Transcript Highlights:

• Local government's ability to impose any sort of special assessment or fee.
• It does not promise that fees won't increase. It does not promise that renters won't pay more.
• That's where the raising taxes and fees on everything will come into play.
• Will local governments be forced to raise fees? Will sales tax increase?
• Will local governments be forced to raise fees? Will sales tax increase?

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We're talking about how this bill was structured and what was missed, which is very important.
• I will, local government's ability to impose any sort of special assessment or fee.
• That's where the raising taxes and fees on everything will come into play.
• Will local governments be forced to raise fees? Will sales tax increase?
• Will local governments be forced to raise fees? Will sales tax increase?

Keywords: 998, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• maybe they court causes on on on a fees maybe they court causes on on on a fees maybe they won't be
• board structure remains unchanged so the board structure remains unchanged so the board structure remains
• they impounded they pay the impound fee they impounded they pay the impound fee they get out they're
• and cost because adding all these fees and cost because adding all these fees and cost because right
• pay for the fees the fees the fees um after receiving it and I sit on um um after receiving it and I

Bills: HCR 21, HCR 22, HCR 23, HCR 24, HCR 25, HCR 26, HCR 27, HCR 31, HCR 41, HCR 42, HCR 43, HCR 44, HCR 45, HCR 52, HCR 53, HCR 66, HCR 67, HCR 73, HR 8, HR 10, HR 13, HR 20, HR 21, HR 50, HR 59, HR 61, HR 71, HR 74, HR 79, HR 84, HR 86, HR 90, HR 91, HR 102, HR 103, HR 107, HR 113, HR 125, HR 126, HR 132, HR 142, HR 145, HR 149, HR 150, HR 152, HR 167, HR 179, HR 181, HR 183, HR 186, HR 192, HR 196, HR 199, HR 207, HR 211, HR 212, HR 213, HR 216, HR 249, HR 256, HR 259, HR 261, HR 263, HR 272, HR 281, HR 285, HR 294, HR 295, HR 300, HR 305, HR 311, HR 313, HR 315, HR 316, HR 323, HR 331, HR 339, HR 340, HR 346, HR 349, HR 352, HR 357, HR 358, HR 360, HR 363, HR 374, HR 377, HCR 20, HCR 28, HCR 30, HCR 32, HCR 49, HR 14, HR 15, HR 19, HR 23, HR 24, HR 25, HR 26, HR 27, HR 29, HR 47, HR 48, HR 55, HR 56, HR 66, HR 85, HR 92, HR 93, HR 95, HR 96, HR 140, HR 155, HR 164, HR 204, HR 241, HR 242, HR 250, HR 253, HR 260, HR 262, HR 265, HR 279, HR 310, HR 312, HR 328, HR 332, HR 359, HR 362, HR 367

Keywords: recognition, award, petroleum industry, leadership, community service, HCR 22, House Concurrent Resolution, Texas Legislature, commendation, honorary resolution, Dr. James Olson, James Olson, University of Texas Permian Basin, UT Permian Basin, psychology professor, 50 years of service, faculty recognition, academic award, Piper Professor Award, Regents' Outstanding Teaching Award

Transcript Highlights:

• Again, this is a structural bill.
• And the reason is that there's the unknown of the legal fees. Ms.
• That partition took another seven years. $1.2 million in legal fees only.
• . fees to the government if it loses its appeal, discouraging delay tactics.
• Where there was no structural damage to the car, a $1 million lawsuit.

Bills: HB4011, HB2680, HB4325, HB4327, HB4944, HB1761, HB4688, HB3453, HB40, HB1707, HB4749, HB2322, HB3647, HB4139, HB4081, HB2203, HB2100, HB4170, HB3104, HB4623, HB40

Keywords: partition, heirs' property, real estate, co-ownership, family property, non-heir cotenant, right of first refusal, pilot services, liability limitation, maritime commerce, Matagorda Bay, Lavaca Bay, transportation code, maritime industry, civil liability, barratry, penalties, legal actions, damages, wrongful death

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:33:43.519> on development account was uh is a fee on development account was uh is a fee
• <01:11:07.760> U<01:11:08.239> the structures, often called wraps.
• U the structures, often called wraps.
• Think of rollover protection structures.
• They provide services at no fees to producers.

