Transcript Highlights:

• It will help Texas landowners and Texas families from losing tax benefits due to technical changes in
• House Bill 140 amends Chapter 40 of the Texas Human Resources Code by adding Section 43.031 to establish
• Coastal Texas Project, which is expected to cost $35 billion.
• Tax Code.
• Members, there have been issues in North Texas. House Bill 353.

Summary: The Senate opened with an invocation, received a House message announcing passage of HB 74 creating the Puerto Verde Port Authority District, and heard a recognition from Senator Hancock about a weekend human trafficking operation in Fort Worth in which Unbound Now and the Fort Worth Police Department freed 19 victims. The Governor also submitted nominations to the Texas Appraiser Licensing and Certification Board. The chamber then repeatedly suspended rules to take up and pass a series of House bills and one House joint resolution, mostly by wide margins, along with several local and honorary designations. Among the substantive measures, the Senate passed HB 1244 on open-space appraisal after property transfers, HJR 99 and HB 1399 to exempt animal feed from ad valorem taxation, HB 166 expanding child/endangered-person protections to fentanyl-related conduct, HB 1672 speeding DMV enforcement against unsafe motor carriers, HB 2018 clarifying the Texas Farm and Ranch Lands Conservation Program, HB 140 creating a DFPS advisory committee on child protective investigations, HB 467 providing for dissolution of the Cedar Creek Hospital District, HB 2000 requiring sex-offender registration for child grooming, HB 331 creating presumptions for first responders who suffer heart attacks or strokes after strenuous shifts, HB 1089 creating the Gulf Coast Protection Account, HB 2730 limiting when appraisal districts may require new homestead exemption applications, HB 2723 easing cemetery tax-exemption procedures, HB 353 creating a trespass offense near schools and day care centers, and HB 3248 authorizing defense-based development authorities to employ and commission peace officers. Several of these bills drew brief explanations and, in some cases, questions from other senators about their scope and purpose. The Senate also passed numerous memorial highway and facility designations, including HB 767 for Paul P. Mendez, HB 1708 for Trooper Kevin Ramirez-Vasquez, HB 2415 for Senior Police Officer Louis Andy Taylor, HB 2143 for Army Specialist Joey Lenz, HB 2457 for the Molly Mullins Mile, HB 2523 for Deputy Constable Ruben Garcia, HB 2198 for Officer Jacob Candinoza, and HB 2763 naming a TxDOT facility for Eduardo Eddie Garcia Jr. Other local or administrative measures included HB 3513 on the Moore County Juvenile Board and HB 3135 creating specialty plates for retired firefighters. The chamber also adopted several concurrent resolutions and later moved through a large local calendar, including HCR 80, which designated Brenham as the ice cream capital of Texas. Most measures passed with little or no opposition, though a few votes on rule suspensions and final passage recorded small numbers of nays.

Transcript Highlights:

• Data from the Texas Organized Retail Crime Association estimates that the Texas retailers have lost more
• McCord as John McCord of the Texas Retailers Association.
• All over Texas. And He was given 7 years because he pled guilty.
• The whole state of Texas needs to be no trafficking zone.
• One boy, a Texas boy was recovered in New Mexico. Texas girl was recovered in Kansas City.

Transcript Highlights:

• Our civil code already says that a parent is responsible for the actions of their child in many cases
• Our civil code already says that a parent is responsible for the actions of their child in many cases
• This bill is an anticipatory bill that I worked with the National Insurance Crime Bureau.
• In Moore, there's a gentleman by the name of Bobby James Moore from Texas who had multiple IQ scores
• supposed to do with all evidence, Code of Evidence 403, right?

Keywords: 974, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• code a little bit too.
• Texas regulators—Texas operates somewhat uniquely within the U.S. because the ERCOT system is solely
• contained within Texas, so there's less federal authority over ERCOT—but the Texas regulators just, I
• Texas, although as a percentage, Texas is projected to be kind of similar to North Dakota.
• Texas, although as a percentage, Texas is projected to be kind of similar to North Dakota.

