Transcript Highlights:

• He volunteers as chairman of the Diocese of San Angelo on the Finance Council. is an active member of
• I had the pleasure of actually serving with David in a volunteer capacity in a father-daughter camping
• What I will tell you is, David is a great volunteer. When he volunteered. He appears to do stuff.
• He volunteers for the Native Prairies Association of Texas, and he volunteers for the. the Project Healing
• Looking for technical training, I was trained as a diesel mechanic and after.

Committee: Senate Nominations

Keywords: Texas Water Fund, water management, infrastructure funding, local governments, workforce development, community colleges, educational programs, sustainability

Summary: The meeting focused on several crucial issues, including the Texas Water Fund and its implications for development in the state. Various members highlighted the critical need for effective management of water resources, discussing the role of the Water Development Board and their strategies for outreach to local governments. The committee engaged in a thorough examination of funding projects and the sustainable financing necessary for communities facing challenges in meeting their infrastructure needs. Additionally, there was notable discussion regarding promoting workforce development and the alignment of educational programs with the demands of the job market as indicated by recent trends in community colleges.

Transcript Highlights:

• Ninety-eight percent of our members are volunteers.
• TESSORS volunteer firefighters were the first to battle the Texas Panhandle fires.
• In 2019, the 86th Legislature allowed the system to cover paid and part-paid volunteers.
• Every year, we are zooming along with training.
• We also provide training for libraries across the state, one of the areas that we're most proud of.

Bills: SB 1

Committee: Senate Finance

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

Summary: The committee heard budget presentations from the Legislative Budget Board and agency officials on several agencies, starting with the Texas Historical Commission. LBB described a large biennial reduction driven mainly by the removal of one-time funding and discussed capital projects, rider changes, and exceptional items including Presidio La Bahia and the National Museum of the Pacific War. Senators asked about heritage trails, courthouse grants, unexpended balance authority, and the status of historical-site funding. Historical Commission leadership emphasized preservation, courthouse restoration, heritage tourism, coordination with the Alamo and other Texas Revolution sites, and requested additional IT, staffing, and vehicle funding. No votes were taken. The committee then reviewed the Pension Review Board and the Employees Retirement System. The Pension Review Board’s budget was largely unchanged aside from IT maintenance and salary adjustments, with an exceptional item for additional IT enhancements. Members discussed the Dallas Police and Fire Pension System’s funding dispute and the need for a workable restoration plan. ERS presented a much larger budget, including funding for the retirement system, the group benefits plan, and the legacy payment intended to reduce unfunded liability. Senators focused heavily on pension investment returns, benchmark comparisons, and rising health-care costs, especially pharmacy spending driven by GLP-1 drugs; ERS said the plan covers about 540,000 lives and that premiums would rise 8% while benefits remain unchanged. ERS also said it had no exceptional items, and committee members requested more detailed benchmark information. The committee also heard from the Texas Emergency Services Retirement System and the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas. TESSORS reported an unfunded liability, an infinite amortization period, and requested additional state support, staffing, and IT funding, including a statutory change to allow a higher contribution level; the agency warned that without more funding it may have to cut benefits. CEPRIT’s presentation covered its bond-funded cancer research and prevention portfolio, revenue-sharing from funded projects, and a request to increase salary limits for its CEO and chief scientific officer. Senators questioned CEPRIT’s accomplishments and return on investment, while CEPRIT cited screening, prevention, and research outcomes, including tens of thousands of detected cancers and precursors and hundreds of thousands of first-time screenings. The meeting ended after these presentations and questions, with no recorded committee action or vote.

Transcript Highlights:

• You volunteer firefighters, first responders, you think about what we have and how our system is based
• The difference is going to be made with the people: the people we train, the people that want to help
• We provide training to EMS services across the state.
• This bill allows us in the rural communities, in those critical care hospitals, to put the training on
• A long-term effect is getting the people trained in the rural areas that are staying.

