Transcript Highlights:

• It can be found in the Education Code, Chapter 11, Section 169.
• Their children's education is addressed in numerous chapters of the Texas Education Code, Health and
• , the Prayer Rights Chapter, and the Texas Education Code.
• In Chapter 26, a number of years ago, I did parental rights training with a legal organization.
• Chapter 28 of the Texas Education Code is adequate for Texas school districts.

Bills: SB204 , SB570 , SB735 , SB784 , SB1207 , SB1396 , SB1447 , SB2392 , SB2540 , SB747 , SB875

Committee: House Public Education

Keywords: parental rights, education, school trustees, training, handbook, truancy, attendance policy, chronic absenteeism, school attendance, student absence notifications, parent notification, home visit, attendance officer, truancy court, school district, open-enrollment charter school, student support services, school counselor, principal, administrator

Transcript Highlights:

• The revisions apply to timeshare facilities only, which are governed by Chapter 721 of the Florida Statutes
• Due to the inconsistencies between Chapters 718, 468, and the provisions currently existing in Chapter
• It was a reference to a defense that exists in Chapter 787.
• I assume what that means is if there is a violation under Chapter 787 that's proven, then that means
• that they're this... ...that means that they're this Chapter 787 that's proven, then that means that

Summary: The Civil Justice and Claims Subcommittee heard and voted on four bills. HB 587 on self-storage spaces would let rental agreements include an alternate contact person and allow default notices to be published online instead of only in newspapers, while keeping existing notice timelines and servicemember protections. Newspaper and press witnesses opposed the online-notice change, arguing it could reduce public reach and transparency, especially in rural areas; the sponsor said newspapers could still be used and the bill was only adding another option. The committee adopted an amendment changing the effective date to October 1, 2025, and then reported the bill favorably 12-2. HB 6033 would repeal the Florida Labor Pool Act. The sponsor argued the act duplicates other state and federal protections, while opponents said it contains unique safeguards for day laborers, including limits on fees, transportation charges, and deductions, and a private right of action. Testimony from labor advocates and workers warned repeal would reduce protections for vulnerable workers; the sponsor and supporters said other laws already cover the issues. The committee reported the bill favorably 11-3. HB 897, dealing with timeshare plan management, was presented as a clarification of conflicts created by recent condominium legislation and would require faster records responses, more disclosure of contracts, and clearer remedies for mismanagement. Support came from industry groups, and the bill passed unanimously, 14-0. The final measure, PCS for HB 1385, created a civil remedy for parental abduction or unlawful withholding of a child in violation of a timesharing order. Family law attorneys opposed it over concerns about added litigation, child involvement, and overlap with existing remedies, while the sponsors and supporters said it would provide needed deterrence and compensation in serious cases. The committee adopted the PCS and reported it favorably 13-0.

Transcript Highlights:

• article 1 are from House File 2159, Representative Schumacher's bill that corrects terminology in the chapter
• DHS Policy Bill, modified the definition of residential program in the Patient's Bill of Rights in Chapter
• Sections in Chapter 245I. Section 25 is from House File 98.
• Section 27, also from House File 98, adds client grievance rights in Chapter 245I.
• The Mental Health Uniform Service Standards Chapter.

Bills: HF2115 , HF2276 , HF1644 , HF99 , HF2068 , HF2707 , HF2704 , HF2406 , HF1674 , HF1579

Committee: House Human Services Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• This budget funds Chapter 70 school aid at $7.66 billion.
• This budget funds Chapter 70 school aid at $7.66 billion and increases minimum aid for school districts
• not say 90%, and in beginning the steps that will be necessary to finally reform a dysfunctional Chapter
• the items in municipal government that are not school costs, that are addressed in other ways like Chapter
• this budget propose to convene a Foundation Budget Review Commission to crack open and reform the Chapter

