Transcript Highlights:

• The House has passed the following measures, H.B. 422, Gonzales, Mary, relating to limitations on the
• Gonzales, Mary, relating to limitations on the issuance of bonds by the Texas Water Development Board
• Finally, members, SB 871 limits the governor's ability to suspend provisions of the Penal Code, Code
• Specifically, the bill limits the applicability of health care provider non-competes to one year.
• I know there's a liability provision in this bill. I don't...

Summary: The Senate convened with an invocation, received a House message that H.B. 422 had passed the House, and heard gubernatorial nominations for the Council on Sex Offender Treatment. The chamber also recognized the Doctor of the Day and several visiting groups and adopted a resolution designating June 20, 2025, as Texas Nuclear Legislative Day. Members then considered and passed several bills and resolutions, often by suspending the regular order and the constitutional three-day rule. SB 311 passed to final passage on the Texas Supreme Court’s writ power. SB 883, on off-label prescription access for COVID-19 treatment, passed to engrossment. SB 1706, creating an Open Meetings Act exception for certain defense, military, and aerospace deliberations, passed despite concerns from Sen. Eckhardt that the bill’s use of “deliberate” could weaken open-government protections. CS SB 1677, directing a study on diabetes-related amputations, passed with support from Sen. Menendez. SB 1967 expanded flood infrastructure fund eligibility to certain multipurpose projects, and SB 1255, a cleanup bill on mold assessor and remediator regulation, passed unanimously. The Senate also approved CS SJR 40 and CS SB 871, which would change emergency and disaster law to require legislative involvement after prolonged or widespread emergencies and to limit gubernatorial suspension powers, with Sen. Eckhardt questioning whether the bill could slow urgent business closures during a disaster. Additional measures passed included SB 1426 transferring management of the First Capital State Historic Site to the Texas Historical Commission, SB 249 requiring TxDOT to fund memorial markers for fallen peace officers, SB 1592 centralizing collection of hotel occupancy taxes from accommodation intermediaries, SB 1271 allowing concurrent jurisdiction on military installations for certain juvenile matters, SB 745 creating a higher penalty for intoxication manslaughter involving multiple deaths, SB 365 shortening the academic fresh start waiting period at public colleges, and SB 1171 adjusting compensation and standards for certain Texas Juvenile Justice Department inspector general employees. CS SB 36, creating a Homeland Security Division within DPS, passed after questions about its relationship to federal homeland security and its focus on border security and critical infrastructure. The latter part of the session focused heavily on CS SB 38, a major eviction and squatter-related bill. Sen. Bettencourt described widespread squatter cases and argued the bill, with a Moody amendment, would clarify notice and eviction procedures while balancing property-owner and tenant rights. Sen. West said he supported addressing squatters but worried the broader eviction changes could harm vulnerable renters, especially single mothers, and said he would vote present not voting. The discussion continued with additional testimony from Sen. Kolkhorst about the need for a balanced eviction process.

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, unfortunately, the individuals who are there are income limited.
• Um, and so there are income limited.
• There's already rent limits on here, rent control.
• There's already rent limits on control.
• There's already rent limits on here,<00:51:31.599> rent<00:51:32.000> control.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So that liability, when that liability comes to the state at the end of the issuance of that certificate
• The Class II program does not involve liability.
• I think the state is holding liability under Class VI.
• The release of liability has a bunch of walkbacks.
• We actually have very limited alternative water discharge options.

