Transcript Highlights:

• The 10 goals establish a balanced approach to state investment in transportation programs.
• Here in California, we've seen, as I mentioned, in Marin and San Diego, similar e-bike programs.
• He said they have concerns about expanding a pilot program that has been done in Marin and San Diego,
• County that doesn't have a pilot program or somewhere else, how do they know the rules?
• So many of those cities have just begun their programs.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And I know stewardship program.
• what you're saying is if this program what you're saying is if this program goes<02:02:45.920>
• <02:12:49.360> we need to do is get the best program we need to do is get the best program
• , which is an excellent program.
• is an Hampshire 4 program which is an excellent<05:42:25.120> program.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Minority Member, Pat O'Connor, Senator Pat O'Connor, who might be joining at some point later on in the program
• programs, and I'm amazed at what is created off-site and then shipped in: entire roofing structures,
• programs, and I'm amazed at what is created off-site and then shipped in: entire roofing structures,
• programs, and I'm amazed at what is created off-site and then shipped in, entire roofing structures,
• All of this helps reduce the burden on taxpayer-funded social safety net programs.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The hearing focused on several labor-related bills, especially proposals to give legislative employees the right to organize and collectively bargain, close a prevailing wage loophole for off-site prefabrication work, and strengthen enforcement against wage theft. Committee chairs opened the hearing by explaining the hybrid format and asking witnesses to keep testimony brief. Multiple legislators testified in support of the legislative staff union bill, saying staff deserve the same bargaining rights as other public employees and that unionization would improve pay, benefits, retention, and workplace dignity. Witnesses also discussed how the bill would likely be structured, with separate House and Senate bargaining arrangements or locals, and emphasized that it would only create the option to unionize, not require it. A second major topic was the prevailing wage bill addressing off-site fabrication and prefabrication in construction. Union leaders, contractors, and workers described how more work is being shifted from job sites into shops, especially in sheet metal, HVAC, electrical, and pipefitting work, and argued that the law should treat that work the same as on-site construction when it is part of a public project. They said the current loophole lets some contractors underbid by paying lower wages off-site, while responsible contractors already pay prevailing wages in their shops. Supporters argued the bill would protect workers, preserve apprenticeship and training standards, improve safety and quality, and make enforcement easier through certified payroll and clearer definitions. The committee also heard testimony on wage theft legislation. Representative Dan Donahue, the Attorney General’s Fair Labor Division, AFL-CIO representatives, and carpenters’ union witnesses described wage theft, misclassification, labor brokers, and tax fraud as widespread problems that hurt workers, honest contractors, and public revenues. They supported giving the Attorney General stronger enforcement tools, adding contractor accountability up the subcontracting chain, and protecting workers from retaliation and from delays that can cause claims to expire. A separate witness supported a bill to extend the statute of limitations for Wage Act cases while AG investigations are pending, and another supported changes to help hospital workers enforce timely payment rights. No votes were taken during the hearing; witnesses repeatedly asked for favorable reports on the bills.

Transcript Highlights:

• SB 1 expands existing natural disaster loan recovery programs to include micro and small businesses,
• requirement for... ...a statewide requirement for statewide participation in the flood insurance program
• It was a great report, and sometimes great reports just sit on a shelf until the next disaster.
• The grant program The grant program will be administered by the Office of the Governor and funded in
• This will be a grant program through the Governor's Office.

