Bills: HB 322, HB 331, HB 673, HB 1147, HB 1154, HB 2488

Keywords: JET Grant Program, career education, technical education, community colleges, technology solutions, high demand jobs, first responders, acute myocardial infarction, stroke, benefits, compensation, presumption of disability, emergency services, healthcare, Medicaid, mental health, substance abuse, treatment access, cost, insurance coverage

Bills: HB 322, HB 331, HB 673, HB 1147, HB 1154, HB 2488

Keywords: JET Grant Program, career education, technical education, community colleges, technology solutions, high demand jobs, first responders, acute myocardial infarction, stroke, benefits, compensation, presumption of disability, emergency services, healthcare, Medicaid, mental health, substance abuse, treatment access, cost, insurance coverage

Bills: HB 322, HB 331, HB 673, HB 1147, HB 1154, HB 2488

Keywords: JET Grant Program, career education, technical education, community colleges, technology solutions, high demand jobs, first responders, acute myocardial infarction, stroke, benefits, compensation, presumption of disability, emergency services, healthcare, Medicaid, mental health, substance abuse, treatment access, cost, insurance coverage

Bills: HB 322, HB 331, HB 673, HB 1147, HB 1154, HB 2488

Keywords: JET Grant Program, career education, technical education, community colleges, technology solutions, high demand jobs, first responders, acute myocardial infarction, stroke, benefits, compensation, presumption of disability, emergency services, healthcare, Medicaid, mental health, substance abuse, treatment access, cost, insurance coverage

Transcript Highlights:

• of growth coming to areas in and around Texas cities.
• We ask: how many other out-of-city water ratepayers in the state of Texas, like us, are suffering the
• Texas is home to 32 of the 47 species of bats found in the United States.
• I'm co-founder of Austin Bat Refuge. I'm speaking in favor of additional protection for Texas bats.
• Bats are the first line of defense for Texas agriculture.

Bills: SB1169, SB1285, SB1583, SB1611, SB1898, SB1976, SB2160, SB2161, SB2658, SB2661, SB2662, SB2692, SB1055, SB1359, SB2660

Keywords: water service, sewer service, public utility, joint operation, infrastructure, municipality, compliance, SB 1285, bats, bat protection, wildlife protection, Texas Parks and Wildlife Code, Parks and Wildlife Code Section 63.101, hunting bats, bat possession, bat sales, bat trade, pest control, licensed pest control professional, animal control officer

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm an attorney in Amarillo, and I represent the Texas Association of Water Companies.
• , would bankrupt my client, who grows 80% of the potatoes produced in the state of Texas.
• Today, I'd also like to point out that in the case of a utility like my client and even like Aqua Texas
• , when you are producing water, you are complying with your mandatory duty under Chapter 13 of the Texas
• We are also pending Senate Bill 2160 by Senator Flores, regarding the jurisdiction of the PUC over Texas

Bills: SB1169, SB1285, SB1583, SB1611, SB1898, SB1976, SB2160, SB2161, SB2658, SB2661, SB2662, SB2692, SB1055, SB1359, SB2660

Keywords: water service, sewer service, public utility, joint operation, infrastructure, municipality, compliance, SB 1285, bats, bat protection, wildlife protection, Texas Parks and Wildlife Code, Parks and Wildlife Code Section 63.101, hunting bats, bat possession, bat sales, bat trade, pest control, licensed pest control professional, animal control officer

Transcript Highlights:

• I represent Texas Association of Water Companies, uh.
• producing water, you are complying with your mandatory duty under Chapter 13 of the Texas Water Code
• I appear before you today in support of Senate Bill 2661 on behalf of a number of groundwater conservation
• I'm the executive executive director of the Texas Association of Water Companies.
• We are pending Senate Bill 2160 by Senator Flores jurisdiction of PUC over Texas municipal owned water

Bills: SB 1169, SB 1285, SB 1583, SB 1611, SB 1898, SB 1976, SB 2160, SB 2161, SB 2658, SB 2661, SB 2662, SB 2692, SB 1055, SB 1359, SB 2660

Keywords: water service, sewer service, public utility, joint operation, infrastructure, municipality, compliance, SB 1285, bats, bat protection, wildlife protection, Texas Parks and Wildlife Code, Parks and Wildlife Code Section 63.101, hunting bats, bat possession, bat sales, bat trade, pest control, licensed pest control professional, animal control officer

Transcript Highlights:

• I am president of True Texas Project.
• I'm appalled that it's not already part of our Texas code.
• Association of Mid-sized Schools, Texas Association of Community Schools, the Texas PTA, the Coalition
• of the Texas Education Code, which requires schools to report misconduct to law enforcement.
• We're a convention of over 5,000 churches across the state of Texas.

