Transcript Highlights:

• First, it removes the water loss threshold for the validation and Chairman Perry: mitigation plans requirements
• result, all water systems with more than 150,000 service connections will be required annually to validate
• threshold's deletion, committee substitute changes the requirement for more detailed Chairman Perry: validation
• appropriately fits the length of time that large systems will need to conduct the more detailed validations

Bills: HB2018 , HB1633 , HB1689 , SB612 , SB3058

Committee: Senate Water, Agriculture and Rural Affairs

Keywords: agricultural conservation, land preservation, environmental protection, wildlife habitat, Texas Farm and Ranch, groundwater conservation district, Texas Water Code, water permit, permit amendment, groundwater permit, water rights, aquifer, well registration, exempt wells, beneficial use, water conservation, groundwater quality, well plugging, Hill Country Priority Groundwater Management Area, surface water resources

Summary: The Senate Water, Agriculture, Rural Affairs Committee heard several bills focused on groundwater management, water infrastructure, and agricultural land conservation. SB 612 would limit certain water districts in Hidalgo, Cameron, and Willacy counties from charging developers pipeline construction fees above actual, documented costs; the committee substitute removed a developer challenge mechanism to preserve district discretion over construction standards. HB 1633 would require groundwater conservation districts to consider registered exempt wells when reviewing or amending permits, and testimony from landowners, district representatives, and advocacy groups largely supported the bill as a way to protect domestic and livestock wells from drawdown caused by large export projects. HB 1689 would clarify that export fee revenues may be used for well operability, alternative water supplies, and aquifer monitoring, including through interlocal cooperation, and HB 3058 would give the Post Oak Savannah Groundwater Conservation District authority to use export fees for county road improvements and environmental programs tied to well inspection and groundwater management. HB 2018 would clarify that the Texas Farm and Ranchland Conservation Program is intended to purchase conservation easements only on working agricultural lands, with support from cattle raisers and Farm Bureau representatives. The committee also considered HB 29, which would require large water systems to validate water loss audits and submit mitigation plans; a committee substitute removed the water-loss threshold and adjusted the timeline for more detailed validation. Public testimony on the bills was generally supportive, with several witnesses describing declining well levels, road damage from export projects, and the need to preserve agricultural land and local water supplies. The committee adopted committee substitutes and voted favorably on HB 29, HB 1689, HB 2018, SB 612, and SB 3058, recommending several of them for the local and uncontested calendar; HB 1633 was left pending awaiting a committee substitute.

Transcript Highlights:

• Representative Smith brought up a point that I think is very valid about The feelings of what it is that
• we choose to do in committee, and I think that that is a valid, very valid point.

Bills: HF1224 , HF1615 , HF2403

Committee: House Commerce Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• We’re looking for recommendations that protect... ...validity at roadside inspections.
• the valid CDL, but the Canadian or the Mexican license right now works, right?
• You have to accept that as a valid CDL, correct?”
• It gives you whether it's valid or not, but there's no moving violations. If they...
• If it's valid or not, but there's no moving violations.

