Transcript Highlights:

• and amendments to be filed ...to residents by requiring the management certificates and amendments to
• , and capping resale certificate fees at $375.
• and amendments, are filed. to residents by requiring the management certificates and amendments are
• , and capping resale certificate fees at $375.
• Just yesterday, we got forwarded a constituent question about management certificate information, how

Bills: HB 112 , HB199 , HB621 , HB1349 , HB2214 , HB3466 , HB3698 , HB3699 , HCR9 , HB112 , HB199 , HCR9

Committee: House Trade, Workforce & Economic Development

Keywords: science park district, economic development, technology innovation, higher education collaboration, infrastructure development, Texas Economic Development Office, workforce development, unemployment benefits, state average unemployment rate, benefit year, economic support, Texas Workforce Commission, property owners' association, free speech, assembly rights, government officials, political candidates, floodplain, landlord, tenant

Summary: The Committee on Trade, Workforce and Economic Development met with a quorum and moved quickly through a long agenda, hearing testimony and taking recorded votes on several bills. Early in the meeting, HB 2214 was laid out to exempt certain short-term residential leases and leaseback arrangements from flood-disclosure requirements; Texas Realtors supported the change, and the bill was left pending. The committee then voted out a series of pending measures, including HB 46, HB 186 (with a committee substitute), HB 431, HB 1147, HB 1154, HB 2468, HB 2488, HB 2788 (with a substitute), HB 2791 (with a substitute), HB 3260, and HCR 90, all reported favorably to the full House, with HB 1147 receiving two nays and the others passing unanimously or nearly so. A major portion of the hearing focused on HB 112, which would create a Texas Science Park district and commission to support advanced manufacturing and innovation sites. The bill’s author and supporters, including Samsung Austin Semiconductor, the Texas Association of Business, and the Governor’s economic development office, argued it would strengthen supply chains, attract investment, and support national security and workforce development. Testimony described interest from semiconductor and advanced manufacturing companies and referenced the model of foreign science parks such as Sinshu in Taiwan. HB 112 was left pending after testimony. The committee also heard HB 3698 and HB 3699, both related to unemployment insurance administration. HB 3698 would expand eligibility for the Reemployment Services and Eligibility Assessment program using federal funds, while HB 3699 would tighten the definition of “last work” to help the Texas Workforce Commission investigate UI fraud. Both bills were discussed with TWC resource witnesses and left pending after the committee withdrew the substitutes. HB 1349, which would extend HOA transparency and property-rights provisions to condominiums and refine HOA rules, and HB 621, which would require HOA meeting spaces to be available for residents to reserve for qualified political candidates or elected officials, were also heard and left pending. Finally, the committee heard HCR 9 to designate the first Saturday of each month as Small Business Saturday, HB 199 to index unemployment benefit duration to the state unemployment rate, and HB 3466 to exempt certain cancelable service contracts from Texas’s in-home sales cooling-off law; each drew supportive and opposing testimony and was left pending before adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• Now, we'll discuss project certification, oversight, and reporting.
• The project certification committee, or PCC, oversees the certification of IT projects.
• A project is mandated to undergo phase certification due to appropriation or grant conditions.
• The I.O. deems a project appropriate for certification.
• Additionally, the diagram outlines the typical certification phases or gates, which provide checkpoints

Committee: House Science, Technology & Telecommunications Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• We also provide certificates for our students; 7% of our students are completing certificates.
• The certificates are for people who already have a master's degree in counseling or a closely related
• certificate in addictions counseling, which we hope will serve well.
• Our overall pass rate for licensure and certification is 85 percent.
• She participated in the school-based health center and ended up getting a CHW certification.

Committee: House Legislative Health & Human Services Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• Their certification, as mentioned, is also the National Health Care Association National Certification
• This is a lifelong certification, and it's eligible to work anywhere in the U.S.
• They graduate with a diploma as well as the certificate.
• The graduation rate is 85 to 90% with an NHA certification.
• They seem to be tweaking the requirements for state certification.

Committee: House House Government, Elections & Indian Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• And H.R. 8879 requires the SBA to submit annual reports to Congress on certification activities across
• rates, recertification timelines, and the use of the SBA certification platform.
• , the 8(a) business development program, and the unified certification platform.
• , the 8(a) business development program, and the unified certification platform.
• An SBA certification should not be an additional burden.

