Transcript Highlights:

• And the people who do this, they don't pay real estate tax. They don't pay tax on the income.
• It took government code 51.903.
• It took government code 51.903.
• This bill is about the offense of human smuggling in the Texas Penal Code.
• Penal Code.

Summary: The committee heard and laid out a series of criminal justice bills, with public and invited testimony on restitution, juvenile justice, child abuse reporting, public-safety protections, organ trafficking, property fraud, disaster-response worker protections, fentanyl exposure, emergency data disclosure, insurance-fraud investigations, blood warrant execution, human smuggling, and TJJD advocacy access. Several measures drew support from prosecutors, clerks, law enforcement, utility companies, and victims who described real-world harms and delays in current law; opposition or caution came from civil-rights and advocacy groups on bills involving expanded criminal liability, data disclosure, and juvenile-facility access. Most bills were left pending after testimony, with the committee later voting out SB 127 favorably and placing it on the local and uncontested calendar. SB 1666 would streamline restitution payments for parole or mandatory supervision cases by requiring TDCJ to include victim information when forwarding payments, shortening the period before unclaimed funds go to the Crime Victims’ Compensation Fund, and clarifying confidentiality and contact procedures; county clerks supported it as an efficiency measure. SB 2776 would let TJJD disclose certain information, with written consent, to support the Credible Messengers Program, and SB 127 would extend limitations periods for failure-to-report child abuse and concealment offenses, with testimony emphasizing delayed discovery of abuse and the need for accountability. SB 1980 would increase penalties for assaulting or interfering with peace officers, parole officers, and community supervision officers, and SB 456 would raise penalties for organ purchasing/trafficking and create a more specific criminal framework for the offense; both drew strong support from law enforcement and victims. The committee also heard SB 2611 on real property theft and deed fraud, which would create separate offenses for real property theft and fraud, add a ten-year limitations period, require criminal judgments to be filed in county property records, and expand restitution and title-clearing remedies. Witnesses described forged deeds, stolen church and family properties, and long, costly efforts to restore title; county clerks and prosecutors said the bill would help victims and streamline civil remedies. SB 482 would increase penalties for offenses against utility workers during declared disasters or evacuation orders, prompted by reports of threats and assaults during Hurricane Beryl; utility representatives said the bill is needed to keep mutual-aid crews coming to Texas. SB 1234 would add fentanyl to the endangerment statute for vulnerable people, while SB 816 would allow providers to disclose electronic data in immediate life-threatening situations; both drew support from prosecutors and criticism from civil-rights advocates concerned about overbreadth and liability protections.

Transcript Highlights:

• It's a win-win, we think for Texas because it gives Texas a good secured investment that is backed by
• What happens on the coast impacts Texas.
• It is important to the state of Texas.
• coast but also to the citizens of Texas.
• Uh, growing extremely well here in Texas.

Transcript Highlights:

• More loopholes in the tax code for Wall Street while working families fall further and further behind
• More loopholes in the tax code for Wall Street while working families fall further and further behind
• The gentleman from Texas. BILLIONAIRE BONUS EXTENDS TAX CUTS.
• It's essential that the House of Representatives pass this bill today to cement a pro-growth tax code
• North Texans want relief, certainty, and a tax code that works for them, not against them.

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Wednesday, May 21, 2025, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Produced water is imported for injection purposes into Texas from outside of Texas boundaries.
• Sales Tax in 2019.
• We have working relationships with Texas A&M, Texas Tech University.
• As Texas grows, we all age.
• Texas communities.

Bills: SB1, SB 1

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

Transcript Highlights:

• Seeing none, moving on to SB 2347 SD1 relating to the residential landlord-tenant code.
• And in relation to that, we collect only about $75 million a year in tobacco taxes.
• Moving on to SB 2347 SD1 relating to the residential landlord-tenant code.

Bills: SB2960, SB2347, SB2272, SB3137, SB3132, SB2271, SB2804, SB2175, SB2487

Keywords: homeowners insurance, disaster recovery, replacement cost value, state of emergency, policyholder rights, insurance extensions, tenant rights, landlord obligations, housing crisis, eviction prevention, multilingual access, SB2272, Act 105, home health licensing, home health agency, home health services, Department of Health, DOH, CMS, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services

