Transcript Highlights:

• new homes in Texas in 2024.
• And there are just less and less of our population in Texas, certainly in the Central Texas area, that
• universities, Texas State and UH.
• Texas is thousands of units short, and we need more.
• When I moved to South Lake, Texas, I was 37. Today I'm 67.

Bills: HB602 , HB1322 , HB1930 , HB2225 , HB2304 , HB2494 , HB3275 , HB3810 , HB3919

Committee: House Land & Resource Management

Keywords: affordable housing, land use, zoning, urban planning, community development, housing crisis, mixed-use development, sustainability, municipal utility district, board of directors, qualifications, land ownership, Texas, taxation, residency, municipal approval, subdivision plans, local governance, plats, local government

Transcript Highlights:

• This bill is especially important for rural Texas.
• As somebody who grew up in Deep East Texas, I definitely M.
• and Lennar, we built over 20,000 new homes in Texas in 2024.
• And there are just less and less of our population in Texas, certainly in the central Texas area that
• universities, Texas State and UH.

Bills: HB602 , HB1322 , HB1930 , HB2225 , HB2304 , HB2494 , HB3275 , HB3810 , HB3919

Committee: House Land & Resource Management

Keywords: affordable housing, land use, zoning, urban planning, community development, housing crisis, mixed-use development, sustainability, municipal utility district, board of directors, qualifications, land ownership, Texas, taxation, residency, municipal approval, subdivision plans, local governance, plats, local government

Transcript Highlights:

• This bill provides much needed clarity for Texas property owners by reinforcing their ability to challenge
• While current law under Chapter 211 of the Local Government Code and the Texas Constitution provides
• Heinrich case to claim they are immune from lawsuits brought under the Uniform Declaratory Judgments Act
• council has to publish notice of public David Earl: hearing, consider that recommendation, and then act
• I respectfully urge you to vote no on SB 2639 and stand up for Texas history for all Texans.

Bills: SB2215 , SB2639

Committee: House Land & Resource Management

Keywords: zoning, municipality, municipal immunity, governmental immunity, local government, Chapter 211, Texas Local Government Code, land use, declaratory relief, injunctive relief, mandamus, attorney's fees, court costs, property rights, home rule city, code enforcement, planning and zoning, land development, municipal ordinance, historic landmark

Summary: The committee first heard Senate Bill 2215, which would clarify that property owners may challenge municipal zoning ordinances that are adopted without following Chapter 211 procedures, and would expressly waive municipal sovereign immunity for declaratory, injunctive, and mandamus actions in those cases. The bill sponsor and witnesses argued it would simply enforce existing notice, hearing, and due process requirements and give landowners a practical remedy when cities fail to comply. Testimony in support came from attorneys and a landowner describing alleged zoning actions in Selma that they said occurred without proper notice or hearings and caused significant financial harm. After questions, the committee substitute was withdrawn and the bill was left pending. The committee then took up Senate Bill 2639, which would add disclosure and compensation requirements for local historic designations, including compensation based on the greater of repair/restoration costs or the difference in appraised value with and without the designation. The bill author said it was intended to address situations where historic designation delays or blocks redevelopment and to ensure property owners are fairly compensated. A property owner testified in support, describing an Austin case in which a demolition permit led to historic designation and what he said was a costly forced rehabilitation. Opponents, including a preservation advocate and an East Austin resident, argued the current process is already rigorous, rare, and balanced, and that the bill would undermine cities’ ability to preserve historic places and community heritage. During closing on SB 2639, the chair raised a concern that Section 3B appeared to apply retroactively to pending cases, which he said could be unconstitutional under the Texas Constitution’s prohibition on retroactive laws. The committee did not resolve that issue during the hearing, and the bill was left pending. The committee then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Susan was born on September 4, 1954, in Hughes Spring, Texas, to Robert Bob H. Traylor and J.
• Susan was born in 1954 in Hughes Spring, Texas, to Robert Bob H.
• It is an act in Title 51 relative to grocery initiative grants and financial support.
• the House subject to call for the purpose of calling Senate Bill 312 by Senator Talbot, which is an act
• It's an act to amend Title 33 relative to the city of St.