Summary: The committee first heard a presentation from the Environment Department on PFAS contamination in private wells in La Cienega, Santa Fe County. Staff said the plume likely came from historic use of firefighting foam associated with airport and National Guard fire-training activities, with possible additional contribution from septic systems and consumer products. They described the contamination as affecting about 200 private wells, the short-term response of providing residential filters through a $2 million legislative appropriation, and ongoing work to define the plume’s full extent, identify responsible parties, and consider longer-term regional water solutions. Members asked about filter costs, replacement schedules, disposal of used cartridges, follow-up testing, health studies, and whether cleanup or containment had begun; the department said cleanup would follow once the plume is fully mapped and that DOH is soliciting interest in a blood study. The committee also discussed the need to track disposal of PFAS filters and the possibility of broader statewide capacity for similar work. The committee then took up abandoned uranium mine cleanup. NMED and EMNRD staff reviewed the new uranium mine reclamation program created by HB 164, the state dashboard tracking sites, and the FY26 appropriation of $20 million for neglected contaminated sites, of which $12 million is being used for neglected uranium mines and the remainder for other contaminated sites. They said six contractors were hired, three priority sites in Grant County are moving forward quickly, and additional sites are being prepared for possible FY27 work. Members pressed for details on how funds are spent, why the revolving fund remains unfunded, how federal, state, tribal, and landowner requirements are coordinated, where contaminated material will be moved, and whether cleanup could also address homes built with contaminated materials. Staff said the work is governed by multiple regulatory layers, that the state is seeking an additional $25 million for FY27-FY28 plus a time extension, and that partnerships with tribes would require longer-term agreements. The committee also discussed federal cleanup efforts and the new Good Samaritan law, with members urging stronger advocacy for New Mexico sites, including tribal lands, and asking whether the Attorney General should pursue legal action against federal parties responsible for legacy contamination. Staff explained that some sites are already covered by settlement funds tied to responsible parties, while neglected sites are those with no responsible party and no other cleanup program. The committee then heard from EMNRD on Class VI carbon sequestration primacy. Staff said New Mexico currently has no operating Class VI wells, about 27 Class II acid-gas injection wells are operating, and only a small number might be candidates for conversion. They explained that the state’s primacy application would require more public outreach than federal rules alone, and that cost estimates for post-injection site care are based on long planning horizons, with some costs borne by operators and some by the state after closure. No votes were taken on the substantive items discussed; the committee approved the prior meeting minutes and took a brief recess between presentations.

Transcript Highlights:

• ASLD of certain covered federal designations and allows those same officials to commence an action to limit
• Additionally, a referral agency must procure commercial general liability insurance and professional
• liability insurance as specified in the bill.
• Madam Whip and members, Senate Bill 1068 limits the authority that public universities, colleges, and
• seeing none any further discussion moving on to 1068 please madam weapon members Senate bill 1068 limits

Keywords: 1182, all

Summary: The Republican caucus reviewed a long list of Senate bills and one House concurrent memorial, most of them described as third-read consent items. Topics included claims against the state, CPA licensing, creditor assignments, insurance adjuster licensing, school equivalency instruction, extending a credit enhancement board, firearm safety instruction in schools, student eligibility restrictions for school activities, Celebrate Freedom Week, release-time courses, voter registration roll access, campaign and disclosure mailing addresses, federal land designation tracking, public records review standards, workers’ compensation burial and death benefits, condominium flag displays, restrictions on sexually explicit material in schools and libraries, agency guidance posting, standardized state hiring, mental health court-ordered treatment procedures, autopsy supervision, tribal MOUs, controlled substance scheduling, emergency medical technician data privacy, dense breast tissue notice repeal, assisted living referral agency requirements, attorney disciplinary claims, fentanyl penalties, campus firearms rules, suppressors, defamation standards, mandatory reporting, attorney licensing, emergency service fee limits, forcible detainer changes, utility worker assault penalties, water basin reporting, small modular nuclear reactors, water recovery assumptions, ICE notification after arrests, military police certification pathways, and scholarship organization tax credits. Most bills were presented without debate and were noted as available for questions, with no votes taken in the caucus itself. A few items drew discussion. On SB 1040, members asked what information would be redacted from voter registration rolls; staff said existing statutory redactions such as voter registration numbers, ID numbers, Social Security numbers, and other personal identifying information would remain. SB 1193 prompted comments that EMT data being open source was surprising and that the issue might be expanded to paramedics. SB 1243 was described as strengthening guardian notification rights in court-ordered treatment, and SB 1318 was characterized as a cleanup measure to remove redundant state notice requirements for dense breast tissue. The most extended exchange came on SB 1148, which would require the Arizona Supreme Court to directly license attorneys rather than delegate that function to another organization; members asked whether the bill was shifting responsibility away from the State Bar, and staff explained that the court already has the duty but currently staffs part of the process out. SB 1418, which limits county regulation of certain small modular nuclear reactor projects, drew criticism from one member who argued it would reduce local control. The caucus also heard a sponsor presentation on H.C.M. 2009 urging Congress and the President to amend the Antiquities Act, compensate states for subsurface minerals, and streamline mining permits, with the sponsor emphasizing Arizona’s mining history and the need to access mineral resources more easily.

Transcript Highlights:

• Well, in the term limits. He's soon to be a senator. No way. Not sure. I've got three years left.
• So now we're going to limit it in that instance.
• So I think, you know, limiting the amount. To be. So I think, you know, limiting the amount.
• boundaries; 2267, the wastewater recycling; 2276, the Joint Water Resources Boards; 2339, the strict liability
• Resources Boards. 2339, the strict liability on wildfire mitigations. And 2340, the study.

