Transcript Highlights:

• Our removal being necessary to prevent imminent physical harm. D.C.Y.F.
• I'm Vicki Ibarra, Assistant Secretary for Partnership Prevention and Services.
• I'm Vicki Ibarra, Assistant Secretary for Partnership Prevention and Services.
• And we don't do a lot as much on the prevention end or the primary as I would like, I know.
• And we don't do a lot as much on the prevention end or the primary as I would like, I know.

Summary: The Senate Human Services Committee held a work session on child welfare dependency, focusing on implementation of HB 1227 (Keeping Families Together) and SB 6109 (the fentanyl response bill), along with related data and system updates. DCYF first reviewed the dependency process, explaining intake, shelter care, fact-finding, disposition, and review hearings, and emphasized that removal standards are separate from service provision and that children may be in-home or out-of-home at different stages. DCYF said 1227 raised the removal threshold to imminent physical harm and strengthened kin placement, with nearly 60% of children now placed with relatives or suitable others. The department also said 6109 directs courts to give great weight to fentanyl’s lethality and added legal liaisons to support staff in court preparation. DCYF presented data showing that entries into out-of-home care declined after 1227 but rose again after 6109, returning close to pre-1227 levels. The agency also reported a sharp increase in reviewable critical incidents in 2022-2025, especially near-fatalities, which it linked to the opioid and fentanyl crisis, parental stress, and system complexity. DCYF said it has responded with statewide Safe Child Councils, staff consultations, hotspot monitoring, and additional training, and noted that some contracted services authorized under 6109 were not implemented because of fiscal constraints. Senators asked about where children are in the process, who participates in court, the timing of data releases, age breakdowns, and geographic hotspots. Advocates and lived-experience witnesses from LCYC and a family intervention clinic argued that 1227 has not prevented courts from removing children when necessary and said the law appropriately requires the state to show a causal link between home conditions and risk. They said 6109 appropriately highlights fentanyl’s danger, but stressed that the larger issue is lack of prevention and treatment resources, inconsistent county-by-county practice, and insufficient supports such as inpatient beds, family treatment, housing, transportation, and third-party safety plan participants. A parent ally described how early support, peer guidance, and kin placement helped her achieve recovery and stability after losing parental rights in an earlier case. The committee also heard an update on SB 6068 from the Administrative Office of the Courts and K Implementation and Evaluation. The report identified 15 dimensions of relational permanency and child well-being, found that some data already exist while other measures need development, and recommended a phased data collection plan, a restored data-sharing agreement between AOC and DCYF, and a standing cross-agency work group. AOC said its dependency data system lapsed when the prior agreement expired in June 2025 and needs to be rebuilt. The meeting also included a brief update on bridge housing for youth exiting inpatient treatment, with presenters saying two programs are now open, one in King County and one in Spokane, and a short introduction to juvenile rehabilitation capacity updates before the transcript ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• Looking at Figure 2, within child maltreatment prevention, secondary and tertiary prevention strategies
• The implementation of both a Family First Prevention Services Act (FFPSA) plan and a multi-level response
• But at the same time, the state lacks an approved Family First Prevention Services Act plan...
• And in most cases it's very successful for preventing a child from being removed from care.
• And so that is actually one of the best ways that we can prevent child maltreatment.

Transcript Highlights:

• And it seemed to me the best approach to try to prevent future tragedies was to extend the interlock
• future tragedies uh was try to prevent future tragedies uh was to<00:09:35.600> extend<00:09:
• <00:14:22.480> uh<00:14:22.680> DWI device that we can use to prevent uh DWI device
• that we can use to prevent uh DWI drivers<00:14:24.639> uh<00:14:24.959> prevent<00:14
• from occurring drivers uh prevent them from occurring at<00:14:26.560> all.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And Advocacy at Text4Text, where we prioritize strengthening families to prevent child abuse and neglect
• Text4Text also convenes the Texas Prevention Network, which is made up of over 250 organizations that
• We would like to see something in this bill that prevents them from doing that.
• effort put into this committee, my concern is that the proposed requirements are rigid and would prevent
• Non-compete agreements may prevent physicians from having access to patient lists or records, continuing

Bills: SB397, SB481, SB596, SB760, SB855, SB1195, SB1196, SB1233, SB1257, SB1318, SB1368, SB1388, SB1398, SB1524, SB1558, SB1589, SB1677, SB1792, SB2034

Keywords: SB 397, telemedicine, telehealth, teledentistry, remote care, virtual care, consent documentation, patient consent, data collection, data sharing, audio-only telehealth, in-person examination, irreversible medical procedure, health professional regulation, Occupations Code, Texas Health and Human Services, medical records, provider compliance, data privacy, consumer rights

