Transcript Highlights:

• They've been explicit about their desire that college tuition should be free for African Americans.
• They've been explicit about their desire that college tuition should be free for African Americans.
• When you look at the data, African Americans are at the bottom. And that is by no accident.
• When you look at the data, African Americans are at the bottom for math.
• At this point, African American students are the lowest achieving.

Summary: The Senate Committee on Elections and Constitutional Amendments heard several measures, beginning with SCA 5, which would create an Equalization Reserve Account to help reduce long-standing per-pupil funding disparities between basic aid and non-basic aid school districts. The author and supporters argued the measure would create a stable, endowment-style funding source using only interest earnings, while charter school advocates opposed it, saying the bill would exclude charters and could raise equal protection concerns. After the quorum was established, SCA 5 was approved and sent to Appropriations. The committee then heard SJR 18, a resolution condemning Citizens United and urging limits on corporate money in politics. The author argued that unlimited independent expenditures have increased corporate influence and dark money in elections, while there was little testimony in opposition. The resolution was approved and referred onward. The committee also considered two consent items, AB 1736 and AB 2421, which were approved together without debate. ACA 7 generated the most extensive discussion. The measure would revise the state constitution’s application of Proposition 209 in education, with supporters saying it would allow race-conscious tools to address persistent racial inequities in student outcomes and resource allocation, especially for Black students. Opponents argued it would weaken Proposition 209, invite discrimination, and likely fail politically and in court. After lengthy debate, the measure was approved and sent to Appropriations. The committee also approved ACA 18, which would add a second student voting seat on the UC Board of Regents, with supporters emphasizing student representation and opponents absent. Finally, AJR 29, opposing a federal executive order affecting vote-by-mail administration, was approved and sent onward. All measures on the agenda were ultimately advanced.

Transcript Highlights:

• Let's see what happens with African American history, as we have a higher concentration of African Americans
• Let's see what happens with African American history, as we have a higher concentration of African Americans
• Let's see what happens with African American history, as we have a higher concentration of African Americans
• history, which is the start of African American people in chains.
• The majority of them wanted to take African American studies.

Committee: House Elementary and Secondary Education

Transcript Highlights:

• Americans, generally African American women, did not necessarily have a place in our society the way
• Capitol, and make sure that African American voices are heard.
• Americans, generally African American women, did not necessarily have a place in our society the way
• Capitol, and make sure that African American voices are heard.
• Capitol, and make sure that African American voices are heard.

Summary: The Senate convened, approved the prior journal, and handled several motions to discharge and substitute identical Assembly or Senate bills, along with a number of amendments. The chamber also welcomed student visitors from the League of Women Voters’ Students of Albany program and a group of Staten Island titleholders, and later adopted previously approved resolutions honoring Dorothy E. Reid for her role in Brown v. Board of Education and recognizing Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. on Delta Day, with multiple senators speaking in support of both recognitions. The bulk of the floor session was devoted to third-reading votes on a large number of bills, most of which passed with broad support. Measures addressed public health, workers’ compensation, education, environmental conservation, insurance, labor, criminal procedure, domestic relations, tax, municipal authority, and correction law. Several bills were explained by sponsors as advancing stormwater management authority, labor-law transparency, public health protections, and stronger penalties for trafficking-related offenses; one bill on immunization in summer camps drew a defense from Senator Skoufis as a child-protection measure, while another on correction law passed with some Republican opposition. The chamber also took up a controversial public health/electronic health records bill by Senator Fernandez. Senator Martin questioned the bill at length about redacting certain categories of information, emergency access, provider obligations, and the impact on doctors’ ability to see complete medical histories. Fernandez said the bill was intended to protect patients from discrimination and to limit access to a small list of sensitive services, while also noting emergency exceptions and support from more than 200 health care providers. The debate remained focused on balancing privacy protections with concerns about continuity of care and record integrity.

