SENATE — NOTICE — OF PUBLIC HEARING

SENATE

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

COMMITTEE:     State Affairs 

TIME & DATE:   9:00 AM, Tuesday, September 15, 2026 

PLACE:         E1.012 (Hearing Room) 
CHAIR:         Senator Bryan Hughes 

The Senate Committee on State Affairs will meet at 9:00 a.m. on Tuesday September 15, 2026 in E1.012 to hear public and invited testimony on the following interim committee charges:

Closing Gambling Loopholes: Study the sudden inundation of prediction market gambling and the exploitation of federal law to circumvent Texas gambling prohibitions by allowing users to place bets on the outcome of elections and other events. Examine the relationship between federally regulated derivative markets and state-prohibited gambling. Make recommendations to ensure the integrity of Texas elections and Texas sports.

Guaranteeing Fair Banking for All Texans: Study the practice of banks and insurance companies closing, restricting, or denying services to people, lawful businesses, and entire industries based on political, religious, and other non-financial factors. Make recommendations to ensure all Texans have access to fair banking.

Protecting the Integrity of the Judiciary: Study attempts by public advocacy groups to improperly influence the judiciary with biased informational seminars. Identify entities attempting to influence judges with training based on skewed information. Make recommendations to ensure Texas judges remain fair and impartial and are not influenced or trained by nefarious individuals attempting to improperly impact the outcome of cases.

Ensuring Consumer Protection in Alcohol Sales: Study the intentional violation of Texas alcohol laws by retailers who sell alcohol distilled under their own private labels. Make recommendations to ensure Texas alcohol laws continue to protect Texas consumers under the three tier system.

Public testimony will be limited to 2 minutes per witness. If submitting written testimony, please provide 20 copies to the committee clerk with your name on each copy.

NOTICE OF ASSISTANCE AT PUBLIC MEETINGS

PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES WHO PLAN TO ATTEND THIS MEETING AND WHO MAY NEED ASSISTANCE, SUCH AS A SIGN LANGUAGE INTERPRETER OR PERSONAL ASSISTIVE LISTENING DEVICES, ARE REQUESTED TO CONTACT THE SENATE COMMITTEE COORDINATOR AT 512/463-0070, 72 HOURS PRIOR TO THE MEETING SO APPROPRIATE ARRANGEMENTS CAN BE MADE.