Transcript Highlights:

• If we're going to be adding $300 million of very unlikely yet theoretically possible liability, it's
• If we're going to be adding $300 million of very unlikely yet theoretically possible liability, it's
• um it's reasonable possible liability um it's reasonable that<00:18:52.919> we<00:18:53.039><
• which is then sign a waiver of liability which is then properly<01:28:35.920> recorded<01:28:
• Hence why many municipalities require the waiver of liability.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• because state funding awards from agencies like the State Treasurer's Office and HCD always come with strict
• escrow and start construction at the risk of losing your funds if you don't meet that deadline. ...strict
• deductible cost increases, and reductions in the scope and quality of coverage within property, liability
• The bill's liability protections, authority to utilize endowment care funds, and compliance flexibility

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Starbucks is a very strict corporate standard, yet you can go to five different Starbucks, and all five
• So, even in a strict chain like Starbucks there is not consistency.
• sponsor yields. >> Is there anything in this bill that amends the Raise the Age to expand criminal liability
• >> IS THERE ANYTHING IN THIS BILL THAT AMENDS THE RAISE TO AGE TO EXPAND CRIMINAL LIABILITY FOR

Keywords: 993, senate, all

Summary: The Senate convened, approved the prior journal, and then processed a series of motions to discharge bills from committees and substitute identical Senate bills, which were so ordered. Several bills were also recalled from the Assembly, had reconsideration votes taken, and were restored to the third reading calendar after receiving 58 ayes. Amendments were received on a number of bills, and those measures retained their place on the calendar. The main business of the day was Privileged Resolution 2318, sponsored by Leader Stewart-Cousins, honoring Senator Michael Gianaris with the President Pro Tempore and Senate Majority Leader’s Legislative Legacy Award. The resolution and floor remarks reviewed his long career in the Assembly and Senate, his role as Deputy Majority Leader and floor leader, and his work on housing, criminal justice, voting rights, labor, environmental, consumer, transit, animal welfare, and other major legislation. Members from both parties spoke at length, praising his strategic skill, mentorship, humor, and influence, while also noting his support for younger members and his commitment to family. Several senators described personal experiences showing Gianaris’s mentorship and political guidance, and many referenced his Greek American identity, Queens roots, and interests such as Star Wars and the Mets. Senators also emphasized that he was leaving on his own terms to spend more time with his wife and daughters. The resolution was adopted with broad support, and Gianaris then spoke in response, reflecting on nearly 30 years in state government, the major laws passed during his tenure, and the relationships he built in the chamber.

Transcript Highlights:

• The presumption can be overturned if the foreign government satisfies a strict scrutiny analysis, which
• It looks at the agency's potential financial liability if the actions that may affect private property
• <01:23:30.320> if<01:23:30.440> the The potential financial liability if the action
• 31.880> very in school districts, we we have a very in school districts, we we have a very strict
• And what 10 days strict law of 10 days.

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• significant problems with it, both from a safety perspective and because the issue of landowner liability
• I've never been that strict, but you do have an extra hour here if you want to stay and write reports
• I've<01:05:22.640> never<01:05:22.880> been<01:05:23.039> that<01:05:23.440> strict
• c><01:05:23.839> but<01:05:24.079> you<01:05:24.240> do I've never been that strict
• , but you do I've never been that strict, but you do have<01:05:24.559> an<01:05:24.720> extra

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Members, strict enforcement has been requested on roll call by Representatives Canales, Cortez, Mary
• Were all of the members who made the motion for strict enforcement here today?

Bills: HB4, HB1, HB2, HB20, HB19, HB18

Keywords: district composition, congressional election, Texas, legislature, voting districts, youth camps, emergency preparedness, safety standards, health regulations, camp licensing, disaster preparedness, emergency management, flooding, mass fatality, mass casualty, fatality tracking, body recovery, autopsy, justice of the peace, medical examiner

Summary: The House convened with a strict roll-call enforcement request, but only 95 members were present, so a quorum was not present. The chamber heard an invocation from Furman Carpenter, DPS chaplain, followed by the pledges to the U.S. and Texas flags. A member raised a parliamentary inquiry asking whether members must be present to make a motion and whether all members who requested strict enforcement were present; the Speaker said he would need to check the journal. The Speaker then announced that the House was about to receive a motion to adjourn sine die and noted that the governor might call another special session soon. Representative Garin moved that the House of Representatives of the First Called Session of the Eighty-Ninth Legislature adjourn sine die. There was no objection, and the motion carried, ending the session.

