Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:22:52.640><c> Texas</c><00:22:53.120><c> over</c><00:22:53.280><c> the</c> that struck Central
• Your work is central to the reinvigoration of economic self-determination and agency in America.
• ><c> reinvigoration</c><00:37:23.920><c> of</c> is central to the reinvigoration of is central to the
• :12:56.880><c> to</c><02:12:57.040><c> speak</c><02:12:57.280><c> on</c> counts.
• And I'll continue to speak on counts.

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Wednesday, July 16, 2025, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We have almost a 400-acre experiment station right down from the school.
• And the four years that they were scholars count toward their retirement.
• And so— The four years that they were scholars count toward their retirement.
• So here's our experiment station. That's the mile-long road. We're excited.
• And so far, with Gosef, we are looking to have that at the experiment station.

Committee: House Agriculture, Forestry, Aquaculture & Rural Development

Keywords: 965, house, all

Summary: The House Committee on Agriculture, Forestry, Aquaculture, and Rural Development met to approve the October 3, 2024 interim minutes and then took up two resolutions. HCR 205, by Representative Kerner, urged USDA to use its Commodity Procurement Program to purchase domestic Louisiana shrimp. Supporters said shrimpers are facing very low prices, full cold storage, and an urgent need for federal purchases to stabilize the market and help local processors and fishermen. Commissioner Mike Strain explained that USDA commodity purchases can support schools, nursing homes, and food banks, and members discussed the need for cold storage, marketing, and better promotion of local seafood. The resolution was reported favorably without objection. The committee also considered HCR 188, which memorializes Congress to oppose any federal farm bill language that could negatively affect the use of hunting dogs; members said the provision had raised concerns about field trials, scent hounds, and hunting practices, and the resolution was also reported favorably without objection. The committee then received a presentation from Southern University Ag Center and College of Agriculture leadership, led by interim president and chancellor Orlando McMeans and Executive Vice Chancellor Calvin Walker. They outlined the center’s research, teaching, and extension work, including medicinal cannabis research, beef cattle and smart ranching, viticulture, aquaculture, precision agriculture, food and nutrition, and support for small farmers and K-12 dual enrollment. They highlighted scholarship and enrollment programs, including USDA-supported 1890 scholars and JAG Stars, as well as partnerships with LSU and USDA. They also described major facility projects, including a high-tech meat processing facility, research labs, a vineyard, and a proposed 1,300-bed disaster shelter/mega shelter at the experiment station. Members asked questions about meat-cutting and processing training, cattle genetics, and the shelter’s use when not needed for disasters. Southern officials said the new processing facility is intended to support training and workforce development, and that the shelter could also be used for events such as weddings, graduations, and agricultural activities. The committee expressed appreciation for the presentation and the work of the Ag Center. Representative Broussard then moved to adjourn, and the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• The vote count shows 22 in favor, with 12 against and one absent.
• The vote count shows 22 in favor, with 12 against and one absent.
• Hearing none, the vote count shows 33 in favor with two absent.
• Hearing none, the vote count shows 33 in favor with two absent.
• By my count, we got through 26.

