Transcript Highlights:

• We'll go ahead and call the first bill: HB441 by Representative Standbridge. Welcome.
• All right, we have a first second by Williams. I'm all about AED. So, all in favor say "Aye."

Bills: HB441, HB425, HB416

Keywords: speech-language pathology, licensure, clinical supervision, educational qualifications, healthcare assistant, mental health, regional authority, board of directors, local governance, public health, sudden cardiac arrest, automated external defibrillator, AED, school safety, emergency response, cardiac emergency response plan, training, athletic events, first aid, 923

Bills: HB511, HB511, SB364

Keywords: Fayette County, revenue commissioner, tax assessor, tax collector, consolidation, salary adjustments, public convenience, education, Pledge of Allegiance, prayer in schools, K-12 education, constitutional amendment, violence prevention, conflict resolution, education policy, mediation, high school curriculum, 923, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Section 4 amendment. Consideration of an individual amendment to be placed in Article 11. A.
• Adopt all amendments in a single motion to place this text and the amendments in Article 11. 3.
• of the amendment in Article 11.
• As you've known in the past, many file Article 11 amendments, but may not want to. amendment.
• ご視聴ありがとうございました ご視聴ありがとうございました The following amendment the clerk will read the amendment.

Bills: HJR1, HJR2, HB9, HB22, HB908, HB1392, HB195, HB 13, HB143, HB135, HJR1, HJR2, HB9, HB22, HB908, HB1392

Keywords: constitutional amendment, property tax, ad valorem tax, tax exemption, tangible personal property, income-producing property, business personal property, equipment exemption, machinery, local government finance, school district revenue, county taxes, Texas Constitution, Article VIII, tax relief, commercial property, death tax, inheritance tax, estate tax, property transfer

Transcript Highlights:

• First, thank you, Senator Parker, TABC, and the Wine and Spirits Wholesalers Association Texas for helping
• Although we did not experience payment issues with them for the first several years of working together
• I'm here to testify today against Senate Bill 13. 1778 is filed without amendment.
• Now, I said I'm testifying against 1378, but I'm going to sing its praises first.
• This is my first time in the Capitol and I do mostly farming, so I don't deal with mics much.

Bills: SB8, SB650, SB667, SB779, SB1349, SB1355, SB1378, SB1585, SB1721, SB2312, SB 8

Keywords: immigration enforcement, ICE agreements, sheriff grants, law enforcement, county jail, federal immigration law, China, Chinese-affiliated entities, Chinese military companies, People's Republic of China, Chinese Communist Party, divestment, state pension funds, public retirement systems, Teacher Retirement System, Employees Retirement System, Permanent School Fund, Texas Comptroller, foreign investment, national security

Transcript Highlights:

• This is another constitutional amendment that addresses the critical bail issue that we have throughout
• So what this joint resolution does, if approved by Texas voters, it amends the Constitution to require
• the denial of bail If approved by Texas voters, it amends the Constitution to require the denial of
• This constitutional amendment adds insult to injury, and with that, we oppose this SJR. Thank you.
• I forgot we had a floor amendment, but it actually makes it clearer to your concern.

Bills: SB3073, SJR87

Keywords: Texas criminal procedure, magistrate, probable cause, written findings, arrest review, criminal justice, Article 15.17, pretrial release, judicial recordkeeping, court transparency, law enforcement, defendant rights, criminal proceedings, no probable cause, magistrate findings, bail reform, felony offenses, constitutional amendment, public safety

