Bills: SB251 , SB150 , SB154 , SB73 , SB111 , SB172 , SB76 , SB181 , SB235

Committee: Senate Senate Tax, Business & Transportation

Keywords: horse racing, program training, program owning, state licensing, racehorses, regulation, local news, newspaper printing, journalism, media tax credit, print media, digital news, news publisher, newsprint, press operator, printing industry, local journalism, tax credit, income tax, corporate income tax

Bills: SB251 , SB150 , SB154 , SB73 , SB111 , SB172 , SB76 , SB181 , SB235

Committee: Senate Senate Tax, Business & Transportation

Keywords: horse racing, program training, program owning, state licensing, racehorses, regulation, local news, newspaper printing, journalism, media tax credit, print media, digital news, news publisher, newsprint, press operator, printing industry, local journalism, tax credit, income tax, corporate income tax

Transcript Highlights:

• For example, we want to make sure that updates to the Texas Data Privacy and Security Act are aligned
• We can loan it to you, and we can get you a real good interest rate. He said, really? I said, yes.
• I checked with the bank, found out the interest rates.
• And concerns for security has been one of our major concerns.
• Yeah, that's a very interesting concern. In fact, thank you.

Bills: HB12 , HB149 , HB 12 , HB149 , SB229 , SB1361 , SB1749 , SB1897 , SB2113 , SB2566 , SB2677 , SB1652 , SB2327 , SB2344 , SB2696

Committee: Senate Business & Commerce

Keywords: election law, attorney general, prosecution, criminal offenses, law enforcement, jurisdiction, voter fraud, local prosecuting attorney, public safety, communication, governor approval, interoperability, political subdivision, radio systems, artificial intelligence, regulation, biometric data, ethical AI, consumer protection, AI governance

Summary: The Senate Committee on Business and Commerce heard testimony on HB 149, the Artificial Intelligence Governance Act. Senator Schwertner described the bill as an outcomes-based AI framework that would require disclosure when people interact with AI, prohibit manipulative or social-scoring systems, address biometric capture, discrimination, and deepfake child exploitation, and give the Attorney General enforcement authority. It would also create an AI Sandbox and AI Council. Witnesses from the Texas Public Policy Foundation, a Houston attorney, TechNet, and the Texas Association of Business strongly supported the bill, praising its stakeholder process and pro-innovation approach, while Texas Appleseed suggested regulators should have more examination authority over sandbox participants. The bill was left pending. The committee then heard SB 229, which would prohibit motor vehicle dealers from conditioning a sale on dealer-offered financing or charging more because a buyer uses outside financing or cash. Senator West said the bill is meant to stop forced financing and bait-and-switch pricing, and he noted the bill passed the committee and Senate in the prior session. The Texas Automobile Dealers Association opposed the bill, arguing it would force dealers to accept any third-party lender or cash transaction on terms they cannot control. The Texas Credit Union Association supported the bill, saying consumers should be able to choose outside financing without hidden fees or pressure. After questions about cash purchases and dealer practices, the bill was left pending. The committee also took up SB 2566, which would clarify legislators’ access to information from executive agencies, including confidential information, by setting response deadlines, limiting confidentiality agreements to statutory terms, requiring a standard AG form, and creating a complaint and penalty process for noncompliance. No witnesses testified, and the bill was left pending. Finally, SB 1749, as substituted, would let certain court-related employees and judicial conduct commission personnel keep personal information such as home addresses and phone numbers confidential, with work addresses used in place of home addresses for certain purposes. District clerk and judicial conduct commission witnesses described threats and harassment as the reason for the bill, and a court administration witness answered questions about how the address protections would work with voter registration and precinct records. That bill was also left pending, and the committee recessed without further business.

Transcript Highlights:

• Then, if we need to pause on some that he has interest in, we'll do that.
• know whenever we're putting regulations on businesses, often coming from another private sector interest
• This has been interesting.
• Are you testing for these things, especially I'm interested in the PFOS and the pharmaceuticals?

Bills: HB3005 , HB3007 , HB3403 , HB1907 , HB3175 , HB3986 , HB3466 , HB3411 , HB4246

Committee: Senate Energy

Keywords: climatology, emergency declaration, Oklahoma Climatological Survey, environment, weather data, public policy, state governance, natural resources, advisory councils, sunset law, water quality, hazardous waste, solid waste, radiation management, public health, biosolids, land application, environmental quality, agriculture, wastewater treatment

Transcript Highlights:

• With respect to the interest rate cap, again, that interest can be carried forward.
• It's his Social Security income tax cap. All right.
• It's an investment interest, just the same as stocks and bonds are.
• seniors can fully deduct their Social Security income.
• For many seniors, Social Security is their prime source of income.