Summary: The Senate opened with roll call, prayer, and approval of the journal, then moved through committee reports and messages from the Governor and House. Several House bills amended in the Senate were routed back for further action, and a number of new bills were introduced and sent to committee, including measures on kratom, child care, medical education funding, gold and silver investment, campaign finance, stablecoins, and motor vehicle licensing. The chamber also received and processed multiple gubernatorial appointments and enrolled bills. The main floor action focused on a series of appropriation and enhancement bills. Senators debated and passed Senate Bills 1402 through 1409, covering the Department of Juvenile Corrections, Department of Environmental Quality, Department of Agriculture, State Public Defender, Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses, Idaho State Police, and related budget adjustments. Debate centered on whether the enhancement budgets were necessary amid broader rescissions and revenue concerns; supporters emphasized operational needs, replacement items, staffing, and public safety, while some senators objected to new federal funds or to restoring spending after cuts. Most of these bills passed on recorded votes, with a few dissenting votes from senators arguing for deeper reductions. The Senate also passed House Bills 905, 906, 907, 908, 715, 742, and 658. These measures addressed higher education and community college funding, career technical education, military division funding, library board authority in city libraries, electronic vehicle titles, and cemetery district vacancy procedures. Debate on the education bills focused on the impact of budget cuts and whether the one-time restorations were sufficient, while the library bill drew a split between supporters of local elected oversight and opponents who warned against politicizing library decisions. The cemetery district bill was presented as a practical fix for governance failures at Joplin Cemetery and similar districts. In the 10th order, the Senate adopted House Joint Memorials 14, 16, and 13. HJM 14 urged future water storage development, HJM 16 supported seniors and Medicare-related oversight, and HJM 13 asked federal agencies to align waters-of-the-United States policy with the Sackett decision. The Senate then continued with additional third-reading bills, including House Bill 573, as the session moved toward recess and further floor work.

Transcript Highlights:

• Okay, so I would move—I just wanted to get the count first. I couldn't count that fast. Three?
• </c> move I just wanted to get the count move I just wanted to get the count first<01:06:49.839><c> I
• annually—that would be paid by the folks who run the stations and who, in fact, charge others.
• </c> certify that these uh charging stations certify that these uh charging stations were<02:23:34.640
• </c><02:23:59.640><c> and</c> by the folks who um run the stations and by the folks who um run the stations

Committee: Senate Finance

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The other gap is how community voice counts in permit decisions.
• The other gap is how community voice counts in permit decisions.
• transparency about what engagement resources actually exist, and authority to make community input count
• transparency about what engagement resources actually exists, an authority to make community input count
• It once was a gas station, and now it's a market that serves the local community.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I actually have that Laguna Burger and gas station. I go that far out. So, thank you.
• The coal was supplied to the San Juan Generating Station.
• The coal combustion byproducts from the generating station, also called CCBs, are shown in yellow.
• Numerous existing groundwater monitoring wells are present at both the generating station and the mine
• Alluvial groundwater, it will be pumped back to a pond higher up on the generating station side.

Committee: House Radioactive & Hazardous Materials Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• Are there charging stations at every state park? Mr.
• Chair and Representative Garratt, we have two EV charging stations.
• Well, it's at the gas station. It's not... Yeah, I see what you mean. So, Mr.
• Those are the only two state parks that we have EV charging stations in.
• Just real quick, when Representative Garratt was talking about the charging station...

Transcript Highlights:

• Hundreds of people will drive by Boylston Street Fire Station every single day of every week, and many
• Hundreds of people will drive by Boylston Street Fire Station every single day of every week, and many
• Hundreds of people will drive by Boylston Street Fire Station every single day of every week, and many
• I can't even count the number of first responders who have been injured or worse by a vehicle operator
• In service to us in North Central Massachusetts.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The hearing focused on a range of public safety bills, with especially emotional testimony on the Maggie Hubbard Rental Safety Act, which would require short-term rentals to be inspected for smoke and carbon monoxide detectors and require platforms or agents to verify compliance before listing. Rep. Hadley Luddy, Sen. Julian Cyr, and the Hubbard and Waldron families described the fatal Airbnb fire that killed Shannon Hubbard and her daughter Maggie in New York, saying the deaths were preventable and that the bill would save lives. Committee members expressed sympathy and support for the families’ efforts to turn their loss into legislation. The committee also heard testimony on a proposed peace officer oath (S. 1680), described by Sen. Lydia Edwards as a binding ethical standard tied to certification and recertification, with discipline and annual reporting to promote accountability and de-escalation. Rep. Tom Walsh testified for a bill requiring hotel and motel workers to be trained to recognize human trafficking and to post hotline signage, and later testimony supported a school safety data grant program to provide first responders with standardized, up-to-date school maps for emergencies. Another major topic was a bill to allow temporary door-locking devices in public buildings; supporters said the devices are removable, do not alter fire code, and could improve lockdown response during active shooter events. Additional bills discussed included measures to transfer the Office of Emergency Medical Services to EOPSS, increase penalties for unlicensed hood-system cleaning, expand membership on the Massachusetts Fire Training Council, and strengthen confidentiality for peer support and critical incident stress debriefings. Firefighters and fire chiefs also supported a bill to tighten penalties for violations of hot-work regulations, citing the 2014 Beacon Street fire that killed Lt. Walsh and Firefighter Kennedy. Law enforcement groups backed a package including a Blue Star plate and Blue Alert system for fallen officers’ families, stronger move-over penalties, and a memorial fund, while the State Police Association supported the move-over provisions but asked for further work on the special state police officer bill before final action. No votes were taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• officers must verify an automated license plate reader response when feasible through an authorized central
• In a stolen vehicle case, an LPR alert led officers to a vehicle at a local gas station.
• And in a stolen vehicle case, an LPR alert led officers to a vehicle at a local gas station.
• the things that we discovered, both Senator Angus and I, we have met with more providers than I can count
• argument, electric car owners are being double-taxed because they pay on... if you go to a Tesla station

