Transcript Highlights:

• Yeah, my name's Terry Hall, and today I'm representing TURF, Texas for Toll-free Highways, True Texas
• Um, again, speaking on behalf of TRF and Texas for Toll-free Highways, True Texas Project, Grassroots
• We need that in Texas. We move traffic.
• This bill would help put Texas back on top.
• Texas taxpayers have had enough.

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• state of Texas.
• Texas will not bend to these delusions.
• The Texas Department of Criminal Justice.
• We can do it on a case-by-case basis,' this Texas Senate passed...
• Civil Practice and Remedies Code Chapter 15.

Summary: The Senate convened with an invocation and then handled several procedural matters, including a failed motion to excuse Senator Johnson’s absence after a roll-call vote. The chamber also postponed the reading and referral of bills until later in the calendar and adopted motions allowing the Education K-16 Committee to meet while the Senate was in session. The Senate then recessed until 4:00 p.m. Wednesday, August 6. The main floor action centered on Committee Substitute for Senate Bill 9, which lowers the voter-approval tax rate for certain cities and counties from 3.5% to 2.5% for maintenance and operations. Senator Bettencourt argued the bill would slow local property tax growth and align city and county limits more closely with school district limits, while Senators Hinojosa and Menendez raised concerns about reduced local revenue, public safety funding, and the short time for cities to assess the impact. The Senate suspended the regular order, passed the bill to engrossment, suspended the constitutional three-day rule, and finally passed SB 9, with a clarification later entered that the final passage vote was 18-3. The Senate also took up Committee Substitute for Senate Bill 7, the Texas Women’s Privacy Act, which sets state policy for the use of certain spaces and facilities according to biological sex and creates enforcement mechanisms for state agencies and political subdivisions. Supporters said the bill was needed to protect women and children in restrooms, locker rooms, shelters, prisons, and schools, while opponents questioned the scope, enforcement, civil penalties, and possible conflicts with federal law and local control. After extensive questioning, the chamber adopted a clarifying amendment, suspended the three-day rule, and finally passed SB 7 by a vote of 19-2. Finally, the Senate passed Committee Substitute for Senate Bill 15, which addresses deed fraud and real property theft by tightening recording requirements for certain property documents and creating new criminal offenses for real property theft and fraud. Senator Hinojosa explained that the bill combined civil and criminal provisions, added photo ID requirements for in-person filings, and included restitution and enhanced penalties for certain victims and properties; a floor amendment made cleanup changes, removed a training mandate, and clarified that electronic and mail filings were not affected. The Senate adopted the amendment, suspended the three-day rule, and passed SB 15 unanimously, 21-0.

Transcript Highlights:

• Codes code issues best address this by requiring the building code review board to update the code to
• There's a plumbing code, a mechanical code, electric code, and so forth.
• <02:39:38.800> So code, electric code, and so forth.
• So code, electric code, and so forth.
• building code. building code.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

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• Code 1091.
• Texas students.
• They've gone to Texas schools, played Texas sports, participated in Texas churches, They've gone to Texas
• from Texas high school.
• They grew up in Texas neighborhoods, attended Texas schools, and consider themselves Texas in every way

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.

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• not in any way violate The rights of Oklahomans to protect them from any kind of foreign law, legal code
• What we're doing is we're updating the adoption code with this and it will allow parents of adopted children
• Last year, we passed a uniform trustst code, the Oklahoma uniform Trust code. It's about 66 pages.
• is just a cleanup bill that tightens up some definitions and aligns prior statutes with the trust Code

Bills: SB504, SB844, SB1209, SB1266, SB1303, SB1448, SB1496, SB1595, SB1597, SB1655, SB1679, SB1621, SB1716, SB1769, SB1827, SB1876, SB1944, SB2072, SB2084, SB2104, SB2112, SB2170, SB2180, SB2182

Keywords: charitable organizations, donor restrictions, endowment gifts, Safeguarding Endowment Gifts Act, Oklahoma, donor rights, charitable contributions, forcible entry, detainer, trial period, legal notices, housing law, SB1266, notary public, notaries, legal advice, unauthorized practice of law, misdemeanor, Secretary of State, appointment revocation

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• The bill passed with broad stakeholder support, including Texas Association of Health Plans and Texas
• For over 100 years, the Texas Insurance code has included anti-rebating laws which prohibit insurance
• Uh, section of the insurance code.
• So for Texas to encourage, uh, more prescribed burning on private lands, uh, Texas needs more certified
• to the state of Texas.

