Video & Transcript : 'county treasurer' :

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AL
AL

Alabama 2025 Regular Session

Alabama House State Government Committee Feb 19th, 2025

State Government

Transcript Highlights:
  • The county... ...celebrates it as a holiday.
  • The county... it's a federal holiday, and the governor has declared it the last four years in a row.
  • In our county, we have what's called a... In our county, we have what's called a day program.
  • The employees are either paid by the school system or paid by the county, so that they would be able
Bills: SB39 , HB165 , HB189 , HB44 , HB44
Committee: House State Government
Keywords: board governance, occupational licensing, Sunset Law, public accountability, training requirements, state holidays, Juneteenth, Rosa Parks Day, Alabama law, public observance, public works, sealed bids, bidding notice, advertising requirements, newspaper of general circulation, centralized website, electronic mail, U.S. mail, state procurement, county procurement
KY
KY

Kentucky 2026 Regular Session

Jail and Corrections Reform Taskforce (6-12-23)

TX
TX

Texas 89th Regular

Ways & Means Apr 14th, 2025

Ways & Means

Transcript Highlights:
  • Highway 62, a description that applies to Childress County. Tax authority to this county.
  • For example, Chairman, Dallas County has a robust program. In Collin County, Rep.
  • I'm a county commissioner for Grimes County, 800 square miles of pure Texas heaven.
  • of the county.
  • So this is for Mason County.
Bills: HB 1039 , HB2289 , HB2370 , HB2404 , HB3066 , HB3076 , HB3117 , HB3118 , HB3169 , HB3178 , HB3179 , HB3182 , HB3196 , HB3241 , HB3377 , HB3500 , HB3567 , HB3715 , HB3954 , HB4098 , HB4109 , HB4222 , HB4226 , HB4412 , HB4659 , HB4682 , HB4683 , HB4755 , HB4926 , HB5165 , HB5562 , HB5596
Committee: House Ways & Means
Keywords: hotel occupancy tax, municipal revenue, tax authority, border counties, tax legislation, municipalities, hotel tax revenue, convention centers, economic development, local government authority, HB 2370, HOT tax, venue projects, convention center, municipal finance, local government code, Section 334.0082, tourism tax, debt financing, bond repayment
TX
TX

Texas 89th 2nd C.S.

Transportation Apr 17th, 2025

Transportation

TX
TX

Texas 89th Regular

Transportation Apr 17th, 2025

Transportation

TX
TX

Texas 89th Regular

Senate Committee on Local Government Apr 14th, 2025

Local Government

Transcript Highlights:
  • I'm a county commissioner in Johnson County representing Johnson County as well as the County Judge and
  • and only Travis County.
  • I'm a county commissioner in Johnson County, representing Johnson County as well as the Johnson County
  • Larry Woolley, Johnson County Commissioner representing Johnson County as well as the County Judges Association
  • county.
Bills: SB467 , SB325 , SB867 , SB994 , SB1052 , SB1237 , SB1449 , SB1531 , SB2063 , SB2172 , SB2173 , SB2520 , SB2529 , SB2538 , SB2541 , SJR46 , SJR84
Committee: Senate Local Government
Keywords: SB 467, Texas property tax, ad valorem tax, homestead exemption, residence homestead, fire damage, house fire, destroyed home, temporary tax relief, appraisal district, chief appraiser, local taxing unit, tax rollback, tax refund, Tax Code Chapter 11, prorated exemption, homestead improvement, disaster relief, property tax exemption, residential property
AL
AL

Alabama 2026 Regular Session

Alabama Senate County and Municipal Government Committee Feb 24th, 2026

County and Municipal Government

Transcript Highlights:
  • As former county commissioners, we spend a billion dollars a year, counties do, on prisons.
  • County. County. >> Yes. >> Yes. >> Yes.
  • </c> adjoining county would not sign it out. adjoining county would not sign it out.
  • county.
  • </c> stuff, put all these other counties in. stuff, put all these other counties in.
Bills: SB298 , SB91 , SB298 , SB91
Committee: Senate County and Municipal Government
Keywords: Florence, Lauderdale County, municipal boundaries, corporate limits, land annexation, military installations, tall structures, local government, construction approval, wind energy facilities, aeronautics, Department of Defense, law enforcement, staffing requirements, municipalities, state oversight, public safety, 923, senate, all
AZ
AZ

