Transcript Highlights:

• For some agencies, the process begins during session when legislation is enacted, which changes their
• . ...from our Legislative Transportation Committee last legislative session.
• So we are currently at 11 FTEs, and our plan is for the upcoming session to continue with our current
• And that's certainly, like you said, it does get a lot of use, especially during session.
• sessions that we have not gotten to at the moment with this current update of all these reports.

Keywords: 904, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm opening the executive session. >> I'm opening the executive session on House Bill 1587 from when
• <00:39:29.200> on I'm reopening the executive session on I'm reopening the executive session
• Consent, I close the executive session. Um, I open the— Wait a minute. No.
• Close the executive session. >> All right.
• Close the executive session. Close the executive session.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• or as we're nearing the end of session.
• . done with session or as we're nearing done with session or as we're nearing the<00:08:36.959> end
• <00:08:37.039> of<00:08:37.200> session.
• Uh thank you, Madam the end of session.
• Thank you. that are usually done post session. that are usually done post session.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:04:53.280> is<00:04:53.440> a<00:04:53.600> highly today's floor session
• We have about an hour after session to take part in massage. Thank you.
• to take part about an hour after session to take part on<00:13:43.519> massage.
• All the majority senators, please report to the majority caucus room immediately after session.
• Mr. after session. Senator Wakai. Mr.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• enacted in the HHS Omnibus last session. enacted in the HHS Omnibus last session.
• in the Omnibus last session. in the Omnibus last session.
• ,<00:57:39.800> we're If nothing passes this session, we're If nothing passes this session
• Um our original ask of 15.4 session.
• And I um prospect um this session.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We'll return 30 minutes after session.
• . session, I think it'd be tricky for the session, I think it'd be tricky for the executive<00:57:40.640
• , conference in the last days of session, conference in the last days of session, which<01:13:49.199
• Motion prevails. if there had to be a special session and if there had to be a special session and so
• emergency um emergency uh session emergency um emergency uh session without<01:18:49.679> a

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• session of the 75th General Assembly. session of the 75th General Assembly.
• Join me in for our special session.
• A coalition of team builder for the ages. session, session, I<01:02:54.880> hope<01:02:55.040>
• , As we open the 2026 legislative session, As we open the 2026 legislative session, we<01:17:34.800
• <01:26:27.600> serve Thank you, and may this session serve Thank you, and may this session

Keywords: 981, all

Transcript Highlights:

• session in this chamber. session in this chamber.
• We certainly appreciate all they do during the session.
• Thank you guys for being with us this session.
• <00:20:12.160> and Senate the House is now in session and Senate the House is now in session
• the legislature is in session. the legislature is in session.

Keywords: 1136, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• You pass Senate Bill 1520, signed in open session.
• You pass SCR-103, signed in open session.
• You've passed SCR-1033, signed in open session.
• Senate Bill 1665, signed in open session.
• Senate Bill 1026 passes, signed in open session.

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• the agency's appropriation during session.
• We also, during that legislative session, increased our TANF benefit amount.
• Our budget coming into this next session is going to be tight.
• I know we added those other sort of different facilities last session.
• And we will plan to come to the session with a design in mind.

Keywords: 908, all

Summary: The committee first approved the December 10 minutes and then received a DEQ base budget summary and agency overview. DEQ staff explained that the agency is largely federally and special funded, with major ongoing costs in salaries, operating expenses, grants, and continuing appropriations. Director Dave Glatt and accounting director Beth Jacobson highlighted core programs, the move to a new chemistry laboratory, the new state fuel inspection program, wastewater-related funding from HB 1577, and implementation of SB 2267 for on-site wastewater rules. They also noted the agency’s spending patterns, possible federal EPA cuts, and the likelihood of some fee adjustments or program changes if federal support declines. Members asked about DEQ’s travel, field offices, future staffing, and how the agency would respond to reduced federal regulation. DEQ said most staff are based in Bismarck, with field offices in Fargo, Sawyer, and Gwinner, and that travel is driven by inspections and spill response. Glatt said the agency would continue to rely on science and law, and that any future federal retrenchment could mean more state responsibility but likely not a wholesale increase in FTEs. The committee also discussed a feedlot enforcement case in the Minot area, with DEQ explaining its role in ensuring compliance, permitting, and animal-waste management standards. The Department of Health and Human Services then presented on FTE block grant reporting, TANF balances, child care transfers, and the Rural Health Transformation Program. Donna Ockland explained that no line-item transfers had occurred yet for the new rural health work, but about 33 positions were planned and some current staff time could be reimbursed through approved cost allocation. HHS also reviewed TANF’s frozen eligibility and block grant structure, the transfer of up to 30% of TANF funds to child care, and recent program changes that increased benefits and raised the income limit. Staff said the department is using TANF more strategically to support child care and other allowable uses, while still carrying over unused funds as many states do. Finally, Pat and HHS staff gave an update on the Rural Health Transformation Program, saying the first funding opportunity was being posted and that the state is on track to obligate the federal funds within the required timeline. They described priorities such as workforce retention, preceptor development, technical assistance for critical access hospitals, community wellness projects, and ambulance upgrades. Members asked about rural versus urban eligibility, immigrant recruitment, evaluation of year-two funding, and how the program would address varied local workforce needs. The meeting then shifted to an Office of Management and Budget update on the new State Hospital project, where Lindsay Ashley reported continued construction progress, updated cost information, and selected alternates, with photos and details showing work underway in multiple building sections.

