Transcript Highlights:

• I'm the Texas director and chief of staff for Right on Crime at the Texas Public Policy Foundation.
• Uh, Little Housekeeping, we show you registered as Nikki Presley, Texas director, Right on Crime, Texas
• In sections 4904, 4905, 06, and 065, the penal code and chapter 71 of the penal code.
• The Texas Government Code 501, inmate welfare subchapter B addresses mental health conditions.
• This penal code is nothing more.

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• In fact, Texas Penal Code Section 38.11 prohibits such things as alcohol, deadly weapons, cell phones
• Under Texas Penal Code Section 38.115, it is an offense to operate a drone below 400 feet on a correctional
• Under Texas Penal Code 38.115, it is an offense to operate a drone below 400 feet on a correctional facility
• So then that extends out to the streets of Texas, to those networks of individuals, whether it’s a family
• And that individual has absolutely no authority to enforce the Transportation Code in Cedar Park, Texas

Keywords: 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• My family has had proper care of Hunt, Texas. on the South Port for nearly a century.
• Please remember that this disaster impacted families from every corner of Texas.
• data as described in Texas Water Code 16.026. ex-resident stations began reporting in 2016.
• family.
• My fellow Texas family my hair. Thank you, ma'am.

Keywords: 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• However, there are parts of the code that still require Texas institutions of higher education to be
• Senate Bill 2183 proposes amendments to the Texas Occupations Code to standardize the permitted sales
• These placements often occur under agreements on Chapter 34 and 35 of the Texas Family Code.
• These placements often occur under agreements on Chapters 34 and 35 of the Texas Family Code.
• We're doing this at the request of the Texas Council of Family Defense Attorneys.

Summary: The Senate opened with an invocation by Pastor Jim Harris of Tilden Baptist Church, followed by remarks from Senator Zaffirini recognizing his service and retirement as an agricultural teacher. The chamber also received a message from the governor on appointments to the Coastal Water Authority Board of Directors. Senators then adopted SR 434 honoring Goodwill Industries of San Antonio’s 80th anniversary, with Senators Gutierrez, Menendez, and Zaffirini praising its workforce training and second-chance employment mission; SR 435 recognizing Dr. Christine Ramos Camacho as Doctor of the Day; and a group of additional resolutions adopted by voice vote. Senator Zaffirini also introduced the McMullen County Day delegation, and Senator Gutierrez introduced the Doctor of the Day. The Senate then took up and passed several bills. SB 1951 addressed penalties for late property rendition filings and removed a financial incentive for appraisal districts; SB 1261 related to financing water supply projects in the state water plan; SB 1620 created a Texas Forensic Analyst Apprenticeship Pilot Program; SB 530 updated higher-education accreditation rules; SB 2183 standardized fireworks sales periods statewide; SB 2368 strengthened the Lone Star Infrastructure Protection Act and added foreign-affiliation safeguards for electricity market participants; SB 1398 limited children without placement (CWOP) practices and added community-based care transparency; and SB 1960 established digital replication rights for voice and visual likenesses. Each of these bills advanced through suspension of the regular order, passage to engrossment, suspension of the three-day rule, and final passage, with recorded votes generally showing strong support and some opposition on a few measures. The chamber also debated SB 825, which would require an annual study of the economic, environmental, and financial impacts of illegal immigration. Senators Middleton, Hinojosa, Gutierrez, and Eckhardt debated whether the study should include positive as well as negative impacts; an amendment to require that broader analysis failed, and the bill was left pending after passage to engrossment. Other measures passed included SB 2010, prohibiting political subdivisions from operating guaranteed income programs; SB 546, requiring reporting and continued implementation of school bus seat belts; SB 586, establishing the Historical Texas Cemetery designation program; SB 1150, requiring inactive oil and gas wells to be plugged or returned to production under a compliance plan; SB 1184, lowering the minimum age of wine eligible for sale by wine collection sellers; SB 2185, clarifying bilingual education allotment funding; SB 1923, making child support follow the child in certain temporary placements; SB 2252, expanding early literacy and numeracy supports and screening tools; SB 1870, barring local decriminalization of drugs; and SB 2405, the major TDCJ sunset bill, which included facility planning, parole and rehabilitation reforms, and an amendment protecting parole board discretion. Most of these bills were adopted after floor amendments and passed with recorded votes, often along party-line or near-party-line divisions.