Keywords: 908, all

Summary: The Natural Resources Committee reconsidered Senate Bill 2159, which concerns a study related to nuclear energy and waste. Members discussed a proposed amendment to clarify that the study would address above-ground storage of nuclear waste, not underground storage, reflecting concerns raised by constituents about earlier nuclear-related proposals. The committee adopted the amendment and then gave SB 2159 a unanimous 13-0 do pass recommendation. The committee then took up Senate Bill 2245, described as a hunting-related bill, and recommended it do pass on a 13-0 vote after brief discussion with Game and Fish support noted. Senate Bill 2216, the duck stamp bill, was also advanced 13-0. Testimony on SB 2216 explained that it would help Game and Fish better track resident duck hunting participation and generate revenue for waterfowl habitat, PLOTS access, and possible federal matching funds. The most extensive debate centered on Senate Bill 2137, which addresses baiting rules and chronic wasting disease surveillance. An amendment was proposed to set a 50-gallon limit at a hunting location, require a 50-foot setback from property used for animal agriculture, and direct continued disease surveillance with a report due before December 31, 2028. After discussion about fence setbacks, livestock concerns, and the department’s authority to manage disease, the committee adopted the amendment by a 7-6 vote and then passed the bill as amended on an 8-4 vote. The committee also noted several remaining bills would be taken up the following week and adjourned, with no meeting the next day.

Transcript Highlights:

• Senate Bill 1167 by Paxton, relating to elimination of limitations periods for suits for personal injury
• Senate Bill 1204 by Hall, relating to the unborn child's rights and the civil and criminal liability
• Senate Bill 1317 by Cook, relating to limitations on the age of individuals allowed to enter the premises
• Senate Bill 1319 by Creighton, relating to limits on the number of athletic scholarships that may be
• Senate Bill 1326 by Johnson, relating to civil liability arising from a firearm hold agreement, to State

Summary: The Senate met briefly to receive first-reading referrals of a large number of bills, resolutions, and joint resolutions. The measures covered a wide range of topics, including public education, health care, criminal justice, business regulation, transportation, water and natural resources, local government, taxation, elections, and public information. Many of the filings were by Senators Hughes, Perry, Alvarado, Creighton, Hancock, Parker, Zaffirini, Blanco, and others, and included proposals on school safety, health records and billing, election procedures, water planning, housing and rent issues, energy and environmental regulation, and criminal penalties. The chamber also read several concurrent and joint resolutions, including measures designating state symbols and local honors, a proposed constitutional amendment related to gaming by the Kickapoo Traditional Tribe of Texas, a proposal concerning special-session subjects, and resolutions on fiscal restraints and retirement obligations. No debate, testimony, or substantive action on the merits of the measures occurred in this portion of the transcript; the items were simply read and referred to committees. At the close of the proceedings, the Senate adjourned pursuant to a previously adopted motion and announced it would reconvene at 11 a.m. Tuesday, March 4.

Transcript Highlights:

• However, commercial applicators are granted limited liability protection from slip-and-fall claims as
• However, commercial applicators are granted limited liability protection from slip-and-fall claims as
• However, commercial applicators are granted limited liability protection from slip-and-fall claims as
• However, commercial applicators are granted limited liability protection from slip-and-fall claims as
• applicators are granted limited applicators are granted limited liability<00:55:37.599> protection

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Minnesotans today have limited access to free tax filing options.
• <00:46:41.359> in<00:46:41.440> Minnesota, would have a tax liability in Minnesota,
• It's about whether they have nexus and whether they have tax liability, a corporate income tax liability
• He also said he had misspoken: it would not be based on tax liability, but on a return requirement.
• , it would not be based on tax liability, it would not be based on tax liability, but<00:50:03.840

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• , we're projecting higher income tax collections in the near term, but slower economic growth will limit
• We estimate tax year 2024 income tax liability is higher largely because capital gains, interest, and
• <00:15:52.079> and<00:15:52.320> is tax year 2024 liability and is tax year 2024 liability
• <00:16:15.759> into<00:16:16.079> tax tax liability carries forward into tax tax liability
• of um limited uh uh uh consumer<00:44:45.680> uh<00:44:46.000> growth.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The second objection you had was you said that limiting debate is not part of Mason's.
• You can limit debate as the chair. That's part of my job, I think.
• So there was no limitation of five minutes on the consideration of the amendments. All right.
• So there was no limitation of five minutes on the consideration of the amendments. I told you that.
• Mandatory reporting in public health is usually limited to communicable illnesses.

