Transcript Highlights:

• State and local government represents about half of the non-residential construction within Texas.
• I don't do a lot of business outside of the state of Texas, but in other states we see other financing
• And that's 416 different housing authorities across the state of Texas.
• There's very few law enforcement agencies in the state of Texas that have this equipment.
• I am Stephanie Mace representing AARP Texas and its 2.5 million members across the state.

Committee: House Pensions, Investments & Financial Services

Transcript Highlights:

• Texas.
• That's trying to stop something that's not allowed in the state of Texas.
• of Texas.
• Uh, like you stated earlier, my name is John Benora, and I'm a policy analyst with the Texas Public Policy
• Texas counties are already struggling to adequately staff our elections with the resources the state

Committee: House Elections

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, every Texan surveyed the State workforce and received over 7000 responses. 67% of the state workers
• In Texas, we value efficiency and a trim state government, but sometimes you can be so trim that it actually
• Texas is one of 3 states that hasn't submitted its plan.
• And I am here representing the Texas Medical Association, the Texas Public Health Coalition, the Texas
• Our hope is to bring whole blood eventually to every county in the state of Texas.

Committee: House Appropriations - S/C on Article II

Transcript Highlights:

• Texas is growing at an unprecedented pace.
• As some of you may know, the GLO is the oldest state agency in Texas and one of the most diverse as well
• lands to help fund Texas public education, restoring and preserving the Alamo, safeguarding our Texas
• Gowani said, our state is rapidly growing. A little bit about us: we're the state homebuilders.
• We need to do so to try to make sure that the advantage that Texas has as a growing state, a beacon for

Committee: House Land & Resource Management

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Every Texan surveyed the state workforce and received over 7,000 responses. of the state workers who
• In Texas we value... efficiency and a trim state government, but sometimes you can be so trim that it
• Texas is one of three states that hasn't submitted its plan.
• Lauren Gamble. representing the Texas Medical Association, the Texas Public Health Coalition, the Texas
• Our hope is to bring blood eventually to every county in the state of Texas.

Committee: House Appropriations - S/C on Article II

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So quantity has increased a lot when we're talking about TPDES permits for the state of Texas.
• I'm here representing Texas State Inspection Association. Members, my name is Greg Cole.
• I'm here representing Texas State Inspection Association.
• We're one of the newest towns in the great state of Texas.
• And so that's where I've seen the biggest cities in the state of Texas are working...

Committee: House Environmental Regulation

Summary: The committee first heard House Bill 1904, which would classify intentionally released helium balloons as litter and create criminal penalties for balloon releases. The author and supportive witnesses argued that balloon releases harm wildlife, livestock, waterways, and infrastructure, and that the bill would close a loophole in current litter law. Several members questioned whether criminal penalties were appropriate, and the author said he was willing to work toward civil penalties and fines instead. No vote was taken, and HB 1904 was left pending. The committee then took up several pending bills and reported them favorably to the full House, including HB 3249, HB 3866, HB 4112, HB 1768, HB 1499, HB 573, and HB 464. These measures dealt with topics such as TCEQ contested-case procedures, outdoor storage containers, high-level radioactive waste, concrete plant permitting and grants, unannounced concrete batch plant inspections, and a scrap tire grant program. Most were adopted with substitutes and passed on recorded votes, generally with unanimous or near-unanimous support. A major portion of the meeting focused on HB 3997, which would create expedited permitting timelines for LNG facilities and related wastewater permits. Industry witnesses said the bill would provide certainty for multibillion-dollar projects without eliminating public participation, while environmental groups opposed parts of the bill that they said could limit contested-case participation and be unrealistic for SOAH timelines. TCEQ staff described the current wastewater permitting process and said some of the bill’s timing provisions could be workable, especially with an expedited fee. The bill was left pending after the author said he would continue working on committee substitute language. The committee also heard HB 1237 on extending the renewal window for expired TCEQ occupational water licenses, and HB 4519, a TERP consolidation bill that would combine several clean transportation grant programs into fewer programs. HB 1237 was left pending without testimony, while HB 4519 drew broad support from environmental and industry witnesses who favored simplifying the program, though some asked for stronger emphasis on particulate matter and hydrogen funding. The committee withdrew the substitute on HB 4519 and left it pending. Finally, HB 5033, which would eliminate the motor vehicle emissions inspection and maintenance program if federal authority changes, drew opposition from environmental and inspection-industry witnesses who warned it would weaken air-quality protections and could remove an important enforcement tool. The author said the bill was intended as a trigger mechanism and would be refined, and HB 5033 was left pending. The committee also heard HB 1227 on municipal solid-waste franchise fees and private-provider access; the author said he would bring a substitute after hearing concerns from cities, and the bill was left pending.

