Transcript Highlights:

• The Committee on State Affairs has come to order. Clerk, call the roll. Chairman King? Mr.
• where federal dollars are contingent on state or local contributions.
• This is a registered apprenticeship program. Is that right?
• We have another program called Veterans in Piping, where Fort Cavazos.
• Work state. That's illegal. You cannot do that in this state. You have a right to choose.

Bills: HB1951 , HB2715 , HB3092 , HB3237 , HB3278 , HB3511 , HB3592 , HB3675 , HB3778 , HB3782 , HB3826 , HB3970 , HB4016 , HB4049 , HB4341 , HB4344 , HB4406 , HB4427

Committee: House State Affairs

Keywords: collective bargaining, public works, government contracts, labor agreements, state funding, removal from office, political subdivisions, local government, judicial proceedings, administrative judicial region, electric transmission, public convenience, landowner consent, utility regulation, energy infrastructure, energy consumption, higher education, governmental entities, sustainability, electricity reduction

Transcript Highlights:

• It's an elegant solution to ensure that as we grow as a state, we have some programs in place to help
• This is specific to out-of-state contributions to in-state candidates and, of course, out-of-state PACs
• in their service areas, along with a list of currently operating energy efficiency programs in the state
• other agencies that deal with energy programs, energy efficiency programs.
• program.

Bills: HB1951 , HB2715 , HB3092 , HB3237 , HB3278 , HB3511 , HB3592 , HB3675 , HB3778 , HB3782 , HB3826 , HB3970 , HB4016 , HB4049 , HB4341 , HB4344 , HB4406 , HB4427

Committee: House State Affairs

Keywords: collective bargaining, public works, government contracts, labor agreements, state funding, removal from office, political subdivisions, local government, judicial proceedings, administrative judicial region, electric transmission, public convenience, landowner consent, utility regulation, energy infrastructure, energy consumption, higher education, governmental entities, sustainability, electricity reduction

Transcript Highlights:

• Now, there are other states that have state holidays related to an important battle.
• Is that a state agency? The Office of Debt Recovery, who is that? Is that a state agency? Yes.
• Other ducks come and go from state to state. The model duck... The model duck is our duck.
• Other ducks come and go from state to state. The model duck is our duck.
• And the health and growth of our state, thank you very much.

Bills: HB9 , HB10 , HB16 , HB44 , HB46 , HB61 , HB101 , HB126 , HB153 , HB164 , HB233 , HB242 , HB436 , HB455 , HB571 , HB594

Committee: House Judiciary

Keywords: HB 9, HB9, Act 527, Shreveport, Stuffed Shrimp Capital, state symbol, Louisiana symbols, municipal designation, honorary title, cultural designation, tourism, local pride, seafood, shrimp, stuffed shrimp, cuisine, city branding, Louisiana Revised Statutes 49:170.26, legal holiday, Acadia Parish

Transcript Highlights:

• This legislation also directs the Department of State Health Services to create a standardized information
• The background checks... ...graduate programs in the United States.
• Very simply, HB2038 would create two pathways to bring in more health care providers into the state.
• Health care services with an A or B recommendation from the United States Preventive Services Task Force
• Assisted living communities are state-licensed, state-regulated health care facilities.

Bills: HB163 , HB216 , HB721 , HB2035 , HB2038 , HB3057 , HB3153 , HB3233 , HB3595 , HB3801 , HB3812 , HB4076 , HB4129 , HB4377 , HB4535 , HB4666 , HB4730 , HB4743 , HB4903 , HB5149 , HB5155 , HB1534 , HB163 , HB216

Committee: Senate Health & Human Services

Keywords: epinephrine, healthcare, emergency response, administration, medical policy, health care, itemized billing, patient rights, provider regulations, Texas Health and Safety Code, cost disclosure, insurance, benefit plan, administrators, chemical dependency, treatment facilities, minor admissions, parental notice, mental health, medical licensing

