Transcript Highlights:

• The Senate Local and County Government Committee meeting will come to order.
• I can't give you details about any particular municipality or county or school district.
• members must be elected by the county at large.
• Just briefly, what we're trying to address is that in every county, it allows the county to decide how
• The local and county government will meet next week. Meeting adjourned.

Bills: HB3002, HB3416, HB3417, HB3418, HB3419, HB3463, HB3919, HB3985, HB4303

Keywords: counties, county officers, education, training, sunset law, county purchasing, procurement practices, budget management, public accountability, emergency procurement, reverse auction, bidding process, competitive bidding, public procurement, city council regulations, public works, bidding procedures, construction contracts, transparency, public trust

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• I'm in Jefferson County. We have a hospital pretty much in kind of like stone throw.
• I'm in Jefferson County. We have a hospital pretty much in kind of like stone throw.
• I'm in Jefferson County. We have a hospital pretty much in kind of like stone throw.
• I'm in Jefferson County. We have a hospital pretty much in kind of like stone throw.
• I'm in Jefferson County. We have a hospital pretty much in kind of like stone throw.

Bills: SB63, SB80, SB63, SB80

Keywords: immigration, law enforcement, fingerprints, DNA collection, illegal aliens, Alabama state law, SB80, Buddy Sharpless Education Institute, Alabama Local Government Training Institute, county commissioner training, local government training, ethics training, State Ethics Commission, county commissioners, Association of County Commissions of Alabama, local emergency management director, public officials, municipal officials, Alabama Code Title 11, Alabama Code Title 31

Transcript Highlights:

• in federal court if the cause of action relates to the enforcement of a state statute and the county
• This came to Senator Cole, of course, from Burleson County.
• In addition, the current law is silent on the ability of the attorney general to defend a county attorney
• I think also the fact that there's simply no parameters at all relating to county attorneys is a common
• Here, let your, let your county clerk. OK, slide to power off. That works every time. OK.

Bills: SB 18, SB 19, SB 666, SB 688, SB 707, SB 888

Keywords: municipal libraries, state funding, gender identity, public events, children's literature, SB 19, Texas, political subdivision, local government, county, city, municipality, taxpayer-funded lobbying, lobbying ban, public funds, registered lobbyist, Chapter 305, Government Code, Local Government Code, county association dues

Transcript Highlights:

• . >> Marilyn Lands, House District 10, Madison County. >> Donna ... over here to the left. >> Donna Evans
• , District 64, Baltimore County. >> Donna Evans, District 64, Baltimore County.
• House District 98, Mobile County. >> I'm your chairman, Margie Wilcox. >> I'm your chairman, Margie Wilcox

Bills: SB100, SB122, SB127, HB182, HB275, SB100, SB122, SB127, HB182, HB275

Keywords: property tax, ad valorem tax, real property assessment, assessment cap, county-wide reappraisal, CPI-U, Consumer Price Index, tax assessor, Class II property, Class III property, local government revenue, property tax relief, reappraisal, tax increment district, retroactive tax law, Alabama Code 40-7-2.2, appropriation, education funding, Southern Preparatory Academy, fiscal responsibility

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• Happy to answer any questions. at the county level. We have invested at the county level.
• I reside in Ramsey County.
• I reside in Ramsey County. I'm Clapper. I reside in Ramsey County.
• At a certain point when I called the county, the county had no clue what was going on.
• Everything goes back to the counties. Everything goes back to the counties.

