Transcript Highlights:

• So the operators have bigger profit margins and they're incentivized to produce here.
• For Operations and Chief Financial Officer for Texas State University. Thank you.

Bills: SB22, SB 22

Keywords: Texas, moving image industry, incentive program, film production, grant funding, job creation, economic development, youth camp, summer camp, camp safety, emergency operations plan, emergency preparedness, evacuation drill, camp staff training, volunteer training, camper safety, lost camper, natural disaster, fire safety, mass casualty

Bills: SB22, SB 22

Keywords: Texas, moving image industry, incentive program, film production, grant funding, job creation, economic development, youth camp, summer camp, camp safety, emergency operations plan, emergency preparedness, evacuation drill, camp staff training, volunteer training, camper safety, lost camper, natural disaster, fire safety, mass casualty

Transcript Highlights:

• Yes, and they're right there, and you're trying to conduct, you know, lawful government operation, whether
• protect public safety while they're doing a lawful government... ...they're doing a lawful government operation

Bills: HB403, HB224

Keywords: criminal enterprise, database, law enforcement, data privacy, criminal justice, HB224, Alabama, obstructing governmental operations, first responder, emergency responder, police, firefighter, EMT, paramedic, public safety, harassment, interference with emergency personnel, crime, Class A misdemeanor, emergency scene

Transcript Highlights:

• House Bill 2203, Reckless Interference with Emergency Operations. Thank you, Mr.
• House Bill 2203 concerns reckless interference with emergency operations.
• The offense is eligible for emergency cost recovery for driving under the influence, DUI, operating an
• Turning to House Bill 2203, the offense of reckless interference with emergency operations is established
• It’s— Reckless interference with emergency operations—it’s not just driving around barriers.

Bills: HB2165, HB2173, HB2203, HB2293

Keywords: peace officer, false identification, law enforcement, criminal penalties, public safety, face coverings, regulations, civil rights, emergency operations, reckless interference, offense, foreign entities, training, national security, 904, all

Summary: The committee held public hearings on several bills related to public safety and law enforcement. House Bill 2203 would create the offense of reckless interference with emergency operations for driving on a roadway known to be closed for hazardous conditions, with a gross misdemeanor penalty that could rise to a Class C felony if the conduct leads to rescue or evacuation and injury to a first responder or involves a minor or vulnerable adult. The prime sponsor described the bill as a response to recent flooding and repeated rescues in Orting, and local police supported it. The Sentencing Guidelines Commission opposed the felony section, recommending a traffic infraction for the first level and a gross misdemeanor for the second. Members asked about license suspensions, emergency-response cost recovery, and how the bill would apply to partially restricted roads. House Bill 2293 would bar Washington law enforcement agencies and the Criminal Justice Training Commission from training, partnering, or sending officers to train with foreign militaries, intelligence services, or security services. The sponsor said civilian policing should not be trained like military service and raised concerns about foreign military influence and accountability. Opponents, including the sheriffs and police chiefs association, argued the bill was too broad and undefined, could interfere with useful counterterrorism, border, and best-practice training, and might need carve-outs for Canada and Mexico. The sponsor said amendments and clarification language were being considered, and members discussed the need for more information on what foreign training is actually occurring. House Bill 2165 would create a new gross misdemeanor for false identification as a peace officer by possessing or providing law-enforcement-style badges or insignia identifying someone as an officer when they are not commissioned, or by misrepresenting property as belonging to a law enforcement agency. The sponsor and governor’s office said the bill is meant to prevent impersonation and improve public safety, while preserving exceptions for satire, costumes, and legitimate honorary or reserve designations. Some witnesses supported the concept but urged clearer definitions, especially around federal agencies, vehicles, and overlap with existing criminal impersonation statutes; others raised concerns about liability and whether the bill should be folded into existing law. The chair asked the sponsor and stakeholders to work on amendments. House Bill 2173 would prohibit law enforcement officers from wearing facial coverings while interacting with the public, with exceptions for undercover work, SWAT protective gear, and certain medical or hazardous-condition masks, and would allow a civil cause of action by a detained person. The sponsor said the bill is intended to increase transparency and accountability, especially in response to concerns about masked federal immigration officers, while supporters argued it would build trust and reduce fear. Opponents, including police and city groups, warned about officer safety, doxxing, recruiting and retention, federal-state authority issues, and uncapped civil liability. The committee heard testimony from the governor’s office, faith leaders, police organizations, city representatives, and individual supporters and opponents, but took no final action on any of the bills during the hearing.

