Transcript Highlights:

• In the hallway, if you need some assistance with that, let us know.
• We will have someone assist you with the registration process.
• OK, so physicians and physician assistants. Who else benefits?
• But it's medical students, surgical assistants, physicians, physician assistants, and perfusionists that
• I wasn't suicidal.

Bills: SB1117 , SB1373 , SB672 , SB1986 , SB1098 , SB626 , SB1784 , SB2480 , SB2487 , SB437 , SB660

Committee: House Public Health

Keywords: dentistry, botulinum toxin, aesthetic treatments, dental regulation, training, medical staff privileges, hospital administration, healthcare regulation, Texas Health and Safety Code, consistency in privileges, SB 672, Texas hospital emergency operations plan, hospital diversion, emergency department, cyberattack, cyber security, power outage, electrical outage, patient diversion, hospital preparedness

Transcript Highlights:

• have reached greater economic independence, reducing or even eliminating the reliance on public assistance
• need is, if it's just a temporary need, that might be all you need, is just to get some temporary assistance
• These navigators play a crucial role in providing personalized assistance, ensuring that help is not
• I started my career as a foster care counselor, responsible for assisting families with the return of
• Children and teen suicide rates have been dramatically increasing in recent years, and research shows

Summary: The Human Services Subcommittee met with a full agenda and reported all measures favorably. The committee first heard HB 1327, which would codify the Hope Florida program in state law, and HB 1329, the related public-records exemption for Hope Florida participants; both bills drew questions about oversight, duplication of services, staffing, and data privacy, and both passed 17-0 after an amendment to HB 1329. The committee then approved HB 391, allowing certified batterers intervention programs to include optional faith-based content while remaining grounded in required therapeutic models; an amendment clarified that participation in faith-based components must be strictly voluntary. Supporters argued the bill restores choice and access, while opponents raised concerns about church-state separation and uneven availability of secular alternatives; the bill passed 17-0. Members also advanced HB 1065, creating an Alzheimer’s disease awareness initiative through the Department of Elder Affairs, with broad support from members who shared personal experiences and emphasized early detection and public education. HB 1163, dealing with recovery residences, passed 12-5 after debate over local zoning authority, home rule, and whether the bill would help or hinder placement of level four recovery homes near urban cores. Several members said they supported recovery housing in principle but wanted more clarity on task force findings and local impacts before fully backing the measure. The committee next approved HB 969, which shifts evaluation of school district mental health assistance programs to OPAGA and requires reports on outcomes and effectiveness; members stressed the need to know whether substantial mental health funding is improving student outcomes. HB 1191, which decriminalizes allowing children to travel to school, play outdoors, or stay home for reasonable periods and codifies current DCF policy, passed 16-0 with support framed around parental rights and child development. Finally, HB 1207, the Tristan Murphy Act, passed 15-0 and would expand mental health diversion and treatment options, including training for first responders, a forensic hospital diversion pilot, a behavioral health data repository, and additional evaluation requirements before inmate work assignments. The meeting adjourned after all agenda bills were reported favorably.

Transcript Highlights:

• The Legislative Youth Advisory Council is here today with the peer initiative on teen suicide, bringing
• Suicide is the second leading cause of death among teens.
• We are just adding a new position under the radiology board: the radiologist assistant.
• The radiologist assistant. Assistant. Okay. Thank you for clearing that up for me. Thank you. Yes.
• The radiologist assistant. Assistant. Okay. Thank you for clearing that up for me. Thank you. Yes.