Bills: SCR12 , HB221 , HB509 , HCR58 , HB75 , HB1222 , SB121 , SB312 , SB348 , SB485 , SCR9 , SCR58 , SB65 , SB215 , SB249 , SB269 , SB282 , SB296 , SB323 , SB363 , SB369 , SB474 , SB490 , SB492 , SB500 , SB514 , HCR54 , HCR79 , HCR87 , HCR94 , HCR104 , HCR32 , HB944 , HB17 , HB41 , HB73 , HB223 , HB244 , HB410 , HB750 , HB759 , HB906 , HB966 , HB1006 , HB1009 , HB1086 , HB1107 , HB1112 , HB1215 , HB1242 , SB208 , SB217 , SB283 , SB387 , SB389 , SB401 , SB408 , SB469 , HB74 , HB119 , HB368 , HB414 , HB552 , HB732 , HB776 , HB848 , HB870 , HB953 , HB956 , HB1236 , SB29 , SB42 , SB43 , SB78 , SB149 , SB274 , SB300 , SB341 , SB382 , SB441 , SB449 , HB134 , HB210 , HB258 , HB359 , HB468 , HB784 , HB1117

Keywords: logging, recognition, John Keith, environment, safety, Mississippi River bridge, Trump Expressway, transportation, federal funding, Louisiana highways, injection wells, public hearing, geologic sequestration, environmental impact, public comment, Ascension Parish, state capitol, economic development, community partnership, celebration day

Transcript Highlights:

• Today's historic markup of the Genius Act and the Firm Act is proof that we are in fact delivering on
• . banking, including Senator Kramer's Fair Access to Banking Act.
• Act will sunset, and stablecoin issuers will be required to redeem their coins.
• Under the Genius Act, stablecoin issuers must already comply with the Bank Secrecy Act, including filing
• I now move to call up S. 875, the FIRM Act.

Bills: SB875

Committee: Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee

Keywords: banking regulation, federal agencies, reputational risk, financial services, supervision, FIRM Act, bank supervision, depository institutions, federal banking agencies, FDIC, OCC, Federal Reserve, NCUA, CFPB, credit unions, Operation Choke Point, financial discrimination, safety and soundness, supervisory guidance, examination manual

Summary: This meeting focused on the markup of the Genius Act and the FIRM Act, two significant pieces of legislation addressing stablecoin regulation and the financial industry's regulatory framework. The Chairman noted the importance of providing clarity to the digital asset community and protecting American consumers, while also promoting innovation and competition within the financial sector. Members of both parties expressed varying viewpoints, with some highlighting concerns related to national security and the potential risks associated with stablecoins.

Transcript Highlights:

• Yeah, let's bring Sunset up. Do we have a representative from the Sunset Commission present?
• Texas had that until it was sunsetted about four years ago.
• We had it in Texas until sunseted about four years ago.
• In closing, I would state that in our self-evaluation report to the Texas State Sunset Commission, we
• Please. closing, I would state that in our self-evaluation report to the Texas Sunset Commission, we

Bills: SB552 , SB1099 , SB1124 , SB1208 , SB1372 , SB1506 , SB1667 , SB1804 , SB1806 , SB1870 , SB1936 , SB1937 , SB2180 , SB2405 , SB2569 , SB2570 , SB1646

