Transcript Highlights:

• “Would be allowed to be larger because these are not 75 percent.
• The 75%, to be clear, that is not the sponsor's language; that's existing law right now.
• Anything that was existing language... ...fair to the sponsor, he didn't pick 75% out of the air.
• So that's 75% of each main structure. You're already allowed by right and potentially a third one.
• I mean, that could add a lot of other... ...75% of that.

Committee: House House Appropriations Committee of Reference

Summary: The committee first took up a discussion-only strike-everything amendment to HB 2211, which would make it unprofessional conduct for certain health care providers to submit offers in independent dispute resolution above 300% of Medicare or the qualified payment amount. The chair said he was not ready to move the bill because more stakeholder meetings were needed. Testimony split between insurers, who said a small number of providers were abusing the No Surprises Act and driving up costs, and provider representatives, who argued the proposal would improperly cap rates, relied on opaque insurer-set QPAs, and could threaten licensure in a billing dispute. No vote was taken on HB 2211. The committee then considered HB 4028 on accessory dwelling units. The bill would remove the 1,000-square-foot cap, change setback rules, bar municipalities from requiring an administrative use permit and certain elevation criteria, and extend the deadline for cities to adopt ADU regulations. The sponsor argued it would give homeowners more flexibility and help address housing affordability, while cities, neighborhood groups, and residents warned it would allow oversized ADUs, reduce local control, create density and safety concerns, and invite investor-driven development. After extensive debate, the committee voted 8-9 with one present, and HB 4028 failed. Next, the committee heard HB 2620, as amended, which appropriates $300,000 annually for five years from the General Fund to the Department of Veterans’ Services for grants to emergency shelters. An amendment removed age and non-congregate-setting conditions for eligibility. The sponsor and a shelter provider said the funding would help shelters better serve homeless veterans and connect them to services. The committee adopted the amendment and then passed HB 2620 on a 17-0 vote with one member not voting. The committee then considered HB 2960, as amended, which creates a veterans specialty court grant program and a dedicated fund to support local veterans treatment courts. An amendment shifted administration of the fund to the Office of the Courts and allowed support for expansion of existing programs. The sponsor, a Lake Havasu judge, and a veteran graduate testified that veterans courts reduce recidivism and save lives by linking veterans to treatment and support. The bill was still being taken up when the transcript ended, with testimony continuing from supporters including a veterans shelter founder.

Transcript Highlights:

• In order to get there, we would require $75 million in cuts to occur.
• In order to get there, we would require $75 million in cuts to occur.
• And so this proposal of cutting $75 million would get us to 27.5. So, Mr.
• So this proposal of cutting $75 million would get us to 27.5.
• So the $75 million gets you to 27.5%.

Bills: SB152 , SB145 , HB2 , SB190 , HB247

Committee: Senate House Appropriations & Finance

Summary: The committee first set aside Senate Bill 247 because the Attorney General and bill sponsor were not present. It then heard Senate Bill 190, which would authorize bonding to help Healer Regional Medical Center in rural southwest New Mexico replace an aging linear accelerator used for cancer radiation treatment. The sponsor and hospital representatives said the equipment is at end of life and that replacing it would keep patients from having to travel long distances for care. The committee adopted a friendly amendment adding an emergency clause, but members then questioned the financing, noting the $5.7 million cost, the lack of local matching funds, and the fact that the equipment’s useful life is only about 10 years while the proposed bonds would run for 30 years. After extended discussion about interest costs and timing, committee members explored alternatives to reduce the state’s borrowing burden, including using existing rural health care funds, federal grant money, or structuring a county lease arrangement rather than issuing bonds. The bill was left pending while staff and the sponsor were asked to look into those options and report back. The committee also briefly heard from the Department of Justice about concerns raised by the Public Education Department regarding Gallup-McKinley and online learning companies; DOJ said investigations were ongoing but it could not say whether a lawsuit would be filed. Members expressed concern about possible large liabilities and discussed bringing the Attorney General and PED Secretary back in executive session. The meeting then shifted to House Bill 2 and related budget matters. Staff walked members through numerous line items, flagging some as potentially duplicative, unspent, or in need of further review, including attorney general litigation funds, rural health, education, transportation, tourism, energy, and economic development items. The committee adopted the “grow” spreadsheet after members said they had reviewed it, and then discussed reserve targets. Staff presented several scenarios to raise reserves from about 26.7% toward the 27.5% target, including cuts to natural resource, environmental, higher education, and transportation appropriations. Members generally favored a flexible “scenario five” approach and were reluctant to sweep older capital outlay projects immediately, preferring to wait until the capital outlay changes bill is resolved. The committee planned to continue the budget discussion the next morning.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm representing myself, and I fully support SB 75.
• I'm representing myself and testifying in support of Senate Bill 75.
• SB 75, you may proceed. Yes, sir.
• For SB 75, is that correct? Yes, sir. You may begin.
• I represent myself, and I am in favor of SB 75. My name is David Tice, I'm the...

