Bills: SB128, SB640, SB672, SB904, SB1141, SB1263, SB1525, SB1528, SB2041, SB2306, SB2308, SB2357, SB2446, SB2695, SB2857, SB2891, SB2583

Keywords: hospital reporting, child abuse, neglect, administrative penalty, medical ethics, child protection, SB 640, Texas Family Code, Department of Family and Protective Services, DFPS, child welfare, foster care, managing conservatorship, suicide attempt, youth suicide, mental health, child protective services, state custody, annual report, reporting requirements

Transcript Highlights:

• And also with that, sometimes we partner with some third parties that help auction off.
• And also with that, sometimes we partner with some third parties that help auction off.
• partner with some third parties<00:09:23.519> that<00:09:23.760> help<00:09:24.000> auction
• <00:09:24.640> Well,<00:09:24.800> we parties that help auction off.
• Well, we parties that help auction off.

Bills: HB55, HB104, HB55, HB104

Keywords: mortgage, payments, financial institutions, borrowers, principal, escrow, homeownership, abandoned property, digital assets, state treasurer, unclaimed property, liquidation, finders, contracts, electronic reporting, fishing, licensing, jubilee, Marine life, Alabama

Transcript Highlights:

• Chapter 7 sales are competitive auctions where a property may sell for more than the outstanding taxes
• Chapter 8 sales, instead of an auction, involve a negotiated price with qualified bidders, such as public
• Chapter 7 auction sales are often expensive and ineffective.
• Many properties repeatedly go through this cycle as buyers acquire them at auction, then abandon them
• When you have an auction, you know that you're going to get best value.

Summary: The Assembly Committee on Revenue and Taxation held its first regular hearing of the 2025-26 session, adopted its proposed committee rules on a 5-0 vote, and reinstated a suspense file for bills with fiscal impacts over the committee threshold. The chair explained that only AB 418 would be eligible for an immediate vote, while several other measures would be held for suspense consideration because of budget constraints. AB 330 was pulled by the author. AB 418 by Wilson, which would create a clearer process and administrative remedy for county Chapter 8 tax sales, received support from county tax collectors and housing and taxpayer groups. Supporters said the bill would add transparency, due process, and a noticed public hearing for negotiated sales of tax-defaulted properties, while helping counties dispose of low-value or problematic properties more efficiently. The committee voted 6-0 to send AB 418 to Appropriations. Several other bills were heard and then referred to suspense: AB 27 by Chau, which would exclude Chiquita Canyon landfill relief payments from gross income and protect recipients’ eligibility for public benefits, drew strong support from affected residents and environmental advocates; AB 258 by Conley would increase funding for California fairs, with supporters emphasizing fairs’ emergency-response role; AB 397 by Gonzalez would expand the California Young Child Tax Credit into a broader child tax credit for older children; and AB 398 by Aaron would set a $300 minimum refundable Cal EITC benefit. The committee also heard AB 231 by Tye, which would offer a tax credit to microbusinesses that hire formerly incarcerated people, and it too was referred to suspense after supportive testimony from reentry and small-business advocates.

Transcript Highlights:

• The Governor's budget estimates budget-year 2025-26 auction revenues of approximately $4.2 billion.
• And so I will note the February 2025 auction revenues came in at approximately $851 million, which is
• that this wasn't really a priority to him as they were doing the auction, and ahead of the May one,
• One of the things that I've heard from folks could explain the reduction in the auction is the lack of
• that this wasn't really a priority to him as they were doing the auction, and ahead of the May one,

