Transcript Highlights:

• They are a vital part of our electoral process in Texas.
• The Texas election code sets forth the requirements related to a plan for a central count station operation
• Chair calls Emily French with Common Cause Texas. Welcome.
• The Texas League opposes 817 because it bans preferential voting in all Texas elections.
• But if the Texas election code already prohibits ranked choice voting or preferential voting, then why

Transcript Highlights:

• The Texas Board of Nursing, the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, and the Texas Juvenile Justice
• The state of Texas has 11 major installations in the state of Texas.
• One is that Texas, the Southwest United States and Northern Mexico are in severe water shortage situation
• So we have to figure out how to conserve water as Texas farmers. So I like to use the term.
• Also, as previously touched on, water capture is something that is struggling right now, um, in Texas

Transcript Highlights:

• My family is from Jacksboro, Texas, so he knows nothing but Jacksboro and Texas.
• He was a Junior Texas Ranger, so he's actually in the Texas Ranger Museum listed as a Junior Texas Ranger
• If you're our age and you grew up in Texas, you without a doubt took a course in Texas history, at least
• The biggest part is the state of Texas is emblazoned on it, as is the Texas flag.
• Army Reserve, transferring to the Texas Army National Guard Headquarters Company in Marshall, Texas.

Keywords: 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Of course, the Texas...
• it did inside the state of Texas.
• Texas.
• Stay on across Texas? Yes, ma'am.
• Service at Texas A&M University.

Keywords: 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• You'll also see with our state cookie, the Biscochito, that there's a QR code on there for a brief two-question
• organizations like the Lions and Kiwanis clubs, partnering with companies like EpiCorps to put on the water
• He comes from Austin, Texas and hopes to be a civil rights attorney in the future.
• Senate Bill 193, introduced by Senator Compos, an act relating to water, increasing the annual transfer
• Department of Finance and Administration to contract for training and outreach services for soil and water

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm the president of Texas A&M University Central Texas.
• The biennial request for a West Texas Water Resilience Center is $4 million and it's dedicated to the
• ... to address the water issues in the Texas panhandle.
• Texas Task Force 2 that's out of the Dallas area and then we have the South Texas, Texas Task Force 3
• The regional centers, are any in West Texas or South Texas?

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Those outside Austin and rural Texas are being forced out.
• at the South Texas Project.
• Just to edify here, Sections 45U, 45Y, and 45E of the Internal Revenue Code, not known in the tax code
• in Texas.
• House Bill 3516 would amend the Texas Government Code to include these... ...employees and communications

Keywords: 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• LOOK AT AND MAKE SURE GOVERNANCE OF THE AI SYSTEM IS REALLY SOMETHING THAT FITS WITHIN THE INSURANCE CODE
• WE ARE NOT DOING SOMETHING THAT IS OUT OF COMPLIANCE WITH THE FEDERAL -- INSURANCE CODE OR REGULATIONS
• FOR EXAMPLE, TEXAS LAW MADE IT CLEAR HEALTH PRACTITIONERS CAN USE AI FOR AI TOOLS FOR DIAGNOSIS AS LONG
• THAT IS ACTING IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE INSURANCE CODE IN FLORIDA.
• WATER BREACH DEVICES TO ALERT TO AN ISSUE. I WILL GIVE YOU A SPECIFIC EXAMPLE.

Transcript Highlights:

• , the Penal Code, and the Government Code.
• I'm here on behalf of our client, California Water Association.
• fire hydrants and water meters.
• At the same time, water meter thefts create additional risks.
• Removing meters can result in uncontrolled water flows, significant water loss, and sudden drops in system