Bills: SB190 , SB152 , SB77 , SB150 , SB151 , SB156 , SB172 , SB182 , SB185 , SB212 , SB170 , SB133 , SB174 , SB163

Committee: Senate Senate Tax, Business & Transportation

Keywords: cancer treatment, revenue bonds, Gila Regional Medical Center, Nor-Lea General Hospital, healthcare funding, telecommunications, low-income assistance, lifeline, broadband, rural broadband, universal service fund, public regulation commission, PRC, 911 surcharge, telecommunications relay service, VoIP, mobile service, internet affordability, digital equity, digital inclusion

Transcript Highlights:

• This bill is a very important piece, and I think what's interesting about it and what's good about it
• This is to look out for the interests of all three people and more.
• Parental rights are recognized as a fundamental liberty interest. Due process required.
• Parental rights are recognized as a fundamental liberty interest.
• And they are all focused on the best interests of the child.

Bills: SB1285 , SB1289 , SB1326 , SB1328 , SB1329 , SB1330 , SB1392 , SB1402 , SB1425 , SCR1013 , SCR1014

Committee: Senate Judiciary and Elections

Keywords: sentencing, correctional facilities, multiple sentences, death penalty, aggravating circumstances, juvenile offenses, class 2 felony, foreign donations, election administration, certification, Arizona Revised Statutes, transparency, public disclosure, parents' rights, family law, shared parenting, best interest of the child, state interference, family court, custody

Bills: HR1034 , HB1559 , HB1560 , HR759 , HB2180 , HCR62 , HB1949 , HB3109

Keywords: House of Representatives, privileges resolution, legislative process, cosponsorship, majority leader, postal service, employee rights, appeal, Merit Systems Protection Board, labor relations, Postal Service, supervisors, negotiation, pay policies, managerial personnel, USPS, United States Postal Service, postal workers, postal supervisors, postal managers

Transcript Highlights:

• So, Madam Chair, in the interest of your time and the committee's time, I'll stop.
• I'm going to speak to an alignment of interest.
• Our interest is, again, solely the public health and safety of our community.
• Our interest is ensuring... ...community. Our interest is ensuring...
• And in fact, he wants lower interest rates and a 50-year mortgage, so...

Bills: SB1108 , SB1205 , SB1241 , SB1286 , SB1366 , SB1431 , SB1473 , SB1477 , SB1478 , SB1479 , SB1492 , SB1517 , SB1563 , SB1586 , SB1665 , SB1671

Committee: Senate Regulatory Affairs and Government Efficiency

Keywords: cash transactions, mandatory rounding, swedish rounding, public notice, Arizona Revised Statutes, motor vehicle booting, private property, fees, dispute process, regulations, SB1241, private permitting provider, private permit, private certificate of completion, building permit, building plan review, inspection, single-trade residential construction, residential construction, municipal permitting

Transcript Highlights:

• and national security.
• and national security.
• and national security.
• and national security.
• </c> on US interests and national security. on US interests and national security.

Bills: HR1286 , HR1263 , HB1578 , HR1364 , HB2201 , HB1823 , HB1815 , HR1147 , HR217 , HB1701 , HB1453 , HR1223

Keywords: trade policy, tariffs, trade enforcement, workers rights, labor standards, environmental standards, Buy America, domestic content, offshoring, manufacturing jobs, factory closures, family farmers, small business, supply chains, dumping, countervailing duties, antidumping, trade agreements, USMCA, investor-state dispute settlement

Transcript Highlights:

• Interesting bill. Thank you so much. It's nice to see this committee. My name is Sharon Chumake.
• Interesting bill. Thank you so much. It's nice to see this committee. My name is Sharon Chumake.
• In many cases, these workers have had access to binding interest arbitration for decades.
• make sure that there is one copy of a video in a secure location that both parties can access.
• make sure that there is one copy of a video in a secure location that both parties can access.

