Transcript Highlights:

• SB 2681 amends the Election Code to allow for someone to challenge SB 2681 amends the Election Code to
• result in the county being unable to meet its burdens and duties to voters under the election code.
• And we already have a tool in the code, Texas Election Code 31.14(c), which specifies they must update
• You're going to have a code check.
• Election Day... ...to incorporate many different aspects of the election process: Election Day, early

Bills: SB801, SB1200, SB1410, SB1717, SB1862, SB1863, SB2216, SB2681, SB506, SB2626, SJR63

Keywords: SB 801, birth certificate, birth record, certified copy, homeless, homelessness, unhoused, vital records, state registrar, local registrar, county clerk, fee waiver, identity documents, ID access, housing insecurity, shelter, transitional housing, Health and Safety Code, HHSC, Health and Human Services Commission

Summary: The Senate Committee on State Affairs heard testimony on several bills, with most measures left pending after public testimony closed. SB 801, by Sen. Menéndez, would require DSHS and local clerks to issue birth certificates at no cost to people experiencing homelessness. The author and Maria Benavides of SA Youth said the fee and mailing requirements are major barriers to obtaining ID, housing, and work, and Benavides described clients who were able to secure housing and employment after getting birth records and IDs through her program. The bill was left pending. The committee also heard a set of bills related to the Gulf of Mexico/Gulf of America naming issue: SB 1410 would require state agencies to use “Gulf of Mexico” in official documents, SB 1717 would conform state law to the federal renaming to “Gulf of America,” and SJR 63 would amend the Texas Constitution to match that change. Support testimony for the latter two emphasized alignment with federal action and the use of different geographic names by different countries. All three measures were left pending. Members then heard SB 1200, which would require plaintiffs suing defense contractors to disclose in discovery whether they are receiving litigation funding from adversarial nations such as China, Russia, or Cuba. The author and Texans for Lawsuit Reform said the bill targets third-party litigation funding and foreign influence on lawsuits, especially those affecting defense contractors; the committee substitute narrowed the definition of defense contractor and expanded applicability to actions involving defense contractors’ activities. SB 2626, which requires continuing medical education on pregnancy-related emergencies for OB-GYN physicians and nurses, drew support from witnesses who said it would reduce confusion about Texas abortion law and improve care in emergencies. SB 506, SB 2681, SB 1862, SB 1863, and SB 2216 all focused on elections, including ballot language standards, voter registration challenges, interstate voter-roll cleanup, procedural audits, and election equipment security; testimony split between supporters who said the bills improve transparency and integrity and opponents who warned of vague standards, added costs, and possible voter disenfranchisement. Each of those bills was left pending after testimony.

Transcript Highlights:

• These will be prosecuted and reported in the same fashion of any other election code violation.
• , general elections.
• We still need to close loopholes in the Texas Family Code. and in the Texas Transportation Code.
• SB 1033 would resolve this by amending section 172.059 of the election. code.
• , especially runoff elections.

Bills: SB29, SB406, SB447, SB875, SB893, SB1033, SB1346, SB1362, SB1539, SCR22, SB 29

Keywords: business organization, internal management, corporate governance, partnerships, liability reduction, birth certificate, biological sex, gender identity, health and safety, sex assignment, SB 875, Texas, independent school district, ISD, school board trustee, superintendent, campus administrator, electioneering, political signs, early voting

Transcript Highlights:

• The people elected us to be their voice.
• In fact, I believe in 2020, the primary elections, the Republican primary election said 94% of the Republicans
• officials or people who represent elected officials.
• Members elected me to ensure it is heard.
• Correct, as an elected official.

Bills: SB 18, SB 19, SB18, SB19, SB666, SB688, SB707, SB888

Keywords: Texas Water Code, TCEQ, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, water permit, water appropriation, dam permit exemption, reservoir, flood control, floodwater control, erosion control, sediment control, watershed protection, flood prevention, Natural Resources Conservation Service, NRCS, USDA, local sponsor, district, authority, water infrastructure

Transcript Highlights:

• In 2022, Congress passed the Election Count Reform Act.
• the Electoral College. his meeting date to the first Tuesday after the second Wednesday in December. code
• code was in compliance with federal law before federal law changed and so senator 688 fixes this by
• Elected or appointed officer in Texas swears an oath to preserve, protect, and defend the laws and the

Bills: SB18, SB19, SB666, SB688, SB707, SB888, SB 18, SB 19

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:

• Senate Bill 2681 amends the election code to allow for someone to challenge a voter's registration based
• code.
• Running the elections.
• And we already have a tool in the code, Texas Election Code 31.014, which specifies they must update
• Election equipment.

