Transcript Highlights:

• I'm directing the clerk to keep the public comment portal open until 10 a.m. tomorrow, August 22nd, for
• The chair lays out House Bill 8, relating to public school accountability and transparency, including
• the Public School Accountability System.
• There is a breadth of opinion among our public school educators, even some of our public school advocacy
• That limits the role of teachers, raises validity concerns, and erodes public trust.

Bills: HB8

Committee: House Public Education

Keywords: HB 8, Texas public school accountability, school accountability, public school transparency, STAAR, state assessments, instructionally supportive assessment program, Student Success Tool, Texas Education Agency, TEA, accountability ratings, A-F ratings, through-year assessment, benchmark testing, norm-referenced assessment, college career military readiness, CCMR, local accountability plan, school district performance, campus turnaround

Transcript Highlights:

• Committee on Public Education will come to order, and the clerk will call the roll.
• for public testimony, and I'll direct the clerk to keep the public comment portal open.
• public school systems.
• As a public school educator and parent... ...of school-aged children that attend public schools in Texas
• Of assessment instruments in public schools, indicators of achievement, public school performance ratings

Bills: HB8

Committee: House Public Education

Keywords: HB 8, Texas public school accountability, school accountability, public school transparency, STAAR, state assessments, instructionally supportive assessment program, Student Success Tool, Texas Education Agency, TEA, accountability ratings, A-F ratings, through-year assessment, benchmark testing, norm-referenced assessment, college career military readiness, CCMR, local accountability plan, school district performance, campus turnaround

Transcript Highlights:

• The House, excuse me, the House Committee on Public Education will come to order.
• After the floor, we'll have 3 hours of public testimony.
• I'm directing the clerk to keep the public comment portal open until 10:00 a.m. tomorrow, August 22nd
• That limits the role of teachers, raises validity concerns, and erodes public trust.
• but we'll also have the public testimony, uh, after we get back from the floor.

Bills: HB8

Committee: House Public Education

Keywords: HB 8, Texas public school accountability, school accountability, public school transparency, STAAR, state assessments, instructionally supportive assessment program, Student Success Tool, Texas Education Agency, TEA, accountability ratings, A-F ratings, through-year assessment, benchmark testing, norm-referenced assessment, college career military readiness, CCMR, local accountability plan, school district performance, campus turnaround

Summary: The House Committee on Public Education met to hear House Bill 8, which would replace STAAR with a new assessment and accountability system beginning in the 2027-28 school year. The chair described the bill as reducing testing time, limiting benchmark tests, adding beginning-, middle-, and end-of-year assessments, requiring faster score turnaround, involving Texas teachers in test development, and tightening accountability timelines and transparency rules. Members also discussed provisions on A-F ratings, cut scores, CCMR, local accountability plans, and TEA reporting requirements. Committee members and invited witnesses split sharply on the bill’s approach. Supporters, including the chair, TEA Commissioner Mike Morath, and Ed Trust’s Nicholas Munyon Penny, argued the bill would reduce high-stakes pressure, provide quicker and more actionable data, limit over-testing, and better align assessments to Texas standards while preserving criterion-referenced accountability. They said the new system would help teachers and parents intervene sooner and would improve transparency, including parent access to student responses and automatic rescoring in some writing cases. Opponents, including Rep. Hinojosa and student witness Ella Moran, argued the bill still increases testing and replaces one high-stakes test with multiple TEA-created tests. Moran testified that STAAR creates anxiety, disrupts instruction, and does not reflect real learning, while Hinojosa said the House had previously passed a better bill based on a nationally norm-referenced model and criticized the new proposal as a concession to the Senate. Questions also focused on AI scoring of writing, rescoring rates, and whether the bill’s new accountability rules would be reliable and fair. The committee did not take a final vote during the portion provided, but the chair said a vote on HB 8 would be called after public testimony later in the day.

