Video & Transcript Research : 'Texas Comptroller'

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TX

Texas 89th 2nd C.S.

Criminal Jurisprudence Mar 25th, 2025

Criminal Jurisprudence

Transcript Highlights:
  • Texas should prohibit the possession, sale, and distribution.
  • It's not Susan Johnson or based on Susan Johnson from Cleveland, Texas.
  • Yes, outside of Texas and even outside of the US.
  • But, but then would land here would be in Texas, right? Yeah, I don't see why.
  • So it's from the Texas, it's from the legislative record.
Bills: HB207, HB235
TX

Texas 89th 2nd C.S.

Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence May 14th, 2025

Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence

Transcript Highlights:
  • I'm Guy Herman, presiding statutory probate court judge here in the state of Texas. Thank you.
  • Members, in 2023, the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services reported over...
  • elder abuse in Texas, up from 60,000 cases reported in 2022.
  • Get the Texas Rangers to investigate the probate mafia.
  • I have supervision status in Texas.
Bills: SB1015, SB2933
Summary: The Committee on Judiciary and Civil Jurisprudence heard testimony on Senate Bill 1015, which would clarify that the comptroller is responsible for distributing excess judicial fund payments back to statutory probate courts. Judge Guy Herman testified in support, saying the bill would help ensure probate courts receive funding they are entitled to, while Ed Heimlich testified against the bill with broad criticism of probate courts and judicial practices. The committee then heard Senate Bill 2933, which would add elder abuse training to required judicial education for several categories of judges and judicial officers; Dr. Bruce Hargrave supported the bill, citing the prevalence and underreporting of elder abuse and the need for judges to recognize warning signs. No votes were taken on either of those bills, and SB 2933 was left pending. The committee then reconsidered Senate Bill 38, an eviction-related bill, and Vice Chair Hayes described two agreed floor amendments: one limiting the summary disposition procedure to forcible entry and detainer cases involving squatters, and another requiring a notice to pay rent or vacate for tenants who had been timely payers but missed a payment. After discussion, the committee voted 6-4 to report SB 38 without amendments. The committee also adopted or advanced a series of other bills and resolutions, including SB 293, SB 1141, SB 1448, SB 1536, SB 1558, SB 1838, SB 1940, SB 2127, SB 53, SB 251, SB 311, SB 387, SB 441 (with a substitute), SB 1164, SB 1335, SB 1574 (with a substitute), SB 1719, SB 1760, SB 1839, SB 1923 (with a substitute), SB 2807, and SJR 27 (with a substitute). Most measures were reported favorably on largely party-line or near-unanimous votes, with a few close votes on SB 942, SB 311, SB 2807, and SJR 27. SB 942, relating to retroactive child support beginning at conception, initially failed 5-5 but was reconsidered and then passed 6-5. The committee adjourned after completing its agenda.
TX

Texas 89th Regular

Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence May 14th, 2025

Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence

Transcript Highlights:
  • Guy Herman, presiding statutory probate court judge here in the state of Texas.
  • elder abuse in Texas, up from 60,000 cases reported in 2022.
  • Get the Texas Rangers to investigate the probate mafia.
  • I have supervision status in Texas.
  • This is Senator Hughes's bill relating to the writ power of the Texas Supreme Court.
Bills: SB1015, SB2933
TX

Texas 89th Regular

Ways & Means Apr 28th, 2025

Ways & Means

Transcript Highlights:
  • It will have a dramatic negative impact on the Texas horse industry.
  • These states have higher purses than we have in Texas.
  • Yes, I'm a Texas horseman and third-rate trainer.
  • If there's a business in the state of Texas and it's...
  • As mentioned, my name is David Bristol, and I'm the mayor of Prosper, Texas, a growing North Texas community
TX
Transcript Highlights:
  • I'm a veteran from Texas. I'm in Senate District 25, New Braunfels, Texas.
  • If Texas is going to own gold, if the state of Texas is going to own gold, let's have it here.
  • stay in Texas.
  • Okay, and then as we know Texas...
  • I live here in Texas, Lago Vista, Texas.
TX

