Transcript Highlights:

• The evaluation requires that the commission consider seasonal peak demands and different lengths of daily

Summary: The Senate Committee on Business and Commerce met to consider and vote on a committee substitute for Senate Bill 6, which Senator King said was intended to address rapidly growing electricity demand from large loads such as data centers while protecting reliability and keeping costs from shifting to homeowners and small businesses. He described the bill as a response to updated ERCOT and PUC forecasts showing much higher generation needs than previously expected. Senator King outlined several substantive changes in the substitute: replacing a minimum transmission charge with an upfront interconnection charge for new large loads; requiring the PUC to conduct a more detailed 4CP evaluation and adopt rules based on it; expanding load-forecasting data collection to smaller loads and standardizing criteria for interconnections; removing an exemption from ERCOT/PUC reliability review for certain net metering arrangements; making some PUC conditions temporary and limiting intervenors in those proceedings; and requiring utilities to work with large load customers on protocols and equipment for firm load shed participation. He also noted technical changes meant to close loopholes, including changing references from “duplicate” to “substantially similar” projects and from “affiliated” to “unaffiliated.” Senator Menendez asked for clarification on several provisions, including whether stranded infrastructure costs applied to generation or only transmission, how “single site” would be defined, how ERCOT-directed curtailment and notice would work, and what “load ramp milestones” meant. King responded that the bill was meant to cover both distribution and transmission-level loads, that the PUC would define certain terms through rulemaking, that large customers would work with utilities in advance on flexible load and backup generation arrangements, and that ramp milestones would help utilities plan for phased growth in demand. After questions concluded, Senator King moved adoption of the committee substitute and passage of SB 6 as substituted. The motion passed on a 7-0 vote, and the bill was reported favorably to the full Senate.

Transcript Highlights:

• I have some concerns about this bill because I feel like appropriate antibiotic treatment and lengths
• The individual must complete all terms and conditions imposed by the court, including monetary obligations

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I could talk to you guys afterwards at any given time at length about this.
• I'm getting ready to go on my fourth term.

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• terms of our forest industry.
• Um and terms, it is in fact a new tax.
• <01:06:54.720> of it's it's a big unknown in terms of it's it's a big unknown in terms of
• So if to the length of the commission.
• long-term trend is exactly the same. long-term trend is exactly the same.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It's simply a generic term to refer to any corporation domiciled outside the state of Louisiana.
• In the current geopolitical landscape we live in, the term 'foreign corporation' can carry some really
• For years, political activist groups have weaponized and exploited this generic term to affect passage
• mean... because still in recorded history of the state and contracts already in place, we use that term
• So I don't know in terms of child safety that this bill actually does anything.

Keywords: 974, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• New Mexico DO-IT currently oversees IT contracts amendments excluding terms and conditions, and that
• was a bill that was passed last year where terms and conditions are now handled under GSD.
• Not long term, because it has to happen now. And if you want to comment, great.
• They might be successful in terms of contracting, but they don't do anything anybody needs.
• The length of that can vary.

Transcript Highlights:

• Texas is well below the average. in terms of the American Board of Pediatrics certified subspecialist
• In terms of where this goes from here...
• Instead of reading, you know, essentially what's the length of a tweet, they're reading the kinds of
• studies in terms of concordance, in terms of how do students do graduating from college being new.
• We haven't had the kind of volume the College Board and ACT have had in terms of, you know, but this

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• You were very successful leading the Small Business Administration in President Trump's first term, and
• An expansion of Pell Grants, I'd like to see short-term certificates for Pell Grants for students who
• It helps level the playing field in terms of resources compared to more affluent schools.
• Because I'm glad you actually agree with President Trump's efforts during his first term to narrow what
• In terms of dollar amounts? Yeah. I'm not sure. per pupil expenditure for special education.

Keywords: educational reform, federal grants, bureaucracy, wealth disparity, public testimony

Summary: The committee meeting engaged in discussions focused primarily on educational reform, the influence of federal grants on local education systems, and the growing disparities in wealth and access to quality education. Members expressed concerns about the bureaucracy surrounding federal funding that hampers schools' ability to obtain necessary resources for improvement. Several members highlighted personal anecdotes from constituents, emphasizing the urgent need for reform to help students succeed in both K-12 and higher education environments. The meeting included public testimonies that provided insights into various community perspectives on these pressing issues.

