Transcript Highlights:

• Gentleman from Texas is reserves.
• Gentleman from New from Texas reserves.
• <02:08:59.840> seek gentle gentleoman from Texas seek gentle gentleoman from Texas seek recognition
• <02:37:46.080> This knowledge of the tax code. This knowledge of the tax code.
• Green, is gentleman from Texas, Mr.

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Thursday, March 27, 2025, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Psalm 127:1-2 says, 'Unless the Lord builds the house, the builders labor in vain.
• I do ask unanimous consent to relax our dress code to allow jeans for our guests, not our members, just
• Seeing no objection, our dress code has been relaxed just for our guests on the floor.
• , and in Texas... ...who's doing her residency in Texas.
• And in Texas, she risks going to jail and spending her life after years of college and medical school

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Supreme Court held that Texas had discriminated against Latino voters in West Texas.
• I want a Texas where we finally take redistricting out of the hands Texas.
• Texas is better than that. Mr. Musk about that. Texas is better than that.
• Are you loyal to Texas and Texas voters?
• Today's comments focus on West Texas and the Texas Panhandle.

Summary: The Senate Special Committee on Congressional Redistricting met virtually for its West Texas regional hearing, established a quorum, and explained that the hearing was part of a series of statewide information-gathering sessions before any map was filed. The chair outlined the Zoom procedures, the two-minute testimony limit, and the availability of written comments through the committee’s public portal. Senators also discussed the logistics and transparency of the process, including the expectation that any proposed map or amendment would be made public once filed and that additional hearings would follow. Senator Blanco, whose district includes West Texas and the border region, said the area’s communities of interest should be kept together and warned against repeating the loss of representation that followed the last redistricting cycle. Senators Alvarado, Hinojosa, Miles, and others debated the value of virtual hearings versus in-person hearings, the number of people who had testified, and whether the committee could subpoena witnesses after the regional hearings ended. The chair said he was awaiting legal guidance and would consider a subpoena motion at a formal meeting the next day. A lengthy exchange also occurred over the tone of public testimony and the chair’s view that some comments directed at Republicans and the president had been offensive or historically inaccurate. Invited witnesses and public commenters largely opposed mid-decade redistricting and argued that any new map should reflect population growth, especially among Latino and other minority communities, and comply with the Voting Rights Act. Nina Perales of MALDEF said the hearings were not meaningful without a draft map and testified that Texas has a long history of discriminatory redistricting; senators questioned her about litigation, DOJ’s July 7 letter, and the 2021 congressional map. Tania Chavez Camacho, Luis Figueroa, and several El Paso residents emphasized that maps should preserve communities of interest, avoid cracking and packing, and be transparent and participatory. A smaller number of witnesses supported redistricting, including one El Paso resident who said the current districting leaves the area underrepresented and another who argued that some communities want to return to a map closer to the earlier District 16 configuration. Several witnesses also criticized the DOJ letter as inconsistent with the state’s position that the 2021 maps were drawn race-blind, while others said the current process was too rushed and lacked sufficient public input.

Transcript Highlights:

• Our civil code already says that a parent is responsible for the actions of their child in many cases
• But if they have to do... ...some physical labor, and I don't know exactly what that is, but if we can
• Our civil code already says that a parent is responsible for the actions of their child in many cases
• But if they have to do some physical labor, and I don't know exactly what that is, but if we can talk
• supposed to do with all evidence, Code of Evidence 403, right?

Keywords: 974, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I thank the gentleman from Texas. Mr. I thank the gentleman from Texas. Mr.
• Carter of Texas. offered by Mr. Carter of Texas.
• Texas seek recognition? Texas seek recognition? Uh,<03:10:31.520> Mr.
• Carter of Texas pursuant to House Resolution 530, the gentleman from Texas, Mr.
• gentleman from Texas. gentleman from Texas.

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Wednesday, June 25, 2025, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So your Texas Tech University system, your Texas State University system, North Texas, University of
• and move to Texas.
• , and when you marry a Texas girl, you retire in Texas.
• , and when you marry a Texas girl, you retire in Texas.
• , Texas—this is 200.

