Transcript Highlights:

• </c><01:01:56.200><c> While</c> While felony animal cruelty is typically punishable by up to 5 years
• I personally feel it should be a felony, but we may have to deal with that next year.
• we just discussed, but it shall be a felony if they include a minor child.
• we just discussed, but it shall be a felony if they include a minor child.
• Same offenses we just discussed, but it shall be a felony if they include a minor child.

Keywords: 927, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Representatives, before you today is a bill addressing guardianship eligibility in cases involving a prior felony
• conviction.
• legislation changes the fact that when a child reaches the age of 18, a parent or individual with a felony
• come to me and tell me, "I have a 25-year-old daughter and I can't be her guardian because I have a felony
• We put a cap of 10 years - if you haven't committed a felony in 10 years.

Transcript Highlights:

• Some of them have been convicted of a state offense, as you said.
• They have felony warrants.
• I know there's probably a reason for that on the adult felony direct on page five.
• On the adult felony direct on page five, yes, so you say 135,677.
• Senator Kolkhorst: ...the adult felony direct on page five. Yes.

Bills: SB1

Committee: Senate Finance

Keywords: campground safety, youth camp regulations, flood safety, emergency evacuation, health and safety standards

Summary: The committee heard a Legislative Budget Board presentation and then testimony from the Department of Public Safety on the Article 5 public safety budget. LBB said DPS’s 2026-27 recommendation totals $3.7 billion, down from the prior base, while FTEs rise by 856.7. Major items included increased funding for driver license services and customer support, new trooper funding and recruit schools, crime lab operations, border security, and reductions tied to one-time facility, vehicle, and aircraft spending. The committee also discussed new riders, including one to lapse unused trooper funds and require reporting after recruit schools. Members focused heavily on driver license operations, questioning why prior staffing increases and a prior efficiency study had not solved long wait times, high call abandonment, and appointment delays. DPS and LBB said the agency receives about 22,000 calls per day, answers only about 9 percent, and is seeking more staff plus technology upgrades such as automation, kiosks, and better online processing. Senators also raised concerns about rural access, REAL ID document requirements, and whether the department should rethink its processes rather than simply add employees. DPS leadership then described needs for the Williamson County training academy, additional troopers, Capitol and Alamo security, border operations, aircraft and vehicle replacement, and regional headquarters in El Paso and San Antonio. Members asked about Operation Lone Star costs, overtime, pursuit safety, border crime, oilfield theft, and sexual assault kit and toxicology backlogs. DPS said border deployments remain focused on criminal threats, that overtime is partly driven by deployments and staffing shortages, and that the sexual assault kit backlog is down to 118 cases with a goal of zero by April. The committee later recessed and began the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission budget presentation, where LBB outlined a $115.1 million recommendation and noted ongoing costs for the AIMS technology project.

Transcript Highlights:

• Is he likely to regain competency within a year's period of time if it is a felony offense?
• If a child is charged with a felony, there are two possible outcomes.
• In all cases that have been convicted or pled to first-degree murder. Thank you.
• Typically, I would say up to second-degree felonies. So, it can vary, it's okay if you...
• What's the conviction rate?

Committee: House Courts, Corrections & Justice Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• So RS 33092 is constitutional, it's proportionate, it's a misdemeanor first offense, a felony only on
• And so is the felony. Penalty assessment. Follow up. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
• And of course, the felony is up to five years without having to say what the penalty is.
• And of course, the felony is up to five years without having to say what the penalty is.
• It provides a misdemeanor and a felony conviction.

