Transcript Highlights:

• The transportation, tourism, and economic development budget in this bill includes a lot of important
• The transportation, tourism, and economic development budget in this bill includes a lot of important
• Thank you for allowing me to present these highlights of the budget for transportation, tourism, and
• So we are actively making sure that for those sections of land that look like they meet the standards
• And so that we are actively making sure that for those sections of land that look like they meet the

Summary: The Senate took up the conference report on House Bill 501E, the General Appropriations Act for fiscal year 2026-27, with Chair Hooper and the appropriations chairs walking through the $114.5 billion budget. Major highlights included pay increases for state law enforcement, firefighters, park rangers, and correctional officers; funding for teacher salary increases and K-12 enrollment stabilization; workforce and university funding in higher education; major Medicaid, nursing home, waiver, and opioid-related investments in health and human services; corrections and prison-capacity funding; transportation, housing, and emergency management spending; and large environmental appropriations for Florida Forever, Everglades restoration, and water quality projects. Members then asked detailed questions about specific items. Senators pressed on the Hamilton Center at UF, the difference between assistant state attorney and public defender pay, declining student enrollment funding, private school scholarship vouchers, mental health funding in schools, the lack of preeminence funding, APD’s iBudget waiver wait list and provider rates, ADAP premium assistance and the return of Biktarvy to the formulary, prison staffing and air conditioning, Florida Forever land-buying versus easements, SNAP and Sun Bucks funding, Hope Florida, election audit funding, and the IDD managed care program. Chairs generally explained the negotiated compromises, noted where funding was flat or omitted, and in several cases said items would be revisited next year or depended on agency implementation. Several senators used debate to praise the budget while also criticizing major policy choices. Leader Berman argued the state should have expanded Medicaid, invested more in public schools instead of vouchers, and accepted federal summer EBT funds. Other senators highlighted local wins such as Biscayne Bay restoration, Tri-Rail, housing assistance, ADAP funding, and declining enrollment support. The transcript ends with debate remarks thanking Chair Hooper for his work on the budget; no final vote is shown in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• Also, from a tourism perspective, people actually come and say, 'Oh, what's a swinging bridge?'
• development act a place of tourism.
• Also from<00:03:04.280><c> a</c><00:03:04.320><c> tourism</c><00:03:04.880><c> perspective,</c><00:03
• :05.960><c> people</c> from a tourism perspective, people from a tourism perspective, people actually
• c> tourism.

Committee: House Economic Development & Workforce Investment

Keywords: Meeting Start: 00:00 Roll Call: 00:32 SB 261 Discussion: 01:40 SB 261 Voting: 05:37 SB 324 Discussion: 06:23 SB 324 Voting: 12:56, 958, all

Transcript Highlights:

• President, the Committee on Finance, having under consideration House Bill 2950 relating to tourism,
• Chair, it makes clarifications to the language that the tourism assessment is only authorized by the
• So even though this bill is currently focused on Marana, it directly affects the active referendum effort
• For voters to challenge anything that we do here at the legislature by making it active as soon as the

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• All right, the active Committee of the Whole is called to order. Mr. Majority Leader, Mr.
• She's been very actively educating many of our representatives, as well as all the 638 leaders within
• House Bill 2258, amending Section 42-23 and related provisions, relating to the Office of Tourism.
• House Bill 2258, amending Section 42-23 and related provisions, relating to the Office of Tourism.

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Possum Kingdom Lake and Lake Graham fuel tourism, while hunting leases and agribusiness honor its rural
• The oil industry remains active alongside a diversifying economy.
• oldest operating cotton gin in the United States of America. you'll find the oldest continuously active
• It offers some of the best seafood tourism. We have hunting, fishing, fine art.

