Transcript Highlights:

• recent campaigns, uh, recognize that our veteran service organizations, whether it be American Legion or VFW
• So it will run the gamut from very small organizations to VFW American Legion, Vietnam Veterans of America

Transcript Highlights:

• I gave some written testimony, but I just want to say that there are around 280 Legion and VFW posts
• uh around 280 to say that there are uh around 280 Legion<01:54:34.440> and<01:54:34.600> VFW
• posts that involve that Legion and VFW posts that involve that are<01:54:37.120> involved<01:
• I want to point out that the VFW is also in support of it, along with us and Barry Hendrickson from the
• VFW headquarters across the lawn is here to show that.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Sean Golden, VFW, waving in support. William Kelly, waving in support.
• Golden, VFW, waiving in support. William Kelly, waving in support.

Summary: The Judiciary Committee heard a long agenda of bills, beginning with several probate, civil rights, and claims measures. Senators Burgess’s SB 326 on curators of estates was explained as a modernization of probate law; an amendment narrowing the bill was adopted, and the committee reported the bill favorably 10-0 after limited public testimony, including opposition from Ray Contreras. Burgess’s SB 1096, clarifying filing deadlines under the Florida Civil Rights Act, also passed unanimously 11-0. The committee then approved several claims bills, including SB 28 for Reginald Jackson against the City of Lakeland, SB 6 for a child injured after DCF’s handling of abuse allegations, SB 18 for the estate of McKenzie Navarre against the Broward County Sheriff’s Office, SB 26 for the estate of Mark Legata against FDOT, and SB 2 for the estate of Daniel Maudsley against DHSMV, with votes ranging from 10-1 to 11-0 and mostly no debate or opposition. The committee also took up trust and family-law related bills. Leader Berman’s SB 786 created a nonjudicial process for closing uncontested trusts and discharging trustees; after a technical amendment and testimony from Ray Contreras raising notice concerns, it passed 11-0. President Gates’s SB 50 expanded veterans’ courts statewide, drew broad support from veterans’ groups and advocacy organizations, and was reported favorably 11-0. Senator Simon’s SB 538 standardized extracurricular participation rules for public, private, virtual, and homeschool students; after multiple amendments on homeschool eligibility, fees, and coach compensation, it passed 11-0 with support and opposition from education-related groups. President Gates’s SB 1004, aimed at consumer protections in the sale of dogs and cats, also passed unanimously after testimony from humane organizations. The committee then considered broader policy bills. President Pro Tem Brodeur’s SB 1366 on claims against the government proposed raising sovereign immunity caps and adding CPI adjustments; local government, hospital, and school representatives supported the Senate’s lower-cap approach while warning against the House version, and the bill was reported favorably 11-0. Senator Jones’s SB 178 on athletics in public K-12 schools, as amended, would let head coaches provide limited personal support to student-athletes and require reporting of assistance; it passed 10-0. Senator Grohl’s SB 1178 on foreign influence and foreign countries of concern drew extensive supportive testimony from national security witnesses and was reported favorably 11-0 after a technical amendment and withdrawal of another amendment. Finally, SB 1632 on ideologies inconsistent with American principles prompted substantial debate and public testimony over domestic terrorism designations, Sharia law references, due process, and free speech concerns; the committee had not yet completed final action on that bill when the transcript ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• You are with the VFW Department of Texas and yourself, and you're here to testify for the bill.
• So just please keep this in mind and we, the VFW and the veteran community are grateful for this property

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:23:40.880> post,<00:23:41.120> or American Legion, a local VFW post, or American
• Legion, a local VFW post, or another<00:23:41.520> veteran<00:23:41.840> service<00:23
• So they reach out to the American Legion, the VFW, many of the organizations, by the way, who endorsed
• /c><00:53:16.640> many<00:53:16.800> of<00:53:16.880> the American Legion, the VFW
• , many of the American Legion, the VFW, many of the organizations,<00:53:17.680> by<00:53:17.839

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Wednesday, May 20, 2026, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Mitch Fuller, I'm the Legislative Director for VFW.

