Transcript Highlights:

• The chair lays out House Bill 897 and recognizes Representative Howard to explain the bill.
• to explain the bill.
• to explain the bill.
• Bill 783, but oppose the change to House Bill 2673 as it takes us all backwards.
• Okay, and you're testifying for the bill? For the bill. Okay, go ahead.

Bills: HB447, HB897, HB993, HB2673, HB3671, HB3680, HB3897, HB4506, HB4753, HB4812, HB4894, HB5148, HB5437, HB5650, HB5652, HB5654, HB5656, HB5661, HB5665

Keywords: traffic impact studies, municipal utility district, bonds, road projects, eminent domain, HB 897, Texas land sale, state property, Austin real estate, Travis County, General Land Office, Texas State Library and Archives Commission, HHSC, Health and Human Services Commission, state records facility, archives building, library funding, capital improvements, lease of state land, public land disposition

Summary: The committee heard testimony and took action on several land use, housing, municipal utility district, and cemetery-related bills. House Bill 447, dealing with transportation impact analysis requirements tied to MUD bond issuance, drew opposition from a witness who argued it would duplicate work, strain agency resources, and delay development; after the sponsor’s closing remarks, the committee substitute was withdrawn and the bill was left pending. Senate Bill 1202, on third-party review of home backup power installations, was substituted and reported favorably to the full House by a unanimous roll call. House Bill 2494, on disannexation for failure to provide municipal services, and House Bill 1835, removing barriers to HUD-code manufactured homes, were also substituted and reported favorably; HB 1835 passed on a 5-1 vote. Senate Bill 15, limiting lot size and density requirements in certain large municipalities, was substituted and reported favorably unanimously. The committee also heard House Bill 897, which would authorize the sale or long-term lease of two state-owned Austin properties used by the Texas State Library and Archives Commission and HHSC. The sponsor said the properties are in poor condition and that proceeds would benefit the state; after questions, the committee substitute was withdrawn and the bill was left pending. Several template MUD bills were then laid out, including HB 5652, HB 5654, HB 5661, and HB 5656, each creating or authorizing municipal utility districts in Montgomery or Fort Bend counties for water, wastewater, drainage, road, and recreational improvements. These bills drew limited testimony in support and were left pending without objection. A major portion of the meeting focused on House Bill 2673, which would repeal last session’s change allowing new cemeteries within certain distances of municipalities and restore the prior rule limiting cemetery placement near growing urban areas. The sponsor and supporters argued the 2023 change created unintended consequences, removed valuable taxable land from future use, and complicated city planning; opponents, including a funeral service industry representative, argued the current law gives communities local control and helps address cemetery land shortages. After extensive testimony, the bill was left pending. The committee also heard HB 4753, a bill allowing a property owner to use a municipal record showing a certificate of occupancy was issued when the original document is lost; it was left pending. Finally, HB 3680, a Cameron County-specific bill modifying subdivision/model rule procedures to reduce replatting burdens while preserving colonia protections, and HB 4812, clarifying that condominiums follow Chapter 82 of the Property Code rather than full subdivision platting, both received supportive testimony and were left pending.

Transcript Highlights:

• bill.
• The bill is left pending. The chair lays out House Bill 52208.
• He's none, and the bill is left pending. The chair lays out Senate Bill 2702.
• My name is Scott Way, and I'm here to speak in favor of Senate Bill 2660 as originally drafted by Senator
• This is not a healthy bill, unfortunately. It's an unhealthy bill.

Bills: HB 5208, SB 863, SB 1243, SB 1624, SB 1965, SB 2660, SB 2702, SB 2885

Keywords: water filtration, public drinking water, health and safety, well maintenance, water quality, Edwards Aquifer, water conservation, reclaimed water, aquifer storage, environmental protection, public utility agency, dissolution, local government, regulatory framework, municipal authority, Texas Water Bank, Texas Water Trust, water rights, water banking, instream flow

Transcript Highlights:

• Bill 191, House Bill 233 as amended, House Bill 532, House Bill 571.
• Bill 191, House Bill 233 as amended.
• House Bill 298, House Bill 532, House Bill 571 have been read in full and signed by the officers of the
• I move that Senate Bill 240. Senate Bill 41 is twice amended.
• President, we've got a bill, a capital outlay bill today.

Transcript Highlights:

• We have included negotiated time allocations for questions and debate on all bills on special order.
• Main amendments must be submitted to bill drafting by 7 a.m. and approved for filing by 8 a.m.

