Transcript Highlights:

• The Senate Local Government Committee will come to order.
• government.
• Impact fee statutes first took effect in 1987, Chapter 395, Local Government Code.
• But we do have an issue with this area of government because it is complex.
• The Senate Committee on Local Government will stand in recess, subject to call of the chair.

Bills: SB32, SB464, SB996, SB1163, SB1173, SB1277, SB1452, SB1453, SB1548, SB1882, SB1883, SB2016

Keywords: ad valorem taxation, tax exemption, franchise tax credit, income production, personal property, SB 464, school buffer zone, tobacco retailer, vape shop, e-cigarette, vaping, nicotine, tobacco products, retail permit, comptroller, Class A misdemeanor, school proximity, youth access, public school, private school

Summary: The Senate Local Government Committee heard several bills by Senator Bettencourt focused on property tax and local government accountability. SB 32 would provide about $700 million in business tax relief by raising the business personal property exemption from $2,500 to $25,000 and continuing a 20% franchise tax credit for inventory taxes paid. Witnesses from NFIB, the Texas Retailers Association, and Texas Realtors supported the bill, saying business personal property and inventory taxes are burdensome and especially hard on small businesses. After no opposition testimony, SB 32 was left pending. The committee also heard SB 1453, which would change how interest and sinking tax rates are calculated by using only the minimum debt service required under bond schedules, while still allowing a higher rate with a 60% governing body vote and a public explanation. A witness from the Texas Taxpayers and Research Association supported the bill as a way to keep debt rates from rising as property values increase and to preserve tax relief. The bill was left pending after testimony. SB 1883 would tighten rules on local impact fees by requiring 60 days of public availability for capital improvement plans and land use assumptions, raising the approval threshold for adopting impact fees from a simple majority to two-thirds, limiting how often fees can be increased, and expanding notice requirements. Builders and developers testified in support, arguing that impact fees are often poorly reviewed, lack accountability, and are passed on to homebuyers, worsening housing affordability. Committee members discussed adding audit provisions and questioned the lack of city testimony. The bill was left pending with subcommittee action. SB 1452 would require a voter election to decide whether a municipal management district continues to exist, with dissolution if voters reject it; supporters said it would add accountability, while others noted some districts provide essential services and infrastructure. The committee heard testimony from district representatives and builders, then left SB 1452 pending before recessing.

Transcript Highlights:

• Members, local government procurement simply Senate Bill 1173 raises the local government competitive
• Therefore, local governments will have more flexibility to pay for goods and services.
• Members of the Senate Committee on Local Government. I'm here to testify in favor of SB 1882.
• We are having a few logistical problems between running state affairs and local government education
• So at this point in time, we will leave the local government committee in recess subject to the call

Bills: SB 32, SB 464, SB 996, SB 1163, SB 1173, SB 1277, SB 1452, SB 1453, SB 1548, SB 1882, SB 1883, SB 2016

Keywords: ad valorem taxation, tax exemption, franchise tax credit, income production, personal property, SB 464, school buffer zone, tobacco retailer, vape shop, e-cigarette, vaping, nicotine, tobacco products, retail permit, comptroller, Class A misdemeanor, school proximity, youth access, public school, private school

Transcript Highlights:

• governments more flexibility and protecting their communities.
• We are really not looking, in this case, to race the local DA to the courthouse.
• "So in those cases where there is local law enforcement and a local DA, they would absolutely—I mean,
• So in those cases where there is local law enforcement and local DA, they would absolutely—I mean, they
• This creates opacity for this governing body.

Bills: HB115

Keywords: public funds, lobbying, political subdivision, government spending, transparency, HB 115, taxpayer-funded lobbying, local government lobbying, county association dues, municipal lobbying, lobbyist registration, Chapter 305, Government Code Section 556.0056, Local Government Code Section 89.002, county government, city government, injunctive relief, attorney's fees, state association of counties, sheriffs association

