Transcript Highlights:

• I'm an AP government student at Lake Washington High School, and I would like to testify today in favor

Bills: HB1367 , HB2172 , HB2718 , HB2139 , HB2192 , HB2307 , HB2379 , HB2467 , HB2495 , HB2604

Committee: House Transportation

Keywords: motorcycle safety, right shoulder, shoulder riding, limited access roadway, freeway, expressway, highway congestion, lane splitting, traffic safety, RCW, Washington traffic law, roadside assistance, emergency vehicles, tow truck, congested traffic, motorcyclist, route jurisdiction, abandonment, transportation, local governance

Transcript Highlights:

• We are the school administrators and school business officials from across the state.
• on a formula basis to school districts.
• school districts.
• school and the eligible area is 30,000 square feet...
• A really big, expensive school today, is it?

Bills: SB6073 , SB6113 , SB6116 , SB6129 , SB6162 , SB6114 , SB5857

Committee: Senate Ways & Means

Keywords: SB 6073, LEOFF, Law Enforcement Officers' and Fire Fighters' Retirement System, retirement system, pension, public safety retirement, wildland firefighter, aviation firefighter, wildland fire, forest firefighter, Department of Natural Resources, DNR, firefighter benefits, retirement benefits, service credit, disability retirement, survivor benefits, employer contributions, Washington RCW, public employees

Bills: HB 1106 , HB 3284 , HB 541 , HB 713 , HB 1403 , HB 1586 , HB 1942 , HB 2070 , HB 2844 , HB 2851 , HB 3151 , HB 3749 , HB 3940 , HB 3963 , HB 4454 , HB 4466 , HB 4795 , HB 5154 , HB 5394 , SB 1357 , HB 1052 , HB 4099 , HB 4638 , HB 5147

Committee: Senate Health & Human Services

Keywords: child abuse, neglect, gender identity, sexual orientation, child welfare, marriage, family, Texas Commission, family welfare, marriage support, stability, premarital education, child development, strong families, direct patient care, healthcare, physicians, medical services, insurance regulation, maternal health

Bills: HB 1106 , HB 3284 , HB 541 , HB 713 , HB 1403 , HB 1586 , HB 1942 , HB 2070 , HB 2844 , HB 2851 , HB 3151 , HB 3749 , HB 3940 , HB 3963 , HB 4454 , HB 4466 , HB 4795 , HB 5154 , HB 5394 , SB 1357 , HB 1052 , HB 4099 , HB 4638 , HB 5147

Committee: Senate Health & Human Services

Keywords: child abuse, neglect, gender identity, sexual orientation, child welfare, marriage, family, Texas Commission, family welfare, marriage support, stability, premarital education, child development, strong families, direct patient care, healthcare, physicians, medical services, insurance regulation, maternal health

Bills: HB4922 , HB4713 , HB4256 , HB872 , HB1571 , HB4266 , HB4559 , SB251 , SB441 , SB1719

Committee: House Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence

Keywords: healthcare liability, emergency medical care, standard of proof, negligence, legal reforms, Texas General Arbitration Act, arbitration, binding arbitration, statute of limitations, limitations period, tolling, Civil Practice and Remedies Code, Section 16.073, alternative dispute resolution, ADR, civil procedure, lawsuit filing, court jurisdiction, Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence, procedural law

Transcript Highlights:

• At the time of the Uvalde tragedy, there were 256 school marshals from 62 school districts.
• There are now 600 school marshals from 99 school districts.
• What they do is our reserves are required to work in the school district, in schools.
• What they do is our reserves are required to work in the school district, in schools.
• There wasn't a school that didn't have an officer in the school zone in the morning and the afternoon

Bills: HB1455 , HB1777 , HB2101 , HB2136 , HB2609 , HB3142 , HB3552 , HB3846 , HB4155 , HB4514 , HB4879 , HB4995 , HB5014 , HB5139 , HB5228 , HB5436 , HCR40

Committee: House Homeland Security, Public Safety & Veterans' Affairs

Keywords: mental health, jail diversion, law enforcement, reporting requirements, criminal justice, data collection, criminal justice reform, intellectual disability, mental illness, data reporting, public safety, reporting, substance abuse, sex offender, driver's license, identification, gunshot detection, unreported gunshots, municipal police, crime investigation

