Transcript Highlights:

• At Crafton Hills College, we recently built a performing arts center with state-of-the-art equipment
• Albuterol in public schools.
• program.
• rather than making it the pilot program the reason we are starting with a pilot program as I stated
• Senate Youth Program.

Summary: The committee heard several education-related bills. SB 1154 would let community college districts use best-value procurement for public works over $1 million. The author and community college supporters argued it would improve project quality and reduce delays and change orders, while contractor groups opposed it, saying the bill’s skilled-and-trained workforce and safety provisions would narrow competition and add subjectivity. The bill passed the committee on a 4-2 vote and was placed on call. SB 1347, a cleanup bill clarifying that stock albuterol may be kept in all public schools, including preschool programs, drew support from school nurses, respiratory care advocates, and a physician who said it would help schools respond to asthma emergencies. With no opposition, it passed unanimously and was placed on call. SB 1222 would create a pilot program designating a lead county office to help regions improve career technical education implementation; supporters said it would expand access and build regional capacity, while Senator Cabaldon questioned the need for another pilot and urged more direct funding instead. The bill passed and was placed on call. The committee also considered SB 1378, which would create a California Excellence in Service Learning designation for schools and districts. Supporters said it would recognize and encourage service-learning programs without mandating curriculum changes, while some members raised concerns about adding more state designations and administrative work. It passed and was placed on call. SB 1048 would create a Seal of Climate Literacy for high school students; supporters said it would recognize climate-related learning and connect students to green careers, while members cautioned against using seals to influence curriculum and noted equity and implementation concerns. It also passed and was placed on call. Finally, SB 1101 would require higher education institutions to notify students, faculty, and staff when their personal information is shared with federal agencies in OCR-related investigations or subpoenas. Supporters framed it as a privacy and free-speech protection in response to recent federal requests for campus information, while the author said the bill would not block lawful subpoenas but would require notice and limit voluntary disclosures. The committee discussed legal and constitutional issues, but no vote was taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• This is the Children's Health Insurance Program, CHIP funding. Anybody need explanations?
• Chairman, where are we with the industrial hemp program? Excuse me?
• Where are we with the industrial hemp program? Industrial hemp program. It didn't change, did it?
• And in fact, I have had an informal request for a public hearing.
• I don't think we have time for a public hearing on this matter today.

Bills: SB143 , SB144 , SB145 , SB152 , SB153 , SB154 , SB162 , SB226 , SB146 , SB143 , SB144 , SB145 , SB152 , SB153 , SB154 , SB162 , SB226 , SB146

Committee: Senate Finance and Taxation General Fund

Keywords: SB143, solid waste, garbage collection, trash fees, refuse collection, municipal fees, county fees, fee exemption, veterans benefits, veteran household, disabled veteran, VA benefits, Social Security exemption, low-income households, poverty level, county commission, municipal governing body, Alabama solid waste law, certificate of exception, public health

Bills: SB393 , SB414 , SB472 , SB578 , SB617 , SB710 , SB785 , SB973 , SB1059 , SB1062 , SB1352 , SB1450 , SB1502 , SB1547 , SB1566 , SB1567

Committee: Senate Local Government

Keywords: SB 393, Sparks, Middleton, local government, political subdivision, public securities, government debt, municipal bonds, general obligation bonds, certificates of obligation, anticipation notes, debt maturity, weighted average maturity, economic life, useful life, tangible personal property, real property improvements, public finance, Texas Government Code, Chapter 1253

Transcript Highlights:

• At Crafton Hills College, we recently built a performing arts center with state-of-the-art equipment
• Choosing the qualified, pre-qualified people through the public bidding qualifies the public agencies
• Then we ended up with an additional couple of programs: Golden State Pathways, the Strong Workforce Program
• program.
• Senate Youth Program.

