Transcript Highlights:

• El Paso is the boot capital of Texas this SCR 29 will honor the induring impact of generations of El
• El Paso bootmakers are a special breed. Thank you. Thank you for your testimony.
• I am Director of Marketing Communications for Destination El Paso, and I'm here to advocate for El Paso
• El Paso as the official boot capital of Texas. El Paso is a city of makers.
• Paso in 1986 and recently opened his flagship store in the heart of downtown El Paso.

Bills: SB2053, SCR19, SCR23, SCR29

Keywords: Governor's Medal of Service, Texas award, state honor, public service recognition, Governor's office, Governor's award, Texas Government Code Chapter 3108, ceremonial award, honorary medal, state service award, local government retirees, private sector contributions, Texas Legislature recognition, gift acceptance, donations, grant funding, executive recognition, Texas Life Monument, human life, preservation

Transcript Highlights:

• Paso.
• What it does is unique, not just for El Paso, but for the state.
• So much of the budget that we utilize at the Health Sciences in El Paso was actually generated by the
• Health Sciences Center in El Paso, many of the conversations offline are between the HSC El Paso and
• the HSC that's headquartered in El Paso. quartered in Lubbock, about things they can do to help improve

Bills: HB42, HB 125, HB 1233, HB2853, HB3148, HB3326, HB3701, HB4066, HB4361, HB4762, HB4909, HB4912, HB42, HB125

Keywords: higher education, funding, financial allocation, state budget, Texas A&M University, University of Houston, education funding, medical education, osteopathic medicine, healthcare workforce, Tarleton State University, industry-recognized credentials, workforce development, career opportunities, feasibility study, student fees, university funding, student union, education, UT El Paso

Transcript Highlights:

• Paso, better known as UTEP.
• Do you know about any of the other UT system schools? There are, yes.
• UT is at 130, and I think other institutions are in about the 120 range.
• Mark McGurk of the University of Texas at El Paso, and you’re here on the bill, is that correct?
• I was involved—I'm old, so I was there looking at the feasibility of Texas Tech in El Paso; that goes

Bills: HB42, HB 125, HB 1233, HB2853, HB3148, HB3326, HB3701, HB4066, HB4361, HB4762, HB4909, HB4912, HB42, HB125

Keywords: higher education, funding, financial allocation, state budget, Texas A&M University, University of Houston, education funding, medical education, osteopathic medicine, healthcare workforce, Tarleton State University, industry-recognized credentials, workforce development, career opportunities, feasibility study, student fees, university funding, student union, education, UT El Paso

Transcript Highlights:

• I went to college up the street here in Austin, UT.
• I have a film class that I teach, as a professor at UT. I teach a film production class.
• So I grew up in El Paso. I joined the Navy after graduating high school.

Bills: HB4568, HB5458, HB4543, HB2703, HB3728, HCR113, HCR126

Keywords: film industry, incentives, grants, Texas, moving image, economic development, production companies, content standards, HB 5458, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, TPWD, chronic wasting disease, CWD, cervids, deer, elk, moose, wildlife management, game animals, disease management

Transcript Highlights:

• HCR113 is really important to El Paso. El Paso is a heritage epicenter.
• Today, El Paso is home to Lucchesi's, Kibbutz, and Rocket Buster.
• headquarters to El Paso.
• El Paso boot making continues to be an economic and tourist driver in our region.
• This resolution has support from El Paso County and the city of El Paso, in addition to many other organizations

Bills: HB4568, HB5458, HB4543, HB2703, HB3728, HCR113, HCR126

Keywords: film industry, incentives, grants, Texas, moving image, economic development, production companies, content standards, HB 5458, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, TPWD, chronic wasting disease, CWD, cervids, deer, elk, moose, wildlife management, game animals, disease management

Bills: SB 2, SJR 36, SB 2, SR 19, SR 27, SR 30, SR 32, SCR 11

Keywords: Houston East End, Chamber of Commerce, East End Day, economic development, community involvement, scholarships, business events, McAllen, celebration, community pride, cultural events, economic growth, McAllen Day, community recognition, South Texas, local pride, Wise County Day, Texas Senate, Wise County, state recognition

Transcript Highlights:

• UT Health Science Center is already one of the largest academic research institutions in San Antonio.
• At 30,000 students, UT Dallas is ranked as number three in Texas and number 52 nationally among public
• Rena Schallenberg and UT Dallas president Dr. Richard Benson.
• UT Dallas has many champions in this body, including Senator Paxton.
• Welcome these students from UT Dallas to their state capitol. Stand up and be recognized.

