Transcript Highlights:

• However, our attorneys are still reviewing this section to determine whether it provides sufficient protection
• We have reached out to multiple attorneys in this space and sheriffs to determine and better understand
• Just a little bit of background: I am an attorney by background.

Bills: HB1974 , HB2265 , HB2452

Committee: House Housing

Keywords: land bank, land banking authority, affordable housing, housing crisis, housing supply, public corporation, public housing authority, nonprofit housing, tax-foreclosed property, blight remediation, redevelopment, anti-displacement, equity, redlining, racial segregation, deed restriction, affordability covenant, property tax exemption, excise tax exemption, predevelopment

Transcript Highlights:

• Defense attorneys, prosecutors—well, if we don't have more judges, all of that will be for naught because
• We understand local attorneys have difficulties scheduling trials, including family law and civil trials
• I'm an attorney with the Sexual Violence Law Center.

Bills: SB5865 , SB5880 , SB5912 , SB5855 , SB6011 , SB6009 , SB5868 , SB5974

Committee: Senate Law & Justice

Keywords: garnishment, debt, form standardization, financial protection, legal processes, toxicology testing, laboratories, accreditation, public health, standards, indigent defense, task force, criminal justice, legal aid, public defense, face coverings, law enforcement, public safety, civil liberties, court security

Transcript Highlights:

• And the answer always from the attorneys was, well, the federal government has already preempted.
• And the answer always from the attorneys was, well, the federal government has already preempted.
• And the answer always from the attorneys was, well, the federal government has already preempted.

Summary: The Assembly Communications and Conveyance Committee held an informational hearing on the state of broadband affordability in California. Chair Tasha Berner said the committee was examining how broadband prices, access, and affordability are affecting households, especially after the end of the federal Affordable Connectivity Program and amid concerns about federal resistance to state broadband regulation. She noted the committee’s continued interest in policy options for 2026 and referenced prior legislation, including AB 353, that would have required affordable home internet as a condition of doing business in California. Industry witnesses from U.S. Telecom and CTIA argued that broadband and wireless prices have generally fallen in real terms even as inflation and other household costs have risen, citing competition, infrastructure investment, and faster speeds as the main drivers. They said California’s higher costs are tied to permitting delays, taxes, copper theft, and legacy obligations such as COLR requirements, and they urged the Legislature to preserve market incentives, reduce fees and regulatory burdens, and support infrastructure deployment. They also discussed fixed wireless access, federal BEAD funding, and Universal Service Fund reform, arguing that more entities benefiting from networks, including tech platforms, should contribute to support programs. Consumer and public-interest witnesses presented a different view, saying California still has a serious affordability and adoption problem, especially for low-income households. Sunny McPhee of the California Emerging Technology Fund said broadband adoption has improved dramatically over time, but about 500,000 households remain offline or underconnected and many low-income households still pay above the FCC affordability benchmark. Ernesto Falcon of the CPUC Public Advocates Office said California’s market is losing its competitive edge, with prices higher than in other states and meaningful price pressure coming mainly from fiber competition at the gigabit tier. He said roughly 4.8 million Californians are limited to one gigabit option and estimated that more competition could save consumers more than $1 billion annually. Both witnesses emphasized the need for stronger transparency, targeted subsidies, and a permanent affordability solution, including extending and refining the CPUC broadband Lifeline pilot and advancing SB 716. Public commenters, including representatives from cable providers, nonprofits, and digital equity organizations, largely supported SB 716 and a permanent broadband affordability program. Several urged the committee to remove a cap on the Lifeline program, expand the CPUC pilot, and invest in digital navigators, outreach, and enrollment assistance. The hearing ended without a vote or formal action, after the chair thanked the witnesses and public commenters for their testimony.

Transcript Highlights:

• procedures for initiating a second-look review through written applications submitted by prisoners, attorneys
• typically taken into consideration by a court and a jury, and undoubtedly a public defender or a defense attorney
• when we're looking at people who were convicted 30, 40 years ago, the courts, the judges, their attorneys

Committee: Senate Judiciary

Keywords: 909, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I participated in that legislation because I was the attorney on the first ASR project permitted in the
• I'm an attorney representing groundwater conservation districts.
• Annette Norman, an attorney for groundwater conservation districts. Thank you.

