Transcript Highlights:

• You and I were speaking briefly before the meeting about I had contact from one or two law enforcement
• that an unconstitutional law... remember that an unconstitutional law helps no children.
• But nonetheless, that would be the utterly foreseeable consequence of this bill becoming law.
• That's long-standing contract law. When your kid...
• What they’re talking about is when a state passes a law that says for... ...state passes a law that says

Bills: HB285, HB317

Keywords: HB285, TJ's Law, traffic infraction, traffic ticket, uniform traffic ticket and complaint, minor driver, juvenile driver, parent notification, guardian notification, emergency contact, law enforcement, citing agency, traffic citation, driver safety, youth safety, Alabama traffic law, Section 12-12-56, Children and Senior Advocacy, House Judiciary, reasonable effort

Transcript Highlights:

• Currently, as I understand it, federal law does not allow for someone 12 and under to have their own
• The federal law right now states that they'd be 13.
• And it's law in the United Kingdom.
• Why can't we make that law in Alabama where adults... ...we make that law in Alabama where adults can't
• There are similar laws that are currently enjoined in Arkansas, Ohio, California, and Maryland.

Bills: HB235, HB276, HB285

Keywords: social media, age verification, minors, under 16, children online safety, online privacy, platform regulation, deceptive trade practice, Attorney General, civil penalties, punitive damages, consumer protection, account creation, algorithmic feeds, internet safety, youth social media, minor safety, child online safety, teen accounts, parental controls

Transcript Highlights:

• I think in our discussion, the law, if this becomes law, would not go into effect until October of this
• That is not a statute, that is not a law.
• I taught constitutional law for 25 years to seniors in law school.
• Well, they're not under current law. Now, what current law...
• We make laws, and we don't think about the incidental effects of those laws.

Bills: HB202, HB42, HB146, HB492, HB285, HB7, HB454, HB42, HB7

Keywords: law enforcement, immunity, civil liability, use of force, recruitment, bail reform, cash deposit, judicial discretion, criminal justice, Alabama law, youthful offender, capital murder, public safety, victims' rights, juvenile offenders, delinquent acts, juvenile court, nonfelony offenses, water safety offenses, HB285

Transcript Highlights:

• still in the physical custody of the... and then replace line 73 on page three, subsection three, a law
• And in subsection B, the law enforcement agency responsible for service of the warrant shall provide
• All those in favor of the amendment say I. three subsection three a law enforcement three subsection
• three a law enforcement agency<00:05:56.400><c> that</c><00:05:56.720><c> issues</c><00:05:57.039><c>
• ><00:06:08.560><c> subsection</c><00:06:09.199><c> B,</c><00:06:09.440><c> the</c><00:06:09.600><c> law

Bills: HB304, HB285, HB312, HB311, SB60

Keywords: impoundment, driver licenses, vehicle redemption, local identification cards, law enforcement, HB285, TJ's Law, traffic infraction, traffic ticket, uniform traffic ticket and complaint, minor driver, juvenile driver, parent notification, guardian notification, emergency contact, citing agency, traffic citation, driver safety, youth safety, Alabama traffic law

Transcript Highlights:

• We call them laws. Then there's also an oversight role that we have.
• However, we are required by law that we passed to have those hearings, and we did.
• Not only their job, but what the law tells them they have to do.
• I don't care; we make the law. We don't have to make law and money.
• Yeah, I agree with our law enforcement and the burden that they already have.

Bills: SB324, HB395, HB222, HB310, HB285, HB144, HB251, HB380

Keywords: parole, pardons, paroles board, board of pardons and paroles, Alabama criminal justice, sentencing reform, prison reform, reentry, recidivism, risk assessment, validated risk and needs assessment, supervision, probation, parole denial, parole reconsideration, medical parole, violent offense, nonviolent offense, law enforcement member, board appointments

Transcript Highlights:

• Florida just passed a law along these lines, as did Arkansas and Missouri.
• Currently, 26 states are in the process of passing their own version into law.
• Let Texas not be the last to pass into law such a win-win bill for everyone. Thank you.
• I'm testifying from my law firm, Stone Hilton, in support of the legislation.
• This is authorization by law. Thank you. Thank you very much for being here. Mr. Carter.

