Transcript Highlights:

• As you can imagine, grape production takes a lot of manual labor across the year.
• pre-pruner in our efforts to reduce our labor dependency, but growing grapes still requires significant manual

Committee: Senate Agricultural Affairs

Summary: The committee first approved a motion to reorder the agenda, hearing a presentation from the Idaho Grape Growers and Wine Producers Commission before taking up Senate Bill 1282. Commission representatives reviewed the history and current size of Idaho’s wine industry, noting about 65 wineries, 1,300 acres of vineyards, and three AVAs. They described challenges including county land-use restrictions, water supply concerns in the Treasure Valley, and labor shortages, while also highlighting marketing, education, and specialty crop grant funding. A vineyard owner testified that the industry requires significant upfront investment and manual labor, but said commission-funded education has improved grape quality and supported growers. The committee then heard extensive testimony on S.B. 1282, which would create a kratom consumer protection framework. Senator Nichols and supporters said the bill would preserve access to natural kratom while banning adulterated or synthetically enhanced products, requiring testing, labeling, age restrictions, and clearer supply-chain accountability. Supporters included kratom users, business owners, and industry representatives who said the bill would protect consumers, distinguish natural leaf products from high-potency 7-OH derivatives, and provide needed standards without banning kratom outright. Several witnesses described personal benefits from kratom for pain, recovery, or avoiding opioids, and some said responsible regulation was preferable to prohibition. Opponents, including family members of people who died after using kratom, law enforcement, and addiction medicine professionals, argued that natural kratom itself can be dangerous and addictive and that the bill would not adequately protect the public. They urged either a full ban or broader restrictions, criticized the bill’s low civil penalties and prohibition on private causes of action, and said age limits and labeling would not be enough. Committee members questioned witnesses closely about deaths, testing, liability, and whether the bill should cover natural kratom as well as 7-OH. No vote was taken during the hearing, but Senator Nichols said the bill sponsor was open to amendments, including raising the purchase age, increasing penalties, and revisiting the private right of action provision.

Transcript Highlights:

• As you can imagine, grape production takes a lot of manual labor across the year.
• pre-pruner in our efforts to reduce our labor dependency, but growing grapes still requires significant manual

Committee: Senate Agricultural Affairs

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So Band-Aids, again, elastic bandages, manual stethoscopes, exam gloves, things of that nature.
• straight And then perform the procedure through a series of small incisions using straight-stick manual

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And then I think the other thing that's important to know is this is a manual form that is filled out
• In the past, the state actually did do aggregate reporting, but this is a manual form for every patient

Bills: HB195 , HB279 , SB30 , HB234 , HB292 , SB100 , SB23 , SB221 , SB261 , SB264

Committee: House House Judiciary

Keywords: medical malpractice, judgments, independent providers, insurance, personal assets, settlements, healthcare, healthcare privacy, electronic medical records, reproductive health, gender-affirming care, data protection, location tracking, confidentiality, SB30, induced abortion, abortion reporting, vital statistics, public health reporting, medical records

Summary: The committee first took up House Bill 195, which would protect the personal assets of certain health care providers from collection in medical malpractice judgments. Supporters said the bill would help recruit and retain physicians, especially in high-liability fields like obstetrics, while opponents argued broader malpractice reform should focus on insurance and legal representation. Members discussed whether the bill’s definition of “independent provider” matched existing law, and the committee adopted a friendly amendment to add osteopathic physician. HB 195 then passed on a 9-0 vote. The committee then heard House Bill 279, a health care privacy and safety measure for reproductive and gender-affirming care. The sponsor said it would strengthen protections for sensitive health information, limit geofencing around clinics, allow providers to keep personal addresses confidential, and remove provider names from medication abortion packaging. Supporters framed it as a privacy and safety bill; opponents said it would weaken parental access, create confusion for emergency physicians, and shield abortion access. After extensive questions about HIPAA, emergency care, and data collection, the bill passed 6-3. Senate Bill 30, which would repeal the requirement that induced abortions be reported to the state registrar, drew similar testimony. The sponsor and supporters argued the reporting requirement is outdated, medically unnecessary, and exposes providers to surveillance and possible out-of-state targeting; opponents said the data supports transparency and public health oversight. Members questioned what data would be lost and how the state currently uses the reports. SB 30 passed 6-3. The committee also heard House Bill 234 on fentanyl definitions, with law enforcement and business groups supporting clearer criminal penalties; members and the sponsor worked through possible amendment language to better align the bill with existing controlled-substance definitions, and the discussion was continued for a revised draft. Finally, House Bill 292, the New Mexico Prison Rape Elimination Act, received broad support from advocacy groups and passed the committee substitute 7-0.

