Transcript Highlights:

• Um, Texas Occupation Code currently has a rigid rule requiring code enforcement trainees to work under
• It allows swift, affordable code enforcement amid Texas booming population.
• Uh, it's critical for rural Texas, enabling towns to act fast and maintain livability as growth strains
• An international syndicate effectively purchased the historic Texas lottery jackpot of $95 million.
• Uh, this is, uh, a bill to ensure Texas lottery is not influenced by outside organizations or groups

Transcript Highlights:

• You know, obviously the local governments here have been supportive of the Navajo Nation.
• New Mexico Arts, as well as the different local main streets and city governments that are interested
• So these grants aren't just for local governments.
• Our initial investment helped their local counties and local governments... continue those investments
• You know, with local government leaders to understand because every community is different.

Transcript Highlights:

• Local government road fund, Mr. Chairman.
• I mean, if locals in Pignon Hills I mean, if locals in Pignon Hills in Farmington, I’m going to use for
• I mean, we help local governments; they get a portion of vehicle registration, I believe.
• Local governments have the authority to do that; the state does not.
• It might have been a local government project. I don't have to look into that.

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• SENATORS, THIS BILL SEEKS TO PREVENT LOCAL GOVERNMENT ENTITIES AND POLITICAL SUBDIVISIONS FROM ENACTING
• THE BILL TAKES POWER AWAY FROM LOCAL GOVERNMENTS AND HANDS IT TO BIG GAS COMPANIES LIKE TAMPA ELECTRIC
• YOU ARE RECOGNIZED TO EXPLAIN THE AMENDMENT. >> THE AMENDMENT CLARIFIES LOCAL GOVERNMENTS CAN REVIEW
• IF THE GOVERNMENT CHECK TO MAKE SURE WE MEET TODAY'S CODE IT SHOULD BE GOOD 24 MONTHS FROM NOW UNTIL
• IS A DIRECT NEXUS TO BUSINESS AND ECONOMIC TOOL THEY PRESENT A LOCAL GOVERNMENTS.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And then Texas did their redistricting.
• It was government saying we learned our lesson and we're not going back.
• Assembly Bill 2341 by Assembly Member Fong, an act relating to local government and declaring the urgency
• Assembly Member Fong and act relating to local government and declaring the urgency thereof to take effect
• Assembly Bill 1712 by Assembly Member Pacheco and others, an act relating to local government.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• to connect West Texas renewables to the larger load centers in North Texas.
• Raymond: So but in Texas? Dan Diorio: In Texas. Yes. Mr. Raymond: Yeah.
• And we know that's over $2 billion of revenue to local governments in 2024.
• Dan Diorio: So data centers have a significant amount of value giving back into the local government.
• Our roots in Texas go back 145 years, and we are proud to power Texas.

Summary: The Committee on State Affairs convened to discuss data centers and their impact on Texas's energy infrastructure. The meeting featured testimony from key representatives of the Public Utility Commission (PUC) and ERCOT, who outlined the evolving landscape of energy generation and the challenges posed by the rapid growth of data centers. Notably, ERCOT reported over 450,000 MW of generation resources planned for connection, with a significant portion attributed to data centers, which now represent around 87% of new large load interconnection requests. The committee explored proposed changes to the interconnection process, including a new 'batch study' approach aimed at streamlining the approval of multiple projects simultaneously. This change is intended to address the challenges of managing numerous simultaneous requests and to provide more certainty for developers regarding their energy needs. Testimonies emphasized the importance of ensuring that the costs of infrastructure upgrades are borne by the data centers rather than residential ratepayers, with discussions around the financial commitments required from developers. Several data center developers also provided testimony, highlighting the economic benefits of their projects, including job creation and increased local revenues. They expressed concerns about the potential for a moratorium on future growth due to the new interconnection rules and emphasized the need for a collaborative approach to address water usage and environmental impacts. The committee plans to continue discussions on these topics in future hearings, with a focus on balancing economic growth with energy reliability and resource management.

