Transcript Highlights:

• House Bill 2354 concerns Wauqua and small common interest communities under the Wauqua.
• Wauk Iowa and small common interest communities under the Wauk Iowa.
• But as a reminder, the proposed substitute exempts small communities and small middle housing communities
• from almost all Wauk Iowa provisions and exempts middle housing communities. ...from almost all Waucahia
• provisions, exempts middle housing communities from Waucahia reserve study requirements.

Bills: HB2255, HB2354, HB2595, HB2320, HB2597

Keywords: litigation finance, legal funding, lawsuit, financial services, access to justice, common interest communities, homeowners association, property management, housing regulations, community governance, criminal justice, judgment, collateral attack, legal proceedings, sentencing reform, firearm regulation, manufacturing, safety standards, background checks, license requirements

Summary: The Civil Rights and Judiciary Committee met on February 4 and took executive action on five bills. House Bill 2255 on litigation finance would require disclosures and prohibit certain acts by third-party litigation funders; members described it as a transparency measure rather than a ban, and it was reported out 12-1. House Bill 2354 on WUCIOA and small common interest communities would exempt smaller communities from many WUCIOA requirements, adjust reserve study and audit rules, and was reported out unanimously 13-0. The committee also advanced House Bill 2595, which extends the deadline for post-conviction collateral attacks from one year to three years and allows the Office of Public Defense to represent eligible indigent offenders in those proceedings. Supporters framed it as an access-to-justice measure, while opponents warned of added strain on the courts; it passed 8-5. Before voting, the committee heard staff summaries of House Bill 2320 on restricting manufacture and distribution of certain firearms made with 3D printers or CNC machines, and House Bill 2597 on civil remedies for constitutional violations during immigration enforcement. For House Bill 2320, the committee adopted Representative Walsh’s amendment removing a rebuttable presumption about intent tied to digital firearm manufacturing code, then reported the substitute bill out 8-5. Supporters said the substitute was narrowed after stakeholder input to target untraceable firearms without unduly affecting hobbyists or industry, while opponents argued it remained too broad and could chill lawful 3D printing. House Bill 2597, as amended by substitute, would create a civil cause of action for constitutional violations during civil immigration enforcement, align some defenses with Section 1983 practice, and shorten the limitations period to two years; it was also reported out 8-5 after supporters emphasized remedies for rights violations and opponents questioned its necessity and scope.

Transcript Highlights:

• activity bonds encourages more flexibility in mixed-income housing projects and sustains... ...as community
• The Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs is our housing— I call our housing... ...of our
• Our state agency that operates the housing programs is the Texas Department of Housing and Community
• The Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs is what I'll call the oversight body.
• Basically, it says with every communication you have, you have to repeat this information. Yes.

Bills: HB1342, HB2889, HB3002, HB3254, HB4820, HJR40, HJR40

Keywords: private activity bonds, housing, residential rental projects, low-income, affordable housing, bond measures, funding equality, political subdivisions, public communications, election fairness, debt collection, consumer rights, disclosures, Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, settlement agreements, State Board of Education, group benefits program, health insurance, state employees, dependents eligibility

Transcript Highlights:

• The relocation of the Bob Oak Game Farm is imperative to ensure safe drinking water for our community
• Our community does believe in accountability with ourselves and with others, which does not end in the
• If that does happen to a disadvantaged community like us, we will be asking the state to help us pay
• and the farming community.
• This is about water quality, basic fairness, and the long-term health of a community.

Bills: HB2668, HB1735, HB2131, HB2199, HB2463, HB2598, HB2619

Keywords: relocation, wildlife, game farm, agriculture, environmental impact, animal welfare, force-feeding, birds, humane treatment, sea lion, predation control, salmon preservation, fishing industry, voluntary donations, derelict vessels, marine environment, coastal management, environmental protection, maritime economy, farmers