Bills: HB2323 , HB6644 , SB629 , HB8882 , HB8881 , HB8880 , HB8879 , HB4238 , HR915 , HR826 , HB7401 , HB7396

Keywords: Big Bend National Park, land acquisition, boundary adjustment, Secretary of the Interior, conservation, Holodomor, Ukraine famine, 1932-1933 famine, genocide recognition, Soviet Union, Joseph Stalin, collectivization, grain confiscation, human rights, Ukraine, Ukrainian people, Russian aggression, Vladimir Putin, foreign affairs, sense of the House

Transcript Highlights:

• relation to requiring the Department of State to make renewed appearance enhancement licenses and certificates
• and renewed barber licenses and certificates available on its website in a portable document form for
• relation to requiring the Department of State to make renewed appearance enhancement licenses and certificates
• and renewed barber licenses and certificates available on its website in a portable document form for

Committee: Senate Consumer Protection

Summary: The Senate Standing Committee on Consumer Protection held its first meeting of the year on January 28, chaired by Senator Rachel May, with Ranking Member Patricia Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick and several other senators present. Chair May said the committee would focus this session on consumer protection issues such as surveillance pricing and the use of technology to target consumers unfairly. The ranking member briefly agreed on the importance of protecting vulnerable consumers and wished the committee a successful session. The committee then considered six bills, all of which had previously passed the Senate. The measures covered school security guards (S.194B), notice to the Attorney General about arrangements that delay generic drug introductions (S.488A), warranties and protections for purchasers of new and used motor vehicles (S.5597), a cap on credit service charges in retail installment contracts (S.5600), requirements for rental helmets to address concerns about damaged helmets (S.6985), and making renewed appearance enhancement and barber licenses and certificates available online in downloadable PDF form (S.7483). There was little discussion on most bills, though Senator May noted that the helmet bill was intended to address situations where rented helmets may have been damaged or consumers may not know their condition. Each bill was moved, seconded, and approved by the committee without opposition, with one bill reported to the Finance Committee and the others reported to first reading on the calendar. The meeting then adjourned after concluding legislative business.

Transcript Highlights:

• New Hampshire does have providers who do advertise cannabis certification as part of their service array
• In fact, recently, the legislature passed a three-year certification instead of an annual certification
• In fact, recently, the legislature passed a three-year certification instead of an annual certification
• </c> allowed for a three-year certification allowed for a three-year certification um<01:15:04.199><c
• </c><01:15:05.760><c> we</c> um instead of an annual certification we um instead of an annual certification

Summary: The Health and Human Services Oversight Committee met on February 2 and first approved the draft minutes from the prior meeting, with minor corrections to the meeting date and attendance notation. DHHS Associate Commissioner Patricia Tilly then gave a department update, describing the current uncertainty around federal priorities and funding, and provided two substantive reports: progress on the new Hampstead Youth Development Center and an update on the department’s review of an ALS registry proposal. She said the YDC project is underway with tree clearing, fencing, stormwater and site-prep work, and remains on track for completion by June 30, 2026 and operation by August 30, 2026. The center currently has 12 youth, and the new design is intended to provide flexibility for fluctuating census levels. On ALS, Tilly explained that HB 576 had prompted the department to examine whether a registry could be built, but the estimated cost of a HIPAA-compliant system was about $750,000. She said DHHS is reviewing whether existing data sources, such as hospital discharge data and CHIS claims data, could provide useful information, but noted both are incomplete for registry purposes. Committee members discussed whether the Rare Disease Advisory Council, Dartmouth, or existing cancer registry infrastructure could help reduce costs. DHHS said it is neutral and willing to continue exploring alternatives, while members emphasized the value of a registry and the need to consider shared infrastructure and funding. The committee also heard from Jenny Horan of the Alzheimer’s Association, who presented the subcommittee’s report on Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias. She said the subcommittee spent the past year gathering information on dementia care, abuse and exploitation issues, caregiver strain, and available services, and is now moving into a second phase focused on identifying gaps and developing a state plan. Members asked about geriatric psychiatric capacity and long-term care availability; Horan said the state has limited capacity and that the plan will help clarify where needs are greatest. She offered to return for follow-up questions at a later meeting. Finally, Olivia May of DHHS presented the quarterly report on the 12-month postpartum Medicaid coverage extension. She said New Hampshire implemented the extension after federal and state action, and the first claims data are still emerging because of reporting lags. In the initial cohort studied, 95% received some medical services during the extended period, 52.4% received mental health or substance use disorder treatment, 26.7% received preventive visits, and 3.2% received heart or hypertension services. Members asked about return on investment and whether higher federal matching rates are being used appropriately; DHHS said it claims the highest possible match based on eligibility group and will return with more data over time. The committee then heard the annual therapeutic cannabis program report from Michael Holt, who said the program had 1,475 registered patients as of June 30, 2024 and that growth has slowed, with New Hampshire having the lowest per-capita medical cannabis enrollment nationally.

Transcript Highlights:

• Senate Bill 1718, a bill to be entitled an act relating to Educator Preparation and Certification.
• to include individuals whose professional certificates have expired.
• It closes loopholes that previously allowed certification with minimal participation.
• Is there a time frame for PERC to call some of these elections, like these certification elections?
• so how can we times it's taken two years to get a certification.