Transcript Highlights:

• Raymond: So but in Texas? Dan Diorio: In Texas. Yes. Mr. Raymond: Yeah.
• And we know that's over $2 billion of Dan Diorio: revenue to local governments in 2024.
• Dan Diorio: So data centers have a significant amount of value giving back into the local government.
• , Texas.
• Our roots in Texas go back 145 years, and we are proud to power Texas.

Transcript Highlights:

• These funds are eligible for state agencies and local governments.
• So, 97.3% of this budget passes through us to local governments and other state agencies.
• The bulk of our responders are still local government responders.
• We believe there's about 52... ...locally owned radio systems across the state of Texas today.
• We piggyback on local government radio systems across the state. Yes, Colonel.

Bills: SB1, SB 1

Keywords: appropriations, budget, state funding, education, healthcare, infrastructure, campground safety, youth camp regulations, flood safety, emergency evacuation, health and safety standards, 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• They'd spend it in the local economy.
• The long arm of the state government, it seems, can reach even further.
• So this is about our government-owned and operated facilities.
• The gentleman from Texas County has offered House Amendment number 17.
• Gentleman from Texas. Mr.

Summary: The House approved the journal from the previous day by a 123-0 vote and then received Senate messages on House Joint Resolutions 173 and 174, along with committee reports recommending passage of several bills and resolutions. The chamber then took up a series of House bills and joint resolutions for concurrence or final passage, with debate focused on a mix of policy and technical changes. Early action included House Bill 2180, which was described as modernizing notice procedures for blind pension recipients by allowing electronic opt-in; it passed both adoption of the Senate substitute and final passage by wide margins. House Bill 1870, dealing with bankruptcy exemptions and garnishment procedures, also received Senate changes, which members described as minor technical corrections, and it was adopted and finally passed. The House rejected the Senate’s changes to House Bill 2596 and voted to send it to conference, while House Bill 1866, concerning peace officer licensing and school protection officers, had its Senate amendments concurred in and then passed finally. House Joint Resolution 115, proposing a constitutional change to extend property tax relief to 100% service-connected disabled veterans and their spouses, drew extensive debate over fairness, Hancock Amendment effects, and possible tax shifts to other property owners; despite opposition, it passed the House 152-2. Other measures passed included House Bill 1736 on use of county park sales tax funds for stormwater and flood mitigation, House Bill 1887 and related bills on AI-related transparency, House Bill 2855 on workers’ compensation assessment rates, House Bill 1906 on quarterly tax payments for certain township collectors, House Bill 2297 on fence responsibilities, House Bill 2142/2058 on the Missouri film program, and House Bill 3004 on hardwood industry/truth-in-advertising issues. The chamber also passed House Bill 2536, which defines male and female by biological sex for certain government-owned or managed multi-occupancy spaces such as restrooms, locker rooms, and dorms, after substantial debate over privacy, safety, enforcement, and impacts on transgender Missourians; it passed 101-48. House Bill 2151, raising income thresholds for a workforce training/“fast-track fix” program, passed 116-32. The final item in the transcript was House Substitute for House Committee Substitute for House Bills 3068 and 3049, a larger package that received multiple amendments, including changes related to plumbing/pipefitting language, civil detention, and child passenger restraint systems; debate on that package was underway when the transcript ended, and no final vote was shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• Code 508, that's the Livestock Board.
• We're going to move on quickly to Agency Code 516.
• Code 705, Department of Military.
• We had $22 million from the federal government.
• We get 75 cents from the federal government for every dollar in the fund.

Transcript Highlights:

• Chairman, do any of your cameras happen to be located near other local governments?
• government to station some of these cameras on the roadway, Mr.
• Morgan Roth, Manager, Public Policy and Government Relations, SAMSARA.
• , both at the state and local level.
• Governments Road Fund.

Transcript Highlights:

• And to the Texas flag. Honor the Texas flag. I pledge allegiance to the Texas flag.
• our powerhouse Texas fellow.
• Texas A&M University, and she is our Powerhouse Texas fellow.
• in Texas.
• She's in Texas and staying in Texas. She has a new job lined up. Ian Cannon, wave your hand.