Committee: Senate Transportation

Summary: The committee first heard opening remarks on its interim charges: rail grade crossing safety, autonomous vehicle deployment, and commercial driver’s license oversight. Members emphasized transportation’s importance to safety, mobility, and the economy, and the chair outlined the plan to take invited testimony first on each charge, followed by public testimony. For the rail grade crossing charge, TxDOT’s Don Franks described implementation of SB 1555, the Texas Off-System Rail Grade Separation Program, including rules, applications, and awards. He said 36 local governments submitted 57 applications requesting about $2.3 billion against the $250 million state program, and TxDOT awarded $160.4 million to five projects in four districts. He also explained that the state set aside remaining funds as federal match, helping Texas secure nearly $756 million in federal FRA funding for 12 projects, bringing the total value of the rail crossing projects to more than $1.2 billion. French Thompson of the Texas Railroad Association supported continuing the program, said the demand far exceeded available funding, and recommended maintaining the $250 million investment while also considering other mitigation tools such as siding relocations and digital traffic-routing solutions. Members asked about how projects were selected, how success should be measured, blocked crossings, maintenance responsibilities, and whether railroads should share costs. Franks said projects were chosen based on safety, economic development, mobility, readiness, community support, and match leverage, and said future success should be measured by reduced crashes and fatalities at treated crossings and by getting projects to construction within about three years. Thompson distinguished between occupied and blocked crossings and said railroads are working on capacity, communication, and alternative solutions. He and Franks explained that railroads maintain crossing equipment, while the public can report malfunctions using the blue ENS sign. Public testimony on rail grade separations included support from the North Houston Association, Bay Area Houston Transportation Partnership, and Texas Rail Advocates for continued and expanded funding, while Rhonda Ward argued taxpayers should not subsidize railroad infrastructure and said railroads should bear more of the cost. The committee then closed testimony on the rail charge. The committee next took up autonomous vehicle deployment under SB 2807. Clint Thompson and Corey Thompson of the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles explained the new authorization system for Level 4 and Level 5 automated motor vehicles used in commercial passenger or freight operations. Clint Thompson described the differences between SAE levels, the requirement for an authorization in addition to title, registration, insurance, and other credentials, and the need for a first responder interaction plan filed with DPS. He said DMV adopted rules, built a web-based application system, and began accepting applications in April, with enforcement beginning after the statutory rulemaking timeline. He reported 16 companies currently hold authorizations, including both passenger and freight operators, and said the department uses existing staff and its motor carrier credentialing system to administer the program. Corey Thompson then showed how law enforcement and the public can verify AV authorizations through the DMV’s truck stop database, which displays company status, vehicle information, and related motor carrier credentials where applicable.

Transcript Highlights:

• So we do need to have sampling throughout the state to determine if it is a valid tool. >> Do you have
• We definitely need expanded opportunities for our students to be kindergarten ready, and that's a valid
• c> that</c><00:26:25.279><c> is</c><00:26:25.440><c> a</c><00:26:25.760><c> a</c><00:26:26.159><c> valid
• c><00:26:26.880><c> point</c><00:26:27.120><c> that</c><00:26:27.440><c> you</c> think that is a a valid
• point that you think that is a a valid point that you make.<00:26:28.240><c> Um</c><00:26:29.200><c>

Committee: Senate Families & Children

Transcript Highlights:

• I appreciate the question, and yeah, it is a valid point.
• There is some funding in the feed bill to pay Deloitte. to have validating sessions.
• What we did here in New Mexico is we had validating sessions with agency leaders and HR.
• We also had validating sessions with both unions to get their feedback and the internal evaluation we
• I think that is a valid fear in some cases.

Committee: House Legislative Health & Human Services Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• I think that is a valid concern from my chair, that maybe it is worth addressing it.
• I think that is a valid concern from my chair, that maybe it is worth addressing it.
• make determinations based upon what was submitted to ensure that the instruments were going to be valid
• for... ...ensure that the instruments were going to be valid for students in California, including for
• This is really validated through the University of California, the Nutrition Policy Institute.

Summary: The committee heard a series of budget proposals focused on education finance, with repeated questions about whether the state’s investments are coordinated, targeted to the highest-need students, and likely to produce measurable results. On the first item, the administration proposed $1 million for a study of California’s curriculum framework, standards, and instructional materials process, plus $250,000 for supplemental ELA/ELD guidance. CDE and Finance said the study would examine how other states organize standards, frameworks, and adoptions, while the chair and members questioned why California has gone so long without updating some standards, what the study would actually accomplish, and whether the proposal was too vague to justify the cost. The issue was held open. The committee then took up a proposed $25 million statewide literacy network within the system of support. CCEE and CDE said the network would coordinate multiple existing literacy leads, create a clearinghouse of evidence-based resources, and improve coherence across the state’s many literacy initiatives. Members pressed on how a one-time, five-year allocation could support a long-term system, how the work would reach distressed and rural districts, and whether the proposal would translate into classroom change rather than just another layer of coordination. The issue was also held open. Next, the committee reviewed a $500 million proposal to expand literacy coaches and reading specialists and to create a math coaches program. CDE described the existing literacy coach cohorts as producing positive reports from participating LEAs, while the LAO recommended modifications, especially for the math coach portion, including limiting eligibility to elementary schools, setting minimum grant amounts, directing funds to eligible school sites, and making eligibility automatic rather than application-based. Members focused on whether coaches were actually being placed at the schools with the greatest need and whether the state has a coherent long-term strategy for literacy and math investments. The committee also heard a $40 million proposal for training and implementation of K-2 reading difficulty screeners, which the LAO said was reasonable but could be reduced because $25 million had already been provided for training; CDE said the new funds were needed for full implementation, procurement, and sustainability. Finally, the committee heard a $10 million proposal for a developmentally appropriate TK multilingual learner screener, with CDE explaining why the preschool language-identification process is different from K-12 EL assessment and the chair asking staff to explore whether a single, more consistent approach could be developed. The meeting concluded with a presentation on universal school meals and kitchen infrastructure, including a $31.5 million backfill, an $84.1 million increase for projected meal growth, a COLA adjustment, and $150 million for kitchen upgrades and training to support freshly prepared meals.

