Transcript Highlights:

• Move on to section five.
• Move on to section five.
• Move on to section five.
• Move on to section five.
• Move on to section five.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Laws Code.
• So this bill would amend the Occupations Code to allow code enforcement officers in training to perform
• Transportation Code, Section 501.053 of the Texas Transportation Code, Section 501.053 of the Texas Transportation
• Code.
• Section 501.053 of the Texas Transportation Code prescribes the process to apply for a bonded title.

Summary: The Senate opened with a quorum, an invocation, and routine business including dispensing with the previous day’s journal, receiving a House message on HB 104/HJR 34, and a gubernatorial message naming two appointees to the Texas Real Estate Commission. The chamber also adopted several resolutions recognizing Alzheimer’s Advocacy Day, Golf Day in Texas, Cindy Ramos-Davidson, and the 50th anniversary of the Harris-Galveston Subsidence District. Members then adopted memorial resolutions honoring fallen first responders, including Deputy Jesse Ray Perez and Deputy Melissa Pollard, and the Senate agreed to adjourn in their memory. The Senate considered and passed several bills. SB 2199 increased penalties for loading overweight vehicles transporting hazardous materials; SB 1959 adjusted permit factors for the North Texas Groundwater Conservation District; SB 1376 changed supervision rules for code enforcement officer trainees; SB 2595 created a new offense for harassing, intimidating, or threatening someone while concealing identity with a mask or similar headgear; SB 1012 authorized sale or lease of certain surplus state property in Austin; SB 2245 revised bonded title procedures; SB 2605 created a municipal housing authority asset commission; SB 3044 expanded and adjusted the board of the Presidio County Underground Water Conservation District; SB 628 clarified county fire code enforcement authority through interlocal agreements; SB 2778 raised the spending threshold for emergency services district employees; SB 3039 addressed public higher education transfer issues; and SB 2523 allowed release from municipal extraterritorial jurisdiction by petition. Most of these bills were passed to engrossment, the three-day rule was suspended, and final passage was completed, often by wide margins. The chamber also took up SB 1844, which would require cities to provide services before expanding taxing areas into limited-purpose jurisdictions; a floor amendment narrowed the bill, and it was passed to engrossment. SB 2284 clarified municipal and county authority over firearms, airguns, archery equipment, and related items, and was passed despite opposition. SB 2529, dealing with the vote threshold for taxing units to adopt higher tax rates or issue tax bonds, prompted extended debate over voter approval and representative decision-making; after questions, the bill was passed to engrossment and held. At the end of the session, the Senate recessed for 20 minutes and announced it would meet as the Caucus of the Whole.

Transcript Highlights:

• It amends and reenacts two sections of the Code of Virginia relating to retail franchise agreements,
• It amends and reenacts two sections of the Code of Virginia relating to residential property owners,
• Senate Bill 258 now before you seeks to amend and reenact multiple sections of the Code of Virginia,
• Senate Bill 637 now before you seeks to amend and reenact two sections of the Code of Virginia related
• Senate Bill 637 now before you seeks to amend and reenact two sections of the Code of Virginia related

Keywords: March 06, 2026 - Regular Session, 976, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:15:11.040> 4 also added the language in section 4 also added the language in section 4
• We corrected some of the code terminology so that we believe it is code-compliant language.
• The primary function is to direct the Building Code Review Board to amend the existing code.
• comp all code compliant is code comp all code compliant language. language. language.
• A delayed effective date is code.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• this bill would also provide Waters this bill would also provide Waters this bill would also provide
• of education uh to amend the sections of education uh to amend the sections of the code uh to further
• code language the current existing code code language the current existing code code language the current
• line line 37 it says section 1528 what was the 37 it says section 1528 what was the 37 it says section
• section so so that's a specific code section so so that's a specific code section so with that explanation

Keywords: 1136, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Another code that typically gets put in that same boat is the National Electrical Code.
• “The other thing the International Code Council has just done in relation to the energy code, because
• And the only reason why that's in the plumbing code is because it's in the state sanitary code.
• And the only reason why that's in the plumbing code is because it's in the state sanitary code.
• Code.

