Bills: SJR12, SJR37, SB7, SB8, SB16, SB27, SB108, SB125, SB207, SB251, SB318, SB371, SB379, SB396, SB406, SB472, SB503, SB533, SB578, SB599, SB608, SB617, SB621, SB689, SB707, SB763, SB836, SB854, SB856, SB857, SB875, SB878, SB906, SB922, SB942, SB965, SB985, SB988, SB1021, SB1059, SB1084, SB1098, SB1185, SB1188, SB1202, SB1207, SB1307, SB1321, SB1330, SB1366, SB1388, SB1396, SB1453, SB1484, SB1497, SB1498, SB1535, SB1563, SB1596, SB1610, SB1619, SB1737, SB1738, SB1741, SB1816, SB1822, SB1841, SB1939, SB2188, SJR36, SJR12, SJR37, SJR81, SJR50, SCR22, SCR12, SCR39, SB875, SB318, SB707, SB765, SB62, SB666, SB888, SB687, SB847, SB1248, SB504, SB857, SB305, SB296, SB284, SB1497, SB1498, SB241, SB304, SB621, SB1023, SB371, SB204, SB609, SB670, SB850, SB854, SB413, SB1346, SB1033, SB1220, SB1073, SB810, SB1539, SB447, SB406, SB985, SB965, SB1119, SB1505, SB1215, SB1302, SB856, SB583, SB673, SB681, SB1172, SB608, SB955, SB957, SB1021, SB1120, SB251, SB541, SB1737, SB266, SB1415, SB125, SB599, SB1330, SB53, SB1352, SB785, SB472, SB1450, SB1502, SB1566, SB414, SB1062, SB578, SB711, SB746, SB942, SB1404, SB1448, SB1738, SB108, SB8, SB507, SB533, SB689, SB1026, SB1349, SB1355, SB1433, SB1434, SB1596, SB1403, SB763, SB667, SB1059, SB617, SB1567, SB503, SB16, SB310, SB311, SB396, SB505, SB1209, SB1210, SB1470, SB264, SB1029, SB1185, SB1358, SB1364, SB1569, SB1376, SB1228, SB519, SB878, SB1350, SB462, SB1535, SB827, SB1585, SB207, SB1207, SB1619, SB1396, SB920, SB1484, SB1273, SB1741, SB7, SB927, SB1227, SB1229, SB1353, SB1366, SB1464, SB1709, SB1729, SB1733, SB1744, SB1772, SB1816, SB1841, SB2188, SB1147, SB879, SB1008, SB1536, SB2016, SB1453, SB1173, SB1163, SB996, SB27, SB568, SB1370, SB1321, SB1101, SB906, SB860, SB1563, SB993, SB693, SB1610, SB1537, SB836, SB1332, SB1307, SB963, SB493, SB922, SB984, SB1084, SB619, SB1098, SB1122, SB455, SB522, SB1057, SB1239, SB1254, SB1255, SB1259, SB1341, SB1664, SB1877, SB464, SB1277, SB32, SB732, SB660, SB731, SB921, SB268, SB1822, SB1188, SB1939, SB1589, SB397, SB1388, SB2230, SB1058, SB1036, SB1267, SB2112, SB1930, SB532, SB1035, SB2155, SB508, SB29, SB292, SB291, SB901, SB1333, SB1436, SB1494, SB964, SB779, SB1378, SB2312, SB1719, SB1386, SB287, SB2143, SB1245, SB261, SB1247, SB1948, SB2406, SB2407, SB1882, SB1197, SB1814, SB618, SB38

Keywords: parental rights, education, constitutional amendment, school choice, child education, voter ID, citizenship, election integrity, voting rights, water infrastructure, financial assistance, Texas Water Development Board, water supply, environmental sustainability, immigration enforcement, ICE agreements, sheriff grants, law enforcement, county jail, federal immigration law

Transcript Highlights:

• And if we don't, if we allow someone from OMV saying we're not going to send us debt to debt recovery
• to debt recovery, how would you collect that money?
• to the debt collectors.
• For persons who have this accumulation of debt. Yes.
• money back from the Office of Debt Recovery.

