Transcript Highlights:

• I am against this bill because it will undermine my work and research by Texas A&M, Texas State, and
• I focus on the Edwards Plateau of Texas that.
• So I am working with a team that includes Texas A&M Natural Resources Institute, the Texas Wildlife Association
• I am the mayor of Westlake Hills, Texas.
• Think about why trees are important to us and what makes Texas Texas. That seal.

Bills: SB 434, SB 844, SB 898, SB 1177, SB 1214, SB 1454, SB 1920, SB 1927, SB 1935, SB 1965, SB 2010, SB 2046, SB 2068, SB 2073, SB 2183, SB 2260, SB 3034, SB 907

Keywords: SB 434, Harris County Hospital District, hospital district police, peace officers, commissioned officers, law enforcement authority, Health and Safety Code, Code of Criminal Procedure, public safety, hospital security, county hospital district, local government, Texas criminal procedure, district police, armed security, SB 898, low income housing tax credits, LIHTC, affordable housing, Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• Property Code.
• And Senator Inohosa, Chapter 209 of the Texas Property Code legally requires every owner the right to
• Some cities are looking at passing, doing a tax election, property tax election.
• I'm from San Antonio, Texas. Hi, my name is Vanessa Peña. I'm from San Antonio, Texas.
• Senate Bill 2183 proposes amendments to the Texas Occupations Code to standardize the permitted sales

Bills: SB434, SB844, SB898, SB1177, SB1214, SB1454, SB1920, SB1927, SB1935, SB1965, SB2010, SB2046, SB2068, SB2073, SB2183, SB2260, SB3034, SB907

Keywords: SB 434, Harris County Hospital District, hospital district police, peace officers, commissioned officers, law enforcement authority, Health and Safety Code, Code of Criminal Procedure, public safety, hospital security, county hospital district, local government, Texas criminal procedure, district police, armed security, SB 898, low income housing tax credits, LIHTC, affordable housing, Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs

Summary: The committee heard several bills dealing with local government authority, homeowners associations, hospital district policing, school AED inspections, special district annexation, public contracting penalties, and guaranteed income programs. Senate Bill 2073 by Sen. Zaffirini would clarify that appraisal districts may finance purchases, leases, or construction of real property for appraisal offices without prior approval from taxing units; it was supported by the Texas Association of Appraisal Districts and left pending. Senate Bill 1935 by Sen. Hinojosa would increase homeowner control of property owners association boards, require more transparency, limit fines and assessment increases, and require accessible meeting locations; HOA and builder representatives opposed it, arguing it would hinder maintenance and make dues harder to manage, and the bill was left pending. Senate Bill 434 by Sen. Miles would authorize Harris County Hospital District police officers, was supported by Harris Health, and was left pending. Senate Bill 1177 by Sen. Alvarado, as substituted, would require school AED inspections during fire inspections and reporting to school leadership; it was left pending. Senate Bill 1214 by Sen. Perry would update Concho County Hospital District law to align with current procurement and notice rules; it was left pending. Senate Bill 1965 by Sen. Middleton, for Sen. King, would tighten notice and proximity rules for special district annexations; district witnesses warned the bill could interfere with service to noncontiguous tracts, and the bill was left pending. The committee also took up Senate Bill 2046 by Sen. Bettencourt, which would increase criminal penalties for county purchasing act violations involving unauthorized separate or sequential purchases to evade competitive bidding, and create a tiered penalty structure based on contract amount. Former Harris County DA Kim Ogg, Deputy Attorney General Josh Reno, and James Quintero supported the bill, citing recent Harris County bid-rigging cases and arguing the current Class C misdemeanor penalty is too weak to deter misconduct; some members questioned whether the proposed thresholds were too low and whether stronger oversight, rather than higher penalties alone, would be more effective. The bill was left pending. Finally, Senate Bill 2010 by Sen. Bettencourt would bar counties and other political subdivisions from operating guaranteed income programs and address constitutional gift-clause concerns. Testimony split sharply: Ogg and Quintero argued such programs are unconstitutional, can be used for political data collection, and should not be funded with public money, while Paige Terry Barry defended the bill as protecting taxpayers and discouraging dependency. Senators also debated whether the state can restrict use of federal grant funds and whether local governments should be allowed to run such programs; the bill was left pending.

