Video & Transcript Research : 'Senate Concurrent Resolution'
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VT
Vermont 2025-2026 Regular Session
Senate Session - 2026-05-20 - 10:00AM
Vermont Senate Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- on the part of the Senate: Senator Hashmi, Senator Vitelli, Senator Matos.
- Yes. >> Senator Balint. Yes. >> Senator Brennan. Yes. >> Senator Brock. Yes. >> Senator Whitney.
- Yes. >> Senator Giuli. Yes. >> Senator Hardy. Yes. >> Senator Harrison. Yes. >> Senator Hashim.
- No. >> Senator Perchlik. Yes. >> Senator Plunkett. Yes. >> Senator Ram. Yes. >> Senator Watson.
- Yes. >> Senator White. Yes. >> Senator Weston. Yes. >> Senator White. Senator Williams.
LA
Louisiana 2026 Regular Session
Transportation, Highways and Public Works May 18th, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- Vice Chair, members, Senate Bill 431 by Senator Foil requires tow-truck companies to be open seven days
- Thank you, Senator Foyle.
- Thank you, Senator. Thank you. Thank you, Rep. Phelps. Rep. Murray.
- Vice Chair, members, House Concurrent Resolution 96 by Representative Adams urges and requests the Department
- So I really like this resolution.
Summary:
The House Transportation Committee met on May 18, 2026, with a quorum present and first took up Senate Bill 431 by Senator Foil. As amended, the bill requires tow companies handling non-consensual private-property tows to have someone available to release vehicles within 90 minutes on weekends if they want to charge storage fees for Saturday and Sunday. Senator Foil and Louisiana State Police explained the bill was narrowed to address weekend access to towed vehicles while not mandating businesses stay open; if a company does not provide weekend access, it cannot charge weekend storage fees. Committee members asked about how the process would work, and a representative from Riverside Towing opposed the bill, citing safety concerns, the burden on office staff, and the bill’s limited application to private-property tows rather than police-initiated tows. Despite the opposition, the committee adopted a motion to report SB 431 favorably without objection.
The committee then considered House Concurrent Resolution 96 by Representative Adams, which urges the Office of Motor Vehicles to provide educational materials on proper roundabout use. Representative Adams said the resolution was intended to help drivers in smaller parishes and growing areas where roundabouts are common but confusing to many motorists. Representative Spell supported the measure, noting similar issues in his district, and Representative Phelps asked whether roundabout instruction is included in driver education. The committee reported HCR 96 favorably without objection.
At the end of the meeting, members made brief personal remarks recognizing a new DOTD staff member and a visitor from the Florida Women’s Republican group. The committee then adjourned without objection.
NH
Transcript Highlights:
- <00:23:24.320>
resolved with the following resolution resolved with the following resolution - to teach part-time dual or concurrent to teach part-time dual or concurrent courses<00:51:16.480
- <02:38:01.120>
Senator is inexpedient to legislate. Senator is inexpedient to legislate. - <04:52:23.520>
Senator is inexpedient to legislate. Senator is inexpedient to legislate. - same with the following resolution. same with the following resolution.
MN
Transcript Highlights:
- The concurrence of the Senate is respectfully requested.
- by the House, in which amendments the concurrence of the Senate is respectfully requested.
- concurrence of the Senate is concurrence of the Senate is respectfully<00:10:31.440>
requested. - concurrence of the senate is concurrence of the senate is respectfully<00:14:46.959>
requested. - Members, Senate resolutions 82 prevails.
OK
Oklahoma 2026 Regular Session
Joint Committee on State - Tribal Relations Jan 28th, 2026 at 01:30 pm
Joint Committee on State-Tribal Relations
Transcript Highlights:
- Yeah, if the Senate will do the Rocco, Senator Boren, Senator Coleman, Senator Gallagher, Senator Rader
- , Senator Howard, 5 present.
- Senator Rader had a question. Senator Borene, I'll come back to you. Davellard did on the Strobel.
