Transcript Highlights:

• And unlike the physical world, where we check for tobacco or alcohol, the digital world lacks a lot of

Bills: SB17, SB1569, SB2420, HB5138, HJR161, HB1937, HB3334, HB5444, HB5137, HB361, HB321, HB5447, HB464, HB678, HB2294, HB4172, HB3225, HB1769, HB5394, HB1837, HB1787, HB2271, HB2440, HB5134, HB5149, HB2151, HB2073, HB2186, HB2025, HB1936, HB1777, HB1663, HB 1306, HB 1290, HB1527, HB4802, HB3462, HB2963, HB2462, HB2560, HB644, HB2725, HB2621, HB2588, HB1443, HB1403, HB3032, HB1557, HB1664, HB2811, HB2088, HB2598, HB3062, HB3134, HB3940, HB4027, HB4097, HB4862, HB4170, HB4157, HB4205, HB4279, HB4377, HB4838, HB5424, HB5294, HB4870, HB4763, HB5639, HB4112, HB2275, HB1677, HB5014, HB3848, HB3797, HB3727, HB3709, HB3177, HB3057, HB4176, HB4202, HB2180, HB3528, HB3658, HCR76, HCR127

Keywords: foreign ownership, real property, national security, criminal penalties, civil penalties, personal information, higher education, privacy protection, governing board, institutional security, software applications, mobile devices, age verification, parental consent, data protection, app store regulation, HJR 161, Texas constitutional amendment, voting rights, non-citizen voting

Summary: The House convened with a quorum, received the invocation and pledges, and heard several announcements and recognitions before moving into floor action. Members honored the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley chess team for winning a share of the 2025 President’s Cup, recognized educator Jessica Lopez, and paid memorial tribute to Jennifer Maddenly, along with recognitions for Jeanette Valdez Duran’s food pantry work, TAMACC’s 50th anniversary, and Bernardine Steptoe’s retirement from WFAA. The House also granted permission for committees to meet while the House was in session, set a local consent calendar, and suspended posting rules for a Public Health Committee hearing on SB 2721. The chamber then considered a long series of Senate and House bills, with many passing on record votes. Measures addressed local law enforcement authority (SB 906), veterans highway designation (SB 1229), foster care medical billing (SB 855), massage therapy trafficking safeguards (SB 703), tax ballot language (SB 1025), occupational licensing for people with convictions (SB 1080), lien deadlines (SB 929), liquor sales complaints (SB 1355), higher education application fee waivers (SB 2231), utility data access (SB 1877), pediatric preceptorships (SB 1998), and several House bills on bond forfeiture notice, health workforce coordination, indigent civil commitment representation, consumer transaction cancellations, bird dispersal rules, theft venue for digital property, military grant applications, AI cancer-detection grants, cybersecurity contract language, in-state tuition for military-related programs, utility capital recovery, energy waste advisory oversight, gas utility rate recovery, psychedelic therapy study, teacher retirement funding transparency, pension changes, tax payment plans, and voter registration security. Some measures drew notable debate or amendments, including HB 5247, where a ratepayer-credit amendment failed, and HB 2298, HB 4014, HB 510, HB 561, HB 1128, HB 1904, HB 30, HB 200, HB 3045, and HB 5111, which all passed after recorded votes with varying margins. A major point of contention was SB 2420, the app store age-verification bill, which prompted extended debate over whether the bill should also require app developers to verify users’ ages. Representative Bryant offered an amendment to preserve developer verification obligations, arguing the bill would otherwise shift responsibility away from app makers; the author opposed it, saying the bill’s approach was more workable and raised concerns about First Amendment issues. Multiple points of order were raised and withdrawn during the debate, and the amendment discussion remained unresolved in the excerpt. The House also postponed further consideration of SB 17, SB 552, and SB 2420 at different points, and recessed for lunch after completing a large block of third-reading votes.

Transcript Highlights:

• It means you don't have to repeat X-rays or blood tests just because those records are locked in some
• Yet a study published last year found toxic metals in every single tampon tested.
• SB 754 creates further transparency in these products by requiring the manufacturers to test for four
• Then the DTSC is able to conduct its own independent results and publish the results of any testing,
• To alcoholic beverages. Assembly Member Gonzales, you were recognized?

