Video & Transcript : 'county judges' :

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TX

Texas 89th Regular

89th Legislative Session May 8th, 2025 at 10:05 am

Texas House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • Members, this would allow retired judges who’ve served at least six years to be visiting judges.
  • You said county, who? County property records that you just mentioned. County property records?
  • One of them was a county judge. Two of them were city councilmen.
  • And again, yesterday, there were indictments handed down to a county judge, two city council members,
  • ...to a county judge, two city council members, a former county elections official.
Summary: The House convened with a quorum, received the invocation and pledges, and heard several announcements and recognitions before moving into floor action. Members honored the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley chess team for winning a share of the 2025 President’s Cup, recognized educator Jessica Lopez, and paid memorial tribute to Jennifer Maddenly, along with recognitions for Jeanette Valdez Duran’s food pantry work, TAMACC’s 50th anniversary, and Bernardine Steptoe’s retirement from WFAA. The House also granted permission for committees to meet while the House was in session, set a local consent calendar, and suspended posting rules for a Public Health Committee hearing on SB 2721. The chamber then considered a long series of Senate and House bills, with many passing on record votes. Measures addressed local law enforcement authority (SB 906), veterans highway designation (SB 1229), foster care medical billing (SB 855), massage therapy trafficking safeguards (SB 703), tax ballot language (SB 1025), occupational licensing for people with convictions (SB 1080), lien deadlines (SB 929), liquor sales complaints (SB 1355), higher education application fee waivers (SB 2231), utility data access (SB 1877), pediatric preceptorships (SB 1998), and several House bills on bond forfeiture notice, health workforce coordination, indigent civil commitment representation, consumer transaction cancellations, bird dispersal rules, theft venue for digital property, military grant applications, AI cancer-detection grants, cybersecurity contract language, in-state tuition for military-related programs, utility capital recovery, energy waste advisory oversight, gas utility rate recovery, psychedelic therapy study, teacher retirement funding transparency, pension changes, tax payment plans, and voter registration security. Some measures drew notable debate or amendments, including HB 5247, where a ratepayer-credit amendment failed, and HB 2298, HB 4014, HB 510, HB 561, HB 1128, HB 1904, HB 30, HB 200, HB 3045, and HB 5111, which all passed after recorded votes with varying margins. A major point of contention was SB 2420, the app store age-verification bill, which prompted extended debate over whether the bill should also require app developers to verify users’ ages. Representative Bryant offered an amendment to preserve developer verification obligations, arguing the bill would otherwise shift responsibility away from app makers; the author opposed it, saying the bill’s approach was more workable and raised concerns about First Amendment issues. Multiple points of order were raised and withdrawn during the debate, and the amendment discussion remained unresolved in the excerpt. The House also postponed further consideration of SB 17, SB 552, and SB 2420 at different points, and recessed for lunch after completing a large block of third-reading votes.
LA

