Transcript Highlights:

• Under existing Texas law, licensed used automotive parts recyclers are the only entities in Texas permitted
• Taramina, Texas Automotive Recyclers Association, for the bill wishing to testify.
• As well, Earl Cook, Texas Independent Automobile Dealers.
• I'm the legislative director for the Texas Automotive Recyclers Association.
• Chairman: We have Cecily Kay from the Travis County Commissioner's Court here.

Bills: HB2026 , HB2427 , HB2455 , HB2560 , HB3510 , HB3966 , HB3986 , HB4429 , HB5436 , SB3062

Committee: Senate Transportation

Summary: The Senate Transportation Committee heard a series of mostly local transportation and memorial designation bills. Several measures would rename highway segments in honor of fallen service members or public servants, including HB 2026 (Gary C. Johnston memorial highways in Archer County), HB 4429 (McIlroy Family Memorial Highway in Blanco and Burnet counties), SB 3062 (Hamby-Webb Memorial Highway in Panola County), HB 3510 (Sergeant Mark Butler Memorial Highway in Brazos County), and HB 3986 (Corporal Speedy Espiriueta Memorial Highway in Mission). The committee also heard HB 2560, which would create an optional county-road “adopt-a-road” style program allowing donations for county road repair and maintenance. Two bills drew more substantive policy discussion. HB 2427 and HB 2455 concerned oversized/overweight freight corridors and permit authority in Hidalgo County tied to cross-border trade near the FARR International Bridge. Supporters, including the bridge director, said the measures would correct prior road descriptions, put existing TxDOT actions into statute, improve truck routing, and support trade and bridge expansion. The committee substitute for HB 2427 also removed Roma permit language, barred certain hazardous-material permits, raised permit fees, required local cost responsibility for road maintenance, and made the bill contingent on SB 2949. HB 5436 would allow licensed automotive recyclers to buy certain older, long-unregistered vehicles for dismantling or scrap without a title, with reporting, lienholder notice, and anti-theft safeguards; recyclers and dealers supported it as a way to curb illegal untitled-vehicle sales and VIN cloning. HB 3966, authored by Sen. Alvarado, was the most contested bill. It would require commercial passenger bus companies to mail advance notice to residents within one mile before opening a new stop or terminal. Alvarado said the bill responded to the relocation of a Greyhound terminal into a Houston neighborhood without notice and to resulting crime and nuisance concerns. Greyhound opposed the bill, arguing the notice requirement would be burdensome and could delay emergency relocations during hurricanes, flooding, or lease changes. After testimony, the committee voted to report most bills favorably, with HB 3966 passing on a 5-2 vote; the other reported bills passed unanimously. Several bills were also placed on the local and uncontested calendar, and the committee recessed to the call of the chair.

Transcript Highlights:

• With hundreds of people moving to Texas daily and many businesses relocating to Texas, the need for CPAs
• under the Texas licensing scheme.
• Policies don't push into Texas that necessarily disadvantage Texas corporations.
• It's kind of Texas-centric.
• This is who runs Texas, and the motto of my organization... ...is let Texans run Texas, okay.

Bills: SB 21 , SB21 , SB72 , SB140 , SB262 , SB370 , SB372 , SB495 , SB627 , SB703 , SB764 , SB842

Committee: Senate Business & Commerce

Transcript Highlights:

• It was because Texas said, 'We're Texas, we're going to stand alone.'
• to criminal courts.
• Everybody wanted a different court date.
• Everybody wanted a different court date.
• criminal courts.

Committee: House Special Committee on Rural Issues

Transcript Highlights:

• a federal court.
• Court system. Yes. Is it an Arkansas court system? It is.
• Apparently not in Texas. Well, we're not in Texas.
• What I said was that it would keep it into Arkansas courts, or the federal court, in the court system
• or federal courts.

