Transcript Highlights:

• Moving back to procedural motions, Assistant Majority Leader Garcia, you are recognized for your procedural
• Moving back to procedural motions, Assistant Majority Leader Garcia, you are recognized for your procedural
• This bill enjoys support and recommendations from both houses. Respectfully ask for an aye vote.
• Without this certainty, critical housing efforts are left in limbo, undermined by lawsuits unrelated
• Madam Majority Leader, you are recognized for your procedural motion.

Summary: The Assembly met after a quorum call and proceeded with prayers, the Pledge of Allegiance, journal approval, and a series of procedural motions, including suspending rules to allow same-day action on certain measures and guest introductions. Members also introduced interns, district staff, and visitors from their districts before moving to the daily file and concurrence calendar. The chamber took up several budget and policy bills. AB 104, a budget bill making technical and conforming changes to the 2025 Budget Act and extending loan repayment terms for two Imperial County hospitals, passed concurrence 53-1. AB 138, which ratified additional MOUs and contract addenda with estimated General Fund savings, also passed concurrence 53-4 after debate over whether the state was deferring costs and underfunding retiree health obligations. Other concurrence items passed unanimously or nearly so, including AB 1114 on private ambulance toll waivers, AB 642 on emergency-related provisions, AB 1051 on state highways, AB 1533 appropriating funds for state claims, AB 1459 on hazardous materials program technical changes, and SB 611 on housing and land-use litigation delays, which passed 66-0 on both the urgency and the measure. SB 251, another claims-appropriation bill, passed 64-0. The Assembly also adopted the consent calendar, with several items removed at the authors’ request, and approved additional consent measures such as ACR 13, SB 255, SB 387, SB 428, SB 602, SB 648, SB 652, SB 693, SCR 48, and SCR 79. Near the end of the session, members delivered adjournment-in-memory tributes to James Raymond Bell and Gail Yolanda McGowan. The House then announced summer recess, ordered the desk open for committee reports through July 18, and set the Assembly to reconvene on Monday, August 18, at 1 p.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• Madam Chair and members, Senate Bill 1015, Gender Transition Procedures Provider Liability, passed out
• Senate Bill 1015, Gender Transition Procedures Provider Liability, passed out on a party-line vote.
• It passed party-line out of House Enruhs. It is not on the consent calendar.
• House Bill or Senate Bill 1683, Valeria.
• It passed out of the House. FAME now entitled ballot measure circulators disclosures.

Summary: The caucus reviewed a long list of bills, with members instructed to move quickly, note short titles, and pull only selected measures from consent. Many bills were reported as passing committee on party-line votes or with split votes, while others were unanimous. Several members repeatedly requested bills be pulled from consent, especially on contentious topics such as artificial intelligence content verification, gender transition procedures provider liability, vaccine reimbursement rates, light rail expansion feasibility, public employee merit hiring, health board evaluations, rural health funding, patient steering, DCS policies, school safety, virtual currency payments, undocumented immigrants’ financial services, central bank digital currency, and various criminal justice and education measures. A number of bills drew brief substantive comments or objections. One member criticized SB 1015 on Trans Visibility Day. Another raised concerns about fingerprinting requirements for behavioral health facilities, arguing similar safeguards should apply to universal voucher programs. Judiciary-related bills also prompted strong reactions, including measures on narcotics sentencing for minors, probation and immigration notification, crimes against children monitoring, and a death penalty bill involving firing squad, which drew an explicit objection for the record. Several bills were flagged because of split votes, Democratic no votes, or concerns about funding, constitutional issues, or policy consistency. The caucus also discussed a blue-sheet amendment to HB 2874 on campaign committee termination statements and penalties. Members asked about the retroactive date, the size of outstanding fines, the Secretary of State’s position, and who offered the Senate amendment. Supporters described it as a cleanup bill that would help committees close out old accounts, while others questioned the retroactive scope and financial impact. The chair ultimately announced that Mr. Winninger was refusing the Senate amendment, so final passage would not occur that day and the measure would instead go to conference committee or remain unresolved.