Summary: The committee held its first meeting on artificial intelligence and data centers, establishing its purpose as a study and policy-development body rather than one aimed at producing many bills. Majority Leader Hogue urged members to move quickly, focus on federal and other states’ AI laws, consider possible federal preemption, child protections, and the siting and economic impacts of data centers. Committee leadership echoed that the goal is practical, balanced governance that protects North Dakota while allowing innovation to continue. Legislative Council staff provided a background memo and NCSL presented a detailed overview of AI concepts and the current state legislative landscape. The presentations distinguished narrow AI, generative AI, agentic AI, and theoretical AGI/ASI, and summarized major state policy themes: comprehensive AI laws in states such as Utah, Colorado, Texas, California, and Illinois; targeted laws on deepfakes, chatbots, health, education, notifications, and digital likeness; and growing use of appropriations and agency inventories. Members asked about Colorado’s repeal and reenactment, Texas’s sandbox and training provisions, oversight structures, and whether AI regulation is bipartisan; presenters said most issues cut across party lines, with broad agreement on child safety and deepfakes but more division on broader regulatory approaches. The federal update focused on executive orders, preemption, and congressional activity. NCSL described a White House framework favoring a single federal standard, a DOJ litigation task force, Commerce Department review of state laws, and possible funding conditions tied to state AI policy, though no formal state-law challenge had yet occurred. The presentation also covered a recent executive order creating a voluntary federal vetting process for advanced frontier models after safety concerns, and congressional proposals including a failed 10-year state moratorium, Senator Blackburn’s child-safety bills, the Kids Online Safety Act, a House-passed children’s digital safety package, a Senate data center moratorium proposal, and a House ratepayer/data-center bill. The committee took no formal action beyond receiving testimony and asking questions.

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, I would highlight, um, the fire insurance issue.
• It's Texas v.
• And then the other one I'll just highlight is 13 again, Texas v. New Mexico.
• to find other insurance.
• Hopefully, the state will be able to help them out and get them some insurance.

Transcript Highlights:

• Yeah, my name's Terry Hall, and today I'm representing TURF, Texas for Toll-free Highways, True Texas
• Um, again, speaking on behalf of TRF and Texas for Toll-free Highways, True Texas Project, Grassroots
• We need that in Texas. We move traffic.
• This bill would help put Texas back on top.
• Texas taxpayers have had enough.

Transcript Highlights:

• uh eliminating the the private insurer uh eliminating the the private insurer aspect<00:15:35.640
• 17:01.760> out<00:17:01.839> under insurance companies are paying out under insurance companies
• And then the last measure is SB 1166, SD2, HD2, relating to insurance.
• On behalf of the Senate, insurance.
• We'll take out of order SB 1166, Senate Draft 2, House Draft 2, relating to insurance.

Bills: HB2241, HB1163, HB1514, HB1696, HB2021, SB2135, SB2466, SB2727, SB3082, SB3097, SB2861, SCR100, SB3096, SB99, SB2138, HB2289, HB2319, HB1711, HB2270, SB3138, SB3076, HB1642, HB2338, HB2171, HB1785, SB2881, HB2505, SB2552, HB1518, HB1815, SB3125, SB3234, SCR162, SB2614, SB3118, SB2053, SB2494, SB2851, SB3073, HB1678, HB1721, HB2475, HB2246, HB1667, HB1516, SB2532, SB3131, SB3154, HB2297, HB1737, SB2143, SB2398, SB2623, HB1740, HB1920, HB1682, SB2153, SB3140, HB2158, HB1718, HB2207, HB1801, SB3229, SB2338, SB3069, SB2600, HB2300, HB1800, HB1960, SB2999, SB2060, SB2866, SB2239, HB1741, HB1713, HB2023, HB2417, SB2877, SB2598, SB2921, SB2645, HB2547, HB2275, HB2452, HB2329, HB2339, HB1838, HB1509, HB1661, HB2271, HB2272, HB2344, HB1888, HB1707, SB2340, HB2474, HB1576, HB1853, HB1804, HB1854, HB2095, HB2050, HB472, SB3215, SB2247, SB2400, HB1618, HB1802, HB1969, HB1541, HB2310, HB2498, HB2443, HB2218, HB649, HB2104, HB1710, SB2802, HB1973, HB1974, HB1894, HB1891, HB1890, SB177, SB2101, SB3320, SB2487, HB2429, HB1870, HB1839, HB2583, HB1391, HB2094, SB2671, SB2673, SB2892, SB2057, SB3245, HB306, HB2592, SB3157, SB3204, SB3324, SB2580, SB2074, SB411, SB3025, SB2934, SB2567, SB2125, SB3238, SB2367, SB2599, SB3007, SB2001, SB2756, SB3029