Transcript Highlights:

• Lord God, the issues they'll seek to address and debate in this special session are complex and difficult
• Bless them now, keep them safe, and give them a successful and fruitful session.
• Secretary will now read the proclamation calling the special session.
• I voted against this bill on the floor when we heard it during the regular session.
• And when those words do not match up... ...during the regular session.

Summary: The Florida Senate convened in special session with an opening prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, then administered the oath of office to newly elected Senator Brian Nathan of District 14, who was welcomed by the chamber. The Secretary read the governor’s amended special-session proclamation, which expanded the call beyond congressional redistricting and related litigation funding to include legislation on artificial intelligence protections, an AI Bill of Rights, public records exemptions tied to AI investigations, and medical freedom/vaccine-related issues. The Senate then took up SB 2D, the Artificial Intelligence Bill of Rights, and SB 4D, the related public records bill. Supporters said the AI bill was a first step to protect children, parents, privacy, and Floridians from deceptive or harmful AI practices, while opponents argued it was too weak, overly permissive, and could create a false sense of protection without meaningful remedies. Senators also raised concerns about balancing child safety with innovation and school technology use. SB 2D passed 37-1. SB 4D, described as the public records exemption accompanying the AI bill, passed 33-4 after brief discussion about which investigative files would be exempt while Department of Legal Affairs investigations are pending. The Rules Chair announced a committee meeting later that day, said SB 6D on medical freedom would be temporarily postponed in Rules, and the chamber set SB 8D on congressional districts for special order on Wednesday, April 29. The Senate then adjourned until 10 a.m. on April 29.

Transcript Highlights:

• This fall, and therefore the 89th legislative session is his last session, so at least that's what he
• That was his passion for three legislative sessions, and we finally got that done this session.
• “This has migrated out over time for sessions, multiple sessions.
• , as he did at the end of every session.
• , as he did at the end of every session.

Summary: The Senate opened with an invocation and then took up several recognitions and memorial resolutions, including honoring retiring Senate staffer Kelvin Bass and Secretary of the Senate Patsy Spaw and her staff. Members also adopted a series of local and honorary resolutions, including designating Rockport as the Redfish Capital of Texas, San Antonio as Military City, Texas, and Bridge City as the Corn Dog Capital of Texas, along with memorial and medal-of-honor resolutions for Texans and service members. The chamber also received messages from the House reporting passage of various measures and conference committee actions. The bulk of the meeting focused on conference committee reports and related procedural resolutions. The Senate adopted reports and/or out-of-bounds resolutions on SB 293, SB 1610, HB 46, HB 145, HB 1545, SB 650, SB 1660, HB 40, SB 2217, HB 119, HB 493, HB 3642, HB 2963, SB 2024, SB 2972, HB 2516, HB 2885, and SB 2753, among others. Topics included the Texas Civil Commitment Office, the T-Cup prescription program, wildfire mitigation and utility liability, sunset scheduling, alcohol ID swiping at retail and package stores, business court jurisdiction, election administration and data consistency, foreign adversary lobbying, poll watcher qualifications, road naming, right-to-repair, disguised vape pens, and campus expressive activity rules. Several measures passed with near-unanimous votes, while others drew more opposition, including SB 268 on medical board enforcement and SB 2753 on election procedures. There was extended debate on SB 268, which would shift enforcement authority for scope-of-practice complaints to specialty boards rather than the Texas Medical Board. Senators raised concerns about whether the bill would weaken the Medical Board’s ability to stop unlicensed practice of medicine, while supporters argued that specialty boards should police their own licensees and that criminal referrals remain available for unlicensed practice. The Senate also discussed SB 2972 on expressive activities at public universities, with questions about content-neutral restrictions, who counts as the university community, and whether the bill provides a mechanism to challenge campus time, place, and manner rules. Both bills ultimately passed their conference reports, and the Senate later adopted a large package of resolutions by voice vote before adjourning further business.

