Transcript Highlights:

• to get additional capacity at a certain location of power plan ldc and then from there we go to engineering
• Second speed, like I just mentioned, FPL can identify a new site, get through the engineering design,
• We any other cause, Representative Connerly for deep intricate engineering question to do your best.

Transcript Highlights:

• And does TCEQ have water engineers, right, that look at these things? Yes, ma'am.
• Army Corps of Engineers Western Water Cooperative Committee, along with that Environmental Flows Advisory
• There's engineering that has to occur. There's a lot that goes into the MUD creation.

Keywords: 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Is fire safety, hydrogen's unique properties require additional engineering and safety considerations
• There's a number of properties with hydrogen that require specific engineering and safety procedures
• in the field that the police officers might have in their car that the firemen have in their fire engines

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This would ensure that the engineer required to certify the plan is able to review and certify the viability
• For years, I've been a land development engineer here in Austin, and I've built communities.
• doing some research and starting to ask different city managers, city council members, and city engineers

Bills: HB158, HB714, HB 1198, HB1630, HB1998, HB3509, HB3788, HB3875, HB3948, HB3977, HB4097, HB4313, HB4314, HB4317, HB158

Keywords: housing, veterans, surplus government property, affordable housing, funding sources, housing assistance, homeless prevention, landlord incentives, rural housing, domestic violence, community development, tenant readiness, program participants, financial assistance, homelessness, rental support, Texas Tenant Readiness Program, tenant assistance, housing stability, Texas Department of Housing

Transcript Highlights:

• Last week, I attended the unveiling of the American Society of Civil Engineers 2025 infrastructure report
• regulation every time you have a compliance officer an attorney that's one less construction worker engineer
• million grant to replace an aging vessel with a hybrid ferry that is now on hold. new hybrid ferry's engine

Keywords: surface transportation, infrastructure reauthorization, bipartisan collaboration, safety, federal programs, funding challenges, bureaucracy, transportation needs, critical projects, public testimony

Summary: The committee meeting focused on the development of the next surface transportation reauthorization bill. Discussions centered around key principles aimed at improving the safety and reliability of the transportation network, reforming federal programs for efficiency, and addressing the diverse transportation needs across various states. Members emphasized the importance of bipartisan collaboration to streamline processes, eliminate bureaucratic delays, and ensure timely funding for critical infrastructure projects. There were also notable conversations about specific projects and funding challenges, reflecting the urgency for action and commitment to modernizing America's infrastructure.

Transcript Highlights:

• I was a senior vice engineering manager and led teams of engineers in the U.S. in China, Malaysia, Japan
• published author of peer-reviewed technical papers in physics, chemistry, and semiconductor device engineering

Bills: SB38, SB287, SB291, SB292, SB508, SB618, SB901, SB1436, SB1494, SB1626, SB1719, SB1999, SB1333, SB 38

Keywords: evictions, property law, tenant rights, landlord responsibilities, justice court, court rules, SB 287, Texas Alcoholic Beverage Code, sexually oriented business, adult entertainment, strip club, nude entertainment, live nude performance, alcohol prohibition, alcohol consumption, possession of alcohol, criminal offense, Class A misdemeanor, state jail felony, third degree felony

Transcript Highlights:

• The Office of the State Engineer. Mr. Chair, as I understand it, Texas v.
• I believe the Office of the State Engineer requested $5 million, and we recommended $5 million.
• I have talked to the new State Engineer. I have a lot of confidence in her.

Transcript Highlights:

• milligram per liter of phosphorus, septic-to-sewer projects, stormwater projects, increasing the engineering
• The septic-to-sewer projects, stormwater projects, increasing the engineering and design of existing
• I would argue, and just design engineering marvels, and it's wonderful and it's beautiful, but the county