Bills: HB2

Keywords: 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, volunteer management system, volunteer registration, criminal history check, background check, Texas Division of Emergency Management

Summary: The Senate Education K-16 Committee met to consider HB 2, the major school finance bill, with the chair explaining that the committee substitute would provide about $8 billion in new public education funding. The bill was described as including permanent teacher compensation increases, expanded teacher incentive allotment funding, support for early literacy and numeracy, teacher certification and residency pathways, special education funding, career and technical education, school safety dollars, and facilities support for charter schools. The committee adopted the committee substitute without objection after roll was called and a quorum was present. Members questioned the bill’s structure, especially the balance between across-the-board teacher pay and the teacher incentive allotment, the treatment of uncertified teachers, and differences in requirements between traditional public schools and charter schools. Senator Menendez and Senator West raised concerns about equity, charter-school parity, facilities funding, inflation, and whether the bill should include more support for fine arts and extracurricular programs. The chair responded that the bill was designed to direct most new money to traditional public schools while also preserving flexibility and that charter-school and public-school alignment would need further work. Invited witnesses Dr. Imelda De La Rosa and Val Acri testified in support of the bill, emphasizing that the Teacher Incentive Allotment helps recruit and retain teachers in rural districts and supports mentorship and certification pathways. Public witnesses also supported the bill but urged more funding for fine arts, local flexibility, and full restoration of House-proposed funding levels. Dr. Josh Jones supported year-long teacher residencies, Dr. Philip Morgan asked for more local control and restoration of fine arts funding, Rich Saina supported the bill but warned about hold-harmless reductions, and Dr. Greg Poole supported the bill while asking for flexibility for high-performing districts that already pay high salaries. After the invited testimony and some public testimony, the committee recessed subject to the call of the chair so members could attend the Senate floor.

Transcript Highlights:

• funding flows for districts and help address some of the challenges of inflation on their basic operation
• Rise Academy in Lubbock is a small A-rated school operating solely out of modular buildings while serving
• I think that provision was put in in order to sort of protect daycare operators, I think, if I'm not
• As far as your concern, what I'd like to know is, you're having to operate the school district, and I'm
• We didn't have the emergent bilingual staff that we needed.

Bills: HB2

Keywords: 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, volunteer management system, volunteer registration, criminal history check, background check, Texas Division of Emergency Management

Summary: The committee continued public testimony on House Bill 2, which would make major changes to public school funding, teacher pay, special education, early learning, school safety, and related programs. Many superintendents and education advocates supported the bill’s overall direction but urged changes, especially a larger basic allotment and more flexible funding for rural and small districts. Witnesses from Paint Creek, West Hardin, Cushing, Blooming Grove, Mildred, Buffalo, Plano, and rural school groups said the bill’s targeted raises and new requirements would not fully cover inflation, TRS/Medicare costs, transportation, insurance, or support staff salaries, and several asked the committee to restore the House version’s higher basic allotment and small-school allotment. Charter school representatives supported the facilities funding changes and said charter schools need state help because they cannot levy taxes, while also noting the funding gap with ISDs. Fine arts advocates asked the committee to restore the fine arts allotment, arguing arts improve engagement, attendance, and academic outcomes, especially in rural and at-risk communities. Early learning and special education witnesses supported parts of the bill but raised concerns about pre-K restrictions, disability-related pre-K access, and the need to preserve or clarify special education provisions and mental health oversight language. Several witnesses praised the teacher pay raise, teacher incentive allotment expansion, and teacher preparation investments, saying they would help recruit and retain educators and improve student outcomes. Others, including counselors and support staff advocates, argued the bill should also include raises for counselors, nurses, librarians, bus drivers, custodians, aides, and other non-teaching employees who keep schools running. One witness from the Texas Counseling Association opposed the substitute because it removed a counselor pay provision, warning of counselor shortages and inequities. A parent and special education advocate said the bill’s structure creates too many strings attached and asked for a larger basic allotment instead of more targeted funding. Another witness from Mental Health America urged keeping the collaborative task force on public school mental health services through 2031, and a disability rights advocate said the committee substitute appears to omit some special education items that were in the House version. The committee also briefly took up House Bill 6, a school discipline bill. After questions about automatic mandatory expulsion for vape possession and concerns about younger students, the committee adopted the substitute and voted to report HB 6 favorably to the full Senate by a 9-1 vote, with Senator Menendez voting no and Senators West and Menendez expressing reservations but supporting further discussion. After that vote, testimony on HB 2 resumed. Senators used the hearing to ask about the bill’s cost, the difference between the basic allotment and the bill’s targeted funding buckets, and whether the permanent teacher pay increase shifts pressure off districts. The bill’s supporters emphasized that it represents an historic, roughly $8 billion investment and that many of the new funding streams are intended to be permanent or to address specific district needs.

