Transcript Highlights:

• And so this $100,000 would help us buy the software and implement the initial implementation costs for
• Some of our judges appear through Google Meets rather than traveling up to Albuquerque, and it would
• be helpful to be able to hear clearly what they're saying when they're appearing on the screen.
• So again, some of these are small, or at least seem small initially, but they can add up.
• We did raise some questions on the numbers that they're looking at initially.

Transcript Highlights:

• It's the genesis of this. is after numerous voter-initiated drives and municipalities encountered problems
• when various ballot initiatives and harder challenges were done through 2017 through 2021 and beyond
• This bill is designed to enable TCEQ and the industry to initiate a cultural shift regarding battery
• I don't know if y'all have taken an uber in Austin, Texas lately. but it appears to me that 90% of all
• But as I read the bill, it appears to me that one of the definitions where you have law enforcement's

Bills: HCR35, SJR59, SJR84, SCR30, SB127, SB317, SB324, SB457, SB506, SB511, SB529, SB547, SB584, SB619, SB636, SB646, SB659, SB715, SB732, SB735, SB771, SB784, SB800, SB801, SB904, SB1026, SB1049, SB1065, SB1181, SB1224, SB1250, SB1383, SB1467, SB1524, SB1528, SB1531, SB1568, SB1585, SB1640, SB1681, SB1754, SB1757, SB1777, SB1972, SB1980, SB2007, SB2041, SB2046, SB2050, SB2055, SB2069, SB2080, SB2119, SB2138, SB2139, SB2154, SB2201, SB2225, SB2268, SB2306, SB2308, SB2310, SB2330, SB2366, SB2375, SB2392, SB2401, SB2422, SB2480, SB2514, SB2530, SB2533, SB2543, SB2544, SB2589, SB2610, SB2615, SB2623, SB2660, SB2662, SB2693, SB2695, SB2707, SB2722, SB2742, SB2753, SB2807, SB2843, SB2844, SB2858, SB2880, SB2885, SB2891, SB2925, SB2938, SB2986, SJR3, SJR18, SB5, SB914, SB963, SB1197, SB1415, SB1437, SB1786, SB326, SB767, SB769, SB783, SB1035, SB1271, SB1619, SB1637, SB1806, SB1, SB260, HB135, HB1109, HCR35, HCR64, SJR36, SJR50, SJR63, SJR84, SJR59, SCR12, SCR39, SCR48, SCR19, SCR30, SCR3, SB2023, SB619, SB2742, SB646, SB1026, SB2880, SB62, SB666, SB847, SB284, SB854, SB1073, SB810, SB1505, SB583, SB1502, SB507, SB1434, SB1376, SB1585, SB1772, SB2016, SB1163, SB1122, SB731, SB397, SB508, SB1436, SB287, SB261, SB1882, SB393, SB1791, SB529, SB209, SB2429, SB1999, SB511, SB2309, SB510, SB584, SB1085, SB2046, SB1975, SB2717, SB1262, SB1524, SB636, SB2056, SB884, SB517, SB1200, SB1845, SB1863, SB2681, SB2200, SB2199, SB1757, SB2050, SB2458, SB2201, SB2660, SB2662, SB1065, SB801, SB2533, SB3014, SB3013, SB758, SB1721, SB2366, SB1013, SB2797, SB2383, SB1754, SB2119, SB2448, SB1777, SB1283, SB2392, SB2076, SB2786, SB2876, SB2284, SB2225, SB1540, SB2929, SB1972, SB2540, SB2595, SB2217, SB715, SB2330, SB1383, SB500, SB1640, SB2001, SB2080, SB506, SB2514, SB2753, SB2398, SB1241, SB2927, SB2173, SB2538, SB898, SB1449, SB2529, SB1531, SB2846, SB2476, SB986, SB1181, SB2075, SB2154, SB2864, SB1359, SB2386, SB771, SB2844, SB2550, SB1351, SB1423, SB1931, SB2245, SB2589, SB2707, SB2807, SB410, SB659, SB2776, SB2693, SB2580, SB1980, SB1886, SB1234, SB739, SB456, SB127, SB1666, SB2843, SB2801, SB800, SB2055, SB784, SB2986, SB735, SB1012, SB324, SB2926, SB2938, SB2007, SB2138, SB1242, SB2615, SB1049, SB2310, SB1224, SB2972, SB1568, SB2841, SB2885, SB3016, SB2858, SB2610, SB2139, SB1856, SB2035, SB2308, SB2306, SB2041, SB1528, SB1681, SB1141, SB2401, SB2530, SB2375, SB547, SB1266, SB1373, SB1467, SB2069, SB2269, SB2480, SB2544, SB672, SB904, SB2695, SB2891, SB2422, SB2543, SB1854, SB317, SB2539, SB2532, SB2925, SB1250, SB2082, SB2203, SB457, SB2357, SB2721, SB243, SB1285, SB2568, SB1959, SB1442, SB1454, SB2520, SB2541, SB1708, SB1237, SB1844, SB1586, HB1392, HB22, SB1551, SB3039, SB2819, SB66, SB629, SB1015, SB2342, SB2903, SB2933, SB1965, SB2477, SB3029, SB2605, SB2419, SB1957, SB375, SB250, SB777, SB628, SB2523, SB2367, SB2703, SB2608, SB2778, SB3044, SB2965, SB2521, SB865