Transcript Highlights:

• House Bill 2394. House Bill 2394 is basically a pretty simple bill.
• I believe in the statewide testing procedure.
• I believe in the statewide testing procedure.
• Is there anyone here that is opposed to House Bill 2394?
• If you are in favor of House Bill 2180, please proceed. Good morning, Mr.

Committees: House Local Government , House Local Government, Elections and Pensions

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> you'll be okay with the House position? you'll be okay with the House position?
• a House position doesn't matter.
• I have read the House version of it.
• </c> from from the house version of of 210. from from the house version of of 210.
• </c><03:35:31.120><c> are</c> um if some of these uh procedures are um if some of these uh procedures

Summary: The committee of conference spent most of its time on Senate Bill 96, which deals with educator conduct and when information may be withheld from parents. The main dispute was over the House-amended language on violations and the “compelling state interest” standard. The Senate sponsor objected to extending penalties to third-party medical or mental health contractors and to language suggesting psychological or emotional injury to a child would not constitute a compelling state interest. The House side argued its draft was intended to keep the bill focused on credentialed educators and administrators, to include parents or guardians, and to avoid creating competing standards by relying on existing abuse definitions in statute. The House also added a requirement that any withholding of information be documented and reported to the school board in nonpublic session, and both sides discussed whether educators, administrators, nurses, and guidance counselors would be covered under the statutory definition of educator. The discussion also covered enforcement and penalties. The House draft proposed that an educator found to have willfully violated the law could have a credential suspended for a first offense and would face a minimum one-year suspension for multiple offenses, while the Senate raised concerns that this was too rigid and did not allow enough discretion or address revocation. The House later explained that the department would still have discretion on first offenses and that the one-year rule applied only to multiple offenses. Another point of disagreement was a three-year statute of limitations for investigations, which the House said was meant to prevent “witch hunts,” while the Senate noted New Hampshire’s constitutional prohibition on retroactive laws. After caucusing, the Senate rejected the House amendment, and the House then voted non-concur; the committee of conference adjourned without agreement. The transcript then moved to Senate Bill 87, concerning one-day liquor license requirements and allowing salons and barber shops to obtain on-premise licenses. The members discussed a House amendment that would allow two drinks instead of one, with supporters saying the change reflected the longer time customers may spend in salons and that alcohol service would still be covered by existing training requirements, including the EDGE course. Opponents worried that allowing multiple drinks would create over-serving and enforcement problems and could complicate business practices. After discussion, the Senate member agreed to go along with the House position, and the bill was reported ready for final sign-off.

Transcript Highlights:

• Clark, we will follow that<00:10:10.160><c> procedure.
• Resolutions, petitions, that procedure.
• Hearing none, we will follow that procedure.
• I move that the House stand adjourned till Monday at 4:00 p.m.
• The House will stand adjourned until Monday, 4:00 p.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• Irby, anything to add to that procedurally? No, sir. Okay.
• Had your parents moved everything out of the house? Yes, to my knowledge.
• So it was an empty house when your grandparents moved to Texas or wherever?
• Under Rule 12(b)(6) of the Civil Procedure Rules, but nothing else. Okay. All right.
• But I do agree that this is a procedure that we likely need to try to fix.

