Transcript Highlights:

• fact, Texas is out of compliance, I think, in everything that they looked at except for maybe the computer
• When youth run away, they face extraordinary risk, homelessness, crime victimization, abuse, exploitation
• Family abductions is a heartbreaking crime that tears children from their families' lives, often resulting

Bills: HCR 10

Keywords: balanced budget amendment, federal budget, deficit reduction, deficit spending, fiscal restraint, constitutional amendment, U.S. Constitution, Congress, PAYGO, Gramm-Rudman-Hollings, national debt, budget deficit, taxpayer dollars, balanced budget resolution, memorial resolution, Texas Legislature, federal spending, budget reform, fiscal conservatism

Transcript Highlights:

• and other allied health professionals the opportunity to learn from reality rather than textbooks, computers
• These are not only crimes against unsuspecting families, as we've heard, but crimes against humanity

Bills: SB1406, SB1681, SB2480, SB2721

Keywords: body donation, medical science, forensic science, willed body program, informed consent, boarding home, boarding home facility, adult care home, group home, assisted living, county reporting, municipal reporting, annual report, reasonable accommodation, fair housing, disability accommodation, local ordinance, permit requirement, Texas Health and Human Services Commission, HHSC

Summary: The committee first heard Senate Bill 2480, which would clarify that the Texas Medical Board may collect license renewal surcharge fees from all licensees to fund the Texas Physician Health Program and related administrative costs. The bill author explained the funding fix was needed after prior language was found to allow surcharges only for physicians and physician assistants. Witnesses from the Texas Physician Health Program supported the measure and described the program’s confidential monitoring and treatment services; members asked about the fee amount, which was described as capped at $15 per two-year registration cycle. The bill was left pending. The committee then took up Senate Bills 1406 and 2721, both authored by Senator Parker, addressing the handling of human remains by non-transplant anatomical donation organizations, willed body programs, and related facilities. Senator Parker and several witnesses described alleged abuses involving unclaimed bodies, consent problems, body leasing, hotel-based dissections, and mishandling of cremains, and argued for strict licensing, inspections, transparency, and criminal penalties. Supporters included families of deceased veterans and other relatives, a biomedical ethicist, the Texas Catholic Conference of Bishops, and some public safety and hotel industry representatives who said legitimate training should continue but bad actors should be shut down. Opponents or cautious witnesses from accredited donation organizations and bioskills labs said they support stronger oversight but warned the bills could unintentionally disrupt legitimate medical education and urged clearer language and implementation of existing law. Both bills were left pending. Senate Bill 1681, by Senator Menendez, would require counties and municipalities that regulate boarding homes to report facility standards and related information to the Health and Human Services Commission. The author said the bill is intended to improve state oversight of boarding homes that serve elderly and disabled residents and to address abuse, neglect, and exploitation. The bill was left pending after brief discussion. After the testimony portion, the committee returned to voting on pending business and unanimously reported Senate Bills 527, 912, 1580, 1952, and 2032 to the Senate with recommendations that they do pass and be printed, and each was also recommended for the local and uncontested calendar. The committee also adopted a committee substitute for Senate Bill 407 and reported the substitute favorably, with six ayes and three nays. The committee then moved on to Senate Bill 500 as pending business.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:50:04.240><c> simply</c> particularly the level of crime simply particularly the level of crime
• Uh 17 line 17 I have a problem crime.
• I take it serious, very serious crimes.
• </c><02:05:55.840><c> of</c> on uh SB23, expanding the crime of on uh SB23, expanding the crime of endangering
• </c> knowingly committed that crime or not. knowingly committed that crime or not.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee opened with Senate Bill 22-FN, which would expand child care licensing background checks so the Department of Health and Human Services can receive fuller criminal history information, including pending charges and other non-conviction records, similar to the system already used for school staff. Grant Bossi, for Senator Pearl, and DHHS officials Melissa Clement and Christine Sheay testified in support, saying the bill closes a gap that can allow people with disqualifying charges to work with children. They explained that the FBI record is a snapshot in time, that juvenile records are not included, and that the bill would apply to child care programs including residential group homes. Questions focused on what “confidential criminal history” means and how often checks are repeated; DHHS said checks are done every five years or sooner if new charge information is received. The hearing on SB 22 was then closed. The committee then took up Senate Bill 23-FN, which would expand the child endangerment statute and remove the word “purposely” from part of the language. Senator Pat Long said the bill is intended to strengthen protection for children and allow more serious conduct to be charged appropriately. Testimony from law enforcement, including Executive Counselor Dave Wheeler, Sergeant Ryan Rooney of Nashua Police, and Nicholas Georgulis of Manchester Police, supported the bill as a way to distinguish routine misdemeanor cases from the most egregious abuse and neglect cases, such as children living in squalor or being exposed to severe danger. Wheeler and some members raised concerns that the language could be vague or overbroad and cited a prior Manchester firearm-in-a-car arrest as an example of possible unintended consequences; supporters responded that the bill still requires knowingly violating a duty of care and that the serious bodily injury or death standard limits its reach. Rooney also described a fentanyl overdose case involving an 11-year-old and said the current misdemeanor charge did not fully reflect the seriousness of the conduct. The committee recessed SB 23 briefly to open and close SB 161, then returned to SB 23, which remained under hearing with no final vote taken in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• Criminal, those who are convicted of a crime. So it could, because we've changed the allocations.
• You got your computer, I would think. Don't give them. Don't help them cheat.

