Transcript Highlights:

• I believe in balance.
• That's balance. That's justice.
• That's not balanced.
• I believe in balance.
• That's not balanced.

Summary: The House opened with prayer, a moment of silence for fallen Oviedo Officer Jimmy Serrano-Torres, the Pledge of Allegiance, and recognition of Chief Joseph Tuminelli as law enforcement officer of the day. The chamber approved the journal and adopted the special order report, and the Speaker announced a schedule change canceling the floor on Monday and starting Tuesday at 10:30 a.m. The main business was CS for HB 7033, the House tax package, presented by Rep. Duggan. He described a broad set of tax changes, including the previously passed sales tax rate reduction from 6% to 5.25%, exemptions for certain bullion sales, changes to tourist development tax (TDT) use, property tax administration updates, affordable housing-related exemptions, repeal of the aviation fuel tax, delayed natural gas fuel tax implementation, corporate income tax changes, and other provisions. Debate focused heavily on the TDT section and the bill’s property tax relief structure. Amendments to preserve local flexibility or remove the TDT restrictions were offered and debated; one Duggan amendment was adopted to allow local governments to keep 25% of TDT revenues for general use while directing 75% to property tax relief, and another amendment requiring audit certification of compliance was also adopted. A combined reporting amendment offered by Rep. Eskamani to close corporate tax loopholes was debated at length but failed. On final passage, supporters argued the bill provides immediate, permanent tax relief and affordability help, while opponents said it diverts tourism dollars away from local needs and could harm tourism-dependent counties and services. CS for HB 7033 passed the House 78-29. The chamber then took up CS for CS for HB 1221 on local option taxes, which would give local governments more control over certain local taxes and, as presented, redirect TDT revenues toward property tax relief with some local flexibility. After questions and amendments, including a Miller amendment allowing 25% of TDT revenue for general purposes and another accountability amendment, the bill moved to final debate. Members split sharply: supporters framed it as immediate tax relief and local accountability, while opponents warned it would undermine tourism marketing, infrastructure, and county budgets. The transcript ends during closing debate on HB 1221, before final passage is recorded.

Transcript Highlights:

• I've had to do major cleanup on balance sheets just because they have...
• , import it into software, and have AI do all of your, you know, does this balance?
• I mean, because you're not even seeing the balance...
• their balance sheets are a mess.
• I think looking at a trial balance of a municipality would...

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This bill balances.
• House Bill 4384 strikes a balance between utility financial stability and the need for timely investments
• , and establishing a fair and reasonable recovery mechanism is integral to that balance.
• This also fails to address reductions in existing plant costs to balance the incremental gross plant
• So that's why I thought it was a balanced approach, because it.

Bills: HB1237, HB2663, HB3071, HB4384

Keywords: occupational licenses, renewal, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, registration, license expiration, HB 2663, inactive well, plugging extension, Railroad Commission of Texas, RRC, oil and gas, orphan wells, well cleanup, well plugging, abandoned wells, surface equipment removal, electric service termination, administrative penalty, Natural Resources Code, Section 89.029

Transcript Highlights:

• The committee has also noted a historical balance, what we call the pre-97 balance, and then a model
• It equates to about $42 million balance.
• </c><01:05:59.760><c> on</c> um, I don't know what the balance on um, I don't know what the balance on
• So my question for you guys is, where is the balance?
• And you guys is where is the balance?

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• There's a balance sheet out there. There's an income statement.
• I mean, what is the ending fund balance in the service fund then?
• when I show that information, that will carry a fund balance on it.
• Chairman, can I... ...the ending fund balance in the service fund then?
• when I show that information, that will carry a fund balance on it.