Transcript Highlights:

• ,</c> contributions of African-Americans, contributions of African-Americans, which<07:53:54.080><c>
• <07:57:07.200><c> American</c> African American African American History<07:57:09.440><c> and</c><07:
• </c> and we went to the African-American and we went to the African-American History<08:06:26.120><c>
• Uh after the African-American War.
• of African-Americans resegregation of African-Americans across<08:11:40.718><c> the</c><08:11:40.958

Bills: HR1286 , HR1263 , HB1578 , HR1364 , HB2201 , HB1823 , HB1815 , HR1147 , HR217 , HB1701 , HB1453 , HR1223

Keywords: trade policy, tariffs, trade enforcement, workers rights, labor standards, environmental standards, Buy America, domestic content, offshoring, manufacturing jobs, factory closures, family farmers, small business, supply chains, dumping, countervailing duties, antidumping, trade agreements, USMCA, investor-state dispute settlement

Transcript Highlights:

• These ombuds persons are the ombuds person for African American families, who serves African and African
• </c><00:36:23.520><c> families</c> person for uh African-American families person for uh African-American
• members of the African American community board. >> The Council on Asian ...
• Uh, you mentioned the group that was a mouthful, African American.
• </c><01:31:39.760><c> Family</c> piece of the African-American Family piece of the African-American Family

Transcript Highlights:

• Black History Month is a time to honor the generations of African Americans whose resilience, leadership
• Black History Month is a time to honor the generations of African-Americans whose resilience, leadership
• We are still facing challenges as Blacks, as Africans, as African Americans.
• As African Americans, we must achieve twice as much to receive the same recognition as others.
• And I can tell you that we cannot talk about American history without talking about African American

Bills: HB816 , HB1535 , HB1537 , HB1541 , HB1562 , HB1574 , HB1591 , HB1853 , HB1854 , HB1871 , HB1965 , HB1966 , HB1969 , HB1973 , HB1974 , HB2315 , HB2343 , HB2501 , HB2505 , HB1577 , HB2443 , HB2498 , HB2581 , HB2622

Committee: House Finance

Keywords: HB816, Hawaii, opioid overdose, opioid crisis, buprenorphine, naloxone, Narcan, paramedics, emergency medical services, EMS, first responders, substance use disorder, addiction treatment, withdrawal management, overdose reversal, pilot program, Department of Health, DOH, county population under 100,000, rural health

Transcript Highlights:

• Speaker, today and yesterday we've had the opportunity to house a phenomenal African-American leader.
• Yes, I would like to extend a warm welcome to the Texas Association of African American Chambers that
• Officially established in 1988, the Texas Association of African American Chambers of Commerce is one
• Many may not know, but Texas has more African-Americans than any other state in the country.
• In advocacy, the NAACP aims to make sure that African-American voices. are heard, demands are met, and

Transcript Highlights:

• Of those six, four are held by white people and two are held by African Americans.
• Four are held by white people, and two are held by African Americans. Yes.
• Two of them are majority African American. You would agree with me, correct? Yes.
• American seat to now be... ...or reconfigures a majority African American seat to now be majority white
• And it shows that your map eliminates an African American configured district.

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

Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum, received a prayer and pledge, adopted the journal, and heard messages from the House reporting final passage of several Senate bills and concurrence in SCR 86 and 87. The chamber also observed personal privileges honoring the lives of Edith K. Kirkpatrick and Susan Ann Traylor Bidick, with family members present and a moment of silence held for Bidick. The House later refused concurrence on Senate amendments to HB 42 and HB 159. The Senate then took up a series of resolutions, most of which were adopted without objection. These included studies on energy infrastructure and modernization (SR 174, amended to add an alternative energy industry representative and a consumer advocate), breast pump Medicaid reimbursement (SR 175), digital student IDs (SR 176), lethality assessment protocols in domestic violence cases (SR 177), problem gambling prevention (SR 178), community water system grading (SR 179), condolences for Sharon Courtney (SR 180), and expansion of the Louisiana Tumor Registry (SR 181). The chamber also adopted SCR 85 honoring the Sam Houston High School Broncos baseball team after a recorded vote of 36 yeas and 8 nays. On bills returned from the House, HB 1222 on grocery initiative grants failed on final passage by a vote of 18 yeas and 19 nays. SB 312 had House amendments rejected, SB 348 and SB 485 had House amendments concurred in, and SB 121 on congressional redistricting was the subject of extensive debate over racial gerrymandering, district configuration, and expected litigation before the Senate concurred in the House amendments by 28 yeas and 10 nays. The Senate also concurred in several House concurrent resolutions, including studies or reports on flooded corn and migratory waterfowl, deer hunting with dogs in Kisatchie National Forest, support for a Senator Kennedy letter to the Fish and Wildlife Service, boating safety reporting, and subsurface data review. Finally, HB 944 creating a Women’s Health Consortium within the Department of Health was amended to address funding concerns and convert it into a more task-force-like structure, then passed 37-0 with nine coauthors. The Senate then recessed until 1:30 p.m. to continue work, including conference committee reports.

