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Committee on Agriculture & Livestock

 

  1. Monitoring: Monitor the agencies and programs under the Committee’s jurisdiction and oversee the implementation of relevant legislation passed by the 88th Legislature. Conduct active oversight of all associated rulemaking and other governmental actions taken to ensure the intended legislative outcome of all legislation, including the following:
    • HB 1750, relating to the applicability of certain city requirements to agricultural operations; and
    • HB 2308, relating to nuisance actions and other actions against agricultural
  2. Agricultural Product Regulations: Study the notice procedures and issuance of written stop-sale orders by the Texas Department of Agriculture and the seizure and destruction of infested, infected, or noncompliant products. Make recommendations to ensure the private property interests of Texas agricultural producers are appropriately balanced with the state’s public safety interests.
  3. Foreign-Owned Agricultural Land: Examine foreign ownership of farm-, timber-, and pastureland and agricultural processing facilities in Texas to determine whether Texas industries and supply chains are adequately protected from threats and disruptions and if further safeguards and restrictions on ownership are needed.

 

Committee on Appropriations

 

  1. Monitoring: Monitor and oversee the implementation of appropriations bills and other relevant legislation passed by the 88th Legislature, including the following:
    • Implementation and impact of additional appropriations made to enhance affordability at institutions of higher education;
    • Mission-specific formula funding at health-related institutions of higher education;
    • Implementation and impact of appropriations under Article II for reimbursement rates; and
    • Programs assisting victims with crime and revenues associated with the awards. Monitor the federal revenue trends and resources available to efficiently administer timely payments to those awarded grants from the Trusteed Programs within the Office of the Governor and the Office of the Attorney General.
  2. Cross-Agency Funding Efficiencies: Examine cross-article funding streams within the Texas Education Agency, such as School Health and Related Services (SHARS), determine where overlapping programs are best fit and funded, and make policy recommendations to improve transparency and accountability between agencies.

 

Committee on Business & Industry

 

  1. Monitoring: Monitor the agencies and programs under the Committee’s jurisdiction and oversee the implementation of relevant legislation passed by the 88th Legislature. Conduct active oversight of all associated rulemaking and other governmental actions taken to ensure the intended legislative outcome of all legislation, including the following:
    • HB 4, relating to the regulation of the collection, use, processing, and treatment of consumers’ personal data by certain business entities; imposing a civil penalty.
  2. Housing Affordability: Evaluate the impact on housing prices and rent caused by institutional buyers to determine whether policy changes are needed to ensure families and individuals are not unfairly priced out of homeownership.
  3. Protections Against Fraudulent Deeds: Examine the proliferation of fraudulent deeds purporting to convey the sale or transfer of real or personal Recommend policy changes that will better protect potential victims from this illicit activity.

 

Committee on Criminal Jurisprudence

  1. Monitoring: Monitor the agencies and programs under the Committee’s jurisdiction and oversee the implementation of relevant legislation passed by the 88th Legislature. Conduct active oversight of all associated rulemaking and other governmental actions taken to ensure the intended legislative outcome of all legislation, including the following:
    • HB 17, relating to official misconduct by and removal of prosecuting
  2. Protecting Survivors Against Crimes of Abusers: Examine the shift in criminalization of children by human traffickers into other criminal enterprises, such as aggravated robbery, as well as the Texas Penal Code definition of “duress” as an affirmative defense for survivors of human trafficking and domestic violence. Make recommendations to prevent the criminalization of survivors of human trafficking and domestic violence for the crimes of their abusers.

 

Committee on Culture, Recreation & Tourism

 

  1. Monitoring: Monitor the agencies and programs under the Committee’s jurisdiction and oversee the implementation of relevant legislation passed by the 88th Legislature. Conduct active oversight of all associated rulemaking and other governmental actions taken to ensure the intended legislative outcome of all legislation, including the following:
    • HB 2719, relating to the powers of the Texas Historical Commission over historic sites in this state; and
    • SB 1648, relating to the centennial parks conservation
  2. Conservation of Texas Farm and Ranch Lands: Evaluate the purpose and effectiveness of the Texas Farm and Ranch Lands Conservation Program. Identify the trends and impacts of land fragmentation given the state’s rapid population growth and proud legacy of private land stewardship and evaluate the risks of increased foreign ownership of Texas land resulting from fragmentation. Examine the ecological and economic benefits of existing land conservation programs and the potential future role of strategic conservation initiatives to assist in the preservation of critical natural resources for the benefit of Texans in future generations.
  3. Support for Coastal Shrimping and Fishing Industries: Study the impact of excessive imports of shrimp from other countries and related trade practices on local economies, domestic shrimp populations, and public health and Identify measures to promote Texas gulf shrimp and support local fisherman and coastal communities.

