Transcript Highlights:

• What strikes me is yesterday, if I may read a portion of an editorial in the Wall Street Journal, Mr.
• Yesterday's Wall Street Journal said, and I quote, "The real House—this is the House of Representatives
• My rural county that borders Oregon and Nevada, with 8,000 residents, now will have the same representative

Summary: The Assembly met after a quorum call, recess, prayer, and the Pledge of Allegiance, then moved into a highly procedural and contentious floor session centered on redistricting measures. Members debated a point of order raised by Assembly Member DeMaio challenging the constitutionality of SB 280, ACA 8, and AB 604; the Speaker ruled the point not well taken, and the Assembly sustained that ruling on appeal. The body also took up consent-calendar and procedural motions, including suspending rules to adopt late amendments on ACA 8 and to bring the measure up without reference to file. Several motions to re-refer or suspend rules on related measures failed, while the motion to adopt the late amendments on ACA 8 carried. The main substantive item was ACA 8, the Assembly Constitutional Amendment related to redistricting, presented by Assembly Member Berman as a response to mid-decade redistricting efforts in other states, especially Texas. Supporters argued the measure was a temporary, voter-driven response to protect democracy, counter partisan gerrymandering, and address broader threats tied to the Trump administration, including immigration enforcement and health care cuts. Opponents argued ACA 8 would undermine California’s independent citizens redistricting commission, violate the state Constitution, and amount to partisan gerrymandering or a power grab. Members on both sides framed the issue as a defense of democracy, but disagreed sharply over whether the Legislature should act or leave redistricting to voters and the existing commission. No final vote on ACA 8 is shown in the transcript excerpt, but the Assembly did vote on several procedural matters: the appeal of the Speaker’s ruling was sustained 58-18; the motion to adopt late amendments on ACA 8 passed 58-19; a motion to re-refer ACA 8 and SB 280 to Judiciary failed 19-58; and a motion to take up A.J.R. 21 without reference to file failed 19-58. The session remained focused on ACA 8 and related redistricting questions, with extensive floor speeches from both supporters and opponents.

Transcript Highlights:

• representative from the Fourth Legislative District, Spokane Valley, Liberty Lake, over to the Idaho border
• I'm Jane Wall, and I am the executive director at the County Road Administration Board.

Summary: The committee first heard an update on the Joint Transportation Committee study of transportation impacts if the Lower Snake River dams were removed. WSDOT and Jacobs described the study’s phases, including current work on geology, infrastructure risk, and a total logistics cost model. They explained that the study is examining how freight now moved by barge—especially wheat, fertilizer, and wood—could shift to rail and roads, and they outlined several scenarios ranging from no-dam future conditions to new unit-train terminals, short-line rail options, and a combined “many solutions” scenario. Members asked about irrigation, impacts in Idaho and Oregon, port capacity, emissions, competition, EV trucks, and whether the model could estimate transportation effects if grain volumes decline. The presenters said the study assumes current production levels continue, does not model irrigation changes or broader farm-economics impacts, but does account for transloading costs and can estimate transportation impacts under different volume assumptions. WSU’s independent review team said the model has improved substantially but still needed refinement, especially in routing, road data, and spatial detail, and that stakeholder engagement had been strong though delayed by model development. No votes were taken. The committee then received a presentation on the alternative sidewalk funding study. Staff and consultants said the study is exploring ways local governments could sustainably fund sidewalk maintenance, repair, and new construction, using a statewide survey, interviews, national research, and case studies in eight jurisdictions. They noted sidewalks are important for pedestrian safety and connectivity, but there is no dedicated funding source in Washington, and existing grants and local revenue tools are highly competitive or limited. The consultants highlighted sidewalk fees or utility-style charges as the most promising option to study, while a parcel tax was largely set aside because of state property-tax uniformity concerns. Members asked whether the study would duplicate existing funding or add to current taxes, and how a sidewalk fee would be collected; the consultants said the goal is to expand local options, not mandate adoption, and that fees would likely be billed through utilities rather than property taxes. A preliminary draft report is due December 15, with a final report due in mid-June. Next, staff gave a brief update on the ocean-going vessels study, which is examining shore power and emissions rules for vessels at berth. The presenter explained that federal Clean Air Act rules and California waiver authority create legal limits on how far Washington can go if it wants to adopt similar standards, and that deviations from California’s approach can increase litigation risk. The report will summarize stakeholder outreach and will be presented in draft form at the next JTC meeting. Finally, county engineers from Chelan and Douglas counties began a presentation on county transportation challenges, with the association’s director emphasizing collaboration with state agencies and local partners on issues such as fish passage barriers and infrastructure needs. The county presentation was only beginning when the transcript ended, and no committee action or votes were recorded.