Texas 89th Regular

Energy Resources May 12th, 2025

Energy Resources

Transcript Highlights:
  • Department of Transportation, Texas 811, and the Texas One Call Board.
  • Freeman Martin, Texas Department of Public Safety.
  • Just like in Texas, it's on your driver's license.
  • And that's a tremendous opportunity for Texas.
  • Chair, after working with stakeholders, including DPS, the Texas Comptroller, and members of the House
Bills: SB290, SB2949
TX

Texas 89th Regular

Economic Development Apr 7th, 2025

Economic Development

Transcript Highlights:
  • Texas added 11.6 gigawatts in... Mr.
  • Some Texas electric companies only operate within ERCOT and therefore could not look outside of Texas
  • annual meeting in Texas.
  • Texas 2036 approved.
  • Texas 2036 appreciates this bill's focus on the integration of the Texas Workforce Commission, the Texas
Summary: The committee heard a series of bills, mostly related to economic development, tax incentives, and workforce programs. Senate Bill 1534 would direct a study by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board and the Texas Workforce Commission on health physics education and workforce needs; resource witnesses from the Workforce Commission and Coordinating Board testified, and the bill was left pending. Senate Bill 1553 would authorize Kerr County to impose a hotel occupancy tax for tourism-related uses, and Senate Bills 1086 and 1087 would authorize similar county hotel taxes for Children’s County and Mason County; all three bills received supportive testimony and were left pending. The committee also heard Senate Bill 1754, which would prohibit county and local tax abatements for renewable energy facilities selling power wholesale, with testimony sharply divided between landowners and policy groups opposing renewable subsidies and industry representatives and some senators arguing the bill would harm clean energy investment and local decision-making; the bill was left pending. The committee then heard Senate Bill 2322, which would exempt dispatchable electric generation facilities from the JEDI program’s compelling-factor test so they could qualify for school district tax incentives; testimony was mixed, and the bill was left pending. Later, the committee heard Senate Bill 1718, which would add the NRA annual meeting to the state’s major events reimbursement program. The bill’s sponsor and NRA representatives argued the event brings substantial tourism and economic activity, while opponents said it would use taxpayer funds to subsidize an organization that opposes gun safety measures; the bill was left pending. Senate Bill 2004 would add the Arlington Grand Prix to the major events reimbursement program, with the committee substitute exempting it from the usual competitive site-selection requirement because of timing; testimony from the event organizers and Arlington tourism officials was supportive, and the bill was left pending. Senate Bill 2448 would create a rural workforce development grant program at the Texas Workforce Commission to support college-and-career readiness and technical assistance in rural communities; witnesses from Texas 2036, Collegiate Edgination, and a rural school district supported it, and it was left pending. Finally, Senate Bill 913 would repeal a special requirement that Alpine dedicate at least 50% of its hotel occupancy tax to advertising and promotion, and Senate Bill 1143 would require more coordination and reporting for youth workforce programs serving disconnected young Texans; both bills received supportive testimony and were left pending. At the end of the hearing, Senator Johnson moved that the committee stand in recess, subject to the call of the chair.
TX
Transcript Highlights:
  • Some Texas electric companies only operate within ERCOT and therefore could not look outside of Texas
  • annual meeting in Texas.
  • We enjoy being in Texas. This is a great state.
  • Texas 2036 appreciates this bill's focus on the integration of the Texas Workforce Commission, the Texas
  • I am with the Texas Opportunity Youth Network.
TX
Transcript Highlights:
  • Texas added... And 33.6 gigawatts in 2024. Texas added 11.6 gigawatts in... Mr.
  • I'm a resident of Dyke, Texas, and Hopkins County.
  • Some Texas electric companies only operate within ERCOT and therefore could not look outside of Texas
  • annual meeting in Texas.
  • Texas 2036 appreciates this bill's focus on the integration of the Texas Workforce Commission, the Texas
Summary: The Senate Economic Development Committee met to hear a series of bills and informational primers, with several resource witnesses from the Governor’s Office, the Texas Workforce Commission, and the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. The chair opened by noting the death of Senator King’s son and asking members to keep the family in their prayers. Most bills were laid out and left pending subject to the call of the chair after brief author presentations and public testimony. The committee heard several local hotel occupancy tax bills: SB 1553 for Kerr County, SB 1086 for Childress County, SB 1087 for Mason County, and SB 913 for Alpine. Supporters, including the Texas Hotel and Lodging Association and local officials, said the measures would allow counties or the city to use hotel tax revenue for tourism-related projects and local development. The committee also heard SB 1534, which would direct a study on health physics education and workforce needs in Texas; resource witnesses