Transcript Highlights:

• So again, it'll be licensing enforcement the same way that OPLC enforces licensing, right?
• The restaurants are licensed and they'll have licensing enforcement, but they don't necessarily need
• way that OPLC enforces licensing, right? way that OPLC enforces licensing, right?
• licensed and they'll have licensing licensed and they'll have licensing enforcement,<01:03:56.799
• Here again, the a fishing license.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The meeting was a House budget briefing focused on the overall state budget and the first of three divisions. The presenter reviewed the size and structure of the budget, noting that the state had eliminated the interest and dividends tax and still balanced the budget. He explained the major spending categories in the general fund and total budget, emphasizing that health and human services and education remain the largest areas, while transportation is largely self-funded. He also walked through the revenue picture, including business taxes, insurance taxes, court fees, communications taxes, and Medicaid recoveries, and said the remaining interest and dividends tax revenue reflected late payments from prior assessments. Members asked about the size of the tax cut from eliminating the interest and dividends tax, federal funding stability, and why Medicaid was being reduced if federal support was expected to remain steady. The response was that the lost revenue would have been about $200 million absent repeal, and that the budget gap was addressed through many small cuts across departments. On federal funds, the presenter said most aid is tied to multi-year grants and that core programs such as Medicare and Medicaid were expected to remain relatively stable, though some federal reductions could occur. He also said some agency reductions came from eliminating long-vacant, funded positions and from expected lapses. The discussion then moved into Division One, which covers smaller and miscellaneous agencies. The division made cuts to the governor’s office, eliminated a temporary position at the Governor’s Commission on Disability, reduced Department of Information Technology spending through a back-of-budget cut, and found savings in Administrative Services. It also delayed maintenance at the Sununu Youth Services Center, stopped advertising for paid family medical leave, changed retiree health insurance funding, and consolidated several personnel-related boards into one. The division eliminated the Commission on Aging and the Office of the Child Advocate, made a temporary special education advocate position permanent, reduced the Secretary of State’s budget, kept municipal rooms-and-meals distributions flat, and made changes to the retirement system, including $55 million to improve Group 2 retirement benefits and a new retirement structure for future state hires. The judicial branch was also asked to find savings and received two additional judges because of expected caseload increases from other eliminations.

Transcript Highlights:

• community residential service settings community residential service settings from<00:02:40.959>
• The family foster care provider is licensed under 245D and must follow the same licensing regulations
• > same<01:30:53.679> licensing<01:30:54.639> license follow the same licensing license
• follow the same licensing license regulations<01:30:55.679> as<01:30:55.920> a<01:30:56.080
• Our cuts set to start on own vacations.

Bills: HF2216, HF1978, HF2354, HF1963, HF1994, HF1995, HF1894

Keywords: assisted living, nursing home, long-term care, guardian, conservator, resident rights, arbitration, mandatory arbitration, consumer protection, fee increase, rate increase, price hike, private pay, public funds, Medicaid, waiver services, elderly, seniors, older adults, disability rights

Transcript Highlights:

• For example, DHS may only immediately suspend a license if the license holder is criminally charged with
• <00:13:36.800> if only immediately suspend a license if only immediately suspend a license
• > criminally<00:13:38.959> charged the license holder is criminally charged the license
• our final portion of this package sets our final portion of this package sets further<00:23:57.880
• <01:07:08.640> going decision we would have licenses going decision we would have licenses

Bills: HF1470, HF1310, HF1837

Keywords: opioids, substance use, addiction recovery, mental health, state cabinet, HF1310, Office of Cannabis Management, cannabis, marijuana, tribal consultation, government-to-government relationship, Minnesota tribes, Tribal governments, state government, consultation, rulemaking, Indian affairs, cannabis regulation, tribal sovereignty, state-tribal relations

Transcript Highlights:

• Before they would be licensed? We do on a sort of case-by-case basis.
• that we have 49 individual broadscope licenses on the site.
• We don't call it a license. And then a final DSA.
• I was going through TSA in New York, and I presented my driver's license.
• He looked up the license and said, 'Oh, Idaho, famous for potatoes.'

Keywords: 908, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We're not increasing all licensing fees.
• all licensing fees we'll charge<00:04:19.799> a<00:04:19.959> small<00:04:20.199> fee
• and exams in this space we for licensing and exams in this space we consider<00:05:15.400> these<
• We're also seeking a variance for our testing facility licenses.
• <00:10:24.120> uh<00:10:24.240> at our testing facility licenses uh at our testing

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• In the end, ...have a license. So that, again, is going to reduce patient access.
• the regulating agency, and whatever we call it functions as the license.
• And whatever we call it functions as the license.
• It could be license. It could be mandatory certification.
• So this is changing the language to say that… Driver’s licenses.

