Transcript Highlights:

• I would venture, I'm confident that the public will pass this. ballot measure.
• It's time for the legislature to give the public a chance to vote on public safety and before I answer
• Law, even if they know that that person can sedate to the public. or can commit a violent crime, or even
• make sure that by clear, convincing evidence that their defendant is not a threat. are safe to the public
• You know, the public not only feeling safe, but being safe true.

Bills: SJR 5, SJR 36, SJR 5, SJR 5, SR 105, SR 121, SB 17, SB 19, SB 25, SB 28, SB 17, SB 19, SB 25, SB 28

Keywords: bail, felony offenses, criminal justice reform, public safety, constitutional amendment, school safety, mental health, emergency response, education policy, law enforcement, SR 121, Senate Resolution 121, Pete Alfaro, Pedro Cuellar Alfaro, Pedro Alfaro, Baytown, Texas Senate tribute, in memory, memorial resolution, condolence resolution

Transcript Highlights:

• On page four, Senate Bill Number 1 by Senator Gavan regarding public education employees.
• That's there and to those of us that are trying to protect the public. Okay, uh, I think Mr.
• She had no idea that we didn't have workers' compensation in our public school system.
• But this is one of those situations where we've all got public education employees in our communities
• We've got public education employees in our district; they're critical to how we do business.

Bills: SJR 1, SB 9, SB 40, SJR 36, SJR 1, SJR 5, SB 9, SB 40, SR 61, SR 91, SR 97, SR 103, SR 104, SR 112, SR 115, SR 116, SCR 16, SB 26, SB 26

Keywords: bail denial, illegal aliens, felony offenses, constitutional amendment, law enforcement, bail reform, defendants, pretrial detention, public safety, criminal justice, charitable bail organizations, bail bonds, public funds, political subdivision, injunctive relief, taxpayer rights, bail, criminal justice reform, Texas Music Advocacy Day, music industry

Transcript Highlights:

• Public honors should unify.
• Everything is public.
• Well, if a public... One more question. Yeah. Well, if a public... One more question. May I?
• If a public institution, educational institutions, use public dollars to sponsor a program called Black
• in the public arena.

Bills: S0092, S0110, S0192, S0212, S0260, S0350, S0394, S0422, S0434, S0442, S0484, S0546, S0556, S0684, S0696, S0706, S0748, S0786, S0820, S0824, S0838, S0840, S0848, S0856, S0962, S1000, S1014, S1036, S1050, S1054, S1080, S1118, S1134, S1338, S1480, S1500, S1506, S1622, S1724

Keywords: employee protections, whistleblower, retaliation, public trust, ethics complaint, Commission on Ethics, Public Employees Relations Commission, public employee, local government attorney, public officer, adverse personnel action, protected disclosure, whistleblower retaliation, state agency, independent contractor, public employment, civil service, reinstatement, back pay, front pay

Summary: The Committee on Rules met with a quorum and considered a long agenda of bills, many of them retained from the prior week. The most debated measure was CS for SB 706, which would preempt naming of major commercial service airports to the state and designate Palm Beach International Airport as the Donald J. Trump International Airport, subject to FAA approval and a trademark agreement. Amendments were offered and rejected, including proposals to prevent private financial benefit from the naming. Several senators spoke in opposition, citing concerns about naming an airport after a sitting president, lack of local input, and the trademark/licensing arrangement; supporters argued there was no cost to the airport and that the bill simply set a state naming policy. The committee reported the bill favorably after a roll call vote. The committee also reported favorably CS for SB 546 on conservation land notice requirements, CS for CS for SB 1014 on municipal utility service to properties outside city limits, CS for SB 1500 on uncontested probate proceedings, SB 962 on excluding farms from certain zoning definitions, and CS for SB 820 on problem-solving court reporting requirements. The committee then approved several bills from Senator DiCeglie and Senator Arrington. SB 840, addressing land-use regulations for local governments affected by natural disasters, was supported by local-government and environmental advocates who said it would restore local control after SB 180’s hurricane-related restrictions; the sponsor said it was intended to correct unintended consequences of last year’s law. CS for SB 856, requiring online listing platforms to show estimated ad valorem taxes on residential listings, was amended to exclude social media platforms and broaden liability protections; the sponsor and a county property appraiser described it as a consumer-transparency measure. CS for SB 110, clarifying homestead exemption treatment for long-term leases that end at death, was also reported favorably. The committee took up a controversial strike-all amendment to SB 212, which focused on public swimming pools and added residency and related restrictions for certain sex offenders and offenders on community control or probation. The amendment drew strong opposition from advocates and affected families, who argued it would worsen homelessness, impose broad geographic restrictions, and lack evidence of improving child safety; supporters said it was a targeted public-safety measure. Despite the objections, the committee reported the bill favorably. The committee also approved SB 684 on electronic signatures for total-loss vehicle and vessel titles, SB 394 on reinsurance intermediary managers, SB 434 on property tax assessment treatment for wind-hardening improvements, CS for CS for SBs 658 and 608 on water-safety requirements for rental properties with pools or nearby water, SB 748 on adding voting-rights restoration information to sentencing score sheets, and CS for SB 824 requiring school districts to inventory unimproved real property. The meeting ended while the committee was beginning SB 848 on stormwater treatment, with an amendment being introduced as the transcript cut off.

