Transcript Highlights:

• The Senate will be on the first order of business: prayer by the chaplain.
• The Senate will be on the second order of business: calling the roll.
• We are on the 12th order of business.
• Continuing on the 14th order of business.
• The motion prevails, continuing on the 11th order of business.

Keywords: 908, all

Summary: The Senate opened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and a quorum call showing 46 members present. It then took up multiple House messages and amendments, appointing conference committees on several measures, including SB 2007, SCR 4007, SB 2374, SB 233, and House bills 1029, 1218, and 1022. The chamber also considered a series of House bills on the sixth and 14th orders, often adopting committee amendments before final passage or, in some cases, rejecting the bill outright. Among the major policy items, the Senate passed HB 1524 on regional planning council grants, HB 1143 increasing a food bank appropriation to $10 million, HB 1126 modernizing cosmetology licensing and inspections, HB 1542 making student applications for admission exempt records, HB 1613 regulating law enforcement use of robots, HB 1582 directing a study on false reports and accusations, HB 1214 revising school transportation funding, HB 1448 creating a study on advanced technologies, HB 1280 on drainage project voting rules, HB 1499 protecting records related to federal judges, and several Senate bills returned from the House, including SB 2221, SB 2117, SB 2198, SB 2120, and SB 2214. The Senate also adopted amendments to HB 1541 on septic systems before rejecting it on final passage. Several high-profile bills failed after debate. HB 1566, dealing with kratom regulation, saw an amendment to convert it to a study fail on a 21-25 vote, after which the chamber laid the bill over for one legislative day rather than take final action. HB 1283, which would have eliminated cost-sharing for diagnostic and supplemental breast exams in the state employee plan, was defeated 22-24 after extensive debate over cost, precedent, and insurance impacts. HB 1527, requiring Holocaust education in statute, also failed 22-24, with supporters emphasizing the importance of the subject and opponents arguing curriculum belongs in standards rather than statute. The Senate adjourned after announcements, scheduling its next meeting for Monday, April 14, 2025.

Transcript Highlights:

• A quorum is present, and the Senate is ready for business.
• There's no further business in the 11th order, Mr. President. There's no further business.
• There's no for their business, the 11th order, Mr. President. There's no further business.
• There will be no more business in the 12th Order.
• Hearing none, the Senate will advance to the 15th order of business, miscellaneous business.

Summary: The Senate convened with 32 members present, a quorum established, and opened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance. The journal was approved as corrected, and the chamber received committee reports and House messages. Several bills were advanced: Senate bills 1261, 1262, 1265, and 1266 were reported out of committee for second reading, and House Bill 504 was also reported out. The Senate also received House bills 520, 579, 580, 581, and 583 for introduction, and Senate Bill 1225 and House Joint Memorial 10 were processed for enrollment and transmittal. The Senate introduced a large group of new bills, including measures on kratom consumer protections, direct-to-consumer agricultural commerce, dietitian licensure compact participation, occupational licensing and homeschool diploma equivalency, veteran benefits consumer protections, highway and right-of-way procedures, education funding and scholarship limits, school social access for homeschool students, foster parent training, public benefits verification, hearing loss screening, criminal trespass of a church, and conversational AI safety. The chamber then moved several bills to third reading, including Senate Bills 1240, 1248, 1249, and 1251, after second-reading action on additional bills such as 1250, 1246, 1247, 1254, 1255, 1256, and 1264. On final passage, Senate Bill 1240, a comprehensive overhaul of Idaho’s guardianship and conservatorship laws, received strong support after debate emphasizing added protections, alternatives to full guardianship, and a delayed implementation date of January 1, 2027; it passed 32-0 with three absent and excused. Senate Bill 1248, eliminating the old county capital crimes defense fund after the state took over public defense, also passed 32-0. Senate Bill 1249, a code cleanup measure updating an outdated time-zone reference, passed 32-0. Senate Bill 1251, clarifying the Attorney General’s civil enforcement authority to seek injunctions and declaratory relief, passed 30-3 with two absent. All passed bills were transmitted to the House. During miscellaneous business, senators announced upcoming events including the University of Idaho 4-H Know Your Government program, a birthday acknowledgment for Senator Shippee, and a memorial service for deceased senators scheduled for Monday, along with an afternoon session for bill introductions. The Senate then adjourned until 10 a.m. Monday, February 16, 2026.

