Transcript Highlights:

• House File 3486 ensures their proceeds go directly to affiliated non-profit foundations, continuing a
• House File 3486 ensures their proceeds go directly to affiliated non-profit foundations, continuing a
• House File 3486 ensures their proceeds go directly to affiliated non-profit foundations, continuing a
• House File 3486 ensures their proceeds go directly to affiliated non-profit foundations, continuing a
• Mapleton, Minnesota, is in my district, and curling is foundational to them and what they do.

Bills: HF3373, HF4449, HF3486, HF4180, HF4227, HF2505

Keywords: transportation, interchange, funding, bonds, St. Paul Park, transit, Metropolitan Council, Twin Cities, metro area, high-frequency transit, bus rapid transit, busway, guideway, transportation policy plan, transit performance measures, regional transit benchmarks, transit-oriented development, TOD, zoning, land use

Summary: The committee approved the April 8, 2026 minutes and then heard House File 3373, which was laid over. The bill sought trunk highway bond funding for preliminary and final design work at the 70th Street interchange in St. Paul Park. Representative Hansen, Mayor Keith Frankie, and Washington County Commissioner Karla Bigham described the interchange as undersized and increasingly unsafe because of refinery truck traffic, aggregate hauling, nearby growth, and changing traffic patterns. Members asked about prior study, cost, and greenhouse gas requirements, and the bill author said the request was about $500,000. Chair Cosgrove noted the bill would be laid over and suggested the issue could involve future statutory exemptions. The committee then took up House File 4449, also laid over, after adopting the A4 author’s amendment. Representative Jones presented the bill as a transit planning and accountability measure for the Twin Cities metro. It would set numeric transit goals, require better coordination between road projects and future transit projects, and give the Met Council more tools to support transit-oriented development, including property acquisition and development around transit corridors. Jones argued the bill would help avoid rebuilding roads twice and improve transit ridership, frequency, speed, and reliability. Representative Olson offered an amendment to exempt highway projects primarily addressing documented safety issues, arguing that safety projects should not be burdened by added transit requirements or costs. Jones said she supported the safety concern but opposed the amendment as written because the bill was aimed at major construction projects. After a roll call, the amendment failed on an 8-8 tie. The bill itself remained laid over for further work, with the chair noting there was still time to refine the proposal.

Transcript Highlights:

• It reflects leaders like Speaker Hortman who are willing to think big and build lasting foundations.
• And throughout, you know, Melissa Hortman has been an incredible champion in the original foundation
• and make bigger progress foundation and make bigger progress towards<00:57:05.440> those<00:57
• <01:15:41.679> for<01:15:41.920> achieving and it is the foundation for achieving and
• it is the foundation for achieving emission<01:15:42.880> reductions<01:15:43.679> in<

Bills: HF3556

Keywords: community solar, energy, solar power, renewable energy, Melissa Hortman, 1183, house

Summary: The committee approved the February 26, 2026 minutes and then took up House File 3556, which would rename Minnesota’s community solar garden program the Melissa Hortman Community Solar Garden Program. The bill’s author described the measure as a tribute to Hortman’s leadership and her role in creating the program, noting its importance to Minnesota’s solar industry and the broader clean energy transition. The author moved HF 3556 to the general register, and the committee proceeded to testimony. Testifiers from the Public Utilities Commission, Department of Commerce, solar industry groups, clean energy organizations, and community solar advocates all supported the bill. They credited Hortman with authoring and advancing the 2013 legislation that created Minnesota’s community solar program and said it became a national model that expanded access to solar for renters, lower-income households, and others who could not install rooftop systems. Several witnesses highlighted the program’s growth, including more than 1 gigawatt of approved projects, strong participation by low- and moderate-income subscribers, and job creation and private investment in Minnesota. Witnesses also emphasized Hortman’s personal leadership style, describing her as prepared, persuasive, collaborative, and deeply committed to clean energy and public service. Some recounted personal interactions with her and said the name change would preserve her legacy and ensure future Minnesotans remember her impact. No vote on the bill itself was taken during the testimony shown, beyond the motion to send HF 3556 to the general register.

