Transcript Highlights:

• their plan to provide lump sum bonus awards up to five thousand dollars for employees in the classifications
• their plan to provide lump sum bonus awards up to five thousand dollars for employees in the classifications

Summary: The committee first took up several personnel and compensation requests. It approved a Department of Parks, Heritage and Tourism reclassification that would trade three administrative coordinator positions for one park superintendent, one maintenance supervisor, and one park manager. It also approved one-time bonus and recruitment plans for the Department of Commerce and Department of Veterans Affairs, including up to $5,000 bonuses tied to the unemployment insurance modernization project and $2,000 bonuses for certified nursing assistants at the state veterans homes. A Department of Health request to reinstate a previously frozen fiscal support manager position for the State Medical Board was also approved; members were told the position was already authorized and would not increase total positions. The committee then reviewed a Department of Commerce reduction in force affecting the Division of Workforce Services for the Blind and Employment and Training divisions. Secretary Hugh McDonald and Workforce Connections Director Cody Waits explained that the cuts were driven by over-obligated federal funds, a prior realignment, and what they described as long-standing fiscal mismanagement in the Division of Services for the Blind. They said 56 employees remained furloughed, five employees in a separate grant group were still working, and 17 positions were on the permanent RIF list. Senators questioned the division’s accountability structure, the role of the independent board, and whether the layoffs were being handled fairly, including a request for racial composition data on the workforce and the RIF group. Members also discussed quarterly employment and overtime reports. Staff explained that the reports cover average staffing levels over each quarter, and members focused on overtime spending, especially in DHS, the Department of Correction, and the Department of Transportation. OPM said overtime is being reviewed, direct care positions remain exempt from the hiring freeze, and agencies have been hiring more staff since the new pay plan took effect. The committee asked for additional reporting on overtime trends, and the meeting adjourned without further action.

Transcript Highlights:

• The soil classifications referenced in this bill also are based on pineapple and sugar, right?
• Um the the soil classifications<01:55:29.280> referenced<01:55:29.599> in<01:55:29.679>
• this<01:55:29.840> bill classifications referenced in this bill classifications referenced
• you develop land like lands of lost when you develop land like lands of soy<01:55:38.880> classifications
• of C or D um even soy classifications of C or D um even though<01:55:41.119> they're<01:55:41.360

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The committees heard several housing-related bills and resolutions. HB 1298 HD3 would create a government employee housing revolving fund and a government employee 99-year leasehold rent-to-own program; testimony was generally supportive from HHFDC, labor groups, and the Maui Chamber, with the Tax Foundation and Budget and Finance raising concerns about the revolving fund. The committees recommended passage with non-substantive amendments for clarity and consistency, and the motion was adopted. HB 741 H2, which would exempt certain affordable housing projects financed by a certified nonprofit CDFI from prevailing wage requirements, drew support from housing advocates and opposition from several construction unions; the chairs said they were concerned about the labor objections and deferred the measure, with the labor committee agreeing to defer it as well. The housing committee then took up HB 417 HD1, which creates a housing efficiency and innovation subaccount in the rental housing revolving fund and allows HHFDC to transfer funds between the subaccount and the main fund without legislative approval. Testimony was largely supportive. The chair described a series of amendments, including changing the funding-efficiency standard, adding perpetual affordability language, allowing any land tenure type, broadening eligible financing tools, adding priority criteria for mixed-income projects and government-employee projects, and inserting blank appropriations tied to a requested $75 million per year and a $75 million subaccount appropriation for the HCDA 99-year leasehold project. The committee recommended passage with amendments, and the recommendation was adopted. HB 422 HD1, which would repeal school impact fees and move remaining balances to the school facilities special fund, drew broad support from housing and taxpayer groups and opposition from the Department of Education and some individuals. The School Facilities Authority and DOE argued the current system had not produced enough usable land or school sites and suggested narrowing the exemption to government housing projects’ construction costs instead of repealing the fee entirely. Members pressed DOE and SFA on how much land had actually been obtained and whether the fee had been effective; the discussion highlighted concerns about unused balances, school overcrowding, and the role of the Land Use Commission and county zoning in securing school sites. The committee did not take final action on the bill in the portion shown. The committee also heard STR 60/SR 45, urging HHFDC to develop a plan to meet housing demand, and STR 77/SR 60, addressing continued eligibility for housing credits for certain projects after repeal of Act 31; both sets of resolutions had HHFDC support, with DHHL supporting STR 77/SR 60 and Johnny May Perry opposing both.

