Transcript Highlights:

• Miller, ruling that through the National Firearms Act, Congress could regulate the interstate selling
• that though the National Firearms through the National Firearms Act, Congress could regulate the interstate

Bills: SB108, SB318, SB507, SB511, SB533, SB1026, SB1386, SB1433, SB1434, SB1596

Keywords: elections, Election Code, poll workers, election clerks, presiding judge, alternate presiding judge, polling place, central counting station, county chair, political party, gubernatorial election, vote counting, election administration, Texas elections, precinct officials, ballot counting, county election officials, election integrity, election fraud, Attorney General

Summary: The committee heard testimony on Senate Bill 1596, which would remove short-barreled rifles from the list of prohibited weapons in the Texas Penal Code. The author, Sen. Hagenbuch, said the bill would align state law with federal realities and argued that the current prohibition is arbitrary and unnecessary. Supporters, including representatives from Gun Owners of America and Texas Gun Rights, said the bill would reduce confusion, protect lawful gun owners, and preserve the ability to use shorter firearms for self-defense, hunting, and for smaller shooters. One supporter also described a recent case in which an AR pistol was mistaken for a short-barreled rifle and led to a state charge that was later dismissed. Public testimony was split. Supporters said stabilizing braces and shorter firearms can improve accuracy, safety, and accessibility for women, children, and smaller-statured shooters. Opponents, including Texas Gun Sense and two Santa Fe shooting survivors, argued that short-barreled firearms are more concealable and dangerous, and pointed to the 2018 Santa Fe High School shooting as evidence of the risks of easier access. They urged the committee to keep the existing restrictions in place to protect public safety. After public testimony closed, the committee took up pending business. Senate Bill 1505, relating to the Compassionate Use Program, was reported favorably to the full Senate on an 8-0 vote. Senate Bill 17, relating to the acquisition of real property by certain aliens or foreign entities, was first amended by adopting a committee substitute and then reported favorably to the full Senate by a 7-1 vote. The committee then recessed until after the Senate’s adjournment or final recess.

Transcript Highlights:

• > and<01:12:19.040> again<01:12:19.600> this<01:12:19.760> is<01:12:19.920
• 01:12:21.040> and<01:12:21.280> it<01:12:21.520> certainly<01:12:21.840> will
• <01:12:24.000> So<01:12:24.239> with<01:12:24.400> that<01:12:24.560> being
• > at<01:12:29.679> least<01:12:30.000> I<01:12:30.239> thank<01:12:30.400
• >> No,<02:12:29.119> this<02:12:29.280> this<02:12:29.599> is<02:12:29.840

Keywords: 1136, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I have a treatment-refractory primary headache disorder for over 12 years.
• I have a treatment-refractory primary headache disorder for over 12 years that has caused constant, often
• result of the frequent refusals, I've had to miss a lot of things and pay expensive last-minute interstate
• result of the frequent refusals, I've had to miss a lot of things and pay expensive last-minute interstate

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The hearing opened with the co-chairs introducing House and Senate members and explaining the hybrid format, three-minute testimony guidance, and the deadline for written testimony. The committee then heard extensive testimony on S. 2665, which would require employers to post notice to employees when an I-9 audit or similar federal immigration inspection is underway. Supporters, including immigration attorneys, a pediatrician, a labor leader, and an affected family member, argued the bill would protect privacy, give workers time to gather documents and consult counsel, and reduce fear and wrongful arrests. One witness from Illinois described a similar law there and said it had not caused the problems employers feared, while others said recent ICE enforcement has made notice especially important. The committee also heard testimony on S. 1360, a bill affecting collective bargaining rights for State Police, with the State Police Association arguing that a statutory gap lets departmental rules override their contract and that the bill would restore intended bargaining protections. A separate labor bill, S. 1305, was also briefly supported by the AFL-CIO as part of broader worker-classification protections for app-based delivery drivers. A large portion of the hearing focused on H. 2066, which would impose fines on transportation network drivers who refuse rides to people with disabilities using service animals. Testimony from blind and disabled riders, service dog users, advocates, and the Disability Law Center described repeated ride cancellations, drivers pulling away after seeing a service animal, and the difficulty of enforcing existing anti-discrimination laws through MCAD or other agencies. Witnesses said the current system leaves riders without practical recourse because drivers are hard to identify and complaints can take years, and they argued that fines on individual drivers would create a real deterrent. Several witnesses also described the impact on employment, medical appointments, and daily independence. Committee members asked about service-animal verification, whether refusals are ever appropriate, and whether penalties should target drivers or companies; witnesses said legitimate refusals are limited to misbehaving or unsafe animals and that companies already have policies and some training, but enforcement remains weak. The committee also heard from a witness supporting a related bill on rideshare accessibility and from advocates describing broader transportation discrimination issues. One witness discussed a separate proposal to study service-animal denial, and others noted that Uber’s self-identification feature and company policies have not solved the problem. No votes were taken during the hearing, and the meeting ended after the final witnesses on the service-animal bill and a brief organizational discussion about related legislation and committee business.