Bills: HR133 , HR134 , HR135 , HR136 , HR137 , HR138 , HR139 , HR140 , HR141 , HR142 , HR143 , HR144 , HR145 , HR146 , HR147 , HR148 , HR149 , HR150 , HR151 , HR152 , HR119 , HR120 , HR121 , HR122 , HR123 , HR125 , HR126 , HR127 , HR128 , HR129 , HR130 , HR131 , HR132 , HCR53 , HCR54 , HCR55 , HCR56 , SCR3 , SCR22 , SB4 , SB18 , SB66 , SB106 , SB201 , SB256 , SB274 , SB292 , SB326 , SB386 , SB406 , SB422 , SB423 , SB456 , SB475 , HCR3 , HB1 , HB3 , HB27 , HB71 , HB214 , HB225 , HB241 , HB244 , HB306 , HB312 , HB313 , HB314 , HB345 , HB366 , HB383 , HB446 , HB473 , HB511 , HB514 , HB655 , HB730 , HB743 , HB836 , HB983 , HB1027 , HB1037 , HB1043 , HB1082 , HB1091 , HB1096 , HB1103 , HB1126 , HB1167 , HB1174 , HB1175 , HB1230 , HB1237 , HB1238 , SB162 , SB349 , SB350 , SB382 , SB383 , HB76 , HB132 , HB181 , HB210 , HB250 , HB265 , HB275 , HB291 , HB322 , HB342 , HB475 , HB486 , HB616 , HB635 , HB639 , HB690 , HB740 , HB757 , HB761 , HB774 , HB808 , HB855 , HB872 , HB883 , HB886 , HB903 , HB949 , HB962 , HB996 , HB1003 , HB1036 , HB1054 , HB1071 , HB1076 , HB1078 , HB1113 , HB1132 , HB1146 , HB1232 , HB1233 , HB21 , HB24 , HB29 , HB31 , HB39 , HB45 , HB77 , HB136 , HB150 , HB263 , HB273 , HB299 , HB315 , HB376 , HB377 , HB431 , HB444 , HB450 , HB519 , HB533 , HB538 , HB559 , HB562 , HB663 , HB664 , HB715 , HB717 , HB805 , HB822 , HB823 , HB834 , HB864 , HB867 , HB1017 , HB1018 , HB1068 , HB1134 , HB1137 , HB1234 , HB1235 , HB1236 , HB961 , HB399 , HB868 , HB905 , HB180 , HB192 , HB284 , HB476 , HB915 , HB952 , HB1006 , HB401 , HB51 , HB58 , HB140 , HB982 , HB1010 , HB750 , HB911 , HB977 , HB901 , HR20 , HR74 , HB9 , HB151 , HB193 , HB310 , HB393 , HB459 , HB577 , HB582 , HB605 , HB614 , HB615 , HB682 , HB733 , HB773

Summary: The House met with a quorum and spent much of the day on personal privileges, recognizing visiting groups and designating several commemorative days, including Sigma Gamma Rho Day, Alpha Kappa Alpha Day, Italian Festival royalty, Acadiana’s Red and White Day, and Louisiana Automobile Dealer Day. Members also welcomed students, civic leaders, former legislators, a state pageant titleholder, and a visiting African law enforcement delegation focused on combating human trafficking. The chamber received Senate bills and committee reports, and several resolutions were adopted without objection, including condolences resolutions and commendations for schools, festivals, and public service organizations. The House then took up a long series of bills, with many passing on final passage after brief debate or technical amendments. Measures addressed topics such as notification of inmate releases from parish jails and DOC facilities (HB 76), ethics and financial disclosure, video voyeurism involving deceased persons (HB 265, renamed the Jacob Carter Dignity and Death Act), health insurance claim practices (HB 291), victim access to parole testimony without fees (HB 32), special education due process burden of proof (HB 342), AI disclosure in medical settings (HB 475), the psychology interjurisdictional compact (HB 486), homelessness provider oversight (HB 616), AI disclosure in campaign calls (HB 639), Medicaid managed care claim review (HB 740), menhaden fishing restrictions (HB 757 and HB 855), HIV exposure law modernization (HB 808), and rare cancer treatment advisory board changes (HB 761). Most of these bills passed with strong support; HB 342 passed 98-3, HB 639 passed 86-9, HB 808 passed 99-0, and HB 855 drew the most extended debate, with supporters citing science-based conservation and opponents warning about harm to the menhaden industry and coastal jobs. The House also adopted committee amendments and set several major fiscal measures as special orders for April 16, including HB 1, HB 2, HB 3, HB 313, HB 383, HB 983, and HB 1126. Additional bills were advanced to third reading from committee reports, and the chamber returned some measures to the calendar for later consideration. Overall, the meeting was marked by ceremonial recognitions, a heavy legislative agenda, and multiple substantive policy votes across education, health, criminal justice, transportation, ethics, and natural resources.

