Bills: HB 1550, HB 1592, HB 1964, HB 2002, HB 2063, HB 2118, HB 2128, HB 2669, HB 2765

Keywords: veterinary, regulation, licensing, practices, board, administration, facilities, pest control, wildlife management, agriculture, disease prevention, alert system, Texas A&M, nonprofit, food banks, agricultural products, grant eligibility, poverty alleviation, transportation, disaster relief

Bills: HB 1550, HB 1592, HB 1964, HB 2002, HB 2063, HB 2118, HB 2128, HB 2669, HB 2765

Keywords: veterinary, regulation, licensing, practices, board, administration, facilities, pest control, wildlife management, agriculture, disease prevention, alert system, Texas A&M, nonprofit, food banks, agricultural products, grant eligibility, poverty alleviation, transportation, disaster relief

Transcript Highlights:

• If you require assistance in registering, please see McKenzie Larson, our assistant clerk, uh, who is
• Well, the landowner, the landowner in the original negotiation and most likely through legal assistance
• I, we, we can have somebody assist you with that if you'd like. Yeah. Yeah.
• And, and, you know, uh, and I, uh, you look, I, I retired as assistant chief of the Texas Rangers, so
• Uh, and actually on the Giddings Economic Development board.

Bills: HB205

Keywords: disaster recovery, economic development, grants, loans, infrastructure support

Bills: SB3

Keywords: disaster relief, emergency funding, flood management, Meteorological forecasting, local government assistance, training facilities

Transcript Highlights:

• Please contact committee staff, just wave your hand if necessary, if you guessed Basically need some assistance
• responsible sum in our state. budget, especially given the return, expanded access to justice, and economic
• Texas didn't become the economic powerhouse by being timid.
• That assistance means helping kids without support systems get connected to financial aid. financial
• I frequently receive calls from former students who need assistance with tasks like obtaining a letter

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:

• Uh, if you guessed, uh, basically need some assistance in doing so.
• responsible sum in our state budget, especially given the return, expanded access to justice and economic
• Texas didn't become the economic powerhouse by being timid.
• Georgia became a successful film hub, uh, because, uh, I think we said we did the economic study at the
• That assistance means helping kids with support systems get connected to financial aid opportunities,

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:

• Let's talk about economically.
• So economically. I don't think that there's going to be an issue. OK.
• Now, there's a difference between economics for the university versus... is economics to the student.
• From an economic perspective, though, I mean...
• This has changed the economic. landscape of the Virginia Valley.

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:

• assistance.
• An additional bill related to disaster assistance.
• disaster victims across the country from receiving assistance when they needed it most.
• to SBA's disaster operations.
• moving disaster assistance in the opposite direction.

Bills: SB298, SB300, SB371

Keywords: employee relocation, headquarters, Small Business Administration, Washington metropolitan area, telework, cost reduction, rural markets, geographic diversity, disaster loans, accountability, reporting, loan forgiveness, federal funding, SBA reforms, small business, disaster assistance, transparency, report publication, government accountability

Transcript Highlights:

• The Committee on Trade, Workforce, and Economic Development will Now come to order.
• Our 2024 economic impact was nearly $20 billion to the Central Texas region.
• These districts are aligned with Texas's strongest economic development drivers.
• We always say economic development is a team sport in Texas.
• That limits flexibility in adjusting benefits based on economic conditions.

Bills: HB 112, HB199, HB621, HB1349, HB2214, HB3466, HB3698, HB3699, HCR9, HB112, HB199, HCR9

Keywords: science park district, economic development, technology innovation, higher education collaboration, infrastructure development, Texas Economic Development Office, workforce development, unemployment benefits, state average unemployment rate, benefit year, economic support, Texas Workforce Commission, property owners' association, free speech, assembly rights, government officials, political candidates, floodplain, landlord, tenant

Transcript Highlights:

• It's just basically what we all learned in Economics 301, which is economies of scale are a real thing
• It'll make the program so much better streamlined, more efficient, more economically feasible, and it

Bills: HB164

Keywords: HB 164, HB164, Texas Flood Recovery, Reimbursement, and Reconstruction Program, Texas Division of Emergency Management, TDEM, Hill Country floods, July 2025 floods, flood recovery, disaster relief, flood reimbursement, reconstruction grants, resiliency standards, floodplain, base flood elevation, FEMA, Federal Emergency Management Agency, insurance denial, property damage, tenant assistance, rental property

Transcript Highlights:

• I would support this author's amendment and just add some technical assistance as needed.
• We're happy to provide that assistance.

Bills: HF2436

Keywords: child welfare, economic assistance, child care, grant program, video security cameras

Transcript Highlights:

• On line 835 is the governor's recommendation for child care assistance federal items.
• The first article is the Economic Assistance Article.
• So Section 6 begins a series of sections that all make changes to the Child Care Assistance Program,
• These sections all make changes to the Child Care Assistance Program, or CCAP, that were proposed by
• This loss makes it even more imperative to strengthen state-level assistance. We recognize.

