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TX

Texas 89th Regular

Business and Commerce Apr 10th, 2025

Business & Commerce

Transcript Highlights:
  • This is slide 12, right?
  • That's right.
  • That's right.
  • Right. Absolutely.
  • Right. Okay.
Summary: The Senate Committee on Business and Commerce met with a quorum and first voted out several pending bills. Senate Bill 1612 was reported favorably to the full Senate with objections sent to the local and contested calendar. The committee then adopted committee substitutes and favorably reported Senate Bills 2717, 1468, 1642, and 1789, with 1642 and 1789 sent to the floor. SB 2717 would create the Texas Energy Efficiency Council and add agencies to it; SB 1468 and SB 1642 were discussed as changes affecting utility and insurance-related structures; and SB 1789 would establish pole standards, with the author saying it would clarify PUC authority and create more practical statewide standards. The committee also heard an ERCOT update from Pablo Vegas, who said Texas load growth remains strong but ERCOT is adjusting its large-load forecast downward using historical delays and realization rates for data centers and other large loads. He said the adjusted forecast is still very high, but more realistic for planning, and members discussed reliability, generation timelines, demand response, and the role of Senate Bill 6 in helping model large data centers as flexible load. The committee then took testimony on a series of bills and left most pending after public comment. SB 2629 would allow condominium and property owners associations to hold meetings and vote electronically; testimony supported it as a way to improve access, though some members expressed concern about overuse of virtual meetings. SB 2702 would let nationally certified professionals test backflow prevention assemblies instead of requiring a separate TCEQ license, and was supported as a workforce and public health measure. SB 2167 would let TDLR pause new massage-establishment license applications when an applicant is subject to a human trafficking emergency order or pending SOAH case. SB 2349 would exempt short-term residential leases and certain leasebacks from floodplain disclosure requirements while allowing the notice to be included in the lease packet. SB 2121 would tighten the data broker registry law from the prior session, and SB 2443 would allow TDLR to use electronic delivery for notices and contested-case documents. Additional bills focused on consumer protection, housing, and regulatory administration. SB 2902 would help victims of coerced debt and identity theft stop collection efforts by requiring proof such as a court order or FTC report; advocates said it would protect survivors while still preventing fraud. SB 512 would bar money transmission license holders from fining users for terms-of-service violations in a way that forfeits account funds, and supporters framed it as a protection against private financial penalties. SB 2145 would allow public improvement districts and tax increment finance districts to meet virtually with at least one member physically present, while SB 2268 would give the PUC flexibility to extend Texas Energy Fund loan deadlines in certain cases. SB 1495 would create an advisory board for electric vehicle supply equipment standards, SB 2154 would extend statewide regulation to delivery network companies, SB 2184 would lower the age for pyrotechnic operator and fireworks display licenses from 21 to 18, SB 438 would expand confidentiality protections for SOAH administrative law judges, SB 2211 would treat digital products and desalinated water as industrial products to support combined energy-water projects, and SB 647 would strengthen title-theft protections by improving notice and clerk authority to reject fraudulent filings. Most of these bills were left pending after testimony, and several drew support from industry, consumer, or advocacy witnesses along with some member concerns about electronic meetings, licensing, and data accuracy.
TX

Texas 89th Regular

Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence Apr 9th, 2025

Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence

Transcript Highlights:
  • All right, good morning. Go ahead.
  • Well, and you're exactly right.
  • All right, Mr. Miller, let's start with you. All right, Mr. Miller, let's start with you.
  • All right, go ahead.
  • And you're right.
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.
TX

Texas 89th Regular

Natural Resources Apr 9th, 2025

Natural Resources

TX

Texas 89th Regular

Natural Resources Apr 9th, 2025

Natural Resources

Transcript Highlights:
  • Chairman, you got it right this time. All right.
  • All right, so the enforcement guy. Yes, sir. All right, members, any question for?
  • Okay, all right.
  • All right, members, any more questions? All right. You're good. Thank you very much.
  • Yeah, that's right.
MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

Judiciary Committee Meeting - 2025-04-02

Judiciary Finance and Civil Law

Transcript Highlights:
  • All right. Representative Feist, follow-up? Okay. Other member discussion? All right.
  • All right. Thank you.
  • All right.
  • All right, any other discussion?
  • All right. Any other discussion?
MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

House Judiciary Finance and Civil Law Committee 4/2/25

Judiciary Finance and Civil Law

Transcript Highlights:
  • All right. So, seeing no good. Okay. All right.
  • All right. Seeing none, is amendment? All right.
  • All right. Any other discussion? All right.
  • All right. Seeing none, I discussion? All right.
  • All right. Any other discussion? All right.
TX

