Transcript Highlights:

• education must work to strengthen tenure, fund minority serving institutions, and expand financial aid
• today came from the labor, organizing, and resilience of people of color who have long fought for equality
• We are working on proposals to ensure equal opportunity for all students, protect funding for student
• We thank Representative Vers for filing our Equal Opportunity bill, and we are counting on your support

Transcript Highlights:

• If we direct our attention to the Ag Research Extension, you will see there is a 3% increase, equaling
• If we direct our attention to the Ag Research Extension, you will see there is a 3% increase, equaling
• If we direct our attention to the Ag Research Extension, you will see there is a 3% increase, equaling
• . >> Senate Bill 3060, appropriation, IAGL, student financial aid.
• aid training for<01:08:33.960> county<01:08:34.279> and<01:08:34.359> municipal

Keywords: MS Senate Floor - 19 February, 2026; 10:00 AM, 925, all

Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum, received an invocation from Reverend Kenny McGill, and approved dispensing with the reading of the journal, committee reports, and bill titles. The chamber then spent a substantial amount of time introducing guests in the galleries, including local officials, electric cooperative and farm bureau representatives, a doctor of the day, and student groups, with repeated recognition of workers involved in storm recovery and other public service efforts. Senators also offered brief remarks of support for Senator Warren Barnett’s recovery. The main business was the appropriations calendar. Senator Hopkins gave an overview of the budget process and projected FY 2027 general fund figures, noting that the Senate was still early in the process, had only considered Senate-originated bills, and was awaiting House bills such as education and Medicaid. He highlighted major budget pressures and items including university professor pay raises, agricultural unit increases, education enhancement funds, CAPEX projects, TRICARE funding, and a veterans home appropriation. He also noted that some bills were final passage while others contained reverse repealers and would go to conference. The Senate then considered several appropriations bills. Senate Bill 3051, the Department of Finance and Administration budget and related agencies, was explained by Senator DeBar; it included reductions tied to vacancy projections, contractual and nonrecurring funding changes, and reappropriations for America 250, the Capital City Water Project, coronavirus fiscal recovery expenses, and Bureau of Buildings invoices. It was adopted and passed by morning roll call. Senate Bill 3052, the Governor’s Office and Mansion budget, was presented as final action without a reverse repealer, with funding reduced from last year due to the loss of federal GEAR and EANS funds; it also passed by morning roll call. Senate Bill 3053, IHL general support, included a $2,000 professor raise and a $20 million CAPEX item, with a total budget of about $1.673 billion; it passed. Senate Bill 3054, IHL subsidiary programs, was explained as having no dollars over LBR and a total of $87.8 million, with a reverse repealer; after a brief question about the university professor raises, it too was adopted and passed.

Transcript Highlights:

• And so we have a very complex uh base adequacy, differentiated aid for three components, targeted aid
• for extraordinary needs, and fiscal capacity disparity aid.
• <00:12:56.480> for base adequacy differentiated aid for base adequacy differentiated aid for
• > for three components targeted aid for three components targeted aid for extraordinary<00:13:
• What what this bill aims disparity aid.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:09:12.880> is<00:09:13.200> only.3% receive in aid is only.3% receive in aid is
• In 2016, total special education aid to Conval, including both differentiated aid and reimbursements,
• <00:18:06.160> um education differentiated aid um education differentiated aid um throughout
• state aid. state aid.
• So, the differentiate differentiated differentiated differentiated aid aid aid would<01:24:56.239>

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Bills: SB17, SB1569, SB2420, HB5138, HJR161, HB1937, HB3334, HB5444, HB5137, HB361, HB321, HB5447, HB464, HB678, HB2294, HB4172, HB3225, HB1769, HB5394, HB1837, HB1787, HB2271, HB2440, HB5134, HB5149, HB2151, HB2073, HB2186, HB2025, HB1936, HB1777, HB1663, HB 1306, HB 1290, HB1527, HB4802, HB3462, HB2963, HB2462, HB2560, HB644, HB2725, HB2621, HB2588, HB1443, HB1403, HB3032, HB1557, HB1664, HB2811, HB2088, HB2598, HB3062, HB3134, HB3940, HB4027, HB4097, HB4862, HB4170, HB4157, HB4205, HB4279, HB4377, HB4838, HB5424, HB5294, HB4870, HB4763, HB5639, HB4112, HB2275, HB1677, HB5014, HB3848, HB3797, HB3727, HB3709, HB3177, HB3057, HB4176, HB4202, HB2180, HB3528, HB3658, HCR76, HCR127

