Transcript Highlights:

• If the builder's willing to take the financial risk of starting without having access to water, how does
• Tamika Motley: ...getting paid astronomical amounts of money and so are able to benefit financially and
• One, because of price and the rise of interest rates.
• can afford a home with the current Charlie Coleman: costs, size of homes, and of course interest rates
• are now supporting those children financially to the tune of about $1400 a month on average.

Bills: HB602 , HB1322 , HB1930 , HB2225 , HB2304 , HB2494 , HB3275 , HB3810 , HB3919

Committee: House Land & Resource Management

Keywords: affordable housing, land use, zoning, urban planning, community development, housing crisis, mixed-use development, sustainability, municipal utility district, board of directors, qualifications, land ownership, Texas, taxation, residency, municipal approval, subdivision plans, local governance, plats, local government

Transcript Highlights:

• But the vast, vast majority of the hundreds of thousands of invalid licenses... come from poverty.
• of HB1414.
• The financial impact of these crimes is substantial.
• one of the only limited number of investigations that can be filed in the state of Texas.
• I became interested in this bill because I was a victim of jugging a few weeks ago, and I was here before

Bills: HB316 , HB353 , HB 1160 , HB1414 , HB1422 , HB1443 , HB1713 , HB1789 , HB1902 , HB2073 , HB2666 , HB2695 , HB316

Committee: House Criminal Jurisprudence

Keywords: motor fuel, criminal offense, metering device, organized crime, Texas Penal Code, trespassing, school safety, day-care centers, education, trespass, public safety, utility employees, criminal penalties, assault, harassment, public duties, safety, law enforcement, driving offenses, license regulations

Transcript Highlights:

• Well, if the builder's willing to take the financial risk of starting without having access to water,
• One, because of price and the rise of interest rates makes it virtually 85%.
• I think now, at today's interest rates, 85% of the people cannot afford a home at today's income.
• And, of course, interest rates between 6 and 7 percent.
• are now supporting those children financially to the tune of about $1,400 a month on average.

Bills: HB602 , HB1322 , HB1930 , HB2225 , HB2304 , HB2494 , HB3275 , HB3810 , HB3919

Committee: House Land & Resource Management

Keywords: affordable housing, land use, zoning, urban planning, community development, housing crisis, mixed-use development, sustainability, municipal utility district, board of directors, qualifications, land ownership, Texas, taxation, residency, municipal approval, subdivision plans, local governance, plats, local government

Transcript Highlights:

• It's not just a matter of growth; it's a matter of survival.
• I don't know if you've seen or heard of any of the things. Yes.
• Cruz, you know, when we get this effort started, there's a lot of companies already showing strong interest
• Yes, we are super busy, and there is a lot of interest in Texas at this time.
• The Department of Labor is reporting that since January of 2024 to January of 2025, the average Texan

Bills: HB 112 , HB199 , HB621 , HB1349 , HB2214 , HB3466 , HB3698 , HB3699 , HCR9 , HB112 , HB199 , HCR9

Committee: House Trade, Workforce & Economic Development

Keywords: science park district, economic development, technology innovation, higher education collaboration, infrastructure development, Texas Economic Development Office, workforce development, unemployment benefits, state average unemployment rate, benefit year, economic support, Texas Workforce Commission, property owners' association, free speech, assembly rights, government officials, political candidates, floodplain, landlord, tenant

