Transcript Highlights:

• And this is the bill that increases the minimum monthly benefit that DRS can pay out as a lump sum amount
• department would need about $11,000 to make changes to the data processing systems to increase this lump-sum
• payment limit.
• And this is the bill that increases the minimum monthly benefit that DRS can pay out as a lump sum amount
• sum payment. changes to the data processing systems to increase this lump sum payment limit and the

Bills: SB5109, SB5835, SB6065

Keywords: mortgage lending, fraud, prosecution, financial regulations, consumer protection, retirement, lump sum payment, benefits, pension, financial security, SB 6065, school district transportation, transportation vehicle fund, pupil transportation, school buses, electric school buses, zero-emission buses, bus fleet electrification, charging stations, vehicle replacement

Summary: The Appropriations Committee held a public hearing on several bills. Senate Bill 5109 would raise the deed-of-trust surcharge that funds the mortgage lending fraud prosecution account from $1 to $5 and remove the current sunset date. Staff said the change would generate additional revenue for county auditors and the Department of Financial Institutions to contract with prosecutors on mortgage fraud cases. Testimony from King County and the Washington Association of Prosecuting Attorneys supported the bill, arguing the current funding has eroded and the increase would help sustain prosecutions; no opposition was heard. The committee also heard Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 5500, which would require DCYF’s biennial child care report to include a current cost-of-quality study based on a model developed with the early educator design team, in addition to the market rate survey. Child care advocates, providers, and a Ballmer Group representative supported the bill, saying the market rate survey alone does not capture the real cost of high-quality care and that the measure would improve future funding decisions. The fiscal note estimated a small ongoing general fund cost for DCYF to add survey questions and analysis. Several retirement and human services bills were also heard. Substitute Senate Bill 5834 would broaden use of pension fund interest earnings for fund-protection expenses such as fraud prevention, audits, cybersecurity, and related legal costs, with no fiscal impact reported. Senate Bill 5835 would raise the threshold for DRS to pay a benefit as a lump sum from $50 to $250 per month, with a small systems cost and no actuarial impact. Engrossed Senate Bill 5872 would create the Pre-K Promise Account to receive gifts, grants, and donations for ECAP expansion; supporters from rural health coalitions, Snohomish County, and the Ballmer Group backed the public-private funding mechanism, while DCYF estimated staffing costs to track and administer the account. The committee also heard Substitute Senate Bill 6007, directing WSIPP to study DCYF’s child welfare screening tools and their effects on outcomes, with a projected state cost of about $234,000, and Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 6019, which would revise home care rate-setting to ensure a larger share of Medicaid rates goes to direct care wages and limit administrative portions to 20 percent. SEIU 775 and a home care worker testified in support, saying the bill would close a loophole and improve caregiver pay. Finally, Senate Bill 6065 would allow school districts in binding conditions or enhanced financial oversight to use transportation vehicle funds more flexibly, including temporary loans or permanent transfers with approval; a rural education advocate supported it as a limited tool for distressed districts. No votes were taken, and the committee adjourned after public testimony on all bills.

Transcript Highlights:

• families than for non-relative foster care. while still allowing the kinship families to get the full payment
• one you'll see on this slide is that we it's called pay for quality, we put part of that capitation payment
• It's used to monitor and process payments from individuals who receive HHSE services, so sometimes we
• standards as like a non-relative caregiver. wants to be a foster family if they wanted to get the full payment
• DFPS will be able to pay them a full payment even though they're going to meet this lower level of requirements

Bills: HB150, HB869, HB876, HB 1043, HB1494, HB1522, HB150

Keywords: cybersecurity, state command, information resources, data protection, incident response, information technology, classification officer, job descriptions, state positions, competency-based, information sharing, government efficiency, public sector, private sector, distributed ledger, title registry, real estate, property liens, pilot program, healthcare

Transcript Highlights:

• House Bill 2124 increases the amount that the Department of Retirement Systems will pay as a lump sum
• instead of the monthly payment to a retiree from $50 to $250.
• House Bill 2124, concerning the threshold for payment of a lump sum retirement allowance.
• And what kind of range are there payments in?
• A single line there supported more than 2,000 construction. investment and local payments.

