Transcript Highlights:

• It authorizes the issuance of identification cards by the Department of Health and Human Services to

Bills: AB102, AB108, AB117, AB213, AB220, AB221, AB251, AB259, AB331, AB336, AB375, AB379, AB409, AB475, AB476, AB550, AB575, AB594, SB466

Keywords: emergency medical services, ambulance, licensing, health district, paramedic, training requirements, outdoor education, recreation, grant program, environment, funding, special license plates, vehicle registration, custom plates, state revenue, transportation, public works, prevailing wage, custom fabrication, nonstandard materials

Transcript Highlights:

• thousands of annual service hours, strengthening communities through education, economic empowerment, voter

Bills: HF3373, HF4449, HF3486, HF4180, HF4227, HF2505

Keywords: transportation, interchange, funding, bonds, St. Paul Park, transit, Metropolitan Council, Twin Cities, metro area, high-frequency transit, bus rapid transit, busway, guideway, transportation policy plan, transit performance measures, regional transit benchmarks, transit-oriented development, TOD, zoning, land use

Transcript Highlights:

• Oh, however, the House position is going to be a little bit different on the submission to the voters
• Oh, however, the House position is going to be a little bit different on the submission to the voters
• Oh, however, the House position is going to be a little bit different on the submission to the voters
• Oh, however, the House position is going to be a little bit different on the submission to the voters
• to the voters for the constitutional<00:54:18.400><c> amendment.

Bills: HF3900

Keywords: permanent school fund, school endowment fund, Minnesota constitutional amendment, school aid, public school funding, State Board of Investment, investment income, distributable amount, school districts, property taxes, income taxes, voter approval, ballot question, constitutional amendment 2026, education finance, fund perpetuity, purchasing power, trust lands, swamp lands, internal improvement land fund

Transcript Highlights:

• There's called a voter Thank you.
• tax rate, and how often voters have approved tax rates in excess of the voter-approval rate. ...how
• rate, and 19% of cities approved by voters tax rates above the voter-approval rate.
• counties had tax rates above the voter-approval rate that were approved by voters.
• And voters still have control.

Bills: SB9

Keywords: property tax, ad valorem tax, voter-approval tax rate, no-new-revenue tax rate, tax rate calculation, Tax Code, local government finance, municipality, county, special taxing unit, sales and use tax, property tax cap, tax rollback, tax levy, maintenance and operations, debt rate, disaster relief rate, Texas Legislature, local taxing unit

Summary: The Senate Committee on Local Government met to hear Senate Bill 9, which would lower the voter-approval tax rate for certain local taxing units from 3.5% to 2.5%. Sen. Bettencourt, the bill author, argued the change would continue the state’s property tax reforms begun in 2019, slow local levy growth, and give voters more say over larger tax increases. He and supporters cited data showing property tax levies have grown faster than population plus inflation, and said the bill would help protect taxpayers while preserving the state’s broader investments in school tax relief, water, rural law enforcement, and ambulance funding. Supporters included the Texas Taxpayers and Research Association, the Texas Association of Business, the Texas Public Policy Foundation, and the Texas Association of Manufacturers. They said the bill would improve transparency, encourage more disciplined budgeting, and create certainty for homeowners and businesses. They argued that lower tax-rate growth would help attract and retain employers and investment, and that voters would still be able to approve higher rates when needed. Local officials and other opponents said the bill would constrain cities and counties facing rapid growth, inflation, infrastructure needs, and public safety costs. Testimony from county judges, city finance officials, firefighters, and urban county representatives emphasized pressures from jail operations, roads, water, EMS, police and fire staffing, and unfunded mandates. Several witnesses asked for carve-outs or exemptions for public safety and disaster-related costs, warning that a one-size-fits-all cap could force service cuts or shift costs elsewhere. The committee heard extensive questioning but no final vote or disposition on the bill was taken in the portion provided.

