Transcript Highlights:

• That's understood when it comes to someone driving under the influence.
• And that also drives up the price. What does that cost right now?
• Let the science and facts drive the policy.
• Impaired driving is impaired driving, whether someone is drunk, high, or took a bunch of lorazepam or
• And I earned a living by truck driving and by construction.

Bills: HB28 , SB3 , SB 3

Committee: House State Affairs

Keywords: hemp regulation, consumable products, cannabinoids, state health, youth protection, licensing fees, criminal offenses, flash flood, flood warning, outdoor warning siren, emergency alert, disaster preparedness, flood mitigation, Hill Country floods, Texas Water Development Board, municipalities, counties, local government mandate, public safety, grant program

Transcript Highlights:

• Moorhead's only a 4-5 hour drive from here. Right?
• Now, I'm not going to drive the price.
• </c> We talk about other things that drive We talk about other things that drive the<01:39:24.480><c>
• </c> Now, the paid family leave did not drive Now, the paid family leave did not drive the<01:39:28.760
• </c> did that drive the health insurance up? did that drive the health insurance up?

Committee: Senate Commerce and Consumer Protection

Transcript Highlights:

• Once you drive up Victoria, you know, you cross the street on Lynwood Road. So that's, you know...
• Once you drive up Victoria, you know, you cross the street on Lynwood Road.
• They drive to San Manuel for, you know, a couple of times. And we'll call them.
• And so, yes, it's great entertainment, even though they're about 40 miles away, they make that drive
• And so, yes, it's a great entertainment, even though they're about 40 miles away, they make that drive

Committee: House Governmental Organization

Transcript Highlights:

• A 50-cent tax could drive down demand, as 70% of Massachusetts residents say they'd order less often,
• Point of reference, driving in from Worcester, I didn't touch the Big Dig.
• Point of reference, driving in from Worcester, I didn't touch the Big Dig.
• Mandating PLAs also will reduce competition among bidders, and competition helps drive down costs.
• And I thank you very much for your time and consideration. ...competition helps drive down costs.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Transportation

Summary: The Joint Committee on Transportation heard testimony on a range of bills focused on transportation funding, governance, and equity. Supporters backed proposals to create a North Central Massachusetts intercity passenger rail fund tied to a possible new gaming license (H. 3680/S. 2363), local parking assessments (H. 3756), third-party delivery fees (S. 2356/H. 3774), broader roadway pricing and congestion management measures (S. 2353/S. 2354), tolling equity and regional transit authority advisory boards (S. 2400/S. 2401), and Steamship Authority oversight reforms including board term limits (S. 2395). Testimony in favor emphasized new dedicated revenue sources, commuter rail expansion, regional equity, improved oversight, and better transit access for riders and communities that rely on public transportation. There was also testimony in opposition to the third-party delivery fee bills from Chamber of Progress, which argued the fee would raise costs for consumers, small businesses, and delivery workers, could reduce demand and jobs, and might not achieve the intended environmental benefits. Associated Builders and Contractors of Massachusetts opposed H. 3633, a transit expansion, electrification, and resiliency bill, specifically objecting to its mandatory project labor agreement requirement and saying it would limit competition and disadvantage non-union contractors and workers. Several witnesses spoke in favor of the Steamship Authority bill, saying term limits would improve transparency, accountability, and board turnover. The committee also heard detailed support for the North Central rail proposal from a legislator, the North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce, and a transportation advocate, who described the bill as a way to generate long-term bonded revenue for rail infrastructure. After testimony concluded and no questions remained, the chairs entertained and received a motion to adjourn.

Transcript Highlights:

• The United Way's Children's Book Drive. It was really fun to partner with them.
• Okay, the quarter drive to bring that Liberty Bell home has gone into effect.
• But as you can do little quarter drives at your school, you can do it in your community.
• But I see over the summer, instead of lemonade stands, there will be quarter drive stands, and it will
• If you wish to do a quarter drive, there are documents that are on the website to tell you how to do

