Transcript Highlights:

• Racing Commission.
• Boards and Commission, they do a total of 111 licensees.
• Boards and commissions has a 23 vacancy rate.
• The Racing Commission, I think, is coming around behind us. Okay.
• But also if... the racing commission had $1.5 million.

Committee: House House Appropriations & Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• Representative Gilmore." difference between a study commission difference between a study commission
• But with a..." committee or the commission. Um just committee or the commission.
• </c><01:04:20.720><c> I</c> to study commissions. We know that. I to study commissions.
• So, while we might paint with a broad brush that commissions don't work, we don't want commissions.
• </c> don't work, we don't want commissions. don't work, we don't want commissions.

Committee: House Election Law

Transcript Highlights:

• Welcome to all who are joining today's public meeting of the special commission on xylazine, which is
• Commission staff will facilitate the presentations and click through the slides.
• Any questions before I pass it off to commission staff?
• I get a lot of help from commission members and staff.
• Your hard work on this commission is making this report come to fruition.

Summary: The special commission on xylazine met virtually to review and discuss the first draft of its final report. Chair Mindy Domb opened the meeting, confirmed quorum, and the commission approved the minutes from its December 11 public meeting. Staff then walked commissioners through the proposed report structure, including background on xylazine as both an FDA-approved veterinary drug and an illicit drug supply contaminant, as well as appendices for public meeting materials and public resources. The commission discussed findings and recommendations for several working groups. For oversight and enforcement, members focused on licit versus illicit sources of xylazine, noting that the illicit supply is typically obtained through online vendors rather than diverted from veterinary use. Recommendations included better storage and reporting practices in authorized settings, review of manufacturing and distribution information, and focusing enforcement on fentanyl trafficking and large-scale xylazine importation rather than personal possession. Commissioners also discussed whether xylazine should remain in Schedule 6 or be subject to additional penalties, and several members emphasized the need for coordination, information-sharing, and possibly a DPH task force or advisory body to monitor emerging drug threats. For outreach and treatment, staff summarized strong existing programs such as drug checking, wound care education, naloxone distribution, mobile and low-threshold care, and self-directed wound kits, while noting gaps including the lack of an FDA-approved reversal agent for xylazine, difficulty distinguishing xylazine from other exposures, and uneven access by geography, insurance, and audience. Commissioners stressed the need for provider education, including physicians, nurses, pharmacists, family support networks, and first responders, and for clear guidance on wound care and when more intensive treatment is needed. The education and training section identified first responders, clinicians, non-clinicians, and people who use drugs and their families as key audiences for tailored, stigma-free materials, with emphasis on real-time, centralized data, naloxone and breathing support, recognition of overdose versus xylazine exposure, and adapting materials as the drug supply changes. The meeting ended with discussion of next steps: staff will circulate a revised draft by March 2, the commission will meet again on March 9 to consider the report and recommendations, and an additional late-March meeting was reserved if needed before the statutory deadline.

Transcript Highlights:

• Welcome to all who are joining today's public meeting of the special commission on xylazine, which is
• Commission staff will facilitate the presentations and click through the slides.
• Any questions before I pass it off to commission staff or concerns? Okay, great.
• And I think that commission staff thought it would be helpful to frame...
• I get a lot of help from commission members and staff.