Committee: All JBC-CLAIMS

Summary: The Joint Budget Committee’s Claims Review and Litigation Oversight Subcommittee met to consider two proposed litigation settlements from the Department of Corrections and one appealed claim from the Claims Commission. In the first settlement, Caroline Arnett v. Larry Norris, et al., members asked about the underlying sexual assault allegations, whether policies had changed, and whether PREA audits and other safeguards were in place. The department said audits were underway and that steps had been taken to prevent similar conduct. The committee approved the settlement by voice vote. In the second settlement, Latasha Ridgel v. Arkansas Department of Corrections, members raised concerns about the length of the case and the fact that it involved similar allegations. The department cited attorney turnover, COVID-related delays, and scheduling difficulties; the settlement was approved by voice vote. The committee then reviewed Sharon Greer and Deanna Hayes v. Commissioner of State Lands, an appeal of a Claims Commission dismissal involving a 2009 tax sale of family property in Crittenden County. The claimants said they did not learn of the sale or the $4,200 in excess proceeds until 2025, and argued that notice was inadequate and that the overage should not have gone to the county. The Commissioner of State Lands’ office responded that notice was sent to addresses on file, certified mail receipts were returned, and a post-sale notice explained the process for contesting the sale and claiming excess proceeds. The office also argued the claim was untimely, that the commission lacked jurisdiction, and that state law bars monetary damages against the commissioner for actions related to tax-delinquent land sales. Members discussed broader concerns about the tax-sale and excess-proceeds process, including whether excess proceeds should be held longer or routed differently, but noted those issues would require legislative changes rather than action in this case. The committee then voted to affirm the Claims Commission’s dismissal of the claim. The meeting adjourned after the motion passed.

Transcript Highlights:

• 2 3 The House will come to order. The following bills on first reading and referral to committee.
• On elections hb 1091 by paul relating to the practices and procedures for an early voting ballot voted
• Relating to a program of providing housing vouchers for emergency medical services personnel in certain
• of Housing and Community Affairs, refer to the Committee on Intergovernmental Affairs.
• The house will stand at ease until 2 p.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:02:18.879><c> file</c> carrying house file carrying house file 2429<00:02:21.000><c> which</c
• Representative Elkins has House File 2429, which is the data-sharing portion, and I'm carrying House
• </c> required um so if there are procedures required um so if there are procedures that<00:35:59.960>
• </c> presentation next we'll move to house presentation next we'll move to house file<01:02:24.319><c
• </c><01:02:48.359><c> file</c> committee I will move that house file committee I will move that house

Bills: HF1470 , HF1310 , HF1837

Committee: House State Government Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• You should have in front of you the guidelines and procedures informational.
• Shan, just to accept the procedures of the committee.
• The organization, procedures, and guidelines basically address two issues.
• > committee</c> um procedure procedures of the committee um procedure procedures of the committee you
• or in the Senate if it passes the House.

Summary: The Capital Project Overview Committee held an organizational meeting. Members elected Rep. Miltz as chair and later nominated Sen. Mark McConkey as vice chair, but that appointment was carried over because he was not present to accept it. Mike Edgar was nominated and accepted as clerk. The committee also adopted its procedures and guidelines, which set deadlines for agencies to submit capital project materials and establish reporting thresholds intended to keep small projects out of the quarterly report. The main discussion centered on the Department of Administrative Services’ quarterly capital budget project report for the quarter ending December 31, 2024. Staff explained that the report compiles statewide capital projects under the committee’s guidelines and includes new projects plus large DOT projects. Several members raised concerns about projects listed as on hold or lacking updates, including the Big E agricultural building rebid, a prison woodworking facility, Pease pier projects, the General Sullivan Bridge removal, Sunapee State Beach parking lot work, and a closed-loop referral contract. Members asked for better status updates, especially on projects with no agency response, and the chair said agencies could be asked to appear before the committee if needed. Members also discussed the governor’s proposal in HB 2 to change the report from quarterly to annual. Several members opposed the change, saying quarterly reporting is more useful for oversight, and suggested the committee ask Finance to remove that section or consider raising the reporting threshold instead. There was also discussion of toll credits, with staff explaining that any other use of toll credits requires committee approval, and of the Department of Corrections’ prison planning funds, including $50 million currently available for site feasibility and design work. The committee agreed to schedule its next meeting for April 14, with June 23 to be revisited later, and then adjourned by voice vote.

