Transcript Highlights:

• This session, she has covered border security and state affairs committees for our office.
• This session, she has covered border security and state affairs committees for our office.
• National security starts at our borders.
• Find witnesses in the border and even smuggle illegal items into Texas.
• HCR 40 to Border Security. HCR 76 to Water, Agriculture, and Rural Affairs.

Summary: The Senate met with a quorum, heard an invocation, dispensed with the previous journal, and received a House message. Members also recognized Dr. Namita Bardwaj as doctor of the day. The chamber then adopted Senate Resolution 554 honoring Christopher “Chris” Jake Stone of Santa Fe for his heroism during the 2018 Santa Fe High School shooting, with several senators and the lieutenant governor offering remarks about his sacrifice and the ongoing impact on his family and community. The Senate also signed a number of bills and resolutions and adopted Senate Resolution 533 recognizing the Texas Legislative Internship Program class, with multiple senators highlighting individual interns and the program’s role in developing future public servants. The floor then took up and passed several bills, often by suspending the regular order and the three-day rule. These included HB 1639 on a study of cancer incidence among female firefighters; HB 102 granting early registration for students in military-related programs; HB 4325 increasing civil penalties for barratry; HB 5342 creating a 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline trust fund and related funding study; HB 3370 allowing late timberland appraisal applications after an owner’s death; HB 3376 requiring certain guardians to complete dementia/Alzheimer’s training; HB 132 extending confidentiality protections to information about hostile acts by foreign adversaries; and HB 1978, which sought to restrict ERCOT interconnections, but its motion to pass to engrossment failed on a 20-11 vote. Additional measures passed included HB 511 on unsolicited voter registration mailings, HB 2187 on nurse staffing, retaliation, and overtime protections, HB 2510 creating offenses for unlicensed assisted living operations, HB 694 on DFPS notification timelines, HB 1893 making license plates in law-enforcement video nonconfidential for public information requests, HB 2733 updating barratry and solicitation laws for digital communications, HB 4506 allowing opt-in electronic zoning notices, HB 3751 transferring a TxDOT property to DPS, HB 3033 creating a grant program for nonprofits supporting injured or killed DPS employees, HB 4273 on Medicaid fraud prevention and eligibility verification, HB 3211 on vision care benefits, HB 4529 exempting certain DoD-certified child care facilities from state licensure, HB 2522 easing fingerprinting requirements for certain vehicle dealers, HB 4219 tightening public information request response requirements, and HB 4783 requiring a report on opioid antagonist programs. The Senate also received a House message noting passage of SB 9, and a nominations committee report was announced for future consideration.

Transcript Highlights:

• Resiliency in the Department of Agriculture and the management of the Texas Food System Security and
• Referred to the Committee on Homeland Security, Public Safety, and Veterans Affairs.
• HB 1328, by again, relating to a referral of certain criminal proceedings in the Texas-Mexico border
• HB 1328 by again relating to a referral of certain criminal proceedings in the Texas-Mexico border region
• at Public schools and the authority of the chief of the School Safety and Security for the Texas Education

Summary: The House met to read a large slate of newly filed bills and resolutions and refer them to committees. The measures covered a wide range of topics, including health care and insurance, public education, elections, criminal justice, public safety, taxes, transportation, agriculture, environmental regulation, higher education, housing, and local government. Several proposals focused on abortion and reproductive health, firearms, voter registration and ballot access, school curriculum and accountability, property tax and homestead issues, and state contracting and agency oversight. A number of constitutional amendments were also filed, including proposals on initiative and referendum, veto override authority, vaccination refusal, parental rights in education, gun rights, Medicaid expansion, and various tax exemptions. No substantive debate, testimony, or votes occurred during this portion of the meeting; the clerk simply read the bills and resolutions and announced their committee referrals. The list included both general legislation and joint resolutions, with many items sent to standing committees and several to subcommittees. The House then adjourned without objection until 2 p.m. on Tuesday.