Summary: The House met on sine die and began with prayer, pledges, quorum verification, and a series of announcements and recognitions. The chamber received Senate messages reporting adoption of conference committee reports on SB 268 and SB 2972, and Senate concurrence in House amendments to SB 1637. Members also referred several resolutions and announced the signing of numerous House and Senate measures by the presence of the House. Technical correction resolutions were adopted: HCR 171, authorizing corrections to HB 46, passed 138-0, and SCR 55, making a wording correction in SB 1964, passed 126-12. A large portion of the meeting was devoted to memorials and recognitions. The House honored Pastor Dave Welch, with several members offering condolences and reflections on his work organizing pastors and engaging in civic life, followed by a moment of silence. Members also recognized the Ganado High School Maidens for winning the 2025 UIL 2A Division I softball state championship, Waco police K-9 Andor after being shot in the line of duty, Region 7 DPS for Capitol Complex security, and various restaurants, staff members, interns, caucus staff, and caucus freshmen of the year across Republican, Democratic, Black, Progressive, LGBTQ, IT, Energy and Climate, and Mexican American Legislative Caucuses. The chamber also heard a retirement-style address from Rep. Tony Tinderholt, who reflected on his six sessions in the House, his military service, and his decision to step aside to focus on family, while colleagues from both parties praised his service, discipline, and willingness to work across differences. The House then continued with additional staff and caucus recognitions, including committee staff, district office staff, and interns, with members repeatedly thanking their teams for their work during the session.

Transcript Highlights:

• State legislators also focus on the role of local governments in regulating data center siting, zoning
• These agreements establish legally binding commitments between data center developers, local governments
• and state government officials involved in data center development. ...between data centers and local
• The bill also preserves local government authority over zoning, permitting, and land use decisions by
• If enacted, local governments would be prohibited from issuing site plan approval or permits.

Summary: The committee met at the Coteau Freedom Mine in Mercer County, approved the June 2 minutes, and heard an overview of the mine from Coteau Properties president Andrew Hawbaker. He described the Freedom Mine as the largest lignite mine in the United States, supplying coal to Dakota Gasification, Antelope Valley Station, and Leland Olds Station. He emphasized the mine’s scale, safety record, reclamation work, workforce needs, community involvement, and economic impact, including payroll, taxes, royalties, scholarships, and local hiring. Members asked about how long land stays in production, how quickly it returns to agriculture after reclamation, labor shortages, and how mining affects groundwater and water wells. Hawbaker said most tracts are mined for about three to five years, reclamation is coordinated with landowners, and the company continues to struggle to find electricians, welders, mechanics, operators, and engineers. The committee then heard from Public Service Commission Chairman Randy Christman on coal mining reclamation and permitting. He reviewed North Dakota’s coal mining history, the state’s reclamation laws, federal Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act primacy, bonding, permit renewals and revisions, prohibited mining areas, inspection and enforcement, and contemporaneous reclamation requirements. Christman stressed that North Dakota’s program is professional and thorough, with frequent inspections, financial assurance, and a 10-year revegetation monitoring period before bond release. He also discussed federal coal ownership issues that can delay mine plans, the treatment of prime farmland, and how reclamation differs for wind and pipelines. In response to questions, he said one challenge is sometimes releasing land too soon before long-term compaction issues are fully understood, and he noted that data centers do not currently have a comparable reclamation model because they typically own the land. In the afternoon, the committee received an update from Lignite Energy Council president Jonathan Fortner on the lignite industry. He said North Dakota’s lignite sector supports five commercial power plants, four mines, about 12,000 direct and indirect jobs, and more than $5.5 billion in economic activity, while helping keep the state’s electricity rates among the lowest in the nation. Fortner reviewed coal severance and conversion tax revenues, the lignite research fund, federal regulatory rollbacks, carbon capture policy, and the industry’s legal costs fighting federal rules. He also highlighted a study on large-load development, saying new data centers and critical mineral processing facilities could create major local tax revenue and help justify new baseload generation. Members asked whether new gas pipelines would crowd out coal plant development and whether the economic study included jobs and broader local impacts; Fortner said the industry sees room for both and that the study did include construction, operations, jobs, and tax effects.

