Transcript Highlights:

• Roy of Texas. offered by Mr. Roy of Texas.
• gentleman from Texas. gentleman from Texas.
• Roy of Texas. offered by Mr. Roy of Texas.
• Texas seek recognition? Texas seek recognition?
• bigger government. bigger government.

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Wednesday, January 14, 2026, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• those policies, making Texas an outlier.
• But it led to a lawsuit in Texas is what I'm hearing. In a... consent.
• But it led to a lawsuit in Texas, is what I'm hearing.
• We like Texas in Louisiana, at least most of my colleagues do. Texas in New York.
• I might have to see what Texas is doing on this.

Keywords: 965, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Two years later, Texas changed the law, allowed carrying in churches.
• Two years later, Texas changed the law, allowed carrying in churches.
• Two years later, Texas changed the law, allowed carrying in churches.
• Two years later, Texas changed the law, allowed carrying in churches.
• <00:34:39.839> uh that had been in place in Texas uh that had been in place in Texas uh before

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• We were only behind Texas.
• Yes, Kimberly Rosenberger from the Government Affairs Division of the Department of Education and Carrie
• Kimberly Rosenberger with the Government Affairs Division of the Department of Education.
• The Education Code requires annual safety planning, regulates armed assailant drills, and integrates
• That act gave us a two-tiered system of EMS governance.

Summary: The committee held a hearing on active and mass shootings in California, focusing on prevention, response, training, communications, and gaps in preparedness across law enforcement, schools, campuses, fire, EMS, and state agencies. Opening remarks emphasized the frequency and impact of gun violence, the need for faster coordinated response, and the importance of learning from recent tragedies such as the Stockton-area mass shooting described by Sheriff Patrick Withrow. The first panel included representatives from police, sheriff, and campus public safety agencies, who discussed incident command, interoperable communications, next-generation 911, threat assessment, emergency notification systems, and the value of joint drills and cross-agency planning. Witnesses also highlighted differences in training and authority across jurisdictions, especially for private university public safety departments versus public campus police. Campus representatives said they rely heavily on municipal law enforcement for armed response, while also using run-hide-fight protocols, text alerts, surveillance, and threat assessment teams. Members raised concerns about standardized training, after-action reviews, mental health resources, school resource officers, and whether campus safety plans and drills are sufficiently consistent or workable. Sheriff Withrow argued that early intervention and accountability are being weakened by well-intentioned laws, while other witnesses stressed prevention through relationships, diversion, and coordinated support services. The second panel from Cal OES, the Department of Education, POST, and EMSA described statewide systems and standards. Cal OES outlined its Reduce the Risk initiative, gun violence restraining orders, mutual aid, unified command, after-action reporting, and nonprofit security grants. The Department of Education explained California’s statutory school safety framework, annual safety plans, regulated armed assailant drills, and local flexibility, while acknowledging compliance gaps and the need for more mental health support. POST described the new requirement for 16 hours of standardized active shooter training for recruits and ongoing local training options. EMSA explained its role in medical response and terrorism training standards. No votes or formal actions were taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• HCR 2040 is a blatant government intrusion.
• just powers from the consent of the governed.
• They are a government-granted monopoly.
• Passed as amended: HB 2837, amended in Government, should be passed; HB 2857, amended in Government,
• To me, that's not the role of the government.

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And as inflation goes up, because of the irresponsibility of the federal government spending, they can
• It was coming down between Florida and Texas, and we decided to go all in on Florida with the hope that
• This memorial sends a strong message to our federal government and to Congress that the people of Florida
• They're the considerations for the federal government.
• We're just sending the federal government a strong message that Florida wants them to act.

Summary: The committee met to hear five banking and insurance-related bills. HB 1549, an Office of Financial Regulation agency bill to help more efficiently regulate financial institutions, was amended to match Senate companion language and then passed unanimously. HB 1231 would extend physician payment and prior-authorization protections similar to a prior dental law, including limits on virtual credit card payments as the sole payment method; physicians and medical groups supported it as a way to reduce fees and retroactive denials, while insurers were not heard in opposition, and the bill passed unanimously. The committee then heard HB 999, which would make gold and silver legal tender and allow transactions in bullion through electronic debit mechanisms. The sponsor and several proponents framed it as an inflation hedge and economic freedom measure, while questions focused on definitions, transaction costs, and vendor participation. The bill passed on a mostly party-line vote, with one member voting no. The committee also approved HM 4363, a memorial urging Congress to establish a sovereign wealth fund; the sponsor described it as a way to steward national wealth, and the memorial passed with one dissenting vote. Finally, the committee took up HB 1551, which would create a prevailing-party attorney fee framework in insurance contract disputes. The sponsor argued it would restore balance, deter meritless litigation, and help consumers with valid claims recover fees, while insurers, business groups, and defense attorneys warned it would revive one-way fee shifting, increase litigation, and raise premiums. Consumer advocates and some members supported it as necessary to give policyholders meaningful recourse. After debate, the bill passed favorably, with one member voting no.

