Transcript Highlights:

• would probably never urge local governing authorities or even state boards and commissions, and state
• I heard you say that in your opening, that you've been a part of state government for 20 years, over
• I started my career in state government as a student worker for the Louisiana Department of Insurance
• government, having now worked more than 15 years across all branches of state government.
• in our state.

Bills: HCR95, HB4, HB244, HB615, HB648, HB1049, HB1201

Keywords: sales tax, exemptions, credits, rebates, uniformity, legislative rules, fiscal report, constitutional convention, Louisiana constitution, electoral process, government structure, delegate elections, delegates, state election, ratification, Louisiana, public meetings, broadcast, transparency, government accountability

Transcript Highlights:

• That by authoring the state of Texas to observe daylight saving time permanently if the federal government
• by a governing officer, the governing or governing body is provided by the legislature, by local law
• It would not affect residents' representation by their state representative or state.
• This bill represents an alarming overreach of state power and a direct attack on local governance.
• Our beloved city was established in 1837 and we've been the proud seat of government for the state of

Bills: HB 14, HB 106, HB 146, HB 267, HB 274, HB 1127, HB 1359, HB 1393, HB 1584, HB 1640, HB 1710, HB 2152, HCR 101, HJR 8, HR 51

Keywords: nuclear energy, advanced reactors, energy security, grant programs, Texas Advanced Nuclear Energy Office, HB 106, oil and gas, Railroad Commission of Texas, overhead electrical lines, electrical distribution system, power line maintenance, administrative penalty, Natural Resources Code, oil and gas lease, well operator, energy safety, utility infrastructure, regulatory compliance, cleanup fund, oil and gas regulation and cleanup fund

Transcript Highlights:

• 2 3 4 On state affairs, come to order, Clerk, call the roll. Chairman King? Here. Vice Chair.
• As stated on the hearing notice, there will be a time limit of three minutes.
• Today, four states have exceptions for educational purposes. 34 states have either defenses or affirmative
• Five states have repealed their defenses. defenses since 2019, while seven states either never had these
• The state of Texas supports you. And you're right to do so.

Bills: HB14, HB 106, HB146, HB267, HB274, HB 1127, HB1359, HB1393, HB1584, HB1640, HB1710, HB2152, HCR101, HJR8, HR51

Keywords: nuclear energy, advanced reactors, energy security, grant programs, Texas Advanced Nuclear Energy Office, HB 106, oil and gas, Railroad Commission of Texas, overhead electrical lines, electrical distribution system, power line maintenance, administrative penalty, Natural Resources Code, oil and gas lease, well operator, energy safety, utility infrastructure, regulatory compliance, cleanup fund, oil and gas regulation and cleanup fund

Transcript Highlights:

• Department of State.
• Senate Bill 511 bans an office. or employee of the state or political subdivision of the state from distributing
• I'll start with local government. control.
• Congress, to state reps, to state. senators to get involved.
• or state agency or official. during discovery, hearing, or trial.

Bills: SB108, SB318, SB507, SB511, SB533, SB1026, SB1386, SB1433, SB1434, SB1596

Keywords: elections, Election Code, poll workers, election clerks, presiding judge, alternate presiding judge, polling place, central counting station, county chair, political party, gubernatorial election, vote counting, election administration, Texas elections, precinct officials, ballot counting, county election officials, election integrity, election fraud, Attorney General

Transcript Highlights:

• You can own a short barrel rifle if you pay the federal. government $200.
• As the senator stated, you still would be on an SBR in particular.
• I can tell you I think there's nine that specifically ban under state law SBRs.
• But all 50 states and territories ban SBRs unless you have a tax stamp.
• Hearing none, the Senate Committee on State.

Bills: SB108, SB318, SB507, SB511, SB533, SB1026, SB1386, SB1433, SB1434, SB1596

Keywords: elections, Election Code, poll workers, election clerks, presiding judge, alternate presiding judge, polling place, central counting station, county chair, political party, gubernatorial election, vote counting, election administration, Texas elections, precinct officials, ballot counting, county election officials, election integrity, election fraud, Attorney General

Transcript Highlights:

• You can own a short-barrel rifle if you pay the federal government $200.
• And so this is in preparation of what might occur, as the senator stated.
• And so this is in preparation of what might occur, as the senator stated.
• I can tell you, I think there's 9 that specifically ban under state law SBRs, but all 50 states and territories
• the same states that just ban any semiautomatic AR-15-type rifle.

