Transcript Highlights:

• This is an issue in 32 states, and there are four pending bills in states including Texas right now.
• Are other states doing this? Are we... Yes.
• following our study across every state and what the laws are.
• not see these individuals extradited to the state of Texas.
• I would say that you are the state treasure, really.

Bills: HB2226, HB2269, HB2343, HB2760, HB3621, HB4079, HB4204, HB4518, HB4531, HB4555, HB4850, HB4876, HB4903, HB4996, HB5122

Keywords: construction trust funds, Property Code, Chapter 162, construction payments, mechanics lien, contractors, subcontractors, laborers, material suppliers, materialmen, real property improvement, assignment of payment rights, unpaid trust funds, trust fund beneficiaries, construction industry, payment protection, Texas construction law, property owners association, landscaping, grass maintenance

Transcript Highlights:

• There is a push to bring back value capture to the United States.
• Senator Cook, and I'll be very quick.
• It was stated that states should provide resources and expedite processes for victims to unwind a fraudulent
• This is a companion bill to Senate Bill 1734.
• In 2023, 21 state attorneys general led by...

Bills: HB2226, HB2269, HB2343, HB2760, HB3621, HB4079, HB4204, HB4518, HB4531, HB4555, HB4850, HB4876, HB4903, HB4996, HB5122

Keywords: construction trust funds, Property Code, Chapter 162, construction payments, mechanics lien, contractors, subcontractors, laborers, material suppliers, materialmen, real property improvement, assignment of payment rights, unpaid trust funds, trust fund beneficiaries, construction industry, payment protection, Texas construction law, property owners association, landscaping, grass maintenance

Transcript Highlights:

• their states where they utilize tax credits for investment.
• It is based on the success of similar programs in other states.
• We move, and that's what makes us such a great state.
• More than 40 workers died from environmental heat exposure in our state, more than any other state.
• In Texas and the United States...

Bills: HB446, HB1609, HB4443, HB4464, HB4735, HB5476

Keywords: heat illness prevention, workplace safety, Texas Workforce Commission, advisory board, employee rights, administrative penalties, training requirements, employee training, occupational health, employer penalties, worker rights, heat illness, volunteer firefighter, volunteer emergency responder, emergency medical services volunteer, EMS volunteer, firefighter, fire department, emergency services, declared disaster

Transcript Highlights:

• Chairman and members, Senate Bill 1534 is co-authored by Senator Tan Parker.
• When we’re talking about a state policy, as Senator Alvarado was alluding to, that is this one-size-smashes-all
• Senator Schwertner. I appreciate Senator Johnson's and Senator Alvarado's comments.
• Senator Johnson.
• Senator Sparks is the committee substitute for Senate Bill 2004.

Bills: SB913, SB1086, SB1087, SB1143, SB1534, SB1553, SB1718, SB1754, SB2004, SB2322, SB2448

Keywords: hotel occupancy tax, municipal revenue, tax code, local government funding, Texas legislation, county taxation, economic development, hotel industry, local government, counties, taxation, tourism, workforce development, youth programs, employment, education, technical training, health physics, higher education, nuclear energy

Summary: The committee heard a series of bills, mostly related to economic development, tax incentives, and workforce programs. Senate Bill 1534 would direct a study by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board and the Texas Workforce Commission on health physics education and workforce needs; resource witnesses from the Workforce Commission and Coordinating Board testified, and the bill was left pending. Senate Bill 1553 would authorize Kerr County to impose a hotel occupancy tax for tourism-related uses, and Senate Bills 1086 and 1087 would authorize similar county hotel taxes for Children’s County and Mason County; all three bills received supportive testimony and were left pending. The committee also heard Senate Bill 1754, which would prohibit county and local tax abatements for renewable energy facilities selling power wholesale, with testimony sharply divided between landowners and policy groups opposing renewable subsidies and industry representatives and some senators arguing the bill would harm clean energy investment and local decision-making; the bill was left pending. The committee then heard Senate Bill 2322, which would exempt dispatchable electric generation facilities from the JEDI program’s compelling-factor test so they could qualify for school district tax incentives; testimony was mixed, and the bill was left pending. Later, the committee heard Senate Bill 1718, which would add the NRA annual meeting to the state’s major events reimbursement program. The bill’s sponsor and NRA representatives argued the event brings substantial tourism and economic activity, while opponents said it would use taxpayer funds to subsidize an organization that opposes gun safety measures; the bill was left pending. Senate Bill 2004 would add the Arlington Grand Prix to the major events reimbursement program, with the committee substitute exempting it from the usual competitive site-selection requirement because of timing; testimony from the event organizers and Arlington tourism officials was supportive, and the bill was left pending. Senate Bill 2448 would create a rural workforce development grant program at the Texas Workforce Commission to support college-and-career readiness and technical assistance in rural communities; witnesses from Texas 2036, Collegiate Edgination, and a rural school district supported it, and it was left pending. Finally, Senate Bill 913 would repeal a special requirement that Alpine dedicate at least 50% of its hotel occupancy tax to advertising and promotion, and Senate Bill 1143 would require more coordination and reporting for youth workforce programs serving disconnected young Texans; both bills received supportive testimony and were left pending. At the end of the hearing, Senator Johnson moved that the committee stand in recess, subject to the call of the chair.

