Transcript Highlights:

• How does a hosting entity know something is a bot or a human? Senator Birdwell, I don't know.
• You know, these are private nonprofits.
• There are a few private entities, but by and large, the National Association of Realtors controls that
• entity.
• to y'all now have a private cause of action against the realtors.

Bills: SB2101, SB2334, SB2633, SB2637, SB2713, SB2781, SB2782, SB3059, HB 1130

Keywords: minors, sexually explicit materials, public libraries, age verification, civil penalties, library collection review, alcohol storage, airline permits, beverage regulations, airport, commercial flights, alcoholic beverages, local option election, zoning regulations, municipality control, land use, state law, social media, bot accounts, misinformation

Summary: The Committee on State Affairs heard several bills, mostly on alcohol regulation, ethics procedures, the Alamo, and free speech in professional associations. SB 2633 would let the City of Garland hold local option elections on alcohol sales within designated zones and use zoning/land-use rules for alcohol-selling businesses; Senator Johnson and Garland officials said it would reduce the burden of the petition process and support economic development. SB 2637 would require social media platforms to disclose when posts are made by bot accounts and allow Attorney General enforcement; supporters framed it as consumer protection against misleading automated content, while members raised questions about how platforms would identify bots and how enforcement would work. SB 2334 would allow airlines with passenger transportation permits to store sealed alcoholic beverages within five miles of an airport in the same county, which the sponsor and an American Airlines witness said would improve logistics without changing permits, taxes, or alcohol sourcing. The committee also heard SB 2781 and SB 2782, both related to Texas Ethics Commission procedures. SB 2781 would cap civil penalties tied to certain campaign contribution violations by former legislators who later lobby, and SB 2782 would require TEC to adopt discovery control plans and align discovery rules more closely with the Texas Rules of Civil Procedure to limit costly, open-ended discovery. Both bills were left pending after no public testimony. SB 3059 would transfer oversight of the Alamo from the General Land Office to a new Alamo Commission beginning in 2027; Senator Campbell said it would provide long-term stewardship and transparency, while Senator Birdwell questioned the need for a change and the commission’s structure, and GLO witnesses said they were not aware of any problem prompting the shift. HB 1130, a House companion to a previously passed Senate bill, would provide liability protections for cavern entities that post warning signs, and it was also left pending. A major portion of the meeting focused on SB 2713, which would bar professional or trade associations from denying membership or access based on protected characteristics or lawful speech and assembly. Senator Middleton and invited witnesses described disciplinary actions by realtor associations against members for social media posts, sermons, or political speech, arguing that the National Association of Realtors’ ethics rules were being used to punish private expression and threaten livelihoods through loss of MLS access. Committee members and witnesses discussed whether the bill should be narrowed to avoid affecting religious organizations, how association discipline works, and whether the measure should address existing penalties or only future conduct. The bill was left pending after extensive invited testimony and committee discussion.

Transcript Highlights:

• So when you're dealing with a private person or a private company and you're talking about taking their
• It's what we use now for our voucher schools in the private sector.
• It's what we use now for our voucher schools in the private sector.
• The bill prohibits a university from entering into a contract with a private entity to construct student
• First, if the entity has provided a payment bond to cover the claim; or, two, if the entity is contesting

Bills: HB4, HB20

Keywords: district composition, congressional election, Texas, legislature, voting districts, fraudulent solicitation, disaster relief, nonprofit organizations, criminal penalties, consumer protection, fraud prevention, charitable donations