Louisiana 2026 Regular Session

Retirement Apr 29th, 2026

Retirement

Transcript Highlights:
  • Senate Bill 456 by Senator Talbot provides for the compensation of assigned retired judges.
  • It codifies current practices on ad hoc judges and improves some definitions.
  • Ad hoc judges are retired judges, as you all probably know, appointed to serve in lower courts when there
  • The chairman's pay remains tied to that of a Court of Appeal judge, which includes standard salary plus
  • The chairman's pay remains tied to that of a Court of Appeal judge, which includes standard salary plus
Bills: SB8 , SB10 , SB11 , SB12 , SB13 , SB14 , SB16 , SB17 , SB18 , SB20 , SB21 , SB22 , SB416 , SB455 , SB456 , SB477
Committee: House Retirement
Summary: The Retirement Committee met on April 29, 2026, established a quorum, and heard a series of retirement-related bills, mostly cleanup or technical measures affecting various public retirement systems. SB 22 would extend Municipal Employees Retirement System eligibility to certain positions in the Second City Court constable’s office in New Orleans. SB 17 would create a funding deposit account for cost-of-living adjustments for registrars of voters’ employees’ retirement system. SB 455 would allow certain district and parish courts to participate in the Parochial Employees Retirement System. SB 456 would update compensation rules for assigned retired judges, and SB 8 would add the Louisiana Asset Management Pool as a participating employer in MERS. All of these bills were described as aligning statutes with current practice or expanding participation options, and each was reported favorably without objection. The committee also heard several Louisiana State Police retirement bills. SB 10 would repeal outdated priority allocation and retiree raise rules and adjust handling of surplus employee contributions; SB 11 would increase the funding cap for benefit increases from 2.5% to 3.5%; and SB 12 would update membership and definition language to reflect the State Police Commission rather than the Civil Service Commission. SB 18 would repeal a special exception allowing certain MERS retirees to return to part-time work while collecting full benefits, while protecting roughly 30 current participants. SB 20 and SB 21 would update actuarial gain/loss and unfunded liability funding rules for school employees’ retirement and LASERS, respectively, in light of the new permanent benefit increase funding structure. Each of these bills was supported by system officials as cleanup or modernization measures and was reported favorably. The committee spent the most time on education and return-to-work issues for teachers and public employees. SB 16 would reduce annual trustee training requirements for retirement system boards from 16 hours back to 12 hours, which witnesses said would better fit smaller systems and match the original intent of the law. SB 13 would similarly update TRSL’s actuarial funding rules after the sunset of the experience account. SB 14, based on a 2025 study work group, would consolidate and simplify TRSL return-to-work rules and expand options for retired teachers, with witnesses emphasizing teacher shortages and the need to retain experienced educators. All three were reported favorably. Finally, SB 416 would allow certain Department of Public Safety and Corrections retirees to return to critical shortage positions after one year, and SB 477 would classify the chairman of the Louisiana Gaming Control Board as a full-time state employee for retirement purposes. Both bills drew questions and discussion, especially SB 416, and both were reported favorably. The chair announced the committee’s next meeting would be moved from Monday to Tuesday, and the meeting adjourned.
HI
Transcript Highlights:
  • ,</c> followup, chair, um, so Bowie County, followup, chair, um, so Bowie County, you're<00:49:12.880
  • </c> county systems. county systems.
  • example, like from each county?
  • </c> the with the counties? the with the counties?
  • </c> coming from county I suppose the county coming from county I suppose the county home<01:40:20.719
Committee: House Housing
Summary: The House Housing Committee heard testimony on a series of housing-related Senate bills. SB 2190 SD2 on inclusionary zoning drew support from HHFDC, Hawaii YIMBY, Grassroot Institute, Housing Hawaii’s Future, and Hako Seed Center, with opposition from OHA and Aloha Independent Living Hawaii. SB 2338 SD1, dealing with housing agency personnel authority, received comments from the Attorney General cautioning that the bill should be clarified to avoid conflicts with civil service and collective bargaining laws and recommending removal of a provision limiting employment contracts; HHFDC said its comments addressed those concerns and supported the measure. SB 2424 SD1, concerning HHFDC, received broad support from housing, business, and community groups, with one opposition. Testimony focused on changing the definition of “qualified resident” so people who already own an HHFDC-assisted unit could later purchase another if their housing needs change; HHFDC said the current rule forces people to sell before buying again and that the bill would help people move up the housing ladder and encourage more housing development. SB 2356 on parking also drew broad support from state agencies, housing advocates, business groups, and local officials, with Unite Here Local 5 in opposition. SB 2981 on land use had strong support from many organizations and 67 individuals, with Unite Here Local 5 opposing. SB 3028 SD2 on property conveyance generated the most detailed policy debate. Supporters, including Catholic Charities Hawaii, Hawaii Children’s Action Network, Indivisible Hawaii, and others, backed restructuring the conveyance tax into a marginal rate system and urged changes to revenue allocations, including dedicated funding for homeless services, DHHL, and the rental housing revolving fund. The Tax Foundation of Hawaii supported the marginal-rate concept but opposed dedicated special-fund allocations and criticized the bill’s blank sections. Committee members questioned the historical purpose of the conveyance tax, and the Tax Foundation explained it was originally a modest tax tied to property-value tracking when the state still ran the property tax system. The committee also heard SB 3187 SD2 on off-site construction, SB 2378 SD2 on housing permitting, and SB 2398 SD2 on residential housing utilities. OPSD supported SB 3187 but said it preferred the House version and wanted clarification that off-site certification should apply to factories in Hawaii, not out of state, to avoid outsourcing labor; it also suggested starting with a small scope. SB 2378 SD2 drew support from engineering, housing, and labor groups, with testimony that the House version included needed fixes to make the program insurable. On SB 2398 SD2, the Board of Water Supply opposed the bill, saying it could require disclosure of sensitive infrastructure information beyond ordinary water-availability assessments and raise critical-infrastructure and cybersecurity concerns; developers and housing groups supported the measure. No votes or final actions were taken in the portion of the hearing provided.
TX

