Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you for the opportunity to present Senate Bill 2801, which expands the use of event permits for
• In all the states we go to, we're covered under a permit. All the...
• Participants are covered under this permit.
• Is there a permit needed to do this? Well, that's just what the states require.
• I looked at all the different states and their permits.

Bills: SB2801 , SB2232 , SCR18

Committee: House Culture, Recreation & Tourism

Keywords: SB 2801, Texas Parks and Wildlife, Parks and Wildlife Code, field trial permit, hunting dog field trial, coonhound trial, dog trial, squirrel hunting, fur-bearing animals, nongame animals, hunting license exemption, wildlife management, public land permit, private land hunting, game fish and water safety account, permit fee, commission rules, Parks and Wildlife Department, Unplug Texas Day, digital detox

Bills: SSB3001 , SF2464 , SF2191 , SF2140 , SF2085 , SF2317 , SF2363

Committee: Joint Ways and Means

Keywords: property tax, levy rate, school funding, budget modifications, exemptions for veterans, local government financing, education funding formulas, multiresidential property, disabled veterans, tax reform, health maintenance organization, HMO taxation, department of health and human services, taxpayer relief fund, state budget, medical assistance program, state finances, tax appropriations, real estate, transfer tax

Transcript Highlights:

• HB3071 is Chairman Guerin's bill relating to the cancellation of certain solid waste disposal permits
• This bill ensures that the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality does not issue new permits for direct
• Current regulations allow for the possibility of new wastewater discharge permits, which could introduce
• Even one poorly placed discharge permit could permanently alter its fragile ecosystem.

Bills: HB1730 , HB1823 , HB2048 , HB2266 , HB2440 , HB3333 , HB4086 , HB4271 , HB4413 , HB4839 , HB4841 , HB5151

Committee: House Environmental Regulation

Keywords: PFAS, perfluoroalkyl substances, polyfluoroalkyl substances, forever chemicals, public health study, environmental regulation, drinking water, groundwater, surface water, food packaging, chemical exposure, firefighters, chemical manufacturing workers, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, TCEQ, Railroad Commission of Texas, Department of State Health Services, University of Houston, occupational exposure, contaminants

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><03:42:56.800><c> Funding</c> causes of permitting delays. Funding causes of permitting delays.
• for oil and gas drilling permits and direct these fees towards processing the permits.
• for oil and gas drilling permits and direct these fees towards processing the permits.
• for oil and gas drilling permits and direct these fees towards processing the permits.
• And lastly, the permitting cost.

Bills: HB2860 , HB3922 , HB7250 , SB254 , HB5631 , HB1687 , HB7831 , HB7618 , HB6162 , HB5911 , HB4463 , HB3831 , HB2768 , HR41 , HB5682 , HCR86

Keywords: Fort Peck Reservation, rural water system, water management, infrastructure, Native American, HB7831, H.R. 7831, License to Drill Act, Mineral Leasing Act, BLM, Bureau of Land Management, oil and gas, drilling permits, permit to drill, APD, application for permit to drill, permit processing fee, federal lands, public lands, energy development

Transcript Highlights:

• Intent was to address that one in this one bill as well to permit.

Bills: HB3725 , HB3260 , HB3660 , HB3369 , HB3370

Committee: House Business

Keywords: labor, e-verification, immigration, employers, employment eligibility, Department of Labor, penalties, funeral licensing, continuing education, Oklahoma Funeral Directors Association, professional development, licensing requirements, HB3660, natural organic reduction, human composting, soil reduction, green burial, funeral services, cremation, burial permit

Bills: HF4261 , HF4263 , HF4264 , HF4787

Committee: House Environment and Natural Resources Finance and Policy

Keywords: natural resources, motorboat, boating safety, personal watercraft, PWC, watercraft operator permit, boater safety exam, off-road vehicle, ORV, ATV, snowmobile, state trail pass, cross-country ski pass, horse pass, state park permit, game and fish, hunting license, fishing license, wildlife permit, invasive species

Transcript Highlights:

• House bill 3443 has simply raises the oversize and overweight permit fees.
• Essentially, the purpose for raising the fees is so that the oversized and overweight Permit fees would
• An oversized and overweight permit fees should pay for the Weigh stations, and so this bill helps do
• There are a number of fees being raised, permit fees being raised.
• We're estimating that it'll be about $15 million, assuming that we have the same number of permits requested