Transcript Highlights:

• state, mobilized and had a a wide-ranging response, addressing the whole matter of issues, building codes
• Also increase coordination with local governments was highlight is a need to enhance communications prior
• to hurricane season during a hurricane at the end as well as following to ensure local governments are
• There's a way to Texas Arpels our transmission inspection and hardy.
• That would be the government is the other sources.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• chair lays out as a matter of pending business House Bill 150, relating to the establishment of the Texas
• First of all, it is independent, mission-driven governance.
• Several of you worried that we were prescribing Texas Cyber Command to a single campus.
• Some stakeholders feared the command might build its own Texas-only tools.
• What is the governance structure now, and who appoints the CEO? Yes.

Summary: The Senate Business and Commerce Committee met with a quorum and considered several House bills. House Bill 111 was taken up as a committee substitute; members briefly discussed what entities the bill would apply to, and the committee substitute was adopted and reported favorably to the full Senate by a 6-5 vote. House Bill 150, relating to the Texas Cyber Command, received extensive explanation of a revised committee substitute that made the command a standalone state agency, allowed flexible state partnerships, preserved vendor neutrality, added emergency purchasing guardrails and reporting, protected existing confidentiality laws, limited monitoring to contracted entities, and clarified coordination with law enforcement rather than direct prosecution. The substitute was adopted and HB 150 was reported favorably 11-0. The committee also reported House Bill 2517 favorably without debate, 10 ayes and 1 present not voting. House Bill 2963 was considered with a committee substitute that added a definition of “power sports vehicle” and exempted those items from the right-to-repair bill; the substitute was adopted and the bill was reported favorably, with a recommendation for the local and uncontested calendar. House Bill 3520 was reported favorably by a 7-4 vote, and House Bill 5435 was reported favorably 11-0 and also recommended for the local and uncontested calendar. After completing the votes, the committee recessed subject to the call of the chair.

Transcript Highlights:

• We are further blessed to live in the great state of Texas. You have blessed our state so much.
• We praise you for our form of government that makes this country and state so blessed.
• Texas, honor the Texas flag. I pledge allegiance to the Texas, one state under one and then.
• Create the Texas Interoperability Council, which would help local governments acquire key communication
• The Department of Public Safety has special agents deployed in every region of Texas.

Transcript Highlights:

• So it's a very successful model that we see working in states, like Alabama, California, Texas, and I
• City Representative: It's called Urban Alchemy, and they work in California, Oregon, Alabama, Texas,
• call HopeWorks Village, and it takes, as you say, players coming from all different entities of government
• Our goal 3 is around our government to government with our 23 sovereign nations in the state borders,
• One of them is, can we get this broken down by zip code in Bernalillo County? Thank you.

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• It's a city manager type of government, so I'm their only employee. So, Mr.
• And then lastly, I-10 goes through Texas.
• Listen, 95% of the revenue is coming in from Texas.
• Anytime you go into the parking lot, 95% of those plates are from Texas.
• Also, refresh our memory: gambling is not allowed in Texas, correct? Mr.

Transcript Highlights:

• But I want to start by talking a little bit about Texas and what Texas is doing, because Texas has the
• Now 10% of the teacher workforce in Texas is uncertified, and 23% of current Texas teachers are prepared
• The first is related to the Texas case study on slide 12.
• Now 10% of teachers in Texas are uncertified.
• In my four years as a governing board member, In my four years as a governing board member, there was

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I'll tell you, Texas, even though Texas is a non-subscriber state, if you're a non-subscriber or you
• It cuts in one of the things that was talked about with Texas, that Texas is getting ready to bring on
• That was talked about with Texas, that Texas is getting ready to bring on the third prong of ODG, and
• “Because Texas is where we do not want to go. Texas is an opt-out state. Okay.
• I’m not trying to adopt Texas ODG. I’m trying to adopt ODG by MCG. Why do we need Texas?

