THIRTY-SIXTH DAY
(Wednesday, May 7, 2025)
The Senate met at 11:25 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, Miles, Nichols, Parker, Paxton, Perry, Schwertner, Sparks, West, Zaffirini.
The President Pro Tempore announced that a quorum of the Senate was present.
Pastor Daniel Hayworth, Vintage Church, Harker Heights, offered the invocation as follows:
Heavenly Father, thank You for the gift of this day and for the responsibilities that You placed on the men and women in this room to lead. God, this morning we ask You for Your wisdom to guide every decision that's made in this room. Give each Senator the courage to stand firm and hold to what is right, no matter what the cost would be. Allow them to lay down their own will and desire and instead take up the call that You give to us to be servants. Lord, Your word says that the righteous are as bold as a lion. So, I ask that You would make them bold, not for their own gain, but for the good of the people that they serve and the building up of Your kingdom. Help them to be servants of what is right and to look to Your word for guidance. Let Your kingdom come and will be done here in Texas, just as it is in heaven. And when the work is hard and the road is long, help to remind each of them that leadership is not about themselves, but about the service for those in their districts. Lord, Your word says, For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many. We pray today that this Chamber would be an echo of that and that each life would be centered on You, Lord Jesus, who leads us with strength and serves us with love. In Jesus' mighty name we 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.
MESSAGE FROM THE HOUSE
HOUSE CHAMBER
Austin, Texas
Wednesday, May 7, 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:
Relating to procedures for changes to a zoning regulation or district boundary.
Relating to student loan repayment assistance for certain prosecuting attorneys who are employed as part of the border prosecution unit.
Relating to periodic health screenings for firefighters.
Relating to an exemption from ad valorem taxation of the amount of the appraised value of real property located in certain counties that arises from the installation or construction on the property of border security infrastructure and related improvements and to the consideration of the price paid by certain governmental entities for a parcel of or easement in real property purchased for the purpose of installing or constructing such infrastructure when appraising other real property.
Relating to verification of excused absences from public school for students with severe or life-threatening illnesses.
Relating to the unlawful production or distribution of sexually explicit images using deep fake technology.
Relating to a maternal health care workforce campaign.
Relating to the regulation of the practice of pharmacy.
Relating to the ballot application requirements for the election of a precinct chair.
Relating to establishing the Texas Seal of Biliteracy for public high school students.
Relating to human trafficking, prostitution, and child pornography and to the prosecution of sexual or assaultive offenses or the prosecution of a failure to stop or report those offenses; amending and harmonizing certain statute of limitations provisions; creating a criminal offense; increasing a criminal penalty.
Relating to legislative leave for correctional officers employed by the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.
Relating to the installation of electric vehicle charging stations at certain state-owned parking lots and garages.
Relating to the maximum amount of operating capital retained in a licensed authorized organization's charitable bingo account.
Relating to interim rates charged by electric utilities during a rate suspension period.
Relating to the creation and operations of a health care provider participation program in certain counties.
Relating to information regarding consumer access to health care records.
Relating to unlawful acts involving certain health care programs.
Relating to electronic submission and delivery of public securities and records of proceedings for those securities.
Relating to the authority of the Public Utility Commission of Texas to retain assistance for regional proceedings affecting certain electric utilities and consumers.
Relating to the composition and duties of the Health and Human Services Commission Executive Council.
Relating to the display of certain historical state documents.
Congratulating Tevis and Patricia Herd of Midland on their 60th wedding anniversary.
Respectfully,
/s/Stephen Brown,
Chief Clerk
House of Representatives
GUESTS PRESENTED
Senator Paxton was recognized and introduced to the Senate her son-in-law, Pastor Daniel Hayworth; her daughter, Mattie Hayworth; and her grandchildren, Paxton and Teddy Hayworth.
The Senate welcomed its guests.
SENATE RESOLUTION 496
Senator Hall offered the following resolution:
SR 496, Recognizing May 7, 2025, as Leadership Garland Day.
The resolution was read and was adopted without objection.
GUESTS PRESENTED
Senator Hall was recognized and introduced to the Senate a Leadership Garland Day delegation.
The Senate welcomed its guests.
GUESTS PRESENTED
Senator Birdwell was recognized and introduced to the Senate North Dakota State Senator Robert Erbele and his wife, Susan Erbele.
The Senate welcomed its guests.
(President in Chair)
PHYSICIAN OF THE DAY
Senator Paxton was recognized and presented Dr. Sunil Modi of Allen as the Physician of the Day.
The Senate welcomed Dr. Modi and thanked him for his participation in the Physician of the Day program sponsored by the Texas Academy of Family Physicians.
(Senator Birdwell in Chair)
MESSAGES FROM THE GOVERNOR
The following Messages from the Governor were read and were referred to the Committee on Nominations:
May 7, 2025
Austin, Texas
TO THE SENATE OF THE EIGHTY-NINTH LEGISLATURE, REGULAR SESSION:
I ask the advice, consent and confirmation of the Senate with respect to the following appointments:
To be members of the Texas Economic Development Corporation Board of Directors for terms to expire at the pleasure of the Governor:
Lawrence S. "Larry" Coben, Ph.D.
Houston, Texas
(replacing Elizabeth R. Killinger of Houston)
Bruce L. Niemeyer
The Woodlands, Texas
(replacing Kathryn M. "Katie" Farmer of Fort Worth who resigned)
Respectfully submitted,
/s/Greg Abbott
Governor
May 7, 2025
Austin, Texas
TO THE SENATE OF THE EIGHTY-NINTH LEGISLATURE, REGULAR SESSION:
I ask the advice, consent and confirmation of the Senate with respect to the following appointment:
To be a member of the Nueces River Authority Board of Directors for a term to expire February 1, 2031:
Armandina G. "Dina" Ramirez
Karnes City, Texas
(Ms. Ramirez is being reappointed)
Respectfully submitted,
/s/Greg Abbott
Governor
BILLS AND RESOLUTION SIGNED
The Presiding Officer announced the signing of the following enrolled bills and resolution in the presence of the Senate after the captions had been read:
SB 65, SB 412, SB 522, SB 767, SB 879, SB 914, SB 1035, SB 1062, SB 1151, SB 1197, SB 1341, SB 1366, SB 1378, SB 1415, SB 1437, SB 1532, SB 1619, SB 1745, SB 1746, SB 1806, SB 1963, SB 2066, SB 2077, SB 2204, SJR 18.
SB 372, SB 610, SB 765, SB 870, SB 922, SB 1008, SB 1044, SB 1057, SB 1106, SB 1268, SB 1369, SB 1403, SB 1577, SB 1583, SB 2032, SB 2034, SB 2314, SB 2349, SB 2629, SB 2964.
SENATE RESOLUTIONS
The following resolutions were offered:
SR 503 by Zaffirini, In memory of Lydia Estela Oliveira Canales.
SR 504 by Flores, Congratulating Diego Flores of the Ego eSports Club on his success at LVL UP EXPO.
The resolutions were read and were adopted without objection.
All Members are deemed to have voted "Yea" on adoption of the resolutions.
INTRODUCTION OF
BILLS AND RESOLUTIONS POSTPONED
The Presiding Officer 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.
CONCLUSION OF MORNING CALL
The Presiding Officer at 12:07 p.m. announced the conclusion of morning call.
COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE
SENATE BILL 614 ON SECOND READING
On motion of Senator J. Hinojosa and by unanimous consent, the regular order of business was suspended to take up for consideration CSSB 614 at this time on its second reading:
CSSB 614, Relating to the authority of the Texas Forensic Science Commission to review and refer certain cases to the office of capital and forensic writs.
The bill was read second time and was passed to engrossment without objection.
