[{"_1":2,"_123":-5,"_124":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100,111],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6229759,"mediaKeyId","3446499-a11f5c752fc7877d2f5855704c672fe2","parentId",3446499,"title","Bill would let local workforce boards top‑up reimbursements for high‑quality child care in low‑income areas, supporters say","audioSeconds",118,"startMs",4352000,"endMs",4470000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3446499-a11f5c752fc7877d2f5855704c672fe2&start=4352&end=4470","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3446499-a11f5c752fc7877d2f5855704c672fe2/thumbnail_4352000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6229759/Texas/Bill-would-let-local-workforce-boards-topup-reimbursements-for-highquality-child-care-in-lowincome-areas-supporters-say","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6229759-00d884f03c2020f3c5111656186cbe15/orig.mp4?Expires=1770440698&Signature=bIMGpQWBBDTT3IwTWX2WfG~pSkTVusnXLozHywSGEZgHMOpL3LBCD4tHmHfL60XBdqd9pLEPuLdxYhb~ChOEV8bFtABuIqeOtPQgAa-WY8HFqTWPhEGSJvb3H7yf-jUoGCFJn0FYMHehG0ei6FY1yvN4xV~e5aD5zGrOEomtaufAK16PNiTIdWgjOoB2a4bNxEFQ5qIhlXwKnZo9tI2EmIivFRnN-uzhvMjltZRCLgKGe76FLbKkS6d9jYGcg1RqmRrPkvvPEMSXFRbZwRXXZB~7Lm76VvOkb8fpiPK8gXS9~NuFx9-rulwBASs7rC1NDoPF~kMTeK~H92PR~Y2VxA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Texas Legislature","date","2025-05-22T00:00:00Z","article","Dean Zaffirini laid out House Bill 22,94, a bill by Representative Sophronia Thompson, which would allow local workforce development boards to reimburse Texas Rising Star (TRS) certified providers at the maximum rate for their quality level regardless of that provider’s published local market rate — provided the workforce board can do so without reducing the average number of children served under the subsidy program.

Kim Coughran, senior director of education for Children at Risk, testified in favor of the bill and told the committee her organization has tracked childcare deserts across Texas since 2017. “Today, we’ve identified over 850 childcare deserts for low‑income working families,” she said, adding that subsidies are tied to local market rates that can be much lower in poorer ZIP codes even when high‑quality providers operate there. Coughran said HB 22,94 would give local boards flexibility to pair local funds with state reimbursements to close that gap and stabilize high‑quality providers in areas that most need them.

The committee did not hear opposition testimony. After the invited witness spoke the committee closed public testimony and left the bill pending for committee consideration and potential rulemaking guidance to ensure boards can implement the change without reducing slots for subsidized children.