Bills: SB26 , SB28 , SJR36 , SB26 , SB616 , SB565 , SB384 , SB28

Keywords: teacher compensation, education funding, public school educators, teacher retention, teacher designation, lottery, gambling, internet gaming, mobile application, criminal offenses, aquifer, water management, Edwards Aquifer, sustainability, regulatory framework, SB 565, Texas Water Code, TCEQ, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, compliance agreement

Transcript Highlights:

• Chair. and Tourism Budget. This was Senate Bill and Tourism Budget.
• </c><05:35:24.958><c> division</c> way uh rooms and the tourism division way uh rooms and the tourism
• </c><06:13:37.120><c> It's</c><06:13:37.280><c> not</c><06:13:37.520><c> active.
• It's not active. Yeah, crossing that. It's not active.
• I don't know it's not currently active.

Keywords: 10am HB 1 & HB 2, 928, house, all

Summary: The committee of conference on HB 1 and HB 2 reviewed comparison documents and worked through a long list of House and Senate positions, agreeing on some technical or already-enacted items while setting aside others for later discussion. Early on, members agreed to delete a House Bill 2 section tied to a bill already passed into law, and a representative explained a technical amendment to the EFA provisions clarifying enrollment-cap repeal language and compulsory attendance rules for EFA students. That amendment was discussed but a vote was postponed because not all members were present. The committee also noted that the overall EFA budget numbers had already been settled separately. Several items were either agreed to or held for further negotiation. Members agreed to delete sections already covered by other enacted bills, including BTLA-related language, and to accept a technical amendment changing "municipalities" to "political subdivisions" in a section affecting funding eligibility. They also agreed on some items involving workers’ compensation second injuries, certain pilot-program language, and some sections related to state loan repayment and other technical corrections. In contrast, they set aside or disputed items involving site evaluation, lottery-related provisions, opioid abatement, the Commission on Aging, Granite Advantage premium costs, renewable energy/offshore wind funding, special education funding, and several education trust fund and unique-fund provisions. The committee spent substantial time on policy disputes. The House side argued against keeping money in dedicated Fish and Game funds rather than increasing the main Fish and Game fund, while the Senate side defended its approach and raised concerns about fee impacts, including one tied to the fishing license. The members also discussed a housing appeals board proposal, with one member suggesting a possible compromise that would preserve some function while shifting duties and possibly sunsetting the arrangement later; the contracts for the positions were noted as running through June 30, 2028 and June 30, 2029. Another extended discussion concerned the child advocate records-access section, which one side wanted removed as policy that should go through the normal bill process, while another member asked to hold it and suggested a possible middle-ground, time-limited approach. Later, the committee agreed to remove sections already handled in other bills, including House sections 254 and 255, and discussed but did not resolve disputes over liquor licensing functions, cannabis-related language, cost containment, special education, and several fee and fund provisions. The Senate explained its position on the governor’s commission language, saying opioid abatement trust funds could not be used for that purpose and that the commission should continue to be funded through 5% of gross liquor profits; it also described renaming the body the Commission on Addiction Treatment and Prevention and expanding its scope to include problem gambling. The meeting ended with several major items still open for later negotiation.

Transcript Highlights:

• Texas remains an active participant. what Congress is actually going to do.
• Texas remains an active participant.
• Item four discusses the revenue related to the private activity bond program.
• That is actively being disputed; it's been to the Supreme Court.
• in travel and tourism.

Bills: SB 1

Committee: Senate Finance

Keywords: campground safety, youth camp regulations, flood safety, emergency evacuation, health and safety standards

