Transcript Highlights:

• Senator, we have members of all walks of life, all call themselves cultures, all races, all religions
• My husband very periodically—in fact, he's a walking billboard. He puts his brokerage on his shirt.
• My husband very periodically—in fact, he's a walking billboard. He puts his brokerage on his shirt.
• If I would have walked in with a Yeti with my brokerage logo, just drinking something out of it and set
• When I turned 12, my parents allowed me to walk to the library on my own.

Bills: SB2101, SB2334, SB2633, SB2637, SB2713, SB2781, SB2782, SB3059, HB 1130

Keywords: minors, sexually explicit materials, public libraries, age verification, civil penalties, library collection review, alcohol storage, airline permits, beverage regulations, airport, commercial flights, alcoholic beverages, local option election, zoning regulations, municipality control, land use, state law, social media, bot accounts, misinformation

Summary: The committee first reopened public testimony on Senate Bill 2713, which concerned protections for freedom of conscience in the context of Realtor association discipline. Texas Realtors representatives testified that their organization is a separate Texas legal entity but affiliated with the National Association of Realtors through a charter and code of ethics. They said Texas Realtors is neutral on SB 2713, that their ethics process is focused on fair housing and equal professional service, and that they have not suspended or terminated anyone in Texas for religious or political speech. Senators pressed them on whether national standards could override Texas law and on examples from other states; the witnesses said state and federal law control and that they would comply with Texas law if the bill passed. Public testimony then closed and SB 2713 was left pending. The committee then took up Senate Bill 1698 on e-cigarettes. Senator Parker explained a committee substitute that tightened enforcement, required distributor registration, expanded regulation to nicotine from any source, added restrictions on child-appealing packaging, authorized inspections and audits, and set compliance deadlines later in 2025 and 2026. After questions, the substitute was adopted and SB 1698, as substituted, was reported favorably to the full Senate on a 6-0 vote, with a recommendation for the local and uncontested calendar. Next, the committee considered Senate Bill 2487 on crisis and mental health facilities. Senator Parker described a substitute that renamed the program a crisis service model, allowed multiple county facilities, added local siting limits, expanded staffing options, shortened clinical timelines, required discharge referrals, directed law enforcement and EMS to transport people there first, and created local boards and expanded reporting. The substitute was adopted and the bill was reported favorably on a 6-0 vote, also recommended for the local and uncontested calendar. Senate Bill 2819, dealing with political activities of county elections administrators, was then reported favorably on a 6-0 vote and likewise sent to the local and uncontested calendar. Senate Bill 2043 was withdrawn. The committee spent substantial time on Senate Bill 2101, which would require municipal public libraries to move sexually explicit materials out of minors’ sections and impose age-verification and review requirements. Supporters argued the bill would protect children from explicit material in public libraries and that libraries should not be left to self-regulate. Opponents, including librarians, parents, authors, and ACLU representatives, argued the definitions were vague, the bill would be costly and burdensome for small libraries, could function as a book ban, and would restrict teens’ access to classics, research materials, and other books. Several witnesses said parents should make those decisions, not the state. The bill’s author said the committee substitute was still being worked on and asked witnesses to review it; public testimony remained open in the portion provided, with no final action on SB 2101 shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• We just need to walk with caution.
• I can walk out in less than 30 minutes.
• It makes a huge difference when a nurse who speaks the language walks in, when a nurse who looks like
• them walks in, and when a nurse who understands where they're coming from.
• Giving a person a wheelchair if they cannot walk doesn't... ... eliminate that person's difference.