Summary: The Committee on Trade, Workforce and Economic Development met with a quorum and moved quickly through a long agenda, hearing testimony and taking recorded votes on several bills. Early in the meeting, HB 2214 was laid out to exempt certain short-term residential leases and leaseback arrangements from flood-disclosure requirements; Texas Realtors supported the change, and the bill was left pending. The committee then voted out a series of pending measures, including HB 46, HB 186 (with a committee substitute), HB 431, HB 1147, HB 1154, HB 2468, HB 2488, HB 2788 (with a substitute), HB 2791 (with a substitute), HB 3260, and HCR 90, all reported favorably to the full House, with HB 1147 receiving two nays and the others passing unanimously or nearly so. A major portion of the hearing focused on HB 112, which would create a Texas Science Park district and commission to support advanced manufacturing and innovation sites. The bill’s author and supporters, including Samsung Austin Semiconductor, the Texas Association of Business, and the Governor’s economic development office, argued it would strengthen supply chains, attract investment, and support national security and workforce development. Testimony described interest from semiconductor and advanced manufacturing companies and referenced the model of foreign science parks such as Sinshu in Taiwan. HB 112 was left pending after testimony. The committee also heard HB 3698 and HB 3699, both related to unemployment insurance administration. HB 3698 would expand eligibility for the Reemployment Services and Eligibility Assessment program using federal funds, while HB 3699 would tighten the definition of “last work” to help the Texas Workforce Commission investigate UI fraud. Both bills were discussed with TWC resource witnesses and left pending after the committee withdrew the substitutes. HB 1349, which would extend HOA transparency and property-rights provisions to condominiums and refine HOA rules, and HB 621, which would require HOA meeting spaces to be available for residents to reserve for qualified political candidates or elected officials, were also heard and left pending. Finally, the committee heard HCR 9 to designate the first Saturday of each month as Small Business Saturday, HB 199 to index unemployment benefit duration to the state unemployment rate, and HB 3466 to exempt certain cancelable service contracts from Texas’s in-home sales cooling-off law; each drew supportive and opposing testimony and was left pending before adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• Consider financial viability, preventing unnecessary closures that would harm individuals in need of
• I think there's real value here, obviously, a lot of interest.
• for these Procedures must be free of potential conflict of interest.
• Rather, it ensures they are truly being administered correctly in the best interest of the children.
• in this space because of the statement made to me by a hospital administrative doctor.

Bills: SB437 , SB528 , SB626 , SB636 , SB884 , SB968 , SB1044 , SB1608 , SB2336

Committee: Senate Health & Human Services

Keywords: healthcare, training, abuse, neglect, penalties, chemical dependency, safety, regulation, inpatient competency restoration, competency restoration, forensic mental health, mental health law, criminal competency, incompetent to stand trial, Chapter 46B, HHSC, Health and Human Services Commission, state hospital, behavioral health, local mental health authority

Transcript Highlights:

• Outbursts of vocal displays of support or opposition from visitors in the audience are prohibited, and
• So, um, but so y'all would be supportive of some of the drought opt-out language.
• They are part of the judicial system, a valuable part of the judicial system.
• Do you, do you have a sense of what type of cases most of these judges are hearing?
• This addresses the needs of, uh, by amending specific provisions of Chapter 1049 of the Special District

Bills: HB1845 , HB2192 , HB2438 , HB2529 , HB2607 , HB2658 , HB3348 , HB3505 , HB3305

Committee: House S/C on County & Regional Government

Keywords: rural prosecution, salary assistance, staffing grant, legal support, criminal justice, fireworks, permit requirements, sale, county regulations, public safety, hospital district, administration, elections, director qualifications, public contracts, salary supplement, county judges, judicial functions, state law, government compensation

Transcript Highlights:

• hundreds of thousands of dollars.
• Consistency and equity to the franchise tax treatment of key financial transactions.
• So this is kind of like a projected view of what the financial impact could be. Thank you.
• House Bill 511 adds a property tax exemption for unpaid care of individuals on the interest list for
• If any cities are against this amendment, they should not be, based on their past statements of how much

Bills: HB511 , HB972 , HB 1035 , HB2481 , HB2723 , HB2742 , HB2894 , HB2962 , HB3077 , HB3093 , HB3307 , HB3684 , HJR67 , HJR72

Committee: House Ways & Means

Keywords: ad valorem taxation, caregiver exemption, Medicaid, long-term services, tax relief, assisted living, housing support, property tax exemption, caregiver support, residence homestead, tax exemption, unpaid caregiver, state tax code, property tax, caregiver, waiting list, intellectual disability, developmental disability, ad valorem tax, family support

Bills: SB8 , SB650 , SB667 , SB779 , SB1349 , SB1355 , SB1378 , SB1585 , SB1721 , SB2312

Committee: Senate State Affairs

Keywords: immigration enforcement, ICE agreements, sheriff grants, law enforcement, county jail, federal immigration law, China, Chinese-affiliated entities, Chinese military companies, People's Republic of China, Chinese Communist Party, divestment, state pension funds, public retirement systems, Teacher Retirement System, Employees Retirement System, Permanent School Fund, Texas Comptroller, foreign investment, national security

