Transcript Highlights:

• It specifies eligibility requirements and employee protections under the program.
• ><c> protections</c> requirements and employee protections requirements and employee protections under
• And mahalo for to care for their child.
• </c> know to act some do something but and know to act some do something but and until<01:07:28.319><
• 15; and page 11, lines 3 and 14.

Bills: SB2198 , SB2140 , SB3055 , SB3090 , SB3091 , SB3092 , SB2761

Committee: House Labor

Keywords: workforce development, craftspersons, skilled trades, artisan, craftsmanship, trade recognition, award program, DLIR, Department of Labor and Industrial Relations, Meilleur Ouvrier de France, vocational education, career pathways, cultural preservation, workforce excellence, apprenticeship, Hawaii trades, economic diversification, public nominations, governor awards, historically significant venue

Transcript Highlights:

• By way of background, the Office of Homeless Youth Prevention and Protection Programs within the Department
• I'm also the parent of a young woman with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
• And what I hope is that as we look at the data, and we look at the data, and we've failed out of that
• And Mike and Scott, welcome. Mike, go ahead and get started whenever you're ready. All right.
• And it certainly doesn't help the people we're all here trying to protect.

Bills: HB2185 , HB2200 , HB2230 , HB2319

Committee: House Early Learning & Human Services

Keywords: homelessness, youth programs, advisory committee, prevention, protection, developmental disabilities, residential settings, data access, safety, stability, community oversight, residential services, regulation, service providers, monitoring, HB 2319, residential habilitation center, state school renaming, Rainier School, Firecrest School

Transcript Highlights:

• Chairman and members.
• Texas has the constitutional duty to protect its citizens and maintain sovereignty over our borders.
• enhance coordination and address... ...and authorities can improve our border security measures and
• enhance coordination and address cross-border challenges, including drug and human trafficking.
• The governor would also be able to develop and execute border protection agreements with Mexico and its

Bills: HCR98 , HB180

Committee: Senate Border Security

Keywords: counter-unmanned aircraft systems, C-UAS, counter-drone, drone mitigation, unmanned aircraft systems, UAS, border security, U.S.-Mexico border, aviation safety, airspace regulation, federal preemption, Homeland Security, Department of Defense, Department of Justice, Department of Energy, FBI, state-local coordination, tribal and territorial partners, border patrol, cartels

Summary: The Senate Committee on Border Security met with a quorum present and first took up HCR 98, a resolution urging Congress to improve coordination among federal, state, and local authorities on counter-unmanned aircraft systems (C-UAS) technology for border security. The author and sponsor described increasing drone activity along the border, saying unauthorized drones are used to track agents, identify weaknesses, and smuggle contraband, and argued for clearer procedures to detect, identify, and neutralize such aircraft. There was no public testimony, and the committee voted 4-0 to report HCR 98 favorably to the full Senate; the resolution was also ordered for local and uncontested calendar placement without objection. The committee then heard HB 180, sponsored by Chairman Birdwell, which would authorize the governor to coordinate directly with Mexican officials and individual Mexican states on border security agreements and appoint representatives to implement them. Birdwell said the bill would codify prior border-security cooperation efforts, improve responses to cross-border challenges such as drug and human trafficking, and include a finding that entrants from foreign countries must use a legal port of entry. No questions were asked, and there was no invited or public testimony. After the hearing, the committee left HB 180 pending. The meeting concluded with no further business and the committee standing in recess subject to the call of the chair.

Transcript Highlights:

• And the minutes are adopted.
• </c> and we have the A2 for recommendation. and we have the A2 for recommendation.
• And we invite you all to watch as the bills move forward through Ways and Means and on the floor.
• bills move forward through ways and the bills move forward through ways and means<00:15:37.199><c> and
• </c> chairs and to all of our members and chairs and to all of our members and staff<00:15:44.160><c>

Bills: HF2783

Committee: House State Government Finance and Policy

Keywords: state government finance, biennial budget, appropriations, Minnesota Management and Budget, Healthy Aging Subcabinet, Office of Healthy Aging, older adults, aging policy, long-term care, caregivers, public health, Medicaid fraud, medical assistance fraud, attorney general subpoena power, fraud enforcement, business filing fraud, Secretary of State, deceptive mailings, consumer protection, certified public accountant

