Transcript Highlights:

• However, Madam Speaker, it is still an increase to the fee.
• It's a fee increase.
• And as we've discussed before, when a fee increases— ...discussed before, when a fee increases high,
• very high, this high, it ceases to be a fee and it becomes a tax.
• And I feel strongly that this addition to these fees are in fact a tax.

Summary: The House considered Substitute Senate Bill 5393, relating to closing Rainier School by June 30, 2027. After many withdrawn amendments, the House adopted striking Amendment 1455, which changed the bill to allow current residents to remain at Rainier School as long as they choose and can live there, while also creating opportunities for community care transitions, return to Rainier if needed, and regular reporting from DHS on transition outcomes, mortality, and related data. Members speaking in favor emphasized the need to move away from institutional care, protect vulnerable residents, and improve accountability; some noted the emotional and personal significance of the issue. The bill then passed the House 76-22 and was immediately transmitted to the Senate. The House also took up several Senate-amended bills and concurred in the Senate changes before final passage. Second Substitute House Bill 1207 passed 54-44 after debate over a fee increase and whether the revenue would benefit local jurisdictions enough. Substitute House Bill 1498 passed 70-28 after a modest Senate adjustment giving more first-year flexibility. House Bill 2003 passed 53-45 despite concerns that it would reduce fishing opportunities. Substitute House Bill 2047 passed 58-40; supporters praised the Senate changes, while opponents argued it still ended a valuable employee ownership program and remained subject to appropriations. House Bill 2050 passed 56-42 after the Senate removed an apportionment shift from the bill, though some members still objected to the remaining ALE enrollment cap. The House also received messages from the Senate indicating passage of a gross substitute House Bill 249 and that the President had signed gross substitute Senate Bill 5041. The chamber then adjourned until 10 a.m. Sunday, April 27.

Transcript Highlights:

• So you're saying... ...uses permitted by law.
• The fee... amount is? The fee, I believe it was $2500 per facility. Okay.
• And the commissioner shall collect this annual fee.
• So this money will come from annual fees that they pay. ...come from annual fees that they will pay.
• One is a one-time fee and the other will be ongoing fees, but they're going to actually pay those dollars

Keywords: 1136, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• They don't have to pay the extra fee, the pet fee. Is that already in statute someplace? It is.
• , They don't have to pay the extra fee, They don't have to pay the extra fee, the<00:05:05.840>
• > pet<00:05:06.080> fee.
• any attorney's fees in collections. any attorney's fees in collections.
• <03:18:31.200> Of attorneys fees. And I'm an attorney. Of attorneys fees.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• by the fees that people pay for their oversized and overweight permits, and that's shown at the bottom
• that sort of thing, such as the oversized overweight permitting fee.
• section um so it's s supported by permit section um so it's s supported by the<01:57:01.079> fees
• mentioned fees so there are some fees mentioned fees so there are some fees that<01:57:31.159>
• overweight permitting fee yes could you overweight permitting fee yes could you just<01:57:38.360

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee met with New Hampshire DOT Commissioner Bill Cass and Finance Director Danielle Shandra to review the agency’s FY 2026 budget. Cass gave a high-level overview of DOT’s mission, organization, funding structure, and staffing trends, noting the agency has about 650 employees across five divisions. He said the Governor’s recommended FY 2026 budget totals $95.99 million, essentially flat from FY 2025, with funding primarily from Turnpike funds, Highway funds, federal sources, and a small General Fund share for non-highway units. Members asked about how Turnpike and Highway funds are treated in state accounting, and DOT explained that while they are enterprise funds restricted to their purposes, they are considered unrestricted from the statewide perspective and are appropriated through the budget process. A major topic was staffing and budget targets. DOT said its full-time staffing level has remained relatively flat since 2014 even as vehicle miles traveled increased and vacancies rose. To meet budget targets, the department unfunded seven permanent positions and nine temporary full-time positions, and later noted additional reductions in Finance, including the elimination of two full-time positions, reduced print shop equipment purchases, and deeper cuts to overtime, temporary help, equipment, and supplies in FY 2027. DOT also explained that it shifted funding for one unmanned aerial system position from General Funds to Highway Funds, saying the change was workable because the position supports highway-related work and federal-aid-eligible activities. Members asked for clarification on the state transit operating match, and DOT explained that the Legislature had previously provided about $1.8 million annually in General Funds to help local transit agencies meet federal match requirements, but that funding was not included in this budget. DOT said that could reduce the ability to draw down some federal transit funds, though the impact may not be immediate because those funds can be used over several years. The department also described its unmanned aerial system program, saying it has been used for about five years for mapping, survey work, construction oversight, and storm damage assessment, and that it now has about five drones and two full-time positions supporting the program. DOT said it is expanding cross-training so more employees can operate drones without adding positions. No votes or formal actions were taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• AIS account to align with the fee AIS account to align with the fee increase<00:02:47.280> and
• a $5 fee and for fishing it's a $5 fee a $5 fee and for fishing it's a $5 fee and<01:53:23.199><
• I want to fee. I use the river.
• The fee went from $30 to $45. Um, and these fees were on a three-year license.
• increased revenue from that fee increased revenue from that fee increase. increase. increase.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Speaker, I move to suspend the five-day posting rule to permit the Committee on Intergovernmental Affairs
• I move to suspend the five-day posting rule to permit the Committee on Intergovernmental Affairs Subcommittee
• to disclosures and other requirements concerning Virtual Currency Kiosk Transactions, authorizing a fee
• Morales relating to the display of license plates only on the rear of a motor vehicle authorizing a fee
• Craddick: of fees and refunds under Chapter 1006 of the Transportation Code.

