Transcript Highlights:

• House Bill 2787 is a FY26 supplemental appropriation to the State Department of Health to pay for legacy
• So, of course, I know, and I think you know that I'm focusing singly on the bill that's in front of me
• goals and state strategies.
• the past, we're making this a priority out of our reserves, out of our cash.
• This is just in the past year alone. 88 hours of Medical referrals, uh, 42,900 distributions of food,

Bills: HB2786, HB2787, HB2786, HB2787

Keywords: mental health, substance abuse, appropriation, state funding, emergency declaration, healthcare, State Department of Health, childbirth program, emergency funding, 914, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I think all of us want transparency and accountability. ...benefit of this group.
• we had outside of the room.
• These programs are going to be administered under the Oklahoma State Department of Health based on the
• requested by state agencies.
• state, and this is one of those that we passed the legislation in 2025, and so this is not changing policy

Bills: HB2786, HB2787, HB2786, HB2787

Keywords: mental health, substance abuse, appropriation, state funding, emergency declaration, healthcare, State Department of Health, childbirth program, emergency funding, 914, all

Transcript Highlights:

• with an emergency On it with just 50% of this or 50+1 here, and how is that reasonable in terms of allowing
• House House Bill 4029 is $68 million dollars appropriated to the State Department of Health.
• So, one of our goals was to increase the number of nurses in the state.
• Talks about how the Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management may enter into memorandums of understanding
• Emergency Management retain 2% of some of these millions of dollars.

Bills: HB4028, HB4029, HB4059, HB4063, HB4073, HB4074, HB4075, HB4076, HB4077, HB4078, SB1130, SB1131, SB1132, SB1133, SB1134, SB1142

Keywords: tax deduction, venture capital, economic development, Oklahoma, investment, ALS, funding, healthcare, State Department of Health, emergency declaration, public finance, state budget, financial regulations, monetary policy, referendum, constitutional amendments, special election, Oklahoma legislature, public voting, recovery fund

Transcript Highlights:

• of Oklahoma.
• If we're going to make substantive change to the state of Oklahoma as far as access to healthcare, wouldn't
• House Bill 4029 merely limits the appropriations given to the Oklahoma State Department of Health for
• SB1130 is a piece of legislation that Reappropriates certain ARP monies to ensure the state of Oklahoma
• House 4077 appropriates up to $10,582,005.96 in interest funds to the Oklahoma Department of Emergency

Bills: HB4028, HB4029, HB4059, HB4063, HB4073, HB4074, HB4075, HB4076, HB4077, HB4078, SB1130, SB1131, SB1132, SB1133, SB1134, SB1142, HB4028, HB4029, HB4059, HB4063, HB4073, HB4074, HB4075, HB4076, HB4077, HB4078, SB1130, SB1131, SB1132, SB1133, SB1134, SB1142

Keywords: tax deduction, venture capital, economic development, Oklahoma, investment, ALS, funding, healthcare, State Department of Health, emergency declaration, public finance, state budget, financial regulations, monetary policy, referendum, constitutional amendments, special election, Oklahoma legislature, public voting, recovery fund

Transcript Highlights:

• In terms of what the state puts in from state revenue sources.
• There are 39 of them across the state.
• and science teaching for the great state of Texas.
• So we're in this state of crisis, and I see House Bill redistribution of wealth.
• State property values. So we were victims of that. We lost 20% of our budget last year.

Bills: HB2, HB2

Keywords: public education, teacher compensation, certification, funding, school finance, educator rights, education funding, charter schools, staff compensation, state aid, retention allotment, disaster preparedness, emergency management, flooding, mass fatality, mass casualty, fatality tracking, body recovery, autopsy, justice of the peace

Transcript Highlights:

• Incredible strides of this state in education, from the dedication of our educators to the gains of our
• Vasquez stated the surplus is a result of underfunding our public school system.
• So the students in my district as well as the students across the state of Texas.
• To be a member of a regional day school program by the state.
• the teachers in the state of Texas.