All Members are deemed to have voted "Yea" on the passage to engrossment.
COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE
SENATE BILL 614 ON THIRD READING
Senator J. Hinojosa moved that Senate Rule 7.18 and the Constitutional Rule requiring bills to be read on three several days be suspended and that CSSB 614 be placed on its third reading and final passage.
The motion prevailed by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0.
The bill was read third time and was passed by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0.
SENATE BILL 250 ON SECOND READING
On motion of Senator Flores and by unanimous consent, the regular order of business was suspended to take up for consideration SB 250 at this time on its second reading:
SB 250, Relating to municipal annexation of an area adjacent to contiguous or connecting railroad rights-of-way.
The bill was read second time and was passed to engrossment without objection.
All Members are deemed to have voted "Yea" on the passage to engrossment.
SENATE BILL 250 ON THIRD READING
Senator Flores moved that Senate Rule 7.18 and the Constitutional Rule requiring bills to be read on three several days be suspended and that SB 250 be placed on its third reading and final passage.
The motion prevailed by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0.
The bill was read third time and was passed by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0.
COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE
SENATE BILL 1660 ON SECOND READING
On motion of Senator Huffman and by unanimous consent, the regular order of business was suspended to take up for consideration CSSB 1660 at this time on its second reading:
CSSB 1660, Relating to the retention and preservation of toxicological evidence of certain intoxication offenses.
The bill was read second time and was passed to engrossment without objection.
All Members are deemed to have voted "Yea" on the passage to engrossment.
COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE
SENATE BILL 1660 ON THIRD READING
Senator Huffman moved that Senate Rule 7.18 and the Constitutional Rule requiring bills to be read on three several days be suspended and that CSSB 1660 be placed on its third reading and final passage.
The motion prevailed by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0.
The bill was read third time and was passed by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0.
COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE
SENATE BILL 2586 ON SECOND READING
On motion of Senator Flores and by unanimous consent, the regular order of business was suspended to take up for consideration CSSB 2586 at this time on its second reading:
CSSB 2586, Relating to information that a property owners' association must file with the Texas Real Estate Commission.
The bill was read second time and was passed to engrossment without objection.
All Members are deemed to have voted "Yea" on the passage to engrossment.
COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE
SENATE BILL 2586 ON THIRD READING
Senator Flores moved that Senate Rule 7.18 and the Constitutional Rule requiring bills to be read on three several days be suspended and that CSSB 2586 be placed on its third reading and final passage.
The motion prevailed by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0.
The bill was read third time and was passed by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0.
SENATE BILL 1588 ON SECOND READING
Senator Hancock moved to suspend the regular order of business to take up for consideration SB 1588 at this time on its second reading:
SB 1588, Relating to the failure to report child abuse or neglect; increasing a criminal penalty.
The motion prevailed.
Senator Eckhardt asked to be recorded as voting "Nay" on suspension of the regular order of business.
The bill was read second time and was passed to engrossment without objection.
All Members are deemed to have voted "Yea" on the passage to engrossment except as follows:
Nays: Eckhardt.
SENATE BILL 1588 ON THIRD READING
Senator Hancock moved that Senate Rule 7.18 and the Constitutional Rule requiring bills to be read on three several days be suspended and that SB 1588 be placed on its third reading and final passage.
The motion prevailed by the following vote: Yeas 30, Nays 1.
Nays: Eckhardt.
The bill was read third time and was passed by the following vote: Yeas 30, Nays 1. (Same as previous roll call)
STATEMENT REGARDING SENATE BILL 1588
Senator Eckhardt submitted the following statement regarding SB 1588:
Governing requires more than just looking good. We must actually do good. Child Abuse and Neglect are serious family crises that metastasize beyond the direct victim, resulting in generational trauma. Criminal prosecution is too often the blunt instrument deployed after the family and the community have missed, hidden from, been too afraid to seize or been denied every other intervention.
The Legislature's response to a real problem is often illusory - looking good without actually doing good. Albeit well-intentioned, SB 1588 is such an example, enhancing penalties rather than enhancing solutions. Teachers, doctors and other childcare providers need evidence-based resources and support in protecting victims and confronting perpetrators, not threats of felony prosecution. Of the 21 arrests last fiscal year for the offense of failure to report child abuse or neglect, only 8 of those arrests resulted in an outcome - placement onto community supervision.
ECKHARDT
HOUSE BILL 912 ON SECOND READING
On motion of Senator Blanco and by unanimous consent, the regular order of business was suspended to take up for consideration HB 912 at this time on its second reading:
HB 912, Relating to the compensation of a distributed renewable generation owner in certain areas outside of ERCOT.
The bill was read second time and was passed to third reading without objection.
All Members are deemed to have voted "Yea" on the passage to third reading.
HOUSE BILL 912 ON THIRD READING
Senator Blanco moved that Senate Rule 7.18 and the Constitutional Rule requiring bills to be read on three several days be suspended and that HB 912 be placed on its third reading and final passage.
The motion prevailed by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0.
The bill was read third time and was passed by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0.
SENATE BILL 1957 ON SECOND READING
Senator Hagenbuch moved to suspend the regular order of business to take up for consideration SB 1957 at this time on its second reading:
SB 1957, Relating to the eligibility of a person to serve on a civilian oversight board.
The motion prevailed by the following vote: Yeas 23, Nays 8.
Yeas: Bettencourt, Birdwell, Blanco, Campbell, Creighton, Flores, Hagenbuch, Hall, Hancock, A. Hinojosa, J. Hinojosa, Huffman, Hughes, King, Kolkhorst, Middleton, Nichols, Parker, Paxton, Perry, Schwertner, Sparks, Zaffirini.
Nays: Alvarado, Cook, Eckhardt, Gutierrez, Johnson, Menéndez, Miles, West.
The bill was read second time and was passed to engrossment by the following vote: Yeas 23, Nays 8. (Same as previous roll call)
COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE
HOUSE BILL 2525 ON SECOND READING
Senator Paxton moved to suspend the regular order of business to take up for consideration CSHB 2525 at this time on its second reading:
CSHB 2525, Relating to the exemption from ad valorem taxation of certain property owned by a charitable organization that is engaged in providing housing and related facilities and services to persons who are at least 62 years of age.
The motion prevailed.
Senator Hancock asked to be recorded as voting "Nay" on suspension of the regular order of business.
The bill was read second time and was passed to third reading without objection.
All Members are deemed to have voted "Yea" on the passage to third reading except as follows:
Nays: Hancock.
COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE
HOUSE BILL 2525 ON THIRD READING
Senator Paxton moved that Senate Rule 7.18 and the Constitutional Rule requiring bills to be read on three several days be suspended and that CSHB 2525 be placed on its third reading and final passage.
The motion prevailed by the following vote: Yeas 30, Nays 1.
Nays: Hancock.
The bill was read third time and was passed by the following vote: Yeas 30, Nays 1. (Same as previous roll call)
COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE
SENATE BILL 1525 ON SECOND READING
Senator Menéndez moved to suspend the regular order of business to take up for consideration CSSB 1525 at this time on its second reading:
CSSB 1525, Relating to prior authorization for prescription drug benefits related to the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases.
The motion prevailed.
Senator Hagenbuch asked to be recorded as voting "Nay" on suspension of the regular order of business.
The bill was read second time and was passed to engrossment without objection.
All Members are deemed to have voted "Yea" on the passage to engrossment except as follows:
Nays: Hagenbuch.
COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE
SENATE BILL 1525 ON THIRD READING
Senator Menéndez moved that Senate Rule 7.18 and the Constitutional Rule requiring bills to be read on three several days be suspended and that CSSB 1525 be placed on its third reading and final passage.
The motion prevailed by the following vote: Yeas 30, Nays 1.