Transcript Highlights:

• You could say, 'That's not a valid order for protection. It doesn't exist.
• of the qualifying challenge the validity of the qualifying document,<02:17:33.719><c> right?
• </c><02:17:36.200><c> It</c> not a valid order for protection. It not a valid order for protection.
• </c> that way, but if it is a valid that way, but if it is a valid qualifying<02:17:42.559><c> document
• So the valid order for proceedings.

Committee: Senate Judiciary and Public Safety

Transcript Highlights:

• extends the minimum time required from 6 to 9 months for a person between 16 and 18 years old to hold a valid
• House Bill 2003, which clarifies that a person who is at least 15 and a half years old and who holds a valid
• permit holders before November 30, 2026, will not have to go through this change, which is already valid

Transcript Highlights:

• subject matter jurisdiction, in other words, which court gets to decide whether the spay-neuter law is valid
• stated falsely that there's been some kind of determination that the law has been determined to be a valid
• The legal question about the validity, the constitutionality of this law is still pending.

Summary: The committee heard testimony on SB 38, which would continue New Mexico’s affordable spay and neuter grant program. Supporters, including animal shelter officials, veterinarians, county advocates, and nonprofit representatives, said the program is needed because shelters are overwhelmed by dog and cat overpopulation, and they cited high intake and euthanasia rates, especially in rural and low-income areas. Several speakers said the grants have already funded spay/neuter and trap-neuter-release work and should not sunset. One public comment raised concerns that some money was going to private parties and could create anti-donation issues, while another witness responded that the legal challenge is still pending and no court has ruled on the law’s constitutionality. Dr. Lawrence Young of the Veterinary Medicine Board said about $1 million has been awarded to 28 organizations, with additional funds in escrow, and described the program as transparent and accountable. The chair said the bill would be taken up for a vote later, not at that meeting. The committee also heard SB 101, the Health Care Delivery and Access Act, which would repeal the program’s July 1, 2030 sunset and make it permanent. The sponsor and the Health Care Authority said the act has already helped optimize nearly $1.5 billion in federal hospital funding, which hospitals must reinvest in care, workforce, and quality improvements. Support came from the New Mexico Chamber of Commerce, New Mexico Safety Over Profit, the New Mexico Hospital Association, and the Greater Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce, all of whom said the program provides stability for hospitals, especially rural and safety-net facilities, and helps avoid service disruptions. No opposition was voiced, and the chair said the committee would return to the bill for a vote on Thursday.

Transcript Highlights:

• And my amendment would just insert after that statement a valid employment pay stub must be required
• </c><00:10:29.760><c> employment</c> after that statement, a valid employment after that statement, a
• valid employment payub<00:10:30.880><c> must</c><00:10:31.120><c> be</c><00:10:31.279><c> required</
• Thank you for taking the amendment as far as having a valid employee employment payub.
• </c> valid employee uh employment uh payub. valid employee uh employment uh payub.

Transcript Highlights:

• Do I have a complaint, a valid complaint?
• If I'm going to put them on a payroll, examples, valid...
• Examples: valid Social Security card, valid immigration visa, photo ID, valid birth certificate, valid
• passport, valid photo ID issued by a government agency, valid work permit issued by the Division of
• So again, they would still be valid.

