Transcript Highlights:

• c> I'm happy to take uh all of your I'm happy to take uh all of your questions<00:04:25.080><c> at</c
• formal method of pedagogy is that formal method of pedagogy there's<00:21:58.679><c> going</c><00:21
• of the reading methods comes to some of the reading methods that<00:28:57.159><c> were</c><00:28:57.399
• </c><00:29:29.159><c> of</c> Trend toward subjective methods of Trend toward subjective methods of evaluation
• </c> for taking my question are you aware of for taking my question are you aware of the<01:20:39.120

Summary: The committee heard testimony on HB 129, which would redefine “evidence-based” in public education to require objective, science-based evidence for pedagogical methods. The prime sponsor said the bill is a verbatim reintroduction from the prior session and argued that current federal definitions are too vague, allowing subjective surveys and other weak evidence to justify teaching methods. He said the bill is limited to pedagogy, not subject matter, and is intended to improve student outcomes, reduce fad-driven practices, and potentially save money by limiting unnecessary retraining and new materials. Members asked repeatedly about the bill’s scope, including whether it would affect classroom teachers, curriculum content, and existing instructional approaches such as phonics versus whole language or queuing. The sponsor said the bill applies to state and local education bodies and educator training policies, not individual teachers in their classrooms, and that teachers would retain flexibility. He also said standardized testing could be part of a scientific study but is not itself a study, and that textbook providers could be asked to furnish the studies supporting instructional guidance included in their materials. Several members raised concerns about the fiscal note and possible cost shifts to local districts and taxpayers. The sponsor disputed the idea that the bill would necessarily create major new costs or require additional staff, saying any costs would likely be limited and that the department is already applying federal evidence-based rules. He also said if some current methods are not science-based, updating them would be justified even if there were some initial expense. No vote or final action was taken in the portion of the meeting provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• That is, the worldwide method takes The worldwide method takes into consideration all the corporation's
• This method requires a corporation to generally report the income of all of its domestic This method
• Both methods take into consideration that there are $25 million of California sales.
• So you're going to take an average of that, so you're going to have about 85% of the revenue is going
• So you're going to take an average of that, so you're going to have about 85% of the revenue is going

Summary: The joint informational hearing examined California’s taxation of multinational corporations, especially the Water’s Edge election versus worldwide combined reporting. Chairs opened by framing the issue as a review of whether current rules fairly and sufficiently tax foreign subsidiary income, given profit shifting concerns, budget pressures, and the long history since Water’s Edge was adopted in the 1980s. The first panel from the Legislative Analyst’s Office and Franchise Tax Board explained the mechanics of unitary taxation, apportionment, and the Water’s Edge election, and provided filing data showing Water’s Edge filers are a small share of returns but account for a large share of corporate tax liability. FTB witnesses said the agency already administers both methods and could handle a shift to mandatory worldwide reporting with education and outreach, though revenue estimates are difficult because foreign affiliate information is not directly available. Committee members asked about foreign government pushback, administrative burden, industries with more profit shifting, revenue uncertainty, and whether companies would leave California. LAO and FTB witnesses said pushback from foreign governments was plausible, but they did not expect major business flight because California’s tax is largely based on sales rather than physical presence. They also said worldwide reporting could reduce profit shifting but might increase revenue volatility and litigation risk. A second panel of academic and tax policy witnesses argued that Water’s Edge is a loophole that rewards aggressive tax planning, that worldwide combined reporting would better capture income tied to California, and that modern federal and international rules such as NCTI/GILTI, CAMT, and Pillar Two reduce compliance concerns and make a return to worldwide reporting more feasible. They also said California’s current system can create selection effects and may under-tax large multinationals. In the next panel, a California Budget and Policy Center witness urged eliminating the Water’s Edge election, calling it a costly loophole that benefits large global corporations over smaller domestic businesses and deprives the state of billions in revenue that could support health care and other services. A Silicon Valley Leadership Group witness gave historical context for why Water’s Edge was adopted and began outlining concerns about compliance, double taxation, and the risk of overreaching beyond income truly connected to California. No bill was voted on or advanced; the hearing was informational only, with members using the testimony to weigh the policy trade-offs and possible transition periods if the Legislature were to change the current rules.