- Senator Boren, Senator Coleman, Senator Gallagher, Senator Rader, Senator Howard. O, ayes one, nay.
- Senator Boren, Senator Coleman, Senator Gallagher, Senator Rader, Senator Howard. O, ayes one, nay.
VA
Transcript Highlights:
- its concurrence.
- Speaker, a message from the Senate. Senator from Eastern Fairfax, Senator Surovell.
- Next up, new category: House joint resolutions with Senate amendments.
- Senate legislation: Senate Bills 490, 553, and 640.
- The Senate has rejected the House amendments to the following Senate legislation, Senate bills 490, 553
MS
Mississippi 2026 Regular Session
MS House Floor - 14 January, 2026; 2:00 PM
Mississippi House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- Resolutions, HCR 8, 9, and 11, in a block.
- If you favor the resolutions, vote aye. If you favor the resolutions, vote aye.
- <00:17:42.800>
Resolutions I vote 120 aye, zero nays. - Resolutions I vote 120 aye, zero nays. Resolutions are<00:17:43.640>
adopted. - Any questions on the resolutions?
Summary:
The House convened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, during which the guest minister, Rev. Dr. Jeffrey Gladney, offered a prayer focused on justice, health care, public education, accessible elections, and economic progress across Mississippi. Members then introduced several guests, including a doctor of the day, local officials, former legislators, and visitors in the galleries.
On the calendar, the House adopted several blocks of House Concurrent Resolutions and House Resolutions, with the recorded vote on one block showing 120 yeas and 0 nays. The chamber then took up House Bill 325, which removes the sunset repealer from the lottery-funded transportation program so the first $80 million continues to go to transportation and the remainder to the education enhancement fund. The sponsor said the bill does not change the program’s substance and is intended to allow MDOT to keep planning beyond 2028; a question was raised about whether education enhancement funds could later be redirected to PERS, and the sponsor said that could be considered later. The bill passed 121 yeas, 0 nays.
Later, members made announcements, including notice of committee meetings and a Mississippi State Medical Association Alliance screening event. The House also observed the death of former Representative Jerry Wilburn and agreed to adjourn in his memory, with the full membership added as co-authors unless they opt out. The House then adjourned until 10:00 a.m. the next day.
FL
Florida 2026 5th Special Session
Transportation Nov 4th, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- Senator Errington. Senator Davis. Senator Jones. Senator Martin. Senator McLean. Senator Trunow.
- Senators, any questions? Thank you, sir. Senators, any questions?
- Senator Davis, Senators. Senator Arrington, you are recognized. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
- Thank you, Senator.
- Thank you, Senator.
Summary:
The Committee on Transportation received a presentation from the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles on Florida’s camera-based traffic enforcement programs: red light cameras, school bus stop-arm cameras, and school zone speed cameras. The department explained how the programs work, including human review of recorded violations, issuance of civil notices to vehicle owners, and escalation to uniform traffic citations if unpaid or uncontested. Officials also outlined the fee structure and reported preliminary data showing 42 red light camera jurisdictions, 496 red light cameras, and more than 923,000 notices of violation in fiscal year 2024-2025, along with growth in school zone and school bus programs. Senators asked about camera placement, signage, review procedures, and whether reviewers or vendors receive revenue from citations; several questions were left for follow-up because the witness did not have all statutory or operational details.
The committee then heard an update from FDOT Secretary Jared Perdue on the Moving Florida Forward Infrastructure Initiative, funded by a $4 billion general revenue investment leveraged into a $7 billion program for 20 major projects. He said the initiative is advancing high-priority congestion relief projects across the state, with 80% of the plan expected to be underway by the end of 2026 and the remaining projects in 2027. Perdue highlighted new delivery methods such as modified phased design-build, voluntary acceleration, and structured acceleration, along with workforce and supply-chain efforts, including regional hiring events and aggregate planning. He cited projects such as I-4 congestion relief lanes, Golden Glades, I-95 at US-1, I-75 auxiliary lanes, and I-275 improvements as examples of the program’s progress.
