(Monday, July 21, 2025)

In obedience to the Proclamation of the Honorable Greg Abbott, Governor of the State of Texas, the Senate met in the Senate Chamber of the State Capitol at Austin, Texas, on the 21st day of July, 2025, at 12:30 p.m. and was called to order by the Honorable Dan Patrick, Lieutenant Governor and President of the Senate.

The President directed the Secretary of the Senate to call the roll of the Senate.

The roll was called and the following Senators were present:  Alvarado, Bettencourt, Birdwell, Blanco, Campbell, Cook, Creighton, Eckhardt, Flores, Gutierrez, Hagenbuch, Hall, A. Hinojosa, J. Hinojosa, Huffman, Hughes, Johnson, King, Kolkhorst, Menéndez, Middleton, Miles, Nichols, Parker, Paxton, Perry, Schwertner, Sparks, West, Zaffirini.

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

Pastor Travis Dice, First Baptist Church Round Rock, offered the invocation as follows:

Almighty God, we come before You today with hearts full of gratitude. Thank You for the blessings You have poured out upon our nation, for the gift of liberty, for the peace we so often take for granted, and for the ability to gather and govern freely. We thank You for the men and women who serve this country, both in uniform and in leadership, and for the strength You provide them daily. We do not overlook the many provisions and protections You graciously extend to us as a people. Today, Lord, we lift up a special prayer for the people of Central Texas. On July 4th, devastating floods swept through communities, leaving loss, grief, and hardship in their wake. We ask for Your comfort to surround those who mourn, for Your healing to touch those injured, and for Your provision to meet every need of the displaced and the hurting. Bless the first responders, volunteers, and neighbors who have come together in compassion. May hope rise even in the midst of great sorrow, and may Your presence be near to the brokenhearted. And now, as this Senate begins its work, we ask that You grant each Member wisdom and encouragement. May they carry our their responsibilities with integrity, always mindful of the freedoms so dearly paid for. Strengthen them for the decisions of today and the challenges of the days to come. In Jesus' name. Amen.

The following Proclamation by the Governor was read and was filed with the Secretary of the Senate:

PROCLAMATION
BY THE
GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF TEXAS

TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME:

I, GREG ABBOTT, Governor of the State of Texas, by the authority vested in me by Article III, Sections 5(a) and 40, and Article IV, Section 8(a) of the Texas Constitution, do hereby call a Special Session of the 89th Legislature, to convene in the City of Austin, commencing at 12:00 p.m. on Monday, July 21, 2025, to consider and act upon the following:

Legislation to improve early warning systems and other preparedness infrastructure in flood-prone areas throughout Texas.

Legislation to strengthen emergency communications and other response infrastructure in flood-prone areas throughout Texas.

Legislation to provide relief funding for response to and recovery from the storms which began in early July 2025, including local match funding for jurisdictions eligible for FEMA public assistance.

Legislation to evaluate and streamline rules and regulations to speed preparedness for and recovery from natural disasters.

Legislation to eliminate the STAAR test and replace it with effective tools to assess student progress and ensure school district accountability.

Legislation reducing the property tax burden on Texans and legislation imposing spending limits on entities authorized to impose property taxes.

Legislation making it a crime to provide hemp-derived products to children under 21 years of age.

Legislation to comprehensively regulate hemp-derived products, including limiting potency, restricting synthetically modified compounds, and establishing enforcement mechanisms, all without banning a lawful agricultural commodity.

Legislation further protecting unborn children and their mothers from the harm of abortion.

Legislation prohibiting taxpayer-funded lobbying, including the use of tax dollars to hire lobbyists and payment of tax dollars to associations that lobby the Legislature.

Legislation, similar to Senate Bill No. 1278 from the 89th Legislature, Regular Session, that protects victims of human trafficking from criminal liability for non-violent acts closely tied to their own victimization.

Legislation that protects law enforcement officers from public disclosure of unsubstantiated complaints in personnel files.

Legislation protecting women's privacy in sex-segregated spaces.

Legislation proposing a constitutional amendment allowing the Attorney General to prosecute state election crimes.

Legislation that provides a revised congressional redistricting plan in light of constitutional concerns raised by the U.S. Department of Justice.

