Transcript Highlights:

• So your plan shifts the population.
• Does it take any race data into account? Not to my knowledge.
• Do you know how race was taken into account?
• C, Plan C 2333.
• Regarding the 2021 redistricting map, that's Plan C-21.

Bills: SB 2, SB 5, SB 9, SB 7, SB 17, SB 4, HB4, HB1, HB3, HB20, HB22, SB9, SB7, SB17, SB4, HB4, SB2, SB5

Keywords: disaster relief, flood preparedness, emergency funding, local government support, meteorological forecasting, school assessment, public education, accountability, transparency, education standards, STAAR, Texas Education Agency, TEA, public school accountability, school ratings, A-F ratings, assessment reform, student testing, benchmark tests, interim assessments

Transcript Highlights:

• Are you accountable?
• Yes, I'm accountable to God, I'm accountable to my wife, I'm accountable to my family, I'm accountable
• Okay, you're accountable to this body, you're accountable to the people of Texas, correct?
• So you're a lawyer, you're an accountant. You're accountable to the courts.
• You're accountable.

Bills: SB 2, SB 5, SB 9, SB 7, SB 17, SB 4, HB4, HB1, HB3, HB20, HB22, SB9, SB7, SB17, SB4, HB4, SB2, SB5

Keywords: disaster relief, flood preparedness, emergency funding, local government support, meteorological forecasting, school assessment, public education, accountability, transparency, education standards, STAAR, Texas Education Agency, TEA, public school accountability, school ratings, A-F ratings, assessment reform, student testing, benchmark tests, interim assessments

Transcript Highlights:

• , I rise in strong opposition to House Bill 4, the unfair and untimely congressional redistricting plan
• This plan does not give every Texan an equal voice.
• We have got to take a real account of who we are. Of ourselves, because folks, what do we gain?
• This plan seeks to discriminate against people of color and steal congressional seats.
• That feels local, lived, and truly theirs.

Bills: SB 2, SB 5, SB 9, SB 7, SB 17, SB 4, HB4, HB1, HB3, HB20, HB22, SB9, SB7, SB17, SB4, HB4, SB2, SB5

Keywords: disaster relief, flood preparedness, emergency funding, local government support, meteorological forecasting, school assessment, public education, accountability, transparency, education standards, STAAR, Texas Education Agency, TEA, public school accountability, school ratings, A-F ratings, assessment reform, student testing, benchmark tests, interim assessments

Transcript Highlights:

• And members, we're going to call the Committee on Governmental Oversight and Accountability to order.
• For complete immunity for local governments, or a complete bar to the lawsuit for local governments who
• It's important because it preserves the pathway for accountability and... the lawsuit for local governments
• Listen to the local government doesn't just have to enact these things.
• So this is real protection for both consumers, local governments, and for businesses.

Bills: S7020, S0308, S0692, S0474, S0572, S1106, S1650, S0350, S1442, S7032

Keywords: open government, sunset review, aquaculture, public records, exemption, Florida Museum of Black History, cultural heritage, education, Board of Directors, local governance, cybersecurity, data breach, data privacy, information security, local government, county, municipality, vendor contracts, third-party service provider, liability shield

Summary: The committee heard and voted on several measures. SB 308 on the Florida Museum of Black History was explained as implementing a prior task force recommendation by designating St. Johns County as the museum site, creating a board, and coordinating with a supporting nonprofit; it passed favorably. SB 692 on cybersecurity standards and liability was amended to bar local governments from imposing cybersecurity requirements on vendors beyond generally accepted best practices, and after testimony both for and against, it was reported favorably as a committee substitute. SB 572 updated ethics law to include legally recognized foster parents and foster children in the definition of relative; after a technical amendment and support from the Ethics Commission, it passed unanimously. SB 1442 revised the long-range program plan to require more specific performance metrics and agency-specific measures; it also passed favorably. The committee also approved SB 1106, as amended by a strike-all, to require state agencies and certain educational materials to use “Judea and Samaria” instead of “West Bank,” despite opposition arguing it would impose political language and conflict with federal and international terminology. SB 7020 reenacted a public records exemption for certain aquaculture and shellfish production records and passed with support from the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. SB 474 expanded military leave and related benefits for public employees and officials, including members of the Coast Guard and Florida State Guard, and added three amendments before being reported favorably. SB 350, dealing with public records protections for crime victims and certain law enforcement victims, was heavily amended to add time-limited confidentiality for an officer’s name in some cases and then passed favorably after discussion about balancing transparency and safety. Finally, the committee approved SPB 7032 as a committee bill to shift more fleet management responsibilities from DMS to individual agencies, while still requiring data reporting to DMS for legislative oversight. SB 1650 by Senator Gates was temporarily postponed. At the end of the meeting, members recorded votes on selected bills, and the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Dean of the Senate moves to excuse Senators Miles and West on account of important business.
• suspend the 24-hour posting rule in accordance with Senate Rules 11.10 so that the Senate Committee on Local