Transcript Highlights:

• Let's go to some public comment. Uh, anyone have any public comment on this Senate File 12?
• Anything else, General, before we open up public comment? >> Public comment.
• We'll go to public comment. Do we have any public comment? >> further questions.
• Do we have any go to public comment. Do we have any public<00:40:38.079> comment?
• Further public comment. Public comment is closed. Gentlemen, what's your pleasure?

Bills: HB0078, SF0012, SF0013, SF0052, SF0069, SF0070

Keywords: forest health, grant program, state forester, wildfire prevention, environmental conservation, habitat improvement, military, national guard, reenlistment, extension bonus, funding, Wyoming, Wyoming National Guard, recruitment, referral bonus, military service, eligibility expansion, incentive program, wildlife management, environmental restoration

Transcript Highlights:

• purpose as determined by the public purpose as determined by the state<00:05:29.360> forester.
• Um, folks, you know, 97% of the land in my county and our counties is public land.
• Most of that forest and um, public land.
• All right, we're going to go ahead and close public comment.
• going to go ahead and close public going to go ahead and close public comment. comment. comment.

Bills: HB0078, SF0012, SF0013, SF0052, SF0069, SF0070

Keywords: forest health, grant program, state forester, wildfire prevention, environmental conservation, habitat improvement, military, national guard, reenlistment, extension bonus, funding, Wyoming, Wyoming National Guard, recruitment, referral bonus, military service, eligibility expansion, incentive program, wildlife management, environmental restoration

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:12:02.880> service accountable for the public service accountable for the public service
• :19:40.880> it<00:19:41.039> stands public service commission as it stands public service
• people that's running for the public people that's running for the public service<00:21:11.840><
• service<00:22:47.760> commissioners were some public service commissioners were some public
• Um the purpose of public stated.

Bills: HB403, HB399, HB392

Keywords: criminal enterprise, database, law enforcement, data privacy, criminal justice, Lamar County, property auction, county commission, online auction, public notice, HB392, Lauderdale County, Eleventh Judicial Circuit, district attorney, chief assistant district attorney, assistant district attorney, assistant district attorneys, prosecutor, prosecutorial compensation, salary supplement

Transcript Highlights:

• and the Alternate Public Defender's Office.
• Public safety is not achieved through harsh sentences.
• This is not public safety, this is not democracy.
• I will take public comment now.
• If you would like to provide public comment, please press Star 9 or If you would like to provide public

Bills: AB275, SB371, SB457

Keywords: criminal procedure, wiretap, law enforcement, child protection, sexual offenses, SB371, Nevada, trespass, criminal trespass, NRS 207.200, property rights, misdemeanor, warning period, 24 months, 36 months, no trespassing, posted signs, fencing, private property, public property

Bills: HB1480, HB1781, HB1905, HB2018, HB2842

Keywords: library grants, construction, public libraries, Texas State Library and Archives Commission, community resources, livestock, rodeo, grant program, agricultural education, county fairs, funding, economic development, prescribed burn, Texas A&M Forest Service, Parks and Wildlife Department, fire safety, environmental management, agricultural conservation, land preservation, environmental protection

Transcript Highlights:

• Members, I have to reset public testimony. two minutes when a quorum gets here, so we're kind of on hold
• response to a public information request or a PIR.
• I will go back and reset public testimony. The testimony will be limited to two minutes.
• And if you need more than that, we'll accommodate. Mr.
• Texas Public Policy Foundation here in support of SCR 13.