Summary: The committee met without a quorum at first, then established a quorum with five members present. Members heard and left pending several House bills, including HB 4743 on allowing hospitals to license mobile stroke units under a hospital license, HB 4129 on earlier DFPS enforcement tools for single-source continuum contractors in community-based foster care, HB 4903 creating a Quad Agency Child Care Initiative to coordinate child care regulations across state agencies, HB 3812 revising the gold card/prior authorization process for physicians, HB 4535 requiring written informed consent before COVID-19 vaccination and a standardized state information sheet, and HB 4666 reducing the frequency of some HHSC reports to the legislature. The chair also noted HB 35 would be voted on later after a subcommittee back was received, and that a large number of bills would be heard the next day. Most of the testimony focused on HB 4535 and HB 4730. On HB 4535, supporters argued the bill would strengthen informed consent for COVID vaccination by requiring written consent and clearer state-level information about risks, manufacturer liability protections, and adverse-event reporting; opponents, including a pediatrician and medical groups, said existing federal and state informed-consent materials already cover these topics and warned the bill could create duplicative paperwork and penalties. On HB 3812, the Texas Medical Association supported changes that would extend the gold-card evaluation period to one year, raise transparency, and make prior authorization exemptions easier to administer, while health plans said they were neutral and viewed the bill as a balance between reducing burden and preventing fraud or unsafe care. HB 4730 drew extensive testimony from adoption professionals, birth mothers, adoptive parents, and child welfare advocates. The bill would require DFPS to create a relinquishment form, train child-placing agency staff, and extend the minimum waiting period for voluntary relinquishment from 48 hours to seven days. Supporters of the current law argued the 48-hour period aligns with hospital discharge, allows informed decisions, and helps birth parents and adoptive families begin healing and bonding without pushing children into foster care or creating legal and Medicaid complications. The author said the bill would be revised and that the seven-day provision was a work in progress. No votes were taken on the bills during the meeting; each bill was left pending after public testimony closed.

Transcript Highlights:

• I know that at least with some of the 401(a)s that the state uses, the state just goes, hey, it's going
• Additionally, it allows any state... ...to support the mental health and well-being of the agency's employees
• Additionally, it allows any state agency to establish a crisis response services program to provide support
• services program.
• in this sharing program.

Bills: SB1161 , SB1215 , SB1270 , SB1400 , SB1537 , SB1538 , SB1580 , SB1584 , SB1627

Committees: House Public Safety & Law Enforcement , House House Public Safety & Law Enforcement Committee of Reference

Keywords: appropriation, public safety, Yuma County, funding exemption, family advocacy center, 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

Transcript Highlights:

• insurance plans offered by the Health Care Authority to public employees, the PEBB program.
• by the Health Care Authority to public employees, the PEBB program, and premiums for health insurance
• House Bill 2521 concerns the fee for the state firearms background check program administered by the
• Through the program, the State Patrol is directed to conduct background checks on applicants for the
• to a fee annually, the State Patrol would likely raise the fee for the program to approximately $33

Bills: HB1607 , HB2159 , HB2441 , HB2521 , HB2531 , HB2543

Committee: House Appropriations

Keywords: recycling, waste reduction, environmental policy, sustainability, municipal regulations, preK, education funding, childcare, youth development, state budget, HB 2441, line of duty death, survivor benefits, medical insurance premium reimbursement, surviving spouse, domestic partner, dependent children, public employee death benefits, retirement system, Washington State

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• Florida, like many states, warned their brokers and agents about the risk and penalties related to health
• Florida, like many states, warned their brokers and agents about the risk and penalties related to health
• They have a state mandate requiring citizens to purchase health insurance, but they allow individuals
• and state legislative... ...so that the State of Florida will provide concurrent, both federal and state
• States Attorney or United States District Court for the applicable district in this state has waived

Bills: S0052 , S0502 , S0624 , S0758 , S0834 , S0840

Committee: Senate Judiciary

Keywords: places of worship, house of worship, church, mosque, synagogue, religious security, armed security, volunteer security, private security, security guard licensing, licensure exemption, Florida Statutes chapter 493, Class G license, Class C license, security services, faith-based institutions, public safety, military jurisdiction, delinquency, concurrent jurisdiction

Transcript Highlights:

• programs.
• and outside of our state.
• That tip represents our state-operated facilities, our residential habilitation centers, and our state-operated
• and outside of our state.
• That tip represents our state-operated facilities, our residential habilitation centers, and our state-operated

Bills: HB2185 , HB2200 , HB2230 , HB2319

Committee: House Early Learning & Human Services

Keywords: homelessness, youth programs, advisory committee, prevention, protection, developmental disabilities, residential settings, data access, safety, stability, community oversight, residential services, regulation, service providers, monitoring, HB 2319, residential habilitation center, state school renaming, Rainier School, Firecrest School

Transcript Highlights:

• . health, and student learning.
• the current state right now is at $33 million for regional day school programs. raises it to $35 million
• I want you to realize that regional day school programs are some of the most expensive programs in public
• Regional day school programs provide hearing aids for students.
• To be a member of a regional day school program by the state.

Bills: HB2 , HB2

Committee: House Public Education

Keywords: public education, teacher compensation, certification, funding, school finance, educator rights, education funding, charter schools, staff compensation, state aid, retention allotment, disaster preparedness, emergency management, flooding, mass fatality, mass casualty, fatality tracking, body recovery, autopsy, justice of the peace

Transcript Highlights:

• When we create We created that program in 1999, over 90% of the students in the state of Texas were in
• No, this is all state program.
• We'd love to work with you on House Bill 2 to expand state funding opportunities for programs like ours
• You either put state money in, you ask the current. participants of the program to kick in, or you can
• and then actually market the program so that somebody in the state besides me and Brett Bernal knows

Bills: HB2 , HB2

Committee: House Public Education

Keywords: public education, teacher compensation, certification, funding, school finance, educator rights, education funding, charter schools, staff compensation, state aid, retention allotment, disaster preparedness, emergency management, flooding, mass fatality, mass casualty, fatality tracking, body recovery, autopsy, justice of the peace

Transcript Highlights:

• Are our students with teachers who go through Program A, Program B, certified, or uncertified?
• Innovation, Grow Your Own, TIA Enhanced, Certification Program, High Q Training program.
• The certification program, the year-long program.
• If you're talking about program specific, I'll say the state has been doing a version of Grow Your Own
• Your willingness to invest in the children of our state strengthens the future of our great state, and

Bills: HB2 , HB2

Committee: House Public Education

Keywords: public education, teacher compensation, certification, funding, school finance, educator rights, education funding, charter schools, staff compensation, state aid, retention allotment, disaster preparedness, emergency management, flooding, mass fatality, mass casualty, fatality tracking, body recovery, autopsy, justice of the peace

Transcript Highlights:

• wildly popular Grow Your Own program and establish it as a state as an allotment.
• those programs.
• So increasing this allotment would help expand high-quality programs that achieve more. multiple state
• We have a Approximately 53,000 students who qualify for state compensatory education programming. 12,000
• All other states in which we operate require uncertified teachers to enter a program, make progress,

Bills: HB2 , HB2

Committee: House Public Education

Keywords: public education, teacher compensation, certification, funding, school finance, educator rights, education funding, charter schools, staff compensation, state aid, retention allotment, disaster preparedness, emergency management, flooding, mass fatality, mass casualty, fatality tracking, body recovery, autopsy, justice of the peace

Transcript Highlights:

• Every state does not do that.
• I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America...
• outcomes while reducing long-term health care costs.
• state?
• Consortium within the Louisiana Department of Health.

Bills: SCR12 , HB221 , HB509 , HCR58 , HB75 , HB1222 , SB121 , SB312 , SB348 , SB485 , SCR9 , SCR58 , SB65 , SB215 , SB249 , SB269 , SB282 , SB296 , SB323 , SB363 , SB369 , SB474 , SB490 , SB492 , SB500 , SB514 , HCR54 , HCR79 , HCR87 , HCR94 , HCR104 , HCR32 , HB944 , HB17 , HB41 , HB73 , HB223 , HB244 , HB410 , HB750 , HB759 , HB906 , HB966 , HB1006 , HB1009 , HB1086 , HB1107 , HB1112 , HB1215 , HB1242 , SB208 , SB217 , SB283 , SB387 , SB389 , SB401 , SB408 , SB469 , HB74 , HB119 , HB368 , HB414 , HB552 , HB732 , HB776 , HB848 , HB870 , HB953 , HB956 , HB1236 , SB29 , SB42 , SB43 , SB78 , SB149 , SB274 , SB300 , SB341 , SB382 , SB441 , SB449 , HB134 , HB210 , HB258 , HB359 , HB468 , HB784 , HB1117

