Transcript Highlights:

• Later after the lawsuit was filed, and prior to a court hearing, the sheriff's department folded its.
• the court to award our attorney's fees to pay us back that $12,000.
• We appealed that to the Texas Supreme Court, and the Supreme Court denied our petition for review.
• be set up for the Supreme Court.
• C is the Supreme Court, the Court of Criminal Appeals, or Court of Appeals, State Bar, or another...

Bills: HB512 , HB2248 , HB2679 , HB2832 , HB3112 , HB3368 , HB3490 , HB3512 , HB3623 , HB3666 , HB3700 , HB3711 , HB3770 , HB3963

Committee: House Delivery of Government Efficiency

Keywords: grievance procedures, state agency, employee rights, workplace regulations, employment law, employees, employment actions, appeal, state employees, workplace rights, disciplinary actions, employment conditions, employment disputes, job protections, public information, transparency, government accountability, information access, notification requirements, federal funding

Transcript Highlights:

• Someone who is a resident of Idaho can file a claim if they have cause to believe that an individual
• Over 4,000 lines of and $7 million worth of money that's being spent on memberships, fees, and dues.
• I don't think that all of the AG's court cases are necessarily for law enforcement purposes.
• I don't think that all of the AG's court cases are necessarily for law enforcement purposes.
• If we had to put a penalty for every time we put direction to our courts, to our, to anyone.

Committee: House State Affairs

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• . court. court.
• </c> transaction fee like with any merchant. transaction fee like with any merchant.
• . file. file.
• </c> have to be timely filed online. have to be timely filed online.
• costs</c> million of court of county court costs million of court of county court costs that<05:28:16.080

Keywords: MS Senate Floor - 11 February, 2026; 10:00 AM, 925, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Do you see that, like, outside of having to go to court? Sure.
• According to court filings, Flip Cause had only $70,000 in the bank at the time of filing, but owed $29
• The current CSA fee system is also 16, at least 16 years old.
• And the courts are at the very beginning of this.
• I know for charities filing, it has to be done online.

Committee: House Consumer Protection & Business

Keywords: 904, all

Transcript Highlights:

• THERE IS ONE LATE FILED AMENDMENT. IS THERE ANY OBJECTION TO TAKE UP THE LATE FILED AMENDMENT?
• I WANT TO THANK THE SPONSOR FOR CHANGING THE IMPACT FROM THE PERMIT FEE TO THE ADDRESSING FEE.
• IS ONE LATE FILED AMENDMENT. ANY OBJECTION TO TAKE UP THE IS ONE LATE FILED AMENDMENT.
• MAY AWARD OF FEES TO THE PREVAILING PARTY AND THEN SAYS HOWEVER, THE COURT MAY NOT AWARD REASONABLE
• ACCOUNTING FEES.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• No filing fee or attorney representation is required.
• The petition process is already in place and allows these petitions to be filed without a fee.
• So we filed the emergency guardianship proceedings. We got the court orders.
• You don't have to have an attorney to file these cases. There is no filing fee. It happens quickly.
• You'd probably just file this directly with the civil court.

Committee: Senate Children, Families, and Elder Affairs

Summary: The Committee on Children, Families, and Elder Affairs met with a quorum and first took up SB 398, which would create a statewide public health awareness campaign through the Department of Elder Affairs on Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias. Senator Burgess said the campaign would focus on early detection, brain health, risk reduction, clinical trial access, and community resources. The committee heard supportive testimony from a caregiver, AARP, the Alzheimer’s Association, and others, with members discussing the need for culturally responsive outreach and continued funding. SB 398 was reported favorably by roll call vote. The committee then heard SB 106, which would strengthen Florida’s exploitation injunction law for vulnerable adults by allowing service of an unascertainable exploiter through the same communication method used to contact the victim, such as text, Facebook Messenger, or WhatsApp. Senator Martin explained the bill as a way to close a loophole that lets scammers evade traditional service, and witnesses from the Florida Bankers Association and the Florida Bar’s Elder Law Section supported it, describing how the bill could stop ongoing thefts more quickly while preserving due process. Members asked about gift card scams, clerk workload, and the definition of an unascertainable respondent. SB 106 was reported favorably. The Department of Children and Families then presented an update on the Adoption Benefits for Qualifying Adoptive Employees Program, describing its expansion over time and the current one-time lump-sum benefit structure for eligible adoptive parents. The presentation covered eligibility rules, open enrollment, funding history, and the program’s impact on adoption placements, with members asking why tax collectors were included but other constitutional offices were not, and whether foster relatives could qualify. Finally, the committee considered SPB 7012, a committee bill addressing child welfare workforce shortages, treatment foster care for high-acuity children, and improved data collection on commercially sexually exploited children. The bill would direct DCF to recruit former public safety workers for CPI and case manager roles, create a treatment foster care pilot in two judicial circuits, and require more detailed, analyzable data and capacity studies. The bill drew support from child welfare advocates, with some members urging DCF to return with a more developed framework; it was adopted as a committee bill and reported favorably.