Bills: SB25, SB250, HB22, HB27, HB33, HB47, HB233, HB290, HB308, HB324, HB382, HB533, HB559, HB575, HB980, HB1157, HB1207, HB1236, HCR45

Keywords: registrar of voters, parish registrar, chief deputy registrar, confidential assistant, election administration, elections, salary schedule, compensation, merit evaluation, population-based pay, census-based pay, Department of State, Secretary of State, State Board of Election Supervisors, redistricting, senate districts, Senate District 33, Senate District 34, Senate District 35, precincts

Transcript Highlights:

• I can look it up, but I don't want everyone to watch me punch on my computer.
• We are working with the Organized Crime Task Force to address some of that when it is a bigger picture

Keywords: 914, all

Transcript Highlights:

• community and the hammocks where there was tens of millions of dollars that were stolen and organized crime
• it's way higher than that, even and also, if you could address there possibility of utilizing a computer

Transcript Highlights:

• In 2006, Congress amended federal law in a way that eliminated prohibitions that made it a crime to assist
• Protections to prevent unaccredited claims representatives who lack independent access to the VA computer

Summary: The Assembly Committee on Military and Veterans Affairs met with a quorum and first approved its consent calendar, which included AJR 15, SB 56, SB 296, and SB 855, with the roll left open for absent members. The committee then heard SB 694 by Senator Archuleta, a bill aimed at protecting veterans from unaccredited claims representatives and other for-profit entities that charge fees to assist with VA disability claims. The author and supporters, including county veterans service officers and veterans organizations, argued the measure would curb predatory practices, restore accountability, and steer veterans toward free, accredited assistance through CVSOs and other authorized representatives. Testimony in support emphasized that veterans are often targeted online and may pay large fees for services that are available for free, while supporters said unaccredited firms lack transparency and can exploit vulnerable veterans. Opposition witnesses, including representatives of claims-assistance companies and individual veterans, argued the bill would eliminate choice and that some contingency-based firms provide useful services, better outcomes, and faster claims processing. Committee members debated whether the bill would unlawfully bar legitimate assistance or whether it was needed to stop illegal business practices, with several members noting the issue is also being litigated in federal court and that an accreditation process already exists through the VA. After discussion, the committee voted to pass SB 694 and refer it to the Committee on Judiciary. The final vote was 6 ayes, with some members not voting. The committee then completed the consent calendar vote, which passed with eight votes, and adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• In 2023, DPS crime statistics showed that there were over 200,000 reported offenses of family violence
• But if you can go, they could the inspector go on their computer when they go to a school and pull up

Transcript Highlights:

• VICTIM INFORMATION NOTIFICATION EVERY DAY BASICALLY IT'S A FREE AUTOMATED SERVICE FOR VICTIMS OF CRIME
• AUDITING ABILITIES TO HOLD THE LOCAL ELECTED OFFICIALS AND WITHOUT LOOKING AT THE NUMBERS NOW AND COMPUTING

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• SB 325 ensures the individuals convicted of crimes that directly threaten public safety or organizational
• Crimes that directly threaten public safety or organizational integrity are barred from serving.
• They've got the computers in the trucks.
• They've got the computers in the trucks. And so they are forced to stop where they're at or dealt.
• Under current law, a minor cannot be guilty of the crime of prostitution due to the obvious lack of consent

Keywords: 1064, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><02:32:52.479><c> fighting</c> going to hurt our crime fighting going to hurt our crime fighting
• of a number of crimes in many cases over the protection of people in our community.
• </c> multiple crimes multiple crimes to<02:48:42.399><c> the</c><02:48:42.560><c> appropriate</c><02:
• </c> facility for several years for a crime facility for several years for a crime and<02:50:39.439><
• </c><03:07:05.680><c> aren't</c> in this area, our computers aren't in this area, our computers aren't

Keywords: Senate streaming session for Monday, April 13, 2026, 960, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Madam Speaker, if we had time, I certainly would read the names and the crimes in which these people
• . crime. crime.
• in which these people were uh crimes in which these people were uh executed executed executed and<01
• and they found that in cities and crime and they found that in cities where<01:03:04.319><c> they</c
• Produce papers for the crime of being a person of color in Minnesota or in my district.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• . ...sheriff has refused to respond to any kind of mental health crises at all whatsoever unless a crime
• criminal justice side, the San Diego District Attorney, because... ...you're seeing what happens when crimes
• Had a child come into this crime scene, that child would have been also among the deceased.
• Had a child come into this crime scene, that child would have been also amongst the deceased.
• Before we do, we must congratulate the senator from Pomona City on her legislation to address the crime

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Texas, representing the 70 Children's Advocacy Centers, or CACs, serving over 60,000 child victims of crime
• including child sex trafficking, as well as serious bodily injury, child fatality, and witness to crime
• delivering the services. children's advocacy centers or CACs serving over 60,000 child victims of crime
• including child sex trafficking, as well as serious bodily injury, child fatality, and witness to crime
• Texas families will not have to worry about losing Medicaid coverage for their children because of computer

Bills: SB1, SB 1

Keywords: appropriations, budget, state funding, education, healthcare, infrastructure, campground safety, youth camp regulations, flood safety, emergency evacuation, health and safety standards, 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Marion Smith, Director of Office of Strategy, Policy, and Government Affairs for the National Insurance Crime
• I'm the Director of Strategy, Policy, and Government Affairs at the National Insurance Crime Bureau,
• leading not-for-profit organization dedicated exclusively to fighting insurance fraud and related crime
• I mean, if the steering wheel goes out or the lights go out or the automatic computer system goes out
• It's not a victimless crime.

Summary: The committee heard several bills focused on domestic violence protections, pay equity enforcement, Jewish demographic data collection, court transparency, auto glass insurance practices, pet policy disclosure for renters, and civil rights accountability for federal officers. SB 99 would require courts and law enforcement to better recognize military protective orders in domestic violence cases; supporters from the Department of Defense and military organizations said it would close jurisdictional gaps for military families, and the bill passed to Public Safety. SB 1237 would increase penalties for repeat noncompliance with California pay data reporting laws; supporters said stronger enforcement is needed to address persistent wage gaps, and the bill passed to Appropriations. SB 1387 would allow Jewish identity to be reported as an ethnic category in state demographic data; supporters said better data would improve policy and anti-discrimination efforts, while opponents argued the bill was unnecessary or divisive, and it passed to Privacy. SB 932 would require assignees filing civil actions to identify the original party in the case caption; supporters framed it as a transparency measure, and it passed to Judiciary/Appropriations on call. The committee also took up SB 98, which would regulate auto glass insurance claims by restricting assignment of benefits, requiring clearer estimates and invoices, and limiting inducements to consumers. The sponsor and NICB said the bill would curb fraud and unsafe repairs, while independent glass shops and industry groups argued it could reduce consumer choice and favor insurer-aligned networks; the bill passed to Appropriations. SB 1296 would require landlords to disclose pet policies before collecting application fees and provide refunds if nondisclosure materially affected an applicant’s decision; supporters said it would save renters time and money, while rental housing representatives objected to a provision limiting eviction based solely on failure to sign a pet addendum. The bill passed to Appropriations. Finally, SB 747, the No Kings Act, would create a California cause of action allowing people to sue federal officers for constitutional violations using standards similar to Section 1983. Senator Wiener and a witness who said he was unlawfully detained by Border Patrol argued the bill is needed because federal officers currently lack comparable accountability after the Supreme Court narrowed Bivens remedies. Law enforcement groups opposed the bill, warning that the qualified immunity language is unclear, could create a separate California standard, and might expose officers and governments to retroactive litigation; members discussed possible amendments on qualified immunity and retroactivity, and the bill was moved forward with an urgency amendment while negotiations continued.