Bills: HB1411 , HB2980 , HB3015 , HB3147 , HB3277 , HB3323 , HB3443 , HB3882

Committee: Senate Aeronautics and Transportation

Keywords: True Grit Trail, Oklahoma, tourism, signage, Department of Transportation, state parks, historical sites, economic development, motor vehicles, insurance, registration, verification, law enforcement, electronic credentials, Service Oklahoma, digital identification, data protection, driver's license, special license plates, Route 66

Transcript Highlights:

• Members, what this does is it just updates the permits and fees for oversized, overweight loads.
• It just updates the permits and fees for oversized, overweight loads.
• would be your thoughts on requiring ODOT to notify these counties when they've got an oversized permitted
• When they've got an oversized permitted load going down a county dirt road.
• Because I'm getting pushed back from our commissioner saying they're issuing the permits, and county

Bills: HB3443 , HB2123 , HB3757 , HB2445

Committee: House Transportation

Keywords: transportation, oversize permit, overweight permit, permit fees, motor carrier, commercial trucking, heavy haul, wide load, special combination vehicle, manufactured home transport, portable building transport, utility poles, rural electric cooperative, farm equipment, agricultural hauling, bridge formula, load limits, weight limits, road funding, highway construction

Transcript Highlights:

• Under current law, the North Texas ground water conservation district issues permits for groundwater
• , doesn't prohibit the use of groundwater. for those purposes, nor does it automatically deny any permits
• or permit amendments.
• And so since the district's beginning to issue permits, over half our new permits have been landscape
• This category now represents the second largest permitted groundwater volume in our region and it shares

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

Committee: House Natural Resources

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:

• , because as you know, the federal permitting process is very lengthy and difficult.
• immediately, or how long before you actually start working on permits to build the reservoir?
• We are opposed to allowing brackish groundwater of any TDS level to be exempt from permitting.
• Right now, just keep it permitted. It's already set up in 101.5 to expedite.
• We're charged to do the opposite and promote these projects, but while still permitting them.

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

Committee: House Natural Resources

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:

• Again, this has been the practice since the permits were created.
• It doesn't exempt the following having to obtain the permit.
• They still have to obtain the permit, right?
• You still have to have the permit and would have to follow the law.
• Because if you're a government entity, but you still have to get a permit.

Bills: SB215 , SB1104 , SB1351 , SB1931 , SB2245 , SB2589 , SB2707 , SB2807 , SB1423 , SB1568

Committee: Senate Transportation

Keywords: education, funding, school districts, local control, equity, digital identification, identity verification, Department of Public Safety, Texas legislature, wireless communication, Texas, technology, identification program, fee structure, wireless devices, public safety, hunting license, handgun license, fingerprinting, dealer license

Summary: The Senate Committee on Transportation heard several bills, mostly local memorial highway designations and transportation-related regulatory measures. Senator Hinojosa presented SB 1351 to designate part of US 281 in Hidalgo County as the Jose Rodriguez Lua Memorial Highway in honor of a Border Patrol processing coordinator killed by a drunk driver; a family member testified emotionally in support, and the bill was left pending. The committee also heard and left pending SB 2245 on bonded titles for vehicles when a lienholder has gone out of business, SB 1568 on animal-friendly specialty license plates with a second “spay, neuter, adopt” plate, SB 2589 on handling closed county roads in Webb County, SB 1104 on allowing large retailers to use one fingerprinted employee of record across multiple Texas locations, SB 1423 naming the Bill Stout Parkway in Longview, and SB 1931 naming part of US 83 the Rodolfo Valdez Memorial Highway. Most of these bills drew supportive testimony or were presented as local measures with no opposition. The committee also took up broader policy bills. SB 215 would create a digital identification program for Texas driver’s licenses and certain other licenses, but the sponsor said he was mainly laying the bill out for discussion and study; testimony was limited and the bill was left pending. SB 2707 would clarify that government entities such as TxDOT and the military remain exempt from fees on oversized/overweight permit authority, though a county commissioner raised questions about road-use impacts and fee revenue. SB 2807 drew the most discussion: it would prevent a motor carrier’s use of safety technology, training, and related practices from being used as evidence that an independent contractor is actually an employee. Supporters said the bill would encourage adoption of safety tools like cameras and braking systems without increasing misclassification risk, while opponents from the trial lawyers’ side warned the wording could conflict with existing labor-code definitions and create litigation. The sponsor and committee members discussed possible clarifying floor amendments. After public testimony, the committee voted on the pending bills. All measures were reported favorably on 6-0 votes, with committee substitutes adopted where applicable. SB 1351, SB 1423, SB 1568, SB 1931, SB 2245, SB 2589, SB 2707, SB 2807, and SB 2841 were all sent to the full Senate, and several were recommended for the local and uncontested calendar. The committee recessed subject to the call of the chair after completing the votes.