Summary: The committee approved the March 26 minutes and then received a quarterly update on major IT projects from NDIT. Staff reported the portfolio included 116 major projects totaling about $546 million, with the overall portfolio under budget but slightly behind schedule. They reviewed projects over the 20% variance threshold, including an Industrial Commission grants management system and DOT’s roadway pre-construction replacement, and then heard startup and closeout reports from HHS, OMB, DPI, and DOT. Several previously troubled projects were closed, including HHS bed management, vital records modernization, and DOT roadway capital planning; some projects finished under budget and ahead of schedule, while others were significantly behind schedule or over budget but were now closed or being remediated. The committee also reviewed NDIT’s annual report, including service-fund financials, peer-state rate comparisons, records management, and customer satisfaction efforts. Members asked about how service-fund revenue and grant administrative charges are accounted for, how chargebacks work, and whether NDIT tracks customer satisfaction scores. NDIT said it does track CSAT-type measures in some service areas and has survey data, but it is not planning another customer survey this summer. Members encouraged more regular reporting of customer satisfaction, service-level metrics, and performance data to help guide future improvements. A major portion of the meeting focused on the state’s mainframe modernization effort. NDIT said the overall effort is still targeting about 2030, with multiple HHS and DOT projects underway and a $15 million tech-debt appropriation already removing some components. Staff described the main obstacles as data cleanup, complex integrations, limited staff capacity, retirements, and vendor constraints, and said they are seeking a vendor with modernization support in the next contract cycle. Members pressed for clearer accountability and faster progress, and NDIT and HHS emphasized that they are working jointly but need continued support and better tools. The committee then heard a cybersecurity update on NDIT’s statewide services and maturity assessments. NDIT explained that it provides vulnerability scanning, endpoint protection, security awareness training, threat briefings, and penetration testing, and that these services are tied to a cybersecurity maturity assessment based on CIS controls. Members questioned the sharp drop in participation since 2020 and whether the self-assessment should be mandatory or tied more strongly to StageNet access or insurance incentives. NDIT said participation is voluntary, but Enderf is now requiring annual assessments to keep a 4% insurance discount, and members discussed whether stronger requirements or audit authority may be needed. The meeting ended as the committee began a follow-up discussion on BEAD broadband connection costs and why some locations are much more expensive to connect than others.

Transcript Highlights:

• So, with that and regular operations, we anticipate, you know, balancing and no issues or nothing to
• Uh as you as you balancing that budget.
• and no issues or nothing know, balancing and no issues or nothing to<00:03:04.519><c> report</c><00:
• </c> anticipate any issues with balancing anticipate any issues with balancing for<00:03:24.959><c> the
• public safety, due carefully balancing public safety, due process,<00:09:02.000><c> participant</c><

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The Budget Review Subcommittee on Justice and Judiciary received an update from the Administrative Office of the Courts on implementation of House Bill 504, the judicial branch budget, and court facility projects. AOC leaders said they do not anticipate problems balancing the outgoing biennium or fiscal year 2026, and explained that the budget changes were driven by the need to reduce costs while preserving required constitutional, court-rule, and statutory services. They also said the new filing fee increases authorized by HB 504 took effect that day and are expected to generate up to $5 million, while the reorganization is projected to save about $3 million in general fund dollars. The bulk of the presentation focused on a major reorganization of the Office of Statewide Programs, which includes specialty courts, family and juvenile services, and pretrial services. AOC said the plan eliminates 170 positions and creates 109 new ones, mainly by reducing middle-management layers, expanding regional service delivery, and cross-training staff. Officials said 110 employees had already been offered or accepted placements, 24 had chosen voluntary separation, and the final number of employees leaving remains fluid until the process concludes around August 1. They emphasized that specialty court programs were not eliminated, but state-funded treatment court contracts and behavioral health liaison positions were removed, with treatment costs shifted to Medicaid or participants where appropriate. Members asked about the process, staffing impacts, specialty court participation, juvenile services, and how AOC will monitor the changes. AOC said the reorganization was developed by leadership, HR, and legal staff under direction of the Chief Justice and approved by the Supreme Court, and that it is intended to improve efficiency and frontline support rather than reduce services. They said specialty court participant levels are being watched closely, that CDW services will continue to use outside providers for programming, and that the agency will keep judges and stakeholders informed as the new structure goes into effect. No votes were taken, and the committee did not approve minutes because a quorum was not present.

Transcript Highlights:

• And so the budget is not required to balance in the ensuing biennium.
• And so the budget is not required to balance in the ensuing biennium.
• So he chose not to, but we also do not fully balance over the four-year outlook period.
• It does balance in the two-year. Okay.
• We must balance today's crisis with long-term solutions that shape a better future.

Bills: SB5998

Keywords: fiscal appropriations, budget, state funding, financial management, operating expenses, 904, all

Transcript Highlights:

• have a federal grant, and the balance is restricted for that use.
• Up as far as cash balances, does a school like Corona get the same unrestricted cash balance as Albuquerque
• And then that means that you have that balance.
• Having a balance. And, Mr.
• Chairman, that helps bring us balance and they're hogans And, Mr.

Transcript Highlights:

• I know many of them were required to make tough choices and balance a lot of competing interests.
• Therefore, we had to make very difficult decisions to balance this budget in the next fiscal year, as
• It takes a balanced approach given the economic uncertainty driven by federal policies.
• , or attempting to balance, the budget is the cost savings that CDCR is seeking to implement.
• This bill is not needed to bring a balanced budget.