Transcript Highlights:

• The reason I raise this is the definitions used here for data classification.
• The reason I raise this is the definitions used here for data classification.
• Definitions used here for data classification.
• confidentiality uh classification of confidentiality uh classification of data<01:43:00.639> as
• Usually there's a reference to the data classification at least prior to that.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• located at a doctoral-granting regional institution with research college and university Carnegie classification
• institution with research college and university<00:21:18.240> Carnegie<00:21:18.799> classification
• university Carnegie classification university Carnegie classification status<00:21:20.320> which

Bills: HB185, HB378, SB28, HB400, SB155, HB312, HB185, HB378, SB28, HB400, SB155, HB312

Keywords: appropriation, transportation, judicial system, funding, state budget, Pickens County, local act, vehicle tag fee, registration fee, issuance fee, motor vehicle registration, license plate, replacement tag, transfer tag, renewal fee, county revenue, earmarked funds, ambulance service, emergency medical services, EMS

Transcript Highlights:

• construction projects, provided for a contribution rate of zero for non-apprenticeship trade classifications
• So right now there are currently four classifications for the prevailing wage: Type A, Type B, Type C
• it says that if you pay zero, if there is no proof of apprenticeship and training program, per classification
• If there is no proof of apprenticeship and training program, per classification apparently.

Keywords: 996, all

Summary: The committee first took up HB 322, which would create a transportation trust fund and transportation program fund. The sponsor offered and the committee adopted an amendment striking the section that would have imposed a 1% gross receipts tax on electricity sales. After a recap of the bill’s remaining provisions, including a $400 million seed amount and future transfers from motor vehicle excise tax revenue, the committee heard brief support from Associated Contractors of New Mexico and the Asphalt Pavement Association and no opposition. The amended bill then passed on a roll-call vote. The committee then heard HB 270, a public works/apprenticeship bill that would require contributions to approved apprenticeship and training programs or to the Public Works Apprentice and Training Fund for public works construction projects, while eliminating an exemption for certain road, highway, utility, and maintenance work. Supporters, including union carpenters, electrical workers, the building trades council, and apprenticeship advocates, argued the bill would expand training, help address labor shortages, and provide a return on public investment. Opponents from utility contractors, highway contractors, and Associated Contractors of New Mexico said they already operate federally approved in-house training programs, warned the bill would raise project costs, and argued some trades have no accessible approved programs. Members questioned how the bill would interact with existing in-house programs, whether rural contractors and nonunion firms would be affected, and whether the state-approved fund and federal highway training requirements could conflict. A proposed amendment to exempt projects of $50 million or less was introduced but tabled. After extensive debate, the committee voted 6-5 to pass HB 270. The meeting also included discussion of a prior procedural error in which HB 270 had been heard before being properly assigned, which the chair said rendered that earlier action void. At the end of the meeting, the committee received a brief New Mexico Department of Transportation District 3 presentation on district projects, budget, and construction status.

Transcript Highlights:

• Chairman, once that classification is made, we go through these screening criteria, and there's some
• overlap in them for sure, but I think probably the biggest one of all on the dam hazard classification
• <00:03:31.840> chairman And once that classification is made, we go through these screening
• some overlap in them for sure, but I think probably the biggest one of all on the dam hazard classification

Keywords: 00:02 EEC – State-Owned Dams 21:07 EEC – Grid Resilience Grant Funds 37:24 Adjournment, 958, all

