Transcript Highlights:

• Well, we'll clear this panel and see. Okay, go ahead. State your name.
• Are there any other questions for the panel? I just had one question. Sure. Senator Gutierrez.
• Are there any other questions for this panel? Sure, go ahead. Thank you, Chairman, and I'm sorry.
• Any other questions for the panel? Yes. Senator Johnson? Have you served in government of any sort?

Bills: SB250, SB375, SB536, SB845, SB1633, SB1944, SB1957, SB2081, SB2137, SB2262, SB2299, SB2419, SB2452, SB2522, SB2549, SB2594, SB2605, SB2631, SB2639, SB2675, SB3029, SJR60, HB22, HB1392, HB2525, HB22

Keywords: municipal annexation, railroad, adjacent areas, local government, property rights, healthcare provider, Harris County Hospital District, hospital funding, healthcare services, public health program, home loans, nurses, veterans, public servants, Texas Heroes program, low-interest loans, social workers, housing assistance, SB 1633, Texas Tax Code

Transcript Highlights:

• Well, we'll clear this panel and see. OK, go ahead, state your name.
• OK, any other questions for the panel? I just had one question.
• Um, any other questions for this panel? Sure, go ahead. I had one.
• Any other questions for the panel? Yes, Senator Johnson. Yes, uh, Mr.

Bills: SB 250, SB 375, SB 536, SB 845, SB 1633, SB 1944, SB 1957, SB 2081, SB 2137, SB 2262, SB 2299, SB 2419, SB 2452, SB 2522, SB 2549, SB 2594, SB 2605, SB 2631, SB 2639, SB 2675, SB 3029, SJR 60, HB 22, HB 1392, HB 2525

Keywords: municipal annexation, railroad, adjacent areas, local government, property rights, healthcare provider, Harris County Hospital District, hospital funding, healthcare services, public health program, home loans, nurses, veterans, public servants, Texas Heroes program, low-interest loans, social workers, housing assistance, SB 1633, Texas Tax Code

Transcript Highlights:

• Secondly, it expands eligibility for the agency's release review panel.
• employees, the ones working directly with youth and familiar with current practices, to be part of the panel
• practices of TJJD with regard to the eligibility of a person to be appointed by the TJJD's release review panel
• and the authority of a panel member.

Transcript Highlights:

• Sweetwater, Texas, claiming that they were going to recycle them into pallets, railroad ties, flooring panels
• As of 2023, 90% of solar demission panels have ended up in landfills.
• By 2030, the US is projected to have 8 million metric tons of, uh, solar panels in landfills.
• financial assurance requirements of this bill do not apply to businesses and individuals who accept solar panels

Bills: HB205

Keywords: disaster recovery, economic development, grants, loans, infrastructure support

Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you for laying out your bill in front of this beautiful panel. Thank you.
• Solar roof tiles are miniature solar panels that resemble roof shingles and comprise an entire roof,
• unlike regular solar panels which are placed on top of existing shingles.
• In 2011, HB 362 granted solar panels legal protection against these HOA restrictions, but solar tiles

Bills: HB431, HB648, HB 1006, HB1926, HB2037, HB2468, HB2788, HB2791, HB3255, HB3260

Keywords: HB 431, Texas Property Code, Property Code Chapter 202, solar roof tiles, solar shingles, solar energy device, homeowners association, HOA, property owners' association, POA, renewable energy, residential solar, distributed solar, roof-mounted solar, homeowner rights, architectural control, restrictive covenants, real estate, subdivision regulations, multi-zoned subdivisions

Transcript Highlights:

• Members of this panel. I have Dean Zari, thank you, Mr. Chairman.
• Members' questions of the panel. Thank you. If I could ask one. Thank you, Chairman.
• Members, other questions of the panel? Thank you, Senator Campbell. Just wanted to ask um.

Bills: SB15

Keywords: real property, fraud, theft, elderly, disabled, statute of limitations, criminal offense, property rights

Transcript Highlights:

• from the larger counties when, especially when you get above 100 budgeted positions for ARB, uh, panels
• Or at any point in time that 12 or 3 members of that panel were employees of the largest taxing entity
• I would not feel confident that I was getting a fair shake from that panel.

