Transcript Highlights:

• Fiesta, the option to better align its local election calendar with the uniform November election date
• However, once they've set that date, changing it again can be difficult.
• Senate Bill 4447 allows a mission to change its election date to the November Uniform election date if
• Moving the election date to November could help increase voter turnout, reduce administrative costs,
• , adding those dates.

Bills: HB311

Keywords: flood hazards, recreational vehicles, temporary dwelling structures, Texas Water Development Board, flood safety standards, emergency management

Transcript Highlights:

• Fiesta, the option to better align its local election calendar with the uniform November election date
• However, once they've set that date, changing it again can be difficult.
• Senate Bill 447 allows a municipality to change its election date to the November uniform election date
• Moving the election date.
• In parts of making everything connected instead of moving the dates, adding those dates.

Bills: HB311, SB447, SB505, SB2217, SB2753, HB311

Keywords: voter registration, electronic, Texas election law, Signature verification, DPS, internet application, Texas Election Code, signature verification, online application, data security, electronic application, Department of Public Safety, information security, electronic voter registration, voting technology, voter access, state election laws, digital signature, election irregularities, audit

Transcript Highlights:

• Fixed term installment contracts commonly include early termination fees.
• These are fees that the consumer must pay if they want to terminate their contract with the seller.
• 483 addresses this consumer confusion by mandating that sellers that specifically choose early termination
• In addition to this transparency, AB 483 caps the cost of the early termination fee to an installment

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And at the court, we see this most vividly in cases where the state is attempting to terminate the legal
• 161.001B10 of the Family Code. 161.001 of the Family Code, and it allows a parent's rights to be terminated
• But the thing is, there's another provision right next to it in the code that allows termination of rights
• Termination of parental rights is the civil death penalty.

Summary: The House and Senate met in joint session under HCR 5 to hear an address from Texas Supreme Court Chief Justice Jimmy Blacklock, with Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick introducing him. The session included recognition of the justices, judges, law enforcement officers, and interpreters present, and it also marked the formal completion of the joint session once the address ended. Chief Justice Blacklock said the state of the judiciary is strong, while paying tribute to former Chief Justice Nathan Hecht and thanking Governor Abbott for his appointment. His remarks focused on judicial administration and public safety, including a call for a 30% increase in district judge salaries, which he argued is needed to attract and retain qualified judges. He also urged support for law enforcement, backed efforts to keep violent offenders in custody pending trial, and said the court is gathering data to identify underperforming judges and use constitutional remedies where necessary. Blacklock emphasized that Texas courts should interpret statutes and the constitution according to text and original meaning, rejecting the “living constitution” approach. He highlighted reforms to improve efficiency and reduce litigation costs, including changes to docketing practices, civil procedure, and the regulation of legal services, and he urged the State Bar to remain politically neutral. He also discussed family law and child welfare, arguing for stronger legal representation for parents and suggesting repeal of Family Code subsection O, which he said can unfairly lead to termination of parental rights. The joint session concluded after his remarks, and the House stood at ease as guests departed.

Transcript Highlights:

• That is the federally required date for new cost-sharing requirements.
• The committee substitute pushes that back to the federally required date of January 1, 2027.
• considered today reflects many of the changes that we have recommended, aligning the implementation dates
• state or federal data sources before the state makes an eligibility determination that could end in terminating
• eligibility determination that could end eligibility determination that could end in<00:50:56.600> terminating

