Transcript Highlights:

• Property referred to the subcommittee on property tax appraisals hr31 by guillen proposing a constitution
• Tax purposes refer to the subcommittee on property tax appraisals.
• Refer to the subcommittee on property.
• referred to the Subcommittee on Property Tax Appraisal.
• Tuesday in memory of James S Edward Cook of Eustis, Texas. Is there objection?

Keywords: 1184, house, all

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• And for the record, my name is Kirk Watson, and I'm the mayor of Austin, Texas, and I'm also by statute
• Madam Chair, members, House Bill 135 seeks to clarify the tax code in relation to tax exemptions for
• supports land conservation, hunting tourism, and the Texas economy.
• supports land conservation, hunting tourism, and the Texas economy.
• It does benefit ranchers, landowners, and hunters in Texas, and I want to thank the committee.

Bills: HB135

Keywords: civil liability, motor vehicle, legal protection, removal, animals

Summary: The Senate Finance Committee heard Senate Bill 2345, as a committee substitute, which would reform the Austin Firefighter Retirement Fund. Senator Schwertner explained that the bill is based on an agreed voluntary funding soundness restoration plan between the City of Austin and the fund, and would create a new reduced benefit tier for firefighters hired on or after January 1, 2026, adjust COLAs for current retirees, establish an actuarially determined funding model to address legacy liabilities and 2024 asset losses over 30 years, and add new board seats. Mayor Kirk Watson, city finance staff, the fund executive director, trustees, and retired firefighters all testified in support, describing the measure as an agreed-to, fiscally responsible compromise that protects benefits, supports recruitment, and reduces risk to taxpayers. The committee adopted the committee substitute, but left SB 2345 pending. The committee also heard House Bill 135, which clarifies tax treatment for exotic game or exotic livestock operations by defining them within agricultural exemptions and stating that sales of exotic livestock are not subject to sales and use taxes. Senator Flores described it as a clarification to provide consistency and fairness, and a witness for the Exotic Wildlife Association said it would resolve a Comptroller-related tax issue and benefit ranchers, landowners, and hunters. The committee closed public testimony and reported HB 135 favorably to the full Senate, with a motion to place it on the local and uncontested calendar. Senate Bill 771, by Senator Hinojosa, was also heard and later reported favorably. The bill would allow diesel fuel used in auxiliary power units or power takeoff units to qualify for the same fuel tax credit or refund already available for gasoline, correcting an inadvertent exclusion from the 2003 motor fuel tax rewrite. A witness supported the bill as a matter of tax equity. The committee then considered House Bill 1109, the House companion to SB 935, which exempts counties from certain motor fuel taxes on fuel used in county vehicles; Senator Hall explained it as simply exempting government agencies from paying the tax on their own vehicles. HB 1109 was reported favorably to the full Senate. The committee adjourned after completing its business.

Transcript Highlights:

• country is a national electrical code. country is a national electrical code. that<04:01:06.160>
• legislature adopts that new code.
• and then every 3 years when a new code and then every 3 years when a new code<04:04:22.160> comes
• c><04:04:25.920> code.
• that new code. that new code.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

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• In fact, I'll note that it's already embodied in Penal Code Section 1473.5.
• A hug should not depend on the zip code of where a child is detained.
• a public park or property.
• without the consent of the owner or upon a public park or property.
• The only current tools are basically code violations for land use.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

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• Fourth, we have narrowed the specific provisions of a section of code that applies to education preparation
• It makes sure that these provisions of code are actually in place so that at the certification level,
• If there was a conflict between those policies in the code, often that happens. and they reconcile quite
• about this historic legacy level of funding, and all the great things that will come from this for Texas
• It's going to make a huge difference, and we just want to thank you from South Texas. Thank you.