Bills: HF2103, HF4508

Keywords: energy, renewable energy, ammonia, hydrogen, certificate tracking, funding, environment, elk, cervidae, cervid importation, chronic wasting disease, CWD, animal health, livestock, wildlife disease, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, state veterinarian, zoo, Association of Zoos and Aquariums, AZA

Transcript Highlights:

• structures that encourage bad actors. structures that encourage bad actors.
• And so it's like it seems to be a structured piece. We're going to keep moving along.
• additional fees on top of that process? additional fees on top of that process?
• We're going to keep structured piece. We're going to keep moving<00:47:47.680> along.
• to the Department of Human licensing fee to the Department of Human Services<00:52:20.880> to

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• with Senator Lang after our hearing last week about possibilities of having some kind of designated fee
• structure to support the work of the Fish and Game Department and had some conversation with D.E.s and
• <00:09:07.800> structure<00:09:08.640> uh<00:09:08.760> to<00:09:08.959>
• support designated fee structure uh to support designated fee structure uh to support the<00:09:09.519
• <01:45:53.360> of apparently the ownership structure of apparently the ownership structure

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• That tax structure needs to be changed in order to be maintained.
• , and we'd like to pay for roads with user fees.
• The user fees are relatively flat and typically need periodic adjustments.
• If those people properly registered at DMV, they're going to pay higher fees, and these higher fees offset
• And these higher fees offset the loss on fuel tax. We have that in place in the code.

Keywords: 994, senate, all

Summary: The Senate Finance Committee met with a quorum present and first approved the minutes from the January 15 morning meeting. The main agenda item was the Department of Revenue’s budget and revenue presentation from Secretary Eric Nelson, Deputy Secretary Peter Shirley, and Deputy Secretary Mark Mucco. Nelson said the state remains double-A rated with a positive outlook, the budget includes a 5% personal income tax reduction, and the 2027 general revenue estimate is $5.493 billion, up $170 million from the prior year. Shirley gave an economic overview, saying West Virginia is forecast to see continued but slowing employment growth, continued wage growth, gains in private education/health services and business services, declines in some sectors, improving labor force participation relative to the nation, and strong recent net in-migration. He also noted continued growth in natural gas production and a modest rebound in coal production, though coal faces longer-term demand pressure. Mucco reviewed revenue trends and said 2025 collections were about $5.5 billion, below the prior year but above estimate, with personal income tax and sales tax driving the surplus. He explained that the forecast incorporates the 5% PIT cut and annual conformity to the federal One Big Beautiful Bill Act, including changes such as Section 179 expensing, bonus depreciation, R&D expensing, business interest deductions, and a new manufacturing facility expensing provision. He also discussed the effects of tax credits, severance tax volatility, declining tobacco revenues, and health care provider tax changes tied to federal Medicaid rules. He said road fund revenues are largely flat absent policy changes, and county commission revenues are growing faster than state revenues. Members asked about when new economic development projects like NewCore would appear in the projections, how much 20,000 new jobs would matter, whether the department had a calculator for job-growth impacts, the status of recent tax cuts, road fund growth, tobacco/vape taxation, and whether migration data could be broken down by county. The witnesses said major projects are not yet in the S&P-based forecast but would likely add jobs, wages, and tax revenue over time; they estimated 20,000 jobs would be a significant increase. They also said the state is unlikely to hit the current personal income tax trigger in the near term. No substantive votes were taken beyond approving the minutes, and the committee adjourned after a motion carried by voice vote.

Transcript Highlights:

• BRING A PRIVATE INDIVIDUAL, SOMEONE THAT HAS TO DEPEND ON THEMSELVES TO GET FUNDING AND MONEY AND FEES
• THIS BILL SHIFTS ALLOCATION OF FEES AND SUPPORT PROGRAMS TO ASSIST UNDERREPRESENTED STUDENTS WHILE USING
• IT PROVIDES FEE WAIVERS FOR STATE BOARD MEMBERS FOR RESTRICTION.
• GRANDPARENT WHO IS A LEGAL RESIDENT FOR AT LEAST ONE YEAR CAN QUALIFY OR A WAIVER OF THE OUT-OF-STATE FEE
• THAT SIMILARLY IS THE MISSION OF ANY POST SECONDARY SUPPORT STRUCTURE TO MAKE SURE STUDENTS GRADUATE

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• collaboration with private and nonprofit developers and a common redevelopment finance tax credit structure
• Um, practical funding model: revenues from sales, lease fees, grants, limited time-bound ad valorem tax
• collaboration with private and nonprofit developers and a common redevelopment finance tax credit structure
• Developers and a common redevelopment finance tax credit structure when it's appropriate.
• Um, practical funding model: revenues from sales, lease fees, grants, limited time-bound ad valorem tax

