Transcript Highlights:

• The existing portion of this code only references New Castle County.
• Like, New Castle County is still reassessing?
• So New Castle County is still... Correct.
• So New Castle County is still actively making changes to the assessment data for all of New Castle County
• It is New Castle County, 19.9%; Kent and Sussex County, 18.2%.

Summary: The Senate received communications from the House on numerous measures, including several bills and resolutions passed with amendments, committee reports on bills such as large energy use facilities, campaign finance, voting rights, and appropriations, and a list of pre-file legislation. The chamber then moved through a long floor session with confirmations, bill readings, and roll-call votes, ultimately confirming the nomination of Morgan T. Zern to the Delaware Supreme Court by a 21-0 vote. Among the major policy items considered were property tax and school tax measures tied to the statewide reassessment. The Senate passed House Bill 460, clarifying monthly municipal permit-data reporting to New Castle County; House Bill 461, granting temporary authority for New Castle County school districts to reset school tax rates for one cycle; and House Bill 462, making the split school tax rate permanent with a lower nonresidential cap. Members discussed the fiscal effects at length, including testimony from a school district finance officer that HB 461 would allow revenue-neutral rate setting and offset the fiscal note on HB 462. The Senate also passed House Bill 365 creating a Delaware Indigenous Affairs Commission, House Bill 458 on backflow requirements for low-hazard buildings, Senate Bill 27 establishing the Office of New Americans with a sunset and interagency coordination, and Senate Bill 315 on the Delaware Technical Innovation Program. The chamber also approved Senate Substitute 1 for Senate Bill 300, a firearms dealer regulation bill, after extensive debate over amendments, confidentiality, background checks, and the balance between public safety and burdens on lawful dealers. Several members raised constitutional and practical objections, while supporters argued the bill would reduce trafficking, straw purchases, and theft from dealers. In addition, the Senate passed House Bill 305 creating a diabetes wellness pilot program, with supporters emphasizing the state’s diabetes burden and the program’s federal funding, and House Concurrent Resolution 157, which asks the State Lottery Office to report on iLottery’s impact on small businesses. Senate Bill 325, a fire prevention/background-check bill, was laid on the table after concerns about a late House amendment and requests for more time to consult stakeholders.

Transcript Highlights:

• on House Bill 46, and the chair calls Nico Richardson, Karen Reeves, Susan Hayes, Mary Elizabeth Castle
• Okay, we’re looking for Nico Richardson, Karen Reeves, Susan Hayes, Mary Elizabeth Castle, Cindy Castilla
• Castle, welcome back. And remember on the end, you've got to get close. Introduce yourself.
• My name is Mary Elizabeth Castle.

Bills: HB46, HB272

Keywords: local government spending cap, expenditure limit, political subdivision, property tax, ad valorem tax, budget cap, taxpayer protection, spending restraint, inflation adjustment, population growth, voter approval, supermajority vote, county budget, municipal budget, school district finance, junior college district, hospital district, special district, attorney general enforcement, local fiscal limits

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.

Transcript Highlights:

• resolution filed by Representative Beal of Boston commending Bill Spain on his retirement from the Castle
• Representative Beal of Boston commending Bill Spain on his retirement from the Castle Island Association

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The House opened with the Pledge of Allegiance and then took up several committee reports and procedural motions. It adopted a resolution commending Bill Spain on his retirement from the Castle Island Association and his work preserving Fort Independence. The House also concurred in a Senate petition concerning improved public access and climate resiliency on the Mystic River and referred it to the Committee on Environment and Natural Resources. In addition, the House suspended Joint Rule 12 for two petitions: one establishing a sick leave bank for a Massachusetts Department of Transportation employee and another creating a Legion of Merit motor vehicle license plate. The chamber then advanced House Bill 4101, relative to the Dracut Water Supply District, suspending Rule 7A, taking a second reading, and ordering it to a third reading. On third reading, House Bill 5034, waiving the maximum age requirement for Boston police officers for Matthew Cummings, was passed to be engrossed. House Bill 1338, allowing fair compensation of Massachusetts credit union directors, was amended to add an emergency preamble and strike Section 2, then passed to be engrossed as amended. Later, the House recessed and then returned to final passage on House Bill 1646, concerning violations of regulations regarding the hot work process, and House Bill 5511, concerning teacher preparation and student literacy; both were passed to be enacted. The House also adopted an order to adjourn to meet the following Monday at 11 a.m., and then adjourned to that time in informal session.