Committee: Senate Education

Summary: The committee heard several education-related bills. SB 1154 would allow community college districts to use best-value procurement for public works projects over $1 million. The author and community college supporters argued it would give colleges flexibility similar to K-12, UC, and CSU and help avoid delays and costly change orders. Contractors and electrical subcontractors opposed the bill, saying its skilled-and-trained workforce requirement and safety provisions would narrow competition and disadvantage small and nonunion firms. The bill passed the committee on a due-pass vote and was placed on call. SB 1347 would clarify that stock albuterol may be stocked in all public schools, including preschool programs. The author and a physician testified that the bill would remove confusion in existing law and improve access to emergency asthma medication for students. School nurses, respiratory care advocates, and small school districts supported the measure, and there was no opposition. The bill passed unanimously on a due-pass to the floor vote and was placed on call. SB 1222 would create a pilot program to designate a lead county office to help regions struggling with career technical education implementation. Supporters said many students remain disconnected from school and work and that the bill would spread proven regional CTE practices. Some committee members questioned whether another pilot was needed, arguing existing CTE programs need more funding and fewer new structures, while the author and sponsor said the bill would build regional capacity and share successful models. The bill passed to Senate Appropriations and was placed on call. SB 1378 would create a California Excellence in Service Learning Designation Program to recognize schools and districts with strong service-learning programs. Supporters said it would validate existing work and encourage civic engagement, while one member raised concerns about adding more designations and workload for schools. The bill passed as amended to Senate Appropriations and was placed on call. SB 1048 would create a Seal of Climate Literacy for high school students demonstrating climate science knowledge through coursework and hands-on learning. Supporters, including the Department of Education and climate education groups, said it would align students with growing clean-energy careers; some members cautioned against adding more curriculum-related seals and noted equity and implementation concerns. The bill passed to Senate Appropriations and was placed on call. Later, SB 1101, the Higher Education Data Sharing Transparency Act, was presented. It would require CSU, community colleges, independent colleges, and request UC to notify students, faculty, and staff when their personal information is shared with federal agencies such as the Office for Civil Rights, and to limit disclosure to what is legally required. Supporters said recent federal investigations and subpoenas have created fear and a lack of transparency on campuses. Committee discussion focused on subpoena authority, constitutional limits, and whether notice should be required; one member said she would abstain because of legal concerns, while another said the bill would continue to be examined in the next committee. The transcript ends during discussion of SB 1101 before a final vote is recorded.

Transcript Highlights:

• For item 13, in particular, this isn't really a program-to-program transfer.
• So you said programs.
• The art school is a program, but it was a one-time nonrecurring appropriation.
• Okay, explain to me what it means when they say between programs, transfers between programs.
• Public Council.

Committee: House House Appropriations & Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> implementing a new tax credit program implementing a new tax credit program our<00:14:17.720><c>
• </c><00:29:28.600><c> with</c> plan to provide do and the public with plan to provide do and the public
• I should note, as well, that the IRS offers a federal tax program, and that tax program includes a provision
• Well, they want the public subsidy, and that might make some sense in some areas, but it doesn't make
• We have State Foundation on Culture and the Arts in support. Thank you.

Committee: House Economic Development & Technology

Summary: The Committee on Economic Development and Technology heard testimony on HB 976, a measure related to incentives for renewable fuels, including renewable diesel and sustainable aviation fuel. Supporters said the bill would help close the cost gap between renewable and conventional fuels, strengthen Hawaii’s energy security, support climate goals, and encourage local economic development. Testifiers from Pono Pacific, PAR Hawaii, Hawaiian Electric, Hawaiian Airlines/Alaska Airlines, the Hawaii Department of Transportation, Pacific Biodiesel, Aloha Carbon, and others described ongoing or planned projects, local feedstock development, and potential benefits for agriculture, waste diversion, and emissions reductions. Several testifiers also discussed proposed amendments. The Hawaii Renewable Fuels Coalition said it wanted to remove the import tax credit, eliminate the aggregate cap increase to avoid additional state funding, and revise local-production language to rely on a carbon-intensity threshold rather than location-based preferences. The Tax Foundation of Hawaii raised technical concerns about the bill’s administration, including prorating credits if the cap is exceeded and the feasibility of a 30-day filing window. Some supporters urged keeping solid waste, including construction and demolition debris, as eligible feedstock, while Energy Justice Network opposed that approach and also urged removing GMO-related language and waste-based feedstocks because of environmental and toxic emissions concerns. Opposition testimony focused on the bill’s cost and feasibility. Energy Justice Network and Ted Metros argued the measure could become a large subsidy for a refinery and questioned whether Hawaii has enough land and water to produce meaningful quantities of biofuel locally. Metros also criticized the refundable credit structure and said the state should not bear the cost for what he described as a benefit largely tied to tourism and imported fuel. No vote was taken during the portion of the hearing provided; the chair later noted the committee had received 13 testimonies in support, 18 in opposition, and seven comments, and then invited further discussion on cost allocation and lowering caps to broaden participation.

