Transcript Highlights:

• hearing today, and I'd like to now recognize Senate members of this committee, several of whom have texted
• I guess I would just say I know to all my colleagues I've got your text messages.
• I guess I would just say I know to all my colleagues I've got your text messages.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Veterans and Federal Affairs held its fifth public hearing of the 2025-2026 session, chaired by Senator John Velis and Representative Joe McGonagle. The chairs said the hearing focused on legislation involving tax credits, annuities, and other financial benefits for veterans, service members, and military families. Senator Velis highlighted recent action on the HERO Act, which increased the annual annuity for 100 percent disabled veterans, Gold Star parents, and Gold Star spouses from $2,000 to $2,500, and noted that legislation to ensure eligibility for Gold Star spouses had been enacted and signed into law, removing a remarriage restriction on receiving the annuity. No members of the public had pre-registered or appeared to testify in person or virtually on the bills on the agenda. After confirming that no one was present to offer testimony, the committee briefly acknowledged attendance and then moved to adjourn. The motion to adjourn was made, seconded, and approved unanimously.

Transcript Highlights:

• However, at 39 a.m. we received a text message from Travis County that stated the following Evacuate.
• They will help people, they'll take their emails, they'll send them text messages, they'll do follow-up
• I've talked to you and text you.
• And I know I was getting texts from Teetum, but also texts from you.
• Guthrie Text Disorder Development Board.

Keywords: 997, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Madam President, we are sending conflicting messages to the government.
• As you remember, this chamber did pass House Bill 1204, I believe, that did change and add text messaging
• Consideration of messages from the House.
• Moving to the 12th order of business, consideration of messages from the House.
• Moving to the 12th order of business, consideration of messages from the House.

Keywords: 908, all

Summary: The Senate convened with prayer, pledge, roll call, and a quorum present, then approved a motion to lay over House Bill 1525 for one legislative day. It also voted not to concur with House amendments on Senate Bills 2294, 2297, 2070, 4017, and 2262, appointing conference committees for each. The chamber then took up a series of House bill amendments and final-passage votes. On amendments, the Senate adopted changes to House Bill 1229 on fleeing law enforcement and driving-record transparency after debate over insurance impacts and public safety; House Bill 1510 on teacher retention, on-site child care, and licensure study language; House Bill 1160 to restrict student personal electronic devices during instructional time; House Bill 1429 to address drone harassment and stalking of animals; House Bill 1203 to harmonize medical marijuana provisions; House Bill 1600 to create a UND immigration clinic with reporting requirements; House Bill 1130 to broaden K-12 funding formula changes and reduce state fiscal impact; House Bill 1279 to modify the coal conversion tax exemption; House Bill 1442 to adjust membership and scope of a state task force; and House Bill 1464 to convert a maternal care services proposal into a study and remove the appropriation. The Senate rejected an amendment to House Bill 1022 concerning the Retirement and Investment Office bonus program, then passed the bill. It also passed House Bill 1234 on a $90 million transfer to reduce PERS liability, while rejecting a floor amendment to it. On final passage, the Senate passed House Bills 1008 (Public Service Commission budget), 1218 (temporary moratorium and study on economic analysis for drain projects), 1234 (PERS funding transfer), 1146 (PERS defined contribution cleanup and emergency clause), 1355 (expanded notice for administrative rulemaking), 1470 (Game and Fish fee changes and guide/outfitter updates), 1029 (Capital Grounds Planning Commission duties), 1017 (Game and Fish budget), 1374 (township supervisor open-meeting exemption for on-site inspections), and 1064 (NC-SARA membership and distance education regulation). It defeated House Bill 1583 on false political advertisements with civil-action language and House Bill 1393 on earned wage access provider regulation. The transcript ends as the Senate begins consideration of House Bill 1326 on self-defense and unlawful firearm possession by felons.

Transcript Highlights:

• Cuz if I get another text message from my good pharmacist, text message from my good pharmacist, text
• Brook Le, one more text Le, one more text Le, one more text message.
• should be grasp the concept that a text should be grasp the concept that a text should be a short message
• He has to a short message, Mr. Speaker. He has to a short message, Mr. Speaker.
• and the many text and the many text messages from all the pharmacists in messages from all the pharmacists

Bills: HB 10, HB 12, HB 147, HB 1522, HB 422, HB 675, HB 204, HB 748, HB 912

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:

• And so yet our message as lawmakers is we have to do something about crime, but we certainly don't put
• It doesn't have a message yet. There's a bill.
• We're trying to get that into the budget, but I just think we've got to get the message.
• I agree, and I actually sent out messages to my constituents, same thing.
• Sent out messages to my constituents. Same thing.