Summary: The committee hearing focused heavily on CARB’s broad trailer bill request for regulatory fee authority. Finance and CARB argued the proposal would let CARB develop fees to recover reasonable costs for implementing and enforcing regulations, while the LAO recommended rejection because the authority was too broad, could apply to an entire division of code, and would delegate core legislative taxing/fee-setting power without enough guardrails. Members from both parties raised concerns about the breadth of the authority, accountability, affordability impacts, and whether the Legislature would be put in an up-or-down position after CARB had already developed regulations. CARB responded that fees would still go through a budget change proposal and legislative approval before collection, and cited existing examples such as transport refrigeration units and commercial harborcraft fees. The committee then reviewed CARB’s request for permanent resources to implement SB 905 on carbon capture, utilization, storage, and carbon dioxide removal. CARB said the Legislature had previously authorized limited-term positions and funding, but it had struggled to recruit and retain staff with specialized regulatory and technical expertise, and that the work had included pre-rulemaking contracts, technology review, and permit-related preparation. Members questioned the pace of work, the use of limited-term positions, and whether additional permitting authority would be needed. CARB said it hoped to begin rulemaking later in the year if permanent resources were approved. Members also discussed the cap-and-trade spending plan, noting lower-than-expected auction revenues but higher interest earnings, and the need to monitor the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund and possible May Revision changes. The committee then heard overviews of the zero-emission vehicle package, the Community Air Protection Program, demand-side grid support, and e-bike incentives. CARB described ongoing investments in community-based transportation equity, drayage trucks, harbor craft, and other clean technology demonstrations, while members pressed on affordability, program duplication, and whether enough funding was being directed to incentive programs. No formal votes were taken during the portion provided, and the chair repeatedly indicated that the hearing was intended to surface concerns for later budget negotiations.

Transcript Highlights:

• maybe Senator Roberts is coming as well, but just again a simple reminder about the junior livestock auction
• reminder about the uh<00:55:46.400> junior<00:55:46.720> livestock<00:55:47.200> auction
• uh junior livestock auction coming up. uh junior livestock auction coming up.

Keywords: 981, all

Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum, approved the journal from January 14, 2026, and confirmed that Senate bills and resolutions were correctly engrossed. The chamber then took up House amendments to Senate Joint Resolution 2, which concerns a joint session with the House to hear from Governor Jared Polis and appoint an escort committee. The Senate concurred with the House amendments by a vote of 34-0 and then repassed SJR 2 unanimously; Senator Bridges asked to have his name removed as a co-sponsor. The Senate also briefly recessed to swear in staff members, who took the oath of office and were welcomed by members. During announcements, senators mentioned the upcoming junior livestock auction and noted an excused absence for Senator Catlin for next Tuesday and Wednesday. The Majority Leader announced a corrected start time of 10:30 a.m. for the State of the Tribes address and reminded members that the Senate would later attend the State of the State joint session in the House at 11:00 a.m., with blue lanyards required for access. Security restrictions on Capitol parking circle entrances and exits were also announced during the governor's address. The Senate then adjourned until 12:00 p.m. that day.

Transcript Highlights:

• . >> Auctioneers Board. >> Good afternoon, Chairman Roberts and members of the committee.
• This is a renewal contract with the Auctioneers Association.
• the first phase of the contract was to get information out about the new requirements for online auctioneers
• compliance of that as well as doing a public relations, PR campaign, letting the public know that auctions
• If it's an auction, it has to be in compliance with the board. >> All right. Any questions?

Keywords: 924, joint, all

Transcript Highlights:

• on a public website that customarily conducts and advertises personal property for sale or does auctions
• . ...and advertises personal property for sale or does auctions for them.
• It's a notice of an auction. It's an advertisement... It's a notice of an auction.
• It's an advertisement that this lien auction is going to take place after the owner-operator has already
• We currently run many storage auctions. Last year, we lost the towing and storage ads.

Summary: The Judiciary Committee considered a long agenda of claims bills, housing and business measures, and court-administration legislation. It reported favorably several claims bills, including SB 20 for J.N., a minor, SB 14 for the estate of Pennial Janvier, SB 10 for Sidney Holmes, SB 8 for Marcus Button, SB 22 for Eric and Jennifer Miles, and SB 26 for Kristen and Leah McIntosh. Members also approved SB 520 on curators of estates, SB 386 on self-storage lien-sale notices, SB 362 on reusable tenant screening reports, SB 316 creating series LLCs in Florida, and SB 1650 and SB 1652 on vexatious litigants and related public-records issues. SB 248, expanding eligibility for private school and homeschool students to participate in FHSAA sports at public schools, also passed after amendment. Most of the claims bills were described as settled cases with amounts above sovereign-immunity limits, and several senators spoke in support of compensating victims of catastrophic injury or wrongful conviction. SB 10 drew comments about the 34 years Sidney Holmes spent incarcerated after a wrongful conviction, and SB 8 prompted discussion about the long delay in resolving Marcus Button’s injuries from a 2006 school-bus crash. SB 26 was presented as an uncontested claim arising from a DACS employee’s fatal crash that severely injured two teenage girls, and the committee adopted an amendment placing funds for the minor claimant into trust. The policy bills drew more substantive debate. SB 386 would let self-storage operators use websites instead of newspaper ads for lien-sale notices, with newspaper representatives opposing the change and storage-industry witnesses supporting modernization and lower costs. SB 362 would let renters reuse tenant screening reports for 30 days, with the sponsor saying it would reduce repeated application fees. SB 316 would authorize series LLCs while adding record-keeping protections, and SB 1650/1652 would broaden Florida’s vexatious-litigant rules and create a public-records exemption for certain stricken filings. SB 248 passed over concerns from private-school and public-education witnesses about instructional time, funding, and fairness in athletic participation. All measures were reported favorably, with recorded votes ranging from 7-2 on SB 248 to unanimous or near-unanimous support on the other bills.

