Transcript Highlights:

• We're currently undergoing rule-making for Title 30 of the Texas Administrative Code Chapter 328, Waste
• We're housed within the Texas Department of Insurance and serve as the fire code authority in approximately
• The Texas Department of Insurance and serve as the fire code authority in approximately two-thirds of
• the Texas counties, primarily in areas without a local adopted fire code or a fire code official.
• The growth in energy power that's happening in Texas seems to be on the backs of rural Texas.

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• everybody knows, we have a 1:00 hard stop because we lose the room to the Joint Committee on Transportation
• If enacted, this bill would amend the insurance code to clarify the regulatory framework for the sale
• It would also include a QR code on each certificate, ...expiration date of the policy.
• It would also include a QR code on each certificate so that anyone, a general contractor, a regulator
• and chemical transport in coastal areas.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Financial Services held a public hearing with about 43 witnesses and a 1:00 p.m. hard stop, and the chair repeatedly asked speakers to keep testimony to three minutes. Much of the hearing focused on S. 747/H. 1336, which would extend paid family and medical leave and unemployment insurance to graduate student workers. Supporters included legislators, union leaders, graduate workers from MIT, Harvard, BU, WPI, UMass Lowell, and others, and legal advocates. They argued graduate workers perform full-time teaching and research work, pay taxes, and should not be excluded from basic safety-net benefits; several witnesses described personal hardships involving childbirth, serious illness, mental health crises, funding cuts, or fear of losing income. Testifiers also said the change would be revenue-neutral or revenue-generating and would not create major administrative burdens for universities, which already provide similar benefits to other employees. The committee also heard testimony on insurance-related bills. Christopher Stock of the Massachusetts Insurance Federation supported H. 1113 on public adjusters and H. 1345/S. 753 on flood-zone notifications for homebuyers, but opposed H. 4112, which would add a $2 surcharge on home insurance policies to fund fire cistern programs. The Metropolitan Area Planning Council strongly supported H. 1345, saying flood disclosure is needed because Massachusetts lacks statewide flood-notification requirements and flooding risks are increasing. Karen Alvarado supported H. 4352 on travel insurance, and John Fielding supported H. 1186 on pet insurance; both said the bills would create uniform regulatory frameworks and consumer protections. Rep. LeBoeuf testified for H. 4061 on workers’ compensation premium fraud, describing the bill as a transparency measure to combat fraud in construction by creating a public certificate-of-insurance database and QR-code verification system. Joe Bright of the carpenters’ union also supported H. 4061, citing fraud, misclassification, and the harm to injured workers. The hearing also included testimony on H. 4112, a bill to create a statewide fire suppression water resource fund and cistern program. Rep. Hogan and a Stowe fire chief described drought, brush fires, and the need for dedicated cisterns in communities without municipal water systems, saying the tanks provide reliable water for firefighting and are relatively low-tech once installed. Committee members asked questions about tank capacity, siting, maintenance, and funding. No votes or formal actions were taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• Costs across all P codes. The LFC recommendation is...
• Some notable differences through P codes is for P codes 602, Program Support.
• Another difference is the LFC REC funds the Manufactured Housing Division, P codes 619, with general
• , bringing it to current code.
• But those do get inspected to some degree prior to their transportation.

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And frankly, we think after 15 years of technological innovation, there's got to be some low-code, no-code
• Seventeen states filed Texas v.
• Transportation to shelters for people who need special transportation was very difficult because so many
• The transportation rates are broken.
• The transportation rates are broken.

