Transcript Highlights:

• system project IT services support, and the proposals, Principal apportionment and replacement system
• Finally, there is also language concerning the nonresident replacement reduction.
• we're going to be getting an estimated $241 million through the Tuition Stability Plan and new fees
• and through enrollment growth as new students pay fees.
• It was mentioned there was UC and CSU fees obviously had gone up, but that was known already, and so

Summary: The committee heard the May Revision presentation for the Assembly Budget Subcommittee on Education Finance, with public comment focused heavily on K-12 priorities such as universal school meals, kitchen infrastructure, food service and custodial support, youth leadership grants, Special Olympics funding, English learner support, universal pre-K, literacy investments, and concerns about community college funding shifts. Speakers also urged support for expanded learning, teacher recruitment and training, and maintaining or increasing funding for community colleges and student support programs. Finance and the LAO then reviewed the Proposition 98 outlook. Finance said the May Revision lowers the 2025-26 Prop. 98 guarantee to $114.6 billion, about $4.3 billion below January, due mainly to lower revenue estimates, with smaller effects from attendance and property tax changes. The administration also described rebenching for universal transitional kindergarten and a one-time rebench tied to Los Angeles fire-related property tax losses, along with changes to the Public School System Stabilization Account, deferrals, and updated COLA assumptions. The LAO said the budget relies too much on deferrals and one-time funds, creates a structural shortfall, and should instead align ongoing spending with the guarantee and preserve a reserve buffer. Members questioned the TK rebench and the shift of funding from community colleges to K-12, asking why it was being applied retroactively and how colleges would be held harmless. Finance said the changes align funding with where TK costs are being incurred and that reappropriation funding and other adjustments would offset impacts on community colleges. The LAO argued the historical split formula is outdated and should be abandoned in favor of budgeting around current priorities rather than fixed percentages. Members also raised concerns about draining the rainy day reserve and using deferrals, while the LAO said preserving reserves would better protect against future volatility. The committee then moved to specific K-12 and education proposals. Finance outlined May Revision changes including state operations adjustments for the Department of Education, technical trailer bill changes, a $100 million student teacher stipend program administered by Kern County, and updates to the charter school facility grant program. The LAO recommended rejecting the proposed increases for expanded learning, literacy coaches, and the student teacher stipend as currently structured, while supporting the minimum grant increase for expanded learning. Members expressed support for teacher recruitment efforts but questioned whether one-time funding can sustain ongoing programs and whether the student teacher stipend should be targeted to shortage areas or low-income communities.

Transcript Highlights:

• "One of the things I've spoken about a little is the rip and replace type.
• Rip and replace is something that's suggested.
• 2330 >> One of the things I've spoken about a little is the rip and replace type rip 2331 and replace
• As a result, high value projects such as 2683 replacement backlog.
• , that is the fee that is required for the Ercot and 5135 When you look at study fees, that is the fee

Summary: The Senate Committee on Business and Commerce held its first interim hearing on securing critical infrastructure and supply chain integrity, with a focus on Texas’s electric grid and the Lone Star Infrastructure Protection Act. The chair also highlighted Texas’s relatively low electricity prices and welcomed new committee members. ERCOT, the Public Utility Commission (PUC), and the Attorney General’s office were invited to explain how the state screens market participants and grid equipment for ties to China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea, and how the agencies respond to noncompliance. ERCOT testified that it has implemented the requirements of three related Senate bills by requiring attestations on corporate affiliations and on critical grid equipment and services. ERCOT said it has processed thousands of attestations, used additional requests for information and third-party verification tools such as Dun & Bradstreet, and terminated nonresponsive market participants. ERCOT also said it has not seen a case requiring direct Attorney General involvement, but it does refer matters to the PUC when needed. The PUC said it can investigate suspected violations and impose penalties of up to $1 million per violation per day, and that most investigations into late or missing attestations have been resolved through compliance, market exit, or removal by ERCOT. The Attorney General’s office said its role is currently limited to audits and court involvement, and that it lacks broad independent investigatory authority under the act. Members pressed the panel on whether the current system is too reliant on self-reporting and whether it adequately addresses indirect foreign influence, especially through supply chains for batteries, inverters, transformers, and other equipment with routable connectivity. ERCOT acknowledged that the current attestation process has gaps and said it plans to refine definitions of critical grid equipment and grid services, improve information requests, and continue stakeholder rulemaking. The panel also discussed possible legislative changes, including tying prohibitions to the Department of Defense Section 1260H list and the Texas Prohibited Technologies list, clarifying warranty and service access, and expanding the statute to cover grid services more directly. Several senators raised concerns about cost, reliability, and the extent to which foreign-sourced components remain embedded in Texas infrastructure, while others suggested incentives for domestic manufacturing and stronger verification tools, including possible work with national labs such as Sandia.