Bills: SB 2, SB 3, SB 10, SB 16, SB 5, SB 9, SB 7, SB 17, SB 4, SB 19, SB 54, HB23, HB17, HB16, SB19, SB53, SB54, HB16, HB17, HB23, HB27, SB9, SB7, SB17, SB4, SB2, SB3, SB10, SB16, SB5

Keywords: flash flood, flood warning, outdoor warning siren, emergency alert, disaster preparedness, flood mitigation, Hill Country floods, Texas Water Development Board, municipalities, counties, local government mandate, public safety, grant program, backup power, weather siren, emergency management, flood-prone area, warning system, real property theft, real property fraud

Transcript Highlights:

• So this applies only to COH accounts. ... What about friends of type accounts?
• account.
• The bill, as written, will increase costs to our local governmental entities.
• It will be applied to any real property. account, which I think would apply.
• We actually mailed postcards to every property tax account, including all your mineral accounts.

Bills: SB 2, SB 3, SB 10, SB 16, SB 5, SB 9, SB 7, SB 17, SB 4, SB 19, SB 54, HB23, HB17, HB16, SB19, SB53, SB54, HB16, HB17, HB23, HB27, SB9, SB7, SB17, SB4, SB2, SB3, SB10, SB16, SB5

Keywords: flash flood, flood warning, outdoor warning siren, emergency alert, disaster preparedness, flood mitigation, Hill Country floods, Texas Water Development Board, municipalities, counties, local government mandate, public safety, grant program, backup power, weather siren, emergency management, flood-prone area, warning system, real property theft, real property fraud

Transcript Highlights:

• certain property tax related information to be provided by taxing units and appraisal districts to local
• to the exemption from ad valorem taxation of property owned by certain non-profit corporations to local
• I heard you had a big weekend planned so we're just trying to help you.

Bills: SB 2, SB 3, SB 10, SB 16, SB 5, SB 9, SB 7, SB 17, SB 4, SB 19, SB 54, HB23, HB17, HB16, SB19, SB53, SB54, HB16, HB17, HB23, HB27, SB9, SB7, SB17, SB4, SB2, SB3, SB10, SB16, SB5

Keywords: flash flood, flood warning, outdoor warning siren, emergency alert, disaster preparedness, flood mitigation, Hill Country floods, Texas Water Development Board, municipalities, counties, local government mandate, public safety, grant program, backup power, weather siren, emergency management, flood-prone area, warning system, real property theft, real property fraud

Transcript Highlights:

• give locals the option to collect less property taxes.
• locals have to vote on it and put it in order.
• municipality or that locale.
• It goes into an escrow account, and at the end of each month that escrow account gets emptied to that
• local municipality.

Bills: HB214, HB217, HB514, HB593, HB618, HB732, HB908, HB961, HB1010

Keywords: property tax, blighted properties, urban rehabilitation, tax exemption, local government, financial incentives, blighted property, derelict property, property tax exemption, local redevelopment plans, rehabilitation standards, ad valorem tax, community development, senior citizens, homestead exemption, Louisiana Constitution, motor vehicles, local fees, transaction fees, funding

Transcript Highlights:

• There are over 900 local... ...enough.
• Each local government entity has to petition RSA to join.
• We think this is a local decision, and that decision should be made by those local governments.
• But like Library Board... that local governing bodies, local boards... Elected.
• I guess you could do a local bill to opt out. Could you bring a local bill to opt out?

Bills: HB333, HB329, HB362

Keywords: law enforcement, training facility, regional authority, municipal cooperation, public safety, military installations, tall structures, local government, construction approval, wind energy facilities, transparency, public meetings, accountability, education, 1136, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Topical portions of the emergency plan address natural disasters, providing a copy of the emergency plan
• to local emergency management coordinators.
• In SB1, RV parks will have a plan on file with the locals.
• I asked the question, how many evacuation plans... Plans do you have access to in Kerr County?
• Did they train you on evacuation plans?