Transcript Highlights:

• And if you don't, now is a good time to ask what the paper certification versus the direct certification
• And if you don't, now is a good time to ask what the paper certification versus the direct certification
• And if you don't, now is a good time to ask what the paper certification versus the direct certification
• and paper and the paper certification and paper and the paper pencil pencil pencil form<00:40:56.040
• </c><00:45:28.920><c> would</c> if at all direct certification would if at all direct certification would

Committee: House Education Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• election during that period to satisfy the monthly expenditure reporting requirements by filing a certification
• To summarize the bill before you, an individual may provide a pre-discharge certification as proof of
• A pre-discharge certification is a statement issued by an individual's branch of service that states
• The certification must not be issued more than 120 days prior to the date of submission, and the individual
• The certification must not be used to determine eligibility beyond the date of discharge.

Summary: The Senate State Government, Tribal Affairs & Elections Committee met on January 16, 2026, and took executive action on four measures before moving to public hearings on two bills. The committee held Senate Bill 5842 for further discussion, then considered Senate Concurrent Resolution 8406, Senate Bill 5825, Senate Bill 5863, and Senate Bill 5840. SCR 8406 would reestablish the Joint Select Committee on Civic Health and was advanced unanimously to the Rules Committee. SB 5825, which authorizes the Washington State Leadership Board to solicit gifts, grants, and endowments, was amended with a technical change and then advanced. SB 5863, extending the moratorium on destruction of Lakeland Village records and addressing access to certain historical records, also advanced without opposition. SB 5840, which changes campaign finance expenditure reporting schedules, was amended to adjust the implementation date to January 1, 2028 and then advanced after the committee waived the amendment publishing rule due to the short session timeline. The committee then heard Senate Bill 5827, sponsored by Senator Gildon, which would allow veterans to use a pre-discharge certification to claim civil service preference before receiving a DD-214. Staff explained the bill and clarified that the underlying qualifying discharge categories would remain unchanged. Senator Gildon said the bill was prompted by a constituent who could not access preference points before leaving active duty, and the Veterans Legislative Coalition testified in strong support. The hearing record noted 40 people signed in in favor and two opposed. Finally, the committee heard Senate Bill 5968, sponsored by Senator Krishna Dawson, which would codify and expand the governor’s executive order on permitting and licensing timelines, require agencies to publish processing deadlines, phase in coverage of all credentials by 2030, and authorize fee refunds if deadlines are missed. The sponsor and staff said the bill is intended to improve predictability, accountability, and customer service, while agency flexibility would remain through OIRA. Support testimony came from the governor’s office, cosmetology, labor, construction trades, ports, business, and the Department of Health, all emphasizing delays’ impacts on jobs, projects, and access to care. The Department of Health reported substantial recent reductions in licensing times and said it lacked authority to issue refunds without the bill. The hearing closed with 26 people signed in, including supporters and opponents.

Transcript Highlights:

• You can get a full-blown trust-based relational intervention certificate.
• And we're not over-emphasizing, like, hey, give me your birth certificate or all those things that create
• And so when you're in all this trauma, you're trying, I don't know where my birth certificate is right
• And let's say somebody says, I want to verify, give me your birth certificate, and you don't have it.
• crime victim comp calls you on the phone and says, I need your social security number, your birth certificate

Committee: Senate Health and Welfare

Transcript Highlights:

• Regarding elections for certification, recertification, or decertification of unions, the bill requires
• Regarding elections for certification, recertification, or decertification of unions, the bill requires
• So specifically looking at lines 908 through 913, with regards to a certification or recertification
• In any of those cases, a petition for an election for certification, recertification, or decertification
• They came back an hour later with a four-hour certificate and said, 'Here's my presentation.'

Summary: The committee met with a quorum and took up a long agenda of bills, many of them amended. Early action included PCS for CS for HB 639, which would expand an existing Fraternal Order of Police specialty license plate to all Floridians, tighten specialty plate rules for future applicants, require financial projections and reporting, and create several new specialty plates. After questions about Florida nexus requirements and a successful amendment adding a Florida Film Legacy plate, the bill was reported favorably 26-0. PCS for CS for HB 1169, limiting local governments’ use of excess building-code enforcement funds for construction of the code-enforcement building, also passed unanimously after testimony from the Florida Home Builders Association. The committee then approved HB 139, expanding whistleblower protections for state, local, and contract employees who file ethics complaints, with support from the Florida Commission on Ethics. PCS for HB 273, which would make special districts eligible for certain state and federal grants and direct pay options, passed 24-1 after testimony from both supporters and opponents. Members also approved CS for HB 1087, a public-records exemption for certain stablecoin issuer information, and CS for HB 1085, updating the local government cybersecurity grant program by moving it to Cyber Florida at USF, adding a sunset, and limiting consecutive awards. Several environmental and local-government transparency measures drew extended debate. CS for CS for HB 1417, a broad environmental bill, was amended to remove several provisions, retain others on the Environmental Regulation Commission, springs, solar facilities, Indian River Lagoon septic deadlines, and coastal resiliency partnerships, and then passed 24-0 amid mixed testimony from DEP, water management districts, and environmental advocates. CS for HB 1457, creating a framework for regional stormwater management systems and water quality enhancement areas, passed 24-0 after discussion of port impacts. CS for HB 1329, requiring local budgets to be posted earlier, retained longer, and made searchable, and adding a 10% budget-cutting exercise, passed 17-6 after strong opposition from local-government groups who argued it would be costly and duplicative. The committee also approved CS for HB 4091 creating a special district for stormwater and flood control in Sarasota and Manatee counties, and then took up CS for HB 995, a major overhaul of Public Employees Relations Commission and union-related procedures, including registration, dues disclosure, election rules, leave-time limits, and expedited bargaining over legislatively appropriated salary increases; that bill was still under questioning when the transcript ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• to make it holds a tax lean certificate to make it holds a tax lean certificate to make repairs.
• and to provide by a tax lean certificate and to provide by a tax lean certificate and to provide for
• that official of a tax lean certificate that official of a tax lean certificate that remains unsold
• But that's on the certification or what? But that's on the certification or what?
• Uh my question is the certifications. I my question is the certifications.

