Transcript Highlights:

• In the tax code from state sales tax on the purchase and rental of its vehicles.
• House Bill 4044 amends chapter 172 of the tax code to reauthorize the participation of higher education

Bills: HB104

Keywords: property tax, ad valorem tax, tax rate election, voter-approval tax rate, no-new-revenue tax rate, de minimis rate, local government, special district, tax increase, tax notice, public hearing, tax code, Health and Safety Code, Texas property taxes, taxing unit, election threshold, two-thirds vote, majority vote, budget approval

Transcript Highlights:

• This legislation addresses the challenges many Texas veterans face when attempting to purchase a HUD code
• incident occurred during a declared state of emergency as defined by Section 43433.001 of the government code
• Members currently under the Transportation code, the comptroller receives a portion of the fees collected

Bills: HB104

Keywords: property tax, ad valorem tax, tax rate election, voter-approval tax rate, no-new-revenue tax rate, de minimis rate, local government, special district, tax increase, tax notice, public hearing, tax code, Health and Safety Code, Texas property taxes, taxing unit, election threshold, two-thirds vote, majority vote, budget approval

Bills: SB 2, SB 3, SB 4, SB 5, SB 6, SB 7, SB 8, SB 9, SB 10, SB 11, SB 12, SB 13, SB 14, SB 15, SB 16, SB 17, SB 18, SB 34

Keywords: flash flood, flood warning, outdoor warning siren, emergency alert, disaster preparedness, flood mitigation, Hill Country floods, Texas Water Development Board, municipalities, counties, local government mandate, public safety, grant program, backup power, weather siren, emergency management, flood-prone area, warning system, redistricting, election

Transcript Highlights:

• The Texas election code was in compliance with federal law before federal law changed.
• legislature actually used the authority to challenge a Biden executive order that would have jeopardized Title

Bills: SB 18, SB 19, SB 666, SB 688, SB 707, SB 888

Keywords: municipal libraries, state funding, gender identity, public events, children's literature, SB 19, Texas, political subdivision, local government, county, city, municipality, taxpayer-funded lobbying, lobbying ban, public funds, registered lobbyist, Chapter 305, Government Code, Local Government Code, county association dues

Transcript Highlights:

• There is another provision relating to billing codes.
• There are some services that don't have corresponding billing codes, and the substitute would have essentially
• change that has been agreed to, which would essentially capture those left out that don't have billing codes
• All right, Senate Bill 2342 amends the estate codes to enhance the guardianship application process,
• Senate Bill 2903 amends the Estates Code to strengthen oversight, transparency, and guardianship proceedings

Bills: SB1960, SB1730, SB766, SB2342, SB2501, SB2903

Keywords: digital rights, replication, Voice likeness, visual likeness, private causes of action, fee structure, online service providers, postmortem rights, self-defense, stand your ground, castle doctrine, use of force, deadly force, civil immunity, civil liability, tort claims, attorney fees, court costs, lost income, Chapter 9 Penal Code

Transcript Highlights:

• Chair and members, Senate Bill 1638 conforms Arizona's tax statutes to the Internal Revenue Code as of
• 12:50 p.m., clarifies the retroactive application of the updated definition of the Internal Revenue Code
• 12:50 p.m., clarifies the retroactive application of the updated definition of the Internal Revenue Code
• a standard practice, as we've discussed before, of always saying conform to this newest year's tax code
• any of the business changes that are included when we update the definition of the Internal Revenue Code

Bills: SB1638

Keywords: taxation, income tax, internal revenue code, deductions, tax benefits, retroactive, standard deduction, 1182, all