Transcript Highlights:

• On the bottom part of the page, this is for the most recent 12 months.
• We felt that the 12 jobs per million was a really good metric.
• And on page 12, you have a new send-off.
• You need to have good interstate access, and you need to have good rail access.
• Page 12, we've talked about safety, liquidity, and yield.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:12:00.160> We<00:12:00.399> will<00:12:00.560> open<00:12:00.720> the
• We<00:12:06.480> got<00:12:06.639> you<00:12:06.720> on<00:12:06.880> the
• > one<00:12:14.079> more<00:12:14.240> bill<00:12:14.399> in<00:12:14.639
• <00:12:16.399> Um<00:12:17.839> again<00:12:18.160> for<00:12:18.399> the
• encompassing<00:12:24.320> the<00:12:24.480> towns<00:12:24.800> of<00:12:25.120

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• million. ...million back up to $12 million?
• It came to us at 12. We knocked it to 9, but it would be back to 12 with your motion. Okay.
• This would make that $12 million; they can apply.
• So we went from 9 to 12, right? Or do we go to 2 in this? Up to 12. Up to 12, yeah. Up to 12. Okay.
• So it is funding coming out of SIF, so section 12, yes, so section 12.

Bills: SB2003

Keywords: higher education, student loans, scholarships, capital projects, workforce development, funding, North Dakota university system, 908, all

Summary: The committee first reconsidered Senate Bill 2003 in the higher education budget and adopted several changes. It removed $3 million for enterprise resource planning, struck $2 million for a grant program for students who are pregnant or recently gave birth, and then added $3 million back into workforce education and innovative grants, restoring that line to $12 million. Members also discussed a possible purchase of the 19th Avenue building in Fargo for the State School of Science, but the motion was withdrawn for later consideration. Other higher ed items were briefly noted, including tribally controlled community colleges and a state magazine funding line, but no final action was taken on the building proposal during this segment. The committee then moved to Senate Bill 2018, the Commerce budget, and reviewed a long list of funding items. It restored a vacant workforce FTE, increased tourism marketing to $10 million and Find the Good Life to $5 million, raised Operation Intern by $1 million, removed a $100,000 infrastructure study, increased autonomous agriculture grants to $15 million, and set the Regional Workforce Impact Program at $10 million. It also kept or adjusted several other items, including the uncrewed aerial vehicle replacement program, the global talent office, tribally controlled community colleges, Native American small business grants, and technical skills training grants. A major new provision would transfer $50 million total, split between SIF and Bank of North Dakota profits, to the Theodore Roosevelt Library Museum Endowment Fund, matching a private fundraising challenge; members expressed both support and concern, and said they would revisit it later. The committee also discussed language to allow commercialization of Vantis and to permit the Turtle Mountain gaming compact proposal to move forward with required federal approvals, while clarifying that a previously discussed $100,000 study had been removed. Commerce officials said the workforce language was intended to centralize data and strategy, and they noted Operation Intern would need an emergency clause because applications begin in May. No final vote on the Commerce budget was taken in this segment, and the chair said the committee would return later to finish both budgets.

