Transcript Highlights:

• This will bring the total for elderly and disabled homeowners to a whopping 200,000 exemption.
• The disabled and veterans exemption was $10,000.
• So for 40-some years, the disabled and veterans exemption has stayed the same.
• So people disabled and people over 65 often have these expenses that other people do not.
• So people disabled and people over 65 often have these expenses that other people do not.

Bills: SB23, SJR85

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

Summary: The Senate Committee on Local Government heard testimony on Senate Bill 23 and its companion constitutional amendment, Senate Joint Resolution 85, both by Senator Bettencourt. The bills would increase the additional homestead exemption for elderly and disabled homeowners from $10,000 to $60,000, which proponents said would significantly reduce property taxes and help seniors and disabled Texans age in place. Bettencourt and supporters described the measure as part of a broader property tax relief package, estimating combined savings of about $950 for over-65 and disabled homeowners when paired with other recent homestead exemption changes. Witnesses largely supported the proposal. Testimony in favor came from a lawyer, a private citizen, Texas Realtors, the Texas Silver-Haired Legislature, and the Texas Association of Builders, all emphasizing relief for fixed-income seniors, housing stability, and the ability to remain in their homes. Several witnesses noted rising property taxes, medical costs, and the challenges seniors face in moving or affording home modifications. One witness from Every Texan said a flat homestead exemption is the most equitable way to cut property taxes, but argued against additional tax cuts generally, favoring a circuit-breaker approach and warning that permanent tax cuts could reduce funding for schools and other needs. The committee also discussed data showing many over-65 homeowners already pay no school property taxes in some counties and that the proposed changes would increase that share. After closing public testimony, the committee voted on the measures. Senate Bill 23 was reported favorably to the full Senate by a 7-0 vote, and S.J.R. 85 was also reported favorably by a 7-0 vote. The transcript also shows Senate Bill 898 being laid out and passed unanimously earlier in the meeting, with a recommendation for the local and uncontested calendar.

Transcript Highlights:

• We also know that The victims are local, but the profiteers are not.
• Victims are often reluctant to report a financial crime.
• , or other in- innocent victims, they may be more willing to speak out.
• We're giving them more tools to hit those people that are victimizing Texas. One more.
• Despite our educational efforts, our customers still fall victim.

Bills: SB1281, SB1300, SB1379, SB1451, SB1497, SB1498, SB1499

Keywords: mail theft, postal theft, package theft, identity theft, negotiable instrument, check theft, mail receptacle key, mailbox lock, postal key, delivery service, courier, USPS, United States Postal Service, fraud, property crime, elderly victims, disabled victims, identity information, rebuttable presumption, felony enhancement

Transcript Highlights:

• This bill is going to have probably the greatest impact on senior property taxpayers and disabled property
• Senate Bill 23 will increase the additional homestead exemption for elderly and disabled homeowners from
• This will provide elderly and disabled homeowners with an additional $554 in savings, combined with the
• The disabled and veterans exemption was $10,000.
• So for over 40 years, the disabled and veterans exemption has stayed the same.

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:

• And so that is corroboration for victim for victim A certainly, um, and but goes to what we're talking
• OK, so it's against the child who is the victim.
• And so if, if a victim of, of a crime, an extraneous victim of a of of this victim tells us anything
• So those 949 victims are primarily adults.
• We've talked about victims who are intoxicated.

Bills: HB207, HB235

Keywords: HB 207, Texas Government Code, Section 411.201, license to carry, LTC, handgun license, concealed carry, federal judge, immigration judge, immigration court, U.S. immigration court, judicial security, firearm carry permit, Texas handgun license, federal judiciary, HB235, Texas, sales tax exemption, use tax exemption, disabled veteran

Bills: HB19

Keywords: real property, theft, fraud, criminal offense, elderly, disabled, restitution, recording requirements

Transcript Highlights:

• prosecutors to adjudicate a case in any county where the offense was committed or in the county where the victim
• of credit card or debit card abuse work in groups and may travel to commit their crimes, and the victims