Nays: Hagenbuch.
The bill was read third time and was passed by the following vote: Yeas 30, Nays 1. (Same as previous roll call)
COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE
SENATE BILL 865 ON SECOND READING
On motion of Senator Alvarado and by unanimous consent, the regular order of business was suspended to take up for consideration CSSB 865 at this time on its second reading:
CSSB 865, Relating to instruction in cardiopulmonary resuscitation and the use of automated external defibrillators for school district, private school, and open-enrollment charter school employees and volunteers.
The bill was read second time.
Senator Paxton offered the following amendment to the bill:
Floor Amendment No. 1
Amend CSSB 865 (senate committee report) by adding the following appropriately numbered SECTIONS to the bill and renumbering subsequent SECTIONS of the bill accordingly:
SECTION ____. Section 38.018, Education Code, is amended to read as follows:
Sec. 38.018. [PROCEDURES REGARDING RESPONSE TO] CARDIAC EMERGENCY RESPONSE PLAN [ARREST]. (a) Each school district and private school shall develop and implement a cardiac emergency response plan that establishes safety procedures for a district or school employee or other appropriate personnel [student] to follow in responding to a medical emergency involving cardiac arrest on district or school grounds[, including the appropriate response time in administering cardiopulmonary resuscitation, using an automated external defibrillator, as defined by Section 779.001, Health and Safety Code, or calling a local emergency medical services provider].
(b) In developing the plan, the district or school shall:
(1) work directly with local emergency services providers to integrate the plan with the providers' protocols; and
(2) incorporate evidence-based practices of a nationally recognized, guidelines-based organization focused on emergency cardiovascular care.
(c) The plan must include at a minimum:
(1) the establishment of a cardiac emergency response team;
(2) procedures for activating the cardiac emergency response team in response to a medical emergency involving cardiac arrest;
(3) the dissemination of the plan throughout each district or school campus;
(4) ongoing training in first aid, cardiopulmonary resuscitation, and the use of automated external defibrillators, as defined by Section 779.001, Health and Safety Code, using evidence-based guidelines, for appropriate district or school employees, including school coaches, school nurses, and athletic trainers;
(5) annual practice drills in responding to a medical emergency involving cardiac arrest; and
(6) annual review, evaluation, and, if necessary, modification of the plan.
(d) A private school is required to develop a cardiac emergency response plan [safety procedures] under this section only if the school receives an automated external defibrillator from the agency or receives funding from the agency to purchase or lease an automated external defibrillator.
SECTION ____. Not later than the first instructional day of the 2027-2028 school year, each public school and private school to which Section 38.018, Education Code, as amended by this Act, applies shall implement a cardiac emergency response plan as required by that section.
The amendment to CSSB 865 was read and was adopted without objection.
All Members are deemed to have voted "Yea" on the adoption of Floor Amendment No. 1.
CSSB 865 as amended was passed to engrossment without objection.
All Members are deemed to have voted "Yea" on the passage to engrossment.
COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE
SENATE BILL 865 ON THIRD READING
Senator Alvarado moved that Senate Rule 7.18 and the Constitutional Rule requiring bills to be read on three several days be suspended and that CSSB 865 be placed on its third reading and final passage.
The motion prevailed by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0.
The bill was read third time and was passed by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0.
(Senator Flores in Chair)
SENATE BILL 1212 ON SECOND READING
Senator Paxton moved to suspend the regular order of business to take up for consideration SB 1212 at this time on its second reading:
SB 1212, Relating to the prosecution and punishment for the offense of trafficking of persons; increasing a criminal penalty.
The motion prevailed.
Senator West asked to be recorded as voting "Nay" on suspension of the regular order of business.
The bill was read second time and was passed to engrossment without objection.
All Members are deemed to have voted "Yea" on the passage to engrossment except as follows:
Nays: West.
SENATE BILL 1212 ON THIRD READING
Senator Paxton moved that Senate Rule 7.18 and the Constitutional Rule requiring bills to be read on three several days be suspended and that SB 1212 be placed on its third reading and final passage.
The motion prevailed by the following vote: Yeas 30, Nays 1.
Nays: West.
The bill was read third time and was passed by the following vote: Yeas 30, Nays 1. (Same as previous roll call)
COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE
SENATE BILL 2615 ON SECOND READING
Senator Creighton moved to suspend the regular order of business to take up for consideration CSSB 2615 at this time on its second reading:
CSSB 2615, Relating to restricting remote work by employees of public institutions of higher education.
The motion prevailed by the following vote: Yeas 21, Nays 10.
Yeas: Bettencourt, Birdwell, Campbell, Creighton, Flores, Hagenbuch, Hall, Hancock, A. Hinojosa, J. Hinojosa, Huffman, Hughes, King, Kolkhorst, Middleton, Nichols, Parker, Paxton, Perry, Schwertner, Sparks.
Nays: Alvarado, Blanco, Cook, Eckhardt, Gutierrez, Johnson, Menéndez, Miles, West, Zaffirini.
The bill was read second time and was passed to engrossment by the following vote: Yeas 21, Nays 10. (Same as previous roll call)
SENATE BILL 2690 ON SECOND READING
On motion of Senator Hancock and by unanimous consent, the regular order of business was suspended to take up for consideration SB 2690 at this time on its second reading:
SB 2690, Relating to solicitations for the retrieval of certain documents from the secretary of state; providing a civil penalty.
The bill was read second time and was passed to engrossment without objection.
All Members are deemed to have voted "Yea" on the passage to engrossment.
SENATE BILL 2690 ON THIRD READING
Senator Hancock moved that Senate Rule 7.18 and the Constitutional Rule requiring bills to be read on three several days be suspended and that SB 2690 be placed on its third reading and final passage.
The motion prevailed by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0.
The bill was read third time and was passed by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0.
COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE
SENATE BILL 2487 ON SECOND READING
Senator Parker moved to suspend the regular order of business to take up for consideration CSSB 2487 at this time on its second reading:
CSSB 2487, Relating to procedures for and certain facilities providing crisis and mental health services.
The motion prevailed by the following vote: Yeas 28, Nays 3.
Yeas: Alvarado, Bettencourt, Birdwell, Blanco, Campbell, Cook, Creighton, Eckhardt, Flores, Gutierrez, Hagenbuch, A. Hinojosa, J. Hinojosa, Huffman, Johnson, King, Kolkhorst, Menéndez, Middleton, Miles, Nichols, Parker, Paxton, Perry, Schwertner, Sparks, West, Zaffirini.
Nays: Hall, Hancock, Hughes.
The bill was read second time.
Senator Parker offered the following amendment to the bill:
Floor Amendment No. 1
Amend CSSB 2487 (senate committee report) as follows:
(1) In SECTION 1 of the bill, in added Section 573.020, Health and Safety Code (page 1, lines 29 and 38), strike "facility established under Section 580.003" in each instance that it appears and substitute "facility providing crisis and mental health services as part of a crisis service model established under Chapter 580".
(2) In SECTION 2 of the bill, strike the recital to SECTION 2 and amended Section 573.021(a), Health and Safety Code (page 1, line 52, through page 2, line 1), and substitute the following:
SECTION 2. Section 573.021, Health and Safety Code, is amended by adding Subsection (a-1) and amending Subsection (c) to read as follows:
(a-1) A facility providing crisis and mental health services as part of a crisis service model established under Chapter 580 may temporarily accept a person under Subsection (a) only after an initial examination has been conducted under Section 573.020.
(3) In SECTION 4 of the bill, in added Section 580.003(a), Health and Safety Code (page 2, line 34), strike "shall" and substitute "may".
(4) In SECTION 4 of the bill, strike added Sections 580.003(e) and (f), Health and Safety Code (page 3, lines 6 through 17).