Members questioned FDOT about traffic management during construction, subcontracting opportunities for small businesses, public transit planning, contractor safety and fatalities, bridge strikes, logistics access near ports and airports, aggregate supply, local government coordination, and federal funding uncertainty. Perdue said FDOT continuously reevaluates traffic control plans, works with local governments and industry partners, uses small business participation targets, and requires contractors to be in good standing with OSHA and to implement corrective action plans after incidents. He also said Florida’s transportation revenues are flat, the state remains largely state-funded, and additional resources are the main need for future transportation delivery. The committee adjourned after the chair requested FDOT staff provide senators with district-specific project information.
FL
Transcript Highlights:
- Senator Errington. Senator Davis. Senator Jones. Senator Martin. Senator McLean. Senator Trunow.
- Senators, any questions? Thank you, sir. Senators, any questions?
- Thank you, Senator.
- Thank you, Senator.
- Thank you, Senator.
Summary:
The Committee on Transportation received a presentation from the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles on Florida’s camera-based traffic enforcement programs: red light cameras, school bus stop-arm cameras, and school zone speed cameras. The department explained how each program works, the distinction between a civil notice of violation and a uniform traffic citation, and the fee distribution for each type of violation. It also reported preliminary data showing 42 jurisdictions operating red light cameras, with 496 cameras at 302 intersections and 923,133 notices of violation in fiscal year 2024-2025; for the newer school bus and school zone programs, the department said preliminary figures showed five active school bus programs and 40 active school zone programs, with prior-year totals of 61,150 school bus notices and 26,300 school zone notices. Senators asked about camera placement, school zone requirements, review procedures, and whether law enforcement or third parties are involved in reviewing violations.
The committee then received an update from FDOT Secretary Jared Perdue on the Moving Florida Forward Infrastructure Initiative, which used $4 billion in general revenue to advance a $7 billion package of 20 major congestion-relief projects. He said the department has used innovative delivery methods, including modified phased design-build, voluntary acceleration, and structured acceleration, to move projects forward faster and control costs. He highlighted progress on projects including I-4 congestion relief lanes, the Golden Glades Interchange, I-95 at US-1, I-75 auxiliary lanes, I-75 at Pine Ridge Road, and I-275 in Tampa, and said 80% of the plan is expected to be underway by the end of 2026, with four projects remaining in 2027.
Members asked about temporary traffic patterns at Golden Glades, subcontractor opportunities, public transportation planning, contractor safety and OSHA issues, bridge strikes, logistics hubs near airports and seaports, aggregate and material supply, local government coordination, and federal transportation funding. Secretary Perdue said FDOT continuously reevaluates traffic management plans, works with small businesses and local subs, and monitors contractor safety closely, including corrective action plans after incidents. He emphasized that Florida’s transportation revenues are flat, that the state remains largely state-funded, and that additional resources are the main thing the Legislature can provide to support future infrastructure delivery. The committee adjourned after the chair requested FDOT staff provide senators with district-specific project updates.
HI
Transcript Highlights:
- Senator Chang, here. Senator Dit, here. Senator Decort, here. Senator Dela Cruz, excused.
- Senator Hashimoto, here. Senator Ihara, excused. Senator Inouye, present. Senator Kanuha.
- Senator Kouchi. Senator Kidani. Senator Kimator. Senator Lamosao, here. Senator Lee, here.
- Senator McKelvie, hi. Senator Moriwaki. Senator Rhoads. Senator Richards, here.
- On page two, introduction of measures: Senate Concurrent Resolution 6 for referral to committee.
AZ
Arizona 2026 Regular Session
03/03/2026 - House Republican Caucus Calendar #8 and #9
Transcript Highlights:
- members, the Committee on Appropriations adopted an amended strike-everything amendment to House Concurrent
- Resolution 2007.
- remain as it is and won't have a bunch of more things put onto it between now and the end of the Senate
- The end of the Senate, and I obviously take them at their word, and yeah. Any further discussion?
