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• You've only registered as Texas, representing Texas Short Line.
• One in Sun Ra, Texas, one in Gonzales, Texas, and one located in Brownwood, Texas.
• Members, under section 21.105 of the Transportation Code, the Texas Transportation Commission.
• Currently, there's a conflict with the transportation code and the government code.
• Uh, the Texas Department of Transportation in partnership with the Texas A&M Transportation Institute

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• linked to that firearm. ...creates indentations on each fired bullet casing with a code linked to that
• As such, the bullet casing with its microstamped code would link the casing to the firearm.
• They already put 2D matrix codes on firearms that has more information on it for the military.
• You're using the same microscopes, using the same code system.
• All the codes I have are ASCII codes. They're not anything dramatic.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Special Commission on Emerging Firearm Technology met to review its work on intentional microstamping and personalized firearms and to discuss draft recommendations for a final report. The co-chairs summarized testimony received from manufacturers, advocates, law enforcement, and officials from New Jersey, New York, and California. For microstamping, the discussion focused on how the technology could help trace spent casings, its limits in forensic use, and concerns about wear, tampering, implementation costs, and whether it would burden lawful gun owners. For personalized firearms, members reviewed testimony about biometric smart guns, their current commercial availability, higher cost, and potential benefits for preventing accidental shootings and unauthorized use, especially involving children and suicide prevention. Commissioners expressed a range of views. Several supported microstamping as a crime-solving tool and endorsed a recommendation that the legislature direct a feasibility and viability study, set standards and training, fund implementation, and create penalties for tampering. Others opposed microstamping, arguing it has not worked in other states, may not reduce crime, and could impose costs on manufacturers and owners. On personalized firearms, most commissioners supported encouraging the technology, but there was disagreement over whether to create a temporary sales tax exemption; some favored an incentive to promote adoption, while others opposed any tax subsidy for firearms or questioned whether the data justified it. The co-chairs said they would draft a report reflecting the majority consensus and circulate it for review before a final vote at a later meeting, likely in July. The commission also discussed which executive branch agency should conduct the microstamping feasibility study, with the Attorney General’s office and EOPSS mentioned as possibilities. The meeting ended with agreement to reconvene for final votes on the report and recommendations.

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• Representative Gonzalez-Pittman will explain Amendment bar code 354835. You're recognized. Rep.
• You're recognized to explain your Amendment bar code 419727, sir. Rep.
• Representative Borrero, you're recognized to explain Amendment Bar Code 791203, sir.
• Representative, you're recognized to explain bar code 846551.
• We are on amendment bar code 073031.

Transcript Highlights:

• So, uh, House Bill 557 amends the Texas Family Code to create reasonable safeguards.
• This bill proposes several changes to the estate code in Texas to provide greater clarity, improvement
• Uh, your witness affirmation says Texas Family Foundation, but I believe that's the Texas Family Law
• The Texas Property code currently requires trustees to divide, uh, or provide detailed accountings that
• House Bill 2301 is a straightforward amendment to the Texas Family Code and clarifies the timing of providing

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• The bill passed with broad stakeholder support, including Texas Association of Health Plans and Texas
• For over 100 years, the Texas Insurance code has included anti-rebating laws which prohibit insurance
• Uh, section of the insurance code.
• So for Texas to encourage, uh, more prescribed burning on private lands, uh, Texas needs more certified
• to the state of Texas.

Bills: HB139

Keywords: ad valorem tax, tax rates, voter-approval, taxing unit, property tax, local government

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• They are a vital part of our electoral process in Texas.
• The Texas election code sets forth the requirements related to a plan for a central count station operation
• Chair calls Emily French with Common Cause Texas. Welcome.
• The Texas League opposes 817 because it bans preferential voting in all Texas elections.
• But if the Texas election code already prohibits ranked choice voting or preferential voting, then why

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• and building codes.
• This bill is especially important for rural Texas.
• As somebody who grew up in Deep East Texas, I definitely M.
• And there are just less and less of our population in Texas, certainly in the central Texas area that
• universities, Texas State and UH.

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• Those outside Austin and rural Texas are being forced out.
• at the South Texas Project.
• Just to edify here, Sections 45U, 45Y, and 45E of the Internal Revenue Code, not known in the tax code
• in Texas.
• House Bill 3516 would amend the Texas Government Code to include these... ...employees and communications

Keywords: 1185, senate, all

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• HB 2027, groundwater with all file penal AMA and root.
• HCR 2023, expenditure limitations, code jurisdiction; Appropriations.