Bills: HB 186 , HB 201 , HB 229 , HB 796 , HB 1506 , HB 2702 , HB 2885 , HB 3225 , HB 3909 , HB 4285 , HB 5138

Committee: Senate State Affairs

Keywords: social media, children, account verification, data privacy, parental control, financial crime, card fraud, motor fuel theft, law enforcement, criminal activity, skimmers, prevention, training, biological sex, government information, definitions, sex-based distinctions, public health, federal directives, state authority

Transcript Highlights:

• At this time, we'll proceed on to public testimony. The chair calls up James Quintero.
• I represent the Texas Public Policy Foundation. Good morning.
• This anti-democratic tendency violates the public trust, and it commits public resources to controversial
• For a public calamity. The second one is to preserve or protect the public health.
• The third is unlawful or unforeseen damage to public machinery, equipment, and property.

Bills: SB512 , SB1024

Committee: House Pensions, Investments & Financial Services

Keywords: SB 512, Texas Finance Code, money transmission, money services business, money transmitter, money transmission licensee, terms of service, consumer protection, civil penalty, attorney general enforcement, account closure, refund of balance, financial services regulation, payments industry, fintech, prepaid accounts, remittance, licensee compliance, local government debt, municipal finance

Transcript Highlights:

• We will open public testimony on Senate Bill 1414.
• All right, seeing none, we will open public testimony.
• If not, then the chair opens public testimony and calls— is this public or individual?
• Well, we have an invited witness and a public witness. OK.
• Hearing and seeing none, public testimony is now closed.

Bills: SB750 , SB2995 , SB1716 , SB2430 , SB203 , SB1679 , SB2683 , SB1414

Committees: Senate Education , Senate Education K-16

Keywords: tuition exemption, paramedics, higher education, public institutions, laboratory fees, education code, financial aid, education, student support, scholarships, nontraditional education, student enrollment, financial assistance, Texas students, foreign adversaries, trade secrets, research integrity, security measures, international agreements, student privacy

Transcript Highlights:

• The House Committee on Public Education will come, uh, come to order, and the clerk will call the roll
• Our RM board violated their fiduciary duty to all 33,000 of our students.
• Not every issue can or should be sent back for public vote.
• Get a petition signed, move it through the process, and, and then it goes to public vote.
• When you look at the next in line option 4, and we had 92% of people wanted a public vote.

Bills: HB4 , HB54 , SB 10 , SB 24

Committee: House Public Education

Keywords: district composition, congressional election, Texas, legislature, voting districts, citizenship, U.S. citizen, non-citizen, public office, advisory board, task force, state government, local government, political subdivision, commission board, appointment eligibility, officeholder qualifications, public service, naturalization, Texas Government Code

Transcript Highlights:

• My only question is, does this apply to public charter schools?
• Okay, so the restrictions that we're putting on larger public school districts will also apply to public
• In my district, we don't have any districts with enrollment under 8,000, but we do have public charters
• and public ISDs, and so I just want to make sure. that it's applying to both of those equally.
• I'm not sure public charter schools are included in that.

Bills: HB 1209 , HB4746

Committee: House S/C on Academic & Career-Oriented Education

Keywords: school funding, instructional days, education, public schools, school performance, four-day school week, performance rating, school governance, school calendar, education funding, emergency closures, school district, school operations, Texas education, public school accountability, academic distinction designation, postsecondary readiness, career and technical education, CTE, P-TECH

Transcript Highlights:

• These comments are left by the public on each agenda item in our hearings.
• are attracting industries that provide well-paying jobs for young men and women coming out of our public
• Worth, the FAA, and several other governmental and public sector partners.
• Thanks to the partnerships with the public sector, and specifically the State of Texas, over the past
• We appreciate the power of public-private cooperation and economic incentives when it makes sense to

Bills: HB4568 , HB5458 , HB4543 , HB2703 , HB3728 , HCR113 , HCR126

Committee: House Culture, Recreation & Tourism

Keywords: film industry, incentives, grants, Texas, moving image, economic development, production companies, content standards, HB 5458, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, TPWD, chronic wasting disease, CWD, cervids, deer, elk, moose, wildlife management, game animals, disease management

Transcript Highlights:

• We are calling Tim Kura, Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts, and Rob Coleman of Public Accounts.
• Public? We are. Please proceed. Good afternoon everyone. It has been a long day.
• Public? We are. Please proceed. Good afternoon everyone. It has been a long day.
• Public involvement is a key component of committee substitute House Bill 5458.
• Seeing none, we'll move into public testimony.

