Transcript Highlights:

• It's an Senator Betancourt: identical version passed out of this committee during the regular session
• Welcome to special session.
• session, members of the Ways and Means Committee acknowledged that mandatory newspaper Kelly Rasty:
• That would be a welcome step forward for next session.
• You all passed last session Senate Bill 843 by Kolkhorst, House Bill 3526 by Capriglione, and House Bill

Bills: HB17, HB23

Keywords: property tax, school funding, enrollment changes, inflation adjustment, tax rate notice, property tax exemption, ad valorem tax, Texas Tax Code, nonprofit corporation, charitable organization, educational nonprofit, scientific nonprofit, agriculture support, youth programs, community education, county population threshold, large county, local government revenue, leasehold interest, possessory interest

Transcript Highlights:

• The second was we merged, if you might recall, in the 2023 session, we merged banking.
• The second was we merged, if you might recall, in the 2023 session, we merged banking and securities,
• I just want to make sure I understand that, you know, during the last session, a priority for me and
• Once you hit 600, you get into the territory of regular Pell Grants.
• For a regular Pell, if you have a bachelor's, you're not eligible for regular Pell for those very reasons

Keywords: 1204, all

Transcript Highlights:

• MassDevelopment does informational sessions throughout the state that people can find.
• So they do a lot, and hopefully we can try and work this session to help support them.
• So they do a lot, and hopefully we can try and work this session to help support them.
• Yet there are bills this session to expand leave and the usage of leave.
• We look forward to working with you throughout the session. Thank you very much.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Community Development and Small Business held an informational hearing focused on the conditions facing small and micro businesses in Massachusetts and the state programs intended to support them. Chairs Andy Vargas and Adam Gomez opened by emphasizing equitable economic development, the importance of CDFIs, and the need to help underserved entrepreneurs, especially women, minorities, veterans, immigrants, and other groups facing barriers. Committee members noted the hearing would not take up bills, and testimony was limited to 10 minutes per organization. State and quasi-public agency witnesses described current programs and funding. Dico Gibral of the Executive Office of Economic Development highlighted the Business Front Door, multilingual access, small business office hours in Gateway Cities, and funding in the Mass Leads Act, including support for CDFIs, small business technology, and capital grants. Tom Hooper of Commonwealth Corporation described workforce training programs such as the Workforce Training Fund, Workforce Competitiveness Trust Fund, and Career Technical Initiative, saying they help small businesses train workers, fill labor shortages, and support returning citizens and people with disabilities. Committee members asked about federal funding uncertainty, workforce migration, training schedules, and program uptake. Business and advocacy groups focused on cost pressures and regulatory burdens. The Massachusetts Restaurant Association urged continuation of outdoor dining and takeout alcohol sales, and pressed for relief from high credit card swipe fees, support for surcharging, and streamlining municipal licensing. The Retailers Association of Massachusetts cited survey results showing inflation, utility costs, payroll taxes, health insurance, and interchange fees as major concerns, and said many members might sell or close within five years; it also backed ending the state prohibition on surcharging and creating an Office of Main Streets Massachusetts. MACDC, BECKMA, and the Coalition for an Equitable Economy emphasized the need for more technical assistance, CDFI and small business funding, and protections against rising costs, tariffs, supply chain disruptions, and immigration enforcement impacts on immigrant-heavy business districts. No votes were taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• THOSE LACKING REGULAR ACCESS TO PRIMARY CARE IN ASSESSING APPROPRIATE CARE SETTINGS.
• WE CONDUCTED IT AT DISCUSSION SESSIONS.
• GREAT SESSIONS WITH THE INDUSTRY TO GET INPUT REGARDING ADVANCED BIRTH CENTER.
• I WILL PROVIDE AN UPDATE ON FOUR BILLS THE PASSED THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION.
• I THINK THIS HAS BEEN A FEW SESSIONS SINCE WE HAD AN UPDATE.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Senators, this bill comes before you again this session.
• Today, for the 2026 legislative session, Today, for the 2026 legislative session, occurring during America's
• The Senate's Rural Renaissance Bill, which we will call, excuse me, which we will recall from last session
• And our scholarship funding structure doesn't track students on a regular basis.
• We met with the staff and worked with him last session. The bill that I absolutely love.