Transcript Highlights:

• Last term, you know, we passed the ban on PAS.
• I passed last term didn't affect that.
• Pest pesticides are not a long-term solution.
• Um and so in in terms of um actually.
• know how that would get weighed in terms know how that would get weighed in terms of<04:15:39.760

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Section 5, Department of Children and Families, Office of Economic Opportunity, to support long-term
• Section 5, Department of Children and Families, Office of Economic Opportunity, to support long-term
• <00:31:21.320> programs<00:31:22.000> at to support of long-term programs at to support
• of long-term programs at shelters<00:31:22.720> for<00:31:22.880> individuals<00:31:23.560
• A term you do not want to hear or be involved in.

Keywords: 927, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• >> Through you, Madam President, We don't control the length of time that the extenders cover.
• Senator Serrano tried to explain where the majority's budget priorities are, uses the term hours.
• We have the Governor who came out last week, not only PRIORITIES ARE, USES THE TERM HOURS.
• Toward the end of his term, I was in a church in Tuckahoe with him in a very tough time.
• TOWARD THE END OF HIS TERM, I WAS IN A CHURCH IN TUCKAHOE WITH HIM IN A VERY TOUGH TIME.

Keywords: 993, senate, all

Summary: The Senate opened with routine proceedings, approved the prior journal, and processed several messages from the Assembly, including motions to discharge and substitute identical Senate bills for Assembly bills on the calendars. The chamber also reconsidered and restored Senate Print 1788, an act amending the Real Property Tax Law, to the third reading calendar. The Rules Committee reported Senate Print 10324, the state budget appropriations bill, directly to third reading, and the Senate accepted the message of necessity and laid the bill aside before taking it up on the controversial calendar as a budget extender. A lengthy debate followed on the budget extender, with Senator O’Mara and others criticizing the continued delay in finalizing the state budget, the lack of public details, and the absence of a schedule for joint budget committee meetings. Senator Serrano responded that the extender was necessary to keep state government operating while final budget negotiations continued, but could not provide specifics on policy items such as Tier 6 pension changes, New York City aid, local government support, or school aid. The extender was ultimately passed 56-2, with Senators Rhoads and Weik voting no. The Senate then adopted several previously adopted resolutions, including a memorial resolution for former Congressman Eliot Engel and a resolution marking the fourth anniversary of the Tops Friendly Markets mass shooting in Buffalo. The Buffalo resolution prompted extensive remarks from multiple senators about racism, gun violence, community trauma, and the need for policy responses; it was adopted with broad support. The chamber also passed a series of bills on the third reading calendar covering highway, municipal, environmental, banking, veterans, education, public health, and public service matters, with most passing overwhelmingly and a few drawing minority opposition. Notable floor debate occurred on a study bill regarding battery energy storage systems, where senators raised concerns about fire safety and siting; the bill passed 45-13. The Senate adjourned to reconvene on Monday, May 18 at 11:00 a.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• Photoperiodism is a biological response to the relative lengths of day and night, which regulates critical
• It changes the term destruction permit to a destruction tag.
• /c><00:15:20.480> It<00:15:20.600> changes<00:15:21.080> the<00:15:21.240> term
• It changes the term the wording.
• It changes the term destruction<00:15:22.240> permit<00:15:22.760> to<00:15:22.960>

Keywords: Meeting Start 00:00 Attendance Roll Call 00:30 HB 571 Discussion 01:29 HB 571 Roll Call Vote 04:02 HB 542 Discussion 06:01 HB 542 Roll Call Vote 10:21 HB 142 Discussion 13:30 HB 142 Roll Call Vote 22:47 HB 212 Discussion 24:00 HB 212 Roll Call Vote 25:40 HB 658 Discussion 27:01 HB 658 Roll Call Vote 32:02, 958, all

Transcript Highlights:

• simple interest or compound interest—that's going to create a lot of confusion around the state in terms
• variable rate, and then there's simple versus compounded, and I want to make sure I was getting the terms
• So reunification therapy, the term for reunification, is you’re putting something back together that
• So reunification therapy, the term for reunification is you're putting something back together that seems
• repair the relationship between a child and a parent who have been separated from one another for a length

Bills: HB40, HB1916, HB1973, HB2524, HB2530, HB3180, HB3421, HB3783, HB4170, HB4213

Keywords: business court, civil procedure, litigation, jurisdiction, arbitration, divorce, property division, family law, court jurisdiction, marital assets, parent-child relationship, birth certificate, identity proof, Family Code, court process, attorney fees, court costs, legal expenses, dispute resolution, child support

