Bills: SB 1065, SB 2117, SB 2217, SB 2363, SB 2533, SB 2742, SB 2743, SB 2881, SB 2964, SB 3013, SB 3014

Keywords: election procedures, voting systems, ballot counting, voter registration, electronic voting, electioneering, public funds, political advertising, civil penalties, school district, election offenses, prosecution, criminal procedure, district attorney, disqualification, voting by mail, election process, ballot correction, voter notification, electoral integrity

Bills: HB4, HB206, HB244, HB270, HB361, HB459, HB486, HB540, HB615, HB627, HB648, HB813, HB996

Keywords: constitutional convention, Louisiana constitution, electoral process, government structure, delegate elections, legislative attendance, task force, executive meetings, public meetings, confirmation process, delegates, state election, ratification, Louisiana, absentee voting, incarcerated voters, voter registration, mail-in voting, election rights, felony conviction

Transcript Highlights:

• So we carefully defined electioneering communication, and Amendment 4 is similar in some ways to both
• We define digital and we include it within the definition of electioneering communication.
• Amendment 4 is the definition of electioneering communication.
• And then the later Amendment 12 just simply takes that definition of electioneering communication and
• So we have a consistent thread, Title 18, we have a consistent definition of what is an electioneering

Bills: HB9, HB177, HB181, HB202, HB225, HB398, HB459, HB540, HB906, HB1052, HB1057, HB1245

Keywords: HB 9, HB9, Act 527, Shreveport, Stuffed Shrimp Capital, state symbol, Louisiana symbols, municipal designation, honorary title, cultural designation, tourism, local pride, seafood, shrimp, stuffed shrimp, cuisine, city branding, Louisiana Revised Statutes 49:170.26, court reporter, official court reporter

Bills: SB 312, SB 945, SB 946, SB 1367, SB 1861, SB 2044, SB 2337, SB 2403, SB 2819, SJR 54

Keywords: public school funding, education, budget allocation, financial transparency, state law, local control, fiduciary responsibility, public retirement systems, investment management, proxy voting, financial factors, insurance, political shareholder proposals, fossil fuels, greenhouse gas emissions, environmental regulation, discrimination, credit extension, social credit, value-based standards

Bills: SB 312, SB 945, SB 946, SB 1367, SB 1861, SB 2044, SB 2337, SB 2403, SB 2819, SJR 54

Keywords: public school funding, education, budget allocation, financial transparency, state law, local control, fiduciary responsibility, public retirement systems, investment management, proxy voting, financial factors, insurance, political shareholder proposals, fossil fuels, greenhouse gas emissions, environmental regulation, discrimination, credit extension, social credit, value-based standards

Bills: SB312, SB945, SB946, SB1367, SB1861, SB2044, SB2337, SB2403, SB2819, SJR54

Keywords: public school funding, education, budget allocation, financial transparency, state law, local control, fiduciary responsibility, public retirement systems, investment management, proxy voting, financial factors, insurance, political shareholder proposals, fossil fuels, greenhouse gas emissions, environmental regulation, discrimination, credit extension, social credit, value-based standards

Summary: The Senate Committee on State Affairs was called to order and a roll call showed most members present, with one absent. The chair explained that the committee had arranged witnesses for a later meeting but had received responses from some parties declining to testify, prompting Senator Bettencourt to offer a written motion for subpoenas. The motion authorized the committee chair, under Senate Rule 11.20, to issue subpoenas to BlackRock, State Street, or other financial services companies affecting Texas public pension investments, along with their subsidiaries, affiliates, officers, employees, agents, or representatives. The subpoenas would require testimony and production of records concerning investment practices, the impact on Texas public pension funds, and any investments intended to further political or social causes. Members discussed the importance of obtaining testimony and the limited but necessary use of subpoena power. The committee then voted, with 10 ayes, no nays, and one absent, to adopt the motion. With no further business, the committee recessed until the call of the chair, planning to return after the local calendar.