Summary: The committee began with Article I budget items for the Secretary of State. LBB staff outlined recommendations that would reduce the agency’s appropriation by about $40.3 million, including changes to HAVA funding, removal of one-time business system replacement money, and a rider directing the agency to use Fund 5095 first. Secretary Jane Nelson and staff then defended several exceptional items, especially additional staffing for elections and business filings, a new website, digitization of records, cybersecurity tools, and renovation of the James Earl Rudder Building. Members focused heavily on election administration, cross-checking voter rolls, Harris County complaints, call-center response times, and whether online voter registration should be expanded. No votes were taken; the discussion was informational and budget-focused. The committee then heard the Office of the Governor and trustee programs. LBB presented a recommended $2.4 million decrease for the governor’s office proper and a much larger decrease in trustee programs driven by one-time funding and unexpended balances, while still preserving major border security funding and victim assistance funding. Governor’s staff emphasized Texas’ economic growth, the importance of border security, and efforts to seek federal reimbursement for the roughly $11 billion Texas has spent on border operations. Members discussed whether shifting National Guard deployment to federal control could reduce state costs, and they also reviewed the music incubator program, the Governor’s University Research Initiative, and the semiconductor innovation consortium. Staff highlighted a $5 million late-added request for grants to protect nonprofits from violence and terrorism. Again, the exchange was largely explanatory, with no formal action. Finally, the committee took up the Texas Facilities Commission and lease payments for revenue bonds. LBB recommended major reductions overall, including removal of border wall construction funding and capital complex bond funding, but added money for higher utility costs, renovation of the Rudder Building, and additional facilities staff. George Purcell also noted stable maintenance-and-renewal funding and new riders related to the Texas State Library and Archives Commission building, tenant communications, and space utilization. For lease payments, LBB recommended a smaller appropriation tied to revenue-bond costs allocated across agencies. The discussion was informational, with members asking about the Rudder Building renovation, border wall progress, and capital complex construction timelines; no votes were recorded.

Transcript Highlights:

• Outside of the Assembly, Lou has been an active member of his community, serving as a manager and umpire
• She was also actively involved in the current Reading Association and other educational-focused organizations
• It's been a subject of a lot of debate in the Arts, Entertainment, Sports, and Tourism Committee because
• Our entertainment industry is a huge economic driver of tourism for our state, and this bill will go
• The entertainment industry is a huge economic driver of tourism for our state, and this bill will go

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Tourism is critical for Taylor County, and thankfully the state has assisted with the unfathomable amount
• And of course, on the barrier islands, a lot of tourism was impacted from those events.
• So we had to actively evacuate that hospital to Kathy Perkins: another one while the winds were still
• As you know, we're also a high tourism area, so a lot of people were impacted with their jobs.
• In many neighborhoods on the barrier islands, we were actively working alongside the Florida Department

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm the codes program manager for our Center for Energy and the Environment and an active participant
• I was an active participant in the 2012 TAG, the 2021 TAG, and the 2024 TAG.
• I was an active participant in States.
• >> So moved. each of the touring tourism marketing each of the touring tourism marketing regions<00:52
• It would suspend revenue-generating activity altogether and permanently destabilize my business.

Bills: HF3545 , HF4004

Committee: House Workforce, Labor, and Economic Development Finance and Policy

Keywords: energy efficiency, construction standards, building codes, environment, sustainability, 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• And then also there's quite a few federal activity that's been done in the Red River Basin.
• And then also there's quite a few federal activity that's been done in the Red River Basin.
• This complex is a center of social and economic activity for our city and for our state.
• ,</c><01:25:05.280><c> and</c> drive business, jobs, tourism, and drive business, jobs, tourism, and
• ,</c> while fueling the kind of activity, while fueling the kind of activity, energy,<01:25:47.199><c

Bills: HF2080 , HF356 , HF1968 , HF228 , HF569 , HF603 , HF692 , HF1455 , HF2224 , HF1361

Committee: House Capital Investment

Keywords: contamination, water supply, municipal bonds, environmental mitigation, city funding, Sauk Rapids, PFAS contamination, drinking water, pollution control, bond issuance, Cokato, capital investment, school infrastructure, state bonds, HF228, Lakes Area Police Commission, Lindstrom, Chisago City, regional training facility, public safety facility

Transcript Highlights:

• The Committee on Commerce and Tourism will now come to order. Renea, please call the roll.
• Family Link allow parents to approve every download, set time limits, restrict content, and monitor activity
• Amendment Barcode 388214 adds the word “departure” to the list of activities for which ADS-B data may
• the Reemployment Assistance Appeals Commission and the Board of Supervisors of the Central Florida Tourism
• Commission, Thomas Ravenscoffed, and David Woods to the Board of Supervisors of the Central Florida Tourism

Bills: S0198 , S0422 , S1236 , S1356 , S1456 , S1722

Committee: Senate Commerce and Tourism

Keywords: virtual currency, kiosks, money services business, regulation, financial services, consumer protection, cryptocurrency, registration, ADS-B, automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast, aviation, airports, airport fees, landing fees, departure fees, touch-and-go landing, general aviation, pilot privacy, airspace radius, aircraft tracking

