Transcript Highlights:

• I mean, we are seeing, particularly in southeast Minnesota, communities like Austin and other spaces
• I mean, we are seeing, particularly in southeast Minnesota, communities like Austin and other spaces
• Minnesota you know communities like Minnesota you know communities like Austin<00:02:40.160> and
• 40.879> other<00:02:41.120> other<00:02:41.440> spaces<00:02:41.840> where Austin
• and um other other spaces where Austin and um other other spaces where they<00:02:42.400> have

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Ben Leffler, chief of staff to Austin City Council member Ryan Alter.
• Cities like Austin recognize that citizen initiatives shouldn't be able to.
• Obviously, 5% is more than 20,000 now in Austin.
• city charter to be a little bit higher, more representative of the voters of a full city—100,000, so Austin
• A good example was Dripping Springs down here south of Austin.

Bills: SB32, SB464, SB996, SB1163, SB1173, SB1277, SB1452, SB1453, SB1548, SB1882, SB1883, SB2016, SB 32

Keywords: ad valorem taxation, tax exemption, franchise tax credit, income production, personal property, SB 464, school buffer zone, tobacco retailer, vape shop, e-cigarette, vaping, nicotine, tobacco products, retail permit, comptroller, Class A misdemeanor, school proximity, youth access, public school, private school

Transcript Highlights:

• I was born and raised in Austin, Texas.
• backbone entities modeled off of pre-k to day success in Fort Worth as well as similar models in Austin
• My name is Mallory Vinson, and I teach second grade in Austin. and ISD.
• Question is, if you're at 32, let's even say 30 kids a classroom, you're in Austin ISD.
• I'm not sure which one you're in, Austin ISD spends about $15,000 per kid total funds from all sources

Bills: HB2, HB2

Keywords: public education, teacher compensation, certification, funding, school finance, educator rights, education funding, charter schools, staff compensation, state aid, retention allotment, disaster preparedness, emergency management, flooding, mass fatality, mass casualty, fatality tracking, body recovery, autopsy, justice of the peace

Transcript Highlights:

• Chair calls Austin Kinghorn from the Office of the Attorney General.
• So with that, Austin, the floor is yours.
• My name is Austin Kinghorn, I'm the Deputy Attorney General for Civil Litigation for Attorney General
• Let me ask a few then, if I may, Austin. Yes, sir. You mentioned there are 31 suits.
• Thank you, Austin. Thank you. The business from our posting, we'll hear our bills today.

Bills: SB766, SB290, SB494, SB1145

Keywords: Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, water regulation, environmental protection, pesticide management, natural resources, LP-gas, property owner notice, gas installations, safety notification, petroleum theft, task force, oil and gas, law enforcement, economic impact, environmental regulation, water permits, water quality, land application, 1185, senate

Transcript Highlights:

• And on the floor, Pastor John Fending of the City Reach Church in Austin.
• You know, this past Sunday, as I was traveling down to Austin, I stopped in Temple, and I went to church
• first degree at Trinity, then his master's at Our Lady of the Lake, and his doctorate degree at UT Austin
• first degree at Trinity, then his master's at Our Lady of the Lake, and his doctorate degree at UT Austin
• At UT Austin. Dr.