Summary: The committee first took up SB 1114, which would appropriate $1 million to the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office to investigate patient brokering in behavioral health and substance abuse treatment. Sponsor Sen. Werner described patient brokering as a continuing abuse tied to the state’s Medicaid fraud crisis, especially affecting Native Americans, and said the county attorney had the capacity to handle statewide oversight. The bill was moved and received a do pass recommendation on a 9-0-1 vote. The committee then considered SB 1111, as amended by a strike-everything amendment, to create statewide rules for automated license plate readers. Supporters from law enforcement said ALPRs are important for investigations, missing persons, stolen vehicles, and violent crimes, and argued the bill adds needed guardrails and training requirements. Opponents, including the ACLU, Institute for Justice, and private citizens, warned the systems enable mass surveillance, can be inaccurate, and raise Fourth Amendment and privacy concerns; they also objected to broad terms like “legitimate” law enforcement purposes and the lack of a clear retention limit. The committee adopted the amendment and then gave SB 1111, as amended, a do pass recommendation by a 7-2-1 vote. Next, SB 1116, as amended, was heard to require behavioral health claim denials and appeals at AHCCCS to be reviewed by someone with relevant clinical experience. Sen. Werner said the bill responds to improper denials and appeals handled by staff without behavioral health expertise; AHCCCS was neutral but said the bill could create compliance and staffing issues because “relevant clinical experience” is not well defined. The committee adopted the amendment and passed the bill 10-0. SB 1122, also as amended, would bar AHCCCS from requiring prior authorization or 100% prepayment review for certain behavioral health services under the American Indian Health Plan unless a provider is on a corrective action plan; Werner said it was aimed at ensuring providers are paid and reducing patient brokering. The committee adopted the amendment and passed SB 1122 10-0. Finally, the committee heard SB 1072, which would appropriate ongoing state and Medicaid funds to DES for rate increases for home- and community-based services and room-and-board services for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, with reporting on workforce outcomes. Supporters from APAD and providers said the direct care workforce is in crisis, with large numbers of vacancies, overtime costs, and unassigned authorizations, and argued the funding is needed to retain staff and maintain care. Members discussed wage disparities, whether funds would reach caregivers, and the limits of legislative control over private provider pay, but no vote on SB 1072 was reached before the transcript ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• So, because Article 18 says that slot machines can only be played in casinos in Black Hawk, Central City
• casinos machines can only be played in casinos in<01:04:36.079><c> Blackhawk</c><01:04:36.559><c> Central
• </c><01:04:36.880><c> City</c><01:04:37.119><c> and</c> in Blackhawk Central City and in Blackhawk Central
• Buy a lotto ticket, buy it at a gas station, buy it at a convenience store.
• </c><01:11:09.920><c> for</c><01:11:10.080><c> third</c> order gross place count for third order gross

