Transcript Highlights:

• We've extended that deadline to implement the payment withhold several times over the course of the past
• We've extended that deadline to implement the payment withhold several times over the course of the past
• We've extended that deadline to implement the payment withhold several times over the course of the past
• We've extended that deadline to implement the payment withhold several times over the course of the past
• We also have proposals this year, in the 2025 session, that we hope to work with many of you on.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Concurrent Resolution 6 establishes the deadlines for this legislative session.
• followed now for two or three sessions. followed now for two or three sessions.
• of session. of session.
• , 24-hour sessions, maybe 30-hour sessions, and tempers can flare.
• most of the off session. most of the off session.

Keywords: 918, senate, all

Summary: The Senate came to order, a quorum was established, and the chamber proceeded through routine business on the February 19, 2026 agenda. Several newly introduced Senate files were given first reading and referred to committees, including SF 3658 to Health and Human Services, SF 3665 to Judiciary and Public Safety, and SF 3687 to Agriculture, Veterans, Broadband, and Rural Development. Senate resolutions 54 through 57 were referred to Rules and Administration. The body then adopted several resolutions. Senate Resolution 58, which updates the mileage resolution to add the chamber’s three newest members, passed 60-2. Senate Resolution 59, the annual postage resolution setting each member’s postal budget at $1,170 and additional amounts for the majority and minority leaders, was adopted 56-8. Senate Concurrent Resolution 6, setting session deadlines for March 27 and April 17, was also adopted after Senator Howe questioned why the first two deadlines were on the same date and Majority Leader Murphy said the schedule matched recent sessions to expedite work. The Senate also adopted a resolution honoring Helen Marjorie Spade Levy on her 104th birthday and recognizing her World War II service as a Rosie the Riveter and her long community involvement. The chamber then moved into tributes for the late Senator Bruce Anderson, with multiple senators describing his military service, faith, veteran advocacy, committee work, and personal kindness. Senators Lucero, Grunhagen, Howe, Pappas, Lang, Putnam, and others shared memories of his leadership and character, and the presiding officer noted that members could later sing in his honor after the remarks concluded.

Transcript Highlights:

• So, there were two bills this session, Senate File 43 and House Bill 131, that both sought to address
• ,<00:12:03.839> uh, there were two bills this session, uh, there were two bills this session
• This was something that came up after the deadline.
• . deadline. deadline.
• So, this came up after the deadline.

Keywords: 916, all

Summary: The committee met briefly to hear and sort through interim topic proposals, with members noting they needed to finish quickly before floor work. The first topic, from Representative Banks and Representative Ottman, would allow non-veterinarians to perform pre-check pregnancy testing on cattle to help address veterinary shortages, while still requiring a certified veterinarian for cattle sold as bred. No public testimony was offered, and the committee agreed to move through the full list and rank topics later rather than taking an immediate vote. A second topic, brought by the County Commissioners Association through Jeremiah Ryman and Joy Hill, concerned subdivision fencing laws. Hill said recent statutory changes moved fencing requirements into the subdivision statutes, creating cost and planning problems for developers and county officials. She said the preferred option would be repeal; if not, counties should have flexibility to exempt some subdivisions, and at minimum the law should be clarified because key terms and requirements are unclear. The committee asked a few questions and then moved on. Representative Davis and Holly Kennedy of the Wyoming Association of Conservation Districts discussed updating conservation district statutes. Kennedy said districts are currently barred from borrowing money for major purchases and that election rules can force board members to vacate seats if they move within the district but outside their original locality. The association supported revisiting those provisions. The committee also heard a topic on comparing recreation rules on state lands and federal lands, with the sponsor saying the goal was to identify disparities and possible improvements. Later topics included preventing orphaned water rights, with Keith Kennedy of the Wyoming Association of Irrigation Districts asking for statutory clarification so water rights are properly transferred during divisions and not forfeited, especially in small subdivisions and family exemptions. Another proposal from Representative Ottman addressed a tribal buffalo issue involving whether animals crossing between reservation land and fee land are treated as wildlife or domestic animals; members emphasized the topic was for information and discussion rather than legislation. Senator Pearson also proposed revisiting fence-out laws for livestock to give landowners more protection when repeatedly dealing with wandering animals, while others cautioned that any changes would need to be handled carefully because of differing livestock rules and the state’s fence-in/fence-out framework. Finally, Senator Hicks raised livestock identification concerns, arguing producers should retain flexibility under prior law to identify animals as they choose and that veterinarians should not be forced into new federal tagging requirements.

