Transcript Highlights:

• We protect residents' bank accounts from being nickeled and dimed by junk fees, those recurring fees
• The simple answer to that is, if they have shared that information with the Legislature, I have yet to
• The simple answer to that is, if they have shared that information with the Legislature, I have yet to
• The goal is simple, though, however we get there. Executive Office of Public Safety and Security.
• The goal is simple, though, however we get there: create a stronger, more modern EMS system for patients

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Senate opened with the Pledge of Allegiance, adopted two commendatory resolutions honoring the Plimpton Historical Society’s Deborah Sampson Day recognition and Megan’s Light’s Cystic Fibrosis Awareness Month observance, and suspended Joint Rule 12 to refer several House petitions to committee. The chamber also briefly recognized Diane Talk of the South Shore Regional Emergency Communication Center on her retirement after 30 years of dispatch service. Later, the Senate passed two local bills to enactment: House No. 4006, authorizing Dartmouth to grant an additional all-alcoholic beverages license, and House No. 473, relating to the charter of Westwood. The main business was the Senate Ways and Means presentation of the fiscal year 2027 budget, totaling about $63.3 billion. The chair described the budget as balanced, with no new taxes or tax cuts, based on a consensus revenue estimate of $986 million in growth over FY26 (2.4%), and including about $15.8 billion in federal financial participation and roughly $2.7 billion from the Fair Share surtax. The budget emphasized record local aid, including $1.376 billion in unrestricted general government aid, $7.66 billion for Chapter 70 education aid, increased minimum school aid, higher regional school transportation reimbursement, rural aid, and the revival of the Foundation Budget Review Commission. It also highlighted major investments in MassEducate free community college, food security, housing, and support for vulnerable residents. Members then engaged in extended colloquy on the budget’s major cost drivers and policy choices. Questions focused on debt service, pension and OPEB liabilities, MassHealth caseload and rising per-enrollee costs, child care funding, and program integrity in DTA and other benefit programs. The chair said debt service would be about $2.67 billion, pension payments would be $5.1 billion, OPEB would receive a $150 million payment, and MassHealth enrollment was projected at about 2 million with costs driven by acuity and medical inflation. He also said the budget includes no collective bargaining agreements and no state tax changes. Senators supporting the budget praised its investments in education, local aid, homelessness prevention, public health, libraries, and housing, while minority leaders and others stressed the need for fiscal discipline, transparency, and further work on affordability and municipal support. The Senate also received a House message on House No. 5316, which the House had nonconcurred in, and a conference committee was appointed on the disagreement.

Transcript Highlights:

• It is a fairly simple bill.
• It is a fairly simple bill.
• What this bill does is simple, but powerful.
• What this bill does is simple, but powerful.
• This is a fairly simple bill. Obviously, there are three components to this bill.

Bills: HB2035, HB2086, HB2434, HB2611, HB2732, HB2733, HB2830, HB2923, HB2932, HB4004

Keywords: kinship care, child welfare, foster care, relative placement, child protection, vaccination mandates, mask requirements, public health, government entities, COVID-19, controlled substances, prescription monitoring, opioid crisis, healthcare regulations, patient safety, group homes, children's rights, safety protocols, employee training, mental health