Keywords: 1185, senate, all

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• degree of oversight that they had, they were ready to move those detainees to a facility in Wexas Texas
• So, a number of these folks, and we're talking about economic development as well, are residents of Texas
• And now I see What's going on in Texas and I see California's response.
• So I think it would be a very simple fix to update the language, but the language in the Children's Code
• They know that in the children's court and under the children's code, they are not likely to. receive

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• Our domestic competitors would be Texas, Louisiana, and New Mexico.
• I always hear, well, Texas is doing that. California is doing this.
• <00:19:56.400> We We have the ability to beat Texas.
• We We have the ability to beat Texas.
• <00:20:28.559> because than either Louisiana or Texas because than either Louisiana or Texas

Bills: HB0120

Keywords: energy production, natural gas, industrial sovereignty, manufacturing, tax exemptions, 916, all

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• operator for money owned and in relation to the delivery, storage, and disposal of certain personal property
• HB 3462 by Hunter, relating to the use or purchase of property under the Public Property Finance Act,
• regarding the process of obtaining a permit from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality for the
• , referred to the Subcommittee on Property Tax Appraisals.
• referred to the subcommittee on Property tax appraisals.

Summary: The House met briefly to read a large number of first-reading bills, joint resolutions, and concurrent resolutions and refer them to the appropriate committees. The measures covered a wide range of topics, including public health, education, criminal justice, taxation, transportation, water and natural resources, elections, housing, veterans issues, local government, and constitutional amendments. Several bills focused on school policy, health care regulation, property tax and sales tax changes, criminal penalties, and local or state agency authority. Among the notable items were proposals on name and sex changes on birth records, college admissions inquiries into criminal history, foster care contractor liability, school nutrition and assessment policy, election procedures, homestead and franchise tax exemptions, public retirement system reporting, and numerous transportation and infrastructure measures. The House also received resolutions designating local honors and observances, including Brownsville as the bicycling capital of the Rio Grande Valley, Port Aransas as the fishing capital of Texas, and Selena Quintanilla Perez Day. Some measures proposed constitutional amendments on legislative procedure, homestead taxation, and election-law enforcement authority. No debate or testimony occurred in this segment; the action was limited to first reading and referral. The session also referred several resolutions to the Local and Consent Calendars. At the end of the proceedings, the House adjourned without objection until 2 p.m. Tuesday.

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• North Dakota Century Code.
• North Dakota Century Code.
• The criminal code in Section 12.1 of the North Dakota Century Code has intentionally, knowingly, recklessly
• Texas is another example.
• And it is in the Century Code 12.1-29-07.

Summary: The committee met to approve prior minutes and then heard a presentation from Dr. Ramona Danielson on adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), focusing on the economic and public-system impacts in North Dakota. She explained that ACEs are a population-level measure, not a diagnostic tool for individuals, and said higher ACE exposure is consistently associated with more chronic illness, mental health challenges, child welfare involvement, justice-system contact, and reduced workforce participation. She emphasized that precise dollar estimates are difficult because of the many interacting factors across a person’s life course, but said the direction of the impact is clear and that evidence-based prevention and protective factors can reduce harm. Members asked about definitions of a “healthy family,” same-sex couples, divorce, substance abuse, historical trends in ACEs, and the role of positive childhood experiences and home visiting. The committee then heard from Allison Mahoney and Missy Barranco about evidence-based home visiting programs in North Dakota, including Healthy Families, Early Head Start, Nurse-Family Partnership, and Parents as Teachers. They described home visiting as voluntary, relationship-based, and tailored to family needs, with referrals coming from hospitals, WIC, human service zones, pregnancy navigators, self-referrals, and other community sources. A parent, Abby, shared that home visiting helped her family after premature births and NICU stays by providing support with postpartum mental health, breastfeeding, developmental screenings, referrals, and parenting guidance. The presenters said the programs are funded through a mix of federal MIECHV/Title IV-E dollars, Medicaid targeted case management, state and tribal funds, philanthropy, charitable gaming, and grants, and they noted that current funding is fragmented and insufficient to serve all eligible families statewide. Members discussed whether the state should expand or better fund these services and how to improve outreach and referrals. Later, the committee received a memorandum on artificial intelligence and sexual exploitation, followed by a presentation from a BCI special agent on how AI is already affecting child exploitation investigations in North Dakota. The memo and testimony described AI-generated child sexual abuse material, deepfakes, sextortion, and risks posed by chatbots, along with relevant federal and state law and recent executive orders. The agent said North Dakota saw 2,698 cyber tips in 2025, the highest on record, and that investigators are increasingly encountering AI-assisted exploitation that is harder to detect and verify. Members discussed the need for child-safety protections, the limits of executive orders, and broader concerns about AI undermining critical thinking and spreading misinformation. No votes were taken on the AI materials during the portion provided, and the committee recessed briefly after the report.