Texas 89th Regular

Local Government (Part II) Mar 24th, 2025

Local Government

Transcript Highlights:
  • Right.
  • Exactly, right, right, right? Right? It's coming kind of comfortable, right?
  • Exactly, right, right, right? Right? It's coming kind of comfortable, right?
  • , that's right, that's right, that's right. it's a great question okay and they have it they have to
  • that's right that's right that's right ...use them, and they're sure.
Summary: The Senate Local Government Committee heard several bills by Senator Bettencourt focused on property tax and local government accountability. SB 32 would provide about $700 million in business tax relief by raising the business personal property exemption from $2,500 to $25,000 and continuing a 20% franchise tax credit for inventory taxes paid. Witnesses from NFIB, the Texas Retailers Association, and Texas Realtors supported the bill, saying business personal property and inventory taxes are burdensome and especially hard on small businesses. After no opposition testimony, SB 32 was left pending. The committee also heard SB 1453, which would change how interest and sinking tax rates are calculated by using only the minimum debt service required under bond schedules, while still allowing a higher rate with a 60% governing body vote and a public explanation. A witness from the Texas Taxpayers and Research Association supported the bill as a way to keep debt rates from rising as property values increase and to preserve tax relief. The bill was left pending after testimony. SB 1883 would tighten rules on local impact fees by requiring 60 days of public availability for capital improvement plans and land use assumptions, raising the approval threshold for adopting impact fees from a simple majority to two-thirds, limiting how often fees can be increased, and expanding notice requirements. Builders and developers testified in support, arguing that impact fees are often poorly reviewed, lack accountability, and are passed on to homebuyers, worsening housing affordability. Committee members discussed adding audit provisions and questioned the lack of city testimony. The bill was left pending with subcommittee action. SB 1452 would require a voter election to decide whether a municipal management district continues to exist, with dissolution if voters reject it; supporters said it would add accountability, while others noted some districts provide essential services and infrastructure. The committee heard testimony from district representatives and builders, then left SB 1452 pending before recessing.
AL

Alabama 2025 Regular Session

Alabama Senate County and Municipal Government Committee Feb 5th, 2025

County and Municipal Government

Transcript Highlights:
  • right and and then them to use it right right and and then them to use it right right and and then but
  • uh which is usually the minor right uh which is usually the minor right uh which is a year where's the
  • now where it is saying is that right now where it is saying is that right now where it is written the
  • experience with some of this all right experience with some of this all right uh we may have to talk
  • and it's to make sure I get it right and it's to make sure I get it right and it's right for the record
Bills: SB82 , SB78 , SB4 , SB6 , SB62 , SB66 , SB77 , SB63 , SB79 , SB53 , SB55 , HB14
HI

Hawaii 2026 Regular Session

Senate Floor Session 05-08-2026 11:30am

Hawaii Senate Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • It said basically that corporations have rights, Basically, that corporations have rights, not powers
  • So, I'm going to come back to the rights part.
  • If you work hard, try to do the right thing, you don't even have to do the right thing all the time,
  • I don't think any blows were punched, right?
  • Did I get that right?
HI
Transcript Highlights:
  • . >> Right here. >> Right here. >> Come on. >> Come on. >> Come on. >> Come on. >> Come on.
  • And I told him, "But Colleen is there, right?" He goes, "Yes." "Mike is there, right?" "Yes."
  • of the time, time, but unwilling to compromise and give up because she knew what she was doing was right
  • And what mattered to Colleen was what was right, what was fair, and what was just.
  • And I hear Colleen right now saying, “No more than one story, Bennett, and make it short.”
LA