Summary: The Assembly convened, established a quorum after a roll call, observed a moment of silence for John Burton, and proceeded with the Pledge of Allegiance and routine procedural motions. Members approved a rule suspension to allow floor amendments on SB 271 and SB 67, and several committee notices and bill referrals were handled. The chamber then moved through a long third-reading file, with many bills passed and a number of items temporarily passed or retained on file. Among the major measures approved were bills on civil rights and public safety (SB 477, SB 19, SB 36, SB 571, SB 580), health care and coverage (SB 257 on pregnancy as a qualifying life event, SB 530 on Medi-Cal access standards, SB 660 on health data exchange, SB 754 on menstrual product contaminant disclosure), housing and disaster recovery (SB 610, SB 655), transportation and climate (SB 533 on EV charging payments, SB 30 on diesel locomotives, SB 71 on CEQA exemptions for transit, SB 263 on tariff impacts), and natural resources/energy (SB 283 on battery storage safety, SB 88 on biomass emissions, SB 427 extending the Habitat Conservation Fund). The Assembly also passed urgency measures including SB 864 on tribal gaming compacts, SB 663 on wildfire-related property tax relief, SB 471 expanding DDS ombudsman authority, and SB 497 on privacy protections for legally protected health services. Several bills drew notable debate. SB 41 on pharmacy benefit managers saw opposition over concerns about moving ahead before broader PBM data and licensing reforms take effect, but it still passed. AB 1340, a concurrence item on gig worker collective bargaining rights, prompted extended debate over labor rights, consumer costs, and union influence. Other concurrence items included AB 671 on restaurant permitting, which passed without opposition. The Assembly also took up SB 640 on direct admission to CSU, SB 702 on demographic reporting for appointees, SB 710 preserving a solar property tax exclusion, and SB 793 on counterfeit lighter safety, all of which passed. The session ended with the Assembly continuing through the file, including concurrence votes and additional bill actions, with most measures approved by substantial margins.

Transcript Highlights:

• Senate Bill 1072 establishes the expedited DNA testing grant program within FDLE.
• Many law enforcement agencies do not have dedicated DNA testing funding in their budgets.
• And as clarification on school districts providing testing administration, that is the bill, Mr.
• “That is the original Lemon test, later amended in Agostini in 1997, I believe.
• It's a three-part test.

Summary: The Senate convened with an opening prayer by Rabbi Moshe Umatz, the Pledge of Allegiance led by pages, and several introductions and recognitions, including guests from Miami Northwestern Senior High School, Clay County, and a moment of silence for Pope Francis. The chamber then moved to the special order calendar after a motion to reconsider SB 1080, which was temporarily postponed. Several bills were also set aside during the day, including measures on social media use by minors, veterans’ nursing homes, Parkinson’s disease, mental health and substance use disorders, education, educator preparation, and school social workers. The Senate passed a series of bills, often substituting House companions for Senate bills. These included funding for expedited DNA testing grants for local law enforcement (SB 1072/HB 847), additional aggravating factors in capital cases involving religious, school, or government gatherings (SB 984/HB 693), fertility preservation coverage for cancer patients (SB 924/HB 677), commuter rail indemnification for Miami-Dade and Broward counties (SB 916/HB 867), restrictions on disposing of migrant vessels in Florida waters (SB 830), specialty license plates including Miami Northwestern and several colleges and institutions (SB 824), an Alzheimer’s and dementia awareness campaign (SB 398), relocation of the Council on the Social Status of Black Men and Boys to Florida Memorial University (SB 364), charter school changes allowing parent conversion and municipal job-engine charter schools (SB 140), sex offender registration reporting changes (SB 1654/HB 1351), penalties for assaulting utility workers (SB 1386), juvenile justice revisions and truancy process updates (SB 1344), reporting of student mental health outcomes (SB 1310/HB 969), foster home license transfer simplification (SB 1174/HB 989), water access facility funding and boating industry incentives (SB 1162/HB 735), Florida Virtual School operational changes (SB 1122), school readiness program support for children with disabilities (SB 1102), sexual image offenses involving minors (SB 1180/HB 757), age-related defenses in child sex offense cases (SB 1136/HB 777), tampering with electronic monitoring devices (SB 1054/HB 437), certified recovery residences and local zoning accommodations (SB 954), and the FSU Election Law Center (SB 892). Most of these bills passed with strong bipartisan support, though SB 984 and SB 140 drew some opposition. One of the most extensive debates centered on SB 820, codifying the Office of Faith and Community. Senator Polsky offered an amendment to bar political activity by office staff, citing emails and campaign-related communications tied to Amendment 4; the amendment failed on a 13-23 vote. Senators then debated the bill’s relationship to state election law, free speech, and the role of faith-based outreach. Supporters emphasized the office’s service network and reported benefits to children and families, while some senators raised concerns about interfaith representation and political use of government resources. The bill was then read a third time and the Senate proceeded toward a final vote as the transcript ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• They were continuously flunking drug tests. And now it wasn't even a drug-related offense.
• were continuously flunking drug tests were continuously flunking drug tests all<01:01:20.640>
• ><01:01:27.440> drug his conditions he was getting drug his conditions he was getting drug tested
• but that's what it was anyway he tested but that's what it was anyway he did<01:01:31.559> have
• And if the North Country feels that this didn't quite meet the test, I guess they can have a discussion