Bills: SB108, SB318, SB507, SB511, SB533, SB1026, SB1386, SB1433, SB1434, SB1596

Keywords: elections, Election Code, poll workers, election clerks, presiding judge, alternate presiding judge, polling place, central counting station, county chair, political party, gubernatorial election, vote counting, election administration, Texas elections, precinct officials, ballot counting, county election officials, election integrity, election fraud, Attorney General

Summary: The committee heard testimony on Senate Bill 1596, which would remove short-barreled rifles from the list of prohibited weapons in the Texas Penal Code. The author, Sen. Hagenbuch, said the bill would align state law with federal realities and argued that the current prohibition is arbitrary and unnecessary. Supporters, including representatives from Gun Owners of America and Texas Gun Rights, said the bill would reduce confusion, protect lawful gun owners, and preserve the ability to use shorter firearms for self-defense, hunting, and for smaller shooters. One supporter also described a recent case in which an AR pistol was mistaken for a short-barreled rifle and led to a state charge that was later dismissed. Public testimony was split. Supporters said stabilizing braces and shorter firearms can improve accuracy, safety, and accessibility for women, children, and smaller-statured shooters. Opponents, including Texas Gun Sense and two Santa Fe shooting survivors, argued that short-barreled firearms are more concealable and dangerous, and pointed to the 2018 Santa Fe High School shooting as evidence of the risks of easier access. They urged the committee to keep the existing restrictions in place to protect public safety. After public testimony closed, the committee took up pending business. Senate Bill 1505, relating to the Compassionate Use Program, was reported favorably to the full Senate on an 8-0 vote. Senate Bill 17, relating to the acquisition of real property by certain aliens or foreign entities, was first amended by adopting a committee substitute and then reported favorably to the full Senate by a 7-1 vote. The committee then recessed until after the Senate’s adjournment or final recess.

Transcript Highlights:

• The committee on retirement and government sources shall convene.
• . the state had to take them over because they were pretty well bankrupt.
• Our firefighters are dealing with all kinds of things that have a state impact and that our state investments
• And as you stated We're at about 80%. So I think we can do both.
• It's one of the correspondents I have is on state use.

Bills: SB134, SB1356, SB1407, SB1611, SB1639, SB169, SB1722, SB182, SB1870, SB2039, SB432, SB609, SB715, SB716

Keywords: retirement, public employees, reemployment, benefit adjustment, Oklahoma Public Employees Retirement System, state government, OMES, Office of Management and Enterprise Services, Department of Labor, Department of Veterans Affairs, Department of Rehabilitation Services, civil service, human capital management, state employee disputes, whistleblower, veterans employment, veterans placement, fleet management, state fleet, motor vehicles

Transcript Highlights:

• The Senate Committee on Retirement and Government Resources shall convene.
• Our firefighters are dealing with all kinds of things that have a state impact and that our state investments
• And as you stated, we're at about 80%. So I think we can do both.
• It's one of the correspondence I have is on state use.
• It's one of the correspondence I have is on state use.

Bills: SB134, SB1356, SB1407, SB1611, SB1639, SB169, SB1722, SB182, SB1870, SB2039, SB432, SB609, SB715, SB716

Keywords: retirement, public employees, reemployment, benefit adjustment, Oklahoma Public Employees Retirement System, state government, OMES, Office of Management and Enterprise Services, Department of Labor, Department of Veterans Affairs, Department of Rehabilitation Services, civil service, human capital management, state employee disputes, whistleblower, veterans employment, veterans placement, fleet management, state fleet, motor vehicles