Summary: The Senate Finance Committee heard budget presentations for the Texas Historical Commission, the Pension Review Board, the Employees Retirement System (ERS), Social Security and benefit replacement pay, the Texas Emergency Services Retirement System (TESSRS), and the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT). The Legislative Budget Board outlined recommendations and major changes for each agency, including reductions tied to one-time projects at the Historical Commission, continued funding for courthouse grants, heritage trails, and Holocaust/genocide education, as well as new or modified riders and capital items. For the pension-related items, LBB described funding changes for PRB, ERS, Social Security, and TESSRS, including ERS health plan cost growth driven largely by pharmacy costs, the status of pension funding reforms, and TESSRS’s request for additional state support to address its unfunded liability and staffing needs. Members asked extensive questions about the Historical Commission’s one-time funding, unexpended balance authority, courthouse preservation, the Presidio La Bahia and National Museum of the Pacific War projects, and coordination of Texas history messaging across sites such as the Alamo, San Jacinto, Washington on the Brazos, and other heritage locations. The Historical Commission chair emphasized heritage tourism, economic development, and the need for continued investment in historic sites, staffing, IT modernization, and vehicles. On the pension items, senators discussed PRB oversight of local systems, including the Dallas police and fire pension situation, and ERS investment returns, benchmark comparisons, and rising health costs. ERS officials said the plan remains well funded overall, noted a 2021 cash balance reform and a planned supplemental legacy payment, and explained that GLP-1 drugs such as Ozempic and Mounjaro are a major driver of pharmacy spending; they also said the agency is working with the Texas Pharmacy Initiative and that rebates are contractually returned to ERS. For TESSRS, LBB and agency staff said the system serves volunteer and part-paid emergency personnel, is facing an infinite amortization period, and is requesting additional appropriations, staffing, and IT funding, along with a statutory change to allow an actuarially determined state contribution. The agency said it may otherwise need to cut benefits for volunteer firefighters. For CPRIT, LBB reported about $600 million in recommended funding for the biennium and a 10-FTE increase, while the agency described its $6 billion voter-approved program, $3.75 billion in grants awarded to date, and $10.4 million in revenue sharing since 2011. CPRIT’s only exceptional item was a request for a 10% salary increase for two exempt positions. No committee votes or formal actions were taken in the transcript.

Transcript Highlights:

• KHOU in Houston, Texas.
• Our role is outlined in Chapter 418 of the Texas Government Code.
• Texas, East and West Texas.
• Texas.
• I think there are three: University of Texas, Texas Tech, and Texas A&M, all of which are training hydrologists

Keywords: 997, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Isn't that current code?
• President, I urge passage of this bill updating our tax code.
• It applies to trades licensed by the Division of Labor and the State Fire Marshal.
• The bill also makes technical corrections to existing code.
• The bill also makes technical corrections to existing code. Mr. President, I urge passage.