Transcript Highlights:

• As you know, the Business and Organization code governs the creation and operation of the Texas corporations
• drafted the groundbreaking Texas Business Organizations code.
• I'm also with TBLF and sit on the Texas Business Organization's Codes Committee of the State Bar of Texas
• So I have this under Texas Penal Code 33.07 online impersonation is criminalized when performed without
• Members, uh, the Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code protects the citizens' First Amendment rights

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• Refer the subcommittee on Family and Fiduciary Relationships.
• violence or for the subcommittee on Family and fiduciary Relationships.
• Refer to the Subcommittee on Family and Fiduciary.
• By Vaughn and willing to the creation of the Texas Future Fund, the Texas Future Fund Investment Review
• HB 1515 by Canal. of the continuation of functions of the Texas Board of Criminal Justice and the Texas

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• They want to expand their Texas presence and has chosen North Texas.
• Right now, Alpine is specifically restricted by a section of the Texas Tax Code that requires them to
• Under the current law in Subchapter C of Chapter 31 of the tax code, 66 Texas cities are authorized to
• This bill would add the City of Monahans to Section 351.0066(a) of the Texas Tax Code.
• tax code.

Summary: The committee heard a long series of bills, most of them expanding or adjusting hotel occupancy tax or qualified hotel project authority for specific local governments. Measures discussed included HB 2404 for Childress County; HB 3066 for Allen’s Kalahari resort project; HB 4682 for Plano; HB 4683 for Anna; HB 3076 creating a project finance zone in Frisco; HB 3567 for Wichita County; HB 3715 for McAllen; HB 1039 for Alpine; HB 3182 for Burleson; HB 4926 for Grimes County; HB 4222 for Victoria County; HB 3377 for Katy; HB 4659 for Addison; HB 3241 for Georgetown; HB 4098 for Taylor; HB 3178 for Kerr County; HB 3179 for Mason County; HB 2289 for New Braunfels; HB 4412 for Kermit; HB 5165 for Monahans; HB 3500 for Bastrop; and HB 3169 for Carrollton. In each case, authors and local officials described tourism, convention, hotel, airport, or mixed-use development needs and argued the bills would help attract visitors, investment, and jobs. One non-hotel-tax bill, HB 4226, would exempt Texas food banks from sales tax on vehicle purchases and rentals, with testimony emphasizing the scale of food bank operations and the savings’ impact on meal delivery and disaster response. Testimony was generally supportive from city officials, economic development representatives, and industry groups such as the Texas Hotel and Lodging Association. Several witnesses described major private projects, including Kalahari in Allen, a proposed hotel and conference center in Addison, a mixed-use project in Georgetown, and a large development tied to Samsung growth in Taylor. For HB 4226, food bank representatives said the bill would help them purchase refrigerated trucks and other delivery vehicles, while an opponent questioned the fiscal note and the scope of the exemption. HB 4926 drew opposition from Camp Allen, whose representative argued a new county hotel tax would raise costs for guests and could hurt the retreat center’s operations. HB 3178 also drew an objection from a Kerr County resident who argued the tax would grow county government and pointed to event center losses, though the author said the revenue would support tourism-related county uses. The committee took no final votes on the bills in this transcript. After each bill was laid out and testimony concluded, the chair repeatedly asked whether there was objection to leaving the bill pending; in each instance, no objection was heard, and the bills were left pending. Several committee substitutes were offered and then withdrawn or noted as conforming drafts, but no bill was reported out or otherwise acted on beyond being left pending.

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh The Texas State Association of Firefighters.
• Workers' Compensation Act, uh, under Texas Labor Code Chapter 410.
• Uh, for example, Texas Labor Code Section 410 allows.
• Uh, the, the biggest, uh, ambiguity I can see in the bill as it's written now is under Texas Labor Code
• Of the Texas Healthcare Workforce Task Force October report hosted by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating

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• Lindy McGee testifying on behalf of Texas Medical Association and Texas.
• He's licensed in New Mexico, Oklahoma, Colorado, and Texas, and I'm a licensed Texas realtor.
• Did this occur in Texas? It did not occur in Texas. I'm in Virginia. Thank you. OK. Thank you.
• No realtor member in Texas has ever been found in violation of the code of ethics anti-discrimination
• These are Texas realtors.