Transcript Highlights:

• The members of the Texas Medical Disclosure Panel have a conflict of interest in the sense that they
• I am not interested in putting the trial lawyers back in charge. ...of the practice of medicine in this
• In the interest of justice, I ask that you oppose House Bill 32. Thank you.
• Many of those deaths are tied to homelessness, financial hardship, and loss of dignity.
• Now, of course, we know that students are overwhelmingly financially insecure, and not for lack of trying

Bills: HB32 , HB15 , HB171 , HB421 , HB581 , HB644 , HB745 , HB349 , HB917 , HB204 , HB923 , HB15 , HB171 , HB204

Committee: House Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence

Keywords: eviction, landlord rights, tenant rights, justice court, property law, court procedures, chemical dependency, court-ordered treatment, mental health, health care, treatment facility, juvenile justice, criminal justice reform, deep fake, digital impersonation, age verification, private cause of action, explicit content, consumer protection, HB 581

Transcript Highlights:

• This provision ensures that only shareholders with a substantial financial actual interest in the company
• A lot of time, it's cost us tens of millions of dollars in working to defend that case.
• Speaking in favor of House Bill 581, I just want to give a little bit of kind of background of the state
• of a deepfake of somebody at their school.
• conflict of interest.

Bills: HB32 , HB15 , HB171 , HB421 , HB581 , HB644 , HB745 , HB349 , HB917 , HB204 , HB923 , HB15 , HB171 , HB204

Committee: House Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence

Keywords: eviction, landlord rights, tenant rights, justice court, property law, court procedures, chemical dependency, court-ordered treatment, mental health, health care, treatment facility, juvenile justice, criminal justice reform, deep fake, digital impersonation, age verification, private cause of action, explicit content, consumer protection, HB 581

Transcript Highlights:

• The Speaker pulled a lot of us into his conference room, and we worked out a lot of these details.
• teachers who are being hurt on the job because of a lot of behavioral challenges our babies have.
• There are no opponents that I know of. There are no opponents that I know of.
• in the state of Alabama.
• I'm aware of one, but again...

Bills: SB1 , SB83 , SB159 , SB160 , SB1

Committee: Senate Finance and Taxation Education

Keywords: workers' compensation, public education, employee injury, insurance trust fund, on-the-job injury, administrative procedures, adult-size changing table, changing station, accessible restroom, public bathroom, public building, public entity, ADA, Americans with Disabilities Act, accessibility, restroom renovation, new construction, grant program, state grant, local government facilities

Transcript Highlights:

• Yeah, no, our program doesn't run out of money. All right, interesting. Thank you.
• I come as a citizen of the great State of Texas, the envy of the whole country, and it's my birthplace
• And it wasn't because... of a lack of funding or a lack of attempts.
• There are no redundancies in any of the regulations of each facility.
• In certain areas of Texas, an area of land up until a railway may be annexed, but the land of the same

Bills: SB250 , SB375 , SB536 , SB845 , SB1633 , SB1944 , SB1957 , SB2081 , SB2137 , SB2262 , SB2299 , SB2419 , SB2452 , SB2522 , SB2549 , SB2594 , SB2605 , SB2631 , SB2639 , SB2675 , SB3029 , SJR60 , HB22 , HB1392 , HB2525 , HB22

Committee: Senate Local Government

Keywords: municipal annexation, railroad, adjacent areas, local government, property rights, healthcare provider, Harris County Hospital District, hospital funding, healthcare services, public health program, home loans, nurses, veterans, public servants, Texas Heroes program, low-interest loans, social workers, housing assistance, SB 1633, Texas Tax Code

Transcript Highlights:

• With that loss of oversight and financial acumen, the housing authority is now placed at risk that these
• This was interesting to me because I'm a member of the board of directors of Downtown Dallas, Inc., and
• This creates an unfortunate conflict of interest that manifests itself in self-serving decisions, such
• I had a friend by the name of Billy Pruitt. Okay. Interesting.
• owner. without consideration of the risks and financial impact that such a designation might impose