Transcript Highlights:

• Can you elaborate on the public benefit of the pickleball court?
• Now, we do agree when you do public bid, you have a qualification for the contractor.
• So why would we not use public bid?
• dollars, how we want public dollars spent, whether we want to use public bid or CMAR.
• dollars, how we want public dollars spent, whether we want to use public bid or CMAR.

Summary: The joint Senate and House Transportation, Highways, and Public Works committees met on March 3, 2026, to consider several construction manager at risk (CMAR/Seymour) requests before hearing a DOTD presentation. The first item, Caddo Parish’s proposed $9.6 million pickleball park in Southeast Shreveport, drew the most debate. Members questioned whether a pickleball complex was sufficiently complex or time-sensitive to justify CMAR, whether the location was accessible to residents without cars, and whether the process could disadvantage public bidding and minority contractors. The House initially voted to deny the request, but later reconsidered and approved it after discussion about the statute and the committee’s past practice. The committee also heard a brief procedural discussion about whether the statutory factors for CMAR are exhaustive and whether future reforms may be considered in the next session. The committee then approved several other CMAR projects with little or no opposition. Ascension Parish Sheriff’s Office received approval for an indoor shooting range, with testimony emphasizing specialized ventilation, lead control, bullet protection, and other technical requirements. Calcasieu Consolidated Gravity Drainage District No. 2 received approval for a pump station rehab/replacement project serving a large portion of Lake Charles and critical public facilities, with members citing the need to maintain drainage operations during weather events. St. Tammany Parish Hospital District No. 2’s Slidell Memorial Hospital emergency department expansion was approved based on the complexity of adding beds and renovating an operating ED, and St. Charles Parish Hospital’s entry registration/PACU renovation was also approved, with members noting the hospital exception to the CMAR threshold. The Port of Vinton dock project in Calcasieu Parish was approved as well, with testimony stressing a tight delivery schedule tied to an LED project and the need to keep port operations running during construction. After the Caddo Parish item was reconsidered, the committee recessed briefly and then adjourned the CMAR portion of the meeting to move on to the DOTD presentation.

Transcript Highlights:

• The House Budget Review Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Protection, Tourism, and Energy.
• Mona Jett, chief of staff for the Tourism, Arts and Heritage Cabinet. >> Good morning.
• tourism arts and heritage cabinet. cabinet. cabinet.
• </c><00:04:49.280><c> Our</c> programs, amenities, and services.
• Our programs, amenities, and services.