Transcript Highlights:

• , which is approximately 20% that either think about or have committed the act of suicide in the last
• I have had three clients attempt suicide four times, all related to gambling.
• </c><01:29:35.840><c> rate</c><01:29:36.400><c> of</c> statistic is the um suicide rate of statistic
• is the um suicide rate of persons<01:29:37.199><c> that</c><01:29:37.400><c> engage</c><01:29:37.840>
• uh in the committed the act of suicide uh in the last<01:29:50.320><c> year</c><01:29:50.760><c> I</

Committee: Senate Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• Recently, there were some assistance on interdicting fentanyl in the state of Missouri, and that's a
• example, on the National Guard, reservists too, but National Guardsmen also are eligible for tuition assistance
• So that tuition assistance will be paid first, and then there would be a waiver.
• So in my mind, that's separate from tuition assistance, that's separate from scholarships, that's separate
• you're a guardsman and you're going to Mizzou or any state college, you get your federal tuition assistance

Committee: House Veterans and Armed Forces

Transcript Highlights:

• Kelly Mae Douglas, and I work for the Defense State Liaison Office, which operates under the Deputy Assistant
• Jordan, for your assistance on this bill, making it, I think, a better bill.
• Assistant, please call the roll. Arreguín? Here. Seyarto? Here. Caballero? Here. Gonzales? Here.
• If the committee assistant can please call the roll.
• If the committee assistant can please call the roll.

Committee: Senate Public Safety

Transcript Highlights:

• Assistant Majority Leader Garcia, you are recognized for your procedural motions. Thank you, Mr.
• Food assistance programs like SNAP are being gutted, putting the hundreds of thousands of children in
• We know this is many times the launching pad for many parents to become instructional assistants and
• Assistant Majority Leader Garcia, you're recognized for your procedural motion. Mr.
• Assistant Majority Leader Garcia moves, and Ms.

Summary: The Assembly met after a quorum call and prayer, then proceeded through routine procedural business, including unanimous-consent motions to suspend rules, re-refer several Senate bills to committees, and remove certain items from the consent calendar. Members also offered multiple guest introductions recognizing local officials, students, interns, and business delegations, including the Harupa Community Services District, a National FFA scholarship winner, Japanese business leaders, and a Stanford-bound student from the Central Valley. On the floor, the Assembly concurred in Senate amendments to AB 390, expanding the slow down, move over law to stationary vehicles, by a vote of 60-0, and to AB 1478, allowing retailers to absorb mattress recycling fees, by a vote of 63-0. The Assembly also adopted AJR 12, a bipartisan resolution urging protection and increased funding for Head Start, after extensive supportive testimony from members describing personal and district-level impacts; the resolution passed 70-0, with 69 co-authors added. The chamber likewise adopted ACR 96 naming a portion of Highway 101 in Humboldt County the Patty Berg Memorial Highway, and SCR 50, which calls for better state review of climate-adaptation policies to avoid maladaptation; both measures passed unanimously. The second-day consent calendar was then approved unanimously, with several measures adopted and some items removed or retained on file. The Assembly also approved co-authorship on ACR 81, the Border Patrol Agent Daniel R. Salazar Memorial Highway resolution. The session concluded with numerous adjournment-in-memory tributes, especially for Rincon Tribal Council Chairman Bo Mazzetti and former legislative secretary George Steffes, followed by a moment of silence and adjournment until Monday, July 14 at 1 p.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• respondents who received the gender-affirming treatment they needed had lower prevalence of past year suicide
• allow patients to not only have access to appropriate treatment for gender dysphoria, but will also assist
• required because with the Bureau we needed to establish really a program of how to be able to fund and assist
• Carrie West, who's going to assist in her testimony. Great. Thanks so much. You have two minutes.
• abandoned endowment care cemeteries to local agencies backed by regulatory oversight and financial assistance

Committee: House Business and Professions

Transcript Highlights:

• They need legislative assistance.
• too long on this one thing, we redesigned the slides so that that won't Happen that we we give an assist
• I am proud to say today that I am not homeless. working as a travel medical assistant, phlebotomy, and
• You will find 28 to 32 children in a classroom without a teaching assistant.
• in the past year with nearly one in five transgender and non-binary youth attempting suicide.