Summary: The America 250 and Idaho Advisory Council met with a quorum and approved the April 20, 2026 minutes. Staff gave a financial update showing $68,267.67 unobligated in the commemorative fund, $440,710 spent to date, and $205,852.93 in celebration grants dispersed, with about $35,000 left to distribute. The committee also approved a motion to reallocate $10,000 from a project coordinator travel line to cover higher final production costs for the hanging Declaration of Independence display. Treasurer Ellsworth gave an extensive update on America 250 outreach, highlighting ambassador activity across cities, counties, businesses, schools, and veterans groups; numerous community events; the Revolutionary Spud “take-home” packs and coloring book; the Liberty Bell quarter-drive fundraising effort; the Liberty Bell carriage project; the service challenge nearing $250,000; and the final storybooks and Spuddy Buddies materials moving toward print. Members praised the strong engagement with schoolchildren and local communities, and Ellsworth said the signature collection for the declaration display was complete. Secretary McGrane reported that planning for the July 4 celebration is intensifying, with logistics, volunteers, the Veteran Entrepreneur Alliance, the parade, the Foundations and Freedom Tour, and Capitol displays all being coordinated. Director Gallamore summarized state agency efforts, including a new America 250 license plate, oral history interviews, the Move 250 campaign, educational tiles, the Great American State Fair, and other events tied to the commemoration. Hannah Laurie Hine outlined federal and national America 250 initiatives, including the congressional caucus, oral history efforts, the Great American State Fair, and the extended student art contest deadline. The Idaho Lottery previewed an America 250 scratch ticket going on sale statewide, and the Senate described plans for a Capitol for the Day event with schools and agencies. The committee set its next meeting for Tuesday, May 26, in the afternoon, and then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• This morning, I was driving from Rockland on a road-rage-filled morning, driving.
• Assembly Member Patterson said he had a road-rage-filled morning driving through traffic.
• He said he was still mad at life after dropping off his kids and driving through traffic, and he had
• And we're asking them, hey, can you come to the Assembly chambers, wake up early, drive through that
• We have families who drive hours to the nearest specialty care, and we have seniors who cannot access

Transcript Highlights:

• is a tax that goes directly after small companies in the forms of LLCs and S corporations and will drive
• really, really difficult for citizens to put initiatives on the ballot is the exact same attitude driving
• And we'll simply drive more costs onto the poorest among us or drive them to buy those cigarettes in
• And we'll simply drive more costs onto the poorest among us or drive them to buy those cigarettes in

Summary: Republican legislative leaders used the availability to focus on affordability, budget pressures, and opposition to several Democratic tax proposals. They criticized a circulating draft income tax proposal as a de facto small-business tax, arguing it would hurt LLCs, S corporations, housing investment, and the broader economy. They also attacked a proposed tire fee, a possible cigarette tax increase, and other tax ideas as regressive or hidden from consumers, while saying Republicans would not support any tax increases and urging budget cuts and spending restraint instead. The leaders said they planned to raise these concerns in an upcoming meeting with Governor Ferguson, along with questions about his budget and how he reconciles prior opposition to a wealth tax with support for an income tax. They also discussed a bill to make it harder to qualify initiatives for the legislature, calling it anti-democratic, and said the majority was ignoring or undermining voter-driven policy efforts. On child welfare, they criticized DCYF oversight and supported stronger accountability, including a bill to fix the state’s “imminent harm” standard and another proposal to stop the state from collecting certain federal disability and survivor benefits from foster youth. Other topics included tort liability reform, where Republicans said the state’s repeated failures in child welfare and juvenile rehabilitation are the underlying problem, not just the cost of claims, though they were open to limited reforms such as disclosure of litigation financing. They also discussed the 340B drug pricing program, saying it is complicated and could affect hospitals, FQHCs, patients, and pharmaceutical innovation. On public safety and technology, they expressed cautious support for bills regulating kids’ social media and AI use, but stressed First Amendment concerns and the need to avoid private rights of action; they were more skeptical of a bill limiting police retention of automatic license plate reader data, saying law enforcement needs effective tools to solve crimes. No votes were taken, and the event ended with Republicans reiterating that affordability was their top priority.