Transcript Highlights:

• And filing fraud and deceptive mailings.
• and agriculture, and families.
• </c><00:24:23.760><c> and</c><00:24:24.000><c> MFU</c> fair and competitive markets, and MFU fair and
• /c><00:32:00.159><c> worked</c> Clearworn and I and our staff worked Clearworn and I and our staff worked
• </c> and the commensurate challenges and and the commensurate challenges and choices<00:32:12.320><c>

Bills: HF2783

Committee: House State Government Finance and Policy

Keywords: state government finance, biennial budget, appropriations, Minnesota Management and Budget, Healthy Aging Subcabinet, Office of Healthy Aging, older adults, aging policy, long-term care, caregivers, public health, Medicaid fraud, medical assistance fraud, attorney general subpoena power, fraud enforcement, business filing fraud, Secretary of State, deceptive mailings, consumer protection, certified public accountant

Transcript Highlights:

• speech that happens all the time between providers and patients is protected.
• And, and I, you know, I want to protect the rights of all people, including the people with SMI.
• where a child in the care and custody of DCS is placed in kinship foster care.
• or child or a child in the care and custody of DCS is placed in kinship foster care.
• a child to be the priority placement and requires DCS to require each newly hired child safety worker

Bills: HB2408 , HB2434 , HB2725 , HB2728 , HB2729 , HB2730 , HB2731 , HB2732 , HB2733 , SB1192 , SB1398 , SB1399 , SB1494 , SB1557 , SB1813 , SB1821

Committee: Senate Health and Human Services

Keywords: nursing board, regulatory actions, disciplinary actions, expungement, healthcare professionalism, controlled substances, prescription monitoring, opioid crisis, healthcare regulations, patient safety, prescription drugs, opioids, healthcare, pain management, utilization controls, AHCCCS, Department of Economic Security, social services, welfare programs, vocational rehabilitation

Transcript Highlights:

• Texans, I urge you to vote yes to protect the children of Texas and to hold child safety, sexual predators
• If our goal is to protect women and girls, if our goal is to protect my six-year-old daughter and Rep
• And as I said, she has lived happily and successfully as a woman.
• By defining what a woman is today, we are protecting their basic rights to privacy, safety, and fairness
• Protect women and girls.