Bills: HB139

Keywords: ad valorem tax, tax rates, voter-approval, taxing unit, property tax, local government

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• As a result of the 2005 Workers' Compensation Reform, Chapter 504.053 of the Texas Labor Code created
• , just like certified networks. 405 of the Texas Labor Code requires workers' compensation and requires
• The current damages caps under Chapter 21 of the Texas Labor Code are the... same as under federal law
• Defining opportunity youth in Texas Code will allow us to get a much clearer picture of who opportunity
• Keep it in Texas for Texas. Thank you very much. The committee is adjourned.

Bills: HB875, HB1667, HB2369, HB3844, HB4415, HB4479, HB4483, HB4676, HB5118, HB5400, HB5545

Keywords: workers' compensation, municipal construction, bidding requirements, small municipalities, contracting policies, first responders, PTSD, mental health, emergency services, medical expenses, injury claims, insurance carriers, opportunity youth, workforce development, employment, education, federal funds, employment discrimination, immunity waiver, public employees

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• The New Mexico Occupational Therapy Association provides support to occupational therapy practitioners
• Dan Medrano, occupational therapist. Jesse Chavez, occupational therapist.
• Brandon Schingle, occupational therapist. Clara Hardgrave, occupational therapist.
• And there are occupational assistants with us: Ellen Medrano, occupational therapy assistant.
• therapy graduate student at UNM. ...in Occupational Therapy, and Jennifer Long, occupational therapy

Keywords: 996, all

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• And it, they happen from North Texas to South Texas.
• busts across North Texas.
• The Texas Penal Code on non-livestock animal cruelty states that a person commits an offense if the person
• Pursuant to Texas Penal Code Section 6.03, a person is criminally negligent when he ought to be aware
• Civil Practice and Remedies Code.

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• Lindy McGee testifying on behalf of Texas Medical Association and Texas.
• He's licensed in New Mexico, Oklahoma, Colorado, and Texas, and I'm a licensed Texas realtor.
• No realtor member in Texas has ever been found in violation of the code of ethics anti-discrimination
• These are Texas realtors.
• Um, there is a definition in Chapter 51 of the Occupations code that defines trade associations.

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• Texas home today.
• It was a need from the state of Texas, as identified by the Texas... mortality child with the maternal
• The Texas Child Mental Health Care.
• Next, the Texas Lottery Commission.
• As in, every single other state has fewer occupational licensure requirements than the state of Texas

Keywords: 1184, house, all

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• To make this a good policy for Texas.
• Chapter nine of the Code of Criminal Procedure relates to trades business. and occupations injurious
• Chapter 49 of the Code of Criminal Procedure relates to death inquests and Chapter 50 of the Code of
• The Code of Chrome procedure project is an interesting one. For decades, the code needed updating.
• This bill is of all our code bills each session, the must-pass bill because of the way Texas enacts hundreds

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• If there's a code in ICU, I got to be there. If there's a code in ER, I got to be there.
• There's a code pink, meaning a baby, I got to be there.
• There, at another hospital I work at, we have to go from Taking care of a baby who just coded.
• Because we're also dealing with a local Presbyterian insurance in Texas, which is 90 miles from us.
• Occupations that are referenced in the bill.

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• Texas flag. Honor the Texas flag.
• Texas State Technical College and the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley prepare students for careers
• Speaker and members, please take a moment to help me welcome Special Olympic Texas to the Texas House
• We as the Texas House want to thank the local the Texas Forest Service and Texas Department of Emergency
• That matter for working people in Texas.

Keywords: 1184, house, all

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• And while there, there were presentations by leaders from Brazil, India, China, Nevada, Arkansas, Texas
• Texas, Africa, and the list goes on, and they were there talking about the supply chains that they are
• AB 2773 is a sunset vehicle for the Board of Occupational Therapy.
• A.B 2773 is a sunset vehicle for the Board of Occupational Therapy.
• Jessica Rana, with Capital Advocacy on behalf of the Occupational Therapy Association of California,

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• women to the Texas Capitol.
• Members, this bill is a biennial update to the Texas Business Organizations Code that the Legislature
• That's in the Texas Administrative Code. We also have statewide spacing rules. 467 feet?
• Texas Broadband Office and aligning Texas statute with federal rules.
• I'm familiar with Texas cases.” “Okay. Which Texas case are you familiar with?”

Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum, heard an invocation, received a House message announcing passage of H.B. 500, and a gubernatorial nomination for the Upper Neches River Municipal Water Authority Board. The chamber adopted several resolutions, including SR 409 recognizing Blue Ribbon Lobby Day, SR 402 honoring the discovery of the woolly devil plant at Big Bend National Park, and recognitions for Operation Christmas RGV and Wilson County Day. The Senate also heard an announcement that the Committee on Senate Nominations action report had been placed on members’ desks. The body then took up and passed several bills. SB 2365 was passed to prohibit personal wireless communication devices by public school students during instructional time, with exceptions for health, special education, and safety needs. SB 1869 was passed to reaffirm the DSHS commissioner’s authority over controlled-substance schedule changes without rulemaking or judicial review. SB 1124 was passed to revise criminal discovery procedures in response to the Heath decision, with supporters saying it preserves exculpatory evidence protections while limiting suppression of inculpatory evidence when the defense already knew of it. SB 1758 was passed to create a Grayson County pilot study and temporary permitting hold concerning a cement kiln/quarry near a semiconductor wafer facility, and SB 2078 was passed to regulate composting in certain counties, after a clarifying amendment. The Senate also passed SB 33, barring governmental entities from transactions that support abortion assistance or out-of-state abortion procurement; SB 34, expanding wildfire preparedness measures, studies, equipment databases, and rural fire department funding; SB 1208, increasing the penalty for interference with public duties from a Class B misdemeanor to a state jail felony; SB 1030, removing the maintenance, repair, and overhaul tax for general aviation; SB 505, creating processes to address election irregularities; SB 2411, updating the Business Organizations Code and changing filing-method requirements; and SB 1333, addressing unauthorized entry, occupancy, sale, rental, lease, or conveyance of real property. Most measures advanced on voice vote or recorded roll call after motions to suspend the regular order and the constitutional three-day rule, with several members raising questions or objections, especially on the criminal justice, abortion, and public duties bills.

Transcript Highlights:

• And it's the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, the Texas Department of Justice.
• Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles, and the Texas Indigent Defense Commission.
• Texas Indigent Defense Commission.
• But in Texas, the few things. that we are doing.
• I said, well, I'm from West Texas.

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Grant Program for School District Local Accountability Plans and actions challenging the Texas Education
• Psychologist licensed under the Occupations Code.
• One research security officer for Texas Southern, one for the Texas University System.
• Members, the bill relates to student union building fees at the University of Texas, El Paso.
• Members, this bill relates to the creation of the Texas Commission on Teacher Job Satisfaction and Retention

Keywords: 1185, senate, all

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• It's Code of Federal Regulations.
• In Texas, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center El Paso Hunt School of Dentistry was established
• Additionally, IHS facilities bill with a revenue code and a procedure code is not required.
• Either code or a combination of these codes will be allowed one time per quadrant every two years for
• And I think you can even do it by code.

Keywords: 908, all

Summary: The committee met to review the history and current treatment of North Dakota health insurance mandates, with presentations from Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Dakota, Sanford Health Plan, the Public Employees Retirement System (PERS), and the Insurance Department. The discussion focused on how mandates apply differently to fully insured, self-funded, ACA, Medicaid, and PERS plans; how the state’s benchmark plan and federal essential health benefits affect coverage; and how the existing process requires cost-benefit analysis and, for certain measures, a PERS pilot period before broader application. Presenters also reviewed the long list of existing state mandates, including provider, beneficiary, and coverage requirements, and noted that many were enacted decades ago and have not been revisited despite changes in medical evidence and treatment options. Witnesses from the carriers argued that mandates should be reviewed periodically because some are outdated, can create unintended costs, and may not align with current medical guidance. Examples cited included PSA screening, off-label drug coverage, prior authorization rules, step therapy, and cost-sharing provisions for mental health and substance use treatment. They emphasized that carriers often cover services without a mandate when supported by clinical evidence, and that mandates can shift costs to employers and employees, especially in the fully insured small-group market. They also suggested possible policy improvements such as clearer mandate definitions, better transparency around cost-benefit analyses, a regular 10-year review of mandates, and more timely submission of proposals through the interim process. PERS and the Insurance Department highlighted a recurring tension over what counts as a mandate and when a measure triggers the state’s defrayal obligation under federal law. PERS described its interim committee process, the April 1 deadline for fiscal-impact proposals, and the limited pilot program used for certain measures, noting that only a few bills have gone through the full pilot process. The Insurance Department explained that it views new benefit mandates through the lens of the ACA benchmark plan and essential health benefits, distinguishing true new benefits, such as infertility coverage, from changes to existing benefits, such as telehealth or insulin cost-sharing caps. No votes were taken on policy changes; the meeting was informational, with members asking questions about costs, applicability, transparency, and whether a periodic mandate review should be established.

Transcript Highlights:

• It's so helpful to have it in front of us, color-coded and everything.
• On the left-hand side, you'll see that occupational pathway, including the subjects of health sciences
• And the candidates for these positions are often moving from high-pay occupations that in some cases
• Those teachers coming from sort of a non-traditional career path, you know, having that occupational
• A person's coming through the occupational pathway at the career and technical education with a high

Keywords: 959, house, all