Transcript Highlights:

• similar legislation and 12 states including California are considering bills in the current legislative session
• right to their student's records as of the age of four kids, and by the way, that's why I'm late to session
• The original legislation allowed for extensions of the 2035 deadline for certain districts.
• Districts after the deadline would kick in which is ten years from now so districts that could qualify
• We've asked and as we've seen this bill in past sessions for there to be some standards for trainers

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We assist them with actually submitting those legislative capital requests through the session.
• The session or leading up to the session, and then assist them throughout the session with that process
• or for the 27th session.
• Senator Luján did introduce, again, this session of Congress, the ASECYA Act.
• It was introduced in the last session of Congress but did not pass.

Transcript Highlights:

• And we have to stop here not that long from now to go to session.
• I'm not sure how long the session will last because we actually have legislation on the floor.
• Those are associated with adopted exceptional items from last session, the 88th regular session, which
• Our performance measures, we are meeting them and exceeding them every session.
• We are extremely grateful for the 10% that was allotted the last legislative session.

Bills: SB1

Keywords: appropriations, budget, state funding, education, healthcare, infrastructure

Summary: The Senate Finance Committee met to review Article 8, regulatory agencies, and began Article 9, general provisions, before recessing for floor action. The committee first heard budget presentations from the Public Utility Commission (PUC) and the Office of Public Utility Counsel (OPUC). The PUC budget recommendation was about $5.07 billion in all funds, including an additional $5 billion for the Texas Energy Fund, plus funding for staffing and technology needs tied to contested cases, infrastructure resiliency, and outage mapping. PUC witnesses emphasized the agency’s growing workload, the need for more staff and modern systems, and oversight of the Texas Energy Fund. OPUC’s recommendation was about $6.9 million, with a reduction in authorized FTEs to better match actual staffing; the agency requested additional funding for salaries, expert witnesses, and budget flexibility, and members highlighted OPUC’s role representing residential and small commercial consumers in utility proceedings. The committee then heard from the Behavioral Health Executive Council (BHEC), whose recommendation was just over $11.2 million. BHEC’s main requests included funding to fill vacant positions, money for continuous National Practitioner Data Bank queries, and a proposed Texas-owned psychology licensing exam in response to concerns about changes to the national exam. Agency leaders also discussed a rider request that would shift responsibility for certain judgments or settlements to the comptroller. Members asked about prior complaint backlogs, and BHEC said those backlogs had been cleared. The Board of Chiropractic Examiners followed, with a recommendation of just under $2.4 million; the board sought support for staffing, training, broadband, and salary retention, and described its work regulating chiropractors and workers’ compensation-related doctors. The Board of Dental Examiners was the last agency heard before the committee recessed. Its recommendation was just under $10 million, and it requested a 10% salary increase for eligible staff, three additional licensing staff, one staff member to handle required background checks, an additional attorney, and an executive director salary adjustment. Dental board witnesses said licensure growth, increased complaints, and low salaries were straining licensing and enforcement operations, even though the agency reported strong performance and high case completion rates. The chair ended the hearing early because the Senate had to return to the floor, and the committee remained in recess.

Transcript Highlights:

• The original bill was going to completely get rid of the deadline, which is the 25th birthday for young
• After speaking with several state... ...stakeholders, we came to an agreement that the deadline would
• Senator, I'm not—and again this is late; we're late in the session.
• That we, you passed SB 17 last session. Does this bill change that in any way or prohibit anything?