Transcript Highlights:

• of work-based learning, so you have facility visits, guest speakers, presentations, career fairs, interview

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 ask the panel for issue number one to please come forward.
• If I can ask the panel. and we will go on to issue number two if I can ask the panel on issue two to
• But thank you to the panel today. We'll leave the issue open and appreciate it.
• And we will now move on to the panel issue for Common Cloud Platform.
• And we will now move on to the panel. Issue for Common Cloud Platform.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So think solar panels, batteries and EVs, or are flexible in when they use energy.
• So think<00:02:12.879> solar<00:02:13.280> panels,<00:02:14.160> batteries<00:02
• :14.800> and<00:02:15.040> EVs<00:02:16.480> or think solar panels, batteries and
• EVs or think solar panels, batteries and EVs or are<00:02:17.440> flexible<00:02:18.000> in
• have solar panels on their roofs<00:14:59.920> or<00:15:00.240> an<00:15:00.399> EV

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: Representative Craft presented House File 2986, as amended with the DE6, and asked that it be laid over for possible inclusion. He described the bill as an affordability measure centered on virtual power plants, explaining that aggregating distributed energy resources such as solar panels, batteries, EVs, smart thermostats, heat pumps, and water heaters can help utilities reduce peak demand and avoid costly generation and distribution investments. He said the bill would require utilities to reduce system peak through a virtual power plant program by 5% by the end of 2028 and 10% by the end of 2032, using an independent third-party RFP process, with plans incorporated into integrated resource planning and a savings clause if requirements prove infeasible. Testimony in support came from the Department of Commerce, Vote Solar, Solar United Neighbors, Kite Rocket, and Mincia. Supporters said virtual power plants can function like grid-scale resources, lower spot-market and peak costs, improve reliability and resilience, and make better use of existing distribution infrastructure. Commerce said the approach fits an all-of-the-above strategy and noted consumer protections in the bill, including standards for contracts, disclosures, dispatch frequency, notice, opt-out, and compensation. Several supporters cited estimates of significant savings, including a national DOE estimate of 10% to 20% of peak load by 2030 and a Minnesota-specific estimate from Solar United Neighbors of about $63.5 million in savings if 10% of peak demand were met with VPPs in 2030. Committee members raised questions about how much cheaper VPPs are than peaker plants and whether utilities, especially Xcel Energy, are already implementing similar programs. Representative Baker expressed concern that the bill could move faster than the technology or market would naturally develop and asked about the risk of forcing utilities into a mandate before the economics are fully proven. In response, a Solar United Neighbors witness pointed to a fact sheet and Brattle Group-based analysis comparing VPP costs and benefits in Xcel territory, while an Xcel representative said the company has been discussing the bill with Representative Craft for months. The bill was laid over for possible inclusion, and no final vote on the bill itself was taken in the transcript.

Transcript Highlights:

• Members, questions of this panel? Thank you. Y'all, you all are excused.
• Members, any questions for this panel?
• The panel: Tommy Waller, Chuck DeVore, Don Brown are invited to testify.
• The panel: Tommy Waller, Chuck DeVore, Don Brown are invited to testify.
• It's not a stretch in the next panel, for sure.

Bills: SB75, SB715, SB776, SB1299, SB1405, SB1968, SB2021, SB2077, SB2148, SB2321, SB2330, SB2411

Keywords: electric generation, reliability, ERCOT, Public Utility Commission, penalties, performance requirements, energy policy, construction contracts, compensatory damages, government delays, contractor, legislation, nonprofit donor privacy, membership lists, supporter confidentiality, volunteer privacy, association rights, public records exemption, Texas Public Information Act, government transparency