Summary: The Senate Appropriations Committee met with a quorum present and took up two bills. The first, SB 250 on rural communities by Senator Simon, was described as a broad rural development package creating an Office of Rural Prosperity, a Renaissance grant program, housing and transportation investments, added funding for rural education consortiums, and health care initiatives for rural areas. Senator Harrell asked about overlap between road funding programs, and the sponsor explained that eligible counties could receive both SCRAP and FARM funding. Several organizations waived in support or spoke in support, and the bill was reported favorably by unanimous vote. The committee then heard SB 318, the committee substitute for educational scholarship programs by President Gates. The bill was presented as a response to Auditor General findings about the rapid growth and administration of Florida’s school choice and scholarship programs. It would separate Family Empowerment Scholarship funding from the FEFP, require more frequent student enrollment verification, lower scholarship funding organization administrative fees, require return of overpayments, create a student ID system, establish a $250 million stabilization fund, require annual audits, and direct DOE to recommend future program administration through competitive procurement. Gates also offered five amendments, including technical changes to eligibility documentation and a substantive amendment requiring a DOE report on future administration and competitive selection; all five amendments were adopted. During debate and public testimony, senators and witnesses discussed accountability, software solutions, reimbursement delays, monthly attestations, and impacts on public schools and families. Supporters and opponents alike raised concerns about bureaucracy, fraud prevention, special education services, and whether the bill would help or burden parents. Gates said the bill aimed to fix tracking and payment problems without capping the program, and he noted the IEP timeline would be aligned with public school timelines. After debate, the committee reported CS for SB 318 favorably by unanimous vote, and then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Last session, this committee voted out this exact same bill unanimously.
• I've been on this committee for two sessions; I don't remember...
• I remember you coming by, perhaps you did last session. So why did the Amtrak CEO...?
• Well, we've bought 25% of the parcels thus far in a regular way.
• Espinoza, can you stay and come right back after the session, please?

Bills: HB341, HB791, HB1564, HB1695, HB1722, HB1729, HB1772, HB2003, HB2954, HB2989, HB3084, HB3134, HB3135, HB3309, HB3611, HB3679, HB3727, HB3832

Keywords: affordable housing, zoning, development, community support, local regulations, bicycle lanes, traffic collisions, Texas Department of Transportation, study, public safety, bicycles, electric bicycles, scooters, road safety, transportation study, HB 791, Central Catholic High School, San Antonio, specialty license plate, specialty plates

Transcript Highlights:

• MY GUESS IS WE WILL TAKE UP ANOTHER IMMIGRATION BUILDER IN REGULAR SESSION BUT THIS IS TO GET US KICK
• SESSION BUT IT'S NOT A BAD IDEA. >> Chair Hooper: IT WAS NOT YOUR FINAL QUESTION. >> Sen.
• Polsky: I DIDN'T WANT TO LOSE SIGHT OF THE FACT THAT WE ARE IN SPECIAL SESSION, THIS COULD HAVE BEEN
• DEALT WITH IN REGULAR SESSION OR AT A MINIMUM NEXT WEEK OR THE WEEK AFTER OR THE WEEK AFTER THAT AND
• IMAGINE IF THIS WAS HELD DURING SESSION AND WE HAD AMAZING STUDENTS COMING FORWARD TO TALK ABOUT THEIR

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <01:17:14.320> Um, noticed executive session. Um, noticed executive session.
• The executive session for House Bill 1163 is closed. We are now out of executive session.
• Uh House Bill the executive session for Uh House Bill the executive session for 1163<02:09:20.560>
• As a notice to executive session.
• to have a work session on this bill. to have a work session on this bill.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Welcome to the Senate. our session staff, Faith Cantua. And in our session staff, Faith Cantua.
• session hire, and then two more session session hire, and then two more session hire,<00:29:59.520
• I move the Senate of the 33rd Legislature regular session of 2025 adjourn sine die.
• > session<01:17:38.880> of<01:17:38.960> 2025 33rd Legislature regular session of
• 2025 33rd Legislature regular session of 2025 adjourn<01:17:40.640> sine<01:17:40.840> die

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Session bills need to have an effective clause in them.
• session.
• Probably not tomorrow, but in time for special session. But in the special session next week?
• So you don't want any amendments until we're in special session.
• Any amendments can be adopted, just like we do in regular session.