Bills: SB34 , SB75 , SB330 , SB1535 , SB18 , SB 18 , SB 34

Committee: House State Affairs

Keywords: wildfire, wildfire mitigation, wildfire prevention, volunteer fire department, Texas A&M Forest Service, West Texas A&M University, prescribed burning, fuel loading, fuel reduction, firefighting equipment database, emergency communications, disaster preparedness, rural fire protection, asset hardening, natural resource management, emergency management, large wildfire risk, fire grant funding, fire suppression, Texas Legislature

Transcript Highlights:

• I-75 auxiliary lanes in Sumter-Marion County. Many of you are familiar with this.
• I-75 is heavily congested. We're already under contract for These auxiliary lanes.
• And things This I-75 auxiliary lane project.
• I also want to talk a little bit about I-75 at Pine Ridge Road.
• Fortunately, in Florida, we are 75% state-funded and 25% federal-funded.

Summary: The Committee on Transportation received a presentation from the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles on Florida’s camera-based traffic enforcement programs: red light cameras, school bus stop-arm cameras, and school zone speed cameras. The department explained how the programs work, including human review of recorded violations, issuance of civil notices to vehicle owners, and escalation to uniform traffic citations if unpaid or uncontested. Officials also outlined the fee structure and reported preliminary data showing 42 red light camera jurisdictions, 496 red light cameras, and more than 923,000 notices of violation in fiscal year 2024-2025, along with growth in school zone and school bus programs. Senators asked about camera placement, signage, review procedures, and whether reviewers or vendors receive revenue from citations; several questions were left for follow-up because the witness did not have all statutory or operational details. The committee then heard an update from FDOT Secretary Jared Perdue on the Moving Florida Forward Infrastructure Initiative, funded by a $4 billion general revenue investment leveraged into a $7 billion program for 20 major projects. He said the initiative is advancing high-priority congestion relief projects across the state, with 80% of the plan expected to be underway by the end of 2026 and the remaining projects in 2027. Perdue highlighted new delivery methods such as modified phased design-build, voluntary acceleration, and structured acceleration, along with workforce and supply-chain efforts, including regional hiring events and aggregate planning. He cited projects such as I-4 congestion relief lanes, Golden Glades, I-95 at US-1, I-75 auxiliary lanes, and I-275 improvements as examples of the program’s progress. Members questioned FDOT about traffic management during construction, subcontracting opportunities for small businesses, public transit planning, contractor safety and fatalities, bridge strikes, logistics access near ports and airports, aggregate supply, local government coordination, and federal funding uncertainty. Perdue said FDOT continuously reevaluates traffic control plans, works with local governments and industry partners, uses small business participation targets, and requires contractors to be in good standing with OSHA and to implement corrective action plans after incidents. He also said Florida’s transportation revenues are flat, the state remains largely state-funded, and additional resources are the main need for future transportation delivery. The committee adjourned after the chair requested FDOT staff provide senators with district-specific project information.