(5) In SECTION 4 of the bill, in added Section 580.004, Health and Safety Code (page 3, lines 18 and 19), between "county" and "shall", insert "that establishes a crisis service model under this chapter".
(6) In SECTION 4 of the bill, strike added Section 580.005, Health and Safety Code (page 3, lines 33 through 40), and substitute the following:
Sec. 580.005. FUNDING. A county may solicit and accept gifts, grants, and donations from any source to support the county in establishing and operating a crisis service model under this chapter.
(7) In SECTION 4 of the bill, in added Section 580.006, Health and Safety Code (page 3, line 41), strike "REPORTS. A county" and substitute "REPORT. Not later than October 1 of each even-numbered year, a county that establishes a crisis service model under this chapter".
(8) In SECTION 4 of the bill, in added Section 580.006, Health and Safety Code (page 3, line 43), strike "quarterly reports" and substitute "a report".
(9) Strike SECTION 6 of the bill (page 4, lines 7 through 14).
(10) Add the following appropriately numbered SECTION to the bill and renumber subsequent SECTIONS of the bill accordingly:
SECTION ____. The Health and Human Services Commission is required to implement a provision of this Act only if the legislature appropriates money specifically for that purpose. If the legislature does not appropriate money specifically for that purpose, the commission may, but is not required to, implement a provision of this Act using other money available for that purpose.
The amendment to CSSB 2487 was read and was adopted without objection.
All Members are deemed to have voted "Yea" on the adoption of Floor Amendment No. 1.
CSSB 2487 as amended was passed to engrossment by the following vote: Yeas 28, Nays 3.
Yeas: Alvarado, Bettencourt, Birdwell, Blanco, Campbell, Cook, Creighton, Eckhardt, Flores, Gutierrez, Hagenbuch, A. Hinojosa, J. Hinojosa, Huffman, Johnson, King, Kolkhorst, Menéndez, Middleton, Miles, Nichols, Parker, Paxton, Perry, Schwertner, Sparks, West, Zaffirini.
Nays: Hall, Hancock, Hughes.
COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE
SENATE BILL 2487 ON THIRD READING
Senator Parker moved that Senate Rule 7.18 and the Constitutional Rule requiring bills to be read on three several days be suspended and that CSSB 2487 be placed on its third reading and final passage.
The motion prevailed by the following vote: Yeas 28, Nays 3.
Yeas: Alvarado, Bettencourt, Birdwell, Blanco, Campbell, Cook, Creighton, Eckhardt, Flores, Gutierrez, Hagenbuch, A. Hinojosa, J. Hinojosa, Huffman, Johnson, King, Kolkhorst, Menéndez, Middleton, Miles, Nichols, Parker, Paxton, Perry, Schwertner, Sparks, West, Zaffirini.
Nays: Hall, Hancock, Hughes.
The bill was read third time and was passed by the following vote: Yeas 28, Nays 3. (Same as previous roll call)
(President in Chair)
(Senator Flores in Chair)
SENATE BILL 2138 ON SECOND READING
Senator Creighton moved to suspend the regular order of business to take up for consideration SB 2138 at this time on its second reading:
SB 2138, Relating to prohibiting the investment of the permanent university fund, the Texas University Fund, or money held by a public institution of higher education in financial companies that boycott certain energy companies.
The motion prevailed by the following vote: Yeas 23, Nays 8.
Yeas: Bettencourt, Birdwell, Blanco, Campbell, Creighton, Flores, Hagenbuch, Hall, Hancock, A. Hinojosa, J. Hinojosa, Huffman, Hughes, King, Kolkhorst, Middleton, Parker, Paxton, Perry, Schwertner, Sparks, West, Zaffirini.
Nays: Alvarado, Cook, Eckhardt, Gutierrez, Johnson, Menéndez, Miles, Nichols.
The bill was read second time and was passed to engrossment by the following vote: Yeas 23, Nays 8. (Same as previous roll call)
COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE
SENATE BILL 1802 ON SECOND READING
Senator Alvarado moved to suspend the regular order of business to take up for consideration CSSB 1802 at this time on its second reading:
CSSB 1802, Relating to a landlord's duty to repair or remedy certain conditions.
The motion prevailed by the following vote: Yeas 26, Nays 5.
Yeas: Alvarado, Bettencourt, Birdwell, Blanco, Campbell, Cook, Creighton, Eckhardt, Flores, Gutierrez, Hall, J. Hinojosa, Huffman, Johnson, King, Kolkhorst, Menéndez, Middleton, Miles, Nichols, Parker, Paxton, Perry, Schwertner, West, Zaffirini.
Nays: Hagenbuch, Hancock, A. Hinojosa, Hughes, Sparks.
The bill was read second time.
Senator Alvarado offered the following amendment to the bill:
Floor Amendment No. 1
Amend CSSB 1802 (senate committee report) in SECTION 2 of the bill, in amended Section 92.056(b)(2), Property Code (page 1, lines 55-57), by striking added Paragraph (B) and substituting the following:
(B) arises from the landlord's failure to maintain in good operating condition or provide a functionally equivalent alternative to a ramp, elevator, or handrail located on an accessible route to or from or inside of the tenant's dwelling;
The amendment to CSSB 1802 was read and was adopted without objection.
All Members are deemed to have voted "Yea" on the adoption of Floor Amendment No. 1.
CSSB 1802 as amended was passed to engrossment by the following vote: Yeas 26, Nays 5.
Yeas: Alvarado, Bettencourt, Birdwell, Blanco, Campbell, Cook, Creighton, Eckhardt, Flores, Gutierrez, Hall, J. Hinojosa, Huffman, Johnson, King, Kolkhorst, Menéndez, Middleton, Miles, Nichols, Parker, Paxton, Perry, Schwertner, West, Zaffirini.
Nays: Hagenbuch, Hancock, A. Hinojosa, Hughes, Sparks.
COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE
SENATE BILL 1802 ON THIRD READING
Senator Alvarado moved that Senate Rule 7.18 and the Constitutional Rule requiring bills to be read on three several days be suspended and that CSSB 1802 be placed on its third reading and final passage.
The motion prevailed by the following vote: Yeas 26, Nays 5.
Yeas: Alvarado, Bettencourt, Birdwell, Blanco, Campbell, Cook, Creighton, Eckhardt, Flores, Gutierrez, Hall, J. Hinojosa, Huffman, Johnson, King, Kolkhorst, Menéndez, Middleton, Miles, Nichols, Parker, Paxton, Perry, Schwertner, West, Zaffirini.
Nays: Hagenbuch, Hancock, A. Hinojosa, Hughes, Sparks.
The bill was read third time and was passed by the following vote: Yeas 26, Nays 5. (Same as previous roll call)
COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE
SENATE BILL 905 ON SECOND READING
On motion of Senator Zaffirini and by unanimous consent, the regular order of business was suspended to take up for consideration CSSB 905 at this time on its second reading:
CSSB 905, Relating to the licensing and regulation of speech-language pathologists and audiologists.
The bill was read second time.
