[{"_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",6328997,"mediaKeyId","2316619-7bb8cfb36c114194b444528c05900eee","parentId",2316619,"title","TDLR adds midwife work group and publishes commission work-group assignments","audioSeconds",2021,"startMs",4511000,"endMs",6532000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2316619-7bb8cfb36c114194b444528c05900eee&start=4511&end=6532","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2316619-7bb8cfb36c114194b444528c05900eee/thumbnail_4511000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6328997/Texas/TDLR-adds-midwife-work-group-and-publishes-commission-work-group-assignments","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6328997-c1f04f2ce53512f3184ffc40381be831/orig.mp4?Expires=1771121962&Signature=YPoBDOnzOo7yJpZCy01yTx7np7GlvWuWyR8HN8G~TZHs4mcWrBzpCH7VBMy0k1CERDv4EreVyIcvPGeAk1oEpsnA4yGXnVe2fCX6plOAISMOHxCVZfmm4dfPBNYxMlL~VfvYpi~MV-fY5bqvXA7MRl0e~YQI6H-GXNLxGMOWGkprr2WWLvaG2AHQ9RZmt~PZmhKWycozaZSo-00KAZqzRKYaaQ9yDZ13ahAScgA3BMzaF4l5hUTz7Vsz4K0-sezHGKlmy93ZbIuP0xdooLgYNSQ9arP2beT7G~yKjQM6R7k2b~VfLIr1elk3UgQshQcqLUlUkZ9DEnuwDDDtBLwOhQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","TDLR Commission Meetings","date","2025-02-15T04:35:28Z","article","The TDLR commission on Feb. 14 confirmed its list of commission work groups, adding a midwife work group and assigning chairs and members to a set of standing and temporary groups.

Chairman Rick Figueroa presented a slate of work groups and told commissioners he had attempted to honor each commissioner’s request for assignments. The commission added a midwife work group and designated Vice Chair Tom Butler as chair, with commissioners Lori High and (Dr.) Kalas (also referenced as Calus/Kalos in the record) as members. Commissioners discussed whether a formal motion was required to create work groups; General Counsel Doug Jennings advised the commission that statutory authority and the commission’s procedural rules (including reference to Robert’s Rules of Order) support the chair’s appointment authority.

Commissioners reviewed the membership of several groups on the record: audit & finance (Chair Butler), human resources (Chair Figueroa), innovation (Chair Wesson), strategic planning (Chair Butler), enforcement (Chair Wesson), anti‑human‑trafficking (Chair Butler), combative sports (Chair Kalas) and behavioral health (Chair Wesson). The chair said groups could be adjusted and that each chair should call meetings as needed; most groups were described as temporary or issue‑driven rather than perpetual. The commission also discussed practical limits on membership (typically capped at three) for work groups.

The commission asked staff to record the memberships formally and to notify chairs. Commissioners also asked that work‑group activity be coordinated with legislative priorities and that chairs report back to the full commission as items develop.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","February 14, 2025 Texas Commission of Licensing and Regulation","oneSentenceSummary","The commission approved a list of work groups, adding a midwife work group and confirming chairs and members for other established groups; chairs will convene meetings as needed, especially during the legislative session.","taxTitle","Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR), Departments and Agencies, Executive, Texas","taxId",17429,"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},6329002,"Bare‑knuckle promoter requests permission to hold BKFC events in Texas",184,134000,318000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2316619-7bb8cfb36c114194b444528c05900eee&start=134&end=318","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2316619-7bb8cfb36c114194b444528c05900eee/thumbnail_134000.jpg","/articles/6329002/Texas/Bareknuckle-promoter-requests-permission-to-hold-BKFC-events-in-Texas","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6329002-393e79d50d919e0f46d1290a86231731/orig.mp4?Expires=1771121962&Signature=GX59LdbsNGEiwm5Ub6cwFHloCpLR3x~iYo1gc52vAi~J50TW4pWGtFLvaV548Iha2WDROUfgOWUZs2NT3qPq~TddfIZQ3SZg5Hi5yr9JoNuE0l0AnlpZhLV96JzS-lzS5KHEmpGaV6aWJCU9PlN6tUKeSOkPHonjn7oavcyT0NR69tOKyWJPwy7vGB~9Dv8yOcJ0WKLZkEqZfyisdRi06TScO~9TBPg3ADy3HxTlXzq0WQ9-u1YY1SpID1VDqCH3XEFavdR5kkJnYLCy8CIzGrhRI9Pit6vkKJAzhtqjt8eBNTCeBmWZHubmPu5LZGldrb~6cmm8ly3Ez2r3JprKrA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Sean Wheelock, an executive vice president and commentator for Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC), addressed commissioners during the public‑comment period to ask that the department allow BKFC to hold events in Texas.

