Transcript Highlights:

• I make it a personal rule never to do math in public and on the spot. ...be 15.
• I make it a personal rule never to do math in public and on the spot. But okay.
• The math I have to do on the House floor is based on, let's say, Houston that doesn't have any minimum

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Summary: The committee met to monitor implementation of several housing-related bills from the 89th session, with the chair emphasizing Texas’s housing shortage and the need to review land-use laws. For House Bill 24, witnesses from the Texas Public Policy Foundation, Reason Foundation, a church-affordable housing project, Habitat for Humanity, developers, and housing advocates said the bill’s higher protest threshold and simpler council override had reduced procedural barriers to rezoning, helped projects move forward, and supported lower rents and more multifamily development. Public testimony largely praised HB 24 as working as intended, and the chair noted it had passed the committee 6-1, the House 83-56, and the Senate unanimously. The committee then heard testimony on Senate Bill 1567, which preempted certain municipal occupancy limits based on unrelated-adult restrictions. Supporters, including Texas Public Policy Foundation, Texas Realtors, Texans for Housing, and Texas A&M student leaders, said the law improved clarity, reduced arbitrary local limits, and helped students and property owners use existing housing more efficiently. Opponents from College Station and Bryan-College Station neighborhood groups argued the law has encouraged investor purchases, tear-downs, and “stealth dorms,” displaced working-class residents, and harmed family homeownership. The chair noted SB 1567 had passed the committee 5-1, the House 101-19, and the Senate 30-1. The committee also reviewed Senate Bill 15, which reduced minimum lot sizes in covered jurisdictions. Ed Pinto of AEI said the law had already led to thousands of new small lots and lower-cost starter homes, while recommending expansion to more counties and broader application to attached housing. Other witnesses from builders, Pew, and housing advocates said smaller lots can increase affordability, but some cities, such as College Station and Grand Prairie, were adding local standards that could blunt the bill’s effect. City representatives from El Paso described how they implemented the law by reducing lot sizes and widths, while urging broader applicability to more of the city. The chair said SB 15 had passed the committee 7-0, the House 86-43, and the Senate 24-7. Finally, the committee began hearing testimony on Senate Bill 840, a by-right multifamily redevelopment measure. City officials from Garland and Plano described how they had updated local standards to comply while preserving design and setback rules, and said the bill could help redevelop built-out commercial corridors and add housing without expanding city footprints. The transcript ended as the committee continued taking testimony on SB 840.

Transcript Highlights:

• 01:23:25.920> fixtures,<01:23:26.639> doing<01:23:26.880> the<01:23:27.120> math
• , counting fixtures, doing the math, counting fixtures, doing the math, getting<01:23:27.600>

Bills: HF3477, HF3480, HF3781, HF3357, HF3737, HF3664, HF3621

Keywords: civil rights, law enforcement, federal collaboration, accountability, state law, immigration enforcement, economic impact, Operation Metro Surge, study, appropriation, local government, Legislative Commission on Legislative Security, legislator security, elected official security, staff security, statehouse security, capitol security, legislative district safety, political violence prevention, threat assessment

Summary: The committee first attempted to approve minutes from February 24 and March 3, but members identified multiple spelling errors in names, so approval was held and the motion withdrawn. The committee then took up House File 3477, a bill by Representative Long proposing a civil remedy for constitutional violations by government actors, including federal actors. An author’s amendment (A4) was adopted to remove a subdivision and clarify retroactivity. In discussion, members raised concerns about Supremacy Clause and immigration-related issues; the author responded that the bill applies evenly to state and federal actors and is meant to enforce constitutional rights, not immigration law. After debate, the motion to re-refer the bill to the general register failed on a 6-7 vote, with one member excused. The committee next heard House File 3480, authored by Representative Howard, which would commission an independent economic impact study of Operation Metro Surge. An A2 amendment was adopted to add a dollar amount for the study and clarify timing. Representative Howard said the study would help the legislature understand statewide impacts and noted reported harm to businesses, child care, schools, and local governments. Testimony in support came from Laura Santiago, reading a statement from Christopher Gomez of Willmar, who described ICE agents entering his family’s restaurant, the detention and deportation of family members, and resulting business losses. Rachel Ser, Minneapolis emergency management director, cited a preliminary city assessment estimating major impacts including food insecurity, lost wages, business revenue losses, hotel cancellations, and rental assistance needs. Some members questioned the cost and usefulness of the study, while others said suburban and greater Minnesota communities also wanted the data. The transcript ends during continued discussion of the bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• Chairman, I understood there'd be no math. this bill is to hopefully expedite this bill is to hopefully
• math. math.

