Below is a spotlight on legislative interim hearings posted to date for the month of February. For up-to-date hearing postings, visit the HillCo Legislative News page.
On February 2:
The House Committee on Natural Resources will meet to evaluate the state of water markets in Texas; examine opportunities for incentives from areas receiving water supplies to areas providing those supplies; examine the regional and state water planning process; and conduct certain legislative oversight & monitor certain agencies and programs.
On February 3:
The Senate Committee on Intergovernmental Relations will meet to hear invited and public testimony on natural disaster preparedness planning and coordination as it pertains to Hurricane Dolly disaster recovery related efforts.
The House Committee on Energy Resources will meet to hear invited testimony on the impacts of the declining price of oil and the continuously depressed price of natural gas; examine oilfield theft; and conduct certain legislative oversight & monitor certain agencies and programs.
On February 9:
The House Committee on Corrections will meet to consider the incarceration rates and costs for non-violent drug offense and identify alternative to incarceration and study the inmate release policies at the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.
The House Committee on Natural Resources – Subcommittee on Private Property Rights in Water will meet to hear invited testimony examining how to supply water while respecting private property rights of individual owners.
The House Committee on Public Education will meet to review the state’s current education policies and initiatives regarding middle grades and review current public education programs that address the needs of high performing students.
On February 10:
The Senate Committee on Education will meet to hear public and invited testimony on implementation of certain legislation, specifically, program to require the placement and use of video cameras in self-contained classrooms or other settings providing special education services to students & legislation to address training support for counselors and advising courses for middle school student; and a local briefing on English Language Learning.
The House Committee on Correction will meet to study recidivism and examine re-entry programs.
The House Committee on Public Health will meet to study and assess the state’s preparedness for public health threats and emergencies and examine the history of telemedicine in Texas and the adequacy of the technological infrastructure for use between Texas healthcare providers.
On February 11:
The Senate Select Committee on Property Tax Reform & Relief will meet to study potential improvements to the property tax process and options to reduce the tax burden on property owners.
The House Committee on Higher Education will meet to review the state’s community college system and study ways community colleges could offer accessible and affordable baccalaureate degree programs in certain areas where the state.
On February 17:
The Senate Committee on State Affairs will meet to examine measures to affirm 1st Amendment religious liberty protection in Texas.
On February 18:
The Senate Committee on Health and Human Services will study and make recommendations on innovative methods and best practices to promote health agency, improve quality and oversight in long-term care settings, and examine the cause of action known as “wrongful birth.”
The Senate Committee on State Affairs will meet to examine the need to adjust Texas judicial salaries, study and recommend whether Texas should delink legislators’ retirement annuities from district judge salaries, and examine the effect of eliminating straight-party voting for judicial candidates.
The House Select Committee on Mental Health will meet to hear invited testimony only.