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Bills: SCR47, SCR21, SCR163, SCR169, SCR170, SCR50, SCR75, SCR149, HCR83, HCR111, HCR110, HCR122, HCR118, HCR61, HCR162, HCR36, HCR19, HCR106, HCR14, HCR178, SB3022, SB3102, SB3144

Keywords: sister-state, Hawaii, Okayama, Japan, cultural exchange, economic partnership, tourism, agriculture, international relations, healthcare, rural clinic, feasibility study, access to care, community health, Volcano community, Hawaiʻi Health Systems Corporation, emergency services, health assessment, Pacific Inter-Parliamentary Assembly, Legislative Cooperation

Transcript Highlights:

• He used to wonder what else could possibly be thrown at him to test his strength, and honestly I don't
• It has been tried and tested and successful in jurisdictions ranging from the states of Illinois, Georgia
• for any other violations of campus policies simply as it applies to medical emergencies related to alcohol
• Assembly Bill 509 by Assemblymember Flora, an act relating to alcoholic beverages.
• This approach will test whether the addition of DAs to the list of authorized petitioners can meaningfully

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• For example, people may be concerned about the cost of testing raw ingredients.
• test to make sure that the clinical test was done?
• They're not going to know to look for a clinical test trial.
• They're not going to look to see what exactly— —testing.
• So testing there, is it too costly to test to ensure the impurities? It's not too costly.

Bills: HB2746, HB2750, HB2765, HB4036

Keywords: trade offices, committee, Arizona commerce authority, stakeholder input, efficiency, Arizona-Sonora, Sonora, Mexico, trade commission, cross-border trade, bilateral trade, international trade, economic development, foreign relations, border economy, investment, infrastructure, business exchange, academic exchange, legislative commission

