Transcript Highlights:

• Hearing none, the substitute is adopted.
• The committee substitute is now adopted.
• The substitute is adopted.
• Hearing none, the motion is adopted.
• Hearing none, the motion is adopted.

Bills: SB34, SB119, SB261, SB532, SB1035, SB1245, SB1247, SB1267, SB1442, SB1930, SB1948, SB2078, SB2112, SB2143, SB2155

Keywords: wildfire, wildfire mitigation, wildfire prevention, volunteer fire department, Texas A&M Forest Service, West Texas A&M University, prescribed burning, fuel loading, fuel reduction, firefighting equipment database, emergency communications, disaster preparedness, rural fire protection, asset hardening, natural resource management, emergency management, large wildfire risk, fire grant funding, fire suppression, Texas Legislature

Transcript Highlights:

• Members, without objection, we will adopt the subcommittee PCS as the working draft.
• ...with a landowner's right to contest an award, and how does that work?
• And does it still allow an individual to contest those awards?
• Without objection, we'll adopt the PCS as the working draft.
• I yield for questions, and I move for adoption. Members, do we have any questions?

Keywords: 914, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Members, we have a group of poster contest winners poster contest winners in the south gallery.
• They have a poster contest every year. The name of that contest is Keep Our Land Grand.
• The amendment is adopted.
• Move for adoption at the appropriate time.
• The motion is adopted.

Bills: SR31, SB2060, SB2184, HB1371, HB1411, HB1933, HB2361, HB2398, HB2893, HB3006, HB3044, HB3127, HB3322, HB3147, HB1276, HB3472, HB3522, HB3704, HB4303, HB4319

Keywords: military, children, resilience, Purple Up!, military families, master development district, improvement district, public improvements, infrastructure financing, special assessments, statutory revision, consolidation, law amendment, emergency legislation, legal clarity, oil and gas, mineral rights, proceeds, royalties, escrow account

Transcript Highlights:

• Senator Hall moves adoption of the committee's substitute. Is there an objection?
• There being none, the motion is adopted. Senator Hall.
• Locum contested. Is there an objection? There being none, so ordered.
• Senator Hall moves adoption of the committee substitute. Is there an objection?
• Hearing none, the motion is adopted.

Bills: SB 390, SB 1197, SB 1271

Keywords: veteran-owned businesses, state contracting, historically underutilized business, economic opportunity, small business, economic development, veterans, certification, Texas legislation, unmanned aircraft, spaceport, criminal offense, aviation regulations, airspace safety, military installations, concurrent jurisdiction, governor's approval, state agency, land acquisition, Veteran Affairs

Summary: The meeting of the Committee on Veteran Affairs addressed several significant bills aimed at supporting veterans and their businesses. Among the bills discussed was SB390, which seeks to expand the definition of historically underutilized businesses to include all veteran-owned businesses, regardless of disability status. This change aims to create a more equitable economic landscape for veterans and to foster their participation in state procurement opportunities. The committee heard strong testimony supporting this initiative, emphasizing the importance of providing veterans with fair chances in business development.

Transcript Highlights:

• Sometimes there gets to be some contesting done if some of the direction or things get added into the
• As it's drafted now, it would only apply to contested proceedings.
• At that point, it would become a contested proceeding.
• So this bill says the Supreme Court shall adopt rules of procedure distinct from the rules governing
• So without any sort of direction of what kind of rules are we asking them to adopt?

Keywords: 908, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It is recommended for the local and contested calendar.
• It is sent to the local and contested calendar.
• It is sent to the local and contested calendar.
• What would happen if HB 3306 was adopted?
• We would recommend that be changed to 'adopt.'