Bills: HB104

Keywords: property tax, ad valorem tax, tax rate election, voter-approval tax rate, no-new-revenue tax rate, de minimis rate, local government, special district, tax increase, tax notice, public hearing, tax code, Health and Safety Code, Texas property taxes, taxing unit, election threshold, two-thirds vote, majority vote, budget approval

Bills: HB104

Keywords: property tax, ad valorem tax, tax rate election, voter-approval tax rate, no-new-revenue tax rate, de minimis rate, local government, special district, tax increase, tax notice, public hearing, tax code, Health and Safety Code, Texas property taxes, taxing unit, election threshold, two-thirds vote, majority vote, budget approval

Transcript Highlights:

• to their ballot, but it explicitly states to not release the voters' information.
• These databases... ...change as voters move, and this makes vote history data degrade as time passes.
• We also require daily reconciliation of ballots to voters during early voting, as some counties only
• So the idea is to allow a way for that voter to make corrections so that their vote does count.
• ballots and provide those voters a corrective action form.

Bills: SB1065, SB2117, SB2217, SB2363, SB2533, SB2742, SB2743, SB2881, SB2964, SB3013, SB3014

Keywords: SB 1065, handgun carry, license holder, concealed carry, open carry, government contracts, governmental entity, property lease, state agencies, local government, higher education, university, Texas Government Code, Penal Code 30.06, Penal Code 30.07, Penal Code 46.03, Second Amendment, gun rights, firearms, civil penalty

Transcript Highlights:

• , but it says do not release the voters.
• Required daily reconciliation of ballots to voters during early voting.
• It's a clerical problem, but a real voter sent that in, so the idea is to allow a way for that voter.
• This gave voters the chance to address simple.
• Bill 15. those voters a corrective action form.

Bills: SB1065, SB2117, SB2217, SB2363, SB2533, SB2742, SB2743, SB2881, SB2964, SB3013, SB3014

Keywords: SB 1065, handgun carry, license holder, concealed carry, open carry, government contracts, governmental entity, property lease, state agencies, local government, higher education, university, Texas Government Code, Penal Code 30.06, Penal Code 30.07, Penal Code 46.03, Second Amendment, gun rights, firearms, civil penalty

Transcript Highlights:

• First, the district attorney, as an elected official, presumably executes the will of the voters with
• So back when I was director of voter registration, in the code, it required you...
• So all these cases where you had clear voter fraud going on were never, never seen.
• But I consider that to be a successful prosecution of voter fraud.
• There, the college student that was signing the voter certificates for him, and you had a successful

Bills: SB1065, SB2117, SB2217, SB2363, SB2533, SB2742, SB2743, SB2881, SB2964, SB3013, SB3014

Keywords: SB 1065, handgun carry, license holder, concealed carry, open carry, government contracts, governmental entity, property lease, state agencies, local government, higher education, university, Texas Government Code, Penal Code 30.06, Penal Code 30.07, Penal Code 46.03, Second Amendment, gun rights, firearms, civil penalty

Summary: The Senate State Affairs Committee heard testimony on Senate Bill 1065, which would require government property contracts to prohibit contractors from barring licensed handgun holders from carrying firearms on leased or owned public property, with civil penalties and attorney general enforcement for violations. Senator Hall and invited witnesses from the Texas State Rifle Association, NRA, and Texas Gun Rights argued the bill would close a loophole exposed by the State Fair of Texas gun ban and protect law-abiding Texans’ self-defense rights. Opponents, including Moms Demand Action/Everytown, said the bill would undermine event organizers’ ability to set site-specific safety rules and could increase liability and insurance costs. Public testimony was then closed and the bill was left pending. The committee next took up Senate Bill 2742, which would create civil penalties for independent school districts and officials who use public resources for electioneering, waive immunity defenses, and expand attorney general enforcement. Senator Hagan-Bood said current law bans the conduct but lacks meaningful penalties, making injunctions the only remedy. No public testimony was heard, and the bill was left pending. Finally, the committee heard Senate Bill 2743, also by Senator Hagan-Bood, which would allow a court to disqualify local prosecutors who refuse to prosecute election offenses and appoint the attorney general to handle the case, with a committee substitute adjusting the removal process through an adjacent-county judge. Opponents from the Texas Civil Rights Project argued the bill would undermine prosecutorial discretion and was vague and open to abuse, while a Harris County election official described past instances where alleged voter fraud cases were not pursued. After testimony, public comment was closed and SB 2743 was left pending.