Bills: HB0075, HB0128

Keywords: virtual currency, kiosk, financial institutions, regulation, Wyoming Money Transmitters Act, penalties, severance tax, oil production, tax exemption, energy sector, economic impact, 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• faster like it's Providers decline faster like it's literally<01:25:12.840> a<01:25:12.960> math
• 13.760> here<01:25:14.360> and<01:25:14.520> I<01:25:14.600> do literally a math
• problem here and I do literally a math problem here and I do have<01:25:14.960> some<01:25:15.159

Bills: HF1367, HF2732, HF1897, HF1424, HF1383, HF2728, HF2863, HF1685, HF2929

Keywords: child maltreatment, child abuse, neglect, physical abuse, sexual abuse, sex trafficking, labor trafficking, human trafficking, child protection, local welfare agency, county social services, Minnesota Department of Human Services, judicial review, district court appeal, venue, out-of-state abuse, cross-border investigation, Minnesota child welfare, family assessment, maltreatment determination

Transcript Highlights:

• Okay, so my math is, it's about 87 years that he, that they owned that facility.
• The pre-bedtime conversations that used to consist of birthday parties, books, math puzzles, and excitement
• about performing at school assembly, ...books, math puzzles, and excitement about performing at school
• If you do the math, that is a death every 3.6 years of Mystic's existence. Is that acceptable?

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• . >> I'm a math person, not a word person. >> Thank you, Representative Schmidt.
• >> I'm<04:07:54.960> a<04:07:55.199> math<04:07:55.520> person,<04:07:56.080
• >> I'm a math person, not a word person. >> I'm a math person, not a word person.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee first held a public hearing and then an executive session on Senate Bill 401, which DHHS described as a cleanup bill. Testimony from the department explained that the bill would repeal obsolete reporting requirements tied to a repealed municipal reimbursement program and to the now-repealed commission on demographic trends. No one testified in opposition, and the committee voted 12-0 ought to pass, placing the bill on the consent calendar. The committee then heard Senate Bill 402, which would eliminate certain non-compete agreements for physician associates going forward. Senator Gray introduced the bill, and a representative of the New Hampshire Society of Physician Associates said it would improve workforce recruitment and access to care without changing scope of practice or affecting existing agreements. Committee members asked about the length of current restrictions and whether the change would make New Hampshire more attractive to PAs. The committee voted 12-0 ought to pass and sent the bill to the consent calendar. Next, the committee took up Senate Bill 426, which would repeal the permissible fireworks committee. Senator Uler and the deputy state fire marshal said the committee’s original purpose had been overtaken by later changes adopting federal fireworks standards, and that the fire marshal now has the necessary authority. The committee voted 12-0 ought to pass and placed the bill on the consent calendar. Finally, the committee began hearing Senate Bill 469, a DMV modernization bill allowing electronic signatures in place of wet signatures for certain motor vehicle title and registration processes. Senator Lang, Carvana, the New Hampshire Auto Dealers Association, Copart, and DMV staff all supported the measure, saying it would reduce delays, errors, and paperwork burdens. Members asked about AI, consumer protections, costs, and how electronic signatures would work in practice, including in cases involving deceased owners. The transcript cuts off during that hearing before any committee action on SB 469.

Transcript Highlights:

• . >> I'm a math person, not a word person. >> Thank you, Representative Schmidt.
• >> I'm<04:07:54.960> a<04:07:55.199> math<04:07:55.520> person,<04:07:56.080
• >> I'm a math person, not a word person. >> I'm a math person, not a word person.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• You do the math. We're going to have more disproportionality.
• six<02:09:34.520> you<02:09:34.639> do<02:09:34.800> the<02:09:34.960> math
• <02:09:35.280> we're every five to six you do the math we're every five to six you do the
• math we're going<02:09:35.679> to<02:09:35.880> have<02:09:36.079> more<02:09:37.040

