Transcript Highlights:

• With Tim's leadership, last session, we began the process.
• signature verification, Committee for the Committee on Elections, HB 3775 by Paul, relating to the processing
• HB 3791 by Dyson relates to the time frame required for excavation notification in front of the Committee

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• criminal laws of this state and are responsible for overseeing our county jails, bail bonds, civil process
• And these administrators and students have been here learning about the legislative process, touring
• the definition of child abuse, the reporting of child abuse and neglect, and certain required notifications

Transcript Highlights:

• About 18 months later, that was then included in that rate-setting process.
• And they go through a simple registration process, their name, ... registration process, their name,
• Award notifications Award notifications occurred at the end of last week.
• Let's just think: you guys are starting the hiring process.
• Keep me informed in the process, but Keep me informed in the process, but if we could see about getting

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So there are other states that have started down the process of bringing legislation.
• So it's a big long process you have to do.
• I'm trying to follow the process. You find one of these deer, and it is tested.
• due process are that the object or whatever is being seized is legal.
• So I think that we have a legal process for this.

Summary: The committee first took up HB 804, the Louisiana Energy Protection Act, which was presented as a narrowly focused ban on climate-change damages lawsuits rather than a measure affecting emissions claims, pollution claims, or private property rights. The author and supporters said the bill was intended to stop speculative suits targeting energy producers, farmers, truckers, manufacturers, and other businesses for global climate impacts, while preserving claims for actual legal violations under state or federal environmental and safety laws. After a substitute amendment was adopted to clarify and streamline the bill, the committee heard extensive support from oil and gas, chemical, business, port, and legal reform groups, along with a few opposition speakers who argued the bill could still be read to shield industry too broadly or weaken climate accountability. HB 804 was reported favorably as amended. The committee then considered HB 802, as amended, which creates a watershed conservation fund tied to the Amite River Basin. The author explained that the bill was narrowed from a statewide proposal to a basin-specific program to reduce flood risk and restore watershed areas using existing severance revenue from sand mining, modeled in part on coastal restoration funding. Supporters from the concrete industry, landowners, levee boards, and conservation groups described it as a practical, low-cost, non-government solution to help remediate old sand and gravel pits and improve flood control. With no opposition cards and no objections, HB 802 was reported favorably as amended. Finally, the committee heard HB 934, as substituted, which would allow licensed wildlife rehabilitators to possess white-tailed deer fawns under specific conditions, including disease monitoring, release only within the same management zone, and other handling requirements. The author said the bill was meant to prevent the euthanizing of orphaned fawns that could be rehabilitated and to create a lawful pathway for licensed care. A supporter described her experience rescuing an orphaned fawn that was later confiscated and killed, while the Louisiana Wildlife Federation opposed the measure, warning it could effectively create a captive deer program, undermine wildlife conservation principles, and lead to dangerous or inhumane facilities. The transcript ends during testimony on HB 934, before final committee action is shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• Improving processes for contracting and concession activities at our state park system.
• So that's the process. It's just a disease investigation.
• Was there something in there about extending the notification requirements?
• We are currently in the process of implementing that master plan.
• It's in process, I believe, yeah.

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And he has the ability to detect it, but not the license to get that notification.
• and statutorily have provided a way for victims to have. input in the parole review process.
• So, from the TDCJ perspective, Rehabilitation, reentry, and the parole process.
• Parole parole commissioners and board members come on there's a required process and all of them are
• There's as far as our, um, office of general counsel, there's a lot of, um, legal processes involved

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• targeting unhoused, it's not targeting anybody who is not a sex offender and didn't receive that notification
• But it's part of registering is being notification of these conditions.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Summary: The meeting on SB 460 focused almost entirely on where the bill should be placed in statute and how it would be enforced. One side argued the proposal should be moved out of the loitering section and into the sex offender registration framework, saying loitering is already under constitutional challenge, is vague, and does not fit the conduct at issue. They said the bill is meant to create a clear, advance-notice restriction for registered sex offenders, especially around schools, day care facilities, and similar places, and that this would be easier for police to enforce. The opposing view was that the loitering placement is the better fit and that moving the bill would create broader drafting problems by opening the door to reorganizing many other sex-offender-related restrictions. There was also discussion of whether the bill’s references to schools should use the school-property statute, whether churches should be included, and whether the existing loitering statute’s alarm-based elements are too complicated and potentially unconstitutional. The committee also discussed a pending federal challenge to the loitering law, with one member saying there was no injunction yet but the case was being challenged. No agreement was reached. After a brief break and further debate, members concluded that the Senate and House positions remained unresolved, and the meeting ended without a compromise or vote on the substantive dispute.