Transcript Highlights:

• These programs are spread out between our 12 comprehensive high schools and our three career technical
• well, with our Workforce Alliance Council, which we have with the chamber, which consists of all K-12
• like business, finance, marketing, hospitality and tourism, and health science that are across all 12
• You could see it from the interstate, so we decided to put the school there.
• And we can’t do it at the speed or the level or with the reach that we have in K-12.

Keywords: 924, joint, all

Transcript Highlights:

• very<00:12:08.560> dated<00:12:09.040> coal<00:12:09.440> facility<00:12:10.000
• so it's uh makes<00:12:14.160> more<00:12:14.320> sense<00:12:14.480> to<00:12:
• > anything<00:12:20.399> if<00:12:20.639> I<00:12:20.800> could<00:12:21.040
• > know<01:12:13.600> we're<01:12:13.840> not<01:12:14.000> starting<01:12
• 12:28.560> is<03:12:28.640> a<03:12:28.880> result<03:12:29.200> of<03:12

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And this is technological, uh, items to prevent, um, vehicles from entering, uh, like interstates or
• uh<00:10:32.480> like vehicles from entering uh like vehicles from entering uh like interstates
• c> parkways<00:10:33.839> or<00:10:34.079> other<00:10:34.240> limited interstates
• or parkways or other limited interstates or parkways or other limited access<00:10:34.959> facilities
• Corman Railroad's $12 million project in Franklin County.

Keywords: 00:05 Call to Order and Roll Call 01:20 Road Projects 46:30 Approval of Minutes 46:50 Railroads 57:26 Adjournment, 958, all

Summary: The Budget Review Subcommittee on Transportation met without a quorum, so it could not approve the minutes. The chair announced an Eastern Kentucky University health forum later that day and then proceeded with testimony on alternative delivery methods for road projects. Jason Sawala of the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet and Chad Laroo of the Kentucky Association of Highway Contractors were sworn in and introduced themselves. Sawala explained KYTC’s use of alternative delivery tools, including design-build, construction manager/general contractor (CMGC), and public-private partnerships (P3s). He said the cabinet’s goal is to deliver the best value to taxpayers in terms of quality, cost, and time, and emphasized that alternative delivery is most useful on projects with special circumstances such as innovation needs, specialized technology, complex constructibility, schedule pressure, or early contractor input. He cited the cabinet’s wrong-way driving prevention project as an example where design-build helped evaluate technologies and coordinate with stakeholders such as EMS and first responders. He also outlined the main tradeoffs: alternative delivery can improve collaboration and sometimes accelerate schedules, but it also brings risks related to right-of-way acquisition, utility relocation, changing scope, and the need for dedicated staff and compressed decision-making. He stressed that these methods are not a cure-all and are not appropriate for every project, while noting that traditional design-bid-build remains effective for most of KYTC’s work. Representative Branscum responded favorably, saying early contractor involvement is valuable and consistent with his experience in the vertical construction world. No votes or formal actions were taken because the committee lacked a quorum.

Transcript Highlights:

• The first is that, in concept, when you are registering your vehicle, you are paying in advance for 12
• This is going from Porter Rockwell Boulevard north to Old Bingham Highway, and that’s 12 miles of new
• We did 12 interchanges as part of that project, but there’s also five planned interchanges.
• He comes down Parley's Canyon, and unfortunately, he rolls his truck onto Interstate 80 at Lamb's Canyon
• then make liability insurance liable for that liability of that truck that's laying sideways on Interstate

Keywords: 985, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Members, the Pre-K – 12 year 25/26 budget totals $20.6 billion.
• Are there questions of Representative Persons at the PreK-12 budget?
• K-12, all of this is kind of the first phase.
• Quick thank you as well to my entire Pre-K-12 subcommittee.
• HB 27 Social Work Licensure Interstate Compact.

