Transcript Highlights:

• It does have a substitute. >> Yes, sir. It does have a substitute.
• Bill is substituted. Uh, do we >> Opposed. Bill is substituted.
• substitute? substitute?
• the gist of the uh substitute. the gist of the uh substitute.
• Chairman, there's a substitute. >> Have you explained the substitute?

Keywords: 1136, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Substitute.
• The Chair offers a committee substitute.
• Hearing none, the substitute is adopted.
• Hearing none, the substitute is adopted.
• Hearing none, the substitute is adopted.

Bills: HB2963, HB3005, HB3287, HB3288, HB3289, HB3290, HB3344, HB3712, HB3862, HB3874, HB4196, HB4308, HB4901, HB4984

Keywords: digital equipment, repair rights, manufacturers, maintenance, consumer rights, construction contracts, payment regulations, public works, dispute resolution, audit procedures, construction, trust funds, mechanic's lien, contractor, subcontractor, residential properties, disputes, payment obligations, accountability, payment disputes

Transcript Highlights:

• Senator Nichols sends up the committee substitute.
• That's the committee substitute change.
• There is a committee substitute.
• There is a committee substitute.
• There is a committee substitute. Senator Schwertner moves to withdraw the previous substitute.

Bills: SB1468, SB1612, SB1789, SB2530, SB2571, SB2717, SB2967

Keywords: utility systems, Texas A&M, regents authority, construction, improvement, construction contracts, trust funds, property rights, mechanics lien, contractors, trustee liability, mechanic's lien, liability, attorney's fees, windstorm insurance, Texas Windstorm Insurance Association, insurance regulation, administrative penalties, coastal counties, catastrophe year

Transcript Highlights:

• A lot of the substitute is good. Representative Walshmore. Thank you.
• You have adopted the substitute.
• I now move that House Committee Substitute for Senate Substitute No. 2 for Senate Committee Substitute
• House Committee Substitute for Senate Substitute No. 2 for Senate Committee Substitute for Senate Bill
• for Senate Substitute No. 2 for Senate Committee Substitute for Senate Bill 1023 do pass.

Summary: The House Committee on Local Government met in executive session and first approved House Bill 3143, Representative Parker’s bill, on a 12-0 roll call vote. The committee then took up Senate Committee Substitute for Senate Bill 1023, which had a committee substitute distributed in advance. The sponsor explained that the substitute combined several previously separate library-related provisions, changed the title to political subdivisions, and included a fix aimed at a Kansas City liquor-sales issue involving small bottles and beer sales; members also discussed other changes affecting library districts and county tax provisions. Several members raised concerns that the Kansas City liquor provision and other non-library items were too broad or preempted local control, while others said the language addressed carve-outs and could be improved. Representative Reedy noted a technical issue in the salary commission language and said it likely needed a floor amendment to change “assistant prosecuting attorneys” to “part-time prosecutors,” but did not think the bill should be held up. The committee adopted the substitute and then voted the resulting House Committee Substitute for Senate Substitute No. 2 for Senate Committee Substitute for Senate Bill 1023 do pass by an 8-4 roll call vote. The committee then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• I do have a committee substitute. Senator Paxton offers Committee Substitute for Senate Bill 836.
• Hearing none, the committee substitute is adopted.
• Chairman, I believe we have committee substitute.
• Hearing none, the committee substitute is adopted.
• substitute is adopted please proceed to explain the committee substitute senator thank you peace officers

Bills: SB693, SB781, SB836, SB860, SB906, SB993, SB1101, SB1321, SB1370, SB1537, SB1563, SB1610, SB1637

Keywords: notary public, notaries, acknowledgment, jurat, personal appearance, remote notarization, online notarization, e-notary, electronic notarization, fraud prevention, identity verification, real estate fraud, property transfer, state jail felony, Class A misdemeanor, secretary of state, continuing education, record retention, notarial act, Texas Government Code

