Transcript Highlights:

• spouses to be in Texas.
• Bartlett, you are with the Texas Lawyers for Children and you're testifying for yourself and Texas Lawyers
• And 15, within 15 of the 22 months a child has been in care, and of course, as we know in Texas, Texas
• When Texas gets audited, there is a Dean for Texas, I think he calls it a dean.
• Um, so Texas COASA is a statewide membership organization for the 74 local COASA programs across Texas

Bills: HCR 10

Keywords: balanced budget amendment, federal budget, deficit reduction, deficit spending, fiscal restraint, constitutional amendment, U.S. Constitution, Congress, PAYGO, Gramm-Rudman-Hollings, national debt, budget deficit, taxpayer dollars, balanced budget resolution, memorial resolution, Texas Legislature, federal spending, budget reform, fiscal conservatism

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm a general dentist from Katy, Texas, and I'm in support, and the Texas Dental Association is in support
• Doctor Ho, thank you for coming from Katy, Texas.
• Thank you for your testimony this morning coming all the way from Lubbock, Texas.
• I serve as the CEO for the Texas Council.
• We represent the 39 local mental health and intellectual disability authorities of Texas.

Bills: HB50

Keywords: constitutional amendment, ballot language, fiscal note, fiscal impact, cost estimate, savings estimate, Legislative Budget Board, LBB, secretary of state, Election Code, Government Code, voter information, ballot proposition, state budget, election administration, Texas

Transcript Highlights:

• SJR 57 amends the Texas Constitution with voter approval. to make absolutely clear that the state is
• Again, this is just to codify and send to the voters this constitutional amendment resolution, and I
• How is passing a constitutional amendment, which is effectively a law, going to remove liability that
• I think, like other constitutional amendments, once it becomes a part of the Constitution, the ability
• That and putting it into the Constitution as an amendment.

Bills: HB3015, HB3521, HB5632, HJR182, SJR57

Keywords: healthcare, direct primary care, insurance deductibles, Texas Health Benefit Plans, telemedicine, police retirement, disability pension, municipalities, law enforcement, retirement benefits, retirement, beneficiary, Employees Retirement System of Texas, divorce decree, beneficiary designation, Veterans' Land Board, general obligation bonds, constitutional amendment, veterans, housing assistance

Transcript Highlights:

• HB 1135 amends Chapter 125 by renaming the act as Terrence Solbrg Act.
• Not sure if y'all know a lot about it, but it was a nuisance to the state of Texas.
• They were bypassing a lot of the laws that the state of Texas put in place.
• The state of Texas allows the officers to give it to their discretion.
• You don't get amended. OK.

Bills: HCR 10, HCR 9

Keywords: balanced budget amendment, federal budget, deficit reduction, deficit spending, fiscal restraint, constitutional amendment, U.S. Constitution, Congress, PAYGO, Gramm-Rudman-Hollings, national debt, budget deficit, taxpayer dollars, balanced budget resolution, memorial resolution, Texas Legislature, federal spending, budget reform, fiscal conservatism, HCR 9

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm a general dentist from Katy, Texas, and I'm in support of this bill.
• The Texas Dental Association is also in support of this bill.
• Ho, thank you for coming from Katy, Texas. Yes, ma'am.
• House Bill 2655 amended.
• Thank you for your testimony this morning, coming all the way from Lubbock, Texas.

Bills: HB50

Keywords: constitutional amendment, ballot language, fiscal note, fiscal impact, cost estimate, savings estimate, Legislative Budget Board, LBB, secretary of state, Election Code, Government Code, voter information, ballot proposition, state budget, election administration, Texas, 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Not sure if y'all know a lot about it, but it was a nuisance to the state of Texas.
• The state of Texas allows the officers to... ...and gives it to their discretion whether they're going
• Think about that. ...work and they have to live their lives, and the State of Texas is not getting their
• H.C.R. 59 designates April as Promise Month in Texas, a time to recognize and celebrate the enduring.
• Aviation and Defense Capital of Texas for a 10-year period ending in 2035.

Bills: HCR10, HCR9

Keywords: balanced budget amendment, federal budget, deficit reduction, deficit spending, fiscal restraint, constitutional amendment, U.S. Constitution, Congress, PAYGO, Gramm-Rudman-Hollings, national debt, budget deficit, taxpayer dollars, balanced budget resolution, memorial resolution, Texas Legislature, federal spending, budget reform, fiscal conservatism, HCR 9

Transcript Highlights:

• HJR2 amends the Texas Constitution to prohibit the state from enacting a death tax. a death, estate,
• It's still the Texas Water... All of these decisions are within the Texas...
• In February, ASCE Texas released the 2020 report.
• Rural groundwater needs to stay in rural Texas.
• to implementation. at the Texas State Water Plan.