Keywords: 981, all

Summary: The Senate convened, established a quorum, approved the previous day’s journal, and received several committee reports and House messages. Committee reports advanced a number of bills and appointments, including Senate Bill 163, House Bill 1320, Senate Bill 160, House Bill 1210, and several board and commission appointments recommended for the consent calendar. The chamber also received House action on multiple bills, including concurrence in Senate amendments to House Bills 1239, 1262, and 1110, a request for a conference committee on House Bill 1084, and transmission of several other measures to the Revisor of Statutes. The Senate then took up Senate Joint Resolution 22, designating July 12-18, 2026, as Plastic Pollution Awareness Week. Senator Cutter spoke in support, arguing that plastic pollution harms environmental and human health, disproportionately affects vulnerable communities, and cannot be solved by recycling alone. The resolution was adopted on a 25-9 vote, with several senators recorded in opposition, and co-sponsors were noted. The chamber also recognized guests from the Colorado Society of Enrolled Agents and the National Association of Tax Professionals, as well as visitors from the Colorado School of Mines and former Senator John Evans. Later, the Senate considered special orders on the consent calendar, including House Bills 103, 1026, and 1051, and adopted the committee reports and the bills. House Bill 1026 was amended and House Bill 1051 was advanced to third reading and final passage. The Senate also took up Senate Bill 117, concerning permissible methods for the sale of lottery tickets. Senator Bridges explained that the bill was intended to respond to lottery rules allowing online sales and credit card purchases, but said the measure had been narrowed in committee and then raised constitutional concerns under Colorado’s prohibition on slot machines outside limited gaming areas. The transcript ends during that debate, before final action on Senate Bill 117 is shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• It's not a pie in the sky. chart it's just a regular chart with counts to we don't have precise counts
• , don't count that.
• But you do use head count data. Is that accurate? Yes.
• We've had several charging stations.
• In many instances they may be... private service stations.

Committee: House Appropriations

Keywords: infrastructure, water supply, flood mitigation, Texas Water Fund, community projects, funding allocations

Summary: During this committee meeting, the focus was on discussing critical infrastructure funding, especially related to water supply and flood mitigation projects. Chairwoman Stepney and the Water Development Board presented extensive details regarding the Texas Water Fund, which included $1 billion appropriated to assist various financial programs and tackle pressing water and wastewater issues. Additionally, funding allocations aimed at compromising the state's flood risk and improving water conservation were hotly debated, emphasizing collaboration among committee members and the necessity of addressing community needs in such projects.

Transcript Highlights:

• I am representing Bryan College Station Habitat for Humanity.
• I helped manage a nonprofit in Bryan College Station for a number of years. ...a nonprofit in Bryan College
• Station for a number of years, and what we've seen over the years is that it's become clearer and clearer
• investments without raising tax rates, especially critical in fast-growing districts like mine in Central
• In fact, the central square of many Texas towns are lined with single-stair buildings, the classic retail

Bills: SB208 , SB628 , SB777 , SB1042 , SB2354 , SB2477 , SB2521 , SB2523 , SB2608 , SB2703 , SB2778 , SB2835 , SB2965 , SB2367 , SB3044

Committee: Senate Local Government

Keywords: workforce housing, capital investment fund, affordable housing, housing development, Texas housing laws, loan programs, community development, Texas housing, zero-interest loans, low-income housing, nonprofit organizations, construction, economic stability, housing affordability, capital investment, Texas housing policy, county fire code, fire marshal, local government code, interlocal agreement

