Transcript Highlights:

• , our bond elections, uh, it still ultimately is not getting to the.
• And $1.3 billion to the Texas University fund.
• So Texas is already.
• You know, Texas has the 7th highest property taxes in the country.
• My uh my wife is a local elected official.

Transcript Highlights:

• Texas Board of Criminal Justice.
• There are 122 local departments in Texas. They supervise 242,000 individuals on probation in Texas.
• Uh, in Texas, we have 102 prisons.
• Of the state of Texas to mandate in our code a higher standard for teacher certification for people who
• juvenile at the time the Texas Youth Commission, now the Texas Juvenile Justice Department.

Transcript Highlights:

• That's within the University of Texas System and the Texas A&M System.
• That's within the University of Texas system and the Texas A&M system.
• Texas Tech does research.
• So there are things, I recall from yesterday's meeting, that there's pieces of the Texas Government Code
• So there are things, I recall from yesterday's meeting that there's pieces of the Texas government code

Summary: The committee heard testimony first from the Texas General Land Office and School Land Board. GLO officials described the agency’s role in managing more than 13 million acres of state lands and mineral interests for the Permanent School Fund, overseeing the Alamo, coastal programs, veterans’ services, and federal disaster recovery. They said the agency has generated about $6 billion for the Permanent School Fund since Commissioner Buckingham took office, and that its disaster recovery portfolio is about $14 billion across multiple events, with more than 22,000 housing units rebuilt or reconstructed since Hurricane Harvey. Members asked about land purchases such as Brewster Ranch, rare earth mineral leasing, SpaceX-related beach access, and whether the lands are public access lands; GLO staff said the holdings are managed to maximize revenue for education, that most land is leased rather than open to public access, and that they are coordinating on coastal access and compliance. On the School Land Board, members sought clarification on the difference between GLO-managed lands and the Permanent School Fund Corporation’s investment role, and staff explained that GLO generates the revenue while the separate corporation invests it. No votes or formal actions were taken. The Board for Lease of University Lands then testified. University Lands officials explained that they steward 2.1 million acres of surface and mineral interests in West Texas for the Permanent University Fund, which supports UT and Texas A&M institutions. They said a 2025 lease sale produced about $50 million in bonus revenue from 28,000 acres, and described the Board for Lease’s role in approving lease forms, lease sales, and development agreements. Members asked about the size and use of the PUF, how distributions work through UTIMCO, whether PUF money can be used for athletics, and how the land is managed; the witness said the fund is a constitutional endowment, the land is largely leased rather than sold, and distributions are generally used for buildings, labs, and other permanent structures, with some institutions also using a portion for operations. No votes or formal actions were taken. The committee then took up municipal utility districts. Testimony from a law firm, the Texas Municipal League, Fort Bend County Commissioner Vincent Morales, and Johnson Development largely supported MUDs as a financing tool for infrastructure tied to growth. Witnesses said MUDs help fund water, sewer, drainage, roads, parks, and related infrastructure, allowing development to proceed without shifting costs to existing taxpayers and helping keep housing affordable. They emphasized that MUDs are created with disclosure to homebuyers, are subject to the Open Meetings Act and Public Information Act, and are overseen by TCEQ for bond issuance and related financial stress tests. Members questioned whether MUDs are taxing entities, whether they can be created inside city limits or ETJs, how much control cities and counties retain, and whether MUDs are becoming permanent local governments; witnesses acknowledged they levy taxes and debt, can exist within city limits with city consent, and often function as long-term local entities. The committee did not take any formal action during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• Approval via a public election.
• uh, election cycle.
• I'm here today to represent the Texas Civil Rights Project, Texas Civil Rights Project in opposition
• finance code.
• Um, in Texas, about 530,000.

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• <00:06:33.080> it certification of the 2024 election it certification of the 2024 election
• compare last week's election compare last week's election certification<00:06:46.199> with
• certification of a legitimate election certification of a legitimate election the<00:07:03.840><
• As elected officials, it's our responsibility to ensure the tax code works for the benefit of all.
• As elected officials, it's our responsibility to ensure the tax code works for the benefit of all.

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Wednesday, January 15, 2025, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• rates under Texas Utility Code 54.204(c).
• As stated in Texas Utility Code 54.204(d), the regulatory commission decides these disputes when they
• In closing, I hope Texas adopts a formula that puts some smart guardrails in place on election day.
• Across the state of Texas.
• Water Code.

Bills: HB3445, HB3448

Keywords: telecommunications, electric cooperative, rights-of-way, infrastructure, provider access, right-of-way, pole attachment, regulatory access, 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We lived through the Black Codes. We lived through the Jim Crow era.
• We lived through the Black Codes. We lived through the Jim Crow era.
• We lived through the Black Codes. We lived through the Jim Crow era.
• For Black folk in Texas to know that they were free.
• I told them I'm already elected.

Keywords: 988, house, all

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• Texas Department of Public, uh, Texas Department of Transportation shows that over 25% of all alcohol-related
• crashes in Texas are caused by repeat offenders.
• It's about protecting the people of Texas.
• The bill is written, removes discretion by your elected DA and your elected judge.
• government code.

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• Because Texas uses NFPA fire code standards, this mandate will most likely be adopted by all jurisdictions
• Now, because I'm in North Texas.
• Uh, is located in AWBD North Texas region.
• You're elected, correct? 13 years. Yes. Yeah.
• I'm the mayor of Fayte, Texas.

