Transcript Highlights:

• The bill amends the definition of consumer-owned utility to include port districts under CETA.
• The bill amends the definition of consumer-owned utility to include port districts under CETA.
• Senate Bill 5652 relates to reducing environmental and health disparities in large port districts.
• This is the port. Yes, go ahead. This is the port.
• I hope they engage with the Port of Seattle. So I will, as a work in progress, vote this out.

Bills: SB6269, SB6223, SB5982, SB6050, SB5965, SB5975, SB6010, SB5984, SB6076, SB5652

Keywords: motor fuel, fuel quality act, RCW 19.112, alternative fuel, biodiesel, renewable diesel, ethanol blend, alcohol fuel, diesel fuel, nonhazardous motor fuel, biofuels, clean fuels, transportation fuels, Washington fuel standards, fuel labeling, fuel blending, petroleum products, natural gas vehicles, compressed natural gas, liquefied petroleum gas

Summary: The committee first held a public hearing on SB 6269, which would update Washington’s Motor Fuel Quality Act by broadening the definition of motor fuel to include gaseous fuels and electricity used to propel vehicles, and by removing the separate definition of alternative fuel. Staff and testifiers from the Department of Agriculture, Department of Commerce, and Douglas County PUD said the change would give WSDA authority to inspect and test hydrogen fueling stations and other newer fuel types, with no fiscal impact expected. The bill was well supported in testimony, and the hearing closed without questions. The committee then heard SB 6223, which would authorize community-scale weatherization projects under the low-income weatherization program. The bill would let Commerce fund projects serving multiple dwelling units in the same area, prioritize low-income households, and adopt rules to implement the program. Supporters from community action, clean energy, Commerce, and environmental groups said the bill would help scale weatherization, improve health and safety, reduce energy costs, and better reach rural, mobile home, and disadvantaged communities; Commerce noted a fiscal impact tied to rulemaking and administration. In executive session, the committee advanced several bills. It adopted proposed substitutes and gave due pass recommendations to SB 5982, SB 6050, SB 5965, SB 6010, SB 5984, SB 6076, and SB 5652, sending most to Rules and SB 5652 to Ways and Means. On SB 5965, amendment C2 was adopted while C1 and C3 failed. On SB 6010, amendments E1 and E2 failed. On SB 5982, SB 6050, SB 6010, SB 5984, SB 6076, and SB 5652, the committee approved the proposed substitutes and reported the bills out subject to signatures.

Transcript Highlights:

• A port development authority may be created by a port district or jointly by two port districts.
• A port development authority may be created by a port district or jointly by two port districts if both
• The Port of Seattle and Port of Tacoma have formed a port development authority, the Northwest Seaport
• In 2021, legislation passed prohibiting port districts and port development authorities from using port
• We advocate for improvements outside our ports so freight can move swiftly to and from ports with minimal

Bills: SB5903, SB6037, SB5983, SB5995, SB6016, SB6066

Keywords: cemetery districts, elections, local governance, public policy, administrative procedures, fire protection, districts, emergency services, funding, legislation, tax exemption, land transfer, governmental entity, property tax, current use classification, zero emission, cargo handling, port district, environmental impact, grant allocation

Summary: The committee heard several bills. SB 5903 would streamline cemetery district elections by deeming the sole qualified candidate elected without putting the position on the ballot; Senator Cortez said it would save local election costs, and there was no testimony. SB 6037 would change how single-city fire protection districts are formed and financed, including removing the requirement that a city reduce its levy after 2026, clarifying commissioner elections, and allowing administrative service contracts with the city; the sponsor and local government and fire service witnesses said it would give cities a voter-approved tool to fund and regionalize fire service, while committee questions focused on levy impacts and the mechanics of forming districts. SB 5983 would exempt certain current-use land transfers to government entities from additional taxes when the transfer is tied to permit conditions and limited in size; Senator Leas described it as helping a family farm avoid back taxes on a right-of-way transfer, and there was no testimony. The committee then heard SB 5995, which would remove the 2031 sunset on the prohibition against port districts and port development authorities using public funds to buy fully automated marine container cargo handling equipment. The sponsor and labor, environmental, and maritime witnesses argued that public dollars should support zero-emission, human-operated equipment rather than automation that displaces jobs, while emphasizing that the bill would still allow cleaner equipment operated by people; there was strong public interest, with testimony overwhelmingly in support. SB 6016 would adjust Growth Management Act urban growth area swap rules so critical aquifer recharge areas are treated consistently in annual and periodic updates; Commerce and several business and housing witnesses called it a technical fix that preserves environmental safeguards while making swaps easier for housing, while one witness argued it revives a weaker prior statute and could weaken groundwater protections and invite litigation. Finally, SB 6066 would let counties, cities, towns, or WSDOT designate accident risk zones on dangerous roads, require engineering and traffic studies, increase enforcement, and use doubled traffic penalties to fund safety improvements. Senator Torres and Pasco officials described repeated serious crashes at local interchanges and said the bill could help address them, while AWC and county representatives supported the safety goal but asked for clearer liability protections and implementation language. No votes were taken on any of the bills in the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• Port of Texas City. Registering support for the bill. Alec Lewis from the Port of Beaumont.
• Texas ports generate $53.46 returned to Texas for every dollar invested in Texas ports.
• I'm an attorney and the Port Attorney for the Port of Galveston.
• a public port in 1940.
• The Texas Ports Association consists of 21 member ports, and the Texas Ports Association is in full support