Transcript Highlights:

• House File 1934.
• House File 1934 committee members.
• So if House access dental providers.
• The chair lays over<00:18:46.640><c> House</c><00:18:46.960><c> File</c> over House File over House File
• </c><00:21:34.960><c> file</c> 4 is representative leings house file 4 is representative leings house

Committee: House Health Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• Any objection to that procedure? procedure? procedure?
• </c> Anyone object that procedure? Anyone object that procedure?
• Do you object that<01:20:20.920><c> procedure?</c> that procedure? that procedure?
• </c> House<03:36:11.680><c> Bill</c><03:36:11.800><c> 1772</c> House Bill 1772 House Bill 1772 uh<03:
• Anyone object to that procedure? procedure? procedure?

Transcript Highlights:

• I mean, we close our houses electronically.
• Which is to testify for or against House Bill 3097.
• The chair moves that House Bill 5256 as substituted be reported favorably to the full House.
• The chair moves that House Bill 4288 as substituted be... ...reported favorably to the full House for
• The chair moves that House Bill 5362 be passed.

Bills: HB3097 , HB3691 , SB108 , SB827 , SB1541 , SB1862 , SB2166 , SB2216

Committee: House Elections

Keywords: Texas elections, Election Code, uniform election date, November election, local elections, political subdivisions, general election date, election administration, municipal utility district, county elections, local government, ballot scheduling, candidate filing, voter turnout, election calendar, HB 3097, early voting, electronic application, mail-in ballot, voting accessibility

Transcript Highlights:

• Welcome to the President's Day version of the Joint Administrative Procedures Committee.
• on the other side of the house.
• It is in the manner of a type of procedure of a mediation.
• The material will be forwarded to the Senate President, the House Speaker.
• The material will be forwarded to the Senate President, the House Speaker.

Summary: The Joint Administrative Procedures Committee heard a presentation from Representative Esposito on a proposal to strengthen oversight of agency rulemaking under Chapter 120. The bill would require cost-benefit analysis at the front end and after implementation, create an eight-year sunset and review process for rules, and require express legislative authority for agency rulemaking. Members questioned the lack of concrete examples of burdensome rules, the effect on already slow rulemaking, the choice of an eight-year sunset, and the bill’s origin; Esposito said she was working with stakeholders and cited her chamber-of-commerce background and research with the Cicero Institute. No vote was taken on the bill itself. Staff then reported on legislatively mandated rulemaking from 2023 and 2024, noting that most required rules had been adopted, proposed, noticed, or scheduled, with a few agencies still outstanding. The Department of Financial Services explained a delayed notice of rule development for the MySafe Florida Home condominium pilot program as an oversight that has since been corrected, and the Department of Education said it did not proceed with rulemaking for the Fostering Prosperity grants because the program received no funding in the 2025 budget. The Department of Health described delayed rulemaking for the sickle cell disease and trait registry, saying the registry and opt-out forms were being implemented and that notices of rule development had now been filed. Members pressed the department on why rules took so long and discussed the need for statutory deadlines. The Department of Children and Families reported on two 2023 human-trafficking-related rules: signage requirements for residential treatment facilities and children’s safe homes, and a new certification process for adult safe homes. DCF said the signage rule is now moving forward and the adult safe home certification rule has been submitted for final review after workshops and stakeholder feedback. Senators questioned the lengthy timeline and the lack of oversight during the interim, while the chair emphasized the need for time-certain deadlines in legislation and for JAPAC oversight hearings. The committee also considered staff-proposed amendments to Chapter 120 addressing emergency rules pending legislative ratification and the process for initiating ratification, including a one-year limit and notice to JAPAC. After discussion, the committee voted to forward the proposed amendments to the Senate President and House Speaker. Finally, members discussed a proposed amendment to the administrative law judge appointment and retention process under Section 120.65. DOAH’s interim director opposed the change, saying ALJs and workers’ compensation judges have different functions and warning against shifting appointment power to cabinet officers whose agencies appear before DOAH. Members raised concerns about timeliness, consistency, and accountability in DOAH decisions. The committee voted to forward this proposal as well, with Senator Smith voting no on that motion.

Transcript Highlights:

• Last call for anyone in favor of House Bill 3470.
• It's my honor to present to you House Bill 1872.
• Again, minor to procedures.
• Next in favor of House Bill 1872. Thank you. Thank you. Next in favor of House Bill 1872.
• House Bill 1872 alleviates that.