Bills: HB42

Keywords: special prosecutor, state law, criminal justice, accountability, law enforcement

Summary: The committee heard Senator Flores lay out the committee substitute for HB 2894, which would expand state reimbursement eligibility for local governments disproportionately affected by the disabled veterans homestead exemption. Flores said the bill would add certain municipalities in Bell, Coryell, and Lampasas counties if lost ad valorem tax revenue equals or exceeds 10% of general revenue, while existing recipients would remain under the current 2% threshold. Lampasas and Bell County officials and the City of Killeen testified in support, describing significant revenue losses and urging adequate funding. One witness, Howard Avery, argued any reimbursement should be counted as property tax revenue for voter-approval rate purposes to avoid a windfall. The committee later adopted the substitute and reported the bill favorably, with one nay. The committee also heard SB 782, which would create a temporary severance tax exemption for restimulated inactive oil and gas wells, intended to encourage investment in mature wells. The Comptroller explained the revised fiscal note as effectively zero because the wells are currently marginal and not generating meaningful tax revenue, while industry witnesses said the bill could extend well life, support local economies, and reduce orphan-well liabilities. Public testimony was supportive, and the bill was left pending. Members then heard HB 3033, a DPS-related grant program funded by voluntary $3 donations on driver’s license and ID applications to support nonprofits aiding injured or fallen DPS officers and their families, including memorial highway signs. The DPS Officers Association supported the bill, citing existing foundation assistance and the need for a steady funding stream. The committee later reported the bill favorably. The committee also considered SB 524, which would permanently extend the franchise tax and fee exemption for qualifying veteran-owned businesses for their first five years; testimony from a veteran business owner and veterans advocates supported the measure, and the committee adopted the substitute and reported it favorably. Additional measures were laid out and left pending or voted out: HB 3594, a local San Antonio retiree health care fund bill with agreed changes for contributions, spouse benefits, and remarriage rules, was supported by stakeholders and reported favorably; HB 4738 would repeal small administrative fees tied to certain loans and was reported favorably; HB 42 on HEAF funding and HB 5246 on the Texas Space Commission were heard and left pending. The committee also reported HB 3474, a cleanup bill for the Pension Review Board’s investment performance review schedule, and HB 2802, the Austin firefighter retirement fund bill, both favorably. Finally, the committee took up HB 1056, which would allow gold and silver held in the Texas Bullion Depository to function as legal tender through debit-card transactions. Supporters framed it as a way to use hard assets and expand financial options, while bankers and some senators raised major operational, consumer-protection, tax, and constitutional questions; the bill remained under discussion as testimony began.

Bills: SB198, SB179

Keywords: Alabama National Guard, National Guard legal services, legal assistance program, judge advocate, staff judge advocate, paralegal, military justice, military law, legal aid, preventive law, notary, notarial acts, Adjutant General, State Military Department, Office of General Counsel, Army Regulation 27-1, Army Regulation 27-3, Air Force Instruction 51-304, Air National Guard Instruction 51-504, Title 31

Transcript Highlights:

• Next, we have Ernest Rebello, Deputy Director for DLE, Department of Law Enforcement and Support. >>
• I'm a deputy director with the Department of Law Enforcement.
• I'm a deputy director with the Department of Law Enforcement.
• enforcement leadership service. statewide law enforcement leadership statewide law enforcement leadership
• enforcement operations, and consistent application of the retirement law while preserving integrity

Bills: SB2141, SB2593, SB2824, SB2135, SB2115

Keywords: retirement, law enforcement, pension, public safety, employee contributions, Law Enforcement Standards Board, LESB, civil service exemption, collective bargaining exemption, law enforcement certification, police standards, law enforcement training, officer certification, training and curriculum coordinator, lead investigative agent, administrative manager, administrator, Hawaii HRS 76-16, Hawaii HRS 139-3, personnel exemption

