Transcript Highlights:

• SB 1141 by Miles relating to procedures in certain suits affecting the parent-child relationship filed
• SB 53 by Zaffirini relating to certain notice and filing requirements in court proceedings involving
• Members, SB 53 eliminates the outdated requirement that electronically filed court documents must be
• I have filed a floor amendment, and at this time I'd like to lay out that floor amendment.
• And many of you refuse to accept what Texas is. And what we are, we're lucky. We're fortunate.

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:

• If you remember last year I filed the bill as under six.
• the bill as remember last year I filed the bill as under<00:51:03.680><c> six.
• it, we had an 11-month-old that filed it, we had an 11-month-old that spent<01:09:10.799><c> her</c>
• has been filed by 2025 in<01:15:28.800><c> Alabama,</c><01:15:29.760><c> Kentucky,</c><01:15:30.400>
• And if that person refuses, and especially if they make a motion in that refusing, they could possibly

Keywords: 1136, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• That means that the signature filing window will float two weeks.
• but the signature on the envelope doesn't appear to match the signature on their voter registration file
• Failure to provide accurate information in the filing invalidates the agreement and would be a class
• a motion it clearly The defense attorney filed a motion.
• the filings that have been made and make sure that they know what it entails at that point.

Bills: SB1285, SB1289, SB1326, SB1328, SB1329, SB1330, SB1392, SB1402, SB1425, SCR1013, SCR1014

Keywords: sentencing, correctional facilities, multiple sentences, death penalty, aggravating circumstances, juvenile offenses, class 2 felony, foreign donations, election administration, certification, Arizona Revised Statutes, transparency, public disclosure, victims' rights, attorney fees, government accountability, right to counsel, legal representation, parents' rights, family law

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, first up, we have Senate File 3695.
• ><c> 3695</c> no's, Senate file 3695 no's, Senate file 3695 as<00:51:25.160><c> amended</c><00:51:25.720
• </c><01:26:10.920><c> to</c> this bill is enacted and we refuse to this bill is enacted and we refuse
• </c> Uh next up we have Senate File Uh next up we have Senate File Senator<01:30:09.160><c> Johnson</
• Uh Senate file 1714 process in the bill.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm very proud to bring to you Senate File 1139.
• With that, members, Senate File 792. Senator Hauschild, come on up.
• </c> language and Senate file language and Senate file 1146<00:42:44.920><c> many</c><00:42:45.160><c
• Thank you for the opportunity to present Senate File 1810.
• </c> Senate file Senate file 1479<01:18:44.880><c> to</c><01:18:45.199><c> be</c><01:18:46.199><c> passed

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The majority party refused to allocate even $500 million for school choice, so I think that clarification
• But I think in light of there being bills filed in Congress to eliminate. the TEA and the sources of
• and legislation filed this session to try to address some of the unique challenges.
• The messaging tells you that you can file an e-report if it's not an emergency situation.
• So some people hang up because they decide to go file an e-report. Thank you, appreciate it.

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• File items 5 through 87. Third reading. File items 5 through 87.
• Thank you. ...and retain on file item 29, pass and retain on file item 30, pass and retain on file item
• We will pass and retain on file item 38. File item 39.
• Pass and retain on file Item 68. It brings us to file Item 69.
• On file item 87 and start again from the beginning of the file.