Transcript Highlights:

• School districts have to operate with, and they don't get to operate with the money.
• The traditional tax supported ISDs don't get to operate. with the money that doesn't go to them, but
• school, most efficient sized and whatever else to operate school in the state and we used to do what
• Fortunately, iEducate's been operating since. And so they really have a model.
• And many of them are operating in deficit budgets, but you talked about course offerings.

Bills: HB2, HB2

Keywords: public education, teacher compensation, certification, funding, school finance, educator rights, education funding, charter schools, staff compensation, state aid, retention allotment, disaster preparedness, emergency management, flooding, mass fatality, mass casualty, fatality tracking, body recovery, autopsy, justice of the peace

Transcript Highlights:

• Staff that. one emergency sends them into the red. And I feel like as professionals.
• An increase in special ed funding saves or allows. allows less dipping into maintenance and operation
• close that gap on a pathway to do that and then also allow more, more more of the maintenance and operation
• Today, based in Tarrant County, plays a critical intermediary role. supporting 35 independently operated
• as well as similar models in Austin and Houston that have demonstrated the ability to expand and operate

Bills: HB2, HB2

Keywords: public education, teacher compensation, certification, funding, school finance, educator rights, education funding, charter schools, staff compensation, state aid, retention allotment, disaster preparedness, emergency management, flooding, mass fatality, mass casualty, fatality tracking, body recovery, autopsy, justice of the peace

Transcript Highlights:

• The alt-cert allotment would similarly operate where, I think it...
• Than $10 million to operate our schools.
• We operate up and down from Chairman Dutton's area for the Port of Houston.
• Just over 10% of our operating budget that we have M&O funds available.
• To the point you can't operate, is that correct?

Bills: HB2, HB2

Keywords: public education, teacher compensation, certification, funding, school finance, educator rights, education funding, charter schools, staff compensation, state aid, retention allotment, disaster preparedness, emergency management, flooding, mass fatality, mass casualty, fatality tracking, body recovery, autopsy, justice of the peace

Transcript Highlights:

• So last night we had, well this morning, We had some emergency issues in the state.
• Especially for emergency issues, where I want to see the state agency let us know.
• And so they're gonna be operating, I believe, in the dark and I fear when that happens that the people
• Texas educates the greatest proportion of emergent. bilingual students of any state in the country.
• For us, in Austin ISD, we have a lot of. of programming to support the emergent bilingual students.

Bills: HB2, HB2

Keywords: public education, teacher compensation, certification, funding, school finance, educator rights, education funding, charter schools, staff compensation, state aid, retention allotment, disaster preparedness, emergency management, flooding, mass fatality, mass casualty, fatality tracking, body recovery, autopsy, justice of the peace

Transcript Highlights:

• For over a decade, through the interagency efforts of Emergency Support Function 2, GOSEP has responded
• For over a decade through the interagency efforts of emergency support function 2, GOSEP has responded
• On June 1, 2025, through Operation Spider-Web, the Ukrainian military wiped out about 20% of Russia's
• It was only two weeks later that Operation Rising Lion was launched by the Israelis from within Iran.
• There are some differences between the various JDCs and how they operate.