from TWC and THECB testified on the bill. All of these measures were left pending. A major portion of the hearing focused on SB 1754, which would prohibit local tax abatements for renewable energy facilities selling power at wholesale, with an exception for certain battery storage tied to dispatchable generation. The bill drew strong support from witnesses who argued counties should not subsidize wind and solar projects that can harm neighboring landowners and that renewables already receive substantial federal support. Opponents from the solar and storage industry argued the bill would remove a voluntary local economic development tool, raise power prices, and discourage investment. Senators also debated landowner impacts, grid reliability, and whether the bill was the right policy tool; the bill was left pending. The committee also heard SB 2322, a committee substitute related to the Jobs, Energy, Technology, and Innovation Act, which would exempt electric generation facilities from the program’s compelling-factor test so they can qualify for school tax limitation agreements. Supporters said the change would correct an unintended barrier for dispatchable generation, while Senator Johnson argued it would weaken the program’s purpose by subsidizing projects that would locate in Texas anyway. SB 1718 would add the NRA annual meeting to the major events reimbursement program; the NRA supported it, while gun violence prevention advocates opposed using state incentives for the organization. SB 2004 would add the Arlington Grand Prix to the major events program, and SB 2448 would create a rural workforce development grant program; both drew supportive testimony and were left pending. The committee also heard SB 1143, a substitute bill aimed at improving transparency and coordination in programs serving opportunity youth ages 14 to 24, with witnesses supporting better reporting and workforce alignment. At the end of the meeting, Senator Johnson moved that the committee stand in recess subject to the call of the chair.
TX
Transcript Highlights:
  • The Alabama-Coushatta Tribe of Texas and the Kickapoo Traditional Tribe of Texas already have officers
  • who are commissioned by the state of Texas.
  • commissioned officers under Texas law.
  • officers under Texas law.
  • I got my T-Close from Texas A&M.
Summary: The Senate Committee on Criminal Justice heard a series of bills focused on criminal procedure, public safety, victim protections, and law enforcement administration. SB 1537 would require criminal-proceeding interpreters to meet the same appointment standards used in the Government Code, and SB 993 would let the Comptroller’s Criminal Investigative Division seek mobile-tracking warrants directly in motor fuel theft and related tax-fraud investigations. SB 693, as substituted, would create a criminal offense for notaries who notarize documents without the signer personally appearing, with a higher penalty when real property is involved, and would add continuing education for notaries. SB 1610 would tighten rules for civilly committed sexually violent predators at the Texas Civil Commitment Office, including penalties for new crimes and assaults on staff, sex-offender registration requirements, and removal of certain provisions from the filed version; the substitute reduced some of the harsher penalties and preserved parole/community-supervision eligibility. SB 836 would expand privacy protections for sexual assault survivors by limiting livestreaming of certain trials, allowing pseudonyms earlier in the process, and protecting forensic exam evidence and invasive recordings under protective orders. SB 1563 would require county jailers to receive training on interacting with veterans, with testimony emphasizing suicide risk, PTSD, and the need for better identification and support in jails. SB 906 would give the Ysleta del Sur Pueblo authority similar to other Texas tribes to commission peace officers under state law to enforce Texas laws on tribal land. SB 781 would standardize confidentiality rules for peace officers’ personal information and create a confidential departmental file system modeled on Chapter 143 civil-service practices, though members raised concerns about whether the bill could affect disciplinary records and existing disclosure rules. Testimony was largely supportive for the bills, especially from prosecutors, law enforcement representatives, victim advocates, and agency officials. Supporters of SB 693 described widespread deed fraud tied to improper notarizations; supporters of SB 836 stressed survivor privacy and the harms of livestreamed sexual-assault proceedings; supporters of SB 1563 said jailer training could help prevent veteran suicides and improve treatment; and supporters of SB 906 said state commissioning would improve public safety and coordination on tribal lands. SB 781 drew support from police and TCOLE witnesses who said the bill would extend confidentiality protections already used in civil-service departments, while some members questioned whether the bill duplicated existing law or could be read to shield misconduct information. Public testimony included opposition to SB 1610 from a civil-rights advocate who urged waiting for Sunset review, and opposition to SB 781 from a family member of a person killed by police, who objected to expanding confidentiality for officers. Several bills were left pending after testimony because the committee lacked a quorum or chose to hold them for later action.
TX