Legislation, similar to Senate Bill No. 648 from the 89th Legislature, Regular Session, that provides strengthened protections against title theft and deed fraud.

Legislation, similar to Senate Bill No. 1253 from the 89th Legislature, Regular Session, that authorizes political subdivisions to reduce impact fees for builders who include water conservation and efficiency measures.

Legislation, similar to Senate Bill No. 2878 from the 89th Legislature, Regular Session, relating to the operation and administration of the Judicial Department of state government.

The Secretary of State will take notice of this action and will notify the members of the legislature of my action.

IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto signed my name and have officially caused the Seal of State to be affixed at my office in the City of Austin, Texas, this the 9th day of July, 2025.

(Seal)

/s/Greg Abbott

Governor

Attested by:

/s/Adam Bitter

General Counsel

Secretary of State

On motion of Senator Zaffirini, the Senate at 12:43 p.m. recessed until 1:15 p.m. today.

The Senate met at 1:51 p.m. and was called to order by the President.

The President addressed the Senate as follows:

Members, as you know, the Senator from District 9 resigned in June. His resignation letter will be included in the Journal for the record. As a result of the Senator resigning and taking another office, the holdover provision in the Constitution does not apply and the membership of the Senate is now 30 Members. Please be advised that all vote requirements will be based on a total of 30 Members. This will affect the calculation of a quorum, the votes needed for constitutional amendments, and other majority membership vote requirements as listed in the Senate Rules. Thank you.

Senator King moved to suspend Senate Rule 8.02 to take up for consideration SR 5 at this time.

The motion prevailed by the following vote:  Yeas 19, Nays 11.

Yeas:  Bettencourt, Birdwell, Campbell, Creighton, Flores, Hagenbuch, Hall, A. Hinojosa, Huffman, Hughes, King, Kolkhorst, Middleton, Nichols, Parker, Paxton, Perry, Schwertner, Sparks.

Nays:  Alvarado, Blanco, Cook, Eckhardt, Gutierrez, J. Hinojosa, Johnson, Menéndez, Miles, West, Zaffirini.

The Presiding Officer laid before the Senate the following resolution:

BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the State of Texas, That the following rules of procedure shall be observed by the Senate for the consideration of redistricting during the 89th Legislature:

SECTION 1.  REDISTRICTING COMMITTEE. (a)  The Special Committee on Congressional Redistricting is composed of members appointed by the President. The President shall designate the chair and vice-chair from the total membership of the committee.

(b)  Bills and resolutions relating to the composition of congressional districts shall be referred to the committee by the President. Senate rules governing a motion to refer or commit are applicable, except that the special committee takes precedence over a standing committee when several motions are made.

(c)  The committee shall have the same authority and powers granted to standing committees by Senate rules and by applicable statutes. Where applicable the rules governing standing committees of the Senate apply to the committee's proceedings. In case of any conflict, the procedures herein shall prevail over a conflicting Senate or committee rule.

SECTION 2.  REGIONAL HEARINGS; VIDEOCONFERENCE TESTIMONY. (a)  The committee shall hold regional hearings to solicit public input on congressional redistricting, including local communities of interest.

(b)  The committee may meet to conduct a regional hearing in any location in this state that the chair determines appropriate to encourage participation from all areas of the state. The committee may allow the use of two-way videoconferencing to facilitate testimony from the general public during a regional hearing held in the Capitol.

(c)  A witness testifying by videoconference must be clearly visible and audible to the committee members. A committee member questioning a witness by videoconference must be clearly visible and audible to the witness and the committee members.

(d)  A witness testifying by videoconference must submit a witness affirmation form before testifying.

(e)  The chair may provide procedures for the orderly participation of witnesses and may reasonably limit the time for registration of witnesses, the order of appearance, and the time allotted for each witness in order to provide all witnesses the opportunity to be heard in a timely manner.

(f)  The committee may not consider or take formal action on a specific bill, resolution, or other nonprocedural matter during a regional hearing, except for the adoption of permanent rules at an initial meeting held in the Capitol.

SECTION 3.  PUBLIC NOTICE OF MEETINGS. (a)  The chair shall give public notice at least 72 hours in advance of a meeting for a regional hearing during the regular session or in the interim between sessions, and 48 hours in advance during a called session.