Bills: SB604, SB843, SB1636, SB2395, SB571, SB1224, SB1832, SB2392, SB747, SB2623, SB2624, SB2185

Keywords: bonds, education funding, Texas Permanent School Fund, financial transparency, speculative rating, school funding, deferred maintenance, tax revenue, education budget, school districts, education, finance, Texas Education Code, misconduct, child abuse, educators, investigation, criminal offense, education law, suspension

Transcript Highlights:

• violence to student or a minor that is not justified under Chapter 9 of the Penal Code, regardless of
• Association of Mid-sized Schools, Texas Association of Community Schools, the Texas PTA, the Coalition
• of the Texas Education Code, which requires schools to report misconduct to law enforcement. ending
• I am the Director of Public Policy. for the Baptist General Convention of Texas, we're a convention of
• over 5,000 churches across the state of Texas.

Bills: SB604, SB843, SB1636, SB2395, SB571, SB1224, SB1832, SB2392, SB747, SB2623, SB2624, SB2185

Keywords: bonds, education funding, Texas Permanent School Fund, financial transparency, speculative rating, school funding, deferred maintenance, tax revenue, education budget, school districts, education, finance, Texas Education Code, misconduct, child abuse, educators, investigation, criminal offense, education law, suspension

Transcript Highlights:

• The only time that they can ask them about the criminal background of this bill is when there's an offer
• The only time that they can ask them about the criminal background of this bill is when there's an offer
• The only time that they can ask them about the criminal background of this bill is when there's an offer
• The only time that they can ask them about the criminal background of this bill is when there's an offer
• The only time that they can ask them about the criminal background of this bill is when there's an offer

Bills: SB137, SB164, SB165, SB49

Keywords: sewer, wastewater, public service commission, PSC, utility regulation, private utility, regulated utility, affiliated system, consolidation, rate jurisdiction, rate setting, wastewater management entity, common ownership, control, Jefferson County Board of Health, local constitutional amendment, public utilities, Alabama Code Title 37, Alabama Code Title 22, certification

Transcript Highlights:

• And you are with the Texas Academy of General Dentistry, the Texas Dental Association, and you are for
• I'm representing myself, the Texas Academy of General Dentistry, and the Texas Dental Association, which
• I've been practicing for over 10 years in Austin, Texas, exclusively. of the leap in cosmetic procedures
• Do a facelift or that type of surgical procedure in my practice.
• Academy of General Dentistry and the Texas Dental Association.

Bills: SB1117, SB1373, SB672, SB1986, SB1098, SB626, SB1784, SB2480, SB2487, SB437, SB660

Keywords: dentistry, botulinum toxin, aesthetic treatments, dental regulation, training, medical staff privileges, hospital administration, healthcare regulation, Texas Health and Safety Code, consistency in privileges, SB 672, Texas hospital emergency operations plan, hospital diversion, emergency department, cyberattack, cyber security, power outage, electrical outage, patient diversion, hospital preparedness

Transcript Highlights:

• surgeons throughout the state of Texas and the United States on how to perform these procedures.
• of the quality of health care, and that standard is what is used in Texas, as adopted by the Texas Legislature
• of podiatry under the state of Texas.
• of the urban areas in Texas.
• Tom Humboldt and Michael Bullock, we have Lee Johnson testifying on behalf of the Texas Council of Community

Bills: SB1117, SB1373, SB672, SB1986, SB1098, SB626, SB1784, SB2480, SB2487, SB437, SB660

Keywords: dentistry, botulinum toxin, aesthetic treatments, dental regulation, training, medical staff privileges, hospital administration, healthcare regulation, Texas Health and Safety Code, consistency in privileges, SB 672, Texas hospital emergency operations plan, hospital diversion, emergency department, cyberattack, cyber security, power outage, electrical outage, patient diversion, hospital preparedness

Transcript Highlights:

• Basically, 1255 Gives the authority to the medical director of corrections instead of the director for
• three miles of this person.
• So if you go ahead, Representative Oson, so How is the knowledge of that procedure conveyed to the accused
• , charter school, any of them, as soon as they have any knowledge of a violation of sexual activity,
• I believe that's a conclusion of all of those.

