Transcript Highlights:

• Senator Sparks: Aye.
• Senator Sparks: Aye.
• Senator Sparks: Aye.
• Senator Sparks: Aye.
• Senator Sparks: Aye.

Summary: The Senate Economic Development Committee met with a quorum present and took up a large slate of pending business, primarily voting on House bills and one House concurrent resolution. Most measures were reported favorably to the full Senate, often with a recommendation that they do pass and be printed, and several were also recommended for the local and uncontested calendar. Among the bills acted on were HB 1240, HB 1397, HB 1950, HB 2027, HB 2768, HB 2788, HB 2791, HB 3146, HB 3698, HB 3699, HB 4187, HB 1893, HB 3700, HB 4850, HCR 90, and SB 2603 and SB 2607. The committee also adopted committee substitutes for HB 1397, HB 4187, and HB 4850 by unanimous consent before voting on the substituted versions. The most substantive discussion centered on HB 1397, which concerns the Travis letter (the Victory or Death letter). Senator Sparks explained that the committee substitute was intended to clarify the Texas State Library and Archives Commission’s ongoing responsibility for preserving and safeguarding the letter while it is in storage, transit, or on display. The substitute also broadened the public display plan to include the Travis letter at the Alamo and other appropriate sites, allowed temporary display at museums, and kept the requirement that the letter remain displayed at the Capitol until a secure location at the Alamo is ready. Voting was generally favorable, with most measures passing on near-unanimous or unanimous votes. HB 1240 and HB 1397 each received one nay, HB 2607 passed with one nay, HB 1893 passed with one nay, and HB 3698 passed with one nay; the rest of the recorded votes were unanimous or effectively unanimous. After completing the pending business, the committee thanked members for their patience and recessed subject to the call of the chair.

Transcript Highlights:

• Senator Sparks? Aye. Senator King? Aye.
• Senator Sparks? Aye. Senator King? Aye.
• Senator Sparks? Aye. Senator King? Aye.
• Senator Sparks? Aye. Senator King? Aye.
• Senator Sparks? Aye. Senator King? Aye.

Keywords: 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Senator Sparks moves.
• Senator Sparks? Aye. Senator Keene? Aye.
• Senator Sparks? Aye. Senator Keene? Aye.
• Senator Sparks, aye. Senator King, aye.
• Senator Sparks? Senator King?

Keywords: 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Senator Sparks. Aye. Senator King. Aye. Senator Schwartner. Senator Sparks. Aye. Senator King. Aye.
• Senator Sparks. Aye. Senator Sparks.
• Senator Sparks. Nay. Senator King. Aye.
• Senator Sparks. Senator King. Aye.
• Senator Sparks. Aye. Senator King. Aye.

Summary: The Senate Economic Development Committee met with a quorum to consider pending business and took up several bills. Senate Bill 2532, 2925, 1250, 1854, and 2539 were each amended with committee substitutes before final committee action. SB 317 was also considered without a substitute. The committee did not discuss the substance of the bills in detail; the transcript focuses on procedural motions and roll-call votes. SB 2532 was reported favorably on a 3-2 vote after adoption of a committee substitute. SB 317 was reported favorably by a 5-0 vote and was recommended for the local and uncontested calendar. SB 2925 was reported favorably on a 4-1 vote after adoption of a substitute, while SB 1250, SB 1854, and SB 2539 each received unanimous or near-unanimous favorable reports, with SB 1250, SB 1854, and SB 2539 also recommended for the local and uncontested calendar. At the end of the meeting, the committee had no further business and recessed subject to the call of the chair.

Transcript Highlights:

• Senator Sparks sends up the committee substitute.
• Actually, Senator Sparks sends up the committee substitute.
• Senator Sparks: Thank you, Madam Chair and members.
• So the committee Senator Sparks: Substitute does a couple of things.
• Chair: Any questions for Senator Sparks? Yes, thank you.

Transcript Highlights:

• Senator Alvarado, Senator Johnson, Senator Schwertner, Senator Sparks, Senator King.
• Senator Alvarado, Senator Johnson, Senator Schwertner, Senator Sparks, Senator King.
• Senator Johnson, Senator Schwertner, Senator Sparks, Senator King. Aye.
• Sparks to explain the differences.
• Senator Sparks: Thank you.