Bills: SB30, SB43, SB50, SB136

Keywords: SB30, induced abortion, abortion reporting, vital statistics, public health reporting, medical records, health care providers, repeal, New Mexico, pregnancy termination, abortion data, state reporting requirements, confidentiality, reproductive health, parole, life imprisonment, rehabilitation, criminal justice, victim rights, law enforcement

Transcript Highlights:

• the calculated risk: Do I have any contraband in my vehicle which could lead to further criminal liability
• seen as a result of this, we have seen increased deaths, increased injuries, and also increased liability
• The district court is just relying on the limited information provided by the prosecutor, and now we
• <01:19:51.040> information just relying on The Limited information just relying on The Limited
• So if our testifiers can limit it to two minutes, I'd appreciate that.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• As a reminder, testimony is limited to four minutes in support and four minutes in opposition.
• Specifically, our concerns are on the COLA limitations.
• Under RAM, customers will not be limited to paying for the amount of water that they use.
• So the utility is not in control of what their revenue limit is.
• PUC sets that revenue limit. And if they over-collect, under this bill, it goes back.

Summary: The committee heard several energy and water affordability bills, with extensive testimony on SB 254 by Senator Becker, SB 541 by Senator Becker, SB 453 by Senator Stern, SB 292 by Senator Caballero, and SB 473 by Senator Padilla. SB 254 was presented as a broad utility affordability package addressing short-term climate credits, a Power Fund, tighter scrutiny of rate increases and utility profits, wildfire spending, securitization of future utility costs, and streamlining. Supporters, including TURN and several environmental and public power groups, said it could lower bills and reduce long-term costs; opponents from investor-owned utilities, labor, business, and local government raised concerns about market impacts, insufficient analysis, and the breadth of the bill. The committee approved SB 254 on a 6-3 vote and placed it on call. SB 541 focused on load flexibility and using existing grid capacity more efficiently. Senator Becker described it as a transparency and planning measure to identify cost-effective load shifting and reduce peak demand, while supporters said it could improve resiliency and save money. Several CCAs and utilities opposed the bill in print or unless amended, arguing that some language implied a mandate and that the concept needed more cost-effectiveness analysis; the author said amendments would remove language dividing the state goal among retail suppliers and clarify that the bill is not a procurement mandate. The committee passed SB 541 as amended to Appropriations on a 9-1 vote and left it on call. SB 453 by Senator Stern would return unspent ratepayer-funded microgrid program dollars and was described as a way to keep the lights on and redirect unused funds. It drew support from local government and environmental groups, with PG&E expressing concern about how the bill would affect its ability to spend awarded funds. The committee passed SB 453 as amended to Appropriations on a 12-0 vote. SB 292 by Senator Caballero would require more granular outage and reliability reporting, including census-tract-level data, to better inform resilience planning after PSPS events; utilities opposed unless amended, citing duplicative reporting and regulatory overlap, but the bill passed 12-0 to Appropriations. SB 473 by Senator Padilla would require or expand water utility decoupling to promote conservation and affordability. Supporters, including water utilities, labor, business, and local government groups, argued decoupling stabilizes revenue, supports conservation, and can keep rates lower for low-use customers. The Public Advocates Office opposed, saying prior pilot data showed no conservation benefit and about $1 billion in added costs, and that the CPUC had already rejected similar requests. Committee members questioned the conservation and capital-investment effects of the different rate structures; the author and supporters argued decoupling helps utilities fund infrastructure while allowing lower fixed charges for low-use customers. The transcript ends during that discussion, before a final vote on SB 473 is shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• Many of you talked about liability Many of you talked about liability exposure<00:17:59.120>
• some fraud and tort liability issues. some fraud and tort liability issues. to<00:24:57.360>
• up against the house um to limit up against the house um to limit wildfire<00:27:03.039> damage
• So this proposed theme is liability issues, legal issues, and tort reform.
• factors and then also the liability factors and then also the liability issues<01:44:11.760>