Summary: The committee first heard a presentation from Berthold Barak Karlich of Benor Capital on investment, innovation, and trade from a European perspective. He argued that legacy is about enabling future generations through open, connected systems rather than isolation, highlighted Austria’s “hidden champion” SMEs and strong education/research base, and said innovation thrives through international collaboration. He also discussed AI and deep tech investment, emphasizing photonic computing and the need to support hardware that enables future AI systems. In response to questions, he said Arizona appears friendly and strong in deep tech and that he will explore opportunities there. The committee then considered HB 2746, which creates a study committee on trade offices under the Arizona Commerce Authority to review existing trade offices, gather stakeholder input, and make recommendations. Members discussed oversight of Arizona’s trade offices in several countries and the need to evaluate effectiveness. The bill passed with a due pass recommendation by a 7-0 vote. HB 2750, which establishes the Arizona-Sonora Trade Commission to improve trade, commerce, and tourism ties with Sonora, Mexico, also passed, with some members expressing interest in further discussion about its relationship to the Arizona-Mexico Commission; it received a 5-1-1 recommendation. The committee next took up HB 4036, a bill regulating compounded GLP-1 weight-loss drugs and related bulk drug substances, including restrictions on sale and distribution, testing and sourcing requirements, advertising disclosures, penalties, and pharmacy board inspection authority. Supporters, including representatives from Novo Nordisk and the Partnership for Safe Medicines, argued the bill addresses unsafe imported ingredients, misleading advertising, and a surge in unregulated compounded weight-loss products. Opponents from the Arizona Pharmacy Association, a compounding pharmacist, and a physician said the bill would burden lawful compounders, raise costs, reduce access, and could affect other legitimate compounded medications. After extensive debate, the motion for a due pass recommendation failed on a 5-5 tie. Finally, the committee heard a strike-everything amendment to HB 2765 creating a vapor product manufacturer licensing framework, fees, penalties, and Department of Revenue oversight aimed at stopping smuggled vape products. The sponsor said the measure was intended to target illegal imports and protect children, while opponents from the Vapor Technology Association and Arizona Innovates argued it would burden lawful businesses and that the real problem is illegal actors and targeted enforcement. The discussion continued with questions about federal law, flavored vape products, and whether the bill would affect compliant manufacturers, but the transcript ends before any final vote on HB 2765.

Transcript Highlights:

• House Bill 1328, which is relative to alcohol and other drug use professionals.
• Original bill adjusted the board of the alcohol and drug use professionals.
• The next morning I went to the hospital and I said, "Test me because I know I was drugged."
• I have no problem advocating. hospital and I said, "Test me because I hospital and I said, "Test me because
• >> Well, there are authorizations to do tests. So, I don't know if Benadryl is specifically one.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• They shall not allow consumption of outside alcoholic beverages other than wine under this section.
• This is the natural gas testing in school districts.
• So, basically, it's two years to get this testing done, and that's what the change was to the bill.
• Is this a one-time test, or how often? >> These are recurring tests.
• But like I said, we heard from plumbers throughout the state, and they simply just cannot test these

Keywords: MS Senate Floor - 10 March, 2026; 10:00 AM, 925, all

Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum present, received the invocation and pledge, and then dispensed with reading the journal, committee reports, and bill titles. Several guests and pages were introduced, including junior pages, a doctor of the day, Farm Bureau representatives, and other visitors in the galleries. The chamber also recognized a birthday and welcomed a House member to the Senate. On the calendar, the Senate took up several bills and mostly adopted strike-all amendments before passing them, often by morning roll call. These included HB 1646, which increased disaster trust fund transfer limits for declared and non-declared disasters; HB 1649, which authorized additional state fund transfers for Main Street revitalization projects and increased the total authorized expenditure; HB 1653, which kept a local improvements project fund bill alive for possible repurposing of funds, including a Mississippi Valley State residence hall project; and HB 669, which allowed patrons to bring wine into licensed premises with a corkage fee and changed wine shipment reporting from quarterly to semiannual. HB 1620 created an economic zone around the Chevron refinery in Jackson County, and HB 2787 changed school district gas-piping inspection requirements from annual testing to a two-year cycle, with funding support from gas companies. The Senate also handled several concurrence and conference motions on House and Senate bills, including SB 2263 on probable-cause requirements for Marine Resources officers boarding or stopping vessels, SB 2524 establishing the Postsecondary Attainment Council, and SB 2597 involving the ABC warehouse transfer in Madison County, with the chamber choosing not to concur and to invite conference on those items. SB 2368 made technical changes to the higher education legislative plan grant program, and SB 2526 on the Rural Water Oversight Committee returned with changes removing a reverse repealer and shifting administration of some duties to a nonprofit using rural water revolving loan funds. The Senate also tabled motions to reconsider on some items, and one nomination-related motion drew extended remarks about the role of the capital post-conviction counsel office and respect for crime victims.