Bills: SB128, SB640, SB672, SB904, SB1141, SB1263, SB1525, SB1528, SB2041, SB2306, SB2308, SB2357, SB2446, SB2695, SB2857, SB2891, SB2583

Keywords: hospital reporting, child abuse, neglect, administrative penalty, medical ethics, child protection, SB 640, Texas Family Code, Department of Family and Protective Services, DFPS, child welfare, foster care, managing conservatorship, suicide attempt, youth suicide, mental health, child protective services, state custody, annual report, reporting requirements

Transcript Highlights:

• iteration of this bill in 2019, I believe at that time it was an effective path to go down and to walk
• It was an effective path to go down and to walk down in terms of really looking at animal dissection.
• If I wanted to walk into school and request the material to see what my child is going to be seeing,
• They can walk the parents through in a discussion the material that's being taught, and that provides
• A parent who's just coming in and walking out with a stack of copies and then sharing it with friends

Summary: The Assembly Education Committee met for its first hearing of the session, adopted its committee rules on a 6-0 vote, and then heard several bills. AB 347, which would require written notice to students about the right to opt out of animal dissection and receive a comparable assignment, drew strong support from the author, a student, and multiple advocacy and education groups, while opponents argued it would burden teachers and duplicate existing law. The committee approved AB 347 on a 7-0 vote and sent it to Appropriations. AB 281, which would expand parent access to sex education materials and require disclosure of outside consultants’ credentials, drew mixed testimony. Supporters framed it as a transparency and parent-rights measure, while school administrators and county education officials said current law already allows inspection and that the bill would create an unfunded administrative burden. After extended member discussion, the bill failed on a 4-3 vote with one abstention, though reconsideration was granted. AB 65, which would provide paid pregnancy leave for educators without requiring them to exhaust sick leave first, was supported by teachers, CTA, and the State Treasurer, but opposed by school administrators and business officials over cost concerns; it passed 6-0 to Higher Education. The committee also approved AB 361, which would extend and expand LAUSD’s best-value procurement authority for school construction to all school districts for five years, on a 5-0 vote with one abstention. AB 86, which would require the State Board of Education to adopt standardized K-8 health education instructional materials, passed 5-0. Finally, AB 228, the Zaki Fast Act, was introduced to clarify that schools may stock any federally approved epinephrine delivery system, including newer devices beyond auto-injectors, and was presented with testimony from the bill’s young namesake and his family; the transcript cuts off before the committee vote on that measure.

Transcript Highlights:

• inspiring, but not only to the veterans there, but anybody that's coming in to observe and participate walks
• Walk me through where your people are right now, how they're feeling about the abundance of missions
• Can you walk me through that, please? Yes, sir. Mr. Chair.
• Today, I'll walk you through some of the services that we have available to your constituents and the
• if they need resume assistance, if they need a training opportunity, anything that they need, they walk

Summary: The committee took up SB 116 by Senator Burgess, a veterans bill aimed at several FDVA-related changes. The bill would reduce annual nominations to the Florida Veterans Hall of Fame from 20 to 5, expand FDVA’s survey work to assess veterans’ awareness of available programs and their health literacy, add mental health training to the veterans suicide prevention pilot, strengthen coordination and reporting between Veterans Florida and FDVA, direct FDVA to develop a plan for adult day health care facilities statewide, and allow the Florida Veterans Foundation to use a portion of Gadsden flag plate proceeds for administrative costs. Senator Burgess said the measure builds on prior “Forward March” efforts and helps close service gaps for aging veterans and others who may not know about available benefits. Testimony on SB 116 was uniformly supportive. FDVA leadership said adult day health care could be added at existing facilities such as Port St. Lucie and Lake City, and that the state would need authority and funding to move forward. A veterans legal collaborative, AARP Florida, and Endeavors all voiced support, with speakers emphasizing the importance of better outreach, mental health awareness, and care options that allow veterans to remain at home. The committee then voted favorably on SB 116. The remainder of the meeting was devoted to agency and stakeholder presentations. Florida National Guard officials described a high operational tempo, deployments at home and abroad, hurricane response efforts, and the need to grow the force and infrastructure. FDVA’s adjutant general reported Florida now has the nation’s second-largest veteran population, rising in-migration of younger veterans, a large and aging Vietnam-era population, strong claims and outreach activity, declining veteran homelessness, and improved suicide prevention outcomes. The Florida Veterans Foundation outlined its emergency relief, dental, transportation, and license-plate-funded programs, while Veterans Florida and CareerSource Florida detailed workforce, apprenticeship, SkillBridge, entrepreneurship, and job-fair programs for veterans and spouses, along with efforts to expand recurring funding and better protect customer information.

