Transcript Highlights:

• This resolution designates the town of Milam as the official Gateway Capital of Texas.
• It's the town of Milam as the official Gateway Capital of Texas.
• The residents of Rusk County for years have celebrated the production of ribbon cane syrup, and for a
• It's just part of our culture and part of our economy as well.
• It's just part of our culture and part of our economy as well.

Bills: HCR111 , HB5655 , HB5689 , HB5690 , HCR46 , HCR83 , HCR81 , HCR84

Committee: Senate Administration

Keywords: beekeeping, pollination, agriculture, local economy, Combes, Bee Capital of Texas, water management, eminent domain, bond issuance, Fort Bend County, public infrastructure, special district, government validation, local authority, bonds, Cole Ranch Improvement District, Hunter Ranch Improvement District, property taxes, infrastructure funding, local governance

Summary: The Senate Committee on Administration met with a quorum and considered several local and uncontested measures, mostly resolutions designating official Texas titles for places and observances. HCR 111 would name Combs the official Bee Capital of Texas; HCR 81 would name Milam the Gateway Capital of Texas; HCR 84, as a committee substitute, would name Pineland the Sawmill Capital of Texas; and HCR 83 would name Rusk County the Syrup Capital of Texas. The committee also heard HCR 46, designating January 12 as Nathan Gage Ingram Day for a 10-year period ending in 2035, honoring the Roanoke Navy SEAL who died during a mission off Somalia. No public testimony was offered on any of these resolutions, and each was reported favorably to the full Senate by unanimous or near-unanimous roll call votes, then placed on the local and uncontested calendar for May 28, 2025. The committee also considered HB 5655, which would create a water control and improvement district in Fort Bend County to provide drainage improvements for about 912 acres owned by TPHTL Hatcher LLC. Senator Kolkhorst explained that the district powers were intended to address flooding and drainage in a low-lying area. The bill was reported favorably to the full Senate with no opposition after no public testimony was offered. In addition, HB 5689 and HB 5690 were heard as local bills validating and updating the powers and prior acts of the Coal Ranch Improvement District No. 1 and the Hunter Ranch Improvement District No. 1 in Denton County; both were reported favorably without testimony or questions. At the end of the meeting, the committee reviewed the proposed May 28, 2025 local and uncontested calendar, noted that some bills had been removed due to penalties, fiscal notes, or significant opposition, and specifically removed HB 4202. The remaining calendar, with that exception, was certified by unanimous vote. The committee then recessed.

Bills: HB 220 , HB 783 , HB 2240 , HB 3336 , HB 4202 , HB 4449 , HB 4904 , HB 3441 , HB 4284

Committee: Senate State Affairs

Keywords: sexual assault, healthcare facilities, forensic examination, survivor support, emergency contraceptive, online impersonation, civil liability, social media, identity theft, defamation, counseling damages, injunctive relief, public health, safety regulations, community health, state standards, healthcare access, identification, real estate, proof of identity

Transcript Highlights:

• tampering of temporary vehicle tags, aiming to reduce the amount of fraud related to vehicle registration
• They were bypassing a lot of the laws that the state of Texas put in place.
• Chairman, yes, I know it's true of all of us. We're making a lot of committees.
• So one of those. 42.
• I will see some of y'all don't run.

Bills: HCR 10 , HCR 9

Committee: Senate Administration

Keywords: balanced budget amendment, federal budget, deficit reduction, deficit spending, fiscal restraint, constitutional amendment, U.S. Constitution, Congress, PAYGO, Gramm-Rudman-Hollings, national debt, budget deficit, taxpayer dollars, balanced budget resolution, memorial resolution, Texas Legislature, federal spending, budget reform, fiscal conservatism, HCR 9

Transcript Highlights:

• Judge Herman, I have you here on behalf of the statutory probate judges of Texas and yourself registered
• Now, on top of that, you want to rob me of my inheritance for the benefit of this crook?
• As each of you should know, a forcible detainer is what we see about 99% of the time.
• Many of the leases out there choose a shorter period of time—one day... ...of the leases out there choose
• the right of occupancy.

