Transcript Highlights:

• I ask you to vote against it.
• And they vote right every time.
• on this bill. ...and move it through the process if the votes are there.
• If this bill allows that in any way, I would be voting no on the floor.
• However, I will vote yes to take it out of the committee. Representative Holt?

Bills: SB 15

Keywords: law enforcement, department file, employee records, misconduct, confidentiality, Texas occupations code, 997, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This is a bad bill, it protects bad cops, I ask you to vote against it.
• We have these early warning systems. Dallas can't have it right now.
• on this bill and move it through the process that the votes are there.
• Excuse me, if this bill allows that anyway, I would be voting no on the floor.
• However, I will vote yes to take it out of committee. Representative Holt.

Bills: SB 15

Keywords: law enforcement, department file, employee records, misconduct, confidentiality, Texas occupations code

Transcript Highlights:

• Do we need to vote on these minutes? Staff? Mr.
• Chair, yes, you do need to vote on them, but a quick note: it's November minutes.
• So you say we have to vote. The staff will call the roll. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
• The clerk will call a roll or call for a vote.
• As described, the clerk will call a roll or call for a vote.

Keywords: 904, all

Summary: The committee began by approving the November minutes on a roll-call vote, with a majority of members voting aye and the minutes adopted. Staff then provided updates on pending pension-related litigation, including Fowler et al. v. Leathers, where cross-motions for summary judgment were scheduled for May 1, and Dolan v. King County, where the court ruled against the state’s position on reimbursement of attorney’s fees but did not award fees against the state. The actuary also previewed upcoming presentations on OSA’s annual update and the June actuarial valuation and contribution rates, which will reflect updated demographic assumptions. A substantial portion of the meeting focused on the interim work plan and possible study topics. Members discussed a potential study of Plan 3, including how it compares with Plan 2, retirement ages, benefit adequacy, and whether the plan is meeting its original purpose. Staff agreed to work with DRS on a study outline and bring back a proposal. Members also raised the ongoing COLA issue, noting interest from retiree groups and the need to develop a recommendation for the next budget cycle, likely by October or November. Another major topic was LEOFF 1 disability/medical boards; staff said they are still gathering basic information on how many boards exist, who administers them, and what they cost, and suggested separate briefings on House Bill 2034, LEOFF 1 governance, and the medical study. The committee also reviewed constituent correspondence, which included requests related to Plan 1 COLAs, a Plan 3 study, teacher retirement age, and a missed early retirement factor. Staff explained that correspondence procedures are being revised for cybersecurity and privacy reasons, and future public correspondence may be handled differently. The committee approved the draft May agenda, which will include the OPMA refresher, OSA’s annual update, the LEOFF 1 medical board study update, a Plan 2/Plan 3 study outline, an overview of House Bill 2034, and a correspondence update. The meeting then adjourned without further business.

Transcript Highlights:

• Okay, if not, Acting Vice Chair Fukunaga for the vote. Chair votes I. Thank you.
• <00:04:31.440> you for the vote chair votes I thank you for the vote chair votes I thank you
• I encourage you to vote no.
• Okay, if not, Vice Chair, for the vote. Chair votes aye. Senator Fukunaga, aye.
• <00:32:59.799> Yes for the vote chair elante I I vote Yes for the vote chair elante I I vote

