Transcript Highlights:

• This is an important issue this session.
• To accomplish that, we must act this session in a very bold way.
• To accomplish that, we must act this session in a very bold way.
• HB 2692 repeals previous session laws that are now being codified under the new Chapter 8513.
• We went through Sunset last session.

Bills: HB16, HB16, HB1618, HB2692, HB2712, HB2970, HB3609, HB3628

Keywords: judicial administration, court reform, juvenile diversion, court security, mental health services, drug offenses, constitutional amendments, water infrastructure, Texas Water Development Board, financial assistance, water supply projects, rural municipalities, water access assessment, aquifer storage, Edwards Aquifer, water injection, environmental regulations, groundwater management, San Antonio River, pollution control

Transcript Highlights:

• So she'll be doing excellent work for us this session. and Mr.
• And they're basically the same as last session.
• The last legislative session.
• We had budgeted $18 billion in the last legislative session.
• This has been one of our priorities for the past three sessions.

Bills: SB4, SJR2, SB 4, SJR 2

Keywords: property tax, homestead exemption, school funding, state aid, constitutional amendment, SJR 2, Senate Joint Resolution 2, property tax relief, school property tax, ad valorem tax, residence homestead, school district taxes, Texas Constitution Article VIII, public school finance, homeowner exemption, elderly exemption, senior tax relief, disabled exemption, tax year 2025, voter approval

Transcript Highlights:

• ourselves prior to the executive session ourselves prior to the executive session next<00:53:30.200
• a bill in our committee this session a bill in our committee this session that<01:51:53.560>
• we will discuss it again in work session we will discuss it again in work session next<02:05:08.760
• <05:15:21.680> for session for session for hb34<05:15:25.160> relative<05:15:25.680>
• I'm going to close the executive session for HB 371 and open the executive session for HB 371, relative

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The Solid Waste Subcommittee met to discuss proposed amendments to HB 171 and HB 215. For HB 171, Representative Gerna outlined technical changes to a landfill moratorium bill: DES would be allowed to accept applications only to review them for completeness, a notwithstanding clause would override automatic approval timing rules, the word “fully” would be removed, and an unnecessary reference to perennial water bodies would be deleted. Members raised concern about whether applications deemed complete during the moratorium would still have to comply with later changes in law or rule. Director Mike Whap of DES said applicants would likely need to amend applications if policy changes occurred, and suggested the bill could explicitly state that later changes apply to pending applications. The subcommittee generally supported the revised language and agreed the amended bill could go directly to executive session, though one member said the underlying legislation was ill-advised but preferred the amended version over the original. The committee then turned to HB 215, which would create a two-stage landfill siting review centered on a “net public benefit” determination before full technical review. Representative Gerna explained that the amendment would define net public benefit, require an independent third-party assessment paid for by the applicant, and set up a process for selecting the contractor from a list submitted by the applicant, with DES and the host community involved and the commissioner choosing if no agreement is reached within 60 days. Members asked how “host community” would be defined; DES said it would generally mean the municipal governing body, though that body could appoint others. The amendment also broadened the factors considered in both harms and benefits, including human health, property values, tourism, recreation, wildlife, local economic benefits, and infrastructure improvements. The discussion also added a provision directing DES to consult with the Department of Transportation, the Department of Business and Economic Affairs, and the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources as needed when reviewing the third-party assessment. Director Whap said interdepartmental consultation is normal and that DES would likely adopt rules to guide the process. Members questioned whether the new framework would be too vague or burdensome for applicants, but Whap said it would not be designed to stack the deck against applicants and that the process should provide clearer, more balanced criteria. No votes were taken during the meeting, and the subcommittee appeared to continue refining the amendment language before further action.

Transcript Highlights:

• That means long nights, but the end of the session is also in sight.
• This happened last session, and a St.
• This happened last session, and a St.
• Senator, another thing that you’ve pushed for this session is special education funding.
• Gosh, I don’t know what’s going to happen this session yet. I don’t think any of us do.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And honestly, with the investment from the legislature prior to session and then the following sessions
• And honestly, with the investment from the legislature prior to session and then the following sessions
• That's what that bill was about when we left last session. So, Ms.
• We did last session bring requests.
• You know, it reminds me of the issue we dealt with last session and session before last dealing with

Keywords: 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• to read an ...session.
• We don't have a great track record on special sessions, do we?
• Didn't we pass a condo law in a special session?
• We don't have a great track record on special sessions.
• I know that this is only a special session.