Transcript Highlights:

• If a business is allowed to a business?
• We have<02:50:08.160><c> businesses</c><02:50:08.720><c> entirely</c> have businesses entirely have businesses
• <c> in</c> businesses, create business growth in businesses, create business growth in Colorado.
• </c> businesses and taxes have or businesses businesses and taxes have or businesses have<04:29:09.760
• </c> the business of collecting that tax. the business of collecting that tax.

Keywords: 981, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And I think I heard business supporting this as well. Well, I won't speak for business.
• I will just appreciate the business community as well as the Attorney General for... ...the business
• businesses.
• it could do to their business.
• It hurts small business.

Bills: SB6197, SB6158, SB6302, SB5437, SB6117, SB5852, SB5847, SB6067, SB6152, SB6136

Keywords: SB 6197, plumbing contractor, plumber, contractor licensing, licensing enforcement, infractions, administrative penalties, license suspension, certificate suspension, endorsement suspension, registration suspension, Department of Labor and Industries, advisory board of plumbers, penalty schedule, repeat violations, workplace standards, construction trades, professional licensing, Washington state, factory built housing

Transcript Highlights:

• In December, Governor Abbott formed the Small Business Freedom Council to explore ways to support businesses
• for small businesses to navigate state websites.
• PENDING BUSINESS, HOUSE BILL 2760.
• The chair lays out as a matter of pending business House Bill 2898.
• The chair lays out, as a matter of business, House Bill 5195.

Bills: HB2564, HB2760, HB2765, HB2898, HB3260, HB3800, HB4341, HB4396, HB5195

Keywords: Defense Economic Adjustment, grant applications, economic assistance, local government, Evaluation panel, judicial review, Texas Workforce Commission, unemployment compensation, legal proceedings, labor law, rural development, infrastructure, Texas economic fund, private investment, job creation, meteorological evaluation towers, wind resources, aviation safety, regulations, construction notice

Transcript Highlights:

• In December, Governor Abbott formed the Small Business Freedom Council to explore ways to support businesses
• most frustrating parts of running businesses.
• it easier for small businesses to navigate state websites.
• Charlays out as, as a matter of pending business. House Bill 4396.
• Is there any other business to come before the committee?

Transcript Highlights:

• , pro-business... ...we've passed legislation this year to try to continue to create this business, pro-business
• , you know, creating a more business, pro-business environment by not having a... ...creating a more
• I'm not here to say I'm against business because I'm not. Forty-five years in the business.
• I think we all want business and we want business to thrive. That's not the issue here.
• I think we all want business and we want business to thrive. That's not the issue here.

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• May we please go to Order of Business 8? Order of Business 8, thank you, Mr. Speaker.
• Speaker, may we please go to Order of Business 8? Order of Business 8. Thank you.
• May we please go to Order of Business 8? Order of Business 8. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
• We will now go to Order of Business 13, Unfinished Business of the preceding day.
• Members, we're going to go to Order of Business 13, Unfinished Business of the preceding day.

Keywords: 909, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:15:19.880><c> and</c> businesses and businesses and yet<00:15:21.880><c> they</c><00:15:22.079><c
• small businesses.
• </c><05:02:58.638><c> small</c> relief for small businesses small relief for small businesses small businesses
• We too see and hear small businesses and business owners.
• in</c><05:08:28.320><c> fact</c> businesses and business owners in fact businesses and business owners

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Monday, February 10, 2025, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Next order of business is points of personal privilege.
• Next order of business is...
• Let's protect these businesses. In fact, one of the businesses that was sued is out in the rotunda.
• Let's protect these businesses. In fact, one of the businesses that was sued is out in the rotunda.
• Staying on that same order of business.