Transcript Highlights:

• You know, all of the other bridges that cross the border. border.
• security?
• the border particularly northbound trucks that poses a security risk.
• state of Texas.
• Texas Appleseed, Texas CASA, and Texas Network of Youth Services worked with legislators to pass this

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And that are being used in border security that are actually probably two or three times accelerating
• So the same thing, same phenomenon as with DPS or anybody else. responding to our border security.
• That's responding to border security, you're in wardens and out in the ranches where many events like
• Ninges' remarks related to the Texas-Mexico border.
• Likewise, unauthorized movements of those animals across into Texas. from the Mexican border also presents

Bills: SB1, SB 1

Keywords: appropriations, budget, state funding, education, healthcare, infrastructure, campground safety, youth camp regulations, flood safety, emergency evacuation, health and safety standards, 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Not only is immigration and the border security my number one issue, it's the number one top priority
• priority is border security and enforcing, um, immigration.
• and to pass strong border security legislation, but so far the Texas House is refusing to deliver.
• but really what should be a priority for all of Texas, and that is protecting Texas kids.
• Every second we waste is another opportunity lost to secure the border, protect children from abuse,

Transcript Highlights:

• -Mexico border, under my role as vice chair of the Texas Border Coalition for over 10 years.
• We're a border state, after all. We used to be... ...is a big part of Texas.
• We have long prioritized border security and border protection and eliminating the magnets that draw
• Senator Middleton, I know you've been a strong voice for border security and protecting Texas taxpayers
• This legislation doesn't secure our borders. It doesn't fix immigration.

Summary: The committee heard several education bills, with most of the discussion focused on Senate Bill 1835, Senate Bill 784, Senate Bill 1049, Senate Bill 2942, and Senate Bill 2928. SB 1835 would raise from 5% to 20% the cap on nonresident students who can receive resident tuition and fees through competitive scholarships at certain regional universities in slower-growing workforce development areas, provided the schools have capacity as determined by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. Supporters, including West Texas A&M University, said the bill would help fill underused capacity, attract students who may stay and work in Texas, and support regional workforce needs. SB 784 would strengthen a prior law allowing peace officers’ children to transfer between public school districts for safety reasons by requiring both districts’ approval, making clear that districts of innovation are not exempt, and prohibiting tuition charges. SB 1049 would require districts and open-enrollment charters to excuse students, at a parent’s request, for religious release-time instruction for up to one hour per day and five hours per week; witnesses said the program is constitutional, voluntary, and already operating in other states and some Texas districts. Each of these bills was left pending after testimony, with no public witnesses opposing them. SB 2942 would expand and adjust the state’s adult charter high school pilot program. Senator Creighton said the bill is intended to help the estimated 7 million Texas adults without a high school diploma by removing barriers to expansion, aligning legal protections with ISDs, changing TEA’s disapproval window for expansion amendments to a 30-day period after receipt, and updating funding to reflect part-year attendance. A committee substitute kept the upper enrollment age at 50 and removed a proposed testing change. Testimony from New Heights students and leadership described the program as life-changing, emphasizing that it combines diplomas with career credentials, childcare, transportation, and other supports to help adults stabilize their families and enter better-paying work. TEA witnesses explained the expansion process and said adult charter schools are overseen by the commissioner rather than the SBOE. The committee substitute was adopted, public testimony closed, and the bill was left pending. SB 2928 would set a uniform school start date for public school districts at the third Wednesday in August, while preserving existing district-of-innovation flexibility for current DOI districts and allowing year-round systems to continue. Senator Creighton argued the bill would reduce the patchwork created by DOI exemptions, support students and families, and preserve summer employment and tourism revenue. A committee substitute was adopted. Testimony came largely from tourism, hospitality, and recreation interests, including hotel, water park, zoo, chamber of commerce, and camp representatives, who said later start dates would extend the summer travel season, improve staffing and revenue, and give students more opportunities for summer jobs and camps. Several witnesses cited large economic impacts from tourism and said early school starts reduce August business. Some senators raised concerns about charter schools being excluded and about year-round calendars, but the bill was left pending after testimony.

Transcript Highlights:

• My name is Glenn Hager, Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts.
• Along the border, we now have fuel depots that are just being established left and right. along the border
• , we now have fuel depots that are just being established left and right, right on the border.
• We have our Texas Identification Number System, TINS, which has vendor information.
• We have our Texas Identification Number System, TINS, which has vendor information.

