Transcript Highlights:

• I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands
• The clerk will record the vote: 25 ayes, 30 nays, and 5 not voting.
• By your vote, 55 ayes, 0 nays, 5 not voting. You've passed House Bill 2035.
• By your vote of 55 ayes, 0 nays, 5 not voting, you've passed House Bill 2035 in open session.
• By your vote, 44 ayes, 11 nays, 5 not voting. You passed House Bill 2189 in open session.

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Usually, I come to you with a 6% increase or a 5% increase.
• And then another 20 or so get into medical school somewhere else in the United States.
• That's one of the highest in the United States. That's actually a very concerning number for me.
• So any relief from that benefits not just us but all the United States.
• Amount of funding 5 million.

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• smoke evacuation system policy at certain health care facility for the committee on public health a 3 5
• regarding student use of personal electronic devices refer to the committee on public education HB 5
• systems and unincorporated areas of certain counties refer to the committee on natural resources HB 5
• Relating to the required proof of the lawful presence in the United States for the issuance of a driver's
• , rescinding the automatic recession of certain applications made by the Texas Legislature to the United

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Title 5, Chapter 542A, Section 542.03, Notice Required, provides that pre-suit notice is required before
• We support legislation like this throughout the United States.
• It only requires approval if they go beyond that 5%.
• The property casualty industry here in the United States is doing very well.
• And my suite in 4 South 5.

Bills: HB854, HB 1052, HB1642, HB2076, HB3042, HB3695, HB3787, HB4062, HB4092, SB213, SB493, SB896, HB5519, HB4635

Keywords: insurance, replacement cost, homeowner's policy, renter's policy, condominium insurance, property damage, claims process, telemedicine, teledentistry, telehealth, health benefit plan, insurance coverage, out-of-state services, anxiety, pain management, contraceptive devices, women's health, medical procedures, healthcare, laboratory

Transcript Highlights:

• , enrollment growth units for fiscal year 27. ...generating online units, enrollment growth units for
• Chair, Senator, yes, that is how the unit value is determined.
• So you can see $5 million for child care assistance.
• In FY25, you gave us $5 million in growth funds.
• That family unit holds value.

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• United States of America. Over 50,000 students are part of this organization.
• Time specific. 5:25, Mr. President. Thank you, Senator Bettencourt.
• Senator Bettencourt, just to clarify, did you say 5:31?
• Senator Bettencourt, just to clarify, did you say 5:31? Mr.
• It's 5:31. Thank you, Senator Bettencourt.

Bills: SJR12, SJR81, SCR39, SB22, SB32, SB241, SB393, SB414, SB458, SB464, SB568, SB583, SB609, SB660, SB693, SB731, SB732, SB746, SB783, SB785, SB897, SB993, SB996, SB1008, SB1029, SB1035, SB1036, SB1120, SB1122, SB1147, SB1163, SB1188, SB1197, SB1209, SB1227, SB1245, SB1267, SB1307, SB1321, SB1332, SB1386, SB1394, SB1396, SB1470, SB1494, SB1537, SB1596, SB1598, SB1610, SB1664, SB1814, SB1822, SB1841, SB1948, SB2065, SB2155, SB2406, SB2407

Keywords: parental rights, education, constitutional amendment, school choice, child education, tax exemption, ad valorem, tangible personal property, income production, border security, southern border, federal immigration policy, illegal immigration, cartels, transnational cartels, fentanyl, drug trafficking, human trafficking, Operation Lone Star, Texas border