Summary: The committee first took up House Bill 2853, which would allow the UT System Board of Regents to adjust the University of Texas at El Paso student union fee above the current statutory cap, subject to student approval, to help fund a new student union building. Senator Blanco explained the bill and the committee substitute, there were no questions or witnesses, public testimony was closed, and the committee adopted the substitute and left the bill pending subject to the call of the chair. The committee then heard House Bill 610, which would limit severance payments for terminated independent school district superintendents to six months’ salary and benefits. Senator Paxton described large severance payouts and said the bill had passed the House overwhelmingly. There were no witnesses, public testimony was closed, and the bill was left pending. A lengthy hearing followed on House Bill 4623, which would waive school district immunity in certain cases involving negligent hiring, supervision, or employment of professional school employees who commit abuse or related misconduct against students. Senator Paxton and several witnesses, including survivors and parents, argued the bill was needed to address cover-ups, delayed reporting, and repeated failures to remove dangerous employees; some members raised concerns about liability caps, litigation, and how the bill would interact with the Tort Claims Act. The committee also heard from TEA staff and employee-group witnesses who discussed possible injunctions and stronger no-hire protections. Public testimony was then closed and the bill was left pending. Finally, the committee heard House Bill 4, an accountability and assessment bill that would restore A-F ratings, change the state testing system, and replace STAAR with shorter, more instructionally useful assessments. Senator Bettencourt explained the committee substitute, including annual ratings, limits on taxpayer-funded lawsuits, and a phased-in testing redesign with beginning, middle, and end-of-year assessments. Testimony was generally supportive from education and business groups, though some witnesses favored norm-referenced testing while others emphasized criterion-referenced, TEKS-aligned assessments; one witness noted social studies assessments were restored in the bill. The hearing concluded with additional invited testimony and no final vote reported in the transcript.

Transcript Highlights:

• The answer is not a private dam, but these dams are a lot like the private dams and very seldom get confused
• as whether that's private or state.
• So if you drove by one, you'd probably think that it's private because it's on private residence.
• You're on private property. You're on somebody's private property. ...Disaster is different.
• A lot of that is gated and private community property.

Keywords: 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• DEPARTMENT AND BETWEEN THE DEPARTMENT AND SCHOLARSHIP FUNDING ORGANIZATIONS SO IT WAS DECIDED EACH ENTITY
• SCHOOL SCHOLARSHIP, THAT MONEY HAS TO BE USED AS A PRIVATE SCHOOL FIRST.
• THE SCHOLARSHIP IS NOT A PRIVATE SCHOOL SCHOLARSHIP, IT'S A TRUE EDUCATION SAVINGS ACCOUNT, HALF THAT
• AT A PRIVATE SCHOOL YOU DON'T HAVE TO SPEND THEIR DOLLARS ON PRIVATE SCHOOL TUITION, SOME MIGHT WANT
• WE UNDERSTAND THERE ARE DIFFERENT PAYMENTS ACROSS ALL THREE ENTITIES.

Transcript Highlights:

• We have several private hospitals in our state. Some are...
• Whether that involuntary treatment is covered by the county or private insurance, and how that works,
• And we have cost shifted enough through time that we have an expectation that private insurance will
• And private insurance can only do it so long without increasing the premiums to all of us.
• body or the same entity, there's not competition between whoever they may be.

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So you have a government entity overseeing the entity that administers the program, but you made sure
• So you can see, you have a government entity overseeing the entity that administers the program, but
• So you have a a government entity entity entity uh<00:24:32.240> overseeing<00:24:32.880> the
• <00:24:33.679> entity<00:24:34.080> that uh overseeing the entity that uh overseeing
• versus private conversations versus private conversations.<00:28:01.679> If<00:28:02.320>

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The conditions are at the request of the Department of Public Safety and the civilian entity.
• the National Guard, they're supporting the civilian agency, the civilian commander, the civilian entity
• So in an extreme case, that could be an E-3 private.
• Right, we don't want the military to be the in-charge entity.
• We want the resources to be applied to help the civilian entity.

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Well, under California's eminent domain law, public entities may acquire private property for public
• a right to bring the private right of action.
• a right to bring the private right of action.
• I’m opposed to private rights of action for the reason that I’ve implied.
• Private equity and hedge funds buy them.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, otherwise we rely on private entities to enforce um our tax code, which carries some inherent conflicts
• Um, otherwise we rely on private entities to enforce um our tax code, which carries some inherent conflicts
• entities and private individuals to ransack it for their own commercial benefit.
• entities and private individuals to ransack it for their own commercial benefit.
• entities and private individuals to ransack it for their own commercial benefit.