Transcript Highlights:

• ACA 8 is before you today because President Trump and Republicans in Texas and other states across the
• and no other state has passed a partisan gerrymander, would Texas...
• And you can ask for Trump to end bandits from Texas and other states.
• It's the most democratic district setting process ever proposed by a state and unlike Texas...
• If you keep, you guys keep bringing up Texas, why is other states?

Committee: House Elections

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Texas Holocaust Remembrance Week.
• and the United States today.
• United States.
• Furthermore, Texas continues to rank second for the most human trafficking cases in the United States
• You know, he went on to serve in the State Board of Education. He'd served in the Texas House.

Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum, heard the daily invocation, approved the previous day’s journal, and received a House message announcing passage of H.C.R. 54, which authorizes the legislature to adjourn for more than three days during a specified period. The chamber then took up several recognitions, including Senate Resolution 8 honoring Texas Society of Certified Public Accountants Advocacy Day, a recognition of the Texas A&M University System Chancellor’s Student Advisory Council, a delegation from Dimmit County, and the doctor of the day, Dr. Hosey Hinojosa. The main floor business centered on Senate Resolution 15, commemorating International Holocaust Remembrance Day and the start of Texas Holocaust Remembrance Week. Senators King, Menendez, Bettencourt, Perry, Hughes, Hinojosa, Campbell, Hall, Cook, Paxton, West, Parker, and others spoke in support, emphasizing Holocaust history, the rise of anti-Semitism, the importance of education, and solidarity with Israel. The resolution was adopted without objection, and Senator Bettencourt moved to add all senators’ names. The Senate also adopted Senate Resolution 17, recognizing Sexual Assault Survivors Day, with remarks focused on the prevalence of sexual violence, underreporting, support for survivors, and the need for prevention and stronger systems of response. The Senate then adopted Senate Resolution 14 in memory of Brazoria County Sheriff’s Deputy Jesse Vargas, who was killed in the line of duty, with Senators Middleton and Huffman highlighting his service and using the occasion to call for tougher measures against violent offenders. Additional resolutions SR 3, SR 4, SR 5, SR 6, SR 7, SR 11, and SR 12 were adopted together, and SR 54 granting permission for adjournment for more than three days was approved by a 31-0 roll call vote. The chamber also recognized Leadership Frisco Class No. 28 and later honored former Senator Dr. Joe J. Bernal and, upon adjournment, Sergeant Mark Allen Butler of the Navasota Police Department. The Senate adjourned until 11 a.m. Wednesday, January 29, 2025, in memory of Deputy Vargas and Sergeant Butler.

Transcript Highlights:

• Bar of Texas in consultation with the Texas Secretary of State.
• The bill continues to promote Texas as a leading and attentive business state, which in turn attracts
• The committee working with representatives of the Texas Secretary of State and the Legislative Council
• I'm also with TBLF and sit on the Texas Business Organization's Codes Committee of the State Bar of Texas
• disclosed, It has interrupted a valuable service provided by the State of Texas office.

Committee: House Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence

Transcript Highlights:

• The state of Texas ranks number 2 in the nation in self sex trafficking.
• Any anyone in the state of Texas is considered a mandatory reporter.
• Compared to many other states, Texas law is notably permissive in this area.
• The whole state of Texas needs to be no trafficking zone.
• And so please make it a first degree felony in the state of Texas, uh, human trafficking.

Transcript Highlights:

• Pledges of Allegiance to the United States and Texas Flags.
• Salute, I honor the Texas flag, I pledge allegiance to the United States of America, and to the Texas
• In the state of Texas, he's the only one I know. Assistant City Manager Brent Garrett.
• of Texas.
• State Capitol.

