Transcript Highlights:

• Anyone wishing to testify and/or submit written testimony must register using the kiosk system outside
• It would require the board to submit a final report to the legislature by December 1, 2026.
• the Higher Education Coordinating Board.
• The deputy commissioner of the Higher Education Coordinating Board is available.
• and the Department of Family and Protective Services.

Bills: HB4 , HB20

Committees: Senate Education , Senate Education K-16

Keywords: district composition, congressional election, Texas, legislature, voting districts, fraudulent solicitation, disaster relief, nonprofit organizations, criminal penalties, consumer protection, fraud prevention, charitable donations

Summary: The Senate Committee on Education K-16 heard a series of higher education and K-12 bills, initially without a quorum and with several measures left pending subject to the call of the chair. Early bills included HB 1868, which would direct a study on lowering the dual-credit funding threshold for public junior colleges from 15 to 9 semester credit hours; HB 2598, which would replace statutory references to “licensed specialist in school psychology” with “school psychologist”; HB 3629, which would bar registered sex offenders from serving on independent school district boards of trustees; and HB 4361, which would require the Higher Education Coordinating Board to adopt rules for timely emergency notifications at public institutions of higher education. Each received brief sponsor explanations, no opposition testimony, and was left pending. The committee also heard HB 4848, requiring public higher education systems to ensure at least one institution offers affordable competency-based bachelor’s degree programs in high-demand fields, and HB 1211, which would remove the age 25 deadline for former foster youth to use public college tuition waivers. HB 1211 drew extensive supportive testimony from Texas CASA, a former foster youth who benefited from the waiver, and a current student headed to medical school, all arguing the change would better match the realities faced by youth aging out of care. Members discussed the bill’s fiscal uncertainty and the argument that the waiver is an investment in workforce participation; the bill was left pending. Later, the committee heard HB 20, creating an Applied Sciences Pathway Program to let high school students earn certificates in targeted industries such as welding, plumbing, electrical work, manufacturing, and oil and gas while in school. Industry and workforce groups strongly supported the bill as a way to address labor shortages, while Texas 2036 raised concerns about allowing applied versions of core academic courses to substitute for traditional instruction. HB 4687, which would extend governmental immunity protections to certain campus/district charter schools and adult charter high schools, also received support from a charter-school attorney who said it would align statutes with existing case law and not expand charter rights. HB 4236, as substituted, would create a study group to examine the property value study’s effect on school finance and alternative valuation methods; it was adopted as a committee substitute and left pending. The committee also heard HB 824 on civics instruction in high school government courses and HB 2243, which would create a commission on teacher job satisfaction and retention; the latter prompted debate over removing “ethnic diversity” language from the commission’s makeup. After adopting the substitute for HB 2243 by roll call, the committee recessed subject to the call of the chair.

Transcript Highlights:

• So this bill honors the wishes of the UTEP students by allowing the UT System Board of Regents to adjust
• This bill addresses a crisis we can no longer ignore: the systemic failure of institutions to protect
• That's not protection; it's a cover-up.
• And we don't have time to protect our kids; we have to protect them now.
• , a dehumanizing system.

Bills: HB4 , HB20

Committees: Senate Education , Senate Education K-16

Keywords: district composition, congressional election, Texas, legislature, voting districts, fraudulent solicitation, disaster relief, nonprofit organizations, criminal penalties, consumer protection, fraud prevention, charitable donations

