Transcript Highlights:

• This bill adds five new chapters to the Special District Local Laws Code: one navigation district and
• chapter codifying all the local laws that govern a particular special district.
• Eventually, each local law that governs a special district will be codified in this form and will be
• Today, the law governing many special districts... ...can only be reliably located in multiple volumes
• There's an internal process, and then there's outreach, especially with these special districts.

Bills: HB 1181, HB3704, HB1363, HB1610, HB1615, HB1620, HB3223, HB1317, HB2884, HB2176, HB4027, HB1664, HB933, HB2613, HB3353, HB2086, HB4101, HB3441, HB4145, HB3455

Keywords: judiciary, judges, justices, retired, legal assignments, judicial conduct, notary public, criminal offense, education requirements, official documents, record retention, implicit bias, bias training, judicial training, judge education, court personnel, continuing legal education, CLE, state bar, Texas Court of Criminal Appeals

Transcript Highlights:

• And similarly, in your bigger counties, you obviously have specialized criminal courts and. have a specialized
• My name is Philip McPherlin, I'm the District Attorney for the 106th Judicial District, which... covers
• I'm an Assistant District Attorney in Chambers County. on behalf of the Chambers County District Attorney's
• I had an attorney here in Texas that specialized. part of her practice specialized in vaccine injury
• There's a special carve-out under federal law for vaccine manufacturers.

Bills: HB 1181, HB3704, HB1363, HB1610, HB1615, HB1620, HB3223, HB1317, HB2884, HB2176, HB4027, HB1664, HB933, HB2613, HB3353, HB2086, HB4101, HB3441, HB4145, HB3455

Keywords: judiciary, judges, justices, retired, legal assignments, judicial conduct, notary public, criminal offense, education requirements, official documents, record retention, implicit bias, bias training, judicial training, judge education, court personnel, continuing legal education, CLE, state bar, Texas Court of Criminal Appeals

Transcript Highlights:

• This particular bill deals with Community Development Districts.
• We've got a Community Development District bill that goes statewide.
• We add those statutory provisions to allow for the creation and operation of these districts.
• Statewide, we add those particular Community Development Districts.
• Years ago, when this particular Community Development District came in, there was a tax on any alcohol

Bills: SB25, HB243

Keywords: SB25, community development district, community development districts, alcoholic beverage tax, alcohol sales tax, sales tax proceeds, county treasury, special fund, grant distribution, tourism funding, economic development, local grants, education grants, civic activities, community activities, tourism activities, Alabama Code 35-8B-5, county revenue, legislator recommendation, local government finance

Bills: SB15, SB9, SB4, SB8, SB60, SB4, SB8, SB60, SB4, SB8, SB60, SB15, SB9

Keywords: real property, fraud, theft, elderly, disabled, statute of limitations, criminal offense, property rights, property tax, ad valorem tax, voter-approval tax rate, no-new-revenue tax rate, tax rate calculation, Tax Code, local government finance, municipality, county, special taxing unit, sales and use tax, property tax cap

Transcript Highlights:

• Senate Bill 4 relates to the composition of the districts for the election of members of the United States
• This will be referred to the Special Committee on Congressional Redistricting.

Bills: SB15, SB9, SB4, SB8, SB60, SB4, SB8, SB60, SB4, SB8, SB60, SB15, SB9

Keywords: real property, fraud, theft, elderly, disabled, statute of limitations, criminal offense, property rights, property tax, ad valorem tax, voter-approval tax rate, no-new-revenue tax rate, tax rate calculation, Tax Code, local government finance, municipality, county, special taxing unit, sales and use tax, property tax cap

Transcript Highlights:

• definition of rural community for the purposes of the rural economic development initiative to include special
• districts located in rural counties.
• This inclusion will allow special districts to participate in state financial assistance programs in

Bills: S0214, S0482, S7030, S0554, S0994, S0998, S1004, S1074, S1076, S1266

Keywords: special districts, funding, financial assistance, rural community, state agency, economic development, artificial intelligence, personal data protection, consumer rights, chatbot, deceptive practices, government contracts, public records, consumer protection, data privacy, investigations, proprietary information, chatbots, Florida statutes, nonprofit