Keywords: 994, senate, all

Summary: The Senate convened, opened with prayer and the pledge, approved the journal, and welcomed numerous guests, honorary pages, school groups, and visitors. It also received committee reports and introduced several resolutions and petitions. Senate Resolution 62, designating March 12, 2026, as West Virginia Athletic Trainers Day, was taken up immediately, debated in support of athletic trainers’ role in preventing injuries, and adopted. Other resolutions, including SR 63 and SR 64, were laid over, and several study resolutions were referred to the Rules Committee. The chamber then moved through a large number of House bills on third reading, with most passing by wide margins. Measures included the West Virginia Collaboratory, business-ready sites funding, increased fire company spending authority, the Load Forecast Accountability Act, funeral service licensure changes, work-zone penalties, biennial business reporting, correctional officer retirement status, the Right to Try Act expansion, quick claim deed tax updates, an ibogaine trial grant program, enhanced penalties for aggravated vehicular homicide and related repeat offenses, 529 plan definition updates, extension of opportunity zones, a barber apprentice program, municipal hotel occupancy fund uses, criminal-record licensing standards, civil remedies for unauthorized intimate image disclosure, online estate-executor training, higher contempt penalties, PEIA treatment flexibility, PANS/PANDAS education, the Respiratory Care Interstate Compact, expanded capitation rate reviews, CVB board appointments, peer support services, the Interstate Cosmetology Licensure Compact, natural resource police retirement changes, DNR fee indexing, ALS care services, the Neighborhood Investment Program extension, oil and gas well plugging changes with carbon-capture protections, DUI technical revisions, abuse intervention program changes, youth summer employment grants, telematics for fleet management, and municipal charter election compliance procedures. Several bills drew brief debate or questions, including the work-zone penalty bill, where one senator argued the measure increased fines without ensuring removal of outdated work-zone signs, while supporters emphasized worker safety. The Load Forecast Accountability Act also prompted discussion about incorporating coal-related provisions from another bill and concerns about prior House rejection of similar language. Most bills passed overwhelmingly, often 34-0, though a few had dissenting votes, including the Collaboratory bill (28-6), the Business Ready Sites bill (33-1), the Load Forecast Accountability Act (26-8), the Neighborhood Investment Program extension (33-1), and DNR fee indexing (29-5). Several bills also received title amendments, and one bill, HB 5162 on sales of tax liens, was referred to the Rules Committee.

Transcript Highlights:

• To bring potentially refined gasoline in from Texas or refiners in Arizona.
• I'm very committed to talking with CFCA, WISPA, labor. None of this is easy.
• Is Texas foreign oil? Or is Iran foreign oil? Or is it all just foreign?
• We just don't want that code. ...upfront funding, not the ongoing basis.
• So even the smallest code-compliant process. definitions or parameters around the size.

Summary: The committee first heard SB 804, the Hydrogen Pipeline Safety Act, from Senator Arreguín. He said the bill would designate the State Fire Marshal as the safety regulator for intrastate hydrogen pipelines and require hydrogen-specific standards, while not mandating any pipeline construction or bypassing environmental review. Supporters included labor groups, utility employees, and the City of Burbank, while Air Products opposed unless amended, citing concerns about the bill’s specificity, fee structure, and the need for a hydrogen-specific rulemaking process. The committee discussed safety, fees, and regulatory certainty, and later passed SB 804 on a 9-0 vote to Emergency Management with commitment to take amendments. The committee then took up SB 905 by Senator Becker, aimed at reducing electricity rates by changing utility incentives. The bill would tie part of executive compensation to keeping rates below inflation, require more performance metrics, and allow the CPUC to consider lower returns on equity for certain lower-risk investments and alternative financing options. Support came from consumer, environmental, agricultural, and large energy user groups, while Southern California Edison, CalChamber, PG&E, and utility labor groups raised concerns that the bill could reduce investment, create regulatory uncertainty, and raise borrowing costs. After extensive discussion about utility affordability, wildfire costs, and capital markets, the committee passed SB 905 on a 7-1 vote to Appropriations. SB 913, also by Senator Becker, would create a clearer pathway for distributed energy resources such as batteries and smart thermostats to participate in the resource adequacy market and compete with utility-scale resources. Supporters said the bill would better use existing grid capacity, lower costs, and build on the state’s Demand Side Grid Support Program; PG&E opposed unless amended, saying the use case was not yet proven and was already being addressed in other rulemakings. After the committee accepted amendments, one opposition group moved to neutral and another said it might do so after reviewing the changes. The bill passed 8-0 to Appropriations and was placed on call. Several other measures were heard and advanced, including SB 1196 on faster utility hookups for small energization projects such as ADUs and EV chargers, SB 931 reauthorizing the Diablo Canyon Essential Services Mitigation Fund through 2028, SB 1158 reducing the frequency of joint reliability assessments from quarterly to twice yearly, and SB 1245 directing further study of California’s gasoline market and potential use of non-CARBOB fuel during supply disruptions. SB 1196 and SB 931 both passed with broad support and no opposition after amendments, SB 1158 passed without testimony, and SB 1245 drew strong support from consumer and environmental advocates but opposition from fuel industry and business groups concerned about costs, confidentiality, and fuel standards.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm the president of Texas A&M University Central Texas.
• Is it Westlaco, Texas? Uh, Westlico, Texas, right in your backyard.
• , Northeast Texas.
• we have the South Texas, Texas Task Force 3.
• Uh, the regional centers are any in West Texas or South Texas?