Transcript Highlights:

• This method requires a corporation to generally report the income of all of its domestic...
• This method requires a corporation to generally report the income of all of its domestic subsidiaries
• Both methods take into consideration that there are $25 million of California sales.
• So you're going to take an average of that, so you're going to have about 85% of the revenue is going
• But on the other hand, it does lead to the possibility of distortion if California is taking a kind of

Transcript Highlights:

• This method requires a corporation to generally report the income of all of its domestic This method
• Both methods take into consideration that there are $25 million of California sales.
• So you're going to take an average of that, so you're going to have about 85% of the revenue is going
• So you're going to take an average of that, so you're going to have about 85% of the revenue is going
• But on the other hand, it does lead to the possibility of distortion if California is taking a kind of

Summary: The joint informational hearing focused on California’s taxation of foreign subsidiaries of U.S. corporations, especially the state’s water’s-edge election versus worldwide combined reporting. Committee members and witnesses discussed how unitary taxation and sales-factor apportionment work, why multinational corporations are a small share of filers but a large share of tax liability, and how foreign income, profit shifting, and double taxation concerns affect policy choices. The Franchise Tax Board explained current filing rules, the seven-year water’s-edge election, and recent filing statistics showing about 21,562 water’s-edge returns in 2023, roughly 6% of C corporation filers but about half of corporate tax liability. The Legislative Analyst’s Office and FTB staff emphasized that revenue effects from eliminating water’s edge are uncertain because foreign affiliate income is not directly observable, and they noted possible revenue volatility and administrative complexity. Several committee members asked about foreign government pushback, the burden on FTB, whether certain industries are more likely to shift profits, and whether companies would leave California; witnesses generally said there was no strong evidence that firms would exit the state because tax liability is driven mainly by California sales. They also discussed how California already administers both methods, how the election can be advantageous or disadvantageous depending on a firm’s facts, and how federal reforms like GILTI/NCTI, CAMT, and OECD Pillar Two may affect the issue. The second panel presented sharply contrasting views. One professor and a tax policy advocate argued that water’s edge creates unfairness, encourages profit shifting, and leaves California with billions in lost revenue, while a Tax Foundation witness argued that mandatory worldwide reporting would tax the wrong income, create double taxation and litigation risk, and impose heavy compliance burdens, especially for foreign-based multinationals. A later panel from the California Budget and Policy Center supported closing the “water’s-edge loophole,” saying it would raise needed revenue for public services and level the playing field between large multinationals and smaller domestic businesses. No vote or formal action was taken; the hearing was informational only.

Transcript Highlights:

• So what we're doing in this bill is sort of taking the required responsibility of jury duty and sort
• Every method invites litigation, leading to years of legal challenges, delays, and costs.
• Bache, what type of death method would you choose? Mr. Chair, not for yourself, just the questions.
• I mean, this bill is talking about another method of executing someone after the person is convicted
• So taking the deposition of a person who hasn't even worked on a case is a waste of everyone's time and

