Transcript Highlights:

• There's a group called Sustain that's what they're working on.
• Unfortunately, HB 3265 blocks transparency, makes it more difficult to evaluate whether the program is
• Um, so you said that this bill blocks transparency. How does this bill block transparency?
• So is it, is it, is that the main concern that that your group has with the bill is the Prohibition,
• So I'm, I'm going to ask along with my, you know, members here, ah, we need to work with these groups

Transcript Highlights:

• All I do is I usually allow a block of time for advocacy and Thank you, Mr. Chair.
• She worked with this working group for the entire year. Mr.
• , then a small group, Came to work on this bill.
• I don't know if it came up during the working group that this was still being used.
• The working group looked at a lot of research in putting together these recommendations.

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• directly tied to the fraud a group directly tied to the fraud network<00:17:19.600> at<00:17:
• I uh I've lived on the same block for 20 years. I'm kind of a ride-or-die person.
• lived on the same block for 20 years. years. years.
• Thank you, Senator. >> Taxpayer dollars are being thrown overseas to fund a terrorist group.
• <00:41:11.600> confirmed<00:41:12.280> the capital, the group confirmed the capital

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Additionally, there's a lack of a control group, which may limit the interpretation of the results.
• Another strength is that the evaluators plan to use a match-comparison group design, which increases
• That we don't just do this in three-year block stops, but that each year we put additional...
• Both groups experience declines.
• And follow what the presentation is and which group you're talking about. So thank you.

Transcript Highlights:

• this constant situation that arises more times than I can count when our children go missing from group
• findings are that sex trafficking and human trafficking, the majority of them are taken from these group
• To establish a memorandum of understanding so that we know what these group homes look like, and then
• some definitions: a complete rejection of a bill; a person or body with the authority to reject or block
• A person or body with the authority to reject or block legislation formally declines to approve it.

Keywords: 1182, all

Summary: The Senate opened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, a roll call showing 27 present, and approval of the prior journal. Members then introduced guests, including representatives of the Arizona Fair Association, Mohave County Parks and Fair officials, a constituent guest, a candidate shadowing a senator, Father David Myers, and the Doctor of the Day. The chamber then moved into Committee of the Whole and considered three bills. SB 1268/HB 2792, a veterans property tax exemption cleanup measure, was explained as clarifying that the exemption applies to a primary residence and jointly owned property for spouses; it received a due pass recommendation and later passed 29-1 with an emergency clause. SB 1051, requiring hospitals to collect and report patient immigration-status information tied to public spending, drew extensive debate over privacy, public health, cost, and immigration enforcement; supporters framed it as accountability for taxpayer spending, while opponents called it discriminatory and harmful to care-seeking, and it passed 17-13. SB 1316, creating a process for Arizona rural health transformation funds and requiring public hearings and JLBC involvement, was defended as a transparency measure for a $167 million federal rural health award; opponents argued it added bureaucracy and could delay rural care, but it passed 17-13. After the Committee of the Whole report was adopted, the Senate took up third readings. HB 2792 passed 29-1 with an emergency clause, SB 1123 passed 29-1, SB 1125 passed 30-0, SB 1145 passed 29-1, SB 1316 passed 17-13, and SB 1051 passed 17-13. Several members explained votes, with repeated arguments over immigration, public health, transparency, and the role of JLBC. The Senate then announced committee meetings for the next day and adjourned until February 11, 2026, at 1:15 p.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• hundreds or thousands of bats from buildings where property managers or department managers have blocked
• manager sealed a bat roost on the side of the mall when their natural exit to the... ...outside was blocked
• Water Planning Group, which I sit on, also covers Wise County.
• So again, this simply classifies them and puts them in similar groups when trying to go for an appeal
• I don't think, but you all had partnerships with these industry groups on the desalination project up

Bills: SB1169, SB1285, SB1583, SB1611, SB1898, SB1976, SB2160, SB2161, SB2658, SB2661, SB2662, SB2692, SB1055, SB1359, SB2660