Committee: All HOUSE RULES

Summary: The committee first considered House Resolution 1016, presented by Rep. Marcus Richmond, which sought permission to file a bill aimed at consumer protection in certain housing arrangements where buyers purchase an interest in an entity rather than the property itself. Richmond said the measure was intended to improve transparency, prevent deceptive real estate practices, and ensure disputes would be handled in Arkansas or federal courts rather than private tribunals. Members raised concerns about overlap with existing law, possible effects on homeowners associations, arbitration clauses, hunting clubs, religious organizations, and the bill’s 25-acre exemption. After discussion, the committee voted down the resolution. House Resolution 1006, by Rep. Bart Schultz, proposed increasing the homestead tax credit by $75, from $600 to $675, using a fund created for property tax relief. Schultz argued the increase was supported by the annual report on the fund and was timely because of higher costs for gas and groceries. Members asked about using special language instead, whether the increase could be made retroactive later, and whether the governor had included it on the call. The committee approved the resolution. The committee then heard House Resolution 1007, presented by Sen. Brian King and Rep. James Eaton, which would have changed how turnback sales tax revenue is distributed to counties, with the first $150 million of sales tax revenue going into a fund for county infrastructure and each county receiving an equal share. Supporters said it would help counties with roads, jails, water, sewer, and other critical needs, while opponents questioned whether taking revenue off the top would harm other state services and whether the issue was urgent enough for a fiscal session. The resolution failed. House Resolution 1008, by Rep. Jim Wooten and Sen. King, sought changes to the LEARNS Act and school choice funding, including performance-based eligibility and reporting requirements. Wooten argued the program was financially unsustainable and that accountability was needed; members questioned whether the proposal would create a larger emergency and whether it should instead be handled through budget language. The resolution failed after a point of order interrupted the closing remarks. Finally, House Resolution 1009, presented by Rep. Ron McNair and Sen. King, aimed to restore local control over crypto mines and data centers, citing concerns about water use, electricity demand, Chinese ownership, and litigation tied to prior legislation. Members questioned whether the issue was truly emergent and whether the resolution was the right vehicle. The resolution failed. House Resolution 1015, by Rep. Howard Beatty, proposed amending the prior IDA bill to address concerns raised by constituents, including board accountability and removing eminent domain authority. Supporters said it would improve the bill before next session, but the resolution also failed. The committee then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm taking that out and putting "shall," which means all commissioner courts shall establish this change
• All commissioners courts shall restrict this, and it removes the 50 percent threshold where they have
• and the committee for their attention to the vaping epidemic wreaking havoc across communities in Texas
• than 150,000 Texas residents.
• I'm the CEO of the Texas Association of Builders.

Bills: SB32 , SB464 , SB996 , SB1163 , SB1173 , SB1277 , SB1452 , SB1453 , SB1548 , SB1882 , SB1883 , SB2016 , SB 32

Committee: Senate Local Government

Transcript Highlights:

• Border Patrol, and Texas DPS.
• We thank Major Virial and his team in South Texas for working with us.
• According to the Texas Department of Public Safety.
• The other one is currently out of court.
• roads adjacent to the Texas-Mexico border.

Bills: SB2199 , SB2200 , SB2201 , SB2949 , SB2332

Committee: Senate Border Security

Transcript Highlights:

• court.
• And the courts really have a piece in this of accountability.
• My question is for Austin, Texas.
• My question is for Austin, Texas.
• My question is for Austin, Texas.

Transcript Highlights:

• . courts. courts.
• That Texas bill is 30 pages long.
• That Texas bill is 30 pages long.
• That Texas bill is 30 pages long.
• That Texas bill is 30 pages long.

Bills: HB0108 , HB0039 , HB0091 , HB0070

Committee: House Judiciary

Transcript Highlights:

• or a federal court.
• Court system. Yes. Is it an Arkansas court system? It is.
• Apparently not in Texas. Well, we're not in Texas.
• What I said was that it would keep it in Arkansas courts, or the federal court, in the court system,
• or federal courts.