Committee members asked for implementation details and assurances the measure would not reduce statewide subsidy access; supporters emphasized the bill is permissive and intended to be used locally where boards have the resources to do so.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Senate Committee on State Affairs (Part I) May 22, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","House Bill 22,94 would let local workforce boards reimburse Texas Rising Star providers at the higher TRS maximum rate for their quality rating even if local market rates are low, allowing boards to pair local funds to close the gap for high‑quality providers in low‑income areas.","taxTitle","Committee on State Affairs, Senate, Legislative, Texas","taxId",16216,"location","Texas","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6229769,"Committee weighs limits on mental‑anguish claims against funeral providers; industry says lawsuits threaten small operators",1143,2696000,3839000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3446499-a11f5c752fc7877d2f5855704c672fe2&start=2696&end=3839","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3446499-a11f5c752fc7877d2f5855704c672fe2/thumbnail_2696000.jpg","/articles/6229769/Texas/Committee-weighs-limits-on-mentalanguish-claims-against-funeral-providers-industry-says-lawsuits-threaten-small-operators","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6229769-353b27b7518c9b4c6b49dce920b0860d/orig.mp4?Expires=1770440698&Signature=CQNBZC4Ny6UP30NsAiHgxDoyMleJbx0hcjIZxrv5xZBdLlbCiZ-lXUzR8FeOTym7fPXSGUx5~ALUCwdi2L5t40l58KI4SzokxQPk4YYMuFQ6suQZwrldia~0pJ4XxCyQV9lWEIFWF0pzIQXNaCxVe1FF4i2Un837oomWM1lrMwnfJ4MEU3ErwaOIkzkdeLcOCdMc1Qh88PuZE0pjvKz0xDVQI6sW4L4S3AtOzlX6NmVIeinq7MIbL473VX5drl8XTh8eGE3EbpDTQIyGBTglFgJmnodZtidKvxs4tlHb9leS3abbc2dsMyNRL70FJ9rkrLajJ6VI0GabAFiv8oHhkw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Senator Campbell explained a committee substitute to Senate Bill 20,27 that would amend the Civil Practice and Remedies Code to set standards and reasonable limitations for mental‑anguish claims related to the handling of human remains by funeral service providers. The substitute increased the statutory cap discussed in the draft from $50,000 to $250,000 and narrowed the covered claims to those meeting a heightened mental‑anguish standard, while preserving other legal remedies.

Funeral‑industry witnesses — including long‑time local funeral directors and trade organizations — urged the committee to adopt the measure to protect small, community funeral homes. Lee Parsley of Texas for Lawsuit Reform said litigation tied to a Texas Supreme Court decision (Nelson v. SCI) had created uncertainty and insurance‑cost pressure for small firms. “These funeral homes are experiencing quite a lot of litigation and it’s driving their costs and it’s hurting many of the really small local business,” Parsley told the committee.

Kristen Tipps, presiding officer of the Texas Funeral Service Commission, described funeral professionals as “last responders” and urged protections similar to those other public‑health and emergency roles receive. Tipps said the industry faces rapidly rising insurance premiums and large deductibles: the commission’s witnesses said premiums and deductibles had increased dramatically (witnesses cited deductibles increasing to as high as $150,000 and insurer retrenchment), and several small funeral homes have filed bankruptcy this year, testimony said.

The Texas Trial Lawyers Association opposed the bill. Charlie Ginn, TTLA’s vice president for legislative affairs, told senators the bill would limit remedies for families harmed by severe mishandling — including cases in which bodies had been degraded or mishandled in ways that prevented closure. “We’re not talking about the exploitation of funeral homes; we’re talking about loved ones, who in their final time and seeking closure…when they open up a casket and the body had rotted,” Ginn said, referencing recent investigations. He argued the cap and the new limitations would often be insufficient where conduct was egregious.

Other witnesses — owners of multi‑location funeral homes and commissioners — described how high insurance premiums and litigation exposure influenced business decisions and access to local funeral services. Several senators pressed for balanced language that preserves accountability for gross misconduct while limiting nuisance suits that impose unsustainable costs on small operators.

Committee members asked witnesses for data and evidence about recent alleged mishandling incidents, regulatory enforcement outcomes, and the extent to which criminal or licensing sanctions had been pursued in reported cases. Witnesses said some investigations are ongoing and offered to provide details to the committee after the hearing.

