Video & Transcript DataContr Research : 'public interest determination'

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TX

Texas 2025 - 89th Regular

Business and Commerce (Part I) May 1st, 2025

Senate Business & Commerce Committee

Transcript Highlights:
  • Hearing none, the Chair opens up public testimony.
  • They have interest rates that are, one of them is $130,000.
  • I represent the Texas Public Policy Foundation.
  • So there is no interest rate in there.
  • Opens up public testimony and calls Teresa Schober, Katherine Fisher.
Summary: In the recent meeting of the Senate Committee on Business and Commerce, multiple significant bills were discussed, with House Bill 912 and Senate Bill 1003 receiving favorable recommendations for further consideration. Senator Zaffirini played a pivotal role in moving several bills through the committee process, including Senate Bill 748, which also received support with a unanimous vote. Public testimonies were taken for various bills, notably SB 2113, which focuses on improving legislative access to information, fostering a more transparent government. The committee's discussions were marked by an emphasis on good governance and the importance of legislative oversight.
TX

Texas 2025 - 89th Regular

Natural Resources Jul 15th, 2025 at 01:07 pm

House Natural Resources Committee

Transcript Highlights:
  • He resigned disgracefully when the public found out about his conflict of interest before the meeting
  • Touch on a few highlights, you know, the public interest of East Texas, their private and public rights
  • And that may be a public purpose. If it is a public purpose, then the state has to do it.
  • I'm glad there's public interest in this, but we have to remember that as a state, water is in places
  • And what's interesting...
Summary: The meeting of the Texas House Natural Resources Committee was focused on issues surrounding groundwater management and recent legislative developments, specifically addressing concerns over high-capacity groundwater wells. Various experts and community members provided testimony emphasizing the need for thoughtful regulation to balance conservation and property rights. The discussions highlighted the necessity for legislative action to strengthen regulations, manage groundwater sustainably, and clarify the criteria for issuing export permits. Notably, the overwhelming participation from local residents showcased the community's commitment to addressing these critical water issues, which will have long-term implications for the region's land and resources. The meeting concluded with calls for further review of groundwater regulations with the intent to come up with effective solutions that prioritize the needs of local communities while ensuring sustainable water practices.
TX

Texas 2025 - 89th Regular

Delivery of Government Efficiency Mar 12th, 2025 at 10:30 am

House Delivery of Government Efficiency Committee

Transcript Highlights:
  • Would TASB support a public audit of its finances and activities to determine how much taxpayer money
  • Do you do public solicitations as well?
  • Is that a public document or not?
  • We're having meetings in public that are noticed, providing the opportunity for the public to comment
  • PLF is a non-profit public interest law firm with 18 U.S. Supreme Court wins.
Bills: HB10, HB12, HB675
Summary: The meeting featured extensive discussions surrounding the Local Government Purchasing Cooperative, emphasizing approaches to enhance procurement processes for efficiency and cost-effectiveness. Representatives from Pearland City Council provided firsthand insights regarding their experiences with cooperative purchasing. Key topics included the complexities of contracts, the challenge of aligning with state procurement laws, and the importance of supporting local vendors through cooperative initiatives. The session also included invited testimony, exploring how the cooperative model influences municipal and educational budgets across Texas.
TX
Transcript Highlights:
  • Public testimony will be limited to two minutes.

  • Hearing none, public testimony is closed, and we will leave this bill pending at this time.
  • Hearing none, public testimony is closed, and we will leave this bill pending at this time.
  • Hearing none, public testimony is closed, and we will leave this bill pending.
  • Hearing none, public testimony is closed. We will leave this bill pending at this time.
Summary: The meeting of the Health and Human Services Committee covered a variety of bills primarily focused on health care service enhancements and legal protections for employees. A notable discussion surrounded HB50, which aims to integrate HIV testing into routine STD screenings, a topic that received unanimous backing due to its potential to reduce the transmission of the virus. There was also significant dialogue around HB2399, which requires courts to provide detailed findings when making safety determinations regarding children's placements, further ensuring transparency and clarity in decision-making processes. The committee deliberated on various aspects of health care accessibility, particularly regarding individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, as well as legislative measures to protect family services workers from damages caused in the line of duty. The session was characterized by thoughtful engagement from committee members and testimonies from various stakeholders.
TX