Summary: The special commission on xylazine met virtually, called to order by House Chair Mindy Domb, with a quorum present. The commission approved the minutes from its December 11 public meeting and then reviewed the first draft of its final report, which is due to the Legislature by March 30, 2026. Staff explained the report structure, including a commission overview, findings and recommendations from each working group, and appendices with meeting materials and public resources. Commissioners discussed the distinction between licit veterinary xylazine and illicit xylazine in the drug supply, noting that the illicit supply is generally not diverted from legal veterinary sources but obtained through online vendors, and they clarified that xylazine is already classified in Massachusetts as a Schedule 6 substance, so the policy question is whether additional scheduling or penalties are warranted. For the best practices and enforcement section, staff recommended stronger guidance on secure storage and recordkeeping for authorized users, better reporting of diversion, theft, and suspicious orders, and focused enforcement on illicit production and fentanyl trafficking rather than individual possession. Commissioners suggested adding coordination among public safety, law enforcement, and the Attorney General’s office, as well as a state-level approach to emerging drug threats. In the outreach and treatment section, the draft emphasized that existing harm reduction, wound care, naloxone, and mobile outreach programs are effective but need broader coordination, more trauma-informed care, and better education for providers and first responders. Commissioners raised concerns about provider familiarity with xylazine, the need for first responders to include fire personnel and EMS, and the importance of not turning away people with xylazine-related wounds from recovery or treatment settings. The education and training section identified four target audiences: first responders, clinicians, non-clinicians in treatment and outreach settings, and people who use drugs and their families. The draft recommended tailored, stigma-free training and educational materials for each group, with consistent updates, continuing education credits where appropriate, and better access to centralized, real-time data on xylazine and other emerging contaminants. Commissioners discussed the need for centralized reporting and public health surveillance, including existing tools like the BSAS dashboard and StreetCheck, and several members urged the commission to recommend a DPH task force or similar body to monitor future drug supply threats. The meeting ended with staff outlining next steps: a revised draft would be circulated by the end of the week, feedback would be incorporated into a second draft by March 2, and the commission planned to vote on the final report at its March 9 meeting, with a backup meeting later in March if needed.

Transcript Highlights:

• It's a commission on environmental quality. Yes, thank you, Mr. Chairman, members.
• The Railroad Commission has not done a very good job addressing that.
• The Railroad Commission will review these costs in a rate procedure.
• We also have the Railroad Commission here as a resource. Members, come on forward.
• Lastly, it specifies when it is acceptable for the Railroad Commission.

Bills: HB 1237 , HB2663 , HB3071 , HB4384

Committee: Senate Natural Resources

Transcript Highlights:

• LAROSA WHO IS A CURRENT MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION, MR.
• AS THE STATE REGULATOR OF INVESTOR-OWNED UTILITIES THE COMMISSION PLAYS A CRITICAL ROLE IN OUR STATE
• THE COMMISSION MUST STRIKE A CAREFULLY BALANCED TO ENSURE UTILITIES HAVE ULTIMATELY WHAT THEY NEED TO
• AND I THINK FROM THAT POINT FORWARD, YOU WOULD FIND THAT ANY ORDER THAT HAS COME FROM THE COMMISSION
• HE SAID THAT ALTHOUGH THE SERVICE COMMISSION APPEARED TO RELY LARGELY ON WHAT UTILITIES TOLD THEM AS

Transcript Highlights:

• This is Eman from the Massachusetts Commission on the Status of Persons with Disabilities.
• will pass it off to Andrew to introduce our guest speaker today, Amy Doyle from the Health Policy Commission
• She is the Director of Behavioral Health Workforce Center at the Massachusetts Health Policy Commission
• And this is a discussion we can have with the full commission as well.
• But I don't know if that's a conflict where I'm already the vice chair of the commission.

Summary: The Massachusetts Commission on the Status of Persons with Disabilities subcommittee on workforce supports met with Chair Andrew Lerault presiding. Members completed roll call, approved the August 2025 minutes, and then heard a presentation from Amy Doyle, director of the Behavioral Health Workforce Center at the Massachusetts Health Policy Commission. Doyle described the center’s launch in September 2024 and its legislative mandate to study behavioral health payment rates, workforce needs, and licensure/certification barriers, with an emphasis on recruitment, retention, capacity building, diversity/equity, and sustainability. She also shared data on unmet behavioral health needs, ED boarding, workforce shortages, aging and turnover in nursing and direct care, and the need to improve data collection on non-licensed workers and populations such as people with developmental disabilities and autism. Committee members asked questions about what provider types were included in the workforce data and whether DDS-related residential and direct support roles were captured. Doyle said the center is still working to define and measure the full behavioral health workforce, including non-licensed roles, and welcomed follow-up on missing data sources. Members suggested additional sources such as CHIA and the Association of Developmental Disability Providers’ workforce survey. Doyle noted that the center is working with CHIA and that new licensure renewal surveys for behavioral health and allied mental health professionals will begin in 2025, which should improve future workforce data. The discussion also touched on the Health Policy Commission’s broader workforce findings, including nurse attrition, burnout, low wages, and the importance of career ladders and advanced training. Doyle said the center’s first policy recommendations will come from its rate study, expected in the next one to two months, and will likely focus on capacity building and sustainability. After the presentation, members thanked Doyle and discussed subcommittee leadership. Chair Lerault announced he was stepping down, and Chris White volunteered to serve as co-chair; the committee agreed to move forward with that arrangement and to revisit FY26 goals once new leadership is in place. The meeting then adjourned by motion and second.