Bills: HF4119, HF3959, HF3792, HF3913, HF3752

Keywords: property tax, renter credits, co-pay, housing affordability, tax relief, homestead, tax refund, Minnesota, tax increase, financial relief, homeowners, AmeriCorps, taxation, individual income tax, living allowances, stipends, national service, tax compliance, revenue, analytics

Transcript Highlights:

• THIS IS A GREAT PRIVATE PUBLIC PARTNERSHIP AND WITH THAT I HOPEFULLY HAVE YOUR FAVORABLE SUPPORT ON THIS
• FIRST THIS BILL WILL STRENGTHEN OVERSIGHT OF BEHAVIORAL HEALTH MANAGING ENTITIES THIS A BILL REQUIRES
• THAT IS WHY I BELIEVE IT IS IMPORTANT THAT THESE AUDITS TAKE PLACE OF THE MANAGING ENTITY.
• AND PROBABLY EVEN INCLUDING SOME EMPLOYEES OF THE MANAGING ENTITIES THEMSELVES THEREFORE I WOULD LOVE
• IN MY TIME HERE IN THE LEGISLATURE I HAVE OFTEN FELT THAT MANAGING ENTITIES IT NEEDED MORE GUIDELINES

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• rooms, each student has his own private room.
• rooms, each student has his own private room.
• But private prisons do not have that incentive.
• Number one, private prisons don't cost as much to us.
• Nobody's suing us over private prisons or private prison care.

Keywords: 1182, all

Summary: The Senate convened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, roll call, and several guest introductions, including recognition of Lutheran Day at the Capitol and the doctor of the day. The chamber also handled routine business such as journal approval, temporary committee substitutions, and multiple motions to move into Committee of the Whole for floor consideration of bills and resolutions. A series of election, campaign finance, immigration, and public safety measures were taken up. Bills and resolutions discussed included SB 1003 on election canvass certification, SB 1006 and SCR 1002 on campaign finance disclosure thresholds, SB 1037, SB 1040, SB 1057, SB 1060, SB 1141, SB 1168, SB 1237, SB 1289, SCR 1010, SCR 1013, and SCR 1014 on various election administration topics, plus SB 1055 and SB 1152 on immigration enforcement and benefits, SB 1058 on firearm transaction merchant codes, SB 1093 on rioting, SB 1308 on a foreign adversary fraud office appropriation, and SB 1160 on drones in entertainment districts. Most of these measures received do-pass recommendations, several with committee or floor amendments, and some were retained on the calendar. The most extensive debate centered on social policy bills affecting transgender people and minors, including SCR 1006, SB 1015, and SB 1095. Opponents argued these measures were discriminatory, harmful to trans youth and families, and an improper intrusion into medical and school decisions; supporters framed them as protecting parental rights, privacy, and children from irreversible medical decisions. SB 1049 on spousal maintenance also drew opposition over a proposed four-year cap. Later, the Senate took third-reading votes and passed SB 1049, SB 1053, SB 1415, SB 1015, SB 1095, and SCR 1006, with recorded roll-call tallies generally around 16-11 or 17-10 on the more contentious measures, and the bills were transmitted to the House.

Transcript Highlights:

• Because this portion is related only to government entities, if a nonprofit or private organization in
• if a nonprofit or government entities if a nonprofit or private<00:35:00.680> organization<00
• <00:37:26.960> entity practices by a private entity practices by a private entity is<00:37
• Third, the bill classifies the names of minor library patrons as private when a government entity receives
• private when a government entity private when a government entity receives<02:35:28.560> a

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• In these deals, the city or the county often owns the property, even though a private company is doing
• I was curious, I was reading through the FIR, and there's some entities listed, and one of them is a
• Madam Chair and Leader, data centers are not research and development entities by nature.
• Entities into their states.
• And so having a commercially built spaceport is an entirely unique entity.

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• These entities and giving us the advance notice so we can plan this out is a great step and we applaud
• Entity that's coming on board. Sure. And I don't know. My house district is full of.
• entities in the state of Texas.
• Right, and so you're dealing with the local government entities regarding that as well, correct?
• The developer's doing all the private development.

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

Transcript Highlights:

• I presently am in private practice of law.
• served as the president CEO of an entity served as the president CEO of an entity called<00:07:49.039
• presently am in private practice of law. presently am in private practice of law.
• :45:59.119> help referral to to an entity that will help referral to to an entity that will help
• In fact, going on in the private sector.