Keywords: 908, all

Summary: The committee reviewed four bill drafts for the Rural Health Transformation effort. The first required the presidential physical fitness test in PE classes; members asked about DPI and school support, then moved and approved the draft. The second required physicians to complete one hour of continuing education on nutrition and metabolic health each renewal cycle and included legislative intent encouraging other health boards to consider nutrition-related CE; it was approved after brief discussion. The third bill adopted the Physician Assistant Licensure Compact. Members discussed a separate issue involving occupational therapy compact background checks and whether that fix could be added now or would need to wait until later; the committee also discussed Board of Medicine input and the compact’s workforce benefits. The draft was moved forward to the full committee. The fourth bill expanded pharmacists’ prescriptive authority and therapeutic substitution. Legislative Council explained the draft, and Senator Roars proposed substantial amendments to narrow motion sickness, UTI, diabetes supply, and substitution provisions. Members debated whether to vote on amendments now or wait for the special session public hearing; concerns were raised about transparency, stakeholder input, and avoiding premature action. No amendment vote was taken, and the bill was left for later consideration. The committee then recessed until the next day.

Transcript Highlights:

• Second item on the agenda is to discuss BR 25 for the 2026 regular session, which is an act relating
• /c><00:04:24.000> act<00:04:24.320> relating regular session which is an act relating regular
• <00:15:19.120> Um to deal with in the upcoming session.
• Um to deal with in the upcoming session.
• on a regular and ongoing basis. on a regular and ongoing basis.

Keywords: Discussion of BR 25 (2026 RS) 04:15 Presentation on voting systems by ES&S 48:14 Presentation on voting systems by Hart InterCivic and Harp Enterprises 01:13:07, 958, all

Summary: The committee met, approved the October 21 minutes, and then took up BR 25 for the 2026 regular session, a proposal to prohibit the use of tax dollars and public resources to advocate for or against ballot questions, including constitutional amendments. Senator Rawlings and the other presenters argued the current law already bars such advocacy but lacks meaningful enforcement, citing the 2024 school choice amendment campaign and other examples where public officials and school systems allegedly used taxpayer-funded resources to influence voters. They said the bill would add civil and criminal penalties, while preserving First Amendment rights for public employees acting in their personal capacities. Much of the discussion focused on whether the bill should be limited to school districts or broadened to cover other public entities, and on how to define terms such as “advocating in impartial terms.” Members raised concerns about possible effects on county and city lobbying through groups like KLC and KCO, on legitimate factual explanations by public officials, and on whether the bill could unintentionally restrict needed representation for local governments. The sponsors said the measure was intended to be narrow, would be vetted further, and would not bar individuals from speaking on their own behalf. Several members suggested revisions. Representative Lockett asked that schools and school employees be specifically named, and suggested separating the lobbying restrictions from the ballot-measure provisions into different bills. Representative Layman questioned the meaning of the bill’s language and whether it would cover factual testimony by officials. Representative Heen asked about a Jefferson County example involving legal fees used to challenge petition signatures; counsel said that situation would likely be allowable under the bill as drafted, though some members thought it should be covered. No final vote was taken on BR 25 during this discussion.

Transcript Highlights:

• Infectious waste comes in on trucks mixed with tons of regular waste.
• Infectious waste comes in on trucks mixed with tons of regular waste.
• garbage, but it something in the regular garbage, but it came<00:29:08.520> from<00:29:09.000
• the regular garbage. the regular garbage.
• uh close to near the end of the session uh close to near the end of the session on<01:36:14.480>

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It's fairly new after the legislative session we started that.
• It was a very busy legislative session, and thanks for commenting on my mom.
• What did you need passed that we did not pass during session?
• So did the worker make home visits to that baby on a regular basis?
• In last legislative session we had asked to increase that rate.

Transcript Highlights:

• Evan's dad and I fought every K-12 school year to mainstream our son into a regular class.
• Called every K-12 school year to mainstream our son into a regular classroom.
• This session, we've had a lot of discussion on autism, on disability, and as somebody with a physical
• of 2025, with the goal of bringing this information to us before we go into the next legislative session
• training to instructional personnel, school nurses, and doctors and other school personnel who come in regular