Summary: The committee heard several resolutions and one bill focused on energy reliability, utility infrastructure, insurance, tenant rights, and home health licensing. On the energy side, members heard HCR 203/HR 193 on a status update for the Hawaii Electric Reliability Administrator, HCR 204/HR 194 on a comprehensive PUC analysis of cost reduction and risk, and HCR 202/HR 192 creating a legislative task force on future energy pathways. Testimony on the energy measures was generally supportive from the PUC, DCCA’s Division of Consumer Advocacy, the Hawaii State Energy Office, and the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, with OHA urging that equity, native Hawaiian impacts, and public trust resources be considered alongside cost savings. The committee also heard HCR 125/HR 117 on coordinating with utilities to address aging utility poles and lines along Farrington Highway and other high-risk corridors; Hawaiian Electric supported the measure, Hawaiian Telcom and Charter Spectrum said much of the work is already underway and questioned whether the resolution was necessary, and committee questioning focused on existing double-pole tracking and the role of DOT and the PUC. The committee then took up HCR 137/HR 129 on timely reimbursement of health care claims under the clean claims statute. The DCCA Insurance Division and the Hawaii Insurers Council opposed the measure as drafted, saying it could be read to require payment beyond policy limits and could raise premiums or reduce market participation. United Policyholders supported the measure, arguing it would simply give policyholders more time to collect benefits they already purchased, and clarified that it was not intended to increase coverage beyond policy limits. The committee later amended the resolution to direct the DCCA Insurance Division to prioritize investigation and enforcement of clean claims complaints. In the decision meeting, the committee recommended and adopted passage of HCR 203/HR 193 as is, HCR 204/HR 194 with an amendment removing the eighth whereas clause, HCR 202/HR 192 with an amendment adding a committee representative to the task force, HCR 125/HR 117 as is, and HCR 137/HR 129 with amendments. The committee also heard SB 2960 SC1 on property insurance, which would extend the time policyholders have after a declared disaster to document replacement-cost claims. The Insurance Division and Hawaii Insurers Council opposed it, warning it could force coverage beyond policy limits and increase premiums, while United Policyholders supported it and said it would help disaster survivors recover benefits they already paid for; members questioned whether similar laws in other states had caused premium spikes and clarified that the bill was not intended to exceed policy limits. The committee also heard SB 2347 SD1 on multilingual tenant-rights notices, with OHA, Hawaii Appleseed, and others supporting the bill but urging restoration of language requiring landlords to directly provide the notice at lease signing. Finally, SB 2272 SD1 HD1 on home health licensing drew support from the Department of Health, SHPDA, and the Health Care Association of Hawaii, with the association requesting an effective date amendment; testimony explained that the bill would allow state licensing compliance to be demonstrated through CMS-approved accreditation or certification surveys, potentially reducing duplication and freeing state resources.

Transcript Highlights:

• property tax by 25%.
• We saw the rental tax, the food tax in the city of Yuma.
• , property taxes, sales taxes, you name it, for four years.
• If we can grow through Douglas and through this port, our property taxes go up, our sales tax goes up
• North Dakota, Texas.

Bills: SB1041, SB1050, SB1131, SB1138, SB1249, SB1267, SB1272, SB1317, SB1461, SB1488, SB1504, SB1517, SB1523, SB1580, SB1582, SB1584, SB1585, SB1602, SB1630, SB1654, SB1672, SB1673, SB1718, SB1761, SB1819, SB1826, SB1827

Keywords: electronic monitoring, nursing care, assisted living, resident rights, privacy, consent, surveillance, veterans, lifetime pass, state parks, Arizona, access, disabled veterans, cardiac arrest, defibrillators, school safety, emergency response, CPR training, Arizona education funding, automated license plate readers

Transcript Highlights:

• Third, it leverages existing code.
• code.
• I mean, it's multifamily existing that's completely stuck because of the way we do our tax code and how
• who works on who Texas has a statute that's very similar to this, including Texas property managers
• Taxes change if the zoning changed.

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Because if we want Texas to be the best place to raise a family, we have to make sure Texas is the best
• The Texas Education Code and past actions of this body have prioritized a well-rounded education for
• Lieutenant, Cushing ISD, East Texas.
• We stand tall for the U.S. and Texas flags.
• I know the worth of Texas children, and I'm sorry to say this bill does not reflect the worth of Texas

Bills: HB2

Keywords: public education, teacher compensation, certification, funding, school finance, educator rights, education funding, charter schools, staff compensation, state aid, retention allotment, 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Honor the Texas flag. I pledge allegiance to the Texas, one state under God, One and indivisible.
• , and citizens of Texas.
• payers and property tax bills in the state of Texas are going to go up.
• For tax purposes.
• Texas GSA used to be Texas Gay Straight Alliance.