Summary: The Committee on Criminal Jurisprudence reconvened with a quorum present and announced it would likely not vote that night because of confusion over the bill list; members were told a definitive list would be circulated the next morning and a formal meeting would be scheduled later. The chair then heard a series of bills, generally taking testimony and leaving each pending without action. House Bill 1847 would set maximum caseload standards for private attorneys handling indigent criminal appointments through the Texas Indigent Defense Commission; House Bill 2417 would expand compensation eligibility for some wrongfully imprisoned people; House Bill 2813 would require earlier and more specific victim notice of scheduled court proceedings; and House Bill 2309 would expand state and local authority in certain civil asset forfeiture cases involving human trafficking, health care fraud, and organized crime. Each bill was laid out by its author or a member, with no opposition witnesses registered, and each was left pending. The committee also heard House Bill 4733, which would require sealing records for people acquitted of charges when they were not convicted on the related allegation; House Bill 2328, which would modernize expunction service by encouraging electronic notice, setting a standardized fee when electronic service is unavailable, extending clerk retention of expunction orders, and preserving certain mental health commitment orders; and House Bill 115, which would revise Texas’s “junk science” post-conviction writ law by providing counsel, changing the relief standard, requiring written decisions, and easing procedural barriers. Testimony on HB 2328 was mixed: county clerks supported the bill as a cost-saving modernization, while legal advocates warned that permanent retention of expunction orders could undermine true expunction and create privacy risks. HB 115 drew support from innocence and defense organizations, with some concern about a provision affecting subsequent writs. All were left pending after testimony. Later, the committee heard House Bill 2046, which would allow affirmative family-violence findings for any Penal Code offense rather than only Title V offenses; testimony from a Dallas County prosecutor and a committee member emphasized that family violence can involve arson, burglary, fraud, and other non-Title V conduct, and the bill was left pending. House Bill 1765 would tighten restrictions on no-knock warrants by requiring higher-level approval, judicial review, and identifiable officers; members discussed the dangers highlighted by the Harding Street raid and similar incidents, and the bill was also left pending. The meeting ended with the chair noting that some bills had been removed from the agenda at the author’s request and that members should be prepared to finalize the vote list the next day.

Transcript Highlights:

• The Senate Committee on Finance will come to order. We're beginning the second special session.

Bills: SB2, SB3, SB5, SB9, SB10, SB14, SB16, SB34, SB18, SB 2, SB 3, SB 5, SB 9, SB 10, SB 14, SB 16, SB 18, SB 34

Keywords: flooding, public safety, outdoor warning sirens, disaster preparedness, emergency response, flood warning, outdoor sirens, local government, safety measures, flood management, emergency preparedness, municipal safety, disaster response, disaster relief, emergency funding, Meteorological forecasting, local government assistance, training facilities, hemp regulation, consumable products

Transcript Highlights:

• Welcome to this week's County and Municipal Government Committee meeting.
• In 2000, we passed the anonymous pay act that governs the compensation between local officials for county
• Under the existing law, the base compensation of any local official, elected official or appointed by
• bill uh I think that did that a local bill uh I think that did that that<00:29:12.640> reset<
• legislation to reset and pass local legislation to reset that.<00:29:58.399> And<00:29:58.559

Bills: SB249, SB259, HB67, HB214

Keywords: municipal tax, license fee, local tax increase, ordinance, public hearing, 30-day notice, municipal notice requirements, city council, town council, Alabama municipalities, Code of Alabama 1975, Section 11-45-2, open meetings website, newspaper publication, local government finance, tax transparency, fee increase, municipal ordinance procedure, University of South Alabama, Board of Trustees

Transcript Highlights:

• the people of Alabama have government the people of Alabama have government the people of Alabama have
• month nothing indeed can self-government month nothing indeed can self-government month nothing indeed
• in a word the merits of free government in a word the merits of free government in a word the merits
• government cooperative with local government cooperative with local government officials move for adoption
• and they provide it federal government and they provide it federal government and they provide it for

Bills: HB 9, HB 22, HB 908, HB 1392

Keywords: property tax, ad valorem tax, tangible personal property, income-producing property, business personal property, tax exemption, local government finance, appraisal district, chief appraiser, rendition statement, property tax relief, small business, commercial property, leased property, related business entity, unified business enterprise, tax situs, Texas Tax Code, local taxing unit, constitutional amendment

Transcript Highlights:

• It's important to know this legislature has prohibited such activity for local governments.
• government to do something, we should as the state government be under the same type of prohibition,
• I want to say I believe this is An unfunded mandate for local government.
• I didn't see in the bill any funds allocated to local governments to pay for it and staff to make these
• the funds to local government because from the Panhandle down to the Keys, Florida looks so different

Bills: HB 9, HB 22, HB 908, HB 1392

Keywords: property tax, ad valorem tax, tangible personal property, income-producing property, business personal property, tax exemption, local government finance, appraisal district, chief appraiser, rendition statement, property tax relief, small business, commercial property, leased property, related business entity, unified business enterprise, tax situs, Texas Tax Code, local taxing unit, constitutional amendment

Transcript Highlights:

• AB 4525 about temporarily in the payroll deductions of certain state and local government employee organizations
• of the uniform state sales tax and the related and local government finance reform, referred the committee
• HB 4657, by Barry Ehrling, the establishment of local government water redevelopment fund for the committee
• of local mental health authorities and the composition of the governing bodies of local mental health
• HB 4986 by Holt ruling the issuance of certificates of obligation by local governments or for the committee

Bills: HB9, HB22, HB908, HB1392

Keywords: property tax, ad valorem tax, tangible personal property, income-producing property, business personal property, tax exemption, local government finance, appraisal district, chief appraiser, rendition statement, property tax relief, small business, commercial property, leased property, related business entity, unified business enterprise, tax situs, Texas Tax Code, local taxing unit, constitutional amendment

Transcript Highlights:

• There are about 600 state, federal, local, and county agencies. This is only...
• Local and county agencies, this is only going to have about 400 and something that actually reported.
• in government that… true responsibilities in government that… Public Safety is one of them and, uh,
• education, which is another role of government.
• government.