Transcript Highlights:

• To the story, permits are one of the most effective policies we have, and permits to purchase can decrease
• Shall-issue permits would remain so that if you needed reciprocity...
• From one state to another, you can still acquire a permit.
• When you take in the state fee, you have a $100 fee, fingerprints for $60, and a class could be anywhere
• They have that concealed carry permit; that's why most people do that.

Transcript Highlights:

• And just to provide some context as to what that is on the fee for service side, a lot of payments are
• So on the fee for service side, you have an up or payment limit.
• And we also used CMS is clinical laboratory fees schedule as well as our own Florida Medicaid, a fee
• The average we fee schedule from 243 biomarkers to 632.
• So in terms of as you can see for a fee for service, there's there's limited paid claims.

Transcript Highlights:

• a<00:32:26.559> limit<00:32:26.799> on<00:32:26.919> the<00:32:27.200> fee
• <00:32:27.519> char person or entity a limit on the fee char person or entity a limit on the
• fee char chared<00:32:28.159> by<00:32:28.240> a<00:32:28.360> certifying<00:32
• c><00:38:29.760> Productions<00:38:30.280> qualify<00:38:30.720> for to weigh fees
• if Productions qualify for to weigh fees if Productions qualify for the<00:38:31.079> tax<00:

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The committees considered a large number of Senate bills, with many measures advanced either unamended or with technical or substantive amendments. Early action included SB 88 and SB 11 SD1, both passed unamended, and SB 562 SD1 and SB 642 SD1, which were passed with amendments reflecting agency testimony. SB 1133 SD1 was amended to remove duplicative county requirements and clarify tax credit carry-forward eligibility, while SB 1569 SD1 on sports wagering was deferred. Later, SB 933 on nonprofit/federal funding support drew strong testimony from nonprofit and health advocates emphasizing the risk of federal funding freezes and the importance of protecting services such as early learning, domestic violence support, housing, and workforce supports; the committee recommended amendments to define eligible organizations, require reporting, and include the Judiciary. SB 934 and SB 935 were also amended, with SB 934 tying mass transit funding to Honolulu project milestones and SB 935 revising retirement-system language to change “fewer than five years” to “five or more years.” The committees then took up additional measures with targeted amendments. SB 1033 was amended to clarify that the bill applies to legal entities, not individuals, though members noted concerns about closely held family corporations and asked that the issue be reflected in the committee report. SB 1166, SB 1249, and SB 1256 were advanced with amendments or committee-report notes reflecting concerns from the Attorney General, Hawaii Cattlemen’s Council, and Hawaii Farmers Union United, respectively. SB 1432 and SB 137, both relating to electric utilities, were amended to require retention of covered employees after mergers or acquisitions and to direct the PUC to consider whether proposed transactions further state policy goals. SB 157 on antitrust was narrowed to focus on coordinator conduct in rental housing markets, SB 252 on invasive species received a defective effective date, and SB 336 on defense of state employers and employees passed unamended. SB 536 on the Hawaii Community Development Authority was deferred to a later hearing, and SB 1064 on medical cannabis was heavily amended to authorize cultivator licenses with limits on canopy size, license counts, physician fees, and a special-fund appropriation for enforcement. In the Ways and Means portion, the committee passed several bills unamended, including SB 19, SB 124, SB 264, SB 345, SB 422, and SB 741 and SB 747 later in the agenda. SB 361 was amended to remove references to the attorney general and delete an appropriation section, SB 438 was amended to redefine buffer zones and landfill-unit language, and SB 441 and SB 494 were amended to blank appropriations and, in SB 494, assign charter-school audit responsibility to the state auditor. SB 659 was substantially amended to promote local procurement, including county-level geographic preferences and higher thresholds for locally sourced purchases, and SB 732 was amended to adjust film tax credit provisions, including the streaming-platform definition and sunset-related language. SB 819 was amended to replace references to “educators” with “teachers.” Throughout, most measures were adopted without recorded opposition, though several members noted reservations on particular bills.