Summary: The committee heard several House bills, most of them relating to family law and court procedure, and left each bill pending after testimony. House Bill 1916 would clarify that the court that issued a final divorce decree retains exclusive jurisdiction over later actions involving undivided property. House Bill 1973 would require a certified birth certificate, if reasonably available, to be filed with a SAPCR petition or allow alternative proof of parentage while keeping the information confidential. House Bill 2530 would add qualifications and procedural safeguards for appointing amicus attorneys in SAPCR cases, including notice and hearing requirements, minimum qualifications, conflict rules, and limits on what amicus attorneys may do. House Bill 2524 would make Family Code references to attorney’s fees consistent by using “reasonable and necessary” language. House Bill 3180 would correct a scrivener’s error in the civil discovery rules by changing “settlement” to “statement.” The committee also heard House Bill 4213, which would change the interest rate on overdue child support from the current 6 percent simple interest to a fixed 5 percent and require the Attorney General to report on the impact of the change. Testimony was sharply divided: supporters argued lower interest could improve collections and help low-income obligors catch up, citing research and the size of child-support arrearages; opponents said lowering the rate would reduce incentives to pay and harm custodial parents and children. The Attorney General’s office raised implementation concerns about a House version that would have created a variable rate, while the committee substitute was described as restoring a simple fixed rate. After testimony, the bill was left pending. The committee also discussed House Bill 40, updating business court provisions and supplemental jurisdiction; House Bill 3421, streamlining probate procedures for original wills and copies; and House Bill 417, clarifying venue for lawsuits involving private transfer fees on real property. Each drew limited testimony and was left pending. Finally, House Bill 3783 drew extensive testimony on court-ordered counseling and reunification therapy in family cases. The sponsor and supporters said the bill would protect children and abuse victims from coercive, unregulated reunification practices, while opponents argued it was too broad, could interfere with legitimate therapy and judicial discretion, and might affect military families and other high-conflict cases. The committee heard testimony from judges, therapists, parents, survivors, and advocates, but took no final action and left the bill pending.

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, this happens more often in, in termination cases, uh, particularly in terms of DFPS cases, um, and
• If anything, you're more than doubling the length of time a government official will be coming in and
• potentially it might be violative of the Constitution if we were talking about a forever or a long-term
• there, there may need to be some need to harmonize the expectancy of the divorce, typical divorce term
• And that's actually something the legislature has thought about in terms of the appeal of a protective

Bills: HCR 10

Keywords: balanced budget amendment, federal budget, deficit reduction, deficit spending, fiscal restraint, constitutional amendment, U.S. Constitution, Congress, PAYGO, Gramm-Rudman-Hollings, national debt, budget deficit, taxpayer dollars, balanced budget resolution, memorial resolution, Texas Legislature, federal spending, budget reform, fiscal conservatism

Transcript Highlights:

• It's not just those judges who first step on the bench in the beginning of their first term.
• And you're exactly right, the lack of evidence, the length it takes just to get DNA and ballistics in
• I just finished a term as the local administrative judge, and I am now the presiding judge for the district
• We're calling judges on their phones that it doesn't show up, so, to use a baseball term, in the stat
• We're calling judges on their phones that it doesn't show up, so say, to use a baseball term, in the

Bills: HB40

Keywords: law enforcement, sheriffs, constables, contracts, county authority

Summary: The Committee on Judiciary and Civil Jurisprudence met to hear House Bill 1761, a broad judicial package focused on increasing judicial compensation and adding accountability and efficiency measures. The chair explained that HB 1707 and HB 2100 were withdrawn from the agenda, and that HB 1761 would be taken up first because many judges and stakeholders were present. The committee substitute for HB 1761 proposed a 30% increase in base judicial pay to $182,000, changes to judicial retirement linkage, stronger judicial conduct provisions, and efficiency measures such as targeted reporting for judges not meeting benchmarks, appellate in-person meeting encouragement, and time limits on certain motions. The chair and several supporters said judicial pay had reached “emergency status,” citing Texas’s low national ranking and difficulty recruiting and retaining qualified judges. Witnesses in support included presiding and district judges, the State Bar’s judicial section, business and trial lawyer groups, and prosecutors. They emphasized that many judges work long hours off the bench, handle warrants at night and on weekends, manage heavy dockets, and face recruitment problems in both urban and rural counties. Supporters also said higher pay would help attract experienced lawyers, retain judges, and improve court efficiency. Several witnesses and members discussed judicial accountability, including public reporting of court performance and the role of the Texas Supreme Court and presiding judges in setting benchmarks. Some members raised concerns that raw statistics can be misleading because judges also do substantial off-the-bench work and often help cover other courts’ dockets. There was also testimony and discussion about the bill’s conduct and discipline provisions. A representative of the Texas Civil Rights Project opposed parts of the bill that would tie pay raises to changes affecting judicial independence, warning about subjective bail-related discipline standards and possible chilling effects. The executive director of the State Commission on Judicial Conduct cautioned against civil penalties for complainants, saying it could discourage good-faith complaints and create litigation risks. Other witnesses supported accountability reforms but urged caution about unintended consequences, especially for family and emergency cases and for judges handling warrants and other time-sensitive matters. After testimony, the committee withdrew the committee substitute and left HB 1761 pending, then recessed the committee.

