Transcript Highlights:

• of Texas.
• Jennifer Deakins on behalf of the Texas Optome Optometric Association and yourself testifying for the
• I practice in Fort Worth in a low-income indigent setting, and I'm the legislative chair for the Texas
• Laurie LaChance, uh, on behalf of the Texas School Nurses nurses Organization and yourself testifying
• And the size of, um, of Texas students, but 80% of learning for young people is visual.

Committee: House Public Education

Transcript Highlights:

• And I use 20% as a general state-by-state estimate. ...general state-by-state estimate, because Arkansas's
• Texas is a much larger state, a little bit of population, but directly with respect to what we're doing
• Big state, small population.
• state housing department.
• DHS, our state does.

Keywords: 1204, all

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• of Texas.
• and Texas flags.
• Honor the Texas flag. I pledge allegiance to thee, Texas, one state under God, one and indivisible.
• Speaker: State your inquiry. Mr. Little: Mr.
• Speaker: State your inquiry. Mr. Little: Mr.

Transcript Highlights:

• The County Judges and Commissioners Association of Texas are in support of this bill.
• It's the way the state of Texas does it.
• It's a basic budgeting principle that we use, that cities use, and that the state of Texas, frankly,
• As the State Rep, Court.
• I would certainly assert that the needs of a major county sheriff's office in the state of Texas are

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• , is very similar in other states.
• Hawaii, Tennessee, Montana, Georgia, Iowa,... ...states very similar in other states.
• at Texas A&M.
• at Texas A&M.
• of Texas.

Summary: The House Community Safety Committee met on January 29, 2026, and announced it would not hold executive session that day because of the large number of public hearing sign-ups; those executive sessions were pushed to the following Monday. The committee first heard House Bill 2558, relating to the mental health sentencing alternative (MHSA). Staff explained that the bill narrows eligibility to people diagnosed with a psychotic disorder, adds restrictions for certain domestic violence and prior violent offense cases, requires more detailed DOC reports, lengthens some community custody terms, mandates regular progress hearings, and shifts assessment work to contracted providers. The sponsor said the bill is intended to refocus the program on people whose offenses are tied to serious mental illness and to reduce misuse in domestic violence and other violent cases. No public testimony was taken on HB 2558 that day, and the hearing was held open for later testimony. The committee then heard House Bill 2217, which would replace the current first-time offender waiver with a pretrial deferral option and a suspended sentence option for eligible first-time felony defendants. Supporters, including public defense, immigration advocates, judges, economists, and the Sentencing Guidelines Commission, argued the bill would create a meaningful rehabilitation pathway, reduce recidivism, improve employment outcomes, and avoid the long-term harm of an immediate felony conviction. They also said the deferred-adjudication structure could help immigrants avoid immigration consequences and would better incentivize restitution and compliance. Opponents, including sheriffs, prosecutors, and victim advocates, raised concerns about expanding eligibility to offenses such as assault 2 and robbery 2, the meaning of “violent offense,” the possibility of judicial diversion without prosecutor consent, and the impact on victims and public safety. After testimony, the sponsor said she would remove the bill’s strong presumption in favor of relief, and the committee closed the public hearing on HB 2217. Finally, the committee heard House Bill 2641, the “ICE Out Act of 2026,” which would bar Washington law enforcement agencies from hiring people who were sworn ICE officers after January 20, 2025, with the restriction applying prospectively beginning October 1, 2026. The sponsor said the bill was meant to protect communities and prevent hiring officers associated with federal immigration enforcement practices she described as harmful. The committee then heard House Bill 2648, which would require state and local officers who encounter suspected ICE employees conducting immigration enforcement to activate body and dash cameras, report the encounter, and document it, while providing state indemnification for officers acting in good faith. Supporters said the bill would improve transparency and protect communities and officers; the Washington State Patrol said many of the practices already align with its policies. The Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs expressed concerns about added reporting requirements, possible effects on federal-local cooperation, and asked for changes to soften mandatory language and strengthen indemnification. The committee ended the hearing without further testimony and adjourned, noting executive sessions on about a dozen bills would occur the following week.

