Transcript Highlights:

• The other two individuals submitted their comments to me, and Paul will distribute them to the members
• The more money there is, the more benefits can be distributed to various beneficiaries.
• You can find our app at my address online, and we're happy to distribute those to you.
• On the next slide, slide 11, I mentioned I would come back to the power law distribution.
• I'm sure you're all familiar with a normal distribution curve, and that's here on the left.

Transcript Highlights:

• As explained by Senator Bettencourt, this bill seeks to make an equitable distribution of the surplus
• And right now the mechanism for distributing that money is Harris County Commissioners Court, which is
• Now the mechanism for distributing that money is Harris County Commissioners Court, which is the governing
• Number two, it removes politics from the distribution of surplus revenues, requiring they be distributed
• But the Commissioners Court needs to solve their own distribution problem.

Bills: SB39, SB2129, SB2141, SB2246, SB2323, SB2439, SB2722

Keywords: commercial motor vehicle, truck liability, motor carrier, trucking, civil liability, respondeat superior, negligent entrustment, negligent maintenance, negligent loading, negligent repair, bifurcated trial, exemplary damages, punitive damages, personal injury, collision, employer liability, vicarious liability, Civil Practice and Remedies Code, Texas tort reform, commercial truck accident

Summary: The Senate Transportation Committee reconvened on SB 2722, as substituted by Senator Bettencourt, which would redirect a portion of Harris County Toll Road Authority surplus revenues to the City of Houston and impose audit and tax-rate penalty provisions. Houston Police Chief Noe Diaz and Fire Chief Thomas Munoz testified in support, arguing that Houston bears a large share of toll-road public safety burdens, citing thousands of police and fire responses on toll-road property and the need for compensation for emergency services. Bill King, testifying neutrally, said the toll authority generates large excess revenues and urged stronger oversight and clearer controls on how the money is spent. Opponents, including Harris County officials, business and neighborhood representatives, and toll-road critics, argued the bill would divert transportation dollars, create a precedent for taking toll revenues for general municipal use, and could worsen project delivery and incentives; several also questioned the accuracy and interpretation of the revenue figures and the lack of comparable audit requirements for the city. The committee took extensive testimony but left SB 2722 pending without a vote. The committee then heard SB 2129, which would increase fines for motorists who disregard railroad crossing gates or flaggers, and SB 2323, which would redact railroad crew members’ personal information from public accident reports. Both bills were presented as safety measures, with railroad labor testimony in support, and both were left pending after brief public testimony. The committee also heard SB 2141, a Zaffirini bill concerning specialty license plates for judges, with the substitute aimed at reducing security risks by changing how judges are identified on plates; it too was left pending. Finally, the committee heard SB 2439, another Zaffirini bill, described as a TDLR cleanup measure related to ATV and off-highway vehicle safety certification. The bill would abolish the current training and certification program, which supporters said was burdensome and underused given the small number of approved instructors statewide. With no significant opposition on the record, the committee closed testimony and left SB 2439 pending as well.

Transcript Highlights:

• nuclear natural gas and distributed nuclear natural gas and distributed generation<00:15:34.240>
• Some look at near-term being more distributed generation, potentially batteries located across the distribution
• Some look at near-term being more distributed generation, potentially batteries located across the distribution
• Some look at near-term being more distributed generation, potentially batteries located across the distribution
• Some look at near-term being more distributed generation, potentially batteries located across the distribution

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The prosperity that is being created with the oil and gas industry can be distributed on a broad base
• This industry here locally, if we have some contraction, then that distribution would go down, but it
• Program is the retiree health care distributions from the personal income tax program.
• In the long run, when we look at the estimate, the growth in the distribution.
• Retiree health care distributions.

Transcript Highlights:

• Two, it removes politics from the distribution of surplus revenues, requiring they be appropriately distributed
• So, in number one, it says 30% of that remaining amount shall be distributed...
• Earlier, a handout was distributed. It has a plot on the lower corner.
• The distribution of funds within the precincts for mobility—you heard earlier that on Monday...
• I have distributed that letter to the committee for the record.

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:

• I do have a substitute ending in 0.06C, and it's been distributed. I move for its adoption.
• It's been distributed. I move for its adoption.
• It's been distributed. I move for its adoption. Any discussion on the substitute? Mm-hmm. Yeah.
• It's been distributed. I move for its adoption. Any discussion on the substitute?