Bills: HF25, HF4

Keywords: pregnancy support, women's health, maternity homes, nonprofit organizations, grant funding, abortion, family services, tax relief fund, budget surplus, surplus revenue, tax rebate, tax refund, one-time refund, income tax, property tax, constitutional amendment, Minnesota Constitution, general fund, budget reserve, taxpayer relief

Transcript Highlights:

• though they hadn't done any work under that, all that is included, encompassed in the what is now, my math
• > now<02:20:25.040> the<02:20:25.760> I<02:20:26.080> my<02:20:26.200> math
• <02:20:26.439> say<02:20:26.640> 2.3<02:20:27.160> Acres what is now the I my math
• say 2.3 Acres what is now the I my math say 2.3 Acres it's<02:20:27.640> easy<02:20:27.880>

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• require uh essentially complete would require uh essentially complete manual<04:36:59.840> intervention
• for us to do it so manual intervention for us to do it so someone<04:37:02.240> would<04:37:02.520
• more<04:37:22.920> manual concern that the more manual concern that the more manual intervention
• 23.920> that<04:37:24.080> we<04:37:24.320> have<04:37:24.719> the intervention
• that we have the intervention that we have the possibility<04:37:26.080> for<04:37:26.400>

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So, probably next spring, just doing some quick math in my head for that.
• So, probably next spring, just doing some quick math in my head for that.
• So, probably next spring, just doing some quick math in my head for that.
• So, probably next spring, just doing some quick math in my head for that.
• So, probably next spring, just doing some quick math in my head for that. Thank you. Thank you.

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So, whatever the math is, 5,000 times 3 and 1/2 brings us pretty close to what Senator Pearl was talking
• So, whatever the math is, 5,000 times 3 and 1/2 brings us pretty close to what Senator Pearl was talking
• So, whatever the math is, 5,000 times 3 and 1/2 brings us pretty close to what Senator Pearl was talking
• So,<01:25:58.400> whatever<01:25:58.720> the<01:25:58.800> math<01:25:59.200>
• 5,000<01:26:00.520> *<01:26:00.880> 3<01:26:01.080> and So, whatever the math

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It's pretty easy math. >> Thank you Mr. Chairman. Now, if I um >> Thank you Mr.
• I was just advised that with my math skills earlier this morning, I probably shouldn't get up and talk
• advised<01:38:18.480> that<01:38:18.639> with<01:38:18.880> my<01:38:19.040> math
• <01:38:19.360> skills<01:38:19.679> earlier advised that with my math skills earlier
• advised that with my math skills earlier this<01:38:20.320> morning,<01:38:20.560> I<01

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• There's a lot of science and math that goes into those lessons.
• There's a lot of science and math that goes into those lessons.
• There's a lot of science and math that goes into those lessons.
• There's a lot of science and math that goes into those lessons.
• There's a lot of science and math that goes into those lessons.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So let's say we have a student that needs speech therapy or help in math or, you know, whatever the case
• Oh, you make that much, you can have English and math for free.
• 16.120> and make that much you can have English and make that much you can have English and math
• for free if you want anything math for free if you want anything beyond<00:32:18.480> that<00
• Our students’ reading and math proficiency costs money.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The Education Policy Committee opened a hearing on HB 748, which would establish a local education freedom account (EFA) program. The prime sponsor, Rep. Kevin Verville, described the bill as enabling legislation that would let local voters decide whether to create a local EFA program by petition and ballot vote, with a 60% threshold to approve or repeal it. He argued that public education is about funding rather than a specific school building, said the proposal would expand parental choice, and cited Deerfield’s move from a single high school option to multiple tuitioned options as an example of local flexibility. Verville said the local EFA would be funded at twice the state adequacy amount, with the district matching the state portion, while other aid categories such as free and reduced meals, English language learner, and special education aid would not be doubled. He said students using a local EFA would still count in average daily membership, that unspent EFA funds would revert to the district, and that the bill would prohibit double-dipping with other scholarship or EFA programs. He also said special education services would remain under district discretion and that local EFA participants would still take statewide assessments for accountability. Committee members pressed him on several issues, especially special education, transportation, and fairness. Rep. Woodcock and Rep. Murray asked whether districts would still have to provide special education and transportation services if a student used a local EFA; Verville responded that special education would remain in the local district at district discretion, while transportation would generally become the family’s responsibility unless already required in an IEP. Rep. Cornell raised an equity concern about no income eligibility cap, asking whether higher-income families should receive the same public support; Verville replied that New Hampshire does not means-test public education and that the local EFA is a public funding mechanism, not a tuition subsidy that would cover full private-school costs. No vote or committee action was taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• say we bought a couple hundred of them, maybe between us and the fire department, so kind of do the math
• Now, by my simple Aggie math calculation, that's 24 minutes.
• probably going to be some people that have greater needs, and that will need that psychiatric intervention