Texas 89th Regular

Criminal Justice (Part I) Mar 25th, 2025

Criminal Justice

Transcript Highlights:
  • The Alabama-Coushatta Tribe of Texas and the Kickapoo Traditional Tribe of Texas already have officers
  • who are commissioned by the state of Texas.
  • commissioned officers under Texas law.
  • officers under Texas law.
  • I got my T-Close from Texas A&M.
Summary: The committee heard a series of criminal justice bills focused on victim protections, law enforcement tools, notary/deed fraud, sexually violent predators, veterans in jail, tribal policing authority, and peace officer records. Several bills were laid out, heard, and left pending because the committee lacked a quorum for final action on those items. Testimony was generally supportive on bills addressing interpreter appointments, fuel theft investigations, deed fraud, survivor privacy, veteran jailer training, tribal peace officer authority, and officer-record confidentiality, though some bills drew concerns about due process, scope, or drafting. Senate Bill 1537 would clean up criminal procedure language on appointing interpreters and align it with Government Code standards requiring licensed or certified interpreters; it received no public opposition and was left pending. Senate Bill 993 would let Comptroller Criminal Investigative Division officers directly seek warrants for mobile tracking devices in fuel-theft and tax-fraud investigations; it also drew support and was left pending. Senate Bill 693, as substituted, would create a criminal offense for notarizing documents without the signer personally appearing, with a higher penalty when real property is involved, and would add notary continuing education; a Dallas County prosecutor testified that notary fraud is a major driver of deed theft, and the bill was left pending. Senate Bill 1610, as substituted, would address safety, registration, and criminal penalties at the Texas Civil Commitment Office for sexually violent predators, including assaults on staff and sex-offender registration issues; agency witnesses described increased assaults and operational problems, while a public witness urged waiting for Sunset review and raised due-process concerns. Senate Bill 836 would add privacy protections for sexual assault survivors by limiting livestreaming of trials, expanding pseudonym use, and protecting forensic exam and invasive-recording evidence; survivors and advocates strongly supported it, and defense lawyers said they had no opposition to the substitute. Senate Bill 1563 would require county jailer training on interacting with veterans, with testimony from the Texas Veterans Commission and veterans’ advocates emphasizing suicide risk, PTSD, and the need for better identification and support in jails; the bill was left pending. The committee also heard Senate Bill 906, which would authorize the Ysleta del Sur Pueblo tribal police to be commissioned as Texas peace officers like two other federally recognized tribes in Texas; tribal leaders said the change would improve response times and coordination, and the bill was left pending. Senate Bill 781, as substituted, would standardize confidentiality rules for peace officer personnel and departmental files statewide, mirroring Chapter 143 civil-service practices; law enforcement witnesses supported it as a way to protect personal information and create uniform records practices, but several senators raised concerns that the bill could blur existing disclosure rules or bury misconduct complaints, and public testimony included an opposition witness describing a police shooting involving her brother.
TX
Transcript Highlights:
  • Texas has one of the highest levels of unpaid child support in the country, totaling about $19 billion
  • And it's good for the state of Texas, and it was also good for the state of Wisconsin.
  • When it was implemented, the same could happen here in Texas.
  • Please support Senate Bill 629 and bring hope, stability, and opportunity back to Texas.
  • I'm also the president of the Texas Association of Family Defense Attorneys.
TX