Summary: The House Budget Review Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Protection, Tourism, and Energy received an update from Kentucky State Parks and the Finance Cabinet on the status of major capital projects funded through recent legislative appropriations. Commissioner Mark Keelin, Deputy Commissioner Chris Perry, and Finance Cabinet/DECA representatives described progress on campground upgrades, utility and broadband improvements, building systems repairs, life-safety work, accommodations and hospitality renovations, pool and beach projects, playgrounds, golf course improvements, marina work, and wastewater upgrades across the state park system. They emphasized that Kentucky has 44 state parks and that the funding has supported completed work and projects still under construction or in design. The presentation highlighted funding tied to House Joint Resolution 76, House Joint Resolution 56, and House Bill 6. Parks reported roughly $72 million invested to date, with 66 projects completed and 17 under construction, including campground renovations at sites such as My Old Kentucky Home, Kin Lake, Carter Caves, Cumberland Falls, and others; broadband projects at several campgrounds; electrical grid resilience work at parks including Kentucky Dam Village and Kin Lake; and completed life-safety upgrades such as lock systems. Officials also noted pool and beach work, ADA improvements, lodge and guest room renovations, marina replacements, and wastewater plant upgrades. DECA said it currently manages 1,335 active capital projects statewide, including 149 for Parks, and credited additional project management capacity and regular coordination meetings for accelerating delivery. Committee members asked for a copy of the presentation and pressed the department for more detailed accounting of House Joint Resolution 56, including how much money remains, which projects are complete, and whether current appropriations are sufficient to finish the listed work. The department also requested a larger maintenance pool appropriation of $40 million for the next budget, arguing that routine and emergency maintenance needs across 44 parks exceed current resources and that preventative maintenance would reduce long-term costs. No votes were taken during the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• for a new grant program to support technology-based security enhancements in public and charter schools
• for a new grant program to support technology-based security enhancements in public and charter schools
• And this. programs.
• Chair DeSigley, I heard today from some of my cultural arts programs, and they're pretty upset about
• This program?

Bills: S2500 , S2502 , S2504 , S7028 , S2506 , S2508 , S2510 , S2512 , S2514 , S2516 , S2518 , S0482 , S0678 , S0984 , S1016 , S1074 , S1706 , S7030

Committee: Senate Appropriations

Summary: The committee heard presentations on the Senate’s proposed 2026-2027 budget, SPB 2500, with chairs outlining major spending in K-12 education, higher education, health and human services, criminal and civil justice, transportation/tourism/economic development, and agriculture/environment/general government. Highlights included a $115 billion overall budget, pay raises for state employees and public safety workers, major K-12 funding increases and enrollment supplements, higher education workforce and nursing investments, expanded Medicaid/KidCare and behavioral health funding, corrections and law enforcement operational funding, transportation and housing investments, and significant environmental and water quality spending. Members asked about civic education funding, declining enrollment, professor retention, APD waiver waitlists, cultural grant allocations, and other line items. Public testimony also addressed HIV/AIDS drug assistance funding and prison air conditioning. SPB 2500 was adopted as a committee bill after amendment consideration and a roll call vote. The committee then took up implementing and related budget bills, including SPB 2502 (implementing the General Appropriations Act), SPB 2504 (state employee bargaining placeholder), SB 7028 (Florida Retirement System contribution rates and related retirement changes), SPB 2506 (fuel tax distributions), SPB 2508 (state agency law enforcement radio system surcharge), SPB 2510 (termination of an unused court trust fund), SPB 2512 (new judgeships), SPB 2514 (K-12 conforming changes), SPB 2516 (higher education conforming changes), and SPB 2518 (health conforming changes). Most were explained as technical or conforming measures tied to the budget, and all were reported favorably as committee bills, with SB 7028 amended to direct a portion of increased contributions to disability and line-of-duty death benefits in the FRS investment plan. The committee also heard and passed several member bills, including CS for SB 1074 on rounding rules for cash transactions in a world without pennies, CS for SB 678 restoring the alcohol loss deduction framework for distributors, and SB 964 on firefighter cancer benefits and prevention. SB 964 drew the most discussion, with questions about the one-year death-benefit window, the separate $25,000 cancer diagnosis payment, and whether the bill could create gaps in coverage for firefighters diagnosed or dying just outside the new time limits. Firefighter representatives testified in support, saying the bill would provide clearer protections for members and families. All of these measures were reported favorably.

Transcript Highlights:

• Is the Chief Executive Officer at Forestry and Fire Recruitment Program.
• Public service to him wasn't just a job, it was a purpose.
• Performing Arts Center stands on Washington Boulevard today, named after him in 2003. I met Mr.
• And that was his introduction to public service. And he worked in the city of Los Angeles.
• And he retired as a public servant, and I want to say thank you very much.

Transcript Highlights:

• It created a program that we're extremely proud of and that you'll hear so much about today.
• Alongside that, we also have health and wellness programming, and what that looks like is also having
• A state-of-the-art culinary kitchen when that’s fully developed, but the plan is in place for it.
• I owned an art gallery at the time.
• So you see art. So if I said I owned an art gallery, naturally I engaged artists.

