Transcript Highlights:

• County for basic liability insurance and for good drivers.
• in the Southern Sector of Dallas County.
• We have four locations in Harris County, all of which are specifically placed in areas of high socioeconomic
• So Ben Taub is level one, only one of two level ones in Harris County. LBJ is a...
• Well, I'm a Harris County member, so that's why I'm asking for my own stuff here, while he's here.

Bills: HB712, HB722, HB946, HB1687, HB1809, HB1899, HB2528, HB2583, HB2741, HB2750, HB3021, HB3150, HB3265, HB3658, HB3812, HB3960, HB4392, HB4432

Keywords: prostate cancer, health benefit plans, insurance coverage, cost sharing, preventive health care, auto insurance, total loss evaluation, disclosure, insurance materials, vehicle appraisal, HB 946, Texas Insurance Code, automobile insurance claims, oral release, written release, settlement agreement, claim release, property damage, bodily injury, psychological injury

Transcript Highlights:

• Jones, I want to say this: I work very hard in Harris County for the defense bar to have access to the
• So you're welcome to criminal defense lawyers in Harris County.
• Jones, I want to say this: I work very hard in Harris County for the defense bar to have access to the
• So you're welcome to criminal defense lawyers in Harris County.
• In practice, this threshold means that only Harris County currently qualifies.

Summary: The Committee on Criminal Jurisprudence met with a quorum and heard a series of Senate bills, generally receiving sponsor explanations and, in most cases, no public testimony. SB 2595 would create a Class B misdemeanor for harassing, threatening, or intimidating someone while intentionally concealing identity with a mask, with broad affirmative defenses for legitimate mask use; SB 1980 would increase penalties for assaulting peace officers, parole officers, and community supervision officers and add related presumptions and interference protections; and SB 1896 would require magistrates to issue emergency protective orders in certain family violence, sexual assault, stalking, and aggravated cases, with law enforcement required to provide needed information. All three were left pending. The committee also heard SB 955, which increases trafficking of persons from a second-degree to a first-degree felony when the victim was recruited from a correctional facility, and SB 614, which would let the Texas Forensic Science Commission refer dismissed complaints to the Office of Capital and Forensic Writs when they reference a prior FSC report; both were left pending. Members then heard several forensic and criminal procedure bills. SB 1372 would resolve a discovery/access conflict involving the DPS crime lab portal by limiting portal access to defense attorneys rather than defendants directly, prompting questions from members about access for pro se defendants; DPS’s chief crime lab witness testified neutrally. SB 1936 would change the LSD “abuse unit” definition for unmarked/unperforated paper from a square-measurement method to a 10-milligram weight standard, and SB 1937 would require a subject matter expert from the testing lab to participate in pretrial meetings in capital cases involving biological evidence to help identify viable testing and conserve resources. SB 2580 would lower the population threshold for sheriff’s departments to independently use tracking equipment and access certain communications from 3.3 million to 500,000, expanding the authority beyond Harris County; it was described as a public safety and emergency response measure and left pending. The committee also considered SB 2798, which would extend the statute of limitations for certain financial crimes from three years to seven years, with testimony from a Montgomery County assistant district attorney supporting the change because fraud is often discovered late. SB 1099 would increase penalties for felony offenses committed by undocumented or unauthorized aliens, but drew strong opposition from the Texas Civil Rights Project, which argued immigration is a federal matter and that the bill would create difficult and potentially unfair status determinations for local courts; members raised concerns about the lack of an expert-testimony requirement. SB 1278 would create an affirmative defense to prostitution prosecution for trafficking victims compelled by their traffickers to commit the conduct, and testimony from advocates and a member’s personal account emphasized the coercive, traumatic nature of trafficking; members discussed whether the defense should be narrower or framed as mitigation, and the bill was left pending. Finally, SB 127 would extend the statute of limitations for failure to report or conceal child abuse, with members discussing mandatory reporting duties and the need to allow more time for delayed discovery of cover-ups; it too was left pending before the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Board, Citrus County.
• Board, Citrus County.
• County want.
• Lucie County Mosquito Control District, St. Lucie County.
• Lucie County Mosquito Control District, St. Lucie County.