Transcript Highlights:

• I mean, even foundation, we ask them to disclose where the money's coming from or where the money's going
• I mean, even foundation, we ask them to disclose where the money's coming from or where the money's going
• I mean, even foundation, we individual.
• We have great support from the foundation, but what we need to do in athletics has a structure where
• Public School Foundation. Because it's mostly philanthropic dollars, right? >> Correct.

Bills: SB3263, SB3261

Keywords: student-athletes, name image likeness, NIL, compensation, transparency, University of Hawaii, Title IX, funding, protections, athlete agents, student athletes, endorsement contracts, professional representation, registration requirements, sports law, 912, senate, all

Summary: The joint committees heard testimony on Senate Bill 3263, which would create a state-supported endowment for University of Hawaii athletics NIL (name, image, and likeness) funding. University of Hawaii Athletics Director Matt Eliott supported the bill, saying NIL requires both immediate funding and a longer-term sustainable solution. He asked for several changes: lowering the initial endowment target from $10 million to $2 million so the fund could start sooner, allowing NIL reporting by team rather than by individual student-athlete, and clarifying that athletes may choose whether to use an agent, while still allowing certified agents or a parent/guardian if desired. Committee members raised concerns about using taxpayer dollars for athlete compensation, the burden on a small-state budget, and whether the university could realistically raise the required matching funds. Several senators questioned whether the university had a concrete fundraising plan and whether the endowment would meaningfully help UH compete with larger programs. Eliott said UH is already fundraising privately for current NIL obligations, had raised more than $1.6 million toward a $3 million annual goal, and would continue fundraising for both short-term needs and the endowment match. He also said the university is not trying to compete with Power Five schools on the same scale, but to be successful at its own conference level. Members also discussed transparency and privacy, with some senators arguing that if state money is used, the public should know how it is spent, while Eliott said individual student-athlete NIL information should remain private and team-level reporting would be preferable. He confirmed international student-athletes are eligible for NIL and said about 60 to 70 UH athletes are currently participating, with more than 100 expected next year. The discussion also touched on UH’s Mountain West media rights and local TV rights, with Eliott explaining that the conference distribution is expected to remain around $3.5 million and that local TV rights would be negotiated separately. No vote or final action was taken during the portion of the hearing provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• On line 238 starts the Mayo Foundation, which is the fourth component of the bill.
• On line 238 starts the Mayo Foundation, which is the fourth component of the bill.
• On line 238 starts the Mayo Foundation, which is the fourth component of the bill.
• On line 238 starts the Mayo Foundation, which is the fourth component of the bill.
• On line 238 starts the Mayo Foundation, which is the fourth component of the bill.