Bills: HB1621 , HB1624 , HB1623 , HB1622 , HB1625 , HB1626 , HB1627 , HCR3038

Keywords: presidential physical fitness test, physical education, fitness assessment, student fitness, school curriculum, graduation requirements, elementary school, middle school, high school, public schools, nonpublic schools, superintendent of public instruction, exceptions, disability accommodations, North Dakota studies, computer science, cybersecurity, health education, concept-based fitness class, school standards

Summary: The House convened in special session, opened with prayer and the Pledge, confirmed a quorum, and recognized visiting students from Shiloh High School. Members also observed a moment of silence for former Representative Cindy Shriver Beck, and the House adopted the Employment Committee report approving special-session staff appointments. The chamber then considered House Bill 1621, which would require the presidential physical fitness test in K-12 physical education courses with exemptions for students with disabilities and an effective date of August 1, 2027. Supporters framed it as a return to a historic fitness standard and a response to federal direction; the bill passed 90-0. The House next took up House Bill 1624, a universal school meals bill that would place the program in statute rather than the Constitution, start it a year earlier than the initiated measure, and appropriate $65 million for the first year. Debate centered on whether universal meals were needed, whether the bill would preserve legislative flexibility and property-tax relief, and whether it would help families or subsidize those who could pay. The bill passed 55-38. Finally, the House began debate on House Bill 1623, the rural health transformation package tied to federal grant funds and a Bank of North Dakota loan program to support rural health projects, EMS, behavioral health, and related infrastructure. The sponsor and supporters emphasized North Dakota’s strong grant award, the need to move quickly, and the bill’s role in filling rural health gaps statewide. Some members raised concerns about federal spending, inflation, and telehealth, while others stressed the need to address EMS and workforce shortages. The transcript ends during debate on HB 1623, before any final vote is shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• Some of the requirements that are established in place require certain training.
• Some of the requirements that are established in place require certain training.
• However, eight of the 10 SROs ultimately did not have that training prior to performing services.
• I think there was some training concerns.
• Alas, there's just one, and I don't mind volunteering as an example.

Summary: The Joint Legislative Auditing Committee received a presentation from Auditor General staff on recurring findings from audits of district school boards, colleges, and universities. For school districts, the main issues discussed included missing or outdated safe-school officer training documentation, weak purchasing-card controls, vendor banking-change fraud risks, incomplete background screenings and disqualification-list procedures, missing website budget disclosures, excessive or untimely IT access, late deactivation of former employees’ access, missed emergency drill deadlines, inaccurate capital outlay and resiliency education records, weak tangible property inventories, adult education reporting errors, untimely bank reconciliations, and improper use of workforce development funds. The auditors said many of these issues are repeated from prior years and are summarized in their annual report on significant findings and financial trends. For universities and colleges, the auditors highlighted similar control weaknesses, including vendor information change controls, IT access issues, cash and investment reconciliation problems, purchasing and procurement deficiencies, personnel and compensation issues, and student fee compliance concerns. Specific examples included a UF consulting contract totaling about $6 million, FAU underreporting carry-forward balances by about $77 million, UCF’s payment loss of about $107,000 from an email scam tied to vendor changes, and a North Florida College unauthorized transfer involving a few hundred thousand dollars. The committee asked questions about the UF consulting work, the FAU carry-forward issue, and whether the listed findings meant every named entity had every issue; auditors clarified that the lists reflected entities with findings in those categories, not necessarily each specific problem. The committee then turned to enforcement for entities with long-standing uncorrected audit findings. Staff reported 144 entities with 197 findings repeated in three or more successive audit reports and recommended sending letters requesting updated corrective-action status, including for late-filed 2022-2023 reports where appropriate. The committee approved the staff recommendation and directed letters to be sent. The meeting ended with members emphasizing the importance of audit oversight and taxpayer accountability.

Transcript Highlights:

• I train them well and I take good care of them.
• And could it be arranged so volunteers... because I know in a...
• Could they be trained to do this as well? Or is that part of their training too? Okay. Absolutely.
• They help us with training goals.
• Paid training, direct care staff, 2 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. $3,504."