Summary: The committee heard a presentation from the University of Arizona College of Medicine Phoenix on its new tuition-free, three-year regional medical school branch in Yuma, which is intended to address Arizona’s primary care shortage by training students in a rural setting and linking them to rural residency opportunities. Members asked about who could apply, whether out-of-state applicants were eligible, and whether graduates would be required to remain in rural Arizona; the presenter said there is no post-graduation practice commitment, but the program is designed to encourage retention through rural training and residency placement. The committee then considered several child welfare and behavioral health bills. HB 2923 would expand judicial review procedures for court-ordered mental health treatment, adding timelines, notice, counsel protections, and a clear-and-convincing standard for continued treatment; the sponsor and a retired judge said it fills gaps in a 1974 statute. HB 2035 would expand kinship foster care to extended family members, require more notice and written findings when kin placement is denied, and strengthen presumptions favoring placement with relatives or other significant adults; DCS said the bill largely reflects current policy but raised a timing concern about a required report before preliminary protective hearings. HB 2611 would create a Youth Safety Rights and Mental Health Protection Act for foster youth and group homes, adding rights related to immediate and unbiased health care, anti-bullying protections, retaliation safeguards, drug screening, and safety rules; foster youth and former foster youth testified strongly in support, while DCS was neutral and noted possible implementation and fiscal impacts. The committee also heard HB 4004, which would require DCS to investigate credible abuse or neglect reports even when one parent is considered protective, and to take protective action when warranted. Several parents testified that DCS had previously closed or minimized cases because a protective parent existed, leaving children exposed to abuse; DCS did not testify against the bill, and members later said the agency should not use the presence of a safe parent as a reason not to investigate. The committee also considered pharmacy and AHCCCS-related bills: HB 2434 would revise the controlled substances prescription monitoring program and reporting requirements; HB 2732 would continue the State Board of Pharmacy; HB 2733 would make several pharmacy regulation changes including delivery, continuing education, and change-of-ownership rules; and HB 2932 would require AHCCCS contractors to reimburse noncontracting labs referred by contracting providers, which health plans opposed as undermining managed care tools while a lab provider argued it would improve fair payment and competition. On the floor, the committee also took up HB 2086, which would prohibit government and business mask and vaccination mandates, HB 2830, which would require instruction on fetal and prenatal development and bar abortion-related curriculum materials, and HB 2035, HB 2434, HB 2611, HB 2732, HB 2733, HB 2923, HB 2932, and HB 4004. Amendments were adopted on several bills, including HB 2086, HB 2611, HB 2830, and HB 2932. Final committee votes gave HB 2035, HB 2086, HB 2434, HB 2611, HB 2732, HB 2733, HB 2830, HB 2923, HB 2932, and HB 4004 do-pass recommendations, with HB 2086, HB 2611, HB 2830, and HB 2932 reported as amended.

Transcript Highlights:

• As you recall, last year the committee reviewed, evaluated, and discussed the affiliated fee analysis
• What the bill does is simple and long overdue.
• and provides financial institutions and certain family trust companies with additional time to pay fees
• This is a very simple 1538 bill to promote sound public policy that helps save 1539 individuals time
• We'll have to go through probate instead of a simple... ...instead of a simple...

Summary: The committee met with a quorum and heard several insurance and banking bills. HB 1399, relating to property insurance affiliates, would increase Office of Insurance Regulation oversight of transactions between property insurers and affiliates, require fair-and-reasonable documentation, review of dividends and asset pledges, contract termination clauses, affiliate registration, and penalties for violations. Members from both parties generally supported the goal of transparency and accountability, though some raised concerns about costs and whether the bill would actually return money to insureds. The bill was reported favorably. HB 427, on public adjuster contracts, would allow vulnerable adults or their legal representatives to rescind public adjuster contracts without penalty, reflecting the sponsor’s personal concerns about protecting elderly and otherwise vulnerable family members from predatory contracting. Public testimony included support from several industry and elder-law groups, while the public adjuster association warned the bill could unfairly target one profession and urged broader language. Members debated whether the bill should be expanded to cover other solicitations and whether legal representatives should be treated differently, but the bill was ultimately reported favorably. The committee also approved HB 893, which aligns bank handling of law-firm trust accounts with Florida Supreme Court rules and supports legal aid funding, and HB 767, a transparency bill requiring insurers to provide consumers with plain-language explanations of rate increases and related factors. Members emphasized consumer education and clearer disclosures, and HB 767 passed 2-0. Later, HB 381, the Office of Financial Regulation agency bill, was amended and reported favorably; it updates financial regulation provisions including cybersecurity-related requirements, money services business rules, credit union and financial institution provisions, and fee timing. HB 777, a related public-records bill protecting nonpublic personal information submitted to OFR, was also heard and moved forward without opposition.

Transcript Highlights:

• previously relating to the removal. of certain restrictions imposed on driver's licenses in authorizing a fee
• In this bill it's very simple it's adding citizenship on a Texas driver's license or state ID.
• Everyone starts out with a simple bill. This is a simple bill. This one is relatively simple.
• Is there a fee associated with these notices in the paper? Yes, ma'am.
• And we're just literally paying a fee for a certified letter for no reason whatsoever.

