Transcript Highlights:

• Most of the counties in the state are classified as sub-chapter A counties and sub-chapter B counties
• , which are border counties.
• OK, so different counties have different rules. Some counties have different rules.
• Okay, that's by state law. That's by state law.
• I'm only discussing counties, Mr.

Bills: SB1708, SB2523, SB1450

Keywords: county platting, subdivision platting, Local Government Code Chapter 232, Section 232.022, Section 232.0014, model subdivision rules, Water Code Section 16.343, Texas county subdivision law, residential subdivision, land conveyance, gift deed, family transfer, consanguinity, affinity, third degree relative, five acres or less, county land use, platting exemption, rural land division, property subdivision

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, Texas is projected to be short 10,330 doctors by the year 2032. 37 counties do not have a single
• right here in Texas.
• You're you are testifying on behalf of Close to Home, Texas 500 COC, San Antonio Bear County, and yourself
• We got a place here in Austin, Texas called Texas One Center.
• in the state of Texas.

Bills: HB163, HB 296

Keywords: judicial liability, personal bond, felony offenses, judges, criminal justice reform, voter registration, election procedures, change of address, residence requirements, Texas Election Code, Texas election law, residence address, precinct voting, county move, same-county move, Election Code, registrar, statement of residence, polling place, local elections

Transcript Highlights:

• It's a Type A General Law City in East Texas, situated just about 15 miles outside of Tyler, Texas.
• I am the mayor of Chandler, Texas, a Type A General Law City in Henderson County, East Texas.
• I think too many local governments in Texas... tend to believe that the laws passed by the legislature
• It will transfer pasture land owned by the Texas Department of Criminal Justice to Walker County.
• Both Walker County and the Texas Department of Criminal Justice support this legislation.

Bills: SB1079, SB1243, SB1504, SB1579, SB1708, SB1844, SB1851, SB1879, SB1921, SB1951, SB2237, SB2238, SB2406, SB2407

Keywords: SB 1079, Texas, county government, commissioners court, Local Government Code, Chapter 263, surplus property, salvage property, data storage device, hard drive, electronic media, digital records, confidential information, protected information, privacy, records retention, information security, data destruction, device disposal, sensitive data

Transcript Highlights:

• 24 years it's very concerned with, with spending and following the law.
• The Texas City Manager Association recently did a survey.
• law.
• I represent the Texas Public Policy Foundation.
• I, I'm Mayor Tom Kilgore of the city of Lakeway, Texas.

Bills: SB 1079, SB 1243, SB 1504, SB 1579, SB 1708, SB 1844, SB 1851, SB 1879, SB 1921, SB 1951, SB 2237, SB 2238, SB 2406, SB 2407

Keywords: SB 1079, Texas, county government, commissioners court, Local Government Code, Chapter 263, surplus property, salvage property, data storage device, hard drive, electronic media, digital records, confidential information, protected information, privacy, records retention, information security, data destruction, device disposal, sensitive data

Transcript Highlights:

• However, there is a small minority of counties that may interpret that law to require that the application
• Some counties interpret the law to require the application to be filed only in the county where the patient
• Every Texas county has at least one designated historic Texas cemetery.
• When this happens, higher-level courts such as constitutional county courts, county courts of law, and
• I'm from rural Texas and we have a lot of folks, a lot of counties that have the 50,000, uh, or less,

Bills: HB113

Keywords: HB 113, Texas, Government Code Chapter 1253, general obligation bonds, bond election, voter approval, political subdivision, local government, city bonds, county bonds, school district bonds, capital projects, public finance, bond referendum, ballot measure, five-year waiting period, rejected proposition, election law, municipal finance

Transcript Highlights:

• Honor the Texas flag. I pledge allegiance to thee Texas, one state under God, one and indivisible.
• And not only that, but every 24 hours on a 911 call, on a cross county chase, on any kind of law enforcement
• certain counties.
• Ward Johnson: HOAs of these other counties, the county is still on the hook.
• Oliverson: This bill prevents Harris County from defunding law enforcement agencies. Move Dr.