Committee: House Children and Families

Summary: The Committee on Children and Families heard public testimony on three bills. House Bill 3470, sponsored by Rep. Schmidt, would create a Missouri partner network linking state agencies, nonprofits, faith-based groups, and private partners through a website and case-management system to connect adults 18 and over who opt in with resources for employment, housing, education, and self-sufficiency. Supporters described the model as already working in 36 counties through the Care Portal and emphasized efficiency, reduced duplication, and stronger family outcomes. Committee members generally supported the concept and asked about opt-in participation, navigators, and how nonprofits would be included as true partners; no opposition testimony was offered. House Bill 3322, sponsored by Rep. Hausman, would extend foster-care school stability timelines from 10 days to 30 days, or 60 days in summer, and increase the mileage limit for remaining in a school of origin from 10-15 miles to 30 miles. The sponsor and witnesses from the Foster and Adoptive Care Coalition and Foster Adopt Connect said the current limits can force unnecessary school changes and are especially difficult in rural areas, while the bill would better preserve continuity for children in foster care. Committee members asked about edge cases, transportation, and whether the child’s best interests would still control; there was no opposition testimony. House Bill 1872, presented by Rep. Reuter, would allow survivors of domestic violence to seek resentencing if the abuse was related to the offense, so that the abuse can be considered as mitigating evidence after conviction or plea. Supporters, including a survivor, Missouri Appleseed, Forward.US, and Empower Missouri, said the bill would address cases where abuse was not fully considered at the original sentencing and would provide a second look for people serving long sentences. Several members raised procedural concerns about how the bill would interact with trial strategy, existing battered spouse syndrome law, evidentiary requirements, and appeals; the sponsor said he was open to revisions. No opposition testimony was presented, and the committee adjourned after the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• transmitted: House File 3516, House File 3528, and House File 3718.
• </c> House file 1410. House file 1410. Senator<00:13:06.720><c> Limmer.</c> Thank you, Mr.
• House File 1410 contains important updates to the corrections officers discipline procedures act.
• </c><00:17:00.440><c> House</c> House file 1410 a third reading.
• House House file 1410 a third reading.

Transcript Highlights:

• Members of the House, let us pray.
• The committee has properly enrolled a number of House resolutions and House bills, respectfully submitted
• Committee is properly enrolled a number of House resolutions, and House bills respectfully submitted
• House and Government.
• Introduction of House Resolutions.

Bills: HR295 , HR296 , HR297 , HR298 , HR299 , HR300 , HR301 , HR302 , HR303 , HR304 , HR305 , HR306 , HR307 , HCR115 , HCR116 , HCR117 , HR286 , HR287 , HR288 , HR290 , HR291 , HR292 , HR293 , HR294 , SCR61 , SCR68 , SB121 , SB250 , SB348 , SB444 , SB485 , HR252 , HR253 , HCR96 , HCR103 , HCR108 , SB268 , SB283 , SB414 , HCR98 , HR179 , HR223 , HR225 , HR274 , HCR89 , HCR26 , HB250 , HB265 , HB339 , HB427 , HB445 , HB463 , HB468 , HB606 , HB639 , HB649 , HB665 , HB746 , HB781 , HB853 , HB861 , HB872 , HB886 , HB916 , HB937 , HB1054 , HB1068 , HB1117 , HB1237 , HB74 , HB108 , HB956 , HB1085 , HB1137 , HB75 , SB39 , SB99 , SB111 , SB112 , SB124 , SB134 , SB174 , SB189 , SB190 , SB201 , SB233 , SB236 , SB258 , SB270 , SB273 , SB288 , SB307 , SB313 , SB320 , SB321 , SB325 , SB326 , SB331 , SB339 , SB341 , SB345 , SB346 , SB347 , SB353 , SB357 , SB359 , SB387 , SB393 , SB401 , SB415 , SB419 , SB422 , SB426 , SB435 , SB437 , SB440 , SB451 , SB464 , SB470 , SB487 , SB488 , SB495 , SB504 , SB505 , SB518 , SB523 , HR84 , HB646 , HB998 , HB1191 , SB78 , SB81 , SB97 , SB100 , SB109 , SB123 , SB125 , SB208 , SB385 , SB479 , SB56 , SB163 , SB197 , HB901 , HR20 , HR74 , HR168 , HCR65 , HCR71 , HB284 , HB302 , HB306 , HB341 , HB366 , HB393 , HB458 , HB577 , HB603 , HB605 , HB614 , HB625 , HB733 , HB752 , HB773 , HB798 , HB911 , HB955 , HB996 , HB1035 , HB1069 , HB1113 , HB1140 , HB1180 , HB1240 , HB1255 , SB82 , SB89 , HB134 , HB258 , HB359 , HB782 , SB29 , SB42 , SB43 , SB149 , SB382 , SB441