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• right um oh so the part of the limit right um oh so the limit<00:04:56.320> on<00:04:56.720><
• account so that unfunded liability account so that unfunded liability that's<00:20:57.080> interesting
• <00:21:31.360> would<00:21:31.679> go liability would go liability would go down<00:21:
• would unch the unfunded liability would unch the unfunded liability wouldn't<00:22:56.080> change
• Those limits all stay right where they are.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee took up House Bill 2 provisions affecting the New Hampshire Retirement System, focusing on Group 2/Tier B retirement changes in pages 25 through 39 of the bill. NHRS Executive Director Jan Goodwin and deputy chief counsel Mark Kavanaugh explained that the 2025 bill is largely similar to prior versions and to HB 727, with the main difference being that the 2025 version does not include the earlier increase in the maximum benefit. They also said the fiscal note for HB 2 is based on earlier actuarial work and that an updated valuation was expected later in the week. A major topic was whether the bill accidentally removed an anti-spiking or special-duty compensation limit. NHRS said the omission appears to be a scrivener’s error caused by moving language between Group 1 and Group 2 definitions, and they planned to flag it in the fiscal note. Members also reviewed the bill’s intent to restore Tier B members to pre-2011 benefit rules, including changes to earnable compensation, average final compensation, and the comp-over-base rule. Some members questioned whether restoring those older rules was appropriate, arguing the 2011 changes were meant to curb pension spiking and that undoing them could be problematic. The committee also discussed the bill’s cost and funding assumptions. NHRS said the 2025 bill would reduce unfunded actuarial liability by about $98.2 million and would have a more favorable effect than the 2023 version, while employer contribution impacts would remain relatively small. Members noted the bill assumes annual appropriations of $27.5 million for 10 years, but House Bill 1 currently provides only $5 million in the first year, and NHRS had not yet analyzed the effect of that shortfall. No votes were taken in the portion provided; the discussion was informational and focused on clarifying the bill’s language, intent, and fiscal impact.

Transcript Highlights:

• non-toxication manslaughter, referred to the Committee on Corrections, HB 765 by Jones of Harris. liability
• HB 834 by Bernal relating to limiting the locations where a person may be held in prison before sentencing
• HB 839 by Basu, relating to limitation on the percentage of state lottery money paid as prizes to winning
• HB 865 by Moody, relating to the civil liability arising from a firearm hold agreement.
• constitutional amendment. to clarify that the states and the Congress may reasonably regulate the limit

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• For nearly 30 years, Section 230 has shielded Big Tech from liability for the the harms they cause.
• Only by removing that liability shield will big tech finally have to take the steps companies and all
• Chief Editor's geographic reach limited to mainland China, or did they plan to cover other locations?
• Was the editor-in-chief's or the chief editor's power limited to reviewing viral posts?
• So then it is not just limited the data Facebook holes or meta holes is not just limited to the meta

Keywords: Meta, Facebook, whistleblower, regulation, China, user data, artificial intelligence, testimony, Congress

Summary: The meeting of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime and Counterterrorism focused on oversight of Meta's foreign relations and representations to Congress. An essential witness, Sarah Wynne-Williams, a former executive at Facebook, provided testimony outlining significant concerns about the company's practices and its complicity in aiding oppressive regimes. The atmosphere was charged, with ongoing debates about the regulation of big tech companies and the ethical implications of their policies. The committee explored topics such as user data management, whistleblower retaliation, and the need for legislative measures to protect users and enhance accountability in the tech sector. A notable point of contention was Facebook's alleged cooperation with the Chinese government regarding the dissemination of user data and AI tools, leading to serious ethical implications.

Transcript Highlights:

• There is no statute of limitations on that.
• frame of civil liability.
• I put statute of limitations on that.
• civil<00:18:06.400> liability.
• That is a frame of civil liability.

Keywords: 1136, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The current language limits LPNs to conduct segmented patient-focused assessments rather than completing
• The current language<00:09:44.320> limits<00:09:44.840> LPNs<00:09:45.440> to<00
• If they want to accept the liability, then they can do it under current statute.
• for personal professional liability for personal professional liability policy. policy. policy.
• I think if he had some concerns about liability that we may have heard it from them.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• By maybe having little to no income tax liability and yet being able to enjoy the full benefit of a credit
• we're in the middle, if I, as a corporation, maybe earn a credit, but I'm not going to have the liability
• , and I'm wondering why not, because it would actually take a lot of those ups and downs out in a limited
• And it just sort of offset the decreased tax liability that the feds were providing.
• I think we, as a state, if we decide that we want to limit our production, we have to look at ourselves

Transcript Highlights:

• And in addition, current law has been interpreted to mean that limited partnerships and limited liability
• This bill ensures that LPs and LLCs, limited partners and, and limited liability companies may buy and
• Limited marketing and strict regulations.
• Like Ducks Limited and CCA, so it is very limited in scope, and we estimate that roughly 2/3 of our members
• It removes the limit of 4 races per year and also removes the outdated provision limiting sales to no