Transcript Highlights:

• the urgent need to explore all available options for strengthening our energy infrastructure. and preventing
• proper data and recommendations on whether expanding cross-border energy infrastructure could help prevent
• We support this bill because it will provide another tool to prevent wildfires like those we had seen
• That's going to prevent fires better than my lawsuits will, and so I think that your comments...
• The policy goals and associated benefits of HB 145 are best summarized by three principles, prevent,

Bills: HB 13, HB143, HB144, HB145, HB366, HB470, HB805, HB912, HB13, HB143, HB144, HB145

Keywords: emergency communication, infrastructure, first responders, grant program, interoperability, Texas Interoperability Council, local governments, HB 143, Texas Railroad Commission, Public Utility Commission of Texas, Natural Resources Code, oil and gas, well site, surface facility, electrical power line, National Electrical Code, NEC, electrical safety, utility disconnect, service disconnection

Transcript Highlights:

• We'd rather, you know, do prevention rather than, you know, treating the symptom here.
• > I prevent pollution, prevent fires, I prevent pollution, prevent fires, I think<01:34:53.240
• We're in support of House Bill 1602, largely from the fire prevention standpoint.
• questions from a fire prevention side. questions from a fire prevention side.
• enforce and prevent illegal junkyards. enforce and prevent illegal junkyards.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• to Future Builders, and it is to educate Medicare beneficiaries for Medicare and Medicaid fraud prevention
• to future builders, and it is to educate Medicare beneficiaries for Medicare and Medicaid fraud prevention
• This is to support the development and delivery of state and community substance misuse prevention and
• They're using master tobacco settlement funds for tobacco prevention and cessation programs across the
• This is for Family First Services and Prevention Act programs.

Summary: The committee met to review a supplemental agenda, procurement rule revisions, methods of finance, discretionary grants, contracts, and a member disclosure. The Office of State Procurement presented rule changes tied to 2025 legislative changes, including Act 782, with updates to sole-source definitions, unrealistic bids, protest requirements, debarment procedures, and recodification references; the committee voted to accept the supplemental agenda and approve the rules. Members also approved eight methods of finance covering university repairs, equipment replacement, property purchase, and capital projects, along with a large slate of discretionary grants for courts, health, DHS, historic preservation, and tobacco prevention programs. The committee then reviewed RFQs and six ratifications. The ratifications included a Workforce Connections payment to ACT WorkKeys, Department of Health costs from an ice-storm-related water leak, a large Department of Public Safety ratification for Motorola’s Arkansas Wireless Information Network upgrade, Veterans Affairs HVAC and medical-service payments, and a UA Little Rock painting contract. The Department of Public Safety ratification drew extended questioning about why the expired Motorola contract had not been renewed sooner and why the issue took months to reach the committee; agency officials said the project was bond-funded, had not been tracked in ASIS, and involved ongoing negotiations and system updates. Despite concerns, the committee approved the ratifications. Members also reviewed a long list of construction, intergovernmental, out-of-state, and in-state contracts, including numerous university, DHS, health, corrections, and state agency agreements. Several contracts were discussed in more detail, including an SAU custodial contract question about sales tax and transparency reporting, and Department of Corrections aerial application contracts for Tucker and Cummins farms, which officials said served separate facilities in different parts of the state. The committee approved the contract lists, reviewed reports, and accepted a disclosure from Representative Andrew Collins regarding his investment interest in a company leasing property to Arkansas Rehabilitation Services before adjourning.

Transcript Highlights:

• It puts in safeguards for poor driving and responds to crashes to prevent a crash from becoming a fatal
• We need a redundant system that is preventative of crashes and is responsive to stop crashes from becoming
• Happen, but something prevented it.
• We're talking about using it to prevent closures. on a highway like I-10.
• They did some summer, spring, and winter wheat and rye for them just to prevent the dust.