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• It amends Section 22.002 of the Government Code to allow the Texas Supreme Court to issue writs that
• Members, with this bill, we can make the Government Code consistent with the Texas Constitution in an
• Such an important thing for Texas. Texas can lead the country in this area. We recognize that.
• This bill addresses these concerns by amending the Texas Business and Commerce Code to place guardrails
• The bill addresses these concerns by amending the Texas Business and Commerce Code to place guardrails

Summary: The Senate convened with an invocation, received a House message that H.B. 422 had passed the House, and heard gubernatorial nominations for the Council on Sex Offender Treatment. The chamber also recognized the Doctor of the Day and several visiting groups and adopted a resolution designating June 20, 2025, as Texas Nuclear Legislative Day. Members then considered and passed several bills and resolutions, often by suspending the regular order and the constitutional three-day rule. SB 311 passed to final passage on the Texas Supreme Court’s writ power. SB 883, on off-label prescription access for COVID-19 treatment, passed to engrossment. SB 1706, creating an Open Meetings Act exception for certain defense, military, and aerospace deliberations, passed despite concerns from Sen. Eckhardt that the bill’s use of “deliberate” could weaken open-government protections. CS SB 1677, directing a study on diabetes-related amputations, passed with support from Sen. Menendez. SB 1967 expanded flood infrastructure fund eligibility to certain multipurpose projects, and SB 1255, a cleanup bill on mold assessor and remediator regulation, passed unanimously. The Senate also approved CS SJR 40 and CS SB 871, which would change emergency and disaster law to require legislative involvement after prolonged or widespread emergencies and to limit gubernatorial suspension powers, with Sen. Eckhardt questioning whether the bill could slow urgent business closures during a disaster. Additional measures passed included SB 1426 transferring management of the First Capital State Historic Site to the Texas Historical Commission, SB 249 requiring TxDOT to fund memorial markers for fallen peace officers, SB 1592 centralizing collection of hotel occupancy taxes from accommodation intermediaries, SB 1271 allowing concurrent jurisdiction on military installations for certain juvenile matters, SB 745 creating a higher penalty for intoxication manslaughter involving multiple deaths, SB 365 shortening the academic fresh start waiting period at public colleges, and SB 1171 adjusting compensation and standards for certain Texas Juvenile Justice Department inspector general employees. CS SB 36, creating a Homeland Security Division within DPS, passed after questions about its relationship to federal homeland security and its focus on border security and critical infrastructure. The latter part of the session focused heavily on CS SB 38, a major eviction and squatter-related bill. Sen. Bettencourt described widespread squatter cases and argued the bill, with a Moody amendment, would clarify notice and eviction procedures while balancing property-owner and tenant rights. Sen. West said he supported addressing squatters but worried the broader eviction changes could harm vulnerable renters, especially single mothers, and said he would vote present not voting. The discussion continued with additional testimony from Sen. Kolkhorst about the need for a balanced eviction process.

Transcript Highlights:

• Too many families find themselves trapped by their zip code or have a special need that would otherwise
• This is a unique opportunity for Texas families, and I'm excited to see how we can better our education
• There are thousands of families in Texas that are. of families in Texas that are low income or middle
• I really appreciate your effort to provide Texas families with additional choices.
• I believe in Texas, you have over 500,000 homeschool families to date.

Bills: SB 2

Keywords: 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We show you registered as Molly Boyles, Director of Public Policy, Texas Council on Family Violence.
• My name is Molly Boyles, and I'm the Director of Public Policy at the Texas Council on Family Violence
• Under the Family Code, the Code of Criminal Procedure, or any other order from a state that's related
• Senate Bill 1379 amends Section 32.21 of the Texas Penal Code by increasing the penalty for forgery from
• National Bank of Texas.

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Please remember that this disaster impacted families from every corner of Texas.
• data, as described in Texas Water Code Section 16.026.
• And there are only two networks in Texas, Texas Mesonet and West Texas Mesonet, that meet this five-minute
• I stand for my Texas family.
• family by heritage.