Summary: The Assembly Budget Subcommittee on Human Services held a hearing on developmental services, rehabilitation, and related supports, with no votes taken. The first major topic was the Master Plan for Developmental Services. Administration officials described a year-long, community-driven process that included a steering committee, work groups, and statewide engagement sessions, and said the final draft would be released that Friday with about 170 recommendations. The Department of Developmental Services said the plan would inform future work, but did not offer a detailed implementation roadmap. The LAO said the plan contains significant policy and budget implications, may require statutory changes, and needs further analysis to turn recommendations into actionable proposals. Advocates and regional center representatives urged the Legislature and administration to avoid letting the plan sit on a shelf, called for prioritization and ongoing stakeholder oversight, and emphasized the need to address equity, workforce, service coordination, and cross-system collaboration. The chair said he wanted to work with the LAO on trailer bill language and future reporting to create a clearer path forward. The second topic was the Office of Employment First and competitive integrated employment. Administration witnesses said California has ended subminimum wage under SB 639, but that moving people into competitive integrated employment remains a major priority. They described existing efforts such as DDS’s coordinated career pathways pilot, paid internships, job development services, benefits counseling, and DOR’s career counseling and referral services, along with pilot projects in San Diego and Orange County. The State Council on Developmental Disabilities and advocates argued that employment outcomes have remained stuck at roughly 15% and that a dedicated Employment First Office is needed to coordinate across agencies, align goals, and improve outcomes. The LAO recommended regular legislative oversight on people transitioning out of subminimum wage and asked for technical assistance on coordinated career pathways. The chair criticized the administration’s decision to effectively eliminate funding for the office, requested a detailed implementation timeline and quarterly transition reports, and said the committee would continue pressing for the office to be implemented. The final issue was respite services, utilization trends, and access. DDS reported that in-home respite use and spending have risen sharply over several years, with about 150,000 people using respite in 2023-24 and expenditures reaching about $1 billion. Officials said access depends on families knowing the service exists, service coordinators identifying need, and having enough providers, especially in rural and linguistically diverse communities. The San Diego Regional Center said utilization generally mirrors statewide trends, but access is stronger in some areas, such as Imperial County, where families often prefer family-directed or agency-supported models that allow them to hire trusted workers. Committee members emphasized the importance of respite for family health and caregiver well-being, asked whether service coordinators are asking practical questions about sleep and stress, and discussed the need for better identification of complex behavioral and medical needs. DDS said a standardized family support tool and updated IPP process are intended to improve consistency, transparency, and person-centered assessment for respite and related services.

Transcript Highlights:

• Texas, for example, the cost has now gone up to about $400 a month.
• Improve building codes. Wildfire prepared standards, fortified building standards.
• Newman I've got two words for you senator building codes. Yeah, it is basic low hanging fruit.
• We know that building codes work.
• Can you discuss the strategy of insuring homes on a house-by-house basis rather than a zip code?

Keywords: homeowners insurance, natural disasters, insurance costs, climate change, disaster preparedness, federal policies, bipartisan solutions

Summary: The meeting reviewed critical issues surrounding the rising costs and accessibility of homeowners insurance across the United States, particularly in light of increasing natural disasters linked to climate change. Members engaged in extensive discussions regarding the implications for families and the economy, citing significant increases in premiums and decreasing availability of policies in high-risk areas. Supervisor Peysko highlighted the direct impact of federal policies on local communities, emphasizing the growing burden on homeowners as they face skyrocketing insurance costs amidst a backdrop of environmental challenges and regulatory constraints. The committee expressed a unified call to action for bipartisan solutions, focusing on improving building codes and enhancing disaster preparedness measures.

Transcript Highlights:

• Kim Ross, I'm with Kimbell Public Affairs in Austin, Texas.
• pharmacy and a healthcare facility licensed by the healthcare authority, pursuant to the healthcare code
• OK, so Vice Chair Herndon made the motion for a due pass on Senate Tax, Business and Transportation Committee
• Transportation Committee substitute. Is that right? Um, for Senate Bill 278. Oh, I'm sorry.

Transcript Highlights:

• To be clear, everybody lost something that day, including Texas. And I've Including Texas.
• The Texas Rangers took over.
• Isn't that required by the Texas Administrative Code?
• The outrage of potentially Texas... ...outrage of potentially Texas saying, it's okay.
• How could people of the state of Texas trust that?