Transcript Highlights:

• agreement that is established to administer the payment or reporting of fuel taxes or registration fees
• agreement that is established to administer the payment or reporting of fuel taxes or registration fees
• So the amendment I'm proposing is on line four, striking 'use all lawful means available' and replacing
• So we really do think that that language should be added in replacing that current phrase around the
• It adds, including using government accounting or payroll systems to collect fee dues, fee contributions

Summary: The committee met to review and adopt Legislative Council ballot measure analyses, with members repeatedly reminded that the hearing was limited to the accuracy, clarity, and impartiality of the summaries and not the merits of the underlying proposals. Steve Premack explained the statutory role of the analyses in the publicity pamphlet, and staff presented draft language for several measures. The committee considered and voted on multiple amendments, often debating whether proposed wording was clearer or instead crossed into advocacy or added unnecessary legal detail. For SCR 1004, members debated amendments to more closely mirror the measure’s text and to add language about electric vehicles and mileage, but several proposed changes were rejected. The analysis was ultimately adopted by an 8-6 roll call. HCR 2021 was then adopted without amendment by the same 8-6 margin. For HCR 2055, members debated whether the summary should say the Department of Homeland Security must “do everything” or “use all lawful means available,” and whether to add language about cartels acting “individually or collectively”; both amendments were rejected and the analysis was adopted 8-6. The committee next took up SCR 1004 on photo enforcement systems, where members proposed amendments to clarify that the measure would apply to red light cameras, to add “thereafter” regarding recurring voter approval, and to specify that approval would occur at the general election; those amendments failed, and the analysis was adopted 8-6. On SCR 1032, dealing with instructional expenses and classroom site fund reductions, members debated adding a definition of the Classroom Site Fund and spelling out the waiver process in more detail; both amendments failed, and the analysis was adopted 8-6. Finally, on HCR 2001 regarding citizenship identification and early voting, members rejected amendments that would have added background on current law, clarified that mail voting would be affected, added severability and revenue-source language, and struck the measure’s short title; the discussion was lengthy and at times contentious, but the transcript ends before a final roll-call vote on that measure is shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, it extends the inspection fees.
• They're uh not being replaced anymore. They're uh not being replaced anymore.
• It just doesn't work well. replace their radios. Um, we do we can't replace their radios.
• these handheld radios. willing to sign on to any fee increase. willing to sign on to any fee increase
• benefit from funds like this to replace benefit from funds like this to replace armor<01:15:57.040

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And it replaces KRS 344 with a new section that authorizes a local commission to file a civil action
• of attorney's fees. of attorney's fees.
• <00:17:14.560> with<00:17:14.880> a<00:17:14.959> new And it replaces KRS 344
• attached to that function for the fee attached to that function for the Department<00:22:21.080>
• a while from their fees to help establish<00:35:33.200> a<00:35:33.280> scholarship<00

