Transcript Highlights:

• Judge H will be here in a little while. He'll be here in a little while.
• Judge H, who's the Chairman, is here. I'm going to turn the presiding over to him. Thank you.
• Determining how this standard should be applied, so if the judge is asking me the question, if we're
• This was brought to me by a probate judge in our area.
• Okay, uh, we withdraw Judge Hill's desire to carry his bill over. I'm going to turn it over to Mr.

Bills: SB156 , SB134 , SB108 , SB47 , SB88 , SB89 , SB106 , SB18 , SB9 , HB38 , HB54

Committee: House Judiciary

Transcript Highlights:

• One is either a commissioner or a judge, and one is a treatment court administrator who kind of coordinates
• , a circuit judge, or associate judge, or it could be a commissioner if they have a commissioner that
• So it would probably fall within that situation where you have an associate judge that's acting as the
• treatment court judge.
• some of the division clerks were having to coordinate the treatment court for the treatment court judge

Committee: House Corrections and Public Institutions

Summary: The committee first called the roll and established a quorum with nine members present. It then moved into executive session and took up House Committee Resolution 29, which was approved unanimously on a 9-0 roll call vote. Next, the committee considered House Bill 2414. After a brief motion and no discussion, the bill was voted do pass by a 6-3 roll call, with Chairman Mayhew, Vice Chair Cook, Representatives Davis, Dolan, Elliott, Faulkner, and Hovis voting yes, and Representatives Brown, Bush, and Kalberloh voting no. The committee then took up Senate Bill 945. Members adopted House Committee Substitute 0.04C, then adopted two amendments: one concerning the sheriff’s attorney fee language and another concerning treatment court administration and reimbursement. After rolling the amendments into a new substitute, the House Committee Substitute for Senate Bill 945 was voted do pass by a 9-1 roll call vote, and the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• , a circuit judge, or associate judge, or it could be a commissioner if they have a commissioner that
• So it would probably fall within that situation where you have an associate judge that's acting as the
• treatment court judge.
• some of the division clerks were having to coordinate the treatment court for the treatment court judge
• that has the Veterans Court and the treatment court, it's been a juggling around of the different judges

Committee: House Corrections and Public Institutions

Transcript Highlights:

• The arresting officer will contact an on-call judge or judicial officer in those situations, and they
• So, H. 744 fixes this problem by striking that sentence and adding that the presiding judge for each
• This bill represents a solution to the underlying issue by preserving the judicial discretion judges
• </c> attempt to dissuade judge-made attempt to dissuade judge-made constitutional<00:14:46.280><c> remedies
• ,</c> superior judge, superior judge, the<00:19:06.040><c> director</c><00:19:06.400><c> of</c><00:19

Transcript Highlights:

• I do have the concerns that Judge Don't. a great effort.
• And if I could also go back to your comment about Judge Dolan.
• They've encountered judges in a negative manner.
• They've encountered judges in a negative manner.
• And judge.

Committee: House Health and Mental Health

Transcript Highlights:

• The judge signed the search warrant. And guess what we found on his cell phone?
• Now, we have good judges in Fort Bend County.
• with an agenda exclude evidence. ...some judge with an agenda exclude evidence.
• But the discovery requirements oftentimes from a judge are very articulated.
• But the discovery requirements oftentimes from a judge are very articulated.

Bills: SB552 , SB1099 , SB1124 , SB1208 , SB1372 , SB1506 , SB1667 , SB1804 , SB1806 , SB1870 , SB1936 , SB1937 , SB2180 , SB2405 , SB2569 , SB2570 , SB1646