Keywords: 965, house, all

Summary: The committee first disposed of several measures without debate, including deferrals of House Bill 460, House Bill 561, Senate Bill 322, and another deferred Senate measure, before taking up House Bill 819 by Chairman Cruz. HB 819 would replace Louisiana’s current workers’ compensation medical treatment schedule with ODG by MCG, a private evidence-based guideline system used in other states. Cruz and Troy Prevo argued ODG is more comprehensive, updated more frequently, and could reduce claim duration, medical costs, and premium rates; Dr. Jason Picard said Louisiana already uses ODG as a secondary reference for gaps in the state schedule and that the bill would not change appeals or variance procedures. Opponents, including injured-worker advocates Joseph Jola St. and Robin Crumholt, argued Louisiana’s current guidelines are working, that ODG is more cost-cutting and insurer-driven, and that the bill could increase denials and delay care. Members discussed amendments to add a two-year sunset, allow tacit approval when treatment follows the schedule, require payment within 30 days, and raise the carrier’s burden to challenge care; the committee adopted the amendments and then reported HB 819 favorably by a 7-6 vote. The committee then began Senate Bill 409 by Senator Myers, the Louisiana Living Donor Leave Protection Act. The bill would provide paid leave protections for living organ donors, set eligibility and verification procedures, and prohibit forfeiture of leave in certain circumstances for private employers. Myers said the measure is intended to remove job and paycheck barriers for people willing to donate organs and to support better transplant outcomes. Technical amendments were adopted at the start of the presentation, and the bill was introduced for further discussion.

Transcript Highlights:

• This is an opportunity for states and general purpose local governments and tribal governments to provide
• This is an opportunity for states and general purpose local governments and tribal governments to provide
• But in addition to that, states and local governments or different, you know, levels of government have
• You rely on data, so do businesses, and so do local governments.
• We work with the federal government on the master list.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The committee held a hearing on census preparation, focusing first on testimony from U.S. Census Bureau staff James Whitehorn and Andrea Grace Johnson. They described the Bureau’s decade-long geographic and redistricting programs, including the Boundary and Annexation Survey, School District Review Program, Participant Statistical Area Program, and Local Update of Census Addresses (LUCA), along with the Block Boundary Suggestion Project and voting district collection. They emphasized that Massachusetts has been a strong partner in these efforts and explained how the Bureau is using updated street data, building footprints, machine learning, and change detection to improve address lists and track new housing. Whitehorn also reviewed the 2030 redistricting data program, the legal basis for it under PL 94-171, the role of state nonpartisan liaisons, and the expected timeline for data delivery. He noted that OMB’s revised race and ethnicity standards will merge those questions into one and add a Middle Eastern/North African category. Committee members asked about the new standards, state contacts, and how boundary updates are submitted, and the witnesses said they would provide the slide deck and contact information. Wendy Underhill and Helen Brewer of NCSL then testified about why census preparation matters for states, stressing its impact on data, federal funding, and political representation. They outlined optional steps states can take before 2030, including staying in touch with Census Bureau staff, identifying state and local personnel involved in census work, supporting local participation in Bureau programs, and creating complete count committees or commissions. They cited Massachusetts’s prior complete count committee and grantmaking efforts as an example and said such efforts can improve self-response and overall accuracy. They also noted that state legislatures can act as conveners and trusted messengers, and they discussed broader issues such as privacy protections, differential privacy, budget uncertainty, and the possibility of future litigation or a citizenship question. Secretary of State William Galvin then gave extended remarks on Massachusetts’s 2020 census experience and the need to prepare early for 2030. He said the state faced major challenges in 2020 from the pandemic, litigation, and rhetoric about citizenship, and that Massachusetts relied heavily on local records, university data, and community outreach to document residents, especially students and non-native-born populations. He argued that the state should strengthen local recordkeeping now through LUCA, annual resident lists, assessors’ and zoning records, and other local data sources, and he urged support for a proposed $500,000 appropriation for census-related grants and technical assistance. Galvin said better preparation is needed because housing patterns, population shifts, and local administrative capacity have changed since 2020, and he emphasized that the goal is to improve the completeness of the records the Census Bureau will use in 2030.

Transcript Highlights:

• We moved back to San Antonio, and Charlie enrolled in the VA Heart of Texas Healthcare Network.
• What's best for the veteran, the government or the veteran?
• mental health care, the access standards contemplated by the VA Mission Act and memorialized in the Code
• very good first-hand experience about what effective contracting looks like, as well as asking the Government
• This type of work—holding government accountable and ensuring that our system operates as efficiently

Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you, Representative Govern Hawkins.
• In Texas, there is no location requirement to close on a home.
• I'm with Texas Appleseed and here testifying in opposition.
• Texas was the last state to allow home equity lending.
• My region of Texas continues to grow at an exceptional rate in South Texas as we continue to add population

Bills: HJR40

Keywords: Medicaid, healthcare access, Affordable Care Act, federal funding, constitutional amendment

Transcript Highlights:

• example might be that, let's say that something happened again and all of a sudden the federal government
• By telling the federal government there will be no federal laws on gun law enforced in Texas on on gun
• laws that exceed Texas law.
• No question, you've been a tremendous leader for Texas.
• That we would take a stand and stand. up for Texas sovereignty in it.

