Transcript Highlights:

• Across for consumers, clean drinking water, fresh water, computers, smartphones, transportation needs
• And advocate for clean water across Texas.
• And to be clear, the needs for clean water and funding, funding in Texas are immense.
• Water SRF or Clean Water State Revolving Fund.
• It's now time to prioritize a statewide clean water plan.

Committee: House Natural Resources

Transcript Highlights:

• Across for consumers, clean drinking water, fresh water, computers, smartphones. transportation needs
• The industry has already implemented treatment processes to produce what they call a clean brine.
• And Texas Association of Clean Water Agencies where I serve as executive director.
• And to be clear, the needs for clean water and funding in Texas are immense.
• Water SRF or Clean Water State Revolving Fund.

Committee: House Natural Resources

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• But actually saying, 'That's it, go to your room and don't come out until it's clean,' or 'That's it,
• But actually saying, 'That's it, go to your room and don't come out until it's clean,' or 'That's it,
• But actually saying, 'That's it, go to your room and don't come out until it's clean,' or 'That's it,
• But actually saying, 'That's it, go to your room and don't come out until it's clean,' or 'That's it,
• But actually saying, 'That's it, go to your room and don't come out until it's clean,' or 'That's it,

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The subcommittee continued work on HB 553, a bipartisan bill to update the child protection act’s definitions, especially around abuse, neglect, psychological maltreatment, and serious impairment. Supporters said the current law is outdated, vague, and too limited to address modern child welfare concerns, and argued the bill is intended to create clearer standards for DCF/DCYF, courts, and parents without adding criminal penalties or expanding authority to remove children. They also noted the bill had been developed over months of bipartisan work and that similar concepts exist in other states; a committee researcher had circulated a comparison of 17 states with prenatal and substance-use-related provisions. A major focus was whether the bill should include a more explicit definition of emotional abuse. Some members argued that the bill’s current language is not specific enough and could leave parents without fair notice, while others said the bill already addresses the issue through definitions of psychological maltreatment, emotional harm, and serious impairment. Office of Child Advocate staff explained that the drafting process intentionally avoided defining every emotional-abuse term separately and instead used a pattern-based psychological maltreatment standard with examples such as threatening, demeaning, humiliating, and belittling behavior. They said those provisions were drawn from other states and were meant to fill gaps seen in cases involving severe emotional harm and injured infants. The committee also discussed trauma-informed language related to substance use disorder and pregnancy. Members said the amendment was intended to avoid discouraging pregnant people with substance use disorder from seeking medical care, while still allowing intervention when a child is substance-exposed; they noted the proposal would include an exemption when a licensed health care provider is monitoring the pregnancy. Several members emphasized that the bill is meant to protect children while also giving parents clearer notice of prohibited conduct, and one member raised concerns about how the bill could affect other legislation dealing with criminal neglect. No vote or final action was taken in the portion of the meeting provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• in that statutory language were certain amounts of funds appropriated to compensate for validated claims
• Those were claims that we needed to pay before we could get through that administrative rule process.
• and I should go back on the temporary rule, we've already been engaged in compensating for those claims
• and I should go back on the temporary rule, we've already been engaged in compensating for those claims
• since it's been into effect. engaged in compensating for those claims since it's been into effect.

Committee: House Agricultural Affairs

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• WHAT CHANGES TO THE CLAIMS PROCESS DO YOU FORESEE COMING WITH THESE CHANGES TO THE DRUG PRICES.
• I'M NOT SURE I UNDERSTAND THE QUESTION, WHAT CHANGES TO THE CLAIM PROCESS?
• THE CLAIM PATTERN.
• MOSTLY HOW TO FILE CLAIMS, WOULD THERE BE ANY CHANGES TO THAT CLAIM PATTERN IF THE DRUG PRICING RESULTS
• DRUG PRICES ARE COMING DOWN, CLAIMS ARE JUST DIFFERENT PRICES.

Transcript Highlights:

• she spoke so authoritatively on the legal strength of the case when she was, according to her own claim
• And we've just heard in the Budget Committee, the OMB director claimed that it was rigged.
• She claimed there was a peaceful transfer of power in 2021, part of the effort to erase January 6.
• Ash Patel claimed, "I don't believe he has an enemies list," except that Patel had posted the list to
• Bondi claimed to be unfamiliar with the 14th Amendment and the Citizenship Clause within it.