Transcript Highlights:

• Through my executive order, the Idaho Act, and our work with the legislature, we're driving changes in
• Looking ahead, we will remain laser-focused on cutting red tape, driving even bolder reforms that fuel
• economic growth Focused on cutting red tape, driving even bolder reforms that fuel economic growth and
• We significantly raised teacher pay, investing seven times more in literacy programs driving better reading
• Idaho Launch so that we can support President Trump's goal to expand the working class, the people who drive

Transcript Highlights:

• THINGS MOST OF US THINK ABOUT GETTING IN YOUR VEHICLE DRIVING.
• CORRECT. >> FOLLOW UP. >> DO YOU ALSO MONITOR EVERYTHING ELSE THAT COMES WITH IT HOW FAST THEY CAN DRIVE
• SOMEONE TAKES THE TRUCKER OFF BECAUSE THEY WANT TO GO DRIVE SOMEWHERE IT BRINGS UP A FLAG.
• SAFE, THEY ARE DRIVING BAD, BAD STOPS.
• DAILY OPERATIONAL DATA SUCH AS SHE WAS DRIVING IT, HOW FAST THEY ARE GOING, DOES IT MEET THE AGENCY'S

Transcript Highlights:

• This bill does not just benefit McAllen; it drives consumers into Texas and leverages local potential
• state-of-the-art multi-sport complex in collaboration with the Dallas Stars, which is expected to drive
• They want to host events without driving to Austin, although we love Austin.
• Right now, people drive to Austin for conferences. and events, spending time in traffic and money on
• A walkable, mixed-use design encourages visitors to linger. driving up revenue for surrounding small

Bills: SB1071 , SB1444 , SB1483 , SB1556 , SB1703 , SB1756 , SB1854 , SB2036 , SB2133 , SB2297 , SB2622 , SB2779 , SB2955 , SB2979

Committee: Senate Economic Development

Transcript Highlights:

• The crops we grow, the livestock we raise, and the innovations that we drive in sustainable farming practices
• They woke up really early and drove that four- or five-hour drive all the way up from Shafter to be here
• They woke up really early and drove that four- or five-hour drive all the way up from Shafter to be here
• had my first nomination for an honorary street naming afforded to him by establishing Leon Williams Drive
• He was a driving force behind the development of public transportation, He was a driving force behind

Summary: The Assembly convened after a quorum call and prayer, then handled several procedural matters before moving to the daily file. Members approved a motion to withdraw Assembly Bills 100 through 219 to the second reading file by a roll call vote of 42-15, and unanimously approved re-referrals of AB 440 and AB 1265 to different committees. The chamber also welcomed international visitors, student and community guests, and later heard a series of guest introductions tied to agriculture, immigration, and Irish heritage. The main floor action centered on two resolutions. H.R. 19, recognizing California Agriculture Day, drew strong support from members representing agricultural districts, who highlighted the state’s farm production, exports, and the role of farmworkers and ranchers; the resolution was adopted by voice vote after 65 co-authors were added. ACR 51, honoring Irish American Heritage Month, was also adopted by voice vote after 66 co-authors were added, with members speaking about Irish immigration, labor history, California-Ireland ties, and St. Patrick’s Day. The Assembly also held multiple adjournment-in-memory tributes for the Honorable Leon Lawson Williams, a pioneering Black civic leader in San Diego who served on the City Council and County Board of Supervisors and helped expand public transit and advance civil rights. Members from San Diego and others described his barriers-breaking career and lasting influence on local government and community leadership. The House then received announcements about upcoming committee hearings and adjourned until Thursday, March 20, at 9 a.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• Smart Driving Club. Y'all stand up. They're up here in the Northeast Gallery.
• Today they're advocating and visiting our offices to encourage safe practices. while driving.
• Very sadly, both Jamie and Karen have lost daughters to distracted driving, and we accompany you. you
• Let me tell you, I hope you had a safe drive up.
• Since its founding in 1946, the Plano Chamber has been a driving force across Texas.

Bills: SB26 , SB28 , SJR36 , SB26 , SB616 , SB565 , SB384 , SB28

Transcript Highlights:

• We're trying to get people to drive safely.
• So they're still out there driving and stuff until it becomes time. That's right.
• It is important to remember that driving is a privilege, not a right. Thank you.
• But that wasn't the end of my journey to drive.
• Not only is it a privilege to drive in Texas, but apparently you also have to be wealthy.

