Transcript Highlights:

• You get to hear the public in a better way. So to promote this...
• So we'll open up public testimony on Senate Bill 724.
• Okay, with no public testimony, public testimony on Senate Bill 724.
• So we'll open up public testimony on committee. You substitute for Senate Bill 1741.
• Public testimony on Senate Bill Committee substitute for Senate Bill 1741. Thank you.

Bills: SB37 , SB1489 , SB452 , SB724 , SB1067 , SB1741 , SB1273 , SB 37

Committees: Senate Education , Senate Education K-16

Keywords: higher education, curriculum review, governing board, faculty council, ombudsman, faculty governance, decision-making, transparency, public meetings, department head, employment approval, public institutions, institutional oversight, education, funding, accountability, state budget, school performance, employment, Texas legislation

Transcript Highlights:

• Senate Bill 27 by Creighton, relating to the rights of public school educators and assistance provided
• to public schools by the Texas Education Agency, related to public school educators, to Education K-
• Senate Bill 1169 by Ineos of Nacogdoches, relating to public...
• duties, to Criminal Justice.
• Senate Bill 1295 by Johnson, relating to open meetings and public information training for certain public

Bills: SJR36 , SJR3 , SB616 , SB565 , SB384 , SB5 , SJR52 , SJR53 , SJR54 , SJR55 , SCR18 , SCR19 , SCR22 , SB27 , SB29 , SB35 , SB1151 , SB1152 , SB1153 , SB1154 , SB1155 , SB1156 , SB1157 , SB1158 , SB1159 , SB1160 , SB1161 , SB1162 , SB1163 , SB1164 , SB1165 , SB1166 , SB1167 , SB1168 , SB1169 , SB1170 , SB1171 , SB1172 , SB1173 , SB1174 , SB1175 , SB1176 , SB1177 , SB1178 , SB1179 , SB1180 , SB1181 , SB1182 , SB1183 , SB1184 , SB1185 , SB1186 , SB1187 , SB1188 , SB1189 , SB1190 , SB1191 , SB1192 , SB1193 , SB1194 , SB1195 , SB1196 , SB1197 , SB1198 , SB1199 , SB1200 , SB1201 , SB1202 , SB1203 , SB1204 , SB1205 , SB1206 , SB1207 , SB1208 , SB1209 , SB1210 , SB1211 , SB1212 , SB1213 , SB1214 , SB1215 , SB1216 , SB1217 , SB1218 , SB1219 , SB1220 , SB1221 , SB1222 , SB1223 , SB1224 , SB1225 , SB1226 , SB1227 , SB1228 , SB1229 , SB1230 , SB1231 , SB1232 , SB1233 , SB1234 , SB1235 , SB1236 , SB1237 , SB1238 , SB1239 , SB1240 , SB1241 , SB1242 , SB1243 , SB1244 , SB1245 , SB1246 , SB1247 , SB1248 , SB1249 , SB1250 , SB1251 , SB1252 , SB1253 , SB1254 , SB1255 , SB1256 , SB1257 , SB1258 , SB1259 , SB1260 , SB1261 , SB1262 , SB1263 , SB1264 , SB1265 , SB1266 , SB1267 , SB1268 , SB1269 , SB1270 , SB1271 , SB1272 , SB1273 , SB1274 , SB1275 , SB1276 , SB1277 , SB1278 , SB1279 , SB1280 , SB1281 , SB1282 , SB1283 , SB1284 , SB1285 , SB1286 , SB1287 , SB1288 , SB1289 , SB1290 , SB1291 , SB1292 , SB1293 , SB1294 , SB1295 , SB1296 , SB1297 , SB1298 , SB1299 , SB1300 , SB1301 , SB1302 , SB1303 , SB1304 , SB1305 , SB1306 , SB1307 , SB1308 , SB1309 , SB1310 , SB1311 , SB1312 , SB1313 , SB1314 , SB1315 , SB1316 , SB1317 , SB1318 , SB1319 , SB1320 , SB1321 , SB1322 , SB1323 , SB1324 , SB1325 , SB1326 , SB1327 , SB1328 , SB1329 , SB1330 , SB1331 , SB1332 , SB1333 , SB1334 , SB1335 , SB1336 , SB1337 , SB1338 , SB1339 , SB1340 , SB1341 , SB1342 , SB1343 , SB1344 , SB1345 , SB1621 , SJR57

Keywords: dementia, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, research funding, state budget, prevention, healthcare, medical research, Dementia Prevention and Research Institute, aquifer, water management, Edwards Aquifer, sustainability, regulatory framework, SB 565, Texas Water Code, TCEQ, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, compliance agreement, enforcement suspension

