Transcript Highlights:

• The Assistant Majority Leader Garcia moves, and Mr.
• Assistant Majority Leader Garcia, you are recognized for your procedural motions.
• Tim Barr, Deputy General Manager of Western Municipal Water.
• and engagement around California water policy.
• You know we love good water policy.

Summary: The Assembly convened after a quorum call, opened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, approved procedural motions, and recognized several guests and honorees, including CAUSE leadership academy participants, retiring FCMAT CEO Michael Fine, a Capitol intern, environmental leaders celebrating Black Conservation Week, family members of members, and NASA astronaut Captain Victor Glover Jr. The body also took up a number of routine file items and committee referral requests, with several bills referred to committees by unanimous consent and multiple items passed or retained on file. The main floor debate centered on ACR 214, the Juneteenth resolution. Members from the Black Caucus and other caucuses spoke in support, describing Juneteenth as both a celebration of emancipation and a reminder that freedom and equality remain unfinished work. Speakers emphasized Black history, civil rights, solidarity across communities, and ongoing issues such as education, housing, health, incarceration, and economic inequality. The resolution was adopted by voice vote after 66 coauthors were added. The Assembly also considered AB 2285 on blockchain staking and crypto regulation. The author argued the bill would provide consumer protections and clear rules for banks, credit unions, and crypto exchanges, while an opponent warned it could weaken securities oversight and consumer safeguards. The bill passed 45-1, and the author requested immediate transmission to the Senate. Later, SB 1036 on mitigation fee credits for redevelopment passed 55-0 after brief support for clarifying fee rules and reducing duplicative costs. The chamber then adopted the second-day consent calendar, including resolutions for Women’s Equality Day and the International Day of Yoga, along with several Senate bills, all by unanimous or near-unanimous votes. The Assembly announced it would not meet on Friday, June 19, would reconvene Monday, June 22 at 1 p.m., and then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• and our future Texas workforce.
• Thank you very much. ...for investing in our Texas students and our future Texas workforce.
• And then the repayment program is really to help, just like we do with doctors in Texas.
• My name is Amy Small, and I am the Executive Director of the Texas State Law Library, joined by our assistant
• for maintaining in Texas.

Bills: SB 1

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

Summary: The Senate Finance Committee convened for its first hearing of the 89th regular session, confirmed a quorum, adopted committee rules by a 15-0 vote, and began review of Senate Bill 1, the state budget for fiscal years 2026-27. Chair Huffman outlined the committee’s organization, introduced staff, and described the budget as conservative and focused on one-time investments. She highlighted major SB 1 priorities including property tax relief, full funding for public education formulas, teacher pay, school safety, border security, Medicaid growth, dementia research, energy and water infrastructure, transportation, wildfire suppression, and other capital and public safety needs. Comptroller Glenn Hager presented the biennial revenue estimate, saying the state has $194.6 billion available for general-purpose spending in 2026-27, with a projected $23.8 billion ending balance from the current biennium. He cautioned that revenue growth is returning to more normal levels and that lawmakers should avoid committing short-term surpluses to ongoing expenses. He also explained that the Economic Stabilization Fund is projected to hit its constitutional cap, meaning an estimated $5.6 billion in severance tax and related revenue would remain in general revenue in the upcoming biennium rather than flow into the fund. Senators discussed whether to raise or rename the fund and the implications of keeping more severance-tax revenue in general revenue. The Legislative Budget Board then gave an overview of SB 1 and the budget’s major funding changes. LBB staff explained that the bill is essentially flat at $332.9 billion in all funds, but includes large method-of-finance shifts and major property tax relief. They detailed how prior property tax relief enacted in the 88th Legislature grew from an estimated $18 billion to $22.7 billion because of higher property values and hold-harmless provisions, and said SB 1 continues that relief with a total of $51 billion in ongoing and new property tax support. Members asked extensive questions about the automatic growth in school tax compression, the constitutional homestead exemption, COVID-era federal funding, Medicaid assumptions, and the sunset of the non-homestead circuit breaker. No additional votes or final budget actions were taken beyond adoption of the committee rules.

Transcript Highlights:

• For example, in 2023, the Texas Legislature allocated $200 million to Texas A&M University to create
• The Texas Legislature committed another $300 million in grants to the Texas Space Commission, as well
• I have not seen that they funded it the same way Texas has, but Texas is very aggressive.
• We don't have water down at the vertical launch area. Water is important for any company.
• Are you using potable water?

