Transcript Highlights:

• The average agencies that petitioners include is anywhere from 12 agencies to 30, so that can be an additional
• As long as the agencies are giving us, or the petitioners are including, an email address with the agencies
• , the district clerk will be listing the normal local agencies and the state agencies that would typically
• You pay to have all the law enforcement agencies, TCIC, NCIC, and whoever else, whatever county you were
• I'm here representing Dallas County Criminal District Attorney John Cruzzo.

Bills: HB115

Keywords: public funds, lobbying, political subdivision, government spending, transparency, HB 115, taxpayer-funded lobbying, local government lobbying, county association dues, municipal lobbying, lobbyist registration, Chapter 305, Government Code Section 556.0056, Local Government Code Section 89.002, county government, city government, injunctive relief, attorney's fees, state association of counties, sheriffs association

Summary: The Committee on Criminal Jurisprudence reconvened with a quorum present and announced it would likely not vote that night because of confusion over the bill list; members were told a definitive list would be circulated the next morning and a formal meeting would be scheduled later. The chair then heard a series of bills, generally taking testimony and leaving each pending without action. House Bill 1847 would set maximum caseload standards for private attorneys handling indigent criminal appointments through the Texas Indigent Defense Commission; House Bill 2417 would expand compensation eligibility for some wrongfully imprisoned people; House Bill 2813 would require earlier and more specific victim notice of scheduled court proceedings; and House Bill 2309 would expand state and local authority in certain civil asset forfeiture cases involving human trafficking, health care fraud, and organized crime. Each bill was laid out by its author or a member, with no opposition witnesses registered, and each was left pending. The committee also heard House Bill 4733, which would require sealing records for people acquitted of charges when they were not convicted on the related allegation; House Bill 2328, which would modernize expunction service by encouraging electronic notice, setting a standardized fee when electronic service is unavailable, extending clerk retention of expunction orders, and preserving certain mental health commitment orders; and House Bill 115, which would revise Texas’s “junk science” post-conviction writ law by providing counsel, changing the relief standard, requiring written decisions, and easing procedural barriers. Testimony on HB 2328 was mixed: county clerks supported the bill as a cost-saving modernization, while legal advocates warned that permanent retention of expunction orders could undermine true expunction and create privacy risks. HB 115 drew support from innocence and defense organizations, with some concern about a provision affecting subsequent writs. All were left pending after testimony. Later, the committee heard House Bill 2046, which would allow affirmative family-violence findings for any Penal Code offense rather than only Title V offenses; testimony from a Dallas County prosecutor and a committee member emphasized that family violence can involve arson, burglary, fraud, and other non-Title V conduct, and the bill was left pending. House Bill 1765 would tighten restrictions on no-knock warrants by requiring higher-level approval, judicial review, and identifiable officers; members discussed the dangers highlighted by the Harding Street raid and similar incidents, and the bill was also left pending. The meeting ended with the chair noting that some bills had been removed from the agenda at the author’s request and that members should be prepared to finalize the vote list the next day.

Transcript Highlights:

• storage units must post an advertisement of the sale not once but twice in a print newspaper in the county
• In fact, there are 27 counties in Texas that already have no printed newspaper in their county, and that
• Anybody in the world could register to, uh, look for bids in any county or any city in Texas.
• And if there is no newspaper in the county, there is no online presence.
• , uh, with an amazing, uh, Wharton County Junior College with satellite campuses.

Bills: HB 186

Keywords: public funds, lobbying activities, political subdivisions, government expenditure, transparency, local government, political subdivision, county, city, municipality, special district, taxpayer-funded lobbying, lobbying restriction, registered lobbyist, government association, county association dues, Texas Legislature, injunctive relief, attorney's fees, Chapter 556

Transcript Highlights:

• . agencies. agencies.
• </c><00:07:36.720><c> jail</c> felony is sitting in the county jail felony is sitting in the county jail
• </c><00:08:15.680><c> where</c> the cycle for those counties where the cycle for those counties where
• We are and the your county jails.
• Could we county detention centers.

