Video & Transcript Research : 'Texas concurrent resolution'

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TX

Texas 89th Regular

Senate Committee on Water, Agriculture, and Rural Affairs Apr 7th, 2025

Water, Agriculture and Rural Affairs

Transcript Highlights:
  • Four years later, the legislature created a trust, the Texas Water Trust, as a program within the Texas
  • If you're with the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, there were some obligations put on the Texas
  • The Texas Grant Management Standards are guidelines established under Chapter 738 of the Texas Government
  • Under current law, several Texas Water Development Board programs are already exempt from these Texas
  • and West Texas A&M University.
TX

Texas 89th Regular

Water, Agriculture, and Rural Affairs Apr 7th, 2025

Water, Agriculture and Rural Affairs

Transcript Highlights:
  • Four years later, the legislature created a trust, the Texas Water Trust, to program within the Texas
  • Members, the Texas grant management standards are guidelines established under Chapter 738 of the Texas
  • in the Texas grant management standards.
  • Under current law, several Texas Water Development Board programs are already exempt from these Texas
  • Under current law, several Texas Water Development Board programs are already exempt from these Texas
Summary: The Senate Committee on Water, Agriculture, and Rural Affairs heard several water-related bills, with testimony focused on drinking water quality, groundwater contamination notice, flood infrastructure funding, water rights conservation, and utility service areas. SB 1662 would limit TCEQ’s advance notice to public water systems to no more than 24 hours before testing after a consumer complaint, to reduce the chance of temporary treatment affecting results. SB 1663 would allow TCEQ to notify private well owners, groundwater conservation districts, and nearby residents by direct means about known groundwater contamination, rather than relying mainly on first-class mail and annual reporting. SB 2124 would move the deadline for publishing the Texas Groundwater Protection Committee’s annual report from April 1 to June 1. Witnesses on the first two bills described long-running water quality problems and delayed notice in their communities and supported the measures. No opposition was recorded, and each bill was left pending for a later vote. The committee also heard SB 1967, which would expand eligibility for Flood Infrastructure Fund financing to multipurpose projects that both reduce flooding and create water supply. Senator Hinojosa and Hidalgo County representatives described the Delta Reclamation Project as a shovel-ready example that would capture flood and drainage water, treat it, and produce new potable supply while also providing detention and flood mitigation. A Sierra Club witness also supported the bill, saying such projects could help manage floodwaters and reduce polluted discharges to bays and estuaries. The bill was left pending. A lengthy and divided discussion followed on SB 1413, which would expand the streamlined expedited release process for landowners seeking removal from a water or sewer CCN in additional counties. Senator Nichols said the bill was a property-rights measure aimed at legacy monopolies and bad actors who use CCNs to hold landowners hostage, while supporters described cases where developers could not get timely service, including fire flow, or were asked to fund infrastructure without reasonable recoupment. Opponents from rural water corporations and utility associations argued the bill would undermine investment in water infrastructure, strand debt, and weaken the return on planned expansion. PUC and TCEQ resource witnesses explained that compensation is handled case by case through appraisal and can include stranded costs, planning, design, construction, and some legal fees, but members noted the statute is unclear and discussed possible committee substitute language. Public testimony was closed with the bill left pending. Later, SB 1624 would allow the Texas Water Trust within the Texas Water Bank to hold donated water rights for conservation purposes and protect them from use-it-or-lose-it cancellation, and SB 863 would address Edwards Aquifer utilities that straddle the aquifer boundary by allowing them to continue using Edwards water within their certificated areas under specified conditions. Both bills were laid out, received no public opposition in the hearing, and were left pending.
TX

Texas 89th 2nd C.S.

