Transcript Highlights:

• Cliff Lang, South Texas Electric, Ryan Brown, Sam Houston Electric, and Doug Turk, Sam Houston.
• I am Ryan Brown on behalf of Sam Houston Electric, testifying on Senate Bill 1789.
• Our program at Sam Houston Electric on pole testing and standards. All right, thank you.
• I'm Doug Turk on behalf of Sam Houston Electric Cooperative, and I'm here to testify on the bill.
• We strive to be good stewards of our system at Sam Houston, which includes testing and maintaining poles

Bills: SB1468, SB1612, SB1789, SB2530, SB2571, SB2717, SB2967

Keywords: utility systems, Texas A&M, regents authority, construction, improvement, construction contracts, trust funds, property rights, mechanics lien, contractors, trustee liability, mechanic's lien, liability, attorney's fees, windstorm insurance, Texas Windstorm Insurance Association, insurance regulation, administrative penalties, coastal counties, catastrophe year

Transcript Highlights:

• In direct response to labor market needs, Sam Houston State, for example, launched two new colleges,
• Sam Houston also recently reimagined the college that was first utilized during post-World War II to
• Sam Houston State has nationally ranked criminal justice programs and training.
• Built upon a successful collaboration with Sam Houston State, we've expanded the partnership to all of
• Um, is Sam Houston your oldest campus? Our oldest campus. I was pretty impressed.

Transcript Highlights:

• Our seven institutions include Texas State University. in San Marcos and Round Rock, Sam Houston State
• Sam Houston State, for example, launched two new colleges, including its high. successful College of
• Sam Houston State has nationally-ranked criminal justice programs and training, including the Law Enforcement
• With Sam Houston state we've expanded the partnership to all of our institutions with the goal of building
• Lamar University, with over six. million dollars in R&D, and Sam Houston State, with over 12 million

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This name was assigned to me by the Houston Chronicle in 2012, so I've been working at this for quite
• Houston and the Gulf of Mexico.
• In Houston, you all placed a large dumpster there, like one of those huge dump containers.
• You're a native of Houston, right? Yes, sir.
• I know there's Houston in our name.

Bills: HB1730, HB1823, HB2048, HB2266, HB2440, HB3333, HB4086, HB4271, HB4413, HB4839, HB4841, HB5151

Keywords: PFAS, perfluoroalkyl substances, polyfluoroalkyl substances, forever chemicals, public health study, environmental regulation, drinking water, groundwater, surface water, food packaging, chemical exposure, firefighters, chemical manufacturing workers, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, TCEQ, Railroad Commission of Texas, Department of State Health Services, University of Houston, occupational exposure, contaminants

Transcript Highlights:

• designate multiple project financing zones, and currently, it's only the cities of Fort Worth, Dallas, Houston
• They could execute as many PFZs in Houston, Dallas, San Antonio.
• In fact, in Section 2 of the bill, Section A-1 applies to the Houston PFZ, so that it is... is not affected
• To my knowledge, neither Corpus, Hughes, nor any of the other areas—Houston, Austin, San Antonio, or

Bills: SB1071, SB1444, SB1483, SB1556, SB1703, SB1756, SB1854, SB2036, SB2133, SB2297, SB2622, SB2779, SB2955, SB2979

Keywords: municipality, tax revenue, hotel project, convention center, economic development, hotel tax, municipal authority, local governments, local authority, convention centers, hotel occupancy tax, municipal finance, local tax revenue, tourism, hotel and convention center project, Tax Code Chapter 351, city revenue, special district, Texas municipalities, venue financing

Transcript Highlights:

• I want to begin by thanking you, Chairman Harris, and your staff, Jeff and Robert, as well as Sam Backrease

Bills: HB16, HB16, HB1618, HB2692, HB2712, HB2970, HB3609, HB3628

Keywords: judicial administration, court reform, juvenile diversion, court security, mental health services, drug offenses, constitutional amendments, water infrastructure, Texas Water Development Board, financial assistance, water supply projects, rural municipalities, water access assessment, aquifer storage, Edwards Aquifer, water injection, environmental regulations, groundwater management, San Antonio River, pollution control

Transcript Highlights:

• But how many times has the Houston Ship Channel been expanded? Well, we're on project 11.
• Is Clint Winnegar on behalf of Houston Pilots testifying for the bill? Is that correct?
• My name is Clint Winnegar, presiding officer of the Houston Pilots.
• Houston Pilots has a better idea with the help of the Gulf Coast Protection District.
• For over a century, Houston pilots have safeguarded this channel's prosperity.

