Transcript Highlights:

• I'm an attorney in New Orleans. All right. And you may go ahead.
• Is that because you don't go to Orleans or you're not an attorney? I am an attorney.
• And that's what the funds are generated from?
• general funds.
• district attorney in the state.

Committee: House Judiciary

Summary: The committee met with a quorum and took up House Bill 911 by Rep. McMakin, which proposes a major restructuring of Orleans Parish courts into a single judicial district with one clerk of court and a consolidated system, while keeping current judges in place through the end of the year and allowing them to run in scheduled elections. The committee first adopted a three-minute debate rule, then later rejected a motion to suspend it. The bill was then amended with a large set of mostly technical changes, and the amendments were adopted without objection. Supporters argued the bill would modernize Orleans’ court structure, reduce duplication, and align Orleans with other judicial districts. They cited Supreme Court data, prior studies, declining population and caseloads, and the state’s direct funding of Orleans criminal court as reasons to consolidate and reduce judgeships. Opponents, including local legislators and attorneys, said Orleans is not comparable to other parishes because of complex litigation, multiple-defendant criminal cases, jury-trial volume, tourism-related cases, and the need for specialized dockets. They also criticized the process as rushed and said local judges, legislators, and practitioners were not adequately involved. Testimony from ACLU and defense-side witnesses emphasized that case counts are not uniform across parishes and that Orleans has a high number of jury trials and a large workload per judge. They warned that eliminating judgeships could increase delays and create transition costs, while supporters countered that other districts manage similar or heavier work with fewer judges. White-card witnesses from Orleans Civil District Court, including Judge Kernan Reese, Judge Sidney Cates, and Clerk Chelsea Richard Napoleon, testified that Orleans handles complex and time-sensitive matters, that the clerk’s office relies on self-generated funds, and that the bill’s funding and office references contain inaccuracies. No final vote on the bill was taken in the portion of the transcript provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• My name is Deanna Warren, and I am a staff attorney at the ACLU of New Mexico.
• General Aida, no, I'm just... no, thank you for running down page two.
• I mean, there's a massive skill set that a police officer or deputy needs to have.
• And it also... ...or revoke licenses for police officers and deputies.
• A Deputy Chief Bullitt, Mr. Chair. Deputy Chief Bullitt, Mr.

Bills: SB30 , SB43 , SB50 , SB136

Committee: Senate Senate Judiciary

Transcript Highlights:

• Please be aware that violations of these rules, or other violations of general courtesy or decorum, may
• Josephine Figueroa, Deputy Commissioner and Legislative Director for the Department of Insurance, under
• I am Andrew Deller, a deputy director, or deputy legislative director, for the Department of Insurance
• I am Andrew Deller, a deputy director or deputy legislative director for the Department of Insurance
• And with me here today, if you have any technical questions, is Melissa Wursell, an attorney in the rating

Summary: The Assembly Appropriations Committee met on March 19, 2025, adopted its committee rules unanimously, and then heard a series of housing, insurance, and disaster-recovery bills. Early bills focused on wildfire relief and insurance issues, including AB 238 on mortgage forbearance for Los Angeles County wildfire survivors, AB 493 on insurance payout interest for homeowners, AB 597 on consumer protections after disasters, and AB 226 on strengthening the California FAIR Plan’s liquidity tools. Supporters generally framed these measures as necessary protections for disaster survivors and market stability, while opponents and concerned witnesses raised issues such as investor guidelines, compliance conflicts, and market disruption. Several members also noted equity concerns and the need to balance relief with consistency across the state. The committee also heard a cluster of housing-production bills. AB 306 proposed a six-year pause on new state building code updates affecting residential construction and limits on local code modifications, drawing strong support from housing and building industry groups who argued it would reduce costs and improve predictability. It also drew opposition from code, environmental, and clean-energy advocates, who warned about safety, local control, and the loss of important code updates. AB 253 would allow licensed third-party professionals to perform plan checks if local review takes 30 days or more, and AB 301 would impose state-agency permitting timelines similar to those already applied to local governments; both were presented as ways to reduce delays and speed housing development. AB 462 would exempt ADU construction from coastal development permit requirements in Los Angeles County, especially to aid fire recovery and expand housing supply. After hearing testimony and brief member discussion on each measure, the committee placed the bills on suspense or advanced them as appropriate. In the suspense hearing at the end of the meeting, the committee took up the suspense-file bills and reported AB 226, AB 238, AB 301, and AB 306 out with due pass recommendations on roll call votes. The meeting then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm the Cole County prosecuting attorney.
• Just want to make sure there's another avenue there with the Attorney General.
• Is that new then, the Attorney General? I believe that's—we'll get you clarified on that.
• General.
• Louis Sheriff, which is, you know, the law is currently already in effect that the Attorney General can