Finance Apr 2nd, 2025

Finance

Transcript Highlights:
  • Texas rural buyers. you know who took these flames head on Texas rural via volunteer fire department
  • So that includes the other areas of those East Texas areas, Bastrop, obviously, some of the South Texas
  • So that includes the other areas of those East Texas areas, Bastrop, obviously, some of the South Texas
  • South Texas areas.
  • by the people of Texas.
Summary: The Senate Finance Committee heard several bills focused on tax administration, transportation, emergency services, historic preservation, forensic training, pension funding, and the state’s rainy day fund. Senate Bill 1337, by Senator Creighton, would require the comptroller to assess penalty and interest only on the net tax due and allow sales and use tax overpayments to offset underpayments more automatically; it was left pending while the author, comptroller staff, and a private witness continued working on the language and fiscal note. Senate Bill 1371, by Senator Hinojosa, would address Corpus Christi transit authority operations, including emergency refueling coordination, fare-setting procedures, and board term limits; it received supportive testimony and was left pending. Senate Bill 1377, by Senator Perry, would create a grant program for rural counties to buy ambulances, with a committee substitute expanding eligible uses in some cases to equipment and setting a sunset date; numerous EMS officials, county representatives, and association witnesses testified in support, emphasizing rising ambulance costs, staffing shortages, and the need for rural emergency coverage, and the bill was left pending after testimony. Senate Bill 868, by Senator Sparks, would direct at least 10% of volunteer fire department assistance funding to high wildfire-risk areas; Texas A&M Forest Service explained the map and methodology, and the committee substitute was adopted. The committee also heard Senate Bill 1426, which would place the First Capitol State Historic Site in West Columbia under Texas Historical Commission stewardship, and Senate Bill 1620, which would create a Texas Forensic Analyst Apprenticeship Pilot Program through the Office of Court Administration to address forensic scientist shortages; both had no opposition in testimony and their committee substitutes were adopted. Senate Bill 2065 would change the Texas Emergency Services Retirement System funding structure to require an actuarially determined state contribution and address the system’s unfunded liability over 30 years; Pasadena fire department representatives testified that the pension is an important volunteer retention tool, and the bill was left pending after testimony. Senate Joint Resolution 4 would raise the Economic Stabilization Fund cap from 10% to 15% of biennial revenue deposits, with a committee substitute correcting the effective date to September 1, 2027; the committee discussed the fund’s current balance and purpose before adopting the substitute. After quorum was established, the committee voted out the measures. Senate Bill 1868, Senate Bill 1371, Senate Bill 264, Senate Joint Resolution 4, Senate Bill 1426, Senate Bill 1620, and Senate Bill 2065 were all reported favorably to the full Senate, with some bills also certified for the local and uncontested calendar. The committee substitute for Senate Bill 868 was adopted and the bill was reported favorably as well. The committee then recessed subject to the call of the chair.
TX

Texas 89th Regular

Delivery of Government Efficiency Mar 26th, 2025

Delivery of Government Efficiency

Transcript Highlights:
  • and Texas.
  • of Texas.
  • The state of Texas.
  • How about for Texas? For Texas. I'm sure you have my speed dial, right?
  • The state determines, and in Texas, Texas is one of the more...
TX

Texas 89th 1st C.S.

State Affairs (Part I) Aug 4th, 2025

State Affairs

Transcript Highlights:
  • I'm Director of Government Relations for Texas Values, testifying in favor of Senate Bill 7, the Texas
  • And Texas women are safe. I go to the My wife is safe. My mom is safe. And Texas women are safe.
  • Central Texas.
  • to the SDC in Texas.
  • While many Texas cities have adopted these policies, the majority of Texas cities have not.
Bills: SB7, SB14
Summary: The Committee on State Affairs heard testimony on Senate Bill 7, the Texas Women’s Privacy Act, with the author and committee substitute explaining that the bill would require public facilities to designate multi-use private spaces by biological sex, restrict access to women’s restrooms, locker rooms, showers, sleeping quarters, shelters, and correctional facilities, and create civil penalties and enforcement mechanisms. Members asked about how the bill would apply to family violence shelters, children in mixed-family settings, venue layout, and venue for lawsuits; the author said the bill was similar to prior legislation but with stronger penalties and the 15th Court of Appeals as the exclusive intermediate appellate court for challenges, while clarifying that trial venue should generally be local except for state agencies. The committee also heard that the bill would be amended to better address local venue concerns and shelter-related issues. Invited testimony was largely in support of the bill from witnesses who described personal experiences in women’s sports, prisons, shelters, and public facilities, arguing that single-sex spaces are necessary for privacy and safety. Supporters included parents, former incarcerated women, a Republican county chair, a legal advocate, and a prison educator, who cited incidents involving transgender-identifying individuals in locker rooms, shelters, prisons, and restrooms, and said the bill would restore sex-based boundaries and protect vulnerable women and girls. One witness from Texas Values said the bill was needed despite the recently enacted Women’s Bill of Rights, and another ADF witness said the measure would protect privacy in schools and shelters. Opponents testified that the bill would harm transgender and intersex Texans, create harassment and “gender policing,” and expose cisgender women and children to invasive enforcement. Several witnesses argued there is no evidence that transgender women pose a restroom safety threat, while others said the bill would worsen mental health, employment, and school conditions for trans people and could conflict with prison standards and federal law. Family violence advocates urged changes to protect shelter operations and clarify that children can stay with parents, while other witnesses said the bill would create barriers for victims seeking help. The hearing featured extensive public testimony on both sides, but no final vote or committee action was taken in the portion provided.
TX