Committee: House State Affairs

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• In summary, we'll strengthen laws by making sexual extortion a felony.
• it will impact EMP extortion a felony it will impact EMP power<00:23:58.760><c> the</c><00:23:58.880
• we have uh section two which is felony we have uh section two which is establishes<00:26:28.760><c>
• We need legislative action on sextortion as a felony with increased penalties when minors are involved
• We need legislative action on sextortion as a felony with increased penalties when minors are involved

Keywords: Meeting Start: 00:00:05 Roll Call: 00:00:14 SB 26: 00:01:50 SB 64: 00:18:29 SB 73: 00:22:54, 958, all

Summary: The Senate Judiciary Committee met with a quorum and heard three bills. Senate Bill 26, sponsored by Chair Storm, would protect parents and prospective parents with disabilities by barring disability alone from being the sole basis for denying an adoption petition or terminating parental rights. Testimony from Judge Marcus Vanover and Crystal Adams described the bill as a product of the Kentucky Judicial Commission on Mental Health and its work groups, cited Kentucky and national cases and federal ADA guidance, and said the bill would require consideration of supportive services, clearer documentation, retention of records, and conforming language changes. Senator Carroll asked how the bill would apply to a hypothetical adult child with special needs; witnesses said the bill is aimed at adoption and termination proceedings where the Cabinet is already involved, not proactive service requests. The committee approved SB 26 by a unanimous 7-0 vote and sent it to the floor with favorable expression. The committee next considered Senate Bill 64, also sponsored by Chair Storm, which would expand the definition of key infrastructure assets to include telecommunications services such as telephone lines and broadband and make damaging, tampering with, or rendering those services inoperable a Class D felony. Representatives from Charter/Spectrum and AT&T testified that copper theft and vandalism have increasingly damaged fiber and other facilities, citing more than 20 incidents in Kentucky in 2024 affecting over 30,000 customers and diverting resources from broadband expansion. The committee adopted a committee substitute and then passed SB 64 by a 7-0 vote with favorable expression. Finally, the committee heard Senate Bill 73, sponsored by Senator Julie Adams, which would create a felony offense for sexual extortion, allow victims or their representatives to bring civil actions, include the offense in Kentucky’s sex-crime definitions, and require school-based notification and education efforts along with resource information for students. Senator Adams and witness Lady T. Thompson described sextortion as a fast-growing online crime targeting minors, often through social media, gaming, and messaging apps, and argued that stronger penalties and prevention efforts are needed. The transcript cuts off before any committee action on SB 73.

Transcript Highlights:

• On average, the men that we serve have three felony-level convictions and 12 years of incarceration.
• As convicted felons, they are often overlooked for employment opportunities.
• We serve men who have been convicted of low-level drug offenses all the way up to loss of life.
• </c><01:29:06.239><c> level</c> serve have three felony level serve have three felony level convictions
• um we serve men who have been felony um we serve men who have been convicted<01:29:49.880><c> of</c>

Committee: Senate Jobs and Economic Development

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The other three were convicted.
• The convictions, the sexual assault convictions, the impeachments, the divisiveness.
• I mean, we've never had a president with convictions.
• having this enormous honor at this airport, the convictions, the sexual assault convictions, the impeachments
• Reported more than 400,000 illegal aliens charged with convictions, convicted of crimes including countless

Summary: The Senate convened with an opening prayer, pledge, and several introductions recognizing visitors, students, local officials, and professional groups in the gallery. The chamber then took up a report from the Ethics and Elections Committee confirming 42 executive appointments; the report was adopted by a vote of 36-0. The Senate also adopted a resolution honoring the Ripple Project for childhood cancer awareness and funding. The bulk of the meeting was spent on special-order bills, many of them open-government sunset review measures and policy bills. The Senate passed bills preserving or updating public records exemptions for aquaculture records, trade secrets, and cybersecurity information; a child-abuse reporting statute of limitations bill; a commercial driving schools bill; a human trafficking training requirement for nursing graduates; a new injunction for protection against serious violence by a known person and its companion public-records bill; a nature-based coastal resiliency bill with an amendment restricting dredge-and-fill in Terra Ceia Aquatic Preserve; a chiropractic patient-funds bill; specialty license plate legislation; a one-time waiver for late financial disclosure fines; public school personnel compensation changes; the Florida Farm Bill with amendments protecting Everglades lands and technical corrections; homestead exemption clarification for long-term leaseholders; disability presumption clarifications for firefighters and law enforcement; reinsurance intermediary manager conformity changes; patriotic displays in public schools; ADS-B aviation fee restrictions; autism-related law enforcement training and a blue envelope program; public post-secondary safety policy requirements; and a bill allowing licensed agents to market health care sharing ministries. Several bills were temporarily postponed, including local vessel restrictions, temporary certificates for practice, and domestic animals. Members debated a number of measures, especially the health care sharing ministries bill, where opponents raised consumer-protection and commission concerns and supporters argued for free speech, religious liberty, and expanded consumer choice; it passed 32-5. Other debated bills included the autism law enforcement bill, the school athletics bill addressing coach support for student-athletes, and the Farm Bill, where senators discussed surplus land safeguards and biosolids timing. Most bills passed overwhelmingly, often 37-0 or 38-0, with a few closer votes such as the patriotic displays bill (36-2) and the health care sharing ministries bill (32-5).

