Transcript Highlights:

• counties.
• The New Mexico Border Authority has various projects in Doña Ana County, Luna County, and Hidalgo County
• It's because Las Cruces is not too far from the border, and it's part of Dona Ana County, which covers
• We cover Hotspot, El Paso counties, and the nine New Mexico border counties—all the border here in New
• Counties.

Transcript Highlights:

• I support border communities. I live in a border community.
• Louis County on its own. I can't in St. Louis County on its own.
• Louis County. St. Louis behalf of St. Louis County. St.
• Lewis County and other counties that St.
• So, it's a county are sent to counties.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The county is Chris Bryce, County Manager. Thank you, Chris.
• We have also worked with the City of Santa Fe, Eddy County, McKinley County, the Border Industrial Association
• First, I would like to welcome you to Deming and Luna County, a border county of the New Mexico border
• So we are investing in the border, in Columbus, in Luna County, Hidalgo County, Doña Ana County, Santa
• -Mexico border.

Transcript Highlights:

• The citizens of Clark County and Habersham County are hundreds of miles from any border, but are still
• The citizens of Clark County and Habersham County are hundreds of miles from any border, but are still
• The citizens of Clark County and Habersham County are hundreds of miles from any border, but are still
• The citizens of Clark County and Habersham County are hundreds of miles from any border, but are still
• The citizens of Clark County and Habersham County are hundreds of miles from any border, but are still

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Tuesday, January 7, 2025, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The border crossed us.
• The border crossed us.
• their border. ...county has utilized their own monies to reinforce their border wall.
• Sand and Gravel Company for $309,046 to build 27 miles of new border wall in Santa Cruz County, Arizona
• So it's not because of border walls or border fences or other hard security measures.

Keywords: 1182, all

Summary: The Arizona Senate convened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and the 4-H pledge led by Yuma County 4-H Ambassadors, followed by guest introductions and several recognitions. The chamber observed World Hearing Day with a proclamation honoring hearing health awareness and access to care, and also recognized the 100th anniversary of Sandy Corps VFW Post 1433 in Glendale. The Doctor of the Day was introduced, and additional guests included mobile food vendors who were present in connection with a discussion about food truck licensing remaining a city matter. The Senate then took up a series of third-reading bills, most of them transportation appropriations. SB 1062, 1063, 1064, 1154, 1204, 1207, 1245, 1250, 1455, and 1457 all passed, with members debating whether transportation funding should come from the general fund or the HURF fund, and several senators speaking in support of specific road projects in their districts or for tribal communities. SB 1461 also passed with broad support; it would fund an AHCCCS allied health care workforce pipeline, and supporters described it as a practical response to health care worker shortages. SB 1798 passed with bipartisan support to increase FAFSA awareness and support for students and families. The Senate also passed SB 1065, creating funding for hyperbaric oxygen therapy for military veterans, despite concerns from opponents about unproven claims for other conditions. SB 1088, 1156, and 1157 passed after extended debate over immigration enforcement, border security, and whether the appropriations were requested or necessary; supporters framed them as reimbursements or security measures, while opponents argued they targeted immigrant communities and duplicated federal responsibilities. SB 1019, which would have amended bottled water system law related to fluoridation, failed on a 14-11 vote after a lengthy debate over public health, informed consent, and fluoride safety. The Senate also announced committee meetings for the following Monday, withdrew HB 2110 from one committee and referred it to another, and then adjourned until Monday, March 23, 2026.

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.
• surrounding counties.
• border.
• border.

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:

• Now, south of the border, on the left-hand side of your screen, you'll see Now, south of the border,
• It is clearly reflected on the trust people in certainly South County have put in you to be our county
• It is clearly reflected on the trust people in certainly South County have put in you to be our county
• So that's my son surfing the border, right, at Border Field State Beach. He was a state lifeguard.
• in Border Field State Park.