Transcript Highlights:

• The county judges and commissioners Association of Texas are in support of this bill.
• It's the way the state of Texas does it.
• It's a basic budgeting principle that we use, the city uses, and that the state of Texas, frankly, the
• state of Texas uses every biennial whenever they set their budget or y'all set your budget.
• Now I would certainly assert that the needs of a major county sheriff's office in the state of Texas

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• state has no law addressing that subsequent consent.
• those policies, making Texas an outlier.
• We like Texas in Louisiana, at least most of my colleagues do. Texas in New York.
• I might have to see what Texas is doing on this.
• and the entire state of Louisiana.

Committee: House Insurance

Keywords: 965, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• As stated on the posting, we will not be taking public testimony today.
• of Texas.
• of Texas.
• States.
• of Texas.

Summary: The Senate Special Committee on Congressional Redistricting met to lay out House Bill 4, the House companion to Senate Bill 4, and no public testimony was taken at this hearing. Senator King explained that HB 4 was based on the House’s revised congressional map, which he said made only minor changes from SB 4 while aiming to comply with law, improve Republican political performance, and keep districts compact. He noted changes affecting several districts, including moving Fort Bliss into CD 16, placing all of Navarro County into CD 6, and moving Liberty County into CD 9, and said counsel had reviewed the map and found it legally compliant. Several senators criticized the process and the substance of the map. Senators Alvarado, Miles, and Hinojosa objected that the House substitute had not been subject to a public hearing and argued that communities in Houston, El Paso, the Rio Grande Valley, and South Texas were being split or paired with unrelated areas. They also questioned the compactness of the districts and raised concerns about racial effects, including changes in Black voting-age population in CD 9 and CD 18. Senator King responded that the committee had already heard extensive testimony on redistricting, that the Senate was following its usual companion-bill process, and that he had not relied on racial data but on historical voting patterns and legal review. After debate, Senator Parker moved to report HB 4 favorably to the full Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be ordered not printed. The committee approved the motion by a 5-3 vote, with one absent, and then recessed subject to the call of the chair.

Transcript Highlights:

• Great state capital of Texas, Father, this wonderful, beautiful House of Representatives, Father, and
• On both sides of the aisle, Father, we thank you for the commonness that we have, that we all love Texas
• Father, please be, continue to be with our great state.
• and Texas flags.
• Honor the Texas flag. I pledge allegiance to thee, Texas, one state under God, one and indivisible.

Summary: The House met under a call of the House with strict roll call enforcement, but only 95 members were present, so a quorum was not achieved. After the invocation and pledges, a parliamentary inquiry was raised about whether committee budgets could be amended to remove funds for absent vice chairs or deans, but the chair said not at that time. The speaker then explained that, because quorum was still lacking, the House could not take up the scheduled critical flood response legislation intended to aid families and communities affected by recent devastation. He said DPS costs associated with compelling attendance were already well over six figures and would be charged back to absent members under House rules. He also warned that absent members remained subject to civil arrest and that the House would continue efforts to secure quorum. Members present were told they would not be punished and could return to their districts for Wednesday and Thursday, but should remain within six hours of the Capitol if quorum appeared likely. The speaker announced another attempt to convene on Friday, with the possibility that if quorum still was not reached, the House and Senate would sine die and the governor would call a second special session. The House then adjourned until 8:30 a.m. Wednesday.

Transcript Highlights:

• activists who don't know the first thing about what's right for Texas.
• The people of Texas are watching, and so is the nation.
• and Texas flags.
• And now to the greatest state in our land, honor the Texas flag.
• I pledge allegiance to thee, Texas, one state under God, one and indivisible.

