Transcript Highlights:

• Under Chapter 82 of the Property Code, we have been working on a committee's substantive bill that will
• a definition for political subdivisions and ensures that the language does not conflict with state water
• However, as we have discussed, the mandated changes to our local development code would unfortunately
• Our city is already working diligently to... to upgrade aging water, sewage, and road systems.
• Each new water line, wastewater plant, and road is aligned with our planned growth and our capital plans

Bills: HB407, HB871, HB882, HB2011, HB3572, HB3578, HB4038, HB4866, HB4897, HB4978, HB5380, HB5555, HB5668, HB5670, HB5674, HB5676, HB5679, HB5688, SB673

Keywords: solar energy, residential construction, building code, municipal regulations, energy compliance, building codes, interconnection, education, funding, teacher support, student resources, school infrastructure, municipal requirements, environmental sustainability, municipalities, construction, agricultural operation, International Code Council, county regulations, construction fees

Transcript Highlights:

• Chair, members of the committee, John Dirk with AFT, New Mexico.
• Ortiz, representing the New Mexico School Board Association.
• in southeast New Mexico and around the Socorro magma body.
• that New Mexico Tech puts out some In New Mexico State, I'll admit that New Mexico Tech puts out some
• They didn’t come necessarily from New Mexico.”

Bills: SB29, SB64

Keywords: SB29, math requirements for teaching license, teacher licensure, teacher endorsement, mathematics methods, elementary education, secondary education, special education, early childhood education, reciprocity, Public Education Department, Mathematics and Science Education Act, mathematics instructional leadership framework, professional learning plan, K-3 screening, mathematics screening assessment, mathematics difficulty, support plan, multilevel support, intervention

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm the advocacy manager at New Mexico Kids Can.
• well as a member of the math team, Teach Plus New Mexico.
• across New Mexico.
• With the passage of this bill, New Mexico will begin the journey of building a system that ensures New
• Chair, in New Mexico for decades.

Bills: SB29, SB64

Keywords: SB29, math requirements for teaching license, teacher licensure, teacher endorsement, mathematics methods, elementary education, secondary education, special education, early childhood education, reciprocity, Public Education Department, Mathematics and Science Education Act, mathematics instructional leadership framework, professional learning plan, K-3 screening, mathematics screening assessment, mathematics difficulty, support plan, multilevel support, intervention

Transcript Highlights:

• Members, Texans expect their public water supply systems to provide clean, safe drinking water.
• drinking water.
• We are willing to pay for good water. We want good water. There's been two rate increases.
• This is usually done so that the municipality can provide water to a new development.
• This is usually done so that the municipality can provide water to a new development.

Bills: HB630, HB685, HB1318, HB2692

Keywords: outboard motors, certificate of title, vessel regulation, Texas Parks and Wildlife Code, marine documentation, HB 685, municipal utility rates, water rates, sewer rates, local government code, rate discrimination, tax-exempt entities, sales tax exemption, ad valorem tax exemption, nonprofit organizations, charitable organizations, municipal water service, municipal sewer service, utility billing, public utilities

Summary: The Senate Committee on Water, Agriculture, and Rural Affairs met with no quorum at the start, but later reached quorum and took up several bills. House Bill 2692, codifying the San Antonio River Authority’s enabling legislation and making non-substantive modernization changes, received brief supportive testimony from the River Authority and was left pending before later being voted out favorably. House Bill 685, which would prevent municipalities from charging higher water or sewer rates to tax-exempt entities than comparable customers, also drew support and was reported favorably. House Bill 1318, clarifying compensation issues when a municipality decertifies part of a retail water utility’s service area, was heard without opposition and passed out of committee. House Bill 630, exempting certain older outboard motors from title requirements, likewise passed and was placed on the local and uncontested calendar. The committee spent the most time on Senate Bill 2497, relating to filtration systems for certain public drinking water systems. Senator Zaffirini described the bill as a response to ongoing secondary water quality complaints, while TCEQ testified that such contaminants are aesthetic rather than health-based and that the water remains safe to drink if primary standards are met. The Texas Rural Water Association opposed the bill as written, arguing filtration may not solve most water quality problems and could be costly for small systems, while a consumer witness from Floresville supported it and described repeated rate increases and brown water after a filtration system was removed. Members discussed narrowing the bill through a committee substitute and emphasized the need for flexibility and technical expertise; the committee substitute was adopted and the bill was reported favorably, with Senator Kolkhorst later asking to be recorded as voting no. The committee also heard Senate Bill 2850, which would create a pollinator task force to study habitat loss, public education, and best practices for protecting bees and other pollinators. Senator Menendez and invited witness Erica Thompson of Texas BeeWorks highlighted major colony losses and the economic importance of pollinators to Texas agriculture, and Environment Texas and the Texas Beekeepers Association supported the measure. Members discussed monarch butterflies, native grasses, milkweed, and conservation efforts, and the bill was reported favorably and sent to the local and uncontested calendar. After testimony, the committee also voted out several pending items, including House Bill 5560 with a committee substitute addressing water-loss penalties and infrastructure improvements, and then recessed subject to the call of the chair.