Bills: HB46 , HJR35 , HJR47 , HJR182 , HB 113 , HB983 , HB4847 , HB1449 , HB3833 , HB5151 , HB265 , HB1845 , HB782 , HB 108 , HB1960 , HB158 , HB1954 , HB1955 , HB2512 , HB605 , HB2581 , HB2803 , HB627 , HB2667 , HB1738 , HB636 , HB3679 , HB2638 , HB2655 , HB871 , HB2438 , HB 1107 , HB1765 , HB1822 , HB2153 , HB4099 , HB3732 , HB3171 , HB3178 , HB3182 , HB3749 , HB2814 , HB3977 , HB4204 , HB4207 , HB4449 , HB1820 , HB1876 , HB1939 , HB1347 , HB2593 , HB2136 , HB2132 , HB2658 , HB2413 , HB2757 , HB2080 , HB3154 , HB3063 , HB3009 , HB3448 , HB3006 , HB2844 , HB3241 , HB3680 , HB3169 , HB2078 , HB2507 , HB4559 , HB3946 , HB3460 , HB3405 , HB475 , HB3463 , HB3441 , HB3520 , HB2060 , HB4731 , HB4991 , HB1991 , HB5596 , HB2014 , HB2142 , HB2673 , HB2731 , HB2417 , HB2399 , HB2301 , HB3335 , HB3234 , HB3320 , HB5573 , HB4848 , HB4748 , HB4769 , HB4795 , HB2086 , HB2234 , HB2203 , HB4916 , HB5624 , HB4505 , HB139 , HB5093 , HB5302 , HB5402 , HB5606 , HB2333 , HB4630 , HB4701 , HB2583 , HB2983 , HB4924 , HB3339 , HB3793 , HB3631 , HB4882 , HB5509 , HB5499 , HB5430 , HB5561 , HB5611 , HB5043 , HB5064 , HB3733 , HB3781 , HB3219 , HB32 , HB4515 , HB5348 , HR559 , HB4506 , HB1646 , HB3185 , HB3388 , HB2761 , HB3233 , HB1534 , HB5129 , HB5394 , HB3619 , HB2867 , HB3672 , HB2434 , HB4903 , HB3687 , HB3675 , HB4609 , HB4582 , HB3866 , HB4534 , HB2446 , HB3984 , HB700 , HB4088 , HB229 , SB2419 , SB842 , SB1257 , SB2550 , SB996 , HB 1186 , HB4327 , HB3221 , HB2588 , SB552 , HB4870 , HB2494 , HB3940 , HB4838 , HB3177 , HB1441 , SB1841 , HB3962 , HB2225 , HJR112 , HB897 , HB2695 , HB4670 , HB3602 , HB3317 , HB3717 , HB3138 , HB3704 , HB1403 , HJR218 , HB4921 , SJR37 , HJR138 , HJR144 , HB3892 , HB4 , HB46 , HJR35 , HJR47 , HJR182 , HB4234 , HB722 , HB4136 , HB4105 , HB4413 , HB170 , HB551 , HB2858 , HB3053 , HB3142 , HB3180 , HB3722 , HB2200 , HB1794 , HB1784 , HB1581 , HB2530 , HB4308 , HB1896 , HB2974 , HB3359 , HB4580 , HB2458 , HB2215 , HB3332 , HB2278 , HB3015 , HB3151 , HB1368 , HB40 , HB 101 , HB 112 , HB146 , HB168 , HB214 , HB413 , HB1523 , HB493 , HB521 , HB594 , HB557 , HB305 , HB549 , HB854 , HB 1057 , HB 1052 , HB842 , HB3174 , HB3311 , HB2486 , HB3196 , HB824 , HB 1039 , HB2529 , HB2713 , HB4936 , HB4995 , HB4830 , HB4864 , HB5219 , HB5263 , HB5154 , HB2674 , HB5525 , HB5623 , HB2545 , HB2587 , HB2625 , HB5520 , HB5436 , HB4926 , HB1573 , HB5165 , HB4811 , HB5081 , HB4755 , HB3179 , HB4310 , HB4611 , HB2159 , HB4626 , HB3637 , HB3153 , HB3066 , HB2786 , HB2966 , HB638 , HB640 , HB876 , HB497 , HB5539 , HB4809 , HB5308 , HB4687 , HB4070 , HB4421 , HB4412 , HB3284 , HB3369 , HB3420 , HB3449 , HB4098 , HB4281 , HB4120 , HB4504 , HB4370 , HB 1106 , HB2370 , HB2404 , HB3863 , HB2407 , HB2253 , HB2273 , HB2040 , HB1586 , HB3788 , HB3993 , HB4690 , HB4309 , HB4696 , HB2308 , HB 1142 , HB1533 , HB1621 , HB2242 , HB2012 , HB2193 , HB2442 , HB2464 , HB2348 , HB2313 , HB2289 , HB1942 , HB2011 , HB1629 , HB2993 , HB3592 , HB3824 , HB4076 , HB4535 , HB4623 , HB4773 , HB 1091 , HB5115 , HB5515 , HB3372 , HB5659 , HB 127 , HB386 , HB 115 , HB2868 , HB 1249 , HB4766 , HB3720 , HB4656 , HB4879 , HB 105 , HB5383 , HB4621 , HB5431 , HB5678 , HB5534 , HB4174 , HB4212 , HB3954 , HB3966 , HB3636 , HB3918 , HB1422 , HB4765 , HB4732 , HB4742 , HB5122 , HB4518 , HB5084 , HB3986 , HB4045 , HB4144 , HB3911 , HB3976 , HB4473 , HB3425 , HB3641 , HB3642 , HB3475 , HB3509 , HB3424 , HB3383 , HB4744 , HB4531 , HB4539 , HB3159 , HB5228 , HB5370 , HB4359 , HB4398 , HB4443 , HB4466 , HB3861 , HB3849 , HB4240 , HB4706 , HB4685 , HB5354 , HB5141 , HB5686 , HB3629 , HB3554 , HB3567 , HB2015 , HB3575 , HB5381 , HB1431 , HB3514 , HB4614 , HB4546 , HB4683 , HB5681 , HB5673 , HB5663 , HB4271 , HB4350 , HB4035 , HB3807 , HB3812 , HB3552 , HB3540 , HB3715 , HB3710 , HB3664 , HB4196 , HB4233 , HB4173 , HB1998 , HB3333 , HB3510 , HB4222 , HB2070 , HB2854 , HB2347 , HB 113 , HB983 , HB4847 , HB1449 , HB3833 , HB5151 , HB265 , HB1845 , HB782 , HB 108 , HB1960 , HB158 , HB1954 , HB1955 , HB2512 , HB605 , HB2581 , HB2803 , HB627 , HB2667 , HB1738 , HB636 , HB3679 , HB2638 , HB2655 , HB871 , HB2438 , HB 1107 , HB1765 , HB1822 , HB2153 , HB4099 , HB3732 , HB3171 , HB3178 , HB3182 , HB3749 , HB2814 , HB3977 , HB4204 , HB4207 , HB4449 , HB1820 , HB1876 , HB1939 , HB1347 , HB2593 , HB2136 , HB2132 , HB2658 , HB2413 , HB2757 , HB2080 , HB3154 , HB3063 , HB3009 , HB3448 , HB3006 , HB2844 , HB3241 , HB3680 , HB3169 , HB2078 , HB2507 , HB4559 , HB3946 , HB3460 , HB3405 , HB475 , HB3463 , HB3441 , HB3520 , HB2060 , HB4731 , HB4991 , HB1991 , HB5596 , HB2014 , HB2142 , HB2673 , HB2731 , HB2417 , HB2399 , HB2301 , HB3335 , HB3234 , HB3320 , HB5573 , HB4848 , HB4748 , HB4769 , HB4795 , HB2086 , HB2234 , HB2203 , HB4916 , HB5624 , HB4505 , HB139 , HB5093 , HB5302 , HB5402 , HB5606 , HB2333 , HB4630 , HB4701 , HB2583 , HB2983 , HB4924 , HB3339 , HB3793 , HB3631 , HB4882 , HB5509 , HB5499 , HB5430 , HB5561 , HB5611 , HB5043 , HB5064 , HB3733 , HB3781 , HB3219 , HB32 , HB4515 , HB5348 , HCR76 , HCR127 , HCR9 , HCR40 , HCR118 , HR559