Summary: The Senate Finance Committee took up SB 1638, a tax conformity bill that would update Arizona’s tax code to the Internal Revenue Code as of January 1, 2026 and incorporate federal changes from 2025. The bill also included individual income tax subtractions for tips, overtime, seniors, and auto loan interest, along with changes to the standard deduction and charitable contribution deduction. Committee discussion focused heavily on whether Arizona should conform broadly to federal changes or limit the bill to more targeted, temporary provisions. Two amendments were considered. The chair’s amendment was described as clarifying only, addressing retroactivity and foreign dividend language, and it was adopted. Senator Epstein’s amendment would have removed the broader conformity provisions and the modified charitable deduction, limited the standard deduction change to tax year 2025, and kept the individual subtractions; she argued the business-related conformity items mainly benefited corporations and should be negotiated in the budget. Opponents said the amendment would create unnecessary recalculations and uncertainty for taxpayers and businesses, while supporters of the underlying bill said conformity was needed quickly to match Department of Revenue forms and avoid filing-season confusion. Epstein’s amendment failed. Public testimony split along similar lines. Business and tax group representatives supported prompt conformity, saying taxpayers and small businesses needed certainty and that the department’s forms should be codified. Opponents argued the bill would reduce state revenue substantially and mainly benefit higher-income taxpayers and corporations, while diverting money from education, child care, and health care. After debate, the committee voted to move SB 1638 as amended with a do-pass recommendation, passing it by about 4-3, and then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• That is policed and managed in its own section of code. We're not touching that. Okay. Thank you.
• There's even a code of conduct that's being released at this time, which, to me...
• The code talks about exempting release at the discretion of the agency.
• So I could, you know, I think you probably have that code near you, Occupations Code 1701, that outlines
• Well, Government Code 311, the Code Construction Act, sets forth many principles for how to reconcile

Bills: SB 15

Keywords: law enforcement, department file, employee records, misconduct, confidentiality, Texas occupations code, 997, house, all

Keywords: Legislative Joint Code Committee - Room 216, August 12, 2025; 10:30 AM, 925, all

Bills: HJR1032, SB1273, SB1433

Keywords: HJR1032, House Joint Resolution 1032, Service Oklahoma, administrative rules, rule repeal, joint resolution, Oklahoma Administrative Code, OAC 670:15-1-10, OAC 670:15-1-14, agency regulation, legislative oversight, Secretary of State, Oklahoma Register, rulemaking, permanent rules, administrative code, guidance transparency, administrative procedures, public inspection, state agency accountability

Transcript Highlights:

• While current law under Chapter 211 of the Local Government Code and the Texas Constitution provides
• million rehabilitation of a building with no economic value, and subjected us to dozens of spurious code

Bills: SB2215, SB2639

Keywords: zoning, municipality, municipal immunity, governmental immunity, local government, Chapter 211, Texas Local Government Code, land use, declaratory relief, injunctive relief, mandamus, attorney's fees, court costs, property rights, home rule city, code enforcement, planning and zoning, land development, municipal ordinance, historic landmark

Transcript Highlights:

• Texas tax code.
• events available to the Texas Workforce Commission comes from the HB3699 would amend the Texas Labor Code
• The current law, section 552.130 of the government code, treats vehicle license plates captured on video
• HB 1893 addresses these issues by amending Section 552.130 of the Government Code and Section 730. 007
• of the Transportation Code to clarify that license plates captured in law enforcement video are not

Bills: HB1397, HB1893, HB1950, HB2027, HB2791, HB3698, HB3699, HB3700, SB2603, SB2607, SB2565

Keywords: Texas Constitution, Declaration of Independence, victory or death letter, display, historic preservation, HB 1893, Texas public information law, Public Information Act, Government Code 552.130, Transportation Code Chapter 730, license plate number, vehicle registration, law enforcement video, police body camera, dashcam, redaction, public records request, open records, government transparency, privacy

Transcript Highlights:

• Retailers must adhere to ever-changing fire codes, building codes, and other governmental rules, which
• Section 271.060 of the Local Government Code by increasing the threshold for change orders.
• have adopted ordinances to regulate noise, including violations that Section 4201 of the Texas Penal Code
• Chapter 174 of the Texas Local Government Code allows collective bargaining for police and firefighters
• House Bill 5356 amends the Local Government Code to ensure cities cannot adopt policies that prohibit

Bills: HB386, HB1449, HB1701, HB2142, HB2675, HB2857, HB3063, HB3171, HB3641, HB3732, HB4045, HB4370, HB4491, HB4505, HB4626, HB5267, HB5356

