Transcript Highlights:

• members going in and out because of other committees, assignments and so forth, but a couple of administrative
• The House Committee on Administration is electronic public comment process for all Texans. be posted

Keywords: administrative matters, public testimony, committee schedules, legislation, collaboration

Summary: The committee meeting focused on several administrative matters, alongside public comments and expert testimonies regarding the proposed legislation. Representative Shaheen highlighted concerns regarding the parameters for public comment, ensuring that only embodied testimonies would be allowed during this session. The meeting was well-attended, and members frequently moved in and out due to overlapping committee schedules. The atmosphere was one of collaboration, underscored by a strong presence of both committee members and the public.

Transcript Highlights:

• As a matter of fact, one of the things that was really interesting to note when I was working with them
• The school board members and administrators must receive yearly training on the Open Public Meetings
• right now where we can say yes to every investment in the people of our state, I think it really matters
• As a matter of fact, it's hurting folks with health care.
• As a matter of fact, it's hurting folks with health care even more than we did, than the state did last

Bills: HB2289

Keywords: appropriations, budget, fiscal matters, state spending, general fund, supplemental budget, biennial budget, substitute bill, public defense, civil legal aid, courts, judicial branch, homelessness, supportive housing, affordable housing, behavioral health, juvenile rehabilitation, youth services, child welfare, foster care

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm the administrator.
• My name is Sam Mokashi, Administrator at Avamere Rehab Physical.
• These investments matter deeply to the young people we work alongside.
• These investments matter deeply to the young people we work alongside.
• As a Latino student myself, representation and access matter.

Bills: HB2289

Keywords: appropriations, budget, fiscal matters, state spending, general fund, supplemental budget, biennial budget, substitute bill, public defense, civil legal aid, courts, judicial branch, homelessness, supportive housing, affordable housing, behavioral health, juvenile rehabilitation, youth services, child welfare, foster care

Summary: The House Appropriations Committee held a public hearing on the proposed substitute House Bill 2289 operating budget. Staff briefed the committee on the budget outlook, including near-general-fund resources, assumed revenue legislation, transfers from the Budget Stabilization Account, maintenance costs, policy-level spending and savings, and the chair’s administrative reduction policy. Members asked for clarification on the higher education building-account/Climate Commitment Act financing mechanism, and staff explained how the operating, capital, and surplus-fund pieces interact. Amendment deadlines were also announced. Public testimony was extensive and largely focused on the budget’s impacts on K-12 education, early learning and child care, higher education, long-term care, behavioral health, disability services, public defense, local government, and climate-related programs. Many speakers opposed cuts to transition to kindergarten, local effort assistance, Running Start, school bus depreciation, and higher education support, while others urged restoration of funding for child care, energy assistance, victim services, the Recovery Navigator program, therapy services under Medicaid, assisted living and skilled nursing, and services for people with developmental disabilities. Several witnesses also supported wildfire prevention and forest health funding, public health and reproductive health investments, and civil legal aid. A number of agencies and organizations thanked the committee for preserving or restoring specific items, including wildfire response funding, court interpreter and visitor programs, public health services, and some behavioral health and long-term care investments. Others urged changes, such as restoring the Public Works Assistance Account, maintaining the organized retail crime pilot, funding mentoring and youth services, and extending support for the Washington College Grant for certain vocational students. No votes or final committee action were taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm calling this meeting of the Senate Administrative Rules Committee to order.
• So it Feels like since we started the Administrative Rules Committee, this was an undertaking that had
• By placing this guidance transparency act within the Oklahoma Administrative Procedures Act, agencies
• That's an order that effectively ended administrative amendments for gender identity changes.
• So with that, I look forward to us having a productive year in administrative rules, and we

Bills: HJR1032, SB1273, SB1433

Keywords: HJR1032, House Joint Resolution 1032, Service Oklahoma, administrative rules, rule repeal, joint resolution, Oklahoma Administrative Code, OAC 670:15-1-10, OAC 670:15-1-14, agency regulation, legislative oversight, Secretary of State, Oklahoma Register, rulemaking, permanent rules, administrative code, state government, task force, agency review, board review

Bills: HJR1101

Keywords: Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority, OMMA, medical marijuana, cannabis, marijuana regulation, administrative rules, permanent rules, rule approval, joint resolution, legislative oversight, Title 75 Section 308, Oklahoma Administrative Code, OAC 442, patients, caregivers, licensees, dispensaries, growers, processors