Bills: SB1 , SB 1

Committee: Senate Finance

Keywords: appropriations, budget, state funding, education, healthcare, infrastructure, campground safety, youth camp regulations, flood safety, emergency evacuation, health and safety standards, 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• There's no compromise in training, ethics, or patient care.
• We're trained to be responsive. We're trained to be resilient.
• I can personally attest to the rigor and depth of PA training.
• There is also an issue with training bottlenecks to consider: Massachusetts already trains residents
• I'm a trained Level 2 Reiki practitioner.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Public Health

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Public Health held a hearing to take testimony on a wide range of bills involving professional licensure, clinical practice, and public health-related workforce issues. The chair explained that no votes would be taken at the hearing and that the purpose was to gather public input. Early testimony focused on Marnie’s Law, with supporters describing the bill as a no-cost, preventive measure to require nursing education on inflammatory breast cancer after a family tragedy and arguing it could reduce misdiagnosis and save lives. A major portion of the hearing centered on bills affecting clinical decision-making and licensure compacts. Supporters of the physician ownership/clinical autonomy bills argued they would protect independent practices from corporate interference after the Steward collapse, while supporters of EMS, dental, psychology, physical therapy, and physician assistant compacts said the measures would improve workforce mobility, reduce delays, and expand access to care, especially for rural patients, military families, and telehealth users. Several witnesses emphasized that the compacts would not reduce standards and would strengthen public protection through shared disciplinary databases and streamlined credentialing. There was also testimony on bills to ensure safe medication administration and to protect the independence of complementary and alternative health care practitioners. Nursing representatives urged that only licensed professionals administer medications in hospitals, hospices, and home care settings, warning that delegation to unlicensed staff could endanger patients and nurses’ licenses. A complementary and alternative care witness supported consumer access with mandatory disclosures and limits on reserved medical acts. On the dental compact, witnesses were split: some supported portability and workforce flexibility, while others warned the compact lacked a hands-on skills exam and could weaken Massachusetts’ regulatory authority and patient safety. The hearing concluded with continued testimony on the psychology compact, physical therapy compact, and physician assistant bills, with most speakers favoring expanded interstate practice and reduced administrative barriers.

Transcript Highlights:

• And if you can say one thing about nonprofit leaders and workers and volunteers, they are some of the
• If you can say one thing about nonprofit leaders and workers and volunteers, they are some of the most
• We are all volunteer associations overwhelmingly.
• Workers and millions of volunteers, obviously.
• They do provide free trainings to help providers successfully navigate the procurement system.

Summary: The joint Senate and Assembly Select Committee on the nonprofit sector held a hearing focused on the importance of California’s nonprofit sector and how state systems can better support it. Chair and co-chair remarks emphasized that nonprofits are essential to the state’s economy and public services, especially as federal cuts and administrative burdens increase pressure on organizations that deliver health care, food assistance, homelessness services, disaster response, and other safety-net functions. CalNonprofits CEO Jeff Green described the sector’s size and complexity, citing roughly 110,000 nonprofits in California, about 1.4 to 1.5 million nonprofit workers, and major concerns about funding uncertainty, delayed reimbursements, and federal threats to nonprofit funding and nonpartisanship. He said many organizations are being forced to use reserves, reduce services, or take out loans while waiting for state payments. The Little Hoover Commission presented findings from its study of state grant and contract administration, arguing that nonprofits often subsidize state services because of late payments, insufficient advance funding, and inadequate reimbursement for overhead. The commission recommended requiring advance payments, expanding prompt-payment protections, matching federal indirect-cost rates, standardizing emergency contract amendments, creating an Office of Nonprofit Empowerment, reducing duplicative reporting, moving to electronic payments, improving feedback to unsuccessful applicants, and using longer grant periods. Committee members expressed support for these ideas and discussed shifting state contracting culture toward outcomes and better coordination. The commission also noted that SB 1240, which would create the Office of Nonprofit Empowerment, and SB 1366, related to payment delays, align with its recommendations. The Attorney General’s Charitable Trusts Section then outlined its rollout of a new online filing system for charities and charitable fundraisers. Elizabeth Kim said the system, launched in stages beginning in 2024, is intended to replace paper filings, reduce incomplete submissions and bounced checks, and speed processing; the final phase is expected to cover renewals, delinquency, raffles, professional fundraisers, dissolution, and complaints. Committee members asked about staffing impacts and complaint handling, and DOJ explained that complaints are reviewed based on allegations, public filings, and, when needed, requests for additional information. A final panel featured Matt Gonzalez of Nonprofit New York, who described New York City’s Mayor’s Office of Nonprofit Services as a model for reducing contract backlogs, increasing advance payments, and improving coordination through ombudsman-style support and chief nonprofit officers. Public commenters from the California Alliance of Child and Family Services, SEIU, and CalNonprofits urged support for stronger state-nonprofit partnerships, transparency, and modernization of contracting systems. No formal vote was taken; the hearing concluded after testimony and public comment.