Summary: The committee meeting began with quorum, member introductions, and an overview of the Agriculture, Environment, and General Government budget process. The chair emphasized using the committee resource book and performance metrics to review the base budget and invited members to identify areas of interest for later discussion. Members were also reminded about appearance forms and speaking procedures. Wes Gregory of the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services presented on agricultural best management practices and water policy. He said the office had updated all nine commodity BMP manuals and added a manual for small farms and livestock, expanded enrollment by 742 producers covering 677,000 acres, and used GIS and data analysis to target areas such as the Indian River Lagoon. He also described cost-share projects, a new field application for enrollment and inspections, cross-training staff, and a request for $20 million for regional water quality projects. Members asked about BMP enrollment, compliance, and enforcement; Gregory said noncompliance is uncommon and cases can be referred to DEP. Adam Blaylock of DEP reviewed environmental grant programs, saying the state has appropriated $2.9 billion since 2018 for water quality projects, with about 1,100 projects reducing nitrogen and phosphorus statewide. He described the Water Quality Improvement Grant, Indian River Lagoon, Biscayne Bay, Springs, Alternative Water Supply, and Resilient Florida programs, including a planned public dashboard and a water-quality monitoring portal. Senators asked about the application window, award timing, and the high cost of septic-to-sewer conversions, with Blaylock estimating a blended average of about $35,000 per home. Chief Conservation Officer George Worthing of the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission then presented on invasive animal control. He discussed prevention, risk screening, law enforcement at ports, public outreach programs such as the Python Challenge, Lionfish Challenge, and Exotic Pet Amnesty Program, and early detection tools like the Ive Got One reporting system. He also described control efforts for Burmese pythons, tegus, and lionfish, along with research and partner coordination. Members asked about the most harmful invasive species and whether iguanas may be taken; Worthing said iguanas are open for take, subject to other laws. The meeting ended after members briefly identified priorities such as water quality, recreation water quality, sustainability, sea level rise, and septic-to-sewer infrastructure, and the committee adjourned without any formal votes.

Transcript Highlights:

• 1693 aims to address this by requiring local building departments to allow a licensed architect or engineer
• that…” “The initial question that I hear is that you are not sure that any qualified architects and engineers
• What would happen is you’d have a professional certifier, an architect, or an engineer that is actually
• waiting time is so long, and all the design paper plan is all drawn by certified architects and the engineers
• waiting time is so long, and all the design paper plan is all drawn by certified architects and the engineers

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• lanes throughout the program area, which means there are seven interchanges that we would have to engineer
• . ...throughout the program area, which means there are seven interchanges that we would have to engineer
• beginning of September this year, and then having the federal government issue that entry into engineering
• So I think it's, you know, maybe in the order of a third-ish, but I'm not an engineer, so my math skills
• I'm not an engineer, so my math skills are not that close. But those are the numbers.

Keywords: 904, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So, if there is an ambiguity, it will drive those conversations between engineers, the state officials
• amendment that I want to thank the gentleman and the parties for agreeing to that will cover traffic engineers
• 00:53:12.480> cover<00:53:13.320> uh,<00:53:13.400> traffic<00:53:13.800> engineers
• will uh, cover uh, traffic engineers. will uh, cover uh, traffic engineers.

Keywords: 958, all

Transcript Highlights:

• . >> Representative Engin. >> Representative Greenman, no. >> Representative Harter, yes. >> Representative
• Representative Bliss, yes. >> Representative Curran, no. >> Representative Duran, yes. >> Representative Engin
• Representative<00:27:51.279> Engin. Representative Engin. Representative Engin.

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: The committee heard House File 3407, authored by Chair Pinto, which would restore Minnesota’s prior serial-number requirement for firearms after a recent Minnesota Supreme Court decision narrowed the existing law, while also creating a method to serialize firearms that do not already have serial numbers. Supporters said the bill is needed to close a loophole involving ghost guns and to aid investigations, background checks, and trafficking enforcement. Attorney General Keith Ellison, Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara, and former ATF official Mariana Mitchum testified in favor, citing increases in unserialized gun recoveries, the difficulty of tracing such weapons, and examples of crimes where serial numbers helped identify traffickers. Opponents argued the bill conflates different categories of firearms and could burden lawful gun owners. Mariah Day of the National Shooting Sports Foundation, Anna Ley of the Minnesota Gun Owners Caucus, and Brian Gosh of the NRA said privately made firearms are distinct from illegally altered guns, warned about vague definitions and possible First Amendment issues, and said the bill could criminalize lawful conduct or create confusion for owners who modify firearms. They urged a no vote. Representative Bliss offered a DE1 amendment to replace the bill’s serialization approach with increased penalties for people who use guns in crimes. Chair Pinto and others opposed it, saying it would remove the bill’s public-safety benefits and likely create a fiscal impact. The committee took a roll call and rejected the DE1 amendment, 8-9. Afterward, members discussed the bill further, including questions about the difference between unserialized guns and guns with removed serial numbers and comments both supporting and criticizing the proposal.