Committee: Senate Senate Judiciary

Transcript Highlights:

• The inmates are the guards that come to keep the property clean.
• They have a committee, but nobody steps up and cleans it. Nobody keeps it up.
• I’m sure they want it clean. I think we all—it's an eyesore, yeah.
• And different churches come out, as I said, and clean it.
• So this kind of cleaned it up a lot better.

Keywords: 965, house, all

Summary: The House Municipal Committee met at 12:09 p.m. with a quorum present and heard several local government bills. HB 990 by Rep. Lyons, supported by Jefferson Parish, would extend lien/privilege authority for unpaid sewerage and water service charges to Jefferson Parish, including issues involving multifamily properties with master meters. After questions about tenant impacts and administrative burden, the committee reported the bill favorably with no objection. HB 1087 by Rep. Adams, authorizing the City of Zachary to use certain inmates to cut grass in a private cemetery, drew significant concern from members about using unpaid prison labor on private property, the lack of clear ownership/contact with the cemetery board, and whether the property should instead be acquired or otherwise addressed. After discussion, the author withdrew the motion and the committee voluntarily deferred the bill to a later meeting. HB 893 by Rep. Knox, concerning the New Orleans Sewerage and Water Board, and HB 1007, creating the Foeberg Nouveau-Marine Improvement District in New Orleans Parish, were both reported favorably without objection. HB 1153 by Rep. Coates would allow parishes and municipalities to declare and enforce burn bans. The committee adopted amendments clarifying publication, lifting bans when risk subsides, and adjusting penalties, and then reported the bill favorably as amended. HB 1215 by Rep. Baham, dealing with the disposition of removed historical statues and monuments through the Lieutenant Governor’s Office of State Parks, was amended to require coordination rather than imposing costs solely on local governments, but members raised concerns about fiscal impact, local zoning authority, and the need for the lieutenant governor’s staff; the bill was voluntarily deferred for two weeks. HB 362 by Rep. Newell creating the Regency Park Townhomes Crime Prevention and Security District was reported favorably, while HB 484 on the New Orleans Regional Business Park was deferred after confusion over a proposed amendment and board appointment changes. Several other bills and resolutions were also deferred, and the committee adjourned after announcing the next agenda would include the deferred items.

Transcript Highlights:

• Management of these lands is specifically designed to produce more cold, clean water for summer spawning
• private investment to provide Washingtonians low-cost financing for solar energy, efficiency, and clean
• We will revolve these funds, so this investment will continue financing clean energy projects statewide
• funds a low-interest loan program that's used to provide critical infrastructure, whether that be clean
• funds a low-interest loan program that's used to provide critical infrastructure, whether that be clean

Bills: SB6003

Committee: Senate Ways & Means

Keywords: capital budget, funding, infrastructure, state projects, budget allocation, 904, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We are cleaning it up. There is a good process.
• We are cleaning it up. There is a good process.
• We are cleaning it up. There is a good process.
• We are cleaning it up. There is a good process.
• We are cleaning it up. There is a good process.

Committee: Joint Natural Resources & Energy

Keywords: Meeting Start 00:00:00 Attendance Roll Call 00:01:40 Chair Comments 00:02:51 Rep. Nima Kulkarni PFAS Presentation 00:04:35 EEC PFAS Presentation 00:39:36 Rusty Cress PFAS Presentation 01:01:10 Chair Comments on Admin Regs and Reports Received 01:14:41, 958, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The actions that we take are waste discharge requirements and NPDES permits under the Clean Water Act
• It was capped with a clean... It was clean sand.
• So we provided the City of San Diego, for example, with a progressive permit to clean channels so they
• I better understand the comment that you made as the federal government pulls back on clean water and
• So both a combination of non-battery energy storage as well as clean energy production.