Summary: The Senate opened with a quorum call, invocation, and approval of the previous day’s journal, then observed a moment of silence after Senator Eckhardt referenced a mass shooting in Austin. The chamber also agreed to postpone reading and referral of bills until later in the day. Early procedural business included a motion not to print Senate Bill 3, which was adopted without objection. Later, Senator Mendez raised a parliamentary inquiry about moving flood relief bills to the top of the calendar, but the presiding officer said the order of business was up to the chair. The main floor action centered on Senate Bill 4, the congressional redistricting bill. Senator King laid out the bill, describing it as the companion to the House version, based on 2020 census data, and arguing it was legal, race-blind, more compact, and likely to elect more Republicans. Senators asked extensive questions about the process, public hearings, and the map’s effects on districts and communities. The Senate voted to suspend the regular order of business and the three-day rule, then passed SB 4 to engrossment and finally passed it, with the recorded votes showing 19 yeas and 2 nays. The Senate also took up Senate Bill 6, relating to abortion and civil liability for the manufacture and provision of abortion-inducing drugs. Senator Hughes argued the bill was needed to stop illegal abortion pills being mailed into Texas and harming women and unborn children. The Senate suspended the regular order of business and the three-day rule, passed the bill to engrossment, and then finally passed it, with the recorded votes showing 18 yeas, 10 nays, and one present not voting. A lengthy discussion followed on the committee substitute for Senate Bill 14, which would standardize law enforcement personnel and departmental files statewide. Senator King said the bill codifies a TCOLE model policy and limits public access to personnel files to substantiated misconduct, commendations, and evaluations, while keeping other records available through other legal processes. Senators Eckhardt, West, Hinojosa, and others questioned how the bill would affect transparency, meet-and-confer agreements, civilian review boards, and access to unsubstantiated complaints. An amendment by Senator Hinojosa of Dallas to narrow the bill to unfounded complaints failed, and SB 14 was then passed to engrossment on a vote of 18 yeas and 10 nays. The final major item was Senate Bill 1, the natural disaster omnibus bill responding to the July flooding. Senator Perry said the bill addresses camp and RV park safety, evacuation plans, emergency rooftop access, lines of succession for local emergency management, annual drills, volunteer management, drone restrictions over disaster areas, small-business recovery loans, and a statewide data hub for flood and weather monitoring. Senators Menendez, Eckhardt, and Kolkhorst asked about autopsies, volunteer background checks, liability, warning systems, floodplain mitigation, and coordination with FEMA and local governments. Perry said the bill focuses on preparation, response, and recovery, while broader prevention and mitigation issues may be addressed later. The transcript ends during this extended discussion, before final action on SB 1 is shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• Our poll testing program has been in place for 50 years and has been refined.
• So you have your own program right now in place? Yes, sir.
• The way we read this bill, it's the PUC handing us a pole attachment program.
• However, programs like Obama's Connect Ed and many local programs invest heavily to expand.
• As a family, we enjoyed volunteering and participating in public library programs for decades.

Bills: HB 45, HB 755, HB 1232, HB 1555, HB 2460, HB 2702, HB 2973, HB 3120, HB 3225, HB 3314, HB 3356, HB 3371, HB 3634, HB 3638, HB 4247, HB 4283, HB 4290, HB 4302, HB 4503, HB 4511, HB 4565, HB 4581, HB 4627, HB 4632, HB 4660, HB 4668, HB 4960, HB 5042

Keywords: housing, affordable housing, rent control, landlord-tenant laws, housing rights, lobbying, public entities, expenditures, government code, transparency, Texas Ethics Commission, government regulation, lobbying restrictions, government accountability, taxpayer money, HB 1232, whistleblower, whistleblower protection, public employee, retaliation

Transcript Highlights:

• crimes, and then state program fraud. crimes, and then state program fraud.
• accessing state programs and services. accessing state programs and services.
• compensation support payment program. compensation support payment program.
• nutrition program participants. nutrition program participants.
• Programs.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Our pole testing program has been in place for 50 years and has been refined to be efficient, effective
• So you have your own program right now in place? Yes, sir.
• The way we read this bill, it's the PUC handing us a pole attachment program, so if we...
• However, programs like Obama's ConnectED and many local initiatives invest heavily to expand access to
• In the library arena, we are responsible for providing enriching and engaging summer reading programs

Bills: HB45, HB45, HB755, HB 1232, HB1555, HB2460, HB2702, HB2973, HB3120, HB3225, HB3314, HB3356, HB3371, HB3634, HB3638, HB4247, HB4283, HB4290, HB4302, HB4503, HB4511, HB4565, HB4581, HB4627, HB4632, HB4660, HB4668, HB4960, HB5042

Keywords: flooding, disaster response, emergency preparedness, state guidance, public safety, housing, affordable housing, rent control, landlord-tenant laws, housing rights, lobbying, public entities, expenditures, government code, transparency, Texas Ethics Commission, government regulation, lobbying restrictions, government accountability, taxpayer money

Transcript Highlights:

• unable to afford insurance, or, uh, and folks indefinitely denied renewal for, uh, by the omnibase program
• There may need to be an adjustment to the way this program is the, the surcharges I have.
• The structure and application of this program is what's known as a debt-based driver restriction strategy
• , or what the former witness referred to as the Omni-base program.
• Currently, if a sexual assault exam is performed and a kit is collected, that kit sits on a shelf and