Bills: HJR 99, HB 1399, HB 1400, HB 1094, HB 365, HB 1109, HB 647, HCR 35, SB 14, HB 12, HB 1522, HB 422, HB 675, HB 204, HB 748, HB 912, HJR 99, HB 1399, HB 1400, HB 1094, HB 365, HB 1109, HB 647, HCR 35, HCR 123, HCR 124, HR 57, HR 87, HR 111, HR 228, HR 230, HR 322, HR 624, HR 625, HR 626, HR 627, HR 628, HR 630, HR 631, HR 634, HR 635, HR 636, HR 637, HR 638, HR 639, HR 640, HR 645, HR 646, HR 648, HR 649, HR 651, HR 652, HR 653, HR 654, HR 664, HR 665, HR 668, HR 675, HR 676, HR 678, HR 679, HR 680, HR 683, HR 686, HR 688, HR 689, HR 694, HR 695, HR 697, HR 698, HR 699, HR 472, HR 622, HR 632, HR 633, HR 643, HR 655, HR 657, HR 660, HR 661, HR 662, HR 663, HR 667, HR 670, HR 674, HR 681, HR 682, HR 696

Keywords: animal feed, tax exemption, ad valorem taxation, retail, constitutional amendment, retail sale, tangible personal property, Texas tax code, groundwater, water conservation, financial assistance, Texas Water Development Board, innovation fund, local conservation districts, transportation protection agreement, funeral services, insurance exemption, regulation, deceased transportation, HB 365

Transcript Highlights:

• /c><00:12:04.279> months<00:12:04.480> of<00:12:04.600> the<00:12:04.760> year
• c><00:12:11.000> of<00:12:11.120> our<00:12:11.399> kids<00:12:11.680> are
• 12:15.720> we're<00:12:15.959> so<00:12:16.360> grateful<00:12:17.360> to
• <00:12:37.519> I'm<00:12:37.639> Lisa<00:12:38.000> Paulson<00:12:38.360>
• the Maui<00:12:38.839> food<00:12:39.079> bank<00:12:40.079> and<00:12:40.519><

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• :12:05.840> turning<01:12:06.000> that<01:12:06.159> into<01:12:06.400> ad
• <01:12:08.719> Uh,<01:12:08.960> so<01:12:09.120> what<01:12:09.280> a
• 12:10.080> to<01:12:10.159> be<01:12:10.320> here<01:12:10.400> today.
• Thank<01:12:10.880> you<01:12:10.960> for<01:12:11.120> sharing<01:12:11.360>
• funds<01:12:18.400> that<01:12:18.560> you<01:12:18.719> give<01:12:18.880>

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The Budget Review Subcommittee on Health and Family Services met in person, approved the October 15 minutes, and began with a moment of silence following a Louisville UPS plane explosion that was described as a local tragedy affecting many families and first responders. The main presentation was an overview of Kentucky’s Medicaid non-emergency medical transportation (NMT) program from the Department for Medicaid Services and the Transportation Cabinet. Witnesses explained that NMT is a federally required Medicaid benefit, administered by the Transportation Cabinet under a risk-based capitated model, with eligibility limited to Medicaid members traveling to medically necessary, Medicaid-covered services and who lack access to other transportation. They also described exclusions, including certain KCHIP, QMB, and PACE members, and outlined the brokered regional structure, call center operations, scheduling rules, vehicle and driver oversight, complaint handling, and rider surveys. The presenters reported that NMT handled more than 3.1 million trips in state fiscal year 2024, with over 1.38 million trips already recorded in October, and said customer satisfaction surveys were high. They said the FY 2025-26 contract total is about $360.6 million, with monthly per-member capitation rates set by region through an actuarial process and approved by CMS. They emphasized that payments are tied to monthly Medicaid enrollment and that the state draws down federal funds for the exact amount paid, with no leftover balance. They also said most NMT use comes from adult day centers and rehabilitative care such as dialysis. Members questioned the witnesses about how quality metrics and contract standards are set, whether the state had explored alternatives such as Uber Health or other integrated models, and how utilization was calculated. The witnesses said contract requirements are developed collaboratively by Medicaid Services, the Transportation Cabinet, and other agencies, and that studies of other models generally found higher costs and lower approval ratings, with additional research on a hybrid model expected by the end of the year. They clarified that one figure reflected the share of Medicaid members with registered vehicles, while another reflected actual NMT users, and they defended the capitated structure as shifting financial risk to brokers rather than the state. Representative Fleming also raised concerns about oversight, reporting, and the apparent gap between budgeted and contracted amounts, asking whether any unused funds would return to general funds; the discussion ended before a final answer was given.

