(Continued)

(Wednesday, August 6, 2025)

The Senate met at 9:27 a.m. and was called to order by the President.

Senator Kolkhorst offered the invocation as follows:

Lord, it is written in the Bible, in Proverbs, it says, Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. Such precious words for all of us as we come together today in the Texas Senate to do business for the State of Texas. We thank You for all the blessings of living in this great state and this great nation. We ask You to give us wisdom, to give us a moment to be still and to know that You are Lord. And, God, we pray and continue to pray for those that lost so much in the July 4th floods, those that lost loved ones, those that lost their homes and all their belongings. And, God, like it said in Proverbs, beyond our own understanding. Give us that guidance to know and to craft the right kinds of bills to move forward to do the right thing. God, we know You are sovereign and You are our God. We love You. Amen.

Senator Hagenbuch, who had previously been recorded as "Absent-excused," was announced "Present."

The President at 9:30 a.m. announced the Senate would stand At Ease subject to the call of the Chair.

The President at 10:42 a.m. called the Senate to order as In Legislative Session.

On motion of Senator Zaffirini, Senator Johnson requested a leave of absence for today on account of important business.

The motion failed by the following vote:  Yeas 2, Nays 19.

Yeas:  J. Hinojosa, Zaffirini.

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

Absent:  Alvarado, Blanco, Cook, Eckhardt, Gutierrez, Johnson, Menéndez, Miles, West.

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

There was no objection.

Senator Bettencourt moved to suspend the regular order of business to take up for consideration CSSB 9 at this time on its second reading:

CSSB 9, Relating to the calculation of the voter-approval tax rate for certain taxing units.

The motion prevailed by the following vote:  Yeas 18, Nays 3.

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

Nays:  J. Hinojosa, Perry, Zaffirini.

Absent:  Alvarado, Blanco, Cook, Eckhardt, Gutierrez, Johnson, Menéndez, Miles, West.

The bill was read second time and was passed to engrossment by the following vote:  Yeas 18, Nays 3. (Same as previous roll call)

Senator Bettencourt moved that Senate Rule 7.18 and the Constitutional Rule requiring bills to be read on three several days be suspended and that CSSB 9 be placed on its third reading and final passage.

The motion prevailed by the following vote:  Yeas 18, Nays 3.

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

Nays:  J. Hinojosa, Perry, Zaffirini.

Absent:  Alvarado, Blanco, Cook, Eckhardt, Gutierrez, Johnson, Menéndez, Miles, West.

The bill was read third time and was passed by the following vote:  Yeas 18, Nays 3. (Same as previous roll call)

Senator Middleton moved to suspend the regular order of business to take up for consideration CSSB 7 at this time on its second reading:

CSSB 7, Relating to the designation and use of certain spaces and facilities according to sex; authorizing a civil penalty and a private civil right of action.

The motion prevailed by the following vote:  Yeas 19, Nays 2.

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

Nays:  J. Hinojosa, Zaffirini.

Absent:  Alvarado, Blanco, Cook, Eckhardt, Gutierrez, Johnson, Menéndez, Miles, West.

The bill was read second time.

Senator Middleton offered the following amendment to the bill:

Amend CSSB 7 (senate committee report) in SECTION 2 of the bill by striking added Section 3002.104(c), Government Code (page 4, lines 10 through 14), and substituting the following appropriately lettered subsection:

MIDDLETON

BIRDWELL

The amendment to CSSB 7 was read and was adopted without objection.

All Members are deemed to have voted "Yea" on the adoption of Floor Amendment No. 1 except as follows:

Absent:  Alvarado, Blanco, Cook, Eckhardt, Gutierrez, Johnson, Menéndez, Miles, West.

CSSB 7 as amended was passed to engrossment by the following vote:  Yeas 19, Nays 2.

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

Nays:  J. Hinojosa, Zaffirini.

Absent:  Alvarado, Blanco, Cook, Eckhardt, Gutierrez, Johnson, Menéndez, Miles, West.

Senator Middleton moved that Senate Rule 7.18 and the Constitutional Rule requiring bills to be read on three several days be suspended and that CSSB 7 be placed on its third reading and final passage.

The motion prevailed by the following vote:  Yeas 19, Nays 2.

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

Nays:  J. Hinojosa, Zaffirini.

Absent:  Alvarado, Blanco, Cook, Eckhardt, Gutierrez, Johnson, Menéndez, Miles, West.

The bill was read third time and was passed by the following vote:  Yeas 19, Nays 2. (Same as previous roll call)

The Presiding Officer laid before the Senate CSSB 15 by Senator West and recognized Senator J. Hinojosa, on behalf of Senator West, at this time on its second reading:

CSSB 15, Relating to recording requirements for certain documents concerning real property; creating the criminal offenses of real property theft and real property fraud and establishing a statute of limitations for those offenses; increasing a criminal penalty.

The bill was read second time.

Senator J. Hinojosa offered the following amendment to the bill:

Amend CSSB 15 (senate committee report) as follows:

(1)  In SECTION 3 of the bill, in added Article 42.0376(b), Code of Criminal Procedure (page 4, lines 68-69), between "restitution" and "if", insert "under Subsection (a)(1)".

(2)  In SECTION 3 of the bill, in added Article 42.0376(b)(3), Code of Criminal Procedure (page 5, line 9), strike "a copy of".

(3)  In SECTION 3 of the bill, strike added Article 42.0376(b)(4), Code of Criminal Procedure (page 5, lines 10 and 11), and substitute the following:

(4)  In SECTION 3 of the bill, in added Article 42.0376(c), Code of Criminal Procedure (page 5, line 13), strike "this article" and substitute "Subsection (a)(1)".

