Transcript Highlights:

• 2 Senate committee on border security will now come to order. Mr. Clark please call the roll.
• Texas, of course, is a border state, as face many... challenges with this crisis that we've seen at our
• southern border related to illegal immigration, including law enforcement costs, health care services
• And dealing with not only border security, but dealing with immigration in general.
• That's a cross. the state up and down you know the border not just the border all over Texas so everyone's

Bills: SB825

Keywords: illegal immigration, economic impact, environmental impact, financial impact, annual study, Texas, government report, 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• There's no border.
• You could literally so that lead doesn't... there's no invisible border keeping that in.
• <00:03:04.720> There's<00:03:05.040> no<00:03:05.280> border.
• There's no border. You the beach park. There's no border.
• <00:03:09.920> keeping<00:03:10.239> that there's no invisible border keeping that

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The joint Health, Human Services, Agriculture, and Environment hearing first took up HTR 28, which would reconvene the working group created under House Resolution 18 to continue addressing water and air contamination and remediation issues tied to the Pua Range Training Facility. Testimony was overwhelmingly in support, with speakers describing long-standing community concern and alleged lead contamination near the shooting range and nearby beach areas. One testifier urged passage as a critical mechanism for protecting the community. The committees then voted to recommend passage of HTR 28 as is, and the motion was adopted. The committees next considered HCR 25 HD1, asking the Department of Agriculture to add a statement on desecration laws to the plant and animal declaration form, and HCR 200, concerning the Maui axis deer control and venison initiative. The Department of Agriculture and DLNR offered comments on HCR 25 HD1, and HCR 200 drew support from the Hawaii Cattlemen’s Council and others, who said axis deer pose economic and environmental threats. Both measures were advanced with technical amendments, and both recommendations were adopted. The hearing then moved to HCR 27, which asks Hawaii’s congressional delegation to petition USDA to address disparities affecting Hawaii’s agricultural exports, and HCR 42 HD1, encouraging each county to develop its own biosecurity plan. The Department of Agriculture supported HCR 27, and testimony on HCR 42 HD1 emphasized county-level invasive species prevention, the need for local biosecurity planning, and gaps in state and county authority over noxious weeds and invasive plants. After a brief recess to regain quorum, both committees voted to pass HCR 27 with technical amendments and HCR 42 HD1 as is; all motions were adopted and the hearing adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Rhode Island is a $293 per win per unit per day.
• Boston right now is over $400 per unit Boston right now is over $400 per unit Per<00:42:04.560><
• No, this is a hypothetical. ...Border, one in Lebanon, on the border, Salem, on the border, two on the
• border, like Portsmouth on the border.
• So if you are on or near the border, the wager is blocked.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee heard a budget presentation from New Hampshire Lottery Director Charlie McIntyre and CFO Jim Durus. McIntyre said the Lottery has more than tripled its return to the Education Trust Fund since 2011, from $62 million to $207 million in FY 24, while keeping expenses relatively flat over time. He explained that the Lottery operates like a business, is heavily audited, and that the governor’s budget raises the FY 26-27 revenue estimate to $185 million, up about $12 million annually from prior estimates. He attributed FY 24’s unusually strong results to record Powerball sales driven by a spike in billion-dollar jackpots tied to higher interest rates, and said scratch tickets still make up most gross sales, though Powerball is the highest-margin product. Members questioned the Lottery about the difference between gross revenue and profit, the steep rise in operating expenses, and the reasons for requested budget increases. McIntyre said the main drivers were payroll, benefits, advertising, added regulatory responsibilities from expanded gaming, and a new Salesforce customer-tracking system. He also described requested capital needs, including an outdated security system, building access and ADA improvements, and upgrades to the front office for employee safety. He said the security system is still running on an old Windows 7-based setup and that the requested upgrade would modernize cameras and add redundancy. The discussion also covered staffing and gaming expansion. McIntyre said the Lottery has 84 employees including three commissioners, with 13 funded vacancies, and that it plans to fill positions as two new gaming rooms come online in Rochester and Derry. He said the Lottery’s revenue estimates were revised upward because sports betting in Massachusetts had less impact than expected and historic horse racing machines have been more profitable than forecast. He also explained the governor’s proposal to shift historic horse racing toward slot-style machines, saying the physical machines would look largely the same but the content and math would change, and that the state’s revenue share would increase under the proposal. No votes were taken; the committee mainly asked questions and received explanations about the Lottery’s budget and revenue assumptions.