Transcript Highlights:

• it the project um permitted but it the permitting<00:50:51.200> process<00:50:51.520> as
• c> um specifically state level permitting um specifically state level permitting um in<00:54:43.440
• when you want to start a permitting when you want to start a permitting project<00:54:48.880>
• <00:57:53.799> and their field to to go in for a fee and their field to to go in for a fee
• <00:58:32.599> hire model where you could for a fee hire model where you could for a fee hire

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• > overlays with our Wetlands permits and overlays with our Wetlands permits and there<00:28:05.799>
• permits so if you need a an air permit permits so if you need a an air permit under<01:03:40.200
• Our fees cover about half of our operating budget, and this includes air permit fees from our regulated
• stationary sources, as well as fees, and we get a small amount of mobile source fees.
• Our fees cover about half of our operating budget, and this includes air permit fees from our regulated

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Independent taxable entities and are subject to taxes and fees.
• States can impose these fees, and that's exactly...
• States can impose these fees, and that's exactly what this bill does.
• This bill imposes an 8% fee on detention.
• That's going to cost so much in legal fees and time and effort.

Keywords: 1146, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Additionally, our company pays numerous permit fees and property taxes to government agencies, and rents
• Our offices had 496 state permits in 2010. We now have 476 permits.
• > per 476 permits.
• You get a permit per structure.
• Chair, I could send them the permit and make sure that they paid their permit fee every year.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It is already common practice for research entities to be charged a fee.
• It is already common practice for research entities to be charged a fee.
• You have to get a second permit to sell these commonly stolen items.
• So we have a permit that you have to pull.
• it’s hard for business owners to keep up with them, if you don’t get a permit, you have committed a

Summary: The Assembly met after a quorum call, prayer, and pledge, with members observing a moment of silence for the Minnesota tragedy mentioned by the Speaker. The chamber then moved quickly through a large daily file, taking up many Senate amendments and third-reading measures, with most bills passing by wide margins or unanimously. Early procedural actions included returning AB 1308 to the Senate, rescinding action on SB 863, and later taking up several resolutions and bills on concurrence and third reading. Among the main policy items, members adopted AJR 8 on temporary protected status after debate over immigration policy, and AJR 19 urging opposition to dismantling the U.S. Department of Education. The Assembly also adopted ACR 112 recognizing September as Deaf Awareness Month, with several members speaking in support of the deaf community and accessibility. Other notable measures included bills on water reclamation and Colorado River Aqueduct maintenance (AB 580), telehealth (AB 688), housing approvals and ADU enforcement/cleanup (AB 920, SB 9, SB 543), pension and retirement rules (SB 301), volunteer fire department tax exemptions (SB 87), dementia training for home care aides (SB 412), and a San Francisco public-safety measure on stolen goods resale (SB 276), which drew opposition over permitting and criminalization concerns. The Assembly also passed or concurred in a number of Senate bills dealing with local government finance and infrastructure, public contracts, the Delta, fairgrounds compensation, and San Francisco liquor licenses, as well as AJR 3 on Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid. Most measures were approved on roll-call votes with few no votes; SB 227 and SB 276 were urgency measures and received the required two-thirds support. The consent calendar was adopted unanimously, and the day concluded with several adjournment-in-memory tributes, including remembrances of former Assembly staffer Lawrence Merman, Jeff Brady, Fran Urcini, and Alejandro Luna, before the House adjourned until the next morning.

Transcript Highlights:

• spring's more, um, More wildlife focus towards that department, changes the name, um, adjust license fees
• A good example of what that division is working to do is it's going to separate the permitting and then
• the regulation of those permits.
• Of that permit.
• What this new division will do is it will keep the permitting in the Air Quality Bureau, and then the

Transcript Highlights:

• Conversions must comply with local permitting requirements and meet applicable building, health, and
• prohibition of fee impositions on these conversions.
• related to submission, review, and approval of the applications or permits or conversions.
• to submission, review, or approval of applications or permits associated with these conversions.
• On all offshore federal permitting for new wind projects.