Summary: The Senate Committee on Retirement and Government Resources considered a series of retirement, pension, and state employee bills. Senate Bill 1870 would let small municipalities in OPERS with populations of 2,000 or less opt out for new employees; members questioned the fiscal impact and the bill passed 8-0 after the chair struck the title to get a clearer actuarial analysis. Senate Bill 1722 passed 9-0 and would require OMES construction contract fees to be based only on construction costs, not interior design and furnishings, with members discussing how to define those terms and whether historical or specialized projects could still be accommodated. Senate Bill 1639 passed 9-0 after an amendment removed provisions affecting the Indian Education Act commission, leaving a bill to repeal several dormant boards and commissions. The committee also passed Senate Bills 715 and 716, which would increase municipal contributions to firefighter and police pensions, respectively; members raised concerns about city budgets, and the sponsor said he was open to phasing in the increases. Senate Bill 182 passed 5-2 to add certain DHS Inspector General officers and OJA residential care specialists to hazardous duty retirement, and Senate Bill 609 passed 7-0 to allow police recruits to buy up to five years of prior out-of-state service credit as a recruitment tool. The committee then passed Senate Bill 169 5-2 to increase state employee longevity pay by 50%, with supporters citing high turnover and opponents warning about budget pressure and the need for broader raises. Senate Bill 134 passed 7-0 to shorten the waiting period for county employees to return to work from one year to six months. Senate Bill 432 passed 6-0 to raise volunteer firefighter pension benefits, and because it was double-assigned it would next go to Appropriations. Senate Bill 1407 passed 7-0 after an amendment requiring OMES to provide the Commission on the Status of Women an itemized accounting of funds; the bill generally clarifies staffing and financial reporting authority for the commission. Finally, Senate Bill 2039 passed 8-0 after an amendment narrowing the bill to military personnel who are also teachers and defining salary for buyback purposes; the sponsor said the measure would help service members return to teaching and buy back up to five years of credit. The committee also passed Senate Bill 1356 7-0, a broader OMES cleanup bill moving certain functions elsewhere, though members flagged concerns about relocating the state use program and the pay-for-success fund and suggested further study on those sections.

Transcript Highlights:

• So in conclusion, I believe this House bill. 4181 is about streamlining state government, cutting out
• It actually gets at one of my great frustrations, which is that state and local governments are getting
• government.
• In practice, a government...
• Thank you. located in Section 552.00318XB of the Government Code, to clarify that non-profit state associations

Bills: HB 111, HB1545, HB2145, HB2467, HB2520, HB4136, HB4181, HB4214, HB4218, HB4219, HB4359, HB4437, HB4822, HB111

Keywords: Texas Public Information Act, open records, public records, government transparency, confidentiality, attorney-client privilege, governmental body, Chapter 552, public information law, nonprofit association, quasi-governmental entity, economic development, trade secrets, proprietary information, commercial financial information, Alamo restoration, local workforce board, TDCJ contract facility, civil commitment facility, water supply corporation

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:28:29.240><c> Um</c> or even somewhere in state. Um or even somewhere in state.
• </c> projects across the state. projects across the state.
• </c> homes in every corner of the state. homes in every corner of the state.
• </c> county in the state, either. county in the state, either.
• </c><01:11:11.240><c> Um</c> all across the state. Um all across the state.

Bills: HF495, HF4321, HF3902, HF4161, HF3755

Keywords: day care, tax subtraction, child care costs, licensed child care, dependent care assistance, HF4321, dependent care assistance programs, gross income exclusion, federal conformity, Internal Revenue Code, individual income tax, Minnesota tax law, tax conformity, child care assistance, employer-provided dependent care, taxable income, state income tax, retroactive tax change, family care benefits, housing tax credit

Transcript Highlights:

• I call this committee meeting of State Government Finance and Policy to order on April 9th, 2026.
• governments, school districts, and other organizations receiving state funds through bonding projects
• In addition, this bill gives local governments the option to opt into the portal for non-state-funded
• In conclusion, as an advocate for local governments, I'm often asked what the state can do to relieve
• , I'm often asked what the governments, I'm often asked what the state<00:21:38.240><c> can</c><00:21

Bills: HF4364, HF4821, HF4543, HF3945

Keywords: Central and Eastern European Affairs, ethnic council, advisory council, Minnesota state government, immigrant communities, refugees, humanitarian parolees, Ukraine, Poland, Croatia, Hungary, Moldova, Romania, Serbia, Czech Republic, Baltic states, Slovakia, Slovenia, Kosovo, Russia

Transcript Highlights:

• Local law enforcement from across the United States fought back, sued the federal government, and won
• So it says regulation of the United States government.
• </c><01:09:20.080><c> Um</c><01:09:20.480><c> there's</c><01:09:20.799><c> some</c> States government
• Um there's some States government.
• We found various errors in between other states, Wyoming, and federal government restoration of rights

Bills: HB0130, HB0147

Keywords: Second Amendment, firearms, state rights, federal regulation, law enforcement, civil penalties, government liability, property tax, homeowner exemption, Wyoming, voter initiative, tax legislation, 916, all

Bills: HB247, SB117

Keywords: Gulf of America, name change, state compliance, educational materials, local resources, historical reference, procurement, county commission, services, administrative savings, government efficiency, 1136, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• House Bill 247 essentially renames the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America for the state of Alabama's

Bills: HB247, SB117

Keywords: Gulf of America, name change, state compliance, educational materials, local resources, historical reference, procurement, county commission, services, administrative savings, government efficiency, 923, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• government.
• You have testified today, uh, before state government, oftentimes in a language which was not your first
• Um, state government and in big and small firms in Texas and beyond.
• government.
• that is the front line responder, not the state or the federal government.