Transcript Highlights:

• educated decisions, listening to the community, and providing local solutions to local problems.
• After 26 years in local government, I am convinced that allowing residents to participate in the decision-making
• After 26 years in local government, I am convinced that allowing residents to participate in the decision-making
• After 26 years in local government, I am convinced that allowing residents to participate in the decision-making
• After 26 years in local government, I am convinced that allowing residents to participate in the decision-making

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• You also said that Arizona, Colorado, and Texas do not have the PCF.
• Arizona actually does not have a cap, and Texas has a cap of 250,000.
• What I prefer is that they be locally owned. Absolutely, I would.
• of Colorado and Texas on here.
• So, in courtesy and code, they decided the verdict was. $40 million.

Transcript Highlights:

• At the local government level, when I served on local government in Orange County and saw that the number
• While federal and state governments have begun taking legal action, local government officials have already
• Now this bill will provide much-needed clarity to our local governments, residents, and developers so
• Local governments use various enforcement strategies to make neighborhoods, streets, parks, and buildings
• So SB 757 gives local... ...governments a more practical, narrowly focused tool.

Summary: The committee met as a subcommittee without quorum at first, then later established quorum and continued hearing several bills. SB 27, the annual CARE Court cleanup bill, would require courts to consider CARE referral for certain misdemeanor defendants found incompetent to stand trial, combine some hearings, allow limited data sharing among licensed medical professionals, and expand eligibility to include mood disorders with psychotic features. Supporters said it would clarify the meaning of “clinically stabilized,” streamline the process, and help more severely ill people receive treatment; opponents argued it would expand CARE Court too broadly, strain county resources, and divert attention from housing and voluntary services. The bill passed to the Health Committee on a roll call vote and was placed on call. SB 82, dealing with so-called “infinite arbitration clauses,” would limit consumer contract arbitration provisions to disputes arising from the product or service actually purchased. The author and supporters said the bill would stop companies from forcing arbitration in unrelated claims and would not ban arbitration itself. Opponents from business and banking groups argued the language was too restrictive, could create litigation over related transactions, and should be clarified as prospective only. The committee approved the bill and placed it on call after a roll call vote. The committee then heard two reparations-related bills. SB 437 would direct CSU to develop a genealogical methodology and framework for verifying descendants of enslaved people, with oversight, reporting, and guardrails tied to recently allocated state funding. Supporters said the bill would create a fair, evidence-based process; opponents, including professional genealogists and reparations advocates, argued the work is already well understood, the bill is unnecessary, and it could delay action. SB 518 would create a Bureau for Descendants of American Slavery within state government, with divisions for genealogy, property reclamation, outreach, and legal affairs. Supporters framed it as needed infrastructure to implement reparations recommendations; opponents objected to locating it in the Department of Justice, warned about data privacy and law enforcement control, and criticized the inclusion of broader communities. Both bills were moved to Appropriations and placed on call. The committee also heard SB 52, the End AI Rent Hikes Act, which would prohibit the use of algorithms to collude on and artificially inflate rental prices; the author and supporters described it as a response to AI-assisted rent fixing in California’s housing market.

Transcript Highlights:

• The amendment is coded A6.
• The amendment is coded A1.
• The amendment is coded A4.
• them or local law enforcement. them or local law enforcement.
• They can go to local law enforcement. They can go to local law enforcement.