Bills: HB287, HB280, HB57, HB252, HB286, SB36, HB287, HB280, HB57, HB252, HB286, SB36

Keywords: law enforcement, transparency, reporting, public safety, regulation, accountability, public nuisance, event liability, local government, community health, legal action, education, property acquisition, municipality, land use, annexation, competitive bidding, procurement, disclosure statements, state contracts

Transcript Highlights:

• When there is no response, our next step is to purchase a published notice in our local newspaper.
• When the government takes your property, you're guaranteed due process, and when a private entity has
• Uh, TPA members now publish their notices in print, in the, in the local paper, and they've also set
• It's just a grant from the federal government.
• I'm director of government relations for Texas Values.

Bills: HB 186

Keywords: public funds, lobbying activities, political subdivisions, government expenditure, transparency, local government, political subdivision, county, city, municipality, special district, taxpayer-funded lobbying, lobbying restriction, registered lobbyist, government association, county association dues, Texas Legislature, injunctive relief, attorney's fees, Chapter 556

Transcript Highlights:

• the full House with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. be sent to the committee on Local
• Without dismantling local control, the committee substitute reflects important stakeholder feedback.
• The bill strikes a balance; it preserves local authority where appropriate but also ensures that cities
• But we've had it at our local park; we do as much as we can to have them in the community.
• Also, we tried to rent a local office area. We try to do what we can to keep it in the district.

Bills: HB1835, HB2561, HB3630

Keywords: manufactured housing, HUD-code, zoning, local government regulations, installation permits, municipal utility district, board meetings, public access, meeting location, transparency, fire prevention, agriculture, local government, fire safety, regulations, 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Senate Committee on Finance will come to order. Will the clerk please call the roll? Here. Pres.
• specifically, HB 26 allows a sheriff, a county sheriff or constable to enter into a contract with local
• government, property owner association, or owner of land to provide law enforcement services in and
• near an area managed or regulated by local government or property owners.

Bills: HB8, HB26, HB192

Keywords: HB 8, Texas public school accountability, school accountability, public school transparency, STAAR, state assessments, instructionally supportive assessment program, Student Success Tool, Texas Education Agency, TEA, accountability ratings, A-F ratings, through-year assessment, benchmark testing, norm-referenced assessment, college career military readiness, CCMR, local accountability plan, school district performance, campus turnaround

Transcript Highlights:

• We partner with hundreds of local governments nationwide, including dozens here in Minnesota, such as
• We partner with hundreds of local governments nationwide, including dozens here in Minnesota, such as
• government affairs lead for Samsara. government affairs lead for Samsara.
• We partner with hundreds<01:41:14.400> of<01:41:14.480> local<01:41:14.800> government
• <01:41:15.360> uh hundreds of local government uh hundreds of local government uh governments

Bills: HF4421, HF1937, HF4675, HF4715, HF4684

Keywords: county cost share, economically distressed county, human services finance, substance use disorder treatment, SUD services, civil commitment, state aid, county levy, poverty threshold, tax-exempt acreage, property tax exemption, Minnesota human services, county fiscal relief, local government finance, chemical dependency, behavioral health, PACE, elderly, Medicaid, health services

Transcript Highlights:

• get 2% up at the end of the day they're removing money from the pool, putting it in the use of government
• So, it's a government agency simply asking to hold on to more.
• Tell us, this was effectively an emissions control regulation from the federal government.
• Perhaps the oil companies wouldn't have to endure if it wasn't for the federal government.
• And I Think this is just a really good example that one branch of our government decided on or made a

Bills: HB3044, HB3465, HB3625, HB3704, HB3759, HB3920, HB3972, HB4191, HB4311, HB4426

Keywords: veterans, tax refund, Oklahoma Department of Veterans Affairs, capital improvement, donations, Oklahoma Emission Reduction, incentive, taxation, environment, revenue, investment, school funds, treasurer, education funding, financial policy, income tax, scholarship, tax credit, Oklahoma Tax Commission, school funding

