SIXTH DAY
(Continued)
(Wednesday, August 27, 2025)
AFTER RECESS
The Senate met at 2:42 p.m. and was called to order by Senator Flores.
Senator Hagenbuch offered the invocation as follows:
Heavenly Father, You've said, Be still and know that I am God. We stop for a moment to know and praise and honor Your holy name. Lord, we come before You today grateful for the blessing of serving the people of Texas. We acknowledge that every good gift comes from You, and we could do nothing of value without You. We ask for Your wisdom and guidance as we carry out the work entrusted to us. Lord, grant us clarity of mind, humility of heart, and courage to do what is right. Help us to speak with integrity and truth and treat one another with respect even in our differences. May our decisions bring justice, strengthen families, protect the vulnerable, and honor the freedoms You've given us. Bless this Chamber and the men and women who serve in it and the great State of Texas. Above all, may our work here today glorify You. I pray this in the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.
MESSAGE FROM THE HOUSE
HOUSE CHAMBER
Austin, Texas
Wednesday, August 27, 2025 - 1
The Honorable President of the Senate
Senate Chamber
Austin, Texas
Mr. President:
I am directed by the house to inform the senate that the house has taken the following action:
THE HOUSE HAS PASSED THE FOLLOWING MEASURES:
In memory of the victims of the July 2025 Hill Country floods.
Commemorating the dedication of the Children's Emergency Relief International George M. Cowden Building in Austin.
Congratulating Rickey and Anne Lowe of Horseshoe Bay on their 47th wedding anniversary.
Congratulating Don Sparks of Midland on receiving the 2025 Chief Roughneck Award from the Independent Petroleum Association of America.
Congratulating the Senior Life Midland Meals on Wheels program on delivering its five millionth meal.
In memory of Richard Augustus Hewitt of San Antonio.
Congratulating Charles and Margaret Semple of Midland on their 60th wedding anniversary.
Congratulating Lori Rickert on her retirement as presiding judge for Brazoria County Court at Law No. 4 and Probate Court.
Congratulating Barbara Jean Bolden Yarbrough of Midland on the occasion of her 90th birthday.
THE HOUSE HAS GRANTED THE REQUEST OF THE SENATE FOR THE APPOINTMENT OF A CONFERENCE COMMITTEE ON THE FOLLOWING MEASURES:
SB 2 (non-record vote)
House Conferees: King - Chair/Darby/Geren/McQueeney/Moody
SB 10 (non-record vote)
House Conferees: Meyer - Chair/Bonnen/Button/Metcalf/Muñoz
Respectfully,
/s/Stephen Brown,
Chief Clerk
House of Representatives
RECESS
On motion of Senator Zaffirini, the Senate at 2:46 p.m. recessed until 4:00 p.m. today.
AFTER RECESS
The Senate met at 4:57 p.m. and was called to order by the President.
BILLS SIGNED
The President announced the signing of the following enrolled bills in the presence of the Senate after the captions had been read: SB 11, SB 12, SB 14, SB 18.
SENATE BILL 16 WITH HOUSE AMENDMENT
Senator J. Hinojosa, on behalf of Senator West, called SB 16 from the President's table for consideration of the House amendment to the bill.
The President laid the bill and the House amendment before the Senate.
Floor Amendment No. 1
Amend SB 16 (house committee report) by adding the following appropriately numbered SECTION and renumbering subsequent SECTIONS accordingly:
SECTION ____. Section 405.022, Government Code, is amended by adding Subsections (e), (f), and (g) to read as follows:
(e) If a document to create a lien on real property is filed with the secretary of state by an inmate or on behalf of an inmate and a purported debtor or obligor named in the document is an employee or board member of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice who believes the document was fraudulently filed, the purported debtor or obligor may, under penalty of perjury, file an affidavit stating the impermissibility of the document with the secretary of state. The secretary of state shall make a form affidavit for use when filing an affidavit under this subsection. On acceptance of an affidavit properly filed under this subsection, the secretary of state shall:
(1) request the assistance of the attorney general to determine whether the document was fraudulently filed; and
(2) file a termination statement with respect to the document identified in the affidavit if the attorney general determines that the document was fraudulently filed.
(f) For purposes of a request under Subsection (e), the attorney general may request the filer provide to the attorney general documentation supporting the existence of the lien, including documents described by Subsection (c).
(g) Notwithstanding Section 9.520, Business & Commerce Code, the secretary of state may refuse to accept for filing a record purporting to create a lien on real property if the attorney general determines under Subsection (a) that the document submitted for filing is fraudulent.
