Transcript Highlights:

• The Senate amended the bill to stipulate that child and victim safety are the highest priority in custody
• standards, limits findings of mutual domestic violence, establishes burden of proof before awarding custody
• Burden of proof before awarding custody or parenting time to a parent subject to the presumption that

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• slide shows the projected general fund spending for each of the programs, as well as the change relative
• children who are removed from their homes and supports permanency through adoption or transfer of custody
• to a relative.
• </c><00:37:35.560><c> to</c><00:37:35.680><c> a</c><00:37:35.880><c> relative</c><00:37:36.880><c> um
• </c> transfer of custody to a relative um transfer of custody to a relative um financial<00:37:37.440

Committee: Senate Health and Human Services

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• believe is a clear enforceable standard that protects both security and the rights of individuals in custody
• come out, you know, having... ...participated in the programs that are provided to them within TDCJ custody
• formalize that process, saving time and reducing confusion for both staff and individuals leaving custody
• A short stint in custody isn't going to deter the offender.
• He was given the maximum sentence of 10 years, which would place him out of custody in 2031, except his

Bills: HB1826 , HB1969 , HB2708 , HB2729 , HB3618 , HB4515 , HB4764 , SB1021 , SB1610

Committee: House Corrections

Keywords: mental health, women's health, county jail, depression screening, criminal justice, inmate release, identification certificate, Texas Department of Corrections, personal identification, driver's license, state law, reentry services, nondisclosure, criminal history, criminal defendants, community supervision, misdemeanors, felonies, rehabilitation, hearsay

Transcript Highlights:

• We custody over 40 billion in assets on our platform.
• Benchmarks, and our novel state charter bank, Kraken Financial, which offers... ...institutional custody
• I think one other piece, when KYC happens, is when a user transfers a stablecoin to a custodial wallet
• And solves for the unique risks in the system, especially respect to custody.
• You cannot run a safe custody business in the crypto ecosystem the same way you do in the traditional

Committee: Senate Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Subcommittee on Digital Assets

Keywords: Digital Assets, Bitcoin, Stablecoins, Legislation, Bipartisan, Consumer Protection, Regulatory Framework, Financial Innovation, Testimony

Summary: The inaugural meeting of the Digital Assets Subcommittee brought a wave of excitement and anticipation regarding the future of digital assets, including Bitcoin and stablecoins. Chair Lummis expressed gratitude towards Senator Scott for establishing the subcommittee, indicating a commitment to promote responsible innovation while safeguarding consumers. Members discussed the necessity for a bipartisan legislative framework to regulate digital asset markets effectively while outlining the potential benefits such legislation could have on enhancing financial inclusion and streamlining payments. The meeting featured expert testimonies from key figures in the digital asset industry, highlighting the importance of creating clear regulatory guidance for digital assets to foster innovation without compromising consumer protections.

Transcript Highlights:

• On the cemeteries, are any of the cemeteries that you have in your custody, are there any veterans buried
• </c><00:46:01.520><c> have</c><00:46:01.680><c> in</c><00:46:01.839><c> your</c><00:46:02.119><c> custody
• </c><00:46:03.040><c> are</c><00:46:03.200><c> there</c> that you have in your custody are there that
• you have in your custody are there any<00:46:03.640><c> veterans</c><00:46:04.280><c> buried</c><00:
• large what we call uh swing relatively large what we call uh swing or<01:19:36.600><c> surge</c><01:

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The joint Ways and Means and Government Operations committees received a biennium budget preview from Keith Regan, Comptroller and Director of the Department of Accounting and General Services (DAGS), who introduced department leadership and described DAGS’ broad responsibilities across accounting, public works, procurement, elections, archives, risk management, and other attached agencies. He emphasized that DAGS supports nearly every state department and cited ongoing workforce challenges, while noting progress in reducing the department-wide vacancy rate from 21% in 2023 to 17.7% in 2024. He also highlighted recruitment efforts, including new salary schedules for engineers and architects, job fairs, internships, and outreach to retiring federal employees. A major focus was modernization of the state’s aging financial systems, especially the 55-year-old FAMIS platform and the Enterprise Financial System (EFS) project. DAGS said it expects to release the RFP for the FAMIS replacement by the end of January and is seeking a second tranche of CIP funding, including $35 million, plus position augmentation and creation of a Business Transformation Office to manage EFS and future modernization work. The department also described major capital projects such as the Aloha Stadium Entertainment District, Wahiawā Civic Center, Kauaʻi Civic Center, and Ahuimanu Community Correctional Center, and reported that Public Works is managing 455 projects statewide valued at more than $2.5 billion. Other budget requests discussed included funding for cemetery operations, with DAGS asking for two positions and $1 million in operating funds to support maintenance of eight cemeteries; a $200 million ceiling increase tied to anticipated insurance proceeds for West Maui fire-related recovery and rebuilding; and several staffing and operating items for district offices and facilities. These included full-year funding for positions in West Hawaiʻi and East Hawaiʻi, support for a small business coordinator at the State Procurement Office, funding for cloud hosting and PeopleSoft licensing, six positions and staff augmentation for the EFS project, electricity costs, and security-related funding. DAGS also noted that two requested reductions totaled $7.9 million, including transferring the security contract to the Department of Law Enforcement and reducing nonrecurring expenses; members discussed whether some security funding should remain with or be moved to DLE, and DAGS said it would not object to that transfer. No votes were taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• will be deployed during the upcoming school year, and when the military member parent is a single custodial
• in order for military members, particularly those who are deployed and for those who are single custodial
• their mother had stepped away to do other things, and by about their second birthday, I was a sole custodial
• entitlement slots, and adding thoughtful prioritization criteria focused on deployment and single custodial
• families facing the greatest strain, including those households experiencing deployment and single custodial

Bills: HB2099 , HB2317 , HB2318 , HB2350

Committee: House Early Learning & Human Services

Keywords: military families, early childhood education, access, assistance program, education equity, HB2317, early learning, child care licensing, day care, preschool, Head Start, DCYF, Department of Children, Youth, and Families, Washington State, RCW 43.216, child care center, family home provider, family child care, outdoor nature-based child care, school-age child care

Transcript Highlights:

• So I'm going to officially open the hearing on HB 1113 relative to OHRV operation on certain highways
• State agencies and all other custodial State agencies and there<01:33:59.119><c> uh</c><01:33:59.400
• </c><02:23:16.720><c> ohrv</c><02:23:17.680><c> because</c><02:23:18.240><c> they're</c> this is relative
• to ohrv because they're this is relative to ohrv because they're all<02:23:19.160><c> connected</c><
• I open the hearing on House Bill 203 relative to approved personal flotation devices.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Summary: The meeting was an orientation for the Resources, Recreation and Development Committee, led by Chair Bob Harb. He reviewed committee procedures, including pink cards for witnesses, blue sheets for counts, use of drawers in the committee room, scheduling practices, and how bills would be posted and distributed. Members briefly introduced themselves and explained why they wanted to serve on the committee, with several citing interests in conservation, water quality, outdoor recreation, land use, and related local issues. The committee then opened a hearing on HB 1113, relative to OHRV operation on certain highways within the town of Windsor. Representative Ré Colcombe, the sponsor, explained that the bill would allow local OHV/UTV access across a short section of state road in Windsor so residents on divided portions of town could travel legally between areas. He said the town selectmen were already allowing OHRV use on town roads, the route was paved, traffic impacts were expected to be minimal, and local police had no objections. He also said the town would hold public hearings and notify abutters as required, and that if the select board ultimately opposed the proposal he would recommend killing the bill. Members asked about the legal authority for the change, speed limits, traffic volume, winter maintenance, and whether the Department of Transportation or select board had to approve the route. Colcombe said the town must hold a public hearing and that the change would need to be incorporated into RSA 258:10, section 4. He said the road is maintained by the town in winter and by the state in summer. An opponent, Anne Davis, testified that she opposed the bill, saying ATV use should be treated as a tool for forest management rather than recreation, that law enforcement capacity in Windsor was a concern, and that she believed affected residents should be fully notified before any approval. No vote or final action was taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• Applying relatively simple concepts on top of our incredibly complex education funding system does not
• Applying relatively simple concepts on top of our incredibly complex education funding system does not
• Police, our IT wizards under the Police, our IT wizards under the direction of Kevin Moore, and our custodial