Bills: HF2436

Keywords: child welfare, economic assistance, child care, grant program, video security cameras

Transcript Highlights:

• by injuries or conditions from the disaster.
• During a disaster, the county Judge or the mayor are the ones who must declare a local disaster, request
• disaster.
• that we would typically use following a disaster to enhance the disaster response.
• House Bill 20 is the Disaster Scam Response Act.

Bills: HB1, HB 2, HB 3, HB 5, HB20, HB 22, HB 1, HB 2, HB 3, HB 5, HB 20, HB 22

Keywords: youth camps, emergency preparedness, safety standards, health regulations, camp licensing, disaster preparedness, emergency management, flooding, mass fatality, mass casualty, fatality tracking, body recovery, autopsy, justice of the peace, medical examiner, county judge, sheriff, mayor, emergency coordinator, emergency manager license

Transcript Highlights:

• The Appropriations Committee on Transportation, Tourism, and Economic Development will now come to order
• opportunity on the same footing as counties and municipalities for certain state and federal financial assistance

Bills: S0214, S0694, S1266

Keywords: special districts, funding, financial assistance, rural community, state agency, economic development, compensation, wrongful conviction, civil rights, historic injustice, reparation, cybersecurity, internships, workforce development, education, economic growth

Summary: The Appropriations Committee on Transportation, Tourism, and Economic Development met with a quorum present and considered three bills. First, SB 214 by Senator McLean, a rural access bill for special districts, was amended to allow independent special districts in rural areas to receive certain state and federal financial assistance payments directly for verified work rather than relying on reimbursement. Testimony in support came from representatives of water and sewer entities and the Florida Association of Special Districts. The committee adopted the amendment and then reported CS/SB 214 favorably. Next, the committee took up CS/SB 1266 by Senator Collada on cybersecurity internships and workforce readiness. The bill was amended to create a cybersecurity experiential learning opportunity and clearance readiness program within the Department of Commerce, working with Cyber Florida at USF. A proposed amendment to the amendment was withdrawn by Senator Bernard. With no opposition noted, the committee adopted the amendment and then reported CS/SB 1266 favorably. Finally, the committee heard CS/SB 694 by Senator Bracey Davis, which provides compensation to the descendants of the Groveland Four—Charles Greenlee, Walter Irvin, Samuel Shepard, and Ernest Thomas—for wrongful convictions and related harms. The bill was presented as a justice and redress measure, with supportive testimony from Delatry Hollinger and comments from Senator Smith and the chair praising the effort. The committee reported CS/SB 694 favorably, and then adjourned without further business.

Transcript Highlights:

• Um I would support this author's amendment, and um it just adds some technical assistance as the chair
• and um you it just adds some amendment and um you it just adds some technical<00:02:50.000><c> assistance
• </c> technical assistance as the chair said. technical assistance as the chair said.
• We're happy to provide that assistance.
• </c> We're happy to provide that assistance. We're happy to provide that assistance.

Bills: HF2436

Keywords: child welfare, economic assistance, child care, grant program, video security cameras, 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh assistance federal compliance items.
• The first article is the economic assistance article.
• There are ways we can assisted living?
• economic hardship in communities<01:24:27.800><c> statewide.
• We recognize the state level assistance.

Bills: HF2436

Keywords: child welfare, economic assistance, child care, grant program, video security cameras, 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Economic Development will now come to order. Clerk will call the roll. Here. All in favor? Aye.
• It protects our natural resources and our economic interests.
• We have other disaster relief programs.
• You don't have weeks or months to wait for some kind of disaster loan to come in.
• So does this have to be a declared disaster?

Bills: SB1361, SB2105, SB2690, SB2713, SCR38, SB2637, SB2881

Keywords: SB 1361, Texas disaster recovery loan, small business loan, micro-business loan, community development financial institution, CDFI, economic disaster assistance, post-disaster financing, business recovery fund, Texas Economic Development Bank, zero-interest loan, working capital, payroll support, health benefits, job retention, declared disaster, small business relief, microenterprise, franchise exclusion, private equity-backed business

Transcript Highlights:

• must also identify opportunities to address state policy and regulatory barriers, support enhanced disaster
• The program requires DNR to use suppression funding to assist local fire departments with aerial response
• Our stores are also critical to public-private food assistance partnerships like SNAP, WIC, and nutrition
• Our stores are also critical to public-private food assistance partnerships like SNAP, WIC, and nutrition
• Hunger in Washington is rising, and it's reaching households that have never before needed assistance

Bills: HB2104, HB2554, HB2619

Keywords: aviation, wildland fires, funding, disaster relief, emergency response, tribal rights, fishing rights, salmon management, state-tribal agreements, natural resources, agriculture, regulations, farming, compliance, economic impact, 904, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm acting assistant state geologist and acting director of the Washington Geological Survey for the
• I'm acting assistant state geologist and acting director of the Washington Geological Survey for the
• Thank you, and I think I understand the technical assistance element.
• Certainly, we're available for technical assistance.
• or appreciation for the economic inputs of this industry.

