Transcript Highlights:

• Chairman and members, House Bill 1629 would extend the allowable distance from the Texas-Mexico border
• By the way, I understand the Texas Association of Builders has worked in drafting these with the city
• I represent the Texas Public Policy Foundation.
• Texans rely on municipally owned systems for services like water, wastewater, and electricity.
• I represent the Texas Association of School Boards. I'm here to testify on the bill.

Bills: HB103

Keywords: 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The statutory amendment would touch the Code of Criminal Procedure article that deals with waiver of
• So that is the nature of the change we would be making in the Code of Criminal Procedure and the reason
• provide that the holding period provided for in the bill runs concurrently with the time period in Code
• amendment clarifies that the holding period in the bill runs concurrently with the time period in Code
• Which is why I think we have Code of Criminal Procedure Article 313.

Bills: HCR50, HB123, HB219, HB251, HB404, HB769, HB1065, SB58, SB81, SB92, SB97, SB141, SB156, SB181, SB207, SB396, SB410

Keywords: electronic monitoring, GPS ankle monitor, ankle bracelet, pretrial release, post-conviction supervision, bail monitoring, house arrest, corrections, criminal justice, law enforcement, prosecuting authority, court reporting, provider registration, LCLE, Louisiana Commission on Law Enforcement and Administration of Criminal Justice, data privacy, personal information, cybersecurity, confidentiality, monitoring violations

Summary: The Criminal Justice Committee met on May 6, 2026, and first considered SB 396, which would allow children in Office of Juvenile Justice custody to attend review hearings by secure video conference. After adopting an amendment to clarify the in-person six-month review requirement and require OJJ staff to participate virtually as well, the committee reported the bill favorably as amended. The committee then took up SB 181, which creates a limited raffle license for nonprofit health care organizations and allows related entities within a health system to operate under one charitable gaming license; after adopting the amendment, the bill was reported favorably as amended. The committee next debated SB 81 and SB 97, companion measures dealing with waiver of jury trials in non-capital felony cases. Supporters, including the Louisiana District Attorneys Association, argued that requiring prosecutorial consent would align Louisiana with federal practice and many other states and would reduce abuse of jury-trial waivers. Opponents, including criminal defense lawyers, the ACLU, and Vote, argued the bills would shift power to the state, reduce defendants’ control over their mode of trial, and could worsen delays and pressure on jailed defendants. SB 81 and SB 97 both passed on divided roll-call votes, 7-3. The committee also reported SB 207 favorably, extending the prescriptive period for certain public corruption offenses to 10 years after an elected official or public employee leaves office; SB 92, requiring district attorneys to submit sexual assault kits to the statewide tracking system; SB 156, increasing the maximum penalty for negligent homicide, with a technical amendment; SB 58, imposing a mandatory minimum for aggravated flight from an officer and dedicating fine proceeds to pursuit training/technology; SB 141, moving the Integrated Criminal Justice Information System Policy Board to the Louisiana Supreme Court; and SB 410, creating enhanced penalties for accessories after the fact to sex offenses. Later, HB 769, dealing with a holding period for certain domestic violence-related offenders, was reported favorably as amended after debate over its relationship to existing “Gwen’s Law” procedures, and HB 251, requiring notice to victims or families in resentencing matters, was also reported favorably as amended after concerns about post-conviction procedure and possible duplication of existing notice requirements. The committee additionally voluntarily deferred HB 404 and heard HCR 50, which calls for reporting on opioid abatement and treatment programs in correctional facilities and clarification of funding guidance.

Bills: SB372, SB1224, SB1232, SB1264, SB1330, SB1381, SB1441, SB1450, SB1589, SB1618, SB1936, SB1980, SB2011, SB2030

Keywords: SB372, firearms, gun rights, lawful carry, concealed carry, open carry, handgun license, Oklahoma Self-Defense Act, weapons policy, gun law, school safety, private school, public school, college campus, university campus, technology center, courthouse, government buildings, municipal buildings, county courthouse

Transcript Highlights:

• Is that a criminal code then?

