Transcript Highlights:

• The Chair calls Jonathan Covey, representing Texas Values.
• Texas sisters can practice dignity and local leadership that reflects the values of their communities
• You're testifying on behalf of Texas Values and you're for the bill, is that correct? Yes, sir, Mr.
• Texas Values has been very active in religious freedom law at the highest levels, and we actually filed
• It is a Judeo-Christian... value to allow each person to practice the religion they choose.

Bills: SB6, SB11, SB33

Keywords: electric power, interconnection, utilities, ERCOT, large load customers, water supply, sewer service, demand management, school prayer, Bible reading, religious text, public schools, Texas Education Code, student prayer, silent prayer, meditation, religious liberty, First Amendment, Establishment Clause, church and state

Transcript Highlights:

• IT AIN'T ABOUT ACCOUNTABILITY IT'S ABOUT VALUE OF LIFE.
• THERE SHOULD BE NO CAP ON ACCOUNTABILITY WHEN IT COMES TO VALUING HUMAN LIFE.
• ONE SISTER IS UNMARRIED AND IS NOT AS VALUED IN THE EYES OF THE LAW.
• THE LAST QUESTION IS DO WE VALUE LIFE? MY ANSWER IS I DO. I AM UP ON THE BILL.
• I VALUE THE CANON AND THE DIALOGUE THAT WE HAVE AND THE SUGGESTIONS BROUGHT UP TODAY.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• land values, and assures continued water quality for agriculture, recreation, and local economies.
• We don't want our district to be meddling with and setting 10-year values for other districts.
• Those values will be basically a red herring.
• It’s the GMA, by supermajority two-third vote in the DFC process, forcing those incremental values.
• Those same people will be able to say, look, we're not meeting our end of values.

Summary: The committee met with limited attendance at first, then took up a series of water, agriculture, and rural affairs measures. HB 3898 would allow the Texas Water Development Board to provide financial assistance for brackish water desalination projects in certain border counties and related nonprofit suppliers even if the projects are not in the state water plan. Supporters said it is needed to address severe water shortages in places like Webb County and to support future planning; opponents, including the Texas Alliance of Groundwater Districts, argued it bypasses the regional and state water planning process. The bill was left pending after testimony. The committee also heard HB 5339, which would create a higher-education grant program for regenerative agriculture research. A rancher testified that regenerative methods improved soil health, water retention, and farm viability, while a senator noted existing university research but said better coordination could help. Public testimony was closed and the bill was left pending. Members then heard HB 1523, a temporary prohibition on TCEQ issuing Austin a Class 5 injection well permit for an aquifer storage and recovery project in Bastrop and Lee counties until December 2027. Local officials from Bastrop supported the pause, citing unanswered questions about water treatment, recovery rates, and impacts on the aquifer, while Austin Water opposed the substitute, saying the project is central to its long-term water plan and that stakeholder talks were already underway. TCEQ explained its ASR permitting process and said public participation is possible but not always used in the current authorization process. The bill was left pending. HB 5659, concerning the Northeast Texas Municipal Water District and requiring majority city-council approval before certain water sales or interbasin transfers, drew testimony from district officials who said the change could interfere with existing contracts and district authority, but the chair emphasized the need for local buy-in and said the stakeholders had reached a workable compromise; testimony was closed and the bill was left pending. The committee also heard HB 1690, which would expand notice requirements for groundwater export permits so neighboring landowners and potentially affected aquifer areas are informed by certified mail and publication. The sponsor tied the bill to impacts from the Vista Ridge project, and no one testified against it; it was left pending. HB 3333 would prohibit TCEQ from issuing new wastewater discharge permits directly into the Devils River in Val Verde County. The sponsor and a conservation witness said the bill protects one of Texas’s most pristine rivers and reflects a local stakeholder agreement, while TCEQ said it can ensure water quality but acknowledged the river’s unique sensitivity; the bill was left pending. The committee also heard HCR 108 urging continuation of the U.S.-Mexico tomato suspension agreement, with supporters warning of major Texas job and consumer-price impacts if it ends, and HCR 76 urging federal action on imported shrimp, citing public health and industry concerns; both were left pending. Additional measures heard and left pending included HB 4158 on compensation for Texana Groundwater Conservation District directors, HB 654 creating a dismissal path for certain first-time deer hunting violations after self-reporting and hunter education, HB 4530 requiring Texas Water Development Board review of groundwater rights placed in the Texas Water Trust, HB 2128 directing a study of rural versus urban firefighting and rescue disparities, and HB 278 requiring groundwater districts and management areas to track progress toward desired future conditions over shorter intervals. On HB 278, witnesses split over whether the bill’s interim tracking would improve accountability or create new triggers that could be used against local districts, but no final vote was taken and the bill was left pending.