Summary: The House Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee met on February 4, policy cutoff day, and held a public hearing on House Bill 2668, which would require the Department of Fish and Wildlife to identify and pursue relocation of the Bob Oak Game Farm in Lewis County and also seek funding to remediate the current site. Staff explained the proposed substitute would require alternate site identification, reporting to the Legislature, future capital budget requests for pre-design, relocation, and remediation, and continued monitoring to address nitrate leaching. Representative Orcutt said the bill is intended to protect nearby wells and Centralia’s drinking water without shutting the game farm down, and he thanked DFW for working to reduce fiscal impacts. City of Centralia officials, Lewis County public health staff, a tribal member, and the county health officer testified in support, describing nitrate contamination in a sole-source aquifer, health risks, and the need for a long-term relocation solution; the committee also noted 52 people signed in pro and one opposed. The committee then moved into executive session on several bills. House Bill 2598, creating a Salmon Advisory Commission, was debated with concerns raised about the size of the commission, cost, and overlap with existing salmon recovery efforts, but it was reported out 6-5 with a due pass recommendation. House Bill 2619, creating a legislative task force to reduce regulatory stress in agriculture, drew bipartisan support focused on farm mental health and suicide prevention and passed unanimously. House Bill 2199, dealing with derelict vessels, was amended with a Department of Natural Resources proposal and then passed unanimously as amended. House Bill 2463, which revises the Washington commodities donation and farm-to-food pantry programs, was also reported out unanimously as a substitute bill. The committee next took up House Bill 1735, which prohibits force-feeding birds and related sale/distribution of products made using that practice. An amendment by Representative Dent to narrow the bill to ducks and geese for commercial purposes and remove product-sale prohibitions failed, and the substitute bill then passed 6-5. Finally, the committee added House Bill 2668 to the executive agenda despite its late arrival, citing the urgency and bipartisan support, and then reported the substitute bill out unanimously. The chair emphasized that moving HB 2668 on the same day was highly unusual and not standard practice, but was done because of the public health concerns and broad support from affected local and tribal communities.

Bills: SB 1468, SB 1612, SB 1789, SB 2530, SB 2571, SB 2717, SB 2967

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

Bills: SB 1468, SB 1612, SB 1789, SB 2530, SB 2571, SB 2717, SB 2967

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:

• We typically go to organizations that know their communities.
• Educators play a. role in all communities, but especially in rural ones.
• Students are showcased in the community through art shows, artist statements, and at home.
• I have two things in mind that I want to communicate: how thankful I am for teachers.
• School counselors support the academic community of a campus.

Bills: SB26, SB 26

Keywords: teacher compensation, education funding, public school educators, teacher retention, teacher designation, SB 26, Texas Property Code, colonia, colonias, Spanish translation, bilingual contract, real estate contract, executory contract, residential property, border county, international border, economically distressed area, consumer protection, language access, translator certified in Spanish

Transcript Highlights:

• Does this exempt small community banks? Yes, Chairman Kolkhorst.
• Just for your community banks to know that there is no intent to add them.
• or community banks.
• Some of our community banks aren't small. Yeah, that was just part of the deal.
• San Antonio is one of the fastest growing communities in this country.

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:

• Coastal County right now. They're in Austin.
• It clarifies that more than one independent agent may serve as the Coastal Representative on the board
• But in the past, there's been a direct clash between the coastal areas, senators and representatives
• coastal residents—are often vacant.
• For the record, Ryan Brannon with the Coastal Windstorm Insurance Coalition.

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

Bills: SB 1194, SB 1215, SB 1253, SB 1268, SB 1302, SB 1484, SB 1532

Keywords: water management, bond issuance, eminent domain, regional authority, fee structures, local governance, environmental quality, oyster cultivation, coastal management, natural resources, marine ecosystems, Texas Parks and Wildlife, Texas Water Development Board, guidance principles, flood plan, state water plan, rule review, infrastructure, water discharge, general permit

Transcript Highlights:

• I provide mobile services where I go out regularly to homes and community settings.
• And I'm here to represent my community.
• This bill establishes the study committee on coal-impacted communities.
• We also support ...economic diversification, and community revitalization.
• If that can be also authorized, it will help my community and also your community and constituents of

Bills: SB1041, SB1050, SB1131, SB1138, SB1249, SB1267, SB1272, SB1317, SB1461, SB1488, SB1504, SB1517, SB1523, SB1580, SB1582, SB1584, SB1585, SB1602, SB1630, SB1654, SB1672, SB1673, SB1718, SB1761, SB1819, SB1826, SB1827

Keywords: electronic monitoring, nursing care, assisted living, resident rights, privacy, consent, surveillance, veterans, lifetime pass, state parks, Arizona, access, disabled veterans, cardiac arrest, defibrillators, school safety, emergency response, CPR training, Arizona education funding, automated license plate readers

Transcript Highlights:

• Waco community relies on clean, safe water for, for daily operations.
• Yeah, don't you agree though the way to keep a problem from happening is to communicate about it ahead
• Members, HB 4060 allows communities to retain and incentivize peace officers who serve their community
• and to remain in their, and to remain in their community.
• However, they come at a significant cost to local communities.