Bills: SB1015 , SB2933

Committee: House Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence

Keywords: statutory probate courts, probate court fees, judicial fund, county reimbursement, comptroller, Texas Government Code, Local Government Code, court fees, fee allocation, excess contributions, judicial education and support fund, presiding judge salary, county finance, court administration, Texas judiciary, revenue distribution, SB 2933, elder abuse, neglect, judicial training

Summary: The Committee on Judiciary and Civil Jurisprudence heard testimony on Senate Bill 1015, which would clarify that the comptroller is responsible for distributing excess judicial fund payments back to statutory probate courts. Judge Guy Herman testified in support, saying the bill would help ensure probate courts receive funding they are entitled to, while Ed Heimlich testified against the bill with broad criticism of probate courts and judicial practices. The committee then heard Senate Bill 2933, which would add elder abuse training to required judicial education for several categories of judges and judicial officers; Dr. Bruce Hargrave supported the bill, citing the prevalence and underreporting of elder abuse and the need for judges to recognize warning signs. No votes were taken on either of those bills, and SB 2933 was left pending. The committee then reconsidered Senate Bill 38, an eviction-related bill, and Vice Chair Hayes described two agreed floor amendments: one limiting the summary disposition procedure to forcible entry and detainer cases involving squatters, and another requiring a notice to pay rent or vacate for tenants who had been timely payers but missed a payment. After discussion, the committee voted 6-4 to report SB 38 without amendments. The committee also adopted or advanced a series of other bills and resolutions, including SB 293, SB 1141, SB 1448, SB 1536, SB 1558, SB 1838, SB 1940, SB 2127, SB 53, SB 251, SB 311, SB 387, SB 441 (with a substitute), SB 1164, SB 1335, SB 1574 (with a substitute), SB 1719, SB 1760, SB 1839, SB 1923 (with a substitute), SB 2807, and SJR 27 (with a substitute). Most measures were reported favorably on largely party-line or near-unanimous votes, with a few close votes on SB 942, SB 311, SB 2807, and SJR 27. SB 942, relating to retroactive child support beginning at conception, initially failed 5-5 but was reconsidered and then passed 6-5. The committee adjourned after completing its agenda.

Transcript Highlights:

• Members of... Quorum is not established, of course. It's that time of session.
• For example, rate regulation should be aimed at balancing the interests of customers and utilities investors
• For example, rate regulation should be aimed at balancing the interests of customers and utilities investors
• Was that I shouldn't make That type of statement unless I have proof of it or evidence of it.
• of that, any of those guideposts.

Bills: HB1237 , HB2663 , HB3071 , HB4384

Committee: Senate Natural Resources

Keywords: occupational licenses, renewal, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, registration, license expiration, HB 2663, inactive well, plugging extension, Railroad Commission of Texas, RRC, oil and gas, orphan wells, well cleanup, well plugging, abandoned wells, surface equipment removal, electric service termination, administrative penalty, Natural Resources Code, Section 89.029