Transcript Highlights:

• I sent a letter to President Trump today that walks through the CFPB's work, and I'd like to make that
• We launched Old Glory Cash In so our customers can walk into one of 88,000 locations across America and
• Let's walk our way through this. Mr. McCauley, it's good to see you again.
• The auditors walk in and say, guess what? You got a problem. A camel rating might change, correct?
• And you wouldn't just turn it over to anybody who walked in? Your bank, would you? No. And Mr.

Transcript Highlights:

• But there are times that it comes up that you need to walk this But there are times that it comes up
• that you need to walk this process, and this bill allows us to do that.
• And this is not that they can just have a free range and walk in.
• Okay, but the way that your amendment is worded is that if you walk the dog, the senator says, hey, I
• And so FA 1187 would be a walk, a step backwards, and would hurt those kids that so many of you have

Bills: LB815A, LB838A, LB912A, LB972A, LB1126A, LB962A, LB1114, LB921, LB937, LB803, LB803A, LB1032, LB1032A, LB1075, LB1075A, LB889, LB878, LB933, LB304, LB304A, LB1096, LB1096A, LB1165, LB1165A, LB958, LB958A, LB762, LB1187, LB966, LB929, LB962, LB753, LB788, LB913, LB1055, LB1195, LB429, LB721, LB722, LB727, LB743, LB745, LB749, LB778, LB787

Keywords: LB815A, LB815, appropriation, appropriations bill, Nebraska Department of Revenue, Motor Fuel Tax Enforcement and Collection Cash Fund, motor fuel tax, gas tax, fuel tax, tax enforcement, tax collection, cash fund, budget, state spending, per diem, salaries, fiscal year, enrollment and review, final reading, Nebraska

Transcript Highlights:

• In 2015, and up until 2015, they essentially were walking in tandem, and you see a divergence.
• Hitler would walk is a chemical company.
• Hitler would walk into<00:23:58.720> a<00:23:58.880> room<00:23:59.120> saying,<
• They want the French fries to look the same at every McDonald’s they walk into.
• same at every McDonald's they walk into. same at every McDonald's they walk into.

Bills: HF3718

Keywords: veterinary medicine, veterinary technology, animal care, licensing, client consent, continuing education, emergency services, teletriage, 1183, house

Summary: The Agriculture Finance and Policy Committee met with quorum present, approved the March 2 minutes, and then heard a presentation on economic consolidation in agriculture from Austin Ferk, who said he was not taking additional public testimony. Ferk argued that consolidation in meat, dairy, and grain markets has squeezed farmers on both input and output prices, raised consumer prices, and reduced product quality. He used charts and examples to claim that concentrated markets lead to price gouging, that farmers now receive a historically low share of each food dollar, and that industrial production has contributed to environmental problems, especially in Iowa. Ferk focused on several large agribusiness firms, especially JBS and Cargill. He described JBS as a dominant meatpacker with a history of bribery allegations and market power across beef, pork, poultry, and leather, and said its ownership of brands can obscure who is actually selling the product. He also criticized Cargill as an opaque, privately held company with enormous influence over grain and food markets, and said the farm bill and crop insurance system have been shaped to favor overproduction of corn and soy rather than diversified farming. He argued that these policies, along with ethanol demand and export-oriented livestock production, have harmed rural communities, increased manure and nitrate pollution, and contributed to health problems. In the latter part of the presentation, Ferk discussed antitrust and policy responses, including concentration studies, a proposed packer ban that would prevent meatpackers from owning the animals they slaughter, and restrictions on slotting fees and other pay-to-play practices in grocery retail. He also referenced the failed Kroger-Albertsons merger as an example of consolidation harming local communities. No committee vote or formal action was taken on the presentation beyond approving the minutes.