Bills: SJR 39 , SJR 68 , SCR 29 , SCR 42 , SB 30 , SB 33 , SB 37 , SB 217 , SB 240 , SB 331 , SB 393 , SB 505 , SB 530 , SB 546 , SB 552 , SB 584 , SB 586 , SB 618 , SB 619 , SB 636 , SB 732 , SB 769 , SB 801 , SB 825 , SB 826 , SB 844 , SB 847 , SB 870 , SB 884 , SB 957 , SB 1065 , SB 1150 , SB 1184 , SB 1257 , SB 1261 , SB 1262 , SB 1299 , SB 1314 , SB 1325 , SB 1398 , SB 1413 , SB 1455 , SB 1539 , SB 1577 , SB 1583 , SB 1596 , SB 1620 , SB 1624 , SB 1642 , SB 1643 , SB 1667 , SB 1717 , SB 1727 , SB 1760 , SB 1789 , SB 1791 , SB 1804 , SB 1868 , SB 1870 , SB 1883 , SB 1901 , SB 1923 , SB 1924 , SB 1927 , SB 1951 , SB 1960 , SB 1962 , SB 1963 , SB 2010 , SB 2018 , SB 2023 , SB 2024 , SB 2037 , SB 2051 , SB 2052 , SB 2056 , SB 2066 , SB 2073 , SB 2127 , SB 2129 , SB 2161 , SB 2183 , SB 2185 , SB 2207 , SB 2252 , SB 2323 , SB 2332 , SB 2368 , SB 2405 , SB 2439 , SB 2626 , SB 2717 , SB 2743 , SB 2774 , SB 2949 , SB 1 , SJR 36 , SJR 50 , SJR 63 , SJR 68 , SCR 12 , SCR 39 , SCR 38 , SCR 37 , SCR 42 , SCR 29 , SB 2023 , SB 62 , SB 666 , SB 847 , SB 284 , SB 854 , SB 1073 , SB 810 , SB 1539 , SB 1505 , SB 583 , SB 957 , SB 1502 , SB 507 , SB 1026 , SB 1349 , SB 1433 , SB 1434 , SB 264 , SB 1364 , SB 1376 , SB 1585 , SB 1772 , SB 2016 , SB 1163 , SB 619 , SB 1122 , SB 1877 , SB 732 , SB 731 , SB 397 , SB 508 , SB 1436 , SB 287 , SB 2143 , SB 261 , SB 1247 , SB 1882 , SB 618 , SB 393 , SB 2243 , SB 1919 , SB 1791 , SB 651 , SB 826 , SB 1079 , SB 1243 , SB 1504 , SB 1851 , SB 1879 , SB 2237 , SB 1257 , SB 2034 , SB 1522 , SB 1151 , SB 596 , SB 1191 , SB 226 , SB 570 , SB 870 , SB 991 , SB 60 , SB 1401 , SB 1728 , SB 586 , SB 529 , SB 217 , SB 209 , SB 1923 , SB 1839 , SB 387 , SB 1874 , SB 1872 , SB 1873 , SB 1921 , SB 1883 , SB 1620 , SB 1838 , SB 2024 , SB 2429 , SB 1999 , SB 511 , SB 2309 , SB 2166 , SB 510 , SB 1860 , SB 1314 , SB 1398 , SB 855 , SB 2037 , SB 1759 , SB 1924 , SB 1818 , SB 1762 , SB 1968 , SB 1977 , SB 2077 , SB 2321 , SB 1662 , SB 1663 , SB 2124 , SB 2204 , SB 1855 , SB 863 , SB 2252 , SB 2253 , SB 825 , SB 1184 , SB 2018 , SB 2206 , SB 1901 , SB 2368 , SB 1963 , SB 1960 , SB 1643 , SB 1625 , SB 1299 , SB 841 , SB 668 , SB 584 , SB 231 , SB 1085 , SB 2431 , SB 2231 , SB 1490 , SB 530 , SB 1261 , SB 2180 , SB 1804 , SB 1937 , SB 1936 , SB 2569 , SB 1372 , SB 1868 , SB 2314 , SB 769 , SB 1409 , SB 434 , SB 1214 , SB 1951 , SB 2183 , SB 2046 , SB 1667 , SB 1870 , SB 1727 , SB 2405 , SB 2127 , SB 1975 , SB 1760 , SB 1734 , SB 1335 , SB 2066 , SB 2129 , SB 2246 , SB 2439 , SB 1624 , SB 1244 , SB 1468 , SB 2717 , SB 1612 , SB 1262 , SB 604 , SB 2395 , SB 2185 , SB 1832 , SB 1745 , SB 1746 , SB 2207 , SB 1784 , SB 1524 , SB 528 , SB 437 , SB 269 , SB 1137 , SB 968 , SB 636 , SB 747 , SB 1325 , SB 1789 , SB 1455 , SB 2056 , SB 1940 , SB 2052 , SB 2010 , SB 1579 , SB 2068 , SB 3034 , SB 844 , SB 1920 , SB 1558 , SB 1236 , SB 1044 , SB 884 , SB 463 , SB 331 , SB 227 , SB 240 , SB 517 , SB 1200 , SB 1410 , SB 1626 , SB 1845 , SB 1863 , SB 2216 , SB 2681 , SB 1717 , SB 2053 , SB 546 , SB 2141 , SB 2949 , SB 2323 , SB 2200 , SB 2332 , SB 2199 , SB 1642 , SB 1150 , SB 1757 , SB 2050 , SB 1138 , SB 2051 , SB 2626 , SB 2458 , SB 1864 , SB 2201 , SB 1862 , SB 1583 , SB 1055 , SB 2660 , SB 1898 , SB 2662 , SB 2161 , SB 2964 , SB 2881 , SB 1065 , SB 801 , SB 2743 , SB 2533 , SB 1413 , SB 2073 , SB 3014 , SB 3013 , SB 2774 , SB 2702 , SB 2629 , SB 2443 , SB 2349 , SB 2167 , SB 2145 , SB 2121 , SB 758 , SB 648 , SB 647 , SB 512 , SB 438 , SB 1721 , SB 2268 , SB 1495 , SB 2705 , SB 2366 , SB 1422 , SB 1369 , SB 1013 , SB 682 , SB 2692 , SB 2570 , SB 2797 , SB 2111 , SB 1896 , SB 1164 , SB 1020 , SB 663 , SB 2371 , SB 1152 , SB 2196 , SB 2383 , SB 2581 , SB 2798 , SB 330 , SB 646 , SB 843 , SB 1998 , SB 1418 , SB 2788 , SB 1169 , SB 2873 , SB 1754 , SB 1534 , SB 1718 , SB 2779 , SB 2004 , SB 1143 , SB 1756 , SB 912 , SB 2119 , SB 2032 , SB 527 , SB 1580 , SB 1952 , SB 2601 , HJR 4 , SJR 85 , SJR 84 , SCR 4 , SCR 18 , SCR 43 , SCR 46 , SB 2322 , SB 2448 , SB 1777 , SB 1283 , SB 407 , SB 2392 , SB 2076 , SB 2786 , SB 3031 , SB 2877 , SB 2876 , SB 2284 , SB 2225 , SB 1540 , SB 2920 , SB 2929 , SB 1395 , SB 1972 , SB 2540 , SB 1183 , SB 2742 , SB 2595 , SB 2217 , SB 2117 , SB 715 , SB 2330 , SB 1964 , SB 1383 , SB 500 , SB 1640 , SB 39 , SB 2001 , SB 2080 , SB 2722 , SB 506 , SB 2514 , SB 2623 , SB 2658 , SB 1574 , SB 2900 , SB 23 , SB 2753 , SB 2398 , SB 401 , SB 1241 , SB 2927 , SB 2173 , SB 2538 , SB 898 , SB 467 , SB 1449 , SB 2529 , SB 1531 , SB 2846 , SB 2476 , SB 2031 , SB 986 , SB 1181 , SB 2075 , SB 2154 , SB 2864 , SB 2 , SB 260 , SJR 68 , SB 217 , SB 331 , SB 530 , SB 546 , SB 586 , SB 1150 , SB 1184 , SB 1261 , SB 1398 , SB 1620 , SB 1923 , SB 1951 , SB 1960 , SB 2051 , SB 2129 , SB 2183 , SB 2185 , SB 2252 , SB 2368 , SB 2405 , SB 2949 , SB 825 , SB 1870 , SB 2010 , SR 434 , SB 3048 , SB 3049 , SB 3050 , SB 3051 , SB 3052 , SB 3053 , SB 3055 , SB 3048 , SB 3049 , SB 3050 , SB 3051 , SB 3052 , SB 3053 , SB 3055

