Transcript Highlights:

• Now, I know this isn't a fiscal committee, but this will have real-life impacts.
• A serious concern we have with this bill is the significant fiscal note attached to it.
• The executive branch submitted a $38 million fiscal note, primarily due to the need to provide coverage
• Finally, this bill does not trigger any federal deferral provisions, and we've worked with the sponsor
• , and we did our own independent fiscal analysis as well.

Bills: AB52, AB76, AB163, AB388, AB483

Keywords: health insurance, claims process, insurance regulation, admin penalties, healthcare access, cannabis, cannabis establishment, medical cannabis, adult-use cannabis, advertising regulations, packaging requirements, unlicensed cannabis activities, state prosecution, confidentiality, Cannabis Compliance Board, disciplinary proceedings, mental health, counseling, interstate practice, telehealth

Transcript Highlights:

• It's something that triggers me.
• Um, can you just tell me the difference between the fiscal notes?
• Yeah, the initial fiscal note was now.
• Yeah, the initial fiscal note was somewhere around 13 million. Okay.
• Well, that probably had something to do with that fiscal note being so with that fiscal note being so

Bills: HB 14, HJR 31, HB 43, HB 18, HB 106, HB 36, HB 26, HB 149, HB 121, HB 206, HB 136, HB 3114, HB 2733, HB 1732, HB 3700, HB 467, HB 1130, HB 1846, HB 1442, HB 1147, HB 2176, HB 2701, HB 805, HB 2890, HB 1154, HB 1644, HB 2118, HB 1718, HB 2488, HB 2596, HB 1971, HB 2468, HB 484, HB 2578, HB 3204, HB 1041, HB 307, HB 685, HB 1710, HB 538, HB 2525, HB 3125, HB 2027, HB 2894, HB 3077, HB 3684, HJR 99, HB 1399, HJR 5, HB 1330, HB 2110, HJR 2, HJR 6, HB 1587, HB 14, HJR 31, HB 43, HB 18, HB 106, HB 36, HB 26, HB 149, HB 121, HB 206, HB 136, HB 3114, HB 2733, HB 1732, HB 3700, HB 467, HB 1130, HB 1846, HB 1442, HB 1147, HB 2176, HB 2701, HB 805, HB 2890, HB 1154, HB 1644, HB 2118, HB 1718, HB 2488, HB 2596, HB 1971, HB 2468, HB 484, HB 2578, HB 3204, HB 1041, HB 307, HB 685, HB 1710, HB 538, HB 2525, HB 3125, HB 2027, HB 2894, HB 3077, HB 3684

Keywords: nuclear energy, advanced reactors, energy security, grant programs, Texas Advanced Nuclear Energy Office, farm products, tax exemption, ad valorem taxation, agriculture, Texas Constitution, livestock, producer, finance, young farmers, financial assistance, pest control, rural health, hospital funding, healthcare access, mental health services

Transcript Highlights:

• We have our fiscal management, enterprise technology, human resources, budget planning, administrative
• management uh we have our fiscal management uh enterprise<00:01:20.080> technology<00:01:20.799
• >> Fiscal. >> Fiscal. >> Fiscal. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Yeah.
• So, again, this is currently our fiscal request. So it was put in the budget.
• The HONU was supposed to be a continuation for this fiscal year as well, this coming fiscal year.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• In terms of the appropriations, Senate security measures is $1.8 million for fiscal year 2026-27, with
• purchasing manager, plus anticipated personnel costs that were developed in consultation with the fiscal
• So starting at line 2.24, it says that a million dollars in fiscal year 2027 is appropriated from the
• it says that a million dollars in fiscal it says that a million dollars in fiscal year<00:31:43.120
• I'm a little triggered right now, but that's okay. We need to focus on the matter at hand.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We're proposing to not fund the program at this time and achieve that. at savings in the next fiscal
• It is a reduction in in light of the state's fiscal budget solutions sorry in light of the state's fiscal
• So the funding for this program is set to expire at the end of this fiscal year.
• Duane Reeder, California Correctional Health Care Services, Deputy Director of the Fiscal Office.
• We'll start with the Department of Justice. of Fiscal Operations with the Department of Justice.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• He hung up the phone, put a gun to his temple, and pulled the trigger.
• Okay, and can you explain how this bill, if enacted, would trigger such a lawsuit? Yes.
• Do you think this is broad enough to trigger the whole Commerce Clause decision?
• <03:36:19.439> such this bill if enacted would trigger such this bill if enacted would trigger
• in its execution there's no fiscal in its execution there's no fiscal impact<05:02:23.280> of