Transcript Highlights:

• That bill seemed to go through the session pretty quickly.
• That was added several sessions ago.
• We just tried to, when we put that in statute last session or two sessions ago, to try to distinguish
• So there could be something absolutely prior to the next session, during next session, that you guys
• You got two sessions to do it.

Keywords: 908, all

Transcript Highlights:

• You can change law during that session, either way.
• But they have the whole session.
• And then so we can adjust things next session again. Yeah.
• The overall budget, though, if we compare last session to this session, it's going to make a huge effect
• Didn't we have a bill last session?

Bills: SB2399

Keywords: mental health, psychiatric treatment, reimbursement, medical assistance, legislative report, 908, all

Summary: The Senate Appropriations HR Division met to work through amendments and budget items in House Bill 2012/HB 1004, focusing first on long-term care, disability services, and behavioral health. Members discussed competing approaches to a four-plex for medically complex individuals, a value-based care payment withhold for nursing facilities, accreditation requirements for providers, a study of developmental disability services, and funding for Family Voices and Ann Carlson-related services. Several amendments were accepted or set aside after discussion, including a study amendment for disability services and a Family Voices grant amendment that was adjusted to remove “one-time” language so it could continue as an ongoing grant. The committee also agreed to keep or defer some items for conference committee, including the youth crisis stabilization pilot and other long-term care proposals. A major discussion centered on the state hospital project. Members debated whether the $330 million project should remain in the DHS budget or be moved to the OMB budget for construction management. After discussion of costs, alternates, and the role of a steering committee and BND loan language, the committee agreed to remove the state hospital funding and related loan language from the DHS budget while leaving the steering committee language in place. The committee also considered a proposed Altru grant for additional beds and settled on a smaller planning-focused approach, with a $1 million grant and a line of credit concept to be refined later. The committee then turned to behavioral health items, including QRTP funding, nursing home behavioral health training, and a youth crisis stabilization pilot. Members generally supported keeping the QRTP funding level, but were divided on the nursing home behavioral health training and the crisis stabilization pilot, with some preferring to leave those issues for conference committee. The division also reviewed the HHS block grant and underfunding structure, with Donna Ackland explaining salary, vacancy, and flexibility calculations; the committee discussed adjusting the underfund and revenue assumptions but did not finalize every number before moving on. Finally, the committee took up House Bill 1577 on wastewater treatment grants. Senator Davison moved to hoghouse the bill into a study-focused version using the proposed amendment language, and the motion passed. The committee then moved HB 1577 as amended with a do pass recommendation; the roll call passed with Senators Cleary, Davison, Dever, and Mathern voting yes, and Senator Magrum not recorded as voting. The meeting adjourned with plans to return later in the day to continue budget work.

Transcript Highlights:

• Move we go to executive session. I have a motion and a second to go into executive session.
• to go into executive session? to go into executive session?
• session, chairman? session, chairman?
• executive session. Yes. executive session. Yes.
• executive session. executive session.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Oh, I thought we put something in there last session.
• Black, this session and beyond in the interim as well.
• Black, this session and beyond in the interim as well.
• Or one of the special sessions that we are doomed to be in.
• Or one of the special sessions that we are doomed to be in.

Bills: SB 1

Keywords: campground safety, youth camp regulations, flood safety, emergency evacuation, health and safety standards

Summary: The committee began with Article I budget items for the Secretary of State. LBB staff outlined recommendations that would reduce the agency’s appropriation by about $40.3 million, including changes to HAVA funding, removal of one-time business system replacement money, and a rider directing the agency to use Fund 5095 first. Secretary Jane Nelson and staff then defended several exceptional items, especially additional staffing for elections and business filings, a new website, digitization of records, cybersecurity tools, and renovation of the James Earl Rudder Building. Members focused heavily on election administration, cross-checking voter rolls, Harris County complaints, call-center response times, and whether online voter registration should be expanded. No votes were taken; the discussion was informational and budget-focused. The committee then heard the Office of the Governor and trustee programs. LBB presented a recommended $2.4 million decrease for the governor’s office proper and a much larger decrease in trustee programs driven by one-time funding and unexpended balances, while still preserving major border security funding and victim assistance funding. Governor’s staff emphasized Texas’ economic growth, the importance of border security, and efforts to seek federal reimbursement for the roughly $11 billion Texas has spent on border operations. Members discussed whether shifting National Guard deployment to federal control could reduce state costs, and they also reviewed the music incubator program, the Governor’s University Research Initiative, and the semiconductor innovation consortium. Staff highlighted a $5 million late-added request for grants to protect nonprofits from violence and terrorism. Again, the exchange was largely explanatory, with no formal action. Finally, the committee took up the Texas Facilities Commission and lease payments for revenue bonds. LBB recommended major reductions overall, including removal of border wall construction funding and capital complex bond funding, but added money for higher utility costs, renovation of the Rudder Building, and additional facilities staff. George Purcell also noted stable maintenance-and-renewal funding and new riders related to the Texas State Library and Archives Commission building, tenant communications, and space utilization. For lease payments, LBB recommended a smaller appropriation tied to revenue-bond costs allocated across agencies. The discussion was informational, with members asking about the Rudder Building renovation, border wall progress, and capital complex construction timelines; no votes were recorded.