Summary: The Senate opened with a quorum call, invocation, approval of routine motions, and the reading of gubernatorial nominations and several honorary resolutions. The chamber adopted resolutions recognizing Jack and Jill of America Day and DJ Daniel Day at the Capitol, with multiple senators offering remarks praising youth leadership, perseverance, and public service. The Senate also introduced the Doctor of the Day and then proceeded to a long series of floor actions on bills. A major focus was Committee Substitute for Senate Bill 568, which overhauls special education funding and services in public schools by moving from a placement-based model to an intensity-based system tied to student needs and IEPs. Senators Bettencourt, Creighton, and Menendez emphasized transparency, parent input, evaluation funding, dyslexia services, and better alignment of funding with actual services; Senator Hinojosa shared a personal story about dyslexia and the importance of early intervention. The bill was advanced on second and third reading and finally passed 30-0. The Senate also passed SB 1396 to prohibit national sex education standards in public schools, SB 2065 on the Texas Emergency Services Retirement System, SB 1664 requiring clearer public disclosure of transmission and distribution utility rate changes, SB 1029 on advertising certain used motor vehicles, SB 1120 expanding rights for family violence victims, SB 1036 regulating residential solar retail transactions, SB 464 creating school-proximity restrictions and penalties for tobacco and vaping sales, SB 1035 giving farmers and ranchers equitable relief from certain local agricultural regulations, SB 1610 addressing civil commitment facility safety and prosecution issues, SB 1197 extending drone restrictions to spaceports, and SB 1386 changing legislative witness immunity from transactional to testimonial immunity. Another major bill was Committee Substitute for Senate Bill 1188, which updates electronic health record requirements. Senator Kolkhorst said the bill builds on Texas medical privacy law by requiring U.S.-based storage of EMR data, prohibiting recording of voter registration status and credit score information, requiring provider verification and disclosure for AI-assisted diagnosis or treatment recommendations, preserving parental access to minors’ records until age 18, and ensuring EMRs can capture metabolic health and biological sex information. A floor amendment clarified the bill’s scope and enforcement, and the bill passed 23-7. Several measures drew debate, especially SB 414 on bond ballot transparency, where Senators Eckhardt and Menendez questioned whether requiring estimated interest and total debt cost on ballots could be misleading or difficult to implement because interest rates and financing terms can change before issuance or over time. The transcript ends during that discussion, with no final action shown on SB 414.

Transcript Highlights:

• For two bedroom unit, the median $1,700.
• So where housing units or 5,000 people.
• Restriction on whether any dwelling unit is constructed on or off site.
• <01:28:02.880> already at accessory dwelling units already at accessory dwelling units already
• The United States Supreme Court right.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• News and World Report named McAllen one of the top 50 best places to live in the United States and the
• And I will tell you that what makes McAllen great is that after every election, all the candidates unite
• Laredo and Webb County are so important, number one port of entry in the United States and for commerce
• in the United States.
• Its 5-mile radius is home to over 234,000 people and over 7,700 businesses with over 1,000 employees.

Summary: The Texas Senate convened with a quorum, heard the governor’s emergency message outlining priority issues for the session, including property tax relief, water supply and infrastructure funding, universal education savings accounts, teacher pay, career and technical education, creation of a Texas Cyber Command, and bail reform. The governor also submitted a State of the State message and several appointment nominations for Senate confirmation. The chamber then took up a series of ceremonial resolutions and recognitions for McAllen Day, UTSA and UT Health San Antonio Day, Wise County Day, and Houston East End Chamber of Commerce East End Day, along with visits from the Houston Realty Business Coalition, Cedar Creek Chamber of Commerce, Webb County/Laredo delegates, UT Dallas McDermott Scholars, Andrews County officials, and occupational therapy professionals and students. Several senators spoke in support of the recognitions, highlighting local economic development, higher education, public health, and regional history. McAllen was praised for its growth, business climate, and cultural significance; Laredo and Webb County were recognized for trade, the Washington’s Birthday Celebration, and cross-border ties; UTSA and UT Health were commended for research, cybersecurity, and health science work; and UT Dallas scholars were recognized for academic achievement and public service. Wise County, the East End of Houston, and Andrews County were also described in terms of their economic contributions and community heritage. The Senate adopted Senate Resolution 27 for McAllen Day and Senate Resolution 32 for UTSA and UT Health San Antonio Day without objection. It also adopted Senate Concurrent Resolution 11, which granted permission for either house to adjourn for more than three days between February 5 and February 11, by a recorded vote of 30 ayes and 0 nays. Additional resolutions listed on the calendar were adopted without objection, and the Senate recessed until noon on Wednesday, February 5.