Summary: The Senate opened with the Pledge of Allegiance, adopted two commendatory resolutions honoring the Plimpton Historical Society’s Deborah Sampson Day recognition and Megan’s Light’s Cystic Fibrosis Awareness Month observance, and suspended Joint Rule 12 to refer several House petitions to committee. The chamber also briefly recognized Diane Talk of the South Shore Regional Emergency Communication Center on her retirement after 30 years of dispatch service. Later, the Senate passed two local bills to enactment: House No. 4006, authorizing Dartmouth to grant an additional all-alcoholic beverages license, and House No. 473, relating to the charter of Westwood. The main business was the Senate Ways and Means presentation of the fiscal year 2027 budget, totaling about $63.3 billion. The chair described the budget as balanced, with no new taxes or tax cuts, based on a consensus revenue estimate of $986 million in growth over FY26 (2.4%), and including about $15.8 billion in federal financial participation and roughly $2.7 billion from the Fair Share surtax. The budget emphasized record local aid, including $1.376 billion in unrestricted general government aid, $7.66 billion for Chapter 70 education aid, increased minimum school aid, higher regional school transportation reimbursement, rural aid, and the revival of the Foundation Budget Review Commission. It also highlighted major investments in MassEducate free community college, food security, housing, and support for vulnerable residents. Members then engaged in extended colloquy on the budget’s major cost drivers and policy choices. Questions focused on debt service, pension and OPEB liabilities, MassHealth caseload and rising per-enrollee costs, child care funding, and program integrity in DTA and other benefit programs. The chair said debt service would be about $2.67 billion, pension payments would be $5.1 billion, OPEB would receive a $150 million payment, and MassHealth enrollment was projected at about 2 million with costs driven by acuity and medical inflation. He also said the budget includes no collective bargaining agreements and no state tax changes. Senators supporting the budget praised its investments in education, local aid, homelessness prevention, public health, libraries, and housing, while minority leaders and others stressed the need for fiscal discipline, transparency, and further work on affordability and municipal support. The Senate also received a House message on House No. 5316, which the House had nonconcurred in, and a conference committee was appointed on the disagreement.

Transcript Highlights:

• The proposals I made tonight represent the beginning of our last chapter working together.
• I'm hopeful this chapter will be as productive as the previous seven.
• </c><00:59:38.440><c> I'm</c> last chapter working together. I'm last chapter working together.
• I'm hopeful<00:59:38.960><c> this</c><00:59:39.120><c> chapter</c><00:59:39.520><c> will</c><00:59:39.680
• ><c> be</c><00:59:39.800><c> as</c> hopeful this chapter will be as hopeful this chapter will be as productive

Transcript Highlights:

• On page 3 and page 9, we just exempted programmable money so we could give it a chapter all by itself
• programmable money unlawful acts and practices: It shall be a violation of the provisions of this chapter
• And that's what we put in there: It shall be a violation of the provisions of this chapter to require
• general definitions for the UCC and then specifically in secured transactions, which is, you know, Chapter
• 28... ...transactions, which is, you know, Chapter 28, or Title 28, Chapter 9, we've removed programmable

Committee: Senate Commerce and Human Resources

Transcript Highlights:

• ,</c><00:59:32.240><c> which</c><00:59:32.559><c> allows</c><00:59:33.040><c> the</c> Statutes um chapter
• 21, which allows the Statutes um chapter 21, which allows the House<00:59:34.079><c> or</c><00:59:34.400
• 01:15:35.120><c> under</c> under our statutory authority under under our statutory authority under chapter
• 36.000><c> Hoy</c><01:15:36.560><c> statutes</c><01:15:37.280><c> and</c><01:15:37.520><c> to</c> chapter
• 21 Hoy statutes and to chapter 21 Hoy statutes and to investigate<01:15:38.320><c> the</c><01:15:38.560

Transcript Highlights:

• Re-engrossed Senate Bill 2390 is a bill for an act to create three new sections to Chapter 54-40.1 of
• Engrossed Senate Bill 297 is a bill for an act creating and enacting a new section of Chapter 54-60 of
• House Bill 1361 is a bill for an act to create a new section of chapter 12.1-41 of the North Dakota Century
• Re-engrossed House Bill 1476 is a bill for an act to create a new section of chapter 15.1-02 of the North
• Section of chapter 15.1-02 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to the assessments of all public