Transcript Highlights:

• So thank you for the support that you provided last legislative session. You made a difference.
• We are grateful for the increase in formula funding in the last legislative session.
• What are your thoughts on that this session?
• University President: What we got last session has worked out well.
• We appreciate greatly the formula funding rate from the past session.

Transcript Highlights:

• . session. session.
• I close the executive session.
• I close the executive session.
• [clears throat] the executive session. [clears throat] the executive session.
• close the executive session. close the executive session.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And then we also repealed the clean water and drinking water... 12 in the last session.
• And we can make that happen next session.” “I’ve already got it drafted.
• You got to get it through a session. Then you got to wait.
• Alternatively, we can go into session, '27.
• The insurance program law in the 2025 session.

Summary: The Arkansas Administrative Rules Subcommittee met to review a large set of agency rules and reports. Early items were routine filings: emergency-rule reports, subcommittee review reports, and administrative directive reports were filed without objection. One rule from the Department of Agriculture on maternal health providers and remote monitoring was noted as pulled by the agency and not considered. The committee then reviewed and approved several Agriculture rules, including repeal of equine ID-chip rules after Act 703 of 2025, updates to finance rules adding a new water and sewer treatment facilities grant and consolidating revolving-fund rules, and a pesticide rule creating a Class J pesticide category for feral hog toxicant use. It also approved a Commerce/Insurance rule removing duplicative workers’ compensation plan provisions, and a Corrections rule creating a unified visitation rule for correctional facilities and community correction centers. A member asked about prison visitation hours during COVID, and staff said they would check on that. The committee next approved multiple Department of Human Services rules. These included marketing rules for provider-led organizations under Act 301 of 2025, a comprehensive revision of the DCFS policy manual, changes to Medicaid eligibility to include fictive kin placements and to expand ABLE account eligibility under Act 875, presumptive eligibility changes for pregnant women to align with federal rules, and a follow-up SNAP/TEA/Work Pays rule with updated work requirements, mandatory employment and training, alien eligibility changes, and job-search requirements for certain applicants. DHS also presented a rule implementing federal coverage for certain incarcerated youth before and after release, and the committee approved it. Another DHS rule updated nurse aide training requirements to match federal CNA hour standards and moved criminal-records-check procedures to the agency website. The most extended discussion involved DHS Division of Medical Services’ dental rate rule under Act 1025. The agency explained that it was increasing pediatric dental rates and certain oral-surgery-related rates, but not orthodontic rates or a broader special-needs benefit limit because CMS would not approve a diagnosis-based limit. Members debated whether the statutory language was intended to cover general dentists performing oral surgery procedures, with legislators, the Dental Association, and DHS discussing legislative intent, fiscal impact, and whether a future fix or emergency rule might be needed. Despite the disagreement, the committee approved the rule. The committee also approved other DHS medical rules: adverse-decision appeal changes and prior-authorization posting requirements, an increased RSV administration fee for children, expanded emergency treat/triage/transport ambulance authority, and clinic-based physical and occupational therapy coverage. Later, the committee approved permanent rules for the new state insurance program under Shared Administrative Services, procurement rule revisions recommended after an ACASO review, and commodity-management rule updates including a new revenue distribution model. Under Act 595 of 2021, the committee granted two Department of Commerce/Insurance requests to be excluded from rulemaking requirements: one for Act 772 on forced organ harvesting, and one for restorative reproductive medicine, with the department saying it would promulgate rules later when clinical guidelines are available. Finally, the committee accepted a recommendation to keep and extend the Department of Education, Division of Career and Technical Education rules, filed outstanding rulemaking updates, and adjourned without further business.

Transcript Highlights:

• People testified in our committees over the interim and during the session that water is one of the most
• Governor Abbott made a Texas-sized investment in water an emergency item this session.
• So I had said for multiple years in session, multiple sessions, and the last two years...
• This water fund is because we brought everything under the umbrella last session.
• Amid the discussions in the session on funding for water supply and.

Bills: HB3077, HJR2, HJR7, HJR7

Keywords: alcohol, taxation, reporting requirements, sales, distribution, death tax, inheritance tax, estate tax, property transfer, constitutional amendment, water fund, Texas water supply, state revenue, infrastructure, HJR 7, Texas Legislature, quorum, majority quorum, two-thirds quorum, legislative procedure