Summary: The committee heard presentations from the Department for Environmental Protection and the Office of Energy Policy on Kentucky’s state-owned dam repair program and the electric grid resilience program. Commissioner Tony Hatton explained how state dams are defined and classified under Kentucky law, the criteria used to prioritize repairs or decommissioning, and the status of several projects funded in the last biennium. He said the department is using a design-bid-build process, with major work planned or underway at Willisburg Lake, Big Bone Lick State Park Dam, Clemens Lake Dam, Marion County Sportsman’s Dam, Chinoa Lake Creek/Canning Creek Dam, and Lake Malone, and that $0.5 million is reserved for routine repairs. He also described the timeline and cost pressures, noting that construction seasons and bid uncertainty can affect schedules and estimates. Members asked several questions about whether the estimates were current, how accurate the bids tend to be, why the process takes so long, and whether it would be better to fund design separately before construction. Hatton said the estimates are the best current engineering estimates, that costs often stay within about 10% but can vary, and that the overall process is usually closer to two years than four, though delays can occur. He also said all of the allocated dam funds must be available before bids can be let. The committee discussed whether design work can become stale if construction is delayed. Kenya Stump then updated the committee on Kentucky’s electric grid resilience program under federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act funding. She said Kentucky has received years one through three of the five-year program and has allocated funds to state park electric systems and municipal utilities, with years four and five not yet received. She identified Ken Lake State Park and Kentucky Dam Village as the two state park projects in progress, and Owensboro, Princeton, Williamstown, and Hopkinsville as the municipal projects selected through a competitive process. She said the projects are under contract or in final negotiations, with municipal construction expected to begin in the first quarter of 2026 and finish by the end of 2026, and explained that the work includes line, pole, transformer, meter, and outage-management upgrades. Members asked about the relationship between this program and prior park appropriations, the timing of agreements with Parks, and whether the park systems could eventually be transferred to the local electric cooperative; Stump said the park agreements are imminent and that the upgrades are intended to bring the systems up to code so the cooperative can maintain them. No votes were taken, and the chair adjourned the committee until the following Wednesday, with a possible time change to avoid a scheduling conflict.

Transcript Highlights:

• Those classifications we often just throw around.
• Schools can move out, but we do not move schools into the different classifications of school. designation
• If they should have schools that might be, there are three classifications for something that might happen

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• WITH THIS THE AGENCY WAS DIRECTED TO CREATE A NEW DESIGNATION SO, A NEW HOSPITAL DESIGNATION OR CLASSIFICATION
• WE REVISED OUR RULES TO INCLUDE THAT SPECIFIC CLASSIFICATION SO NOW WE HAVE A NEW CLASSIFICATION CLASS

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Specifically, it amends Sections 22.01(c) and (d) of the Penal Code to raise the classification of assault
• ... ...to raise the classification of assault from a Class C misdemeanor to a Class B misdemeanor when
• And so we’re going from—we’re upping the limitations one year about per classification here.

Summary: The Committee on Criminal Jurisprudence met with a quorum and heard a series of Senate bills, generally receiving sponsor explanations and, in most cases, no public testimony. SB 2595 would create a Class B misdemeanor for harassing, threatening, or intimidating someone while intentionally concealing identity with a mask, with broad affirmative defenses for legitimate mask use; SB 1980 would increase penalties for assaulting peace officers, parole officers, and community supervision officers and add related presumptions and interference protections; and SB 1896 would require magistrates to issue emergency protective orders in certain family violence, sexual assault, stalking, and aggravated cases, with law enforcement required to provide needed information. All three were left pending. The committee also heard SB 955, which increases trafficking of persons from a second-degree to a first-degree felony when the victim was recruited from a correctional facility, and SB 614, which would let the Texas Forensic Science Commission refer dismissed complaints to the Office of Capital and Forensic Writs when they reference a prior FSC report; both were left pending. Members then heard several forensic and criminal procedure bills. SB 1372 would resolve a discovery/access conflict involving the DPS crime lab portal by limiting portal access to defense attorneys rather than defendants directly, prompting questions from members about access for pro se defendants; DPS’s chief crime lab witness testified neutrally. SB 1936 would change the LSD “abuse unit” definition for unmarked/unperforated paper from a square-measurement method to a 10-milligram weight standard, and SB 1937 would require a subject matter expert from the testing lab to participate in pretrial meetings in capital cases involving biological evidence to help identify viable testing and conserve resources. SB 2580 would lower the population threshold for sheriff’s departments to independently use tracking equipment and access certain communications from 3.3 million to 500,000, expanding the authority beyond Harris County; it was described as a public safety and emergency response measure and left pending. The committee also considered SB 2798, which would extend the statute of limitations for certain financial crimes from three years to seven years, with testimony from a Montgomery County assistant district attorney supporting the change because fraud is often discovered late. SB 1099 would increase penalties for felony offenses committed by undocumented or unauthorized aliens, but drew strong opposition from the Texas Civil Rights Project, which argued immigration is a federal matter and that the bill would create difficult and potentially unfair status determinations for local courts; members raised concerns about the lack of an expert-testimony requirement. SB 1278 would create an affirmative defense to prostitution prosecution for trafficking victims compelled by their traffickers to commit the conduct, and testimony from advocates and a member’s personal account emphasized the coercive, traumatic nature of trafficking; members discussed whether the defense should be narrower or framed as mitigation, and the bill was left pending. Finally, SB 127 would extend the statute of limitations for failure to report or conceal child abuse, with members discussing mandatory reporting duties and the need to allow more time for delayed discovery of cover-ups; it too was left pending before the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• government employees who are involved in the work absolutely, that this doesn’t change their classification
• government employees who are involved in the work absolutely, that this doesn’t change their classification
• government employees who are involved in the work absolutely, that this doesn’t change their classification
• The work absolutely, that this doesn’t change their classification in terms of their personnel data.
• in any way personnel data classification in any way shape<00:20:47.320> or<00:20:47.480> form