Transcript Highlights:

• This is the This is a bipartisan pension bill from the Pension Commission.
• The Pension Commission is made up of both Senate and House members from both major caucuses.
• My good friend, Chair Herr, was the Pension Commission Chair.
• This is my third year on the Pension Commission, and I'm glad to be a part of this team.
• Please support it, support the Commission. Vote green. Thank you.

Transcript Highlights:

• I did forget to say that the Executive Director for the Interstate Medical Compact Commission met with
• that relate to an action taken by the Commission.
• I do want to point out, though, there still is paragraph E. which allows the Interstate Commission to
• Because it's a commission, it's a body just like us; there has to be a vote.
• Last year, it was required that the commission, not the medical board, but the commission, file their

Bills: SB1 , SB3

Committee: Senate Senate Judiciary

Transcript Highlights:

• Further, if TCEQ receives a communication covered by this bill, the commission is required to provide
• Hi, Julie Range with Commission Shift Action. Thanks for the opportunity to testify today.
• if anyone wishes to Members, we do have resource witnesses from the Railroad Commission.
• And we do have a witness from the Railroad Commission if anyone needs a resource witness.
• All right, there is a resource witness again from the Railroad Commission.

Bills: SB3074 , HB49 , HB2440 , HB3556 , HB3619 , HB3866 , HB4042 , HB4112 , HB4271 , HB4413 , HB4426 , HB5033 , HB49

Committee: Senate Natural Resources

Summary: The committee heard and laid out several natural resources and environmental bills, with testimony focused on balancing development, public health, wildlife protection, and regulatory authority. SB 3074 would allow the governor, lieutenant governor, and legislators to communicate in writing with TCEQ about matters before the commission, with safeguards requiring the communication to be part of the record and allowing other parties to respond; a committee substitute narrowed it to written communications about permits only, limited legislator communications to facilities in their districts, and adjusted conflict-of-interest rules. HB 3556, as substituted, would require notice to Texas Parks and Wildlife for certain very tall structures in specified coastal counties and give TPWD a limited right to seek injunctive relief if mitigation is insufficient to prevent material harm to migratory birds; supporters said it would address ignored wildlife recommendations and protect key flyways, while opponents argued the bill was too broad, singled out wind energy, and gave one agency unusually strong enforcement power. HB 49 would expand liability protections for produced-water recycling and beneficial use; supporters said it would encourage reuse of a large wastewater stream and reduce disposal pressures, while opponents warned it could shield operators from responsibility before the science and standards are mature. HB 4413 would authorize mass-balance accounting for renewable biomass feedstocks, and HB 3866 would regulate intermediate bulk container recycling facilities near homes, with a committee substitute adding a grandfather clause and making implementation contingent on funding. The committee also heard bills affecting air and energy regulation. HB 5033 would create a trigger to end vehicle emissions inspections if federal law changes to allow it; the substitute removed a Supreme Court-related trigger, and the lone public witness opposed the bill, warning it would worsen air quality and harm nonattainment areas. HB 4112 would clarify that on-site storage of high-level radioactive waste is allowed at current and future nuclear reactors and university research reactors only for waste generated at that site; the substitute clarified the language and removed an inoperative permit condition, and witnesses from environmental and nuclear groups said the clarification was needed to prevent unintended restrictions while avoiding off-site storage. HB 2440 would prohibit state agencies from using air-quality rules to ban or restrict vehicles based on energy source, including internal combustion vehicles, and no public testimony was offered. HB 4271 would require TCEQ to hold public meetings on request for composting facility authorizations; the substitute limited the requirement to future applications and was presented as a transparency measure after a denied local request and extensive public comments. Additional bills addressed landowner protections and Railroad Commission oversight. HB 3619 would require the Railroad Commission to restore surface land after plugging or replugging operations and indemnify landowners from damages tied to authorized entry; a witness supported the bill but urged fixing a separate statutory loophole that he said allowed operators to enter unrelated tracts without notice. HB 4042 would extend Railroad Commission pipeline safety and fee provisions to propane distribution systems by removing the word “natural” from the relevant definitions. HB 4426 would set a 10-year permit term for commercial surface disposal facilities, allow renewal based on compliance history, and require renewal applications 120 days before expiration. The committee took no votes because a quorum was not initially present, and each bill was left pending after testimony and discussion.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:15:55.519><c> that</c> bunch of boards and commissions that bunch of boards and commissions that
• or add six commissioners to a commission.
• Why are we adding them to a commission to figure it out? That's what I want to know.
• or add six commissioners to a commission.
• or add six commissioners to a commission.