Summary: The House Committee on Commerce met on May 18, 2026, with a quorum present and the chair noting it was the committee’s last meeting of the session. The committee first considered Senate Bill 254, which would prohibit certain excess debit card surcharges and authorize enforcement by the Attorney General. After adopting technical amendments and a committee amendment requiring written notice before a private right of action, the bill was reported favorably as amended. The committee then took up Senate Bill 80 on broadband administration fees and GUMBO program closeout. Members questioned the proposed increase in administrative and contractor fees, the timing of project completion, and how withheld reimbursements would work for utility damage. After adopting several amendments, including cleanup language and a provision to restore the reimbursement process, the bill was reported favorably as amended, though the Louisiana Telecommunications Association voiced concerns about the withholding language and lack of a clearer fault-determination process. The committee next considered Senate Bill 469, updating the Louisiana Underground Utilities and Facilities Damage Prevention Law. Technical amendments were adopted, along with amendments clarifying that the bill’s 30-day notice to utility owner-operators is separate from existing GUMBO notice requirements and creating a rapid dispute-resolution process involving the Office of Broadband, the utility operator, and the local governing authority. Testimony from broadband and municipal stakeholders emphasized the need for quicker responses to excavation damage and better enforcement, while some witnesses raised concerns about the late amendment and the need for clearer recourse and standards. The bill was reported favorably as amended. Senate Bill 468, dealing with fuel rewards programs and fuel discount limits, was also amended to allow such discounts while capping them at $1 below the advertised price; it was reported favorably as amended. Senate Bill 131, concerning attorney’s fees and costs in professional licensing disciplinary proceedings, drew testimony from a cosmetology board representative and the Pelican Institute. Supporters argued the bill would curb incentives for boards to generate revenue through enforcement and give licensees a fairer opportunity to resolve cases; board testimony noted that some boards already have fee caps and that enforcement actions are relatively limited. After adopting an amendment clarifying when a licensee is the prevailing party, the bill was reported favorably as amended. Senate Bill 251 on critical infrastructure protection also received technical amendments and several substantive changes, including adding ports and airports to the definition of critical infrastructure, clarifying “significant access,” adding a knowledge requirement, and adjusting exemptions and enforcement timing; it was reported favorably as amended after testimony from State Armor representatives about foreign adversary threats. Finally, House Resolution 253 was introduced to create a task force to study how post-2005 building code additions and inspection requirements affect residential construction costs, with the sponsor explaining the goal was to gather industry input and return recommendations next session.

Transcript Highlights:

• , and moves this to a new code section.
• And so those items were struck in this section of code and then moved to a new section of code.
• Yeah, so the additives were the same, but there are exceptions in this section of code, the new section
• of code, and those exceptions In this section of code, the new section of code, and those exceptions
• There's another section, if—and I don't know where the section of code is off the top of my head—but

Keywords: 994, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• , and moves this to a new code section.
• And so those items were struck in this section of code and then moved to a new section of code.
• So the additives were the same, but there are exceptions in this section of code, the new section of
• In this section of code, the new section of code, and those exceptions that came from the House on page
• That’s what your—there’s another section, and I don’t know where the section of code is off the top of