Summary: The hearing of the Select Committee on Sea Level Rise and the California Economy focused on infrastructure, pollution, climate resilience, public health, access, and economic impacts of sea level rise in California, with an emphasis on San Diego and the Bay Area. Chair Tasha Boerner Horvath opened by describing the committee’s purpose, the state’s sea level rise action planning, and the need for better monitoring and early warning systems. She also referenced her prior bills AB 66 and AB 72, which supported Scripps research on coastal bluff collapse warning capabilities. Assembly Members David Alvarez and Jessica Caloza later joined and emphasized that sea level rise affects not only coastal communities but inland areas as well, and that the issue should inform future legislative and budget decisions. In the first panel, Dr. Mark Merrifield of Scripps Institution of Oceanography described observed sea level rise of roughly 0.8 to 0.9 feet since the early 1900s, with acceleration expected by mid-century and potentially much greater rise by 2100 depending on emissions. He highlighted flooding, groundwater rise, beach and cliff erosion, salinization, and risks to transportation, sewage, ports, and national security. Dave Gibson of the San Diego Regional Water Quality Control Board discussed how sea level rise affects wastewater systems, stormwater, contaminated sites, wetlands, and coastal groundwater basins, and said the board is requiring climate adaptation planning, updating stormwater permits, and seeking more flexible state permitting and mitigation tools. Members and witnesses also discussed the need for better mapping, more monitoring, and more state funding, especially if federal support from NOAA and other agencies declines. The second panel addressed public health, equitable access, and local economies. Ramon Chiras of Un Mar de Colores described how sea level rise, pollution, and access barriers threaten the Tijuana River Valley and Imperial Beach, especially for underserved communities and youth programs that rely on safe, welcoming access to the ocean. He stressed the cultural and spiritual importance of coastal access and the need for water safety and environmental education. Jessica Fane of the San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission explained that the Bay Area faces major economic exposure from sea level rise, citing a regional estimate of $96 billion in adaptation costs versus $230 billion in potential losses from inaction, and said BCDC is working with local governments under SB 272 on shoreline adaptation planning, funding, and regulatory innovation. Members discussed the tension between environmental permitting and the need to move projects faster, including the possibility of planned retreat in some areas and the use of simultaneous permitting and longer-term state authority to streamline adaptation work. In the final panel, Philip Gibbons of the Port of San Diego described the port’s climate adaptation efforts and its vulnerability assessments under AB 691. He said the port manages state tidelands, supports maritime commerce and recreation, and is already seeing flooding at king tides and during El Niño events, including storm-drain backflow and damage to bikeways and parks. He explained that future sea level rise could inundate major port areas and disrupt operations, underscoring the need for continued planning, mitigation, and infrastructure investment. The hearing did not take formal votes, but it concluded with a clear call for more science, funding, coordination, and regulatory streamlining to prepare California’s coast and nearby communities for worsening sea level rise impacts.

Transcript Highlights:

• Bill S. 6078 by Senator Parker: an act to amend the workers' compensation law in relation to certain claims
• a TWU event in Jersey, where the statute of limitations for her to actually file a death benefits claim
• The statute of limitations for her to actually file a death benefits claim had already expired by the
• a re-opener to allow those families a one-year period of time to be able to file a death benefits claim

Committee: Senate Labor

Keywords: 993, senate, all

Summary: The Senate Standing Committee on Labor, chaired by Senator Jessica Ramos, met for its sixth meeting of the 2026 session and considered seven bills. The committee advanced bills on the minimum wage for employees with disabilities (S-28C), modular construction work (S.2225), COVID-19-related workers’ compensation death benefits (S.6078), withholding of workers’ compensation benefits based on attachment to the labor market (S.6376), paid sick leave eligibility (S.8677), mandatory disclosures in job advertisements (S.8877), and construction reporting pay-up (S.9843). Several members voiced support for the bills, and Senator Rhoads gave extended remarks in favor of S.6078, describing it as a needed reopening of the filing period for families who missed the deadline during the pandemic. Most measures were reported out of committee with little opposition. S-28C was reported to the Disabilities Committee, S.6078 and S.6376 were reported to Finance, and S.8677, S.8877, and S.9843 were reported to the calendar. The committee took voice votes on each bill, with some recorded abstentions or absent-without-recommendation responses noted, but no roll-call vote was taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• I think Senator Frentz deserves clean water too.
• I think Senator Frentz deserves clean water too.
• I think Senator Frentz deserves clean water too.
• I think Senator Frentz deserves clean water too.
• </c><00:51:25.640><c> water</c> he certainly wants you know clean water he certainly wants you know clean

Committee: Senate Finance

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And then, based on those standards, we create, for fishable, swimmable, drinkable, as is in the Clean
• Water Act and the Clean Air Act and the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, or RCRA for short.
• Water Act and the Clean Air Act and the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, or RCRA for short.
• So just to note, that piece is, of course, cleaning up contaminated properties.
• up pollution, cleaning up pollution is really the most expensive type of work that we do.