Transcript Highlights:

• Choosing their voters and the voters choosing their representatives, that's what you're saying. >> For
• </c><00:02:27.720><c> Choosing</c><00:02:28.000><c> their</c><00:02:28.120><c> voters</c> &gt;&gt; Hold
• Choosing their voters &gt;&gt; Hold on.
• Choosing their voters and<00:02:29.200><c> the</c><00:02:29.280><c> voters</c><00:02:29.600><c> choosing
• </c> and the voters choosing and the voters choosing choosing<00:02:31.000><c> their</c><00:02:31.320

Bills: SB237, HB541, SB237, HB541

Keywords: hemp, hemp beverages, psychoactive cannabinoids, psychoactive hemp products, delta-8 THC, delta-9 THC, delta-10 THC, cannabidiol, CBD, intoxicating hemp, hemp-derived THC, cannabis regulation, marijuana alternatives, alcoholic beverage control, ABC Board, licensing, permit, excise tax, age verification, under 21

Transcript Highlights:

• There are two types of voter registration databases: a county voter registration database maintained
• Each auditor enters and maintains voter registration records in the official statewide voter registration
• or files regarding a voter or a group of voters is available for public inspection and copying: the voter's
• I think that is important voter privacy, and I look at this as a good voter privacy protection bill.
• encourage clean voter rolls.

Bills: SCR8406, SB5892, SB5863

Keywords: civic health, community engagement, committee reestablishment, public participation, governance, voter registration database, election security, public records exemption, Secretary of State, county elections office, election infrastructure, cybersecurity, ballot signatures, ballot return envelopes, signature correction forms, voter privacy, personal identifying information, Social Security number, driver's license number, state ID number

Summary: The committee heard testimony on three measures. SB 5892 would tighten control over public records requests for the statewide voter registration database, requiring requests to be handled by the Secretary of State, barring county election offices from producing records from that database, and creating Class C felony penalties for unauthorized disclosure of certain sensitive voter information. The Secretary of State supported the bill as a clarification/update for the VoteWA system, while one public witness opposed it, arguing it could undermine clean voter rolls and election integrity. The committee also heard SCR 8406, which would reestablish the Joint Select Committee on Civic Health and expand its membership. Supporters, including the Lieutenant Governor, Senator Lovick, Representative Dye, and others, described the committee as a way to continue work on respectful dialogue, common ground, and civic education. Testimony emphasized that the committee’s work helps strengthen democracy and civic engagement, and no opposition was presented. Finally, SB 5863 would extend the moratorium on destroying Lakeland Village records until fiscal year 2030 and make restricted records transferred to state archives open to inspection after 75 years without requiring a separate archivist determination. Senator Kaufman and several advocates testified in support, saying the bill would preserve disability history, protect evidence and accountability, and honor former residents and their families. After hearing testimony on all three measures, the chair closed the hearings and announced the committee would caucus on scheduled bills; no votes were taken in the transcript.

Transcript Highlights:

• First of all, 56% of voters in a 2023 study supported guaranteed income.
• That's a matter between, I guess you know, voters and their, you know, the folks they vote for at the
• Voters in the city of Lubbock rejected a citizen-initiated measure in 2024, Proposition A, that sought
• We would still be heading off the issue before it misleads the voters frankly.
• Now these are just a few likely illegal measures put before voters of late.

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

Bills: HR1037, HR1043, SB1491, SB1451, SB1286, SB1581, SB1521, SB201, SB1290, SB169, SB1377, SB1991, SB1346, SB1509, SB1928, SB2028, SB2071, SB2110, SB2117, SB2127, SB2134, SB722, SB3

Keywords: National Poetry Month, poetry, education, cultural celebration, arts and humanities, child abuse, prevention, community support, family safety, child welfare, presidential electors, vacancies, oath of office, political party, elections, voter registration, election integrity, Secretary of State, cancellation of registration, gender neutrality

Bills: HR1037, HR1043, SB1491, SB1451, SB1286, SB1581, SB1521, SB201, SB1290, SB169, SB1377, SB1991, SB1346, SB1509, SB1928, SB2028, SB2071, SB2110, SB2117, SB2127, SB2134, SB722, SB3

Keywords: National Poetry Month, poetry, education, cultural celebration, arts and humanities, child abuse, prevention, community support, family safety, child welfare, presidential electors, vacancies, oath of office, political party, elections, voter registration, election integrity, Secretary of State, cancellation of registration, gender neutrality