Keywords: construction contracts, change orders, local government, budget limits, Texas legislation, HB 1449, mobile food vendors, food trucks, mobile food service establishments, permits, county health permit, municipal permitting, Health and Safety Code Chapter 437A, Chapter 437, inspection agreements, permit reciprocity, fee cap, preemption, large counties, population over one million

Transcript Highlights:

• Look at its title. It doesn't just say that cities can't...
• Counties adjacent to those counties can also adopt fire codes.
• State law allows for counties to contract with cities to enforce a fire code.
• All are part of the county's authority to enforce the county's fire code.
• code.

Bills: HB386, HB1449, HB1701, HB2142, HB2675, HB2857, HB3063, HB3171, HB3641, HB3732, HB4045, HB4370, HB4491, HB4505, HB4626, HB5267, HB5356

Keywords: construction contracts, change orders, local government, budget limits, Texas legislation, HB 1449, mobile food vendors, food trucks, mobile food service establishments, permits, county health permit, municipal permitting, Health and Safety Code Chapter 437A, Chapter 437, inspection agreements, permit reciprocity, fee cap, preemption, large counties, population over one million

Transcript Highlights:

• Members, this is a cleanup bill for the Code of Criminal Procedure, and it is part of the legislative
• Unlike the Government Code, the Code of Criminal Procedure does not require interpreters to be licensed
• It's verbatim right out of 143.089 of the Local Government Code.
• There is a very significant distinction between Senate Bill 781 and the Occupational Code.
• a protection in the Occupational Code that says, unless otherwise required by law.

Bills: SB693, SB781, SB836, SB860, SB906, SB993, SB1101, SB1321, SB1370, SB1537, SB1563, SB1610, SB1637

Keywords: notary public, notaries, acknowledgment, jurat, personal appearance, remote notarization, online notarization, e-notary, electronic notarization, fraud prevention, identity verification, real estate fraud, property transfer, state jail felony, Class A misdemeanor, secretary of state, continuing education, record retention, notarial act, Texas Government Code

Summary: The Senate Committee on Criminal Justice heard a series of bills focused on criminal procedure, public safety, victim protections, and law enforcement administration. SB 1537 would require criminal-proceeding interpreters to meet the same appointment standards used in the Government Code, and SB 993 would let the Comptroller’s Criminal Investigative Division seek mobile-tracking warrants directly in motor fuel theft and related tax-fraud investigations. SB 693, as substituted, would create a criminal offense for notaries who notarize documents without the signer personally appearing, with a higher penalty when real property is involved, and would add continuing education for notaries. SB 1610 would tighten rules for civilly committed sexually violent predators at the Texas Civil Commitment Office, including penalties for new crimes and assaults on staff, sex-offender registration requirements, and removal of certain provisions from the filed version; the substitute reduced some of the harsher penalties and preserved parole/community-supervision eligibility. SB 836 would expand privacy protections for sexual assault survivors by limiting livestreaming of certain trials, allowing pseudonyms earlier in the process, and protecting forensic exam evidence and invasive recordings under protective orders. SB 1563 would require county jailers to receive training on interacting with veterans, with testimony emphasizing suicide risk, PTSD, and the need for better identification and support in jails. SB 906 would give the Ysleta del Sur Pueblo authority similar to other Texas tribes to commission peace officers under state law to enforce Texas laws on tribal land. SB 781 would standardize confidentiality rules for peace officers’ personal information and create a confidential departmental file system modeled on Chapter 143 civil-service practices, though members raised concerns about whether the bill could affect disciplinary records and existing disclosure rules. Testimony was largely supportive for the bills, especially from prosecutors, law enforcement representatives, victim advocates, and agency officials. Supporters of SB 693 described widespread deed fraud tied to improper notarizations; supporters of SB 836 stressed survivor privacy and the harms of livestreamed sexual-assault proceedings; supporters of SB 1563 said jailer training could help prevent veteran suicides and improve treatment; and supporters of SB 906 said state commissioning would improve public safety and coordination on tribal lands. SB 781 drew support from police and TCOLE witnesses who said the bill would extend confidentiality protections already used in civil-service departments, while some members questioned whether the bill duplicated existing law or could be read to shield misconduct information. Public testimony included opposition to SB 1610 from a civil-rights advocate who urged waiting for Sunset review, and opposition to SB 781 from a family member of a person killed by police, who objected to expanding confidentiality for officers. Several bills were left pending after testimony because the committee lacked a quorum or chose to hold them for later action.

