Transcript Highlights:

• It's an element from the Clean Water Act, I believe, of 1964. Don't quote me on the date.

Bills: HB1523, HB2109, HB2694, HB3525, HB3898, HB4646, HB5188, HB5219, HB5320, HB5651, HB5655, HB5659, HB5662, HB5672

Keywords: aquifer conservation, Class V injection well, environmental regulation, groundwater protection, municipal water supply, temporary prohibition, water management, reservoir construction, state water plan, Texas Water Code, environmental impact, Brazoria Drainage District, commissioners, elections, vacancies, resignation, HB 3525, North Texas Groundwater Conservation District, groundwater permit, permit amendment

Summary: The Committee on Natural Resources heard House Bill 2109, which would remove certain long-proposed reservoir projects from the state water plan after 50 years without progress. Chairman Van Deaver and many landowners, local officials, timber interests, and conservation advocates testified in support, arguing that the Marvin Nichols Reservoir has burdened Northeast Texas landowners for decades with the threat of eminent domain, depressed property values, and uncertainty over homes, farms, ranches, schools, churches, and cemeteries. Supporters also said the project would flood tens of thousands of acres, require extensive mitigation, harm timber and agriculture, and that Texas now has better alternatives such as conservation, reuse, aquifer storage and recovery, and desalination. Several members expressed sympathy for the affected families and questioned whether a project could remain in the plan indefinitely without progress. Opposition came from North Texas water interests, including the North Texas Commission, Tarrant Regional Water District, and the Texas Water Association, who argued that the bill would interfere with the state’s long-term water planning process and remove needed future supply options for a fast-growing region. They said Region C faces major projected shortages by 2070, that conservation and reuse have already delayed the need for new supplies, and that reservoirs remain one tool in the state’s water-planning toolbox. TWDB staff explained the existing inter-regional conflict process and noted that the substitute would affect several unique reservoir sites, not just Marvin Nichols. After testimony, Chairman Van Deaver closed by urging passage of the bill, but the committee withdrew the substitute and left HB 2109 pending. The committee then took up House Bill 5188, a brackish groundwater bill. The author said the bill would reduce permitting burdens for wells in designated brackish groundwater production zones, and the committee substitute added requirements on monitoring, groundwater-rights ownership, and allocation of pumpage limits while removing some exclusions and export-fee provisions. Texas Wildlife Association testified against the bill, warning that the exemptions could weaken groundwater conservation districts’ ability to protect freshwater resources and surface-owner rights. San Antonio Water System testified in favor, saying brackish groundwater is a key future supply and that the substitute would help speed development of desalination and brackish projects. The Texas Alliance of Groundwater Districts testified neutrally but raised concerns about reduced district oversight, especially around injection-well exclusions and the loss of export fees, and said discussions on the bill were ongoing.

Transcript Highlights:

• It's an element from out of the Clean Water Act, I believe of 1964.

Bills: HB1523, HB2109, HB2694, HB3525, HB3898, HB4646, HB5188, HB5219, HB5320, HB5651, HB5655, HB5659, HB5662, HB5672

Keywords: aquifer conservation, Class V injection well, environmental regulation, groundwater protection, municipal water supply, temporary prohibition, water management, reservoir construction, state water plan, Texas Water Code, environmental impact, Brazoria Drainage District, commissioners, elections, vacancies, resignation, HB 3525, North Texas Groundwater Conservation District, groundwater permit, permit amendment

Transcript Highlights:

• That's required under the Underground Injection Control Act. And that's what we.
• Do we follow that act and other than the current water sources for the city of Austin, what would be
• So House Bill 3525 seeks to amend the Enabling Act for North Texas Groundwater Conservation District.

Bills: HB1523, HB2109, HB2694, HB3525, HB3898, HB4646, HB5188, HB5219, HB5320, HB5651, HB5655, HB5659, HB5662, HB5672

Keywords: aquifer conservation, Class V injection well, environmental regulation, groundwater protection, municipal water supply, temporary prohibition, water management, reservoir construction, state water plan, Texas Water Code, environmental impact, Brazoria Drainage District, commissioners, elections, vacancies, resignation, HB 3525, North Texas Groundwater Conservation District, groundwater permit, permit amendment

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:07:42.800> life<00:07:43.800> thank<00:07:43.960> you be act acted upon
• in real life thank you be act acted upon in real life thank you would<00:07:44.199> you<00:07:
• I have been a notary. I am no longer a notary, and possibly things have changed.
• You know, UPS tells you, oh, there's a notary here. I go to The UPS Store, there's no notary.
• You know, UPS tells you, oh, there's a notary here. I go to The UPS Store, there's no notary.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Yes, I've been a notary for 25 years. I first became a notary in California.
• I became a notary public.
• And those are just some of the examples where many notaries, Black notaries, lack the knowledge that
• So in an environment where you don't have notaries,... Right, where you wouldn't need notaries.
• So it acts as a deterrent. Right.