Summary: The committee heard a series of criminal justice bills focused on victim protections, law enforcement tools, notary/deed fraud, sexually violent predators, veterans in jail, tribal policing authority, and peace officer records. Several bills were laid out, heard, and left pending because the committee lacked a quorum for final action on those items. Testimony was generally supportive on bills addressing interpreter appointments, fuel theft investigations, deed fraud, survivor privacy, veteran jailer training, tribal peace officer authority, and officer-record confidentiality, though some bills drew concerns about due process, scope, or drafting. Senate Bill 1537 would clean up criminal procedure language on appointing interpreters and align it with Government Code standards requiring licensed or certified interpreters; it received no public opposition and was left pending. Senate Bill 993 would let Comptroller Criminal Investigative Division officers directly seek warrants for mobile tracking devices in fuel-theft and tax-fraud investigations; it also drew support and was left pending. Senate Bill 693, as substituted, would create a criminal offense for notarizing documents without the signer personally appearing, with a higher penalty when real property is involved, and would add notary continuing education; a Dallas County prosecutor testified that notary fraud is a major driver of deed theft, and the bill was left pending. Senate Bill 1610, as substituted, would address safety, registration, and criminal penalties at the Texas Civil Commitment Office for sexually violent predators, including assaults on staff and sex-offender registration issues; agency witnesses described increased assaults and operational problems, while a public witness urged waiting for Sunset review and raised due-process concerns. Senate Bill 836 would add privacy protections for sexual assault survivors by limiting livestreaming of trials, expanding pseudonym use, and protecting forensic exam and invasive-recording evidence; survivors and advocates strongly supported it, and defense lawyers said they had no opposition to the substitute. Senate Bill 1563 would require county jailer training on interacting with veterans, with testimony from the Texas Veterans Commission and veterans’ advocates emphasizing suicide risk, PTSD, and the need for better identification and support in jails; the bill was left pending. The committee also heard Senate Bill 906, which would authorize the Ysleta del Sur Pueblo tribal police to be commissioned as Texas peace officers like two other federally recognized tribes in Texas; tribal leaders said the change would improve response times and coordination, and the bill was left pending. Senate Bill 781, as substituted, would standardize confidentiality rules for peace officer personnel and departmental files statewide, mirroring Chapter 143 civil-service practices; law enforcement witnesses supported it as a way to protect personal information and create uniform records practices, but several senators raised concerns that the bill could blur existing disclosure rules or bury misconduct complaints, and public testimony included an opposition witness describing a police shooting involving her brother.

Transcript Highlights:

• All right, substitute. So what you do, let's remember.
• We don't have a substitute for this.
• We don't have a committee substitute. You do? You do? We have not received a committee substitute.
• Is there a committee substitute for that?
• And there will be a committee substitute. Okay.

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• substitute for Senate Bill 20: An act relating to insurance, applying the requirements of the Prior
• substitute for Senate Bill 20: An act relating to insurance, applying the requirements of the Prior
• Senate Finance Committee substitute for Senate Bill 152.
• Senate Finance Committee substitute for Senate Bill 152.
• Senate Finance Committee substitute for Senate Bill 152.

Bills: HB111, HB108, HB145, HB164, HB291, HJR6, HR1, HB63, HB64, HB165, HB184, HB200, HB4, HB7, HB20, HB65, HB66, HB80, HB88, HB96, HB166, HB285, HB295, HB306, SB29, SB37, HJM2, HJM3, HJM1, HM7, HM17, HM4, HM22, HM23, HM24, HM26, HM2, HM16, HM32, HM13, HM47, HM20, HM51, HM1, HM31, HM35, HM36, HM46, HM53, HM54, HM11, HM14, HM21, HM34, HM50

Keywords: water law, state engineer, civil penalty, compliance order, water rights, overdiversion, illegal diversion, groundwater storage and recovery, well license, permit violation, water enforcement, New Mexico water code, irrigation district, conservancy district, water diversion, unauthorized water sales, measuring device, district court appeal, water resources, water compliance

Transcript Highlights:

• There is a committee substitute.
• the bill and substitute.
• There is a committee substitute.
• There is a committee substitute.
• You're recognized on the bill and substitute. The committee substitute for Senate Bill 75.