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I thought that was the trigger mechanism anyways through the governor. Any other questions?
• capable of doing, or is fiscally responsible.
• <03:07:33.200> um<03:07:33.439> we're<03:07:33.680> fiscally that's fiscally
• um we're fiscally that's fiscally um we're fiscally capable<03:07:34.479> of<03:07:34.720>
• capable of doing um or is fiscally capable of doing um or is fiscally responsible.<03:07:37.600>

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It requires a law enforcement officer to report to the commissioner of Public Safety, which would trigger
• c> commissioner of Public Safety which commissioner of Public Safety which would<00:26:09.279> trigger
• a suspension if the law would trigger a suspension if the law enforcement<00:26:11.880> officer
• Turner: was there a fiscal note required or requested, or do we have a fiscal note on this bill?
• Anderson, I did not request a fiscal note on this bill. Uh, Mr. Turner, I just...

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The response was that those funds are available as long as the county is fiscally constrained.
• Palm Beach County is not fiscally constrained.
• The response continued that those funds are available as long as the county is fiscally constrained.
• Palm Beach County is not fiscally constrained.
• But sometimes you have to pull the trigger if you have an opportunity.

Summary: The Senate Appropriations Committee met with a quorum present and took up two bills. The first, SB 250 on rural communities by Senator Simon, was described as a broad rural development package creating an Office of Rural Prosperity, a Renaissance grant program, housing and transportation investments, added funding for rural education consortiums, and health care initiatives for rural areas. Senator Harrell asked about overlap between road funding programs, and the sponsor explained that eligible counties could receive both SCRAP and FARM funding. Several organizations waived in support or spoke in support, and the bill was reported favorably by unanimous vote. The committee then heard SB 318, the committee substitute for educational scholarship programs by President Gates. The bill was presented as a response to Auditor General findings about the rapid growth and administration of Florida’s school choice and scholarship programs. It would separate Family Empowerment Scholarship funding from the FEFP, require more frequent student enrollment verification, lower scholarship funding organization administrative fees, require return of overpayments, create a student ID system, establish a $250 million stabilization fund, require annual audits, and direct DOE to recommend future program administration through competitive procurement. Gates also offered five amendments, including technical changes to eligibility documentation and a substantive amendment requiring a DOE report on future administration and competitive selection; all five amendments were adopted. During debate and public testimony, senators and witnesses discussed accountability, software solutions, reimbursement delays, monthly attestations, and impacts on public schools and families. Supporters and opponents alike raised concerns about bureaucracy, fraud prevention, special education services, and whether the bill would help or burden parents. Gates said the bill aimed to fix tracking and payment problems without capping the program, and he noted the IEP timeline would be aligned with public school timelines. After debate, the committee reported CS for SB 318 favorably by unanimous vote, and then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• We assume that we will be able to meet that goal in fiscal year 2025.
• That's what triggers the 90 days. The FTE or less program does not have a layoff requirement.
• coming into the next fiscal year, they can switch programs again.
• So every independent contractor has to submit a new application every fiscal year.
• You know, be very mindful you cannot exceed the $25,000 before the end of the fiscal year.

Transcript Highlights:

• With that being said, of course comes the fiscal issue.
• To make it less of a burden on those smaller communities, this bill proposes to up the triggering threshold
• To make it less of a burden on those smaller communities, this bill proposes to up the triggering threshold

Keywords: 974, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• There's no fiscal note. Okay, that was the question. Did they need additional money? No.
• Has that triggered any? I recall some folks at Christian Brothers with the name Henry. Okay.
• amendment basically would set the framework for continuous monitoring and evaluation of our institutional fiscal
• comprehensive permit fee adjustment was in 2016, when DEQ began operating, and it began operating at a fiscal
• It's saying if you point a firearm into a crowd of people and pull the trigger, that shall constitute

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

Keywords: Jump Start, career and technical education, CTE, career diploma, career pathways, workforce development, high school diploma, career major, individual career and academic plan, ICAP, individual graduation plan, IGP, work-based learning, apprenticeship, internship, dual enrollment, articulation agreement, transfer credit, rural schools, rural LEA

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:

• I was looking at the fiscal impact report on this bill, and I just want to flag what the Board of Veterinary
• When pets lack veterinary care, it has a huge fiscal impact on city and county shelters, as well as nonprofits
• think we have some in Santa Fe that are not over $3 million in gross revenues, so it's not going to trigger
• As I said up front in the fiscal impact report, it states the exact number.
• like all New Mexicans to know is, first of all, most people in uniform are not what I refer to as trigger