Summary: The Senate Committee on Natural Resources heard several House bills dealing with environmental regulation, oil and gas safety, landfill permits, and utility cost recovery. HB 1237, by Rep. Geren and sponsored by Sen. Zaffirini, would extend TCEQ occupational license renewal deadlines from 30 days to 90 days, allow renewal up to one year with higher fees, and require a new application after longer expiration; the committee substitute clarified that applicants may continue working only until renewal is approved or denied and set a 180-day cutoff for renewal. HB 3071, sponsored by Sen. Hancock, would require TCEQ to cancel certain long-dormant municipal solid waste permits; members discussed concerns about precedent, ownership changes, and whether the bill should be narrowed, and the bill was left pending with a committee substitute expected. The committee also heard HB 2663, sponsored by Sen. Birdwell, which would require operators of inactive oil and gas wells to remove or de-energize electrical equipment after 10 years and authorize Railroad Commission penalties for false compliance. Testimony from landowners, cattle raisers, and the Sierra Club supported the bill as a wildfire-prevention measure, and the bill was left pending. HB 4384, also by Rep. Darby and sponsored by Sen. Birdwell, would let natural gas utilities defer certain infrastructure costs for later recovery through the GRIP process; utility representatives supported it as credit-positive and consistent with existing accounting, while consumer advocates opposed it as increasing rates without enough oversight. The committee discussed possible amendments to add more cost controls, and the bill was left pending. Later, the committee voted HB 2563, the companion to SB 2510, favorably to the full Senate by a 5-0 vote and ordered it certified for the local and uncontested calendar. The committee then took up HB 143, which would codify interagency procedures for addressing electrical power line safety at well sites and related facilities after wildfire concerns; members said a committee substitute had been negotiated with agencies and stakeholders to clarify responsibilities, timelines, and inspection authority while reducing fiscal impact. No final vote was taken on HB 143, and the committee recessed with several bills still pending.

Transcript Highlights:

• Judge Herman, I have you here on behalf of the statutory probate judges of Texas and yourself registered
• Now, on top of that, you want to rob me of my inheritance for the benefit of this crook?
• As each of you should know, a forcible detainer is what we see about 99% of the time.
• Many of the leases out there choose a shorter period of time—one day... ...of the leases out there choose
• the right of occupancy.

Bills: SB1015 , SB2933

Committee: House Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence

Keywords: statutory probate courts, probate court fees, judicial fund, county reimbursement, comptroller, Texas Government Code, Local Government Code, court fees, fee allocation, excess contributions, judicial education and support fund, presiding judge salary, county finance, court administration, Texas judiciary, revenue distribution, SB 2933, elder abuse, neglect, judicial training

Transcript Highlights:

• Is there objection to the adoption of the committee substitute?
• You're all well aware of this. This bill aims to prohibit the sale of lottery tickets...
• Senate Bill 2864 clarifies how the state regulates the installation of a relatively new type of rooftop
• If you think of a tongue and groove kind of wood floor type situation where they snap together on the
• Senate Bill 2167 relates to the licensing of massage therapy.

Bills: SB1346 , SB1376 , SB2075 , SB2167 , SB2864

Committee: House Licensing & Administrative Procedures

Keywords: lottery, prohibited sales, winning tickets, sales agents, license revocation, code enforcement, training requirements, supervision, registered officer, occupations code, advisory boards, Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation, public members, occupational regulations, professional standards, massage therapy, licensing, human trafficking, regulation, Occupations Code

Transcript Highlights:

• This is important to rural utilities or Alabama Power, and any of the utility companies because of the
• length of a utility trailer with poles on it.
• Um, and of... ...being against my chairman.
• Um, and of course, in the absence of the amendment for class one municipalities for Birmingham, I can't
• Chair, that is my further explanation of my no vote.

Bills: HB323 , SB271 , SB295

Committee: Senate Transportation and Energy

Keywords: electric utility, transportation, oversize vehicles, transport permits, state highway system, SB271, Alabama, municipalities, city fees, town fees, franchise fees, utility franchise, natural gas, manufactured gas, gas utility, public streets, public places, right-of-way, municipal consent, gross receipts tax

Transcript Highlights:

• And of course it gives you a pretty good statement on that.
• They would be locked, and it mentions an effective date of December 31st of 2025.
• And our price index would not be reflective of all of the other smaller municipalities.
• In the bill, even with the vote of the people, all of us know... ...people, all of us know that who is
• Just for sake of interest, what is Birmingham's currently at? Birmingham's currently at 0%.