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The committee met with a quorum to consider the Senate Committee Substitute for House Bill 2, a major Medicaid bill. Members first adopted the substitute and then adopted Amendment 9770. The bill was described as a lengthy rewrite aimed at aligning Kentucky Medicaid policy with federal requirements under HR 1, while also preserving program integrity and addressing due process concerns. Senators and staff repeatedly emphasized that the measure was the product of extensive meetings with providers, associations, and work groups. The sponsor’s section-by-section summary highlighted several key changes: delaying and reducing cost-sharing requirements; pushing eligibility redetermination deadlines to the federal date; restoring some flexibility for hardship waivers; allowing self-attestation as a last resort; modifying MCO audit provisions; clarifying non-emergency medical transport GPS costs; expanding waiver attestation authority to nurse practitioners and licensed psychologists; adding qualified aliens to waiver eligibility to comply with federal law; requiring Medicaid data sharing with the oversight board; limiting changes to Medicaid benefits without General Assembly authorization; narrowing the prescription drug exclusion to drugs prescribed primarily for weight loss; and delaying the dental ASO transition until 2029. The substitute also deleted a proposed auditor review requirement and retained an emergency clause. Committee discussion focused heavily on the policy and fiscal implications of the cost-sharing and recertification provisions. Senators raised concerns about whether the co-pays would be effective or simply shift costs to providers, whether the recertification process would burden the Cabinet and cause eligible people to lose coverage, and how the bill would affect people transitioning from Medicaid into work. Supporters said the lower cost-sharing amounts were intended to encourage appropriate use of care, protect providers, and comply with federal law, and they noted that the Medicaid Oversight and Advisory Board would help shape future changes. A public witness, Maggie Chisholm, gave emotional testimony about her daughter’s experience with a Medicaid waiver and argued that policy delays and administrative disconnects can harm vulnerable families. No final vote on the bill itself was recorded in the excerpt, but the substitute and amendment were adopted and testimony continued.

Transcript Highlights:

• It threatens to undo years of progress for students who are thriving to date.
• Your two home districts, Las Vegas, Las Vegas—these are a little dated FY25, but you have approximately
• Which is what date? Mr. Chair, Representative, middle of October. Okay. And Mr.
• Without getting into too many of the specifics, because I'm not necessarily privy to them, Gallup terminated
• So Gallup contracted with that company; they terminated that contract.

Bills: HB2, SB204, SB241, HB34

Keywords: general appropriation, budget, Medicaid, education funding, public safety, higher education, research funding, federal funding, New Mexico, appropriation, University of New Mexico, New Mexico State University, New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology, child care, child care assistance, child care subsidy, early childhood education, early childhood care, daycare, preschool

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, to date, we've trained 76 of our 110 inspectors.
• might be possible to continue such an eradication program throughout South America, which has been to date
• know that they're, they're, they're working, uh, my agency plans to deploy those around cruise ship terminals
• We might even do it around the, the, the freight terminals if if we find freight that's coming in from
• Is there a projected date when we think they're going to start construction on that?

Transcript Highlights:

• Chairman, but we also want to put them around the cruise ship terminals in case we've got some hitchhikers
• Most of those cruise ship terminals go down... to southern Mexico, Cancun, the Yucatan, Palencia, and
• If you'll note on that legend to the left, it indicates the date of the declared emergency when the number
• To date, Mexico has not been a willing participant in this effort.
• Those studies have been done to show how much is there at X date after the treatment.

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• PARTICIPATED IN ANY INVESTIGATION FOR PROCEEDINGS OR HEARINGS WHICH MAY AFFECT THE MANUFACTURER AND UNFAIR TERMINATION
• THE BILL CLARIFIES THE MANUFACTURER CANNOT TERMINATE OR FAIL TO RENEW A PERMIT UNLESS THE DEALER HAS
• : IS THERE A CERTAIN NUMBER OF DAYS FOR INVESTIGATING A SHOOTING OR HOMICIDE AND THE LOOP ON A DVR DATE
• HAVING SAID THAT WILL MOVE THE DATE BACK ANOTHER 90 MONTHS TO GIVE THEM THE ABILITY TO COMPLY BUT I AM
• NOT AFFECT STRUCTURES PERMITTED UNDER THE LEASE AND INVALID PERMITS IN EFFECT BEFORE THE EFFECTIVE DATE

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• half of OCR's staff has been terminated half of OCR's staff has been terminated and<01:02:41.920
• In the Finance Committee, we changed the effective date to 2027 instead of 2026.
• Uh, since we moved the effective date back, we no longer need a safety clause.
• Amendment L23, amendment to Finance Committee report dated May 5th, 2026, page one, line seven.
• Amendment L.2 to the Finance Committee report dated April 30, 2026, page three, strike lines 13 ...

