(Tuesday, January 28, 2025)

The Senate met at 11:09 a.m. pursuant to adjournment and was called to order by the President.

The roll was called and the following Senators were present:  Alvarado, Bettencourt, Birdwell, Blanco, Campbell, Cook, Creighton, Eckhardt, Flores, Gutierrez, Hagenbuch, Hall, Hancock, 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 John Fanning, City Reach Church, Austin, offered the invocation as follows:

Heavenly Father, I thank You for each of the representatives in this room, and as they are called to serve the people of our great state, we stand with them and pray for them today. I pray that You will give them the wisdom needed to lead our people, the humility required to do it with integrity and strength to lead us in unity and prosperity. I pray for their families, their children, grandchildren, protect and strengthen them, and bless their marriages and homes. Help them in their personal needs and struggles. Touch their hearts today. Together we pray for our state, our cities, towns, villages and our great people. As we ask, God, what is Your agenda? May Your will be done today. God bless Texas. In Jesus' name I pray. 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.

HOUSE CHAMBER

Austin, Texas

Tuesday, January 28, 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:

Authorizing the legislature to adjourn for more than three days during the period beginning on Wednesday, January 29, 2025, and ending on Tuesday, February 4, 2025.

Respectfully,

/s/Stephen Brown,

Chief Clerk

House of Representatives

Senator Perry offered the following resolution:

SR 8, Recognizing January 28, 2025, as Texas Society of Certified Public Accountants Advocacy Day at the State Capitol.

The resolution was read and was adopted without objection.

All Members are deemed to have voted "Yea" on the adoption of the resolution.

Senator Perry was recognized and introduced to the Senate a Texas Society of Certified Public Accountants Advocacy Day delegation including Allen Heckaman, Jeremy Crow, Adam Hallmark, Jacqui Belcher, and Greg Mason.

The Senate welcomed its guests.

Senator Schwertner was recognized and introduced to the Senate a delegation from The Texas A&M University System Chancellor's Student Advisory Council.

The Senate welcomed its guests.

Senator Zaffirini was recognized and introduced to the Senate Dimmit County officials including County Judge Martha Ponce; County Commissioners Jose Urenda, Julissa Talamantes, and Valerie Rubalcaba; County Sheriff Chris Castaneda; County Treasurer Oscar Ortiz; County Clerk Claudia McDaniel; Justice of the Peace Sonia Guerrero-Perez; Constables Robert Balderas, Rudy Lopez Jr., and Manuel Rosas III; and County Auditor Carlos Pereda.

The Senate welcomed its guests.

Senator J. Hinojosa was recognized and presented Dr. Jose Hinojosa of San Antonio as the Physician of the Day.

The Senate welcomed Dr. Hinojosa and thanked him for his participation in the Physician of the Day program sponsored by the Texas Academy of Family Physicians.

Senator King offered the following resolution:

SR 15, Recognizing January 27, 2025, as International Holocaust Remembrance Day.

The resolution was read.

On motion of Senator Bettencourt and by unanimous consent, the names of the Lieutenant Governor and Senators were added to the resolution as signers thereof.

On motion of Senator King, the resolution was adopted without objection.

Senator Paxton, joined by Senator Hagenbuch, was recognized and introduced to the Senate a Frisco Chamber of Commerce delegation.

The Senate welcomed its guests.

Senator Parker offered the following resolution:

SR 17, Recognizing January 28, 2025, as Sexual Assault Survivors Day at the State Capitol.

The resolution was read.

On motion of Senator Cook and by unanimous consent, the names of the Lieutenant Governor and Senators were added to the resolution as signers thereof.

On motion of Senator Parker, the resolution was adopted without objection.

The following resolutions were offered:

SR 3 by A. Hinojosa, Congratulating Victoria Hinojosa on the occasion of her 44th birthday.

SR 4 by Johnson, Recognizing J. Scott Moore on the occasion of his retirement.

SR 5 by Eckhardt, Recognizing Yu-Mei Liu for her participation in the Physician of the Day program.

SR 6 by Eckhardt, Recognizing Terrance Hines for his participation in the Physician of the Day program.

SR 7 by Eckhardt, Recognizing Daniel Kelly as Physician of the Day on January 22, 2025.

SR 11 by Perry, In memory of Larry Lyndon Beauchamp.

SR 12 by Perry, Recognizing Michael Beaver on the occasion of his retirement.

The resolutions were read and adopted without objection.

Senator Middleton offered the following resolution:

SR 14, In memory of Jesus "Jesse" Vargas.