Transcript Highlights:

• Over the last year, we’ve seen an extreme rise in electioneering issues throughout Texas.
• Senate Bill 2044 strengthens existing electioneering laws and creates new statutes to forbid publicly
• I’m appalled by the electioneering that occurred, just appalled.
• So, you know, the level of electioneering has just gotten to the point that it's a sad state of affairs
• when the school districts have either turned themselves into electioneering arms.

Bills: SB312, SB945, SB946, SB1367, SB1861, SB2044, SB2337, SB2403, SB2819, SJR54

Keywords: public school funding, education, budget allocation, financial transparency, state law, local control, fiduciary responsibility, public retirement systems, investment management, proxy voting, financial factors, insurance, political shareholder proposals, fossil fuels, greenhouse gas emissions, environmental regulation, discrimination, credit extension, social credit, value-based standards

Summary: The committee heard Senate Bill 945, 946, 2044, 2819, 2403, 2337, and 312, with all bills left pending after testimony. SB 945 would restrict insurance companies from denying or limiting coverage based on oil and gas activity or ESG-related goals, and supporters argued it would protect Texas energy producers from politically motivated shareholder activism and insurance discrimination. SB 946 would bar creditors from using social credit, ESG, DEI, or religious/political affiliation as a basis for denying or limiting credit; witnesses said it would prevent viewpoint-based financial discrimination and protect access to capital for Texas businesses. SB 2337 would require proxy advisory firms to disclose when recommendations are based on non-financial factors or when they give conflicting advice to different clients; supporters said the measure would increase transparency and curb ESG-driven influence over shareholder voting. SB 312 would direct public retirement systems to focus on financial returns rather than social or political objectives, with the author saying the bill responds to activist pressure on pensions and would reinforce fiduciary duty. The committee also took up election and ethics measures. SB 2044 would strengthen electioneering restrictions for publicly funded education institutions and personnel, prohibiting use of official resources to promote political agendas; testimony focused on alleged school district electioneering in bond and tax elections. SB 2819 would prohibit county elections administrators from holding certain officer positions appointed by elected officials, addressing potential conflicts of interest. SB 2403, the Texas Ethics Commission sunset bill, would restructure complaint handling with a three-tier violation system, risk-based complaint prioritization, longer response times, bipartisan preliminary review panels, and expanded hearing options; members discussed amendments aimed at dismissing minor complaints, clarifying categories, and adjusting lobbying and penalty provisions, but the amendments were withdrawn during committee consideration. Across the ESG and finance bills, invited witnesses from the American Energy Institute, Heartland Impact, Consumers Research, ADF Action, Texas Civil Justice League, and related groups generally supported the measures, arguing that banks, insurers, proxy advisors, and asset managers have used ESG or reputational-risk standards to discriminate against energy, agriculture, firearms, and religious organizations. No opposition testimony was presented in the excerpt, and the committee closed public testimony on each bill and left them pending.

Bills: SB312, SB945, SB946, SB1367, SB1861, SB2044, SB2337, SB2403, SB2819, SJR54

Keywords: public school funding, education, budget allocation, financial transparency, state law, local control, fiduciary responsibility, public retirement systems, investment management, proxy voting, financial factors, insurance, political shareholder proposals, fossil fuels, greenhouse gas emissions, environmental regulation, discrimination, credit extension, social credit, value-based standards

Transcript Highlights:

• This bill addresses electioneering issues throughout Texas.
• Senate Bill 2044 strengthens existing electioneering laws and creates new statutes. statutes to forbid
• Brazosport, Elgin, Galena, Holiday, and Louisville ISDs were also involved over electioneering concerns
• So, you know, the level of electioneering has just gotten to the point.
• Districts have either turned themselves into electioneering arms, and I have received complaints on many

Bills: SB312, SB945, SB946, SB1367, SB1861, SB2044, SB2337, SB2403, SB2819, SJR54

Keywords: public school funding, education, budget allocation, financial transparency, state law, local control, fiduciary responsibility, public retirement systems, investment management, proxy voting, financial factors, insurance, political shareholder proposals, fossil fuels, greenhouse gas emissions, environmental regulation, discrimination, credit extension, social credit, value-based standards