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The Senate Committee on Public Safety and Military Affairs met on its 3:15 p.m. reconsideration and hearing agenda. The committee first reconsidered SB 1379 on emergency preparedness and voted to pass it with amendments. The amendments would require HEMA to submit a report to the Legislature on a community readiness centers plan, including public and private sites, funding sources, partnerships, stakeholder coordination, and projected annual funding, due 20 days before the 2026 Legislature convenes. The committee also made technical and fiscal-related changes, including blanking out certain amounts in the bill and committee report while retaining recommended amounts there, and changing the effective date language. The committee then voted unanimously to adopt the amended recommendation. The committee heard SB 1364, which makes emergency appropriations for law enforcement personnel costs. The Department of Budget and Finance supported the bill but said the figures in oral testimony would be slightly higher than those in written testimony and that updated numbers would be emailed later in the week. Because the exact figures were not yet available, the chair deferred decision-making to February 7, 2025. The committee also heard SB 1451 on critical infrastructure, SB 1452 on the Uniform Controlled Substances Act, SB 1149 on hate crimes reporting, SB 1321 on the Hawaii Correctional System Oversight Commission, and SB 1341 on energy industry information reporting. For SB 1451, testimony was split, with support from state law enforcement and opposition from the Public First Law Center, which argued the information was already protected under existing law; the committee later adopted a motion to pass the bill with amendments, including a narrower definition of critical infrastructure information and a revised effective date. SB 1452 received support from law enforcement and prosecutors, with a requested cleanup amendment to correct a federal drug-name spelling issue; decision-making was postponed to allow the department to provide language. SB 1149 drew substantial testimony both for and against; supporters emphasized better hate-crime data collection and transparency, while opponents raised concerns about definitions and free speech. The committee adopted amendments and passed the bill, with the chair summarizing the move from the older UCR system to NIBRS and noting a public dashboard expected by September 30, 2025. SB 1321 was passed with amendments shortening the oversight coordinator term from four years to three years, though one senator voted with reservations in favor of a longer term. SB 1341 was passed as is after brief support testimony, and the committee adjourned after completing the agenda.

Transcript Highlights:

• try to build resilient Child Care Early try to build resilient Child Care Early Education<00:03:
• build or rebuild the child care Early build or rebuild the child care Early Learning<00:05:14.199
• Uh, I love Early Learning scholarships.
• I love Early Learning scholarships.
• I love Early Learning scholarships.

Bills: HF656, HF655, HF633

Keywords: child care, childcare, day care, daycare, licensing, variance, licensed capacity, capacity limit, staff qualifications, staffing, child care center, family child care, provider flexibility, Minnesota career lattice, Department of Children Youth and Families, DCYF, licensing rules, enrollment, indoor space, professional development

Transcript Highlights:

• The next bill is SB 150, the early learning and child care omnibus trailer bill.
• We're voting on the good stuff and we're voting on the not.
• We're voting on the good stuff and we're voting on the not-so-good stuff.
• in the Assembly later today, you know, 19 or 20 votes.
• Weigh in, and we urge your no vote. Thank you. Good morning, Chair.

Summary: The Assembly Budget Committee met to consider the final three-party agreement for the 2026-27 state budget and 19 implementing bills, including two budget bill juniors and 17 trailer bills. Committee leadership and administration officials described the budget as a balanced plan that reduces out-year structural deficits, maintains large reserves, and makes major investments in health care, education, housing, child care, public safety, and other core services while also responding to expected federal cuts and fiscal uncertainty. The Department of Finance outlined the package’s major components, including Medi-Cal adjustments, education funding increases, higher education changes, child care and human services updates, housing and homelessness funding, energy and transportation provisions, and tax and general government changes. Members asked questions about several provisions, including CSU enrollment targets and turnaround plans, the Prop. 98 settle-up mechanism, the plastics market development payment program, housing accountability measures, NextGen 9-1-1 implementation, and veteran services. Staff and administration witnesses explained that the higher education language is intended to improve campus-by-campus reporting and oversight, that Prop. 98 settle-up would be finalized later through the statutory certification process, and that NextGen 9-1-1 now includes one-time funding, quarterly reporting, an independent technical review, and a state audit. Members also discussed the HAP homelessness funding increase to $900 million and the balance between accountability and timely distribution of funds. The most extended exchange centered on comparisons between funding for veterans and Medi-Cal/immigrant health coverage. Republican members argued the budget spends far more on undocumented immigrant services than on veterans, while Democratic members and Finance staff responded that the comparison was misleading because many veterans’ services are federally funded and the state budget also includes dedicated veteran support. The chair and other members emphasized that the budget reflects difficult tradeoffs and that the package protects vulnerable populations, preserves health care access, and advances affordability. No final vote was described in the excerpt, but members indicated support for the overall package and said they would support it on the floor.