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Senate, all right, now we move on to house messages. Message from the lieutenant...
• Message from the House, Mr.
• Message from the House, Mr.
• Message from the House, Mr.
• Message from the House, Mr.

Bills: SJR 18, SCR 5, SCR 13, SCR 25, SB 3, SB 6, SB 10, SB 11, SB 12, SB 13, SB 15, SB 17, SB 18, SB 35, SB 388, SB 412, SB 441, SB 495, SB 666, SB 687, SB 706, SB 740, SB 815, SB 842, SB 917, SB 925, SB 995, SB 1006, SB 1281, SB 1300, SB 1379, SB 1451, SB 1902, SJR 36, SJR 18, SJR 12, SCR 13, SCR 25, SCR 5, SCR 22, SB 565, SB 372, SB 495, SB 842, SB 765, SB 62, SB 19, SB 18, SB 666, SB 707, SB 888, SB 687, SB 706, SB 847, SB 290, SB 11, SB 10, SB 13, SB 412, SB 441, SB 1248, SB 740, SB 14, SB 1006, SB 504, SB 917, SB 925, SB 388, SB 1902, SB 1121, SB 995, SB 857, SB 305, SB 296, SB 284, SB 35, SB 6, SB 815, SB 3, SB 1281, SB 1379, SB 1300, SB 1497, SB 1499, SB 1498, SB 1451, SB 1061, SB 15, SB 65, SB 241, SB 304, SB 402, SB 499, SB 621, SB 974, SB 1023, SB 1024, SB 1025, SB 1106, SB 686, SB 112, SB 371, SB 204, SB 400, SB 609, SB 1447, SB 670, SB 502, SB 427, SB 850, SB 854, SB 413, SB 1555, SB 1362, SB 1346, SB 1033, SB 1220, SB 1073, SB 810, SB 987, SB 1539, SB 893, SB 447, SB 875, SB 406, SB 509, SB 985, SB 965, SB 17, SB 1119, SB 1505, SB 12, SB 24, SB 57, SB 1194, SB 1253, SB 1215, SB 1532, SB 1268, SCR 12, SCR 24, SB 1302, SB 856, SB 650, SB 583, SB 673, SB 840, SJR 18, SB 11, SB 441, SB 10, SB 18, SB 412, SB 495, SR 238, SR 264, SR 266, SR 267, SR 268, SR 270, SR 271, SR 272, SR 278, SB 1169, SB 1169

Keywords: capital gains, taxation, constitutional amendment, state revenue, individual investment, SCR 5, Senate Concurrent Resolution 5, Texas School for the Deaf, TSD, Robert Rives, gymnasium naming, building naming, honorary resolution, commemorative resolution, deaf education, hard of hearing, Gallaudet University, alumni hall of fame, football coach, school facility naming

Transcript Highlights:

• So this bill would allow the exploiter to be served in the same manner, such as text message, Facebook
• message... ...would allow the exploiter to be served in the same manner, such as text message, Facebook
• We notify the exploiter through the same means that they've been dealing with mom, whether it's text
• message.
• With mom, whether it's text message.

Summary: The Committee on Children, Families, and Elder Affairs met with a quorum and first took up SB 398, which would create a statewide public health awareness campaign through the Department of Elder Affairs on Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias. Senator Burgess said the campaign would focus on early detection, brain health, risk reduction, clinical trial access, and community resources. The committee heard supportive testimony from a caregiver, AARP, the Alzheimer’s Association, and others, with members discussing the need for culturally responsive outreach and continued funding. SB 398 was reported favorably by roll call vote. The committee then heard SB 106, which would strengthen Florida’s exploitation injunction law for vulnerable adults by allowing service of an unascertainable exploiter through the same communication method used to contact the victim, such as text, Facebook Messenger, or WhatsApp. Senator Martin explained the bill as a way to close a loophole that lets scammers evade traditional service, and witnesses from the Florida Bankers Association and the Florida Bar’s Elder Law Section supported it, describing how the bill could stop ongoing thefts more quickly while preserving due process. Members asked about gift card scams, clerk workload, and the definition of an unascertainable respondent. SB 106 was reported favorably. The Department of Children and Families then presented an update on the Adoption Benefits for Qualifying Adoptive Employees Program, describing its expansion over time and the current one-time lump-sum benefit structure for eligible adoptive parents. The presentation covered eligibility rules, open enrollment, funding history, and the program’s impact on adoption placements, with members asking why tax collectors were included but other constitutional offices were not, and whether foster relatives could qualify. Finally, the committee considered SPB 7012, a committee bill addressing child welfare workforce shortages, treatment foster care for high-acuity children, and improved data collection on commercially sexually exploited children. The bill would direct DCF to recruit former public safety workers for CPI and case manager roles, create a treatment foster care pilot in two judicial circuits, and require more detailed, analyzable data and capacity studies. The bill drew support from child welfare advocates, with some members urging DCF to return with a more developed framework; it was adopted as a committee bill and reported favorably.