Keywords: 981, all

Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum, approved the journal, and received committee and House messages on a large number of bills. Committee reports advanced several measures, including House Bill 1335 from Health and Human Services, House Bills 1281, 1315, and 1255 from Judiciary, House Bills 1345 and 1417 and Senate Bill 139 from Education, Senate Bill 192 from Transportation and Energy, and a number of Appropriations recommendations. The chamber also received House-passed and revisor-transmitted bills, and later laid over the special-order second reading calendar until later in the day. A major floor action was adoption of Senate Resolution 26-009, which proclaimed May 2026 as ALS Awareness Month. The resolution described ALS as a fatal neurodegenerative disease, highlighted the need for research, multidisciplinary care, and support for patients and caregivers, and recognized Colorado ALS advocates and medical professionals. Senators spoke personally about the disease’s impact, including the minority leader’s remarks about his mother’s death from ALS. The resolution passed 35-0, and the current roll call was added as co-sponsors. The Senate then took up third-reading consent calendar bills and passed Senate Bill 186, Senate Bill 188, House Bill 1420, House Bill 1341, House Bill 1015, and House Bill 1423, with recorded no votes on Senate Bill 188 and House Bill 1015. Senate Bill 191, concerning gifts, grants, and donations for nursing-facility reimbursement, was amended on third reading to correct reporting language and then passed 32-3. Senate Bill 125, which would codify disability-rights protections in public schools in response to reduced federal enforcement capacity, generated debate over state responsibility and passed 24-11. Senate Bill 187, creating a commission to study Medicaid and adding managed care entities as stakeholders, passed 31-4 after supporters cited rising Medicaid costs, fraud concerns, and data problems. Senate Bill 189, concerning automated decision-making technology and consequential decisions, was introduced and discussed as an AI-regulation measure, but no final action is shown in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• to complete the tasks and terminated to complete the tasks and provide<01:07:51.520> ongoing<
• is pushed back for Family Leave date is pushed back for three<01:15:13.440> four<01:15:13.800
• This provides up-to-date national research as well as help understand even of our students and how to
• <01:19:40.639> uh uh this uh provides upto-date uh uh this uh provides upto-date uh National
• is realistic I did implementation date is realistic I did see<01:32:29.400> in<01:32:29.760><

Bills: HF6, HF52, HF53

Keywords: education, literacy, science of reading, school performance, funding flexibility, innovation zones, equity and inclusion, HF52, New Germany, wastewater treatment, wastewater facility, sewer infrastructure, capital investment, bonding bill, state bonds, Public Facilities Authority, municipal infrastructure, water quality, sanitation, sewage treatment

Transcript Highlights:

• And one month ago, the FAA and announced it was deploying multiple Starlink terminals across the country
• Did any of those DOJ employees have any involvement in the FAA's decision to deploy Starlink terminals
• the deployment of additional Starlink terminals? No, sir.
• Okay, so I recognize that Starlink terminals may be an effective communications tool in remote areas
• changes over time with respect to that airspace, but it's one of the reasons why we immediately terminated

Keywords: aviation safety, midair collision, American Airlines Flight 5342, Army Black Hawk helicopter, NTSB, FAA, ADS-B technology, safety protocols

Summary: The meeting focused on the discussions surrounding the tragic midair collision involving American Airlines Flight 5342 and an Army Black Hawk helicopter, which resulted in the loss of 67 lives. Testimonies were provided by key figures including NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy and FAA Acting Administrator Chris Richelieu. The committee expressed grave concerns regarding the existing safety protocols, questioning why the FAA failed to act on numerous warnings and data indicating potential collision risks. Members emphasized the need for urgent reforms in aviation safety to prevent such tragedies in the future. Specific highlights included the recognition of the importance of ADS-B out technology and concerns about the operational practices of military helicopters in controlled airspaces.

