with assigned felony cases costing several times more on average. No action was taken on that question in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• So let's also take a deeper dive into fees in rate-supported service systems, because these fees are
• So let's also take a deeper dive into fees in rate-supported service systems, because these fees are
• So you have basically three fees: special building permit, land development fees, and the monthly fee
• development fees, and the monthly fee. development fees, and the monthly fee.
• Those applications are for test wells. Those applications are for test wells.

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Our application goes further. I...
• I don't know that that is a fee that we assessed. That fee was not really based on.
• , increased Tier 2 fee caps.
• What is a Tier 2 fee? Mr. Chair, the Tier 2 fee is the fee that accompanies Tier 2 reporting.
• This fee accompanies that report. Mr.

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The application for a person to be appointed as a notary requires an address and contact information
• For example, a developer will sell potential applicants on the idea that for $80,000, a potential applicant
• amount and the option to make payment by an alternative method that does not require a fee.
• amount and the option to make payment by an alternative method that does not require a fee.
• Yes, if they were to prove that in their application, correct? Mr.

Bills: HB111

Summary: The committee heard a long series of House bills, with most measures laid out by Senate sponsors and then left pending after brief public testimony. Early bills focused on construction and licensing issues, including HB 305 on prompt payment for public construction audits, HB 5093 on restoring public access to notary contact information, HB 2037 on updating landlord-tenant repair and security deposit rules, HB 4214 on a centralized public information request contact database, and HB 5435 exempting higher education institutions from a 90-day notice requirement for certain public-private partnership projects. Testimony was generally supportive on these bills, and no votes were taken; each was left pending. The committee also considered several transparency and regulatory bills. HB 111 would expand the Public Information Act to certain nonprofit state associations and narrow some attorney-client and working-paper exceptions, with supporters arguing it would improve oversight of public funds and critics questioning the scope and thresholds. HB 5129 would protect occupational license holders’ personal identifying information from disclosure without consent, HB 4350 would allow peace officers to redact personal information from online real property records, HB 4748 would authorize multiple-award state purchasing contracts, and HB 4765 would clean up code enforcement officer licensing rules. HB 4134 would allow motor vehicle creditors to charge limited fees for electronic payment options while requiring a free alternative, and HB 1043 would direct a study of blockchain-based property title records; both drew testimony, with some concern about the practical effects and vendor implications of the blockchain study. Several bills addressed insurance, workforce, and digital-asset regulation. HB 3520 would reduce the insurance coverage required for transportation network companies during the period when a driver is en route to pick up a passenger, drawing support from Texans for Lawsuit Reform and opposition from trial lawyers who argued the higher coverage better protects the public. HB 3320 would create a self-insurance pool for religious institutions, with TDI explaining it would still be regulated but operate under a special statutory framework. HB 4233 would modernize rules for digital asset service providers by removing certain auditor-access requirements and updating reporting and licensing provisions. HB 3923 would reduce bachelor’s-degree requirements for some state jobs, though Every Texan argued low pay, not degree requirements, is the main driver of turnover. HB 4518 would create a legal structure for decentralized unincorporated nonprofit associations tied to blockchain governance; business law experts opposed it as unnecessary and potentially risky, while crypto advocates supported it. Finally, HB 1803 would join an interstate compact for dentists and dental hygienists, with supporters citing workforce shortages and opponents saying Texas already licenses quickly and that the compact could weaken state oversight. Throughout the hearing, the committee repeatedly closed testimony and left bills pending, and a quorum was eventually established before later items were heard.

Transcript Highlights:

• That are paying vendor fees? Yeah.
• The cities and counties. school districts pay no vendor fees on the Viaport. What fees do they pay?
• They charged that fee. And you don't show any record of y'all being paid those fees.
• I'm talking about the fee structure, not the membership fee, but the fee structure like the $400 because
• This is a purchase of a vehicle. that shows a $400 fee or an $800 fee.

Bills: HB10, HB 12, HB675, HB10, HB12

Keywords: regulatory reform, government efficiency, administrative law, rulemaking, agency deference, judicial review, de novo review, Texas Government Code, Administrative Procedure Act, state agencies, plain language, regulatory burden, regulatory reduction, cost-benefit analysis, fiscal note, public benefits and costs, contested case, rule challenge, Texas Regulatory Efficiency Office, advisory panel

Transcript Highlights:

• Authorizing a fee for the Committee on Public Health HB 1504 by Reynolds relating to authorizing the
• conditions and licensing of Dispensing Organizations and Cannabis Testing Facilities, authorizing a fee
• AG 1524 by Bella Montgomery, relating to the certain definitions applicable to the Texas Commission on
• It'd be 1596 by plus a really The cost of living adjustments applicable to certain benefits played by
• HB 1634 by Lujan, relating to a tuition and fee exemptions at public's institution.