Summary: The committee first took up House Bill 2853, which would allow the UT System Board of Regents to adjust the University of Texas at El Paso student union fee above the current statutory cap, subject to student approval, to help fund a new student union building. Senator Blanco explained the bill and the committee substitute, there were no questions or witnesses, public testimony was closed, and the committee adopted the substitute and left the bill pending subject to the call of the chair. The committee then heard House Bill 610, which would limit severance payments for terminated independent school district superintendents to six months’ salary and benefits. Senator Paxton described large severance payouts and said the bill had passed the House overwhelmingly. There were no witnesses, public testimony was closed, and the bill was left pending. A lengthy hearing followed on House Bill 4623, which would waive school district immunity in certain cases involving negligent hiring, supervision, or employment of professional school employees who commit abuse or related misconduct against students. Senator Paxton and several witnesses, including survivors and parents, argued the bill was needed to address cover-ups, delayed reporting, and repeated failures to remove dangerous employees; some members raised concerns about liability caps, litigation, and how the bill would interact with the Tort Claims Act. The committee also heard from TEA staff and employee-group witnesses who discussed possible injunctions and stronger no-hire protections. Public testimony was then closed and the bill was left pending. Finally, the committee heard House Bill 4, an accountability and assessment bill that would restore A-F ratings, change the state testing system, and replace STAAR with shorter, more instructionally useful assessments. Senator Bettencourt explained the committee substitute, including annual ratings, limits on taxpayer-funded lawsuits, and a phased-in testing redesign with beginning, middle, and end-of-year assessments. Testimony was generally supportive from education and business groups, though some witnesses favored norm-referenced testing while others emphasized criterion-referenced, TEKS-aligned assessments; one witness noted social studies assessments were restored in the bill. The hearing concluded with additional invited testimony and no final vote reported in the transcript.

Transcript Highlights:

• It amends state law to prohibit individuals from serving on a school board if they're related to another
• board member or school employee, or vice versa.
• aligns the oversight of the technology centers and career tech schools more directly under the State Board
• What protections are in place for the school district if you can't get a parent in the door to review
• With that, Senate Bill 1593 addresses the OSU Tulsa Board of Trustees and Board President position.

Bills: SB710 , SB843 , SB1317 , SB1338 , SB1410 , SB1477 , SB1489 , SB1593 , SB1614 , SB1630 , SB1632 , SB1633 , SB1670 , SB1726 , SB1734 , SB1725 , SB1735 , SB1894 , SB1975 , SB346 , SB2045

Committee: House Education Oversight

Keywords: teacher preparation, teacher education, teacher shortage, teacher workforce, educator pipeline, alternative certification, apprenticeship, residency program, paraprofessional pathway, high school to teacher pathway, nontraditional teacher candidates, Commission for Educational Quality and Accountability, TeachForwardOK, higher education, public school districts, workforce development, grant program, technical assistance provider, mastery-based assessment, emergency clause

Transcript Highlights:

• Okay, the board is clear.
• And you don't pay back a merit scholarship.
• Bamberg requires the Board of Regents to establish and maintain a data administration system for the
• The board is clear.
• The board is clear.

Bills: HR17 , HB385 , HB406 , HB787 , HB1021 , HB1058 , HB1059

Committee: House Education

Keywords: education, investment, workforce development, TOPS, higher education, repayment, scholarships, academic eligibility, financial aid, athletics, high school sports, state report, student wellness, computer science, scholarship, curriculum requirements, workforce training, education funding, data administration, financial assistance

Transcript Highlights:

• associate's degrees, a program subject to the approval of the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board
• Moreover, this aligns Texas' education system with evolving demands of the global economy, ensuring that
• Call Deputy Commissioner Sarah Keaton forward from the Higher Education Coordinating Board to testify
• Sarah Keaton with the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board.
• Our board is actually meeting this morning, having one of their quarterly board meetings, and transfer

Bills: SB2847 , SB3039

Committees: Senate Education , Senate Education K-16

Keywords: higher education, bachelor's degree, core curriculum, general education, semester credit hours, credit hours, degree acceleration, time to degree, workforce-aligned credentials, workforce readiness, Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, public universities, community colleges, transferability, curriculum reform, academic requirements, degree completion, transfer students, education transparency, academic credit

Summary: The Senate Committee on Education K-16 heard two bills. SB 2847, by Senator Hagenbuch, would give Texas public four-year universities the same option community colleges already have to seek approval from the Higher Education Coordinating Board for core curricula of fewer than 42 semester credit hours. Hagenbuch said the bill is intended to add flexibility, support career-focused programs, and help students finish degrees faster. There was no public testimony, and the bill was left pending. The committee then heard SB 3039, by Senator West, which addresses transferability and credit loss for students moving from community colleges to four-year institutions. West said the bill responds to ongoing problems with rejected transfer credits and seeks better data, study, and recommendations from the Coordinating Board. Deputy Commissioner Sarah Keaton testified that transfer remains a major policy issue, that reporting requirements from SB 25 have improved data collection, and that the main reasons credits do not transfer are grades and degree applicability. She also described the Texas Direct degree program and field-of-study curricula designed to transfer as blocks. Members discussed the cost of lost credits, the need for better communication to students, and concerns that some institutions still reject credits or require duplicate coursework. No public witnesses signed up on SB 3039, and it was left pending subject to the call of the chair. A quorum was later established, the agenda was completed, and the committee recessed subject to the call of the chair.

