Transcript Highlights:

• Chairman and members, and good morning.
• LifeWise Academy is just one of many programs around the state and country that provides release time
• States, including Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, and New York, already have similar laws.
• They have to provide liability insurance and the transportation and have a structure and organization
• And more than upheld them, even praised them, saying that, quote, "the state encourages religious instruction

Bills: SB226 , SB413 , SB571 , SB1049 , SB2398 , SB2920

Committee: House Public Education

Keywords: residency, public schools, child safety placement, enrollment, education code, school boards, transparency, public meetings, attendance, recording, misconduct, child abuse, educators, investigation, criminal offense, education law, suspension, reporting requirements, released time, religious instruction

Transcript Highlights:

• This bill converts those four to one at-large seat in the United States and three at-large in the state
• We know four state at-large, and then y'all have them in state Senate districts.
• They got at-large people and y'all have state Senate districts written in your board of trustees.
• They're really excited to share with you about the impact they've had on campus and across the state
• All of us are Alabamians here, so we want to make this state better, and we hope to do that with the

Bills: SB278 , HB459 , HB61

Committee: Senate Education Policy

Keywords: SB278, released time, religious instruction, elective credit, public schools, K-12 education, Alabama Released Time Credit Act, church-state separation, First Amendment, school choice, parental consent, elective course, off-campus instruction, private religious entity, State Board of Education, local board of education, attendance credit, core curriculum, religious education, Bible class

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, go to another state and have abortions? Yes.
• state for chemical and clinical abortions.
• in our, in our schools just as they are across the state of Texas, um, and, and, and do something that's
• Some people here today may claim that this legislation blurs the line between church and state, but this
• All Baptists are called to protect separation of church and state.

Bills: SB 6 , SB 11 , SB 33

Committee: House State Affairs

Keywords: electric power, interconnection, utilities, ERCOT, large load customers, water supply, sewer service, demand management, school prayer, Bible reading, religious text, public schools, Texas Education Code, student prayer, silent prayer, meditation, religious liberty, First Amendment, Establishment Clause, church and state

Transcript Highlights:

• In the 86th legislative session, we passed and signed into law the prohibition of local and state tax
• She has a young child with her, and she doesn't have child care. ...and she stops off at a church.
• the state for chemical and clinical abortions.
• People here today may claim that this legislation blurs the line between church and state, but this legislation
• All Baptists are called to protect... separation of church and state.

Bills: SB6 , SB11 , SB33

Committee: House State Affairs

Keywords: electric power, interconnection, utilities, ERCOT, large load customers, water supply, sewer service, demand management, school prayer, Bible reading, religious text, public schools, Texas Education Code, student prayer, silent prayer, meditation, religious liberty, First Amendment, Establishment Clause, church and state

Transcript Highlights:

• order to meet. the needs of the economic development of the state, and we would also appreciate any
• We operate in nine states and two countries, including some of the most remote areas in North America
• And I worry that we could be losing to other states while that waiting pattern is happening.
• we're trying to get a load forecast and you're shopping at three places within the the state, you're
• These loads are real, and they are coming online. The state of Texas needs this bill.

Bills: SB6 , SB11 , SB33

Committee: House State Affairs

Keywords: electric power, interconnection, utilities, ERCOT, large load customers, water supply, sewer service, demand management, school prayer, Bible reading, religious text, public schools, Texas Education Code, student prayer, silent prayer, meditation, religious liberty, First Amendment, Establishment Clause, church and state

Transcript Highlights:

• The bill clarifies how GPAs and class weights are calculated across the state and requires.
• and ignorance in classrooms across our state.
• I stated in SEAT's Bill of Rights, students deserve an honest and inclusive, well-rounded education.
• The bill states that parents have the right to direct their child's education and have access to all
• The law, as we know, requires all states to identify and address educational disparities, and the Texas

Bills: SB12 , SB226 , SB413 , SB1049 , SB1191 , SB2398 , SB571 , SB2920 , SB 12

Committee: House Public Education

Keywords: parental rights, education, social transitioning, diversity, equity, inclusion, school policy, student clubs, residency, public schools, child safety placement, enrollment, education code, school boards, transparency, public meetings, attendance, recording, released time, religious instruction

Transcript Highlights:

• Texas and much of the United States.
• And what you'll see happen in other states is you'll see a local church or some other organization. .
• We sort of recognize the families that are in-state and contributing to local and state economies.
• and out-of-state are $152.
• this state and our country.

