Transcript Highlights:

• An employer's final rate is its applicable base rate for its risk class, as modified by an experience
• If L&I limits the maximum premium rate increase for any class below that actuarially indicated rate,
• it must also publish the rate classifications limited by L&I and the respective proposed rate, what the
• Last year, L&I had an actuarial rate that was an average of 13%.
• And of course, buying down rates with reserves is sometimes prudent. Rate caps can be prudent.

Bills: SB6136, SB6188, SB5944

Keywords: workers' compensation, industrial insurance, premium rates, rate transparency, actuarial rates, contingency reserves, Department of Labor and Industries, L&I, risk classifications, employer premiums, insurance regulation, rate setting, premium increase limits, workers' compensation advisory committee, retrospective rating, state insurance fund, accident and medical aid funds, SB 6188, asbestos, asbestos training

Summary: The Labor and Workplace Standards Committee held public hearings on several Labor and Industries-related bills. SB 6039 would allow L&I to send notices electronically, with an opt-out option for recipients; the sponsor and L&I described it as a simple modernization and transparency measure. SB 6136 would require L&I to publish actuarially indicated workers’ compensation rates and explain when rate increases are capped below those levels; the sponsor said it would show when reserve funds are used to hold rates down and improve transparency. SB 6188 would expand L&I’s authority to set asbestos certification rules beyond only those specifically required to match federal law; the sponsor and L&I said it was needed to strengthen worker safety and training standards, while a business group raised concern about diverging from federal rules. SB 6014 would make technical fixes to pregnancy and postpartum workplace accommodation law, including a public records exemption for complainants and participants in investigations and a correction to a cross-reference so basic accommodations remain protected without a doctor’s note requirement; a supportive witness said it restored the intended standard and protected privacy. SB 6058 would give L&I discretion to investigate wage complaints under the Wage Payment Act and allow penalties for willful violations when the department initiates an investigation; L&I supported the bill and requested an amendment already adopted in the House companion to reduce costs and avoid conflict with another wage recovery bill. The committee then took executive action on five bills. E2SSB 5061, requiring annual prevailing wage adjustments in public works contracts, was amended to allow a change order only when the wage increase exceeds 5% and to delay the effective date to July 1, 2028; the committee adopted the effective-date amendment but rejected the change-order amendment, then passed the bill 7-2. SSB 5874, allowing ESD to waive penalties for minor unemployment insurance reporting errors, passed 9-0. SB 5944, making missed-appointment payments part of bargained compensation for language access providers, also passed 9-0. SSB 5972, expanding binding interest arbitration for correctional officers in city and county jails regardless of county size, had two proposed amendments to limit the binding effect and require consideration of employer finances; both were rejected, and the bill passed 8-1. ESSB 6302, requiring L&I to investigate possible misclassification when three or more independent contractors perform finishing work on a public works project, passed 9-0. The committee then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• The rate is capped at 1.2%. For 2026, the rate was set at 1.13%.
• The rate is capped at 1.2%. For 2026, the rate was set at 1.13%.
• The bill retains the total premium rate cap of 1.2%. ...limiting fluctuations in premium rates, and by
• the end of the rate collection year 2030 and each subsequent year, close the rate collection year with
• below the actuarially indicated rate for any risk class and when doing so results in a premium rate

Bills: SB6134, SB6136, SB6188

Keywords: unemployment insurance, UI benefits, striking workers, strike, labor dispute, retroactive wages, overpayment assessment, overpayment recovery, Employment Security Department, ESD, claimant notice, benefit recoupment, Washington unemployment law, worker notice, federal unemployment tax credit, state unemployment fund, workers' compensation, industrial insurance, premium rates, rate transparency