Committee: House House Judiciary Committee of Reference

Summary: The committee first took up SB 1655, which would have allowed qualified jurors to substitute temporary election work for jury service if summoned 90 to 120 days before an election. The Arizona Association of Counties opposed the bill, saying the timing would create major planning problems for county jury commissioners and courts, and that a better approach would be to excuse jury service only when election work overlaps the summons period. Members raised concerns about jury shortages, training, and whether the bill mixed two very different civic duties. The motion for a due pass recommendation failed on a 4-5 vote. The committee then heard SB 1751 and SCR 1049, identical measures to expand Arizona’s execution methods to include firing squad and lethal gas, with the choice left to the person sentenced to death. Senator Payne argued the change was needed because Arizona has had repeated problems with hangings, gas chambers, and lethal injection, and said the firing squad option would be more reliable. Opponents, including a death penalty attorney and a corrections chaplain/former officer, argued the bill would increase suffering, litigation, costs, and trauma for corrections staff, and that the state should instead improve existing lethal injection procedures or reconsider the death penalty itself. After debate, both measures received due pass recommendations, with several members explaining split or reluctant votes. The committee next considered a strike-everything amendment to SB 1317 that would appropriate opioid settlement remediation funds for county coordinated reentry planning services and a statewide database. Supporters from the Arizona Sheriffs’ Association and county sheriffs said the county jail reentry programs have reduced recidivism, helped people find housing and work, and should be expanded to more counties, with the database needed to track outcomes. Members asked about data, funding levels, and whether the opioid settlement money would be sufficient, but generally supported the concept. The strike-everything amendment was adopted, and SB 1317 as amended received a due pass recommendation on a 9-0 vote. Finally, the committee heard SB 1656, which would change court procedures for appointing professional personnel in family court cases. A court representative’s written concerns were read into the record, arguing the bill duplicated existing practice, would add unnecessary depositions and recording requirements, could raise costs, and included provisions that were already available under current law. With no bill sponsor or outside speakers present to address those concerns, members expressed uncertainty and the bill failed to receive a due pass recommendation on a 3-6 vote. The meeting ended with closing remarks thanking members and staff for the session.

Transcript Highlights:

• This method requires a corporation to generally report the income of all of its domestic, This method
• Both methods take into consideration that there are $25 million of California sales.
• So you're going to take an average of that, so you're going to have about 85% of the revenue is going
• So you're going to take an average of that, so you're going to have about 85% of the revenue is going
• But on the other hand, it does lead to the possibility of distortion if California is taking a kind of

Summary: The joint informational hearing examined California’s taxation of multinational corporations, especially the state’s water’s-edge election versus worldwide combined reporting. The LAO and Franchise Tax Board explained the basic mechanics of unitary taxation, apportionment, and how water’s-edge generally excludes most foreign subsidiaries while worldwide reporting includes the full unitary group. FTB officials said water’s-edge filers are a small share of corporate filers but account for a large share of tax liability, and they described filing trends, industry mix, and the administrative steps needed to administer either system. Members and witnesses debated the policy trade-offs. Supporters of moving away from water’s-edge argued that it enables profit shifting, especially for large multinational and IP-heavy firms, and that eliminating it could raise significant revenue and improve fairness for smaller domestic businesses. They cited estimates of billions in potential revenue and said California already has the audit and reporting infrastructure to handle worldwide reporting, though some transition time would be needed. Opponents argued that worldwide reporting would tax foreign activity unrelated to California, create double taxation, increase compliance burdens and litigation, and could be difficult for foreign-based multinationals to document. They also warned that some of the revenue estimates are highly uncertain because foreign affiliate income is not directly observable. Committee members asked about foreign government pushback, the risk of companies leaving California, the effect on intellectual property shifting, and whether federal or Supreme Court action could block a change. Witnesses generally said major firms would be unlikely to leave because California taxes sales rather than physical presence, but some costs could be passed on to consumers. The panel also discussed alternatives such as conforming to federal international tax rules like NCTI/GILTI and adding anti-abuse rules. No vote or bill action was taken; the hearing was informational only.

Transcript Highlights:

• prompting method of communication for individuals with apraxia of speech or autism.
• </c><00:30:11.200><c> of</c> utilize speech as a method of utilize speech as a method of communication
• </c><00:30:59.600><c> of</c> were unable to use this meth method of were unable to use this meth method
• method of known as rapid prompting method of communication<00:31:46.080><c> for</c><00:31:46.399><c>
• </c> alternative methods of communication. alternative methods of communication.