Transcript Highlights:

• By prohibiting ADS-B data for billing, it forces airports back to outdated manual methods that ADS-B
• It forces airports back to outdated manual methods that are far less efficient, more expensive, and less

Bills: S0198 , S0422 , S1236 , S1356 , S1456 , S1722

Committee: Senate Commerce and Tourism

Keywords: virtual currency, kiosks, money services business, regulation, financial services, consumer protection, cryptocurrency, registration, ADS-B, automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast, aviation, airports, airport fees, landing fees, departure fees, touch-and-go landing, general aviation, pilot privacy, airspace radius, aircraft tracking

Summary: The committee first postponed SB 1456, then heard SB 1236, which would condition state economic development incentives on employers using secret-ballot union elections and prohibit neutrality agreements. The sponsor argued the bill protects workers from coercion and applies only to companies receiving taxpayer-funded incentives; opponents said it was government interference, likely to hurt contractors, apprenticeships, and business growth, and raised concerns about federal preemption and Attorney General enforcement. After debate, the committee reported SB 1236 favorably on a recorded vote. The committee then considered CS/SB 198, a measure to regulate cryptocurrency kiosks by requiring operator registration, fraud warnings, transaction limits, blockchain analytics, receipts, and refund protections for certain first-time transactions tied to fraud. Supporters from the banking industry, AARP, and others said the bill would help stop scams that are targeting seniors and vulnerable adults; one industry witness supported the bill but suggested narrowing the limits for existing users and shortening the new-customer period. The committee reported the bill favorably. Next, the committee took up CS/SB 1356 on dog breeding, pet sales, and breeder registration. The sponsor said the bill is intended to curb puppy mills, improve animal welfare, and add consumer protections, while an amendment removed state oversight of local animal shelters. Pet store representatives supported much of the bill but objected to the three-day waiting period for financed purchases, expanded reimbursement, and unfair trade practice penalties; others argued the bill would add red tape and litigation. The committee adopted the amendment and then reported the bill favorably. The committee also heard SB 1722 on app stores and minors, which would require age verification, parental consent for minors, app-content disclosures, and enforcement by the Department of Legal Affairs. Supporters said the bill would help parents protect children online; opponents warned it could force collection of sensitive personal data, create privacy and constitutional problems, and duplicate existing parental tools. Members debated the balance between child safety and privacy, and the committee reported the bill favorably. Finally, the committee heard CS/SB 422 on ADS-B aviation data, which would bar use of ADS-B information to calculate certain landing or access fees; an amendment added departures to the restriction. Pilots supported the bill as a safety and privacy measure, while airport representatives opposed it as undermining airport finances and shifting costs. The amendment was adopted, and the hearing on the bill began with testimony from both sides.

Transcript Highlights:

• extensive experience diagnosing and assessing mental illnesses using the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual
• extensive experience diagnosing and accessing mental illnesses using the diagnostic and statistical manual

Committee: Senate Criminal Justice

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Additionally, the work group is developing a comprehensive behavioral health standard manual.
• The work group is developing a comprehensive behavioral health standard manual to serve as interpretive

Bills: SB5873 , SB5895 , SB5945

Committee: Senate Human Services

Keywords: incarcerated individuals, escorted leaves, criminal justice, rehabilitation, state law, healthcare, incarcerated, extraordinary medical placement, criminal justice reform, medical care, persistent offender, three strikes, resentencing, juvenile conviction, youth offender, juvenile sentencing, life without parole, LWOP, most serious offense, sentencing reform

Transcript Highlights:

• This is our manual. This is basically our procedural manual on how to deal with a complaint.