Bills: HB431, HB1522, HB1922, HB2467, HB2468, HB3228, HB3229, HB3306, HB3803, HB3804, HB3805, HB3806, HB4219, HB4238, HB4344, HB4386, HB4739

Keywords: HB 431, Texas Property Code, Property Code Chapter 202, solar roof tiles, solar shingles, solar energy device, homeowners association, HOA, property owners' association, POA, renewable energy, residential solar, distributed solar, roof-mounted solar, homeowner rights, architectural control, open meetings, public notice, transparency, government efficiency

Summary: The Senate Committee on Business and Commerce met with a quorum and first took up pending business, reporting several House bills favorably to the full Senate, including HB 11, HB 132, HB 1041, HB 1606, HB 2286, and HB 5061, with some also recommended for the local and uncontested or contested calendars. The committee then heard and left pending HB 3306, which would extend construction-contract indemnity exceptions to electric infrastructure work, including construction, maintenance, and vegetation management for utilities. Supporters said it would align utility infrastructure work with public works and reduce litigation and ratepayer costs, while opponents argued it would shift liability onto subcontractors and create broad-form indemnity concerns. Members also heard HB 4739, a Comptroller-requested cleanup bill repealing an outdated Finance Code provision tied to delinquency charges on retail charge accounts, and left it pending without testimony. The committee then considered several Department of Banking cleanup bills, including HB 3803, HB 3804, and HB 3806, all left pending after brief explanations and no public opposition. HB 4219, dealing with public information requests, drew support from a journalist and a policy analyst who said it would improve transparency by requiring timely responses, notice when records do not exist, and training or fee consequences for noncompliance; it was left pending. The committee also heard HB 4238, a committee substitute addressing coerced debt and identity theft, which would bar collection of certain debts from victims who obtain a qualifying court order. A law professor and a family violence advocate supported the bill as narrow, protective relief for domestic violence and elder abuse survivors, and it was left pending. Other bills heard and left pending included HB 1522 on local government budget meeting posting and taxpayer impact disclosures, HB 4344 authorizing background checks for PUC employees and contractors, HB 3805 updating money services business regulation, HB 431 extending solar-panel HOA protections to solar tiles, HB 3228 and HB 3229 on wind and solar recycling financial assurance, and HB 1922 clarifying the accrual date for construction defect claims under right-to-repair law. The committee recessed subject to the call of the chair.

Transcript Highlights:

• Hearing none, the motion is adopted.
• Hearing none, the motion carries and is adopted.
• The motion is adopted. Okay, you're good just to do that.
• Hearing none, the motion is adopted. Good. 26 to go. Done. House Bill 1891.
• Hearing none, the committee substitute is adopted.

Bills: HB630, HB685, HB1318, HB2692

Keywords: outboard motors, certificate of title, vessel regulation, Texas Parks and Wildlife Code, marine documentation, HB 685, municipal utility rates, water rates, sewer rates, local government code, rate discrimination, tax-exempt entities, sales tax exemption, ad valorem tax exemption, nonprofit organizations, charitable organizations, municipal water service, municipal sewer service, utility billing, public utilities

Transcript Highlights:

• Senator Middleton moves that Senate Bill 1243 be referred to the local non-contested calendars.
• It is that Senate Bill 1504 be recommended for local and contested calendars.
• Senator Gutierrez moves that Senate Bill 1851 be recommended for local and contested calendars.
• Senator Cook moves to adopt the committee substitute to Senate Bill 1921. Is there an objection?
• That the committee substitute adopted in lieu thereof do pass and be printed.

Keywords: 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The instant we filed the election contest.
• The instant we filed the election contest.
• The instant we filed the election contest.
• The instant we filed the election contest.
• There being no objection, the substitute is adopted.

Bills: HB2242, HB2446, HB2799, HB4502, HB2920, HB2790, HB5620, HB5060, HB5076, HB5080, HB5081, HB5128, HB5130, HB3847, HB5116, HB2969, HB4546, HB4202, HB5624, HB3964, HB4803, HB872, HB4775, HB4777, HB4961, HB5570, HB2988, HB4260, HB1375, HB5009, HB5411, HB5134, HB4388, HB3095, HB1387

Keywords: constables, civil rights, local government, law enforcement, policy-making authority, affidavit, medical bills, civil actions, reasonable charges, healthcare services, judicial statistics, court performance, family law, civil cases, efficiency reporting, court security, emergency management, harassment penalties, judicial safety, court committee

