(Tuesday, February 18, 2025)

The Senate met at 11:04 a.m. pursuant to adjournment and was called to order by President Pro Tempore Creighton.

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, Nichols, Parker, Paxton, Perry, Schwertner, Sparks, West, Zaffirini.

Absent-excused:  Miles.

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

Pastor Charles Moody Jr., The Rock Church, Austin, offered the invocation as follows:

Father God, we acknowledge You today as king of kings and lord of lords. Father, I pray for each one of these great leaders on this morning. I pray that You give them discernment to look through the environmental, economic, energy, and educational systems and recognize the perils and opportunities of the people that they represent and make decisions that benefit each and every community member. I pray, Lord God, that You would give them the bravery to make the tough decisions, the decisions that may sometimes put them in controversial spaces but are the best decisions for all Texans. Father, grant each leader with determination to stand for right in the face of wrong, to stand for justice in the presence of injustice, and to consistently represent those who placed them in these heralded positions. Finally, Father, help them to remain diligent. In the face of instability let these men and women represent a standard for right. Bless each of them collectively and individually as they work to make our great State of Texas a great state for us all. Now, Lord, touch each one and guide each person on this day. 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.

On motion of Senator Zaffirini, Senator Miles was granted leave of absence for today on account of important business in the district.

Senator Kolkhorst offered the following resolution:

SR 97, Recognizing February 18, 2025, as Prairie View A&M University Day.

The resolution was read and was adopted without objection.

Senator Kolkhorst, joined by Senator West, was recognized and introduced to the Senate a Prairie View A&M University delegation including President Tomikia P. LeGrande, Jasmine Jeffries, Bryson Stokes, Alexander Kirk, and Chloè Tolbert.

The Senate welcomed its guests.

Senator Hagenbuch was recognized and presented Dr. T. David Greer of Henrietta as the Physician of the Day.

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

Senator Alvarado offered the following resolution:

SR 61, Recognizing February 18, 2025, as Texas Music Advocacy Day at the State Capitol.

The resolution was read and was adopted by a rising vote of the Senate.

Senator Alvarado, joined by Senators Menéndez, J. Hinojosa, West, and Blanco, was recognized and introduced to the Senate a Texas Music Advocacy Day delegation including Paul Wall, Yolanda Adams, Josh Abbott, Bobby Pulido, Christie Albino, and Brendon Anthony.

The Senate welcomed its guests.

Senator Zaffirini was recognized and introduced to the Senate a Texas Electric Cooperative delegation including Paul Brysch, Eric Halfmann, Boyd Vaughn, Brian Acosta, Doug Martin, Barbara Miller, Abraham Quiroga, J.L. Gonzalez, Trey Grebe, Katie Haby, Michael Holzhous, Larry Huesser, Jimmie Rains, R.H. Rodriguez, Kenneth Weynand, Avan Irani, Joanna Prado, Ron Hughes, Clif Lange, Wendy Ohrt, and Amy Pratka.

The Senate welcomed its guests.

Senator Nichols offered the following resolution:

SR 91, Recognizing February 11, 2025, as Alabama-Coushatta Tribe of Texas Day.

The resolution was read and was adopted without objection.

Senator Nichols was recognized and introduced to the Senate members of the Alabama-Coushatta Tribe of Texas.

The Senate welcomed its guests.

Senator Hall offered the following resolution:

SR 112, Recognizing February 18, 2025, as Kaufman County Day at the State Capitol.

The resolution was read and was adopted without objection.

Senator Hall was recognized and introduced to the Senate a Kaufman County delegation.

The Senate welcomed its guests.

Senator J. Hinojosa offered the following resolution:

SR 115, Recognizing February 18, 2025, as Edinburg Day.

The resolution was read and was adopted without objection.

Senator J. Hinojosa, joined by Senators Menéndez, A. Hinojosa, and Bettencourt, was recognized and introduced to the Senate a City of Edinburg delegation including Mayor Ramiro Garza Jr.; Mayor Pro Tempore Jason DeLeon; and Councilmembers Daniel "Dan" Diaz and David Salazar Jr.

The Senate welcomed its guests.

Senator Flores, joined by Senators Huffman, Zaffirini, J. Hinojosa, Eckhardt, and Kolkhorst, was recognized and introduced to the Senate a Texas Game Wardens Peace Officers Association delegation including President Quint Balkcom, Colonel Ronald VanderRoest, K-9 Piper, Major Jason Davis, Captain David Nieto, and Texas Parks and Wildlife Department Executive Director David Yoskowitz.

The Senate welcomed its guests.

Senator Kolkhorst was recognized and introduced to the Senate a Lee County delegation.

The Senate welcomed its guests.

Senator King offered the following resolution:

SR 103, Recognizing February 18, 2025, as Texas Manufacturers' Day at the State Capitol.

The resolution was read and was adopted without objection.