Transcript Highlights:

• This mindset values profits over life. This is the very mindset that killed... ...son.
• No monetary value can correct that, but what it can do is make a difference.
• A way to value compensatory damages and less subjectivity.
• To fair market values, that's usually understood as the median in-network rate.
• Megan and Clint were a great young couple, teaching respect and value to their kids.

Bills: HB4806

Keywords: civil action, damages, health care services, noneconomic damages, negligence, legal standards, 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We're blessed to live in the free state of Florida and we will reflect the values of our state and our
• So not only something that I value personally, but also again, it's under our budget request for this
• Yes, my my personal value and belief would be to preserve protections and equal treatment for for all
• So I certainly, you know, share your value.
• It sounds like your values there and would be, you know, complete agreement in the title. 9 question.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It's proved to be the answer, so this isn't about the value or importance of having virtual education
• We recognize the value of virtual education.
• at least a break-even in the current unit value.
• What happens if we don't pass this bill, besides that funding in the unit value? Mr.
• So my last question is: each student has a value in the school, correct?

Bills: HB2, SB204, SB241, HB34

Keywords: general appropriation, budget, Medicaid, education funding, public safety, higher education, research funding, federal funding, New Mexico, appropriation, University of New Mexico, New Mexico State University, New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology, child care, child care assistance, child care subsidy, early childhood education, early childhood care, daycare, preschool

Transcript Highlights:

• Let's just say that at the time they received the Bitcoin, it was at a high value.
• Let's just say that at the time they received the Bitcoin, it was at a high value on the pay.
• So what value point would the CFO use? Thank you for the question. Rep.
• Inflation continues to run rampant and eat away at the value of the dollar.
• That value of that coin goes to zero pretty quick.

Summary: The Insurance and Banking Committee met with a quorum and heard three bills. HB 487 would authorize the CFO and State Board of Administration to invest up to 10% of certain state funds in Bitcoin, require specified custody methods, allow Bitcoin lending under rule, and create a process for accepting taxes and fees in Bitcoin. The sponsor and several proponents argued it would diversify state investments, hedge inflation, and position Florida as a leader in digital assets. Members raised concerns about volatility, security, valuation, and whether Bitcoin was being singled out over other cryptocurrencies, but the bill was reported favorably after debate and a roll call vote. The committee then considered HB 7011, an Open Government Sunset Review measure for records of insolvent insurers. The bill would continue some exemptions but make additional records public, including underwriting files, risk-solvency assessments, corporate governance annual disclosures, and the names, benefits, and compensation of insurance executive officers. There was no public testimony, and members discussed privacy and safety concerns, but the bill passed and was reported favorably. Finally, the committee heard HB 1433 on hurricane mitigation grants and insurer regulation. The bill would tighten restrictions on former executives of failed insurers, raise capital requirements for new insurers, and require mitigation credits when homeowners receive Safe Florida Home funds. An amendment was adopted to require a licensed person to make final claim-denial decisions when AI or automation is used and to prioritize filings that lower rates. Consumer advocates supported the transparency and consumer protections, while industry representatives urged caution on the AI provisions. After debate, the amended bill was reported favorably. The meeting ended with closing remarks from the ranking member, vice chair, and chair reflecting on the committee’s work and likely final meeting of the term.

Transcript Highlights:

• chance of a data leak out there, we try to avoid it as much as possible, especially since there's no value
• The value is really in the rest of the device—the screen, the motherboard, everything else.
• From a value perspective, the hard drive is basically worthless as part of that device.
• Finally, as my colleague said, the residual value of that hard drive is minimal, if not If not nothing
• Though the way the contracts work now is the Harris County Budget Office... a value for the contract

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• providing for certification of value providing for certification of value added<00:02:37.120>
• <00:21:40.000> And value over anybody else globally.
• And value over anybody else globally.
• <00:43:08.960> add manufactured product or value add manufactured product or value add manufactured
• permitting and tax exemptions for value permitting and tax exemptions for value added<01:05:11.839