Bills: HB2104, HB2348, HB2454

Keywords: aviation, wildland fires, funding, disaster relief, emergency response, timber sales, land sales, process efficiency, legislation, department language, regulatory burdens, small producers, infrastructure materials, economic growth, manufacturing, 904, all

Summary: The House Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee held public hearings on three bills. HB 2104 would remove the sunset on the Aviation Assurance Funding Program, making permanent DNR’s ability to provide aerial wildfire response resources to local fire departments during initial attack. The prime sponsor, Rep. Tom Dent, and DNR testified that the program helps small rural departments request aircraft quickly, keeps fires small, reduces costs compared with state mobilization, and protects lives and property. DNR said the program supported 41 incidents in the last fire year, with about 160 flight hours and nearly a million gallons of retardant or water delivered; witnesses from local fire districts strongly supported the bill. The sign-in record showed 215 pro and 1 con, and the public hearing was closed. HB 2348, an agency-request bill from DNR, would streamline timber and land sale procedures by allowing more notice and advertising online instead of in print, letting DNR designate alternate sale locations, allowing re-offer of no-bid sales through individual and statewide lists, and clarifying appraisal and fair-market-value standards for certain land transfers. DNR said the bill would improve efficiency and save staff time and money, and the American Forest Resource Council and Washington Forest Protection Association supported it as a modernization and efficiency measure. Committee members asked about the scope of the bill and the meaning of “trust” lands, and DNR clarified it would not apply to all timber assets. The sign-in record showed 43 pro and 1 con, and the hearing was closed. HB 2454 would raise the threshold for when mineral extraction activity is considered a surface mine from more than three acres of disturbed area to more than seven acres, reducing the number of small gravel and aggregate operations subject to DNR surface mine reclamation permits. Rep. Andrew Engell said the bill would help small rural producers facing high permit costs and competition from larger corporations, while still leaving county regulation and other requirements in place. DNR opposed the bill, saying acreage alone does not determine site complexity and that the current permitting process helps evaluate environmental impacts, slope stability, groundwater, and reclamation plans; the agency said the bill could create adverse impacts and offered to discuss alternatives. A remote witness from a small aggregate business supported the bill as a way to help small sources remain competitive, and committee members discussed possible alternative approaches and asked DNR for follow-up on HEAL Act considerations. The sign-in record showed 143 pro and 3 con, and the committee adjourned after the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• The Appropriations Committee on Transportation, Tourism, and Economic Development will now come to order
• opportunity on the same footing as counties and municipalities for certain state and federal financial assistance
• opportunity on the same footing as counties and municipalities for certain state and federal financial assistance

Bills: S0214, S0694, S1266

Keywords: special districts, funding, financial assistance, rural community, state agency, economic development, compensation, wrongful conviction, civil rights, historic injustice, reparation, cybersecurity, internships, workforce development, education, economic growth, 999, senate, all

Summary: The Appropriations Committee on Transportation, Tourism, and Economic Development met with a quorum present and considered three bills. Senate Bill 214, by Senator McLean, would allow certain special districts in rural communities and rural areas of opportunity to receive invoice payments for verified work under state and federal financial assistance agreements, rather than relying on reimbursement models that can strain cash flow. An amendment narrowing and clarifying the bill for independent special districts and water and wastewater projects was adopted, and the committee heard support from representatives of W3C Water and Sewer Cooperative, the Amakily Water and Sewer District, Resiliency Florida, and the Florida Association of Special Districts. The committee then reported CS for SB 214 favorably. The committee next took up CS for SB 1266, by Senator Colata, addressing cybersecurity internships and workforce readiness. The bill was described as a response to Florida’s cybercrime threat ranking and workforce gap, and a delete-all amendment created a cybersecurity experiential learning opportunity and clearance readiness program within the Department of Commerce, in partnership with Cyber Florida at USF and participating institutions. A proposed amendment to the amendment was withdrawn by Senator Bernard, and with no opposition or appearance forms, the committee reported CS for CS SB 1266 favorably. Finally, the committee heard CS for SB 694, by Senator Bracey Davis, providing compensation to the descendants of the Groveland Four: Charles Greenlee, Walter Irvin, Samuel Shepard, and Ernest Thomas. The bill was presented as a final step in redressing the wrongful accusations, convictions, deaths, and incarcerations tied to the 1949 case, following prior legislative apologies, pardons, and vacatur of convictions. Delatry Hollinger testified in support, and Senator Smith praised the measure as an important step toward justice. The committee reported CS for SB 694 favorably, and then adjourned.