Transcript Highlights:

• rule set. rule set.
• the rule. the rule.
• And so we need emergency rules in place because private providers who we are now going to be conducting
• . rule. rule.
• And then the second one was to amend the rules to require the Department of Education to conduct bi-annual

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Summary: The meeting began with quorum and seating issues, including the temporary appointment of Representative Shaw to fill in for a House member, followed by approval of the previous minutes and the consent calendar. Two items were then postponed to next month: Mechanical Licensing Board item 25-241 and Board of Veterinarian item 25-223. The committee then took up Department of Energy rulemaking on distributed energy resources interconnection procedures, including items 25-220 and related sections on fees, additional controls, and equipment. The Department explained revised language to address concerns that the original draft improperly suggested agency or PUC approval of utility fees; under the amended language, utilities would set fees designed to recover costs, with complaints handled through existing complaint procedures. Committee members and the Department discussed the statutory basis for that approach, including cost responsibility versus fee-setting authority. Public testimony was mixed. A small solar developer argued the rules still exceed statutory authority, impose unfair costs on customer generators, and allow utilities to shift transmission-related study costs onto interconnecting customers. Clean energy advocates supported the Department’s revised language but asked for clearer limits on charging customers for later-added controls, arguing costs should be tied directly to the customer’s interconnection and not to later utility-driven changes. Eversource supported the revised fee language, said most prior concerns were resolved, and recommended conditional approval, while also suggesting a minor wording change in the “Additional Equipment” section to clarify that only operational performance is covered.

Transcript Highlights:

• <01:08:48.759> solely prohibiting searches conducted solely prohibiting searches conducted
• Later on, we reference the Attorney General, who will have the authority to make rules, conduct civil
• Um, later on we reference the Attorney General, who will have the authority to make rules, conduct civil
• > and rules, conduct civil investigation, and rules, conduct civil investigation, and enter<02
• conducted pursuant to this subsection. conducted pursuant to this subsection.

Keywords: 926, house, all

Summary: The House resumed consideration of H.606 on firearm procedures and first took up Section 3 and its effective dates. A member from Northfield spoke at length in support, arguing the provision is narrowly tailored, based on actual dangerousness rather than mental illness alone, and is more limited than federal law because it applies only to specific court findings and is temporary, with rights restorable upon recovery. The House then approved Section 3 and its effective dates, approved the remainder of the Judiciary Committee report, and ordered third reading. The chamber then moved through third readings and passed H.385 on remedies and protections for victims of coerced debt, H.556 on exceptions to the state minimum wage, H.559 on the parole board, H.723 on posting of land, and H.757 on manufactured homes and limited equity cooperatives. On H.814, relating to neurological rights and AI in health and human services, the House adopted an amendment offered by the member from Burlington that required the advisory council to include proposed definitions for neurotechnology, artificial intelligence, and related terms in its report; the House Health Care Committee reported the amendment favorable 11-0-0, and the bill then passed. H.816, regulating the use of artificial intelligence in the provision of mental health services, also passed, as did H.927, technical corrections for the 2026 session. The House then took up H.930 on chronic absenteeism. The committee member from Manchester described the bill as an AOE proposal responding to high post-pandemic absenteeism rates and their impact on learning, and outlined provisions adding definitions, updating compulsory attendance language, requiring a state model policy, strengthening notification and truancy procedures, and preserving existing penalties. The member said the Education Committee heard from a wide range of education and child welfare witnesses and passed the bill 11-0. After a brief clarification on the absences section, the House proceeded toward third reading of H.930.

Transcript Highlights:

• Pursuant to rule 21C, I move that the Senate allow the JBC to conduct business while the Senate is in
• <00:35:32.320> the the JBC to conduct business while the the JBC to conduct business while
• Rule is relaxed.
• It's for repeated conduct.
• agency rules. And I ask for an I vote. agency rules. And I ask for an I vote.