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It simplifies the increased fee revenues from registered institutions for initial applications and renewals
• Uh we're also increases in fees.
• reshuffleling kind of fees a little bit? reshuffleling kind of fees a little bit?
• 1st, but it's going to be rolling in over... uh fees are. they change uh the fee uh fees are. they change
• We are uh uh going to be fees.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• get from the applicant.
• review fee.
• You mentioned section six about the fees. It's really not applicable, but it is.
• from reduction in a fee, the general fee from reduction in a fee, the general fee from 500<01:52
• intentional to reduce that fee. intentional to reduce that fee.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The applicability is limited to cases in which the property owner agrees to annexation.
• , uh, not allowing resources to cities to review those applications.
• We operate on a fee for service model.
• So what was your all's take on the, the permitting fee waiver of the fee?
• Um, you asked about permit fees.

Transcript Highlights:

• certificate Uh deny applications for certificate Uh deny applications for certificate based<00
• Actually, the application fee is not that straightforward. That's mechanics.
• Actually, the application fee is not that straightforward. That's mechanics.
• applicant would be uh on the committee. applicant would be uh on the committee.
• . application. application.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Like the COVID fee that we...
• application?
• Yes, so the commission collects fees for any applications or license renewals.
• Fees are paid up front. That's how all our fees work.
• Two years ago, it was identified that there was one particular fee, a license extension fee, that was

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Ways and Means held a public FY27 budget hearing at Barnstable Town Hall, with opening remarks emphasizing the Cape and Islands’ seasonal infrastructure, housing, transportation, workforce, and digital needs. The hearing began with testimony from the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development, which outlined the Healey-Driscoll administration’s budget priorities for job training, apprenticeship, youth employment, reentry programs, and unemployment insurance modernization. The secretary highlighted proposed funding for the Workforce Competitiveness Trust Fund, Career Technical Initiative, YouthWorks, reentry workforce development, and services for young adults with disabilities, along with a proposal to streamline youth work permits. Members also discussed the unemployment trust fund, the COVID assessment on employers, rising unemployment, and the need to improve DUA customer service and claims processing. Committee members asked about job seeker barriers such as child care, housing, transportation, and out-migration of young workers, as well as how to keep Cape Cod graduates and seasonal workers in the region. The administration said its strategy is to pair training with broader affordability investments and to expose students to career pathways earlier, including through middle school, early childhood STEM, YouthWorks, pre-apprenticeships, and Building Pathways. Senators and representatives also raised concerns about regional funding disparities, especially for Hampshire Franklin MassHire, and the administration said it is reviewing MassHire funding and service equity through a policy committee and statewide workforce board. On unemployment assistance, officials reported major improvements in wait times and claims processing, but said they are still working through backlogs and staffing challenges while maintaining program integrity. The committee then heard testimony from the Executive Office of Economic Development. The secretary described House 2 as a fiscally restrained budget with no new taxes or fees, while preserving core programs and using the Mass Leads Act tools to support competitiveness. EOED’s proposal included funding for the Community One Stop for Growth, rural economic development, social enterprise operating grants, regional economic development organizations, the Workforce Investment Trust Fund, Community Workforce Partnerships, Pathmaker, advanced manufacturing training, life sciences, innovation vouchers, AI initiatives, small business assistance, and tourism and live theater support. The Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation also testified on its FY27 request, focusing on consumer protection, licensing, banking, insurance, and public safety regulation. No votes were taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• Senate Bill 3, 12 by Senator Talbot, labor organizations, employee dues and fees, provide relative to
• House Bill 1057 by Representative Walters: absentee by mail voting application by a member of the U.S
• He had three applicants. All of them were second-year law students.
• He didn't get one application from a lawyer.
• fees.