Transcript Highlights:

• If there are to terminate the lease.
• It reinstates in part a current law requiring 80% approval of first mortgages to terminate a CIC.
• <02:05:00.320> a first mortgages to terminate a first mortgages to terminate a CIC.<02:05:
• It reinstates in part a current law requiring 80% approval of first mortgages to terminate a CIC.
• I am looking at an engrossment that is not up to date. It's on page 12, line 22. Delete levy.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• contract will rely on a scrutinized company and poses stiff penalties, including immediate contract termination
• To date, 20 states have passed a version of this bill, including states such as Colorado and Alabama.
• improves transparency in campaign treasurer disclosures by expanding the required information to include date
• I don't think we said fingerprints on the date of birth. Government-issued identification number.

Bills: HB842, HB1907, HB2844, HB2892, HB3439, HB4211, HB4536, HB5111, HB5138, HB5182, HB5247, HB5269, HB5323, HB5435, HJR201, SB871, HB3896, SJR40

Keywords: power lines, Gulf Coast, weather-related outages, Public Utility Commission, infrastructure, government contracts, Chinese companies, information technology, cybersecurity, state regulations, food safety, mobile vendors, licensing, permitting exemptions, health inspections, nonprofit organizations, personal information, government disclosure, privacy, criminal penalties

Transcript Highlights:

• It simply codifies a general practice the agency has acknowledged and supported to date.
• , prescribe the duties of the personnel, compensate the personnel, determine whether to promote, terminate
• prescribe the duties of the personnel, compensate the personnel, determine whether they, to promote, terminate
• proposal to replace the traditional. ...curriculum, including a proposal to replace the traditional date

Summary: The Committee on Education K-16 heard several bills focused largely on special education transparency, school safety, and student support services. Senate Bill 1908, by Senator Zaffirini, would direct the Higher Education Coordinating Board to study the feasibility of a statewide system for coordinating clinical training placements, including regional portals for healthcare clinical slots, with a report due by December 1, 2026. A representative of the Texas Nurses Association and the Nursing Legislative Agenda Coalition testified in support. The bill was left pending subject to the call of the chair. The committee then took up Senate Bill 111, by Senator Hall, which in its committee substitute was narrowed to a reporting bill requiring school districts to disclose legal proceedings involving special education due process complaints when legal fees exceed $10,000, rather than capping spending. Several parents and advocates testified that districts spend large sums on litigation against families of children with disabilities and that greater transparency is needed; some senators raised concerns about unintended consequences, including possible pressure to settle cases. The committee adopted the substitute and left the bill pending. The committee also heard Senate Bill 1551 on automated external defibrillators in public schools, Senate Bill 865 on CPR instruction requirements for certain volunteers, Senate Bill 1032 on the Governor’s University Research Initiative, and Senate Bill 571 on school employee misconduct reporting and access to the Do Not Hire Registry; each was reported favorably after committee substitute adoption and roll-call votes. Additional bills discussed included Senate Bill 1884, which would formalize and expand dedicated staff support for the State Board of Education and give the board chair hiring authority over that staff; members questioned whether it duplicated TEA functions, while a witness argued the workload increase justified the change, and the bill was left pending. Senate Bill 625 would replace the current half-credit economics requirement with a half-credit in personal financial literacy; educators and advocates strongly supported making the course required, and the bill was left pending. Senate Bill 582 would make TEA settlement agreements in special investigations publicly available when sanctions are imposed, and Senate Bill 2600 would bar transportation fees for students living within two miles of campus unless districts do not receive state transportation funding; both were left pending. The committee also heard Senate Bill 2751, which would require TEA inspections of non-public special education programs to consider medical standards of care and crisis-prevention training; testimony from a program operator described severe student behaviors and the need for more flexibility, and the bill was left pending after the substitute was adopted.