Transcript Highlights:

• There would also be a change on page 5, line 26.
• So on page 5, line 26, change registrar to chief deputy.
• Seeing no objection, SCR 5 will be reported favorable.
• SCR 5 by Senator Mizell establishes the Louisiana-Ireland Trade Commission.
• Seeing no objection, SCR 5 will be reported favorable. Thank you.

Summary: The committee first heard Senate Bill 319, which would tighten and standardize voter identification rules at polling places. Senator Presley and Secretary of State Nancy Landry said the bill replaces the current “generally recognized” photo ID standard with a specific list of acceptable IDs, removes the affidavit-only option, and allows voters without a photo ID to cast a conditional paper ballot at the registrar of voters office or during early voting if they later provide approved documentation within two days after the election. Supporters argued the bill improves consistency, election integrity, and poll-worker guidance while still preserving access through alternative documents and free state IDs; opponents warned it could create confusion and burden seniors, students, homeless voters, and others without easy access to the required documents. After debate, the committee reported SB 319 favorably by a 7-2 vote. The committee then approved Senate Bill 202, which adds one day of compensated meeting time for parish boards of election supervisors in certain elections, and Senate Bill 25, which revises the compensation schedule for registrars of voters and related staff. SB 25 was amended to remove outdated step references and make conforming technical changes, and supporters said the pay structure has not been updated since 2007 despite increased duties and workload. The committee also adopted and reported favorably Senate Concurrent Resolution 29, creating a legislative study committee on water quality in the Chafalalaya Basin, and House Concurrent Resolution 85, creating a task force on illegal dumping, both with technical amendments. In addition, the committee advanced Senate Concurrent Resolution 63, which asks the legislative auditor to review how fiscal notes are prepared during session, and Senate Concurrent Resolution 33, which creates a work-based learning coordination task force to improve alignment among education, workforce, and employer partners. SCR 33 was amended to change the appointing authority for two members. The committee also approved Senate Concurrent Resolution 5, establishing the Louisiana-Ireland Trade Commission, and House Resolution 196, which creates a study committee on the impact of fallen trees on residential property and insurance issues. Several of these measures were supported by agency representatives or outside groups, and the committee adopted technical amendments where needed before reporting the bills and resolutions favorably.

Transcript Highlights:

• This is 5% pay raises for Department of Corrections employees.
• Why would they need a 5% increase then? Mr. Chair, Senator Cooby, inflation maybe, I don’t know.
• I served in the United States Marine Corps.
• The bill requires a budget unit to eliminate any positions within the budget unit that have been vacant
• So, members, you know, the business units within state government have been very clear.

Bills: SB1001, SB1035, SB1056, SB1065, SB1138, SB1161, SB1204, SB1207, SB1248, SB1274, SB1284, SCM1002, SCM1006, SCR1020

Keywords: appropriation, economic security, blind individuals, older adults, state funding, Arizona Department of Corrections, ADC, corrections, prison, jail, correctional officers, prison guards, staffing, retention, salary increase, pay raise, wage increase, general fund, state budget, private prisons

Transcript Highlights:

• 2 The Senate will come to order. 4 5 6 7 8 Senator Bettencourt, do you recognize her motion to suspend
• Established in 2015, the GURI grant funding contributes up to $5 million for the purpose of recruiting
• The calculation of the unused increment rate of a taxing unit.
• Alvarado, Bettencourt, Bordwell, Blanco. 26 ayes, 5 nays. Rule is suspended.
• A single unvaccinated provider carrying whooping cough or flu could devastate an entire unit.