Bills: HB25, HB48, HB149, HB254, HB26, HB192

Keywords: ivermectin, pharmacist authority, prescription-free, healthcare regulation, patient access, HB 48, Texas alert notification systems, emergency alerts, public warning systems, alert fatigue, notification fatigue, Texas Division of Emergency Management, Department of Public Safety, DPS alerts, emergency management, State of Texas Emergency Assistance Registry, STEAR, disaster notifications, weather alerts, Amber Alert

Transcript Highlights:

• I was very concerned with spending and following the law.
• I am the duly elected mayor of Lakeway, Texas.
• That's why there's a law on this one, or at least a proposed law.
• I represent the Texas Public Policy Foundation.
• I'm Mayor Tom Kilgore of the city of Lakeway, Texas.

Bills: SB 1079, SB 1243, SB 1504, SB 1579, SB 1708, SB 1844, SB 1851, SB 1879, SB 1921, SB 1951, SB 2237, SB 2238, SB 2406, SB 2407

Keywords: SB 1079, Texas, county government, commissioners court, Local Government Code, Chapter 263, surplus property, salvage property, data storage device, hard drive, electronic media, digital records, confidential information, protected information, privacy, records retention, information security, data destruction, device disposal, sensitive data

Summary: The meeting of the Senate Committee on Local Government was marked by significant discussions on multiple bills aimed at enhancing governance and protecting taxpayer interests. Among the notable legislations was SB1951, where Senator Paxton emphasized reforms to reduce erroneous penalty notices imposed by appraisal districts, eliminating the financial incentive for such penalties. The session concluded with public testimonies that highlighted the importance of transparency and accountability in taxpayer dealings. Additionally, Senator Middleton presented SB1504 and SB2237, focusing on the operational frameworks of local authorities and executive severance payments, respectively, both of which sparked considerable debate among committee members.

Transcript Highlights:

• Texas law requires that attorneys who receive court appointments report their caseloads.
• Currently, Texas state law does not allow individuals who are arrested for multiple offenses and who
• For the last four years, I've worked for the Travis County Law Library, and it has been my privilege
• You pay to have all the law enforcement agencies, TCIC, NCIC, and whoever else, whatever county you were
• to as a Texas junk science writ law, via Senate Bill 344 by Senator Whitmire.

Bills: HB115

Keywords: public funds, lobbying, political subdivision, government spending, transparency, HB 115, taxpayer-funded lobbying, local government lobbying, county association dues, municipal lobbying, lobbyist registration, Chapter 305, Government Code Section 556.0056, Local Government Code Section 89.002, county government, city government, injunctive relief, attorney's fees, state association of counties, sheriffs association

Summary: The Committee on Criminal Jurisprudence reconvened with a quorum present and announced it would likely not vote that night because of confusion over the bill list; members were told a definitive list would be circulated the next morning and a formal meeting would be scheduled later. The chair then heard a series of bills, generally taking testimony and leaving each pending without action. House Bill 1847 would set maximum caseload standards for private attorneys handling indigent criminal appointments through the Texas Indigent Defense Commission; House Bill 2417 would expand compensation eligibility for some wrongfully imprisoned people; House Bill 2813 would require earlier and more specific victim notice of scheduled court proceedings; and House Bill 2309 would expand state and local authority in certain civil asset forfeiture cases involving human trafficking, health care fraud, and organized crime. Each bill was laid out by its author or a member, with no opposition witnesses registered, and each was left pending. The committee also heard House Bill 4733, which would require sealing records for people acquitted of charges when they were not convicted on the related allegation; House Bill 2328, which would modernize expunction service by encouraging electronic notice, setting a standardized fee when electronic service is unavailable, extending clerk retention of expunction orders, and preserving certain mental health commitment orders; and House Bill 115, which would revise Texas’s “junk science” post-conviction writ law by providing counsel, changing the relief standard, requiring written decisions, and easing procedural barriers. Testimony on HB 2328 was mixed: county clerks supported the bill as a cost-saving modernization, while legal advocates warned that permanent retention of expunction orders could undermine true expunction and create privacy risks. HB 115 drew support from innocence and defense organizations, with some concern about a provision affecting subsequent writs. All were left pending after testimony. Later, the committee heard House Bill 2046, which would allow affirmative family-violence findings for any Penal Code offense rather than only Title V offenses; testimony from a Dallas County prosecutor and a committee member emphasized that family violence can involve arson, burglary, fraud, and other non-Title V conduct, and the bill was left pending. House Bill 1765 would tighten restrictions on no-knock warrants by requiring higher-level approval, judicial review, and identifiable officers; members discussed the dangers highlighted by the Harding Street raid and similar incidents, and the bill was also left pending. The meeting ended with the chair noting that some bills had been removed from the agenda at the author’s request and that members should be prepared to finalize the vote list the next day.