Transcript Highlights:

• Okay, so I'm going to go ahead and start, and I'm going to present AB 234 and AB 75.
• Ahead and start and I'm going to present AB 234 and AB 75.
• Vice Chair and Members, AB 75 requires a notice to be provided to policyholders at least 30 days before
• This is item number three, AB 75 by Assembly Member Calderon.
• This is item number three, AB 75 by Assembly Member Calderon. Berman? Ortega, aye.

Committee: House Insurance

Summary: The Assembly Insurance Committee met as a subcommittee and heard several bills focused on insurance transparency, wildfire mitigation, access to coverage, and workforce issues. AB 75 would require insurers to give homeowners 30 days’ notice before collecting aerial images of their property and allow homeowners to review those images; supporters framed it as a privacy and consumer protection measure, while consumer advocates and insurers sought amendments to strengthen access and clarify coverage. The committee also heard AB 234, which would add the Assembly Speaker and Senate pro tem, or their designees, as nonvoting members of the California FAIR Plan governing committee; supporters said it would improve oversight, while opponents argued it was only a small transparency step and more reform was needed. Both bills were advanced, with AB 75 sent to Privacy and Consumer Protection and AB 234 sent to the Assembly Floor. Members also heard AB 428, which would allow water corporations to participate in joint powers authorities for pooled insurance purposes, with testimony from small water utilities describing steep premium increases and the need to reduce costs. The bill was supported by water industry and labor groups and passed to Local Government. The consent calendar included AB 69, AB 487, and AB 570, all sent to Appropriations. AB 943 would streamline producer pre-licensing education requirements by removing the 20-hour per-line mandate while keeping ethics training; industry sponsors said it would reduce barriers to entry, while consumer advocates warned it could lower professional standards. The committee approved AB 943 to Appropriations. AB 1209 would create a pathway for cannabis employers to secure workers’ compensation coverage and related services through a state-coordinated network, with supporters saying the industry faces unique banking and insurance constraints and that the bill would improve compliance and transparency. Opponents argued it could amount to a form of amnesty and questioned whether the industry was simply avoiding existing requirements. The committee advanced AB 1209 to Business and Professions. Finally, AB 1 would require the Department of Insurance to review and consider updates to the Safer from Wildfire regulations every five years starting in 2030; it drew broad support from the department, insurers, local governments, and fire-safety advocates, and was sent to Appropriations. Most measures passed on strong or unanimous votes, with AB 1209 receiving a 15-2 vote.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> Resolution 75 to the body. Resolution 75 to the body.
• ><c> a</c><01:42:51.280><c> joint</c> Senate Joint Resolution 75, a joint Senate Joint Resolution 75,
• Senate Joint Resolution 75 is a responsible step toward that goal.
• Senate Joint Resolution 75 is district.
• </c> 75 and 76. 75 and 76. and<01:58:54.239><c> to</c><01:58:54.480><c> the</c><01:58:54.639><c> Senate

Transcript Highlights:

• Lines 54 through 75 on page two break out exactly what those change items are in further detail.
• Lines 54 through 75 on page two break out exactly what those change items are in further detail.
• Lines 54 through 75 on page two break out exactly what those change items are in further detail.
• Lines 54 through 75 on page two break out exactly what those change items are in further detail.
• Lines 54 through 75 on page two break out exactly what those change items are in further detail.

Committee: House Housing Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• which would allow candidates participating in the partial public financing program to allocate up to 75%
• It would just allow them to spend up to 75%. More flexibility.
• It would just allow them to spend up to 75%. More flexibility. >> Yes. Okay.
• It would just allow them to spend up to 75%. More flexibility. >> Yes. Okay.
• </c> 75%. More flexibility. 75%. More flexibility. &gt;&gt; Yes.<00:24:21.400><c> Okay.

Bills: HB389 , HB469 , HB1510 , HB1573 , HB1705 , HB1858 , HB1875 , HB1946 , HB1961 , HB1962 , HB2001 , HB2093 , HB2096 , HB2097

Transcript Highlights:

• Most notably, how did FAA allow a helicopter route to come within 75 feet of a runway approach?
• In your one pager you said 75% of the flights are mission rehearsal readiness flights.
• It's 75 feet max if you're hugging the shoreline.
• feet is not enough. 75 feet is the max.
• There's not enough separation. 75 feet is very small.