Bills: SB137

Committee: House Urban and Rural Development

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:

• We opened every aspect of our systems.
• Under a flat red rate system, scale.
• </c><00:59:47.599><c> taxpayer</c> agree that we've got to protect taxpayer agree that we've got to protect
• </c><01:42:35.040><c> the</c> clear guidance that we can protect the clear guidance that we can protect
• </c> protecting also those who need the most. protecting also those who need the most.

Bills: HF3423 , HF2354 , HF3634

Committee: House Human Services Finance and Policy

Keywords: healthcare, provider enrollment, medical assistance, legislation, state funds, fraud prevention, subpoena authority, criminal penalties, consumer protection, service verification, Medicaid, human services, electronic documentation

Transcript Highlights:

• We pray your protection over each and all their staff.
• Groundwater Science Research and Innovation Fund to be administered by the Texas Water Development Board
• the Senate with respect to the following appointments to be members of the Texas Southern University Board
• Board.
• However, current financial academic accountability systems did not catch these violations.

Bills: SJR27 , SJR39 , SB22 , SB33 , SB34 , SB37 , SB209 , SB310 , SB326 , SB505 , SB605 , SB618 , SB732 , SB762 , SB769 , SB783 , SB819 , SB825 , SB870 , SB964 , SB1030 , SB1080 , SB1085 , SB1099 , SB1124 , SB1208 , SB1233 , SB1314 , SB1320 , SB1333 , SB1398 , SB1405 , SB1541 , SB1567 , SB1596 , SB1598 , SB1625 , SB1646 , SB1662 , SB1750 , SB1758 , SB1791 , SB1804 , SB1810 , SB1818 , SB1838 , SB1855 , SB1869 , SB1951 , SB2024 , SB2077 , SB2078 , SB2252 , SB2253 , SB2368 , SB2411 , SB2420 , SB2425 , SB2569

Keywords: judicial conduct, state commission, judicial misconduct, commission membership, constitutional amendment, veto override, legislature power, governor, Texas Constitution, Texas, moving image industry, incentive program, film production, grant funding, job creation, economic development, wildfire, wildfire mitigation, wildfire prevention, volunteer fire department

Transcript Highlights:

• expediting crime solving by requiring a report of serious injury arising from criminal activity while protecting
• I mean, I'm absolutely on board with that being an additional idea, but I don't want to come across as
• I'd have to pay an additional fee, and then I'll just have to go through the tax system to get it back
• And that's going to be part of those systems they set those up for that reason to try to save people
• that or to convince people to do that rather than creating another felony and filling our prison system

Bills: SB1936 , SB1612 , SB1543 , SB1260 , SB1988 , SB1859 , SB2041 , SB1257 , HB4272 , HB3277 , HB3148 , HB3651 , HB3323 , HB4287 , HB4105 , HB3304 , HB3345

Committee: Senate Public Safety

Keywords: forfeiture, criminal offenses, law enforcement, Class D1 offenses, property seizure, SB1612, mandatory reporting, violent injury reporting, gunshot wound, stab wound, poisoning, burn injury, explosive injury, medical reporting, healthcare providers, law enforcement notification, evidence preservation, patient video records, confidentiality waiver, misdemeanor penalty

Transcript Highlights:

• protection subjects that are<00:11:41.040><c> more</c><00:11:41.279><c> stringent</c><00:11:41.760><
• It's a system that, again, we use now for heavier vehicles, and it's necessary to make this exemption
• >> Well, this would help add those protections and mirror the city regulations that already exist to
• Well, this would help add<00:46:48.720><c> those</c><00:46:49.200><c> protections</c><00:46:50.000><c
• those protections and mirror the city<00:46:51.839><c> um</c><00:46:52.000><c> regulations</c><00:46