Bills: SB75, SB715, SB776, SB1299, SB1405, SB1968, SB2021, SB2077, SB2148, SB2321, SB2330, SB2411

Keywords: electric generation, reliability, ERCOT, Public Utility Commission, penalties, performance requirements, energy policy, construction contracts, compensatory damages, government delays, contractor, legislation, nonprofit donor privacy, membership lists, supporter confidentiality, volunteer privacy, association rights, public records exemption, Texas Public Information Act, government transparency

Summary: The committee first took up pending business and favorably reported several bills without objection or by recorded vote, including SB 783, SB 1238, SB 1706, SB 1791, SB 458, SB 1644, and SB 1810, with some of them also sent to the local and uncontested calendar. The committee then moved into hearings on additional bills. SB 1968, by Senator Schwertner, would update the Real Estate License Act by repealing subagency, requiring written buyer-agent agreements before showings, and clarifying when a formal buyer representation agreement must be signed. Texas Realtors testified in support, saying the bill modernizes agency rules and increases transparency, while a committee substitute corrected drafting issues. SB 2411, the annual update to the Texas Business Organizations Code, was also laid out and left pending after supportive testimony from the Texas Business Law Foundation and drafting committee representatives. The committee also heard SB 2321, which would codify ERCOT’s current practice of notifying TCEQ when backup generation needs enforcement discretion for grid reliability; Sierra Club and a chamber of commerce witness supported it with suggestions for clearer emissions reporting, and the bill was left pending. SB 2077 would broaden eligibility for the Texas Mutual Insurance Company board by narrowing conflict restrictions tied to insurance-related interests; Texas Mutual supported the change and the bill was left pending. SB 1405, a broadband bill, would align state law with FCC standards and streamline Broadband Development Office processes; it was left pending after supportive testimony. SB 1299, protecting nonprofit donor privacy, drew support from privacy advocates and concerns from one witness about transparency for publicly funded nonprofit operations; it was left pending. The committee then heard SB 776, which would bar government construction contracts from shifting delay damages to contractors when delays are caused solely by the public owner. Contractors, surety representatives, and water infrastructure advocates supported the bill, arguing it would improve fairness and reduce inflated bids, while water utilities and critical infrastructure entities opposed it, warning of more litigation and higher costs; the bill was left pending. Finally, SB 715, which would apply reliability requirements retroactively to all generation resources in ERCOT, drew opposition from renewable and storage groups and support from some critics of renewable subsidies, with witnesses split over whether it would improve reliability or raise costs; testimony was underway when the transcript ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• Committee Substitute for Committee Substitute for House Bill 1389, a bill to be entitled an act relating
• Committee Substitute for Committee Substitute for House Bill 1451, a bill to be entitled an act relating
• I do plan to substitute it.
• Read the House bill committee substitute for committee substitute for committee substitute for House
• Committee substitute for committee substitute for committee substitute for House Bill 399, a bill to

Summary: The Senate opened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and several guest and staff introductions. The chamber then took up returning messages from the House and acted on multiple bills, with votes recorded on each. Senate Bill 628 on transportation facility designations was concurred in as amended and passed 31-4 after discussion about naming roads for deceased individuals and an exception for President Trump. The House amendment to the Live Local affordable housing package, CS/CS/HB 1389, was also concurred in and passed 35-0; Senator Claudio explained it as the fourth iteration of the Live Local Act, including new provisions allowing certain affordable housing on qualifying religious property, extending some timelines, and removing accessory dwelling unit language. CS/CS/HB 1451 on utility services was concurred in and passed 30-6 after questions about phasing out surcharges and reporting requirements. The chamber also substituted CS/CS/HB 1279 for SB 7038 and adopted an education amendment package before passing the bill 36-1, while several other measures were temporarily postponed. The Senate then considered CS/CS/SB 484 on data centers and concurred in the House amendment 383-957, passing the bill 31-6. Senator Avila said the amendment strengthened ratepayer protections, required a PSC tariff filing, and directed an OPAGA study on large-scale data centers. Several senators pressed concerns about the removal of the Senate’s nondisclosure agreement prohibition, the possibility of delayed public awareness of data center projects, and whether costs could be shifted to other ratepayers; Avila responded that the amendment preserved local land-use authority and that ratepayer costs could not be borne by the general body of ratepayers. Debate reflected a split between senators who supported the bill as a needed regulatory framework and those who objected to the transparency changes and the loss of the Senate’s original NDA language. Later, the Senate took up land use and development regulations, substituting CS/CS/CS/HB 399 for SB 208. An amendment by Senator Jones to remove language affecting a Fontainebleau Hotel water park project in Miami Beach failed 17-20 after debate over local control and preemption. Senator McLean’s amendments then added a sunset date and other changes, and Senator Claudio’s amendment preserved Miami-Dade’s urban development boundary supermajority protections and related planning provisions. The chamber then began extended debate on Senator Martin’s amendment creating a process for property owners to challenge rural boundary designations and seek compensation or removal from the designation without going to court; supporters framed it as a property-rights and due-process measure, while opponents argued it would undermine local planning, impose costs on taxpayers, and weaken voter-approved rural boundaries in Orange and Seminole counties. The transcript ends amid that debate, with no final vote shown on the rural boundary amendment in the excerpt provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• The governor's recommendation is an amendment in the nature of a substitute.
• The governor's recommendation is an amendment in the nature of a substitute.
• As is the governor's substitute, I move adoption of the governor's recommendation.
• The governor's recommendation is an amendment in the nature of a substitute.
• The governor's substitute was made at the request of the patron.

