Transcript Highlights:

• However, currently, if a county by agreement If a county has been granted the authority to have sole
• The petitioner must include a copy of the notice to the county and counties in their TCE.
• The cost to the county and these are county...
• and stuff like that you know my my county commissioners I think are very happy and excited that that
• Notification is very important to us as County Commissioners and County Judge.

Bills: HB23, HB363, HB447, HB954, HB23

Keywords: third-party review, property development, local government, permits, construction inspection, regulatory authority, land development, liability, occupancy certificate, municipal utility district, petition, county clerk, water code, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, traffic impact studies, bonds, road projects, eminent domain, extraterritorial jurisdiction, county authority

Bills: HB23, HB23, HB363, HB447, HB954

Keywords: property tax exemption, ad valorem tax, Texas Tax Code, nonprofit corporation, charitable organization, educational nonprofit, scientific nonprofit, agriculture support, youth programs, community education, county population threshold, large county, local government revenue, leasehold interest, possessory interest, county property tax, nonprofit-owned property, third-party review, property development, local government

Transcript Highlights:

• House Bill 4142 would allow commissioners courts and Walker County to designate constables or deputy
• Our county roads and bridges in Johnson County are crumbling.
• Commissioner Bailey is here to testify on behalf of the roads in Johnson County.
• I am Commissioner Rick Bailey. I'm from Johnson County.
• county, as an example.

Bills: HB137, HB283, HCR114, HB137, HB283, HB1398, HB1960, HB2153, HB2431, HB2638, HB2699, HB2999, HB3208, HB3389, HB3413, HB3510, HB3642, HB3859, HB3974, HB3986, HB4142, HB4173, HB4174, HB4542, HB4605, HB4663, HB4731, HB5064, HB5216, HB5218, HB5332, HB5453, HB5577

Keywords: state budget, fiscal biennium, budget repeal, financial management, state funding, Medicaid, healthcare access, Affordable Care Act, federal funding, low-income individuals, insurance coverage, memorial, pedestrian bridge, Houston, Sergio Ivan Rodriguez, city council, oversize vehicles, transportation permits, Hidalgo County, port authority

Transcript Highlights:

• County Girls Softball Association.
• Highway 183 in Eastland County as the Deputy Sheriff David Boesecker Memorial Highway.
• They were long-time residents of Leon County.
• In her district, Cecil Bell Sr. was a lifetime resident in Freestone County.
• around them, including my district in McLennan County.

Bills: HCR114, HB137, HB283, HB1398, HB1960, HB2153, HB2431, HB2638, HB2699, HB2999, HB3208, HB3389, HB3413, HB3510, HB3642, HB3859, HB3974, HB3986, HB4142, HB4173, HB4174, HB4542, HB4605, HB4663, HB4731, HB5064, HB5216, HB5218, HB5332, HB5453, HB5577, HB137, HB283

Keywords: memorial, pedestrian bridge, Houston, Sergio Ivan Rodriguez, city council, oversize vehicles, transportation permits, Hidalgo County, port authority, highway routes, healthcare, insurance, mental health, treatment access, state funding, transportation, axle weight, aggregates, regulations, Texas law

Transcript Highlights:

• Today, election commissioners are not just poll workers.
• Today, election commissioners are not just poll workers.
• I respectfully ask for your support in increasing election commissioner pay.
• I think the commissioners deserve this. It is the honorable thing to do.
• Tammany Parish, and I have served as a commissioner several times.

Bills: HB65, HB67, HB73, HB205, HB225, HB339, HB550

Keywords: sexual harassment, public employees, training requirements, mandatory education, elected officials, public records, personal information, protected individuals, ethics, transparency, public meetings, voting, electronic voting machine, government accountability, term limits, governor, Louisiana constitution, elections, gubernatorial, law enforcement

Transcript Highlights:

• overweight vehicles carrying cargo in Hidalgo County.
• Requests to Dallas County are made.
• The County Transportation Code establishes the roads on which TXDOT may authorize the Doublet County
• House Bill 2560 is similar to the Adopt-a-County Road program.
• and maintenance of an adopted county road, including authorized uses for the county and road district

Bills: HB2026, HB2427, HB2455, HB2560, HB3510, HB3966, HB3986, HB4429, HB5436, SB3062

Keywords: memorial highway, U.S. Army, U.S. Marine Corps, Archer County, highway designation, vehicle weight, ports of entry, Texas Transportation Code, truck regulations, load limits, Adopt-a-County Road, funding, road maintenance, county partnership, public recognition, memorial designation, highway, Sergeant Mark Butler, transportation, Brazos County

Transcript Highlights:

• to four in Sussex County.
• had to drive to Kent County.
• Are you in charge of all three counties? I'm in charge of all three counties.
• It's in Sussex County.
• It could be from Kent County.

