Transcript Highlights:

• I raised the same question when I was looking at the amount of the fee.
• The fee has not changed since 1980, number one.
• It will no longer be one of the lower-cost schools in terms of the fee, yes.
• They would see the same increase because it would be a mandatory fee.
• So what I'm trying to get at is how much more in tuition and fees, total tuition and fees, would an out-of-state

Bills: HB42, HB125

Keywords: special prosecutor, state law, criminal justice, accountability, law enforcement, stormwater management, counties, regulation, environment, water quality

Summary: The Committee on Higher Education met to hear several bills and first corrected the minutes from its April 1, 2025 meeting to reflect that a committee substitute for HB 271 had been adopted before the bill was reported favorably. The committee then heard HB 3326, which would help Texas higher education employees, especially adjunct faculty, qualify for federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness by counting classroom hours toward full-time status, requiring institutions to verify employment within 60 days, and requiring annual notice to eligible employees. No witnesses testified against the bill, and it was left pending. Members then heard HB 2853, authorizing UTEP to phase in a student union fee increase to fund demolition and reconstruction of its aging student union. Representative Perez and UTEP student and university witnesses said the current facility is outdated and insufficient for a campus of more than 25,000 students, while some members raised concerns about the size of the fee increase and its impact on low-income students. UTEP representatives said most students receive aid, the fee would be phased in over time, and the project was student-approved; the bill was left pending. The committee also heard HB 4066, a one-line bill to abolish the Texas Research Incentive Program after the state cleared its backlog of matching obligations, with the author saying the program was no longer needed in light of newer research funding approaches. The bill was left pending. The committee spent substantial time on HB 125, which would create the Tarleton State University College of Osteopathic Medicine. Supporters, including Tarleton leadership, the founding dean, a rural hospital CEO, and a feasibility consultant, argued the school would address severe rural physician shortages by recruiting Texas and rural students, training them in rural settings, and developing new residency slots rather than competing for existing ones. Members asked about affordability, residency placement, and whether the school would draw students from rural Texas; Tarleton said it would seek to keep tuition and debt low, had already raised private donations, and would request $25 million in state support over the biennium. The bill was left pending. Finally, the committee heard HB 42, which would increase the annual Higher Education Fund appropriation and adjust its allocation methodology. The chair and university witnesses described rising deferred maintenance, inflation, cybersecurity needs, and enrollment growth at HEAF-eligible institutions, with witnesses from Texas Tech, Sam Houston State, and UNT saying the additional funding would help address aging facilities and technology needs. After testimony, the committee left HB 42 pending and recessed.

Transcript Highlights:

• A&E fees are architectural and engineering fees.
• So as the construction price increases, so do those fees.
• So my question is, The case filing fee is still $400.
• We have not gotten into raising the filing fees.
• The clerks do not receive a filing fee for any of those.

Summary: The committee first heard an update from the Florida Department of Corrections on the proposed Lake Correctional Institution mental health project in Clermont. Tim Fitzgerald explained the project’s history, including the 2016 Disability Rights Florida litigation, the 2018 consent decree, and the original plan for a 550-bed inpatient mental health facility. He said inflation and design changes pushed the project above the bond amount, leading the department to shift to a “continuum of care” alternative with 572 beds total: 92 inpatient beds and 480 residential treatment beds in three special housing units. Fitzgerald said the project is currently paused pending House concurrence, while the Senate has already agreed to the alternate plan, and noted the bond balance, prior expenditures, and the need to spend down the tax-exempt bond by August 2026. Members questioned how the new plan differs from the original facility, whether it satisfies the consent decree, and what caused the cost increases. Fitzgerald said the department believes it has already met the consent decree through systemwide improvements to housing, staffing, programming, and out-of-cell time, though he said he would confirm the court documentation. He also said the original scope grew from 275,000 to 350,000 square feet as treatment, nursing, security, and programming needs were refined, and that inflation, fees, permitting, and contingencies contributed to the higher cost. Several members asked for follow-up information on Senate approval, consent decree documentation, and the project’s impact on crisis-stabilization capacity. The committee then received a joint court-system presentation from State Courts Administrator Eric McClure and Clerks Corporation Executive Director Jason Welty on caseload trends, case tracking, and staffing. McClure described statewide filing trends, the use of weighted caseload studies to certify judicial need, and recent Supreme Court rule changes aimed at active civil case management, including differentiated case tracks, stricter deadlines, and proportional discovery. He said the latest workload study led the Supreme Court to certify a need for 23 circuit judges and 25 county judges. Welty reviewed clerk workload trends, the statewide case maintenance and CCIS systems, and declining clerk FTE despite rising case volumes, and said clerks are seeking additional funding for injunctions, Baker Act/Marchman Act/sexually violent predator work, and juror management. In questions, members pressed both presenters on data quality, case-weight calculations, filing fees, and whether current resources are enough to reduce delays. McClure clarified that the workload weights are based on judge time studies and that a capital murder case averaged 3,177 minutes, while other examples such as auto negligence and dissolution cases were much lower. Welty said the Legislature could help by increasing funding or potentially revisiting filing fees, and noted that many clerk services are unfunded or underfunded, especially indigent and protective filings. The chair and members also raised concerns about backlog, inconsistent case reporting across circuits, and enforcement of judicial time standards; McClure said there is no direct sanction in the rules, and compliance is largely managed through chief judges and the Supreme Court. The meeting ended with no votes taken and adjournment by motion.