Bills: SB693, SB781, SB836, SB860, SB906, SB993, SB1101, SB1321, SB1370, SB1537, SB1563, SB1610, SB1637

Keywords: notary public, notaries, acknowledgment, jurat, personal appearance, remote notarization, online notarization, e-notary, electronic notarization, fraud prevention, identity verification, real estate fraud, property transfer, state jail felony, Class A misdemeanor, secretary of state, continuing education, record retention, notarial act, Texas Government Code

Bills: SB693, SB781, SB836, SB860, SB906, SB993, SB1101, SB1321, SB1370, SB1537, SB1563, SB1610, SB1637

Keywords: notary public, notaries, acknowledgment, jurat, personal appearance, remote notarization, online notarization, e-notary, electronic notarization, fraud prevention, identity verification, real estate fraud, property transfer, state jail felony, Class A misdemeanor, secretary of state, continuing education, record retention, notarial act, Texas Government Code

Transcript Highlights:

• Unlike the Government Code, the Code of Criminal Procedure does not require interpreters to be licensed
• Chapter 143 of the Local Government Code.
• It's verbatim right out of 143.089 of the Local Government Code.
• . ...state or civil service agency under Chapter 143 of the Local Government Code.
• There is a protection in the Occupational Code that says, unless otherwise...

Bills: SB693, SB781, SB836, SB860, SB906, SB993, SB1101, SB1321, SB1370, SB1537, SB1563, SB1610, SB1637

Keywords: notary public, notaries, acknowledgment, jurat, personal appearance, remote notarization, online notarization, e-notary, electronic notarization, fraud prevention, identity verification, real estate fraud, property transfer, state jail felony, Class A misdemeanor, secretary of state, continuing education, record retention, notarial act, Texas Government Code

Summary: The committee heard a series of criminal justice bills focused on victim protections, law enforcement tools, notary/deed fraud, sexually violent predators, veterans in jail, tribal policing authority, and peace officer records. Several bills were laid out, heard, and left pending because the committee lacked a quorum for final action on those items. Testimony was generally supportive on bills addressing interpreter appointments, fuel theft investigations, deed fraud, survivor privacy, veteran jailer training, tribal peace officer authority, and officer-record confidentiality, though some bills drew concerns about due process, scope, or drafting. Senate Bill 1537 would clean up criminal procedure language on appointing interpreters and align it with Government Code standards requiring licensed or certified interpreters; it received no public opposition and was left pending. Senate Bill 993 would let Comptroller Criminal Investigative Division officers directly seek warrants for mobile tracking devices in fuel-theft and tax-fraud investigations; it also drew support and was left pending. Senate Bill 693, as substituted, would create a criminal offense for notarizing documents without the signer personally appearing, with a higher penalty when real property is involved, and would add notary continuing education; a Dallas County prosecutor testified that notary fraud is a major driver of deed theft, and the bill was left pending. Senate Bill 1610, as substituted, would address safety, registration, and criminal penalties at the Texas Civil Commitment Office for sexually violent predators, including assaults on staff and sex-offender registration issues; agency witnesses described increased assaults and operational problems, while a public witness urged waiting for Sunset review and raised due-process concerns. Senate Bill 836 would add privacy protections for sexual assault survivors by limiting livestreaming of trials, expanding pseudonym use, and protecting forensic exam and invasive-recording evidence; survivors and advocates strongly supported it, and defense lawyers said they had no opposition to the substitute. Senate Bill 1563 would require county jailer training on interacting with veterans, with testimony from the Texas Veterans Commission and veterans’ advocates emphasizing suicide risk, PTSD, and the need for better identification and support in jails; the bill was left pending. The committee also heard Senate Bill 906, which would authorize the Ysleta del Sur Pueblo tribal police to be commissioned as Texas peace officers like two other federally recognized tribes in Texas; tribal leaders said the change would improve response times and coordination, and the bill was left pending. Senate Bill 781, as substituted, would standardize confidentiality rules for peace officer personnel and departmental files statewide, mirroring Chapter 143 civil-service practices; law enforcement witnesses supported it as a way to protect personal information and create uniform records practices, but several senators raised concerns that the bill could blur existing disclosure rules or bury misconduct complaints, and public testimony included an opposition witness describing a police shooting involving her brother.