Keywords: 959, house, all

Summary: The Committee on Health and Mental Health met in executive session with a quorum present and considered several measures. Senate Bill 878, Senator Fitzwater’s pharmacy-related bill, was amended with a committee substitute that incorporated language previously seen on pseudoephedrine and 340B issues, along with Senate floor language on ivermectin. One member expressed concern about making hydroxychloroquine available over the counter and about pharmacists effectively prescribing Class II devices such as CPAP machines, but the committee adopted the substitute and then voted the bill do pass by 13 ayes and 2 noes. The committee next took up House Bill 3457, Representative Burns’s medically complex patients bill. A substitute was adopted that narrowed the definition of “medically complex patient,” changed one provision from “shall” to “may,” and required primary care physician approval of a care plan before it could be entered into the alert system. The substitute and the bill both received unanimous approval, 15 ayes and 0 noes. The committee also approved two resolutions. House Resolution 538, Representative Harbison’s ALS Awareness resolution, was amended to add encouragement for assistive technology and augmentative/alternative communication, then passed 15-0. House Resolution 4661, also by Representative Harbison and focused on chronic kidney disease, was then voted do pass unanimously, 15-0. After brief closing remarks, the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Hampshire that's trying to distribute Hampshire that's trying to distribute power<00:40:42.640><
• because of transmission and distribution because of transmission and distribution so<01:19:11.639
• So that would have to entail some sort of distribution of the electricity.
• <04:36:47.600> distributed<04:36:48.600> energy<04:36:49.080> resources distributed
• distributed energy resources distributed distributed energy resources and<04:36:49.959> I'll<

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It's the distribution from returns that UTIMCO is made. Okay.
• It's a 7% distribution, 7% distributed annually. And so that's 7% approximately.
• They make a 7% distribution.
• That distribution is then what's given to the...
• The MUD doesn't have any role in power distribution. Okay, copy that.

Summary: The committee heard testimony first from the Texas General Land Office and School Land Board. GLO officials described the agency’s role in managing more than 13 million acres of state lands and mineral interests for the Permanent School Fund, overseeing the Alamo, coastal programs, veterans’ services, and federal disaster recovery. They said the agency has generated about $6 billion for the Permanent School Fund since Commissioner Buckingham took office, and that its disaster recovery portfolio is about $14 billion across multiple events, with more than 22,000 housing units rebuilt or reconstructed since Hurricane Harvey. Members asked about land purchases such as Brewster Ranch, rare earth mineral leasing, SpaceX-related beach access, and whether the lands are public access lands; GLO staff said the holdings are managed to maximize revenue for education, that most land is leased rather than open to public access, and that they are coordinating on coastal access and compliance. On the School Land Board, members sought clarification on the difference between GLO-managed lands and the Permanent School Fund Corporation’s investment role, and staff explained that GLO generates the revenue while the separate corporation invests it. No votes or formal actions were taken. The Board for Lease of University Lands then testified. University Lands officials explained that they steward 2.1 million acres of surface and mineral interests in West Texas for the Permanent University Fund, which supports UT and Texas A&M institutions. They said a 2025 lease sale produced about $50 million in bonus revenue from 28,000 acres, and described the Board for Lease’s role in approving lease forms, lease sales, and development agreements. Members asked about the size and use of the PUF, how distributions work through UTIMCO, whether PUF money can be used for athletics, and how the land is managed; the witness said the fund is a constitutional endowment, the land is largely leased rather than sold, and distributions are generally used for buildings, labs, and other permanent structures, with some institutions also using a portion for operations. No votes or formal actions were taken. The committee then took up municipal utility districts. Testimony from a law firm, the Texas Municipal League, Fort Bend County Commissioner Vincent Morales, and Johnson Development largely supported MUDs as a financing tool for infrastructure tied to growth. Witnesses said MUDs help fund water, sewer, drainage, roads, parks, and related infrastructure, allowing development to proceed without shifting costs to existing taxpayers and helping keep housing affordable. They emphasized that MUDs are created with disclosure to homebuyers, are subject to the Open Meetings Act and Public Information Act, and are overseen by TCEQ for bond issuance and related financial stress tests. Members questioned whether MUDs are taxing entities, whether they can be created inside city limits or ETJs, how much control cities and counties retain, and whether MUDs are becoming permanent local governments; witnesses acknowledged they levy taxes and debt, can exist within city limits with city consent, and often function as long-term local entities. The committee did not take any formal action during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• And because there's a multi-month lag between when it's production versus collection versus distribution
• , and that return... ...distributions, and that return has to meet those and also meet and exceed inflation
• , there is a limit to... ...fund out of the Legacy Fund distributions, there is a limit to how much prudent
• up your money and you never get cash flow back, you're not going to be able to serve the next distribution
• to the state, the distribution after that, the generation after you.