Summary: The committee met briefly to consider one item, H.J.R. 1101, a rule related to the Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority that had been left out of the Business and Commerce process because it was initially thought to be a major rule. The presenter explained that it was later determined not to be a major rule, but still needed committee action for the rule to take effect. After a motion, second, and no debate, the committee voted unanimously 9-0 to adopt it. After the vote, the chair told members that several additional Senate joint resolutions were still pending and were expected to arrive later that day, with action anticipated the next day or Thursday. He said he would try to keep the process within normal procedure rather than using a rule suspension, and would notify members when the items were ready. The chair also addressed a prior exchange involving the Long-Range Capital Planning Commission, saying he had met with the commission, apologized for using them as an example of agency frustration, and that they had since withdrawn their rules and would work on emergency rules to address the issue. With no further questions, the meeting adjourned.

Bills: HJR1101

Keywords: Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority, OMMA, medical marijuana, cannabis, marijuana regulation, administrative rules, permanent rules, rule approval, joint resolution, legislative oversight, Title 75 Section 308, Oklahoma Administrative Code, OAC 442, patients, caregivers, licensees, dispensaries, growers, processors, 914

Transcript Highlights:

• businesses and nonprofit entities under the Uniform Business Organization Code with a number of administrative
• The Uniform Business Organization Code covers a number of administrative functions.
• The Secretary of State administratively deposits $50 of that annual license fee into the general fund
• The state administrative office, of course, would also develop similar classes for judicial officers.
• Why does that matter?

Bills: HB2543

Keywords: county clerk, fees, local government, administrative costs, revenue generation, 904, all

Summary: The Law and Justice Committee heard public testimony on several bills. House Bill 2248 was described as a technical cleanup measure for Secretary of State corporate, nonprofit, trademark, foreign entity, student exchange, and apostille filing processes; the prime sponsor and Secretary of State staff supported it, while one testifier raised concerns about multiple LLCs and transparency in manufactured housing communities. House Bill 2508 would expand the Office of Independent Investigations’ jurisdiction to older deadly-force cases and certain non-deadly-force incidents tied to deaths, broaden agency notification and records access requirements, and exempt additional records from public disclosure; the sponsor and OII supported it, and members asked about how far back cases could be reviewed. House Bill 2203 would create reckless interference with emergency operations for driving around closures, with enhanced penalties and license suspensions in aggravated cases; fire chiefs supported it, while defense lawyers argued it was unnecessary and disproportionate. House Bill 1909 would create a Court Unification Task Force to study disparities in Washington’s court system; the sponsor, legal aid, and access-to-justice advocates supported it, while the committee noted a large number of signed-in opponents. House Bill 2095 would create a rebuttable presumption of negligence for drivers who injure or kill vulnerable road users in designated areas, along with education, damages, and fee-shifting provisions; the sponsor and several advocates supported it, but cities, trucking interests, and defense groups raised concerns about liability, comparative fault, attorney fees, and litigation costs. In executive session, the committee advanced Substitute House Bill 2158 on electronic notarial acts and Substitute House Bill 2178 on court rules and procedures. It adopted Amendment Alpha to Substitute House Bill 2239, increasing a setback for family burial grounds from public rights-of-way/easements and adding water-source coordination requirements, then sent the bill as amended to Rules. It also advanced House Bill 2543 on county clerk fees. The committee adopted Amendment Bravo to Engrossed Substitute House Bill 2165, clarifying false identification as a peace officer to require malicious intent, and sent the bill as amended to Rules. It adopted Amendment Charlie to Engrossed Substitute House Bill 2532, moving the nitrous oxide prohibition to a different title chapter, and sent that bill forward. Finally, it adopted Amendment Delta to Engrossed Substitute House Bill 2320 to allow limited firearm-manufacturing code and 3D/CNC use for gunsmith repair work; discussion then turned to Amendment Echo, which would remove some possession prohibitions, but the transcript cuts off before final action on that amendment and bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• And in many, many cases, the probate administrator will be doing this regardless.
• I mean, you have to pay an administrator for their hours.
• Like it was said, in the petition, it lists the heirs that the administrator knows about, or the administrator
• Now, yes, the administrator is obligated to search for all of the heirs.
• and video, no matter what, at a set fee that is the median for it.

