Transcript Highlights:

• a license rather than one who is licensed.
• An applicant for a surveyor-in-training license is required to take the Fundamentals of Surveying exam
• I've been surveying for over 30 years, and I have taught surveying for about six and a half years.
• Throughout most of my career, I have promoted... the profession of land surveying.
• I'm a survey technician working in Austin.

Bills: SB483, SB522, SB783, SB1239, SB1254, SB1255, SB1259, SB1341, SB1664, SB1762, SB1856, SB1877, SB1977

Keywords: utility, proprietary information, customer data, data protection, electric service, customer information, emergency communication, electric utility, privacy, certification, public accountants, interstate licensing, accounting, regulatory amendment, energy efficiency, construction regulations, building codes, Texas, sustainability, cost-effectiveness

Transcript Highlights:

• All four locations were licensed Texas lottery retailers.
• We have started that process against a number of their licenses.
• I believe they were all licensed retailers, sir.
• license.
• I'm a lawyer licensed in Texas. I'm from Houston.

Bills: SB 28, SB 687, SJR 34, SCR 9, SB 523, SB 62, SB 847, SB 706, SB 869, SB 890, SB 992

Keywords: lottery, gambling, internet gaming, mobile application, criminal offenses, SB 687, land surveyor, land surveying, surveying services, construction contract, anti-indemnity, indemnity, hold harmless, defense obligation, standard of care, professional negligence, civil practice and remedies code, local government code, governmental agency, public contracts

Summary: The meeting was a crucial session for discussing several important bills including SB992, which aims to establish a clear time frame for the Attorney General's approval on outside legal counsel for state agencies. Senator Nichols presented the bill, emphasizing its necessity for timely responses to ensure efficient legal processing. Another notable discussion centered around SB523, which seeks to allow parole and probation officers to use a business address on their driver's licenses for safety and security purposes. This bill passed favorably out of the committee, with public testimony supporting the need for such provisions due to the risks these officers face.

Transcript Highlights:

• holds a license rather than one who is licensed.
• An applicant for a surveyor-in-training license is required to take the Fundamentals of Surveying exam
• An applicant for a surveyor-in-training license is required to take the Fundamentals of Surveying exam
• I've been surveying for over 30 years.
• I've been surveying for over 30 years, and I have taught surveying for about six and a half years.

Bills: SB483, SB522, SB783, SB1239, SB1254, SB1255, SB1259, SB1341, SB1664, SB1762, SB1856, SB1877, SB1977

Keywords: utility, proprietary information, customer data, data protection, electric service, customer information, emergency communication, electric utility, privacy, certification, public accountants, interstate licensing, accounting, regulatory amendment, energy efficiency, construction regulations, building codes, Texas, sustainability, cost-effectiveness

Summary: The Senate Business and Commerce Committee met with a quorum and first took up pending business, voting out several bills. Senate Bills 1697, 1569, 1202 as substituted, 1029, 1364, 1185, 924, 1008 as substituted, 264, 1376, and 1358 as substituted were reported favorably, with some sent to the local and uncontested calendar. The committee also adopted a substitute for SB 1202 and later corrected votes on several measures. SB 924 and SB 1376 drew some opposition, while the rest of the pending bills were reported without dissent or with limited nays. The committee then heard testimony on SB 1856, which would create an annual capacity-cost recovery rider for Entergy Texas customers in the MISO region. The author and Entergy argued the bill would better match rates to actual capacity costs and improve transparency, while the Texas Association of Manufacturers and the Public Utility Commission raised concerns about the short 10-day review period, rider proliferation, and the preference for full rate cases over piecemeal adjustments. The bill was left pending. The committee also heard and left pending SB 522 on CPA reciprocity, SB 1664 requiring TDUs to provide clearer, standalone rate-change disclosures, SB 1877 expanding OPUC’s access to market data, SB 1254 and SB 1255 as TDLR cleanup bills on professional employer organizations and mold assessors, SB 1341 updating manufactured housing rules, SB 1239 on sovereign debt and Texas governing law, and SB 1259 streamlining the surveyor-in-training licensing process. Additional bills discussed included SB 1977, which would cap recoverable legal expenses in electric, water, and sewer rate cases; OPUC and some consumer advocates supported the idea as a way to reduce ratepayer costs, while utility representatives warned it could discourage participation and increase rate shock. The committee also heard SB 1762 clarifying that geothermal energy conservation wells are not battery resources, and SB 783 allowing SECO to proceed with future energy-code rulemaking for state-funded buildings. Both drew supportive testimony from industry and environmental groups. All remaining bills heard during the meeting were left pending, and the committee recessed subject to the call of the chair.