Bills: HB1069, HB2091, SB6355, HB2104, SB6003, HB2441, HB2124, HB2610, HB2338

Keywords: collective bargaining, retirement benefits, employee rights, public sector, supplemental benefits, public employers, employee information, bargaining representatives, labor relations, union representation, electric transmission, energy policies, infrastructure, regulatory framework, transmission systems, aviation, wildland fires, funding, disaster relief, emergency response

Transcript Highlights:

• I I'm a seller, and somebody wants to offer me an outlandish sum of money for my home, but they happen

Bills: HB3041, HB4428, HB4429, HB1064, HB3265, HB3721, HB3028, HB3313, HB3588, HB3020

Keywords: credit card transactions, payment methods, service charge, consumer rights, financial regulation, public finance, pension, pension fund, retirement system, board of trustees, proxy voting, proxy proposal, shareholder vote, shareholder activism, fiduciary duty, pecuniary factors, nonpecuniary factors, ESG, environmental social governance, social goals

Transcript Highlights:

• The bill allows the public retirement system to provide a lump sum benefit of up to $1 million for a
• We remove the UCC if they get back on a payment plan.
• And then this is your weekly payment or whatever the frequency of the payments.
• But it's your choice to accept that form of payment.
• You're gonna process my payment.

Bills: HB245, HB700, HB2783, HB3526, HB3900, HB4061, HB4124, HB4166, HB4395, HB4534, HB4609, HB4641, HB4736, HB4738, HB4739, HB4945, HB5015, HJR175, HB245

Keywords: military service, retirement, law enforcement, custodial officer, Employees Retirement System, commercial financing, brokers, registration, disclosures, finance, consumer protection, fees, deferred compensation, automatic participation, county employees, payroll deductions, retirement plans, fiscal transparency, local government, bond issuance

Transcript Highlights:

• Case and Citibank are the most likely methods of payment.
• Payment card networks, not banks.
• Ours is focused on payment card networks.
• Think of the payment, new payment modalities, like Apple Pay and Venmo.
• This act harms the U.S. payment system by fundamentally altering how the payments are processed, all

Bills: HB245, HB245, HB700, HB2783, HB3526, HB3900, HB4061, HB4124, HB4166, HB4395, HB4534, HB4609, HB4641, HB4736, HB4738, HB4739, HB4945, HB5015, HJR175

Keywords: property tax, delinquent taxes, ad valorem, penalties, interest cap, military service, retirement, law enforcement, custodial officer, Employees Retirement System, commercial financing, brokers, registration, disclosures, finance, consumer protection, fees, deferred compensation, automatic participation, county employees

Bills: HB213, HB136, HB182, HB213, HB136, HB182

Keywords: HB213, Calhoun County, board of registrars, registrar compensation, county commission, local legislation, election administration, county general fund, expense allowance, officeholder compensation, public officials pay, county election officials, Alabama Code 45-8-110, Teacher's Retirement System, TRS, DROP, Deferred Retirement Option Plan, retirement benefits, teacher retirement, classroom teacher

Transcript Highlights:

• These are people that don't have the money for an additional payment.
• I just want to ask you, does the term payment fraud cover all bases? Well, not necessarily, sir.
• It gives retirees the option to pay their remaining contribution as a one-time lump sum, adding flexibility
• This allows the retiree 30 years to make the monthly payments or a one-time lump sum payment.
• The second one provides the option for the lump sum payment up to 30 years, or age 65, which would lower

Bills: HB3014, HB3109, HB3126, HB3474, HB3594

Keywords: gift card fraud, counterfeit gift card, gift card tampering, gift card theft, prepaid card, stored value card, retail fraud, financial crimes, consumer protection, organized retail crime, gift card skimming, magnetic stripe, chip card, redemption information, gift card packaging, Penal Code, felony theft, state jail felony, third-degree felony, second-degree felony

Transcript Highlights:

• school districts use local dollars instead of state appropriated funds to do those buyouts, severance payments

Bills: HB3674, HB4326, HB4331, HB3029, HB2963, HB3551, HB2973, HB3019, HB3461, HB2961, HB3261, HB3759, HB3429, HB3069, HB3372, HB3705

Keywords: school resource officer, sexual assault training, law enforcement training, CLEET, school safety, mental health, continuing education, HB4326, Oklahoma Higher Learning Access Program, Oklahoma's Promise, scholarship, tuition assistance, higher education, State Regents for Higher Education, eligibility expansion, adopted students, foster care, DHS custody, child-placing agency, tribal custody

Transcript Highlights:

• It also allows retirees the option to pay their remaining contributions as a one-time lump sum. adding
• Constitution says states can make gold and silver legal tender, so we would be saying this is good payment
• passed a bill, Missouri passed a bill, and their bill says that the state will accept gold and silver payment
• Would there be some payment into the DIF? So, Senator, thank you.

