Transcript Highlights:

• County Jail.
• Well, in Bosque County, and because both, like Hill County, is its own.
• Whereas in other counties, you may have, you know, the larger counties, the Tarrant County, the...
• The committee's substitute includes input from the Dallas County District Attorney, the Attorney General's
• I am here representing Dallas County Criminal District. John Cruzzo.

Bills: SB614, SB872, SB1199, SB1212, SB1278, SB1573, SB1588, SB1602, SB1660, SB1704, SB1723, SB1833, SB1858, SB1946, SB2009, SB2146, SB2177, SB2373, SB2460, SB2785

Keywords: forensic science, capital writs, criminal justice, case review, Texas Forensic Science Commission, SB 872, burglary of a vehicle, vehicle burglary, theft of a firearm, stolen gun, firearm theft, Penal Code Section 30.04, third-degree felony, Class A misdemeanor, criminal penalty enhancement, gun theft, vehicle break-in, property crime, sentencing enhancement, Texas criminal law

Transcript Highlights:

• I think you're probably speaking about like Tarrant County. Yes, absolutely.
• I represent Tarrant County Yeah, so it is that that is the rub because many school districts don't think
• So, there are, I think, situations where if you thought of all of the school districts given county in
• That's northwest corner of Dallas. County and I'm a proud product of public education.
• I represent Carrollton Armors Branch ISD, Capel ISD, and Dallas ISD, just a small portion.

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Jessica Dallas, we show you as Jessica Dallas.
• Actually, Gaines County and Dickens County. Okay. All right. I know Gaines. Yes.
• Stephanie Focus from Dallas, Texas.
• Jessica Dallas, we have Jessica Dallas.
• My name is Jessica Dallas.

Bills: SB 3, HB28, SB3

Keywords: flash flood, flood warning, outdoor warning siren, emergency alert, disaster preparedness, flood mitigation, Hill Country floods, Texas Water Development Board, municipalities, counties, local government mandate, public safety, grant program, backup power, weather siren, emergency management, flood-prone area, warning system, hemp regulation, consumable products

Transcript Highlights:

• county.
• , from Loving County to Harris County.
• Dallas Police Department has the Dallas Police Academy, and only future Dallas peace officers go to that
• Lubbock County.
• We give examples of officers that are seven counties away, 15 counties away, but one county away, you

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• You're not going to deliver babies in every rural county in Texas, but every rural county in Texas has
• I'm the county judge in Tara County.
• What is Taylor County going to do if we keep having more cases?
• Laura Sievert, I'm the CPSG for Smith County District Attorney's Office.
• In Smith County in 2024, 77% of our exits last year were some sort of family outcome.

Bills: HB18, HB37, HB116, HB388, HB879, HB913, HB1151, HB2216, HB2358, HB2809, SB577, SB1590, SB1782, SB1887, SB2744, HB18, HB37, HB116

Keywords: rural health, hospital funding, healthcare access, mental health services, financial stability, perinatal bereavement, healthcare, hospital training, bereavement support, maternal care, fetal demise, stillbirth, neonatal death, parent-child relationship, involuntary termination, family law, child welfare, child protection, HB 388, HB388

Transcript Highlights:

• We get a letter from a county judge in Blockle County trying to just find him.
• We get a letter from a county judge in Blockle County trying to just find him.
• Washington County, same thing.
• surrounding counties.
• We do have a land agreement with Jefferson County for the area adjacent to the Jefferson County Airport