Transcript Highlights:

• Wholesalers are not licensed real estate.
• He said it sort of operates like a driver’s license: if he is licensed to drive in Louisiana... the substantial
• So it sort of operates like a driver's license. if I'm licensed to drive in Louisiana.
• The speaker said the bill operates like a driver’s license.
• If he is licensed to drive in Louisiana, he can drive in the other 50 states.

Bills: HB387, HB388, HB468, HB548, HB827, HB848, HB921, HB924, HB953

Keywords: engineering, land surveying, construction, state fire marshal, plan review, contracting services, unsolicited contact, homeowners, penalties, regulations, wholesaling, real estate, earnest money, cancellation rights, residential properties, Louisiana Real Estate Commission, certified public accountant, CPA, accounting board, Louisiana State Board of Certified Public Accountants

Transcript Highlights:

• of Licensing and Regulation.
• I held my journeyman license for up to 20 years before I obtained my master license.
• She had been licensed. She had been a licensed cosmetologist since 2005.
• licenses. where they are in turn given a real license, and there's no way to track that this has ever
• their license.

Bills: HB589, HB705, HB1842, HB1874, HB2349, HB2614, HB2827, HB3012, HB3214, HB3308, HB3385, HB3529

Keywords: cosmetology, licensure, interstate compact, state regulations, public safety, workforce mobility, charitable raffles, nonprofit, wildlife conservation, ticket sales, fundraising, master electrician, electrical work, occupational licensing, work scope, Texas law, Texas Real Estate Commission, TREC, real estate broker, sales agent

Transcript Highlights:

• Pardon me, SB 681 has to do with licensed professional engineers.
• They're currently required to renew their licenses annually.
• Forty-three states allow engineers to renew their licenses for a period of two years.
• In addition to licensing engineers, the state licenses engineering firms.
• This is a cleanup bill requested by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation.

Bills: SB213, SB378, SB610, SB681, SB918, SB1172, SB1252, SB1343, SCR8

Keywords: SB 213, Texas insurance, Insurance Code, Chapter 551, Chapter 541, bundling, tying arrangement, cross-selling, homeowners insurance, residential property insurance, auto insurance, personal automobile insurance, consumer protection, unfair trade practice, deceptive insurance practice, property and casualty insurer, Lloyd's plan, county mutual, reciprocal exchange, farm mutual

Summary: The Senate Committee on Business and Commerce met with a quorum and took up several pending bills, first reporting SB 1006 favorably after adopting a committee substitute that adds quarterly ZIP-code-level reporting to TDI on insurer declinations, cancellations, and nonrenewals. The committee also adopted substitutes and favorably reported SB 388, which adds nuclear to a credit program and excludes batteries from the dispatchable definition; SB 917; SB 504, which narrows reporting requirements for certain local entities, raises a salary threshold, and authorizes AG injunctive relief; SB 925, which clarifies that federal match dollars are included in a PLA-related prohibition; and SB 815, which removes downcoding references and focuses on AI use in prior authorization. SB 815 advanced on an 8-2 vote, while SB 388 advanced 6-3 and the others were reported 9-0 or 6-0 as noted. The committee then heard testimony on SB 378, which would prohibit aestheticians and cosmetologists from administering injections or using prescriptive medical devices unless legally authorized and would clarify TDLR disciplinary authority. The author and a retired neurosurgeon testified that unsafe, unauthorized injections pose real patient risks, and a TDLR witness said the bill addresses a long-standing regulatory gap. SB 378 was left pending after testimony. The committee also heard SB 1252, aimed at reducing municipal permitting barriers for residential backup power systems; the author and industry witnesses said city permitting is costly and inconsistent, while municipal utility representatives and advocates said the substitute preserved safety and utility oversight. That bill was also left pending. Additional bills heard but left pending included SB 1172, which would let LPs and LLCs sell their own property without a real estate license; SB 681, which would extend engineer license renewal periods and apply similar flexibility to engineering firms; SB 918, a TDLR cleanup bill for orthotics and prosthetics exemptions; SB 1343, which would require data brokers to post a clear link explaining Texans’ privacy rights and how to exercise them; SB 213, which would prohibit forced bundling of residential property and auto insurance while preserving voluntary discounts; SB 610, which would codify TDLR’s anti-trafficking unit; and SCR 8, expressing opposition to a central bank digital currency over privacy, security, and financial-stability concerns. Public testimony on SB 1343 and SB 213 was generally supportive, with consumer and advocacy groups emphasizing privacy, competition, and survivor safety, and the committee closed the day with those measures and others left pending.