Bills: SB 1, SB1

Keywords: campground safety, youth camp regulations, flood safety, emergency evacuation, health and safety standards, appropriations, budget, state funding, education, healthcare, infrastructure, 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We all believe in a strong Texas. A Texas that leads.
• And I want to be clear: this bill isn't about border security. It's about fear.
• This bill isn't about border security. It's about fear.
• We need to support federal immigration reform that secures our border, because we all want a secure border
• This bill is the strongest border security bill indirectly that we could have this session.

Summary: The House convened, established a quorum, heard an invocation and pledges, and approved several routine motions, including excuses for absent members, permission for committees to meet while the House was in session, and postponements of some bills. The chamber also received a Senate message listing measures passed by the Senate and adopted a memorial resolution honoring the 21 victims of the Robb Elementary School shooting in Uvalde, with remarks entered into the House Journal after a moment of silence. The House then took up a long third-reading calendar and passed a series of Senate bills on topics including criminal justice and corrections sunset provisions (SB 2405, 2406, 2407), election equipment testing (SB 2166), electric grid reliability and attack-preparedness exercises (SB 2148), firefighter collective bargaining (SB 777), DFPS and foster care procedures (SB 1141 and SB 1398), Medicare durable medical equipment billing (SB 1330), property tax administration (SB 1453), probate cleanup and record transfers (SB 1448 and SB 1839), mental health filing procedures (SB 53), school residency for children in safety placements (SB 226), diabetes-related amputation study (SB 1677), rapid DNA analysis (SB 1723), utility rate transparency and capacity cost recovery (SB 1664 and SB 1856), community supervision eligibility (SB 552 postponed), and other measures. Several bills passed with broad support, while others drew notable opposition and narrower margins, including SB 777, SB 2137, SB 2111, SB 1677, SB 1936, SB 1453, and SB 38. Two bills drew especially extensive debate. SB 2148, dealing with electricity supply chain reliability and tabletop exercises for critical facilities, was discussed as a grid-security measure aimed at coordinating utilities, law enforcement, ERCOT, and the PUC in the event of physical attacks; it passed unanimously. SB 1936, changing how LSD is measured for criminal prosecution from dosage-based to weight-based calculations, prompted extended discussion about lab consistency, carrier mediums, and fairness in charging, with supporters saying it would help crime labs and law enforcement and opponents warning it could distort penalties depending on the medium used; it passed 108-26. The House also passed SB 36, creating a Homeland Security Division within DPS, after questions about overlap with TDEM and the cost of adding personnel. Late in the day, the House debated SB 38 on eviction procedures, with supporters saying it targeted squatters and streamlined removal of unauthorized occupants, and opponents arguing it would make evictions too easy and worsen homelessness; it passed 85-44. The chamber also began debate on SB 37, a major higher-education governance bill that would expand governing-board oversight of curriculum, hiring, and faculty senates; members raised concerns about academic freedom, faculty governance, and the impact on humanities programs, and debate was still underway at the end of the transcript.

Transcript Highlights:

• secure our sovereign border, strengthen our military, and restore America's leadership in the world.
• I yield back. help secure our sovereign border, help secure our sovereign border, strengthen<07:50:16.798
• secure a border, unleash American secure a border, unleash American energy,<07:55:58.320> invest
• This will mean stronger borders, safer Texas communities, and definitely a greater peace of mind for
• This will mean stronger borders, safer Texas communities, and definitely a greater peace of mind for

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Tuesday, September 2, 2025, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I am here to tell the American people that you are right to expect secure borders.
• I am here to tell the American people that you are right to expect secure borders.
• I am here to tell the American people that you are right to expect secure borders.
• I am here to tell the American people that you are right to expect secure borders.
• I am here to tell the American people that you are right to expect secure borders.

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Tuesday, May 6, 2025, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I know in border security we heard Senate Bill 2949 to deal with a lot of the issues on the fuel depots
• along the border.
• The realities and needs of the Texas-Mexico border are nuanced, but one priority is ensuring smooth and
• Security Committee.
• border for produce.