Texas 89th Regular

Intergovernmental Affairs May 13th, 2025

Intergovernmental Affairs

Transcript Highlights:
  • A suit against a Democratic judge would roll the parties into the lawsuit that the county is going to
  • The Chair now calls Rudy Madrid, Kleberg County, County Judge and Commissioner Association, against the
  • I mean, I'm one of the few county judges that you'll ever hear that from.
  • I represent all the county judges and commissioners in the state of Texas.
  • I'm the Pecos County Judge.
Bills: HB5691 , SB427 , SB2623 , SB2858
HI

Hawaii 2026 Regular Session

WAL Public Hearing - Thu Feb 19, 2026 @ 9:00 AM HST

Water & Land

Transcript Highlights:
  • . counties. counties.
  • </c> counties have been an obstacle. counties have been an obstacle.
  • </c> transfer to the county. transfer to the county.
  • </c> the the county. the the county.
  • </c><01:51:34.960><c> have</c><01:51:35.119><c> that</c> counties or says the counties have that counties
Committee: House Water & Land
Summary: The committee on Water and Land met on February 19, 2026, and the chair opened by emphasizing strict time limits and that all bills would be deferred if the agenda was not completed before the noon session. The first major measure discussed was HB 1739 HD1, which would preempt county land-use authority in transit-oriented development areas. The Department of Planning supported the bill, saying it could promote state-funded TOD and infrastructure, while the city and county’s position was raised in questioning. Unite Here Local 5 opposed the bill, arguing it would strip counties of self-determination, disrupt state-county policy collaboration, and remove a check on unrestrained development. Committee members pressed the supporters on whether the bill was really about higher density and whether it would override local zoning and sustainability concerns. The committee then heard testimony on HB 1741 HD1, a housing bill described by supporters as reducing inclusionary housing mandates and increasing supply. Grassroots Institute of Hawaii argued affordability mandates reduce overall housing production and raise market-rate prices, while a Zoom testifier said the bill would improve housing stability, health, and community outcomes for working families, kupuna, and young residents. Members asked about the bill’s needs assessment and who would conduct it, with a witness saying the counties would likely contract it out but that the bill did not clearly specify the reviewer. HB 2668 HD1, dealing with water heating systems, drew testimony from the Hawaii State Energy Office and industry representatives. Supporters generally backed adding heat pumps to the law, but one solar-water-heater industry witness asked for amendments to remove or extend the current 15-year statutory life limit for solar water heaters and to update outdated standards and variance rules. A Kauaʻi Climate Action Coalition witness opposed the existing solar-only structure, arguing heat pump water heaters are cheaper, align with climate goals, and should be allowed without a variance. The Energy Office said the current law already allows variances in some cases, suggested adding high-efficiency heat pump water heaters to the exemption, and said the 15-year figure may be too short, with 18 years mentioned as a possible alternative. The committee also briefly moved through several other bills, including HB 2606 HD1 on off-site construction and HB 2362 HD1 on housing, with no notable testimony or action recorded in the excerpt.
TX
Transcript Highlights:
  • Ventana in Brazoria County was long ago incorporated as a Type A city.
  • attorneys, judges, commissioners, and school board trustees.
  • Judges and prosecutors must come from outside the affected county, adding further safeguards for impartiality
  • Not necessarily the judge in the county in which they were elected.
  • Existing LPPF in Denton County was amended in the House to add Collin County.
TX
Transcript Highlights:
  • But Bexar County is the first county that actually wants to oversee juveniles through those cases through
  • So you go in, you finally file the enforcement, you get in front of the judge, and the judge says, well
  • required six people plus a county judge appointed to the juvenile court and only have them serve one
  • The commissioners courts plus the county judge and the county court at law judge.
  • So I work at the county level. So I don't work at the state level in the county level.
TX
Bills: HCR111 , HB5655 , HB5689 , HB5690 , HCR46 , HCR83 , HCR81 , HCR84
Summary: The Senate Committee on Administration met with a quorum present to reconsider the local and uncontested calendar for May 28, 2025. Senator Menendez moved to reconsider the prior certification of the calendar, and the committee agreed without objection. Menendez then moved to add HB 4202 to the May 28, 2025 calendar. There was no objection, and the bill was added. He next moved to certify the recommended list for the May 28, 2025 calendar, including HB 4202. The clerk called the roll on certification, and the list was approved unanimously with seven votes and zero nays. With no further business, the committee recessed at the call of the chair.
TX