Summary: The Senate took up and passed Senate Bill 945, which concerns political shareholder proposals by insurers and insurance holding companies. Senator Hughes argued the bill would protect Texas-based insurers from activist shareholder pressure, especially proposals aimed at limiting insurance coverage for oil and gas companies for ESG or political reasons. The motion to suspend the regular order was adopted over objection, and SB 945 passed to engrossment on a 20-10 vote with one present not voting. The chamber also passed Senate Bill 1117, allowing any Texas-licensed dentist to administer botulinum toxin in oral or maxillofacial regions for aesthetic purposes, and House Joint Resolution 98, renewing Texas’s application for an Article 5 Convention of States to propose amendments on fiscal restraints, federal power limits, and term limits. Both measures advanced after debate and roll-call votes; SB 1117 passed unanimously after suspension of the three-day rule, and H.J.R. 98 was adopted on a 17-14 vote. Members then approved several other measures, including the committee substitute for House Bill 142 on HHSC’s Office of Inspector General and Medicaid overpayment recovery, Senate Bill 2373 on AI-enabled financial fraud and deepfake/phishing schemes, Senate Bill 2221 on fraudulent UCC financing statements, and Senate Bill 2681 on the basis for third-party voter-registration challenges. The Senate also adopted a resolution authorizing a Texas Life Monument replica at the Capitol complex, and passed S.J.R. 59 creating funds for Texas State Technical College capital needs. The body debated and passed Senate Bill 946, which would bar credit discrimination against organizations based on social, political, religious, or similar value-based considerations and require credit decisions to rest on creditworthiness. Senators raised concerns that the bill could create a special protected class for non-human entities or conflict with existing state policies, but the bill advanced to engrossment on a 20-11 vote. The Senate also passed Senate Bill 2477 to ease office-to-residential conversions in large cities after adopting an amendment negotiated with municipal stakeholders, and began consideration of Senate Bill 715 on ERCOT reliability requirements for generators, including existing generation, with extensive debate over impacts on renewables, power purchase agreements, and grid reliability.

Transcript Highlights:

• Fees can often take up a significant amount of funding from the funds.
• The amount of fees will depend on what sector the manager is in.
• We are sensitive to fees. Again, our target is that net return. we know fees reduce that.
• Madam Chair, if I could go back to fees, one more comment.
• One of the ways we need to mitigate fees is through internal management.

Transcript Highlights:

• The bill establishes the biennial fee at $50 while the annual fee remains $25.
• The bill sets biennial fees at $1,000 while the annual fee remains $500 for limited liability partnerships
• The bill establishes the biennial fee at $50 while the annual fee remains $25.
• Sets biennial fees at $1,000 while the annual fee remains $500 for limited liability partnerships.
• The bill deletes the prohibition precluding fee increases for license and stamp fees based on increases

Keywords: 994, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We came back and passed legislation eliminating fees for all state documents for individuals who were
• So it's not that old fee-for-service model.
• Are you speaking to the financial assurance when you're permitted? Right.
• As permits are renewed or changed, then we're always looking at what's on site.
• The requirements of the statute say that the registrant has to pay a fee, and the amount of the fee was

Keywords: 1204, all

Summary: The committee first heard a presentation on homelessness in Arkansas, with speakers from law enforcement, behavioral health, homeless service providers, and policy groups. Presenters argued that Arkansas should focus more on treatment, accountability, better data, and stronger coordination among providers, and they highlighted the Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic (CCBHC) model as a way to expand Medicaid-reimbursed crisis, mental health, substance use, jail-based, and homeless outreach services. Testimony emphasized that Arkansas has relatively low overall homelessness numbers but a significant unsheltered population with serious mental illness or substance use disorders, and several members asked about sex offender tracking, provider accountability, statewide coordination, and whether the state could apply for federal funding or a statewide continuum of care arrangement. Speakers also discussed workforce supports, family homelessness, and the need for more transparent reporting and outcomes-based funding. The committee then reviewed several Department of Energy and Department of Health/Board of Nursing rules. DEQ sought to raise the threshold for commission review of certain post-closure cleanup expenditures from $50,000 to $2 million to match Act 791 of 2025, and members asked about financial assurance and oversight; the rule was reviewed without objection. The Board of Nursing presented multiple rule changes implementing recent acts, including adding fees for dialysis patient care technician registration, updating contact-information requirements, clarifying APRN authority to sign death certificates and prescribe certain durable medical equipment, implementing delegation of certain nursing tasks to unlicensed workers, adding a declaratory-order process, revising certified medication assistant training and insulin-injection authority, and conforming independent-practice rules for clinical nurse specialists. Each nursing rule was reviewed without objection after brief questions. In closing remarks, Senator Irvin announced that UAMS had completed its National Cancer Institute designation submission, calling it an important step for the state. The committee then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• The circumstances with regard to permitting, are you aware generally of what kind of permitting is required
• just whatever the state permitting might be required.
• If they want to reduce their load at any point in time by more than 20%, they must pay a reduction fee
• , the reduction fees, the reduction fees.
• Guarantees, the collateral payments, the termination fees, the reduction fees, all of those things, the

Keywords: 959, house, all