Transcript Highlights:

• Members, strict enforcement has been requested on the roll call by Representatives Canales, Cortez, Mary
• Were all of the members who made the motion for strict enforcement here today?

Bills: HB4, HB1, HB2, HB18, HB19, HB20, HB4, HB1, HB 2, HB20, HB19, HB18, HB 4, HB 1, HB 2, HB 18, HB 19, HB 20

Keywords: redistricting, congressional districts, Texas Legislature, elections, 2020 Census, disaster response, emergency management, mass fatality, justices of the peace, training programs, emergency manager license, volunteer management, justice of the peace training, criminal history checks, state health services, emergency communication, interoperability, grant program, first responders, state council

Transcript Highlights:

• The bill creates clear statutory authority for cities to rehire retired firefighters who meet strict
• The bill creates clear statutory authority for cities to rehire retired firefighters who meet strict
• rehire retired fire firefighters<00:30:17.440> who<00:30:17.679> meet<00:30:17.919> strict
• <00:30:18.320> eligibility firefighters who meet strict eligibility firefighters who meet
• strict eligibility requirements,<00:30:19.919> including<00:30:20.320> at<00:30:20.399>

Keywords: Consideration of HB 220 00:02:49 Consideration of HB 467 00:09:50 Consideration of HB 516 00:19:50 Consideration of HB 589 00:27:16, 958, all

Summary: The House State Government Committee met with a quorum and considered four bills. House Bill 220, sponsored by Rep. John Blandon, addressed pension spiking for Kentucky Public Pension Authority systems by extending the effective date back to July 1, 2022. Blandon explained it was intended to correct a gap left by last year’s legislation affecting retirees who received across-the-board raises during the court period. A retired Kentucky State Police captain testified in favor but asked that the retroactive date be moved back to 2021. Members asked about fiscal impact, and Blandon said the bill would have only a very small percentage impact on CERS. The committee approved HB 220 unanimously, 17-0, with favorable expression. House Bill 467, sponsored by Rep. DJ Johnson, dealt with the disposal of surplus or underutilized state-owned real property. A committee substitute was adopted first. Johnson said the bill would let local governments and private citizens identify abandoned or dormant state property earlier in the process, while preserving existing fair-market-value disposal procedures. Committee members clarified that the bill concerns real property, not personal property, and asked about pricing and the current disposition process. Johnson and others explained that the bill would not change fair-market-value requirements but would move local involvement to the front end. The committee approved HB 467 as amended by the substitute, 17-0. House Bill 516, sponsored by Rep. Chris Lewis, would allow probationary police officers and firefighters in certain retirement systems to purchase service credit for up to 12 months of probationary employment and would extend line-of-duty death and disability coverage to probationary employees. Lewis said the bill was developed with the FOP, Professional Firefighters, and input from the Kentucky League of Cities, and that any retirement cost would be offset because both employee and employer contributions would be paid. Committee members confirmed the bill had been heard in PPOB and discussed the cost structure and the six-month window for purchasing service credit. The committee passed HB 516 favorably, 18-0. House Bill 589, sponsored by Rep. Stephanie Deetsz, created a framework for cities and chapter 75 fire districts to rehire retired firefighters under strict conditions, similar to existing rules for retired police officers. A committee substitute was adopted that required minimum employer retirement contributions, required a CPAT retest after a one-year separation, and expanded eligibility to chapter 75 fire districts. Deetsz said the bill was aimed at staffing shortages and preserving experienced personnel while protecting the retirement system. A city official and a Kentucky League of Cities representative testified in support, describing labor shortages and the value of bringing back experienced firefighters to mentor younger staff. The committee approved HB 589 as amended by the substitute, 18-0, and then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Representative Thomas then said that if the state wanted more strict requirements, that would be a legislative
• He said that if the state is going to have more strict requirements, that is a legislative policy decision
• question so if we're going to<00:36:26.560> have<00:36:26.760> more<00:36:27.680> strict
• <00:36:27.960> requirements<00:36:28.400> from to have more strict requirements from
• to have more strict requirements from the<00:36:28.680> state<00:36:28.920> that's<00:

Keywords: Call to Order 00:00 Roll Call 16:20 HB 90 Discussion 17:00 HB 90 Vote 25:40 HB 398 Discussion 30:55 HB 398 Vote 38:52 HB 580 Discussion 40:10 HB 580 Vote 42:10 HB 87 Discussion 44:12 HB 87 Vote 44:54 HB 422 Discussion 46:00 HB 422 Vote 46:43 Adjournment 47:20, 958, all