Bills: HF3738, HF2295, HF3520, HF3666

Keywords: pediatric care, hospital discharge, home care, healthcare accessibility, nursing services, family support, mental health, crisis services, Dakota County, mobile crisis response, public safety, treatment services, rehabilitation, behavioral health fund, client eligibility, home and community-based services, case management, waiver services, county services, disability advocacy

Transcript Highlights:

• You know, I've taken a deep dive in the last two months regarding this of what's going on in your county
• So really worked with the League of Municipalities and the Association of County Commissioners on that
• I think there is a great in your county.
• <00:04:21.680> Commissioners<00:04:22.160> on Association of County Commissioners on
• Association of County Commissioners on that.<00:04:22.720> And<00:04:23.120> uh<00:04:

Bills: HB431, HB466, HB523, HB521, SB182, SB300

Keywords: Monroe County, sheriff, sheriff compensation, county salary, expense allowance, local act, county general fund, retirement contributions, law enforcement pay, public official salary, county budget, Alabama local legislation, service contracts, consumer protection, advertising disclosure, insurance, contract cancellation, parole procedures, advocacy, parole board

Transcript Highlights:

• So they changed every county from two years of funding to one.
• But if the good senator. from Otero County that represents Otero County, if that dollar amount is not
• President and Senator, were counties represented by Democrats treated differently than counties represented
• It's disgusting what came out of this session in regards to Torrance County, Otero County, and I think
• it was Cibola County.

Bills: SB273, SB37, SB100

Keywords: SB273, appropriations, general fund, hold harmless, local government finance, municipal revenue, county revenue, correctional facility, jail contract, private prison, detention facility, immigration detention, revenue bonds, clawback, child welfare, juvenile justice, protective services, school improvement, New MexiCare, aging services

Transcript Highlights:

• , Cameron County, Pecos County, and Atascosa-Pleasanton.
• Harris County, Dallas County, Randall County - how do they decide what's affordable and what's not?
• in which in the county in which they're situated - i.e., for example, Cameron County, and Cameron County
• Everybody that lives in the county is a county resident.
• It allows a county HFC to do a HFC in their county.

Bills: HB21, HB211, HB223

Keywords: HB 21, Texas Tax Code, ad valorem tax, property tax, delinquent taxes, tax delinquency, penalty reduction, interest rate, split payment, installment payment, tax relief, county tax collector, taxing unit, property owner, tax collection, voter-approval tax rate, no-new-revenue tax rate, tax increase election, supermajority, 60 percent threshold

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• Lifts appointed by certain district courts in Webb County.
• County bailiff appointment requirements.
• Only two of the four district courts in Webb County can appoint their respective full-time bailiffs.
• Across district courts, reduce administrative confusion and align compensation with county budgeting.
• Their addresses can become available for public viewing online through the county clerk's office.

Bills: HB1193, HB2495, HB2733, HB3104, HB3395, HB4325, SB3009

Keywords: HB 1193, informal marriage, common-law marriage, declaration of informal marriage, confidentiality, privacy, county clerk, vital statistics unit, Family Code, Health and Safety Code, marriage records, public records, personally identifying information, PII, legal representative, Texas marriage law, child enrollment, parent rights, managing conservator, education

Transcript Highlights:

• Senator Johnson moves the bill be recommended for local and uncontested counties. Objection?
• Senator Middleton moves the bill be recommended for the local and uncontested counties.
• Dean of the Senate regarding the appointment and compensation of bailiffs in certain courts in Webb County

Bills: HB1193, HB2495, HB2733, HB3104, HB3395, HB4325, SB3009

Keywords: HB 1193, informal marriage, common-law marriage, declaration of informal marriage, confidentiality, privacy, county clerk, vital statistics unit, Family Code, Health and Safety Code, marriage records, public records, personally identifying information, PII, legal representative, Texas marriage law, child enrollment, parent rights, managing conservator, education

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, Senator Johnson moves the bill be recommended for local and uncontested counties. Objection.
• the Senate, 3104 about the appointment and compensation of bailiffs, uh, in certain courts in Webb County

Bills: HB 1193, HB 2495, HB 2733, HB 3104, HB 3395, HB 4325, SB 3009

Keywords: HB 1193, informal marriage, common-law marriage, declaration of informal marriage, confidentiality, privacy, county clerk, vital statistics unit, Family Code, Health and Safety Code, marriage records, public records, personally identifying information, PII, legal representative, Texas marriage law, child enrollment, parent rights, managing conservator, education

Transcript Highlights:

• While the intent of the legislature was clear, that counties cannot regulate density, many counties have
• Development in our county.
• rules and different applications, it seems, county by county and month by month.
• , Brazoria County, Fort Bend, Waller, Chambers, and Austin County.
• Adam Haynes, Conference of Urban Counties. Go ahead. Thank you, Conference of Urban Counties.