Transcript Highlights:

• The consent calendar consists now of file item 1, AB 739 Jackson; file item 7, AB 2162, Brian; file item
• So since we hear bills in file order, we're going to go now to file item 3, AB 956 by Assemblymember
• Like, who would be charged a fee or pay a fee that would cover that cost?
• Like where would, who would be charged a fee or pay a fee that would cover that cost?
• We take up measures and file orders, so Senator Patterson is before you in the file order.

Summary: The Senate Committee on Housing met without a quorum at first and operated as a subcommittee, then later established a quorum and took up several housing-related bills. Early presentations included AB 2390, a cleanup bill on housing streamlining and project modifications, which was described as clarifying that minor and subsequent modifications are reviewed under the standards in effect when the original application was filed; there was no opposition, and the bill was moved on a due pass motion but held on call for absent members. AB 1890, which would increase state matching support for Napa County farmworker housing centers from $250,000 to $500,000 annually and extend the program through 2036, drew strong support from Napa County officials, the Farm Bureau, hospitals, and vintners, and was also moved to Appropriations and held on call. AB 956, an ADU bill allowing more flexibility in how accessory dwelling units are built and clarifying application of ADU law in common interest developments, drew support from housing advocates and opposition from the League of California Cities over density, infrastructure, and local control concerns; the committee discussed amendments to avoid triggering density bonus law, then passed the bill as amended to Local Government, with some members expressing reservations or abstaining. The consent calendar, including AB 739, AB 2162, AB 2320, and AB 2692, was also acted on and held on call for absent members. Later, the committee heard AB 939, which would remove a 180-day resale restriction for certain income-restricted ownership units when a nonprofit affordable housing organization is ready to buy and sell them to qualified low-income buyers. Supporters, including Habitat for Humanity and California YIMBY, said the bill would reduce vacancy, carrying costs, and delays in getting affordable homes to buyers; the California Association of Realtors opposed unless amended, arguing the bill could limit buyer choice, codify first-right-of-refusal provisions, and reduce wealth-building opportunities. Members questioned those concerns, and the author said amendments were being worked on; the bill was moved to Appropriations and held on call. AB 1165, the California Housing Justice Act, would require state housing agencies to develop a fiscal analysis and long-term financial plan for ending homelessness and addressing housing affordability; it received broad support from supportive housing, civil rights, and homelessness organizations, with no opposition filed, and was moved to Appropriations and held on call. AB 1184, an HOA transparency bill requiring more notice and access around litigation and recordings, was moved to Judiciary after discussion about whether it duplicated existing HOA law and whether the proposed amendments were too broad. AB 2035, a narrowly tailored bill for Laguna Woods Village to lower the vote threshold needed to petition a court to amend outdated CC&Rs, was supported as a one-time fix and moved to Judiciary. Finally, AB 1573, pulled from consent, would add survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and human trafficking to housing element target populations; supporters said these groups are overrepresented among people experiencing housing instability and should be explicitly included in local housing planning.

Transcript Highlights:

• in superior court.
• Madam Chair's bills in file order. The next bill is file item number five, SB 909.
• As file item 1, SB 1054.
• Moving on to file item number 5, SB 909.
• Moving on to file item number 6, SB 1132.

Committee: Senate Labor, Public Employment and Retirement

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Is there objection to taking up the late-file amendment?
• That's court reporters. That's all the depositions that come with court reporters.
• And the contingency fee model definitely makes sure that lawyers who want to keep money don't file frivolous
• There is some disagreement on the fees.
• to courts.