Keywords: 994, senate, all

Summary: The committee first approved the minutes and then took up House Bill 4852, a strike-and-insert bill revising West Virginia’s food additive restrictions. Counsel explained that it moved the existing additive list into a new code section, kept the 2028 effective date, added exceptions for dietary supplements, alcoholic liquor, non-intoxicating beer, and small sellers under $5,000 per month, and created civil penalties for knowing violations. Testimony split between industry witnesses, who argued the bill and last year’s law would raise costs, burden interstate commerce, and conflict with federal regulation, and advocates who said the law is already prompting companies to reformulate and that the bill clarifies vague language tied to a federal injunction. Several amendments were offered to tie the law to FDA action or exempt soda, pepperoni rolls, frozen confections, and snack foods; some were adopted and others failed. The committee then adopted the strike-and-insert amendment as amended and reported HB 4852 to the full Senate with a do-pass recommendation. The committee next considered House Bill 5484, which creates felony offenses for interfering with a victim’s access to medical treatment or forensic care related to a sexual offense, or for forcing a victim of a sexual offense who becomes pregnant to have an illegal abortion, along with a conspiracy offense. Counsel said the strike-and-insert added clarifying language and definitions. Members raised concerns that the conspiracy language could be read to include the victim herself, and the bill sponsor said the intent was to target traffickers and abusers who keep victims from medical care and force abortions outside medical facilities. An amendment was adopted clarifying that nothing in the subsection imposes criminal liability on the victim of the sexual offense. The committee then adopted the strike-and-insert amendment, reported HB 5484 to the full Senate with a do-pass recommendation, and adopted a title amendment. The final bill discussed in the excerpt was House Bill 4468, which narrows confidentiality protections for victims in criminal complaints by limiting redaction to names and addresses, while still allowing disclosure to other governmental entities and permitting victims to request redaction of addresses from appellate decisions after July 1, 2026. Counsel said the bill would replace broader existing confidentiality language and remove provisions allowing disclosure upon a showing of justice or by subpoena. Members questioned whether the change would weaken victim privacy protections, noting that identifying information can include much more than names and addresses. The committee then began hearing testimony from a county prosecutor on the bill, but the excerpt ends before any vote or final action on HB 4468.

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, I'm looking at, I think it's the Health and Safety Code, Health and Safety Code 141009 youth camps
• So, a, a few things I would say, first off, the code, as I mentioned before, and we could raise the code
• , that spread the water, that sink the water, and all of that means when the next flood comes down, instead
• Yeah, and I don't have all the code sections memorized, so that's a, that's a technical issue that I
• We saw pallets of water.

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

Keywords: youth camps, emergency preparedness, safety standards, health regulations, camp licensing, 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

Transcript Highlights:

• section.
• It is section 1, lines 214 to 313, section 7, section 10, section 18, section 16, line 14.8, section
• section 7, section 10, section 18, 313, section 7, section 10, section 18, section<00:42:54.800> 16
• section 16, line 14.8, section 19. section 16, line 14.8, section 19.
• > section<02:12:03.599> three, two, the venue section in section three, two, the venue

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• These include drinking water, energy, levees, solid waste, transit. and waste water.
• Water connection in the state lose about 30 gallons of treated water per day to aging and leaking pipes
• We love to see that, but it's a very water-intensive. industry and it needs a lot of water for these
• Also very water-intensive.
• Water is the biggest issue.

Keywords: Texas, Infrastructure Report Card, ASCE, population growth, climate change, investment, public safety, engineering standards

Summary: The meeting focused on the release of the 2025 Texas Infrastructure Report Card, highlighting key findings and recommendations for improving infrastructure across various sectors in the state. Julie Jones, Vice President of ASCE Texas, opened the session by introducing key speakers, including Dr. Art Wood and committee co-chairs Griselda Gonzalez and Austin Mazzarelli. Throughout the discussion, the report's grades were revealed, showing the state's infrastructure received an overall grade of 'C'—adequate but requiring significant attention and investment. Emphasis was placed on the rising challenges posed by climate change and increased population growth, underscoring the need for strategic investments in infrastructure to support Texas' economic growth and public safety.

Transcript Highlights:

• Yes, appreciate it. 417 which came to us from Senator Waters 417 which came to us from Senator Waters
• For many wouldbe victims, the codes.
• or any type of public water system.
• or any type of public water system.
• New Hampshire State Building Code. New Hampshire State Building Code.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• . to code.
• Yeah, and I don't have all the code sections memorized, so. technical issue that I have to go back and
• These low water crossings.
• Of water. At some point, I've got to move that water again because it's not going to be used there.
• I think we do have some sections of the government code that would allow for an executive to take up

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:

• >> Section 28.
• FOR EXAMPLE, YOU PAY A SURCHARGE ON YOUR WATER BILL FOR STORM WATER MANAGEMENT.
• . >> Section 6.
• . >> Section 7.
• Read the last section. Section 4. This act shall take effect immediately. Call the roll.