Transcript Highlights:

• As an early childhood educator, I'm just going to tell the truth.
• I mean, like, if, and I am pro early childhood.
• I was a member of the department for a long time back in the 80s through the early 2000s, retiring as
• a ...time back in the 80s through the early 2000s, retiring as a district engineer.
• I'm voting no, and I think I've already explained my vote. Representative Dow?

Keywords: 996, all

Summary: The committee first heard TRIP’s annual New Mexico transportation report from Carolyn Boniface Kelly, which described deteriorating roads and bridges, congestion, safety concerns, and a large transportation funding gap. The report said more than half of major roads statewide are in poor or mediocre condition, over 170 bridges are rated poor, congestion costs drivers significant time and money, and traffic crashes and road conditions impose billions in annual costs. Members broadly agreed the report underscored the need for more stable transportation funding, with several noting the state’s recurring underinvestment and the safety risks to motorists, pedestrians, and bicyclists. The committee then took up Senate Bill 2, a transportation bonding and revenue package. Senator Gonzales and Governor’s office and NMDOT representatives said the bill would authorize about $1.5 billion in additional bond debt for ready-to-go highway projects, while also increasing certain motor vehicle excise, registration, weight-distance, and EV-related fees to help support debt service and transportation funding. Supporters, including contractors, the Greater Albuquerque Chamber, the Department of Finance and Administration, and transportation officials, argued the bill would improve safety, economic development, project delivery, and funding stability, and help preserve federal dollars. Opponents, including the Rio Grande Foundation and some committee members, objected to the tax and fee increases, argued the state should use existing surpluses or other funds instead, and raised concerns about impacts on families, businesses, and local governments. Committee members questioned how projects would be selected, how the new fees were calculated, how EV surcharges would work, and whether local government distributions would be affected. NMDOT said the projects would be reported to the legislature annually, selected using crash data, asset management, and project readiness, but bond approval would remain with the State Transportation Commission. After debate, Representative Romero moved do pass on SB 2 as amended, Representative Hochman-Vigil seconded, and the committee approved the bill 7-2, with Representatives Brown and Dow voting no and several members expressing reservations despite supporting the need for transportation investment.

Transcript Highlights:

• The Joint Committee does not get to vote on bills.
• You got to make it 12 hours early or six hours early.
• This was early morning, around 3 o'clock.
• Both voting and non-voting, with the addition of flood planning districts.
• It just said early. It just said flood early warning system, Marvin. Anything else?

Keywords: flooding, emergency response, communication systems, first responders, disaster management, Texas Water Development Board, regional planning, public safety

Summary: The meeting primarily focused on discussions around the recent floods in Texas, specifically addressing emergency preparedness, response coordination, and recovery efforts. Officials from various agencies provided testimonies on the challenges faced during the emergency, including issues with communication systems among first responders. Notably, the need for improved inter-agency communication and technology integration was emphasized, with recommendations for establishing regional communications units for better coordination during disasters. The audience included local government representatives and emergency management partners, who shared insights and experiences from the recent flooding events.

Transcript Highlights:

• Votes open to machines. Vote to machine. Members voting machines. In favor, yes.
• Votes open to machines. Vote to machine, members voting machines. Seabaugh, yes.
• Votes open to machines. Vote to machine, members voting machines. Seabaugh, yes.
• Vote, members. Voting machines. The machines are open. Vote, members. Voting machines.
• Vote, members. The machines are open. Vote, members. Senator Talbot votes yes.

Keywords: 974, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• They will become a voting member of the State Board of Education for the first time. Thank you.
• They're casting that vote right now. The candidates have signed up right now for that job.
• But I'm mostly concerned about the voters who are casting their votes today.
• Choi's earlier question, yes, gives them a vote on some commissions, but that is one vote.
• But as we've mentioned before, it would be quite complex, and you'd want to start early.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And we will be voting after the conclusion of all testimony and then we will be voting on each well will
• be voting to as a block on certain ones.
• Hell no by your vote.
• Yes, we do have the votes.
• Aye votes and, yes, do any other senators have votes they need to have recorded and the recording?