Summary: The Senate Transportation Committee heard a series of mostly local transportation and memorial designation bills. Several measures would rename highway segments in honor of fallen service members or public servants, including HB 2026 (Gary C. Johnston memorial highways in Archer County), HB 4429 (McIlroy Family Memorial Highway in Blanco and Burnet counties), SB 3062 (Hamby-Webb Memorial Highway in Panola County), HB 3510 (Sergeant Mark Butler Memorial Highway in Brazos County), and HB 3986 (Corporal Speedy Espiriueta Memorial Highway in Mission). The committee also heard HB 2560, which would create an optional county-road “adopt-a-road” style program allowing donations for county road repair and maintenance. Two bills drew more substantive policy discussion. HB 2427 and HB 2455 concerned oversized/overweight freight corridors and permit authority in Hidalgo County tied to cross-border trade near the FARR International Bridge. Supporters, including the bridge director, said the measures would correct prior road descriptions, put existing TxDOT actions into statute, improve truck routing, and support trade and bridge expansion. The committee substitute for HB 2427 also removed Roma permit language, barred certain hazardous-material permits, raised permit fees, required local cost responsibility for road maintenance, and made the bill contingent on SB 2949. HB 5436 would allow licensed automotive recyclers to buy certain older, long-unregistered vehicles for dismantling or scrap without a title, with reporting, lienholder notice, and anti-theft safeguards; recyclers and dealers supported it as a way to curb illegal untitled-vehicle sales and VIN cloning. HB 3966, authored by Sen. Alvarado, was the most contested bill. It would require commercial passenger bus companies to mail advance notice to residents within one mile before opening a new stop or terminal. Alvarado said the bill responded to the relocation of a Greyhound terminal into a Houston neighborhood without notice and to resulting crime and nuisance concerns. Greyhound opposed the bill, arguing the notice requirement would be burdensome and could delay emergency relocations during hurricanes, flooding, or lease changes. After testimony, the committee voted to report most bills favorably, with HB 3966 passing on a 5-2 vote; the other reported bills passed unanimously. Several bills were also placed on the local and uncontested calendar, and the committee recessed to the call of the chair.

Transcript Highlights:

• Effective border security is created by overlapping deterrence, something we always needed at our borders
• BORDER SECURITY LEGISLATION THAT I'VE INTRODUCED ALONGSIDE CONGRESSMAN CORREA The Subterranean Border
• innovative technologies into our border security operations.
• INTEGRATING INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGIES INTO OUR BORDER SECURITY OPERATIONS.
• These projects include projects such as border security, cybersecurity, counternarcotic security, and

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Monday, March 10, 2025, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Of the Texas House of Representatives.
• He then served his constituents in the Texas Senate before serving the entire state of Texas as a Texas
• His dedication to the Texas A&M University system and the state of Texas has set a high standard for
• in Texas.
• HB 4832 by Morales and Maverick relating to deposit of federal reimbursements for the border security

Transcript Highlights:

• our border.
• The Shrine of Texas liberty will be in the best hands with DPS. overseeing security operations.
• I'm the chief information security officer for the Texas General Accounts.
• My name is Arturo Vontalo and I'm the chief information security officer for the Texas General Non-Office
• What is the unmet need in terms of hunger and security and food and security?

Bills: SB1, SB 1

Keywords: appropriations, budget, state funding, education, healthcare, infrastructure, campground safety, youth camp regulations, flood safety, emergency evacuation, health and safety standards, 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Security guard companies are regulated by the Texas Department of Public Safety, DPS.
• In order to work legally in Texas, all security guards must come under a company license.
• I'm here representing Assist Associated Security Services and Investigators of the state of Texas.
• Obviously, I think the military, in my experience with Texas military forces on the border for a year
• played a key role in securing the funds, the initial funding for the crisis response system that Texas

Bills: SB 36

Keywords: transportation, regional authorities, mobility, infrastructure, sales tax

Transcript Highlights:

• So we're, we don't have your Social Security number, for instance, but we do, our security is being built
• veterinarian for the state of Texas.
• A couple of other issues on page 4 are our Texas-Mexico border.
• for livestock producers in Texas.
• We can do better in Texas. Thank you.