Summary: The Senate opened with a quorum, prayer, and the Pledge of Allegiance, then read an amended joint proclamation expanding the special session call to include financial penalties for government officials, criminal penalties for offenses committed by illegal aliens, and programs and appropriations to support law enforcement cooperation with federal immigration enforcement. No committee reports, governor’s messages, or House messages were on the desk before the chamber moved to the special order calendar. The main item was Committee Substitute for Senate Bill 2B, the immigration bill, along with a late-filed strike-all amendment by Senator Gruters. Gruters said the amendment aligned terminology with federal law, increased penalties for crimes by unauthorized aliens, added transnational crime organizations to gang definitions, required stronger participation in the federal 287(g) program, created financial penalties for noncompliance, offered a $1,000 bonus for officers assisting ICE in large operations, directed more information-sharing with federal agencies, and barred DHSMV from issuing licenses or IDs to unauthorized aliens. He framed the bill as supporting President Trump’s immigration agenda and focusing on criminal illegal aliens rather than street-level enforcement. A long question-and-answer period followed, with Senators Polsky, Pizzo, Smith, Jones, Roscoe, Berman, and others pressing the sponsor on scope, legality, costs, and implementation. Questions focused on whether the bill would require participation beyond jails and detention centers, whether schools or churches could be affected, liability and immunity for local agencies, the size and purpose of the proposed appropriations, and the impact on undocumented students receiving in-state tuition waivers. Gruters and Senator Fine said the 287(g) provisions were intended to apply to jails and detention facilities, that green-card holders and lawful residents would not be affected, and that the tuition waiver repeal would end discounted tuition for students in the country illegally while not affecting their ability to attend. Fine also defended the mandatory death penalty provision for certain capital offenses committed by illegal immigrants, acknowledging it would likely be challenged in court but arguing the bill was designed to test and advance the policy. No final vote or other action on the bill is reflected in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• We don't have a great track record on special sessions, do we?
• Didn't we pass a condo law in a special session? Didn't we pass a condo law in a special session?
• We don't have a great track record on special sessions.
• I know that this is only a special session.
• But in that same session, we had HB 5001, which was our budget.

Summary: The Senate opened with a prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and the reading of an amended joint proclamation expanding the Legislature’s immigration agenda. The proclamation added items calling for financial penalties for government officials, enhanced criminal penalties for offenses committed by illegal aliens, and programs and appropriations to support law enforcement in enforcing federal immigration law. The chamber then took up the special order calendar, beginning with Committee Substitute for Senate Bill 2B, the immigration bill. Most of the meeting was devoted to debate and questions on the strike-all amendment to SB 2B. Sponsor Senator Gruters described the bill as a broad immigration enforcement package aligned with President Trump’s agenda. He said it would require greater cooperation with federal immigration authorities, strengthen participation in the 287(g) program, create a chief immigration officer and council, authorize financial penalties for noncompliance, provide bonuses for officers assisting ICE, and direct information-sharing with federal agencies. He also said the bill would bar DHSMV from issuing licenses or ID cards to unauthorized aliens and would end in-state tuition waivers for undocumented students. Senators Polsky, Pizzo, Smith, Jones, Berman, Osgood, and others questioned the scope of the bill, whether it would affect schools, churches, cities, nonprofits, and green-card holders, and how the 287(g) provisions would work in practice. Gruters repeatedly said the operational focus was on jails and detention facilities, not street-level enforcement. A major point of controversy was the bill’s proposed mandatory death penalty for unauthorized aliens convicted of certain capital offenses. Senator Fine said the covered crimes were the most serious capital felonies, including murder, child sexual battery, destructive-device offenses causing death, and certain trafficking offenses, and argued the provision was intended to withstand constitutional challenge. Senator Pizzo raised Eighth Amendment concerns and questioned whether the bill could mandate death sentences. The tuition waiver provisions also drew extended debate: Fine said the state would save about $41 million by ending discounted tuition for undocumented students, while Democrats argued the savings would not return to general revenue and that the policy would harm students who are already enrolled. Fine and Gruters said green-card holders would not be affected and that the bill targeted only students in the country illegally. The discussion also covered appropriations and implementation. Senator Smith asked about the bill’s large funding levels, and Fine broke down the spending as including $375 million for the chief immigration officer, $100 million in grants to local law enforcement, $29 million for the new Office of State Immigration Enforcement, and $10 million for an unauthorized-alien transport program. Gruters said the funds would reimburse local governments and help address staffing shortages, while critics questioned the lack of benchmarks and the fiscal impact. No final vote or disposition on the bill appears in the transcript excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• In this, in the regular session and the special session.
• If we cared about the safety of children, this special session, the last special session, would have
• Every session and every special session I served in meant a tearful, painful, divisive battle that intended
• Here in the Capitol, men have been coming into my bathroom for this session and last session, and clearly
• I made this clear this past session when we laid out the bill in the regular session and I will state