Keywords: Call to Order and Roll Call – 00:00:00 Introduction of Board Members – 00:02:04 Overview of the Purpose and Goals of the Medicaid Oversight and Advisory Board – 00:12:46 Medicaid Legislative Update - 00:20:26 Discussion of Next Steps and Future Meeting Dates – 01:04:06 Adjournment – 01:06:37, 958, all

Summary: The first meeting of the Medicaid Oversight Advisory Board opened with Chair Ken Fleming and Co-Chair Rocky Adams welcoming members, explaining the board’s purpose, and introducing the diverse membership of legislators, providers, advocates, and state officials. Fleming said the board would meet monthly, allow public comment at the end of meetings, and operate transparently with materials posted online and distributed in advance. Both chairs emphasized that the board’s work would focus on improving Medicaid outcomes, efficiency, and oversight, while preparing for possible federal changes and avoiding premature assumptions about what Congress may do. Members then gave brief introductions describing their backgrounds in medicine, nursing, hospital administration, behavioral health, insurance, budgeting, pharmacy, and Medicaid administration. Several noted direct experience with Medicaid populations or managed care, including the Department for Medicaid Services commissioner, health plan representatives, hospital and clinic leaders, and legislators with health care backgrounds. The board also heard from Stephanie Bates of the LRC Office of Health Data Analytics, who said her office supports the General Assembly with health-related data, policy, and research and would serve as a resource to the board. Bates then began a presentation on Medicaid basics, explaining that House Bill 695 created the board and that the presentation would cover eligibility, enrollment, covered benefits, waivers, managed care, the budget, and the federal reconciliation bill. She described Medicaid eligibility as complex, noted that Kentucky had more than 1.4 million enrollees, and explained enrollment churn and the unwinding of pandemic-era continuous coverage. She also outlined mandatory and optional Medicaid benefits, the requirement that services be medically necessary and provided by enrolled providers, and the main waiver types used in Kentucky, including 1115, 1915(b), and 1915(c) waivers. No votes or formal actions were taken at this meeting beyond organizational setup and receiving the initial informational presentation.

Transcript Highlights:

• I have years of both public and private service.
• It's used for whatever purposes the entity wants to use it for.
• Is that the no, the covered entity is getting the, the 340B covered entity gets the lower price.
• We still give 340B pricing to covered entities when they order it.
• The only change is if they want that product delivered to an entity that is not a covered entity, that

Transcript Highlights:

• The program supports covered entities in two ways.
• Covered entities are subject to two major restrictions.
• Many covered entities, including rural providers and health centers, cannot afford to run an entity-operated
• When covered entities can't get their discounted drugs...
• The hospital eats them or the covered entity eats them.

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Private Post-Secondary Education, which is a separate governmental agency.
• Private Post-Secondary Education, which is a separate governmental agency.
• Recently, our private colleges and universities are also saying, hey, we're...
• As private sector unions atrophied, states have filled the void with licensure.
• As private sector unions atrophied, states have filled the void with licensure.