Summary: The committee heard testimony on several bills affecting civil practice, judicial conduct, and attorney regulation. HB 4961 and the similar HB 3095 would bar uninsured motorists from recovering non-economic damages after a collision, with HB 3095 also addressing certain exceptions and limiting economic damages in some cases. Supporters said the measures would encourage insurance coverage and fairness for insured drivers, while opponents argued they would unfairly punish injured people who were not responsible for the lack of insurance, including pedestrians, passengers, children, and others. HB 3095 drew constitutional concerns from witnesses, and the committee later withdrew the committee substitute and left the bill pending; HB 4961 was also left pending after questions about its scope, including passengers. HB 5570 would expand a continuing legal education exemption to attorneys appointed by the governor and confirmed by the Senate who serve on boards or commissions. The author and witness said the bill would free up time for public service while still requiring ethics training. A committee member raised a discrepancy in the number of attorneys covered, and the bill was left pending. HB 2969 would prohibit the State Bar from adopting rules or penalties that unreasonably burden attorneys’ religious exercise or free speech, especially in relation to sincerely held religious beliefs. Supporters framed it as a protection for lawyers of faith against an ABA-style speech code, while no one testified in opposition; the bill was left pending. HB 4260 would prohibit county judges and county commissioners from practicing law in courts over which they have jurisdiction. The author described it as an ethics measure to avoid conflicts of interest, but county officials and the County Judges and Commissioners Association opposed it, saying existing ethics rules already address conflicts and that the bill would impose hardships, especially in rural counties. The bill was left pending. HB 4388 would require all judges, including those who serve only in administrative roles, to remain subject to the Code of Judicial Conduct; supporters said some judges avoid discipline by relinquishing judicial functions, while opponents said the bill was unnecessary and could burden county judges who serve as administrators. It was also left pending. The committee also heard HB 5134, which would limit Rule 202 pre-suit depositions to people who have suffered or reasonably expect to suffer actual damages and allow attorney’s fees against abusive petitioners. The author said the bill would curb harassment and fishing expeditions, but members questioned how the standard would work in practice; the bill was left pending. Finally, HB 3964 would narrow common-law public nuisance claims by barring suits over lawful conduct, conduct already addressed by other remedies, and products, while preserving other causes of action. Supporters said the bill would prevent regulation through litigation and protect legislative authority; opponents said it would eliminate important remedies and that no Texas abuse had been shown. The author indicated he would revise the bill, and it was left pending.

Transcript Highlights:

• The A2 amendment is adopted.
• cameras, instructions on how to contest cameras, instructions on how to contest citations,<01:24
• how to contest the citation. how to contest the citation.
• The amendment is adopted. Senator Limmer also moves adoption of the A1 amendment as amended.
• The amendment is adopted.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We've had the most recent meeting with TCEQ, and you've got to distinguish between the contested...
• The chair moves that the substitute to HB 3229 be adopted. Is there any objection?
• There being no objection, the substitute is adopted.
• Contested case hearings. Members, I'd be glad to stand for any questions.
• Likewise, all the other agencies that we handle contested cases for, roughly 50 agencies, follow this

Bills: HB573, HB1499, HB1768, HB3071, HB3249, HB3866, HB4112

Keywords: environmental enforcement, legislative oversight, inspection, concrete plants, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, environmental product declaration, grant program, ready-mixed concrete, manufacturers, sustainability, concrete plant, concrete batch plant, wet batching, dry batching, central mixing, standard permit, TCEQ, environmental regulation, air quality, construction permit

Transcript Highlights:

• Chair, and I would like to move the adoption of the committee rules for election contest.
• Chair, and I would also like to move to adopt the scheduling order for the 54A elections contest.
• I'll just note for the record, heard that both the rules that we just adopted and the scheduling order
• Chair, I'd like to move to adopt the scheduling order for the 54A elections contest.
• Representative Moller moves to adopt the scheduling order. Any discussion to the motion?

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Senator Nichols moves that House Bill 2014 be recommended for the local and contested calendar.
• They would have to adopt a rule for this, would they not?
• Senator West moves that House Bill 1991 be recommended for the local and contested calendars.
• Senator West moves that House Bill 3171 be recommended for the local and contested calendar.
• Senator Cook moves that House Bill 3732 be recommended for the local and contested calendars.

Bills: HB103

Keywords: 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Is there objection to the adoption of the committee substitute?
• The chair hears none, and the substitute is adopted.
• Is there objection to the adoption of the committee substitute?
• The chair hears none, and the substitute is adopted. The substitute is adopted.
• There's a contested case. I've been through four contested case hearings.