Keywords: water service, sewer service, public utility, joint operation, infrastructure, municipality, compliance, SB 1285, bats, bat protection, wildlife protection, Texas Parks and Wildlife Code, Parks and Wildlife Code Section 63.101, hunting bats, bat possession, bat sales, bat trade, pest control, licensed pest control professional, animal control officer

Transcript Highlights:

• would provide not only employment opportunities for cleanup efforts, but also encourage community groups
• So would this money be utilized for, let's say, a local group, a civic-minded group that wants to clean
• I'm not trying to block that. I'm just saying it's not going to be an open debate here.
• I'm not trying to block that. I'm just saying it's not going to be an open debate here.

Summary: The committee held an informational hearing on transportation agency budget proposals and did not take any votes. The first major discussion focused on the Motor Vehicle Account shortfall and a proposed one-time $166 million transfer from the Air Pollution Control Fund and Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund to offset California Air Resources Board mobile source costs. Department of Finance and the LAO described the account’s long-running structural deficit, driven largely by employee compensation growth and REAL ID-related workload, while members criticized the use of Proposition 4, GGRF, and other one-time or redirected funds as backfills and urged a longer-term solution that addresses both revenues and expenditures. The committee then heard Caltrans’ request for $25 million in General Fund support to create a Clean California Community Cleanup and Employment Pathway Grant Program. Caltrans said the program would build on the prior Clean California effort by funding local litter and graffiti cleanup, community engagement, and workforce pathways for vulnerable populations. The LAO recommended rejecting the proposal, arguing that local litter abatement is not a core state responsibility and that one-time funding is unlikely to solve persistent local cleanup needs. Several members echoed those concerns, while public commenters split between support for the cleanup/employment model and calls to instead restore funding to the Active Transportation Program and transit operations. The Tahoe Regional Planning Agency requested that California administratively recognize Tahoe’s federally designated population figure for state formula-based transportation funding, which would raise the population count used in formulas from 40,000 to 145,000. The agency said the change would not request new money but would better align state formulas with federal law and support a shared regional funding framework; members appeared generally supportive, though they noted the need to phase in the change to reduce impacts on other regions. The final presentation was on High-Speed Rail. The LAO reviewed the authority’s project update report, noting that it did not fully meet statutory requirements and that key details are still pending in a supplemental report expected later in the summer. The LAO said the Merced-to-Bakersfield segment still shows an estimated roughly $7 billion funding gap, with no specific plan to close it, and highlighted risks from federal review, inflation, and uncertain GGRF revenues. High-Speed Rail Authority staff said they are conducting a bottom-up review of scope, schedule, ridership, and costs, expect to provide updated information by late summer, and are exploring public-private partnerships and other financing strategies. Members stressed that no further funding commitments should be made until the updated analysis is available.

Transcript Highlights:

• We also expanded the state employee group health insurance benefits so that the state covers 80% of state
• economic development, workforce development, adult education, community energy efficiency development block
• Chairman, this is one of my favorite fun facts when I go talk to community groups in the public.
• It's just a big block grant that is very difficult to track. Okay.
• On behalf of Mesa del Sol Development Group, we strongly support this legislation.

Transcript Highlights:

• Bonin to make a motion to adopt and block the, and place in Article 11, all of those amendments.
• $10.60 per hour to $14.28 for all attendants. and $17.50 for attendance in an IDD setting such as group
• SB1, motion. in-block adoption of amendments and placements in Article 11. Mr.
• Members this is the same motion we did last session to move a group of amendments to article 11 before
• SB 1, motion for in-block adoption of amendments and place. in article 11. Mr.

