Transcript Highlights:

• Oil and gas royalties are a substantial source of state funding.
• This effectively cuts minimum oil and gas royalties in half.
• So those royalties don't exist, whether it's a quarter, a 16th, or anything.
• That is my concern is the... and I do agree, one-eighth is a generous royalty.
• It's been quite an interesting morning. So H.C.R. 78, just as Ms.

Committee: House Natural Resources & Environment

Transcript Highlights:

• You may be familiar with the Federal Royalty Resiliency Act of 2024, or RRA.
• This is a federal bill affecting federal royalties that are shared with the states.
• The Craig baseline uses a 12.5 percent royalty rate, so an estimated $1.7 billion of lost royalties over
• I also want to point out that the power of compound interest is like a superpower.
• We could just put that out as something I'm really interested in as we go through.

Transcript Highlights:

• What kind of royalty do they receive? K. Jay Curtis: I believe Ms.
• They pay us those royalties.
• Senator: That's a very important point, capturing those royalties.
• Senator Perry: ...0.5, half percent of royalty is...
• Senator Perry: ...0.5, half percent of royalty is...

Bills: SB1 , SB 1

Committee: Senate Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> increase your royalty share. Fine. increase your royalty share. Fine.
• </c> competing interests. competing interests.
• </c> royalty shares from 37 and 1/2% to 60%. royalty shares from 37 and 1/2% to 60%.
• It's a very interesting makeup.
• I mean I like It'd be interesting. &gt;&gt; Yeah. I mean I like It'd be interesting.

Committee: Joint Select Federal Natural Resource Management Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• :21:39.280><c> royalties</c><00:21:40.320><c> and</c><00:21:40.640><c> we</c> federal mineral royalties
• </c> ask to get that royalty share changed. ask to get that royalty share changed. and<00:22:57.440><
• That's royalties from 50% to 87 a.5%.
• </c><00:44:26.800><c> that</c> may be so much interest that may be so much interest that from<00:44:28.560
• So what it effectively royalties.

Transcript Highlights:

• And then the second thing I'm really interested in is our housing market.
• And so this chart is hopefully, uh, interesting to you all.
• The car loan interest deduction is a very interesting one that would also reduce New Mexicans' adjusted
• Um, as you know, we increased the royalties, um, to the oil and gas industry by 5%, but royalties don't
• Royalties go to the education, um, budget.

Committee: House Revenue Stabilization & Tax Policy Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• It's interesting. The engineer was telling me about Cheyenne.
• How we do on our royalties. All those types. How our permanent trust fund does.
• We are seeing record again record-breaking distributions from that and interest.
• We're actually working right now on our royalty payment template.
• Our minerals and our royalty compliance teams are.

Transcript Highlights:

• So I know this stuff perks your interest.
• They pay us those royalties until they've reached four times the amount.
• Once they reach four times the amount, they continue to pay us a royalty.
• I am very familiar with royalties. You don’t have to make them disappear.
• And you’ll see some interesting figures.

Bills: SB 1

Committee: Senate Finance

Summary: The committee heard budget presentations from the Legislative Budget Board and agency officials on several agencies, starting with the Texas Historical Commission. LBB described a large biennial reduction driven mainly by the removal of one-time funding and discussed capital projects, rider changes, and exceptional items including Presidio La Bahia and the National Museum of the Pacific War. Senators asked about heritage trails, courthouse grants, unexpended balance authority, and the status of historical-site funding. Historical Commission leadership emphasized preservation, courthouse restoration, heritage tourism, coordination with the Alamo and other Texas Revolution sites, and requested additional IT, staffing, and vehicle funding. No votes were taken. The committee then reviewed the Pension Review Board and the Employees Retirement System. The Pension Review Board’s budget was largely unchanged aside from IT maintenance and salary adjustments, with an exceptional item for additional IT enhancements. Members discussed the Dallas Police and Fire Pension System’s funding dispute and the need for a workable restoration plan. ERS presented a much larger budget, including funding for the retirement system, the group benefits plan, and the legacy payment intended to reduce unfunded liability. Senators focused heavily on pension investment returns, benchmark comparisons, and rising health-care costs, especially pharmacy spending driven by GLP-1 drugs; ERS said the plan covers about 540,000 lives and that premiums would rise 8% while benefits remain unchanged. ERS also said it had no exceptional items, and committee members requested more detailed benchmark information. The committee also heard from the Texas Emergency Services Retirement System and the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas. TESSORS reported an unfunded liability, an infinite amortization period, and requested additional state support, staffing, and IT funding, including a statutory change to allow a higher contribution level; the agency warned that without more funding it may have to cut benefits. CEPRIT’s presentation covered its bond-funded cancer research and prevention portfolio, revenue-sharing from funded projects, and a request to increase salary limits for its CEO and chief scientific officer. Senators questioned CEPRIT’s accomplishments and return on investment, while CEPRIT cited screening, prevention, and research outcomes, including tens of thousands of detected cancers and precursors and hundreds of thousands of first-time screenings. The meeting ended after these presentations and questions, with no recorded committee action or vote.

