Transcript Highlights:

• I rise as chair of the Local Government Committee. We heard this bill in committee.
• Right now, Texas and Florida are generating more clean power than California, Right now, Texas and Florida
• And we need to make sure that local government gets the revenue that they need.
• And we need to make sure that local government gets the revenue that they need.
• Senate Bill 1366 by Senator Rubio, an act relating to state government.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

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• I think there have been less than 5,000 people in the history of Texas elected to the Texas Senate.
• Texas elected to the Texas Senate.
• third highest post in Texas.
• At his heart, he has Texas common sense, Texas leadership.
• He has Texas common sense, Texas leadership, and Texas values.

Summary: The Texas Senate convened for the opening of the 89th Legislature with an invocation, roll call, and certification of the newly elected senators by the Secretary of State. Senators-elect were then administered the oath of office by Chief Justice Jimmy Blacklock, formally seating the new members. Governor Greg Abbott and First Lady Cecilia Abbott addressed the chamber, congratulating members and emphasizing priorities such as border security, education, energy, foster care, and school choice, while Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick highlighted the Senate’s bipartisan culture and the work ahead. The chamber then held its organizational business, including the election of Senator Brandon Creighton as President Pro Tempore. Senator Parker nominated Creighton and Senator Bettencourt seconded the nomination, both praising his background, legislative record, and leadership. The Senate voted by standing vote to elect Creighton, who was then escorted to the dais and sworn in. In his remarks, Creighton reflected on his family, his time as a Senate messenger, and his priorities for the session, including Texas sovereignty, economic opportunity, education, and conservative policy goals. The only formal legislative action taken was adoption of Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 7, granting permission for the Legislature to adjourn for more than three days during the specified period. The resolution passed by a roll call vote of 31 ayes and no nays. The Senate then adopted a motion to recess until 11 a.m. on Wednesday, January 15, after a caucus meeting earlier that morning.

Transcript Highlights:

• Ryan Trosper and a government-related... Officer Mr. Dike.
• We are based out of Houston, Texas.
• All of our development happens out of Houston, Texas.
• exist alongside the federal government.
• , Texas, to San Antonio, Texas.

Transcript Highlights:

• Texas Grants, the Texas Educational Opportunity Grants, and Tuition Equalization Grant. Next slide.
• college admissions in Texas.
• It's a huge mutual benefit for both SFA the region in East Texas, rural Texas, and UT systems.
• That's all good for Texas.
• from the Texas-Louisiana border. and a border to the Big Bend region of West Texas.

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And they went from California to Oklahoma to Texas, then to Arkansas.
• And we did that thanks to our federal government by just writing blank checks. I would agree.
• According to DESE rules governing special needs funding, categorical funds for ALE are used to provide
• To be an eligible student, DESE rules governing special needs funding outline the 12 characteristics
• And this is because of the APSCAN coding structure.

Summary: The committee first approved the March 9 and 10 minutes, then heard a presentation from the Arkansas Excellence in Teaching Fellowship Program featuring three third-grade teachers from Poyen, Drew Central, and Cabot, along with Department of Education Secretary Jacob Oliva. The teachers described the fellowship as a year-long collaboration among 23 merit-pay recipients from across the state, focused on sharing classroom strategies, data use, and professional support. Members asked about teacher experience, how the fellowship information is shared locally, the role of merit pay, and how teachers are addressing third-grade reading and retention concerns under the ATLAS assessment system. The teachers emphasized early intervention, relationships with students, small-group instruction, progress monitoring, and communication with families; they also described community supports such as churches, food backpacks, and local donations. Several members raised broader questions about poverty, trauma, social services, DHS involvement, and whether similar professional learning should be expanded to more teachers. Secretary Oliva said the fellowship is a small subset of a larger merit-pay program, that participation was voluntary, and that the state is working to improve literacy supports, clarity, and alignment across grades. He also said ATLAS results are now available to schools and families much faster than in the past, often within 24 to 72 hours, and that the state is using the data to identify at-risk students earlier and support intervention before retention decisions are made. The committee then moved to the adequacy/resource allocation presentation from the Bureau of Legislative Research. Staff explained that the report is part of the statutory adequacy review and focuses on state funding sources beyond foundation aid, including categorical and supplemental funds. They noted that districts and charters spent more than $7 billion in the 2025 school year, with roughly 49% from foundation funding and 51% from other sources over the last three years. The presentation outlined the four categorical funds—Alternative Learning Environment, English Learners, Enhanced Student Achievement, and Professional Development—describing their restricted uses, student-based funding formulas, and the ability of districts to transfer some money among categoricals while keeping it within allowable purposes. Staff said categorical funds account for about 4% of total spending, or less than $300 million, and reviewed superintendent feedback on whether those funds met district needs, with responses varying by category and district.