Keywords: low-THC cannabis, dispensing organization, Texas Compassionate-Use Program, medical use, patient access, registration, healthcare, legislation, Grow Texas fund, economic stabilization, infrastructure, oil and gas, constitutional amendment, severance tax, Texas STRONG defense fund, funding, public health, workforce development, revenue transfer, Veterans' Land Board

Transcript Highlights:

• At the TMA, we fully recognize and respect the authority of our licensing agencies. to act on and supervise
• protection and to minimize patient harm.
• Psychologists must document the necessity of the act and ensure that it was the least restrictive treatment
• And for Dr. Underhill and Dr.
• For others, like me, I have two more years in child and adolescent psychiatry, and I have another year

Bills: SB2024 , SB227 , SB268 , SB1467 , SB1580 , HB5537 , SB1313 , SB1677 , SB918 , SB331 , SB2207 , SB2721

Committee: House Public Health

Keywords: e-cigarettes, marketing prohibition, youth protection, criminal penalties, public health, school funding, education reform, state budget, property taxes, equity in education, health care, licensing, complaint procedure, disciplinary action, law enforcement, death records, vital statistics, healthcare, trauma facility, Medicaid

Transcript Highlights:

• , and biomedical device testing, and under.
• And then be licensed, right? And that means you can't do the education and training and research.
• with AATB representatives to protect the donors and ensure...
• So an OPO is federally regulated by the GIFT Act, and then you have body programs, and then right here
• It is essential for protecting patient safety and maintaining trust in the medical profession.