Transcript Highlights:

• , certificate of birth abroad issued via the United States Department of State, certificate of naturalization
• , and a certificate of naturalization.
• Via the United States Department of State, certificate of naturalization, and a certificate of citizenship
• Start out on the first amendment, birth registration cards or certificates issued by the State Bureau
• It includes a birth certificate that's issued by the state or a state as one of the primary documents

Bills: SB524 , SR108 , SR109 , SCR56 , SCR57 , SCR12 , HB227 , HB398 , HB689 , HB897 , HB1029 , HB1107 , HB1217 , HB221 , HCR58 , HB136 , SB162 , SB382 , SCR33 , SCR30 , SB112 , SB194 , SB307 , SB341 , SB346 , SB363 , SB495 , SB503 , SB507 , SB509 , SB513 , SB408 , SB131 , SB145 , SB333 , SB464 , SB466 , SB500 , SB283 , SB338 , SB488 , SB35 , SB65 , SB215 , SB228 , SB246 , SB249 , SB268 , SB269 , SB282 , SB296 , SB312 , SB319 , SB323 , SB369 , SB431 , SB474 , SB484 , SB490 , SB492 , SB501 , HCR14 , HB537 , HB652 , HB653 , HB661 , HB726 , HB756 , HB851 , HB964 , HB966 , HB34 , HB35 , HB48 , HB474 , HB553 , HB758 , HB852 , HB10 , HB16 , HB36 , HB44 , HB46 , HB52 , HB61 , HB78 , HB98 , HB102 , HB124 , HB126 , HB131 , HB135 , HB141 , HB142 , HB164 , HB170 , HB171 , HB179 , HB194 , HB231 , HB245 , HB280 , HB292 , HB294 , HB297 , HB305 , HB336 , HB337 , HB351 , HB436 , HB594 , HB789 , HB956 , HB957 , HB995 , HB1040 , HB50 , HB117 , HB120 , HB122 , HB139 , HB148 , HB149 , HB185 , HB199 , HB247 , HB271 , HB286 , HB301 , HB358 , HB359 , HB384 , HB413 , HB428 , HB450 , HB462 , HB547 , HB613 , HB631 , HB657 , HB669 , HB675 , HB680 , HB691 , HB712 , HB716 , HB720 , HB723 , HB727 , HB728 , HB735 , HB747 , HB759 , HB825 , HB842 , HB845 , HB846 , HB903 , HB904 , HB907 , HB923 , HB929 , HB941 , HB962 , HB965 , HB1036 , HB287 , HB370 , HB515 , HB521 , HB570 , HB1200 , HB29 , HB39 , HB58 , HB67 , HB73 , HB76 , HB77 , HB82 , HB112 , HB121 , HB125 , HB132 , HB134 , HB151 , HB154 , HB155 , HB161 , HB166 , HB187 , HB191 , HB207 , HB211 , HB224 , HB238 , HB241 , HB242 , HB250 , HB260 , HB265 , HB275 , HB300 , HB320 , HB338 , HB339 , HB349 , HB379 , HB399 , HB427 , HB463 , HB464 , HB468 , HB545 , HB550 , HB551 , HB565 , HB588 , HB639 , HB725 , HB782 , HB805 , HB808 , HB834 , HB847 , HB853 , HB858 , HB861 , HB883 , HB916 , HB937 , HB977 , HB1012 , HB1027 , HB1044 , HB1054 , HB1071 , HB1091 , HB1117 , HB119 , HB129 , HB677 , HB850 , SB68 , SB149

Summary: The Senate opened with a quorum, a guest minister prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and a St. Charles Parish presentation featuring a youth national anthem singer. The chamber then moved through a large number of House and Senate messages, committee reports, and introductions, including measures on career and technical education, flood risk maps, public-private partnership contracting, arts day, and a task force on work-based learning. Several resolutions were adopted, including SCR 56 honoring the YMCA and SCR 57 honoring Jonathan Nicole, both by unanimous votes. A House concurrent resolution supporting elimination of the U.S. Department of Education also passed 26-9. On Senate bills, the chamber gave final passage to SB 112 on voluntary release time for K-12 religious instruction with a criminal background check amendment, SB 194 on public assistance and citizenship verification, SB 307 on public displays of historical/religious documents, SB 341 expanding church and nonprofit religious self-insurance coverage, SB 346 prohibiting deepfake materials used against students, SB 495 on campaign finance reporting and unitemized contributions, SB 503 on age assurance for minors using mobile apps, SB 507 creating a statewide process for determining non-enrollment, SB 509 on bank-owned life insurance, SB 131 limiting attorney fee recovery in occupational licensing disciplinary cases, SB 145 requiring backup power for adult residential care providers, SB 333 on child-in-need-of-care proceedings and federal reimbursement, SB 464 on severe obesity treatment coverage, SB 466 on expropriation and foreign adversaries, SB 488 on a school safety drone response pilot program, SB 312 on union dues and withholding procedures, and SB 319 on voter identification and provisional ballot procedures. Most passed with little or no opposition, though SB 194, SB 307, SB 503, SB 131, SB 333, and SB 319 drew some dissenting votes. The chamber also passed multiple House bills, including HB 1071 on public records exceptions for aerospace critical infrastructure, HB 537 repealing the Workers’ Compensation Advisory Council, HB 652 and HB 653 adjusting Oyster Task Force membership, HB 661 narrowing nepotism restrictions for certain school board hires with an amendment, HB 756 aligning watercraft enforcement with Coast Guard standards, HB 851 banning intentional balloon releases, HB 964 authorizing a Caddo Parish property transfer, and HB 34 and HB 35 on sheriff pension fund eligibility and contribution rules. Several items were returned to the calendar or referred to committees. A major discussion centered on SB 484, which would restructure parts of higher education governance and transfer certain Board of Regents functions; it drew extensive questioning and amendments, including a new Lumcon board structure and financial reporting requirements, but was returned to the calendar for further work rather than final passage.