Bills: SB66, SB317, SB393, SB397, SB456, SB614, SB628, SB629, SB636, SB715, SB731, SB801, SB872, SB905, SB986, SB1012, SB1013, SB1015, SB1032, SB1113, SB1181, SB1212, SB1241, SB1250, SB1278, SB1285, SB1376, SB1444, SB1449, SB1524, SB1525, SB1528, SB1556, SB1588, SB1660, SB1704, SB1708, SB1802, SB1833, SB1844, SB1854, SB1863, SB1957, SB1959, SB1965, SB1999, SB2035, SB2056, SB2082, SB2119, SB2138, SB2165, SB2199, SB2201, SB2203, SB2245, SB2284, SB2419, SB2422, SB2452, SB2487, SB2523, SB2529, SB2533, SB2541, SB2586, SB2595, SB2605, SB2615, SB2675, SB2690, SB2717, SB2753, SB2778, SB2835, SB2841, SB2891, SB2929, SB2933, SB3016, SB3039, SB3044, HB912, HB2525, SJR3, SB5, SB29, SB326, SB494, SB530, SB769, SB783, SB963, SB1238, SB1271, SB1786, SB1967, SB2312, SB72, SB616, SB1143, SB1172, SB1267, SB1273, SB1506, SB1759, SB2361, SB1, SB260, SB1637, SJR36, SJR50, SJR63, SJR59, SCR12, SCR39, SCR48, SCR19, SB2023, SB1524, SB2422, SB2119, SB2753, SB1863, SB62, SB666, SB847, SB284, SB854, SB1073, SB810, SB1505, SB583, SB507, SB1434, SB1376, SB1772, SB2016, SB1163, SB1122, SB731, SB397, SB508, SB1436, SB287, SB261, SB1882, SB393, SB1791, SB209, SB2429, SB1999, SB511, SB2309, SB510, SB1085, SB1975, SB2717, SB1262, SB636, SB2056, SB884, SB517, SB1200, SB1845, SB2681, SB2199, SB2458, SB801, SB2533, SB3014, SB3013, SB758, SB1013, SB2797, SB2076, SB2876, SB2284, SB2929, SB2595, SB715, SB1640, SB1241, SB2538, SB1449, SB2529, SB986, SB1181, SB1359, SB2245, SB410, SB1234, SB456, SB1012, SB2926, SB2138, SB2615, SB2972, SB2841, SB3016, SB1856, SB2035, SB1528, SB1373, SB672, SB2891, SB1854, SB317, SB2539, SB2532, SB1250, SB2082, SB2203, SB1285, SB1959, SB1454, SB2520, SB2541, SB1708, SB1237, SB1844, SB1586, SB3039, SB2819, SB66, SB629, SB1015, SB2342, SB2903, SB2933, SB1965, SB2477, SB3029, SB2605, SB2419, SB1957, SB375, SB250, SB777, SB628, SB2523, SB2367, SB2703, SB2608, SB2778, SB3044, SB2965, SB2521, SB865, SB1032, SB2165, SB2501, SB2675, SB2452, SB2835, SB872, SB1212, SB1278, SB1588, SB1602, SB1704, SB1723, SB1833, SB1858, SB1946, SB2009, SB2177, SB2460, SB2785, SB2373, SB1660, SB614, SB867, SB1608, SB1525, SB905, SB640, SB2487, SB1698, SB383, SB705, SB748, SB1113, SB1117, SB1802, SB2340, SB2586, SB2680, SB2690, SB2994, SB2747, SB1950, SB913, SB1071, SB1086, SB1087, SB1483, SB1444, SB1553, SB1556, SB1703, SB2133, SB2297, SB2298, SB2622, SB2955, SB3059, SB2782, SB2781, SB2637, SB2633, SB2337, SB2334, SB1861, SB2043, SB1367, SB946, SB945, SB2857, SB128, SB571, SB1263, SB3058, SB612, SB2221, SB2587, SB2044, SB2363, SB2713, HB1109, HB1392, HB22, HB2525, HB3093, HB517, HB912, HB1130, HB142, HB1689, HB2018, SB2311, SB1986, SB2565, SB2943, SB1888, SB2417, SB3048, SB3052, SB3053, SB3036, SB3057, SB3056, SB3043, SB3037, SB3050, SB3063, SB3047, SB3035, HJR98, HJR99, HB136, HB2884, HB1393, HB2730, HB1399, HB1244, HB467, HB331, HB2559

Keywords: disability, supported decision-making, legal assistance, confidentiality, access to justice, autonomy, civil rights, advocacy, monuments, memorials, public property, historical significance, civil penalties, local governance, SB 393, Sparks, Middleton, local government, political subdivision, public securities

Transcript Highlights:

• So it would be about a 5% increase every year versus 10.
• And to show you that over a period of 5 years, in 2019, a fire truck cost $550,000.
• I bought my home 5 years ago. My neighbor, she's lived in her home 30 plus years.
• Their annual budget is only 5 million dollars.
• The 5 of us sat down and figured it out.

