[{"_1":2,"_112":-5,"_113":-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],{"_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",6226331,"mediaKeyId","3511832-20819a91fa6cd9ccc471c814a9e4e5c4","parentId",3511832,"title","Senate advances bill requiring Parks and Wildlife review for very tall structures in counties with national wildlife refuges","audioSeconds",514,"startMs",6366000,"endMs",6880000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3511832-20819a91fa6cd9ccc471c814a9e4e5c4&start=6366&end=6880","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3511832-20819a91fa6cd9ccc471c814a9e4e5c4/thumbnail_6366000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6226331/Texas/Senate-advances-bill-requiring-Parks-and-Wildlife-review-for-very-tall-structures-in-counties-with-national-wildlife-refuges","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6226331-eb7bb470384eea391f96f7cd7aac5791/orig.mp4?Expires=1770932145&Signature=aeJrA-GJrGblXpjnWbWZBgCmyJqbzVlu8NuFCR0nKU4LO39xtf3OVJH91vuFSJTaMbY2p3PAA14aCt9Odb3KM9LYzxJGlNdwPmcFz7oIKlfuHnoXfRwxZtgr8FSEXo6PEC~2tOf-irkllCxMLXbScMDHSf2t1RbkamX7YV93uSAqTgfQJktj5R1u7BOc5ICpACRL1WIpXPJfD1cnTCXgGuazuAB6Zou7znH5KSL3wabzFSFrDoUTM-eM24QKchcvzsUZyQMB27FhZ0CTJ7~tyZwQio7R3JHIQmT~Snuccc6vkaYKv7~83z2bVwIEBbE1RB1h3tYhAuVrF~Yw-PrXUQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Texas Legislature","date","2025-05-25T00:00:00Z","article","Senator Middleton brought Committee Substitute for House Bill 3,556 to the floor to require advance notice to Texas Parks and Wildlife before construction of structures exceeding a specified height (500 feet) in counties that contain national wildlife refuges along the Texas Gulf Coast.

Under the floor posture described by Middleton, a person proposing such a structure must notify Parks and Wildlife 90 days before construction; Parks and Wildlife has 45 days to review impacts and propose mitigation measures. If the proposer declines the department’s mitigation measures, the proposer may submit alternative mitigation; after receiving alternative mitigation measures Parks and Wildlife must issue a final decision and, if the parties cannot agree, the requester is entitled to an administrative hearing. A floor amendment was adopted that removed an injunctive‑relief provision and clarified the timing for a final decision and hearing rights.

Senator Eckhardt questioned the author on the scope and relative scale of bird mortality from wind turbines versus other causes; during the colloquy members cited a range of estimates for bird deaths from wind energy in Texas (the sponsor referenced an estimate \"somewhere between 50,000 to 300,000\" annually) and compared that against other causes such as window strikes (a figure of \"600,000,000 bird strikes on windows\" was referenced in floor colloquy). The bill's author said the measure applies to counties on the Texas Gulf Coast and would not apply to urban centers.

The Senate adopted the amendment and passed the committee substitute on third reading; the roll was recorded at \"21 ayes, 10 nays\" on the third‑reading vote. The transcript stops short of recording a final passage vote on the bill in this sitting.

Why it matters: The bill creates a process for early review of proposed very tall structures in sensitive coastal bird migratory corridors and prescribes a structured mitigation and review timeline intended to reduce bird mortality risks near refuges.

Next steps: The bill passed third reading; proponents and opponents flagged scientific and comparative data questions on bird mortality and on whether mitigation measures proposed by Parks and Wildlife will be binding or advisory.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Senate Session (Part III) May 25, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Senate passed a committee substitute of House Bill 3,556 on third reading to require Texas Parks and Wildlife review of proposed structures over 500 feet in certain coastal counties with national wildlife refuges, after adopting an amendment that removed injunctive relief and set timelines for final decisions and hearings.","taxTitle","Senate, Legislative, Texas","taxId",16215,"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},6226336,"Senate passes bill creating Quad Agency Child Care Initiative to reduce regulatory overlap among childcare agencies",399,5581000,5980000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3511832-20819a91fa6cd9ccc471c814a9e4e5c4&start=5581&end=5980","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3511832-20819a91fa6cd9ccc471c814a9e4e5c4/thumbnail_5581000.jpg","/articles/6226336/Texas/Senate-passes-bill-creating-Quad-Agency-Child-Care-Initiative-to-reduce-regulatory-overlap-among-childcare-agencies","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6226336-e645dc0ac60206efa8bccec4fca4f50b/orig.mp4?Expires=1770932145&Signature=ENSNQzcsG8offWxiqB1zXhmRIh0-FUGOL-C8Wx0dT37gC~3eYhI2e1usb6fvj1fd8yc90TPjZgj4YcsXZvv8RTEVuCB-jQt2femmpM0~9kvfutTSXcynbVK~FkYWMsa7xeOH2PmDC69BEg0SFj5ShM~g6zqFZ~Wcp4CYlG7nYTKAQuV9O3djKAYfFBE6MupBrxo-RImMUTgtfFhLGZf~DLoSe0V9TEJvRTzIY~Zn4xAVRUDq~o~OdhBEPcBwqv3I0pXwJrwbXtAKPZP-lp5e47KdkpcRPiEkKUhA7MNTsWzacSiSWxNhTTkVFPV~mIRjETpW0k0~y-WCCzsHZGTxdg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Senator Birdwell moved and the Senate adopted House Bill 49 03 to create the Quad Agency Child Care Initiative, a collaborative structure intended to reduce duplicative regulation across the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC), Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC), Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS), and the Texas Education Agency (TEA).