Bills: HB7, SB 8

Keywords: abortion, healthcare, jurisdiction, civil action, qui tam, prohibition, state law, sex designation, restroom access, civil penalties, private civil right of action, women's privacy

Transcript Highlights:

• Some of the things that we're going to be looking to in this legislative session is every 10 years, we
• Uh, last legislative session, you may remember the House Bill 8 within the community colleges for the
• Uh, for, uh, our interim session.
• Uh, that is one of the priorities, uh, that, uh, we are pursuing this session.
• You probably also have heard about the value of Tufts that was approved in last session.

Transcript Highlights:

• Signed in open session.
• Signed in open session.
• Signed in open session.
• Signed in open session.
• Signed in open session.

Keywords: 1182, all

Summary: The Senate convened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, recognized guests including the doctor of the day, visiting family members, and representatives from the Arizona Chapter of the American College of Surgeons demonstrating Stop the Bleed techniques. Members also acknowledged a St. Patrick’s Day visit by the Speaker of the Irish Parliament and adopted a proclamation honoring Irish heritage and the Arizona-Ireland relationship. In Committee of the Whole, senators considered and advanced several bills. SB 1046, relating to information technology, was amended and given a do-pass recommendation. SB 1066, concerning civil liability and fraudulent scientific research, was amended with a floor amendment limiting liability for certain researchers, universities, and registered drug manufacturers, then advanced. SB 1332, relating to light rail expansion participation, was amended after debate over transit policy and state versus local control, and also received a do-pass recommendation. SB 1286, on veterinary prescriptions, was amended to adjust electronic prescribing timeframes for flea/tick and antimicrobial drugs and then advanced. On third reading, the Senate passed SB 1009 on school curriculum and AED training, SB 1086 on the Arizona health care cost and payment system, SB 1317 appropriating money to the Attorney General for a coordinated jail reentry program, SB 1580 appropriating money to the Department of Administration, SB 1582 funding school safety, SB 1709 on probation for dangerous crimes against children, SB 1550 appropriating money to the state treasurer, SB 1761 appropriating money to the University of Arizona, SB 1046, and SB 1286. Several members explained votes, including support for reentry programming and school safety, and opposition based on concerns about funding sources, judicial discretion, or program effectiveness. The House requested reconsideration of HB 4027 and HB 2444, and the Senate then recessed, received a list of bills for first reading and committee referral, announced committee meetings for the next day, and adjourned until March 17, 2026.

Transcript Highlights:

• This is not for us to pass anything this session.
• I think a short session would be very challenging to pass substantive rules changes during a short session
• That's better held for a 60-day session, but we can certainly begin with discussion now.
• I think a short session would be very challenging to pass substantive rules changes during a short session
• That's better held for a 60-day session, but we can certainly begin with discussion now.

Bills: SR1, SM1, SM6

Keywords: alcohol consumption, Senate rules, legislative conduct, ethics, New Mexico Senate, redistricting, gerrymandering, election integrity, Congress, voter rights, political polarization, Nancy Lopez, Roswell bypass, US Highway 285, U.S. Highway 285, Highway 285 bypass, road naming, highway naming, memorial, transportation department

Transcript Highlights:

• This is my first legislative session, and I'm very excited to be here. Here.
• This is my first legislative session as a Senate page.
• I'm a senior Senate page and this is my second legislative session.
• We did something last session, but it was only one time.
• We did something last session, but it was only one time.