Texas 89th Regular

Administration (Part I) May 27th, 2025

Administration

Transcript Highlights:
  • Members, HB 5655 proposes the creation of a water control and improvement district in Fort Bend County
  • As many of you may know, especially Senator Cook being close to Fort Bend County.
  • As many of you may know, especially Senator Cook being close to Fort Bend County, low-lying areas always
  • The residents of Rusk County for years have celebrated the production of ribbon cane syrup, and for a
  • The residents of Rusk County for years have celebrated the production of ribbon cane syrup, and for a
Bills: HCR111 , HB5655 , HB5689 , HB5690 , HCR46 , HCR83 , HCR81 , HCR84
Summary: The Senate Committee on Administration met with a quorum and considered several local and uncontested measures, mostly resolutions designating official Texas titles for places and observances. HCR 111 would name Combs the official Bee Capital of Texas; HCR 81 would name Milam the Gateway Capital of Texas; HCR 84, as a committee substitute, would name Pineland the Sawmill Capital of Texas; and HCR 83 would name Rusk County the Syrup Capital of Texas. The committee also heard HCR 46, designating January 12 as Nathan Gage Ingram Day for a 10-year period ending in 2035, honoring the Roanoke Navy SEAL who died during a mission off Somalia. No public testimony was offered on any of these resolutions, and each was reported favorably to the full Senate by unanimous or near-unanimous roll call votes, then placed on the local and uncontested calendar for May 28, 2025. The committee also considered HB 5655, which would create a water control and improvement district in Fort Bend County to provide drainage improvements for about 912 acres owned by TPHTL Hatcher LLC. Senator Kolkhorst explained that the district powers were intended to address flooding and drainage in a low-lying area. The bill was reported favorably to the full Senate with no opposition after no public testimony was offered. In addition, HB 5689 and HB 5690 were heard as local bills validating and updating the powers and prior acts of the Coal Ranch Improvement District No. 1 and the Hunter Ranch Improvement District No. 1 in Denton County; both were reported favorably without testimony or questions. At the end of the meeting, the committee reviewed the proposed May 28, 2025 local and uncontested calendar, noted that some bills had been removed due to penalties, fiscal notes, or significant opposition, and specifically removed HB 4202. The remaining calendar, with that exception, was certified by unanimous vote. The committee then recessed.
TX
Bills: HB206 , HB1238 , HB2890 , HB2970
Summary: The Senate Committee on Natural Resources met with a quorum present and took up several bills, mostly as pending business. HB 1089, creating the Gulf Coast Protection Account to be administered by the General Land Office, was laid out as the House companion to SB 795; Senator Alvarado moved it be reported favorably, and it passed the committee 8-0. The committee also adopted a committee substitute for HB 2970 and then reported it favorably 9-0, despite the motion wording recommending the substitute in lieu of the original bill. HB 2890, HB 1238, and HB 206 were each laid out and reported favorably to the full Senate by 9-0 votes. For each bill reported favorably, members also approved motions to place the bill on the local and uncontested calendar, with no objections. The transcript reflects brief procedural repetition and some garbled audio, but the actions are clear: the committee advanced all measures considered during the meeting without recorded opposition. The chair then announced there was no further business and the committee stood in recess subject to the call of the chair.
TX