- Madam Witt, members, Senate Bill 1242 allows the court, on its own motion or by request of a party, to
Summary:
The meeting was a caucus-style review of two packets of bills, with staff reading summaries and members briefly explaining several measures. Topics included appropriations for pregnancy resource centers, home- and community-based services for the elderly and people with disabilities, veteran specialty courts, child care grants and infrastructure, language acquisition services for deaf or hard-of-hearing infants and toddlers, ambulance service regulation, short-term rental rules, tourism improvement areas, manufactured home installer licensure, CPR/AED training in schools, veterans’ park fee exemptions, and multiple child welfare and family-court bills. Several Senate bills were also reviewed, including optometry standards, behavior analyst licensure transfer, virtual mental health hearings, and assisted-living residency rules.
Members speaking for bills emphasized themes such as supporting aging in place, improving rural ambulance access and reporting, protecting children in DCS cases, preventing poverty alone from being treated as neglect, and expanding access to health screenings and services. Other sponsors described measures to help veterans, strengthen school safety, and create local funding or improvement mechanisms for tourism and child care. Some bills were described as technical or administrative changes, such as post-nuptial agreement rules, tax lien procedures, and local government contract posting requirements.
No formal votes were taken in the transcript excerpt, but many bills were noted as being on the consent calendar or third-read consent calendar, while a few had been removed from consent or were not yet on a calendar. The meeting concluded after the final bill on the second packet, HB 4025, was summarized as creating a study committee on gasoline and petroleum refinery feasibility.
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- Senator lays out the following resolution. The Secretary will read the resolution.
- Senate Resolution 496 by Hall, recognizing May 7, 2025, as Leadership Garland Day at the State Capitol
- Senator Hall, you're recognized on the resolution. Thank you, Mr. President.
- Senate Bill 1532, Senate Bill 1619, Senate Bill 1745, Senate Bill 1745, Senate Bill 1746, Senate Bill
- Senate Resolution 503 by Zaffirini, Senate Resolution 504 by Flores. Members, this is a voice vote.
Summary:
The Senate convened with a quorum present, heard an invocation, adopted the prior day’s journal, received House messages, and adopted several resolutions and recognitions, including Senate Resolution 496 honoring Leadership Garland and resolutions 503 and 504. The chamber also recognized guests, including a North Dakota senator and the Doctor of the Day, and received gubernatorial nominations for the Texas Economic Development Corporation Board and the Nueces River Authority Board.
The Senate then took up and passed a series of bills, often by suspending the regular order and the constitutional three-day rule. Measures approved included SB 614 on Texas Forensic Science Commission referrals to the Office of Capital and Forensic Writs; SB 250 on municipal annexation across railroad rights-of-way; SB 1660 on toxicological evidence retention and destruction procedures; SB 2586 requiring property owners associations to file governing documents with the Texas Real Estate Commission; SB 1588 increasing penalties for certain failures to report child sexual abuse; HB 912 on compensation for distributed renewable generation outside ERCOT; SB 1957 setting eligibility standards for civilian oversight boards; HB 2525 clarifying a charitable property tax exemption; SB 1525 limiting repeated prior authorization for neurodegenerative disease drugs; SB 865 requiring CPR/AED training and cardiac emergency response planning in schools; SB 1212 elevating human trafficking penalties; SB 2690 on solicitations for Secretary of State documents; SB 1802 on landlord repair duties for ramps, elevators, and handrails; SB 905 on licensing rules for speech-language pathologists and audiologists; SB 2929 allowing removal of disruptive spectators at school athletic events; SB 2675 creating a narrow McAllen-specific parkland conveyance exception; SB 872 increasing punishment for burglary of a vehicle involving firearm theft; and SB 1113 clarifying sales rules for certain converter-license holders.