Bills: SB451 , SB762 , SB1490 , SB1262 , SB1459 , SB1750 , SB1962 , SB2252 , SB2253 , SB2365

Committees: Senate Education , Senate Education K-16

Transcript Highlights:

• Item number seven, Assembly Bill 535 by Schiavo, titled Threatening a Witness Assisting a Prosecution
• The most painful example came when my younger sister attempted suicide while I was incarcerated.
• When my younger sister attempted suicide while I was incarcerated.
• We want to assist them.
• With me today to testify is San Bernardino Assistant District Attorney and frequent appearance person

Summary: The committee heard several public safety and criminal justice bills. AB 837 by Assemblymember Davies would add ketamine transportation to existing drug trafficking law; supporters, including district attorneys and peace officer groups, said it would address a growing and dangerous drug trend, while opponents argued increased penalties do not reduce drug supply and can worsen health harms. The bill was approved on a due-pass-as-amended vote and sent to Appropriations. AB 352 by Assemblymember Pacheco would make threats against judges and court commissioners an aggravating factor in sentencing; judicial and law enforcement groups supported it as a response to rising threats, while ACLU and criminal justice advocates said existing law already covers threats and the bill is unnecessary. It also passed to Appropriations. The committee then took up AB 938 by Assemblymember Bonta, which expands vacatur and affirmative-defense relief for survivors of human trafficking, intimate partner violence, and sexual violence, including for some violent offenses. Survivors and advocates testified that the bill would allow people coerced into crimes to tell their full stories and seek relief, while district attorneys and sheriffs warned it could sweep too broadly and affect public safety. The chair and several members strongly supported the measure, and it passed as amended to Appropriations. AB 475 by Assemblymember Wilson would make prison work assignments voluntary and is tied to a broader effort to remove involuntary servitude language from the state constitution; supporters framed it as a rehabilitation and dignity issue, while one member objected to the premise and cited the defeat of a related ballot measure. The bill was voted out to Appropriations but left on call pending additional votes. Assemblymember Lowenthal presented AB 704, which would allow people convicted of low-level offenses before age 26 to petition to seal and destroy records after a waiting period. Supporters said the bill addresses the limits of expungement in the digital age and recognizes young adult brain development; prosecutors and police groups raised Brady/disclosure concerns and objected to treating 18- to 25-year-olds like children. The committee debated those issues at length before sending the bill to Appropriations. Lowenthal also presented AB 812, which would expand resentencing opportunities for incarcerated firefighters who serve on conservation fire crews; supporters emphasized rehabilitation, wildfire response, and reduced recidivism, and the hearing continued with support testimony and the start of opposition testimony as the transcript ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• Geological Survey to assist in rapid location.
• That was the Katrina Public Assistance grant. Right. That was the Katrina Public Assistance grant.
• The newly proposed public assistance program called Rapid...
• assistant deputy directors.
• Which is hazard mitigation and public assistance. Okay.