Transcript Highlights:

• Changes in federal law at the federal level made it easier to qualify.
• has been supportive in terms of understanding our commitment to creating new residences because it's law
• has been supportive in terms of understanding our commitment to creating new residencies because it's law

Bills: HB42, HB125

Keywords: special prosecutor, state law, criminal justice, accountability, law enforcement, stormwater management, counties, regulation, environment, water quality

Summary: The Committee on Higher Education met to hear several bills and first corrected the minutes from its April 1, 2025 meeting to reflect that a committee substitute for HB 271 had been adopted before the bill was reported favorably. The committee then heard HB 3326, which would help Texas higher education employees, especially adjunct faculty, qualify for federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness by counting classroom hours toward full-time status, requiring institutions to verify employment within 60 days, and requiring annual notice to eligible employees. No witnesses testified against the bill, and it was left pending. Members then heard HB 2853, authorizing UTEP to phase in a student union fee increase to fund demolition and reconstruction of its aging student union. Representative Perez and UTEP student and university witnesses said the current facility is outdated and insufficient for a campus of more than 25,000 students, while some members raised concerns about the size of the fee increase and its impact on low-income students. UTEP representatives said most students receive aid, the fee would be phased in over time, and the project was student-approved; the bill was left pending. The committee also heard HB 4066, a one-line bill to abolish the Texas Research Incentive Program after the state cleared its backlog of matching obligations, with the author saying the program was no longer needed in light of newer research funding approaches. The bill was left pending. The committee spent substantial time on HB 125, which would create the Tarleton State University College of Osteopathic Medicine. Supporters, including Tarleton leadership, the founding dean, a rural hospital CEO, and a feasibility consultant, argued the school would address severe rural physician shortages by recruiting Texas and rural students, training them in rural settings, and developing new residency slots rather than competing for existing ones. Members asked about affordability, residency placement, and whether the school would draw students from rural Texas; Tarleton said it would seek to keep tuition and debt low, had already raised private donations, and would request $25 million in state support over the biennium. The bill was left pending. Finally, the committee heard HB 42, which would increase the annual Higher Education Fund appropriation and adjust its allocation methodology. The chair and university witnesses described rising deferred maintenance, inflation, cybersecurity needs, and enrollment growth at HEAF-eligible institutions, with witnesses from Texas Tech, Sam Houston State, and UNT saying the additional funding would help address aging facilities and technology needs. After testimony, the committee left HB 42 pending and recessed.

Bills: SB 8, SB 650, SB 667, SB 779, SB 1349, SB 1355, SB 1378, SB 1585, SB 1721, SB 2312

Keywords: immigration enforcement, ICE agreements, sheriff grants, law enforcement, county jail, federal immigration law, public nuisance, civil actions, legal claims, abatement, Texas law, transnational repression, foreign law enforcement, criminal offenses, law enforcement training, first amendment rights, public safety, liquor, distiller, wholesaler

Transcript Highlights:

• The cogs have come to me and asked me to run one for law enforcement now to do the same thing with law
• that would hire one person for each cog to go out and work with to get grants and equipment for rural law
• This bill says rural law enforcement. I looked at the map of these 11.
• If I were the person hired to do that, I would be looking at the rural law enforcement areas in that
• the salary of the Person that is going to be responsible for this is going to go looking for rural law

Bills: HB2993, HB3850, HB3595, HB3763, HB3760

Keywords: rural law enforcement, grant fund, public safety, financial assistance, coordination districts, grant funding, law enforcement coordinators, municipal assistance, education, inmates, literacy, high school equivalency, Department of Corrections, parole, rehabilitation, HB3595, Safer Counties Revolving Fund, Oklahoma Department of Public Safety, county grants, traffic barrier equipment