Transcript Highlights:

• Representative Barnaby: So this bill makes sure that offenders can be prosecuted for a 3rd degree felony
• know that that already happens when you have a suspended or no valid license, you incur a 3rd degree felony
• It'll be a felony that goes directly into a felony or habitual offender status.
• Assata Shakur was a member of the Black Panther Party who was convicted of first-degree murder in the
• Black people make up over 50% of exonerations in the United States when it comes to wrongfully being convicted

Transcript Highlights:

• , face felony consequences.
• So if it's being an assault four, wouldn't that still be a Class D felony? No.
• Assault four, wouldn't that still be a Class D felony? No, I'm sorry.
• It used to be a Class D felony. It is a misdemeanor currently.
• It still could be a Class D felony?

Committee: House Health and Mental Health

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• for a DUI crashes, ...to 2 to 25 years, or, in cases where somebody has a prior conviction for a DUI-type
• over shelves, break through a door or a lock or something like that—they will be responsible for a C felony
• It shields obscene pornographic content behind the threat of a felony.
• Parents will face a felony if they object to explicit pornography in their child's schools.
• While we had some tragic situations involving animals, we already have a four-year felony for animal

Keywords: 909, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Our felonies are the ones that are really, as you can imagine, causing the issues.
• Our big struggle is our felonies.
• He's going to sit in the Dallas County Jail on a felony charge.
• I mean, at that point, a lot of these folks aren't even worried about pleading to felonies.
• They don't need to be associated with convicts when they should be in a health care environment.

Committee: House Intergovernmental Affairs

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It allows a court to enter a judgment of conviction for a Class 1 misdemeanor for someone who's convicted
• of a Class 4, 5, or 6 felony not involving a dangerous offense.
• at least five years since the completion of a person's sentence instead of since the person was convicted

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• amendment requiring the denial of bail for an illegal alien charged with an offense. punishable as a felony
• amendment requiring the denial of bail for an illegal alien charged with an offense punishable as a felony
• , relating to the prohibition on the possession of a firearm by a person following the person's conviction