Transcript Highlights:

• The Petro Fund is currently funded with a sort of on-off fee per unit of about $0.02 per gallon paid
• The fee blinks on for four months and then it cools off.
• The Petro Fund is currently funded with a sort of on-off fee per unit of about $0.02 per gallon paid
• The fee blinks on for four months and then it cools off.
• The fee blinks on for four months and then it cools off.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It's going to result in a net increase in fees.
• The growth of the fund itself is driving higher fees.
• It's going to result in a net increase in fees.
• that it's covered with those management fees.
• Among states that charge fees, only seven states had lower 911 state fees than California.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Summary: The committee held an informational hearing on the Governor’s May Revision proposals for labor, public safety/judiciary, and transportation, and no votes were taken. In Part A on labor, the Employment Development Department reviewed proposals for EDD Next document management system funding, updated UI loan interest costs, disability insurance and paid family leave benefit and administration adjustments, WIOA funding changes, UI administrative and benefit changes, school employee benefit adjustments, an EMT training reappropriation, and a technical correction tied to EDD Next. PERB discussed funding tied to AB 28 and AB 1, including litigation-related workload and new jurisdiction over legislative employees. DIR presented proposals for legal unit reclassifications, two major IT modernization projects, a new Cal/OSHA emerging technologies unit, a COIA reappropriation, and trailer bill language on electronic assessment payments and the DWC director salary cap. CalHR proposed additional funding for a consolidated employee assistance program contract, and CalPERS and CalSTRS presented budget adjustments tied to investment costs and state contribution changes. Members focused heavily on UI debt and interest payments, asking the administration for a plan to reduce the outstanding loan and relieve employers. Finance said no specific repayment plan was included in the May Revision, while LAO said the state’s UI tax structure is structurally insufficient and that any debt payoff should be paired with tax-system reform. Senators also questioned EDD Next costs and timelines, PERB’s caseload and staffing needs, and DIR’s emerging technologies unit, with LAO noting that the unit would appear focused on physical workplace safety rather than broader AI labor issues. CalHR said the new EAP contract would consolidate services, improve access to clinicians, and lower costs relative to the current model. CalPERS defended higher external management fees as part of a strategy to pursue higher net returns, while some members pressed for more transparency about private investments; CalSTRS said it was not prepared to address investment-strategy questions at this hearing. Public comment in Part A was dominated by advocates urging support for an immigration enforcement emergency relief fund, along with comments supporting the Jails to Jobs proposal, the Apprenticeship Innovation Fund, and additional PERB funding. The chair noted that many of the immigration-related requests might fall under other committees and said staff would follow up. In Part B, Finance and LAO outlined judicial branch and DOJ May Revision items, including funding for court interpreter services, appellate court security, lactation room implementation delays, courthouse construction reappropriations, and DOJ budget increases. LAO recommended approving the language-access proposal with a report on reducing interpreter cost growth and reducing the General Fund backfill for state court facilities by $10 million on an ongoing basis.

Transcript Highlights:

• But the fee appears twice as a wholesale fee in section two and again as a retail fee in section three
• versus regulatory license fee tax. versus regulatory license fee tax.
• So if to be 5% local regulatory fee.
• Hopefully that will reduce that fee.
• Hopefully that will reduce that fee. Hopefully that will reduce that fee.