Arizona 2026 Regular Session

01/26/2026 - Senate Finance

Finance

Transcript Highlights:
  • All right, first up, our county assessor, Maricopa County Assessor, that is, Mr. Cook.
  • county assessors.
  • The county assessors' office processes documents received from the county recorder's office called the
  • Deputy Assessor Rasmussen from Mojave County, and I'm happy to take any questions.
  • I'm the Maricopa County Assessor.
Bills: SB1042 , SB1043 , SB1044 , SB1135 , SB1136 , SB1142 , SB1180 , SB1221 , SB1252 , SB1254 , SCR1003
Committee: Senate Finance
Keywords: public funds, virtual currency, bitcoin, investment, Arizona Strategic Digital Asset Reserve Act, state treasurer, retirement system, state payments, cryptocurrency, Arizona law, payment methods, government transactions, property tax, tax exemption, Arizona Revised Statutes, digital currency, workers' compensation, death benefits, burial costs, spousal compensation
TX
TX

Texas 89th 2nd C.S.

State Affairs Apr 23rd, 2025

State Affairs

TX
TX

Texas 89th Regular

State Affairs Apr 23rd, 2025

State Affairs

Transcript Highlights:
  • Lawbreakers find safe harbor in counties where prosecutors might look the other way.
  • It preserves local control... ...by giving county prosecutors six months to act.
  • This is already the specific duty of county and district attorneys.
  • I respect and appreciate the notion of knowing who the treasurers are and what they do.
  • I just don't want us to get overly aggressive on the treasurers when we could do it differently.
Bills: HB842 , HB1907 , HB2844 , HB2892 , HB3439 , HB4211 , HB4536 , HB5111 , HB5138 , HB5182 , HB5247 , HB5269 , HB5323 , HB5435 , HJR201 , SB871 , HB3896 , SJR40
Committee: House State Affairs
Keywords: power lines, Gulf Coast, weather-related outages, Public Utility Commission, infrastructure, government contracts, Chinese companies, information technology, cybersecurity, state regulations, food safety, mobile vendors, licensing, permitting exemptions, health inspections, nonprofit organizations, personal information, government disclosure, privacy, criminal penalties
TX
TX

Texas 89th Regular

State Affairs Apr 23rd, 2025

State Affairs

Transcript Highlights:
  • in this state. state or 101 affected counties, or at least two-thirds of the counties in three or more
  • In the event of two-fifths of counties, we would raise it to three-fifths.
  • A declaration or flood or fire that didn't involve a more substantial number of counties.
  • My intention is not to preempt municipal or county regulations of that.
  • In 2004, in Bexar County, he was supposed to be sentenced.
Bills: HB842 , HB1907 , HB2844 , HB2892 , HB3439 , HB4211 , HB4536 , HB5111 , HB5138 , HB5182 , HB5247 , HB5269 , HB5323 , HB5435 , HJR201 , SB871 , HB3896 , SJR40
Committee: House State Affairs
Keywords: power lines, Gulf Coast, weather-related outages, Public Utility Commission, infrastructure, government contracts, Chinese companies, information technology, cybersecurity, state regulations, food safety, mobile vendors, licensing, permitting exemptions, health inspections, nonprofit organizations, personal information, government disclosure, privacy, criminal penalties
NM
NM