Bills: HB1455 , HB1777 , HB2101 , HB2136 , HB2609 , HB3142 , HB3552 , HB3846 , HB4155 , HB4514 , HB4879 , HB4995 , HB5014 , HB5139 , HB5228 , HB5436 , HCR40

Committee: House Homeland Security, Public Safety & Veterans' Affairs

Keywords: mental health, jail diversion, law enforcement, reporting requirements, criminal justice, data collection, criminal justice reform, intellectual disability, mental illness, data reporting, public safety, reporting, substance abuse, sex offender, driver's license, identification, gunshot detection, unreported gunshots, municipal police, crime investigation

Summary: The committee heard testimony on several public safety, criminal justice, and regulatory bills. HB 4995 would create a training and certification program allowing licensed physicians and certain EMS personnel assigned to tactical units to carry firearms during high-risk deployments, with supporters saying it would let tactical medical staff protect themselves while providing immediate care; the bill was left pending. HB 2609 would repeal the failure-to-appear-or-pay/OmniBase license-hold program, with the author and advocates arguing it creates compounding debt and unnecessary barriers to driving, while judges and municipal court representatives said the program is a voluntary, cost-effective tool that improves court appearances and reduces warrants; the bill was also left pending. HB 4879 would create a grant program to help local law enforcement pay for lab testing of suspected hemp/Delta-9 THC substances, and HB 5436 would let licensed auto recyclers buy certain untitled vehicles for scrap or parts to curb illegal sales, VIN cloning, and chop shops; both measures were left pending after brief testimony in support. The committee also heard HB 1777, which would require a discrete designation on driver’s licenses and state IDs for people required to register as sex offenders. The author and supporters argued the marker would help law enforcement and businesses quickly identify potentially dangerous offenders and prevent harm, while opponents called it a stigmatizing “scarlet letter” that would increase harassment, family harm, and reintegration barriers. The bill was left pending. HB 4155 would create a two-year Family Violence Criminal Homicide Prevention Task Force in the Governor’s Office to study family violence homicides, gather stakeholders, and recommend policy changes; the author, HHSC, the Texas Council on Family Violence, and a survivor testified in support, and the bill was left pending. The committee also heard HB 4514, which would authorize DPS to use facial image verification, with consent and privacy safeguards, to help businesses confirm identities and combat fraud; supporters from the lumber and identity-verification industries said it would reduce theft and fraud, and the bill was left pending. Finally, HB 5139 would clarify that peace officers and jailers are justified in using less lethal force weapons when acting within training and official duties; law enforcement groups supported the measure as a way to encourage use of less lethal tools without fear of prosecution, and testimony was underway when the transcript ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• With billboards, I think it's important because they're often people driving by with, like, political
• </c><01:21:58.360><c> again</c> um and and so the chances of drive again um and and so the chances of
• drive again driving<01:21:58.960><c> by</c><01:21:59.400><c> anywhere</c><01:22:00.400><c> um</c><01
• :22:00.920><c> driving</c><01:22:01.280><c> by</c> driving by anywhere um driving by driving by anywhere
• um driving by anywhere<01:22:01.880><c> that</c><01:22:01.960><c> you</c><01:22:02.080><c> think</c>

Committee: Senate Elections

Transcript Highlights:

• seller activity supply and<00:05:13.120><c> demand</c><00:05:13.800><c> that</c><00:05:13.960><c> drives
• that drives Market times prices<00:05:16.720><c> um</c><00:05:16.880><c> inventory</c><00:05:17.400>
• X number of miles price they'll drive X number of miles and<00:48:03.839><c> that</c><00:48:04.040><
• He said people are willing to drive from North Branch to the Metro every day.
• He said people are on there for hours and a half, driving from home to get a home they can afford.

Committee: House Housing Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• And that will drive the number of people that select email dramatically up and therefore reduce the number
• So within a year, two, three tops, we're going to drive almost all of this into email selection, because
• So, one of the things you're suggesting too is that school districts could drive people to this.
• I would think all the taxing entities would try to help drive people to that.
• If the idea is to drive people to these meetings, we actually could undo... ...some engagement with over-alarming

Bills: HB17 , HB23

Committee: Senate Local Government

Transcript Highlights:

• There's a long drive to go to someone's office or home.
• resident had the ability to have the access, they would use it, but maybe it's because they have to drive
• so the cameras can indeed photograph or, you know, record you and the audio directly into your hard drive
• or a USB drive or a thumb drive or what have you. you.