Bills: HB16, HB1618, HB2692, HB2712, HB2970, HB3609, HB3628, HB16

Keywords: water infrastructure, Texas Water Development Board, financial assistance, water supply projects, rural municipalities, water access assessment, aquifer storage, Edwards Aquifer, water injection, environmental regulations, groundwater management, San Antonio River, pollution control, flood management, water quality, conservation district, bonds, utility rates, ratemaking, water services

Transcript Highlights:

• in the state, and UNT is the fastest growing, not far behind in gaining on both the University of Houston
• Senate Resolution 130. commemorating the centennial of Memorial Park in Houston.

Bills: SB 26, SJR 36, SB 26, SB 616, SB 565, SB 384, SB 28, SR 109, SR 122, SR 126, SR 130, SR 136, SR 137, SR 141, SR 142, SCR 20

Keywords: teacher compensation, education funding, public school educators, teacher retention, teacher designation, aquifer, water management, Edwards Aquifer, sustainability, regulatory framework, SB 565, Texas Water Code, TCEQ, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, compliance agreement, enforcement suspension, utility consolidation, regionalization, water supply, sewer

Summary: The meeting was marked by significant resolutions recognizing various contributions to Texas and celebrating community initiatives. Key discussions included the adoption of resolutions commemorating Texas Hispanic Judges Day and highlighting the 100th anniversary of Memorial Park. Senators expressed appreciation for the judges' dedication and legacy, with notable mentions of individual judges and their impact on the community and legal landscape in Texas. The Senate also honored students and organizations contributing positively to their communities, showcasing the interconnectedness of public service and the legislative process.

Bills: SB 26, SJR 36, SB 26, SB 616, SB 565, SB 384, SB 28, SR 109, SR 122, SR 126, SR 130, SR 136, SR 137, SR 141, SR 142, SCR 20

Keywords: teacher compensation, education funding, public school educators, teacher retention, teacher designation, aquifer, water management, Edwards Aquifer, sustainability, regulatory framework, SB 565, Texas Water Code, TCEQ, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, compliance agreement, enforcement suspension, utility consolidation, regionalization, water supply, sewer

Transcript Highlights:

• Christy, would you advise us to bring Sam up too?
• My name is Leticia Gutierrez from Houston, and we are in support of HB482.
• I live in Houston. and we are considered the most diverse city in the country.
• My name is Leticia, and I'm with Air Alliance Houston in support of SB 736.
• My name is Leticia Gutierrez, and I'm with Air Alliance Houston.

Bills: HB456, HB482, HB1463, HB1682, HB1949, HB5549, SB763

Keywords: translation, environmental quality, complaints, accessibility, multilingual, TCEQ, environmental justice, environmental complaints, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, language access, public information, Texas Commission, multilingual access, administrative actions, environmental regulations, state representatives, state senators, penalty notice, Water Code, legislative notification

Transcript Highlights:

• Doctor Rashmi Road from Houston as Doctor of the day. Members, House will come to order.
• Houston.
• The excellence of Sam Houston State University, eat them up cats.
• The beauty of Sam Houston National Forest TDCJ headquarters in my hometown of Huntsville, Texas.
• the Capitol today for Green Light Houston Day.

Transcript Highlights:

• I, I know that they're, um, I know that they believe that Dallas to Houston remains a, um, a very, um

Bills: HB 2007, HB 2462, HB 2621, HB 2921, HB 3187, HB 3331, HB 3332, HJR 144, HB 3514, HB 3528, HB 3539, HB 3563, HB 3720, HB 3726, HB 3751, HB 3859, HB 3947, HB 4148, HB 4164, HB 4337, HB 4346, HB 4368, HB 4706, HB 4916, HB 4950, HB 4967, HB 5177, HB 5603

Keywords: commercial signs, county approval, transportation code, regulations, road signage, high occupancy vehicle lane, pregnant operators, transportation, parental rights, motor vehicle regulations, live video feed, state agency, transparency, public safety, confidentiality, personal information, local government, airport data, public records, regional transportation

Transcript Highlights:

• will get a better view as to this project. that they're, I know that they believe that Dallas to Houston

Bills: HB2007, HB2462, HB2621, HB2921, HB3187, HB3331, HB3332, HJR144, HB3514, HB3528, HB3539, HB3563, HB3720, HB3726, HB3751, HB3859, HB3947, HB4148, HB4164, HB4337, HB4346, HB4368, HB4706, HB4916, HB4950, HB4967, HB5177, HB5603