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Summary: The committee met without a quorum and operated as a subcommittee while hearing a long agenda of public safety bills. Early announcements covered consent calendar items, a pulled bill (SB 906), testimony limits, and a recess for lunch. Several measures were heard in special order and file order, with votes deferred until quorum was established. The committee also accepted or discussed amendments on multiple bills during presentation. SB 1446, by the committee, would change parole en banc review procedures by giving commissioners more discretion, making en banc votes public, and allowing CDCR referrals for sexually violent predator evaluations in certain cases. Support came from the California District Attorneys Association, while opposition came from Uncommon Law, the Ella Baker Center, and public defender and youth justice groups, who argued it would add confusion, raise constitutional concerns, and duplicate existing safeguards. SB 1278, by Senator Nilo, would exclude certain sex offenses from elderly parole eligibility; the author and district attorney supporters cited high-profile cases and victim trauma, while opponents said the current process is already rigorous, low-risk, and evidence-based. SB 1354, by Senator Archuleta, would prohibit out-of-state military or law enforcement personnel from entering California to perform such functions without the Governor’s permission; the committee amendment removed a criminal penalty, and the bill drew support from the California Public Defenders Association and allied groups, with no opposition heard. SB 926, by Senator Strickland, would fund implementation of Proposition 36 through a public safety services support fund; supporters said local agencies need resources for treatment, probation, and accountability, while opponents argued the bill was fiscally reckless, lacked guardrails, and prioritized incarceration over community-based treatment. The chair and author discussed amendments removing a fixed appropriation and shifting funding decisions to the budget process. SB 874, by Senator Weber Pearsons, would strengthen oversight of Medi-Cal behavioral health treatment services, especially ABA services, by requiring background checks for certain unlicensed providers, creating a stakeholder workgroup, and directing DHCS to issue guidance and report to the Legislature. Supporters said the bill would improve patient safety and program integrity, and no opposition testified. SB 1210, also by Senator Weber Pearsons, would extend CalGang oversight and due-process protections to local gang databases; supporters described privacy harms and inaccurate labeling, while law enforcement opposition said local investigative databases need flexibility and that the bill could significantly expand regulation. SB 1019, by Senator Grove, would create a California Cargo Thief Task Force in the Attorney General’s Office to combat organized cargo theft; it drew broad support from rail, trucking, shipping, and port interests, with testimony describing organized, dangerous theft rings and supply-chain disruption, and no opposition was heard. SB 1217, the non-consensual intimate image clearinghouse bill, was introduced at the end of the transcript after committee and privacy amendments were summarized, but its testimony and any action were not included in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• currently going to Texas free without credit to the New Mexico-Texas water compact.
• They have Texas is moving forward with using treated produced water already very cautiously.
• We work also pretty closely with Texas Produced Water Consortium. They're researchers.
• And Texas complains, you're sending us all this salty water, and now we have to desalinate it.
• And they're worried because of what I say about using treated-produced water to send our water to Texas

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• My region of Texas continues to grow at an exceptional rate in South Texas as we continue to add population
• Our water needs continue to grow.
• The Laguna Madre Water District has begun the process of meeting their future water needs with one of
• the first marine desalination plants in Texas.
• district to consume water or sewer.

Bills: HJR40

Keywords: Medicaid, healthcare access, Affordable Care Act, federal funding, constitutional amendment

Transcript Highlights:

• This bill updates and modernizes Florida's probate code by clarifying when a curator may be appointed
• Christian Cochran, Texas Public Policy Foundation, Right on Crime, waving in support.
• Additionally, Section 5's protection ...including power plants, water systems, and port operations.
• And that's why the example is given because it is one of the most frequent religious codes evaluated.
• Because it is one of the most frequent religious codes evaluated in our courts.

Summary: The Judiciary Committee heard a long agenda of bills, beginning with several probate, civil rights, and claims measures. Senators Burgess’s SB 326 on curators of estates was explained as a modernization of probate law; an amendment narrowing the bill was adopted, and the committee reported the bill favorably 10-0 after limited public testimony, including opposition from Ray Contreras. Burgess’s SB 1096, clarifying filing deadlines under the Florida Civil Rights Act, also passed unanimously 11-0. The committee then approved several claims bills, including SB 28 for Reginald Jackson against the City of Lakeland, SB 6 for a child injured after DCF’s handling of abuse allegations, SB 18 for the estate of McKenzie Navarre against the Broward County Sheriff’s Office, SB 26 for the estate of Mark Legata against FDOT, and SB 2 for the estate of Daniel Maudsley against DHSMV, with votes ranging from 10-1 to 11-0 and mostly no debate or opposition. The committee also took up trust and family-law related bills. Leader Berman’s SB 786 created a nonjudicial process for closing uncontested trusts and discharging trustees; after a technical amendment and testimony from Ray Contreras raising notice concerns, it passed 11-0. President Gates’s SB 50 expanded veterans’ courts statewide, drew broad support from veterans’ groups and advocacy organizations, and was reported favorably 11-0. Senator Simon’s SB 538 standardized extracurricular participation rules for public, private, virtual, and homeschool students; after multiple amendments on homeschool eligibility, fees, and coach compensation, it passed 11-0 with support and opposition from education-related groups. President Gates’s SB 1004, aimed at consumer protections in the sale of dogs and cats, also passed unanimously after testimony from humane organizations. The committee then considered broader policy bills. President Pro Tem Brodeur’s SB 1366 on claims against the government proposed raising sovereign immunity caps and adding CPI adjustments; local government, hospital, and school representatives supported the Senate’s lower-cap approach while warning against the House version, and the bill was reported favorably 11-0. Senator Jones’s SB 178 on athletics in public K-12 schools, as amended, would let head coaches provide limited personal support to student-athletes and require reporting of assistance; it passed 10-0. Senator Grohl’s SB 1178 on foreign influence and foreign countries of concern drew extensive supportive testimony from national security witnesses and was reported favorably 11-0 after a technical amendment and withdrawal of another amendment. Finally, SB 1632 on ideologies inconsistent with American principles prompted substantial debate and public testimony over domestic terrorism designations, Sharia law references, due process, and free speech concerns; the committee had not yet completed final action on that bill when the transcript ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• This bill updates and modernizes Florida's probate code by clarifying when a curator may be appointed
• Christian Cochran, Texas Public Policy Foundation, Right on Crime, waiving in support.
• Additionally, Section 5’s protection Including power plants, water systems, and port operations.
• And that's why the example is given because it is one of the most frequent religious codes evaluated.
• .. ...because it is one of the most frequent religious codes evaluated in our courts.