Bills: SCR13, SB1248

Keywords: water rights, treaty compliance, Rio Grande, agriculture, drought, international water, Texas water supply, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, TPWD, harvest reports, wildlife harvest data, public information act, open records, confidentiality, hunter privacy, angler data, game animals, game birds, fur-bearing animals, nongame animals

Transcript Highlights:

• Public testimony on Senate Bill 1248 was opened, and Matt Wagner was called forward.
• Hearing none, public testimony was closed, and Senate Bill 1248 was left pending.
• State your name and who you're with in two minutes and give us your public testimony.
• And if you need more than that, we'll accommodate. Thanks. Mr.
• Crime groups have infiltrated the public water system in numerous Mexican cities.

Bills: SCR13, SB1248

Keywords: water rights, treaty compliance, Rio Grande, agriculture, drought, international water, Texas water supply, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, TPWD, harvest reports, wildlife harvest data, public information act, open records, confidentiality, hunter privacy, angler data, game animals, game birds, fur-bearing animals, nongame animals

Summary: The Senate Committee on Water, Agriculture, and Rural Affairs met without a quorum at first, then later established quorum and proceeded with testimony and votes. Senate Bill 1248, by Chair Perry, was explained as a narrow Open Records Act exception to protect harvest report location data collected through Texas Parks and Wildlife’s digital tagging system. Support testimony came from Matt Wagner of the Texas Chapter of The Wildlife Society, who said the bill would protect private land and sensitive biological information while preserving useful wildlife data. No one testified against the bill, and it was left pending until later in the meeting. The committee then heard Senate Concurrent Resolution 13, which urges the State Department and the International Boundary and Water Commission to press Mexico to comply with the 1944 Water Treaty and deliver its share of Rio Grande water. Senator Hinojosa, farmers, municipal officials, and other witnesses described severe water shortages in South Texas, low reservoir levels, crop losses, the closure of the Valley sugar industry, and the need for alternative supplies such as desalination, reuse, and drainage-runoff projects. Members also discussed treaty enforcement, regional drought, and the role of cartels and Mexican water storage, while emphasizing that Texas must also invest in its own water infrastructure. The committee also considered Senate Bill 740, which the committee substitute amended to require the Public Utility Commission to adopt a standardized application form for system improvement charges and complete related rulemaking by September 1, 2026, applying only to applications filed on or after that date. Members discussed concerns about water wholesalers using the process to delay cases and drive up costs, and the need for more transparency and PUC resources. The committee voted to adopt the substitute and report SB 740 favorably. After returning to the earlier items, the committee voted SB 1248 out favorably and recommended it for the local and uncontested calendar, and voted SCR 13 out favorably as well. The committee then recessed subject to the call of the chair.

Transcript Highlights:

• I think we talked about public safety.

Bills: SB68, SB68

Keywords: emergency management, mutual aid, disaster response, local government, political subdivision, public safety, public health, emergency services, first responders, intergovernmental agreements, reciprocal aid, emergency preparedness, local emergency management organization, governing body, liability immunity, Alabama Code 31-9-9, Alabama Code 31-9-11, tribal agreements, federally recognized Indian tribes, state emergency management plan

Transcript Highlights:

• currently serves as the chair of the Oklahoma Tax Commission and brings over 37 years of experience in public
• A recap of who I am: Senator Hines covered a lot of it, but I have 37 years of working for large public
• I come from public and private sectors.