Bills: HB201, HB272

Keywords: disabled veteran, partially disabled veteran, veterans property tax exemption, homestead exemption, ad valorem tax, property tax relief, surviving spouse, appraisal district, Tax Code, local government revenue, homestead portability, service-connected disability, veteran benefits, Texas property tax, residence homestead, disability rating, disaster response, financial assistance, helicopter, municipalities

Transcript Highlights:

• If a victim cannot be located or If a victim fails to claim those funds within five years, the payments
• I work with victims' families all the time, particularly victims of domestic violence. of violent crimes
• A victim can articulate the difficulty of doing that a whole lot better than I can, but for victims to
• It's not really one year for the victim and family.
• You have the power to end this cycle of torment for victims and their loved ones.

Bills: HB153, HB1828, HB2306, HB2498, HB3464, HB3488, HB3636, HB3673, HB3834, HB3860, HB4120, HB4937, HB1515, HB153

Keywords: education, funding, student resources, technology access, equal opportunity, veterans treatment court, mental health, criminal justice, rehabilitation, eligibility criteria, veterans, treatment court, military service, legislation, legislative leave, correctional officers, Texas Department of Criminal Justice, accumulated leave, compensatory time, parole eligibility

Transcript Highlights:

• restitution ladder and penalty enhancements if the crimes are committed against a person who's over 65, disabled
• In 2019, we were a victim of this theft.
• Brown here, uh, with a look of despair in their eyes, uh, from, from what they've been, been termed a victim
• another way that this, this, this bill raises the profile of these crimes is that when you speak to a victim

Bills: SB15

Keywords: real property, fraud, theft, elderly, disabled, statute of limitations, criminal offense, property rights

Transcript Highlights:

• Members, this is a pilot program with the Attorney General's Office concerning victims of human trafficking

Bills: SB1379

Keywords: human trafficking, victims, prevention, support services, Attorney General, pilot program, grant funding, 914, all

Bills: HB265, HB146, SB254, HB202, HB3, HB42, SB18

Keywords: resisting arrest, penalties, criminal justice, law enforcement, public safety, youthful offender, capital murder, victims' rights, immunity, civil liability, use of force, recruitment, illegal alien, enhanced sentencing, criminal offenses, minor victims, felonies, Alabama legislature, bail reform, cash deposit

Bills: HB31, HB31

Keywords: absentee voting, disabled, blind, voter assistance, voting rights, SNAP, public assistance, nutritional standards, waiver, food regulation, 1136, house, all

Bills: SB10, SB16, SB6

Keywords: trafficking, prostitution, affirmative defense, victims, criminal justice reform, victim rights, criminal justice, judicial reform, court procedures, mental health services, criminal penalties, court security

Transcript Highlights:

• that relates to the video recording of a deposition taken of the testimony of certain elderly or disabled

Bills: HB867, HB1347, HB1801, HB1820, HB2197, HB2617, HB3110, HB3166, HB3330, HB4237, HB4342, HB4629, HB4933, HJR148

Keywords: criminal case dismissal, attorney discretion, law enforcement misconduct, judicial approval, evidence, judicial consent, transparency, healthcare, Medicare, insurance, elderly, retired, benefits, access, cost, criminal justice, case dismissal, prosecutorial discretion, law enforcement oversight, criminal procedure

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm here for the victim.
• for the victim?
• The only victim is not always the victim of a crime.
• Sometimes the victim is a victim like myself, Michael Morton, or all these other wrongfully convicted
• Too often, victims don't feel safe identifying as victims when they may still be under the control of

Bills: HB867, HB1347, HB1801, HB1820, HB2197, HB2617, HB3110, HB3166, HB3330, HB4237, HB4342, HB4629, HB4933, HJR148

Keywords: criminal case dismissal, attorney discretion, law enforcement misconduct, judicial approval, evidence, judicial consent, transparency, healthcare, Medicare, insurance, elderly, retired, benefits, access, cost, criminal justice, case dismissal, prosecutorial discretion, law enforcement oversight, criminal procedure

Transcript Highlights:

• What this bill does, currently in Alabama, if you're a veteran and you're 1% disabled, you're exempt
• Absolutely. you're a veteran and you're 1% disabled, you're a veteran and you're 1% disabled, [clears