Keywords: 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• additional visits from a code official additional visits from a code official the<00:14:42.759><
• I know a lot of people say it's code enforcement.
• has a statewide building code.
• Texas did change.
• I don't know the specifics of Texas, but I do know that that was the reason that Texas did enact it:

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Summary: The Senate Labor Committee heard Senate File 560, a bill to require the Commissioner of Labor and Industry to establish a cost-per-square-foot valuation for residential building permits. Senator Dornink said the measure is intended to make permit fees more fair, reasonable, transparent, and predictable, and to reduce housing costs by limiting large differences in permit fees between municipalities. He said the bill would be sent to the Housing Committee without recommendation, and members discussed but did not act on a related amendment that would have shifted plan review and inspection fees to hourly and trip-based charges and made fee information publicly available. Testimony from Housing First Minnesota supported the bill’s goal, arguing that Minnesota’s housing shortage and high new-home prices make it important to reduce inefficiencies in the permitting system. The witness said permit valuations are often increased by cities, leading to higher costs for homebuyers, and cited examples of large fee differences between municipalities and claims of overcollection. He said some other states, including Texas and Wisconsin communities, use square-footage-based approaches. A League of Minnesota Cities representative opposed the amendment language and cautioned that trip charges and hourly billing would make fees less certain, could raise costs, and would be especially burdensome in Greater Minnesota; he said current valuation-based fees better reflect the actual cost and complexity of service and can be appealed if disputed. A representative of the Association of Minnesota Building Officials also raised concerns about the amendment, saying building departments provide consultations, inspections, plan review, and other services beyond a single trip, and that trip charges would not fit a responsive fee-for-service model. He said the current valuation system helps cover the full range of permitting work, though he acknowledged that a consistent square-foot valuation standard could improve transparency and reduce disputes over project value. Committee members asked about other states’ approaches and the scope of the bill, and the discussion emphasized that the proposal applies to one- and two-family dwellings.

Transcript Highlights:

• But we need a Texas formula.
• in Texas utility code 54204c, the law these bills, this bill appears modeled on.
• Utilities Code.
• Texas landowner rights.
• water code.

Transcript Highlights:

• The legislature in Texas provides a vast amount of support to its veterans in the state of Texas through
• Each program is in the Texas Government Code, authorized by the legislature to serve our veterans.
• In Texas, we have it at the Texas Veterans Commission.
• And we also send out a recurring Work in Texas data from our Texas workforce partners.
• Government Code.

Summary: The Senate Committee on Veteran Affairs heard a briefing from the Texas Veterans Commission on its major programs and outreach efforts. TVC described its claims assistance, health care advocacy, education oversight, employment services, entrepreneurship support, mental health and suicide prevention work, women veterans services, grant funding for nonprofits and local governments, and support for veteran treatment courts. The agency also highlighted its communications strategy, including media outreach, events, newsletters, social media, and the Texas Veterans State Benefits Booklet, and noted that less than 58% of veterans were aware of TVC in the latest needs assessment. A committee member asked about performance metrics, and TVC said each appropriation has associated measures and that it could provide recent results. The committee then took up Senate Bill 651, which would allow a county veterans service office in a large county to report either directly to commissioners court or to a designated county executive official. Senator West explained the bill as a cleanup of current practice, and Dallas County testified in support, saying the change would streamline internal management. No opposition was heard, and the bill was left pending. Senate Bill 897 would reduce the non-state matching requirement for the Texas Veterans and Family Alliance grant program in larger counties from 100 percent to 75 percent in the committee substitute, rather than the 50 percent reduction in the filed version. Supporters from MetroCare and Emergence Health Network said the lower match would help sustain and expand veteran mental health services, citing increased demand and program growth. The bill was left pending after testimony. The committee also adopted its rules. Finally, the committee heard Senate Bill 1814, which would create an interagency database to collect and coordinate contact information for transitioning veterans so agencies could proactively connect them with services. Senator Hancock said the goal was to better use information already being collected, though he noted the bill had a significant fiscal note. The committee also heard Senate Bill 1818, which would create a temporary six-month licensing and certification process for military members and spouses assigned to Texas while they wait for letters of good standing from other states. VFW testified in support, emphasizing the importance of employment for military families. Both bills were left pending, and the committee recessed subject to the call of the chair.

Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you for your service to Texas.
• , Lieutenant Colonel in the Texas Army National Guard.
• Give us a Texas-style ski wee.
• The Texas chapter of APWA consists of 2,100-plus members across the state of Texas, with nine branches
• Thousands of public workers across Texas provide services essential to the well-being of the Texas population

Bills: SJR36, SB2

Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum, opened with an invocation, dispensed with the reading of the previous day’s journal, and recognized several visiting groups and individuals. Senators Flores, Hinojosa of Hidalgo, and Campbell welcomed members of the Texas Police Chiefs Association, and Senator Nichols introduced Dr. Joshua Splinter as Doctor of the Day. The chamber then adopted several resolutions without objection. Senate Resolution 16 recognized Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, and its South Central Region for Alpha Kappa Alpha Day at the Capitol, with remarks from Senators Miles and West highlighting the organization’s history, service, and Texas members. Senate Resolution 9 designated January 29, 2025, as American Public Works Association Day at the Capitol, and Senate Resolution 10 congratulated Heather Keister for being named Engineer of the Year by the South Plains Chapter of the Texas Society of Professional Engineers. Senator Hinojosa of Nueces also recognized a Brownsville delegation, and additional resolutions, including Senate Resolutions 13 and 18, were adopted without objection. The Senate also approved a motion by Senator Zaffirini to suspend Senate Rule 11.13 so committees could meet during the reading and referral of bills. Announcements followed, including a Finance Committee reconvening at 12:45 p.m. and a Senate Democratic Caucus meeting upon adjournment. The chamber then recessed until 10 a.m. Monday, February 3, for reading and referral of bills, and after that process, adjourned until 11 a.m. Tuesday, February 4.

Transcript Highlights:

• the first county court at law in Texas to attain the designation.
• A rise to the top will improve Texas courts and build public trust and confidence.
• As I said, I'm Roger Harris, President of Metro Linen, based in McKinney, Texas.
• Government Code.
• And that's the reason why they looked at Texas way back.

Summary: The Senate Finance Committee heard several measures, beginning with SB 1574 by Senator Zaffirini, which would codify the Texas Judicial Council’s Centers of Excellence Program for courts and judges. Testimony from judges and the Office of Court Administration emphasized that the program promotes transparency, procedural fairness, mentoring, and public trust. A committee substitute expanded eligibility to justices of the peace and municipal judges and removed a merit-pay reference to eliminate fiscal impact. After quorum was established, the committee adopted the substitute and later voted it out favorably, though it was not certified for the local and uncontested calendar. The committee also heard SB 2774 by Senator Hinojosa, which would amend the Tax Code’s retail trade definition to include industrial uniform and linen rental businesses so they qualify for the lower franchise tax rate. Supporters said the change would put rental textile businesses on equal footing with other rental industries and help Texas employers and customers. The bill was reported favorably to the full Senate. Members then considered SB 1211 by Senator Perry, which would broaden the existing fracking-related sales tax exemption for equipment used with non-fresh water sources, including recycled, produced, and brine water. The bill’s supporters argued it would conserve freshwater and reduce litigation over water definitions, while the Comptroller’s office discussed the fiscal note and production-related revenue effects. The committee also heard SB 2873 and SB 2900, both by Senator Kolkhorst and presented by Senator Nichols; SB 2873 would require electronic filers to file electronically, and SB 2900 would eliminate certain Comptroller-related advisory committees and boards. Both were later adopted in committee substitute form and reported favorably. Finally, the committee heard HJR 4, sponsored by Senator Parker, proposing a constitutional amendment to prohibit new taxes on securities transfers or financial transaction processing. Supporters said it would protect investors, especially retirees, and help position Texas as a financial center. The committee voted to report HJR 4 favorably to the full Senate. In each recorded vote after quorum was present, the measures passed with nine ayes and no nays.

Transcript Highlights:

• Since 2015, she has also served on the Texas Judicial Council. since 2017 and the Texas Access to Justice
• South Texas Foundation and the DNJ Alexander Foundation named a distinguished alumna from the Texas from
• the University of Texas at Austin. 2003.
• Welcome to your Texas capital. Welcome to Texas. 457 The chair recognizes Mr.
• to the Texas Capitol.