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And right now, Texas is near the bottom of all 50 states when it comes to what we pay our judges in Texas
• I've got you here on behalf of the State Bar of Texas Judicial Section, and you're testifying on the
• Today I'm here as the chair of the judicial section of the State Bar of Texas, and because of the rules
• State University, Texas Tech School of Law, and I am a first-generation college student.
• There are judges all over the great state of Texas that are listening in and are concerned about this

Bills: HB40

Committee: House Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence

Keywords: law enforcement, sheriffs, constables, contracts, county authority

Summary: The Committee on Judiciary and Civil Jurisprudence met to hear House Bill 1761, a broad judicial package focused on increasing judicial compensation and adding accountability and efficiency measures. The chair explained that HB 1707 and HB 2100 were withdrawn from the agenda, and that HB 1761 would be taken up first because many judges and stakeholders were present. The committee substitute for HB 1761 proposed a 30% increase in base judicial pay to $182,000, changes to judicial retirement linkage, stronger judicial conduct provisions, and efficiency measures such as targeted reporting for judges not meeting benchmarks, appellate in-person meeting encouragement, and time limits on certain motions. The chair and several supporters said judicial pay had reached “emergency status,” citing Texas’s low national ranking and difficulty recruiting and retaining qualified judges. Witnesses in support included presiding and district judges, the State Bar’s judicial section, business and trial lawyer groups, and prosecutors. They emphasized that many judges work long hours off the bench, handle warrants at night and on weekends, manage heavy dockets, and face recruitment problems in both urban and rural counties. Supporters also said higher pay would help attract experienced lawyers, retain judges, and improve court efficiency. Several witnesses and members discussed judicial accountability, including public reporting of court performance and the role of the Texas Supreme Court and presiding judges in setting benchmarks. Some members raised concerns that raw statistics can be misleading because judges also do substantial off-the-bench work and often help cover other courts’ dockets. There was also testimony and discussion about the bill’s conduct and discipline provisions. A representative of the Texas Civil Rights Project opposed parts of the bill that would tie pay raises to changes affecting judicial independence, warning about subjective bail-related discipline standards and possible chilling effects. The executive director of the State Commission on Judicial Conduct cautioned against civil penalties for complainants, saying it could discourage good-faith complaints and create litigation risks. Other witnesses supported accountability reforms but urged caution about unintended consequences, especially for family and emergency cases and for judges handling warrants and other time-sensitive matters. After testimony, the committee withdrew the committee substitute and left HB 1761 pending, then recessed the committee.

Transcript Highlights:

• Advocacy Day at the State Capitol.
• Texas Holocaust Remembrance Week.
• and the United States today.
• United States.
• Furthermore, Texas continues to rank second for the most human trafficking cases in the United States

Bills: SJR36

Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum, offered an invocation, and approved the previous day’s journal. The chamber received a House message announcing passage of H.C.R. 54, and then took up a series of recognitions and resolutions honoring visiting groups, including Texas Society of CPAs Advocacy Day, the Texas A&M System Chancellor’s Student Advisory Council, Dimmit County officials, the Doctor of the Day, and Leadership Frisco. Senators also recognized the Senate’s memorial and ceremonial guests throughout the day. The main floor business centered on two commemorative resolutions. Senate Resolution 15 marked International Holocaust Remembrance Day and the start of Texas Holocaust Remembrance Week. Senators King, Menendez, Bettencourt, Perry, Hughes, Hinojosa, Campbell, Hall, Cook, Paxton, West, Parker, and others spoke in support, emphasizing Holocaust education, opposition to anti-Semitism and denial, remembrance of victims and survivors, and the importance of teaching students to stand up against hatred. The resolution was adopted, and the names of all senators and the lieutenant governor were added. The Senate also adopted Senate Resolution 17 designating January 28 as Sexual Assault Survivors Day. Senator Parker described the prevalence and underreporting of sexual assault, the impact on survivors, and the need for prevention, support services, and stronger responses; Senator Cook spoke as a survivor and emergency room nurse and highlighted rape-kit backlogs and the need for victim support. The chamber then adopted Senate Resolution 14 honoring Brazoria County Sheriff’s Deputy Jesus Jesse Vargas, who was killed in the line of duty, with Senators Middleton and Huffman urging action against violent offenders and stronger protections for law enforcement. Several additional resolutions were adopted, including SRs 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 11, and 12, and SR 54 granting permission for the Legislature to adjourn for more than three days was approved by roll call, 31 ayes and 0 nays. The Senate later adjourned until 11 a.m. Wednesday, January 29, 2025, in memory of Deputy Vargas and Sergeant Mark Allen Butler, whom Senator Kolkhorst also honored in remarks.