Keywords: commercial signs, county approval, transportation code, regulations, road signage, high occupancy vehicle lane, pregnant operators, transportation, parental rights, motor vehicle regulations, live video feed, state agency, transparency, public safety, confidentiality, personal information, local government, airport data, public records, regional transportation

Transcript Highlights:

• I see the porch where Sam Houston gave his speech encouraging us not to join the Confederacy.
• Being from Houston, Galveston is our neighbor, and I am very appreciative of you bringing this to our
• In closing, I would like to read you some testimony. of Sam Collins.
• Sam Rayburn. Hello. Lots of lakes in the area. Yes, now Sam Rayburn is...
• Houston did.

Bills: HB1397, HB1886, HB3088, HB4187, HB4229, HB4230, HB5032, HCR6, HCR34, HCR50, HCR55, HCR58, HCR70, HCR71, HCR72, HCR74, HCR75, HCR80, HCR86, HCR93, HCR100, HCR107, HCR116, HCR117, HCR6

Keywords: Texas Constitution, Declaration of Independence, victory or death letter, display, historic preservation, lifeguard requirements, public beaches, municipalities, county regulations, exemptions, Parks and Wildlife, procurement, goods and services, revenue generation, Texas legislature, historical preservation, Texas Historical Commission, fees, nonprofit organizations, fundraising

Transcript Highlights:

• The statesmanship of Sam Houston.
• District 126 E Sam Harless. District 127, Charles Cunningham. District 128, Briscoe Kane.
• Sam Steve's uncle, and Darryl Tanner.
• Sam Houston once said, a leader is someone who helps improve the lives of other people or improves the
• Like Sam Houston and those who came before us, we face our own defining moment.

Transcript Highlights:

• Houston Bible.
• That is the promise to God that I made when I put my hand on the Sam Houston Bible.
• You don't want Houston to be too busy and Fort Worth not busy enough.
• I was born and raised in Houston. My mother is a native of the region.
• My wife is a graduate of Sam Houston State University. native of Columbus, Texas.

Keywords: 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• As a result, Sam Houston handles the payroll and human resources for the system office and for Sul Ross
• Now we'll call up Sam Houston State University and Sam Houston State University College of Medicine,
• So I'm Lisa White, and I'm privileged to serve as president of Sam Houston State University.
• Sam Houston requests...
• So thank you so much for your support of Sam Houston State University and our College of Osteopathic

Bills: SB1, SB 1

Keywords: appropriations, budget, state funding, education, healthcare, infrastructure, campground safety, youth camp regulations, flood safety, emergency evacuation, health and safety standards, 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• May you give them the patience of Job, the vision of Abraham, the statesmanship of Sam Houston, the courage
• Sam Harless, District 127. Charles Cunningham, District 128. Briscoe Kane, District 129.
• In our Texas, the sons of the mountains of El Paso and the daughters of the urban tapestry of Houston
• Sam Houston once said, a leader is someone who helps improve the lives of other people or improves the
• Like Sam Houston and those who came before us, we face our own defining moment.

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Well, you know, the biggest competitor that we have in San Antonio is the Fort Sam National Cemetery,
• Fort Sam Houston did as well at the time. The city limits, the city grew to the...
• Fort Sam Houston did as well at the time. The city limits, the city grew to the cemetery.
• My wife and I, along with our kids, live in Kingwood, Texas, northeast of Houston.
• Currently, I work for Service Corporation International in Houston, Texas.

Bills: HB447, HB897, HB993, HB2673, HB3671, HB3680, HB3897, HB4506, HB4753, HB4812, HB4894, HB5148, HB5437, HB5650, HB5652, HB5654, HB5656, HB5661, HB5665

Keywords: traffic impact studies, municipal utility district, bonds, road projects, eminent domain, HB 897, Texas land sale, state property, Austin real estate, Travis County, General Land Office, Texas State Library and Archives Commission, HHSC, Health and Human Services Commission, state records facility, archives building, library funding, capital improvements, lease of state land, public land disposition