Bills: HB33, HB298, HB 1024, HB 1234, HB 1261, HB1696, HB298

Keywords: electronic monitoring, parole supervision, law enforcement, warrant execution, public safety, handgun license, judgment evaluation, medical advisory board, application denial, gun law procedures, abandoned property, unclaimed property, disposition, handgun, driver's license, commercial driver's license, weapon carry, gun rights, Texas legislature, legislative attendance

Transcript Highlights:

• That's just an additional tax on top of every other tax and every regulatory fee that employers, small
• It makes it unlawful for an attorney representing a person under a contingency fee agreement to refer
• It makes it unlawful for an attorney to receive a kickback or a fee split for referring a client to a
• It prohibits attorneys from charging an additional contingency fee, administrative fee, management fee
• , or similar fee based on reducing or resolving a client's medical lien.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• fee amount is $4,68. fee amount is $4,68.
• So, my request for our agency is simple. This year, we're funded at $6,125,844.
• This year, uh we're funded at at simple. This year, uh we're funded at at 6,125,844.
• We put $450,000 in for the adult education testing fees, and how's that program working so far?
• We put $450,000 in for the adult education testing fees, and how's that program working so far?

Keywords: Appropriations - Room 210; 14 January, 2026: 3:30 PM, 925, all

Summary: MDES presented its FY27 budget request, describing the agency as a special fund workforce agency focused on helping Mississippians get jobs through employment services, labor market information, and unemployment insurance. Executive Director Bill Ashley said the revised request seeks level spending authority similar to FY26, with line-item changes driven mainly by higher salaries and fringe benefits and lower contractual services. He said MDES currently has 406 employees, 28 active recruitments, and six additional planned positions, for a requested total of 440 positions, down from 453 authorized last year. The request also includes $1.4 million for the State Longitudinal Data System and $400,000 for Accelerate Mississippi fiscal support. Committee members asked about the SLDS pass-through funding, whether it is recurring, and the staffing/pin changes; MDES explained the SLDS is a recurring annual pass-through and that the staffing request reflects turnover and recruitment needs rather than a net expansion. Accelerate Mississippi then outlined its FY27 request and program updates. Officials said the office is requesting level funding overall, with some salary adjustments tied to benefits and two new positions, including one for Talent Solutions and one systems administrator. They described workforce initiatives such as Encore, a recruiter/instructor program; Facet, a partnership with Northwest Mississippi Community College to strengthen instructor preparation; Power Path, a K-12 advanced manufacturing credential model; and expanded career coach activity, reporting 204 coaches serving 209 schools and more than 22,000 unique student interactions. They also reviewed funding streams for workforce enhancement training, Mississippi Works, Equip Mississippi, and ARPA, saying ARPA funds are on track to be fully spent by the September 30 reimbursement deadline and that monthly check-ins are being used to ensure funds are drawn down. Members asked about the budget changes, the use of contractual services, and the career coach program; the office said it was shifting some audit and monitoring costs to the funds being monitored and was not requesting an increase for career coach funding. The Mississippi community college presidents and the Community College Board also presented their budget priorities. They reported that Mississippi community colleges served 88,600 students in academic year 2023 and said the system’s graduation rate is about 42 percent, with a goal of reaching 55 percent. Their FY27 request includes a 6 percent salary increase for employees, increased basic operations funding, and continued support for CTE Advantage programs, totaling $61.5 million in general support. On facilities, they requested $150 million after receiving no facilities funding last year, citing roughly $413 million in identified needs across capital improvements, repairs and renovations, and pre-planning. The Community College Board requested restoration of $310,000 in general fund cuts and a new $2 million appropriation for adult education, noting that an estimated 300,000 to 330,000 Mississippians lack a high school diploma. No votes were taken during the presentations.

Transcript Highlights:

• Is there additional fees that they, that they, that they would see?
• It might say, you know, infrastructure fees, upgrades to infrastructure fees.
• So that $71 includes any potential fees that they would see in Dallas.
• Our mission is simple. It is to promote sound water policy for Texas. We do this through 3 means.
• It was a tap fee and the bigger tap you had, the more you paid.

Transcript Highlights:

• that are being paid a consultant fee rather than being paid as an employee?
• Very technically, but you know, we're kind of simple here, right?
• It makes us inflate the fees that we charge our farmers and licensees, and I'll real quick explain that
• So we only get to use it for 30 to 60 days. that we have to raise those fees anticipating that a certain
• We would lower some fees for those licensed.

Bills: SB1, SB 1

Keywords: appropriations, budget, state funding, education, healthcare, infrastructure, campground safety, youth camp regulations, flood safety, emergency evacuation, health and safety standards, 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And the simple reality is that this will probably be in the paper tomorrow.
• , to charge a just and reasonable fee.
• So, I would highly recommend that we look at this simple legislation and help by simply adding to the
• Madam Chair, Senator Cedillo-Lopez, the counties. may already have this ability to charge a stormwater fee
• So they would, through ordinance, need to pass that and develop the fee structure associated with that

Transcript Highlights:

• That are paying vendor fees? Yeah.
• The cities and counties. school districts pay no vendor fees on the Viaport. What fees do they pay?
• They charged that fee. And you don't show any record of y'all being paid those fees.
• I'm talking about the fee structure, not the membership fee, but the fee structure like the $400 because
• This is a purchase of a vehicle. that shows a $400 fee or an $800 fee.