Bills: SB6053 , SB6134 , SB6147 , SB6106 , SB6045 , SB6135 , SB6128 , SB6282 , SB6068 , SB6303 , SB6290

Committee: Senate Labor & Commerce

Keywords: SB 6053, domestic workers, domestic worker rights, labor protections, minimum wage, overtime, private household employment, nanny, home care worker, personal care provider, housekeeper, cleaner, cook, gardener, household manager, wage theft, retaliation, anti-discrimination, immigration status, privacy rights

Bills: HB468 , SB366 , HB468 , HB561 , SB227 , SB32 , HB561 , SB227 , SB32

Committee: Senate County and Municipal Government

Keywords: service of process, funding, Marion County, fees, legal documents, firefighters, rights, personnel procedures, state law, public safety, HB468, local commissions, local authorities, municipal planning commission, planning commission, zoning, land use, municipal official, municipal officer, city council

Transcript Highlights:

• By way of background, a common interest community, or CIC, is a form of real estate in which each owner
• has an exclusive interest in a unit or lot and a shared or undivided interest in common area property
• Well, I'll just describe my interest in this bill.
• Obviously, as architects, we're interested in this and moving this along.
• This is something I talk about often with individuals interested in the subject of housing.

Bills: SB6001 , SB6015 , SB6054 , SB5470 , SB5884 , SB6018 , SB6027 , SB6028

Committee: Senate Housing

Keywords: building code, scissor stairs, safety regulations, construction standards, statebuilding regulations, residential building, construction permits, housing development, planning efficiency, state regulations, wildfire, home hardening, fire-resistant materials, fire-hardened building materials, common interest communities, homeowners association, HOA, condominium, condo association, wildland urban interface

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, the interesting thing with aoudad and one of the biggest parts of the problem is they spread the
• I see that you have a vested interest in this and maybe having a negative effect in your community as
• Um, the interesting thing with aoudad and one of the biggest parts of the problem is they spread the
• I see that you have a vested interest in this and maybe having a negative effect in your community as
• Um, the interesting thing with aoudad and one of the biggest parts of the problem is they spread the

Bills: HB2385 , HB3349 , HB3962 , HB3883 , HB4396 , HB4811 , HB5088 , HB4588 , HB4867 , HB4895 , HB5398 , HB5616

Committee: House Culture, Recreation & Tourism

Keywords: NRA, funding, major events reimbursement, annual meetings, exhibits, events trust fund, Pan American Games, Olympic Games, motor sports racing, local control, event support contract, INDYCAR, Arlington, tourism, funding eligibility, sporting events, economic impact, local governments, American Performance Horseman, American Rodeo

Transcript Highlights:

• So say we acquired an interest in someone else's claim, meaning that they also own that interest.
• Then we'll be in a fight over the interest.
• is an interest-bearing account, wouldn't you account for the interest?
• You know, what's the threshold of an interest rate? It has an interest rate, but it's pretty low.
• They own non-participating royalty interests.

Bills: HB3619 , HB3652 , HB4572 , HB4891 , HB4941 , HB5103 , HB5105 , HB5106 , HB5224 , HB5600

Committee: House Energy Resources

Keywords: surface estate, well plugging, Railroad Commission, landowner rights, liability, strategic reserve, gas supply, petroleum products, disaster response, Railroad Commission of Texas, energy security, emergency planning, oil and gas waste, environmental regulation, waste management, mining pits, groundwater monitoring, regulation, commercial disposal facilities, environmental standards

Transcript Highlights:

• The bill creates a state-managed clean hydrogen development fund that can... ...provide low-interest
• If we want to protect our farmers and secure our food. Food supply and keep Texas leading.
• Well, I'd be interested in seeing that at some point. So I live in Houston.
• Members, are you interested in the Railroad Commission? You got the short end of the stick, ma'am.
• However, this has allowed operators with minimal standing and capital to secure these permits.

Bills: HB3619 , HB3652 , HB4572 , HB4891 , HB4941 , HB5103 , HB5105 , HB5106 , HB5224 , HB5600

Committee: House Energy Resources

Keywords: surface estate, well plugging, Railroad Commission, landowner rights, liability, strategic reserve, gas supply, petroleum products, disaster response, Railroad Commission of Texas, energy security, emergency planning, oil and gas waste, environmental regulation, waste management, mining pits, groundwater monitoring, regulation, commercial disposal facilities, environmental standards

Transcript Highlights:

• It's, I think, a national security issue.
• It's simply a limited partnership interest.
• They can still own a partial interest. They cannot own a controlling interest.
• They cannot own a controlling interest.
• But they can have a limited partnership interest; otherwise, it would be a passive interest.