Transcript Highlights:

• In fact, there are 27 counties in Texas that already have no printed newspaper in their county, and that
• Anybody in the world could register to, uh, look for bids in any county or any city in Texas.
• Although many newspapers have migrated to an online presence, there are several Texas counties that are
• in a news desert with no online or print news publication. 27 counties in Texas no longer have printed
• So we would empower the attorney General of the state of Texas to enforce this law and make sure that

Bills: HB 186

Keywords: public funds, lobbying activities, political subdivisions, government expenditure, transparency, local government, political subdivision, county, city, municipality, special district, taxpayer-funded lobbying, lobbying restriction, registered lobbyist, government association, county association dues, Texas Legislature, injunctive relief, attorney's fees, Chapter 556

Transcript Highlights:

• Since that time, counties and municipalities have expressed confusion.
• I am the County commissioner for Parker County, Precinct 2.
• county in the state.
• We've been top 5 once and top 10 twice in fastest-growing counties in the nation.
• , passed a resolution as, as well as Burleson County in favor of this bill.

Bills: SB 612, SB 1855, SB 2568, SB 3058

Keywords: SB 612, Texas Water Code, Section 49.2127, conservation and reclamation district, water district, reclamation district, developer fees, pipeline construction, water pipeline, sewer pipeline, associated infrastructure, subdivision infrastructure, cost recovery, fee cap, actual reasonable documented costs, engineering fees, legal fees, inspection fees, infrastructure relocation, utility connections

Transcript Highlights:

• We've entered into interlocal agreements with three of our four counties.
• I am the County Commissioner for Parker County Precinct 2.
• Kirk County, where I reside, has drilled more groundwater wells in the last 20 years than any other county
• As well, Burleson County passed a resolution in favor of this bill.
• Cameron and Willacy counties.

Bills: SB612, SB1855, SB2568, SB3058, HB49

Keywords: SB 612, Texas Water Code, Section 49.2127, conservation and reclamation district, water district, reclamation district, developer fees, pipeline construction, water pipeline, sewer pipeline, associated infrastructure, subdivision infrastructure, cost recovery, fee cap, actual reasonable documented costs, engineering fees, legal fees, inspection fees, infrastructure relocation, utility connections

Transcript Highlights:

• Ector County, in 2024, authorized approximately $15.5 million in COs for a new county courthouse.
• Tabor was Exeter County.
• We could stop this by signing petitions in that county, and that's a middle-sized county there.
• in the Texas Finance Code.
• Law as well.

Bills: HB1453, HB1718, HB2043, HB2207, HB2798

Keywords: local governments, anticipation notes, certificates of obligation, public works, flood control, financial management, local government, municipal financing, private activity bonds, closing definition, real estate finance, bond issuance, government regulation, bond election, general obligation bonds, GO bonds, political subdivision, city bonds, county bonds, school district bonds

Transcript Highlights:

• I am with Action, the largest statewide Christian nonprofit law and policy organization in Texas, standing
• But they cannot because of existing Texas law.
• this, sure, but passing a law to prevent cities and counties and other political subdivisions from the
• of the County Court of Law.
• prescribed by law, to mean that the power belongs to locally elected counties. and district attorneys

Bills: SB6, SB7, SB8, SB11, SB12, SB13, SB15, SB 6, SB 7, SB 8, SB 11, SB 12, SB 13, SB 15, SB 17

Keywords: SB 6, Woman and Child Protection Act, abortion, abortion-inducing drugs, medication abortion, mifepristone, misoprostol, pro-life, pro-choice, Texas abortion law, civil liability, qui tam, private enforcement, bounty hunter law, attorney general, parens patriae, abortion litigation, anti-SLAPP, Texas Citizens Participation Act, fee shifting

Transcript Highlights:

• But they cannot because of existing Texas law.
• But passing a law to prevent cities and counties and other political subdivisions... Thank you, Mr.
• But passing a law to prevent cities and counties and other political subdivisions... ...their legislative
• But passing a law to prevent cities and counties and other political subdivisions from the right to defend
• jurisdiction of the county court at law.

