Bills: SB2031, SB2386, SB2476, SB2801, SB2843, SB2844, SB2846, SB2885

Keywords: deer breeding, chronic wasting disease, wildlife management, release site, landowner rights, TCEQ, environmental quality, administrative actions, public notice, legislative oversight, water supply, Angelina and Neches River Authority, ownership transfer, public utilities, Certificate of Convenience and Necessity, SB 2801, Texas Parks and Wildlife, Parks and Wildlife Code, field trial permit, hunting dog field trial

Transcript Highlights:

• AB 1426, Chola, Diablo Range conservation program: holding committee.
• AB 721, Esmeralda Soria, Huron Hawk Conservancy: holding committee.
• AB 1358, Valencia, Santa Ana River Conservancy: holding committee.
• AB 1358, Valencia, Santa Ana River Conservancy: holding committee.
• AB 1156, Wicks, Solar Use Easements: do pass as amended to outline and clarify the solar use easement

Summary: The Assembly Appropriations Committee held its May 23, 2025 suspense hearing and opened by emphasizing the difficult budget environment, rising costs for constituents, and the need to make tough choices. The chair said many bills would be held, amended to reduce costs, or made two-year bills because the state could not afford broad program expansions this year. The committee also noted the agenda was organized alphabetically by author and that results would be posted later that day. The committee then acted on a large suspense file, taking up hundreds of Assembly bills across topics including housing, health care, education, labor, public safety, climate, water, transportation, elections, and technology. Many bills were held in committee, while many others were approved with cost-saving, clarifying, or author’s amendments. Examples included measures on CalABLE, Covered California enrollment, wildfire and insurance issues, reproductive health, school and college programs, prison and juvenile justice matters, AI and data privacy, and local government and utility regulation. Several bills were converted to two-year bills to continue discussion. Throughout the hearing, the committee repeatedly voted on bills by A roll call or B roll call, often with Republicans not voting on amended measures. Some bills were advanced with notable amendments, such as narrowing scope, removing appropriations, delaying implementation, or striking costly provisions. The committee also approved a number of committee bills and omnibus measures, including emergency management, judiciary, insurance, and water-related bills. At the end of the hearing, the chair stated that the committee had moved 435 bills to the Assembly floor, either as do pass or do pass as amended, and adjourned the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm the staff person for the Legacy Land Conservation Commission and a program specialist for Legacy
• Land Conservation in the Division of Forestry and Wildlife.
• She has, in her work capacity, as I understand it, closed hundreds and hundreds of easements.
• But I just wanted to share a personal connection that I have with this legacy land conservation program
• land conservation uh commission as well. land conservation uh commission as well.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The Committee on Water and Land heard two gubernatorial nominations and one resolution. Governor’s Message 585 nominated Stanley Ruidas to the Game Management Advisory Commission for a term ending June 30, 2028. DLNR supported the nomination, citing his prior service as GMAC chair from 2020 to 2022 and his work on hunting and wildlife management issues. Ruidas said he hoped to continue as chair and focus on bringing meetings to hunters across the islands and advancing island-specific wildlife management plans. The committee later recommended advice and consent on GM585, and the motion passed unanimously. Governor’s Message 550 nominated Alexandra Kelly Polo to the Legacy Land Conservation Commission for a term ending June 30, 2028. DLNR and several supporters, including the County of Hawaii and community advocates, praised her experience with land acquisition, conservation easements, and county open-space efforts. Kelly Polo said her work has helped protect thousands of acres on Hawaii Island and emphasized the importance of preserving natural resources and working with community groups. The committee recommended advice and consent on GM550, and the motion passed unanimously. The committee also considered SCR 19/SR 100, which requested DLNR to convene a Kīua Bay advisory working group. DLNR and the Hawaii Tourism Authority offered written support, and members said the working group could help address long-standing issues in the area. The committee recommended passage with technical and nonsubstantive amendments, and the motion was adopted unanimously. In a separate joint portion of the meeting, the committees also advanced SCR 75/SR 58, supporting historic preservation staffing for Lahaina rebuild efforts, with both technical and substantive amendments, and later advanced STR 24 with an amendment to include the 100th Infantry Battalion alongside the 442nd Regimental Combat Team.