Transcript Highlights:

• Would you agree that this is cleanup language to help our DMVs along with law enforcement make the event
• The law proposed says if you are out of state, you're just discounted as A person at that prison, so
• I think regardless of whether we change this law or not, you will still be the person who stands up for

Bills: HB2993, HB3850, HB3595, HB3763, HB3760

Keywords: rural law enforcement, grant fund, public safety, financial assistance, coordination districts, grant funding, law enforcement coordinators, municipal assistance, education, inmates, literacy, high school equivalency, Department of Corrections, parole, rehabilitation, HB3595, Safer Counties Revolving Fund, Oklahoma Department of Public Safety, county grants, traffic barrier equipment

Bills: SF0087, SF0111

Keywords: felony, law enforcement, police officer, criminal penalties, public safety, select committee, gaming, regulation, Wyoming law, community impact, 916, all

Bills: SF0087, SF0111

Keywords: felony, law enforcement, police officer, criminal penalties, public safety, select committee, gaming, regulation, Wyoming law, community impact, 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• What it does is not change anything about the law. We want change anything about the law.
• The law says it is now left up to the driver to do this, right?
• through this committee already on the House version relating to a criminal enterprise database to assist law
• It is working with the law that we've previously passed for criminal enterprise.
• Then I'll get the substitute and I'll work on the law enforcement side and strengthen it to make sure

Bills: SB211, SB241, HB614

Keywords: school safety, local law enforcement, superintendent, complaints, school bus regulations, criminal enterprise, database, law enforcement, crime management, Alabama law, DUI, driving under the influence, drunk driving, license suspension, driver's license revocation, ignition interlock, interlock device, breathalyzer, alcohol offense, impaired driving

Bills: HB0076, HB0084

Keywords: annexation, landowner rights, municipal law, city planning, property, local government, elections, falsification, misleading, post-election, audit, state law, 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:15:13.680><c> That</c><00:15:13.920><c> law</c><00:15:14.160><c> passed</c><00:15:14.399><c>
• That law passed in insurance department.
• That law passed in 1997, 1997, 1997, and<00:15:16.959><c> it</c><00:15:17.279><c> seemed</c><00:15:17.519
• 15:37.199><c> forcing</c><00:15:37.600><c> that</c><00:15:37.839><c> particular</c><00:15:38.160><c> law
• </c> covered by forcing that particular law covered by forcing that particular law or<00:15:38.560><c

Bills: HB415, HB419, SB219, SB170

Keywords: police abuse registry, law enforcement registry, officer assault, assault on police, resisting arrest, battery on law enforcement, law enforcement injury fund, Back the Blue Act, Attorney General, clemency, pardon, commutation, rehabilitation costs, medical costs, public safety, criminal records, background checks, registry removal fee, privacy, due process

Transcript Highlights:

• They have some hard law enforcement. Everybody is getting recognized. Sorry. Sorry.

Bills: SB332, HB362, HB323, SB332, HB362, HB323

Keywords: public works, construction management, project delivery methods, alternative delivery, administrative rules, public advisory council, contracting, bidding procedures, protests, transparency, local government, public meetings, accountability, education, electric utility, transportation, oversize vehicles, transport permits, state highway system, firefighters

Bills: SB8, SB10, SB16, SB8

Keywords: education, accountability, public school assessment, state law, transparency, intervention, performance ratings, Ten Commandments, public schools, religious display, First Amendment, voter registration, proof of citizenship, Election Code, criminal offenses, limited federal ballot, immigration enforcement, ICE agreements, sheriff grants, law enforcement

Bills: HB13, HB13

Keywords: firearms, assault weapons, minors, prohibition, criminal penalties, HB13, Laken Riley Act, illegal immigration, immigration enforcement, ICE, Department of Homeland Security, DHS, Department of Justice, DOJ, immigration detainer, detainer request, I-247, Law Enforcement Support Center, LESC, county jail