Bills: SB524, SB782, HB42, HB1056, HB2894, HB3033, HB3474, HB3594, HB4738, HB5246, HB42

Keywords: SB 524, Texas franchise tax, veteran-owned business, new veteran-owned business, business tax exemption, filing fee exemption, Tax Code Chapter 171, Business Organizations Code, Comptroller, small business, veterans, entrepreneurship, tax repeal, privilege tax, beginning date, franchise tax exemption, severance tax, oil, gas, restimulation wells

Bills: HB136, HB137, HB220, HB213, HB256, HB136, HB137, HB220, HB213, HB256

Keywords: Teacher's Retirement System, TRS, DROP, Deferred Retirement Option Plan, retirement benefits, teacher retirement, classroom teacher, Tier I, Tier II, public pension, pension reform, education employees, retirement system, sick leave, cost-of-living adjustment, COLA, beneficiary, lump-sum payout, rollover, service retirement

Transcript Highlights:

• That is, you know, there's a known secret in this building that Article 3 is a lump sum appropriation

Bills: HB146, HB150, HB1500, HB1545, HB1562, HB2067, HB2520, HB2818, HB3214, HB3250, HB3466, HB3512, HB3623, HB4063, HB4395, HB4464, HB4668, HB4690, HB5331, HB3833, HB146, HB150

Keywords: HB 146, Texas Capitol, State Capitol, State Preservation Board, Congress Avenue, Travis County, traffic lanes, lane closure, road closure, municipal authority, local control, Capitol area, downtown Austin, special events, construction traffic plan, pedestrian safety, public works, transportation policy, government code chapter 443, cybersecurity

Transcript Highlights:

• You could reduce the mortgage payment on a starter home $900 to $1,200 a month. How much?

Bills: SB6061, SB6234, SB6176, SB6335, SB6047, HB2235, HB2340, HB2464, HB2619, HB1376, HB1796, HB2091, HB2249, HB2254, HB2353, HB2431, HB2441, SB5808, SB5949, HB2124, HB1069, HB2104, HB2624

Keywords: tourism, self-supported assessment, funding, statewide promotion, economic development, sewage, grinder pumps, residential buildings, regulation, construction, vehicle registration, enforcement, renewal, transportation, state law, state commission, infrastructure, traffic safety, responsibilities, state capital projects

Summary: The Senate received messages from the House transmitting several signed bills, then moved through a series of second- and third-reading actions on multiple measures. Engrossed Substitute House Bill 2508, clarifying the scope and authority of the Office of Independent Investigations, was advanced to final passage without objection and passed 44-4. Senators supporting it described it as a technical housekeeping bill aligning statute with current practice, while noting it had broad support from law enforcement groups and the ACLU; opponents raised concerns about overlapping investigations and authority. Engrossed Substitute House Bill 1408, which dedicates a share of sales tax revenue from the stadium area to the South Downtown/Pioneer Square community preservation and development authority, was amended by a Ways and Means striking amendment declaring an emergency and then passed 47-1. Supporters said it would fund earthquake reinforcement, preservation, and community development in a historic district, with reporting and sunset provisions. Engrossed Substitute House Bill 1500, dealing with resale certificates for common interest communities and homeowners associations, was amended to clarify disclosure and litigation provisions and passed 39-9. Substitute House Bill 1570, allowing collective bargaining for certain employees enrolled in academic programs at public institutions, failed an amendment to remove the emergency clause and then passed 29-19; supporters framed it as recognition of student workers’ organizing rights, while opponents warned it blurred student and employee roles. The Senate also passed Substitute House Bill 1390, repealing the Community Protection Program and directing participants into other developmental disability services, after rejecting a series of amendments that sought to preserve sex-offender-related restrictions, add assessments, damages, or prosecutorial review. The bill passed 29-20 amid sharp debate over whether the program was coercive and outdated or necessary to protect vulnerable people and communities. Other bills passed included Substitute House Bill 2114 on defective license plates, Engrossed Substitute House Bill 2471 on collective bargaining if the NLRB is unavailable, House Bill 1069 on bargaining over supplemental retirement contributions for Department of Corrections employees, House Bill 2441 expanding medical premium reimbursements for surviving spouses of line-of-duty deaths, and Engrossed Third Substitute House Bill 1710 adding preclearance requirements under the Washington Voting Rights Act; the voting rights bill drew opposition over local control and litigation concerns. The transcript ends during the roll call on final passage of Engrossed Third Substitute House Bill 1710.