Summary: The Committee on Commerce and Tourism heard and advanced several bills focused on economic development, consumer protection, workforce issues, and technology. SB 1076 would raise Florida’s research and development tax credit cap from $9 million to $50 million beginning with the 2027 allocation, and it was reported favorably. SB 1266, as amended, creates a cybersecurity experiential internship and clearance-readiness program with Cyber Florida and was also reported favorably. SB 554, a Florida Bar-backed update to the not-for-profit corporations statute, was approved without opposition. SB 1004, aimed at protecting buyers of dogs and cats from deceptive sales practices and predatory financing at retail pet stores, received supportive testimony from animal welfare advocates and was reported favorably. SB 1074, which sets rounding rules for cash transactions if pennies are unavailable, also passed favorably. The committee also considered SB 998, the Department of Commerce package, which combines updates to the Small Cities CDBG program, clarification of rural community eligibility, an exemption from a reverter clause for military-related land conveyances, and revisions to E-Verify enforcement. The E-Verify portion drew the most debate, with questions about employer cure periods, treatment of current investigations, and whether the bill creates a loophole for independent contractors. Senator Smith opposed the bill, arguing it creates unequal enforcement between employers and immigrant workers, while Senator Wright supported the military-related provisions. SB 998 was reported favorably on a divided vote. SB 214, which expands the rural community definition to include special districts in rural counties, was reported favorably. The committee then took up SB 482, an artificial intelligence consumer-protection bill that creates an “AI bill of rights” covering companion chatbots, parental controls for minors, data privacy, de-identified data, unauthorized use of likeness, and enforcement by the Attorney General, with a limited private cause of action for minors. The bill drew extensive testimony both in support and in opposition, including concerns about privacy, age verification, and enforcement, but it was reported favorably. Finally, the committee approved SPB 7030, a public-records exemption tied to Department of Legal Affairs investigations under the AI bill, and adjourned after members requested to be recorded on certain votes.

Bills: SB8, SB4, SB3, SB6, SB8, SB4

Keywords: education, accountability, public school assessment, state law, transparency, intervention, performance ratings, Texas congressional redistricting, U.S. House districts, congressional map, redistricting, gerrymandering, 2020 Census, census tracts, block groups, voting districts, election law, Texas House of Representatives districts, federal congressional districts, 2026 elections

Transcript Highlights:

• The bill provides technical support through local soil and water conservation districts and improves
• I'm also the senior legal advisor to the American Legion and the Special Forces Association.
• El Paso's largest school district, El Paso Independent School District, recently closed eight elementary
• It does so by empowering local taxing entities, counties, school districts, and special districts. along
• ESDs are special purpose districts, with the special purpose being public safety, fire protection, emergency

Bills: HB485, HB1367, HB1370, HB1827, HB1879, HB2032, HB2133, HB2357, HB3581, HB3830, HB4060, HB4085, HB4270, HB4979, HB5217, HB5268, HB5478, HJR96, HJR97, HJR119, HJR195, HJR209, SB4, SB23, SJR2, SJR85, SB 4, SB 23, SJR 2

Keywords: healthcare, insurance, access, affordability, public health, emergency services district, sales tax, gas and electricity, residential use, tax exemption, emergency services, gas, electricity, HB 485, ESD, use tax, residential utilities, utility tax, local option tax, Texas Health and Safety Code

Bills: HB4

Keywords: district composition, congressional election, Texas, legislature, voting districts

Bills: HB4

Keywords: district composition, congressional election, Texas, legislature, voting districts

Transcript Highlights:

• So each economic development district would be required to have a board.
• Are the districts that are created going to be required to have taxpayers residing within the district
• And so it does not upset specialized institution accreditation or specialized program accreditation.
• , whereas a traditional district school would be limited to students in that district.
• a special law that doesn't include everybody.

Bills: HR175, HCR81, SB105, SB290, SB304, SB374, SB522

Keywords: TOPS, education funding, workforce development, postsecondary education, Louisiana Works, tech training, declining enrollment, public schools, school districts, Louisiana Department of Education, state superintendent, school closures, budget cuts, teacher layoffs, school consolidation, education policy, enrollment decline, birth rates, migration, private schools

Transcript Highlights:

• Protection District. That is in the House; it's sitting in the Calendars Committee.
• I serve as board president for the Gulf Coast Protection District.
• A bill authored by Senator Larry Taylor, the Gulf Coast Protection District was created in 2021 by the
• With the help of the Protection District, we can get there.
• We have a recycling factory in my district, or just outside of my district, and they are importing their

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

Transcript Highlights:

• And do you think there's a reason to worry that cities more than a special utility district or?
• Well, the, the muds and the special utility districts are not correct.
• Currently, 104 special utility districts generally do not have the authority to issue. Bonds.
• Uh, special utility districts are, uh, rural districts that were created by the Texas legislature to
• Uh, unlike most other water districts, however, special utility districts have no taxing authority.