Senator Zaffirini offered the following amendment to the bill:
Floor Amendment No. 1
Amend CSSB 905 (senate committee report) by adding the following appropriately numbered SECTION to the bill and renumbering subsequent SECTIONS of the bill accordingly:
SECTION ____. Section 401.304, Occupations Code, is amended by amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (a-1) to read as follows:
(a) To be eligible for licensing as a speech-language pathologist or audiologist, an applicant must:
(1) if the application is for a license in:
(A) speech-language pathology, possess at least a master's degree with a major in at least one of the areas of communicative sciences or disorders [from a program accredited by a national accrediting organization that is approved by the commission or department and recognized by the United States secretary of education under the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. Section 1001 et seq.) in an accredited or approved college or university]; or
(B) audiology, possess at least:
(i) a master's degree in audiology conferred on or before December 31, 2007; or
(ii) a doctoral degree in audiology or a related hearing science [from a program accredited by a national accrediting organization that is approved by the commission or department and recognized by the United States secretary of education under the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. Section 1001 et seq.) in an accredited or approved college or university];
(2) submit a transcript from a public or private institution of higher learning showing successful completion of course work in amounts set by the commission by rule in:
(A) normal development and use of speech, language, and hearing;
(B) evaluation, habilitation, and rehabilitation of speech, language, and hearing disorders; and
(C) related fields that augment the work of clinical practitioners of speech-language pathology and audiology;
(3) have successfully completed at least 36 semester hours in courses that are acceptable toward a graduate degree by the college or university in which the courses are taken, at least 24 of which must be in the professional area for which the license is requested;
(4) have completed the minimum number of hours, established by the commission by rule, of supervised clinical experience with persons who present a variety of communication disorders; and
(5) have completed the full-time supervised professional experience, as defined by commission rule, in which clinical work has been accomplished in the major professional area for which the license is being sought.
(a-1) A degree required under Subsection (a)(1) must be obtained from a program accredited by a national accrediting organization that is approved by the commission or department and recognized by the United States secretary of education under the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. Section 1001 et seq.) in an accredited or approved college or university.
The amendment to CSSB 905 was read and was adopted without objection.
All Members are deemed to have voted "Yea" on the adoption of Floor Amendment No. 1.
CSSB 905 as amended was passed to engrossment without objection.
All Members are deemed to have voted "Yea" on the passage to engrossment.
COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE
SENATE BILL 905 ON THIRD READING
Senator Zaffirini moved that Senate Rule 7.18 and the Constitutional Rule requiring bills to be read on three several days be suspended and that CSSB 905 be placed on its third reading and final passage.
The motion prevailed by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0.
The bill was read third time and was passed by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0.
SENATE BILL 2929 ON SECOND READING
Senator Creighton moved to suspend the regular order of business to take up for consideration SB 2929 at this time on its second reading:
SB 2929, Relating to the removal of a spectator of certain school extracurricular athletic activities or competitions.
The motion prevailed.
Senator Miles asked to be recorded as voting "Nay" on suspension of the regular order of business.
The bill was read second time and was passed to engrossment without objection.
All Members are deemed to have voted "Yea" on the passage to engrossment except as follows:
Nays: Miles.
SENATE BILL 2929 ON THIRD READING
Senator Creighton moved that Senate Rule 7.18 and the Constitutional Rule requiring bills to be read on three several days be suspended and that SB 2929 be placed on its third reading and final passage.
The motion prevailed by the following vote: Yeas 30, Nays 1.
Nays: Miles.
The bill was read third time and was passed by the following vote: Yeas 30, Nays 1. (Same as previous roll call)
COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE
SENATE BILL 2675 ON SECOND READING
Senator J. Hinojosa moved to suspend the regular order of business to take up for consideration CSSB 2675 at this time on its second reading:
CSSB 2675, Relating to the conveyance of certain park land owned by certain municipalities.
The motion prevailed.
Senators Hall and Hughes asked to be recorded as voting "Nay" on suspension of the regular order of business.
The bill was read second time and was passed to engrossment without objection.
All Members are deemed to have voted "Yea" on the passage to engrossment except as follows:
Nays: Hall, Hughes.
COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE
SENATE BILL 2675 ON THIRD READING
Senator J. Hinojosa moved that Senate Rule 7.18 and the Constitutional Rule requiring bills to be read on three several days be suspended and that CSSB 2675 be placed on its third reading and final passage.
The motion prevailed by the following vote: Yeas 29, Nays 2.
Yeas: Alvarado, Bettencourt, Birdwell, Blanco, Campbell, Cook, Creighton, Eckhardt, Flores, Gutierrez, Hagenbuch, Hancock, A. Hinojosa, J. Hinojosa, Huffman, Johnson, King, Kolkhorst, Menéndez, Middleton, Miles, Nichols, Parker, Paxton, Perry, Schwertner, Sparks, West, Zaffirini.
Nays: Hall, Hughes.
The bill was read third time and was passed by the following vote: Yeas 29, Nays 2. (Same as previous roll call)
SENATE BILL 872 ON SECOND READING
Senator Birdwell moved to suspend the regular order of business to take up for consideration SB 872 at this time on its second reading:
SB 872, Relating to the punishment for the offense of burglary of a vehicle involving theft of a firearm; increasing a criminal penalty.
The motion prevailed.
Senators Cook and West asked to be recorded as voting "Nay" on suspension of the regular order of business.
The bill was read second time and was passed to engrossment without objection.
All Members are deemed to have voted "Yea" on the passage to engrossment except as follows:
Nays: Cook, West.
SENATE BILL 872 ON THIRD READING
Senator Birdwell moved that Senate Rule 7.18 and the Constitutional Rule requiring bills to be read on three several days be suspended and that SB 872 be placed on its third reading and final passage.
The motion prevailed by the following vote: Yeas 29, Nays 2.
Yeas: Alvarado, Bettencourt, Birdwell, Blanco, Campbell, 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, Zaffirini.
Nays: Cook, West.
The bill was read third time and was passed by the following vote: Yeas 29, Nays 2. (Same as previous roll call)
COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE
SENATE BILL 1113 ON SECOND READING
On motion of Senator Hughes and by unanimous consent, the regular order of business was suspended to take up for consideration CSSB 1113 at this time on its second reading:
CSSB 1113, Relating to certain retail sales of motor vehicles, trailers, and semitrailers by a holder of a converter's license.
The bill was read second time and was passed to engrossment without objection.
All Members are deemed to have voted "Yea" on the passage to engrossment.
COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE
SENATE BILL 1113 ON THIRD READING
Senator Hughes moved that Senate Rule 7.18 and the Constitutional Rule requiring bills to be read on three several days be suspended and that CSSB 1113 be placed on its third reading and final passage.
The motion prevailed by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0.
The bill was read third time and was passed by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0.
COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE
SENATE BILL 3016 ON SECOND READING
Senator Creighton moved to suspend the regular order of business to take up for consideration CSSB 3016 at this time on its second reading:
CSSB 3016, Relating to state preemption of municipal and county regulation on land use, structures, businesses, and related activities and municipal boundaries and annexation.
The motion prevailed by the following vote: Yeas 20, Nays 11.
Yeas: Bettencourt, Birdwell, Campbell, Creighton, Flores, Hagenbuch, Hall, Hancock, A. Hinojosa, Huffman, Hughes, King, Kolkhorst, Middleton, Parker, Paxton, Perry, Schwertner, Sparks, West.
Nays: Alvarado, Blanco, Cook, Eckhardt, Gutierrez, J. Hinojosa, Johnson, Menéndez, Miles, Nichols, Zaffirini.
The bill was read second time.
Senator Creighton offered the following amendment to the bill:
Floor Amendment No. 1
Amend CSSB 3016 (senate committee printing) in SECTION 6 of the bill, immediately after added Section 102A.053(c), Civil Practice and Remedies Code (page 3, between lines 35 and 36), by inserting the following:
(d) Notwithstanding Subsection (a)(4), a municipality or county may receive state grant funds for grants provided for the purpose of:
(1) responding to a disaster declared under Chapter 418, Government Code, if:
(A) for a municipality, the municipality is located in a county or a county adjacent to a county that includes an area specified in the disaster declaration; and
(B) for a county, the county or a county adjacent to the county includes an area specified in the disaster declaration; or
(2) providing financial assistance to a municipal police department, sheriff's department, constable's office, district or county attorney's office, fire department, municipal or county jail, or other municipal or county department providing law enforcement or emergency response services.