Bills: SF0010, SF0005

Keywords: mental health, detention, competency evaluation, treatment, contractual agreements, bankruptcy, hospital, county, healthcare, financial stability, 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Let me just say for the record, I got a case right now in Shelby County that I'll be in court with in
• Let me just say for the record, I got a case right now in Shelby County that I'll be in court with in
• I've dealt with a property case down in Dallas County, and the problem was simply it was so old that
• 20.000><c> and</c><00:52:20.240><c> the</c><00:52:20.480><c> problem</c><00:52:20.720><c> was</c> County
• and the and the problem was County and the and the problem was simply<00:52:21.280><c> it</c><00:52:

Bills: SB169, SB180, SB203, SB87, SB195, SB192, SB169, SB180, SB203, SB87, SB195, SB192, HB132, HB37, HB13, HB54, HB126, HB7, SB30, HB188, HB189, HB26, HB264, HB288, HB248, HB249, HB227, HB228

Keywords: Lieutenant Governor, vacancy, governor appointment, Alabama Constitution, state government, media monitoring, government contracts, state agencies, local agencies, media regulations, transparency, dental insurance, medical loss ratio, premium regulation, insurance commissioner, rebate, consumer protection, midwifery, licensed midwives, State Board of Midwifery

Transcript Highlights:

• exclusive right to prosecute cases in criminal court, in district court, absent a request from the county
• or district attorney for assistance from the AG belongs to the county and district attorney.
• that has a circle that actually had an outage, that's Gillespie County.
• I live in that county, and I'm probably just a little bit below that lower line.
• I'm an attorney, a parent, and the chair of the Travis County GOP. I'm in favor of HB 3225.

Bills: HB 45, HB 755, HB 1232, HB 1555, HB 2460, HB 2702, HB 2973, HB 3120, HB 3225, HB 3314, HB 3356, HB 3371, HB 3634, HB 3638, HB 4247, HB 4283, HB 4290, HB 4302, HB 4503, HB 4511, HB 4565, HB 4581, HB 4627, HB 4632, HB 4660, HB 4668, HB 4960, HB 5042

Keywords: housing, affordable housing, rent control, landlord-tenant laws, housing rights, lobbying, public entities, expenditures, government code, transparency, Texas Ethics Commission, government regulation, lobbying restrictions, government accountability, taxpayer money, HB 1232, whistleblower, whistleblower protection, public employee, retaliation

Transcript Highlights:

• counties, much like I have.
• I'm a resident of Llano County, which is a rural county, and I'm acutely aware of the urgent need for
• Why is it obvious that the County Commissioner's Court of Cameron County does a less efficient job of
• I'm sure Cameron County does, and I know that there's obviously a lot of people in Cameron County who
• So I just wanted to note that for the record, that the County Executive for Cameron County, Paranoia.

Bills: HB45, HB755, HB 1232, HB1555, HB2460, HB2702, HB2973, HB3120, HB3225, HB3314, HB3356, HB3371, HB3634, HB3638, HB4247, HB4283, HB4290, HB4302, HB4503, HB4511, HB4565, HB4581, HB4627, HB4632, HB4660, HB4668, HB4960, HB5042, HB45

Keywords: housing, affordable housing, rent control, landlord-tenant laws, housing rights, lobbying, public entities, expenditures, government code, transparency, Texas Ethics Commission, government regulation, lobbying restrictions, government accountability, taxpayer money, HB 1232, whistleblower, whistleblower protection, public employee, retaliation

Transcript Highlights:

• or district attorney. ...for assistance from the AG belongs to the county and district attorney.
• has a circle that actually had an outage is Gillespie County.
• I live in that county, and I'm probably just a little bit below that lower line.
• I'm an attorney, a parent, and the chair of the Travis County GOP. I'm in favor of HB3225.
• Counties do not have money to spend on waste.