Bills: HB0120, HB0043, HB0128

Keywords: energy production, natural gas, industrial sovereignty, manufacturing, tax exemptions, money laundering, illegal investment, financial institutions, criminal activity, Wyoming legislation, severance tax, oil production, tax exemption, energy sector, economic impact, 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I mean, there's more value there than what you think, and I think a lot of that goes to that cooking
• is there is there good ultimately it is there is there good fertilizer<00:31:33.120> value<00
• <00:32:24.200> fairly does hold the nutrient value fairly does hold the nutrient value fairly
• There is a huge benefit to the local value chain.
• There is a huge benefit to the local value chain.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• ><00:09:41.920> for<00:09:42.279> them<00:09:42.839> and test that holds real value
• for them and test that holds real value for them and provides<00:09:43.320> meaningful<00:09:
• ><00:09:53.600> which<00:09:53.720> is<00:09:53.839> another<00:09:54.160> value
• <00:09:54.519> ad just Minnesota which is another value ad just Minnesota which is another
• value ad but<00:09:55.399> most<00:09:55.680> importantly<00:09:56.200> this<00

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• the contract, not a per-year value.
• the contract, not a per-year value.
• of the contract not a perear the value of the contract not a perear value<00:25:57.320> so<00
• :25:57.559> $100,000 value so $100,000 value so $100,000 shouldn't<00:26:00.039> so<00:
• value value added<00:42:03.280> um<00:42:04.079> processing<00:42:05.079> and<00

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So you're actually eating those costs at a retail value as opposed to wholesale value you're getting
• > you're opposed to wholesale value you're opposed to wholesale value you're getting<01:15:31.520
• <01:24:47.760> stream half uh in terms of this value stream half uh in terms of this value
• <01:24:55.760> So providing some value. It's not 100%. So providing some value.
• think you're in a place where the value think you're in a place where the value is<01:25:17.440>

Bills: HF3830, HF3688

Keywords: utilities, rate cases, cost recovery, reporting requirements, gas infrastructure, 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Based on that, it is some sort of percentage of what the value of the sales price is.
• And Vermont, 1.5% and only at the high-end values, and their median home prices $350,000.
• And Vermont, 1.5% and only at the high-end values, and their median home prices $350,000.
• And Vermont, 1.5% and only at the high-end values, and their median home prices $350,000.
• And Vermont, 1.5% and only at the high-end values, and their median home prices $350,000.

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The House Committee on Housing held a public hearing and moved quickly through a long agenda, beginning with HB 606 on the Department of Hawaiian Homelands. DHHL and several community testifiers strongly supported the bill, describing it as a way to fulfill long-standing promises to Native Hawaiians, reduce the DHHL waitlist, keep families in Hawaii, and support housing production and the broader economy. Testifiers emphasized the cultural and economic importance of stable housing and noted the large number of people still waiting for DHHL homes. The committee then heard HB 1086, also relating to DHHL, which would allow the department to use a $75 million appropriation from the dwelling unit revolving fund as collateral for loans. DHHL, HHFDC, and other supporters said the measure would help DHHL obtain better loan terms and preserve trust funds for other uses. Members asked detailed questions about how the collateral would work, whether other agencies use similar structures, and what would happen if the collateral were drawn upon; staff explained that the funds would be encumbered for the loan and that a similar model had been used for a HUD-backed project. The committee also heard HB 739, which would create the COM homes program to fund counties to buy voluntary deed restrictions from eligible homeowners or buyers. Supporters said the program could help keep local workers in Hawaii by using existing housing stock and cited examples from places like Aspen and Vail. The Attorney General’s office recommended amendments to remove duration requirements to avoid right-to-travel concerns, and the Tax Foundation suggested clarifying the conveyance tax exemption so it also covers the instrument imposing the restriction. Members asked whether tax dollars would be used to buy homes, who would be eligible, and how enforcement would work; supporters said the program is voluntary and income-blind, with restrictions tied to living and working in the state. No votes were taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• We're arguing for the values we believe in. The values of this proposal are right.
• We're arguing for the values we believe in. The values of this proposal are right.
• We're arguing for the values we believe in. The values of this proposal are right.
• We're arguing for the values we believe in. The values of this proposal are right.
• We're arguing for the values we believe in. The values of this proposal are right.