Summary: The House convened with prayer, pledge, and roll call, establishing a quorum. It then took up a series of appropriations and policy bills, with the most extensive debate centered on Senate Bill 2025, the Department of Veterans Affairs budget. The House approved amendments that shifted governance of the department and veterans’ home from ACOVA to the governor, citing concerns about ACOVA’s salary-setting actions and broader appropriation oversight. Members opposed to the change argued ACOVA had studied compensation and acted within its role. The amended bill passed 57-34, and the final bill passed 69-22 with the emergency clause carrying. The House also passed Senate Bill 2001, the legislative branch budget, which funds the 2027 session, legislative staff, chamber upgrades, IT improvements, and salary adjustments for legislative leaders; the bill passed 62-29, but the emergency clause failed. Senate Bill 2019, the Career and Technical Education budget, passed 82-10 with emergency clause. Senate Bill 2021, the Information Technology Department budget, passed 75-17 after discussion of data center migration, service automation, mainframe transition, ERP study, and DPI’s move from PowerSchool to Infinite Campus. Other measures passed included Senate Bill 2228 for rural grocery store sustainability grants, Senate Bill 2390 creating a rural catalyst community grant program, Senate Bill 2188 adjusting the Clean Sustainable Energy Authority, and Senate Bill 2265 authorizing a veterans national cemetery grant and line of credit with added reporting safeguards. Several House bills returned from the Senate were concurred in and then passed, including House Bill 1361 on mandatory minimum sentences for human trafficking offenders, House Bill 1017 for the Game and Fish Department, House Bill 1588 on firearms and dangerous weapons provisions, House Bill 1429 on harassment and stalking involving robots, House Bill 1591 on county fair resiliency grants, House Bill 1537 on service agreement protection for water projects, House Bill 1203 on edible medical marijuana products, and House Bill 1027 transferring administration of the State Fire and Tornado Fund from the Insurance Commissioner to OMB. The House also rejected a motion to reconsider Senate Bill 2307, which dealt with library materials and obscenity-related restrictions, by a vote of 48-51. In addition, the chamber appointed conference committees on several House and Senate measures where concurrence had failed, and laid over Senate Bill 2340 for two legislative days.

Transcript Highlights:

• 40, Section 157 of Chapter 140.
• 40, Section 157 of Chapter 140.
• 40, Section 157 of Chapter 140.
• There's a backstop to all of this, as I mentioned: Section 157 of Chapter 140.
• Chapter 140, Section 157 says that the housing authority shall not be required to allow a pet that has

Transcript Highlights:

• House: House Bill 5547, extending the time frame for the issuance of licenses granted pursuant to Chapter
• House Bill 5547, extending the time frame for the issuance of licenses granted pursuant to Chapter 46
• reading of the bills: an act extending the time frame for the issuance of licenses granted pursuant to Chapter

Transcript Highlights:

• Includes Chapter 69 relating to the Idaho Anti-Cam Quarter Piracy Act, Title Chapter 77 related to the
• From what we could tell, Chapter 77 related to the Motion Picture Fair Bidding Act.
• questions that may have brought, but this bill is just a couple paragraphs long and repeals those three chapters

Committee: House Judiciary, Rules and Administration

Transcript Highlights:

• new limitation on claims and causes of action against appraisal professionals and companies from Chapter
• 18.140, which is the Real Estate Appraiser Act, and from the chapter of law regulating appraisal management
• companies into Chapter 4.16, which is the chapter of law that includes a number of other statutes of

Bills: HB2483 , HB2477 , HB2274 , HB2394 , HB2624 , HB2240

Committee: House Consumer Protection & Business

Keywords: data broker, registry, consumer protection, privacy, data regulation, real estate, appraisal, business operations, regulatory compliance, email regulation, commercial communications, data privacy, electronic mail, public safety, insurance fraud, law enforcement, crime, penalties, real estate transactions, nonprofit

Transcript Highlights:

• It also proposes changes to several sections of Chapter 943 to clarify the duties and responsibilities
• It amends various sections of Chapter 943 to clarify that curriculum is approved by the Criminal Justice
• It also proposes changes to several sections of Chapter 943 to clarify the duties and responsibilities
• It amends various sections of Chapter 943 to clarify that curriculum is approved by the Criminal Justice