Committee: Senate State and Local Government

Transcript Highlights:

• that sit at the commission accredititors that sit at the commission to<00:59:12.520><c> oversee</c><
• So, it's both the commission proposing, members responding to and informing, and then the commission
• So, it's both the commission proposing, members responding to and informing, and then the commission
• NHI commission. NHI commission.
• ,</c> allowed that for various commissions, allowed that for various commissions, right?

Summary: The committee heard updates from the chancellors of the state university system and the community college system on ongoing restructuring, collaboration, and enrollment trends. The university system said its office move to the NHTI campus is ahead of schedule and should save students about $250,000 a year while creating revenue for the community college system. Both systems described continued work on transfer pathways, direct-admit outreach, shared advising, and broader efforts to shrink footprints, reduce costs, and improve operational efficiency in response to declining enrollment and demographic pressure. A major topic was a possible federal change to Pell Grant eligibility that would require students to enroll in at least 7.5 credits. The chancellors said most community college students are part-time because of work and family responsibilities, and that the change could affect roughly 2,000 current Pell recipients and make it harder for students to afford or sustain enrollment. Members also discussed how the state’s governor’s scholarship statute largely benefits full-time students, suggesting possible future statutory changes. The chancellors explained how credits typically work, noting most courses are three or four credits and that students would likely need to add an entire course to meet the proposed threshold. The committee also discussed the broader higher education landscape, including declining high school cohorts, competition among New England institutions, and the need to right-size capacity. One member raised concerns about the health of regional campuses such as Plymouth and Keene; the chancellors said incoming enrollment is down at UNH and Plymouth and holding at Keene, attributing the trend to demographics rather than one campus drawing students away from another. They emphasized the importance of community colleges, adult learners, and short-term workforce programs as part of the state’s future education mix. Finally, the committee touched on the value of the university system’s research enterprise. The chancellor said about $250 million a year flows into the university system in federal research grants, with about $9.5 million currently under stop-work orders from federal agencies. She said the immediate concern is not DEI-related but federal cuts and possible caps on indirect cost recovery. Members noted that the R1 research designation supports business partnerships, student opportunities, and economic development projects such as West Edge in Durham.

Transcript Highlights:

• commission approval for his annual budget and his annual work plan.
• commission approval for his annual budget and his annual work plan.
• </c><00:04:01.600><c> for</c> that utilities give the commission for that utilities give the commission
• I think you're going to see the EPIC Commission be a similar result.
• </c> you're going to see the EPIC Commission you're going to see the EPIC Commission be<00:10:18.680>

Committee: House Natural Resources & Energy

Transcript Highlights:

• our written testimony this afternoon with one suggestion on this particular bill: the agriculture commission
• Persons appointed and commissioned under this section may exercise all the powers and authority of a
• Persons appointed and commissioned under this section may exercise all the powers and authority of a
• Public Utilities Commission approv Public Utilities Commission approv labels<00:28:06.640><c> on</c><
• Next is the Public Utilities Commission. Aubrey Austin with the Public Utilities Commission.