Summary: The Assembly convened with a quorum call, prayer, and Pledge of Allegiance, then moved through a long daily file of bills. Early procedural motions included a failed attempt to suspend the rules for AB 1219, followed by consideration of numerous measures on housing, veterans, education, elections, energy, wildfire prevention, public safety, and consumer affordability. Several bills drew bipartisan support and passed overwhelmingly, including AB 878 on safety accommodations for survivors of violence, AB 948 on school district facility maintenance, AB 81 and AB 88 on veterans’ mental health and student aid, AB 640 on school board fiscal training, AB 660 on housing permit timelines, AB 1048 on workers’ compensation billing disputes, AB 1119 on dual credentialing, AB 1172 on inhalable anti-seizure medication access, AB 1227 on wildfire prevention, AB 1285 and AB 696 on lithium-ion battery safety, AB 1417 on offshore wind transparency, AB 1530 on disaster recovery assistance, and AB 353 on affordable home internet. Some measures drew opposition or more divided votes, including AB 704 on sealing certain misdemeanor records, AB 1249 on early voting access, AB 1280 on thermal energy incentives, AB 1448 on offshore oil protections, AB 380 on price gouging, AB 402 on Cal Grant increases, AB 1074 on CalWORKs reunification, and AB 1084 on expedited gender-change and name-change court orders. The Assembly also granted reconsideration on AB 435, a child passenger safety bill, and passed it after debate on the five-step safety-seat standard. The floor debate featured recurring themes of affordability, housing, wildfire preparedness, election access, veterans’ services, and public safety. Supporters of the election bill AB 1249 argued it would simply add a Saturday early-voting option in non-VCA counties, while opponents raised concerns about verification and county staffing. AB 30, authorizing E15 gasoline in California, was presented as an urgency measure to lower fuel costs and passed unanimously on the urgency and the bill. AB 1466 on groundwater disputes was also taken up, with the author arguing it would reduce frivolous litigation and better represent all water users; the vote was 42 ayes and 17 noes. After completing the file, the Assembly recessed for lunch, later returned, and continued with additional file items, with many measures passing on strong bipartisan votes.

Transcript Highlights:

• There's a filing fee associated with that. I think the filing fees are around $325.
• </c> prosecutors file criminal charges. prosecutors file criminal charges.
• Uh, somebody mentioned filing fees for prosecution. There are no filing fees here.
• >> Four. people could just refuse. If they get people could just refuse.
• Uh, somebody mentioned filing fees for prosecution. There are no filing fees here.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The bill is filed<00:44:17.040><c> the</c><00:44:17.280><c> amendment</c><00:44:17.680><c> and</c><00
• the amendment and every time I see filed the amendment and every time I see a<00:44:18.640><c> new</
• </c><01:06:59.359><c> to</c><01:07:00.000><c> engage</c><01:07:00.400><c> in</c> so [snorts] I refuse
• I refuse to do that.
• I refuse to do that.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And we'll move on to Senate File 1102.
• And we'll move on to Senate File 1102.
• And we'll move on to Senate File 1102.
• And we'll move on to Senate File 1102.
• </c> Uh, and we'll move on to Senate File Uh, and we'll move on to Senate File 1108.<00:05:04.960><c>

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• On utility services, Senator Martin, there is a late-filed delete-everything amendment.
• Is there any objection to taking up the late-filed amendment? Seeing none, we will take that up.
• staff to prepare Amendment Barcode 970382, which addresses some concerns that we have heard on the filing
• The bill, as filed, requires municipalities to allow connection if a property is within 2,000 meters
• And then the strike-all amendment didn't change the underlying bill as filed; it just added provisions

Bills: S0936, S1724, S1014, S1498

Keywords: temporary door locking device, emergency safety, building code, training programs, fire exit security, utility services, municipal agreements, public meetings, rates and fees, public service commission, municipal utility, water service, wastewater service, property owners, annexation, civil action, community associations, condominium, homeowners associations, structural integrity