Committee: Senate Judiciary

Transcript Highlights:

• Military voters all who have equally valid reasons for requesting their absentee ballot to addresses
• So it's still a valid injunction that can only be lifted by a federal court, and so I think the state
• So it's still a valid injunction that can only be lifted by a federal court, and so I think the state
• So it's still a valid injunction that can only be lifted by a federal court, and so I think the state
• So it's still a valid injunction that can only be lifted by a federal court, and so I think the state

Committee: Senate Election Law and Municipal Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• My goal has always been, and I believe it was validated this morning on our phone call, to always treat
• And everyone on here can certainly validate that we began reaching out well before then because we heard
• You know, my goal to always, and I believe it was validated this morning on our phone call, was to always
• And everyone on here can certainly validate that we begin reaching out well before then because we heard

Committee: All HOUSE MANAGEMENT

Summary: House Management took up a series of House resolutions, mostly honoring Arkansas schools, teams, and individuals. Resolutions passed recognizing April as Child Abuse Prevention Month and commending CASA programs, the Mountain Home Bombers’ 2025 boys and girls 5A cross-country championships, a corrected resolution for a girls’ championship team roster, Mount St. Mary Academy’s 6A girls golf title, Central Arkansas Christian High School Choir, a local candy shop for state and national awards, Joe T. Robinson’s 5A football championship and 1–4A swim and dive title, Arkansas Tech University Golden Suns coach Dave Wilbers and the Golden Suns cross-country team, and North Rock’s girls basketball championship. One resolution honoring the Passion Play was pulled from the agenda and moved to regular session. The main substantive discussion centered on House Resolution 1052, which urged support for Arkansas Girls’ State applicants who missed a school deadline because of counselor or administrative error. Sponsors and supporters said roughly 150 girls statewide were affected, that the deadline fell during spring break, and that the American Legion Auxiliary had previously extended deadlines but declined to do so this year. They argued the girls had met the requirements, that the issue was caused by adults, and that the program is a once-in-a-lifetime civic opportunity. They also said they had contacted the board, offered help with space, funding, and volunteers, and received no willingness to change course. Committee members asked about the impact on students, including families with both a son and daughter where only the boy was being allowed to participate, and about whether the message to girls was fair. Supporters said the situation teaches civic engagement, grace, and advocacy, but that it also sends a harmful message if girls are denied because of adult mistakes while boys are still being accepted. After discussion, the committee voted to pass the resolution, and the meeting adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• House Bill 1490 centralizes and standardizes the intake and validity process for child welfare calls
• House Bill 1490 centralizes and standardizes the intake and validity process for child welfare calls
• This is the cognate to the bill that I just described, centralizing intake and validity processes at
• the state level and requiring us to do investigations. ...centralizing intake and validity processes

Transcript Highlights:

• crash, class of the e-bike or scooter, age of the e-bike operator, and whether the operator had a valid
• of the crash, class of the e-bike or scooter, age of the e-bike operator, where the operator had a valid
• . scooter, age of the e-bike operator, whether the operator had a valid driver's license or a learners
• And I think those are valid questions.

Bills: S0382 , S0654 , S0684 , S0880 , S1080

Committee: Senate Transportation

Summary: The Transportation Committee met with a quorum and first took up SB 654 on traffic infraction enforcement, which would standardize procedures for red-light, school-zone speed, and school bus camera enforcement. The bill would allow clerks to retain 10% of penalty revenue, permit virtual hearings, require records retention, limit surveillance/data use, tighten school-zone flashing-light requirements, and add school board approval and reporting requirements for school bus camera programs. An amendment clarified reporting periods and which entity receives liability-transfer affidavits. Members raised questions about information-sharing, facial recognition, school-zone warnings, and school bus stop safety, but the committee accepted the amendment and reported the bill favorably. The committee then considered SB 1080, which was amended by a delete-all to address FDOT direct payments to first-tier subcontractors and takeover agreements involving sureties and replacement contractors. The amended bill was reported favorably. The committee also approved a slate of appointments in tabs 1 through 6 by one vote. Next, the committee heard SB 382 on electric bicycles and scooters. A strike-all amendment shifted the bill away from immediate enforcement changes and instead created an e-bike task force, required crash data collection and reporting, and retained rules requiring riders to yield to pedestrians, provide audible signals, and limit speed near pedestrians. Members discussed enforcement practicality, access concerns for riders who rely on e-bikes, and the need for public education and transparency. The amended bill was reported favorably. The committee then reported favorably SB 684, which removes certain signature requirements for electronic odometer disclosures in total-loss vehicle and vessel insurance transactions, and SB 880, which creates a new license plate for the Miami Northwestern Alumni Association. The meeting ended after all items were approved and the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• And then who's going to validate it?
• then<00:09:11.600><c> who's</c><00:09:11.920><c> going</c><00:09:12.000><c> to</c><00:09:12.160><c> validate
• </c><00:09:13.120><c> Says</c> then who's going to validate it?
• Says then who's going to validate it?