Transcript Highlights:

• We'll rely on groundwater for this water supply.
• last 20 years, um, to the tune of, well, in 2022, there were 2300 private water wells drilled.
• feet, the water stays in the impoundment.
• But that water is available.
• We were using recycled water from wastewater plants.

Bills: SB 612, SB 1855, SB 2568, SB 3058

Keywords: SB 612, Texas Water Code, Section 49.2127, conservation and reclamation district, water district, reclamation district, developer fees, pipeline construction, water pipeline, sewer pipeline, associated infrastructure, subdivision infrastructure, cost recovery, fee cap, actual reasonable documented costs, engineering fees, legal fees, inspection fees, infrastructure relocation, utility connections

Transcript Highlights:

• But if you know and it has hurt somebody, but you know what's causing it, we create a whole new water
• -Mexico border with a core focus on. water. Two-thirds of our work has focused on water.
• So this new water district will be populated by members from these communities.
• Senate Bill 1583 aims to improve groundwater management by addressing gaps in the Texas Water Code that
• The Texas Water Code provides the following clear rules: Groundwater Conservation Districts (GCDs) must

Bills: SB1169, SB1285, SB1583, SB1611, SB1898, SB1976, SB2160, SB2161, SB2658, SB2661, SB2662, SB2692, SB1055, SB1359, SB2660

Keywords: water service, sewer service, public utility, joint operation, infrastructure, municipality, compliance, SB 1285, bats, bat protection, wildlife protection, Texas Parks and Wildlife Code, Parks and Wildlife Code Section 63.101, hunting bats, bat possession, bat sales, bat trade, pest control, licensed pest control professional, animal control officer

Transcript Highlights:

• State water is water that the state owns.
• be paid for that water.
• , you are complying with your mandatory duty under Chapter 13 of the Texas Water Code to provide continuous
• People need the water; you've got to send the water." And that's what you just pointed to.
• Water District was created.

Bills: SB1169, SB1285, SB1583, SB1611, SB1898, SB1976, SB2160, SB2161, SB2658, SB2661, SB2662, SB2692, SB1055, SB1359, SB2660

Keywords: water service, sewer service, public utility, joint operation, infrastructure, municipality, compliance, SB 1285, bats, bat protection, wildlife protection, Texas Parks and Wildlife Code, Parks and Wildlife Code Section 63.101, hunting bats, bat possession, bat sales, bat trade, pest control, licensed pest control professional, animal control officer

Transcript Highlights:

• They're pumping that water.
• That's water the state owns. We're talking about water that the landowner owns, not the district.
• paid for that water.
• , you are complying with your mandatory duty under Chapter 13 of the Texas Water Code to provide continuous
• People need the water, you got to in the water. And that's what you just pointed to.

Bills: SB 1169, SB 1285, SB 1583, SB 1611, SB 1898, SB 1976, SB 2160, SB 2161, SB 2658, SB 2661, SB 2662, SB 2692, SB 1055, SB 1359, SB 2660

Keywords: water service, sewer service, public utility, joint operation, infrastructure, municipality, compliance, SB 1285, bats, bat protection, wildlife protection, Texas Parks and Wildlife Code, Parks and Wildlife Code Section 63.101, hunting bats, bat possession, bat sales, bat trade, pest control, licensed pest control professional, animal control officer

Transcript Highlights:

• Mexico, and how we can get our providers to stay here in New Mexico as well.
• And in New Mexico, since 2022, it has served over 120,000...
• In New Mexico since 2022, it has served over 120,000 New Mexicans.
• As you know, New Mexico has a very high rate of suicide, and that is one of the new ECHOs that we launched
• And the New Mexico School Boards Association has annual conferences.

Bills: HB1

Keywords: feed bill, legislative appropriations, legislative branch, New Mexico Legislature, general fund, legislative council service, legislative finance committee, legislative education study committee, house chief clerk, senate chief clerk, per diem, mileage, session expenses, interim committees, district staff, capitol complex, capital outlay data system, legislative processing system, redistricting, census redistricting

Transcript Highlights:

• Mexico, 5,000 local fresh boxes to northern New Mexico tribal and rural senior centers.
• It's actually managed at the University of New Mexico.
• And I didn't want it to be, to have a TPA in New York try to figure out New Mexico medical malpractice
• So we have a law in New Mexico that was passed that allows us to lease directly... ...a law in New Mexico
• types of jobs in New Mexico.