Bills: HB45, HB45, HB755, HB 1232, HB1555, HB2460, HB2702, HB2973, HB3120, HB3225, HB3314, HB3356, HB3371, HB3634, HB3638, HB4247, HB4283, HB4290, HB4302, HB4503, HB4511, HB4565, HB4581, HB4627, HB4632, HB4660, HB4668, HB4960, HB5042

Keywords: flooding, disaster response, emergency preparedness, state guidance, public safety, housing, affordable housing, rent control, landlord-tenant laws, housing rights, lobbying, public entities, expenditures, government code, transparency, Texas Ethics Commission, government regulation, lobbying restrictions, government accountability, taxpayer money

Transcript Highlights:

• I talked to our child care agency. I talked to the former secretary of the agency.
• I've received numerous emails from other agencies saying, add me, add me.
• I've received numerous emails from other agencies saying, add me, add me.
• I don't know, but I do know with the Department of Licensing and other agencies, but unemployment agencies
• I'm here to testify in support of WOTEC agency request legislation 6461.

Bills: SB6215, SB6160, SB6313, SB6049, SB6164, SB5046, SB5842, SB6035, SB5853, SB5888

Keywords: fraud prevention, identity theft, consumer protection, security measures, legislation, government efficiency, state agencies, reporting, bureaucracy, transparency, Capitol Centennial Stewardship, funding, gifts, grants, donations, legislative support, student privacy, employee confidentiality, public disclosure, data protection

Summary: The Senate State Government, Tribal Affairs & Elections Committee held public hearings on several bills and then took executive action on three measures. At the start, the committee suspended the five-day notice rule for Senate Bills 631 and 5046. Senate Bill 6215, a fraud-prevention bill, would require the state auditor to compile an inventory of audited state programs and later produce an annual statewide high-risk list; staff and the State Auditor’s Office raised concerns about scope, funding, record-retention limits, and the timeline, while the sponsor said the bill would improve transparency around anti-fraud controls. Senate Bill 6160 would eliminate or modify dozens of agency reporting requirements; the sponsor and OFM said it was an efficiency measure to remove outdated or duplicative reports, while some senators said they wanted to preserve reports they still find useful. Senate Bill 6313 would create a Capitol Centennial Stewardship Account for repairs and improvements to the Capitol campus ahead of its 2028 centennial, and Senate Bill 5046 would designate November 22 as Kimchi Day to recognize Korean culture; both drew supportive sponsor testimony and no substantive opposition during hearing. The committee also heard Senate Bill 6049, which expands public-records exemptions to protect survivors of hate crimes, individual responses to employee engagement surveys, and individual student responses to the Healthy Youth Survey. The sponsor, OFM, and several student witnesses argued the bill would protect privacy and encourage honest participation, while the hearing record showed substantial opposition sign-in. Senate Bill 6164 would exempt information submitted to Washington Technology Solutions for digital experience platform services, such as the WA.gov portal, from disclosure; WOTEC and a newspaper association supported the bill as a narrow privacy protection, while another coalition opposed it as overly broad and warned about centralized records and retention practices. In executive session, the committee adopted proposed substitute B for Senate Bill 6035 and sent it to the Rules Committee with a due-pass recommendation. The substitute would further delay and condition implementation of an electronic ballot portal, add cybersecurity and testing requirements, and require annual reporting. The committee also adopted proposed substitute C for Senate Bill 5853 and sent it to Ways and Means; the substitute shifts administration of the statewide emergency public official notification system from the Secretary of State to the Military Department. Finally, the committee passed Senate Bill 5888, which removes Senate confirmation for members of the Washington State Women’s Commission, and sent it to the Rules Committee. All three executive-action votes passed subject to signatures.

Transcript Highlights:

• Kurt Lager, Chief of the Honolulu Ocean Safety Department of the City and County of Honolulu.
• I've been a lifeguard with the City and County for 20 years, working from the beach all the way up to
• um Office of Economic Revitalization, um Office of Economic Revitalization, the<00:27:42.640><c> County
• </c><00:27:43.000><c> of</c><00:27:43.080><c> Honolulu,</c> the County of Honolulu, the County of Honolulu
• Next, SCR 85, related to collaboration from DHERD with agencies and organizations.