Summary: The House convened amid a quorum failure and a forceful statement from the Speaker criticizing absent members for leaving the state and delaying action on urgent issues such as disaster recovery, flood-related deaths, and human trafficking. The Speaker said the House would use all available rules to compel attendance, including a call of the House and civil arrest warrants if necessary. The chamber then opened with prayer and the pledges to the U.S. and Texas flags. Representative Garin moved to place a call on the House until consideration of HB 4 on third reading was completed. The motion was adopted by record vote, 86 ayes and 6 nays, and the doors were locked. Garin then moved that the Sergeant at Arms or appointed officers send for all absent members not excused, with warrants of arrest if necessary, continuing beyond adjournment until further order of the House. That motion also prevailed by record vote, 85 ayes and 6 nays. While under the call, members needed written permission to leave the chamber. The Speaker granted permission for members registered present to leave and return the next day. The House then adjourned without objection until 1 p.m. Tuesday.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> order now even back in 1979 it stated order now even back in 1979 it stated there<00:13:28.760><
• Well, we had an incident in our town last year, and they get into the state law, and one of the state
• where um current law states that signs where um current law states that signs may<00:23:43.919><c> be
• </c><00:27:33.520><c> law</c> the the rest of the state law the the rest of the state law says<00:27:
• The reasons have been stated.

Committee: House Municipal and County Government

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• State Affairs will come to order. We'll call the roll. Bettencourt. Present. Birdwell.
• a sanctuary state for the Second Amendment.
• laws that exceed Texas law.
• No question, you've been a tremendous leader for Texas.
• That we would take a stand and stand. up for Texas sovereignty in it.

Committee: Senate State Affairs

Keywords: 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> Texas is recognized. Thank you, Mr. Texas is recognized. Thank you, Mr.
• The gentleman from Texas. I time. The gentleman from Texas.
• The gentleman from Texas reserve. time. The gentleman from Texas reserve.
• Gentleman from<04:23:27.359><c> Texas.</c> from Texas. from Texas.
• </c><08:16:27.600><c> has</c><08:16:27.840><c> an</c> states, my state already has an states, my state

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Tuesday, June 3, 2025, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> United States House of Representatives. United States House of Representatives.
• The gentleman from Texas, Mr. design. The gentleman from Texas, Mr.
• Gentleman from Texas. Mr.
• </c> means there's less money to the states. means there's less money to the states.
• Gentleman from Texas is recognized. The gentleman from Texas is recognized. Mr.

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Wednesday, April 9, 2025, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• State your name, or I say, state your name.
• laws of the United States and of this state, so help me God.
• Members, please raise your right hand and follow after me, state your name, or I say state your name.
• , preserve, protect, and state of Texas, and will, to the best of my ability, preserve, protect, and
• The Constitution and the laws of the United States, and of this state, so help me God.

Summary: The Senate reconvened from recess, received a message from the House that it was organized and ready to transact business, and exchanged brief welcomes between the chambers. The House also reported passage of SCR 7, which directs the State Preservation Board to begin steps to replace the Children of the Confederacy plaque with a plaque honoring victims of the state’s convict leasing system. The Senate then took up and adopted Senate Resolution 1, the caucus resolution offered by Senator Zaffirini, which sets recommendations for Senate operations. Officers of the Senate were sworn in, and the chamber adopted Senate Resolution 2, the Rules Resolution, offered by Senator Hughes; he said it largely carried forward prior rules with only slight committee-structure changes. The Senate also authorized a committee to notify the House that the Senate was organized and ready for business, and named Senators Creighton, Alvarado, Huffman, Hughes, and Parker to that committee. The Doctor of the Day, Dr. Liu, was introduced, and the Senate then recessed until 1 p.m. Wednesday, January 22.

Transcript Highlights:

• like Illinois, Kansas, and Arkansas, and then we also get a lot of traffic from the state of Texas.
• like Illinois, Kansas, and Arkansas, and then we also get a lot of traffic from the state of Texas.
• states.
• You can see Texas is really the only border state where we market, where we get...
• You can see Texas is really the only border state where we market, where we get a top 10 ranking of visitors