Bills: HCR11, HB153, HB278, HB424, HB454, HB455, HB687, HB816, HB833, HB942, HB1053, HB1097, HB1147, HB1148, HB1190, SB75, SB85, SB197, SB200, SB217

Keywords: Camp Beauregard, Louisiana National Guard, Youth Challenge Program, military affairs, Pineville, National Guard training, emergency response, youth development, alternative education, high school equivalency, GED, at-risk youth, leadership training, job skills, citizenship, veterans, state military operations, mobilization, logistics staging area, public service

Summary: The committee first adopted a three-minute rule for the rest of the meeting by a 9-3 vote. It then took up SB 217, which would reorganize Orleans Parish courts by reducing judgeships in criminal, juvenile, traffic, and municipal courts and, through an adopted amendment, creating one civil district court with 13 judges and allowing hearing officers. Senator Morris argued the changes were based on caseload comparisons and population data; opponents from the Urban League and ACLU said the bill was driven by power rather than efficiency, relied on incomplete or inconsistent data, would strain the courts, and would reduce minority representation on the bench. The committee reported the bill favorably as amended by an 11-4 vote. The committee next considered SB 197, which would reduce the number of judges on the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeal by two. Senator Morris again cited filings and caseload comparisons, while opponents argued the bill ignored the intensity and complexity of appellate work, could increase backlog and costs, and would disproportionately affect Black women judges. The bill was reported favorably by an 11-4 vote. The committee also adopted HCR 11, expressing support for the Louisiana National Guard at Camp Beauregard and the Youth Challenge Program, and reported favorably SB 85, creating an insurance fund for retired St. Charles Parish sheriff’s employees. Several other measures were advanced with little or no opposition. HB 833 created the Sexual Assault Survivor Empowerment Task Force and was amended to add representatives from the coroners’ association, a survivor appointed by STAR, and a licensed clinical social worker; it was reported favorably. HB 816, with a technical correction, prohibited foreign adversaries from acquiring property near military installations and was reported favorably. HB 1053, dealing with definitions for dealers and retail dealers and allowing certain businesses to serve complimentary alcoholic beverages under agreed-upon floor amendments, was reported favorably. HB 153, as amended, removed the Office of Debt Recovery from the bill and limited it to prohibiting reporting certain criminal fines and fees to credit bureaus; it was reported favorably. SB 75, on cybersecurity reimbursement and baseline standards for local governments after cyber incidents, was reported favorably after testimony from GOSEP and others. SB 200, allowing expropriation of land near military bases owned by foreign adversaries when a court finds a threat to public health and safety, was also reported favorably after extensive testimony and discussion. Finally, HB 454, the Gracie Claire Rushing Act on chain of custody for human remains and internal organs, was converted into a substitute bill, adopted, and then introduced for further discussion, with the sponsor describing it as a transparency and accountability measure for grieving families.

Transcript Highlights:

• House Concurrent Resolution 11 by Representative Mike Johnson expresses support for the continued operations
• our soldiers and our men and women in the military for all sorts of things, including rescue and emergency
• employees designated as first responders for the purposes of training, logistics, coordination, emergency

Bills: HCR11, HB153, HB278, HB424, HB454, HB455, HB687, HB816, HB833, HB942, HB1053, HB1097, HB1147, HB1148, HB1190, SB75, SB85, SB197, SB200, SB217

Keywords: Camp Beauregard, Louisiana National Guard, Youth Challenge Program, military affairs, Pineville, National Guard training, emergency response, youth development, alternative education, high school equivalency, GED, at-risk youth, leadership training, job skills, citizenship, veterans, state military operations, mobilization, logistics staging area, public service

Transcript Highlights:

• We also address real operational challenges.
• We require judges to consider petitions for emergency relief when they are filed.
• , the fact that there's an ERPO petition pending does not prohibit them from taking action on an emergency
• There are people that, after they've had this emergency protection order, won't be able to reclaim their
• protection order that won't be emergency protection order that won't be able<00:28:46.400><c> to</c>

Bills: HF3771, HF3658, HF3453, HF3358, HF1775

Keywords: disaster assistance, contingency account, Minnesota emergency management, public safety, state disaster aid, FEMA, federal cost-share, emergency relief, natural disaster, budget report, appropriations report, management and budget, local governments, utility cooperatives, public works, infrastructure repair, chapter 12B, chapter 12A, emergency management, disaster recovery

Transcript Highlights:

• You will find that many small businesses operate in different municipalities, so they're required to
• This bill creates a process for 911 collaboration operation.
• The bill creates a process for 911 collaboration operation.
• I've seen this operate in other states, and it has not been pretty.
• New director, what those fees are and they may not exceed what is required to operate the board.

