Transcript Highlights:

• mandatory depression screenings for pregnant women and women who have recently given birth while in county
• Women in county jails face unique challenges, including limited access to health care and support systems
• Another missing requirement is the continuity of care during and after transfer from a county jail to
• Adams's filings regarding actual innocence in Bexar County, as has paralegal myself and his attorney,
• The Bexar County Conviction Integrity Unit, TCO, and MTC have been aware of this in all probability.

Bills: HB1826, HB1969, HB2708, HB2729, HB3618, HB4515, HB4764, SB1021, SB1610

Keywords: mental health, women's health, county jail, depression screening, criminal justice, inmate release, identification certificate, Texas Department of Corrections, personal identification, driver's license, state law, reentry services, nondisclosure, criminal history, criminal defendants, community supervision, misdemeanors, felonies, rehabilitation, hearsay

Summary: The Corrections Committee first took up pending business and reported several previously heard bills favorably to the full House, including HB 1515 and SB 2405, the TDCJ Sunset bill and its Senate companion, HB 5639 on the veteran housing program, HB 2854 on hospital visits as a parole or mandatory supervision condition and related hospital liability, and SB 1080 on occupational licenses for people with criminal convictions. The committee also heard and advanced SB 1080 without amendment, then moved into new business. A major portion of the meeting focused on HB 3618, which would limit invasive group strip searches of female inmates in TDCJ facilities. Formerly incarcerated women and advocates testified in support, describing humiliation, trauma, barriers to programming, and arguing that searches were often ineffective and that contraband more often comes from staff. TDCJ’s resource witness said the agency has looked at technology such as millimeter scanners and is in the process of placing them in facilities, while the bill sponsor said the measure would preserve searches in emergencies and require female officers when women are unclothed. HB 3618 was left pending. The committee also heard HB 4515 on expanding orders of nondisclosure, with the author saying the committee substitute would narrow the bill to marijuana possession only; supporters from Alliance for Safety and Justice and Right on Crime argued it would improve reentry and public safety, while members asked about eligibility and related offenses. HB 1826, requiring depression screenings for pregnant and postpartum incarcerated women, drew support from women’s health advocates and formerly incarcerated witnesses; the bill was left pending. HB 1969, to help people leaving prison renew or obtain driver’s licenses, and HB 2708, expanding nondisclosure eligibility for certain misdemeanor convictions, were also laid out and left pending. Later, the committee heard HB 2729, which would bar hearsay evidence in hearings on violations of release conditions, and SB 1021, which would make stalking convictions ineligible for community supervision and add related victim-protection provisions; both were left pending. SB 1610, addressing civil commitment facility safety, sex offender registration, and penalties for assaults on staff, drew strong opposition from civil commitment residents, family members, and civil rights advocates who argued it was punitive and raised due process concerns; the resource witness said assaults had increased and explained the civil commitment process and existing legal safeguards. Finally, HB 4764 would require TDCJ to report detailed annual data on restrictive housing; supporters said the bill would improve transparency around solitary confinement, and the committee left it pending before adjourning.

Bills: SB 614, SB 872, SB 1199, SB 1212, SB 1278, SB 1573, SB 1588, SB 1602, SB 1660, SB 1704, SB 1723, SB 1833, SB 1858, SB 1946, SB 2009, SB 2146, SB 2177, SB 2373, SB 2460, SB 2785

Keywords: forensic science, capital writs, criminal justice, case review, Texas Forensic Science Commission, prisoner death, investigation, county jail, law enforcement, autopsy, trafficking, prostitution, affirmative defense, coercion, duress, victim rights, child abuse, mandatory reporting, criminal penalties, neglect

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, House Bill 5089 is, is a result of a school district in Tarrant County, uh, that tried to split off
• Or a petition presented to the commissioners of the, uh, our county commissioners.
• Or petition duly validated by the county commissioners. There was no backroom collusion.
• We had the county commissioner's court.
• The Tarrant County Commissioner, we got to go quick. Mr. Coker, what's the board's opinion?