Bills: SB2101 , SB2334 , SB2633 , SB2637 , SB2713 , SB2781 , SB2782 , SB3059 , HB 1130

Committee: Senate State Affairs

Keywords: minors, sexually explicit materials, public libraries, age verification, civil penalties, library collection review, alcohol storage, airline permits, beverage regulations, airport, commercial flights, alcoholic beverages, local option election, zoning regulations, municipality control, land use, state law, social media, bot accounts, misinformation

Summary: The committee first reopened public testimony on Senate Bill 2713, which concerned protections for freedom of conscience in the context of Realtor association discipline. Texas Realtors representatives testified that their organization is a separate Texas legal entity but affiliated with the National Association of Realtors through a charter and code of ethics. They said Texas Realtors is neutral on SB 2713, that their ethics process is focused on fair housing and equal professional service, and that they have not suspended or terminated anyone in Texas for religious or political speech. Senators pressed them on whether national standards could override Texas law and on examples from other states; the witnesses said state and federal law control and that they would comply with Texas law if the bill passed. Public testimony then closed and SB 2713 was left pending. The committee then took up Senate Bill 1698 on e-cigarettes. Senator Parker explained a committee substitute that tightened enforcement, required distributor registration, expanded regulation to nicotine from any source, added restrictions on child-appealing packaging, authorized inspections and audits, and set compliance deadlines later in 2025 and 2026. After questions, the substitute was adopted and SB 1698, as substituted, was reported favorably to the full Senate on a 6-0 vote, with a recommendation for the local and uncontested calendar. Next, the committee considered Senate Bill 2487 on crisis and mental health facilities. Senator Parker described a substitute that renamed the program a crisis service model, allowed multiple county facilities, added local siting limits, expanded staffing options, shortened clinical timelines, required discharge referrals, directed law enforcement and EMS to transport people there first, and created local boards and expanded reporting. The substitute was adopted and the bill was reported favorably on a 6-0 vote, also recommended for the local and uncontested calendar. Senate Bill 2819, dealing with political activities of county elections administrators, was then reported favorably on a 6-0 vote and likewise sent to the local and uncontested calendar. Senate Bill 2043 was withdrawn. The committee spent substantial time on Senate Bill 2101, which would require municipal public libraries to move sexually explicit materials out of minors’ sections and impose age-verification and review requirements. Supporters argued the bill would protect children from explicit material in public libraries and that libraries should not be left to self-regulate. Opponents, including librarians, parents, authors, and ACLU representatives, argued the definitions were vague, the bill would be costly and burdensome for small libraries, could function as a book ban, and would restrict teens’ access to classics, research materials, and other books. Several witnesses said parents should make those decisions, not the state. The bill’s author said the committee substitute was still being worked on and asked witnesses to review it; public testimony remained open in the portion provided, with no final action on SB 2101 shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• is with me here today, and I started Patriot in 2010. with a thousand square feet of space and one manual
• As we go away from the very basic manual operations to more advanced CNC operations or even driving trucks

Committee: Senate Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee

Keywords: joint hearing, small business, Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, economic recovery, tax relief, job creation

Summary: In this joint hearing of the House Committee on Small Business and the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, the primary focus was on the importance of making the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 (TCJA) permanent. The chair emphasized that small businesses are crucial for the nation's economic recovery, especially in the wake of current federal policies perceived as detrimental. Witnesses shared their experiences and highlighted how the tax cuts facilitated job creation and business expansion, stressing the need for continued support through ongoing tax relief measures. The meeting included discussions about the economic implications of the TCJA's potential expiration, with members voicing their concerns regarding how this could impact small businesses and the broader economy.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm curious how many, what percentage of the drones are actually manually controlled or pre-programmed
• , and they're not necessarily manually controlled. >> They do both. >> They do?
• </c><00:42:21.440><c> controlled</c><00:42:22.560><c> or</c><00:42:23.599><c> or</c> actually manually
• controlled or or actually manually controlled or or pre-programmed pre-programmed pre-programmed and
• </c> and they're not necessarily manually and they're not necessarily manually controlled.<00:42:29.839

Committee: House Commerce and Consumer Affairs

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• He said the larger document is the election procedure manual, which is distributed to all local election
• 12:54.399><c> procedure</c> document is the election procedure document is the election procedure manual
• 56.639><c> we</c><00:12:56.920><c> distribute</c><00:12:57.440><c> to</c><00:12:57.639><c> all</c> manual
• uh which we distribute to all manual uh which we distribute to all local<00:12:58.639><c> election</
• fewer errors as a result of that process, because the supervisors of the checklist don't have to manually

Committee: House Election Law

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• 10:42.400><c> guideline</c> 2007 DNR uh planning and guideline 2007 DNR uh planning and guideline manual
• which you saw but as well as manual which you saw but as well as intentioned<01:10:46.239><c> as</c>
• The manual recommends buffer zones of 200 feet and to avoid wetlands in all sensitive ecological areas
• The manual emphasizes early collaboration to create trails aligned with local values and priorities.
• The manual emphasizes early collaboration to create trails aligned with local values and priorities.