Summary: The Appropriations Committee on Criminal and Civil Justice heard and approved several bills. SB 504 and its related public records bill SB 506, both by Sen. Burgess, would allow local governments to authorize code enforcement officers to use body cameras under standardized policies and create a public records exemption for certain recordings; members raised questions about disclosure and when cameras may be used, and both bills were reported favorably. The committee also approved CS/SB 32 and SB 210 by Sen. Sharif, creating a new injunction for protection against serious violence by a known person and extending public records protections to petitions under that injunction category. Supporters included law enforcement, women’s advocacy groups, and justice organizations. The committee then favorably reported SB 676 by Sen. Arrington, which creates a graduated penalty structure for adults who involve minors in certain animal cruelty offenses and increases penalties related to fighting or baiting animals. SB 432 by Sen. Yarbrough was also approved; it adds certain concentrated 7-OH to Schedule I, exempts FDA-approved veterinary xylazine products, creates penalties for candy-like xylazine products, and establishes trafficking penalties for xylazine. Sen. Osgood spoke in support of the bill, emphasizing the dangers of adulterated street drugs for people with substance use disorder. Finally, the committee approved SB 524 by Sen. Simon, which makes a series of technical and administrative changes affecting the Medical Examiners Commission, district medical examiner appointments, the Criminal Justice Standards and Training Commission, and notice procedures for administrative complaints. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement appeared in support. All measures were reported favorably, and the committee adjourned without objection.

Transcript Highlights:

• to engage in the process to determine an accommodation may be a discriminatory practice under this chapter
• </c><00:05:10.080><c> In</c><00:05:10.280><c> what</c> practice under this chapter.
• In what practice under this chapter.
• ><00:05:16.080><c> this</c> discriminatory practice under this discriminatory practice under this chapter
• chapter? chapter?

Transcript Highlights:

• You can see across the different chapters there are different levels of funding moving out the door.
• I'll be giving a brief overview of the water-related chapter in the climate bond.
• I'm going to provide a brief overview of the coastal resilience chapter of the climate bond.
• Just a couple quick comments: we would just note for you that, relative to the other chapters of the
• proposition, bond spending is not happening at the same pace in the coastal resilience chapter.

Transcript Highlights:

• But I do have an individual, a chapter official, who's here to add his insight to this. Excellent.
• So when chapters are requesting funding in this sense, then they don't have access to the money that's
• Chairman, Senators, Sandy Barr, I'm the director for Sierra Club's Grand Canyon chapter, which is the
• chapter, and we are opposed to Senate Bill 1419.
• So in this case, a chapter request—has that ever been provided? Has that ever been provided? Mr.

Committee: Senate Senate Natural Resources Committee of Reference

Summary: The committee heard and advanced several appropriation and policy bills. SB 1488 would appropriate $600,000 for a workforce development study on coal-impacted communities in northern Arizona, especially areas affected by the closure of Navajo Generating Station and related coal operations; supporters described it as a needed transition study, and it received a do-pass recommendation. SB 1523 would provide $340,000 to the Navajo Nation for the Ganado waterline pipeline project serving 235 homes; testimony emphasized long-standing lack of safe drinking water, and the bill also received a do-pass recommendation. SB 1041 would appropriate $500,000 to the Arizona Trail Fund; supporters highlighted the trail’s statewide recreational and cultural value, and it passed with a do-pass recommendation. SB 1447 would extend the groundwater withdrawal fee moratorium and related Pinal AMA fund provisions through 2033; irrigation district representatives said the extension would help maintain infrastructure amid Colorado River shortages, and it was also recommended do-pass. The committee also considered several regulatory bills. SB 1445 would let smaller cities and towns use approved on-site bacteriological testing equipment and limit required sampling frequency for certain ADEQ permits; the sponsor said it would save small towns money, while some members raised concerns about limiting sampling during discharge events, but the bill still received a do-pass recommendation. SB 1580 would appropriate $2.545 million for a statewide fire incident management platform for fire and law enforcement agencies; supporters said it would improve accountability, information sharing, and interoperability, while one member objected to the targeted funding approach, and the bill passed on a 5-3 vote. SB 1418 would streamline siting and permitting for small modular nuclear reactors in smaller counties, especially when co-located with large industrial users; supporters argued it would help energy reliability and rural economic development, while opponents warned it would weaken local review and environmental safeguards, and it passed 5-3. The committee took up two bills involving consumer protections and access. SB 1419 would add inspection and disclosure requirements for rooftop solar installations and restrict sales claims about estimated savings; supporters said it responded to consumer complaints about roof damage and misleading sales practices, while opponents argued it would burden rooftop solar and restrict speech. After extensive testimony, including from county officials, former ROC leadership, and solar industry representatives, the bill received a do-pass recommendation on a 6-2 vote. SB 1363 would create a rural opportunity initiative to issue additional marijuana-related licenses for underserved rural communities; supporters said it would improve access and reduce illicit-market activity, while opponents argued the bill was confusing and could expand licenses too broadly. The committee ultimately recommended the bill do pass on an 8-0 vote, with members noting possible amendments before floor consideration.