(b)  The chair shall give public notice at least 48 hours in advance of a meeting for a public hearing on a bill or resolution.

(c)  Public notice of the time and place of a meeting shall be posted in a public place in the manner required by Senate rules.

SECTION 4.  CONSIDERATION OF REDISTRICTING BILLS BY THE SENATE. (a)  No proposed amendment, amendment to the amendment, or substitute amendment changing any district in a congressional redistricting bill is eligible for consideration on second or third reading unless 35 copies of an amendment packet prepared by the Texas Legislative Council (TLC) have been filed with the calendar clerk in accordance with this section.

(b)  An amendment packet is not required to include a textual description of tracts, block groups, and block numbers, but must include:

(1)  a general written description of the proposed changes, including district numbers if the amendment does not propose a statewide substitute plan, the names of counties or description of regions affected, and the plan number assigned by the redistricting computer system operated by TLC;

(2)  one or more maps prepared by TLC indicating the changes made by the amendment; and

(3)  standard reports prepared by TLC that indicate population, voter data, and incumbent locations for the districts affected by the amendment.

(c)  The calendar clerk shall as soon as practicable make filed amendment packets available to the members of the Senate. The calendar clerk shall also work with TLC to provide a hyperlink for each amendment from the bill webpage on the public legislative information website to the appropriate plan in the public DistrictViewer application operated by TLC.

(d)  An amendment packet for each original amendment that will be offered during second reading consideration of a congressional redistricting bill must be filed with the calendar clerk by 9 a.m. on the third calendar day after the day on which the bill has been reported favorably from a committee, not including Sundays.

(e)  A bill with filed amendments subject to Subsection (d) is not eligible for consideration on second reading until 24 hours after amendment packets have been made available to members of the Senate.

(f)  Subsections (d) and (e) do not apply after the 122nd day of the regular session, or to a bill that originates in the House of Representatives during a called session.

SECTION 5.  AUTHORITY; CONFLICT OF RULES. The Senate adopts these redistricting rules and procedures under the authority of Article III, Section 11 of the Texas Constitution. All questions of procedure not provided for in this resolution shall be subject to the standing rules of the Senate. In case of any conflict, the procedures herein shall prevail over a conflicting Senate rule or procedure.

SR 5 was read.

Senator Alvarado offered the following amendment to the resolution:

Amend SR 5 in SECTION 2 of the resolution as follows:

(1)  On page 2, line 2, add new subsection (b) and renumber following subsections accordingly:

(b)  The committee shall hold five regional hearings to solicit public input on any bill or resolution relating to the composition of congressional districts under consideration by the committee before the committee takes any formal action on the bill or resolution.

(2)  On page 2, line 19, strike "consider or" in subsection (f).

The amendment to SR 5 was read and failed of adoption by the following vote:  Yeas 11, Nays 19.

Yeas:  Alvarado, Blanco, Cook, Eckhardt, Gutierrez, J. Hinojosa, Johnson, Menéndez, Miles, West, Zaffirini.

Nays:  Bettencourt, Birdwell, Campbell, Creighton, Flores, Hagenbuch, Hall, A. Hinojosa, Huffman, Hughes, King, Kolkhorst, Middleton, Nichols, Parker, Paxton, Perry, Schwertner, Sparks.

Senator Eckhardt offered the following amendment to the resolution:

Amend SR 5 in SECTION 2 resolution as follows:

(1)  On page 2, line 2, add new subsection (b) and renumber following subsections accordingly:

(b)  The committee shall hold twelve regional hearings to solicit public input on any bill or resolution relating to the composition of congressional districts under consideration by the committee before the committee takes any formal action on the bill or resolution.

(2)  On page 2, line 19, strike "consider or" in subsection (f).

The amendment to SR 5 was read and failed of adoption by the following vote:  Yeas 11, Nays 19.

Yeas:  Alvarado, Blanco, Cook, Eckhardt, Gutierrez, J. Hinojosa, Johnson, Menéndez, Miles, West, Zaffirini.

Nays:  Bettencourt, Birdwell, Campbell, Creighton, Flores, Hagenbuch, Hall, A. Hinojosa, Huffman, Hughes, King, Kolkhorst, Middleton, Nichols, Parker, Paxton, Perry, Schwertner, Sparks.