Bills: HB5621, HB4904, HB5067, HB5076, HB5081, HB5354, HB4862, HB3847, HB4088, HB4157, HB2966, HB2287, HB4203, HB4803, HB4737, HB5093, HB783, HB5411, HB4281

Keywords: HB 5621, consumer protection, Deceptive Trade Practices Act, DTPA, Business & Commerce Code, attorney general, consumer protection division, district attorney, county attorney, local prosecutor, civil investigative demand, CID, voluntary compliance, financial institution records, bank records, privacy, protective order, in camera review, trade secrets, insurer

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, and this may act as a deterrent, uh, to individuals.
• OK, yes, I've been a notary for 25 years. I first, uh, became a notary in California.
• need to have in order to function properly as a notary.
• So, so in a, in an environment where you don't have notaries, where you wouldn't need notaries.
• So it acts as a as a deterrent deterrent, right.

Transcript Highlights:

• investigations and actions brought by the Attorney General under the Free Enterprise and Antitrust Act

Bills: SB 18, SB 34, SB82, SB1807, SB2254, HB119, HB130, HB581, HJR98, SB1988

Keywords: Texas Water Code, TCEQ, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, water permit, water appropriation, dam permit exemption, reservoir, flood control, floodwater control, erosion control, sediment control, watershed protection, flood prevention, Natural Resources Conservation Service, NRCS, USDA, local sponsor, district, authority, water infrastructure

Transcript Highlights:

• or 30.07 sign prohibiting the lawful handgun carried by a licensed holder, when a serious criminal act
• owner, which the cause of action arises from serious bodily injury or death resulting from a criminal act
• The 30.06 sign is not... this bill doesn't treat that as a criminal act. ...or the property owner is
• the following: placing plays is done at the player's own risk through a licensed sales agent who is acting
• Acting Deputy Executive Director, formerly the CFO for the Texas Lottery Commission, and here serving

Bills: SB82, SB1807, SB2254, HB119, HB130, HB581, HJR98, SB1988, SB 18, SB 34

Keywords: business liability, concealed carry, handgun policy, premises liability, criminal acts, civil liability, business premises, concealed handgun, property liability, property rights, gun regulations, criminal liability, protective order, confidentiality, personal information, court records, victim protection, charitable raffle, nonprofit, wildlife conservation

Transcript Highlights:

• The following peace officer immunity will establish a study commission to study the effect of the act
• Not the study commission because the study commission is put in place to look at the effects of the acts
• that... ...at the effects of the acts that have already happened and then to go forward from there and
• But, representative, isn't the cause of some of these acts by some law enforcement people because they
• So, HB7, so this is called the Lake and Riley Act. So, it actually predates Riley Act.

Bills: HB202, HB42, HB146, HB492, HB285, HB7, HB454, HB42, HB7

Keywords: law enforcement, immunity, civil liability, use of force, recruitment, bail reform, cash deposit, judicial discretion, criminal justice, Alabama law, youthful offender, capital murder, public safety, victims' rights, juvenile offenders, delinquent acts, juvenile court, nonfelony offenses, water safety offenses, HB285

Transcript Highlights:

• The last day to act on House Bill—oh, I'm sorry—Thursday, March 27th is the last day to act on House
• the last day to act the last day to act on<00:09:47.360> um<00:09:47.880> House<00
• I thought it just said this act.
• But we did raise this act."
• > public with the notary public the notary public with the notary public the notary public can<02

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm warning all, the board is acting up this morning, so just bear with me.
• The law that was passed did restrict the use of authentic acts or execution of authentic acts by remote
• online notary process.
• An authentic act is an act that is signed in the presence of two witnesses and a notary, and so that
• An authentic act is an act that is signed in the presence of two witnesses and a notary, and so that