“I’m Sean Wheelock, an executive vice president and the television commentator for Bear Knuckle Fighting Championship,” Wheelock said, stating BKFC operates under the Association of Boxing Commissions’ unified rules of bare‑knuckle fighting and is currently legal in 26 states and several jurisdictions abroad. He described the promotion’s event history — including more than 1,200 bouts across 114 events since June 2018, a sold‑out Philadelphia event of 17,762 attendees, and other international and domestic shows — and said BKFC would follow TDLR rules and any additional regulations the department sets.

Wheelock said BKFC employs a full‑time chief medical officer, Dr. Don Mooce, MD, and that the promotion would seek to stage major arena events in Dallas, Houston, San Antonio and Austin with anticipated attendance exceeding 15,000. “If we're allowed to hold events in Texas, we would bring arena shows annually to Dallas, Houston, San Antonio, and Austin,” he told the commission. Wheelock said a major card was standing by and projected to sell more than 18,000 tickets.

Chairman Rick Figueroa acknowledged the comment and said the matter was on the department’s radar; Vice Chair Tom Butler was named to chair a related work group for combative sports matters. No formal action was taken during the meeting on BKFC’s request; the public‑comment statement was recorded for the record and staff indicated work‑group review and regulatory oversight would follow.","A representative of Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship urged the TDLR commissioners to allow the promotion to hold regulated events in Texas, citing attendance figures and medical oversight.",{"_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},6329007,"TDLR describes expanded anti‑human‑trafficking enforcement, seeks resources as Legislature considers bills",1147,4715000,5862000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2316619-7bb8cfb36c114194b444528c05900eee&start=4715&end=5862","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2316619-7bb8cfb36c114194b444528c05900eee/thumbnail_4715000.jpg","/articles/6329007/Texas/TDLR-describes-expanded-antihumantrafficking-enforcement-seeks-resources-as-Legislature-considers-bills","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6329007-468de0def09f8365872b9b01f39afba2/orig.mp4?Expires=1771121962&Signature=MXtE3fklfuH0qFaFEdjRBCFLezV7ajbtrAtjiNT1PU0eM0vCGjEitgLN~rou5ZTmF1CLT3gWLLSJNVY8GKT0tJoc7ITF4YeVsCutRm4a6oSBoQUZFDybnMT7TOurIdDkF0fy54~ppsLJgLTRqikCpM2k-3R1f~-pw5Ykz6KC42-4ANQTlyNbe83mlr1QCOHKW0WwcbYC5h8IN~SAjo0zBdmBI3KPutjT9uR-D6aISM0sNLNOuF7ZvK6F9AEagzlOSvjMD~gJXjCROKMvBbijx1WHG4Qm6NvmVs7CoZjs9Gjh~d8hz2yA41MJishKj7OT0XrCRzeewt-XcpbQvj9Zsw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation officials and commissioners used the Feb. 14 meeting to summarize enforcement activity against suspected human‑trafficking operations and to describe legislative outreach seeking additional resources.

Executive Director Courtney (identified in the meeting as the agency’s executive director) told commissioners the agency has issued multiple emergency orders and closed establishments as part of a focused effort on trafficking within licensed industries. “We have a full court press with everybody in this room and online,” Courtney said, describing coordinated work with law enforcement and agency divisions. Commissioners and staff reported that the department’s legal team had served 19 executive orders on industrialized mobile businesses (IMBs) to date and had closed some establishments as part of enforcement; staff also reported 40 establishment closures in the enforcement effort.

Commissioners said they have raised the issue with lawmakers. The agency requested and has been allocated budget authority for 10 additional full‑time equivalent positions through the legislative exceptional‑item process; Courtney said those 10 FTEs and appropriation authority were likely to be included in the final approved budget and that additional requests would be discussed with leadership. Vice Chair Tom Butler and other commissioners commended staff, emphasizing partnerships with district attorneys, the FBI and Texas Department of Public Safety in investigations and legislative planning.

Staff described operational details: an enforcement heat map of closures and a public-facing plan to publish inspection results; a dashboard and reports the agency intends to publish on the website; and coordination with local groundwater districts and other agencies on inspection follow-ups when environmental impacts are possible. Deputy executive director Steve Bruno and deputy Susanna Holt Cottrell reported on inspection volumes and staffing: Bruno said customer-service contacts and licensing processing have improved and that inspection and licensing teams are working to reduce bottlenecks; Holt Cottrell reported the compliance division had conducted more than 80,000 technical inspections in the fiscal year and that regulatory‑services vacancy rates were approaching single digits.