Transcript Highlights:

• We would also prioritize preventing massive wildfires by giving Cal Fire $500 million for wildfire prevention
• LGBT services and AIDS prevention that is literally disappearing from many states.
• Gas Fund is putting a billion dollars towards high-speed rail and $200 million towards wildfire prevention
• It lowers healthcare costs by expanding access to preventable care and saving.
• It is rooted in investing in housing and child care and climate and wildfire prevention and public safety

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The innocence of children starts by preventing them from being exposed to inappropriate sex. or suggestive
• That's why they were prevented. 463 464 National Sexual Education Standards goes by NSES.
• school age, and that abstinence from sexual activity before marriage is the most effective way to prevent
• mental health care is essential for students to thrive academically and socially. appointments can prevent
• to easily access the life-saving help they need. been told in school not to use the word suicide prevention

Bills: SB207, SB611, SB920, SB1174, SB1207, SB1325, SB1396, SB1551, SB1619

Keywords: SB 207, Texas Education Code, public school attendance, excused absence, mental health appointment, mental health care, behavioral health, school district, student absenteeism, same-day return, health care professionals, physician certification, religious holy days, court appearance, DFPS, foster care, education policy, student wellness, school mental health, attendance policy

Transcript Highlights:

• parents who have spent time in the system to teach them the connected communication in hopes of preventing
• This team has a specific focus, pretty it preventing secondary This team has a specific focus, pretty
• it preventing secondary traumatic stress and burnout.
• The department is deeply committed to to prevention and diversion services.
• It is a proven to be a vital resource in keeping children stable, preventing unnecessary removals and

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:16:18.160> secrecy, If you truly want to prevent secrecy, If you truly want to prevent
• And this is not just a metro prevent it.
• some form of intervention and prevention some form of intervention and prevention is<01:32:58.680
• prevention prevention and<01:34:38.920> deterrence<01:34:40.120> is<01:34:40.400> really
• without violating statutes that prevent without violating statutes that prevent them<01:43:10.360

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• A lot of prevention work, a little bit of treatment, a little bit of law enforcement.
• 25:00.159> bit<00:25:00.240> of prevention work, a little bit of prevention work, a little
• The initiative was started for farmer suicide prevention, and that took many shapes and forms.
• Kentucky Department of Agriculture Farmer Safety Prevention has been in place.
• was kind of the main course prevention was kind of the main course of<00:37:46.240> action.

Keywords: Meeting Start 00:00:00 Attendance Roll Call 00:00:07 Chair Comments 00:00:36 Approval of Minutes 00:04:01 Volunteers of America 00:04:21 Soil and Water Conservation/Energy and Environment Cabinet 00:14:52 Kentucky Office of Drug Control Policy/Justice & Public Safety Cabinet 00:21:05 Kentucky Department of Agriculture 00:26:01 Early Childhood Advisory Council 00:45:18, 958, all

Summary: The Tobacco Settlement Agreement Fund Oversight Committee met to review how tobacco settlement dollars are being used and to press recipients for detailed information on total funding, administrative versus program spending, and measurable outcomes. The chair emphasized that the committee was not there for general program overviews, but to assess return on investment and whether each program should continue to receive tobacco settlement support. The committee approved the minutes from its December 22, 2025 meeting and then heard presentations from several agencies and organizations. Volunteers of America Mid-States described its southeastern Kentucky restorative justice program, which uses an evidence-based New Zealand model for juvenile cases in nine counties. The group reported tobacco settlement funding of $516,000 in FY24 and $233,500 in FY25, representing about 17% and then about 5% of the program budget, respectively. It said the funding helped expand the program from 13 cases in 2021 to 180 youth served, and cited an independent evaluation showing recidivism of 24.5% compared with 40.4% in AOC data, along with a cost of a little under $20 per day versus detention and other placements. Some members questioned whether the program fit the tobacco settlement funding categories and suggested it might be better supported through other justice-related funding sources. The Energy and Environment Cabinet’s Division of Conservation explained that tobacco funds support $1 million in direct aid to conservation districts and $2 million in cost-share projects for farmers, with 5% of the cost-share appropriation allowed for administration, or about $100,000 in FY26. Officials said the direct-aid line was moved into tobacco funding in 2019, reducing money available for farmer cost-share, and described a multi-year project approval and reallocation process. Senator Webb asked for a more specific breakdown of the $850,000 direct-aid amount, and the cabinet said it would provide that information. The Kentucky Office of Drug Control Policy reported that in FY24 it expended just under $30 million across tobacco funds, general funds, restricted funds, and a one-time federal grant, with less than 2% used for administration. Officials said most tobacco settlement money goes to Kentucky ASAP local boards in all 120 counties, supporting prevention, treatment, and some law enforcement work. The Department of Agriculture then began its presentation, describing strategic investments, loan programs, county funding, administrative costs, and a reported return of about $2.30 for every dollar spent, but the transcript cuts off before that presentation was completed.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:13:36.360> disruptive<00:13:36.920> redundant prevent disruptive redundant prevent
• The upgrade will allow us to redirect flows to our equalization basins, thereby preventing overflows
• These upgrades are necessary to address aging equipment, prevent untreated discharges, and ensure the
• flooding, lift station road access, and access to the road to prevent failures during heavy rains.
• Jet frequently to prevent Jet frequently to prevent clogs<01:06:21.359> which<01:06:21.480