Bills: SJR36

Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum, offered an invocation, and approved the previous day’s journal. The chamber received a House message announcing passage of H.C.R. 54, and then took up a series of recognitions and resolutions honoring visiting groups, including Texas Society of CPAs Advocacy Day, the Texas A&M System Chancellor’s Student Advisory Council, Dimmit County officials, the Doctor of the Day, and Leadership Frisco. Senators also recognized the Senate’s memorial and ceremonial guests throughout the day. The main floor business centered on two commemorative resolutions. Senate Resolution 15 marked International Holocaust Remembrance Day and the start of Texas Holocaust Remembrance Week. Senators King, Menendez, Bettencourt, Perry, Hughes, Hinojosa, Campbell, Hall, Cook, Paxton, West, Parker, and others spoke in support, emphasizing Holocaust education, opposition to anti-Semitism and denial, remembrance of victims and survivors, and the importance of teaching students to stand up against hatred. The resolution was adopted, and the names of all senators and the lieutenant governor were added. The Senate also adopted Senate Resolution 17 designating January 28 as Sexual Assault Survivors Day. Senator Parker described the prevalence and underreporting of sexual assault, the impact on survivors, and the need for prevention, support services, and stronger responses; Senator Cook spoke as a survivor and emergency room nurse and highlighted rape-kit backlogs and the need for victim support. The chamber then adopted Senate Resolution 14 honoring Brazoria County Sheriff’s Deputy Jesus Jesse Vargas, who was killed in the line of duty, with Senators Middleton and Huffman urging action against violent offenders and stronger protections for law enforcement. Several additional resolutions were adopted, including SRs 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 11, and 12, and SR 54 granting permission for the Legislature to adjourn for more than three days was approved by roll call, 31 ayes and 0 nays. The Senate later adjourned until 11 a.m. Wednesday, January 29, 2025, in memory of Deputy Vargas and Sergeant Mark Allen Butler, whom Senator Kolkhorst also honored in remarks.

Transcript Highlights:

• I am the division president for Lenar, and I oversee our Austin and Central Texas home building operations
• Houston and surrounding areas, Montgomery County, Brazoria County, Fort Bend, Waller, Chambers, and Austin
• My background, I'm a land use attorney living in the city of Austin.
• Members, this bill creates the Austin. County Municipal Utility District No. 1.

Bills: SB840, HB2025, HB2512, HB3139, HB3798, HB3892, HB4373, HB4398, HB4582, HB4689, HB5187, HB5658, HB5666

Keywords: HB 2025, Texas Property Code, plat filing, replat, amended plat, condominium plat, subdivision, county clerk, tax certificate, ad valorem taxes, delinquent taxes, property records, real property, land use, local government, property development, subdivision recording, condominium recording, tax receipt, eminent domain

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm a pediatrician here in the Austin area and I'm testifying on behalf of the Texas Medical Association
• In addition to being a pediatrician. here in Austin.
• . go purchase this if I wanted to in the gas station down the street from our house down in South Austin
• Including Dallas, Houston, Austin, and if you go to the founding organization's website. usually geared

Bills: SB18, SB19, SB666, SB688, SB707, SB888, SB 18, SB 19

Keywords: municipal libraries, state funding, gender identity, public events, children's literature, SB 19, Texas, political subdivision, local government, county, city, municipality, taxpayer-funded lobbying, lobbying ban, public funds, registered lobbyist, Chapter 305, Government Code, Local Government Code, county association dues

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm a pediatrician here in the Austin area and I'm testifying on behalf of the Texas Medical Association
• In addition to being a pediatrician here in Austin, I'm the mom of a tween, but don't tell him I called
• go purchase this if I wanted to, and the gas station down the street from our house down in South Austin
• they've been hosted at various city municipal libraries across the state, including Dallas, Houston, Austin

Bills: SB 18, SB 19, SB 666, SB 688, SB 707, SB 888

Keywords: municipal libraries, state funding, gender identity, public events, children's literature, SB 19, Texas, political subdivision, local government, county, city, municipality, taxpayer-funded lobbying, lobbying ban, public funds, registered lobbyist, Chapter 305, Government Code, Local Government Code, county association dues

Transcript Highlights:

• Constitution, do hereby call a special session of the 89th Legislature to convene in the city of Austin
• signed my name and have officially caused the seal of state to be affixed at my office in the city of Austin
• Thursday in memory of Lisa Wilson of Austin. Is there any objection? Chair hears none.

Transcript Highlights:

• That is Harris County, Austin, and Dallas. But here's the other thing.
• And if you haven’t heard, the city of Austin is down 6, 700 officers.
• 700 officers every night here in Austin alone, just in Austin.
• We've stopped jumpers on the bridges out here in Austin.
• We've protected the tech stock crews. ...on the bridges out here in Austin.