Keywords: 985, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm here to speak in strong support to amend the area of critical needs licensing language.
• of nominal experience, and they are using that limited license to qualify for an ACN license in Florida
• Florida has the chance to set the standard for the rest of the nation.
• We'll just set up the time. So a couple of things.
• We'll just set up the time. So a couple of things.

Summary: The Health Policy Committee met with a quorum and took up a long agenda of health care, Medicaid, and patient-access measures, along with confirmation votes. The committee first reconsidered and amended SB 1606 on patient access to records, clarifying portal obligations, deleting a section affecting nursing home facility records, and setting a January 1, 2026 effective date; the bill then passed favorably as a committee substitute. The committee also recommended confirmation of a block of appointees and separately confirmed Chavon Harris as Secretary of the Agency for Health Care Administration after Harris testified about priorities including financial accountability, managed care oversight, transparency, and quality improvement. Senators asked about audit findings and Medicaid managed care performance, and several witnesses and committee members voiced support for her appointment. The committee then advanced a series of bills, most of them with amendments, including claims bills SB 28 and SB 22 for South Broward Hospital District settlements, SB 772 on undesignated glucagon in schools, SB 998 on death certification by physician assistants and APRNs, SB 1412 on home health administration flexibility, SB 1800 creating a Parkinson’s disease research consortium at USF, SB 306 on managed care network access during holidays and after hours, SB 1768 on stem cell therapies by physicians, SB 1602 on pediatric readiness in emergency departments, SB 1156 on the home health aide program for medically fragile children, SB 1490 on Children’s Medical Services and managed care administration, and SB 1182 on Medicaid coverage of continuous glucose monitors. Most of these bills received support from industry, advocacy, or provider groups and were reported favorably as committee substitutes. The most debated measure was SB 1270, a broad strike-all amendment combining provisions on mRNA vaccine documentation, vaccination-status protections in the Patient Bill of Rights, medical marijuana reporting and background-screening definitions, compact language, and volunteer immunity. The committee heard extensive testimony both for and against the vaccine-related provisions, including concerns about discrimination, patient safety, provider discretion, and medical liability. After additional technical amendments and a time-certain motion, the bill passed favorably as a committee substitute, with Senators Davis and Osgood voting no and Senator Harrell expressing a weak yes. At the end of the meeting, senators recorded their votes on selected tabs, and the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• , Uh it does create a licensing, Uh it does create a licensing, regulatory,<00:48:52.880> and<
• <00:49:02.000> on Uh this bill just puts a license on Uh this bill just puts a license on
• <00:51:01.720> under in the country if you're licensed under in the country if you're licensed
• uh depending on what the odds are set uh depending on what the odds are set at. at. at.
• market space instead of at our licensed market space instead of at our licensed sports<01:01:51.920

Keywords: 958, all

Transcript Highlights:

• , and your mortgage or deed of trust is not likely to match exactly what's on your driver's license.
• Third, sometimes driver's licenses have typographical errors and things that need to be corrected in
• the license.
• So even if they did match at the time, if you make a change in the license, they no longer match.
• The good news is California has already set standards to improve debt settlement.

Summary: The Assembly Banking and Finance Committee met as a subcommittee at first because a quorum was not yet present, then proceeded with bill presentations and later formal votes once enough members arrived. The chair reviewed committee procedures, including how to submit written testimony and rules for witnesses and conduct. The agenda included AB 771, AB 1507 on the consent calendar, and AB 1166. AB 771 by Assemblymember Massetto was presented as a technical fix to California’s Uniform Commercial Code. Supporters said it would allow a mortgage or deed of trust to serve as a fixture filing without requiring an exact match to the debtor’s ID, reducing duplicate filings, fees, and administrative burdens. There was no formal opposition, and the committee voted due pass. AB 1507 was then adopted on the consent calendar with a due pass recommendation. AB 1166 by Chair Valencia addressed debt settlement protections for small business commercial financing recipients by extending existing California debt settlement standards from consumer loans to business loans. Supporters, including the Responsible Business Lending Coalition and several financing providers, said the bill would curb harmful practices and align incentives, while still allowing debt settlement services. Members asked about the private right of action and statutory damages, and the bill was approved due pass. The committee later reopened the rolls for absent members, recorded additional aye votes, and adjourned after completing the agenda.