Keywords: 908, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Now you're talking about distributed.
• generation and, in some cases, distributed storage.
• And we're hopefully working towards a grid again with distributed generation, distributed batteries,
• solar and distributed batteries.
• And remember, a grid system has four elements: generation, transmission, distribution, and now storage

Transcript Highlights:

• Line nine also has an update on FY 26 for the SB 9 distribution.
• in Farmington, San Juan County and then finally $50 million which will be an appropriation or a distribution
• that based on SB 9 and the total distribution districts received to come up with the share and so we'll
• Do you have a distribution sheet yet for the 50,000 distribution for CTE safety? Mr.
• That, that reminds me of the distribution that I asked about earlier that money can go to maintenance

Transcript Highlights:

• K1 is a surplus income and distribution report.
• K1 is the surplus income and distribution report.
• The restricted reserve fund in the middle table shows $608 million in distributions and an overall balance
• It was originally allocated at $13 million; $75,000 has already been distributed from that set-aside.
• For the month of February, $90 million has been distributed from the fund for private nursing home care

Summary: The committee considered a series of appropriation, transfer, and review items, approving most requests in Sections B through J. These included temporary appropriations for state technology upgrades, personnel management, court reporters and interpreters, crime victim claims, juvenile sex offender assessments, radiation lab testing, higher education workforce grants, an ARPA grant for the UAFS LPN program, an IIJA grant for geological/critical minerals work, a restricted reserve transfer for 102 State Police vehicles, a transfer to the Arkansas Heroes Program, several cash fund requests for the Real Estate Commission HVAC and AV needs, and overtime appropriations for Emergency Management and Military. One budget classification transfer request from the Commissioner of State Lands for $250,000 to cover operating expenses tied to a new building was discussed at length but failed on the vote after questions about the lease and operating costs. A major portion of the meeting focused on a $25.7 million pay plan appropriation request for 15 agencies. Members questioned why the Department of Human Services had not requested additional pay-plan dollars for human development centers, where DHS acknowledged staffing shortages, high turnover, and heavy overtime but said the issue was not lack of pay-plan funding. DHS was asked to provide a written plan to address staffing problems. The Department of Corrections testified that the pay plan had improved retention and hiring, and committee members asked for follow-up data on vacancies and staffing outcomes. Members also clarified that the pay-plan request was appropriation only, not new funding, and approved it. The committee then reviewed fund reports, including the restricted reserve, Budget Stabilization Trust Fund, Tobacco Settlement, State Central Services, Education Adequacy, Medicaid Trust Fund, IIJA, and Revenue Services transfer reports. DHS and DFA were questioned closely about the Medicaid Trust Fund, with members noting a $90 million February draw and asking about projected year-end balances; DFA and DHS said February was a high-expense, low-revenue month and projected the fund would remain solvent through the fiscal year, ending between $150 million and $200 million, while a second $100 million set-aside is planned for FY27. The committee also discussed a state hospital damage report, where DHS explained that insurance proceeds would not fully cover the repair costs because of depreciation and the age of the buildings; members expressed concern that the state would recover far less than originally expected, and DHS said any additional insurance recovery would be limited and returned to restricted reserve.

Transcript Highlights:

• DUNAs are governed by their members using blockchain and distributed ledger technologies.
• What is the reason why this is through the use of a distributed ledger?
• One of the things that's prohibited inside the DUNA is distributions of value to the members.
• Distributions of value would be similar to stock options, and that would represent a share of value.
• that the members of the community can't vote that value to themselves in the way that a stock distribution

Bills: HB2226, HB2269, HB2343, HB2760, HB3621, HB4079, HB4204, HB4518, HB4531, HB4555, HB4850, HB4876, HB4903, HB4996, HB5122

Keywords: construction trust funds, Property Code, Chapter 162, construction payments, mechanics lien, contractors, subcontractors, laborers, material suppliers, materialmen, real property improvement, assignment of payment rights, unpaid trust funds, trust fund beneficiaries, construction industry, payment protection, Texas construction law, property owners association, landscaping, grass maintenance

Transcript Highlights:

• overview of the Texas Department of Transportation many of you all do know we've got 25 districts Distributed
• It distributes funds across the state to all the regions, including the rural, urban. and metro areas
• We also developed a new distribution process where plates could be ordered, tracked, and and inventory
• And what we plan to do is provide a quarterly distribution. of plates that way they don't have to store
• inventory management system would allow them to order plates from the the system, and then we would distribute

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And these are our points of distribution locations that we set up.
• Our feeding partners, outside of the capabilities that we have with our warehouse, were able to distribute
• This does not account for the MREs that we also provide at these points of distribution.
• Over 1.5 million bottles of water and 83,000 tarps were distributed at our PODs. 1.1 million hot meals
• in addition to those MREs were also distributed.