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• :04.000> a<00:16:04.320> voter's<00:16:04.800> property<00:16:05.279> classification
• upon a voter's property classification. upon a voter's property classification.
• c> of<00:43:12.560> property<00:43:13.440> and<00:43:13.760> whether classification
• of property and whether classification of property and whether or<00:43:14.400> not<00:43:15.200
• So, even though you classifications.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Chairman, 2127 creates within ODE and an advisory council on product classification.

Bills: SB3, SB1346, SB1509, SB1928, SB2028, SB2071, SB2110, SB2117, SB2127, SB2134, SB259, SB1191, SB1246, SB1314, SB1439, SB1613, SB1930, SB1976, SB330, SB2069, SB2095, SB3, SB1346, SB1509, SB1928, SB2028, SB2071, SB2110, SB2117, SB2127, SB2134, SB259, SB1191, SB1246, SB1314, SB1439, SB1613, SB1930, SB1976, SB330, SB2069, SB2095

Keywords: industrial hemp, program licensing, agriculture, cannabinoids, state regulation, water infrastructure, wastewater, investment program, loans, local government, SB1509, groundwater, water wells, well spacing, water rights, Oklahoma Water Resources Board, OWRB, basin, subbasin, maximum annual yield

Bills: SB249, SB546, SB744, SB927, SB1227, SB1229, SB1353, SB1365, SB1366, SB1394, SB1464, SB1709, SB1729, SB1733, SB1744, SB1745, SB1746, SB1772, SB1816, SB1841, SB1939

Keywords: memorial markers, law enforcement, officer memorials, killed in the line of duty, highway signage, school bus, school district, student transportation, child safety, seat belts, three-point seat belt, two-point seat belt, bus retrofit, bus warranty, Texas Education Agency, TEA, transportation code, school activity bus, multifunction school activity bus, school-chartered bus

Transcript Highlights:

• but this is a pretty big operation there, and again, I mean, they do have. formerly incarcerated inmates

Bills: HB2026, HB2427, HB2455, HB2560, HB3510, HB3966, HB3986, HB4429, HB5436, SB3062

Keywords: memorial highway, U.S. Army, U.S. Marine Corps, Archer County, highway designation, vehicle weight, ports of entry, Texas Transportation Code, truck regulations, load limits, Adopt-a-County Road, funding, road maintenance, county partnership, public recognition, memorial designation, highway, Sergeant Mark Butler, transportation, Brazos County

Transcript Highlights:

• Most are family members of inmates.

Bills: SB324, HB395, HB222, HB310, HB285, HB144, HB251, HB380

Keywords: parole, pardons, paroles board, board of pardons and paroles, Alabama criminal justice, sentencing reform, prison reform, reentry, recidivism, risk assessment, validated risk and needs assessment, supervision, probation, parole denial, parole reconsideration, medical parole, violent offense, nonviolent offense, law enforcement member, board appointments

Transcript Highlights:

• This would add $1.5 billion for a grant program to provide a psychiatric medication for county jail inmates

Transcript Highlights:

• Montgomery County, they testified about 20% of their inmates in jail have residents in Harris County.