New Mexico 2026 Regular Session

Senate - Conservation Feb 10th, 2026

Senate Conservation

Transcript Highlights:
  • of the poorest counties in our state.
  • Likewise, at the county level, my good colleagues, who have respect for the county, were in way over
  • Santa Fe was dictating the county to do what it did, and the county very dutifully did as they were told
  • It's right across the county line from Eddy County.
  • It's right across the county line from Eddie County.
Bills: SB78 , SB235 , SB22 , SB310
Committee: Senate Senate Conservation
Keywords: nuclear energy, renewable energy, sustainability, carbon emissions, energy regulation, microgrid, zero carbon resources, Public Regulation Commission, energy generation, electric utilities, motor vehicle manufacturers, licensing, dealers, franchise agreements, consumer protection, water supply, sewage improvements, environment, funding, Mora County
Summary: The committee first took up Senate Bill 78, which would classify nuclear energy as renewable energy. Senator Thornton and supporters argued that New Mexico needs dispatchable, baseload power and that nuclear should be added to the state’s renewable portfolio standard because wind and solar are intermittent and require extensive land, mining, and battery storage. Supporters also emphasized nuclear’s zero-carbon profile, the safety record of U.S. Navy reactors, the possibility of small modular reactors, and the fact that New Mexico already uses nuclear-generated electricity from out of state. Opponents, including Senator O’Malley and Senator Charlie, argued nuclear is not renewable because it relies on finite uranium and creates long-lived radioactive waste, and they raised concerns about uranium mining impacts, waste storage, and the bill’s lack of a limiting principle. The committee voted 5-4 to do not pass the bill, with Senators Cervantes, Hamblen, O’Malley, Lopez, and Charlie voting yes on the do-not-pass motion and Senators Ezell, Scott, and Thornton voting no; the chair then explained that the vote reflected disagreement over whether nuclear should be labeled renewable, not opposition to nuclear power itself. The committee then heard Senate Bill 235, the Microgrid Oversight Act, with a committee substitute. Sponsor Senator Steinborn said the substitute would restore existing renewable benchmarks for microgrids, require large microgrids to meet zero-carbon targets by 2045, add reporting and PRC oversight, and close a loophole that could let utilities buy microgrid power and shift costs to ratepayers. Supporters, including environmental groups and community advocates, said the bill was needed to regulate large data-center microgrids such as Project Jupiter in Doña Ana County, which they said could drive major emissions, ozone, and nitrogen oxide pollution, strain water supplies, and undermine state climate goals. They also argued the bill would protect ratepayers and ensure transparency and community benefits. Opponents, including Americans for Prosperity, the Chamber of Commerce, oil and gas associations, Xcel Energy, PNM, Consumer Energy Alliance, and economic development groups, argued the bill would impose unnecessary regulation on private microgrids, slow investment, raise costs, and reduce flexibility for reliability projects and industrial development. They said microgrids are already regulated for safety and interconnection, and that the bill could discourage projects in New Mexico. In response, Steinborn said the bill was necessary because current law leaves a loophole for large polluting microgrids and because several major projects are already planned or underway. The committee heard extensive public testimony on both sides, but the transcript ends before a final vote on SB 235 is taken.
TX
TX

Texas 89th Regular

Local Government May 19th, 2025

Local Government

Transcript Highlights:
  • county faces unique challenges requiring a quick response from county leaders during emergencies, hurricanes
  • Hank Dugie, County Commissioner, Galveston County. I'm here to speak in favor of 2273.
  • My name is Jen Crownover, Comal County Commissioner and County Judges and Commissioners Association immediate
  • Haynes conference over in counties.
  • This is the county judge request from Galveston County.
Bills: SB2784 , HB23 , HB247 , HB1533 , HB2011 , HB2013 , HB2273 , HB2421 , HB2464 , HB3120 , HB3424 , HB3575 , HB3788 , HB4370 , HB4809 , HB5057 , HB5084 , HB5534 , HB5668 , HJR34
Committee: Senate Local Government
Keywords: Somervell County, hospital district, board of directors, elections, local governance, staggered terms, third-party review, property development, local government, permits, construction inspection, regulatory authority, land development, liability, occupancy certificate, border security, tax exemption, ad valorem, real property, infrastructure
Summary: The committee heard and left pending several local government, property tax, development, and public safety measures before later voting some of them out. Senator Birdwell explained SB 2784 for the Somerville County Hospital District, which would move the board to staggered four-year terms after a transition and was requested to be held pending until the House companion could be acted on; no public testimony was offered. HB 5084 would allow local approval for fireworks sales tied to Lunar New Year celebrations, with testimony from Hutchinson County Judge Cindy Irwin emphasizing local fire risk and the need for county discretion. HB 5534 would let county commissioners post agendas electronically instead of on a physical bulletin board. HB 4370 would expand permissible projects for certain special districts to include geothermal water conveyance systems, and HB 312 would require residential child detention facilities to enter local MOUs, report health and safety information, and conduct background checks for state-funded facilities; both drew supportive testimony and were left pending. HB 5057 would give displaced solid waste providers time to wind down after a city grants an exclusive franchise, and HB 2421 would extend the life of the Save Historic Muni District to continue work on preserving Lions Municipal Golf Course; both were left pending after supportive testimony. HB 2011 would let former owners repurchase property taken by eminent domain if the acquiring entity fails to pay property taxes for two years, and the committee substitute to SB 3065 was also laid out and left pending after a technical correction to eminent-domain language. The committee then took up additional bills on development, appraisal, and local regulation, including HB 3575, HB 4809, HB 2273, HB 247/HJR 34, HB 2464, HB 3424, HB 2013, HB 5668, HB 3788, HB 1533, and HB 23, with testimony ranging from support to opposition on issues such as appraisal procedures, historic property valuation, Galveston emergency governance, border-security tax treatment, home-based businesses, chicken covenants in HOAs, municipal utility district authority, hospital authorities’ use of assets, and third-party building review. HB 23 drew the most extensive testimony, with builders, engineers, counties, and cities split over third-party plan review and inspection authority, liability, licensing, and local code enforcement; many witnesses said the House amendments created problems and the bill was left pending. In the end, the committee voted SB 2784, SB 3065, HB 5686, HB 247, HJR 34, and HB 2011 out of committee, with the first several receiving local and uncontested calendar recommendations where applicable.
MN
MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