Committee: Senate Appropriations

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Fees and fines often do the opposite.
• That's why I filed H. 2011.
• This would allow for prosecution either in the Superior Court or perhaps in the District Court, so it
• This would allow for prosecution either in the Superior Court or perhaps in the district court.
• The Commonwealth has ended probation fees and eliminated the administrative bail fee for youth through

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on the Judiciary

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The committee hearing began with opening remarks from the House and Senate chairs outlining procedures for a large public hearing with more than 100 witnesses on 64 legislative proposals. They explained time limits, rules for in-person and virtual testimony, written testimony procedures, and the committee’s reporting deadline. Testimony then moved through a series of juvenile justice, child protection, and civil liberties bills, with witnesses generally urging favorable reports or, in one case, opposing expanded juvenile court transparency and child advocate access to records. Several witnesses supported bills aimed at juvenile justice reform. Representative Hendricks backed H. 1744 to prevent child labor exploitation and trafficking, citing federal findings of child labor in seafood processing and calling for stronger penalties and a ban on minors working in such facilities. Senator Gomez supported S. 1131 and S. 1121 to reduce juvenile fees, fines, restitution burdens, and bail-related costs, arguing they worsen racial and economic disparities. Senator Crean and other advocates supported S. 1051/H. 1695 to expand juvenile diversion eligibility, while multiple witnesses from juvenile justice and immigrant advocacy groups supported H. 1657/S. 1058 to expand juvenile expungement and to limit sharing juvenile fingerprints with federal authorities, describing recent ICE detentions of Chelsea students and the resulting fear in immigrant communities. Witnesses also supported H. 1918/S. 1240 to narrow the youthful offender statute, raising the minimum age and reducing mandatory adult-style penalties for youth. The committee also heard testimony on child safety and bodily autonomy bills. Middlesex District Attorney Marion Ryan supported H. 1752 to protect children left in extreme temperatures, explaining it would create civil penalties, allow emergency responders to remove children from cars without liability, and add criminal penalties when serious injury results. Representative Thurber and Senator O’Connor testified for H. 2011/S. 1227, a bill prohibiting coercion or mandates for health-related interventions, including vaccinations, and allowing legal remedies for violations. Senator Jalen supported S. 1136/H. 1847 to prevent false confessions by requiring recording of interrogations and banning deceptive tactics, and several innocence-project and legal-services witnesses described wrongful convictions tied to false confessions and coercive interrogations. Another major topic was H. 1626, which would require age verification for pornographic content and launch an education campaign about online sexual exploitation; Representative Cruz and survivor Udoz Wallace testified in support, describing nonconsensual image sharing and deepfake harms. Not all testimony was supportive. The Committee for Public Counsel Services opposed S. 1035, which would increase transparency in juvenile court proceedings, and H. 1689, which would expand the child advocate’s access to confidential juvenile records, arguing both would undermine privacy and trauma-informed protections for children and families. No votes or formal committee actions were taken during the portion of the hearing provided; the session consisted of opening remarks and public testimony on the listed bills.

Transcript Highlights:

• Senate file 45. discussion? Senate file 45.
• Senate file<01:23:01.280><c> 14.</c> file 14. file 14.
• If the registered agent didn't turn it over, I suspect the Secretary of State could then file in court
• Senate File 9, do pass. Senate File 82, do pass. Senate File 12, do pass as amended.
• Senate File 58, do pass. Senate File 68, do pass. Senate File 9, do pass. Senate File 82, do pass.

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So now it is a definition that a court must consider in all of the cases that are filed in a parental
• So now it is a definition that a court must consider in all of the cases that are filed in a parental
• So now it is a definition that a court must consider in all of the cases that are filed in a parental
• Um, and so the court is looking at someone to demonstrate, like if someone files one of those motions
• . court. court.

Committee: Senate Children and Family Law

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Um before I recognize you, I also do want to recognize the court system, which through their fees I've
• Um before I recognize you, I also do want to recognize the court system, which through their fees I've
• Um before I recognize you, I also do want to recognize the court system, which through their fees I've
• There is a fee department of safety. There is a fee increase<00:44:06.800><c> here.
• </c> fee would go from $4 per plate to $6. fee would go from $4 per plate to $6.

