Transcript Highlights:

• </c> pledge to us. pledge to us.
• And they reached out to us, and I tried to get us started on it, and Idaho got there in front of us and
• And they reached out to us, and I tried to get us started on it, and Idaho got there in front of us and
• And they reached out to us, and I tried to get us started on it, and Idaho got there in front of us and
• </c> reached out to us and I tried to get us reached out to us and I tried to get us started<00:54:29.839

Bills: HB0116, HB0056

Keywords: water rights, beneficial use, industrial production, hydrogen, applications, public welfare, carbon capture, energy standards, public utilities, environmental regulation, state law, 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> constitute a beneficial use of water. constitute a beneficial use of water.
• </c><00:14:50.200><c> use,</c><00:14:50.760><c> it</c> that it is not a beneficial use, it that it is
• The declaration that it is not a beneficial use would prohibit us from permitting it for that purpose
• use portion of it, or the not the beneficial use.
• </c><00:42:35.320><c> state,</c> beneficial beneficial use in the state, beneficial beneficial use in

Bills: HB0116, HB0056

Keywords: water rights, beneficial use, industrial production, hydrogen, applications, public welfare, carbon capture, energy standards, public utilities, environmental regulation, state law, 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> water use reductions. water use reductions.
• </c> program, he cannot use any water. program, he cannot use any water.
• You get to use your water, not use your water. It really depends.
• > bill sets us up and provides us with bill sets us up and provides us with that<01:05:49.280><c> that
• I'm just<01:21:47.840><c> using</c><01:21:49.281><c> [laughter]</c> just using [laughter] just using

Bills: SF0050, SF0084, HB0133, HB0116, HB0011, HB0044

Keywords: groundwater, water resource management, state engineer, aquifer study, corrective controls, monitoring wells, public reporting, water conservation, Colorado River, drought, irrigation, water rights, voluntary program, interstate agreements, conservation districts, supervisors, elections, agriculture, local governance, beneficial use

Bills: SF0050, SF0084, HB0133, HB0116, HB0011, HB0044

Keywords: groundwater, water resource management, state engineer, aquifer study, corrective controls, monitoring wells, public reporting, water conservation, Colorado River, drought, irrigation, water rights, voluntary program, interstate agreements, conservation districts, supervisors, elections, agriculture, local governance, beneficial use

Transcript Highlights:

• What it would not be beneficial use, according to this bill, would be the spreading of the sludge back
• the dredge material for a beneficial use, as again 7030.
• Uh what it would not be beneficial use Uh what it would not be beneficial use according<00:11:46.079>
• </c><00:12:21.600><c> Now</c><00:12:22.959><c> one</c> a beneficial use as again 7030.
• Now one a beneficial use as again 7030.

Bills: HB38, HB39, HB181, HB38, HB39, HB181

Keywords: district attorneys, prosecutorial function, law enforcement, criminal procedure, legal advice, paternity, putative father registry, adoption, legal rights, parental rights, HB181, Alabama Building Renovation Finance Authority, bond authorization, state bonds, capital improvements, public buildings, State Capitol, renovation finance, public office facilities, infrastructure financing

Bills: SB 3074, HB 49, HB 2440, HB 3556, HB 3619, HB 3866, HB 4042, HB 4112, HB 4271, HB 4413, HB 4426, HB 5033

Keywords: oil waste, gas waste, liability, treatment processes, environmental safety, beneficial use, motor vehicle, air quality, energy source, engine, state implementation plan, construction, wildlife impact, height restrictions, national wildlife refuge, environmental regulations, surface estate, well plugging, Railroad Commission, landowner rights

Transcript Highlights:

• Beneficial use of produced water is a very dangerous road for this commission, this committee to go down
• Beneficial use means irrigation, drinking water, growing crops, etc.
• Other states are using treated produced water and engaging in beneficial reuse, and we shouldn't get
• Other states are using treated, produce, water, and engaging in beneficial reuse, and we shouldn't get
• water to be used for non-potable uses.

Bills: HM45, HB276, HB300

Keywords: Taos County, Questa, produced water, treated produced water, water reuse, water quality control commission, freshwater conservation, rural communities, acequias, Indian nations, tribes, pueblos, water rights, industrial water use, data centers, artificial intelligence, AI, quantum computing, economic development, renewable energy

Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you for joining us today.
• use.”
• We are in actual beneficial-use tests for biomass accumulations to determine if there’s anything harmful
• In practice, we are in a good place toward produced water use for beneficial purposes.
• use of that waste.