Transcript Highlights:

• You know, you have to have a licensed electrician. There's National Electric Code requirements.
• Pardon me 681 has to do with licensed professional engineers.
• They're currently required to renew their licenses annually.
• Forty-three states allow engineers to renew their licenses for a period of two years.
• In addition to licensing engineers... state licenses engineering firms, this committee substitute would

Bills: SB213, SB378, SB610, SB681, SB918, SB1172, SB1252, SB1343, SCR8

Keywords: SB 213, Texas insurance, Insurance Code, Chapter 551, Chapter 541, bundling, tying arrangement, cross-selling, homeowners insurance, residential property insurance, auto insurance, personal automobile insurance, consumer protection, unfair trade practice, deceptive insurance practice, property and casualty insurer, Lloyd's plan, county mutual, reciprocal exchange, farm mutual

Transcript Highlights:

• name is Mary Margaret Harrell, and I represent Brad Hannah of applicants for an integrated facility license
• people who are... ...more than 10, or maybe 10 people who are seriously looking to get one of these licenses
• That way, you just give them all a license, get rid of the lawsuits, and move forward.

Bills: SB207, SB72

Keywords: cotton, agriculture, levy, assessment, referendum, Alabama law, medical cannabis, cannabis license, integrated facility license, Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission, AMCC, medical marijuana, dispensary, cultivation, processing, license appeal, administrative hearing, judicial review, consultant selection, license denial

Transcript Highlights:

• Senate Bill 890, we're laying the issuance of a license to carry- a handgun to certain active and retired
• Senator bill 384 simply allows Texans who are purchasing a hunting and fishing license of any type to
• , $5, $10, or $20 to the Operation Game Thief Fund, including the option to donate to the fund on license
• relating to making a donation to the Operation Game Thief Fund when applying for a hunting or fishing license
• Thief fund when applying for a hunting or fishing license. pass the Senate bill 384.

Bills: SJR18, SCR9, SCR13, SB10, SB11, SB19, SB20, SB25, SB62, SB260, SB263, SB293, SB314, SB384, SB412, SB441, SB442, SB494, SB523, SB569, SB616, SB688, SB707, SB766, SB842, SB869, SB890, SB914, SB929, SB971, SB992, SB1066, SB1145, SB1621, SJR36, SJR18, SCR9, SCR13, SB616, SB565, SB384, SB372, SB495, SB842, SB971, SB1066, SB929, SB765, SB523, SB62, SB19, SB18, SB666, SB688, SB707, SB888, SB687, SB706, SB847, SB869, SB890, SB992, SB1145, SB494, SB290, SB766, SB11, SB10, SB13, SB263, SB412, SB20, SB441, SB442, SB1621, SB569, SB314, SB25, SB293, SB914, SB260, SB1248, SB740, SB14, SB1006, SB20, SB25, SB260, SB293, SB314, SB384, SB442, SB494, SB616, SB869, SB890, SB929, SB992, SB1145, SB1621, SR232, SR237, SR242, SB16, SB22

Keywords: capital gains, taxation, constitutional amendment, state revenue, individual investment, Supreme Court, judicial independence, Keep Nine, checks and balances, water rights, treaty compliance, Rio Grande, agriculture, drought, international water, Texas water supply, education, Ten Commandments, public schools, religious display

Transcript Highlights:

• Rodriguez: I AM PLEASED TO RECOGNIZE IN THE EAST GALLERY THE FLORIDA ASSOCIATION OF LICENSED INVESTIGATORS

Bills: SJR18, SCR9, SCR13, SB10, SB11, SB19, SB20, SB25, SB62, SB260, SB263, SB293, SB314, SB384, SB412, SB441, SB442, SB494, SB523, SB569, SB616, SB688, SB707, SB766, SB842, SB869, SB890, SB914, SB929, SB971, SB992, SB1066, SB1145, SB1621, SJR36, SJR18, SCR9, SCR13, SB616, SB565, SB384, SB372, SB495, SB842, SB971, SB1066, SB929, SB765, SB523, SB62, SB19, SB18, SB666, SB688, SB707, SB888, SB687, SB706, SB847, SB869, SB890, SB992, SB1145, SB494, SB290, SB766, SB11, SB10, SB13, SB263, SB412, SB20, SB441, SB442, SB1621, SB569, SB314, SB25, SB293, SB914, SB260, SB1248, SB740, SB14, SB1006, SB20, SB25, SB260, SB293, SB314, SB384, SB442, SB494, SB616, SB869, SB890, SB929, SB992, SB1145, SB1621, SR232, SR237, SR242, SB16, SB22

Keywords: capital gains, taxation, constitutional amendment, state revenue, individual investment, Supreme Court, judicial independence, Keep Nine, checks and balances, water rights, treaty compliance, Rio Grande, agriculture, drought, international water, Texas water supply, education, Ten Commandments, public schools, religious display

Transcript Highlights:

• Yet, after failing to secure a license, they have resorted to... secure a license, they have resorted
• our annual license fees twice—yet still have zero revenue to show for it.
• We were awarded an integrated license the third time around.
• Y'all, this is not the time to add more integrated licenses, as I...
• I think even the ones that got the license are after that too.

Bills: SB185, SB194, SB72

Keywords: veterinary medicine, veterinarian-client-patient relationship, prescription refills, animal care, regulatory compliance, agriculture authority, eminent domain, property rights, tax exemption, agriculture center, medical cannabis, cannabis license, integrated facility license, Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission, AMCC, medical marijuana, dispensary, cultivation, processing, license appeal

Transcript Highlights:

• an extension of the sunset date on the board of governor's architects, landscape architects, and licensed
• It extends the sunset date for the board of licensed professional engineers and surveyors.

Bills: HJR1088, SB1280, SB1316, SB1433, SB1455, SB1456, SB1457, SB1459, SB1461, SB1463, SB1465, SB1466, SB1721

Keywords: education rules, administrative rules, joint resolution, Oklahoma State Department of Education, higher education, State Regents for Higher Education, Teachers' Retirement System, charter schools, Statewide Charter School Board, career and technology education, CTE, OEQA, rule approval, legislative oversight, permanent rules, school governance, teacher retirement, education agencies, excise tax, oil tax

Transcript Highlights:

• extension of the sunset date on the Board of Governors of Architects, Landscape Architects, and Licensed
• The sunset date on the Board of Governors of Architects, Landscape Architects, and Licensed Interior

Bills: SB1280, SB1316, SB1433, SB1455, SB1456, SB1457, SB1459, SB1461, SB1463, SB1465, SB1466, SB1721, HJR1088

Keywords: excise tax, oil tax, natural gas tax, state revenue, Oklahoma Corporation Commission, administrative rules, sunset provision, state agencies, regulatory review, legislative oversight, guidance transparency, administrative procedures, public inspection, state agency accountability, regulatory oversight, architects, landscape architects, interior designers, licensing, professional regulation