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: The House convened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and a performance of the national anthem, then established a quorum and approved the previous day’s journal. Members handled routine business including second readings of several Senate files, first readings of House files 5067 through 5073, and messages from the Senate transmitting bills and requesting concurrence on House File 3437 and House File 1410. The House concurred in Senate amendments to HF 3437, a commerce bill with a technical cross-reference correction, and passed it 133-0. It also concurred in Senate amendments to HF 1410, a public safety bill on correctional officer procedures, and passed it 132-2 after members described the changes as clarifying and balanced for labor and management. The chamber then took up House File 3404, which increases penalties for impersonating a peace officer. The bill would raise the base offense from a gross misdemeanor to a felony, create aggravated offenses for impersonation involving unauthorized access, misleading orders, law-enforcement-style vehicles, or possession of a firearm, and add a duty for officers to identify themselves while protecting undercover work. Supporters, including the author and several members, tied the bill to the June 14, 2025 killings and said it was needed to restore public trust and protect both the public and legitimate law enforcement. The House passed HF 3404 134-0 after a moment of silence. The House also passed House File 3155, which closes a loophole in gift card fraud law by allowing prosecution based on the value stored on the card rather than just the plastic card itself. Supporters described organized retail crime schemes in which stolen gift cards are drained after activation and said the bill would help retailers, consumers, and law enforcement. The bill passed 134-0. Senate File 3958, which changes the deadline for a disaster assistance contingency account report from January 15 to January 31, also passed 134-0. Finally, the House considered House File 3875, the judiciary policy bill. An author’s amendment removed a section that had been unintentionally left in the bill, and members then discussed provisions allowing courts more flexibility in publishing notices, streamlining some notification requirements in dissolution cases, and making restitution orders permanent unless rescinded by court order. The transcript cuts off during discussion of the bill, before any final vote is shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• Government Code Section 103.024, Senate Resolution 5.
• Texas legislature, the Texas Senate specifically, has dealt with the call that once the subject matter
• government code, section 103.
• , or organizations that had a presence in Texas, and so Texas had. the authority to compel the leadership
• The federal government, to question them on the purpose.

Keywords: 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Did y'all see a neurologist when you went to Texas Children's?
• Government has immunity from liability.
• That NAIC model is still contained in the Louisiana Administrative Code.
• That NAIC model is still contained in Louisiana Administrative Code.
• Aggregated, such as zip code or county.

Summary: The House Insurance Committee met on April 23 with a quorum present and first deferred HB 1142. The committee then heard HB 1187, which would direct any excess Louisiana Citizens emergency assessment funds, after related debt is paid, toward the Louisiana Fortified Homes Program or future Citizens debt. Representative Sawyer and Commissioner Tim Temple said the bill would likely redirect about $50 million in one-time surplus funds and would help expand a popular roof-mitigation program that has already awarded more than 4,600 fortified roofs. The bill drew support from several witnesses and was reported as amended without objection. Next, HB 1210, dealing with insurance claim disputes and a pre-suit review process for Louisiana Citizens claims, was discussed. Representative Dana Henry said he was voluntarily deferring the bill and instead pursuing a study resolution after hearing concerns from members and stakeholders. Department and Citizens officials said the proposal was modeled on Florida’s process and could help resolve disputes faster and cheaper, but the bill was ultimately voluntarily deferred after testimony and some opposition cards were noted. The committee then took up HB 1199, which requires coverage for genetic testing and treatment related to SCN2A-associated disorders. Representative Jordan and the Diedon family gave emotional testimony about their daughter Emily’s diagnosis and the importance of timely genetic testing. The bill was amended to require that testing be ordered by a provider and deemed medically necessary by the health plan, with discussion about whether a neurologist should be involved; members said that issue could be refined later. HB 1199 was reported as amended. Finally, the committee considered HB 880, the Louisiana Artificial Intelligence Insurance Fairness Act, which would regulate AI use in underwriting, rating, and claims. After a lengthy discussion about state insurance regulation, McCarran-Ferguson, and concerns that the bill could jeopardize federal broadband funding, Representative Jordan voluntarily deferred HB 880, and HB 920 was also deferred. The committee then heard HB 1221, which would limit the policy data collected for the Louisiana Fortified Program Fund. Former Representative Bowler argued the bill was needed to protect policyholder privacy, while the Department of Insurance and Commissioner Temple said the data is needed for surplus-lines premium tax audits, fraud detection, and consumer assistance after disasters. The discussion continued with questions about what data would be visible and how it would be used, but the transcript ends before a final action on HB 1221 is shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• in local control—that they elect their local school board members, the local college trustees, so they
• make those local decisions, and make those decisions at the local level.
• believe in local control, that they elect their local school board members, the local college trustees
• , so they make those local decisions and make those decisions at the local level.
• And so that's all local revenue.

Keywords: 988, house, all