Bills: SB651, SB897, SB1814, SB1818

Keywords: SB 651, Texas Government Code, Section 434.032, veterans county service office, county veterans services, commissioners court, county executive official, county administration, local government, veterans affairs, veterans benefits, county oversight, reporting structure, public administration, large counties, population 200,000 or more, mental health, veterans, community support, grant program

Transcript Highlights:

• This is our state commander for the VFW, David Stalin.
• We work with our organizations, our Legions, VFWs.
• tap every single resource available to me, and sometimes that will mean going to multiple Legions or VFW
• 01:46:01.599> multiple<01:46:02.080> Legions<01:46:02.520> or<01:46:02.679> VFW
• <01:46:03.440> to mean going to multiple Legions or VFW to mean going to multiple Legions

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Summary: The subcommittee held its first hearing of the session and began with introductions from members and staff, many of whom shared personal or family connections to military service. The chair emphasized that the committee would work respectfully and invited members to raise concerns directly. No votes or formal actions were taken during the opening portion of the meeting. The main substantive item was an overview presentation from the Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs. Commissioner Brad Lindsay described the agency’s mission, statewide footprint, and strategic goals, noting Minnesota has more than 286,000 veterans and that MDVA serves veterans in all 87 counties. He outlined the department’s structure, including eight veterans homes, four state veterans cemeteries, tribal and campus outreach, and the agency’s focus on seamless support, awareness of programs, stewardship of resources, and workforce retention. Deputy Commissioner Ben Johnson then detailed the Programs and Services Division, including federal VA claims assistance, veterans employment and education support, state veterans cemeteries and memorial affairs, the State Soldiers Assistance Program, homelessness prevention, tribal veteran service officers, women veterans services, the Minnesota GI Bill, licensing and certification assistance, the state approving agency, veterans preference, emergency assistance, the LinkVet line, and the Minnesota Service Core partnership with Lutheran Social Services. He also noted the agency’s work on food insecurity and burial services. The presentation was informational only, with no committee action reported.

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, I have two wonderful VFWs in my area, and I wanted to make sure that they were protected because
• Um, I have two wonderful VFWs in my area, and I wanted to make sure that they were protected because

Keywords: Convene 00:00 Calendar/2nd Readings 06:06 Report of Committees 07:10 Orders of the Day 09:21 HB 253 09:35 HB 508 16:18 HCR 44 29:09 HB 436 31:53 Motions, Petitions, and Communications 35:50 Introduction of New Bills and Resolutions 41:19 Recess for ConC/Rules Meeting 43:02 ConC/Rules Report 46:27 Floor Amendments 47:56 Adjournment 48:34, 958, all

Summary: The House convened with an invocation, the Pledge of Allegiance, a quorum present, and approval of the prior day’s journal. Committee reports were read for a range of bills and resolutions, including measures on privacy protection, theft by deception, social work, licensed occupations, an adult workforce diploma pilot program, parole board changes, alternative high school diplomas, campaign finance, child care, mental health treatment, gubernatorial transitions, unclaimed property, and state contracts. Those items received first reading and were placed on the calendar. The chamber then considered House Bill 253, relating to reading and language arts instruction. Supporters said the bill follows the earlier Read to Succeed law by requiring instruction grounded in the science of reading and phasing out the three-cueing system, which they argued encourages memorization rather than phonics. A member from House District 93 opposed the prohibition, saying teachers need flexibility and that some district-approved methods remain useful in classrooms. The House adopted the committee substitute and passed the bill 94-1, then laid a motion to reconsider on the table. House Bill 508, relating to the protection of veterans benefits, was also debated and passed unanimously 93-0. The sponsor said the bill regulates paid veterans-claims services, requires clear disclosures about free services, limits fees, bars certain practices, and adds annual reporting, while exempting attorneys and law firms. Several members spoke in support, citing personal experiences and the need to protect veterans from bad actors, though some also expressed concern about access to help and urged future federal accreditation language. House Concurrent Resolution 44, urging Congress to create a VA accreditation pathway for private claims companies, was adopted 95-0, and House Bill 436, creating a PGA HOPE-related state parks benefit for veterans and active-duty military participants, passed 94-0. At the end of the session, the House received Senate Bill 172, relating to utility fuel adjustments and declaring an emergency, for first reading and return to committee. Members also made announcements about upcoming breakfasts, meetings, guest groups, and other events.

Transcript Highlights:

• Department of Veterans Affairs, the Veteran Service Organizations like VFW, American Legion, DAV, the
• , Veteran Service Organizations like VFW, Veteran Service Organizations like VFW, American<00:19:
• They can get assistance from the VFW, DAV, the American Legion, lawyers who represent the accredited,
• They can get assistance from the VFW, DAV, the American Legion, lawyers who represent the accredited
• They can get assistance from<00:21:28.080> the<00:21:28.440> VFW,<00:21:29.440> DAV,

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• And if he can find somebody close to him at his VFW Hall, at the American Legion, who can say, hey, I
• And if he can find somebody close to him at his VFW Hall, at the American Legion, who can say, hey, I
• Somebody close to him at his VFW Hall, at the American Legion, who can say, “Hey, I heard you’re trying

Bills: HB165, HB175, HB198, HB272, HB457, HB488, HB566, HB603, HB763, HB902, HB909, HB971, HB981, HB1066, HB1125, HB1154, HB1231