Transcript Highlights:

• SB 1092, crimes against children. SB 1110, Judiciary. SB 1140, law enforcement appropriations.
• Second reading of bills: SB 1018, foreign affairs; 1067, county of 8,000; 1077, in that computer; 181
• 1330, family court right to jury; 1366, commercial building services; 1391, stress management; 1402, crimes
• against children; 148, 188. 1366, commercial building services; 1391, stress management; 1402, crimes
• He got blown up because he was investigating the links between organized crime and the government of

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Everything from Director Sali: Water to crime, so broad direction.
• And we've got the hardware that the computer programs that we can enter these figures in if there's multiple
• On page 16, the DPS crime lab, this is a 44,000 square foot building.
• So for instance, the crime lab, one of the things that we were successful in doing - that project came
• So although we had a reversion, because the appropriation was specific to the crime lab, we couldn't

Transcript Highlights:

• I've gone down through the March 24th bill that's on the computer.
• Pass a bad bill—” “That $3 million could have gone to SLED to help fight violent crime in this state.
• divided up amongst our 46 sheriff's offices so that they can have additional assistance to fight violent crime
• Representative Wooten, I was looking on my computer there and I saw where the Senate failed to get a

Keywords: 977, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And then the service on page six, number 11, provider of an interactive computer service shall not be
• or so, or it's a call center that you sit on hold for a period of time, or it's something on the computer
• If you ban it, you will be criminalizing innocent people whose only crime would be needing relief from
• If you ban it, you will be criminalizing innocent people who are only crime would be needing relief from

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Tennessee county saw crime rise by about 7% during a period when crime rates nationwide were holding
• Some of this data is reported put into a computer system and then reported even to the federal government
• Do you have access to DPS, criminal records so that if you have a syndicated crime expert going on over
• You can't afford the computer resources. But you also want to get rid of it to avoid storage costs.
• Computer systems that manage all of this and what our charge is today, I think it is incumbent upon us

Summary: The Senate Committee on Health and Human Services convened to discuss interim charges regarding fraud, waste, and abuse in Texas human services, particularly focusing on Medicaid and childcare programs. The meeting highlighted the importance of preventing misuse of taxpayer funds, with testimony from various stakeholders emphasizing the need for increased oversight and accountability in these programs. Key points included the alarming rise in healthcare fraud in other states, the necessity for Texas to enhance its fraud prevention measures, and the potential financial repercussions of failing to meet federal compliance standards. Several committee members expressed concerns about the impact of fraud on vulnerable populations, particularly those relying on Medicaid services. Testimonies from experts underscored the effectiveness of Texas's Office of Inspector General (OIG) in combating fraud, yet pointed out existing vulnerabilities, such as inconsistent enforcement and the need for better data sharing among agencies. The discussion also touched on the challenges faced by hospice care providers, with a significant increase in the number of hospices in Texas raising concerns about quality and oversight. The committee heard from various witnesses, including representatives from health plans and advocacy organizations, who provided insights into the complexities of managing Medicaid and the importance of maintaining program integrity. The meeting concluded with a commitment to further explore legislative solutions to enhance oversight and ensure that resources are directed to those in genuine need.