Bills: HB372, HB414

Keywords: HB372, Justice of the Peace Court, Delaware courts, Title 10, court administration, judicial staffing, county courts, Kent County, New Castle County, Sussex County, Wilmington, 24-hour hearings, court locations, court hours, magistrate court, access to justice, court consolidation, Delaware General Assembly, destructive weapon, possessing a destructive weapon

Summary: The House Judiciary Committee met and heard three bills. HB 372 would reorganize Justice of the Peace Court resources by shifting the number of judges and court locations among counties, consolidating overnight operations into a single 24-hour court in Kent County, and adjusting staffing to address workload and efficiency concerns. Chief Judge Alan Davis said the change responds to increased civil filings, automated enforcement, and staffing shortages, and that a Sussex County pilot closing a 24-hour facility had worked without major issues. Some members raised concerns about impacts on Sussex and Kent County, bail processing, and local response times, while public comment included one supporter. The committee voted to release HB 372. The committee then considered SB 324, which amends Delaware’s permit-to-purchase law to allow constable agencies, including those serving institutions like Delaware Tech, to purchase handguns for newly hired constables without duplicative background checks. Sponsor Representative Cook said the bill aligns constable procurement with existing law-enforcement exemptions while preserving gun-safety requirements. Public testimony included support from Delaware Tech and comments urging broader fixes to the permit-to-purchase law, including exemptions for retired officers with federal 218 credentials and clarification on firearms returned from manufacturers, gunsmiths, or police departments. The committee voted to release SB 324. Finally, the committee heard HB 414, which clarifies that the Superior Court’s exclusive jurisdiction over certain destructive-weapon offenses applies only to adults, while juvenile cases would still begin in Family Court. Sponsor Representative Romer said the bill preserves the Family Court’s role in handling youth cases and allows referral to Superior Court when appropriate. The Department of Justice said it still believes Superior Court is the proper venue for these serious charges, while the Office of Defense Services supported keeping youth cases in Family Court first, arguing that rehabilitation and juvenile-specific dispositions are more appropriate. After public comment, the committee voted to release HB 414, and the meeting adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Many smaller private schools, particularly in Kent and Sussex counties, do not have the financial resources

Bills: HB372, HB414

Keywords: HB372, Justice of the Peace Court, Delaware courts, Title 10, court administration, judicial staffing, county courts, Kent County, New Castle County, Sussex County, Wilmington, 24-hour hearings, court locations, court hours, magistrate court, access to justice, court consolidation, Delaware General Assembly, destructive weapon, possessing a destructive weapon

Summary: The committee heard several bills focused on public safety, courts, and family law. House Bill 141, with House Amendment 1, would require the Department of Safety and Homeland Security to create a firearm responsibilities notice for firearm purchasers through licensed dealers, covering Delaware gun laws, safe storage, lost/stolen reporting, straw purchases, suicide prevention, and other safety responsibilities. Testimony from the NRA, Delaware State Sportsmen’s Association, Moms Demand Action, the Coalition for Safer Delaware, and Delaware State Police was uniformly supportive, emphasizing education, standardized dealer practices, and potential evidence for straw-purchase prosecutions. No committee questions were raised, and the bill was moved forward after public comment. House Bill 326 would create a new offense for theft by impersonating a family member, aimed at scams involving spoofed calls, texts, or online messages that pressure victims to send money. The sponsor described the bill as a response to increasingly sophisticated fraud enabled by artificial intelligence, and noted that a House amendment removed an original mandatory minimum jail term, leaving sentencing to the courts. No public testimony was offered on the bill. House Substitute 1 for House Bill 150 would prohibit civil arrests inside courthouses and certain Department of Labor proceedings, with the sponsor arguing that such arrests deter people from coming to court or seeking protection; the bill would allow criminal arrests and civil arrests only with advance written notice. No testimony was taken on that measure. Senate Bill 284, the First State Emergency Responders Act, would create a narrowly tailored offense for intentionally approaching within 25 feet of first responders at emergency scenes after crossing a barrier or ignoring warnings, if done to interfere, threaten, or harass. Supporters, including police, fire service, and sportsmen’s groups, said it would protect responders and preserve emergency operations, while the Office of Defense Services opposed it on First Amendment and overbreadth grounds, arguing existing laws already cover much of the conduct. Senate Bill 304 would amend Delaware’s safe school zone law to allow private schools to use trained, vetted sentries or similar security arrangements; supporters said it would give smaller private schools an affordable safety option, while the sponsor said the bill needed more work and should not move forward yet. The committee also heard Senate Substitute 1 for Senate Bill 314, which would clarify how courts handle evidence that a sexual assault complainant previously made a false allegation; DOJ and ODS said the substitute reflects a consensus approach, and YWCA Delaware supported it as a survivor-protective reform. Finally, Senate Bill 343 would expand methods for serving child support respondents in Family Court by authorizing service through certified mail and carriers such as USPS, UPS, and FedEx, addressing cases where people avoid in-person service using doorbell cameras and other technology. The Division of Child Support Services supported the bill as a practical update that would improve timeliness while preserving proof-of-delivery safeguards. At the end of the meeting, a motion was made and seconded, and the chair adjourned the session.