Bills: HR252, HR253, HR254, HR255, HR256, HCR103, HCR104, HR244, HR245, HR246, HR247, HR248, HR249, HR250, HR251, HCR101, HCR102, SCR40, SCR60, SB112, SB131, SB145, SB194, SB268, SB307, SB312, SB319, SB333, SB341, SB346, SB464, SB466, SB488, SB495, SB503, SB507, SB509, HR9, HR196, HCR27, HCR28, HCR50, HCR62, HCR67, HCR71, HCR78, HCR81, SCR20, HB123, HB251, HB625, HB662, HB709, HB769, HB775, HB783, HB895, HB1011, HB1057, HB1155, HB1186, HB1224, HB1245, HB1247, HB1253, HB1254, HB1255, HB1256, SB8, SB10, SB11, SB12, SB13, SB14, SB16, SB17, SB18, SB20, SB21, SB22, SB40, SB48, SB55, SB69, SB75, SB77, SB78, SB85, SB102, SB115, SB133, SB140, SB148, SB151, SB165, SB169, SB170, SB185, SB197, SB200, SB217, SB235, SB278, SB280, SB291, SB300, SB303, SB315, SB324, SB330, SB411, SB416, SB420, SB436, SB438, SB449, SB455, SB456, SB477, SB489, SB521, SB97, SB105, HR171, HCR49, HCR65, HCR72, HR37, HCR64, HR170, HR191, HR206, HR207, HR208, HR217, HCR11, HCR53, HCR60, HCR66, HCR68, SCR19, SCR3, SCR6, SCR18, SCR11, SCR22, SCR2, HCR6, HB64, HB68, HB92, HB130, HB258, HB633, HB801, HB61, HB98, HB102, HB139, HB142, HB170, HB185, HB194, HB199, HB231, HB247, HB294, HB336, HB474, HB661, HB842, HB852, HB66, HB153, HB165, HB326, HB387, HB455, HB513, HB603, HB660, HB719, HB762, HB766, HB802, HB816, HB833, HB940, HB950, HB975, HB1028, HB1039, HB1051, HB1053, HB1080, HB1201, HB1215, HB1228, HB1251, HB1252, SB1, SB23, SB32, SB42, SB43, SB46, SB51, SB110, SB113, SB150, SB154, SB161, SB218, SB220, SB221, SB253, SB289, SB310, SB351, SB399, SB404, SB502, SB26, SB28, SB29, SB30, SB41, SB44, SB64, SB84, SB87, SB93, SB98, SB107, SB118, SB142, SB192, SB195, SB199, SB219, SB222, SB234, SB241, SB255, SB275, SB277, SB292, SB294, SB306, SB314, SB482, HCR32, HB798, HB998, HB1084, HB1223, HB59, HB955, HB1191, HB1234, HB646, HB824, HB341, SB397, SB442, HB901, HB79, HR20, HR74, HB284, HB306, HB366, HB393, HB458, HB577, HB582, HB605, HB614, HB682, HB733, HB752, HB773, HB911, HB926, HB996, HB1035, HB1069, HB1113, HB1140, HB1180, HB1240, SB47, SB82, SB89, SB149, SB382

Keywords: consumer protection, credit card fees, cash transactions, rounding practices, transparency, low-income, economic impact, residential construction, building codes, inspection practices, housing costs, task force, HR254, House Resolution 254, Ty Hebert, Acadiana Legislative Delegation, Louisiana State University, LSU, graduation, commendation

Summary: The House met with a quorum, opened with prayer and the pledge, adopted the journal, and received a large number of Senate messages, committee reports, and bill referrals. Members also introduced several resolutions and recognized guests, including students from Allen Parish, federal appointees Brandon Beach and Paul Hollis, and other visitors. The chamber then moved through a lengthy agenda of House and Senate measures, with many bills and resolutions reported favorably, amended, or referred to committee. Among the notable floor actions, the House adopted H.R. 32 urging the Port of New Orleans to obtain backup motors for the St. Claude Avenue Bridge. It also passed bills on a wide range of topics, including local court and ordinance procedures for Alexandria, prohibiting reporting criminal fines and fees to credit bureaus, veterans’ lottery benefits, police chief residency in Tickfaw, fire marshal plan review authority, expanding the definition of first responder to include public works employees, NIL protections for student athletes, salary increases and additional positions for assistant district attorneys, limiting OMV debt referrals for unpaid reinstatement fees, watershed restoration and flood control funding, a sexual assault survivor task force, elderly consumer protection education, recreation of the Public Service Commission, Medicaid reimbursement for non-emergency medical transportation, local sales tax audit procedures, alcoholic beverage definitions for salons and similar businesses, transfer of removed monuments to state park property, hearing aid dealer regulation updates, a permit fee for small in-state distillers, expanded city court jurisdiction in Avoyelles Parish, and a narrowed version of the Alexandria administrative adjudication bill. Several measures were amended on the floor before passage, including the Alexandria ordinance bill, the sales tax audit bill, the alcohol/beverage bill, and the monument transfer bill. The House also temporarily returned some bills to the calendar for later consideration. Most measures passed overwhelmingly, though House Bill 153 on criminal court debt reporting passed with 67 yeas and 18 nays, House Bill 660 on assistant district attorney salaries passed 94-1, House Bill 719 on additional ADA positions passed 95-0, House Bill 883 on the sexual assault task force passed 86-2, House Bill 1028 on non-emergency medical transportation passed 81-15, and House Bill 1215 on monuments passed 78-14.