Keywords: April 22, 2026 - Reconvened Session Part 2, 976, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Go over that committee substitute.
• Hearing none, committee substitute is adopted.
• Senator Flores sends up the committee substitute.
• Is there objection to adopting the committee substitute?
• Hearing none, committee substitute is adopted.

Bills: SB2199, SB2200, SB2201, SB2949, SB2332

Keywords: overweight vehicle, vehicle weight limits, hazardous materials, hazmat, cargo tank, fuel transport, trucking, commercial vehicle, Transportation Code, criminal penalty, second-degree felony, loading violation, truck weight, axle weight, gross weight, public safety, commercial carrier, Texas, commercial truck, truck route

Summary: The Senate Committee on Border Security heard several bills related to border security, law enforcement databases, DPS aviation maintenance, and transportation motor fuels. SB 2199, after brief invited testimony from the Texas Trucking Association and DPS, was left pending at first and later reported favorably to the full Senate on a 4-1 vote. SB 2332, relating to aircraft owned and operated by the Department of Public Safety, was laid out by Senator Parker, with DPS and TechSOT witnesses explaining that it would centralize DPS aircraft maintenance under DPS, align state law with FAA responsibility rules, and potentially reduce costs and downtime; it was later reported favorably on a 5-0 vote and placed on the local and uncontested calendar. SB 2949, relating to the regulation of transportation motor fuels, was also adopted as a committee substitute and reported favorably on a 4-1 vote, with a member noting continued interest in refining port-of-entry transloading issues. The committee spent the most time on SB 2201, which would revise Texas intelligence database criteria for criminal street gangs and foreign terrorist organizations. Senator Birdwell described the bill as adding safeguards such as requiring officer identification on submissions, setting retention and validation rules, and updating criteria to reflect technology and social media use. Invited witnesses from the district attorney’s office, DPS, and the Texas Anti-Gang Center generally supported the bill and said it would improve reliability and accountability. Public testimony included support from the Texas Public Policy Foundation and opposition from the Texas Civil Rights Project and the ACLU of Texas, which argued the bill’s language on implied or demonstrated self-admission and other criteria was vague, overly broad, and could lead to erroneous inclusion in the database and downstream consequences. After debate, SB 2201 was reported favorably to the full Senate on a 4-1 vote, with Senator Eckhardt voting no. During questioning on SB 2201, members discussed how gang-database entries are used in investigations and prosecutions, the meaning of “family member,” the scope of self-admission, and how “previously documented areas” would be identified in practice. Opponents raised concerns about due process, First and Fourth Amendment issues, racial profiling, and possible federal consequences if state database information is shared. Supporters emphasized that the database is a law-enforcement tool for identifying organized criminal activity and that the committee substitute adds training, audits, and accountability measures. The committee then completed its business and recessed subject to the call of the chair.

Transcript Highlights:

• Chair, there is a substitute. I've moved a substitute. Second.
• What the substitute does is a couple things.
• Terry moved the substitute.
• explain the substitute.
• explain the substitute.