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, Texas Department of Agriculture and Extension, say 507 acres.
• of really keeping, uh, keeping Texas, Texas.
• In fact, um, we have adopted rodeo as the official sport of Texas.
• the Texas Forest Service of any prescribed burn.
• grants for construction and improvement of Texas Public libraries.

Transcript Highlights:

• the heart of Central Texas.
• Rob played a key role in drafting and implementing the 1993 Texas Penal Code.
• Austin, the father of Texas.
• from Austin County, Texas, right there.
• And in Texas, we will not.

Summary: The Senate opened with an invocation, messages from the House, and several recognitions, including county day delegations from Fayette, LaSalle, Jim Hogg, Austin, and others, as well as a recognition of Rob Keppel for his career with the Texas District and County Attorneys Association. The chamber also adopted several resolutions, including SR 429 designating October 2025 as RET Syndrome Awareness Month and SR 432 honoring Rob Keppel. A doctor-of-the-day introduction and a public announcement about free skin checks were also made. The Senate then took up and passed several bills. SB 1152, creating the offense of continuous manufacture or delivery of a controlled substance, passed after suspension of the rules. SB 1868, regulating kratom and related substances, was amended to prohibit smokeable kratom products and kratom pills and to clarify THC variants such as Delta-8 and Delta-10, then passed. SB 1349, creating offenses for transnational repression and unauthorized enforcement of foreign law, drew debate over a failed amendment that would have added election misinformation and foreign meddling; the bill ultimately passed unanimously. SB 2037, expediting review of LNG environmental permits, passed after amendments clarifying fees and deadlines, with opposition focused on its energy-policy implications. SB 1164, addressing emergency detention and court-ordered inpatient mental health treatment, passed after a drafting-error correction and discussion of the bill’s basis in recommendations from the Texas Judicial Commission on Mental Health. The Senate also advanced SB 2743 on prosecution of certain election offenses, which would allow a court process to disqualify a local prosecutor who repeatedly refuses to prosecute election cases and appoint the Attorney General; it passed to engrossment amid questions about evidence and local discretion. SB 1299, protecting nonprofit members, supporters, volunteers, and donors from disclosure by public agencies, passed unanimously. SB 2349, exempting certain short-term leases and temporary tenancies from floodplain notice requirements, passed unanimously. SB 2788, adding PSAT and pre-ACT scores for Texas Success Initiative exemptions and clarifying dual-credit eligibility, passed unanimously after amendment. SB 843, creating a TEA database of school district bonds, taxes, and bond-related projects and adding charter schools, passed after amendments on funding and scope. Finally, SB 1832, allowing parents to transfer a student who was victimized by a public school employee to another campus, passed to engrossment after extended debate over whether the bill should also cover private schools and how it would interact with school choice and ESA policy. SB 39, revising the admission rule in commercial motor vehicle collision cases, was laid out and debated over its effect on negligent entrustment and related evidence, with the author emphasizing that the bill preserves the bifurcated trial structure and does not alter other admissibility rules.

Transcript Highlights:

• And so I just want to implore Texas And so I just want to implore Texas and my colleagues that we continue
• And John Sparza with the Texas Trucking Association.
• This campaign with the Texas Trucking Association is another example of Texas leading, you know, with
• Cities, and now the first ever campaign with the Texas Trucking Association and Titus Transportation
• Yeah, and we're really proud of our partnership with Texas DPS.

Summary: Texas senators, representatives, trucking industry leaders, DPS, and Bob’s House of Hope held a press event to launch a new awareness campaign against human trafficking, with a particular focus on the trafficking of boys and young men. Speakers said Texas remains among the worst states for stopping trafficking and emphasized that the problem affects people of all ages and genders, not just women and girls. They described the trucking industry’s role in spotting suspicious activity, the importance of public education, and the need to tell people to “see something, say something.” The Texas Trucking Association and Titus Transport announced that trucks will carry decals/posters promoting Bob’s House of Hope and providing a QR code and phone number for help and information. Bob Williams said his organization operates the first safe house in the country specifically for boys and young men who have been sex trafficked, and he cited studies suggesting boys may make up a substantial share of trafficking victims. He also said many of the youth in their care have suffered severe abuse and some have also experienced labor trafficking. Legislators and DPS officials praised the partnership and said the state must give law enforcement every possible tool to combat trafficking. Senator Hinojosa added that the issue is especially visible in South Texas and along the border, and that private-sector involvement is needed to help eradicate the crime. The event ended with plans to photograph the first truck carrying the new decals.