Bills: SB840, HB2025, HB2512, HB3139, HB3798, HB3892, HB4373, HB4398, HB4582, HB4689, HB5187, HB5658, HB5666

Keywords: HB 2025, Texas Property Code, plat filing, replat, amended plat, condominium plat, subdivision, county clerk, tax certificate, ad valorem taxes, delinquent taxes, property records, real property, land use, local government, property development, subdivision recording, condominium recording, tax receipt, eminent domain

Transcript Highlights:

• Members, this bill creates the Fensick Road Municipal Utility District of Harris County.
• And is Travis County in a water shortage situation right now? Absolutely.

Bills: SB840, HB2025, HB2512, HB3139, HB3798, HB3892, HB4373, HB4398, HB4582, HB4689, HB5187, HB5658, HB5666

Keywords: HB 2025, Texas Property Code, plat filing, replat, amended plat, condominium plat, subdivision, county clerk, tax certificate, ad valorem taxes, delinquent taxes, property records, real property, land use, local government, property development, subdivision recording, condominium recording, tax receipt, eminent domain

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:07:36.720> jail felony is sitting in the county jail felony is sitting in the county jail
• <00:08:15.680> where the cycle for those counties where the cycle for those counties where
• We are and the your county jails.
• Could we county detention centers.
• c> have<00:16:09.440> agreements In certain counties, we have agreements In certain counties

Bills: SF0010, SF0005

Keywords: mental health, detention, competency evaluation, treatment, contractual agreements, bankruptcy, hospital, county, healthcare, financial stability, 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• While the Harris County Sheriff's Office currently provides security at county health care facilities
• like in Dallas County, Baxter County, El Paso County, and Tarrant County hospital districts.
• Senate Bill 2046 enhances penalties for intentional violation of the County Purchasing Act for county
• government county body in the history of Texas's most populous county.
• Okay, what county are you in? I'm in Barrett County. Barrett County.

Bills: SB434, SB844, SB898, SB1177, SB1214, SB1454, SB1920, SB1927, SB1935, SB1965, SB2010, SB2046, SB2068, SB2073, SB2183, SB2260, SB3034, SB907

Keywords: SB 434, Harris County Hospital District, hospital district police, peace officers, commissioned officers, law enforcement authority, Health and Safety Code, Code of Criminal Procedure, public safety, hospital security, county hospital district, local government, Texas criminal procedure, district police, armed security, SB 898, low income housing tax credits, LIHTC, affordable housing, Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• While farmers and ranchers in the counties across our state spend significant time and money cleaning
• In the county, that's fine. I can take my gun to the.
• Mason County and has a big development there so there's got to be a personal interest and I but ask you
• As a resident of Travis County and manager of Our Family 500. wildlife ranch.

Bills: SB434, SB844, SB898, SB1177, SB1214, SB1454, SB1920, SB1927, SB1935, SB1965, SB2010, SB2046, SB2068, SB2073, SB2183, SB2260, SB3034, SB907

Keywords: SB 434, Harris County Hospital District, hospital district police, peace officers, commissioned officers, law enforcement authority, Health and Safety Code, Code of Criminal Procedure, public safety, hospital security, county hospital district, local government, Texas criminal procedure, district police, armed security, SB 898, low income housing tax credits, LIHTC, affordable housing, Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• While farmers and ranchers in the, in the counties across our state spent significant time and money
• Developers, of course, in the county, that's fine.
• I found that the House sponsor of this bill is in the land development business in Mason County and has
• As a resident of Travis County and manager of our family 500 acre wildlife ranch, I've become very familiar