Summary: The Labor and Workplace Standards Committee held public hearings on several labor-related bills. Senate Bill 6197 would change plumbing license suspension standards from three violations in three years to five violations in five years, remove the requirement that the Advisory Board of Plumbers recommend suspension, and require L&I enforcement updates; the sponsor and industry witnesses said the revised version was stakeholder-supported, though some wanted clarification about how prior infractions would be treated. Senate Bill 6134 would require the Employment Security Department to notify striking workers applying for unemployment benefits that they may later owe overpayments if they receive retroactive wages; testimony generally supported the bill as a safeguard. Senate Bill 5292 would replace the PFML program’s statutory look-back premium formula with a forward-looking actuarial rate-setting method while keeping the 1.2% cap; labor, business, and advisory board witnesses supported it, while one policy witness supported the rate-setting change but opposed the added four-month reserve requirement. Senate Bill 6106 would amend the state WARN-style layoff notice law to exempt tribes and protect employee names and addresses from public disclosure; ESD and business supported the privacy and tribal-government changes, while agricultural witnesses asked for a separate seasonal agriculture fix. The committee also heard testimony on SB 6197 from plumbing industry groups, with support for stronger enforcement but disagreement over retroactive treatment of infractions. In executive session, the committee acted on six bills. It adopted amendments and reported out Engrossed Second Substitute Senate Bill 5847, which expands access to medical care in workers’ compensation, including allowing some out-of-network attending providers and authorizing additional claims managers; the bill passed 7-2. Substitute Senate Bill 6014, a cleanup bill correcting a date typo and protecting sensitive L&I records from public disclosure, passed unanimously. Substitute Senate Bill 6039, allowing L&I to use electronic communications while preserving a non-electronic option, also passed unanimously. Engrossed Senate Bill 6058, giving L&I discretion to prioritize wage complaints, passed unanimously after a clarifying amendment. Senate Bill 6136, requiring publication of actuarial indicated workers’ compensation rates and disclosure when rates are set below those levels, passed unanimously. Senate Bill 6188, which would expand L&I’s asbestos rulemaking authority, passed 6-3 after the committee rejected an amendment that would have restored current-law limits and tied rules to the EPA model plan.

Transcript Highlights:

• , regardless of whether the tuition rate is aligned.
• As it stands, at TRS maximum rate for a four-star school, we're still only receiving.
• while the others may just be getting the provider's rate.
• If they are to raise their rates, it does mean that they can serve fewer children.
• what the provider rates actually charge.

Bills: HB74, HB175, HB460, HB576, HB2271, HB2294, HB2874, HB3016, HB3133, HB3191, HB3458, HB3929, HB4063, HB4115, HB4394, HB74, HB175

Keywords: Puerto Verde, Port Authority, eminent domain, bonds, tax assessments, economic development, infrastructure, transportation, public welfare, child care, certifications, Texas Rising Star Program, grant program, disability inclusion, family income, affordability, economic impact, state study, cost analysis, government support

Transcript Highlights:

• representative for her work on the committee's job, which Judges concerned, um, um, uh, I'm reimbursement rates

Bills: HB74, HB175, HB460, HB576, HB2271, HB2294, HB2874, HB3016, HB3133, HB3191, HB3458, HB3929, HB4063, HB4115, HB4394, HB74, HB175

Keywords: Puerto Verde, Port Authority, eminent domain, bonds, tax assessments, economic development, infrastructure, transportation, public welfare, child care, certifications, Texas Rising Star Program, grant program, disability inclusion, family income, affordability, economic impact, state study, cost analysis, government support

Transcript Highlights:

• I meant to catch you, but mentions a rating system.
• Do we currently have a rating system for our HEB programs? No, not that I'm aware of.

Bills: HB3390, HB4199, HB4407, HB4412

Keywords: home care, community services, Oklahoma Department of Human Services, rating system, inspection reports, substantiated complaints, agency oversight, child care, workforce, pilot program, affordable care, income eligibility, long-term care, revolving fund, options counseling, funding, consultation services, Medicaid, community-based services, seniors

Transcript Highlights:

• The monthly pregnancy rate is less than 10%. But The success of IV IVF treatment is remarkable.
• Uh, the success rate on the first cycle is anywhere from 25 to 30%.

Bills: HB201, HB272

Keywords: disabled veteran, partially disabled veteran, veterans property tax exemption, homestead exemption, ad valorem tax, property tax relief, surviving spouse, appraisal district, Tax Code, local government revenue, homestead portability, service-connected disability, veteran benefits, Texas property tax, residence homestead, disability rating, disaster response, financial assistance, helicopter, municipalities

Transcript Highlights:

• And like I see and you're here right but um at any rate if Dallas County is for it then I'm for it.
• To address the low reporting and conviction rates in in child sexual abuse cases where it's often one

Bills: HB207, HB235

Keywords: HB 207, Texas Government Code, Section 411.201, license to carry, LTC, handgun license, concealed carry, federal judge, immigration judge, immigration court, U.S. immigration court, judicial security, firearm carry permit, Texas handgun license, federal judiciary, HB235, Texas, sales tax exemption, use tax exemption, disabled veteran

Bills: SB27, SB226, SB326, SB570, SB605, SB870, SB991, SB1871, SB1872, SB1873, SB1874, SB1924, SB1925

Keywords: residency, public schools, child safety placement, enrollment, education code, antisemitism, student conduct, education, disciplinary actions, Texas Education Code, truancy, attendance policy, chronic absenteeism, school attendance, student absence notifications, parent notification, home visit, attendance officer, truancy court, school district