Summary: The joint Senate and Assembly Environmental Quality/Environmental Safety and Toxic Materials informational hearing focused on the Tijuana River Valley sewage crisis, with members from both parties emphasizing that the problem is long-running, cross-border, and severe enough to require federal, state, local, and binational action. Opening remarks described the crisis as an environmental and public health emergency affecting beaches, air and water quality, marine life, tourism, and residents’ quality of life in South Bay communities. Assembly Member Boerner and Senator Jones both stressed the need for continued funding and cooperation, while Senator Padilla said the issue is underappreciated because of where it occurs but has major public health, economic, and educational consequences. Congressman Mike Levin’s office reported more than $650 million in federal funding secured for infrastructure and cleanup, along with federal legislation and requests for CDC and EPA involvement. Supervisor Paloma Aguirre gave a detailed overview of county efforts and the scope of the crisis, citing decades of sewage flows from Tijuana, nearly four years of beach closures, and the county’s expanded water-quality monitoring. She said the county is pursuing warning signs, an air purifier distribution program, an epidemiological study, soil testing, an economic impact study, and a feasibility analysis to remove the “hot spot” near Saturn Boulevard, which she described as a key local source of airborne pollution. She also pointed to binational funding for treatment plant upgrades and said the county is seeking state support, including from Proposition 4 cross-border river funds, to expand relief and mitigation efforts. Scripps researchers Dr. Sarah Giddings and Dr. Kimberly Prather presented scientific findings on water and air transport. Giddings described a high-resolution forecast model that predicts wastewater movement and beach closure risk up to five days ahead, using real-time observations and showing about 72% accuracy against county measurements. Prather said the main exposure route is through air, not just water, and reported that turbulence at the river hot spot aerosolizes pollutants, with hydrogen sulfide and other gases spiking at night and dropping when river flow is diverted. She said the team has identified thousands of gases and linked measurements closely to odor complaints, while also noting that air purifiers can reduce indoor exposure but are not a permanent solution. Dr. Paula Stigler Granados added that community health surveys and CDC assessments show widespread symptoms, sleep disruption, anxiety, and daily life impacts, especially during nighttime odor events. She said her team has found more than 900 contaminants in river water and 106 chemicals uniquely associated with the Saturn Boulevard hot spot, with passive air sampling showing similar chemical fingerprints in nearby homes. The panel discussion ended with questions about standards and accountability, and witnesses and legislators agreed that the crisis requires updated air-quality standards, more health research, and continued coordination to reduce exposure and address the source of pollution.

Transcript Highlights:

• We get a letter from a county judge in Blakely County trying to just find him.
• surrounding counties.
• We get a letter from a county judge in Blockle County trying to just find him.
• border.
• It doesn't serve just one county. It serves a lot of counties around us.

Bills: SB 1

Keywords: campground safety, youth camp regulations, flood safety, emergency evacuation, health and safety standards

Summary: The Senate Finance Committee heard a presentation from the Legislative Budget Board on the Texas Department of Public Safety’s Article 5 budget. LBB recommended $3.7 billion in all funds for 2026-27, a 5.2 percent decrease from the base, while FTEs would rise by 856.7. Major items included funding for driver license services, DPS facilities, troopers and recruit schools, crime labs, vehicle and aircraft operations, border security, and rider changes. The committee also reviewed DPS exceptional items not included in the recommendation, including additional staffing, technology, and facility requests. Members focused heavily on driver license operations, criticizing long wait times, call abandonment, and repeated staffing increases without clear process improvements. LBB said the agency’s call-answer rate was about 9 percent in fiscal 2024, with average hold times around 34 minutes, later reduced to roughly 22-25 minutes. Senators questioned whether more FTEs alone would solve the problem and urged a broader efficiency study and better use of technology. DPS officials said they were pursuing process changes, including appointment-system upgrades, online pre-population of forms, and remote issuance options, while noting that Real ID requirements and population growth continue to drive demand. DPS leadership then outlined the agency’s priorities: completion of the Williamson County training academy, recruitment and retention of troopers, capital needs for vehicles and aircraft, and expanded responsibilities at the Capitol complex and the Alamo. Officials said the new trooper funding would help address staffing shortages, public safety, and border operations, and that overtime and deployment patterns had been adjusted to reduce burnout and improve flexibility. They also discussed Operation Lone Star, saying DPS spending is largely overtime, travel, and fuel, and that the agency continues to coordinate with federal partners while awaiting clarity on possible federal reimbursement for border security costs. Senators also raised concerns about oilfield theft, cartel activity, high-speed pursuits, bilingual pay, and the Texas Ranger Hall of Fame and Museum, and DPS said it would follow up on some of those issues.

Bills: HB3767, HB3934, HB4199, HB4336, HB2947, HB3834, HB4302, HB4095, HB3287, HB3649, HB4430, HB4431, HB2059, HB3647, HB3986, HB3548, HB3661, HB4346, HB3075, HB4273, HB3391, HB4128, HB3557, HB3239, HB3982, HB2123, HB2979, HB2997, HB3148, HB4108, HB4143, HB4266, HB2053, HB4058, SR30

Keywords: dentistry, licensing, dental hygiene, foreign-trained dentists, temporary license, public health, emergency response, child care, workforce, pilot program, affordable care, income eligibility, interventional pain management, pain management clinic, chronic pain, acute pain, spinal injections, epidural steroid injection, peripheral nerve block, nerve ablation

Transcript Highlights:

• from, well, of course, Hillsboro County does border Massachusetts, 45 minutes from where these violent
• from, well, of course, Hillsboro County does border Massachusetts, 45 minutes from where these violent
• from, well, of course, Hillsboro County does border Massachusetts, 45 minutes from where these violent
• from, well, of course, Hillsboro County does border Massachusetts, 45 minutes from where these violent
• from, well, of course, Hillsboro County does border Massachusetts, 45 minutes from where these violent

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Any investments made within the county will remain in the county. Will remain in the county.
• The county, Board of County Commissioners, the CRUA board, and the city council all approved an innovation
• We do have a great partnership where the DOT, the city, Dona Ana County, and the border authority meet
• -Mexico border. Second largest port of entry on the entire U.S.-Mexico border.
• border where?