Summary: The committee first took up pending business and favorably reported several bills without objection or by recorded vote, including SB 783, SB 1238, SB 1706, SB 1791, SB 458, SB 1644, and SB 1810, with some of them also sent to the local and uncontested calendar. The committee then moved into hearings on additional bills. SB 1968, by Senator Schwertner, would update the Real Estate License Act by repealing subagency, requiring written buyer-agent agreements before showings, and clarifying when a formal buyer representation agreement must be signed. Texas Realtors testified in support, saying the bill modernizes agency rules and increases transparency, while a committee substitute corrected drafting issues. SB 2411, the annual update to the Texas Business Organizations Code, was also laid out and left pending after supportive testimony from the Texas Business Law Foundation and drafting committee representatives. The committee also heard SB 2321, which would codify ERCOT’s current practice of notifying TCEQ when backup generation needs enforcement discretion for grid reliability; Sierra Club and a chamber of commerce witness supported it with suggestions for clearer emissions reporting, and the bill was left pending. SB 2077 would broaden eligibility for the Texas Mutual Insurance Company board by narrowing conflict restrictions tied to insurance-related interests; Texas Mutual supported the change and the bill was left pending. SB 1405, a broadband bill, would align state law with FCC standards and streamline Broadband Development Office processes; it was left pending after supportive testimony. SB 1299, protecting nonprofit donor privacy, drew support from privacy advocates and concerns from one witness about transparency for publicly funded nonprofit operations; it was left pending. The committee then heard SB 776, which would bar government construction contracts from shifting delay damages to contractors when delays are caused solely by the public owner. Contractors, surety representatives, and water infrastructure advocates supported the bill, arguing it would improve fairness and reduce inflated bids, while water utilities and critical infrastructure entities opposed it, warning of more litigation and higher costs; the bill was left pending. Finally, SB 715, which would apply reliability requirements retroactively to all generation resources in ERCOT, drew opposition from renewable and storage groups and support from some critics of renewable subsidies, with witnesses split over whether it would improve reliability or raise costs; testimony was underway when the transcript ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• We had 157 solar panels installed, and we delivered an estimated 106 megawatt hours of annual energy
• Representative, you know, I really like the innovation that I've been seeing where you can buy a solar panel
• Chair and panel, from Tri-State's sort of modeling, can you quantify—we've heard a little bit about forest
• Chair, panel... A great opportunity for us. Mr.
• Chair, panel, then sort of, you know, we hear about—I know that up in sort of the northeast part of the

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation Legislator of the Year, among other national awards, and recently led a panel
• other national awards and recently<00:13:35.760> led<00:13:36.480> a<00:13:36.800> panel
• <00:13:37.360> the<00:13:37.600> national<00:13:38.240> uh recently led a panel
• at the national uh recently led a panel at the national uh conference<00:13:38.800> of<00:13:
• the fish and wildlife in general, as recognized by the public trust doctrine that the lawyers on the panel

Keywords: Meeting start: 00:00 Roll Call: 00:37 SB 39 discussion: 04:10 SB 39 vote: 26:35, 958, all

Summary: The Senate Standing Committee on Economic Development, Tourism, and Labor met with a quorum and first heard a brief presentation from Vice Chair Frommeyer on a resolution recognizing January as Kentucky Mentoring Month. She highlighted mentoring as important for personal, academic, and professional development and cited partnerships such as Northern Kentucky University’s Norse Network Hub and local community mentoring efforts. The committee then took up Senate Bill 39, sponsored by Senator Gary Boswell, which would treat fish in private lakes and ponds as the property of the landowner and allow landowners to extend fishing rights by written or electronic permission. Boswell and supporter Jason Kenner argued the bill would strengthen property rights, reduce burdensome regulation, support selective harvest and stocking decisions, and could boost tourism, local economies, and aquaculture. Kenner also described bass fishing’s economic impact, youth fishing growth, and examples of tournaments and habitat projects in Kentucky. Boswell said the bill does not change fishing license requirements and does not alter invasive species rules except to clarify that largemouth bass, including F1 Florida bass, are not invasive. Commissioner Rich Storm and other members raised concerns that the bill’s language could affect the Department of Fish and Wildlife’s fee-based funding, federal grant eligibility, enforcement authority, and creel-limit cases, especially if written permission on private waters were interpreted broadly. Senator Webb said she supported the idea of bass stocking but wanted more guardrails and a pilot approach. Senator Howell asked whether Boswell would consider further work on the language, but Boswell declined to accept a committee substitute or amendment at that time. The committee then voted 8-1 with one pass to report the bill favorably, and the chair announced the bill would be reported with favorable expression that it should pass.