Committees: Senate Subcommittee on Aviation, Space, and Innovation , Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee

Keywords: aviation safety, midair collision, American Airlines Flight 5342, Army Black Hawk helicopter, NTSB, FAA, ADS-B technology, safety protocols

Summary: The meeting focused on the discussions surrounding the tragic midair collision involving American Airlines Flight 5342 and an Army Black Hawk helicopter, which resulted in the loss of 67 lives. Testimonies were provided by key figures including NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy and FAA Acting Administrator Chris Richelieu. The committee expressed grave concerns regarding the existing safety protocols, questioning why the FAA failed to act on numerous warnings and data indicating potential collision risks. Members emphasized the need for urgent reforms in aviation safety to prevent such tragedies in the future. Specific highlights included the recognition of the importance of ADS-B out technology and concerns about the operational practices of military helicopters in controlled airspaces.

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, the language is uh now changed that um they may charge up to $75.
• So, they could choose not to charge anything or they could choose to charge the full 75.
• 02.240><c> choose</c><00:05:02.720><c> not</c><00:05:02.960><c> to</c><00:05:03.120><c> charge</c> $75
• So, they could choose not to charge $75.
• Um and then there's also the full 75.

Bills: HF2300

Committee: House Judiciary Finance and Civil Law

Transcript Highlights:

• So, you can see that both entities elected to have a distribution of the appropriation to be 75% on a
• And both entities, I think, worked independently and ended up at that 75/25, which was different than
• And it's that 75% for the per capita, and then the 25% by the inverse assessed valuation factor.
• We don't think that the $75 million We don't think that the $75 million is really out of the realm of
• So, 75% generally around population, 25% around the inverse of assessed valuation.

Committee: Joint Appropriations

Transcript Highlights:

• 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75
• Currently, only UT is allowed to cap admissions through the Top 10% Plan, and that cap is 75% of the
• Without having some accommodation here, they're the only ones right now that are 75% correct.
• To 50% from 75% you would have more in the more traditional. holistic review than the top 10%.
• First, Texas Association of Manufacturers, 600 members, 75.

Bills: HB42 , HB 125 , HB 1233 , HB2853 , HB3148 , HB3326 , HB3701 , HB4066 , HB4361 , HB4762 , HB4909 , HB4912 , HB42 , HB125

Committee: House Higher Education

Keywords: higher education, funding, financial allocation, state budget, Texas A&M University, University of Houston, education funding, medical education, osteopathic medicine, healthcare workforce, Tarleton State University, industry-recognized credentials, workforce development, career opportunities, feasibility study, student fees, university funding, student union, education, UT El Paso

Transcript Highlights:

• Our school districts losing the 25% that was part of the 100% left from the 75% going to the bonds.
• It's 75 to the county. I mean, I'm sorry, to the bond.
• It says in here on page 7 a minimum of 75% goes to the district and then no more than 25% goes to the
• Authority to then spend, utilize the 75% they get from this for paying back the bond.
• Madam Chair, Representative Serrato, the 75% is actually directly stated. To only cover the bonds.

Committee: House House Commerce & Economic Development Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• Chief Clerk, please read in Senate Bill 75 by title only.
• The House passed Senate Bill 75 back June 25th, 2025.
• The House passed Senate Bill 75 back June 25th, 2025.
• Please call the roll on Senate Bill 75. Senate Bill 75. Three-fifths vote required. Mrs. Berry? No.
• So, Madam Speaker, I'd like to strike House Bill 75.