Bills: SB 434, SB 844, SB 898, SB 1177, SB 1214, SB 1454, SB 1920, SB 1927, SB 1935, SB 1965, SB 2010, SB 2046, SB 2068, SB 2073, SB 2183, SB 2260, SB 3034, SB 907

Keywords: SB 434, Harris County Hospital District, hospital district police, peace officers, commissioned officers, law enforcement authority, Health and Safety Code, Code of Criminal Procedure, public safety, hospital security, county hospital district, local government, Texas criminal procedure, district police, armed security, SB 898, low income housing tax credits, LIHTC, affordable housing, Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• While the Harris County Hospital, Harris County Sheriff's Office currently provide security at county
• in Dallas County, Bexar County, El Paso County, and Tarrant County hospital districts.
• county body in the history of Texas' most populous county, while at the same time becoming less and
• What county are you in? I'm in Bexar County. Bexar County?
• County option does not.

Bills: SB434, SB844, SB898, SB1177, SB1214, SB1454, SB1920, SB1927, SB1935, SB1965, SB2010, SB2046, SB2068, SB2073, SB2183, SB2260, SB3034, SB907

Keywords: SB 434, Harris County Hospital District, hospital district police, peace officers, commissioned officers, law enforcement authority, Health and Safety Code, Code of Criminal Procedure, public safety, hospital security, county hospital district, local government, Texas criminal procedure, district police, armed security, SB 898, low income housing tax credits, LIHTC, affordable housing, Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs

Summary: The committee heard several bills dealing with local government authority, homeowners associations, hospital district policing, school AED inspections, special district annexation, public contracting penalties, and guaranteed income programs. Senate Bill 2073 by Sen. Zaffirini would clarify that appraisal districts may finance purchases, leases, or construction of real property for appraisal offices without prior approval from taxing units; it was supported by the Texas Association of Appraisal Districts and left pending. Senate Bill 1935 by Sen. Hinojosa would increase homeowner control of property owners association boards, require more transparency, limit fines and assessment increases, and require accessible meeting locations; HOA and builder representatives opposed it, arguing it would hinder maintenance and make dues harder to manage, and the bill was left pending. Senate Bill 434 by Sen. Miles would authorize Harris County Hospital District police officers, was supported by Harris Health, and was left pending. Senate Bill 1177 by Sen. Alvarado, as substituted, would require school AED inspections during fire inspections and reporting to school leadership; it was left pending. Senate Bill 1214 by Sen. Perry would update Concho County Hospital District law to align with current procurement and notice rules; it was left pending. Senate Bill 1965 by Sen. Middleton, for Sen. King, would tighten notice and proximity rules for special district annexations; district witnesses warned the bill could interfere with service to noncontiguous tracts, and the bill was left pending. The committee also took up Senate Bill 2046 by Sen. Bettencourt, which would increase criminal penalties for county purchasing act violations involving unauthorized separate or sequential purchases to evade competitive bidding, and create a tiered penalty structure based on contract amount. Former Harris County DA Kim Ogg, Deputy Attorney General Josh Reno, and James Quintero supported the bill, citing recent Harris County bid-rigging cases and arguing the current Class C misdemeanor penalty is too weak to deter misconduct; some members questioned whether the proposed thresholds were too low and whether stronger oversight, rather than higher penalties alone, would be more effective. The bill was left pending. Finally, Senate Bill 2010 by Sen. Bettencourt would bar counties and other political subdivisions from operating guaranteed income programs and address constitutional gift-clause concerns. Testimony split sharply: Ogg and Quintero argued such programs are unconstitutional, can be used for political data collection, and should not be funded with public money, while Paige Terry Barry defended the bill as protecting taxpayers and discouraging dependency. Senators also debated whether the state can restrict use of federal grant funds and whether local governments should be allowed to run such programs; the bill was left pending.