Summary: The Assembly Budget Committee held an informational hearing on the final three-party budget agreement and related trailer bills, with the Department of Finance outlining the major budget bill and omnibus measures. Finance described a package built around balancing the state budget amid economic uncertainty, preserving core health and safety-net programs, and making significant ongoing reductions in some state programs. The budget bill included major items such as shifting $1 billion from the General Fund to the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund for Cal Fire, funding universal transitional kindergarten, deferring some UC and CSU funding, supporting foster care and homelessness programs, providing Proposition 36 implementation funding, and achieving Medi-Cal savings through changes to benefits and eligibility. The committee also heard that votes on the budget bills were expected later in the week and the following Monday. Finance then walked through the trailer bills, including health, human services, early learning, education, resources, energy, transportation, labor, housing, tax, public safety, courts, general government, cannabis, and energy-related measures. Notable provisions included a Medi-Cal enrollment freeze for certain adults, new premiums and benefit changes for some immigrants, child care COLA changes, education funding for literacy, teacher support, universal meals, and community college student support, as well as resource and climate measures affecting Cal Fire staffing and energy permitting. The housing trailer bill drew the most discussion, with provisions on CEQA streamlining, a vehicle miles traveled mitigation banking program, a renters’ credit trigger, and a six-year moratorium on new residential building standards. Members also discussed a film tax credit expansion, cannabis enforcement funding, a tribal police pilot program, and changes to tax policy, including military retirement income exclusions and wildfire settlement payment exclusions. Committee members largely praised the staff and the budget process, but several raised concerns and asked detailed questions, especially about the housing trailer bill’s new wage standards, tribal consultation provisions, and possible effects on prevailing wage protections. Finance explained that the housing language was intended to set wage floors for market-rate projects receiving CEQA streamlining, with different county-based tiers and a notwithstanding clause preserving existing prevailing wage laws. Members also questioned the size and timing of funding for the Children and Youth Behavioral Health Initiative, Clean Cars for All, Proposition 36, and the film tax credit expansion. Other members highlighted support for public safety, veterans’ tax relief, child care providers, housing production, and higher education, while some expressed concern that the budget’s policy changes were being negotiated too quickly or without enough stakeholder input.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> I yield back the balance of my time. I yield back the balance of my time.
• I reserve the balance of my time.
• I reserve the balance of my time. rule. I reserve the balance of my time.
• </c> myself the balance of my time. myself the balance of my time.
• I reserve the balance of my time. I reserve the balance of my time.

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Tuesday, June 24, 2025, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Now, I think this also balances the right to bear firearms.
• And so this is one of those times that I believe that we need to strike the balance of protecting all
• the right to that this also balances the right to bear<00:37:41.680><c> firearms.
• </c> see the importance of of the balancing see the importance of of the balancing act<00:43:33.040><
• </c> they thought it was a good balance they thought it was a good balance because<00:53:23.680><c> they

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• First, it increases the cap on the BSF fund balance from 10% to 25% of general revenue collections.
• The amendment also allows the Legislature to withdraw funds for critical needs once the balance of the
• The amendment also allows the Legislature to withdraw funds for critical needs once the balance of the
• We have to pass a balanced budget. Water quality, we did $500 million in water grants.
• I think it is a cheap debate instead of doing the responsible thing and balancing the budget.

Summary: The House met on the final day of session, swore in Representatives Boyles and Hodgers, and observed a moment of silence for the Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband, as well as for Representative Rosenwald’s father. The chamber then moved into final budget work, with leaders outlining the plan to take up H.J.R. 5019, HB 7031, HB 5017, HB 5015, and then the general appropriations act once the Senate transmitted it. H.J.R. 5019, a proposed constitutional amendment to expand the budget stabilization fund, was explained and amended to raise the rainy day fund cap, require annual deposits, and allow withdrawals for critical state needs by a two-thirds vote; it passed 100-1. The House then adopted the conference report on HB 7031, the tax package. The bill repeals the business rent tax and aviation fuel tax, delays the natural gas fuel tax, creates or expands several sales tax holidays and exemptions, including permanent exemptions for disaster-preparedness items, hunting/fishing/camping items, and ammunition and firearms-related purchases, and makes changes to property, corporate income, local tax, and economic development provisions. Members debated the removal of recurring housing trust fund and transit-related revenue streams, the new ammunition exemption, and the data center tax changes; supporters argued the package reduces taxes and preserves annual budget flexibility, while opponents raised concerns about housing, transportation, and gun violence. The conference report passed 93-7. HB 5017, creating a debt reduction program funded by a recurring transfer to retire state bonds early, passed unanimously. HB 5015, the state group insurance conforming bill, which directs DMS to develop a formulary management plan and codifies the administrative health insurance assessment, also passed. The House then began explanation and questions on the fiscal year 2025-26 general appropriations act, described as a $115.1 billion budget that is down $3.8 billion from the current year and includes more than $12 billion in reserves. Subcommittee chairs summarized major spending areas, including pre-K-12 funding increases, health care funding for Medicaid, KidCare, nursing homes, opioid treatment, and mental health, transportation and economic development funding, environmental and water projects, higher education, state administration, justice, and information technology. Questions focused on school vouchers, inflationary pressures on school districts, and the adequacy of funding for housing, transportation, and other priorities.