Bills: HB3077, HJR2, HJR7, HJR7

Keywords: alcohol, taxation, reporting requirements, sales, distribution, death tax, inheritance tax, estate tax, property transfer, constitutional amendment, water fund, Texas water supply, state revenue, infrastructure, HJR 7, Texas Legislature, quorum, majority quorum, two-thirds quorum, legislative procedure

Transcript Highlights:

• This is another constitutional amendment that addresses the critical bail issue that we have throughout
• So what this joint resolution does, if approved by Texas voters, it amends the Constitution to require
• the denial of bail If approved by Texas voters, it amends the Constitution to require the denial of
• I mean, and so this bill, this constitutional amendment, is meant to address those very specific instances
• This constitutional amendment adds insult to injury, and with that, we oppose this SJR. Thank you.

Bills: SB3073, SJR87

Keywords: Texas criminal procedure, magistrate, probable cause, written findings, arrest review, criminal justice, Article 15.17, pretrial release, judicial recordkeeping, court transparency, law enforcement, defendant rights, criminal proceedings, no probable cause, magistrate findings, bail reform, felony offenses, constitutional amendment, public safety

Summary: The Senate Committee on Criminal Justice met with a quorum present and took up three bills tied to bail reform and law enforcement records. Senator Huffman presented SJR 87, a proposed constitutional amendment that would require denial of bail for people accused of certain serious felony offenses if they have a prior conviction for, or are already on bond for, one of those offenses and there is probable cause to believe they committed another listed offense. Supporters said it would give judges a needed tool to detain repeat violent offenders; opponents from the ACLU of Texas and Texas Civil Rights Project argued it would mandate detention without individualized due process and weaken the presumption of innocence. The committee voted 7-1 to report SJR 87 favorably, with Senator Miles voting no. The committee then heard SB 3073, which would require magistrates who find no probable cause after an arrest to enter written findings supporting that determination. Senator Huffman said the bill was a narrow cleanup measure to improve transparency and provide guidance to law enforcement and prosecutors without limiting judicial discretion. With no invited or public testimony, the committee voted 6-1 to report SB 3073 favorably, again with Senator Miles dissenting. Finally, the committee considered SB 781, a committee substitute dealing with law enforcement file management and personnel records. Senator King explained that the bill would standardize policies already used in many Texas cities and under civil service rules, separating public and sealed personnel information while preserving access for criminal defense discovery. Senator Miles raised concerns that sealing exonerated allegations could hide patterns of misconduct and allow problematic officers to move between agencies. The committee adopted the committee substitute and voted 6-1 to report SB 781 favorably, with Senator Miles voting no. The committee then recessed subject to the chair’s call.

Bills: HB 102, HB 126, HB 271, HB 290, HB 300, HB 538, HB 718, HB 1022, HB 1330, HB 2110, HJR 5

Keywords: military education, early registration, ROTC, corps of cadets, higher education, military academy, student athletes, name image likeness, compensation, intercollegiate athletics, representation, tuition assistance, military, Texas State Guard, education, mandatory fees, scholarship, Texas Armed Services, student access, academic records

Bills: HB 102, HB 126, HB 271, HB 290, HB 300, HB 538, HB 718, HB 1022, HB 1330, HB 2110, HJR 5

Keywords: military education, early registration, ROTC, corps of cadets, higher education, military academy, student athletes, name image likeness, compensation, intercollegiate athletics, representation, tuition assistance, military, Texas State Guard, education, mandatory fees, scholarship, Texas Armed Services, student access, academic records

Bills: SB 868, SB 1337, SB 1371, SB 1377, SB 1426, SB 1620, SB 2064, SB 2065, SJR 4

Keywords: tax penalties, interest calculation, overpayment, tax law, refund process, historic preservation, heritage tourism, public engagement, Texas Historical Commission, education, pension system, actuarially sound, emergency services, legacy liability, anonymized contributions, economic stabilization fund, state finance, constitutional amendment, budget management, financial security

Bills: SB 868, SB 1337, SB 1371, SB 1377, SB 1426, SB 1620, SB 2064, SB 2065, SJR 4

Keywords: tax penalties, interest calculation, overpayment, tax law, refund process, historic preservation, heritage tourism, public engagement, Texas Historical Commission, education, pension system, actuarially sound, emergency services, legacy liability, anonymized contributions, economic stabilization fund, state finance, constitutional amendment, budget management, financial security

Transcript Highlights:

• This is another constitutional amendment that addresses the critical bail issue.
• So what this joint resolution does, if approved by Texas voters, is amend the Constitution to require
• I mean, this bill, this constitutional amendment is meant to address...
• Given this fact, I am confused and disturbed by the introduction of yet another constitutional amendment
• This constitutional amendment adds insult to injury, and with that, we oppose this SJR. Thank you.