Transcript Highlights:

• . >> If we need to call any of these engineers, let us know. >> Okay. >> We don't want the money spent
• that the money will spend down in a compliant fashion on time. >> If we need to call any of these engineers
• > these >> If we need to call any of these >> If we need to call any of these engineers
• engineers, let us know. engineers, let us know. >> Okay. >> Okay. >> Okay.

Keywords: Appropriations - Room 409, 28 January, 2026; 10:30 A.M., 925, all

Summary: The meeting began with testimony from the Nursing Home Administrator Board, whose executive director explained the board’s role in licensing nursing home administrators, the AIT internship pathway, reciprocity, board composition, meeting schedule, and staffing. Members then shifted to an ice-storm-related discussion about nursing home emergency preparedness. Legislators asked whether any facilities lacked power, generators, or water, and urged clearer communication protocols so facilities would report problems directly through the Department of Health and emergency channels rather than through scattered calls to legislators. The board said facilities generally communicate with the Department of Health, that emergency contact information had been distributed before the storm, and that every facility has some form of generator, though not all can power the whole facility. The board also presented a small budget request, including modest salary increases for its two employees and a cloud-migration cost tied to House Bill 1491, with the understanding that statewide funding for that requirement might be handled separately. The discussion then moved to the Department of Health’s budget and operations. Agency leadership said the department has spent the last three years improving county health department efficiency, reducing overhead, and adjusting fees to eliminate program deficits, which has reduced spending by about $10 million and would shift roughly $8 million in general funds away from deficits. The department requested level funding overall, citing inflationary pressures and the possibility of another federal shutdown, but said it could absorb the impact for another year. Members discussed the public health trust created in a prior session, the need to rebuild county health departments, maternal and fetal care initiatives, and the importance of maintaining the $2.9 million in public health program support that has helped expand services such as obesity management, OB care, and home visitation for high-risk mothers and babies. Oversight and compliance issues were also reviewed. Legislators asked about prior problems with grants and sex education funding, and department officials said they had tightened oversight, adopted OpenGov for compliance, and corrected earlier violations so the programs are now in full compliance. They said the agency had improved accountability for both state and federal funds and that transparency remained a priority. The department also highlighted the cannabis program, saying it is now profitable, generating about $9 million in net revenue last year and about $12.5 million this year, with projections of $40 million to $50 million annually as it matures. Officials said they are asking for seed money for the public health trust from cannabis revenue so private-sector donations can be leveraged for long-term public health support. They described enforcement actions including fines, suspensions, license revocations, plant destruction, and referrals to law enforcement, the attorney general, and licensure boards for serious violations. The meeting ended with general support from legislators for the department’s work and acknowledgment of improved health outcomes, including Mississippi moving from 49th to 48th in overall health outcomes.

Transcript Highlights:

• The department has been working getting all the engineering done, and when they did get ready to go and
• And so now they have all of the engineering work done and no money to do the work because they let it
• And so now they have all of the uh engineering<00:22:41.039> work<00:22:41.280> done<00
• 22:41.679> no<00:22:41.919> money<00:22:42.080> to<00:22:42.240> do engineering
• work done and no money to do engineering work done and no money to do the<00:22:42.559> work<

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We've had contracts with engineering firms to be able to complete preliminary engineering reports or
• We are looking at by year's end to have 24 preliminary engineering reports completed on their behalf,
• Maybe you know, to help with the engineering to help with the hydrology of this irrigation canal that
• college and they're still going to need to, you know, we're competing with folks Who want to be engineers