Keywords: 1182, all

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• There was a longstanding rule that once the, we call it a Penal Code 17B, once the motion was entertained

Summary: The Assembly convened after a quorum call, heard a prayer and Pledge of Allegiance, and then moved through routine procedural business, including dispensing with the reading of the prior journal, re-referring several bills, and approving committee scheduling requests. There was also a point of order from Assemblymember DeMaio asking about a possible Governor’s message regarding Medi-Cal, but the chair said no formal message had been received at the desk. The main floor debate centered on AB 321 by Assemblymember Schultz, the Better Informed Decisions Act, which would allow courts to consider reducing certain “wobbler” offenses from felonies to misdemeanors later in the criminal process if new evidence emerges. Supporters argued it would improve fairness, transparency, and efficiency by letting judges make better-informed decisions; opponents said it would weaken felony accountability and conflict with voter intent on public safety. The bill passed on a 46-5 vote. The Assembly also adopted ACR 47 by Assemblymember Chen, declaring March 16–22 as National Surveyors Week, with 63 co-authors added and the resolution adopted by voice vote. AB 387 by Assemblymember Alanis, which expands jury duty exemptions to include probation officers, passed 64-0. On the consent calendar, ACR 46, HR 9, HR 22, and SCR 17 were adopted with unanimous votes, and the Assembly adjourned until Monday, March 17 at 1 p.m.

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• <01:29:47.840> If included in the motor vehicle code.
• If included in the motor vehicle code.
• , you can put in the motor vehicle code, you can put in the motor vehicle code, we<01:29:50.159><
• Um,<01:29:55.280> penalizing<01:29:56.000> someone<01:29:56.320> for<01:29:56.560
• > that<01:29:56.719> very Um, penalizing someone for that very Um, penalizing someone for

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• tax code.
• House Bill 3699 would amend the Texas Labor Code to define last work and.
• Section 552,130 of the government code and Section 730007 of the Transportation code to clarify that
• By amending Chapter 201, Texas Labor Code, House Bill 33,700 would ensure that all programs at TWC have
• Labor Code.

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• They want to expand their Texas presence and has chosen North Texas.
• Right now, Alpine is specifically restricted by a section of the Texas Tax Code that requires them to
• Under the current law in Subchapter C of Chapter 31 of the tax code, 66 Texas cities are authorized to
• This bill would add the City of Monahans to Section 351.0066(a) of the Texas Tax Code.
• tax code.

Summary: The committee heard a long series of bills, most of them expanding or adjusting hotel occupancy tax or qualified hotel project authority for specific local governments. Measures discussed included HB 2404 for Childress County; HB 3066 for Allen’s Kalahari resort project; HB 4682 for Plano; HB 4683 for Anna; HB 3076 creating a project finance zone in Frisco; HB 3567 for Wichita County; HB 3715 for McAllen; HB 1039 for Alpine; HB 3182 for Burleson; HB 4926 for Grimes County; HB 4222 for Victoria County; HB 3377 for Katy; HB 4659 for Addison; HB 3241 for Georgetown; HB 4098 for Taylor; HB 3178 for Kerr County; HB 3179 for Mason County; HB 2289 for New Braunfels; HB 4412 for Kermit; HB 5165 for Monahans; HB 3500 for Bastrop; and HB 3169 for Carrollton. In each case, authors and local officials described tourism, convention, hotel, airport, or mixed-use development needs and argued the bills would help attract visitors, investment, and jobs. One non-hotel-tax bill, HB 4226, would exempt Texas food banks from sales tax on vehicle purchases and rentals, with testimony emphasizing the scale of food bank operations and the savings’ impact on meal delivery and disaster response. Testimony was generally supportive from city officials, economic development representatives, and industry groups such as the Texas Hotel and Lodging Association. Several witnesses described major private projects, including Kalahari in Allen, a proposed hotel and conference center in Addison, a mixed-use project in Georgetown, and a large development tied to Samsung growth in Taylor. For HB 4226, food bank representatives said the bill would help them purchase refrigerated trucks and other delivery vehicles, while an opponent questioned the fiscal note and the scope of the exemption. HB 4926 drew opposition from Camp Allen, whose representative argued a new county hotel tax would raise costs for guests and could hurt the retreat center’s operations. HB 3178 also drew an objection from a Kerr County resident who argued the tax would grow county government and pointed to event center losses, though the author said the revenue would support tourism-related county uses. The committee took no final votes on the bills in this transcript. After each bill was laid out and testimony concluded, the chair repeatedly asked whether there was objection to leaving the bill pending; in each instance, no objection was heard, and the bills were left pending. Several committee substitutes were offered and then withdrawn or noted as conforming drafts, but no bill was reported out or otherwise acted on beyond being left pending.