Transcript Highlights:

• Evgenia Spears on behalf of the Sierra Club Lone Star Chapter for the bill, is that correct? Yes.
• I'm with the Coastal Bend chapter of the Surfrider Foundation.
• And the chapter for biosolids is Chapter 312.
• Sure, so the Fertilizer Act falls under Chapter 16.63 of the Texas Agricultural Code.
• Chapter 63.

Bills: HB1341 , HB1674 , HB4028 , SB2321

Committee: House Environmental Regulation

Keywords: hydrogen sulfide, public health, environmental regulation, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, ground level concentrations, emissions limit, emissions limits, ground-level concentrations, air quality, PFAS, agriculture, environmental protection, health risks, criminal offense, chemical regulation, preproduction plastic, water quality, pollution control, industrial waste, emissions

Transcript Highlights:

• The only chapter that I've read carefully is the education chapter.
• I have some quibbles with some of it, but I wrote none of the words that are in that chapter.
• But I wrote none of the words that are in that chapter.
• Again, I agree with most of what's in that chapter.
• The chapter that I was asked to write is: What can trustees do?

Committee: Senate Appropriations Committee on Higher Education

Summary: The committee first heard a confirmation from UCF trustee reappointee Mr. Christie, who described his background in medical devices and prior board service and said he wanted to help UCF strengthen its financial foundation, workforce alignment, and engineering and technology pipeline. Members asked about UCF’s direction, and he emphasized the university’s role in producing engineers and supporting Florida’s space and technology sectors. The committee then moved to the higher education budget for fiscal year 2025-26, which was presented as an $11.5 billion total budget including local funds and focused heavily on workforce education, nursing, agriculture technology, tutoring, student aid, and university initiatives. Chair Harrell highlighted increases for school district workforce education, Florida College System operations, career and technical education grants, the GATE program, nursing education through USF’s Florida Center for Nursing, UF/IFAS rural and agricultural programs, UCF’s Community School Grant Program, UF’s literacy and tutoring initiatives, autism and neurodevelopment services, full funding for major scholarship programs, and $250 million for state universities through the Board of Governors. Senator Davis asked about line grant flexibility, and Harrell said a conforming bill would address the details. The budget proposal was adopted as a recommendation to the full Appropriations Committee, with staff authorized to make technical corrections. The committee then took up a series of confirmations, beginning with Florida State University reappointee Peter Collins, who emphasized his long FSU ties, leadership on the board, and goal of keeping FSU on a path toward top-10 status and AAU membership. Rebecca Matthews, a new University of West Florida appointee, discussed her education-related volunteer work, Florida Education Foundation service, and interest in supporting UWF’s continued excellence; senators questioned her on Title IX and she said she would support student protections and compliance. Rachel Moyah, another UWF appointee, highlighted her education, school board experience, and priorities of student safety, fiscal discipline, and workforce readiness; she also said she would comply with Title IX and other applicable rules. Ashley Ross, also nominated to UWF, said she would focus on university advancement, military ties, cybersecurity, civil engineering, and strong governance, and agreed that Title IX protections should be preserved and advanced. The most extensive questioning came during the confirmation of Adam Kessel, a UWF appointee and Heritage Foundation fellow, who was asked about prior writings on privatizing public universities, his comments about the GI Bill, and his views on free speech and Project 2025. Kessel said he did not recommend privatizing Florida universities, clarified that his comments about the GI Bill and over-enrollment were about broader higher education policy, and said he supports veterans and the GI Bill. He described his higher education work as focused on civic education, accreditation, student success, tenure, and free speech, and said trustees should improve campus culture through policies, training, and institutional neutrality. Public testimony on UWF was sharply divided: former UWF leaders and community members warned that the new slate of trustees and their vote to make Scott Yenor chair had chilled donations, enrollment, and community trust, while a James Madison Institute representative praised Kessel’s scholarship and thoughtful approach. The committee also heard from FAMU reappointment Belvin Perry, who cited his judicial career and board service and said his goal is to support student success, retain strong faculty and staff, and help FAMU continue rising in national standing. Finally, the committee began hearing from remote appointees, including UCF nominee Mark Philburn, who emphasized his construction, affordable housing, and higher education board experience, and FSU nominee Peter Jones, who described his finance and investment background and long service to FSU boards and committees. The last nominee heard before the transcript ended was Florida Gulf Coast appointee Paul Applegarth, whose audio issues delayed his remarks; he began by noting his prior federal confirmation, military service, and GI Bill-supported education.