Transcript Highlights:

• that provided for the simplification and modernization of the licensing and fee structure of the Alcohol
• that provided for the simplification and modernization of the licensing and fee structure of the Alcohol
• That bill would treat certain low-proof spirits and alcohol products the same as beer, as opposed to
• It also dictates a $1.25 per gallon tax on all low-proof spirit alcohol products.
• The bill defines low-proof spirit alcohol products as liquor drinks ranging from 0.5 ABV to 14% ABV,

Keywords: 994, senate, all

Summary: The Senate Finance Committee met with a quorum present and first approved the minutes from the previous meeting. It then took up House Bill 5510, which was amended to incorporate provisions modernizing Alcohol Beverage Control licensing and fees and to treat low-proof spirits more like beer, including a $1.25 per gallon tax. The committee adopted the strike-and-insert amendment and reported the bill to the full Senate with a do-pass recommendation. The committee next considered a major education funding bill, Committee Substitute for Committee Substitute for House Bill 5453. After counsel explained the proposed block-grant school funding structure and supplemental aid for special education, members discussed whether charter schools should be included. The committee adopted an amendment to include charter school students in the special education funding provisions, then adopted another amendment removing certain outdated staffing ratio and administrator limitations effective July 1, 2027. The amended bill was then reported to the full Senate. The committee also took up House Bill 5412, dealing with multi-year contracts for educational materials with technology licensing components and science-of-reading training for K-5 teachers. Members amended the bill to clarify contract language, extend the training timeline, change “endorsement” to “training,” and require charter school teachers to participate. The amended bill was reported to the full Senate. House Bill 4006, focused on aerospace and advanced manufacturing development, was explained as creating grant and workforce programs tied to aerospace investment and jobs. The committee adopted a strike-and-insert amendment that changed the funding mechanism and other details, then reported the amended bill to the full Senate. Committee Substitute for House Bill 4009 was also amended to shift from the portable benefits concept to a broader workforce-readiness package, including a microcredential program and expansion of the apprenticeship tax credit to all apprenticeship programs; it too was reported to the full Senate. Finally, House Bill 4004, the Recharge West Virginia Act, was explained as a reimbursement program for employers training employees who earn upskill credentials and receive wage increases. The committee adopted an amendment raising the annual employer reimbursement cap from $50,000 to $100,000, then reported the amended bill to the full Senate. The meeting ended with adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• 26.319> the any other questions or comments for the any other questions or comments for the test
• of Bill author seeing none final test of Bill author seeing none final word<00:08:29.080> represent
• I'm drinking a liter of alcohol a day. I can't stop. I'm going to drink more.
• I'm drinking a liter of alcohol a day. I can't stop. I'm going to drink more.
• a day I I'm drinking a liter of alcohol a day I can't<00:26:45.240> stop<00:26:46.080> I'm

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• House Bill 4273, authorizing the town of Maynard to grant an additional license for the sale of all alcoholic
• House Bill 4273, authorizing the town of Maynard to grant an additional license for the sale of all alcoholic
• An act authorizing the town of Maynard to grant an additional license for the sale of all alcoholic beverages
• 4272, and an act authorizing the town of Maynard to grant an additional license for the sale of all alcoholic

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The House first adopted a Rules Committee resolution congratulating the Sport Fish Restoration Program on its 75th anniversary. It then suspended Joint Rule 12 to allow a Senate petition for a sick leave bank for Carlos Borges, a Department of Corrections employee, to be referred to the Committee on Public Service. The Steering, Policy and Scheduling Committee reported several local bills for consideration, including measures for Quincy, Arlington, Maynard, and Hudson. The House suspended Rule 7A, took the bills through second reading, and ordered them to a third reading. The bills included a Quincy lease extension, an Arlington town clerk appointment and management change, and additional alcohol license authorizations for Maynard and Hudson. The House also took up House No. 801, a bill relative to the town of Cheshire’s special election, and passed it to be engrossed. Finally, the House adopted an order to meet again Monday at 11:00 a.m., and then adjourned to that time in informal session.