Keywords: logging, recognition, John Keith, environment, safety, Mississippi River bridge, Trump Expressway, transportation, federal funding, Louisiana highways, injection wells, public hearing, geologic sequestration, environmental impact, public comment, Ascension Parish, state capitol, economic development, community partnership, celebration day

Transcript Highlights:

• reflect what the state laws actually say.
• Today, we are a low-tax, high-growth state.
• programs.
• House Bill 2089 defines an active employee group health and accident insurance program for purposes of
• Chair, I'd like to state my vote.

Bills: HB2011 , HB2089 , HB2090 , HB2092 , HB2477 , HB2785

Committees: House Ways & Means , House House Ways & Means Committee of Reference

Keywords: individual income tax, subtraction, Arizona Revised Statutes, retirement benefits, adoption costs, charitable contributions, health insurance, premium payment, Arizona State Retirement System, contingent annuitant, long-term disability, benefits limitations, disability compensation, social security, retirement system, elected officials, ASRS, eligibility waiver, age 65, taxation

Transcript Highlights:

• So a program like this, although that state funding is very important for our budget, gives programs
• So a program like this, although that state funding is very important for our budget, gives programs
• So a program like this, although that state funding is very important for our budget, gives programs
• So a program like this, although that state funding is very important for our budget, gives programs
• So a program like this, although that state funding is very important for our budget, gives programs

Bills: HB2515 , HB2343 , HB2301 , HB2272 , HB2367

Committee: House Environment & Energy

Keywords: energy facilities, large energy use, regulation, state oversight, infrastructure, water quality, game farms, public health, environmental protection, regulatory oversight, extended producer responsibility, paint waste management, environmental regulations, sustainability, recycling, ski areas, winter sports, terminology update, recreation, regulatory changes

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:04:23.520><c> gets</c> once the paid leave program gets once the paid leave program gets underway
• , this largest state-mandated program in business history, we have to make sure that 50% of the partnerships
• </c><00:32:32.159><c> of</c> school districts around the state of school districts around the state of
• </c> other stor in other times in State other stor in other times in State history<00:34:00.480><c> when
• </c><00:34:04.440><c> is</c> Commissioners they say the program is Commissioners they say the program

Bills: HF11

Committee: House Ways and Means

Keywords: Minnesota Paid Leave, paid family and medical leave, family leave, medical leave, implementation delay, premium collection, employer premiums, state payroll tax, workforce, labor, benefits administration, DEED, Department of Employment and Economic Development, employer notice, seasonal employees, private plans, actuarial study, outreach and education, employee rights, reinstatement

Transcript Highlights:

• So, um, I am actually really happy that we're offering this Paid Family Leave program to Minnesota.
• </c><00:05:01.400><c> report</c> know kind of having both programs report know kind of having both programs
• And it's really a health care bill, in my opinion, in my estimation.
• And I understand those concerns, but the reality is that most employers in the state, including the state
• This is a really important program. It went through a number of iterations.

Bills: HF11

Committee: House Ways and Means

Keywords: Minnesota Paid Leave, paid family and medical leave, family leave, medical leave, implementation delay, premium collection, employer premiums, state payroll tax, workforce, labor, benefits administration, DEED, Department of Employment and Economic Development, employer notice, seasonal employees, private plans, actuarial study, outreach and education, employee rights, reinstatement

Transcript Highlights:

• Do you get input from them when you're formulating the programs for the STEM programs?
• The state is an SEA, state education agency, and then all of your school districts are LEAs, the local
• This program was modeled after a program in Florida called the New World’s Reading Initiative, which
• the program that shows the kids in the program, receiving books at home similar to what we’re doing
• So our program does two things here in Louisiana.