Bills: HB5560 , HB2 , HB24 , HB3233 , HB1397 , HB2067 , HB3133 , HB5696 , HB5680 , HB2885 , HB3966 , HB3556 , HB3595 , HB144 , HB26 , HB2038 , HB521 , HB4 , HB 1178 , HB42 , HB 1211 , HB783 , HB3963 , HB2240 , HB1690 , HB 1234 , HB3372 , HB27 , HB4211 , HB2243 , HB2853 , HB4638 , HJR7 , HB 100 , HB 126 , HB3783 , HB5138 , HB2512 , HB5616 , HB4751 , SB17 , SB1637 , SB1833 , SB2155 , SB21 , SB2778 , SB260 , SB8 , SB12 , SB37 , SB379 , SB441 , SB1566 , SB2878 , HB4112 , HB3866 , HB4749 , HB2844 , HB150

Keywords: groundwater, civil penalties, water conservation, drought contingency, environmental protection, public education, teacher compensation, certification, funding, school finance, educator rights, education funding, charter schools, staff compensation, state aid, retention allotment, zoning, public notice, local government, residential development

Bills: HB5560 , HB2 , HB24 , HB3233 , HB1397 , HB2067 , HB3133 , HB5696 , HB5680 , HB2885 , HB3966 , HB3556 , HB3595 , HB144 , HB26 , HB2038 , HB521 , HB4 , HB 1178 , HB42 , HB 1211 , HB783 , HB3963 , HB2240 , HB1690 , HB 1234 , HB3372 , HB27 , HB4211 , HB2243 , HB2853 , HB4638 , HJR7 , HB 100 , HB 126 , HB3783 , HB5138 , HB2512 , HB5616 , HB4751 , SB17 , SB1637 , SB1833 , SB2155 , SB21 , SB2778 , SB260 , SB8 , SB12 , SB37 , SB379 , SB441 , SB1566 , SB2878 , HB4112 , HB3866 , HB4749 , HB2844 , HB150

Keywords: groundwater, civil penalties, water conservation, drought contingency, environmental protection, public education, teacher compensation, certification, funding, school finance, educator rights, education funding, charter schools, staff compensation, state aid, retention allotment, zoning, public notice, local government, residential development

Transcript Highlights:

• on this last meeting for the new motor vehicle administration, whatever it is, because he's that interested

Bills: HB2053 , HB2123 , HB2603 , HB2979 , HB2997 , HB3148 , HB3982 , HB4058 , HB4108 , HB4143 , HB4266

Committee: Senate Aeronautics and Transportation

Keywords: outdoor advertising, transportation, state law, commercial activities, sign regulations, urban areas, turnpike, infrastructure, Oklahoma Turnpike Authority, construction, bridges, motor carriers, public safety, enforcement, Department of Public Safety, Oklahoma Corporation Commission, transition period, roadside investigation, motor vehicle laws, HB2979

Transcript Highlights:

• First of all, I mentioned before the second... ...of interest to this committee.
• That's really important to maintaining our water security. ...economic viability.
• That's really important to maintaining our water security.
• We're saying everybody needs to be designated and they need to secure a new water supply.
• So there are supplies out there, and we need to secure them. Yes.

Bills: HB2026 , HB2027 , HB2028 , HB2031 , HB2078 , HB2094 , HB2095 , HB2101 , HB2102 , HB2103 , HB2260 , HB2278 , HB2827 , HB2932 , HB2933 , HB2934 , HB2986 , HCM2009 , HCR2038

Committees: House Natural Resources, Energy & Water , House House Natural Resources, Energy & Water Committee of Reference

Keywords: assured water supply, groundwater, commingling, commingled water, water supply, Arizona Department of Water Resources, ADWR, active management area, AMA, subdivision plat, development approval, water rights, municipal provider, private water company, certificate of assured water supply, written commitment of water service, groundwater savings credits, gray water reuse, replenishment district, Central Arizona Project

Transcript Highlights:

• In addition, some expenses can be paid from interest earnings directly from the trust fund.
• Last year, as part of the budget, the use of interest income in the trust fund was temporarily expanded
• I'm just interested in what we're setting up for the cost to the school district.
• I'd really be interested in that. About 60% of our substitute employees don't take the insurance.
• It would look at data from Employment Security.

Bills: SB5834 , SB5835 , SB5883 , SB5905 , SB6151 , SB6163 , SB6177 , SB6173

Committee: Senate Ways & Means

Keywords: Washington retirement systems, retirement trust funds, interest earnings, public employee retirement system, teachers retirement system, state patrol retirement system, judicial retirement system, judges retirement system, school employees retirement system, public safety employees retirement system, law enforcement officers and firefighters retirement system, PERS, TRS, LERS, legal expenses, medical expenses, administrative expenses, fraud prevention, overpayment recovery, trust fund protection