Transcript Highlights:

• Further, we have no standardized testing assessment to determine how well or how poorly these children
• they say that free market approach, but they say that uh<04:52:49.840> the<04:52:50.080> test
• of<04:52:50.480> insanity<04:52:51.120> is<04:52:51.440> constantly uh the test
• of insanity is constantly uh the test of insanity is constantly doing<04:52:52.320> the<04:52
• Specifically, this program helps to cover no-cost or low-cost birth control, STD testing and treatment

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• where you can purchase an alcoholic where you can purchase an alcoholic beverage<00:03:26.319>
• They don't want alcohol in that event and whatnot, and so we've kind of kept that separate.
• <00:32:00.919> that that they can serve the the alcohol that that they can serve the the alcohol
• Others say, um, behind the, uh, the right-of-way, um, with alcohol on private property.
• Others say, um, behind the, uh, the right-of-way, um, with alcohol on private property.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• ,<00:49:50.360> or until you stop using drugs, alcohol, or until you stop using drugs, alcohol
• <01:49:29.080> person<01:49:29.400> tests<01:49:29.800> negative, HIV test,
• if the person tests negative, HIV test, if the person tests negative, it<01:49:30.840> would<01
• , pharmacists to provide those tests, pharmacists to provide those tests, which<01:49:59.240>
• . getting rid of the asset, um, test.

Keywords: 927, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• committees concluded that work necessary to administer certain licenses, particularly those to sell alcohol
• As you may know, generally towns are allotted a certain amount of licenses to sell alcohol that they
• that population-based license cap and annually issues about a hundred on-premise licenses to sell alcohol
• context, here are some examples of other towns with population similar to Falmouth and the number of alcohol

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Municipalities and Regional Government held a public hearing with testimony limited to three minutes. Committee chairs Jack Lewis and Becker-Rouch opened the hearing, noted members present, and explained that only two people were signed up to testify. Rep. Sylvia testified in support of H. 5388 for the town of Marion. The bill would allow Marion to transfer a 2,900-square-foot parcel from the Open Space Acquisition Commission to the Select Board to help build the Marion shared-use pathway, while permanently protecting about 13.38 acres of town-owned land for passive recreation and conservation under Article 97. She said the measure complies with Article 97 and the Public Lands Preservation Act and noted it had unanimous local approval at a special town meeting. Maura O'Keefe, town counsel for Falmouth, testified in support of H. 5365, which would amend Falmouth’s home rule charter to create a licensing commission. She said the change was recommended by two charter review committees because the Select Board spends significant time handling alcohol, entertainment, and common victualer licenses and related disciplinary hearings, and that a separate commission would better fit the town’s licensing workload. No committee questions were asked, no other testimony was offered, and the hearing adjourned by voice vote.

Transcript Highlights:

• Some turn to alcohol or substance abuse; others... ...horrifying.
• Some turn to alcohol, substance abuse; others to extramarital affairs, broken homes, broken lives.
• And so this bill allows for the clerks to have more time in which to do the testing and have the public
• The bill specifies that this test must occur no later than one week prior to an election.
• setting them up that they're able to set up their own schedule to maintain their fire hydrants and to test

Summary: The House convened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and approval of the previous day’s journal by a 129-0 vote. Members then spent considerable time on points of personal privilege and introductions, including remarks recognizing law enforcement wellness, personal health updates, legislative service and family sacrifices, interns, visiting students, and special guests such as a St. Louis entrepreneur honored with a House resolution and a visiting governor from Samarkand, Uzbekistan. The chamber then received Senate messages and committee reports before moving to conference requests on Senate Bills 835 and 1111 and Senate Bill 1020, both of which were approved for conference committees. The House also passed Senate Bills 977 and 1011, a measure barring international organizations or foreign law from exercising authority in Missouri or being used to deny “fundamental rights,” after debate over its scope and concerns about foreign-law venue rules and its practical effect; the final vote was 99-45. Senate Bill 1470, dealing with legislative research and statutory publication procedures, was amended and passed 148-1 after debate over reducing committee size, shifting publication to a primarily web-based format, and preserving printed archival copies. The House then adopted and finally passed Senate Bill 1940, the public notices/newspaper bill, by 142-1, with discussion focused on modernizing notice publication rules and election-related deadlines. It also took up Senate Bill 1871, which included county clerk and election administration provisions and a Senate amendment incorporating campaign finance language; debate emphasized ballot testing timelines and election transparency. The transcript ends during discussion of that bill, before a final vote is shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• The students are tested on their knowledge of American history, government, and civic participation through
• No, we're talking about a sweetened drink: a non-alcoholic beverage made with water that contains five
• parents in my district want: they want our schools to be well funded, they want to get rid of the STAAR test
• the state of Texas, the same state government that can determine what age you are allowed to drink alcohol
• rights, for instance, to have access to their child's curriculums, to their library materials, to their test