Transcript Highlights:

• People are sitting in buildings, for example, that they're renting, but they can't get all the permits
• The complaints were that the permitting— was too costly, took too long, and the application requirements
• For small businesses, time is money, and every day that a business waits on a permit is a day of lost
• So, I mean, if you can get your permit from the city in 14 days, you're still going to sit there for
• of mixed beverage permits or bars, holders of food and beverage certificates operating a restaurant,

Bills: SB650 , HB3667 , SB28 , HB3201 , SB1184 , HB1800 , SB 28

Committee: House Licensing & Administrative Procedures

Keywords: permit issuance, regulatory framework, business operations, efficiency, application process, lottery, gambling, internet gaming, mobile application, criminal offenses, lottery regulations, occupational licensing, fraud prevention, criminal background checks, lottery couriers, SB 1184, Texas Alcoholic Beverage Code, wine collection seller, collectible wine, vintage wine

Bills: SB1191 , SB1976 , SB1613 , SB1439 , SB1930 , SB1314 , SB1246

Committee: House Energy

Keywords: SB1191, Oklahoma Energy Initiative Act, Oklahoma Low Carbon Energy Initiative Board, low carbon energy, clean energy, energy policy, renewable energy, board repeal, statutory repeal, administrative board, energy committee, natural resources, Oklahoma statutes, 17 O.S. 802.3, oil and gas, surety bond, financial responsibility, environmental compliance, plugging wells, SB1613

Bills: SB182 , SB251 , SB252 , HB74 , HB159 , HB292 , SB182 , SB251 , SB252 , HB74 , HB159 , HB292

Committee: Senate Finance and Taxation General Fund

Keywords: psychoactive cannabinoids, cannabis, beverage prohibition, criminal penalties, youth access, Jefferson County, pistol permit, gun permit, concealed carry, firearm permit, sheriff fee, permit fee, weapons license, gun licensing, school security, Jefferson County Sheriff's Fund, retirement system, Gardendale, Birmingham legislative office, local bill

Transcript Highlights:

• for construction and technical permits for its facilities so long as the RTA provides proof of notice
• And finally, it removes the provision requiring applications submitted by an RTA for permits under the
• state building code to be considered under the building permit ordinances in effect at the time the
• state building code to be considered under the building permit ordinances in effect at the time the
• state building code to be considered under the building permit ordinances in effect at the time the

Bills: SB6181 , SB6154 , SB6211 , SB6234 , SB6242 , SB5633 , SB6279 , SB6291 , SB6274 , SB6309

Committee: Senate Local Government

Keywords: city incorporation, local governance, municipalities, state law, government structure, culvert replacement, fish passage, hydraulic project approval, Department of Fish and Wildlife, stream crossing, bank stabilization, flood control, erosion control, emergency permit, expedited permit, SEPA, environmental review, local government, county authority, agricultural irrigation

Bills: HF2354 , HF3407 , HF4359 , HF4192 , HF3356 , HF3695 , HF1597 , HF3155 , HF3871 , HF4437 , HF4446 , HF3990

Committee: House Public Safety Finance and Policy

Keywords: medical assistance, fraud prevention, subpoena authority, criminal penalties, consumer protection, ghost guns, unserialized firearms, 3D-printed guns, 3D printer firearms, CNC milling, home-built firearms, firearm serialization, serial numbers, unfinished frame, unfinished receiver, ghost gun ban, gun control, firearm design files, CAD files, digital gun blueprints

Transcript Highlights:

• Signs are not permitted in the hearing room or at the testifiers' table. Please leave them outside.
• Signs are not permitted in the hearing room or at the testifiers' table. Please leave them outside.
• Section six is for state park permits.
• </c><01:34:15.560><c> Per</c> want to get licenses, permits, etc.
• Per want to get licenses, permits, etc.