Texas 89th Regular

State Affairs (Part II) Mar 17th, 2025

State Affairs

Transcript Highlights:
  • Wholesalers of Texas, and the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission.
  • If applied fairly to all, it could remove a massive roadblock for Texas wine and Texas farmers.
  • wine and Texas farmers.
  • Can't do that in Texas. It's put a hard cap on how far Texas wine can go.
  • sell back into Texas liquor.
Summary: The Senate Committee on State Affairs resumed consideration of several pending bills, first taking up Senate Bills 667, 1349, 1585, and 2312. After inviting testimony had already been heard, no members of the public came forward to testify on any of those measures, and the committee closed public testimony and left all four bills pending. The committee then heard Senate Bill 1355, which Senator Parker explained as a committee substitute aimed at helping Texas distillers recover unpaid invoices from wholesalers. The substitute would require distillers to invoice at the time of purchase, send a demand letter if payment terms are violated, and allow complaints to be filed with the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission, which could determine an appropriate penalty based on the facts. Natasha Dehart of Bent Distilling Company testified in support, describing serious cash-flow problems and unpaid invoices from a Texas wholesaler that had forced layoffs, late vendor payments, and operational strain. No one testified against the bill, and it was left pending. The committee also heard Senate Bill 1378, a narrowly tailored local bill for a Carrollton facility recently acquired by Sazerac that employs more than 1,000 Texans. Senator Parker said the bill would create a limited exemption to avoid forcing the company to shut down or move because of current permit restrictions, while preserving the three-tier system and preventing the company from selling wine to itself. A Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission resource witness said the bill was drafted so it would not open the door to broader industry changes. Mason Moreland testified against the bill as filed, arguing it gave special treatment to one company and failed to address broader problems in the wine industry, including direct-to-consumer sales and permit issues. After questions from senators, public testimony closed and SB 1378 was left pending. The committee then recessed subject to the call of the chair.
TX

Texas 89th Regular

Pensions, Investments & Financial Services Apr 23rd, 2025

Pensions, Investments & Financial Services

Transcript Highlights:
  • For the record, my name is Kirk Watson, and I'm the Mayor of Austin, Texas.
  • Thank you for the opportunity to speak and thank you for your service to Texas.
  • I'm the Executive Director of the Texas Retired Teachers Association.
  • As a matter of fact, back in the 1980s and 90s, there was an organization in Texas called the Texas Association
  • Currently, there are two judicial retirement plans in Texas: JRS1 and JRS2.
TX

Texas 89th Regular

Pensions, Investments & Financial Services Apr 23rd, 2025

Pensions, Investments & Financial Services

Transcript Highlights:
  • I worked for the Texas State Comptroller's Office for 31 years.
  • Texas lenders, regulated in accordance with Chapter 342, Subchapter of the Texas Finance Code.
  • Texas citizens to meet their financial needs.
  • Texas and our 2.5 million members across Texas.
  • Um, I am a member of the Texas Consumer Credit Coalition.
TX
Transcript Highlights:
  • In short, Texas has built...
  • Currently, accommodation intermediaries have agreements with the Texas Comptroller to remit the state
  • Currently, the state Comptroller and Texas counties lack the authority to collect hotel occupancy taxes
  • It includes the Texas Restaurant Association, Texas 2036, Early Matters Texas, as well as the Texas Association
  • Texas Workforce Commission, you already have the Texas Work and Family Policies website.
TX
Transcript Highlights:
  • Wholesalers of Texas, and the Texas Alcohol Beverage Commission. to set up a complaint process for distillers
  • It leaves Texas farmers and Texas wine businesses with no solution. to the exact same problem in the
  • wine and Texas farmers.
  • Can't do that in Texas. It's put a hard cap on how far Texas wine can go.
  • into Texas. liquor.