Bills: HB2, HB2

Keywords: public education, teacher compensation, certification, funding, school finance, educator rights, education funding, charter schools, staff compensation, state aid, retention allotment, disaster preparedness, emergency management, flooding, mass fatality, mass casualty, fatality tracking, body recovery, autopsy, justice of the peace

Transcript Highlights:

• That, to me, is the wrong policy of the state.
• that 39 to the state of Texas under recapture, leaving less.
• Your willingness to invest in the children of our state strengthens the future of our great state, and
• We have a college completion rate of 55%, compared to 22% for Dallas County and 26% for the state of
• All of our non-federal funding comes from the state, which means you, our state legislators, are the

Bills: HB2, HB2

Keywords: public education, teacher compensation, certification, funding, school finance, educator rights, education funding, charter schools, staff compensation, state aid, retention allotment, disaster preparedness, emergency management, flooding, mass fatality, mass casualty, fatality tracking, body recovery, autopsy, justice of the peace

Transcript Highlights:

• We filed in the history of the state of Texas.
• in the state of charter schools.
• school systems in the state. of Texas.
• Texas educates the greatest proportion of emergent. bilingual students of any state in the country.
• of an urban district in the history of the United States.

Bills: HB2, HB2

Keywords: public education, teacher compensation, certification, funding, school finance, educator rights, education funding, charter schools, staff compensation, state aid, retention allotment, disaster preparedness, emergency management, flooding, mass fatality, mass casualty, fatality tracking, body recovery, autopsy, justice of the peace

Transcript Highlights:

• Many of our districts already do that, but we're making sure that it's in state law so all of our districts
• Of course, there is no pressure relief for the state of Texas when we have inflation.
• It's certainly hard for the state without an adjustment for the state dollars to level up the cost of
• quality education in the state of Texas, period.
• for any of the extra at the state base.

Bills: HB2

Keywords: disaster preparedness, emergency management, flooding, mass fatality, mass casualty, fatality tracking, body recovery, autopsy, justice of the peace, medical examiner, county judge, sheriff, mayor, emergency coordinator, emergency manager license, volunteer management system, volunteer registration, criminal history check, background check, Texas Division of Emergency Management

Summary: The Senate Education K-16 Committee met to consider HB 2, the major school finance bill, with the chair explaining that the committee substitute would provide about $8 billion in new public education funding. The bill was described as including permanent teacher compensation increases, expanded teacher incentive allotment funding, support for early literacy and numeracy, teacher certification and residency pathways, special education funding, career and technical education, school safety dollars, and facilities support for charter schools. The committee adopted the committee substitute without objection after roll was called and a quorum was present. Members questioned the bill’s structure, especially the balance between across-the-board teacher pay and the teacher incentive allotment, the treatment of uncertified teachers, and differences in requirements between traditional public schools and charter schools. Senator Menendez and Senator West raised concerns about equity, charter-school parity, facilities funding, inflation, and whether the bill should include more support for fine arts and extracurricular programs. The chair responded that the bill was designed to direct most new money to traditional public schools while also preserving flexibility and that charter-school and public-school alignment would need further work. Invited witnesses Dr. Imelda De La Rosa and Val Acri testified in support of the bill, emphasizing that the Teacher Incentive Allotment helps recruit and retain teachers in rural districts and supports mentorship and certification pathways. Public witnesses also supported the bill but urged more funding for fine arts, local flexibility, and full restoration of House-proposed funding levels. Dr. Josh Jones supported year-long teacher residencies, Dr. Philip Morgan asked for more local control and restoration of fine arts funding, Rich Saina supported the bill but warned about hold-harmless reductions, and Dr. Greg Poole supported the bill while asking for flexibility for high-performing districts that already pay high salaries. After the invited testimony and some public testimony, the committee recessed subject to the call of the chair so members could attend the Senate floor.