Transcript Highlights:

• And so with your assurances, because I know I got a text message, and so did Senator Pizzle from one
• And so with your assurances, because I know I got a text message, and so did Senator Pizzle from one
• Because I know I got a text message, and so did Senator Pizzle from one of our school board members,
• And I'm adamantly against texting and driving. This is not a ban on texting.
• It can come in a form of actually texting.

Summary: The Senate opened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, doctor and guest introductions, and then took up Committee Substitute for Senate Bill 168, the Tristan Murphy Act, on mental health. Senator Bradley described the bill as a major criminal justice and behavioral health reform measure that would expand pretrial mental health diversion, strengthen treatment-based probation conditions, broaden grant uses for mental health and substance abuse programs, add Hillsborough County to a forensic hospital diversion pilot, require certain DOC mental health evaluations, and create a Florida Behavioral Health Data Repository. Senators from both parties spoke in strong support, emphasizing treatment over incarceration, public safety, data collection, and the Murphy family’s role in advancing the bill. The Senate passed the bill 37-0 and then approved 37 co-sponsors. The chamber then received the Senate’s 2025-26 General Appropriations Bill, SB 2500, with Chair Hooper outlining a $117.4 billion budget that he said reduces spending, preserves reserves, and includes major investments in water quality, transportation, education infrastructure, and reporting requirements. Committee chairs summarized their portions: K-12 funding at $34.7 billion with increases for FEFP, scholarships, VPK, school hardening, and school safety; higher education at $11.5 billion with workforce, nursing, reading, autism, and student aid investments; health and human services with a $1.8 billion increase for Medicaid, mental health, opioid response, disability services, and veterans programs; criminal and civil justice at $7.6 billion for corrections, juvenile justice, law enforcement, courts, and judgeships; transportation/tourism/economic development at about $18 billion including roads, housing, Visit Florida, and cultural grants; and agriculture/environment/general government with major Everglades, water quality, citrus, food bank, and agency IT funding. Members then questioned several budget items, especially education funding formulas, the shift of scholarship dollars below the line, the impact on public school districts, AP/IB and other accelerated program funding, the APD wait list, opioid settlement spending, arts grants, and the My Safe Florida Home and condo pilot programs. Chairs generally said scholarship and accelerated-program dollars were being restructured for transparency and flexibility rather than cut, that school districts would still receive funding based on enrollment, and that APD and other human services issues would continue to be worked out in conference. The budget discussion concluded with remarks praising staff and noting a 4% across-the-board pay raise for state employees and targeted increases for law enforcement and firefighters, followed by a recognition for FAMU Day at the Capitol.

Transcript Highlights:

• That is the wrong message to send.
• Not only was a message put on the DTA website, but thousands of text messages went across the Commonwealth
• I hope the website takes down that message. I hope the governor will do this.
• A message from Her Excellency, the Governor has been filed with the Clerk.
• Duran moved to amend the resolution by striking out the text and inserting in place thereof new text.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Senate first adopted an emergency preamble for H. 4521, establishing a sick leave bank for Kathleen Roder of the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, by standing vote, with 8 in favor and none opposed. The chamber also suspended rules to refer several petitions to committee, including a resolution to rescind prior Article 5 constitutional convention applications and a petition on officer training related to stage suicides. Committee reports moved several bills forward, including legislation clarifying the duties of the Adjutant General and enhancing access and support for military-connected families, both with new drafts, and a bill designating Veterans Suicide Awareness and Remembrance Day, which was ordered to a third reading. A major portion of the session focused on the House’s nonconcurrence in the Senate’s amendment to the fiscal year 2025 supplemental budget and the appointment of a conference committee. Senators from both parties debated how to respond to the federal government shutdown and the threatened lapse in SNAP benefits, with repeated calls for the Commonwealth to use available state resources to prevent hunger, protect vulnerable residents, and seek federal reimbursement. Several members criticized the governor’s use of taxpayer-funded communications on the issue, while others defended the administration’s limited initial response and emphasized fiscal constraints. The Senate ultimately insisted on its amendment and appointed a conference committee consisting of Senators Rodrigues, Comerford, and O’Connor. The chamber also passed several local and special bills, including measures exempting Natick’s assistant fire chief from civil service, authorizing sewer service in Sharon, changing the term of the elected moderator in Holden, updating Medford’s linkage exaction program, and establishing sick leave banks for Candy J. Pike and Kathleen Roder. The Senate later adopted amended resolutions calling on the President of the United States to release contingency funds for SNAP during the shutdown, adopted an order to adjourn to the following Monday, and then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Completing the state's transition to a modern next-generation 911 system, which will allow voice, text
• Has elected to use a service that allows us to send out emergency text messages, and I'm talking 100,000
• social media, but we've found that the text messaging currently is the best...
• Posting on social media, but we found that the text messaging currently is the best way to get a warning
• Don't take your... posting on social media, but we found that the text messaging currently is the best