Keywords: spaceports, tax-exempt bonds, aerospace investment, Texas space economy, Federal legislation, education funding, Texas State Technical College System, capital projects, infrastructure, higher education, tax exemption, property tax, homestead, fire damage, constitutional amendment, Birding Capital, Matagorda County, wildlife, conservation, Texas Legislature

Transcript Highlights:

• Burdell, did we catch you on the initial roll call? OK, we did. OK. Go ahead Mr. Goodman.
• So, If you're taking something that happens after the initial crime has already occurred.
• I initially did neglected to do that. Any, any other question or comment, Mr. Wu?
• I assure you that my colleagues also support this initiative.
• And on the outside you can appear really strong. And some stuff will just trigger you.

Bills: HB268, HB305, HB307

Keywords: gun show, firearm sales, criminal background check, firearm regulation, gun show promoter, election procedures, voter registration, residence requirements, change of address, voter eligibility, youth camp, flood safety, life jackets, grant program, flotation devices

Transcript Highlights:

• Chairman Flores and members of the committee, thank you for the opportunity to appear before you today
• And I'm Cindy Wheelis, and I appeared before this body last year, or last session, I apologize.
• Thank you, Chairman, and I'm Cindy Wheelis, and I appeared before this body last year.
• commits them to us forensically, that initial commitment is for 30 days.
• The court can and often does recommit them to us on that same initial charge.

Keywords: 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Ian Huitt appearing for Cornerstone.
• of HHS that support these initiatives. of HHS that support these initiatives.
• this initiative.
• There's this initiative and arms here.
• I think broadly now this initiative.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Mariah Yosu, on behalf of Ulupono Initiative.
• <01:31:03.880> before the last time that I um appeared before the last time that I um appeared
• This will be the last bill I am appearing before you on today.
• This will be the last bill I am appearing before you on today.
• <01:56:22.320> good expected so I wanted to appear good expected so I wanted to appear good

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The committee first considered House Bill 1324, which would require the Judiciary to contract for legal services for residential tenants in landlord-tenant disputes and allow attorneys, paralegals, and law students to provide those services, with an appropriation. The Department of the Attorney General recommended removing reference to Hawaii Public Housing Authority tenants because HPHA eviction proceedings are administrative and could conflict with the bill. Hawaii Appleseed and other testifiers strongly supported the measure, citing studies showing much higher tenant retention when counsel is available, and suggested adding notice of the right to counsel at key points such as rent increases, eviction notices, and lease signing. The committee adopted amendments, including the Attorney General’s suggested change and a technical amendment, and passed the bill out with a recommendation to move it forward; members voted aye, with one member voting with reservations and several excused. The committee then heard House Bill 126 on property forfeiture, which would increase transparency and accountability in civil asset forfeiture by clarifying covered property, changing disposition rules, and removing language requiring liberal construction of the forfeiture act. The Attorney General said forfeiture remains an important law enforcement tool and that the bill would not impair its use. The Office of the Public Defender supported the measure but argued civil forfeiture is broadly problematic because many people cannot meaningfully challenge it and are not entitled to counsel. Honolulu Police Department opposed the bill, saying forfeiture is useful in fighting illegal activity and that added procedures would delay enforcement and reduce operational funding from forfeiture proceeds. Community Alliance on Prisons, the Drug Policy Forum of Hawaii, and other supporters urged reform or abolition of civil forfeiture, citing transparency concerns and the risk of abuse. No vote on HB 126 was taken in the portion provided. The final measure discussed was House Bill 166, which would require the state to defend professionally licensed or certified state employees in certain civil actions, allow employees to hire their own counsel at their own expense, and set a process for the Attorney General to transfer or withdraw representation if the state declines to defend. Testimony from the Hawaii Association for Justice and labor representatives was in strong support, describing the bill as a negotiated clarification that balances employee protections with accountability and noting it had passed previously but died in conference. The transcript cuts off before any committee action on HB 166.