Transcript Highlights:

• Texas Water Code Section 36.1015 allows for a petition and hearing process and for groundwater districts
• State laws and rules were regulated by TCEQ through the Texas administrative code.
• The, the, uh, uh, water code provides for vacancies to be filled by election of the other directors.
• Currently, the Texas Water Code mandates that entities constructing reservoirs on tracts of land attempt
• Without a doubt, Texas needs more water.

Bills: HB 937, HB 2078, HB 2080, HB 3322, HB 3350, HB 4212, HB 4630, HB 4896, HB 4951, HB 5348, HB 5675, SB 565, SB 971, SB 1662, SB 2124

Keywords: special districts, notice requirements, Water Code, government transparency, public meetings, meeting notice, transparency, public engagement, notice, elections, groundwater management, water conservation, joint planning, environmental impact, desired future conditions, groundwater, conservation district, environmental quality, regulatory review, water utility

Transcript Highlights:

• Administrative Code.
• The Water Code provides for vacancies to be filled by election of the other directors.
• Texas Water Code mandates that entities constructing reservoirs on tracts of land attempt to do environmental
• Without a doubt, Texas needs more water.
• There's not enough water in Texas.

Bills: HB937, HB2078, HB2080, HB3322, HB3350, HB4212, HB4630, HB4896, HB4951, HB5348, HB5675, SB565, SB971, SB1662, SB2124

Keywords: special districts, notice requirements, Water Code, government transparency, public meetings, meeting notice, transparency, public engagement, notice, elections, groundwater management, water conservation, joint planning, environmental impact, desired future conditions, groundwater, conservation district, environmental quality, regulatory review, water utility

Transcript Highlights:

• You're going to use either the delimited field code or the JSON code.
• is going to decide whether to use delimited field code or the JSON code.
• I entered military service in Texas and knew that when I retired in 2014, the great state of Texas was
• I'm from West Texas, as many of you know.
• There are communities that are already facing this in South Texas and West Texas, where the best thing

Bills: HB485, HB1367, HB1370, HB1827, HB1879, HB2032, HB2133, HB2357, HB3581, HB3830, HB4060, HB4085, HB4270, HB4979, HB5217, HB5268, HB5478, HJR96, HJR97, HJR119, HJR195, HJR209, SB4, SB23, SJR2, SJR85, SB 4, SB 23, SJR 2

Keywords: healthcare, insurance, access, affordability, public health, emergency services district, sales tax, gas and electricity, residential use, tax exemption, emergency services, gas, electricity, HB 485, ESD, use tax, residential utilities, utility tax, local option tax, Texas Health and Safety Code

Bills: HB18, SB54

Keywords: voter registration, change of address, election procedures, Texas Election Code, voting rights

Bills: HB1057

Keywords: teacher salary, retirement benefits, career education, work experience credit, Texas Education Code

Summary: The Senate committee met, established a quorum, and took up House Bill 1057, sponsored in the Senate by Senator Adam Hinojosa. Hinojosa explained that the bill would expand the amount of prior industry experience that can count toward TRS and salary step credit for career and technology education teachers, increasing the cap from two years to five years. He said the change is intended to help recruit and fairly compensate skilled professionals such as electricians, nurses, welders, and programmers, and to address teacher shortages beginning in the 2025-2026 school year. No members asked questions, and no one signed up to testify. The committee then voted to report HB 1057 favorably to the full Senate. The motion passed unanimously, 13 ayes and 0 nays, and the chair announced the committee would stand recessed subject to call.

Transcript Highlights:

• I mean, we're inflicting a penalty on the entire elected body by doing this.
• Rules that the judges are when they run for election or reelection.
• For example, 60 days after a regular session, or 60 days before an election.
• It was a bill that dealt with how we report election results and how procedures are conducted.
• In Texas, we're never going to do that—at least I'm never going to vote for it.