Bills: SJR1 , SJR2 , SJR5 , SJR33 , SJR34 , SJR35 , SJR37 , SJR38 , SJR39 , SCR12 , SB4 , SB40 , SB701 , SB702 , SB703 , SB704 , SB705 , SB706 , SB707 , SB708 , SB709 , SB710 , SB711 , SB712 , SB713 , SB714 , SB715 , SB716 , SB717 , SB718 , SB719 , SB720 , SB721 , SB722 , SB723 , SB724 , SB725 , SB726 , SB727 , SB728 , SB729 , SB730 , SB731 , SB732 , SB733 , SB734 , SB735 , SB736 , SB737 , SB738 , SB739 , SB740 , SB741 , SB742 , SB743 , SB744 , SB745 , SB746 , SB747 , SB748 , SB749 , SB750 , SB751 , SB752 , SB753 , SB754 , SB755 , SB756 , SB757 , SB758 , SB759 , SB760 , SB761 , SB762 , SB763 , SB764 , SB765 , SB766 , SB767 , SB768 , SB769 , SB770 , SB771 , SB772 , SB773 , SB774 , SB775 , SB776 , SB777 , SB778 , SB779 , SB780 , SB781 , SB782 , SB783 , SB784 , SB785 , SB786 , SB787 , SB788 , SB789 , SB790 , SB791 , SB792 , SB793 , SB794 , SB795 , SB796 , SB797 , SB798 , SB799 , SB800 , SB801 , SB802 , SB803 , SB804 , SB805 , SB806 , SB807 , SB808 , SB809 , SB810 , SB811 , SB812 , SB813 , SB814 , SB815 , SB816 , SB817 , SB818 , SB819 , SB820 , SB821 , SB822 , SB823 , SB824 , SB825 , SJR1 , SJR2 , SJR5 , SJR33 , SJR34 , SJR35 , SJR37 , SJR38 , SJR39 , SCR12 , SB4 , SB40 , SB701 , SB702 , SB703 , SB704 , SB705 , SB706 , SB707 , SB708 , SB709 , SB710 , SB711 , SB712 , SB713 , SB714 , SB715 , SB716 , SB717 , SB718 , SB719 , SB720 , SB721 , SB722 , SB723 , SB724 , SB725 , SB726 , SB727 , SB728 , SB729 , SB730 , SB731 , SB732 , SB733 , SB734 , SB735 , SB736 , SB737 , SB738 , SB739 , SB740 , SB741 , SB742 , SB743 , SB744 , SB745 , SB746 , SB747 , SB748 , SB749 , SB750 , SB751 , SB752 , SB753 , SB754 , SB755 , SB756 , SB757 , SB758 , SB759 , SB760 , SB761 , SB762 , SB763 , SB764 , SB765 , SB766 , SB767 , SB768 , SB769 , SB770 , SB771 , SB772 , SB773 , SB774 , SB775 , SB776 , SB777 , SB778 , SB779 , SB780 , SB781 , SB782 , SB783 , SB784 , SB785 , SB786 , SB787 , SB788 , SB789 , SB790 , SB791 , SB792 , SB793 , SB794 , SB795 , SB796 , SB797 , SB798 , SB799 , SB800 , SB801 , SB802 , SB803 , SB804 , SB805 , SB806 , SB807 , SB808 , SB809 , SB810 , SB811 , SB812 , SB813 , SB814 , SB815 , SB816 , SB817 , SB818 , SB819 , SB820 , SB821 , SB822 , SB823 , SB824 , SB825

Keywords: bail denial, illegal aliens, felony offenses, constitutional amendment, law enforcement, SJR 2, Senate Joint Resolution 2, homestead exemption, property tax relief, school property tax, ad valorem tax, residence homestead, school district taxes, Texas Constitution Article VIII, public school finance, homeowner exemption, elderly exemption, senior tax relief, disabled exemption, tax year 2025

Transcript Highlights:

• Which was a singular offense, felony offense.
• Yes, you indicated that the eligibility is students eligible. versus chapter if Person is convicted of
• . conviction.
• I would ask you to make sure you take a look at that convicted piece. Yes.
• And then you also say that's convicted of or placed on deferred adjudication.

Bills: SB604 , SB843 , SB1636 , SB2395 , SB571 , SB1224 , SB1832 , SB2392 , SB747 , SB2623 , SB2624 , SB2185

Committee: Senate Education

Keywords: bonds, education funding, Texas Permanent School Fund, financial transparency, speculative rating, school funding, deferred maintenance, tax revenue, education budget, school districts, education, finance, Texas Education Code, misconduct, child abuse, educators, investigation, criminal offense, education law, suspension

Transcript Highlights:

• The other big change is that violating this section is going to be a felony.
• dozen individuals found in the rot room at Downard Funeral Home asked reporters why there were no felony
• Downard funeral home asked reporters why there were no felony charges filed on behalf of their loved
• Senate Bill 1311, if a person is convicted of a DUI, their sentence can be suspended, and in its place
• She said ignition interlocks work the same way as probation and parole: if a person convicted of DUI