Bills: HCR112

Keywords: HCR112, House Concurrent Resolution, DHRD, Department of Human Resources Development, civil service, classification system, compensation system, salary study, pay scale, job classification, position classification, state workforce, vacancy rate, hard-to-fill positions, labor shortage, recruitment, retention, public employees, state agencies, labor organizations

Transcript Highlights:

• . agencies. agencies.
• It applies only to agency review of agency decisions.
• It applies only to agency review of agency decisions.
• A policy, for example, that fits in Sweetwater County might not be right for Albany County or Teton counties
• A policy, for example, that fits in Sweetwater County might not be right for Albany County or Teton counties

Bills: HB0066, HJ0005, HB0010

Keywords: administrative law, judicial review, agency deference, Chevron deference, de novo review, state agencies, regulatory interpretation, statutory interpretation, separation of powers, individual liberty, administrative procedure, agency action, Wyoming Supreme Court, district court review, oil and gas inspector, regulatory challenge, anti-deference, law enforcement, memorial, Patrolman Rosa

Transcript Highlights:

• Mexico border region, with inconsistent definitions creating confusion for agency stakeholders, legislators
• The legislature, through state agencies like the Texas Water Development Board, has made significant
• helps us make better use of that opportunity by adding the TCEQ and the PUC. to the list of state agencies
• By enabling this partnership, HB1353 would make it easier for local entities working with state agencies
• . agencies to leverage NADBank funding for water infrastructure projects along the border.

Bills: HB 1240, HB1353, HCR76, HCR90

Keywords: border region, infrastructure, economic development, government operations, education, international cooperation, infrastructure investment, bond issuance, state agencies, shrimp industry, federal regulations, foreign imports, economic impact, public health, Gulf Coast communities, Texas-Israel relations, Israel, Jerusalem, trade office, foreign relations

Transcript Highlights:

• HB5380 permits counties to adopt criteria after public notice in which the county commission... may take
• So, all this does is provide the opportunity or give the counties the ability to...
• We want to leave it up to the county to allow them to...
• We feel that if a county wants to have a park, then all the county citizens should contribute to that
• Chairman Hunter, you know this: all the counties and cities...

Bills: HB407, HB871, HB882, HB2011, HB3572, HB3578, HB4038, HB4866, HB4897, HB4978, HB5380, HB5555, HB5668, HB5670, HB5674, HB5676, HB5679, HB5688, SB673

Keywords: solar energy, residential construction, building code, municipal regulations, energy compliance, building codes, interconnection, education, funding, teacher support, student resources, school infrastructure, municipal requirements, environmental sustainability, municipalities, construction, agricultural operation, International Code Council, county regulations, construction fees

Transcript Highlights:

• to municipalities with a population of more than 150,000, which are located wholly or partly in a county
• It will hurt us, but one thing I want you guys to understand is that in Rockwall County, the citizens
• This stems from if you're in a county of 300,000 or more? Is that correct?
• So, Rockwall County is 130,000. The largest city is 54,000. Will we be racking it out of the bill?
• We are a rapidly growing community. in Southeastern Collin and Hunt Counties.

Bills: HB407, HB871, HB882, HB2011, HB3572, HB3578, HB4038, HB4866, HB4897, HB4978, HB5380, HB5555, HB5668, HB5670, HB5674, HB5676, HB5679, HB5688, SB673

Keywords: solar energy, residential construction, building code, municipal regulations, energy compliance, building codes, interconnection, education, funding, teacher support, student resources, school infrastructure, municipal requirements, environmental sustainability, municipalities, construction, agricultural operation, International Code Council, county regulations, construction fees

Bills: HB1590

Keywords: vacation rentals, transient accommodations, tax collection, hosting platforms, destination management, County Transient Accommodations Tax, 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Members, this Senate Bill 2135 authorizes the county purchasing agent. Mr.
• This would allow counties to recoup the full rebate on that.
• I’m with Tulsa County.
• Obviously, utilities at $5,000 for most counties is not a—especially our county, we’d exceed that amount
• It just is allowing the flexibility for our counties.