Committee: Senate Agriculture and Environment

Summary: The joint AEN-PSM hearing on February 7, 2025 focused primarily on three agriculture-related measures and one animal welfare bill, with additional discussion of pesticide drift monitoring, coffee labeling, and a gas-pump labeling bill. SB 762 would create an Agricultural Crimes Council and authorize agricultural crime investigators; testimony from the Department of Agriculture, the Department of Law Enforcement, the Attorney General’s office, Hawaii Farm Bureau, Hawaii Farmers Union, and several members of the public was generally supportive, with repeated calls for stronger enforcement, community involvement, and in some cases allowing investigators to be armed. Some testifiers also urged changes to the appointment process for council members, preferring neighborhood boards or local officials over gubernatorial appointments. The committee discussed combining related agricultural crime bills and noted concerns about investigator safety in remote areas. SB 763 would establish an agriculture enforcement program within the Department of Law Enforcement and a special fund. Testimony was strongly supportive from state agencies and farm groups, with speakers emphasizing the need for more effective response to agricultural theft, poaching, and related crimes. Several public testifiers linked the bill to broader community safety and asked for clearer funding, training, coordination, performance metrics, and technology use. The committee also heard SB 1022, which would prohibit leaving pets in dangerous conditions in vehicles and allow officers, firefighters, animal control, and in some cases private citizens to rescue animals; the Attorney General said existing cruelty statutes may already cover the conduct and suggested amendments, while HPD opposed the bill. Members asked about liability for rescuers and whether the proposal might affect property-crime enforcement. The committee also heard SB 1304 on pesticide drift monitoring funding, with the Department of Agriculture supporting the measure and explaining it was needed to complete a required project under an EPA-related agreement. A Hawaii Alliance for Progressive Action representative raised concerns about the methodology of prior studies, and a public testifier described a recent odor incident near a roadway and school. SB 1015, requiring labels on gas dispensing equipment warning about fossil fuel impacts, drew support from the Department of Agriculture and the Public Utilities Commission but opposition from the Hawaii Energy Marketers Association. SB 500 on coffee labeling and regional origin was also heard, with the Department of Agriculture in support. In decision-making, the committees adopted recommendations to pass SB 762 with amendments, SB 763 with amendments, SB 1022 with technical amendments, SB 1304 with technical amendments, and SB 1015 as is; SB 500 was not acted on in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• With respect to the following appointment to be a member of the Commission on Judicial Conduct: Sylvie
• Members, the State Commission on Judicial Conduct is the commission created to protect the public and
• The state commission on judicial conduct increases public membership to seven, with no more than two
• The floor amendment adds language to section one, authorizing the Commission to recommend the removal
• This change gives the Commission more discretion. I move for adoption of the amendment.

Bills: SJR27 , SJR39 , SB22 , SB33 , SB34 , SB37 , SB209 , SB310 , SB326 , SB505 , SB605 , SB618 , SB732 , SB762 , SB769 , SB783 , SB819 , SB825 , SB870 , SB964 , SB1030 , SB1080 , SB1085 , SB1099 , SB1124 , SB1208 , SB1233 , SB1314 , SB1320 , SB1333 , SB1398 , SB1405 , SB1541 , SB1567 , SB1596 , SB1598 , SB1625 , SB1646 , SB1662 , SB1750 , SB1758 , SB1791 , SB1804 , SB1810 , SB1818 , SB1838 , SB1855 , SB1869 , SB1951 , SB2024 , SB2077 , SB2078 , SB2252 , SB2253 , SB2368 , SB2411 , SB2420 , SB2425 , SB2569

Transcript Highlights:

• This renames the commission to the Energy Commission of Virginia, and it gives it some new authorities
• This renames the Commission to the Energy Commission of Virginia, and it gives it some new authorities
• This one relates to electric utilities, Integrated Resource Plan, State Corporation Commission, Commission
• Washington Commemorative Commission as a joint commemorative commission.
• Washington Commemorative Commission as a joint commission. I move passage of the joint resolution.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:01:31.920><c> and</c> the work of the pension commission and the work of the pension commission
• Support the commission. Vote green.
• </c><00:15:01.760><c> I</c> commission. Vote green. Thank you. I commission. Vote green. Thank you.
• We need to thank ... commission as well as the veterans commission as well as the veterans committee,
• </c> work that was done by this commission. work that was done by this commission.

Transcript Highlights:

• Would that be in place of the commission?
• Change Mitigation Adaptation Commission. Change Mitigation Adaptation Commission.
• </c><01:12:42.560><c> resets</c> control costs if the commission resets control costs if the commission
• </c><01:15:06.880><c> has</c> rate case because the commission has rate case because the commission has
• </c><01:19:00.960><c> itself</c> paradigm that the the commission itself paradigm that the the commission

Bills: HB1617

Committee: House Energy & Environmental Protection

Summary: The committees heard testimony on HB 1949, which would create a public dashboard for the green fee to improve transparency and accountability. Testimony from the Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Commission, the Office of Planning and Sustainable Development, and many community and conservation groups was generally supportive, with several speakers urging that the governor’s project recommendations remain largely intact and that community-driven projects continue to guide spending. One amendment was suggested to place the dashboard at the Department of Budget and Finance for fiscal expertise, while other testimony favored keeping it with the commission. Members asked about procurement, ETS involvement, recurring hosting costs, and whether the dashboard could be funded from green fee revenues; the commission said it could work with ETS and that green fee funds could reasonably be used. The committees then voted to pass HB 1949 with amendments. The committees also heard HB 2618, which would require the governor to submit a separate bill for amounts tied to any increase in the transient accommodations tax and, in later discussion, was expanded into a broader restructuring of future green fee allocations. Testimony from the Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Commission, Hawaii Reef and Ocean Coalition, and others supported the bill and emphasized the value of more predictable, dedicated funding for conservation and climate-related work. During decision-making, the chair described amendments creating several special funds under DLNR, including a watershed biodiversity and wildfire risk reduction fund, an aquatic resources conservation fund, a coastal restoration fund, a cesspool conversion revolving loan fund, and a green fee special fund for remaining revenues, with recommended amounts discussed for some of the funds. The committees voted to pass HB 2618 with amendments. The hearing then moved to HB 1644, a consumer protection measure for residential solar sales that would require compliance with consumer protection laws, licensing or contractor affiliation for sellers, and a standardized disclosure form. Testimony in support came from the Hawaii Green Infrastructure Authority, DCCA’s Office of Consumer Protection, Kauai Island Utility Cooperative, the Hawaii Solar Energy Association, and several solar companies and individuals. Supporters said the bill would address complaints about third-party sales practices and improve disclosure, especially around financing. The committee then began hearing HB 2243, which would require electric utilities to provide public, electronic customer bill impact analyses and annual reports to the Public Utilities Commission; the Division of Consumer Advocacy and the PUC offered comments supporting the measure’s intent.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> not done the the commit the commission not done the the commit the commission found<00:15:40.600
• Was that the commission I was on?
• was to reestablish the the commission was to reestablish the commission<01:37:30.119><c> okay</c><01
• <01:37:39.920><c> I</c><01:37:40.040><c> was</c> commission I was commission I was on<01:37:42.360><c
• </c> chairman uh I support this commission chairman uh I support this commission but<01:38:01.520><c>

Committee: House Health, Human Services & Elderly Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you, Madam Chair, members of the commission. My name is Shawna Caspear.
• But, um, We do appreciate when the commission can meet here in the Capitol. Thank you, Michelle.
• And current planning work that we are doing for the planning commission and for GSD.
• Uh, the next item for the commission to consider is the master planning contract renewal.
• Chair, members of the commission. I'm going to share my screen. Um, Can you guys see my screen?