Summary: The committee met with a quorum and heard several bills, generally leaving them pending after testimony. HB 4995 would create a training/certification program allowing licensed physicians and certain EMS personnel assigned to tactical units to carry firearms during high-risk deployments, with supporters saying it would protect tactical medical staff and improve emergency care; the committee substitute was withdrawn and the bill left pending. HB 2609 would repeal the OmniBase/failure-to-appear-or-pay license hold program; the author and supporters argued it unfairly compounds debt and traps drivers in noncompliance, while judges and municipal court representatives said it is an effective, voluntary tool that prompts court appearances and reduces warrants. HB 4879 would create a grant program to help local law enforcement pay for lab testing of suspected hemp/THC substances, and HB 5436 would allow licensed auto recyclers to purchase certain untitled vehicles for scrap or parts to curb illegal sales, VIN cloning, and chop shop activity; both bills drew supportive testimony and were left pending. The committee also heard HB 1777, which would place a discrete sex-offender designation on driver’s licenses and state IDs for registrants under Chapter 62. The author said the marker would help law enforcement and businesses quickly identify potentially dangerous offenders and cited other states and research in support, while opponents argued it would function as a scarlet letter, increase harassment, and punish people who are already complying with the law. HB 4155 would create a Family Violence Criminal Homicide Prevention Task Force in the Governor’s Office to study risk factors, coordinate agencies, and recommend policy changes; the author, HHSC, TCFV, and a survivor testified in support, emphasizing the number of family violence homicides and the need for coordinated, data-driven prevention, and the bill was left pending. Finally, HB 4514 would authorize DPS to use facial image verification, with consent and confidentiality protections, to help businesses verify identities and combat fraud. Supporters from the lumber and identity-verification industries said it would reduce losses from fake IDs and organized theft, while the author stressed privacy safeguards and limited, consent-based use. The committee substitute was withdrawn and the bill was left pending.

Transcript Highlights:

• You still have to take your kid to school.
• safety. exact same training as paid school marshals.
• Allowing volunteers increases the number of school marshals available to protect students in schools.
• The school marshal program is designed to enhance school safety by providing a safe environment for students
• As a reminder, schools are not required to appoint volunteer marshals.

Bills: HB1455 , HB1777 , HB2101 , HB2136 , HB2609 , HB3142 , HB3552 , HB3846 , HB4155 , HB4514 , HB4879 , HB4995 , HB5014 , HB5139 , HB5228 , HB5436 , HCR40

Committee: House Homeland Security, Public Safety & Veterans' Affairs

Keywords: mental health, jail diversion, law enforcement, reporting requirements, criminal justice, data collection, criminal justice reform, intellectual disability, mental illness, data reporting, public safety, reporting, substance abuse, sex offender, driver's license, identification, gunshot detection, unreported gunshots, municipal police, crime investigation

Bills: HF2446 , HF2563 , HF2444

Committee: House Ways and Means

Keywords: agriculture finance, broadband development, Department of Agriculture, Board of Animal Health, Agricultural Utilization Research Institute, Office of Broadband Development, food safety, food handler license, cottage food, home processed food, livestock dealer, meat packing company, milk marketer, milk marketing license, grain buyer, grain storage, beginning farmer, emerging farmer, farm down payment assistance, livestock investment grant

Transcript Highlights:

• He said the DFL side noted cuts to farm-to-school programs at the federal level and to the local food
• </c><00:07:46.800><c> at</c><00:07:47.039><c> the</c> programs uh for farm to school at the programs
• uh for farm to school at the federal<00:07:47.520><c> level</c><00:07:47.840><c> and</c><00:07:48.160
• </c> you made to the farm-to-school program. you made to the farm-to-school program.
• </c><00:38:02.480><c> greatly</c> Um, our farmers and our schools greatly Um, our farmers and our schools

Bills: HF2446 , HF2563 , HF2444

Committee: House Ways and Means

Keywords: agriculture finance, broadband development, Department of Agriculture, Board of Animal Health, Agricultural Utilization Research Institute, Office of Broadband Development, food safety, food handler license, cottage food, home processed food, livestock dealer, meat packing company, milk marketer, milk marketing license, grain buyer, grain storage, beginning farmer, emerging farmer, farm down payment assistance, livestock investment grant

Transcript Highlights:

• Funding for farm to school, Chair Hansen can visit about that.
• What the DFL side was looking at, we noted that there were cuts to programs for farm to school at the
• ><c> Chair</c><00:09:33.519><c> Hansen</c><00:09:34.000><c> can</c> for farm to school, Chair Hansen
• can for farm to school, Chair Hansen can visit<00:09:34.399><c> about</c><00:09:34.640><c> that.
• </c><00:10:56.480><c> at</c><00:10:56.720><c> the</c> programs uh for farm to school at the programs

Bills: HF2446 , HF2563 , HF2444

Committee: House Ways and Means

Keywords: agriculture finance, broadband development, Department of Agriculture, Board of Animal Health, Agricultural Utilization Research Institute, Office of Broadband Development, food safety, food handler license, cottage food, home processed food, livestock dealer, meat packing company, milk marketer, milk marketing license, grain buyer, grain storage, beginning farmer, emerging farmer, farm down payment assistance, livestock investment grant