Louisiana 2026 Regular Session

House of Representatives Apr 29th, 2026

Louisiana House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • You have a right to close on the bill. Rep. Henry: We have a right to close on the bill.
  • You have a right to close.
  • Right.
  • You have a right to close.
  • Right.
Summary: The House met with 89 members present and began with prayer, the pledge, and routine journal and leave requests. The early part of the session was largely ceremonial, with multiple personal privilege remarks recognizing visiting groups and special days at the Capitol, including St. Bernard Parish Day, Gulf States Renewable Energy Industries Association Day, ARPEC members, retired public servant Barney Arsenault, Deaf History Month, Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month, Young Farmers and Ranchers, Louisiana Housing Corporation participants, and Louisiana Hospital Day. The chamber also received Senate messages, including concurrence in several House concurrent resolutions, Senate passage of a number of bills, and a list of Senate resolutions lying over. The House then moved through a long series of resolutions and bills, many of them adopted without objection. Among the measures approved were resolutions designating or commending various observances and groups, and bills addressing inmate documentation upon release, court filings on letter-sized paper, safe harbor protections for trafficking victims, public benefits verification, travel meal reimbursement limits for state employees, the Governor’s Task Force on Impaired Driving, school emergency operation plans, justice of the peace jurisdiction in East Baton Rouge Parish, unaffiliated voter participation in party primaries, electronic monitoring rules, crime victims’ compensation terminology, the indigent defender fund threshold for small municipalities, sex offender identification procedures, the Office of State Public Defender, microbrewery special-event permits, alternative power sources for nursing facilities, relay attack device penalties, and a capital-case intellectual disability bill. Several of these passed overwhelmingly; some were temporarily returned to the calendar or tabled after passage. A few bills drew more discussion. HB 335 on citizenship verification for public benefits passed 77-17. HB 398, limiting meal reimbursements for state travel to GSA rates with an exception process, passed 62-32 after questions about scope and lodging. HB 906 on presidential preference primary qualification and party rules for unaffiliated voters passed 68-19. HB 897, protecting health data collected by pregnancy centers and imposing fines for unauthorized disclosure, passed 94-0 after an amendment and questions about its application. HB 1107 on intellectual disabilities in capital cases passed 75-11 after amendments informed by disability advocates. HB 1187, allowing Citizens Property Insurance to direct certain emergency assessment overages to the Fortify Homes Program or reserves, passed 87-9. HB 1220 on the State Board of Medical Examiners passed 95-0. The House also reconsidered and successfully revived HB 225 after suspending the rules, and several bills were returned to the calendar for later consideration, including HB 689 before it was later brought back and passed 84-7 after amendment. The session concluded with notice of additional Senate messages and upcoming floor scheduling.
LA

Louisiana 2026 Regular Session

House of Representatives Apr 29th, 2026

Louisiana House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • You have a right to close on the bill. Rep. Henry: We have a right to close on the bill.
  • You have a right to close.
  • You have a right to close.
  • Right.
  • You have a right to close. I move for favorable passage. You have a right to close.
HI

Hawaii 2026 Regular Session

House Chamber - Wed Mar 18, 2026, 12:00PM HST - Day 29

Hawaii House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • All right. Sorry. Second introduction.
  • All right. Sorry. Second introduction.
  • </c> blind and print disabled. blind and print disabled.
  • That is the environment we are budgeting in right now.
  • So, many in need are on the right road.
OK

Oklahoma 2026 Regular Session

Senate Legislative Session Feb 10th, 2026 at 01:30 pm

Oklahoma Senate Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • Members Please consider joining us tomorrow, Wednesday morning at 9 a.m. for the first meeting of the disability
  • topic of tomorrow's meeting will be public safety for individuals with autism and intellectual disabilities
OK

Oklahoma 2026 Regular Session

Senate Legislative Session Feb 10th, 2026

Oklahoma Senate Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • consider joining us tomorrow, Wednesday morning, at 9 a.m. in 5S2 for the first meeting of the Disability
  • topic of tomorrow's meeting will be public safety for individuals with autism and intellectual disabilities
Summary: The Senate convened, the clerk called the roll, and a quorum was declared present. The chamber opened with a prayer offered by Senator Peterson, followed by recognitions of the Nurse of the Day, Amanda Fisher, and the Doctor of the Day, Dr. Lee Schaffler, both introduced with brief biographical remarks and applause from members. The Senate also recognized the week’s pages, who introduced themselves and described their schools, assignments, and future plans. Several announcements were then made about upcoming committee and caucus meetings, including Local and County Government, Economic Development, Workforce, and Tourism, Judiciary, the first meeting of the Disability Caucus, and the start of devotion time the next morning. No legislation was debated or voted on during the session. The only formal action was adoption of a motion to adjourn, and the Senate stood adjourned until Wednesday, February 11, 2026, at 1:30 p.m.
LA

Louisiana 2026 Regular Session

Commerce, Consumer Protection and International Affairs May 13th, 2026

Commerce, Consumer Protection, and International Affairs

Transcript Highlights:
  • Where are there plants right now? I believe there's Where are there plants right now?
  • We're developing the pellet process right now.
  • Right now. Okay. You know, I'm all for economic growth.
  • Right, right, right. And, guys and ladies, it’s a 1-800 number. Yeah.” “Right, right.
  • If it's okay, I'm going to run it from right here.