The amendment to CSSB 3016 was read and was adopted without objection.
All Members are deemed to have voted "Yea" on the adoption of Floor Amendment No. 1.
Senator Creighton offered the following amendment to the bill:
Floor Amendment No. 2
Amend CSSB 3016 (senate committee printing) in SECTION 6 of the substitute as follows:
(1) In added Section 102A.056(a)(2), Civil Practice and Remedies Code (page 4, line 4), between "signed" and the underscored period, insert ", less the amount the comptroller may retain under Subsection (b) of this section".
(2) Strike added Section 102A.056(b), Civil Practice and Remedies Code (page 4, lines 5 through 10), and substitute the following:
(b) Except as provided by this subsection, the comptroller shall, on receipt of a copy of the final judgment in an action brought under Section 102A.052, deposit the balance of the suspense account maintained for the municipality or county defending the action under Section 321.501 or 323.501, Tax Code, as applicable, as of the date the judgment is signed to the credit of the general revenue fund. The comptroller may retain in the suspense account maintained for the municipality or county an amount not to exceed five percent of the balance of the suspense account as of the date the judgment is signed for the purpose of making refunds for overpayments to the suspense account or redeeming dishonored checks and drafts deposited to the credit of the suspense account. Not later than the fourth anniversary of the date the comptroller retains an amount in a suspense account under this subsection, the comptroller shall deposit the balance of that retained amount, if any, to the credit of the general revenue fund.
(3) In added Section 102A.057, Civil Practice and Remedies Code (page 4, line 27), between "signed" and the underscored period, insert ", including any interest that accrued on the balance of the suspense account during the period the balance was withheld".
The amendment to CSSB 3016 was read and was adopted without objection.
All Members are deemed to have voted "Yea" on the adoption of Floor Amendment No. 2.
CSSB 3016 as amended was passed to engrossment by the following vote: Yeas 20, Nays 11.
Yeas: Bettencourt, Birdwell, Campbell, Creighton, Flores, Hagenbuch, Hall, Hancock, A. Hinojosa, Huffman, Hughes, King, Kolkhorst, Middleton, Parker, Paxton, Perry, Schwertner, Sparks, West.
Nays: Alvarado, Blanco, Cook, Eckhardt, Gutierrez, J. Hinojosa, Johnson, Menéndez, Miles, Nichols, Zaffirini.
MESSAGE FROM THE HOUSE
HOUSE CHAMBER
Austin, Texas
Wednesday, May 7, 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 competitive requirements for a procurement by a municipality for lobbying, government relations, or similar services.
Relating to Medicaid and child health plan program coverage and reimbursement for childhood cranial remolding orthosis.
Relating to a severance payment to a superintendent of a school district.
Relating to a one-time supplemental payment of benefits under the Employees Retirement System of Texas.
Relating to the creation of a temporary educator certificate for educators certified by other states.
Relating to the study of plant disease and pest outbreaks by the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service.
Relating to the use of personal leave during school holidays by certain school district employees.
Relating to the creation of an environmental product declaration grant program for certain manufacturers of ready-mixed concrete.
Relating to the issuance of a license to carry a handgun to certain retired county court judges.
Relating to the Trinity River Authority of Texas, following recommendations of the Sunset Advisory Commission; specifying grounds for the removal of a member of the board of directors.
Relating to the nonsubstantive revision of certain local laws concerning water and wastewater special districts, including a conforming amendment.
Relating to allowing the board of trustees of certain school districts to create a nonvoting student trustee position on the board.
Relating to monitoring and enforcement by the Texas Ethics Commission of the requirement that certain reports filed with a political subdivision are available on the Internet; providing an administrative penalty.
Relating to the punishment for the criminal offense of attempted capital murder of a peace officer; increasing a criminal penalty; changing eligibility for parole and mandatory supervision.
Relating to the Internet and other electronic posting of notices and agendas for meetings under the open meetings law.
Relating to notice provided by a chemical dependency treatment facility to the parent, managing conservator, or guardian of a minor refused admission to the facility.
Relating to the waiver of a defendant's arraignment.
Relating to the period for which a person arrested for certain crimes involving family violence may be held after bond is posted.
Relating to the authority of an independent school district to change the date of the general election for officers.
Relating to the regulation of child-care facilities that maintain a certificate to operate issued by the United States Department of Defense.
Relating to the Texas Pharmaceutical Initiative.
Relating to the provision of behavioral health crisis services, including measures to fund and support the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline and related services.
Relating to the criminal offense of passing certain vehicles on a highway.
SB 463
Campbell
Sponsor: Howard
|
Relating to the definition of facility for purposes of workplace violence prevention requirements.
SB 509
Bettencourt
Sponsor: Schofield
|
Relating to requiring notice to the attorney general in an action under the Election Code seeking a temporary restraining order.
(Amended)
SB 856
Flores
Sponsor: Bell, Keith
|
Relating to the use of the skills development fund by certain entities.
SB 985
Bettencourt
Sponsor: Hayes
|
Relating to the combination of certain election precincts.
(Amended)
SB 1169
Hinojosa, Adam
Sponsor: Guillen
|
Relating to the provision of water or sewer service by public entities operating jointly or concurrently.
SB 2196
Johnson
Sponsor: Manuel
|
Relating to the period during which an order for emergency protection remains in effect.
SCR 29
Blanco
Sponsor: González, Mary
|
Designating El Paso as the official Boot Capital of Texas for a 10-year period ending in 2035.
Respectfully,
/s/Stephen Brown,
Chief Clerk
House of Representatives
COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE
SENATE BILL 2533 ON THIRD READING
Senator Middleton moved to suspend the regular order of business to take up for consideration CSSB 2533 at this time on its third reading and final passage:
CSSB 2533, Relating to the accreditation of law schools in this state.
The motion prevailed by the following vote: Yeas 20, Nays 11.
Yeas: Bettencourt, Birdwell, Campbell, Creighton, Flores, Hagenbuch, Hall, Hancock, 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 bill was read third time and was passed by the following vote: Yeas 20, Nays 11. (Same as previous roll call)
SENATE RULE 5.14(a) SUSPENDED
(Intent Calendar)
(Motion In Writing)
Senator Zaffirini submitted the following Motion In Writing:
Mr. President:
I move suspension of Senate Rule 5.14, the Intent Calendar Rule, in order to move the Intent Calendar deadline to 4 p.m. today.
ZAFFIRINI
The Motion In Writing was read and prevailed without objection.
COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE
SENATE BILL 1844 ON THIRD READING
Senator Paxton moved to suspend the regular order of business to take up for consideration CSSB 1844 at this time on its third reading and final passage:
CSSB 1844, Relating to disannexation of certain areas of a municipality for failure to provide services.
The motion prevailed by the following vote: Yeas 22, Nays 9.
Yeas: Bettencourt, Blanco, Campbell, Cook, Creighton, Flores, Gutierrez, Hagenbuch, A. Hinojosa, J. Hinojosa, Huffman, Hughes, King, Kolkhorst, Middleton, Miles, Nichols, Parker, Paxton, Perry, Schwertner, Sparks.
Nays: Alvarado, Birdwell, Eckhardt, Hall, Hancock, Johnson, Menéndez, West, Zaffirini.
The bill was read third time and was passed by the following vote: Yeas 21, Nays 10.
Yeas: Bettencourt, Blanco, Campbell, Cook, Creighton, Flores, Gutierrez, Hagenbuch, A. Hinojosa, J. Hinojosa, Huffman, Hughes, King, Kolkhorst, Middleton, Nichols, Parker, Paxton, Perry, Schwertner, Sparks.