Transcript Highlights:

• So, the ability to set it to zero there will help bring us in balance.
• So, the ability to set it to zero there will help bring us in balance.
• In addition to help bring us in balance.
• And you bring the program in balance.
• </c> able to bring the the program in balance able to bring the the program in balance even<00:31:02.399

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The unexpended balances are just a carryover. Excellent.
• The agency is required to maintain a contingency reserve fund balance.
• Next slide shows the history of our annual rate of return, as well as the fund balance.
• So that balances $2.6, $2.4? $2.4. When did we re-up the second $3 billion?
• Also included is a new rider to provide unexpended balance authority for this project.

Bills: SB 1

Keywords: campground safety, youth camp regulations, flood safety, emergency evacuation, health and safety standards

Summary: The committee heard budget presentations from the Legislative Budget Board and agency officials on several agencies, starting with the Texas Historical Commission. LBB described a large biennial reduction driven mainly by the removal of one-time funding and discussed capital projects, rider changes, and exceptional items including Presidio La Bahia and the National Museum of the Pacific War. Senators asked about heritage trails, courthouse grants, unexpended balance authority, and the status of historical-site funding. Historical Commission leadership emphasized preservation, courthouse restoration, heritage tourism, coordination with the Alamo and other Texas Revolution sites, and requested additional IT, staffing, and vehicle funding. No votes were taken. The committee then reviewed the Pension Review Board and the Employees Retirement System. The Pension Review Board’s budget was largely unchanged aside from IT maintenance and salary adjustments, with an exceptional item for additional IT enhancements. Members discussed the Dallas Police and Fire Pension System’s funding dispute and the need for a workable restoration plan. ERS presented a much larger budget, including funding for the retirement system, the group benefits plan, and the legacy payment intended to reduce unfunded liability. Senators focused heavily on pension investment returns, benchmark comparisons, and rising health-care costs, especially pharmacy spending driven by GLP-1 drugs; ERS said the plan covers about 540,000 lives and that premiums would rise 8% while benefits remain unchanged. ERS also said it had no exceptional items, and committee members requested more detailed benchmark information. The committee also heard from the Texas Emergency Services Retirement System and the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas. TESSORS reported an unfunded liability, an infinite amortization period, and requested additional state support, staffing, and IT funding, including a statutory change to allow a higher contribution level; the agency warned that without more funding it may have to cut benefits. CEPRIT’s presentation covered its bond-funded cancer research and prevention portfolio, revenue-sharing from funded projects, and a request to increase salary limits for its CEO and chief scientific officer. Senators questioned CEPRIT’s accomplishments and return on investment, while CEPRIT cited screening, prevention, and research outcomes, including tens of thousands of detected cancers and precursors and hundreds of thousands of first-time screenings. The meeting ended after these presentations and questions, with no recorded committee action or vote.

Transcript Highlights:

• Because obviously there is a balance between the need for aggregate for everything. from the roads we
• And there's got to be a balancing in that.
• It's all about balance. It's about finding the right balance.
• It comes down to a balance. It comes down to communication. You know, people want to be heard.
• But, uh, as the chairman Bell said, it's all about balance and balance means you got to come and talk

Bills: HB 1089, HB 1163, HB 1177, HB 1238, HB1318, HB1400, HB1407, HB1532, HJR7, HJR7

Keywords: coastal protection, environmental management, Gulf Coast, storm risk management, funding, Texas General Land Office, healthcare, insurance reform, patient access, insurance regulation, affordable care, health insurance, consumer rights, coverage transparency, claims process, insurance regulations, aggregate production, environmental impact, financial responsibility, reclamation

Transcript Highlights:

• and delve into it open the fund balance and delve into it you<00:21:42.320><c> will</c><00:21:42.520
• Budget rules guide staff to highlight circumstances where current law balance could be available for
• We assume across the general fund in each fiscal year, based on history, that a certain balance will
• </c><00:25:32.919><c> or</c> whether cancel available balances or whether cancel available balances or
• </c><00:26:54.200><c> will</c> history that a certain balance will history that a certain balance will