Transcript Highlights:

• My sweet, sweet sister, Shea Collier from the Columbia Alumni Chapter.
• President of the Kansas City, Missouri Alumni Chapter.
• My chapter president, Shalada Scales Ferguson, of the St. Louis Metropolitan Alumni Chapter.
• Louis Alumni Chapter, my home chapter.
• Issa Smith is the president of the Alpha Omega Chapter for St. Louis Collegiate. Home chapter.

Transcript Highlights:

• Cecilia Palm, Hawaii Care Association of America, Hawaii Chapter, in support.
• Cecilia Palm, Home Care Association of America Hawaii Chapter, in support.
• Cecilia Palm, Home Care Association of America Hawaii Chapter, in support.
• Cecilia Palm, Home Care Association of America Hawaii Chapter, in support.
• Cecilia Palm, Home Care Association of America Hawaii Chapter, in support.

Committee: Senate Health and Human Services

Summary: The Health and Human Services committee hearing opened with notice that the meeting was being streamed and could reconvene later if technical problems forced an abrupt end. The chair also announced a one-minute testimony limit and proceeded through several bills, taking mostly written and oral support testimony and asking limited questions. No votes were taken in the portion provided. HB 1626, relating to youth penalties, drew strong support from the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, youth advocates, the ACLU, the Department of Education, and others. Testifiers said financial sanctions on youth are ineffective, disproportionately burden Native Hawaiian youth, and function as poverty penalties; they urged replacing fines with community service, restorative practices, and ʻāina-based programs, and eliminating uncollectible legacy debt. The chair moved on after no member questions. HB 1643, relating to pharmacy, was discussed with support from the Hawaii Pharmacists Association, Kaiser, the Board of Pharmacy, independent pharmacies, and PBM representatives. Testimony focused on amendment language, audit procedures, HIPAA concerns, and the need for flexibility for small island pharmacies. HB 1668, relating to Medicaid, received broad support from disability advocates and the Department of Human Services; witnesses said CMS had already approved the underlying state plan amendment removing income and asset limits for certain workers with disabilities, but they wanted the protection codified in law to preserve it long term. The chair asked whether codification was necessary and was told it would not be harmful and would help ensure continuity if federal policy changed. The committee then heard HB 1550 on drug paraphernalia and syringe access, with support from Shipta and the Department of Health; testimony emphasized preserving flexibility for the statewide syringe access program to respond to emerging drugs like xylazine. HB 1974, relating to health, was presented as a planning measure for hearing loss; testifiers said Hawaii lacks a comprehensive hearing-loss plan and that the bill would fund a state planning process, not direct services. HB 1858 on vital statistics drew support from clinicians and medical organizations, who said better data on spontaneous fetal deaths is needed and that the term used in the bill is standard medical and CDC terminology. HB 1871 and HB 1966 also received support, with HB 1966’s EMS special fund prompting discussion about the cigarette-tax revenue source; the chair questioned the nexus to EMS, and the Department of Health said the revenue currently funds the special fund and there is no alternative funding stream.