Bills: SB 53, SB 54, HB16, SB 19

Keywords: voter registration, election procedures, provisional ballot, change of address, residence requirements, Texas Election Code, voting rights, judicial administration, court reform, juvenile diversion, court security, mental health services, drug offenses, constitutional amendments, political contributions, special legislative session, election code, transparency, campaign finance, election law

Transcript Highlights:

• All PBMs are operating the same way in Texas.
• Those bills are now found in subchapters L and M of chapter 1369 of the Texas Insurance Code.
• Our footprint is in northwest Central Texas.
• My name is Sheila Hemphill with Texas Right to Know.
• He's with the Texas Dermatology Society.

Bills: SB502, SB513, SB622, SB670, SB731, SB732, SB916, SB961, SB1122

Keywords: SB 502, Texas peace officers, Health and Human Services Commission, HHSC Office of Inspector General, OIG investigators, law enforcement classification, Schedule C, state employee benefits, injury benefits, peace officer status, commissioned officers, state auditor classification, Government Code, Code of Criminal Procedure, human services, health and human services, law enforcement compensation, public employee benefits, Texas state law enforcement, child welfare

Transcript Highlights:

• CASA of West Texas has been involved... in West Texas together and the collaboration in this community
• The Texas Ambulance Association is a statewide organization across the state of Texas, and we appreciate
• Thank you for the privilege to testify before you today as the President-elect of Texas EMS.
• I'm the president and CEO of the Texas Association of Business. We're the Texas State Chamber.
• So I represent Texas Oncology.

Bills: SB502, SB513, SB622, SB670, SB731, SB732, SB916, SB961, SB1122

Keywords: SB 502, Texas peace officers, Health and Human Services Commission, HHSC Office of Inspector General, OIG investigators, law enforcement classification, Schedule C, state employee benefits, injury benefits, peace officer status, commissioned officers, state auditor classification, Government Code, Code of Criminal Procedure, human services, health and human services, law enforcement compensation, public employee benefits, Texas state law enforcement, child welfare

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, COSA of West Texas has been involved, um, in West Texas together and the collaboration in this community
• Texas Ambulance Association is a statewide organization across the state of Texas, and we appreciate
• As the president-elect of Texas EMS I'm here representing, uh, Texas I'm sorry, President-elect of Texas
• I'm the president and CEO of the Texas Association of Business. We're the Texas state chamber.
• Um, so, uh, I represent Texas Oncology.

Bills: SB 502, SB 513, SB 622, SB 670, SB 731, SB 732, SB 916, SB 961, SB 1122

Keywords: SB 502, Texas peace officers, Health and Human Services Commission, HHSC Office of Inspector General, OIG investigators, law enforcement classification, Schedule C, state employee benefits, injury benefits, peace officer status, commissioned officers, state auditor classification, Government Code, Code of Criminal Procedure, human services, health and human services, law enforcement compensation, public employee benefits, Texas state law enforcement, child welfare

Transcript Highlights:

• of the FCIC's authority over skimming devices as mandated in the Texas Business and Commerce Code.
• Texas Department of... licensing and regulation.
• And for the past eight years, I was the Harris County District Attorney. the Texas Penal Code made it
• It is the recommendation of the Texas Indigent Defense Commission of the Texas Department of Justice
• Prosecutors across the state of Texas.

Bills: SB330, SB663, SB1020, SB1152, SB1164, SB1896, SB2111, SB2196, SB2383, SB2581, SB2797, SB2798, SB2371

Keywords: county funding, prosecutors' offices, elections, law enforcement, local government, community supervision, budget approval, corrections department, strategic plan, judicial oversight, SB 1020, Texas, personal bond office, pretrial release, electronic monitoring, GPS monitoring, global positioning system, bond conditions, probation, parole

Transcript Highlights:

• and Commerce Code.
• and Commerce Code.
• Effective September 1, 2023, the Texas Penal Code made it a state jail felony for individuals accused
• Effective September 1, 2023, the Texas Penal Code made it a state jail felony for individuals accused
• But Texas courts, I believe often the same way that Senators Inahosa, But Texas courts, I believe, often