Keywords: renewable energy, income tax credit, solar energy, wind energy, low-income households, energy policy, commercial drivers license, non-domiciled, federal regulations, commercial learner's permit, citizenship, lawful residency, Department of Transportation, workers' compensation, vocational rehabilitation, injury recovery, employment services, return to work, commercial driving, driver's license

Transcript Highlights:

• It gets coded.
• It gets coded.
• In Texas, police used over 83,000 cameras to track a woman seeking abortion care.
• In Texas, police used over 83,000 cameras to track a woman seeking abortion care, including searching
• In Illinois, police illegally share data with Texas on a woman seeking abortion care.

Bills: SB1072, SB1111, SB1114, SB1116, SB1122, SB1179, SB1250, SB1308, SB1455, SB1456, SB1457, SB1487, SB1547, SB1549, SB1551, SB1552

Keywords: reimbursement rates, intellectual disabilities, community services, economic security, funding appropriations, automated license plate readers, law enforcement, privacy, data access, public records, behavioral health, patient brokering, appropriation, state funds, Maricopa County, claims review, medical necessity, American Indian health program, healthcare regulations, healthcare

Transcript Highlights:

• And I saw that in the Texas... evaluating.
• And I saw that in the Texas model as well.
• In Texas, did they withhold money?
• But then Carlo worked in Texas, you know, brought up the fact of the Texas part of this.
• And that SIP code is truly six digits long.

Keywords: 908, all

Transcript Highlights:

• code a little bit too.
• code a little bit too.
• But the Texas contained within Texas, so there's less federal authority over ERCOT, but the Texas regulators
• Texas, although as a percentage, Texas is projected to be kind of similar to North the Texas, although
• data center growth in Texas.

Keywords: 908, all

Transcript Highlights:

• From Texas.
• School at Texas A&M.
• Texas economy needs.
• Texas keep Texas students and staff safe.
• Historically, a superintendent had to look in. in code defined the laws, had to go to the Texas School

Keywords: 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This is a Texas issue.
• statutes, penal code, Code of Chrome procedure, those things unique to Texas that they would not have
• Would Texas officials, if there was not a Texas law, would they be encumbered from enforcing the federal
• Love to see us keep Texas safe together.
• Texas is an economic powerhouse for a reason.

Bills: HB176, HB180

Keywords: tax, ad valorem, voter-approval, local government finance, property tax, repeal, tax rates, school finance, tax reduction, compressed tax rate, education, funding

Transcript Highlights:

• The gentleman from Texas County has moved that the House... ...adopted.
• The gentleman from Texas is recognized to explain his motion. Mr.
• That was approved in the Senate Insurance and Banking 5 to 0.
• That was approved in the Senate Insurance and Banking 5 to 0.
• The gentleman from Texas.

Summary: The House took up a series of conference committee reports and third-read Senate bills near the end of session, with several members also recognizing House drafters and research staff. The chamber first adopted and finally passed Senate Joint Resolution 87, which drew debate over whether the measure would remove the City of St. Louis sheriff as an elected office; supporters said the change also applied to other charter governments, while opponents argued it reduced local autonomy. The report and final passage both succeeded on 95-46 votes. Members then adopted and finally passed Senate Bill 973, a package combining a wholesaler/real estate transparency measure with a land bank provision. Senate Bill 1421, a broad public safety bill, was also advanced after a motion to exceed the conference differences; supporters highlighted provisions on clean slate, masked intimidation, prosecuting attorney salaries, fentanyl, gift card fraud, unmanned aircraft, and other public safety items. The conference report passed 116-18, the bill finally passed 110-25, and the emergency clause for the drone-related portion passed 136-5. The House also adopted and finally passed Senate Bills 835 and 1111, a combined conference report that included insurance consumer protections, court administration updates, treatment court and judgeship provisions, a St. Louis civil case surcharge, and the Uniform Public Expression Protection Act. Senate Bill 1408 was stripped back to a single issue authorizing MoDOT to consider raising rural interstate speed limits from 70 to 75 mph, and it passed 93-46. Senate Bill 913, extending several agriculture tax credits and adding a short line railroad credit, prompted extended debate over tax credits, budget pressures, and whether such incentives should be extended now or later; a proposed child tax credit amendment was withdrawn, and the bill ultimately passed 107-30. The House then began debate on Senate Bill 1553, a critical minerals and pharmaceutical manufacturing incentive bill, with supporters framing it as a jobs and supply-chain security measure and opponents raising questions about tax incentives and local impacts.