Bills: S0002, S0006, S0018, S0026, S0028, S0050, S0178, S0326, S0538, S0786, S1004, S1096, S1178, S1366, S1632, S1634

Keywords: negligence, settlement, appropriation, highway safety, damages, law enforcement, child welfare, injury compensation, Department of Children and Families, compensation, law enforcement accountability, personal injury, motorcycle accident, Department of Transportation, legal claim, police negligence, monetary compensation, civil rights, city liability, veterans

Summary: The committee heard a series of bills, most of them claims or civil-law measures, and reported each favorably. Among the bills approved were SB 326 on curators of estates, SB 1096 clarifying filing deadlines under the Florida Civil Rights Act, SB 28 and SB 26 on claims against the City of Lakeland and the estate of Mark Legata, SB 6 involving a DCF-related claim for Layla Estrada/Sapphire Williams, SB 786 creating a nonjudicial process for closing trusts, SB 18 and SB 2 on claims involving the estate of McKenzie Navarre and Daniel Mosley, and SB 50 expanding veterans’ courts statewide. The committee also approved SB 538 on extracurricular activities, SB 1004 on pet sales and financing disclosures, and SB 1366, the sovereign immunity bill, which was presented as a starting point for negotiations with the House over higher claims caps and related provisions. Most of these bills were explained by sponsors as clarifying existing law, modernizing procedures, or resolving uncontested claims, and several had support from affected organizations or individuals; some also drew opposition or concerns from speakers, especially on trust notice issues, sovereign immunity, and the scope of the extracurricular and pet-sale bills. Several bills were amended before passage. SB 326 was narrowed by removing a section and changing reporting language for curators. SB 786 received a technical clarification amendment, while SB 18 removed an unneeded Medicaid-related section. SB 50 on veterans’ courts drew broad support from veterans’ groups and criminal-justice organizations. SB 538 on extracurricular activities was amended multiple times to address home education eligibility, activity fees for homeschool participants, technical cross-references, and compensation for extracurricular sponsors. SB 1004 was supported by animal-welfare advocates and consumer-protection interests. SB 178 on athletics in public K-12 schools was amended to limit the bill to head coaches, require personal funds, and allow similar bylaws by other athletic associations; it passed after discussion of a Miami Northwestern coaching controversy. The committee also took up two major policy bills with substantial testimony and questions. SB 1178 on foreign influence would create a state framework for foreign-agent registration, restrict gifts and contracts tied to foreign countries of concern and designated foreign terrorist organizations, limit certain sister-city and university linkage activities, and increase penalties for crimes committed to benefit foreign governments or terrorist groups; supporters framed it as a national-security and transparency measure, while the sponsor withdrew one amendment before passage. SB 1632 on ideologies inconsistent with American principles generated the most extended questioning, especially about its domestic-terrorism designation process, references to Sharia law, notice and due-process protections, and potential effects on students and speech; supporters argued it targets conduct, not belief, while opponents warned it could chill protected activity and unfairly target Muslim communities. The committee heard many public speakers on both sides, but no floor debate followed before the bill was moved forward.