Keywords: An issue was found with the live stream of this meeting. This version was uploaded as a complete version and should contain the entirety of the meeting. Meeting Start 00:00:00 Roll Call 00:00:15 HB 647 Discussion 00:02:00 HB 647 Vote 00:05:47 HB 501 Discussion 00:07:40 HB 501 Vote 00:09:53 HB 502 Discussion 00:11:20 HB 502 Vote 00:14:48 HJR 75 Discussion 00:16:53 HJR 75 Vote 00:17:35 HJR 76 Discussion 00:19:00 HJR 76 Vote 00:19:43 HB 869 Discussion 00:21:22 HB 869 Vote 00:30:00 HB 619 Discussion 00:31:39 HB 619 Vote 00:34:33 HB 356 Discussion 00:36:22 HB 356 Vote 00:40:19 HB 900 Discussion 00:43:17 HB 900 Vote 00:46:21 HB 816 Discussion 00:48:02 HB 816 Vote 00:53:47 HB 9 Discussion 00:55:05 HB 9 Vote 01:18:25 HB 757 Discussion 01:21:04 HB 757 Vote 01:35:55, 958, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:37:58.319> for<00:37:58.640> specific fees so some fees are for specific fees so some
• There could be a fee in processing, or if I have to replace my card, there could be a fee for that.
• There could be a fee in processing, or if I have to replace my card, there could be a fee for that.
• There could be a fee in processing, or if I have to replace my card, there could be a fee for that.
• There could be a fee in processing, or if I have to replace my card, there could be a fee for that.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• The commissioner may also establish a fee schedule.
• The commissioner may also establish a fee schedule.
• well I can give you examples of the fee well I can give you examples of fees<01:33:08.840> uh
• The Internal Revenue Service's fee structure begins at a couple hundred dollars and includes fee amounts
• unlikely that a specific or capped fee unlikely that a specific or capped fee amount<01:56:10.159

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• They face significantly more criminal fees and associated debt because of this reality.
• This is not just an economic justice issue, but a racial justice one, as criminal fees are used as a
• The ruling held that fees assessed to individuals must consider an individual's ability to pay such fees
• Senator Mitchell at the time led that, and we actually repealed 46 of 90 criminal fees.
• This fund is a small fee that helps keep a lot of it.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• No, no, no—the fee payment for each day of attendance and mileage, that's what you're paying the bill
• I wasn't expecting whatever fee—I don't know what that is.
• But to answer Senator Als's question about the fees under U.S.
• law so in federal court they paay a fee law so in federal court they paay a fee correct<00:19:25.320
• <00:19:57.240> for 5616 I think it was you got a fee for 5616 I think it was you got a fee

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:31:18.399> required be used for tuition fees required be used for tuition fees required
• The employer had to put in 50% of the cost of tuition, fees, and books.
• we look at not only the tuition and fees we look at not only the tuition and fees but<01:08:15.200
• Changes in tuition and fees also have a continuing impact on the projection if tuition and fees increase
• Tuition and fees.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• So I mean 16 authorizes fees if you have an election and 15 as amended in 2020 authorizes fees without
• There's a rule charge fees and taxes.
• A fee that does not require<00:21:47.039> that<00:21:47.280> a<00:21:47.440> fee
• Fees are not taxes.
• Absent service fee, service space<00:23:38.880> fees,<00:23:39.360> storm<00:23:39.760>

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• fees in this instance
• > the<00:36:42.520> one make sure that the fees for the one make sure that the fees for
• or win and get your attorney fees or win and get your attorney<01:29:40.720> fees.
• The fees issue that Mr.
• The fees issue the religious setting. The fees issue that<02:03:55.520> Mr.

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• House bill 3443 has simply raises the oversize and overweight permit fees.
• Essentially, the purpose for raising the fees is so that the oversized and overweight Permit fees would
• An oversized and overweight permit fees should pay for the Weigh stations, and so this bill helps do
• It looks like we're raising the fee by dollars, I think.
• There are a number of fees being raised, permit fees being raised.

Bills: HB1411, HB2980, HB3015, HB3147, HB3277, HB3323, HB3443, HB3882

Keywords: True Grit Trail, Oklahoma, tourism, signage, Department of Transportation, state parks, historical sites, economic development, motor vehicles, insurance, registration, verification, law enforcement, electronic credentials, Service Oklahoma, digital identification, data protection, driver's license, special license plates, Route 66

Transcript Highlights:

• We have actually... ...lowered the apprenticeship program fees, which is sort of unheard of.
• We have actually lowered the apprenticeship program fees, which is sort of unheard of.
• So in terms of the fees, are they sliding, for example, not-for-profit and for-profit?
• The fees, our fees? Yeah, fees for placement of apprentice. Yeah, so that, so the, so that... Fees.
• Our fees? Yeah, fees for placement of apprentice. Yeah, so our fees are pretty modest.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The subcommittee opened with roll call and approved the January minutes. Members then heard from Undersecretary of Labor and Workforce Development Josh Cutler, who gave an update on the Healey-Driscoll administration’s apprenticeship efforts and emphasized apprenticeship as an earn-while-you-learn model that can help address workforce shortages while including people with disabilities. He described growth in apprenticeships across sectors such as banking, bio, early education, health care, and human services, and noted recent milestones including the state’s 10,000th registered apprenticeship, expanded tax credits, reduced program fees, added apprenticeship liaisons, and Grow grants to support program development. Committee members focused on how apprenticeship could be adapted for human services and disability-related jobs, including early education, direct care, PCA work, sterile processing, and related health occupations. They asked about funding structures, employer participation, community college involvement, and how to make programs accessible to people with disabilities. Cutler explained that apprenticeship programs are employer-designed but must meet core requirements such as paid employment, at least 2,000 hours of on-the-job learning, related technical instruction, mentorship, and progressive wages. He said the state can support programs through the registered apprenticeship tax credit, which he said is $4,800 per apprentice and can be stacked with the disability employment tax credit, and through Grow grants, which were most recently awarded at about $2.1 million statewide. Members and Cutler discussed using intermediaries such as trade associations, nonprofits, and disability organizations to help employers set up programs and navigate incentives. He said the commission could be useful as a convener and suggested a targeted panel or information session with apprenticeship liaisons, employers, and existing sponsors to identify a few specific occupations and build a proof of concept. The meeting ended with agreement to follow up offline on potential partner employers, including Eastern Bank, and on possible next steps for a focused panel or pilot opportunities.

Transcript Highlights:

• House Bill 2946, relating to municipalities, counties, and development fees.
• having under consideration House Bill 2946, relating to municipalities, counties, and development fees
• having under consideration House Bill 2946, relating to municipalities, counties, and development fees
• if a municipality adopted the development fees before the effective date.
• Enactment section 946005-949-19-15-9-11-11-1-a-1-a-vice to line to head to development fees.

Keywords: 1182, all

Summary: The Senate convened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, established a quorum, approved the prior journal, and moved through several Committee of the Whole calendars. On Calendar 1, HB 2192 (employment/video content matters of public concern) was amended and given a do pass recommendation. HB 2592 (government information technology) was amended to remove legislative approval of certain emergency or temporary AI-related rules and received a do pass recommendation. HB 2752 (Commerce Authority trade office) received a do pass recommendation after a Mesnard amendment and an Epstein amendment was debated; the Epstein amendment failed on division, and the bill was retained on the calendar. HB 2916 (traffic schools and instructors fingerprint clearance) was amended to allow work to begin while fingerprint clearance is pending and received a do pass recommendation. HB 2946 (development fees) was amended to address municipal distinctions based on dwelling size/bedrooms and received a do pass recommendation. The Committee of the Whole report was adopted. On Calendar 2, HB 2918, HB 2999, HB 1418, and HCR 2059 were considered. HB 2999 (special taxing districts/infrastructure finance districts) drew the most discussion; a Mesnard floor amendment made several changes to tax-rate, bond, and infrastructure provisions, and the bill was ultimately amended and given a do pass recommendation. HB 1418 (sheriff auxiliary authority) and HCR 2059 (county services) also received do pass recommendations. The Committee of the Whole report was adopted. On Calendar 3, HB 2035 (DCS kinship care placement requirements) was amended to change a reporting deadline and received a do pass recommendation. HB 241 (child neglect financial resources exception), HB 2594 (child confidentiality), and HB 2932 (groundwater transportation fee/withdrawal-related provisions) were also considered; HB 2594 and HB 2932 were amended and received do pass recommendations. The Committee of the Whole report was adopted. On Calendar 4, HB 2109 (portable wireless communication devices/distracted driving penalties for motorcycles), HB 2118 (mobile food vendors’ licenses), HB 2244 (eviction satisfaction of judgment), and HB 4011 (HOA duties) were all advanced, with committee or floor amendments adopted where offered, and the report was adopted. The Senate also took up an additional Committee of the Whole for HB 2440 (transition program), adopted a technical floor amendment, and advanced the bill. Later, the chamber adopted a proclamation recognizing Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University on its centennial and welcomed guests from the university. The Senate received a House request to return SB 1113 for further amendment and appointed free conference committees for HB 2133 and HB 2010. On third reading, HB 2592 passed 16-9-1, HB 2916 passed 26-1-3, HB 2946 passed 27-0-3, and HB 2999 passed 21-6-3, with Senator Epstein explaining her no vote on HB 2999 due to concerns about homeowner cost uncertainty. The Senate then adjourned until April 15, 2026.