Bills: HF2354, HF1672, HF2389, HF2870, HF2743, HF1918, HF2551, HF1671

Keywords: medical assistance, fraud prevention, subpoena authority, criminal penalties, consumer protection, medical cannabis, medical marijuana, cannabis, cannabinoids, hemp, marijuana registry, patient registry, visiting patient, Tribal cannabis, Tribal medical cannabis program, Tribal sovereignty, Office of Cannabis Management, designated caregiver, home cultivation, adult-use cannabis

Transcript Highlights:

• Is that a criminal code then?
• Is that a criminal<01:02:21.280> code<01:02:21.520> then?
• 21.760> Is<01:02:21.920> it<01:02:22.000> a<01:02:22.079> criminal criminal code
• Is it a criminal criminal code then?

Bills: HF2354, HF1672, HF2389, HF2870, HF2743, HF1918, HF2551, HF1671

Keywords: medical assistance, fraud prevention, subpoena authority, criminal penalties, consumer protection, medical cannabis, medical marijuana, cannabis, cannabinoids, hemp, marijuana registry, patient registry, visiting patient, Tribal cannabis, Tribal medical cannabis program, Tribal sovereignty, Office of Cannabis Management, designated caregiver, home cultivation, adult-use cannabis

Transcript Highlights:

• a $4 billion hydrogen facility in Texas. a $4 billion hydrogen facility in Texas.
• <00:09:59.600> and And I'm going to be honest, Texas and And I'm going to be honest, Texas
• zero water. zero water. >> Followup?<00:27:47.200> No.
• Code, Section 5312.
• Code, Section 5312.

Bills: HB0120, HB0043, HB0128

Keywords: energy production, natural gas, industrial sovereignty, manufacturing, tax exemptions, money laundering, illegal investment, financial institutions, criminal activity, Wyoming legislation, severance tax, oil production, tax exemption, energy sector, economic impact, 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• About water permits and about water contracts. They're not about managing our wet water.
• to Texas.
• And so, any shortfall that Texas. gets, that we see in the data, Texas gets that amount of water out
• So, New Mexico was getting pretty much 57% of the water, and Texas was getting 43% of the water, consistent
• Texas, having only 43% of the farmland, was getting 57% of the water because they were claiming that

Transcript Highlights:

• This is a Texas issue.
• statutes, penal code, Code of Chrome procedure, those things unique to Texas that they would not have
• Would Texas officials, if there was not a Texas law, would they be encumbered from enforcing the federal
• Love to see us keep Texas safe together.
• Texas is an economic powerhouse for a reason.

Bills: HB176, HB180

Keywords: tax, ad valorem, voter-approval, local government finance, property tax, repeal, tax rates, school finance, tax reduction, compressed tax rate, education, funding

Transcript Highlights:

• Texas Water Development Board.
• So what we need to do is stop touching our water. Leave our Texas water alone.
• So first on water use in Texas, you know, population in Texas and the state water plans projected to
• I'm John Dupnick, Texas Water Development Board.
• There's a lot of water sold in East Texas for frack water for oil and gas.

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• district has conducted in response to petitions to annex property filed by landowners in the 85th Texas
• Water MUD. That's MUD. That's MUD, and that's Driftwood and Dripping Springs.
• It's the reserve MMD in Mansfield, Texas. 56. So that's on the next page because it's a substitute.
• of road powers to the existing Fort Bend County Water Control and Improvement District Number 12 to
• It proposes the creation of a Montgomery County Water Control and Improvement District.