 

Committee on Defense & Veterans Affairs

 

  1. Monitoring: Monitor the agencies and programs under the Committee’s jurisdiction and oversee the implementation of relevant legislation passed by the 88th Legislature. Conduct active oversight of all associated rulemaking and other governmental actions taken to ensure the intended legislative outcome of all legislation, including the following:
    • HB 90, relating to benefits for certain members of the Texas military forces and survivors of members of the Texas military forces; and
    • HB 671, relating to a veterans suicide prevention
  2. Identification and Support of Texas Veterans: Identify barriers to identifying and verification of veteran Make recommendations to improve identification efforts to better engage and support the state’s veteran populations.
  3. Professional License Portability for Military and Spouses: Evaluate compliance statewide with the Section 19 of the Veterans Auto and Education Improvement Act of 2022 (P.L. 117-333, 50 U.S.C. §4025a), concerning the portability of professional licenses of service members and spouses and make recommendations to ensure that service members and their spouses may, under appropriate circumstances, continue to practice under a license issued by another jurisdiction.
  4. Strength of Texas Military Bases: Review the federal criteria for considering and recommending base closure or realignment and evaluate the strength of Texas Military Bases under the scoring system utilized by the U.S. Department of Defense. Make recommendations to mitigate the risk of realignments or closures of military installations in Texas.

 

Committee on Elections

 

  1. Monitoring: Monitor the agencies and programs under the Committee’s jurisdiction and oversee the implementation of relevant legislation passed by the 88th Legislature. Conduct active oversight of all associated rulemaking and other governmental actions taken to ensure the intended legislative outcome of all legislation, including the following:
    • SB 1070, relating to the interstate voter registration crosscheck program; and
    • SB 1750, relating to abolishing the county elections administrator position in certain
  2. Adherence to Texas Election Laws: Evaluate the Secretary of State’s Election Audit Program’s findings and solicit information regarding emergent election issues in other counties. Make recommendations to ensure counties faithfully adhere to Texas election laws and those tasked with administering and enforcing the law receive appropriate resources and training.

 

Committee on Environmental Regulation

 

  1. Monitoring: Monitor the agencies and programs under the Committee’s jurisdiction and oversee the implementation of relevant legislation passed by the 88th Legislature. Conduct active oversight of all associated rulemaking and other governmental actions taken to ensure the intended legislative outcome of all legislation, including the following:
    • HB 3060, relating to the regulation of recycling and recycled products; and
    • HB 4885, relating to programs established and funded under the Texas emissions reduction plan.
  2. Impact of New EPA Air Quality Regulations: Evaluate and address the implications of recent EPA regulations proposed and promulgated rules to assess their collective impact on air quality in Texas. Examine the necessity for a new State Implementation Plan and explore potential legislative measures to ensure a balanced approach that promotes regulatory compliance while preserving economic vitality, especially in counties identified as at risk of violation.
  3. Texas Hydrogen Industry: Evaluate the environmental impacts of the industrial development of emerging markets for hydrogen, including production, transportation, storage, power generation, and other competitive market opportunities. Make recommendations needed to build a competitive hydrogen industry in the state.