House Children and Families Finance and Policy Committee 4/14/26

Children and Families Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:
  • . counties. counties.
  • </c> give our counties. give our counties.
  • . counties. counties.
  • County</c> successfully, my counties, Wright County successfully, my counties, Wright County and<00:
  • </c> your county? your county?
Bills: HF4407 , HF4382
Committee: House Children and Families Finance and Policy
Keywords: child welfare, African American children, racial disproportionality, family preservation, reunification, foster care, kinship care, relative placement, noncustodial parent, guardian ad litem, ombudsperson, Department of Human Services, county social services, active efforts, reasonable efforts, child protection, placement, out-of-home placement, Northstar kinship assistance, data disaggregation
AL
AL

Alabama 2026 Regular Session

Alabama Senate County and Municipal Government Committee Mar 17th, 2026

County and Municipal Government

WA
WA

Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session

House Appropriations Mar 2nd, 2026 at 10:30 am

Appropriations

Transcript Highlights:
  • We see the over-regulation in Garfield County, for example.
  • We see the over-regulation in Garfield County, for example.
  • That's 100 homes per county, not per state.
  • In this case, this is a bill that would apply for both Skagit County and Yakima County.
  • In this case, this is a bill that would apply for both Skagit County and Yakima County.
Bills: HB2689 , SB5420 , SB5868 , SB5877
Committee: House Appropriations
Keywords: Working Connections Child Care, child care subsidy, subsidized child care, Washington DCYF, Department of Children, Youth, and Families, low-income families, child care providers, licensed child care centers, family child care, market rate survey, subsidy rates, income eligibility, state median income, SNAP, Basic Food, collective bargaining, provider reimbursement, daily payment, half-day care, partial-day care
HI
HI

Hawaii 2026 Regular Session

WAL Public Hearing - Tue Feb 10, 2026 @ 9:00 AM HST

Water & Land

Transcript Highlights:
  • </c><00:45:01.760><c> The</c> sent it back to the counties. The sent it back to the counties.
  • I would assume that if the county.
  • State lands, state funds, county lands, county funds are still triggers.
  • </c> beyond the counties EA that is valuable? beyond the counties EA that is valuable?
  • :38.640><c> lands,</c><01:10:39.040><c> county</c> lands, state funds, county lands, county lands, state
Bills: HB1881 , HB2218 , HB1956 , HB2151 , HB1845 , HB1844 , HB2103 , HB2424 , HB1650 , HB376 , HB2599 , HB1861
Committee: House Water & Land
Keywords: land use, ropeway, transportation, state regulation, government exemption, DLNR, Department of Land and Natural Resources, Board of Land and Natural Resources, BLNR, public lands, public trust resources, community co-management, co-management agreement, community-based organization, Native Hawaiian, malama aina, ahupuaa, subsistence, cultural resources, religious practices
Summary: The committee on Water and Land met on February 10, 2026, with Chair Mark Hashem outlining strict testimony rules and noting a time constraint because of later hearings and floor session obligations. The committee then took up several bills, hearing mostly supportive testimony on HB 1881 relating to land use, HB 2218 relating to DLNR/community management, and HB 1956 relating to freshwater waves, while HB 1845 relating to the Land Use Commission drew legal concerns and opposition. HB 2151 relating to building materials had no substantive testimony presented in the excerpt, and the committee moved through it quickly. On HB 1881, testimony focused on protecting North Shore lands from overdevelopment. A supporter described the area as valuable precisely because it remains largely undeveloped, and a member asked whether the bill’s restrictions on “finculars” would affect existing or future private residential installations; the response suggested the bill was aimed at future commercial uses and that grandfathering or personal-use exceptions might be possible, but the exact wording would need legal refinement. HB 2218 received broad support from OHA, DLNR, Kua, Sierra Club, Hui Maka Aana, the Honlay Initiative, and others, who said the measure would expand community-based co-management across DLNR divisions, build on existing park partnerships, and produce real benefits such as better stewardship, safer access, local jobs, and stronger community trust. Members asked about the bill’s five-year review structure, how multiple community groups would be handled, and whether the model could apply to ocean or nearshore areas; DLNR said the board would retain authority, agreements would be non-exclusive and subject to review, and the department was still working through how the approach would function across different divisions and marine settings. For HB 1956, the Attorney General offered technical comments, urging clearer definitions of “residing” and “freshwater way,” clearer timing for citations and arrests, and more explicit procedural safeguards and agency roles. On HB 1845, the Attorney General and Land Use Commission raised concerns that the bill could conflict with constitutional protections for important agricultural lands and could not be reconciled with existing voting requirements; the LUC also said commissioners cannot vote by proxy under sunshine law and warned that the bill could allow too few commissioners to approve major boundary changes. Members questioned how the bill would work in counties without designated important agricultural lands, and the LUC explained that Kauai is the only county to have completed the IAL process, while the broader statutory process remains county-driven and has been the subject of litigation. No votes or final committee actions were taken in the excerpt.
TX
TX