Committee: Senate Criminal Justice

Summary: The committee heard a series of criminal justice bills, beginning with SB 1870 and SB 1727, both of which were adopted as committee substitutes and reported favorably to the full Senate. SB 1870 would bar local governments from adopting policies that decriminalize controlled substances or direct officials not to enforce state drug laws, with civil penalties enforced by the Attorney General for violations. SB 1727 was described as a technical change to make the draft a formal Legislative Council version of a TDCJ-related assault bill; both bills were also sent to the local and uncontested calendar. The committee then took up SB 2405, the major Sunset bill for TDCJ, the Board of Pardons and Paroles, Windham School District, and the Correctional Managed Health Care Committee. Senator Parker explained that the bill continues and modernizes those agencies, requires a 10-year facilities and staffing plan, expands rehabilitation and reentry programming, improves parole-board consistency and training, and codifies various cleanup and inspector general recommendations. Sunset staff and agency witnesses discussed the bill’s data-sharing, program coordination, and projected savings from reducing delays in parole-voted programming; public witnesses generally supported the post-secondary education and reentry provisions, while some urged stronger statutory direction for Windham and more reform to medically recommended intensive supervision. The bill was left pending. SB 1804, SB 1099, SB 2569, and SB 2570 were also heard. SB 1804 would allow restitution for tattoo removal for human trafficking survivors and remove the age restriction so adult survivors can qualify; it was reported favorably and sent to the local calendar. SB 1099 would increase penalties for certain felony offenses when committed by a person determined to be unlawfully present in the country; immigration and civil rights witnesses opposed it as overbroad and difficult to administer, but it was reported favorably. SB 2569 would modernize unmanned aircraft reporting by requiring law enforcement agencies to post reports on public websites; it passed unanimously and was sent to the local calendar. SB 2570 would create a defense to prosecution for peace officers and correctional guards using less-lethal force weapons within the scope of their training; law enforcement witnesses supported it, civil rights and prosecutor witnesses raised concerns that it was too broad and could weaken existing use-of-force standards, and the bill was left pending for further work.

Transcript Highlights:

• ><c> can</c> Constitution says that judges can Constitution says that judges can release<01:58:27.760
• But the judge failures to appear.
• </c><01:59:19.599><c> Judges</c> assault law enforcement. Judges assault law enforcement.
• You know this part just a little judges You know this part just a little judges already<02:00:18.800>
• </c> article flight or safety risk, judges article flight or safety risk, judges still<02:03:27.280><

Committee: House Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs

Summary: The House Committee on Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs recessed briefly for a joint hearing, then reconvened and took up House Bill 2494, which would limit warrantless arrests for petty misdemeanors and violations, require officers to document arrest justification, expand citation-in-lieu-of-arrest use, and direct the Judiciary to create a standardized citation form. The chair also outlined hearing procedures and testimony time limits. Committee members later received an overview from the Policing Project about national trends in expanding citation use. Testimony was divided. Supporters, including the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, the Hawaii Correctional System Oversight Commission, the Office of the Public Defender, the ACLU of Hawaii, the Drug Policy Forum of Hawaii, and the Policing Project, argued the bill would reduce unnecessary arrests and pretrial detention, lessen jail overcrowding, save law enforcement time, and reduce harms such as job loss, housing instability, family disruption, and recidivism. They also said the bill preserves officer discretion through public-safety and flight-risk exceptions, and several supporters urged the committee to adopt a standardized citation form despite the Judiciary’s request for a delayed implementation date. Opposition came from the Department of the Attorney General, the Judiciary, county prosecutors, Honolulu Police Department, and other individuals. They argued the bill would unduly restrict law enforcement discretion, create administrative and data-processing problems, and make it harder to identify repeat or habitual offenders because of changes to citation information and fingerprinting. The Judiciary requested implementation no earlier than January 1, 2028 and said the citation form would need major changes. Opponents also warned the bill could increase litigation, suppress evidence, and not meaningfully reduce overcrowding because most jail populations are held on felony matters. The chair reported 14 testimonies in support, 21 in opposition, and one with comments; no vote or final action was taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• Or you could take a more nuanced approach and leave it to the discretion of the judge so that the judge
• Or you could take a more nuanced approach and leave it to the discretion of the judge so that the judge
• Or you could take a more nuanced approach and leave it to the discretion of the judge so that the judge
• It was a judge, uh, you'll probably hear more about it, Judge Bedrick.
• I'm open for questions. was a judge uh you'll probably hear more was a judge uh you'll probably hear

Committee: Senate Children and Family Law

Transcript Highlights:

• reform law, we allow judges to divert young people prior to arraignment.
• To put it simply, the bill will provide judges one more tool to find solutions.
• We'll welcome Judge J. Blitzman virtually. Thank you. Jay Blitzman. No.
• Back now to retired Judge Blitzman. See if he's on. See if he's on. No?
• Let us not wait until history judges us for our silence.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on the Judiciary