Keywords: 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Since the city cannot meet this deadline, it is requesting an extension of the 5-year rule to 10 years
• She hoped the committee would work with the city as it considers legislation in this session.
• :25:07.040> legislation<00:25:07.600> in<00:25:07.679> this<00:25:07.800> session
• consider legislation in this session. consider legislation in this session.
• to decertifying District 20 by the end of 2031, which is nearly a decade ahead of the statutory deadline

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Our view is that this should not be a hard deadline.
• <00:08:49.839> for be an initial certification deadline for be an initial certification deadline
• The Treasury should work hard deadline.
• legislation in the next session. legislation in the next session.
• The last thing I'll note is the comment deadline: May 1, 2026.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Summary: The meeting began with roll call and introductions of commission members and guests, followed by approval of the agenda and a motion to approve the February 10 minutes with a correction clarifying that one quoted statement was misattributed. The commission then moved into presentations. The main presentation came from the Conference of State Bank Supervisors on implementation of the federal GENIUS Act for stablecoins. The speaker reviewed the OCC’s recent 367-page proposed rule, noting it raises many open questions and design choices for states, and discussed expected upcoming rulemaking from the FDIC, Federal Reserve, and Treasury. The presentation focused on six areas: permissible issuer activities, reserve assets and redemption, risk management and supervision, treatment of state-qualified issuers, capital/operational backstops, and foreign issuers. It also flagged unresolved issues around Bank Secrecy Act/AML requirements and the meaning of “digital asset service provider” activities. A substantial portion of the discussion addressed yield restrictions, with the presenter explaining the OCC’s broad definition of yield and its rebuttable presumption against issuer-affiliated or related third-party yield arrangements. The speaker said this likely forecloses many existing white-label structures but leaves some room for third-party payments depending on distance from the issuer, and noted ongoing Senate debate over similar provisions. The presentation also covered reserve valuation, liquidity and diversification requirements, redemption timing, and supervisory expectations such as third-party oversight, IT security, exam cycles, and reporting. No additional votes or formal actions were taken beyond approving the amended minutes.

Transcript Highlights:

• As you may recall, last session the legislature called the Department of Human Services, the Minnesota
• Um, Senator Utke, it's an informational hearing after deadline today.
• I mean, the bill will be, um, considered alive, you know, next session.
• I mean the hearing after deadline today.
• I mean it's it's you know, next session.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The district completed the table and submitted it to J-LAC staff before the requested deadline of April
• So I ran a bill and Governor Hobbs signed that bill this session a few months ago, which I appreciate
• The state is behind and has already missed the March 31, 2026, deadline.
• However, ...and has already missed the March 31, 2026, deadline.
• the next session in Kingman for later this month.

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you so much for holding this important session, and I look forward to being part of it.
• will be meeting two times during the month of June so that we can complete it by that August 1st deadline
• we look forward to working with everyone and getting a solid report completed by the August 1st deadline

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The meeting was the introductory session of the new Commission on Aging and Independence focused on continuing care retirement communities (CCRCs). Co-chairs Senator Pat Jehlen and committee staff introduced the commission’s purpose, and members and stakeholders from AARP Massachusetts, the Executive Office of Aging and Independence, LeadingAge Massachusetts, SEIU Local 1199, the Alzheimer’s Association, and the Attorney General’s office briefly introduced themselves and described their interests. Several participants emphasized the value of CCRCs for aging in place, while also noting concerns about affordability, accessibility, resident rights, dementia supports, and the need for clearer complaint and oversight processes. The commission reviewed the basic definition of a CCRC, including the requirement for housing plus health-related services, a life contract, and an entrance fee, and discussed how Massachusetts law defines entrance fees and their return. Staff explained that the commission was created by Chapter 197 of the Acts of 2024 and is charged with studying CCRC contracts, consumer impacts, financial viability, entrance fees, oversight and enforcement, advertising practices, and procedures for closure or change of ownership. The commission also outlined its deadline to submit recommendations by August 1, 2025. Because quorum issues and technical problems limited the session, no substantive votes were taken. Instead, the meeting focused on logistics: members will receive a survey to suggest priorities, site visits, and outside presenters; the group plans monthly meetings with two in June; and a public hearing may be held earlier in the process so feedback can shape the agenda. Staff also noted that ethics training for members was still being arranged.