Committee: House Crime and Public Safety

Summary: The committee met with a quorum and first went into executive session, where House Bills 3012, 2997, and 3058 were combined into a House committee substitute and then voted do pass by a 17-0 roll call. House Bill 2868 was set aside for further work on a substitute. The committee then moved into public hearings, beginning with House Bill 1740, “Melanie’s Law,” which would increase penalties for intoxicated driving cases involving injury or death and expand ignition interlock requirements, including for high-BAC offenders. The sponsor and family members of victims described the bill as a response to fatal crashes involving loved ones, while law enforcement, MoDOT, prosecutors, and MADD supported the measure as a prevention tool and cited data on recidivism and fatal crashes. Members asked about BAC thresholds, whether the bill would cover drug impairment, fiscal impacts, and the relationship to existing sentencing and parole rules. No vote was taken on HB 1740 during the hearing. The committee also heard House Bills 3049 and 368, described by the sponsors as technical cleanup bills to resolve conflicts in Missouri’s sex offender registry statutes after court rulings and to reorganize and clarify the law. A prosecutor testified in support, and members discussed registry tiers, age-of-consent issues, and how the changes might affect people whose offenses were tied to older laws or unusual fact patterns. The bills were presented as consistency and cleanup measures, and no opposition testimony was offered. Next, House Bill 2311 was heard, proposing to raise the age of consent to 18 and reduce the close-in-age exception from four years to three. The sponsor said the change was intended to align the law with recent marriage-age changes and avoid mixed signals. Members raised concerns about criminalizing high-school relationships and about consistency with existing law, but there was no testimony in opposition or a vote. Finally, House Bill 3105, a revised Second Amendment Preservation Act-style bill, was heard. The sponsor said it would remove unconstitutional language from the prior law, bar state and local officials from knowingly violating law-abiding citizens’ firearm rights, and preserve cooperation with federal law enforcement. Supporters, including sheriffs, argued it protects constitutional rights while allowing officers to act against dangerous criminals and people in crisis. Opponents, including gun-rights advocates, argued the bill still lacked a meaningful deterrent to federal overreach and raised concerns about vague language such as “danger to self or others,” which they said could function like a red-flag law and be misused. The hearing ended without a vote on HB 3105.

Transcript Highlights:

• Deputy Counsel for Impact Litigation, State Department of Justice, are you ready?
• My name is Anjana Samanth, and I serve as Deputy Counsel for the New Mexico Department of Justice's Impact
• Our attorneys have also made it a priority to meet with advocates and service providers throughout the
• We are doing all of this with four attorneys, plus myself, in this division.
• And if we can't generate any action of support, I will personally write a letter of support for that

Committee: House Federal Funding Stabilization Subcommittee

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm an attorney in Galveston.
• Yeah, I would generally agree. I think it always depends.
• So the Florida Surgeon General...
• It doesn't ban vaccines in general.
• Defense Attorneys, and we are strongly in support of HB 116.

Bills: HB18 , HB37 , HB116 , HB18 , HB37 , HB 116 , HB388 , HB879 , HB913 , HB 1151 , HB2216 , HB2358 , HB2809 , SB577 , SB1590 , SB1782 , SB1887 , SB2744