Bills: SB2130, SB2135

Keywords: municipal finance, audit exemption, biennial reporting, local government, transparency, county purchasing, purchase card, government accountability, emergency expenditures

Summary: The Senate Local and County Government Committee heard two bills. Senate Bill 2135, as amended, would let county purchasing agents obtain purchase cards through a local bank instead of only through the current state program, while keeping existing competitive-bidding and other guardrails. Senator Reinhart said the amendment was developed with the State Auditor’s Office to add protections, and committee questions focused on sealed bids, public award of contracts, spending limits, and how the bill aligns with current state P-card rules. The amendment was adopted by voice vote, and the bill then advanced on a 10-0 roll call vote. The committee also considered Senate Bill 2130, a constituent-request bill aimed at helping very small towns qualify for grants by easing pre-grant audit requirements. Senator Murdoch explained that towns of 500 people or fewer with $50,000 or less in total funds would be exempt from having to obtain an audit before applying for a grant, though customary audits would still apply otherwise. Members discussed whether the bill could weaken fiscal oversight, whether other audit requirements would still apply, and whether agreed-upon procedures engagements might be a cheaper alternative. The chair and several members supported the measure as a way to help struggling rural communities, and the bill advanced on a 9-1 roll call vote.

Transcript Highlights:

• name is Bill Lee, on behalf of the Greater Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce and the Gallup-McKinley County
• Whereas if the service... ...to the state and the county.
• Lab-confirmed heavy metal contamination in private wells across Mora County does not appear to be an
• and the application processes for the remainder of it, Agencies and the application processes for the
• remainder of it, this is the larger amount that we're seeking, but it'll be through other agencies.

Bills: SB22, SB310

Keywords: motor vehicle manufacturers, licensing, dealers, franchise agreements, consumer protection, water supply, sewage improvements, environment, funding, Mora County

Summary: The committee first heard Senate Bill 22, which would allow certain motor vehicle manufacturers, including electric vehicle companies, to be licensed as dealers in New Mexico and sell/service directly to consumers. Supporters, including the sponsor’s office, Taxation and Revenue, Rivian, and clean-energy advocates, argued the bill would expand consumer choice, lower prices, improve EV access and service in-state, and bring new investment and jobs without eliminating existing franchise dealers. Opponents, including auto dealer associations, chambers of commerce, and franchise owners, argued the measure would weaken the franchise system, harm local businesses and jobs, reduce community reinvestment, and could disadvantage rural and tribal communities. After questions about trade-ins, tribal land sales, tax effects, and economic impacts, the committee voted to table SB 22 by a vote of 7-2. The committee then took up Senate Bill 310, which appropriates $1.1 million to the New Mexico Environment Department for planning, design, and construction improvements to the Mora mutual domestic water system. Supporters described aging water and wastewater infrastructure, an AOC related to discharge into the Mora River, flood and fire impacts, and heavy-metal contamination concerns in private wells. They said the project is part of a larger effort to address inflow and infiltration, improve treatment capacity, and protect public health, with additional funding already sought through the Clean Water State Revolving Loan Fund and the Water Trust Board. Some senators questioned whether the request should instead go through existing water funding programs and raised concerns about piecemeal financing and the Environment Department’s role, but others supported the need for the project. The committee approved SB 310 on a 5-3 due-pass vote.

Transcript Highlights:

• Representative, this was pushed by the mayors' County Mayor's Association.