Transcript Highlights:

• That's on my driver's license. I am Dorothy Stillman.
• It sets a floor, not a ceiling.
• growers began with 861 licenses, but currently as of today is 484 licenses.
• , licensed veterinary technicians, and equine dental providers.
• is easy for both our licenses and the public to use.

Bills: HB294

Keywords: energy efficiency, tax exemption, residential properties, sustainability, real estate

Transcript Highlights:

• driver's license? driver's license?
• Um and issued a license or ID.
• You can also do a DMV new license.
• a new driver's license.
• driver's license?" driver's license?"

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Senate Bill 93 FN relative to licensed Senate Bill 93 FN relative to licensed nurse<00:23:48.880
• additional state licensing was duplicative and burdensome.
• Are we setting a dangerous guns.
• Bill 548FN and act relative to license Bill 548FN and act relative to license requirements<02:08
• facilities from certain licensing facilities from certain licensing requirements<02:08:33.040>

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• There's a teacher that I know of that has retired, but he's maintained his teaching license so that he
• There's a teacher that I know of that has retired, but he's maintained his teaching license so that he
• <00:22:19.800> up their office is supposed to um set up their office is supposed to um set
• So, I think that's something we setting.
• There’s a deep, persistent stigma attached to accidents in a school setting.

Keywords: 916, all

Summary: The committee heard from Superintendent Megan Degenfelder on several interim topics centered on student-centered learning. She highlighted work-based learning and dual/concurrent enrollment, saying the state is updating accountability measures and should examine whether these programs are helping students progress, avoid duplicative costs, and reduce the need for remedial college coursework. She also discussed broader life-skills education, including financial literacy and soft skills, and said districts vary widely in what they offer. On gifted and talented programs, she noted that districts are statutorily required to provide them but the state does not have a clear picture of how consistently they are implemented, and she suggested the committee may want to study that area further. Members asked follow-up questions about whether dual enrollment should be evaluated only by time-to-degree, and Degenfelder said the analysis should also consider additional credentials and remedial coursework. Senator Schuler and others raised the idea of making financial literacy or other life-skills content more common, though Degenfelder said she did not favor a statewide mandate and instead preferred incentives and district-level implementation. The committee also discussed artificial intelligence in schools as an information-sharing topic, with Degenfelder saying the department is beginning a landscape analysis with districts and teachers. She then reviewed NAEP results, noting Wyoming performs strongly in fourth grade but drops sharply by eighth grade, and said the state wants to understand where students are falling off. Members also raised concerns about international comparisons and the need to improve literacy and math outcomes. The committee then moved to member-submitted topics. Representative Strock proposed reviewing the governance structure of state education, arguing that the current split among the Department of Education, State Board of Education, and other boards creates inefficiency and confusion, especially for licensure and programs like CTE. Senator Scott noted that turnover in the superintendent’s office could be a practical issue in any restructuring, and Strock responded that administrative staff could handle day-to-day operations. Representative Williams then introduced a discussion of common core standards and literacy, arguing that standards may be too broad and not specific enough, especially in early grades, and that Wyoming should emphasize phonics, basic reading, math, and civics more directly. Representative Guggenmos agreed that narrowing early-grade focus to math and literacy could improve outcomes. Finally, Representative Williams raised virtual education, saying it is growing quickly and the committee should study funding, accountability, and student support more closely; the chair opened that topic for further discussion.

Transcript Highlights:

• , settings, settings, and<00:08:10.920> enhancements<00:08:11.800> to<00:08:11.920>
• Certifications to licenses.
• Finally, it empowers the State IG to set Finally, it empowers the State IG to set policy<00:14:55.360
• and they're not renewing their licenses. and they're not renewing their licenses.
• <01:12:43.320> wasn't and I would argue that licensing wasn't and I would argue that licensing

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• jailers who interact with veterans, requires interpreters for defendants in criminal proceedings, and sets
• By contrast, the Government Code requires courts to appoint licensed court interpreters in both civil
• And this would set up that same system for every law enforcement agency in the state."
• But where this bill starts to fall apart for me is where it includes each license holder.
• Anybody's not set up police officers for default or for failure.