Bills: SB2024 , SB227 , SB268 , SB1467 , SB1580 , HB5537 , SB1313 , SB1677 , SB918 , SB331 , SB2207 , SB2721

Committee: House Public Health

Keywords: e-cigarettes, marketing prohibition, youth protection, criminal penalties, public health, school funding, education reform, state budget, property taxes, equity in education, health care, licensing, complaint procedure, disciplinary action, law enforcement, death records, vital statistics, healthcare, trauma facility, Medicaid

Transcript Highlights:

• And there are safety protections.
• There's no protection in law, and the Medical Board does not... ... about waste or abuse, so there's
• senior living protections that are found in both the Occupation Code and federal law.
• , act quickly, and protect lives.
• For too long, we have allowed hospitals and clinics to act fast and loose... with their employees' autonomy

Bills: SB227 , SB269 , SB407 , SB463 , SB527 , SB547 , SB1283 , SB1380 , SB1383 , SB1511 , SB1640 , SB1784 , SB2069

Committee: Senate Health & Human Services

Keywords: school funding, education reform, state budget, property taxes, equity in education, healthcare policy, vaccines, exemptions, religious beliefs, public health, workplace violence, healthcare facilities, definition expansion, safety regulations, health and safety code, health insurance, anesthesia, pediatric dental services, coverage, medical necessity

Transcript Highlights:

• Some of the horror stories were, you know, my child was... was taken from me and I didn't even know what
• And we are grateful to Senator Parker and his team for filing the bill this session, and for maintaining
• It was quite a bit of back and forth, and then this...
• A bill as filed, so the filed version of 1383, would have gutted consumer protections for families and
• And yeah, I know, you know the substitutes are coming back and everybody.

Bills: SB227 , SB269 , SB407 , SB463 , SB527 , SB547 , SB1283 , SB1380 , SB1383 , SB1511 , SB1640 , SB1784 , SB2069

Committee: Senate Health & Human Services

Keywords: school funding, education reform, state budget, property taxes, equity in education, healthcare policy, vaccines, exemptions, religious beliefs, public health, workplace violence, healthcare facilities, definition expansion, safety regulations, health and safety code, health insurance, anesthesia, pediatric dental services, coverage, medical necessity

Transcript Highlights:

• And we're Hm. Technology, just a moment. The chair calls William Steinhauer and Shannon.
• Documentation requirements and pre-screening and prior authorizations and things like that, I think it
• Some of the horror stories were, you know, my, my child was taken from me and I didn't even know what
• ended, and we are grateful to Senator Parker and his team for filing the bill this session and for maintaining
• and it was a lot, quite a bit of back and forth, um, and then this bill picked up that, that sort of

Bills: SB 227 , SB 269 , SB 407 , SB 463 , SB 527 , SB 547 , SB 1283 , SB 1380 , SB 1383 , SB 1511 , SB 1640 , SB 1784 , SB 2069

Committee: Senate Health & Human Services

Keywords: school funding, education reform, state budget, property taxes, equity in education, healthcare policy, vaccines, exemptions, religious beliefs, public health, workplace violence, healthcare facilities, definition expansion, safety regulations, health and safety code, health insurance, anesthesia, pediatric dental services, coverage, medical necessity

Transcript Highlights:

• And there's safety protections. You've heard me use this example.
• referral agencies for senior living communities and adds similar consumer and senior living protections
• The consumer protections and disclosure provisions mirror a similar law that Oklahoma just passed and
• The consumer protections and disclosure provisions mirror a similar law that Oklahoma just passed and
• , act quickly, and protect lives.