Bills: SB2, SJR36, SB2, SR19, SR27, SR30, SR32, SCR11

Keywords: Houston East End, Chamber of Commerce, East End Day, economic development, community involvement, scholarships, business events, McAllen, celebration, community pride, cultural events, economic growth, McAllen Day, community recognition, South Texas, local pride, Wise County Day, Texas Senate, Wise County, state recognition

Transcript Highlights:

• Through his work at the El Paso Chamber of Commerce.
• Judge Ricardo Samaniego, El Paso County Commissioner.
• David Stout, El Paso City Representative and Mayor Pro Tem Alejandra Chavez, El Paso Chamber CEO.
• Members, as you know, El Paso is my hometown.
• that El Paso is strong, El Paso is resilient, El Paso is growing. and linked by community, culture,

Bills: SJR1, SB9, SB40, SJR36, SJR1, SJR5, SB9, SB40, SJR1, SB9, SB40, SR62, SR92, SR95, SR108, SR110, SR111, SR113, SR114, SR117, SR120, SB314, SB314

Keywords: bail denial, illegal aliens, felony offenses, constitutional amendment, law enforcement, bail reform, defendants, pretrial detention, public safety, criminal justice, charitable bail organizations, bail bonds, public funds, political subdivision, injunctive relief, taxpayer rights, bail, criminal justice reform, El Paso, economic development

Bills: HB602, HB1322, HB1930, HB2225, HB2304, HB2494, HB3275, HB3810, HB3919

Keywords: affordable housing, land use, zoning, urban planning, community development, housing crisis, mixed-use development, sustainability, municipal utility district, board of directors, qualifications, land ownership, Texas, taxation, residency, municipal approval, subdivision plans, local governance, plats, local government

Transcript Highlights:

• This bill is bracketed to El Paso. You have to live in the district in which you are mud.
• There's manager for El Paso County, he's not showing.
• On the behalf of El Paso County, and you will be testifying for the bill, is that correct?
• It's just for muds in El Paso County to have a residency requirement as you'll have your residency requirements

Bills: HB602, HB1322, HB1930, HB2225, HB2304, HB2494, HB3275, HB3810, HB3919

Keywords: affordable housing, land use, zoning, urban planning, community development, housing crisis, mixed-use development, sustainability, municipal utility district, board of directors, qualifications, land ownership, Texas, taxation, residency, municipal approval, subdivision plans, local governance, plats, local government

Transcript Highlights:

• Our talented students in El Paso must uproot their lives or forgo their dreams.
• -Mexico trade past the El Paso in 2021 alone. The U.S.
• In El Paso it's 1 to 671.
• Grand Valley, you know, another bill says El Paso County.
• Would both of them result, possibly result in a law school in El Paso?

Bills: HB1784, HB2088, HB3062, HB3475, HB3741, HB4279, HB4763, HB5154, HB5294, HB5508, SB1401, HB232, HB232

Keywords: students, homeless, foster care, higher education, liaison officer, housing assistance, transition support, law school, Rio Grande Valley, legal education, public university, accreditation, fentanyl prevention, drug poisoning awareness, mental health resources, substance abuse education, El Paso, university system, funding, public education

Transcript Highlights:

• Most of the students come from El Paso.
• Our four Carnegie Classified Research I institutions are UT Arlington, UT Dallas, UT El Paso, and UT
• Those are UT Arlington, UT Dallas, UT El Paso, and UT San Antonio. Yes, they are.
• Arlington, UT San Antonio, and UT El Paso.
• Why is it that UT El Paso or Texas Tech, rather, has a health science center and calls it a health science

Bills: SB1, SB 1

Keywords: appropriations, budget, state funding, education, healthcare, infrastructure, campground safety, youth camp regulations, flood safety, emergency evacuation, health and safety standards, 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Paso, and San Antonio.
• Dallas, UT Arlington, UT San Antonio, and UT El Paso, and we respectfully ask you to increase. appropriations
• Vice President of Business Affairs at the University of Texas at El Paso.
• I'm Mark McGurk, the Vice President for Business Affairs at the University of Texas at El Paso. at El
• engineering at the University of Texas at El Paso and when fully up and running will result in a 30%

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Research Support Fund and included UT Arlington, UT Dallas, UT El Paso, UT San Antonio, University of
• Literally in from El Paso. seconds ago.
• And that's important because 50% of people in El Paso have never seen a dentist.
• One in six of every people in El Paso receive their care from Texas Tech.
• Don't let them stay in El Paso. We need them in South Texas.