Bills: HF4133, HF3419

Keywords: homeowner's insurance, peace officer, property damage, just compensation, exclusion policy, corporate powers, entity law, business corporations, nonprofit corporations, LLC, limited liability company, cooperative, partnership, trust, foreign entity, campaign finance, election spending, political spending, ballot measure, ballot initiative

Transcript Highlights:

• We consider it value-added. It helps our farmers and ranchers with their profitability.
• tourism is AG tourism we consider value tourism is AG tourism we consider value added<00:21:02.320
• Right again, value-added tends to support ag production. We talk about it all the time.
• added tends to to support EG value added tends to to support EG production<00:26:49.840> we<00
• to their their raw EG production value to their their raw EG production we<00:26:57.600> support<

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The joint House Agriculture and Food Systems and Tourism hearing focused on HB 189 and HB 966, both dealing with agricultural tourism. HB 189 would require counties to adopt ordinances governing review and permitting of agricultural tourism as secondary uses on working farms, require the principal agricultural use to pre-exist any tourism-related permit, and limit ag tourism to land where productive agriculture is occurring. HB 966 would create statewide uniform standards for agricultural tourism, require county registration of activities, require ag tourism to coexist with agricultural activity on a farming operation, and end the tourism use when agricultural activity ceases. Testimony on HB 189 was mixed. The Department of Agriculture and Kualoa Ranch opposed the bill, arguing that the proposed restrictions and income-based limits could burden bona fide farms and ranches, reduce flexibility for counties, and harm food production, jobs, and diversification efforts. Kualoa Ranch said ag tourism supports its food sales and community market and warned the bill could cost more than 350 jobs. The Hawaiʻi Cattlemen’s Council also opposed the measure for similar reasons. The Hawaiʻi Farmers Union supported the bill with suggested amendments, including clearer language around agricultural dedication. The Hawaiʻi Farm Bureau supported the intent of the bill but urged caution, saying ag tourism should remain tied to actual agricultural production and that counties need flexibility to address abuses without imposing overly rigid standards. Members discussed how to define a bona fide agricultural operation and whether property tax agricultural dedication could serve as a clearer qualifier. They also raised concerns about how counties would enforce revenue thresholds or separate accounting for tourism and farm income, and whether state law should better target clearly non-agricultural uses such as gondolas or other abusive developments. The Department of Agriculture and Farm Bureau said counties already have authority to regulate ag tourism through ordinances, but that any new standards should avoid unintended burdens on true farmers and ranchers. HB 966 was then introduced, and initial testimony again reflected support for the bill’s intent from some agricultural groups and opposition or caution from others. Kualoa Ranch said ag tourism can help educate visitors and support agriculture, the Hawaiʻi Farmers Union supported county flexibility, and the Hawaiʻi Farm Bureau reiterated concerns about the bill’s income comparison provisions and the need to distinguish legitimate agricultural tourism from misuse. No votes were taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh the value here uh being um uh coins.
• Uh some of that is is overall value.
• <00:44:13.839> associated that has um has some value associated that has um has some value
• <00:50:10.319> to growth within my business and value to growth within my business and value
• peer-to-peer transfers of that value peer-to-peer transfers of that value while<01:29:58.000>

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Summary: The commission met to review stable tokens, real-world asset tokenization, and blockchain-based trust, approved the agenda and December 12 minutes, and heard a presentation from Anchorage Digital after postponing a planned Bitco presentation because of its IPO quiet period. Anchorage’s Melinda Delos, Joe Mioli, and Kevin Wasaki introduced the firm, describing it as a global digital assets platform and the first crypto-native institution in the U.S. to receive a federal banking charter. They said their approach emphasizes security, regulated custody and trading services, and responsible innovation for institutional clients, banks, states, and sovereigns. The presentation focused on post-Genius Act momentum in the stablecoin market. Anchorage said the law provided regulatory clarity and helped spur activity with major clients, including Athena, Tether, and Western Union. The speakers highlighted Western Union’s planned stablecoin as especially significant because it reflects adoption by a long-established traditional payments company, and they said the project illustrates how stablecoins can support programmable, real-time, interoperable payments. They also noted that Anchorage is providing issuance infrastructure for the Western Union project. The commission and presenters also discussed government uses of tokenized assets, including reserve legislation, digital assets for tax collection and fees, and a Marshall Islands initiative to use a tokenized sovereign bond for direct citizen payments. In response to a question, Anchorage said it would follow up on which states are using digital assets for revenue collection, mentioning Louisiana and Pennsylvania as examples. The banking discussion centered on remittances, instant payments, and interbank settlement, with Anchorage arguing that stablecoins can reduce settlement time, fees, and foreign exchange risk while improving traceability and auditability.