Bills: HB14, HB 106, HB146, HB267, HB274, HB 1127, HB1359, HB1393, HB1584, HB1640, HB1710, HB2152, HCR101, HJR8, HR51, HB106, HB146, HB267, HB274, HJR8, HR51

Keywords: nuclear energy, advanced reactors, energy security, grant programs, Texas Advanced Nuclear Energy Office, HB 106, oil and gas, Railroad Commission of Texas, overhead electrical lines, electrical distribution system, power line maintenance, administrative penalty, Natural Resources Code, oil and gas lease, well operator, energy safety, utility infrastructure, regulatory compliance, cleanup fund, oil and gas regulation and cleanup fund

Transcript Highlights:

• entity, report on local events and government activities in the entity's jurisdiction.
• A struggling local economy, The increasing use by local business owners of free advertising on social
• So it's good to have our governments lead by examples.
• And this bill would set the standard for how schools, local government, and other entities can become
• Because the best people to govern Texas are Texans.

Bills: HB 1951, HB 2715, HB 3092, HB 3237, HB 3278, HB 3511, HB 3592, HB 3675, HB 3778, HB 3782, HB 3826, HB 3970, HB 4016, HB 4049, HB 4341, HB 4344, HB 4406, HB 4427

Keywords: collective bargaining, public works, government contracts, labor agreements, state funding, removal from office, political subdivisions, local government, judicial proceedings, administrative judicial region, electric transmission, public convenience, landowner consent, utility regulation, energy infrastructure, energy consumption, higher education, governmental entities, sustainability, electricity reduction

Transcript Highlights:

• Employ staff within the jurisdiction of the government entity, report on local events and government
• The need for trusted sources of local news has only grown.
• So it's good to have our governments lead by example.
• This bill would set the standard for how schools, local government, and other entities can become better
• Because the best people to govern Texas are Texans.

Bills: HB1951, HB2715, HB3092, HB3237, HB3278, HB3511, HB3592, HB3675, HB3778, HB3782, HB3826, HB3970, HB4016, HB4049, HB4341, HB4344, HB4406, HB4427

Keywords: collective bargaining, public works, government contracts, labor agreements, state funding, removal from office, political subdivisions, local government, judicial proceedings, administrative judicial region, electric transmission, public convenience, landowner consent, utility regulation, energy infrastructure, energy consumption, higher education, governmental entities, sustainability, electricity reduction

Transcript Highlights:

• Texas law prohibits PLAs on state-funded projects but does not address those funded by local governments
• Eliminating local government ability to utilize PLAs would not only disrupt the career-building system
• Removing the ability for local governments to use project labor agreements (PLAs) on public projects
• Again, it seeks to prohibit local governments from using project labor agreements on public works projects
• This is about telling local governments they can't require Project Labor Agreements (PLAs) exclusively

Bills: HB1951, HB2715, HB3092, HB3237, HB3278, HB3511, HB3592, HB3675, HB3778, HB3782, HB3826, HB3970, HB4016, HB4049, HB4341, HB4344, HB4406, HB4427

Keywords: collective bargaining, public works, government contracts, labor agreements, state funding, removal from office, political subdivisions, local government, judicial proceedings, administrative judicial region, electric transmission, public convenience, landowner consent, utility regulation, energy infrastructure, energy consumption, higher education, governmental entities, sustainability, electricity reduction

Transcript Highlights:

• Local government procurement.
• Simply, Senate Bill 1173 raises the local government competitive procurement thresholds from $50,000
• Therefore, local government... ...We'll have more flexibility to pay for goods and services.
• We are having a few logistical problems between running state affairs and local government and education
• That's it, so at this point in time we will leave the local government committee in recess, subject to

Bills: SB32, SB464, SB996, SB1163, SB1173, SB1277, SB1452, SB1453, SB1548, SB1882, SB1883, SB2016, SB 32

Keywords: ad valorem taxation, tax exemption, franchise tax credit, income production, personal property, SB 464, school buffer zone, tobacco retailer, vape shop, e-cigarette, vaping, nicotine, tobacco products, retail permit, comptroller, Class A misdemeanor, school proximity, youth access, public school, private school

Transcript Highlights:

• In the last few years, members, several local governments across the state of Texas have adopted policies
• Although these lawsuits are still pending, there's a growing trend across our state for local governments
• If a local government violates the provisions of this bill, All citizens may report the violation to
• The committee substitute before you clarifies that local governments must.
• The substitute requires local governments to comply with state consumable hemp product laws.

Bills: HB229, HB3990, HB5082, HB5510, HB229

Keywords: biological sex, government information, definitions, sex-based distinctions, public health, flags, display, state law, municipalities, government buildings, drug enforcement, local control, home rule, municipal charter, county policy, ordinance preemption, state preemption, attorney general enforcement, civil penalties, mandamus