Keywords: foreign ownership, real property, national security, criminal penalties, civil penalties, personal information, higher education, privacy protection, governing board, institutional security, software applications, mobile devices, age verification, parental consent, data protection, app store regulation, HJR 161, Texas constitutional amendment, voting rights, non-citizen voting

Summary: The House convened with a quorum, received the invocation and pledges, and heard several announcements and recognitions before moving into floor action. Members honored the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley chess team for winning a share of the 2025 President’s Cup, recognized educator Jessica Lopez, and paid memorial tribute to Jennifer Maddenly, along with recognitions for Jeanette Valdez Duran’s food pantry work, TAMACC’s 50th anniversary, and Bernardine Steptoe’s retirement from WFAA. The House also granted permission for committees to meet while the House was in session, set a local consent calendar, and suspended posting rules for a Public Health Committee hearing on SB 2721. The chamber then considered a long series of Senate and House bills, with many passing on record votes. Measures addressed local law enforcement authority (SB 906), veterans highway designation (SB 1229), foster care medical billing (SB 855), massage therapy trafficking safeguards (SB 703), tax ballot language (SB 1025), occupational licensing for people with convictions (SB 1080), lien deadlines (SB 929), liquor sales complaints (SB 1355), higher education application fee waivers (SB 2231), utility data access (SB 1877), pediatric preceptorships (SB 1998), and several House bills on bond forfeiture notice, health workforce coordination, indigent civil commitment representation, consumer transaction cancellations, bird dispersal rules, theft venue for digital property, military grant applications, AI cancer-detection grants, cybersecurity contract language, in-state tuition for military-related programs, utility capital recovery, energy waste advisory oversight, gas utility rate recovery, psychedelic therapy study, teacher retirement funding transparency, pension changes, tax payment plans, and voter registration security. Some measures drew notable debate or amendments, including HB 5247, where a ratepayer-credit amendment failed, and HB 2298, HB 4014, HB 510, HB 561, HB 1128, HB 1904, HB 30, HB 200, HB 3045, and HB 5111, which all passed after recorded votes with varying margins. A major point of contention was SB 2420, the app store age-verification bill, which prompted extended debate over whether the bill should also require app developers to verify users’ ages. Representative Bryant offered an amendment to preserve developer verification obligations, arguing the bill would otherwise shift responsibility away from app makers; the author opposed it, saying the bill’s approach was more workable and raised concerns about First Amendment issues. Multiple points of order were raised and withdrawn during the debate, and the amendment discussion remained unresolved in the excerpt. The House also postponed further consideration of SB 17, SB 552, and SB 2420 at different points, and recessed for lunch after completing a large block of third-reading votes.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'd rather rip the band-aid off, Mr. Chair.
• I'd rather rip the band-aid off, Mr. I'd rather rip the band-aid off, Mr. Chair. Chair. Chair.
• It was the original equal access 1984.
• 02:28:41.280> is<02:28:41.439> not equal access to broadband is not equal access to broadband
• File 2045, the Equal Access to Broadband<02:29:14.640> Act.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I mean, I've done referendums.

Bills: HB1453, HB1718, HB2043, HB2207, HB2798

Keywords: local governments, anticipation notes, certificates of obligation, public works, flood control, financial management, local government, municipal financing, private activity bonds, closing definition, real estate finance, bond issuance, government regulation, bond election, general obligation bonds, GO bonds, political subdivision, city bonds, county bonds, school district bonds

Transcript Highlights:

• It aids in developing phases for implementation. It provides a roadmap to protect and preserve U.S.
• It aids in developing phases for implementation. It provides a roadmap to protect and preserve U.S.
• It aids in developing phases for implementation. It provides a roadmap to protect and preserve U.S.
• It aids in developing phases for implementation. It provides a roadmap to protect and preserve U.S.
• It aids in developing phases for implementation. It provides a roadmap to protect and preserve U.S.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So with that, Madam Chair, I have proposed that the cap be equal to... ...propose that the cap be equal
• So non-economic caps will equal punitive caps.
• And we want to make sure that we look at both of those things with equal attention.
• And I feel like we're just going to pass this piece of legislation that puts a small band-aid and pretend
• All together, I will not keep my name on this bill if it becomes a band-aid.