Bills: SB3074, HB49, HB2440, HB3556, HB3619, HB3866, HB4042, HB4112, HB4271, HB4413, HB4426, HB5033

Keywords: SB 3074, TCEQ, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, Water Code, permit applications, environmental permitting, administrative record, ex parte communications, legislative communications, governor, lieutenant governor, state legislators, district projects, public records, recusal, conflict of interest, substantial interest, agency transparency, environmental regulation, permit renewal

Summary: The committee heard and laid out several natural resources and environmental bills, with testimony focused on balancing development, public health, wildlife protection, and regulatory authority. SB 3074 would allow the governor, lieutenant governor, and legislators to communicate in writing with TCEQ about matters before the commission, with safeguards requiring the communication to be part of the record and allowing other parties to respond; a committee substitute narrowed it to written communications about permits only, limited legislator communications to facilities in their districts, and adjusted conflict-of-interest rules. HB 3556, as substituted, would require notice to Texas Parks and Wildlife for certain very tall structures in specified coastal counties and give TPWD a limited right to seek injunctive relief if mitigation is insufficient to prevent material harm to migratory birds; supporters said it would address ignored wildlife recommendations and protect key flyways, while opponents argued the bill was too broad, singled out wind energy, and gave one agency unusually strong enforcement power. HB 49 would expand liability protections for produced-water recycling and beneficial use; supporters said it would encourage reuse of a large wastewater stream and reduce disposal pressures, while opponents warned it could shield operators from responsibility before the science and standards are mature. HB 4413 would authorize mass-balance accounting for renewable biomass feedstocks, and HB 3866 would regulate intermediate bulk container recycling facilities near homes, with a committee substitute adding a grandfather clause and making implementation contingent on funding. The committee also heard bills affecting air and energy regulation. HB 5033 would create a trigger to end vehicle emissions inspections if federal law changes to allow it; the substitute removed a Supreme Court-related trigger, and the lone public witness opposed the bill, warning it would worsen air quality and harm nonattainment areas. HB 4112 would clarify that on-site storage of high-level radioactive waste is allowed at current and future nuclear reactors and university research reactors only for waste generated at that site; the substitute clarified the language and removed an inoperative permit condition, and witnesses from environmental and nuclear groups said the clarification was needed to prevent unintended restrictions while avoiding off-site storage. HB 2440 would prohibit state agencies from using air-quality rules to ban or restrict vehicles based on energy source, including internal combustion vehicles, and no public testimony was offered. HB 4271 would require TCEQ to hold public meetings on request for composting facility authorizations; the substitute limited the requirement to future applications and was presented as a transparency measure after a denied local request and extensive public comments. Additional bills addressed landowner protections and Railroad Commission oversight. HB 3619 would require the Railroad Commission to restore surface land after plugging or replugging operations and indemnify landowners from damages tied to authorized entry; a witness supported the bill but urged fixing a separate statutory loophole that he said allowed operators to enter unrelated tracts without notice. HB 4042 would extend Railroad Commission pipeline safety and fee provisions to propane distribution systems by removing the word “natural” from the relevant definitions. HB 4426 would set a 10-year permit term for commercial surface disposal facilities, allow renewal based on compliance history, and require renewal applications 120 days before expiration. The committee took no votes because a quorum was not initially present, and each bill was left pending after testimony and discussion.

Transcript Highlights:

• Ponds that used to hold water don't hold water anymore. Creeks that used to run don't run anymore.
• Ponds that used to hold water don't hold water anymore. Creeks that used to run don't run anymore.
• They update ownership to us.
• to us and to them as well.
• Thank you for having us this morning.

Bills: HB2018, HB1633, HB1689, SB612, SB3058

Keywords: agricultural conservation, land preservation, environmental protection, wildlife habitat, Texas Farm and Ranch, groundwater conservation district, Texas Water Code, water permit, permit amendment, groundwater permit, water rights, aquifer, well registration, exempt wells, beneficial use, water conservation, groundwater quality, well plugging, Hill Country Priority Groundwater Management Area, surface water resources

Summary: The Senate Water, Agriculture, Rural Affairs Committee heard several bills focused on groundwater management, water infrastructure, and agricultural land conservation. SB 612 would limit certain water districts in Hidalgo, Cameron, and Willacy counties from charging developers pipeline construction fees above actual, documented costs; the committee substitute removed a developer challenge mechanism to preserve district discretion over construction standards. HB 1633 would require groundwater conservation districts to consider registered exempt wells when reviewing or amending permits, and testimony from landowners, district representatives, and advocacy groups largely supported the bill as a way to protect domestic and livestock wells from drawdown caused by large export projects. HB 1689 would clarify that export fee revenues may be used for well operability, alternative water supplies, and aquifer monitoring, including through interlocal cooperation, and HB 3058 would give the Post Oak Savannah Groundwater Conservation District authority to use export fees for county road improvements and environmental programs tied to well inspection and groundwater management. HB 2018 would clarify that the Texas Farm and Ranchland Conservation Program is intended to purchase conservation easements only on working agricultural lands, with support from cattle raisers and Farm Bureau representatives. The committee also considered HB 29, which would require large water systems to validate water loss audits and submit mitigation plans; a committee substitute removed the water-loss threshold and adjusted the timeline for more detailed validation. Public testimony on the bills was generally supportive, with several witnesses describing declining well levels, road damage from export projects, and the need to preserve agricultural land and local water supplies. The committee adopted committee substitutes and voted favorably on HB 29, HB 1689, HB 2018, SB 612, and SB 3058, recommending several of them for the local and uncontested calendar; HB 1633 was left pending awaiting a committee substitute.

