Transcript Highlights:

• Line 220 is a new grant program regarding surplus milk, and it's $1.7 million in FY 26-27 and the identical
• I'll point out that there is no language within Agri that requires an up to a maximum.
• Notably, this is the department's language that doesn't have the same eligibility requirements as that
• section 5 is Chair Anderson's bill **HF 2683** that we heard last Wednesday and includes a new requirement

Committee: House Agriculture, Veterans, Broadband, and Rural Development

Transcript Highlights:

• As a fast growth district, we will continue to require new...
• This puts essentially surplus funds in place of what would have been that local school property tax share
• This session, lawmakers come in with a $24 billion general revenue-related surplus, in addition to an
• I know Senator Bettencourt, you know the process, but the way that the system works, we're required to

Bills: SB4 , SJR2 , SB 4 , SJR 2

Committee: Senate Local Government

Keywords: property tax, homestead exemption, school funding, state aid, constitutional amendment, SJR 2, Senate Joint Resolution 2, property tax relief, school property tax, ad valorem tax, residence homestead, school district taxes, Texas Constitution Article VIII, public school finance, homeowner exemption, elderly exemption, senior tax relief, disabled exemption, tax year 2025, voter approval

Transcript Highlights:

• There's no immigration status requirement. There's nothing like that.
• That requires that no one moves in until all of the homes are completed.
• The typical building group consists of 10 to 12 families with a shared labor requirement that requires
• Those requirements add significant cost to projects before construction begins.
• We've also, you know, inherited issues with the Surplus Land Act.

Committee: House Housing and Community Development

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• policy, you know, requirements that you could pass in the law.
• We, we basically are required to approve whatever new site plans you offer.
• That increase would actually be able to also increase salaries would be required.
• that the public schools are required.
• There is a, a, uh, a continuous enrollment requirement in Senate Bill 2, so.

Committee: House Appropriations

Transcript Highlights:

• spend a little bit more money now, and if there ever was a time when Texas has the money from its surplus
• said today, Texas districts have struggled to meet federally and state-mandated special education requirements
• This requires funding to be injected into our school districts.
• engagement liaisons and campus parent advisory committees, again, that is specific staff that is required
• , requires funding for that ongoing service, especially in a population that continues to grow.

Transcript Highlights:

• and nonpublic pupil aid requirements.
• and nonpublic pupil aid requirements.
• </c> transferring the reporting requirements transferring the reporting requirements for<00:43:00.880
• Indian parent ... it uh um only is required in years where it uh um only is required in years where
• This comes from a Senator requirements.

Committee: Senate Education Finance

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> were 246 complaints into our uh required were 246 complaints into our uh required portal<00:21:38.320
• </c> what's the the you have the uh surplus what's the the you have the uh surplus lines<01:14:41.760
• , the surplus lines market is basically un...
• The surplus lines market is basically unregulated, or minimally regulated.
• . requirements. requirements.

Committee: House Commerce Finance and Policy

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• The substitute bill is relative to inspection sticker requirements to repeal the inspection requirement
• The substitute bill is relative to inspection sticker requirements to repeal the inspection requirement
• Well, the intent of last session's bill was to require the 60-day, ...of last session’s bill was to require
• That’s now required to be on the rear bumper.
• Thank you. as it relates to different security requirements.

Bills: HR1 , HB96 , HB345 , HB360 , HB401 , HB592 , HB703 , HB723 , HB729 , HB776 , HB838 , HB844 , HB882 , HB885 , HB888 , HB966

Committee: House Transportation, Highways & Public Works

Keywords: coastal protection, restoration, flood management, public hearings, environmental compliance, drag racing, public roads, vehicle impoundment, law enforcement, penalties, rail infrastructure, ports, Class II railroads, Class III railroads, transportation, memorial highway, Louisiana, commemoration, signage, memorial bridge