Bills: HB22 , SB250 , SB375 , SB536 , SB845 , SB1633 , SB1944 , SB1957 , SB2081 , SB2137 , SB2262 , SB2299 , SB2419 , SB2452 , SB2522 , SB2549 , SB2594 , SB2605 , SB2631 , SB2639 , SB2675 , SB3029 , SJR60 , HB22 , HB1392 , HB2525

Committee: Senate Local Government

Keywords: emergency communication, broadband, funding, natural disasters, technology, HB 22, Texas broadband development office, comptroller, emergency communications, early warning systems, disaster alerts, natural disaster notifications, interoperable communications, interoperable emergency radio, public safety communications, 9-1-1, next generation 9-1-1, NG911, broadband grants, low-interest loans

Transcript Highlights:

• on statements of economic interest.
• /c> statements of economic interest and this statements of economic interest and this bill<00:03:54.159
• </c><00:21:29.880><c> because</c> statement of econom interest and because statement of econom interest
• ><c> um</c> short statement of economic interest um short statement of economic interest um to<00:43:
• ><c> I'm</c> out a statement of economic interest I'm out a statement of economic interest I'm not<00

Committee: Senate Elections

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I don't know if Representative Thomas would be interested in some sort of amendment to address that and
• We've heard lots of interesting debate, and I think there's lots of legitimate questions come up.
• You know, we've abated hundreds of millions of dollars worth of taxes, given lots of money, we put lots
• inefficiency, but because of the lack of leverage of a smaller, of a larger chain, I'm sorry.
• Because of the lack of that leverage of a larger chain, I'm sorry.

Bills: HB267 , HB478 , HB617 , HB659 , HB800 , HB922 , HB924 , HB947 , HB1166 , HB1223

Committee: House Commerce

Keywords: home inspectors, board membership, licensing, term limits, Louisiana State Board, utility, reimbursement, overcharges, consumer protection, economic relief, hidden fees, junk fees, drip pricing, price transparency, mandatory fees, surcharges, unfair trade practices, advertising disclosures, total price, service fees

Bills: SCR74 , SR68 , SCR108 , SCR76 , SCR150 , SR141 , SCR69 , SR64 , SCR25 , SR22

Keywords: no-bid contracts, emergency procurement, audit, state agencies, public funds, accountability, auditor, state and county agencies, government accountability, emergency declarations, easement, submerged lands, drainage, Kahala Hotel, Oahu, state land regulations, biomarker testing, health insurance, precision medicine, H.B. No. 1971

Transcript Highlights:

• I know you've done a lot of work on this, and I certainly am interested in making it safer for people
• It comes out of our budget. The main thing that a lot of them are interested in is the actual wage.
• <c> to</c><01:03:12.799><c> get</c> hundreds of billions of dollars to get hundreds of billions of dollars
• </c><01:40:28.719><c> we</c> motives of people on this side of we motives of people on this side of we
• </c> value of 63,000. value of 63,000.

Bills: HF3694 , HF3844 , HF4006 , HF3785 , HF3849 , HF4102 , HF3441 , HF3507 , HF3562

Committee: House Transportation Finance and Policy

Keywords: transportation, tow trucks, variable message signs, road safety, emergency service, optometrist, window glazing, motor vehicle regulations, medical prescriptions, transportation safety, infrastructure, construction, appropriation, state project, motorized bicycles, motorcycles, electric vehicles, transportation regulations, safety standards, dealer license

Transcript Highlights:

• of my generally outside of the purview of my own. own. own.
• </c> out of state. out of state.
• of a number of and again I've heard of a number of these<00:50:00.800><c> stories</c><00:50:01.200><c
• That would need financial impacts of it.
• I cannot get over the fact that with all of the financial hardships that's being thrust upon us on the

Bills: SB2190 , SB2338 , SB2424 , SB2356 , SB2981 , SB3028 , SB3187 , SB2378 , SB2398 , SB2192 , SB2155 , SB3219 , SB3218

Committee: House Housing

Keywords: affordable housing, employment contracts, salary caps, housing finance, public housing authority, executive compensation, parking minimums, off-street parking, transit-oriented development, TOD, housing supply, smart growth, redevelopment, adaptive reuse, micro units, rail transit, public transit stations, county zoning, land use, urban planning