Keywords: HB165, lottery proceeds, Lottery Proceeds Fund, Veterans Service Grant Fund, constitutional amendment, veterans, military veterans, veterans' benefits, veterans services, family support, state lottery, education funding, Minimum Foundation Program, problem gambling, compulsive gaming, state treasurer, ballot proposition, constitutional referendum, lottery revenue, Louisiana resident veterans

Transcript Highlights:

• it's out at Fort Snelling or Holman Field, and it's the Southeast Asian veterans or I'm at my local VFW
• it's out at Fort Snelling or Holman Field, and it's the Southeast Asian veterans or I'm at my local VFW
• it's out at Fort Snelling or Holman Field, and it's the Southeast Asian veterans or I'm at my local VFW

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• That is when I turn to charitable gambling operations of our Legion and VFW post to ask to pitch in to
• That is when I turn to charitable gambling operations of our Legion and VFW post to ask to pitch in to
• Christy Jano: That is when I turn to charitable gambling operations of our Legion and VFW post to ask

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: The committee took up House File 169, which would change the tax structure for charitable gambling. Representative Robbins offered and the committee adopted the A1 author’s amendment, described as a technical correction to ensure sports-themed tip boards are not inadvertently taxed under the bill. Robbins then presented the bill as a way to replace the current tiered combined net receipts tax on charitable gambling with a flat 5% rate, arguing charities were being overtaxed and that prior promises of relief had not been fully delivered. Chair Stevenson pushed back on several of Robbins’ factual claims, correcting the record on the status of E-pull tabs, the share of charitable gambling revenue they represent, and the amount of tax relief already enacted in 2023 and 2024. He said E-tabs were not eliminated, that the revenue split between paper pull tabs and E-tabs is closer to 45/55, and that charities had already received a $15 million tax cut plus savings from reduced developer fees. Robbins responded that the changes still significantly reduced revenue and that the bill was intended as a middle-ground approach. Testimony largely came from charitable gambling and veterans groups in support of the bill. Rachel Jenner of Allied Charities of Minnesota said nearly 1,000 charities depend on charitable gambling, cited high taxes and fees, and said many organizations were seeing revenue declines after the new E-pull tab rules took effect. Dr. Christy Jano of the American Legion Department of Minnesota said charitable gambling funds support veterans, youth, and community programs, and that a flat 5% tax would help posts continue those efforts. Members asked about the size of the revenue drops and how much gambling proceeds go to overhead and operating costs; Jenner said the losses varied by organization and that it was too early to know the long-term effect, while Jano said some expenses are used for property taxes and building upkeep. The committee then moved on to additional testimony, including Tim Angstrom, but no final vote on the bill was taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• Inspector General for the VA, the Veterans Service Organizations like the VFW and the DAV, the Attorney

Transcript Highlights:

• slice of life that, if you have come to know what's going on at your local historical society, at the VFW
• Historical<01:10:36.199> Society<01:10:36.719> at<01:10:36.840> the<01:10:36.960> VFW
• <01:10:37.760> or<01:10:37.960> the Historical Society at the VFW or the Historical
• Society at the VFW or the American<01:10:38.480> Legion<01:10:39.239> who's<01:10:39.480

Bills: HF1679, HF1019, HF2321, HF1740, HF2278

Keywords: public television, funding, grants, arts and culture, Minnesota, Minnesota Public Radio, arts education, cultural heritage, community engagement, public radio, community radio, educational grants, community cable, public access, programming funding, civic engagement, ethnic media, public access television, Minnesota Humanities Center, funding appropriation

Transcript Highlights:

• We have the authority under other like raffles and those types of games that are used by VFWs and churches

Bills: SB2065, SB1641, SB1642, SB1589, SB1597, SB1216, SB2173, SB2028, SB2117, SB2127, SB2134, SB2014, SB1805, SB2044, SB1836, SB1380, SB2179, SB1436, SB1558, SB933, SB1651, SB1328, SB1572, SB1966, SB175, SB1475, SB1950, SB2049, SB2052

Keywords: pollinator, state symbols, agriculture, insects, environment, business entities, limited liability company, LLC, foreign LLC, domestic LLC, limited partnership, foreign limited partnership, registered agent, Secretary of State, annual certificate, good standing, certificate of authority, designated office, email address, electronic mail

Transcript Highlights:

• Steps of the Audie Murphy VFW in Bexar County, San Antonio.