Keywords: 993, senate, all

Summary: The Senate convened, approved the prior journal, and handled several motions to discharge and substitute identical Assembly or Senate bills, along with a number of amendments. The chamber also welcomed student visitors from the League of Women Voters’ Students of Albany program and a group of Staten Island titleholders, and later adopted previously approved resolutions honoring Dorothy E. Reid for her role in Brown v. Board of Education and recognizing Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. on Delta Day, with multiple senators speaking in support of both recognitions. The bulk of the floor session was devoted to third-reading votes on a large number of bills, most of which passed with broad support. Measures addressed public health, workers’ compensation, education, environmental conservation, insurance, labor, criminal procedure, domestic relations, tax, municipal authority, and correction law. Several bills were explained by sponsors as advancing stormwater management authority, labor-law transparency, public health protections, and stronger penalties for trafficking-related offenses; one bill on immunization in summer camps drew a defense from Senator Skoufis as a child-protection measure, while another on correction law passed with some Republican opposition. The chamber also took up a controversial public health/electronic health records bill by Senator Fernandez. Senator Martin questioned the bill at length about redacting certain categories of information, emergency access, provider obligations, and the impact on doctors’ ability to see complete medical histories. Fernandez said the bill was intended to protect patients from discrimination and to limit access to a small list of sensitive services, while also noting emergency exceptions and support from more than 200 health care providers. The debate remained focused on balancing privacy protections with concerns about continuity of care and record integrity.

Transcript Highlights:

• This is a repeal, and all it does is extend the repealer in this code section on building house standards
• This is another bill that had two different code sections to address the issue with the Gulf Coast Regional
• This is another had two<00:08:03.840> different<00:08:04.080> code<00:08:04.400> sections
• <00:08:04.800> to<00:08:05.039> address two different code sections to address two
• different code sections to address the<00:08:05.440> issue<00:08:06.319> with<00:08:06.560

Keywords: Energy - Room 210, 2 February, 2026; 4:15 PM, 925, all

Summary: The committee took up several energy, utility, and infrastructure bills. Bill 2527 on solar decommissioning was presented as a landowner consumer-protection measure that would set statewide baseline requirements for solar lease agreements, preserve some freedom of contract, preempt duplicative local rules, and protect landowners from reclamation costs; after no questions, it was moved and passed. The committee also discussed changes to the Gulf Coast Regional Utility Act in HB 2058 and HB 2309, including new first-right-of-refusal language, prohibitions on unauthorized service, civil penalties and enforcement tools, and legislative intent language aimed at preventing duplication and protecting public investment; both were adopted as committee substitutes and passed. HB 2018 was amended to extend similar oversight to water systems, and it was reported after questions about the scope of the change. Several bills focused on water and wastewater oversight. SB 2311 and SB 2312 would create statewide A-to-F grading systems for drinking water and wastewater systems, require annual public reporting, and direct the health and environmental agencies to adopt objective scoring rules; both were passed. SB 2526 would create a Mississippi Rural Water Oversight Committee, require rate studies, capacity studies, and asset management plans for water associations, and provide staffing and funding support from existing revolving-fund resources; it was adopted as a committee substitute and reported, with supporters saying it would help identify and assist troubled associations. The committee also heard a bill creating the Metro Jackson Water Authority, allowing a lease of city system assets, special revenue bonds to refinance legacy debt, and supplemental revenue sources such as sanitation fees and possibly sales tax revenues; the sponsor said no general fund money would be used, and the bill was reported. The committee also advanced HB 2641, which was stripped down to a study committee on wind turbine facilities, grandfathered existing projects, and imposed a moratorium on new construction until the study is completed; members asked about existing projects and were told current projects under construction would not be penalized, and the committee substitute passed. SB 2783 would make targeted definition changes to BEAD-related broadband grant programs so remaining federal funds could support other state initiatives, including AI workforce training, and it was reported after questions about future federal guidance. Finally, HB 2787 would add propane to the school gas-leak testing statute; the sponsor said the inspections would not require additional state funding because propane dealers and the State Fire Marshal’s office already handle the checks, and the bill passed.