Bills: HF2354 , HF3407 , HF4359 , HF4192 , HF3356 , HF3695 , HF1597 , HF3155 , HF3871 , HF4437 , HF4446 , HF3990

Committee: House Public Safety Finance and Policy

Keywords: medical assistance, fraud prevention, subpoena authority, criminal penalties, consumer protection, ghost guns, unserialized firearms, 3D-printed guns, 3D printer firearms, CNC milling, home-built firearms, firearm serialization, serial numbers, unfinished frame, unfinished receiver, ghost gun ban, gun control, firearm design files, CAD files, digital gun blueprints

Transcript Highlights:

• So, what we're going to do is we're talking about permitted water only.
• We're not under permitted underground water users only.
• They're permitted.
• They're given a permit by the OwRB to use so much water and so, all I'm asking is that we measure that
• But over the five-year plan, they would have to be within their allotment of what is permitted for them

Bills: SB259

Committee: House Energy

Keywords: groundwater, water rights, Oklahoma Water Resources Board, OWRB, water permits, water use reporting, metering, permit enforcement, groundwater waste, well permitting, cease and desist, fines and penalties, permit suspension, data centers, data processing facilities, cooling systems, evaporative cooling, closed-loop cooling, dielectric immersion cooling, animal feeding operations

Transcript Highlights:

• However, if a license holder forgets to renew their license by the expiration date, they could lose their
• 668 would add a one-year grace period after the expiration of an existing license to carry for a holder
• The bill makes no changes to the existing renewal application process, but seeks to protect the holder
• from the burden of going through that entire process of fingerprinting... ...the holder from the burden
• All licenses or permits issued by the Lottery Commission remain in effect as if TDLR issued them.

Bills: HB668 , HB677 , HB766 , HB3133 , SB3070

Committee: Senate State Affairs

Keywords: HB 668, Texas, handgun license, license to carry, LTC, concealed carry, open carry, firearm permit, gun license renewal, public safety, Department of Public Safety, DPS, Government Code Section 411.185, renewal fee, handgun permit, Second Amendment, carry permit, firearms regulation, HB 677, Texas Election Code

Summary: The committee met to hear several bills, beginning with House Bill 766, which would require precinct chair applicants to provide an email address, phone number, or both on their applications while keeping that contact information confidential. No one testified for or against the bill, and it was left pending. House Bill 677, a companion to a previously approved Senate bill, would bar county election administrators from simultaneously holding another office or position appointed by an elected official; it also drew no public testimony and was left pending. Members then heard House Bill 3133, which would add explicit deepfake material to the list of content social media platforms must handle through complaint systems, including prompt acknowledgment, investigation, and status updates. Senators discussed concerns about how platforms would verify whether reported content was actually a deepfake, and the sponsor indicated the bill may be held pending while federal law on the subject is reviewed. House Bill 668 would create a one-year grace period for renewing an expired Texas handgun license to carry, codifying an existing DPS practice; it also received no testimony and was left pending. The committee spent the most time on Senate Bill 3070, a major overhaul of the Texas Lottery system. The bill would move oversight from the Lottery Commission to TDLR, dissolve the commission, impose new restrictions on ticket sales and internet play, create a lottery advisory committee, increase transparency and audit requirements, and include a sunset review that could lead to abolishing the lottery if not continued by 2027. The author described the bill as a response to alleged misconduct and illegal practices by the commission, while a witness from the Christian Life Commission testified in favor, supporting changes to prize anonymity and other lottery restrictions. After testimony, the bill was left pending, and the committee recessed subject to the call of the chair.

Transcript Highlights:

• We've got some measuring requirements that are put in on all of those permitted users.
• So there's a Lot of people that aren't going to be affected by this, but those that are permitted, I'm

Bills: SB1928 , SB259

Committee: Senate Energy

Keywords: groundwater, water rights, waste prevention, conservation, permitting, Oklahoma Water Resources Board, OWRB, water permits, water use reporting, metering, permit enforcement, groundwater waste, well permitting, cease and desist, fines and penalties, permit suspension, data centers, data processing facilities, cooling systems, evaporative cooling