Subcommittee advances several bills on pensions, public comment and data de-identification; one museum transfer proposal fails

The Public Service and Employee Subcommittee considered a number of bills and moved most to full committee.

Representative Grills' HB 805 would require state retirement systems and local pension funds to divest from entities majority-owned by Chinese interests; sponsor said the change codifies current practice and the bill moved to full committee on a 4–1 vote. Representative Davis' HB 22 (amendment 3821 adopted) expands a 2023 public-comment law so local governing bodies can accept testimony on items "germane" to their jurisdiction; the committee approved the amendment and advanced the bill (3 ayes, 1 no, 1 present not voting). Representative Scarborough's bill clarifying the Comptroller's Office may publish aggregated, de-identified survey data was advanced unanimously. Representative Harris' bill to negotiate management of the Cotton Museum and transfer it to the State Museum failed in committee (tie lead to failure). Several other housekeeping or recruitment incentive bills (including HB 344, HB 1164, HB 8) were moved to full committee without recorded opposition.

Votes at a glance from this meeting: HB 1095 (special deputies) — moved to full committee (5–0); HB 479 (TRICARE reimbursement) — moved to full committee (5–0); HB 344 (military leave clarification) — moved to full committee (5–0); HB 632 (paid volunteer leave) — failed (1–4); HB 318 (WHO/UN/WEF jurisdiction) — moved to full committee (4–1); HB 805 (pension divestment) — moved to full committee (4–1); HB 22 (public comment expansion) — amendment adopted, moved (3–1–1); HB 418 (comptroller data rules) — moved to full committee (5–0); HB 1388 (Cotton Museum) — failed (2–2 tie).