Transcript Highlights:

• A program, Mr. Speaker, for renewable energy to help create a program for solar energy technicians.
• The program got shut down.
• You never get aquifer recharge running water down a stream that has... any water in it at all.
• Texas. generally, Mr.
• through their programs?

Transcript Highlights:

• The counselor basically piggybacks or assists them across the water rushing behind the cabins, gets them
• The counselor basically piggybacks or assists them across the water rushing behind the cabins, gets them
• The water is clear up here.
• water.
• “Water at about 2:55.

Keywords: 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The first is that the Finance Authority has programs in place to provide grants to water systems to get
• And we've put in place a technical assistance provider program that, among other things, allows small
• water rights from another farmer that does have a viable water right.
• water rights are at.
• As long as I'm within the water right, the volume of water. Is that right?

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• To your point, we've made it very clear to our troopers, whether it's the 287(g) program and assisting
• with ICE, Whether it's the 287(g) program and assisting with ICE or if it's assisting with any of our
• So we try to use surface water where we can, or lift water.
• We currently have a program in existence called the CIP, Conservation Incentive Program, and D-MAP program
• I mean, we have various programs that, for technical assistance, also for particularly like hog eradication

Summary: The committee first heard from Arkansas State Police leadership about the agency’s role in federal immigration enforcement. Colonel Mike Hager said State Police has completed 287(g) training for all but 12 officers and is authorized to assist ICE in limited circumstances, but is not an immigration enforcement agency. He emphasized that troopers only make immigration-related notifications after lawful stops or arrests for other offenses, and that the agency uses discretion and chain-of-command approval for any planned operation. Members asked about how immigration status is determined, whether stops are tracked, whether local agencies are participating, and whether there are costs or reimbursement mechanisms; Hager said the agency began tracking encounters in September and had 48 detentions since then, most tied to other criminal violations such as DWIs or domestic violence. He also said there were no current planned immigration operations beyond assisting federal partners. The committee then received an update from Arkansas Game and Fish Commission Director Doug Schoenrock on wildlife management areas, waterfowl habitat, and related infrastructure. He reported that most moist-soil units and green tree reservoirs were flooded or near normal, with one new pump not yet operational and a vandalized Ed Gordon/Point Remove pump back in service since December. He also said the Lake Conway dam and water-control work were progressing, with a public meeting scheduled at Mayflower High School. Questions followed about dock removal notices, maintenance on other water-control structures, and a recent fatal boating accident at Baumito WMA, which Schoenrock described as a high-speed collision in flooded timber and said the agency was working on a safety memorial effort with the victim’s widow. A substantial portion of the meeting focused on duck season, drought conditions, and criticism of the Flyway Federation’s push to restrict hunting over standing corn. Schoenrock said Arkansas remains the nation’s top duck-hunting destination, but drought and warm weather have reduced water availability and caused ducks to move north; he cited survey numbers showing 1.4 million ducks in the state at the end of December but a much lower January count. He argued that standing corn is legal and that federal habitat and water policy, not Arkansas law, drives long-term duck populations. Members raised concerns about changing migration patterns, the role of private clubs, federal regulation, and the possible effects of wind turbines and solar panels on waterfowl; Schoenrock and Commissioner Chris Caldwell said the commission is studying those issues, including a University of Arkansas at Monticello project on avoidance behavior, and that no immediate regulatory changes were announced. The committee took no formal vote and adjourned after the presentations and questions.

Transcript Highlights:

• CAP operates as a program within the Texas Facilities Commission, and when funded through legislative
• **Rick Thompson**, Program Director for the County Judge and Commissioner's Association of Texas.
• Natural resource-constrained areas—West Texas, water is our problem.
• sort of pilot program here in Texas.
• I'm happy to report that Encore, now Centroport, and AEP Texas have all started programs working with

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm the Assistant Director for the Texas Police Chiefs Association.
• I am the director of our victim and employee support services program at the Texas Department...
• A program like this would clearly communicate that Texas values not only officers, but their families
• hiring pipelines, the Texas Law Enforcement Accreditation Program, recruitment outreach to veterans,
• Another example in Texas is the relaunch of the Blue Chip program in 2023.

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• TDI does oversee the Texas Independent Dispute Resolution Program.
• Association and the Texas Fair Plan.
• Examples are organizations like the Texas Municipal League and the Texas Association of Counties.
• And what this is, is a program that regulates the rates. of two hospital chains in rural Texas in Abilene
• Texas coast.