Committee: Senate Criminal Justice

Summary: The committee heard a series of criminal justice bills, beginning with SB 1870 and SB 1727, both of which were adopted as committee substitutes and reported favorably to the full Senate. SB 1870 would bar local governments from adopting policies that decriminalize controlled substances or direct officials not to enforce state drug laws, with civil penalties enforced by the Attorney General for violations. SB 1727 was described as a technical change to make the draft a formal Legislative Council version of a TDCJ-related assault bill; both bills were also sent to the local and uncontested calendar. The committee then took up SB 2405, the major Sunset bill for TDCJ, the Board of Pardons and Paroles, Windham School District, and the Correctional Managed Health Care Committee. Senator Parker explained that the bill continues and modernizes those agencies, requires a 10-year facilities and staffing plan, expands rehabilitation and reentry programming, improves parole-board consistency and training, and codifies various cleanup and inspector general recommendations. Sunset staff and agency witnesses discussed the bill’s data-sharing, program coordination, and projected savings from reducing delays in parole-voted programming; public witnesses generally supported the post-secondary education and reentry provisions, while some urged stronger statutory direction for Windham and more reform to medically recommended intensive supervision. The bill was left pending. SB 1804, SB 1099, SB 2569, and SB 2570 were also heard. SB 1804 would allow restitution for tattoo removal for human trafficking survivors and remove the age restriction so adult survivors can qualify; it was reported favorably and sent to the local calendar. SB 1099 would increase penalties for certain felony offenses when committed by a person determined to be unlawfully present in the country; immigration and civil rights witnesses opposed it as overbroad and difficult to administer, but it was reported favorably. SB 2569 would modernize unmanned aircraft reporting by requiring law enforcement agencies to post reports on public websites; it passed unanimously and was sent to the local calendar. SB 2570 would create a defense to prosecution for peace officers and correctional guards using less-lethal force weapons within the scope of their training; law enforcement witnesses supported it, civil rights and prosecutor witnesses raised concerns that it was too broad and could weaken existing use-of-force standards, and the bill was left pending for further work.

Transcript Highlights:

• In 2023, Texas Dream Act students represented less than 5% of all Texas students who received any form
• Although she is a beneficiary of the Texas DREAM Act.
• The Texas DREAM Act fuels. prosperity generating 33 billion dollars in earnings annually if the texas
• HB 232, which will repeal the Texas Dream Act.
• The Texas DREAM Act isn't just a law, it's a lifeline.

Bills: HB232

Committee: House Higher Education

Keywords: disaster recovery, natural disaster, weather disaster, emergency relief, flood relief, hurricane relief, storm damage, wildfire, tornado, hail, windstorm, extreme heat, ice storm, snowstorm, property damage, personal injury, temporary housing, relocation assistance, lost wages, state emergency management

Transcript Highlights:

• I love Texas dearly.
• I was born and raised in Texas, currently living in Denton, Texas.
• of the Controlled Substances Act and how Texas has mirrored federal policy toward cannabis prohibition
• , Texas?
• in Texas.

Bills: HB28 , SB3 , SB 3

Committee: House State Affairs

Keywords: hemp regulation, consumable products, cannabinoids, state health, youth protection, licensing fees, criminal offenses, 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

Transcript Highlights:

• This has been done here in Austin, Texas, San Marcos, Texas, Denton, Texas, Killeen, Texas, Lockhart,
• Texas, Bastrop, Texas, and Elgin, Texas. ...Harker Heights, Texas.
• In fact, Texas...
• I mean the Major League Baseball Texas Rangers at Texas Live.
• it to Texas. for Texas use.

Bills: HB28 , SB3 , SB 3

Committee: House State Affairs

Keywords: hemp regulation, consumable products, cannabinoids, state health, youth protection, licensing fees, criminal offenses, 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

Transcript Highlights:

• Senate Bill 1534 is a charity enforcement act working with the AG's office to strengthen protections
• Just was trying to imagine what if you could just give me like an example of how a bad actor might act
• Just like my good friend and colleague before me, this is a compacting licensure act for occupational

Bills: SB1873 , SB1948 , SB540 , SB1653 , SB1061 , SB1534

Committee: House Business

Keywords: roofing, contractor registration, continuing education, endorsement, construction industry, fireworks, consumer safety, local governance, emergency declaration, public safety, dentist, dental hygienist, dentistry, dental hygiene, licensure compact, interstate compact, professional licensing, license portability, health workforce, workforce shortage

Bills: HB3492 , HB6703 , HB3616 , HCR64 , HCR61 , HR954 , HR953

Keywords: Protect Children’s Innocence Act, HB3492, H.R. 3492, 18 U.S.C. 116, female genital mutilation, FGM, genital mutilation, bodily mutilation, chemical castration, puberty blockers, gender-affirming care, transgender minors, youth healthcare, pediatric medicine, intersex, gender transition surgery, medical exceptions, federal criminal law, child protection, interstate commerce

Transcript Highlights:

• The Anchor Act passed out of needs.
• It would stop permanently SNAP Act.
• </c> the current tax cut and jobs act the current tax cut and jobs act delivers.<03:03:11.359><c> we<
• </c> under section 112 of the Clean Air Act under section 112 of the Clean Air Act and<03:35:40.319><
• HR1900, the Bank Failure Prevention Act, HR1900, the Bank Failure Prevention Act, which<04:22:29.279>

Bills: SJR13 , HB1969 , HR1223 , HR426 , HR430

Keywords: SJR13, S.J.Res. 13, joint resolution, Congressional Review Act, CRA, OCC, Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, Department of the Treasury, bank merger, bank mergers, Bank Merger Act, business combinations, merger review, financial regulation, banking regulation, bank consolidation, regulatory disapproval, federal banking rule, rule repeal, Public Law 119-19

Transcript Highlights:

• We will also Trinity River Authority of Texas and the Texas Ethics Commission.
• Lastly, the Sunset staff completed their evaluation of the Texas Lottery Commission as directed at the
• The Sunset Act requires the Commission to take one final vote to forward all of the...
• Members, the Sunset Act requires the Commission to take one final vote to forward all of the recommendations
• Does anyone have any questions for the Sunset staff or the Texas Lottery Commission concerning that report

Summary: The Sunset Advisory Commission met for its final meeting of the biennium, established a quorum, and approved the December 11, 2024 minutes. Members then voted on staff recommendations for several agencies, including the Angelina and Netties River Authority, Lower Netties Valley Authority, and Trinity River Authority of Texas, adopting all recommendations for those entities without modification. The Texas Ethics Commission received the most discussion. Members adopted a modified recommendation to exempt lobby compensation thresholds from inflation adjustments and another modification to round inflation-adjusted amounts. The Commission also adopted a series of new recommendations addressing TEC customer service staffing, late filing penalties, post-election reporting penalties, waiver of penalties when notice cannot be produced, review of the substantial compliance standard for corrected reports, review of the definition of principal purpose for campaign finance reporting, more prominent public posting of delinquent penalties, and clearer training and guidance on lobbying registration and filing requirements. The Commission also adopted two previously omitted Texas Department of Criminal Justice recommendations, 6.5 and 6.6. The Commission then took its required final record vote to forward all recommendations adopted during the biennium to the 89th Legislature; the motion passed with nine ayes. Sunset staff provided a status update on implementation of 2023 Sunset recommendations, reporting that the State Auditor found 89% of selected management actions fully implemented and that Sunset staff found 68% of 163 statutory and related changes fully implemented, with the remainder mostly in progress. The meeting also noted the recently completed evaluation of the Texas Lottery Commission and ended with closing remarks from the chair and vice chair before the Commission recessed.

Transcript Highlights:

• We will also Trinity River Authority of Texas and the Texas Ethics Commission.
• Lastly, the Sunset staff completed their evaluation of the Texas Lottery Commission as directed at the
• The Sunset Act requires the Commission to take one final vote to forward all of the recommendations we
• Members, the Sunset Act requires the Commission to take one final vote to forward all of the recommendations
• Does anyone have any questions for the Sunset staff or the Texas Lottery Commission concerning that report