Texas 2025 - 89th Regular

Appropriations Feb 19th, 2025 at 10:30 am

House Appropriations Committee

Transcript Highlights:
  • status independent of public education.
  • I call it public charter and traditional public. How many students are homeschooled? We have that.
  • And, you know, our biggest job is public education.
  • In public education, it's split.
  • At that time, we could determine an annual oversubscription rate.
Summary: During this committee meeting, the focus was on discussing critical infrastructure funding, especially related to water supply and flood mitigation projects. Chairwoman Stepney and the Water Development Board presented extensive details regarding the Texas Water Fund, which included $1 billion appropriated to assist various financial programs and tackle pressing water and wastewater issues. Additionally, funding allocations aimed at compromising the state's flood risk and improving water conservation were hotly debated, emphasizing collaboration among committee members and the necessity of addressing community needs in such projects.
TX

Texas 2025 - 89th Regular

Land & Resource Management Mar 27th, 2025 at 08:00 am

House Land & Resource Management Committee

Transcript Highlights:
  • There's a lot of, you know, condemnations and interesting changes.
  • You mentioned that this cuts into the public process.
  • So it's a public process.
  • That has to be determined.
  • We proceed to public testimony. We have four witnesses.
Summary: The meeting addressed significant bills with a focus on housing and property rights, specifically discussing HB2149 and HB2559. Representative Tepper introduced HB2149, which aims to amend amortization and non-conforming land-use procedures to better protect private property rights. The bill received testimony supporting its intent to maintain a balance between property development and municipal zoning regulations. Furthermore, Representative Patterson discussed HB2559, emphasizing the need for establishing reasonable protections against development moratoriums that affect homeowners and builders, highlighting the necessity for adequate notice and a higher threshold for moratorium approvals. Both discussions prompted vigorous dialogue and engagement among committee members as well as the public, illustrating the complexities involved in balancing growth and regulation in real estate development.
TX

Texas 2025 - 89th Regular

Land & Resource Management Mar 13th, 2025 at 08:00 am

House Land & Resource Management Committee

Transcript Highlights:
  • Okay, if there are no further questions, we will proceed to public testimony.
  • We trade at the lowest interest rate.
  • public roadways.
  • Yes, it's all public.
  • Well, I'm sorry, some public...

Bills: HB23, HB363, HB447, HB954
Summary: The meeting was convened by Chairman Gates, focusing primarily on discussions of several key bills including HB363, HB954, and others pertaining to municipal utility districts (MUDs). Notably, a public testimony highlighted the need for comprehensive reform in the MUD process, emphasizing the importance of pre-petition notices to counties to ensure transparency and effective community involvement. The committee members engaged in a dialogue about the necessity of legislative measures to improve notification processes, public safety, and county jurisdiction in these developments. Representative Bell presented HB363, detailing the need for timely notifications to affected parties, which was heavily supported during the discussions.
TX

Texas 2025 - 89th Regular

S/C on Disease Prevention & Women's & Children's Health Apr 24th, 2025 at 08:04 am

House S/C on Disease Prevention & Women's & Children's Health

Summary: The committee meeting focused on addressing critical maternal health issues through discussions of two main bills, HB2140 and HB2610. Representative Simmons presented HB2140, which proposes to add two doula seats to the Texas Maternal Mortality and Morbidity Review Committee, emphasizing the importance of including diverse perspectives in discussions about maternal health. Testimony from various witnesses highlighted the positive impacts doulas can have during pregnancy and postpartum care, particularly for vulnerable populations. The bill left pending after debate reflects the committee’s commitment to enhancing maternal health outcomes in Texas.
TX