Senator King, joined by Senator Bettencourt, was recognized and introduced to the Senate a Texas Association of Manufacturers delegation.

The Senate welcomed its guests.

Senator J. Hinojosa offered the following resolution:

SR 104, Recognizing the citizens of Mission on their important contributions to the history and prosperity of our state.

The resolution was read and was adopted without objection.

Senator J. Hinojosa, joined by Senator A. Hinojosa, was recognized and introduced to the Senate a City of Mission delegation including Mayor Norie Gonzalez Garza; Mayor Pro Tempore Ruben Plata; Councilmembers Jessica Ortega and Marissa Ortega Gerlach; and Mission Economic Development Corporation Board Vice President and Greater Mission Chamber of Commerce Vice Chair Jose "Joe" Vargas.

The Senate welcomed its guests.

Senator West offered the following resolution:

SR 116, In memory of the life of Eddie Bernice Johnson.

The resolution was read.

On motion of Senator West, the resolution was adopted by a rising vote of the Senate.

In honor of the memory of Eddie Bernice Johnson, the text of SR 116 will be printed in the Senate Journal upon adjournment of this legislative day.

Senator Middleton, joined by Senators Sparks and Zaffirini, was recognized and introduced to the Senate a Meals on Wheels Texas delegation including Sixto Ortega and Robert Diaz.

The Senate welcomed its guests.

Senator Zaffirini was recognized and introduced to the Senate a Navarro ISD delegation including Superintendent Mandy Epley and Board of Trustees members Melissa Sartain, Dan Reinhard, and Lacey Gosch.

The Senate welcomed its guests.

Senator Menéndez, joined by Senator Paxton, was recognized and introduced to the Senate a McDonald's Franchise delegation including Maria Acosta and the Acosta family.

The Senate welcomed its guests.

The following resolutions were offered:

SR 48 by King, In memory of Teresa Ann Bock Manning.

SR 49 by King, In memory of Pastor Curtis Jefferson Jr. of Weatherford.

SR 50 by King, In memory of John Lewis Forrest Sr. of Weatherford.

SR 53 by King, Recognizing Sonny James Equine Ministries of Aledo for its efforts to benefit area youth.

SR 60 by King, In memory of Officer Darrin Curtis McMichael of the Arlington Police Department.

SR 79 by King, In memory of Toby Leon Taylor of Weatherford.

SR 80 by King, In memory of former Brownwood mayor Bert V. Massey II.

SR 90 by Middleton and Creighton, Recognizing the 25th anniversary of Harmony Public Schools.

SR 93 by Perry, Congratulating Ann Manning of Lubbock on receiving a Distinguished Alumni Award from the Texas Tech University School of Law.

SR 94 by Gurierrez, Recognizing February 13, 2025, as Uvalde County Day at the State Capitol.

SR 96 by Kolkhorst, Recognizing certified registered nurse anesthetists in Texas.

SR 100 by A. Hinojosa, In memory of Lucy J. Cortez of Brownsville.

SR 101 by Perry, In memory of Ramon Jaramillo.

SR 102 by Birdwell, Commending the members of the Alamo Letter Society for their commitment to preserving a vital part of the state's historic struggle.

SR 107 by Kolkhorst, In memory of Charles "Chuck" Scianna Jr.

The resolutions were read and were adopted by a viva voce vote.

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 Thursday, February 20, 2025, and ending on Tuesday, February 25, 2025.

ZAFFIRINI

SCR 16 was read.

On motion of Senator Zaffirini and by unanimous consent, the resolution was considered immediately and was adopted by the following vote:  Yeas 30, Nays 0.

Absent-excused:  Miles.

The following bill was introduced, read first time, and referred to the committee indicated:

SB 26 by Creighton

Relating to public education, including the rights and compensation of public school educators and funding for teacher compensation under the Foundation School Program.

To Committee on Education K-16.

On motion of Senator Huffman, Senators Flores, Hagenbuch, King, and Parker will be shown as Co-authors of SB 9.

On motion of Senator Creighton, Senator Parker will be shown as Co-author of SB 26.

On motion of Senator Huffman, Senators Flores, Hagenbuch, King, Nichols, and Parker will be shown as Co-authors of SB 40.

On motion of Senator Huffman, Senators Flores, Hagenbuch, King, and Parker will be shown as Co-authors of SJR 1.

On motion of Senator Huffman, Senators Flores, King, and Parker will be shown as Co-authors of SJR 5.

On motion of Senator J. Hinojosa, Senator Zaffirini will be shown as Co-author of SR 110.

On motion of Senator Zaffirini, the Senate at 12:40 p.m. recessed until 11:00 a.m. tomorrow.

SR 48, SR 49, SR 50, SR 53, SR 60, SR 61, SR 79, SR 80, SR 90, SR 91, SR 93, SR 94, SR 96, SR 97, SR 100, SR 101, SR 102, SR 103, SR 104, SR 107, SR 112, SR 115, SR 116

SCR 14