Bills: SB1, HB500, SB1, HB1400, HB 1094, HB365, HB 1109, HB647, HB500

Keywords: appropriations, budget, state funding, education, healthcare, infrastructure, state budget, mental health funding, education funding, infrastructure improvements, public safety, groundwater, water conservation, financial assistance, Texas Water Development Board, innovation fund, local conservation districts, transportation protection agreement, funeral services, insurance exemption

Transcript Highlights:

• That group met Dreheim talked about it.
• So this is a real group effort, bipartisan, bicameral.
• So uh my friends, several city blocks.
• <04:47:34.080> pro-<04:47:34.400> illegal group of protesters, pro pro- illegal group of
• <05:14:53.680> is he's going to do and this group is he's going to do and this group is probably

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The ESMC connected us with the group at the University of Minnesota.
• The ESMC connected us with the group<00:13:17.600> at<00:13:17.839> the<00:13:18.000>
• > University<00:13:18.399> of group at the University of group at the University of Minnesota
• c> Uh the the University of Minnesota Uh the the University of Minnesota research<00:13:47.760> group
• had developed some novel research group had developed some novel approaches<00:13:50.160> which

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Do not include a blanket blocking of parental access to the records.
• Why are they blocking these records? Do you know? Oh, I mean, it's usually...
• And were the records being blocked because the other parent, like...?
• So there are very good reasons not to be blocking parents. From records.
• That means if you are blocked, then there's a certain process you can follow.

Bills: HB368, HB3311, HB1734, HB2495, HB2716, HB793, HB3376, HB2524, HB3421, HB3446, HB3181

Keywords: electronic devices, family violence, criminal prosecution, protective orders, tracking, harassment, family allowance, decedent's estate, surviving spouse, minor children, inheritance, child support, maintenance, HB 1734, Family Code, Section 155.207, suit affecting the parent-child relationship, SAPCR, continuing exclusive jurisdiction, jurisdiction transfer

Transcript Highlights:

• know that it is a block grant.
• Section 4 applies to the full FTE block grant program. Mr.
• Chairman, that we struck that number because they— so we have this block grant and they can.
• We're funding the block grant, and they determine the number of FTEs.
• So when they calculate the block grant, they came to this number evidently, huh? Yeah.

Bills: SB2015

Keywords: corrections, rehabilitation, prison budget, department of corrections, adult services, youth services, correctional facilities, Heart River correctional center, Missouri River correctional center, James River correctional center, minimum security facility, county jails, regional jails, deferred maintenance, capital construction, strategic investment and improvements fund, Bank of North Dakota, line of credit, tasers, body cameras

Summary: The Senate Appropriations Human Resources Division met with all members present and took up several bills, focusing most of the discussion on SB 1577 and SB 1619, along with a detailed review of the HHS budget bill draft. On SB 1577, Senator Magrum explained that the bill was being revised to focus on wastewater rather than raw water, possibly shifting the Washburn project to the Department of Water Resources so it could access matching funds, and potentially converting the bill into a line of credit if federal money is restored later. Members discussed whether to keep an emergency clause or instead use a date-based approach, and agreed the bill would likely be handled through the full committee and possibly reconsidered later. On SB 1619, Senator Davison said amendments were still being worked on, including changes requested by the Bank of North Dakota, and the committee planned to hold it for possible amendment before full committee consideration. The bulk of the meeting was a section-by-section review of the HHS appropriations bill draft. Members discussed one-time funding items such as technology projects, child care programs, housing programs, behavioral health facility grants, infant and toddler care provider support, juvenile justice diversion, medical housing, and other public health and human services projects. Several adjustments were noted, including reductions or changes to IMD-related funding, incarcerated-person treatment funding, the child welfare technology project, and the provider rate increase. The committee also discussed the FTE block grant structure at length, with staff explaining that the apparent increase in positions reflected budgeting mechanics, zero-dollar “phantom” positions, and positions approved previously but not counted in the FTE total. Members raised concerns about transparency and whether the bill should list FTE numbers, but staff said the block grant was intended to give the department flexibility while quarterly reporting would provide oversight. Other topics included Medicaid expansion funding and provider reimbursement rules, the move toward certifying human service centers as certified community behavioral health clinics, a moratorium on new ICF beds, and studies or reports on Medicaid, obesity, disability services, truancy, and behavioral health facility grants. The committee also discussed removing or revising broad intent language in Section 31 so the department would report findings rather than implement changes without further legislative action. No final votes were taken in the transcript; instead, members agreed to make a few technical adjustments, continue reviewing the bill, and likely revisit it the next day before moving it to conference committee.