Committee: House Special Committee on Tourism

Summary: The Special Committee on Tourism met in executive session and approved three House bills: HB 2307, designating Missouri Military Academy as the official military academy of Missouri, passed 10-0; HB 3264, designating Kansas City as the barbecue capital of Missouri, passed 10-0; HB 1960, naming the smooth chanterelle the official state mushroom, passed 9-1; and HB 3074, establishing William Lacey Clay Senior Day in Missouri, passed 10-0. After the executive session, the committee opened a public hearing on HCR 36, which would designate June 3 as Josephine Baker Day in Missouri. The sponsor and a witness described Baker’s St. Louis roots, international entertainment career, service in the French Resistance, civil rights work, and her significance to Missouri heritage and tourism. Committee members voiced strong support and asked questions about her legacy, including her adopted children and her role as a model for Black women and civil rights advocacy. The committee then heard a presentation from Stephen Fouts, director of the Missouri Division of Tourism, on the state’s tourism marketing efforts and economic impact. He said tourism generated more than $21 billion in economic impact, over $18 billion in direct spending, and supported more than 307,000 jobs, with more than 43 million visitors in the last fiscal year. He outlined the division’s marketing strategy, including the Mo character campaign, cooperative marketing grants for local DMOs, the Meet in Missouri Fund, film incentives, and major event promotion tied to the World Cup, Route 66 Centennial, and America 250. He also reported strong returns on marketing investment and discussed sports tourism, youth sports, and the importance of the cooperative marketing program to local communities. A major topic of discussion was the possibility of significant budget cuts to tourism. The chair and several members argued that tourism is a major economic driver and said they would oppose deep reductions, with multiple members offering to sign a committee letter or otherwise advocate against cuts. Members asked how reductions would affect marketing, sports tourism, and the cooperative marketing program; Fouts said large cuts would likely reduce co-op funding proportionally and could harm local partners. No final action was taken on HCR 36 during the hearing, and the meeting adjourned after testimony and discussion.

Transcript Highlights:

• water bottoms and state lands.
• There is a prohibition on cutting cypress on state water bottoms and state lands.
• Investment groups are wanting to buy water out of Toledo Bend and ship it to Texas, pump it to Texas.
• , pump it to Texas.
• swamp in the state of Louisiana.

Committee: House Natural Resources & Environment

Keywords: 965, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• State Affairs will come to order. We'll look up the roll.
• Uh, you know, we've discussed this a couple of times in there and about state sovereignty, state sovereignty
• a sanctuary state for Second Amendment.
• that exceed a Texas law.
• No question you've been a tremendous leader for Texas.

Committee: Senate State Affairs

Summary: The Senate State Affairs Committee met with a quorum present and took up House Bill 796, which had previously been heard and was before the committee with a new substitute. Senator King explained that the bill would allow the Legislature, by concurrent resolution and a two-thirds vote of each chamber, to determine that a federal directive is unconstitutional and to prohibit state or local officers from assisting in its enforcement. He said the measure would not nullify federal law, but would bar state and local cooperation with federal actions the Legislature found unconstitutional, such as directives affecting churches, gun rights, or other state interests. Members asked questions about when the process could be used and whether it would only apply during a regular or special session. Senator King responded that it would require the Legislature to be in session, like any concurrent resolution. Senator Hall expressed support for state sovereignty but worried the bill was too limited and did not go far enough to assert Texas independence from federal overreach. King replied that the bill would still let the Legislature direct state and local officials not to assist in carrying out unconstitutional federal actions. The committee adopted the substitute without objection. Senator Bettencourt then moved to report House Bill 796, as substituted, to the full Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion passed on an 8-2 vote, and the committee recessed subject to the call of the chair.

Transcript Highlights:

• State University. Gregory Ball, State University.
• Jones, public library state library resource center funding, favorable.
• House Bill 660 increases the per capita funding amount that must be provided to the State Library Resource
• </c> most of the states are New England state most of the states are New England state is<02:19:12.200
• . state. state.

Keywords: Senate streaming session for Thursday, April 2, 2026, 960, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And in the state of Texas, we're prohibiting student groups and associations with Qatar from accepting
• That's very important, and the US State Department says this.
• nation-states and the federal government as we created all of it, joining together with our states early
• This is about Texas colleges and universities, that's right.
• Levels offered at Sul Ross State University Rio Grande College.

Committees: Senate Education , Senate Education K-16

Keywords: 1185, senate, all