Texas 89th 1st C.S.

State Affairs (Part II) Aug 4th, 2025

State Affairs

Transcript Highlights:
  • My name is Luis Soberon with Texas 2036.
  • I am Nikki Llewellyn with the ACLU of Texas.
  • Texas deserves better. We need greater transparency, not less.
  • Texas deserves better. We need greater transparency, not less.
  • I'm representing the Texas...
Bills: SB7, SB14
Summary: The Committee on State Affairs took up Senate Bill 14, which would create a confidential department file for law enforcement officers and jailers and limit public access to records involving unsubstantiated misconduct, while preserving access for hiring agencies, TCOLE, and certain criminal justice uses. TCOLE’s Gretchen Grigsby explained the current rollout of law enforcement recordkeeping reforms, including the distinction between the public personnel file and the confidential G-file, and answered questions about when TCOLE would request files during investigations. Senator Perry and other members focused on how the bill would interact with existing personnel-file rules, public transparency, and criminal discovery obligations. Public testimony was largely opposed. Critics argued the bill was drafted too broadly, could sweep in records beyond misconduct files, and would reduce transparency for the public, journalists, oversight bodies, and families seeking answers in cases such as Uvalde and jail deaths in Tarrant County. Several witnesses said the bill could allow small or single-officer agencies, including elected constables, to shield their own records, and some warned it could chill reporting and oversight. Supporters, including law enforcement representatives, said the bill would protect officers from false or unsubstantiated allegations, align agencies without civil-service protections with those that already have G-files, and preserve confidentiality for records that should not be public. Dallas County prosecutors and Harris County deputies supported the general policy but asked for clarifying amendments, especially to separate language they said could affect the Michael Morton Act and to preserve existing protections through in-camera review or protective orders. Committee members spent significant time questioning witnesses about how substantiated versus unsubstantiated allegations would be handled, whether body camera footage and case files would remain public, and how the bill would affect discovery in criminal cases. After hearing all registered witnesses, the chair closed public testimony. Senate Bill 14 was left pending, and the committee recessed.
TX