Transcript Highlights:

• from their previous adopted budget and that means a lot of programs are potentially on the chopping block
• I forget the acronym, but I can, I can get that to you, that exact group, and uh their ED is really sharp
• Block of, of a census tract, um, because it gets out of hand.
• Yes, so for like the energy assistance program or community service block grant, those run through a
• And let's face it, little communities like ours will never outweigh and outspend, uh, groups that are

Transcript Highlights:

• So if we all meet here and go up as a group, we need to be at the More Dam at 9:30.
• go<00:06:38.479> up<00:06:38.639> as<00:06:38.800> a<00:06:38.960> group
• ,<00:06:39.199> we all meet here and go up as a group, we all meet here and go up as a group
• block the deployment<02:44:36.800> of<02:44:37.200> photovoltaics.
• was worked on by the stakeholder group was worked on by the stakeholder group as<04:17:12.640>

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And all three of these groups grew.
• Those were our largest growth groups, which was kind of nice.
• And all three of these groups grew.
• So our tribal liaisons really focus on the MMIWP group.
• So our tribal liaisons really focus on the MMIWP group.

Summary: The committee first heard a presentation from WSDOT on balancing uncertainty in capital program estimates and cash flow management. WSDOT explained the differences between design-bid-build and design-build delivery, its tiered risk-assessment process by project size, and how it uses base estimates, inflation, and risk modeling to set budgets. Staff said design-bid-build estimates are generally accurate within about 1% across the program, while design-build projects carry much wider uncertainty and are better communicated as ranges; they cited a P85 budget approach and noted that large, complex projects can be affected by market competition and long procurement timelines. Members asked about the Columbia River Bridge cost growth and about value engineering, and WSDOT said it uses value engineering but has limited scope to cut costs because of project requirements and policy mandates. Troy Swing also discussed cash flow, noting that a few large projects can significantly affect biennial funding needs, and said a risk pool would not reduce overall program risk but could help manage timing if paired with appropriation and cash-flow controls. The committee then received the final presentation in the WSDOT Project Delivery and Innovative Practices study from HKA Global. The consultant said WSDOT’s estimating practices are generally robust and recommended improving transparency by presenting budget authorizations as ranges or estimate classes, better tracking estimate growth over time, and adjusting advertisement timing to avoid competing lettings. The report also discussed surety bonding, suggesting the legislature consider restoring authority for reduced bonding on select large design-build projects or using phased bonding and alternative securities. On indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity contracting, the consultant said current job order contract rules are restrictive and recommended legislative changes to make such tools more usable, especially for smaller tasks and to help use unspent funds more flexibly. The committee also heard a follow-up presentation on transit-oriented development policy recommendations tied to HB 1491. The Urban Institute’s Yona Freemark said Washington has been a national leader on TOD but that housing construction, especially in the Puget Sound, has slowed sharply since 2022. He said rising construction costs, high financing costs, and local tax and rent conditions are making many TOD projects infeasible, and recommended that the state fill infrastructure funding gaps around stations, revisit MFTE affordability requirements, consider minimum rather than average density requirements near transit, and create a statewide system to track TOD outcomes such as affordability, gentrification, and transit access. Members questioned the study’s developer interviews, the role of rent control and crime, property tax assumptions, and parking needs; the presenter said the