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: The committee took up House File 2312 and first adopted the DE1 amendment, after which the amended bill was discussed. Nonpartisan fiscal staff walked through the spreadsheet and explained the bill’s higher education budget changes, including increases for state grants and tribal college assistance, unchanged funding for several existing programs, and reductions or eliminations for items such as state work study, summer academic enrichment, student loan counseling, concurrent enrollment, and the student parent support initiative. Staff also noted transfers to special revenue funds, the cancellation and reappropriation of ALS research funding, and a new licensing/registration revenue item. The committee was told the bill met the committee’s zero target overall, with a net general fund change of zero relative to the February forecast, while also adding some non-general fund expenditures for program licensing and registration. Members asked several questions about the transfers and specific line items, including whether any new special revenue accounts were being created, the foster care wraparound services line, and the treatment of the University of Minnesota and Centric Care partnership. Staff explained that the transfers generally did not create new accounts, that some items were not in the base, and that the U of M/Centric Care partnership was a one-time appropriation in the prior bill but was now being built into the base at a different amount. The University of Minnesota section also included new or continued funding for medical school development, health training restoration, emergency assistance grants, ALS research, and a weather resiliency program, while the Mayo Foundation section eliminated funding for Mayo Medical School and the Mayo family medicine residency program. The policy portion of the DE1 was then introduced. It included a maximum tuition and fee amount for state grants, direct appropriation of emergency assistance grants to Minnesota State, a juvenile justice appropriation for Metropolitan State University, and the ALS research reappropriation to the University of Minnesota. It also contained repealers for unfunded programs, including a delayed repealer for the student parent support initiative. In the higher education policy article, the bill would allow Minnesota State to offer applied doctoral degrees in cybersecurity, make technical changes to hunger-free campus and sexual misconduct procedures, extend pregnant and parenting student protections to private institutions, allow OHE to retain up to 10% of certain competitive grants for administration, consolidate reports, change the state grant formula so negative FAFSA contributions count as zero, and reduce the state grant lifetime credit cap from 180 to 120 credits. The Northstar Promise provisions would limit tuition and fees to resident rates and require MnState, and request the University of Minnesota, to ensure eligible students receive the benefit.

Transcript Highlights:

• <01:19:45.199> for improvements that lay the foundation for improvements that lay the foundation
• Paul Heritage Foundation, to talk about in support of this bill.
• Paul Festival and Heritage Foundation. We are the proud producers of the St.
• the<01:51:43.040> proud<01:51:43.280> producers Foundation.
• We are the proud producers Foundation.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• on how to think about this foundation on how to think about this bill<01:15:59.560> and<01:15
• <01:27:09.560> for The Minnesota Foundation for Student Organizations, which has a number
• serve Minnesota star base uh Foundation serve Minnesota star base uh and<01:27:59.679> the<01
• <01:32:29.840> for<01:32:30.080> student Minnesota foundation for student Minnesota
• foundation for student organizations<01:32:31.560> that's<01:32:31.760> a<01:32:32.639

Bills: HF56, HF780

Keywords: HF56, Minnesota bonding bill, capital investment, state bonds, bond proceeds fund, Hutchinson Area Transportation Services, Hutchinson, McLeod County, transportation facility, vehicle storage, equipment storage, fueling facility, temperate storage, local infrastructure, public works, general obligation bonds, education finance, school funding, state aid, appropriations

Transcript Highlights:

• My local church out of Lubbock, Texas gave. 2002, I imagine the foundation or something down here. to
• I'm not sure I don't disagree. with you and maybe one of these local foundations can come up with an
• And so I've talked to some of the people associated with the foundation. and another foundation and it's
• Bumblebee Hills, FEMA Home Foundations. are now saying that they have to raise our foundations higher
• Tristan Foundation.

Keywords: 997, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• HPM Building Supply, Title Guaranty of Hawaii, the AIO Family of Companies, the Hawaii Community Foundation
• Hawaii, the AIO Family of Companies, the Hawaii<00:27:52.240> Community<00:27:52.640> Foundation
• ,<00:27:53.560> Lanakila Hawaii Community Foundation, Lanakila Hawaii Community Foundation

Bills: HCR112

Keywords: HCR112, House Concurrent Resolution, DHRD, Department of Human Resources Development, civil service, classification system, compensation system, salary study, pay scale, job classification, position classification, state workforce, vacancy rate, hard-to-fill positions, labor shortage, recruitment, retention, public employees, state agencies, labor organizations

Transcript Highlights:

• Access is essential, and this bill maintains that foundation through state grants and direct admissions
• this bill Access is essential, and this bill maintains<00:15:25.320> that<00:15:25.480> foundation
• <00:15:26.000> through<00:15:26.160> state maintains that foundation through state
• maintains that foundation through state grants<00:15:27.079> and<00:15:27.240> direct<00

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Kelly Worthman from CBS, whose sister, Abby, lives with epilepsy, and Marcy Autie from the Epilepsy Foundation
• epilepsy, and Marcy Autie from the epilepsy, and Marcy Autie from the Epilepsy<00:37:54.080> Foundation
• Epilepsy Foundation. Epilepsy Foundation.