Transcript Highlights:

• And with that said an established I'd like to introduce our panel.
• I think most of the people on this panel are part of our task force to be able to look at their policies
• I think that that started us off kind of the right way to set the stage for for this panel discussion
• wanted to surface is with all of these incredible well research teams who are represented on this panel
• Any other the panels. >> And I just want to echo that as well.

Transcript Highlights:

• Senators, now we'll move into—I brought in some panel of experts to talk to us about some housing, about
• know Anne Ray and Leslie Deutsch both have a lot of expertise in this, and they're just—it's a great panel
• I'm really pleased to be on this panel with them as well.
• I'm really pleased to be on this panel with them as well.
• into, but I don't know if we want to have questions directly at me, or we're going to wait for the panel

Summary: The Committee on Community Affairs met with a quorum present and first took up SB 122, which would repeal Chapter 205 governing local business taxes while allowing municipalities that already levy a gross-receipts-based business tax to continue doing so, with limits on changing the tax rate. The sponsor’s proxy and committee members discussed whether local business taxes fund identifiable services, with supporters saying the bill would reduce burdens on businesses and opponents arguing it would remove a capped home-rule revenue source used for general services, economic development, inspections, fire and police support, and business regulation. The Florida Association of Counties and the Florida League of Cities opposed the bill, citing a statewide revenue loss and concern that costs would shift to residential taxpayers, while one member noted the bill should be considered in the context of broader property tax changes. SB 122 was reported favorably by a roll call vote, with Senators Leek, Passidomo, Pizzo, Trumbull, and Chair McClain voting yes and Senator Sharief voting no. The committee then held an extended informational panel on Florida’s housing shortage and affordability challenges. Dr. Samuel Staley said Florida is in a housing crisis driven primarily by insufficient supply, arguing that the state needs far more units each year, that local comprehensive plans and zoning often fail to prioritize housing, and that the state should focus more on measurable impacts, density, accessory dwelling units, smaller lot sizes, and other ways to let the market respond. Ann Ray of the Shimberg Center presented data showing increased single-family and multifamily construction but limited condo growth, highly concentrated new development in a handful of counties, and continued high cost burdens for renters, especially lower-income and older households. Leslie Deutsch of John Burns Research and Consulting said the national housing market is slow, Florida prices are easing but remain well above pre-pandemic levels, and affordability problems are being driven by land, construction, financing, and insurance costs; she urged more product diversity, including build-to-rent, townhomes, manufactured housing, and higher-density redevelopment tailored to local demographics. Members questioned the panel about density, vertical development, impact fees, construction costs, and incentives for local governments. Several senators said local governments need clearer direction or incentives to approve more housing, while others emphasized preserving local character and avoiding overdevelopment. The panel generally agreed that no single policy will solve the problem, but that Florida needs more housing types, more density in appropriate places, updated zoning and building codes, and a more market-responsive regulatory framework. After the presentations and discussion, the committee adjourned with no further business.

Transcript Highlights:

• For the first panel, we'll get Kerry Sessions with the Department of Ecology, Garrett Ward with the Department
• All right, calling up our next panel, we have Darcy Nautamaker with Washington Conservation Action and
• Our last MTCA panel is Carly Michaels with the Washington Public Ports Association.
• Our last Mocka panel is Carly Michaels with Washington Public Port Association.
• First, on the left panel here, I'm showing our most recent wildfire burn probability analysis that was