Bills: SB1798 , SB1835 , SB1319 , SB2942 , SB2928 , SB784 , SB1049

Committees: Senate Education , Senate Education K-16

Keywords: higher education, tuition rates, financial support, immigration status, Texas law, SB 1835, resident tuition, nonresident students, scholarship students, public higher education, Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, Education Code Section 54.213, tuition waiver, in-state tuition, out-of-state students, higher education finance, enrollment cap, capacity limit, workforce development area, nonimmigrant visa

Transcript Highlights:

• 2021, and there are comparable laws in 43 other states.
• I've represented hospitals across the state, and absolutely, to a specific hospital you can name.
• We're going to talk about popup parties and the problems they're causing everywhere across the state,
• We don't need to create a state law and blanket the whole state with all of this.
• We ain't got but this much home rule in the state of Alabama, and we keep inching that we want to take

Bills: SB210 , SB225 , HB280 , HB287 , HB94 , HB88 , SB157 , HB7 , HB8 , HB42

Committee: Senate Judiciary

Keywords: hospital liens, medical billing, government healthcare, insurance claims, patient rights, blood tests, DUI, law enforcement, traffic offenses, chemical analysis, public nuisance, event liability, local government, community health, legal action, transparency, reporting, public safety, regulation, accountability

Transcript Highlights:

• and federal law, then we should be able to sell these products in the state of Alabama without giving
• We have traditionally been a top 10 school district in the state of Alabama, and we've lost a lot of
• One of you would like to come forward and state your name, please. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
• The original bill had state and local law enforcement as a part of a place in which you could surrender
• All of this that I'm reading here is already covered under federal law and state law, so can you explain

Bills: SB210 , SB225 , HB280 , HB287 , HB94 , HB88 , SB157 , HB7 , HB8 , HB42

Committee: Senate Judiciary

Keywords: hospital liens, medical billing, government healthcare, insurance claims, patient rights, blood tests, DUI, law enforcement, traffic offenses, chemical analysis, public nuisance, event liability, local government, community health, legal action, transparency, reporting, public safety, regulation, accountability

Transcript Highlights:

• And the state will challenge you.
• unregulated and not legal in the United States.
• Indeed, the priority of county government and its lobbying effort is focused on ending the state and
• And courts and roads and emergency response without significant state assistance.
• And this is the toughest fight in Austin because what this bill does is it defunds the deep state and

Bills: SB5 , SB11 , SB12 , SB5 , SB11 , SB12

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:

• local and uncontested calendar.
• There being eight ayes and two nays, the bill passes and goes to the floor.
• There being eight ayes and two nays...
• There being eight ayes and two nays, the bill passes committee and will go to the floor.
• Okay thank you, Madam Vice Chair and members. Thanks for your time, attention, and focus.

Bills: SB1224 , SB2972 , SB2615 , SB735 , SB800 , SB2986 , SB2310 , SB2055 , SB1049 , SB784

Committee: Senate Education

Keywords: educator misconduct, reporting requirements, local law enforcement, public and private schools, penalties for non-compliance, expressive activities, freedom of speech, public forum, higher education, protests, student rights, telework, public education, employee rights, emergency provisions, Holocaust education, Holocaust Remembrance Week, antisemitism, genocide education, public schools

Transcript Highlights:

• Students in blue and red states, thousands of them across our nation have participated in this type of
• States like Hawaii, New York, and Vermont...
• States like Hawaii, New York, Vermont, Ohio, and Michigan all have programs that state they shall be
• My name is Sunny Cotton, a proud Alabamian and the Alabama state director for Lifewise Academy.
• We have 1,080 hours in a school year to cover everything the state board requires and acts that you pass