Summary: The committee first heard House Resolution 1, which approves the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority’s annual State Integrated Coastal Protection Plan for fiscal years 2026-2027. CPRA officials described the plan as about $1.54 billion, with roughly 93% directed to project implementation and construction, funded through state mineral revenue, GOMESA, BP spill dollars, surplus funds, and newly available coastal sediment funds. They outlined projects across the coast, including marsh creation, barrier island restoration, levees, pump stations, freshwater diversions, and nonstructural flood protection, and said the plan had been unanimously approved by the CPRA board after public hearings. Members asked about specific coastal and basin issues, including the Sabine River, the Chafalaya Basin, Bayou Sorrel, and tidal flooding in interior parishes. HR 1 was reported favorably without objection. The committee then considered House Bill 838, as substituted, dealing with vehicle inspection stickers and related OMV modernization. The substitute would repeal inspection requirements for assembled vehicles, keep periodic inspections for commercial and student transportation vehicles, address federal inspection requirements, allow out-of-state inspections in some cases, and create a Louisiana Vehicle Identification Program using QR codes. Members focused on privacy and enforcement questions, and OMV and state IT officials explained that the QR code would contain only the VIN and that the system would support police ticketing applications. The bill also ties implementation to the OMV modernization effort and takes effect January 1, 2027. HB 838 was reported by substitute. The committee next advanced House Bill 888 on temporary dealer plates, adopting a set of amendments that added security features, clarified timing for the new electronic issuance system, and adjusted rules for temporary tags and dealer plates. Testimony from the auto dealers’ association said the bill was intended to reduce fraud, resolve confusion over five-day versus 60-day tags, and extend certain temporary loaner tag periods from five to ten days. HB 888 was reported with amendments. The committee also heard House Bill 885 on electronic titles and lien recordation, which would allow electronic signatures, electronic lien notifications, and electronic titling/recordation for participating commercial entities, with civil immunity for good-faith actions and a severability clause. Members raised questions about fraud prevention and consumer participation, and supporters said the bill would modernize the process and align Louisiana with current industry practice. HB 885 was reported by substitute. Finally, the committee advanced House Bill 723, which allows certain two- and three-wheeled motorcycles and mopeds to proceed through a red light under specified circumstances when sensors fail to detect them. The sponsor said the measure is a safety fix for riders stuck at malfunctioning signals, and the bill was amended to clarify the vehicle types covered. The committee also considered House Bill 882 on outdoor advertising, which would increase billboard spacing on state highways from 150 feet to 1,000 feet and allow certain signs damaged by an act of God after January 1, 2010, to be rebuilt. Supporters said the bill would reduce billboard density and improve aesthetics, while opponents argued it would harm smaller operators and impose a one-size-fits-all rule. After testimony, HB 882 was amended and reported.

Transcript Highlights:

• I am required to notify I am required to notify the<01:36:07.280><c> district</c><01:36:07.679><c> brand
• </c><02:32:30.080><c> uh</c> uh had opportunities for surplus uh uh had opportunities for surplus uh
• </c><02:33:28.240><c> uh</c> When we submit a her a surplus uh When we submit a her a surplus uh application
• </c><03:22:30.880><c> under</c> history culture requirements under history culture requirements under
• </c> curriculum requirement. Thank you Mr. curriculum requirement. Thank you Mr.

Committee: Joint Select Committee on Tribal Relations

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And we don't accumulate surplus like private insurers.
• And we don't accumulate surplus serve.
• There would be a requirement that they served it to, and the person they served it to.
• There would be a requirement that they served it to, and the person they served it to.
• ,</c><04:30:35.199><c> do</c><04:30:35.439><c> not</c> required to be member-owned, do not required to