Summary: The Committee on Regulated Industries heard and advanced four bills. First, members took up SB 1724 on utility services, adopting a late-filed delete-everything amendment by Senator Martin. The amended bill would require annual customer meetings for certain municipal utility customers outside city limits, cap use of gross utility revenues for general government purposes, require excess funds to be reinvested or returned, reduce the outside-city surcharge and rate differential caps, and phase out certain surcharges tied to existing bond covenants. The Florida League of Cities raised implementation concerns about the July 1, 2026 effective date and the need for time to complete rate studies and budget adjustments. The committee then reported the bill favorably. Members also heard SB 936 on temporary door locking devices, which would define and authorize such devices, direct the Florida Building Commission to add standards to the building code, and require their use to be incorporated into safety plans, drills, and training. With no opposition or debate, the bill was reported favorably. The committee next considered SB 1014, which would prohibit municipalities from refusing water and wastewater service solely because a property owner will not annex, if the property is near a municipal main line, not already served by another utility, and the utility has capacity. An amendment narrowed the distance trigger to one-half mile and clarified the main-line requirement. The Florida League of Cities opposed the bill as amended, citing concerns about impacts on annexation policy, potential duplication of services, and possible subsidy of outside customers, but the committee still reported the bill favorably. Finally, the committee heard SB 1498 on community associations. A strike-all amendment made technical changes to turnover inspection and electronic voting provisions and added two major policy changes: requiring associations to provide records to law enforcement and prosecutors, with a misdemeanor penalty for willful noncompliance, and prohibiting certain developer-controlled mandatory club fee arrangements that generate perpetual profit beyond proportional expenses. Testimony in support came from homeowners describing alleged governance abuses and mandatory fee schemes in their communities, while the Community Associations Institute supported the amendment. The committee reported CS for SB 1498 favorably. At the end of the meeting, Senators Bracey Davis and Calatayud asked to be recorded as voting in the affirmative on selected bills.

Transcript Highlights:

• I. is House File 1290. The clerk will is House File 1290.
• Senate<00:29:43.520><c> file</c><00:29:43.760><c> number</c> Senate file number Senate file number 3045
• You will find House File 23 from File 2.
• Noatne moves that the House refuse to concur in the Senate amendments to House File 2432, that the Speaker
• Anderson PH moves that the House refuse to concur on the Senate amendments to House File 2446. requested

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Yet here we are with Republican leadership refusing to help those in need and want to put conditions
• These are the same folks that refuse to put conditions on aid to foreign governments like Israel, who's
• Yet here we are with Republican leadership refusing to help those in need and want to put conditions
• These are the same folks that refuse to put conditions on aid to foreign governments like Israel, who's
• opportunities to file charges true or<00:40:55.480><c> false</c><00:40:56.200><c> against</c><00:40:

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Thursday, January 16, 2025, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Now moving on to business on the daily file. Second reading file, item number one. Clerk will read.
• Third reading sheet, file items 81 through 86. We're going to pass re-tandum file item 81.
• Now moving on to business on the daily file. Second reading file item number one. Clerk will read.
• Governors vetoes file item four through 77 pass and retained reconsideration file item 78 through 80
• File items 81 through 86, we're going to pass re-tandum file item 81.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• file.
• file.
• And they have the two-file system, the department file and the personnel file.
• And they have the two-file system, the department file and the personnel file.
• I filed a DOJ complaint, I filed a local complaint with that police department, I filed a complaint with

Bills: SB693, SB781, SB836, SB860, SB906, SB993, SB1101, SB1321, SB1370, SB1537, SB1563, SB1610, SB1637

Keywords: notary public, notaries, acknowledgment, jurat, personal appearance, remote notarization, online notarization, e-notary, electronic notarization, fraud prevention, identity verification, real estate fraud, property transfer, state jail felony, Class A misdemeanor, secretary of state, continuing education, record retention, notarial act, Texas Government Code