Summary: The Senate met briefly to receive first-reading referrals of a large number of bills, resolutions, and joint resolutions. The measures covered a wide range of topics, including public education, health care, criminal justice, business regulation, transportation, water and natural resources, local government, taxation, elections, and public information. Many of the filings were by Senators Hughes, Perry, Alvarado, Creighton, Hancock, Parker, Zaffirini, Blanco, and others, and included proposals on school safety, health records and billing, election procedures, water planning, housing and rent issues, energy and environmental regulation, and criminal penalties. The chamber also read several concurrent and joint resolutions, including measures designating state symbols and local honors, a proposed constitutional amendment related to gaming by the Kickapoo Traditional Tribe of Texas, a proposal concerning special-session subjects, and resolutions on fiscal restraints and retirement obligations. No debate, testimony, or substantive action on the merits of the measures occurred in this portion of the transcript; the items were simply read and referred to committees. At the close of the proceedings, the Senate adjourned pursuant to a previously adopted motion and announced it would reconvene at 11 a.m. Tuesday, March 4.

Bills: SB80 , SB1101 , SB1813 , SB1966

Committee: House Commerce & Economic Development Oversight

Keywords: SB80, legislation, state law, public safety, community impact, local governance, dental coverage, insurance reporting, healthcare access, dental loss ratio, community benefits, Oklahoma law, Athletic Trainer, Compact, interstate practice, licensure, public health, workforce development, military spouses, telehealth

Transcript Highlights:

• And all of these laws emphasize open government and the right of public access to the work of public
• meetings, and public testimony submitted to committees would become public records.
• We actually voted on a public records reform bill where we updated public records laws.
• Public records accessible to the general public? But can you answer the question?
• is on the public website.

Bills: H5004

Committee: Joint Special Joint Committee on Initiative Petitions

Keywords: public records, public records law, transparency, open government, government accountability, legislature, general court, governor's office, executive records, legislative records, constituent communications, policy drafts, deliberative process, freedom of information, FOIA, records access, Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 66, Chapter 4, veterans services records, initiative petition

Transcript Highlights:

• For this, we'll go ahead and move into the public testimony on Engrossed Substitute House Bill 2476.
• And then we'll go ahead and move through public testimony.
• So we'll go straight into public testimony, and Senator Conway, if you want to call up the first panel
• With that, that closes all of our public hearing on good House bills, and we will bring our staff up
• with certain employee information to all public employers under the Personnel System Reform Act.

Bills: HB1526 , HB1069 , HB1347 , HB2091 , HB2264

Committee: Senate Labor & Commerce

Keywords: liquor license, snack bar, state regulations, alcohol sales, business licensing, collective bargaining, retirement benefits, employee rights, public sector, supplemental benefits, education, funding, student loans, affordability, higher education, public employers, employee information, bargaining representatives, labor relations, union representation

Transcript Highlights:

• funds shall be equally shared by the state and political subdivisions of the state that received public
• amendments, federal. laws, and oftentimes we're seeing police officers, government officials, these public
• Do are we trying to do this, or are we contributing to public safety? Will there be questions?
• Would you agree that we do use public tax dollars for such initiatives, and sometimes it can be subjective
• the jail a safer place, create a safer environment for jailers and inmates, and further the aim of public

Bills: SB1288 , SB1705 , SB1878 , SB2019 , SB2118

Committee: Senate Local and County Government

Keywords: emergency management, federal funding, disaster relief, cost sharing, public assistance, bail reform, public funds, nonprofit organizations, political subdivisions, injunctive relief, criminal procedure, surety bond, judicial discretion, uniform bond schedule, liability insurance, judgments, insurance fund, Oklahoma, county sheriff, commissary

Transcript Highlights:

• consultant to do the rate study, time to implement the rate study, and also to comply with the new public
• addressed in the strike-all concerns an emerging fee structure imposed by developers that is contrary to public
• membership in a club under the control of the developer or an owner other than the association, as against public
• That is not the public policy behind an HOA statute. Thank you. And the statute doesn't allow that.