Transcript Highlights:

• Senator Sparks? Aye. Senator King? Aye.
• Senator Sparks? Aye. Senator King? Aye.
• Senator Sparks sends up a committee substitute for Senate Bill 2448, and Senator Sparks is recognized
• Senator Sparks? Aye. Aye.
• Senator Sparks sends up a committee substitute for Senate Bill 2448 and Senator Sparks is recognized

Keywords: 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Senator King, Senator Sparks, Senator Alvarado, Senator Johnson, Senator Shortner.
• Senator Sparks sends up a committee substitute for Senate Bill 2448, and Senator Sparks is recognized
• Senator Sparks. Aye or nay, aye. OK, there'd be 4 ayes and 1 nay.
• Senator Johnson, Senator Shortner, Senator Sparks, aye, Senator King, aye.
• Senator Sparks sends up a committee substitute for Senate Bill 42448, and Senator Sparks is recognized

Transcript Highlights:

• Senator Sparks.
• Senator Sparks? Aye. Senator King? Yes.
• Senator Sparks? Aye. Senator King? Aye.
• Senator Sparks? Aye. Senator King? Aye.
• Senator Sparks?

Keywords: 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Senator Sparks: Here.
• Senator Sparks? Aye. Senator King? Aye.
• Senator Sparks? Aye. Senator King? Aye.
• Senator Sparks? Aye. Senator King? Aye.
• Senator Sparks? Senator King?

Bills: HB112, HB117

Keywords: county regulation, impervious cover, land use, unincorporated areas, environmental management, 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• If you by any chance see Senator Sparks If you by any chance see Senator Sparks or<00:04:43.680> Williams
• , Senator Sparks is see, Senator Sparks is to<00:10:06.640> today's<00:10:07.600> um<00
• <00:10:19.120> to and I recognize Senator Sparks to and I recognize Senator Sparks to um um
• Any questions to Senator Sparks? If not, we ask Senator Sparks for a motion.
• Thank you, Senator Sparks. All right.

Keywords: Corrections - Room 210; 29 January, 2026: 11:00 AM, 925, all

Summary: The committee first took up Senate Bill 2778, which extends by four years the repealer on the authority to collect monthly supervision fees from probation and parole offenders for the Community Service Revolving Fund. Members asked no questions, and the bill was moved and passed by a sufficient motion with no opposition. The committee then heard Senate Bill 2041, which would require the Department of Correction to do pre-screening for dyslexia. Senator Hickman said the bill is intended to identify a condition that is reportedly more prevalent in the prison population and to help reduce recidivism through earlier intervention. Questions focused on cost and implementation; the sponsor said the fiscal impact would be minimal because the department already has the needed IT infrastructure and the screening would be an added step rather than a separate system. The bill was then moved and passed. Next, Senate Bill 2036 was explained as a narrow change from “shall” to “may” in language affecting probation, postrelease supervision, or suspension, giving judges discretion in revocation decisions. Senate Bill 2777, requested by the circuit judges association, would clarify that probation or postrelease supervision may be revoked if a person commits a felony, including in situations where the offense occurs before the prior supervision has commenced. That bill also advanced on a do-pass motion. Senate Bill 2043, dealing with parole eligibility for nonviolent offenses, was described as allowing the parole board to reduce eligibility dates by awarded days and to better assess whether offenders are truly eligible; the committee discussed a committee substitute and a reverse repealer before moving on. Finally, Senate Bill 2037 was taken up and amended to require medical care service providers to submit claims at no more than the Mississippi Medicaid reimbursement rate. The amendment by Senator Kirby was adopted, and the bill then received a do-pass-as-amended motion and passed.

Transcript Highlights:

• Senator Sparks. Here. Senator Alvarado. Senator Johnson. Senator Schwertner. Senator Sparks, here.
• Senator Sparks: Aye. Senator King: Aye.
• Senator Sparks: Aye. Senator King: Aye.
• Senator Sparks: Aye. Senator King: Aye.
• Senator Sparks: Aye. Senator King: Aye.

Bills: HB346, HB1851, HB2974, HB5596, HCR118, HCR127, HCR141

Keywords: expedited service, business records, veteran-owned businesses, franchise tax, fee schedule, surplus vehicles, law enforcement equipment, school districts, Texas Facilities Commission, economically disadvantaged areas, HB 5596, voter-approval tax rate, property tax, ad valorem tax, Tax Code, Texas municipalities, coastal municipality, eligible coastal municipality, municipal hotel occupancy tax, hotel occupancy tax revenue