 

Committee on Higher Education

 

  1. Monitoring: Monitor the agencies and programs under the Committee’s jurisdiction and oversee the implementation of relevant legislation passed by the 88th Legislature. Conduct active oversight of all associated rulemaking and other governmental actions taken to ensure the intended legislative outcome of all legislation, including the following:
    • HB 8, relating to public higher education, including the public junior college state finance program;
    • HB 2804, relating to use of the name, image, or likeness of a student athlete participating in an intercollegiate athletic program at an institute of higher education;
    • Legislation impacting students who are pregnant, including HB 1361, SB 412, and SB 459;
    • SB 17, relating to diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives at public institutions of higher education;
    • SB 18, relating to the tenure and employment of faculty members at certain public institutions of higher education; and
    • SB 25, relating to support for nursing-related postsecondary education, including scholarships to nursing students, loan repayment assistance to nurses and nursing faculty, and grants to nursing education programs.
  2. Strong School-to-Workforce Pipeline: Evaluate the alignment of postsecondary success incentives across PK-12 and higher education systems, as well as the tri-agency collaboration between PK-12, postsecondary education, and workforce to advance the “Building a Talent Strong Texas” goals outlined by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board.
  3. Student Athlete Compensation: Review the status of “Name, Image & Likeness” (NIL) across the state and the country. Review what, if any, action to alter NIL by the National Collegiate Athletic Association or the federal government has occurred with the goal to alter current Texas policies that may impact Texas student-athletes and institutions of higher education.

 

Committee on Homeland Security & Public Safety

  1. Monitoring: Monitor the agencies and programs under the Committee’s jurisdiction and oversee the implementation of relevant legislation passed by the 88th Legislature. Conduct active oversight of all associated rulemaking and other governmental actions taken to ensure the intended legislative outcome of all legislation, including the following:
    • HB 3290, relating to the next generation 9-1-1 service fund; and
    • SB 602, relating to the law enforcement authority of federal border patrol
  2. Firearm Purchasing Fees: Examine existing firearm purchasing and transfer Consider their efficacy and the impact of reducing or eliminating the fees.
  3. Use of Less-Lethal Devices in Law Enforcement: Study the use of less-lethal devices in law enforcement encounters, including recent incidents, and their potential to reduce the risk of death or injury to officers and suspects. Consider methods to increase the use of less-lethal devices for the safety and benefit of all parties.
  4. Communications Interoperability: Study the communications challenges of first responders and emergency Make recommendations, considering the need for a cross-agency communications upgrade or statewide interoperability plan, to increase reliable, available, and modern communications for public safety and emergency response purposes in communities across the state.

 

Committee on Human Services

 

  1. Monitoring: Monitor the agencies and programs under the Committee’s jurisdiction and oversee the implementation of relevant legislation passed by the 88th Legislature. Conduct active oversight of all associated rulemaking and other governmental actions taken to ensure the intended legislative outcome of all legislation, including the following:
    • HB 1575, relating to improving health outcomes for pregnant women; and
    • SB 24, relating to the powers and duties of the Health and Human Services Commission and the transfer to the commission of certain powers and duties from the Department of Family and Protective Services.
  2. Medicaid Contracting: Evaluate the appropriate role of the state in overseeing Medicaid managed care.
  3. Support for Texans with Intellectual Disabilities: Evaluate access to Home and Community-based Services (HCS) waivers, including the interest list, effects of inflation on the cost of services, and availability of services and service providers. Consider the long-term stability of long-term services and supports in waiver programs and consider alternative delivery models.

 

Committee on Insurance

 

  1. Monitoring: Monitor and oversee the implementation, to ensure the intended legislative outcome, of the following legislation passed by the 88th Legislature:
    • HB 1553, relating to the definition of amusement ride for purposes of amusement ride regulation; and
    • HB 2259, relating to the sale and purchase of retail fireworks

 

 

Committee on International Relations & Economic Development

 

  1. Monitoring: Monitor the agencies and programs under the Committee’s jurisdiction and oversee the implementation of relevant legislation passed by the 88th Legislature. Conduct active oversight of all associated rulemaking and other governmental actions taken to ensure the intended legislative outcome of all legislation, including the following:
    • HB 1755, relating to the creation of the Lone Star Workforce of the Future Fund; and
    • HB 4451, relating to a report by the Texas Workforce Commission regarding apprenticeship opportunities in this state for emerging and high-demand
  2. Early Childhood Education Industry: Evaluate the current state of the early childhood education industry. Review current early childhood policies and evaluate their effectiveness, including barriers to enter the Child Care Services program.