Summary: The Rules and Ethics Committee met on Wednesday, February 12, 2025, with a roll call taken and several members noted as present or excused. The chair welcomed ex officio member Gant and thanked staff and security. The main item of business was a special order letter for the Thursday, February 13 floor session, which included negotiated time allocations for questions and debate on all bills on special order. Members were asked for questions, public testimony, or debate on the special order letter, but none was offered. The committee then voted to adopt the special order letter by voice vote, with ayes prevailing and no opposition recorded. The chair also reminded members of the floor amendment deadlines for Thursday’s session: main amendments must be submitted to bill drafting by 7 a.m. and approved for filing by 8 a.m., while adhering amendments must be approved for filing by 9 a.m. With no further business, the committee adjourned on motion without objection.

Transcript Highlights:

• Shrimp bill last week. I'm trying to understand the differences between that bill and this bill.
• , or this bill in particular.
• So we support House Bill 4558.
• You are against the bill, is that correct? No, that's not correct. I am for the bill. ...the bill.
• bills today.

Bills: HB1958, HB2031, HB2879, HB3285, HB3995, HB4487, HB4558, HB4560, HB4876, HB4899, HB5212, HB5317, HB5543, HB5567, SB1333

Keywords: firearm possession, tenant rights, landlord regulations, civil penalties, property code, justified use of force, deadly force, property rights, home defense, smart devices, data privacy, personal data collection, user consent, mobile application, data transparency, HOA, property owners association, property owners' association, Texas Property Code, Chapter 202

Transcript Highlights:

• TODAY AND I KNOW SHE WILL CONTINUE THE HARD WORK, LOOK FORWARD TO HER LEADERSHIP AS YOU CONTINUE TO DRAFT
• NO LONGER DO THAT, WE COULD BE HERE FOR AN HOUR BUT AS YOU LOOK TO THE PROVISO IN THE BACK OF THE BILL
• WE ALSO HAVE THE IMPLEMENTING BILL.
• YOU WILL SEE THAT WE NO LONGER HAVE A CONFORMING BILL BUT WE DO HAVE AN IMPLEMENTING BILL AND YOU WILL

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm Senator Bill Scherer.
• Create a first draft, certainly using AI, but then iterate that draft.
• B cubed, B to the third power bill.
• Both House Bill 10 and Senate Bill 93 in combination provide a lot of the authority that we use today
• as well as Senate Bill 144 and Senate Bill 377, providing some of the state funding that we are allocating

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, the reason that we are on the bill today is because of what we have been told was a drafting error
• Senate Bill 331 is left pending. Chair lays out Senate Bill 1467.
• Um, Senate Bill 1467 is Senator Hinojosa's bill, um.
• Senate Bill 1467 is left pending. 2020. Chair lays out Senate Bill 2024.
• House Bill 55537 is left pending. Chair lays out Senate Bill 22227.

Transcript Highlights:

• The Chair lays out Senate Bill 2021 by Sharon Johnson, and you're recognized on your bill.
• So I filed the bill. It wasn't very good; it died. Last session, I filed a much better bill.
• Senate Bill 2330 by Senator Parker, the last bill of the day.
• Have passed bills similar to this? 14 of the bills have addressed this issue, yes.
• Bill this bill.

Bills: SB75, SB715, SB776, SB1299, SB1405, SB1968, SB2021, SB2077, SB2148, SB2321, SB2330, SB2411

Keywords: electric generation, reliability, ERCOT, Public Utility Commission, penalties, performance requirements, energy policy, construction contracts, compensatory damages, government delays, contractor, legislation, nonprofit donor privacy, membership lists, supporter confidentiality, volunteer privacy, association rights, public records exemption, Texas Public Information Act, government transparency

Transcript Highlights:

• This bill for reference-based pricing for our hospitals. This bill allows the for our hospitals.
• This bill will also help hospitals. The This bill will also help hospitals.
• I view this bill as very much in the same class as those bills.
• We used the House-passed bill.
• and this bill.

Keywords: 927, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Have you been following the bills? There's suggestions.
• Would we need a bill to give our independent advocate access to files? Would they need a bill to...
• being drafted, and the secretary... ...constitutional barrier, so I do have a bill being drafted, and
• the secretary of DoIT said, 'Oh, you're drafting the bill, that'll be good.'
• That what we're doing right now is building House Bill 2.