Summary: The House met on May 18, 2026, with a quorum present, and began with prayer, the pledge, leave requests, and several personal privileges recognizing visitors and groups at the Capitol, including early education advocates, a poster contest winner, Entergy’s River Bend Nuclear Station on its 40th anniversary, a Children’s Miracle Network champion, Community Action leaders, and Leadership Tangipahoa participants. The chamber also received Senate messages, enrollment reports, a conference committee report on Senate Bill 149 that was allowed to lie over, and a long list of House resolutions and Senate bills that were either introduced, referred, or set aside for later consideration. Several resolutions were adopted without objection, including measures recognizing Early Education Day, World Preeclampsia Awareness Day, Dora’s Voyager, Tourism Day, and National Mississippi River Day, while House Concurrent Resolution 98 on SNAP grocery delivery fees failed on reconsideration by a vote of 46 yeas to 39 nays. The House then took up a series of Senate bills. Among the measures passed were SB 39 on provisional massage therapist licenses; SB 111 on freshwater recreational fish limits in the Atchafalaya Basin; SB 124 on peer review confidentiality for health systems; SB 134 on child sexual abuse material and sexting involving minors under 17; SB 99 on electronic DEQ notifications; SB 190 on special-focus nursing facilities; SB 201 on juvenile life-without-parole sentencing procedures; SB 233 on a statewide data exchange compact; SB 236 on annual kidney disease reporting; SB 258 on juvenile traffic offenses; SB 270 on medical marijuana use by terminally ill patients in health care facilities; SB 273 on hospice care requirements; SB 307 on educational displays and a Ten Commandments monument on Capitol grounds; SB 320 on CODIS hit tracking; SB 321 on electronic bonds; SB 325 on excluding threatening persons from sports wagering; SB 331 on temporary exceptions to the Scenic Rivers Act for lower Pearl River Basin work; SB 339 on gaming-related background checks; SB 345 on annual OJJ reporting; SB 346 and SB 347 on deepfake misuse in schools and on campuses; SB 357 on judiciary cleanup provisions; SB 359 on hospital district commissioner terms; SB 387 on pharmacy benefit managers; SB 393 on explosives regulation; SB 401 creating a Prescription Drug Affordability Board; SB 415 creating the Empower Louisiana Food Purchase Program; SB 419 on pre-charged pneumatic devices for deer hunting; SB 422 on unsupervised probation for certain repeat DWI offenders; SB 426 on the Addictive Disorder Regulatory Authority and peer support credentials; SB 435 creating a Commission on Fatherhood Engagement; SB 437 on licensed treatment services in facilities housing judicially referred residents; SB 440 creating a Renaissance District in Rapides Parish; SB 451 on newborn hearing screening and intervention; SB 464 on severe obesity treatment coverage; SB 470 on pregnancy-related rules in correctional facilities; SB 487 on gaming premises rental agreements; and SB 488 creating a school safety drone response pilot program. Several bills were returned to the calendar for later action, including SB 189 on atmospheric releases affecting weather and climate, SB 326, SB 341, SB 353, and SB 495. A number of bills drew debate over policy and fiscal effects. SB 112 on school release time for religious instruction prompted questions about public-school participation, sponsoring entities, and parental consent; SB 189 on prohibiting intentional atmospheric release of substances for climate or weather modification passed 75-21 after questions about aircraft fuel dumping and agricultural exceptions; SB 201 on juvenile sentencing led to discussion of Supreme Court precedent and appellate review; SB 233 raised privacy concerns about interagency data sharing; SB 313 on electronic filing fees in criminal matters was criticized as a possible unfunded mandate and failed 25-68; and SB 451 on newborn hearing screening drew questions about board expansion, Medicaid coverage, and added administrative costs before passing 94-1. Most other bills passed with little or no opposition, and the House repeatedly adopted motions to table reconsideration after final passage votes. The chamber also announced it would stop debate at 5:00 p.m. and continued working through Senate bills as the Natural Resources Committee finished its meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• Last year we passed House Bill 633, which required substantial reporting and transparency of the behavioral
• So basically, we'll give an overview of House Bill 633.
• So this phase established clear timelines for follow-up procedures to guarantee effective remediation
• It included establishment of the procedure codes and diagnosis codes for all services, development of
• You talked about how House Bill 633 requires monthly reports on outcomes... ...being published on the