Summary: The House convened with prayer, moments of silence for former member Terry Fields and the Parkland victims, the Pledge of Allegiance, and recognition of guests and visitors. The chamber then adopted the Rules and Ethics Committee’s special order report setting the day’s calendar and debate times. The main measure taken up was HB 1119, relating to materials harmful to minors in public schools and charter schools, which the sponsor described as a clarification of existing law to keep pornographic or sexually explicit material away from minors and to give districts clearer standards for review and objection processes. The bill drew extensive debate over constitutional concerns, local control, litigation risk, and the scope of the definition of “harmful to minors.” Members supporting the bill argued it was needed to close loopholes and protect children, while opponents warned it could lead to overbroad book removals, conflict with federal court rulings, and costly lawsuits. A series of amendments sought to narrow or redirect the bill: proposals by Gant, Aristide, Bartleman, Eskamani, Nixon, Rainer, Woodson, and Harris would have preserved literary value review, protected educational and abuse-prevention materials, exempted LGBTQ-inclusive books, limited objections, preserved funding for districts, or delayed enforcement during ongoing litigation. Supporters of the amendments framed them as protecting parental choice, academic value, student safety, and district finances; opponents said they would weaken the bill’s child-protection purpose. All of the amendments failed. After the amendment process, the House waived rules, read HB 1119 a third time by title, and entered structured debate on final passage. Debate continued along the same lines, with opponents emphasizing book removals, First Amendment concerns, and the impact on students and schools, and supporters reiterating that the bill was intended to prevent minors from accessing obscene material. The transcript provided ends during structured debate and does not include the final vote on HB 1119.

Transcript Highlights:

• And thank you, Representative Harris, for that question.
• Representative Harris, you are recognized. Thank you. Representative Harris, you are recognized.
• Johns County. So I can speak to that personally. So I live off County Road 210.
• We kind of overflowed with all the growth going on, County Road 210.
• This is personal to us in Lake County.

Summary: The Education Employment Committee held its first meeting and heard three bills. Chair Kennedy opened with remarks about the committee’s work and the goal of moving Florida from “excellent to eminent.” The committee first considered PCS for CS for HB 151 on private school participation in interscholastic sports and extracurricular activities. Representative Abbott explained that the bill would let private school students participate in sports at FHSAA member schools when their own school does not offer that sport, clarify treatment of single-sex versus co-ed teams, adjust FHSAA board appointment authority, require appeals panels to include a majority of member-school representatives, set timelines for eligibility appeals, and post appeals decisions online. An amendment by Representative McFarland added FHSAA board decisions to the transparency requirement. The bill drew supportive public testimony and was reported favorably as amended by a 19-0 vote. The committee then took up HB 549 on the “Gulf of America.” Representative Porras said the bill would align Florida’s geographic materials and academic standards with the federal designation replacing the Gulf of Mexico, with a later amendment to phase in the change only for materials adopted or acquired on or after July 1, 2025. Members questioned the timing, costs, and impact on instructional materials; the ranking member and others argued the bill was unnecessary and could burden districts, while supporters said Florida should lead in adopting the federal terminology. Public testimony included support from Florida Citizens Alliance and opposition from a speaker who called the bill a waste of time. The committee adopted the amendment and reported the bill favorably with committee substitute by a 16-2 vote. Finally, the committee considered CS/HB 85 on hazardous walking conditions. Representative Kendall described the bill as addressing elementary students who live within the two-mile walk zone but must cross interstates, freeways, highways, or ramps, and said the measure would provide bus service in those hazardous situations. An amendment clarified the language by tying it to the statutory definition of a limited access facility. Members from both parties described local safety concerns and personal experiences, while one member noted the likely added cost to districts. Public testimony listed opponents, but the chair later clarified they had submitted cards with the wrong bill number. The committee adopted the amendment and reported the bill favorably with committee substitute by a 20-0 vote, then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Unfortunately, in the Harris County situation, the county judge said it was only an 8% increase, and
• So Harris County splits those between the First and 14th.
• So Harris County splits those between the first and 14th.
• So Harris County splits those between the first and 14th.
• business courts, and there's only one county, Harris County, that is providing chamber space for the

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:

• Harris: Here. Rep. Hodgers: Here. Rep. Johnson: Here. Rep. Partington: Here. Rep. Plakon: Here.
• Harris: Yes. Rep. Hodgers: Yes. Rep. Johnson: Yes. Rep. Partington: Yes. Rep. Plakon: Yes. Rep.
• Right now there are five Children's Initiatives in four of our counties.
• in Pompano Beach in Broward County.
• In Bay County it's called the Bay County 32401 Children's Initiative and in Pompano it's called the Pompano

Transcript Highlights:

• Ranking Member Harris. Here. Representative Abbott. Here. Representative Anton. Here.
• Harris, you kind of said everything I was going to say.
• But I did the fire ops training in Palm Beach County.
• Harris, you kind of said everything I was going to say.
• I have never been a firefighter, but I did the fire ops training in Palm Beach County.