Transcript Highlights:

• happen before they get their arms around those situations, including benefits from the federal government
• if accurate data is not reported on the time and the date of death, then sometimes the federal government
• things that exist in our state as I move through legislation, the Children's Cabinet serves as a governing
• It's actually governed by the compact states. There is a commission that makes decisions.
• Currently, the Children's Code requires that all children 12 or older have a right to be in court.

Summary: The Senate Committee on Health and Welfare met on May 6, 2026, with five members present and adopted the April 28 minutes. The committee first heard a presentation on the new Leadership Louisiana Health Fellows Program, a leadership and networking initiative focused on Louisiana health care challenges such as workforce shortages, rural access, chronic disease, and the economic impact of health care. Speakers described it as a cross-sector program intended to build informed leaders and support collaboration with health systems, insurers, providers, LDH, and the Louisiana Hospital Association. The committee then moved through a series of bills, generally adopting amendments and reporting measures favorably. SB 57, a nutrition/labeling bill, was amended to delay the effective date for the labeling provision until December 31, 2028, and was reported as amended. HB 62 increased membership of the Louisiana Women’s Policy and Research Commission and was reported as amended, and HB 193 adjusted membership rules for the Sickle Cell Commission foundations and was also reported as amended. HB 815 would allow financial institutions to receive death certificates to help close accounts and avoid problems with automatic payments and federal benefit clawbacks; it was reported favorably. SB 405, which had been heard earlier, was reworked to codify LDH’s new Ascend nursing home quality initiative, including short- and long-term quality oversight goals, stakeholder involvement, internal expertise, and reporting requirements; after reconsidering prior amendments, the committee adopted the new amendment and reported the bill as amended. The committee also advanced several health and human services bills. HB 222 would allow Medicaid dental coverage when needed to clear a patient for another covered medical procedure, and it was reported as amended after LDH said the cost could be absorbed. HB 420 expanded DCFS background-check requirements to cover staff with access to sensitive records, and HB 475 required verbal consent before AI is used to record or transcribe a medical visit; both were reported favorably. HB 246 updated membership of the Children’s Cabinet Advisory Board and the council for grandparents raising grandchildren, including replacing an inactive coalition seat with the state police, and was reported as amended. HB 486 joined Louisiana to the psychology interjurisdictional compact to expand access to psychologists through telepsychology and temporary practice across state lines, and HB 574 updated outdated board names in the Mental Health Advisory Services Board statute; both were reported favorably. Later, the committee heard HB 949, which would create a licensure framework for radiologist assistants to help address radiologist shortages and improve imaging access, especially in rural areas. Testimony emphasized that RAs work under radiologist supervision and would extend capacity without replacing physicians; the bill was reported favorably. HB 584 required foster children to be provided luggage or similar items instead of trash bags when moving placements, and also corrected language in the Foster Youth Bill of Rights from “privileges” back to “rights” while extending the bill’s applicability to children from birth to age 18; it was reported as amended. The committee also reported HB 1214, which restructures certain LDH state facilities into a more unified system, and HB 1092, a technical renaming/terminology cleanup bill, both favorably. Finally, HB 203 added members from Christus Health System and Xavier University’s College of Medicine to the uterine fibroids commission and was reported favorably before the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Floyd, we show you as executive director of Texas Watch for SB 1643. Texas Watch.
• Texas has a competitive market.
• Chair calls Reagan Elmer, Director of Government Affairs, Independent Insurance Agents of Texas, showing
• I'm the director of government affairs for the Independent Insurance Agency of Texas, On the bill today
• I'm the director of government affairs for the Independent Insurance Agency of Texas, uh, on the bill