Bills: S0936 , S1724 , S1014 , S1498

Committee: Senate Regulated Industries

Keywords: temporary door locking device, emergency safety, building code, training programs, fire exit security, utility services, municipal agreements, public meetings, rates and fees, public service commission, municipal utility, water service, wastewater service, property owners, annexation, civil action, community associations, condominium, homeowners associations, structural integrity

Summary: The Committee on Regulated Industries met with a quorum and took up four bills. First, it considered SB 1724 on municipal utility services. Senator Martin offered a late-filed delete-everything amendment that would require annual customer meetings for extraterritorial utility customers, cap use of gross utility revenues for general government at 10%, eliminate a 25% surcharge on customers outside city limits, reduce the rate differential cap from 50% to 25%, remove municipal natural gas utilities from the bill, and preserve certain existing bond-related surcharges until debt is retired or refinanced. The League of Cities raised implementation concerns about the July 1, 2026 effective date and the need for rate studies and budget adjustments. The amendment was adopted and the committee reported CS/SB 1724 favorably. The committee then heard SB 936 on temporary door locking devices from Senator McLean. The bill would define temporary door locking devices, allow them to be installed at any height, require the Florida Building Commission to add standards to the Florida Building Code, and require their use to be incorporated into safety plans, drills, and training. With no opposition or amendments, SB 936 was reported favorably. Next, the committee considered SB 1014 by Senator Mayfield, which would prohibit municipalities from refusing water or wastewater service solely because a property owner will not annex, and would require service expansion when a property is near a municipal main line, not served by another utility, and the utility has capacity. A committee amendment narrowed the bill to properties near a main line and reduced the distance threshold from 2,000 meters to one-half mile. The Florida League of Cities opposed the bill as amended, citing concerns about property size, annexation conflicts, enclave creation, and possible revenue impacts, but the bill was reported favorably. Finally, the committee heard SB 1498 on community associations from Chair Bradley. A strike-all amendment revised technical provisions on video conference recordings, turnover inspection reports, SIRS references, and electronic voting, and added two major policy changes: requiring associations to provide records to law enforcement and prosecutors and creating a second-degree misdemeanor for willful refusal, and prohibiting mandatory club or amenity fee schemes controlled by developers or third parties that generate profit beyond proportional expenses. Testimony in support described homeowner disputes involving concentrated board control, lack of transparency, and mandatory fees in communities such as Rosedale. The amendment was adopted and CS/SB 1498 was reported favorably. At the end of the meeting, Senator Bracey Davis asked to be recorded voting in the affirmative on tabs 1, 2, and 3, and the committee adjourned.

Bills: SB8 , SB10 , SB16 , SB8

Keywords: education, accountability, public school assessment, state law, transparency, intervention, performance ratings, Ten Commandments, public schools, religious display, First Amendment, voter registration, proof of citizenship, Election Code, criminal offenses, limited federal ballot, immigration enforcement, ICE agreements, sheriff grants, law enforcement

Transcript Highlights:

• Is there anyone from the public?
• Is there anyone from the public?
• Is there anyone from the public?
• Is there anyone from the public?
• Is there anyone from the public?

Bills: HF845

Committee: House Energy Finance and Policy

Keywords: net metering, distributed generation, solar energy, rooftop solar, renewable energy, utility rates, electric cooperatives, municipal utilities, public utilities, Public Utilities Commission, net billing, bill credits, cost of service study, standby charge, qualifying facility, energy policy, clean energy, customer generation, interconnection, Minnesota Statutes 216B.164

Transcript Highlights:

• I have a spend any public dollars.
• accounts and saves them the money of audit but it satisfies the examiner's public accounts.
• accounts and saves them the money of audit but it satisfies the examiner's public accounts.
• </c> the examiner's public accounts. the examiner's public accounts.
• And so I got with examiners of public accounts and the League of Municipalities.

Bills: HB2 , HB163 , SB326 , HB17 , HB363 , HB2 , HB163 , SB326 , HB17 , HB363 , SB333

Committee: Senate County and Municipal Government

Keywords: vaccination, parental consent, minors, medical consent, guardian approval, income tax, research expenditures, economic development, tax deductions, Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, Alabama tax law, sheriff, credit card, debit card, financial procedures, Jackson County, purchasing authority, HB17, Alabama Squat Truck Law, squat truck

Bills: SB5 , SB11 , SB12 , SB41 , SB43 , SB49 , SB5 , SB11 , SB12

Keywords: hemp regulation, consumable products, cannabinoids, occupational licenses, criminal offenses, SB 11, Texas attorney general, election crimes, election law enforcement, criminal prosecution, Election Code, Government Code Chapter 402, local prosecutors, county attorney, district attorney, grand jury, probable cause reports, state election offenses, voter fraud, election integrity

Transcript Highlights:

• Members, this bill relates to reporting of certain public school employees. ...is conducted to local
• and public institutions of higher education.
• Excused absences from public school for the purpose of attending a released time course.
• Members, this bill relates to expressive activities at public institutions of higher education.
• Members, this bill restricts remote work by employees of public institutions of higher education.