Committee: Senate Water, Agriculture and Rural Affairs

Keywords: 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• his public service, Chief Swinn is also a part-time instructor at several colleges, as well as an attorney
• privilege is designed to foster open and honest communication between a patient and their physician, and attorney-client
• privileges to help the attorney best represent their client.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm an attorney with SK Law practicing in land development and entitlement.
• By background, I'm a land use attorney living in the city of Austin.
• Yes, good morning, Chairman, members, uh, Ross Martin with Winstead PC, uh, proposed attorney for the

Committee: House Land & Resource Management

Transcript Highlights:

• You need to know that our team, along with the attorney general, has probably filed over a hundred lawsuits
• We have our attorney on hand, Mary Mooney, and we're happy to continue the discussion.
• I'm a staff attorney at Legal Aid at Work.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• For a short explanation, the attorneys said that we needed to create a new subchapter.
• I'm an attorney here in Austin.
• Some counties are using a 2004 Attorney General opinion to prevent condominiums by applying their subdivision

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

Committee: House Land & Resource Management

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:

• For a short explanation, the attorneys said that we needed to create a new subchapter.
• I'm an attorney here in Austin.
• Some counties are using a 2004 Attorney General opinion to prevent condominiums by applying their subdivision

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

Committee: House Land & Resource Management

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

Transcript Highlights:

• term limits do here, then we're leaving it up to the court or to the executive branch through the attorney
• And then will we seek the court's opinion, or the attorney general's opinion?
• And then we'll what, will we seek the court's opinion, or the attorney general's opinion?

Keywords: 908, all

Summary: The North Dakota House convened with prayer, roll call, and recognition of guests and student visitors, then moved through a long calendar of resolutions and bills. Early in the session, members honored Mandan High School’s e-sports team for state championships and recognized House Minority Leader Zachary Ista’s birthday. The House then passed HCR 3037 unanimously, urging mandatory reporting requirements for public officials, after committee support and remarks emphasizing accountability in public office. The chamber then considered numerous Senate amendments and final-passage votes on bills covering ambulance service grants (HB 1597), Public Service Commission records and open meetings (HB 1110 and HB 1063), squatter/trespass law (HB 1305), nonconforming structures in local governments (HB 1500), academic tenure policy (HB 1437), retirement eligibility for correctional officers and state radio dispatchers (HB 1274 and HB 1419), a Medicaid dental study (HB 1567), above-ground fuel storage tank regulation (HB 1058), gaming site authorization procedures (HB 1615), an oil extraction tax incentive outside the Bakken and Three Forks formations (HB 1483), and simple assault protections for hospital workers (HB 1341). Most of these measures passed, though HB 1231, which would have created a study on early discontinuation of sex offender registration, failed on final passage. A major point of debate was Senate Bill 2354, which would restrict student use of personal electronic devices during the school day in public and nonpublic schools, with exceptions for medical and special education needs and annual reporting on impacts. Supporters argued it would improve focus, behavior, and mental health, while opponents raised concerns about private-school regulation, logistics, liability, and duplication with a similar bill. The House passed SB 2354, and also passed SB 2112, which temporarily authorizes the Life Skills and Transition Center to serve certain non-eligible youth in crisis, despite objections that the facility should remain focused on developmental disabilities and concerns about repeating past institutional problems. The House also debated and rejected HB 1300 on legislative term limits after extensive discussion about whether the Senate’s date change altered the effect of the voter-approved measure. The session ended with announcements, committee notices, and adjournment until April 8, 2025.

Transcript Highlights:

• I've been a licensed and practicing attorney in the state of Florida since 2005 originally started my
• implement that microphone for the Department of Children and Families has an attorney and that role.
• And Jess McCarty, executive assistant county attorney for Miami-Dade County also waiving in support.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And with me, I have the attorney for the Interstate Stream Commission, or the State Engineer.
• on page five, this may help answer your question, but if not, I'm going to have the Department of Attorney
• I think that answers your question, but if not, the attorney can answer it further.

Committee: Senate Senate Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• Good morning, Attorney Christina. Welcome to Municipal and County Government.
• Thank you, Attorney Christina. Questions?
• Thank you, Attorney Christina. Questions?
• I’m an attorney at Rath, Young and Pignatelli, with the Concord office.
• I mean, that's even in the ... from the attorney.

Committee: House Municipal and County Government

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm a staff attorney for LSO. I've got two bill drafts here.
• The Attorney General said we don't give advice to our citizens.
• </c> And referred me to the Attorney General. And referred me to the Attorney General.
• Many landowners can't afford attorneys to pursue a civil case.
• </c> Many landowners can't afford attorneys Many landowners can't afford attorneys to<03:17:33.960><c

Committee: Joint Agriculture, State and Public Lands & Water Resources

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, and I'm asking for investigation from the Attorney General's office to look into this matter because
• Many of you know my history now, almost 30 years as a prosecutor, now almost nine plus as your attorney
• general and that plus as your attorney general and that has<02:18:14.080><c> given</c><02:18:14.319>
• And I always tell people, myself and District Attorney Danny Carr, when we go on the speaking circuits
• Danny Carr when we go on the Attorney Danny Carr when we go on the speaking<02:55:57.600><c> circuits