Summary: The House met in a late-session floor session that began with prayer, pledges, quorum, and a series of excused absences and Senate messages reporting action on numerous bills, conference committee appointments, and conference reports. Members also adopted a memorial resolution honoring Mark James Hanna, a Capitol lobbyist and advocate for nurses, and a congratulatory resolution for Rishi Tarumalasetti, an eighth-grade civics bee winner from Katy. The chamber also received and recorded a parliamentary colloquy about an unusual Senate request on SB 293, with the Chair stating the House could not recede from only part of its amendments and could not suspend the rules because the bill had not been returned from the Senate. The bulk of the session was devoted to taking up conference committee reports and related procedural resolutions, especially the state budget. The House adopted a resolution allowing the SB 1 conferees to go outside the normal bounds, then adopted the SB 1 conference report on a 107-21 vote. Debate on the budget centered on public education funding, tax relief, health care, corrections pay, and judicial compensation, with supporters calling it a responsible compromise and opponents arguing it was overly expansive and insufficient on property tax relief. The House also adopted a technical correction resolution tying judicial pay increases in SB 1 to the House version of SB 293, and members discussed at length the relationship between judicial salaries and legislative pensions. The chamber then adopted a long series of conference reports on measures covering topics such as school library review and book challenges (SB 13), SNAP restrictions on sweetened drinks and candy (SB 379), hospital price transparency (SB 331), nursing home accountability (SB 457), school district personnel compensation conflicts (HB 3372), property notice rules (HB 2011), research and development tax credits (SB 2018), and several other bills affecting elections, permits, education, and criminal justice. Most reports passed by wide margins, though some drew significant opposition, especially SB 13 and SB 379. The House also granted several Senate requests for conference committees and introduced additional resolutions to suspend conferee limits on various bills as the session moved toward adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• So in May of 2026, as you all know, Chapter 62 or 16.22 of the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure requires
• Under Section 573 of the Texas Health and Safety Code, we currently have the apprehension of a police
• I was the chief magistrate judge, appointed under Chapter 54 of the Texas Government Code.
• It's under the Texas Health and Safety Code 573.001, just for everybody's reference.
• Furthermore, while recent legislation strengthening the Texas Health and Safety Code provisions related

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• All to hand massive tax<02:14:15.400> breaks<02:14:16.400> to tax breaks to tax breaks
• from Texas is recognized. from Texas is recognized.
• any other state, that state being Texas. any other state, that state being Texas.
• and throughout the state of Texas. and throughout the state of Texas.
• The gentleman from Texas is recognized. Reserve. Gentleman from Texas reserves.

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Tuesday, April 29, 2025, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It is a Texas issue.
• It pays severance taxes. Severance taxes goes into the treasury.
• They pay, uh, sales taxes, they pay, uh, ad lorem taxes, they pay.
• And to put that in context, $27 billion in taxes and royalties paid last year by the Texas oil and natural
• Uh, the Texas Geothermal Energy Alliance is a Texas-based, Texas-led advocacy organization, obviously

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, members across Texas are, um, I ran up the stairs, so I'm a little bit out of breath.
• been a Texas GDP economic impact of about $1.8 billion.
• We urge Texas legislators to champion policies recognizing and maximizing contributions to Texas veterans
• , invest in Texas, and be the next generation of risk takers and job creators for Texas.
• , invest in Texas, and be the next generation of risk takers and job creators for Texas.

Summary: The Committee on Veterans Affairs heard several bills related to veterans and military installations. Senator Birdwell presented SB 1197, which would extend existing drone restrictions over military bases and airports to Texas spaceports, with exceptions for authorized operators; there was brief supportive testimony and the bill was left pending. Chairman Hancock presented SB 1271, allowing Texas to accept concurrent jurisdiction over military installations to improve handling of juvenile offenses through state and local involvement; no public testimony was offered, and the bill was left pending. SB 390, by Senator Middleton and explained by Senator Menendez, would expand the definition of historically underutilized businesses to include veteran-owned businesses certified by the SBA, regardless of disability rating, to increase veteran participation in state contracting. The bill drew extensive supportive testimony from veterans and business advocates, while Senator Eckhardt raised concerns that broadening the category might not satisfy the disparity-study basis typically used for HUB programs. The committee also took up pending bills later in the meeting. SB 651 was advanced after adoption of a committee substitute and received a unanimous committee vote to do pass and be recommended for the local and uncontested calendar. SB 897 likewise had a committee substitute adopted and was reported favorably by a unanimous vote, with a recommendation for the local and uncontested calendar. SB 1814 was reported favorably and recommended for the local and uncontested calendar by a unanimous vote. SB 1197 was also voted out favorably and recommended for the local and uncontested calendar. SB 1271 and SB 390 were left pending at the end of the meeting, and the committee then recessed subject to the call of the chair.

Transcript Highlights:

• Would be required to hold an ungraded dealer wholesaler license obtained from the Texas Department of
• So you can go to a grocery store and buy Texas quail eggs that are ungraded or Texas duck eggs that are
• And they cannot point to a single instance in Texas with ungraded eggs, duck, quail, or chicken where
• Senate Bill 1864 is a common sense update to the agriculture code. It's an update to the code.
• I'm with the Texas Poultry Federation, and we are opposed to SB 1864.