Bills: SR1 , SR2

Summary: The Sunset Advisory Commission met for its final meeting of the biennium, established a quorum, approved the December 11, 2024 minutes, and then voted on recommendations for several agencies reviewed earlier in the cycle. It adopted all recommendations for the Angelina and Nettus River Authority, the Lower Nettus Valley Authority, and the Trinity River Authority of Texas, with no modifications offered for those agencies. The Commission then considered the Texas Ethics Commission. Members adopted staff recommendations with modifications, including changes to lobby compensation thresholds and rounding of inflation adjustments. The Commission also adopted a series of new recommendations addressing TEC customer service staffing, late-filing penalties, post-election reporting penalties, waiver of penalties when notice cannot be shown, review of the “substantial compliance” standard, review of the “principal purpose” definition, more prominent public posting of delinquent penalties, and clearer training and guidance on filing and lobby-registration requirements. The Commission also adopted two previously omitted Texas Department of Criminal Justice recommendations, 6.5 and 6.6. By recorded vote, the Commission unanimously forwarded all recommendations adopted during the biennium to the 89th Legislature, with nine ayes. Sunset staff then reported on implementation of 2023 Sunset recommendations, saying the State Auditor found 89% of selected management actions fully implemented and Sunset staff found 68% of statutory and related changes fully implemented, with the remainder mostly in progress. The Commission also noted receipt of a January 6 evaluation of the Texas Lottery Commission, including a study of potential regulation of lottery ticket courier companies, but no further action was taken on that item. The meeting concluded with closing remarks and a motion to recess subject to the call of the Chair.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:08:52.480><c> of</c> act of act of patriotism patriotism patriotism of<00:08:55.920><c> one</c><00
• </c> which is why I introduced the Reset Act which is why I introduced the Reset Act and<00:13:34.000
• </c> requirement under the Clean Water Act. requirement under the Clean Water Act.
• and more mosques being built in Texas and more mosques being built in Texas Texas Texas every<03:38:
• For us to survive, we have to act. We need to pass the Pause Act. We need to pause immigration.

Bills: HB3668

Keywords: pipeline, natural gas, Natural Gas Act, FERC, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, NEPA, environmental review, permitting reform, LNG, liquefied natural gas, certificate of public convenience and necessity, section 7, section 3, Clean Water Act, section 401, water quality certification, state authority, interagency coordination, pipeline safety, pipeline security

Transcript Highlights:

• The Texas Lottery is committed to generating revenue for the state of Texas through the responsible management
• Charitable bingo in Texas was first approved...
• We also worked closely with Sunset staff as there's a supplemental Sunset report that was ultimately
• Then I read the Sunset Commission report.
• or debit card transactions on behalf of the Texas Lottery in Texas.

Committee: House Licensing & Administrative Procedures

Transcript Highlights:

• I think it should be in line with the Texas Public Information Act, Texas Government Code Chapter 552
• Right now, if a person tries to take on a Texas Open Meetings Act violation, they have to front their
• So I would recommend actually making this more in line with the Public Information Act, Texas Government
• Code 552, as opposed to what it is... ...more in line with the Public Information Act, Texas Government
• The Texas AG is there, like the Public Information Act would really help Texas and its transparency.

Bills: HB198 , HB303 , HB1535 , HB2742 , HB3305 , HB3348 , HB3505 , HB3711 , HB4753 , HB2715 , HB21 , HB30 , HB21 , HB198 , HB303

Committee: Senate Local Government

Summary: The Committee on Local Government heard and discussed a series of House bills dealing with municipal structure, tax payment timing, local provider participation funds, firefighter cancer screenings, sunset review of the Trinity River Authority, replacement certificates of occupancy, and open meetings enforcement. HB 303 would remove the 501-resident floor so very small type A and B municipalities can convert to type C cities; HB 2742 would give property owners a later first split-payment deadline when tax bills are mailed after November 30; HB 3305 and HB 3348 were local provider participation fund measures with committee substitutes; HB 198 would require political subdivisions to offer occupational cancer screenings for firefighters; HB 1535 was a sunset bill for the Trinity River Authority; HB 4753 would allow a municipality-issued proof of a certificate of occupancy to substitute for a lost original; and HB 3711 would treat certain Open Meetings Act violations as offenses against public administration and require public explanation when prosecutors decline to act. Testimony was generally supportive or limited, with several witnesses and senators emphasizing practical fixes, firefighter health and cost savings, local government transparency, and administrative cleanup. For HB 198, firefighter representatives gave emotional testimony about cancer deaths and the value of early screening. On HB 3711, a witness supported the bill but urged stronger enforcement and broader application. Several senators raised policy concerns on HB 2715 about routing removal proceedings through a regional presiding judge rather than the local county, arguing it could politicize the process. The committee took no public testimony on most bills and repeatedly left them pending subject to call of the chair before later voting them out. HB 21, HB 30, HB 1535, HB 1520, HB 198, HB 303, HB 2742, and HB 4753 were reported to the full Senate, generally by unanimous or near-unanimous votes, and several were also recommended for the local and uncontested calendar. HB 30 passed on a 5-1 vote, while the other reported bills were approved unanimously or with no recorded opposition. The committee then recessed subject to the call of the chair.