 

Committee on Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence

 

  1. Monitoring: Monitor the agencies and programs under the Committee’s jurisdiction and oversee the implementation of relevant legislation passed by the 88th Legislature. Conduct active oversight of all associated rulemaking and other governmental actions taken to ensure the intended legislative outcome of all legislation, including the following:
    • HB 19, relating to the creation of a specialty trial court to hear certain cases; authorizing fees;
    • HB 841, relating to certain judicial statistics and related information gathered by the Texas Judicial Council; and
    • HB 2384, relating to court administration, including the knowledge, efficiency, training, and transparency requirements for candidates for or holders of judicial

 

 

Committee on Juvenile Justice & Family Issues

 

  1. Monitoring: Monitor the agencies and programs under the Committee’s jurisdiction and oversee the implementation of relevant legislation passed by the 88th Legislature. Conduct active oversight of all associated rulemaking and other governmental actions taken to ensure the intended legislative outcome of all legislation.
  2. “Best Interest of Child” in Family Law: Examine the Texas Family Code definition of “best interest of a child” used in determining issues of conservatorship of and access to a child; determine whether policy changes can better protect the rights and interest of children and parents.
  3. Juvenile Justice System Outcomes: Evaluate the system for adjudicating and disposing of cases involving delinquent conduct and determine whether changes to juvenile court proceedings and improvements to the planning and funding for services to keep children in the juvenile justice system closer to home will lead to better overall outcomes for youth and public safety.

 

Committee on Land & Resource Management

 

  1. Monitoring: Monitor the agencies and programs under the Committee’s jurisdiction and oversee the implementation of relevant legislation passed by the 88th Legislature. Conduct active oversight of all associated rulemaking and other governmental actions taken to ensure the intended legislative outcome of all legislation, including the following:
    • HB 14, relating to third-party review of plats and property development plans, permits, and similar documents and the inspection of an improvement related to such a document;
    • SB 929, relating to the notices and compensation a municipality must provide before revoking the right to use property for a use that was allowed before the adoption of or change to a zoning regulation or boundary; and
    • SB 2038, relating to release of an area from a municipality’s extraterritorial jurisdiction by petition or election.
  2. Housing Affordability: Examine factors affecting housing attainability and affordability in Texas, including state and local laws impacting supply and demand for housing, barriers to construction resulting from zoning practices, and the availability and costs of housing inputs.

 

Committee on Licensing & Administrative Procedures

 

  1. Monitoring: Monitor the agencies and programs under the Committee’s jurisdiction and oversee the implementation of relevant legislation passed by the 88th Legislature. Conduct active oversight of all associated rulemaking and other governmental actions taken to ensure the intended legislative outcome of all legislation, including the following:
    • HB 1859, relating to the regulation of air conditioning and refrigeration contracting, including eligibility for an air conditioning and refrigeration technician registration or certification;
    • HB 3579, relating to the regulation of massage therapists and massage establishments by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation and political subdivisions; and
    • HB 4446, relating to certain licensing and permitting requirements for game rooms; authorizing an occupational permit or license; authorizing a fee.

 

Committee on Natural Resources

 

  1. Monitoring: Monitor the agencies and programs under the Committee’s jurisdiction and oversee the implementation of relevant legislation passed by the 88th Legislature. Conduct active oversight of all associated rulemaking and other governmental actions taken to ensure the intended legislative outcome of all legislation, including the following:
    • SB 28, relating to financial assistance provided and programs administered by the Texas Water Development Board.
  2. Water Reuse Expansion: Examine opportunities to expand the reuse of waters in Texas as an additional water supply and identify funding deficiencies for water reuse projects and regulatory impediments that make expansion of water reuse difficult in Texas.
  3. Reliability of Clean Water Access: Evaluate the causes, durations, and incidence of boil water notices issued by public water systems. Identify solutions to keep critical water infrastructure online during public water system failures and consider whether policy changes are necessary to prevent interruption to the public’s access to clean, reliable drinking water.
  4. Groundwater Infrastructure: Examine Texas groundwater data infrastructure, data collection, and monitoring practices and identify policy solutions for improvement in the areas of understanding local groundwater conditions; groundwater modeling for planning and decision-making; and resource management.