Transcript Highlights:

• So our borders are not our only problem, but this fentanyl detection at our borders is working.
• every single county in North Carolina is a border county, largely because of the prior administration's
• As far as the northern border?
• Customs and Border Protection.
• Customs and Border Protection's comprehensive approach to border security.

Keywords: Coast Guard, maritime drug enforcement, illegal drugs, fentanyl crisis, legislative reforms, public testimony

Summary: The meeting of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation addressed critical issues surrounding maritime drug enforcement and the Coast Guard's role in stopping the influx of illegal drugs. The chairman highlighted the alarming consequences of current policies allowing drugs to cross borders, emphasizing the need for legislative reforms, such as the Coast Guard Reauthorization Act of 2025. There was an intense discussion regarding the operational challenges faced by the Coast Guard, which has recently made significant drug seizures, indicating progress but also revealing gaps that need addressing. Several witnesses, including victims of the drug crisis, shared their compelling testimonies, which underscored the urgency for stricter controls and comprehensive support for law enforcement agencies involved in drug interdiction efforts.

Transcript Highlights:

• at our southern border.
• Even worse, the Biden border crisis made Nebraska a border state.
• -Mexico border.
• policies and open border agenda.
• But again, we open up the border. The administration needs... The funding to secure the border.

Transcript Highlights:

• We have County Commissioner Danielowski as well as County Sheriff Brat and County Administrator Mesult
• The city of Windham is a county seat in Cottonwood County.
• County.
• We have Bobby Hillary, county administrator for Fillmore County, joining us remotely from Fillmore County
• existing border cities allocation. existing border cities allocation.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• to county, but city, county to state. and to be ready for any federal support that comes in.
• In the border regions, about 70 to 80 per week. there's individuals trying to exploit the border, trying
• Border Patrol from cutting the concertina wire that TMD placed along the border. successfully defending
• only city in Aransas County.
• Doesn't matter whether you're a big county or small county, it's just the.

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Border, as you can see from your field trip today.
• -Mexico border is in Santa Teresa.
• -Mexico border.
• in Bernalillo County and in Santa Fe County.
• -Mexico border and beyond.

Transcript Highlights:

• to county, but city-county to state, and to be ready for any federal support that comes in.
• Obviously, border security is on everyone's radar.
• Uh, in the border, in the border regions, about 70 to 80 per week.
• the only city, ah in Aransas County.
• It doesn't matter whether you're a big county or a small county, it's just the problems and how many

Transcript Highlights:

• Employees, operates one of the nation's largest county jail systems, and manages the Orange County Crime
• The border, obviously, is going to be the most significant issue as we shut down the border and the pathway
• So, yes, the border.
• I appreciate what you've done in Orange County.
• Patrol at the border last year?

Transcript Highlights:

• border.
• So some of our safest cities right now are on the border. Crashes are down on the border.
• You may hear like the counties aren't sending the right kids; the counties... the right kids; the counties
• Speaker: ...732 and 114 in our county facilities. Okay? County facilities, okay? So.
• Item 3, border security.

Bills: SB1

Keywords: campground safety, youth camp regulations, flood safety, emergency evacuation, health and safety standards

Summary: The committee heard a Legislative Budget Board presentation and then testimony from the Department of Public Safety on the Article 5 public safety budget. LBB said DPS’s 2026-27 recommendation totals $3.7 billion, down from the prior base, while FTEs rise by 856.7. Major items included increased funding for driver license services and customer support, new trooper funding and recruit schools, crime lab operations, border security, and reductions tied to one-time facility, vehicle, and aircraft spending. The committee also discussed new riders, including one to lapse unused trooper funds and require reporting after recruit schools. Members focused heavily on driver license operations, questioning why prior staffing increases and a prior efficiency study had not solved long wait times, high call abandonment, and appointment delays. DPS and LBB said the agency receives about 22,000 calls per day, answers only about 9 percent, and is seeking more staff plus technology upgrades such as automation, kiosks, and better online processing. Senators also raised concerns about rural access, REAL ID document requirements, and whether the department should rethink its processes rather than simply add employees. DPS leadership then described needs for the Williamson County training academy, additional troopers, Capitol and Alamo security, border operations, aircraft and vehicle replacement, and regional headquarters in El Paso and San Antonio. Members asked about Operation Lone Star costs, overtime, pursuit safety, border crime, oilfield theft, and sexual assault kit and toxicology backlogs. DPS said border deployments remain focused on criminal threats, that overtime is partly driven by deployments and staffing shortages, and that the sexual assault kit backlog is down to 118 cases with a goal of zero by April. The committee later recessed and began the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission budget presentation, where LBB outlined a $115.1 million recommendation and noted ongoing costs for the AIMS technology project.

Transcript Highlights:

• throughout the state because not every county has the resources that Maricopa or Pima County might have
• We've had missions on the border.
• They go down to the border.
• , honestly, across our northern border as well, quite a few CCP folks come through the northern border
• But across our southern border, honestly, across our northern border as well, quite a few CCP folks come

Keywords: 1182, all