Transcript Highlights:

• These budget review subcommittee chairs have done tremendous work this session, unlike prior sessions
• for the most in more than one session for the most part<00:20:10.240> budget<00:20:10.640>
• ,<00:36:06.480> and as we come back into the 27 session, and as we come back into the 27 session
• But even though we set that as a deadline for those agency requests to be finalized so that we could
• <00:37:30.079> for though we set that as a deadline for though we set that as a deadline for

Keywords: Meeting Start 00:00:00 Roll Call 00:00:40 HB 500 Discussion 00:01:50 HB 500 Vote 00:38:40 HB 504 Discussion 00:41:45 HB 504 Vote 00:47:00, 958, all

Summary: The House Standing Committee on Appropriations and Revenue met to consider House Bill 500, the executive branch budget bill, and House Bill 504, the judicial branch budget bill. The chair explained that the committee substitute for HB 500 was a starting point in the budget process and that a committee amendment was needed to correct a numbers discrepancy. The amendment to PHS1 was adopted, and the committee then adopted HB 500 as amended, with one no vote and several passes; the bill was reported favorably. The committee also voted to roll the committee amendment into PHS1 so it would be considered as a single unified version. The chair gave a broad overview of HB 500, describing funding for statewide costs, a 2% salary increase in each fiscal year for executive branch employees and elected officials, and broad percentage cuts of 4% in FY27 and 3% in FY28 with many exemptions. He highlighted funding changes for education, Medicaid, health insurance for state and school employees, public safety, corrections, health and family services, postsecondary education, fire programs, tourism and parks, and several capital projects. He also noted language changes or removals that were intended to clean up the bill rather than eliminate programs, and said some items were held steady or fully funded based on current estimates. Members asked about SEEK transportation funding, the budget reserve trust fund, and why Medicaid benefits were funded below the governor’s request. The chair said the reserve included general fund and Department of Insurance restricted funds as a safeguard, with some of that money available if Medicaid costs exceed expectations. He said Medicaid benefits were held flat at FY26 levels because eligibility and utilization have declined, but the committee added reporting requirements and oversight to monitor trends. A member expressed appreciation for the SEEK increase and KEPH stability, while another voted no on HB 500 because they were still reviewing the document and believed some items were missing. The chair then said the committee would move on to HB 504, but no action on that bill is included in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• OK, we will move on now to a Legislative session update from Chief of Staff Megan Hanson.
• government affairs update, I will just give a brief overview of where we're at in the legislative session
• That's the colloquial wei, but kind of where we're at in the legislative session and then A few of the
• bills that are still active at this time, with approximately one month remaining in the legislative session
• Bill 4454, is a step behind, needing an opposite chamber committee hearing prior to next week's deadline

Keywords: 914, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We are considering thousands of pieces of legislation this session, members.
• If history We are considering thousands of pieces of legislation this session, members.
• and in prior sessions in support of the judiciary of Texas.
• session.
• session.

Bills: HB40

Keywords: law enforcement, sheriffs, constables, contracts, county authority

Summary: The Committee on Judiciary and Civil Jurisprudence met to hear House Bill 1761, a broad judicial package focused on increasing judicial compensation and adding accountability and efficiency measures. The chair explained that HB 1707 and HB 2100 were withdrawn from the agenda, and that HB 1761 would be taken up first because many judges and stakeholders were present. The committee substitute for HB 1761 proposed a 30% increase in base judicial pay to $182,000, changes to judicial retirement linkage, stronger judicial conduct provisions, and efficiency measures such as targeted reporting for judges not meeting benchmarks, appellate in-person meeting encouragement, and time limits on certain motions. The chair and several supporters said judicial pay had reached “emergency status,” citing Texas’s low national ranking and difficulty recruiting and retaining qualified judges. Witnesses in support included presiding and district judges, the State Bar’s judicial section, business and trial lawyer groups, and prosecutors. They emphasized that many judges work long hours off the bench, handle warrants at night and on weekends, manage heavy dockets, and face recruitment problems in both urban and rural counties. Supporters also said higher pay would help attract experienced lawyers, retain judges, and improve court efficiency. Several witnesses and members discussed judicial accountability, including public reporting of court performance and the role of the Texas Supreme Court and presiding judges in setting benchmarks. Some members raised concerns that raw statistics can be misleading because judges also do substantial off-the-bench work and often help cover other courts’ dockets. There was also testimony and discussion about the bill’s conduct and discipline provisions. A representative of the Texas Civil Rights Project opposed parts of the bill that would tie pay raises to changes affecting judicial independence, warning about subjective bail-related discipline standards and possible chilling effects. The executive director of the State Commission on Judicial Conduct cautioned against civil penalties for complainants, saying it could discourage good-faith complaints and create litigation risks. Other witnesses supported accountability reforms but urged caution about unintended consequences, especially for family and emergency cases and for judges handling warrants and other time-sensitive matters. After testimony, the committee withdrew the committee substitute and left HB 1761 pending, then recessed the committee.