study included five private developers, that rent control was not part of the study scope, and that parking was included in the model assumptions. Finally, the committee began a presentation on regulating emissions from ocean-going vessels at berth. Staff and consultants described California-style at-berth rules, which require shore power or equivalent emissions controls so ships can shut off diesel auxiliary engines while docked. The study is examining vessel traffic, emissions reductions, implementation costs, labor and operational needs, and possible effects on port competitiveness and cargo diversion. No votes or formal actions were taken during the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• that I work with on along with the group that I work with on the<00:02:40.560> council.
• >> Um, it's just a very cohesive uh group >> Um, it's just a very cohesive uh group
• intimidation, harassment, and blocking intimidation, harassment, and blocking these<00:37:24.560
• from some of the other interest groups from some of the other interest groups about<01:04:03.040
• is able to complete the working group is able to complete its<01:41:18.680> job.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The committee first took up gubernatorial message nominations. Margaret Jackson was heard for reappointment to the State Council on Mental Health, where she said her lived experience with family members facing schizophrenia, houselessness, and substance use issues motivates her service. Andrew Savaiano was heard for the Juvenile Justice State Advisory Council and said he wanted to continue elevating youth voice and lived experience. Tao Yan was heard for the Board of Certification of Operating Personnel in Wastewater Treatment Plants and emphasized the importance of wastewater treatment to public health and the environment. The Department of Health testified in support of the nominations, and the committee later adopted chair recommendations to advise and consent to all three nominations, noting Senator Favela’s excuse and no recorded objections. The committee then heard HB 1853 relating to dementia. Testimony was overwhelmingly in support from state agencies, advocacy groups, caregivers, and individuals with lived experience, including a person living with Alzheimer’s and his caregiver spouse, who described the value of early diagnosis and coordinated support. Supporters said the bill would expand memory care navigation and access, especially on neighbor islands and in rural areas, and help families connect to resources earlier. One member raised concerns about the cost and scale of the proposed program, asking about the number and cost of dementia specialists and noting broader budget pressures, but the bill remained under discussion with no final action shown in the transcript. The committee also heard HB 1591 relating to health care, which would expand the preceptor tax credit to additional health professions, including physician assistant students and PAs, with testimony in support from nursing, public health, medical, and provider organizations. Supporters argued the measure would help address workforce shortages and improve training opportunities for local and economically disadvantaged students. A committee member asked about the aggregate cost of the credit and whether the existing credit had been fully utilized; the chair noted the bill was being kept narrower than broader proposals because of fiscal concerns. The transcript then moved to HB 1961 relating to health care access near facilities, with supporters arguing it protects access to legal reproductive health care and opponents saying it is unnecessary, vague, and burdensome on free speech and protest activity. No final vote on the bills appears in the excerpt provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• I’m trying to account for how we’re funding that group of students.
• You'll see the work groups listed on the whole organizational structure.
• The bill also establishes the different work groups.
• And this has been something we've talked to parent groups about. It's not always popular.
• And a great group of people from the West Gallery are up here from the charter schools, USA.