Bills: SB682, SB1013, SB1369, SB1422, SB2001, SB2080, SB2366, SB2705, SB2841

Keywords: memorial highway, Captain Kevin Williams, Firefighter Austin Cheek, Smith County, transportation, pedestrian right-of-way, sidewalk users, bicycle safety, micromobility, electric scooter, motor-assisted scooter, electric personal assistive mobility device, skateboard, roller skates, driveway crossing, alley crossing, traffic safety, yield law, Texas Transportation Code, vehicle-pedestrian collision

Bills: HF4077, HF3798, HF3886

Keywords: municipal nondisclosure agreement, NDA, public records, transparency, local government, county, city, town, school district, housing and redevelopment authority, economic development authority, port authority, economic development, land development, public financing, tax increment financing, TIF, abatement, municipal bonds, debt obligations

Transcript Highlights:

• The ports-to-plane corridor that is shown before Carrizo would somehow...
• that opposition because it's been crystal clear from the federal level and the state level that the ports-to-plane
• The mandate has been at the federal and state level that it has to go through Carrizo Springs, the ports-to-plane

Bills: HB 1026, SCR37

Keywords: transportation, Farm-to-Market Road, highway designation, Texas Transportation Commission, state highway system, SCR 37, Senate Concurrent Resolution, Panama Canal, Texas ports, port infrastructure, maritime trade, shipping lanes, supply chain resilience, global commerce, exports, LNG, liquefied natural gas, crude oil, refined petroleum, agriculture

Transcript Highlights:

• Chairman, members, this bill deals with the Alabama Port Authority.
• The size of the port creates problems; it's an extra expense on manpower.

Bills: HB93, HB160, HB29, HB29, HB93, HB160

Keywords: HB93, Alabama State Port Authority, State Auditor, property inventory, inventory control, audit exemption, state property, personal property inventory, public authority, port authority, Section 36-16-11, Code of Alabama 1975, administrative oversight, state audit, conforming changes, government property, Alabama Municipal Electric Authority, AMEA, municipal electric authority, board of directors

Transcript Highlights:

• If you've never visited a prison, if you think this is tough on crime, I urge you.
• To tell you that I've visited more than one of these places, you leave with a taste in your mouth—the
• My mom and dad, when they came to visit, would ask, "Why are you all wet?
• The bill requires officers to notify hospitals when people who have committed a violent offense visit
• Requiring notifications to be made by hospitals of visiting convicted violent criminals is a reasonable

Bills: HB1826, HB2854, HB3006, HB4614, HB5261, HB5639

Keywords: mental health, women's health, county jail, depression screening, criminal justice, HB 2854, Pokuaa-Flowers Act, parole, mandatory supervision, electronic monitoring, releasee, parole officer, hospital visit approval, general hospital, law enforcement notification, DSHS, Department of State Health Services, corrections, public safety, liability immunity

Transcript Highlights:

• We'll go ahead and start off with the order in which the visiting members came.
• We have Texas Department of Transportation and the Ports Association.
• Sarah Allen, Port of Texas City, for not wishing to testify.
• My district has an ownership interest in the Port of Anahuac and is part owner of the Port of Liberty
• This will bring the port in line with other state ports that have odd-numbered boards, such as Brownsville

Bills: SB249, SB546, SB744, SB927, SB1227, SB1229, SB1353, SB1365, SB1366, SB1394, SB1464, SB1709, SB1729, SB1733, SB1744, SB1745, SB1746, SB1772, SB1816, SB1841, SB1939