Bills: SB13 , SB278 , SB13

Committee: House State Government

Keywords: education, national anthem, patriotism, school policy, constitutional amendment, SB278, released time, religious instruction, elective credit, public schools, K-12 education, Alabama Released Time Credit Act, church-state separation, First Amendment, school choice, parental consent, elective course, off-campus instruction, private religious entity, State Board of Education

Transcript Highlights:

• One would be such as a button, and I sort of cringe every time I hear the word because there are states
• And Dr.
• Other states are doing a five-year contract for those retirees, and they're getting better costs on the
• So, there was a high correlation between that outcome and the state of the students' attendance, which
• it will also help the workforce in Montgomery and the state.

Bills: HB205 , HB226 , HB234

Committee: House Ways and Means Education

Keywords: sales tax, use tax, exemption, tax conformity, tangible personal property, Alabama Department of Revenue, retail tax, consumer use tax, nonresident, religious publications, church magazines, Bible class materials, Sunday school materials, tax administration, indirect tax, state revenue, HB226, homestead exemption, ad valorem tax, property tax

Transcript Highlights:

• And so it would let smaller counties join their boards together and their administration and get economies
• Um, there's a procedure for protesting it if it's not, and the state board would adopt the rules.
• So would you and the and the agenda.
• </c><00:06:01.280><c> the</c><00:06:01.520><c> state</c> protesting it if it's not and the state protesting
• it if it's not and the state um<00:06:03.280><c> board</c><00:06:03.840><c> would</c><00:06:04.240><

Bills: HB8 , HB380 , HB8 , HB380

Committee: Senate Education Policy

Keywords: tobacco regulation, vaping, sales restrictions, youth protection, tobacco compliance, public health, education programs, electronic nicotine delivery systems, human cloning, criminal penalties, embryo, genetic modification, bioethics, campus chaplain, chaplain, school chaplain, volunteer, public K-12 schools, public schools, public charter schools

Transcript Highlights:

• and state legislative So that the State of Florida will provide concurrent, both federal and state legislative
• And meanwhile, states like Texas have successfully implemented clear exemptions for unpaid armed church
• their church and protect other members of the church.
• their church and protect other members of the church.
• arming schools and churches and places of worship.

Bills: S0052 , S0502 , S0624 , S0758 , S0834 , S0840

Committee: Senate Judiciary

Keywords: places of worship, house of worship, church, mosque, synagogue, religious security, armed security, volunteer security, private security, security guard licensing, licensure exemption, Florida Statutes chapter 493, Class G license, Class C license, security services, faith-based institutions, public safety, military jurisdiction, delinquency, concurrent jurisdiction

Summary: The committee considered several bills and reported each favorably. SB 624, by Senator Yarborough, would allow batterers intervention programs to offer optional supplemental faith-based activities, with no participant required to take part. Supporters said it would expand provider options and help address a shortage of certified programs; opponents raised concerns about mixing government-ordered programming with religion and about the state’s prior rule change. The bill passed 7-2. The committee also approved CS/SB 834, which repeals a 2022 restriction barring licensed insurance agents from partnering with health care sharing ministries to market or sell their programs. The sponsor and supporters argued the bill restores free speech, consumer choice, and access to faith-based alternatives, while opponents warned about consumer confusion, higher commissions, and weak protections because these ministries are not insurance. After extended debate, the measure passed 8-2. Other measures advanced unanimously or near-unanimously. CS/SB 502, as amended, would give Florida concurrent jurisdiction over certain juvenile offenses on military installations so juveniles can be handled in the state system; it passed 9-0. CS/SB 52 would exempt volunteer armed security for houses of worship from Class D or G licensing requirements, and supporters cited rising threats to churches and the need for organized volunteer security; it passed 9-0. SB 840, a cleanup bill to narrow and clarify last year’s emergency-related land-use restrictions after hurricanes, also passed 9-0, and CS/SB 758, which updates the membership of the Justice Administration Commission, passed 9-0 after an amendment restoring two public defenders to the commission.