Transcript Highlights:

• fees.
• <00:55:48.640> It increase fees or create new fees. It increase fees or create new fees.
• administrative fee for processing that. administrative fee for processing that.
• fee, it will now be tied to the renewal fee.
• fee, the renewal fee, of an application fee, the renewal fee, continuing<01:03:52.200> education,

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• School districts have spent thousands of dollars in legal fees without attendant transparency about the
• I've spent nearly $600,000 on legal fees. Taxpayers have no idea.
• Unexpectedly, we prevailed, and after the hearing, our legal fees were around $2,000.
• We are now approaching $600,000 in attorney fees.
• I think we're applying fees, and it's approximately $580,000.

Bills: SB205, SB582, SB625, SB1884, SB1903, SB2600, SB2617, SB2751, SB111, SB3061, SB1908

Keywords: fetal development, health curriculum, public schools, middle school health education, grade 7, grade 8, State Board of Education, school health advisory council, Texas Education Code, pregnancy, reproductive health, infertility, birth defects, prenatal development, unborn child, trimester, medically accurate instruction, age-appropriate instruction, drug and alcohol effects, lead exposure

Transcript Highlights:

• Authority District, providing authority to issue bonds, providing authority to impose assessments, fees
• Investment Fund program to fund the development of the workforce housing and the state authorizing fee
• HB 4738 by Garin relating to the elimination of the portion of the loan administration fee remitted to
• Issue 4819 by Flores relating to the fundable adoption fee of sterilization of dogs and cats are for
• HB 4967 by Canales relating to the renewal fee for a dealer's temporary license plate referred to the

Transcript Highlights:

• If the medical provider sends a bill in, we have to apply a fee schedule.
• If we apply the fee schedule, the medical provider can still argue under the law that we gave them the
• If the medical provider sends a bill in, we have to apply a fee schedule.
• If we apply the fee schedule, the medical provider can still argue under the law that we gave them the
• Small claims where the recovery of attorney's fees is the sole objective of the filing, and it's been

Summary: The subcommittee considered a long agenda of civil justice and claims measures. HB 1173, relating to the Florida Trust Code, was presented as a clarification of standing in trust litigation after recent case law; after questions about who may sue, an amendment was adopted clarifying that an expressly named charity retains standing, and the bill passed 14-2. HB 1437, on attorney’s fees in motor vehicle PIP disputes, drew testimony from insurers and reform groups opposing a return to fee-driven litigation and from medical groups supporting fee recovery for prevailing parties; it passed 17-0. CS/HB 147, addressing prohibited debt-collection communications during nighttime and early morning hours, was described as a clarification of an outdated statute in light of modern communications, with support from business groups and no opposition in the vote; it passed 18-0. The committee then heard several claims bills against the Department of Children and Families. HB 6511, for relief of L.P., described severe injuries to a child after DCF allegedly failed to act on warning signs; a technical amendment was adopted and the bill passed 18-0. HB 6515, for relief of Michael Barnett, involved DCF’s alleged failure to investigate domestic violence that preceded the killing of three children and injury of a fourth; members asked about the settlement amount and the case’s circumstances, and the bill also passed 18-0. HB 1517, expanding wrongful death law to allow parents of an unborn child to recover for the child’s death, generated the most extensive debate. The sponsor said it aligns civil law with existing criminal definitions and excludes claims against mothers and providers of lawful medical care, including IVF; opponents warned it could be used to target reproductive care, support networks, and domestic violence survivors, while supporters framed it as a justice measure for families. An amendment clarifying damages rules for minors and unborn children was adopted, and the bill passed 13-4. Finally, HB 947, on evidence of medical damages in personal injury and wrongful death cases, sought to allow broader evidence at trial and to change “shall” to “may”; supporters said it would improve fairness and transparency, while opponents argued it would weaken post-2023 tort reforms and reintroduce inflated medical damages. The amendment was adopted and the bill was then taken up with additional opposition testimony.

Transcript Highlights:

• This year they proposed a fee This year they proposed a fee on<00:43:53.240> accessing<00
• If they were decrease fees on occasion.
• doing less, we would adjust the fees. doing less, we would adjust the fees.
• fee fee was<00:45:28.200> stepping<00:45:28.800> over<00:45:29.080> that<00:45:
• We set the license fees for fishing and hunting.

Keywords: 927, senate, all