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> commencing business of a speedy bank. commencing business of a speedy bank.
• Previously, you had to raise business.
• So this is defining business.
• Goldberg. uh has the business Mr.
• :58:59.599><c> some</c> business council already have some business council already have some information

Bills: HB0116, HB0056

Keywords: water rights, beneficial use, industrial production, hydrogen, applications, public welfare, carbon capture, energy standards, public utilities, environmental regulation, state law, 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The goal is to attract new business and reduce costs for existing businesses while ensuring citizens
• And the businesses, of course this is great for business, but the businesses would like that we don’t
• , when you're trying to insure your business, when you're trying to sell your business, hamstrings employees
• You can be a business defendant and you could have somebody operating one of your business vans.
• That can't be good for business, not every business.

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It's unfair, right, to smaller businesses, to just domestic businesses, to less aggressive multinational
• The eliminating the water's edge wouldn't necessarily hurt, uh, deter businesses from doing business
• Look at the mix of your businesses. Where are they doing business?
• Look at the mix of your businesses. Where are they doing business?
• If you're a wholly California business or a wholly domestic business, you don't really have any foreign

Summary: The joint informational hearing examined California’s taxation of multinational corporations, especially the Water’s Edge election versus worldwide combined reporting. Chairs opened by framing the issue as a review of whether current rules fairly and sufficiently tax foreign subsidiary income, given profit shifting concerns, budget pressures, and the long history since Water’s Edge was adopted in the 1980s. The first panel from the Legislative Analyst’s Office and Franchise Tax Board explained the mechanics of unitary taxation, apportionment, and the Water’s Edge election, and provided filing data showing Water’s Edge filers are a small share of returns but account for a large share of corporate tax liability. FTB witnesses said the agency already administers both methods and could handle a shift to mandatory worldwide reporting with education and outreach, though revenue estimates are difficult because foreign affiliate information is not directly available. Committee members asked about foreign government pushback, administrative burden, industries with more profit shifting, revenue uncertainty, and whether companies would leave California. LAO and FTB witnesses said pushback from foreign governments was plausible, but they did not expect major business flight because California’s tax is largely based on sales rather than physical presence. They also said worldwide reporting could reduce profit shifting but might increase revenue volatility and litigation risk. A second panel of academic and tax policy witnesses argued that Water’s Edge is a loophole that rewards aggressive tax planning, that worldwide combined reporting would better capture income tied to California, and that modern federal and international rules such as NCTI/GILTI, CAMT, and Pillar Two reduce compliance concerns and make a return to worldwide reporting more feasible. They also said California’s current system can create selection effects and may under-tax large multinationals. In the next panel, a California Budget and Policy Center witness urged eliminating the Water’s Edge election, calling it a costly loophole that benefits large global corporations over smaller domestic businesses and deprives the state of billions in revenue that could support health care and other services. A Silicon Valley Leadership Group witness gave historical context for why Water’s Edge was adopted and began outlining concerns about compliance, double taxation, and the risk of overreaching beyond income truly connected to California. No bill was voted on or advanced; the hearing was informational only, with members using the testimony to weigh the policy trade-offs and possible transition periods if the Legislature were to change the current rules.

Transcript Highlights:

• We'd ask the excused to stand so that we may begin today's order of business.
• Hearing no objection, we're on that order of business.
• Hearing no objection, we're on that order of business.
• Hearing no objection, we're on that order of business.
• We are now on business announcements and miscellaneous.

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The Senate will be on the sixth order of business.
• The Senate will be on the 14th order of business.
• The Senate will be on the 14th order of business.
• The Senate will be on the 14th order of business.
• The Senate will be on the 14th order of business.