Transcript Highlights:

• Senate Bill 1009 by Middleton relates to the adoption of the Uniform Easement Relocation Act.
• Senate Bill 1009 by Middleton relates to the adoption of the Uniform Easement Relocation Act, specifically
• Senate Bill 1055 by Nichols relates to the powers imposed by the Southeast Texas Groundwater Conservation

Bills: SJR36, SB26, SJR3, SJR48, SJR50, SJR51, SCR15, SCR17, SB3, SB5, SB12, SB18, SB1001, SB1002, SB1003, SB1004, SB1005, SB1006, SB1007, SB1008, SB1009, SB1010, SB1011, SB1012, SB1013, SB1014, SB1015, SB1016, SB1017, SB1018, SB1019, SB1020, SB1021, SB1022, SB1023, SB1024, SB1025, SB1026, SB1027, SB1028, SB1029, SB1030, SB1031, SB1032, SB1033, SB1034, SB1035, SB1036, SB1037, SB1038, SB1039, SB1040, SB1041, SB1042, SB1043, SB1044, SB1045, SB1046, SB1049, SB1050, SB1051, SB1052, SB1053, SB1054, SB1055, SB1056, SB1057, SB1058, SB1059, SB1060, SB1061, SB1062, SB1063, SB1064, SB1065, SB1066, SB1067, SB1068, SB1069, SB1070, SB1071, SB1072, SB1073, SB1074, SB1075, SB1076, SB1077, SB1078, SB1079, SB1080, SB1081, SB1082, SB1083, SB1084, SB1085, SB1086, SB1087, SB1088, SB1089, SB1090, SB1091, SB1092, SB1093, SB1094, SB1095, SB1096, SB1097, SB1098, SB1099, SB1100, SB1101, SB1102, SB1103, SB1104, SB1105, SB1106, SB1107, SB1108, SB1109, SB1110, SB1111, SB1112, SB1113, SB1114, SB1115, SB1116, SB1117, SB1118, SB1119, SB1120, SB1121, SB1122, SB1123, SB1124, SB1125, SB1126, SB1127, SB1128, SB1129, SB1130, SB1131, SB1132, SB1133, SB1134, SB1135, SB1136, SB1137, SB1138, SB1139, SB1140, SB1141, SB1142, SB1143, SB1144, SB1145, SB1146, SB1147, SB1148, SB1149, SB1150, SB1565

Keywords: teacher compensation, education funding, public school educators, teacher retention, teacher designation, dementia, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, research funding, state budget, prevention, healthcare, medical research, Dementia Prevention and Research Institute, severance tax, oil and gas, Texas STRONG fund, economic stabilization, public health, property tax relief

Transcript Highlights:

• Within the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, there is funding for artificial reefs, wildlife
• I know that there's been a concerted effort to buy easements.
• We, a lot on easements. So there's two or three answers to this.
• So I know that there's been a concerted effort to buy easements.
• We, a lot on easements. We, so there's, there's two or three answers to this.

Keywords: 998, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Once those easements go on, they're a lifetime easement.
• Now, again, these are public dollars going into a public conservation easement on private property.
• 02:07:44.639> uh<02:07:44.800> easements them is perpetual easements uh easements them
• <02:08:09.920> easement<02:08:10.400> on into a public conservation easement on into
• a public conservation easement on private<02:08:11.040> property.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• an conservation easement and giving an conservation easement and giving an abutter<01:30:16.679><
• So it depends on what the easement agreement says when whoever granted the easement to the state or the
• Easements.
• So it depends on what the easement agreement says when whoever granted the easement to the state or the
• there's no easement so um and if there's no easement agreement<04:19:35.319> then<04:19:35.399

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• However, as the state pursues its 2030 conservation goals, it's also important to invest in conservation
• However, as the state pursues its 2030 conservation goals, it's also important to invest in conservation
• And quite frankly, I’m tired of us doing conservation easements that are just buying land from rich people
• We have the largest urban conservancy in the state, the Baldwin Hills Conservancy, right in the heart
• And I think it's just important to bring green spaces to the hood, to conserve, to conserve indigenous

Summary: The committee met to hear AB 946 by Assembly Member Isaac Bryan, which would encourage California’s 30 by 30 conservation efforts to include investments in historically underserved urban communities. The author said the bill is intended to reduce “nature poverty” in places like South Los Angeles by treating urban greening and conservation as a co-equal goal alongside rural and coastal land protection. Supporters, including the California Park and Recreation Society, the Trust for Public Land, and Los Angeles County, argued that urban conservation can provide both environmental and human benefits, especially where land can be reused or restored for parks and green space. Committee members discussed the bill’s focus on urban areas versus rural districts. One member said they would not support it because it seemed to prioritize heavily urban communities over rural ones in their district, while others said the bill helps ensure conservation resources are distributed more equitably and can have important psychological, health, and climate benefits for dense communities. The author responded that the bill does not neglect rural areas, but instead seeks to correct an imbalance by ensuring urban communities are also considered in 30 by 30 planning. The bill was moved on a due pass motion to the Appropriations Committee. The vote was overwhelmingly in favor, with several members voting aye and one member not voting at the time of the roll call. After the vote, the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• It's for the easement. So, like your electricity poles have to be on easement.
• So, like your electricity poles have to be on easement; your telephone things have to be on easement.
• It's for the easement that utilities use within the city. Okay. And I do have a follow-up.
• It's an easement that we have to maintain. Sure. If I can follow up? Yes.
• What easement does the city of Miami Gardens maintain for potable water?