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I think you'll hear from this department and the state engineer, as well as the governor's office, that
• So we've talked to State Engineering. We've talked to the Department of Transportation.
• time we did, and we immediately, at their request, engaged with Them along with the Office of State Engineer
• We recently held a workshop With Pueblo de San Ildefonso, Los Alamos County, Office of State Engineer
• The permitting for the well drilling itself is done through the Office of State Engineer, and that includes

Transcript Highlights:

• And if we can engineer that into a screw worm and then use a technique called gene drive where you essentially
• you, you find out the, the level of construction and how things were done from the architect and engineer
• It was my understanding they were going to start meeting with the Army Corps of Engineers immediately
• Um, I was under the impression that they'd already sent the planning, uh, folks from the USDA, engineers
• But that new facility was, was built, uh, under the supervision of the Army Corps of Engineers and it

Transcript Highlights:

• At the COPEG facility in Panama, they've sent engineers and contractors down to look at that facility
• Right now, there is no facility, no plans, and no engineering in place.
• However, there is no plan and no engineering in place.
• If we were able to get this on the call and appropriate some money, how long would it take to engineer
• I'm sure it wouldn't take much for engineers and architects and those folks to look at that and recreate

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• John McHale, on behalf of the American Council of Engineering Companies, California, here in support.
• John McHale, on behalf of the American Council of Engineering Companies, California, here in support.
• passed a CEQA exemption for advanced manufacturing, and now we're passing a CEQA exemption for diesel engines
• would not operate because there was not enough oxygen in the air to run their internal combustion engines
• Our public university systems are state-directed engines of growth for the communities they're in.

Summary: The committee first established a quorum, adopted the consent calendar for SB 423 and SB 581, and then heard a series of bills, most of which were presented as streamlining or safety measures tied to transportation, climate, public lands, health care, and higher education. SB 71 by Senator Wiener would extend and expand a CEQA exemption for sustainable transportation projects, adding modes such as microtransit, paratransit, shuttles, and ferries, while also accepting committee amendments that narrowed a Tier 4 diesel rail provision, restored existing right-of-way language with utility protections, and set a new sunset date. Support came from transit agencies, local governments, and advocacy groups; some members raised concerns about the diesel rail language and possible interactions with housing-related legislation, but the bill advanced on a due pass vote as amended. The committee then heard SB 614 by Senator Stern on carbon dioxide pipeline safety. The bill would direct the State Fire Marshal to adopt safety standards for intrastate CO2 pipelines, building from federal draft rules and adding state discretion and possible enhanced protections such as planning zones and more detailed exposure modeling. Supporters argued California needs to fill a federal regulatory gap to advance carbon capture and climate goals, while environmental justice and conservation groups opposed unless amended, citing risks from CO2 leaks and asking for stronger siting restrictions and more specificity. The bill passed on a due pass vote to Appropriations, with members noting the need for continued work on the safety provisions. Senator Arreguín also presented SB 304, which would temporarily lift public trust use restrictions on specific land at Jack London Square to allow the Port of Oakland more leasing flexibility under conditions and annual reporting. The measure was described as a limited, time-bound effort to address high vacancy and revitalize the waterfront, and it drew support from Oakland city and county representatives with no opposition in the room. The committee then approved SB 304 on a due pass vote. Arreguín’s SB 830 followed, creating CEQA streamlining for Sutter Health’s new Emeryville hospital campus and designating the City of Emeryville as lead agency; supporters said it would preserve East Bay hospital access before seismic deadlines, and the bill passed with broad support and no opposition. Finally, Senator Caballero presented SB 486, a higher education planning bill intended to align UC and CSU enrollment growth with regional sustainable communities plans and to remove the need to analyze a no-project alternative in certain long-range development plans. Supporters said the bill would better integrate university enrollment forecasting into regional planning, while opponents warned that eliminating the no-project analysis could weaken accountability for housing and infrastructure impacts around campuses. Committee members expressed mixed views and asked for further clarification, but the bill was moved out on a due pass as amended vote to Appropriations. The transcript then shifted to SB 629, a fire response and rebuilding bill, with the author describing amendments to apply fire safety requirements in wildfire-burned areas, update fire mapping, and require annual defensible space inspections, though the discussion was cut off before any final action was shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• computing, quantum communication, and related technologies are essential for research and science and engineering
• transactions and data, spurring job creation, new markets, and industry transformation. ...and engineering
• professor at Texas A&M University and a deputy director of the Institute for Quantum Science and Engineering
• Institute of Quantum Science and Engineering at Texas A&M. So how long is that institute?
• You know, we have the engineers. We have the physicists. We have the academics.