Bills: SB6, SB7, SB8, SB11, SB12, SB13, SB15, SB17

Keywords: hemp, consumable hemp, hemp-derived cannabinoids, CBD, cannabidiol, CBG, cannabigerol, delta-8, delta-9, intoxicating hemp, hemp gummies, hemp vape, edibles, cannabinoid regulation, hemp licensing, retailer registration, product registration, QR code labeling, child-resistant packaging, minor access

Summary: The committee first took up Senate Bill 8, the Texas Women's Privacy Act, and heard extensive public testimony both for and against the measure. Supporters, including representatives of Texas Values and Texas Values Action, argued the bill was needed to protect women’s privacy and safety in restrooms, locker rooms, showers, prisons, domestic violence shelters, and other government-controlled spaces, and said it would provide clear, sex-based rules. Opponents, including many transgender Texans, civil rights advocates, clergy, business and public safety voices, and others, argued the bill would invite harassment, gender policing, lawsuits, and invasive inspections, while harming trans, intersex, and gender-nonconforming people as well as cisgender women who do not fit stereotypes. Several witnesses said the bill would conflict with federal law or prison standards, worsen safety in shelters and prisons, and hurt Texas’s reputation and economy. The chair repeatedly noted the compressed special-session schedule and said flood relief remained the session’s top priority. Public testimony on SB 8 was eventually closed, and the bill was left pending. The committee then moved to Senate Bill 6, dealing with consumable hemp product restrictions. Testimony on SB 6 focused on whether the bill went too far in restricting hemp-derived THC products. Opponents argued hemp and THC have medical and economic value, that the bill would criminalize conduct and burden courts, and that regulation—not prohibition—was the better approach. Some witnesses supported tighter rules such as testing, child-resistant packaging, and limits on marketing to children, but still opposed the bill’s broad THC ban, higher fees, and age restrictions. Several speakers emphasized benefits for veterans, chronic pain patients, and small businesses, and warned that prohibition would push consumers toward the illicit market. The committee heard the testimony and then continued with additional witnesses, with no final vote or disposition reported in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• sponsored by Senator Creighton, and in honor of the fact that Senator Nichols carried Montgomery County
• Lois started to pick up Montgomery County and she sent a picture, like, said, 'In the world, did you
• That's called being the senator for Montgomery County for a long time.

Bills: SB3038, SB3045, SB3065, SB3069, SB3071, HB2025, HB2149, HB3370, HB4205, HB4506, HB5424, HB5652, HB24, HB3687

Keywords: Fort Bend County, Municipal Utility District, MUD, special district, Rosenberg, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, TCEQ, ad valorem tax, bond issuance, assessments, fees, taxes, eminent domain, road district, storm drainage, infrastructure financing, development agreement, municipal consent, temporary directors, public utility district

Summary: The Senate Committee on Local Government met with a quorum and took up a series of pending bills, mostly local-government measures. Early action included final committee approval of Senate Bill 1633 and S.J.R. 60, followed by Senate Bill 3038 and Senate Bill 3045, both reported favorably and placed on the local and uncontested calendar. The committee also considered House Bill 24, adopted a committee substitute, and reported the substitute version favorably; House Bill 2025 was likewise reported favorably and sent to the local and uncontested calendar. Members then handled several companion and local bills, including House Bill 2713 as the companion to Senate Bill 1331, which was reported favorably and placed on the local and uncontested calendar. House Bill 3348, House Bill 3370, House Bill 3505, and House Bill 4506 were each reported favorably, with no objections to local-and-uncontested placement. House Bill 5424 passed on a 6-1 vote, and House Bill 5652 passed with one present-not-voting, both also sent to the local and uncontested calendar. The committee also adopted substitutes and reported House Bill 3687 and House Bill 4205, though both were later reconsidered because the wrong script had been read. After reconsideration, House Bill 3687 and House Bill 4205 were each re-voted and reported favorably to the full Senate, with both placed on the local and uncontested calendar. Senate Bill 3071 was also reported out on a 5-2 vote after adoption of a committee substitute. The meeting ended with no further business and the committee standing at recess subject to the call of the chair.