Summary: The Senate Economic Development Committee heard and laid out several measures focused on school safety, Texas-Taiwan relations, defense manufacturing, business formation, hotel tax policy, and NASA relocation. HB 1851 would allow surplus DPS vehicles and law enforcement equipment to be transferred to school districts in economically disadvantaged areas for use by school police and security personnel, with a two-year resale restriction. HCR 127 expressed support for the Texas-Taiwan relationship and trade ties, HCR 118 supported expanding warship manufacturing in Texas, HCR 141 urged Congress to move NASA headquarters to Houston, HB 346 (with a committee substitute) revised business filing and fee authority while making permanent a franchise tax exemption for new veteran-owned businesses, HB 2974 was an omnibus hotel occupancy tax and qualified hotel project bill, and HB 5596 addressed accountability for municipal hotel occupancy tax revenues in coastal communities. Witnesses generally supported the measures, including the Texas Hotel and Lodging Association on HB 2974 and resource witnesses from the Texas Veterans Commission and Secretary of State on HB 346; no opposition testimony was registered on the laid-out bills. After public testimony, the committee took up pending business and adopted committee substitutes where applicable. HB 1851, HB 346, HB 2974, and HB 5596 were each reported favorably to the full Senate, with HB 346 and HB 2974 also recommended for the local and uncontested calendar. HCR 127 and HCR 118 were reported favorably as well, and HCR 127 and HCR 141 were likewise recommended for the local and uncontested calendar. The committee also reported HB 4320 favorably, though the transcript repeats that motion several times. The meeting ended with the committee standing in recess until 7:00 a.m. subject to the call of the chair.

Transcript Highlights:

• SR-294 by Hagen-Boo, SR-295 by Schwartner, SR-296 by Schwartner, HCR-20 by Sparks, HCR-21 by Sparks,
• HCR-22 by Sparks. sparks hcr 23 by sparks hcr 24 by sparks hcr 25 by sparks hcr 26 by sparks hcr 27 by
• sparks hcr 48 by sparks.
• HCR 30 by sparks, HCR 31 by sparks, HCR 52 by sparks, HDR 41 by sparks, HCR 42 by sparks, HDR 41 by sparks
• HCR 43 by Sparks, HCR 44 by Sparks, HCR 45 by Sparks, HCR 49 by Huffman, HCR 52 by Sparks, HCR 53 by

Bills: SCR5, SCR13, SB3, SB6, SB10, SB12, SB13, SB15, SB17, SB18, SB19, SB24, SB35, SB57, SB65, SB112, SB284, SB290, SB388, SB400, SB402, SB412, SB495, SB499, SB502, SB509, SB621, SB706, SB740, SB815, SB842, SB854, SB875, SB893, SB917, SB974, SB1025, SB1061, SB1073, SB1106, SB1268, SB1281, SB1300, SB1362, SB1379, SB1447, SB1451, SB1555, SB1902, SJR36, SJR12, SCR13, SCR25, SCR5, SCR22, SCR12, SCR24, SB495, SB412, SB10, SB18, SB565, SB372, SB842, SB765, SB62, SB19, SB666, SB707, SB888, SB687, SB706, SB847, SB290, SB13, SB1248, SB740, SB14, SB1006, SB504, SB917, SB925, SB388, SB1902, SB1121, SB995, SB857, SB305, SB296, SB284, SB35, SB6, SB815, SB3, SB1281, SB1379, SB1300, SB1497, SB1499, SB1498, SB1451, SB1061, SB15, SB65, SB241, SB304, SB402, SB499, SB621, SB974, SB1023, SB1024, SB1025, SB1106, SB686, SB112, SB371, SB204, SB400, SB609, SB1447, SB670, SB502, SB427, SB850, SB854, SB413, SB1555, SB1362, SB1346, SB1033, SB1220, SB1073, SB810, SB987, SB1539, SB893, SB447, SB875, SB406, SB509, SB985, SB965, SB17, SB1119, SB1505, SB12, SB24, SB57, SB1194, SB1253, SB1215, SB1532, SB1268, SB1302, SB856, SB650, SB583, SB673, SB840, SJR57, SCR8, SB213, SB681, SB1172, SB1252, SB378, SB610, SB918, SB1343, SB608, SB487, SB955, SB957, SB988, SB990, SB1019, SB1021, SB1120, SB251, SB958, SB535, SB761, SB1, SB541, SB315, SB379, SB1018, SB1737, SB266, SB1415

Keywords: SCR 5, Senate Concurrent Resolution 5, Texas School for the Deaf, TSD, Robert Rives, gymnasium naming, building naming, honorary resolution, commemorative resolution, deaf education, hard of hearing, Gallaudet University, alumni hall of fame, football coach, school facility naming, education K-16, State Affairs, Texas Legislature, public school tribute, water rights

Transcript Highlights:

• Sparks to explain the bill.
• Senator Alvarado, Senator Johnson, Senator Sparks. Senator King.
• Senator Sparks moves that House Bill 3800.
• Senator Alvarado, Senator Johnson, Senator Sparks, Senator King, aye.
• Yeah, Senator Sparks, can we pass this to you?

Transcript Highlights:

• Senator Sparks. Aye.
• Senator Sparks. Aye.
• Senator Sparks? Aye.
• Senator Sparks? Aye.
• Senator Sparks? Aye.