Bills: SB330, SB663, SB1020, SB1152, SB1164, SB1896, SB2111, SB2196, SB2383, SB2581, SB2797, SB2798, SB2371

Keywords: county funding, prosecutors' offices, elections, law enforcement, local government, community supervision, budget approval, corrections department, strategic plan, judicial oversight, SB 1020, Texas, personal bond office, pretrial release, electronic monitoring, GPS monitoring, global positioning system, bond conditions, probation, parole

Summary: The committee heard several criminal justice bills, with testimony largely focused on public safety, court procedures, and local criminal justice administration. SB 2371 would expand mandatory skimmer-reporting requirements from gas pumps to ATMs, point-of-sale systems, and virtual currency kiosks, with the Texas Financial Crimes Intelligence Center saying centralized reporting would improve investigations, preserve evidence, and help identify organized criminal groups. SB 2581 would repeal a special law governing commissary funds in certain large counties; the sponsor and the Sheriff’s Association said it would restore parity with other counties while keeping spending subject to audit and inmate-benefit limits. Both bills were laid out and left pending after testimony, with no public witnesses opposing them at the hearing. The committee also heard SB 330, which would require voter approval before counties over a certain size reduce prosecutor funding, similar to an existing law for law enforcement budgets. Supporters argued prosecutors are essential to public safety and need stable funding, while an opponent from the Texas Civil Rights Project said the bill would restrict local budget flexibility and impose costly elections. SB 663 would remove district judges’ approval role for community supervision and corrections department budgets, replacing it with judge review after TDCJ-CJAD approval; probation officials said the change would reduce delays and confusion without reducing judicial oversight. SB 1020 would require more immediate sharing of ankle-monitor violation information and clarify that such records are not judicial work product; the Harris County DA’s office and Crime Stoppers supported it, citing inconsistent local practices and delays that can hinder prosecutions. The committee then took up SB 1164 on emergency detention and court-ordered mental health services. The bill, from the Texas Judicial Commission on Mental Health, would update emergency detention forms, clarify officer duties, allow filings in the county where a person is apprehended or located, and add a factor related to a person’s inability to recognize symptoms or appreciate treatment risks. Supporters included family members, law enforcement, and mental health and judicial witnesses who described cases where earlier intervention might have prevented tragedy; opponents warned the broader language could be misused and emphasized due process and the need for dangerousness to remain the standard. SB 2111 on indigent defense would expand access to counsel at first hearings, strengthen managed assigned counsel programs, create internships and fellowships, and adjust other defense-related procedures; the Texas Indigent Defense Commission and county defense program leaders supported it, while the committee substitute removed some provisions to reduce fiscal impact. Finally, SB 2383 would let recently retired DPS officers return to work in limited roles to help address staffing shortages, and SB 2797 would create reciprocal discovery requirements for criminal cases; prosecutors and some committee members said it would reduce trial surprise and improve truth-seeking, while others questioned whether the bill fully matched the state’s disclosure obligations and whether it could burden defense rights. Several bills were left pending after testimony, and the committee established a quorum later in the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• Texas has one of the highest levels of unpaid child support in the country, totaling about $19 billion
• And it's good for the state of Texas, and it was also good for the state of Wisconsin.
• When it was implemented, the same could happen here in Texas.
• Please support Senate Bill 629 and bring hope, stability, and opportunity back to Texas.
• I'm also the president of the Texas Association of Family Defense Attorneys.

Bills: SB629, SB1015, SB2501, SB2933

Keywords: child support, interest accrual, family law, delinquency, financial judgment, statutory probate courts, probate court fees, judicial fund, county reimbursement, comptroller, Texas Government Code, Local Government Code, court fees, fee allocation, excess contributions, judicial education and support fund, presiding judge salary, county finance, court administration, Texas judiciary

Transcript Highlights:

• The Texas Occupations Code currently has a rigid rule requiring code enforcement training to work under
• It allows swift, affordable code enforcement amid Texas' booming population.
• It's critical for rural Texas, enabling towns to act fast and maintain livability as growth strains municipal
• In April 2023, an international syndicate effectively purchased the historic Texas lottery jackpot of
• The Texas Lottery is not influenced by outside organizations or groups trying to cheat the system.