Summary: The Senate Finance Committee heard the Legislative Budget Board’s overview of the Texas Department of Public Safety’s 2026-27 budget, followed by extensive testimony from DPS leadership. The LBB presentation covered funding and staffing changes across driver license services, facilities, troopers and recruit schools, crime labs, vehicle and aircraft operations, and border security. The recommendations included added support for customer service staffing and trooper hiring, but did not include several DPS exceptional items such as major driver license staffing and technology requests, new regional headquarters in El Paso and San Antonio, and other capital projects. Members also discussed proposed rider changes, including a new rider to lapse unused trooper funding and require reporting after recruit schools. Much of the committee’s questioning focused on driver license operations, where senators criticized long call wait times, low call-answer rates, appointment delays, and what they viewed as an overreliance on adding staff rather than improving processes. DPS and LBB witnesses said the agency is pursuing some technology upgrades, including automation, online pre-population of applications, and appointment-system improvements, but acknowledged that the driver license division remains a major problem area. Senators also raised concerns about whether the 2019 efficiency study led to meaningful changes and whether the agency should consider broader process redesign or even a different administrative structure. Colonel Freeman and other DPS officials then defended the agency’s broader law enforcement and border-security work, emphasizing the need for the Williamson County training academy, the 500 additional troopers funded in prior sessions, and continued support for Operation Lone Star. They described DPS’s role in border interdiction, threat-to-life investigations, oilfield theft cases, Capitol and Alamo security, and highway safety, and said the agency is stretched thin by deployments and overtime. Members asked about border reimbursement possibilities, regional staffing differences, pursuit safety, fleet and aircraft replacement needs, and the Texas Ranger Hall of Fame museum. No votes or formal actions were taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• Ayesha Davis of Dallas for recognition. Thank you Mr. Speaker and members.
• And it defines a rural county as a population of 68,750 or less.
• Aisha Davis of Dallas on her very first bill.
• However, right now, we are seeing some judges, send that population to your county without your county
• Dallas sends Ms. Weiner for what purpose? Does the gentleman yield for questions?

Bills: SB5, SJR3, HB 11, HJR72, HB48, HB27, HB144, HB37, HB1481, HB581, HB1696, HB2216, HB 1035, HB1633, HB742, HB754, HB1689, HB1690, HB2669, HB391, HB517, HB1775, HB 1024, HB1607, HB252, HB1716, HB1562, HB4116, HB1866, HB1741, HB2103, HB2637, HB2884, HB3707, HB503, HB 1089, HB1757, HB2986, HB972, SB365, SB1786, SB5, SJR3, HB14, HB43, HB36, HB26, HB149, HB 121, HB206, HB136, HB3114, HB2733, HB1732, HB3700, HB467, HB 1130, HB1846, HB1442, HB 1147, HB2176, HB2701, HB805, HB2890, HB 1154, HB1644, HB2118, HB1718, HB2488, HB2596, HB2468, HB484, HB2578, HB3204, HB 1041, HB307, HB685, HB538, HB2525, HB3125, HB2027, HB2894, HB3077, HB 106, HB18, HB 11, HJR72, HB48, HB27, HB144, HB37, HB1481, HB581, HB1696, HB2216, HB 1035, HB1633, HB742, HB754, HB1689, HB1690, HB2669, HB391, HB517, HB1775, HB 1024, HB1607, HB252, HB1716, HB1562, HB4116, HB1866, HB1741, HB2103, HB2637, HB2884, HB3707, HB503, HB 1089, HB1757, HB2986, HB972

Keywords: dementia, research institute, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, funding, grants, state health initiatives, research funding, state budget, prevention, healthcare, medical research, Dementia Prevention and Research Institute, licensing, reciprocity, regulation, Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation, interstate agreements, tax exemption, intellectual disability

Transcript Highlights:

• Mama's not gonna live in a county.
• They're in the southern sector of Dallas County.
• The southern sector of Dallas County serves over a million patients, OK, and that those are the only
• two hospitals in the southern sector of Dallas County.
• County, Methodist Dallas, if the 340B program went away, they would be at a break-even state.

Transcript Highlights:

• It projects that a certain percentage of the project's filming days in rural counties, and that's going
• I've brought a lot to Texas, from El Paso to San Antonio, and also in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.
• We saw this in Hico, from Parker County to Wise County to Erath Counties.
• If it’s just burning a hole in your pocket, there are a hundred counties in Texas that have subpar county
• That would make five million dollars per county to help install and fortify those roads.