Bills: SB271 , SB295 , SB309

Committee: Senate Transportation and Energy

Keywords: SB271, Alabama, municipalities, city fees, town fees, franchise fees, utility franchise, natural gas, manufactured gas, gas utility, public streets, public places, right-of-way, municipal consent, gross receipts tax, license tax, privilege tax, Public Service Commission, PSC, utility regulation

Transcript Highlights:

• This piece of legislation deals with the emergency management agency of Alabama.
• Most of the agencies law for this?
• Coming out of your budget. Let's start Coming out of your budget. Let's start there.
• We of course can't stop them; it's a division of power, separation of powers, but certainly something
• You know what's interesting, Senator?

Bills: HB207 , SB269 , SB279 , SB291 , SB266

Committee: Senate State Governmental Affairs

Keywords: cybersecurity, Office of Information Technology, data management, telecommunications, state government, emergency management, public awareness, promotional materials, education, state funding, Alabama State House, Montgomery, Legislative Council, demolition, state capitol, state capitol building, historic preservation, state property, inventory removal, fixtures

Bills: HB609 , HB630 , HB654 , HB676

Committee: House Culture, Recreation & Tourism

Keywords: oyster mariculture, aquaculture, farming, water quality, regulations, outboard motors, certificate of title, vessel regulation, Texas Parks and Wildlife Code, marine documentation, hunter education, criminal charge, illegal hunting, mule deer, white-tailed deer, sustainability, wildlife conservation, unmanned aircraft, wildlife retrieval, Hunting

Bills: SB 393 , SB 414 , SB 472 , SB 578 , SB 617 , SB 710 , SB 785 , SB 973 , SB 1059 , SB 1062 , SB 1352 , SB 1450 , SB 1502 , SB 1547 , SB 1566 , SB 1567

Committee: Senate Local Government

Keywords: appraisal, tax code, property ownership, appraisal district, chief appraiser, homelessness, public notice, municipality, conversion of property, local government, housing, community engagement, electronic communications, municipal entities, transparency, public access, government accountability, property tax, reappraisal, data privacy

Bills: SB 393 , SB 414 , SB 472 , SB 578 , SB 617 , SB 710 , SB 785 , SB 973 , SB 1059 , SB 1062 , SB 1352 , SB 1450 , SB 1502 , SB 1547 , SB 1566 , SB 1567

Committee: Senate Local Government

Keywords: appraisal, tax code, property ownership, appraisal district, chief appraiser, homelessness, public notice, municipality, conversion of property, local government, housing, community engagement, electronic communications, municipal entities, transparency, public access, government accountability, property tax, reappraisal, data privacy

Transcript Highlights:

• A lot of our private schools also offer scholarship. and financial aid to cover the difference on a lot
• Some of my kids who were Braille students had seven different IEP areas and PLAS statements. and were
• He didn't have any financial interest in anything. He was simply committed to the concept that.
• I had no financial or personal interest other than an absolute commitment to the concept of school choice
• I just want to call out what their interests are, whether it's financial or ideological. an ideological

Bills: HB3 , HB3

Committee: House Public Education

Keywords: education savings account, educational expenses, certified educational assistance organization, school choice, funding, special education, tuition reimbursement, emergency communication, public safety, interoperability, Texas Interoperability Council, grant program, emergency communications, public safety radio, first responders, radio system, dispatch, 911, emergency management, Texas Division of Emergency Management

Transcript Highlights:

• They're often financially distressed, and that's why I'm here. associated with some of these bills on
• It looks at financial status, physical of facilities, faculty, the whole thing.
• I find that interesting that it sort of fell off the cliff in 2013.
• your data all of your test scores your financial I mean, they look at everything every three to five
• program had caused severe financial problems in the state of Arizona.