Keywords: 981, all

Summary: The Senate convened, established a quorum, approved the journal, and received several routine messages, including House-passed bills transmitted to the governor and the revisor. During moments of personal privilege, senators welcomed guests including members of the Persian Cultural Circle for the annual Naruse breakfast, a niece shadowing Senator Judah, and leadership from the Netherland Public Library. A tribute recognizing March 20, 2026 as Naruse Day was read into the record, celebrating the Persian New Year and the Iranian-American community. On the consent calendar, House Bill 1191 passed 33-0. The bill concerns audits of school districts receiving state education fund money for capital construction projects for qualified charter schools, making the state auditor’s examination discretionary rather than mandatory. The Senate then laid over third reading of bills until March 24, 2026, pulled House Bill 1098 off consent for later consideration, and authorized the Joint Budget Committee to conduct business while the Senate was in session. The chamber then resolved into Committee of the Whole and adopted House Bills 1180 and 1189 on second reading. HB 1180 continues the Business Intelligence Center Advisory Board sunset process by repealing the board, while HB 1189 addresses property held by a community property spouse under the Uniform Community Property Disposition at Death Act. The committee report was adopted 33-0 and the bills were ordered revised and placed on the third-reading calendar. The committee also took up Senate Bill 112, concerning defendants who fail to appear in court and allowing certain pretrial release conditions for repeat failures to appear. Sponsor testimony emphasized that the bill was amended to use language from prior legislation and now focuses on repeated, willful failures to appear in the same case, with safeguards for municipal courts and situations where counsel is present. Supporters, including Senator Carson, argued the measure gives local courts a narrow tool to address repeated nonappearance and reduce burdens on judges, law enforcement, victims, and taxpayers; the discussion continued as the transcript ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• timelines are compressed, we need the additional staff to meet deadlines set by statute and by our rules
• In early 2023, following a Sunset Advisory Commission directive, OPUC conducted a cost-effectiveness
• I want to make clear, we haven't been sued because of one of our rules.
• We conduct approximately 40,000 background checks per year.
• We conduct approximately 40,000 background checks per year.

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:

• Senate Bill 574 protects clients receiving legal services by establishing rules for the use of AI by
• I think it's important to tell the public here going forward, here are the rules.
• It's kind of one of the grounding rules that keeps me sane up here.
• This creates a massive legal uncertainty for innocent everyday conduct.
• of the legislature itself, but the rules that we have are ourselves.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And the the way the bill conducted.
• As an example, the Trump 2020 rules apply only to campus conduct that occurs on campus or when it's occurring
• > campus campus to conduct that occurs on campus campus to conduct that occurs on campus or<02
• So, if those rules aren't it all.
• . conduct. conduct.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• then you don't get the benefits of the rule in the first place.
• For conducting the community protection rulemaking per the code.
• and the Advanced Clean Fleets (ACF) Rule.
• However, California does have the waiver for the airport shuttle rule.
• This could include potential changes to the ACF rule or alternative means.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• You may or may not be aware that the rules of criminal procedure, Rule 20, which largely governed competency
• of criminal procedure aware the rules of criminal procedure rule<00:19:05.280> 20<00:19:05.760
• in my own practice I've seen more rule in my own practice I've seen more rule 20<00:34:48.000>
• , you get into conduct that violates certain statutes.
• negligent conduct you get into conduct negligent conduct you get into conduct that<01:43:14.880>

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Senator pursuant to rule 40.7. Senator pursuant to rule 40.7.
• I'm ready to rule. The point No advice. I'm ready to rule.
• pursuant to rule 40.7. pursuant to rule 40.7.
• those voting pursuant to rule 40.7. those voting pursuant to rule 40.7.
• as<01:40:14.239> Senator ruling and impartial ruling as Senator ruling and impartial ruling

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• panel, is the rule based on census?
• So I guess is it state rule? Yes. And then if we change that, would we run afoul of federal rule?
• Or is there any sort of rule or law?
• The conduct that results in this loss runs a spectrum.
• I mentioned there's this spectrum of conduct.

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• the number of witnesses we have registered to testify, we are going to keep you to that two-minute rule
• DML conducted a necropsy on that stillborn and sent the liver off to Urofins Laboratories.
• You've heard about the testing that we conducted.
• You know, in February of 2024, the day we conducted that...
• If they promulgate federal rules, we, of course, follow those.

Bills: HB1341, HB1674, HB4028, SB2321

Keywords: hydrogen sulfide, public health, environmental regulation, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, ground level concentrations, emissions limit, emissions limits, ground-level concentrations, air quality, PFAS, agriculture, environmental protection, health risks, criminal offense, chemical regulation, preproduction plastic, water quality, pollution control, industrial waste, emissions

Transcript Highlights:

• That's not their rule, right?
• Abate or suspend many different rules that they have.
• Currently, state law does not require the TCEQ to conduct periodic protectiveness reviews.
• Prior to that, it, um, where one was actually conducted was around the 2012 time frame.
• not in statute or rule, it is at the discretion of TCEQ.

Bills: SB1150, SB763, SB1061, SB1146, SB1198, HB279, HB310

Keywords: concrete plants, environmental regulation, permit process, air quality, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, SB 1061, uranium mining, production area authorization, TCEQ, Water Code, groundwater, groundwater conservation district, restoration table value, restoration values, contested case hearing, Chapter 2001, mineral rights, surface owners, notice requirements, environmental permitting

Transcript Highlights:

• Financials and make it easier for them to be audited or to conduct a pre-reform procedures engagement
• It didn't actually end up getting in because of a rule, a parliamentarian rule, that it sort of violated
• An author, he wrote many books on land grants and conducted a lot of research.
• Is it because they have specific rules they want Chilalee to follow?
• We'll conduct congressional inquiries to NRCS.