Bills: HB10, HB 12, HB675, HB10, HB12

Keywords: regulatory reform, government efficiency, administrative law, rulemaking, agency deference, judicial review, de novo review, Texas Government Code, Administrative Procedure Act, state agencies, plain language, regulatory burden, regulatory reduction, cost-benefit analysis, fiscal note, public benefits and costs, contested case, rule challenge, Texas Regulatory Efficiency Office, advisory panel

Transcript Highlights:

• being absorbed by the utilities, and there's really no fee to be attached.
• We are the line as opposed to the utility being the fee line.
• And it doesn't have a cancellation fee.
• I also want to say we never charge early termination fees.
• It's simple, it's easy.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on several energy-related bills, with the main focus on H. 3534/S. 2255, which would ban or sharply restrict residential third-party electric suppliers, and on related reform proposals. Supporters included the Attorney General’s office, municipal and regional planning officials, environmental justice groups, consumer advocates, and city officials from Boston and Chelsea. They argued that the residential competitive supply market has produced higher bills, deceptive sales tactics, auto-renewals into higher rates, and disproportionate harm to low-income residents, seniors, communities of color, and people with limited English. Witnesses cited AG reports estimating hundreds of millions of dollars in overcharges over time, described door-to-door and storefront marketing abuses, and said municipal aggregation programs have saved residents money while offering more stable rates. Several supporters said the Legislature should either ban residential competitive supply or adopt strong guardrails such as ending automatic renewals, banning incentive-based commissions, and capping rates relative to basic service. Opponents or industry representatives from the Retail Energy Advancement League, Vistra, and Constellation argued that the market can provide savings, longer-term price stability, and value-added products such as renewable options and time-of-use offerings. They said Massachusetts has already improved consumer protections through DPU proceedings, that complaints are relatively few compared with the size of the market, and that a ban would eliminate consumer choice. They also defended direct sales and commissions as normal features of a retail market, while saying they would support additional protections, licensing, bonding, and stronger oversight of bad actors. Committee members pressed both sides on whether the market truly saves money, whether automatic renewals should be banned, and whether the AG’s proposed reforms would be enough. The committee also heard testimony on H. 3972, a bill to extend utility shutoff protections during extreme heat, with Rep. Mindy Domb arguing that Massachusetts should treat extreme heat like extreme cold and protect customers facing financial hardship. Rep. Barrett also testified for H. 3450, a municipal broadband/right-of-way bill, arguing that communities need easier and cheaper access to utility poles and public rights of way to build municipal broadband. In addition, Senate Majority Leader Creem testified for S. 2239, which would bar utilities from recovering ratepayer funds for lobbying, promotions, trade association dues, and similar expenses. No votes were taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• Page 475 is arbitrage, refunding, and fees.
• within the fee office.
• But right now there is no increase in that fee for...
• I looked up a simple AI search.
• I looked at uprored to simple A, the best way. I looked it uprode a simple AI search. All right.

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This is funding. the deep state, plain and simple.
• it's across the board and I'll tell you one of the most disturbing ones is how they're lobbying and simple
• But look, at the end of the day, this is really simple.
• the trends regarding small cities all across the country. the state of Texas in for instance 9-1-1 fees
• The fees going to county associations being spent on legislative advocacy that's been there a long time

Bills: SB5, SB11, SB12, SB9, SB42, SB15, SB5, SB11, SB12, SCR1

Keywords: hemp regulation, consumable products, cannabinoids, occupational licenses, criminal offenses, SB 11, Texas attorney general, election crimes, election law enforcement, criminal prosecution, Election Code, Government Code Chapter 402, local prosecutors, county attorney, district attorney, grand jury, probable cause reports, state election offenses, voter fraud, election integrity

Transcript Highlights:

• It's very simple.
• It prohibits card networks from issuing a fee schedule that all the big banks used to price-fix.
• So you pay, do you pay a building fee? Salaries of the professors? That's right. Okay. So, wow.
• We kept everything simple, knowing that thorium is a future possibility.
• In simple terms, SB 1612 could make a retainage payment of $1,000,000.