Committee: Senate Finance

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Institutions are competing nationally for talent, and policies are evolving in real time through the courts
• So you all actually, with this, will give us the base of $60,000, but also I've had to file a lawsuit
• The recent bill that passed to consolidate courts in New Orleans?
• Members, House Bill 596 establishes an inactive well fee assessment credit.
• I filed the bill to do it.

Bills: HB513 , HB581 , HB596 , HB660 , HB719 , HB766 , HB802 , HB940 , HB950 , HB1028 , HB1183 , HB1201 , SB233 , SB300 , SB303 , SB315 , SB324 , SB411

Committee: House Appropriations

Keywords: name image likeness, NIL, student-athlete, college athletics, high school athletics, intercollegiate athletics, interscholastic athletics, athlete compensation, athlete endorsements, sports marketing, athlete agent, marketing representative, sports attorney, publicity rights, right of publicity, Louisiana high school sports, NCAA, school policy, athletic association, athletic conference

Transcript Highlights:

• We also have veteran treatment courts here.
• I would love to have a veteran treatment court in every JDC.
• Nearly $12 million in tolls and admin fees were billed, okay?
• So originally, when I filed, you can look under my name. There's two.
• So, Chad, so this is no other increased fees in all to that, right?

Bills: HB165 , HB175 , HB198 , HB272 , HB457 , HB488 , HB566 , HB603 , HB763 , HB902 , HB909 , HB971 , HB981 , HB1066 , HB1125 , HB1154 , HB1231

Committee: House Appropriations

Keywords: HB165, lottery proceeds, Lottery Proceeds Fund, Veterans Service Grant Fund, constitutional amendment, veterans, military veterans, veterans' benefits, veterans services, family support, state lottery, education funding, Minimum Foundation Program, problem gambling, compulsive gaming, state treasurer, ballot proposition, constitutional referendum, lottery revenue, Louisiana resident veterans

Transcript Highlights:

• So, except in cases of domestic and family violence, the court does not grant joint legal custody and
• So, this bill would also specify information that must be addressed in the final order of the court,
• , such as division of holidays, the court, such as division of holidays, communication,<00:10:43.920>
• There's a child's—basically, it is like filing your taxes.
• There's a child's—basically, it is like filing your taxes.

Bills: HB19 , HB170 , HB171 , HB173 , HB174 , HB19 , HB170 , HB171 , HB173 , HB174

Committee: House Children and Senior Advocacy

Keywords: Ebony Alert, missing youth, public safety, law enforcement, racial equity, HB170, supplemental appropriations, Education Trust Fund, Alabama education budget, school funding, K-12 education, local boards of education, textbook adoption, school buses, school safety, charter schools, summer programs, afterschool programs, reading intervention, college and career readiness

Bills: HB329 , HB8 , HB353 , HB329 , HB8 , HB353 , HB50 , HB78 , HB225 , SB75 , SB209 , HB50 , HB78 , HB225 , SB75 , SB209

Committee: Senate Education Policy

Keywords: military installations, tall structures, local government, construction approval, wind energy facilities, tobacco regulation, vaping, sales restrictions, youth protection, tobacco compliance, public health, education programs, electronic nicotine delivery systems, judicial compensation, salary adjustments, district attorneys, Judges, local officials, computer science, education reform

Transcript Highlights:

• have the option of filing a plan.
• But does it look like the model that is used by TDI for the filing used by other agencies?
• In 2024, we just filed our earnings monitor report, and we filed a 7.26 EMR. ...And your statutory cap
• In an interim filing, we could be looking at 200. to 400 pages of information.
• I think the Arce case was very clear in what the Supreme Court did.

Bills: HB 106 , HB144 , HB145 , HB252 , HB1732 , HB2221 , HB2467 , HB2468 , HB2517 , HB2518 , HB2963 , HB3016 , HB3689 , HB3960 , HB4386 , HB4490 , HB4751 , HB5247 , HJR175 , HB2213 , HB106 , HB144 , HB145 , HB252

Committee: Senate Business & Commerce

Keywords: HB 106, oil and gas, Railroad Commission of Texas, overhead electrical lines, electrical distribution system, power line maintenance, administrative penalty, Natural Resources Code, oil and gas lease, well operator, energy safety, utility infrastructure, regulatory compliance, cleanup fund, oil and gas regulation and cleanup fund, production safety, leasehold operations, electric utility, distribution poles, inspection

Transcript Highlights:

• And so what do trial courts do when that happens?
• They can play this in court.
• So, what happens if the court rules that it's burdensome?
• If they ever saw it in a court, how do you deal with that?
• We filed discovery motions which were ruled on.