Bills: SB1010, SB1035, SB1058, SB1077, SB1093

Keywords: Charlie Kirk, Loop 202, Arizona highways, transportation, renaming, Arizona Department of Corrections, ADC, corrections, prison, jail, correctional officers, prison guards, staffing, retention, salary increase, pay raise, wage increase, general fund, appropriation, state budget

Summary: The Public Safety Committee met to introduce staff and pages, then heard several bills. SB 1010 would designate Loop 202 as the Charlie Kirk Highway and require signage; an amendment to rename it the Freedom of Speech Highway failed, and the bill received a do-pass recommendation on a 4-3 vote after testimony both supporting the honor and objecting that it could affect existing freeway names, including the Ed Pastor Freeway. SB 1077 would impose felony penalties for using an interactive computer service to facilitate prostitution, pandering, or child sex trafficking, and to require age verification for harmful sexual material; it passed 5-2 after a brief clarification about the law-enforcement defense. SB 1093 would expand the definition of riot to include acts or threats causing property damage and add riot to racketeering and conspiracy provisions; one public commenter opposed it as overbroad and anti-protest, but the bill still passed 4-3. The committee also heard SB 1058, the Second Amendment Financial Privacy Act, which would bar government firearm registries and restrict merchant category codes tied to firearm purchases. A firearms industry representative said the bill protects financial privacy, and it passed 4-3. SB 1035 would appropriate funds for a 5% salary increase for correctional officers and department civilians; the sponsor and correctional employee representatives said raises are needed for retention, while others argued the increase should also cover private prison employees to preserve parity. The committee adopted a Payne amendment extending the raise to private prison workers under contract with the department, and the amended bill passed 4-3. The committee then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:15:25.639> um introduce my interns for this session um introduce my interns for this session
• and then for two hours after session.
• This is for tomorrow, from 9:30 until session and then whenever session ends, two hours after that.
• <00:42:00.359> and tomorrow from 9 9 9:30 until session and tomorrow from 9 9 9:30 until session
• and then<00:42:00.599> whenever<00:42:00.960> session<00:42:01.480> ends<00:42:

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Senator Murphy says Senate Concurrent Resolution 4 adopts the deadlines for our work this session.
• The deadlines in this resolution apply to the 2025 regular session.
• for the resolution adopting deadlines for the 2025<00:15:21.079> regular<00:15:21.720> session
• c><00:15:22.720> Senator<00:15:23.120> Murphy<00:15:23.680> for 2025 regular session
• Senator Murphy for 2025 regular session Senator Murphy for a<00:15:24.279> motion<00:15:25.279

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And now, Lord Jesus, we entrust this session and the the work of these leaders into your hands.
• that the House grant permission for all committees and subcommittees to meet while the House is in session
• Another long vacation we can we have been here 35 days a full quarter of our session is over and we have
• No, that was a session for you. Bye. Thank you, bye bye. Big round of applause. Okay.
• A lot of them are in a training session. right now. Thank you. Welcome to the Texas House.

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• During the session, we'll staff both House Education and Senate Education.
• Over some of the orientation rules for the committee for the session.
• I look forward to all of the good work we're going to be doing this session.
• So, with that being said, I certainly look forward to this session with you all.
• Last session, but it was a bill last session, and this interim we built on that work with the licensure

Transcript Highlights:

• I ask you for these men and women as they embark on this new session, that you give them courage, that
• So as we prepare for the 2025 legislative session, let us do so with the spirit of purpose and resolve
• My priority for the 2025 and 2026 sessions is to serve the people of Florida.
• Session is our obligation to the responsibility of taking a vote to terminate debate when desired.
• Session is our obligation to come together and to reason, and these restrictions prohibit that.