Summary: The committee heard and acted on a long agenda of local, housing, education, construction, and claims bills. It first took up SB 1730 on affordable housing/Live Local changes, adopting an amendment that narrowed and clarified several provisions, including density, height, parking, attorney fees, and exclusions for certain protected areas, then reported the bill favorably. It also approved SB 1674, which clarifies that local investment restrictions cannot block Israel bonds, after a clarifying amendment. SB 140 on charter schools was reported favorably after significant debate over school conversion, teacher contracts, local control, and the use of surplus school property for housing or other public purposes; several speakers opposed it as harmful to public schools, while the sponsor said it preserved district authority and added options for municipalities and job creation. The committee also passed SB 96 and SB 4, two local claims bills, and SB 1714, which allows SHIP funds to help mobile home owners with lot rent and requires local housing plans to address mobile home park closures.

Transcript Highlights:

• We also think that rate, again, uh, conservation easements would be a really good way to encourage a
• I would also say, again, the conservation easement.
• I'm a theologically conservative Christian and a politically conservative voter.
• Conservation, easements, improved alerts, and updated building codes are all necessary and helpful.
• We can work better in this state for conservation.

Bills: HB1, HB 2, HB18, HB19, HB20

Keywords: youth camps, emergency preparedness, safety standards, health regulations, camp licensing, disaster preparedness, emergency management, flooding, mass fatality, mass casualty, fatality tracking, body recovery, autopsy, justice of the peace, medical examiner, county judge, sheriff, mayor, emergency coordinator, emergency manager license

Transcript Highlights:

• Karim Golden, the National Conservatives, waives in support.
• Members, House Bill 843 is Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Trust Funds.
• We got Kareem Golden by The Nature Conservancy, waves in support. Thank you.
• I think the focus on private lands and lands that are maybe under conservation easements would be most
• I think the focus on private lands in lands that are maybe under conservation easements would be most

Summary: The Natural Resources and Disaster Subcommittee took up eight bills focused on water policy, coastal resilience, environmental regulation, beaches, wildlife funding, and carbon sequestration. HB 7001 preserved the public-record exemption for site-specific location information on endangered and threatened species before its scheduled repeal, and it was reported favorably 16-0. H.R. 661, expressing support for a “one-water” approach to the state water supply, drew discussion about whether it implied centralized control; an amendment aligning the resolution with Senate language was adopted, and the resolution passed 16-0 with a committee substitute. The committee also advanced HB 1345 on infrastructure and resiliency, which after a strike-all amendment authorized DEP to procure coastal resiliency projects through public-private partnerships and use incentives such as revenue-sharing, expedited permitting, public engagement, and workforce training; it passed 16-0. HB 477 on weather modification was substantially amended to return to current statute and add a $10,000 fine for failing to obtain a permit; the bill drew extensive public testimony both for and against weather modification and cloud seeding, and it passed as amended with a committee substitute. HB 6043, repealing the 2018 customary-use beach statute affecting Walton County, prompted testimony about beach access, tourism losses, and private property rights; it passed 17-0. The committee then approved CS for HB 843, making clarifying changes to Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission trust funds and allowing use of the non-game wildlife trust fund for law enforcement and coordination with related agencies and landowners; it passed 17-0. HB 1169 revised water management district planning, budgeting, reporting, and procurement practices, including restrictions on lobbyist funds and updated project preference rules; two amendments were adopted and the bill passed 16-0. Finally, HB 1063 created a task force to study carbon sequestration and related ecosystem services in Florida’s natural and agricultural lands and waters; after amendments removing a fiscal component and clarifying voluntary participation and property-rights protections, it passed 15-2. The meeting adjourned after all bills were reported favorably.

Transcript Highlights:

• director not conservation Legislative and conservation director And you're for house bill 1285.
• Where that line is, how deep it is, and from where in the easement does it exist. and then probably 20%
• Residential neighborhood and you're going through the front easement and you've got a 40 to 50 foot lot
• That's coming from the meter box to the house or leaving the home going to the. easement.
• So to your Your point, Chair Darby, we need to conserve our precious resource, which is water.