The amendment was read.
Senator J. Hinojosa, on behalf of Senator West, moved to concur in the House amendment to SB 16.
The motion prevailed by the following vote: Yeas 27, Nays 0.
Absent-excused: Eckhardt, Miles, West.
SENATE BILL 3 WITH HOUSE AMENDMENT
Senator Bettencourt called SB 3 from the President's table for consideration of the House amendment to the bill.
The President laid the bill and the House amendment before the Senate.
Floor Amendment No. 1
Amend SB 3 (house committee report) as follows:
(1) Strike page 1, lines 20-22, and substitute the following:
(c) The governor may:
(1) transfer to a state agency any money necessary to carry out the grant program established under this section and the powers and duties established under Subchapter M, Chapter 16, Water Code; and
(2) delegate to a state agency the authority to administer the grant program established under this section, including any authority necessary for that state agency to:
(A) transfer to an appropriate fund or account administered by the state agency any money transferred to the agency under Subdivision (1); and
(B) use money transferred under Subdivision (1) for the necessary and reasonable expenses incurred by the state agency in administering this section or Subchapter M, Chapter 16, Water Code.
(2) Strike page 4, lines 9-13, and substitute the following:
(j) The board may not approve financial assistance, other than financial assistance for an outdoor warning siren, including assistance described by Section 418.027, Government Code, for a county or municipality until the county or municipality certifies to the board that it is in compliance with this section.
(3) Add the following appropriately numbered SECTION to the bill and renumber subsequent SECTIONS of the bill accordingly:
SECTION ____. Section 16.502(j), Water Code, as added by this Act, applies only to an application for financial assistance submitted to the Texas Water Development Board on or after the effective date of this Act.
The amendment was read.
Senator Bettencourt moved to concur in the House amendment to SB 3.
The motion prevailed by the following vote: Yeas 27, Nays 0.
Absent-excused: Eckhardt, Miles, West.
MESSAGE FROM THE HOUSE
HOUSE CHAMBER
Austin, Texas
Wednesday, August 27, 2025 - 2
The Honorable President of the Senate
Senate Chamber
Austin, Texas
Mr. President:
I am directed by the house to inform the senate that the house has taken the following action:
THE HOUSE HAS PASSED THE FOLLOWING MEASURES:
Relating to a pharmacist's authority to dispense ivermectin without a prescription.
Relating to contracting with law enforcement agencies in certain counties.
Relating to the creation of a working group to study alert notification systems.
Relating to the governor's review of purchases by political subdivisions of public safety radio communication systems.
Relating to the funding of law enforcement agencies in certain counties.
Relating to eligibility of a political subdivision for a grant from the Rural Infrastructure Disaster Recovery Program.
Respectfully,
/s/Stephen Brown,
Chief Clerk
House of Representatives
HOUSE BILLS ON FIRST READING
The following bills received from the House were read first time and referred to the committees indicated:
HB 8 to Committee on Finance.
HB 25 to Committee on Health and Human Services.
HB 26 to Committee on Finance.
HB 48 to Committee on Disaster Preparedness and Flooding.
HB 149 to Committee on Disaster Preparedness and Flooding.
HB 192 to Committee on Finance.
HB 254 to Committee on Disaster Preparedness and Flooding.
SENATE RULES SUSPENDED
(Posting Rules)
Senator Huffman moved to suspend Senate Rule 7.09, Senate Rule 11.10(a), Senate Rule 11.18(a), and Senate Rule 11.19 in order that the Committee on Finance might meet and consider the following bills today: HB 8, HB 26, HB 192.
The motion prevailed without objection.
All Members are deemed to have voted "Yea" on the motion to suspend the posting rules except as follows:
Nays: Cook.
Absent-excused: Eckhardt, Miles, West.
(Senator Blanco in Chair)
SENATE RULES SUSPENDED
(Posting Rules)
Senator Kolkhorst moved to suspend Senate Rule 7.09, Senate Rule 11.10(a), Senate Rule 11.18(a), and Senate Rule 11.19 in order that the Committee on Health and Human Services might meet today in Room 3E.4 and consider HB 25.
The motion prevailed without objection.
All Members are deemed to have voted "Yea" on the motion to suspend the posting rules except as follows:
Nays: Cook.
Absent-excused: Eckhardt, Miles, West.
ADJOURNMENT
On motion of Senator Zaffirini, the Senate at 5:34 p.m. adjourned until 7:00 p.m. today.