Summary: The joint Senate and House disaster preparedness and flooding hearing opened with quorum calls, prayer, testimony time limits, and remarks from legislative leaders emphasizing decorum, respect, and the goal of learning from the July 4 flood to prevent future loss of life. Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick and Speaker Dustin Burrows said the special session and hearings were intended to hear directly from local officials and residents, and that the state would pursue immediate and longer-term legislation and continue working beyond the current session. The committee then heard invited testimony from Kerr County, Kerrville, Kendall County, Real County, and the Upper Guadalupe River Authority, followed by member questions. Kerr County Judge Rob Kelly, Sheriff Larry Leitha, and emergency management coordinator William B. Thomas described the flood as a sudden, unprecedented event that overwhelmed local systems before many officials or residents understood the danger. They said the county received multiple National Weather Service and IPAWS alerts, but the rain fell in remote upstream areas with limited gauges, and the flood rose too quickly for normal response. They detailed the emergency response, including dispatchers handling heavy call volumes, deputies and volunteer firefighters conducting rescues, and state and federal partners assisting. County officials said 108 people died, including 37 children, and two remained missing. They called for better real-time flood detection, stronger rural emergency management resources, improved broadband and cell coverage, and more funding for swift-water rescue and warning systems. Kerrville Mayor Joe Herring and City Manager Dalton Rice said the city had floodplain rules, emergency plans, and prior preparedness efforts, but the event exposed gaps in communications and regional warning capacity. They urged the Legislature to fund a flood warning system, whether sirens, automated alerts, or a hybrid, and asked for support for predictive weather modeling, broadband expansion, a hazard mitigation fund, and disaster recovery resources. The Upper Guadalupe River Authority said it had long funded gauges and pursued flood-warning and mitigation projects, including a new software-based flood prediction system and possible retention dams, and planned to dedicate reserve funds to feasibility studies and infrastructure improvements. Kendall County Judge Shane Stolarczyk said his county’s emergency action plan and early alerts helped prevent deaths there, and he recommended easier access to alerting tools, a river-wide warning system, simpler grant applications, and regional coordination. Real County Judge Bella Rubio said rural counties face major challenges because of limited cell service, broadband, staffing, and funding, especially for camps and visitors along the Frio and Nueces rivers, and argued that reliable alert systems should be treated as a necessity, not a luxury. Members asked about the timeline of the flood, low-water crossings, communications failures, sirens, bridges, and funding, and several witnesses said the key lessons were better communications, better warning systems, and more investment in rural flood mitigation and emergency response.

Transcript Highlights:

• Please remember that this disaster impacted families from every corner of Texas.
• data as described in Texas Water Code Section 16.026.
• data as described in Texas Water Code 16.026.
• data as described in Texas Water Code Section 16.026.
• I stand for my Texas family.

Summary: The joint Senate and House disaster preparedness hearing convened in Kerrville with quorum, public testimony limited to three minutes and invited testimony to 10 minutes. Leaders from both chambers, along with the lieutenant governor and speaker, framed the hearing as an unprecedented joint effort focused on learning from the July 4 flood, honoring victims, and identifying actions to reduce future loss of life. The committee also heard opening remarks about decorum, logistics, and the intent to continue work in future sessions. The first panel included Kerr County Judge Rob Kelly, Sheriff Larry Leitha, Emergency Management Coordinator William B. Thomas IV, Kerrville Mayor Joe Herring Jr., Kerrville City Manager Dalton Rice, Upper Guadalupe River Authority representative William Rector, Kendall County Judge Shane Stolarczyk, and Real County Judge Bella Rubio. They described the flood as sudden and catastrophic, with Kerr County reporting 108 deaths and two missing. Local officials emphasized that they received no timely warning of the scale of the event, that responders and volunteers acted heroically under extreme conditions, and that communications, cell coverage, and rural emergency resources were strained. Several witnesses said the county’s existing alert systems were limited by geography, sparse broadband, and the speed of the flood. Testimony focused on possible improvements, including real-time flood gauges and predictive monitoring, stronger rural emergency management staffing and training, better interoperability and alerting tools such as IPAWS, CodeRED, WENS, and sirens, and expanded broadband and radio coverage. Kerrville asked for a flood warning system before next summer and state help for stormwater, floodplain, and disaster recovery funding. UGRA described its past and current flood-warning and mitigation efforts, including gauge funding, a new software-based flood prediction project, and consideration of additional retention dams. Kendall and Real counties highlighted successful or needed alerting and evacuation practices, while also stressing the difficulty of funding and maintaining such systems in small rural counties. Members asked detailed questions about the timeline of the flood response, low-water crossings, communications failures, sirens, bridges, and whether regional consolidation or additional infrastructure could improve future preparedness.