Bills: SB3074, HB49, HB2440, HB3556, HB3619, HB3866, HB4042, HB4112, HB4271, HB4413, HB4426, HB5033, HB49

Keywords: SB 3074, TCEQ, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, Water Code, permit applications, environmental permitting, administrative record, ex parte communications, legislative communications, governor, lieutenant governor, state legislators, district projects, public records, recusal, conflict of interest, substantial interest, agency transparency, environmental regulation, permit renewal

Transcript Highlights:

• All right, Senator Sparks, I put you.
• Senator Sparks. Senator King. Aye.
• Senator Sparks, nay. Senator King, aye.
• Senator Sparks? Aye. Senator King? Aye.
• Senator Sparks? Aye. Senator King? Aye.

Bills: HB2564, HB2760, HB2765, HB2898, HB3260, HB3800, HB4341, HB4396, HB5195

Keywords: Defense Economic Adjustment, grant applications, economic assistance, local government, Evaluation panel, judicial review, Texas Workforce Commission, unemployment compensation, legal proceedings, labor law, rural development, infrastructure, Texas economic fund, private investment, job creation, meteorological evaluation towers, wind resources, aviation safety, regulations, construction notice

Transcript Highlights:

• SB 494 by Sparks relates to the establishment of the fund for petroleum products.
• SB 513 by Sparks relates to the rural community-based program for the Committee on Human Services.
• SB 472 by Sparks relates to the defense of the prosecution of certain offenses involving...
• SB 494 by Sparks relates to the establishment of the fund for petroleum products.
• SB 533 by Sparks relates to the authorization of issuance of bonds on election day.

Bills: HJR99, HB1399, HB1400, HB 1094, HB365, HB 1109, HB647, HCR35, SB14, HB 12, HB1522, HB422, HB675, HB204, HB748, HB912, HJR99, HB1399, HB1400, HB 1094, HB365, HB 1109, HB647, HCR35, HCR123, HCR124, HR57, HR87, HR111, HR228, HR230, HR322, HR624, HR625, HR626, HR627, HR628, HR630, HR631, HR634, HR635, HR636, HR637, HR638, HR639, HR640, HR645, HR646, HR648, HR649, HR651, HR652, HR653, HR654, HR664, HR665, HR668, HR675, HR676, HR678, HR679, HR680, HR683, HR686, HR688, HR689, HR694, HR695, HR697, HR698, HR699, HR472, HR622, HR632, HR633, HR643, HR655, HR657, HR660, HR661, HR662, HR663, HR667, HR670, HR674, HR681, HR682, HR696

Keywords: animal feed, tax exemption, ad valorem taxation, retail, constitutional amendment, retail sale, tangible personal property, Texas tax code, groundwater, water conservation, financial assistance, Texas Water Development Board, innovation fund, local conservation districts, transportation protection agreement, funeral services, insurance exemption, regulation, deceased transportation, HB 365

Transcript Highlights:

• Senator Sparks. Senator Cook. Aye.
• Senator Sparks. Senator Cook. Aye.
• Senator Sparks. Aye. Senator Cook. Aye.
• Senator Sparks. Aye. Senator Cook. Aye.
• Senator Sparks? Aye. Senator Cook.

Keywords: 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Senator Sparks? Aye. Senator King? Aye.
• Senator Sparks? Senator King? Aye.
• Senator Sparks? Aye. Senator King? Aye.
• Senator Sparks? Senator King? Aye.
• Senator Sparks? Aye. Senator King? Aye.

Bills: HB346, HB1851, HB2974, HB5596, HCR118, HCR127, HCR141

Keywords: expedited service, business records, veteran-owned businesses, franchise tax, fee schedule, surplus vehicles, law enforcement equipment, school districts, Texas Facilities Commission, economically disadvantaged areas, HB 5596, voter-approval tax rate, property tax, ad valorem tax, Tax Code, Texas municipalities, coastal municipality, eligible coastal municipality, municipal hotel occupancy tax, hotel occupancy tax revenue

Transcript Highlights:

• Chair King, Vice-Chair Sparks...
• Chair King, Vice-Chair Sparks...
• Senator Sparks. Aye. Senator King. Aye.
• Senator Sparks. Senator King.
• Thank you, Senator Sparks.

Bills: SB209, SB529, SB1265, SB1592, SB1728, SCR37, SCR38

Keywords: SB 529, Texas Tax Code, municipality, hotel and convention center, hotel convention center project, tourism development, economic development, tax revenue pledge, revenue commitment, qualified project, municipal finance, local government, special district, hotel occupancy tax, nearby establishments, convention center financing, city population 130000, Section 351.155, Section 351.157, child care