Transcript Highlights:

• We thank you for this great state of Texas. We trust that every mother felt your love.
• We thank you for this great state of Texas. We trust that every mother felt your love.
• Public universities in the state of Texas.
• Texas to pay in-state tuition.
• It was the state of Louisiana because we did not in Texas yet have the tools.

Summary: The Senate opened with an invocation by Pastor Tedrick Woods, followed by routine chamber actions including excusing Senator Gutierrez and receiving House messages that the House had passed HB 21 and HB 49. Senators also recognized advocates visiting the gallery on focal segmental glomerulosclerosis awareness and introduced the Doctor of the Day. The chamber adopted several resolutions, including HCR 66, by voice vote. The Senate then took up and passed a series of measures, often by suspending the regular order and the constitutional three-day rule. Among the bills finally passed were HJR 2, which would prohibit state death taxes; HB 206, limiting counties from requiring cash bonds for pipeline construction; HB 517, barring property owners associations from fining homeowners for discolored vegetation during watering restrictions; HB 2756, requiring TDCJ correctional officers to receive de-escalation and behavioral health training; HB 451, expanding screening for commercial sexual exploitation risk among children in DFPS and TJJD custody; SB 705, cleaning up the air conditioning and refrigeration contractors advisory board; SB 2017, creating an offense for burnouts and wheelies; SB 1858, expanding body armor grant eligibility to ISDs; SB 1400, directing a study on transfer-student outcomes for community college funding; SB 2764, requiring notice to manufactured home buyers about converting homes to real property; SB 748, a licensing cleanup bill on laser hair removal; SB 2519, restricting certain ad valorem tax uses and bonds after amendment; SB 2878, the courts bill with amendments on Brazoria County courts and youth diversion provisions; SB 466, allowing families to request fetal death certificates at any gestational age; SB 1608, requiring timely physical exams for inpatient mental health admissions; SB 1730, limiting civil damages claims arising from certain uses of force or deadly force; SB 2417, clarifying Attorney General antitrust investigation work product and discovery rules; and SB 1946, creating a family violence, criminal homicide prevention task force. The Senate also passed HB 3204, renaming and updating the Polytechnic College at Sam Houston State University, and SB 1986, requiring opioid warning labels. Several bills drew brief debate or amendments. Senators discussed broader HOA reform while considering HB 517, and SB 2203 on TCEQ discovery procedures was amended to require party motions, set a 15-day expiration for certified issues, and limit hearing abatement. SB 2017 was amended to change the mens rea language from knowingly to intentional. SB 2519 was narrowed by amendment to a forward-looking policy statement separating maintenance-and-operation taxes from debt-service taxes. SB 2878 also received amendments to reduce the number of new Brazoria County courts and add youth diversion and crisis-response provisions. SB 466 prompted a floor debate over whether fetal death certificates are appropriate for pre-20-week losses, with supporters emphasizing family closure and opponents arguing the document has no estate-related purpose. SB 1730 also prompted questions about the relationship between criminal findings and civil liability in self-defense cases. The session concluded with additional House and Senate measures being signed in the presence of the Senate and continued consideration of SB 2177, a grant program to help local law enforcement solve violent and sexual offenses.

Transcript Highlights:

• They're required to submit a state of Texas drilling report for every well that is drilled.
• says is readily available out of that zone or anywhere to anywhere in the state of Texas.
• So first on water use in Texas, you know, population in Texas and the state water plans projected to
• I'll note that I've been at Texas State for the last 10 years.
• One of those options is controlled by the state of Texas leaders—you all.