After a lengthy panel with pro and con testimony, the committee left the substitute for Senate Bill 20,27 pending. Senators asked staff and stakeholders to provide additional documentation on recent incidents, insurance trends, and the practical effects of the proposed cap and standards.","The committee considered a substitute to Senate Bill 20,27 that would set statutory standards and a cap (in the substitute, increased to $250,000) for mental‑anguish claims arising from funeral service providers’ handling of human remains.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6229774,"Senate committee debates new ‘farm winery’ permit aimed at boosting use of Texas‑grown grapes",3972,452000,4424000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3446499-a11f5c752fc7877d2f5855704c672fe2&start=452&end=4424","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3446499-a11f5c752fc7877d2f5855704c672fe2/thumbnail_452000.jpg","/articles/6229774/Texas/Senate-committee-debates-new-farm-winery-permit-aimed-at-boosting-use-of-Texasgrown-grapes","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6229774-f3e3f0fc0835526c9981afe2688b62bf/orig.mp4?Expires=1770440698&Signature=l~wvfuGiFsn7NfB4UZDi5vMErJKmWrE56T550f~n6dAyJeO2WL58RncO16Tkf-u6JX82CuIlKiOKJgoWxOwZSYQuHhfaOzDpWMjomn1uG2~4Cu8dYvYUWcjWHSE0Z2PLZ8KZhXtIsDLSh6LBvtIFJJitcyzot-fhlulGE~~BJDOIpdi2aaBzpo3pfMPCkSO5uwgDrbJSr952Txre3r~k68QTDMioIauuGxbamHQIoaRQQTGcb9M4dLcNzciDpCkS1ZXuivk2U8-0bRLfS8e6boYEu8GrEy6jBt4zLiqZTrKaI1DTE2j5rgXToTC05cUyCB-1zsCx0kYHjBqCRMlXcQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Senator Hancock presented House Bill 33,85, which would create a new optional Texas farm winery permit for wineries that use Texas‑grown fruit. Under the bill as explained at the hearing, a qualifying farm winery would need to use at least 75% Texas‑grown grapes (collectively, by varietal/production), could operate up to five additional off‑site tasting rooms without separate permits and would be eligible for a dedicated farm winery marketing assistance fund.

Matthew Cherry, senior counsel for the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission, acted as the committee’s resource witness. He said the proposal does not change operations already allowed under a standard winery permit (chapter 16), but would add a new optional authorization with additional activities tied to use of Texas fruit. “Right now under the bill, it is 75%,” Cherry told senators when asked how the threshold would be measured; he said the 75% requirement applies collectively to Texas‑grown grapes and that the bill would remove the need for additional permits for tasting rooms that otherwise would be required under current law.

Industry witnesses were divided. John Rivenberg, president of Texas Wine Growers and owner of Rivenberg Wine, strongly supported the bill, telling senators he had helped start dozens of wineries and had been involved in planting more than 1,000 acres of grapes. He said roughly 4,000 tons of Texas grapes were left unharvested or unsold last year and that increased demand driven by the permit could spur more planting and economic activity.

Several small winery owners and trade group representatives testified in opposition or urged caution. Sammy Lam, owner of Warnerless Wine Company, called the bill duplicative and “creates complexity where clarity is needed,” arguing it would impose regulatory burdens and offer a benefit (five off‑site tasting rooms) that small and emerging wineries could not absorb. Julie Herbert, president of the Texas Wine and Grape Association (TWIGA), told senators TWIGA’s board unanimously opposed the bill because it is “vague” — particularly on how to define the 75% requirement (e.g., by bottle, vintage, lot, or year) — and because it could re‑introduce permit fragmentation that a recent TABC sunset review had sought to reduce.

Supporters said the bill is modeled on farm winery permits in other states and is intended to strengthen the agricultural side of the wine industry and agritourism. Opponents pressed for clearer rulemaking standards on traceability and audits. Cherry acknowledged TABC does not currently audit grape origin for wineries and that the agency would need a new mechanism if the law required verification: “We would be looking at a new and additional types of records than what the agency is currently looking at,” he said.

Committee members pressed witnesses on market supply concerns — whether Texas grows enough grapes now for broad adoption of a 75% standard — and on the risk that larger wineries might outbid smaller ones for limited Texas fruit. Supporters said greater demand would lead to more acreage planted; opponents warned of potential short‑term price and access harms for small operators.

The committee heard a long panel of testimony for and against the proposal, including representatives of TABC, Texas Wine Growers, Messina Hof, TWIGA, and several individual wineries. After invited and public testimony, the committee left House Bill 33,85 pending for further consideration and potential amendment.