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• It penalized everybody that pays child support because they can't claim the exemption anymore, because
• It penalized everybody that pays child support because they can't claim the exemption anymore, because
• It penalized everybody that pays child support because they can't claim the exemption anymore, because
• It penalized everybody that pays child support because they can't claim the exemption anymore, because
• All right, well, you may continue, and I'm not penalizing you for my speaking. Go ahead.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Summary: The House Children and Family Law Committee met on January 28, 2025, and first heard House Bill 322, which would give a parent paying child support the exclusive right to claim the child as a dependent on taxes. Representative Barton, the sponsor, argued that because child support is no longer tax-deductible, the paying parent should at least receive the child tax credit. Committee members and later testimony from New Hampshire Legal Assistance raised concerns that the bill would override court discretion, could disadvantage low-income custodial parents, and would not account for cases where child support payments are small or where parents share support unevenly. Several members noted that judges already allocate dependency claims in divorce orders and can modify those orders when circumstances change. After testimony, the committee moved to ITL (inexpedient to legislate) HB 322. The motion was seconded, discussion continued, and the roll call was unanimous in favor of ITL. The committee then placed the bill on consent and ended the executive session on HB 322. The committee next took up House Bill 325, which would eliminate term and reimbursement alimony in no-fault divorces. Representative Barton testified that alimony in those cases was akin to involuntary servitude and should not survive dissolution of the marriage contract. The hearing then moved into questions about whether alimony is meant to compensate a spouse for sacrifices made during the marriage, such as supporting a partner through school or staying home with children, and the sponsor maintained that post-divorce support should not continue as a marital obligation. The transcript cuts off before any vote or further action on HB 325 is shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• Section 153002 Texas Family Code states, and I'm quoting from the statute here, of the child shall always
• Texas Family Law Foundation, and we are neutral on Senate Bill 2052.
• I'm an attorney in Galveston, Texas.
• or a PCS. under Chapter, under Section 264 of the Family Code.
• I'm an attorney in Galveston, Texas, and president of the Texas Association of Family Defensives. attorneys

Bills: SB387, SB1650, SB1838, SB1839, SB1923, SB1940, SB2052

Keywords: judicial bond, guardianship, probate law, county judge, statutory county court, attorney general, criminal prosecution, public order, law enforcement, jurisdiction, attorney ad litem, parent-child relationship, compensation, legal representation, government entity, probate, court proceedings, record delivery, wills, legal documentation

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• Within the Texas Education Code, we have a law, which is 22.085, that permits violent Title V offenders
• Texas Ed 911 reposted it.
• on Texas TEKS and Texas Learning is very important.
• It's about the future of Texas.
• Texas School Alliance.

Keywords: 1185, senate, all

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• 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.

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• These proposed cuts jeopardize success stories like Casey and unfairly penalize families who exercise
• In closing, I strongly urge members to protect these vital services and not penalize families purely
• families purely based and not penalize families purely based on<01:30:18.080> a<01:30:18.480>
• Those are finance code 728 reimbursements, and we'd really hope the committee rolls those out.
• Those are finance<01:36:20.960> code<01:36:21.480> 728<01:36:22.480> reimbursements<

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It amends the criminal punishment code, re-ranking, lowering, enticing offenses in the severity ranking
• believe perhaps a subparagraph three that says nothing in this section is intended to criminalize or penalize
• to better understand, to better be responsible for those individuals that are in our custody in the penal