Keywords: memorial markers, law enforcement, officer memorials, killed in the line of duty, highway signage, school bus, school district, student transportation, child safety, seat belts, three-point seat belt, two-point seat belt, bus retrofit, bus warranty, Texas Education Agency, TEA, transportation code, school activity bus, multifunction school activity bus, school-chartered bus

Transcript Highlights:

• Cedar Port will be the first port in Chambridges County, Deepwater, deepwater port.
• I think there was a reference letter, reference letters from our ports, Port of Texas City, Port of Galveston
• Ports.
• The purpose of the port of the Houston pilots is go from the bar outside the port of water to the port
• Um, Port of Houston passes Port of Texas City and Port of Galveston every day back and forth. OK.

Bills: HB 2065, HB 2462, HB 2621, HB 3187, HB 3539, HB 3563, HB 3726, HB 4164, HB 4207, HB 4368, HB 4706, HB 4916, HB 4950, HB 4967, HB 5177, HB 4429, HB 5597

Keywords: commercial vehicles, parking regulations, residential areas, local governance, land use, traffic safety, high occupancy vehicle lane, pregnant operators, transportation, parental rights, motor vehicle regulations, live video feed, state agency, transparency, public safety, regional transportation, mobility program, sales tax, public infrastructure, local government

Transcript Highlights:

• I can just, we can just chat, visit. Yes, sir. He's waiting for you. He wouldn't start without you.
• City of La Porte. La Porte. Thank you very much. of La Porte. Thank you very much. Thank you.
• Cities such as Deer Park, La Porte, Pearland, and Friendswood are all opposing this bill.
• TxDOT estimates 40,000 heavy trucks pass through the Port Corridor daily.
• Seabrook, La Porte, Baytown.

Bills: HB2065, HB2462, HB2621, HB3187, HB3539, HB3563, HB3726, HB4164, HB4207, HB4368, HB4706, HB4916, HB4950, HB4967, HB5177, HB4429, HB5597

Keywords: commercial vehicles, parking regulations, residential areas, local governance, land use, traffic safety, high occupancy vehicle lane, pregnant operators, transportation, parental rights, motor vehicle regulations, live video feed, state agency, transparency, public safety, regional transportation, mobility program, sales tax, public infrastructure, local government

Transcript Highlights:

• state to service those ports.
• What does that have to do with Galveston County ports?
• a couple of years before the port was complete.
• have the USIM Pilots that serve Harris County Ports.
• Gone above 25 and 26 is because there are no ports.

Bills: HB2065, HB2462, HB2621, HB3187, HB3539, HB3563, HB3726, HB4164, HB4207, HB4368, HB4706, HB4916, HB4950, HB4967, HB5177, HB4429, HB5597

Keywords: commercial vehicles, parking regulations, residential areas, local governance, land use, traffic safety, high occupancy vehicle lane, pregnant operators, transportation, parental rights, motor vehicle regulations, live video feed, state agency, transparency, public safety, regional transportation, mobility program, sales tax, public infrastructure, local government

Bills: HB16, HB16, HB1618, HB2692, HB2712, HB2970, HB3609, HB3628

Keywords: judicial administration, court reform, juvenile diversion, court security, mental health services, drug offenses, constitutional amendments, water infrastructure, Texas Water Development Board, financial assistance, water supply projects, rural municipalities, water access assessment, aquifer storage, Edwards Aquifer, water injection, environmental regulations, groundwater management, San Antonio River, pollution control

Transcript Highlights:

• Well, it is the largest port in the United States, number one in total tonnage.
• And that's on project 11, Port Authority.
• near that area but has certainly studied a little bit, tell me a little bit about the impact of the Port
• stems from a legacy of protecting commerce, people, and the environment at one of the world's busiest ports
• Chairman Buckley, I was glad to hear your question about the economic impact of the Port of Houston and

Bills: HB16, HB1618, HB2692, HB2712, HB2970, HB3609, HB3628, HB16

Keywords: water infrastructure, Texas Water Development Board, financial assistance, water supply projects, rural municipalities, water access assessment, aquifer storage, Edwards Aquifer, water injection, environmental regulations, groundwater management, San Antonio River, pollution control, flood management, water quality, conservation district, bonds, utility rates, ratemaking, water services

Transcript Highlights:

• Just briefly, by way of reminder, House Bill 2179 involved the participation of certain port district
• Port district employees in PERS or a federal railroad plan or a union-sponsored retirement plan.
• The underlying bill specifies that this would apply to periods in the past where the employer, the port
• workers, and also for... ...for port workers and also for those port districts.
• As we've unpacked the bill a little bit, we have learned that maybe there's more port districts impacted

Bills: HB1710, HB2124, HB2125, HB2179

Keywords: Washington Voting Rights Act, voting rights, election law, preclearance, Attorney General review, local government, county redistricting, districting, ward boundaries, at-large elections, language minority, language access, voter dilution, racial discrimination, protected class, consent decree, settlement, covered jurisdiction, covered policy, RCW Title 29A

Summary: The House Appropriations Committee met in possible executive session and first announced that HB 1710 would be removed from consideration. Members were briefed on an amendment related to HB 2179, which would have made the bill prospective for employees hired after June 30, 2026, but that amendment was later withdrawn. The chair also reviewed committee voting procedures and amendment deadlines, then the committee recessed briefly for caucus before returning to executive session. The committee then took up HB 2124, a retirement-related bill described as giving seniors more flexibility to use lump-sum payments and easing administrative burden for the Department of Retirement Systems. After supportive comments from Representatives Couture and Fitzgibbon, the bill was reported out with a due pass recommendation by a vote of 30 aye and one excused. HB 2125 followed, another Department of Retirement Systems bill aimed at protecting long-term retiree benefits by using interest-earned funds to pay some retirement expenses; it also passed out of committee with a due pass recommendation by a vote of 30 aye and one excused. Finally, the committee considered HB 2179, concerning port district employees’ participation in PERS, a federal railroad plan, or a union-sponsored retirement plan. After the amendment was withdrawn, members discussed the bill as a clarification and pension-security measure for port workers and port districts. The committee voted 30 aye and one excused to report HB 2179 out with a due pass recommendation, and then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Based on our 9% population, it's 63,000 LASIK visits.
• That's 60,000 visits to the DPS that would be eliminated.
• We do have a resource witness here from Port Freeport who would be able to answer questions.
• Okay, we have a card and a letter of support from Phyllis Shetoff with Port Freeport.

Bills: HB647, HB791, HB1242, HB1729, HB2003, HB2029, HB2061, HB2775, HB3751, HB4804, HB3611

Keywords: driver's license, vision correction, medical verification, Texas Department of Public Safety, renewal fees, HB 791, Central Catholic High School, San Antonio, specialty license plate, specialty plates, license plate, Texas Department of Motor Vehicles, Transportation Code, general revenue fund, With Loyal Hearts, Catholic school, private school, religious school, school spirit plate, commemorative plate

Summary: The Senate Transportation Committee heard testimony and took action on a series of transportation-related bills. Early in the meeting, Senator Hagenbuch presented HB 647, which would let drivers who have had corrective eye surgery update their licenses by submitting physician verification without an in-person DMV visit; he argued it would reduce DMV lines, though a fiscal note estimated setup costs. The committee also heard HB 2029, a cleanup bill clarifying that travel trailers are not subject to safety inspections after prior legislation removed inspections for trailers and all vehicles, and HB 4804, which would remove Texas’s CDL appeals hearing process to align with federal law and avoid jeopardizing highway funds, while also authorizing DPS action related to the terrorist offender registry. All three bills were left pending after testimony, along with HB 2003, which would require annual public reporting by entities with projects in the Texas Rail Plan, especially in light of the Dallas-Houston high-speed rail project and landowner concerns; supporters said it would improve transparency, while opponents warned it would force disclosure of proprietary financial information from a private project. The committee also heard HB 2775, adding Ector County and Odessa to the I-27 Advisory Committee, and HB 791, authorizing a specialty plate for Central Catholic High School in San Antonio; both were left pending after brief discussion and no opposition testimony. The committee then heard several local or commemorative measures. HB 1242 would designate part of U.S. Highway 281 in Brooks County as the Ernesto Solis-Cantu Memorial Highway, and HB 2061 would name a bridge on State Highway 242 in Montgomery County for Lance Corporal Armando Hernandez. Hernandez’s mother testified emotionally in support, describing his military service and the family’s wish to have the bridge mark his return home; members responded supportively. The committee also heard HB 1729, which would impose term limits on Freeport commissioners, and HB 3751, transferring a DPS commercial vehicle enforcement office building in Woodville from TxDOT to DPS. HB 3611, the “bandit sign” bill, was presented as a targeted enforcement measure against illegal commercial signs in medians and right-of-ways, with added safeguards to avoid affecting political signs and to require written notice before fines. All of these bills were left pending after testimony. At the end of the meeting, the committee took up pending business and voted out multiple bills favorably. HB 3751, HB 261/HB 2061, HB 647, HB 791, HB 1242, HB 1729, HB 2003, HB 2029, HB 2775, HB 3611, HB 4804, and HB 2522 were each reported favorably to the full Senate, generally on unanimous or near-unanimous votes. Most were also sent to the local and uncontested calendar, though HB 2029 was ultimately not placed there after an objection. The committee then recessed.