Transcript Highlights:

• And as he explores his interest in politics and learns more As he explores his interest in politics and
• Today is Royalty Day at the Capitol, and Mr.
• We have royalty from Pulaski County.
• Today is Royalty Day at the Capitol, and Mr.
• We have royalty from Pulaski County.

Transcript Highlights:

• Oil and gas royalties are a substantial source of state funding.
• This effectively cuts minimum oil and gas royalties in half.
• So those royalties don't exist, whether it's a quarter, a sixteenth, or anything.
• That is my concern is the... and I do agree, one-eighth is a generous royalty.
• It's been quite an interesting morning. So HCR 78, just as Ms.

Summary: The committee first considered several local property-transfer and wildlife/fisheries bills, including SB 229 (Bojeur Parish property transfer), SB 71 (Lafayette Parish property transfer), and a series of Department of Wildlife and Fisheries measures. SB 203 simplified possession rules for fish on multi-day trips and remote camps; SB 429 created an administrative path to register “orphan” boats with lapsed registrations; SB 204 removed a residency-based restriction on certain commercial fishing gear licenses; SB 205 reduced duplicate registration requirements for federally documented boats; SB 213 clarified titling rules for vessels and outboard motors; and SB 257 removed Social Security number requirements from certain commercial fishing tags. Each of these bills was reported favorable, generally without objection, after brief explanations from sponsors and department counsel about reducing red tape, improving enforcement, or modernizing records. The committee also heard SB 214, which would allow the Teche-Vermilion Fresh Water District to stop pumping during an imminent flood threat identified by the National Weather Service or GOSEP, addressing liability concerns and giving local officials more flexibility in emergencies. SB 274, as amended, required lead hazard risk assessments for certain child care, early learning, and pre-kindergarten facilities and required hazards found in assessments to be addressed before licensing. Both bills were reported favorable. SB 379, a technical reorganization bill for the Department of Conservation and Energy, received two amendment sets: one changing investment language and another standardizing judicial-review procedures and online notice requirements; it was reported favorable after those amendments. The committee then adopted HCR 62, urging FEMA to review flood maps every five years instead of every ten and to better account for local flood-protection projects, with members discussing the burden of flood insurance and the need for FEMA to recognize levees, pump stations, and elevated homes. HCR 78 was also reported favorable, memorializing Congress to pass the American Seafood Competitiveness Act of 2026 in support of Louisiana’s seafood industry. HB 662, as substituted, was reported favorable after being rewritten to codify the department’s internal protocol for seized sick, injured, or orphaned wildlife, prioritizing release, rehabilitation, placement, and euthanasia as a last resort. Finally, the committee considered two more contentious items. HR 216, which urged repudiation of the Louisiana Climate Action Plan of 2022, drew extended debate over whether the plan had been adopted without legislative input and whether it could affect permits or future policy; after discussion, the sponsor voluntarily deferred the resolution to return with a revised approach focused on a legislative hearing or review. SCR 24, dealing with chronic wasting disease rules, was introduced with amendments that would raise the prevalence threshold, cap samples, allow zone removal after three years without new detections, and lift baiting/feed prohibitions above a higher prevalence level; the transcript cuts off before final action on that measure.