Summary: The committee hearing began with opening remarks from the House and Senate chairs outlining procedures for a large public hearing with more than 100 witnesses on 64 legislative proposals. They explained time limits, rules for in-person and virtual testimony, written testimony procedures, and the committee’s reporting deadline. Testimony then moved through a series of juvenile justice, child protection, and civil liberties bills, with witnesses generally urging favorable reports or, in one case, opposing expanded juvenile court transparency and child advocate access to records. Several witnesses supported bills aimed at juvenile justice reform. Representative Hendricks backed H. 1744 to prevent child labor exploitation and trafficking, citing federal findings of child labor in seafood processing and calling for stronger penalties and a ban on minors working in such facilities. Senator Gomez supported S. 1131 and S. 1121 to reduce juvenile fees, fines, restitution burdens, and bail-related costs, arguing they worsen racial and economic disparities. Senator Crean and other advocates supported S. 1051/H. 1695 to expand juvenile diversion eligibility, while multiple witnesses from juvenile justice and immigrant advocacy groups supported H. 1657/S. 1058 to expand juvenile expungement and to limit sharing juvenile fingerprints with federal authorities, describing recent ICE detentions of Chelsea students and the resulting fear in immigrant communities. Witnesses also supported H. 1918/S. 1240 to narrow the youthful offender statute, raising the minimum age and reducing mandatory adult-style penalties for youth. The committee also heard testimony on child safety and bodily autonomy bills. Middlesex District Attorney Marion Ryan supported H. 1752 to protect children left in extreme temperatures, explaining it would create civil penalties, allow emergency responders to remove children from cars without liability, and add criminal penalties when serious injury results. Representative Thurber and Senator O’Connor testified for H. 2011/S. 1227, a bill prohibiting coercion or mandates for health-related interventions, including vaccinations, and allowing legal remedies for violations. Senator Jalen supported S. 1136/H. 1847 to prevent false confessions by requiring recording of interrogations and banning deceptive tactics, and several innocence-project and legal-services witnesses described wrongful convictions tied to false confessions and coercive interrogations. Another major topic was H. 1626, which would require age verification for pornographic content and launch an education campaign about online sexual exploitation; Representative Cruz and survivor Udoz Wallace testified in support, describing nonconsensual image sharing and deepfake harms. Not all testimony was supportive. The Committee for Public Counsel Services opposed S. 1035, which would increase transparency in juvenile court proceedings, and H. 1689, which would expand the child advocate’s access to confidential juvenile records, arguing both would undermine privacy and trauma-informed protections for children and families. No votes or formal committee actions were taken during the portion of the hearing provided; the session consisted of opening remarks and public testimony on the listed bills.

Transcript Highlights:

• Well, to be clear, ma'am, we're not saying, and I don't think this bill suggests, that a judge can't
• So if they come with a really good argument about what the law is, the judge should take note of that
• should say I presented then the judge should say I don't<00:32:38.919><c> think</c><00:32:39.039><c>
• And by the same token, we hope that a judge would read this language in a statute in some future case
• The judge is going to step back and say, well, that sounds reasonable enough to me.

Summary: The committee first took up House Bill 90 / Senate Bill 17, a birth-related measure backed by the Kentucky Birth Coalition. Sponsors said the bill had been worked on for several years and described changes including a transfer agreement, insurance requirements, proximity to a hospital, informed consent, and accreditation/medical director standards that helped win neutral or non-opposition from the Hospital Association. The bill was reported favorably after a roll call vote with unanimous support. The committee then heard Senate Bill 65, presented by Senator Steve West and Representative Derrick Lewis. They said the bill would make regulations found deficient through the committee review process null and void by statute, and would bar agencies from reissuing the same or similar language for up to a year. Supporters argued this was needed to hold agencies accountable because deficiency findings alone had not led to action. After questions about specific Medicaid behavioral health regulations and concerns about legislative overreach, the bill passed the committee on a roll call vote, with some members passing or explaining reservations. Finally, the committee considered Senate Bill 84, with a House committee substitute. Sponsors said the substitute was intended to strengthen the bill and reflect the U.S. Supreme Court’s Loper Bright decision by ending Chevron deference and requiring courts, not agencies, to interpret law. Opponents, including Audrey Ernsberger and Katherine Hargraves, argued the bill would intrude on the judiciary, violate separation of powers, and could harm public health, environmental, and workplace protections. Committee members also raised concerns about whether the bill told courts what standard to use; sponsors responded that agencies could still present persuasive arguments, but courts should not defer to them. The committee substitute was adopted, and the bill then passed the committee on a roll call vote, with several members passing or expressing constitutional concerns.