Summary: The subcommittee heard two Department of Children and Families implementation updates on measures passed in prior sessions. First, DCF reviewed House Bill 633, which increased oversight of behavioral health managing entities through biennial independent audits, standardized claims-based reporting, and new monthly outcome dashboards. The department said it had awarded the inaugural audit to Ernst & Young, found no significant waste, fraud, or abuse, but identified process risks involving financial controls, claims validation, data access, and system access controls. DCF also described its transition to standardized behavioral health coding and said the new public dashboard of 11 measures is posted on its website, though members asked for easier access and for hard copies of the audit report. Members asked about how the department distinguishes Medicaid-covered services from department-funded services, how duplicate payment risks are being addressed, and whether the new reporting and audit requirements would improve oversight without disrupting services. DCF said it is the payer of last resort for uninsured or underinsured individuals, that some overlap with Medicaid is expected because Medicaid does not cover all behavioral health services, and that new claims edits and cross-checks are being built into the system. The department also said it had not found significant negative feedback from providers and that the new requirements are intended to improve transparency and accountability. DCF then updated the committee on Senate Bill 7012, covering human trafficking data collection, domestic violence center certification, limited background-screening exemptions, expanded recruitment for child welfare staff, subcontractor liability protections, a four-year treatment foster care pilot, case management efficiency recommendations, and a statewide study of residential bed capacity for child victims of commercial sexual exploitation. The department said several items are already complete or underway, including limited exemptions in the screening clearinghouse, while others are in procurement or rulemaking. It identified Circuits 4 and 12 as the treatment foster care pilot sites and said the pilot will launch in January 2026. Members questioned recruitment metrics, pilot timing, and report deadlines; the department said final reports are expected by January and that some dates were flexible because of procurement and implementation timelines. The meeting ended after the presentations and questions, and the subcommittee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• I launched my campaign for the House.
• </c> to run for the house. to run for the house.
• We go through all the procedures.
• </c><00:18:40.800><c> were</c> in these 8 years of the house were in these 8 years of the house were
• We go through all the procedures. it. We go through all the procedures.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> going to take up is House going to take up is House Well,<00:13:49.280><c> I</c><00:13:49.320><c
• </c> this bill establishes a procedure this bill establishes a procedure procedure<00:33:46.800><c> to
• </c> evaluation procedure. Same words. evaluation procedure. Same words.
• </c> permitting proceeding procedures. permitting proceeding procedures.
• </c> transitional housing. transitional housing.

Committee: Senate Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• The chair calls House Bill 171. The chair sends up the committee substitute for House Bill 171.
• We are for House Bill 3464.
• authors in the House.
• Chair lays out House Bill 2637.
• Chair moves that House Bill...