Transcript Highlights:

• testifying in opposition to 184 The layout, I think, really mischaracterized the Stevens' opinion in terms
• I would think, I would hope so. 610 611 612 to talk about what that looks like in terms of the bandwidth
• I don't know what that would look like from a practical standpoint, but it would be helpful in terms
• conversation with Jeremy Smith, the owner of the company, and both of them. which is within arm's length
• By Senator Hughes, relating to the protection for a public school employee's use of terms. consistent

Bills: SB108, SB318, SB507, SB511, SB533, SB1026, SB1386, SB1433, SB1434, SB1596

Keywords: elections, Election Code, poll workers, election clerks, presiding judge, alternate presiding judge, polling place, central counting station, county chair, political party, gubernatorial election, vote counting, election administration, Texas elections, precinct officials, ballot counting, county election officials, election integrity, election fraud, Attorney General

Transcript Highlights:

• You all have discussed them at length. I want. I want to add one more thing here.
• Is this issue more common in the small... in the smaller counties or the urban areas in terms of the.
• probably do this without knowing anything about penalties or what have you so do you where do you see in terms
• me, a felony is supposed to be reserved for very heinous crimes, and I feel like we have pushed the term
• biggest concern is I want to make sure people who are, shouldn't be their whole life labeled with that term

Bills: HB268, HB305, HB307, HB380, HB548, HB727, HB268, HB305, HB307

Keywords: false reporting, emergency response, criminal penalties, restitution, public safety, penalties, emergency services, public institutions, false reports, criminal penalty, pretrial hearings, criminal competency, legal process, court timelines, restoration of competency, fines, community service, credit, criminal justice, defendants

Transcript Highlights:

• Yeah, the term “awarded” we use for when the students have been found eligible, and now it's when they
• So the family and the school can expect their, you know, it's the term when they see awarded, they know
• In terms of enrollment documents, I'm not familiar with all the forms that are required.
• At this point, I'm asked to complete the sworn compliance statement to acknowledge the terms here and
• But they are very—because of the length of Step Up and our organization—they are very familiar with household

Summary: The Pre-K through 12 Budget Subcommittee met to continue reviewing how Family Empowerment Scholarship students are funded through the FEFP and the role of scholarship funding organizations. Staff gave a statutory overview of parent, SFO, and Department of Education responsibilities, including application deadlines, eligibility verification, quarterly payment timing, cross-checks to prevent duplicate funding, and the 99% district FEFP limitation for certain awards. The committee then heard demonstrations from Step Up for Students and AAA Scholarship Foundation showing their parent portals, application workflows, reimbursement systems, school enrollment/invoice processes, and marketplace tools for tuition, tutoring, and approved goods and services. Step Up reported major growth since HB 1, saying its scholarship population expanded from about 260,000 to more than 440,000 students, with application processing averaging about 10 days. It also highlighted faster tuition, provider, and reimbursement payments, multilingual support in English and Spanish, and resources such as videos and a call center. Members asked about support for Creole speakers, optional Florida ID numbers, student identifiers, marketplace pricing, tutor qualifications, background screening, and how awards differ from funded status. Step Up said it does not currently support Creole, does not do background screenings for tutors, sets no marketplace prices itself, and uses a unique internal student ID separate from the state ID. AAA demonstrated its revised software for the 2025-26 school year, including an eligibility screener, household and student application steps, messaging with staff, reimbursement requests, and administrative review and payment batching. AAA said the new system is custom-built, more transparent about award value versus available balance, and designed to better handle quarterly funding for UA students. Members questioned AAA and Step Up about student ID numbers, public-school cross-checks, fraud controls, school fee schedules, whether schools must participate, and reimbursement timing. Both organizations said they report quarterly to DOE, receive public-school cross-checks, and recover funds when students return to public school; AAA said its average reimbursement turnaround is about 14 business days, while Step Up said its reimbursement approvals have improved significantly. The committee also requested follow-up information, including one-pagers, data on income levels and demographics, and additional details on forecasting and system costs.

Transcript Highlights:

• small producers, from what I've heard today, it seems like there's a bit of a chicken-and-egg issue in terms
• So there's arm's-length transactions, you know, separating this Delta-9 and some of the other products
• So direct-to-consumer, where the public safety issue lies, is in terms of who is checking IDs.
• a business owner and, you know, in order to get market traction, right, what does it take maybe in terms
• Terms of gallons. You got beer, then you have liquor, right? What do you think it takes to get?