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:40:29.280> Equally correctional environment. Equally correctional environment.
• I don't know that it's equal.
• I don't know that it's equal.
• I don't know that it's equal.
• having almost up to 50 by the legal aid having almost up to 50 by the legal aid and<02:07:01.760

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Not only do we have a weak salary, we are also struggling to have an equal and fair pension that will
• And I deserve that equally in return.
• And I deserve that equally in return.
• Um, and I just have to reiterate, you know, education is the great equalizer and the quality of that
• And so, it's equally distributed among that. So, these are some assumptions that were made.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• sixth legislative session and his fourth as chief of staff, having worked previously as my legislative aide
• and committee aide, committee clerk actually.
• sixth legislative session and his fourth as chief of staff, having worked previously as my legislative aide
• and committee aide, committee clerk actually.
• In total, that equals the $51 billion. It kind of concludes my overview.

Bills: SB 1

Keywords: campground safety, youth camp regulations, flood safety, emergency evacuation, health and safety standards

Summary: The Senate Finance Committee convened for its first hearing of the 89th regular session, confirmed a quorum, adopted committee rules by a 15-0 vote, and began review of Senate Bill 1, the state budget for fiscal years 2026-27. Chair Huffman outlined the committee’s organization, introduced staff, and described the budget as conservative and focused on one-time investments. She highlighted major SB 1 priorities including property tax relief, full funding for public education formulas, teacher pay, school safety, border security, Medicaid growth, dementia research, energy and water infrastructure, transportation, wildfire suppression, and other capital and public safety needs. Comptroller Glenn Hager presented the biennial revenue estimate, saying the state has $194.6 billion available for general-purpose spending in 2026-27, with a projected $23.8 billion ending balance from the current biennium. He cautioned that revenue growth is returning to more normal levels and that lawmakers should avoid committing short-term surpluses to ongoing expenses. He also explained that the Economic Stabilization Fund is projected to hit its constitutional cap, meaning an estimated $5.6 billion in severance tax and related revenue would remain in general revenue in the upcoming biennium rather than flow into the fund. Senators discussed whether to raise or rename the fund and the implications of keeping more severance-tax revenue in general revenue. The Legislative Budget Board then gave an overview of SB 1 and the budget’s major funding changes. LBB staff explained that the bill is essentially flat at $332.9 billion in all funds, but includes large method-of-finance shifts and major property tax relief. They detailed how prior property tax relief enacted in the 88th Legislature grew from an estimated $18 billion to $22.7 billion because of higher property values and hold-harmless provisions, and said SB 1 continues that relief with a total of $51 billion in ongoing and new property tax support. Members asked extensive questions about the automatic growth in school tax compression, the constitutional homestead exemption, COVID-era federal funding, Medicaid assumptions, and the sunset of the non-homestead circuit breaker. No additional votes or final budget actions were taken beyond adoption of the committee rules.

Transcript Highlights:

• The tobacco funds are used in the Division of Conservation for direct aid and cost-share activities.
• to the conservation for direct aid to the conservation districts<00:16:00.959> throughout<00:
• That leaves $1.9 million for cost share to farmers and $1 million for the direct aid to conservation
• So before 2019, you can see on the graph the direct aid to the districts was not funded with tobacco
• to the districts graph, the direct aid to the districts um<00:17:41.840> was<00:17:42.160>

Keywords: Meeting Start 00:00:00 Attendance Roll Call 00:00:07 Chair Comments 00:00:36 Approval of Minutes 00:04:01 Volunteers of America 00:04:21 Soil and Water Conservation/Energy and Environment Cabinet 00:14:52 Kentucky Office of Drug Control Policy/Justice & Public Safety Cabinet 00:21:05 Kentucky Department of Agriculture 00:26:01 Early Childhood Advisory Council 00:45:18, 958, all