Texas 89th 2nd C.S.

Natural Resources May 21st, 2025

Natural Resources

Transcript Highlights:
  • Since that time, counties and municipalities have expressed confusion.
  • I am the County commissioner for Parker County, Precinct 2.
  • county in the state.
  • We've been top 5 once and top 10 twice in fastest-growing counties in the nation.
  • , passed a resolution as, as well as Burleson County in favor of this bill.
Bills: SB 612 , SB 1855 , SB 2568 , SB 3058
Committee: House Natural Resources
Keywords: SB 612, Texas Water Code, Section 49.2127, conservation and reclamation district, water district, reclamation district, developer fees, pipeline construction, water pipeline, sewer pipeline, associated infrastructure, subdivision infrastructure, cost recovery, fee cap, actual reasonable documented costs, engineering fees, legal fees, inspection fees, infrastructure relocation, utility connections
TX
TX

Texas 89th Regular

Administration May 7th, 2025

Administration

Transcript Highlights:
  • Chair, currently Jim Hogg County holds no formal or official state designation that acknowledges its
  • Jim Hogg County holds no formal or official state designation that acknowledges its rich cultural and
  • HCR 70 fills a cultural and historical gap by recognizing the unique role Jim Hogg County has played
  • This resolution would give the county statewide recognition.
  • LaSalle County has no formal designation.
Bills: SB2959 , HB3096 , HCR29 , HCR56 , HCR12 , HCR55 , HCR74 , HCR78 , HCR116 , HCR117 , HCR6 , HCR50 , HCR107 , HCR80 , HCR58 , HCR70 , HCR71 , HCR72 , HCR75 , HCR93
Committee: Senate Administration
Keywords: firearm safety, awareness month, public safety, responsible ownership, storage, recreational use, profound autism, awareness day, caregiver, disabilities, support, counseling, mental health, awareness, support services, community health, necrotizing enterocolitis, premature infants, breastfeeding, health awareness
Summary: The Senate Committee on Administration met with a quorum and took up a series of pending resolutions, bills, and the local uncontested calendar. The committee first reported HCR 80 favorably and placed it on the May 9, 2025 local and uncontested calendar. It then heard and approved several commemorative resolutions, including HCR 12 designating September as Deaf Awareness Month for 10 years, HCR 55 reaffirming Poteet as the Strawberry Capital of Texas, HCR 56 designating May as NEC and Breastfeeding Awareness Month, and HB 3096 creating Profound Autism Awareness Day on March 17. Each of these measures was reported favorably to the full Senate, with no opposition in testimony except HB 3096, which included supportive testimony from Tara Duval describing the needs of individuals with profound autism and their families. The committee also approved HCR 58 redesignating Dripping Springs as the Wedding Capital of Texas, SB 2959 designating August as Firearm Safety Month, HCR 74 naming Carthage the Country Music Capital of Texas, HCR 78 establishing Lone Star Santa’s Charities Day, HCR 116 redesignating Brownsville as the Bicycling Capital of the Rio Grande Valley, and HCR 117 designating Port Aransas as the Fishing Capital of Texas. SB 2959 drew supportive testimony from Stephen Price, who emphasized gun safety, suicide prevention, and public awareness, while other measures received no public testimony. All were reported favorably and recommended for the May 9 local and uncontested calendar. Later, the committee approved HCR 6 naming Galveston the Juneteenth Capital of Texas, HCR 50 naming Galveston the Mardi Gras Capital of Texas, HCR 107 making the Texas Almanac the official State Book of Texas, HCR 70 designating Jim Hogg County as the Vaquero Capital of Texas, HCR 71 recognizing LaSalle County for wild hog hunting and related traditions, and HCR 29 designating April as Counseling Awareness Month. HCR 6 received testimony from a Galveston city representative in support of the Juneteenth designation, and HCR 29 received testimony from the Texas Counseling Association supporting recognition of counselors. Finally, the committee certified the May 9, 2025 local and uncontested calendar after removing 32 bills for reasons including penalties, fiscal notes, or opposition, specifically noting SB 317 was removed due to criminal and civil penalties, and then recessed.
TX
TX