Transcript Highlights:

• Unless you have anything to add, we can move on to P-code 776.
• Nothing to add there, so turning to Labor Relations, which is program code 776.
• work, you're still considered to be in the labor force.
• So I'll just run through the P codes real fast.
• Commission, Agency Code 605, and... Next is Martin Luther King Jr. Commission, Agency Code 605.

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• That the FAA Airport Code, PBI, for Palm Beach International, remain unchanged.
• Reagan National Airport has the code letters DCA, which were their original code letters, and George
• MCO is a code for McCoy Air Force Base. It doesn't represent Orlando.
• And they did the code change from IDL to JFK.
• Trump Airport, we say, hey, by the way, Texas got a box. President Donald J.

Summary: The Senate convened with an opening prayer, pledge, and several introductions recognizing visitors, students, local officials, and professional groups in the gallery. The chamber then took up a report from the Ethics and Elections Committee confirming 42 executive appointments; the report was adopted by a vote of 36-0. The Senate also adopted a resolution honoring the Ripple Project for childhood cancer awareness and funding. The bulk of the meeting was spent on special-order bills, many of them open-government sunset review measures and policy bills. The Senate passed bills preserving or updating public records exemptions for aquaculture records, trade secrets, and cybersecurity information; a child-abuse reporting statute of limitations bill; a commercial driving schools bill; a human trafficking training requirement for nursing graduates; a new injunction for protection against serious violence by a known person and its companion public-records bill; a nature-based coastal resiliency bill with an amendment restricting dredge-and-fill in Terra Ceia Aquatic Preserve; a chiropractic patient-funds bill; specialty license plate legislation; a one-time waiver for late financial disclosure fines; public school personnel compensation changes; the Florida Farm Bill with amendments protecting Everglades lands and technical corrections; homestead exemption clarification for long-term leaseholders; disability presumption clarifications for firefighters and law enforcement; reinsurance intermediary manager conformity changes; patriotic displays in public schools; ADS-B aviation fee restrictions; autism-related law enforcement training and a blue envelope program; public post-secondary safety policy requirements; and a bill allowing licensed agents to market health care sharing ministries. Several bills were temporarily postponed, including local vessel restrictions, temporary certificates for practice, and domestic animals. Members debated a number of measures, especially the health care sharing ministries bill, where opponents raised consumer-protection and commission concerns and supporters argued for free speech, religious liberty, and expanded consumer choice; it passed 32-5. Other debated bills included the autism law enforcement bill, the school athletics bill addressing coach support for student-athletes, and the Farm Bill, where senators discussed surplus land safeguards and biosolids timing. Most bills passed overwhelmingly, often 37-0 or 38-0, with a few closer votes such as the patriotic displays bill (36-2) and the health care sharing ministries bill (32-5).

Transcript Highlights:

• Keep Texas competitive.
• Keep Texas competitive.
• It has to be coded manually.
• Additionally, we've set new record highs for the number of Texans working and the size of the Texas labor
• for Texas state employees. ...compensation costs under control in Texas for Texas state employees, right

Bills: SB 1

Keywords: campground safety, youth camp regulations, flood safety, emergency evacuation, health and safety standards