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• of the state of Texas.
• When I think of that, and I think of how good Texas... Texas has been to generations of my family.
• I look forward to serving the citizens of Texas and the Texas Tech University System. of the Governor
• They were crossing the entire state of Texas; we're just about everywhere, but South Texas.
• How's Texas?

Keywords: 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Had one other question: we're talking about programming. Who determines what programming?
• or what program is accepted?
• Program.
• You can go to Texas, and then Texas pays county by county, not as a state as a whole.
• It's a livestock Forage program, livestock forage program, so that's what gives disaster drought assistance

Keywords: 914, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And also the water projects that we do, that's all the water resources money comes from oil.
• The pipeline restoration program...
• The pipeline restoration program...
• And the program provides assistance on royalty issues, operators, under the definition, and it limits
• There's a—I had water for a little while, so I know water does entail a lot of eminent domain.

Keywords: 908, all

Summary: The Energy Development and Transmission Committee met in interim session and approved the November 6 minutes. Chair Novak outlined the committee’s study agenda, including large energy users such as data centers, geothermal, landowner relations, wind and solar, and other energy topics across the state. The meeting was framed as informational only, with no bills or formal legislative action taken beyond the minutes approval. Testimony focused first on landowner relations. Oliver County Commissioner Dave Berger described the county’s energy history and local support for coal and related development. North Dakota Farmers Union President Matt Perdue emphasized proactive, face-to-face communication with landowners, respect for property rights, and the need for developers to be transparent about tradeoffs; he also discussed insurance and liability concerns tied to easements. Committee members asked about eminent domain, local versus state authority, and how communities can better understand the revenue and infrastructure implications of energy development. Department of Agriculture Deputy Commissioner Tom Bodine then described the department’s ombudsman programs for pipeline restoration and reclamation, wind restoration, and royalty oversight. He said the programs provide confidential, third-party assistance on reclamation and royalty disputes, but do not provide legal advice. Senators raised concerns about post-production deductions in royalty leases and whether the ombudsman can explain them; Bodine said the program can clarify statements and deductions but cannot resolve legal disputes. He also said the department has not received requests related to fiber lines. Representatives from Grid United and One Oak described their project development and landowner engagement practices. Grid United’s Brent Johnson discussed the North Plains Connector transmission project, its route selection process, voluntary acquisition approach, and efforts to avoid eminent domain by working closely with regulators, counties, townships, and landowners. One Oak’s Danette Welsh and Tom Giltner described the company’s midstream operations, extensive North Dakota footprint, and emphasis on direct landowner communication, consistent local regulation, careful construction practices, and post-construction reclamation. Members asked about setbacks, zoning consistency, invasive species prevention, outside advocacy groups, and eminent domain use; One Oak said it has not used eminent domain on its North Dakota projects, largely because most gathering lines are negotiated easements.

Transcript Highlights:

• I make 100% Texas wine. And I grow 100% Texas grapes.
• Texas grown.
• Texas loses billions of gallons of water per year as crumbling, leaky, and broken pipes allow water to
• of Texas.
• I would point out there, these are not only employers in Texas, but also employers who assist Texas residents

Transcript Highlights:

• Founded in 1946, the Texas YMCA Youth and Government Program promotes civic engagement. by providing
• Welcome to your Texas capital. Welcome to Texas. 457 The chair recognizes Mr.
• to the Texas Capitol.
• Providers participating in the Texas Rising Star Program reimbursement rates and those providers refer
• Program.

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Rest and water breaks for the scorching heat in Texas.
• You can drink water. Nobody's going to say you can't drink water. That's just not... That was...
• You're talking about water breaks? Yes. Oh, okay. Water breaks. Okay, got it.
• a water break, but I actually, again, because I'm nosy, I find that most cities in Texas do not require
• Being licensed by the Texas Real Estate Commission, the Sunset Committee had review of the Texas Real

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• the Water Development Board.
• Water Fund.
• , and water resources; water, ground, everything that you deal with.
• Their attestation that they're providing enough water for X number of years, firm water.
• from the waters.

Keywords: 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Even though the asset is utilizing Texas funds for Texas citizens and coming from the Texas municipality
• Even though the asset is utilizing Texas funds for Texas citizens and coming from the Texas municipality
• It sits closer to the water source.
• This is not just for Texarkana, Texas. I think there's a city called Farwell, Texas.
• The latter, specifically Texas.