Senator Miles offered the following amendment to the resolution:

Amend SR 5 as follows:

In SECTION 3 of the bill, in Subsection (a) (page 2, lines 26 through page 3 line 1) strike "during the regular session or in the interim between sessions, and 48 hours in advance during a called session." and substitute "."

The amendment to SR 5 was read and failed of adoption by the following vote:  Yeas 11, Nays 19.

Yeas:  Alvarado, Blanco, Cook, Eckhardt, Gutierrez, J. Hinojosa, Johnson, Menéndez, Miles, West, Zaffirini.

Nays:  Bettencourt, Birdwell, Campbell, Creighton, Flores, Hagenbuch, Hall, A. Hinojosa, Huffman, Hughes, King, Kolkhorst, Middleton, Nichols, Parker, Paxton, Perry, Schwertner, Sparks.

Senator Eckhardt offered the following amendment to the resolution:

Amend SR 5 as follows:

(1)  On page 3, line 2, strike "48" and substitute "72".

The amendment to SR 5 was read and failed of adoption by the following vote:  Yeas 11, Nays 19.

Yeas:  Alvarado, Blanco, Cook, Eckhardt, Gutierrez, J. Hinojosa, Johnson, Menéndez, Miles, West, Zaffirini.

Nays:  Bettencourt, Birdwell, Campbell, Creighton, Flores, Hagenbuch, Hall, A. Hinojosa, Huffman, Hughes, King, Kolkhorst, Middleton, Nichols, Parker, Paxton, Perry, Schwertner, Sparks.

SR 5 was adopted by the following vote:  Yeas 19, Nays 11.

Yeas:  Bettencourt, Birdwell, Campbell, Creighton, Flores, Hagenbuch, Hall, A. Hinojosa, Huffman, Hughes, King, Kolkhorst, Middleton, Nichols, Parker, Paxton, Perry, Schwertner, Sparks.

Nays:  Alvarado, Blanco, Cook, Eckhardt, Gutierrez, J. Hinojosa, Johnson, Menéndez, Miles, West, Zaffirini.

The following bills were introduced, read first time, and referred to the committees indicated:

SB 5 by Perry

Relating to the regulation of certain products derived from hemp, including consumable hemp products and the hemp-derived cannabinoids contained in those products; requiring occupational licenses and registrations; imposing fees; creating criminal offenses; authorizing an administrative penalty.

To Committee on State Affairs.

SB 11 by Hughes

Relating to the authority of the attorney general to prosecute criminal offenses prescribed by the election laws of this state.

To Committee on State Affairs.

SB 12 by Middleton, Bettencourt, Creighton, Hall, A. Hinojosa, King, Kolkhorst, Paxton

Relating to the use by a political subdivision of public funds for lobbying activities.

To Committee on State Affairs.

SB 25 by Eckhardt

Relating to emergency warning systems operated by municipalities and counties.

To Committee on Disaster Preparedness and Flooding.

SB 26 by Alvarado

Relating to a disaster recovery loan program for small and micro-businesses.

To Committee on Disaster Preparedness and Flooding.

SB 28 by Zaffirini

Relating to the Internet posting of localized health and safety alerts by a municipality or county.

To Committee on Disaster Preparedness and Flooding.

SB 35 by Zaffirini

Relating to flood safety requirements for youth camps located near rivers, creeks, and streams.

To Committee on Disaster Preparedness and Flooding.

Senator Hughes submitted the following Motion In Writing:

Mr. President:

I move to suspend Senate Rules 11.10, 11.18, and 11.19 to permit the State Affairs Committee to meet and consider the following bills in the Senate Chamber, at 9:00 a.m. tomorrow, July 22, notwithstanding any requests for advance written notice pursuant to Senate Rule 11.19.

SB 5 by Perry, Relating to the regulation of certain products derived from hemp, including consumable hemp products and the hemp-derived cannabinoids contained in those products; requiring occupational licenses and registrations; imposing fees; creating criminal offenses; authorizing an administrative penalty.

SB 11 by Hughes, Relating to the authority of the attorney general to prosecute criminal offenses prescribed by the election laws of this state.