Keywords: 981, all

Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum, approved the journal, and received a series of committee reports advancing several House bills and one Senate bill, including measures from Education, Local Government and Housing, Judiciary, Health and Human Services, Transportation and Energy, and Agriculture and Natural Resources. Among the reported actions, Senate Bill 99 was postponed indefinitely, House Bill 1051 was referred to Appropriations, and multiple bills were sent to the Committee of the Whole, some with recommendations for the consent calendar. During floor action, the Senate adopted House Bill 1090 on second reading, concerning teacher licensing requirements, and later adopted House Bill 1232 on second reading after a Judiciary Committee amendment. HB 1232 prohibits certain monetary assessments against juveniles in the justice system; supporters said the bill is intended to stop juveniles from being charged restitution or similar fees that do not aid rehabilitation or public safety. The chamber also laid over Senate Bill 63, Senate Bill 134, and the balance of the calendar to later dates, and adopted the Committee of the Whole reports by 33-0 votes with two excused. The Senate also adopted House Joint Resolution 1021, which supports Colorado farmers markets by encouraging the Department of Agriculture to work with the Farmers Market Association and expand access, especially in rural communities. In personal privilege remarks, senators recognized Purple Day/Epilepsy Awareness Day and honored the Abeyta family and others affected by SUDEP, as well as Mile High United Way and its founder Francis Wisebart Jacobs. A message from the Governor announced approval of Senate Bill 1, and the President signed several bills and resolutions. The Senate then announced committee meetings and adjourned until Friday, March 27, 2026.

Transcript Highlights:

• instrumental in bringing that memorial here to the city of Annapolis, and they helped run the Alex Haley Foundation
• helped run the of Annapolis and they helped run the Alex<00:09:02.000> Haley<00:09:02.320> Foundation
• ,<00:09:03.240> which<00:09:03.520> not<00:09:03.840> only Alex Haley Foundation
• , which not only Alex Haley Foundation, which not only monitors<00:09:05.120> and<00:09:05.200

Keywords: Senate streaming session for Wednesday, March 25, 2026, 960, senate, all

Summary: The Senate convened on March 25, 2026, with an invocation by Father Frank Crumble III, who was introduced as the guest of the Senator from the 36th District. The chamber also recognized several guests and groups, including leaders from Cherry Hill on the occasion of the community’s 80th anniversary, Doctor of the Day Maryam Diallo, the Prince George’s County Democratic Central Committee, students from Andrew Jackson Academy, and several women honored for Women’s History Month. Additional recognitions included the Greater Baltimore Committee, Boy Scouts, Tarbiyah Academy, and a Senate intern. The main floor action was a special resolution congratulating the Cherry Hill community on the 80th anniversary of Cherry Hill Homes, a purpose-built community for African Americans returning from World War II. Senators spoke about Cherry Hill’s history, resilience, and recent community investments such as new schools and a recreation center. The resolution was read in full and adopted unanimously. Senate Bill 890, concerning an insurance premium tax receipts exemption for captive insurance procured by nonprofit hospitals and health care systems, was special ordered for another day at the sponsor’s request. The Senate also took up Senate Bill 283, the Maryland Consolidated Capital Bond Loan of 2026. After brief remarks praising the committee’s work and the statewide investment program, the bill passed third reading by unanimous vote. Committee and delegation announcements followed, including Finance, Triple E, and Judicial Proceedings holding House bill hearings at 1:00 p.m., and the Prince George’s County delegation meeting later that day. The Senate then remained in session long enough to confirm a quorum and adjourned until March 26, 2026, at 10:00 a.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• But they provide job retention, job search training, supervised job search, volunteering, basic foundational
• But they provide job retention, job search training, supervised job search, volunteering, basic foundational
• They also offer basic and foundational skills instruction, general studies, and GED.
• like number of participants that you've served who did supervised job search or who took basic foundational