Transcript Highlights:

• the school districts in the state of Texas, and that's in Exhibit 1 of the handout that I gave you.
• All of our non-federal funds come from the state, which means you, our state legislators, are the only
• The 2025 State of the Arts report by the Texas Cultural Trust, which I believe you now have a copy of
• I have the honor of serving special education directors across the state of Texas, and I'd like to say
• I have four certifications from the state of Texas.

Bills: HB2

Keywords: disaster preparedness, emergency management, flooding, mass fatality, mass casualty, fatality tracking, body recovery, autopsy, justice of the peace, medical examiner, county judge, sheriff, mayor, emergency coordinator, emergency manager license, volunteer management system, volunteer registration, criminal history check, background check, Texas Division of Emergency Management

Summary: The committee continued public testimony on House Bill 2, which would make major changes to public school funding, teacher pay, special education, early learning, school safety, and related programs. Many superintendents and education advocates supported the bill’s overall direction but urged changes, especially a larger basic allotment and more flexible funding for rural and small districts. Witnesses from Paint Creek, West Hardin, Cushing, Blooming Grove, Mildred, Buffalo, Plano, and rural school groups said the bill’s targeted raises and new requirements would not fully cover inflation, TRS/Medicare costs, transportation, insurance, or support staff salaries, and several asked the committee to restore the House version’s higher basic allotment and small-school allotment. Charter school representatives supported the facilities funding changes and said charter schools need state help because they cannot levy taxes, while also noting the funding gap with ISDs. Fine arts advocates asked the committee to restore the fine arts allotment, arguing arts improve engagement, attendance, and academic outcomes, especially in rural and at-risk communities. Early learning and special education witnesses supported parts of the bill but raised concerns about pre-K restrictions, disability-related pre-K access, and the need to preserve or clarify special education provisions and mental health oversight language. Several witnesses praised the teacher pay raise, teacher incentive allotment expansion, and teacher preparation investments, saying they would help recruit and retain educators and improve student outcomes. Others, including counselors and support staff advocates, argued the bill should also include raises for counselors, nurses, librarians, bus drivers, custodians, aides, and other non-teaching employees who keep schools running. One witness from the Texas Counseling Association opposed the substitute because it removed a counselor pay provision, warning of counselor shortages and inequities. A parent and special education advocate said the bill’s structure creates too many strings attached and asked for a larger basic allotment instead of more targeted funding. Another witness from Mental Health America urged keeping the collaborative task force on public school mental health services through 2031, and a disability rights advocate said the committee substitute appears to omit some special education items that were in the House version. The committee also briefly took up House Bill 6, a school discipline bill. After questions about automatic mandatory expulsion for vape possession and concerns about younger students, the committee adopted the substitute and voted to report HB 6 favorably to the full Senate by a 9-1 vote, with Senator Menendez voting no and Senators West and Menendez expressing reservations but supporting further discussion. After that vote, testimony on HB 2 resumed. Senators used the hearing to ask about the bill’s cost, the difference between the basic allotment and the bill’s targeted funding buckets, and whether the permanent teacher pay increase shifts pressure off districts. The bill’s supporters emphasized that it represents an historic, roughly $8 billion investment and that many of the new funding streams are intended to be permanent or to address specific district needs.

Transcript Highlights:

• State University Medical Authority. Chairman Caldwell now made his final pass of the bill.
• to the state department of Health.
• Senate Bill 1132 by Caldwell of the House and Hall of the Senate, an act relating to the state department
• Speaker, on the Oklahoma State Department of mental health and Substance abuse were had originally thought
• We have asthma affecting 28 million people in the United States, 4.75 million of those are children.