Bills: SB552 , SB1099 , SB1124 , SB1208 , SB1372 , SB1506 , SB1667 , SB1804 , SB1806 , SB1870 , SB1936 , SB1937 , SB2180 , SB2405 , SB2569 , SB2570 , SB1646

Committee: Senate Criminal Justice

Keywords: community supervision, criminal justice, illegal alien, deferred adjudication, Texas Code of Criminal Procedure, SB 1099, undocumented immigrant, unauthorized immigrant, immigration status, felony sentencing enhancement, criminal penalty increase, Texas Penal Code, Code of Criminal Procedure, affirmative finding, judgment finding, deportation, public safety, immigration enforcement, sentencing reform, felony offense

Transcript Highlights:

• Currently, when someone files a petition for an expunction, they are charged $350 for the filing fee.
• We're also going to repeal a $1 fee per agency for each notice and a $2 fee for each order.
• But we have lawyers that are ready to file a Heath motion 60 days into the case being filed.
• So in almost all criminal courts, the courts have a very specific discovery rule, and it sets out all
• So in almost all criminal courts, the courts have a very specific discovery rule, and it sets out all

Bills: SB552 , SB1099 , SB1124 , SB1208 , SB1372 , SB1506 , SB1667 , SB1804 , SB1806 , SB1870 , SB1936 , SB1937 , SB2180 , SB2405 , SB2569 , SB2570 , SB1646

Committee: Senate Criminal Justice

Keywords: community supervision, criminal justice, illegal alien, deferred adjudication, Texas Code of Criminal Procedure, SB 1099, undocumented immigrant, unauthorized immigrant, immigration status, felony sentencing enhancement, criminal penalty increase, Texas Penal Code, Code of Criminal Procedure, affirmative finding, judgment finding, deportation, public safety, immigration enforcement, sentencing reform, felony offense

Summary: The committee heard a series of criminal justice bills, beginning with SB 1870 and SB 1727, both of which were adopted as committee substitutes and reported favorably to the full Senate. SB 1870 would bar local governments from adopting policies that decriminalize controlled substances or direct officials not to enforce state drug laws, with civil penalties enforced by the Attorney General for violations. SB 1727 was described as a technical change to make the draft a formal Legislative Council version of a TDCJ-related assault bill; both bills were also sent to the local and uncontested calendar. The committee then took up SB 2405, the major Sunset bill for TDCJ, the Board of Pardons and Paroles, Windham School District, and the Correctional Managed Health Care Committee. Senator Parker explained that the bill continues and modernizes those agencies, requires a 10-year facilities and staffing plan, expands rehabilitation and reentry programming, improves parole-board consistency and training, and codifies various cleanup and inspector general recommendations. Sunset staff and agency witnesses discussed the bill’s data-sharing, program coordination, and projected savings from reducing delays in parole-voted programming; public witnesses generally supported the post-secondary education and reentry provisions, while some urged stronger statutory direction for Windham and more reform to medically recommended intensive supervision. The bill was left pending. SB 1804, SB 1099, SB 2569, and SB 2570 were also heard. SB 1804 would allow restitution for tattoo removal for human trafficking survivors and remove the age restriction so adult survivors can qualify; it was reported favorably and sent to the local calendar. SB 1099 would increase penalties for certain felony offenses when committed by a person determined to be unlawfully present in the country; immigration and civil rights witnesses opposed it as overbroad and difficult to administer, but it was reported favorably. SB 2569 would modernize unmanned aircraft reporting by requiring law enforcement agencies to post reports on public websites; it passed unanimously and was sent to the local calendar. SB 2570 would create a defense to prosecution for peace officers and correctional guards using less-lethal force weapons within the scope of their training; law enforcement witnesses supported it, civil rights and prosecutor witnesses raised concerns that it was too broad and could weaken existing use-of-force standards, and the bill was left pending for further work.