Bills: S0534 , S7020

Committee: Senate Agriculture

Keywords: food insecurity, hunger, college students, nutrition assistance, pilot program, open government, sunset review, aquaculture, public records, exemption

Transcript Highlights:

• But is that an optional program or is it a forced program?
• Are you aware of the program? I'm aware of the ICTT program. Yes.
• And you're aware of that program? I'm not aware of that program.
• And you're aware of that program? I'm not aware of that program.
• So to address these, prevention program and no quality assurance program.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> state foundation on culture and the Arts state foundation on culture and the Arts in<00:18:04.320
• </c><00:18:12.880><c> and</c> foundation on culture and the Arts and foundation on culture and the Arts
• </c> members of the culture and arts members of the culture and arts committee<00:18:34.520><c> um</c
• </c><00:19:36.559><c> the</c> about um and for the public the about um and for the public the transition
• </c><00:33:24.120><c> thank</c> members thank you so much public thank members thank you so much public

Committee: House Culture & Arts

Summary: The House Committee on Culture and the Arts met on January 29 at 10:30 a.m. and heard four bills. HB 133, relating to surfing, drew testimony from the Department of Education and one individual in support. Committee discussion focused on the department’s estimated cost of about $44,000 per event, including judges, lifeguards, security, and administrative expenses. Members also asked about why surfing has been difficult to implement statewide and were told safety concerns, open-water conditions, and league-level decisions were among the barriers. The committee moved the bill forward with amendments, including blanking out the appropriation, and noted it wanted the Education Committee to review the cost breakdown further. HB 307, relating to special license plates for the island of Kahoʻolawe, received strong support from Protect K Ohana, the Kahoʻolawe Island Reserve Commission, and other supporters in person and via Zoom. Testimony clarified the name of the receiving entity and noted a recent petition showing significant public interest. The bill was advanced with technical amendments, and the chair said the fund name was already correct and that the measure would not reflect DCCA but the bank account designation. HB 450 would transfer the State Foundation on Culture and the Arts and the King Kamehameha Celebration Commission from DAGS to DBEDT and move authority over the Works of Art Special Fund to DBEDT’s director. The State Foundation and DBEDT’s Creative Industries Division supported the measure. In response to questions, the State Foundation said it had researched the transfer, believed funding would not be lost, and requested about a year for the transition to avoid payroll and payment disruptions, along with consideration of an additional DBEDT staff position. The committee adopted the chair’s recommendation to pass the bill with amendments, including adding the requested FTE and noting a two-year transition period in the report. HB 663, authorizing a special license plate commemorating the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, had little testimony and no one signed up to speak. The chair said OHA advocacy testimony was on file but that support for the measure appeared limited, and the bill was deferred. The committee then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:02:44.880><c> service</c><00:02:45.240><c> across</c> decades of public service across decades
• of public service across multiple<00:02:46.000><c> branches</c><00:02:46.760><c> of</c><00:02:46.920
• :03:23.440><c> the</c><00:03:23.560><c> Labor</c><00:03:23.880><c> and</c> her public service on the
• Labor and her public service on the Labor and Industrial<00:03:24.480><c> Relations</c><00:03:24.960>
• They clarified the education uh program. They clarified the grade<00:09:48.520><c> ages.

Bills: SB2057 , SB2109 , SB2400 , HB1752 , SB2599 , SB2930

Keywords: immigration enforcement, sanctuary policy, detainer, ICE, federal immigration authorities, 8 U.S.C. 1357(g), 8 U.S.C. 1373, 8 U.S.C. 1644, deportation, undocumented immigrants, noncitizen, migrant rights, local police cooperation, law enforcement cooperation, hold request, judicial warrant, probable cause, civil immigration enforcement, county police, state police

Transcript Highlights:

• ,</c> that this is a really important program, that this is a really important program, and<00:47:49.240
• program program that<00:52:13.480><c> may</c><00:52:13.680><c> or</c><00:52:13.840><c> may</c><00:52
• </c> Uh what programs do get federal money? Uh what programs do get federal money?
• </c><01:19:18.960><c> support</c> dedicated funding programs to support dedicated funding programs to
• ><c> this</c><01:19:55.120><c> makes</c> Establishing a program like this makes Establishing a program

Bills: HF4680 , HF4047 , HF4590 , HF3757 , HF3569 , HF4507 , HF4426 , HF4927 , HF4788 , HF4757 , HF4747 , HF3561 , HF4014 , HF4013 , HF4689 , HF4766 , HF4589

Committee: Senate Capital Investment

Keywords: wastewater treatment, improvements, capital investment, Greenfield, bonds, water treatment, infrastructure, municipal funding, state bonds, public utilities, HF4590, Tamarack, municipal infrastructure, bonding bill, general obligation bonds, Public Facilities Authority, sewer system, collection system, street reconstruction, local infrastructure

Transcript Highlights:

• the public. to the public with only very narrow exceptions, creating an exception for all records that
• And it's every program, every grant program, and so on and so forth, and there's no control mechanism
• public officials may contact and ask for. questions about the Texas Public Information Act.
• I love public information hotlines.
• I can think of no truer public service than operating a toll-free hotline to help Texans access public

Bills: HB3146 , HB3719 , HB3895 , HB3923 , HB4748 , HB4751 , HB4936 , HB4952 , HB4990 , HB4991 , HB5061 , HB5196 , HB5238 , HB5246 , HB5487

Committee: House Delivery of Government Efficiency

Keywords: State Office of Administrative Hearings, SOAH, administrative hearings, contested case, contested case hearing, administrative law judge, ALJ, final decision, proposed decision, agency hearing, hearing continuance, rescheduling, Texas administrative law, Government Code Chapter 2001, workers' compensation, Department of Human Resources, Texas Labor Code, Transportation Code, Agriculture Code, Insurance Code

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:37:09.960><c> facilities</c> and the Minnesota public facilities and the Minnesota public facilities
• </c> asset renewal program asset renewal program um<00:48:27.599><c> is</c><00:48:27.720><c> there</c
• </c> environmental concern it's a public environmental concern it's a public health<01:23:19.159><c>
• Alan Chrisman, Public Works.
• </c> Chrisman Public Chrisman Public Works<01:32:04.360><c> uh</c><01:32:04.520><c> this</c><01:32:04.679

Bills: HF458 , HF459 , HF461 , HF449 , HF450 , HF965 , HF1280 , HF612 , HF615 , HF616 , HF622 , HF650 , HF651 , HF1045 , HF972 , HF851 , HF644 , HF1050

Committee: House Capital Investment

Keywords: HF458, Henderson, water treatment facility, drinking water, municipal water, public infrastructure, capital investment, state bonds, bonding bill, Public Facilities Authority, water distribution system, well connection, local government grant, Minnesota capital budget, HF459, Carver levee, City of Carver, levee restoration, flood control, flood mitigation

Transcript Highlights:

• The Future Leaders Exchange, or FLEX, program is a highly competitive program that provides opportunities
• There are thousands of students who apply to be a part of the program each year, but only about 50 are
• Please help me welcome Sheresa. apply to be a part of the program each apply to be a part of the program
• c> and was even a part of the Castle and was even a part of the Castle Performing<00:15:47.519><c> Arts
• Cent's production of Performing Arts Cent's production of Legally<00:15:50.079><c> Blonde</c><00:15:

Bills: HB1663 , HB2335 , HB2597

Committee: House Labor

Keywords: reimbursement, public employees, travel costs, Hawaii statutes, government funding, workforce development, internship, internal recruitment, employment, qualifications, civil service, artificial intelligence, data governance, open data portal, Hawaii, chief data officer, chatbot, public services, data transparency

Bills: SB242 , SB5 , HB596 , SB5

Committee: House State Government

Keywords: codification, state law, legal revisions, Alabama code, legislative updates, archives, history, board of trustees, vacancies, government control, catfish, transportation, public waters, criminal penalties, natural resources, education, public schools, constitution amendment, national anthem, weekly broadcast