Summary: The Senate Education Pre-K-12 Committee heard and advanced a series of education-related bills, beginning with SB 540, the Evan B. Hartzell Act, which would require age-appropriate disability history and awareness instruction across grade bands. The committee adopted a delete-all amendment, heard emotional testimony from Melissa Hartzell about her son Evan’s experience with disability and inclusion, and reported the bill favorably. The committee also passed SB 1296, creating a pilot study on school cellphone bans; SB 1590, creating a task force to review educator preparation, certification, and professional learning; SB 1702, a broad education bill with provisions on private school facilities, marching band credit, school readiness reimbursements, and charter school monitoring tools; SB 1150, exempting school social workers from certain certification testing requirements; SB 1708, revising School of Hope rules and adding a Miami-Dade co-location framework; SB 822, updating charter school governance and operations; SB 444, requiring annual human trafficking awareness training for school personnel; and SB 742, expanding workforce development and money-back guarantee programs. Most of these bills were amended before being reported favorably by committee vote. The committee also considered and reported favorably SB 8, a claims bill providing a $1.2 million settlement for Marcus Button and his family arising from a 2006 Pasco County school bus crash that caused severe lifelong injuries. Senator Gaetz opposed claims bills in general, arguing the sovereign immunity cap should be raised so such cases can be resolved locally. Several bills drew questions and debate over implementation details, including concerns about charter school dress and hair policies under SB 822, the scope of human trafficking training under SB 444, and the zoning implications of private school facility provisions in SB 1702. Sponsor responses generally emphasized that the bills were intended to clarify existing policy or improve student safety, access, or educational outcomes. The committee also took up confirmation appointments. It recommended confirmation of the slate of appointees on Tabs 12 and 14 through 21 by voice vote, and separately recommended confirmation of Daniel Fogunoli to the State Board of Education after debate in which Senator Davis and Senator Osgood opposed the appointment. The meeting concluded with members recording additional votes, including Senator Burgess’s affirmative vote on SB 1150, and then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• The clerk will call the first bill on regular order calendar.
• So that's why, in the last regular legislative session, I introduced House Bill 486, the Alabama Voting
• after we just finished session.
• We're here during a special session to discuss something that was..." "...session to discuss something
• We're spending more costs than we usually do on a regular session for hotel rooms because they're more

Keywords: 1136, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Welcome, everyone, to the second meeting of the House Transportation Committee for this 2025 session.
• came out in late August, and it became effective in early December, so there was no way to process a regular
• way<00:13:45.199> to<00:13:45.519> process<00:13:45.839> a<00:13:46.040> regular
• <00:13:46.800> rag<00:13:47.079> in<00:13:47.240> that way to process a regular
• rag in that way to process a regular rag in that time<00:13:47.600> frame<00:13:47.839> so

Keywords: Roll Call 00:32 Approval of Minutes 01:38 HB 20 Discussion 02:08 HB 20 Vote 06:00 HB 188 Discussion 07:07 HB 188 Vote 10:10 Administrative Regs 11:09, 958, all

Summary: The House Transportation Committee met with a quorum, approved the previous meeting’s minutes, and heard two House bills plus several Transportation Cabinet regulations. House Bill 20, sponsored by Rep. Hodson, would restrict the retention and sale of automated license plate reader data, limit storage to 60 days, and prohibit nonconsensual tracking devices such as micro-trackers and subcutaneous trackers. Hodson said the bill was aimed at protecting citizens’ privacy and noted it had passed the House previously; members asked about enforcement and deletion responsibility, and one member suggested criminal penalties might be worth considering in the future. The committee voted to report HB 20 favorably. House Bill 188, sponsored by Rep. Duvall, addressed driveaway plate businesses that transport vehicles for others. Duvall said Kentucky law had created confusion about how many vehicles could be on the road and had driven up insurance costs, hurting a Warren County business; the bill would let such companies purchase the exact number of plates needed, which he said would reduce exposure and premiums. He emphasized the bill would not affect dealer tags or trailer transport and said he was working on a floor amendment to make that clear. The committee reported HB 188 favorably as well. The committee then reviewed five administrative regulations, including Transportation Cabinet rules allowing technology to be used in title examinations, extending an off-road vehicle pilot program to July 2026 and updating the definition of local government, aligning truck weight-mass rules with statute, adopting the MUTCD traffic control manual, and an emergency Kentucky State Police regulation adjusting a TSA-related hazardous materials endorsement fee because the federal change came too quickly for the normal regulatory process. Members asked whether the title rule covered rebuild titles, and staff said it applied to all titles. The committee noted the regulations had been reviewed and then adjourned, with the next meeting tentatively set for the following Tuesday.