Summary: The House convened with quorum, offered prayers and moments of silence for community members who had recently died, and recognized several guests and family members in the chamber. After routine communications and passage of consent calendar 29, the chamber took up a series of measures on the main and colored agendas, with several bills and resolutions passing by voice vote or roll call. Among the measures approved were House Concurrent Resolution 157, which as amended requested a State Lottery report on options to support traditional lottery retailers; Senate Bill 53 on the Delaware Farm to Community Program; Senate Bill 307 on PSC authority for Lifeline telecommunications carriers; Senate Bill 339 clarifying health directive forms in mental health facilities; Senate Bill 235 on manufactured home community rent increases; Senate Bill 325, as amended, updating fire prevention and volunteer fire/EMS background check rules; Senate Bill 309 on inmate work and discharge of incarceration-related balances; Senate Bill 324 on deadly weapons and constable agency representatives; Senate Bill 293 on youth camp child care licensing; Senate Bill 94 on respiratory care practitioners and ECMO medication delivery; and Senate Substitute 2 for Senate Bill 100, proposing a constitutional amendment protecting the right to marry regardless of race or gender while preserving religious freedom. House Bill 188, changing Delaware primary elections to allow unaffiliated voters to choose a party primary, also passed after debate. Two measures drew extended discussion and amendments. Senate Bill 233, requiring snow and ice to be removed from vehicles, was tabled once, then later amended and passed after debate over whether the law was workable for truck drivers and other vehicle operators; a proposed truck-related exemption amendment failed. House Substitute 1 for House Bill 404, creating a pilot program for artificial intelligence and extended reality in schools, passed after testimony from the Department of Education emphasizing guardrails, privacy, and educator oversight, alongside concerns from members about data, bias, and long-term effects. Several items were tabled or reconsidered during the session, and the House adjourned after completing the day’s business.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> action would be to index the current $75 action would be to index the current $75 EV<00:31:30.960
• </c> dramatic change from the current $75 dramatic change from the current $75 fee.<00:46:40.160><c>
• So, with a $75 fee, I Accord about 72.
• This is not the time to take $75 to 200.
• Gas tax 75 search charge is a flat tax.

Transcript Highlights:

• Then the legislators bumped that, I believe, to 75 cents a month, something like that.
• Then the legislators bumped that, I believe, to 75 cents a month, something like that.
• So our so we could charge the 75 cents.
• You're paying 75 cents per device per month.
• There was a lot of cents to 75 cents.

Bills: HB0111 , HB0112 , HB0122

Committee: Senate Appropriations

Transcript Highlights:

• So a conference report is received for House Bill 75. House Bill 75.
• House Bill 75 relates to medical cannabis administration to terminally ill patients.
• This conforms HB 75 to the enrolled version of SB 32, my cognate.
• HB 75 is a bill to address the administration of medical cannabis to patients in health facilities.

Transcript Highlights:

• House Bill 2282 would simply increase the arrest warrant fee from $50 to $75 because, as we all know,
• It raises, from $50 to $75, a court cost in any criminal case where one was... to fund services that
• It raises from $50 to $75 a court cost in any criminal case where one was It raises from $50 to $75 a
• HB 2637 raises the grand jury exemption age to 75 years and older.
• HB 2637 raises the grand jury exemption age to 75 years and older.

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.

Transcript Highlights:

• And then as you move over to performance, you can see where the bill's at 3,500. 75% would be 4,50.
• And then as you move over to performance, you can see where the bill's at 3,500. 75% would be 4,50.
• c> if you could if you're in the middle if you could if you're in the middle level<00:27:19.360><c> 75
• and if you were at that level 75 and if you were at that opportunity<00:27:22.320><c> there</c><00:27
• </c> 75% would be 4,50. 75% would be 4,50.

Bills: SF0018 , SF0036 , SF0047

Committee: House Education

Transcript Highlights:

• If we use a natural gas plant with carbon capture, we can capture 75% of that carbon, and we can place
• This bill would require only 75% capture design capacity of the baseline emissions of the natural gas
• If we allow only 75% effective carbon capture to count toward CETA, we are creating a situation where
• Why 75%? I take that one.
• Although I think the bill says at least a minimum of 75%, so there's no reason that a utility couldn't

Bills: HB2272 , HB2285 , HB2296

Committee: House Environment & Energy

Keywords: ski areas, winter sports, terminology update, recreation, regulatory changes, carbon capture, clean energy, environmental regulation, sustainability, green technology, distributed energy, renewable energy, energy resources, energy policy