Texas 89th Regular

Education K-16 (Part I) May 22nd, 2025

Education K-16

Transcript Highlights:
  • It will not change the requirements on how to become a school psychologist in Texas.
  • I’m the Director of Public Policy for Texas CASA, here in support of House Bill 1211.
  • Education and Workforce Policy at Texas 2036, here today to testify on House Bill 20.
  • Walker, my name is Carl Walker, a Texas Taxpayers and Research Association...
  • House Bill 824 seeks to strengthen civics readiness among Texas high school students.
Bills: HB4, HB20
Summary: The Senate Committee on Education K-16 heard a series of higher education and K-12 bills, initially without a quorum and with several measures left pending subject to the call of the chair. Early bills included HB 1868, which would direct a study on lowering the dual-credit funding threshold for public junior colleges from 15 to 9 semester credit hours; HB 2598, which would replace statutory references to “licensed specialist in school psychology” with “school psychologist”; HB 3629, which would bar registered sex offenders from serving on independent school district boards of trustees; and HB 4361, which would require the Higher Education Coordinating Board to adopt rules for timely emergency notifications at public institutions of higher education. Each received brief sponsor explanations, no opposition testimony, and was left pending. The committee also heard HB 4848, requiring public higher education systems to ensure at least one institution offers affordable competency-based bachelor’s degree programs in high-demand fields, and HB 1211, which would remove the age 25 deadline for former foster youth to use public college tuition waivers. HB 1211 drew extensive supportive testimony from Texas CASA, a former foster youth who benefited from the waiver, and a current student headed to medical school, all arguing the change would better match the realities faced by youth aging out of care. Members discussed the bill’s fiscal uncertainty and the argument that the waiver is an investment in workforce participation; the bill was left pending. Later, the committee heard HB 20, creating an Applied Sciences Pathway Program to let high school students earn certificates in targeted industries such as welding, plumbing, electrical work, manufacturing, and oil and gas while in school. Industry and workforce groups strongly supported the bill as a way to address labor shortages, while Texas 2036 raised concerns about allowing applied versions of core academic courses to substitute for traditional instruction. HB 4687, which would extend governmental immunity protections to certain campus/district charter schools and adult charter high schools, also received support from a charter-school attorney who said it would align statutes with existing case law and not expand charter rights. HB 4236, as substituted, would create a study group to examine the property value study’s effect on school finance and alternative valuation methods; it was adopted as a committee substitute and left pending. The committee also heard HB 824 on civics instruction in high school government courses and HB 2243, which would create a commission on teacher job satisfaction and retention; the latter prompted debate over removing “ethnic diversity” language from the commission’s makeup. After adopting the substitute for HB 2243 by roll call, the committee recessed subject to the call of the chair.
TX

Texas 89th Regular

Education K-16 (Part II) May 22nd, 2025

Education K-16

Transcript Highlights:
  • test based on Texas TEKS, Texas learning, is very, very, very important.
  • test based on Texas Teaks, Texas Learning is very very very important. based on Texas Teeks, Texas Learning
  • What we're hearing from Texas classrooms and from Texas teachers.
  • The Governor's Office announced this week that Texas... ...to build a more globally competitive Texas
  • It's about the future of Texas.
Bills: HB4, HB20
Summary: The committee first took up House Bill 2853, which would allow the UT System Board of Regents to adjust the University of Texas at El Paso student union fee above the current statutory cap, subject to student approval, to help fund a new student union building. Senator Blanco explained the bill and the committee substitute, there were no questions or witnesses, public testimony was closed, and the committee adopted the substitute and left the bill pending subject to the call of the chair. The committee then heard House Bill 610, which would limit severance payments for terminated independent school district superintendents to six months’ salary and benefits. Senator Paxton described large severance payouts and said the bill had passed the House overwhelmingly. There were no witnesses, public testimony was closed, and the bill was left pending. A lengthy hearing followed on House Bill 4623, which would waive school district immunity in certain cases involving negligent hiring, supervision, or employment of professional school employees who commit abuse or related misconduct against students. Senator Paxton and several witnesses, including survivors and parents, argued the bill was needed to address cover-ups, delayed reporting, and repeated failures to remove dangerous employees; some members raised concerns about liability caps, litigation, and how the bill would interact with the Tort Claims Act. The committee also heard from TEA staff and employee-group witnesses who discussed possible injunctions and stronger no-hire protections. Public testimony was then closed and the bill was left pending. Finally, the committee heard House Bill 4, an accountability and assessment bill that would restore A-F ratings, change the state testing system, and replace STAAR with shorter, more instructionally useful assessments. Senator Bettencourt explained the committee substitute, including annual ratings, limits on taxpayer-funded lawsuits, and a phased-in testing redesign with beginning, middle, and end-of-year assessments. Testimony was generally supportive from education and business groups, though some witnesses favored norm-referenced testing while others emphasized criterion-referenced, TEKS-aligned assessments; one witness noted social studies assessments were restored in the bill. The hearing concluded with additional invited testimony and no final vote reported in the transcript.
TX

Texas 89th Regular

S/C on International Relations Apr 14th, 2025

S/C on International Relations

Transcript Highlights:
  • The Chair lays out House Concurrent Resolution 108. 8.
  • That would affect Texas and Arizona, but far more Texas than anywhere else.
  • The Arizona State Legislature has already passed a resolution similar to what we're asking the Texas
  • The chair lays out House Concurrent Resolution 127 and recognizes Chairman Lujan to explain the bill.
  • I'm honored to present House Concurrent Resolution 127, which reaffirms Texas' strong and growing partnership
Bills: HCR108, HCR127
TX