Summary: The committee heard a series of school safety and discipline bills, beginning with SB 870, which would codify an attorney general opinion allowing local school boards to decide whether school marshals may openly carry, conceal carry, or store a firearm in a secure safe on campus. The bill was laid out with no public testimony and left pending. The chair then moved to a combined discussion of SB 1871, 1872, 1873, 1874, and 1924, all focused on school discipline, teacher authority, and student safety. Senators Perry and Creighton described the package as a response to rising classroom disruptions, assaults on teachers, and concerns that districts lack effective tools to maintain order. SB 1871 would expand teacher removal authority, require return-to-class plans before a student removed for certain conduct can return, make some serious offenses mandatory for placement in juvenile justice settings, and provide telehealth mental health services through a consortium. SB 1872 would require expulsion to a JJAEP for assaults on teachers or school volunteers and extend certain expulsion-eligible conduct to off-campus offenses. SB 1873 would restore the prior understanding that in-school suspension is not subject to a three-day limit. SB 1874 would grant teachers immunity from disciplinary action for reporting discipline violations or acting in compliance with Chapter 37. SB 1924 would restore authority for local police and school district police to issue Class C citations for school offenses and require criminal referrals for students posing an imminent threat or assaulting a teacher, with a substitute clarifying referral rules when a citation has already been issued. The committee adopted the substitutes for the bills and moved them forward. Invited witnesses from teacher and administrator groups largely supported the overall goal of stronger discipline and safer classrooms, while asking for refinements. The Texas Classroom Teachers Association testified that teachers need more autonomy to remove disruptive or violent students and that classroom removals should not mean removal from learning. Superintendents from San Angelo, Grandview, and Wiley ISDs supported the bills’ emphasis on safety, expanded ISS flexibility, mandatory placement for serious offenses, and telehealth mental health services, but asked for more local control, flexibility for Districts of Innovation, more than one campus behavior coordinator in large districts, clearer timelines for return-to-class plans, and more precise definitions for disruptive conduct. Several witnesses stressed that teacher retention and student learning are being harmed by current discipline problems, while some members raised concerns about vague standards and the risk of overuse or public humiliation through citations and removals.

Bills: SB27, SB226, SB326, SB570, SB605, SB870, SB991, SB1871, SB1872, SB1873, SB1874, SB1924, SB1925

Keywords: residency, public schools, child safety placement, enrollment, education code, antisemitism, student conduct, education, disciplinary actions, Texas Education Code, truancy, attendance policy, chronic absenteeism, school attendance, student absence notifications, parent notification, home visit, attendance officer, truancy court, school district

Bills: SB27, SB226, SB326, SB570, SB605, SB870, SB991, SB1871, SB1872, SB1873, SB1874, SB1924, SB1925

Keywords: residency, public schools, child safety placement, enrollment, education code, antisemitism, student conduct, education, disciplinary actions, Texas Education Code, truancy, attendance policy, chronic absenteeism, school attendance, student absence notifications, parent notification, home visit, attendance officer, truancy court, school district

Bills: SB241

Keywords: child care, child care assistance, child care subsidy, early childhood education, early childhood care, daycare, preschool, pre-K, Head Start, Early Head Start, Children's Code, early childhood education and care department, ECECD, child care facilities, licensed child care, registered child care, copayments, waitlist, subsidy, federal poverty level

Bills: SB241

Keywords: child care, child care assistance, child care subsidy, early childhood education, early childhood care, daycare, preschool, pre-K, Head Start, Early Head Start, Children's Code, early childhood education and care department, ECECD, child care facilities, licensed child care, registered child care, copayments, waitlist, subsidy, federal poverty level

Bills: SB241

Keywords: child care, child care assistance, child care subsidy, early childhood education, early childhood care, daycare, preschool, pre-K, Head Start, Early Head Start, Children's Code, early childhood education and care department, ECECD, child care facilities, licensed child care, registered child care, copayments, waitlist, subsidy, federal poverty level

Transcript Highlights:

• Can you give us the basics of what's changing rates-wise? Basics of what's changing rates-wise?
• So the actual rate fees are still being worked on at this point.
• Can you talk a little bit about the federal role in that rate-making process?
• Basically, they set the rates.
• They set the rates, sending them back to Oklahoma, and we accept the rates they send.