Transcript Highlights:

• That's 60,000 visits to the DPS that would be eliminated.
• We do have a resource witness here from Port Freeport that would be able to answer questions.
• Phyllis Shetoff at Port Freeport. She's the executive director and does not wish to speak.

Bills: HB647, HB791, HB1242, HB1729, HB2003, HB2029, HB2061, HB2775, HB3751, HB4804, HB3611

Keywords: driver's license, vision correction, medical verification, Texas Department of Public Safety, renewal fees, HB 791, Central Catholic High School, San Antonio, specialty license plate, specialty plates, license plate, Texas Department of Motor Vehicles, Transportation Code, general revenue fund, With Loyal Hearts, Catholic school, private school, religious school, school spirit plate, commemorative plate

Transcript Highlights:

• port projects go to build a new deepwater port.
• When those utilities interfere with port or navigation projects.
• We are also discussing today Cedar port is able to form and build out new port, new Texas port in the
• Previously, port projects would take sometimes decades to do.
• And so from what I understand and from visiting with respect to Uh, yesterday's visit with stakeholders

Bills: HB 341, HB 791, HB 1564, HB 1695, HB 1722, HB 1729, HB 1772, HB 2003, HB 2954, HB 2989, HB 3084, HB 3134, HB 3135, HB 3309, HB 3611, HB 3679, HB 3727, HB 3832

Keywords: affordable housing, zoning, development, community support, local regulations, bicycle lanes, traffic collisions, Texas Department of Transportation, study, public safety, bicycles, electric bicycles, scooters, road safety, transportation study, HB 791, Central Catholic High School, San Antonio, specialty license plate, specialty plates

Transcript Highlights:

• projects go, to build a new deepwater port between Cedarport and the existing Port of Houston.
• Today, Cedarport is able to form and build out a new Texas port in the Houston area.
• Previously, port projects would sometimes take decades to complete.
• The commissioners of Port Freeport in my district are elected to serve six-year terms.
• Yes sir, I'd be happy to visit with you and your staff to make sure. Thank you.

Bills: HB341, HB791, HB1564, HB1695, HB1722, HB1729, HB1772, HB2003, HB2954, HB2989, HB3084, HB3134, HB3135, HB3309, HB3611, HB3679, HB3727, HB3832

Keywords: affordable housing, zoning, development, community support, local regulations, bicycle lanes, traffic collisions, Texas Department of Transportation, study, public safety, bicycles, electric bicycles, scooters, road safety, transportation study, HB 791, Central Catholic High School, San Antonio, specialty license plate, specialty plates

Transcript Highlights:

• on I-35 and now have to spend... about five and a half hours to go from here back to my hometown to visit
• Rail lines, highways, and ports have all expanded dramatically. ...here in Texas, but what has not kept

Bills: HB341, HB791, HB1564, HB1695, HB1722, HB1729, HB1772, HB2003, HB2954, HB2989, HB3084, HB3134, HB3135, HB3309, HB3611, HB3679, HB3727, HB3832

Keywords: affordable housing, zoning, development, community support, local regulations, bicycle lanes, traffic collisions, Texas Department of Transportation, study, public safety, bicycles, electric bicycles, scooters, road safety, transportation study, HB 791, Central Catholic High School, San Antonio, specialty license plate, specialty plates

Transcript Highlights:

• What this does is it allows the State Port Authority to enter into an agreement.

Bills: SB163, SB173, SB155, HB93, SB163, SB173, SB155, HB93

Keywords: State Auditor, property investigations, negligence, loss report, civil actions, Alabama Retirement Savings Program, state-facilitated retirement savings, auto-IRA, automatic enrollment, payroll deduction IRA, retirement savings access gap, private sector workers, small business retirement plan, portable retirement account, Roth IRA, traditional IRA, life-cycle fund, capital preservation fund, financial literacy, Department of Workforce