Summary: The House Civil Law Committee met on May 11, 2026, with a quorum present and heard several bills and resolutions. It reported favorably without objection Senate Bill 466, which bars foreign adversaries from using expropriation authority in Louisiana and creates a narrow expropriation category for very large aerospace/LED projects of at least 20,000 contiguous acres with no residential structures. The committee also reported favorably House Bill 986, requiring child support payments from persons convicted of vehicular homicide for the benefit of a child who lost a parent. The committee then considered two constitutional amendments by Senator Morris. Senate Bill 123 would allow judges to be removed for cause by a majority vote of the legislature and certification by the governor; it was amended to change the ballot language to refer to removal for malfeasance, gross misconduct, or incompetence, and was reported favorably after a roll-call vote of 5 yeas and 1 nay, with Representative Carter voting no. Senate Bill 97 would require prosecutorial consent for a defendant to waive a jury trial, except in capital cases; after adopting Amendment Set 5277 to clarify the capital-case exception, the committee heard opposition from Chris Alexander of the Louisiana Citizens Advocacy Group and then reported the measure favorably by a 5-1 vote, again with Representative Carter voting no. The committee also heard Senate Concurrent Resolution 35, which urges the Louisiana State Law Institute to study remote online notarization for authentic acts. Testimony in support came from the Louisiana Bankers Association, which argued the study is needed because of declining notary availability, especially in rural areas, and noted similar practices in other civil law jurisdictions. SCR 35 was reported favorably without objection. Finally, House Bill 1098, by Chairman McFarland, was reported favorably without objection; it provides a limited liability framework for FAA-licensed aerospace flight entities operating in Louisiana. House Bill 375 was voluntarily deferred, and the meeting adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm warning all, the board is acting up this morning, so just bear with me.
• The law that passed did restrict the use of authentic acts or execution of authentic acts by remote online
• notary process.
• An authentic act is an act that is signed in the Presence of two witnesses and a notary, and so that
• Jurisdictions, and they allow for authentic acts to be executed by Ron.

Bills: HB375, HB986, HB1098, SCR35, SB97, SB123, SB466

Keywords: liability, regional transit, streetcars, trolley cars, motor vehicles, HB986, vehicular homicide, child support, surviving child, minor child, parent killed in crash, criminal restitution, family law, Louisiana child support schedule, R.S. 9:315.48, R.S. 14:32.1, victim compensation, traffic fatality, wrongful death, sentencing enhancement

Summary: The House Civil Law Committee met on May 11, 2026, and reported several measures favorably. Senate Bill 466 by Sen. Seabaugh was approved without objection; it bars foreign adversaries from using expropriation authority in Louisiana and creates a narrow expropriation category for very large aerospace/LED-related projects on at least 20,000 contiguous acres with no residential structures. House Bill 986 by Rep. Kerner was also reported favorably; it requires child support payments in cases where a parent is convicted of vehicular homicide, with the stated purpose of helping children who lose a parent in such cases. The committee then considered two constitutional amendments by Sen. Morris. Senate Bill 123 would require the governor to certify a legislative removal of certain judges for cause; an amendment changed the ballot language to refer to removal for malfeasance, gross misconduct, or incompetence, and the committee adopted the 6.8A report and reported the measure favorably after a roll-call vote of 8-1. Senate Bill 97 would require prosecutorial consent for a defendant to waive a jury trial, except in capital cases; after adopting an amendment clarifying that capital cases are excluded, the committee heard opposition from the Louisiana Citizens Advocacy Group, which argued that jury-trial waiver should remain a defendant’s right. The bill was reported favorably on a 5-1 vote. The committee also reported favorably Senate Concurrent Resolution 35, which asks the Louisiana State Law Institute to study remote online notarization for authentic acts, with support testimony from the Louisiana Bankers Association emphasizing rural access and modernization of notary services. Finally, House Bill 1098 by Chairman McFarland, a narrowly tailored limitation of liability for FAA-licensed aerospace entities, was reported favorably without objection. House Bill 375 by Rep. Freeman was voluntarily deferred, and the meeting adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Well, he's just swearing to the paperwork, like a notary. He's doing the same thing a notary does.
• Kind of the same, I'm just—I compared it to a notary, but it's not necessarily a notary.
• , but it's not necessarily a notary, but it's not necessarily a notary.<00:29:42.679> Well,<00
• That second officer merely says, acts as a notary, just like when you notarize meemaw's deed, right?
• That second officer merely says, acts as a notary, just like when you notarize meemaw's deed, right?