Summary: The committee first postponed SB 1456, then heard SB 1236, which would condition state economic development incentives on employers using secret-ballot union elections and prohibit neutrality agreements. The sponsor argued the bill protects workers from coercion and applies only to companies receiving taxpayer-funded incentives; opponents said it was government interference, likely to hurt contractors, apprenticeships, and business growth, and raised concerns about federal preemption and Attorney General enforcement. After debate, the committee reported SB 1236 favorably on a recorded vote. The committee then considered CS/SB 198, a measure to regulate cryptocurrency kiosks by requiring operator registration, fraud warnings, transaction limits, blockchain analytics, receipts, and refund protections for certain first-time transactions tied to fraud. Supporters from the banking industry, AARP, and others said the bill would help stop scams that are targeting seniors and vulnerable adults; one industry witness supported the bill but suggested narrowing the limits for existing users and shortening the new-customer period. The committee reported the bill favorably. Next, the committee took up CS/SB 1356 on dog breeding, pet sales, and breeder registration. The sponsor said the bill is intended to curb puppy mills, improve animal welfare, and add consumer protections, while an amendment removed state oversight of local animal shelters. Pet store representatives supported much of the bill but objected to the three-day waiting period for financed purchases, expanded reimbursement, and unfair trade practice penalties; others argued the bill would add red tape and litigation. The committee adopted the amendment and then reported the bill favorably. The committee also heard SB 1722 on app stores and minors, which would require age verification, parental consent for minors, app-content disclosures, and enforcement by the Department of Legal Affairs. Supporters said the bill would help parents protect children online; opponents warned it could force collection of sensitive personal data, create privacy and constitutional problems, and duplicate existing parental tools. Members debated the balance between child safety and privacy, and the committee reported the bill favorably. Finally, the committee heard CS/SB 422 on ADS-B aviation data, which would bar use of ADS-B information to calculate certain landing or access fees; an amendment added departures to the restriction. Pilots supported the bill as a safety and privacy measure, while airport representatives opposed it as undermining airport finances and shifting costs. The amendment was adopted, and the hearing on the bill began with testimony from both sides.

Transcript Highlights:

• This is based on historical attrition rates for the board, as well as combined with an active hiring
• The outcomes are that our workers are more activated and empowered to actually address the incidents
• Especially as tourism events are coming and world events are increasing, I'm right nearby.
• Especially as tourism events are coming and world events are increasing, I'm right nearby.
• Especially as tourism events are coming and world events are increasing, I'm right nearby.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And we have about 50,000 active military personnel.
• I think that's going to continue to help many of our active-duty members and veterans have opportunities
• that I was ultimately given a job at a large multinational corporation that today is the largest active
• The economy of the Florida Keys revolves almost entirely around tourism.
• Related to tourism, hospitality, and culinary arts.

Bills: S1570 , S1376

Committee: Senate Appropriations Committee on Higher Education

Keywords: missing persons, special needs, autism, search-and-rescue, Florida, voluntary program, funding, genetic counseling, education grants, state universities, faculty recruitment, student financial assistance

Summary: The committee heard and approved two bills before moving to a long confirmation agenda. SB 1570, by Sen. Gates, would restore Project Leo, a previously sunset program that helps locate missing persons with special needs through voluntary tracking devices and coordination between CARD centers and local sheriffs; it was praised as a proven tool for families and first responders and was reported favorably. CS/SB 1376, by Sen. Burgess, would create grants to support genetic counseling education and help address Florida’s shortage of genetic counselors; testimony noted the state’s limited supply of licensed counselors and the need to expand clinical training, and the bill also passed favorably. The committee then considered a block of reappointments to university and college boards of trustees, including institutions such as UWF, Broward College, Chipola College, FIU, Pasco-Hernando, Polk State, St. Petersburg, Valencia, FAMU, FAU, UCF, FSU, New College, UNF, USF, and others. No one requested separate votes on the reappointments, and the block was confirmed unanimously for recommendation to the next committee. A series of new appointees then appeared and largely emphasized workforce training, nursing, military support, and local economic development at their institutions. Witnesses included appointees to Pensacola State, Polk State, St. Petersburg College, UNF, FIU, UWF, Valencia, the College of the Florida Keys, and others; several highlighted strong NCLEX pass rates, dual enrollment, and partnerships with employers or military communities. One nominee, Florida Poly reappointment Ilya Shapiro, faced pointed questioning from Sen. Bracey Davis about past comments regarding race and the Supreme Court; he said his remarks were about hiring criteria, not a specific justice, and reiterated opposition to race- or sex-based selection. The committee also briefly struggled to reach Sherry Young by phone before hearing her testimony for Chipola College, where she said she wanted to give back as an alumna and nurse practitioner. Most new appointees were recommended for confirmation in a block, while Thomas Zachary Smith of UWF was pulled for separate consideration.