Commissioners asked for periodic executive reports on enforcement metrics, including massage‑parlor and IMB enforcement activity, to convey progress to the Legislature. Several commissioners said the agency’s work to identify and close illicit operations would continue as a priority.","TDLR staff and commissioners described recent enforcement actions targeting suspected trafficking operations, reported emergency orders and establishment closures, and discussed legislative requests for additional staff and intelligence initiatives.",{"_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},6329012,"TDLR adopts plant-certification rule and upholds three license denials, revokes barber license",1171,3080000,4251000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2316619-7bb8cfb36c114194b444528c05900eee&start=3080&end=4251","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2316619-7bb8cfb36c114194b444528c05900eee/thumbnail_3080000.jpg","/articles/6329012/Texas/TDLR-adopts-plant-certification-rule-and-upholds-three-license-denials-revokes-barber-license","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6329012-4de421b4cf0b09bd15b1195c9c1073db/orig.mp4?Expires=1771121962&Signature=TLZ1cLkb8i0YGmuTiWYr2cG50ad-xCO0zvAin6~GR-lVh1oz~-8Y4QMlMRmtDQ~x09W-u80iASgESoDO3KvfPrwiGeXI7Me6i5EB8ztteI5oMEhWZXKwjX2R~UJhUXXZInHLmxgV4-MnIjJQOb3ZYyK-NXk~tEHGaKWGpEENWIpmi40hFb8yxIV8NDmverBuShJQ3LpZ-bXok1N4VKZZ2l~aDk8Z8sImFzFDy0Gft-h67Ux4RV5GSEaqj7wYOBG3LviCh7dtd05vej7aF5~8LEXCWXNWujkB1iL0y-XbKfI0BKP--QYUdU3dh1WQKUwOl7J~L-HhOMGl7iIka7YWfQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation Commission on Feb. 14 adopted an amendment to Chapter 110, Section 70.6(e) of the Texas Administrative Code and approved administrative decisions to deny or revoke multiple license applications following contested-case hearings.

The commission voted to adopt a rule amendment that allows a team lead from a third-party inspection or design review agency to serve as the team lead for initial certification of a manufacturing plant, while preserving the department’s authority to perform certifications and oversight. Robert Reyes, assistant general counsel, told commissioners the change was published in the Texas Register on Nov. 29, 2024, drew no public comments during the comment period, and was proposed with an effective date of April 1, 2025. “The proposed rule is necessary to allow the Department the ability to focus its limited resources on long term risk based auditing of these plants,” Reyes said.

In separate contested-case items, administrative prosecutors recommended adopting the proposed findings and denying or revoking applications for three applicants based on criminal-history findings in the administrative law judge (ALJ) reports. Prosecutor Jessica Hurtado asked the commission to adopt the ALJ recommendation to deny James Turner’s application for an ACR technician license, saying Turner’s record included felony convictions and a 2018 aggravated offense involving a minor; the ALJ concluded granting the license would place Turner in settings where children could be present. Prosecutor Natalie Olvera asked the commission to adopt the ALJ recommendation to deny Chance Thomas Kane’s application for an apprentice electrician license, citing repeated felony deferred-adjudication placements and extensions of community supervision. Olvera also recommended denial and revocation for Richard Gomez’s class A barber license renewal, citing a 2023 deferred-adjudication placement for aggravated sexual conduct involving a child and concluding there had not been sufficient time to demonstrate full rehabilitation.

Applicants addressed the commission before votes. James Turner said he has been sober and is trying to rebuild his life, asking the commission for a second chance. Chance Thomas Kane acknowledged his history and said he was attending counseling and a batterers intervention program. Richard Gomez said he is complying with probation, attending counseling and church, and seeking to demonstrate rehabilitation. Commissioners questioned applicants about rehabilitation evidence and the risk to the public; several commissioners commended applicants for appearing but emphasized concerns about the seriousness and recentness of the offenses.

Votes at a glance:
- Adopt rule amendment to Texas Administrative Code, Chapter 110, Section 70.6(e) — Motion adopted; effective date proposed 2025-04-01 (no roll-call tally recorded).
- James Turner — Motion to adopt ALJ proposed findings and deny ACR technician license application — Motion carried (vote recorded as voice vote; no roll-call tally recorded).
- Chance Thomas Kane — Motion to adopt ALJ proposed findings and deny apprentice electrician license application (with an amendment to update the conclusion of law citation and respondent license number) — Motion carried (voice vote).
- Richard Gomez — Motion to adopt ALJ proposed findings, deny renewal and revoke current class A barber license — Motion carried (voice vote).

All formal actions were taken after in‑record contested-case presentations; commissioners relied on ALJ findings and the record in reaching votes. The commission noted in the Gomez matter that the department lacks authority to issue restricted barber licenses and that monitoring mechanisms for restrictions do not exist in that profession.

The commission chair and staff advised applicants about follow-up procedures and potential next steps after the votes.","The Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation commissioners voted to adopt an amendment to industrialized housing plant-certification rules and to adopt administrative decisions denying or revoking several individual license applications after contested hearings.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

TDLR adds midwife work group and publishes commission work-group assignments

Bare‑knuckle promoter requests permission to hold BKFC events in Texas

TDLR describes expanded anti‑human‑trafficking enforcement, seeks resources as Legislature considers bills

TDLR adopts plant-certification rule and upholds three license denials, revokes barber license