Bills: SB22, SB 22

Keywords: Texas, moving image industry, incentive program, film production, grant funding, job creation, economic development, youth camp, summer camp, camp safety, emergency operations plan, emergency preparedness, evacuation drill, camp staff training, volunteer training, camper safety, lost camper, natural disaster, fire safety, mass casualty

Transcript Highlights:

• All right, the Chair recognizes the Honorable [Rhetta Bowers](link) of Dallas County to lead us in the
• Anchia of Dallas. Please excuse Ms.
• Lopez of Bexar County because of important business in the district on motion of Ms.
• Members, if the Harris County delegation, everyone in Harris County, if y'all can meet at my desk in
• I abolished County Affairs. I abolished Defense and Veterans.

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The chair recognizes the Honorable Cassandra Garcia Hernandez of Dallas County to lead us in the pledges
• You may not know where Howard County is, but I do.
• Martin, for striving to make Hood County. As fantastic as it is.
• Thank you, our county clerk Dawn Wright.
• County Treasurer DD Bailey, County Commissioner Precinct 1 Luke Sweeney, County Commissioner, Precinct

Transcript Highlights:

• Chair recognizes the Honorable Cassandra Garcia Hernandez of Dallas County to lead us in the Pledges
• You may not know where Howard County is, but I do. It's in.
• February 6th as Hood County Day here at your state capitol.
• Our County Clerk, Dawn Robbins. County Treasurer, Dee Dee Bailey.
• County Commissioner, Precinct 1, Luke Sweeney, County Commissioner, Precinct 3, Crystal Dominey, JP,

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We are statewide in all 254 counties. Counties.
• or only want to go to Dallas County because they feel like that's where they want to go.
• There are members of this legislature from Dallas County who feel the same, representing over three million
• ... ...in our Dallas County population.
• So we have one in Dallas. County. We have one in Harris County. Where are the other two?

Bills: HB149, HB252, HB643, HB1442, HB1500, HB1672, HB1851, HB1893, HB2028, HB2768, HB2818, HB149, HB252

Keywords: artificial intelligence, regulation, biometric data, ethical AI, consumer protection, AI governance, employment compensation, state agencies, salary payments, general appropriations, government efficiency, public works, contractors, payment bonds, government contracts, construction law, transparency, open meetings, government accountability, public access

Transcript Highlights:

• to county, but city, county to state. and to be ready for any federal support that comes in.
• only city in Aransas County.
• Harris County, Bayer, Tarrant, Travis.
• Doesn't matter whether you're a big county or small county, it's just the.
• Texas County and District Attorneys Association to help us do that.

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The Chair recognizes the Honorable Angie Chen Button of Dallas County to lead us in the Pledges of Allegiance
• The Chair recognizes the Honorable Angie Chen Button of Dallas County to lead us in the Pledges of Allegiance

Bills: HB4, HB 4

Keywords: redistricting, congressional districts, Texas Legislature, elections, 2020 Census, 997, house, all

Bills: SB2169, SB2263, SB2360, SB2359, SB2031, SB2796, SB3090, SB3091, SB3092, SB2120, SB2593, SB2751, SB2135, SB2024, SB2872, SB3179, SB2308, SB2392, SB2470, SB2398, SB2902, SB2841, SB2436, SB2806, SB2691, SB2824, SB2645, SB2384, SB2697, SB3153, SB3156, SB888, SB2423, SB2746

Keywords: business competitiveness, economic development, DBEDT, Department of Business Economic Development and Tourism, business climate, regulatory reform, permitting, economic ranking, state ranking, top 10 states, business climate improvement working group, business revitalization task force, CNBC America’s Top States for Business, Hawaii business climate, workforce development, infrastructure, cost of doing business, tax competitiveness, labor unions, private sector

Transcript Highlights:

• rules to take up and consider at this time Senate Bill 616. 383 aquifer in the area of Williamson County
• You can't, if you don't don't have your own car you might have to get on a bus and go hours in Dallas
• It also increases the maximum county supplement to just over $22,000.
• And in fact, over 87% of district judges currently received the maximum county supplement.
• supplement if the county chooses to go to the new.