Bills: HB4, HB54, SB 10, SB 24

Keywords: district composition, congressional election, Texas, legislature, voting districts, citizenship, U.S. citizen, non-citizen, public office, advisory board, task force, state government, local government, political subdivision, commission board, appointment eligibility, officeholder qualifications, public service, naturalization, Texas Government Code

Bills: HB 1023, HB2537, HB3302, HB3324, HB3644, HB3722, HB3815, HB4053, HB4789

Keywords: specialty license plates, military honor, Texas Homeland Defense Service Medal, Texas Superior Service Medal, Texas Outstanding Service Medal, Texas Medal of Merit, military honors, Lone Star Distinguished Service Medal, veterans, Texas Homeland Defense Medal, military, commemorative recognition, transportation code, claims assistance, disability benefits, court representation, legal services, naming, commemoration, local honor

Transcript Highlights:

• Not in this case, in Fort Bend County.
• In Tarrant County, this is just another shot at it.
• See, in Cleveland, where we live, in Johnson County there.
• The comparisons provided by Travis County were not.
• So I have never found that to be a problem on City County. and from what I've heard in the Johnson County

Bills: HB1952, HB3258, HB3524, HB3851, HB4478, HB4613, HB4703, HB4742, HB4744, HB4809, HB4864

Keywords: county appraisal district, board of directors, governance, taxing units, public representation, penalty, property report, taxation, timely filing, chief appraiser, appraisal district, ad valorem tax, property appraisal, tax protests, unequal appraisal, property rights, property tax, public employees, protest leave, appraisal review board

Transcript Highlights:

• You know, my Bexar County military... city USA family.
• Currently, Bexar County is an offline county, but they are transitioning over to an online county.
• With offline counties, um, not that I can think of.
• So the three questions: How will this affect online counties versus offline counties?
• Rates offline counties will need to incur.

Bills: HCR46, HB1389, HB3359, HB5629

Keywords: commemoration, military, navy seal, honor, January 12, Nathan Gage Ingram, military funeral honors, JROTC, veterans, training, grant program, military honors, community engagement, funeral services, education grants, community service, HB 3359, veteran status, Texas Veterans Commission, veterans services

Bills: SB302, SB1335, SB1734, SB1760, SB1975, SB2127

Keywords: probate court, statutory judge, reimbursement, court costs, court proceedings, judicial assignments, judge assignment, cost reimbursement, judicial expenses, estate management, statutory requirement, court expenses, estates, inheritance, representative duties, court authority, personal representative, real property, deed fraud, title fraud

Transcript Highlights:

• Currently, most uncontested probate cases are heard by the county judge.
• Under current law, counties are required to pay for the cost of the traveling judge.
• And the county typically can absorb that. This just says, if you ask.
• But basically, this bill addresses the needs of the small counties.
• There are only 12 counties with a permanent probate judge out of 254.

Bills: SB302, SB1335, SB1734, SB1760, SB1975, SB2127

Keywords: probate court, statutory judge, reimbursement, court costs, court proceedings, judicial assignments, judge assignment, cost reimbursement, judicial expenses, estate management, statutory requirement, court expenses, estates, inheritance, representative duties, court authority, personal representative, real property, deed fraud, title fraud

Transcript Highlights:

• Senate Bill 302 traveling probate judge reimbursement is a rural county.
• Under current law, counties are required to pay for the cost of the traveling judge.
• There is a free option if it's heard in the existing county judge's court.
• And the county typically can eat that.
• So, um, it costs, local, there's only 12 counties with a permanent probate judge.