Bills: HCR1026, SB1130, SB1134, SB1131, SB1132, SB1133, SB1142, HR1049

Keywords: light pollution, bird mortality, migration, energy conservation, wildlife protection, University Hospitals Authority, funding, behavioral health, appropriation, adolescent health, emergency legislation, Oklahoma State University, Medical Authority, human performance, pharmaceutical expansion, emergency funding, juvenile justice, youth services, pandemic relief, healthcare

Transcript Highlights:

• He attended N A andM Junior College, Oklahoma State, and the University of Oklahoma.
• And so they're doing great work for the state of Oklahoma.
• Millions of birds travel across our state, most of them flying at night, guided by the stars during the
• Wrapping up, serving the great state of Oklahoma in the House of Representatives has truly...
• To serve the people of Edmond and the state of Oklahoma, though this chapter is coming to a close, my

Bills: HCR1026, SB1130, SB1134, SB1131, SB1132, SB1133, SB1142, HR1049

Keywords: light pollution, bird mortality, migration, energy conservation, wildlife protection, University Hospitals Authority, funding, behavioral health, appropriation, adolescent health, emergency legislation, Oklahoma State University, Medical Authority, human performance, pharmaceutical expansion, emergency funding, juvenile justice, youth services, pandemic relief, healthcare

Transcript Highlights:

• their respective profession in the state without a license during a state of emergency. >> [clears throat
• their respective profession in the state without a license during a state of emergency.
• 27.960> state<00:12:28.200> of<00:12:28.280> emergency.
• license during a state of emergency. license during a state of emergency.
• /c><00:12:53.080> instance, state of emergency um for instance, state of emergency um for instance

Bills: SCR180

Keywords: wildfire, fire hazard, Lahaina, West Maui, Maui wildfire, vegetation management, fuel reduction, defensible space, fuel breaks, invasive grasses, emergency access, evacuation route, fire lane, state lands, public safety, Office of the State Fire Marshal, community risk reduction, hazard mitigation, brush clearance, wildland-urban interface

Summary: The committee opened by noting it was likely its last hearing of the 2026 session, then took up several resolutions. SCR 54, on appointing a hydrogen fire safety expert and training on hydrogen-related protocols, and SCR 59, on allowing certain health care professionals to practice without a license during a state of emergency, drew no testimony. Members discussed SCR 59 as a response to past emergencies and the need for pre-approved, updated registries of professionals who could be deployed quickly in emergencies. SCR 62 SD1, which asks the 911 Board to form a working group with the disability community to address access issues in emergency and 911 responses, received testimony from disability advocates and the 911 Board. Testifiers said the measure should ensure an integrated system with EMS infrastructure, real-time access for dispatchers and field personnel, and public education about the system; they also noted that Smart911 is no longer being used on Oahu and Maui and that a statewide, integrated approach is needed. Members agreed to work the suggested language into the resolution. SCR 179, urging Maui County to enforce fire code provisions on brush clearance, fuel breaks, roadside vegetation clearing, and emergency access, was noted as having no testimony but continuing to raise important issues. SCR 74, calling for an audit of no-bid contracts issued under emergency proclamations from 2020 through 2025, drew strong support from a late testifier who tied the measure to emergency procurement concerns after the Lahaina wildfire and COVID-era contracting. The witness argued that procurement rules should not be waived in ways that compromise safety, and described concerns about unlicensed contractors and construction problems in a state housing project. Members asked about the scope of the audit and whether it would interfere with criminal investigations; the witness said the audit should cover a broad range of contracts, including nonprofit contracts, and should not be limited to the wildfire period. The committee also heard SCR 28 SD1 on creating a Hawaii Vietnam Veterans Medal, with support from the Department of Defense and veterans advocates, who said the resolution is intended to do the groundwork for a future appropriation and to determine eligibility and distribution procedures. Finally, SCR 60 SD1, requesting updates on the “Breaking Cycles” rehabilitation and restorative justice study, received support from the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, the Correctional System Oversight Commission, and reform advocates. The department asked that reporting be annual rather than quarterly because of the complexity of the OCCC project, and supporters said the measure would promote transparency and help ensure the study’s recommendations are implemented. No votes were taken in the portion of the hearing provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• I was out of… >> State. >> [snorts] >> [snorts] >> [snorts] >> Houses. >> Oh, really?
• Uh, this bill simply says that the state agencies cannot self-declare emergencies at the governor. >>
• This bill came out of the frustration of serving on a contract with you and and Sunset Committee where
• state agencies cannot<00:07:31.599> self-declare<00:07:32.240> emergencies<00:07:32.800
• out of the frustration of This bill came out of the frustration of serving<00:08:28.080> on<00

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:

• The Chinese student came to the United States with the intention of studying under Dr.
• And there is a serious shortage in the state of Texas of bilingual lawyers.
• According to the Department of State.
• with the state auditor's office within two business days of receiving the report.
• of our state.