Bills: SB801, SB1200, SB1410, SB1717, SB1862, SB1863, SB2216, SB2681, SB506, SB2626, SJR63, SB 3

Keywords: SB 801, birth certificate, birth record, certified copy, homeless, homelessness, unhoused, vital records, state registrar, local registrar, county clerk, fee waiver, identity documents, ID access, housing insecurity, shelter, transitional housing, Health and Safety Code, HHSC, Health and Human Services Commission

Bills: SB801, SB1200, SB1410, SB1717, SB1862, SB1863, SB2216, SB2681, SB506, SB2626, SJR63, SB 3

Keywords: SB 801, birth certificate, birth record, certified copy, homeless, homelessness, unhoused, vital records, state registrar, local registrar, county clerk, fee waiver, identity documents, ID access, housing insecurity, shelter, transitional housing, Health and Safety Code, HHSC, Health and Human Services Commission

Transcript Highlights:

• 22<00:21:16.480> in election code contemplates title 22 in election code contemplates
• He said that when you look at Title 22, the election code, that is the role the secretary is supposed
• to provide in the election setting: to be a check and balance on the clerks, because the code is built
• When you look at Title 22, the election code, that is the role the secretary is supposed to provide in
• Thank you. you look at title 22, the election code, you look at title 22, the election code, that's<00

Bills: HB0085, HB0086

Keywords: elections, audit procedures, ballot integrity, political party observation, transparency, county officials, election code, misconduct, removal, government accountability, 916, all

Bills: HB0085, HB0086

Keywords: elections, audit procedures, ballot integrity, political party observation, transparency, county officials, election code, misconduct, removal, government accountability, 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The Texas election code has gradually evolved, incorporating adjustments for convenience, like varying
• Election period.
• to ask the election officials questions regarding the election.
• Where is that in the code? Paper code?
• code.

Bills: HB311, SB447, SB505, SB2217, SB2753, HB311

Keywords: voter registration, electronic, Texas election law, Signature verification, DPS, internet application, Texas Election Code, signature verification, online application, data security, electronic application, Department of Public Safety, information security, electronic voter registration, voting technology, voter access, state election laws, digital signature, election irregularities, audit

Transcript Highlights:

• format-related that the Legislative Council has proposed. ...deemed necessary and removes the list of codes
• that do not have a change in the code from the section.
• same regulatory... ...framework and procedures as water districts under Chapter 13 of the Texas Water Code
• So I don't think it's necessary to boost that from $10,000 per day to $25,000. code to give a death penalty

Bills: HB143, HB4530, HB4931, HB5559, HB5560

Keywords: election, bonds, authorization, financial governance, public funding, HB 143, bond election, debt authorization, November uniform election date, Texas Election Code, emergency election, voter approval, municipal bonds, local government finance, public debt, school bonds, special election, uniform election date, bond issuance, water rights

Transcript Highlights:

• The election code describes the duties of poll watchers and also camera systems.
• And we think this violates Texas Election Code 127.066A.
• The bill also specifies that the governor may not at any point suspend provisions of the election code
• However, this does not prohibit the governor from suspending a section of the election code to allow
• This bill also does not prohibit the governor from suspending a section of the election code in order

Bills: SB31, SB33, SB510, SB871, SB1868, SB2024, SB2166, SB2309, SB2880, SJR27, SJR39, SJR40, SB 31, SB 33

Keywords: SB 31, Life of the Mother Act, Texas abortion law, medical emergency, reasonable medical judgment, pregnancy complications, maternal health, life-threatening condition, ectopic pregnancy, spontaneous abortion, miscarriage, unborn child, abortion exception, abortion ban, physician liability, health care liability claim, aiding and abetting, Texas Medical Board, State Bar of Texas, continuing medical education

Bills: SB31, SB33, SB510, SB871, SB1868, SB2024, SB2166, SB2309, SB2880, SJR27, SJR39, SJR40, SB 31, SB 33

Keywords: SB 31, Life of the Mother Act, Texas abortion law, medical emergency, reasonable medical judgment, pregnancy complications, maternal health, life-threatening condition, ectopic pregnancy, spontaneous abortion, miscarriage, unborn child, abortion exception, abortion ban, physician liability, health care liability claim, aiding and abetting, Texas Medical Board, State Bar of Texas, continuing medical education

Transcript Highlights:

• Well site of certain surface facilities in accordance with the National Electric Code.
• That's the Railroad Commission, to conduct inspections under both the National Electric Code and PUC
• Our Texas Administrative Code references the National Electric Code and that code gives a lot of definition
• But it's not up to them, it's really up to us as elected officials.
• For those that are going to testify against it, bill authors matter, and who you elect matters.