Transcript Highlights:

• resolution filed by Representative Beal of Boston commending Bill Spain on his retirement from the Castle
• Representative Beal of Boston commending Bill Spain on his retirement from the Castle Island Association

Keywords: 1212, all

Transcript Highlights:

• resolution filed by Representative Beal of Boston commending Bill Spain on his retirement from the Castle
• Representative Beal of Boston commending Bill Spain on his retirement from the Castle Island Association

Summary: The House opened with the Pledge of Allegiance and then took up several routine and legislative matters. It adopted a resolution commending Bill Spain on his retirement from the Castle Island Association and his work preserving Fort Independence. The House also concurred in a Senate petition concerning improved public access and climate resiliency on the Mystic River and referred it to the Committee on Environment and Natural Resources. The chamber suspended Joint Rule 12 for two petitions: one establishing a sick leave bank for a Massachusetts Department of Transportation employee and another creating a Legion of Merit motor vehicle license plate. It also suspended Rule 7A to consider House Bill 4101, relative to the Dracut Water Supply District, and ordered the bill to a third reading. On third reading, the House passed to be engrossed House 5034, waiving the maximum age requirement for Boston police officer Matthew Cummings. It also adopted an amendment to House 1338, allowing fair compensation of Massachusetts credit union directors, and passed that bill to be engrossed as amended. Finally, the House enacted Senate Bill 1646 on hot work process regulations and Senate Bill 5511 on teacher preparation and student literacy, then adopted an order to adjourn and recessed/adjourned to meet the following Monday at 11 a.m. in informal session.

Transcript Highlights:

• First, the intergovernmental immunity doctrine.
• Second, the obstacle preemption doctrine.
• It incorporates the doctrine. I'm sorry? It incorporates the doctrine.
• Second, the obstacle preemption doctrine.
• It incorporates the doctrine. I'm sorry? It incorporates the doctrine.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on the Judiciary held a late-file hearing on several bills, with Chairs Michael Day and Lydia Edwards outlining hearing rules, testimony limits, and written-testimony procedures. The first bill discussed was H. 4876, a proposal to strengthen supports for survivors of abuse. Representative Carol Faiola testified on behalf of a constituent who described how a lifetime restraining order was effectively undermined after a family member’s death, arguing the bill should limit abusers’ legal standing after death, improve survivor notification and privacy protections, expand coercive-control definitions, and create education and resource programs. The committee then heard testimony on H. 5111, which would strengthen the Massachusetts Antitrust Act. Representative Dave Rogers and Attorney General’s Office antitrust chief Anthony Mariano said the bill would give the state more tools to pursue anti-competitive conduct, including conduct with multi-state effects, while allowing enforcement even when federal authorities are also involved. They said it would increase penalties, clarify that invitations to conspire are violations, protect labor markets, remove limits affecting some housing transactions, and extend the statute of limitations. The committee also heard support for a related “universal 1983” bill, S. 2976/H. 2976, creating a state cause of action for constitutional violations by federal, state, or local officers acting under color of law; supporters said it would fill gaps in remedies against federal officers while preserving qualified immunity. Testimony also supported H. 4783, a bill affirming the rights of people experiencing homelessness. The Massachusetts Coalition for the Homeless said the measure would push back against growing criminalization of homelessness, especially after the Supreme Court’s Grants Pass decision and local encampment bans, and would protect the use of public spaces without discrimination based on housing status. On H. 4826, condo owners and advocates said Chapter 183A is outdated and leaves owners with too little say and too few remedies against mismanagement, citing problems such as unsafe water, major assessments, and lack of meaningful dispute resolution. The committee also heard strong support for H. 5116, renaming the Dorchester Division of the Boston Municipal Court the Judge Leslie E. Harris Courthouse, with testimony from family members, legislators, attorneys, and community leaders describing Judge Harris’s mentorship, community service, and commitment to second chances. Later testimony covered S. 2975, a bill to deter ICE courthouse arrests and protect access to justice; CPCS, law students, and defense advocates said courthouse arrests chill participation by defendants, witnesses, and victims and disrupt pending cases. The committee also heard support for H. 5244, repealing an archaic law criminalizing concealment of a child’s death, with advocates arguing it has been used to punish pregnancy loss and should be removed. The hearing concluded with additional testimony in favor of S. 2976 and more support for the Judge Harris courthouse renaming, after which the chairs closed the hearing and reminded the public how to submit written testimony.