Transcript Highlights:

• They’ve been explicit about their desire that college tuition should be free for African Americans.
• They've been explicit about their desire that college tuition should be free for African Americans.
• When you look at the data, African Americans are at the bottom. And that is by no accident.
• When you look at the data, African Americans are at the bottom for math.
• That would have allowed schools and California to say, hey, at this point, African American students

Committee: Senate Elections and Constitutional Amendments

Transcript Highlights:

• The council’s constituents are Minnesotans who self-identify as African-American or African immigrant
• The council’s constituents are Minnesotans who self-identify as African-American or African immigrant
• The council’s constituents are Minnesotans who self-identify as African-American or African immigrant
• The council’s constituents are Minnesotans who self-identify as African-American or African immigrant
• um Family preservation African-American um Family preservation and<01:47:28.280><c> child</c><01:47:

Bills: HF1867 , HF1240

Committee: House State Government Finance and Policy

Keywords: lottery, retailer contracts, Minnesota Statutes, contract qualifications, public integrity, criminal background, legislative auditor, public funds, state government, compliance, transparency

Transcript Highlights:

• African-Americans African-Americans some folks think that that that I'm in some folks think that that
• yeah see what I'm African-Americans yeah see what I'm African-Americans yeah see what I'm saying I mean
• that's what this African-Americans that's what this African-Americans that's what this does that's what
• represented by an African-American represented by an African-American female mhm okay I want to put
• you know schools that P African-American you know schools that P African-American you know they want

Bills: SB 26 , SB 28 , SJR 36 , SB 616 , SB 565 , SB 384 , SB 28 , SB 28 , SR 131 , SR 168 , SR 174 , SR 175

Transcript Highlights:

• The need for a deeper look into African-American suicide for Louisianians.
• It so happens to be African American population. But it is a population. These are people.
• But as we've done this, I've learned not too much just among African Americans, but just suicide ...not
• too much just among African Americans, but just suicide as a whole.
• And it just troubles my heart because just a few weeks ago, and it wasn't an African American child,

Summary: The task force met to review the prior minutes, hear introductions from members and stakeholders, and receive an update on the HCR 86 study on African American suicide in Louisiana. Dr. Williams summarized survey findings from 94 university respondents and said the work focused on college students as a key risk group, with financial stress and other early triggers identified. He said universities had resisted participation because of stigma and concerns about enrollment and reputation, and he recommended stronger statewide reporting requirements, better data collection, and more targeted prevention efforts. Members discussed possible policy responses, including mandatory suicide prevention training, gatekeeper training for faculty and staff, student awareness materials, and adding 988 information to student IDs and campus outreach. Dr. Thomas described existing LDH efforts, including 988 partnerships, a university toolkit, and training through the Louisiana Center for Prevention Resources. Senator Boudreaux and others said the issue should be addressed through legislation rather than voluntary action alone, while Dr. McKee noted that occupational licensing rules and statutes could support required training and reporting. The task force agreed to revise the report language to say reporting would be confidential unless otherwise required by law, and to circulate additional state examples and recommendations before February 1 for use as a legislative template. Members also asked that the Office of Public Health be included in discussions about a centralized suicide data hub, since it already tracks real-time suicide data. The chair thanked the participants, said the final recommendations would guide possible legislation, and adjourned the meeting without setting another date unless further action is needed.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm here to support the African American history.
• One of the great things about it is I learned nothing about it in school with African American history
• So African American history is the history of America.
• African American courses have been denied as an opportunity for children to learn.
• African-American courses have been denied as an opportunity for children to learn.