Committee: Senate Health & Human Services

Summary: The committee first reopened testimony on House Bill 2216, which would strengthen child welfare requirements by expanding “active efforts” to help families avoid removal and support reunification, while also raising standards related to removals and terminations. Supporters from child welfare and family defense groups said the bill would better protect families and align Texas more closely with ICWA-style principles, but several warned it would require significant new funding, staffing, and community services such as mental health care, housing, child care, and substance use treatment. The committee then left HB 2216 pending. The committee next heard Senate Bill 1782, aimed at boarding and group homes. Senator Miles said the bill closes enforcement gaps left by prior law by requiring retention of background-check records and creating misdemeanor penalties for failing to conduct or keep them, or for knowingly hiring people with serious convictions. Harris County sheriff’s investigators testified in support, describing illegal boarding homes, operators who evade permits and background checks, and exploitation of vulnerable residents; the bill was left pending. The committee also took up Senate Bill 481 on emergency preparedness for nursing facilities and assisted living facilities, adopted a new committee substitute that softened some requirements and removed the fiscal note, and left the bill pending. The committee then heard House Bill 388, which would require the Texas Department of Insurance to create a single standardized coordination-of-benefits form for dual health plans to reduce errors and surprise bills; it was left pending. Senate Bill 1590 would move paternity registry searches for adoptions to an electronic process with a 10-day target, and House Bill 2809 would track child suicide attempts in managing conservatorship and require related reporting and parental notice; both were left pending. The committee also heard Senate Bill 1887, which would prohibit administering mRNA-containing products for immunization for 10 years, with exceptions for cancer and genetic disorders. Supporters argued the bill was needed for safety, informed consent, and medical freedom, while opponents from the medical, research, and public health communities said mRNA vaccines are well-studied, save lives, and that the bill would harm access, research, and Texas’s biotech economy. The bill remained under discussion as testimony concluded.

Transcript Highlights:

• And just to start, we will, as a general thing, take the lower general fund recommendation today, knowing
• that we are constrained by the recurring general fund.
• We've been trying to get attorneys for them, but it takes a specific attorney, right?
• Let's let General Counsel...
• Representative, I'm Kevin Ham, I'm General Counsel for the RLD, and for years I was the attorney for

Committee: House House Appropriations & Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• But in essence, what this bill does is it authorizes the Attorney General to appeal a preliminary injunction
• The Attorney General went to appeal that and found out that they were not allowed to appeal because it
• I am General Counsel to Attorney General Hanaway. My name is Peter Donahue.
• I am General Counsel to Attorney General Hannaway, and I speak today in favor of the bills.
• This is a common-sense change, and the Attorney General supports this.

Committee: House Judiciary

Transcript Highlights:

• Another dozen attorneys general have brought cases.
• Attorney General in the Office of Legislative Affairs, and Senior Assistant Attorney General Paula Blizzard
• Chair and members, Anthony Liu, Deputy Attorney General for the Office of Legislative Affairs for A.G
• Even our Attorney General filed some comments.
• And Attorney General Bonta led 19 state attorneys general in backing the Cars Rule on grounds that it's

Committee: House Judiciary

Summary: The committee heard several bills, beginning with SB 27, a CARE Court cleanup measure by Senator Umberg. The bill would require courts to consider CARE referral for certain misdemeanor defendants found incompetent to stand trial, combine some hearings, expand data sharing among licensed medical professionals, and broaden eligibility to include mood disorders with psychotic features. Supporters said the bill would clarify the meaning of “clinically stabilized,” streamline the process, and help more severely ill people get treatment; opponents argued it would greatly expand the program without enough housing, staffing, or resources and could sweep in people who can make their own decisions. The committee members raised concerns about scope and resources but ultimately voted to pass SB 27 to the Health Committee, with the bill placed on call. The committee then took up SB 82, which would limit consumer arbitration clauses to disputes arising from the specific product or service the consumer agreed to buy, aimed at stopping “infinite arbitration clauses” that force unrelated claims into arbitration. The author and supporters described cases where consumers were compelled to arbitrate claims involving corporate affiliates or unrelated incidents, while opponents warned the bill was too restrictive and should be clarified on retroactivity and construction. Members generally supported the bill, and it passed on a do-pass motion, with several votes recorded and the bill placed on call. Next, the committee heard SB 437 and SB 518, both related to California reparations efforts. SB 437 would direct CSU to develop an evidence-based, reproducible genealogical methodology for verifying descendants of enslaved people, with supporters emphasizing oversight, transparency, and a framework for using the $6 million already allocated in the budget; opponents argued the work was unnecessary, duplicative, and should be done by existing genealogists rather than CSU. SB 518 would create a Bureau for Descendants of American Slavery within state government, with divisions for genealogy, property reclamation, outreach, and legal affairs; supporters called it the infrastructure needed to implement reparations recommendations, while opponents objected to housing the bureau in the Department of Justice, overlap with SB 437, and the inclusion of other communities. Both bills advanced on do-pass motions to Appropriations and were placed on call. Finally, Senator Perez presented SB 52, the End AI Rent Hikes Act, which would make it illegal to use algorithms to collude and artificially inflate rental prices. The author and supporters said landlords and AI companies are using pricing tools to share competitive data and fix rents in the midst of a severe affordability crisis, and that the bill would clarify protections and create enforcement mechanisms. The transcript cuts off during testimony on SB 52, before any vote or final action is shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> my name is Evan row I'm Deputy my name is Evan row I'm Deputy Commissioner<00:26:49.760><c> at</
• In 2024, the Attorney General's Office received 696 complaints relating to wage theft in general.
• In 2024, the Attorney General's Office received 696 complaints relating to wage theft in general.
• In 2024, the Attorney General's Office received 696 complaints relating to wage theft in general.
• In 2024, the Attorney General's Office received 696 complaints relating to wage theft in general.