Transcript Highlights:

• Castle. Thank you for your service through our country.
• Castle. think we're going to have Dr. Castle. >> Great. >> Great. >> Great.
• Castle. Dr. Kelly, we're on to descent now.
• Castle always is very kind and shows me around the campus.
• </c><00:57:13.920><c> Castle</c> a great experience. And Dr. Castle a great experience. And Dr.

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The task force meeting began with approval of the July 14 minutes and then heard a presentation from the Kentucky Aviation Association. Association leaders described general aviation airports as important to rural access, commerce, emergency response, tourism, agriculture, and workforce development, and cited statewide economic impacts they said exceed $1.6 billion and support more than 9,400 jobs. They thanked the legislature for prior airport funding and said it had helped airports with basic operations and repairs. The association asked lawmakers for four things: continued appropriations for general aviation airports; relief or a more workable process for required financial audits, which they said can cost $10,000 to $20,000 or more and sometimes exceed a small airport’s annual budget; a regularized statewide appropriations process for airport infrastructure needs, which they said total about $100 million and are currently addressed unevenly; and funding for the Aerospace Education Reinvestment Opportunity Act to support scholarships and aviation workforce training. Members of the task force asked follow-up questions about the audit burden, the difference between financial and safety audits, and the difficulty of finding audit firms. The presenters said they would bring specific ideas back on audit reform. Eastern Kentucky University then presented on its aviation program. EKU leaders thanked the committee for prior support, including a $25 million appropriation for a new flight school building at Central Kentucky Regional Airport, and said the project is expected to break ground in 2026. They reported strong enrollment growth, with 502 aviation majors, most of them Kentuckians, and said the program has expanded flight hours and job placement. EKU also outlined plans to add an air traffic control program in response to Senate Bill 87 and the national shortage of controllers, saying it could train students to FAA standards if the university receives the needed investment in simulators, equipment, space, and faculty. They also discussed the need to replace an aging fleet of training aircraft, saying the current planes are decades old and costly to maintain, and that newer aircraft would improve training quality and reduce student costs.

Transcript Highlights:

• The chair now recognizes and calls Mary Elizabeth Castle. Thank you for being here today.
• We show you registered as Mary Elizabeth Castle on behalf of Texas Values, and you will be testifying
• My name is Mary Elizabeth Castle, and I'm the director of government relations for Texas Values.

Bills: HB201, HB272

Keywords: disabled veteran, partially disabled veteran, veterans property tax exemption, homestead exemption, ad valorem tax, property tax relief, surviving spouse, appraisal district, Tax Code, local government revenue, homestead portability, service-connected disability, veteran benefits, Texas property tax, residence homestead, disability rating, disaster response, financial assistance, helicopter, municipalities

Transcript Highlights:

• Chair now recognizes and calls Mary Elizabeth Castle.
• Thank you for being here today, we show you registered as Mary Elizabeth Castle on behalf of Texas. values
• correct. proceed morning chairman Lambert and members of the committee my name is Mary Elizabeth Castle

Bills: HB201, HB272, HB618, HB 1094, HB 1142, HB201, HB272

Keywords: financial crime, card fraud, motor fuel theft, law enforcement, criminal activity, skimmers, prevention, training, credit card fraud, debit card fraud, prosecution, illegal possession, state law, HB 618, Texas insurance code, IVF, in vitro fertilization, fertility treatment, infertility coverage, government employee health benefits

Transcript Highlights:

• The chair now calls Ryan Heese, Leah Talley, and Mary Elizabeth Castle.
• With Castle, there she is, Virginia Kettler. Mr. Heese, introduce yourself. Welcome.
• Castle, welcome. Introduce yourself. Go ahead, welcome back.
• My name is Mary Elizabeth Castle, and I'm the Director of Government Relations for Texas Values.