Transcript Highlights:

• As a preview of coming attractions on the possible executive session list, we will not be taking action
• An alternative test method is one that provides information of equivalent or better scientific quality
• I believe consumers are allowed to take out eight loans a year under this particular way of borrowing
• methods to be used in the development of new drugs if superior methods were proven to exist.
• would require the use of superior testing methods in the development of life-saving drugs when they

Bills: HB2361 , HB2542 , HB2629 , HB2394 , HB2274 , HB1078 , HB2294

Committee: House Consumer Protection & Business

Keywords: small loans, consumer protection, financial regulation, lending limits, credit access, animal testing, alternatives, ethical research, animal welfare, scientific methods, infrastructure, protection, safety, security, state regulations, public safety, insurance fraud, law enforcement, crime, penalties

Transcript Highlights:

• methods, which is the top half of the slide, and again, this is all 2024 FTC data.
• loss in terms of aggregate dollars results from scams using gift cards as the method of payment.
• In terms of contact methods, In terms of contact methods, social media, text messages, phone calls, and
• requests for financial support or for payment methods or that sort of thing.
• So I'll take that one, because I deal with this sort of thing on.

Committee: House Consumer Protection & Business

Transcript Highlights:

• I don't want to take a lot of time, but I do want to kind of lay out the severity of this problem.
• I don't want to take a lot of time, but I do want to kind of lay out the severity of this problem.
• a lot of time but I do want to kind of lay out the severity of this problem and to take a lot of time
• Many are folks who are taking on this endeavor as a second career or on top of their family responsibilities
• students and not a large number of students who are excited to be able to take expanded light rail access

Bills: HB2092 , HB2114 , HB2172 , HB2251 , HB2374 , HB2410 , HB2552 , HB2588 , HB2718 , HB2722 , HB2727

Committee: House Transportation

Keywords: passenger rail, transportation, committee, advisory, infrastructure, defective license plates, vehicle registration, Department of Licensing, state regulations, route jurisdiction, abandonment, local governance, climate change, commitment act, emission reductions, sustainability, environmental policy, electric bicycles, electric motorcycles, regulation

Transcript Highlights:

• citizens of Payson to take any action to try to put it on a ballot and get a referendum to approve that
• You take blood... ...for example, that just got flooded out recently as a result of a major burn up there
• But if the legislature here in Arizona takes this by the horn and helps protect the rights of the people
• Now, we'll take this one a step further because when you have abuses of things like the emergency clause
• some sort, or, you know, they go in and they take enough, or there's somebody hits a teller or any of

Bills: HB2070 , HB2129 , HB2227 , HB2439 , HB2667 , HB2745 , HB2773 , HB2825 , HB2873 , HB2876 , HCR2005 , HCR2044 , SB1002 , SB1036 , SB1054 , SB1271 , SB1432 , SB1435 , SB1437 , SB1439 , SCR1022 , SCR1031 , SCR1033

Committees: Senate Government , Senate Senate Government Committee of Reference

Keywords: flood relief, Gila County, emergency funding, public safety, environmental cleanup, municipal libraries, annual reporting, state legislation, transparency, government accountability, chiropractic, chiropractor, chiropractic board, state board of chiropractic examiners, license discipline, unprofessional conduct, patient records, record retention, HIPAA, conflict of interest

Transcript Highlights:

• Obviously, we'll take a significant amount of stakeholder input and thoughts on how best to do this.
• WCLA takes a position of other on SB 6290 at this time.
• All right, so we're going to take a brief recess for purposes of caucus.
• this bill is doing is removing some of those. ...in terms of exposure.
• We should use some of that money to do that, and I think we need to look at rather than just taking all

Bills: SB6290 , SB6282 , SB5379 , SB6197 , SB6158 , SB6302 , SB5882 , SB6303 , SB6180 , SB6195 , SB6196 , SB6204 , SB6287

Committee: Senate Labor & Commerce

Keywords: liquor regulation, cannabis board, reorganization, state agency, governance, apprenticeship, behavioral health, construction trades, workforce training, wellness, interest arbitration, parks and recreation, public employees, labor relations, employee rights, SB 6197, plumbing contractor, plumber, contractor licensing, licensing enforcement