Nays: Alvarado, Birdwell, Eckhardt, Hall, Hancock, Johnson, Menéndez, Miles, West, Zaffirini.
COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE
SENATE BILL 1999 ON SECOND READING
Senator Hughes moved to suspend the regular order of business to take up for consideration CSSB 1999 at this time on its second reading:
CSSB 1999, Relating to protection for a public employee's or student's use of terms consistent with biological sex.
The motion prevailed by the following vote: Yeas 20, Nays 11.
Yeas: Bettencourt, Birdwell, Campbell, Creighton, Flores, Hagenbuch, Hall, Hancock, 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 bill was read second time.
Senator Menéndez offered the following amendment to the bill:
Floor Amendment No. 1
Amend CSSB 1999 (senate committee report) in SECTION 3 of the bill, by striking added Section 621.002(b), Government Code (page 2, lines 4 through 6) and substituting the following:
(b) This section may not be construed to authorize:
(1) an employee of a public employer to engage in conduct that constitutes harassment in violation of Section 42.07, Penal Code; and
(2) a public employer to discipline, terminate, retaliate, or otherwise discriminate against an employee who lists, displays, or provides a hyperlink to the employee's preferred pronouns in written or electronic format.
The amendment to CSSB 1999 was read and failed of adoption by the following vote: Yeas 11, Nays 20.
Yeas: Alvarado, Blanco, Cook, Eckhardt, Gutierrez, J. Hinojosa, Johnson, Menéndez, Miles, West, Zaffirini.
Nays: Bettencourt, Birdwell, Campbell, Creighton, Flores, Hagenbuch, Hall, Hancock, A. Hinojosa, Huffman, Hughes, King, Kolkhorst, Middleton, Nichols, Parker, Paxton, Perry, Schwertner, Sparks.
CSSB 1999 was passed to engrossment by the following vote: Yeas 20, Nays 11.
Yeas: Bettencourt, Birdwell, Campbell, Creighton, Flores, Hagenbuch, Hall, Hancock, 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.
COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE
SENATE BILL 1278 ON SECOND READING
On motion of Senator Parker and by unanimous consent, the regular order of business was suspended to take up for consideration CSSB 1278 at this time on its second reading:
CSSB 1278, Relating to an affirmative defense to prosecution for victims of trafficking of persons or compelling prostitution.
The bill was read second time and was passed to engrossment without objection.
All Members are deemed to have voted "Yea" on the passage to engrossment.
COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE
SENATE BILL 1278 ON THIRD READING
Senator Parker moved that Senate Rule 7.18 and the Constitutional Rule requiring bills to be read on three several days be suspended and that CSSB 1278 be placed on its third reading and final passage.
The motion prevailed by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0.
The bill was read third time and was passed by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0.
(President in Chair)
SENATE BILL 986 ON SECOND READING
Senator Bettencourt moved to suspend the regular order of business to take up for consideration SB 986 at this time on its second reading:
SB 986, Relating to procedures under the public information law, including expedited responses and charges for bad faith requests.
The motion prevailed by the following vote: Yeas 18, Nays 13.
Yeas: Bettencourt, Birdwell, Blanco, Campbell, Flores, Hagenbuch, Hall, A. Hinojosa, J. Hinojosa, Huffman, King, Kolkhorst, Nichols, Parker, Paxton, Perry, Schwertner, Sparks.
Nays: Alvarado, Cook, Creighton, Eckhardt, Gutierrez, Hancock, Hughes, Johnson, Menéndez, Middleton, Miles, West, Zaffirini.
The bill was read second time.
Senator Hall offered the following amendment to the bill:
Floor Amendment No. 1
Amend SB 986 (senate committee report) in SECTION 4 of the bill, in added Section 552.311, Government Code (page 2, line 1, by creating subsection (c). If the attorney general determines that a public information officer made a request for an attorney general decision in bad faith, that person is ineligible to serve as a public information officer for the governmental body.
The amendment to SB 986 was read and was adopted by the following vote: Yeas 19, Nays 8.
Yeas: Bettencourt, Birdwell, Blanco, Campbell, Flores, Hagenbuch, Hall, Hancock, A. Hinojosa, J. Hinojosa, Hughes, King, Middleton, Nichols, Parker, Paxton, Perry, Schwertner, Sparks.
Nays: Alvarado, Cook, Eckhardt, Johnson, Menéndez, Miles, West, Zaffirini.
Absent: Creighton, Gutierrez, Huffman, Kolkhorst.
SB 986 as amended was passed to engrossment by the following vote: Yeas 18, Nays 13.
Yeas: Bettencourt, Birdwell, Blanco, Campbell, Flores, Hagenbuch, Hall, A. Hinojosa, J. Hinojosa, King, Kolkhorst, Middleton, Nichols, Parker, Paxton, Perry, Schwertner, Sparks.
Nays: Alvarado, Cook, Creighton, Eckhardt, Gutierrez, Hancock, Huffman, Hughes, Johnson, Menéndez, Miles, West, Zaffirini.
SENATE BILL 1833 ON SECOND READING
Senator Parker moved to suspend the regular order of business to take up for consideration SB 1833 at this time on its second reading:
SB 1833, Relating to the use of a social media platform in furtherance of an offense involving the delivery of a controlled substance; increasing criminal penalties.
The motion prevailed.
Senators Cook and Eckhardt asked to be recorded as voting "Nay" on suspension of the regular order of business.
The bill was read second time and was passed to engrossment without objection.
All Members are deemed to have voted "Yea" on the passage to engrossment except as follows:
Nays: Cook, Eckhardt.
SENATE BILL 1833 ON THIRD READING
Senator Parker moved that Senate Rule 7.18 and the Constitutional Rule requiring bills to be read on three several days be suspended and that SB 1833 be placed on its third reading and final passage.
The motion prevailed by the following vote: Yeas 29, Nays 2.
Yeas: Alvarado, Bettencourt, Birdwell, Blanco, Campbell, Creighton, 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.
Nays: Cook, Eckhardt.
The bill was read third time and was passed by the following vote: Yeas 29, Nays 2. (Same as previous roll call)
(Senator Flores in Chair)
MESSAGE FROM THE HOUSE
HOUSE CHAMBER
Austin, Texas
Wednesday, May 7, 2025 - 3
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 the applicability of the public information law, including the disclosure of information in the possession, custody, or control of certain governmental bodies.
Relating to border protection agreements between this state and the United Mexican States.
Relating to the authority of the legislature or a state court to declare certain federal actions to be unconstitutional federal actions, including the effect and enforcement of such a declaration.
Relating to the provision of telepharmacy services.
Relating to the nonsubstantive revision of certain provisions of the Code of Criminal Procedure, including conforming amendments.
Relating to nonsubstantive additions to, revisions of, and corrections in enacted codes, to the nonsubstantive codification or disposition of various laws omitted from enacted codes, and to conforming codifications enacted by the 88th Legislature to other Acts of that legislature.
Relating to a parental right to information concerning a public school special education program and certain requirements for persons serving as special education representatives and hearing officers at impartial due process hearings; authorizing a fee.
Relating to creating the criminal offense of jugging.
Relating to certain policies and procedures for health care specialty consultations in certain child abuse or neglect investigations and assessments.
Relating to the creation of the Texas Commission on Teacher Job Satisfaction and Retention.
Relating to the public information law.
Relating to the distribution of hookahs; creating a criminal offense.
Relating to a paid leave of absence for public employees serving as fire protection personnel who are engaged in certain military service.
Relating to fingerprinting requirements for the issuance of dealer general distinguishing numbers to certain persons.
Relating to policies on the recess period in public schools.
Relating to vision screenings for public and private school students, including vision screening information reporting for public school students, and to the creation of a vision care grant program for certain students.