Summary: The House convened, completed the roll call, prayer, pledge, and a series of ceremonial recognitions and introductions. Chaplain Ronnie Wilson delivered the invocation, and the chamber honored Veteran of the Week Bobby Joe Floyd for his Army service and decades in Oklahoma law enforcement. Members also recognized a visiting youth performer, Nova Williams, and adopted House Resolution 1037 recognizing April as National Poetry Month and House Resolution 1043 recognizing Child Abuse Prevention Month. The House also featured several special presentations tied to Caregivers Day, including introductions of Dr. Mukesh Perrek as Doctor of the Day, Dr. Colby Kipp as Psychologist of the Day, and Cynthia Cothram as Nurse of the Day. Additional guests from Stillwater Medical Center and Share Medical Center were welcomed, and Representative West presented Metropolitan Library System poet laureate Hallie Waugh, reading one of her poems in honor of Poetry Month. Representative Hill then recognized the week’s pages, highlighting students from across Oklahoma and their academic and extracurricular achievements. In floor action, Representative Schreiber moved to request further conference on House Bill 1851, and the motion was adopted without objection. The House also reassigned measures according to the Majority Floor Leader’s list. After announcements, Representative Kennedy hosted a special presentation for the Oklahoma Rifle Association and NRA-related guests, and the House adjourned until Tuesday, April 7, 2026, at 9:30 a.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• form of government issued identification form of government issued identification basically your hunting
• fishing only and that's the only form of and that's the only form of and that's the only form of identification
• they can be used for I identification they can be used for I identification they can be used for I have
• have no other reasons for in May of 23 I have no other reasons for bringing that but this as identification
• bringing that but this as identification bringing that but this as identification purposes we put them

Bills: SB82, SB78, SB4, SB6, SB62, SB66, SB77, SB63, SB79, SB53, SB55, HB14

Keywords: SB82, warrant recall, outstanding warrants, stale warrants, misdemeanor warrants, Class B misdemeanor, Class C misdemeanor, municipal magistrate, circuit court clerk, criminal procedure, court administration, docket cleanup, warrant audit, law enforcement notification, domestic violence, sex offense, weapons offense, deadly weapon, dangerous instrument, felony-related charges

Transcript Highlights:

• She had a number of emails that came in, specifically saying, as a voter in your district, I want to
• She had a number of emails that came in specifically saying, as a voter in your district, I want to lift

Bills: SB41, SB153, SB165, SB261, SB264

Keywords: sexual crimes, statute of limitations, criminal justice, victim rights, child abuse, procurement, contracting, small business, local government, disaster recovery, emergency procurement, certification, public spending, juvenile justice, delinquency, rehabilitation, community corrections, risk assessment, public safety, health regulations

Bills: HB46

Keywords: local government spending cap, expenditure limit, political subdivision, property tax, ad valorem tax, budget cap, taxpayer protection, spending restraint, inflation adjustment, population growth, voter approval, supermajority vote, county budget, municipal budget, school district finance, junior college district, hospital district, special district, attorney general enforcement, local fiscal limits

Bills: SB1312, SB1323, SB1599, SB1863, SB1932, SB1950, SB1956, SB1958, SB1966, SB1970, SB2052

Keywords: vehicle registration, automatic payments, Service Oklahoma, taxes, motor vehicle, prepayment program, memorial designation, highway, Sheriff Marty Grisham, transportation, Oklahoma Statutes, memorial bridge, dedication, Oklahoma, commemoration, memorial highway, road designation, John Skelley, motor carrier, administrative hearing

Summary: The Senate Aeronautics and Transportation Committee heard several memorial highway and bridge designation bills and one substantive aviation/tax bill. The committee advanced SB 1323 (Marty Grisham memorial signage), SB 1863 (John Skelly Memorial Highway), SB 1932 (allowing a trucking company owner or other designated representative to appear without a lawyer in certain Corporation Commission administrative hearings), SB 1956 (Captain David Ward Neely Memorial Highway), SB 1970 (Private Earl Maggerton Memorial Bridge), and SB 1599 (Arlen Francis Wetzel Memorial Bridge). These measures were generally presented as honorary designations or procedural changes, with brief questions mainly about mileage or fiscal impact, and they all passed committee by voice or roll-call votes. The most extensive discussion centered on SB 1950, which would prohibit government entities or private vendors from using ADS-B aircraft tracking data to calculate, generate, or collect fees. Supporters argued that using the federally required safety system for fee collection encourages pilots to turn off ADS-B, undermining air safety, and said airports can collect fees through other methods. Opponents and committee members raised concerns that the bill could hinder lawful tax and fee collection, including aircraft excise taxes and landing fees, and that it might reduce revenue for airports and the state. After testimony from the bill author, an aviation association representative, and the Oklahoma Department of Aerospace and Aeronautics director, the committee laid the bill over at the author’s request. The committee also heard SB 1312, which would have allowed owners of electric and hybrid vehicles to prepay the annual road-use fee over time rather than paying it in one lump sum. The author said the goal was to reduce the burden on low-income drivers and small businesses, but concerns were raised about fiscal impact and implementation. After title was stricken to allow further work, the bill failed on a 5-6 vote. The chair also announced that some items would be laid over and that the committee would not meet the following week.