Bills: HB103

Summary: The Senate Local Government Committee met to hear and act on a series of municipal utility district and municipal management district bills, most of them presented as template or cleanup measures. The committee first heard HB 5672, which redefined the boundaries of the Driftwood Conservation District in Hays County to match acreage added through landowner petitions; no one testified, and the bill was reported favorably and placed on the local and uncontested calendar. The committee then took up HB 5696 for the Reserve Municipal Management District in Mansfield, where Senator Birdwell explained a committee substitute that conformed the bill to the standard MMD template; the bill was left pending subject to call of the chair. Similar template or technical bills followed, including HB 5680 (Bayou Bell No. 1 MMD in Liberty County), HB 5654 (Montgomery County MUD No. 263), HB 5662 (Fort Bend County WCID No. 12 with road powers), HB 5658 (Craver Ranch MMD in Denton County), HB 5661 (Fort Bend County MUD No. 286), HB 5699 (an exclusion/contract provision for Harris County MUD No. 405), HB 5679 (Hills of Walnut Creek MUD in Parker County), HB 5437 (validation language for Austin County MUD No. 1), HB 5665 (Waller County MUD No. 70), HB 5656 (Fort Bend County MUD No. 263), HB 5670 (Montgomery County MUD No. 259), HB 5651 (Montgomery County WCID with drainage powers), HB 5682 (Comina Ranch MMD No. 1 in McKinney), HB 5320 (merging Starr County drainage-related districts), HB 5677 (Pura Vida MMD No. 1), and HB 5666 (Fencey Road MUD in Harris County). In each case, the sponsor described the district, acreage, location, and powers, and committee substitutes were often used to align the bills with the chamber’s standard template language or correct drafting errors. Public testimony was repeatedly opened and closed with no witnesses appearing for or against the bills. The committee consistently adopted committee substitutes when offered, then voted to report the measures favorably, usually with recommendations that they do pass and be printed, and to place them on the local and uncontested calendar. Most roll calls showed 4 or 5 ayes and 0 nays, with some members absent or not voting. HB 5680 and HB 5682 were reported with committee substitutes in lieu of the filed versions; HB 5658 was reported with a do-not-pass recommendation on the filed bill but do-pass on the substitute; HB 5677 was handled similarly as a companion/template cleanup measure. The committee also noted a few procedural issues, including quorum concerns early in the meeting and a mislabeled bill number that required clarification. At the end of the meeting, the committee adopted several motions in writing and then recessed to reconvene 15 minutes after adjournment of the floor, anticipating possible additional bills later in the day.

Transcript Highlights:

• First responders across Texas, U.S.
• First responders across Texas, U.S.
• First responders across Texas, U.S.
• First responders across Texas, U.S.
• Roy: I thank my friend from Texas.

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Monday, November 17, 2025, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Paso, Texas.
• Paso, Texas.
• We all believe in a strong Texas. A Texas that leads.
• We all believe in a strong Texas, a Texas that leads.
• I think that our Texas agriculture industry is one of the backbones of Texas and our Texas way of life

Summary: The House convened, established a quorum, heard an invocation and pledges, and approved several routine motions, including excuses for absent members, permission for committees to meet while the House was in session, and postponements of some bills. The chamber also received a Senate message listing measures passed by the Senate and adopted a memorial resolution honoring the 21 victims of the Robb Elementary School shooting in Uvalde, with remarks entered into the House Journal after a moment of silence. The House then took up a long third-reading calendar and passed a series of Senate bills on topics including criminal justice and corrections sunset provisions (SB 2405, 2406, 2407), election equipment testing (SB 2166), electric grid reliability and attack-preparedness exercises (SB 2148), firefighter collective bargaining (SB 777), DFPS and foster care procedures (SB 1141 and SB 1398), Medicare durable medical equipment billing (SB 1330), property tax administration (SB 1453), probate cleanup and record transfers (SB 1448 and SB 1839), mental health filing procedures (SB 53), school residency for children in safety placements (SB 226), diabetes-related amputation study (SB 1677), rapid DNA analysis (SB 1723), utility rate transparency and capacity cost recovery (SB 1664 and SB 1856), community supervision eligibility (SB 552 postponed), and other measures. Several bills passed with broad support, while others drew notable opposition and narrower margins, including SB 777, SB 2137, SB 2111, SB 1677, SB 1936, SB 1453, and SB 38. Two bills drew especially extensive debate. SB 2148, dealing with electricity supply chain reliability and tabletop exercises for critical facilities, was discussed as a grid-security measure aimed at coordinating utilities, law enforcement, ERCOT, and the PUC in the event of physical attacks; it passed unanimously. SB 1936, changing how LSD is measured for criminal prosecution from dosage-based to weight-based calculations, prompted extended discussion about lab consistency, carrier mediums, and fairness in charging, with supporters saying it would help crime labs and law enforcement and opponents warning it could distort penalties depending on the medium used; it passed 108-26. The House also passed SB 36, creating a Homeland Security Division within DPS, after questions about overlap with TDEM and the cost of adding personnel. Late in the day, the House debated SB 38 on eviction procedures, with supporters saying it targeted squatters and streamlined removal of unauthorized occupants, and opponents arguing it would make evictions too easy and worsen homelessness; it passed 85-44. The chamber also began debate on SB 37, a major higher-education governance bill that would expand governing-board oversight of curriculum, hiring, and faculty senates; members raised concerns about academic freedom, faculty governance, and the impact on humanities programs, and debate was still underway at the end of the transcript.