Transcript Highlights:

• We have about 50,000 active military personnel.
• that I was ultimately given a job at a large multinational corporation that today is the largest active
• The economy of the Florida Keys revolves almost entirely around tourism.
• The other thing that the... ...related to tourism, to hospitality, to culinary arts.
• resources to military members and to veterans to help them further their careers if they remain on active

Committee: Senate Appropriations Committee on Higher Education

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So that gives a broad application to do the activities that you've asked about.
• The events and activities can still take place.
• in the region; a convention bureau; a tourism development council—all...
• A convention bureau, a tourism development council.
• Taxpayer dollars should not be used to promote inappropriate activities and for mandatory activities

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:17:21.199><c> member</c><00:17:21.520><c> of</c> happens to be a very active member of happens
• to be a very active member of the<00:17:21.760><c> Pearl</c><00:17:22.079><c> City</c><00:17:22.319>
• And I feel like this is maybe too premature to consider this as we are trying to balance our tourism
• And I feel like this is maybe too premature to consider this as we are trying to balance our tourism
• </c><00:22:32.640><c> industry</c> trying to balance our tourism industry trying to balance our tourism

Bills: HB2198 , HB2021 , HB1881 , HB1964 , HB1990 , HB2151 , HB2599 , HB2414

Keywords: gambling, prediction markets, Hawaii gambling laws, financial contracts, ethical concerns, electric bicycles, micro-mobility devices, safety regulations, traffic laws, insurance exemption, high-speed electric devices, land use, ropeway, transportation, state regulation, government exemption, building code, permitting process, training, state council

Transcript Highlights:

• buildings owned or leased by a school or daycare center and any grounds or buildings on which an activity
• sponsored by the school or daycare center is going... ...and any grounds or buildings on which an activity
• HB 5061 by Leach, relating to prohibiting certain activities by contractors and vendors of state agencies
• I think the governor's office and the Bureau of Tourism handle the applications for that, and besides
• HB 5061 by Leach relating to prohibiting certain activities by contractors and vendors of state agencies