Transcript Highlights:

• Let me walk you through the table to describe what's driving this change.
• I'll talk about those changes in greater detail in a following slide, but let's just walk through the
• through changes in the state walk through changes in the state spending<00:18:02.160> forecast
• the table to Let me walk you through the table to describe<00:19:05.360> what's<00:19:05.679>
• through that um through the just walk through that um through the rest<00:20:03.679> of<00:20

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:01:54.159> through<00:01:54.799> of<00:01:55.040> the and give us a walk
• I think it was reviewed last session, so I won't walk through it.
• So I won't walk last one uh session. So I won't walk through<00:16:03.440> it.
• But it also provides some funding for transportation alternatives such as walking and biking.
• But it also provides some funding for transportation alternatives such as walking and biking.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Just to walk through it, just to walk through it.
• We've walked this road before, have we not? Yes, sir, we have.
• I just walked in. Mr. Louderback. Mr. Chair, Mr. Miller.
• And, I mean, people walk across my property all the time.
• Sprained it and I can barely walk.

Summary: The committee first took up House Bill 2777 by Representative Rose, which would bar the death penalty for defendants who can prove by clear and convincing evidence that they had schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder and active psychotic symptoms at the time of the offense. Rose said the bill would still hold defendants accountable through life without parole, would save money by avoiding lengthy capital litigation, and would address cases where severe mental illness was not adequately considered. Supporters from NAMI Texas, the Catholic bishops, and a forensic psychologist said the bill is narrowly tailored, consistent with neuroscience and moral principles, and would prevent executions of people whose psychosis substantially impaired reality testing. Committee members questioned how the bill interacts with existing competency and insanity law, whether the diagnosis is sufficiently defined, and whether the statute requires active psychosis at the time of the offense. An opponent argued the death penalty should remain available for juries to decide in all cases. The bill was left pending. The committee then heard House Bill 1221 by Representative Lozano, which would raise the cap on pretrial intervention program fees from $500 to $1,200. Lozano and a district attorney witness said the increase is needed because program costs have risen and the fees help make diversion programs self-sustaining, allowing first-time or low-level offenders to complete rehabilitation and potentially obtain expunction. Opponents from the Texas Fair Defense Project argued the higher fee could make diversion unaffordable for indigent defendants and undermine an important alternative to incarceration, especially where related supervision and monitoring costs already add up. Members discussed whether the fee applies only to PTI participants, how payment plans and waivers work, and whether ability to pay should be addressed more explicitly. The bill was left pending. Finally, the committee heard House Bill 1738 by Representative Jones, which would repeal Penal Code Section 21.06 and related Health and Safety Code references concerning homosexual conduct. Jones said the law is unconstitutional under Lawrence v. Texas, remains harmful on the books, and has led to confusion and unnecessary costs even though it is unenforceable. Supporters said the bill simply removes outdated language and protects civil liberties, while opponents from Texas Values argued the statute still serves as a statement that homosexual conduct is unacceptable and should remain as a warning, even if unenforceable. Members debated whether the law’s remaining language is merely symbolic or still harmful, and whether other criminal statutes already cover conduct such as prostitution, incest, and offenses involving minors. The bill was left pending after testimony.

Transcript Highlights:

• Chair, I could you walk me through just a little bit of what the current process is for the background
• chair<00:12:54.000> I<00:12:54.320> could<00:12:54.480> you<00:12:54.680> walk
• c><00:12:55.079> through<00:12:55.279> just<00:12:55.399> a chair I could you walk
• Their presence benefits not just us, but also people walking on the street.
• on the North side don't uh have to walk on the North side don't uh have to walk home<01:46:45.320

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Stum has done a substitution, if you could just walk us quickly through the fiscal note, and then we’
• us quickly through the could just walk us quickly through the fiscal<00:13:57.560> note<00:13
• <00:40:06.040> commencements<00:40:06.680> at kids could not walk commencements at
• kids could not walk commencements at graduation<00:40:07.480> because<00:40:07.680> they
• Five years ago, kids walked into the lunchroom and got lunch.