Summary: The joint Senate and House disaster preparedness hearing convened in Kerrville with quorum, public testimony limited to three minutes and invited testimony to 10 minutes. Leaders from both chambers, along with the lieutenant governor and speaker, framed the hearing as an unprecedented joint effort focused on learning from the July 4 flood, honoring victims, and identifying actions to reduce future loss of life. The committee also heard opening remarks about decorum, logistics, and the intent to continue work in future sessions. The first panel included Kerr County Judge Rob Kelly, Sheriff Larry Leitha, Emergency Management Coordinator William B. Thomas IV, Kerrville Mayor Joe Herring Jr., Kerrville City Manager Dalton Rice, Upper Guadalupe River Authority representative William Rector, Kendall County Judge Shane Stolarczyk, and Real County Judge Bella Rubio. They described the flood as sudden and catastrophic, with Kerr County reporting 108 deaths and two missing. Local officials emphasized that they received no timely warning of the scale of the event, that responders and volunteers acted heroically under extreme conditions, and that communications, cell coverage, and rural emergency resources were strained. Several witnesses said the county’s existing alert systems were limited by geography, sparse broadband, and the speed of the flood. Testimony focused on possible improvements, including real-time flood gauges and predictive monitoring, stronger rural emergency management staffing and training, better interoperability and alerting tools such as IPAWS, CodeRED, WENS, and sirens, and expanded broadband and radio coverage. Kerrville asked for a flood warning system before next summer and state help for stormwater, floodplain, and disaster recovery funding. UGRA described its past and current flood-warning and mitigation efforts, including gauge funding, a new software-based flood prediction project, and consideration of additional retention dams. Kendall and Real counties highlighted successful or needed alerting and evacuation practices, while also stressing the difficulty of funding and maintaining such systems in small rural counties. Members asked detailed questions about the timeline of the flood response, low-water crossings, communications failures, sirens, bridges, and whether regional consolidation or additional infrastructure could improve future preparedness.

Transcript Highlights:

• say we bought a couple hundred of them, maybe between us and the fire department, so kind of do the math
• Now, by my simple Aggie math calculation, that's 24 minutes.
• is probably going to be some people that have greater needs and that will need that psychiatric intervention

Summary: The joint Senate and House disaster preparedness and flooding hearing opened with quorum calls, prayer, testimony time limits, and remarks from legislative leaders emphasizing decorum, respect, and the goal of learning from the July 4 flood to prevent future loss of life. Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick and Speaker Dustin Burrows said the special session and hearings were intended to hear directly from local officials and residents, and that the state would pursue immediate and longer-term legislation and continue working beyond the current session. The committee then heard invited testimony from Kerr County, Kerrville, Kendall County, Real County, and the Upper Guadalupe River Authority, followed by member questions. Kerr County Judge Rob Kelly, Sheriff Larry Leitha, and emergency management coordinator William B. Thomas described the flood as a sudden, unprecedented event that overwhelmed local systems before many officials or residents understood the danger. They said the county received multiple National Weather Service and IPAWS alerts, but the rain fell in remote upstream areas with limited gauges, and the flood rose too quickly for normal response. They detailed the emergency response, including dispatchers handling heavy call volumes, deputies and volunteer firefighters conducting rescues, and state and federal partners assisting. County officials said 108 people died, including 37 children, and two remained missing. They called for better real-time flood detection, stronger rural emergency management resources, improved broadband and cell coverage, and more funding for swift-water rescue and warning systems. Kerrville Mayor Joe Herring and City Manager Dalton Rice said the city had floodplain rules, emergency plans, and prior preparedness efforts, but the event exposed gaps in communications and regional warning capacity. They urged the Legislature to fund a flood warning system, whether sirens, automated alerts, or a hybrid, and asked for support for predictive weather modeling, broadband expansion, a hazard mitigation fund, and disaster recovery resources. The Upper Guadalupe River Authority said it had long funded gauges and pursued flood-warning and mitigation projects, including a new software-based flood prediction system and possible retention dams, and planned to dedicate reserve funds to feasibility studies and infrastructure improvements. Kendall County Judge Shane Stolarczyk said his county’s emergency action plan and early alerts helped prevent deaths there, and he recommended easier access to alerting tools, a river-wide warning system, simpler grant applications, and regional coordination. Real County Judge Bella Rubio said rural counties face major challenges because of limited cell service, broadband, staffing, and funding, especially for camps and visitors along the Frio and Nueces rivers, and argued that reliable alert systems should be treated as a necessity, not a luxury. Members asked about the timeline of the flood, low-water crossings, communications failures, sirens, bridges, and funding, and several witnesses said the key lessons were better communications, better warning systems, and more investment in rural flood mitigation and emergency response.