Bills: HB47 , HB171 , HB285 , HB305 , HB449 , HB908 , HB 1024 , HB 1306 , HB1443 , HB1445 , HB1741 , HB1866 , HB1902 , HB2001 , HB2282 , HB2355 , HB2492 , HB2637 , HB2697 , HB3464 , HB4263 , HB4996 , HB5667 , HB47 , HB171 , HB285 , HB305

Committee: Senate Criminal Justice

Summary: The Senate Committee on Criminal Justice met with a quorum and heard a long agenda of bills on criminal justice, public safety, mental health, victims’ rights, and related administrative issues. Early bills included HB 47, the omnibus sexual assault survivors bill, which would expand post-assault care, require courts to consider delays for adult survivors, bar sex offenders from rideshare driving, allow lease termination regardless of where an assault occurred, and require more reporting from sexual assault response teams. Testimony was generally supportive, though one witness raised concern that the bill’s reporting requirements could jeopardize county grant funding. HB 171, the Annel Borrego Act, would set a minimum period for court-ordered chemical dependency treatment; NAMI Texas supported it. HB 908 would require missing children reports to be sent to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children within two hours, and HB 1443 would criminalize possession and promotion of childlike sex dolls; both drew supportive testimony and were left pending. HB 567, changing juvenile board chair selection in Parker County, and HB 4263, a TJJD workforce retention bill, were also heard and left pending after brief discussion and adoption of committee substitutes where applicable. The committee also heard several bills focused on jail and prison safety, court process, and victim protection. HB 2282 would raise the arrest warrant fee from $50 to $75; constables supported it as a cost-recovery measure, while the Texas Fair Defense Project opposed it as a regressive fee that burdens low-income defendants. HB 3464 would increase penalties for correctional employees who bring drugs or alcohol into prisons, with support from Harris County jail officials and a formerly incarcerated advocate who described the dangers of contraband and retaliation. HB 285, “Poncho’s Law,” would add criminal negligence to non-livestock animal cruelty offenses; animal welfare advocates said it would close a loophole that lets pet service businesses avoid accountability, and the bill was left pending. HB 2355 would keep certain Crime Victims Compensation records confidential when held by the Attorney General, and HB 2637 would standardize jury exemption ages and clean up jury disqualification reporting; both were left pending after limited testimony. Mental health and competency-related bills received significant attention. HB 305 would require a pretrial hearing within 14 days after a defendant is restored to competency, aimed at reducing repeated decompensation and the forensic waitlist; NAMI Texas supported it. HB 1741 would tighten procedures for not-guilty-by-reason-of-insanity outpatient commitments by requiring a stronger nexus to the receiving county and clearer supervision authority; law enforcement and mental health witnesses said it would improve public safety and treatment success. HB 2492 would make the four-hour family-violence post-bond cooling-off period mandatory rather than discretionary, and HB 1445 would allow a managed assigned counsel director to designate someone to approve certain payments for indigent defense attorneys; both were left pending. HB 1024 would require prompt execution of warrants for parole violators on superintensive supervision, and HB 1306 would extend first-responder-style benefits to death investigation professionals; neither drew opposition in the hearing. The committee also heard a series of public integrity and technology bills. HB 449 would expand the deepfake sexual content statute to include sexually explicit images, with Public Citizen supporting the change as necessary to address a rapidly growing problem. HB 1902 would create a new offense for “jugging,” or following bank or ATM customers to rob them; the Texas Bankers Association supported it. HB 2697 would require sureties to notify prosecutors before surrendering a felony defendant’s bond, and HB 2001 would sharply increase penalties for misuse of public information for financial gain and related coercion, with prosecutors and Texas Rangers describing bid-rigging and public corruption investigations as difficult to prove under current law because of short limitations periods and limited penalties. HB 1866 would grant Texas peace officer authority to National Park Service rangers within Texas park boundaries, and HB 4996 would increase penalties for fraudulent liens filed against public servants. Throughout the hearing, most bills were left pending after testimony, and several committee substitutes were adopted without objection.