Summary: The committee first heard updates on the Model Toxics Control Act (MTCA) and related funding. Department of Ecology staff explained how MTCA and the hazardous substance tax support cleanup, prevention, stormwater, and local assistance programs, but said forecasted revenues have declined while appropriations and transfers have outpaced incoming funds. Ecology said the operating account will require underspending to stay balanced this biennium and that the problem is ongoing, with further reductions possible if forecasts worsen. Ecology also reviewed the state cleanup program, noting there are more than 14,500 cleanup sites in Washington and that new sites continue to be discovered faster than they are cleaned up. A question from Representative Lee raised the long-term issue of declining fossil-fuel-based revenue, and Ecology agreed that this is a future structural concern even though the current shortfall is driven more by forecasts and transfers than by fuel-use decline. The Pollution Liability Insurance Agency described its underground storage tank and heating oil programs, saying it has modernized from a reinsurance model to a financial assurance model with stronger state oversight and cleanup milestones. Russ Olson said the agency’s dedicated petroleum tax account is in strong financial condition, but emphasized the importance of preserving that funding source. He also discussed the loan and grant program for historic commercial releases and a new heating oil loan/grant program, while noting the agency is working on equity concerns where liens can be disproportionate to property values in smaller communities. Practitioners and advocates then offered differing views on MTCA’s performance: one attorney urged a collaborative review process to make cleanups faster, less expensive, and more certain, while another consultant argued the program is too conservative and process-heavy and should focus more narrowly on actual exposure and realistic cleanup standards. Environmental and community groups countered that MTCA is essential for cleanup, pollution prevention, stormwater control, and public participation, and that it is especially important for environmental justice communities such as the Duwamish Valley. Port and city representatives stressed that MTCA grants and cleanup funding are critical for large redevelopment projects, but said long timelines, permitting delays, and funding uncertainty can slow projects and jeopardize commitments. The committee then shifted to utility wildfire risk. Staff summarized recent legislation, including requirements for utility wildfire mitigation plans, creation of a wildfire mitigation standards work group, authorization for captive insurance by local governments and PUDs, securitization authority for disaster costs, and the existing wildfire response and resilience account. Chelan County PUD and Puget Sound Energy described extensive mitigation efforts such as vegetation management, grid hardening, undergrounding, AI smoke cameras, weather stations, enhanced operating settings, public safety power shutoffs, and community outreach. Both said wildfire risk is rising and insurance costs are increasing, and Chelan PUD asked the Legislature to restore funding to the wildfire response and resilience account. The Office of the Insurance Commissioner said a 2022 utility liability market study found insurance availability is tightening as perceived risk rises, and reported that a 2025 work group recommended restoring community resilience funding, requiring insurers to share wildfire risk scores and mitigation steps with property owners, and creating a grant program based on insurance industry wildfire standards. A PNNL scientist added that wildfire probability is increasing in parts of Washington and that mitigation requires long-term, landscape-scale coordination. The final speaker began describing California’s approach to wildfire risk, but the transcript cuts off before that presentation concluded.

Transcript Highlights:

• going to start with a brief presentation by our very own FDOT Secretary, Jared Perdue, followed by a panel
• going to start with a brief presentation by our very own FDOT Secretary, Jared Perdue, followed by a panel
• discussion with representatives from four large hub Followed by a panel discussion with representatives
• But anyway, you know, initially I thought this was a great panel.
• And then I realized this is a panel for our chair to just kind of show everybody else up, right?

Summary: The Transportation Committee met to consider two bills and then held a lengthy discussion on Florida airport infrastructure. SB 246, presented by Senator Rodriguez on behalf of Senator Gruters, would authorize a UFC specialty license plate, with proceeds supporting the UFC Foundation’s charitable work. A UFC Foundation representative described community beneficiaries and said the plate would help raise funds for local charities. With no questions or debate, the committee voted SB 246 favorably. The committee also took up SPB 7012, a Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles public-records exemption bill that would remove the October 1, 2026 repeal date for certain active investigatory records. Senator Avila moved to submit it as a committee bill, there was no objection, and it was reported favorably as a committee bill. The remainder of the meeting focused on the Comprehensive Airport Infrastructure Program. FDOT Secretary Jared Perdue outlined Florida’s aviation system, the department’s airport funding programs, and the state’s role as a financial partner in safety, capacity, preservation, and economic development projects. He said Florida has 128 public-use airports, 21 commercial-service airports, and four large-hub airports, and noted that airport funding is largely supported by gas-tax-related revenues, with additional support from documentary stamp revenue and other fees. He also discussed the new airport infrastructure planning requirements created last session and said all required airports had submitted plans. Committee members asked about the loss of aviation fuel tax revenue, workforce development, project timelines, and how FDOT prioritizes funding, with Perdue emphasizing safety, preservation, capacity, economic return, and matching funds. A panel from Miami, Orlando, Fort Lauderdale, and Tampa international airports then described major capital programs, passenger growth, and funding needs. The airports highlighted terminal expansions, parking, baggage systems, airfield rehabilitation, people movers, and other modernization projects, along with the importance of maintaining aging facilities while accommodating growth. They said FDOT and FAA grants are helpful but increasingly insufficient for runway and taxiway costs, and several panelists said passenger facility charges and other revenue tools are important to future self-sufficiency. Members also asked about workforce shortages, small-business participation, landing-fee negotiations, and non-aeronautical revenue. The panel said workforce challenges are most acute in trades and maintenance, small-business programs are active at each airport, and landing fees are negotiated with airlines to keep airports competitive while funding needed improvements.