Transcript Highlights:

• We're studying what the new rules are, as well as what our statute allows us to do.
• The only place we are excluded from conducting investigations is a long-term care facility, a nursing
• The IRT is required to conduct reviews of eligible cases and act within prescribed timeframes.
• The IRT is required to conduct. special education services through the LEA.
• The IRT is required to conduct reviews of eligible cases for and act within prescribed timeframes.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The hearing was an informational and oversight session of the Joint Committee on Children, Families, and Persons with Disabilities, with chairs and members hearing agency updates from several commissioners. The Department of Public Health’s Bureau of Family Health and Nutrition described its maternal and child health work, including home visiting, early intervention, WIC, newborn hearing screening, and cross-agency efforts on prenatal substance exposure, respite care, children’s vision, and maternal health initiatives. DPH emphasized that federal grant cuts, layoffs, and the loss of data systems such as PRAMS would weaken services and planning, and members asked about Title V funding and the impact of federal uncertainty. The Massachusetts Commission on the Deaf and Hard of Hearing highlighted communication access services, interpreter and CART referrals, emergency after-hours support, family navigation, and independent living services. Commissioners and members discussed the shortage of ASL interpreters and the need to expand training pipelines, including partnerships with colleges and possible ASL programming for younger students. The Department of Developmental Services reported serving nearly 50,000 people and focused on youth and adult services, transition-age supports, autism services, self-direction, respite, and new high-acuity residential models. Members asked about respite availability, self-direction outcomes, and workforce shortages; DDS said it was expanding clinical capacity and provider rates while monitoring possible federal Medicaid, SNAP, and immigration-related impacts. The Commission for the Blind described services for about 28,000 legally blind residents, most of whom are older adults, including social rehabilitation, orientation and mobility training, children’s services, assistive technology, vocational rehabilitation, and Turning 22 supports. The commissioner discussed a UMass-based effort to build the workforce pipeline for blindness services and said the agency was watching federal restructuring but had not yet seen direct cuts. MassAbility’s leadership then warned about major federal changes affecting Social Security disability determinations, including staff restructuring, office closures, and a new overpayment repayment policy, and said the agency was preparing for possible increases in claims and uncertainty around reallotment dollars that help fund services. The Disabled Persons Protection Commission closed the hearing with an update on its abuse investigations and protective services for adults with disabilities. DPPC reported rising hotline calls and investigations, a growing caseload, its sexual assault response team, the abuser registry, and a new interagency protective services integration system funded by ARPA dollars through 2027. The agency also flagged new federal rules that could affect funding eligibility and said it may need statutory changes to comply. Members asked about funding, reporting pathways, and how complaints reach DPPC, and the commissioner said the agency uses both mandated reporting and proactive outreach to identify and respond to abuse.

Transcript Highlights:

• conduct its own investigation?
• force investigations unit to conduct force investigations unit to conduct investigations<00:05:19.919
• So, you are conducting investigations.
• So, you are conducting investigations.
• So, you are conducting investigations.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• that's a code of conduct violation. that's a code of conduct violation.
• We currently in administrative rule have language around violations of code of conduct, meaning we can
• We currently in administrative rule have language around violations of code of conduct, meaning we can
• rules, not passing lawsuit. rules, not passing lawsuit. >> Thank<04:34:28.400> you.
• to that one rule set. to that one rule set. >> Okay. >> Okay. >> Okay.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It strikes out actual or simulated, uh, nudity, sexual conduct or sadomasochistic abuse.
• cond conduct or sat masochistic<00:08:43.039> abuse.
• Five years later, Alabama adopted the same rule and Mississippi and the states around us.
• <00:30:23.840> and Alabama adopted the same rule and Alabama adopted the same rule and Mississippi
• Uh we conducted a versions of the bill.