Transcript Highlights:

• People with limited English proficiency had not received meaningful language access to up-to-date COVID
• the latest Attorney General's model policies published February of this year and encourages up-to-date
• Under our current law, parents like me, those with prior convictions or terminated rights, can be automatically
• maintain SSI by drawing down one month of SSI in every 12-month period to ensure SSI benefits aren't terminated

Summary: The committee heard a series of child care, social services, immigrant support, disability services, and language access bills, with many measures drawing strong support and no opposition. Early in the hearing, AB 450 proposed a Department of Aging task force to study and recommend policies for undocumented adults age 55 and older; AB 593 would let CDSS identify data-sharing opportunities to improve CalFresh administration and participation; and AB 904 would clarify child care subsidy eligibility so families do not lose care during pregnancy leave, family leave, caregiving, or job search periods. All three were presented as ways to reduce barriers and improve access to essential services, and AB 904 was moved out on a 1-0 call after support testimony from child care advocates and a member of the public. AB 617, which would expand and standardize respite care access for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities by requiring licensing and registry participation, drew both support and significant opposition from respite providers and disability service organizations concerned about added regulation, cost, and possible delays; the author said she would continue working with opponents, and the bill was moved out on a 2-0 call. The committee also heard AB 1220, which would require regional centers to document denials, notices of action, and appeals in individual program plans and include that data in annual reports to improve transparency and equity in developmental services. The bill drew extensive public support from parents, advocates, and disability organizations, with no opposition, and passed 5-0. AB 752 would make child care centers by right in certain residential zones when co-located with multifamily housing or institutional uses, and supporters argued it would reduce zoning barriers and help expand child care capacity; it also passed 5-0. AB 1242 would create a CalHHS language access director, require human review of machine translation, and improve language coverage determinations for state and local agencies; supporters emphasized health equity and the need for better access for limited-English communities, and the bill was moved out on a 4-0 call. Later, AB 548 would continue and expand the Asylee and Vulnerable Non-Citizen Program, which provides case management and integration services for asylees and certain visa holders; supporters said the program had been effective but had run out of funding, and the bill passed 4-0. AB 495, the Family Preparedness Plan Act, would strengthen family safety planning for immigrant families, standardize acceptance of caregiver authorization affidavits, and create a joint guardianship process for temporary separations; testimony focused on fear of family separation and the need for clear school and medical procedures, and the bill passed 4-0. AB 1357 would exclude guaranteed income payments from being counted as income for state public assistance eligibility, with supporters arguing it would prevent recipients from falling off the “benefits cliff”; it passed 4-1. Finally, AB 1201, the Reunity Act, was introduced to require individualized court assessments before denying reunification services to parents with certain violent felony convictions after a five-year period, with the author and a witness describing the bill as a trauma-informed approach to family reunification.

Transcript Highlights:

• First, it ensures that there are protections in place at schools by implementing the most up-to-date
• Finally, schools will be required to keep up-to-date emergency contact information and provide education
• 1028 requires California community college districts to comply with of bargaining agreements and terminating
• Under current law, districts have the. discretion and authority to terminate a part-time employee without
• This bill will ensure that local bargaining unions can discuss terms of termination in their agreements

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• and that really forced a lot of changes in the terminal.
• And significant terminal um project.
• and that really forced a lot of changes in the terminal.
• <01:20:58.480> a airfield uh improvements and terminal a airfield uh improvements and terminal
• Again, it's just to keep up terminal.