Transcript Highlights:

• Senator King, Senator Sparks? Here. Senator Alvarado? Senator Johnson? Senator Schwartner? Present.
• Chairman, members, Senate Bill 1534 is co-authored by Senator Tan Parker.
• When we're talking about a state policy, as Senator Alvarado was alluding to, that is this one size..
• Senator Schwartner, I appreciate Senator Johnson's and Senator Alvarado's comments.
• So, Senate Bill.

Bills: SB913, SB1086, SB1087, SB1143, SB1534, SB1553, SB1718, SB1754, SB2004, SB2322, SB2448

Keywords: hotel occupancy tax, municipal revenue, tax code, local government funding, Texas legislation, county taxation, economic development, hotel industry, local government, counties, taxation, tourism, workforce development, youth programs, employment, education, technical training, health physics, higher education, nuclear energy

Transcript Highlights:

• Senator King, Senator Sparks, Senator Alvarado, Senator Johnson, Senator Schwertner. Present.
• Thank you, Senator. Any other... yeah, Senator... Thank you, Senator. Any other?
• When we're talking about a state policy, as Senator Alvarado was alluding to, that is this one-size-smashes-all
• Senator Schwertner, I appreciate Senator Johnson's and Senator Alvarado's comments.
• Any questions for Senator Schwertner? Senator Johnson.

Bills: SB913, SB1086, SB1087, SB1143, SB1534, SB1553, SB1718, SB1754, SB2004, SB2322, SB2448

Keywords: hotel occupancy tax, municipal revenue, tax code, local government funding, Texas legislation, county taxation, economic development, hotel industry, local government, counties, taxation, tourism, workforce development, youth programs, employment, education, technical training, health physics, higher education, nuclear energy

Summary: The Senate Economic Development Committee met to hear a series of bills and informational primers, with several resource witnesses from the Governor’s Office, the Texas Workforce Commission, and the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. The chair opened by noting the death of Senator King’s son and asking members to keep the family in their prayers. Most bills were laid out and left pending subject to the call of the chair after brief author presentations and public testimony. The committee heard several local hotel occupancy tax bills: SB 1553 for Kerr County, SB 1086 for Childress County, SB 1087 for Mason County, and SB 913 for Alpine. Supporters, including the Texas Hotel and Lodging Association and local officials, said the measures would allow counties or the city to use hotel tax revenue for tourism-related projects and local development. The committee also heard SB 1534, which would direct a study on health physics education and workforce needs in Texas; resource witnesses from TWC and THECB testified on the bill. All of these measures were left pending. A major portion of the hearing focused on SB 1754, which would prohibit local tax abatements for renewable energy facilities selling power at wholesale, with an exception for certain battery storage tied to dispatchable generation. The bill drew strong support from witnesses who argued counties should not subsidize wind and solar projects that can harm neighboring landowners and that renewables already receive substantial federal support. Opponents from the solar and storage industry argued the bill would remove a voluntary local economic development tool, raise power prices, and discourage investment. Senators also debated landowner impacts, grid reliability, and whether the bill was the right policy tool; the bill was left pending. The committee also heard SB 2322, a committee substitute related to the Jobs, Energy, Technology, and Innovation Act, which would exempt electric generation facilities from the program’s compelling-factor test so they can qualify for school tax limitation agreements. Supporters said the change would correct an unintended barrier for dispatchable generation, while Senator Johnson argued it would weaken the program’s purpose by subsidizing projects that would locate in Texas anyway. SB 1718 would add the NRA annual meeting to the major events reimbursement program; the NRA supported it, while gun violence prevention advocates opposed using state incentives for the organization. SB 2004 would add the Arlington Grand Prix to the major events program, and SB 2448 would create a rural workforce development grant program; both drew supportive testimony and were left pending. The committee also heard SB 1143, a substitute bill aimed at improving transparency and coordination in programs serving opportunity youth ages 14 to 24, with witnesses supporting better reporting and workforce alignment. At the end of the meeting, Senator Johnson moved that the committee stand in recess subject to the call of the chair.

Transcript Highlights:

• Senator Alitt, Senator Chamblas, Senator Beasley, Senator Coleman.
• Senator Madison, Senator Elliott, Senator Gavan, Senator Jones, Senator Kelly, Senator Livingston, Senator
• Usually speaking, the cost of doing the kind of asset test that Senator Or talks about costs the state
• Senator Or talks about costs the state more than we actually save in benefits.
• Senator Livingston. Senator Price. Senator Or. Senator Price, aye. Senator Shonet.