Bills: SB410, SB795, SB2510, SB728, SB2689, HB143, HB143

Keywords: Gulf Coast Protection District, navigation safety, special districts, state governance, Texas legislation, Gulf Coast, flood protection, storm risk management, coastal restoration, natural resources, prescribed burns, self-insurance, fire management, liability protection, rural land management, beverage container recycling, deposit return system, container deposit, bottle bill, recycling refund

Bills: HB0002, HB0022

Keywords: building permits, local government, residential construction, permit timelines, code compliance, municipal officers, recall election, petition requirements, local governance, voter participation, 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, this also refers that it also is in accordance with the election code.
• <00:48:32.240> Those accordance with the election code.
• Those accordance with the election code.
• set up, get it married to the election code as it exists right now.
• Um, I also did state that there is great language in the election code on petitions.

Bills: HB0002, HB0022

Keywords: building permits, local government, residential construction, permit timelines, code compliance, municipal officers, recall election, petition requirements, local governance, voter participation, 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• November elections see higher voter turnout than May elections, even in odd-numbered years when state
• our elections completely nonpartisan.
• Would it have changed the election?
• Yes, this is a cleanup of the election code and a government efficiency bill.
• of the election process.

Bills: SB38, SB287, SB291, SB292, SB508, SB618, SB901, SB1436, SB1494, SB1626, SB1719, SB1999, SB1333, SB 38

Keywords: evictions, property law, tenant rights, landlord responsibilities, justice court, court rules, SB 287, Texas Alcoholic Beverage Code, sexually oriented business, adult entertainment, strip club, nude entertainment, live nude performance, alcohol prohibition, alcohol consumption, possession of alcohol, criminal offense, Class A misdemeanor, state jail felony, third degree felony

Transcript Highlights:

• Paul was denied entry by the election administrator. which is a violation of Texas Election Code 127.201
• This is a violation of Texas Election Code 1.012 E through H.
• Texas Election Code 122.001 states that election systems must be accurate.
• Section 276.0 of the Election Code prohibits unlawful altering of election procedures. but lacks any
• These 27 laws are the most critical in our election code.

Bills: SB38, SB287, SB291, SB292, SB508, SB618, SB901, SB1436, SB1494, SB1626, SB1719, SB1999, SB1333, SB 38

Keywords: evictions, property law, tenant rights, landlord responsibilities, justice court, court rules, SB 287, Texas Alcoholic Beverage Code, sexually oriented business, adult entertainment, strip club, nude entertainment, live nude performance, alcohol prohibition, alcohol consumption, possession of alcohol, criminal offense, Class A misdemeanor, state jail felony, third degree felony

Transcript Highlights:

• I could tell you, having served on the elections committee, we allow people to bring in the relatives
• So I think the government code sort of delineates a lot of these situations and other pieces of the code
• I'd rather us map what the government code has already thoughtfully done here.
• The decision remains entirely local and in the hands of each city elected officials.
• This is an extension, as I understand it, for three very specific parts of the code junked vehicles,

Bills: HB113

Keywords: HB 113, Texas, Government Code Chapter 1253, general obligation bonds, bond election, voter approval, political subdivision, local government, city bonds, county bonds, school district bonds, capital projects, public finance, bond referendum, ballot measure, five-year waiting period, rejected proposition, election law, municipal finance

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, in 2022, uh, Congress passed the Election Count Reform Act to clarify how electoral votes are cast
• The Texas election code was in compliance with federal law before federal law changed.
• To take actions that bring cases before the judiciary, but every elected or appointed officer in Texas

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:

• Senate Bill 2217 is about making election data... ...consistent.
• This is an important improvement in election accountability.
• We require post-election reconciliation by polling location to be done after the election and posted
• For each polling location, a post-election reconciliation is necessary.
• So the other provision that was Section 127.156 of the Election Code.

Bills: SB1065, SB2117, SB2217, SB2363, SB2533, SB2742, SB2743, SB2881, SB2964, SB3013, SB3014

Keywords: SB 1065, handgun carry, license holder, concealed carry, open carry, government contracts, governmental entity, property lease, state agencies, local government, higher education, university, Texas Government Code, Penal Code 30.06, Penal Code 30.07, Penal Code 46.03, Second Amendment, gun rights, firearms, civil penalty