Today's Committee Meetings on the LRL website is a calendar of interim committee hearings with links to agendas. Below are resources related to upcoming Interim Hearings.
November 10, 2022
House Committee on Criminal Jurisprudence CANCELED
Monitor the agencies and programs under the Committee’s jurisdiction and oversee the implementation of relevant legislation passed by the 87th 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 1540, which implements various changes to state law based on recommendations of the Texas Human Trafficking Prevention Task Force.
Additionally, the Committee will conduct oversight of the following legislation:
- HB 569 – relating to credit toward payment of a fine and costs for certain misdemeanants confined in jail or prison before sentencing.
- HB 1005 – relating to the requisites of a bail bond given by certain defendants and to conditions of release on bond for certain defendants.
- SB 111 – relating to certain duties of law enforcement agencies concerning certain information subject to disclosure to a defendant.
- SB 162 – relating to a false statement made to illegally acquire a firearm; creating a criminal offense.
- SB 768 – relating to increasing the criminal penalties for manufacture or delivery of fentanyl and related substances; creating a criminal offense.
- SB 1125 – relating to the disposition of certain controlled substance property and plants seized by or forfeited to a law enforcement agency.
- SB 1354 – relating to the prosecution of the offense of injury to a child, elderly individual, or disabled individual.
Charge: Examine ways to increase the rate of compliance for court-ordered appearances, including new technologies that will facilitate contact with those ordered to appear. Consider the effectiveness of virtual appearances for certain offenses.
- State Courts' Embrace of Technology: What We Know So Far, National Conference of State Legislatures, January 19, 2022
- The Use of Remote Hearings in Texas State Courts: The Impact on Judicial Workload, National Center for State Courts, December 2021
- Remote Court, Council of State Governments, 2021
- Jury Trials During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Observations and Recommendations, Office of Court Administration, August 28, 2020
- Appearance Rates, Coronavirus and the Courts, National Center for State Courts
- COVID-19 Emergency Orders, Texas Supreme Court
November 14, 2022
House Committee on Natural Resources (Weslaco)
The committee will meet to take testimony on issues regarding the Hidalgo County Water Improvement District No. 3 as they relate to both the introduced and passed versions of SB 2185.
November 15, 2022
Senate Committee on Border Security
Charge: Community Impact: Study and report on the impact of Operation Lone Star on border, rural, and urban communities throughout Texas.
- Interim Hearings – Week of October 3, 2022, October 3 – House Committee on Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence and House Committee on Juvenile Justice & Family Issues (Joint Hearing), Legislative Reference Library, September 28, 2022
- Interim Hearings – Week of August 8, 2022, August 10 – Senate Committee on Border Security, Legislative Reference Library, August 3, 2022
- Interim Hearings – Week of July 11, 2022, July 12 – Senate Committee on Finance, Legislative Reference Library, July 7, 2022
- Interim Hearings – Week of April 25, 2022, April 27 – House Committees on Defense & Veterans' Affairs and Homeland Security & Public Safety (Joint Hearing), Legislative Reference Library, April 21, 2022
- Interim Hearings – Week of May 1, 2022, May 3 – House Committee on Homeland Security & Public Safety, Legislative Reference Library, April 27, 2022
- Interim Hearings – Week of March 7, 2022, March 8 – Senate Committee on Border Security, Legislative Reference Library, March 7, 2022
November 16, 2022
Senate Committee on Water, Agriculture & Rural Affairs
Charge: Groundwater Management and Protection: Evaluate the status and effectiveness of the State's groundwater management process, including data used to support regional water planning and conservation goals. Report on the effectiveness of the State's groundwater protection efforts and whether statutory changes are needed to protect groundwater quality.
- Joint Groundwater Monitoring and Contamination Report, 2021, Texas Groundwater Protection Committee, July 2022
- Texas Water Development Board, State Water Implementation Fund for Texas Advisory Committee: Staff Report with Commission Decisions, Sunset Advisory Commission, July 2022
- Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, Texas Low-Level Radioactive Waste Disposal Compact Commission: Staff Report, Sunset Advisory Commission, May 2022
- Groundwater Assessment: 2022 State of Texas Water Quality Inventory, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, April 2022
- Groundwater Withdrawals Associated with Oil and Gas Production from Water Supply Aquifers in Texas: Implications for Water Management Practices, Texas Water Journal, December 13, 2021
- TCEQ Sunset Self-Evaluation Report (Office of Water: Water Rights Permitting Program, Groundwater Program), Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, September 2021
- Texas Water Development Board Self-Evaluation Report (VII. Guide to Programs: Water Science and Conservation - Conservation, Innovative Water Technologies, Groundwater; IX. Major Issues - 3. Desired Future Conditions and Modeled Available Groundwater in Groundwater Management Plans), Texas Water Development Board, September 1, 2021
- Activities and Recommendations of the Texas Groundwater Protection Committee: Report to the 87th Legislature and Priority Groundwater Management Areas and Groundwater Conservation Districts: Report to the 87th Texas Legislature, Texas Groundwater Protection Committee, January 2021
- Progress Made in Water Conservation in Texas: Report and Recommendations to the 87th Texas Legislature, Water Conservation Advisory Council, December 1, 2020
Charge: Monitoring: Monitor the implementation of legislation addressed by the Senate Committee on Water, Agriculture, and Rural Affairs passed by the 87th Legislature, as well as relevant agencies and programs under the committee's jurisdiction. Specifically, make recommendations for any legislation needed to improve, enhance, or complete implementation of the following:
- Senate Bill 8 (86th Legislature), Relating to state and regional flood planning;
- Senate Bill 601 (87th Legislature), Relating to the creation and activities of the Texas Produced Water Consortium;
- Senate Bill 905 (87th Legislature), Relating to guidance on the regulations applicable to the potable reuse of wastewater; and
- House Bill 3516 (87th Legislature), Relating to the regulation of the recycling of fluid oil and gas waste.