Summary: The committee held a hearing on active and mass shootings in California, focusing on prevention, response, training, communications, and gaps in preparedness across law enforcement, schools, campuses, fire, EMS, and state agencies. Opening remarks emphasized the frequency and impact of gun violence, the need for faster coordinated response, and the importance of learning from recent tragedies such as the Stockton-area mass shooting described by Sheriff Patrick Withrow. The first panel included representatives from police, sheriff, and campus public safety agencies, who discussed incident command, interoperable communications, next-generation 911, threat assessment, emergency notification systems, and the value of joint drills and cross-agency planning. Witnesses also highlighted differences in training and authority across jurisdictions, especially for private university public safety departments versus public campus police. Campus representatives said they rely heavily on municipal law enforcement for armed response, while also using run-hide-fight protocols, text alerts, surveillance, and threat assessment teams. Members raised concerns about standardized training, after-action reviews, mental health resources, school resource officers, and whether campus safety plans and drills are sufficiently consistent or workable. Sheriff Withrow argued that early intervention and accountability are being weakened by well-intentioned laws, while other witnesses stressed prevention through relationships, diversion, and coordinated support services. The second panel from Cal OES, the Department of Education, POST, and EMSA described statewide systems and standards. Cal OES outlined its Reduce the Risk initiative, gun violence restraining orders, mutual aid, unified command, after-action reporting, and nonprofit security grants. The Department of Education explained California’s statutory school safety framework, annual safety plans, regulated armed assailant drills, and local flexibility, while acknowledging compliance gaps and the need for more mental health support. POST described the new requirement for 16 hours of standardized active shooter training for recruits and ongoing local training options. EMSA explained its role in medical response and terrorism training standards. No votes or formal actions were taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• Wake up from those texts and calls. And at what time did you wake up?
• However, at 4.39 a.m., we received a text message from Travis County that stated the following.
• They will help people, they'll take their emails, they'll send me text messages, they'll do follow-ups
• And I know I was getting texts from TITM, but also texts from you.
• We texted earlier today about that. system.

Keywords: 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• message.
• Corroborated would be an actual screenshot of those text messages that come from that.
• So, a fully anonymous tip with no corroborating evidence, so no other person verifying, no text Message
• screenshots of the text message.
• We put this in place two years Ago, and I think that we've sent a message that we don't want any kind

Bills: HB1937, HB2153, HB3674, HB2978, HB3885, HB3671, HB3261, HB3021, HB3029, HB4274, HB3701, HB3076

Keywords: HB1937, Oklahoma schools, student communications, electronic communication, digital communication, parent notification, legal guardian, school personnel, teachers, coaches, administrators, charter schools, public schools, administrative leave, corroborated report, investigation, employee file, discipline, termination, school board

Transcript Highlights:

• . >> Does this include text messages?
• Go ahead. >> I'll be quiet. >> Does this include text messages?
• >> Does<00:10:26.959> this<00:10:27.120> include<00:10:27.519> text<00:10:
• 27.839> messages?
• >> Does this include text messages? >> Does this include text messages?

Bills: HB42, SB246, SB38, SB194, SB183, SB253, SB160

Keywords: unclaimed vehicles, towing, Department of Revenue, notification requirements, abandoned vehicles, real estate, residential property, single-family home, homeowner protection, property solicitation, unsolicited offer, wholesaling, real estate wholesaling, assignment contract, equitable interest, investment property, house flipping, predatory real estate practices, title cloud, deceptive trade practices

Transcript Highlights:

• It's, it's you're, you're paying money to get your message out in.
• The filer stated there is no reason that the TEC could send a text message at 12:01 a.m. to reform, inform
• message one minute after a report is overdue.
• He's been on here and I'm, I'm texting him now saying we're hearing yours now.
• In fact, I received a message from someone.