Keywords: 1136, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It is when the criminal act occurs what the law was at the time the criminal act occurred, right?
• The offense over here happens very easily because of the action over here by a notary. a notary public
• Also, putting a notary public on notice.
• So the notaries that are acting in good faith.
• Either the notary was duped or the notary improperly notarized a signature without the person in front

Bills: HB 1181, HB3704, HB1363, HB1610, HB1615, HB1620, HB3223, HB1317, HB2884, HB2176, HB4027, HB1664, HB933, HB2613, HB3353, HB2086, HB4101, HB3441, HB4145, HB3455

Keywords: judiciary, judges, justices, retired, legal assignments, judicial conduct, notary public, criminal offense, education requirements, official documents, record retention, implicit bias, bias training, judicial training, judge education, court personnel, continuing legal education, CLE, state bar, Texas Court of Criminal Appeals

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, it was removed as a retaliatory act.
• I'm being told by the notary he's going to do by closing for me that I have to meet with a notary at
• And the notary tells me, no, the notary, the attorney does not even have to be there.
• All mobile notaries are blocked from the use of title company rooms.
• So as a notary, the notary niche not only takes you from signing and purchasing to the end of the last

Bills: HJR40

Keywords: Medicaid, healthcare access, Affordable Care Act, federal funding, constitutional amendment

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm being told by the notary who's going to do my closing for me that I have to meet with a notary at
• Get a power of attorney, and then someone can act on their behalf.
• I've been a notary since 1998 and have been mobile for many years.
• All mobile notaries are blocked from the use of title company rooms now.
• So as a notary public loan signing agent, The notary niche not only takes you from signing and purchasing

Bills: HB1342, HB2889, HB3002, HB3254, HB4820, HJR40, HJR40

Keywords: private activity bonds, housing, residential rental projects, low-income, affordable housing, bond measures, funding equality, political subdivisions, public communications, election fairness, debt collection, consumer rights, disclosures, Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, settlement agreements, State Board of Education, group benefits program, health insurance, state employees, dependents eligibility

Transcript Highlights:

• Known to both the notary and the signer.
• Credible to a notary if they present valid identification.
• In my years as a trainer for Texas notaries, many notaries have come...
• We often do face inconsistencies with the notary bills or the notary laws, and this bill will clean it
• It needs to be someone that knows the notary as well.

Bills: HB2242, HB2446, HB2799, HB4502, HB2920, HB2790, HB5620, HB5060, HB5076, HB5080, HB5081, HB5128, HB5130, HB3847, HB5116, HB2969, HB4546, HB4202, HB5624, HB3964, HB4803, HB872, HB4775, HB4777, HB4961, HB5570, HB2988, HB4260, HB1375, HB5009, HB5411, HB5134, HB4388, HB3095, HB1387

Keywords: constables, civil rights, local government, law enforcement, policy-making authority, affidavit, medical bills, civil actions, reasonable charges, healthcare services, judicial statistics, court performance, family law, civil cases, efficiency reporting, court security, emergency management, harassment penalties, judicial safety, court committee

Transcript Highlights:

• Are you all prosecuting the notaries also, because, uh, in, in our situation, the notary had backdated
• And second, does this statute let you also go after a notary as being a party to that act?
• Uh, notaries can be prosecuted.
• In most cases, the notary is a tool.
• The notary is a critical component in this whole process, obviously.

Bills: SB15

Keywords: real property, fraud, theft, elderly, disabled, statute of limitations, criminal offense, property rights

Transcript Highlights:

• Cameron alluded to the fact, and we do that in the notarial act, which is also a uniform law product
• Cameron alluded to the fact, and we do that in the notarial act, which is also a uniform law product
• Cameron alluded to the fact, and we do that in the notarial act, which is also a uniform law product
• Cameron alluded to the fact, and we do that in the notarial act, which is also a uniform law product
• place in the act to and all of the acts place in the act to and all of the acts that<00:38:22.079

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• to commissioned notaries.
• It's a notary. So becoming a notary is not that difficult.
• Can a family get a notary? Can you become a notary? Do you have a felony?
• If you're a felon, can you get a notary? Can you be a notary? Yeah, that's a good question.
• notary to another country, right?

Keywords: 959, house, all