Transcript Highlights:

• related move some of the building code related sections<01:41:46.840> now<01:41:47.199> in
• This confusion comes from sections that continue from a time before the state adopted a statewide code
• A task force of the BCRB made an attempt to identify the land use sections related to building codes,
• conforming to the 2021 certain sections conforming to the 2021 code<05:08:04.440> would<05:08
• I also wanted to note that the building code for the state, which is found in RSA 155A, section 4, the

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee first took up House Bill 216, which Representative Carol Maguire described as a fix to a workers’ compensation/retirement “glitch.” The bill would remove the current limit that only one year of workers’ compensation time can be credited as retirement service time. Maguire argued the limit is arbitrary and affects only a very small number of grievously injured workers, while committee members asked about the fiscal impact, available data, and whether the change could affect workers’ compensation rates or incentives. Mark Kavar of the New Hampshire Retirement System said Labor could not provide data on how many people exceed a year on weekly indemnity benefits, so the fiscal note used a conservative estimate that could be scaled down; he also explained that workers’ comp is not earnable compensation, which is why service credit stops after a year, and noted that many long-term cases move into disability retirement or lump-sum settlements. The committee closed the hearing, entered executive session, and voted ought to pass on HB 216 by a 13-0 roll call, sending it to consent and noting it would also go to Finance. The committee then acted on House Bill 85, adopting Amendment 0037 and then voting ought to pass as amended by another 13-0 roll call. The bill was described as allowing second-year respiratory therapy students to work under supervision using the skills they have already learned, with support from the Hospital Association and no opposition noted. Finally, the committee took up House Bill 267, the animal chiropractors bill. Members said the bill had been approved previously but was vetoed because of a defect; the problem has now been corrected, and the bill is intended to reduce delays caused by requiring veterinary referrals before chiropractors can treat animals. The committee voted ought to pass 13-0 and placed the bill on consent.

Transcript Highlights:

• In terms of water, that was the first method of governance of water.
• They added a three-member commission in the territorial water code.
• So that was a different new part of the governance that came in with the territorial water code.
• But the more dramatic part of the change that happened was the 2007 water code.
• The 2007 water code adopted the prior appropriation doctrine and installed the state engineer as the

Transcript Highlights:

• Another code that typically gets put in that same boat is the National Electrical Code.
• The other thing the International Code Council has just done in relation to the energy code, because
• The board of directors for the International Code Council has just created two energy codes now that
• a... ...code to see if they could basically create a streamlined version of that code.
• And the only reason why that's in the plumbing code is because it's in the state sanitary code.

Bills: HB1163, HB1168, HR252, HR253, HCR103, HCR108, SB80, SB131, SB251, SB254, SB279, SB384, SB414, SB468, SB469, SB496

Keywords: fireworks, retail sales, fire safety, legislation, holiday celebrations, construction standards, precast concrete, DOTD, building regulations, minimum requirements, public projects, private projects, consumer protection, credit card fees, cash transactions, rounding practices, transparency, low-income, economic impact, residential construction

Transcript Highlights:

• And then section three talks about the Building Code Review Board amending the state building code to
• And then section three talks about the Building Code Review Board amending the state building code to
• And then section three talks about the Building Code Review Board amending the state building code to
• And then section three talks about the Building Code Review Board amending the state building code to
• from conversations with Senator Waters, and is an amendment that was designed to simplify that section

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh it's a technical amendment to section one of Technical amendment to section one of the bill that reworks
• Uh Senator this section of the bill.
• I just want to echo uh what Senator France said um about the bottled water or water at um you know as
• Sections 2 through 46 reflect the department's construction codes and licensing fee alignment proposal
• c><00:51:58.880> and proposed construction codes and proposed construction codes and licensing

Keywords: 1187, senate, all