Summary: The Senate Committee on Transportation, Highways and Public Works met with five members present and approved the May 14, 2026 minutes. The committee first considered HCR 32, which urges the Port of New Orleans to secure backup motors for the aging St. Claude Avenue Bridge; members discussed the bridge’s importance, the relatively low cost of the motor, and the traffic and emergency-response impacts of repeated breakdowns. HCR 32 was reported favorably. HCR 68, a request to Congress for funding to remove unusable bridges along Highway 90 as part of reconnecting the corridor toward New Orleans East, was also reported favorably after brief discussion about federal representatives and coordination with DOTD. House Bill 582 was deferred without objection. The committee then took up HB 762, which clarifies that the Office of Motor Vehicles may, rather than must, refer certain delinquent reinstatement-fee debts to the Office of Debt Recovery or other collection channels. Testimony from OMV and the bill author emphasized that the measure was intended to clean up prior language and preserve OMV discretion, while senators raised concerns about political influence, collection practices, and the impact of fees and debt on drivers. HB 762 was reported favorably. HB 730, concerning automatic dependent surveillance broadcast devices on aircraft, was amended to limit its application to aircraft over 2,500 pounds and to prohibit the use of the imposed fees on smaller aircraft. Supporters said the bill restores the original safety purpose of the devices and prevents their use for fee collection; the committee reported the bill favorably as amended. The committee also reported favorably on HCR 53, which creates a study committee on oversized vehicle permits and their parish-level impacts, and HCR 60, which urges DOTD to pursue the DRIVE initiative to study and improve safety on the I-12 corridor. The meeting concluded with a motion to adjourn.

Transcript Highlights:

• debt to property. ...requirement to make debt payments through 2040 and expands eligible debt to Proposition
• , on our borrowing debt.
• So those debts just keep going up.
• We want to pay down our debt. We want to get rid of that UI debt.
• not debt going forward.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And medical debt is not like other debt.
• It had aspects related to medical debt and then some aspects related to broader consumer debt protections
• broader consumer uh, debt protections. broader consumer uh, debt protections.
• Because they owe them a debt.
• debt forgiven and allows them to um you debt forgiven and allows them to um you know<00:18:28.880>

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• of this involuntary debt.
• collection on coerced debt.
• The creditor told her it was her responsibility and sold the debt to a debt collector.
• of debt.
• If they can pursue their survivor for the debt, they can pursue the abuser for the debt.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on the Judiciary held a lengthy public hearing on a wide range of civil actions, labor, consumer protection, and animal welfare bills. Chair Lydia Edwards and Representative Michael Day opened with strict testimony rules and time limits, then heard from legislators and advocates on measures including animal-abuser pet ownership bans (S. 1207/H. 1914), a name-change privacy bill (S. 1045/H. 1973), tort claims reform (H. 1724), law enforcement council coverage under the Tort Claims Act (S. 1199), civil rights and qualified immunity-related proposals (H. 1641), employee free speech/captive audience restrictions (S. 1078/H. 1653), consumer protection and civil rights jurisdiction expansion (S. 1041), private right of action for wage theft (H. 1916), gun-owner liability insurance (H. 1836), pseudoephedrine sales tracking (S. 1243/H. 1581), prepaid legal services plans (H. 1612), structured settlement protections (H. 1863), third-party litigation financing disclosure (H. 1861), antitrust reform for small businesses and workers (S. 1038/H. 1982), legal notices in online-only newspapers (S. 1279/H. 1632), and several animal cruelty and protection bills including H. 1938, H. 1949, S. 1277/H. 1934, and H. 1764. Testimony was largely supportive from bill sponsors and advocacy groups, with repeated themes of protecting vulnerable people and animals, improving access to justice, and updating outdated laws. Supporters of the animal bills argued for stronger possession bans, broader cruelty citations, and civil removal tools to prevent repeat abuse; opponents or conditional supporters raised due process and enforcement concerns, especially around warrantless seizures and requiring retail or shelter staff to check registries. On the labor and consumer side, supporters said the antitrust bill would curb monopoly power and help small businesses and workers, while opponents warned it could destabilize competition and burden successful firms. The employee free speech bill was backed as a response to captive audience meetings, and the wage-theft bill was presented as a way to let workers or organizations pursue claims when individual employees are afraid to come forward. Several public officials and association representatives testified on the law enforcement and civil rights bills. Chiefs of police supported adding law enforcement councils to the Tort Claims Act, saying it would close a liability gap for regional mutual-aid collaborations. But police representatives opposed changes to the Massachusetts Civil Rights Act and qualified immunity-related provisions, arguing the federal system already provides a workable forum and that expanding liability could increase costs, reduce morale, and worsen recruitment and retention. On the consumer/civil rights bill, Senator Collins and a veteran described an out-of-state assault case that they said showed the need for Massachusetts to let residents seek redress at home when rights are violated elsewhere. No votes or formal committee actions were taken during the hearing itself; the committee mainly received testimony and questions. Several witnesses indicated they had submitted written testimony or proposed amendments, and some bills drew requests for favorable reports while others were explicitly opposed unless amended.