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Statesman, the Houston Chronicle, the San Antonio Express News and our three small community papers in El
• Paso, Beaumont, and Midland.

Bills: HB 33, HB 45, HB 48, HB 1261, HB 1465, HB 1778, HB 2596, HB 5238, SB 2969

Keywords: HB 48, oilfield theft, organized theft, petroleum products, oil and gas equipment, DPS, Department of Public Safety, Texas, Railroad Commission, criminal justice, energy resources, theft prevention, organized crime, border region, El Paso, law enforcement task force, asset recovery, pipeline theft, drilling equipment, equipment theft

Transcript Highlights:

• proximity of DPS's regional office. that covers the Delaware and the Permian Basin is located out of El
• Paso.
• I believe that's where the majority of our investigations are happening right now, so El Paso would be
• Well, I think the idea would be that it has to be in the region of which El Paso is a member, that region
• Well, right now, all in the books is an El Paso Court of Appeals decision that says, no, it's a waste

Bills: HB48, HB49, HB 1169, HB1971, HB2584, HB2663, HB2890, HB48, HB49

Keywords: HB 48, oilfield theft, organized theft, petroleum products, oil and gas equipment, DPS, Department of Public Safety, Texas, Railroad Commission, criminal justice, energy resources, theft prevention, organized crime, border region, El Paso, law enforcement task force, asset recovery, pipeline theft, drilling equipment, equipment theft

Transcript Highlights:

• Because El Paso is Texas's front door to the world.
• In fact, 89 billion in US-Mexico trade passed through El Paso in 2021 alone.
• the law school in El Paso with proper approval and accreditation steps.
• Uh, in El Paso, it's 1 to 671.
• result, possibly result in a law school in El Paso or are we looking at?

Bills: HB232

Keywords: disaster recovery, natural disaster, weather disaster, emergency relief, flood relief, hurricane relief, storm damage, wildfire, tornado, hail, windstorm, extreme heat, ice storm, snowstorm, property damage, personal injury, temporary housing, relocation assistance, lost wages, state emergency management

Transcript Highlights:

• I think we've done a good job with Angelo State being so far away, the El Paso Health Science Center,
• I was born in El Paso, Texas, and I live in Denton.
• I was given the opportunity by my parents to leave El Paso and attend an all-women's university.
• I began my career with no debt; a hospital in El Paso funded.
• I completed my OT degree in exchange for returning to El Paso for two years of work due to the shortage

Keywords: 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So I was a senior at UT. I had three or four classes to go. So I was a senior at UT.
• I think we've done a good job with Angelo State being so far away, El Paso Health Science Center, and
• I was born in El Paso, Texas, and I live in Denton.
• I was given the opportunity by my parents to leave El Paso and attend an all-women's university, which
• A hospital in El Paso funded my O.T. degree in exchange for me returning to El Paso for two years of

Summary: The Senate Committee on Nominations met to consider several gubernatorial nominees and first approved a slate of nominees left pending from the March 31 agenda. The committee voted 5-0 to favorably report those nominees to the full Senate for confirmation. Public testimony was then opened and later closed, with some listed witnesses not appearing. The committee heard testimony on Jerry K. Weldon II for the Brazos River Authority Board of Directors. Senators focused on stewardship of the Brazos River, the authority’s relationship to the legislature and the public, Sunset review, water quality and nutrient runoff, impaired waterways, and possible uses of constructed wetlands for aggregate mine reclamation. Weldon emphasized collaboration, transparency, and keeping the citizens of Texas as the authority’s primary customer. Commissioner Robert Vaughn was considered for reappointment to the Texas Transportation Commission. Discussion centered on TxDOT’s management, rural funding, population growth, project delivery, and the commissioner’s role on the audit committee. Doug McCreakin was considered for the Texas Tech University Board of Regents, with questions about legislative priorities, compliance with DEI-related state law, workforce development, rural medical education, and university partnerships. Jody Giles was considered for reappointment to the University of Texas Board of Regents, and Bernadette Carrasco Coleman for reappointment to the Texas Woman’s University Board of Regents; both discussed higher education priorities, PUF funding, compliance with state law, and student support programs. John Rutherford was considered for reappointment to the Teachers Retirement System Board of Trustees, with questions about fiduciary oversight, investment understanding, and keeping the retirement system solvent. Brigadier General Michael Boyd was also considered for appointment to the Texas Military Preparedness Commission, where discussion focused on military retention, child care, spouse licensing, base infrastructure, and grant funding for Texas installations. The committee did not take final votes on these later nominees during the hearing and left them pending subject to the call of the chair.