Summary: The Appropriations Committee on Criminal and Civil Justice considered and advanced a series of criminal justice bills, with most measures reported favorably after brief presentations, amendments, and roll-call votes. Among the bills approved were CS/SB 468 on fleeing or attempting to elude law enforcement, which increases offense levels and allows impoundment of involved vehicles; CS/SB 1136 on age as an element of a criminal offense, which strengthens protections for minors and was amended to adjust age thresholds and luring/enticement language; CS/SB 144 on criminal justice, which was narrowed by substitute amendment after discussion with law enforcement and includes provisions on kill switches, body cameras/AI, first responder recognition, and other corrections-related items; and CS/SB 1782, which creates penalties for dangerous excessive speeding. The committee also favorably reported CS/SB 964 on objective parole guidelines, CS/SB 1450 on arrest and detention of individuals with significant medical conditions, CS/SB 612 on murder involving unlawful drug distribution by minors, CS/SB 1838 on tampering with or harassing court officials, CS/SB 716 on enhanced penalties for sexual offenses by repeat offenders, CS/SB 1604 on corrections, and CS/SB 1360 on xylazine, which preserves veterinary use while increasing penalties for illicit trafficking and possession for sale. Several bills drew substantive testimony and debate. CS/SB 1838 prompted concerns from the Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers that the tampering language could be applied to prosecutors or defense attorneys; the sponsor said he would work to refine the language. CS/SB 964 received support from criminal defense advocates and a witness who argued Florida’s parole system needs revision due to prison overcrowding and staffing issues. CS/SB 1604 generated questions about inmate access to courts, the statute of limitations for confinement claims, and involuntary mental health treatment; the sponsor said the bill aims to balance inmate rights with timely reporting and to address bad actors in corrections. CS/SB 1360 was supported as a response to the spread of xylazine on the street, while noting its legitimate veterinary use. The most contested measure was CS/SB 1804 on capital sex trafficking. The bill would create a capital offense for adult trafficking of a child under 12 or a mentally incapacitated person under specified circumstances, with a life-felony fallback if capital punishment is later found unconstitutional. Supporters argued it targets especially heinous conduct and closes a gap in existing law; opponents, including the Florida Conference of Catholic Bishops, Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, and anti-death-penalty advocates, argued it expands the death penalty beyond homicide, raises constitutional concerns, risks retraumatizing victims, and would be costly to litigate. After extensive debate, the committee adopted an amendment aligning the bill with the House companion and reported the bill favorably. The committee also approved SB 776 adding an aggravating factor for assassination or attempted assassination of a head of state, despite objections from some members who voted no. At the end of the meeting, the chair thanked members for the session, and the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• update vocational programs to reflect current job market needs by incorporating digital literacy, coding
• update vocational programs to reflect current job market needs by incorporating digital literacy, coding
• So we are required by Penal Code 2053.5, I wanted to make sure I got it, to take a look at jobs availability
• She's saying that they go by this Penal Code, but that's not true from my experience.

Summary: The hearing focused first on sexual abuse, harassment, and retaliation in California’s women’s prisons, with testimony from CDCR wardens, the Office of Inspector General, advocacy groups, and formerly incarcerated survivors. Legislators and witnesses described a pattern of staff misconduct, fear of retaliation, gaps in reporting, and the need for stronger accountability, better investigations, and more outside access for survivor support organizations. CDCR said it has expanded training, body-worn and stationary cameras, outside partnerships, and PREA-related response procedures, while the Inspector General requested additional funding and staff to monitor more grievances and staff sexual misconduct cases under SB 1069. Members pressed CDCR on why accused staff are not always placed on leave, how cases are referred to prosecutors, and whether current protections are enough; several members argued the state should aim to investigate all complaints and do more to prevent retaliation and repeat abuse. The second issue was rehabilitative and reentry programming in women’s prisons. CDCR’s Division of Rehabilitative Programs and the wardens highlighted education, vocational training, substance use treatment, peer support, and community reentry programs, citing increased enrollment and recent graduates earning diplomas, degrees, and certifications. They said these programs are intended to reduce recidivism and improve public safety. Formerly incarcerated advocates and community providers argued that current offerings are still too limited, outdated, and not aligned with today’s job market, especially around digital literacy and transferable credentials, and they urged more funding for community-based, trauma-informed, gender-responsive programming. A coalition representative asked for a $20 million continuation and expansion of the Wright Grant program, and members discussed additional budget requests for reentry and related women’s services.