Transcript Highlights:

• This simply asks the voters to move it from the constitution to the statute.
• Based on past voter turnout, approximately how many Oklahoma voters engage in a special election in August
• Eligible voters are invited to and encouraged to participate in every election.
• , registered voters in Oklahoma, are participating in the process.
• Oklahomans voters prioritized it.

Bills: HB4440, HJR1067, HJR1087, HJR1089

Keywords: Medicaid, low-income adults, healthcare, eligibility restrictions, constitutional amendment, Medicaid expansion, SoonerCare, health coverage, federal matching funds, FMAP, Article XXV-A, state question, special election, Title 63, public assistance, healthcare funding, federal-state match, Medicaid eligibility, Oklahoma Constitution, ad valorem

Transcript Highlights:

• For driver's license and identification card holders... ...for driver's license and identification card
• That is correct, unless a voter requests to vote using the voter interface device.
• Voter fraud is already a felony.
• Voter fraud is already a felony.
• of eligible registered voters.

Bills: S0174, S1342, S1334, S1362, S1602, S1604

Keywords: transportation, memorial, honorary designation, Miami-Dade, Charlie Kirk, transit-oriented development, housing affordability, mixed-use zoning, urban development, traffic congestion, elections, voter registration, citizenship, provisional ballots, election fraud, vertiports, aviation, airport infrastructure, economic development, veterans

Summary: The committee first heard CS for SB 1342 on transit-oriented development by Senator Rouson, which seeks to expand housing near fixed transit corridors by updating TOD definitions and applying Live Local-style land-use principles to those areas. An amendment narrowed definitions, limited the bill to land-use and development regulations, removed a private cause of action, and added exclusions for environmentally sensitive areas, historic properties, and military installations. Supporters said the bill would increase housing supply near existing infrastructure and maximize the state’s transit investments, while local government groups and city leagues opposed it as a sweeping preemption of local zoning authority that could force high-density development without public hearings or adequate infrastructure planning. The committee adopted the amendment and then reported the bill favorably. The committee then took up CS for SB 1334 on elections by Senator Grall, which would require documentary proof of citizenship in voter registration and related election processes, update how citizenship is verified through REAL ID and the SAVE database, clarify that paper ballots are the primary voting method, and add other election-related changes such as candidate eligibility rules and timelines. Two technical amendments were adopted. During extended questioning, senators raised concerns about how documents would be submitted and stored, whether voters without Florida IDs or REAL IDs—especially students, disabled voters, seniors, and homeless Floridians—could be flagged or burdened, and what fiscal and workload impacts the bill would have on supervisors of elections and state agencies. Supporters argued the bill would streamline verification and reduce duplicate paperwork, while many public speakers and some senators said it would create barriers to voting, increase costs, and risk disenfranchising eligible voters. The transcript ends during debate on the bill, before a final vote is shown. Later, the committee considered CS for SB 1362 on advanced air mobility by Senator Harrell. A strike-all amendment aligned the bill with the House version and added vertiports and charging systems as eligible projects for public-private partnership funding, with FDOT authorized to fund certain vertiport costs within available resources. The bill drew support from industry and local representatives, and the committee adopted the amendment and reported the bill favorably. The committee also heard SB 174, which designates a portion of State Road 985 in Miami-Dade County as Charlie Kirk Memorial Avenue and directs FDOT to install markers at an estimated cost of $2,400. The bill prompted significant debate over whether Kirk’s legacy warranted a state road designation, with opponents citing his controversial statements and arguing the honor was political and divisive, while supporters said the designation recognizes civic engagement near FIU and is symbolic rather than regulatory. The transcript ends during debate on SB 174, before any final action is shown.