Transcript Highlights:

• BPI is the leading third-party certification body for compostable products in North America, and BPI
• certification builds on requirements and ASTM standard specification that compostable products meet for
• So if manufacturers have to retool, relabel, obtain additional certification, what will that potential
• So if manufacturers have to retool, relabel, obtain additional certification, what will that potential
• Think more practically about getting these certifications, but getting them at an appropriate time, place

Summary: The committee heard SB 1375 by Senator Cortese, which would streamline environmental review for certain transit and rail projects that have already undergone extensive prior review. Supporters, including VTA, San Jose transportation staff, BART, Caltrain, MTC, and Climate Reality Silicon Valley, said the bill would reduce duplicative analysis, save time and money, and help advance projects like the Diridon Station modernization in San Jose. Committee members emphasized the bill’s narrow scope and the added amendments requiring displacement planning, legal services for displaced residents, construction-impact mitigation, and natural resources planning. The bill was approved on a 5-0 vote and sent to Transportation as amended. The committee also took up SB 1031 on compostable plastics labeling and waste-stream impacts. The author and supporters such as Californians Against Waste argued the bill would reduce greenwashing, clarify labeling, cut contamination in compost and recycling streams, and direct OEHHA to study health and environmental effects. Opposition from manufacturers, BPI, retailers, and others focused on concerns that the bill would effectively ban compostable products in California, create costs, and fail to fix a separate federal/NOP labeling problem. After extensive discussion about composting capacity, labeling clarity, and costs, the bill passed 3-2 to Appropriations. SB 958 by Senator Weber Pierson addressed the Midway Rising redevelopment project in San Diego. The bill, as amended, would no longer create a full CEQA exemption but instead clarify CEQA treatment of building-height impacts in the project’s future EIR. Supporters said the project would deliver thousands of housing units, including affordable housing, along with parks, a new arena, and economic benefits on underused city land. The committee voiced support for the project’s housing and revitalization goals, and the bill passed 3-0 to Local Government as amended. The committee also heard SB 1075 on strengthening AB 617 community air protection plans, with environmental justice supporters backing stronger enforcement and local implementation while local governments, business groups, and air district representatives warned it could create uncertainty, raise costs, and function as a land-use mandate; the bill was held on a 2-2 vote after the author accepted several amendments and continued negotiations.

Transcript Highlights:

• The requirements include companies testing level four and five vehicles requiring self-certification
• That certification includes providing proof that they hold a $5 million liability insurance policy.
• DOL does maintain self-certification records, insurance documents, and accident reports.
• That is built into the self-certification.
• That is built into the self-certification.

Summary: The committee held a work session on autonomous vehicles, beginning with an overview from the Washington State Transportation Commission on the state’s five-year AV work group. The commission described its 2018 legislative mandate, the 35-member executive committee and seven subcommittees, and the resulting 29 recommendations and “roadmap to the future.” The presentation emphasized six policy “building blocks” for Washington: agency readiness, public outreach, equity, safety, testing and pilots, and a path to deployment. It also noted current Washington law requires AV testing companies to self-certify with the Department of Licensing, carry $5 million in liability insurance, report collisions and violations, and notify local law enforcement before testing; three companies are currently certified. State regulators from California and Arizona then outlined their AV frameworks. California described its long-running permit system for testing with and without a safety driver and for commercial deployment, its current rulemaking to expand use cases to heavy-duty trucks and passenger shuttles, and new requirements for mileage, operational assessments, and more detailed crash and incident reporting. California also said it is creating a new enforcement tool allowing citations to be issued to manufacturers for moving violations by AVs. Arizona described its executive-order-based approach, later codified by statute, which allows testing and driverless operations through self-certification, law enforcement interaction plans, quarterly meetings with companies, and reporting of crashes or near misses; Arizona also said it tracks crashes monthly and has not recorded fatalities attributed to AVs. Industry representatives from Waymo, Zoox, and the Autonomous Vehicle Industry Association argued that AVs can improve safety, accessibility, and mobility while creating jobs. They described extensive sensor systems, community outreach, first-responder engagement, and current operations in multiple cities. Waymo cited more than 127 million rider-only miles and said its data show large reductions in injury-causing and pedestrian crashes; Zoox said it operates in Las Vegas, San Francisco, and Seattle and stressed its purpose-built electric robotaxi and local jobs; AVIA said its members have driven more than 145 million autonomous miles and that 26 states now expressly authorize driverless operations. Members asked about public education, crash and fatality tracking, enforcement, weather, school zones, first-responder interactions, and labor impacts. Labor and public-safety witnesses from the Teamsters, firefighters, and driver unions opposed commercial AV deployment without stronger safeguards. They argued Washington should not be an unregulated testing ground, especially for heavy trucks and hazardous materials, and warned of job losses for drivers, taxi and rideshare workers, and related occupations. Firefighters and driver representatives raised concerns about AVs interfering with emergency scenes, blocking responders, and creating risks in dynamic roadway incidents. Committee members also asked for comparisons to human-driven vehicles, data on citations and crashes, and more information on how AVs interact with pedestrians, first responders, and workers.