Transcript Highlights:

• They could either be licensed as a real estate agent or as an auctioneer through the auction license.
• auctioneer through the auction license. auctioneer through the auction license.
• Conducting the auction itself. narrow. Conducting the auction itself.
• <00:09:06.720> process, and expertise to the auction process, and expertise to the auction
• , and auctioneers, and auctioneers, although<00:10:47.839> I<00:10:48.079> certainly

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It addresses concerns regarding legal loopholes that have allowed properties to be acquired at auction
• We will be doing public auction, not the online.
• We had also seen auctions where it appeared that a sham bidder drove up the bid, then intentionally defaulted
• Using a private auctioneer is unusual, but we saw it on several occasions.

Summary: The Appropriations Committee on Criminal and Civil Justice met to review its proposed fiscal year 2025-2026 budget, totaling about $7.6 billion. The chair highlighted funding for the Department of Corrections, including health services, food inflation, and prison population growth; the Department of Juvenile Justice for residential beds and higher food/medical costs; FDLE for a law enforcement apprenticeship program and officer wellness services; justice administration for court-appointed attorney rates and VOCA shortfalls; major IT projects; and court operations, including funding for 29 new judges. Members asked about where the new judgeships would go and whether staffing would accompany them, and staff said the judge positions would be listed later in a conforming bill and that associated court staff were included, but not additional state attorney or public defender staffing. Several members also asked whether the budget addressed pay and staffing shortages in state attorneys’ and public defenders’ offices, and staff said those decisions had not yet been finalized. The committee then heard public testimony from several speakers who urged more funding for prison safety, medical care, and oversight. Speakers described personal experiences involving deaths or serious harm in correctional facilities and jails, alleging inadequate medical treatment, excessive force, isolation, and failures to investigate. One speaker said her son died after being beaten and denied timely medical care in a correctional facility; another said her son was not receiving adequate health care at Charlotte Correctional; and another described her brother’s death in the Marion County Jail after repeated tasing and pepper spraying. The committee adopted a motion allowing staff to make technical adjustments and then approved the committee’s budget proposal as a recommendation to the full Senate Appropriations Committee. The committee also took up CS for CS SB 48 on alternative judicial procedures and foreclosure sales. Senator Garcia offered an amendment to standardize judicial sales, increase transparency, limit preferences in bidding, preserve public notice requirements, restrict plaintiff credit bids to the amount of the judgment unless a deposit is posted, and prevent deviations from statutory timelines and procedures from being hidden in court orders. Garcia said the bill was intended to close loopholes and protect homeowners, especially condominium owners, from unfair foreclosure practices. A representative for Auction.com said similar laws have been used in other states and offered to provide data. After debate, the amendment was adopted, and the bill passed the committee favorably on a roll call vote.

Transcript Highlights:

• You might look at a license for something like an auctioneer.
• You might look at a license for something like an auctioneer.
• You might look at a license for something like an auctioneer.
• You might look at a license for something like an auctioneer.
• <03:34:16.319> and roommaking process has been reversed and roommaking process has been reversed

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The governor's budget estimates budget year 2025-26 auction revenues of approximately $4.2 billion.
• I know that was a significant issue during the last auction when he tweeted or said to a reporter that
• this wasn't really a priority for him as they were conducting the auction.
• Ahead of the May auction, that might help give some certainty to folks and hopefully bring... ...those
• As we assess the reality of the auctions coming in and look at updated fund condition statements for