Key unresolved issues raised during the hearing included precise definition and measurement of “75% Texas‑grown,” audit and traceability procedures for grape origin, whether the specified tasting‑room privilege would create an unfair competitive advantage, and whether the bill duplicates or conflicts with TABC’s sunset recommendations.","Senator Hancock presented an optional farm winery permit that would require 75% Texas‑grown fruit for certain privileges, including up to five off‑site tasting rooms and eligibility for a marketing assistance fund.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6229779,"Senate committee hears bill to let victims sue creators of fake crowdfunding campaigns",0,1847000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3446499-a11f5c752fc7877d2f5855704c672fe2&start=1847&end=1847","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3446499-a11f5c752fc7877d2f5855704c672fe2/thumbnail_1847000.jpg","/articles/6229779/Texas/Senate-committee-hears-bill-to-let-victims-sue-creators-of-fake-crowdfunding-campaigns","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6229779-6f8a04ee78ce9ffac1a6223d0a177e24/orig.mp4?Expires=1770440698&Signature=nhmSkVMlpqvQyFqpzPbupw1UmDxUGXcOStcSE82jvptLQ7LGWDn4c-CxGNJYH7o1DY24qLhR8Oms2KrMDRSMFQqdvchoT6cu7eUYiMenSbf8sDWTMoZwBTnDHOf-ob79yxuZJmJNWcqJ-RcJP9B1YQnGuzLHjkK-EjIVTgl~rwpWWeEe7mynPV0B8hDTZDbrru-bIwdMvkXEl6~YdojcKtqyPtjIYWE9DubJsu~iqjcF9zxJmUiUMAKnB90RF5q320E1ZhmdhbTToO4Mn9o9gMbmF2wMoVhLBqDPxpSu-agGZ5R3fmkolCRXocgFvEGqJmecA-sWB66QV3ShLep0bA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Senator Richard Hancock laid out House Bill 4,281 to the Senate Committee on State Affairs, saying the measure would allow individuals or the state to pursue people who set up fake crowdfunding campaigns and give victims a way to recover money taken from those campaigns.

Melanie Dowell, whose family’s experience in late 2023 motivated the bill, told the committee that while her twin sister, Lauren Muckleroy, survived a crash that killed her husband and two children, strangers created GoFundMe pages using the family’s photos and the wrong spelling of a child’s name to solicit donations. “It is truly unbelievable that someone could use another’s pain and suffering to falsely enrich themselves,” Dowell said. She asked senators to pass the bill so future families would not face similar harms.

Senator Hancock said the bill would provide a financial remedy and incentive to pursue culprits in cases that have been hard to police. “Because of the financial piece of it, this does provide an incentive to actually go after these people where I think typically … there’s not much you can do about it at this point,” Hancock said.

Committee members questioned whether existing criminal laws already apply and whether prosecutors could pursue these acts as fraud. The committee’s attorney and members discussed criminal remedies but also acknowledged civil recovery could provide an additional path for victims.

The chair opened and closed public testimony after Dowell’s remarks; no other witnesses spoke. The committee left the bill pending for further consideration.

The hearing focused on the bill’s civil-remedy provisions and on whether the provision that lets victims recover 25% of fraudulently collected donations is appropriate and enforceable. The committee did not vote on the measure during the hearing.