Summary: The committee heard testimony on several public safety, criminal justice, and regulatory bills. HB 4995 would create a training and certification program allowing licensed physicians and certain EMS personnel assigned to tactical units to carry firearms during high-risk deployments, with supporters saying it would let tactical medical staff protect themselves while providing immediate care; the bill was left pending. HB 2609 would repeal the failure-to-appear-or-pay/OmniBase license-hold program, with the author and advocates arguing it creates compounding debt and unnecessary barriers to driving, while judges and municipal court representatives said the program is a voluntary, cost-effective tool that improves court appearances and reduces warrants; the bill was also left pending. HB 4879 would create a grant program to help local law enforcement pay for lab testing of suspected hemp/Delta-9 THC substances, and HB 5436 would let licensed auto recyclers buy certain untitled vehicles for scrap or parts to curb illegal sales, VIN cloning, and chop shops; both measures were left pending after brief testimony in support. The committee also heard HB 1777, which would require a discrete designation on driver’s licenses and state IDs for people required to register as sex offenders. The author and supporters argued the marker would help law enforcement and businesses quickly identify potentially dangerous offenders and prevent harm, while opponents called it a stigmatizing “scarlet letter” that would increase harassment, family harm, and reintegration barriers. The bill was left pending. HB 4155 would create a two-year Family Violence Criminal Homicide Prevention Task Force in the Governor’s Office to study family violence homicides, gather stakeholders, and recommend policy changes; the author, HHSC, the Texas Council on Family Violence, and a survivor testified in support, and the bill was left pending. The committee also heard HB 4514, which would authorize DPS to use facial image verification, with consent and privacy safeguards, to help businesses confirm identities and combat fraud; supporters from the lumber and identity-verification industries said it would reduce theft and fraud, and the bill was left pending. Finally, HB 5139 would clarify that peace officers and jailers are justified in using less lethal force weapons when acting within training and official duties; law enforcement groups supported the measure as a way to encourage use of less lethal tools without fear of prosecution, and testimony was underway when the transcript ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm a seminary student living in Austin.
• Hello, my name is Francessa Frog Leahy, and I live in Austin.
• As I mentioned before, I'm a seminary student living in Austin.
• I'm also the, the Michael Cargill who sued the city of Austin in court because the city of Austin actually
• So we brought that case against the city of Austin.

Bills: HB259

Keywords: redistricting, Independent Citizen Redistricting Commission, Texas Legislature, elections, district boundaries, voter representation

Transcript Highlights:

• Danette Buehley, President and CEO, Chris Schmaltz, Executive Vice President and General Counsel, and Austin
• A proclamation sponsored by Representatives Cesar Aguilar, Lorena Austin, Walt Blackman, and Mariana
• Personal Privileged Proclamations, a proclamation sponsored by Representative Cesar Aguilar, Lorna Austin
• Therefore, Representatives Cesar Aguilar, Lorena Austin, Walt Blackman, and Mariana Sandoval, on behalf
• Representative Austin. Thank you, Mr. Speaker Pro Tem. I rise for a comment. Please proceed.