Bills: HB2543

Keywords: county clerk, fees, local government, administrative costs, revenue generation, 904, all

Summary: The committee heard staff briefings, sponsor testimony, and public testimony on several bills. Substitute House Bill 2158 would authorize remote notarization of tangible records and remote oaths/affirmations, with audiovisual recording and retention requirements; the sponsor and supportive testimony framed it as an access-to-justice measure for rural and mobility-limited residents, and the bill was closed to public hearing after strong pro sign-in support. Substitute House Bill 2239 would create family burial grounds on private land with setback, notice, recording, and local-option regulation requirements; the sponsor, a farmer, tribal descendant, and cattlemen’s representative testified in support, while WSDOT raised a technical concern about the setback from rights-of-way, and the bill also drew substantial pro sign-ins. Substitute House Bill 2178 would reconcile court rules and statutes on malicious mischief aggregation, civil infraction timing, payment plans, and treasurer/AOC duties; AOC supported it as a largely technical cleanup, and the bill was closed to public hearing without opposition testimony. The committee then heard Engrossed House Bill 2445, which would tighten probate administration to curb “probates for profit” and heir-hunting abuses by extending the window for family members to act, narrowing who may serve as a “suitable person,” adding reporting and venue requirements, and regulating agreements with transferees for value. The Attorney General’s Office, Northwest Justice Project, and a probate attorney supported the bill as a consumer-protection measure to stop predatory estate takeovers, while other probate practitioners warned it could sweep too broadly and harm legitimate heir-finding services that help locate omitted heirs; members asked about whether the bill would still allow useful services and whether it clearly addressed the cited abuses. The sponsor said he was open to further conversations and written recommendations, and the hearing closed with heavy public interest, including many pro and con sign-ins. House Bill 2543 would update county clerk fee statutes to match newer appellate court requirements for electronic exhibits, photos, and media copies, while modernizing outdated references such as compact discs; county clerks and county officials supported it as a technical, cost-recovery measure, and the hearing closed after brief testimony. Finally, Engrossed Substitute House Bill 2165 would create a new gross misdemeanor for false identification as a peace officer, replacing part of the current criminal impersonation statute and covering badges, vehicles, attire, and other insignia that mimic law enforcement, with exceptions for retired officers, inherited memorabilia, and artistic uses; the sponsor, governor’s office, and a city official supported it as a way to protect immigrant communities and improve trust in law enforcement. The committee also began hearing Engrossed Substitute House Bill 2532 on nitrous oxide sales, which would prohibit sale or distribution of nitrous oxide canisters for personal use while preserving medical, veterinary, dental, industrial, food, and automotive uses; members raised questions about how the bill would be enforced and how lawful purchasers would be distinguished, and the hearing was still in progress when the transcript ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• If an administrative law judge permits a discovery request that goes beyond matters relevant to the case
• Does it matter? Okay. Go ahead. You're on the mic. Good morning, Chairman, Vice members.
• I'm the Deputy Chief Administrative Law Judge with the State Office of Administrative Hearings.
• Chair lays out as a matter of pending business SCR48 by Senator Middleton.
• The chair lays out as a matter of Senate Bill 2550 by Senator West.

Bills: SB2082, SB2203, SB2351, SB2550, SCR48

Keywords: concrete crushing, hospital proximity, environmental regulation, public health, zoning laws, SB 2203, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, TCEQ, State Office of Administrative Hearings, SOAH, contested case, administrative law judge, ALJ, discovery, scope of discovery, certification, administrative procedure, permit dispute, agency rules, Government Code

Transcript Highlights:

• aren't" to give deference to the agency in that decision process, where they had hearings with the administrative
• paragraph in and basically takes away the deference it would the deferral it would give to the administrative

Bills: SB248, SB242, HB44, SB266, HB44

Keywords: Alabama Administrative Procedure Act, APA, administrative law, judicial review, agency deference, Chevron deference, de novo review, contested case, state agency, regulatory power, individual liberty, statutory interpretation, rule interpretation, license revocation, license suspension, tax assessment, tax refund, administrative appeal, circuit court, Montgomery County

Transcript Highlights:

• Representative, time matters. Time absolutely matters.
• So, yes, comorbidities can occur. can certainly happen in those who are entering a pregnancy, no matter
• That's on the civil side, the criminal side, the administrative side, that's across the— 1925 law was
• That delay wasn't medical, it was administrative.
• And my life matters as well, just as much as theirs. So thank you. Okay. Thanks. Bye.