Summary: The subcommittee first recognized the Arkansas Community Colleges Leadership Institute and received a brief DHS update on the Living Choices Assisted Living Waiver reimbursement process, including that the new cost-reporting period began in January and provider/contractor calls are underway. The main presentation then focused on SNAP and TANF, with DHS describing federal changes under the One Big Beautiful Bill that tighten SNAP work requirements for adults ages 18 to 64 without certain exemptions, remove some prior exemptions, and add new federal definitions for Native American populations. DHS also reviewed SNAP Employment and Training providers, their service areas, projected budgets, participant characteristics, and outcomes, noting that the program is currently voluntary but will shift toward mandatory participation for those subject to the new rules. Members asked detailed questions about how mandatory participation will be implemented, how referrals will be made, what other training options exist, how verification of work, volunteering, disability, and exemptions will be handled, and whether DHS has enough funding and provider capacity. DHS said it will conduct verbal and written notices during eligibility interviews, make direct referrals to providers, use six-month recertifications and documentation from employers or volunteer organizations, and apply sanctions for noncompliance after determining whether a good cause exists. Members also requested additional data, including age breakdowns of at-risk SNAP recipients, provider-level outcomes and costs, and information on other training programs such as WIOA. The committee then moved to Medicaid community engagement requirements for ARHOME, which DHS said are also required by the same federal law and must be implemented by January 1, 2027. DHS said it is preparing policy, system changes, communications, and a customer-service/outbound verification vendor, and plans a soft launch beginning in July to help clients understand what would be required if the rule were already in effect. Members raised concerns about timing, local versus central decision-making, and how clients in rural areas will be notified and assisted. The meeting concluded with broader discussion of the committee’s workforce-development goals, the recently released Alliance for Opportunity audit, and interest in continuing the contract with that group to help guide future reforms.

Transcript Highlights:

• of the 17th Judicial Circuit Court of Florida for Broward County, Global Initiative, Innovative Foundation
• of the Champlain Towers collapse in Surfside on June 24, 2021, the First Responders' Resiliency Foundation
• services continues to grow throughout the state, the creation of the First Responders' Resiliency Foundation
• We do have an appearance form: Matt Puckett from the Florida Wildflower Foundation waiving in support

Summary: The Committee on Fiscal Policy met and reported favorably a series of bills after hearing sponsor presentations, public testimony, and roll-call votes. Among the health and public safety measures, CS/SB 68 would require pediatric readiness standards in hospital emergency departments; CS/SB 340 would require nursing students to complete human trafficking identification training; CS/SB 32 and SB 210 would create a new injunction process and related public records provisions for victims of serious violence by a known person; and SB 418 would add autism-focused law enforcement training and a voluntary Blue Envelope Program for drivers with ASD. Each of these bills received supportive testimony and passed the committee. The committee also approved several child safety and community protection measures. CS/SB 606 would add drowning prevention and safe bathing education to postpartum materials, and SB 428 would expand the state swim lesson voucher program to older children, with strong support from advocates and families concerned about drowning risks, especially for children with autism. CS/SB 302 would streamline permitting and incentives for nature-based coastal resiliency projects, and SB 636 would create an alternative beach management pathway for coastal communities, though beach preservation advocates warned about perpetual easement language and funding concerns. SB 628, designating Warrior Sacrifice Way in Pensacola, also passed unanimously. In addition, the committee advanced CS/SB 1734 on juvenile justice, with a late-file amendment updating definitions for juvenile probation and detention officers and codifying detention cost-share language. It also reported favorably CS/SB 246, a specialty license plate bill that was amended to include the UFC plate and an additional first responders resiliency plate, and CS/SB 1028, which revises Citizens Property Insurance Corporation clearinghouse procedures and related insurance market rules. Several witnesses testified in support or with technical concerns on the insurance bill, and members discussed competitive safeguards, clearinghouse scope, and Citizens’ assessment risk. At the end of the meeting, members requested to be recorded on specific bills, and the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• of the 17th Judicial Circuit Court of Florida for Broward County, Global Initiative, Innovative Foundation
• of the Champlain Towers collapse in Surfside on June 24, 2021, the First Responders' Resiliency Foundation
• services continues to grow throughout the state, the creation of the First Responders' Resiliency Foundation
• We do have an appearance form: Matt Puckett from the Florida Wildflower Foundation waiving in support