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The House convened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, established a quorum with 95 members present, excused absent members, and adopted a legislative citation honoring Dave Buzz Baker for his long career with WKYT and the UK Sports Network. The Senate clerk then reported several Senate bills passed by the Senate and requested concurrence. The House approved the journal and received committee reports advancing a wide range of bills on agriculture, banking and insurance, judiciary, licensing and regulations, education, and information technology, covering topics such as agricultural procurement, pesticide labeling, vehicle financial protection products, proxy advisory services, financial exploitation, status offenses, firearms liability protections, school administrator salaries, sick leave, school safety, and data privacy. The chamber then considered House Bill 468 on civil rights. The bill would update the Kentucky Civil Rights Act to align the definition of disability with the federal ADA, and it would remove the Kentucky Human Rights Commission’s adjudicative powers over employment and public accommodations disputes while preserving investigative functions. House Floor Amendment 1 was adopted; it removed language barring attorney’s fees, preserved local commissions’ investigative powers, authorized local commissions and private plaintiffs to file civil actions in circuit court, and extended the probable-cause determination period from 30 to 180 days. The bill, as amended, passed 72-22. House Bill 757, the session’s revenue bill, was then debated. Its sponsor described provisions including moratoriums on certain local school district taxes, Internal Revenue Code conformity, new taxes on data brokering, fantasy contests, and predictive markets, EV charging station inspection fees, elimination of some tax expenditures, Department of Revenue cleanup provisions, and process changes for inheritance tax, property tax delinquencies, and other measures. Members raised concerns that the bill would limit local school boards’ taxing options and could affect bonding and school construction; the sponsor said TIF-related provisions would sunset future participation, not existing projects, and that the bill had been developed with agency input. House Bill 757 passed 69-18. The House also passed House Bill 727, creating the Kentucky Education Placement Service System for teacher applicants and district job postings, by a vote of 94-0. The chamber then took up House Bill 776, a modernization of the Dental Practice Act, with changes to board authority, licensure renewal, hygienist and assistant rules, and telehealth standards; the sponsor noted an ownership-related issue and presented House Floor Amendment 1 for consideration, but the transcript cuts off before final action on that amendment and the bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• Option two to fund our budgets are fee offices.
• I'm a fee office in Columbia County.
• You renew a tag, we get a fee. We renew your driver's license, we get a fee.
• We get a fee. We renew your driver's license, we get a fee.
• Do the fees cover the work? No, not really.

Summary: The Intergovernmental Affairs Subcommittee met to review how county budgets are developed and how constitutional officers fit into that process. Davin Suggs of the Florida Association of Counties gave an overview of county budgeting, explaining the statutory framework, the role of property taxes and TRIM notices, the fiscal-year timeline, fund balances and reserves, and the Department of Revenue’s oversight. He emphasized that county budgets include the board’s budget plus the budgets of constitutional officers, and that relationships and communication are critical to resolving budget issues. A panel of constitutional officers then described their offices’ budget processes and responsibilities: Escambia County Sheriff Chip Simmons discussed law enforcement budgeting and the importance of negotiated agreements with county commissions; Alachua County Property Appraiser Aisha Solomon explained the June 1 budget deadline, valuation methods, and the appeal process for property assessments; Manatee County Clerk and Comptroller Angelina Coleniso outlined the clerk’s court and finance duties, the county-side budget process, and the clerk’s personal liability under section 129.09 for unlawful expenditures; Leon County Supervisor of Elections Mark Early described the cyclical nature of election costs, staffing, equipment, and the impact of turnout and election law changes; and Columbia County Tax Collector Kyle Keene explained that tax collectors’ budgets are reviewed by the Department of Revenue, with fee offices funding themselves through service charges and budget offices relying on county support. Members asked about personal liability for unlawful spending, conflicts between clerks and county commissions, property valuation and storm damage adjustments, reserve levels, and whether tax collectors can retain excess fees. Responses noted that clerks must refuse illegal expenditures, property appraisers use market-based assessments with VAB and court review available, counties should maintain healthy fund balances for cash flow and emergencies, and tax collectors generally must zero out year-end balances and distribute excess revenues to taxing authorities. The committee took no votes and adjourned after thanking the panelists for their testimony.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm appointing Senator Shamp to the Committee on Judiciary and Elections to temporarily replace Senator
• I'm appointing Senator Shamp to temporarily replace Senator Rogers as chair of the Committee on Judiciary
• HB 4055, Legislature's public records fees exemptions.
• HB 4055, Legislature's public records fees exemptions.
• So for me, that raises some concerns about what the continued assessment for those fees will be used