Bills: SB6061, SB6234, SB6176, SB6335, SB6047, HB2235, HB2340, HB2464, HB2619, HB1376, HB1796, HB2091, HB2249, HB2254, HB2353, HB2431, HB2441, SB5808, SB5949, HB2124, HB1069, HB2104, HB2624

Keywords: tourism, self-supported assessment, funding, statewide promotion, economic development, sewage, grinder pumps, residential buildings, regulation, construction, vehicle registration, enforcement, renewal, transportation, state law, state commission, infrastructure, traffic safety, responsibilities, state capital projects

Summary: The Senate opened with roll call, the Pledge of Allegiance, prayer, and approval of the previous day’s journal. It received a House message that the House had passed second engrossed substitute Senate Bill 5010, and then took up Senate Resolution 8700 honoring Yolanda Cortinas Trout Manuel for her community service, business leadership, and public service. Senator Fortunato sponsored the resolution and spoke warmly in support, and the Senate adopted it by voice vote and recognized the guest in the gallery. The chamber then confirmed Gubernatorial Appointment No. 9142, Maria Seguyenza to the Western Washington University Board of Trustees, after supportive remarks from Senators Bateman and Wilson-Clair. The Senate also passed Substitute House Bill 2248, described as a technical cleanup bill for Secretary of State corporate filings, and House Bill 2309, which removes postgraduate degree requirements for certain state jobs to broaden applicant pools. House Bill 2348 passed as a Department of Natural Resources efficiency measure allowing smaller land sales to be posted online and clarifying fair-market-value requirements. The Senate deferred Second Substitute House Bill 1128 at first, then later adopted a striking amendment and passed the bill as amended. The bill creates a child care workforce standards board to study workforce conditions and make recommendations; several proposed amendments by Senator King to add child-safety training language, add an expiration date, and narrow the board’s scope were rejected. Supporters said the board would professionalize child care work and improve wages and standards, while opponents argued it would add government and costs without solving affordability. The Senate also passed Engrossed Second Substitute House Bill 2523 on the Community Reinvestment Program, with supporters emphasizing accountability, periodic review, and an independent study, and passed Substitute House Bill 2428 to prevent unintentional lapses in life insurance policies by allowing third-party notices. Finally, the Senate passed House Bill 2340, expanding the CARES substance use disorder recovery program to nursing assistants, and Engrossed House Bill 2317, which streamlines licensing for Early Childhood Education and Assistance Program sites in certain educational settings. Most bills passed by wide margins, though Second Substitute House Bill 1128 passed with a narrower 28-19 vote. The Senate then recessed for lunch and caucus.

Transcript Highlights:

• You could reduce the mortgage payment on a starter home $900 to $1,200 a month. How much?

Bills: SB6061, SB6234, SB6176, SB6335, SB6047, HB2235, HB2340, HB2464, HB2619, HB1376, HB1796, HB2091, HB2249, HB2254, HB2353, HB2431, HB2441, SB5808, SB5949, HB2124, HB1069, HB2104, HB2624

Keywords: tourism, self-supported assessment, funding, statewide promotion, economic development, sewage, grinder pumps, residential buildings, regulation, construction, vehicle registration, enforcement, renewal, transportation, state law, state commission, infrastructure, traffic safety, responsibilities, state capital projects

Summary: The Senate took up a series of House bills, often suspending the rules to move measures directly to final passage after brief debate. Messages from the House reported signed bills being transmitted, and the Senate later signed several measures in open session. The chamber also excused a few members from voting on specific bills. Among the first major actions, Engrossed Substitute House Bill 2508, clarifying the scope and authority of the Office of Independent Investigations, passed 44-4 after supporters described it as a technical housekeeping bill and opponents raised concerns about overlapping investigations. Engrossed Substitute House Bill 1408, which dedicates 20% of sales tax revenue from the two large stadiums to a community preservation and development authority in South Downtown/Pioneer Square/Chinatown International District, passed 47-1 after supporters emphasized reinvestment in historic buildings and neighborhood safety. Engrossed Substitute House Bill 1500, requiring more complete resale certificates for common interest communities and homeowners associations, passed 39-9 after a successful amendment clarifying litigation language. Substitute House Bill 1570, allowing collective bargaining for certain student employees at public institutions, failed an amendment to remove the emergency clause and then passed 29-19 despite objections that it blurs student and employee roles. The chamber then debated Substitute House Bill 1390, which repeals the Community Protection Program and directs DSHS to transition participants into other developmental disability services. Numerous amendments sought to preserve restrictions, add assessments, or create liability protections, but most were rejected; the committee striking amendment updating agency names and dates was adopted. The bill passed 29-20 after a lengthy, emotional debate over whether the program protects public safety or unfairly restricts people with developmental disabilities, with supporters citing civil rights concerns and opponents warning about risks to vulnerable residents and the lack of a detailed transition plan. Other measures passed with broad support, including Substitute House Bill 2114 on defective license plates (48-0), Engrossed Substitute House Bill 2471 on collective bargaining if the NLRB loses authority (31-18), House Bill 1069 on bargaining over supplemental retirement contributions for Department of Corrections employees (31-18), House Bill 2441 expanding medical premium reimbursements for surviving spouses of line-of-duty deaths (49-0), and Engrossed Third Substitute House Bill 1710 adding preclearance requirements under the Washington Voting Rights Act, which drew debate over local control and litigation but had not yet reached a final vote by the end of the transcript.