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• Senate Bill 1593 by Hancock, relating to the Texas Industry Recognized Apprenticeship Programs grant
• Senate Bill 1624 by Johnson, relating to the purposes for which the Texas Water Bank and the Texas Water
• Senate Bill 1624 by Johnson relating the purposes for which the Texas Water Bank and the Texas Water
• Bank and the Texas Water Trust, Senate Bill 1624 by Johnson, relating the purposes for which the Texas
• of the assessed value of a person's property that is attributable to the installation in or on the property

Summary: The Senate convened, adopted a motion by Senator Zaffirini to suspend Senate Rule 11.13 so committees could meet during the reading and referral of bills, and then proceeded to first reading and committee referral of a large number of measures. The bills covered a wide range of topics, including judicial qualifications, alcohol sales at racing facilities, health care provider participation programs, abandoned land receiverships, local mental health authority governance, school trustee employment eligibility, DFPS review procedures, groundwater district management plans, early voting by mail, contracts with companies from foreign adversaries, wastewater permitting, nondisclosure provisions involving child sexual abuse, child abuse reporting, veterans’ claims assistance, hotel occupancy tax collection by accommodations intermediaries, apprenticeship grants, Sunset Commission renaming, health care entity ownership reporting, firearms and school trespass offenses, water trust and water bank issues, construction contract trust funds and payments, Medicaid recoupment, colonia real estate contracts, epinephrine use in schools, forensic analyst apprenticeship training, online ticket sales disclosures, and public water system security incident reporting. The chamber also received and read several resolutions, including SCR 27 authorizing burial of Guy Herman in the State Cemetery, SCR 28 urging Congress to propose a constitutional amendment on regulating money in campaigns and ballot measures, SCR 29 designating El Paso as the official boot capital of Texas, and multiple joint resolutions. Those included proposals on county tax exemptions for rainwater harvesting and graywater systems, creation of a Texas Health Care Workforce Education Fund, authorization of sports wagering, dedication of state tax revenue to the Texas Water Fund, a statewide referendum on standard time versus daylight saving time, and clarification of impeachment-trial and removal provisions for public officers. After the readings and referrals, the Senate adjourned until 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, March 11.

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• And while there, there were presentations by leaders from Brazil, India, China, Nevada, Arkansas, Texas
• Texas, Africa, and the list goes on, and they were there talking about the supply chains that they are
• Rowdy concluded by saying that the veterinarian must be on the property and able to oversee care and
• 1915 will support California's neighborhood restaurants by modernizing California's food facility code
• AB 1915 is also the result of meaningful collaboration with health regulators to identify where the code

Keywords: 987, senate, all

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• because there are misdemeanors in other codes that we didn't want to lump in.
• So, what they've been doing is driving to Texas.
• My daughter is training as an obstetrician in Texas, where it is a crime.
• I couldn't fathom the idea that New Mexico and Texas.
• can't get it in Texas.