Summary: The House convened for its organization session with prayer, the presentation of colors, the Pledge of Allegiance, and the national anthem, followed by introductions of guests including state officials, former House leaders and members, and members of the judiciary. The Secretary of State’s certification of the 2024 election was accepted as prima facie evidence of the members-elect’s election, a quorum was established, and the newly elected and returning members were sworn in by Florida Supreme Court justices. The House then formally declared the members duly elected and qualified to serve in the 92nd Florida House. The chamber proceeded to the election of Speaker. Representative Fentrice Driskell was nominated and seconded, and she delivered remarks emphasizing the role of the minority caucus, the need to address issues such as hurricanes, insurance and condo costs, gun violence, education, poverty, and protecting rights. Representative Daniel Perez was then nominated and seconded; after speeches highlighting his leadership and style, the House adopted a motion to dispense with the roll call and record a unanimous vote for him. Perez was sworn in as Speaker and said his priority would be serving the people of Florida, focusing on practical action, fiscal discipline, competition, and reducing barriers for residents and businesses. After the Speaker’s remarks, the House adopted House Resolution 1-0 establishing House rules for the 2024-2026 term, despite opposition from Representative Gottlieb, who argued the rules continued to restrict debate and limit the opposition’s voice. The House also adopted Senate Concurrent Resolution 2-0 establishing joint legislative rules. The chamber then appointed a committee to inform the Senate that the House was organized, elected Representative Wyman Duggan as Speaker Pro Tempore by unanimous vote, and announced party leadership and administrative appointments. The session concluded with motions to authorize technical corrections to the rules, spread the organization session remarks upon the journal, and adjourn sine die.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:06:32.599> on<00:06:33.000> pending executive sessions on pending executive sessions
• conference last legislative session conference last legislative session the<00:31:28.960> problem
• <02:34:21.720> at reconvene for executive sessions at reconvene for executive sessions at
• you and with that the executive session you and with that the executive session on<04:24:01.119>
• <04:27:38.880> on and with that the executive session on and with that the executive session

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• heard and then get the work sessions heard and then get the work sessions going<00:16:41.880>
• <02:24:53.399> of idea do they have several sessions of idea do they have several sessions
• But when we have a work session, is that the kind of thing that we would have in the work session?
• and this session.
• <03:58:56.479> well<03:58:56.640> the session for which work session well the session

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee first heard HB 295, which would make school building aid funds non-lapsing/non-APS. Representative Cahill said the bill was intended to keep any unused building aid money available for future projects, potentially helping move projects up the priority list or provide a little more funding for school construction. Members asked about how much money has lapsed in past years, whether the education trust fund and building aid are separate, and whether any lapsing dollars could be used to pay down debt. Department of Education official Jim Carney said about $29.1 million would be available if building aid is funded to the $50 million maximum in FY26, confirmed that the fund currently lapses, and said the department would gather historical lapse data. Committee members also discussed whether a dedicated fund structure could achieve the same goal, and the chair noted that the education trust fund statute includes school building aid as one of its uses. No vote was taken; the hearing was closed and the committee said it would later hold a work session after receiving more information. The committee then took up HB 237, introduced by Representative Dan McGuire, which would prohibit the use of special education state funds and differentiated aid for students not receiving special education services. The New Hampshire School Boards Association, through Becky Wilson, opposed the bill as written, saying it was unclear, potentially unnecessary, and difficult to implement because adequacy and differentiated aid are distributed as part of a districtwide lump sum rather than as student-specific dollars. She explained that special education costs are embedded across district budgets, including staffing, training, transportation, and instruction, and that some staff and services benefit both special education and general education students. Wilson also said differentiated aid is not tied to a specific pupil and is used at the district’s discretion, though it is intended to support students with greater needs. Committee members pressed on whether the bill would require districts to track money by individual student, whether it could conflict with federal special education law, and whether it would affect least restrictive environment requirements. Wilson said making the funds student-specific could create privacy and accounting problems and could make it difficult to staff inclusive classrooms, though she did not give a definitive legal opinion on federal compliance. She agreed that students who are not eligible for special education would not be included in the separate catastrophic/special education aid reimbursement program. The discussion continued into the second section of the bill, with members exploring how adequacy aid and differentiated aid are used in practice, but no action was taken during the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• With the special session that occurred in 2024, the amount of investment was $291 million.
• And that's really the focus of what we're hoping to accomplish this session.
• I urge your support in the upcoming session.
• So, this legislative session, this all came together with SBA. At 37.
• The third purpose was added in the statute that passed last legislative session.