Summary: The committee first heard an update on the Northwest Louisiana earthquake cluster. Laura Sori of the Department of Conservation and Energy said the agency has inspected Class II injection wells within 12 miles of the earthquakes, found no permit violations, and is requiring monthly reporting of daily injection data. LSU and Tulane researchers explained that the swarm includes about 50 earthquakes detected by USGS since December 2025, including a 4.9 magnitude event on March 5, and that better monitoring is needed because Louisiana has very limited seismic station coverage. Dr. Cynthia Ebinger said her temporary array has detected more small quakes than USGS, that the pattern looks more like a swarm than normal aftershocks, and that the data suggest pressure changes in the subsurface, though no definitive cause was identified. Keith Hall of LSU described how other states responded to suspected induced seismicity with more monitoring, more frequent reporting, injection limits or moratoria, and “traffic light” systems that escalate regulatory responses as seismicity increases. Members asked about depths, fault locations, possible links to injection or fracking, and whether more monitoring and data-sharing should be pursued; several speakers said Louisiana likely needs a denser monitoring network and more structured data collection. A Texas geoscientist, William Berger, also testified that Texas uses large-scale data analysis and AI to study injection-related seismicity and argued for secure sharing of operator data to improve forecasting and risk management. The committee then took testimony on UAV and drone incursions over Barksdale Air Force Base. GOSEP said the incident was logged in WebEOC and the common operating picture, but that Barksdale did not request direct GOSEP resources and that the matter was handled through law enforcement channels. Louisiana State Police and the FBI said they were limited in what they could disclose, but confirmed multiple drone sightings on the morning and evening of March 9 and continued monitoring for several days. State Police said they have created a task force with the Police Chiefs Association, Sheriffs Association, GOSEP, and LSP, and that officers are receiving FBI-related training to help detect and, where authorized, mitigate drones. Members discussed whether the activity was nefarious, what counts as an incursion, and the need for better public education about drone restrictions near military and critical infrastructure sites. No formal action was taken, but members said the issue will continue to be tracked alongside pending legislation. Finally, the committee received a one-year update on the merger of GOSEP with the Louisiana National Guard and Military Department. Major General Thomas Freelieu and Brigadier General Jason Maffus said the merger has reduced GOSEP from seven divisions to three, shifted administrative functions to the Military Department, and produced about $10.5 million in first-year cost avoidance. They said the agency has modernized its common operating picture, returned staff to in-person work, and continued statewide preparedness exercises. Freelieu highlighted Guard missions including cyber expansion, the new Air National Guard cyber squadron at Jackson Barracks, modernization of the 159th Fighter Wing, and ongoing support for homeland security missions in New Orleans and Washington, D.C. Maffus said GOSEP’s core mission remains emergency preparedness, response, and recovery, and that the merger is intended to make state support to parishes faster and more efficient.

Transcript Highlights:

• , whether it's U.S. or other medical assistance to get to appointments.
• I apologize, Asia, equally Florida Assisted Living Association, an opponent of the bill.
• I am a speech ugly and I'm the CEO of the Florida Assisted Living Association.
• I support assisted living facility is being involved and providing consumer education.
• The Florida Assisted Living Association supports the bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• She's worked with the Huntington's Disease Society of America to help get timely Medicare assistance
• Are you aware that in 2024 the Trevor Project found a link between youth suicidality and legislators
• Of my friends who tried to commit suicide and their parents had to come in and find them, the only way
• What message do we send to them, those that stand at risk of depression, bullying, and even suicide when
• Could they donate to assist your organization for their employer? Sure.

Bills: SB 8 , HB7 , HB15 , HB265 , HCR13 , SB8 , HB7 , HB15 , HB265 , HCR13

Transcript Highlights:

• Geological Survey to assist in rapid location.
• That was the Katrina Public Assistance grant. Right. That was the Katrina Public Assistance grant.
• I know you guys bring in a lot of outside utilities to come in and assist.
• Is the assistant deputy director with the changes?” “He is, yes, sir.”
• The newly proposed public assistance program called Rapid...