Bills: S0014 , S0016 , S0024 , S0052 , S0308 , S0504 , S0506 , S0564 , S0572 , S0590 , S0594 , S0806 , S1396 , S7020 , S7024 , S7026

Committee: Senate Rules

Keywords: negligence, settlement, police conduct, municipal liability, personal injury, compensation, injuries, Miami-Dade County, 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

Transcript Highlights:

• Americans in Nevada.
• American Studies, one member from the African American Studies Department from UNLV, Reno, NSU, which
• The economic, social, and legal standings of African Americans in Nevada. Okay, I see.
• Americans.
• Americans.

Bills: AB328 , AB397

Committee: Senate Education

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm here to support the African American history.
• One of the great things about it is I learned nothing about it in school with African American history
• And I think that not only should African Americans learn about the history of our people, but everyone
• African American courses have been denied as an opportunity for children to learn.
• African-American courses have been denied as an opportunity for children to learn.

Bills: S0014 , S0016 , S0024 , S0052 , S0308 , S0504 , S0506 , S0564 , S0572 , S0590 , S0594 , S0806 , S1396 , S7020 , S7024 , S7026

Committee: Senate Rules

Summary: The Committee on Rules met with 14 members present and considered a long agenda of bills, including several open-government sunset reauthorizations, consumer and election measures, claims bills, and policy bills on public safety, ethics, and child protection. The committee reported favorably SB 7024 and SB 7026, which extend and consolidate public-records/public-meeting exemptions for cybersecurity information and trade secrets held by agencies, and SB 7020, which reenacts the aquaculture records exemption for the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. It also approved SB 14 and SB 24, two uncontested Miami-Dade County claims bills, and SB 16, a claims bill for Heriberto Sanchez Mayan involving severe injuries after an unlawful arrest and transport incident in St. Petersburg. Several bills drew substantial testimony. SB 308, creating the Florida Museum of Black History Board of Directors and designating St. Johns County as the museum site, received extensive support from advocates and lawmakers who emphasized preserving the full and accurate history of Black Floridians; some speakers urged safeguards to ensure historians and community members help shape the museum’s content. The committee also favorably reported CS for SB 564, allowing registered or pre-registered high school students to volunteer at polling places for community service hours, with supporters saying it would build civic engagement and help election offices. CS for SB 52, which exempts unpaid volunteer armed security at houses of worship from Class D and G licensing requirements, was also reported favorably after testimony both supporting the need for church security and cautioning that congregations should retain control over whether weapons are allowed. The committee approved CS for SB 1396 on litigation financing and consumer protection after a lengthy debate over transparency, foreign funding, and whether the bill would chill access to courts. Supporters said it would create guardrails and disclose foreign involvement; opponents argued it could burden plaintiffs and reveal litigation strategy. The committee also reported favorably CS for SB 504 and SB 506, creating a framework and related public-records exemption for code inspector body cameras, with discussion about notice to property owners and protection of sensitive footage. Additional favorable actions included CS for SB 572, updating ethics law to reflect foster family relationships, and CS for SB 590, tolling the statute of limitations for failure-to-report child abuse offenses until the offense is known to law enforcement or another charging authority.

Transcript Highlights:

• Members, I'm proud to say that over 3.5 million African-Americans call Texas home.
• Texas is home of the most African-Americans than any state. state in the country.
• African-Americans have and continue to make significant cultural contributions to our society. cultural
• African-Americans include former Congresswoman Barbara Jordan, who's, yeah, Barbara Jordan.
• T. is the longest-serving African-American and the longest-serving woman in the Texas Legislature in

Transcript Highlights:

• lived in Minnesota and African-Americans lived in Minnesota and contributed<00:35:15.440><c> to</c><
• </c> This history demonstrates the intertwined experiences between America, the African-American, and
• They brought enslaved African-Americans African-Americans African-Americans uh<00:36:32.480><c> with<
• , and the Native the African-American, and the Native American,<00:37:11.599><c> shaping</c><00:37:12.160
• moved to the moved African-Americans moved to the moved from<00:38:22.240><c> the</c><00:38:22.400><

Committee: Senate Agriculture, Veterans, Broadband, and Rural Development

Transcript Highlights:

• For African-American students.
• Actually, our town is named after an African-American man. St.
• And as you know, there's a bill for an African American Museum in Eatonville.
• American history, about Black history. ...our children about African American history, about Black history
• And not very many kids can go back that far and understand what African American history is.