Summary: The Senate Committee on Criminal Justice met with a quorum present and took up three bills tied to bail reform and law enforcement records. Senator Huffman presented SJR 87, a proposed constitutional amendment that would require denial of bail for people accused of certain serious felony offenses if they have a prior conviction for, or are already on bond for, one of those offenses and there is probable cause to believe they committed another listed offense. Supporters said it would give judges a needed tool to detain repeat violent offenders; opponents from the ACLU of Texas and Texas Civil Rights Project argued it would mandate detention without individualized due process and weaken the presumption of innocence. The committee voted 7-1 to report SJR 87 favorably, with Senator Miles voting no. The committee then heard SB 3073, which would require magistrates who find no probable cause after an arrest to enter written findings supporting that determination. Senator Huffman said the bill was a narrow cleanup measure to improve transparency and provide guidance to law enforcement and prosecutors without limiting judicial discretion. With no invited or public testimony, the committee voted 6-1 to report SB 3073 favorably, again with Senator Miles dissenting. Finally, the committee considered SB 781, a committee substitute dealing with law enforcement file management and personnel records. Senator King explained that the bill would standardize policies already used in many Texas cities and under civil service rules, separating public and sealed personnel information while preserving access for criminal defense discovery. Senator Miles raised concerns that sealing exonerated allegations could hide patterns of misconduct and allow problematic officers to move between agencies. The committee adopted the committee substitute and voted 6-1 to report SB 781 favorably, with Senator Miles voting no. The committee then recessed subject to the chair’s call.

Transcript Highlights:

• First of all, or Paul Wall, you know, I didn't wear my grill today.
• First of all, the Guadalupe Valley Electric Cooperative servicing Caldwell and Wilson counties.
• Senator Hinojosa here in the State Senate for the first time that I can ever recall.
• Most counties know their game wardens by first name.
• You know, I can recall when I first met her.

Bills: SJR1, SB9, SB40, SJR36, SJR1, SJR5, SB9, SB40

Keywords: bail denial, illegal aliens, felony offenses, constitutional amendment, law enforcement, bail reform, defendants, pretrial detention, public safety, criminal justice, charitable bail organizations, bail bonds, public funds, political subdivision, injunctive relief, taxpayer rights, bail, criminal justice reform, 1185, senate

Transcript Highlights:

• We'll go ahead and call the first bill: HB441 by Representative Standbridge. Welcome.
• All right, we have first and second by Williams. So, all in favor say "Aye." Any oppose? All right.

Bills: HB441, HB425, HB416

Keywords: speech-language pathology, licensure, clinical supervision, educational qualifications, healthcare assistant, mental health, regional authority, board of directors, local governance, public health, sudden cardiac arrest, automated external defibrillator, AED, school safety, emergency response, cardiac emergency response plan, training, athletic events, first aid, sessions

Bills: SB 868, SB 1337, SB 1371, SB 1377, SB 1426, SB 1620, SB 2064, SB 2065, SJR 4

Keywords: tax penalties, interest calculation, overpayment, tax law, refund process, historic preservation, heritage tourism, public engagement, Texas Historical Commission, education, pension system, actuarially sound, emergency services, legacy liability, anonymized contributions, economic stabilization fund, state finance, constitutional amendment, budget management, financial security

Bills: SB 868, SB 1337, SB 1371, SB 1377, SB 1426, SB 1620, SB 2064, SB 2065, SJR 4

Keywords: tax penalties, interest calculation, overpayment, tax law, refund process, historic preservation, heritage tourism, public engagement, Texas Historical Commission, education, pension system, actuarially sound, emergency services, legacy liability, anonymized contributions, economic stabilization fund, state finance, constitutional amendment, budget management, financial security

Transcript Highlights:

• This is another constitutional amendment that addresses the critical bail issue.
• The amendments are still moving through the process; there's no indication that they're not.
• So what this joint resolution does, if approved by Texas voters, is amend the Constitution to require
• I mean, this bill, this constitutional amendment is meant to address...
• This constitutional amendment adds insult to injury, and with that, we oppose this SJR. Thank you.