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, school volunteers, let me spend a few minutes talking about this.
• </c> our employees at a school or volunteer our employees at a school or volunteer at<00:11:12.320><c
• Um, school volunteers, let me spend it.
• </c> have discretion if they have a volunteer have discretion if they have a volunteer that<00:11:50.320
• </c><00:16:54.320><c> remain</c> qualified student volunteers remain qualified student volunteers remain

Committee: Senate Education

Keywords: 958, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh the volunteers of is approved.
• He buried.<00:41:02.480><c> But</c><00:41:03.200><c> training,</c> buried. But training, buried.
• It's all volunteer.
• It's all volunteer.
• It's all volunteer.

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:

• then we've have to have any training then we've have to have any training then we've always had to train
• are and things and they volunteer are and things and they volunteer are mothers but they volunteer to
• regular volunteers regular volunteers regular volunteers and our served these volunteers and our served
• these volunteers and our served these volunteers serve just the volunteers serve just the volunteers
• serve just the volunteers and volunteers and volunteers and fy4 for three , 410 hours that's a lot fy4

Bills: SB 26 , SB 28 , SJR 36 , SB 616 , SB 565 , SB 384 , SB 28 , SB 28 , SR 131 , SR 168 , SR 174 , SR 175

Keywords: teacher compensation, education funding, public school educators, teacher retention, teacher designation, lottery, gambling, internet gaming, mobile application, criminal offenses, aquifer, water management, Edwards Aquifer, sustainability, regulatory framework, SB 565, Texas Water Code, TCEQ, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, compliance agreement

Transcript Highlights:

• volunteer-driven nonprofit organization.
• So please join me in acknowledging the Sacramento Returned Peace Corps volunteers.
• In fact, I was not a Peace Corps volunteer...
• Corps volunteers assigned to go to Korea as an instructor in Korean language and culture.
• They stopped receiving Peace Corps volunteers in the early 1980s.

Summary: The Senate convened with quorum, observed a moment of silence for Chief Warrant Officer 3 Robert M. Marzan, and heard a prayer and pledge. Senator Perez introduced representatives of the Pasadena Tournament of Roses, highlighting the organization’s community role and estimated economic impact from the Rose Parade and Rose Bowl. The chamber then approved the Senate journals and confirmed three gubernatorial appointments: C.N.R. Lomeli to the State Board of Barbering and Cosmetology, and C. Don Clay and Joshua Pertula to the University of California College of Law, San Francisco Board of Directors. All three confirmations passed by unanimous roll call votes. The Senate adopted several resolutions. SCR 120 by Senator Grayson designated the first week of March as National Consumer Protection Week and March 5 as Slam the Scam Day, with support from Senators Choi and Becker emphasizing scam awareness, senior fraud, data broker concerns, and consumer education; it passed 36-0. Grayson also introduced law enforcement and Secret Service representatives involved in recovering a Pleasant Hill resident’s $350,000 lost to a cryptocurrency scam. SCR 126 by Senator Grove proclaimed March 9, 2026, as Special Olympics Day in California and passed 35-0, with remarks from Grayson about the organization’s impact and personal connection. SR 79 by Senator Nilo designated the week of March 8 as Sleep Health Awareness Week, focusing on the health risks of sleep deprivation and daylight saving time; it passed by unanimous roll call. SCR 135 by Senator Laird declared the first week of March as Peace Corps Week, with support from Senator Choi reflecting on Peace Corps service and its global impact; it also passed unanimously. SR 83 by Senator McNerney recognized March as Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, stressing early screening and disparities in outcomes; it passed unanimously. After the resolutions, McNerney introduced colorectal cancer advocates and survivors who were present in the chamber. The Senate then moved to adjournment in memory, with Majority Leader Ashby honoring Paul McAley, father of lobbyist Chris McAley, and Senator Rubio honoring Robert Uyoha of Chino, a Navy veteran and longtime community servant. The session concluded with notice that the Senate would reconvene on Thursday, March 12, 2026, at 9 a.m., with recess until 3:30 p.m. for the adjournment motion.