Bills: SB1346, SB1376, SB2075, SB2167, SB2864

Keywords: lottery, prohibited sales, winning tickets, sales agents, license revocation, code enforcement, training requirements, supervision, registered officer, occupations code, advisory boards, Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation, public members, occupational regulations, professional standards, massage therapy, licensing, human trafficking, regulation, Occupations Code

Transcript Highlights:

• If Texas does not ratify by the revised compact and it comes into effect, Texas will have to create a
• Whatever, because other states do not have the same laws that Texas has, and Texas would never deny a
• So, um, they're looking to Texas and I think Texas can lead.
• This is the Texas Pediatric Society of Texas Medical Association testifying for the bill.
• APT codes like MNT does.

Bills: HB26, HB140, HB141, HB142, HB215, HB26, HB140, HB141, HB142, HB215

Keywords: Medicaid, nutrition support, maternal health, chronic conditions, pilot program, DFPS, Department of Family and Protective Services, child protective services, child abuse investigations, child neglect, child exploitation, advisory committee, Family and Protective Services Council, council abolition, foster care, due process, investigative procedures, child welfare, parental rights, family preservation services

Transcript Highlights:

• That language referencing these other sections of the Texas Code was put in by the Senate to try to address
• So I could, you know, I think you probably have that code near you, Occupations Code 1701, that outlines
• Well, Government Code 311, the Code Construction Act, sets forth many principles for how to reconcile
• of Texas, in rural Texas, is that public corruption, public investigation, public integrity role when
• They can utilize the Texas.

Bills: SB 15

Keywords: law enforcement, department file, employee records, misconduct, confidentiality, Texas occupations code, 997, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Located in the Hill Country, Bandera, Texas, was founded in the early 1850s on the wild Texas frontier
• This bill we call our general code update bill.
• We have some here in Central Texas.
• I note that there are at least two other operational spaceports in Texas.
• This bill we call our general code update bill.

Bills: SCR3, SCR30, SB2375, HCR35

Keywords: cowboy culture, Bandera, cultural heritage, historical significance, Texas identity, Birding Capital, Matagorda County, wildlife, conservation, Texas Legislature, statutory revision, code corrections, laws omitted, legislative updates, spaceports, tax-exempt bonds, aerospace investment, Texas space economy, Federal legislation, 1185

Transcript Highlights:

• Texas Commission on Fire Protection and our fire departments across the state of Texas the ability to
• I urge you, keep Texas strong, keep Texas profitable.
• Texas Penal Code describes as unreasonable if that level exceeds 85 decibels.
• Chapter 174 of the Texas Local Government Code allows collective bargaining for police and firefighters
• This is not how Texas became Texas.

Bills: HB386, HB1449, HB1701, HB2142, HB2675, HB2857, HB3063, HB3171, HB3641, HB3732, HB4045, HB4370, HB4491, HB4505, HB4626, HB5267, HB5356

Keywords: construction contracts, change orders, local government, budget limits, Texas legislation, HB 1449, mobile food vendors, food trucks, mobile food service establishments, permits, county health permit, municipal permitting, Health and Safety Code Chapter 437A, Chapter 437, inspection agreements, permit reciprocity, fee cap, preemption, large counties, population over one million

Transcript Highlights:

• They come to San Antonio, they come to Texas.
• I teach at two Texas law schools.
• I've been an assistant city attorney in several Texas cities, so I'm very familiar with Texas ordinances
• code.
• Council of Texas and the power supply.

Bills: HB386, HB1449, HB1701, HB2142, HB2675, HB2857, HB3063, HB3171, HB3641, HB3732, HB4045, HB4370, HB4491, HB4505, HB4626, HB5267, HB5356

Keywords: construction contracts, change orders, local government, budget limits, Texas legislation, HB 1449, mobile food vendors, food trucks, mobile food service establishments, permits, county health permit, municipal permitting, Health and Safety Code Chapter 437A, Chapter 437, inspection agreements, permit reciprocity, fee cap, preemption, large counties, population over one million