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, a lot of the apps use the same techniques that casinos use, you know, the bright colored notifications
• So I suggest you do it at the beginning of the school year, notification at the end of the school year

Bills: HB6, HB27, HB123, HB210, HB213, HB222

Keywords: hemp, consumable hemp products, hemp-derived cannabinoids, CBD, cannabidiol, CBG, cannabigerol, Texas hemp law, hemp regulation, cannabinoid products, delta-9 THC, intoxicating hemp, hemp gummies, hemp vape, retail registration, product registration, QR code labeling, child-resistant packaging, youth access, minor sales

Transcript Highlights:

• And so we often call that the referral process.
• So it's not a detailed intake process or anything.
• They're usually quick through the judicial process.
• But that's a starting point in the budget process.
• So that's where we're at with the approval process.

Summary: The committee first approved the December 16 minutes and then heard a presentation from Dr. Ramona Danielson on adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and their economic and public-system impacts. She explained that ACEs are population-level risk indicators, not individual diagnostic tools, and said higher ACE exposure is associated with more chronic illness, mental health challenges, child welfare and justice involvement, and lower workforce participation. She cautioned that precise dollar estimates are difficult because of the many interacting factors across the life course, but said the direction of the impact is clear and that evidence-based interventions and protective factors can reduce harm. Members asked about definitions of a “healthy family,” same-sex couples, divorce, substance abuse, trends in ACEs, and home visiting; she emphasized supportive relationships, protective factors, and the importance of positive childhood experiences. The committee then heard from Allison Mahoney and Missy Barranco, along with a recorded family story from Abby, about evidence-based home visiting programs in North Dakota. Abby described how Healthy Families North Dakota supported her family after a premature birth and NICU stay by providing weekly in-home coaching, developmental screenings, postpartum mental health check-ins, referrals, and parenting support. The presenters explained that home visiting is voluntary, relationship-based, and usually begins prenatally or shortly after birth, with referrals coming from hospitals, WIC, pregnancy navigators, human service zones, self-referrals, and other community partners. They said North Dakota currently has four main evidence-based models operating through 12 organizations, with Healthy Families available in all 53 counties, though only a fraction of eligible families are served. Funding was described as a patchwork of federal MIECHV/Title IV-E, Medicaid, state and tribal funds, philanthropy, charitable gaming, and other grants; members discussed whether the Legislature or agencies should expand support and how to improve outreach and sustainability. Finally, the committee received a memorandum on artificial intelligence and sexual exploitation, focusing on AI-generated child sexual abuse material, deepfakes, sextortion, and chatbot-related risks. The report summarized federal and state law, including North Dakota’s existing computer-generated image provisions, the federal PROTECT Act, the Take It Down Act, and recent federal executive orders on AI policy. Members discussed the need for child-safety protections, the limits of executive orders, and broader concerns about AI’s effect on critical thinking and misinformation. The committee then heard from BCI Special Agent Cassidy Halsef, who said AI is already driving a sharp rise in child exploitation cases in North Dakota, including AI-generated explicit images of real minors and school-based incidents involving mass-shared manipulated images. She said investigators are seeing more cyber tips, more difficult forensic work, and lasting harm to victims and families, and urged stronger legal penalties, specialized training, victim services, and prevention education in schools and communities.

Transcript Highlights:

• They have found Fifth Amendment due process violations, including depriving detainees of their right
• Governor Walz has let things get stolen from Minnesota taxpayers without any due process.
• Just letting it without any due process.
• It is not those that process going on.
• notification here at Capitol<01:09:19.520> grounds.

Bills: HF3477, HF3480, HF3781, HF3357, HF3737, HF3664, HF3621

Keywords: civil rights, law enforcement, federal collaboration, accountability, state law, immigration enforcement, economic impact, Operation Metro Surge, study, appropriation, local government, Legislative Commission on Legislative Security, legislator security, elected official security, staff security, statehouse security, capitol security, legislative district safety, political violence prevention, threat assessment

Summary: The committee first attempted to approve minutes from February 24 and March 3, but members identified multiple spelling errors in names, so approval was held and the motion withdrawn. The committee then took up House File 3477, a bill by Representative Long proposing a civil remedy for constitutional violations by government actors, including federal actors. An author’s amendment (A4) was adopted to remove a subdivision and clarify retroactivity. In discussion, members raised concerns about Supremacy Clause and immigration-related issues; the author responded that the bill applies evenly to state and federal actors and is meant to enforce constitutional rights, not immigration law. After debate, the motion to re-refer the bill to the general register failed on a 6-7 vote, with one member excused. The committee next heard House File 3480, authored by Representative Howard, which would commission an independent economic impact study of Operation Metro Surge. An A2 amendment was adopted to add a dollar amount for the study and clarify timing. Representative Howard said the study would help the legislature understand statewide impacts and noted reported harm to businesses, child care, schools, and local governments. Testimony in support came from Laura Santiago, reading a statement from Christopher Gomez of Willmar, who described ICE agents entering his family’s restaurant, the detention and deportation of family members, and resulting business losses. Rachel Ser, Minneapolis emergency management director, cited a preliminary city assessment estimating major impacts including food insecurity, lost wages, business revenue losses, hotel cancellations, and rental assistance needs. Some members questioned the cost and usefulness of the study, while others said suburban and greater Minnesota communities also wanted the data. The transcript ends during continued discussion of the bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• Parental notification requires immediate notice to parents or legal guardians when a suspected concussion
• The SHAC membership process was controlled by the district.
• It's very difficult; we know the grievance process and the appeals process is completely broken.
• That is absolutely our intention to continue that parallel process as parallel a process as possible.
• This process is called a minor boundary adjustment, which can only be used...