Summary: The Senate Committee on Local Government met with a quorum and limited public testimony to two minutes per person. The committee heard Senate Bill 628 by Senator Zaffirini, which would clarify that counties may enter interlocal agreements with emergency service districts to administer and enforce county fire codes, including for multi-county ESDs in the committee substitute. Witnesses from Travis County ESD-11, the Travis County Fire Marshal’s Office, and a member of the public supported the bill as a way to reduce duplication, costs, and jurisdictional confusion. Public testimony was closed and the committee substitute was left pending. The committee then heard several housing-related bills. Senate Bill 208 by Senator West would create a Workforce Housing Capital Investment Fund to provide zero-interest loans to nonprofit builders for workforce housing; Habitat for Humanity representatives, a Brownsville nonprofit developer, and housing advocates supported it as a way to finance infrastructure and land development for affordable homes. Senate Bill 2835 by Senator Johnson would allow cities to opt into single-stair apartment buildings for small-scale, multi-story housing; supporters said the design is safe and could expand housing supply, while the Texas APA expressed qualified opposition over code-process concerns and fire-safety questions. Both bills were left pending after testimony. Additional bills heard included SB 1042 updating the Kimble County Hospital District’s enabling law; SB 1708, a committee substitute protecting familial property divisions from platting requirements; SB 2778 raising the ESD expenditure threshold requiring board approval from $2,000 to up to $50,000; SB 2608 expanding LIHTC eligibility for certain public housing projects; SB 3044 adding board representation for Marfa and Presidio on the Presidio County Underground Water Conservation District and adjusting an exemption; SB 2367 extending park board authority to Waller County; SB 2523 clarifying ETJ reduction procedures and owner opt-out rights; SB 2521 requiring death-certificate reporting to appraisal districts to help address squatting and homestead exemption issues; and SB 2477 easing office-to-residential conversions in larger cities. In each case, the bills were laid out, testimony was taken, and the measures were left pending subject to call of the chair. The committee then recessed until 15 to 30 minutes after adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• It's four miles of this 11-mile segment that has the higher traffic count for a roadway like this, at
• is a very low-volume road, so when we look at the average daily traffic, I don't remember the exact count
• The fire station in which Senator Duckworth serves as a volunteer is located on the east side of the
• I represent the west central part of the county, including Byron, which is the location of the proposed
• I represent the west central part of the county, including Byron, which is the location of the proposed

Committee: Senate Transportation

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• There was also a pet roaming station intake form, so you can really practice some writing skills and
• There was also a pet roaming station intake form, so you can really practice some writing skills and
• The central sculpture will be a focal point, surrounded by a stunning arrangement of Sentinel Stones
• </c> emotion and reflection the central emotion and reflection the central raised<00:46:44.680><c> Podium
• </c><00:50:49.839><c> Fine</c> impressive as a downtown central Fine impressive as a downtown central

Committee: Senate Environment, Climate, and Legacy

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• was at a gas station.
• </c> indicators as the National Kids Count indicators as the National Kids Count Project.<01:09:21.520
• Um these Kids Count data center.
• </c> sure that we're doing is counting sure that we're doing is counting everybody<01:23:27.360><c> in
• </c> is what we would call a complete counts is what we would call a complete counts committee.<01:24

Committee: Joint Families & Children

Keywords: 958, all

Transcript Highlights:

• In our disadvantaged desert communities, this matters because every dollar counts.
• I bet within a two-mile radius of driving and videotaping there, you could count over 200,000 Joshua
• This approach contradicts one of the central tenets of the Coastal Act: maximizing public access to the
• We want them to be thorough in these assessments and to say, here are all the pump stations without backup
• identified in the plan says, okay, we definitely need a backup generator at this particular pump station