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Summary: The committee first took up SB 297 and a new amendment, 2462, which combined the original Senate bill with the Carson amendment and added a proposed alternative regulatory system, RSA 420R. The chair and members discussed that the amendment was intended to give the Senate what it had asked for while also creating a dual system for public entity risk pools. Members asked whether the new structure would affect ownership or governance of health trusts, and the chair explained that 420R would be a separate regulatory statute while existing 420J-style arrangements could remain in place. The committee also noted that a paragraph had been accidentally deleted from the amendment and that another amendment would be prepared to correct it, with the subcommittee recessed while that was done. Public testimony focused on School Care, represented by Executive Director Lisa Ducette, who opposed the shift to Department of Insurance oversight under 420R. She argued that public entity risk pools are not insurance companies, that they are accountable to member entities and taxpayers, and that the proposed dual regulation would add unnecessary costs through examinations, higher reserves, and additional accounting requirements. She said the change could threaten tax-exempt status and create an uneven playing field, and she urged the committee to support SB 297 with the Carson amendment instead of moving to 420R. Committee members questioned whether the amendment would actually affect pools that stayed under the Secretary of State model, and one member cited support from the New Hampshire Municipal Association for the dual system. The discussion then shifted to amendment 245 on ambulance reimbursement and contracting timelines. Members reviewed a provision giving insurers 45 days and ambulance providers 60 days in the contracting process, and one member suggested making both periods 60 days. The chair and others said the current language was intentional and part of a broader compromise aimed at ending balance billing and forcing insurers to establish reimbursement rates. Members noted that the measure was unusual and that its effects would be reviewed over the next two years, with one member saying the bill would likely be difficult to roll back later. No final vote was taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• So there's baseline requirements for the contract, which would be student ages, grade level, student
• and school safety requirements, supervision authority, applicable school board rules, emergency shelter
• There's not an 'and' conjoining the 50% or surplus of 500.
• But at the end of the day, if we still have, after we've done all that, vacant, underused, or surplus
• The Schools of Hope Performance Plan requires... I misspoke before regarding the lottery.

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

Summary: The Appropriations Committee on Pre-K-12 Education met with a quorum and took up several education bills. SB 1150, by Senator Calatayud, was presented as a measure to help school districts retain school social workers by removing an exam requirement unrelated to the profession. With no questions or debate, the committee voted the bill favorably. The committee then moved to SB 1514, by Senator Smith, on anaphylaxis response in public schools. After adopting a delete-all amendment and a late-filed amendment clarifying FDA-approved epinephrine devices and weight-based dosing, the committee heard support from Orange County Public Schools and reported the bill favorably. The most extensive discussion centered on SB 1708, also by Senator Calatayud, which would expand Schools of Hope by broadening the definition of low-performing schools from those in the bottom 10% in both math and reading to those in the bottom 10% in either subject, and would authorize co-location of Schools of Hope in underused public school facilities. Senators questioned how co-location would work, who could enroll, how liability and contracts would be handled, and whether the bill would help the specific students most in need. Many public speakers opposed the bill, arguing it would strain already underfunded public schools, reduce space and resources, and unfairly favor charter operators. The sponsor said the bill would not reduce classroom space in use, would require contracts to address safety and liability, and would provide a net positive to districts through a $600-per-student facility payment plus associated funding. After debate from both supporters and skeptics, the committee reported the bill favorably. The committee also considered CS for SB 822, by Senator Rodriguez, which would give charter schools more autonomy over governance and operations, including deadlines, enrollment caps, student conduct policies, and data sharing. The Florida Charter School Alliance supported the bill, arguing it would create parity and reduce burdens on charter schools, while committee members pressed the witness on claims of district “harassment” and the basis for those concerns. The bill was reported favorably after a roll call vote. At the end of the meeting, members recorded votes on prior tabs, thanked staff, and adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• ,</c><00:29:56.400><c> and</c> board, met statutory requirements, and board, met statutory requirements
• ,</c> statutory requirements, statutory requirements, He<00:30:42.960><c> appeared</c><00:30:43.200><
• ><02:37:27.320><c> more</c> going to require any more going to require any more uh uh uh money<02:37:
• And it would also require an correct.
• </c><03:53:10.040><c> lines</c> admitted carrier uh or the surplus lines admitted carrier uh or the surplus

Keywords: MS Senate Floor - 31 March, 2026; 10:00 AM, 925, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So there's baseline requirements for the contract, which would be student ages, grade level, student
• and school safety, Requirements for the contract, which would be student ages, grade level, student and
• school safety requirements, supervision authority, applicable school board rules, emergency shelter
• There's not an and conjoining the 50% or surplus of 500.
• The Schools of Hope Performance Plan requires... ...The Schools of Hope performance plan required in