Bills: HB 537, HB 594, HB 1629, HB 2014, HB 2273, HB 3733, HB 1862, HB 2413, HB 3335

Keywords: noise regulation, criminal offense, public health, residential areas, county authority, Texas, local governance, sheriff's department, civil service, exempt positions, local government, police oversight, fireworks, retail sales, permits, Texas-Mexico border, seasonal sales, election, hospital district, board of directors

Transcript Highlights:

• When I was in college, I was literally visiting my mom in a Harris County jail.
• to Nueces County to Dallas County.
• House Bill 3513 is a local bill that makes changes to the Moore County Juvenile Board.
• Again, this is a local bill for just one county. It was brought to me by my constituents.
• One, is your county supporting this? Two, do you want us to... follow the code of local consent?

Bills: HB2947, HB3276, HB3513

Keywords: truancy, school attendance, parent responsibility, education code, community service, criminal record nondisclosure, juvenile board, Moore County, appointments, juvenile justice, county legislation, 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Commissioner Hatz. Commissioner of Elections.
• It's one commissioner in charge and four commissioners for a congressional, gubernatorial, etc.
• It's three commissioners and one commissioner in charge generally for the spring elections.
• Also, if the precinct has under 300 voters, you're dropping down to two commissioners and one commissioner
• In addition to the commissioner in charge, three commissioners may serve at precincts with less than

Bills: HB398, HB906, HB1201, SB41, SB47, SB106, SB210, SB218, SB220, SB248, SB289, SB397

Keywords: travel expenses, reimbursement, state officials, US General Services Administration, disaster management, nominating petitions, unaffiliated voters, party primaries, political participation, elections, public meeting minutes, transparency, government accountability, publication deadlines, open meetings, boards and commissions, public records, contact information, email addresses, phone numbers

Transcript Highlights:

• Commissioner and former County Sheriff Brad Milbrath.
• I also have with me County Commissioner and Chair DeMalteur.
• County Commissioner and Chair DeMalteur. County Commissioner and Chair DeMalteur.
• ><c> me</c> County Commissioner Danielowski with me County Commissioner Danielowski with me to<01:19:
• > Board</c> County Commissioner and 2026 Board County Commissioner and 2026 Board Chair.

Bills: HF4094, HF3390, HF3813, HF3583, HF3751, HF4324, HF4789, HF3596, HF4033, HF4424, HF4053

Keywords: Crosby, local sales tax, bonding authority, community projects, voter approval, Owatonna, use tax, special law, community center, municipal finance, capital project, sales and use tax, local option tax, city tax, public facility, general election, bond referendum, debt limit, levy limit, Minnesota local government

Transcript Highlights:

• HB583 would add language to allow the commissioners court of the applicable county to adopt an order
• Your bill states that the County Commissioners Court has the authority to do that.
• My question to you is why do we not just encourage county commissioners to implement this program on
• I improperly referenced you as a county commissioner. You are an ESD commissioner.
• I'm not a county commissioner; I am an ESD commissioner.

Bills: HB334, HB583, HB605, HB1327, HB1646, HB2115, HB2379

Keywords: family leave, leave pool, county employee, sick leave, vacation leave, family care, pandemic, guardianship, fencing, reservoirs, local government, regulation, land use, conservation capacity, property regulation, fence regulation, reservoir safety, county authority, fencing regulations, counties

Transcript Highlights:

• If they have more parcels than population in my home county, then Harris County and Dallas County is
• But in a rural county you're going to have more parcels than folks.
• If the cities and counties update it, so there actually exists to be an overall unit out there.
• The cities and counties go later, and some like Harris County don't even put their tax bills in the mail
• Senator Bettencourt: Yes, it's by county if I remember correctly.