Committee: House Environment and Natural Resources Finance and Policy

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• > understanding is that the Medicaid understanding is that the Medicaid Program<00:57:48.640><c> manually
• </c><00:57:49.359><c> prices</c><00:57:50.359><c> that</c><00:57:50.559><c> item</c> Program manually
• prices that item Program manually prices that item currently<00:57:52.240><c> uh</c><00:57:52.359><c
• <c> priced</c><00:58:02.119><c> items</c><00:58:03.119><c> um</c><00:58:03.760><c> are</c> which manually
• priced items um are which manually priced items um are priced<00:58:05.280><c> or</c><00:58:05.480><

Committee: Senate Commerce and Consumer Protection

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Let me try another question for you in your election manual procedure. the IDS are all shown locally
• Um, and we will go to the election procedure manual, or the law, and we basically recite back the law
• :57.239><c> the</c><01:52:57.360><c> election</c><01:52:57.719><c> procedure</c><01:52:58.119><c> manual
• </c><01:52:58.599><c> are</c> go to the election procedure manual are go to the election procedure manual
• get any identification questions, and are there opportunities to clarify things in the procedure manual

Committee: House Election Law

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I now know how to drive a manual pickup truck.
• /c><00:07:42.599><c> the</c> Cole, I just wanted to know, you mentioned something about driving a manual
• really know what we're talking<00:08:09.000><c> about</c><00:08:09.240><c> a</c><00:08:09.400><c> manual
• </c><00:08:09.840><c> transmission</c><00:08:10.759><c> but</c> talking about a manual transmission but
• talking about a manual transmission but uh<00:08:11.440><c> they</c><00:08:11.560><c> can</c><00:08:

Committee: Senate Agriculture, Veterans, Broadband, and Rural Development

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Sure, but your definition in a lending decision also includes combinations of both AI and manual.

Committee: Senate Banks

Keywords: 993, senate, all

Summary: The Senate Banking Committee met with Chair James Sanders Jr. and reviewed a full agenda of banking-related bills. Early action included approval of a bill requiring licensed check cashers to file suspicious activity reports, and a bill on civil penalties for fraud or misrepresentation in financial products or services, though several members objected to removing the intentionality standard and warned it could broaden enforcement too far and discourage lending in New York. The committee also advanced a bill prohibiting fees for periodic paper statements, a bill on asset-based lending transactions, and a bill requiring reporting of suspected financial exploitation. Members spent substantial time on a bill regulating automated lending decision tools. The sponsor and chair said the measure would allow AI use but require a human review or appeal if a borrower is denied, while some senators raised concerns about competitiveness for state-chartered banks and possible overlap with existing human oversight. The bill was reported out and referred to the Internet and Technology Committee for further review. The committee also approved a DFS study bill on the financial stability and licensing of the check-cashing industry, with a suggestion that the study also examine risks of expanding the industry. A major discussion centered on the “Deep Protection Act,” aimed at preventing foreclosures tied to deed theft. The sponsor described cases involving elderly homeowners and fraudulent transfers, while opponents argued the bill was vague, could create unintended consequences or private litigation, and might affect only a small share of mortgages because it applies to state-chartered institutions. The sponsor said the bill would be amended and noted interest in related county clerk reforms. The committee ultimately sent the bill to Judiciary. The final bills addressed mortgage payment schedule fees and unsolicited mail loan checks; both were approved. The meeting ended after the chair emphasized open debate and committee review as part of improving legislation.

Transcript Highlights:

• those, there's automatic smoke and fire detection everywhere it matters in the building, there's manual

Committee: House Business

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We did solicitations manually.

Committee: Senate Senate Rules

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• That was confirmed in the manual recount of the ballots.

Committee: House Ethics

Transcript Highlights:

• HOW YOU ARE BRINGING THESE BATTERIES INTO COMPLIANCE SPECIFICALLY AROUND THE PRODUCT INSTRUCTION MANUAL

Keywords: 999, senate, all