Bills: HB29, HB685, HB1633, HB1689, HB1690, HB1918, HB2010, HB2500, HB2608, HB2626, HB29

Keywords: water audit, water loss, water loss mitigation plan, municipally owned utility, municipal utility, water conservation, Texas Water Development Board, TCEQ, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, water leakage, leak detection, billing data accuracy, utility validation, water audit validation, water scarcity, water management, infrastructure, public utility, conservation plan, administrative penalty

Transcript Highlights:

• Senator Paxton moves to adopt the committee substitute to Senate Bill 2215 is their objection hearing
• reported to the Senate with a recommendation that do not pass, but that the committee substitute adopted
• Senator Cook moves that House Bill 1593 be recommended for the local and contested calendar.
• Senator Paxson moves that House Bill 3810 be recommended for local and contested calendar.
• Be recommended for the local contested calendar is there objection without objection so.

Bills: HB 148, HB 334, HB 554, HB 762, HB 1520, HB 1593, HB 3526, HB 3810, HB 5092, SB 2215, HB 2607

Keywords: family leave, leave pool, county employee, sick leave, vacation leave, family care, pandemic, guardianship, HB 554, fireworks, Juneteenth, Juneteenth holiday, retail fireworks permit, Texas Occupations Code, Local Government Code, county commissioners court, drought conditions, Texas A&M Forest Service, fire safety, holiday sales

Transcript Highlights:

• The resolutions are adopted. The ayes have it. The resolutions are adopted. Thank you.
• I move adoption. Is there objection to the adoption of the resolution?
• The question is on the adoption of the amendment. Question is on the adoption of the amendment.
• President, I move adoption. The question is on the adoption of the amendment.
• Hearing none, the amendment is adopted. Hearing none, the amendment is adopted.