Bills: SB174, SB180, HB196, HB25, SB193, HB25

Keywords: business taxes, annual reports, Alabama Tax Tribunal, tax appeals, local government, media monitoring, government contracts, state agencies, local agencies, media regulations, transparency, juvenile detention, county management, legal procedures, juvenile justice, county commission, supervision, administration, emergency services, 911

Transcript Highlights:

• HHSC, which operates the Texas Medicaid program, requires pharmacies to regularly submit their list of

Bills: HB 741, HB 1199, HB 2070, HB 2402, HB 2542, HB 2665, HB 2789, HB 3096, HB 3396, HB 3595, HB 3747, HB 4116, HB 4127

Keywords: child welfare, relative caregiver, monetary assistance, Department of Family and Protective Services, child custody, family law, emergency power, nursing facilities, assisted living, generator requirements, health and safety, emergency generators, power outage, emergency generator, assisted living facilities, power source, child abuse, neglect registry, court findings, Medicaid

Bills: HB4, HB1, HB2, HB20, HB19, HB18

Keywords: district composition, congressional election, Texas, legislature, voting districts, 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

Summary: The House convened with a strict roll-call enforcement request, but only 95 members were present, so a quorum was not present. The chamber heard an invocation from Furman Carpenter, DPS chaplain, followed by the pledges to the U.S. and Texas flags. A member raised a parliamentary inquiry asking whether members must be present to make a motion and whether all members who requested strict enforcement were present; the Speaker said he would need to check the journal. The Speaker then announced that the House was about to receive a motion to adjourn sine die and noted that the governor might call another special session soon. Representative Garin moved that the House of Representatives of the First Called Session of the Eighty-Ninth Legislature adjourn sine die. There was no objection, and the motion carried, ending the session.

Transcript Highlights:

• It adds interoperable emergency communication systems and coordinated emergency response.
• And while this is the division of Emergency Management, it could be implied the Texas Emergency Management
• And, and the same kind of goes for emergency management plans too, emergency management coordinators.
• They're requiring an emergency manager to hold an emergency manager license, basic intermediate advanced
• We still have to go through multiple operational periods or send the aircraft off to an air operations

Bills: HB1, HB 2, HB18, HB19, HB20

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:

• to report the conditions during an emergency.
• Good emergency response and good emergency preparedness and that's what kept our residents safe during
• emergency preparedness regulations in the country.
• re-evaluate that community's emergency preparedness plan.
• This can be documented in the Emergency Preparedness Plan.

Bills: HB741, HB 1199, HB2070, HB2402, HB2542, HB2665, HB2789, HB3096, HB3396, HB3595, HB3747, HB4116, HB4127

Keywords: child welfare, relative caregiver, monetary assistance, Department of Family and Protective Services, child custody, family law, emergency power, nursing facilities, assisted living, generator requirements, health and safety, emergency generators, power outage, emergency generator, assisted living facilities, power source, child abuse, neglect registry, court findings, Medicaid

Transcript Highlights:

• HHSC, which operates the Texas Medicaid program, requires pharmacies to regularly submit their lists.
• So, members, this is just a simple flex that would allow these discount programs to operate. for additional

Bills: HB741, HB 1199, HB2070, HB2402, HB2542, HB2665, HB2789, HB3096, HB3396, HB3595, HB3747, HB4116, HB4127

Keywords: child welfare, relative caregiver, monetary assistance, Department of Family and Protective Services, child custody, family law, emergency power, nursing facilities, assisted living, generator requirements, health and safety, emergency generators, power outage, emergency generator, assisted living facilities, power source, child abuse, neglect registry, court findings, Medicaid

Transcript Highlights:

• The second request is for a Rogers public safety training and emergency operations center.
• </c><00:19:24.559><c> operations</c> services, and an emergency operations services, and an emergency
• Louis County Emergency Operations Center, EOCC.
• Louis County Emergency Operations St.
• Louis County Emergency Operations Center,<00:43:24.599><c> EOCC.

Bills: HF2178, HF942, HF2470, HF1043, HF1287, HF1229, HF1230, HF424, HF571, HF404, HF910, HF1055, HF318, HF319, HF401, HF609, HF306, HF1599, HF1881

Keywords: HF2178, Cohasset, capital investment, bonding bill, state bonds, public infrastructure, water tower, water infrastructure, sanitary sewer, storm sewer, street reconstruction, municipal infrastructure, Public Facilities Authority, bond proceeds fund, Minnesota bonding, local government aid, utility infrastructure, public works, infrastructure, stormwater