Bills: SJR18, SCR9, SCR13, SB10, SB11, SB19, SB20, SB25, SB62, SB260, SB263, SB293, SB314, SB384, SB412, SB441, SB442, SB494, SB523, SB569, SB616, SB688, SB707, SB766, SB842, SB869, SB890, SB914, SB929, SB971, SB992, SB1066, SB1145, SB1621, SJR36, SJR18, SCR9, SCR13, SB616, SB565, SB384, SB372, SB495, SB842, SB971, SB1066, SB929, SB765, SB523, SB62, SB19, SB18, SB666, SB688, SB707, SB888, SB687, SB706, SB847, SB869, SB890, SB992, SB1145, SB494, SB290, SB766, SB11, SB10, SB13, SB263, SB412, SB20, SB441, SB442, SB1621, SB569, SB314, SB25, SB293, SB914, SB260, SB1248, SB740, SB14, SB1006, SB20, SB25, SB260, SB293, SB314, SB384, SB442, SB494, SB616, SB869, SB890, SB929, SB992, SB1145, SB1621, SR232, SR237, SR242, SB16, SB22

Keywords: capital gains, taxation, constitutional amendment, state revenue, individual investment, Supreme Court, judicial independence, Keep Nine, checks and balances, water rights, treaty compliance, Rio Grande, agriculture, drought, international water, Texas water supply, education, Ten Commandments, public schools, religious display

Transcript Highlights:

• AS OUR HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY CLERK OF COURTS ELECTED JUST THIS PAST YEAR.
• THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE IN THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE AS A HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY.
• They serve 150 children in Martin County, and we have a waitlist of 300 children.
• You will not be surprised to learn it is Polk County Day here in the Capitol, so.
• Welcome everybody from Polk County who is here today. [APPLAUSE] Sen. Albritton: Yes, ma'am?

Bills: SJR18, SCR9, SCR13, SB10, SB11, SB19, SB20, SB25, SB62, SB260, SB263, SB293, SB314, SB384, SB412, SB441, SB442, SB494, SB523, SB569, SB616, SB688, SB707, SB766, SB842, SB869, SB890, SB914, SB929, SB971, SB992, SB1066, SB1145, SB1621, SJR36, SJR18, SCR9, SCR13, SB616, SB565, SB384, SB372, SB495, SB842, SB971, SB1066, SB929, SB765, SB523, SB62, SB19, SB18, SB666, SB688, SB707, SB888, SB687, SB706, SB847, SB869, SB890, SB992, SB1145, SB494, SB290, SB766, SB11, SB10, SB13, SB263, SB412, SB20, SB441, SB442, SB1621, SB569, SB314, SB25, SB293, SB914, SB260, SB1248, SB740, SB14, SB1006, SB20, SB25, SB260, SB293, SB314, SB384, SB442, SB494, SB616, SB869, SB890, SB929, SB992, SB1145, SB1621, SR232, SR237, SR242, SB16, SB22

Keywords: capital gains, taxation, constitutional amendment, state revenue, individual investment, Supreme Court, judicial independence, Keep Nine, checks and balances, water rights, treaty compliance, Rio Grande, agriculture, drought, international water, Texas water supply, education, Ten Commandments, public schools, religious display

Transcript Highlights:

• There are counties that have withdrawn from the program, and those counties, they have not collected
• The counties that have withdrawn from it have not seen any adverse effects, that is, Harris County, Austin
• , and Dallas.
• Counties don't have to use it.
• for Harris County Jail staff.

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

Transcript Highlights:

• That is Harris County, Austin, and Dallas. But here's the other thing. And...
• County, Austin, and Dallas. But here's the other thing. And normally I don't get that upset.
• County, and that’s several counties away from Hardin County.
• in Liberty County and pick up and take that load to Montgomery County?”
• and Jefferson County.

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.