Transcript Highlights:

• been anticipated when they initially passed it out of Ways and Means.
• <00:19:45.679> been lower number than had initially been lower number than had initially been
• :47.760> passed anticipated when they initially passed anticipated when they initially passed
• Section 11 is a governor's initiative Section 11 is a governor's initiative and<00:24:19.440>
• > um<00:29:29.440> MA<00:29:29.760> and initiative to clarify um MA and initiative

Bills: HF2435

Keywords: healthcare, dementia services, public health funding, opioid prevention, women's health, community health boards, mental health, 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Elbers reform that you're seeing, and you'll see this in most every agency, and you'll see it what appears
• I think there was initial oversight of what we thought was a one-time issue in Head Start.
• It appears that the Department of Corrections' budget has remained fairly flat. Is that correct?
• It appears so. Yes, Centrics, you're recognized for a question on the bill.

Bills: SB1177

Keywords: education funding, mental health services, public safety, housing, state budget, 914, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And then I also want to add that the receipt must include a website address where the customer can initiate
• And the bill, could you please make sure staff gets your card and doesn't appear we have one but come
• And no matter what information was on that pop-up screen or how often the pop-up screen appeared or how
• So the Tut wishing to appear in person. >> So that if you're you're recognized to close. Thank you.

Transcript Highlights:

• And if there's anyone who wants to speak today, please fill out an appearance card.
• Next we have Kevin Trinka wishing to appear. Good morning! You are recognized.
• Chair: wishing to appear. Welcome. You are recognized.
• And my 'in violation of the law' is not just in the initial reaction to whether they had probable cause

Transcript Highlights:

• at any point in the application process, not only before... reviewing the claim if a final award appears
• crime is tied to a declared state of emergency, it would waive the requirements that a final award appear
• It's fine to appear. We do it the old-fashioned way here.
• rely on them so much during hurricanes and during the pandemic. ...where we had drives and various initiatives

Bills: HB104, HB2434, HB2529, HB2688, HB3161, HB3486, HB3487, HB3745, HB4044, HB4226, HB4945, HB104

Keywords: Texas Future Fund, investment review board, economic stabilization, innovative technology, national defense, retirement, service credit, Employees Retirement System of Texas, employee benefits, pension reform, salary supplement, county judges, judicial functions, state law, government compensation, public retirement systems, municipality pensions, firefighters, police officers, retirement age

Transcript Highlights:

• losses at any point in the application process, not only before reviewing the claim if a final award appears
• It would weigh the requirements of the final award appear likely and that an emergency award is deducted
• As everybody else who's appeared to testify, I'll keep it short.
• so much during hurricanes, during, uh, the pandemic, where we had, um, drives and various, um, initiatives

Bills: HB104

Keywords: property tax, ad valorem tax, tax rate election, voter-approval tax rate, no-new-revenue tax rate, de minimis rate, local government, special district, tax increase, tax notice, public hearing, tax code, Health and Safety Code, Texas property taxes, taxing unit, election threshold, two-thirds vote, majority vote, budget approval

Transcript Highlights:

• the ability to find a suitable meeting place, some, some may not, uh, when the district is in the initial
• So the attorney could stay in his office and appear on Zoom and all of the board members, don't they
• gonna drive to the attorney's office or to the district so it really there's no expense there if they appear
• district because it sounds like it's only for the convenience of the attorney and since they can appear