Bills: HB316

Keywords: Medicaid, healthcare, affordable care act, medical assistance, federal funding

Transcript Highlights:

• Folks unable to afford insurance are often indefinitely denied renewal by the Omnibus program for not
• There may need to be an adjustment to how this program operates; the surcharges are something I have
• has researched and analyzed data associated with the state's Failure to Appear and Failure to Pay program
• , or what the former witness referred to as the OmniBase program.
• Currently, if a sexual assault exam is performed and a kit is collected, that kit sits on a shelf and

Bills: HB316, HB353, HB 1160, HB1414, HB1422, HB1443, HB1713, HB1789, HB1902, HB2073, HB2666, HB2695, HB316

Keywords: motor fuel, criminal offense, metering device, organized crime, Texas Penal Code, trespassing, school safety, day-care centers, education, trespass, public safety, utility employees, criminal penalties, assault, harassment, public duties, safety, law enforcement, driving offenses, license regulations

Transcript Highlights:

• um you fund we do we create programs um you fund those<00:03:00.920> programs<00:03:01.440>
• program integrity."
• after program.
• program<00:30:39.320> I'm program after program after program I'm program after program after
• integrity of the program.

Bills: HF1, HF98

Keywords: Office of Inspector General, inspector general, legislative audit, fraud prevention, waste and abuse, public funds, grant oversight, state grants, grant management, whistleblower protection, retaliation, subpoena power, data practices, government transparency, accountability, law enforcement referrals, sanctions, debarment, payment withholding, public assistance fraud

Transcript Highlights:

• workforce trying to deliver programs workforce trying to deliver programs that<01:55:58.880>
• <02:03:02.599> you state my point is that the programs you state my point is that the programs
• standard a nursing program the clinical standard a nursing program the clinical ratio<02:04:57.079>
• We've begun to do more with workforce programs, those short-term programs.
• programs those short-term programs<02:08:29.199> we<02:08:29.360> are<02:08:29.639>

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The meeting was the first session of a newly created House Education Funding Committee, which also handles career technical education and higher education legislation. The chair explained that the committee was split off from the larger education committee because of the high volume of bills in the prior biennium, and said its focus would be on education funding policy and related fiscal issues. He noted that the committee had already reviewed major topics with the Department of Education, including the foundation formula, building aid, career technical education, special education aid, catastrophic aid, and higher education funding, and that chancellors from the university and community college systems were scheduled to appear later that morning. The bulk of the meeting was an orientation on committee procedures and decorum. The chair reviewed attendance and replacement rules, hearing procedures, time limits for testimony, and how the committee would handle crowded hearings, early bills, and fiscal notes. He emphasized that hearings are not debates, that sponsors and co-sponsors may present but should not use their position to dominate questioning, and that the chair controls whether additional technical questions are asked of witnesses. He also stressed neutrality, saying members should not display buttons or placards or engage in running debates with testifiers, and that the committee should treat all testimony respectfully regardless of party or viewpoint. Additional housekeeping guidance covered security procedures, use of cell phones and computers during hearings, breaks and hydration in the dry hearing rooms, and courtesy toward the clerk and other staff. The chair also asked members to notify leadership in advance of absences and explained that some bills may require larger rooms or overflow arrangements. No votes were taken and no bills were acted on during this portion of the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• And Department of Agricultures programs.
• Craig Kuitt who is our GIS program Craig Kuitt who is our GIS program manager.<00:17:44.640>
• um we have a uh newly hired GIS program um we have a uh newly hired GIS program manager<00:19:12.813
• creating the formal program creating the formal program transitioning<00:45:20.160> those
• <00:45:30.880> is Zealand for this particular program is Zealand for this particular program