Summary: The committee heard SB 1393, an omnibus update to the Fish and Game Code covering steelhead trout and Dungeness crab management. Supporters from The Nature Conservancy, Trout Unlimited, CalTrout, and the Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermen’s Associations said the bill would strengthen the steelhead report card program, refine crab fishery rules, and clarify vessel transit through closed crab areas. There was no opposition, and the bill was accepted with amendments and moved on a 4-0 vote to the Appropriations Committee. The committee also heard SB 1250, which would require Caltrans to incorporate wildlife connectivity into transportation planning and asset management, with performance targets and coordination with wildlife agencies. The author and supporters argued it would improve ecosystem connectivity, reduce wildlife-vehicle collisions, and save money by integrating crossings, culverts, and fencing into planned projects. The California Building Industry Association moved to neutral after amendments clarifying the bill would apply to transportation rights-of-way and not create exactions on private property. The bill passed 4-0 to Appropriations. Members then considered SB 1212, which would repeal California’s ban on importing and selling kangaroo products. The author argued kangaroo harvest in Australia is tightly regulated and that California’s ban is outdated, while opponents from Humane World for Animals, Animal Legal Defense Fund, and others said the bill would reopen the market to products from a cruel commercial slaughter industry and undermine long-standing wildlife protections. No motion was taken at that point. The committee also heard SB 1268, codifying the Outdoors for All initiative, which supporters said would protect and expand equitable access to parks and outdoor recreation; it advanced 3-0. Finally, the committee heard three Western Joshua Tree bills from Senator Arreguín: SB 1061, SB 1062, and SB 1063. Supporters from water agencies, local governments, and industry said the bills would reduce fees and streamline permitting for tree relocation, public infrastructure, and basic utility hookups in desert communities. Opponents withdrew or softened opposition on the first two bills after amendments, but objected to SB 1063 as too broad. SB 1061 and SB 1062 each passed 2-0 to Appropriations, while SB 1063 was still under discussion at the end of the transcript.

Transcript Highlights:

• In our disadvantaged desert communities, this matters because every dollar counts.
• I bet within a two-mile radius of driving and videotaping there, you could count over 200,000 Joshua
• This approach contradicts one of the central tenets of the Coastal Act: maximizing public access to the
• We want them to be thorough in these assessments and to say, here are all the pump stations without backup
• Resources Committee and Natural Resources and Water Committee, and I will read through the final vote counts

Committee: Senate Natural Resources and Water

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Central West. Hold just one second, please. I'm a military brat.
• As a result, children of foreign allied military personnel stationed in Texas must enroll in school according
• In conclusion, HB 2757 will ensure that students of allied and foreign military personnel stationed in
• Central West. Senator. More and more Districts are now subject to recapture, first of all.

Bills: HB123 , HB5606 , HB549 , HB2757 , HB4359 , HB5381 , HB1939 , HB123

Committees: Senate Education , Senate Education K-16

Keywords: HB 123, kindergarten readiness, early literacy, early numeracy, reading screening, math screening, foundational literacy, foundational numeracy, dyslexia screening, reading intervention, math intervention, teacher academy, literacy academy, mathematics academy, interventionist academy, K-3 assessments, school readiness, prekindergarten, tutoring grant, parent-directed tutoring

Transcript Highlights:

• And we also currently have a monthly segment with KXAN, which is part of the Nexstar family, 14 stations
• radio shows on three iHeart Media clusters that we have, Corpus Christi, South Texas, and the College Station-Bryan
• We had the strongest brand recognition, Alamo in Central Texas, with Gulf Coast and East Texas having
• We had the strongest brand recognition, Alamo in Central Texas, with Gulf Coast and East Texas having