Bills: SB227 , SB269 , SB407 , SB463 , SB527 , SB547 , SB1283 , SB1380 , SB1383 , SB1511 , SB1640 , SB1784 , SB2069

Committee: Senate Health & Human Services

Keywords: school funding, education reform, state budget, property taxes, equity in education, healthcare policy, vaccines, exemptions, religious beliefs, public health, workplace violence, healthcare facilities, definition expansion, safety regulations, health and safety code, health insurance, anesthesia, pediatric dental services, coverage, medical necessity

Summary: The Senate Committee on Health and Human Services met with several members initially absent, then later established a quorum. The committee heard multiple bills, with most testimony focusing on access to care, insurance practices, senior safety, and health care worker protections. Several bills were laid out with committee substitutes, and public testimony was limited to two minutes per witness. Most bills were left pending after testimony, with no final votes taken in the portion provided. Senate Bill 2069 would create a work group to study the feasibility of a statewide acute psychiatric bed registry; the substitute shifts appointment authority to the Health and Human Services Commissioner and extends reporting and sunset dates. Senate Bill 463 would expand workplace violence protections to additional hospice, home and community support, intermediate care, and state-supported living center settings. Senate Bill 1283 would require background checks and transparency measures for senior retirement communities after testimony about the Dallas-area serial killings of elderly residents. Senate Bill 1784 would require 60 days’ written notice before medical debt is sent to collections. Senate Bill 527 would require medical insurance coverage for general anesthesia for medically necessary pediatric dental procedures for children under 13 with qualifying conditions; pediatric dentists testified that denials delay needed care. A major portion of the meeting centered on prior authorization. Senate Bill 1380 would eliminate prior authorization for a broad list of services, including emergency, primary, mental health, substance use, chemotherapy, preventive, pediatric hospice, and certain chronic-condition care. Physicians and hospice advocates supported the bill, describing delays, administrative burden, and patient harm, while health plans opposed blanket exemptions and argued prior authorization helps prevent unnecessary care and control costs. Relatedly, Senate Bill 547 would require insurers to report gold-card prior authorization exemptions to TDI and create a centralized database and annual report; TMA supported better tracking, while health plans warned of duplicative reporting and administrative cost. Senate Bill 407 would require health care facilities to honor conscience- and religion-based vaccine exemptions for employees, with testimony from a physician and vaccine-choice advocate supporting the bill. The committee also heard Senate Bill 1383, which would regulate senior living referral agencies, allow more flexible compensation structures, and add disclosure and consumer protections; an out-of-state referral company and A Place for Mom supported it. Senate Bill 1511 would allow freestanding emergency centers to provide outpatient services in addition to emergency care, with consumer protections such as estimates, limits on facility fees, and restrictions on balance billing. The chair repeatedly announced that bills were being left pending after testimony, and no final committee action or recorded votes were taken in the transcript provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• It relates to the publication of the Texas Groundwater Protection Committee's annual report and simply
• These powers allow the district to provide flood protection within its boundaries and to develop those
• We've kind of put the PUC in a weird position here because nobody goes and picks up an orphan child without
• The Water Defense Fund, working with landowners, businesses, and government to protect the Carrizo-Wilcox
• by requiring counties and municipalities to act on non-compliant applications.

Bills: SB863 , SB1190 , SB1261 , SB1413 , SB1624 , SB1662 , SB1663 , SB1855 , SB1967 , SB2124 , SB2204 , SB1623

Committee: Senate Water, Agriculture and Rural Affairs

Keywords: Edwards Aquifer, water conservation, reclaimed water, aquifer storage, environmental protection, water loss, municipally owned utilities, Texas Water Development Board, administrative penalties, water audit, water infrastructure, water supply, state water plan, water management strategies, water financing, municipal bonds, revenue bonds, public debt, obligations, TWDB

Transcript Highlights:

• It relates to publication of the Texas Groundwater Protection Committee's annual report and simply changes
• These powers allow the district to provide flood protection within its boundaries and to develop those
• We’ve kind of put PUC in a really weird position here because nobody goes and picks up an orphan child
• by requiring counties and municipalities to act on noncompliant applications.
• So we do need protections for these homeowners, and I'm happy to answer any questions. All right.