Transcript Highlights:

• On the debt requirements, the debt payments are required until 2030, so the state is approaching the
• In terms of debt, as I already mentioned, the measure would extend the debt payment requirements through
• The other allowed debt payments also would remain.
• an eligible debt, and that is where the monies largely went in the early years of these debt payments
• In terms of our debt level and debt paydown, I'd have to get back to you on that one.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• victim to incur a debt. victim to incur a debt.
• of coerced debt. of coerced debt.
• . debt. debt.
• how the debt was incurred. how the debt was incurred.
• claim of coerced debt. claim of coerced debt.

Keywords: 927, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• CLARIFIES A DEBT COLLECTOR MAY NOT ASSERT THE EXISTENCE OF A LEGAL RIGHT TO ENFORCE A DEBT WHEN THE
• THE LAW APPLIES TO ALL PERSONS ACTING AS A DEBT COLLECTOR. AS WELL AS IN-HOUSE DEBT COLLECTORS.
• TO ATTEMPT TO COLLECT DEBTS? >> NO.
• DEBT COLLECTORS IS A SMALL NARROW GROUP UNDERNEATH THOSE STATUTES.
• THERE IS A CASE, THE DEBT COLLECTORS DID PREVAIL CORRECTLY.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• monetary gifts to the repayment of debts.
• And so they wanted to stay in debt. They wanted to stay in debt.
• It essentially says if a water district has federal debt or is guaranteed, their debt is guaranteed..
• . ...district has federal debt or is guaranteed, their debt is guaranteed by the federal government,
• That particular provision addresses payment of that debt.

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Medical debt is not like other debt; it I'll turn it over to attorney general I'll turn it over to attorney
• <00:05:32.720> it Medical debt is not like other debt.
• That's why we shouldn't treat medical debt the same as other debt.
• Minnesota was one of the very few states who did that, and medical debt was the only debt we treated
• is not like other debt.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• and non-voted debt.
• Take a look at your net debt, net self-supporting debt. Thank you. Representative Bumgarner.
• We have so little debt that the bond market actually considers us debt-free.
• at a level that would still be considered debt-free, debt that we could pay off.
• Local debt, not COs, but just local debt in total.

Bills: HB1453, HB1718, HB2043, HB2207, HB2798

Keywords: local governments, anticipation notes, certificates of obligation, public works, flood control, financial management, local government, municipal financing, private activity bonds, closing definition, real estate finance, bond issuance, government regulation, bond election, general obligation bonds, GO bonds, political subdivision, city bonds, county bonds, school district bonds

Transcript Highlights:

• , debt life cycle cycle.
• We don't see as many certificates, but we see other forms of not general obligation debt, non-voted debt
• So you would take a look at your net debt, net self-supporting debt. Thank you.
• We have so little debt that the bond markets actually consider us debt-free.
• Local debt, not CEOs, but just local debt in total.

Transcript Highlights:

• restrictions, typically related to E-ZPass debt.
• E-ZPass debt.
• of people, it will not get rid of the underlying debt.
• being sent to a debt collector.
• There are various reasons why these debts become so high.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Transportation held a public hearing on several bills related to driver’s license suspensions, junior operator training, online driver education, and regulation of e-bikes/scooters. A major focus was the Road to Opportunity Act (H. 3662/S. 2368), which would end license suspensions and registration holds for unpaid fines and fees unrelated to road safety, create hardship waivers and payment options, and replace suspension with nonrenewal in some cases. Supporters included the Attorney General’s office, ACLU, CPCS, Greater Boston Legal Services, transportation and anti-poverty advocates, and several affected residents who described job loss, housing instability, and difficulty paying toll and fee debts. They argued the current system punishes poverty, disproportionately affects Black and Latino residents, and is costly to enforce. Some testimony also noted that the bill would preserve suspensions for dangerous driving offenses. District Attorney Marion Ryan testified in favor of two bills: one allowing partial payment plans for certain RMV penalties and another closing a loophole that makes the penalty for violating a hardship license less severe than driving after a full suspension. Senator Sear and Representative Reed also spoke for the Road to Opportunity Act, while the AAG said the Attorney General supports it. Committee members asked about RMV implementation and whether the agency supports payment plans; Ryan said the RMV has been cooperative but believes legislation is needed. No votes were taken during the hearing. The committee also heard testimony on bills affecting young drivers. Senator Lovely and Representative Cruz supported a bill to create a junior operator license training fund, expand access for low- and moderate-income families, require refunds in some cases, and allow earlier passenger privileges. Another bill would make virtual instructor-led driver education permanent; AAA and several driving school owners supported it as an access and convenience measure, while other instructors opposed it, arguing in-person instruction is safer and more effective. Finally, Senator Collins and others testified for a transportation safety bill regulating motorized bicycles, scooters, e-bikes, and mopeds, increasing fines, requiring insurance for commercial use, and requiring public hearings and accessibility review for new bike lanes. Advocates for blind and disabled pedestrians supported that bill, while some transportation and business voices backed it as a safety and planning measure.

Transcript Highlights:

• collectors, or third-party debt collectors from attempting to collect a consumer debt from a victim
• debt collectors seven business days to cease debt collection activities.
• Prohibit debtors, or rather creditors, debt collectors, or third-party debt collectors from attempting
• require creditors or debt collectors to notify all parties involved with the debt when it is disputed
• I've been studying coerced debt for a decade and a half, and in my research I've seen how coerced debt

Bills: HB431, HB1522, HB1922, HB2467, HB2468, HB3228, HB3229, HB3306, HB3803, HB3804, HB3805, HB3806, HB4219, HB4238, HB4344, HB4386, HB4739

Keywords: HB 431, Texas Property Code, Property Code Chapter 202, solar roof tiles, solar shingles, solar energy device, homeowners association, HOA, property owners' association, POA, renewable energy, residential solar, distributed solar, roof-mounted solar, homeowner rights, architectural control, open meetings, public notice, transparency, government efficiency

Summary: The committee first took up pending business and favorably reported several House bills without opposition, including HB 11, HB 132, HB 1041, HB 1606, HB 2286, and HB 5061. Each was moved out of committee with a recommendation that it do pass and be printed, and several were also recommended for the local and uncontested calendar. The committee then heard HB 3306, which would extend existing construction-contract indemnity exceptions to electric infrastructure construction, maintenance, and vegetation management work for electric utilities and transmission and distribution utilities. The sponsor said the bill would reduce litigation and insurance costs for ratepayers, while construction industry witnesses argued it would shift liability onto subcontractors and create broad-form indemnity in a way Texas law has generally prohibited since 2011. HB 3306 was left pending. The committee also heard HB 4739, a Comptroller-requested cleanup bill to repeal an outdated Finance Code provision requiring remittance of a portion of certain delinquency charges to the state, and HB 3803, HB 3804, and HB 3806, all Department of Banking-requested cleanup bills dealing with confidentiality and supervision rules for perpetual care funds, state banks, and trust companies. Those bills were briefly explained and left pending without testimony. HB 4219, aimed at improving Public Information Act compliance by requiring timely notice when records do not exist or are being withheld, allowing complaints to the Attorney General, and imposing training and fee consequences for noncompliance, drew support from a journalist and a policy analyst and was also left pending. The committee then heard HB 4238 on coerced debt and identity theft. The sponsor explained that the committee substitute narrows the bill to court-ordered findings of identity theft/coerced debt, gives collectors seven business days to stop collection activity, and removes a section to avoid litigation over court orders. A law professor and a family violence advocate testified in strong support, describing coerced debt as a barrier for domestic violence and elder abuse survivors trying to rebuild credit and access housing, jobs, and utilities. The bill was left pending. HB 1522, which would require local governments to post meeting notices three business days in advance and make budget materials more accessible online and in physical form, also drew support, though a school business officials representative raised concerns about the timing language, proposed-budget wording, and taxpayer impact statements for school districts; the bill was left pending after discussion. Later, the committee heard additional pending bills, including a PUC background-check bill that would expand the commission’s authority to check current employees and contractors and obtain FBI criminal history information, HB 3805 updating money services business regulation, HB 431 extending HOA solar-panel protections to solar tiles, and HB 3228 and HB 3229 on wind and solar recycling financial assurance and recycler solvency. HB 3228 received support from a Sierra Club witness who said recycling and disposal plans are needed for end-of-life renewable energy equipment, and HB 3229 was described as requiring recyclers to show financial resources at 125 percent through a letter of credit or bond. These bills were heard and left pending.