Bills: HB279 , HB310 , HB365 , HB391 , HB420 , HB422 , HB638 , HB279 , HB310

Committee: House Natural Resources

Keywords: HB 279, uranium mining, uranium permit, production area authorization, production zone, Texas Water Code, TCEQ, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, contested case hearing, administrative hearing, groundwater restoration, groundwater baseline, water quality, mining permit, restoration values, natural resources, environmental regulation, in-situ uranium mining, permit amendment, public hearing

Transcript Highlights:

• And that kind of focus will create the momentum we need to drive scale.
• Nearly 80% of our riders do not drive or own a car.
• data centers, industrial uses—anything that gets the molecules flowing through the economy helps us drive
• There was no product, or the pumps weren't working, one or the other, and we had to drive to Pasadena
• I drive by most of the time and I'm driving to EV, but it's telling, you know, why wouldn't there be

Transcript Highlights:

• And that kind of focus will create the momentum we need to drive scale.
• Nearly 80% of our riders do not drive or own a car.
• There was no product, or the pumps weren't working, one or the other, and we had to drive to Pasadena
• the fact that you can put—but you see two prices, diesel and gasoline—when you pull into... ...or drive
• I drive by most of the time, and I'm driving to EV, but it's telling, you know, why wouldn't there be

Summary: The Senate Select Committee on Hydrogen Energy held an informational hearing on California’s hydrogen leadership, with the chair framing hydrogen as a complementary clean-energy pathway for hard-to-electrify sectors such as heavy-duty trucking, transit, rail, ports, industrial uses, and backup power. The first panel of private-sector witnesses from the California Hydrogen Business Council, Bosch, Hyundai, and Sierra Northern Railway described existing deployments in California, including hydrogen buses, trucks, fueling infrastructure, and the nation’s first hydrogen fuel cell switcher locomotive. They emphasized that the technology is commercially ready but scaling is constrained by permitting delays, high fuel and equipment costs, infrastructure gaps, and uncertainty around federal support and incentives. Witnesses urged stable state policy, targeted investment, and concentrated deployment in high-impact corridors such as ports and freight hubs. Committee members also asked about labor standards, community engagement, and the current size of the hydrogen vehicle fleet in California and abroad. The second panel focused on air quality, climate, safety, and public health. Testimony from CAPCOA, the Coalition for Clean Air, the California State Building and Construction Trades Council, and a UC Berkeley researcher argued that hydrogen fuel cells can reduce diesel-related pollution and health harms when used in the right applications, especially in ports, rail yards, warehouse corridors, transit depots, and backup power for facilities like data centers. Witnesses cautioned that hydrogen should be used selectively, produced as cleanly as possible, and paired with early community engagement, safety planning, and environmental justice protections. The researcher cited projected reductions in NOx, particulate exposure, premature deaths, and health costs under broader hydrogen adoption. Committee members discussed workforce training, apprenticeship programs, and how to balance near-term costs with long-term infrastructure value. The final panel provided public-sector updates from SamTrans, the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development, the Port of Long Beach, and First Public Hydrogen Authority. SamTrans described its transition to a large hydrogen bus fleet and said the loss of expected ARCHES funding created a major infrastructure gap; it asked the state to protect transit funding, restore a sales tax exemption for zero-emission buses, and address axle-weight rules. GoBiz said the state should focus on creating demand, reducing costs, and streamlining permitting, while acknowledging the disruption caused by the federal cancellation of ARCHES funding. The Port of Long Beach reported hydrogen truck deployments, port incentives, and a planned public fueling station, but said high costs, fuel shortages, and uncertainty have slowed momentum. First Public Hydrogen Authority described efforts to aggregate municipal demand and support new green hydrogen production projects, stressing the need for long-term market signals and financing. Committee members repeatedly emphasized the need for state support, infrastructure investment, and a diversified fuel strategy to keep hydrogen deployment moving forward.

Transcript Highlights:

• That means if you're in a 30 mile an hour zone, you're driving, you know, 60 miles an hour through a
• Um, extinguishing exterior lights, that means shutting off your lights, driving in the dark so that the
• ,</c> 30 mile an hour zone, you're driving, 30 mile an hour zone, you're driving, you<01:11:28.720><c
• </c> means shutting off your lights driving means shutting off your lights driving in<01:11:39.600><c
• That's the person who's actually driving. Who's actually driving? The operator?

Committee: House Criminal Justice and Public Safety