Transcript Highlights:

• So the proposed substitute does take into account many of, does take into account that as families age
• The worker is responsible for paying the cost of the recording, and the worker must take reasonable steps
• them literally taking a day off in order to be here because of how important this piece of legislation
• Number two... ...in orange vests, many of them literally taking a day off in order to be here because
• Not only does this take an enormous amount of time, but it results in millions of plastic tags ending

Bills: SB6053 , SB6134 , SB6147 , SB6106 , SB6045 , SB6135 , SB6128 , SB6282 , SB6068 , SB6303 , SB6290

Committee: Senate Labor & Commerce

Keywords: SB 6053, domestic workers, domestic worker rights, labor protections, minimum wage, overtime, private household employment, nanny, home care worker, personal care provider, housekeeper, cleaner, cook, gardener, household manager, wage theft, retaliation, anti-discrimination, immigration status, privacy rights

Transcript Highlights:

• SB 2692 would take the signatures, as you just heard, the threshold to appeal rates from 10% of OCL customers
• One customer can cause the entire utility system to bear the cost of that appeal, and we absolutely take
• On the flip side of this, I think across the state of Texas, and part of the messaging for all of us
• Are you seeing any type of industrial use of protests in any other areas of the state.
• What parts of the state of Texas are those 9 coming from?

Bills: HB3115 , HB5671 , HB5693 , SB790 , SB1055 , SB1302 , SB1504 , SB1625 , SB1663 , SB2692

Committee: House Natural Resources

Keywords: Cow Creek Groundwater Conservation District, groundwater, water wells, domestic well, livestock well, exempt well, metering device, well meter, groundwater conservation district, Special District Local Laws Code, Water Code, Section 36.117, groundwater regulation, water rights, aquifer management, municipal utility, retail public utility, groundwater export, water supply contract, election

Summary: The Committee on Natural Resources heard testimony on a series of water, utility, and groundwater-related bills. Early items included HB 5693, which would let Drainage District 7 hold board elections in November of odd-numbered years when a countywide election is occurring, and HB 5671, which would update the Johnson County Special Utility District by clarifying board eligibility, allowing bond issuance, and removing redundant TCEQ approval language to reduce costs and delays. Both bills were left pending after brief testimony from bill sponsors and local witnesses. The committee also heard SB 1504, which would update the Gulf Coast Authority to allow video-conference participation in meetings, and SB 1302, aimed at closing a TCEQ permitting loophole that allowed dischargers with prior denials or suspensions to reapply through an automated process without meaningful review. SB 2692 drew substantial discussion: it would change the signature threshold for outside-city-limits customers appealing municipal utility rates to the PUC by customer class. Valero supported the bill as a way to avoid requiring large-volume users to gather signatures from unrelated residential customers, while the City of Corpus Christi opposed it, arguing that lowering the threshold to one customer could trigger expensive appeals costing $500,000 to $1 million. A PUC witness said such cases are increasing and that the agency would need additional staff under the fiscal note. SB 790, creating a simplified PUC complaint process for small water and wastewater billing disputes, and SB 1663, expanding TCEQ notice requirements for nearby residents when groundwater contamination is discovered, were also heard and left pending. Additional bills included HB 3115, clarifying that the Cow Creek Groundwater Conservation District cannot require meters on exempt domestic or livestock wells; SB 1055, raising the Southeast Texas Groundwater Conservation District’s production fee cap from 1 cent to 7 cents per 1,000 gallons; and SB 1625, requiring private water and wastewater utilities to report cybersecurity incidents to TCEQ and DIR. The committee then took up pending business and adopted a substitute for SB 7, which made several changes to water fund use, eminent domain coordination, and EDAP-related provisions, and voted 10-0 to report it favorably. The committee also adopted a substitute for HB 2347, a county water conservation program bill, and reported it favorably 9-1. HB 5675 and SB 2476 were each reported favorably 10-0. The meeting concluded with adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• The City of Mustang Ridge or the City of Creedmoor, as relevant, consented to each of the annexations
• No, it just takes the ability of the municipality... ...to no longer put that provision in the agreement
• of it.
• One of the key functions of these Municipal Utility Districts...
• Those take depending on the size of the district, can take anywhere from three to maybe six months to