Bills: HB 256, HB 1308, HB 1554, HB 1743, HB 2308, HB 2351, HB 2858, HB 3676, HB 3784, HB 4312, HB 4552, HB 4823, HB 4852, HB 5007, HB 5010, HB 5520, HB 5524, HCR 19

Keywords: E-verify, employment verification, illegal employment, state contracts, government entities, license suspension, immigration compliance, state grant funding, E-Verify, compliance, penalties, immigration, government contracts, employee status, state contractors, E-verify program, legally present, employment practices, legal services, public money

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> employee, but by local or state employee, but by local or state governments.<00:32:31.840><c> This
• So, as I stated, the overlap for state and local governments is total with section 1983.
• And um at state and local governments.
• the bill involves state and local governments.
• State and local government. Okay. is it? State and local government. Okay.

Bills: HF3477, HF3414, HF103, HF3661, HF3146

Keywords: civil rights, law enforcement, federal collaboration, accountability, state law, constitutional rights, color of law, 42 U.S.C. 1983, section 1983, civil action, damages, injunctive relief, attorney fees, law enforcement task force, federal-state cooperation, intergovernmental agreement, federal agency partnership, Minnesota Constitution, U.S. Constitution, police accountability

Bills: HB 186, HB 201, HB 229, HB 796, HB 1506, HB 2702, HB 2885, HB 3225, HB 3909, HB 4285, HB 5138

Keywords: social media, children, account verification, data privacy, parental control, financial crime, card fraud, motor fuel theft, law enforcement, criminal activity, skimmers, prevention, training, biological sex, government information, definitions, sex-based distinctions, public health, federal directives, state authority

Transcript Highlights:

• government agencies and the people who rely on those state funds.
• government agencies and the people who rely on those state funds.
• government agencies and the people who rely on those state funds.
• government agencies and the people who rely on those state funds.
• </c><01:29:42.199><c> government</c><01:29:43.080><c> and</c> this affects all of state government and

Bills: HF1, HF98

Keywords: Office of Inspector General, inspector general, legislative audit, fraud prevention, waste and abuse, public funds, grant oversight, state grants, grant management, whistleblower protection, retaliation, subpoena power, data practices, government transparency, accountability, law enforcement referrals, sanctions, debarment, payment withholding, public assistance fraud

Transcript Highlights:

• Do you guys... ...share information with other state agencies?
• Of those states, we have seen that state and local law enforcement have had all too many opportunities
• Communist Chinese companies, as well as the Chinese government...
• Other states... ...much endeavor to follow Texas's lead. Thank you.
• As previously stated, throughout my career, I have been defending the... ...United States from transnational

Bills: SB659, SB1585, SB2201, SB2514, SB2569

Keywords: smuggling, human trafficking, criminal penalties, felony offenses, law enforcement, foreign adversary, foreign-owned company, scrutinized company, China, national security, cybersecurity, information technology, communications technology, ICT, critical infrastructure, state contracts, government procurement, vendor certification, debarment, civil penalty

Transcript Highlights:

• not be residents of the state.
• So what the state actually contributes to all DAs across the state, but particularly for Baton Rouge,
• The state actually contributes to all DAs across the state, but particularly for Baton Rouge, is extremely
• So the bulk of the money that comes to district attorneys comes from local government and not the state
• I mean, local elected official, state elected official. State elected official.

Bills: HB513, HB581, HB596, HB660, HB719, HB766, HB802, HB940, HB950, HB1028, HB1183, HB1201, SB233, SB300, SB303, SB315, SB324, SB411

Keywords: name image likeness, NIL, student-athlete, college athletics, high school athletics, intercollegiate athletics, interscholastic athletics, athlete compensation, athlete endorsements, sports marketing, athlete agent, marketing representative, sports attorney, publicity rights, right of publicity, Louisiana high school sports, NCAA, school policy, athletic association, athletic conference