Summary: The Appropriations Committee on Pre-K-12 Education met with a quorum present and took up several education bills. SB 1150, which would remove an unrelated exam barrier for school social workers to help districts retain them, was briefly explained and reported favorably. The committee then heard SB 1514 on anaphylaxis in public schools, which would require emergency action plans and training for school personnel; amendments narrowed and clarified the bill, including applicability to K-8 schools and FDA-approved epinephrine devices. Orange County Public Schools waived in support, and CS/CS/SB 1514 was reported favorably. The committee spent the most time on SB 1708, which expands Schools of Hope and creates a co-location framework allowing high-performing charter operators to share space in underused public school facilities, with the sponsor explaining that agreements would address safety, supervision, grade levels, emergency protocols, and liability. Members raised concerns about who would be served, lottery access, accountability, and whether the bill would worsen inequities or strain public schools; many public speakers opposed the bill on similar grounds, arguing it would divert resources from already underfunded schools. The sponsor clarified that Schools of Hope recruitment is exempt from lottery, that the bill would not use classrooms already in use, and that districts would receive $600 per student plus associated funding for vacant space. Despite mixed debate, CS for SB 1708 was reported favorably. Finally, the committee considered CS/SB 822, which updates charter school governance by limiting sponsor-imposed deadlines, preventing enrollment caps below facility capacity, improving data sharing, and allowing high-performing charter schools to assume existing charters. A charter school advocate supported the bill as a fairness and efficiency measure, while senators pressed him on claims of district “harassment” and the basis for the bill’s deadline changes. After brief debate, CS/SB 822 was reported favorably. The meeting ended with members recording votes on prior tabs and adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• requirement application.
• And it is what is now required just to meet all the requirements of the state.
• That is not a requirement. That's a decision that y'all can make, but that is not a requirement.
• Additionally, pursuant to new requirements, we are now required to report educator misconduct to the
• or federal requirement.'

Committee: House Public Education

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It does not change any other licensure or educational requirement.
• Including our clinical social workers, require 3,000 hours of supervised work in order to practice.
• This bill does not impact these supervision hours or requirements.
• The requirements at all for how social workers become really good at their job.
• I know the fire districts already sell surplus items that they have, might be a fire engine, might be

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And should we require that?
• I support requiring the water..."
• What are you required to do?
• Have these requirements.
• We've required that in Travis County. We've required it since before I was judge.

Summary: The joint Senate and House disaster preparedness hearing convened in Kerrville with quorum, public testimony limited to three minutes and invited testimony to 10 minutes. Leaders from both chambers, along with the lieutenant governor and speaker, framed the hearing as an unprecedented joint effort focused on learning from the July 4 flood, honoring victims, and identifying actions to reduce future loss of life. The committee also heard opening remarks about decorum, logistics, and the intent to continue work in future sessions. The first panel included Kerr County Judge Rob Kelly, Sheriff Larry Leitha, Emergency Management Coordinator William B. Thomas IV, Kerrville Mayor Joe Herring Jr., Kerrville City Manager Dalton Rice, Upper Guadalupe River Authority representative William Rector, Kendall County Judge Shane Stolarczyk, and Real County Judge Bella Rubio. They described the flood as sudden and catastrophic, with Kerr County reporting 108 deaths and two missing. Local officials emphasized that they received no timely warning of the scale of the event, that responders and volunteers acted heroically under extreme conditions, and that communications, cell coverage, and rural emergency resources were strained. Several witnesses said the county’s existing alert systems were limited by geography, sparse broadband, and the speed of the flood. Testimony focused on possible improvements, including real-time flood gauges and predictive monitoring, stronger rural emergency management staffing and training, better interoperability and alerting tools such as IPAWS, CodeRED, WENS, and sirens, and expanded broadband and radio coverage. Kerrville asked for a flood warning system before next summer and state help for stormwater, floodplain, and disaster recovery funding. UGRA described its past and current flood-warning and mitigation efforts, including gauge funding, a new software-based flood prediction project, and consideration of additional retention dams. Kendall and Real counties highlighted successful or needed alerting and evacuation practices, while also stressing the difficulty of funding and maintaining such systems in small rural counties. Members asked detailed questions about the timeline of the flood response, low-water crossings, communications failures, sirens, bridges, and whether regional consolidation or additional infrastructure could improve future preparedness.