Bills: SB245, SB246, HB30, HB30

Keywords: SB245, public assistance, Medicaid, SNAP, food assistance, Alabama Medicaid Agency, Department of Human Resources, eligibility verification, self-attestation, data matching, fraud prevention, improper payments, program integrity, benefit eligibility, income verification, residency verification, asset verification, electronic benefit transfer, EBT, cross-checks

Transcript Highlights:

• meeting of the Environmental Council of States.
• Certainly, there's a federal component, but the bulk of our funding is from the state.
• Senator Green, on this issue.
• This is a tool we saw working in other states.
• These are not states that would necessarily be considered red states.

Bills: HF1587, HF2293, HF2218, HF1208, HF1482

Keywords: HF1587, Cass County, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, DNR, condemnation, eminent domain, state land, surplus land, public waters, tribal land transfer, federally recognized Indian Tribe, tribal ownership, land conveyance, no consideration, land appropriation, natural resources, U.S. Highway 2, Section 27 Township 145 North Range 28 West, land return, Tribal sovereignty

Bills: SB49, SB60, SB365, SB685, SB895, SB1191, SB1400, SB1401, SB1786

Keywords: junior college funding, performance tier, credentials, education, workforce development, Texas education law, performance tier funding, junior college, Texas education, student success, performance funding, education policy, state finance program, public junior colleges, educational outcomes, SB 60, public junior college library, community college, library materials, book donation

Transcript Highlights:

• or senator to the legislature. Okay. or senator to the legislature. Okay.
• who reside or own property in the state. who reside or own property in the state.
• When you look at surrounding states and similar states in geography and similar states in political makeup
• <01:45:28.760> states<01:45:29.760> in surrounding states and similar states in surrounding
• > states<01:45:31.760> in geography and similar states in geography and similar states

Bills: HF1587, HF2293, HF2218, HF1208, HF1482

Keywords: HF1587, Cass County, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, DNR, condemnation, eminent domain, state land, surplus land, public waters, tribal land transfer, federally recognized Indian Tribe, tribal ownership, land conveyance, no consideration, land appropriation, natural resources, U.S. Highway 2, Section 27 Township 145 North Range 28 West, land return, Tribal sovereignty

Transcript Highlights:

• they'd like to do it without any state they'd like to do it without any state help<00:13:35.160>
• to um State um are deposited<00:37:44.880> to<00:37:45.160> State<00:37:46.160> um<
• both chairs of the house and tax Senate both chairs of the house and tax Senate committees<00:42
• Senate committee um commit Senate committee um commit um<00:45:58.839> submit<00:45:59.240>
• general manager of the Minnesota state general manager of the Minnesota state fa Mr.

Bills: HF1833, HF148, HF1127, HF1227, HF1681, HF1974, HF1106, HF1016, HF2197

Keywords: sales tax, education funding, construction, Aitkin Public Schools, tax exemption, refundable credit, HF148, use of force training, deadly force, peace officer training, police training, law enforcement, POST Board, Board of Peace Officer Standards and Training, scenario-based training, de-escalation, defensive tactics, force-on-force training, stress management, officer wellness

Transcript Highlights:

• So OGM and state law require us to do a competitive process for anything over $5,000.
• We check to see that they're in good standing with the Secretary of State.
• super controversial here or anything. ...But I would say, as we see folks having raw milk around the state
• So that we can move forward on these parts, whether the state does it or whether the federal government
• Chair Hanson, would you like to state anything further? Thank you, Mr.

Bills: HF2784, HF2785, HF2778, HF2281, HF2576, HF2280, HF2579

Keywords: beginning farmers, agriculture, loans, economic opportunity, farmers' equity, agriculture appropriations, farm to school, early care, child care food program, school lunch program, local food, Minnesota agriculture, food access, farm-to-institution, limited market access, county fairs, biofuels, E25, ethanol, meat processing

Transcript Highlights:

• the state.
• the state.
• Similar laws exist in over half the states of the United States, but not Minnesota.
• more states.
• <01:20:37.320> uh<01:20:37.600> which States or 20 or more States uh which States or

Bills: HF2228, HF46, HF856, HF2149, HF2215

Keywords: homeowners insurance, property insurance, commercial property insurance, insurance affordability, insurance market stabilization, reinsurance, catastrophic reinsurance fund, self-insured pool, premium costs, coverage notice, liability reform, climate risk, climate change, housing affordability, multifamily housing, rental housing, common interest communities, cooperatives, small business insurance, Minnesota Commerce Department

Transcript Highlights:

• We check to see that they're in good standing with the Secretary of State.
• ,<00:44:07.680> the having raw milk around the state, the having raw milk around the state
• influenza impacting uh our state, it's influenza impacting uh our state, it's better<00:48:43.520>
• Chair Hansen, would you like to state anything further?
• Hansen, would you like to to state Hansen, would you like to to state anything<00:55:37.520>

Bills: HF2784, HF2785, HF2778, HF2281, HF2576, HF2280, HF2579

Keywords: beginning farmers, agriculture, loans, economic opportunity, farmers' equity, agriculture appropriations, farm to school, early care, child care food program, school lunch program, local food, Minnesota agriculture, food access, farm-to-institution, limited market access, county fairs, biofuels, E25, ethanol, meat processing

Transcript Highlights:

• Here representing the Texas State Association of Electrical Workers.
• We want to see that work in this state. We need that work.
• What is the current state of the law for electricians?
• Force, actually, our state needs more people with vocational training.
• The Biden administration, Senator, am I correct that those federal IRAPs, under that...

Bills: HB431, HB648, HB 1006, HB1926, HB2037, HB2468, HB2788, HB2791, HB3255, HB3260

Keywords: HB 431, Texas Property Code, Property Code Chapter 202, solar roof tiles, solar shingles, solar energy device, homeowners association, HOA, property owners' association, POA, renewable energy, residential solar, distributed solar, roof-mounted solar, homeowner rights, architectural control, restrictive covenants, real estate, subdivision regulations, multi-zoned subdivisions

Transcript Highlights:

• It's not going to be where we just file the proper paper. and the state absorbs it.
• You save the state $3 billion for for a one-time investment.
• State your name once again. Okay chair recognize at this time.
• That APO is responsible for all responsible costs to the state of Texas.
• I hope I said that correctly and if not maybe you could please state your name.

Bills: HB 1089, HB 1163, HB 1177, HB 1238, HB1318, HB1400, HB1407, HB1532, HJR7, HJR7

Keywords: coastal protection, environmental management, Gulf Coast, storm risk management, funding, Texas General Land Office, healthcare, insurance reform, patient access, insurance regulation, affordable care, health insurance, consumer rights, coverage transparency, claims process, insurance regulations, aggregate production, environmental impact, financial responsibility, reclamation

Transcript Highlights:

• House leadership and Senate leadership that water is crucial to the future of this state. for a Texas-sized
• The need for state assistance to implement the state water plan projects alone. has narrowly doubled
• Bill 1 or Senate Bill 2.
• Throughout the state, unfortunately.
• . deploy elsewhere in the state.

Bills: HB 1089, HB 1163, HB 1177, HB 1238, HB1318, HB1400, HB1407, HB1532, HJR7, HJR7

Keywords: coastal protection, environmental management, Gulf Coast, storm risk management, funding, Texas General Land Office, healthcare, insurance reform, patient access, insurance regulation, affordable care, health insurance, consumer rights, coverage transparency, claims process, insurance regulations, aggregate production, environmental impact, financial responsibility, reclamation

Transcript Highlights:

• The state of Alabama is the same, much like the other 49 states. There can always be improvements.
• In state government, the dollars may be big, but things get scrutinized a lot more at the state level
• education in the state.
• I know you've compared our state higher spending to other states.
• The next bill on the agenda is Senate Bill 95. Senator Chest... Thank you, Mr.

Bills: SB197, HB140, SB214, HB214, HB147, HB270, SB73

Keywords: business regulation, nonprofit entities, electronic filing, merger agreements, limited liability companies, partnerships, property transfer, termination fees, HB140, private sewer systems, wastewater utilities, Public Service Commission, PSC jurisdiction, utility regulation, rate setting, rate consolidation, affiliated systems, common ownership, private utilities, sewer rates

Bills: SB14, SB217, SB586, SB856, SCR12, SCR24, SB 14

Keywords: regulatory reform, state agencies, efficiency, rulemaking, judicial review, SB 217, Historic Texas Freedmen's Cemetery Designation Program, Texas Historical Commission, Freedmen's cemetery, freed slave burial site, cemetery designation, historic cemetery, African American history, Black cemetery, burial grounds, cemetery preservation, historical marker, medallion, property owner notice, adjacent landowners

Transcript Highlights:

• that live in 26 energy Choice States that live in 26 energy Choice States including<00:07:49.159
• > going including many states that are going including many states that are going quickly<00:07
• <00:09:28.519> or federal law in order for states or federal law in order for states or excuse
• is a much our state um a state line is a much easier<00:54:28.960> administer<00:54:29.440>
• We receive out-of-state reports from other states.

Bills: HF484, HF483, HF1447, HF1496, HF554

Keywords: natural gas, gas hookups, residential construction, energy policy, local control, state preemption, municipal regulation, county ordinance, electrification, climate policy, housing development, building codes, energy source, utility infrastructure, Minnesota Statutes chapter 326B, propane, utility service, building permits, local government, energy choice