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, I serve on the joint uh<00:37:55.359><c> mineral</c><00:37:56.079><c> royalties</c> uh mineral royalties
• </c> a higher percentage of our royalties a higher percentage of our royalties back<00:38:15.440><c>
• So, that’s the general royalty program.
• It reduced the federal royalty share.
• So, that’s the general royalty program.

Bills: SF0069 , SF0070 , SF0016 , HB0078 , HJ0002 , HB0085 , HB0086

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

Transcript Highlights:

• Very interesting. That's a long time.
• Merck is paying Texas a royalty payment, so last quarter our royalty...
• They're paying us about 0.115 percent in royalty payment.
• The industry seems to have very little interest in the prevention side.
• I think this is such an interesting debate.

Bills: SB623 , SB1266 , SB1310 , SB1373 , SB1580 , SB1952 , SB2032 , SB2269 , SB2544 , SB2653 , SB2796

Committee: Senate Health & Human Services

Transcript Highlights:

• If you're interested, Oliver County was named for Harry S. Oliver in 1885.
• We'll work with operators and royalty owners to resolve discrepancies.
• and working interest partners, about a billion dollars a year that never used to come out of the royalty
• And I think this is an interesting map.
• I think a lot of people here are interested in learning about things.

Summary: The Energy Development and Transmission Committee met in interim session and approved the November 6 minutes. Chair Novak outlined the committee’s study agenda, including large energy users such as data centers, geothermal, landowner relations, wind and solar, and other energy topics across the state. The meeting was framed as informational only, with no bills or formal legislative action taken beyond the minutes approval. Testimony focused first on landowner relations. Oliver County Commissioner Dave Berger described the county’s energy history and local support for coal and related development. North Dakota Farmers Union President Matt Perdue emphasized proactive, face-to-face communication with landowners, respect for property rights, and the need for developers to be transparent about tradeoffs; he also discussed insurance and liability concerns tied to easements. Committee members asked about eminent domain, local versus state authority, and how communities can better understand the revenue and infrastructure implications of energy development. Department of Agriculture Deputy Commissioner Tom Bodine then described the department’s ombudsman programs for pipeline restoration and reclamation, wind restoration, and royalty oversight. He said the programs provide confidential, third-party assistance on reclamation and royalty disputes, but do not provide legal advice. Senators raised concerns about post-production deductions in royalty leases and whether the ombudsman can explain them; Bodine said the program can clarify statements and deductions but cannot resolve legal disputes. He also said the department has not received requests related to fiber lines. Representatives from Grid United and One Oak described their project development and landowner engagement practices. Grid United’s Brent Johnson discussed the North Plains Connector transmission project, its route selection process, voluntary acquisition approach, and efforts to avoid eminent domain by working closely with regulators, counties, townships, and landowners. One Oak’s Danette Welsh and Tom Giltner described the company’s midstream operations, extensive North Dakota footprint, and emphasis on direct landowner communication, consistent local regulation, careful construction practices, and post-construction reclamation. Members asked about setbacks, zoning consistency, invasive species prevention, outside advocacy groups, and eminent domain use; One Oak said it has not used eminent domain on its North Dakota projects, largely because most gathering lines are negotiated easements.

Transcript Highlights:

• We're actually trying to provide compensation to those royalty owners.
• We want to pay those royalty owners.
• That means you go to a zero royalty. And I don't think that was what they intended.
• I was just kind of wondering if we are. interest in the amended language.
• But look how interesting it was. Okay, let's move to 1566.