Transcript Highlights:

• We agreed to increase the staff in the housing units due to that serious assault.
• We have daily one-on-one interaction in our housing units with these individuals.
• We have daily one-on-one interaction in our housing units with these individuals.
• And it's also a unit that brings people from all over to state.
• I think when you play a major role in prosecution and defense...

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The special commission on consolidation and cooperation among public safety agencies held a hearing focused on union and correctional staff testimony. Chair Dan Hunt and Senator Brownsberger opened by noting the commission’s extensive site visits and prior testimony, and they recognized Correctional Officers Week. Union representatives from KOUF, NCEU, AFSCME, and local county correctional unions described the daily realities of correctional work, emphasizing staff safety, staffing shortages, retention problems, mental health impacts, and the need to preserve local sheriff’s offices and collective bargaining agreements. Testimony centered on several recurring concerns: violence inside facilities, the spread of synthetic drugs such as K2, inmate suicides and suicide attempts, and the strain these issues place on officers, EMS, and local resources. Speakers also raised concerns about gender-identity housing policies, arguing they can create safety and workplace issues for staff, and urged more support for officer wellness, debriefing, and programs like OnSide Academy. Several witnesses argued that county facilities should remain locally controlled and that consolidation with the Department of Correction would weaken programming, staffing, and community-based reentry work. One witness described the Norwegian correctional model as a possible source of ideas for more rehabilitative approaches. Commission members responded with support for correctional staff and asked questions about K2 detection, paperless systems, EMS transports, and possible metrics to quantify incidents and facility needs. Members also discussed the importance of individualized assessments of each facility rather than a one-size-fits-all approach. The commission voted to seek an extension of its reporting deadline from September 30 to November 30, and agreed to continue site visits, including the upcoming Barnstable visit and a June 15 hearing. The meeting adjourned after the motion passed.

Transcript Highlights:

• The goal is to get rid of this fly out of the United States.
• have very deep concerns about that border being closed.
• Obviously, the fly is in states bordering Texas.
• So anything that's going across the border—one of our biggest port facilities is just across the border
• Closing the border is not doing that. Interesting.

Keywords: 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• his family and may God bless the United his family and may God bless the United States<00:24:52.320
• United States have failed to deliver. United States have failed to deliver.
• The United States has an Act.
• bill through the United States Senate. bill through the United States Senate.
• It encourages the United States.

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Thursday, July 17, 2025, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Let me join the Pledge of Allegiance: to the flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic
• Fifth, it contains additional clarifications, including the exclusion of detached units.
• We don't just prosecute on probabilities and we don't prosecute on maybes and what you think is easy.
• We don't just prosecute on probabilities and we don't prosecute on maybes and what we think is easy.
• that have at least one unit per acre.

Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum, prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and several member introductions recognizing interns, guests, and advocates. The Rules Chair added CS for CS for SB 622 to the special order calendar, and SB 80 on state land management was temporarily postponed. The chamber then moved through a series of bills, often substituting House companions for Senate bills when the measures were identical or nearly identical. The Senate passed SB 200/HB 295 on a comprehensive waste reduction and recycling plan, requiring DEP to develop a recycling and waste diversion roadmap by 2026; SB 492 on land development and mitigation banking, after adopting amendments related to mitigation credit use and former phosphate mine lands; and SB 494/HB 255 on aggravated animal cruelty, which increases sentencing consequences and creates a searchable FDLE database of convicted animal abusers, with an amendment clarifying the database language. The Senate also passed SB 500/HB 711 establishing the Spectrum Alert for missing children with autism, SB 524/HB 1089 adding Duchenne muscular dystrophy to newborn screening, SB 592/HB 393 revising the My Safe Florida Condominium Pilot Program, SB 742/HB 1145 on workforce education, SB 936/HB 827 on a statewide study of automation and workforce impact, SB 964/HB 181 on parole guidelines, SB 976/HB 901 on court-appointed psychologists, SB 1084/HB 1451 on sexual cyber harassment, and SB 1156 on a home health aid program for medically fragile children. Most of these bills were adopted after brief sponsor explanations, questions, and in some cases amendments or House-substitute motions. Debate centered on several policy issues. Senators raised concerns about the constitutional and environmental implications of mitigation banking credits in SB 492, the scope and privacy implications of the animal abuse database in SB 494, the funding and eligibility details of the condo resilience program in SB 592, and the public-school/charter-school balance in SB 822, which drew extensive questioning about enrollment, governance, discipline, accountability, and data sharing before being placed on the third-reading calendar after amendments. The Spectrum Alert bill drew support from members who compared it to the Purple Alert and emphasized the risks faced by children with ASD. The medically fragile children home health aid bill also drew strong support, with senators describing it as a long-needed fix to help families provide in-home care without losing Medicaid coverage. Votes on the measures reported in the transcript were overwhelmingly favorable, with bills passing by margins such as 38-0, 35-3, 37-0, 36-0, and 35-0.

Transcript Highlights:

• So what this is looking at is units as opposed to costs, and so because the costs are high they will
• capture, but if we're looking at units alone there's also a lot of access from friends, families are
• So what this is looking at is units as opposed to costs, and so because the costs are high they will
• state and county criminal prosecution state and county criminal prosecution for<00:39:27.200>
• if they in fact successful prosecution if they in fact were<01:04:51.839> impaired.

Bills: HB1974, HB1853, HB1973, HB1574, HB2619, HB1966, HB1643, HB1671, HB2558, HB1854, HB2173, HB1575, HB2229, HB1535, HB1978, HB2508, HB1549, HB2187, HB1550, HB1977, HB2314, HB1871, HB2319, HB1591, HB1858, HB1898, HB2372, HB1765, HB2012, HB1706, HB1962, HB1963, HB1975, HB2009, HB2083, HB2224, HB1877, HB1959, HB1626, HB1665, HB2488, HB2456, HB2548, HB2207, HB1832, HB2079, HB1985, HB1618, HB2486, HB2242, HB2045, HB1703, HB2236, HB2480, HB1976, HB2287, HB2288, HB1777, HB276, HB1660, HB1676, HB1605, HB1751, HB1967, HB2383, HB2340, HB1946, HB2268, HB1950, HB2156, HB2118, HB1859, HB1863, HB1996, HB2114, HB2423, HB2429, HB2475, HB2534, HB2545, HB1813, HB1941, HB2474, HB2583, HB1576, HB1886, HB1939, HB2540, HB2590, HB2000, HB2163, HB2386, HB1691, HB1680, HB2516, HB1993, HB2442, HB1510, HB1958, HB1692

Keywords: HB1974, hearing loss, audiology, audiologist, hearing screening, hearing aids, cochlear implants, tele-audiology, communication access, assistive technology, speech-language pathology, deafness, hard of hearing, public health, kupuna, keiki, dementia, cognitive decline, fall prevention, State Health Planning and Development Agency

Transcript Highlights:

• Oversize and overweight freight traffic plays a key role in cross-border trade in Hidalgo County.
• Oversize and overweight freight traffic plays a key role in cross-border trade in Hidalgo County.
• along the border.
• How many units are we talking about here?
• How many units are we talking about here?