Transcript Highlights:

• To every witness who's come today, thank you for your patience as we finished a long floor session today
• Regular interaction with the different tools.
• Regular interaction with the different tools.
• They have to submit regular updates to their security plan.
• Both Bright Life Kids and Soluna do that, and we monitor that on a very regular basis.

Summary: The hearing focused first on behavioral health, especially serious mental illness and anosognosia, a condition described by witnesses as a neurological symptom that prevents people from recognizing they are ill. The chair framed the issue around families cycling through emergency rooms, jails, conservatorships, and short-term stabilization without lasting treatment, and warned that federal changes under H.R. 1 could reduce Medi-Cal funding and worsen access. Dawn Marie Anderson gave a personal account of her son’s long history of psychosis, homelessness, arrests, repeated jail and state hospital stays, and eventual stability when he received sustained medication and coordinated support. She argued that the system often treats the problem as criminal rather than medical and that voluntary programs and short-term services are not enough for people who lack insight into their illness. Other panelists, including representatives from the California Behavioral Health Association, Santa Barbara County Behavioral Health, and the County Behavioral Health Directors Association, agreed that anosognosia is not denial or noncompliance and said the system needs long-term, coordinated care, including assertive community treatment, mobile crisis, supportive housing, medication support, and stronger handoffs between county and managed care systems. They said CalAIM and other reforms have improved some coordination, but significant gaps remain, especially for people with serious mental illness, for those in jail or locked settings, and for people with private insurance, which witnesses said often offers little meaningful coverage for early psychosis or intensive behavioral health services. Several witnesses urged the Legislature to protect Medi-Cal, shore up county safety-net services, and invest in training and family engagement. The committee then turned to the Children and Youth Behavioral Health Initiative, with a focus on the virtual services platforms BrightLife Kids and Soluna and the CYBHI fee schedule. DHCS reported strong growth in app registrations, coaching sessions, referrals, and positive user outcomes, saying the platforms provide free, culturally responsive, early-intervention support statewide and help connect users to higher levels of care when needed. On the fee schedule, DHCS said more than 500 LEAs, colleges, universities, and school-linked providers are participating, 181 LEAs have submitted claims, and $9.6 million has been reimbursed to date, with 41,556 students represented in claims. The chair and several members criticized the pace of implementation and the amount of money spent relative to reimbursement levels, saying the Legislature had requested data earlier and that the return on investment still appeared low. DHCS responded that many claims are still being submitted, that 70% of denials are correctable, that $400 million in capacity grants has been distributed locally, and that reimbursement is increasing rapidly as more districts come online. Public comment included a rural county behavioral health director who said private insurance denials leave counties with significant uncompensated work, especially for unlicensed staff providing case management and mobile crisis services.

Transcript Highlights:

• or special town meeting, at the regular or special town meeting, the<01:08:25.679> town<01:08
• <01:11:19.760> town days before the next regular town days before the next regular town meeting
• This session law provision would authorize, just making clear, that the Secretary of State can update
• Uh, I think this exemplifies what happens when we are rushing at the end of the session to get bills
• However, in the off session, it does not.

Keywords: 927, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The infectious waste comes in on trucks mixed with tons of other regular waste.
• The infectious waste comes in on trucks mixed with tons of other regular waste.
• This can easily be other regular waste.
• Chair, there's a deep desire that I have to get this bill across the finish line this session in some
• This isn't just onesy regular basis.

Bills: HF1531, HF4017, HF3399, HF4146, HF4019, HF3677

Keywords: crossbow, crossbow hunting, archery season, deer hunting, bear hunting, turkey hunting, fishing, common carp, rough fish, game and fish, wildlife management, hunting license, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, DNR, sunset clause, expiration removal, archery equipment, outdoor recreation, infectious waste, pathological waste

Transcript Highlights:

• is the time frame difference between if you pay for having it expedited and just going through the regular
• I think we're going to get it done here in the 2026 session.
• I think we're going to get it done here in the 2026 session.
• I think we're going to get it done here in the 2026 session.
• uh exponential increase in regular uh exponential increase in regular filings<00:10:40.399> that

Bills: SF0102, SF0123, SF0021, SF0099

Keywords: energy transmission, load growth, Wyoming energy authority, transmission planning study, public utilities, regional cooperation, energy, funding, grants, loans, coal, natural gas, mineral processing, economic development, stable token, liquidity, trust account, Wyoming, fund distribution, financial regulation