Keywords: 908, all

Summary: The Senate opened with prayer, roll call, and a quorum present, then moved through a series of conference committee appointments and reconsideration motions. Senator Axtman successfully moved to reconsider House Bill 1160, which had previously failed, and the chamber later passed it. HB 1160 creates a statewide bell-to-bell policy restricting personal electronic devices during instructional time; supporters argued it would reduce distractions, improve mental health and academic outcomes, and help teachers, while opponents raised local control concerns. The bill passed 42-4. The Senate also passed several other measures, including HB 1247 on protecting student victims of sexual offenses, HB 1489 consolidating civil protection orders into one chapter, HB 1032 making municipal courts courts of record and updating related procedures, HB 1487 authorizing a Minot facility for the Highway Patrol and Bureau of Criminal Investigation with a line of credit and emergency clause, HB 1469 requiring annual online statements of interest for public officials, HB 1199 creating the Missing and Indigenous People Task Force and related MMIP initiatives, HB 1169 regulating paid veterans benefits claim assistance with consumer protections, HB 1209 directing a foreign adversary threat assessment, and HB 3018 as amended to study water, wetlands, and taxation of inundated lands. Most of these passed with strong bipartisan support, though HB 1169 drew substantial debate over veterans’ service options and HB 1209 passed on a narrower 40-7 vote. The chamber rejected or declined several other measures. HB 1455, which would have required the Indian Affairs Commission to review introduced legislation for tribal implications, failed 7-40 after concerns about an unfunded mandate and duplicative duties. HB 1259, which would have put North Dakota on year-round daylight saving time, was defeated 15-32 after debate over time zones, construction, recreation, and whether the issue should be left to future legislatures. HB 1555, dealing with statements of ownership for foreign organizations of concern, also failed 3-44. The Senate then moved to announcements and committee scheduling for later meetings and conference committees.

Transcript Highlights:

• House will now advance to the second order of business.
• House now advances to the third order of business.
• Approve the journal, House, that third order business.
• This is a case where that can happen through business.
• The House is at the 15th order of business.

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We're going to be voting on pending business. Take me to the pending business line.
• The chair lays out S.J.R. 60 as a matter of pending business.
• The chair lays out a matter of pending business.
• All right, just as a matter of pending business...
• HB 4205 is laid out as pending business.

Bills: SB3038, SB3045, SB3065, SB3069, SB3071, HB2025, HB2149, HB3370, HB4205, HB4506, HB5424, HB5652, HB24, HB3687

Keywords: Fort Bend County, Municipal Utility District, MUD, special district, Rosenberg, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, TCEQ, ad valorem tax, bond issuance, assessments, fees, taxes, eminent domain, road district, storm drainage, infrastructure financing, development agreement, municipal consent, temporary directors, public utility district

Summary: The Senate Committee on Local Government met with a quorum and took up a series of pending bills, mostly local-government measures. Early action included final committee approval of Senate Bill 1633 and S.J.R. 60, followed by Senate Bill 3038 and Senate Bill 3045, both reported favorably and placed on the local and uncontested calendar. The committee also considered House Bill 24, adopted a committee substitute, and reported the substitute version favorably; House Bill 2025 was likewise reported favorably and sent to the local and uncontested calendar. Members then handled several companion and local bills, including House Bill 2713 as the companion to Senate Bill 1331, which was reported favorably and placed on the local and uncontested calendar. House Bill 3348, House Bill 3370, House Bill 3505, and House Bill 4506 were each reported favorably, with no objections to local-and-uncontested placement. House Bill 5424 passed on a 6-1 vote, and House Bill 5652 passed with one present-not-voting, both also sent to the local and uncontested calendar. The committee also adopted substitutes and reported House Bill 3687 and House Bill 4205, though both were later reconsidered because the wrong script had been read. After reconsideration, House Bill 3687 and House Bill 4205 were each re-voted and reported favorably to the full Senate, with both placed on the local and uncontested calendar. Senate Bill 3071 was also reported out on a 5-2 vote after adoption of a committee substitute. The meeting ended with no further business and the committee standing at recess subject to the call of the chair.