Transcript Highlights:

• However, county law enforcement... Agencies were excluded from this law.
• Since then, Texas counties have been unable to regulate noise effectively.
• Currently, Texas law provides two distinct structures for county. procurement.
• Constables provide a vital law enforcement administrative role for our county.
• We represent 74 counties in the North Texas region, of which 70 counties would become eligible for this

Bills: HB1597, HB2364, HB2437, HB3205, HB3253, HB3310, HB3648, HB3906, HB4259, HB5645

Keywords: county jailer, jail training, veterans, Texas Veterans Commission, Texas Commission on Law Enforcement, TCOLE, criminal justice system, county jail, law enforcement training, mental health training, jail standards, correctional officers, veteran services, veteran interaction, occupations code, jailer licensing, parking, county courthouse, infrastructure, local government

Transcript Highlights:

• In some counties across Texas, elections are conducted using hand-counted ballots.
• Very small county political subdivisions like our Gillespie County GOP, who just had our hand count,
• Clearly, this is a vendor bill that will force hand count counties and political subdivisions to subsidize
• For a long time now, Texas law has protected contractors from being forced to litigate disputes out of
• It's actually on the approved list of trainings under Jenna's Law in Texas.

Bills: HB34, HB128, HB621, HB748, HB2259, HB2960, HB3113, HB4749, SB835, HB128

Keywords: HB 128, sister city, sister-city agreement, international exchange, municipal diplomacy, local government, state agency, political subdivision, foreign adversary, China, Russia, Iran, North Korea, Taiwan, major non-NATO ally, cultural exchange, educational exchange, tourism, bilateral cooperation, foreign relations

Transcript Highlights:

• The Senate floor shows that Texas is leading, and the place where I think Texas is doing the best job
• And so in Canon Law, in the Catholic Church, we use Canon Law as our. legislative guidelines.
• I am here on behalf of the Children's Advocacy Centers of Texas, or CAC Texas, and I'm testifying in
• SB 35, aka Trace Law.
• So Texas needs to pass Trey's Law now and protect children, not predators. Thank you.

Bills: HB128, HB34, HB128, HB621, HB748, HB2259, HB2960, HB3113, HB4749, SB835

Keywords: heat illness prevention, workplace safety, administrative penalties, advisory board, employee protection, HB 128, sister city, sister-city agreement, international exchange, municipal diplomacy, local government, state agency, political subdivision, foreign adversary, China, Russia, Iran, North Korea, Taiwan, major non-NATO ally

Transcript Highlights:

• N Wren Lufkin, Texas Historical Commission, Mr.
• We built a new, uh, county courthouse.
• Let me read from Article 4, Section 22 of the Texas Constitution.
• It was the law for a long time. We're just trying to restore what the law was, and so.
• We heard from rural county judges who told me.

Bills: SB 10, SB 8, SB 15, SB 12, SB 6, SB 13, SB 9, SB 7, SB 17, SB 4

Keywords: sex designation, restroom access, civil penalties, private civil right of action, women's privacy, law enforcement, department file, employee records, misconduct, confidentiality, Texas occupations code, election laws, attorney general, prosecution, criminal offenses, criminal prosecution, jurisdiction, hemp, consumable hemp, hemp-derived cannabinoids

Transcript Highlights:

• Not ban or prohibit associations like Texas Association of Counties, Texas Municipal League.
• David Stout, and I'm a county commissioner in El Paso, Texas.
• It was correct by the Texas Association of Counties.
• We're an oil-based and gas county and so the road... have been torn up, so Texas Association of Counties
• Comfort, Texas, Kirk County, I'd like to thank you.

Bills: SB 18, SB 19, SB18, SB19, SB666, SB688, SB707, SB888

Keywords: Texas Water Code, TCEQ, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, water permit, water appropriation, dam permit exemption, reservoir, flood control, floodwater control, erosion control, sediment control, watershed protection, flood prevention, Natural Resources Conservation Service, NRCS, USDA, local sponsor, district, authority, water infrastructure