Committee: House Judiciary, Rules and Administration

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• is just noting the areas that Prop 36 isn't a full rollback of Prop 47, so the treatment-mandated felony
• is one of those areas, and basically, before Prop 47, drug possession could result in a felony conviction
• prior drug crimes and then possess certain types of drugs to be charged with a treatment-mandated felony
• Conviction under Prop 36 are greater than they were prior to Prop 47.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And for 15 and older, it's either serious felony conduct or habitual felony conduct, which is defined
• So serious sex felonies and so forth.
• Habitual felony conduct is a determinate sentence offense if it is a felony of the third, second, or
• A second felony will result in a felony classified as first, second, or third degree to be a determinate
• So every felony in that situation, second habitual, is a determinate sentence offense, as is any felony

Committee: House S/C on Juvenile Justice

Transcript Highlights:

• husbandry of the majority of fanciers in the state because you haven't increased the penalty to a felony
• Many people who are involved in cockfighting should face felony charges instead of a misdemeanor.
• I think it should be a felony. I think that's the way to address, making sure that it's.
• It's hard to prove intent in court, especially to meet the threshold for a felony, for folks to be able
• I hear folks when they say they'd like a felony, because they think that that'll solve the problem.

Committee: House Agriculture

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It seeks to prohibit post-conviction bail.
• In other words, that's after somebody's already convicted and only for individuals convicted of aggravated
• Members, this is a District Attorney's Association bill that prohibits certain felony offenders from
• It focuses on those who have been convicted of violent crimes and sex offenses.
• It focuses on those who have been convicted of violent and sex crimes, and right now there's nothing

Bills: SR116 , SR117 , SR118 , SR119 , SCR68 , SCR69 , SCR12 , HB682 , HB766 , HB769 , HB775 , HB783 , HB824 , HB926 , HB1186 , HB1201 , HB1223 , HB1245 , HB1247 , HB1253 , HB1258 , HB221 , HCR53 , HCR62 , HCR72 , HCR58 , HB54 , HB137 , HB180 , HB192 , HB310 , HB321 , HB396 , HB512 , HB552 , HB578 , HB638 , HB663 , HB708 , HB717 , HB718 , HB1009 , HB1082 , HB1104 , HB1107 , HB1194 , HB1198 , HB1246 , HB1250 , SB29 , SB30 , SB32 , SB41 , SB42 , SB43 , SB47 , SB84 , SB93 , SB113 , SB192 , SB199 , SB219 , SB220 , SB221 , SB222 , SB241 , SB253 , SB255 , SB289 , SB292 , SB306 , SB314 , SB351 , SB399 , SB404 , SB14 , SB102 , SB133 , SB151 , SB165 , SB169 , SB170 , SB200 , SB217 , SB280 , SB291 , SB300 , SB303 , SB330 , SB449 , SB489 , SB521 , SB424 , SCR9 , SB25 , SB250 , SB348 , SB405 , SB444 , SB485 , SB35 , SB65 , SB132 , SB215 , SB246 , SB249 , SB269 , SB282 , SB296 , SB323 , SB363 , SB369 , SB474 , SB490 , SB492 , SB500 , HCR26 , HCR45 , HCR61 , HCR77 , HCR31 , HB649 , HB665 , HB681 , HB721 , HB746 , HB757 , HB781 , HB835 , HB844 , HB857 , HB872 , HB886 , HB889 , HB892 , HB982 , HB987 , HB1037 , HB1068 , HB1072 , HB1078 , HB1085 , HB1132 , HB1137 , HB1167 , HB1174 , HB1232 , HB1238 , HB23 , HB136 , HB17 , HB21 , HB51 , HB55 , HB74 , HB106 , HB108 , HB133 , HB140 , HB159 , HB168 , HB215 , HB226 , HB263 , HB296 , HB299 , HB322 , HB364 , HB519 , HB535 , HB538 , HB568 , HB571 , HB622 , HB635 , HB676 , HB772 , HB784 , HB1006 , HB1018 , HB1043 , HB1070 , HB1134 , HB1239 , HB62 , HB193 , HB203 , HB210 , HB220 , HB228 , HB246 , HB420 , HB475 , HB486 , HB574 , HB584 , HB750 , HB813 , HB815 , HB826 , HB870 , HB949 , HB953 , HB1045 , HB1092 , HB1151 , HB1162 , HB1176 , HB1177 , HB1196 , HB1214 , HB1241 , HB36 , HB73 , HB119 , HB126 , HB129 , HB166 , HB211 , HB245 , HB271 , HB280 , HB337 , HB351 , HB354 , HB399 , HB677 , HB712 , HB723 , HB726 , HB728 , HB759 , HB789 , HB850 , HB956 , HB966 , HB1036 , SB149 , SB382 , SB441 , HB258 , HB842