Bills: HB206, HB 1285, HB1335, HJR107, HB206

Keywords: pipeline, construction, cash bond, county authority, local government, HB 1285, Railroad Commission of Texas, RRC, drones, unmanned aircraft, UAS, drone inspections, oil and gas, pipeline inspection, surface mining, well sites, tank batteries, disposal wells, injection sites, natural resources

Transcript Highlights:

• An Act authorizing the Commissioner of Capital Asset Management and Maintenance to grant certain easements
• Botolph Neighborhood Association, the Southwest Corridor Park Conservancy, the Jimmy Fund Pan-Mass Challenge
• Botolph Neighborhood Association, the Southwest Corridor Park Conservancy, the Jimmy Fund Pan-Mass Challenge
• Botolph Neighborhood Association, the Southwest Corridor Park Conservancy, the Jimmy Fund Pan-Mass Challenge

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Senate opened with the Pledge of Allegiance and adopted several resolutions, including commendations for Newell Tillman’s 20 years of volunteer service in Westford and congratulations to the Flint Memorial Library on its 150th anniversary. The chamber also suspended Senate Rule 36 and Joint Rule 12 as needed to take up several House papers and petitions, referring petitions to the appropriate committees and advancing two House sick leave bank bills for Paul Stavoski and Enkita Gagendra Patel to third reading. The Senate then considered House No. 4263, a bill establishing a charter for the city of Medford. Senator Jalen offered and the Senate adopted an amendment replacing the bill text, after which the bill was passed to be engrossed. The Senate also passed to be engrossed House No. 4323, establishing a sick leave bank for Alexander Schwartz of the Department of State Police. On final passage, the Senate enacted House No. 4364, authorizing the Commissioner of Capital Asset Management and Maintenance to grant certain easements to the town of Bourne, and sent it to the Governor for approval. The Senate adopted an order to meet again the following Monday at 11 a.m. and dispense with printing a calendar. It then agreed to adjourn in memory of Lorraine Patricia Steele of Boston, observed a moment of silence, and adjourned accordingly.

Transcript Highlights:

• Raymond has elderly housing, conservation housing, manufacturing parks.
• Raymond has elderly housing, conservation housing, manufacturing parks.
• Raymond has elderly housing, conservation housing, manufacturing parks.
• Raymond has elderly housing, conservation housing, manufacturing parks.
• Allocated .5 acres on these homes to make a conservation clustered subdivision.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Nature Conservancy, waving in support. Thank you so much.
• We have Chief Conservation Officer George Wharton here from FWC.
• So the management plan and the permitting guidelines go hand in hand with tortoise conservation.
• The management plan provides the conservation actions needed to conserve tortoises.
• To date, 149 sites have been enrolled in the program, conserving 97,000 acres across the state.

Summary: The committee first heard SB 200, which would implement recommendations from DEP’s 2020 Recycling Goal Final Report by creating a technical assistance group to develop a comprehensive waste reduction and recycling plan by 2026. The bill focuses on recycling education and outreach, evaluating the former recycling grant program, and developing markets for recyclable materials. Supporters from the waste and recycling industry and counties said the bill would finally create a real plan to help Florida move toward its recycling goals. The bill was reported favorably. The committee then considered SB 50 on nature-based coastal resilience, which would promote green, gray, and hybrid infrastructure, direct USF’s Flood Hub to develop guidelines, require DEP rulemaking on erosion and mangrove protection, and study whether nature-based flood reduction could help lower insurance costs. Supporters appeared in favor, and the bill was reported favorably. The committee also passed SB 7000 as a committee bill to continue a public records exemption protecting site-specific location information for threatened and endangered species. Members next took up SB 56 on weather modification activities. The bill would prohibit the release of chemicals or substances into the atmosphere to affect weather or sunlight, define geoengineering, increase penalties through an amendment, and create a DEP reporting hotline with possible referral to DOH or emergency management. The sponsor and several supporters argued the bill was needed to address public concerns and lack of oversight, while several senators questioned the evidence, the role of state agencies, and whether the bill was ready for passage. Despite opposition from some members, the committee adopted the amendment and reported the bill favorably. The committee also approved CS for SB 62 creating a resilient building tax credit program, after amending it to shift agency references from DEP to DBPR and add university advisory members, and CS for SB 80 to clarify state park management as conservation-based, require public notice and advisory input for plan changes, and improve reporting on park repairs; both bills were reported favorably after testimony from supporters and conservation groups who sought tighter language to prevent incompatible uses. Finally, the committee received presentations from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission on gopher tortoise relocation, wildlife disease surveillance, and the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. FWC described tortoise relocation and recipient-site programs, ongoing monitoring of wildlife diseases such as chronic wasting disease and feline leukomyelopathy, and efforts to address fish die-offs and update sanctuary agreements amid state-federal jurisdiction issues. No votes were taken on the presentations.