Bills: SB1, SB3

Keywords: interstate medical licensure compact, physician licensure, medical license reciprocity, expedited licensure, medical practice act, New Mexico medical board, compact commission, physician mobility, telemedicine, license portability, background check, disciplinary action, joint investigation, reproductive health care, gender-affirming care, scope of practice, medical board transparency, multistate compact, licensure renewal, health care workforce

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• because there are misdemeanors in other codes that we didn't want to lump in.
• By referring it back to the criminal code, that was the change that we made to that.
• So what they've been doing is driving to Texas.
• I couldn't fathom the idea that New Mexico and Texas.
• can't get it in Texas.

Bills: SB1, SB3

Keywords: interstate medical licensure compact, physician licensure, medical license reciprocity, expedited licensure, medical practice act, New Mexico medical board, compact commission, physician mobility, telemedicine, license portability, background check, disciplinary action, joint investigation, reproductive health care, gender-affirming care, scope of practice, medical board transparency, multistate compact, licensure renewal, health care workforce

Transcript Highlights:

• It is a sad day in Texas when we can't say the same thing about our governor.
• Representative, uh, Yolanda Jones for putting this together because right now there are over 800,000 Texas
• The Texas election code states that it is the intent of the legislature that the application of the Texas
• election code and the conduct of elections be uniform and consistent throughout the state.
• Special election on December 11, 2018 for the Texas State Senate after the resignation of Sylvia Garcia

Transcript Highlights:

• session about rising property taxes. session about rising property taxes.
• <01:56:41.800> tax which to lower people's property tax which to lower people's property tax
• reduce the homestead property tax rate. reduce the homestead property tax rate.
• tax burdens for individual property tax burdens for individual homestead<01:57:17.280> property
• England building code England building code and<01:58:41.520> manufactured<01:58:42.200><

Keywords: 927, senate, all

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• And now as we honor the Texas flag, honor the Texas flag.
• Welcome Texas teachers.
• Members, please join me in welcoming Texas realtors to the Texas House. Mr.
• HB 3751 by AshP relating to the transfer of certain real property from the Texas Department of Transportation
• HB 3773 by Wharton relating to the transfer of certain property from the Texas Department of Criminal

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• It was just in the department rec coded the wrong area.
• And so in our gov rec, we coded it the correct area.
• So before we can have contractors going in on properties and knocking properties down and hauling it
• Thank you. ...the property owners.
• The recorder of deeds can't sign away a right of entry onto the property.

Keywords: 959, house, all

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• President, additionally, I request a relaxed dress code in the chamber for our guests, not for members
• These tribes are located throughout New Mexico, Colorado, and Texas, encompassing over 5 million acres
• These tribes are located throughout New Mexico, Colorado, and Texas, encompassing over 5 million acres
• But this is the first step to try to improve that property and get it going so that it can be a better
• With the State Fair Board to the rest of the property, Mr. President, and good Senator. Mr.

Keywords: 996, all

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• As we have told everybody's staff on this committee, the California Code does not include a definition
• We have other criminal codes that criminalize this conduct, codes that the disability community supports
• Section 290, pursuant to Penal Code Section 290.006.
• That is why probation's work is codified in the Government Code, which is impacted by this bill.
• That is why probation's work is codified in the Government Code, which is impacted by this bill.