 

 

Committee on Pensions, Investments & Financial Services

 

  1. Monitoring: Monitor the agencies and programs under the Committee’s jurisdiction and oversee the implementation of relevant legislation passed by the 88th Legislature. Conduct active oversight of all associated rulemaking and other governmental actions taken to ensure the intended legislative outcome of all legislation, including the following:
    • SB 10, relating to certain benefits paid by the Teacher Retirement System of
  2. ESG: Examine the ways in which environmental, social, and governance (ESG) policies are contradictory to fiduciary duties and the resultant detrimental effect on investors.

 

Committee on Public Education

 

  1. Monitoring: Monitor the agencies and programs under the Committee’s jurisdiction and oversee the implementation of relevant legislation passed by the 88th Legislature. Conduct active oversight of all associated rulemaking and other governmental actions taken to ensure the intended legislative outcome of all legislation, including the following:
    • HB 1605, relating to instructional material and technology, the adoption of essential knowledge and skills for certain public school foundation curriculum subjects, and the extension of additional state aid to school districts for the provision of certain instructional materials; authorizing a fee;
    • HB 2209, relating to establishing the Rural Pathway Excellence Partnership (R-PEP) program and creating an allotment and outcomes bonus under the Foundation School Program to support the program; and
    • SB 2124, relating to an advanced mathematics program for public school students in middle school.
  2. Educational Opportunity: Consider issues and matters to increase educational opportunities in Texas to ensure that students and families have increased options to attend a high-quality school, regardless of Evaluate the use of education savings accounts in other states and make recommendations for a Texas program, including suggestions on eligibility and prioritization of applicants.
  3. Teacher Certifications: Examine the causes for and the impact to student outcomes of the increasing number of newly hired Texas teachers who are not certified by the State Board for Educator Certification. Make recommendations to enhance opportunities for uncertified teachers to become certified and strengthen parental rights and
  4. Early Literacy and Numeracy Outcomes: Evaluate opportunities to improve students’ foundational early literacy and numeracy outcomes in Pre-Kindergarten through the third grade. Study best practices for identifying students requiring reading and math intervention and providing evidence-based intervention strategies. Recommend changes and evaluate investments to increase the number of students achieving reading and math proficiency by the end of third grade.

 

Committee on Public Health

  1. Monitoring: Monitor the agencies and programs under the Committee’s jurisdiction and oversee the implementation of relevant legislation passed by the 88th Legislature. Conduct active oversight of all associated rulemaking and other governmental actions taken to ensure the intended legislative outcome of all legislation, including the following:
    • SB 26, relating to local mental health authority and local behavioral health authority audits and mental and behavioral health reporting, services, and programs.
  2. Responses to Mental Health Emergencies: Review and evaluate best practices of procedures for the emergency detention of a person with mental illness.
  3. Rural Access to Prenatal Care: Examine the causes contributing to the closures of obstetrics units in rural areas and the attendant effects on births and infant and maternal mortality. Make recommendations to facilitate convenient access to prenatal and obstetrical care.

 

Committee on State Affairs

 

  1. Monitoring: Monitor the agencies and programs under the Committee’s jurisdiction and oversee the implementation of relevant legislation passed by the 88th Legislature. Conduct active oversight of all associated rulemaking and other governmental actions taken to ensure the intended legislative outcome of all legislation, including the following:
    • HB 9, relating to the development and funding of broadband and telecommunications services;
    • HB 2555, relating to transmission and distribution system resiliency planning by and cost recovery for electric utilities;
    • HB 5174, relating to the establishment and administration of the Texas Semiconductor Innovation Consortium;
    • SB 1699, relating to electricity service in the ERCOT power region, including the participation of aggregated distributed energy resources in the ERCOT market; and
    • SB 2627, relating to funding mechanisms to support the construction, maintenance, modernization, and operation of electric generating facilities.
  2. Securing the Border: Conduct a review of functions and operations of state agencies involved with carrying out Operation Lone Star as they relate to securing the border and preventing transnational criminal activity. Evaluate whether agencies have sufficient resources and authority to carry out their prescribed duties. Make recommendations to increase the safety and wellbeing of personnel and efficiency of agency operations as
  3. Economic Challenges Impacting Insurance Premiums: Examine the impact of current economic challenges on the escalating costs of insurance premiums, including factors contributing to the withdrawal of insurance providers from certain markets. Investigate solutions to help Texans more easily and affordably obtain property and casualty insurance coverage. Evaluate long-term strategies for shifting from state-funded insurance programs to sustainable private market alternatives.
  4. Review TWIA Funding: Review current state policy as it relates to the operation and funding of the Texas Windstorm Insurance Association (TWIA), including state agency capacity to effectively oversee TWIA. Evaluate the ability of state agencies and

 

instrumentalities to secure the seacoast region’s ability to produce energy and advance science and technology, including the role of reinsurance in maintaining economic security and ways to reduce the burden of reinsurance purchases on energy production and scientific and technological advances, while maintaining adequate coverage for policyholders.