Summary: The House Housing Committee heard testimony on a series of housing-related Senate bills. SB 2190 SD2 on inclusionary zoning drew support from HHFDC, Hawaii YIMBY, Grassroot Institute, Housing Hawaii’s Future, and Hako Seed Center, with opposition from OHA and Aloha Independent Living Hawaii. SB 2338 SD1, dealing with housing agency personnel authority, received comments from the Attorney General cautioning that the bill should be clarified to avoid conflicts with civil service and collective bargaining laws and recommending removal of a provision limiting employment contracts; HHFDC said its comments addressed those concerns and supported the measure. SB 2424 SD1, concerning HHFDC, received broad support from housing, business, and community groups, with one opposition. Testimony focused on changing the definition of “qualified resident” so people who already own an HHFDC-assisted unit could later purchase another if their housing needs change; HHFDC said the current rule forces people to sell before buying again and that the bill would help people move up the housing ladder and encourage more housing development. SB 2356 on parking also drew broad support from state agencies, housing advocates, business groups, and local officials, with Unite Here Local 5 in opposition. SB 2981 on land use had strong support from many organizations and 67 individuals, with Unite Here Local 5 opposing. SB 3028 SD2 on property conveyance generated the most detailed policy debate. Supporters, including Catholic Charities Hawaii, Hawaii Children’s Action Network, Indivisible Hawaii, and others, backed restructuring the conveyance tax into a marginal rate system and urged changes to revenue allocations, including dedicated funding for homeless services, DHHL, and the rental housing revolving fund. The Tax Foundation of Hawaii supported the marginal-rate concept but opposed dedicated special-fund allocations and criticized the bill’s blank sections. Committee members questioned the historical purpose of the conveyance tax, and the Tax Foundation explained it was originally a modest tax tied to property-value tracking when the state still ran the property tax system. The committee also heard SB 3187 SD2 on off-site construction, SB 2378 SD2 on housing permitting, and SB 2398 SD2 on residential housing utilities. OPSD supported SB 3187 but said it preferred the House version and wanted clarification that off-site certification should apply to factories in Hawaii, not out of state, to avoid outsourcing labor; it also suggested starting with a small scope. SB 2378 SD2 drew support from engineering, housing, and labor groups, with testimony that the House version included needed fixes to make the program insurable. On SB 2398 SD2, the Board of Water Supply opposed the bill, saying it could require disclosure of sensitive infrastructure information beyond ordinary water-availability assessments and raise critical-infrastructure and cybersecurity concerns; developers and housing groups supported the measure. No votes or final actions were taken in the portion of the hearing provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands
• to the flag of the United States<00:01:07.600><c> of</c><00:01:07.680><c> America</c><00:01:08.760><
• Under existing law, members of the Under existing law, members of the National<00:01:53.600><c> Guard
• This is not one of those.
• This is not one of those. nitty-gritty. This is not one of those.

Bills: SB216 , SB229 , SB216 , SB229

Committee: House Military and Veterans Affairs

Keywords: retired law enforcement, retirement benefits, employment, firemedics, salary cap, released time, religious instruction, elective credit, public schools, K-12 education, school board policy, church-state separation, parochial education, Bible class, faith-based instruction, student release, attendance credit, State Board of Education, local school board, parental consent

Transcript Highlights:

• We've seen an uptick in interest with western heritage, so lots of urban cowboys, if you will.
• I am going to skip our next one in the interest of time. I cannot get this to work.
• Again, some examples of more examples of the creative.
• Many of the projects will require an average of 20 to 25 years of investment, which is why the current
• And one of the main reasons they chose to move to Iowa is not the financial incentive.

Bills: SB1307 , SB1425 , SB1826 , SB1365 , SB1696

Committee: Senate Economic Development, Workforce and Tourism

Keywords: Oklahoma Historical Society, Oklahoma Arts Council, J.M. Davis Memorial Commission, historical preservation, arts funding, museum, gun collection, state agency contracts, 501(c)(3), nonprofit corporation, public funds, sectarian, religious funding restriction, appropriations, fiscal oversight, cultural institutions, historical artifacts, SB1425, health care, healthcare workforce