Bills: SB1468, SB1612, SB1789, SB2530, SB2571, SB2717, SB2967

Keywords: utility systems, Texas A&M, regents authority, construction, improvement, construction contracts, trust funds, property rights, mechanics lien, contractors, trustee liability, mechanic's lien, liability, attorney's fees, windstorm insurance, Texas Windstorm Insurance Association, insurance regulation, administrative penalties, coastal counties, catastrophe year

Transcript Highlights:

• Very quick, simple bill.
• Very quick, simple bill.
• Very quick, simple bill.
• It had a 10% fee years ago had fee caps.
• workers' comp fee schedule. workers' comp fee schedule.

Keywords: Meeting Start 00:00:00 Call to Order and Roll Call 00:00:02 Discussion HB 144 00:00:58 Vote HB 144 00:02:40 Discussion HB 169 00:03:21 Vote HB 169 00:05:02 Discussion HB 568 00:05:56 Vote HB 568 00:28:27 Discussion HB 627 00:32:26 Vote HB 627 01:00:26, 958, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We're not trying to eliminate simple.
• These "These things should be simple.
• monitor monitor fees, an annual cap on monitor fees,<04:07:22.720> encourage<04:07:23.120>
• It is simple.
• It is simple. Not one taxpayer ballroom. It is simple.

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Thursday, May 14, 2026, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Over the next 14 years, prices generally increased by roughly 30%, but these fees, all of these fees
• So currently, impound and storage fees have increased to $22.85 per day and the notification fee is still
• the notification fee.
• Specifically, these fees have been frozen in statute for for 14 years, and when the fees were finally
• We're seeking to support, uh, to address those frozen fees.

Transcript Highlights:

• It's literally that simple.
• , if you will, an expiration fee.
• There'd be no reason to have a $500 fee to let your scrap license expire.
• He is a scrap metal. expiration fee. That's no difference if expiration fee.
• He asked about a provision from a couple of years ago that has a $500 expiration fee, license fee, and

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: House File 4188, the commerce omnibus policy bill, was presented as a consumer-protection measure covering several areas: a statewide ban on crypto ATMs/kiosks beginning August 1, 2026; new recordkeeping and complaint-handling requirements; student loan borrower protections; restrictions on deceptive insurance advertising and insurance lead generators; bullion dealer jurisdiction clarifications; appraisal and appraisal management reporting requirements; scrap metal transaction tracking; collection agency clarifications; and unclaimed property improvements. The bill author said the overall goal was to address real consumer harm, especially scams and transparency issues. Representative O'Driscoll urged adoption of the A3 amendment, explaining that it removed tax provisions that had come late in the process and could be handled in the tax bill instead. The amendment was adopted without objection. During floor debate on the bill, Representative Roach opposed the crypto kiosk ban, saying the state could regulate fraud without eliminating the machines entirely. Representative O'Driscoll defended the ban as necessary to protect older and vulnerable Minnesotans from scam tactics, and Representative McDonald raised concerns about a separate scrap metal licensing provision and a $500 late fee, which Representative Holland said had been recommended by the Department of Commerce. After discussion, the bill author reiterated support for the measure and thanked committee and staff members. The House then took a roll call vote and passed House File 4188 as amended by a vote of 122-12, with its title agreed to.

Transcript Highlights:

• under the assumption that maybe if I'm wrong because most of them are enterprise funds and be the fees
• so if you're bringing new septic septic to sewer conversion, tapping into the so there should be a fee
• And then there's a tie in fee as well and that it is not going to obviously cover the cost of removing
• Because I want to do septic to sewer conversions that the fee portion of the connection is not allow
• And the answer has always was pretty simple. Follow the money.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Based the value of the unlawful contribution or expenditure and reasonable attorney's fees.
• This bill's simple disclosure requirement creates minimal burden while providing protection to election
• So, Texas utilities already implement anti-solar rates and fees in the absence of regulation.
• In 2024, we published a study of solar compensation rates and fees at 127 of the 141 non-competing. in
• And given this pattern of proposing and implementing anti-solar rates and fees, we don't believe that

Bills: HB 13, HB143, HB144, HB145, HB366, HB470, HB805, HB912, HB13, HB143, HB144, HB145

Keywords: emergency communication, infrastructure, first responders, grant program, interoperability, Texas Interoperability Council, local governments, HB 143, Texas Railroad Commission, Public Utility Commission of Texas, Natural Resources Code, oil and gas, well site, surface facility, electrical power line, National Electrical Code, NEC, electrical safety, utility disconnect, service disconnection