Bills: SB 302, SB 1335, SB 1734, SB 1760, SB 1975, SB 2127

Keywords: probate court, statutory judge, reimbursement, court costs, court proceedings, judicial assignments, judge assignment, cost reimbursement, judicial expenses, estate management, statutory requirement, court expenses, estates, inheritance, representative duties, court authority, personal representative, real property, deed fraud, title fraud

Transcript Highlights:

• You know I have two hospitals in Marshall County that are...
• We now serve 30 counties.
• We now serve 30 counties, and we would have the ability to serve more counties if we had more room in
• Right now, we have 58 counties represented.
• His name is Dorian Gonzalez; he's from Shelby County. He's a junior, and it's my... Shelby County.

Bills: SB1, HB176, HB86, SB1, HB176, HB86

Keywords: workers' compensation, public education, employee injury, insurance trust fund, on-the-job injury, administrative procedures, HB176, Alabama sales tax, use tax, sales and use tax exemption, optical aids, eyeglasses, contact lenses, prescription glasses, vision care, optometrist, ophthalmologist, optician, medical devices, local option tax exemption

Bills: SB90, SB255, SB268

Keywords: Green County, racing, pari-mutuel wagering, gaming regulations, commission appointments, historical horse racing, local tax, SB255, cannabinoid, hemp, hemp-derived THC, THCa, delta-8 THC, HHC, CBD, THC, novel cannabinoid products, hemp products, intoxicating hemp, delta-8

Transcript Highlights:

• Louis County, which is a large county where you can hunt deer with a rifle in most areas.
• However, from conversations with county boards, these two particular counties had reached out, and at
• If it's a county ordinance, then the counties would be the ones to enforce that.
• Whether it's the county, county deputies, county sheriffs, or state DNR officers.
• That's why we have two counties.

Bills: HF647, HF2824, HF1249, HF623, HF820

Keywords: water appropriation, aquifer management, potable water, water conservation, environmental policy, fishing regulation, angling, sustainability, biodiversity, game fish, Carley State Park, Minnesota state parks, state lands, park boundary expansion, Wabasha County, Department of Natural Resources, DNR, public lands, land acquisition, park addition

Transcript Highlights:

• Louis County. St.
• Louis County. St.
• two counties.
• So whether it's the county deputies, county sheriffs, or state DNR officers.
• county.

Bills: HF647, HF2824, HF1249, HF623, HF820

Keywords: water appropriation, aquifer management, potable water, water conservation, environmental policy, fishing regulation, angling, sustainability, biodiversity, game fish, Carley State Park, Minnesota state parks, state lands, park boundary expansion, Wabasha County, Department of Natural Resources, DNR, public lands, land acquisition, park addition

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm running for the county line when this is over, Mr. Chairman.
• In the 23-24 academic year, over 50 rural counties in Texas had at least 80% of their new teachers. be
• In Collin County, there's nearly 10, I represent nearly 10 school districts, about half of them. them
• As far as my son's school district, I do reach out to the school district. in my county because of being
• caught in the middle of the pandemic. of the battle between the state's property value study and county

Bills: HB2, HB2

Keywords: public education, teacher compensation, certification, funding, school finance, educator rights, education funding, charter schools, staff compensation, state aid, retention allotment, disaster preparedness, emergency management, flooding, mass fatality, mass casualty, fatality tracking, body recovery, autopsy, justice of the peace

Transcript Highlights:

• Bonin do it in my school districts that I share with in Galveston County with Dr.
• Pre-K Today, based in Tarrant County, plays a critical intermediary role. supporting 35 independently
• When first established in 2019, we engaged every superintendent in Tarrant County regarding in pre-K
• I serve rural Parker County, so all the small districts outside of Weatherford ISD.
• Parker County. I had an uncle who's a football coach in Weatherford ISD.