Bills: HB131, HB77, HB131, HB77

Keywords: Alabama Board of Athletic Trainers, diversity, government oversight, Sunset Law, congressional districts, HB77, absentee voting, absentee ballot, disabled voter, disability accommodation, voter assistance, ballot delivery, ballot application, designee, caregiver, election manager, vote by mail, mail ballot, ballot harvesting, voter access

Transcript Highlights:

• restitution ladder and penalty enhancements if the crimes are committed against a person who is over 65, disabled
• In 2019, we were a victim of this theft.
• Brown here, with a look of despair in their eyes from what they've become victims of.
• We have a lot of people who have been victims of property fraud in Victoria, at least those we've been
• Another way that this bill raises the profile of these crimes is that when you speak to a victim, they

Bills: SB15, SB 15

Keywords: real property, fraud, theft, elderly, disabled, statute of limitations, criminal offense, property rights, law enforcement, department file, employee records, misconduct, confidentiality, Texas occupations code, 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• However, we know that the majority of rape victims are assaulted by someone who is known to the victim
• And a lot of victims will not.
• TDCJ has stated that under current law, the Victims' Bill of Rights entitles a victim to no and an...
• And I think Representative Hull's bill, you know, keeps it to where it's victims or victim advocates,
• With that victim as well.

Bills: HB47, HB1552, HB1686, HB1953, HB2151, HB2355, HB2582, HB2697, HB2895, HB3073, HB3418, HB47

Keywords: sexual assault, victim rights, forensic examination, medical care, trauma-informed care, crime victims compensation, evidence retention, child sexual abuse material, child pornography, digital services, reporting requirements, children's protection, sex offender registration, indecent assault, educator-student relationship, criminal justice, legislation, crime victims, compensation fund, information disclosure

Transcript Highlights:

• Will victims of police self-defense? Will victims of police self-defense?
• or disabilities as a whole. disabilities or disabilities as a whole. disabilities or disabilities as
• That's not the only disability. That's a That's not the only disability.
• Uh physical disability that you can see. Uh physical disability that you can see.
• Approximately 60% of victims are abuse. Approximately 60% of victims are abuse.

Bills: HB265, HB146, SB254, HB202, HB3, HB42, SB18

Keywords: resisting arrest, penalties, criminal justice, law enforcement, public safety, youthful offender, capital murder, victims' rights, SB254, Alabama, statute of limitations, civil procedure, civil action, sex offense, sexual abuse, child sexual abuse, survivor rights, tolling, disability, minor plaintiff

Transcript Highlights:

• , often referred to as the victim information card given by law enforcement to victims.
• related to the law enforcement victim related to the law enforcement victim notifications<00:04:
• c><00:04:52.120> victims<00:04:53.039> the enforcement to victims the enforcement to victims
• um beyond the victim information notice um beyond the victim information card<00:05:14.639> and
• victim Services funding victim now with victim Services funding victim Services<00:10:23.120> funding

Bills: HF1082, HF1042, HF1295, HF1686, HF1998, HF1775, HF1163

Keywords: public safety, law enforcement, mental health, domestic violence, appropriations, criminal justice, Minnesota corrections, victim services, task force, personal safety, Independent Use of Force Investigations Unit, criminal sexual conduct, sexual assault, peace officers, law enforcement oversight, Minnesota National Guard, U.S. armed forces, military installation, armory, air base

Transcript Highlights:

• The moms are victims; the moms are victims here.
• They are victims of you. You are victimizing them.
• , victimized by your movement.
• People, the victims of rape in a state that only convicts 2.5 percent of rapists are re-victimized by
• sure the victims are treated that way.

Bills: SB10, SB16, SB6, SB 6, SB 10, SB 16

Keywords: trafficking, prostitution, affirmative defense, victims, criminal justice reform, victim rights, criminal justice, judicial reform, court procedures, mental health services, criminal penalties, court security, SB 6, Woman and Child Protection Act, abortion, abortion-inducing drugs, medication abortion, mifepristone, misoprostol, pro-life