Summary: The committee met on May 26, 2026, and first approved the minutes from the May 22, 2025 meeting. The main topic was the Northwest Louisiana earthquake cluster, with testimony from Louisiana Department of Conservation and Energy staff, LSU and Tulane geoscientists, and later LSU law professor Keith Hall. Witnesses said the cause of the swarm has not been definitively identified, but induced seismicity from wastewater injection or hydraulic fracturing remains a concern. They described 50 earthquakes reported by the USGS in Red River, Bienville, DeSoto, and Natchitoches Parishes, including a magnitude 4.9 event on March 5, 2026, and explained that Louisiana’s sparse seismic network limits detection and depth/location estimates. C&E said it inspected Class II injection wells within 12 miles of the events, found no violations, now requires more frequent injection reporting, and is working with researchers and LSU on a possible state monitoring network and future policy changes. Committee members asked about injection depths, fault locations, whether the activity could be natural, and whether Louisiana should adopt stronger monitoring or a traffic-light regulatory system like other states. The witnesses said more data is needed before firm conclusions can be drawn, but that denser monitoring can detect smaller quakes and help identify patterns. Professor Hall summarized responses in other states, including more frequent reporting, increased monitoring, injection reductions, moratoria, and traffic-light systems in Oklahoma, Kansas, Texas, Ohio, and Illinois. Members also discussed whether operators should share more seismic and geologic data, and several said the state should avoid jumping to conclusions while still improving oversight. The committee then heard from William Berger, a Texas geoscientist, who described using AI and operator data to model wastewater injection and seismic risk, and said broader data sharing would improve forecasting and siting decisions. He and another witness emphasized that many earthquakes arise from clusters of wells rather than a single well, and that proprietary concerns limit voluntary disclosure. The committee also received a brief update from GOSEP and the Louisiana National Guard on the Barksdale Air Force Base drone incursions. GOSEP said it logged the incident in WebEOC and shared releasable information, while State Police and the FBI said they were limited in what they could disclose. Officers said a task force has been formed, some personnel have received federal drone-mitigation training, and House Bill 940 is intended to mirror the task force MOU. Finally, Major General Thomas Friloux and Brigadier General Jason Maffus updated the committee on the merger of GOSEP into the Louisiana Military Department. They said the merger has reduced GOSEP from seven divisions to three, brought back employees to in-person work, modernized the state’s common operating picture, and produced about $10.5 million in first-year cost avoidance through staffing and contract changes. They also noted the planned transfer of the Louisiana Center for Safe Schools to the Louisiana Commission on Law Enforcement, ongoing hurricane preparedness, and continued coordination with parish emergency managers. No votes were taken on the substantive topics, and the meeting ended with the committee moving through its agenda items and receiving informational testimony.

Transcript Highlights:

• And so they need to go into an assisted living or a nursing home or a rehab center to allow the antibiotics
• And so they need to go into an assisted living or a nursing home or a rehab center to allow the antibiotics
• The added language, even with appropriate supportive services, technological assistance, or supported
• The respondent may be assisted in a hearing by a person or persons of the respondent's choosing, assistive
• Residents, including older adults, individuals with disabilities, and others who need assistance managing

Committee: Senate Judiciary and Rules

Transcript Highlights:

• She is active in suicide prevention after losing her husband of 40 years.
• Palisades and Easton fires, collecting and distributing essentials to fire and police stations and assisting
• foster workforce development and training, continuum of care, Medicaid, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance
• After a few years, she was promoted to assistant director of Mary's Table, then to director.

Transcript Highlights:

• . $5.5 million is maintained for the youth mental health awareness and assistance training, and $1.1
• implement on their campuses. $5.5 million is maintained for the youth mental health awareness and assistance
• And I guess I'm real sensitive to this because over the last month, I lost another student to suicide
• And I just think that we have to understand that sometimes both children and adults need clinical assistance

Committee: Senate Appropriations Committee on Pre-K - 12 Education

Transcript Highlights:

• So no suicide protocol, right? But they can do the lessons that are already created curriculum.
• the vice chair of the committee, and as we discussed what schools were doing and what tools and assistance
• great experts and advocates of alternative paths to licensure, so this is a good cleanup that will assist
• So this is a good cleanup that will assist all of our schools.

Committee: Assembly Education

Transcript Highlights:

• scientific research that has shown every single time this is taken up on a legislative floor, calls to suicide
• that scientific research has shown that every time this is taken up on a legislative floor, calls to suicide
• Quade said something that I found really disturbing about this discussion, and I wonder today if the suicidal
• /c><01:07:35.599><c> today</c><01:07:36.119><c> if</c><01:07:36.279><c> the</c><01:07:36.480><c> suicidal
• </c> and I wonder today if the suicidal and I wonder today if the suicidal hotline<01:07:38.119><c> numbers

Transcript Highlights:

• There's lots of university studies that have already projected a high suicide rate increase based off
• came out that have already projected a came out that have already projected a high<00:14:21.680><c> suicide
• <c> increase</c><00:14:23.040><c> based</c><00:14:23.279><c> off</c><00:14:23.440><c> of</c> high suicide
• rate increase based off of high suicide rate increase based off of the<00:14:23.839><c> current</c><