Bills: SB863 , SB1190 , SB1261 , SB1413 , SB1624 , SB1662 , SB1663 , SB1855 , SB1967 , SB2124 , SB2204 , SB1623

Committee: Senate Water, Agriculture and Rural Affairs

Keywords: Edwards Aquifer, water conservation, reclaimed water, aquifer storage, environmental protection, water loss, municipally owned utilities, Texas Water Development Board, administrative penalties, water audit, water infrastructure, water supply, state water plan, water management strategies, water financing, municipal bonds, revenue bonds, public debt, obligations, TWDB

Summary: The Senate Committee on Water, Agriculture, and Rural Affairs heard several water-related bills, with testimony focused on drinking water quality, groundwater contamination notice, flood infrastructure funding, water rights conservation, and utility service areas. SB 1662 would limit TCEQ’s advance notice to public water systems to no more than 24 hours before testing after a consumer complaint, to reduce the chance of temporary treatment affecting results. SB 1663 would allow TCEQ to notify private well owners, groundwater conservation districts, and nearby residents by direct means about known groundwater contamination, rather than relying mainly on first-class mail and annual reporting. SB 2124 would move the deadline for publishing the Texas Groundwater Protection Committee’s annual report from April 1 to June 1. Witnesses on the first two bills described long-running water quality problems and delayed notice in their communities and supported the measures. No opposition was recorded, and each bill was left pending for a later vote. The committee also heard SB 1967, which would expand eligibility for Flood Infrastructure Fund financing to multipurpose projects that both reduce flooding and create water supply. Senator Hinojosa and Hidalgo County representatives described the Delta Reclamation Project as a shovel-ready example that would capture flood and drainage water, treat it, and produce new potable supply while also providing detention and flood mitigation. A Sierra Club witness also supported the bill, saying such projects could help manage floodwaters and reduce polluted discharges to bays and estuaries. The bill was left pending. A lengthy and divided discussion followed on SB 1413, which would expand the streamlined expedited release process for landowners seeking removal from a water or sewer CCN in additional counties. Senator Nichols said the bill was a property-rights measure aimed at legacy monopolies and bad actors who use CCNs to hold landowners hostage, while supporters described cases where developers could not get timely service, including fire flow, or were asked to fund infrastructure without reasonable recoupment. Opponents from rural water corporations and utility associations argued the bill would undermine investment in water infrastructure, strand debt, and weaken the return on planned expansion. PUC and TCEQ resource witnesses explained that compensation is handled case by case through appraisal and can include stranded costs, planning, design, construction, and some legal fees, but members noted the statute is unclear and discussed possible committee substitute language. Public testimony was closed with the bill left pending. Later, SB 1624 would allow the Texas Water Trust within the Texas Water Bank to hold donated water rights for conservation purposes and protect them from use-it-or-lose-it cancellation, and SB 863 would address Edwards Aquifer utilities that straddle the aquifer boundary by allowing them to continue using Edwards water within their certificated areas under specified conditions. Both bills were laid out, received no public opposition in the hearing, and were left pending.

Transcript Highlights:

• All right, we have a quorum, and we're going to call up the only House bill we have on today, and I'm
• And I want to see the health department do their job and go in when they do their normal inspections.
• And we need it more and um industry.
• Our shrimp and our fish imports.
• look and see that the just go and look and see that the restaurants<00:10:15.760><c> have</c><00:10:16.000

Bills: HB444 , HB444

Committee: Senate Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry

Keywords: HB444, vaccines, vaccine exemption, religious exemption, religious liberty, private school, church school, faith-based school, parochial school, school immunization, testing requirement, disease testing, parental rights, school enrollment, attendance requirements, CHOOSE Act, school choice, education funding, tax exemption, corporate income tax

Transcript Highlights:

• House Bill 3334 creates a limited retail on-supply and alcohol act, which allows on-premise licensees
• to purchase... ...limited retail on-supply and alcohol act, which allows on-premise licensees to purchase
• Would you agree that since the Alcohol Modernization Act and the decrease in number of wholesalers that
• And because of that, it is my understanding, and I want to know...
• This bill just puts in protections to protect kids from...