Summary: The Senate opened with an invocation, messages from the House, and several recognitions, including county day delegations from Fayette, LaSalle, Jim Hogg, Austin, and others, as well as a recognition of Rob Keppel for his career with the Texas District and County Attorneys Association. The chamber also adopted several resolutions, including SR 429 designating October 2025 as RET Syndrome Awareness Month and SR 432 honoring Rob Keppel. A doctor-of-the-day introduction and a public announcement about free skin checks were also made. The Senate then took up and passed several bills. SB 1152, creating the offense of continuous manufacture or delivery of a controlled substance, passed after suspension of the rules. SB 1868, regulating kratom and related substances, was amended to prohibit smokeable kratom products and kratom pills and to clarify THC variants such as Delta-8 and Delta-10, then passed. SB 1349, creating offenses for transnational repression and unauthorized enforcement of foreign law, drew debate over a failed amendment that would have added election misinformation and foreign meddling; the bill ultimately passed unanimously. SB 2037, expediting review of LNG environmental permits, passed after amendments clarifying fees and deadlines, with opposition focused on its energy-policy implications. SB 1164, addressing emergency detention and court-ordered inpatient mental health treatment, passed after a drafting-error correction and discussion of the bill’s basis in recommendations from the Texas Judicial Commission on Mental Health. The Senate also advanced SB 2743 on prosecution of certain election offenses, which would allow a court process to disqualify a local prosecutor who repeatedly refuses to prosecute election cases and appoint the Attorney General; it passed to engrossment amid questions about evidence and local discretion. SB 1299, protecting nonprofit members, supporters, volunteers, and donors from disclosure by public agencies, passed unanimously. SB 2349, exempting certain short-term leases and temporary tenancies from floodplain notice requirements, passed unanimously. SB 2788, adding PSAT and pre-ACT scores for Texas Success Initiative exemptions and clarifying dual-credit eligibility, passed unanimously after amendment. SB 843, creating a TEA database of school district bonds, taxes, and bond-related projects and adding charter schools, passed after amendments on funding and scope. Finally, SB 1832, allowing parents to transfer a student who was victimized by a public school employee to another campus, passed to engrossment after extended debate over whether the bill should also cover private schools and how it would interact with school choice and ESA policy. SB 39, revising the admission rule in commercial motor vehicle collision cases, was laid out and debated over its effect on negligent entrustment and related evidence, with the author emphasizing that the bill preserves the bifurcated trial structure and does not alter other admissibility rules.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:07:18.560> And plea or a no contest plea. And plea or a no contest plea.
• The recommendation is adopted.
• The recommendation is adopted.
• the recommendation is adopted. the recommendation is adopted.
• . adopted. adopted.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The Judiciary Committee heard testimony on several bills related to bribery and public corruption. On SB 2249, which would increase penalties for bribery under certain circumstances, the Honolulu Prosecutor’s Office and Honolulu Police Department supported the measure, arguing that Hawaii’s current class B felony penalty is probationable and too weak to secure cooperation in corruption cases, especially after the U.S. Supreme Court’s Snyder decision narrowed federal bribery prosecutions. The Public Defender opposed the bill, arguing that elevating bribery to a class A felony and making it non-probationable was excessive, overbroad, and would remove judicial discretion. Multiple individuals also testified in support. Committee members questioned the prosecutor about removing deferred acceptance of plea provisions and asked HPD about the $20,000 threshold; the prosecutor said alternative charges could still be used in plea bargaining, and HPD said the threshold aligns with first-degree theft. The committee also discussed how current law tolls the bribery statute of limitations while an official remains in office, with the prosecutor explaining it can extend up to six years total. The committee then heard SB 2494, which would set a nine-year statute of limitations for bribery offenses. The Public Defender opposed the extension, saying the justification based on the length of federal investigations was too broad and that bribery already has a longer limitations period than most felonies. The Honolulu Prosecutor’s Office supported the bill, saying bribery cases often involve coordination with federal investigators, that federal and state evidence-gathering methods may differ, and that a longer period would help ensure admissible evidence and allow state prosecution when federal law no longer applies. Members asked whether there were public examples of cases lost to the current limitations period; the prosecutor said he was not aware of any publicly available examples, but maintained nine years was a reasonable period. The committee also considered SB 2737, which would create a misdemeanor for failure by a state or county elected official to report bribery. The Department of the Attorney General offered comments and suggested changing the term to “public servant” for consistency with existing law. The Honolulu Prosecutor’s Office supported the intent but warned the reporting requirement could create Fifth Amendment issues for witnesses who might otherwise be useful in grand jury proceedings. The bill drew broad public support, with 33 supporters and no opposition noted. Finally, the committee took up SB 3071, which revises sex trafficking and promoting prostitution statutes by redefining “profits from prostitution” and adding an affirmative defense for certain lawful transactions. The Public Defender opposed the measure, saying it still could reach people without the required criminal intent and that the affirmative defense language could be applied unevenly. The Attorney General and Honolulu Prosecutor supported the bill, saying it better addresses concerns raised by the State v. Ibarra decision while closing loopholes that allow traffickers to disguise profits as loans or gifts. The prosecutor emphasized that traffickers are sophisticated and can structure transactions to evade current law.

Transcript Highlights:

• Senate File 4734 allows the contests.
• The A1 author's amendment is adopted. Senator Boldon, to your bill. Thank you, Madam Chair.
• , even though all board members contest, even though all board members represent<00:16:03.600> the
• Um, it really would amount to the same thing as just not voting in certain contests, which of course
• contests, which of course is possible. contests, which of course is possible.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• With respect to the election of all of these officers, if a contest exists, the voting must be done by
• <00:01:28.000> exists, these officers, if a contest exists, these officers, if a contest exists
• remaining in the contest. remaining in the contest.
• As there are contests, the elections shall be by ballot.
• shall be by are contests, the elections shall be by ballot. ballot. ballot.

Keywords: 927, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• In short, House Bill 3725, with the PCS we just adopted, would require all employers across the state
• to work during that contested period.
• Move for adoption. Yield for questions. Member yields will be questions.
• I moved for adoption. Open for questions. Mary yells for questions.
• Questions and move for adoption. Yields to Representative Fetgatter. Being Mr.

Bills: HB3725, HB3260, HB3660, HB3369, HB3370

Keywords: labor, e-verification, immigration, employers, employment eligibility, Department of Labor, penalties, funeral licensing, continuing education, Oklahoma Funeral Directors Association, professional development, licensing requirements, HB3660, natural organic reduction, human composting, soil reduction, green burial, funeral services, cremation, burial permit