Bills: HB256 , HB272 , HB350 , HB363 , HB386 , HB434 , HB445 , HB690

Committee: House Education

Keywords: mandatory reporting, school employees, child protection, training requirements, Department of Children and Family Services, education, reading program, student eligibility, literacy, school performance, R.E.A.D. program, book distribution, École Pointe-au-Chien, French immersion, public school, Terrebonne Parish, grade levels, independent school, virtual school, extracurricular activities

Transcript Highlights:

• contracting with the state or any of its subdivisions after the infraction.
• to help them deal with individuals that have drug or mental health issues.
• I'm leaving the country or I'm leaving the city, the state.
• There's no DA involvement, no state involvement other than the judge.
• These mediation programs are Free and available in nearly every county.

Bills: HB2650 , HB3277 , HB3386 , HB3419 , HB3430 , HB3742 , HB3791 , HB3835 , HB3905 , HB3968 , HB4119 , HB4153 , HB4408

Committee: House Judiciary and Public Safety Oversight

Keywords: probate, estate administration, summary administration, decedent, inheritance, vehicle inspection, title registration, salvage vehicles, ownership, Oklahoma Statutes, evictions, forcible entry, mediation, residency proof, children, housing law, corruption, nonpublic information, government accountability, criminal law

Transcript Highlights:

• But at that point, the state of Texas, be it the Attorney General or state law enforcement,... ...the
• state of Texas, be it the Attorney General or state law enforcement, solicits at the parallel level
• of the other state to act?
• Other states have had convicted criminals involved as licensees, and that doesn’t go well for their programs
• in the state.

Bills: HB46 , HB272 , HB551 , HB1661 , HB2820 , HB3181 , HB4145 , HB4157 , HB46 , HB272

Committee: Senate State Affairs

Keywords: low-THC cannabis, dispensing organization, Texas Compassionate-Use Program, medical use, patient access, registration, healthcare, legislation, credit card fraud, debit card fraud, prosecution, illegal possession, state law, political contributions, address privacy, Texas Ethics Commission, election transparency, campaign finance, election supplies, ballots

Summary: The Senate Committee on State Affairs heard several House bills and took no final votes, leaving each bill pending after testimony. HB 272 would align venue and evidentiary rules for fraudulent use or possession of credit/debit card information with existing credit card abuse law; the sponsor said it would improve prosecutions, and the Texas Financial Crimes Intelligence Center supported it. HB 1661 would increase penalties for certain election-related offenses, including failure to distribute election supplies and early release of election results; no substantive opposition was heard. HB 551 would protect the residential addresses of people who receive campaign expenditures on public Texas Ethics Commission reports, similar to donor privacy protections, and a witness from Texas Eagle Forum later indicated support for the privacy change. The committee also heard HB 2820, which would raise the amount charitable bingo organizations may keep in operating capital from $50,000 to $100,000. The sponsor and a Texans for Charitable Bingo representative said inflation and operating costs have made the current cap too low and that the bill would help charities maintain stable operations without expanding gaming. HB 3181 would impose stronger consequences for repeated denial of court-ordered child possession and access, including limiting probation and requiring attorney’s fees after multiple contempt findings; a family court judge and a parent testified in support, while another witness argued the bill should be paired with stronger criminal enforcement and that parents already face high costs. HB 4157 would update Texas law for commercial spaceflight by recognizing liability waivers and preserving workers’ compensation rights; no one testified against it. The committee also heard HB 4145, which would let health care providers satisfy a timely billing requirement by sending bills to a patient’s legal representative in a personal injury case, closing what supporters described as a loophole in letter-of-protection situations. Finally, HB 46, relating to the Texas Compassionate Use Program, drew the most extensive discussion: supporters said it should expand access for legitimate medical cannabis patients and add more delivery methods and conditions, while opponents warned against broader marijuana expansion and questioned adding chronic pain and other conditions. The sponsor said he still supports the program and wants a balanced, regulated expansion, but noted the bill is still being worked on. All bills were left pending at the close of the hearing.