Bills: SB2920, SB2929, SB2398, SB865, SB401, SB2619, SB2927, SB1395, SB1972, SB2540, SB1635, SB1581, SB2008

Keywords: steroids, student athletes, athletic competition, University Interscholastic League, medical purpose, gender transition, school athletics, spectator conduct, referees, ejection policy, extracurricular activities, concussion, brain injury, school policy, academic accommodations, student welfare, cardiac arrest, emergency response, CPR training, automated external defibrillators

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:13:23.680> to the entity receiving the notification to the entity receiving the notification
• The school is working through the special education process because there’s a process that they have
• through the special education process through the special education process because<02:04:45.040
• So this has a dispute process that's already practice.
• <02:12:56.480> that's this has a dispute process that's this has a dispute process that's

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:22:52.159> and all appropriate to in that process and all appropriate to in that process
• c> not in the process process and you're not in the process process and you're not just<00:23:59.279
• that they would do that in that process that they would do that in that process but<00:24:41.640
• <00:26:27.919> uh state patrol is in the same process uh state patrol is in the same process
• across the Enterprise in that process across the Enterprise in that process from<01:05:57.799>

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• process and provide a fairer standard. process and provide a fairer standard.
• due process.
• due process.
• processes in a similar way.
• uh agency uh processes in a similar way. uh agency uh processes in a similar way.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• you know you can't see their license play or committing other types of crimes and evading the the process
• Could we have more, the thought process, if there was more enforcement of what you're trying to do here
• and Wildlife, that then consults with the Coast Guard and the Army Corps through their rulemaking process
• It would not replace the other forms of notification that your constituents would receive from the department

Summary: The Transportation Committee took up several bills and agency priorities. SB 44, as amended, increased penalties for operating a vehicle with unauthorized red or blue lights and for obscuring a license plate, including new penalties for using, possessing, manufacturing, or selling license-plate obscuring devices. The sponsor and supporting law enforcement witnesses said the bill addresses widespread plate obstruction and enforcement problems; the committee adopted the amendment and reported the bill favorably. The committee also passed SB 654, designating a railroad overpass in Starke as the Heroes Memorial Overpass, and SB 620, creating a Miami-Dade College specialty license plate with proceeds supporting scholarships and limited administrative/marketing costs. The committee then considered SB 594, which would allow Florida deep-water ports to seek Fish and Wildlife Commission approval for no-anchoring/no-mooring buffer zones adjacent to port channels and turning basins. An amendment clarified the application process, review timeline, rulemaking, and enforcement. Port representatives supported the bill as a way to protect channels and commerce, while several boating and cruising advocates opposed it, arguing the 5,000-foot buffer was excessive, could create safety issues, and would displace anchored vessels without adequate alternative dockage. Despite the opposition, the committee adopted the amendment and reported the bill favorably. The committee also heard a presentation from the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles on its 2025 legislative priorities, including stricter proof-of-address and identification requirements for vehicle registration, changes to tank vehicle and IFTA rules, a higher crash-report damage threshold, and electronic notice options. Secretary Perdue then outlined FDOT priorities focused on workforce development, research, rural road funding, small business participation, consistent traffic-control standards, modal infrastructure, transit accountability, spaceport support, advanced air mobility, and shifting some power-consumption revenues to the Transportation Trust Fund to offset electric vehicle impacts. No votes were taken on the agency priorities, and the meeting adjourned after members recorded additional affirmative votes on SB 44 and SB 654.

Transcript Highlights:

• verification process. verification process.
• This bill deals with evictions and the process of notification for the disposition of a tenant's property
• or set out process.
• <02:40:03.200> And<02:40:03.359> just out process or set out process.
• And just out process or set out process.