Summary: The committee met to hear an overview of Florida’s alcoholic beverage regulatory structure and a panel discussion on the state’s three-tier system. Emily Oglesby of DBPR explained the department’s licensing and enforcement roles, described common license types, and outlined the three tiers—manufacturers, distributors, and retailers—along with tied-house restrictions and several statutory exceptions for certified Florida farm wineries, breweries with tap rooms, brew pubs, and craft distilleries. Members asked about licensing fees, the number and classification of distributors and craft producers, and how the exceptions fit within the broader system. Panelists from craft breweries, craft distilleries, wholesalers, and retailers then discussed how the system affects market access, pricing, and product selection. Craft producers argued that Florida’s rules make it difficult for small brands to reach retailers because they must rely on distributors that often prioritize larger, higher-volume products; they said limited self-distribution or other reforms could help small businesses grow without eliminating wholesalers. Wholesalers and retailers defended the three-tier model as a public-safety and anti-monopoly framework, emphasizing investment in warehousing, sales, compliance, and product vetting, while noting that they already carry some craft products and make selections based on demand, quality, and shelf space. Members also explored related issues such as direct-to-consumer sales, the role of excise-tax audits and inspections, and the emerging market for hemp-derived THC beverages and other alternative drinks. DBPR and industry witnesses said alcohol and hemp products are regulated differently, and several speakers urged the Legislature to consider clearer rules for these products. The meeting ended with no bill vote or formal action; the chair thanked the panel and adjourned after Representative Yeager moved to rise, with no objection.

Transcript Highlights:

• It's not a handout; it's earned, and it creates long-term wealth where it normally wouldn't exist.
• I do know that in San Francisco, they reduced their numbers by 70-plus percent in terms of fatalities
• This is half that length. Also, the bill limits hot lists to which ALPR data can be compared.
• It's hard to say the same in terms of demonstrable cases where a person has suffered actual harm just
• The industry and some hints by some of the company CEOs around what the long-term future is.

Summary: The Assembly Transportation Committee met first as a subcommittee due to the lack of a quorum, then later obtained a quorum and took up several bills. The committee heard SB 1064, which would reduce the frequency of Clean Truck Check testing for low-use heavy-duty vehicles; supporters said it would ease burdens on rural agricultural businesses, while clean air advocates opposed it as weakening an important emissions program. The bill was approved and sent to the Assembly Appropriations Committee. The committee also heard SB 1174, which would give Caltrans bid preferences to construction firms with employee stock ownership plans; supporters argued it would build worker wealth and improve project quality, while contractor groups opposed it as likely to raise costs and reduce competition. That bill was approved and sent to the Assembly Judiciary Committee. The consent calendar items SB 607, SB 962, and SB 990 were also approved. The committee then heard SB 1279, which would allow Long Beach to place additional speed safety cameras on Pacific Coast Highway. Long Beach officials and several safety and advocacy groups supported the bill, citing high fatality rates and repeated pedestrian crashes on that corridor, while some members raised concerns about fines, affordability, and whether cameras would address pedestrian-related collisions. The bill passed as amended to the Assembly Privacy and Consumer Protection Committee. SB 1213, the Clean Truck Transportation Act, would require more price transparency for medium- and heavy-duty zero-emission truck incentives and direct agencies to explore alternative financing tools; supporters said it would improve affordability and competition, while one manufacturer and the trucking association raised implementation concerns. It passed to the Assembly Natural Resources Committee. The committee also heard SB 1013, which would tighten rules for automated license plate reader use by limiting retention to 30 days, requiring audits and training, and restricting access and hot list use. Privacy advocates supported the bill as overdue accountability, while law enforcement groups argued the retention limit would hinder investigations and that some technical definitions needed work. The bill passed to the Assembly Privacy and Consumer Protection Committee. SB 1315, dealing with advanced driver assistance systems, would prevent automakers from disabling a consumer’s ability to drive their own vehicle through software updates and would encourage DMV testing questions about ADAS responsibilities; after amendments, industry opposition softened and the bill passed to the Assembly Judiciary Committee. Finally, SB 1246, on autonomous vehicle emergency response, would require U.S.-based remote drivers, quicker on-scene response, and better coordination with local agencies; first responders and labor groups supported it, while AV industry groups remained opposed unless amended. The bill passed to the Assembly Communications and Conveyance Committee. The transcript ended as the committee began hearing SB 1250, a planning bill to incorporate wildlife connectivity into transportation asset management, with the sponsor and supporters explaining it would improve safety and habitat planning without mandating specific projects.