Transcript Highlights:

• the bridge that we built across down in Buras, it took eight years to build it to cross 200 feet of water
• So... ...to cross 200 feet of water. You know, you explain that to me.
• My family just went to a graduation this past weekend in Santa Fe, Texas. My son...
• Graduation this past weekend in Santa Fe, Texas. My son hit one of the toll roads.
• They get the payment at time of service, whatever the billing codes are.

Bills: HB198, HB325, HB488, HB719, HB749, HB755, HB797, HB823, HB1028, HB1194, HB1222

Keywords: Medicaid, reimbursement, ambulatory surgical centers, gastroenterology, ophthalmology, otolaryngology, healthcare funding, Louisiana Department of Health, surgical procedures, TOPS-Tech, scholarship, education, eligibility, college credit, dual enrollment, state funding, HB 488, Belle Chasse Bridge, Belle Chasse Bridge Merit-Based Special Fund, Plaquemines Parish

Transcript Highlights:

• bridge that we built across down in Berwick, it took eight years to build it to cross 200 feet of water
• So... ...to cross 200 feet of water. You know, you explain that to me.
• My family just went to a graduation this past weekend in Santa Fe, Texas. My son...
• My family just went to a graduation this past weekend in Santa Fe, Texas.
• They get the payment at time of service, whatever the billing codes are.

Summary: The Finance Committee met on May 27, 2026, with six members present and took up a series of House bills, most of them dealing with education funding, criminal justice staffing, transportation, health care access, and economic development. HB 325 was reported favorably after testimony that it would expand TOPS eligibility by allowing dual-enrollment credits to satisfy eligibility criteria and by making part-time students eligible for TOPS Tech, with supporters saying the program has been underused and the change would help working students. HB 719 was amended and reported favorably to increase assistant district attorney positions in various judicial districts; the Louisiana District Attorneys Association said the changes were based on workload data and local input, and members discussed the need to coordinate any expansion with public defender funding. The committee also reported HB 749 favorably, which would move Louisiana’s 529 savings accounts to a more secure online platform after a cyber incident, and HB 1028 favorably, which concerns transportation reimbursement for providers and was described as already subject to appropriation. Several bills focused on food access and local economic development. HB 1222, the Grocery Initiative Act, was reported favorably to let LED use existing grant resources to map food deserts and develop a program, with members noting it could return for funding later if needed. HB 1194 was amended and reported favorably to define food deserts and direct the LSU AgCenter and the Department of Agriculture and Forestry to identify and map them, with authors emphasizing it was a study and not a government-run grocery program. HB 755, which would create IDIQ contracting for architects and engineers on smaller state projects, was reported favorably with no fiscal impact. HB 823, a local diversion pilot for Orleans Parish, was also reported favorably after the fiscal note was revised to remove state impact and reflect only local costs. The committee spent substantial time on HB 488, a proposal from Plaquemines Parish to use severance-tax revenue to help buy out a private toll concession on the parish’s bridge. The author and local officials described severe toll burdens, economic harm to local businesses, and what they called an unfair contract, but members noted the bill was not funded and ultimately deferred it without a motion. HB 797, the Bayou Gold/Louisiana Sound Money Act, was amended to make implementation subject to appropriation and then reported favorably. The committee also took up HB 198, which would raise Medicaid reimbursement for ambulatory surgery centers for certain outpatient procedures; after extensive discussion about fiscal notes, access to care, and potential long-term savings, the bill was amended to narrow its scope and make implementation subject to appropriation, then reported favorably as amended. The meeting ended with the chair noting it would be the committee’s last meeting and asking members to spread the word.

Transcript Highlights:

• Industrial heaters have been used to heat the pool of contaminated water, thereby accelerating evaporation
• of the water into the public air.
• The community does not want the contaminated water discharged into the air.
• She's on Zoom now with us because one moved to Texas, but we've been involved from the beginning at the
• However, only Solomon's record was coded with Y59.0, which means viral vaccines.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Emergency Preparedness and Management held a hearing on several emergency management bills, with most of the testimony focused on Senate Bill 539, which would prohibit COVID-19 mRNA vaccination or gene-altering procedures as a condition of entry, employment, school attendance, or access to public venues. Senator Durant and many public witnesses supported the bill, arguing that COVID-era mandates were coercive, ineffective, and harmful, and that the state should not require proof of vaccination in future emergencies. One witness, Joanne Tuller, testified in opposition, saying the government should retain authority to impose public health measures in emergencies and warning against permanently limiting that power based on the COVID experience. The committee also heard testimony on Senate Bill 540, concerning the prevention of radioactive material discharge, with a Sierra Club representative and local residents opposing Holtec’s disposal of wastewater from the Pilgrim Nuclear Power Plant and citing health, environmental, and economic concerns in Plymouth and nearby communities. Senator Driscoll testified in support of Senate Bills 537 and 538, describing them as measures to strengthen the Commonwealth’s strategic preparedness stockpile and to create a framework for emergency response during surges in hospitalizations, including temporary waivers of prior authorization when hospitals are over capacity. In addition, Dr. Jennifer Carlson testified in support of H.885, a resolve creating a special commission on the field of emergency management, arguing that the profession should be more fully professionalized and staffed by dedicated experts rather than part-time “second hat” officials. Several other bills on the docket, including H.883 and H.84, had no sign-ups. The chair closed each bill’s testimony section as the list was exhausted, and the hearing was adjourned without any votes taken during the session.

Transcript Highlights:

• and dozens to the Texas capital.
• water efficiency, water conservation, air quality, and healthy schools.
• Girls Club of Texas.
• Thank you for coming to the Texas Capitol, your Texas capital. Chair, recognize Ms. Bowers.
• municipalities on utility. in the Texas Water Development Board authorizing administrative penalties

Transcript Highlights:

• The data is clear, 90% of Texas high school students graduate and 62% of Texas jobs require some sort
• Uh, this is a completely separate portion of the Texas education code. So the answer is no.
• There are separate sections of Texas education code.
• So this would establish Texas Education Code Chapter 30B.
• competitive Texas.

Bills: HB117

Keywords: county regulation, impervious cover, land use, unincorporated areas, environmental management

Transcript Highlights:

• tax code.
• House Bill 3699 would amend the Texas Labor Code to define last work and.
• Section 552,130 of the government code and Section 730007 of the Transportation code to clarify that
• By amending Chapter 201, Texas Labor Code, House Bill 33,700 would ensure that all programs at TWC have
• Labor Code.

Transcript Highlights:

• Of course, you're right, because we're going to go to the lawsuit code. If I may, I'm sorry.
• Wind, solar, batteries, water is not the energy that we need. This past winter was so bad.
• However, the bill does have safeguards for protecting ecosystems and bodies of water.
• What about homeowners that are along the body of water where these could be located?
• You put water on it and it turns to steam. This is a great bill.

Keywords: 993, senate, all

Summary: The Senate Standing Committee on Energy and Telecommunications considered a large agenda focused mainly on energy affordability, the CLCPA, utility rates, and renewable energy siting. Senator Mattera and other Republican members argued that the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act has driven up utility bills, harmed reliability, and imposed costs on ratepayers, while Democratic members pushed back that rising costs are also driven by natural gas markets, infrastructure costs, and broader economic factors. Several bills sought to repeal or pause CLCPA-related policies, create a CLCPA task force, impose studies or moratoriums on new energy taxes and fees, and increase transparency around utility surcharges and state energy spending. Supporters framed these measures as ratepayer relief and accountability; opponents said some proposals would undermine clean-energy policy and existing consumer-benefit programs. The committee defeated S.1167, which would have repealed the All Electric Building Act, and S.1173, which would have created a CLCPA task force. It also failed S.5250, a bill to study CLCPA costs and impose a moratorium on new energy taxes, fees, or regulations, and S.7075, which would have prohibited the system benefits charge on utility bills. Several other bills advanced, including S.1236A on virtual access and electronic filing for Public Service Commission proceedings, S.1552 establishing reduced residential rates for low-income electric and natural gas customers, S.2484 directing a study of replacement timeframes for battery storage and renewable facilities, S.2638 on carbon allowance auction proceeds, S.3247 on electric vehicle charging stations, S.3553 requiring utilities to post promotional and educational materials on their websites, S.4571A creating a floating solar incentive education program, S.5518 shifting Public Service Commission funding to legislative appropriation, and S.6412A requiring itemized ratepayer disclosure of surcharges. S.9251, on labor-related legal costs, was referred to the Labor Committee. S.7710, which would have restricted energy storage systems near schools and homes in New York City, failed after concerns and support were debated. The committee adjourned after completing the agenda.