Summary: The committee received a program review from the Florida Division of Emergency Management on the 2024 hurricane season and FEMA reimbursement process. Deputy Director Keith Pruitt described the impacts of Hurricanes Debby, Helene, and Milton, including major storm surge, flooding, tornadoes, debris removal, power restoration, flood-control deployments, sheltering, and logistics missions. He emphasized that Florida’s approach is “federally funded, state managed, locally executed,” and said the division has already obligated large amounts of public assistance funding and mitigation dollars while continuing to work on remaining missions and reimbursements. A major focus of the discussion was how local governments can better document and vet debris-removal and other disaster costs so they are eligible for FEMA reimbursement. Chair DiCeglie and other senators raised concerns about local planning, commercial debris collection, and whether counties and municipalities that spend money up front will be reimbursed. Pruitt explained that eligibility depends on documentation, scope of work, insurance, and FEMA rules, and that the state’s FROC process is intended to help counties identify eligible work before costs are incurred. He also said commercial debris may be eligible in some cases but is not guaranteed, and that counties should coordinate early with FDEM and FEMA. Senators also asked about possible FEMA reforms, the age of outstanding reimbursement claims, and a proposed state fund to advance money to fiscally constrained counties while they wait for FEMA payments. Pruitt said Florida’s system is a national best practice, but that more county-level training and clearer coordination would help reduce de-obligations and audit problems. He said the reimbursement-advance idea is still being developed, and that the state continues to look at ways to streamline mitigation through programs like Elevate Florida. The committee took no formal action beyond hearing the presentation, and the meeting adjourned after closing comments from senators praising FDEM’s work.

Transcript Highlights:

• So I think that we have the mechanism in our state to be able to distribute information to our high school
• They would be able to distribute and disseminate to our parents of the athletes of all sports, not just
• So the LHSAA is very capable of distributing the information. ...the information where they would have
• So the LHSAA is very capable of distributing the information. Rep.
• This would be a distribution of information that would be available to each parent in regards to what

Bills: SB389, SB525

Keywords: athlete agent, registration, endorsement contracts, name image likeness, eligibility, unfair trade practices, student athletes, unclaimed property, abandoned property, escheat, state treasurer, administrator, claimant, purchase agreement, assignment, property recovery, owner verification, documentation requirements, fraud prevention, bankruptcy

Summary: The Civil Law and Procedure Committee met on May 18, 2026, and first took up Senate Bill 389 by Senator Connick, which would update Louisiana’s athlete-agent law to address NIL representation for high school and college athletes. Testimony from the Attorney General’s office said the bill is needed because NIL agents are currently largely unregulated, especially as NIL activity has expanded into high school sports. Assistant Attorney General Olivia Nuss explained that the measure adopts a revised Uniform Athlete Agent Act framework, creating a state registry and oversight process for agents representing student-athletes in endorsement and NIL matters. John Curtis, head of school and football coach at John Curtis Christian School, testified in support, saying agents are increasingly approaching young athletes and families without qualifications, charging high fees, and sometimes trying to steer athletes to schools. Committee members asked about how the system would work, who would administer it, and whether the Louisiana High School Athletic Association would have a role. Witnesses said the Department of Justice would house and enforce the program, while LHSAA would help disseminate information to schools, parents, and athletes. Members also raised questions about contracts involving minors and whether the bill should address agreements extending past the age of majority. The committee adopted technical Amendment Set 5462, then reported SB 389 as amended without objection. Afterward, Senate Bill 525 was voluntarily deferred at the author’s request, and the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• If they had had the endowment funds a few years ago, when the endowment was only distributing a couple
• Up to five percent of earnings can be distributed between the 60 libraries each year, starting, I believe
• So the $30 million that's in there now, what was the distribution this current fiscal year, Madam Chair
• Senator: The distribution was approximately...
• Senator: The distribution was approximately $23,000 this year from the fund.