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• on board early.
• We had those high votes.
• There is a contract with the vote.
• I lost that vote. It was 11-4. I did not account for the fact that we lost that vote.
• I just want to key on a few voting outcomes. Statistics: Holland Park, 77% voted.

Bills: HB2065, HB2462, HB2621, HB3187, HB3539, HB3563, HB3726, HB4164, HB4207, HB4368, HB4706, HB4916, HB4950, HB4967, HB5177, HB4429, HB5597

Keywords: commercial vehicles, parking regulations, residential areas, local governance, land use, traffic safety, high occupancy vehicle lane, pregnant operators, transportation, parental rights, motor vehicle regulations, live video feed, state agency, transparency, public safety, regional transportation, mobility program, sales tax, public infrastructure, local government

Transcript Highlights:

• And I will be voting no. Thank you, Mr. President. HIS VOTE. >> THANK YOU, Mr. PRESIDENT.
• Senator Tedisco, how do you vote?
• I'll be voting aye.
• and I vote aye.
• I VOTE AYE, THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT.

Keywords: 993, senate, all

Summary: The Senate convened, approved the prior journal, received messages and substitutions from the Assembly, and welcomed two new members, Senators Erik Bottcher and Jeremy Zellner. The chamber then adopted the resolution calendar and took up a privileged resolution sponsored by Majority Leader Stewart-Cousins memorializing Governor Hochul to proclaim February 2026 as Black History Month in New York. Senators Bailey, Baskin, Sanders, Scarcella-Spanton, Brisport, Parker, Cleare, Comrie, and others spoke in support, emphasizing Black history as American history, the importance of education and remembrance, and the contributions of Black New Yorkers and historical figures. The resolution was adopted, and the leader opened it for co-sponsorship. The Senate then moved to the bill calendar and passed several measures, including bills on civil procedure, urban development, labor, and public service law. One labor bill was substituted from the Assembly and passed. Several energy and utility-related bills drew debate, with supporters arguing they would improve affordability, utility rate-setting, and consumer protections, while opponents said they would not meaningfully lower costs and instead reflected broader policy choices. Senator Walczyk voted no on one utility bill, and Senators Tedisco and others criticized the package; Senators Mayer and Harckham defended the measures as needed reforms to utility regulation and return-on-equity standards. Most bills were approved by wide margins, including one public service bill that passed 53-9 and another that passed 61-1.

Transcript Highlights:

• Chair, because I had a report due in the middle of the early voting, I did all the work I could possibly
• I did my best to have that report ready before early voting began, but there was an overlap of early
• voting and the report for 12 days straight.
• Oh, am I wise, voted no?
• I vote no. Okay, so Natalie, let me make sure I understand.

Transcript Highlights:

• Well, the community college was established back in the early 90s, in 1983.
• I don't anticipate very many more changes out of what gets voted out.
• I really urge you to vote against this bill and all versions of SB37.
• Please vote against SB37. Thank you. Thank you, ma'am, please.
• Please vote against SB37.

Bills: HB2476, HB2893, HB4848, HB5062, SB37, SB60, HB2860, HB4930, SB646, SB 37

Keywords: living expenses, higher education, student support, homeless students, financial aid, grant program, baccalaureate degrees, junior colleges, workforce development, Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, competency-based education, baccalaureate degree, cost of attendance, dual credit, computer science, course credit, foreign language requirement, curriculum review, governing board, faculty council

Transcript Highlights:

• . >> Chair McClure: I WANT TO WELCOME EVERYONE TO THIS EARLY BUDGET COMMITTEE MEETING, MAKE SURE CELL
• Woodson: >> Chair McClure: BY YOUR VOTE THE BILL PASSES, SHOW HB 727 REPORTED FAVORABLY.
• BY YOUR VOTE THE BILL PASSES, SHOW PCS FOR HOUSE BILL 7029 REPORTED FAVORABLY.
• THE INTENT OF THIS BILL IS TO ENSURE THAT EARLY DETECTION OF BREAST CANCER, EARLY DETECTION OF BREAST
• BY YOUR VOTE FOR THE BILL PASSES, SHOW HOUSE BILL 141 REPORTED FAVORABLY. >> Rep.