Keywords: Municipalities - Room 216, 30 January, 2026; 9:30 AM, 925, all

Summary: The committee first took up Senate Bill 2578, which would create a federal match land bank fund administered by the Mississippi Development Authority, with a 1.25% administrative allowance and an effective date of July 1, 2026. The chair explained it as a municipal tool to help purchase dilapidated property using available federal and state funds. The committee asked no questions and passed the bill by voice vote, title sufficient, do pass. The committee then considered Senate Bill 2679, the Mississippi Land Bank Act. Sheri Visay of the Mississippi Municipal League testified in support, describing land banks as locally created entities to acquire, manage, and return vacant, abandoned, and tax-forfeited properties to productive use. She emphasized that the bill would not authorize eminent domain, would be locally controlled, and would be subject to public accountability requirements. Senators asked about title, acquisition, funding, and whether the bill should also allow acquisition of privately owned non-tax-forfeited parcels; the sponsor said the bill was intentionally limited at first to tax-forfeited properties, though future expansion could be considered. The committee then passed the bill by voice vote. Next, Senate Bill 2729, with a committee substitute, was explained as a narrow change to allow Capitol Police in Jackson to enforce local noise ordinances for alcohol-permitted businesses, without removing authority from local police or sheriffs. The sponsor said he had spoken with Commissioner Tindle, who did not object, though the chief of Capitol Police was still consulting internally. The committee nonetheless adopted the motion to pass the committee substitute, title sufficient, by voice vote. The committee also took up Senate Bill 2862, a code-forwarding bill related to annexation. The chair noted it made no substantive changes and only brought forward existing code sections, and a reverse repealer was added by amendment. The committee adopted the amendment and then passed the bill, title sufficient, do pass committee substitute. Finally, Senate Bill 2893 proposed expanded notice requirements for zoning changes, including newspaper notice, posting on social media platforms, online posting, public access to the proposed changes, and extending the appeal period from 10 to 20 days. After discussion, an amendment was added to require signage for 30 days instead of 7, and the committee then passed the committee substitute by voice vote. The meeting ended with the bills reported and the committee in recess.

Transcript Highlights:

• I mean, structurally, I think that's not a good structure.
• Hopefully, once the registration starts, there will also be some fees associated with that that we will
• The current law is Mostly related, from my understanding, to the structure of the university, hiring
• There's no fee for anybody bringing a concern to your office?

Keywords: 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It does not substantially change the structure.
• So the public interest standard… maybe I’m missing… So the way this bill is structured, would it abolish
• The way that it's structured...
• There have been examples brought up about ETJ issues, annexation, impact fees, and what have you; we
• And I don't know if it's because of the revenue cap, but we've got impact fees.

Bills: SB324, SB1978, SB2139, SB2401, SB2587, SB2610, SB2858, SB3016

Keywords: E-verify, employment verification, state contracts, immigration, labor compliance, ERCOT, Texas electric grid, interconnection, Public Utility Commission, PUC, Public convenience and necessity, electric cooperative, municipally owned utility, electric utility, transmission, generation facilities, grid reliability, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, FERC, SERC

Transcript Highlights:

• WILL HAVE SENATOR LEEK TAKE UP TAB THREE ON THE UNLAWFUL DEMOLITION OF HISTORICAL BUILDINGS AND STRUCTURES
• AMENDMENT SECTION 10 ARTICLE 10 SECTION 24 REQUIRES THE EMPLOYEES PROTECT THE RIGHT BY PAYING A CERTAIN FEE
• IS NOT GIVING THE VIBE, ALSO BIG VOICES OF FLORIDA DOES DE-ESCALATION TRAINING AND WE WILL DROP THE FEE
• IN THE BILL IT TALKS ABOUT LOCAL GOVERNMENT US TO MAINTAIN A STRUCTURE OR THE AREA AROUND A STRUCTURE

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:10:29.959> are 75% of the attorney fees are 75% of the attorney fees are reimbursable<
• and implementation consulting fees over 10 years.
• <00:21:05.960> um Consulting fees so the licensing fees um Consulting fees so the licensing
• university so you say the license fees university so you say the license fees are<00:21:48.400><
• This contract is only for consulting fees.