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So we're in that downward reversal, which is not in and of itself a declaration that the economy is doing
• to Note that the State Land Office just had their highest record for their oil and gas lease sale auction
• impacted us right now because they don't collect information on children's status, so there's been some reversal

Transcript Highlights:

• that publishers use to sell. ads and they control the exchange in the middle where those ads are auctioned
• That they were rigging auctions to hit their profit targets and that they shifted revenue shares and
• auctions without warning, even calling it, quote, shaking the cushions in order to make their quarterly
• So Google gets to set the rules for auctions, and that's how most of the advertising gets sold, and the
• allegations in court was that Google takes about 20% of the revenue from publishers in the typical auction

Keywords: antitrust, competition policy, digital advertising, monopoly, America Act, big tech, consumer rights

Summary: The meeting, titled 'Big Fixes, Big Tech', marked the first hearing of the Senate antitrust competition policy and consumer rights subcommittee in the 119th Congress. Chairman Lee opened the session focusing on the urgent need for effective solutions regarding anti-competitive behavior among major tech firms like Google and Facebook, highlighting several ongoing court cases regarding monopolistic practices in the digital advertising and search markets. Key discussions included the limitations imposed on small businesses and innovation due to the dominance of these tech giants, with many testimonies advocating for stronger legislative measures, including the America Act. The act aims to disrupt the monopolistic capabilities of these firms and restore competitive integrity in the marketplace, which has suffered under their oppressive market control.

Transcript Highlights:

• If any of you know a good auctioneer, not just an auctioneer, but a good auctioneer, um, they might be
• If any of you know a good auctioneer, not just an auctioneer, but a good auctioneer, um, they might be
• And um you know, maybe we'll be able to find that good auctioneer someday, uh, and um I'm I've heard
• that<00:36:23.560> good we'll be able to find that good we'll be able to find that good auctioneer
• <00:36:24.280> someday auctioneer someday auctioneer someday uh<00:36:25.680> and<00:36

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Based upon the region's latest capacity auction, energy efficiency was passively reducing demand by 2,081
• So there's a need to actually reverse what happened. And this is the way forward.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The committee held a hearing on the value of Mass Save, with opening remarks emphasizing that despite past criticisms the program has delivered major energy, cost, climate, and equity benefits. The chair cited large avoided system costs, strong benefit-cost ratios, and recent legislative changes that set emissions goals, restricted fossil-fuel equipment incentives, and increased focus on low- and moderate-income households. Department of Energy Resources Commissioner Elizabeth Mahoney testified that Mass Save has weatherized hundreds of thousands of homes, reduced bills, avoided emissions, and that the current plan includes budget controls after the DPU ordered $500 million removed from the approved budget. She said the governor’s proposal to have only electric utilities administer the program was intended to reduce administrative costs and align with current implementation trends. Members questioned Mahoney about what counts as marketing and administration, and she said the category includes traditional advertising as well as community-based outreach, customer resource centers, and other customer engagement work, much of it in low- and moderate-income communities. She said administrative and marketing costs are under 5% of the budget, while more than 80% goes to incentives and direct program delivery. Several witnesses then focused on workforce and contractor impacts. Dave Betcher of Abode Energy Management and Rick Taglienti of Rogers Insulation said Mass Save sustains small businesses, creates careers, and supports thousands of jobs; both warned that budget cuts would reduce hiring, training, and work in homes and businesses. They also described a broad ecosystem of suppliers, trainers, and service providers that depends on stable program funding. Other witnesses addressed cost-effectiveness, affordability, and emissions. Anna Johnson of ACEEE said Massachusetts remains a national leader, with Mass Save returning about $2.80 per dollar invested, reducing peak demand, and lowering bills for participants, especially through weatherization and heat pumps. Kyle Murray of Acadia Center said the program is statutorily required to be cost-effective and has avoided billions in supply and infrastructure costs for all ratepayers, including nonparticipants, by lowering overall demand and peak prices. Amy Boyd-Rabin of the Environmental League of Massachusetts argued that efficiency is the cheapest way to meet climate targets and that cutting the budget would force more expensive power generation. The hearing also featured testimony on equity and housing: Mary Wampo described historic under-service to renter-heavy and lower-income communities and said recent reforms, including designated equity communities and performance incentives tied to equity, are helping correct that imbalance; Brian Biot and James Collins of LEAN/ABCD described low-income delivery systems and wraparound services; Barney Heath and John Nannari said Mass Save incentives are essential to affordable housing, passive house construction, and keeping projects on time and on budget. The final witnesses highlighted Connected Solutions and electrification: Sunrun’s Bronte Payne said the virtual power plant program saved more than it cost and helps avoid peaker plants and grid upgrades, and Highland Electric Fleets’ Ben Sondaga said electric school buses can provide similar grid benefits while lowering transportation costs for districts.