Bills: HB4568 , HB5458 , HB4543 , HB2703 , HB3728 , HCR113 , HCR126

Committee: House Culture, Recreation & Tourism

Keywords: film industry, incentives, grants, Texas, moving image, economic development, production companies, content standards, HB 5458, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, TPWD, chronic wasting disease, CWD, cervids, deer, elk, moose, wildlife management, game animals, disease management

Bills: SB 623 , SB 1266 , SB 1310 , SB 1373 , SB 1580 , SB 1952 , SB 2032 , SB 2269 , SB 2544 , SB 2653 , SB 2796

Committee: Senate Health & Human Services

Keywords: pharmacist, vaccine administration, COVID-19, exclusive authority, healthcare, Medicaid, provider enrollment, credentialing, administrative burden, Texas Health and Human Services, senior retirement communities, emergency response, residential safety, contract provisions, health and safety regulations, medical staff privileges, hospital administration, healthcare regulation, Texas Health and Safety Code, consistency in privileges

Transcript Highlights:

• In total, there is $38.5 million being appropriated for public libraries.
• From Minnesota Public Radio, $4.1 million for Ampers Public Radio.
• There's $9.5 million for Minnesota Public Television.
• Any other testimony from the public? Any other testimony from the public? Don't be shy.
• Because I'm going to close public testimony in just a few moments.

Bills: HF2563

Committee: House Legacy Finance

Keywords: HF2563, legacy finance bill, Legacy Amendment, outdoor heritage fund, clean water fund, parks and trails fund, arts and cultural heritage fund, Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council, Clean Water Council, Minnesota legacy funds, habitat conservation, prairie restoration, wetland restoration, forest conservation, riparian buffers, water quality, groundwater protection, drinking water, septic systems, watershed planning

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:04:38.639><c> vice</c> ever dutiful vice ever dutiful vice chair<00:04:40.560><c> Mr.
• There's $2 million from Minnesota Public Radio, $4.1 million for Ampers Public Radio, and $9.5 million
• for Minnesota Public Television.
• </c> wide range of wonderful public lands. wide range of wonderful public lands.
• But anyways, good job uh and the public.

Bills: HF2563

Committee: House Legacy Finance

Keywords: HF2563, legacy finance bill, Legacy Amendment, outdoor heritage fund, clean water fund, parks and trails fund, arts and cultural heritage fund, Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council, Clean Water Council, Minnesota legacy funds, habitat conservation, prairie restoration, wetland restoration, forest conservation, riparian buffers, water quality, groundwater protection, drinking water, septic systems, watershed planning

Transcript Highlights:

• We need to respond to a national public finance staff shortage.
• has been committed against public programs.
• Then on the bottom of page 10, Section 18, reporting alleged misuse of public resources or data.
• This is an expanded duty to report issues of suspected wrongdoing. To the Legislative Auditor.
• To request that MMB investigate the duties of positions in the classified service.

Bills: HF627 , HF474 , HF361 , HF1837

Committee: House State Government Finance and Policy

Keywords: HF627, fiscal note, fiscal notes, Minnesota Legislature, state government, committee procedure, ranking minority member, minority party, standing committee, Ways and Means, Finance Committee, legislative process, budget analysis, fiscal impact, Minnesota Statutes 3.98, committee chair, legislative transparency, HF474, Hubert H. Humphrey, Henry Mower Rice

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:09:22.959><c> Finance</c> and respond to a National Public Finance and respond to a National
• data when they suspect that fraud has been committed against public programs.
• data when they suspect that fraud has been committed against public programs.
• is an expanded duty to report suspected wrongdoing to the Legislative Auditor.
• resources or data this is a an public resources or data this is a an expanded<01:08:40.520><c> duty<