Transcript Highlights:

• SENATORS, UNDER TAB HAVE ONE AT LET'S TAKE UP SB 1906 ON DEBT REDUCTION BY SENATOR BRODEUR.
• THE NINTH ELEMENT IS A DESCRIPTION OF THE DEBT STRATEGIES EMPLOYED TO RETIRE OUTSTANDING STATE DEBT.
• DEBT RATIO WHICH IS CALCULATED BY USING THE CURRENT DEBT SERVICES IS PAYMENT TO THE REVENUES AVAILABLE
• TO PAY DEBT SERVICES.
• >> Chair: SENATOR BRODEUR. >> Senator Brodeur: IT WAS EXCLUDING SELF SUPPORTING DEBT.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• They do not engage in any debt collection activity.
• When that act was first enacted, it was intended to focus on debt collectors and debt buyers who engage
• in debt collection activities.
• When that act was first enacted, it was intended to focus on debt collectors and debt buyers who engage
• in debt collection activities.

Summary: The Assembly Banking and Finance Committee met with a quorum, took up its consent calendar, and passed SB 946 and SB 700 on a do-pass motion to the next committee. The committee then heard SB 546 by Senator Grayson, presented by Assembly Member Blanca Rubio, which would clarify that third-party billing administrators are not debt collectors when they are only performing administrative billing services. Supporters from Conservis Utility Billing Management and the California Apartment Association said the bill reflects the original intent of the Debt Collection Licensing Act, would reduce compliance uncertainty, and still preserves consumer protections by barring coercive collection practices. There was no opposition, and the bill passed on a unanimous roll call to the Committee on Appropriations. The committee also heard SB 505 by Senator Richardson, presented by Assembly Member Maggie Krell, which would require digital wallet providers and money transmitters operating in California to use two-factor or multi-factor authentication for logins. Support came from the National Consumer Law Center, while TechNet said it was currently opposed but working with the author on amendments. Members discussed balancing security with convenience for trusted devices and users. The bill passed unanimously on a do-pass motion to the Committee on Appropriations, and the committee then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• So we had to have emergency sessions to figure out how to restructure our elementary schools to reallocate
• emergency sessions to figure out<03:26:53.279> how<03:26:53.520> to<03:26:53.760> restructure
• <03:26:54.319> our<03:26:54.560> elementary out how to restructure our elementary out
• how to restructure our elementary schools<03:26:55.359> to<03:26:55.600> reallocate<03
• continuous enrollment when at this point it may be requiring additional staffing or some sort of restructuring

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• be as easy as commending someone for service, recognizing their passing, or it could completely restructure
• be as easy as commending someone for service, recognizing their passing, or it could completely restructure
• 00:57:18.720> completely passing, or it could completely passing, or it could completely restructure
• 20.880> of<00:57:21.040> government<00:57:21.440> if<00:57:21.599> we restructure
• our form of government if we restructure our form of government if we wanted<00:57:22.000> it

Keywords: 1136, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• They do not engage in any debt collection activity.
• When that act was first enacted, it was intended to focus on debt collectors and debt buyers who engage
• in debt collection activities.
• When that act was first enacted, it was intended to focus on debt collectors and debt buyers who engage
• in debt collection activities.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And we're going to start with the PCS for HB 547, Medical Debt by Representative Partington.
• mail before the facility can sell that debt to a third party.
• And two, the debt is returned to the facility if it is learned or determined that the debt qualifies
• In the past, did they sell the debt and then also submit it as a charity to the state?
• The debt collection agency then goes to the credit reporting agency as a debt collection, and then maybe