Transcript Highlights:

• This bill does not eliminate the right to recall a judge.
• This bill does not eliminate the right to recall a judge.
• Why should judges be treated differently than other elected officials?
• Second, it's inherent in judging that 50% of the parties are going to lose a case.
• Second, it's inherent in judging that 50% of the parties are going to lose a case.

Summary: The Assembly Elections Committee met on July 1, 2026, heard a full agenda of election-related measures, and took final votes on several bills and one resolution. The committee also adopted two consent items, SB 1429 and SB 1430, without opposition. Members and the chair repeatedly noted committee membership changes and the final meeting of the session, and the chair emphasized the committee’s focus on protecting democracy and election integrity. Among the bills heard, SB 1369 would shorten the signature-gathering period for judicial recalls in larger counties and require paid gatherers to disclose they are compensated; supporters argued it would protect judicial independence, while the chair and some members noted the need to balance recall rights with county differences. SB 900 would reformat campaign disclosure language on large print ads and billboards to improve readability while preserving transparency, with broad support from outdoor advertising, clean money, and good-government groups. SJR 18, which condemns Citizens United and urges action against corporate spending in elections, drew support from reform advocates but also concerns about the resolution’s focus and scope; it was advanced on a party-line split with some members voting no. The committee also advanced SB 1164, a major voting-rights measure expanding California protections against vote dilution and voter suppression, adding preclearance-style review for some jurisdictions, and directing courts to interpret election laws in favor of voting access. Local government representatives opposed it unless amended, citing uncertainty, loss of safe-harbor protections, and implementation concerns, while civil-rights and labor groups strongly supported it. SB 1360, which expands language-access requirements for voters with limited English proficiency and lowers coverage thresholds, was supported by voting-rights and immigrant-advocacy groups but opposed by elections officials unless amended; the committee acknowledged the need for further work on county-level implementation and data standards. The committee also approved SB 1418, which extends protections against seizure of election records and voting systems beyond voted ballots, and SB 884, which creates a buffer zone around polling places and vote-by-mail drop locations to prevent interference with voting and ballot custody, though sheriffs and police groups opposed the arrest restrictions. SB 46, which would give the Secretary of State clearer authority to remove constitutionally ineligible presidential and vice-presidential candidates from the ballot, and SB 715, which moves candidate ballot-designation challenge deadlines earlier, also advanced. Most measures were sent to Appropriations or otherwise held on call for absent members, and the meeting ended with final roll calls and adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• doing this, well, the judge didn't do it.
• judges, with justices, with law enforcement, and other members of the legislature.
• or assessed by DOC, how could a judge order the person to a facility without knowing that?
• It is a sentencing judge that makes that determination, correct?
• Is it the judge, the sentencing judge that would determine that?

Bills: SB1636 , SB1584 , SB1730 , SB1255 , SB1627 , SB137 , SB2062 , SB1470 , SB1284

Committee: Senate Public Safety

Summary: The Public Safety Committee took up a series of bills dealing with cold cases, sexual assault investigations, parole, criminal code cleanup, jail backlog relief, private prison oversight, and human trafficking. SB 1636, by Sen. Hicks, would let an immediate family member or similar person request an OSBI investigation in a cold case; it passed 8-0. SB 1584, by Sen. Burns, shortened the deadline for submitting sexual assault evidence kits for forensic testing and required kits received after the effective date to be processed within 30 days; it passed 8-0. SB 1730, by Sen. Thompson, required law enforcement to forward sexual assault reports to OSBI to help identify repeat offenders, with testimony that the reports would remain confidential and could still be expunged where applicable; it passed 8-0. The committee also approved SB 1255, by Sen. Yack, which shifts the authority to request medical parole from the DOC director to the DOC medical director while leaving parole board and gubernatorial discretion intact; it passed 8-1. SB 1627, by Pro Tem Paxton, was a request bill to consolidate redundant and obsolete criminal statutes into a cleaner code, and it passed 9-0 after questions about underlined language in the committee substitute. SB 137, by Vice Chair Hamilton, would remove DUI causing great bodily injury from eligibility for DOC’s electronic monitoring program after a case highlighted what sponsors described as a loophole; it passed 9-0. SB 2062, by Sen. Pugh, sought to reduce county jail and LARC backlog by allowing certain low-level, nonviolent offenders to bypass county jail waiting periods and report directly to their assigned facility after screening; members raised concerns about flight risk, logistics, transportation, and county impacts. Pugh agreed to continue working on the measure and requested a struck title, and the bill passed 7-1. SB 1470, by Sen. Brooks, as amended, would allow elected officials and religious leaders to conduct informal inspections of private prisons operated for out-of-state interests, with a three-day notice requirement and definitions added to narrow the scope; it passed 8-0. Finally, SB 1284, by Vice Chair Hamilton, aimed at combating human trafficking in exotic entertainment venues by creating licensing and inspection requirements and penalties for unlicensed operation or knowingly hiring unlicensed performers. The bill drew extensive debate over whether it was too punitive or could sweep in lawful businesses, but supporters said it would help identify trafficking victims and improve oversight; it passed 7-1. The committee adjourned after the final vote.