Transcript Highlights:

• Honor the Texas flag. I pledge allegiance to thee. One state under God, one an indivisible.
• I got Ginger Simonson, her husband Cy Simonson, who's the Texas council president, and Rich Crossley,
• Thank you guys for being here and enjoy your Texas Capitol. Thank you.
• HR 443 by Oliverson, Texas Society of Gastrology and Industry.
• HR 515 by Ashby, Texas Forestry Association, HR 516.

Transcript Highlights:

• Alders of Smith County to lead us in the Pledges of Allegiance to the United States and Texas flags.
• Honor the Texas flag. I pledge allegiance to the Texas flag.
• Thank you guys for being here and enjoy your Texas Capitol.
• H.R. 484 by Garin concerning Wholesale Beer Distributors of Texas Day.
• SB 4187 by Metcalf relating to the authority and responsibilities of the Texas tech.

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Section 64.009 of the election code governs curbside voting.
• House Bill 4171 amends the election code so that Mr.
• House Bill 3632 unifies the Texas election code to align with federal law, while balancing voter access
• Even if we're not having one of those in Texas, it can affect a Texas voter's mail ballot if it happens
• Chair: Chair calls Marliza Marin with Common Cause Texas.

Transcript Highlights:

• And just a reminder that the agency's other divisions and P codes were covered in October and November
• Would it be fair to say that private insurance has a higher reimbursement rate than Medicare/Medicaid
• But typically, private insurance pays more. Okay, thank you, Mr. Chair, and thank you, Secretary.
• Versus Medicare/Medicaid insurance for Texas, Colorado, Arizona, and then potentially Utah and Oklahoma
• Chairman, that probably the insurance by itself is probably just... Mr.

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And I saw that in the Texas... evaluating.
• And I saw that in the Texas model as well.
• In Texas, did they withhold money?
• But then Carlo worked in Texas, you know, brought up the fact of the Texas part of this.
• And that SIP code is truly six digits long.

Summary: The Higher Ed Funding Committee met to review how North Dakota might identify and address low-producing academic programs and to discuss draft funding formulas for the university system. Lisa Johnson of the NDUS explained that the State Board of Higher Education is already developing a system-wide policy, using models from other states such as Texas, Virginia, North Carolina, Colorado, Kentucky, Ohio, and Connecticut. She described how low-producing programs are typically flagged by multi-year enrollment or completion thresholds, then reviewed for workforce demand, mission fit, cost, accreditation, and regional need before any action is taken. Committee members asked about what counts as a program, how costs are analyzed, whether certificates are included, how exemptions work for mission-critical or high-demand fields, and whether the board or legislature should set the rules. Johnson said the board is the appropriate body to lead the process, but legislators could use funding leverage if they wanted to encourage action; the chair asked the board to bring a detailed proposal to the June meeting. The committee then heard a Legislative Council presentation on a draft formula for UND and NDSU. The proposal uses fall census FTE enrollment, with a placeholder undergraduate rate of $7,000 per FTE and a graduate/professional rate of $10,500, plus incentives for completions in in-demand fields and research productivity. Alex from Legislative Council walked through the projected funding effects, noting that the model would increase funding for NDSU and reduce it for UND in the current biennium, with different results in the next biennium as enrollment changes are recognized. Members questioned the use of the placeholder rates, the definition of in-demand programs, the treatment of research funding, and the exclusion of state-appropriated dollars from the external grants calculation. The chair emphasized that the numbers were illustrative and that appropriators would set the actual dollar amounts later. A second draft formula for the other nine institutions was also reviewed. That model uses fall census FTE without a weighted economic factor, applies a higher undergraduate rate, and adds completion incentives for in-demand credentials and all other completions. Members noted that the formula would benefit some institutions, such as Bismarck State College, while reducing funding for others, such as Mayville State, and discussed whether the nine institutions should be treated more uniformly or split into smaller groups because of their different missions and sizes. Committee members and staff repeatedly stressed that the formulas are still being refined and that some institutions would likely need hold-harmless adjustments or other transition measures. The meeting ended with the chair directing the committee to continue the discussion later and to expect further work on both the low-producing program policy and the funding formulas.