Keywords: This meeting will take place upon adjournment of both chambers today. There is not an exact time, there for the live stream has been created with a place holder time of 4:00 PM est., 958, all

Summary: Chairman Hart called the meeting to order, confirmed a quorum, welcomed Representative Rachel Roarx, and the committee approved the February 11 minutes. The committee then moved through its agenda of PSC and related contract items, including a motion to consider the reviewed contracts without objection. One Department of Highways item was deferred when the virtual representatives were not yet available. The committee first took up Kentucky Housing Corporation contracts. Members questioned outside legal services for foreclosures and bankruptcies, why the work was not handled entirely in-house, and how much of the workload and cost it represented. Witnesses said the agency’s need was largely geographic rather than a lack of expertise, that less than 1% of the loan portfolio is referred out for foreclosures, and that many fees are reimbursable through FHA. Both Kentucky Housing Corporation items were approved. The committee then considered a Department for Community Based Services contract tied to a protest and a temporary renewal with PCG. Witnesses said the contract increase was needed to bridge the gap while the protest and RFP process were unresolved, and that the initial vendor received no funds. The committee approved the item, with Senator Douglas explaining his vote as a preference for straightforward answers. The committee also heard a Northern Kentucky University contract for a Workday ERP replacement, including implementation consulting and separate license fees. University officials explained the move from SAP to Workday, the complexity of the systems, and the need for a consulting partner; they said the total effort would span 10 years and that the contract was priced below comparable institutions. After extensive questioning about cost, budget, and value, the vote ended 4-4 and the chair noted the contract would move forward through the Finance Committee if no disapproval motion was made. Finally, the Office of Inspector General presented a contract for culture change training in nursing facilities funded by civil monetary penalties; witnesses said the goal was to improve staff satisfaction, communication, and resident outcomes, and that the CMP fund balance was about $38 million. Discussion also covered survey backlogs and CMS restrictions on the funds, with the item still under review as the transcript ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• The licensing fee itself, we believe, goes back to the general fund, but the background check fee sits
• The licensing fee itself, we believe, goes back to the general fund, but the background check fee sits
• The licensing fee itself, we believe, goes back to the general fund, but the background check fee sits
• fees.
• The licensing fee forfeited those fees.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:26:28.640> is<00:26:28.760> the one single Statewide structure is the one single
• Statewide structure is the right<00:26:29.080> thing<00:26:29.240> to<00:26:29.399>
• <00:31:50.559> every waiver funding is structured every waiver funding is structured every
• now here cutting services and<01:35:05.480> Hiking<01:35:05.840> up<01:35:06.000> fees
• is not helpful to and Hiking up fees is not helpful to seniors<01:35:07.800> and<01:35:08.000

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This keeps benefits where they are and the premium structure where it is.
• This keeps benefits where they are and the premium structure where it is.
• On page three, this again just shows you how our agency is structured in that 91% of our budget goes
• On page three, this again just shows you how our agency is structured in that 91% of our budget goes
• and TexQuest membership fees.

Summary: The Senate Finance Committee heard budget presentations for the Texas Historical Commission, the Pension Review Board, the Employees Retirement System (ERS), Social Security and benefit replacement pay, the Texas Emergency Services Retirement System (TESSRS), and the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT). The Legislative Budget Board outlined recommendations and major changes for each agency, including reductions tied to one-time projects at the Historical Commission, continued funding for courthouse grants, heritage trails, and Holocaust/genocide education, as well as new or modified riders and capital items. For the pension-related items, LBB described funding changes for PRB, ERS, Social Security, and TESSRS, including ERS health plan cost growth driven largely by pharmacy costs, the status of pension funding reforms, and TESSRS’s request for additional state support to address its unfunded liability and staffing needs. Members asked extensive questions about the Historical Commission’s one-time funding, unexpended balance authority, courthouse preservation, the Presidio La Bahia and National Museum of the Pacific War projects, and coordination of Texas history messaging across sites such as the Alamo, San Jacinto, Washington on the Brazos, and other heritage locations. The Historical Commission chair emphasized heritage tourism, economic development, and the need for continued investment in historic sites, staffing, IT modernization, and vehicles. On the pension items, senators discussed PRB oversight of local systems, including the Dallas police and fire pension situation, and ERS investment returns, benchmark comparisons, and rising health costs. ERS officials said the plan remains well funded overall, noted a 2021 cash balance reform and a planned supplemental legacy payment, and explained that GLP-1 drugs such as Ozempic and Mounjaro are a major driver of pharmacy spending; they also said the agency is working with the Texas Pharmacy Initiative and that rebates are contractually returned to ERS. For TESSRS, LBB and agency staff said the system serves volunteer and part-paid emergency personnel, is facing an infinite amortization period, and is requesting additional appropriations, staffing, and IT funding, along with a statutory change to allow an actuarially determined state contribution. The agency said it may otherwise need to cut benefits for volunteer firefighters. For CPRIT, LBB reported about $600 million in recommended funding for the biennium and a 10-FTE increase, while the agency described its $6 billion voter-approved program, $3.75 billion in grants awarded to date, and $10.4 million in revenue sharing since 2011. CPRIT’s only exceptional item was a request for a 10% salary increase for two exempt positions. No committee votes or formal actions were taken in the transcript.