Summary: The State Administration Budget Subcommittee met with a quorum and considered only one bill, C.S. for House Bill 929, relating to firefighter health and safety. The bill sponsor explained that it would strengthen firefighter workplace safety and mental health supports by requiring reporting of firefighter suicides, directing the Chief Financial Officer and State Fire Marshal to establish mental health best practices, requiring notice about potential chemical hazards in protective gear, and encouraging work schedules not exceeding 42 hours per week. Florida Professional Firefighters testified in support, tying the bill to prior cancer and PTSD legislation and emphasizing the need for prevention and best practices. Members from both parties spoke strongly in favor of the bill, describing firefighters as heroes and highlighting the mental health toll of the job, toxic gear concerns, and the importance of support for firefighters and their families. Several members noted personal connections to firefighting or experiences with firefighters in emergencies. The chair also stressed concern about rising firefighter suicides and the trauma first responders face. No amendments were offered. The committee then voted unanimously to report the bill favorably. Afterward, the chair briefly discussed broader budget conference issues, including agency vacancies, salary information, and ongoing talks with agencies before conference, and the meeting adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Representative Harris should recognize. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
• I own properties in Tulsa and in Ma County, two Very different places.
• Representative Harris should recognize.
• Representative Harris, I'll declare the bill to have passed.
• Representative Harris recognizes. Thank you, Mr. Chairman, members.

Bills: HB2650, HB3277, HB3386, HB3419, HB3430, HB3742, HB3791, HB3835, HB3905, HB3968, HB4119, HB4153, HB4408

Keywords: probate, estate administration, summary administration, decedent, inheritance, vehicle inspection, title registration, salvage vehicles, ownership, Oklahoma Statutes, evictions, forcible entry, mediation, residency proof, children, housing law, corruption, nonpublic information, government accountability, criminal law

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, Tony Harris with ALDOT.
• Harris himself were at every single meeting.
• Harris did reach out to me and I apologize, Mr. Harris.
• Harris did reach out to me and I apologize, Mr. Harris.
• Harris did reach out to me and I apologize, Mr. Harris.

Bills: HB542

Keywords: HB542, district attorney, prosecutor, supernumerary district attorney, Employees' Retirement System, ERS, Alabama retirement, public employee retirement, pension, retirement benefits, post-retirement employment, salary cap, dual participation, double dipping, District Attorneys' Plan, assistant district attorney, deputy district attorney, state pension, survivor benefits, Office of Prosecution Services

Transcript Highlights:

• Harris: Here. Rep. Hodgers: Here. Rep. Holcomb: Here. Rep. Johnson: Here. Rep. Kendall: Here. Rep.
• Redondo: So the city or county would not be permitted to change the zoning of that parcel.
• This is a local bill that at the Charlotte County local delegation meeting unanimously...
• designated utility area even when the county has available capacity and the city lacks it.
• Harris: Thank you Chair and members. I'm proud of you for this bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• [APPLAUSE]. >> Representative Harris? Representative Harris? You are recognized for a motion.
• the county area.
• County.
• In Osceola County to add lands located in the City of Orlando and Orange County.
• IF SOMEONE IN LEON COUNTY IN JACKSON COUNTY, THEY CAN ALSO GET CARE.