Transcript Highlights:

• appears at line 1.13, 1.17, and 1.32. appears at line 1.13, 1.17, and 1.32.
• since it was first when I first appeared since it was first when I first appeared on<02:07:05.840
• Those words don't actually appear in the definition.
• And that's appear in the definition.
• And that appears to privacy questions.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Now's a really good time to appear. Thank you, sir. Thank you, sir.
• That appears to be the end of the line.
• I'm John Bennett, the Initiative Director at the California Initiative for Technology and Democracy,
• Well, Senator Umberg, we appear to be at a conclusion. Thank you very much.
• So it appears that now we are at a conclusion. The dinner and drinks will be coming shortly.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Subdivision 5G provides new assurances to project proposers that initial conversations with the DNR and
• Subdivision 5G provides new assurances to project proposers that initial conversations with the DNR and
• Since 2011, when initial legislation regarding data centers was passed, the resource intensity of data
• Since 2011, when initial legislation regarding data centers was passed, the resource intensity of data
• Minnesota since 2011 when initial Minnesota since 2011 when initial legislation<00:10:12.279>

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• There have been a lot of initiatives.
• , showcasing the ongoing success of that initiative.
• By far the uh most lot of initiatives.
• Last year there were that initiative.
• <04:08:53.520> before life and I'm honored to appear before life and I'm honored to appear

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The possibility that simply appearing at a courthouse will result in detention and deportation stokes
• When a non-citizen is arrested at court and is unable to appear in the future, it makes it impossible
• This is Merrat Erkan from the Massachusetts Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, who's appearing
• This bill's goal is to make sure courts are made places where people can safely appear, participate,
• The initiative would have allowed Boston residents to resolve low-level warrants within the trusted and

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on the Judiciary held a late-file hearing on several bills, with Chairs Michael Day and Lydia Edwards outlining hearing rules, testimony limits, and written-testimony procedures. The first bill discussed was H. 4876, a proposal to strengthen supports for survivors of abuse. Representative Carol Faiola testified on behalf of a constituent who described how a lifetime restraining order was effectively undermined after a family member’s death, arguing the bill should limit abusers’ legal standing after death, improve survivor notification and privacy protections, expand coercive-control definitions, and create education and resource programs. The committee then heard testimony on H. 5111, which would strengthen the Massachusetts Antitrust Act. Representative Dave Rogers and Attorney General’s Office antitrust chief Anthony Mariano said the bill would give the state more tools to pursue anti-competitive conduct, including conduct with multi-state effects, while allowing enforcement even when federal authorities are also involved. They said it would increase penalties, clarify that invitations to conspire are violations, protect labor markets, remove limits affecting some housing transactions, and extend the statute of limitations. The committee also heard support for a related “universal 1983” bill, S. 2976/H. 2976, creating a state cause of action for constitutional violations by federal, state, or local officers acting under color of law; supporters said it would fill gaps in remedies against federal officers while preserving qualified immunity. Testimony also supported H. 4783, a bill affirming the rights of people experiencing homelessness. The Massachusetts Coalition for the Homeless said the measure would push back against growing criminalization of homelessness, especially after the Supreme Court’s Grants Pass decision and local encampment bans, and would protect the use of public spaces without discrimination based on housing status. On H. 4826, condo owners and advocates said Chapter 183A is outdated and leaves owners with too little say and too few remedies against mismanagement, citing problems such as unsafe water, major assessments, and lack of meaningful dispute resolution. The committee also heard strong support for H. 5116, renaming the Dorchester Division of the Boston Municipal Court the Judge Leslie E. Harris Courthouse, with testimony from family members, legislators, attorneys, and community leaders describing Judge Harris’s mentorship, community service, and commitment to second chances. Later testimony covered S. 2975, a bill to deter ICE courthouse arrests and protect access to justice; CPCS, law students, and defense advocates said courthouse arrests chill participation by defendants, witnesses, and victims and disrupt pending cases. The committee also heard support for H. 5244, repealing an archaic law criminalizing concealment of a child’s death, with advocates arguing it has been used to punish pregnancy loss and should be removed. The hearing concluded with additional testimony in favor of S. 2976 and more support for the Judge Harris courthouse renaming, after which the chairs closed the hearing and reminded the public how to submit written testimony.