Bills: SB1224 , SB2972 , SB2615 , SB735 , SB800 , SB2986 , SB2310 , SB2055 , SB1049 , SB784

Committees: Senate Education , Senate Education K-16

Keywords: educator misconduct, reporting requirements, local law enforcement, public and private schools, penalties for non-compliance, expressive activities, freedom of speech, public forum, higher education, protests, student rights, telework, public education, employee rights, emergency provisions, Holocaust education, Holocaust Remembrance Week, antisemitism, genocide education, public schools

Transcript Highlights:

• If I recall, we had our public hearing last week. I don't know if everybody was here.
• House Bill 484 by Representative Shaw addresses the public blockchain creation of inclusion of certain
• The public blockchain is a shared data store out there in the world.
• It's just pretty much a different way of publishing the transactions out to the public.

Bills: HB227 , HB556 , HB543 , HB542 , HB482 , HB483 , HB484

Committee: House Ways and Means General Fund

Keywords: firefighter benefits, occupational disease, line of duty, disability pension, death benefits, retirement benefits, hypertension, heart disease, respiratory disease, cancer presumption, HIV, hepatitis, municipal firefighters, state firefighters, fire districts, workers' compensation, public safety employees, post-retirement benefits, benefit eligibility cutoff, occupational illness

Transcript Highlights:

• So with no public testimony here for Senate Bill 2986, we'll close public testimony, and Senate Bill
• Okay, with no other public testimony present, public testimony on Senate Bill 1032 will close, and Senate
• Further public testimony on Senate Bill 2233.
• I am the student of public educators, and going to a public law school was important to me because of
• Okay, with no further public testimony on Senate Bill 2683, public testimony is closed.

Bills: SB2972 , SB1909 , SB2815 , SB735 , SB2233 , SB800 , SB1069 , SB2683 , SB2986 , SB2058 , SB2310 , SB2055 , SB1032

Committees: Senate Education , Senate Education K-16

Keywords: expressive activities, freedom of speech, public forum, higher education, protests, student rights, antisemitism, public institutions, disciplinary policy, student organizations, compliance, institutional policy, disciplinary sanctions, diploma designation, institution merger, academic records, student options, Holocaust education, Holocaust Remembrance Week, genocide education

Summary: The Senate Education K-16 Committee heard several bills before recessing to the floor, with most measures left pending subject to the call of the chair. SB 2986 would allow public schools and universities to permit after-hours facility use by religious groups on the same terms as other nonprofits, and SB 1032 would open the Governor’s University Research Initiative to private and independent universities; both had committee substitutes adopted and were left pending after brief testimony. Supporters of SB 1032 from Rice and Baylor said the change would help Texas recruit top researchers and strengthen the state’s research economy. The committee also heard SB 2058, which would require the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board to publish annual data on nursing clinical training sites to improve placement coordination, and SB 2683, which would bar public colleges from giving benefits or recognition to student organizations that receive support from foreign entities of concern; both were left pending after testimony. A large portion of the meeting focused on SB 2233, which would require public institutions of higher education to adopt policies prohibiting students or employees on nonimmigrant visas from publicly supporting terrorist activity or organizations, with enforcement through investigations, reporting to Homeland Security, and possible Attorney General action and fines. The author said the bill was intended to reinforce existing federal definitions and campus safety, while senators questioned the bill’s scope, the definition of terrorist activity, and the clause tied to U.S. policy or practice. Public witnesses, including civil rights advocates, law students, and others, argued the bill was vague, overbroad, unconstitutional, and likely to chill protected speech and increase surveillance of international students and Black and brown communities; several Jewish witnesses also said the bill misused Jewish safety concerns and could be used for viewpoint discrimination. SB 2233 was left pending after public testimony. The committee then took up SB 735, which builds on prior Holocaust education legislation by funding optional age-appropriate and bilingual curriculum, museum field trips, teacher preparation partnerships, annual reporting, and regional collaboration with Holocaust museums and education service centers. The author and invited witnesses said the bill responds to survey findings showing uneven Holocaust instruction and a need for better teacher training and accountability. A fifth-grade teacher and the director of the Holocaust Memorial Museum of San Antonio testified in support, emphasizing the need for accurate, age-appropriate instruction and professional development. The committee recessed before finishing the agenda, and SB 735 was set to resume after the floor session.

Transcript Highlights:

• As stated in the hearing notice, there will be a time limit of two minutes per witness during public
• field for public works contracts to build projects utilizing state funding or credit.
• The bill promotes competition in the awarding of public contracts, leading to a more competitive and
• These are local public projects funded with taxpayer dollars.
• Where's the public outcry? Everything you heard today is from one group.