Keywords: 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I married my first wife in Texas in 2005.
• The only reason I decided to stay in Minnesota and not move back to Texas was for my two sons.
• Sissors in this state, slappy, all those court cases that are supposed to be governing how we, we'll
• And so there would be nothing that would stop, nothing in North Dakota law, you know, Century Code, I
• mean, across the board, that prevents North Dakota... ...you know, Century Code, I mean, across the

Keywords: 908, all

Summary: The Child Custody Review Task Force met with a quorum, approved the prior meeting minutes, and reviewed a memorandum compiling member suggestions for possible legislation. The memo grouped ideas into topics including creation of a family court, expanded education for parents, attorneys, and judges, expedited hearings for parenting-time violations, limiting law enforcement involvement in custody disputes, creating parenting time expediters, and adopting more uniform court procedures. Members also discussed whether to form subcommittees, but the task force decided to continue working as a full committee rather than create subcommittees at this time. The committee then heard testimony from Dr. John Perez, a mental health professional, who described his personal custody experience and his professional work with families he believes have been affected by parental alienation. He argued for stronger education, faster court response times, and better tools to address intentional interference with parenting time. Members questioned him about his case history, the concept of parental alienation, and whether specialized family courts or judges with family-law training could help. Dr. Perez said a dedicated family court and faster hearings would likely have helped his situation. The task force spent substantial time discussing the possible creation of a family court. Judge Hovey supported the idea of a specialized family court or at least a study of one, saying family cases are distinct from ordinary adversarial litigation and that judges with family-law experience could better handle them. Several members agreed that a family court could improve consistency, expertise, and speed, but others cautioned that the task force’s current directive is focused on enforcement of existing orders rather than broader custody policy, and noted that voters had previously rejected equal shared parenting proposals. The group also discussed expedited procedures for parenting-time disputes, with Judge Hovey suggesting a 30-day hearing timeline may be workable. On education, members generally supported requiring parents to complete a parenting education course and adding educational materials explaining court process, child support, and what judges can and cannot do. Mr. McLean suggested a short instructional video for litigants and more family-law education for judges and attorneys, while Ms. Moldenhauer said education could be incorporated into scheduling orders or mediation orders. Members also discussed the Parents Forever course, including whether it should be mandatory in all counties and whether cost is a barrier; no vote was taken on any of these proposals.

Transcript Highlights:

• , state government, local government, or any agency or department, including the Department of Defense
• On behalf of the government? No. Yes and no.
• or as a favor to the federal government.
• government.
• Texas is welcoming these companies yesterday.

Summary: The committee heard several AI- and consumer-protection-related bills, with extensive testimony from authors, supporters, and industry opponents. SB 53 by Senator Wiener would create transparency requirements for large AI developers, including disclosure of safety and security protocols, reporting of critical safety incidents, whistleblower protections, and the CalCompute public cloud. Supporters said it is a narrower, transparency-based follow-up to last year’s vetoed AI safety bill, while opponents argued it still relies too much on company size, could expose trade secrets, and should be narrowed further. The committee approved SB 53 on a do-pass-as-amended vote to Appropriations, with the roll held open for absent members. SB 766 by Senator Allen would codify the FTC’s Cars Rule and create a three-day cooling-off period for certain used-car purchases, along with stronger disclosure rules on pricing, add-ons, and government affiliation claims. Supporters said it would save consumers money and time and help buyers avoid bad deals, while dealer and industry groups said amendments addressed many of their concerns. Several former opponents moved to neutral, and the committee passed SB 766 unanimously as amended to Appropriations. SB 7 by Senator McNerney would regulate automated decision-making systems in employment by requiring notice, human review for discipline and termination, and limits on predictive behavior analysis. Labor and consumer advocates supported the bill as a safeguard against biased or overly automated workplace decisions, while employer and industry groups raised concerns about scope, notice burdens, and the predictive-analysis ban. The committee passed SB 7 to Appropriations on a 4-2 vote, with the roll held open. SB 833, also by Senator McNerney, would require human oversight of AI used in critical infrastructure, along with training and system assessments; it drew limited opposition focused on scope, and the committee passed it as amended to Appropriations on a 5-0 vote, also holding the roll open. Later, the committee took up SB 11, which would address AI-generated voice, image, and video cloning and deepfakes by clarifying likeness protections, requiring consumer warnings, and addressing misuse and evidence tampering. Supporters framed it as a targeted response to nonconsensual deepfakes, while industry groups said recent amendments improved the bill but still had concerns about penalties and warning language. The committee also heard SB 720, the Safer Streets Act, which would let cities opt into a revised red-light camera system that shifts from driver to owner liability, removes facial identification, makes violations civil rather than criminal, and directs revenue toward transportation safety projects; the author presented the bill, but the transcript ends before any final action on SB 720.

Transcript Highlights:

• . code. code.
• on the criminal code? on the criminal code?
• Just look at our criminal code in Title 6 and then work through it by color code.
• Just look at our criminal code in Title 6 and then work through it by color code.
• Just look at our criminal code in Title 6 and then work through it by color code.

Keywords: 916, all