Transcript Highlights:

• And there's concerns raised that we're bringing this one out of the oven a little early.
• Please vote House Bill 233 out of committee.
• Please vote House Bill 233 out of committee. Thank you. Thank you.
• Or are we still early enough?
• Please vote yes to HB 445. Thank you. All right. Thank you, Marissa. Next we'll go to Joe.

Summary: The committee heard several bills focused on energy, public safety, and environmental cleanup. House Bill 455 would create a historic preservation license plate to raise funds and awareness for Delaware preservation efforts, and House Bill 471 would tighten rules and penalties for off-highway vehicles on shared private roads, with golf carts excluded. House Substitute No. 1 for House Bill 439, the Truth in E-Bike Marketing Act, would require clearer disclosures when selling electric mopeds and electric motorcycles so consumers understand classification, power, and licensing/insurance requirements. House Substitute No. 1 for House Bill 407, related to the Hazardous Substance Cleanup Act and brownfields, would shift funding for brownfield cleanup from the original realty transfer tax approach to a dedicated share of the hazardous substance cleanup fund and raise civil penalties for fraudulent acts. The committee also approved the June 18, 2026 minutes once quorum was reached. Most of the meeting centered on House Substitute No. 1 for House Bill 233, as amended, a large-load/data center bill intended to protect ratepayers from costs tied to massive new electricity users. The sponsor and Public Advocate said PJM’s warnings about a coming reliability backstop auction made it urgent to establish a Delaware framework now, requiring large energy users to sign utility agreements, cover their share of transmission, distribution, and capacity costs, and comply with curtailment and other protections. Supporters from environmental groups and some labor and business voices said the bill was needed to prevent cost shifts to households and small businesses, while opponents argued it was being rushed, could deter investment, and might unintentionally affect other industries; several asked for more time and clearer definitions. No vote was taken in the portion provided. The committee also took up House Bill 470, which would authorize Delmarva Power, with PSC approval, to build and operate utility-owned battery storage and spread costs across the customer base. The sponsor and Delmarva said the bill would improve reliability quickly and help avoid outages, while the chair expressed concern that the state had not yet fully studied whether utility-owned or competitively procured storage is the best model, noting a recent SEU storage study and broader policy questions. Supporters said utility storage could be deployed faster and help with peak shaving, while others urged a competitive process; the transcript cuts off before any final action on HB 470.

Transcript Highlights:

• be a House vote.
• regardless of what the House vote regardless of what the House vote is<00:06:19.080> well
• on it then to then reconsider a the vote on it then to then reconsider a vote<00:29:30.399> and
• thinking how quickly could you just vote thinking how quickly could you just vote on<01:11:33.600
• <01:13:10.239> on committee does an official a vote on committee does an official a vote on