Bills: S0032, S0068, S0210, S0246, S0340, S0418, S0428, S0606, S0628, S1028, S1734

Keywords: injunctions, protection orders, domestic violence, serious violence, court procedures, enforcement, risk protection, statewide communication system, pediatric care, emergency departments, hospital regulations, patient safety, health care standards, public records, violence protection, confidentiality, defamation, specialty license plate, specialty plates, motor vehicle registration

Summary: The Committee on Fiscal Policy met and reported a series of bills favorably, covering health care, public safety, insurance, coastal resilience, juvenile justice, drowning prevention, transportation designations, and beach management. Senator Harrell presented CS/SB 68, requiring hospitals with emergency departments to adopt pediatric emergency care policies, training, designated pediatric readiness personnel, and participation in a national readiness assessment; it passed. Harrell also presented CS/SB 340, requiring nursing students to complete two hours of human trafficking identification training before licensure; it also passed. Senator Sharif’s CS/SB 32 and SB 210, creating a new injunction for protection against serious violence by a known person and the related public records bill, were both reported favorably. Senator Garcia’s CS/CS/SB 302 on nature-based coastal resiliency, Senator Jones’s SB 418 on law enforcement interaction with individuals with autism and the Blue Envelope Program, and Senator Martin’s CS/SB 1734 updating juvenile probation and detention officer definitions and related cost-share language were also approved. The committee then took up several drowning-prevention measures. CS/SB 606 by Senator Smith would add drowning prevention and safe bathing education to postpartum materials and direct the Department of Health to create standardized materials; an amendment removed a records-retention requirement, and the bill passed. SB 428 by Senator Yarborough would expand the state swim lesson voucher program from children ages 0-4 to ages 1-7; it received strong support from advocates, including a young swim instructor and autism advocates, and passed. The committee also approved CS/SB 246, a specialty license plate bill that was amended to include the UFC plate and a First Responders’ Resiliency Foundation plate, and CS/SB 1028, which revises Citizens Property Insurance and clearinghouse procedures to prioritize admitted carriers and prohibit public funds for the clearinghouse; that bill drew discussion about market competition, Citizens’ exposure, and potential impacts on policyholders. Additional measures reported favorably included SB 628, designating a portion of South Navy Boulevard in Pensacola as Warrior Sacrifice Way to honor the sailors killed in the 2019 Naval Air Station Pensacola attack, and CS/SB 636 on beach management, which would create a proactive pathway for coastal communities to obtain erosion-related designations and align with federal programs. Beach industry testimony supported the bill’s intent but raised concerns about perpetual easements and funding shortfalls. At the end of the meeting, members recorded additional votes on selected bills, and the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• But also, the Veterans Foundation that was established last year's legislation, we want to look at that's
• So, it's a matter of the staff getting used to that individual and so, but I think I've set the foundation
• These upgrades, among others, are foundational to building a modern, responsive public health infrastructure
• our commitment to efficiency and accountability operational efficiency is meaningful and lays a foundation

Keywords: 914, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Chair Chaney: First up we have Bobby, First Amendment Foundation, is a proponent.
• My foundation operates a hotline receiving Bobby: hundreds of calls a month.
• Free speech is the foundation of this country.
• We've laid the foundations so the next time we could work and start to regulate this device and try to