Transcript Highlights:

• House Resolution 31, designating February 1st to 7th, 2026 as burn awareness week in the Commonwealth
• House<00:19:35.520> Resolution<00:19:36.080> 31.
• House<00:19:39.520> Resolution<00:19:40.080> 31<00:19:40.880> uh<00:19:41.679
• > designating House Resolution 31 uh designating House Resolution 31 uh designating February<00
• 00:19:45.840> the<00:19:46.000> Commonwealth<00:19:46.400> of House Resolution 31

Keywords: Video Starts 00:00 Convene 07:18 Calendar/Second Readings 12:04 Report of Committees 12:31 Motions, Petitions, and Communications 13:30 Introduction of New Bills and Resolutions 16:50 Recess for ConC and Rules Meeting 20:44 ConC and Rules Report 23:01 Adjournment 25:50, 958, all

Summary: The House convened with an invocation and the Pledge of Allegiance, then established a quorum with 95 members present. Members approved excusing absences, suspended rules to allow co-sponsorships and vote modifications, and approved the journal from January 14, 2026. The clerk reported second readings of House Bills 176, 184, and 265, and the Health Services Committee reported favorably on House Bills 178 and 280, as well as House Joint Resolution 24, which would direct the Cabinet for Health and Family Services to withdraw a previously submitted 1115A waiver application for a mandatory community engagement program; those measures were advanced to first reading and placed on the calendar. During announcements, members noted a KPA breakfast the next morning, a House Committee on Local Government meeting cancellation, a POB meeting after adjournment, a “Bags of Hope” service project for children in foster care, an open house for higher education leaders, and a Legislative Oversight and Investigation Committee meeting after adjournment. The House then received a large batch of new bill and resolution introductions covering school bus safety, education, literacy funding, local public agency transactions, Alzheimer’s services, tax-dollar restrictions, curriculum, public holidays, trophy catfish, electric generating unit decommissioning costs, sexual offenses against children, fertility treatment, medicinal cannabis, workers’ compensation, occupational license fees, pension supplemental payments, certificate of need, end-of-life patient-directed care, risk protection orders, affordable housing, physician continuing medical education, constitutional term limits for governor and lieutenant governor, jail booking procedures, educators, farmland preservation loans, domestic violence, and several resolutions including Burn Awareness Week, Profound Autism Day, and Suits and Sneakers Day. The House recessed for a Committee on Committees meeting, then received the committee’s report assigning numerous bills to standing committees and making several membership changes, including appointing Representatives Burke, Gentry, and Camuel to specified committees and removing Representatives Gentry, Watkins, and Stevenson from others. No floor amendments were introduced. The House then adjourned by unanimous consent until 9:00 a.m. Friday, January 16, 2026.