Bills: SB 2, HB 2, HB 2000, HB 2196, HB 213, HB 222, HB 645, HB 1458, HB 1022, HB 141, HB 502, HB 643, HB 3093, HB 1700, HB 117, SB 503, SB 2, HB 120, HB 20, HB 150, HB 6, HB 100, HB 210, HB 215, HB 1393, HB 1151, HB 1268, HB 142, HB 451, HB 124, HB 2, HB 2000, HB 2196, HB 213, HB 222, HB 645, HB 1458, HB 1022, HB 141, HB 502, HB 643, HB 3093, HB 1700, HB 117

Keywords: public education, teacher compensation, certification, funding, school finance, educator rights, education funding, charter schools, staff compensation, state aid, retention allotment, child grooming, sex offender registration, criminal justice, reportable conviction, law enforcement, virtual education, hybrid learning, school funding, average daily attendance

Transcript Highlights:

• I represent North Pinellas County.
• I represent the Palm Beach County area, District 89, central Palm Beach County.
• We have county health departments in all 67 wonderful counties here in Florida.
• Secretary Harris, I did also hear a question about opioid settlement money and what uses Secretary Harris
• Secretary Harris was addressed, and it was noted that in Collier County there had recently been the first

Summary: The Health Care Budget Subcommittee met to organize the new term, take roll, and hear introductory presentations from the six agencies under its jurisdiction: the Agency for Health Care Administration, Agency for Persons with Disabilities, Department of Children and Families, Department of Elder Affairs, Department of Health, and Department of Veterans’ Affairs. The chair outlined the committee process, including assigning members to review agencies and make budget recommendations. Each agency head gave a high-level overview of their budget, staffing, major programs, and priorities, with recurring themes including Medicaid, long-term care, disability services, child welfare, mental health, aging services, public health, and veterans’ health care. Several agency leaders highlighted recent initiatives and funding priorities. AHCA emphasized Medicaid managed care, provider regulation, Hope Florida, hospital-at-home, and cancer-related efforts; APD discussed iBudget services, Hope Florida, a managed-care pilot, online applications, and forensic care costs; DCF focused on child protection, foster care, adult protective services, food/cash/medical assistance, mental health, and opioid treatment; Elder Affairs highlighted Alzheimer’s services, community-based senior care, guardianship, ombudsman services, and disaster outreach; DOH covered cancer innovation, maternal telehealth, cybersecurity, HIV/hepatitis/syphilis screening, and school nursing; and Veterans Affairs described benefits and health care access for veterans, long-term care, and federal reimbursement. Several speakers also raised concerns about rising costs, provider rates, disaster response, and access to services. The committee heard two public comments from disability advocates about Medicaid redeterminations affecting iBudget waiver recipients and provider payment delays. In response, AHCA and APD said they were coordinating on data sharing, early outreach, escalation processes, and efforts to reduce disenrollments and make recertification smoother. Members then asked questions about provider rates, opioid settlement spending, managed care quality measures, pediatric rare disease grants, group home transparency, senior outreach, ABA services moving into managed care, annual Medicaid recertification, veterans’ service utilization, waiting lists for elder services, and prevention spending. No formal votes were taken during the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• Jones of Harris. Good morning D9. How are you?
• HR 77 by Harris recognizing March 18, 2025 as Navarra County Day at the state Capitol.
• Harris. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
• Public Education HB 2658 by Verdell relating to the Kimbell County Hospital District of Kemple County
• County Jail refer the Subcommittee on County and Regional Government HB 2669 by GEARA relating to the

Transcript Highlights:

• My name is Representative Rita Harris.
• It's the southern part of Hillsborough County, northern parts of Manatee County.
• So I'm a businessman from Lake County. So I'm a businessman from Lake County, District 25.
• Okay, we want fair and equity within a county. Okay, we want fair and equity within a county.
• Okay, between counties, different. Within a county, fair and equitable. So we do that review.