Summary: The Senate opened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and several gallery introductions before taking up Committee Substitute for Senate Bill 168, the Tristan Murphy Act, on mental health. Senator Bradley explained that the bill is intended to divert clinically appropriate defendants with mental illness from jail to treatment, create pretrial mental health diversion programs, expand grant uses for mental health and substance abuse reinvestment, require evaluations and treatment follow-up in certain probation and prison settings, add Hillsborough County to a forensic hospital diversion pilot, and establish a Florida Behavioral Health Data Repository. Senators from both parties spoke in support, emphasizing treatment over incarceration, public safety, and the Murphy family’s role in the bill. The Senate passed the bill 37-0 and then recorded 37 co-sponsors. The chamber then moved into presentations on SB 2500, the 2025-26 General Appropriations Act. Chair Hooper said the Senate budget totals $117.4 billion, reduces overall spending from the prior year, maintains reserves, keeps employee health contributions level, and includes major investments in water quality, transportation, education infrastructure, and nearly $1 billion in education capital outlay. Committee chairs outlined their portions of the budget, including increased funding for K-12 schools and scholarships, higher education workforce programs, Medicaid and health services, corrections and courts, transportation and housing, and environmental restoration such as Everglades and water quality projects. Members then asked extensive questions, especially about education funding, school choice, AP/IB and accelerated programs, the Family Empowerment Scholarship, and the FEFP calculations. Senator Burgess repeatedly explained that scholarship funding is being moved “below the line” to improve tracking and that the Senate position is to preserve funding while giving districts more flexibility. Senators also questioned the APD wait list for disability services, opioid settlement spending, arts funding, the My Safe Florida Home condo pilot, and proposed IT and agency restructuring. Several chairs said some issues would be resolved in conference, and no final vote on the budget was taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• DISTRICTS SHALL BE DRAWN BASE ON THE TOTALITY OF THE CIRCUMSTANCES RACIAL AND MINORITY LANGUAGE GROUPS
• >> FIRST OF ALL, YOU KEEP SAYING A BIPARTISAN GROUP IN BOTH HOUSES AND I'M NOT SURE WHAT YOU'RE
• So you took me out of my district; it was a block down the road. You got to me.
• So you took me out of my district; it was a block down the road. You got to me.
• So you took me out of my district; it was a block down the road. You got to me.

Keywords: 993, senate, all

Summary: The Senate convened, approved the journal, and then moved through a large number of motions to discharge bills from committees and substitute identical Senate bills for third reading. The chamber also received and accepted a Finance Committee report on nominations for Kathleen Mosier as Commissioner of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, Terrence O’Leary as Commissioner of Homeland Security and Emergency Services, and John Kagia as Executive Director of the Office of Cannabis Management. All three nominees were confirmed, with Mosier and O’Leary confirmed unanimously and Kagia confirmed 57-1, with Senator Walczyk voting no. The Senate adopted previously approved resolutions recognizing June 2026 as LGBTQIA+ Pride Month and mourning the death of Susan Irene Wright of Harlem. Senators Brisport and Bottcher spoke at length in support of Pride Month, emphasizing LGBTQ+ history, resilience, and ongoing threats to the trans community. On the Susan Wright resolution, Senators Cleare, Bailey, and Bottcher praised her community leadership, philanthropy, and family legacy, and Assembly Member Jordan Wright was recognized in the chamber. The body then considered and passed many bills on the calendar, including measures on insurance, environmental conservation, public health, education, business law, labor, social services, highway law, and local tax exemptions. Several bills drew brief explanations of vote, including a measure to end higher insurance premiums for widows, a bill to prohibit correctional facilities from denying visitation because of menstrual products or IUDs, and a Medicaid-related bill to expand access to blood pressure monitors for pregnant people. Most bills passed with broad support, though some had notable opposition from a small group of senators. Late in the session, the Senate took up a proposed constitutional amendment on redistricting. Senator Stewart-Cousins sponsored the measure, and Senator Walczyk questioned it extensively, arguing voters had previously approved an independent redistricting process and objecting to changes that would remove the Legislature’s two-thirds map-approval requirement and alter the commission’s role. The sponsor said the changes were needed in response to aggressive partisan redistricting in other states and would still require voter ratification in future sessions. The transcript ends during that debate, with no final vote on the amendment shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• Fourteen days in a row, ICE has been found staging within two blocks of the school during arrival of
• And I promise to protect them in every way that I can." staging within two blocks of the school staging
• A Karen student who spotted ICE near his home runs the block and a half to school as fast as he can.
• This same rhetoric has been repeated about different groups of people all across the United States.
• <01:16:21.040> uh agents part of a paramilitary group uh agents part of a paramilitary group

Bills: HF3435, HF3409

Keywords: school access, school site, school district, charter school, federal agents, DHS, Department of Homeland Security, ICE, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, CBP, Customs and Border Protection, USCIS, immigration enforcement, judicial warrant, student privacy, school safety, sanctuary schools, warrant requirement, federal warrant, school grounds