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The joint informational briefing from the House Committee on Agriculture and Food Systems and the Senate Committee on Agriculture and Environment focused on the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity’s update on Hawaii’s biosecurity framework, especially implementation of Act 231 (2024) and Act 236 (2025). Chairs Corey Chun and Mike Gabbard opened the meeting by framing the briefing as an update on investments to fight invasive species and improve statewide evaluation and coordination. Department leaders Sharon Her and Richard Kim described historic legislative and executive investments that have allowed the department to rebuild and modernize biosecurity infrastructure to better prevent, detect, control, and eradicate invasive species. The presentation emphasized the importance of biosecurity to Hawaii’s agriculture, economy, environment, and public well-being, citing threats such as rapid ohia death, little fire ant, coconut rhinoceros beetle, brown tree snake, and red imported fire ant. Staff explained the state’s layered approach—pre-border, border, and post-border—and compared it to New Zealand’s model, stressing that Hawaii must act as a “net, not a wall” and that prevention before entry is far more cost-effective than response after establishment. They also outlined agency roles across the system, including agriculture, natural resources, health, transportation, enforcement, and university partners, and noted that Act 231 strengthened authority over high-risk imports, offshore treatment, compliance agreements, and pest management plans, while Act 236 renamed the department and clarified statewide biosecurity coordination. Jonathan Ho then walked through specific program areas and progress. He said pre-border risk analysis is being supported by Act 231 funding and a university contract, while offshore compliance and treatment efforts have improved substantially, including Christmas tree inspections from Oregon and Washington and airline declaration systems that provide advance passenger information. For border work, he highlighted inspections, surveillance, detector dogs, and port monitoring. For post-border response and readiness, he discussed the invasive pest hotline and dashboard, trace-forward/trace-back and diagnostics, preparedness for future threats, and the need to build stronger internal capacity. He also described a developing transitional facilities program authorized by Act 236, modeled on New Zealand’s certified facilities system, and said the department has already begun outreach to industry groups such as the Hawaii Floriculture and Nursery Association. No votes or formal actions were taken; the meeting was informational only.

Transcript Highlights:

• feed is not taxed at any point from the production to consumer, except is sitting on a feed store shelf
• is the foundation upon which Louisville and other cities have built sound and responsible fiscal programs
• It was a kind of a catch-all. incentive program for local governments to use.
• It was primarily put in place so that the city of Round Rock, at the time, had an incentive program so
• in which they operate and enable cities to fund critical infrastructure and economic development programs

Bills: HB134, HB135, HB 1109, HB 1243, HB1392, HB1399, HJR99, HB134, HB135

Keywords: sales tax, use tax, local tax, municipal tax, county tax, tax sourcing, place of business, principal business location, small business, retailer, marketplace seller, economic development agreement, Chapter 321, Chapter 323, Tax Code, Texas Comptroller, local sales and use tax, tax jurisdiction, order consummation, ship-to location

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:12:51.800> like massive federal cuts to programs like massive federal cuts to programs
• Seems to me that we're all program.
• ineligibility to future programs. ineligibility to future programs.
• It's been an assistance program.
• 03:38:18.480> program, program after assistant program, program after assistant program, people

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• program specialist. program specialist.
• they'd already have a trophy shelf. they'd already have a trophy shelf.
• program operations. program operations.
• program? program?
• <04:43:50.400> and program and improve the program and program and improve the program and

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• , this program or any other particular program, and I don't know how it's going to play out.
• of evaluating School District programs of evaluating School District programs uh<00:25:44.960>
• > other<00:25:46.200> particular uh this program or any other particular uh this program
• the District special education programs the District special education programs that<00:28:30.399
• leaders about policies programs leaders about policies programs practices<00:42:49.920> and

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee opened with the Pledge of Allegiance and noted weather-related absences and a large number of new bills. The chair said a subcommittee would be formed to review three cell phone bills, and a full committee work session on bullying would be scheduled for the week after next. The committee then began a hearing on House Bill 121, which would create local special education advisory councils in school districts. Representative Glenn Cordelli, the sponsor, said the councils would be parent-driven, with parents of children with disabilities advising districts on education, safety, program development, evaluation, planning, policies, and communication with administrators. He said the bill would require at least quarterly meetings with district administration, an annual parent workshop, and a year-end report to the school board. He also cited federal guidance from the U.S. Department of Education on parent advisory councils and said the goal was to improve collaboration between parents and schools. Members raised questions about the use of “shall,” how councils would be formed in districts without PTAs/PTOs, whether the councils could function in very small districts, privacy concerns about parents disclosing their children’s disabilities, whether the councils should include guardians or educational professionals, and whether the councils would have any direct tie to the state advisory council. The sponsor said the requirement was intended to make the councils mandatory, that local districts could organize them organically if needed, that participation would be voluntary, that parents would not be required to disclose private information, and that the councils would remain advisory rather than determinative. He also said costs should be minimal. Testimony then began from Nicole Sheath, a pediatric occupational therapist and parent of four children with disabilities, who described her experience balancing advocacy, school collaboration, and the demands of her children’s therapies and education.