Summary: The Tobacco Settlement Agreement Fund Oversight Committee met to review how tobacco settlement dollars are being used and to press recipients for detailed information on total funding, administrative versus program spending, and measurable outcomes. The chair emphasized that the committee was not there for general program overviews, but to assess return on investment and whether each program should continue to receive tobacco settlement support. The committee approved the minutes from its December 22, 2025 meeting and then heard presentations from several agencies and organizations. Volunteers of America Mid-States described its southeastern Kentucky restorative justice program, which uses an evidence-based New Zealand model for juvenile cases in nine counties. The group reported tobacco settlement funding of $516,000 in FY24 and $233,500 in FY25, representing about 17% and then about 5% of the program budget, respectively. It said the funding helped expand the program from 13 cases in 2021 to 180 youth served, and cited an independent evaluation showing recidivism of 24.5% compared with 40.4% in AOC data, along with a cost of a little under $20 per day versus detention and other placements. Some members questioned whether the program fit the tobacco settlement funding categories and suggested it might be better supported through other justice-related funding sources. The Energy and Environment Cabinet’s Division of Conservation explained that tobacco funds support $1 million in direct aid to conservation districts and $2 million in cost-share projects for farmers, with 5% of the cost-share appropriation allowed for administration, or about $100,000 in FY26. Officials said the direct-aid line was moved into tobacco funding in 2019, reducing money available for farmer cost-share, and described a multi-year project approval and reallocation process. Senator Webb asked for a more specific breakdown of the $850,000 direct-aid amount, and the cabinet said it would provide that information. The Kentucky Office of Drug Control Policy reported that in FY24 it expended just under $30 million across tobacco funds, general funds, restricted funds, and a one-time federal grant, with less than 2% used for administration. Officials said most tobacco settlement money goes to Kentucky ASAP local boards in all 120 counties, supporting prevention, treatment, and some law enforcement work. The Department of Agriculture then began its presentation, describing strategic investments, loan programs, county funding, administrative costs, and a reported return of about $2.30 for every dollar spent, but the transcript cuts off before that presentation was completed.

Transcript Highlights:

• And we, our, our job, you know, with your, uh, assistance, our job together, I think, is to deliver equal
• what they look like, their political party, uh, our, our job is to serve every Texan, uh, in, in an equal
• on together. um, and I know that you probably, you, you certainly have passion for that, you know, equal
• Um, this would not be a problem if legal representation or legal aid were attainable, but in reality
• Um, people who cannot afford an attorney or for whom legal aid is not available can still pursue their

Transcript Highlights:

• including the expenditure of $140 million in behavioral health gross receipts taxes for programs to aid
• nation that lives up to its ideals. up to its ideals, where everyone has a seat at the table and an equal
• From the African American homesteaders of Blackdom to the activists who fought for equal rights in Albuquerque
• filled out a college application with me, had my parents on the other line to fill out my financial aid
• thank her for what she's doing to ensure that women have a seat at the table and know that they are equally

Transcript Highlights:

• That person left the room and, from the looks of it, was trying to find somebody to render aid.
• An aid came in, but she continued to argue with some kitchen staff about what to do.
• that was on staff that came into the aid that was on staff that came into the dining<00:20:19.919>
• and um during the somebody to render aid and um during the three<00:21:08.400> minutes<00:21:
• that came in uh but uh p uh aid that came in uh but uh p uh continued<00:21:19.120> to<00:21:

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• And with the hopes of either aid... ...when floods come into the city, and with the hopes of either aid
• So one of the cornerstones of future disasters is going to be built on mutual aid.
• Mutual aid from somewhere else in this country.
• So we want to figure out how nationwide we have a much more effective mutual aid system.
• request those mutual aid resources.