Bills: SB 4, SB 23, SJR 2

Keywords: redistricting, election, Texas legislature, district composition, political representation, congressional redistricting, Texas House of Representatives, U.S. House, Congressional districts, district map, district boundaries, gerrymandering, voting rights, election law, apportionment, representation, special committee, PLANC2308, redistricting plan, elections

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, we also have Hawaii Community Foundation in support as well as two other individuals all in support
• </c><00:13:39.040><c> in</c> have Hawaii Community Foundation in have Hawaii Community Foundation in
• And you think about all the ways that folks come back to Hawaii and then serve in the community.
• </c> yourself and to love your community. yourself and to love your community.
• </c><00:39:41.200><c> from</c> libraries provide to our community from libraries provide to our community

Bills: HB2437, HB2461, HB2604, HB2605, HB1860, HB2001

Keywords: arts education, student engagement, cultural literacy, public schools, funding, public art, cultural preservation, community identity, art management, performing arts, ticket surcharge, arts funding, education, community support, therapeutic arts, neurodiverse, autism, attention-deficit disorder, underserved communities, mental health

Summary: The Committee on Culture and the Arts heard several measures focused on arts funding, public art, performing arts, and libraries. HB 2437 would appropriate funds for the State Foundation on Culture and the Arts’ Artists in the Schools program; the Foundation testified in strong support, explaining that demand has increased and that additional funding would allow more schools to be served. HB 2461 would raise the ceiling for the works of art special fund and provide money for maintenance and a collections manager position; the Foundation supported it and described major conservation needs, including large-scale repairs to public artworks such as the Tadashi Sato work in Hilo and the King Kamehameha statue, as well as ongoing bronze maintenance and new commissions affected by rising materials costs. HB 2604 would create a performing arts ticket surcharge; the Attorney General and Department of Taxation raised drafting and administration concerns, while the State Foundation supported the concept. HB 2605 would create a position to coordinate specialized arts programs and therapeutic arts interventions for underserved neurodivergent populations, and the Foundation supported that measure as well. HB 1860 would designate the Hawaii Symphony Orchestra as the state symphony orchestra and require annual reports; the Attorney General suggested clarifying the public purpose, and the Symphony, youth symphony, and many community supporters testified in favor, emphasizing educational, cultural, and civic benefits. HB 20001 would designate the first Friday in February as Love My Library Day; the State Public Library System, Friends of the Library, and individual testifiers strongly supported it, describing libraries as essential community and educational resources. After hearing testimony, the committee took action on several bills. HB 2437 was recommended for passage with amendments in HD1, with the appropriation blanked out and the additional needed funding to be noted for Finance consideration; the vote was unanimous among members present. HB 2604 was also recommended for passage with HD1 and technical amendments, including deleting the term “Hawaii-based,” clarifying that student performances at public charter schools are exempt, aligning recordkeeping provisions with tax law, and setting an effective date of January 1, 2027. HB 2461 was deferred to decision-making on Friday, February 13. The transcript also indicates the committee moved through the remaining measures after testimony, but the excerpt ends before final votes are shown for HB 2605, HB 1860, and HB 20001.

Transcript Highlights:

• In this instance, some of the most vulnerable folks in our communities, the youth.
• This is good for our economy and the overall health of our communities.
• We do this through community awareness, employer education, and advocacy.
• We know that exposure to plastic is really unhealthy for our communities.
• We know that heat's really unhealthy for our communities.

Bills: AB52, AB76, AB163, AB388, AB483

Keywords: health insurance, claims process, insurance regulation, admin penalties, healthcare access, cannabis, cannabis establishment, medical cannabis, adult-use cannabis, advertising regulations, packaging requirements, unlicensed cannabis activities, state prosecution, confidentiality, Cannabis Compliance Board, disciplinary proceedings, mental health, counseling, interstate practice, telehealth

Transcript Highlights:

• financing and technical assistance. distance we're eligible for projects assisting our southern communities
• The economic, commercial,... ...population, and cultural growth of the Texas border communities test
• They said, "Hey, we should figure out how we can enhance our communication."
• States, starting with a united, passionate, and engaged community here in Austin.