Transcript Highlights:

• The Pasadena Tournament of Roses is a 935-member volunteer-driven nonprofit organization, The Pasadena
• Tournament of Roses is a 935-member volunteer-driven nonprofit organization.
• Special Olympics provides world-class sports training and competitive opportunities for children and
• So please join me in acknowledging the Sacramento Returned Peace Corps volunteers.
• Corps volunteers assigned to go to Korea as an instructor in the Korean language and the culture.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The Clerk will report the resolution: House Resolution No. 328, commending the Blue Ridge Volunteer Fire
• Speaker and members of the House, it is my honor today to recognize the Blue Ridge Volunteer Fire Company
• With support from neighboring departments and the citizens of the community, Blue Ridge Volunteer Fire
• or any other training in which a student of a driver training school is driving or operating a motor
• or any other training in which a student of a driver training school is driving or operating a motor

Keywords: March 10, 2026 - Regular Session, 976, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Whereas the Hortman family volunteered with Helping Paws, an organization that trains service animals
• , and Mark and Sophie successfully trained Minnie, who is now paired with a veteran.
• </c> whereas the Hortman family volunteered whereas the Hortman family volunteered with<00:12:53.360>
• trained Minnie, and Sophie successfully trained Minnie, who<00:13:00.800><c> is</c><00:13:00.959><c>
• Fortunately for Melissa and for Gilbert, he flunked his training.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• And again, that just points to the lack of training, the lack of drilling, the lack of a plan, I don't
• And again, that just points to the lack of training, the lack of drilling, the lack of a plan, I don't
• All of the camp staff and even volunteers... ...and counselor.
• All of the camp staff and even volunteers were required to be made aware of the emergency plan during
• staff training.

Committee: House The July 2025 Flooding Events, General Investigating

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• A HEAB request related to tuition and materials reimbursements for EMS training.
• And one of the biggest obstacles that we have heard from our volunteers, our EMS volunteers, is the cost
• of training.
• And looking forward to being able to reimburse our volunteers.
• And I'm looking forward to being able to reimburse our volunteers.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Finance

Keywords: 970, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> will also lower the amount of training will also lower the amount of training time<00:10:32.720>
• My wife volunteers in the local town down in greater Minnesota, and you know the volunteers, they just
• My wife volunteers in the local town down in greater Minnesota, and you know the volunteers, they just
• My wife volunteers in the local town down in greater Minnesota, and you know the volunteers, they just
• My wife volunteers in the local town down in greater Minnesota, and you know the volunteers, they just

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

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We have over 15,000 people raise their hands to volunteer.
• We had room for 5,000 people to volunteer.
• We had room for hands to volunteer.
• Parents are 5,000 people to volunteer.
• </c><01:20:50.880><c> fire</c> we have a lot of great volunteer fire we have a lot of great volunteer

Bills: HF1016 , HF2800 , HF156 , HF3051 , HF526 , HF2658 , HF2062 , HF2801

Committee: House Taxes

Keywords: local government aid, Baldwin, taxation, base year formula, municipal funding, population aid, aid penalty forgiveness, Minnesota, city funding, appropriations, HF156, lawful gambling, veterans organizations, licensed veterans organization, Minnesota gambling law, gross profits, lawful purpose, real property repair, facility maintenance, capital assets

Transcript Highlights:

• This one's entitled Immigration Enforcement Training.
• You're welcome. 164 is the post-training. This is funding that is... 164 is the post-training.
• I appreciate not just letting us volunteers—I'm a volunteer fireman—but I appreciate you not just putting
• Page 374 is the contracted firefighter training.
• You have to be trained and be certified.

Committee: House Budget

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, its six clinics and its tax volunteer income tax program has provided over $20 million worth of volunteer
• provided over $20 million worth of provided over $20 million worth of volunteer<00:12:14.480><c> time
• </c><00:12:16.160><c> Um</c><00:12:16.639><c> so</c><00:12:17.120><c> Madam</c> volunteer time to the
• Um so Madam volunteer time to the state.
• Uh, it's probably due to his family and his training. So, let's congratulate Ben.

Keywords: 926, house, all