Summary: The Senate Transportation Committee heard a series of mostly local transportation and memorial designation bills. Several measures would rename highway segments in honor of fallen service members or public servants, including HB 2026 (Gary C. Johnston memorial highways in Archer County), HB 4429 (McIlroy Family Memorial Highway in Blanco and Burnet counties), SB 3062 (Hamby-Webb Memorial Highway in Panola County), HB 3510 (Sergeant Mark Butler Memorial Highway in Brazos County), and HB 3986 (Corporal Speedy Espiriueta Memorial Highway in Mission). The committee also heard HB 2560, which would create an optional county-road “adopt-a-road” style program allowing donations for county road repair and maintenance. Two bills drew more substantive policy discussion. HB 2427 and HB 2455 concerned oversized/overweight freight corridors and permit authority in Hidalgo County tied to cross-border trade near the FARR International Bridge. Supporters, including the bridge director, said the measures would correct prior road descriptions, put existing TxDOT actions into statute, improve truck routing, and support trade and bridge expansion. The committee substitute for HB 2427 also removed Roma permit language, barred certain hazardous-material permits, raised permit fees, required local cost responsibility for road maintenance, and made the bill contingent on SB 2949. HB 5436 would allow licensed automotive recyclers to buy certain older, long-unregistered vehicles for dismantling or scrap without a title, with reporting, lienholder notice, and anti-theft safeguards; recyclers and dealers supported it as a way to curb illegal untitled-vehicle sales and VIN cloning. HB 3966, authored by Sen. Alvarado, was the most contested bill. It would require commercial passenger bus companies to mail advance notice to residents within one mile before opening a new stop or terminal. Alvarado said the bill responded to the relocation of a Greyhound terminal into a Houston neighborhood without notice and to resulting crime and nuisance concerns. Greyhound opposed the bill, arguing the notice requirement would be burdensome and could delay emergency relocations during hurricanes, flooding, or lease changes. After testimony, the committee voted to report most bills favorably, with HB 3966 passing on a 5-2 vote; the other reported bills passed unanimously. Several bills were also placed on the local and uncontested calendar, and the committee recessed to the call of the chair.

Transcript Highlights:

• no jurisdiction, no annexation, so you folks got to pay attention to the law, further the use of United
• You have to follow the United States law, but it's just the idea that, um, seems like you know that I
• First, our testifiers: we have Andrew Martin from the prosecuting attorney's office or his representative
• have Andrew Martin from the prosecuting have Andrew Martin from the prosecuting attorney's<00:21
• States on a new site in 30 years United States on a new site in 30 years and<00:43:16.440> the

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The committees first heard Senate Bill 151 relating to the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands and geothermal development on Hawaiian homelands. DHHL and Ulupono Initiative testified in strong support, saying the measure would help advance clean energy goals, create economic opportunities, and support DHHL’s mission. Fine Electric also supported the bill. Several members of the public testified in opposition, raising concerns about consultation with beneficiaries, water impacts, land issues, and the scale of the proposed spending. In response to questions, DHHL staff explained slimhole drilling, the permitting distinctions between water exploration and geothermal exploration, and said prior studies and geophysical testing had been done. The chair then recommended passage with amendments, including SMA technical amendments, a directive to establish a permitted interaction group to study geothermal options, removal of the appropriation language, and a new effective date. The committees adopted the recommendation and passed SB 151 with amendments, with one senator voting no and several excused. The joint committees then took up Senate Bill 371 on property damage to critical infrastructure facilities. The Department of the Attorney General supported the bill with amendments, recommending broader critical infrastructure language to cover systems such as transportation, gas, power, water, and oil, and suggesting additional changes to improve prosecution. Utility and other supporters also testified in favor. The chairs proposed adopting the AG’s amendments except one, and further expanding the bill to make manslaughter explicit when a death results from disruption of critical infrastructure, and to add water as a covered infrastructure category. The committees adopted the amended recommendation and passed SB 371 with amendments. Finally, the Energy and Intergovernmental Affairs committee heard Senate Bill 585 on special purpose revenue bonds for Bana Pacific. The Attorney General noted a possible issue with the company’s entity status and the bill title, but Bana Pacific stated it was in the process of converting from an LLC to a corporation and was satisfied with the title. The State Energy Office supported the concept, and Bana Pacific described the project as an integrated biogas and green hydrogen facility that would support energy security, create jobs, and reduce emissions. The committee then moved on to Senate Bill 964 on waste-to-energy, where the State Energy Office offered supportive comments but many testifiers opposed the measure, arguing incineration is costly, polluting, and inferior to recycling. Written testimony showed more opposition than support, and public testimony focused on environmental and cost concerns.