Bills: HB3183, HB2999, HB3787, HB3499, HJR1023

Keywords: electric utilities, grid congestion, transmission technology, advanced power flow controllers, dynamic line rating, energy efficiency, nondisclosure agreements, public officials, transparency, government accountability, utility infrastructure, election, qualified elector, municipal office, school board, registration requirements, HB3499, special judge, special judges, court jurisdiction

Summary: The committee heard several measures and adopted PCS versions as working drafts before taking action. H.J.R. 1023, the biennial workers’ compensation fee schedule resolution, was presented as a vehicle to keep the schedule alive while the updated rates were still pending from the federal side due to the shutdown; it passed 8-0. House Bill 2999, which would prohibit requiring public officials to sign nondisclosure agreements, drew discussion about whether it should be broadened to cover litigation outcomes and other government transparency issues. The author agreed to strike the title and continue working on the language, and the bill passed 8-0 with the title stricken. House Bill 3788, as amended in PCS-2, would require officeholders to be U.S. citizens; members questioned whether the bill should also bar non-citizens from certain appointments, with examples raised about local boards and temporary appointments. The author said the intent was to focus on elected office, the Election Board assistant secretary said the bill reflected that intent, and the committee voted 9-1 to report it do pass, with the title still stricken for further work. The committee also advanced House Bill 3499, which allows special judges to hear applications for title matters, on a 10-0 vote. House Bill 3183, described by its author as a cost-saving measure related to electrical transmission infrastructure and protecting ratepayers from large loads, also passed 10-0. Throughout the meeting, members frequently used motions to adopt PCS drafts, move bills, and strike titles where language was still being refined before floor consideration.

Transcript Highlights:

• shall be set by rule of the department and updated as required by federal law in terms of the payment rates
• And that's if the Medicaid rate increases from money that they put up comes in.
• If the Medicaid rate increases from money that they put up comes in at a higher level, they would be

Bills: SB241, SB145

Keywords: child care, child care assistance, child care subsidy, early childhood education, early childhood care, daycare, preschool, pre-K, Head Start, Early Head Start, Children's Code, early childhood education and care department, ECECD, child care facilities, licensed child care, registered child care, copayments, waitlist, subsidy, federal poverty level

Transcript Highlights:

• And their co-pays kick in at a marginal rate in the beginning, but then there's a wait list that kicks
• If they opt in to an enhanced rate, but that's not in this bill that they have to pay certain wages.
• Chair, Senator Lanier, the base rate stays no matter what. So, Mr.
• Chair, Senator Lanier, the base rate stays no matter what.
• It's the enhanced rate that people opt in where there are certain qualifiers when it comes to wages.

Bills: SB241, SB145

Keywords: child care, child care assistance, child care subsidy, early childhood education, early childhood care, daycare, preschool, pre-K, Head Start, Early Head Start, Children's Code, early childhood education and care department, ECECD, child care facilities, licensed child care, registered child care, copayments, waitlist, subsidy, federal poverty level

Transcript Highlights:

• school week, even though some of the school campuses within the ISD have been assigned failing or not rated
• may adopt a four-day school week as long as all the individual school campuses in the district are rated
• as passing, which is an A, B, or C under the current accountability rating system.
• Three, if a school district has adopted a four-day school week and has one or more campuses rated as
• happened was, the charter schools were doing four days, while the Nacogdoches school actually was rated

Bills: HB 1209, HB4746

Keywords: school funding, instructional days, education, public schools, school performance, four-day school week, performance rating, school governance, school calendar, education funding, emergency closures, school district, school operations, Texas education, public school accountability, academic distinction designation, postsecondary readiness, career and technical education, CTE, P-TECH

Transcript Highlights:

• I just want to note, too, because I think retention rates come up a lot out of these programs.
• I'm trying to remember the interest... ...rate.
• But there is not a trivial interest rate, but not a ridiculously high one.
• remediation, it should not take those funds from the public, but should instead raise the actual tax rate
• Chair and Representative Dow, it's the same surcharge on Medicaid in terms of the rate as it is for others

Bills: SB241, SB145, HB2

Keywords: child care, child care assistance, child care subsidy, early childhood education, early childhood care, daycare, preschool, pre-K, Head Start, Early Head Start, Children's Code, early childhood education and care department, ECECD, child care facilities, licensed child care, registered child care, copayments, waitlist, subsidy, federal poverty level

Bills: HF3919, HF3791, HF1781, HF3908, HF4233, HF3966, HF3430

Keywords: veterans benefits, Secret War, Laos veterans, eligibility process, burial fees, veteran designation, security, protective services, state officials, Capitol complex, state patrol, public safety, legislative protection, threat assessment, transportation, electronic attestation, traffic signals, accident reporting, legislative routes, agricultural aircraft

Transcript Highlights:

• bill in the way I would like it considered, using curb weight as opposed to gross vehicle weight rating
• It basically is using curb weight versus gross vehicle weight rating. >> Thank you.
• It basically is using curb weight versus gross vehicle weight rating. >> Thank you.

Bills: HF3919, HF3791, HF1781, HF3908, HF4233, HF3966, HF3430

Keywords: veterans benefits, Secret War, Laos veterans, eligibility process, burial fees, veteran designation, security, protective services, state officials, Capitol complex, state patrol, public safety, legislative protection, threat assessment, transportation, electronic attestation, traffic signals, accident reporting, legislative routes, agricultural aircraft