Bills: SB2101, SB2334, SB2633, SB2637, SB2713, SB2781, SB2782, SB3059, HB1130, HB256, HCR19

Keywords: minors, sexually explicit materials, public libraries, age verification, civil penalties, library collection review, alcohol storage, airline permits, beverage regulations, airport, commercial flights, alcoholic beverages, local option election, zoning regulations, municipality control, land use, state law, social media, bot accounts, misinformation

Transcript Highlights:

• During a five-hour contest, the longest championship game in PIAA history, Green Castle Antrum defeated
• I rise to honor the Green Castle<00:09:49.760><c> Antrum</c><00:09:50.320><c> High</c><00:09:50.480><
• team Castle Antrum High School baseball team for<00:09:51.839><c> winning</c><00:09:52.080><c> the</
• </c><00:10:02.160><c> Antrum</c><00:10:02.959><c> defeated</c> history, Green Castle Antrum defeated
• 00:10:09.920><c> first</c> certainly, Green Castle Antrum's first certainly, Green Castle Antrum's first

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Monday, July 13, 2026, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• First, the intergovernmental immunity doctrine.
• Second, the obstacle preemption doctrine.
• I'm sorry, this doesn't what about qualified immunity doctrine?
• It incorporates the doctrine. I'm sorry? It incorporates the doctrine.
• It incorporates the doctrine. I'm sorry? It incorporates the doctrine.

Bills: H4783, H4826, H4876, H5111, H5116, H5244, S2975, S2976

Keywords: homelessness, homeless, unsheltered, unhoused, shelter rights, anti-camping, anti-loitering, public space, public land, encampment, sleeping in public, life-sustaining activities, right to rest, right to sleep, vehicle dwelling, RV living, tiny home, civil rights, municipal liability, affirmative defense

Transcript Highlights:

• many advocates here with us today, and I'd like to turn it over for a little bit to Mary Elizabeth Castle
• My name is Mary Elizabeth Castle. I'm the Director of Government Relations for Texas Values.

Bills: SB15, SB9, SB4, SB8, SB60, SB4, SB8, SB60, SB4, SB8, SB60, SB15, SB9

Keywords: real property, fraud, theft, elderly, disabled, statute of limitations, criminal offense, property rights, property tax, ad valorem tax, voter-approval tax rate, no-new-revenue tax rate, tax rate calculation, Tax Code, local government finance, municipality, county, special taxing unit, sales and use tax, property tax cap

Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you to the senator from Castle Rock for those comments, and she has been very helpful to us in
• Rock uh for to the senator from Castle Rock uh for those<02:13:40.320><c> comments</c><02:13:40.800>
• </c> I do appreciate the senator from Castle I do appreciate the senator from Castle Rock<02:55:30.640
• Rock best case scenario to day to Castle Rock best case scenario to be<03:29:56.960><c> able</c><03:
• Rock; Sharesa Allen of Berth, Castle Rock; and Michael Kashot of Wheatidge, for the State Electrical

Keywords: 981, all

Transcript Highlights:

• from the Windward side, also to attend the annual secondary student conference, our students from Castle
• From Castle High School, we have Leela James AB.
• From Castle High School, we have Leela James AB.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Castle, the one for town that I thought these were grants. Okay. These were the grants.
• Castle<00:07:57.560><c> the</c><00:07:57.640><c> one</c><00:07:57.800><c> for</c><00:07:57.960><c> town
• </c><00:07:58.200><c> that</c><00:07:58.680><c> I</c><00:07:58.840><c> thought</c> Castle the one for
• town that I thought Castle the one for town that I thought these<00:07:59.240><c> were</c><00:07:59.360

Keywords: The live stream ended prematurely due to a network issue. A full recording will be uploaded as soon as possible, 958, all