Transcript Highlights:

• Education Code, is that right?
• Now in rural Texas...
• So, Texas Education Code, Chapter 49, 154B, the legislature essentially has already addressed this problem
• community. in Texas economy.
• created the Texas Water Fund.

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, is that Texas, honey? This is Texas honey. We have time.
• I think this time we have honey to make and it is currently illegal, uh, under Texas law to take Texas
• House Bill 4285 seeks to revise and update portions of the Texas Alcohol Beverage Code to solve logistical
• This bill has come out of conversations with the Texas Distiller Spirits Association, the Texas Wine
• Chapter 1952 of the occupation code states a person may be registered as a code enforcement officer,

Transcript Highlights:

• In 2024, in that election, we had about 60 taxing entities.
• I believe, that held tax rate elections to exceed.
• If you include all of Texas Education Agency funds...
• So Texas may have improved in these rankings since that time.
• Texas has the seventh highest property taxes in the country.

Keywords: 1184, house, all

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• Texas.
• So one of the things we at state agencies is required to do is comply with Texas labor code.
• And this is coming from Texas Labor. code, compared to the number of African-Americans, Hispanic-Americans
• ' major sources in Texas, to protect the interests of Texas.
• Thanks for supporting Texas Parks. Texas wildlife.

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Section 264.902 of the Texas Family Code-created parental Child Safety Placement Agreements, which are
• It closes a loophole in the Texas Education code by making it clear that anabolic steroids prescribed
• I'm the South Texas director for Lifewise Academy.
• We request that Texas do the same. Thank you. Thank you very much, members.
• Being made on behalf of students by their locally elected officials.

Transcript Highlights:

• Lindy McGee testifying on behalf of Texas Medical Association and Texas.
• He's licensed in New Mexico, Oklahoma, Colorado, and Texas, and I'm a licensed Texas realtor.
• No realtor member in Texas has ever been found in violation of the code of ethics anti-discrimination
• The local board of directors then elects the state and then on to the national, but on a code of ethics
• These are Texas realtors.

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• property code.
• Texas is different.
• We were elected um.
• Um, appointed pursuant to the Texas government code. I specifically set for eviction dockets.
• Ways of Texas.

Bills: HB15, HB171, HB204

Keywords: flood risk, campground, safety regulations, civil penalty, guest safety, Harris County, flood control, governance, expansion, public health, local governance, environmental management

Transcript Highlights:

• Current law in Texas government code requires all Texas police agencies to provide a retired police officer
• We're not changing laws, let's say for the Secretary of State or for the elections code or anything like
• Chapter 32 of Texas Penal Code corruption has Chapter 36.
• OK, because you were, you were quoting the Texas Penal Code, am I correct? Yes, sir.
• OK, Texas Penal Code 2205, it, it talks about the deadly conduct charge.

Transcript Highlights:

• I stand here today because Texas is in a health care crisis.
• Since Texas cut family planning in 2011.
• Texas is the most uninsured state in the nation. 1 out of 10 children in Texas have no healthcare.
• Texas has refused to expand Medicaid.
• that Texas families are healthy, and Texas communities are healthy, no matter what.

Transcript Highlights:

• Did you know that we had a big election this weekend? Big election. We had multiple elections.
• It's not saying based upon another election. It's saying I trust the people who elected me.
• election can be decided.
• have an election.
• or a liquid code.

Summary: The committee took up public comment on a package of similar local-option bills related to carbon capture and sequestration, including House Bills 5, 6, 497, 498, 501, and 504. The bills would let parishes, or in some cases specific parishes such as Rapides and Livingston, decide by local vote whether Class VI wells, CO2 sequestration, and related pipeline infrastructure could be permitted. The chair grouped the bills together for testimony, adopted a three-minute public comment rule, and noted that the bills were not yet under consideration for a vote during the public-comment portion. Supporters, including Speaker Pro Tem Mike Johnson, parish officials, local activists, and residents, argued that communities affected by carbon capture projects should have a direct voice through local option elections. They said the bills were about self-determination, local control, and allowing residents to decide whether the risks are worth the benefits. Several speakers said their parishes had passed resolutions opposing carbon capture or asking for local choice, while others emphasized concerns about eminent domain, aquifer protection, lack of public understanding, and the need for more information about project impacts and financial benefits. Some supporters also said a local vote would force industry to engage more directly with communities and could improve transparency. Opponents, including representatives of the Department of Conservation and Energy, the Louisiana Chemistry Association, the Louisiana Mid-Continent Oil and Gas Association, and the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry, warned that the bills would create uncertainty, undermine Louisiana’s primacy over Class VI permitting, and invite litigation under federal preemption and the Supremacy Clause. They said the state already has a strict permitting process with public input and technical review, and that allowing parish-by-parish approval could delay or block billions of dollars in investment, jobs, and export-related projects. The department testified that if the state adopted a local-option referendum system, EPA could determine Louisiana was not implementing the program consistently and could move to remove primacy. No committee vote was taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• Did you know that we had a big election this weekend? Big election.
• It's not saying based upon another election. It's saying I trust the people who elected me.
• I think it’s odd that we use the outcome of an election for a reason not to have an election.
• have an election.
• The code does address high consequence areas, right, whether it's in the gas code or a liquid code.

Keywords: 965, house, all