Texas 89th Regular

S/C on Academic & Career-Oriented Education Apr 10th, 2025

S/C on Academic & Career-Oriented Education

Transcript Highlights:
  • 1876 seeks to establish a career and technical education reporting grant program administered by the Texas
  • Additionally, we believe it is equally important that those becoming Texas Teacher Certified in areas
  • Association of Texas, and you are testifying for the bill. Is that correct? Yes, that is correct.
  • With the knowledge that we do have a shortage of teachers in Texas, any incentive to bring qualified
  • So I work for the Texas Education Agency. I haven't been in contact with anyone from TRS. Okay.
Bills: HB 1057, HB1876
TX

Texas 89th Regular

Senate Committee on Water, Agriculture, and Rural Affairs May 12th, 2025

Water, Agriculture and Rural Affairs

Transcript Highlights:
  • The state of Texas has long held that certain entities.
  • So, Texas Rural Water Association, we have met with staff.
  • these habitats in South Texas.
  • Even HEB has sponsored the Pollinators for Texas project.
  • The Texas Wildlife Association does a lot of this.
Bills: HB630, HB685, HB1318, HB2692
TX

Texas 89th 2nd C.S.

Appropriations Apr 29th, 2025

Appropriations

Transcript Highlights:
  • Areas in Texas.
  • You're letting the people of Texas decide.
  • That's why proposals like the Texas Strong Defense Fund created under House Joint Resolution 47 and House
  • Additionally, the Texas Strong Defense Fund proposed through, Uh, House Joint Resolution 487 and House
  • Uh, the Texas Strong Defense Fund proposed through House Joint Resolution 47 and HB 188 offers a sustainable
Bills: HB188, HB 265, HJR35
TX
Transcript Highlights:
  • So the chair lays out Senate Bill 23, as well as— Joint Resolution 85, both by Senator Bettencourt, and
  • This will be the most impactful bill we've ever passed in the Texas Senate.
  • So we'll call James Pope, Susan Spatero, and Brandi Winch from Texas Realty.
Bills: SB23, SJR85, SB 23
TX

Texas 89th 2nd C.S.

S/C on Property Tax Appraisals Mar 20th, 2025

S/C on Property Tax Appraisals

Transcript Highlights:
  • And members, if there's no objection, House Joint Resolution 30 will be left pending.
  • I'm from Carrollton, Texas.
  • Currently, those handle, those items are handled concurrently in a hearing.
  • The Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service serves every county in Texas with a network of employees across
  • As part of the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service and the Texas A&M University System, the Institute
Bills: HB148, HB203, HJR30
TX

Texas 89th Regular

Senate Committee on Water, Agriculture, and Rural Affairs Mar 31st, 2025

Water, Agriculture and Rural Affairs

Transcript Highlights:
  • Last year, Texas 2036 released a study with the Office of State Climatologist on Texas' historic and
  • It's just that kind of world that you live in in West Texas, for sure, and rural Texas.
  • I've got two of them, one graduating from Texas A&M and one from Texas Tech in a couple of months.
  • For BBQ's R&D, I have collaborated with Texas A&M, Texas Tech, and UT Austin in San Antonio.
  • students at a Texas university.
TX

Texas 89th Regular

Senate Session Aug 15th, 2025

Texas Senate Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • this with wisdom and courage as we go about your work on behalf of the people of the great state of Texas
  • The chair lays out the following resolution. The Secretary will read the resolutions.
  • Senate Resolutions SR 1 through SR 96. Members, it's a voice vote. All in favor, say aye.
  • The resolutions are adopted. Welcome, everyone, to the gallery.
TX

Texas 89th Regular

Senate Session Aug 15th, 2025

Texas Senate Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • Proclamation by the Governor of the State of Texas to all whom these presents shall come.
  • Governor Abbott, governor of the state of Texas, by the authority vested in me by Article 3, Sections
  • Bills and resolutions on first reading and reference to committee.
  • The secretary will read the bills and resolutions.
  • Senators from the state of Texas to the Congressional Redistricting and Special Committee.