SB 12 by Middleton, Relating to the use by a political subdivision of public funds for lobbying activities.

HUGHES

The Motion In Writing was read and prevailed by the following vote:  Yeas 19, Nays 11.

Yeas:  Bettencourt, Birdwell, Campbell, Creighton, Flores, Hagenbuch, Hall, A. Hinojosa, Huffman, Hughes, King, Kolkhorst, Middleton, Nichols, Parker, Paxton, Perry, Schwertner, Sparks.

Nays:  Alvarado, Blanco, Cook, Eckhardt, Gutierrez, J. Hinojosa, Johnson, Menéndez, Miles, West, Zaffirini.

On motion of Senator Alvarado and by unanimous consent, the remarks regarding SR 5 were ordered reduced to writing and printed in the Senate Journal.

The remarks will be printed in an addendum to this day's Journal.

The President announced the appointment of the following committee for the 89th Legislature, First Called Session:

SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON CONGRESSIONAL REDISTRICTING

King, Chair; Creighton, Vice-chair; Alvarado, J. Hinojosa, Hughes, Miles, Parker, Paxton, Sparks.

At the request of the Presiding Officer, the Senate observed a moment of silence in honor of the souls that lost their lives on July 4, 2025, across the Hill Country, for the parents and the families of the lost, and for the lost, so they may be found.

Senator Hancock submitted the following letter to the Secretary of the Senate:

THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS

SENATOR KELLY HANCOCK

June 18, 2025

The Honorable Greg Abbott

Governor of Texas

Post Office Box 12428

Austin, Texas 78711

Dear Governor Abbott:

Representing the people of Senate District 9 in the Texas Senate over the past seven regular legislative sessions has been a distinct honor. I write to formally inform you of my decision to resign the seat, effective at midnight tonight, as I prepare to assume a new role in public service.

After careful consideration and prayerful reflection, I have accepted an appointment to serve in the Office of the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts. This opportunity will allow me to continue working on behalf of the people of Texas, ensuring sound fiscal stewardship and transparency in our state's finances.

Serving in the Texas Senate since 2013, and previously in the Texas House, has been an extraordinary privilege. During my time in the Legislature, I worked to advance conservative fiscal policies, passing state and local spending limits, significant property tax relief, and measures that strengthened long-term budget sustainability.

We also supported historic investments in border security and led efforts to end surprise medical billing and protect Texas patients. I am grateful to the constituents of Senate District 9 for placing their trust in me, and I extend sincere thanks to my colleagues in the Legislature for their partnership and dedication to public service.

I remain committed to ensuring a smooth transition and will do all I can to support the ongoing work of the Texas Senate and the people we serve. The Senate District 9 offices in Fort Worth and at the Capitol will remain open and readily-available to provide residents of the district with responsive and effective constituent services.

Thank you for your leadership and for your continued service to the state of Texas.

Sincerely,

/s/Kelly Hancock

Texas Senate, District 9

cc: The Honorable Dan Patrick, Lieutenant Governor of Texas

Patsy Spaw, Secretary of the Senate

The President appointed the following committee on July 14, 2025, for the 89th Legislature, First Called Session:

SELECT COMMITTEE ON DISASTER PREPAREDNESS AND FLOODING

Perry, Chair; Flores, Vice-chair; Bettencourt, Blanco, Campbell, A. Hinojosa, Kolkhorst, Menéndez, Schwertner.

On motion of Senator Perry, Senator Hagenbuch will be shown as Co-author of SB 5.

On motion of Senator Hughes, Senator Hagenbuch will be shown as Co-author of SB 11.

On motion of Senator Middleton, Senator Hagenbuch will be shown as Co-author of SB 12.

On motion of Senator Zaffirini and by unanimous consent, the Senate at 5:25 p.m. agreed to recess, upon completion of the introduction of bills and resolutions on first reading, until 9:30 a.m. Thursday, July 24, 2025.

Pursuant to a previously adopted motion, the Senate at 9:00 a.m. Thursday, July 24, 2025, recessed until 9:30 a.m. today.

The following committee reports were received by the Secretary of the Senate in the order listed:

STATE AFFAIRS — SB 5, CSSB 11, SB 12

SR 5