Transcript Highlights:

• Ponds that used to hold water don't hold water anymore. Creeks that used to run don't run anymore.
• And I'm going to use Samsung as an example.
• I want to thank you for having us today.
• So this bill would help us.
• Partnership to us.

Bills: HB2018, HB1633, HB1689, SB612, SB3058

Keywords: agricultural conservation, land preservation, environmental protection, wildlife habitat, Texas Farm and Ranch, groundwater conservation district, Texas Water Code, water permit, permit amendment, groundwater permit, water rights, aquifer, well registration, exempt wells, beneficial use, water conservation, groundwater quality, well plugging, Hill Country Priority Groundwater Management Area, surface water resources

Transcript Highlights:

• We are going to be of us today, members.
• </c> nonpartisan staff ready to go to help us nonpartisan staff ready to go to help us walk<00:03:12.319
• Do you want are waving to us over here.
• </c> seemingly thousands to keep us on track. seemingly thousands to keep us on track.
• </c><00:03:55.440><c> on</c> speaking of the people who keep us on speaking of the people who keep us

Bills: HF9

Keywords: energy policy, renewable energy standard, carbon-free standard, solar standard, hydroelectric, hydropower, electric utility, Public Utilities Commission, PUC, renewable portfolio standard, carbon capture and sequestration, CCS, greenhouse gas emissions, climate policy, nuclear power plant, certificate of need, fossil fuel plant demolition, utility compliance delay, beneficial electrification, sales tax exemption

Transcript Highlights:

• None of us are experts on this.
• So we hope that they'll work with us.
• </c> preparing um your presentation for us preparing um your presentation for us and<01:20:40.600><c>
• </c> why our commission if you've heard us why our commission if you've heard us before<01:25:50.560>
• </c> Reimbursement for those expenses, we use the same guidelines that any state employee would use.

Bills: HF747, HF360

Keywords: corporate governance, shareholder rights, beneficial ownership, defective corporate acts, Minnesota Business Corporation Act, trusts, Uniform Trust Code, probate, estate planning, trust protector, directed trust, investment trust advisor, distribution trust advisor, excluded fiduciary, decanting, power of appointment, revocable trust, irrevocable trust, uneconomic trust, rule against perpetuities

Transcript Highlights:

• we vote, members, Madam Clerk, please recognize that Senator Alvarado and Senator Blanco have joined us
• Writing for the bills that we voted on before you all joined us, from Senator Alvarado and Senator Blanco

Bills: SB3074, HB49, HB2440, HB3556, HB3619, HB3866, HB4042, HB4112, HB4271, HB4413, HB4426, HB5033, HB49

Keywords: SB 3074, TCEQ, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, Water Code, permit applications, environmental permitting, administrative record, ex parte communications, legislative communications, governor, lieutenant governor, state legislators, district projects, public records, recusal, conflict of interest, substantial interest, agency transparency, environmental regulation, permit renewal

Transcript Highlights:

• use.
• An actual beneficial use test for biomass accumulations is used to determine if there's anything harmful
• But in practice, we are in a good place towards produced water use for beneficial purposes.
• Thank you for joining us today.
• use of that waste.

Bills: SB3074, HB49, HB2440, HB3556, HB3619, HB3866, HB4042, HB4112, HB4271, HB4413, HB4426, HB5033, HB49

Keywords: SB 3074, TCEQ, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, Water Code, permit applications, environmental permitting, administrative record, ex parte communications, legislative communications, governor, lieutenant governor, state legislators, district projects, public records, recusal, conflict of interest, substantial interest, agency transparency, environmental regulation, permit renewal

Transcript Highlights:

• the water for beneficial reuse locally where we, where we use the water is a huge advantage to offset
• Um, most of these systems will use like a membrane bioreactor.
• , is it let us push out, uh, 6 to 8 years.
• What process could we use as far as setting arbitrary caps?
• You cannot live without water, and our constituents want us to fight for them.