Bills: SB97, SB55, SB40, SB38, SB120, SB113, SB116, SB117, SB118

Keywords: tax credits, municipality, county property, industrial revenue bonds, economic development, qualified expenditures, solar energy, tax credit, renewable energy, photovoltaic, solar thermal, New Mexico, economic incentive, energy independence, SB40, Driver Privacy and Safety Act, automated license plate reader, ALPR, license plate reader, vehicle surveillance

Transcript Highlights:

• The history of it is about to change in state fiscal year 27.
• The history of it is about to change in state fiscal year 27.
• ><00:15:13.040> year<00:15:13.440> 27 The history of it is about to change in state fiscal
• Um, that methodology is being eliminated as an option effective the end of this state fiscal year at
• decisions to actually pull the trigger decisions to actually pull the trigger and<00:58:10.559><

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Summary: The commission to study special education costs under SB 57 met for its second meeting, with members introducing themselves and reviewing background materials on New Hampshire special education identification rates, NAEP results, and a Wall Street Journal article about the rise in autism diagnoses. The chair explained that the commission is examining special education aid formulas, including how New Hampshire’s current catastrophic aid threshold works and how changes to that threshold might affect school districts, but noted that the needed data on how many students would shift into the aid system at lower thresholds is not yet available. The main testimony came from Henry Litman of HHS on Medicaid reimbursement in schools. He explained that school-based Medicaid funding is tied to health-related services, not all special education services, and that federal rules are changing in state fiscal year 2027. Under the new approach, schools will move away from an in-kind methodology to a certified public expenditure model that may also allow recovery of some overhead costs, such as support staff time. He said the state won a federal grant to help build the new system, hired a vendor, and is setting up training and a help center for districts. Members asked about why Medicaid claims have declined and whether districts are leaving money on the table. Litman said claims are down about 25% from pre-pandemic levels, with declines tied to federal and state rule changes, documentation requirements, provider qualification rules, and the end of temporary pandemic flexibilities. He said some districts adapted better than others depending on local medical-provider access and administrative capacity. He also said the new federal legislation does not directly affect schools, while New Hampshire’s return to pre-pandemic eligibility rules has reduced enrollment somewhat. No votes were taken, and the discussion ended with agreement that the commission needs better data to determine how much special education spending is truly Medicaid-eligible and whether additional legislation is needed.

Transcript Highlights:

• So, just on a sure fiscal note, it doesn't matter what we tax these people.
• A complete THC ban would be the most fiscally responsible approach, preventing the need for extensive
• The marketing is misleading, and the product has the power to trigger full-blown psychosis.
• The fiscal conservative in me wants to support this bill, but I just cannot.
• How is that fiscally responsible?

Bills: SB 5, SB 11, SB 12

Keywords: disaster relief, flood preparedness, emergency funding, local government support, meteorological forecasting, human trafficking, trafficking victim, compelling prostitution, affirmative defense, criminal defense, coercion, force fraud or coercion, sexual exploitation, victim protection, Penal Code, Texas criminal law, prosecution, party liability, affirmative defense statute, survivor rights

Summary: The Senate Committee on State Affairs took up Senate Bill 5, which Senator Perry described as a ban on intoxicating THC consumer products while preserving legal CBD, CBG, hemp seed, hemp seed protein powder, and hemp seed oil products. Perry argued that most retail THC products are already illegal under federal law, that the industry has used loopholes and misleading labeling to sell high-potency products, and that regulation would be ineffective because chemists can quickly alter formulations. He also said the bill would steer people with medical needs toward the Texas Compassionate Use Program (T-Cup), which he and other supporters described as the proper physician-guided alternative. Committee members and witnesses repeatedly discussed the distinction between legal hemp-derived products and intoxicating THC products, and Perry said the bill would not touch non-consumable hemp uses such as fiber and clothing. Invited testimony came from law enforcement and medical witnesses who supported the bill. Texas Police Chiefs Association representative Steve Dye, Kaufman County District Attorney Early Wiley, and Chambers County Sheriff Brian Hawthorne all said regulation would be too costly, too complex, and ultimately unenforceable, while a ban would be clearer and easier to enforce. They cited overloaded DPS labs, the need for expensive private testing, limited police and prosecutor resources, and the difficulty of keeping up with constantly changing cannabinoids and out-of-state products. Hawthorne and Wiley described raids and investigations involving warehouses, retail stores, cash seizures, and products they said were marketed to young people and often mislabeled or imported from other states. They also said the bill would help law enforcement by creating a clearer legal line and protecting legitimate CBD/CBG businesses. Dr. Lindy McGee, speaking for the Texas Medical Association and Texas Pediatric Society, testified that retail THC products pose serious risks to children and adolescents, including addiction, impaired brain development, psychosis, suicide attempts, self-harm, accidental toddler ingestions, and possible long-term cognitive effects. She said there is no effective medication treatment for THC addiction comparable to nicotine cessation tools, and she supported restrictions such as child-resistant packaging, no marketing to minors, and age limits, while opposing criminal penalties for possession by minors. Senators asked follow-up questions about brain development, memory, dementia risk, pregnancy, and cardiovascular effects. No vote was taken during the portion provided, and the committee continued with invited testimony and questions.