Bills: HB575

Keywords: automated enforcement, speeding violations, civil fines, Baldwin County, municipal legislation, traffic safety, public awareness, 1136, house, all

Bills: SB208, SB628, SB777, SB1042, SB2354, SB2477, SB2521, SB2523, SB2608, SB2703, SB2778, SB2835, SB2965, SB2367, SB3044

Keywords: workforce housing, capital investment fund, affordable housing, housing development, Texas housing laws, loan programs, community development, Texas housing, zero-interest loans, low-income housing, nonprofit organizations, construction, economic stability, housing affordability, capital investment, Texas housing policy, county fire code, fire marshal, local government code, interlocal agreement

Transcript Highlights:

• legislature passed Bill 14, which allows real estate developers to hire a third-party engineer if a city or county
• developers and landowners still face delays in obtaining timely reviews and inspections from cities and counties

Bills: SB208, SB628, SB777, SB1042, SB2354, SB2477, SB2521, SB2523, SB2608, SB2703, SB2778, SB2835, SB2965, SB2367, SB3044

Keywords: workforce housing, capital investment fund, affordable housing, housing development, Texas housing laws, loan programs, community development, Texas housing, zero-interest loans, low-income housing, nonprofit organizations, construction, economic stability, housing affordability, capital investment, Texas housing policy, county fire code, fire marshal, local government code, interlocal agreement

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm with the Travis County Fire Marshal's Office. I serve as the fire marshal for Travis County.
• Yeah, from county to county across the country, across the world, we all do it a little bit differently
• So from county to county across the nation, it's a little bit different for every organization. do infill
• So from county to county across the nation, it's a little bit different for every organization.
• I am the fire chief for Bear County ESD No. 2.

Bills: SB208, SB628, SB777, SB1042, SB2354, SB2477, SB2521, SB2523, SB2608, SB2703, SB2778, SB2835, SB2965, SB2367, SB3044

Keywords: workforce housing, capital investment fund, affordable housing, housing development, Texas housing laws, loan programs, community development, Texas housing, zero-interest loans, low-income housing, nonprofit organizations, construction, economic stability, housing affordability, capital investment, Texas housing policy, county fire code, fire marshal, local government code, interlocal agreement

Summary: The Senate Committee on Local Government met with a quorum and limited public testimony to two minutes per person. The committee heard Senate Bill 628 by Senator Zaffirini, which would clarify that counties may enter interlocal agreements with emergency service districts to administer and enforce county fire codes, including for multi-county ESDs in the committee substitute. Witnesses from Travis County ESD-11, the Travis County Fire Marshal’s Office, and a member of the public supported the bill as a way to reduce duplication, costs, and jurisdictional confusion. Public testimony was closed and the committee substitute was left pending. The committee then heard several housing-related bills. Senate Bill 208 by Senator West would create a Workforce Housing Capital Investment Fund to provide zero-interest loans to nonprofit builders for workforce housing; Habitat for Humanity representatives, a Brownsville nonprofit developer, and housing advocates supported it as a way to finance infrastructure and land development for affordable homes. Senate Bill 2835 by Senator Johnson would allow cities to opt into single-stair apartment buildings for small-scale, multi-story housing; supporters said the design is safe and could expand housing supply, while the Texas APA expressed qualified opposition over code-process concerns and fire-safety questions. Both bills were left pending after testimony. Additional bills heard included SB 1042 updating the Kimble County Hospital District’s enabling law; SB 1708, a committee substitute protecting familial property divisions from platting requirements; SB 2778 raising the ESD expenditure threshold requiring board approval from $2,000 to up to $50,000; SB 2608 expanding LIHTC eligibility for certain public housing projects; SB 3044 adding board representation for Marfa and Presidio on the Presidio County Underground Water Conservation District and adjusting an exemption; SB 2367 extending park board authority to Waller County; SB 2523 clarifying ETJ reduction procedures and owner opt-out rights; SB 2521 requiring death-certificate reporting to appraisal districts to help address squatting and homestead exemption issues; and SB 2477 easing office-to-residential conversions in larger cities. In each case, the bills were laid out, testimony was taken, and the measures were left pending subject to call of the chair. The committee then recessed until 15 to 30 minutes after adjournment.