Transcript Highlights:

• Proposition 2 requires that we would put away some of those revenues.
• , we're proposing to require third-party delivery services that facilitate orders through a website,
• Lee pointed out, with the higher revenues come... ...higher constitutional spending requirements, and
• they're not required to have work requirements.
• We had at that time almost $100 billion, specifically $97.5 billion surplus that year.

Committee: Senate Budget and Fiscal Review

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Many agencies are requiring 12 hours of minimum overtime per month, but many state employees report that
• The $24 billion surplus is an invitation for us to finally lift state employees out of starvation wages

Transcript Highlights:

• Under this bill, the abortion savings program is established, and the program requires the Department
• The balance in Washington is approximately $13 million and generates another surplus.
• This provision that required insurance plans to segregate funds was originally designed to stigmatize
• I required loss of prescription medicines and things like that.
• If a hospital is exempt from the staffing requirement, those hospitals are required by January 1, 2027

Bills: SB6258 , SB6182 , SB5947 , SJR8206 , SB5823 , SB6292

Committee: Senate Health & Long-Term Care

Keywords: Washington Medical Commission, medical license, license relinquishment, voluntary surrender, nondisciplinary pathway, physician regulation, health professional licensing, disciplinary database, National Practitioner Data Bank, license renewal, license reinstatement, medical board, professional discipline, credential surrender, healthcare regulation, abortion, reproductive health, pregnancy termination, clinic access, abortion access fund

Transcript Highlights:

• There were also some items in there that adjusted for surplus eliminator, and that's what funded those
• "Surplus eliminator, and that's what funded those strategic initiatives grants. Okay, thank you.
• Those are the ones that we talked about yesterday that require some policy changes.
• Reserve balances are shown in teal, and the required balance is shown in magenta.
• There's no requirement.

Keywords: 989, all

Summary: The committee received a broad budget overview from Legislative Services staff on the state’s fiscal position, focusing on the general fund, structural balance, cash reconciliation, and the governor’s budget recommendations for fiscal years 2026 and 2027. Staff explained that projected revenues are below the current budgeted level, creating a need for either budget reductions or the use of cash balances and reserve funds to maintain balance. They reviewed major drivers of spending growth over recent years, including Medicaid expansion, public schools, the State Public Defender, IT services, and water resources, and noted that these statutory and ongoing obligations are crowding out other spending. Members also discussed the governor’s proposed use of interest earnings and reserve balances from several funds, the Budget Stabilization Fund cap, and the policy question of whether changes to fund interest allocations would require legislation or could be handled through appropriation language. The committee also reviewed current-year adjustments, including supplementals, rescissions, deficiency warrants, and the governor’s proposed holdbacks. Specific items discussed included public school enrollment adjustments, the proposed rescission of Empowering Parents funding, Medicaid growth and provider rate changes, Department of Corrections costs tied to inmate placement and medical services, invasive species treatment funding, and a possible tax conformity impact tied to federal law changes. Members asked about fire suppression deficiency funding, the use of reserve balances, and the difference between current-law and governor-recommended spending levels. Staff emphasized that the governor’s budget relies on short-term money and reserve transfers to smooth the current deficit, while the legislature must decide whether to follow that approach or make deeper structural changes. Later, staff provided an overview of the budget hearing process and the Legislative Budget Book, explaining the standard reports, agency organization charts, fund analyses, performance measures, and five-year snapshots that committees will use during hearings. Another presentation clarified the difference between deficiency warrants and supplemental appropriations, noting that deficiency warrants cover certain last-year expenses authorized by statute, while supplementals adjust the current-year appropriation and can apply to general, dedicated, or federal funds. The committee then heard a detailed presentation on state health insurance costs, including rising medical claims, reserve balances, the 80/20 employee-employer cost split, and projected FY 2027 premium increases. Members asked about school district participation in the state plan, the role of the insurance carrier contract, and whether broader participation could lower costs. No votes were taken during the meeting, and the committee adjourned after the presentations and questions.