Summary: The committee first heard a presentation from Major General James Hartzell of the Florida Department of Veterans’ Affairs on the agency’s outreach, benefits assistance, and state veterans nursing homes. He highlighted Florida’s large and growing veteran population, the decline in World War II and Vietnam-era veterans, and the increase in post-9/11 veterans moving to the state. Hartzell discussed the state veterans nursing home system, including a new Collier County facility that will include skilled nursing, assisted living, adult day health care, and outpatient therapy, and he said the department is also studying future adult day health care expansion and possible additional homes in underserved areas. He also reported on the dental program funded by the Legislature, saying 245 veterans were served in the first quarter of the fiscal year, with 1,631 procedures completed and more than $525,000 in savings, and he credited the added state veterans service officer positions with helping connect more veterans to benefits. Hartzell also noted a 13% year-over-year reduction in homeless veterans, emphasized mental health outreach through SaveFLVets.org and the Overwatch program, and announced a new deputy executive director, retired Colonel D.J. Reyes. Members asked about the need for additional veterans homes in South Florida, the criteria used to site new homes, the homeless veteran reduction, and whether adult day health care could be added at existing facilities. Hartzell explained that federal criteria focus on the availability of private skilled nursing beds for veterans 65 and older, and that adult day health care is state-funded and being studied for broader deployment. He also said the department tracks where homeless veterans are concentrated and works with local partners and organizations like Tunnels to Towers to provide housing and services that reduce recidivism. The committee also discussed Florida’s national reputation for veteran support, including Veterans Month and the state’s culture of veteran awareness. The committee then received a presentation from Kevin Guthrie, Executive Director of the Florida Division of Emergency Management, on disaster response, recovery, and technology systems. Guthrie described the State Emergency Response Team, the new Florida Central Operations and Coordination Office in Auburndale, and the new State Emergency Operations Center in Tallahassee, which is expected to be fully operational by spring 2026 and will significantly expand capacity and hardening. He reviewed recovery efforts for Hurricanes Helene, Milton, Debbie, Idalia, Ian, Irma, Michael, Dorian, Sally, Nicole, and others, including sheltering, travel trailers, debris removal, and FEMA reimbursement totals. Guthrie said Florida removed more than 31.6 million cubic yards of debris from Helene and Milton in 90 days on a 24/7 basis, and he described Elevate Florida, the Florida Recovery Obligation Calculation (FROC), the DEMES platform, and WebEOC as tools to streamline recovery, mitigation, and intergovernmental coordination. Members asked about flood-response resources for cities, the state’s use of pumps and mutual aid, and lessons learned from inland flooding after Milton. Guthrie said local governments should first use county and city mutual aid, then request state assistance when needed, and he encouraged more partnerships for staging and maintaining flood equipment. He also said future flood mitigation must address outdated development patterns, watershed flow, and the need for better drainage planning, while continuing temporary fixes and homeowner assistance programs. The committee ended with no votes or formal actions beyond adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• So we have state aid grants that DES administers.
• I've provided them to your aide. Thank you very much.
• I've provided them to your aide. Thank you very much.
• Market buyers and sellers on equal Market buyers and sellers on equal footing<02:21:53.240> five
• largely due to the influx of Federal Aid largely due to the influx of Federal Aid during<04:35:30.840

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The meeting was a Ways and Means briefing opened by the vice chair, who introduced Jason Wong of the Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston to discuss the national and regional economy. Wong focused on inflation, asking why it had fallen from about 9% in 2022 to the 2%–3% range, and what that meant for monetary policy and the risk of an economic downturn. He said the Fed’s target is 2%, noted that recent PCE inflation was about 2.4% and core PCE about 2.7%, and described the ongoing debate over whether interest rates should stay tight or be lowered further to protect the labor market. Wong explained that the improvement in inflation has been driven largely by goods prices, especially durable goods such as cars, appliances, and furniture, as well as non-durable goods like food. He said supply-chain disruptions during the pandemic caused major price spikes in 2022, but those pressures have eased and many goods prices are now at or below the Fed’s target. He also referenced the New York Fed’s Global Supply Chain Pressure Index, saying it showed extreme pandemic-era disruptions that have since receded. The main remaining inflation problem, he said, is in services, especially housing. Wong broke services into rent of shelter and all other services, explaining that shelter is a large share of household budgets and that housing inflation has a lag because rent measures often reflect older lease terms rather than current market rents. He said monthly Zillow data suggest market rents have cooled and may eventually feed through to official inflation measures. Members asked several questions about the chart’s time scale, the treatment of real estate, property taxes, and utilities, and Wong clarified that housing costs are counted in services and that the slides would be shared digitally. No votes or formal actions were taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:05:39.680> allocated parties with time equally allocated parties with time equally allocated
• children and people suffering from AIDS children and people suffering from AIDS and<00:48:42.960
• 2966 and HR 2987 shall be equally 2966 and HR 2987 shall be equally divided<02:25:04.160> and
• shall not exceed one hour equally shall not exceed one hour equally divided<04:15:15.600> and
• It's like we're trying to heal a bullet wound with a band-aid.

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Wednesday, June 4, 2025, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And I wish we would, but would I believe that it's equal?
• would I believe that that it's equal? would I believe that that it's equal?
• So what would those case aids be doing?
• So what including 14 new case aids.
• So in in would those case aids be doing?

Keywords: 1189, house, all