Summary: The committee first advanced Senate Bill 1721, which extends the sunset date for the Oklahoma Advisory Council on Indian Education and requires appointed members to represent a tribe or be involved in tribal education. It then passed Senate Bill 1433, a mirror bill requiring agencies to publicly post guidance documents and state that such documents do not have the force of law. Both bills were adopted without opposition and reported out favorably. The bulk of the meeting focused on Senate Bill 1316, which would create a rotating, eight-year review of administrative rules modeled on Idaho law. Members questioned whether the process would duplicate existing rule review, whether it would be used as a rubber stamp or to remove needed protections, and how AI tools might assist. The sponsor said the goal is to verify statutory authority, identify obsolete or duplicative rules, and use a limited AI system built from Oklahoma constitutional, statutory, and code materials only as a research aid, not a decision-maker. The committee then passed the bill unanimously. The committee also advanced a series of sunset-extension bills for various boards and agencies, including oil and gas tax apportionments, the Board of Governors of Architects, Landscape Architects, and Licensed Interior Designers, the Board of Tests for Alcohol and Drug Influence, the Construction Industries Board, the Oklahoma Abstractors Board, OETA, the Polygraph Examiners Board, the Board of Licensure for Professional Engineers and Surveyors, and the Advisory Committee on Midwifery. Most passed unanimously, though the Construction Industries Board bill passed 11-1, OETA passed 7-5, and the midwifery bill passed 10-2. The committee also approved H.J.R. 1088, which ratifies education agency rules, by an 11-1 vote. At the end, the chair outlined the committee’s remaining workload and said several bundled rule resolutions and a few major rules would be coming soon, including a large health-agency bundle. Members were asked to return rule assignments quickly so resolutions could be prepared before the end of session. The meeting adjourned after the chair said the next meeting would likely be brief and focused on one or two resolutions.

Transcript Highlights:

• Next up will be the ABC establishing a new license for education couriers on distillery.
• It's opening a new tourism distillery license.
• They put that license in that other corporation and buy for a beer and wine license. and buy for a beer
• and wine license, and everybody's fine.
• So now that's the only one that has a license.

Bills: SB312, SB316, SB90

Keywords: alcoholic beverages, ABC Board, Alabama Alcoholic Beverage Control, special event license, special events retail license, nonprofit special events retail license, special retail license, event storage license, government venue license, alcohol storage, alcohol transfer, beer, wine, liquor, on-premises consumption, public venue, government-owned property, municipal property, county property, state property

Bills: SB2026, SB1376, SB1355, SB2115, SB1533, SB1732, SB1217, SB1443, SB1455, SB1457, SB1459, SB1465, SB1944, SB1946, SB1218, SB1942, SB1352, SB2132, SB1920, SB1285, SB1304, SB1305, SB1326, SB1590, SB1767

Keywords: military discharge, veterans, DD Form 214, confidentiality, grandchildren access, Oklahoma National Guard, education assistance, military benefits, dependents, CareerTech Assistance Act, burial grant, memorial headstone, eligibility requirements, funding, Oklahoma Department of Veterans Affairs, fiscal management, state law, veteran burial, burial assistance, indigent veterans

Transcript Highlights:

• extends the sunset to 2031 for the board of governors of the architects, landscape architects, and licensed
• They've got the big fear they live under of losing their license.
• the inspections done without the catch-22 that the growers are caught in, of possibly losing their license

Bills: SB1732, SB1217, SB1443, SB1455, SB1457, SB1459, SB1465, SB1944, SB1946, SB1218, SB1942, SB1352, SB2132, SB1920, SB1285, SB1304, SB1305, SB1326, SB1590, SB1767

Keywords: professional licensing, licensing fees, home inspection, home inspector, Construction Industries Board, CIB, contractor license, journeyman license, apprentice registration, alarm endorsement, code inspector, electrical license, plumbing license, mechanical license, permit fees, renewal fee, reciprocity, poultry house contractor, poultry house wiring, environmentally controlled poultry house

Bills: SB2026, SB1376, SB1355, SB2115, SB1533, SB1732, SB1217, SB1443, SB1455, SB1457, SB1459, SB1465, SB1944, SB1946, SB1218, SB1942, SB1352, SB2132, SB1920, SB1285, SB1304, SB1305, SB1326, SB1590, SB1767

Keywords: military discharge, veterans, DD Form 214, confidentiality, grandchildren access, Oklahoma National Guard, education assistance, military benefits, dependents, CareerTech Assistance Act, burial grant, memorial headstone, eligibility requirements, funding, Oklahoma Department of Veterans Affairs, fiscal management, state law, veteran burial, burial assistance, indigent veterans