Bills: HF51, HF1161, HF2201, HF2786, HF1053

Keywords: HF51, Sibley County, State-Aid Highway 21, capital investment, bonding bill, general obligation bonds, transportation infrastructure, road improvements, sanitary sewer, water main, storm sewer, local infrastructure, county grant, Minnesota Department of Transportation, bond proceeds fund, public works, utility infrastructure, education finance, school district funding, tax base adjustment

Transcript Highlights:

• So people walking the social district, that's a good thing around the Anoka social district.
• So people walking the social district, that's a good thing around the Anoka social district.
• So people walking the social district.
• So people walking that's<01:13:34.320> that's<01:13:34.560> a<01:13:34.719> good
• And so, making sure that we have opportunities for transit, for biking, for walking, for ride shares,

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• I'll walk the bill as it's amended by the A4 amendment, going sort of back and forth between the two.
• bill yes thank you Mr chair and members bill yes thank you Mr chair and members I'll<00:02:07.759> walk
• 08.800> it's<00:02:09.280> amended<00:02:10.280> um<00:02:10.399> by I'll walk
• the bill as it's amended um by I'll walk the bill as it's amended um by the<00:02:10.679> A4
• counties through um and request walk counties through um and request them<00:26:37.240> to<00

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:42:25.839> through duties and process and uh walk through duties and process and uh walk
• I'll walk through the membership.
• I'll just try to briefly walk through these at a high level. and attorneys fees and whether there and
• through the membership um HOAs I'll walk through the membership um there<00:44:50.359> were<00
• <00:48:47.280> through just try to I'll briefly walk through just try to I'll briefly walk

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• If we can get the Deputy Commissioner Ro to come on up and he'll walk us through the UI issues.
• If we can get the Deputy Commissioner Ro to come on up and he'll walk us through the UI issues.
• <00:01:12.119> us up and he'll walk us up and he'll walk us through<00:01:13.960> uh
• Okay, so Devin, are you going to be the one to walk through the questions or answer the questions that
• are you going to be the one to walk are you going to be the one to walk through<00:01:54.880>

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And particularly in urban areas, people who are driving around, walking around, suddenly discharging
• At that point, I had a passenger walk me to another coach, and I kind of locked myself in there.
• I'm apprehensive about the state of them walking across an ice surface.
• I'm going against a bone and state of them, walking across an ice surface.
• Any one of you here sitting down can have a kratom tea in my bar, walk out, drive, and won't have any

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The hearing covered a wide range of Judiciary Committee bills, with much of the testimony focused on criminal justice, public safety, and civil asset forfeiture reform. Several lawmakers and advocates supported bills to increase penalties or create new offenses related to assaults on sports officials, assaults on transit workers, reckless discharge of firearms, fires and explosives, pill press machines, and drug-induced homicide. Testifiers described rising harassment and violence against youth sports officials and transit workers, as well as the fentanyl overdose crisis and the need for stronger tools to prosecute dealers whose conduct leads to death. Supporters of the sports-official and transit-worker bills emphasized declining referee availability and repeated assaults on commuter rail and MBTA workers. District attorneys also backed bills on reckless firearm discharge and fires/explosives, saying current law does not adequately address dangerous conduct that endangers bystanders. The committee also heard testimony on several proposals related to youth diversion and prison mitigation. Supporters of the youth court justice fund bill said youth courts are peer-led diversion programs with strong compliance and low recidivism, and argued for a stable funding source rather than annual earmarks. A representative from Bridgewater supported a prison mitigation fund for municipalities that host state prisons, saying the costs of public safety and emergency services are not fully covered. On gun policy, testimony split between supporters of a bill to ban in-state manufacture of assault-style rifles for civilian sale and opponents or skeptics of other firearm-related measures, including a bill on collateralizing firearms and a bill to increase penalties for drug trafficking combined with illegal firearm offenses. A major portion of the hearing was devoted to civil asset forfeiture reform. Advocates from the ACLU, CPCS, the Boston Bar Association, the Institute for Justice, and others supported bills to increase the burden of proof, improve transparency and reporting, require counsel, and limit or eliminate the current practice of directing forfeiture proceeds to law enforcement. They argued the current system creates perverse incentives, lacks adequate due process, and is insufficiently transparent. District Attorney Paul Tucker defended current forfeiture practices, saying his office has reporting and oversight, uses the funds for investigations and community programs, and warned that reducing forfeiture revenue would hinder crime fighting. No votes or final committee actions were taken during the hearing; the chairs repeatedly thanked witnesses and indicated the bills would remain under consideration.