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, primarily we give back scholarships to DPS families, including driver's license Office, CID, Texas
• Current law in Texas government code requires all Texas police agencies to provide a retired police officer
• Chapter 32 of Texas Penal Code corruption has Chapter 36.
• OK, because you were, you were quoting the Texas Penal Code, am I correct? Yes, sir.
• OK, Texas Penal Code 2205, it, it talks about the deadly conduct charge.

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• For over 100 years, the Texas Insurance code has included anti-rebating laws which prohibit insurance
• Primary Care Consortium Texas Academy of Family Physicians.
• OK, we show you as Tom Banning, Texas Academy of Family Physicians.
• Thank you, Tom Banning with the Texas Academy of Family Physicians in support of the 1959.
• to the state of Texas.

Bills: HB139

Keywords: ad valorem tax, tax rates, voter-approval, taxing unit, property tax, local government

Transcript Highlights:

• This language came to me by the Texas Association of Counties in collaboration with the Texas Association
• Um, current Texas election code 61.014 has not been updated since 2007 and technology and people's use
• You're here representing the Texas Association of, don't worry, your time's not out, Texas Association
• Uh, under Section 16.033 of the Texas Election Code, if a person responds to a jury summons to say that
• This legislation amends the Texas election code to prohibit candidates from filing applications for a

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• Texas.
• Texas We show you registers Molly Boyles, director of Public Policy, Texas Council on Family Violence
• I'm the director of public policy at the Texas Council on Family Violence.
• They don't reduce family crime, family violence. They don't reduce suicide.
• Senate Bill 1379 amends section 32.21 of the Texas Penal Code by increasing the penalty for forgery from

Transcript Highlights:

• Please remember that this disaster impacted families from every corner of Texas.
• I want to know, as a commissioner, you submitted two state of Texas grants. error code: 520 Okay, based
• as described in Texas Water Code 16.026. resident stations began reporting in 2016.
• And there are only two networks in Texas, Texas, Texas Mesonet and West Texas. that meet this five-minute
• family.

Keywords: 997, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• HB 4429 honors the McIlroy family by designating a portion of U.S.
• Transportation Code establishes the roads on which the Texas Department of Transportation may authorize
• Under existing Texas law, licensed automotive parts recyclers are the only entities in Texas permitted
• Under existing Texas law, licensed automotive parts recyclers are the only entities in Texas permitted
• Earl Cook, Texas Independent Automobile Dealers.

Summary: The Senate Transportation Committee heard a series of mostly local transportation and memorial designation bills. Several measures would rename highway segments in honor of fallen service members or public servants, including HB 2026 (Gary C. Johnston memorial highways in Archer County), HB 4429 (McIlroy Family Memorial Highway in Blanco and Burnet counties), SB 3062 (Hamby-Webb Memorial Highway in Panola County), HB 3510 (Sergeant Mark Butler Memorial Highway in Brazos County), and HB 3986 (Corporal Speedy Espiriueta Memorial Highway in Mission). The committee also heard HB 2560, which would create an optional county-road “adopt-a-road” style program allowing donations for county road repair and maintenance. Two bills drew more substantive policy discussion. HB 2427 and HB 2455 concerned oversized/overweight freight corridors and permit authority in Hidalgo County tied to cross-border trade near the FARR International Bridge. Supporters, including the bridge director, said the measures would correct prior road descriptions, put existing TxDOT actions into statute, improve truck routing, and support trade and bridge expansion. The committee substitute for HB 2427 also removed Roma permit language, barred certain hazardous-material permits, raised permit fees, required local cost responsibility for road maintenance, and made the bill contingent on SB 2949. HB 5436 would allow licensed automotive recyclers to buy certain older, long-unregistered vehicles for dismantling or scrap without a title, with reporting, lienholder notice, and anti-theft safeguards; recyclers and dealers supported it as a way to curb illegal untitled-vehicle sales and VIN cloning. HB 3966, authored by Sen. Alvarado, was the most contested bill. It would require commercial passenger bus companies to mail advance notice to residents within one mile before opening a new stop or terminal. Alvarado said the bill responded to the relocation of a Greyhound terminal into a Houston neighborhood without notice and to resulting crime and nuisance concerns. Greyhound opposed the bill, arguing the notice requirement would be burdensome and could delay emergency relocations during hurricanes, flooding, or lease changes. After testimony, the committee voted to report most bills favorably, with HB 3966 passing on a 5-2 vote; the other reported bills passed unanimously. Several bills were also placed on the local and uncontested calendar, and the committee recessed to the call of the chair.