Transcript Highlights:

• upon its failure to be ratified and the underlying emergency rule expires sine die on that regular session
• up that sine die that regular session.
• >> Pass a bill that says that one particular agencies responsible for defining a term, really no deadline
• subsequent legislation that speaks to the same underlying term or idea still not defined with no deadline
• All statute more material passed by the 2024 regular session. Thank you so much for the passadomo.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• vote-by-mail ballot drop locations and your willingness to delete the extended vote-by-mail receipt deadline
• Additionally, the deadline for the list to be provided to the candidates always falls on a Saturday,
• SB 715 addresses this issue by moving the deadline for providing the list of candidates to 78 days before
• I understand the Secretary of State has concerns about altering this deadline and that it may cause timing
• This is our last committee meeting for this session.

Summary: The Assembly Elections Committee met on July 1, 2026, heard a full agenda of election-related measures, and took final votes on several bills and one resolution. The committee also adopted two consent items, SB 1429 and SB 1430, without opposition. Members and the chair repeatedly noted committee membership changes and the final meeting of the session, and the chair emphasized the committee’s focus on protecting democracy and election integrity. Among the bills heard, SB 1369 would shorten the signature-gathering period for judicial recalls in larger counties and require paid gatherers to disclose they are compensated; supporters argued it would protect judicial independence, while the chair and some members noted the need to balance recall rights with county differences. SB 900 would reformat campaign disclosure language on large print ads and billboards to improve readability while preserving transparency, with broad support from outdoor advertising, clean money, and good-government groups. SJR 18, which condemns Citizens United and urges action against corporate spending in elections, drew support from reform advocates but also concerns about the resolution’s focus and scope; it was advanced on a party-line split with some members voting no. The committee also advanced SB 1164, a major voting-rights measure expanding California protections against vote dilution and voter suppression, adding preclearance-style review for some jurisdictions, and directing courts to interpret election laws in favor of voting access. Local government representatives opposed it unless amended, citing uncertainty, loss of safe-harbor protections, and implementation concerns, while civil-rights and labor groups strongly supported it. SB 1360, which expands language-access requirements for voters with limited English proficiency and lowers coverage thresholds, was supported by voting-rights and immigrant-advocacy groups but opposed by elections officials unless amended; the committee acknowledged the need for further work on county-level implementation and data standards. The committee also approved SB 1418, which extends protections against seizure of election records and voting systems beyond voted ballots, and SB 884, which creates a buffer zone around polling places and vote-by-mail drop locations to prevent interference with voting and ballot custody, though sheriffs and police groups opposed the arrest restrictions. SB 46, which would give the Secretary of State clearer authority to remove constitutionally ineligible presidential and vice-presidential candidates from the ballot, and SB 715, which moves candidate ballot-designation challenge deadlines earlier, also advanced. Most measures were sent to Appropriations or otherwise held on call for absent members, and the meeting ended with final roll calls and adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• There are very strict, quick deadlines under 202C.
• There are very strict, quick deadlines under 202C.
• legislative session, creating KRS 202. legislative session, creating KRS 202. 202<00:34:45.040><
• deadlines for hearings and discovery. deadlines for hearings and discovery.
• a little cleanup I think two sessions a little cleanup I think two sessions ago<00:48:53.119>