Summary: The Senate Standing Committee on Licensing and Occupations met on March 12, 2025, after waiting for the Senate to adjourn so the committee could officially convene. The committee first took up House Bill 90, which concerned freestanding birthing centers and related medical language. Testimony from Representative Jason Nemes, Dr. Jeffrey Goldberg of ACOG Kentucky, and a representative from Kentucky Right to Life focused on clarifying what medical procedures are not abortions under Kentucky law, including miscarriage management, ectopic pregnancy, molar pregnancy, sepsis, hemorrhage, and stillbirth. Supporters said the committee substitute was intended to reduce confusion and barriers to care for physicians and patients, while Senator Armstrong and Senator Berg raised concerns about the late-arriving substitute, terminology, and whether the bill was being accurately described as supported by ACOG. The committee substitute and title amendment were adopted, and House Bill 90 passed with favorable expression. The committee then considered House Bill 398, relating to occupational safety and health. Representative Walker Thomas said the bill would prevent Kentucky from adopting or enforcing regulations stricter than federal OSHA standards, arguing it would create uniformity for businesses operating in multiple states while preserving worker safety. Senator Armstrong questioned what would happen if federal OSHA were eliminated and argued the bill could reduce Kentucky’s ability to address state-specific workplace hazards; Representative Thomas responded that Kentucky is a state-plan state and would retain the ability to act if needed, and that the measure was about administrative regulation rather than legislation. After a committee substitute was adopted, the bill passed 8-1, with Senator Armstrong voting no. House Bill 580, concerning alcohol and drug counselors and peer support specialists, was presented next. Representative Kim Moore and Elena Sweezy explained that the bill would add structure, training, and supervision requirements for peer support specialists, limit group settings to eight patients, shorten temporary peer support status to nine months, and require additional supervision hours so trainees can complete required training. The bill passed with favorable expression, with Senator Nemes voting no. House Bill 87, relating to employment and occupational licensing, followed; Representative Emily Callaway said it would reduce barriers for people with felony records and help “second chance” citizens enter the workforce. Several senators supported the goal but Senator McDaniel noted caution about substance-use billing and oversight, and the bill passed with favorable expression. Finally, House Bill 422, relating to administrative regulations, was described by Representative Derrick Lewis as a streamlining measure that would reduce paperwork and simplify the regulatory process. It also passed with favorable expression, and the committee then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• And my best friend, who was this puppy, was starting to become a major liability.
• Strict masking with a sealed N95 has protected me from any further infections as I continue to work and

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The committee held a lengthy hybrid hearing of the Joint Committee on Municipalities and Regional Government, with testimony spanning local board training, animal welfare and enforcement, municipal charters, water district dissolution, and other home rule matters. Chairs Rausch and Lewis set strict time limits because of the large number of speakers and explained that written testimony would also be accepted. Members heard from local officials, advocates, municipal employees, and residents, with many bills receiving broad support from municipal and advocacy witnesses. Several speakers supported bills requiring or expanding training for local boards and commissions, including pre-service training for planning, zoning, and other land use boards. Supporters said training would help volunteers understand complex laws, improve consistency, reduce legal challenges, and speed up housing and development decisions. Related testimony also backed a bill to modernize historic district commissions and another to allow associate planning board members to serve more broadly when needed to maintain quorums. A major portion of the hearing focused on animal legislation. Witnesses supported bills to expand citations for cruel conditions beyond dogs, update dangerous dog procedures, improve animal health inspections and breeder oversight, strengthen tethering rules, and protect pet consumers. Animal control officers, humane organizations, and some victims of dog attacks described enforcement gaps and the need for clearer standards, while several dog trainers and the American Kennel Club opposed parts of the dangerous dog bill and tethering restrictions, arguing they would limit humane training tools and professional discretion. The committee also heard strong support for a bill to create a statewide pet shop and consumer protection framework. The committee also heard testimony on several local home rule petitions. Medford officials and residents strongly supported a new city charter that would replace the current at-large council with ward-based representation and periodic charter review. Wayland representatives supported a bill to preserve the library’s Millennium Fund as intended, Cambridge officials backed creation of an employment and job training trust, and Carver officials supported dissolving the North Carver Water District due to compliance and financial problems. No votes were taken during the hearing, and the chair repeatedly invited written testimony and follow-up materials.