Bills: HB2, HB2

Keywords: public education, teacher compensation, certification, funding, school finance, educator rights, education funding, charter schools, staff compensation, state aid, retention allotment, disaster preparedness, emergency management, flooding, mass fatality, mass casualty, fatality tracking, body recovery, autopsy, justice of the peace

Transcript Highlights:

• This is compared to 44% for Dallas County and 48% for our state.
• So the 14 counties, which we call first tier, are those counties that abut the ocean.
• That's not for the other two policies that we have for living in the 14 counties.
• And that'll expand beyond just the 14 counties, correct? Yes, as far as I know.
• So this isn't just a 14 county issue dealing with property.

Bills: HB2, HB2

Keywords: public education, teacher compensation, certification, funding, school finance, educator rights, education funding, charter schools, staff compensation, state aid, retention allotment, disaster preparedness, emergency management, flooding, mass fatality, mass casualty, fatality tracking, body recovery, autopsy, justice of the peace

Transcript Highlights:

• Some property insurers categorize risks by county, so risks like hurricanes.
• School districts have no ability to force these county appraisal districts to get in compliance with
• Sanderson, are you aware of the situation developing in Tarrant County? Yes, sir. Yes, sir.
• And what's happened in Tarrant County is that has resulted in some reforms that have been adopted.
• My beginning salary as a first year teacher in Ector County, I believe, was $56,000. OK.

Bills: HB2, HB2

Keywords: public education, teacher compensation, certification, funding, school finance, educator rights, education funding, charter schools, staff compensation, state aid, retention allotment, disaster preparedness, emergency management, flooding, mass fatality, mass casualty, fatality tracking, body recovery, autopsy, justice of the peace

Transcript Highlights:

• These are publicly owned entities, you know, our local counties, cities who are doing this work.
• These are publicly owned entities, you know, our local counties, cities who are doing this work.
• And so every county is communicated with that these funds are available and are encouraged to apply,
• <00:40:10.680> is<00:40:10.960> communicated and so uh every county is communicated
• It's all of Chippewa, Renville, and half of Meeker and part of Kandiyohi County.

Bills: HF919, HF1192, HF212, HF214

Keywords: wastewater, infrastructure, funding, Litchfield, economic development, environmental compliance, Hastings, water treatment, PFAS, nitrates, bonds, capital investment, public health, HF212, Round Lake-Brewster, Independent School District No. 2907, school construction, school building, sales tax exemption, use tax exemption

Transcript Highlights:

• Grants for your area, for your cities, and your counties to get grants from the Quin Commission.
• That one last thing in April to celebrate the Paul R ride, they're sending out to all the county commissions
• by Representative Oliver, relating to unemployment compensation, is referred to the Committee on County
• as Circuit Judge. retirement from her position as Circuit Judge in the Civil Division of Jefferson County
• illustrious legal career as the first woman of color to serve as a deputy district attorney in Jefferson County

Bills: SJR 2, SB 4, SJR 36, SJR 2, SB 4, SR 42, SR 74, SR 76, HCR 5, SB 710, SB 710

Keywords: SJR 2, Senate Joint Resolution 2, constitutional amendment, homestead exemption, property tax relief, school property tax, ad valorem tax, residence homestead, school district taxes, Texas Constitution Article VIII, public school finance, homeowner exemption, elderly exemption, senior tax relief, disabled exemption, tax year 2025, voter approval, November 2025 ballot, local government, Ways & Means

Transcript Highlights:

• Harris County is the only one that keeps track of that.
• Harris County, or Dallas County, or Travis County, or Bexar County.
• Galveston County and posted bond.
• Three counties, three different bonds, two of them for capital murder.
• I have not talked to county leaders.

Bills: SJR2, SB4, SJR36, SJR2, SB4, SR42, SR74, SR76, HCR5, SB710, SB710

Keywords: SJR 2, Senate Joint Resolution 2, constitutional amendment, homestead exemption, property tax relief, school property tax, ad valorem tax, residence homestead, school district taxes, Texas Constitution Article VIII, public school finance, homeowner exemption, elderly exemption, senior tax relief, disabled exemption, tax year 2025, voter approval, November 2025 ballot, local government, Ways & Means