Several bills drew extended debate. SB 2487, dealing with crisis and mental health services for homelessness, was amended to make the county model permissive rather than mandatory and to remove state funding/assistance requirements before passing 28-3. SB 2138, barring higher education funds from contracting with firms that boycott fossil fuels through ESG policies, also passed after questions about fiscal effects and First Amendment concerns. SB 2615, restricting remote work at public institutions of higher education, advanced 22-9. The Senate also began consideration of SB 3016, which would expand enforcement tools against local governments that fail to comply with state law, but the transcript cuts off before action on that bill is completed.
MS
Mississippi 2026 Regular Session
MS Senate Floor - 12 March, 2026; 10:00 AM
Mississippi Senate Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- Senator Chism. Senator DeBar. Senator Delano. Senator Dupree. Senator England. Senator Fillingane.
- Clark, please read the resolution. >> Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 506, a concurrent resolution honoring
- Senate Resolution Number 56, a resolution commending and congratulating the Sumrall High School Bobcat
- , for concurrence and non-concurrence. >> Senator DeBar. >> Thank you, Mr.
- Senator Chisholm. President, thank you. Uh, introduction of resolution out of order.
Summary:
The Senate convened with a quorum present, opened with prayer and the pledge, and then dispensed with the reading of the journal, committee reports, and bill titles. The chamber also recognized several guests and groups, including the doctor of the day, visitors from Quebec, the Sumrall High School boys soccer team, Starkville public safety officials, and the Hattiesburg High School choral arts program. A resolution honoring the long-standing partnership between Quebec and Mississippi was read and adopted, and Ms. Nathalie Rivard of Quebec addressed the Senate about historical ties and economic cooperation between Quebec and Mississippi.
The Senate then moved through a series of procedural actions on the calendar, including multiple motions to table reconsideration on medical cannabis and ARPA-related bills, and several motions to not concur and invite conference on workforce and budget measures. Among those were Senate Bill 2294, the Mississippi Future Innovators Act, Senate Bill 2288 on workforce training, Senate Bill 2401 on workforce development, Senate Bill 2189 on budget transfers, Senate Bill 2895 on ARPA funds, and Senate Bill 2917 on appropriations transfers. These motions were adopted, sending the measures to conference or otherwise advancing them as noted.
A major portion of the meeting focused on appropriations bills. House Bill 1935, the Education Department appropriation, was explained in detail and adopted after a strike-all amendment; the bill includes funding for the student formula, teacher and assistant pay raises, special education supplements, school attendance officers, testing contracts, early learning coaches, and CTE instructor raises, with offsets from reduced or eliminated line items such as school safety platforms and certain vendor programs. The Senate also adopted strike-all amendments and passed House Bills 1936 and 1937 for Mississippi Public Broadcasting and the Library Commission, and then moved on to House Bill 1933 for the Bureau of Building. The Senate recessed until 2:30 p.m. and announced an appropriations meeting shortly after recess, while leadership noted that many supplemental appropriations bills would be considered later with attention to whether they contained reverse repealers and would go to conference or final passage.
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- Senator Gutierrez? Present. Senator Hall? Present. Senator Hancock? Present. Senator Hughes?
- Senator Colcourse? Present. Senator Menendez? Present. Senator Middleton? Present. Senator Myles?
- Senator Nichols? Present. Senator Perry? Present. Senator Schwertner? Present.
- Concurrent resolution number seven by [Zaffirini](link from function call) granting permission of either
- Chair: Senator Zaffirini moves adoption of the resolution.
Bills:
SCR7
Keywords:
legislature, adjournment, permissions, Texas Constitution, session, legislative authority, 1185, senate, all
MO
Missouri 2026 Regular Session
2026 Legislative Session - Day Seventy - Thursday, May 14 - Morning Session
Missouri House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- The next order of business will be Senate bills for third reading: Senate Substitute for Senate Bill
- It is not final until approved by a concurrent resolution of the General Assembly. Right.
- Senate Bill 1196.