Committee: Senate Community Affairs

Summary: The Committee on Community Affairs met and considered a series of bills on trust law, homestead property assessments, emergency preparedness, utility service restrictions, Black history museum planning, historic preservation, firefighter benefits, and community redevelopment agencies. Several measures were presented as technical or policy updates, including CS/SB 262 on trust code clarifications, SJR 174 and SB 176 on limiting homestead assessment increases for flood-mitigation elevations, SB 608 renaming the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America in Florida statutes, SB 1002 on utility service restrictions, SB 582 increasing penalties for unlawful demolition of historic buildings, SB 1202 extending health insurance premium benefits to firefighters permanently disabled during training, and SB 1242 phasing out CRAs and restricting new projects. SB 180 on emergency preparedness and response also advanced after a strike-all amendment that added FEMA reimbursement streamlining, mutual aid coordination, and other disaster-response provisions. SB 1128 on building permits for single-family dwellings was amended to clarify local review authority and professional liability protections before passage. The committee heard substantial testimony on SB 466, which implements the Black History Task Force’s recommendation to locate the Florida Museum of Black History in St. Johns County/St. Augustine. Supporters emphasized the area’s civil rights and Black history significance, the task force process, and the backing of Florida Memorial University and local leaders; one witness opposed the bill and urged a feasibility study and consideration of other sites. SB 1242 drew the most sustained debate, with supporters arguing many CRAs have outlived their purpose and opponents warning the bill would eliminate a valuable local economic development tool, harm affordable housing projects, and create uncertainty for phased developments and existing projects. SB 1002 also drew opposition testimony from advocates who warned of broad unintended consequences for municipal utilities and local energy choices, while the sponsor said the bill was intended to resolve a specific legal misunderstanding. Votes were taken on each measure, and all of the bills considered were reported favorably by the committee. The committee adopted the amendment to CS/SB 262, the strike-all amendment to SB 180, and the amendment to SB 1128 before final passage. Several senators requested to be recorded on specific tabs after the meeting, and the committee then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Black History Month is a time to honor the generations of African Americans whose resilience, leadership
• Black History Month is a time to honor the generations of African-Americans whose resilience, leadership
• We are still facing challenges as Blacks, as Africans, as African Americans.
• As African Americans, we must achieve twice as much to receive the same recognition as others.
• And I can tell you that we cannot talk about American history without talking about African American

Summary: The Assembly met with a quorum call at the start, then proceeded with Black History Month observances, including a libation ceremony, the Pledge of Allegiance, and remarks emphasizing remembrance, ancestry, and the importance of honoring Black history. The chamber also handled routine procedural matters, including dispensing with the journal, re-referring certain Senate budget items to the Budget Committee, and allowing guest introductions and other unanimous-consent requests. The main floor action was on Assembly Concurrent Resolution 134, recognizing Black History Month. Members from multiple caucuses spoke in support, highlighting the historical contributions of Black Americans, the ongoing effects of slavery and segregation, the need to protect voting rights and education, and the importance of solidarity across communities. The resolution was adopted by voice vote after 74 co-authors were added. The Assembly also adopted Assembly Concurrent Resolution 132, declaring February 28 as Rare Disease Day. Members shared personal stories about ALS and other rare diseases, described barriers to diagnosis, treatment, and insurance coverage, and called for more research and support. The resolution received broad bipartisan support, with 71 co-authors added before adoption by voice vote. The chamber then recognized a series of Black History Month Unsung Heroes honorees, including community leaders, health professionals, advocates, and public servants, and later heard additional guest introductions. The meeting concluded with adjournments in memory of Peyton Trilling and John Jackson, followed by announcements and adjournment until February 26 at 9 a.m.