Bills: SB3073, SJR87

Keywords: Texas criminal procedure, magistrate, probable cause, written findings, arrest review, criminal justice, Article 15.17, pretrial release, judicial recordkeeping, court transparency, law enforcement, defendant rights, criminal proceedings, no probable cause, magistrate findings, bail reform, felony offenses, constitutional amendment, public safety, 1185

Transcript Highlights:

• amend it.
• The amendment is passed. The amendment has passed.
• It's a completely separate amendment than that. We never acted on that amendment.
• the conversation in the first place, which got the Ag Commissioner to draft this amendment, so that amendment
• the conversation in the first place, which got the Ag Commissioner to draft this amendment, so that

Bills: SB2339

Keywords: wildfire mitigation, utility liability, strict liability, electric utility, public service commission, PSC, rural electric cooperative, municipal utility, transmission provider, vegetation management, power lines, reclosers, electrical safety, wildfire prevention, grid reliability, public safety, first responders, ANSI A300, National Electrical Safety Code, community outreach

Summary: The Energy and Natural Resources Committee continued work on House Bill 1459, which concerns rare earth and critical mineral recovery from North Dakota lignite coal. Testimony from UND researcher Dan Ludo and industry representative David Straely focused on the urgency of developing the process quickly, the technical differences between extracting minerals from coal versus ash, and the potential value of elements such as terbium, dysprosium, gallium, germanium, and synthetic graphite. Straely argued the bill is constitutional, limited to minerals within the coal seam, and needed to avoid years of quiet title litigation and provide certainty for development and compensation to royalty owners. Committee members raised questions about landowner rights, compensation levels, possible amendments from the Department of Trust Lands, and whether the bill should be modified to address constitutional concerns or sunset provisions. No final action was taken on HB 1459; the chair said parties could work on language until Monday before the committee revisits it. The committee then returned to House Bill 1579, a high-load study bill with a possible energy infrastructure investment amendment. Jody Smith of the Retirement and Investment Office presented updated language adding guardrails for in-state infrastructure investing, including requiring approved projects to be underwritten and managed by a qualified investment manager or financial institution and to follow the Legacy Fund investment policy. Members discussed whether the amendment had been shared with the House sponsor and noted that the related bill 1330 was still pending, so HB 1579 was being held for the time being. Finally, the committee took up House Bill 1566, which had an amendment from the Agriculture Commissioner’s office. The committee adopted the amendment 7-0, then passed a due-pass motion on the amended bill and referred it to Appropriations, also by a 7-0 vote. Members discussed the bill’s fiscal impact, including an estimated $580,000 for two FTEs over two years, and clarified that the study component remains in the bill. Senator Gerhardt was assigned to carry the measure.

Transcript Highlights:

• This bill would establish the crime of interference with a first responder after receiving a... a first
• harasses the first responder.
• the first responder.
• HB224 substitution is more restrictive than the current code and will violate the First Amendment rights
• Public servants cannot disregard the First Amendment rights of the people. Thank you for your time.

Bills: HB403, HB224

Keywords: criminal enterprise, database, law enforcement, data privacy, criminal justice, HB224, Alabama, obstructing governmental operations, first responder, emergency responder, police, firefighter, EMT, paramedic, public safety, harassment, interference with emergency personnel, crime, Class A misdemeanor, emergency scene

Transcript Highlights:

• Chairman Harless deserves support for first responders.
• I'd first like to thank Representative Harless and his staff, James Cook, Ron Hickman, Kelly Peterson
• SJR 57 amends the Texas Constitution with voter approval. to make absolutely clear that the state is
• Again, this is just to codify and send to the voters this constitutional amendment resolution, and I
• That and putting it into the Constitution as an amendment.

Bills: HB3015, HB3521, HB5632, HJR182, SJR57

Keywords: healthcare, direct primary care, insurance deductibles, Texas Health Benefit Plans, telemedicine, police retirement, disability pension, municipalities, law enforcement, retirement benefits, retirement, beneficiary, Employees Retirement System of Texas, divorce decree, beneficiary designation, Veterans' Land Board, general obligation bonds, constitutional amendment, veterans, housing assistance

Transcript Highlights:

• What this does is in Covington County, it would allow them to vote in November for a constitutional amendment
• Thank you, members. amendment to either be for uh allowing amendment to either be for uh allowing class