Keywords: 926, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• One is the relative of Adeline.
• One is the relative of Adeline.
• adequate wardrobe and approved necessities for children who are removed from their homes and in state custody

Keywords: 994, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• funds used to pay for patient care between the time that an individual has been committed to state custody
• And one of the concerns I have is relative to the managed care, who they disperse the payments.
• And one of the concerns I have is relative to the managed care who they disperse the payments.

Summary: The Senate Finance and House Appropriations committee met with a quorum present and first took up questions about a separate Rural Health Funding Task Force. Members asked who created it, its purpose, whether it was replacing JFAC, and whether it was tied to the governor’s task force. The chair said it was created by legislative leadership, not this committee, and that JFAC would still control funding decisions; the task force was described as a structure to help shape how any future appropriation would work. The committee also recognized guests from Boise State’s Executive Educational Leadership Program before moving to the General Fund Daily Update and then the Department of Health and Welfare budget review. Legislative Services analyst Alex Williamson reviewed Health and Welfare’s Division of Welfare, Mental Health Services, and Psychiatric Hospitalization budgets. Major items included one-time Medicaid eligibility system changes tied to federal law and House Bill 345, ongoing SNAP administrative cost shifts to the general fund, Medicaid expansion work requirement implementation costs, restoration of some transfer authority, and several behavioral health adjustments. In mental health, the department requested partial restoration of positions and funding tied to the former Behavioral Health Center of Excellence, but the director said the center itself had been disbanded and the request was instead for 15 FTE to support children’s mental health and the Jeff D. settlement. Other items included funding for mobile crisis services, a fund shift for hospital benefits and cost increases, replacement items at the state hospitals, and endowment fund adjustments. Director Juliet Sharon and Behavioral Health Administrator Ross Edmonds answered extensive questions about federal changes, managed care, and behavioral health service reductions. They said the department is implementing work requirements and more frequent Medicaid redeterminations required by federal law, starting with a one-month compliance period for applicants, and is not seeking a waiver to delay implementation. On behavioral health, they explained that reductions to Medicaid and non-Medicaid services were mirrored, that ACT services were discontinued as a bundled service but individual components remain available, and that the department is tracking hospital utilization, crisis services, and client touchpoints through Magellan. Members also asked about audits, deceased-member payments, endowment funds, staffing shortages, and whether some services were being duplicated; the director said program integrity processes are in place and that the department is trying to reduce duplication while maintaining reporting transparency. No formal votes were taken, and the committee adjourned after indicating it would meet again Monday morning.

Transcript Highlights:

• The rationale for this morning's measure... ...is relatively simple.
• the regulatory framework... ...around digital asset service providers or companies effectively that custody
• Well, thermal energy storage and its applicability to the Texas Energy Fund relative to geothermal?

Bills: HB111

Committee: Senate Business & Commerce

Keywords: 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• When you say they're residential, but are they, are these for people that are in custody?
• you could give us, to the staff, so we can send it out to everybody, a breakdown on, you know, a relatively
• A breakdown on, you know, a relatively simple speeding ticket—speed exceeding the max—the kind of basic

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:

• I was assigned to review Marcus Allen's security clearance case, I noticed the file was missing relatively
• assigned to review Marcus Allen's security clearance case, I noticed the file was... was missing relative
• a hostage rescue mission, leaking details to the press before the hostages were safe in American custody

Bills: SB331

Committee: Senate Senate Judiciary

Keywords: fentanyl, controlled substances, drug trafficking, public health, research regulations, law enforcement, Kash Patel, FBI director nomination, S331, Fentanyl Act, committee meeting, legislative discussion