Transcript Highlights:

• So in Section 10, you'll see special transportation appropriations.
• And then, lines 170 for statewide medical transportation for veterans.
• Corrections: It is 181 secure inmate transport vehicles.
• Also covering the cost when folks have to transport state prisoners.
• Mileage out of transporting each inmate than you get with the Sheriff's Office transporting inmates.

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The Texas Water Code Chapter 16, section 16.343 along with local government code chapter 2. 232 Section
• Texas families should be allowed to stay together, right?
• Senate side, so this was a bill that the Texas Association of Builders and Texas Municipal League worked
• It's only flood insurance, fire code, building code, and, uh, you know, a couple of other cities obviously
• Um, I'm a local developer, land broker here in Austin, Texas.

Transcript Highlights:

• That will be done by the code advisor afterwards.
• That will be done by the code advisor afterwards.
• North Dakota Century Code.
• The criminal code in Section 12.1 of the North Dakota Century Code, you have intentionally, knowingly
• And it is in the century code 12.1-29-07.

Keywords: 908, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I'll be presenting the audit on the Department of Transportation.
• The Department of Transportation had support for how they made the payments.
• They have more dollars than Century Code is supposed to allow.
• With the current code that we have now?
• We're always evaluating our Century Code, our Chapter 54-10.

Summary: The committee was called to order, the Pledge of Allegiance and prayer were offered, and the minutes from the previous meeting were approved. Members then received a memo summarizing major audit items and began hearing audit presentations from the State Auditor’s Office and private auditors on a range of state agencies and organizations. Several audits were reported as clean, including the Bank of North Dakota, the North Dakota Guaranteed Student Loan Program, the Office of the Governor, the Office of the State Treasurer, the Office of Management and Budget, the Department of Transportation’s flexible transportation fund, Lake Region State College, and the Department of Environmental Quality. The North Dakota Stockmen’s Association also received an unmodified opinion, though repeat findings were noted for limited segregation of duties and financial statement preparation due to its small staff. The Council on the Arts audit found two findings: payroll charged to federal awards without adequate timekeeping records, and unallowable expenditures from a restricted cultural endowment fund. The Department of Public Instruction audit identified unsupported scholarship applications in the paraprofessional-to-teacher program, though additional testing showed the funds were used for their intended purpose. The most extensive discussion centered on the North Dakota Racing Commission audit, which identified four findings: overspending the promotion fund’s 25% operating limit, grant conditions not being met, improper Breeders Fund awards, and improper procurement for advertising services. Racing Commission director Bruce Johnson acknowledged complacency and weak controls, said the agency would tighten procedures, and explained that the commission had since worked with procurement and would follow the rules more closely. Auditors also explained that the commission would now be audited every two years because of the findings. Another major discussion involved the University of North Dakota School of Law, where auditors found a lack of documentation supporting admissions decisions for post-baccalaureate programs. UND officials said they remain in good standing with the American Bar Association but agreed better documentation and tools are needed; the committee pressed for more transparency and follow-up on admissions criteria. The committee also received an update on Dakota College at Bottineau, where Minot State University reported that bank reconciliations had been brought current after a significant backlog and would now be maintained through shared services. Members requested a written follow-up report on the issues and corrective actions. Finally, the North Dakota Fair Association explained that its foundation has been dissolved and remaining funds were transferred to another nonprofit for continued support of the state fair, and the Department of Public Instruction provided an update on school meal debt, saying the reported amount was about $1.1 million from a partial district survey and that debt remains a local issue, though it could be revisited if school meal funding changes.