Committee: Senate Labor

Transcript Highlights:

• They did a lot of work with the Attorney General's office to strengthen the statutory language on this
• </c> Island to be implemented by the deputy Island to be implemented by the deputy director.<00:57:41.280
• </c> They did a lot of work with the Attorney They did a lot of work with the Attorney General's<00:58
• of the deputy director of harbors<01:47:35.119><c> as</c><01:47:35.360><c> the</c><01:47:35.520><c>
• ><c> us</c><03:32:01.600><c> fund</c><03:32:01.840><c> needy</c> generated will help us fund needy generated

Transcript Highlights:

• Bryant, who was a dedicated educator. attorney, and community leader in Houston.
• John was a fifth-generation gal of Estonia, whose legacy was woven into the very fabric of our coastal
• His work with the Texas General Land Office and the Texas Veterans Land Board reflected his dedication
• George Aguilar, Jim Wells County Attorney Michael Guerra, and District Attorney Carlos Omar Garcia.
• Relating to the compensation of the distributed renewable generation owner and certain areas outside

Bills: HCR21 , HCR22 , HCR23 , HCR24 , HCR25 , HCR26 , HCR27 , HCR31 , HCR41 , HCR42 , HCR43 , HCR44 , HCR45 , HCR52 , HCR53 , HCR66 , HCR67 , HCR73 , HR8 , HR10 , HR13 , HR20 , HR21 , HR50 , HR59 , HR61 , HR71 , HR74 , HR79 , HR84 , HR86 , HR90 , HR91 , HR102 , HR103 , HR107 , HR113 , HR125 , HR126 , HR132 , HR142 , HR145 , HR149 , HR150 , HR152 , HR167 , HR179 , HR181 , HR183 , HR186 , HR192 , HR196 , HR199 , HR207 , HR211 , HR212 , HR213 , HR216 , HR249 , HR256 , HR259 , HR261 , HR263 , HR272 , HR281 , HR285 , HR294 , HR295 , HR300 , HR305 , HR311 , HR313 , HR315 , HR316 , HR323 , HR331 , HR339 , HR340 , HR346 , HR349 , HR352 , HR357 , HR358 , HR360 , HR363 , HR374 , HR377 , HCR20 , HCR28 , HCR30 , HCR32 , HCR49 , HR14 , HR15 , HR19 , HR23 , HR24 , HR25 , HR26 , HR27 , HR29 , HR47 , HR48 , HR55 , HR56 , HR66 , HR85 , HR92 , HR93 , HR95 , HR96 , HR140 , HR155 , HR164 , HR204 , HR241 , HR242 , HR250 , HR253 , HR260 , HR262 , HR265 , HR279 , HR310 , HR312 , HR328 , HR332 , HR359 , HR362 , HR367

Transcript Highlights:

• Um first, Dean Hazama, um deputy director.
• Um, they're, uh, this generation, the younger generation, they're just not traveling.
• , the younger generation, this generation, the younger generation, they're<01:58:02.000><c> just</c><
• I want to ask about the state audit that led to questions from the attorney general about former board
• </c> led to questions from the attorney led to questions from the attorney general<02:48:48.640><c> about