Bills: SJR 5, SJR 36, SJR 5, SJR 5, SR 105, SR 121, SB 17, SB 19, SB 25, SB 28, SB 17, SB 19, SB 25, SB 28

Keywords: bail, felony offenses, criminal justice reform, public safety, constitutional amendment, school safety, mental health, emergency response, education policy, law enforcement, SR 121, Senate Resolution 121, Pete Alfaro, Pedro Cuellar Alfaro, Pedro Alfaro, Baytown, Texas Senate tribute, in memory, memorial resolution, condolence resolution

Transcript Highlights:

• who argued that this law forces them to administer potentially harmful and fatal doses, violating inmate
• 27:34.800> fatal<00:27:35.120> doses<00:27:35.720> violating<00:27:36.280> inmate
• harmful and fatal doses violating inmate harmful and fatal doses violating inmate constitutional
• reading it to the person would inform the licensed health care professional who's responsible for the inmate

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• has happened across this country with the Innocence Project, hundreds if not thousands of death row inmates
• :44.560> row hundreds if not thousands of death row hundreds if not thousands of death row inmates
• <03:09:45.920> have<03:09:46.160> been<03:09:46.319> exonerated inmates have been
• exonerated inmates have been exonerated by<03:09:49.840> the<03:09:50.160> new<03:09:50.399
• And we know death row inmates are often the poorest of the poor who have poor representation.

Keywords: Convene 00:00:00 Senate Message 00:04:13 Report of Committees 00:06:00 Orders of the Day 00:06:39 HB 4 00:07:32 HB 7 00:10:19 Enrollment 00:12:49 HB 10 00:13:30 HB 58 00:14:31 HB 78 00:18:39 HB 96 00:21:59 Enrollment 00:25:31 HB 134 00:26:01 HB 139 00:28:20 HB 185 00:35:36 HB 213 00:38:16 HB 220 00:40:32 HB 253 00:41:45 HB 265 00:44:55 HB 280 00:47:10 HB 290 00:49:13 Enrollment 00:51:49 HB 355 00:52:25 HB 398 00:54:42 HB 622 00:57:07 HB 424 00:58:24 HB 456 01:01:43 HB 459 01:02:51 HB 470 01:04:54 HB 555 01:10:20 HB 562 01:12:35 HB 576 01:16:37 HB 648 01:18:59 SB 68 01:21:53 SB 226 01:27:40 SB 90 01:30:36 SB 137 01:34:08 SB 136 01:37:08 SB 198 01:41:55 Recess 01:46:14 Reconvene 02:47:31 Orders of the Day 02:48:28 HB 10 02:48:53 HB 67 02:50:01 HB 257 02:51:05 Senate Message 05:52:18 Enrollment 02:53:15 SB 183 02:57:00 SJR 23 03:00:24 SB 251 03:06:24 Announcement 03:24:34 Enrollment 03:25:28 Recess 03:26:50 Reconvene 07:04:07 Enrollment 07:04:12 Senate Message 07:06:54 Appointment of Conference Committees 07:09:38 Orders of the Day 07:10:03 SB 100 07:11:06 Appointment of Conference Committee 07:12:18 HB 778 07:12:37 HB 6 07:15:14 HB 142 07:18:48 HB 144 07:21:27 HB 236 07:24:13 HB 305 07:26:45 HB 651 07:29:16 HB 521 07:31:44 HB 692 07:36:04 HB 491 07:38:33 HB 689 07:40:50 HB 767 07:43:24 HB 627 07:46:33 HB 869 07:49:00 HB 566 07:50:21 Motions, Petitions, and Communications 07:54:31 Introductions 08:07:19 ConC & Rules Report 08:12:28 Floor Amendments 08:13:10 Adjournment 08:16:56, 958, all

Transcript Highlights:

• it adds to that the inmate's employment while incarcerated and also the education completed by the inmate
• It's moving B and C up, and then the Board of Pardons and Paroles may give consideration to inmates low
• 51 on page two with the following following following uh<01:50:45.840> the<01:50:46.080> inmates
• <01:50:46.719> employment<01:50:47.360> while uh the inmates employment while uh the
• inmates employment while incarcerated.<01:50:48.560> So<01:50:48.719> what<01:50:48.960

Keywords: 1136, house, all