Summary: In this committee meeting, the primary focus was on the nomination of Kash Patel for the position of director of the FBI, which had sparked considerable debate over the past week. Members discussed the extensive vetting process Patel underwent, including a lengthy hearing where he addressed numerous questions, which emphasized his qualifications and the support he received from various law enforcement organizations. The meeting included significant arguments from both sides, reflecting the polarized nature of the nomination, especially regarding the allegations made against Patel by some committee members. As discussions continued, the committee decided to hold off on the Fentanyl Act, listed as S331, until the next meeting, indicating a prioritization of the nomination vote over new legislative measures at this time.

Transcript Highlights:

• and care of the actually in the custody and care of the Department<00:12:45.959><c> of</c><00:12:46.120
• There's administrative segregation, disciplinary segregation, protective custody.
• I do want to acknowledge, you know, you mentioned that there's different kinds of custody, and in my
• We have protective custody for those people whose lives may be in danger.
• or to put them or protective custody or to put them or they<00:36:35.880><c> afraid</c><00:36:36.119

Committee: House Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The House Committee on Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs heard SB 104, which would restrict the use of restrictive housing or solitary confinement in state-operated and state-contracted correctional facilities, with specified exceptions. The Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation strongly opposed the bill, saying its existing policy already meets or exceeds ACA and National Institute of Corrections standards, and objecting to language they said would give the oversight commission operational decision-making authority. The Hawaii Correctional System Oversight Commission supported the bill, but also said it was not intended to run operations and described concerns about restrictive housing practices, including CoreCivic’s SHIP program at Saguaro. Supporters included the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, the Office of the Public Defender, the Disability Rights Center, ACLU Hawaii, Easter Seals Hawaii, and individual testifiers. They argued that Native Hawaiians are disproportionately impacted by incarceration, that solitary confinement is harmful and linked to depression, anxiety, suicidality, and poor reentry outcomes, and that confinement beyond 15 days is widely condemned under international standards. Several testifiers cited suicides and deaths in custody as reasons to codify limits in statute rather than rely on policy alone. The department responded that it already has 24/7 medical care, though not 24/7 mental health coverage at one facility, and explained that it uses four custody categories: disciplinary segregation, administrative segregation, protective custody, and placements for inmates seeking separation for safety reasons. Members questioned the department and commission about the SHIP program, whether the bill was based on other states’ laws, and how current policies compare with national standards. The director said the bill was too ambiguous in places and that the department was willing to work with the commission on policy changes, but still opposed the measure as written. The committee took testimony and questions; no vote or final action was taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• The court's sentence; everybody under our supervision or in custody is under the controlling authority
• And then individuals that are in the custody of the Department of Corrections...
• And so you're assigned to..." "...different institutions based on your custody level.
• And the more time you have, the higher your custody level is.

Committee: House Crime and Public Safety

Summary: The Committee on Corrections and Public Institutions resumed consideration of Senate Bill 888, focusing on sentencing changes, juvenile certification provisions, and the Department of Corrections’ fiscal impact. Department officials clarified that courts, not the DOC, impose sentences, and said the bill’s main elements for the department were sentencing transparency and changes affecting people in DOC custody. Members questioned whether the bill amounted to “truth in sentencing,” whether any federal incentives still exist for such laws, and whether the department would need a supplemental appropriation if prison populations rose; the department said it was not aware of any current federal incentive dollars and would likely seek a quick supplemental if costs exceeded budgeted capacity. Officials also explained that most federal funds received by DOC are pass-through grants, mainly for education and substance abuse treatment, and that the fiscal note uses boilerplate language tied to population and capacity changes. The committee then heard opposition testimony from Clifton Davis of the Missouri Justice Coalition, who described being certified as an adult at age 16 and serving 26 years in prison. He argued the bill’s juvenile certification provisions are too broad because they would allow adult prosecution based on Class A or B felony charges alone, before facts are fully developed, and would expose more children to adult records and prison conditions that increase trauma and recidivism. In questioning, Davis said the bill would have changed his life by avoiding an adult record and likely placing him in juvenile treatment instead of adult prison. Other members raised concerns about the bill’s impact on juvenile rehabilitation, prison programming, and whether the legislation is purely punitive. In executive session, Representative Davis offered an amendment to clarify that vaccination status alone cannot prove first-degree child endangerment; he argued the bill’s reclassification of the offense could otherwise create strict-liability concerns and undermine existing religious or medical exemptions. Representative Hovis opposed the amendment as unnecessary, citing existing statute and the lack of a history of such prosecutions. The committee split 8-8 on the amendment, so it failed. The committee then voted on Senate Bill 888 itself and passed it do pass by a 9-7 roll call vote.