Transcript Highlights:

• Whereas Taiwan shares the same values of freedom, democracy, human rights, the rule of law, peace and
• Whereas Taiwan has undertaken a policy of integrated diplomacy, highlighting value-based diplomacy, alliance-based
• Whereas Taiwan has undertaken a policy of integrated diplomacy, highlighting value-based diplomacy, alliance-based
• integrated undertaken a policy of integrated diplomacy,<00:04:53.680> highlighting<00:04:54.320> value-based
• diplomacy, highlighting value-based diplomacy, highlighting value-based diplomacy,<00:04:55.759>

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• .. ...excise tax by asking those at the very top end of the real estate market, those selling high-value
• The evidence is clear: a modest graduated excise tax on high-value transactions will not slow down investment
• In New York City, there has long been a mansion tax on high-value properties, and in 2019 it was expanded
• In New York City has a long-imposed mansion tax on the high-value properties and in 2019 expanded it
• We will transform... ...to local tax bases through increased property values.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Revenue held a hearing on several housing-related bills, with chairs Adrienne Madaro and James Eldridge framing the discussion as part of the Legislature’s broader response to the state’s housing crisis and noting that many of the bills build on the 2024 Affordable Homes Act. The chairs reviewed hearing procedures, including the three-minute oral testimony limit, the option to submit written testimony, and the hybrid format. No votes were taken during the hearing. Testimony began with support for H. 3278, a bill to create a graduated deed excise tax for affordable housing. Representative Worel argued that higher-end real estate transactions should contribute more to fund affordable housing production, saying the measure would not burden working families and would help address racial inequities in homeownership and displacement. Representative Soder then supported H. 3247, which would promote redevelopment of abandoned buildings through expanded tax incentives for renovating vacant properties for sale or rent, arguing that it would bring blighted units back into use and generate future tax revenue. The committee also heard testimony on H. 3040/S. 1969, residential improvement or R-PACE legislation. Robert Giles of Home Run Financing and Nicole Steele of Amalgamated Bank described the program as a voluntary, assessment-based financing tool that could help homeowners pay for energy efficiency, resilience, and other major repairs without upfront costs, and said it could complement existing Mass Save programs while expanding access to more homeowners. In contrast, Judith Lieben of the Massachusetts Law Reform Institute opposed H. 3039/S. 1946, the Housing Development Incentive Program bill, arguing it would expand subsidies for market-rate and luxury housing in Gateway Cities instead of directing resources to low-income renters. Representative Hawkins also testified in support of H. 3121, which would end large investor control of homes in Massachusetts by imposing an excise tax on large owners of small residential properties and using the revenue for first-time homebuyer down payment assistance. After testimony and a few member questions, the chairs asked whether anyone else wished to testify and then adjourned the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• size, and color is not reasonably available, the insurer must cover the homeowner's replacement cost value
• For damage under an actual cash value insurance policy, ... ...a reasonably uniform appearance, and for
• damage under an actual cash value insurance policy, pay the amount the insurer would have paid if the
• going to live there for the rest of your life, and that your number one concern is not the resale value
• It can't be replaced in like or kind value as it was before.

Summary: The Insurance Committee first heard House Bill 2250, sponsored by Representative Zimmerman, which would require insurers to cover replacement of all siding on a home when storm damage affects only part of the siding and matching materials are not reasonably available. Zimmerman said the bill is intended to codify Missouri case law and address homeowner complaints after hailstorms, where insurers allegedly paid only for the damaged side and left owners to pay for the rest if matching siding could not be found. Committee members generally expressed sympathy for affected homeowners and discussed possible refinements, including limiting the requirement to street-facing elevations and adding clearer consumer disclosures about coverage. Opposition testimony came from the Missouri Insurance Coalition, which argued the bill could increase premiums and reduce affordability, especially for homeowners choosing lower-cost policies. Coalition witnesses said insurers should repair direct physical damage but raised concerns about extending coverage to cosmetic mismatch issues and noted that consumers can sometimes buy more robust coverage through riders or different policy options. They also said better disclosure and consumer education would help. Representative Castile raised additional ideas about certified payroll and contractor accountability, though those were not part of the bill under discussion. After the HB 2250 hearing closed, the committee established a quorum and moved into executive session on House Bill 3328. The committee adopted a House Committee Substitute that, according to Representative Castile, removed the IBHS certification requirement in favor of a non-biased third-party testing lab and deleted an adjuster cap, while keeping the bill’s broader “stronger home” program intact. The committee then voted the substitute do pass by a 9-0 vote and adjourned.