Summary: The committee met with a quorum present to hear Article VI Natural Resources agency budget recommendations, beginning with the Railroad Commission. LBB staff summarized the commission’s 2026-27 base recommendation at $458.7 million, down from the prior biennium, with an increased FTE cap. The presentation highlighted reduced federal IIJA funding, volatility in oil and gas regulation account 5155, continued support for IT modernization, and rider changes. The commission’s major exceptional items were then presented, including requests for produced water and injection data reporting, an authorized pit registration system, regulatory filing/permitting upgrades, an underground injection well investigation team, site remediation support, and especially $100 million for orphan well plugging. Members asked about biennium-to-biennium comparisons, salary biennialization, the scale of orphan well risks, federal funding delays, bonding, and whether the state should rely more on industry or general revenue for plugging costs. Commission leadership explained that orphan wells can threaten water and public safety, that plugging costs have risen sharply, and that current funding is insufficient to keep up with emergency wells and the backlog; they also said the agency is moving to cloud-based systems with cybersecurity protections and that the proposed performance measure may need adjustment if funding does not increase. The Railroad Commission testimony was followed by LBB and agency testimony for the Texas Animal Health Commission. LBB described a $42 million recommendation for 2026-27, an increase overall, but with a reduced FTE cap due to turnover and salary reallocation. The recommendation maintained funding for cattle fever tick work, chronic wasting disease, lab testing through an MOU with Texas A&M’s veterinary diagnostic lab, and a new $5 million spay-and-neuter pilot program, while deleting a capital budget rider and adjusting riders tied to entry point inspection stations and clinical trials. Agency leadership then outlined the commission’s mission to protect livestock health and the state’s $22 billion animal industry, and described major disease threats including highly pathogenic avian influenza, cattle fever ticks, New World screwworm, and chronic wasting disease. Their exceptional items focused on recruiting and retaining veterinarians, replacing fleet vehicles, creating an ectoparasite identification lab, adding field staff and IT support, improving records and epidemiology reporting, strengthening central administration, supporting secure food supply planning, expanding chronic wasting disease work, and staffing the new spay-and-neuter program. Members asked about field identification of ticks, the use of disinfectants and PPE, fleet management, the scale of cattle fever tick risk, and chronic wasting disease; the agency explained its current inspection and lab-confirmation process, its reliance on field disinfecting and biosecurity, and the need for more staff and better data systems to keep pace with growing workloads and disease threats.

Transcript Highlights:

• With over 800 miles of the Texas-Mexico border, I represent the largest border district in the country
• With over 800 miles of the Texas-Mexico border, I represent the largest border district in the country
• :22.399> Mexico<02:43:22.800> border,<02:43:23.359> I miles of the Texas Mexico
• border, I miles of the Texas Mexico border, I represent<02:43:24.000> the<02:43:24.240> largest
• correctly requires a homeland security correctly requires a homeland security border<02:48:12.000

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Wednesday, November 19, 2025, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Simply put, President Trump is the border security president, and no narrative from the national media
• Border security was the number one issue on the campaign trail and is one of the main reasons that 77
• And House Republicans are united in equipping the president to continue securing our borders for good
• This is more than a border crisis. It is a serious national security threat.
• :19:45.040> patrolling<04:19:45.520> our securing our borders, patrolling our securing

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Wednesday, July 23, 2025, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This case underscores the importance of securing our borders, enforcing our immigration laws, and remaining
• And I'm proud of the things that I talked about and our position in the world and a secure border and
• Let's codify border security. Let's call the question. Let's have the vote. Let's do it here.
• We've talked about what we need to do to secure our country and secure our border. Let's codify it.
• Can we start with something like codifying border security? Can we ban congressional stock trading?

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Wednesday, June 24, 2026, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The security technology has secured businesses here in New Mexico since 1998.
• And prevention security solutions.
• -Mexico border. That's our name, Center for Border Economic Development.
• Texas is doing that.
• Texas this year.