Transcript Highlights:

• pay the legal fees of an insured if the insured prevailed in the action against the insurer.
• reasonable in a case in which the attorney's fees are determined by the court.
• A lodestar fee is determined by multiplying the reasonable number of hours by a reasonable fee.
• This change limits the application of multipliers to an award of attorney's fees.
• This change limits the application of multipliers to an award of attorney's fees.

Summary: The Judiciary Committee met with a quorum present and heard several Office of the State Courts Administrator presentations. Judge Mark Mahan discussed the impact of 2023’s HB 837 litigation reforms on court operations, explaining that the law’s changes to comparative negligence, filing deadlines, collateral source evidence, premises liability, bad faith claims, attorney’s fees, and offer-of-judgment rules triggered a major March 2023 civil filing surge. He described how filings tripled statewide, with especially large increases in auto negligence and premises liability cases, and outlined how circuits responded through active case management, added resources, and workflow changes. Members asked whether the bill’s immediate effective date contributed to the surge and whether clearance rates would normalize over time; Judge Mahan said the court system viewed its response as a success and expected rates to settle as the backlog is worked through. The committee then received a presentation on problem-solving courts from Jennifer Grandal and Judge Nina Richardson. Grandal reviewed Florida’s drug courts, mental health courts, veterans courts, dependency and early childhood courts, noting statewide best-practice standards, annual reporting requirements, funding sources, and data collection systems. Judge Richardson gave a local perspective on treatment courts, emphasizing that they address underlying mental health and substance use issues, rely on judicial supervision and sanctions as well as incentives, and help participants achieve recovery and avoid reoffending. She said the programs are accountable, transparent, and effective, and thanked the Legislature for continued support. Finally, Judge Rachel Nordby and Eric McClure outlined the judicial branch’s legislative agenda. Nordby summarized the Supreme Court workgroup’s recommendations to expand Florida’s vexatious litigant law, including broader coverage, fewer qualifying adverse cases, a longer lookback period, and a public records exemption for stricken defamatory or sham material. McClure then highlighted additional agenda items: modernizing the duty-judge statute, expanding senior management retirement eligibility, authorizing additional judgeships based on workload studies, removing the statutory cap on court-ordered nonbinding arbitration compensation, protecting appellate clerks’ personal information, allowing alternative authentication for certain judicial notarizations, and creating a hearsay exception for guardian ad litem reports and testimony. No votes were taken, and the committee adjourned after member introductions and staff introductions.

Transcript Highlights:

• So, thank you. but the word structures to us implies but the word structures to us implies buildings,
• There are water fees that do not cover the full cost of water, but there are permit fees for that.
• > directly<01:30:44.440> the example, air fees cover directly the example, air fees cover
• Uh but there are fee cost of water.
• Uh but there are fee permit<01:30:54.880> fees<01:30:55.280> for<01:30:55.480> that.

Bills: HF3426, HF3896, HF1426, HF3793, HF4061, HF4246

Keywords: natural resources, environment, sustainability, conservation, outdoor recreation, wild rice, watercraft regulation, environmental protection, aquatic ecosystems, HF1426, product stewardship, extended producer responsibility, EPR, electronics recycling, e-waste, battery recycling, circuit boards, printed circuit boards, electrical products, covered products

Transcript Highlights:

• . >> Um, Madam Chair members, the bill before you was structured as a grant, from MDE to the district
• was structured as a grant,<00:13:52.840> uh,<00:13:53.000> from grant, uh, from grant,
• But, my point is that I heard what Senator Hommerding said about roof and like maintenance fees.
• I would love to work on more long-term facility maintenance fees, but I just, you know, I don't want
• And I agree then like maintenance fees. And I agree with<00:25:20.680> you.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all