Bills: SB693, SB781, SB836, SB860, SB906, SB993, SB1101, SB1321, SB1370, SB1537, SB1563, SB1610, SB1637

Keywords: notary public, notaries, acknowledgment, jurat, personal appearance, remote notarization, online notarization, e-notary, electronic notarization, fraud prevention, identity verification, real estate fraud, property transfer, state jail felony, Class A misdemeanor, secretary of state, continuing education, record retention, notarial act, Texas Government Code

Summary: The Senate Committee on Criminal Justice heard a series of bills focused on criminal procedure, public safety, victim protections, and law enforcement administration. SB 1537 would require criminal-proceeding interpreters to meet the same appointment standards used in the Government Code, and SB 993 would let the Comptroller’s Criminal Investigative Division seek mobile-tracking warrants directly in motor fuel theft and related tax-fraud investigations. SB 693, as substituted, would create a criminal offense for notaries who notarize documents without the signer personally appearing, with a higher penalty when real property is involved, and would add continuing education for notaries. SB 1610 would tighten rules for civilly committed sexually violent predators at the Texas Civil Commitment Office, including penalties for new crimes and assaults on staff, sex-offender registration requirements, and removal of certain provisions from the filed version; the substitute reduced some of the harsher penalties and preserved parole/community-supervision eligibility. SB 836 would expand privacy protections for sexual assault survivors by limiting livestreaming of certain trials, allowing pseudonyms earlier in the process, and protecting forensic exam evidence and invasive recordings under protective orders. SB 1563 would require county jailers to receive training on interacting with veterans, with testimony emphasizing suicide risk, PTSD, and the need for better identification and support in jails. SB 906 would give the Ysleta del Sur Pueblo authority similar to other Texas tribes to commission peace officers under state law to enforce Texas laws on tribal land. SB 781 would standardize confidentiality rules for peace officers’ personal information and create a confidential departmental file system modeled on Chapter 143 civil-service practices, though members raised concerns about whether the bill could affect disciplinary records and existing disclosure rules. Testimony was largely supportive for the bills, especially from prosecutors, law enforcement representatives, victim advocates, and agency officials. Supporters of SB 693 described widespread deed fraud tied to improper notarizations; supporters of SB 836 stressed survivor privacy and the harms of livestreamed sexual-assault proceedings; supporters of SB 1563 said jailer training could help prevent veteran suicides and improve treatment; and supporters of SB 906 said state commissioning would improve public safety and coordination on tribal lands. SB 781 drew support from police and TCOLE witnesses who said the bill would extend confidentiality protections already used in civil-service departments, while some members questioned whether the bill duplicated existing law or could be read to shield misconduct information. Public testimony included opposition to SB 1610 from a civil-rights advocate who urged waiting for Sunset review, and opposition to SB 781 from a family member of a person killed by police, who objected to expanding confidentiality for officers. Several bills were left pending after testimony because the committee lacked a quorum or chose to hold them for later action.

Transcript Highlights:

• And this would set up that same system for every law enforcement agency in the state.
• And this would set up that same system for every law enforcement agency in the state.
• What's different about this versus the way that the system is, the way it's been set up?
• It has been set out as a model policy for the state for adoption by all agencies.
• Anybody's not set up police officers for default or for failure.

Bills: SB693, SB781, SB836, SB860, SB906, SB993, SB1101, SB1321, SB1370, SB1537, SB1563, SB1610, SB1637

Keywords: notary public, notaries, acknowledgment, jurat, personal appearance, remote notarization, online notarization, e-notary, electronic notarization, fraud prevention, identity verification, real estate fraud, property transfer, state jail felony, Class A misdemeanor, secretary of state, continuing education, record retention, notarial act, Texas Government Code

Summary: The committee heard a series of criminal justice bills focused on victim protections, law enforcement tools, notary/deed fraud, sexually violent predators, veterans in jail, tribal policing authority, and peace officer records. Several bills were laid out, heard, and left pending because the committee lacked a quorum for final action on those items. Testimony was generally supportive on bills addressing interpreter appointments, fuel theft investigations, deed fraud, survivor privacy, veteran jailer training, tribal peace officer authority, and officer-record confidentiality, though some bills drew concerns about due process, scope, or drafting. Senate Bill 1537 would clean up criminal procedure language on appointing interpreters and align it with Government Code standards requiring licensed or certified interpreters; it received no public opposition and was left pending. Senate Bill 993 would let Comptroller Criminal Investigative Division officers directly seek warrants for mobile tracking devices in fuel-theft and tax-fraud investigations; it also drew support and was left pending. Senate Bill 693, as substituted, would create a criminal offense for notarizing documents without the signer personally appearing, with a higher penalty when real property is involved, and would add notary continuing education; a Dallas County prosecutor testified that notary fraud is a major driver of deed theft, and the bill was left pending. Senate Bill 1610, as substituted, would address safety, registration, and criminal penalties at the Texas Civil Commitment Office for sexually violent predators, including assaults on staff and sex-offender registration issues; agency witnesses described increased assaults and operational problems, while a public witness urged waiting for Sunset review and raised due-process concerns. Senate Bill 836 would add privacy protections for sexual assault survivors by limiting livestreaming of trials, expanding pseudonym use, and protecting forensic exam and invasive-recording evidence; survivors and advocates strongly supported it, and defense lawyers said they had no opposition to the substitute. Senate Bill 1563 would require county jailer training on interacting with veterans, with testimony from the Texas Veterans Commission and veterans’ advocates emphasizing suicide risk, PTSD, and the need for better identification and support in jails; the bill was left pending. The committee also heard Senate Bill 906, which would authorize the Ysleta del Sur Pueblo tribal police to be commissioned as Texas peace officers like two other federally recognized tribes in Texas; tribal leaders said the change would improve response times and coordination, and the bill was left pending. Senate Bill 781, as substituted, would standardize confidentiality rules for peace officer personnel and departmental files statewide, mirroring Chapter 143 civil-service practices; law enforcement witnesses supported it as a way to protect personal information and create uniform records practices, but several senators raised concerns that the bill could blur existing disclosure rules or bury misconduct complaints, and public testimony included an opposition witness describing a police shooting involving her brother.