Bills: SB3073, SJR87

Keywords: Texas criminal procedure, magistrate, probable cause, written findings, arrest review, criminal justice, Article 15.17, pretrial release, judicial recordkeeping, court transparency, law enforcement, defendant rights, criminal proceedings, no probable cause, magistrate findings, bail reform, felony offenses, constitutional amendment, public safety, 1185

Transcript Highlights:

• Heresy are 1862 exempt permanently in statute by constitutional amendment that the gains will not be
• taxed in Texas.
• Constitutional amendment. Yeah, it it just makes sense. It's consistent with what we do.
• Thank you. with the Texas State Teachers Association.
• State Bar of Texas and my capacity as chair.

Bills: SB260, SB263, SB293, SJR18

Keywords: school safety, Foundation School Program, education funding, student allotment, Texas education, SB 263, Texas franchise tax, cost of goods sold, COGS, broadcasters, television broadcasting, radio broadcasting, media tax, broadcast license, FCC, 47 C.F.R. Part 73, 47 C.F.R. Part 74, film production, television production, tax deduction

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm a civil rights attorney here in Texas, focusing mostly on First and Second Amendment.
• This could allow for approved constitutional amendments. amendments such as last session, the largest
• And it was a very frivolous lawsuit that should not affect these constitutional amendments in my work
• the right home for corporate decision-making by introducing a series of amendments to Texas law.
• Constitution or the Texas Constitution is unenforceable and has no effect, null and void, in Texas.

Bills: SB29, SB406, SB447, SB875, SB893, SB1033, SB1346, SB1362, SB1539, SCR22, SB 29

Keywords: business organization, internal management, corporate governance, partnerships, liability reduction, birth certificate, biological sex, gender identity, health and safety, sex assignment, SB 875, Texas, independent school district, ISD, school board trustee, superintendent, campus administrator, electioneering, political signs, early voting

Transcript Highlights:

• do this, and, uh, we, we, we need the constitutional amendment.
• And so, uh, the constitutional amendment just creates the growth fund is what it does basically.
• The, the House bill and the and the constitutional amendment are needed and we'll let the people decide
• So this is the proposed constitutional amendment that if, uh, adopted by the legislature and passed by
• Uh, a constitutional amendment.

Bills: HB188, HB 265, HJR35

Keywords: emergency preparedness, flood-prone communities, Texas Rural Emergency Preparedness Fund, disaster relief, funding, youth camp, safety regulations, advisory committee, child welfare, health standards, summer camp, camp safety, child abuse reporting, child neglect, mandatory reporting, background check, criminal history check, sex offender registry, CPR training, first aid

Transcript Highlights:

• Chair, we're going to lay out a bill and its corresponding constitutional amendment, so we can have testimony
• This will be the most impactful bill we've ever passed in the Texas Senate.
• So we'll call James Pope, Susan Spatero, and Brandi Winch from Texas Realty.

Bills: SB23, SJR85, SB 23

Keywords: homestead exemption, elderly, disabled, ad valorem taxation, school district funding, Texas constitutional amendment, property tax relief, school district taxes, ad valorem tax, residence homestead, elderly homeowners, senior citizens, disabled homeowners, age 65 or older, school finance, tax exemption increase, local school taxes, property tax exemption, homestead tax relief, voter approval

Transcript Highlights:

• So they are the protectors of the fund, and it actually says in our Texas Constitution that they are
• In the Texas Constitution, it requires that a home equity loan must be closed at the office of the lender
• Texas was the last state to allow home equity lending.
• If this provision were not in the Texas Constitution related to home equity loan, those retail installment
• My region of Texas continues to grow at an exceptional rate in South Texas as we continue to add population

Bills: HJR40

Keywords: Medicaid, healthcare access, Affordable Care Act, federal funding, constitutional amendment

Bills: SB 4, SJR 2

Keywords: property tax, homestead exemption, school funding, state aid, constitutional amendment

Transcript Highlights:

• Members, SJR 4 would raise the constitutional cap on the maximum balance of the Economic stabilization
• We work for the taxpayers of Texas. Is that a fair statement?
• to the, uh, a constitutional amendment.
• Texas is the, the best place to be, to live and do business.
• So that 10% is not of the revenues that we are generating in Texas alone.

Bills: SJR 4

Keywords: term limits, state offices, constitutional amendment, governor, lieutenant governor, election reform