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So despite the booming revenues, even... ...budget balance.
• But the balancing of the budget is through the reliance on reserves, prior fund balances, extra borrowing
• Yeah, so the projected ending fund balance for 2026-27 is approximately $230.9 million.
• This is a key budget solution that helps balance the budget under the May Revision.
• We respectfully request that this legislator reject any proposal that balances the budget.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And there's no check and balance. If they're there forever, there's no balance to me.
• So, when we put checked and balanced.
• If they're there's no check and balance.
• It's it's like this isn't balance to me.
• And there's no check and balance. If they're there forever, there's no balance to me.

Bills: HF3879

Keywords: outdoor heritage, conservation, habitat restoration, natural resources, wildlife management, 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• It looks like the balance of the account right now is at $79,639.20.
• So can you reiterate then what the ending cash balance is?
• The balance on the account is $79,639.20.
• Because I see the end fund balance at $79,639.20.
• , I think if it's okay with you, I think it would be, I mean, it's fine for us to accept the cash balance

Summary: The Legislative Oral History Committee met to elect officers for the coming year, unanimously selecting Senator Schessler as chair and Ramos Santos as vice chair by voice vote. Staff then updated members on completed and in-progress oral history projects, including the printed oral history of former House Majority Leader Lynn Kessler, which has had interviews completed and is now being edited with photographs added, and the Mary Margaret Howgan project, for which staff is still seeking a contractor to finish the work. Members discussed where completed oral histories are stored and learned they are posted on the committee website, with some additional printed copies available and the website itself being redesigned. The committee also reviewed its finances, hearing that the account balance was $79,639.20, though members noted inconsistencies in the report and asked staff to provide a fuller accounting later. Staff said typical oral history projects cost about $10,000 to $15,000 each. The committee received an update on TVW-produced video projects, which are complete and will be posted once the oral histories web page is ready. Staff identified the topics as the 2001 Nisqually earthquake, early legislative technology, and the PDC/party-switch history involving former legislator P.V. Reichertbauer. Members then brainstormed future projects, including campus history, leadership-focused histories, interviews with departing members, and oral histories of women and former staff who became legislators. By motion and voice vote, the committee approved conducting oral histories of former Representative Barb Lisk and Senator Hargrove, and also established a program to interview the longest-serving retiring member of each caucus every biennium. Members discussed possible interviewers, including staff, TVW, and university-based or other nonprofit oral history practitioners, and asked staff to explore options and report back.

Transcript Highlights:

• War Memorial Stadium's change fund is unique because it has both a cash portion and a balance that's
• discovered because the AC did not have procedures in place that would consider both cash and bank balances
• Wormor Stadium's change fund is unique because it has both a cash portion and a balance that's held in
• a commercial bank account, which in this amount could be ingested throughout the year, and a balance
• And trying to find the right balance between safety and inevitably somebody's going to try to game the

Summary: The committee met with prayer and approved the January minutes, then heard a series of Arkansas Legislative Audit reports. Reports with findings were presented for the Department of Human Services, Department of Parks, Heritage, and Tourism, Department of Corrections, and Department of Veterans Affairs, along with a special report on law enforcement racial profiling policy compliance. Several reports without findings were also filed without objection. For DHS, auditors reported apparent thefts involving false benefit claims in disaster nutrition assistance and Medicaid, a nearly $610,000 altered warrant cashed by a California auto body shop, and multiple asset-control issues, including missing equipment, inventory discrepancies, and improper sales tax paid on exempt vehicle purchases. Members questioned DHS about the warrant fraud and whether other agencies or California officials had been notified. For Parks, Heritage, and Tourism, auditors cited missing museum receipts and problems with change funds at Daisy State Park and War Memorial Stadium; department officials said they are considering cashless payment options and provided an update on the museum loss investigation. For Corrections, auditors reported unauthorized personal fuel-card purchases totaling about $4,500 and a delayed disaster recovery test for critical IT systems. Department officials said staffing has been increased for fuel-card oversight and that a full production disaster recovery test is scheduled soon. For Veterans Affairs, auditors found improper pay for employees who were not working, duplicate vendor payment, and numerous overtime approvals that were not properly authorized; the department said it has tightened overtime approval procedures. The special report said only 203 of 383 law enforcement agencies had responded regarding racial profiling policies, and the Attorney General had notified the remaining agencies that they were not in compliance. The committee requested a list of nonresponding agencies and adjourned, with the next meeting scheduled for March 12.