Transcript Highlights:

• law judges.
• Many of these cases have impacts on people's lives, and so our judges experience similar threats.
• We've had three, including people saying they wanted to take judges' lives.
• law judges.
• We've had three, including people saying they wanted to take judges' lives.

Bills: HB2198 , HB2401 , HB2462 , HB2419 , HB2210 , HB2205 , HB2249

Committee: House State Government & Tribal Relations

Keywords: regulatory efficiency, permitting, licensing, executive order, state government, commission, gender equity, boys, men, advocacy, state policy, unpiloted aircraft, drones, regulation, airspace safety, privacy, address confidentiality, administrative law judges, privacy protection, staff employment

Transcript Highlights:

• And generally speaking, these things are judged in the totality of the circumstances.
• And generally speaking, these things are judged in the totality of the circumstances.
• are judged in the totality of the circumstances.
• </c><01:08:09.520><c> sir</c> and so forth is going to be judged sir and so forth is going to be judged
• And once again, these cases will be judged in the totality of the circumstances.

Committee: House Children and Family Law

Transcript Highlights:

• This issue was brought to me by some judges in my district, and we have some people that are homeless
• And so the homeless doesn't have $20, and the judge can't waive it.
• So this issue was brought to me by some judges in my district, and we have some people that are homeless
• And so the homeless doesn't have $20, and the judge can't waive it.
• The Senate amended the bill by allowing rather than requiring the judge to seal the records.

Summary: The Republican caucus reviewed a long list of House bills returned from the Senate with amendments, generally asking staff to describe the changes and then confirming whether the sponsor concurred. Many measures were accepted with little or no debate, including bills on tax filing penalties (HB 2016), court-ordered restitution for homeless or indigent defendants (HB 2028), vaccination and mask restrictions (HB 286), bullion investments by the state treasurer (HB 2140), nursing care complaint timelines (HB 2195), privacy protections for county records (HB 2327), cold plunge regulation (HB 2439), medical records access timelines (HB 2557), licensing board procedures (HB 2660), school and public records provisions, AI governance (HB 2592), fingerprint clearance temporary work authorization (HB 2916), development fees (HB 2946), affordability infrastructure districts (HB 2999), distracted driving penalties (HB 2109), health aide scope of practice (HB 2189), eviction record sealing (HB 2244), backyard structure rules in planned communities (HB 2342), inmate transition services (HB 2440), nuclear-ready community designation criteria (HB 2456), address confidentiality protections (HB 2594), groundwater/medical reimbursement changes (HB 2932), traffic citation signature authority (HB 2369), advanced math enrollment (HB 2423), school district training and intervention requirements (HB 2435), job order contracting limits (HB 2482), special education and placement rules (HB 2621), DCS parent rights notice changes (HB 2661), domestic violence expert testimony standards (HB 2662), inmate mental health study committee provisions (HB 2673), legislative subpoena enforcement (HB 2745), ACA trade office oversight (HB 2752), utility reporting changes (HB 2756), Native American language proficiency credit (HB 2895), mental health judicial review timelines (HB 2923), mobile food vendor licensing (HB 2118), medical intervention/school attendance rules (HB 2248), school board finance training (HB 2379), and school board meeting access/video requirements (HB 2380). Sponsors repeatedly stated they concurred with the Senate amendments, and no roll-call votes were taken in the transcript. A few items were set aside or sent back, including HB 2035 and HB 2249, and one bill (HB 2594) was left pending because the sponsor had not yet responded.