Bills: HF343, HF446, HF448, HF674, HF811, HF832, HF1661, HF1528, HF1536, HF1541, HF1670, HF1438, HF1714, HF1748, HF1835, HF1904, HF1929, HF1942

Keywords: HF343, Chisago County, Shorewood Park Sanitary Sewer District, Rush Lake, sewer extension, wastewater infrastructure, sanitary sewer, treatment pond, sewage treatment, capital investment, bonding bill, state bonds, Public Facilities Authority, local infrastructure, municipal utilities, water quality, sanitation, bond proceeds fund, Minnesota bonding, HF446

Transcript Highlights:

• <03:14:00.080> and just trying to be preventative and just trying to be preventative and proactive
• it weakens New Hampshire's prevention it weakens New Hampshire's prevention and<03:18:31.279>
• I spoke to your prevent suicide deaths.
• to prevent being seriously harmed. to prevent being seriously harmed.
• So, no necessary to prevent an injury.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee heard House Bill 1331, which would allow the town of Derry to incorporate the Derry Cooperative School District as a department of the town through a charter amendment. The prime sponsor and several supporters argued the change would increase local control, streamline overlapping town and school functions, and potentially help align school spending with Derry’s tax cap. Supporters also said Derry is large enough to warrant a structure more like Manchester or Nashua, and one witness cited a 2018 nonbinding Derry ballot question that passed 597 to 547 in favor of seeking authorization for this change. Opposition came from NEA New Hampshire President Megan Tuttle, who said the association and the Derry Education Association opposed the bill because schools are not simply another municipal department and because Derry voters had already rejected merging the district into town government. She argued the state should respect local control and the community’s prior decision. Committee members asked about the scope of the proposed charter change, the role of the school board, and the reported prior vote, and the sponsor clarified that the amendment would be limited to this specific purpose rather than opening the entire charter. The hearing then moved to House Bill 1374, which would change the procedures for withdrawing from a cooperative school district. Representative Mary Murphy said current law gives other cooperative towns too much control over a withdrawing town’s decision, and her bill would remove the requirement for approval by the other towns while raising the withdrawing town’s approval threshold to a supermajority. She pointed to Francis Town’s 2024 withdrawal vote and said the bill was intended to protect students and local decision-making. The sponsor asked for an ought to pass recommendation, and committee members asked follow-up questions about the prior withdrawal vote and the number of voters involved.

Transcript Highlights:

• I've got a constituent who feels like this bill will prevent an existing business from signing up for
• training through FA and served on the hospital emergency Response team while working as an infection prevention
• These comprehensive reviews of suicide deaths can improve suicide prevention strategies by offering deeper
• See why our Oklahomans are killing themselves, how these suicide rates are going up, and how we can prevent
• and put better prevention in.

Bills: HB1411, HB3143, HB3144, HB3901, HCR1019, HB3981, HB4248, HB3194, HB3849, HB4095, HB4302, HB3342, HB3344, HB3287, HB3645, HB3647, HB3930, HB3931, HB1818, HB4454, HB4336

Keywords: True Grit Trail, Oklahoma, tourism, signage, Department of Transportation, state parks, historical sites, economic development, medical marijuana, license transfer, Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority, moratorium, business regulation, commercial grower licenses, licensing restrictions, agriculture, psychological autopsy, mental health, suicide prevention, state health department

Transcript Highlights:

• to wildfires or the Office of Agricultural Law Enforcement clearing roads after a hurricane and preventing
• are working to automate, such as reconciliation of the repair invoices and error recognition and prevention
• are working to automate, such as reconciliation of the repair invoices and error recognition and prevention
• . as a part of the department's department's repair invoices and error recognition and prevention.
• The technology can prevent breakdowns, reduce downtime, and extend vehicle lifespan.