Transcript Highlights:

• Are we just throwing darts at the wall?
• expanded to include state agencies and counties and municipalities that have colonies within their borders

Transcript Highlights:

• You know, the world is Wall Street's full of people who pretend they can predict, but I'm not one of
• <04:46:27.240> Street's day you know the world is wall Street's day you know the world is
• wall Street's full<04:46:27.718> of<04:46:27.878> people<04:46:28.120> who<04:46
• :14:01.240> system the New Hampshire retirement system the New Hampshire retirement system border
• of Trustees will have no say in border of Trustees will have no say in how<05:14:03.878> these

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee first took up House Bill 622, but after the sponsor said further research raised concerns, he asked that the bill be tabled. The committee then moved in executive session and voted unanimously to find the bill inexpedient to legislate, sending it to consent. The committee also retained House Bill 349, the ophthalmologic laser bill, after members said more time was needed for the professions involved to work out training standards and provide additional information; that motion also passed unanimously. The committee then discussed House Bill 244, a municipal building/fire code recodification measure. Members said the bill needed more review and careful scrutiny because of its length and possible unintended effects, and they voted unanimously to retain it as well. House Bill 534 was then heard; the sponsor said the bill did not do what was intended because of a misunderstanding about current processing, and the committee voted inexpedient to legislate and placed it on consent. The committee next considered House Bill 233, with an amendment to remove a requirement affecting the New Hampshire Vaccine Association. Supporters argued the bill would reduce an unnecessary burden and improve transparency, while opponents said the committee should not single out one private 501(c)(3) organization. The amendment was adopted 8-5, and the bill as amended then passed 7-6; a minority report was requested. Finally, the committee opened House Bill 536, a proposed 1.5% cost-of-living adjustment for certain state retirees. The sponsor and supporters argued retirees had not received adequate COLAs and that the bill would help offset inflation, while the retirement system testified that the proposal would add significant costs, including an estimated $1.5 million for the state, $6.6 million for political subdivisions, and about $100.7 million in present-value unfunded liability, with the impact reflected in future employer contribution rates.

Transcript Highlights:

• News of this constitution spread beyond its borders, offering both inspiration and proof to other colonies
• <06:07:14.718> or supported by cribbing stone walls or supported by cribbing stone walls or
• And so this bill has had a significant amount of interest on both sides of the wall for a long time.
• So um it is not a partisan bill on the other side of the wall.
• So um it is not a partisan bill on the other side of the wall.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• and so dollars in rebates to the state and so even<00:31:19.320> Governor<00:31:19.639> walls
• in<00:31:20.120> his<00:31:20.240> own<00:31:20.559> Human even Governor walls
• in his own Human even Governor walls in his own Human Services<00:31:21.360> budget<00:31:21.720
• So I guess if they go across the border and get their care in South Dakota, this still would not have
• So I guess if they go across the border and get their care in South Dakota, this still would not have

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And part of that leadership has to come from the border regions.
• regions J uary 27 2016 2016 the Border regions J uary 27 2016 the<01:41:25.360> border<01:41:
• that so I'm going to ask that uh border that so I'm going to ask that uh border Regents<01:49:21.960
• <03:07:04.800> of know as I listen to the border of know as I listen to the border of regions
• Why keep hitting your head against the wall? You enjoy pain so much, I don't know.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I was happy to be back with Border Security.
• Border Patrol's overwhelmed.
• Border Patrol had reported 883 migrant deaths.
• We work very closely with Border Patrol.
• in, get training with DPS so that they can make, even though it's not a border-specific, but it is border-related