Bills: HB 1520, HB 1525, HB 1530, HB 1535, HB 2068, HB 2091, HB 2347, HB 2372, HB 2805, HB 2815, HB 2867, HB 3154, HB 3482, HB 3483, HB 3663, HB 3781, HB 3901, HB 3915, HB 4135, HB 4153, HB 4158, HB 4329, HB 4331

Keywords: Angelina and Neches River Authority, river authority, Sunset Advisory Commission, Texas Sunset Act, Special District Local Laws Code, local government, natural resources, board of directors, director training, board governance, public testimony, open meetings, public information, conflict of interest, ethics, complaint system, general manager, board president, staggered terms, removal of director

Transcript Highlights:

• Well, the MUDs and the special utility districts are not. Correct.
• Please proceed I'm clay Hodges and general manager of cash special utility district We're utility district
• Special Utility District districts are rural districts that were created by the Texas legislature. to
• Unlike most other water districts, however, Special Utility Districts have no taxing authority.
• They're in 35 separate chapters of the special district local laws code.

Bills: HB1520, HB1525, HB1530, HB1535, HB2068, HB2091, HB2347, HB2372, HB2805, HB2815, HB2867, HB3154, HB3482, HB3483, HB3663, HB3781, HB3901, HB3915, HB4135, HB4153, HB4158, HB4329, HB4331

Keywords: Angelina and Neches River Authority, river authority, Sunset Advisory Commission, Texas Sunset Act, Special District Local Laws Code, local government, natural resources, board of directors, director training, board governance, public testimony, open meetings, public information, conflict of interest, ethics, complaint system, general manager, board president, staggered terms, removal of director

Transcript Highlights:

• I am here representing the county and the district in full support of House Bill. 3519.
• In addition to securing the powers of a water improvement district, as noted in Chapter 56, the district
• District number one, I'm just here as a resource witness.
• This bill and groundwater management districts, or conservation districts, excuse me, they already .
• district or something like that.

Bills: HB1520, HB1525, HB1530, HB1535, HB2068, HB2091, HB2347, HB2372, HB2805, HB2815, HB2867, HB3154, HB3482, HB3483, HB3663, HB3781, HB3901, HB3915, HB4135, HB4153, HB4158, HB4329, HB4331

Keywords: Angelina and Neches River Authority, river authority, Sunset Advisory Commission, Texas Sunset Act, Special District Local Laws Code, local government, natural resources, board of directors, director training, board governance, public testimony, open meetings, public information, conflict of interest, ethics, complaint system, general manager, board president, staggered terms, removal of director

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> uh funding increases in it districts uh funding increases in it districts cannot<00:04:34.160><c
• </c> the committee cannot agree on District the committee cannot agree on District Maps<00:14:21.040>
• </c> motans to have a role in uring District motans to have a role in uring District Lines<00:25:47.559
• </c> every General primary local special every General primary local special election<00:31:42.360><c
• would consist of two House districts.

Bills: HF550

Keywords: redistricting, Bipartisan Commission, Minnesota Constitution, census, legislative districts, 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• of districts.
• District 29.
• District 95, are cracked and placed into Congressional District 25, which is a rural-based district
• And District 18, District 30, and District 33, isn't that correct?
• district.

Bills: HB4, HB 4

Keywords: district composition, congressional election, Texas, legislature, voting districts, 997, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Members of the United States House of Representatives from the State of Texas to the Special Committee

Bills: HB4, HB4, HB4

Keywords: district composition, congressional election, Texas, legislature, voting districts, 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The Department of Public Safety has special agents deployed in every region of Texas.

Bills: HB4, HB 4

Keywords: redistricting, congressional districts, Texas Legislature, elections, 2020 Census, 997, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Each one of you knows that eventually you will come back. we will pass the priorities of the special

Bills: HB4, HB 4

Keywords: redistricting, congressional districts, Texas Legislature, elections, 2020 Census, 997, house, all