Summary: The Committee on Government Oversight and Accountability met with a quorum and heard several presentations on state fleet management. The Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services described its new fleet tracking rollout using AT&T/GeoTab devices, funded with $804,000, to monitor vehicle location, fuel use, idle time, driver behavior, and maintenance needs in real time. Members asked about whether the system was unique to FDACS and whether it duplicated reporting to the Department of Management Services; the agency said it was still implementing the system and would follow up on those questions. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission presented on its large and diverse fleet, including more than 4,000 assets, and explained that it uses both the statewide FleetWave system and the Samsara telematics platform. FWC said FleetWave is used for monthly reporting and replacement tracking, while Samsara provides real-time location and diagnostics, reducing administrative burden and improving accountability. The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles and Florida Highway Patrol then outlined their fleet operations, emphasizing that most assets support law enforcement, that multiple manual systems create data inaccuracies, and that they are seeking a $750,000 increase to modernize fleet management with telematics, automated receipt processing, and a centralized database to improve safety and efficiency. The committee also considered SPB 7010, which would authorize the Department of Financial Services and local governmental entities to allow post-tax Roth contributions in deferred compensation plans, in addition to existing pre-tax contributions. After a brief explanation, there was no debate or public testimony, and the committee voted to submit the bill as a committee bill. The roll call showed the measure was favorably reported, and the meeting then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• our communities is that the legislation and the money that is actually. needed to help Texans, to prevent
• And not only that, once again we are dealing with a preventive... tragedy.
• Preventable like the deaths from the winter freeze.
• Preventable like the deaths from Hurricane Beryl. All preventable.

Transcript Highlights:

• judges have served to be eligible for appointment as visiting judges from eight years to six years, prevent
• This change conforms the language of the bill with other areas of statute that serve to prevent frivolous
• This prevents situations where a parent voluntarily relinquishes custody to a non-parent in the child's
• It prevents Texas contractors who bid on and perform work at local construction projects from being forced
• Senate Bill 1975 prevents contractors from unfairly forcing Texas contractors to go and litigate in foreign

Bills: SB302, SB1335, SB1734, SB1760, SB1975, SB2127

Keywords: probate court, statutory judge, reimbursement, court costs, court proceedings, judicial assignments, judge assignment, cost reimbursement, judicial expenses, estate management, statutory requirement, court expenses, estates, inheritance, representative duties, court authority, personal representative, real property, deed fraud, title fraud

Summary: The committee heard several probate, family law, judicial, property, and contract-related bills. Senate Bill 1335, relating to decedents’ estates, would remove outdated references to a clerk’s certificate, allow courts to remove personal representatives on their own motion with notice by qualified delivery method, and add independent administrators to provisions that referenced only independent executors; an estate-planning attorney testified in support, and the bill was left pending. Senate Bill 1760, concerning guardianship transfer fees and procedures, was described as setting a $45 filing fee for transferred guardianship cases and clarifying completion and dismissal procedures; it received no testimony and was left pending. Senate Bill 2127 would shorten the eligibility period for retired judges to serve as visiting judges from eight years to six, restrict practice in their assigned region for two years, and require conflict-related certification; it also was left pending without testimony. Senate Bill 302 would shift the cost of a traveling probate judge to the requesting estate or parties rather than the county; one witness registered in favor, no one testified, and the bill was left pending. The committee then considered a committee substitute for Senate Bill 252, which would clarify the parental presumption in conservatorship cases, require non-parents seeking relief against a parent to file an affidavit showing significant impairment to the child if relief is denied, require courts to state specific findings when overcoming the presumption, confirm the clear-and-convincing standard, and clarify that agreed prior orders do not defeat the presumption. The substitute was explained as consensus language from a work group, public testimony was reopened, and the bill was left pending. Senate Bill 1734, on deed fraud, would create a streamlined ex parte process for property owners to have fraudulent deeds declared void, modeled on the fraudulent lien statute; county clerk and title association representatives testified that it would provide a low-cost self-help remedy for a growing problem, and the bill was left pending subject to the chair. Senate Bill 1975 would prevent Texas contractors from being forced to litigate disputes in foreign jurisdictions and require disputes to be handled in the county where the project is located; it was presented as a repeat of a previously vetoed bill and was left pending. Finally, the committee took up a substitute for Senate Bill 1940, concerning transfer-on-death style beneficiary designations for manufactured homes. The substitute would allow one or more beneficiaries instead of only one, transfer the interest to surviving designated beneficiaries who survive by 120 hours, extend the application period for transfer to 365 days, void the designation if not timely filed, and require mailing by certified or registered mail with return receipt requested. The substitute was adopted without objection. The committee then recessed subject to the call of the chair.

Transcript Highlights:

• Second, this bill prevents any state and local government entities from actively prohibiting, restricting
• It prevents violent offenders who should not be here from harming our communities, and in many cases
• is it helps keep our community<00:01:28.200> safe<00:01:28.840> it<00:01:29.000> prevents
• <00:01:29.520> violent community safe it prevents violent community safe it prevents violent

Keywords: 1183, house