Texas 2025 - 89th Regular

Finance Apr 16th, 2025

Senate Finance Committee

Transcript Highlights:
  • With that, we will open public testimony.
  • We'll close public testimony on Senate Bill 1211.
  • We'll open public testimony.
  • They're resource only, so we'll close public testimony.
  • We'll open public testimony.
Summary: The meeting of the committee focused on several key bills including SB2873, SB2900, HJR4, SB1574, and SB2774. Senator Nichols played a prominent role in discussing and moving multiple bills forward, indicating strong bipartisan support as votes consistently showed 'aye' without any dissent in the committee. Public testimony was received during discussions of these bills, notably around HJR4, which addresses concerns from the financial sector regarding the imposition of new taxes on transactions, and SB2774, which modifies the tax definitions to better include industrial uniform rental businesses. The discussions highlighted the importance of economic implications as well as sector-specific needs and benefits, ensuring various sectors were represented in the discourse. The committee adjourned with all bills reported favorably for further consideration by the full Senate.
TX

Texas 2025 - 89th Regular

State Affairs (Part I) May 8th, 2025

Senate State Affairs Committee

Transcript Highlights:
  • Farewell, we'll open public testimony. Public testimony is now open on House Bill 4749.
  • Seeing and hearing none, public testimony is closed.
  • We'll open public testimony.
  • Seeing and hearing none, public testimony is closed.
  • It's a good safety valve to protect our interest.
Summary: The meeting held by the committee covered multiple critical bills focusing chiefly on the implications of non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) related to child sexual abuse and the prohibition of state investments in companies tied to nations deemed as threats, such as China and Russia. Debate around HB34 emphasized the necessity of protecting Texas taxpayers and maintaining national security by avoiding investments in these adversarial nations. Additionally, House Bill 748 spurred poignant reflections and testimonies from abuse survivors aiming to combat the silencing effect of NDAs on victims. The legislators expressed a consensus on the urgency of these issues, particularly the need for Trey's Law, which aims to empower survivors and diminish the influence of NDAs that shield abusers from accountability.
TX

Texas 2025 - 89th Regular

Natural Resources Mar 19th, 2025 at 08:00 am

House Natural Resources Committee

Transcript Highlights:
  • span marker="10" data-time="54"> There will be a time limit of three minutes per witness during the public
  • And is it earning interest at the rate of inflation of these projects?
  • It's earning interest based on the standard investment interest by the comptroller.
  • It is a public subdivision of the state, and they would go through the...
  • I don't think that an existing PUA would disfavor another public entity joining.
Summary: The committee meeting addressed critical water infrastructure issues, focusing primarily on H.J.R. 7 and HB 1400. Members emphasized the urgent need for dedicated funding to tackle Texas's impending water crisis, as population growth and drought significantly strain current water resources. Notable discussions included testimonies from representatives of the Environmental Defense Fund and the Texas Alliance of Groundwater Districts, who expressed strong support for these bills, underlining their importance in improving groundwater management and funding scientific approaches to water conservation. The committee highlighted the necessity of equipping groundwater conservation districts with resources to ensure robust groundwater science and research.
TX

Texas 2025 - 89th Regular

Public Health Apr 14th, 2025 at 08:04 am

House Public Health Committee

Transcript Highlights:
  • The Committee on Public Health will come to order with Dr.

  • I am the Director of Advocacy and Public Policy for LeadingAge Texas.
  • This comment is not submitted on behalf of any party or interest group.
  • And one of the things that's interesting to hear is anecdotes.
  • Public safety is what we need.
Summary: The meeting of the Committee on Public Health addressed a range of health-related bills, with significant discussions surrounding House Bill 3717, aimed at establishing a grant program for clinical trials related to Ibogaine as a treatment for opioid use disorder. Representative Harris presented the bill, which received unanimous support from the committee. Other bills, such as House Bill 3800, which seeks to create an advisory group for local workforce partnerships in education and health care, were also approved with committee substitutes, reflecting clarifications made for better implementation. The overall atmosphere was positive with members actively engaging in voting and discussion.
TX

Texas 2025 - 89th 2nd C.S.