Transcript Highlights:

• > Atlanta<00:31:35.399> was<00:31:35.919> about<00:31:36.480> where<00:31
• <00:31:39.639> age<00:31:39.919> of<00:31:40.159> incentives<00:31:40.679>
• :40.919> was<00:31:41.039> a<00:31:41.200> study<00:31:41.559> out<00:31:
• :31:44.919> um<00:31:45.279> you<00:31:45.360> know<00:31:45.519> four<00
• sound stages<00:31:47.240> and<00:31:47.559> you<00:31:47.679> know<00:31:47.880

Keywords: Meeting Start 00:00 Roll Call 00:29 SB 162 Discussion 01:03 SB 162 Vote 13:48 SB 1 Discussion 14:49 SB 1 Vote 34:43 SB 25 Discussion 38:45 SB 25 Vote 40:31 SB 50 Discussion 41:09 SB 50 Vote 42:55, 958, all

Summary: The committee first took up Senate Bill 162, a measure on unemployment insurance fraud. The sponsor said the bill would create a clearer process for state unemployment staff to refer suspected fraud cases, especially smaller-dollar cases that may not draw federal attention, and would help protect employers and the integrity of the unemployment system. Testimony from Brian Sikma supported the bill as a common-sense anti-fraud proposal, but several senators raised concerns that suspending benefits during an investigation could unfairly burden claimants, especially if the claim later proves legitimate. The sponsor and witness said the bill was intended to allow quick adjudication and that benefits could be reinstated after review, and the sponsor noted the referral process would include identifying information and details about the suspected fraud. The committee then voted on the bill; it passed with favorable expression, 8-1, and was sent to the floor. The committee then returned to Senate Bill 1, which would create a Kentucky Film Office and Film Commission and fund the office with a portion of the state transit tax and production-related fees. Senator Wheeler and invited guests described the bill as an economic development and tourism measure meant to expand Kentucky’s film industry, attract productions statewide, and build on existing tax credits. Witnesses, including Mary K. Po... and Misty Wrigley Miller, said a state film office would help market locations, provide a searchable database for producers, and make it easier for rural communities to compete for productions. They cited an economic impact study showing about $200 million in film-related economic activity in 2022, with additional ripple effects and tax revenue, and argued the office would help create jobs and workforce opportunities for Kentuckians. Members generally praised the concept of Senate Bill 1 and compared Kentucky’s potential to Georgia’s film industry growth. Witnesses said Kentucky already has strong incentives but needs a dedicated office and commission to better promote the state and coordinate production activity. The discussion emphasized that the commission would help ensure a return on investment and that local crews and businesses would benefit from more productions. The transcript ends during continued discussion of the bill and questions from senators, with no final vote on Senate Bill 1 shown in the excerpt.

Keywords: Meeting Start: 00:00:00 Roll Call: 00:00:02 HB 446: 00:01:44 HB 456: 00:07:08 Discussion in Opposition to HB 456: 00:15:20 HB 10: 00:26:18 HB 96: 00:36:54 HB 399: 00:56:31 HB 465: 01:03:04, 958, all

Summary: The committee met with a quorum and first took up House Bill 446, as amended by committee substitute, which would expand third-degree assault protections to cover judges and justices of the Court of Justice and public transportation drivers. Supporters said the bill responds to violence and threats against judges and would extend protections already given to other public servants. Members generally supported the bill, though several suggested broadening it further to include circuit clerks or all officers of the court. The committee adopted the substitute and favorably passed HB 446 on an 18-0 vote. The committee then considered House Bill 456, a DUI-related cleanup bill sponsored by Representative Patrick Flanery and presented by County Attorney Joe Ross. The bill would add fentanyl, Flexeril, and clopene to the per se DUI list, treat driving on a suspended license as an aggravating circumstance, revise implied-consent notice language, and make changes to ignition interlock rules, including suspension periods and fees. Representative Scott West of the Kentucky Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers testified in opposition, warning that some interlock violations and fees could unfairly extend suspensions and discourage participation, while members and the sponsor said the bill would strengthen DUI enforcement and that non-listed substances could still support DUI charges under other provisions. The committee adopted the substitute and favorably passed HB 456 by a 16-0 vote with one pass. Finally, the committee began hearing House Bill 10, relating to the rights of real property owners, sponsored by Representatives Maryanne Proctor and Emily Callaway, with testimony from a Pacific Legal Foundation representative and a Boone County Sheriff’s Office staff attorney. The sponsors said the bill is intended to address squatting by defining squatters and improving property-owner remedies, and noted support from sheriffs and realtors. The transcript cuts off before the bill’s full presentation or any committee action on HB 10.