Bills: HB 1240, HB1353, HCR76, HCR90

Keywords: border region, infrastructure, economic development, government operations, education, international cooperation, infrastructure investment, bond issuance, state agencies, shrimp industry, federal regulations, foreign imports, economic impact, public health, Gulf Coast communities, Texas-Israel relations, Israel, Jerusalem, trade office, foreign relations

Transcript Highlights:

• These folks include our community.
• </c><00:12:51.720><c> Stability</c> the Household and Community Stability the Household and Community
• </c> grounded in community voice over time. grounded in community voice over time.
• </c> communities like John. communities like John.
• </c> made in her community. made in her community.

Bills: HF3279, HF1879, HF1417, HF2462

Keywords: housing, sales tax, homeownership, rent assistance, community stability, education, counseling, financial assistance, housing development, culturally appropriate services, HF1417, manufactured home parks, manufactured housing, mobile home parks, housing development fund, Minnesota Housing Finance Agency, MHFA, infrastructure grants, infrastructure loans, affordable housing

Transcript Highlights:

• I feel like it'll be a good stimulus for uh investment back in the communities that are producing oil
• Roads, schools, healthcare facilities, it would really help the communities continue to be an engine
• So by investing in these communities, it recognizes these communities' vital role.
• Or reinvestment from stakeholders within the community.
• I'd be remiss if I didn't thank them for their reinvestment in the community. Thank you. Yeah.

Bills: HB188, HB 265, HJR35

Keywords: emergency preparedness, flood-prone communities, Texas Rural Emergency Preparedness Fund, disaster relief, funding, youth camp, safety regulations, advisory committee, child welfare, health standards, summer camp, camp safety, child abuse reporting, child neglect, mandatory reporting, background check, criminal history check, sex offender registry, CPR training, first aid

Bills: HB 112, HB 199, HB 621, HB 1349, HB 2214, HB 3466, HB 3698, HB 3699, HCR 9

Keywords: science park district, economic development, technology innovation, higher education collaboration, infrastructure development, Texas Economic Development Office, workforce development, unemployment benefits, state average unemployment rate, benefit year, economic support, Texas Workforce Commission, property owners' association, free speech, assembly rights, government officials, political candidates, floodplain, landlord, tenant

Bills: HB 112, HB 199, HB 621, HB 1349, HB 2214, HB 3466, HB 3698, HB 3699, HCR 9

Keywords: science park district, economic development, technology innovation, higher education collaboration, infrastructure development, Texas Economic Development Office, workforce development, unemployment benefits, state average unemployment rate, benefit year, economic support, Texas Workforce Commission, property owners' association, free speech, assembly rights, government officials, political candidates, floodplain, landlord, tenant

Transcript Highlights:

• He said all of these homeowner communities are immediately adjacent to the proposed sacred community
• </c><00:25:31.200><c> also</c> different uh of these communities also different uh of these communities
• We live in community with them.
• these communities.
• </c><00:45:47.680><c> and</c> people that live in the community and people that live in the community

Bills: HF1051, HF16

Keywords: sacred communities, micro units, religious institutions, housing regulations, homelessness, conditional use permits, immigration enforcement, sanctuary policies, sanctuary city, noncooperation ordinance, ICE, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, federal immigration authorities, deportation, undocumented immigrant, undocumented person, immigration status data, data sharing, preemption, local government

Transcript Highlights:

• opinion, and let the work they do today sow seeds of hope, fairness, and a lasting good for our communities

Bills: HB1175, HB1376, HB1500, HB1796

Keywords: HB1175, small business, residential zoning, land use, zoning reform, neighborhood store, neighborhood cafe, convenience store, minimarket, corner store, mixed-use, local government, city zoning, town zoning, code city, parking regulations, hours of operation, alcohol service, food requirement, commercial use in residential areas

Summary: The House convened, the clerk called the roll, and a quorum was declared present. The chamber then proceeded with the Pledge of Allegiance and an opening prayer, followed by approval of the previous day’s minutes without objection. Under messages from the Senate, the clerk reported that the President had signed House Concurrent Resolutions 4406 and 4407 and Resolution 8407. The Speaker then signed Senate Concurrent Resolution 8407. The House also agreed to treat the bills, memorials, and resolutions on the day’s introduction sheet as first-reading items and refer them to the appropriate committees. No substantive debate or bill action occurred beyond these procedural steps. Representatives Ortiz-Self and Abbarno announced that the Democratic and Republican caucuses, respectively, would meet after adjournment. The House then adjourned until 10:30 a.m. Thursday, January 15.