The measure will return to committee for further review and possible amendment; no formal action was adopted at the hearing.","Senators heard testimony on House Bill 4,281, sponsored in the Senate by Sen. Hancock, which would let people or the state pursue operators of fraudulent crowdfunding campaigns and allow victims to recover 25% of funds taken. A family that experienced a GoFundMe scam testified; the committee left the bill pending.",{"_33":112,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":113,"_41":114,"_43":115,"_45":116,"_47":117,"_49":118,"_51":119,"_53":120,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":121,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":122,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6229764,"Senate committee considers sworn statements, documentation to limit misuse of curbside voting",1397,4836000,6233000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3446499-a11f5c752fc7877d2f5855704c672fe2&start=4836&end=6233","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3446499-a11f5c752fc7877d2f5855704c672fe2/thumbnail_4836000.jpg","/articles/6229764/Texas/Senate-committee-considers-sworn-statements-documentation-to-limit-misuse-of-curbside-voting","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6229764-9c9bad52d3fcd4e536e8ae4cc43c5978/orig.mp4?Expires=1770440698&Signature=V7UGnsGsHwKMPIptgRj9lwgPC-rrC09yrkD7gJzE0nJDCL8~EDlMrQucaQ0Fw8ATAUo0NW8i96edGUj8-rMgvATrgN6LbEyldYCNkVqEy4iNOzPLZDuwDOlH10ewVpz~6lfv~gN2XGZfrb5TKVECEu2bRkL1B7UMtwe12W5YzAcD33u7GwaKJGgFhQEEUbrNlPZ314q~UVAyLg1djfnriYRGu9E89xVu5CTAxzeQu8WzJcJrp2fJ3PaIGHnt48Bw8IVgs6cCq7oNBOIERa3rnUlcHdQ5hsgyG6Uo-r2W1VksV2BPC01CeaOZf~HBcgpy3r5x-S55yI9rFHjuuVNM8A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Senator Bryan Paxton presented House Bill 5,21 to the Committee on State Affairs. The bill would require a voter who requests to vote curbside to complete a sworn statement — under penalty of perjury — affirming they are physically unable to enter the polling place without assistance or risk of injury. The statement would be submitted to the secretary of state and made available for review by the attorney general.

The bill also clarifies that an election officer who delivers a ballot to a curbside voter may not assist in marking that voter’s ballot unless a second election officer is present, mirroring inside‑polling‑place rules. In addition, the bill would require anyone who transports seven or more curbside voters during early voting or on election day to file a report with the secretary of state identifying themselves, their address, and the type of assistance provided; a failure to file that report knowingly would be a class A misdemeanor.

Sponsor Paxton said the reforms preserve access for voters with disabilities while preventing misuse of curbside voting and unfair shortcuts that can delay or displace voters who truly need in‑car assistance. “While current law allows for curbside voting, gaps in the process have led to inconsistencies and inefficiencies, and in some cases, concerns about election security,” Paxton said.

Opponents warned that the additional affidavits and paperwork could intimidate or deter eligible curbside voters and add burdens to poll workers. Dr. Susanna Carranza, who said she works the polls, testified in opposition: “It can be intimidating and prevent folks who really need it,” she told the committee. She said extra paperwork may make poll workers’ jobs harder and discourage use by voters who need the accommodation.

Supporters said the measure simply documents who is using the accommodation and prevents organized—or opportunistic—misuse, for example people asking for curbside ballots for convenience or to cut lines. Ed Johnson, representing a ballot‑security group, said the form would not be burdensome and would protect genuinely disabled voters from being displaced by convenience uses.

Committee members asked clarifying questions about caregivers and custodians (for example, where one spouse needs curbside assistance and the other does not) and discussed how enforcement would operate in practice. The committee left the bill pending for further consideration.","House Bill 5,21 would require curbside voters to submit a sworn statement under penalty of perjury and require certain assistants who transport seven or more curbside voters to file forms; supporters say it protects access for disabled voters from misuse, opponents say it creates burdens and may deter eligible voters.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Bill would let local workforce boards top‑up reimbursements for high‑quality child care in low‑income areas, supporters say

Committee weighs limits on mental‑anguish claims against funeral providers; industry says lawsuits threaten small operators

Senate committee debates new ‘farm winery’ permit aimed at boosting use of Texas‑grown grapes

Senate committee hears bill to let victims sue creators of fake crowdfunding campaigns

Senate committee considers sworn statements, documentation to limit misuse of curbside voting