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Summary: The Finance Division II work session focused on organizing the committee’s remaining budget work and reviewing a set of recommended changes to House Bills 1 and 2. Mr. Landrian explained the committee’s tracking sheets and draft amendment package, noted that the division was being asked to find roughly $200 million in reductions, and said the governor’s lottery proposal in House Bill 2 could help offset part of that target. Members also discussed how revenue estimates tied to fee changes would be handled, with the chair saying the committee could seek Ways and Means input but would ultimately decide the estimates itself. The committee then considered four mostly technical amendments to House Bill 2. It voted unanimously to delete Section 81, which duplicated CCSNH dual and concurrent enrollment language already moving in House Bill 192; to delete Sections 143 and 144, which duplicated police standards and training extra-duty language already in House Bill 778; to adopt a correction to Section 151 that removed an inadvertently repeated sentence; and to delete Section 178 because the same Lottery Commission language already appears in House Bill 1. The committee also agreed to approve Section 4 of House Bill 1, the Lottery Commission boilerplate language, while deferring action on Section 2 of House Bill 1 until the university and community college budget is settled. A substantial portion of the meeting was spent planning upcoming work sessions and discussing possible revenue measures. The committee planned to invite Fish and Game on Monday to review a large set of follow-up materials and to discuss a possible amendment requiring hunters and trappers to pay the license fee before taking free training classes, with a second chance to retake the class if needed. Members also discussed possible fee adjustments for Safety and Fish and Game, including using dedicated-fund fees to reduce reliance on general funds and help stabilize the Highway Fund and Fish and Game Fund. The chair emphasized that all actions were recommendations until the committee’s final deadline and encouraged members to review draft language carefully before voting.

Transcript Highlights:

• project based off what’s been voted on today.
• Excuse me, for the governor's budget, it's usually locked in really late October, very early November
• Most states, in the late-pandemic to early-post-pandemic period, had these large budget surpluses.
• If not, we can wrap up 20 minutes early." "Oh, I'm sorry. Representative? Representative?
• If not, we can wrap up 20 minutes early. Okay. Oh, I'm sorry. Representative? Representative?

Summary: The committee held its first meeting, with co-chairs and members introducing themselves and staff outlining the committee’s statutory mandate under the 2025-27 supplemental operating budget. Staff explained that the Joint Legislative-Executive Committee on Budget Transparency and Fiscal Sustainability will receive technical assistance from a nonpartisan organization, with work split into two phases: first on revenue growth, spending assumptions, and cost drivers in the four-year outlook, and later on staffing, overhead, performance management, and public reporting. Members broadly said they hoped the committee would build a shared factual understanding of the state’s fiscal situation, structural deficits, and budget processes, and identify a sustainable path forward for the operating budget. Staff then gave a detailed presentation on operating budget basics. They reviewed the size and composition of the operating budget, noting that most spending is concentrated in grants/client services and salaries/benefits, with K-12, DSHS, HCA, DCYF, DOC, and higher education making up most NGFO spending. They explained the distinction between constitutional, federal, statutory, and discretionary spending, using examples such as K-12, Medicaid, collective bargaining agreements, court-driven obligations like McCleary and Trueblood, and one-time appropriations. They also walked through how the state uses incremental budgeting, carry-forward and maintenance-level calculations, caseload and per-capita forecasting, and the four-year balanced budget outlook, including reserve calculations and the budget stabilization account. Members asked extensive questions about what is and is not included in the outlook, especially future collective bargaining agreements, health care and compensation growth, tort and other liabilities, and whether the state could better distinguish mandatory from discretionary spending. Staff explained that current CBAs and other already-enacted obligations are included, but future CBAs are not; some liabilities are reflected as expenditures when appropriated, while broader long-term liabilities are not fully captured in the outlook because they depend on future policy choices. Staff also noted that the legislature and ERFC can adopt assumptions such as reversions and growth factors, and that an outlook accuracy report is produced every five years to compare projected and actual maintenance-level spending. The committee agreed to follow up on some of the more complex liability and assumption questions. After a short break, Josh Goodman of the Pew Charitable Trusts began a presentation on Pew’s role and approach to state fiscal sustainability. He described Pew as a nonpartisan organization with long-standing state fiscal research, emphasizing its 50-state comparative data, interviews with state officials and experts, and focus on long-term sustainability, reserve policies, and recession preparedness. The presentation was ongoing when the transcript ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• Thanks for coming in early and understanding the process.
• Remember, and we can play this game, the vote we had was we were trying to have the vote before lunch
• We voted on it after lunch, Mr. Chair. I'll tell you what. We tried to vote before, correct?
• And it's brought to the committee for a vote.
• And so for those who don't have a vote, don't like it or whatever, there's always a prerogative to vote