Bills: HB545

Keywords: HB545, legal tender, cash rounding, nearest five cents, nickel rounding, in-person cash transaction, cash transactions, change making, sales tax, Department of Revenue, merchant payments, consumer payments, currency rounding, cash payment, retail transactions, payment methods, 923, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The rounding adjustment again does not affect the tax calculation, and any electronic payment from credit
• affect the tax calculation and any affect the tax calculation and any electronic<00:07:50.000><c> payment
• </c><00:07:50.400><c> from</c><00:07:50.639><c> credit,</c><00:07:51.039><c> debit</c> electronic payment
• </c><00:08:46.240><c> is</c><00:08:46.399><c> made</c> to any transaction where payment is made to any
• transaction where payment is made to<00:08:46.800><c> a</c><00:08:46.959><c> governmental</c><00:08:

Bills: HB545, HB545

Keywords: Escambia County, probate court, court fees, legal services, judicial legislation, HB545, legal tender, cash rounding, nearest five cents, nickel rounding, in-person cash transaction, cash transactions, change making, sales tax, Department of Revenue, merchant payments, consumer payments, currency rounding, cash payment, retail transactions

Transcript Highlights:

• department through June 30th of the year 2030, which I think is a very important aspect to the down payment
• department through June 30th of the year 2030, which I think is a very important aspect to the down payment
• is a very important aspect to<00:02:57.640><c> the</c><00:02:57.720><c> down</c><00:02:57.920><c> payment
• </c> to the down payment assistance program. to the down payment assistance program.
• of money for both both an equal sum of money for both both projects<00:19:12.040><c> that</c><00:19:

Bills: HF3548

Keywords: farm assistance, down payment, agriculture, state funding, loan modification, 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• generated more than $20 billion in local tax revenue, and provided nearly $30 billion in landowner payments
• House Bill 3887 increases payment and performance bond thresholds to $150,000 for public work contracts
• bonds and performance bonds, for contracts exceeding certain sums of money in order to mitigate risk
• Current state law requires payment bonds for contracts in excess of $25,000 and performance bonds for
• House Bill 3887 raises that threshold from $25,000 to $150,000 for payment bonds and from $100,000 to

Bills: HB3129, HB3251, HB3556, HB3724, HB3887

Keywords: construction, wildlife impact, height restrictions, national wildlife refuge, environmental regulations, HB 3887, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, Parks and Wildlife Code, performance bond, payment bond, contractor bonding, public works, construction contracts, public building, procurement, bid security, subcontractors, suppliers, contractor payment protection, project completion

Transcript Highlights:

• The feed bill contains ongoing savings of $99,200,000 due to a 5% lump sum reduction to the non-formula
• The formula component of the lump sum reductions? Sure. So, Mr.
• And so the lump sum reductions are applied to the non-formula and essentially discretionary items in
• So clarify the administration reductions versus lump sum transfers. Yes, Mr.
• To that point, please, that's a formula program and is not subject to the lump sum reduction.

Bills: HB4138, HB4139, HB4140, HB4141, HB4142, HB4143, HB4144, HB4145, HB4146, HB4147, HB4148, HB4149, HB4150, HB4151, HB4152, HB4153, SB1831, SB1832, SB1833, SB1834, SB1835, SB1836, SB1837, SB1838, SB1839, SB1840, SB1841, SB1842, SB1843, SB1844, SB1845, SB1846

Keywords: appropriations, education funding, health care, general fund, state budget, local funding, gaming, pari-mutuel, horse racing, regulatory assessment, first-time starters, budget implementation, federal funds, government services, budget stabilization, financial reporting, capital outlay, infrastructure, veterans services, highway construction