Transcript Highlights:

• Parks and Wildlife, the Honorable John A.
• To nominations: The following bills and resolutions are on first reading and reference.
• Will the Secretary read the bills and resolutions?
• maintained for the purposes of erosion, floodwater, and sediment control.
• and Flooding.

Bills: SB5 , SB11 , SB12 , SB41 , SB43 , SB49 , SB5 , SB11 , SB12

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:

• about state parks and why there were no inner-city state parks.
• And a tourist of many cities all across our great state.
• I'm a former state senator and former land commissioner.
• Thank you really for doing all this and coming up here. and in your pride for that for our state.
• Please state your name and the organization you represent. and if you're representing yourself.

Bills: HB370 , HB738 , HB2935 , HB3227 , HB4103 , HB5259 , SB519 , SB1350 , SB1247 , SB1248 , SB2112 , HCR81 , HCR83 , HCR84 , HCR59 , HCR109 , HCR111 , HCR135 , SCR6

Committee: House Culture, Recreation & Tourism

Keywords: HB 370, Events Trust Fund, Texas events funding, sports eligibility, women's sports, girls' sports, biological sex, transgender athletes, sex-segregated sports, athletic competition, event subsidies, tourism funding, site selection organization, anti-trafficking plan, female athletes, public funding, economic impact, sports policy, Rosenwald Schools, historical preservation

Transcript Highlights:

• In the state, we run three programs that have been going since 1939, 1973, and 1980 that accomplish this
• Pacific and is the largest sawmill in the southern United States.
• This bill represents a critical step. ...and protecting wildlife and improving driver safety in the state
• At least 12 states, such as Florida and Wyoming, ...have implemented legislation in support of wildlife
• The problem is, as we're growing so rapidly and crisscrossing the state with roads and developments,

Bills: HB370 , HB738 , HB2935 , HB3227 , HB4103 , HB5259 , SB519 , SB1350 , SB1247 , SB1248 , SB2112 , HCR81 , HCR83 , HCR84 , HCR59 , HCR109 , HCR111 , HCR135 , SCR6

Committee: House Culture, Recreation & Tourism

Keywords: HB 370, Events Trust Fund, Texas events funding, sports eligibility, women's sports, girls' sports, biological sex, transgender athletes, sex-segregated sports, athletic competition, event subsidies, tourism funding, site selection organization, anti-trafficking plan, female athletes, public funding, economic impact, sports policy, Rosenwald Schools, historical preservation

Bills: HB462 , HB8 , HB8

Committee: Senate Healthcare

Keywords: emergency medical services, military training, licensure, public health, veterans, tobacco regulation, vaping, sales restrictions, youth protection, tobacco compliance, education programs, electronic nicotine delivery systems, campus chaplain, chaplain, school chaplain, volunteer, public K-12 schools, public schools, public charter schools, education policy

Transcript Highlights:

• The state shows that these savings do get passed along, and we hope to see more of that and even bigger
• Many of the major insurers of churches... insurers like Church Mutual, Brotherhood Mutual, and GuideOne
• We have insurance companies left and right that are pulling out of our state, and it's impacting our
• This is a state that values freedom and small...
• This is a state that values freedom and small government.

Bills: HB778 , HB 1266 , HB1576 , HB2213 , HB2517 , HB2518 , HB2841 , HB3306 , HB3320 , HB3388 , HB3508 , HB3520 , HB3689

Committee: House Insurance

Keywords: credentialing, healthcare, physician assistants, advanced practice nurses, managed care, hurricane, windstorm, loss mitigation, grants, insurance discounts, property retrofitting, insurance, Texas Windstorm Insurance Association, board composition, coastal counties, property insurance, taxation, Texas FAIR Plan Association, premium taxes, maintenance taxes