Transcript Highlights:

• Property and casualty self-insurance pool of certain religious institutions authorizing fees were for
• HB 3321 by Oliver and relates to certain healthcare institution systems, transaction fees and payment
• HB 3329 by Patterson relating to the fee waivers of certain hunting and licensing, fishing licensing
• Raising an increase in optional county fee registration in certain counties or for the subcommittee on
• HB 3370 by Ashby relates to the lay application of the appraisal of land for the tax purposes of the

Transcript Highlights:

• Nine new firm applications granted nine.
• . application. application.
• , their promoter fees or permit fees yet.
• or those kind or permit promoter fees or those kind or permit fees<01:01:22.559> yet.
• But if we need to amend the fee.

Keywords: Appropriations - Room 409, 22 January, 2026; 1:30 P.M., 925, all

Summary: The committee first heard from the Mississippi Auctioneer Commission, which requested level funding. PJ Lindsay reported the agency granted 29 new auctioneer applications and 9 new firm applications, received 3 complaints, resolved 1, signed 1 consent order, and issued 1 suspension. Members questioned the commission about its cash balance, reserve levels, and a large variance between prior spending and the FY26 request; staff explained the difference was tied to technology and contractual costs, including planned computer system updates and out-of-state conference travel for board members. The commission also noted that auctioneering oversight is important because an estimated $4.5 billion will flow through Mississippi escrow accounts in 2025. The Board of Optometry then presented its budget and organizational changes. Board leaders said the board had transitioned away from a state employee model to a management company arrangement with JBAR/Cornerstone, which they said saved about $43,000 and improved service and efficiency. They described the creation of a licensing database and a new back-end system, and said the board was generally seeking level funding with a small increase for computer equipment tied to the new system. Committee members asked about the impact on PERS contributions, the former employee’s retirement, the board’s cash balance, lease arrangements, and whether licensees had complained; the board said the change required legislative approval, the former employee retired, the cash balance was about $399,900, and service complaints had decreased. The Mississippi Board of Licensure for Engineers and Surveyors reported a busy FY2025, including moving most licensure applications online, accepting supporting documents by email, expanding K-12 and college outreach, hosting student interns, visiting ABET-accredited schools, decoupling the surveyor exam registration process, and awarding about $400,000 in grants to engineering programs. The board said it licenses about 15,000 engineers and surveyors plus 8,500 interns, with most registrants from out of state, and that its fees are among the lowest nationally. For the budget, the board requested level funding overall but also sought a new investigator position, 5% salary progressions, increased travel funding for national meetings and STEM outreach, more contractual money for internships and IT modifications, additional supplies, and restoration of a $600,000 grant program that is funded every other year to support university and community college engineering and surveying programs. The board said its operations are supported by fees and that its cash balance is about $1.6 million.

Transcript Highlights:

• all state housing funding and a coordinated review of applications.
• There will be no increases in fees to our stakeholders across the state.
• In a two-week time period, we had 1,800 applications for that housing.
• Would that mean there would be one application?
• Would that mean there would be one application?

Summary: The joint hearing focused on the Governor’s 2025 reorganization plan to split the Business, Consumer Services and Housing Agency into two new agencies: a Business and Consumer Services Agency and a California Housing and Homelessness Agency. Administration officials said the change would give each side more focused leadership, improve consumer protection and regulatory oversight, and better align housing and homelessness policy with the state’s broader housing goals. Leaders from the Department of Consumer Affairs, Cannabis Control, Alcoholic Beverage Control, and Financial Protection and Innovation all voiced support for the business-side reorganization, while housing officials emphasized that the new housing agency would help streamline funding, compliance, and coordination across programs. Members raised concerns about timing, budget impacts, office space, and whether the split would actually reduce bureaucracy. The administration said the plan would be included in the May Revision, was intended to be cost-neutral, and would not require fee increases for licensees or additional office space. On the housing side, officials said the new Housing Development and Finance Committee would work toward a single application and more coordinated award process for affordable housing funding, while preserving CalHFA’s statutory and financial independence. They also said the reorganization would improve compliance monitoring, data collection, and coordination with local governments, including Los Angeles homelessness programs. Public testimony was largely supportive. Industry groups representing beverage distributors, craft brewers, wine, mortgage lenders, and housing organizations backed the business-side split, and housing advocates such as Housing California, the California Housing Partnership, and the California Housing Consortium supported the housing agency concept and the proposed one-stop-shop approach. Several witnesses urged that tax credits, bonds, and other funding sources be better coordinated, and some said the plan should be paired with additional state investment and implementation resources. No formal vote was taken; the hearing was informational.

Transcript Highlights:

• a uh funding mechanism through a fee a uh funding mechanism through a fee onto<00:09:35.760>
• <00:15:14.240> per but the 80 cents, the 80 cent fee per but the 80 cents, the 80 cent fee
• Um it's not some telecom fees.
• um are currently dedicated telecom fees um are currently dedicated telecom fees I<00:20:33.679><
• It excludes applicants in the bill.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all