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, legislative and conservative director for the Lone Star Chapter Sierra Club, is that correct?
• And, legislative and conservation director, conservation.
• Legislative and conservation director and you're for House Bill 1285, is that correct for the third time
• So if you're in a residential neighborhood and you're going through the front easement and you've got
• That's coming from the meter box to the house or leaving the home, going to the sewer easement.

Bills: HB206

Keywords: HB206, school district bonds, bond election, voter approval, Education Code, Chapter 45, Section 45.003, Section 45.0034, Texas schools, school finance, local tax election, bond referendum, school construction, capital improvements, election frequency, five-year waiting period, district bonds, public school funding

Transcript Highlights:

• We are including conservation easements, agricultural districts, and all property owners in this.
• We<00:13:41.840> are<00:13:41.960> including<00:13:42.840> conservation<00:13:43.880
• > easements, We are including conservation easements, We are including conservation easements,

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The House convened, received the invocation and Pledge of Allegiance, established a quorum, excused absent members, and approved the journal. The clerk also announced Senate passage of Senate Bills 59, 137, 177, and 199 and requested concurrence. The chamber then moved into second reading, reporting a slate of bills and resolutions on health care, energy, child welfare, Medicaid, workplace violence, and coal/energy assessment, before proceeding to third reading and passage of several measures. A major focus was House Bill 542 on eminent domain. The sponsor described it as a transparency measure to improve communication with property owners, require better notice, prohibit misleading statements, allow owner-paid appraisals to be used throughout negotiations, and account for agricultural improvements and access. Members discussed the bill’s intent to treat property owners fairly and reduce court costs; the House adopted House Committee Substitute 1 and passed the bill 89-0. House Bill 565 on fire protection was presented as technical cleanup to clarify enforcement authority for local fire appeal boards created last year, and it passed 91-0. The House also passed House Bill 611 on domestic relations, which creates a 10-year interpersonal protective order for certain felony assault convictions involving family members, unmarried couples, or dating partners, and updates domestic violence data reporting requirements; the committee substitute was adopted and the bill passed 91-0. House Bill 657 on professional licensing background checks was explained as giving five licensure boards authority to obtain FBI ORI numbers so they can receive fingerprint background checks and comply with interstate compacts; it passed 91-0. House Bill 762 on legal representation was amended on the floor to avoid excluding appellate attorneys, then passed 91-0; it was described as clarifying Department of Public Advocacy representation and related salary provisions. The House also passed House Bill 108 on solid waste management, which its sponsor said closes a loophole allowing residual waste landfills to be sited in a different county from the industry without local input; it passed 79-8. House Bill 67 on schools, a cleanup measure to prior legislation requiring traceable communication systems for school employees, was introduced with a committee substitute and discussed as clarifying definitions and exemptions while preserving protections for students; the transcript cuts off before the final vote on that bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• IN THE FISH AND WILDLIFE CONSERVATION COMMISSION ONLINE 217 THE HOUSE REDUCES POSITIONS VACANT OVER 90
• CONTINUE TO HIGHLIGHT THE SAME CONVERSATIONS WE'VE BEEN HAVING ALL SESSION ABOUT LAND MANAGEMENT, CONSERVATION
• DOLLARS, HOW WE ARE SPENDING AND WHETHER IT IS EVERGLADES RESTORATION OR IN EASEMENTS AND WE CONTINUE

Transcript Highlights:

• So we're absolutely conserving.
• We need to be conserving the remaining groundwater and we're undertaking efforts to do that.
• We're conserving and we're open-minded about how to conserve even more.
• We need to see their easements.
• So if you're water conservation, you're only really competing against other water conservation projects

Transcript Highlights:

• We'll get rid of the easement, and the county can proceed.
• We'll make some changes from the private sector, which is good, but the easement has been a sticking
• It's the only time we've had an issue with an easement.
• We will almost, well we will, require a county to provide an easement to protect the state investment
• If I'm not mistaken, the easement runs out in 2027, so you educated me on that, Senator.

Bills: SB1, SB 1

Keywords: appropriations, budget, state funding, education, healthcare, infrastructure, campground safety, youth camp regulations, flood safety, emergency evacuation, health and safety standards, 1185, senate, all