Bills: HB1

Keywords: feed bill, legislative appropriations, legislative branch, New Mexico Legislature, general fund, legislative council service, legislative finance committee, legislative education study committee, house chief clerk, senate chief clerk, per diem, mileage, session expenses, interim committees, district staff, capitol complex, capital outlay data system, legislative processing system, redistricting, census redistricting

Transcript Highlights:

• I have had the privilege of working with the New Mexico Mesa program for over... ...celebrates New Mexico
• And then also for New Mexico MESA, our theme for the year is Building New Mexico.
• New Mexico Constitution, ordered printed, and referred to the House Agriculture, Acequia, and Water Resources
• projects pursuant to the Water Project Finance Act, allowing the New Mexico Finance Authority to fund
• water projects from the Water Project Fund without receiving... ...New Mexico Finance Authority to fund

Bills: HB1

Keywords: feed bill, legislative appropriations, legislative branch, New Mexico Legislature, general fund, legislative council service, legislative finance committee, legislative education study committee, house chief clerk, senate chief clerk, per diem, mileage, session expenses, interim committees, district staff, capitol complex, capital outlay data system, legislative processing system, redistricting, census redistricting

Transcript Highlights:

• New Mexico. Okay, so Mr.
• Mexico to deal with water.
• So, this is a program we're growing with New Mexico Tech.
• It's not all about just central New Mexico.
• The labs in New Mexico have close to 13,000 employees.

Bills: HB1

Keywords: feed bill, legislative appropriations, legislative branch, New Mexico Legislature, general fund, legislative council service, legislative finance committee, legislative education study committee, house chief clerk, senate chief clerk, per diem, mileage, session expenses, interim committees, district staff, capitol complex, capital outlay data system, legislative processing system, redistricting, census redistricting

Transcript Highlights:

• Mexico Compilation Commission, which is how the statutes are updated and published.
• I believe you have to go to the New Mexico OneSource website, which has the New Mexico statutes annotated
• One of the ways it can be accessed is through the New Mexico State Library webpage.
• construction, like new apartment buildings.
• New subdivisions. The database has to begin constructing those blocks. Thank you for. That.

Bills: HB1

Keywords: feed bill, legislative appropriations, legislative branch, New Mexico Legislature, general fund, legislative council service, legislative finance committee, legislative education study committee, house chief clerk, senate chief clerk, per diem, mileage, session expenses, interim committees, district staff, capitol complex, capital outlay data system, legislative processing system, redistricting, census redistricting

Bills: SB 1194, SB 1215, SB 1253, SB 1268, SB 1302, SB 1484, SB 1532

Keywords: water management, bond issuance, eminent domain, regional authority, fee structures, local governance, environmental quality, oyster cultivation, coastal management, natural resources, marine ecosystems, Texas Parks and Wildlife, Texas Water Development Board, guidance principles, flood plan, state water plan, rule review, infrastructure, water discharge, general permit

Transcript Highlights:

• Local laws code.
• Let's expect our public water supply systems to provide clean, safe drinking water.
• Deterioration of drinking water wells and the delivery of poor water quality while also raising water
• drinking water.
• This is usually done so that the municipality can provide water to a new development if the retail water

Bills: HB630, HB685, HB1318, HB2692

Keywords: outboard motors, certificate of title, vessel regulation, Texas Parks and Wildlife Code, marine documentation, HB 685, municipal utility rates, water rates, sewer rates, local government code, rate discrimination, tax-exempt entities, sales tax exemption, ad valorem tax exemption, nonprofit organizations, charitable organizations, municipal water service, municipal sewer service, utility billing, public utilities

Transcript Highlights:

• On the body of water, is there not... ...the body of water, is it not restricted today? No. Okay.
• , basically... subject to the new rules.
• If this was a pond that the Mobile Water Board owned, I... that the Mobile Water Board owned, I see,
• this water system.
• I don't think we heard from anybody that opposes clean water and good water systems for Mobile and surrounding

Bills: HB473, HB397, HB397

Keywords: water recreation, public access, water bodies, recreational use, water commissions, real estate, disclosures, equitable interest, disciplinary actions, Alabama Real Estate Commission, HB397, homestead exemption, ad valorem tax, property tax, tax relief, senior exemption, elderly homeowners, retiree exemption, disability exemption, blind exemption

Transcript Highlights:

• So essentially... ...the ponds out in front of new developments, and in new developments, we're just
• Quality of that water and the microbes in that water.
• For water, we do not waste water. We're not wasting water.
• Any capacity to commandeer fresh water? I know of water, sir.
• SB 1891 would clarify the definition in Texas Water Code Chapter 13 to include these options and adjust