Keywords: 1136, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And it provides that you can enforce a child custody order in any state, and there's a process by which
• you do that. ...child custody order in any state, and there's a process by which you do that.
• But again, as I say, this is currently a work in process, and I just wanted to have it heard so that
• It’s definitely a work in process, and some of the things in it are a good step in the right direction
• We will continue to be moving bills throughout the process, and so senators will be watching for notifications

Bills: HB46, HB272

Keywords: local government spending cap, expenditure limit, political subdivision, property tax, ad valorem tax, budget cap, taxpayer protection, spending restraint, inflation adjustment, population growth, voter approval, supermajority vote, county budget, municipal budget, school district finance, junior college district, hospital district, special district, attorney general enforcement, local fiscal limits

Summary: The Senate Committee on State Affairs heard several House bills and took no final votes, leaving each bill pending after testimony. HB 272 would align venue and evidentiary rules for fraudulent use or possession of credit/debit card information with existing credit card abuse law; the sponsor said it would improve prosecutions, and the Texas Financial Crimes Intelligence Center supported it. HB 1661 would increase penalties for certain election-related offenses, including failure to distribute election supplies and early release of election results; no substantive opposition was heard. HB 551 would protect the residential addresses of people who receive campaign expenditures on public Texas Ethics Commission reports, similar to donor privacy protections, and a witness from Texas Eagle Forum later indicated support for the privacy change. The committee also heard HB 2820, which would raise the amount charitable bingo organizations may keep in operating capital from $50,000 to $100,000. The sponsor and a Texans for Charitable Bingo representative said inflation and operating costs have made the current cap too low and that the bill would help charities maintain stable operations without expanding gaming. HB 3181 would impose stronger consequences for repeated denial of court-ordered child possession and access, including limiting probation and requiring attorney’s fees after multiple contempt findings; a family court judge and a parent testified in support, while another witness argued the bill should be paired with stronger criminal enforcement and that parents already face high costs. HB 4157 would update Texas law for commercial spaceflight by recognizing liability waivers and preserving workers’ compensation rights; no one testified against it. The committee also heard HB 4145, which would let health care providers satisfy a timely billing requirement by sending bills to a patient’s legal representative in a personal injury case, closing what supporters described as a loophole in letter-of-protection situations. Finally, HB 46, relating to the Texas Compassionate Use Program, drew the most extensive discussion: supporters said it should expand access for legitimate medical cannabis patients and add more delivery methods and conditions, while opponents warned against broader marijuana expansion and questioned adding chronic pain and other conditions. The sponsor said he still supports the program and wants a balanced, regulated expansion, but noted the bill is still being worked on. All bills were left pending at the close of the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• part of that normal process.
• Is there a solution or a process?
• We've also uh discovery process.
• <01:20:45.400> So, the discovery process. So, the discovery process.
• discovery process should protect them. discovery process should protect them.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• per regulatory process.
• Um, so regarding the phased process, phased review [clears throat] process, it kind of seems like it's
• <01:46:00.960> it What happens if you don't process it What happens if you don't process it
• <01:47:00.159> review the phased process, phased review the phased process, phased review
• c> of a current process of a current process of uh<02:14:40.159> adjudicating<02:14:40.880

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The Committee on Water and Land met on February 3, 2026, and heard testimony on several bills, with the chair emphasizing a two-minute limit and noting that bills would die if the hearing ran past noon. For HB 1848, the Commission on Water Resource Management and the Office of Planning and Sustainable Development both supported the measure with technical, non-substantive amendments. Testimony focused on requiring early consultation about water availability in district boundary amendment petitions, with water officials explaining that the petitioner should submit a written statement reflecting consultation and that the goal was to identify water constraints earlier in the development process. The Land Use Commission’s representative opposed the bill, arguing that water availability is already addressed through existing environmental review and agency consultation, that the issue had been raised and rejected before, and that the proposal could create unnecessary delay or litigation. The committee then heard HB 1728 on rainwater catchment systems. The Commission on Water Resource Management said it acknowledged the bill’s intent but deferred to counties and other regulatory agencies, including the Department of Health, on regulatory implications. Hawaii Realtors testified in support. No vote was taken during the portion of the hearing shown. For HB 1652 on storm water management systems, the Hawaiian Lifeguard Association opposed the bill, arguing it would weaken protections created by Act 281 (“Sharkey’s Law”) and increase drowning risk for children by exempting certain water features from safety requirements. The American Council of Engineering Companies of Hawaii supported the bill, saying the language clarifies and better balances child safety with practical green stormwater infrastructure, including depth-based limits and exemptions for certain agricultural ponds. The Hawaii Farm Bureau also supported the agricultural pond exemption, saying such ponds are used for irrigation, livestock, and fire control and are generally away from the public. A private testifier, Allison Schaers, opposed the bill and described her daughter’s drowning in a detention basin, arguing that poor maintenance can turn stormwater features into dangerous hazards. The hearing ended without any recorded committee action or vote in the excerpt provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• So what you do, you to process that.
• We have a process here. We're supposed to work within that process.
• to work within that process. to work within that process.
• We've been told this morning that this process is perfunctory. The process is perfunctory.
• We've been told this morning that this process is perfunctory. The process is perfunctory.

Keywords: 981, all