Transcript Highlights:

• Office of the State Prosecuting Attorney, request number two is 285,000 for a. contract attorney this
• Unit, moving on to item one of the agency's requests.
• The agency is requesting an additional This is specifically the Special Prosecution Unit within CPAJ's
• the agency is also requesting an additional GR for administrative costs provided by County to the unit
• D is the canine contraband. detection unit, H is the OIG safety equipment, and K...

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Attorney General has power to prosecute Attorney General has power to prosecute and<00:04:09.440
• According to the Minnesota Housing Finance Agency, the state needs to build 182,000 new housing units
• It wasn't supposed to be a profit center for a unit of government.
• of government are it is our local units of government are going<00:25:14.440> to<00:25:14.520
• And then I would reach out to local units of government and say, "Now you need to do the same thing."

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Dax Proctor, Californians United for Responsible Budget, in opposition.
• That is the same rule that the United States Supreme Court applied in Riley.
• I’m associate director with Community Healers United, and I’m in strong support.
• Dax Proctor, Californians United for Responsible Budget, in support.
• Tina Chris Keane with Community Healers United, in strong support. Thank you.

Summary: The committee heard several public safety-related bills. AB 383 by Assembly Member Davies would expand and clarify firearm restrictions tied to juvenile adjudications, allow certain minor firearm possession for hunting or training with guardian approval, and authorize warrants in some domestic violence-related firearm surrender situations. Supporters, including a district attorney representative, argued it would close gaps in existing law and improve public safety; opponents said it would over-criminalize youth and disproportionately affect marginalized communities. The bill passed as amended to Appropriations. AB 400 by Assembly Member Pacheco would require law enforcement K-9 units to meet statewide POST standards covering training, use of force, and handler skills. Supporters said the bill would create consistency, accountability, and safer deployments; opponents argued the standards were inadequate and would legitimize harmful canine practices. After debate over whether the bill expanded canine use or simply standardized it, the committee approved AB 400 and sent it to Appropriations. AB 380 by Assembly Member Gonzalez would extend price-gouging protections during emergencies, including for hotels, food, essential goods and services, and commercial property, and would remove the 12-month lease limit loophole for rent gouging. Supporters said the bill responds to wildfire-related exploitation and provides clarity for disaster victims; business and landlord groups warned it could amount to commercial rent control and create uncertainty for future emergencies. The author said he would continue working on amendments, and the bill passed as amended to Appropriations. AB 358 by Assembly Member Alvarez would create a narrow exception to Cal-ECPA so law enforcement could inspect tracking or surveillance devices found in a person’s home, vehicle, or property with the finder’s consent. Supporters said the change would help stalking and domestic violence victims preserve evidence quickly; privacy advocates argued warrants and existing emergency exceptions already cover these situations. The chair proposed narrowing the language to “tracking or surveillance device,” and the bill was held on call after an initial roll with only three votes in favor. The transcript also began AB 247, which would raise pay for incarcerated hand crew firefighters, with testimony from formerly incarcerated firefighters in support, but the discussion was not completed in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• Customs and Border Protection, with over 25 years of experience securing the border.
• country from dangerous legal border country from dangerous legal border evasion<07:40:31.080>
• high-speed chases in our border high-speed chases in our border communities<07:40:56.718> I'm
• Our border must be secured.
• United States.

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Wednesday, February 12, 2025, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The good news is that California remains the number one tourism economy in the United States as measured
• Just 13% say they plan to visit the United States, down from 18% last year.
• I mean, the fact that we're further removed from the border of Canada, where...
• Aftershock is one of the largest hard rock festivals in the United States, probably in the top three.
• We are the second-largest border crossing in the world.