Keywords: 1136, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:09:46.440> about The Last 5 Years DHS has conducted about The Last 5 Years DHS has conducted
• Provisional rule, which is a step along the path to full rule, gives us more tools to check controlling
• Provisional rule, which is a step along the path to full rule, gives us more tools to check controlling
• Provisional rule gives us more tools to check controlling individual staff, the quality of care, and
• The governor also recommends requiring state employees to report violations of grant laws or rules.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Okay, moving on to an act to strengthen rules governing attorney conduct and penalties for misconduct
• okay moving on to an act to strengthen rules governing attorney conduct and penalties for misconduct
• You have an act to strengthen rules governing attorney conduct and penalties for misconduct needs to
• I, Georgia Critico, support Senate Bill 1274, an act to strengthen rules governing attorney conduct and
• Strengthen rules governing attorney conduct and penalties for misconduct.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The committee heard extensive testimony on several Judiciary bills, with the largest portion focused on S. 1178/H. 2052 to reduce mass incarceration and end life without parole. People incarcerated at MCI Framingham, MCI Norfolk, and NCCI Gardner described personal growth, rehabilitation, restorative justice work, family separation, and the belief that parole eligibility after long sentences would better reflect public safety and human development. Speakers emphasized that life without parole removes hope and can undermine rehabilitation, while supporters argued that many lifers are older, less likely to reoffend, and could contribute positively if given a chance at parole review. Committee members did not take votes during the hearing. The committee also heard testimony on S. 1139 to restore the statute of limitations for wrongful death claims involving tobacco use, with Sen. Keenan explaining that a recent SJC decision had cut off claims where the injured person did not sue within three years before death. He said the bill would restore families’ ability to seek redress in cases involving long-latency tobacco harms like COPD. Another major topic was S. 1205, which would add abusive litigation to the definition of coercive control in domestic violence law; Sen. Michael Moore said the bill would stop abusers from using repeated court filings to harass and financially burden survivors. The committee also took up S. 1114 on automatic record sealing, with Sen. Friedman and others arguing that the current petition-based process is slow, burdensome, and disproportionately harms people with criminal records, especially Black and Latino residents. Testimony also supported H. 1965/S. 1132 on compensation for wrongful conviction, with advocates and sponsors describing a faster administrative claims process, transitional support, and higher compensation without the current cap. Sen. Payano testified for S. 1241 to expand educational programming for incarcerated emerging adults, saying education reduces recidivism and improves reentry outcomes. A substantial portion of the hearing focused on S. 2522, an update to Massachusetts’ shield law for reproductive and gender-affirming care. Sen. Friedman, the Attorney General’s office, and DPH Commissioner Robbie Goldstein said the bill is needed to strengthen protections against out-of-state legal attacks, protect patient and provider data, clarify enforcement authority, and add a state-level EMTALA-style emergency care requirement. Committee members asked detailed questions about prescription labeling, the prescription monitoring program, attorney discipline, custody and full faith and credit issues, and whether the bill’s enforcement language could create unintended limits or conflicts. The Attorney General’s office said it would provide follow-up written testimony on several technical questions.

Transcript Highlights:

• As a reminder, there are some general rules of conduct.
• today with witness and public comment throughout the Goal of conducting a legislative hearing.
• Specifically, I will not permit conduct that disrupts, disturbs, or otherwise impedes the orderly conduct
• Conduct the roll for Item 2, SB 498, by Senator Becker.
• Let's conduct the roll. For Item 6, SB 941 by Senator Padilla, the motion is due pass.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Summary: The Assembly Standing Committee on Public Safety heard several bills, with most of the discussion centered on criminal justice, public safety, and detention-related issues. SB 498 by Senator Becker would make prison electronic messaging free and end 15-minute limits on voice calls for incarcerated people; supporters said it would strengthen family ties and rehabilitation, while the bill advanced on a due-pass recommendation. SB 953 by Senator Niello would require DMV points to be recorded when a misdemeanor vehicular manslaughter case is dismissed through diversion; family members of crash victims testified in support, the ACLU opposed it as potentially discouraging diversion, and the committee passed the bill to the Transportation Committee. The committee also heard SB 1306 by Senator Cortese, which would align California law with federal exemptions for certain GBL-containing chemical mixtures used in semiconductor manufacturing. The author and industry witness said the bill would reduce unnecessary regulation without affecting pure GBL, and it passed to Appropriations. SB 941 by Senator Padilla would cap commissary markups in private immigration detention facilities at 35% above vendor cost; supporters described high prices for basic necessities and poor conditions, and the bill advanced on a due-pass vote. Members also considered SB 691 by Senator Wahab, which would require law enforcement body-camera policies to allow EMS personnel to request redaction of recordings before public release when patients are receiving medical or psychological treatment. Supporters framed it as a privacy measure, while sheriffs’ representatives raised concerns about overlap with existing law and local policy discretion; the bill moved forward on a due-pass recommendation. Finally, SB 562 by Senator Ashby would allow partial refunds of bail bond premiums when charges are not filed or are dropped early; supporters called it a fairness measure for low-income families, while bail industry representatives and some others warned it could reduce incentives to post bail and harm small businesses. The bill advanced on a divided vote. Several other items were adopted on consent or pulled by the authors, and the committee adjourned after completing its votes.