Keywords: Appropriations - Room 216, 20 January, 2025; 1:30 PM, 925, all

Keywords: Appropriations - Room 210; 16 January, 2025: 1:00 PM, 925, all

Keywords: Appropriations - Room 216, 16 January, 2025; 8:30 AM, 925, all

Keywords: Appropriations - Room 216, 14 January, 2025; 1:30 PM, 925, all

Keywords: Appropriations - Room 210; 14 January, 2025: 9:00 AM, 925, all

Keywords: Appropriations - Room 216, 14 January, 2025; 1:30 PM, 925, all

Keywords: Appropriations - Room 216, 14 January, 2025; 10:30 AM, 925, all

Keywords: Appropriations - Room 210, 9 January, 2025: 9:30 AM, 925, all

Keywords: Appropriations - Room 216, 9 January, 2025; 10:30 AM, 925, all

Keywords: Appropriations - Room 216, 8 January, 2025; 3:00 PM, 925, all

Keywords: Appropriations - Room 216, 8 January, 2025; 1:00 PM, 925, all

Bills: SB2057

Keywords: immigration enforcement, sanctuary policy, detainer, ICE, federal immigration authorities, 8 U.S.C. 1357(g), 8 U.S.C. 1373, 8 U.S.C. 1644, deportation, undocumented immigrants, noncitizen, migrant rights, local police cooperation, law enforcement cooperation, hold request, judicial warrant, probable cause, civil immigration enforcement, county police, state police

Summary: The Judiciary Committee met on Thursday, March 5, for a series of decision-making agendas and considered a long list of Senate bills. Early measures included SB 2151, which clarifies state and local authority during emergencies and revises the definition of “emergency”; the committee agreed to restore the broader, long-used definition and add a sunset date, then passed the bill with amendments. SB 3055, concerning false impersonation of an employee organization representative, was amended to remove liquidated damages and passed. Several technical or conforming bills also advanced, including SB 3067, SB 3077, SB 3131, SB 3134, SB 3144, SB 3152, SB 3154, and SB 3249, with most passed with technical amendments or unamended; some members noted reservations on SB 3249. The committee also took up bills affecting public safety, health, and education. SB 3083 was amended to narrow notice requirements for protective orders involving military-affiliated individuals to a designated military security force, and SB 3118 on the Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children passed as is. SB 3134 modernized emergency medical services statutes, while another SB 3134 item addressed dangerous intoxication and civil protective custody. SB 3262, requiring the Hawaii State Teachers Board to submit nominees to the Board of Education, was amended to include a defective effective date. SB 3315, allowing a one-time medical cannabis purchase while registration is pending, was also amended to a delayed effective date and passed. A substantial portion of the meeting focused on law enforcement and immigration-related proposals. SB 3322, which restricts facial coverings by law enforcement, requires visible identification, and sets agency policies on cooperation with federal immigration enforcement, was amended to remove an affirmative defense, make the penalty a misdemeanor, and incorporate exceptions for undercover work and related preparation; it passed with one no vote. SB 3251, barring certain former ICE and Border Patrol personnel from employment in specified state agencies, was narrowed to apply to those with more than 90 cumulative days of such work during a defined period and passed with reservations. SB 2057, a reconsideration measure limiting use of state personnel and funds to assist federal immigration agents beyond their authority, was further amended to clarify definitions, protect First Amendment activity, and preserve cooperation required by federal law; it then passed without objection. The committee adjourned after adopting each measure considered.

Transcript Highlights:

• In the past, legislators have used quorum breaks to raise political funds, creating concerns that members
• This proposed legislation will help discourage financial gain from unexcused absences.
• House Bill 18 strikes a careful balance between the right of a legislative minority to resist legislation
• No contributions or expenditures beyond the amount of a single day's legislative per diem.
• Senator, we could ask, uh, legislative counsel.