Senator Birdwell said the quad agency is not a new state agency but an interagency effort chaired by TWC and intended to operate within existing agency resources. The bill (as amended on the floor) requires the quad agency to make recommendations, coordinate with the Texas Regulatory Efficiency Office (TREO), and submit reports to the governor within 30 days of each meeting; TREO can render final determinations when the quad agency cannot reach a resolution.

The floor amendment clarified that the quad agency must post review requests that are actually granted and removed expedited review language; it also allowed commissioners to appoint designees to serve on the commission. Senator Birdwell said the amendment aligns the quad agency’s authority and timelines with the recently created TREO and governor’s office guidance.

The Senate recorded a final passage vote; the transcript shows the roll as \"30 ayes and 1 nay,\" and the bill was reported finally passed on the floor during this sitting.

Why it matters: HB 49 03 centralizes interagency collaboration on childcare regulation across the four primary agencies that shape licensing, funding and program standards. Supporters said the change will reduce duplicative oversight that can increase costs and complexity for childcare providers.

Implementation: The bill requires reporting by the quad agency and coordination with TREO; participating agencies must comply with TREO determinations when TREO finds a regulation inconsistent with quad agency objectives.","The Senate approved House Bill 49 03 to create the Quad Agency Child Care Initiative, a cross‑agency commission to identify and resolve duplicative or conflicting childcare regulations across TWC, HHSC, DFPS and TEA.",{"_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},6226341,"Senate approves bill to create comptroller‑administered database of local taxing‑unit bond, tax and project information",500,2966000,3466000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3511832-20819a91fa6cd9ccc471c814a9e4e5c4&start=2966&end=3466","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3511832-20819a91fa6cd9ccc471c814a9e4e5c4/thumbnail_2966000.jpg","/articles/6226341/Texas/Senate-approves-bill-to-create-comptrolleradministered-database-of-local-taxingunit-bond-tax-and-project-information","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6226341-1dd5ad51318b56fbde7f300b67a9cb75/orig.mp4?Expires=1770932145&Signature=LIavHBMA4hXUlLkehN33-k85NcMxvR8p3HWx71XKkyPwbWHsrrIgTUEiyHF9Ztc3-XuLFTUTkODqivddZEs4zjU8SjSdiso5cJZimWVcXwhx63ZIIGD6eGaqNPkaK86CQJc3HuSHvRQF1n3hfDmZThJz0E-Mrl52mb2cmZSWEiHl5eBkAN2dTq95j8cwxlKLl0KPNZwfuui59dA1wUWqqXcJszR9tsSHqcvRfwWuoBCw9nwTzhWNpAQhJkG-BhSotXzOI13-DqfU7RnXC6~JY92DGP13TZ0o98-M-qsEcN7ZUiFtBOstaFTEOr2nJF4HzKmcd44OqX4AUCcDmIzIcg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Senator Bettencourt described House Bill 1 03 as \"creating and maintenance of a database of taxing unit bond tax and bond related project information\" to provide taxpayers with clearer, statewide data on local bond elections, ballot language, and projected tax impacts.

Senator Bettencourt said the fiscal note estimated implementation at about $1,600,000 for the biennium and that the office of the Texas Bond Review Board already collects much of the underlying information; the bill requires the comptroller to coordinate with the Bond Review Board and TEA to implement a single, standardized data‑entry method for taxing units.

Senator Eckhardt asked whether the bill covers state debt; Bettencourt answered that the measure focuses on debt that affects property tax bills and that the bond review board would share data with the comptroller rather than have the comptroller duplicate data collection. Bettencourt said the bill as written would cover local debt and that a floor amendment was offered to require the comptroller to consult and coordinate with the Bond Review Board and TEA on a single form for data submission.