Keywords: 1182, all

Summary: The House opened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, guest introductions, and a proclamation recognizing April 1, 2026, as NCAA Women’s Basketball Final Four in Arizona Day. Members also highlighted visitors from the Arizona Psychiatric Society, Tucson International Airport, and Autism Bringing Change, along with remarks tied to World Autism Day and Passover. The chamber then considered several Senate bills in Committee of the Whole. SB 1024, SB 1078, SB 1123, SB 1164, SB 1232, SB 1293, SB 1493 as amended, SB 1520, and SB 1572 all received do-pass recommendations, while SB 1665 was retained on the calendar. SB 1142 drew the most debate, with supporters describing it as conformity with a federal scholarship tax credit that would help Arizona students, and opponents arguing it would further divert public dollars to private education and expand voucher-like programs without accountability. Despite the opposition, the bill received a do-pass recommendation. Members also debated SB 1293, which would limit how GPLET property tax abatements can affect school district taxes; supporters said it would prevent unequal treatment and protect statewide taxpayers, while opponents warned it could hinder housing and economic development. SB 1572, requiring Celebrate Freedom Week civics instruction, was supported as a civics and civic-health measure and opposed as an unfunded mandate that bypasses the State Board of Education. SB 1160, as amended, addressing drone restrictions near venues, was defended as a public safety measure and criticized as overbroad and potentially criminalizing innocent conduct. On third reading, the House passed SB 1097 unanimously, SB 1166 and SB 1216 by wide margins, and SB 1787 by a narrower 31-24 vote. The House then adopted the Committee of the Whole reports, placed several bills on third reading or engrossing, and adjourned until April 2, 2026.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm the the Executive Director of Creative Action, which is based here in Austin.
• We proudly serve the Austin area and surrounding communities Valley ISD and Manor ISD.
• Maynard, Round Rock, where Colleen and Austin is our primary base. Thank you.
• My name is Ayan Moledina, and I am a high school sophomore here in Austin.
• I'm a high school sophomore here in Austin. I'm here to speak in strong support of HB 1441.

Bills: HB 1178, HB1411, HB1441, HB1773, HB1813, HB2107, HB2598, HB2911, HB2967, HB3672, HB5263, HB3797

Keywords: education, temporary certification, out-of-state educators, teacher shortage, military spouses, personal leave, school holidays, employee compensation, overtime provisions, school safety, peace officers, mental health, de-escalation techniques, trauma-informed care, student trustee, school board, student representation, education policy, nonvoting position, school governance

Transcript Highlights:

• A proud alumnus of the University of Texas at Austin, Mr.
• Organization over there, which their sole purpose was to to benefit the mentally impaired here in Austin
• He has served as a member of both the development boards for the University of Texas. ...is at Austin
• the Kay Bailey Hutchison Energy Center Executive Council at the McCombs School of Business at UT Austin
• He received his degree in Petroleum Land Management from UT Austin and an MBA from the Wharton School

Keywords: 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• As I mentioned earlier, if we're sending someone to Austin Oaks, which is North Austin, that's a five-hour
• Kerrville or to Austin State Hospital for a mid-level civil commitment.
• I'll just give a plug for a Marbridge community here in Austin.
• Austin State Hospital, I would find a vast majority of the people are from this county.
• Well, we're literally giving you a state hospital here in Austin, right?

Keywords: 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• In Austin, it's about $2,760 a month. And in Fort Worth, it's about $2,278 a month.
• the 2nd of this month and we have 88 people who changed their address to a single address in East Austin
• This is a situation that we repeatedly see in our clinics from Brownsville to San Antonio to Austin and
• , the largest provider of orthotic and prosthetic patient care. here, headquartered right here in Austin
• a manufacturer of orthotics and prosthetics with the headquarters for North America right here in Austin

Bills: HB2646, HB3941, HB5153, HB5155, HB5394, HB 1106, HB426, HB4529, HB3984, HB4273, HB 1097, HB3940, HB1941, HB4377, HB3153

Keywords: child care, task force, high-quality care, affordability, prekindergarten partnerships, foster care, transitional living, Medicaid reform, youth assistance, independent living, services for youth, employment training, educational support, mental health services, health care, public health, child health program, reimbursement, local health entities, maternal health

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm from Austin, Texas, Travis County. I've been residing here since the year 2016.
• My daughter was transported from Austin ISD school by car to Dallas-Fort Worth Airport, then by plane
• They asked the transporter to come back to Austin before the therapy even got started.
• Incidentally, Turning Points for Families, also known as Parent RISE, is here in Austin. ...Ms.
• Rothfuss is here in Austin. And I quote, "symbolic experimental intervention."