Bills: HB232

Keywords: disaster recovery, natural disaster, weather disaster, emergency relief, flood relief, hurricane relief, storm damage, wildfire, tornado, hail, windstorm, extreme heat, ice storm, snowstorm, property damage, personal injury, temporary housing, relocation assistance, lost wages, state emergency management

Transcript Highlights:

• It will strengthen our legal workforce and a part of the state that drives immense trade.
• And with that said, if you look at the, the State Bar of Texas Department of Research analysis, uh, Austin
• state or of certain programs offered by those institutions.
• , uh, the state of Oklahoma, they, they, they propped up and tried to get, you know.
• future of our state.

Bills: HB232

Keywords: disaster recovery, natural disaster, weather disaster, emergency relief, flood relief, hurricane relief, storm damage, wildfire, tornado, hail, windstorm, extreme heat, ice storm, snowstorm, property damage, personal injury, temporary housing, relocation assistance, lost wages, state emergency management

Transcript Highlights:

• of State Health Services.
• Department of State Health Services. Is it Department of State Health Services?
• of the state of Texas.
• And so the rest of the state is covered by Justices of the Peace.
• All types of situations, 9-1-1 situations here in our state, we have a state of interoperability that

Bills: HB2, HB1, HB18, HB19, HB20, HB1, HB 2, HB18, HB19, HB20

Keywords: emergency communication, interoperability, grant program, first responders, state council, disaster response, emergency management, mass fatality, justices of the peace, training programs, emergency manager license, volunteer management, justice of the peace training, criminal history checks, state health services, broadband, public safety, disaster preparedness, funding, flood disaster plan

Transcript Highlights:

• > of executive branch in the state of executive branch in the state of Minnesota<00:02:00.240>
• the number of salons in the state of Minnesota.
• the number of salons in the state of Minnesota.
• the number of salons in the state of Minnesota.
• the number of salons in the state of Minnesota.

Bills: HF1, HF98

Keywords: Office of Inspector General, inspector general, legislative audit, fraud prevention, waste and abuse, public funds, grant oversight, state grants, grant management, whistleblower protection, retaliation, subpoena power, data practices, government transparency, accountability, law enforcement referrals, sanctions, debarment, payment withholding, public assistance fraud

Transcript Highlights:

• We made it, but we are a very small percentage of people who because of HP 1403, because of in-state
• One of the most successful nonprofits in the state of Texas.
• our students and of our state.
• considered an out-of-state student.
• Out-of-state rates is five times. It's $250.

Bills: HB232

Keywords: disaster recovery, natural disaster, weather disaster, emergency relief, flood relief, hurricane relief, storm damage, wildfire, tornado, hail, windstorm, extreme heat, ice storm, snowstorm, property damage, personal injury, temporary housing, relocation assistance, lost wages, state emergency management

Transcript Highlights:

• >> and the nurse helps you in the emergency >> and the nurse helps you in the emergency
• 49% of whatever the other profit is. 49% of whatever the other profit is.
• Uh and do most people have cards saying what kind of cards saying what kind of >> I don't think they
• in the in the positive nature of people. in the in the positive nature of people.
• has a lot of input on this. has a lot of input on this.

Bills: SB279, HB478, SB279, HB478

Keywords: Alabama State House, Montgomery, Legislative Council, demolition, state capitol, state capitol building, historic preservation, state property, inventory removal, fixtures, furnishings, reuse, recycling, upcycling, surplus property, public assets, legislative chambers, desk sale, chair sale, state auditor