Transcript Highlights:

• This issue was brought to me by some judges in my district, and we have some people that are homeless
• And so the homeless doesn't have $20, and the judge can't waive it.
• And so the homeless doesn't have $20, and the judge can't waive it.
• The Senate amended the bill by allowing rather than requiring the judge to seal the records.
• The Senate amended the bill by allowing rather than requiring the judge to seal the records.

Summary: The Republican caucus reviewed a long list of House bills with Senate amendments, mostly hearing brief staff summaries and sponsor comments on whether they concurred. Topics included tax filing penalties, water and court procedures, vaccination and mask rules, bullion investment, nursing care complaint timelines, privacy protections for property and voter records, medical-record access, professional licensing procedures, school and family law changes, public records access for legislators, AI procurement, fingerprint clearance for traffic survival school instructors, development fees, infrastructure districts, distracted driving penalties, health aide scope of practice, eviction record sealing, backyard structure rules in planned communities, inmate transition services, nuclear-ready community designation, DCS parent-rights notices, domestic-violence evidence standards, inmate mental health study committee, legislative subpoena enforcement, trade office oversight, public power reporting, Native American language proficiency, mental health judicial review timelines, mobile food vendor licensing, medical-intervention requirements in schools, and school board training and meeting transparency. In most cases, the sponsor or a representative indicated concurrence with the Senate amendments, and the caucus generally moved through the bills without extended debate. A few bills drew brief explanation from sponsors about the policy purpose, such as aligning nursing-facility oversight with federal requirements, improving access to medical records, clarifying rules for licensed health aides, and adjusting school-related provisions. Some bills were noted as being sent back to the Senate or otherwise set aside, including HB 2035 and HB 2249. No formal votes were taken in the transcript; the meeting functioned as a caucus review of Senate amendments and sponsor concurrence before floor action. The caucus concluded after HB 2380, with members thanked for attending.

Transcript Highlights:

• Do you change anything with the civil penalties that can be levied against judges?
• Um, Chair Lee. judge protection um on property records judge protection um on property records bill<00
• </c><00:04:39.919><c> now</c> trying to just narrow this to judges now trying to just narrow this to
• </c><00:05:31.280><c> Um</c><00:05:31.680><c> Representative</c> levied against judges?
• Um Representative levied against judges?

Bills: HF2300

Committee: House Judiciary Finance and Civil Law

Transcript Highlights:

• and say, hey, judge, they garnished this account and 60% of that account is mine and it's gone.
• The creditor's attorney will call that up for a hearing before a judge, yes.
• Well, ultimately, if we don't include a judge in the process...
• Well, obviously, you got a federal judge.
• A federal law where there is venue in federal courts, you'd have a federal judge intervening.

Committee: House Financial Institutions

Transcript Highlights:

• 08:48.120><c> and</c><00:08:48.360><c> time</c><00:08:48.560><c> and</c> A rape victim is harshly judged
• A decision that judges make about whether to allow this to occur.
• </c><00:14:53.240><c> one</c> have one probation officer one judge one have one probation officer one
• judge one prosecutor<00:14:54.240><c> dealing</c><00:14:54.600><c> with</c><00:14:54.800><c> that</c
• </c> that's correct a decision that judges that's correct a decision that judges make<00:16:00.839><c

Transcript Highlights:

• And now we have three heck of rock stars out there in West Texas with Judge Evans, Judge Portillo from
• Presidio County and Judge McKenzie from Hutspeth County.
• Well, when Judge.
• Chair, but I have Judge McKenzie.
• Again, like he shared, we're really close with some of our other county judges.

Bills: HB336 , HB554 , HB849 , HB 1033 , HB1338 , HB 1246

Committee: House S/C on County & Regional Government

Keywords: law enforcement, sheriff, constable, contracts, county governance, HB 554, fireworks, Juneteenth, Juneteenth holiday, retail fireworks permit, Texas Occupations Code, Local Government Code, county commissioners court, drought conditions, Texas A&M Forest Service, fire safety, holiday sales, seasonal fireworks sales, Fourth of July, Independence Day