Transcript Highlights:

• Like for them to have to pay additional fees, it would trigger their need to override the tax cap and
• The last two bills just strengthen it and also put potential fiscal impacts on our local governments

Keywords: 993, senate, all

Summary: The Senate Housing, Construction and Community Development Committee met with quorum present and considered a full agenda of housing, code enforcement, and rent regulation bills, many of which had passed the Senate in prior years. Early measures included a statewide residential rental registry (S.912), penalties and reporting for vacant and abandoned properties (S.925), and extending tenant response time for major capital improvement rent increase applications (S.1461). The committee also advanced several code-enforcement and fire/building-code bills, including measures to expand remedies for Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code violations (S.3406), increase the Secretary of State’s code enforcement powers (S.4165 and S.4534), and authorize investigations into code administration and enforcement (S.4535). Members raised concerns about local fiscal impacts, the scope of state authority, contractor use, and whether the bills adequately define or limit “imminent threat” and related enforcement powers. A substantial portion of the meeting focused on S.4852, which would require the Codes Council to review and act on updates to international model codes within 18 months. Senators debated whether the bill would speed up code adoption or, as some feared, weaken economic reasonableness considerations by striking the word “economically” from the statutory standard. Supporters said the bill was intended to ensure prompt review of widely used model codes and noted other statutory safeguards remain in place; opponents worried about reduced attention to cost and practical impacts, especially amid housing and utility capacity constraints. The committee also discussed S.6368A, requiring complainants to receive copies of compliance orders issued after code complaints, and S.6600B, mandating inspections of certain non-fireproof buildings in New York City. Additional bills advanced included standards for all-gender bathroom design and construction (S.7131A), compensation for required code-enforcement personnel training (S.7159), and audits of individual apartment improvements in rent-regulated units (S.8046A). Several measures were reported to Finance, while others were reported to the floor. Throughout the meeting, votes were largely along expected lines, with some members voting negative or “without recommendation” on the more expansive code-enforcement bills. No bill was defeated, and all items on the agenda were reported out of committee.

Transcript Highlights:

• was not the entity for which the exemption was originally granted, there was a statute that would trigger
• was not the entity for which the exemption was originally granted, there was a statute that would trigger
• And then other areas that are less assessor areas but important as well are fiscal disparities.
• And then other areas that are less assessor areas but important as well are fiscal disparities.
• And then other areas that are less assessor areas but important as well are fiscal disparities.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, the LBAS, if you see the revised fiscal note, it says it's a fiscal impact of less than $10,000 per
• note, it says it's a revised fiscal note, it says it's a fiscal<00:38:12.560> impact<00:38:12.880
• It's also a fiscal one.
• It's also a fiscal one.
• a profound effect on the fiscal a profound effect on the fiscal stability<04:24:23.520> of

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Section one of the bill addresses 297A.67, subdivision 40, adding trigger locks and defining what they
• note as Senator question of the fiscal note as Senator rest<00:21:57.279> said<00:21:57.440><
• For members’ benefit, I’ll point out that we don’t have a fiscal note on this bill; we have a revenue
• note on this bill we have have a fiscal note on this bill we have a<00:23:49.120> revenue<00:
• notes in this committee notes not fiscal notes in this committee thanks<00:27:39.799> you<00:

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• But if there is an excess profit trip, a trigger, those funds will be your turn as we go through.
• So one of the things that one of the products that can ex developed has a parametric trigger to it based
• on wind developed has a parametric trigger to it based on wind speed so that the contract will pay out
• if that wind speed trigger is is hit.
• And that kind of triggered this reaction in the market and and the driver of the prior year.