Bills: SB61, SB62, SB99

Keywords: rural libraries, funding, cultural affairs, education, community support, appropriation, state investment, public resources, 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Madam Chair, I move that the Rural Economic Development Committee rules, as printed and distributed,
• the sum of $9,500,000 from the State General Fund in fiscal year 2027 to the State Treasurer to distribute
• 2066 appropriates $8 million from the General Fund in fiscal year 2027 to the State Treasurer for distribution
• the sum of $15,500,000 from the State General Fund in fiscal year 2027 to the State Treasurer to distribute
• willing to work with me on the— instead of workforce hub, that sounds like a center to kind of distribute

Bills: HB2065, HB2066, HB2071, HB2106, HB2237, HB2258

Keywords: appropriation, housing, Apache Junction, affordable housing, rehabilitation, blight abatement, broadband, fiber optic, technology, connectivity, infrastructure, rural development, workforce hub, health services, tourism, recreation, Superstition trails, funding, HB2258, Arizona tourism

Summary: The Committee on Rural Economic Development met briefly, adopted its committee rules, and heard several bills focused largely on Apache Junction, La Paz County, broadband, transportation, and rural economic development. HB 2258 would add La Paz County to Area 4 for representation on the Tourism Advisory Council and was described as correcting an omission; it passed unanimously 7-0. HB 2065 appropriates $9.5 million for Apache Junction housing infrastructure, rehabilitation, and blight abatement; members discussed statewide housing shortages and the need for targeted rural-adjacent investment, and the bill passed 6-1. The committee then considered HB 2066, which appropriates $8 million for broadband and fiber optic expansion in Apache Junction. The sponsor emphasized rural connectivity and safety concerns, especially for the Navajo Nation and students, and expressed openness to federal BEAD funding and amendments; the bill passed 6-1. HB 2106, an emergency measure to direct undistributed county transportation excise tax revenues to ADOT for Pinal County road projects, was explained as a way to use escrowed funds for the voters’ intended purpose after litigation over the tax; it passed unanimously 7-0. Finally, HB 2071 would appropriate $15.5 million for a rural business and workforce hub, infrastructure revitalization, and a rural health and community services facility in Apache Junction. Members discussed whether the proposal should be broadened to other rural areas and the need for accountability and possible amendments, including for the Navajo Nation; it passed 6-1. The chair noted that one remaining bill would be held for the next agenda, and the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• the words “transmission voltage” so that the statute would apply to large loads that are on both distribution

• Yeah, the reason it applies to distribution and transmission is that we found that one utility

• in particular was also putting some of these large loads on their distribution system in kind of a unique

• The reason it applies to distribution and transmission is that we found that one utility in particular

• was also putting some of these large loads on their distribution system in kind of a unique way.

Summary: The Senate Committee on Business and Commerce met to consider and vote on a committee substitute for Senate Bill 6, which Senator King said was intended to address rapidly growing electricity demand from large loads such as data centers while protecting reliability and keeping costs from shifting to homeowners and small businesses. He described the bill as a response to updated ERCOT and PUC forecasts showing much higher generation needs than previously expected. Senator King outlined several substantive changes in the substitute: replacing a minimum transmission charge with an upfront interconnection charge for new large loads; requiring the PUC to conduct a more detailed 4CP evaluation and adopt rules based on it; expanding load-forecasting data collection to smaller loads and standardizing criteria for interconnections; removing an exemption from ERCOT/PUC reliability review for certain net metering arrangements; making some PUC conditions temporary and limiting intervenors in those proceedings; and requiring utilities to work with large load customers on protocols and equipment for firm load shed participation. He also noted technical changes meant to close loopholes, including changing references from “duplicate” to “substantially similar” projects and from “affiliated” to “unaffiliated.” Senator Menendez asked for clarification on several provisions, including whether stranded infrastructure costs applied to generation or only transmission, how “single site” would be defined, how ERCOT-directed curtailment and notice would work, and what “load ramp milestones” meant. King responded that the bill was meant to cover both distribution and transmission-level loads, that the PUC would define certain terms through rulemaking, that large customers would work with utilities in advance on flexible load and backup generation arrangements, and that ramp milestones would help utilities plan for phased growth in demand. After questions concluded, Senator King moved adoption of the committee substitute and passage of SB 6 as substituted. The motion passed on a 7-0 vote, and the bill was reported favorably to the full Senate.

Transcript Highlights:

• Subdivision three provides for proportional distribution so that each city would receive a share based
• distribution distribution so<00:20:46.400> that<00:20:46.600> each<00:20:46.760> city
• She suggests that if the distribution is based only on the statewide percentage of costs, most of the
• You can see on lines 2.5 through 2.8 how the appropriation is envisioned to be distributed, where it
• You can see on lines 2.5 through 2.8 how the appropriation is envisioned to be distributed, where it

Keywords: 1187, senate, all