Keywords: 1182, all

Summary: The Senate opened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, recorded attendance, approved the journal, and welcomed several guest groups, including the City of Maricopa Youth Council, students from Alpha School in Scottsdale, Brianna Andrew, and students from Gilbert Edu-Prize. The chamber also adopted a proposed amendment to Senate Rule 7A and then adopted the rules of the 57th Legislature, and the President announced a temporary committee appointment for Senator Shamp and a request to adjourn after Wednesday’s session until Monday, March 16. The floor then considered a long list of bills, with several third-reading votes. Measures that passed included SB 1654 on elections funding, SB 1711 on school safety-related information, SB 1743 on campaign contribution address disclosure, SB 1747 on access technology content, SB 1284 on moving violations, SB 1336 on State Land Department issues, SB 1365 on property tax exemptions for veterans, SB 1655 on juror summons/poll worker service, SB 1662 on probation, SB 1803 on Department of Veterans’ Services claims assistance, SB 1494, SB 1497 on school insurance, SB 1503 on pension benefit plans, SB 1584 on Department of Corrections recruitment, SB 1632 on DES, SB 1723 on bail, SB 1206 on insurance claims, and SB 1827 on aviation. Several bills failed, including SCR 1047 on marijuana establishment licenses, SB 1134 on political signs before reconsideration, SB 1544 on probation, and SB 1585 on sex offender monitoring. SB 1134 was later reconsidered and passed. Many of these votes featured debate over elections administration, privacy, health care access, veterans’ benefits, probation, and public safety. The Senate then resolved into the Committee of the Whole for Calendar One and later Calendar Two. In Committee of the Whole, members adopted amendments and recommended do pass on SB 1009, SB 1050, SB 1054, SB 1071, SB 1086, SB 1317, SB 1461, and SB 1672, with discussion focusing on school training standards, veterans’ park passes, local measures, Arizona Rangers oversight, AHCCCS provider reimbursement, reentry programming, allied health workforce development, and anti-psychotic drug authorization. On Calendar Two, the committee also advanced SB 1173, SB 1234, SB 1295, SB 1611, and SCR 1022 after amendments and extended debate, especially on AHCCCS fraud, juvenile court proceedings, inmate medical release, and the American Indian Health Program. The Committee of the Whole report was adopted, the bills were properly assigned, and committee announcements were made for the next day’s meetings.

Transcript Highlights:

• The bill keeps the current fee schedule in place until a new one is developed through rulemaking.
• The bill keeps the current fee schedule in place until a new one is developed through rulemaking and
• If they’re not available, then they can’t charge the storage fee that day.
• Once the regular business hours start up, they can charge the storage fee again.
• They don’t have to stay open; they just can’t charge a fee.

Keywords: 974, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• In addition to that, we've layered in things like impact fee waivers.
• all the permit fees.
• They were able to get all of those permit fees.
• What you will find at the state level are things around development fees.
• So you're seeing really that top line is going to be permits and fees.

Transcript Highlights:

• We cannot attract enough attorneys to replace those who are leaving, and this results in our existing
• in the future, particularly what portion of workload is supported by those special fund regulatory fees
• To replace 17 firearm and ammunition systems and databases.
• So through 2018-19, the Bureau of Firearms Workload has been funded through through the regulatory fees
• But since that point, despite a fee increase, a pretty sizable fee increase in 2019, solvency concerns

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So one of the techniques we have talked about is being able to replace that.
• >> One of the things I've spoken about a little is the rip and replace type.
• and then financial security for system upgrades in which fees are refundable?
• When you look at study fees, that is the fee that is required for the Ercot to do the work that they
• We left it up to the PUC to change how to interconnect the fees and try to equalize the burden.