Summary: The committee first heard the Legislative Budget Board and Secretary of State Jane Nelson on the Secretary of State budget. LBB said the recommendation would reduce the agency’s appropriation by about $40.3 million overall, with major changes including removing federal HAVA funding and one-time business system replacement money, adjusting the agency’s base request, deleting an outdated Interstate Crosscheck rider, and directing HAVA funds to be drawn down first. Secretary Nelson and staff defended the agency’s needs, emphasizing election security, business filings, international protocol, and the Texas Register, and requested additional staff, a new website, digitization of records, IT and cybersecurity upgrades, and renovation of the Rudder Building. Senators discussed voter-roll maintenance, cross-checking data, call-center response times, and the need for online voter registration and more efficient election administration. No votes were taken. The committee then took up the Office of the Governor and trustee programs. LBB outlined a $2.4 million decrease for the office proper and a much larger decrease in trustee programs, driven by unexpended balances and the removal of one-time federal and border-security items, while noting continued funding for disaster response, victim assistance, and $2.9 billion for border security at roughly the prior level. Governor’s staff said Texas remains focused on border security, economic development, and public safety, and discussed efforts to seek federal reimbursement for prior border spending. Members asked about the National Guard’s status, possible federal assumption of border costs, the music incubator program, the Semiconductor Innovation Consortium, the Governor’s University Research Initiative, defense economic adjustment grants, and a new $5 million nonprofit security grant proposal. Staff said the semiconductor program has 12 approved projects totaling about 948 jobs and $17 billion in capital investment, and that the nonprofit security request was added late to address threats to houses of worship and other nonprofits. No formal action was taken. Finally, the committee heard the Texas Facilities Commission and lease-payment recommendations. LBB said the Facilities Commission recommendation would reduce appropriations by about $2.0 billion, mainly by removing border wall construction funding and capital complex bond funding, while adding money for higher utility costs, Rudder Building refurbishment, and additional staff. The lease-payment recommendation would decrease general revenue by $9.3 million. LBB also noted new riders related to completing the State Library and Archives building, tenant communication during disruptions, and a space-utilization report. In agency testimony, members asked about border wall maintenance responsibility, total facilities-related debt, and the status of capital complex construction. The Rudder Building renovation and related security needs were repeatedly discussed as important one-time infrastructure investments.

Transcript Highlights:

• A bill that will further help address the maternal mortality and morbidity crisis in Texas.
• HB 2140 would add two new Seats to the current composition of the Texas Maternal Mortality and Morbidity
• A doula is a healthcare professional who is specifically trained in labor and childbirth support.
• I'm here representing myself as well as GALS, Giving Austin Labor Support, the Texas Doula Association
• Texas.

Bills: HB2140, HB2610, HB3121, HB3339

Keywords: maternal health, mortality review, health committee, obstetrics, public health, Medicaid, cancer treatment, healthcare reimbursement, physical therapy, dental services, protheses, compression garments, mortality, morbidity, doula services, disparities, Black women, maternal mortality, health disparities, socioeconomic status

Transcript Highlights:

• HB 2140 would add two new seats to the current composition of the Texas Maternal Mortality and Morbidity
• A doula is a healthcare professional who is specifically trained in labor and childbirth support.
• Um, I'm here representing myself as well as gals giving Austin labor support, the Texas Doula Association
• I'm speaking on behalf of myself and of the, and on behalf of the Texas Medical Association.
• Yes, in Texas in 2020, the Texas, the, the rate found that maternal deaths for black women was 27.7 per

Transcript Highlights:

• BILL 262 PROVIDES TECHNICAL CLARIFICATIONS AND CHANGES TO SEVERAL THE PROVISIONS OF THE FLORIDA TRUST CODE
• NUMBER THREE, HE RECONCILES DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE PROBATE CODE AND TRUST REGARDING AN EXEMPTION BY
• THE BILL REQUIRES A SINGLE-FAMILY RESIDENT PERMIT DO NOT EXPIRE UNTIL THE CODE CHANGES WHICH IS EVERY
• IF THE GOVERNMENT CHECK TO MAKE SURE WE MEET TODAY'S CODE IT SHOULD BE GOOD 24 MONTHS FROM NOW UNTIL
• THE BUILDING CODE CHANGES.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Barely coded racist rhetoric is his standard practice.
• Why pick on the middle class and hard-laboring people of the Great Lakes?
• Moran of Texas; and Mr. Nunn of Iowa.
• MORAN OF TEXAS, AND MR. NUNN OF IOWA.
• The Speaker pro tempore: For what purpose does the gentlewoman from Texas seek recognition?