Summary: The committee heard a series of criminal justice bills focused on victim protections, law enforcement tools, notary/deed fraud, sexually violent predators, veterans in jail, tribal policing authority, and peace officer records. Several bills were laid out, heard, and left pending because the committee lacked a quorum for final action on those items. Testimony was generally supportive on bills addressing interpreter appointments, fuel theft investigations, deed fraud, survivor privacy, veteran jailer training, tribal peace officer authority, and officer-record confidentiality, though some bills drew concerns about due process, scope, or drafting. Senate Bill 1537 would clean up criminal procedure language on appointing interpreters and align it with Government Code standards requiring licensed or certified interpreters; it received no public opposition and was left pending. Senate Bill 993 would let Comptroller Criminal Investigative Division officers directly seek warrants for mobile tracking devices in fuel-theft and tax-fraud investigations; it also drew support and was left pending. Senate Bill 693, as substituted, would create a criminal offense for notarizing documents without the signer personally appearing, with a higher penalty when real property is involved, and would add notary continuing education; a Dallas County prosecutor testified that notary fraud is a major driver of deed theft, and the bill was left pending. Senate Bill 1610, as substituted, would address safety, registration, and criminal penalties at the Texas Civil Commitment Office for sexually violent predators, including assaults on staff and sex-offender registration issues; agency witnesses described increased assaults and operational problems, while a public witness urged waiting for Sunset review and raised due-process concerns. Senate Bill 836 would add privacy protections for sexual assault survivors by limiting livestreaming of trials, expanding pseudonym use, and protecting forensic exam and invasive-recording evidence; survivors and advocates strongly supported it, and defense lawyers said they had no opposition to the substitute. Senate Bill 1563 would require county jailer training on interacting with veterans, with testimony from the Texas Veterans Commission and veterans’ advocates emphasizing suicide risk, PTSD, and the need for better identification and support in jails; the bill was left pending. The committee also heard Senate Bill 906, which would authorize the Ysleta del Sur Pueblo tribal police to be commissioned as Texas peace officers like two other federally recognized tribes in Texas; tribal leaders said the change would improve response times and coordination, and the bill was left pending. Senate Bill 781, as substituted, would standardize confidentiality rules for peace officer personnel and departmental files statewide, mirroring Chapter 143 civil-service practices; law enforcement witnesses supported it as a way to protect personal information and create uniform records practices, but several senators raised concerns that the bill could blur existing disclosure rules or bury misconduct complaints, and public testimony included an opposition witness describing a police shooting involving her brother.

Transcript Highlights:

• Please move file item 24, SB 1011, to the inactive file. The desk will note. Thank you.
• Moving into the consideration of the daily file. We have file item six.
• Senator Reyes, file item seven. Thank you, Madam President.
• File item 20. Secretary, please read.
• Gonzalez with file item 26. Secretary, please read.

Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum, offered prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, and then moved through motions, appointments, and third-reading bills. Senator McNerney moved SB 1011 to the inactive file. The chamber confirmed Preston Prince to the California Housing Finance Agency Board and Stephanie Landrugin to the State Mining and Geology Board, both by recorded vote. The Senate also adopted a large consent calendar and later announced budget subcommittee meetings before adjourning House of Origin work for the year. Several policy bills passed unanimously or with broad support. SB 1050 by Senator Ashby requires disclosure when advertisements use synthetic performers created by AI. SB 1393 by Senator McGuire updates fisheries management, including Dungeness crab rules and steelhead trout provisions. SB 995 by Senator Pérez creates stronger oversight for involuntary residential facilities, including immigration detention and secure youth treatment facilities. SB 1025 by Senator Hurtado establishes an Office of Food Security and Affordability to improve coordination of food assistance programs. SB 1266 by Senator Stern changes how copper wire theft damages are valued, SB 1211 by Senator González clarifies authority for conviction integrity units, and SB 1302 by Senator Wahab reauthorizes the Board of Registered Nursing. The most debated measure was SB 1373 by Senator Grove, which would narrow mental health diversion eligibility and exclude certain serious offenses, especially crimes against children and other violent conduct. Supporters, including Senator Rubio and the Senate Public Safety chair, argued it preserves treatment access while restoring public safety guardrails; the bill passed 32-0. SB 1181 by Senator Hurtado, aimed at youth safety and coordination on threats such as trafficking and online exploitation, drew discussion over the removal of fusion centers from the bill; several senators supported the amended approach while others wanted more detail, and it passed 33-0. The Senate concluded by noting it had dispensed with 341 bills during the month and announced the next floor session for June 1.

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, and so, members, the first bill up is House File 1316. House File 1316.
• </c><00:01:19.360><c> I</c> file 1316 to bring that before us. I file 1316 to bring that before us.
• So, House File 1316 was passes. So, House File 1316 was previously<00:01:57.840><c> amended.
• </c><00:02:44.959><c> 1316</c> Um otherwise, uh House File 1316 Um otherwise, uh House File 1316 essentially
• </c><01:31:43.199><c> to</c> workers who raise concerns or refuse to workers who raise concerns or refuse