Summary: The Senate Committee on Business and Commerce convened to discuss critical infrastructure and supply chain integrity, particularly focusing on Texas's power grid and associated vulnerabilities. The meeting highlighted Texas's recent ranking as 10th in electricity affordability, emphasizing the state's commitment to maintaining a reliable and resilient electric grid. New committee members introduced themselves, and the agenda included testimony from ERCOT and the Public Utility Commission regarding the implementation of the Lone Star Infrastructure Protection Act, which aims to mitigate risks posed by foreign entities to the power grid. Chad Sealy from ERCOT presented updates on the attestation process for market participants, revealing that over 1,500 entities had submitted attestations regarding their corporate structures and affiliations with designated foreign countries. Concerns were raised about the adequacy of the current vetting process, particularly regarding indirect relationships with foreign adversaries. Testimonies from the PUC and the Attorney General's office underscored the challenges of enforcing compliance and the need for improved legislative measures to enhance oversight and security. The committee also heard from experts, including Dr. Emma Stewart from Idaho National Laboratory, who discussed the evolving threats to the grid from foreign adversaries and the importance of securing communication systems. Recommendations included prioritizing inspections of critical components and enhancing collaboration with national laboratories to address vulnerabilities. The discussion concluded with an acknowledgment of the balance needed between ensuring grid security and maintaining affordability for consumers.

Transcript Highlights:

• The request also involves the replacement of some IT equipment. Thank you.
• Also involves the replacement of some IT equipment.
• Okay, Social Security and benefit replacement pay. Mr. Posey, you can present.
• the LBB with a 10-year projected equipment replacement cost once every two years.
• and TexQuest membership fees.

Summary: The Senate Finance Committee heard budget presentations for the Texas Historical Commission, the Pension Review Board, the Employees Retirement System (ERS), Social Security and benefit replacement pay, the Texas Emergency Services Retirement System (TESSRS), and the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT). The Legislative Budget Board outlined recommendations and major changes for each agency, including reductions tied to one-time projects at the Historical Commission, continued funding for courthouse grants, heritage trails, and Holocaust/genocide education, as well as new or modified riders and capital items. For the pension-related items, LBB described funding changes for PRB, ERS, Social Security, and TESSRS, including ERS health plan cost growth driven largely by pharmacy costs, the status of pension funding reforms, and TESSRS’s request for additional state support to address its unfunded liability and staffing needs. Members asked extensive questions about the Historical Commission’s one-time funding, unexpended balance authority, courthouse preservation, the Presidio La Bahia and National Museum of the Pacific War projects, and coordination of Texas history messaging across sites such as the Alamo, San Jacinto, Washington on the Brazos, and other heritage locations. The Historical Commission chair emphasized heritage tourism, economic development, and the need for continued investment in historic sites, staffing, IT modernization, and vehicles. On the pension items, senators discussed PRB oversight of local systems, including the Dallas police and fire pension situation, and ERS investment returns, benchmark comparisons, and rising health costs. ERS officials said the plan remains well funded overall, noted a 2021 cash balance reform and a planned supplemental legacy payment, and explained that GLP-1 drugs such as Ozempic and Mounjaro are a major driver of pharmacy spending; they also said the agency is working with the Texas Pharmacy Initiative and that rebates are contractually returned to ERS. For TESSRS, LBB and agency staff said the system serves volunteer and part-paid emergency personnel, is facing an infinite amortization period, and is requesting additional appropriations, staffing, and IT funding, along with a statutory change to allow an actuarially determined state contribution. The agency said it may otherwise need to cut benefits for volunteer firefighters. For CPRIT, LBB reported about $600 million in recommended funding for the biennium and a 10-FTE increase, while the agency described its $6 billion voter-approved program, $3.75 billion in grants awarded to date, and $10.4 million in revenue sharing since 2011. CPRIT’s only exceptional item was a request for a 10% salary increase for two exempt positions. No committee votes or formal actions were taken in the transcript.

Transcript Highlights:

• that is people are typically replacing that is people are typically replacing it<00:30:52.960>
• <00:40:25.359> One can use that we would pay a fee to.
• One can use that we would pay a fee to.
• >> Basically on page 17, we're replacing >> Basically on page 17, we're replacing the
• So the 24,000 would be replaced with of.