Summary: The Senate convened, a quorum was established, and Senator Yek delivered the opening prayer. The body then granted unanimous consent for an entourage to appear on the floor for a citation presentation honoring Oklahoma State Troopers Michael Patnode and Joy McLaughlin for their quick response and lifesaving assistance during a medical emergency at the Capitol on January 13, 2026. The citation praised their professionalism and noted that emergency responders arrived in less than eight minutes because of their actions. The floor leader also recognized the Senate staff and others involved in the incident, noting that the person who had the medical emergency was recovering and had returned part-time. Senator Nice introduced an intern, Cottrell Strain, a sophomore English major at Langston University with an interest in politics. Several announcements followed, including a Farm City Festival lunch on the second floor, a Veterans and Military Affairs Committee meeting, and a Business and Insurance Committee meeting. The Senate also adopted a motion to celebrate Senator Julie Daniels’ birthday. No legislation was debated or voted on in the transcript beyond the citation and the procedural motions, and the chamber adjourned until Monday, February 16, 2026, at 1:30 p.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• extends the sunset to 2031 for the Board of Governors of the architects, landscape architects, and licensed
• They've got the big fear they live under of losing their license.
• the inspections done without the catch-22 that the growers are caught in of possibly losing their license

Bills: SB1732, SB1217, SB1443, SB1455, SB1457, SB1459, SB1465, SB1944, SB1946, SB1218, SB1942, SB1352, SB2132, SB1920, SB1285, SB1304, SB1305, SB1326, SB1590, SB1767

Keywords: professional licensing, licensing fees, home inspection, home inspector, Construction Industries Board, CIB, contractor license, journeyman license, apprentice registration, alarm endorsement, code inspector, electrical license, plumbing license, mechanical license, permit fees, renewal fee, reciprocity, poultry house contractor, poultry house wiring, environmentally controlled poultry house

Summary: The Business and Insurance Committee considered a long agenda of Senate bills covering real estate, construction licensing, insurance, alcohol regulation, medical marijuana, and other business matters. Among the measures discussed were SB 1732, which preserves Oklahoma’s current rule that brokers are not required to enter into a buyer brokerage agreement before showing real estate; SB 1443, which codifies payment rules for anesthesia services and physical status modifiers; and several sunset-extension bills for boards and agencies including the architects and interior designers board, the Construction Industries Board, the Abstractors Board, and the engineering and surveying board. The committee also heard bills on workers’ compensation, dental insurance billing practices, salvage title thresholds, energy standards for state-funded buildings, self-storage lien modernization, and medical marijuana training and licensing issues. Testimony and debate focused heavily on consumer costs, market competition, and regulatory clarity. Supporters of the dental bill (SB 1942) argued it would keep insurers from setting prices for non-covered services and allow patients and providers to negotiate directly, while opponents warned it could raise costs for consumers; the bill passed 8-2. Similar free-market arguments were made for the real estate, anesthesia, and alcohol-related bills, while consumer protection concerns were raised on the self-storage and dental measures. SB 1590, which would expand a fortified-roof grant program to commercial buildings, drew discussion about funding and the state’s role in helping reduce insurance costs. SB 1767 sought stronger enforcement against out-of-state spirit shipping, with concerns noted about lost tax revenue and age verification. Most bills received committee approval, often unanimously or by wide margins, including SB 1732, SB 1217, SB 1443, SB 1455, SB 1457, SB 1459, SB 1466, SB 1944, SB 1946, SB 1352, SB 2132, SB 1920, SB 1285, SB 1304, SB 1305, SB 1326, SB 1590, and SB 1767. Several bills were amended in committee, often to update sunset dates or clarify language, and title-striking motions were adopted on some measures that were still being worked on. The meeting ended with the chair noting that 20 bills had been handled and the committee adjourned.

Bills: SB1239, SB1732

Keywords: Service Oklahoma, apportionment, state revenue, funding, vehicle registration, professional licensing, licensing fees, home inspection, home inspector, Construction Industries Board, CIB, contractor license, journeyman license, apprentice registration, alarm endorsement, code inspector, electrical license, plumbing license, mechanical license, permit fees

Transcript Highlights:

• There's two different licenses.
• Finally, the bill permits the issuance of a new license or a restricted license to a person only if the
• , and mandatory revocation of licenses.
• I like the ability to have an orange sticker on the license.
• Now, I just looked at my license and it's in color.

Bills: HB2127, HB2257, HB2305, HB2573, HB2772, HB2941, HB2957

Keywords: special license plates, transportation, funding, nonprofits, charitable contributions, boating, watercraft licensing, law enforcement, safety fund, state funding, Arizona Revised Statutes, towing regulation, private towing carriers, vehicle impound, towing rates, preemption, DUI, ignition interlock, substance abuse treatment, driving privileges