Bills: HB1170

Keywords: fiduciary responsibility, proxy voting, public finance, Oklahoma statutes, pension plans, pecuniary factors, nonpecuniary factors, financial risk, Attorney General, 914, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This applies to public institutions. This applies to public institutions.
• Is there a public hearing? >> Yeah, there is a public hearing. Any questions for the sponsor? Okay.
• I believe there's Is there a public I believe there's Is there a public hearing?
• We have one begin our public hearing.
• And the public shot that down very strongly.

Bills: SB59, SB221

Keywords: military families, immunization, education, public health, school enrollment, Mobile County, judge of probate, compensation, salary, expense allowance, 1136, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Speaking on behalf of Tabird and the Partnership for a Healthy Texas, a coalition of over 30 public health
• Madam Chair, if the committee wants to move the needle to improve public health, lower healthcare costs
• The floor is now open for public testimony.
• Hearing none, uh, public testimony is closed, and we will leave this bill pending at this time.
• the committee substitute to 314, and public testimony is closed.

Bills: SB 25, SB 314

Keywords: nutrition, health standards, food labeling, education, dietary guidelines, medical education, food safety, school meals, child nutrition, food additives, public health

Transcript Highlights:

• last few years, working together, we've made historic bipartisan progress on important issues like public
• Now, the federal government has a fundamental duty to ensure public safety on tribal lands, rooted in
• And I see this as both a public health issue and a public health issue. health crisis and also as a public
• as a public safety crisis.
• Certainly public safety, we hear over and over and over again.

Keywords: tribal sovereignty, healthcare, education, public safety, Economic Development, Tax Parity Act, PROTECT Act, trust obligations, bipartisan support, Indian Health Services

Summary: The committee meeting focused on crucial issues facing tribal nations, particularly emphasizing the federal government's trust and treaty obligations. The discussions highlighted ongoing challenges such as disparities in healthcare, education, and public safety within Native communities. Chair Murkowski underscored the importance of listening to Native leaders and aligning congressional efforts with community needs, advocating for legislative actions that support tribal sovereignty and economic development. Various initiatives, including the Tax Parity Act and the PROTECT Act, aimed at addressing jurisdictional and financial disparities, were discussed in detail. A call for bipartisan support to alleviate the funding shortages affecting Indian Health Services was made several times during the meeting. Testimonies from tribal leaders and representatives emphasized the dire need for legislative support to enhance infrastructure, healthcare access, and public safety initiatives in tribal communities.

Transcript Highlights:

• It has to be to ensure public safety, right? That's all you can do. It ensures public safety.
• It is an issue of public safety.
• This bill is to put the public defender on sort of an equal playing field with the public defender's
• state public defender budget?
• the East Baton Rouge public defender.

Bills: HB59, HB74, HB159, HB167, HB175, HB255, HB330, HB364, HB458, HB525, HB568, HB656, HB1033, HB1034, HB1070

Keywords: public defender, funding, district court, East Baton Rouge, judicial expenses, Autism Spectrum Disorder, missing children, law enforcement, public safety, Spectrum Alert, inmate documentation, post-release employment, special identification card, Louisiana Department of Public Safety, reentry services, veterans, veterans services, lottery proceeds, special fund, grant board

Summary: The committee met on April 15, 2026, and first voluntarily deferred HB 656. It then heard HB 74, which would create a Louisiana Spectrum Alert for missing persons with autism. Representative Eccles said the alert would be modeled on Amber and senior alerts and could be absorbed within existing resources. The committee heard strong support from a mother of an autistic child, who described the dangers of elopement and drowning risk, and from members who said the bill could help save lives. HB 74 was reported favorably. Members then considered HB 1033 and HB 1034 by Chairman Bacala. HB 1033 expands the definition of critical infrastructure to include additional facilities such as airports, teleports, spaceports, aerospace facilities, mass transit, government facilities, military installations, and oil and gas exploration platforms; it was reported favorably. HB 1034 authorizes temporary protection zones for up to 72 hours when needed for public safety, with an amendment clarifying that the zones cannot be used in a way inconsistent with state firearms preemption law. The ACLU raised concerns about vagueness, possible overreach, and repeated renewals, while supporters said the bill was meant to address public safety events. The bill was reported favorably as amended. The committee also heard HB 59, which would require East Baton Rouge Parish and its municipalities to fund the 19th Judicial District public defender’s office in a manner similar to the district attorney’s office. The author, the public defender, and the district attorney argued the bill would stabilize funding and prevent future political changes from crippling the office, while several members questioned whether it created an unfunded mandate and whether the language was too broad. Despite those concerns, HB 59 was reported favorably. HB 175 was then amended to replace a proposed veterans scratch-off lottery game with a Veterans Service Grant Fund financed by $500,000 annually from lottery net proceeds; supporters said the money would support veteran services and treatment programs, and the bill was reported favorably as amended. Finally, the committee passed HB 568, which increases penalties for drug-free school zone violations involving open marijuana use, vaping, or smoking, especially near schools and large events. Supporters said current penalties are too weak to deter visible drug use around children, while opponents warned of over-criminalization and enforcement problems. HB 525, requiring DPS&C to publish incarceration-related data online, was amended to remove parish jail census data after the department said it would publish the rest of the information voluntarily; it was then reported favorably as amended. The committee then began HB 159, a Caddo Parish pretrial incarceration alternative pilot program, with discussion focused on adding language to ensure electronic monitoring providers comply with existing state requirements.