Bills: SB243, SB1586, SB1891, SB1959, SB2159, SB2568

Keywords: migrant labor housing, migrant housing, farmworker housing, migrant agricultural worker, agricultural labor, farm labor contractor, Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs, TDHCA, civil penalty, housing code enforcement, sanitation, occupancy standards, retaliation, worker complaint, language access, Spanish-language outreach, H-2A visa, temporary agricultural workers, unlicensed housing, rural housing

Bills: HB1532, HB2731, HB3483, HB4308, HB4580, HB4582, HB5509, HB5663

Keywords: Lake Houston, dredging, maintenance district, flood control, environment, public works, HB 2731, roadside vendors, solicitors, county regulation, border counties, Mexico border, Transportation Code, unincorporated areas, right-of-way, public highway, parking lot, livestock sales, live animals, vendor regulation

Summary: The Senate Local Government Committee briefly convened and then immediately moved to recess. Senator Paxton made a motion to recess subject to the call of the chair, which was accepted. No bills, testimony, or substantive policy issues were discussed during the meeting. With no other business before the committee, it stood in recess subject to the call of the chair.

Transcript Highlights:

• They securitize the revenue from the meters, from the water systems they put in.
• With the need for new water resources and infrastructure upgrades in rural Texas, committee sub HB 3483
• Now, we were creating a completely new form of government.
• All right, you've got a hotel definition under the tax code.
• in, not let water out at high capacity.

Bills: HB1532, HB2731, HB3483, HB4308, HB4580, HB4582, HB5509, HB5663

Keywords: Lake Houston, dredging, maintenance district, flood control, environment, public works, HB 2731, roadside vendors, solicitors, county regulation, border counties, Mexico border, Transportation Code, unincorporated areas, right-of-way, public highway, parking lot, livestock sales, live animals, vendor regulation

Summary: The committee heard and discussed several local-government-related bills, mostly with committee substitutes. House Bill 2731 would let certain border counties regulate roadside vendors selling live animals in unincorporated areas and along public rights-of-way; the substitute narrowed the bill to live animal sales only and excluded livestock and other roadside commerce. House Bill 3483 would streamline TCEQ review of special utility district revenue bonds by removing tax-bond requirements that do not apply to SUDs. House Bill 4308 would create a county industrial development district framework, limited in the substitute to certain counties including Fort Bend County, to help finance industrial sites and related infrastructure. House Bill 5663 would create a Wood County Hospital District memory-care-focused district with no taxing power, intended to help pursue grants and other funding for a new facility. House Bill 4582 addressed attainable housing in Dallas and Tarrant counties, allowing local reimbursement tools for developers under a uniform, optional framework. House Bill 5509 would let municipalities suspend or revoke a hotel’s certificate of occupancy if law enforcement and a criminal court both find probable cause of human trafficking, with the substitute adding due-process protections. House Bill 1532 created a Lake Houston dredging and maintenance district funded by revenue from dredged material sales and revenue bonds, with no taxing authority or eminent domain. House Bill 23, heard as pending business, would revise the process for local governments to rescind development documents and adjust third-party reviewer liability and eligibility rules. House Bill 4580, concerning property tax exemptions for charitable organizations such as the Houston Rodeo, was amended to remove language about exempting revenue from property use and instead focus on land used for agricultural, youth, and educational support. Public testimony was generally supportive on the bills heard, with witnesses including county officials, utility and water association representatives, hotel industry representatives, and housing developers. Several speakers emphasized the need for faster financing or permitting tools, flood mitigation, housing affordability, anti-trafficking enforcement, or local economic development. Some members raised concerns about scope, precedent, consultation with affected senators, and due process, particularly on House Bill 4582 and House Bill 5509, but the committee largely accepted the committee substitutes as improvements. No public testimony was offered on several bills, and most measures were left pending before later being voted out. The committee took recorded votes on multiple pending bills and reported them favorably, often with committee substitutes adopted in lieu of the filed versions. House Bills 1532, 2731, 3483, 5509, 5663, and 4580 were reported out, with 1532 and 5663 passing unanimously and 3483, 2731, and 5509 also receiving favorable votes despite one present-not-voting on 3483. House Bill 23 and House Bill 4582 were left pending subject to call of the chair. The committee then recessed until adjournment or later.

Transcript Highlights:

• school of medicine at the University of New Mexico, $55 million for a new multidisciplinary academic
• Mexico Community College. $15 million for a new agricultural science and arts building at Eastern New
• Donnelly Library at New Mexico Highlands University.
• very vital, especially in rural New Mexico.
• Is this most counties in New Mexico have electric plants?

Bills: HB248, HB309, HB332, SB48

Keywords: general obligation bonds, GO bonds, capital projects, bond election, property tax levy, state debt, state finance, capital outlay, senior centers, senior citizen facilities, aging services, long-term services, libraries, library acquisitions, broadband for libraries, higher education, university capital projects, community colleges, tribal schools, special schools