(Friday, December 1, 2023)

The Senate met at 12:35 p.m. pursuant to adjournment and was called to order by the President.

The roll was called and the following Senators were present:  Alvarado, Birdwell, Campbell, Creighton, Eckhardt, Flores, Gutierrez, Hall, Hinojosa, Huffman, Hughes, Johnson, King, Kolkhorst, LaMantia, Menéndez, Middleton, Nichols, Parker, Perry, Schwertner, Sparks, Springer, Zaffirini.

Absent-excused:  Bettencourt, Blanco, Hancock, Miles, Paxton, West, Whitmire.

The President announced that a quorum of the Senate was present.

Senator Perry offered the invocation as follows:

Heavenly Father, I thank You for the day that we live in. I thank You for this season of thanksgiving, thanksgiving that comes with the peace to know that there is an eternity with You for those that choose that path. I, too, pray a special blessing and a comfort today on the Lewis family and friends and the communities that mourn for them, and the Brad Jones family. And just let them know that it's not the end of life, but it's actually the beginning of an eternity with You. And we just take comfort in that and great resolve in that. We also ask that in a world that's conflicted, both worldwide, on our politics, our religion, our global, our confrontations that we see playing out before us, there's really only one conflict that we must resolve and that's the conflict with You, our Lord and savior and creator, that we commit to You for the great commission and the life that You told us to lead. And that's the only one that matters at the end of the day, so we can have that certainty of where we're going to spend eternity, and that's with You. I pray that as we go through this season of giving, You gave us Your son, Jesus Christ, for our personal salvation, that remember that it is the reason for the giving and the season. And we thank You for that mercy and unconditional love You show us even though sometimes not deserved, and we all ask for travel safety and grace as we come through the holidays to and from this Capitol today and forward that You'll protect us. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Senator Zaffirini moved that the reading of the Journal of the proceedings of the previous day be dispensed with and the Journal be approved as printed.

The motion prevailed without objection.

On motion of Senator Zaffirini, Senators Blanco, Hancock, and Paxton were granted leave of absence for today on account of family business.

On motion of Senator Zaffirini, Senators Bettencourt, Miles, West, and Whitmire were granted leave of absence for today on account of important business.

The President announced that the introduction of bills and resolutions on first reading would be postponed until the end of today's session.

There was no objection.

Senator Hall offered the following Motion In Writing:

Mr. President,

Pursuant to Senate Rule 7.12(a), the Printing Rule, I move that the Senate order S.B. 5 and S.B. 6 not printed.

HALL

The Motion In Writing was read and prevailed without objection.

The President at 12:39 p.m. announced the conclusion of morning call.

The President laid before the Senate SB 5 by Senator Huffman at this time on its second reading:

SB 5, Relating to the school safety allotment under the Foundation School Program and the establishment of a school safety grant program; making an appropriation.

The bill was read second time and was passed to engrossment by the following vote:  Yeas 24, Nays 0.

Absent-excused:  Bettencourt, Blanco, Hancock, Miles, Paxton, West, Whitmire.

Senator Huffman moved that Senate Rule 7.18 and the Constitutional Rule requiring bills to be read on three several days be suspended and that SB 5 be placed on its third reading and final passage.

The motion prevailed by the following vote:  Yeas 24, Nays 0.

Absent-excused:  Bettencourt, Blanco, Hancock, Miles, Paxton, West, Whitmire.

The bill was read third time and was passed by the following vote:  Yeas 24, Nays 0. (Same as previous roll call)

The President laid before the Senate SB 6 by Senator Hughes at this time on its second reading:

SB 6, Relating to requirements for trial in the contest of an election on a proposed constitutional amendment.

The bill was read second time and was passed to engrossment by a viva voce vote.

All Members are deemed to have voted "Yea" on the passage to engrossment except as follows:

Nays:  Eckhardt.

Absent-excused:  Bettencourt, Blanco, Hancock, Miles, Paxton, West, Whitmire.

Senator Hughes moved that Senate Rule 7.18 and the Constitutional Rule requiring bills to be read on three several days be suspended and that SB 6 be placed on its third reading and final passage.

The motion prevailed by the following vote:  Yeas 23, Nays 1.

Nays:  Eckhardt.

Absent-excused:  Bettencourt, Blanco, Hancock, Miles, Paxton, West, Whitmire.

The bill was read third time and was passed by the following vote:  Yeas 23, Nays 1. (Same as previous roll call)

On motion of Senator Hughes, Senators Bettencourt, Campbell, Creighton, Flores, Hall, Schwertner, and Sparks will be shown as Co-authors of SB 6.

On motion of Senator Zaffirini and by unanimous consent, the Senate at 1:33 p.m. agreed to recess, pending the receipt of messages, until 9:45 a.m. Tuesday, December 5, 2023.

Pursuant to a previously adopted motion, the Senate at 9:44 a.m. Tuesday, December 5, 2023, recessed until 9:45 a.m. today.

SB 5, SB 6