- up and passed Senate Committee Substitute for House Bill 1740, in which the concurrence of the House
- up and passed Senate Committee substitute for House Bill 1740 in which the concurrence of the House
NM
New Mexico 2026 Regular Session
House - Chamber Meeting Feb 3rd, 2026 at 11:09 am
New Mexico House Floor Meeting
Bills:
HB34, HM7, HM8, HM17, HM3, HM11, HM14, HM15, HM21, HM25, HM34, HB95, HB111, SB1, HJR1, HM4, HM22
Keywords:
HB34, school nurse, school nurses, nurse licensure, licensure, charter school, charter schools, school district, public education, Department of Health, Public Education Department, registered nurse, RN, mentorship, evaluation, competency, teacher salary parity, minimum salary, level one license, level two license
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Floor Session Apr 21st, 2025
California House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- Messages from the Senate, there are none.
- We're going to move on to item 48, House Resolution 25 for the Assembly's.
- I rise in support of House Resolution 25 on behalf of the Legislative Women's Caucus.
- Resolution is adopted. commemorate the 110th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide.
- Assembly concurrent resolution 56 by Assemblymember Michelle Rodriguez relative to Parkinson's disease
FL
Florida 2026 Regular Session
FL House Floor Session - 2025-02-13 (12:00PM Session)
Florida House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- has adopted Senate Memorial 6C and request the concurrence of the House.
- has passed Senate Bill 4C and requests the concurrence of the House.
- I listened to the Senate debate on this, and I listened to Senator Pizzo, and Senator Pizzo is a former
- I listened to the Senate debate on this, and I listened to Senator Pizzo, and Senator Pizzo is a former
- has passed Senate Bill 2C and requests the concurrence of the House.
Summary:
The House convened with prayer, a moment of silence for the Parkland shooting victims, quorum call, and the Pledge of Allegiance. The Rules and Ethics Committee special order report for February 13, 2025 was adopted, setting the day’s special order calendar and debate times. The chamber then took up immigration-related special order items, beginning with Senate Memorial 6C, which urged the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to provide guidance and training for 287(g) agreements. Members debated federal immigration policy and state cooperation with DHS, and the memorial passed 85-27.
The House next considered Senate Bill 4C, an immigration bill creating new state offenses related to unlawful entry and reentry into Florida and requiring a mandatory death sentence for an unauthorized alien convicted of a capital felony. Members questioned the bill’s constitutionality, including Supremacy Clause, due process, and Eighth Amendment concerns, and several speakers argued it would create separate classes of people and invite litigation. Multiple amendments were offered to narrow or expand exemptions, including protections for Venezuelans on TPS, certain Haitian TPS and humanitarian parole recipients, undocumented people brought to Florida as children working in critical professions, and a proposal to delay action pending court rulings; all of those amendments were rejected. The bill passed 85-29.
The chamber then took up Senate Bill 2C, which would create a State Board of Immigration Enforcement led by the Governor and Cabinet, establish a local law enforcement immigration grant program and advisory council, repeal the undocumented-student fee waiver, and appropriate more than $300 million for immigration enforcement. The sponsor described it as supporting cooperation with federal immigration agencies and ending the in-state tuition incentive for undocumented students. Early questioning focused on the impact on “dreamers” and whether the bill would effectively raise their tuition costs; the sponsor said it removed the incentive of in-state tuition but did not bar attendance. The transcript cuts off during that exchange, before final action on SB 2C is shown.
KY
Kentucky 2026 Regular Session
House Legislative Session Day 35 (2-26-26)
Kentucky House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- Current Resolution 9 should pass, a concurrent resolution directing the Legislative Research Commission
- Senate Joint Resolution 23 should pass, a joint resolution declaring Kentucky a food is medicine state
- Senate Joint Resolution<00:04:22.560>
23 <00:04:23.040>should <00:04:23.280>pass, - Speaker, the Senate has passed Senate Bills 157 and 214 and respectfully request concurrence of this
- Speaker, the Senate has passed Senate<02:13:30.719>
Bills Senate Bills Senate Bills 157<02:13:
Summary:
The meeting opened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, then moved into committee and floor reports. Several measures received favorable committee reports and were ordered to first reading and placed on the calendar, including Current Resolution 9, Senate Joint Resolution 23, House Bill 145, House Bill 567, and House Bill 506 with House Committee Substitute 1. The chamber also noted that House Bills 500 and 504 had already received two readings and were sent to the Rules Committee before House Bill 500 was brought up for final consideration.