Transcript Highlights:

• the evidence to be very good at reaching people who, for whatever reason, are generally unwilling to walk
• red-haired woman covered in blood and sores who couldn’t even stand up straight was struggling to walk
• It was unclear what she was saying, but she walked clumsily to a yellow bike and a man who wasn’t in
• And so we do not have enough votes to get it out of committee, but we will be walking the votes, walking
• And so we do not have enough votes to get it out of committee, but we will be walking the votes, walking

Bills: SB274, SB301, SB249

Keywords: healthcare, life-sustaining treatment, patient preferences, POLST, advance directive, medical orders, hospital discharge, pregnancy, patient care, discharge planning, healthcare policy, substance use, harm reduction, syringe services, needle exchange, overdose prevention, naloxone, opioid antagonist, drug paraphernalia, syringe

Summary: The committee heard and advanced several measures related to health care, public health, and patient protections. House Concurrent Resolution 148, urging a statewide educational strategy on menopause, was presented as a workplace awareness measure and received supportive comments from members before being released. Senate Bill 274, updating Delaware’s MOST program to POLST and clarifying capacity determinations and documentation for end-of-life orders, also drew supportive testimony from medical and nursing groups and was released. House Bill 458, limiting local backflow preventer requirements for certain low-hazard buildings, was presented as a cost-relief measure for homeowners and small businesses; DHSS expressed concerns but said it was willing to work on amendments and a sunset provision, and the bill was released. Senate Joint Resolution 18, designating August 31, 2026 as International Overdose Awareness Day and ordering flags at half-staff, was released after brief supportive remarks. The committee then considered Senate Bill 339, a technical correction to the advance health care directive form clarifying that an agent’s authority for voluntary mental health admission cannot exceed 72 hours, consistent with existing law. Members asked detailed questions about how the 72-hour limit works and whether it applies to voluntary directives; the sponsor and a Disability Rights Delaware witness explained that the bill only aligns the form with current statute and does not expand authority. The bill was released. House Bill 301, requiring hospitals to create discharge plans for pregnant patients discharged while showing signs of labor, prompted extensive discussion. The sponsor and supporters said it would improve safety, transportation planning, and aftercare, while some members noted Delaware hospitals already do much of this work and questioned whether codifying it was necessary; supporters emphasized maternal mortality disparities and the need for guardrails. The bill was released. Senate Bill 196, creating ownership disclosure requirements for long-term care facilities and resident notice rules after ownership transfers, was presented as a transparency measure for seniors and families and was released after supportive testimony from the Delaware Nurses Association and elder-care advocates. Senate Bill 320, expanding pharmacists’ independent prescriptive authority for certain non-controlled medications and allowing opioid use disorder medications under standing order, with added malpractice reporting requirements in Senate Amendment 2, was supported by pharmacists and nurse practitioners as an access-to-care measure and was released. Senate Substitute 1 for Senate Bill 161, establishing a unified licensing and oversight framework for adult behavioral health providers under DSAM, was presented as a patient-protection measure; providers supported the goal but cautioned that regulations must be workable, and the substitute was released. Senate Joint Resolution 19, directing DHSS to study strategies to reduce health care costs, was released with a note reflecting concerns about broadening the analysis to include additional cost drivers and alternatives. Finally, Senate Bill 249 with Senate Amendment 2, modernizing harm-reduction programs and paraphernalia laws, generated the most extended debate: supporters framed it as life-saving public health policy, while opponents raised concerns about needle litter, community impacts, and whether the approach facilitates addiction. Despite the objections, the bill was released.

Transcript Highlights:

• There she just walked out of the room. Yep. This is not perfect. It is not perfect.
• There<00:32:43.640> is<00:32:43.800> she<00:32:43.920> just<00:32:44.120> walked
• <00:32:44.320> out<00:32:44.400> of<00:32:44.440> the There is she just walked
• out of the There is she just walked out of the room. room. room.
• People walking in the this nature.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Cannot walk today because he fought for this country.
• Cannot walk today because he fought for this country.
• Cannot walk today because he fought for this country.
• Cannot walk today because he fought for this country.
• Cannot walk today because he fought One.

Bills: HB541

Keywords: PFAS, drinking water, public health, environmental management, liability, 923, senate, all