Bills: HB17, HB23

Keywords: property tax, school funding, enrollment changes, inflation adjustment, tax rate notice, property tax exemption, ad valorem tax, Texas Tax Code, nonprofit corporation, charitable organization, educational nonprofit, scientific nonprofit, agriculture support, youth programs, community education, county population threshold, large county, local government revenue, leasehold interest, possessory interest

Transcript Highlights:

• But passing a law to prevent cities and counties and other political subdivisions... Thank you, Mr.
• jurisdiction of the county court at law.
• , who is the current county clerk, who ran against Kirk Watson in 2022.
• I feel that each polling location I've worked, whether it's been in Travis County, Harris County, or
• I feel that each polling location I've worked, whether it's been in Travis County, Harris County, or

Bills: SB6, SB7, SB8, SB11, SB12, SB13, SB15, SB17

Keywords: hemp, consumable hemp, hemp-derived cannabinoids, CBD, cannabidiol, CBG, cannabigerol, delta-8, delta-9, intoxicating hemp, hemp gummies, hemp vape, edibles, cannabinoid regulation, hemp licensing, retailer registration, product registration, QR code labeling, child-resistant packaging, minor access

Summary: The committee first took up Senate Bill 8, the Texas Women's Privacy Act, and heard extensive public testimony both for and against the measure. Supporters, including representatives of Texas Values and Texas Values Action, argued the bill was needed to protect women’s privacy and safety in restrooms, locker rooms, showers, prisons, domestic violence shelters, and other government-controlled spaces, and said it would provide clear, sex-based rules. Opponents, including many transgender Texans, civil rights advocates, clergy, business and public safety voices, and others, argued the bill would invite harassment, gender policing, lawsuits, and invasive inspections, while harming trans, intersex, and gender-nonconforming people as well as cisgender women who do not fit stereotypes. Several witnesses said the bill would conflict with federal law or prison standards, worsen safety in shelters and prisons, and hurt Texas’s reputation and economy. The chair repeatedly noted the compressed special-session schedule and said flood relief remained the session’s top priority. Public testimony on SB 8 was eventually closed, and the bill was left pending. The committee then moved to Senate Bill 6, dealing with consumable hemp product restrictions. Testimony on SB 6 focused on whether the bill went too far in restricting hemp-derived THC products. Opponents argued hemp and THC have medical and economic value, that the bill would criminalize conduct and burden courts, and that regulation—not prohibition—was the better approach. Some witnesses supported tighter rules such as testing, child-resistant packaging, and limits on marketing to children, but still opposed the bill’s broad THC ban, higher fees, and age restrictions. Several speakers emphasized benefits for veterans, chronic pain patients, and small businesses, and warned that prohibition would push consumers toward the illicit market. The committee heard the testimony and then continued with additional witnesses, with no final vote or disposition reported in the excerpt.

Bills: HB1845, HB2192, HB2438, HB2529, HB2607, HB2658, HB3348, HB3505, HB3305

Keywords: rural prosecution, salary assistance, staffing grant, legal support, criminal justice, fireworks, permit requirements, sale, county regulations, public safety, hospital district, administration, elections, director qualifications, public contracts, salary supplement, county judges, judicial functions, state law, government compensation

Transcript Highlights:

• Like, in my home county, Cherokee County, with a population of 53,000, to find out how many different
• If they can consolidate in my home county, then Harris County is more than those populations.
• The cities and counties go later, and some of them, like Harris County, don't even put their tax bills
• Yes, but it's by county if I remember correctly.
• Just know them because they're very similar to counties.

Bills: HB17, HB23

Keywords: property tax, school funding, enrollment changes, inflation adjustment, tax rate notice, property tax exemption, ad valorem tax, Texas Tax Code, nonprofit corporation, charitable organization, educational nonprofit, scientific nonprofit, agriculture support, youth programs, community education, county population threshold, large county, local government revenue, leasehold interest, possessory interest

Transcript Highlights:

• The county, and obviously I represent the largest urban counties in the state.
• : Dallas County, Denton County, and Collin County.
• or Lubbock County.
• I'm in Ector County, Texas, Odessa. We are not a blue county.
• There have been tons of them—Harris County, Hays County, tons of them.