Transcript Highlights:

• non-negotiable prices to be negotiated. on state entities such as municipalities, counties, public schools

Bills: HB1464 , HB1635 , HB2516 , HB3317 , HB3502 , HB4012 , HB4268 , HB4386 , HB4877 , SB916

Committee: House Insurance

Keywords: prescription drugs, drug pricing, pharmacy benefits, health insurance, health benefit plan, insurer, HMO, self-insured employer, public employer, school district, county, municipality, university system, higher education, retirees, dependent coverage, stop-loss coverage, bulk purchasing, group purchasing, purchasing pool

Transcript Highlights:

• or law school, or to get credentialing in other fields.
• Those schools took advantage of students and those schools were nationally accredited.
• On behalf of all these schools, we express our opposition to this bill.
• Representative Almond, does the school set up the task force or does AC...
• Does the school set up the task force, or does ACH set up the task force? And how?

Bills: HB46 , HB379 , SB22 , HB487 , HB273 , HB525

Committee: House Ways and Means Education

Keywords: rural physician, tax credit, healthcare access, physician recruitment, Alabama, HB379, Alabama income tax, nonresident exemption, remote workers, traveling employees, mobile workforce, withholding tax, state tax reciprocity, multistate employees, temporary work, work location tracking, time and attendance system, remote work taxation, professional athlete, professional entertainer

Transcript Highlights:

• After-school activities, summer camps.
• We are reaching 278,000 dads each month across 1,400 schools.
• Schools nationwide, including 314 schools right here in Texas, half of which are Title I schools.
• This presents yet another challenge for school districts.
• Currently, the PVS only looks at equity across school districts.

Bills: HB249 , HB 1186 , HB2313 , HB2408 , HB2508 , HB2730 , HB2974 , HB3045 , HB3232 , HB3336 , HB3710 , HB4044 , HB4236 , HJR133 , HB249

Committee: House Ways & Means

Keywords: ad valorem taxes, property taxes, homestead exemption, disabled veterans, senior citizens, tax payments, installment payments, municipal tax revenue, hotel, convention center, tax code, economic development, local government, municipality, tax revenue, qualified projects, municipal taxation, hotel project, municipality funding, veteran

Bills: HF1027 , HF2226 , HF1916 , HF1915 , HF1567 , HF1986

Committee: House Judiciary Finance and Civil Law

Keywords: mortgage foreclosure, redemption, foreclosure surplus, sheriff's sale, junior lienholder, mortgagor, homeowner protections, loss mitigation, dual tracking, foreclosure redemption period, certificate of redemption, certificate of sale, sheriff, county recorder, registrar of titles, homeownership center, lien priority, real property, foreclosure by advertisement, surplus funds

Transcript Highlights:

• So try to get those kids back in school.
• And if there's no school faster.
• </c> didn't I didn't have to go to school didn't I didn't have to go to school every<00:14:57.279><c>
• and teeth to try to get kids in school?
• To go to school all the time.

Bills: HF1918 , HF2305 , HF897 , HF2191 , HF2617 , HF2551 , HF2137

Committee: House Children and Families Finance and Policy

Keywords: HF1918, Department of Children Youth and Families, DCYF, child welfare, foster care, out-of-home placement, permanency planning, relative search, noncustodial parent, kinship care, family preservation, African American Child and Family Well-Being, racial disproportionality, maltreatment reporting, educational neglect, truancy, school attendance, Great Start compensation, child care provider payments, TEACH early childhood program

Transcript Highlights:

• I believe if you look at some of the stats, the Windham School turned out 70 some... welders with a $395,000

Bills: SB209 , SB529 , SB1265 , SB1592 , SB1728 , SCR37 , SCR38

Committee: Senate Economic Development

Keywords: SB 529, Texas Tax Code, municipality, hotel and convention center, hotel convention center project, tourism development, economic development, tax revenue pledge, revenue commitment, qualified project, municipal finance, local government, special district, hotel occupancy tax, nearby establishments, convention center financing, city population 130000, Section 351.155, Section 351.157, child care

Transcript Highlights:

• <01:06:58.480><c> adding</c><01:06:58.920><c> water</c> school adding water school adding water meters
• The Rena school district is a dynamic small school.
• The Rena school district is a dynamic small school.
• </c> the school the school district<01:09:19.080><c> the</c><01:09:19.600><c> renchel</c><01:09:20.159
• ><c> school</c><01:09:20.480><c> district</c><01:09:21.080><c> is</c> district the renchel school district