Bills: SB137, SB1216, SB1226, SB1238, SB1255, SB1256, SB1258, SB1325, SB1460, SB1543, SB1730, SB1733, SB1921

Keywords: electronic monitoring, Department of Corrections, criminal justice, rehabilitation, public safety, SB 1216, drug court, drug courts, Oklahoma drug court, eligibility, substance abuse treatment, addiction, diversion program, criminal justice reform, probation violation, revocation, intermediate revocation facility, plea agreement, speedy trial waiver, preliminary hearing waiver

Bills: HR38, HR96, HR160, HCR31, HCR61, HB578, HB668, HB1198, SCR19, SB66, SB68, SB76, SB139, SB336, SB475

Keywords: privacy rights, surveillance, USA Patriot Act, FISA, Fourth Amendment, civil liberties, government oversight, civil bench warrants, judgment debtors, notification process, judgment debtor examination, Louisiana State Law Institute, property transfer, public records doctrine, bad faith, real estate law, HCR 31, House Concurrent Resolution 31, foreign entities, foreign corporation

Bills: SB 2031, SB 2386, SB 2476, SB 2801, SB 2843, SB 2844, SB 2846, SB 2885

Keywords: deer breeding, chronic wasting disease, wildlife management, release site, landowner rights, TCEQ, environmental quality, administrative actions, public notice, legislative oversight, water supply, Angelina and Neches River Authority, ownership transfer, public utilities, Certificate of Convenience and Necessity, public health, cervid resistance, research study, wildlife regulation, criminal offenses

Transcript Highlights:

• The date is April 29, 2026, and this is the hearing of the Criminal Justice Committee. Mr.
• It's just adding five articles from the Code of Criminal Procedure.
• It's just adding five articles from the Code of Criminal Procedure.
• So any of this type of legislation, we’re not against, but there are procedures in place now to investigate
• code acknowledges criminal damage to property or theft or some other issues.

Bills: HB146, HB333, HB517, HB828, SB87, SB93, SB98, SB118, SB125, SB199, SB277, SB294, SB306

Keywords: sports wagering, gambling, elections, local control, revenue generation, inmates, housing, corrections, Department of Public Safety, local jurisdiction, criminal justice, juvenile justice, jury trial, felony offenses, crime of violence, sex offenses, correctional facilities, in-custody deaths, medical oversight, independent investigations

Summary: The Criminal Justice Committee met on April 29, 2026, and first voluntarily deferred HB 517. It then took up several Senate bills focused largely on impaired driving, wrongful conviction compensation, child protection, and criminal procedure. SB 118 by Sen. Boudreaux required substance use disorder screening for misdemeanor DUI offenders; supporters, including the Louisiana Highway Safety Commission, said early screening could identify underlying addiction and reduce repeat offenses, and the bill was reported favorably. SB 125 increased wrongful conviction compensation from 10 to 15 years and raised the cap to $600,000; supporters emphasized the hardship faced by people who spent decades wrongfully imprisoned, and it was also reported favorably. SB 294 allowed gaming operators to reallocate promotional play across licenses without increasing the total amount, and it was reported favorably despite opposition from the Louisiana Family Forum. The committee also advanced several bills aimed at child sexual exploitation and worship protections. SB 87 clarified the definition of commercial sexual activity in trafficking laws so prosecutors could more easily charge adults who solicit or pay for sexual images of children online; prosecutors said the current language was too narrow, and the bill was reported favorably. SB 93 set minimum bond amounts for certain child sexual abuse material offenses, and an amendment by Chair Villio added broader bail restrictions and revocation provisions for certain violent, sex, and firearm-related offenses; the amended bill was reported favorably. SB 98 expanded the definition of educator to include school resource officers and security guards for purposes of prohibited sexual conduct with students, and it was reported favorably. SB 306 created the crime of obstructing freedom of worship; after an amendment reducing a proposed fine from $10,000 to $2,500, supporters argued it was needed to deter disruptions at churches, while the ACLU raised concerns about overbreadth and redundancy, and the bill was reported favorably as amended. SB 277, allowing certain statewide officials with POST-qualified handguns to carry in the State Capitol, was also reported favorably. SB 199 imposed a mandatory minimum sentence and sex-offender registration for a second offense of purchasing commercial sexual activity; supporters said it would reduce demand, and it was reported favorably as amended. Two House bills drew significant discussion but were not advanced. HB 333 would have required the Department of Public Safety and Corrections to house inmates within 30 miles of their home parish or offense location; the author argued it would preserve family ties and reduce recidivism, but sheriffs, prosecutors, and DOC said the proposal was not practical given bed space, security, and facility-location constraints, and no motion was made, so it remained in committee. HB 828 would have created an independent Louisiana Correctional Medical Review Board to investigate inmate deaths and report to the legislative auditor; the author said it would improve transparency, but prosecutors and corrections officials warned it could interfere with criminal investigations and duplicate existing coroner and law-enforcement processes. The author asked for and received voluntary deferral. HB 146, authorizing a Sabine Parish election on sports wagering, also received opposition and no motion, so it stayed in committee. The meeting ended with adjournment after all listed measures were handled.