Bills: HB447 , HB897 , HB993 , HB2673 , HB3671 , HB3680 , HB3897 , HB4506 , HB4753 , HB4812 , HB4894 , HB5148 , HB5437 , HB5650 , HB5652 , HB5654 , HB5656 , HB5661 , HB5665

Committee: House Land & Resource Management

Keywords: traffic impact studies, municipal utility district, bonds, road projects, eminent domain, HB 897, Texas land sale, state property, Austin real estate, Travis County, General Land Office, Texas State Library and Archives Commission, HHSC, Health and Human Services Commission, state records facility, archives building, library funding, capital improvements, lease of state land, public land disposition

Transcript Highlights:

• So if you take an acre of land, that's 44,000 burials per acre of land.
• I mean, we've had a lot of bills in here trying to take away local control. Sure.
• No rights have been taken away of the city, or this would not take away rights of the city.
• Everything happened to take prime real estate right in the middle of there to put a cemetery.
• Happy to take any questions you have. And follow Chapter 82 of the Uniform Property Code.

Bills: HB447 , HB897 , HB993 , HB2673 , HB3671 , HB3680 , HB3897 , HB4506 , HB4753 , HB4812 , HB4894 , HB5148 , HB5437 , HB5650 , HB5652 , HB5654 , HB5656 , HB5661 , HB5665

Committee: House Land & Resource Management

Keywords: traffic impact studies, municipal utility district, bonds, road projects, eminent domain, HB 897, Texas land sale, state property, Austin real estate, Travis County, General Land Office, Texas State Library and Archives Commission, HHSC, Health and Human Services Commission, state records facility, archives building, library funding, capital improvements, lease of state land, public land disposition

Transcript Highlights:

• This method requires a corporation to generally report the income of all of its domestic This method
• Both methods take into consideration that there are $25 million of California sales.
• So you're going to take an average of that, so you're going to have about 85% of the revenue is going
• So you're going to take an average of that, so you're going to have about 85% of the revenue is going
• But on the other hand, it does lead to the possibility of distortion if California is taking a kind of

Transcript Highlights:

• I'll take a point of personal privilege and conduct a business from the chair. representative Mitch Whitaker
• </c><00:01:38.640><c> privilege</c> I'll take a point of personal privilege I'll take a point of personal
• of Manufacturers.
• of of odor in have a certain amount of of odor in comparison<00:04:48.560><c> to</c> comparison to comparison
• applicable data collection method applicable data collection method methods<00:08:59.680><c> for</c>

Summary: The Natural Resources and Energy Committee held its first meeting of the 2025 session, welcomed several new members, and confirmed a quorum. The committee first took up House Bill 137 on air quality monitoring. The sponsor and committee substitute were presented as requiring scientifically defensible, quality-assured data for air pollution enforcement, with the sponsor saying citizen complaints could still prompt agency inspections. A Kentucky Resources Council attorney testified in opposition, arguing the bill could limit low-cost community monitoring, conflict with the Clean Air Act’s credible evidence provisions, and undermine community efforts to identify pollution hotspots. After discussion, the committee adopted the substitute and passed HB 137 with favorable expression. The committee then considered House Bill 196, dealing with mining emergency technicians. The sponsor said the bill responds to the decline in coal mining and smaller mine operations, and that it was developed with the Energy and Environment Cabinet and was not opposed by the Kentucky Coal Association or the UMWA. The bill would require one medic for mines with 10 or fewer miners, two for larger operations up to 50, and one additional medic for each additional 50 miners, with the sponsor saying the change would help small mines avoid shutting down shifts when a medic is unavailable. A question about the ratio above 50 was answered by noting the language came from the cabinet and was not being changed. The committee then passed HB 196 with favorable expression. At the close of the meeting, the chair reminded members that the committee would continue using the 24-hour rule for amendments and committee substitutes and that agendas would generally be sent out the day before meetings.