Bills: HF276 , HF413 , HF411

Committee: House Environment and Natural Resources Finance and Policy

Keywords: human services, Medical Assistance, Medicaid, long-term services and supports, LTSS, public assistance, application process, eligibility determination, customer service survey, wait times, form complexity, lead agencies, Department of Human Services, Department of Children Youth and Families, streamlining, administrative reform, case management, reassessment, intake system, adaptive eligibility form

Transcript Highlights:

• It's just defunct, and so we're just going to clean this off the books.
• It's just a defunct, and so we're just going to clean this off the books.
• So we're just going to clean this off the books.
• She said SB 1236 was seen as janitorial work to clean up Idaho Code, but she sees it differently.
• I know S1236 was seen as the janitorial work of cleaning up Idaho Code, but I see it differently.

Committee: House State Affairs

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• earlier, both carbon capture and sequestration are permitted within the current structure of the 100% clean
• Within the current structure of the 100% clean energy bill, this is duplicative and unnecessary.
• <00:01:15.759><c> so</c><00:01:16.479><c> this</c><00:01:16.680><c> is</c><00:01:17.280><c> um</c> clean
• energy bill um so this is um clean energy bill um so this is um duplicative<00:01:18.159><c> and</c>
• as it can be I mean again I as clean as it can be I mean again I think<00:02:58.200><c> this</c><00:

Committee: House Energy Finance and Policy

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• However, when an insurance claim comes through, oftentimes..."
• "However, when an insurance claim comes through, oftentimes the insurance denies it as not medically
• , especially when it comes to, it's, Seeing fraudulent claims, especially when it comes to the Attorney
• it usually affects the patient and/or the provider because the insurance may potentially deny that claim
• And so ultimately... ...because the insurance may potentially deny that claim.

Committee: House House Health & Human Services

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• unit established within an individual state attorney's office for the purpose of reviewing plausible claims
• exempt for a reasonable period of time during an active, ongoing, and good-faith investigation of a claim
• I need to be clear: if a person claiming domestic violence, they don't even have to claim violence.
• domestic violence that will be sought by the person who didn't suffer domestic violence, but wants to claim
• Through the chair, the problem, Senator Pizzo, is even if they claim they're holding that firearm in

Committee: Senate Criminal Justice

Summary: The Criminal Justice Committee met with a quorum present and temporarily postponed SB 156. The committee first considered the confirmation of Matthew Walsh as Secretary of the Department of Juvenile Justice. Walsh described his background in law enforcement, social work, and juvenile justice, and outlined DJJ priorities including recruitment and retention, staff wellness, collaboration with DCF and other agencies, aging facilities, and expanding educational and vocational opportunities for youth. Members asked about his social work training, lockout youth, bed space, recidivism, and the Florida Scholars Academy. The committee voted unanimously to favorably report his confirmation. The committee then took up SPB 704, a committee bill extending the public records exemption for conviction integrity unit reinvestigation information. Senator Martin explained that the exemption was originally created to protect active innocence reviews and should continue past its current sunset date. With no opposition or debate, the committee voted unanimously to report the bill favorably as a committee bill. Next, the committee considered CS for SB 32, as amended, which creates an injunction for protection against serious violence by a known person and adds it to the statewide injunction verification system and related enforcement provisions. Senator Sharif said the bill is intended to give judges a faster tool to protect victims who have reported serious violence to law enforcement, while supporters said it addresses cases where victims are harmed before a repeat-violence injunction can be granted. Eric Friday of Florida Carry opposed the bill, warning it could be misused against self-defense situations and create problems in cases already covered by existing injunction laws. After debate, the committee voted unanimously to report the bill favorably. The committee then considered SB 210, which extends public records protections to petitions for injunctions for protection against serious violence by a known person, including dismissed petitions and identifying information before service. There was no opposition, and the committee voted unanimously to report SB 210 favorably before adjourning.