Bills: SB312, SB945, SB946, SB1367, SB1861, SB2044, SB2337, SB2403, SB2819, SJR54

Keywords: public school funding, education, budget allocation, financial transparency, state law, local control, fiduciary responsibility, public retirement systems, investment management, proxy voting, financial factors, insurance, political shareholder proposals, fossil fuels, greenhouse gas emissions, environmental regulation, discrimination, credit extension, social credit, value-based standards

Bills: SB1166, SB888, SB2387, SB2471

Keywords: insurance, climate change, responsible parties, damages, Hawaii Property Insurance Association, Hurricane Relief Fund, civil action, climate disasters, extreme weather, SB888, Hawaii, consumer protection, smart home security, smart household security device, home security camera, video doorbell, Ring, Nest, connected devices, internet of things

Summary: The committee heard SB 1166 SD2, a bill on insurance and climate-related damages that would authorize the Hawaii Property Insurance Association and, in amended versions discussed during testimony, other public and private entities to pursue civil actions to recover losses tied to climate disasters and extreme weather. DCCA’s Insurance Division and the Department of the Attorney General raised legal concerns, saying the bill’s scope may not fit the insurance code section being amended, that it could create subject-matter and title issues, and that some subrogation language may be duplicative of existing rate-filing practice. Lawyers for Justice opposed the measure, arguing it conflicts with existing subrogation law and recent Hawaii Supreme Court rulings that treat the judicial lien process as the exclusive remedy. The American Petroleum Institute also opposed, warning the bill would add liability and litigation risk for companies operating under existing permits and could undermine energy reliability and investment. Supporters said the bill would help shift climate-related insurance costs away from residents and onto fossil fuel companies and other responsible parties. Testimony in support came from the Polluters Pay Hawaii Coalition, Center for Climate Integrity, Hawaii Island Council, Our Hawaii, Sierra Club of Hawaii, and others, who described recent flooding, storm damage, rising premiums, non-renewals, and underinsurance as evidence of a worsening climate-driven insurance crisis. Several supporters urged amendments to give the Attorney General explicit authority to recover insurance-related losses for the Hurricane Relief Fund, HPIA, and private insurers, and to ensure recovered amounts benefit policyholders. Committee members questioned whether HPIA is a private entity, whether the Attorney General could represent it, whether the bill could create double recovery or affect pending climate litigation, and whether insurers would have standing or damages if they are only paying contractual claims. The committee then took up SB 888 SD2, a consumer protection bill that would restrict smart household security device operators from sharing user data with law enforcement without consent or a judicial order, and would bar conditioning device use on such consent. The Office of Consumer Protection testified in support and said an Illinois law could serve as a useful template for exceptions to the warrant requirement. An individual supporter said the measure would protect immigrant communities, judges, and others from surveillance and misuse of private data. No vote was taken during the portion of the meeting provided, and the chair noted additional written testimony submitted in support of SB 1166.

Transcript Highlights:

• > electioneer<00:45:46.559> and<00:45:46.720> candidates allowed to electioneer
• <00:51:50.240> and hold the no electioneering and hold the no electioneering and electioneering
• advantage of the no um electioneering advantage of the no um electioneering quarter<00:57:08.960
• The problems that the non-electioneering zones and the electioneering statute in general is intended
• The problems that the non-electioneering zones and the electioneering statute in general is intended

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It also introduces a for electioneering.
• He can electioneer.
• but he has a right to electioneering but he has a right to electioneer<00:09:36.160> when<00:
• There's obviously when electioneering.
• .<01:22:21.120> He's<01:22:21.360> electioneering Representative Mir said, "Electioneering

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• You're supposed to do that outside the electioneering limit.
• Electioneering is about influence inside or outside a polling place.
• of clothing um from the electioneering of clothing um from the electioneering items<01:05:06.720
• electioneering in the polling place by a poll worker.
• electioneering means in the other parts of the statute, which prohibit electioneering in the polling