Committee: Senate Veteran Affairs

Summary: The Senate Committee on Veteran Affairs heard a briefing from the Texas Veterans Commission on its major programs and outreach efforts. TVC described its claims assistance, health care advocacy, education oversight, employment services, entrepreneurship support, mental health and suicide prevention work, women veterans services, grant funding for nonprofits and local governments, and support for veteran treatment courts. The agency also highlighted its communications strategy, including media outreach, events, newsletters, social media, and the Texas Veterans State Benefits Booklet, and noted that less than 58% of veterans were aware of TVC in the latest needs assessment. A committee member asked about performance metrics, and TVC said each appropriation has associated measures and that it could provide recent results. The committee then took up Senate Bill 651, which would allow a county veterans service office in a large county to report either directly to commissioners court or to a designated county executive official. Senator West explained the bill as a cleanup of current practice, and Dallas County testified in support, saying the change would streamline internal management. No opposition was heard, and the bill was left pending. Senate Bill 897 would reduce the non-state matching requirement for the Texas Veterans and Family Alliance grant program in larger counties from 100 percent to 75 percent in the committee substitute, rather than the 50 percent reduction in the filed version. Supporters from MetroCare and Emergence Health Network said the lower match would help sustain and expand veteran mental health services, citing increased demand and program growth. The bill was left pending after testimony. The committee also adopted its rules. Finally, the committee heard Senate Bill 1814, which would create an interagency database to collect and coordinate contact information for transitioning veterans so agencies could proactively connect them with services. Senator Hancock said the goal was to better use information already being collected, though he noted the bill had a significant fiscal note. The committee also heard Senate Bill 1818, which would create a temporary six-month licensing and certification process for military members and spouses assigned to Texas while they wait for letters of good standing from other states. VFW testified in support, emphasizing the importance of employment for military families. Both bills were left pending, and the committee recessed subject to the call of the chair.

Transcript Highlights:

• but one such change is clearly to outline the unoccupied spaces, such as storage units or a pump station
• I'm from Eastern Jackson County, and I am a junior interior design student at the University of Central
• our engineers on the government relations committee brought up, "Well, do I need one for my pump station
• Caseworkers counted on our trained parents and built-in support networks to provide loving, stable homes
• to several times, the Child Protection Board that's made up of 13, you know, the way I kind of lost count

Keywords: 959, house, all

Summary: The committee continued a public hearing on House Bill 2897, which would expand optometrists’ scope of practice. Supporters, including Dr. Kelly Deering, said optometrists are trained to perform the listed office-based procedures, that rural Missouri lacks access to ophthalmologists, and that the bill would reduce wait times, travel burdens, and costs while helping retain students and practitioners in the state. Opponents, including representatives of the Missouri Association of Osteopathic Physicians and Surgeons, argued the bill does not guarantee rural access and said the procedures should remain within the medical/surgical training of physicians. Members also questioned training on live human eyes and how suspicious lesions would be handled. No vote was taken, and the hearing on HB 2897 was closed. The committee then heard House Bill 2353, which would create a licensing and sign-and-seal framework for interior designers and move oversight to the board that includes architects, engineers, land surveyors, and landscape architects. Sponsor Rep. Sherri Gallick and supporters said the bill modernizes regulation, recognizes accredited education and NCIDQ testing, and would let licensed interior designers take responsibility for non-structural interior design work without hiring an architect to stamp plans. Opponents from the Missouri Society of Professional Engineers and others said they were still negotiating but remained concerned about scope-of-practice language, especially phrases like “all interior design of buildings” and “publicly occupied buildings,” which they said could create overlap with architecture and engineering or unintended obligations for public entities. Testimony also focused on whether unlicensed interior designers would still be allowed to work under carve-outs. No final action was taken. Finally, the committee heard House Bill 2241, which would create a separate framework for certain faith-based residential child care facilities to operate without a state license while registering with the state and meeting background-check, reporting, and oversight requirements. Sponsor Rep. Jamie Gregg and MACA representatives said the bill is intended to expand foster placement capacity for children in need while preserving the religious mission of Christian homes, and they cited federal and state initiatives encouraging partnerships with faith-based providers. Opponents argued the bill would create a two-tier system, weaken state licensing protections, and risk placing vulnerable children in facilities without the same direct oversight, inspections, and reunification safeguards as licensed foster homes. Members raised concerns about abuse history at some faith-based homes, the role of the proposed board, and whether religious practices or other mission-based rules would conflict with child welfare standards. The hearing continued with additional testimony; no vote was reported.