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Tuesday, February 4, 2025, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• But but Florida has a huge problem in it, ending appropriate labor or or farmers the status.
• Why do we have a coding faculty members?
• We actually looked at our honor code and ask the question, do we need to modify the sunlight of AI aside
• annual Growth of Administration at 3.5% every year and then actually matches up with the Bureau of Labor
• as prominent flagship institutions like Michigan and UCLA, Virginia, North Carolina University of Texas

Transcript Highlights:

• So I've been asked to provide an overview and an update on the demographics of the labor force and labor
• so so we're looking at changes in labor so so we're looking at changes in labor force<00:02:32.160
• participa participating in the labor participa participating in the labor force<00:03:17.280>
• <00:03:59.319> force participated in the labor force participated in the labor force today
• our labor shortages meeting our labor our labor shortages meeting our labor shortages<01:28:58.119

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And, as all of you know, we also have a variety of types of cities and towns of different sizes, code
• , non-code, classifications, etc.
• WACOPS is our state's largest law enforcement labor advocacy organization.
• I have a geeky suggestion: make sure that you've covered—I used to be a code advisor for 15 years at
• the legislature—make sure you cover code cities, non-code, all those little jurisdictions.

Summary: The committee held a work session in Mill Creek focused first on the eviction process. Judge Michael Scott of King County Superior Court described historic highs in unlawful detainer filings across Washington, especially in urban counties, and said King County has reduced its backlog and average time to resolution to about 60 days by adding two dedicated eviction judges and using more judges when needed. He also described how King County and other counties are implementing the right to counsel for indigent tenants, and noted that additional housing commissioners may help. Office of Civil Legal Aid representatives Philippe Knapp and Jane Paxe said the statewide appointed counsel program has represented more than 30,000 tenants, referred clients to social services, and helped many remain housed, but they warned of a funding shortfall that could eliminate about 17 attorneys and leave roughly 2,000 tenants without representation. A landlord-side panel argued that eviction timelines remain too long and fragmented, creating unpaid rent, safety issues, and uncertainty for both landlords and tenants; they urged more uniform procedures, streamlined rental assistance, and procedural changes to reduce refiling and delays. The second work session addressed theft and vandalism of critical infrastructure, especially copper and telecom cable theft. Committee staff reviewed existing criminal and regulatory laws covering malicious mischief, theft, scrap metal businesses, and metal property deception. Comcast, Mason Public Utility District, and the Recycled Materials Association testified that theft of aerial cable and copper has become a crisis affecting power, internet, 911 service, schools, hospitals, and line-worker safety. Utility representatives described outages, hazards, and rising costs, and asked for stronger audits of scrapyards, tougher penalties for theft affecting critical infrastructure, and tighter rules on payment and identification. Recyclers said they oppose the thefts and already operate under heavy regulation, but acknowledged enforcement gaps and the need for better coordination; committee members discussed possible bill concepts and asked for written recommendations. The final work session covered standards for law enforcement personnel. Criminal Justice Training Commission Executive Director Monica Alexander and Assistant Director Kimberly Bliss explained current certification and decertification rules, including background checks, training requirements, mandatory and discretionary grounds for decertification, and the hearing process. They said elected sheriffs are not currently required to undergo the same pre-election background check as other applicants, though they can still be decertified if already certified, and they reported a backlog of more than 1,000 cases with about 70 to 80 new cases coming in each month. Retired Judge Ann Levinson then outlined ways the legislature could strengthen and align standards for chiefs, sheriffs, and marshals, including requiring certification within a set time, setting a minimum age, requiring recent state background checks, and making loss of certification a vacancy in office. Committee members asked questions about accountability for elected sheriffs, background-check administration, and decertification outcomes.