Transcript Highlights:

• And this unit, with a budget of roughly about $5 million per year, has won over $53 million in civil
• And this unit, with a budget of roughly about $5 million per year, has won over $53 million in civil
• with a budget of roughly about this unit with a budget of roughly about $5<02:30:32.560> million
• from 8:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. And um you from 8:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
• Monday, May 5, 2025.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Locally, we have David Arawa from the community relations at the Hawaii United Okinawan Association,
• session hire for longtime friend and uh session hire for The<00:01:36.520> Last<00:01:36.840> 5<
• 39.040> and<00:01:39.240> we<00:01:39.439> thank<00:01:39.600> you The Last 5
• Years M aing and we thank you The Last 5 Years M aing and we thank you for<00:01:39.920> the<00
• the Hawaii United Okinawan Association as<00:02:43.680> well<00:02:43.840> as<00:02:43.959

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• To the Flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation, under
• HCR number 5 by Leach, inviting the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Texas to address a joint session
• The question occurs in the adoption of H.C.R. 5.
• Born in Ghana, Annette's family immigrated to the United States when she was two years old. and Child
• Incorporated in 1856, Athens is a true treasure of the United States.

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Section 5 also establishes specific Section 5 also establishes specific procedures<00:13:44.600> and
• 8, Sections 5 through 8, Sections<01:07:39.000> 5<01:07:39.320> through<01:07:39.520><
• was 5-0-0. was 5-0-0.
• How many units of housing have we built? What is the cost per unit for different types of housing?
• entirely on the actual number of units entirely on the actual number of units of<02:50:34.960>

Keywords: 927, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• What I'm going to do is start with slide 5 and talk a little bit about our agency.
• Within that unit, a financial crimes unit that does money laundering, tax fraud, business fraud, which
• cash prizes over $5.
• It'd be 2%, 5%, that range of the numbers of combinations.
• Did they get that 5% commission? Yes, representative.

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• >> I pledge to the flag of the United >> I pledge to the flag of the United States<00
• will<00:08:39.360> pick<00:08:39.599> that<00:08:39.839> up<00:08:40.399> 5<
• 00:08:40.640> minutes<00:08:40.880> or<00:08:41.039> so uh we will pick that up 5
• minutes or so uh we will pick that up 5 minutes or so after<00:08:41.519> the<00:08:41.680>
• Thanks. >> Senator from Windham. >> Senate Judiciary will need 5 minutes after the training. >> Senator

Keywords: 927, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• 00, and 230 calls from 5:00 to 6:00.
• The Code Red went out at 5:01.
• It says it's effective till 5 a.m.
• It says it's effective till 5 a.m.
• And dirt is moving now, which includes a 16-bed adult crisis unit and a 16-bed kids unit and an integrated

Summary: The joint Senate and House disaster preparedness hearing convened in Kerrville with quorum, public testimony limited to three minutes and invited testimony to 10 minutes. Leaders from both chambers, along with the lieutenant governor and speaker, framed the hearing as an unprecedented joint effort focused on learning from the July 4 flood, honoring victims, and identifying actions to reduce future loss of life. The committee also heard opening remarks about decorum, logistics, and the intent to continue work in future sessions. The first panel included Kerr County Judge Rob Kelly, Sheriff Larry Leitha, Emergency Management Coordinator William B. Thomas IV, Kerrville Mayor Joe Herring Jr., Kerrville City Manager Dalton Rice, Upper Guadalupe River Authority representative William Rector, Kendall County Judge Shane Stolarczyk, and Real County Judge Bella Rubio. They described the flood as sudden and catastrophic, with Kerr County reporting 108 deaths and two missing. Local officials emphasized that they received no timely warning of the scale of the event, that responders and volunteers acted heroically under extreme conditions, and that communications, cell coverage, and rural emergency resources were strained. Several witnesses said the county’s existing alert systems were limited by geography, sparse broadband, and the speed of the flood. Testimony focused on possible improvements, including real-time flood gauges and predictive monitoring, stronger rural emergency management staffing and training, better interoperability and alerting tools such as IPAWS, CodeRED, WENS, and sirens, and expanded broadband and radio coverage. Kerrville asked for a flood warning system before next summer and state help for stormwater, floodplain, and disaster recovery funding. UGRA described its past and current flood-warning and mitigation efforts, including gauge funding, a new software-based flood prediction project, and consideration of additional retention dams. Kendall and Real counties highlighted successful or needed alerting and evacuation practices, while also stressing the difficulty of funding and maintaining such systems in small rural counties. Members asked detailed questions about the timeline of the flood response, low-water crossings, communications failures, sirens, bridges, and whether regional consolidation or additional infrastructure could improve future preparedness.