Bills: HF627 , HF474 , HF361 , HF1837

Committee: House State Government Finance and Policy

Keywords: HF627, fiscal note, fiscal notes, Minnesota Legislature, state government, committee procedure, ranking minority member, minority party, standing committee, Ways and Means, Finance Committee, legislative process, budget analysis, fiscal impact, Minnesota Statutes 3.98, committee chair, legislative transparency, HF474, Hubert H. Humphrey, Henry Mower Rice

Transcript Highlights:

• State your public testimony. Thank you. Texas Catholic Conference of Bishops.
• The municipality's duty to approve is purely ministerial.
• One of our public policy priorities is to support religious liberty.
• If there are no further questions, we will proceed with public testimony. Thank you.
• There's been public discussions.

Bills: HB24 , HB2015 , HB2149 , HB2559 , HB2701 , HB2797 , HB3172 , HB24

Committee: House Land & Resource Management

Keywords: zoning, public notice, local government, residential development, protests, water conservation, municipal utility districts, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, environmental regulation, groundwater management, nonconforming uses, zoning regulations, land use, property rights, municipal authority, municipal moratorium, development moratorium, property development, subdivision, site plan

Transcript Highlights:

• Public testimony will be limited to two minutes per witness. Which one is it?
• So it's a public process.
• To do any rezoning because there's a ton of public process.
• Okay, we will proceed to public testimony. The chair calls Trey Larry.
• We proceed to public testimony. We have four witnesses.

Bills: HB24 , HB2015 , HB2149 , HB2559 , HB2701 , HB2797 , HB3172 , HB24

Committee: House Land & Resource Management

Keywords: zoning, public notice, local government, residential development, protests, water conservation, municipal utility districts, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, environmental regulation, groundwater management, nonconforming uses, zoning regulations, land use, property rights, municipal authority, municipal moratorium, development moratorium, property development, subdivision, site plan

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:10:01.800><c> Safety</c> that the Department of Public Safety that the Department of Public Safety
• I'm turning it over to the public.
• </c><00:42:38.200><c> anybody</c> I'm turn it over to the public anybody I'm turn it over to the public
• </c> tax dollars when so many other public tax dollars when so many other public programs<01:00:51.160
• I open it up to the members of the public.

Bills: HF837 , HF1903 , HF499 , HF794

Committee: House Health Finance and Policy

Keywords: health insurance, premium security plan, federal funding, state innovation waiver, Minnesota, newborn safety, anonymity, healthcare provider, safe place, child welfare, HF499, nursing, nurse licensure, temporary permit, temporary nursing permit, Board of Nursing, endorsement licensure, reregistration, refresher course, health occupations

Transcript Highlights:

• All of our public school students deserve the best, whether they attend a public. charter school, or
• They wanna serve public school kids.
• And the basic allotment funds traditional public schools, it funds public charter schools.
• Charter schools give parents and the public no choice in their. leadership and no public vote to incur
• House Public Committee.

Bills: HB2 , HB2

Committee: House Public Education

Keywords: public education, teacher compensation, certification, funding, school finance, educator rights, education funding, charter schools, staff compensation, state aid, retention allotment, disaster preparedness, emergency management, flooding, mass fatality, mass casualty, fatality tracking, body recovery, autopsy, justice of the peace

Transcript Highlights:

• House Bill 2, relating to public education and public school finance as pending business.
• I'm a certified public school educator and parent of five public school graduates.
• Tavarez. years of experience as a Texas public school educator. public school students ages eight and
• Texas public schools need your help.
• But I am a prodigy of public education.

Bills: HB2 , HB2

Committee: House Public Education

Keywords: public education, teacher compensation, certification, funding, school finance, educator rights, education funding, charter schools, staff compensation, state aid, retention allotment, disaster preparedness, emergency management, flooding, mass fatality, mass casualty, fatality tracking, body recovery, autopsy, justice of the peace