Transcript Highlights:

• How many certificates do you give out for wind energy each year? College President: Mr.
• those are not certificates that are, I don't want anyone to get mad at me, but like an English lit certification
• We also had some CNA certifications from this year or last year.
• But those are workforce certificates. Some of them are stand-alone workforce.
• You were producing many students with certificates. You had experience. You were doing the job.

Transcript Highlights:

• Speaker, having received the certification from the Secretary of State, I move that the certification
• I move that the certification be accepted as prima facie evidence of election and that Hillary Holly,
• Representative Robinson W. moves that the certification be accepted as prima facie evidence of election

Summary: The House convened in special session with prayer, a moment of silence for former Coral Springs Vice Mayor Nancy Mettier Bowen, the Pledge of Allegiance, and confirmation of a quorum. The clerk read the Governor’s amended special session proclamation, which added two subjects to the call: legislation protecting Floridians from artificial intelligence harms, including an AI Bill of Rights and possible public-records exemptions during early investigations, and legislation on medical freedoms similar to Senate Bill 1756. The special session was set to run from April 28 to May 1, 2026. The chamber then seated and swore in three new members: Representatives Hillary Holley, Samantha Scott, and Emily Gregory. The House adopted motions accepting their certifications as prima facie evidence of election and declaring them duly elected and qualified members. Guests of the new members were recognized in the chamber. Speaker Pro Tem Duggan outlined the House’s approach to the special session, saying the House had received the Governor’s proposed redistricting maps and intended to bring them to the floor for consideration the next day. He also said that, because no bills had been filed on the other topics in the call before the special session began, those issues would not be taken up. The House then adopted a motion to adjourn and reconvene on April 29, 2026, at 9:30 a.m. or upon call of the chair.

Transcript Highlights:

• proposes to remove references to pilot program in sunset language for a now successful alternative certification
• Sunset language for a now successful alternative certification program offered to qualified providers
• who meet the program requirements for a two-year path to teacher certification.
• program that actually gives them intense training that then they take a path and move into formal certification

Summary: The committee considered several education-related Senate bills. SB 1437 would direct the State Department of Education to establish physical fitness guidelines, administer fitness tests, and use student performance data to improve student health outcomes. Supporters argued early fitness and health habits are important to address childhood obesity and long-term health, and the bill was advanced on a due-pass recommendation after discussion and a vote. SB 1432 would remove sunset and pilot-program references from an alternative teacher certification program that has become a permanent pathway for qualified nontraditional candidates. Testimony emphasized the program’s intensive training, mentoring, and role in helping address teacher shortages. The committee voted to send the bill out with a due-pass recommendation. SB 1812 would require school districts to make benchmark assessment results for grades K-3 through 8 available to parents and guardians; it drew no questions and was also advanced due pass. The committee also took up SB 1338, with a PCS and amendment accepted without objection. The bill creates the Education Impact and Innovation Fund, a competitive grants pool intended to replace the practice of naming specific vendors in legislation and instead let the State Department of Education and State Board of Education select programs and vendors. Members referenced a recent State Auditor report as part of the rationale. The committee voted to advance the bill due pass and then concluded its meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• offer diverse CTE programs designed to equip students with industry-recognized skills, recognized certifications
• Strategies like tracking student engagement, CTE student organizations, industry certifications, work-based
• The teacher shortage in industry-based certification areas is concerning, including health science technology
• technicians, engineers—but transitioning into teaching often means a pay cut, even though the certification

Bills: HB 1057 , HB1876

Committee: House S/C on Academic & Career-Oriented Education

Keywords: teacher salary, retirement benefits, career education, work experience credit, Texas Education Code, technical training, workforce development, grants, education funding