Summary: The committee heard several public safety measures, with extensive testimony on firearms regulation, disability and sexual assault, mental health diversion, emergency response, and law enforcement masking. SB 704 by Senator Arreguín would require firearm barrels to be purchased through licensed dealers with a background check, as a response to the rise in ghost guns and 3D-printed firearms; supporters said barrels are a key component of untraceable guns, while opponents argued the bill burdens lawful gun owners and does little to stop criminals. SB 258 by Senator Wahab would eliminate the remaining spousal rape exception for victims unable to consent because of disability; supporters called it a needed closure of an archaic loophole, while disability-rights advocates opposed it unless amended, warning it could worsen misunderstandings about capacity to consent and harm disabled people’s autonomy. After debate, SB 258 passed the committee on a due-pass motion to Appropriations, with several members voting aye and the bill held on call. Senator Umberg presented SB 398, which closes a loophole in the law prohibiting paying or offering money or other value to induce someone to vote or register to vote; there was little opposition, and the bill passed on a due-pass motion to Appropriations and was held on call. He also presented SB 27, a CARE Court cleanup measure that would allow certain misdemeanor defendants found incompetent to stand trial to be routed into CARE Court and would expand eligibility to some people with mood disorders with psychotic features. Supporters said it would improve access to treatment and reduce unnecessary incarceration, while county behavioral health directors and disability advocates warned it could blur the line between voluntary civil treatment and coercive criminal proceedings and expand CARE Court beyond its intended scope. SB 27 passed on a due-pass motion as amended to Appropriations. The committee also heard SB 36 from Senator Umberg, a price-gouging measure tied to wildfire-related emergency conditions that also expands search-warrant authority for certain misdemeanor investigations. Public defenders opposed the search-warrant expansion as unnecessary, while a late supporter from the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office spoke in favor; the bill was moved on a due-pass motion as amended to Appropriations and held on call. SB 571 by Senator Arreguín would increase penalties for impersonating emergency personnel and related conduct during disasters; supporters cited post-fire looting and impersonation, while opponents argued longer sentences do not deter crime and that existing law is sufficient. The bill passed on a due-pass motion as amended to Appropriations and was held on call. Finally, Senator Wiener presented SB 627, which would prohibit law enforcement from wearing extreme masks except in limited circumstances, aimed largely at masked federal immigration enforcement operations. Supporters said masked, unidentified officers create fear and undermine trust, while law enforcement groups argued the bill wrongly sweeps in local officers, is too broad, and should instead target federal agents or impersonators. Testimony was still underway when the transcript ended, and no final committee action on SB 627 is shown here.

Transcript Highlights:

• So the Texas system is complicated in that it's an opt-out system.
• Texas being number one of them?
• Ohio, Oklahoma, Tennessee, and Texas.
• Even in Texas... ODG when necessary.
• I’m not sure what you mean by a Texas-style.

Summary: The committee first voluntarily deferred House Bills 460 and 561, then took up House Bill 1101 on workers’ compensation. The sponsor said the bill would define maximum medical improvement, adjust fraud provisions, shorten temporary total disability and supplemental earnings benefit periods, and revise vocational rehabilitation rules; an amendment removed proposed age-based termination language for benefits. Business groups including LABI supported the bill as a way to reduce Louisiana’s comparatively high indemnity costs and align the state with regional norms, while injured-worker advocates and attorneys strongly opposed it, arguing it would cut benefits, shift medical and disability decisions away from treating physicians and judges, broaden fraud too far, and potentially push costs onto public programs. After debate, the committee voted to report HB 1101 with amendments. House Bill 282 was voluntarily deferred. House Bill 293, which would add sexual orientation and gender identity to Louisiana employment discrimination protections, drew generally supportive testimony from the sponsor and supporters, with some members raising questions about religious exemptions and federal law. The committee ultimately voted against reporting HB 293 favorably. House Bill 390, providing unpaid leave protections for domestic abuse survivors at larger employers, was presented as a tool for survivors, but the committee split 6-6 on a motion to report it favorably; the tie resulted in the bill being voluntarily deferred. The committee then heard House Bill 456, which would expand workers’ compensation petition requirements and allow employers or payers broader access to file disputed claims and seek discovery. Supporters argued employers currently lack a practical way to obtain records and challenge claims without first cutting off benefits, while opponents said the bill would revive a rejected 2012 approach, increase litigation, and undermine the no-fault workers’ compensation bargain. The discussion centered on whether the bill would preserve benefits while allowing discovery or instead encourage more disputes and penalties. The transcript ends with testimony still underway on HB 456, with no final vote shown.