The Senate adopted the speaker’s technical floor amendment and then passed the bill. During the suspension vote the secretary recorded \"29 ayes and 2 nays\"; the secretary later called the roll on final passage and the bill was reported as finally passed on the Senate floor during this sitting.

Why it matters: The measure centralizes public information about local bond elections and obligations that can influence property tax bills, aiming to make projected tax impacts and ballot language more accessible to taxpayers.

Next steps: The bill requires implementation work at the comptroller’s office, including coordination with the Bond Review Board and TEA on a single submission method for taxing units.","The Senate passed House Bill 1 03 to require the comptroller to create and maintain a public database with bond, tax and project information for taxing units; sponsors said the database aims to increase transparency about local debt and projected tax impacts.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6226346,"Senate debate over allowing universities to sign NIL agreements with prospective students ends when sponsor withdraws motion",1288,3677000,4965000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3511832-20819a91fa6cd9ccc471c814a9e4e5c4&start=3677&end=4965","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3511832-20819a91fa6cd9ccc471c814a9e4e5c4/thumbnail_3677000.jpg","/articles/6226346/Texas/Senate-debate-over-allowing-universities-to-sign-NIL-agreements-with-prospective-students-ends-when-sponsor-withdraws-motion","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6226346-790b313f5b14b289b49209a5182eb95a/orig.mp4?Expires=1770932145&Signature=aUWktyFUp7IPDlWp5Ao-Sc38LZ6yuYPXpaABfs5LhPeEa0Qm-OsYG0~zioRtJTd33Vw1sjvAaO0G~zNygTzamWI~hdBAiIj5jEDlfxQM~oVbZeyO4ghqJede5sUIwn3k8E8XbpeeYgjqX2d-4ZPejckf1Y5BRNa-AXQItLsXlnL1b2NzGWw5kFEkKhoCh28b1xtOXb9ww8Nr7onDiGzkuS8mvo-Oz-L~n--9A9TZQLqxDXS6OKC~aS0~XGL2~TGIQw5KSr-TzuOvcq00FUItq49EsLlvmOR5nj~Rc9p3ZRsjhp-z7knXDcgGpdH4afK4RHwWZMlVB1EVJhxqV4HxMg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Texas Senate spent more than an hour debating House Bill 1 26, a proposal by Rep. (filed as HB 126) to change state law to allow universities to enter name, image and likeness agreements with prospective student‑athletes, including agreements that could be made while the athlete is in middle or high school.

Senator Creighton, the bill’s sponsor on the floor, told colleagues the change \"updates the name, image, and likeness, NIL law in Texas to keep our university athletic programs competitive in light of expected changes to the NCAA rules.\" He said the bill would allow universities to \"enter NIL agreements with student athletes, permitting those agreements to be offered before a student enrolls, and giving universities the flexibility to comply with future NCAA or conference rules.\"

Members pushed back on several fronts. Senator West and Senator Colchorus pressed Creighton about middle‑school and high‑school students, asking whether the bill would let agents or universities solicit or lock in deals with children. Creighton answered that agreements could be negotiated earlier but that \"neither of those individuals could receive any dollars until they're enrolled in the university and actually part of the program.\" Senator Colchorus expressed broader concern about agents approaching pre‑college children and the effect on amateur athletics.

Senators also discussed the relationship between state law, pending court settlements involving the NCAA and the University athletic landscape, and UIL rules. Creighton warned that court settlements expected after the session could change the legal landscape and said the bill was intended to align Texas law with those anticipated outcomes so Texas programs would not be excluded from new national practices.

After extended floor colloquy and multiple questions from colleagues, Senator Creighton withdrew his motion to proceed on the bill. \"We’re gonna continue to work on this legislation ... For that, I withdraw my motion,\" he said. Because the sponsor withdrew the motion, the Senate did not take further action on HB 126 during the session record contained here.

Why it matters: The bill touches recruiting and compensation practices for college athletics and raises questions about the protections for minors, the role of UIL and NCAA rules, and whether state law should anticipate or defer to pending federal court settlements and national governing bodies.

Looking ahead: The sponsor said he intends to continue work with members and stakeholders; no vote or amendment that changed substantive policy was adopted on the floor during this sitting.","Senator Creighton led an extended floor discussion of House Bill 1 26, which would update Texas law to allow universities to enter name, image and likeness (NIL) agreements with prospective student athletes, including pre-enrollment students; after lengthy questions and objections the sponsor withdrew his motion to take final action.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Senate advances bill requiring Parks and Wildlife review for very tall structures in counties with national wildlife refuges

Senate passes bill creating Quad Agency Child Care Initiative to reduce regulatory overlap among childcare agencies

Senate approves bill to create comptroller‑administered database of local taxing‑unit bond, tax and project information

Senate debate over allowing universities to sign NIL agreements with prospective students ends when sponsor withdraws motion