Natural Resources Aug 21st, 2025 at 02:08 pm

House Natural Resources Committee

Transcript Highlights:
  • I was just reading that tweet, and I find it very interesting.
  • So we have a vested interest in that. That's why we're here.
  • I thought that was rather interesting—induced inflow.
  • There are competing interests—huge competing interests.
  • And so those are competing interests.
Bills: HB24, HB27
Summary: The meeting of the committee focused on House Bill 24 and House Bill 27, which pertain to groundwater management in Texas. Representative Ashby expressed appreciation for the committee's efforts and emphasized the significance of these discussions, given the ongoing concerns around groundwater conservation in East Texas. The committee engaged in detailed dialogue regarding the implications of groundwater exports and the need for scientific studies to understand the potential impacts on local water resources. House Bill 27 aims to conduct a scientific study on the aquifers, requiring a temporary moratorium on new export permits to facilitate better data-driven decision-making. Public testimony included a wide range of stakeholders who shared perspectives on the importance of maintaining a balance between urban growth and rural water needs.
TX

Texas 2025 - 89th 2nd C.S.

Senate Session (Part II) Aug 22nd, 2025

Texas Senate Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • or to determine if something is a coalition district, you have to look at racial...
  • I'm interested in the final product.
  • How did you determine, Herman, that the goal of Republican performance had been met?
  • So how did you determine that?
  • It added to compactness, which was something that came up in the public hearings.
Bills: SB2, SB5, SB9, SB7, SB17, SB4, HB4
Summary: The meeting was centered around the discussions of several legislative bills, focusing on significant amendments proposed for House Bill 4, which pertains to the election of members of the United States House of Representatives from Texas. Senator Zaffirini presented an amendment to create a bipartisan Texas Redistricting Commission to address concerns over gerrymandering and to improve the fairness of the redistricting process. The amendment sparked a lively debate among the senators, highlighting different perspectives on the implications of such a commission. Some members voiced their support while others raised concerns regarding the potential need for constitutional amendments to adopt such changes. The discussions also included testimony from Senator Gutierrez, who addressed the importance of transparency and public trust in the redistricting process, emphasizing that voters should have confidence in the electoral maps drawn by the state officials.
TX

Texas 2025 - 89th Regular

Land & Resource Management May 15th, 2025 at 08:05 am

House Land & Resource Management Committee

Transcript Highlights:
  • Then we'll proceed to public testimony. The Chair is going to call Charles Maley.
  • interest.
  • Texas Public Policy Foundation testifying for the bill, is that correct?
  • I'm a policy analyst with the Texas Public Policy Foundation.
  • the reviewer used in making that determination.
Bills: SB1708, SB2523, SB1450
Summary: The meeting involved discussions primarily around SB1450, SB2523, and SB1708. The highlight was SB1450, which seeks to streamline the review process for building permits by allowing licensed third-party professionals to conduct inspections. Testimonies from various stakeholders, including local housing advocates and property developers, indicated strong support for the bill, as it addresses the ongoing housing crisis by reducing permitting delays. Concerns were raised about the potential impact on county regulatory authority, emphasizing the need for counties to retain oversight in the review process, especially regarding flood insurance and safety regulations. The committee members showed proactive engagement in addressing amendments to the bill aimed at safeguarding public interests, while also facilitating efficient housing development.
TX

Texas 2025 - 89th Regular

Natural Resources Mar 19th, 2025 at 10:30 am

House Natural Resources Committee

Transcript Highlights:
  • Then the PUC would make a determination after evaluation.
  • Public Utility Commission, if you could please join us.
  • I'm staff with the Public Utility Commission here to serve as a.
  • Then their final determination...
  • Yeah, that's a really interesting point.
Summary: The recent committee meeting addressed various critical bills, focusing primarily on water management and flood control across Texas. Notable discussions included House Bill 1177, which proposes introducing stricter penalties for floodplain violations, aiming to deliver swift accountability for ongoing offenses. Representative Cunningham highlighted the urgency of this issue, emphasizing that current enforcement mechanisms lead to prolonged legal challenges, which can heighten flood risks for vulnerable communities. This bill sparked numerous inquiries from members, showcasing the committee's commitment to improving flood management legislation.
TX