Summary: The committee first took up several bills and voted them out favorably without amendment: SB 2857, relating to prescription drug purchasing proof for certain health benefit plan issuers and employers; SB 1307, relating to the biennial health coverage reference guide; and SB 527, relating to health benefit coverage for general anesthesia for certain pediatric dental services. Each of those motions passed on a 7-0 roll call. The main discussion centered on SB 1643, which would require prior approval from the Texas Department of Insurance for property and casualty rate changes above 10% from a previously filed rate. The chair framed it as a response to rate volatility and rising homeowners and auto premiums, while several members questioned whether it would slow a market that is already stabilizing and could encourage insurers to file repeated increases just under the threshold. Witnesses from consumer groups supported tighter oversight and argued for a lower threshold, while insurance industry representatives opposed the bill, saying Texas’s file-and-use system and competitive market work better and that the proposal could increase costs or create uncertainty. After testimony, SB 1643 was left pending. The committee then heard SB 1642, which would replace the single Texas Department of Insurance commissioner with a three-commissioner structure and an executive director. Supporters said it could improve accountability and transparency, while opponents argued the current single-commissioner model is more efficient and avoids confusion and added cost. Witnesses also raised concerns about open meetings issues, administrative expense, and the lack of a clear model from other states. SB 1642 was also left pending. Finally, the committee heard SB 2530, the Texas Windstorm Insurance Association omnibus bill. The bill would make a number of changes to TWIA’s governance and finances, including exempting TWIA from certain taxes, moving its headquarters to a coastal county, changing board composition and voting rules, and lowering the probable maximum loss standard from 1-in-100 to 1-in-50. Supporters said the bill would strengthen TWIA’s reserve funding and improve local relevance, while opponents warned it could increase assessments, reduce reinsurance protection, and create operational risks by relocating the headquarters to the coast. The bill was left pending, and the committee then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Gentlemen from Texas. Introduction of a special guest, Mr. Speaker. Proceed, gentlemen. Mr.
• That's because of control from the federal government. That's not because of local control.
• The local governments there that they were elected into office passed those laws.
• So is this the bill that we heard in Government Efficiency and Downsizing? It is. Okay.
• Not the government agencies that are shifting their programs.

Keywords: 959, house, all

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• Then Texas sued New Mexico in 2013 in the U.S.
• PNM becoming Texas, New Mexico Energy or something.
• Senator to Texas.
• But at the end of the day, if Texas...
• And Texas said, "You only delivered 10,000."

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• However, I know our government is working hard to reduce bureaucracy and relieve the burdens that are
• He was fooling around and coding... He said that in national news.
• This is an idea that I've been working on with the government of Sonora, specifically the...
• There are several local governments that require retail licensure for tobacco retailers.
• There are several local governments that require retail licensure for tobacco retailers.

Bills: HB2746, HB2750, HB2765, HB4036

Keywords: trade offices, committee, Arizona commerce authority, stakeholder input, efficiency, Arizona-Sonora, Sonora, Mexico, trade commission, cross-border trade, bilateral trade, international trade, economic development, foreign relations, border economy, investment, infrastructure, business exchange, academic exchange, legislative commission

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• So we coordinate our pumps in the Delta, the federal government, and the state.
• I know we've been working with the U.S. government and the U.S. Congress.
• One thing that government does is pull so many of those various components together.
• And that's what you have government agencies do—all those things.
• But that change in the water code didn't come with any new programs or funding.

Keywords: 988, house, all

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• Do you know if that's covered under another code of law, or what your answer to that is?
• Do you know if that's covered under another code of law, or what your answer to that is?
• Do you know if that's covered under another code of law, or what your answer to that is?
• <00:19:40.640> of establishes that this this new code of establishes that this this new code
• <04:07:53.399> and conservative ones like Texas and conservative ones like Texas and Florida