Transcript Highlights:

• THAT PRODUCTIVITY GROWTH IS THE FOUNDATION FOR HIGHER WAGES.
• IT IS THE FOUNDATION FOR MORE TECHNOLOGICAL INNOVATION AND IT IS THE FOUNDATION FOR LONG TERM LONG TERM
• IN TERMS OF TRANSFERABLE SKILLS THIS PROGRAM GIVES ME STRONG TECHNICAL FOUNDATIONS IN THINGS LIKE MACHINE

Transcript Highlights:

• The Daniels Foundation provided over $300,000 in scholarships. To Dr.
• uniforms like we do the institute, and the land that they're on, by the way, is owned by our NMMI Foundation
• Thank you, and is that the Daniels Foundation out of Colorado? Uh, Mr. Chairman, yes, it is.
• And so he's done a lot and that foundation is very large, but it, it supports the institute as well.

Transcript Highlights:

• Clifford Porter testifying on behalf of the Texas Public Policy Foundation and yourself, and you're for
• I'm a senior fellow for healthcare at the Texas Public Policy Foundation.
• Show you registered as Noah Torres testifying on behalf of Texas Public Policy Foundation neutral on
• My name is Noah Torres, and I, um, policy scholar at the Texas Public Policy Foundation.

Transcript Highlights:

• The sort of foundation of the bill is to allow folks who have a vehicle and have a lien on the vehicle
• Um, the, the sort of foundation of the bill is to allow folks who have a vehicle.
• A few years back, AAA Foundation, a group that does research on behalf of the motoring public, as you
• A few years back, AAA Foundation, a group that does research on behalf of the motoring public, as you

Summary: The Senate Committee on Transportation heard several bills, mostly local memorial highway designations and transportation-related regulatory measures. Senator Hinojosa presented SB 1351 to designate part of US 281 in Hidalgo County as the Jose Rodriguez Lua Memorial Highway in honor of a Border Patrol processing coordinator killed by a drunk driver; a family member testified emotionally in support, and the bill was left pending. The committee also heard and left pending SB 2245 on bonded titles for vehicles when a lienholder has gone out of business, SB 1568 on animal-friendly specialty license plates with a second “spay, neuter, adopt” plate, SB 2589 on handling closed county roads in Webb County, SB 1104 on allowing large retailers to use one fingerprinted employee of record across multiple Texas locations, SB 1423 naming the Bill Stout Parkway in Longview, and SB 1931 naming part of US 83 the Rodolfo Valdez Memorial Highway. Most of these bills drew supportive testimony or were presented as local measures with no opposition. The committee also took up broader policy bills. SB 215 would create a digital identification program for Texas driver’s licenses and certain other licenses, but the sponsor said he was mainly laying the bill out for discussion and study; testimony was limited and the bill was left pending. SB 2707 would clarify that government entities such as TxDOT and the military remain exempt from fees on oversized/overweight permit authority, though a county commissioner raised questions about road-use impacts and fee revenue. SB 2807 drew the most discussion: it would prevent a motor carrier’s use of safety technology, training, and related practices from being used as evidence that an independent contractor is actually an employee. Supporters said the bill would encourage adoption of safety tools like cameras and braking systems without increasing misclassification risk, while opponents from the trial lawyers’ side warned the wording could conflict with existing labor-code definitions and create litigation. The sponsor and committee members discussed possible clarifying floor amendments. After public testimony, the committee voted on the pending bills. All measures were reported favorably on 6-0 votes, with committee substitutes adopted where applicable. SB 1351, SB 1423, SB 1568, SB 1931, SB 2245, SB 2589, SB 2707, SB 2807, and SB 2841 were all sent to the full Senate, and several were recommended for the local and uncontested calendar. The committee recessed subject to the call of the chair after completing the votes.