Texas 89th Regular

Natural Resources (Part I) May 7th, 2025

Natural Resources

Transcript Highlights:
  • Members, in recent years, some counties have begun imposing a cash bond requirement as a condition of
  • In recent years, some counties have begun imposing a cash bond requirement as a condition of approval
  • and precincts within a county.
  • HB 206 prohibits counties from requiring a cash bond as a HB 206 prohibits counties from requiring a
  • , but counties are not able to compel a cash bond, but may compel a bond.
Bills: HB206 , HB1238 , HB2890 , HB2970
Summary: The Senate Committee on Natural Resources met with a quorum initially lacking, then took up several bills and heard brief testimony. HB 206, by Rep. Craddick, would prohibit counties from requiring cash bonds as a condition for pipeline construction approvals, while still allowing other forms of financial assurance; the sponsor and a Target Pipeline witness said cash-bond mandates create unnecessary costs and uncertainty, and the bill was left pending. HB 2890, by Rep. Patterson, would create an interstate compact among Gulf Coast states to coordinate and support the liquefied natural gas industry; the sponsor emphasized LNG’s economic importance and said the bill mirrors prior compact language that does not require congressional approval, and it was left pending after no public testimony. HB 1238, by Rep. Geren, would let TCEQ use third-party inspection reports and remote technology when reviewing proposed Class I injection wells; the sponsor and a uranium industry witness said it would streamline regulation and support industry, and it was left pending. HB 2970, by Rep. Paul, the House version of SB 410, would require the Gulf Coast Protection District’s final gate design to accommodate two-way vessel traffic and allow the governor to appoint the district’s presiding officer; the committee substitute was explained and the bill was left pending. With members scattered in other committees, the chair said the committee would recess and later reconvene to vote and complete its work.
MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

House Education Finance Committee 4/1/25

Education Finance

Transcript Highlights:
  • Louis County from the shores of Lake Superior to the southern in Baset Township, all Lake County extending
  • That's the county. You do a mandated report before we get there.
  • I'm with Hennepin County Attorney's Office at School Program.
  • , counties do not receive this information from any other source.
  • the</c><01:34:53.960><c> student</c> is happening from the county the student is happening from the county
Bills: HF51 , HF1161 , HF2201 , HF2786 , HF1053
AZ

Arizona 2026 Regular Session

02/05/2026 - House Artificial Intelligence & Innovation

Artificial Intelligence & Innovation

Transcript Highlights:
  • And then I think, again, when I, being that I come from county government...
  • persons and includes planning for energy and mining that is appropriate to each county.
  • will adjust its county comprehensive plan.
  • Counties are continually approving energy projects.
  • I do have some concerns about taking away local control, as the county specified.
Bills: HB2452 , HB2592
TX
Transcript Highlights:
  • My name is Rick Thompson, representing the County Judges and Commissioners Association.
  • This is an important bill for our counties.
  • Counties of over a million. What counties would those be? Well, let's start at the top.
  • Harris County. Dallas County. My county. Bexar County. Bexar. Let's see, I know I'm missing one.
  • Oh, Tarrant County is there.