Keywords: 1136, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• university that was founded by a pilgrim by the name of John Harvard, have them become a premier attorney
• <01:51:08.400><c> an</c> the state that wants to become a an the state that wants to become a an attorney
• , you could send them to the attorney, you could send them to the east<01:51:11.600><c> coast</c><01:
• ,</c><01:51:22.400><c> and</c> have them become a premier attorney, and have them become a premier attorney
• </c><01:57:40.000><c> and</c> physician's assistant, an attorney and physician's assistant, an attorney

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Clever attorneys can come up with clever ideas. Yes.
• , chairwoman, um I would try to attorney, chairwoman, um I would try to pursue<00:26:47.440><c> an</c
• &gt;&gt; Clever<00:26:59.279><c> attorneys</c><00:26:59.679><c> can</c><00:26:59.840><c> can</c><00:27
• :00.159><c> come</c><00:27:00.240><c> up</c><00:27:00.400><c> with</c> &gt;&gt; Clever attorneys can
• can come up with &gt;&gt; Clever attorneys can can come up with clever<00:27:00.960><c> ideas.

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The committee first approved the minutes and then approved an agency amendment to a health and family services regulation. The amendment reversed a prior change so that neonatal ICU beds would remain subject to regular review rather than nonsubstantive review. The remaining administrative regulations were then reviewed without objection. The main presentation was from State Auditor Allison Ball on a report finding $836 million in concurrent Medicaid capitation payments from 2019 through 2022, involving individuals enrolled in Kentucky and at least one other state. Ball said Kentucky relied on the PARIS system, which has limitations because it is updated quarterly and depends on voluntary state participation, while a better federal data source, T-MSIS, was not fully available to the state. She said the audit found weak internal controls, siloed processes, outdated guidance, and a low-priority attitude toward residency checks, all of which contributed to missed alerts and improper payments. She also said the report identified additional problems, including payments made after beneficiaries died and cases involving multiple states paying for the same person. Ball recommended better access to federal data, stronger MCO contract provisions, and more active oversight by the Department for Medicaid Services and managed care organizations. She said the contracts reviewed did not provide a clear way to recoup the improper payments, though she and her counsel suggested possible equitable legal theories might be explored. Members expressed concern about the scale of the waste and the lack of contract enforcement, and asked whether any money could be recovered. Ball said the audit did not identify a clear contractual path to recoup the funds.

Transcript Highlights:

• Two classified attorney positions were established.
• positions were established the attorney positions were established the problem<02:08:40.599><c> is</
• </c><02:08:47.760><c> were</c> 2023 all of the DCF attorneys were 2023 all of the DCF attorneys were
• </c><02:09:01.760><c> are</c><02:09:02.000><c> unclassified</c> all the dcyf attorneys are unclassified
• all the dcyf attorneys are unclassified so<02:09:03.559><c> this</c><02:09:03.760><c> creates</c><02

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The meeting began as a Division 3 work session on HB 71, but much of the early discussion focused on whether a previously discussed non-germane amendment could be considered or voted on that day. Members and the chair debated process and notice requirements, and the clerk’s guidance was that the amendment needed a separate public hearing before the full Finance Committee. The amendment was described as requiring DHHS contracts and addenda to include compliance with the Patient Bill of Rights, with a repeal date so the requirement would expire on November 30, 2026. The motion to move OTP on HB 71 with the amendment was withdrawn, and the committee agreed the amendment would be scheduled for a future full Finance hearing instead. The committee then turned to HB 71 itself and heard testimony from DHHS representatives John Williams and Jenny O’Higgins on the fiscal note and policy implications. Members questioned the estimate that the bill could put $12 million to $18 million per year in federal funding at risk, including HUD and Office of Refugee Resettlement funds. DHHS explained that the estimate was based on a broad reading of the bill’s term “specified alien,” which they said was not clearly defined in the bill, so they analyzed it using the federal definition of “alien” and assumed the bill could affect lawfully present non-citizens as well as undocumented individuals. They said the figure represented a worst-case scenario and that they were not claiming the loss was certain. Members also pressed DHHS on whether the bill could affect emergency sheltering in schools, public academies, or institutions of higher learning during disasters. DHHS said the language could create conflicts with federal funding conditions because emergency shelter programs generally cannot impose barriers on who may be sheltered, and they warned that excluding certain people could affect refugee-related and HUD funding. Questions were raised about whether the bill’s language would apply to private institutions as well as public ones, and whether the state could still use schools in short-term emergencies. DHHS said the language was broad, that they could not answer every legal question definitively, and that they would need input from public health and legal staff. No final vote on HB 71 was taken in the portion provided; the committee remained in discussion/work session mode after the amendment motion was withdrawn.

Transcript Highlights:

• refining sector is grossly off the mark, in the same way that when I sit down with my estate planning attorney
• We've been going back and forth, as you know, as we both know about each other being attorneys.
• dealing with the opposition on this is encouraged, especially the utilities, to go back and have their attorneys
• dealing with the opposition on this is encourage, especially the utilities, to go back and have their attorneys

Committee: House Utilities and Energy

Keywords: 988, house, all