The resolution was read.

On motion of Senator Bettencourt and by unanimous consent, the names of the Lieutenant Governor and Senators were added to the resolution as signers thereof.

On motion of Senator Middleton, SR 14 was adopted by a rising vote of the Senate.

In honor of the memory of Jesus "Jesse" Vargas, the text of the resolution will be printed in the Senate Journal upon adjournment of this legislative day.

The President Pro Tempore laid before the Senate the following resolution:

WHEREAS, Section 17, Article III, Texas Constitution, provides that neither house of the legislature may adjourn for more than three days without the consent of the other house; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the 89th Legislature of the State of Texas, That each house grant the other permission to adjourn for more than three days during the period beginning on Wednesday, January 29, 2025, and ending on Tuesday, February 4, 2025.

ZAFFIRINI

HCR 54 was read.

On motion of Senator Zaffirini and by unanimous consent, the resolution was considered immediately and was adopted by the following vote:  Yeas 31, Nays 0.

On motion of Senator West, Senator Flores will be shown as Co-author of SB 208.

On motion of Senator Flores, Senator Eckhardt will be shown as Co-author of SB 245.

On motion of Senator Flores, Senator Eckhardt will be shown as Co-author of SB 246.

On motion of Senator Huffman, Senators Alvarado and Paxton will be shown as Co-authors of SB 260.

On motion of Senator Huffman, Senator Middleton will be shown as Co-author of SB 329.

On motion of Senator Campbell, Senator Hughes will be shown as Co-author of SB 371.

On motion of Senator Middleton, Senator Hall will be shown as Co-author of SB 379.

On motion of Senator Middleton, Senator Hall will be shown as Co-author of SB 406.

On motion of Senator Middleton, Senator Hall will be shown as Co-author of SB 407.

On motion of Senator Kolkhorst, Senator Hughes will be shown as Co-author of SB 843.

On motion of Senator Zaffirini, the Senate at 12:27 p.m. adjourned, in memory of Mark Allen Butler and Jesus "Jesse" Vargas, until 11:00 a.m. tomorrow.

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

ADMINISTRATION — SJR 36

SR 3, SR 4, SR 5, SR 6, SR 7, SR 8, SR 11, SR 12, SR 14, SR 15, SR 17

WHEREAS, Deputy Jesus "Jesse" Vargas of the Brazoria County Sheriff's Office was killed in the line of duty on January 15, 2025, at the age of 41, and his untimely passing is a tragic loss to his family, to his fellow officers, and to the residents of his community; and

WHEREAS, Born on April 28, 1983, to Felix and Genoveva Vargas, Jesse Vargas grew up with the companionship of his seven siblings, Francisco, Guadalupe, Marisol, Felix, Eduardo, Benito, and Susanna; he went on to exchange wedding vows with Digna Emerita Bonilla, and the couple were blessed with three daughters, Josephine, Breanna, and Sofia; he was also a beloved uncle to many nieces and nephews; and

WHEREAS, As a 17-year veteran of law enforcement, Deputy Vargas dedicated his life to protecting and serving his community; he was a pillar of support to those around him, both on and off the job, and his compassion and devotion to duty left a lasting impression on his colleagues and fellow citizens alike; and

WHEREAS, Deputy Jesse Vargas was a courageous and caring law enforcement officer who embodied the highest ideals of his profession, and he will forever be remembered with admiration and affection by those he leaves behind; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That the Senate of the 89th Texas Legislature hereby pay tribute to the memory of Jesus "Jesse" Vargas and extend deepest condolences to all those who mourn his passing: to his wife, Digna Emerita Bonilla; to his daughters, Josephine Marie Vargas, Breanna Emerita Vargas, and Sofia Isabelle Vargas; to his parents, Felix Vargas Sr. and Genoveva Vargas; to his siblings, Francisco Vargas, Guadalupe Vargas and her husband, Rafael Cruz, Marisol Vargas Gamboa and her husband, Ruben, Felix Vargas Jr. and his wife, Cindy, Eduardo Vargas and his wife, Francine, Benito Vargas and his wife, Crystal, and Susanna Cabrera and her husband, Luis; to his mother-in-law, Anna Bonilla; to his sisters-in-law, Susana Celestino and her husband, Jose, and Emily Cruz and her husband, Alberto; to his law enforcement partner of six years, Chase Grupe; and to his other relatives, his friends, and his brothers and sisters in blue; and, be it further

RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be prepared for his family and that when the Texas Senate adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Jesus "Jesse" Vargas.