Transcript Highlights:

• The training was for crisis intervention, de-escalation, cultural competency, and autism awareness.
• 58.480> for<00:55:59.440> crisis training was for crisis training was for crisis intervention
• , intervention, intervention, deescalation,<00:56:04.160> cultural deescalation, cultural deescalation
• This is a one-time appropriation from the community crime intervention prevention account and will be
• <01:02:37.839> prevention community crime intervention prevention community crime intervention

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• going to ask you how you voted on severance tax relief on stripper wells because that was state intervention
• going to ask you how you voted on severance tax relief on stripper wells because that was state intervention
• 39.200> state stripper wells because that was state stripper wells because that was state intervention
• :40.720> way<02:54:40.880> it<02:54:41.120> was<02:54:41.279> done intervention
• and by the way it was done intervention and by the way it was done so<02:54:41.680> that<02:54

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I listed a number of them here, such as women's court, truancy court, early education intervention program
• I listed a number of them here, such as women's court, truancy court, early education intervention program
• I listed a number of them here, such as women's court, truancy court, early education intervention program
• permanent with accompanying Of them here, such as women's court, truancy court, early education intervention
• second request in our specialty courts area is to expand our truancy court and Early Education Intervention

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The Committee on Finance received an informational briefing from the Department of Law Enforcement on its priorities following the January 1 transfer of law enforcement assets into the department, including the sheriff’s division, narcotics enforcement, criminal investigations, homeland security, and the inspector general’s office. DLE said its goals are to improve public safety, accountability, communications, training, and standards. The department outlined planned initiatives such as stronger federal partnerships, narcotics and gun-violence enforcement, an agricultural crime unit, traffic and commercial vehicle enforcement, an explosive/fireworks enforcement section, gun buybacks, new police facilities in the airport area, Aahu, and the leeward side, a state training center, upgraded law-enforcement IT, and efforts to narrow salary gaps with county departments to improve recruitment. A major portion of the discussion focused on illegal fireworks enforcement after the recent explosion tragedy. DLE said its current task force is small and relies on ad hoc support from HPD, the Attorney General’s office, criminal investigations, and sheriffs, which is not sustainable. The department requested eight FTEs for the effort—one administrator, two clerical staff, and six investigators—plus funding for a laboratory, equipment, storage, disposal, vehicles, safety gear, and a criminalist. DLE said the explosive enforcement section would use an existing facility and that the initial lab startup cost is about $2 million. Members asked for follow-up materials, and DLE said it would send the explosive enforcement forms and additional details to the Finance and Judiciary chairs. Members also questioned staffing vacancies, interagency coordination, and whether new specialized units could be filled. DLE said it has about 119 vacancies and that recruitment is hindered by a roughly $28,000 starting pay gap with county police departments; academy classes are down to about 12 to 14 recruits. The department said it is streamlining hiring, using QR-code recruitment, and hopes specialized units will attract applicants. On coordination, DLE said it works closely with HPD and other agencies on operations such as fireworks enforcement and public events, and that DOCARE remains a case-by-case partner but is not currently moving into DLE. The committee also received updates on the Silver Alert program, which is nearing rollout with county MOUs and a coordinator expected later in the month, the special duty officer program, which is being moved to a web-based vendor-managed system at no cost to the department, and the SaferWatch school safety system, which is being deployed statewide with annual software costs of $3,500 per school in the first year and $2,500 thereafter. No votes or formal actions were taken.