Bills: HB3334 , HB4248 , HB4454 , HB3851

Committee: House Alcohol, Tobacco and Controlled Substances

Keywords: alcohol regulation, retail, recordkeeping, reporting, state laws, HB4248, hemp beverage, hemp drinks, THC beverage, cannabis beverage, intoxicating hemp, age restriction, under 21, minor possession, youth access, public health and safety, Title 63, Oklahoma Statutes, retail sales, alcohol-style regulation

Transcript Highlights:

• House Bill 3334 creates a limited retail on-supply and alcohol act, which allows on-premise licensees
• to purchase... ...limited retail on-supply and alcohol act, which allows on-premise licensees to purchase
• Would you agree that since the Alcohol Modernization Act and the decrease in number of wholesalers that
• And because of that, it is my understanding, and I want to know...
• This bill just puts in protections to protect kids from...

Bills: HB3334 , HB4248 , HB4454 , HB3851

Committee: House Alcohol, Tobacco and Controlled Substances

Keywords: alcohol regulation, retail, recordkeeping, reporting, state laws, HB4248, hemp beverage, hemp drinks, THC beverage, cannabis beverage, intoxicating hemp, age restriction, under 21, minor possession, youth access, public health and safety, Title 63, Oklahoma Statutes, retail sales, alcohol-style regulation

Summary: The Tobacco, Alcohol, and Controlled Substances committee met with a quorum and considered several bills related to alcohol distribution and hemp/THC products. House Bill 3334, presented by Rep. Hays, would create a limited retail on-supply alcohol act allowing on-premise licensees to buy alcohol beverages from off-premise licensees. Supporters said it could help rural businesses facing strained supply chains and delayed deliveries after alcohol market changes; the committee voted to pass the bill. The committee then heard House Bill 4248, which would add protections to keep children from ingesting alcoholic drinks containing hemp with THC-like effects. Members discussed whether the bill might be amended further, but the author said the goal was to protect kids and preserve the bill’s current structure. The committee voted to pass HB 4248. House Bill 4450, presented by Rep. Newton, would regulate THC gummies and liquids by requiring serving-size labeling, limiting servings to 10 milligrams of THC each, and prohibiting child-attractive shapes such as animals, cartoons, or human forms. Members raised concerns about vague language like “reasonable resemblance” and about color restrictions, and the author said he was willing to work on those provisions. The committee voted to pass the bill. Finally, the committee considered House Bill 3851, which Rep. Marti said concerns the process for selling and distributing private label products and clarifies the ABLE Commission’s interpretation of current law. An amendment deleting Sections 1 and 3 was adopted without objection, and the committee then voted to pass the bill as amended. The meeting ended with the chair noting it was the last meeting of the year and adjourning.

Bills: SB 3074 , HB 49 , HB 2440 , HB 3556 , HB 3619 , HB 3866 , HB 4042 , HB 4112 , HB 4271 , HB 4413 , HB 4426 , HB 5033

Committee: Senate Natural Resources

Keywords: oil waste, gas waste, liability, treatment processes, environmental safety, beneficial use, motor vehicle, air quality, energy source, engine, state implementation plan, construction, wildlife impact, height restrictions, national wildlife refuge, environmental regulations, surface estate, well plugging, Railroad Commission, landowner rights

Transcript Highlights:

• And imagine this scenario: a child goes down, let's say, to a pharmacy, wherever, and gets a vaccination
• Most of the time, it's a woman who's trying to have an order to protect herself.
• to call and say, "Look, it's a protective order?
• I want it to be where that woman comes over here, and this guy is on there, that we can then do that.
• Warrants that have been issued and never been acted upon.

Bills: HB2 , HB43 , HB49 , HB94 , HB137 , HB156 , HB200 , HB250 , HB3 , HB42

Committee: Senate Judiciary

Keywords: vaccination, parental consent, minors, medical consent, guardian approval, criminal procedure, split sentencing, probation, Class A felony, Class B felony, minimum confinement, HB49, Alabama criminal code, capital offense, capital punishment, death penalty, rape in the first degree, sodomy in the first degree, sexual torture, child sexual abuse