Texas 89th 2nd C.S.

Natural Resources Apr 23rd, 2025

Natural Resources

Transcript Highlights:
  • I am the Cass County judge, and I'm one of several counties in Northeast Texas near this proposed site
  • All those are made in Cass County.
  • The little town of Clarksville, which is the county seat of Red River County, I've talked to all the
  • We cannot lose Red River County. Red River County is fighting other avenues.
  • And Chairman Ashby, Rio Grande Valley to Starr County to Cameron County.
Bills: HB1523 , HB2109 , HB2694 , HB3525 , HB3898 , HB4646 , HB5188 , HB5219 , HB5320 , HB5651 , HB5655 , HB5659 , HB5662 , HB5672
Committee: House Natural Resources
Keywords: aquifer conservation, Class V injection well, environmental regulation, groundwater protection, municipal water supply, temporary prohibition, water management, reservoir construction, state water plan, Texas Water Code, environmental impact, Brazoria Drainage District, commissioners, elections, vacancies, resignation, HB 3525, North Texas Groundwater Conservation District, groundwater permit, permit amendment
Summary: The Committee on Natural Resources heard House Bill 2109, which would remove certain long-proposed reservoir projects from the state water plan after 50 years without progress. Chairman Van Deaver and many landowners, local officials, timber interests, and conservation advocates testified in support, arguing that the Marvin Nichols Reservoir has burdened Northeast Texas landowners for decades with the threat of eminent domain, depressed property values, and uncertainty over homes, farms, ranches, schools, churches, and cemeteries. Supporters also said the project would flood tens of thousands of acres, require extensive mitigation, harm timber and agriculture, and that Texas now has better alternatives such as conservation, reuse, aquifer storage and recovery, and desalination. Several members expressed sympathy for the affected families and questioned whether a project could remain in the plan indefinitely without progress. Opposition came from North Texas water interests, including the North Texas Commission, Tarrant Regional Water District, and the Texas Water Association, who argued that the bill would interfere with the state’s long-term water planning process and remove needed future supply options for a fast-growing region. They said Region C faces major projected shortages by 2070, that conservation and reuse have already delayed the need for new supplies, and that reservoirs remain one tool in the state’s water-planning toolbox. TWDB staff explained the existing inter-regional conflict process and noted that the substitute would affect several unique reservoir sites, not just Marvin Nichols. After testimony, Chairman Van Deaver closed by urging passage of the bill, but the committee withdrew the substitute and left HB 2109 pending. The committee then took up House Bill 5188, a brackish groundwater bill. The author said the bill would reduce permitting burdens for wells in designated brackish groundwater production zones, and the committee substitute added requirements on monitoring, groundwater-rights ownership, and allocation of pumpage limits while removing some exclusions and export-fee provisions. Texas Wildlife Association testified against the bill, warning that the exemptions could weaken groundwater conservation districts’ ability to protect freshwater resources and surface-owner rights. San Antonio Water System testified in favor, saying brackish groundwater is a key future supply and that the substitute would help speed development of desalination and brackish projects. The Texas Alliance of Groundwater Districts testified neutrally but raised concerns about reduced district oversight, especially around injection-well exclusions and the loss of export fees, and said discussions on the bill were ongoing.