Transcript Highlights:

• bill amends current law to allow employees as spaceflight companies to waive their right to bring claims
• This does not interfere with an employee's right to bring claims under workers' compensation laws.
• against the spaceflight entity, but not waive their claims under workers' compensation laws.
• against the spaceflight entity, but not waive their claims under workers' compensation laws.
• from other bills and other testimony, when someone’s injured and gets legal representation in the claim

Bills: HB46 , HB272

Committee: Senate State Affairs

Keywords: local government spending cap, expenditure limit, political subdivision, property tax, ad valorem tax, budget cap, taxpayer protection, spending restraint, inflation adjustment, population growth, voter approval, supermajority vote, county budget, municipal budget, school district finance, junior college district, hospital district, special district, attorney general enforcement, local fiscal limits

Summary: The Senate Committee on State Affairs heard several House bills and took no final votes, leaving each bill pending after testimony. HB 272 would align venue and evidentiary rules for fraudulent use or possession of credit/debit card information with existing credit card abuse law; the sponsor said it would improve prosecutions, and the Texas Financial Crimes Intelligence Center supported it. HB 1661 would increase penalties for certain election-related offenses, including failure to distribute election supplies and early release of election results; no substantive opposition was heard. HB 551 would protect the residential addresses of people who receive campaign expenditures on public Texas Ethics Commission reports, similar to donor privacy protections, and a witness from Texas Eagle Forum later indicated support for the privacy change. The committee also heard HB 2820, which would raise the amount charitable bingo organizations may keep in operating capital from $50,000 to $100,000. The sponsor and a Texans for Charitable Bingo representative said inflation and operating costs have made the current cap too low and that the bill would help charities maintain stable operations without expanding gaming. HB 3181 would impose stronger consequences for repeated denial of court-ordered child possession and access, including limiting probation and requiring attorney’s fees after multiple contempt findings; a family court judge and a parent testified in support, while another witness argued the bill should be paired with stronger criminal enforcement and that parents already face high costs. HB 4157 would update Texas law for commercial spaceflight by recognizing liability waivers and preserving workers’ compensation rights; no one testified against it. The committee also heard HB 4145, which would let health care providers satisfy a timely billing requirement by sending bills to a patient’s legal representative in a personal injury case, closing what supporters described as a loophole in letter-of-protection situations. Finally, HB 46, relating to the Texas Compassionate Use Program, drew the most extensive discussion: supporters said it should expand access for legitimate medical cannabis patients and add more delivery methods and conditions, while opponents warned against broader marijuana expansion and questioned adding chronic pain and other conditions. The sponsor said he still supports the program and wants a balanced, regulated expansion, but noted the bill is still being worked on. All bills were left pending at the close of the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• We had a landlord who is claiming there's an individual, the house and the residential property that
• We did treat those individuals as possible victims because they claim they were duped.
• The funds reimbursed 81 claims that were made against it of one point almost 8 million dollars.
• They're years where we have very large and claims made against the funds because a lawyer has engaged
• We have years where or the claims are lower level claims where fortunately we've been able to determine

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• He said those are externalized costs that all of us pay to clean up the mess. the Clean Water Fund the
• With the Clean Water Fund, it's Chair.
• </c> dollars on clean water of public money. dollars on clean water of public money.
• us paid to clean up the mess.
• </c><01:18:41.560><c> water</c> we all want clean water we all want clean water and<01:18:42.600><c>

Bills: HF4211 , HF3426 , HF4819 , HF3466 , HF3793 , HF3339

Committee: House Environment and Natural Resources Finance and Policy

Keywords: air pollution, lead emissions, continuous emissions monitoring system, CEMS, Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, MPCA, environmental monitoring, emission compliance, air quality, public health, industrial pollution, permitted facility, residential exposure, toxic metals, emission limits, pollution control, stack monitoring, real-time emissions monitoring, natural resources, environment