Transcript Highlights:

• With this exemption, Texas can enhance the quality of life and economic security of both the providers
• Texas and the Arc of Texas. I'm open to questions and I reserve the right to close.
• According to Texas Department of health services, the average age of mothers giving birth in Texas is
• I have you with the Texas Society of Orthotics.
• HB 1097 proposes an amendment to section 261.101. of the Texas Family Code focusing on the mandatory

Bills: HB2646, HB3941, HB5153, HB5155, HB5394, HB 1106, HB426, HB4529, HB3984, HB4273, HB 1097, HB3940, HB1941, HB4377, HB3153

Keywords: child care, task force, high-quality care, affordability, prekindergarten partnerships, foster care, transitional living, Medicaid reform, youth assistance, independent living, services for youth, employment training, educational support, mental health services, health care, public health, child health program, reimbursement, local health entities, maternal health

Transcript Highlights:

• If they're not part of a criminal investigation.
• care system in the state of Texas.
• Because if we are not all in support of that, then we are criminals ourselves, because the data speaks
• The state of Texas alone got an extra $400 million for foster care, raising the budget to $5.1 billion
• Can you please all of you share what you're seeing when a child ages out of foster care?

Bills: HB2646, HB3941, HB5153, HB5155, HB5394, HB 1106, HB426, HB4529, HB3984, HB4273, HB 1097, HB3940, HB1941, HB4377, HB3153

Keywords: child care, task force, high-quality care, affordability, prekindergarten partnerships, foster care, transitional living, Medicaid reform, youth assistance, independent living, services for youth, employment training, educational support, mental health services, health care, public health, child health program, reimbursement, local health entities, maternal health

Transcript Highlights:

• investment of the Texas CHIPS Act.
• I am Noah Jones, testifying on behalf of the Texas Counseling Association in favor of Senate Bill 646
• A couple of weeks ago, this map shows all of the counties in Texas that have less than a hundred and
• So, I think at the end of the day, this is putting Texas in control of accrediting entities that are
• You may begin. support of this bill. I own two businesses here in Texas.

Bills: SB1998, SB646, SB2786, SB2076, SB2615, SB1961, SB1418, SB2647, SB1322, SB2788

Keywords: pediatrics, medical education, subsidiary, preceptorship, medical training, student programs, mental health, loan repayment, education funding, mental health professionals, healthcare access, Texas Success Initiative, exemption, public officers, employees, higher education, Capitol view, Austin, urban planning, construction

Transcript Highlights:

• The bill amends the Texas Education Code by establishing the Texas Higher Education Accrediting Commission
• behalf of pediatricians, pediatric subspecialists, and medical student members of the Texas Pediatric
• I am Noah Jones, testifying on behalf of the Texas Counseling Association in favor of Senate Bill 646
• So I think at the end of the day, this is putting Texas in control of accrediting entities that. are
• Thank you for your support of this bill. I own two businesses here in Texas.

Bills: SB1998, SB646, SB2786, SB2076, SB2615, SB1961, SB1418, SB2647, SB1322, SB2788

Keywords: pediatrics, medical education, subsidiary, preceptorship, medical training, student programs, mental health, loan repayment, education funding, mental health professionals, healthcare access, Texas Success Initiative, exemption, public officers, employees, higher education, Capitol view, Austin, urban planning, construction