Committee: All HOUSE RULES

Summary: The committee first considered House Resolution 1016, which would have allowed introduction of a bill by Representative Richmond addressing disclosure and restrictions for certain real-estate arrangements where buyers purchase interests in entities rather than direct ownership of property. Richmond said the measure was aimed at transparency, consumer protection, and preventing private tribunals or discriminatory practices, while several members questioned whether it would affect homeowners associations, hunting clubs, arbitration clauses, or duplicate existing law. After discussion, the committee voted down the resolution. House Resolution 1006, sponsored by Representative Schultz, proposed increasing the Homestead Tax Credit by $75, from $600 to $675, using a fund created by Amendment 79 and supported by sales tax revenue. Schultz argued the fund could support the increase now and that families needed relief amid high prices. The committee approved the resolution. The committee then heard House Resolution 1007, presented by Senator King and Representative Eaton, which sought to change how turnback funds are distributed to counties, with a focus on giving counties more predictable annual funding for roads, jails, water, sewer, public safety, and other infrastructure. Members raised concerns about taking $150 million off the top of sales tax revenue and about whether the bill should be handled through budget language instead; the resolution failed. House Resolution 1008, by Representative Wooten and Senator King, would have amended the LEARNS education program to reduce costs, limit or change eligibility, and add performance-based requirements and reporting for certain school-choice funding. Supporters said the program was financially unsustainable and needed accountability, while opponents argued the proposal would create larger problems and that the issue should be handled in the regular session. The resolution failed after a point of order prevented reading a supporting letter into the record. Finally, House Resolution 1009 and House Resolution 1013, both tied to Senator Bryant’s proposals on local control over crypto mines and data centers, were discussed together with testimony about water use, energy demand, and local opposition; both failed. House Resolution 1015, which would have amended the IDEA economic-development bill to remove eminent domain authority and address board accountability, also failed after members said more concerns remained to be worked out.

Transcript Highlights:

• Members, my name is Mike Marath, Commissioner of the Texas Education Agency.
• So what what you see described on this is that every school system in Texas Texas generates an entitlement
• I mean, like, look at Texas. this in comparison to other states, right?
• Do you have for us as a commissioner of the Texas Education Agency?
• And do private schools follow the Texas Education Code?

Committee: House Appropriations

Transcript Highlights:

• court system.
• In 2025, the Texas Legislature passed House Bill No. 149, the Texas Responsible Artificial Intelligence
• But the Texas contained within Texas, so there's less federal authority over ERCOT, but the Texas regulators
• Texas, although as a percentage, Texas is projected to be kind of similar to North the Texas, although
• data center growth in Texas.

Committee: Joint Artificial Intelligence and Data Center Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• Texas freeze because they didn't want to have more of a grid.
• They just said, we're Texas. We're the best at it. And so we're just going to do our own thing.
• We are currently in court, fighting against this injustice.
• Again, I don't think that this is the place to have a court proceeding.
• I mean, they get the court order to say that. So this is another right you've given up.

Committee: House Special Committee on Rural Issues

Transcript Highlights:

• Well, the municipal court don't understand what's going on in the circuit court or district court.
• . court. court.
• Our Supreme Court has said that at the U.S. Supreme Court and Alabama State Supreme Court.
• Our Supreme Court has said that at the U.S. Supreme Court and Alabama State Supreme Court.
• Our Supreme Court has said that at the U.S. Supreme Court and Alabama State Supreme Court.

Committee: House Judiciary

Transcript Highlights:

• Arizona, Colorado, or Texas. What are the differences?
• They do have caps, but I think one of the main issues, if you look at Texas, Texas has corporate practice
• So what you see, that's a difference between Texas and Colorado or Texas and New Mexico is that New Mexico
• Between Texas and Colorado or Texas and New Mexico is that New Mexico has higher rates of malpractice
• Given a judge sitting in a district court, is there 2,000 hours a year?