Summary: The committee heard testimony on a series of land use, housing, and local government bills. House Bill 447, relating to TIA requirements for certain MUD bond issuances, drew opposition from a witness who argued it would duplicate work already done, strain agency resources, and delay development; after the author’s closing, the committee substitute was withdrawn and the bill was left pending. The committee then voted out Senate Bill 1202 (third-party review of home backup power installations), House Bill 2494 (disannexation for failure to provide services), House Bill 1835 (removing barriers to HUD co-manufactured homes), and Senate Bill 15 (lot size and density limits in certain municipalities), with House Bill 1835 receiving one no vote and the others passing unanimously. House Bill 897, authorizing sale or lease of two state-owned Austin properties, was laid out and left pending after brief questions and no public testimony. The committee also heard and left pending several MUD creation bills for Montgomery and Fort Bend counties, including House Bills 5652, 5654, 5661, and 5656, each presented as template district bills with local support and no opposition recorded at the table. A major portion of the meeting focused on House Bill 2673, which would restore prior restrictions on new cemeteries near growing urban areas by repealing changes made last session. Representative Lujan and supporters argued the current law created unintended consequences, including loss of developable land, tax-exempt property in urban cores, and conflicts with infrastructure planning; they said cities already have authority to establish their own cemeteries if needed. Opponents, including a funeral services industry representative, argued the 2023 change was intended to let communities decide and that the bill would take local decision-making backward. After extensive testimony from both sides, the bill was left pending. The committee also heard House Bill 3680, which would create a Cameron County-specific process allowing local discretion under the model subdivision rules. Supporters said the bill would preserve colonia protections while reducing costly platting and replatting burdens on families trying to sell or pass down land; county officials and realtors testified in favor. The bill was left pending after closing. House Bill 4812, a clarification to the Texas Uniform Condominium Act to prevent counties from imposing subdivision platting requirements on condominiums, received support from builders and a condominium attorney who said current county practices create duplicative hurdles and higher costs; it too was left pending. Finally, House Bill 5148, which would allow certain single-stair apartment buildings up to six stories, generated the most detailed policy debate. Supporters, including housing advocates and architects, said the bill would lower costs, improve unit design, and expand affordable, family-friendly housing while maintaining safety through sprinklers and other safeguards. Fire officials from Corpus Christi opposed the bill, warning that a single stairwell could hinder firefighting and occupant evacuation, especially if sprinklers fail or smoke spreads. The author said the bill was aimed at new construction only and was part of a broader effort to reduce outdated housing regulations; the committee substitute was withdrawn and the bill was left pending at adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• So we've done multi-day, you know, traveling show basically, Houston.
• So we've done multi-day, you know, traveling show basically, Houston.
• Houston Building, where our physical offices are currently located.
• Houston Building.
• Houston Building.

Summary: The Texas Ethics Commission met on March 11, 2025, first in executive session and then in open session. The chair announced that, in light of Texas Attorney General Opinion KP-484, the commission would conform its practices to the opinion and move to repeal tolling rules for sworn-complaint deadlines. The chair also said the commission would dismiss 36 pending sworn-complaint cases in which the 120-day settlement deadline had been exceeded, even though the delay had been tolled under prior TEC rules. The commission then set future meeting dates for June 12 and September 17 and approved prior meeting minutes. The commission adopted a new criminal-referral rule clarifying that, once jurisdiction over a complaint is accepted, commissioners may vote to make a criminal referral. It also adopted revised advisory-opinion rules, with a clarifying amendment from a commenter, and republished proposed changes to the definition of “principal purpose” for political committees after staff recommended a 49 percent political-activity threshold and further public input. The commission published for comment proposed changes to ethics training rules, facial-compliance review procedures, late-filing waiver and reduction rules, and sworn-complaint procedures, including tighter discovery limits, a default-order set-aside process, and removal of tolling language inconsistent with KP-484. It also republished Chapter 28 rules on Speaker-candidate reporting. The commission adopted several advisory opinions. It declined to give an affirmative defense on whether certain school-district communications were political advertising because related litigation had already addressed the issue. It reaffirmed that a House member may use donated district-office space if it is not reimbursable with public funds and was accepted before the contribution moratorium. It also concluded that a judge may use political funds for travel to a Navy-hosted event as a local dignitary, that legislators’ use of a corporate aircraft for a border-region fact-finding trip could be permissible but would likely trigger reporting obligations, that a TCEQ commissioner’s revolving-door restrictions apply only to matters actually placed before the commissioner, and that a part-time legislative staffer may not take outside employment assisting a registered lobbyist. The commission then heard and acted on numerous fine-waiver appeals, granting several full waivers or reductions and approving staff recommendations on others, and terminated a number of inactive campaign treasurer appointments. Finally, the executive director briefed the commission on the 2025 legislative session, noting that staffing requests are tied to Sunset recommendations and that the House had preliminarily recommended about half of the commission’s appropriations requests.