Transcript Highlights:

• All right, members, we will go to 12, Department of Health, Arkansas State Board of Nursing.
• It's in Part 12. Reviewed and approved. Going to 12E. It's in Part 1226.
• Members, any questions for 12-I? Seeing none without objection, the rule is reviewed and approved.
• interstate authority. Have you received any more negatives or concerns?
• Okay. 21A is setting up Rule 12, Part 133, in relation to Act 575 of 2025.

Summary: The Administrative Rules Subcommittee reviewed a long agenda of agency rules, with most items approved without objection after brief presentations and no public comment. Early items included Department of Energy and Environment rules on landfill post-closure trust fund spending thresholds and liquefied petroleum gas standards, DFA’s electronic odometer disclosure rule, and several Department of Health rules covering ionizing radiation, mobile home and RV parks, lead-based paint, counseling board revisions, hearing instrument dispensers, athletic training, dental examiners, nursing, pharmacy, medical board, speech-language pathology and audiology, radiologic technology, massage therapy, community health workers, doula certification, and cosmetology/body art. Most of these changes were described as updates to match recent acts, federal standards, compact participation, fee adjustments, or cleanup/clarification, and the committee repeatedly approved them without objection. A substantial portion of the meeting focused on the Arkansas State Board of Nursing’s broad set of rule changes implementing multiple 2025 acts. Those changes included creating a dialysis patient care technician registry, updating contact information requirements, expanding APRN authority to delegate certain tasks, clarifying death certificate and pronouncement authority, allowing substitution of therapeutically equivalent medications, permitting purchase of compounded products, and updating certified medication assistant rules and training standards. Members asked detailed questions about the meaning of therapeutically equivalent substitutions, delegation limits, compounded products, and how often medication lists would be updated; the board said it would review rules annually and use future rulemaking as needed. The committee also approved new nursing rules for declaratory orders and the new dialysis registry. The Department of Education’s rules drew the most discussion, especially the Arkansas Children’s Educational Freedom Account Program. The department said the revisions, based on Act 920 of 2025, were intended to add guardrails, clarify eligible expenses, and streamline approvals. Changes included defining core educational expenses, limiting sports-related spending, adding an intentional misuse standard, restricting certain technology purchases and requiring extra justification over $1,000, capping carryover funds at $8,500, and creating a reconsideration process for denied expenses. Members raised concerns about oversight, appeal timelines, sports equipment, provider credentialing, and whether the rules were too restrictive; department officials said the rules were meant to protect taxpayer funds while preserving flexibility, and they noted the program had received extensive public comment. The committee also approved Education rules for scholarships, residency classification, teacher programs, accelerated learning, and graduate medical education, as well as Labor and Licensing rules on wage and hour standards, boiler rules, motor vehicle commission requirements, professional wrestling regulation, appraiser qualifications, and military recruiting incentives.

Transcript Highlights:

• So that's<00:12:14.320> an<00:12:14.560> avenue<00:12:14.880> of<00:12:15.120>
• > the<00:12:16.480> building<00:12:16.880> piece<00:12:17.680> that<00:12
• that we um don't<00:12:19.120> have<00:12:19.279> access<00:12:19.600> to<00:12
• <00:12:22.399> So<00:12:23.120> um<00:12:23.279> this<00:12:23.440> just<
• ><00:12:34.560> just<00:12:34.800> 10<00:12:34.959> million<00:12:35.200> a

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• :12:07.480> we<01:12:07.560> cost<01:12:07.960> what<01:12:08.080> solar<
• now.<01:12:09.400> So<01:12:09.800> I'm<01:12:10.120> and<01:12:10.280> I'm
• c><01:12:10.440> down<01:12:10.720> to<01:12:10.840> work<01:12:11.120> and
• taken longer.<01:12:40.320> So<01:12:40.480> I<01:12:40.560> think<01:12:40.840
• Why this<01:12:46.560> time<01:12:46.840> it's<01:12:47.000> going<01:12:47.320>

Bills: HF4308, HF4153, HF4703, HF4711

Keywords: HF4308, Monticello nuclear plant, Prairie Island, renewable development account, RDA, nuclear waste, spent fuel, dry cask storage, utility tax, commercial-industrial property tax, state general levy, property tax exemption, residential heating fuels, natural gas tax exemption, electricity sales tax exemption, year-round sales tax exemption, distributed solar energy standard, solar mandate, community solar, grid modernization