Transcript Highlights:

• As I stated yesterday, the Department of Public Safety is keeping track of every taxpayer dollar that

Bills: HB1, HB2, HB18, HB19, HB20, HB4, HB1, HB2, HB18, HB19, HB20, HB 1, HB 2, HB 18, HB 19, HB 20, HB 4

Keywords: disaster response, emergency management, mass fatality, justices of the peace, training programs, emergency manager license, volunteer management, justice of the peace training, criminal history checks, state health services, emergency communication, interoperability, grant program, first responders, state council, broadband, public safety, disaster preparedness, funding, flood disaster plan

Transcript Highlights:

• They have special or informal meetings in between, but it is where they take public action.
• For the record, Brett Meekam, Cadmus Public Affairs, representing self.
• public in the state that is maintained by the Secretary of State.
• public in the state that is maintained by the Secretary of State.
• of the state from the definition of the state or local public benefit.

Bills: SB1246, SB1338, SB1428, SB1443, SB1501, SB1566, SB1571, SB1645, SB1646, SB1663, SB1688, SB1805, SB1808, SB1825, SCR1023, SCR1029, HB2079, HB2080, HB2130, HB2239, HB2324, HB2375, HB2610, HB2619, HB2620, HB2716, HB2745, HB2749, HB2837, HB2857, HB2968, HB4064, HB4066, HB4087, HB4130, HCR2048, HCR2058

Keywords: homeowners associations, foreclosure, common expense liens, condominiums, special assessments, unit owner, public benefits, eligibility, immigration status, documentation, Arizona law, county governance, supervisorial board, population-based representation, local government, elections, noise pollution, environmental nuisances, building permits, urban development

Transcript Highlights:

• We'll open up public testimony now on House Bill 4359.
• No public testimony. Public testimony will close on House Bill 4359.
• No public testimony. Public testimony will close. House Bill 549 will be left pending.
• Public Health Service.
• Hearing none, public testimony is now closed.

Bills: HB123, HB5606, HB549, HB2757, HB4359, HB5381, HB1939, HB123

Keywords: HB 123, kindergarten readiness, early literacy, early numeracy, reading screening, math screening, foundational literacy, foundational numeracy, dyslexia screening, reading intervention, math intervention, teacher academy, literacy academy, mathematics academy, interventionist academy, K-3 assessments, school readiness, prekindergarten, tutoring grant, parent-directed tutoring

Transcript Highlights:

• If not, we'll open public testimony.
• We'll open public testimony.
• Okay, we'll close public testimony and leave that pending.
• We'll open up public testimony.
• Okay, we'll open public testimony.

Bills: HB104, HB2434, HB2529, HB2688, HB3161, HB3486, HB3487, HB3745, HB4044, HB4226, HB4945, HB104

Keywords: Texas Future Fund, investment review board, economic stabilization, innovative technology, national defense, retirement, service credit, Employees Retirement System of Texas, employee benefits, pension reform, salary supplement, county judges, judicial functions, state law, government compensation, public retirement systems, municipality pensions, firefighters, police officers, retirement age