Transcript Highlights:

• We have a pretty strict time limit and we started a little late. So we'll dive right in.
• It has a discussion bit about the New Mexico liability, potentially, if we continue funding beyond the

Keywords: 996, all

Summary: The meeting began as an informal education budget work group focused on reviewing a revised House Appropriations and Finance Committee scenario and flagging concerns rather than taking votes. Staff outlined the main changes from the LFC recommendation, including moving the statewide student information system appropriation, adding funding for the Black, Bilingual, Multicultural and Hispanic Education Act, universal school meals overrun costs, an evidence-based CTE pilot with a 50% local match, STEM network funding, wellness room pilots, Martinez-Yazzie action plan items, and changes to innovation zone and out-of-school time appropriations. A separate handout on the seven-year CTE pilot explained spending patterns, reversions, and possible federal maintenance-of-effort concerns if the state continues funding beyond a true pilot. Members then debated CTE extensively, with several arguing it improves attendance, graduation, and career readiness and should be sustained or expanded, especially in rural areas, while staff and others emphasized that much of the current funding has gone to general operational costs rather than intentional program design and that regional or matched funding models may be more effective. Members also discussed STEM and math initiatives, the need for more industry involvement, and whether the proposed match requirements would be too burdensome for smaller districts and BIE schools. The discussion also covered the Black, Hispanic, and Multilingual Education Acts and the Martinez-Yazzie lawsuit. Some members stressed that the acts should be explicitly named in the budget language and not merely implied, while staff said the scenario reaffirms prior commitments by building the costs into agency operating budgets. Members raised concerns about charter school hold-harmless funding, declining enrollment, and the need to align spending with the needs of at-risk students. The work group ended the education portion without any votes, with staff noting they would incorporate the feedback and return with clarifications, including on CTE funding, the educational acts, and the charter hold-harmless item. The meeting then shifted to the child well-being and early childhood work group, where staff presented a revised Early Childhood Education and Care Department scenario. The proposal moved money toward child care assistance and early pre-K, kept the FIT program funding level unchanged, and used a mix of trust fund, TANF, federal, and operating-budget adjustments to close part of the gap between the executive and LFC recommendations. Members questioned the policy direction, especially the shift toward infant and toddler care and pre-K expansion, the impact on school-age child care, and the implications for continuity of care and provider costs. Staff explained that the scenario prioritizes younger children and at-risk families, includes language for a wage and career ladder, and would require legislation to raise the early childhood trust fund distribution cap from 500 to 525. Members also discussed a separate proposed CYFD pilot bill (HB 65), which would be distinct from ECECD funding. No votes were taken, and staff said they would return with more cost information on full pre-K plus wraparound care. A final work group reviewed C2 and Department of Information Technology-related appropriations. Staff compared the LFC and executive recommendations for new funding and reauthorizations, noting that the LFC generally limited new projects while the executive funded more. Members discussed several IT modernization requests, including the Secretary of State’s voter registration and election management systems, the Spaceport Authority, Game and Fish, the State Engineer’s WATERS system, ECECD’s FitKids and EPIC replacement discovery, and Aging and Long-Term Services’ enterprise system modernization. The main themes were whether to fund planning versus full replacement, how to avoid piecemeal spending, and whether new systems should wait for incoming leadership. The Secretary of State’s office said its system is nearing end of life and the planning funds would help prepare a realistic replacement request, while other agencies described aging infrastructure, cybersecurity risks, and the need for modernization. The work group did not vote on any of the items and ended with staff noting additional follow-up on funding needs and reauthorization details.

Transcript Highlights:

• This bill creates criminal liability for parents who recklessly failed to prevent their child's offense
• Number one, when it comes to data and transparency, Section 211.321 sets strict parameters on the confidentiality

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Forensic Oversight Boards and other esteemed stakeholders to develop standards of operations and very strict
• Finally, we added language that does not remove liability; it just ensures that a social media platform

Bills: SB614, SB872, SB1199, SB1212, SB1278, SB1573, SB1588, SB1602, SB1660, SB1704, SB1723, SB1833, SB1858, SB1946, SB2009, SB2146, SB2177, SB2373, SB2460, SB2785

Keywords: forensic science, capital writs, criminal justice, case review, Texas Forensic Science Commission, SB 872, burglary of a vehicle, vehicle burglary, theft of a firearm, stolen gun, firearm theft, Penal Code Section 30.04, third-degree felony, Class A misdemeanor, criminal penalty enhancement, gun theft, vehicle break-in, property crime, sentencing enhancement, Texas criminal law

Transcript Highlights:

• A court applies what’s called strict scrutiny when reviewing government actions that interfere with a
• A court applies what’s called strict scrutiny when reviewing government actions that interfere with a
• called strict scrutiny when reviewing<00:29:27.799> uh<00:29:28.120> government<00:29:
• <00:29:59.840> scrutiny<00:30:00.720> is<00:30:00.919> the high level strict
• and that you apply strict scrutiny which is<00:51:55.760> that<00:51:55.920> compelling

Bills: HF22, HF45

Keywords: parent's bill of rights, parental rights, minor consent, minors, parents, guardians, education rights, school records, home schooling, charter school, private school, health care consent, medical privacy, patient records, exam room access, biometric data, DNA samples, blood samples, mental health, physical health

Transcript Highlights:

• This bill provides immunity from lawsuits and civil liability for farmers for damages claimed to be caused
• And I'll pass it around. civil liability for farmers for damages civil liability for farmers for damages

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The Environmental Policy Subcommittee took up HB 1621, which would require a baseline environmental impact study before development of certain manufacturing and storage facilities. Members said the concept had merit, but they could not resolve major drafting and implementation issues, including how to define covered facilities, what the study would require, and how enforcement would work at the municipal or county level. Several members expressed concern about unintended consequences and said the proposal was not ready; the subcommittee voted unanimously to recommend inexpedient to legislate (ITL), and the full committee later adopted that recommendation on a 16-0 roll call vote, placing the bill on consent. The committee then discussed HB 1053, involving electronically submitted pesticide use reports. Representative Comtois presented an amendment creating a department database and protecting confidential information, but said she still needed to check whether it was germane and to review administrative issues with the Department of Agriculture. After hearing from David Russo of the Division of Pesticide Control, the committee agreed to continue work on the amendment and took no action that day. The committee also reviewed HB 1186 on egg labeling and producer exemptions. Representative Comtois offered an amendment exempting small producers from most requirements except labeling, but Commissioner Sean Jasper asked for more time to review the impact and suggested the state might not need the existing egg law at all if federal USDA rules already cover the field. Members agreed to hold action until the following week. Finally, the committee began discussion of HB 1780 on penalties for violations involving seeds, plants, and nursery stock, focusing on labeling rules and germination-date requirements; testimony from industry and department representatives indicated they were working toward a compromise that would allow multiple relabelings, add production dates, and set a 36-month sale limit, but no final action was taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, obviously the kit is updated, the protocol is updated, and we adhere to that strict protocol.
• that strict protocol. that strict protocol.
• However, it creates liabilities for our police with shall and in statute.
• The word shall places liability on the police.
• <01:39:17.679> for because then there's also liability for because then there's also liability

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We all understand liability, so we're...
• And the liability standards that we all talked about, sadly, that's the world we live in.
• That's how come you can't get insurance for raw milk dairy, because the liability is astronomical.
• Those expectations really do reflect public trust and legal liability.
• This bill does not change training requirements or liability. ...liability protections or impose new

Bills: HB3000, HB2622, HB2283, HB541, HB1776, HB1803, HB1669, HB2588, HB220, HB3415, HB50, HB1314, HB 107, HB220, HB50, HB107

Keywords: ambulance service, rural healthcare, grants, financial assistance, qualified counties, mental health, patient transport, female attendants, security measures, healthcare regulation, epinephrine, anaphylaxis, health care, school safety, training, emergency response, direct patient care, healthcare, physicians, medical services

Transcript Highlights:

• The Federal Privacy Act is very strict in how the data can be used, who it can be shared with, and the
• The data is very strict.
• The Federal Privacy Act is very strict in how the data can be used, who it can be shared with, and the
• Uh the FURPA, data is is very strict.
• the Federal Privacy Act is very strict the Federal Privacy Act is very strict in<01:02:32.240>

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Either rational basis review, strict scrutiny, or intermediate scrutiny, and why?
• So it probably does have a heightened, uh, strict scrutiny analysis, but I would actually, if this is
• Either rational basis review, strict scrutiny, or intermediate scrutiny, and why?
• Either rational basis review, strict scrutiny, or intermediate scrutiny, and why?
• Either rational basis review, strict scrutiny, or intermediate scrutiny, and why?

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• But she is concerned that if that part of it is not a little more strict or spelled out or defined in
• One of them is related to liability of the industry.
• , the bar serves me more drinks, they have, under our dram shop laws, they're going to have huge liability
• of the industry if I go into a liability of the industry if I go into a bar<01:35:39.360> and
• this is an industry that's liability this is an industry that's different<01:35:50.440> than<

Keywords: 1187, senate, all