Keywords: House Committee Room C, General Assembly Building, 976, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The chair offers a committee substitute.
• The chair offers a committee substitute. and the substitute is adopted.
• The committee's substitute, is there objection to the adoption of the committee substitute?
• substitute for House Bill 426.
• . their objection to the adoption of the committee substitute, the chair hears none and the substitute

Bills: HB2646, HB3941, HB5153, HB5155, HB5394, HB 1106, HB426, HB4529, HB3984, HB4273, HB 1097, HB3940, HB1941, HB4377, HB3153

Keywords: child care, task force, high-quality care, affordability, prekindergarten partnerships, foster care, transitional living, Medicaid reform, youth assistance, independent living, services for youth, employment training, educational support, mental health services, health care, public health, child health program, reimbursement, local health entities, maternal health

Transcript Highlights:

• The substitute is adopted.
• The substitute is adopted.
• The substitute is adopted.
• The substitute is adopted.
• Is there a substitute? I believe that there is a committee substitute, is that correct? Yes.

Bills: HB2034, HB2436, HB3010, HB3033, HB3138, HB3177, HB3426, HB3686, HB3858, HB4176, HB4257, HB4264, HB4804, HCR98

Keywords: groundwater, foreign ownership, national security, water permits, environmental health, deadly conduct, firearm, recklessness, peace officer, prosecution, Penal Code, Texas laws, disaster recovery, infrastructure, rural communities, grants, state funding, emergency management, HB 3033, Texas Department of Public Safety

Transcript Highlights:

• A committee substitute? Is there objection to the adoption of the committee substitute?
• The chair offers a committee substitute.
• The chair offers a committee substitute.
• And the substitute is adopted.
• Committee substitute, is there objection to the adoption of the committee substitute?

Bills: HB1531, HB2667, HB2809, HB2865, HB3589, HB3151, HB3748, HB3750, HB4419, HB4643, HB3597, HB4129, HB4130, HB4131

Keywords: workplace violence prevention, health and safety code, Chapter 331, facility definition, home and community support services agency, home health agency, home health care, nursing staff, registered nurses, health care workplace safety, hospital, nursing facility, ambulatory surgical center, freestanding emergency medical care facility, mental hospital, Texas health care regulation, provider compliance, occupational safety, senior living, referral agencies

Transcript Highlights:

• House Committee Substitute 1. House Committee Substitute 1.
• Committee Substitute. Committee Substitute.
• Committee Substitute 1 is passed. Committee Substitute 1 is passed.
• House Committee Substitute 1 is adopted. House Committee Substitute 1 is just updates.
• House Committee Substitute 1 is adopted. House Committee Substitute 1 is adopted.

Keywords: 958, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Have we adopted the substitute? I don't think we've adopted the substitute.
• Back on the substitute bill. You think I... Yes. Okay, we're back on the substitute bill.
• So if we need to run a substitute, I guess we’ll roll over this, run a substitute, bring a substitute
• So if we need to run a substitute, I guess we’ll roll over this, run a substitute, bring a substitute
• So if we need to run a substitute, I guess we'll roll over this, run a substitute, bring a substitute

Bills: SB151, HB8, SB177

Keywords: corporate income tax, franchise tax, gross receipts tax, tax credit, tax deduction, controlled foreign corporation, CFC, bonus depreciation, interest expense, apportionment, unitary group, high-wage jobs tax credit, local journalism, news media, newspaper printer, physician incentive, health care workforce, affordable housing, multifamily housing, construction materials

Transcript Highlights:

• That's all the substitute does.
• And there is a substitute.
• There’s a committee substitute.
• Oh, there was a substitute and...
• I'm sorry, we had to substitute.

Bills: HB557, HB732, HB1892, HB1954, HB2301, HB3180, HB3405, HB3650, HB3758, HB4035, HB4621, HB4795, HB4870, HB5069, HB5137, HB5149

Keywords: child support, arrears, court enforcement, contempt, legal protections, healthcare, insurance, cost reduction, accessibility, regulations, impotency, marriage annulment, Family Code, Texas law, family law, Texas legislation, dissolution of marriage, annulment, marriage, child custody

Transcript Highlights:

• Representative Schauffer, members, there is a committee substitute the chair offers. committee substitute
• Rejection to the adoption of the committee substitute here none the committee substitute is dotted adopted
• There is a committee substitute. The chair offers a committee substitute.
• Members, there is a committee substitute. The chair offers a committee substitute.
• Members, there is a committee substitute.

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The substitute is before us.
• Hearing none, the substitute is adopted.
• Uh, Senate Bill 1838 is substituted. Senator Johnson moves it.
• The substitute.
• Substitutes adopted.