Bills: SB266, SB287, SB266, SB287

Keywords: contract review, legislative oversight, state agencies, funding transparency, professional services, Sheriff, Barbour County, law enforcement, qualifications, training, executive education, Covington County, Alabama constitutional amendment, local amendment, carbon dioxide sequestration, carbon capture and storage, CCS, Class VI well, underground injection well, Underground Injection Control Program

Transcript Highlights:

• Okay, and then obviously this doesn't take away anybody's First Amendment rights. of expression or any
• I'm a civil rights attorney here in Texas, focusing mostly on First and Second Amendment.
• This could allow for approved constitutional amendments. amendments such as last session, the largest
• We amend the substitute, amend section 6 of the bill, we were just talking about books and records and
• Fourth Amendment.

Bills: SB29, SB406, SB447, SB875, SB893, SB1033, SB1346, SB1362, SB1539, SCR22, SB 29

Keywords: business organization, internal management, corporate governance, partnerships, liability reduction, birth certificate, biological sex, gender identity, health and safety, sex assignment, SB 875, Texas, independent school district, ISD, school board trustee, superintendent, campus administrator, electioneering, political signs, early voting

Bills: SB371

Keywords: SB371, Madison County, Alabama constitutional amendment, senior property tax exemption, property tax freeze, ad valorem tax, homestead exemption, elderly homeowners, senior citizens, age 65 and older, owner-occupied housing, principal residence, residential property tax, local tax relief, property tax assessment, county tax exemption, 923, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• First off, we have HB224 by Representative. I think everybody knows what the bill does.
• City Council is authorized to join the state retirement system, and it is also a constitutional amendment
• but is there any language in here that they have to approve it before it goes to a constitutional amendment
• Well, if it's not or if it is, we're actually giving the public... because it's a constitutional amendment

Bills: HB424, SB286

Keywords: HB424, Montgomery County, sheriff, county sheriff, salary increase, expense allowance, local act, county general fund, retirement contributions, public official compensation, law enforcement pay, elected official salary, Montgomery County legislation, sheriff compensation, term-based salary, retirement system, Montgomery City Council, constitutional amendment, employees, service credit

Transcript Highlights:

• Representative West, HB3129, there is an amendment without objection. We'll accept the amendment.
• You remember the first version I brought to you had the [MEA] language and this wasn't my bill initially
• Alright, Representative Lowe, back on the bill as amended. I thank you.

Bills: HB1937, HB2210, HB2398, HB3021, HB3129, HB3312, HB3557, HB4358

Keywords: HB1937, Oklahoma schools, student communications, electronic communication, digital communication, parent notification, legal guardian, school personnel, teachers, coaches, administrators, charter schools, public schools, administrative leave, corroborated report, investigation, employee file, discipline, termination, school board

Transcript Highlights:

• To the Senate of the 89th Legislature, First Called Session: I ask the advice, consent, and confirmation
• To nominations: The following bills and resolutions are on first reading and reference.

Bills: SB5, SB11, SB12, SB41, SB43, SB49, SB5, SB11, SB12

Keywords: hemp regulation, consumable products, cannabinoids, occupational licenses, criminal offenses, SB 11, Texas attorney general, election crimes, election law enforcement, criminal prosecution, Election Code, Government Code Chapter 402, local prosecutors, county attorney, district attorney, grand jury, probable cause reports, state election offenses, voter fraud, election integrity

Transcript Highlights:

• Like I say, there are some substantive amendments and then a lot of technical amendments.
• I first want to thank Senator Campbell.
• The very first question I asked was who pays, right?
• First, I want them to enjoy a similarly long life.
• This is the first step.

Bills: SB75, SB715, SB776, SB1299, SB1405, SB1968, SB2021, SB2077, SB2148, SB2321, SB2330, SB2411

Keywords: electric generation, reliability, ERCOT, Public Utility Commission, penalties, performance requirements, energy policy, construction contracts, compensatory damages, government delays, contractor, legislation, nonprofit donor privacy, membership lists, supporter confidentiality, volunteer privacy, association rights, public records exemption, Texas Public Information Act, government transparency