Transcript Highlights:

• That is per text message.
• And anyone with a child knows that they can text quite a few messages in a very short amount of time,
• That is per text message.<01:55:06.239> And<01:55:06.480> anyone<01:55:06.800> with<
• So if one text message was benign on its own, that wouldn't count.
• So if one text message was benign on its own, that wouldn't count.

Keywords: 981, all

Summary: The House convened, established a quorum, and approved the journal. Members then made several announcements about upcoming committee meetings, including Appropriations, Agriculture/Water/Natural Resources, State/Civic/Military/Veterans Affairs, and Finance. The chamber also observed a moment of silence honoring the 13 victims of the Columbine High School shooting on its anniversary, with names read into the record. The House adopted Senate Joint Resolution 19, which celebrates Colorado’s sister-state relationship with Taiwan, supports stronger trade and academic ties, supports the double-taxation agreement, and endorses Taiwan’s participation in international organizations. Supporters highlighted Colorado exports, especially beef, and the long-standing economic and democratic ties between Colorado and Taiwan. The resolution passed on a 60-yes vote with five excused. The House then moved into special orders, including House Bill 1346, which would allow the Department of the Treasury to use a third-party purchaser to sell remaining insurance premium tax credits. Supporters argued the bill would help fully place the credits and avoid a revenue shortfall, while opponents criticized it as a form of borrowing against future revenue and market gaming. After debate, House Bill 1346 passed. The chamber also began consideration of Senate Bill 40, a Prop 123 cleanup bill related to affordable home ownership and land banking. Amendments L16 and L17 passed, while amendment L18, which would have required more reporting on project costs and outcomes, failed. Debate on the bill centered on housing affordability, program flexibility, and whether the state is effectively measuring results.

Transcript Highlights:

• Messages from the House. The reader will read the message. Mr.
• Messages from the House. The reader will read the message. Mr. House. Messages from the House.
• The reader will read the message. Mr.
• The entire transaction is tracked and logged via text messages.
• Messages from the House: the reader will read the message. Mr.

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• AND MESSAGE TESTING AND UNDERSTANDING HOW TO MOVE PERCEPTION OF CONSUMERS IS IMPORTANT.
• IS THERE ANY TYPE OF MESSAGE TESTING, COLLABORATION ON HOW TO EDUCATE CONSUMERS AND HOW THIS COULD BRING
• IN PARTICULAR, THE TEXTS THAT ARE FROM THE IRS OR SUN PAST TELLING YOU ARE ABOUT TO BE ARRESTED.
• IS THERE ANYTHING THAT AT&T IS DOING TO START MATCHING UP THOSE FALSE FAKE TEXT MESSAGES SO PEOPLE ARE
• WE ALSO OFFER TOOLS, APPS, ON YOUR PHONE THAT YOU CAN GO IN AND CURATE WHAT TEXT MESSAGES AND CALLS YOU

Transcript Highlights:

• I've been following him for a long time since last year when we got vetoed through phone messages and
• text, and it was a good bill last year.
• <00:03:05.840> and vetoed uh through phone messages and vetoed uh through phone messages and
• text<00:03:06.480> and<00:03:06.680> it<00:03:06.800> was<00:03:06.920> a
• and it was a good bill last year, text and it was a good bill last year, it's<00:03:08.160> a

Keywords: Meeting Start: 00:00 Roll Call: 00:21 HB 480 Discussion: 01:40 HB 480 Voting: 02:36 HB 577 Discussion: 05:14 HB 577 Voting: 08:38 HB 692 Discussion: 09:23 HB 692 Voting: 14:00 HB 869 Discussion: 15:21 HB 869 Voting: 18:56, 958, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Message will be entered. House Executive Message Number 29.
• Message will be entered. House Executive Message Number 30.
• Message will be entered. House Executive Message Number 32.
• Message will be entered. House Executive Message No. 35.
• Message will be entered. House Executive Message Number 36. Message will be entered.

Bills: HM19

Keywords: New Mexico Aviation and Aerospace Day, aviation, aerospace, space industry, missile programs, Spaceport America, White Sands Missile Range, White Sands Test Facility, Kirtland Air Force Base, drone, unmanned aircraft systems, commercial space transportation, NASA, aircraft, STEM education, research laboratories, Sandia National Laboratories, Los Alamos National Laboratory, flight testing, medical evacuation

Transcript Highlights:

• And I come here carrying a message from greater Minnesota, uh, in the Duluth Unitos, which is a collective
• <00:03:32.720> from >> And I come here carrying a message from >> And I come here
• carrying a message from greater<00:03:33.240> Minnesota greater Minnesota greater Minnesota uh
• This is a message of us in We care.
• because that's also a strong message because that's also a strong message that's<00:30:50.960>

Keywords: 1183, house