Summary: The Senate Committee on Border Security held its first hearing of the 89th legislative session, established a quorum, welcomed new and returning members, and adopted the committee rules without objection. The chair said the hearing would be limited to invited state agency witnesses and was intended as a status update for new members on current border operations, especially in light of the change in federal administration. Testimony came from the Office of the Attorney General, Texas Department of Public Safety, and the Texas Military Department. The Attorney General’s representative said border-related litigation is largely in a holding pattern while the new U.S. Department of Justice awaits additional leadership, and noted prior cases involving concertina wire, buoys, and the CBP One app. DPS described Operation Lone Star’s evolution from filling gaps when Border Patrol was overwhelmed to current operations focused on interdiction, criminal arrests, fentanyl and meth seizures, and national security concerns, while also noting improved morale and more voluntary deployments as border pressure has eased. The Texas Military Department reported more than 5,000 personnel on state active duty, extensive use of barriers, drones, boats, and rapid-response forces, and said Operation Lone Star has resulted in more than 531,000 apprehensions and a 90% reduction in illegal crossings. Members and witnesses discussed whether the state should maintain its current border-security footprint while federal policy settles, with the chair emphasizing preserving institutional knowledge and leaving tactical decisions to the governor. Questions also covered trooper fatigue, Border Patrol training under SB 602, and concerns about cartel-driven commercial trucking and fuel depots near the border. The committee heard that Border Patrol training with DPS has resumed, and the chair asked agencies to keep the Legislature informed as legal and operational circumstances change. No bills were heard and no votes were taken beyond adopting the committee rules.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm always happy to be back with border security.
• I'm excited to be on the Border Security Committee.
• Border Patrol sectors on the border; five of those are in Texas.
• It's not border-specific, but it is border-related at the checkpoints to make a felony arrest on a state
• border, which would leave them unprotected.

Keywords: 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• , Border Authority.
• The border highway connector will be your version of that border.
• and north border.
• National Border Master Plan, but we also collaborate with Texas on their Border Master Plan.
• It may sound funny, but we've stopped seeing borders. We don't see the border of Texas.

Transcript Highlights:

• standing up for workers' rights and immigrant communities who are addressing the overreach from ICE and Border
• intensifying climate of uncertainty and fear driven by actions in other states that attempt to reach across borders
• intensifying climate of uncertainty and fear driven by actions in other states that attempt to reach across borders
• That's money flowing to Wall Street and not patients. SB 623 stops that.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Somewhere near the Colorado border to attract, I believe, as the governor has said, abortion tourism.
• Because there are folks from Colorado right across the border that this might serve. Mr.
• gentlelady, once again I'm going on the Governor's previous statements about the facility that is on the border
• And that's what drives me up the wall sometimes, Mr. Speaker and gentlemen.

Transcript Highlights:

• that's longer than comparable States and that's not<00:48:13.359> necessarily<00:48:13.800> border
• <00:48:14.119> states<00:48:14.400> that's not necessarily border states that's not
• necessarily border states that's states<00:48:14.760> that<00:48:14.880> have<00:48:14.960
• <00:55:27.960> um<00:55:28.200> where<00:55:28.359> the She said that the Walls

Bills: HF8, HF1416

Keywords: wetlands, environmental review, permitting efficiency, Pollution Control Agency, construction permits, environmental impact statements, local government, business regulation, environmental assessments, HF1416, relocation grants, economic development, business relocation, site selection, business incentives, grant extension, appropriation extension, DEED, Department of Employment and Economic Development, request for proposals

Transcript Highlights:

• On the flip side, out-of-state residents who flock to New Hampshire for cross-border sales can buy their
• products in their state, but not here, and are going to stop crossing the border.
• <01:33:26.719> the here are going to stop crossing the here are going to stop crossing the border
• When that happens, New Hampshire border.
• Um, as a resident of a border town, I live in Walpole over on the Connecticut River.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The House Committee on Health, Human Services, and Elderly Affairs heard HB 1790-FN, which would address involuntary admissions for certain individuals with a substance use disorder. Representative Lucy Weber introduced the bill for Representative Long, and the committee heard extensive testimony both in support of and in opposition to the proposal. Opponents, including John Burns of SOS Recovery and Jake Barry of New Futures, argued that involuntary commitment is not well supported by research, can retraumatize people, may increase overdose risk after release, and could undermine New Hampshire’s existing recovery and harm-reduction efforts. They emphasized that treatment should be voluntary, trauma-informed, and paired with housing, recovery supports, and other community-based services. Representative Long said he was willing to accept DHHS’s request to amend the bill into a study commission, though he expressed concern that a prior state study had not led to action. He said the commission should focus on implementation details, including where people would be placed, staffing, withdrawal management, elopement prevention, length of commitment, and aftercare. He described involuntary commitment as one tool for people with severe dangerous addictions, distinct from drug court, and said it could help avoid criminal records. Committee members asked about capacity at New Hampshire Hospital and how the proposal would work in practice. DHHS officials Katya Fox and Cynthia Pabonis testified that the bill raises major policy and fiscal concerns. They said New Hampshire’s current system has benefited from investments in naloxone, medication-assisted treatment, recovery centers, and community-based services, and that those investments have helped reduce overdose deaths. They estimated the bill would require a new 70-bed facility costing about $40 million to build and about $33.3 million annually to operate, with only a small portion offset by insurance, plus more than $600,000 in annual legal costs and additional staffing and system changes. They also said New Hampshire Hospital has 185 beds, with about 100 patients typically ready for less restrictive settings, and that housing shortages are a major bottleneck. NAMI New Hampshire also testified in opposition, saying families often want any possible treatment for loved ones but still opposed the bill. No vote or final action was taken in the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• And it's not like we have a border wall with Massachusetts.
• Now, you're right that it's an imperfect solution because there are no internal borders in the U.S. and
• <00:09:19.440> wall And it's not like we have a border wall And it's not like we have a border
• wall with<00:09:19.920> Massachusetts.
• in the US and we were designed borders in the US and we were designed that<00:10:02.240> way,

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• A man smuggling seven kilos of cartel cocaine and 960 grams of THC cigarettes, both hidden in the walls
• The photograph that I passed out, you'll see that there's a, the colored packages in the side of the wall
• in pure of fentanyl and any other garbage that's going to come from products that come across the border
• Who knows what else they're putting in these products that are going to be coming across the border.
• Texas manufacturers and Texas growers, and not buying stuff that's coming across the border through the

Summary: The House Committee on Public Health heard House Bill 5, a proposal to ban THC products outside the Texas Compassionate Use Program while allowing non-intoxicating CBD and CBG products under tighter regulation. Chair Van Deaver gave a lengthy background on the 2018 federal Farm Bill and Texas’s 2019 hemp law, arguing that the lack of guardrails allowed a large, unregulated THC market to develop. HB 5 would impose licensing fees, product registration, testing and inspection requirements, and restrictions intended to keep products away from children. Invited witnesses from law enforcement strongly supported the bill. Steve Dye of the Texas Police Chiefs Association and Brian Hawthorne of the Sheriffs’ Association of Texas argued that THC consumables are widely mislabeled, often far more potent than advertised, and linked to youth access, impaired driving, and organized crime. Both said regulation would be ineffective and would amount to legalization, while a ban would be easier for officers to enforce. They also emphasized support for the Texas Compassionate Use Program and said medical THC should remain available. Dr. Peter Stout of the Texas Association of Crime Lab Directors and Alice Amelot of Texas DPS testified as resource witnesses about forensic testing. They said current lab resources are already stretched thin, that quantitative testing for THC and related cannabinoids is expensive and time-consuming, and that a ban would simplify enforcement because labs could focus on presence/absence testing rather than concentration. Amelot said DPS labs are neutral on the bill but explained that mislabeled products and inaccurate certificates of analysis are common. Committee members asked about traffic safety, impairment, youth use, and the costs of enforcement and lab testing; witnesses repeatedly said the bill would reduce complexity for law enforcement but that any approach would still require more resources for labs.