Bills: HB 29, HB 685, HB 1633, HB 1689, HB 1690, HB 1918, HB 2010, HB 2500, HB 2608, HB 2626

Keywords: water audit, water loss, water loss mitigation plan, municipally owned utility, municipal utility, water conservation, Texas Water Development Board, TCEQ, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, water leakage, leak detection, billing data accuracy, utility validation, water audit validation, water scarcity, water management, infrastructure, public utility, conservation plan, administrative penalty

Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you very much for joining us here today.
• Thank you for joining us here today.
• And for us, it's really for the financial program purposes.
• Those are the wells that landowners use, like the...
• with us. ...are respectfully testifying against the bill.

Bills: HB29, HB685, HB1633, HB1689, HB1690, HB1918, HB2010, HB2500, HB2608, HB2626, HB29

Keywords: water audit, water loss, water loss mitigation plan, municipally owned utility, municipal utility, water conservation, Texas Water Development Board, TCEQ, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, water leakage, leak detection, billing data accuracy, utility validation, water audit validation, water scarcity, water management, infrastructure, public utility, conservation plan, administrative penalty

Transcript Highlights:

• water for beneficial purposes.
• Reuse locally, where we use the water, is a huge advantage to us.
• On the river for both recreational use and as a water supply.
• Why do you think packaged plants are used?
• Otherwise, who else has bought a used car?

Bills: HB29, HB685, HB1633, HB1689, HB1690, HB1918, HB2010, HB2500, HB2608, HB2626, HB29

Keywords: water audit, water loss, water loss mitigation plan, municipally owned utility, municipal utility, water conservation, Texas Water Development Board, TCEQ, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, water leakage, leak detection, billing data accuracy, utility validation, water audit validation, water scarcity, water management, infrastructure, public utility, conservation plan, administrative penalty

Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you for joining us, Mr. Chair. Thank you. Yes.
• Thank you for joining us. We'll continue on, Senator Woods.
• Any city or county in New Mexico can use an MRA designation to attract investment.
• So that was a statute from the 1970s, so it used a lot of that terminology.
• So it's very easy for you guys to stand in support with us.

Bills: SB101, SB58, SB55

Keywords: SB 101, Health Care Delivery and Access Act, repeal of repeal, sunset repeal, delayed repeal, health care, healthcare, access to care, medical services, provider regulation, state health law, New Mexico, SB58, metropolitan redevelopment, redevelopment property, property tax exemption, payments in lieu of taxes, PILOT, municipal redevelopment, local government

Transcript Highlights:

• The bill before us is House File 3806.
• </c> strong supporter of of HIVs as we use strong supporter of of HIVs as we use the<00:09:03.760><c>
• used for housing and they have been used used for housing and they have been used for<00:18:08.080><
• It robs us of our peace of mind. It robs us of resources. Uh, we get stuck.
• It robs us of our peace of mind.

Bills: HF3806, HF2687, HF497

Keywords: housing, infrastructure bonds, funding, appropriation, Minnesota Statutes, HF2687, single-family homes, corporate landlords, corporate ownership, real estate investment trust, REIT, landlord registry, landlord database, tenant transparency, housing affordability, homeownership, deed tax, transfer tax, property tax, affordable housing

Summary: The committee first approved the March 3 minutes, then heard House File 3806, a bill to authorize $200 million in housing infrastructure bonds. Chair Howard said the funding would help address Minnesota’s housing shortage by leveraging state dollars to build thousands of affordable homes, and testifiers from Alliance Housing, Luna Minnesota/North Dakota, and the Southwest Minnesota Housing Partnership described how prior housing infrastructure bonds helped finance supportive housing, preserve and rehabilitate apartments, and leverage local, federal, and private dollars, especially in greater Minnesota. Members generally expressed support for the tool, while also raising questions about the state’s debt load, the current outstanding principal on housing infrastructure bonds, regional distribution, and whether manufactured housing could be included; staff said the outstanding principal was about $474.465 million. The bill was laid over for possible inclusion. The committee then took up House File 2687, as amended by a DE1, which would prohibit private equity firms from buying single-family homes and limit corporations and partnerships to owning no more than 50 single-family homes, with enforcement by the attorney general. Representative Vang said the bill was intended as a first step to return homeownership opportunities to individuals and families, citing research and reporting suggesting corporate ownership is concentrated in lower-income neighborhoods and can disadvantage first-time buyers. Testimony from the Family Housing Fund supported the bill, saying its research found that renter experience declines as single-family rental portfolios grow, with larger landlords associated with higher rents and more repair problems. The bill was discussed but not voted on; members indicated it would be held over for action at a later hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• If we can put this water to beneficial use that benefits everyone, and this creates that framework to
• This is a really good way for the state to unleash the beneficial use of produced water. And Mr.
• As you've heard, there are many beneficial uses. That could potentially come about.
• that type of beneficial use?
• And I understand the beneficial use and why we need it in this state.

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