Transcript Highlights:

• Before we excuse you, just thinking about it, I asked a prior panel.
• hear from Texans, just like yourself, and I appreciate everyone who comes here to testify on the panels
• Our next panel will include Travis Ransom, Adam Haynes, Allison Mansfield. Thank you. Thank you.
• One of the things that Jennifer mentioned a second ago that had not been mentioned in a previous panel
• And our final panel of one, Chair calls Glenn Hammer. Thank you. Thank you.

Bills: HB8, HB9, HJR1, HB22, HB8, HB9, HJR1, HB22

Keywords: HB 8, school finance, compressed tax rate, maximum compressed tax rate, MCR, PYMCR, property tax, school district taxes, Education Code, Tax Code, state aid, school funding formula, local school taxes, Texas school finance, tax rate compression, public education funding, ad valorem tax, tangible personal property, income-producing property, business personal property

Transcript Highlights:

• What I don't like about it, so the question is really to you and to the rest of the panel: obviously,
• for two or three years while their case is worked like that, Really to you and to the rest of the panel
• Just wondering if the panel has any opinion about whether or not this legislative body should consider
• It’s already come up a good bit with the panel concerning substance abuse and mental health.
• that as we begin our challenging work this session, each of us will be able to think back to today's panel

Summary: The Criminal Justice Subcommittee held its first meeting of 2025, took roll, confirmed a quorum, and heard member introductions before turning to an informational panel on how a criminal case moves through Florida’s system. The chair emphasized respectful committee process and introduced staff, then invited the panel to explain the path from arrest through prosecution, first appearance, arraignment, discovery, trial, plea negotiations, and sentencing. Sheriff Bob Gualtieri described law enforcement discretion, probable cause, misdemeanor and felony arrest rules, pre-arrest diversion, jail operations, and the statewide uniform bond schedule. He also discussed jail overcrowding, supervised release, mental health and substance abuse issues in jails, and the need for better case management and diversion resources. Judge Frank Allman explained first appearance, bond setting, arraignment, trial procedures, plea colloquies, and sentencing under Florida’s punishment code, including downward departures and victim impact statements. State Attorney Jack Campbell outlined charging decisions, the higher proof burden prosecutors must meet, coordination with law enforcement, Baker Act proceedings, victim notification, informations versus grand jury indictments, and the role of diversion and treatment courts. Public Defender Matthew Mets described indigency screening, discovery, the growing volume and technical complexity of evidence, mitigation work, and the importance of treatment-based resolutions. Members asked about time-served credit for supervised release, mental health recidivism, homelessness enforcement, ICE holds, and sentencing discretion; no votes were taken and the meeting ended after the informational presentation and discussion.

Transcript Highlights:

• changed and so this is just a request to do something that the legislature's already done for the panel
• request to do something that the legislature's already done for the panel AMA in 2021 as part of a panel

Bills: SB1202, SB1287, SB1418, SB1785, SCM1007

Keywords: groundwater, water conservation, Arizona water resources, drought management, water quality, irrigation, active management area, domestic use, stock watering, water rights, small modular reactors, energy regulation, environmental compatibility, utility construction, agricultural use, industrial users, water storage, recovery well, Arizona Revised Statutes, water management