Bills: HB3 , HB3

Committee: House Public Education

Keywords: education savings account, educational expenses, certified educational assistance organization, school choice, funding, special education, tuition reimbursement, emergency communication, public safety, interoperability, Texas Interoperability Council, grant program, emergency communications, public safety radio, first responders, radio system, dispatch, 911, emergency management, Texas Division of Emergency Management

Transcript Highlights:

• the glory of God.
• of this section.
• So, this is one of the priorities of the Governor.
• We noticed there was a lot of cash going out of Alabama that was not going out of Alabama that was not
• You know, they take care of it. You know, they take care of it at the end of the year.

Bills: HB61 , HB327 , HB253 , HB297

Committee: House Ways and Means Education

Keywords: home school, career and technical education, public schools, K-12 education, enrollment policy, parental leave, state employees, adoption, employee benefits, aircraft tax, aviation tax, sales tax exemption, use tax exemption, lease tax, rental tax, commercial aircraft, air carrier, airline, aircraft parts, maintenance

Transcript Highlights:

• projects financed in the kinds of projects financed in the current<01:03:49.200><c> interest</c><01:
• In South Carolina there was the rate of 25%; in Minnesota we're doing 30%, and I'm just interested if
• In South Carolina there was the rate of 25%; in Minnesota we're doing 30%, and I'm just interested if
• In South Carolina there was the rate of 25%; in Minnesota we're doing 30%, and I'm just interested if
• I think actually, maybe in the interest of time, I will not speak and just let the lead close.

Bills: HF1277 , HF812 , HF457 , HF633

Committee: House Taxes

Keywords: data centers, tax exemption, Minnesota statutes, economic development, employment growth, income tax, tax brackets, tax adjustments, Minnesota, tax policy, underutilized buildings, adaptive reuse, building conversion, historic preservation, downtown revitalization, vacant property, vacancy reduction, refundable tax credit, income tax credit, grant in lieu of credit

Transcript Highlights:

• You only need to ask the family of Steve Perkins of Montgomery, Alabama, who... of Steve Perkins of Montgomery
• a result of use of force in various states.
• So the substitute came as a result of lots of discussion with the interested parties.
• Of privacy.
• of thing.

Bills: SB156 , SB134 , SB108 , SB47 , SB88 , SB89 , SB106 , SB18 , SB9 , HB38 , HB54

Committee: House Judiciary

Keywords: habitual felony offender, resentencing, Alabama Department of Corrections, victim notification, criminal justice reform, life sentences, parole eligibility, pardon, parole, law enforcement, GPS monitoring, data sharing, mail theft, stolen mail, criminal penalties, personally identifying information, felony, misdemeanor, expungement, criminal records

Transcript Highlights:

• But where the real chaos is in terms of where the real chaos is in terms of injuries.
• With the help of Safe Kids in Washington, DC, if you've ever heard of that organization, this law was
• So that is one of the thresholds of what we're...
• One of the thresholds of what we're trying to do... I have an amendment.
• The idea of being able to pass this type of legislation, I think, speaks volumes about the kind of future

Bills: SB140 , HB102 , SB133 , SB34

Committee: Senate Education Policy

Keywords: Coach Safely Act, youth athletics, noncompliance penalties, Department of Public Health, youth athlete, dual enrollment, high school, community college, university, educational access, high school credit, juvenile court, juvenile delinquency, school notification, student safety, K-12, public schools, private schools, superintendent, principal

Transcript Highlights:

• You have the ability to influence markets and directly impact the financial future of hundreds of millions
• enough directly on what was a very large amount of interest rate risk, a large portfolio of long-term
• of traditional financial regulation.
• interest to many of my colleagues on this committee.
• Financial stability of the economy.

Bills: SB257

Committee: Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee

Keywords: supply chain resilience, critical supply chains, critical goods, manufacturing, domestic manufacturing, reshoring, nearshoring, supply chain security, supply chain shock, supply chain disruption, critical infrastructure, emerging technologies, semiconductors, microelectronics, artificial intelligence, quantum computing, robotics, advanced manufacturing, blockchain, cybersecurity