Transcript Highlights:

• As a preview of coming attractions on the possible executive session list, we will not be taking action
• An alternative test method is one that provides information of equivalent or better scientific quality
• I believe consumers are allowed to take out eight loans a year under this particular way of borrowing
• methods to be used in the development of new drugs if superior methods were proven to exist.
• require the use of superior testing methods in the development of life-saving drugs when they are available

Summary: The committee held public hearings on several bills. House Bill 2542 would require drug developers to use validated non-animal testing methods when available, unless federal regulators request animal testing. The sponsor said the bill builds on prior Washington action on cosmetics testing and is intended to move toward more humane and modern science. Supporters, including students, animal welfare advocates, and biotech-related witnesses, argued that animal tests often fail to predict human outcomes and that alternatives are more accurate. A biotech industry representative said animal testing is still necessary for some research and warned the bill could deter local innovation, but said the industry was open to amendments. The sponsor said she was open to discussing changes to the enforcement mechanism. No vote was taken on the bill during the hearing. House Bill 2629 would address theft and vandalism of critical communications infrastructure, including copper and fiber lines. The bill would ban cash payments for nonferrous metal transactions, require electronic or stored-value payment methods, impose civil penalties for stolen copper used in telecommunications cable, and create a new Class C felony for destruction of critical communications infrastructure. The sponsor and industry witnesses described repeated outages affecting 911, hospitals, schools, and first responders, and said Washington has a high rate of these incidents. Recycling industry representatives supported the bill after negotiations, but a prosecutor and some others said the bill should focus more on law enforcement tools such as searchable transaction databases and holding periods rather than new penalties. No final action was taken in the hearing. House Bill 2394 would expand the Insurance Commissioner’s insurance fraud program and create a Class B felony for insurance fraud, including fraudulent billing, misrepresentation of repair costs, and misuse of coding systems. The bill also broadens who can be considered a victim for restitution and gives the commissioner additional investigative tools, while the substitute removed a reporting duty for certified public accountants. The sponsor and the Insurance Commissioner’s office said the measure responds to more sophisticated, technology-driven fraud schemes that harm both insurers and consumers. Insurance industry and fraud bureau witnesses supported the bill as a consumer protection measure. No vote was taken. House Bill 2361 would raise the maximum principal amount for small loans from $700 to $1,200, with annual inflation adjustments, while keeping the existing 30% of monthly income cap and other safeguards. The sponsor said the change would better reflect emergency costs and help borrowers avoid illegal lenders. DFI raised implementation questions about inflation adjustments and publication requirements, and opponents from AARP, SEIU 775, poverty advocates, and consumer attorneys argued the bill would increase debt traps and fees for low-income borrowers and older adults. MoneyTree supported the bill, saying the current cap is outdated and that the product remains a flat-fee, regulated credit option with existing consumer protections. The hearing also included testimony on House Bill 2294, which would prohibit negative use restrictions on real property that block grocery stores or pharmacies; staff described a proposed amendment adding notice and changing enforcement, and the committee then moved the bill out with a due pass recommendation.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> used to have that data right in front of used to have that data right in front of me,<00:05:03.680
• Of go together.
• we could be taking those monies and put back into the classrooms. >> Correct. >> Is that kind of that's
• the goal of the bill?
• </c> &gt;&gt; that's the goal of the bill? &gt;&gt; that's the goal of the bill?

Bills: HB8 , HB380 , HB8 , HB380

Committee: Senate Education Policy

Keywords: tobacco regulation, vaping, sales restrictions, youth protection, tobacco compliance, public health, education programs, electronic nicotine delivery systems, human cloning, criminal penalties, embryo, genetic modification, bioethics, campus chaplain, chaplain, school chaplain, volunteer, public K-12 schools, public schools, public charter schools