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The committee approved the minutes of its June 10, 2025 meeting and then heard testimony on House Bill 198, “Angela’s Law,” sponsored by Representative Samara Hein. The bill would add a new aggravating circumstance in death-penalty cases when an offender abuses the corpse of a kidnapping or murder victim by engaging in deviate sexual intercourse, sexual intercourse, or sexual contact. Representative Hein and the victim’s parents described the case that prompted the proposal, saying the current law did not allow the conduct to be treated as an aggravating factor because the sexual act occurred after death. They emphasized that the bill would not require a death sentence or life without parole, but would give judges and juries another sentencing factor to consider. Doug and Angela Kerr gave emotional testimony about their daughter’s murder and said the current sentencing options were inadequate given the facts of the case. Several members expressed sympathy and supported the bill’s purpose. Senator Wheeler said the measure would signal that the Commonwealth will not tolerate such conduct, and Representative Petrie said he supported the concept but urged careful drafting so the language would not be too narrow or unintentionally reach co-conspirators or others whose conduct differed from the principal offender. The committee then received an informational presentation on KRS Chapter 202C from Judge Lisa Payne Jones and Shauna Mitchell of the Kentucky Judicial Commission on Mental Health. They explained that 202C was enacted in 2021 to address a gap in Kentucky’s civil commitment laws for defendants found incompetent to stand trial after serious offenses. The presentation outlined the process: a Commonwealth’s attorney must file a petition for qualifying offenses, an evidentiary hearing must be held quickly, and if the respondent is found by a preponderance of the evidence to have committed the offense, a commitment hearing follows with a higher burden of proof. They also described the 2024 amendment changing the commitment criteria from requiring all four factors to only one, and noted the statute’s review-hearing schedule and the availability of later review if circumstances change or new evidence emerges.

Transcript Highlights:

• Welcome to the Commerce and Consumer Protection Committee for our first meeting of 2026, my last session
• And by moving the deadline out to the end of next session, we effectively solve for the current problem
• And by moving the deadline facilities.
• we out to the end of next session, we out to the end of next session, we effectively<00:05:11.199
• leadership last session on these bills. leadership last session on these bills.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I do recall the um agenda last session.
• <01:51:27.360> to and this would extend the deadline to and this would extend the deadline
• is real a certification deadline is real a realistic<01:53:36.880> one.
• deadline from 2020 20226 to 2028. The deadline from 2020 20226 to 2028.
• What staffing deadline was established.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The committee heard extensive testimony on Senate Bill 433, which would restrict the carrying of “bladed weapons” and related items. The Office of the Public Defender, Honolulu Police Department, the Hawaii Firearms Coalition, Knife Rights, and many individual testifiers opposed the bill, arguing it is overbroad, vague, and likely unconstitutional. Common concerns were that the term “bladed weapon” could sweep in ordinary tools such as pocketknives, Leathermans, multi-tools, fishing and camping gear, and items used by farmers, ranchers, hunters, divers, and martial arts practitioners. Several speakers also warned that the bill could burden lawful self-defense and create an affirmative-defense scheme that shifts costs and proof burdens onto defendants. Supporters and opponents alike focused on the need for a clearer definition, with HPD saying a narrower definition would help distinguish ordinary tools from dangerous weapons used in assaults. Opponents repeatedly urged the committee to defer or kill the measure, citing pending and related court cases and the risk of new constitutional challenges. Some testifiers tied the bill to Native Hawaiian gathering rights and subsistence practices, saying it would interfere with hunting, fishing, and food gathering, while others argued it would do little to deter criminals and instead penalize law-abiding residents and visitors. After finishing testimony on SB 433, the committee moved on to Senate Bill 2575 relating to firearms. The transcript shows the start of that item with the Office of the Public Defender and other agencies being called, but no substantive testimony or action on SB 2575 is included before the excerpt ends. No votes or final committee actions are reflected in the portion provided.