Transcript Highlights:

• And we'll have soon the Texas Successful Texas model for them, and we'll have soon the Texas Homeschool
• Texas state schools.
• Of Texas.
• Texas public school.
• We all recognize the state of Texas is the state of Texas is a state.

Summary: The Senate Committee on Education K-16 convened with a quorum, adopted its committee rules, and heard opening remarks from members introducing staff and outlining priorities for the session. Members from both parties emphasized education as a major issue, while several Republicans framed the committee’s work around school choice and parent empowerment. Senator West and other Democrats stressed protecting public schools, listening to Texans, and considering the effects of vouchers or education savings accounts on school districts and communities. Chairman Creighton laid out Senate Bill 2, the Texas Education Freedom Act, describing it as a universal education savings account program modeled on similar programs in other states. He said the bill would provide about $200 million for a universal eligibility pool and additional funding for students with disabilities and lower-income families, with priority weighting for former public school students. He also highlighted anti-fraud measures, vendor pre-approval, criminal background checks, cybersecurity protections, annual testing requirements for participating students, and the use of the Comptroller rather than TEA to administer the program. Creighton repeatedly said the bill is not a voucher and argued it would not take money from public schools, which he said would receive separate historic funding increases. Members questioned Creighton about the 500% of federal poverty line definition, the adequacy of the $10,000 ESA amount, whether the program would favor students already in private school, how microschools and homeschool pods would fit, and whether the bill protects religious liberty and private-school autonomy. Democrats raised concerns about disability protections, 504 students, foster children, public-school funding, open records, and the historical context of vouchers. Republicans generally supported the bill as a way to expand options for parents and students, while also asking about administration, fraud prevention, and data security. After member questions, the committee began invited testimony, with EdChoice President Robert Inlow presenting in support of SB 2 and citing the growth and reported success of school choice programs nationwide.

Transcript Highlights:

• Senate Bill 2601 also prohibits insurers from factoring claims for damages into insurance rate calculations
• session, wherein he created this program that has been very beneficial to our landowners across South Texas
• Our membership is grateful to Senator Blanco, this committee, and the Texas Legislature for passing Senate
• My name is Stephen Diebel, and I serve as first vice president of Texas and Southwestern Calderasers
• You know, there's been a real challenge for us down in South Texas, especially along the border from

Bills: SB2601

Keywords: landowner compensation, border crime, agriculture damage, law enforcement, crop loss

Summary: The Senate Committee on Border Security met with a quorum and heard only one bill, Senate Bill 2601 by Senator Blanco, laid out by Senator Hinojosa of Hidalgo. The bill was presented as a committee substitute to revise the Landowner’s Compensation Program created last session under SB 1133. The changes would expand eligibility to include land lessees with the landowner’s permission, cover damage to the land itself as well as structures and real property, add continuous smuggling of persons as a qualifying border crime, prohibit insurers from using claims under the program in rate calculations, and require law enforcement to provide requested border crime reports to the Attorney General within 14 days. Public testimony was unanimously supportive. Charles Maley of the South Texans Property Rights Association said the program has been beneficial and that the bill helps clean up implementation issues, including clarifying compensation for debris and pollutants left on land. Stephen Diebel of the Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association also supported the bill, saying it would help address fence damage, destroyed infrastructure, and other harms along the border, and that lessees who manage properties day to day should be eligible for direct compensation when they have the landowner’s permission. Members discussed border-related property damage, including vehicles crashing through fences, broken sheds, livestock escaping, and resulting highway hazards. Senator Hinojosa asked about how conflicts between landowners and lessees would be handled, and testimony indicated documentation of lease authority would be required. After public testimony closed, the committee adopted the committee substitute without objection and voted to report SB 2601 favorably to the full Senate by a 5-0 vote, recommending it as local and uncontested.