Bills: SB 9, SB 7, SB 17, SB 4, SB 1, HB4, HB4, SB9, SB7, SB17, SB4, SB1, SB2, SB5

Keywords: school assessment, public education, accountability, transparency, education standards, STAAR, Texas Education Agency, TEA, public school accountability, school ratings, A-F ratings, assessment reform, student testing, benchmark tests, interim assessments, through-year assessment, diagnostic reports, college career military readiness, CCMR, local accountability plans

Bills: SB 9, SB 7, SB 17, SB 4, SB 1, HB4, HB4, SB9, SB7, SB17, SB4, SB1, SB2, SB5

Keywords: school assessment, public education, accountability, transparency, education standards, STAAR, Texas Education Agency, TEA, public school accountability, school ratings, A-F ratings, assessment reform, student testing, benchmark tests, interim assessments, through-year assessment, diagnostic reports, college career military readiness, CCMR, local accountability plans

Transcript Highlights:

• The Senate Local and County Government Committee meeting will come to order.
• bills that's come over from the House to do some due diligence in increasing transparency and accountability
• Neighborhoods Act is designed to give property owners a structured narrow avenue of recourse when their local
• Bidding laws and may not adopt local rules that weaken or bypass those same standards.
• The local and county government will meet next week. Meeting adjourned.

Bills: HB3002, HB3416, HB3417, HB3418, HB3419, HB3463, HB3919, HB3985, HB4303

Keywords: counties, county officers, education, training, sunset law, county purchasing, procurement practices, budget management, public accountability, emergency procurement, reverse auction, bidding process, competitive bidding, public procurement, city council regulations, public works, bidding procedures, construction contracts, transparency, public trust

Transcript Highlights:

• The Senate Local and County Government Committee meeting will come to order.
• bills that's come over from the House to do some due diligence in increasing transparency and accountability
• that has not so much to do with how many papers they have, but are they accurately recording and accounting
• clarify that cities and towns will also follow the state competitive bidding laws and may not adopt local
• The Local and County Government Committee will meet next week. Meeting adjourned. Thank you.

Bills: HB3002, HB3416, HB3417, HB3418, HB3419, HB3463, HB3919, HB3985, HB4303

Keywords: counties, county officers, education, training, sunset law, county purchasing, procurement practices, budget management, public accountability, emergency procurement, reverse auction, bidding process, competitive bidding, public procurement, city council regulations, public works, bidding procedures, construction contracts, transparency, public trust

Summary: The Senate Local and County Government Committee heard and advanced several House bills focused on local government bidding, audits, ordinance publication, and county fair boards. House Bill 3418, which updates the Public Competitive Bidding Act for public construction projects and school district contracts, was amended to clarify that public agencies may still conduct preliminary procurement activities such as market research and vendor outreach; it then passed 9-0. House Bill 3463, requested by the state auditor, changes audit requirements for small municipalities under 2,500 people by moving from a biannual to an annual financial statement audit or agreed-upon procedures engagement and shortening the filing deadline; it passed 9-0. House Bill 3002 extends the sunset on the Commission on County Government, Personnel, Education, and Training to 2031 and passed 8-0. House Bill 4303 extends the deadline for municipalities to publish ordinances from 15 to 30 days and passed 8-0. House Bill 3919 would allow counties to replace the current nine-member Free Fair Association board with a five-member board elected from commissioner districts and at-large seats; it passed 8-0. House Bill 3416, also developed with the state auditor and other stakeholders, would let counties use quotes for certain smaller purchases instead of a full bidding process while keeping documentation and safeguards; it passed 7-1. House Bill 3417 would require cities and towns to follow the state competitive bidding laws and not bypass those standards through local rules; it passed 7-1. House Bill 3985, the Safe Neighborhoods Act, drew the most debate. The bill would give property owners in municipalities over 130,000 population a narrow path to seek compensation if a city adopts a policy or practice of not enforcing certain public safety laws, including laws against illegal camping, loitering, panhandling, public intoxication, drug use, and shoplifting, and that inaction reduces property values or forces mitigation costs. Supporters said it is meant to encourage enforcement of existing laws and protect business and property owners, while opponents argued it could burden under-resourced cities, criminalize vulnerable people, and rely on a questionable population threshold. The bill passed 7-2 after debate. Throughout the meeting, members also raised questions about felony and misdemeanor provisions in HB 3418, the cost and practicality of live video bid openings, and the use of a repealed statute reference in HB 3417, with the author saying he would provide follow-up clarification before floor consideration.

Transcript Highlights:

• Because the team's account is overfunded right now, so we didn't need to appropriate additional money
• And then also $100 million to go to the Department of Education to fund a grant program for local boards
• them on a local level as well.
• Local boards of education will receive an additional $225 million.
• Line 448 is the Choose Act, the education savings account of $101 million, including the administrative

Bills: SB113, SB114, SB305, SB111, HB600, SB112, SB150, SB109, SB122

Keywords: education funding, appropriations, local education boards, school safety, workforce development, Alabama, technology, higher education, career technology centers, public institutions, grants, local education agencies, RAISE Act, student outcomes, public schools, accountability, weighted allocations, special education, English language learners, gifted students

Transcript Highlights:

• More money for compression, state and local fiscal discipline, stronger limits on local property taxes
• And then it spiked right back up because of increases in local from local entities. Yes.
• This plan to provide additional compression on our school, local school taxes, which applies equally
• I wanted to provide some local perspective.
• You meant the local piece, right? That's correct. Yes, that's the local piece.