Bills: HB168, HB 1044, HB1534, HB1914, HB2240, HB2530, HB3284, HB3395, HB3515, HB3783, HB4034, HB4213, HB168

Keywords: marriage age, minors, family law, void marriage, rights of minors, Texas marriage law, marriage ceremony, authorized officiants, family code, judges, religious leaders, parent-child relationship, Department of Family and Protective Services, legal rights, notice requirements, HB 1914, Texas Family Code, Chapter 156, conservatorship, custody

Transcript Highlights:

• It's 80% in Dallas, and almost 90% in Austin.
• I think this benefits not just the city of Austin, but it benefits the state of Texas as well because
• Airbnb down Lake Austin, or at the end of Enfield Road, the other side.
• They've got a great product; unfortunately, in Austin they're not installing them because of the red
• Some of your staff has actually looked into it, but they couldn't do it because they're in Austin, and

Bills: HB346, HB1360, HB1510, HB1606, HB1804, HB1805, HB2156, HB2391, HB2767, HB3022, HB3044, HB3272, HB3293, HB3493, HB3809, HB3824, HJR110, HB2463

Keywords: expedited service, business records, veteran-owned businesses, franchise tax, fee schedule, Texas Ethics Commission, election reporting, campaign finance, violation categorization, penalties, public disclosure, Texas Utilities Code, electric utility, retail electric provider, municipally owned utility, electric cooperative, vegetation management, tree trimming, line clearance, transmission line

Transcript Highlights:

• I spent a year as an entrepreneur-in-residence at Austin Ventures when it was the third largest VC in
• <00:21:57.919> Texas Austin Texas Austin Texas um<00:22:00.279> and<00:22:00.640> uh
• entrepreneur Residence at Austin entrepreneur Residence at Austin Ventures<00:22:08.720> when
• Secondly, you know, wherever you are, whether you're in Silicon Valley or in Austin, Texas, or here in
• uh when I had know when I was in Austin uh when I had this<00:25:28.039> new<00:25:28.440>

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The Senate Committee on Economic Development and Tourism heard confirmations for two Hawaii Technology Development Corporation board nominees, Jaclyn Ka and Gregory Oara. Testimony for both was overwhelmingly in support. Supporters for Ka emphasized her Kauaʻi roots, work in workforce development and digital equity, and ability to connect schools, industry, and community needs. In her own remarks, Ka said she wants to bring resources to Kauaʻi and the neighbor islands, strengthen local workforce pathways, and use the HTDC board to help local residents access technology jobs and training. Members questioned Ka about how to reduce reliance on mainland hires for jobs at PMRF and other technology employers, how to better align training with local needs, and how to connect Kauaʻi schools, community college programs, and creative media/digital technology efforts. Ka described KDB’s role in building islandwide digital media and drone clubs, professional development for teachers, and partnerships intended to create a pipeline from school to workforce. She also said the legislature can help mainly by listening and staying informed about local needs. For Oara, supporters highlighted his engineering and semiconductor background, his experience in academia, industry, and startups, and his potential to help HTDC with technology commercialization, IP, and exportable services. Oara said he wants HTDC to better support early-stage companies, improve coordination among universities, government, and the private sector, and create a directory of technical skill sets to connect startups with needed expertise. He also discussed AI, saying Hawaii can contribute by developing smaller, locally relevant models rather than only relying on large-scale data-center infrastructure. The hearing focused on these nominations and testimony; no vote or final committee action was stated in the transcript.

Transcript Highlights:

• But I can tell you right now, living in Austin.
• We see this in Austin all the time. I know you guys see this here when you're in Austin.
• We're born and raised here in Austin.
• All three are in Austin. They're all here.
• Not everybody lives in Austin. Right, right.

Bills: HB5

Keywords: hemp, cannabinoids, regulation, occupational licenses, consumable products, marketing, criminal offenses, labeling requirements, health and safety, 997, house, all