Transcript Highlights:

• Salas of El Paso voting aye. Have all voted?
• HB 1781 by Gonzalez of El Paso, relating to the Texas...
• HB2853 by Perez of El Paso relating to student union building fees at the University of Texas at El Paso
• Perez of El Paso on his first bill. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
• University of Texas at El Paso.

Bills: HB24, HB45, HB15, HB35, HB38, HB47, HB318, HB349, HB554, HB1359, HB1373, HB1647, HB2254, HB2259, HB2853, HB3073, HB3088, HB353, HB355, HB786, HB762, HB705, HB932, HB849, HB 1160, HB 1119, HB1612, HB3041, HB713, HB3104, HB3970, HB3962, HB5061, HB4042, HB4115, HB4490, HB1731, HB1705, HB2607, HB3556, HB138, HB3689, HB1788, HB1887, HB1914, HB2402, HB2306, HB1809, HB2350, HB3000, HB3237, HB3326, HB3211, HB 1056, HB2081, HB2187, HB3092, HB3308, HB3526, HB3750, HB3527, HB4219, HB4230, HB4290, HB5238, HB4804, HB4749, HCR6, HCR12, HCR34, HCR50, HCR55, HCR58, HCR70, HCR71, HCR72, HCR74, HCR75, HCR78, HCR80, HCR93, HCR100, HCR107, HCR116, HCR117, HCR90, SB1806, SB783, SB1271, SB326, SB1637, SB769, SB897, SB1035, SB1706, SB1185, SB1194, SB384, SB1426, SB1468, SB1215, SB1066, SB599, SB1930, SB2065, SB767, SB1619, SB1738, HB1500, HB718, HB23, HB34, HB 119, HB 128, HB 130, HB132, HB2756, HB166, HB406, HB186, HB331, HB380, HB1583, HB1584, HB621, HB303, HB552, HB366, HB463, HB 1211, HB1327, HB1461, HB923, HB1760, HB2467, HB5333, HB1592, HB1576, HB1552, HB2018, HB3511, HB1781, HB2013, HB2340, HB2508, HB2970, HB865, HB2851, HB3385, HB3336, HB3309, HB 1127, HB 1232, HB1397, HB4236, HB4041, HB1965, HB2730, HB3698, HB3699, HB163, HB201, HB272, HB405, HB519, HB654, HB694, HB791, HB 1136, HB 1240, HB 1266, HB 1275, HB1437, HB1532, HB1675, HB1842, HB1868, HB1894, HB1943, HB1990, HB2029, HB2061, HB2286, HB2523, HB2622, HB2652, HB2692, HB2842, HB2885, HB3016, HB3096, HB3248, HB3255, HB3479, HB3611, HB3623, HB3803, HB3804, HB3805, HB3806, HB3810, HB3816, HB4129, HB4163, HB4187, HB4238, HB4454, HB4588, HB4643, HB4738, HB4739, HB4945, HB5015, HB5616, HB1749, HB1775, HB 118, HB1762, HB2520, HB24, HB45, HB15, HB35, HB38, HB47, HB318, HB349, HB554, HB1359, HB1373, HB1647, HB2254, HB2259, HB2853, HB3073, HB3088, HB353, HB355, HB786, HB762, HB705, HB932, HB849, HB 1160, HB 1119, HB1612, HB3041, HB713, HB3104, HB3970, HB3962, HB5061, HB4042, HB4115, HB4490, HB1731, HB1705, HB2607, HB3556, HB138, HB3689, HB1788, HB1887, HB1914, HB2402, HB2306, HB1809, HB2350, HB3000, HB3237, HB3326, HB3211, HB 1056, HB2081, HB2187, HB3092, HB3308, HB3526, HB3750, HB3527, HB4219, HB4230, HB4290, HB5238, HB4804, HB4749, HCR6, HCR12, HCR34, HCR50, HCR55, HCR58, HCR70, HCR71, HCR72, HCR74, HCR75, HCR78, HCR80, HCR93, HCR100, HCR107, HCR116, HCR117, HCR90

Keywords: zoning, public notice, local government, residential development, protests, peer support, first responders, mental health, confidentiality, emergency services, information network, health services, client referral, data privacy, disaster preparedness, accreditation, community services, sexual assault, victim rights, forensic examination