Summary: The Assembly Committee on Arts, Entertainment, Sports, and Tourism held an informational hearing on the state of California tourism amid declining international visitation and broader economic and political headwinds. Visit California CEO Caroline Betetta said the industry remains a major economic driver, with 2024 visitor spending of $157 billion, 1.2 million jobs supported, and $12.7 billion in state and local tax revenue, but warned that 2025 forecasts show the first post-pandemic decline in visitation, driven largely by a projected 9.2% drop in international travel. She cited concerns about the strong dollar, visa wait times, border and immigration rhetoric, and a proposed federal visa integrity fee, while emphasizing Visit California’s marketing campaigns and the importance of upcoming mega-events like the World Cup and 2028 Olympics. A second panel of destination leaders described local impacts and strategies. Visit Sacramento’s Mike Testa said the city has diversified beyond conventions into music festivals, sports, and food events, but noted that international apprehension is affecting events like Terra Madre Americas and that California should do more to incentivize major festivals to stay in-state. Santa Monica Travel and Tourism’s Lauren Salisbury said the city is seeing lower international visitation, especially from Canada, Australia, and Europe, and that wildfire coverage and later federal troop presence in Los Angeles hurt local sentiment and caused cancellations. Yosemite Sierra Visitors Bureau’s Rhonda Salisbury reported steep drops in international visitation to the gateway region, ongoing concerns about wildfire, reservations, insurance costs, and park access, and praised a new federal requirement for quarterly meetings between national parks and gateway communities. San Diego Tourism Authority COO Carrie Verbeck-Cappich said tourism is the region’s second-largest sector, but 2025 is softer than 2024, with spending down despite modest visitation growth. She pointed to weaker Canadian and Asian travel, government-related meeting cancellations, and the need for more support to bid on and host major events; she also highlighted border-crossing delays, insufficient federal staffing at ports of entry, and the Tijuana River sewage crisis as major regional issues. Committee members discussed the effects of federal rhetoric, infrastructure, and cross-border conditions on tourism, and several witnesses urged continued support for Visit California, Brand USA, event incentives, and efforts to present California as welcoming and open. Public comment then opened, beginning with testimony from the California Attractions and Parks Association.

Transcript Highlights:

• me, or you prosecuted me.
• Becos also did an externship with the gang unit in her early, early days.
• For the last 19 years, I've been in Spotsylvania County prosecuting for the county.
• I had Virginia State Police and the National Guard when we had Unite the Right the first time and Unite
• I also had prosecutors who were both prosecuting in state and federal court.

Keywords: House Committee Room C, General Assembly Building, 976, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• At the borders and demand and damage to these goods results in millions of dollars in lost revenue.
• The nonprofit is selected based on demonstrated experience working with border inspection authorities
• This helps produce move across the border quickly and safely and reduces the amount of spoiled goods.
• It holds the distinction of being the number one border crossing for the United States for produce and
• The Texas-Mexico border.

Transcript Highlights:

• Representative Barnaby: So this bill makes sure that offenders can be prosecuted for a 3rd degree felony
• It's failure of accountability when attacks are going on and perpetrators are not being prosecuted.
• Congress of Diplomats, which has members from the United States, the UK, Canada and Nigeria.
• I am a United States Marine and Desert Storm veteran.
• We talk about civil rights here in the United States.

Transcript Highlights:

• Unit.
• I believe that Special Prosecutions Unit should have access to the units to serve in various roles.
• One amendment that I would say is the Special Prosecutions Unit should neither serve as a defense counsel
• But we think giving Special Prosecutions Unit...
• Section 7 of the bill allows the Special Prosecution Unit to assist with parole revocation hearings.

Transcript Highlights:

• And on behalf of the United Steel Workers, the largest industrial union in North America.
• For example, I separated from the United States Air Force. In 1987.
• My name is Steven Price, former sergeant in the United States Army E5.
• States along our national borders.
• Sergeant of the United States Army.

Bills: HB39, HB227

Keywords: public school finance, property values, homestead exemptions, funding allocation, education policy, HB227, kratom, Mitragyna speciosa, kratom products, kratom processor, kratom retailer, controlled substances, Texas Controlled Substances Act, Health and Safety Code, Penalty Group 1, tianeptine, 7-hydroxymitragynine, mitragynine, synthetic kratom, kratom alkaloids