Bills: HCR46, HB1389, HB3359, HB5629

Keywords: commemoration, military, navy seal, honor, January 12, Nathan Gage Ingram, military funeral honors, JROTC, veterans, training, grant program, military honors, community engagement, funeral services, education grants, community service, HB 3359, veteran status, Texas Veterans Commission, veterans services

Transcript Highlights:

• decorated Navy veteran who, um, committed the ultimate sacrifice on the steps of the Eddie Murphy, um, VFW

Transcript Highlights:

• And when our volunteerism is down and our membership in VFWs and Rotary Clubs and Optimist Clubs, the
• And when our volunteerism is down and our membership in VFWs and Rotary Clubs and Optimist Clubs, the
• And when our volunteerism is down and our membership in VFWs and Rotary Clubs and Optimist Clubs, the
• And when our volunteerism is down and our membership in VFWs and Rotary Clubs and Optimist Clubs, the
• So, with that, members, thank you for your attention. ...membership in VFWs and Rotary Clubs and Optimist

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The VFW advocates for all those options in the toolbox, which includes House Bill 3717 and Ibogaine.
• So, the VFW speaks about psychedelics, hyperbaric oxygen chambers, ketamine, and cannabis, because the
• So, the VFW is passionate about this issue, and it is our next long-term fight in Washington, D.C., and

Bills: HB 44, HB 2200, HB 1612, HB 2747, HB 2038, HB 3717, HB 1431, HB 3800, HB 3801, HB 3560, HB 3246

Keywords: HB 44, Life of the Mother Act, abortion exceptions, medical emergency, reasonable medical judgment, pregnancy complications, maternal health, life-threatening condition, ectopic pregnancy, miscarriage, spontaneous abortion, fetal survival, Texas abortion law, abortion ban, physician liability, health care provider, disciplinary action, aiding and abetting, emergency abortion, obstetric care

Summary: The meeting of the public health committee focused on the pressing issue of opioid addiction in Texas, with a particular emphasis on House Bill 3717. Chairman Harris detailed the bill's intent to fund a grant program for Ibogaine clinical trials, framing it as a critical response to the ongoing opioid crisis. He shared poignant testimonies highlighting the struggles of families and veterans battling addiction and mental health issues. The conversation underscored the necessity of innovative treatments, like Ibogaine, which showed promising results in studies for reducing symptoms of withdrawal and PTSD.

Transcript Highlights:

• Steve Spriggs, Vietnam veteran, also a member of Valor, American Legion, VFW, AUSA.
• American Legion, VFW, AUSA. We ask for your support. Thank you.

Summary: The committee heard a long agenda of natural resources and related bills, with several measures taken up as the committee reached quorum and many others moving on consent or with due-pass recommendations. Early items included AB 80 on carpet recycling, AB 452 creating a local process for state surf reserves, and AB 823 restricting microplastics in personal care and cleaning products. AB 80 drew broad support from recycling, labor, and environmental groups and was described as a follow-up to earlier carpet recycling reforms. AB 452 was backed by surf, tourism, environmental, and local government interests as a voluntary, community-driven way to recognize and protect surf breaks. AB 823 generated the most extensive debate, with supporters citing public health and environmental harms from microplastics and opponents warning the bill’s language could sweep in products such as sunscreens, cosmetics, and fragrance-encapsulation materials; the committee discussed possible ambiguity and EU comparisons before voting the bill out on a due-pass-as-amended basis to Environmental Safety and Toxic Materials. The committee also advanced AB 1046, which would create a narrow exemption from SB 1383 organic-waste requirements for certain crop preparers and tree nut processors that do not send organic waste to landfills. Agricultural witnesses said the bill would clarify that their operations already reuse byproducts and should not face duplicative reporting, and the measure passed with support from agricultural and rural county representatives. AB 252, the “Stop Laying Off Firefighters Act,” proposed year-round Cal Fire staffing; the author and Cal Fire supporters argued that wildfire conditions are now year-round and that maintaining trained crews would improve response and prevention, and the bill was sent to Appropriations. AB 571, a targeted CEQA exemption for the Southern California Veterans Cemetery in Anaheim, drew strong bipartisan and veterans’ support and also passed out. Later, the committee approved AB 1455, which would authorize emergency rulemaking and streamline future updates for ember-resistant building regulations after recent wildfire emergencies, and AB 687, which would let public agencies use forest-practice rules and timber-harvest plans for certain publicly funded fuel-reduction projects; AB 687 drew some opposition over scope and enforceability concerns but was still advanced. The committee also moved AB 652, allowing alternate members on the San Diego County Air Pollution Control District board to prevent quorum problems, and AB 317, a first-time homebuyer housing bill that would exempt certain small, lower-cost homes from CEQA and defer some property taxes; AB 317 prompted discussion about guardrails to avoid unintended use on larger subdivisions. Finally, AB 900, requiring the Natural Resources Agency to develop a stewardship plan for 30-by-30 lands, was heard with broad support from land trusts and conservation groups and advanced on a due-pass recommendation, and AB 738, a wildfire-rebuild bill easing solar requirements for certain disaster survivors, was introduced and discussed with questions about its narrow scope and the number of homes affected.