  1. Panhandle Wildfires: Evaluate the findings and recommendations of the Investigative Committee on the Panhandle Wildfires that are within the committee’s jurisdiction and develop related legislative solutions and other actions for preventing future wildfires and improving wildfire disaster preparedness, response, and mitigation.

 

Committee on Transportation

 

  1. Monitoring: Monitor the agencies and programs under the Committee’s jurisdiction and oversee the implementation of relevant legislation passed by the 88th Legislature. Conduct active oversight of all associated rulemaking and other governmental actions taken to ensure the intended legislative outcome of all legislation.
  2. Port Infrastructure and Maritime Industry: Study long-term needs of the maritime industry in Texas. Evaluate the implementation status of the Maritime Port Mission Plan and make recommendations to improve port planning, safety measures, and project delivery. Examine status of TxDOT seaport projects that received funding during the 88th
  3. Bridge Safety: Evaluate the current status of state-maintained bridges, existing safety standards related to bridges, and long-term financial needs for bridge planning, construction, maintenance, and inspection. Examine ways to improve bridge project
  4. Alleviating Road Traffic: Identify the state’s most congested roadways and review state forecasts for future congestion and the expected impact on economic activity. Evaluate TxDOT plans for alleviating congestion and consider the necessity of additional options to ensure economic development, congestion, and safety goals are achieved in a timely manner with reduced cost to public tax dollars.

 

Committee on Ways & Means

 

  1. Monitoring: Monitor the agencies and programs under the Committee’s jurisdiction and oversee the implementation of relevant legislation passed by the 88th Legislature. Conduct active oversight of all associated rulemaking and other governmental actions taken to ensure the intended legislative outcome of all legislation, including the following:
    • HJR 2/SB 2 (88 S2), relating to providing property tax relief through the public school finance system, exemptions, limitations on appraisals and taxes, and property tax administration; authorizing the imposition of a fee;
    • HB 5, the Texas Jobs, Energy, Technology, and Innovation Act, relating to agreements authorizing a limitation on taxable value of certain property to provide for the creation of jobs and the generation of state and local tax revenue; authorizing fees; authorizing penalties; and
    • HB 796, relating to the creation and maintenance by an appraisal district of a publicly available Internet database of information regarding protest hearings conducted by the appraisal review board established for the district.
  2. Property Tax Relief: Study and make recommendations to build on the historic property tax relief provided by the 88th Legislature, including:
    • Whether Texas’ economic performance and state tax revenues support further compression of school district tax rates;
    • Whether to extend the limitation on appraised value of certain non-homestead real property past the current expiration date of December 31, 2026;
    • Whether to maintain the homestead exemption at its current rate; and
    • Whether to further reduce the limit on appraised value of

 

Committee on Youth Health and Safety

 

  1. Monitoring: Monitor the programs under the Committee’s jurisdiction and oversee the implementation of relevant legislation passed by the 88th Legislature. Conduct active oversight of all associated rulemaking and other governmental actions taken to ensure the intended legislative outcome of all legislation, including the following:
    • HB 3, relating to measures for ensuring public school safety, including the development and implementation of purchases relating to and funding for public school safety and security requirements and the provision of safety-related resources; and
    • HB 18, relating to the protection of minors from harmful, deceptive, or unfair trade practices in connection with the use of certain digital services and electronic devices, including the use and transfer of electronic devices to students by a public school.
  2. Behavioral Health Services for At-Risk Youth: Evaluate programs and services currently available to children and families that are either involved with, or at high risk for becoming involved with, the foster care and juvenile justice systems. Study the current barriers for accessing community-based behavioral health services for children with intense behavioral health needs, with an emphasis on ensuring that parents do not have to give up custody of children to gain access to services.