Bills: SB2339

Committee: Senate Energy and Natural Resources

Summary: The Energy and Natural Resources Committee continued work on House Bill 1459, which concerns rare earth and critical mineral recovery from North Dakota lignite coal. Testimony from UND researcher Dan Ludo and industry representative David Straely focused on the urgency of developing the process quickly, the technical differences between extracting minerals from coal versus ash, and the potential value of elements such as terbium, dysprosium, gallium, germanium, and synthetic graphite. Straely argued the bill is constitutional, limited to minerals within the coal seam, and needed to avoid years of quiet title litigation and provide certainty for development and compensation to royalty owners. Committee members raised questions about landowner rights, compensation levels, possible amendments from the Department of Trust Lands, and whether the bill should be modified to address constitutional concerns or sunset provisions. No final action was taken on HB 1459; the chair said parties could work on language until Monday before the committee revisits it. The committee then returned to House Bill 1579, a high-load study bill with a possible energy infrastructure investment amendment. Jody Smith of the Retirement and Investment Office presented updated language adding guardrails for in-state infrastructure investing, including requiring approved projects to be underwritten and managed by a qualified investment manager or financial institution and to follow the Legacy Fund investment policy. Members discussed whether the amendment had been shared with the House sponsor and noted that the related bill 1330 was still pending, so HB 1579 was being held for the time being. Finally, the committee took up House Bill 1566, which had an amendment from the Agriculture Commissioner’s office. The committee adopted the amendment 7-0, then passed a due-pass motion on the amended bill and referred it to Appropriations, also by a 7-0 vote. Members discussed the bill’s fiscal impact, including an estimated $580,000 for two FTEs over two years, and clarified that the study component remains in the bill. Senator Gerhardt was assigned to carry the measure.

Transcript Highlights:

• Inflation and interest rates are shown on slide thirteen.
• That bill reverses a recent increase to the federal royalty rate.
• $170 million annually, which has been taken out of the royalty forecast.
• And so, that's page 26, 29, and also royalties.
• We have some issues because the feds have lowered the royalty rate.

Committee: House Revenue Stabilization & Tax Policy Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• determinations... ...discretion, where subjective best-interest determinations can bankrupt families
• The names of potential jurors who express interest in the election worker option must be submitted to
• It was actually Elon Musk talking, and I thought, oh, that was an interesting thing that he said.
• If that individual were to notify the subject, the person of interest who is holding people captive,
• It's interesting to come to committee sometimes whenever you have folks who want to disrupt.

Bills: SB1067 , SB1234 , SB1285 , SB1295 , SB1392 , SB1413 , SB1436 , SB1470 , SB1476 , SB1489 , SB1512 , SB1535 , SB1540 , SB1556 , SB1568 , SB1569 , SB1570 , SB1573 , SB1585 , SB1609 , SB1627 , SB1634 , SB1635 , SB1644 , SB1647 , SB1648 , SB1650 , SB1653 , SB1654 , SB1655 , SB1656 , SB1657 , SB1658 , SB1661 , SB1662 , SB1664 , SB1666 , SB1667 , SB1669 , SB1709 , SB1720 , SB1723 , SB1725 , SB1743 , SB1746 , SB1748 , SB1755 , SB1786 , SB1820 , SB1822 , SB1829 , SCR1027 , SCR1040 , SCR1048

Committee: Senate Judiciary and Elections

Keywords: tax lien, property tax lien, real property tax lien, foreclosure, right of redemption, redeem, excess proceeds, county abatement lien, abatement lien, lien priority, assessment lien, easement, county treasurer, certificate of purchase, tax delinquency, delinquent property taxes, property owner equity, judgment foreclosure, title report, Arizona Revised Statutes

Transcript Highlights:

• Politics, international relations, and national interest.
• I think Sue Ann's Foods, maybe, but it's a very interesting Made in Oklahoma product.
• A central and meaningful part of the tradition is the Kolache Royalty Program.
• I'm also proud to recognize the 2026 Kolache royalty candidates who are continuing this long-standing
• Members, it's tough to follow royalty, but I'm going to give it my best shot.