Transcript Highlights:

• I don't know why I can't remember that. terms of your program and what you do terms of your program and
• The witness said the separate state aid grant program is the after-the-fact grant program where
• I said comfort dog programs.
• That has been a successful program.
• <04:22:50.040> highly program that program has been highly program that program has been highly

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee heard an overview from the Agriculture Commissioner on the department’s major divisions and staffing. He described the Office of the Commissioner, Agricultural Development, Pesticides, Regulatory Services, Weights and Measures, Animal Industry, Plant Industry, and Soil Conservation, noting that many programs are federally funded or supported by dedicated fees and fines. He said the department has 44 full-time positions plus one DoIT employee shared with other agencies, and that HR services are now contracted through Administrative Services. He also explained that Soil Conservation is administratively attached to the department and funded through Moose Plate grants and county contributions, not direct state funding. Members asked about specific program functions and issues, including weights and measures inspections, animal health, bird flu response, internships, invasive species, and the Big E/New Hampshire building. The commissioner said weights and measures covers nearly all commercial measuring devices and products sold by weight, and that inspectors are currently part-time police officers, though the department is discussing removing that requirement. He said the department is actively involved in bird flu monitoring, including regular calls with USDA and the state veterinarian and collecting milk samples from dairy farms. On invasive species, he focused on Japanese knotweed and bittersweet, saying the department has only one staff person working on the issue, mainly as a coordinator with DOT and towns, and that eradication is extremely difficult. He also said the department does not run student internships and refers inquiries to UNH Cooperative Extension. The committee discussed budget and revenue issues, including three new general fund positions, one of which is the assistant commissioner and another a biological scientist for invasive species. The commissioner said the department had been in “triage mode,” that an assistant commissioner was needed because of workload, and that the department is a net positive to the General Fund each year. He said some fees and fines have not been updated in decades and would require legislation to change, including a proposed $5 fee for each animal database certificate to help fund a system that costs about $250,000 annually to maintain. In response to questions about budget reductions, he said the department protected personnel, reduced the cost-of-care fund, fair grants, and land preservation funding to about $25,000 each, and did not plan to buy new vehicles or computers. He also said he could not support including the $50,000 Conservation District resilience grant program in his budget under the current reduction targets, though he remained hopeful it might be funded another way.

Transcript Highlights:

• Is it somebody here on the DACA program?
• So, Christina mentioned the SAVE program, and we do rely on the state for the SAVE program.
• We On the state for this program. Additionally, she mentioned, and I do it in my office.
• Identifying methods or programs to increase the number of election workers.
• They created a pilot program, and that pilot program grew to ERAF and it expanded to Galveston.

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Justice, El Centro de Poder y Acción, Equality New Mexico, New Mexico Coalition of Sexual Assault Programs
• Justice, El Centro de Poder y Acción, Equality New Mexico, New Mexico Coalition of Sexual Assault Programs
• committee, my name's Jess Clark, Director of Prevention for the New Mexico Coalition of Sexual Assault Programs
• it is, in particular, to ensure that lines of accountability are clear when it comes to federal programs
• Commercial, buy-off-the-shelf-type drones were being weaponized, and they were being used to drop bombs

Bills: SB40, SB104, SB136, SB164

Keywords: SB40, Driver Privacy and Safety Act, automated license plate reader, ALPR, license plate reader, vehicle surveillance, privacy, data sharing, law enforcement data, immigration enforcement, reproductive health care, gender-affirming care, civil liberties, surveillance, public records, Inspection of Public Records Act, New Mexico State Police, Department of Public Safety, data sovereignty, vehicle tracking

Transcript Highlights:

• And for those that don't know, the Safe at Home program is an unbelievably valuable program for people
• Members, we owe it to people who take advantage of this program to make them invisible to their abuser
• is an unbelievably valuable program is an unbelievably valuable program<00:03:39.599> for<00:
• to make them invisible to this program to make them invisible to their<00:04:22.400> abuser.
• But for me as mayor, to explore program.

Bills: HF3676, HF3593, HF3785, HF3774, HF4111, HF3513

Keywords: Safe at Home, address confidentiality, domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, harassment, victim privacy, survivor protection, confidential address, protected address, secret address, identity protection, residential confidentiality, program participant, nondiscrimination, court disclosure, protective order, service of process, driver's license, state ID