Bills: HB44, HB2200, HB1612, HB2747, HB2038, HB3717, HB1431, HB3800, HB3801, HB3560, HB3246, HB44

Keywords: HB 44, Life of the Mother Act, abortion exceptions, medical emergency, reasonable medical judgment, pregnancy complications, maternal health, life-threatening condition, ectopic pregnancy, miscarriage, spontaneous abortion, fetal survival, Texas abortion law, abortion ban, physician liability, health care provider, disciplinary action, aiding and abetting, emergency abortion, obstetric care

Transcript Highlights:

• I also just recently process, it doesn't matter.
• Because our votes don't matter.
• He promised to clean up this office that matters to us.
• Everybody's positions matter. And this one matters. And we don't want this combined.
• Everybody positions matter. And this one matters. And we don't want this combined.

Bills: SB256

Keywords: court consolidation, judicial administrative, Orleans Parish, civil district court, criminal district court, court clerk, judicial funding

Summary: The Judiciary Committee heard Senate Bill 256, which would combine the Orleans Parish clerks of criminal district court and civil district court into one office, with the bill taking effect upon gubernatorial signature. Senator Jay Morris said the change would align Orleans with other parishes, improve efficiency, and eventually help consolidate funding and operations, noting that Orleans is the only parish with two clerks and that the criminal side lacks the civil-side revenue streams used elsewhere. Committee members questioned the timing because the election for the next term had already been held and certified, and repeatedly raised concerns that the bill would effectively eliminate an office after voters had already chosen Calvin Duncan as criminal clerk. Much of the discussion focused on whether the bill would be constitutional or fair if enacted before the new term began. Opponents argued it would disenfranchise voters, target Duncan personally, and set a dangerous precedent by abolishing an office after an election. Supporters and witnesses for Duncan said the bill was rushed, lacked a fiscal note, and would create confusion about staffing, records, training, and the transition between the two court systems. Several witnesses also argued that the criminal clerk’s office is essential to access to justice and that the data and efficiency rationale did not justify the timing or effect of the bill. Calvin Duncan testified that he ran to improve access to court records after his own wrongful conviction and incarceration, and said the bill sends the message that votes do not count. Other witnesses, including teachers, voters, attorneys, former officials, and advocacy representatives, echoed that the measure undermines democracy and appears aimed at preventing Duncan from taking office. Senator Morris denied personal targeting and said the bill was about abolishing an unnecessary office, but acknowledged litigation was likely. The committee also adopted a three-minute rule for testimony by a 10-3 vote, then began hearing public testimony, with the first witnesses overwhelmingly opposing the bill.

Bills: SB 2031, SB 2386, SB 2476, SB 2801, SB 2843, SB 2844, SB 2846, SB 2885

Keywords: deer breeding, chronic wasting disease, wildlife management, release site, landowner rights, TCEQ, environmental quality, administrative actions, public notice, legislative oversight, water supply, Angelina and Neches River Authority, ownership transfer, public utilities, Certificate of Convenience and Necessity, public health, cervid resistance, research study, wildlife regulation, criminal offenses

Transcript Highlights:

• The APA administrative procedures act.
• ><c> of</c><00:25:45.360><c> administrative</c><00:25:46.000><c> agencies,</c> any number of administrative
• Um, but in any kind of an<00:26:25.679><c> administrative</c><00:26:26.240><c> appeal,</c> an administrative
• Further amendments. of its placement in the administrative of its placement in the administrative procedures
• So this is not a matter about his personality or any of those sorts of things, but it is a matter that

Bills: HB0066, HJ0005, HB0010

Keywords: administrative law, judicial review, agency deference, Chevron deference, de novo review, state agencies, regulatory interpretation, statutory interpretation, separation of powers, individual liberty, administrative procedure, agency action, Wyoming Supreme Court, district court review, oil and gas inspector, regulatory challenge, anti-deference, law enforcement, memorial, Patrolman Rosa

Transcript Highlights:

• The Chair lays out, as a matter of pending business, House Bill 4187 in lieu of Senate Bill 2036, which
• and actually found that all of these creations were still the property of the state of Texas, no matter
• This was a cleanup requested by the State Office of Administrative Hearings (SOAH) to eliminate the duplicated
• Insurance, Texas Department of Health, Workers' Compensation, and Department of Public Safety, Administrative
• subject to it, so it is an independent and neutral shared services agency for hearing and mediating administrative