Summary: The committee first discussed and approved a new airport-related project involving two 60-by-80 corporate hangars. Members asked about how the project would generate revenue, and staff explained that hangar rent and fuel sales would help repay the costs, with more than half of the funding coming from the FAA. The project was approved by roll call vote. The committee then approved two large capital pool projects: a $1,715,120 roof replacement and skylight project for the Libraries and Archives building in Frankfort, and a $2,105,400 exterior renovation project for several state buildings, including Health and Family Services, the Kentucky History Center, and the State Office Building. After that, the Kentucky Infrastructure Authority presented one loan increase and five grant reallocations. The loan increase was for Springfield’s wastewater treatment plant project, rising by $262,300 to just over $2.88 million because bids came in higher than estimated. Members asked about the delay between approval and bidding, and staff explained the design, environmental review, and state approval process can take one to two years. The committee approved the six action items, and then received informational updates on additional water projects that required no action. The Cabinet for Economic Development next presented one forgivable loan and 11 KPDI/KPDI EDF grant projects. The loan was a $1 million forgivable loan for the Perry County Economic Development Board to acquire the Coalfields Industrial Building, with repayment forgivable if a project creates at least 75 jobs. The grant projects included site-readiness and industrial development work in Pendleton, Elizabethtown/Hardin, McCreary, Floyd, Marion, Fleming, Graves, Eddyville/Lyon, Caldwell, Mercer, and Johnson counties. Members asked how local match percentages are set and were told they are based on county population and updated every two years; staff also explained that beneficiaries usually provide the match and are reimbursed after submitting costs. The committee approved the action items. Finally, the Office of Financial Management presented two new debt issues and three SFCC debt issues. The new debt items were a Kentucky Housing Corporation bond authorization of up to $600 million for single-family mortgage revenue bonds, including a $100 million initial transaction, and a $5.5 million multifamily conduit bond for 98 apartments in Lexington. Informational items covered University of Kentucky refunding bonds and Turnpike Authority refunding bonds, both of which produced savings. The three SFCC debt issues for Campbell, Edmonson, and Perry counties were then approved by roll call vote. The meeting ended with brief discussion of the upcoming calendar and scheduling before adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• Lovelin, Colorado, to serve as a member with labor and industrial experience; Harold James Suell of Castle
• Harold James<00:26:43.760><c> Suell</c><00:26:44.080><c> of</c><00:26:44.240><c> Castle</c><00:26:44.480
• ><c> Rock,</c><00:26:44.720><c> Colorado</c><00:26:44.960><c> to</c> James Suell of Castle Rock, Colorado
• to James Suell of Castle Rock, Colorado to serve<00:26:45.279><c> as</c><00:26:45.360><c> a</c><00:26

Keywords: 981, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Decarbonization Enterprise Board of Directors for terms expiring September 1st, 2027: Grant Nelson of Castle
• ><00:30:19.279><c> Grant</c><00:30:19.520><c> Nelson</c><00:30:19.840><c> of</c><00:30:20.000><c> Castle
• Grant Nelson of Castle Pines, 1st, 2027.
• Grant Nelson of Castle Pines, Colorado<00:30:20.880><c> to</c><00:30:21.039><c> serve</c><00:30:21.120

Keywords: 981, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The chair calls Jamie Haynes, Mary Elizabeth Castle, and Anne Newman.
• Mary Elizabeth Castle on behalf of Texas Values testifying for the bill, is that correct?
• Castle. Good morning, Chairman Buckley and members of the committee.
• My name is Mary Elizabeth Castle. I'm the Director of Government Relations for Texas Values.

Bills: SB204, SB570, SB735, SB784, SB1207, SB1396, SB1447, SB2392, SB2540, SB747, SB875

Keywords: parental rights, education, school trustees, training, handbook, truancy, attendance policy, chronic absenteeism, school attendance, student absence notifications, parent notification, home visit, attendance officer, truancy court, school district, open-enrollment charter school, student support services, school counselor, principal, administrator

Transcript Highlights:

• We're not going to sit here and tell them specifically, like, here are the keys to the castle.
• And we're not going to tell them specifically, like, here are the keys to the castle.
• And we're not going to tell them specifically, like, here are the keys to the castle.
• And we're not going to tell them specifically, like, here are the keys to the castle. and they understand

Keywords: 988, house, all