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The Transportation Committee opened its public hearing with HB 249, sponsored by Representative Seth Miller, which would allow bicycles, human-powered vehicles, and electric bicycles to treat stop signs as yield signs and red lights as stop signs in certain situations. Miller argued the bill would improve cyclist safety and traffic flow at no cost to the state, citing Idaho and Delaware as examples where similar laws were associated with fewer injuries and crashes. He emphasized that the proposal would remain optional for cyclists, who would still be required to yield to cross traffic and obey right-of-way rules, and said the bill is intended to help riders maintain momentum and avoid the instability that comes from repeatedly starting from a full stop. Committee members raised concerns about uncertainty for drivers and pedestrians, liability, and whether the bill would create a special class of road users with different rules. Representative Crawford asked about the red-light left turn language, and Miller explained it was included because bicycles may not trigger some traffic signals. Representative Hill questioned how other road users would know what a cyclist intended to do at an intersection, and Representative Gon noted the bill did not appear to address liability the way some motorcycle-related laws do. Miller responded that cyclists would still be expected to yield appropriately and said he would be open to an amendment if liability language was needed. Representative Emble also questioned whether the bill would create a special vehicle class, and Miller replied that bicycles already have different roadway rules and that the bill was meant to improve safety and flow. Several supporters testified in favor of the bill. Michael Frank, a cyclist and League cycling instructor from Spofford, said he regularly rides a cargo bike for errands and that stopping fully at intersections leaves him exposed longer and makes it harder to restart on hills. He said the bill would let cyclists slow, assess traffic, and proceed safely while maintaining momentum, and noted that he had not personally received a ticket for rolling through a stop sign, though he had been warned by police. Tim Blagden, former head of the Bike-Walk Alliance of New Hampshire, said the bill reflects how many people already ride, saves energy, and helps bicycles move through intersections faster and more safely. No vote or committee action was taken during the portion of the hearing provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• Honor the Texas flag. I pledge allegiance to thee, Texas, one state under God, one and indivisible.
• The House of Representatives of the state of Texas joins citizens of Texas in remembering the life and
• through hands-on experience, allowing them to work full time for Texas House and Texas Senate members
• On Texas Physicians Assistance Day we commend the Texas Academy of Physician Assistants and celebrate
• Wukashkhoot to the state of Texas and the Texas House with a big round of applause.

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• And now our Texas flag honor the Texas flag.
• I pledge allegiance to the Texas, one state under God, one and indivisible.
• A quorum is present and it's time to resume the work of the people of Texas sent us here to do.
• That has always been the mark of a functioning Texas House.
• vested in me by Article 3, Sections 5A and 40, and Article 4, Section 8A of the Texas Constitution,

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• Government organization to set AB 445, Aguilera-Curry.
• Soon to Assembly Rule 96, I request unanimous consent to re-refer AB 557 McKenna from the Local Government
• And the Nuremberg laws were drafted after the Black Codes and the Jim Crow laws of the South here in
• They live in Texas, his grandmother actually got into a fender bender and got on the side of the road
• I don't want to vote to have government banning things. It's an issue of personal freedom.

Keywords: 988, house, all

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• for college admissions in Texas.
• That's all good for Texas. It's good for businesses in Texas.
• from the Texas-Louisiana border to the Big Bend region of West Texas.
• And Texas Women's University.
• We'll have the Texas Tech system in as well as, uh, Texas State Technical College.

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• Doing so strengthens public confidence in representative government.
• You are elected to govern. Thank you. So govern. Fix the health care crisis.
• more or less of it, what the role of government services can be.
• I worked in state government for 17 years, right out of law school.
• Why do Louisiana's Black communities distrust our government promises?

Bills: SB116, SB121, SB130, SB407

Keywords: redistricting, congressional districts, Louisiana, 2020 census, elections, precincts, voting, election, political representation, 2026 precincts, demographics, Louisiana congressional map, U.S. House, election districts, precinct shapefiles, Voting Districts, VTD, 2020 Census, 2026 Precinct Shapefiles, apportionment

Transcript Highlights:

• Honor the Texas flag. I pledge allegiance to thee. Texas, one state under God, one.
• That an individual born and raised in Texas has represented us not just here in Texas and in Houston
• Welcome to your Texas capital.
• To live without fear and to ensure that Texas remains a place of inclusivity and justice, Texas is home
• And warm Texas welcome to our friends from Nepal and from Nepalese society in, in, in Texas.

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• Allow the unity of this chamber to create bills that the governor will sign to make Texas and Texas citizens
• Honor the Texas flag.
• The House of Representatives of the state of Texas join citizens of Texas in remembering the life and
• through hands-on experience allowing them to work full-time for Texas House and Texas Senate members
• Now therefore let it be resolved that the Texas House of Representatives of the 89th Texas Legislature

Keywords: 1184, house, all

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• pay us enough to really see a future in Texas.
• Uh, if Texas legislature really thinks that the people of Texas deserve a workforce that sees them as
• It means longer wait times for vital services, less effective government programs, and a Texas that doesn't
• It's about showing that in Texas we take care of our own.
• This is common sense to benefit the people of Texas.