Keywords: 996, all

Summary: The committee first heard an Aging and Long-Term Services Department budget presentation comparing the LFC and executive recommendations. The main differences were in the Aging Network, Adult Protective Services, Program Support, and Long-Term Care Division, especially the executive’s proposed $10 million infusion into the Kiki Savadra Senior Dignity Fund and $6.2 million for expanding New Mexico Care. LFC staff explained that the committee recommendation was lower in general fund and fund-balance use, while the executive emphasized rising senior population needs, meal and transportation costs, and the cost savings of keeping older adults at home. The secretary also reviewed the department’s special requests, including the conference on aging, outreach, emergency preparedness, and the Kiki fund, and described New Mexico Care’s growth, its evaluation results, and the department’s plan to separate Kiki into its own accounting fund. Members largely focused on senior services, rural meal delivery, transportation, caregiver support, and the Kiki fund. Several members urged stronger support for non-metro aging providers and for New Mexico Care, citing its role in keeping seniors out of nursing homes and the program’s reported savings and outcomes. Questions also covered eligibility, background checks for caregivers, respite care, dementia and Alzheimer’s screening, and whether Kiki funds can support home modifications such as ramps. The committee then voted to adopt the LFC recommendation with one executive language change: adding the executive’s page 14 language allowing an additional 12.5% distribution for initial payments to aging network providers at the start of FY27. Representative Dow opposed the motion. The committee then moved to the Attorney General’s budget. LFC staff explained that the office’s budget relies heavily on the Consumer Settlement Fund, with both recommendations reducing general fund revenue while increasing settlement-fund use, and that performance measures were in consensus. The Attorney General said the office was not seeking more general fund, but wanted greater ability to use funds it recovers. He highlighted major consumer and public safety work, including litigation against major social media and AI platforms, a case involving Snapchat and child exploitation/extortion, the statewide crime gun intelligence center, efforts to address oilfield theft, work on missing and murdered Indigenous persons, and efforts to protect federal funds coming into New Mexico.

Transcript Highlights:

• bill.
• Winfrey, would you read his next bill in? Senate Bill 197 by Ms.
• What's the difference in your local bill and my local bill?
• What's the difference in your local bill and my local bill?
• And I hear the concerns of how the bill is drafted and it's late.

Bills: HCR11, HB153, HB278, HB424, HB454, HB455, HB687, HB816, HB833, HB942, HB1053, HB1097, HB1147, HB1148, HB1190, SB75, SB85, SB197, SB200, SB217

Keywords: Camp Beauregard, Louisiana National Guard, Youth Challenge Program, military affairs, Pineville, National Guard training, emergency response, youth development, alternative education, high school equivalency, GED, at-risk youth, leadership training, job skills, citizenship, veterans, state military operations, mobilization, logistics staging area, public service

Transcript Highlights:

• Please, please pass this bill. Please, please pass this bill.
• I support the bill. Please pass. Thank you. I support the bill. Please pass. Thank you.
• I'm a recipient of this bill, and I please pass the bill. Thank you.
• The next bill in file order is AB 339, Ortega. The next bill in file order is AB 339 Ortega.
• I would like to thank the author for bringing this bill. Last year, I did a bill, AB 2561.

Summary: The Assembly Committee on Public Employment and Retirement met for its first hearing of the session, adopted committee rules, and heard several labor-related bills. The chair reviewed hearing procedures, including limits on testimony and expectations for orderly conduct. Members then took up measures affecting public employee bargaining, contracting, confidentiality, school employee benefits, pay stub information, and state correctional health staffing. AB 672 would require public employers to notify PERB when filing court actions involving statutes PERB administers and allow PERB to intervene; it drew support from SEIU, AFSCME, school employees, labor groups, and no opposition, and was passed out of committee. AB 283 would move IHSS bargaining from the county to the state level; providers and recipients testified about low wages, long delays in bargaining, and care access concerns, while counties and public authorities raised cost, scope, and implementation issues. The bill passed 7-0 after members discussed family care worker concerns and the author said he would continue working on the issue. AB 339 would require local governments to give unions 120 days’ notice before contracting out bargaining-unit work. Labor supporters said the bill would make existing meet-and-confer rights meaningful and protect jobs, while counties, cities, special districts, chambers of commerce, and staffing groups argued it would burden local agencies and interfere with existing MMBA procedures. The committee also heard AB 340, which would make communications between employees and union representatives confidential for PERB purposes; supporters said it codified existing case law, while school administrators, special districts, counties, and business groups warned it could hinder investigations. AB 378 would extend the classified school employees summer assistance program to JPA employees, and AB 374 would require more detailed pay stubs for classified school employees; both had labor support and some education-sector opposition over implementation and cost concerns, and both advanced. AB 393 would require cost analyses before contracting out physician work at CDCR and the Department of State Hospitals; supporters argued the state was overpaying contractors amid high vacancy rates, and the bill also advanced. At the end of the hearing, the committee recorded final votes showing AB 283, AB 340, AB 374, AB 378, AB 393, and AB 672 all passing out of committee, while AB 339 remained on hold with a 4-0 vote and some members not voting.