Summary: The Committee on State-Federal Relations heard testimony on HB 3484, which would formalize agreements between border municipalities and treat certain infrastructure, services, and facilities as Texas assets for funding eligibility if they are within 30 miles of the border. Representative Van Deaver and a witness from Texarkana described how the bill would help Texarkana, Texas, secure state funding for jointly used facilities such as wastewater, water treatment, and airport assets that are physically located in Arkansas but serve Texas residents. Members asked about whether Arkansas benefits from the facilities and whether the bill would apply only to U.S. border cities; testimony clarified that it applies to Texas municipalities bordering another U.S. state, and the bill was left pending after the committee substitute was withdrawn. The committee also heard HCR 112, by Representative Perez, which urges Congress to allow state-issued Real ID cards, including Texas driver’s licenses, to be accepted as identification for U.S. citizens re-entering the country at land and sea ports of entry. Perez argued that Texas already verifies citizenship and lawful presence for Real ID issuance, that most Texans already have Real ID-compliant licenses, and that acceptance at the border would reduce costs and delays for routine cross-border travel without weakening security. Members asked about the security features of Real ID, implementation timing, passport delays, and how border crossings currently work; Perez said the resolution would not replace passports for international air travel and would apply only to U.S. citizens returning at land and sea ports. HCR 112 was also left pending, and the committee adjourned after HDR 125 was withdrawn from the schedule.

Transcript Highlights:

• investments in water and wastewater systems and housing programs, as well as increasing the loan authority
• and wastewater systems and housing water and wastewater systems and housing programs,<02:24:30.080><
• Yet, this bill cuts funding for waste and water development programs in rural communities by $62 million
• > rural and water development programs in rural and water development programs in rural communities
• The Farm Service Agency works directly with producers to administer farm programs, disaster assistance

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Thursday, June 4, 2026, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• by water for two days or more, which basically means you're going to be at a remote camp or on the water
• We all want clean air and water.
• The ag and forestry program has brought up.
• and the water bottoms, so it's in law.
• Whereas I know some of the other federal programs just have different, you know, goals that those programs

Summary: The committee first considered several local property-transfer and wildlife/fisheries bills, including SB 229 (Bojeur Parish property transfer), SB 71 (Lafayette Parish property transfer), and a series of Department of Wildlife and Fisheries measures. SB 203 simplified possession rules for fish on multi-day trips and remote camps; SB 429 created an administrative path to register “orphan” boats with lapsed registrations; SB 204 removed a residency-based restriction on certain commercial fishing gear licenses; SB 205 reduced duplicate registration requirements for federally documented boats; SB 213 clarified titling rules for vessels and outboard motors; and SB 257 removed Social Security number requirements from certain commercial fishing tags. Each of these bills was reported favorable, generally without objection, after brief explanations from sponsors and department counsel about reducing red tape, improving enforcement, or modernizing records. The committee also heard SB 214, which would allow the Teche-Vermilion Fresh Water District to stop pumping during an imminent flood threat identified by the National Weather Service or GOSEP, addressing liability concerns and giving local officials more flexibility in emergencies. SB 274, as amended, required lead hazard risk assessments for certain child care, early learning, and pre-kindergarten facilities and required hazards found in assessments to be addressed before licensing. Both bills were reported favorable. SB 379, a technical reorganization bill for the Department of Conservation and Energy, received two amendment sets: one changing investment language and another standardizing judicial-review procedures and online notice requirements; it was reported favorable after those amendments. The committee then adopted HCR 62, urging FEMA to review flood maps every five years instead of every ten and to better account for local flood-protection projects, with members discussing the burden of flood insurance and the need for FEMA to recognize levees, pump stations, and elevated homes. HCR 78 was also reported favorable, memorializing Congress to pass the American Seafood Competitiveness Act of 2026 in support of Louisiana’s seafood industry. HB 662, as substituted, was reported favorable after being rewritten to codify the department’s internal protocol for seized sick, injured, or orphaned wildlife, prioritizing release, rehabilitation, placement, and euthanasia as a last resort. Finally, the committee considered two more contentious items. HR 216, which urged repudiation of the Louisiana Climate Action Plan of 2022, drew extended debate over whether the plan had been adopted without legislative input and whether it could affect permits or future policy; after discussion, the sponsor voluntarily deferred the resolution to return with a revised approach focused on a legislative hearing or review. SCR 24, dealing with chronic wasting disease rules, was introduced with amendments that would raise the prevalence threshold, cap samples, allow zone removal after three years without new detections, and lift baiting/feed prohibitions above a higher prevalence level; the transcript cuts off before final action on that measure.