Bills: HB17, HB23, SB 10

Keywords: property tax, school funding, enrollment changes, inflation adjustment, tax rate notice, property tax exemption, ad valorem tax, Texas Tax Code, nonprofit corporation, charitable organization, educational nonprofit, scientific nonprofit, agriculture support, youth programs, community education, county population threshold, large county, local government revenue, leasehold interest, possessory interest

Transcript Highlights:

• ,</c><00:30:13.679><c> County</c> have uh Commissioner, County have uh Commissioner, County Commissioner
• administrators, the county attorneys, county commissioners, and local police chiefs who provided input
• administrators, the county attorneys, county commissioners, and local police chiefs who provided input
• administrators, the county attorneys, county commissioners, and local police chiefs who provided input
• , the county attorneys, county commissioners, and local police chiefs who provided input.

Bills: HF3700, HF3982, HF3927, HF3933, HF3949, HF4238, HF4275, HF4476, HF4504

Keywords: Duluth, Lake Superior Zoo, capital improvements, funding, bonds, appropriations, capital investment, port development, grant caps, state assistance, navigation facilities, Dakota County, state bonds, park improvements, infrastructure, transportation, safety, congestion, water infrastructure, bond issuance

Transcript Highlights:

• Our Board of County Commissioners has given us full financial and logistical support.
• in our county as well, we believe, is important, and what I believe our county commissioners are expressing
• in our county as well we believe is important and what I believe are also our county commissioners are
• As Judge Scott and Commissioner Lindy noted, Yakima County is experiencing trial delays.
• I'm a County Commissioner for Skagit County, and thank you for letting me speak this evening.

Bills: SB6256, SB6275, SB5868, SB5954

Keywords: tax exemptions, affordable housing, nonprofit, unoccupied property, housing policy, community reinvestment, economic development, local investment, financial assistance, SB 5868, superior court, judge, judgeship, judicial vacancy, court administration, Skagit County, Yakima County, RCW 2.08.061, Washington courts, county judges

Summary: The committee held public hearings on a series of housing, social services, education, labor, court, and veterans-related bills. Early testimony focused on Substitute Senate Bill 5884, which would expand a sales and use tax deferral for redevelopment of vacant or underused land into affordable housing and allow cities to set lower affordability thresholds in designated areas. Supporters from Spokane, Kent, and housing developers said the bill would help projects pencil and increase workforce housing, while Associated Builders and Contractors opposed language they said could encourage project labor agreements and disadvantage small contractors. No action was taken beyond closing the hearing. The committee then heard Senate Bill 6256, which would extend a property tax exemption for low-income nonprofit housing to include portions of projects used for certain community-serving purposes during construction and extend the pre-occupancy period from two to three years. Testifiers from housing nonprofits and local governments said the change would help mixed-use affordable housing projects that include child care, behavioral health, and other services. The committee also heard Substitute Senate Bill 6027, which would broaden allowable uses of local affordable housing sales tax revenue, allow pooled bond financing, extend a REET exemption timeline, redefine emergency housing, and expand uses of the Affordable Housing for All account; counties, King County, housing advocates, and Snohomish County supported the flexibility, with Snohomish County asking for rental assistance to be added. Additional hearings covered Substitute Senate Bill 6018, which would modernize the Housing Finance Commission’s authority and allow more direct lending and financing flexibility; Substitute Senate Bill 6028, which would create a revolving loan fund for mixed-income affordable homeownership projects; and Senate Bill 6275, which would make the community reinvestment program permanent and require periodic plan updates, reporting, and evaluation. Testimony on SB 6275 emphasized racial equity, accountability, workforce development, small business support, and legal services for immigrants. The committee also heard Substitute Senate Bill 5961 on moving the Imagination Library program to OSPI, Substitute Senate Bill 5969 on aligning IEP transition plans with high school and beyond plans, Second Substitute Senate Bill 5292 on setting paid family and medical leave rates by actuarial report, Senate Bill 5868 to add superior court judges in Skagit and Yakima counties, Substitute Senate Bill 5827 to allow pre-discharge certification for veteran civil service preference, and Senate Bill 5954 on veteran survivor tuition waiver eligibility. Testimony on these bills was generally supportive, with some opposition to PFML from the Washington Policy Center and questions about court funding and PFML rate-setting. The hearing concluded without recorded votes or final committee action on the bills discussed.