Transcript Highlights:

• The Senate is ready to resume business in the Sixth Order of Business, and we'd recognize the presence
• Business, motions and resolutions.
• Order of Business. Without objection, the Senate will return to the sixth order of business.
• Without objection, the Senate will advance to the 15th Order of Business, miscellaneous business.
• The Senate will advance to the 15th Order of Business, miscellaneous business.

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Businesses donate to support their local communities.
• Businesses that contribute to the program can claim a dollar-for-dollar business and occupation tax credit
• Businesses that contribute to the program can claim a dollar-for-dollar business and occupation tax credit
• Thirty-four loans went to women-owned businesses, low-income or minority borrowers, or rural businesses
• However, our business is not yet done today.

Summary: The committee met on July 15, 2026, but initially lacked a quorum, so it could not adopt prior minutes. Chair Jerry Pollett welcomed new member Senator Victoria Hunt and new JLARC staff, and noted national recognition for recent JLARC reports. The meeting then moved into a series of preliminary audit presentations and an agency strategic management update, with committee members asking questions after each item. JLARC presented a preliminary audit of DCYF’s Juvenile Rehabilitation programs. Staff concluded that crowding, staffing shortages, weak risk assessments, and inconsistent programming combine to create unsafe conditions. The report found that most youth are housed in two large secure facilities operating near or above capacity, incidents rise as population rises, 47% of frontline staff leave within a year, current assessment tools are not valid for the population, and program access depends more on facility than individual need. JLARC made one recommendation to the legislature to address crowding and seven to DCYF, including improving retention, training, incident response procedures, validated assessments, program alignment, and data quality. DCYF Secretary Ross Hunter said the agency agreed overcrowding is a serious problem, described ongoing efforts to improve staffing and safety, and said a detailed response would be provided later. Committee members raised concerns about education access, retaliation against staff or youth who participated in the audit, and whether JR-25 has helped or worsened conditions. JLARC then presented a preliminary audit of Labor and Industries’ enforcement of farm worker labor laws. The audit found that L&I generally meets inspection timelines for health and safety complaints, but not for wage and hour or retaliation complaints, where delays are driven largely by time before assignment to an investigator. Staff said complaint volume exceeds capacity, though the agency has added staff, created screening processes, and reorganized workloads, and 2026 legislation now allows prioritization of complaints and broader investigations. JLARC recommended that L&I report back in December 2026 and December 2027 on backlog reduction and implementation of the new law. An L&I representative said the agency is hiring additional staff and will provide a formal response later. The committee also received a JLARC overview and Department of Health strategic management plan update on hospital data reporting, inspections, complaints, and adverse event reporting. DOH reported measurable progress on inspection compliance, new staffing and licensing systems, translated complaint forms, and plans for future work on language access, adverse event reporting, and financial data dashboards. After lunch, JLARC began its 2026 tax preference performance reviews. The first review covered the Main Street tax credit, which JLARC said has helped increase the number of Main Street communities and businesses, with positive growth near designated districts; JLARC recommended continuing the preference and improving business-count data. The second review covered the equitable access to credit program, which JLARC said appears to support underserved communities by funding loans through CDFIs; JLARC recommended continuing the preference beyond its 2027 expiration. The committee began questions on the program mechanics and the role of the Community Reinvestment Act, and the presentation was still underway when the transcript ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• And they also have to produce some evidence. ...address for their business.
• coming to your business, even if it was your home?
• can be deducted as a business expense from the hiring party, up to 100%, and then the ...business expense
• Both those things would be a business expense, wouldn't they? Ms. Rice?
• We decide to go into business for ourselves.

Keywords: 989, all