Transcript Highlights:

• You complete the social you can continue to live auction. We see how those numbers are growing.
• Their dispersement process is reducing reversion. And 24 25 24.9 million was averted.

Transcript Highlights:

• Unfortunately, most of that has been reversed through local government action.
• If I have the opportunity to actually speak on just a little of that, we have local auction sales tax

Bills: SB9, SB 9

Keywords: property tax, ad valorem tax, voter-approval tax rate, no-new-revenue tax rate, tax rate calculation, Tax Code, local government finance, municipality, county, special taxing unit, sales and use tax, property tax cap, tax rollback, tax levy, maintenance and operations, debt rate, disaster relief rate, Texas Legislature, local taxing unit, school assessment

Transcript Highlights:

• NEWSPAPER AD AND THAT WOULD BE TO PUBLISH THE NOTICE THAT THIS IS ABOUT TO BE THE STUFF IN THE UNIT AUCTIONED
• BE PUBLISHED ON A PUBLIC WEBSITE THAT CONDUCTS OR ADVERTISES PERSONAL PROPERTY FOR SALE OR DOES AUCTIONS
• IT IS A PRINT OF AN AUCTION. IT IS AN ADVERTISEMENT THAT THE LIEN AUCTION IS GOING TO TAKE PLACE.
• WE CURRENTLY RUN MANY STORAGE AUCTIONS. LAST YEAR WE LOST TOWING AND STORAGE ADS.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• innovation and entrepreneurship in the Commonwealth; House Bill 442, authorizing charity alcohol auctions
• innovation and entrepreneurship in the Commonwealth; House Bill 442, an act authorizing charity alcohol auctions
• An act authorizing charity alcohol auctions, House No. 442.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The House received a gubernatorial message recommending legislation on the terms of certain Commonwealth bonds, which was referred to the Committee on Bonding, Expenditures and Capital Assets. The Committee on Rules also reported a congratulatory resolution for Jason X. Rosala’s Eagle Scout achievement, which was adopted after suspension of the rules. In addition, the House adopted an order extending the Labor and Workforce Development Committee’s reporting deadline to December 3, 2025, and suspended Joint Rule 12 to send several petitions to committee, including matters on Medicare coverage for end-stage renal disease, two sick leave bank proposals, and transportation of certain loads. The House then took up a slate of bills for second and third reading, including measures on retail sales, innovation and entrepreneurship, charity alcohol auctions, water flow in the Central Plymouth County Water District, a Wellfleet food pantry lease, the Richmond Free Public Library, procurement regulations for Cambridge and the Commonwealth, and charter changes for Provincetown. All were ordered to a third reading. Later, the House passed to be engrossed House Bill 3912 to increase the Marblehead Board of Health from three to five members, House Bill 4323 establishing a sick leave bank for a State Police employee, House Bill 4324 establishing a sick leave bank for an Appellate Tax Board employee, and House Bill 4263 establishing a charter for the city of Medford. The House also adopted an order from Representative Mariano setting the next meeting for Monday at 11:00 a.m. After that, Representative Soder moved adjournment, and the House adjourned to meet Monday next at 11 a.m. in an informal session.

Transcript Highlights:

• was adopted in 1984 or so, notice in the newspaper was intended to notify the general public of the auction
• ability to advertise a lien sale on a publicly accessible internet website that generally advertises auctions
• The last thing a facility owner wants to do is auction off someone's belongings, um, when they stop paying
• We transitioned to online auctions in 2017 to expand the reach of bidders who may be interested in the
• online search engine when it comes to typing in a tenant's name who's defaulted with the word storage auction

Bills: HB 186

Keywords: public funds, lobbying activities, political subdivisions, government expenditure, transparency, local government, political subdivision, county, city, municipality, special district, taxpayer-funded lobbying, lobbying restriction, registered lobbyist, government association, county association dues, Texas Legislature, injunctive relief, attorney's fees, Chapter 556