Transcript Highlights:

• Floor Amendment No. 5 by West.
• Members, Senator West moves adoption of Floor Amendment No. 5.
• Hearing and seeing none, Floor Amendment No. 5 is adopted.
• Or a 5% threshold, whereas Delaware is more permissive.
• Current law allows a taxing unit to levy an INS tax rate in addition to an M&O tax rate.

Bills: SJR12, SCR39, SB27, SB29, SB241, SB406, SB414, SB464, SB568, SB578, SB609, SB660, SB689, SB693, SB785, SB857, SB879, SB921, SB922, SB955, SB985, SB993, SB996, SB1008, SB1035, SB1036, SB1059, SB1098, SB1120, SB1122, SB1147, SB1188, SB1197, SB1209, SB1227, SB1245, SB1267, SB1307, SB1321, SB1332, SB1386, SB1396, SB1453, SB1484, SB1494, SB1536, SB1537, SB1596, SB1610, SB1664, SB1741, SB1814, SB1822, SB1841, SB1948, SB2065, SB2155, SB2188, SB2230, SB2406, SB2407

Keywords: parental rights, education, constitutional amendment, school choice, child education, border security, southern border, federal immigration policy, illegal immigration, cartels, transnational cartels, fentanyl, drug trafficking, human trafficking, Operation Lone Star, Texas border, National Guard, state guard, border wall, border barriers

Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum present, heard an invocation, and approved the previous day’s journal. The chamber then adopted Senate Resolution 358 honoring the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley on its 10th anniversary, with senators highlighting the university’s growth, medical school, research expansion, and role in serving South Texas. The Senate also adopted Senate Resolution 368 honoring outgoing Texas A&M University System Chancellor John Sharp, with numerous senators praising his long public career, leadership in higher education, and statewide impact. Senate Resolution 361 recognizing Texas HBCU Day and Senate Resolution 362 recognizing Denton County Days at the Capitol were also adopted, along with other routine recognitions and gubernatorial appointments being read into the record. The Senate then took up several bills. Committee Substitute Senate Bill 27, relating to rights and support for public school educators, was debated and amended to shorten vacancy posting requirements, allow bilingual certification candidates to retake only failed test sections, give teachers more flexibility with paid leave, clarify classroom removal procedures, and ensure parents are informed of appeal rights. The bill passed to engrossment, the three-day rule was suspended, and it was finally passed unanimously. Senate Joint Resolution 12, proposing a constitutional amendment to establish a parent’s right to direct a child’s education, was also brought up and passed to engrossment after a contested suspension vote. The Senate next passed Committee Substitute Senate Bill 1741, which would require reporting of foreign funding at public universities, bar gifts from adversarial governments, and require training and reporting systems to prevent foreign influence and intellectual property theft in higher education. Committee Substitute Senate Bill 29, the so-called “Dexit” bill, was debated at length for its corporate governance changes, including codifying the business judgment rule and altering internal corporate litigation and records rules; it passed to engrossment, the three-day rule was suspended, and it was finally passed by a 30-1 vote. Senate Bill 857, allowing law enforcement discretion to tow vehicles driven by unlicensed or uninsured drivers, passed after discussion of towing abuses during flooding and disaster conditions. Committee Substitute Senate Bill 1536, requiring dementia and Alzheimer’s training for certain guardians, passed with broad support, and Senate Bill 922, addressing delayed electronic disclosure of sensitive medical test results so physicians can discuss them first, was taken up and passed to engrossment as the chamber continued through its calendar.