Texas 2025 - 89th Regular

Human Services Apr 15th, 2025 at 08:04 am

House Human Services Committee

Transcript Highlights:
  • "22" data-time="126">Members, this is Representative Hickin's bill that we heard which relates to public
  • Establishing enforcement mechanisms for lack of licensure is not only a matter of public health.
  • Turner brought before us another interesting bill, and that had to do with...
  • Interesting.
  • Bus, I mean, public transportation in America is not dependable.
Summary: During this meeting of the committee, key discussions were held regarding various bills, particularly those concerning contract requirements related to the Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS). Multiple bills, such as HB4129, HB4130, and HB4131, were unanimously reported favorably without any debate, showcasing a clear consensus among members about their importance in regulating contracts with single-source continuum contractors. Notable attention was also directed towards HB3750, which pertains to reimbursement for legal expenses incurred by DFPS employees, demonstrating acknowledgment of the need to protect staff operating in complex legal environments. Public testimony was welcomed, allowing voices from the community to add value to the legislative dialogue. The meeting concluded with a commitment to continue examining the implications of these bills as they move forward in the legislative process.
TX

Texas 2025 - 89th Regular

State Affairs Apr 28th, 2025 at 11:04 am

House State Affairs Committee

Transcript Highlights:
  • , infrastructure, and public safety.
  • public safety and economic well-being.
  • And if they determine there's not a need for it, then presumably they won't put public dollars into it
  • How do you determine taxpayers' dollars?
  • How do you determine if they're illegal?
Summary: The meeting of the committee involved extensive discussions surrounding several bills focused on immigration, border security, and campaign finance reform. Notably, House Bill 1554 was presented to address the use of public funds for legal services for individuals unlawfully present in the U.S., sparking significant opposition from several witnesses who voiced concerns about racial discrimination and the implications for immigrant communities. Other key bills discussed included House Bill 4823, the Campaign Finance Transparency Act, which aims to enhance reporting processes for political contributions, and House Bill 3676, related to energy policy. The committee heard from various stakeholders, both in support of and against the proposed legislation, reflecting a diverse range of opinions on these critical issues.
TX

Texas 2025 - 89th Regular

Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence Mar 19th, 2025 at 10:30 am

House Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence Committee

Transcript Highlights:
  • And the way you determine the outcome is you use the best interest of the child.
  • State interest, provided that that interest is narrowly tailored
  • to accomplish that compelling interest.
  • No one in the public has seen this. This is the most public I have ever spoken about this as well.
  • That's interesting.
Summary: The meeting of the committee focused on various legislative proposals, with significant discussions surrounding bills aimed at enhancing legal protections for citizens and jury privacy. Notably, House Bill 1110, presented by Chairman Shaheen, addresses safeguards for citizens reporting suspicious activities, ensuring they are protected from legal repercussions when acting in good faith. There was unanimous support for HB 349, which relates to civil liabilities associated with removing individuals from vehicles, illustrating the committee's commitment to providing social protections amid rising concerns around public safety.
TX

Texas 2025 - 89th Regular

Trade, Workforce & Economic Development Mar 26th, 2025 at 08:00 am

House Trade, Workforce & Economic Development Committee

Transcript Highlights:
  • > With session, we passed HB1543, which added a notification process for the transfers located in public
  • I serve as the Associate Director of Public Policy for Texas Realtors.
  • To prevent abuse of this new opportunity, clotheslines that threaten public health or safety are located
Summary: The meeting addressed several key pieces of legislation, with significant focus on bills related to property owners' associations and the Texas Workforce Commission's training programs. Representative Harris-Navila presented HB517, which aims to allow property owners' associations to impose fines for discolored vegetation during watering restrictions. The committee adopted a community substitute for this bill before moving it forward with a recommendation for passage. Meanwhile, HB2791, highlighted by Chairwoman Button, focusses on vocational rehabilitation programs for individuals with disabilities, with provisions that require efficient operation to avoid lapses in service.

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