Committee: House Natural Resources

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Some places in our great state of Texas are undoubtedly sacred schools above all.
• It's one of the, it is the most underreported crime that we have, not just in the state of Texas, but
• The sexualization of children and the normalization normalization of pedophilia in the state of Texas
• In the state of Texas, possession of a childlike sex doll is not documented nor recorded as a statistic
• of Texas, but also with any police officer and investigator in the United States because this crime

Bills: HB316

Committee: House Criminal Jurisprudence

Keywords: Medicaid, healthcare, affordable care act, medical assistance, federal funding

Transcript Highlights:

• of Texas, for the state.
• You know, DIR is DIR with the state of Texas. There are others that are. state.
• The law of the state of Texas is the...
• the total teacher count in the state of Texas?
• As you all know so well, the state of Texas is one of the largest employers in the state. state, and

Committee: House Delivery of Government Efficiency

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• There's a crisis in the supply chain, but it benefits every Texas resident, every United States resident
• Texas A&M, West Texas A&M, and some pretty impressive programs that are working.
• According to the Texas Water Development Board, there are currently no operational ASR projects in Texas
• Our largest trading partner— and I don’t mean the United States, I mean Texas—is Mexico.
• House Bill 4530 addresses a Texas Water Development Board legislative priority. The Texas Water...

Committee: Senate Water, Agriculture and Rural Affairs

Keywords: 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Downtown, there are historic landmarks and attractions like the Texas State Railroad, the Texas Theater
• Members, today I'm proud to recognize county treasurers from across the state of Texas.
• I had a bill that would have put a cop in every school paid for by the state of Texas.
• I am. ...the state of Texas. That bill went nowhere. Correct. You're aware? I am.
• With no funding help from the state of Texas. That's correct.

Summary: The Senate opened with a quorum, an invocation, and routine motions to excuse Senator King and dispense with the reading of the previous journal. Members then took up several ceremonial resolutions and recognitions, including honoring Duncanville High School’s boys basketball state championship, recognizing the city of Palestine, welcoming the Texas African American Lawyers Foundation and Barbara Jordan Leadership Institute, acknowledging the Cibolo Chamber of Commerce, and designating Texas County Treasurer’s Day and Mesquite Day. A memorial resolution for Clyde Vance Dunham of Waco was adopted, with multiple senators speaking in tribute to his long legal career and community service; the Senate agreed to adjourn in his memory. The chamber then considered a series of bills, most of which were advanced on expedited motions. Senate Bill 1948, concerning fire prevention standards for certain agricultural facilities, passed after suspension of the rules and the three-day rule. Senate Bill 1394, updating weight and tire-load rules for ready-mix concrete trucks, passed unanimously. Senate Bill 1814, creating an electronic database to provide information to certain veterans, also passed unanimously. Senate Bill 241, tightening enforcement of the public camping ban and authorizing state enforcement and reimbursement mechanisms, drew questions about impacts on unhoused people but ultimately passed. Senate Bill 1147, withdrawing Texas from the Interstate Mining Compact, passed unanimously. The Senate also passed Committee Substitute for Senate Bill 921 on Medicaid ex parte renewals after a narrower vote, and Senate Bill 609, requiring school districts and charter schools to comply with legally required policies, after rejecting an amendment by Senators Menendez and Perry that would have added a good-faith/resource-limitation safeguard for districts. Committee Substitute for Senate Bill 660, requiring bollards or similar barriers near certain hospital emergency rooms, passed with rural exemptions and exceptions for existing protections. Senate Bill 2155, a cleanup bill returning veterinary board authority from TDLR to the State Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners, passed with amendments. Committee Substitute for Senate Bill 1209 on election dates and Committee Substitute for Senate Bill 1396 prohibiting national sex education standards in public schools also passed. The Senate then received first-reading bills and adjourned until the next day.

Transcript Highlights:

• Peace officers employed by the OAG bravely serve the citizens of the state of Texas and conduct complex
• In 2007, we were all sent across the state during the Texas Juvenile Justice, uh, division conservatorship
• of Texas.
• We are not only, I guess, competing against each other for officers across the state of Texas, but we
• We are the 3rd largest school district in the state of Texas.

Committee: House Pensions, Investments & Financial Services