Keywords: This meeting was recovered from a back up copy and uploaded after the original meeting took place., 958, all

Summary: The committee received an update from the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet on the FY 2025 road fund. Officials reported road fund revenues came in $38.5 million above the enacted estimate, but were down about $11 million from FY 2024, largely because a motor fuels tax rate reduction took effect at the start of FY 2025. Motor vehicle usage tax receipts were stronger than expected, and the cabinet said the road fund ended the year with a $61.6 million surplus, which the budget bill directs to state highway construction. Members also discussed how the motor fuels decline affects formula distributions to cities, counties, and rural/secondary roads, with officials saying about $122.8 million had been planned for revenue sharing but was not distributed because receipts were lower than forecast. Members asked about broader revenue trends, including fuel efficiency, electric vehicles, and the removal of a hybrid fee. Cabinet officials said improved fuel efficiency and CAFE standards reduce gasoline consumption and therefore fuel tax receipts, while EVs and plug-in hybrids are subject to a user fee. They also said toll revenues from the Louisville bridges are covering bills and commitments, though they did not have detailed figures at hand. On project delivery, officials said delays are often caused by right-of-way acquisition, utility relocation, and the large volume of projects in the highway plan, and that much of the work happens behind the scenes before construction begins. The committee also reviewed the cabinet’s cash management approach, which was adopted after 2000 to avoid setting aside full project costs all at once and to keep the road fund cash balance above a required minimum. Officials said the balance typically rises in winter and falls in summer as project bills come due, and that the current balance was about $166 million. They also reported that project awards for the year were nearing $998 million and expected to exceed last year’s total. No formal votes or legislative actions were taken beyond approving the prior meeting minutes.

Transcript Highlights:

• I don't believe this terminates adult education. Yeah.
• amendment for video lottery terminals. amendment for video lottery terminals.
• <03:42:02.880> But terminals. Okay. Continue. Sorry. But terminals. Okay. Continue.
• One is to terminals with two changes.
• So that’s there in every packet just as the everything you’ve approved to date.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee met with Lottery Director Charlie McIntyre and Charitable Gaming Chief Compliance Officer Kulie Aoyo to review proposed changes in HB 2 and related amendments affecting video lottery terminals, historic horse racing, charitable gaming, and scratch tickets. McIntyre said the late-arriving amendment made revenue estimates difficult, especially because the bill would allow operators to decide when to convert from HHR to VLTs and would change the floor-space rules. He explained that the existing 70/30 floor-space split between machines and table games was negotiated to protect charity revenue, and warned that moving to a 90/10 split could reduce charity revenue, potentially by as much as $17 million, while also changing the character of the facilities. Committee members discussed whether to keep the 70/30 split, and McIntyre said he could provide updated estimates later that day, including net impacts after any offsetting gains or losses under current law. Members also asked about the governor’s proposed operator share versus the Sweeney amendment’s higher operator share. McIntyre said the governor’s 45% figure was based on his own estimate and on comparable rates in other states, and he supported it as a way to maximize revenue for the state and charities. He also described a change to high-stakes tournaments: after speaking with Rep. Sweeney, he said the amendment was clarified to apply only to those tournaments and would lower the house take from 10% to 5% to encourage participation in rare, high-buy-in events. The committee also discussed a separate proposal to raise the maximum scratch ticket price from $30 to $50; McIntyre said the change would take time to implement, would likely increase net state revenue by about $1 million in year two, and was consistent with pricing in neighboring states such as Massachusetts and Connecticut. Additional questions covered sports betting and a separate Kino-related estimate. McIntyre said March Madness is the busiest period for sports betting and that the state’s sports betting revenue has exceeded initial expectations. He also said he had estimated that removing a municipal-vote restriction for Kino could cost about $12 million total, with $2 million in the first year and $10 million thereafter. No formal votes were taken during the discussion; the chair indicated the committee would revisit the VLT amendment and other sections later, and McIntyre agreed to send updated revenue estimates to committee members.

Transcript Highlights:

• That's 100 years out of date. It's not that hard. Make up your mind.
• That's 100 years out of date. It's not that hard. Make up your mind.
• that's 100 years out of date. that's 100 years out of date.
• Speaker, Lunar New Year is so much more than a date on the calendar.
• we terminated the co state of emergency. we terminated the co state of emergency.

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Thursday, February 12, 2026, 1012, house, all