Summary: The State Administration Budget Subcommittee met for an introductory overview of the agencies under its jurisdiction and their current-year budgets. Chair Vicki Lopez welcomed members and staff, and each member briefly introduced themselves and identified areas of interest, with recurring themes including fiscal restraint, insurance regulation, revenue administration, condominium issues, and government efficiency. The chair then outlined the subcommittee’s overall budget, about $3.1 billion, and noted major recent policy areas affecting the budget such as condominium legislation and emergency communications funding. Agency heads then presented high-level summaries of their missions and budgets. The Department of Revenue described property tax oversight, tax administration, and child support enforcement; the Department of Management Services reviewed state purchasing, telecommunications, fleet, state insurance, retirement, and digital services; DBPR highlighted licensing, enforcement, condominiums, and building code work; DFS covered insurance consumer services, risk management, unclaimed property, fire marshal functions, and criminal investigations; the Gaming Control Commission discussed pari-mutuel and tribal gaming oversight and enforcement; OIR explained insurer solvency and rate review; the Lottery emphasized education funding and record sales; OFR described regulation of banking, securities, lending, and money services; DOAH outlined administrative and workers’ compensation adjudication; PSC covered utility rate regulation and consumer complaints; PERC described labor relations and career service appeals; and FCHR summarized discrimination complaint investigations and outreach. Several members asked questions about utility returns, insurance regulation staffing, DMS’s state employee health plan deficit and prescription drug formulary management, agency recommendations for reducing regulatory burden, and state facilities usage. Responses generally emphasized that utility rates and insurer filings are determined through evidentiary and actuarial processes, that OIR has reduced vacancies but still seeks specialized staff and a Tampa office expansion, and that DMS acknowledged rising health plan costs and said the issue likely requires broader budget-level discussion. The chair also pressed multiple presenters to stay focused on agency operations and budgets rather than broader policy issues. No votes or formal actions were taken in the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• In their county.
• and Bear County.
• Counties are rural counties are absorbing the overflow with already gaps in existence.
• We do, members, we do have a resource witness, uh, Doctor Blake Harris. Doctor Harris.
• Thank you, Doctor Harris. Members, questions for Doctor Harris.

Bills: HB101

Keywords: voter approval, local tax, disaster declaration, tax rate increases, community funding

Transcript Highlights:

• For example, the Harris County CSCD has over 30 detailed budgets.
• Harris County is... When the bill was laid out, it has 30 budgets; that's one county.
• May, Harris County Director, Texas Probation Association, and yourself, and you're for the bill.
• Theresa May, Harris County CSED Director, and I'm speaking on behalf of myself and the Texas Probation
• The budgets are very complicated, not just in Harris County.

Bills: SB663, SB958

Keywords: community supervision, budget approval, corrections department, strategic plan, judicial oversight, SB 958, Texas Government Code, nondisclosure, order of nondisclosure, criminal history record information, trafficking of persons, human trafficking, compelling prostitution, survivor rights, record sealing, expunction, deferred adjudication, prostitution, controlled substances, theft

Transcript Highlights:

• County.
• HR number 79 by Harris recognizing the city of Palestine. The chair recognizes Mr. Harris.
• There are 244 county treasurers in Texas and 2/3 of them serving our rural counties.
• Current law allows counties to supplement the pay of state prosecutors using county funds.
• One of our county commissioners in Lubbock County and now a few other counties explained to me that they

Transcript Highlights:

• In a moment, I'm going to turn the chair over to Representative Harris.
• Harris votes aye. Close the queue, announce the vote.
• Representative Harris will show 3584 out as a due pass.
• I'm going to turn the chair over to Representative Harris.
• Right now, most counties in Oklahoma have transient sex offenders, with Oklahoma County having... ...

Bills: HB1322, HB3053, HB3180, HB3244, HB3269, HB3299, HB3301, HB3302, HB3430, HB3497, HB3584, HB3586, HB3587, HB3606, HB3742, HB3743, HB3755, HB3764, HB3767, HB3835, HB3848, HB3903, HB3905, HB4108, HB4130, HB4142, HB4227, HB3996

Keywords: domestic violence, offenders registry, public safety, law enforcement, victim protection, conviction records, elderly, parole, criminal justice reform, inmate rehabilitation, Oklahoma statutes, firearms, handgun permits, self-defense, training requirements, Oklahoma Self-Defense Act, elderly exploitation, identity theft, crimes and punishments, criminal offenses

Transcript Highlights:

• For example, the Harris County CSCD has over 30 detailed budgets across 4 different funding lines and
• Harris County is, when the bill was laid out, has 30 budgets. That's one county.
• We show you registered as Teresa May, Harris County Director, Texas Probation Association, and yourself
• Um, uh, good morning, Chairman, uh, members, Teresa May, Harris County CSCD director, and I'm speaking
• County.

Transcript Highlights:

• And whereas, above all, Harry H.
• , whereas a native of Bellnap County, whereas a native of Bellnap County, Harry<00:24:13.520>
• Harry Bean was bigger than life. He 2. Harry Bean was bigger than life.
• A lot of people were concerned with Harry, but to know Harry is to know that he had a big heart.
• , but to know Harry is to know that Harry, but to know Harry is to know that he<00:27:46.080> had<

Keywords: 1189, house, all