Bills: HCR1026 , SB1130 , SB1134 , SB1131 , SB1132 , SB1133 , SB1142 , HR1049

Summary: The House convened, called the roll, and opened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and a series of recognitions and presentations. Members honored Vice Admiral Jeff Trusler as Veteran of the Week, recognized the Prague Kolache Festival royalty and candidates, unveiled an artwork for the Capitol’s Hall of Heroes, and introduced the Doctor, Psychologist, and Nurse of the Day, along with the OSBI cold case team. The House also adopted HCR 1026, a resolution tied to Earth Day and “Lights Out Day” in Oklahoma, aimed at reducing light pollution and protecting migrating birds. A major portion of the meeting consisted of farewell remarks from Representatives Mike Osborne and Kevin West. Both reflected on their years of service, thanked family, staff, colleagues, and constituents, and emphasized themes of public service, hard work, conviction, and working across differences. Osborne’s remarks focused on freedom, immigration, service, and doing good in public life, while West stressed standing on principle, listening to others, and choosing courage over convenience. After the presentations and personal privilege speeches, the House moved into consideration of legislation. Chairman Caldwell presented the joint committee report on Senate Bill 1130, relating to the University Hospitals Authority, saying it would help ensure Oklahoma and the University of Oklahoma have one of the world’s leading pediatric cardiology units. The transcript ends as members begin considering the bill, with no final vote shown in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• Today is Royalty Day at the Capitol, and Mr.
• Today is Royalty Day at the Capitol, and Mr.
• We have royalty from Pulaski County.
• We have royalty from Bell, the Bell Fair Queens and Princesses.
• the state of Missouri, Texas County scholarship pageant royalty here.

Summary: The House opened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, approval of the prior day’s journal by a 117-0 vote, and a long series of guest introductions, including 911 officials, school groups, students shadowing legislators, international visitors from Quebec, family members, and various community advocates. The chamber then moved into floor debate on several measures, beginning with House Joint Resolution 115, which would extend personal property tax and homestead tax exemptions to 100% service-connected disabled veterans and surviving spouses. Members from both parties praised the sponsor’s eight-year effort, emphasized the financial burden on disabled veterans living on fixed incomes, and noted the measure’s broad support; the House adopted the committee substitute and ordered it perfected and printed. The House next took up House Bill 2151, a Fast Track workforce training program fix that raises household income eligibility thresholds from $40,000 to $50,000 for single filers and from $80,000 to $100,000 for joint filers without increasing the program’s overall funding cap. Supporters said the change reflects inflation and will help more adults and families access training for career changes and upskilling. The chamber then approved House Substitute for House Bill 2576, a naming bill that included several commemorative designations. Members adopted amendments designating January as Blood Donor Awareness Month, June 28 as Elliott and Muriel Battle Day, and March 26 as PANS Awareness Day; a proposed Josephine Baker Day amendment was withdrawn after concerns it could complicate the broader bill. The bill also included other memorial and honorary designations, including a highway naming for a Vietnam veteran and recognition of a former Pagedale mayor. The House also approved an amendment designating April 22 as Missouri Black Bear Awareness Day, with supporters saying it would promote public safety and education as bear populations increase. Another amendment added infertility awareness language, with members describing the issue as a disease that affects families in silence. The chamber then approved House Committee Substitute for House Bill 3175, known as Mason’s Law, which creates a system to flag certain driver records for law enforcement when a person has a condition affecting communication; an amendment expanded the notice to include driver’s licenses. Members said the bill would help officers safely interact with people who may have difficulty communicating during traffic stops. Finally, the House took up House Bill 1736, which allows local governments to use certain park-related sales tax revenues for natural disaster mitigation, including stormwater management and the purchase of repetitive-loss properties. Supporters said it would help communities address flooding without turning parks into hard infrastructure sites. The chamber then began debate on House Bill 1887 and related AI and digital-image protection provisions, including measures aimed at preventing nonconsensual deepfakes, protecting minors, and giving victims civil remedies and takedown processes. Members from both parties supported the goal of curbing AI abuse, though some raised technical drafting questions and one member suggested the legislature may eventually need a broader AI task force or sunset review. No final vote on HB 1887 was reached in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• a lot of buildings, we did a lot for our schools, and part of this, it was excess federal mineral royalty
• a lot of buildings, we did a lot for our schools, and part of this, it was excess federal mineral royalty
• </c><00:26:25.919><c> that</c> was excess federal mineral royalty that was excess federal mineral royalty
• I am interested in the amendment, and I would be willing to entertain it during committee of the whole
• </c> interesting. So, thank you. interesting. So, thank you. &gt;&gt; Thank<00:33:36.880><c> you.

Bills: SF0018 , SF0036 , SF0047

Committee: House Education

Transcript Highlights:

• The fight ends up being over the interest because that is not a corpus.
• Something interesting in number 5 is API and pun information.
• That's an interesting point. That'd be kind of fun.
• Royalty compliance makes sure that we get paid correctly.
• And it's interesting that's our last brand new school.

Committee: House A&B Education Subcommittee