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:19:40.880> Uh, electioneering by public employees.
• Uh, electioneering by public employees.
• Objective person would recognize as electioneering by a public employee.
• intent to electioneer but once again intent to electioneer but once again it's<00:31:25.279>
• be electioneering. Right. Thank you. be electioneering. Right. Thank you.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This is just an expanded electioneering.
• part of another form of electioneering. part of another form of electioneering.
• They found a they found to electioneer.
• :28:17.279> opportunities there is electioneering um opportunities there is electioneering um
• Um none of it went to electioneering.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <01:07:40.720> by 340 FN relative to electioneering by 340 FN relative to electioneering by
• The bill in front of us affects electioneering for public employees in 659:44A.
• The bill affects electioneering for public employees in 659:44A.
• a large expansion of the electioneering a large expansion of the electioneering uh<01:29:27.520>
• your duties right you can't electioneer your duties right you can't electioneer things<02:44:03.399

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The House Election Law Committee held an orientation and then opened a public hearing on House Bill 67-FN-A, which would make permanent the use of accessible voting machines in local elections and provide funding for additional systems. The chair outlined committee procedures, noting a heavy workload of roughly 70 to 80 bills, mostly Tuesday meetings, likely time limits on testimony, and a default of executive session unless a bill is specifically noticed. Members and staff were introduced, and the Secretary of State’s office described its election-related responsibilities, including voter registration, cybersecurity, ballot-counting equipment, and the Help America Vote Act (HAVA) program. Secretary of State David Scanlan and Deputy Secretary Aon Hennessy explained the current pilot program created by last year’s law, which requires accessible voting systems for local elections and allows the state to share machines with municipalities during the first half of 2025. They said the office has made hardware available, but towns have raised concerns about the speed of implementation and the cost of programming each election, especially for towns with multiple ballot questions. Scanlan said the state is also vetting longer-term options, including devices that could remain in polling places year-round, and suggested the committee consider delaying the bill’s effective date to January 1, 2026 to better align with implementation needs. Hennessy said the current state devices are older and complicated to reset for each election, and estimated programming costs could be about $600 for a small single-election ballot and much higher for towns with multiple elections. Supporters of the bill emphasized the importance of accessible voting for people with disabilities. Representative Robert Wy said the measure builds on 2024 law and would move the pilot into a permanent agreement, citing ADA concerns and prior testimony about discriminatory voting experiences. Fred Forier, a legally blind voter from Exeter, testified that accessible voting systems allow him to vote privately and independently and urged support for the bill. Committee members asked about the gap if the pilot ends before a permanent system is in place and about the cost range for programming. No vote was taken during the hearing, and the committee moved on after public testimony began.

Transcript Highlights:

• uh a bill on electioneering uh a bill on electioneering communications,<00:02:58.240> uh<
• considered treated like electioneering considered treated like electioneering things,<00:05:21.880
• under the category of electioneering under the category of electioneering communications. communications
• between those electioneering between those electioneering communications<00:06:23.720> and
• > By including coordinated electioneering By including coordinated electioneering communications<00:12

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <01:07:40.720> by 340 FN relative to electioneering by 340 FN relative to electioneering by
• <01:08:16.880> law expands our current electioneering law expands our current electioneering
• a large expansion of the electioneering a large expansion of the electioneering uh<01:29:27.520>
• <02:38:18.840> by special definition for electioneering by special definition for electioneering
• your duties right you can't electioneer your duties right you can't electioneer things<02:44:03.399

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The bill also begins to clock when electioneering expenditures start.
• The bill also begins to clock when electioneering expenditures start.
• disclaimers for electioneering disclaimers for electioneering Communications<01:03:20.319> and
• <01:04:49.839> Communications cover um electioneering Communications cover um electioneering
• format required for electioneering format required for electioneering Communications<01:13:02.520

Keywords: 1187, senate, all