Transcript Highlights:

• And what this bill does is really clarifying that the And what this bill does is really clarifying that
• And that is the bill. Thank you, Chair Harrell, for explaining the bill.
• Ray. bill is about. Chair Burton and Senators, that is the bill. Thank you.
• I am for this bill. Mr.
• And that is the bill. Thank you, Senator Bradley, for explaining the bill.

Summary: The Senate Judiciary Committee heard three bills. SB 514, by Senator Harrell, clarified that medical quality review committees used by managing entities are treated like other medical review committees for purposes of civil liability and public records protections. The committee adopted a Harrell amendment removing the word “malpractice” from the title, heard support from the Florida Hospital Association, Florida Association of Managing Entities, and Florida Smart Justice Alliance, and then voted 11-0 to report the bill favorably. The committee then took up SB 734, by Senator Yarborough, which would repeal the current wrongful death exception that bars certain parents and adult children from recovering non-economic damages in medical negligence cases. The bill drew extensive testimony from families describing deaths they said were caused by medical negligence and from supporters including AARP and the Florida Justice Association, while opponents from the health care, insurance, and business sectors argued it would raise malpractice premiums, increase litigation, worsen physician shortages, and reduce access to care. After debate, the committee voted 9-2 to report the bill favorably. Finally, SB 538, by Senator Bradley, was presented as the state courts legislative package. It updates court operations by clarifying duty judge requirements, removing a location limit on duty hearings, repealing a cap on arbitrator compensation in court-ordered non-binding arbitration, and allowing alternative judicial authentication of oaths and acknowledgments when a court seal is unavailable. The bill received supportive waiver forms from the Florida Bar ADR section and several judges, and was reported favorably on an 11-0 vote. The committee then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Committee substitute house bill 3627 house bill 3627 would allow the chair of the state board of education
• This, um, this bill does have, uh...
• It is exciting, and it's also exciting that the bill is identical to Senator Creighton's bill.
• the bill.
• And then I would like to tell you about some problems with the bill yes my own bill So we hope to have

Bills: HB367, HB497, HB549, HB983, HB 1188, HB 1290, HB1368, HB2243, HB2310, HB2849, HB3099, HB3546, HB3629, HB3627

Keywords: education, absences, severe illness, life-threatening, school policy, verification, healthcare, insurance, affordability, coverage, patient rights, school health, respiratory distress, airway clearance devices, medication training, public health, HB 983, Texas Education Agency, TEA, educator privacy

Transcript Highlights:

• House bill one seven eight seven and recognizes Foster Howard to explain the bill.
• But that's not what this bill is about. This bill is about college students.
• I am on the bill.
• Chair hears none and the bill is left. The bill is left pending.
• The chair hears none and the bill The bill is left pending.

Bills: HB 1105, HB1527, HB1787, HB1972, HB2081, HB3296, HB3976, HB4071, HB4234, HB4438, HB4701, HB5092, HB5150, HB5180, HB5265, HB5333, HJR203

Keywords: tuition exemption, paramedics, higher education, laboratory fees, emergency medical services, peace officers, criminal justice, law enforcement, degree programs, public institutions, HB 1787, HPV, human papillomavirus, college health, university health, student health, public health education, prevention program, screening, early detection

Transcript Highlights:

• Thanks to my ADU bill.
• Thanks to my ADU bill.
• Thanks to my ADU bill.
• Don't pass this bill.
• Don't pass this bill.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• your bills within your allotted time.
• So I have filed this bill.
• In closing, I urge this committee to reject the House bill and the Senate bill and instead reaffirm our
• In closing, I urge us committee to reject the House bill and the Senate bill and instead reaffirm our
• This proposed bill, the two bills, the House and the Senate bill, would expand the law to include juvenile