Transcript Highlights:

• Texas, Research Texas, and now Court Analytics Texas.
• rates when a large water utility comes and takes in over. over a local water utility and so it's a big
• The Texas government code to impose statutory deadlines or timeframes. on the amount of time that these
• The system is governed by the Texas disciplinary rules of professional conduct and the Texas rules of
• The executive director of the Texas State Law Library.

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Texas.
• opportunity to add such four-year degree programs as the state of Texas. focuses on building our water
• Well we know how important water is to the state of Texas and the potential implications of nuclear energy
• It is a unique curriculum, and as you know, in the Texas Education Code Common Core is not allowed in
• For instance, ACD- and SAT that most of our Texas students take because it is in the code, those are

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• it got some traction, not just with Texas, but we ended up with a group that was Texas and California
• In the gray is where Texas has, uh, gone above that.
• And sometimes those codes are added impermissibly.
• Our statute, chapter 32 of the Human Resources Code.
• So that is, um, two areas in central Texas and then South Texas as well.

Transcript Highlights:

• What is the, what is the, let me ask, let me go to North Texas, the new North Texas.
• That that was in Texas. It was recoveries for Texas taxpayers.
• Texas communities.
• and then we do the water testing.
• . and South Texas.

Bills: SB1, SB 1

Keywords: appropriations, budget, state funding, education, healthcare, infrastructure, campground safety, youth camp regulations, flood safety, emergency evacuation, health and safety standards, 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And interestingly, it got some traction not just with Texas, but we ended up with a group that was Texas
• as the... the Texas Medicaid Fraud Prevention Act.
• It's still Chapter 36 of the Human Resources Code.
• The statute is Chapter 32 of the Human Resources Code. 32 of the Human Resources Code. Yes, sir.
• Texas and then south Texas as well and the areas in white El Paso and the Permian Basin Concho Valley

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Their work lowers urban heat and protects water quality.
• So, these Licensees ensure that these projects are safe, code-compliant, and read.
• You can go to Texas, and then Texas pays county by county, not as a state as a whole.
• I'm concerned about water quality in eastern Oklahoma.
• So now we're responsible for setting standards in those water bodies.

Keywords: 914, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:14:45.839> seek purposes, the gentleman from Texas seek purposes, the gentleman from Texas
• Nven was named the Texas Superintendent of the Year by the Texas Association of School Boards.
• ,<00:18:03.760> serving school districts in Texas, serving school districts in Texas, serving
• ><00:18:16.559> of<00:18:16.720> the named the Texas Superintendent of the named the Texas
• District of Texas proud. With that, Mr. District of Texas proud. With that, Mr.

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Wednesday, February 25, 2026, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Today, it is still protecting South Texas.
• He played football at the University of Texas.
• Before this law there were no Texas state murder charges.
• Through your hard work, the Texas Penal Code now criminalizes the delivery or manufacture of fentanyl
• Have you spoken with others in Texas?

Keywords: Coast Guard, maritime drug enforcement, illegal drugs, fentanyl crisis, legislative reforms, public testimony

Summary: The meeting of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation addressed critical issues surrounding maritime drug enforcement and the Coast Guard's role in stopping the influx of illegal drugs. The chairman highlighted the alarming consequences of current policies allowing drugs to cross borders, emphasizing the need for legislative reforms, such as the Coast Guard Reauthorization Act of 2025. There was an intense discussion regarding the operational challenges faced by the Coast Guard, which has recently made significant drug seizures, indicating progress but also revealing gaps that need addressing. Several witnesses, including victims of the drug crisis, shared their compelling testimonies, which underscored the urgency for stricter controls and comprehensive support for law enforcement agencies involved in drug interdiction efforts.