Bills: HB 106, HB144, HB145, HB252, HB1732, HB2221, HB2467, HB2468, HB2517, HB2518, HB2963, HB3016, HB3689, HB3960, HB4386, HB4490, HB4751, HB5247, HJR175, HB2213

Keywords: HB 106, oil and gas, Railroad Commission of Texas, overhead electrical lines, electrical distribution system, power line maintenance, administrative penalty, Natural Resources Code, oil and gas lease, well operator, energy safety, utility infrastructure, regulatory compliance, cleanup fund, oil and gas regulation and cleanup fund, production safety, leasehold operations, electric utility, distribution poles, inspection

Summary: The committee first handled pending business, including reconsidering a failed vote on SB 715 and then reporting several measures favorably. SB 1978 was reported from committee on a committee substitute, and a series of House bills — including HB 431, HB 1522, HB 1922, HB 3228, HB 3229, HB 3803, HB 3804, HB 3805, HB 3806, HB 4219, HB 4238, HB 434, HB 1584, and HB 4739 — were moved out of committee, most to the local and uncontested calendar. The votes on these items were overwhelmingly or unanimously in favor, with committee substitutes adopted where applicable. The committee then heard HB 2963, a right-to-repair bill for consumer electronics. The author said the bill would require manufacturers to provide parts, tools, and documentation on fair and reasonable terms while preserving trade secrets and excluding certain categories such as medical devices, motor vehicles covered by an MOU, critical infrastructure, and commercial-only transactions. Supporters from the Texas Public Policy Foundation and Environment Texas argued it would strengthen property rights, help small businesses, and reduce e-waste. Opponents, including representatives of SafeLight Auto Glass and LKQ, said they supported right-to-repair in principle but objected to the bill’s automotive MOU exemption and broader scope, warning it could create uncertainty and leave some manufacturers and repair shops outside the framework. The bill was left pending after testimony. Members also heard HB 2467 on salary parity for State Fire Marshal investigators, HB 252 on allowing some state agencies to pay certain employees twice monthly, HB 2468 on public improvement district notice and a buyer’s right to terminate, HB 4386 on annuity contract exchanges and surrender timelines, HB 4751 creating a Texas Quantum Initiative and related fund, and HJR 175 proposing a constitutional amendment protecting Texans’ ability to use mutually agreed-upon mediums of exchange, including cash, bullion, and digital currency. Testimony on HB 4751 was largely supportive but included questions about whether the state needs a new coordinating structure and funding mechanism for quantum research and commercialization. HJR 175 drew discussion about barter, taxes, and concerns over central bank digital currency. Each of these items was left pending after hearing testimony. The committee also heard HB 2221, which would update insurance anti-rebating laws to allow more wellness and value-added services in life and health insurance, with supporters saying it would encourage healthier behavior without requiring data monitoring. Finally, the committee took up a package of utility and wildfire-related bills from Chairman King’s portfolio: HB 106, requiring oil and gas operators to maintain certain overhead electrical lines; HB 144, requiring utilities to submit pole inspection and management plans to the PUC; and HB 145, requiring wildfire mitigation plans and allowing utilities to self-insure under certain conditions. Utility, co-op, and insurance representatives generally supported the safety and resiliency goals of HB 144, while asking for clarifications and less frequent reporting; HB 145 was introduced as a broader wildfire-risk and liability measure. These bills were also left pending after testimony.