Summary: The House met in a late-session floor session that began with prayer, pledges, quorum, and a series of excused absences and Senate messages reporting action on numerous bills, conference committee appointments, and conference reports. Members also adopted a memorial resolution honoring Mark James Hanna, a Capitol lobbyist and advocate for nurses, and a congratulatory resolution for Rishi Tarumalasetti, an eighth-grade civics bee winner from Katy. The chamber also received and recorded a parliamentary colloquy about an unusual Senate request on SB 293, with the Chair stating the House could not recede from only part of its amendments and could not suspend the rules because the bill had not been returned from the Senate. The bulk of the session was devoted to taking up conference committee reports and related procedural resolutions, especially the state budget. The House adopted a resolution allowing the SB 1 conferees to go outside the normal bounds, then adopted the SB 1 conference report on a 107-21 vote. Debate on the budget centered on public education funding, tax relief, health care, corrections pay, and judicial compensation, with supporters calling it a responsible compromise and opponents arguing it was overly expansive and insufficient on property tax relief. The House also adopted a technical correction resolution tying judicial pay increases in SB 1 to the House version of SB 293, and members discussed at length the relationship between judicial salaries and legislative pensions. The chamber then adopted a long series of conference reports on measures covering topics such as school library review and book challenges (SB 13), SNAP restrictions on sweetened drinks and candy (SB 379), hospital price transparency (SB 331), nursing home accountability (SB 457), school district personnel compensation conflicts (HB 3372), property notice rules (HB 2011), research and development tax credits (SB 2018), and several other bills affecting elections, permits, education, and criminal justice. Most reports passed by wide margins, though some drew significant opposition, especially SB 13 and SB 379. The House also granted several Senate requests for conference committees and introduced additional resolutions to suspend conferee limits on various bills as the session moved toward adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• And so biological father would mean, would be proven by DNA testing, for example.
• under the section about adjudication, you can be adjudicated to... to be the father if you have a DNA test
• investigation involved in that, and there is no arrest or arrest warrant for other matters, such as drugs, alcohol
• Based on whatever the concern is, whether it's drug use, whether it's alcoholism, whether it's instability
• We have to drug test if there are drug issues to see what's going on, and we have to work together. get

Bills: HCR 16, HB 782, HB 2159, HB 2288, HB 3281, HB 3819, HB 4656, HB 4696, HB 5494

Keywords: fatherhood, family support, fatherlessness, community engagement, youth development, social policy, male role models, child development, policy reform, role models, mental health, parenting, single-parent homes, welfare reform, economic opportunity, mentorship, community initiatives, children, welfare programs, education

Transcript Highlights:

• And so biological father would mean, would be proven by DNA testing, for example.
• under the section about adjudication, you can be adjudicated to... to be the father if you have a DNA test
• investigation involved in that, and there is no arrest or arrest warrant for other matters, drugs, alcohol
• This depends on whatever the concern is, whether it's drug use, alcoholism, instability of the home,
• We have to drug test if there are drug issues to see what's going on.

Bills: HCR16, HB782, HB2159, HB2288, HB3281, HB3819, HB4656, HB4696, HB5494, HCR16

Keywords: fatherhood, family support, fatherlessness, community engagement, youth development, social policy, male role models, child development, policy reform, role models, mental health, parenting, single-parent homes, welfare reform, economic opportunity, mentorship, community initiatives, children, welfare programs, education