Most of the discussion focused on House Bill 500, the executive branch budget bill. Members described it as a “good first draft” and emphasized a budget process they said was more transparent than in prior years. The bill was presented as a restrained two-year operating budget with spending growth kept at a little under 2% annually, while setting aside about 2% of projected revenues, or roughly $614 million, in the Budget Reserve Trust Fund for future needs. The budget also used base reductions in some areas while exempting others such as Medicaid benefits, SEEK, corrections, behavioral health, and veterans programs.
Subcommittee chairs then outlined major spending areas. Education provisions included a 2% annual increase in base SEEK funding, transportation funding held flat, equalization for recallable nickel funding, continued retirement contributions, and major support for postsecondary access, dual credit, asset preservation, and workforce training. Health and family services provisions held Medicaid steady while adding waiver slots, behavioral health and substance use support, public health investments, and funding for rural health and laboratory capacity. Other sections covered personnel and pensions, veterans services, infrastructure, public safety, economic development, tourism, and environmental projects.
The only recorded action on the floor was adoption of House Committee Substitute 1 to House Bill 500, followed by a motion for final passage of the bill as amended. The transcript ends as discussion on final passage begins, before any final vote is shown.
TX
Texas 89th Regular
Water, Agriculture, and Rural Affairs Mar 10th, 2025
Water, Agriculture and Rural Affairs
Transcript Highlights:
- Senate Concurrent Resolution 13.
- And let me just say that thank you, Senator Hinojosa, for this resolution.
- Senator Wright, Senator Johnson is present, and Senator Kolkhorst is present.
- resolution.
- Senator Sparks lays out the committee substitute on Senate Bill 740 and recognizes Senator Perry to explain
Keywords:
water rights, treaty compliance, Rio Grande, agriculture, drought, international water, Texas water supply, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, TPWD, harvest reports, wildlife harvest data, public information act, open records, confidentiality, hunter privacy, angler data, game animals, game birds, fur-bearing animals, nongame animals
Summary:
The Senate Committee on Water, Agriculture, and Rural Affairs met without a quorum at first, then later established quorum and proceeded with testimony and votes. Senate Bill 1248, by Chair Perry, was explained as a narrow Open Records Act exception to protect harvest report location data collected through Texas Parks and Wildlife’s digital tagging system. Support testimony came from Matt Wagner of the Texas Chapter of The Wildlife Society, who said the bill would protect private land and sensitive biological information while preserving useful wildlife data. No one testified against the bill, and it was left pending until later in the meeting.
The committee then heard Senate Concurrent Resolution 13, which urges the State Department and the International Boundary and Water Commission to press Mexico to comply with the 1944 Water Treaty and deliver its share of Rio Grande water. Senator Hinojosa, farmers, municipal officials, and other witnesses described severe water shortages in South Texas, low reservoir levels, crop losses, the closure of the Valley sugar industry, and the need for alternative supplies such as desalination, reuse, and drainage-runoff projects. Members also discussed treaty enforcement, regional drought, and the role of cartels and Mexican water storage, while emphasizing that Texas must also invest in its own water infrastructure.
The committee also considered Senate Bill 740, which the committee substitute amended to require the Public Utility Commission to adopt a standardized application form for system improvement charges and complete related rulemaking by September 1, 2026, applying only to applications filed on or after that date. Members discussed concerns about water wholesalers using the process to delay cases and drive up costs, and the need for more transparency and PUC resources. The committee voted to adopt the substitute and report SB 740 favorably. After returning to the earlier items, the committee voted SB 1248 out favorably and recommended it for the local and uncontested calendar, and voted SCR 13 out favorably as well. The committee then recessed subject to the call of the chair.