Bills: HB99 , HJR5 , HM39 , HB206 , HB213 , SB41 , SB153 , SB165 , SB261 , SB264

Committee: Senate House Judiciary

Summary: The committee first took up a lengthy informational presentation on the Patient Compensation Fund (PCF) and New Mexico medical malpractice insurance. Teresa Hassey, a plaintiffs’ attorney, described the PCF’s origin in the 1976 Medical Malpractice Act, its role as a state-backed excess coverage system, and her view that it was mismanaged when hospital participation expanded without individualized risk assessments. She argued that hospitals underpaid surcharges, that the fund was depleted by claims, and that the 2021 amendments and later legislative infusions were meant to shore up deficits and phase hospitals out. Superintendent of Insurance Alice Kane and LFC analyst Julia Rodriguez presented a different perspective, emphasizing recent general fund infusions, current surcharge collections, the use of actuarial reviews, and the PCF’s budget and settlement activity. Kane said the market is highly concentrated, New Mexico’s malpractice costs and defense expenses are high, and the fund still provides lower-cost coverage than the open market, while also noting ongoing issues with future medical claims, TPA transition, and investment management. Committee members questioned the presenters at length about why New Mexico malpractice premiums are so high, whether defense costs were being conflated with claim payouts, how the PCF works with primary coverage and excess coverage, and whether hospitals were properly assessed when they entered the fund. Several senators raised concerns about punitive damages, corporate practice of medicine, and whether the state’s legal environment is driving doctors away. Others challenged the data comparisons, noting differences between one-year figures and multi-year averages, and asked why New Mexico’s costs remain far above neighboring states. Kane and Hassey disagreed on the causes, with Kane pointing to high claims and defense costs over time and Hassey arguing that hospital participation and punitive-damage exposure distorted the market. The chair concluded the discussion by saying the committee had not exhausted the topic and that he still wanted a clear path to reducing doctors’ insurance costs. After a break, the committee moved on to Senate Bill 41. Senator Charlie introduced the bill, which would eliminate the statute of limitations for the most serious sexual crimes in New Mexico. He argued that trauma, coercion, fear, and delayed disclosure often prevent survivors from reporting promptly, and said the law should reflect that reality. The bill was presented as a response to survivor testimony heard in a prior hearing, and the sponsor framed it as part of a broader effort to modernize the justice system for sexual violence cases.

Transcript Highlights:

• We house four district courts and two courted laws. So the court sector of our county is very.
• So we respond in Texas from Texas to other states and we see that as well, but just in Texas itself we
• And there are only two networks in Texas, Texas Mesonet and West Texas Mesonet, that meet this 5-minute
• Texas at Austin.
• On a smaller scale, here in Texas, we have the South Texas Weather Modification Association. by the Texas

Transcript Highlights:

• My aunt was arrested by ICE and was sent to immigration detention in Texas.
• But if we aren't, then Texas is, Florida is, Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi.
• That that is being processed with their court.
• So I then wonder, because we talk about other states, like Texas, we could send them to Texas, but Fort
• Only 10% of it is in the state of Texas.

Committee: House House Consumer & Public Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> Texas seek recognition? Texas seek recognition?
• </c> gentleman from Texas. gentleman from Texas.
• </c> court decision.
• The court left broad court decision.
• </c> the state of Texas, Mr. Krenshaw. the state of Texas, Mr. Krenshaw.

Transcript Highlights:

• This bill is out of Texas.
• and see what they do in Texas since they have it in their code.
• Um, I would see it as the court would do what the court on the criminal side wants to do as far as the
• We want to get the maximum on the civil side and the court on the criminal side for... ...and the court
• I saw it in the state of Texas.

Bills: SB210 , SB176 , SB167 , SB244 , SB218 , SB9 , SB153 , SB9

Committee: Senate Judiciary

Keywords: hospital liens, medical billing, government healthcare, insurance claims, patient rights, controlled substances, unlawful distribution, marijuana, violent offense, sentencing guidelines, criminal justice, DUI, driving under the influence, drunk driving, fatal crash, vehicular homicide, child support, survivor benefits, orphaned child, guardian death

Transcript Highlights:

• cease and desist order or something of that nature, they would have to go straight to the district court
• They've got a lot of out-of-state workers, a lot of Texas, a lot of Texas workers, and if we've got a
• lot of Texas drivers operating...
• Texas drivers or uninsured out-of-state drivers.
• Are we aware of Texas and Mississippi, or is that off the top of your head?

Committee: House Insurance

Transcript Highlights:

• The interplay between our own security concerns here in Texas and the federal government's Federal Committee
• identify security risks and non-notified transactions in the state of Texas.
• I am representing the Texas Medical Association, Texas Pediatric Society, and myself.
• court itself.
• We in Texas are certified to.

Bills: SB1065 , SB2117 , SB2217 , SB2363 , SB2533 , SB2742 , SB2743 , SB2881 , SB2964 , SB3013 , SB3014

Committee: Senate State Affairs