Bills: HB18

Keywords: HB 18, Texas Legislature, quorum break, quorum-busting, legislative walkout, absent legislators, political contributions, campaign finance, political expenditures, legislative caucus, specific-purpose committee, Texas Ethics Commission, civil penalty, show cause order, district court, Fifteenth Court of Appeals, session fundraising, travel lodging food expenses, legislative session, compelled attendance

Transcript Highlights:

• There's a premise that, uh, legislators shouldn't benefit from their position.
• And so I would look at this along the lines of you have legislators that are.
• that are during the legislative session, it's all of us.
• So that's the legislative continuance.
• The intent of this legislation is to prohibit legislators from financially benefiting from breaking quorum

Bills: HB18

Keywords: HB 18, Texas Legislature, quorum break, quorum-busting, legislative walkout, absent legislators, political contributions, campaign finance, political expenditures, legislative caucus, specific-purpose committee, Texas Ethics Commission, civil penalty, show cause order, district court, Fifteenth Court of Appeals, session fundraising, travel lodging food expenses, legislative session, compelled attendance

Transcript Highlights:

• amendment appropriates I think a<00:04:05.920><c> little</c><00:04:06.079><c> bit</c><00:04:06.239><
• </c><00:13:24.760><c> and</c> name is John Pard I the legislative and name is John Pard I the legislative
• </c><00:30:45.080><c> administrative</c> recommending legislative administrative recommending legislative
• </c><00:40:50.079><c> in</c> deed uh with the amount appropriated in deed uh with the amount appropriated
• </c><01:08:44.679><c> um</c> agan roll call has been requested um agan roll call has been requested um

Bills: HF8, HF1416

Keywords: wetlands, environmental review, permitting efficiency, Pollution Control Agency, construction permits, environmental impact statements, local government, business regulation, environmental assessments, HF1416, relocation grants, economic development, business relocation, site selection, business incentives, grant extension, appropriation extension, DEED, Department of Employment and Economic Development, request for proposals

Transcript Highlights:

• House Appropriations Committee will come to order for the purpose of a public hearing.
• A fiscal note has been requested but is not yet available.
• This is agency request legislation that we worked with Rep. Callan on.
• This is agency request legislation that we worked with Rep. Callan on.
• The background's been well covered here, the legislation that you all passed last year.

Bills: HB2251, HB2254, HB2385

Keywords: climate change, commitment act, emission reductions, sustainability, environmental policy, HB 2254, Washington, Health Care Authority, partnership access line, psychiatric consultation line, first approach skills training, behavioral health, mental health, assessment, administrative costs, health insurance, health carriers, self-funded plans, multiple employer welfare arrangement, MEWA

Transcript Highlights:

• I think the amount of money of 1.5 is appropriate. This country has...
• Okay, the next one is the deficiency appropriation for the Uniform Laws, a $40,000 to $45,000 appropriation
• Deficiency appropriation for the Uniform Laws, a $40,000, $45,000 appropriation from—I'm not sure, was
• . ...that were requested.
• Yeah, because we are going to appropriate the $40 million.

Bills: HB1015

Keywords: Office of Management and Budget, OMB appropriation, state budget, biennial appropriation, North Dakota Century Code, state facility maintenance fund, capital improvements, Capitol building fund, governor's residence, state hospital, mental health hospital, Bank of North Dakota, line of credit, strategic investment and improvements fund, SIIF, new and vacant FTE pool, state employee pay raise, performance-based compensation, guardianship grants, community corrections

Summary: The Government Operations Division met to review proposed amendments to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) budget, with the chair noting the bill would not be voted out that day and would likely be held until the following week for any technical corrections. Members discussed a series of amendments, generally without objection: a $1.5 million appropriation for a pro-life education committee; a $40,000–$45,000 deficiency appropriation for Uniform Laws travel costs; creation of a state deferred maintenance fund with $40 million for deferred maintenance projects; adding the state hospital project to the OMB budget with $200 million from the Strategic Investment and Improvements Fund (SIF) and $85 million from a line of credit, plus construction management oversight; $110,114 for custodial equity increases; $1 million for a retirement incentive pool; $3 million to cover a shortfall in the new and vacant FTE funding pool; and $4 million for space reconfiguration and rent/moving costs. Prairie Public Broadcasting was also discussed, with a suggestion to change the purpose from local programming to infrastructure and set the amount at $850,000, likely as one-time SIF funding. The committee also heard a heads-up about a possible $180,000 federal reimbursement issue tied to an education grant, but no action was taken on that item. The committee further discussed a broader amendment to reduce the transfer from the social services fund to the human services fund from $250 million to $232 million, based on DHS needs and available carryover funding. Members also agreed to add emergency clauses to the capital assets, deferred maintenance, and moving/space reconfiguration items. The chair indicated Brady could begin incorporating the discussed changes into a consolidated amendment, while noting there could still be additional items next week. Staff also reported the SIF balance was about $280 million positive, though some removed agency items, including airport grants, would need to be considered. The committee then reconsidered its earlier action on House Bill 1581 and restored it to its original form at $100,000 after hearing that the funding would support tribal tourism-related events tied to upcoming 2026 celebrations and the Theodore Roosevelt Library opening. A motion for do pass on the bill as originally introduced passed unanimously by roll call. Finally, the committee postponed action on another bill until later that day, directing that revised materials be distributed and that the item be taken up in the afternoon session.