Transcript Highlights:

• We have a 211 hotline that also serves as the 988 hotline with licensed clinical social workers or people
• the first part of my question about duplicative services, that you're not calling someone with a licensed
• That is something that's a specific program set up. This is a different course.
• That is something that's a specific program set up, where this is something from the nonprofit community
• License-exempt providers: the teachers still have to be level two background screened.

Summary: The Health and Human Services Committee heard and passed several bills. HB 293 would codify the Office of Faith and Community in the Executive Office of the Governor, create a liaison and advisory council, and was supported by faith-based and nonprofit groups; some members questioned possible duplication with existing services and the source of any future funding, but the bill passed 24-0. CS/HB 547 would create an exception to the 30-day notice requirement before hospitals and ambulatory surgical centers sell medical debt when the debt buyer agrees not to use interest, fees, or extraordinary collection actions and must return charity-care-eligible debt; it passed unanimously after brief support testimony. CS/HB 1553 would require reporting of uterine fibroid data to the Department of Health to create a de-identified public database and reauthorize funding for implementation; it also passed 24-0, with members noting the earlier database mandate had not been carried out. The committee then took up CS/HB 1195, “Gage’s Law,” which would require hospitals and hospital-based emergency departments to test for fentanyl in urine drug screens for suspected overdose or poisoning cases. The bill was presented as a response to overdose deaths and the need to better detect fentanyl, and emotional testimony from a parent described a son’s death after a hospital did not test for fentanyl. Members from both parties spoke in strong support, emphasizing stigma, the need for better treatment and data, and the potential to save lives; the bill passed 24-0. CS/HB 47 on child care and early learning providers would streamline inspections, speed background screening, offer free online training/testing, update definitions, protect certain family child care homes from insurance issues, and create a license-exempt category for employer-provided child care; after questions about parent notice, database listing, background checks, and insurance, an amendment was adopted and the bill passed 24-0 as amended. Finally, CS/HB 647 would allow advanced practice registered nurses to sign death certificates in hospice settings, addressing delays that can leave families waiting to complete burial arrangements. Support testimony came from advocacy and hospice groups, and members cited the bill’s importance for families and religious burial timelines. The bill passed 23-0. The committee then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Whereas the New Mexico Regulation and Licensing Department requires supplemental funding to ensure it
• Whereas New Mexico may enter into an interstate medical licensing compact.
• on the recommendations of the New Mexico Department of Health, allowing the Department of Health to set
• Appropriating funds to supplement the New Mexico Regulation and Licensing Department's budget. 10.
• But I continue to set the example, and I'm confident that we can come together to support all of New

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh and so a license license as well.
• Do you have a driver's license? Yes, a driver's license.
• Do you have a driver's license? Yes, a driver's license.
• <00:30:14.640> And license. Yes, a driver's license. And license.
• driver's license. driver's license.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• HB 505 by Busey, relating to the issuance of both certified birth record, driver's license, or personal
• HB 562 by Gervin Hawkins relating to the regulations of licensed dog and cat breeders referred to the
• to the required proof of the lawful presence in the United States for the issuance of a driver's license
• Judiciary and Civil Jurisprudence, HB 586 by BUC relating to the expedited Presidential Link for Licensing
• The Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation referred to the Committee on Licensing and Administrative

Keywords: 1184, house, all