November 17, 2022
Senate Committee on Business & Commerce
Charge: Electricity: Assess the electricity market in Texas. Study issues impacting the Texas electric grid, including transmission planning and maintenance scheduling. Study the consequences of increased electric vehicle usage and charging on the generation, transmission and distribution, and retail sectors of Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) and evaluate their potential impact on increased electric demand and reliability of the grid. Examine the growth of renewable energy generation in the state and evaluate its impact on grid reliability. Make recommendations to strengthen the reliability of the grid, and meet the future generation needs of ERCOT through new and existing dispatchable generation. Assess plans to expeditiously add new dispatchable generation. Monitor the implementation of Senate Bill 2 and Senate Bill 3, 87th Legislature.
- Assessment of Market Reform Options to Enhance Reliability of the ERCOT System (Project No. 52373, Review of Wholesale Market Design), Prepared for the Public Utility Commission of Texas, Energy+Environmental Economics, November 10, 2022
- Severe Cold Weather Events & Critical Infrastructure in Texas (Links to resources on the response of ERCOT, the PUC, and other state and federal agencies), Legislative Reference Library, February 17, 2022
- Mapping Report, Texas Electricity Supply Chain Security and Mapping Committee, January 2022
- Memorandum, Project No. 52373, Review of Wholesale Market Design (Phase II Blueprint), Public Utility Commission of Texas, December 6, 2021
- Filings for 52373: Review of Wholesale Electric Market Design, PUC Interchange Filer, Public Utility Commission of Texas
Charge: Blockchain and Virtual Currencies: Study current state and federal regulations surrounding blockchain and virtual currencies. Examine how these technologies impact industries such as banking, business, and electricity. Make recommendations to protect consumers while encouraging innovation. Monitor the implementation of House Bill 1576 and House Bill 4474, 87th Legislature.
- Cryptocurrency in Texas: Opportunities and Challenges in Mining Digital Coins, Fiscal Notes, Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts, August 2022
- A Cryptocurrency Primer, Fiscal Notes, Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts, August 2022
- Blockchain: Novel Provenance Applications, Congressional Research Service, April 12, 2022
- Blockchain: Emerging Technology Offers Benefits for Some Applications but Faces Challenges, U.S. Government Accountability Office, March 23, 2022
- Central Bank Digital Currencies: Policy Issues, Congressional Research Service, updated February 7, 2022
- Legislator's Toolkit for Blockchain Technology: Texas Edition, Chamber of Digital Commerce, Texas Blockchain Council, December 2020
- Cambridge Bitcoin Electricity Consumption Index, University of Cambridge
Senate Committee on Natural Resources & Economic Development
Charge: Economic Development Programs: Review the programs in Chapters 380 and 381 of the Local Government Code. Consider the benefits of each program in generating economic development. Make recommendations for improvements to Chapters 380 and 381 to increase transparency and accountability and the effectiveness of the programs.
- Database Tracks Local Gov Spending on Corporate Tax Incentives, Government Technology, August 22, 2022
- Texas Business Incentives & Programs Overview (Chapter 380 / 381 Economic Development Agreements), Office of the Governor, revised April 2021
- Employment Impact of Local Economic Development Incentives: The Case of Texas Economic Development Corporations, Economics Bulletin, July 23, 2019
- Chapter 380/381 Economic Development Agreements, Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts
- Chapter 380/381 Economic Development Agreements Online Public Search Reporting, Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts
- Economic Development Directory - Texas, U.S. Economic Development Administration
Charge: Hotel Occupancy Taxes: Study the collection and use of hotel occupancy taxes. Evaluate and make recommendations related to the effectiveness, costs of rebates, incentives, and other taxes applied to qualified hotel and convention center projects. Investigate and determine whether the creation of a standard Hotel Occupancy Tax legislative template is feasible, and whether it would enable the legislature to more efficiently evaluate proposed Hotel Occupancy Tax bills during the legislative session.
- Interim Report to the 87th Texas Legislature (Charge 1.3 - Implementation Monitoring: H.B. 4347, 86th R.S.), House Committee on Ways and Means, January 2021
- Interim Report to the 86th Legislature (Charge 1 - Hotel Occupancy Taxes), Senate Committee on Natural Resources and Economic Development, December 2018
- Hotel Occupancy Tax, Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts
Charge: Monitoring: Monitor the implementation of legislation addressed by the Senate Committee on Natural Resources and Economic Development passed by the 87th Legislature, as well as relevant agencies and programs under the committee's jurisdiction. Specifically, make recommendations for any legislation needed to improve, enhance, or complete implementation of the following:
- Senate Bill 13, Relating to state contracts with and investments in certain companies that boycott energy companies.