Bills: SB23 , SB71 , SB105 , SB109 , SB115 , SB131 , SB148 , SB165 , SB23 , SB71 , SB105 , SB109 , SB115 , SB131 , SB148 , SB165

Committee: Senate County and Municipal Government

Keywords: law enforcement, taser, restrained individuals, police procedures, civil rights, income tax, tax exemption, Alabama tax code, Section 40-18-3, civilian employees, Department of Defense, DoD, Armed Forces, military pay, combat zone, deployment, National Guard, Reserve components, emergency response, federal employees

Transcript Highlights:

• Imposing penalties is vital for the protection of our precious history.
• We've seen what happens when these protections aren't in place.
• bill only furthers those protections.
• . protection because they are outed as being trans when they are cisgender women.
• The commitment of the people of Combs to protect. ...and enriches our cultural heritage.

Bills: HB370 , HB738 , HB2935 , HB3227 , HB4103 , HB5259 , SB519 , SB1350 , SB1247 , SB1248 , SB2112 , HCR81 , HCR83 , HCR84 , HCR59 , HCR109 , HCR111 , HCR135 , SCR6

Committee: House Culture, Recreation & Tourism

Keywords: HB 370, Events Trust Fund, Texas events funding, sports eligibility, women's sports, girls' sports, biological sex, transgender athletes, sex-segregated sports, athletic competition, event subsidies, tourism funding, site selection organization, anti-trafficking plan, female athletes, public funding, economic impact, sports policy, Rosenwald Schools, historical preservation

Transcript Highlights:

• The protection of wildlife corridors is a bipartisan issue.
• Committee members, it is crucial that the Texas legislature works towards the protection of our native
• The state of Texas already has wildlife crossings protecting wildlife. Texans.
• The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department was authorized to implement a system of digital tagging.
• The lack of protection means that harvest information collected by the department, including the exact

Bills: HB370 , HB738 , HB2935 , HB3227 , HB4103 , HB5259 , SB519 , SB1350 , SB1247 , SB1248 , SB2112 , HCR81 , HCR83 , HCR84 , HCR59 , HCR109 , HCR111 , HCR135 , SCR6

Committee: House Culture, Recreation & Tourism

Keywords: HB 370, Events Trust Fund, Texas events funding, sports eligibility, women's sports, girls' sports, biological sex, transgender athletes, sex-segregated sports, athletic competition, event subsidies, tourism funding, site selection organization, anti-trafficking plan, female athletes, public funding, economic impact, sports policy, Rosenwald Schools, historical preservation

Transcript Highlights:

• So, as you said, Rebecka Hartfield is being renominated to the state board of veterinary medicine.
• It is an honor to work on the veterinary board.
• I think the protection of people is obviously utmost.
• them, protect our traditions, and protect the people.
• I think it protects the client and it protects the veterinarian from stepping into something that he

Bills: HB3239 , HB3391 , HB3557 , HB4128

Committee: Senate Agriculture and Wildlife

Keywords: veterinary medicine, definitions, animal husbandry, board of veterinary examiners, telemedicine, veterinarian-client relationship, animal welfare, commercial pet breeders, licensing, advertising, animal cruelty, Oklahoma Agricultural Extension, local funding, financial institutions, county extension services, state funds, wildlife conservation, hunting regulations, mountain lions, black bears

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> in here from the um school board in here from the um school board association<00:03:39.320><c> and
• </c><00:10:27.120><c> so</c> is fixing our K-12 funding system so is fixing our K-12 funding system so
• </c> protect Minnesota students in school. protect Minnesota students in school.
• And if they reject the board, the school board has the ability... be if we're going to put this burden
• policy, the school board evidence-based policy, the school board may<01:04:26.240><c> appeal</c><01:04

Bills: HF3900

Committee: Senate Education Finance

Keywords: permanent school fund, school endowment fund, Minnesota constitutional amendment, school aid, public school funding, State Board of Investment, investment income, distributable amount, school districts, property taxes, income taxes, voter approval, ballot question, constitutional amendment 2026, education finance, fund perpetuity, purchasing power, trust lands, swamp lands, internal improvement land fund

Transcript Highlights:

• support constitutionally dedicated to support efforts<00:05:11.759><c> that</c><00:05:12.080><c> protect
• ,</c><00:05:12.639><c> conserve,</c> efforts that protect, conserve, efforts that protect, conserve,
• This is a good system for keeping the risk out of public money, and we are not paying out those public
• And I feel pretty comfortable that we have good systems in place to deter, detect, and prevent fraud.
• Um, I also just want to say that um I think we do have a pretty good system as I've said. those to the

Bills: HF3426 , HF3428

Committee: House Environment and Natural Resources Finance and Policy

Keywords: natural resources, environment, sustainability, conservation, outdoor recreation, land acquisition, real property, trust fund, commissioner approval, Department of Natural Resources, DNR, conservation easement, land purchase, state land, public lands, property acquisition, value assessment, tax assessed value, Metropolitan Council, Board of Water and Soil Resources

Transcript Highlights:

• Senate Bill 6291 relates to inspections of on-site wastewater treatment systems.
• As background, on-site wastewater treatment systems are systems for the treatment and disposal of wastewater
• effluent that are not connected to a public sewer system.
• Local boards of health and state public health statutes and rules include inspections and reviews of
• on-site wastewater treatment systems.

Bills: SB6013 , SB6291

Committee: House Environment & Energy

Keywords: ski areas, winter sports, terminology, recreation, economic development, SB6291, on-site wastewater treatment, onsite wastewater treatment, septic system, sewage treatment, wastewater inspection, environmental health, local board of health, public health, professional engineer, land surveyor, certificate of competency, inspection standards, design review, supervised practice

Transcript Highlights:

• systems.
• Thank y'all for trying to protect our kids.
• Thank you. about protecting children.
• And so really, there's not a great way to protect that.
• but also protect their data.

Bills: HB461 , HB467 , HB522 , HB565 , HB673 , HB799 , HB917 , HB937 , HB956 , HB977

Committees: House Commerce , House Commerce, Consumer Protection, and International Affairs

Keywords: building codes, construction standards, state uniform construction code, local option, municipal ordinance, parish ordinance, resilient construction, FORTIFIED Home, IBHS, Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety, hurricane resistance, storm resilience, roof replacement, residential construction, certificate of occupancy, code enforcement, building resilience, home hardening, wind mitigation, residential roof

Bills: HB8029 , HR1128

Keywords: Department of Homeland Security, DHS appropriations, homeland security, border security, immigration enforcement, customs and border protection, CBP, immigration and customs enforcement, ICE, transportation security administration, TSA, coast guard, secret service, FEMA, cybersecurity, CISA, USCIS, federal law enforcement, disaster relief, flood insurance

Transcript Highlights:

• So, this tiered system that we're adding, they're on page three.
• This tiered system seems a little vague.
• So and We've got a system in place currently that addresses how that's known.
• A breach of the security system would be hackers.
• We're simply adding more bricks in the wall of protection for children.

Bills: SB1670 , SB1716 , SB1521

Committee: Senate Technology and Telecommunications

Keywords: higher education, state regents, university research, technology transfer, intellectual property, patent ownership, royalty income, commercialization, startup companies, research partnerships, public universities, faculty inventions, student inventions, innovation policy, economic development, medical technology, biotechnology, energy technology, telecommunications, aerospace and defense

Transcript Highlights:

• It is a measure for protecting groundwater, so all of the triggers would be connected to that.
• Until this bill includes basic protections like pumping... Limits and accountability.
• And then also to recognize that I see some opposition in the RTS system.
• In the RTS system, so I'm looking to explore that, but until that time I'm voting, until I understand
• Chair and members, Senate Bill 1199 continues the Arizona State Veterinary Examining Board for eight

Bills: SB1041 , SB1176 , SB1197 , SB1198 , SB1199 , SCM1004

Committees: Senate Natural Resources , Senate Senate Natural Resources Committee of Reference

Keywords: electronic monitoring, nursing care, assisted living, resident rights, privacy, consent, surveillance, stormwater, water storage, replenishment credits, groundwater, aquifer, Arizona Revised Statutes, irrigation rights, water duty, water allocation, management areas, Salt River horse herd, wild horses, feral horses