Transcript Highlights:

• Under the Fair Defense Act, there are four primary systems that counties use to provide legal services
• An attorney in Tarrant County was paid for 809 cases, which included 351 adult felony cases. 109 cases
• NCSC and whoever else, whatever county you were in that got it, it's all wiped.
• I'm here representing Dallas County Criminal District Attorney John Cruzzo.
• I'm here representing Dallas County Criminal District Attorney John Cruzzo.

Bills: HB115

Keywords: public funds, lobbying, political subdivision, government spending, transparency, HB 115, taxpayer-funded lobbying, local government lobbying, county association dues, municipal lobbying, lobbyist registration, Chapter 305, Government Code Section 556.0056, Local Government Code Section 89.002, county government, city government, injunctive relief, attorney's fees, state association of counties, sheriffs association

Summary: The Committee on Criminal Jurisprudence reconvened with a quorum present and announced it would likely not vote that night because of confusion over the bill list; members were told a definitive list would be circulated the next morning and a formal meeting would be scheduled later. The chair then heard a series of bills, generally taking testimony and leaving each pending without action. House Bill 1847 would set maximum caseload standards for private attorneys handling indigent criminal appointments through the Texas Indigent Defense Commission; House Bill 2417 would expand compensation eligibility for some wrongfully imprisoned people; House Bill 2813 would require earlier and more specific victim notice of scheduled court proceedings; and House Bill 2309 would expand state and local authority in certain civil asset forfeiture cases involving human trafficking, health care fraud, and organized crime. Each bill was laid out by its author or a member, with no opposition witnesses registered, and each was left pending. The committee also heard House Bill 4733, which would require sealing records for people acquitted of charges when they were not convicted on the related allegation; House Bill 2328, which would modernize expunction service by encouraging electronic notice, setting a standardized fee when electronic service is unavailable, extending clerk retention of expunction orders, and preserving certain mental health commitment orders; and House Bill 115, which would revise Texas’s “junk science” post-conviction writ law by providing counsel, changing the relief standard, requiring written decisions, and easing procedural barriers. Testimony on HB 2328 was mixed: county clerks supported the bill as a cost-saving modernization, while legal advocates warned that permanent retention of expunction orders could undermine true expunction and create privacy risks. HB 115 drew support from innocence and defense organizations, with some concern about a provision affecting subsequent writs. All were left pending after testimony. Later, the committee heard House Bill 2046, which would allow affirmative family-violence findings for any Penal Code offense rather than only Title V offenses; testimony from a Dallas County prosecutor and a committee member emphasized that family violence can involve arson, burglary, fraud, and other non-Title V conduct, and the bill was left pending. House Bill 1765 would tighten restrictions on no-knock warrants by requiring higher-level approval, judicial review, and identifiable officers; members discussed the dangers highlighted by the Harding Street raid and similar incidents, and the bill was also left pending. The meeting ended with the chair noting that some bills had been removed from the agenda at the author’s request and that members should be prepared to finalize the vote list the next day.

Transcript Highlights:

• storage units must post an advertisement of the sale not once but twice in a print newspaper in the county
• In fact, there are 27 counties in Texas that already have no printed newspaper in their county, and that
• Anybody in the world could register to, uh, look for bids in any county or any city in Texas.
• And if there is no newspaper in the county, there is no online presence.
• , uh, with an amazing, uh, Wharton County Junior College with satellite campuses.

Bills: HB 186

Keywords: public funds, lobbying activities, political subdivisions, government expenditure, transparency, local government, political subdivision, county, city, municipality, special district, taxpayer-funded lobbying, lobbying restriction, registered lobbyist, government association, county association dues, Texas Legislature, injunctive relief, attorney's fees, Chapter 556