Bills: HF1316, HF4369

Keywords: HF1316, child support, new hire reporting, centralized work reporting system, independent contractors, payors, employers, payor of funds, withholding orders, income withholding, child support enforcement, Minnesota Department of Children, Youth, and Families, gig economy, rideshare drivers, delivery drivers, 1099, W-9, W-4, newly hired workers, rehired employees

Transcript Highlights:

• Back here today since the leader of the Senate refused to bring them up in the Senate last year.
• Chairman, on S-1041, this bill is designed to address a situation where manufacturers actually file for
• In fact, one of the most infamous examples of that is the case of one manufacturer who has filed over
• They submit these shaming petitions that are either completely groundless or that are filed at the last
• I would add lax enforcement authority in this area has determined that the petitions filed by citizens

Bills: SB1040, SB1041, SB1095, SB1096, SB1097, SB527

Keywords: drug competition, product hopping, generic drugs, biosimilars, federal regulations, FTC Act, patent, biological products, healthcare access, affordable prescriptions, Medicare, Federal Trade Commission, sham petitions, competition, public health, unfair competition, healthcare, pharmaceutical, antitrust law, pay-for-delay

Summary: The meeting focused on addressing the high cost of prescription drugs and the abusive practices that contribute to elevated prices affecting American families. Several bills were presented, including proposals to end pay-for-delay deals and to enhance transparency in the operations of pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs). The discussion was notable for its emphasis on consumer protection and ensuring that cheaper generic drugs reach the market more effectively. Members expressed frustration over past attempts to pass similar legislation stalling in the Senate, leading to renewed efforts to push these bills forward.

Transcript Highlights:

• I may have to file that online. I may have to call somebody to do that.
• I may have to file that online. I may have to call somebody to do that.
• in OneDrive, but there's no way to accurately report data and trends from the different files.
• So does the state start to refuse to pay those fees for permitting and plan reviews?
• So does the, did the states start to refuse to pay those fees for permitting and plan reviews?

Keywords: 908, all

Transcript Highlights:

• general's office to answer questions as to whether or not there is a way we can sideline or at least file
• sideline<00:16:59.360><c> or</c><00:16:59.680><c> at</c><00:16:59.759><c> least</c><00:17:01.040><c> file
• </c><00:17:01.440><c> another</c><00:17:02.000><c> cons</c> sideline or at least file another cons sideline
• or at least file another cons um file<00:17:07.360><c> a</c> file a file a complaint<00:17:10.319><c
• <00:57:28.000><c> treatment,</c> refusing treatment, refusing treatment, doesn't<00:57:30.160><c> it<

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The briefing focused on the Hawaii State Hospital’s overcrowding, construction defects in the new addition, and how Act 26 and related court-ordered processes are affecting admissions and discharges. The chair said the hospital has become increasingly forensic-focused, has lost beds after the closure of Kahimohala, and may face further costs and possible litigation over the defective addition. Hospital and Department of Health officials said they are working with the attorney general and contractors on repairs, and that the hospital is currently using all 292 licensed beds, including 13 waiver beds, while average daily census last fiscal year was 376. Officials explained that the high census is driven by both increased admissions and discharge barriers. They said the loss of Kahimohala returned patients to the state hospital, and that Act 26-related petty misdemeanor cases are contributing to admissions. They also said limited lower-level placement options delay discharges. Hospital staff reported that many patients are repeat admissions, about 22% were unhoused before admission, and a significant share are in categories such as fitness-to-proceed evaluations and conditional-release violations. They said these groups could potentially be reduced if evaluations were done elsewhere and if more community or supportive housing were available. The chair and senators questioned whether some fitness-to-proceed detainees need to be held at the state hospital at all, and whether the Clark consent order requires transfer to the hospital. The attorney general’s office said the Clark injunction does not govern unfitness-to-proceed cases; instead, the requirement comes from state statute, and the statute could be changed. Director Johnson said DCR cannot keep such detainees because the court orders them into the custody of the Department of Health, and the department cannot provide the needed therapeutic level of care in a correctional setting. The discussion also emphasized co-occurring substance use and mental illness, especially among petty misdemeanor defendants, and the need for supportive housing and a decompression plan to reduce readmissions and free beds for civil commitments.