Bills: HF343 , HF446 , HF448 , HF674 , HF811 , HF832 , HF1661 , HF1528 , HF1536 , HF1541 , HF1670 , HF1438 , HF1714 , HF1748 , HF1835 , HF1904 , HF1929 , HF1942

Committee: House Capital Investment

Keywords: HF343, Chisago County, Shorewood Park Sanitary Sewer District, Rush Lake, sewer extension, wastewater infrastructure, sanitary sewer, treatment pond, sewage treatment, capital investment, bonding bill, state bonds, Public Facilities Authority, local infrastructure, municipal utilities, water quality, sanitation, bond proceeds fund, Minnesota bonding, HF446

Transcript Highlights:

• Speech-language pathologist, that's all accepted by schools, insurance.
• The only one that is not included in the Act that is also accepted by schools, insurance, and the DSM
• That's all accepted by schools insurance.
• The only one that is not included in the act. by schools insurance.
• That probably isn’t tied to what discipline.

Committee: All TASK FORCE ON AUTISM

Summary: The Arkansas Legislative Autism Task Force approved the April 1, 2026 meeting minutes and then reviewed several vacant membership slots on the task force, including appointments from the Arkansas Psychology Board, Arkansas Blue Cross Blue Shield, UAMS, and parent or guardian positions. Members discussed trying to fill those vacancies before the next meeting, and noted that if they remain open they may be addressed in the task force’s legislative report and through possible statutory changes in the next General Assembly. Representatives from the Developmental Disabilities Provider Association (DDPA) and Civitan Services presented on DDPA’s role serving children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities across Arkansas. They said DDPA now represents 80 providers serving more than 13,000 individuals in 75 counties, with services including early intervention, adult day programs, supported employment, intermediate care facilities, work activities, and community/residential waiver services. They also shared survey data on older clients and said these services remain available to seniors with IDD, including people with autism. The task force then heard a proposal to amend Act 656 of 2021 to include licensed psychological practitioners as qualified providers for autism waiver-related evaluations. The presenter argued this would reduce wait times, avoid duplicate assessments, and help families access services sooner, while still maintaining quality standards. Members asked about training, licensure, and whether other professionals such as speech-language pathologists or audiologists should be included; Dr. Scott noted that current practice already relies on a two-provider model and that speech-language pathologists play a role because autism diagnosis considers communication, cognitive ability, and language. The discussion also touched on the need for proper testing standards and board oversight. No vote was taken on the amendment, and the meeting ended with plans to return to fraud-related discussion and to begin prioritizing recommendations for the 2027 session before adjourning.

Transcript Highlights:

• Speech-language pathologist, that's all accepted by schools, insurance.
• That's all accepted by schools insurance.
• The only one that is not included in the act. by schools insurance.
• That probably isn't tied to what discipline.
• We're the only discipline that I know of that can actually use the language.

Committee: All TASK FORCE ON AUTISM

Summary: The Arkansas Legislative Autism Task Force approved the April 1, 2026 meeting minutes and discussed several vacant membership slots, including positions tied to the Arkansas Psychology Board, Arkansas Blue Cross Blue Shield, UAMS, and parent or guardian appointments. Members said they would try to fill the vacancies and, if not, include the issue in the legislative report and consider statutory changes in the next General Assembly. The task force then heard from the Developmental Disabilities Provider Association and Civitan Services about DDPA’s role in supporting 80 provider organizations serving more than 13,000 children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities across 75 counties. They described services such as early intervention day programs, adult day programs, supported employment, intermediate care facilities, work activities, and community/residential waiver services, and said autism falls within the populations they serve. They also shared survey information on services used by older adults with IDD and offered contact information for providers. Members also heard a proposal to amend Act 656 of 2021 to add licensed psychological practitioners as qualified providers for autism waiver-related evaluations. The presenter argued this would reduce wait times, avoid duplicate assessments, and help families access services sooner, while noting that Arkansas Medicaid already pays for some of these evaluations. Task force members and Dr. Scott discussed the roles of psychologists, speech-language pathologists, and the possibility of using training or board oversight to ensure evaluators are properly qualified, with some noting that speech pathologists’ inclusion has historical and clinical roots. The task force also said it still needs a future discussion on fraud, plans to invite the Attorney General’s office, and wants to identify priorities for the 2027 session before adjourning.

Transcript Highlights:

• This bill prohibits school districts and public schools from using automated decision systems.
• a school employee, school contractor, or law enforcement officer. there is a As determined by a school
• at public schools, school districts, and ESDs.
• When it comes to student discipline and school safety, the final call has to be made by people fairly
• This is not a bill that is about school safety. This is about disproportionate discipline.

Committee: House Education

Keywords: 904, all