Bills: HB1240, HB2768, HB2788, HB3146, HB4850, HB5032, HCR90

Keywords: border region, infrastructure, economic development, government operations, education, HB 2768, Texas information technology apprenticeship, state IT credential, information resources workforce, junior college, technical institute, apprenticeship program, workforce development, state agency hiring, job classification, career ladder, bachelor's degree substitution, associate degree, Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, state auditor classification officer

Transcript Highlights:

• Chair lays out, as a matter of pending business, House Bill 487 in lieu of Senate Bill 2036, which was
• would help—actually found that all of these creations were still property of the State of Texas, no matter
• This bill is a cleanup request by the State Office of Administrative Hearings, SOAH, to eliminate the
• Administrative license revocation is subject to it.
• SOAH is an independent and neutral shared-services agency for hearing and mediating administrative disputes

Bills: HB1240, HB2768, HB2788, HB3146, HB4850, HB5032, HCR90

Keywords: border region, infrastructure, economic development, government operations, education, HB 2768, Texas information technology apprenticeship, state IT credential, information resources workforce, junior college, technical institute, apprenticeship program, workforce development, state agency hiring, job classification, career ladder, bachelor's degree substitution, associate degree, Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, state auditor classification officer

Summary: The Senate Economic Development Committee met without a quorum, so no votes or formal actions were taken. The chair laid out several bills and resolutions for explanation and public testimony, with each item left pending subject to the call of the chair. Early items included House Bill 1240, a cleanup measure to create a single uniform definition of the Texas-Mexico border region across state law, and House Bill 2768, which would establish an IT apprenticeship credential through junior colleges and technical institutions to help fill state government technology jobs. The committee also heard House Concurrent Resolution 90, which would encourage establishing a Texas trade and investment office in Jerusalem. Testimony on the resolution was sharply divided: one witness opposed it on foreign policy and values grounds, while a Texas Association of Business representative strongly supported it, citing Israel’s innovation and trade potential. Another major item was House Bill 4187, a committee substitute for legislation affecting the Texas Historical Commission; the sponsor described changes expanding use of trust fund money for historic sites, allowing more affiliated nonprofits, clarifying retail operations, and creating a framework for training and consistent interpretation at historic sites. A Texas Historical Commission witness explained that the bill would shift responsibility for maintaining many state-owned historical markers and monuments, including markers on private land, to the commission. Additional measures included House Bill 2788, which would shield Texas Workforce Commission fraud-prevention methods from public information requests; House Bill 5032, directing state agencies to plan for public display of the Texas Declaration of Independence, Texas Constitution, and the Victory or Death letter at the Capitol Complex; House Bill 3146, which would eliminate outdated memoranda-of-understanding requirements for certain State Office of Administrative Hearings arrangements; and House Bill 4815, a cleanup bill modernizing economic development statutes, revising the Made in Texas standard to 51% Texas-origin content, repealing the Governor’s Broadband Development Council, and making other conforming changes. The committee ended by recessing, with members indicating they would likely vote on pending business later when a quorum was available.

Transcript Highlights:

• That this process, it doesn't matter.
• Because our votes don't matter.
• He promised to clean up this office that matters to us.
• Everybody's positions matter, and this one matters. And we don't want this combined.
• But if that's really true, why is this administrative role an elected one?

Bills: SB256

Keywords: court consolidation, judicial administrative, Orleans Parish, civil district court, criminal district court, court clerk, judicial funding, 965, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• electricity and data centers and all that stuff, what do you just tell them in a very plain, spoken, matter-of-fact

Bills: HB2133, HB2592

Keywords: sexual material, consent, synthetic depiction, privacy, internet regulation, rights protection, artificial intelligence, government regulation, innovation, procurement, administrative burdens, 1182, all

Bills: SB332, HB362, HB323, SB332, HB362, HB323

Keywords: public works, construction management, project delivery methods, alternative delivery, administrative rules, public advisory council, contracting, bidding procedures, protests, transparency, local government, public meetings, accountability, education, electric utility, transportation, oversize vehicles, transport permits, state highway system, firefighters

Bills: SJR50, SJR52, SJR53

Keywords: Medicaid, federal funding, state law, healthcare, low-income adults, Oklahoma Constitution, Oklahoma Health Care Authority, OHCA, health care rules, administrative rules, major rule, Title 75, Title 317, Oklahoma Administrative Code, OAC 317:30, health policy, state health programs, provider regulations, benefits administration, rule approval