Transcript Highlights:

• or the Math Proficiency Act.
• or the Math Proficiency Act.
• or the Math Proficiency Act.
• Governmental Tort Claims Act.
• An act relating to marriage and family.

Bills: HB3329 , HR1039 , HR1040 , HB3413 , HB3414 , HB3415 , HB3416 , HB3417 , HB3418 , HB3419 , HB3420 , HB3706 , HB3711 , HB4139 , HB1268 , HB3660 , HJR1023 , HB3298 , HB3056 , HJR1084 , HB3934 , HB3919 , HB4118 , HB4119 , HB3791 , HB4260 , HB4178 , HB4215 , HB4324 , HB3270 , HB4352 , HB4305 , HB2955 , HB3315 , HB3066 , HB1245 , HB4125 , HB3075 , HB3129 , HB3239 , HB4153 , HB3265 , HB4491 , SB680 , HB4263 , HB4268 , HB1675 , HB3885 , HB2984 , HB3697 , HB2959 , HB3671 , HB3852 , HB2933 , HB3057 , HB3802 , HB4294 , HB4285 , HB3708 , HB3979 , HB3977 , HB3986 , HB3985 , HB3588 , HB3742 , HB3845 , HJR1070 , HB3590 , HB3595 , HB3391 , HB3183 , HB3764 , HB3765 , HB1002 , HB4434 , HJR1086 , HB4060 , HB3881 , HB3500 , HB4408 , HB3648 , HB3127 , HB3606

Keywords: long-term care, advisory board, sunset legislation, mental health, psychologists, University of Oklahoma, gymnastics, NCAA, congratulations, sports excellence, recognition, honor, athletics, Joseph Castiglione, leadership, education, sports management, HB3413, public finance, state budget

Transcript Highlights:

• House and Albert of the Senate, an act relating to counties and county officers.
• An act relating to public buildings and public works.
• House and Stewart of the Senate, an act relating to crimes and punishments.
• Clerk, act named. Sheen sergeants now roll call. Roll call is now in progress.
• An act relating to professions and occupations.

Bills: HB3329 , HR1039 , HR1040 , HB3413 , HB3414 , HB3415 , HB3416 , HB3417 , HB3418 , HB3419 , HB3420 , HB3706 , HB3711 , HB4139 , HB1268 , HB3660 , HJR1023 , HB3298 , HB3056 , HJR1084 , HB3934 , HB3919 , HB4118 , HB4119 , HB3791 , HB4260 , HB4178 , HB4215 , HB4324 , HB3270 , HB4352 , HB4305 , HB2955 , HB3315 , HB3066 , HB1245 , HB4125 , HB3075 , HB3129 , HB3239 , HB4153 , HB3265 , HB4491 , SB680 , HB4263 , HB4268 , HB1675 , HB3885 , HB2984 , HB3697 , HB2959 , HB3671 , HB3852 , HB2933 , HB3057 , HB3802 , HB4294 , HB4285 , HB3708 , HB3979 , HB3977 , HB3986 , HB3985 , HB3588 , HB3742 , HB3845 , HJR1070 , HB3590 , HB3595 , HB3391 , HB3183 , HB3764 , HB3765 , HB1002 , HB4434 , HJR1086 , HB4060 , HB3881 , HB3500 , HB4408 , HB3648 , HB3127 , HB3606

Keywords: long-term care, advisory board, sunset legislation, mental health, psychologists, University of Oklahoma, gymnastics, NCAA, congratulations, sports excellence, recognition, honor, athletics, Joseph Castiglione, leadership, education, sports management, HB3413, public finance, state budget

Transcript Highlights:

• I am the project manager for the Sunset Review of the Texas Lottery Commission.
• Texas Lottery Commission.
• We also, I know, Sunset met with them, and I think if you look in the second half of the Sunset, Sunset
• state of Texas.
• Texas Appleseed, Texas CASA, and Texas Network of Youth Services worked with legislators to pass this

Committee: House Appropriations - S/C on Articles VI, VII, & VIII