Transcript Highlights:

• to fix and we had to Contract Services to fix the<01:45:21.119> retaining<01:45:21.719> wall
• /c><01:45:23.000> the<01:45:23.080> metal<01:45:23.360> fencing the retaining wall
• the the metal fencing the retaining wall the the metal fencing and<01:45:24.119> the<01:45:24.320
• person who hasn't been activated on what we call Title 10, like a deployment overseas or Southern border
• um is now eligible for burial in border um is now eligible for burial in the<01:58:07.239> Veteran

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee reviewed the Department of Corrections budget, with the chair initially noting that the overall numbers looked close to fiscal year 2024 spending, except for federal funds. Department officials explained that prior ARPA expenditures and delayed revenue recognition had distorted the comparison, and that the corrected general fund spend was about $169.7 million. Members then focused on whether the budget’s staffing assumptions were realistic, especially the shift from overtime to full-time lines and the use of vacant positions to offset overtime costs. The department said it is leaning on vacancy savings, but would return for additional appropriations if unforeseen staffing problems arise. A major portion of the discussion centered on recruitment, retention, and staffing levels. Officials reported a 42% vacancy rate in enforcement ranks, down from 51% in January 2023, with 28 new officers headed to the next academy and 33 new hires already tracked. They said overtime is more expensive than regular staffing because of benefits and that it takes about 11 months for a new hire to break even. Members also asked about the split between incarcerated and supervised populations; the department said it oversees about 1,970 inmates in facilities and just over 4,000 people in the community, with 77 positions supervising the community population and the inmate population remaining the most expensive area. The committee also discussed how sentencing and statutory changes affect incarceration levels, including misdemeanor/felony thresholds and theft thresholds, with the department agreeing that such changes can significantly affect prison and jail populations. Members asked about education and recidivism, and the department said base education is the most important foundation, followed by vocational training, while noting that many incarcerated men lack a high school diploma. The department also described a $1.3 million reduction in contracted forensic evaluation services, explaining that these evaluations are court-ordered competency assessments and are not statutorily required to be provided by DOC. Finally, members reviewed victim services funding and staffing, including VOCA-supported positions, and the department explained that a new victim witness specialist would help support survivors at parole hearings and safety planning.

Transcript Highlights:

• The organization is a small nonprofit based right across the border in Maine, and he drove over this
• <00:25:06.000> right<00:25:06.240> across<00:25:06.559> the<00:25:06.720> border
• nonprofit based right across the border nonprofit based right across the border in<00:25:07.120>
• It's like putting your stethoscope to a wall and listening for electricity. You can't do it.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, do the Pueblo have issues with illegal border crossings being located along the border?
• the problems of an unsecured border.
• , and Mike Banks, former Texas border czar and now Chief of the Border Patrol, for bringing back excellency
• Not not interest in closing our borders.
• We started investing in border security, specific border security investments back in 2007 and have been

Bills: HB176, HB180

Keywords: tax, ad valorem, voter-approval, local government finance, property tax, repeal, tax rates, school finance, tax reduction, compressed tax rate, education, funding

Transcript Highlights:

• As you probably know, my district is a border district, but it's a northeast Texas border district, and
• we border Arkansas, and we actually are part of a...
• , but they're on the New Mexico border.
• And creating costly delays at border crossings.
• the border?

Summary: The Committee on State-Federal Relations heard testimony on HB 3484, which would formalize agreements between border municipalities and treat certain infrastructure, services, and facilities as Texas assets for funding eligibility if they are within 30 miles of the border. Representative Van Deaver and a witness from Texarkana described how the bill would help Texarkana, Texas, secure state funding for jointly used facilities such as wastewater, water treatment, and airport assets that are physically located in Arkansas but serve Texas residents. Members asked about whether Arkansas benefits from the facilities and whether the bill would apply only to U.S. border cities; testimony clarified that it applies to Texas municipalities bordering another U.S. state, and the bill was left pending after the committee substitute was withdrawn. The committee also heard HCR 112, by Representative Perez, which urges Congress to allow state-issued Real ID cards, including Texas driver’s licenses, to be accepted as identification for U.S. citizens re-entering the country at land and sea ports of entry. Perez argued that Texas already verifies citizenship and lawful presence for Real ID issuance, that most Texans already have Real ID-compliant licenses, and that acceptance at the border would reduce costs and delays for routine cross-border travel without weakening security. Members asked about the security features of Real ID, implementation timing, passport delays, and how border crossings currently work; Perez said the resolution would not replace passports for international air travel and would apply only to U.S. citizens returning at land and sea ports. HCR 112 was also left pending, and the committee adjourned after HDR 125 was withdrawn from the schedule.