Keywords: SR116, Senate Resolution 116, Louisiana Senate, condolences, memorial resolution, tribute, Tyler Marie Grezaffi, law enforcement, corrections officer, deputy sheriff, master sergeant, investigator, Louisiana State Penitentiary, Pointe Coupee Parish, Iberville Parish, public service, bereavement, sympathy, SR117, Senate Resolution 117

Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum, heard a prayer and pledge, and then moved through a long calendar of House and Senate measures. Early business included adoption of a large batch of Bureau reports and numerous committee reports, along with several personal privilege recognitions for guests and observances, including Aviation Day at the Capitol, Safe Boating Week, and recognition of a student’s educational achievements. The chamber also received messages from the House on several Senate concurrent resolutions and conference committee reports, including House Bill 842, the omnibus election bill, which was taken up and adopted after discussion of changes to Louisiana election procedures, congressional primary timing, ballot order, and related qualifying and public-records provisions. The Senate also adopted or concurred in several resolutions, including measures on community action, early education, condolences, and a blockchain and digital innovation task force. A major portion of the meeting focused on floor debate and final passage of several bills. Senate Bill 250, dealing with comprehensive weight management services through the Office of Group Benefits, was amended to remove GLP-1 and compounded-therapy provisions and then passed. Senate Bill 348 authorizing local law enforcement to contract for administrative and logistical support for motor vehicle regulatory enforcement passed, as did Senate Bill 405 creating a statewide quality oversight initiative for nursing facilities. Senate Bill 444 and Senate Bill 485, both relating to the new city of St. George’s expropriation and taxing authority, passed after amendments and questions about their local impact. Senate Bill 25, on compensation for registrars of voters and staff, also passed unanimously. Senate Bill 132, requiring exterior master key boxes and school mapping integration for public schools, passed as a school safety measure. The Senate then considered a series of House bills, many of them local or regulatory in nature. These included HB 649 on dual enrollment, HB 665 on hoop nets in North Pass and Manchac Pass, HB 681 on the Lakeview Crime Prevention District, HB 721 on night shrimping in parts of Vermilion Bay, HB 746 on statewide oversized vehicle permits, HB 781 on fleet vehicle registration, HB 835 on charter guide wildlife management area access permits, HB 857 on commingled seafood labeling, HB 872 and HB 886 on menhaden fishing radios and harvest reporting, HB 889 on bulk oyster tagging, HB 892 creating the West End Economic Development District, HB 982 naming memorial highways, HB 987 consolidating LSU energy-related programs, HB 1037 and HB 1072 on DOTD operational reforms, HB 1068 on garbage collection contracting authority, HB 1078 on tuition and fees for distance education, HB 1085 repealing private vehicle inspection sticker requirements, HB 1132 on lab school funding under the University of Louisiana system, HB 1137 limiting adverse employment action against state employees over pronoun use, HB 1167 naming memorial roadways, and HB 1174 recreating DOTD through 2031. Most of these measures passed, often after brief debate and occasional amendments; HB 1085 drew opposition over the loss of inspection-related jobs and concerns about unsafe vehicles, but it still passed. One notable bill, Senate Bill 500 on medical malpractice and the Patient Compensation Fund, was not brought to a vote; after extensive debate about the medical review panel system, claims costs, and proposed certificate-of-merit changes, the author said he would turn it into a study resolution instead.