Transcript Highlights:

• Everybody under our supervision or in custody is under the controlling authority of either the courts
• And then individuals that are in the custody of the Department of Corrections, I mean, I don't think
• And so you're assigned to..." "...you're assigned to different institutions based on your custody level
• And the more time you have, the higher your custody level is.

Committee: House Crime and Public Safety

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• :32:32.240><c> following</c> is relative returning firearms following is relative returning firearms
• Um, the agreements that I've seen are relatively new.
• It's relatively new.
• It's uh relatively<04:02:48.080><c> new.
• Um so that could be why relatively new.

Committee: House Criminal Justice and Public Safety

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And we know that there was just most recently a Haitian man who died in ICE custody because of medical
• neglect, because of an unjust. ...died in ICE custody because of medical neglect, because of an untreated
• This came through the Elections Committee, and it is a relatively common-sense change to ensure that

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• In our county jails, preliminary data shows that approximately 47% of veterans identified in custody
• With their help, we are identifying veterans in custody and making sure they are supported.
• And with that, we have seen a slight 30% decrease in subvention funding relative to our 30% increase

Summary: The joint informational hearing focused on the role of County Veterans Service Officers (CVSOs), CalVet’s support for them, and the growing problem of for-profit, unaccredited claims companies. Committee leaders and witnesses emphasized that CVSOs are often the first point of contact for veterans and their families, helping with disability claims, education benefits, survivor benefits, housing, health care, and other wraparound services. Testimony highlighted the return on investment from CVSO work, with witnesses citing hundreds of millions in new federal benefits secured for California veterans and arguing that current state funding is too low relative to the workload and need. County representatives from Nevada, Los Angeles, and San Luis Obispo described local models of service. Los Angeles County highlighted a “no wrong door” approach, peer navigators, suicide review work, justice-involved veteran services, and homelessness coordination, while San Luis Obispo described rural outreach, mental health partnerships, and high suicide rates in its county. Nevada County stressed that smaller counties can be disadvantaged by workload-based formulas and that additional funding would expand access, especially in rural areas. Several witnesses said veterans often need more than claims help and should be connected to mental health, employment, food, and family supports. Much of the discussion centered on predatory claims consultants, which witnesses said charge veterans for services that accredited CVSOs provide free. Members and witnesses described cases involving requests for VA and banking logins, misleading advertising, and contracts that can take a percentage of veterans’ benefits. Committee members expressed support for legislation to curb these practices and for increased funding for CVSOs, including the Legislature’s intent to fund 50% of county veterans’ services operations. A CalVet deputy secretary also testified that California’s accreditation and training system improves claim quality and appeal outcomes, and that CalVet works with CVSOs through training, district offices, and appeals representation.

Transcript Highlights:

• So, custody, divorce, um adoption, all of that stuff.
• woman who is undocumented, he uses her status as a weapon against her for both domestic violence, For custody
• Like, you can't go to the courts and ask for custody or ask for visitation because if you do, I will
• don't know of at least in my experience ever anyone being charged with felony and being making a custodial
• don't know of at least in my experience ever anyone being charged with felony and being making a custodial

Committee: House Public Safety Finance and Policy

Keywords: 1183, house