Transcript Highlights:

• <01:15:57.040> a we would have to start and initiate a we would have to start and initiate
• continued to to use them for the initial continued to to use them for the initial design<01:24:48.639
• of the initial evaluations, some of the initial consultations, or what?
• was for some of the initial was for some of the initial evaluations<01:26:12.719> some<01
• This was simply uh we not appearing.

Keywords: This meeting will take place Upon Adjournment of both Chambers. An exact time is not given or known at this time., 958, all

Summary: The Government Contracts Committee met for its first 2026 meeting, approved the December 9 minutes, and reviewed 337 contracts totaling about $71.8 million. After a motion to consider the routine contract lists without objection passed, the committee pulled several items for discussion, including contracts from the Council on Postsecondary Education, the Department of Highways, the Kentucky Horse Racing and Gaming Commission, and Kentucky State University. Most items were ultimately approved by roll call votes. For the Council on Postsecondary Education item, members discussed why the contract was not handled through the usual Finance Cabinet bidding process. Staff explained it stemmed from House Bill 200 and the healthcare workforce incentive fund, which uses a separate competitive award process and steering committee under different statutory standards. The committee accepted that explanation and approved the contract. Department of Highways staff then explained the difference between scour assessments, which evaluate erosion and foundation risk around bridge piers, and load ratings, which assess the bridge structure itself. Members also questioned a larger engineering contract increase; staff said it reflected progression from preliminary engineering to final design on a phased project and estimated the funding split at roughly 80% federal and 20% state. Those highway contracts were approved. The Kentucky Horse Racing and Gaming Commission presented a legal services contract. Officials said the new corporation had identified legal needs, issued an RFP, and awarded four firms to create a pool of counsel to avoid conflicts as the agency now licenses racing, sports betting, and charitable gaming. They also said an emergency contract was needed after a temporary restraining order was issued in litigation involving charitable gaming machines and alleged losses to charities. The committee asked about the litigation and the affected organizations, and the contract was approved. Kentucky State University then defended a marketing/enrollment contract despite financial concerns, saying the work was intended to raise awareness of the university, improve enrollment, and support financial stability. University officials also said they were tightening student payment enforcement and collection practices, including payment plans and holding students accountable for balances. That contract was also approved.

Transcript Highlights:

• first question and uh the answer appears first question and uh the answer appears to<00:20:50.039
• And this is attachments and appearances. So Senator Putnam has a bill.
• Is the governor's position on appearances and attachments?
• Thank you, Madam Chair, for another opportunity to talk about appearances.
• with all of this but this is initially with all of this but this is initially we've<00:49:26.520

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Summary: The committee met to hear a presentation from the Commissioner of Revenue on Governor Walz and Lieutenant Governor Flanagan’s tax proposal, with members told no public testimony would be taken because bill language was not yet available. The commissioner said the proposal would lower the statewide sales tax rate by 0.75 percentage points while expanding sales tax to selected professional services such as legal, brokerage, banking, and accounting, with several carve-outs. He emphasized that the plan would not add business-to-business sales taxes, arguing that taxing business inputs leads to tax pyramiding and higher hidden consumer costs. The commissioner said the rate cut would be the first sales tax rate cut in state history and estimated it at about $95 million annually, while the service expansions would raise about $203 million to $205 million annually, for a net increase of roughly $110 million per year. He said the proposal is part of the governor’s broader budget, which he described as addressing long-term structural deficits and funding other priorities such as an R&D credit, an expanded sustainable aviation fuel credit, fraud prevention, and service-member retention bonuses. He also said the carve-outs and exemptions would be reflected in the revenue estimate. Members questioned whether the proposal was truly a tax cut or instead a tax increase, and several asked for a revenue-neutral rate if all or more services were taxed. One member raised concerns about how pro bono legal work with a fee would be treated, and another asked about possible streamlining issues and whether fees are treated as taxes in statute. The commissioner said a fee would be taxable depending on the arrangement and that the department would review the language carefully once drafted. He also said the department would provide more detailed estimates later, including what the rate would be if the tax were made revenue neutral. No votes or formal actions were taken.