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> because the the position of attorney because the the position of attorney general<02:15:49.040><
• So, as attorney general, you get to you.
• The deputy attorney general is here specifically to help me with these questions because he also has
• Yep. the<02:30:18.560><c> deputy</c><02:30:18.880><c> attorney</c><02:30:19.200><c> general</c><02:30
• :19.520><c> is</c><02:30:19.760><c> here</c> the deputy attorney general is here the deputy attorney

Committee: Senate Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• We added new capacity and what we call the general use lanes.
• So that's kind of the general idea. Senator, you're recognized.
• And it generates tremendous dollars. Our marketing, we are data driven.
• Deputy Secretary Mahone flashed a few moments ago.
• So and thank you to deputy secretary will be.

Transcript Highlights:

• House Bill 3278 is a bill we've worked with the Attorney General's office on.
• They won't have to call the sheriff's deputy or call the highway patrol.
• Well, many small counties, they only have one deputy on duty.
• And the same thing goes with the sheriff's deputies.
• Yes, from the Attorney General's office. Okay. Thank you. Have a due pass and second.

Bills: HB2936 , HB2937 , HB2951 , HB2960 , HB2979 , HB2980 , HB3062 , HB3082 , HB3087 , HB3148 , HB3152 , HB3262 , HB3264 , HB3266 , HB3268 , HB3269 , HB3278 , HB3299 , HB3544 , HB3606 , HB3678 , HB3790 , HB3903 , HB3996 , HB4139 , HB4140 , HB4142 , HB4143 , HB4144 , HB4260 , HB4272 , HB4296 , HB4324 , HB4339 , HB4341 , HB4342

Committee: House Judiciary and Public Safety Oversight

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> recognizing the deputy majority leader. recognizing the deputy majority leader.
• 05:54.160><c> majority</c> recognize the the deputy majority recognize the the deputy majority leader
• General Assembly. And so what we need to General Assembly.
• </c><00:36:41.359><c> assembly</c> is occurring from the general assembly is occurring from the general
• </c> no extra costs in this uh general no extra costs in this uh general contractor<00:47:19.359><c>

Transcript Highlights:

• Deputy Director? Thank you for the question. Lera Felicina, Deputy Director of Adult Programs.
• We are paying General Fund only for those services.
• “Deputy Director, with regards to applicant intakes or all of it?”
• I'll turn it over to the deputy director, sorry, branch chief and deputy director for an overview on
• They're not attorneys.

Transcript Highlights:

• He is accompanied by Al Montoya, the deputy chief.
• Al Montoya, the Deputy Chief Operating Officer of Veterans Health Administration. Ms.
• in general, so that they are aware of their benefits and eligibility requirements.
• The VA's inspector general recently highlighted several.
• Okay, what are the most common rules that claim agents or attorneys...

Bills: SB124 , SB201 , SB275 , SB410 , SB478 , SB607 , SB610 , SB611 , SB654 , SB702 , SB787 , SB831 , SB892

Committee: Senate Senate Veterans' Affairs

Keywords: Department of Veterans Affairs, disciplinary procedures, accountability, personnel actions, whistleblower protection, cancer, military, aircrew, veterans, health study, toxins, morbidity, mortality, service members, mental health, community care, accessibility, treatment programs, substance abuse, appointments

Summary: During the meeting, various members engaged in extensive discussions surrounding 15 proposed bills related to veterans' affairs. Notably, concerns regarding recent VA workforce changes sparked debates, particularly about potential cuts and their implications for veterans' care and benefits. Chairman Moran emphasized the need for thoughtful reforms and coordination with stakeholders, urging responsible measures to prevent negatively impacting service delivery. The meeting highlighted a significant bipartisan effort to enhance veterans' access to essential health services, particularly in light of recent challenges faced by the VA workforce. Senator Blumenthal's assertions about the urgent plight of veterans due to cuts in personnel drew strong reactions, showcasing the deep concern among committee members regarding the current state of veteran services.

Transcript Highlights:

• They called their attorney first. pain and they had to call their attorney first.
• They called their attorney first.
• Our attorneys, what is great about our attorneys in so many of y’all’s rural districts where there are
• If you're talking about requests for general, like applications generally, like someone, and we see this
• If you're talking about requests for general, like applications generally, like someone, and we see this

Committee: Senate Business & Commerce