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Agriculture and Fisheries held its second hearing and heard testimony on a wide range of bills, including food security, cottage food entrepreneurship, hemp regulation, lobster industry support, pesticide restrictions, pollinator protections, pet cemeteries, and municipal land rights. Committee chairs outlined hearing procedures, noted that 19 bills were on the docket, and took testimony both in person and remotely, with several legislators testifying out of turn because of scheduling conflicts. Several speakers supported food access and local economic opportunity bills. Representative Howard and Senator Oliveira backed the Food Justice Frontline Program and a cottage food/food entrepreneur bill, arguing they would fund nonprofit food security organizations, create jobs, improve SNAP/HIP outreach, and reduce barriers for home-based food businesses. Eastie Farm representatives and a student testified in favor of the food justice bill, describing food insecurity in East Boston and the need for grants, youth involvement, and multilingual outreach. Sidney Travis of the Institute for Justice also supported cottage food reforms, saying current municipal permitting rules create unequal access and that cottage foods are generally safe. The committee also heard sharply divided testimony on hemp legislation. Senator Comerford supported S. 54 as a public health measure to ban synthetic THC products, restrict intoxicating hemp sales to licensed dispensaries, and fund local enforcement, while Laura Beiner, John Nathan, and Elizabeth Wendorf opposed the bill or parts of it, warning it would harm compliant hemp businesses and small farmers. Representative Arena-DeRosa testified in support of a related pollinator bill, and Adam Karachi opposed pesticide restrictions for schools while Deborah Smith supported them, arguing existing protections should be expanded to other child-centered locations. The committee also heard support for a bill to aid lobstermen affected by right whale protections, a bill to preserve private pet cemeteries, and a municipal right-of-first-refusal bill for agricultural and recreational land. No votes or final actions were taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• WE CAN ASK QUESTIONS ON THE BILL OR WE CAN ASK A QUESTION ON THE BILL AS AMENDED.
• TWO BILLS, BOTH OF HIS BILLS WILL NOT BE HEARD TODAY AND SO NOW WE HAVE THE BILL AS AMENDED BEFORE YOU
• THE CURRENT DRAFT OF THE BILL OF THE NUMEROUS AMENDMENTS WERE CONFUSING AND COMPLICATED EVEN FOR THE
• THOSE, CHAIRMAN WAS ON SOME OF THOSE BILLS AND WHAT IT THESE BILLS DO?
• IN SUPPORT OF THE BILL.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Article 4, Section 1 of the Senate bill. Article 4, Section 1 of the Senate bill.
• Article 4, Section 2 of the Senate bill Article 4, Section 2 of the Senate bill amends<00:03:23.320
• Um this technical drafting differences.
• of the Senate bill. of the Senate bill.
• policy bill or the policy report. policy bill or the policy report.

Keywords: 918, senate, all

Summary: The committee met to walk through nonpartisan side-by-side comparisons of House File 4188, focusing on differences between House and Senate language across consumer protection, insurance, financial services, health, and technical provisions. Staff highlighted numerous Senate-only items, including rules for financial providers communicating through trusted contacts, virtual currency requirements for banks and credit unions, a prohibition on virtual currency kiosks beginning in 2026, mortgage servicing and student loan servicing changes, the Rental Home Marketplace Guarantees Act, insurance and travel-related provisions, scrap metal licensing changes, protections related to minors accessing chatbots and AI companions, and several technical or conforming repealers. Staff also noted that some provisions were identical or substantially similar between the chambers, including mortgage originator standards, student loan borrower protections, securities-related changes, unclaimed property provisions, and technical updates in the bill’s miscellaneous articles. The Senate-only health-related articles were also summarized, including repeal of the prescription drug affordability advisory council, technical changes to the reinsurance program, and a series of health insurance provisions on enrollment-growth notices, limits on officer and director salary increases under certain capital conditions, guaranteed issue rights for certain Medicare supplement enrollees, data-sharing between Commerce and Health, restrictions on using artificial intelligence alone to deny claims, reimbursement for clinical trainees, home care nursing coverage, and PBM transparency. The Senate’s telecommunications article was described as largely technical and conforming, with repeals of obsolete statutes. Staff also noted that some standalone bills had already passed and would be removed from the comparison report. Public testimony followed. Thomas Elness of AARP Minnesota supported inclusion of the cryptocurrency kiosk bill, expressed support for guaranteed issue protections for a narrow group of consumers affected by discontinued plans, and urged adoption of changes to the consumer protection restitution account, including raising the cap to $10 million per fiscal year. Representative Lee testified that the restitution account proposal should be treated as policy rather than finance because it has a zero fiscal note, and said the House would accept the Senate’s $10 million cap. Robin Rowan, representing the Minnesota Insurance and Financial Services Council and the U.S. Travel Insurance Association, urged adoption of Senate travel insurance language, requested a House-style change to lead-generation recordkeeping language, and supported a Senate provision allowing employers and insurers to coordinate notice to employees when group policies are cancelled. The Department of Commerce then responded to questions, explaining that the prescription drug affordability council would be sunset because the board already has other avenues for public input, that the reinsurance changes were technical and did not alter the prior agreement, and that the abandoned cryptocurrency provisions rely on statutory definitions of inactivity and known examples such as keys stored in safes or deposit boxes.