Bills: HB0103, HB0070, HB0091

Keywords: First Amendment, free speech, lawsuits, immunity, public participation, strategic lawsuits, foreign censorship, digital innovation, constitutional rights, Wyoming GRANITE Act, extraterritorial laws, civil actions, speech protection, legal jurisdiction, joint liability, artificial intelligence, social scoring, biometric data, privacy rights, government regulation

Transcript Highlights:

• Section two amends the application fee of $25 in place of the current fee of $75.
• current fee the place of the current fee $75.<00:10:39.519> Section<00:10:40.000> three
• :42.480> of registration renewal fee of registration renewal fee of $25<00:10:44.480> beginning
• It establishes the annual fee late fee process and ensures that all of the conditions are met, including
• So, we are funded 100% by operating fees So, we are funded 100% by operating fees that<00:38:00.240

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So I think it's just going to get replaced if I were Chanel. Thank you.
• And then I think just lastly, it imposes a fee on soap and body wash manufacturers.
• And then those fees will be passed down to consumers.
• And the fee structure and the way that is set up, Assemblymember, can you explain that to me?
• So, if you're saying she doesn't have a fee in the most report. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

Summary: The Environmental Safety and Toxic Materials Committee met to adopt its rules, establish quorum, and approve a consent calendar of five bills, all sent to the Committee on Appropriations. The committee then heard three measures: AB 638 by Assembly Member Rodriguez on stormwater capture for irrigation of urban public lands; AB 60 by Assembly Member Papin on banning synthetic nitro musks in cosmetics and personal care products; and AB 916 by Assembly Member Lee on restricting certain antibacterial soap ingredients in consumer hand soaps and body washes. AB 638 was presented as a climate and water-supply measure directing the State Water Resources Control Board to develop guidelines for capturing and safely reusing stormwater for irrigation. Supporters, including NRDC and several environmental groups, argued it would reduce potable water use and help move stalled projects forward. The bill drew no opposition and received strong support from committee members, including requests to coauthor. It passed the committee on a due pass motion to Appropriations. AB 60 would ban synthetic nitro musks in cosmetics and personal care products due to health and environmental concerns. Supporters cited endocrine disruption, reproductive harms, persistence in waterways, and international restrictions. The bill passed on a due pass motion to the floor, with one member not voting. AB 916 generated the most debate: supporters said the three targeted antimicrobials offer no added benefit over plain soap, may contribute to health harms and antibiotic resistance, and should be banned in consumer products while exempting health care settings. Opponents argued the ingredients are already under FDA and DTSC review, raised preemption concerns, and warned of costs and impacts on food handling and other uses. After extensive discussion, the committee approved AB 916 on a due pass motion to the Committee on Health, with several no votes.

Transcript Highlights:

• There's enough fees generated in this package to pay these bonds.
• , overload fees—there's tons of fees that...
• Distance, overload fees.
• Madam President, Senator, the fee increases on page two of the bill.
• And we're going to be bonding for $1.5 million, adding fees and taking fees and For $1.5 million, adding

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Some of the other fees and our incessant need to tax people, increase fees on folks, and make it harder
• Some of the other fees and our incessant need to tax people, increase fees on folks, and make it harder
• nor should we be raising fees like this. nor should we be raising fees like this.
• basis to the local bridge replacement basis to the local bridge replacement program,<03:53:05.040
• the fee increase for electric vehicles. the fee increase for electric vehicles.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• a month fee. a month fee.
• , but I it's it's a pretty membership fee, but I it's it's a pretty low<02:37:45.280> fee<02:37
• <02:37:46.720> I'm low fee that goes back to them. I'm low fee that goes back to them.
• multiplier based on the membership fee multiplier based on the membership fee if<02:40:40.640>
• We never got any information at all. collect an initiation fee at closing and collect an initiation fee

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• apartment without paying a fee." apartment without paying a fee."
• lost in feudal application fees. lost in feudal application fees.
• landlords are asking for fees up front. landlords are asking for fees up front.
• They just accept the application<03:10:18.960> fee. Application fee. Application fee.
• application without collecting the fee. application without collecting the fee.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• SHARE, which is good news because replacing SHARE would probably cost about $200 million.
• Those are the court filing fees that you mentioned.
• The other one that I was going to ask you about is the school bus replacement.
• Well, the 19.3 keeps us with a 12-year replacement, Mr. Chair, Senator.
• So, it's not a replacement, but the cost is high because of the nature of the remodel.