(5)  In SECTION 5 of the bill, in added Section 51.901(g), Government Code:

(A)  strike "in person" (page 5, line 27);

(B)  strike "the district attorney" (page 5, line 31) and substitute "law enforcement"; and

(C)  between "clerk" and the underlined period (page 5, line 35), insert "for filing".

(6)  In SECTION 10 of the bill, in amended Section 12.001(b), Property Code (page 7, line 45), between "instrument" and "for", insert "in person".

(7)  Strike SECTION 13(b) of the bill (page 7, line 64) and substitute the following:

(b)  Section 51.901(g), Government Code, as added by this Act, takes effect January 1, 2026.

(8)  Strike SECTIONS 4 and 9 of the bill (page 5, lines 17-24, and page 7, lines 26-35).

(9)  Add the following appropriately numbered SECTIONS to the bill:

SECTION ____.  The heading to Section 191.010, Local Government Code, is amended to read as follows:

Sec. 191.010.  AUTHORITY TO REQUIRE PHOTO IDENTIFICATION TO FILE CERTAIN DOCUMENTS [IN CERTAIN COUNTIES].

SECTION ____.  Section 31.01(4), Penal Code, is amended to read as follows:

(4)  "Appropriate" means:

(A)  to bring about a transfer or purported transfer of title to or other nonpossessory interest in property other than real property, whether to the actor or another; or

(B)  to acquire or otherwise exercise control over property other than real property.

(10)  Renumber SECTIONS of the bill appropriately.

The amendment to CSSB 15 was read and was adopted without objection.

All Members are deemed to have voted "Yea" on the adoption of Floor Amendment No. 1 except as follows:

Absent:  Alvarado, Blanco, Cook, Eckhardt, Gutierrez, Johnson, Menéndez, Miles, West.

CSSB 15 as amended was passed to engrossment without objection.

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

Absent:  Alvarado, Blanco, Cook, Eckhardt, Gutierrez, Johnson, Menéndez, Miles, West.

Senator J. Hinojosa, on behalf of Senator West, moved that Senate Rule 7.18 and the Constitutional Rule requiring bills to be read on three several days be suspended and that CSSB 15 be placed on its third reading and final passage.

The motion prevailed by the following vote:  Yeas 21, Nays 0.

Absent:  Alvarado, Blanco, Cook, Eckhardt, Gutierrez, Johnson, Menéndez, Miles, West.

The bill was read third time and was passed by the following vote:  Yeas 21, Nays 0. (Same as previous roll call)

Senator Creighton submitted the following Motion In Writing:

Mr. President:

I move to suspend Senate Rule 11.19 to permit the Education K-16 Committee to meet and consider the following bill in Room E1.028, upon adjournment or recess of the Senate today, August 6, notwithstanding any requests for advance written notice pursuant to Senate Rule 11.19.

SB 8 by Bettencourt, Relating to public school accountability and transparency, including the implementation of an instructionally supportive assessment program and the adoption and administration of assessment instruments in public schools, indicators of achievement, public school performance ratings, and interventions and sanctions under the public school accountability system, a grant program for school district local accountability plans, and actions challenging Texas Education Agency decisions related to public school accountability.

CREIGHTON

The Motion In Writing was read and prevailed without objection.

Senator Bettencourt submitted the following Motion In Writing:

Mr. President:

I move to suspend Senate Rule 11.13 so that the Committee on Education K-16 may meet while the Senate is meeting.

BETTENCOURT

The Motion In Writing was read and prevailed without objection.

Senator Flores at 12:25 p.m. announced the Senate would stand At Ease subject to the call of the Chair.

The President at 2:35 p.m. called the Senate to order as In Legislative Session.

Senator Zaffirini offered the following Motion In Writing:

Mr. President:

I move that the Senate recess until 4 p.m., Wednesday, August 6th.

ZAFFIRINI

The Motion In Writing was read and prevailed without objection. The Senate recessed at 2:36 p.m. until 4 p.m. today.

The Senate met at 4:00 p.m. and was called to order by Senator Flores.

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

SB 1 by Perry

Relating to disaster preparedness, response, and recovery; requiring a license; authorizing fees.

To Committee on Disaster Preparedness and Flooding.

SB 2 by Bettencourt

Relating to outdoor warning sirens in flood-prone areas.

To Committee on Disaster Preparedness and Flooding.

SB 67 by Eckhardt, Menéndez

Relating to powers and duties of the Texas Division of Emergency Management for a local state of disaster; enhancing a criminal penalty.

To Committee on Disaster Preparedness and Flooding.

On motion of Senator King, Senator Middleton will be shown as Co-author of SB 4.

On motion of Senator Middleton, Senators Bettencourt, Campbell, Hagenbuch, Hall, A. Hinojosa, King, Parker, Paxton, Schwertner, and Sparks will be shown as Co-authors of SB 7.

On motion of Senator Perry, Senator Hagenbuch will be shown as Co-author of SB 13.

On motion of Senator West, Senators King, Parker, and Zaffirini will be shown as Co-authors of SB 15.

Senator Zaffirini offered the following Motion In Writing:

Mr. President:

I move that the Senate recess until 4:00 p.m., Thursday, August 7th.

ZAFFIRINI

The Motion In Writing was read and prevailed without objection. The Senate at 4:01 p.m. recessed until 4:00 p.m. tomorrow.

The following committee report was received by the Secretary of the Senate:

EDUCATION K-16 — SB 8

SB 7, SB 9, SB 15