Transcript Highlights:

• We were going to use tax notes. Tax notes, um, and we were going to basically back them.
• or short term ear versions of bonds, and so they aren't covered under the same section of the tax code
• Uh, they could, uh, taxes, uh, tax notes are, but, uh, schools have a lot less flexibility than cities
• use a 7-year tax note for that.
• Usually, we deal with taxes and.

Transcript Highlights:

• We contract with two incubators, one out of University of Texas and the other out of Texas A&M University
• They're all in East Texas. They're all in East Texas. There's a lot.
• They produce oil and gas, they pay severance taxes, severance taxes goes into the treasury, treasury.
• And to put that in context, $27 billion in taxes and royalties paid last year. by the Texas oil and natural
• The Texas Geothermal Energy Alliance is a Texas-based, Texas-led advocacy organization. of advancing

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• we are making in the tax structure.
• We are making in the tax structure.
• And so what this bill does is it strikes a one line in the property tax code for residential rezoning
• And I know what my property tax is there.
• Are not tax rates set by the counties?

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I represent the Texas Public Policy Foundation.
• Every bond is an increase in taxes, and Texas has a local debt of almost $500 billion.
• It's just amending the code to say that.
• I represent the Texas Public Policy Foundation.
• I represent the Texas Public Policy Foundation.

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh The Texas State Association of Firefighters.
• Workers' Compensation Act, uh, under Texas Labor Code Chapter 410.
• Uh, for example, Texas Labor Code Section 410 allows.
• Uh, the, the biggest, uh, ambiguity I can see in the bill as it's written now is under Texas Labor Code
• Of the Texas Healthcare Workforce Task Force October report hosted by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating

Bills: SB888, SB2479, SB2489, SB2519, SB2521, SB2527, SB2575, SB2591, SB2611, SB2665, SB2667, SB2695, SB2697, SB2713, SB2730, SB2751, SB2765, SB2795, SB2797, SB2806, SB2812, SB2818, SB2835, SB2849, SB2851, SB2896, SB2922, SB2970, SB2972, SB2973

Keywords: SB888, Hawaii, consumer protection, smart home security, smart household security device, home security camera, video doorbell, Ring, Nest, connected devices, internet of things, IoT, privacy, data privacy, law enforcement access, police requests, search warrant, judicial warrant, subpoena, emergency disclosure

Summary: The Judiciary Committee met in decision-making only session and took up a long list of Senate bills, mostly advancing them with either no amendments or committee amendments. Early measures included SB 888, which bars smart household security device operators from sharing user data with law enforcement without consent or a warrant, and SB 2479, which allows certain defendants to seek reduced sentences based on family violence, dating violence, or child abuse history; both were adopted, with SB 2479 amended for technical and procedural changes. The committee also adopted SB 2489 on invasive species provisions in Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity leases, SB 2519 on Law Enforcement Standards Board deadlines, SB 2521 and SB 2527 on CDL-related exemptions and training/policies for emergency personnel, and SB 2575 on firearm-related mandatory minimum penalties, which was amended to clarify scope and set a far-future effective date. Several transportation and public safety bills were also approved. SB 2591 created a Waikiki refuse-collection pilot program; SB 2611 expanded criminal trespass rules for school premises to weekends and holidays, though one member raised concerns about use of school property as a park; SB 2665 required driver-license renewal applicants with recent citations to complete a road-safety course, later narrowed to moving violations only; SB 2667 restricted towing vehicles from far-left lanes; SB 2695 clarified crosswalk duties; SB 2697 prohibited driving on shoulders except in limited cases; and SB 2812 required driver testing on dangers posed by larger vehicles, with court-ordered timing for re-examination. Most of these measures passed unanimously or with one or more members recording no votes or reservations, but they were still adopted. The committee also advanced SB 2713 on restricting certain pesticide use near elderly care facilities, SB 2730 on warrantless arrest and detention factors for petty misdemeanors and violations, SB 2765 on condominium foreclosure rental income, SB 2795 on flag display rights in housing associations with health and safety carve-outs, SB 2797 on gift card fraud, SB 2806 on real estate listing restrictions, SB 2818 on boating and ocean recreation penalties, SB 2835 on liquor licensing and education funding, SB 2849 on public meeting notice requirements, SB 2851 on a deafness designation for vehicle registration, SB 2896 lowering the commercial driving age to 18, SB 2922 on cooperative association definitions, SB 2970 on state contracting conflicts involving relatives, SB 2972 on temporary Oahu spearing restrictions for certain fish, and SB 2973 on banning jug-line fishing. A few bills drew objections over breadth or penalties, especially the boating and fishing measures, but the committee still adopted the recommendations. SB 2751 on workers’ compensation prescription drug rules was deferred indefinitely, and the meeting ended with the chair noting upcoming joint and committee meetings for the next day.