Bills: HB8, HB9, HJR1, HB 22

Keywords: HB 8, Texas public school accountability, school accountability, public school transparency, STAAR, state assessments, instructionally supportive assessment program, Student Success Tool, Texas Education Agency, TEA, accountability ratings, A-F ratings, through-year assessment, benchmark testing, norm-referenced assessment, college career military readiness, CCMR, local accountability plan, school district performance, campus turnaround

Transcript Highlights:

• What it will do is take much more of our local budgeting process to the ballot box.
• , silencing local control while creating significant issues.
• This was important in a local context. ...election, by the way, as many cases of these are a local election
• I plan to vote against Senate Bill 13. There are various reasons for that.
• Number one, many of our local public officials work part-time.

Bills: SB 10, SB 8, SB 15, SB 12, SB 6, SB 13, SB 9, SB 7, SB 17, SB 4, SB10, SB8, SB15, SB12, SB6, SB13, SB9, SB7, SB17, SB4

Keywords: sex designation, restroom access, civil penalties, private civil right of action, women's privacy, law enforcement, department file, employee records, misconduct, confidentiality, Texas occupations code, election laws, attorney general, prosecution, criminal offenses, criminal prosecution, jurisdiction, hemp, consumable hemp, hemp-derived cannabinoids

Transcript Highlights:

• Don't get me wrong, we have our issues with local government too, but this is a truly wonderful local
• So we like that flexibility at the local level.
• The checks and balances are there to hold our folks accountable.
• Local dollars and philanthropic dollars that you get locally are very familiar with this as well in his
• Strictly to strengthen local accountability by enhancing the Office of Inspector General.

Bills: HB158, HB714, HB 1198, HB1630, HB1998, HB3509, HB3788, HB3875, HB3948, HB3977, HB4097, HB4313, HB4314, HB4317, HB158

Keywords: housing, veterans, surplus government property, affordable housing, funding sources, housing assistance, homeless prevention, landlord incentives, rural housing, domestic violence, community development, tenant readiness, program participants, financial assistance, homelessness, rental support, Texas Tenant Readiness Program, tenant assistance, housing stability, Texas Department of Housing

Transcript Highlights:

• It ensures that local government stays focused on the primary issues of local government and doesn't
• Plan that is currently required under Chapter 395 of the Local Government Code.
• This bill is about smart local investment.
• The spirit of it is, who do I know is local?
• They were brought up as local...

Bills: HB158, HB714, HB 1198, HB1630, HB1998, HB3509, HB3788, HB3875, HB3948, HB3977, HB4097, HB4313, HB4314, HB4317, HB158

Keywords: housing, veterans, surplus government property, affordable housing, funding sources, housing assistance, homeless prevention, landlord incentives, rural housing, domestic violence, community development, tenant readiness, program participants, financial assistance, homelessness, rental support, Texas Tenant Readiness Program, tenant assistance, housing stability, Texas Department of Housing

Transcript Highlights:

• Well, I was just curious about on three and four the differences between the local boards and the state
• I'm looking at local boards. I'm looking at line 122.
• That's helping our superintendent who would have to handle that at the local level.

Bills: SB305, SB109, SB122, SB111, SB114, SB113, SB150, SB112, SB289, SB303

Keywords: education funding, RAISE Act, student outcomes, public schools, local education agencies, accountability, weighted allocations, special education, English language learners, gifted students, Tuskegee University, Alabama Education Trust Fund, appropriation, agricultural research, Southern Preparatory Academy, fiscal responsibility, financial reporting, Education Savings Accounts, RAISE Fund, CHOOSE Act Fund

Transcript Highlights:

• appropriates for education don't always get spent in a way that benefits the taxpayers who foot the local
• Arizona supports transparency and accountability with our tax dollars, including in education spending
• Classroom site funding is where it comes from, and this ensures real accountability.
• Classroom site funding is where it comes from, and this ensures real accountability while maintaining
• They receive state, local, and federal funds.

Bills: HB2035, HB2041, HB2611, HB2860, HB4004, HB4049, SCR1032

Keywords: kinship care, child welfare, foster care, relative placement, child protection, child neglect, financial resources, behavioral health, Christian Science treatment, parental rights, group homes, children's rights, safety protocols, employee training, mental health, child safety, oversight, independent committee, transparency, accountability