Summary: The House convened with a quorum, heard the invocation and pledges, and then took up a series of memorial resolutions and recognitions. Members adopted memorial resolutions honoring former President Jimmy Carter and Dr. Alice Gail Hudgens, with remarks highlighting their public service and community impact, and adopted resolutions recognizing Victoria College’s 100th anniversary and May 2025 as Mental Health Awareness Month. The chamber also recognized Texas A&M system interns and later granted permission for several committees to meet while the House was in session. The House then moved through a long third-reading calendar, passing a number of bills on wide margins. Measures approved included SB 304 on municipal court jurisdiction over nuisance abatement ordinances, SB 608 on reporting evidence collection kits, SB 2312 creating a Texas Advisory Committee on Geopolitical Conflict, SB 494 creating a petroleum theft task force, SB 530 on postsecondary accreditation, HB 45 giving the Attorney General a role in prosecuting human trafficking cases, HB 35 on peer support for first responders, HB 47 and HB 3073 on sexual assault policy and prosecution, HB 318 and HB 3000 creating rural sheriff and ambulance grant programs, HB 554 on Juneteenth fireworks sales with county opt-in authority restored, HB 705 and HB 932 joining licensure compacts for cosmetology and occupational therapy, HB 849 allowing county park boards to meet by video conference, HB 1119 on mental health bed reporting, HB 3041 on students with nontraditional secondary education, HB 713 on maternal mortality review reporting, HB 3104 on Webb County bailiff appointments, HB 3970 on electricity planning for large loads, HB 4042 on Railroad Commission safety provisions for gas distribution pipelines, HB 4490 protecting next-of-kin information, HB 1731 on the physician assistant compact, HB 2607 on Walker County Hospital District governance, HB 3689 on Texas Windstorm Insurance Association funding, HB 1788 on continuing education for barbers and cosmetologists about abuse and trafficking, HB 1612 on hospital direct payments for uninsured patients, and HB 138 on health impact cost and coverage analysis. Several bills drew extended debate or amendments. HB 353, creating a trespass offense near schools and daycares, prompted questions about constitutional concerns and property rights before passing. HB 3211 on optometrists in managed care plans received a perfecting amendment and a Medicaid-related amendment setting a minimum payment level. HB 1056 on gold and silver specie and a state-based currency prompted detailed questioning about its mechanics and fees, followed by a point of order challenging the caption. The House also adopted or postponed a number of items, including postponing HB 2520 and HB 1359 until later in the calendar before later passing both, and laying several bills on the table subject to call. Many measures passed overwhelmingly, while a few, including HB 3326 on loan forgiveness for adjunct professors and HB 3237 on energy consumption goals, passed with narrower margins.

Transcript Highlights:

• , and whereas Bishop Robinson was a pastor, singer, musician, radio personality, and businessman, active
• Members, this is a reappropriation for the Parks of Heritage and Tourism.
• Speaker and colleagues, I've met with leadership with Parks and Tourism, and they've just not gotten

Keywords: 1204, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Furthermore, one of the sister industries that pairs nicely with economic development is tourism.
• And tourism creates an entirely different aspect to this, which is also equally important.
• I personally spoke with our tourism director, and he informed me that from the fiscal year starting in
• That growth comes naturally as it has always come through the economic activity of Missouri.
• It's based off of what we expect... ...come through the economic activity of Missouri.

Summary: The House convened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, approval of the House Journal by roll call vote (117-5), and a long series of special guest introductions, including YouthBuild students, school groups, family members, former legislators, and a Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Day recognition. The chamber then moved to third-reading business and reconsideration motions on House Committee Substitute for House Bills 3283 and 3306. Members explained the bills needed to be sent back to Legislative Review to address possible conflicts with current case law and to tighten the language, especially around arbitration and municipal/court jurisdiction issues. The reconsideration motions and the motion to commit the bills to Legislative Review all passed by roll call votes in the 98-43 range. The House then took up House Committee Substitute for Senate Bill 982, which would revise Missouri’s sex offender registry system. The sponsor said the bill responds to concerns from an advocacy group and registry administrators, converting Missouri from a hybrid offense-based system to a true tier-based system aligned with federal SORNA standards, clarifying who must register, reducing litigation exposure, and adding related language on civil commitment housing, name changes, and carnival employees. Members asked about whether offenders could eventually petition off the registry; the sponsor said the bill would streamline removal where allowed under the tier system. House Amendment 1, correcting a typo, was adopted, the committee substitute was adopted, and the bill was third read and passed 141-4. The House also debated House Joint Resolutions 173 and 174, a proposal to amend the constitution to phase out the state income tax and shift more of the tax burden toward sales and use taxes over time. Supporters argued the current income tax hurts the middle class, discourages growth, and places Missouri at a disadvantage compared with no-income-tax states like Tennessee; they said the measure would let voters decide and could improve economic development, population growth, and fairness by making taxes more visible and consumption-based. Opponents argued the plan would raise taxes on most Missourians, especially low- and middle-income families, seniors on fixed incomes, and people who spend more of their income on necessities, and that it would shift costs onto consumers while weakening funding for schools, health care, and other services. The debate was extensive and included questions about constitutional tax limits, revenue neutrality, and comparisons to Tennessee and Washington, but no final vote on the resolutions was shown in the transcript.