Summary: The joint Assembly and Senate Business and Professions sunset oversight hearing focused first on the Board of Registered Nursing (BRN), with committee chairs emphasizing oversight, consumer protection, workforce access, and economic mobility. BRN leaders reported improvements since the last review, including faster licensing timelines, streamlined enforcement, higher consumer satisfaction, growth in pre-licensure enrollment, and expanded data collection. Members questioned the board about nurse practitioner scope and supervision, international and military pathways to licensure, online nursing education and clinical requirements, rural workforce shortages, and the 30-unit LVN-to-RN option. BRN staff explained California’s tiered advanced practice system, the NCLEX and certification requirements, English proficiency rules, clinical hour standards, and the board’s role in approving programs and supporting schools through nursing education consultants. Several members and the board president also discussed the need to retain new graduates, improve diversity in the workforce, and better support nontraditional students and rural placements. Public comment on the BRN sunset review was extensive and largely supportive of the board, while also urging policy changes. Nurse practitioner, nurse anesthetist, nurse midwife, and nursing education groups generally supported the BRN report and especially backed clarification of APRN-to-RN delegation authority under issue 13. Other commenters asked for clearer implementation of AB 890, more flexibility for clinical nurse specialists, streamlined renewals for nurse midwives, and changes to federal loan limits affecting graduate nursing education. Higher education representatives and private nursing schools raised concerns about duplicative BRN documentation, clinical placement bottlenecks, and barriers faced by out-of-state and online programs seeking to serve California students. The California Medical Association and some physician groups opposed easing transition-to-practice requirements for out-of-state nurse practitioners and cautioned against changes to specialty and delegation rules, while the California Nurses Association and others stressed the importance of community college pathways, new graduate support, and workforce retention. The hearing then moved to the Physical Therapy Board of California. Board leadership reported that the board oversees more than 41,000 active licensees, has seen about 15% growth since 2021, and continues to maintain high exam pass rates among California physical therapy and physical therapist assistant programs. The board described its mission as consumer protection through licensing, enforcement, continuing competency oversight, and stakeholder engagement. The vice president’s remote testimony encountered technical problems, so the executive officer continued with a brief overview of the board’s work and its commitment to efficient service and public protection. No votes or formal actions were taken in the portion of the meeting provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• So the cost of insurance regulation is paid. aid by the entities we regulate.
• In other ways, TWAIA is not. not like a private carrier.
• However, for private carriers, they may make a business decision to buy reinsurance.
• And as you all know, as a. a market of last resort, we're reactive to the private market.
• you're providing of what you would compare to private insurance if they're buying private insurance.

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It also refines the method of consent for participating entities.
• entities to increase the positive impacts of their policies.
• And I think you want them to be, you want to go to a private security school?
• , um, either through TxDOT or through a private company or somehow that is happening.
• and advisory committee, metal recycling entities, and communications companies.

Bills: HB1455, HB1777, HB2101, HB2136, HB2609, HB3142, HB3552, HB3846, HB4155, HB4514, HB4879, HB4995, HB5014, HB5139, HB5228, HB5436, HCR40

Keywords: mental health, jail diversion, law enforcement, reporting requirements, criminal justice, data collection, criminal justice reform, intellectual disability, mental illness, data reporting, public safety, reporting, substance abuse, sex offender, driver's license, identification, gunshot detection, unreported gunshots, municipal police, crime investigation

Summary: The committee met with a quorum and heard several bills, generally leaving them pending after testimony. HB 4995 would create a training/certification program allowing licensed physicians and certain EMS personnel assigned to tactical units to carry firearms during high-risk deployments, with supporters saying it would protect tactical medical staff and improve emergency care; the committee substitute was withdrawn and the bill left pending. HB 2609 would repeal the OmniBase/failure-to-appear-or-pay license hold program; the author and supporters argued it unfairly compounds debt and traps drivers in noncompliance, while judges and municipal court representatives said it is an effective, voluntary tool that prompts court appearances and reduces warrants. HB 4879 would create a grant program to help local law enforcement pay for lab testing of suspected hemp/THC substances, and HB 5436 would allow licensed auto recyclers to purchase certain untitled vehicles for scrap or parts to curb illegal sales, VIN cloning, and chop shop activity; both bills drew supportive testimony and were left pending. The committee also heard HB 1777, which would place a discrete sex-offender designation on driver’s licenses and state IDs for registrants under Chapter 62. The author said the marker would help law enforcement and businesses quickly identify potentially dangerous offenders and cited other states and research in support, while opponents argued it would function as a scarlet letter, increase harassment, and punish people who are already complying with the law. HB 4155 would create a Family Violence Criminal Homicide Prevention Task Force in the Governor’s Office to study risk factors, coordinate agencies, and recommend policy changes; the author, HHSC, TCFV, and a survivor testified in support, emphasizing the number of family violence homicides and the need for coordinated, data-driven prevention, and the bill was left pending. Finally, HB 4514 would authorize DPS to use facial image verification, with consent and confidentiality protections, to help businesses verify identities and combat fraud. Supporters from the lumber and identity-verification industries said it would reduce losses from fake IDs and organized theft, while the author stressed privacy safeguards and limited, consent-based use. The committee substitute was withdrawn and the bill was left pending.