Transcript Highlights:

• :21.120> idea<00:12:21.440> of<00:12:22.000> what<00:12:22.240> how<00:12
• We<00:12:25.120> tend<00:12:25.360> to<00:12:25.839> let<00:12:26.000> me
• .<00:12:27.360> Uh<00:12:27.600> when<00:12:27.839> we<00:12:28.000> receive<
• Um and<00:12:31.920> that<00:12:32.160> is<00:12:32.480> 8,000<00:12:33.040>
• <00:12:36.880> Um<00:12:37.279> and<00:12:37.920> we<00:12:38.240> we

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The Judiciary Committee heard testimony on Governor’s Message 767, the nomination of Kanoi AD Jackson to serve as circuit court judge for the Third Circuit. The chair announced that the committee would not vote on the governor’s message or two judge nominations until Tuesday, April 15, but planned to vote that day on two Defender Council items. Testimony on Jackson’s nomination was limited to two minutes per speaker, and the hearing was conducted partly by Zoom. Supporters emphasized Jackson’s qualifications, work ethic, judicial temperament, and community ties. Testifiers included the West Hawaii Bar Association, family members, a retired teacher, retired Judge Robert Kim, and the Hawaii State Bar Association. The West Hawaii Bar Association said Jackson received high marks from its review process and that the Third Circuit needed a permanent judge for stability. Judge Kim and others praised her preparation, intelligence, humility, and experience as a prosecutor and litigator. Jackson also spoke in her own behalf, acknowledging that her background is primarily criminal rather than civil, but saying she is committed to learning the civil docket and serving the community if confirmed. Members questioned the Hawaii State Bar Association about the basis for its support, including how many members responded and whether concerns were raised about Jackson’s lack of civil experience. HSBA said it uses a confidential review process, receives both positive and negative comments, and does not track votes or percentages, but its board voted to support her. Judge Kim responded that judges can learn new areas of law, that civil dockets can be managed with benchbooks and help from other judges, and that Jackson’s trial experience would serve her well. No vote was taken on Jackson’s nomination during this hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• :10.840> have<01:12:11.800> um<01:12:12.120> a<01:12:12.239> member<01:12
• 01:12:15.560> and<01:12:15.679> then<01:12:16.000> two<01:12:16.520> have
• <01:12:47.639> to<01:12:47.800> the<01:12:47.880> full<01:12:48.080> PDA<
• > and<01:12:49.239> I<01:12:49.320> will<01:12:49.679> just<01:12:49.880>
• Development<01:12:52.400> Authority<01:12:52.719> board<01:12:53.000> is<01:12:

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Slide number 12 is a project that was funded with um money from the Chevron Molycorp Mine Settlement.
• Hello, testing 12. Um Yeah Oh Um, Good I That I was Of He's a liar.
• This number is uh as of May 13th, I typically have I'm monitoring about 10 to 12 shipments a week, so
• were, we still have Our program, the same individuals that I've been working with for the past 10 to 12
• Um, slide 12, uh, just gives you some, uh, a visual of, of what some of these sites look like. Um.

Transcript Highlights:

• ><01:12:04.719> to<01:12:04.880> thank<01:12:05.040> you<01:12:05.199> all
• > to<01:12:07.520> my<01:12:08.000> uh<01:12:08.080> my<01:12:08.320>
• Um they<01:12:33.920> are<01:12:34.640> um<01:12:34.800> since<01:12:35.040>
• > and<01:12:42.719> so<01:12:42.960> since<01:12:43.199> it<01:12:43.360>
• 01:12:50.880> project<01:12:52.080> uh<01:12:52.239> or<01:12:53.199> able

Bills: HF4588, HF3685, HF4577, HF4932

Keywords: veterans, veterans affairs, mental health, behavioral health, rural health, rural areas, access to care, task force, Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs, general fund appropriation, veteran suicide prevention, PTSD, service members, military families, telehealth, rural psychiatry, high school diploma, armed forces, education policy, military service