Bills: HB1951 , HB2715 , HB3092 , HB3237 , HB3278 , HB3511 , HB3592 , HB3675 , HB3778 , HB3782 , HB3826 , HB3970 , HB4016 , HB4049 , HB4341 , HB4344 , HB4406 , HB4427

Committee: House State Affairs

Keywords: collective bargaining, public works, government contracts, labor agreements, state funding, removal from office, political subdivisions, local government, judicial proceedings, administrative judicial region, electric transmission, public convenience, landowner consent, utility regulation, energy infrastructure, energy consumption, higher education, governmental entities, sustainability, electricity reduction

Transcript Highlights:

• This deals with the public notice. ..that are public notices that are published in newspapers.
• I appreciate the opportunity to speak in favor of this bill concerning the publication of public notices
• I have the Geothermal Energy Alliance and the public.
• Safety and local public safety agencies.
• For the public good, this would be a silo-busting approach.

Bills: HB1951 , HB2715 , HB3092 , HB3237 , HB3278 , HB3511 , HB3592 , HB3675 , HB3778 , HB3782 , HB3826 , HB3970 , HB4016 , HB4049 , HB4341 , HB4344 , HB4406 , HB4427

Committee: House State Affairs

Keywords: collective bargaining, public works, government contracts, labor agreements, state funding, removal from office, political subdivisions, local government, judicial proceedings, administrative judicial region, electric transmission, public convenience, landowner consent, utility regulation, energy infrastructure, energy consumption, higher education, governmental entities, sustainability, electricity reduction

Transcript Highlights:

• Standards for Texas public schools.
• In public, in every public classroom has access to high quality curriculum.
• It took public outcry to get additional teachers added. And here we are again.
• I was in Del Valle ISD. at two charter schools, KIPP and Harmony Public Schools.
• Our kids are in public school.

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

Committee: House Public Education

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:

• chair lays out House bill 1368 by representative Jones relating to notification requirement if a public
• Thank you, Chairman Buckley, Vice Chair Bernal, and esteemed members of the Public Education Committee
• . 1368 is a vital piece of legislation that addresses a critical gap in communication between public
• Before you is a bill that truly truly supports parents' rights in public education.
• Unfortunately, that is too often not the case on Texas public school campuses.

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

Committee: House Public Education

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:

• </c><00:32:13.679><c> Service</c> who are in positions of Public Service who are in positions of Public
• and healthy public there uh and public and healthy public and<00:37:30.839><c> uh</c><00:37:31.040><
• public health and safety and uh public health and safety officials<00:37:32.359><c> can</c><00:37:32.520
• </c><00:38:34.839><c> health</c> information to our local public health information to our local public
• Shouldn't it be public?

Bills: HF1379 , HF1596 , HF2260 , HF1429

Committee: House Judiciary Finance and Civil Law

Keywords: nonopioid directive, opioid refusal, opioid-free care, pain management, health care directive, advance directive, patient autonomy, informed consent, substance use disorder, opioid epidemic, prescriber immunity, provider liability, emergency medical services, EMS, health record, Minnesota Department of Health, health care agent, medical power of attorney, Metropolitan Council, Minnesota government data practices

Bills: SR34

Keywords: recognition, Harvey Pratt, forensic art, legacy, public service

Summary: The Senate convened with roll call, prayer, pledges, and several floor introductions recognizing the Doctor of the Day, Nurse of the Day, and Psychologist of the Day. Members also welcomed the Dover High School boys basketball team, which was honored for winning the Class B-2 state championship and the first basketball title in school history after a 30-2 season; coaches and a team representative briefly thanked the Senate for the recognition. The chamber then considered Senate Resolution 34 honoring the late Harvey Pratt, a longtime OSBI employee, Cheyenne Peace Chief, Marine Corps veteran, and artist known for his forensic work and public memorials. Senator Weaver spoke in support, praised Pratt’s legacy and service, and announced that the new OSBI building at the Chesapeake Complex is planned to be named for him if the family approves. The resolution was adopted unanimously, and members were made coauthors by unanimous consent. The remainder of the session featured multiple gallery introductions for Edmond Day at the Capitol, including Leadership Edmond and several Edmond-area state champions: Edmond Memorial and Edmond North palm squads, Edmond North boys powerlifting, individual wrestling and swimming champions, and Edmond Memorial volleyball champions. Senator Jett also introduced visiting OSU students and TeamPack participants. The only announced action after introductions was a reminder about a gubernatorial debate that evening, followed by adjournment until Tuesday, March 31 at 1:30 p.m.