Transcript Highlights:

• I think this is great legislation and very much necessary.
• All will be included, and that's in the original legislation.
• This is an employee association request. And I'm open for questions. Move for adoption.
• But if things change, I can't speak for what future legislators may or may not introduce.
• Are there any further questions on this legislation?

Bills: HB3620, HB3942, HB3279, HB3378, HB3383, HB3413, HB3414, HB3415, HB3420, HB3130

Keywords: 2030 census, complete count committee, census outreach, decennial census, enumeration, population count, hard-to-count populations, hard-to-enumerate areas, State Data Center, Oklahoma Census, multilingual campaign, public outreach, school-based outreach, community organizations, minority groups, ethnic minorities, language minorities, self-response rate, census awareness, federal census

Transcript Highlights:

• I think this is great legislation and very much necessary.
• Can you explain to us how this legislation is going to improve our health outcomes, even by one?
• But if things change, I can't speak for what future legislators may or may not introduce as legislation
• Are there any further questions on this legislation?
• So I appreciate this legislation. I encourage you to vote for this committee.

Bills: HB3620, HB3942, HB3279, HB3378, HB3383, HB3413, HB3414, HB3415, HB3420, HB3130

Keywords: 2030 census, complete count committee, census outreach, decennial census, enumeration, population count, hard-to-count populations, hard-to-enumerate areas, State Data Center, Oklahoma Census, multilingual campaign, public outreach, school-based outreach, community organizations, minority groups, ethnic minorities, language minorities, self-response rate, census awareness, federal census

Summary: The committee first handled housekeeping, announcing that House Bill 4276 would be laid over until the third week and moving Representative Lawson’s bill to the top of the agenda. HB 3620, creating a 2030 census complete count committee, was presented and passed by due pass. HB 3942, which updates the state’s tax incentive evaluation process by directing reports to LOFT and requiring comparisons to other incentives and strategic economic goals, also passed due pass after brief discussion about whether all tax incentives, including the parental choice tax credit, would be reviewed. Representative Pfeiffer presented HB 3279, a follow-up public corruption measure that clarifies conflict-of-interest disclosure requirements and sets a $25,000 threshold for certain purchase orders; it passed due pass. After Vice Chair Woolley took over, HB 3378 passed 7-0 to stagger OCAST board terms after all members had expired at once. HB 3383, setting a 14-hour limit on required work in a 24-hour period for state employees with emergency carve-outs, passed 6-1 after questions about law enforcement and emergency-service exceptions. Several transparency and procurement bills from Representative Strom also passed unanimously: HB 3413 requires agencies to report outsourced jobs and consulting outcomes, HB 3414 adds accounting-system reporting for contract type and invoice location for intangible assets, HB 3415 requires subcontractor reporting and post-contract assessments, and HB 3420 requires justification for sole-source purchases and limits pilot or proof-of-concept contracting to 12 months. The most contentious measure was HB 313 by Representative Kevin West, which restricts state agencies, employees, contractors, and public institutions from using state funds to perform, facilitate, refer, or encourage gender transition procedures. Opponents argued it intrudes into private medical decisions, could affect adults as well as minors, and may worsen health outcomes or create vague enforcement problems; supporters said it protects minors from harmful, life-altering procedures and prevents state dollars from supporting them. After extended debate, the committee passed HB 313 by a 7-2 vote. The meeting then adjourned, with one more committee meeting announced for the following week.

Transcript Highlights:

• It strikes a careful balance between the right of a legislative minority to resist legislation and the
• Those funds could not be spent by that quorum-breaking legislator on...
• But I, as a legislator, still believe in incrementalism.
• It makes clear that when a legislator abandons.
• Senator, we could ask legislative council.

Bills: HB18

Keywords: HB 18, Texas Legislature, quorum break, quorum-busting, legislative walkout, absent legislators, political contributions, campaign finance, political expenditures, legislative caucus, specific-purpose committee, Texas Ethics Commission, civil penalty, show cause order, district court, Fifteenth Court of Appeals, session fundraising, travel lodging food expenses, legislative session, compelled attendance