Summary: The committee heard House File 2418 from Representative Tabke, a policy bill focused on requiring local governments seeking state bonding support to show whether they have a capital maintenance or preservation plan for the project. The bill was described as a continuation of work with Chair Lee and others to ensure that when the state invests in local capital projects, the local jurisdiction has a plan to maintain the asset over time rather than returning later for additional state funding. Representative Tabke emphasized that the proposal is not intended to block projects, but to provide information to the capital investment process and encourage responsible long-term planning. Members asked several questions about how the requirement would work in practice, including whether a “no” answer on the maintenance-plan checkbox would disqualify projects, how the rule would apply to small communities, and whether major infrastructure such as wastewater or sewer projects would be exempt. Tabke clarified that the intent is informational and that projects without a maintenance plan should raise concerns, but that the proposal would not apply to major utility projects with separate funding mechanisms. He also explained that the earlier draft had been simplified after input from MMB, and that the adopted DE4 amendment adds the requirement through section 16A.86 for political subdivisions submitting bonding requests. Chair Lee and other members supported the concept as a way to ensure state-funded assets are maintained locally and not repeatedly returned to the state for repairs decades later. One member requested clarifying language to make sure the bill does not apply to water treatment or sewer projects, and Tabke agreed that such language could be added. Tabke said the language had been developed with stakeholders including the League of Minnesota Cities, Coalition of Greater Minnesota Cities, and small cities, and that they had agreed on the approach. The committee adopted the DE4 amendment and then laid House File 2418 over for possible future consideration.

Transcript Highlights:

• problems and test solutions, and the Rapid Acquisition and Deployment Program, which helps move validated
• Together, these programs create a clear pipeline from idea to pilot, to validation, to statewide deployment
• also ensures that taxpayer dollars are spent on technologies that have been rigorously tested and validated
• Taxpayer dollars are spent on technologies that have been rigorously tested and validated by operators
• We're lacking pathways, and we're lacking a system to actually test, validate, and deploy that innovation

Committee: Senate Natural Resources and Water

Transcript Highlights:

• You raise a valid point. What I hear you saying, and correct me if I'm wrong, we...
• Just a point, and I think it's a valid point.
• I think the gentleman who said you will stymie investment in water supplies has made a valid point.
• It's a valid concern, and in the growth of Texas, it isn't going away.
• Checking the numbers, fact-checking the validators, that sort of thing.

Bills: SB863 , SB1190 , SB1261 , SB1413 , SB1624 , SB1662 , SB1663 , SB1855 , SB1967 , SB2124 , SB2204 , SB1623

Committee: Senate Water, Agriculture and Rural Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• The other piece that was extremely important, as we had mentioned earlier, was the validation of the
• We are currently validating all of the information that is being utilized In the data in the model, that
• My colleague did touch on some of them, but that includes data validation, putting that into the model
• The first is We're validating the data and information that is being utilized in the model.
• So until that data is validated, we have conceptual numbers, but we don't have any finalized numbers.

Committee: Senate Senate Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• Line 6.19 affects Minnesota Statutes, section 501C.0605, a limitation on action contesting the validity
• 00:07:48.599><c> to</c><00:07:48.800><c> challenge</c><00:07:49.199><c> the</c><00:07:49.360><c> validity
• c><00:07:49.800><c> of</c><00:07:49.960><c> it</c><00:07:50.520><c> it</c> time to challenge the validity
• of it it time to challenge the validity of it it is<00:07:50.800><c> meant</c><00:07:51.039><c> to</
• ><00:11:12.519><c> and</c> prior certificate is still good and prior certificate is still good and valid

Committee: Senate Judiciary and Public Safety