Relating to the payment of funds under certain construction contracts.
Relating to the eligibility of criminal defendants for an order of nondisclosure of criminal history record information for certain offenses committed when younger than 25 years of age.
Relating to the availability of dates of birth under the public information law.
Relating to the management-to-staff ratio requirement for state agencies.
Relating to the use of geothermal energy as a dispatchable generation resource.
Relating to an excessive discount on certain alcoholic beverages.
Relating to the creation and re-creation of funds and accounts, the dedication and rededication of revenue and allocation of accrued interest on dedicated revenue, and the exemption of unappropriated money from use for general governmental purposes.
Relating to the dedication and management of water rights placed in the Texas Water Trust.
Relating to the municipal issuance of a document verifying that a certificate of occupancy has been issued for certain buildings.
Relating to programs to promote economic development in the Office of the Governor and to the repeal of the Texas Entrepreneurship Network.
Relating to the disclosure of confidential juvenile records to a managed assigned counsel program.
Relating to investigational stem cell treatment.
Relating to the provision and reimbursement of health care services by local public health entities under the child health plan program.
Respectfully,
/s/Stephen Brown,
Chief Clerk
House of Representatives
SENATE BILL 494 WITH HOUSE AMENDMENT
Senator Sparks called SB 494 from the President's table for consideration of the House amendment to the bill.
The Presiding Officer laid the bill and the House amendment before the Senate.
Floor Amendment No. 1
Amend SB 494 (house committee report) by striking page 2, line 22, through page 3, line 1, and substituting the following:
section, the members of the task force may consult with any organization, governmental entity, or person the task force considers necessary.
The amendment was read.
Senator Sparks moved to concur in the House amendment to SB 494.
The motion prevailed by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0.
SENATE BILL 986 ON THIRD READING
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 SB 986 be placed on its third reading and final passage:
SB 986, Relating to procedures under the public information law, including expedited responses and charges for bad faith requests.
The motion prevailed by the following vote: Yeas 25, Nays 6.
Yeas: Bettencourt, Birdwell, Blanco, Campbell, Eckhardt, Flores, Hagenbuch, Hall, Hancock, A. Hinojosa, J. Hinojosa, Huffman, Hughes, King, Kolkhorst, Menéndez, Middleton, Miles, Nichols, Parker, Paxton, Perry, Schwertner, Sparks, Zaffirini.
Nays: Alvarado, Cook, Creighton, Gutierrez, Johnson, West.
The bill was read third time and was passed by the following vote: Yeas 18, Nays 13.
Yeas: Bettencourt, Birdwell, Blanco, Campbell, Flores, Hagenbuch, Hall, A. Hinojosa, J. Hinojosa, King, Kolkhorst, Middleton, Nichols, Parker, Paxton, Perry, Schwertner, Sparks.
Nays: Alvarado, Cook, Creighton, Eckhardt, Gutierrez, Hancock, Huffman, Hughes, Johnson, Menéndez, Miles, West, Zaffirini.
SENATE BILL 530 WITH HOUSE AMENDMENT
Senator Sparks called SB 530 from the President's table for consideration of the House amendment to the bill.
The Presiding Officer laid the bill and the House amendment before the Senate.
Floor Amendment No. 1
Amend SB 530 (house committee report) by adding the following appropriately numbered SECTION to the bill and renumbering subsequent SECTIONS of the bill accordingly:
SECTION ____. Section 61.051(a), Education Code, is amended to read as follows:
(a) The board represents the highest authority in the state in matters of public higher education and is charged with the duty to take an active part in promoting quality education throughout the state by:
(1) providing a statewide perspective to ensure the efficient and effective use of higher education resources and to eliminate unnecessary duplication;
(2) developing and evaluating progress toward a long-range master plan for higher education and providing analysis and recommendations to link state spending for higher education with the goals of the long-range master plan;
(3) collecting and making accessible data on higher education in the state and aggregating and analyzing that data to support policy recommendations;
(4) making recommendations to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of transitions, including between high school and postsecondary education, between institutions of higher education for transfer purposes, and between postsecondary education and the workforce; [and]
(5) administering programs and trusteed funds for financial aid and other grants as necessary to achieve the state's long-range goals and as directed by the legislature; and
(6) adopting rules or taking other action necessary to ensure that each institution of higher education is properly accredited as required to participate in the federal financial aid program under 20 U.S.C. Section 1070a and other federal student financial assistance programs.
The amendment was read.
Senator Sparks moved to concur in the House amendment to SB 530.
The motion prevailed by the following vote: Yeas 23, Nays 8.
Yeas: Bettencourt, Birdwell, Blanco, Campbell, Creighton, Flores, Hagenbuch, Hall, Hancock, A. Hinojosa, J. Hinojosa, Huffman, Hughes, King, Kolkhorst, Middleton, Nichols, Parker, Paxton, Perry, Schwertner, Sparks, West.
Nays: Alvarado, Cook, Eckhardt, Gutierrez, Johnson, Menéndez, Miles, Zaffirini.
SENATE BILL 769 WITH HOUSE AMENDMENT
Senator Menéndez called SB 769 from the President's table for consideration of the House amendment to the bill.
The Presiding Officer laid the bill and the House amendment before the Senate.
Floor Amendment No. 1
Amend SB 769 (house committee report) on page 1, line 15, by striking "September" and substituting "December".
The amendment was read.
Senator Menéndez moved to concur in the House amendment to SB 769.
The motion prevailed by the following vote: Yeas 28, Nays 3.
Yeas: Alvarado, Bettencourt, Birdwell, Blanco, Campbell, Cook, Creighton, Eckhardt, Flores, Gutierrez, Hagenbuch, Hancock, A. Hinojosa, J. Hinojosa, Huffman, Johnson, King, Kolkhorst, Menéndez, Middleton, Miles, Nichols, Parker, Paxton, Perry, Schwertner, West, Zaffirini.
Nays: Hall, Hughes, Sparks.
SENATE BILL 783 WITH HOUSE AMENDMENTS
Senator Menéndez called SB 783 from the President's table for consideration of the House amendments to the bill.
The Presiding Officer laid the bill and the House amendments before the Senate.
Floor Amendment No. 1
Amend SB 783 (house committee report) as follows:
(1) On page 4, line 24, between the "adopted" and "edition" insert "or published".
(2) On page 5, line 25, between the "adopted" and "edition" insert "or published".
Floor Amendment No. 2
Amend SB 783 (house committee report) on page 6 as follows:
(1) On line 9, between the semicolon and "and", insert the following:
(4) electric, gas, and water utilities operated by a public or private entity;
(2) On line 10, strike "(4)" and substitute "(5) [(4)]".
The amendments were read.
Senator Menéndez moved to concur in the House amendments to SB 783.
The motion prevailed by the following vote: Yeas 28, Nays 3.
Yeas: Alvarado, Bettencourt, Birdwell, Blanco, Cook, Creighton, Eckhardt, Flores, Gutierrez, Hagenbuch, Hancock, A. Hinojosa, J. Hinojosa, Huffman, Hughes, Johnson, King, Kolkhorst, Menéndez, Miles, Nichols, Parker, Paxton, Perry, Schwertner, Sparks, West, Zaffirini.
Nays: Campbell, Hall, Middleton.
SENATE BILL 1967 WITH HOUSE AMENDMENT
Senator J. Hinojosa called SB 1967 from the President's table for consideration of the House amendment to the bill.
The Presiding Officer laid the bill and the House amendment before the Senate.
Floor Amendment No. 1
Amend SB 1967 (house committee printing) by adding the following appropriately numbered SECTIONS to the bill and renumbering subsequent SECTIONS of the bill accordingly:
SECTION ____. Section 15.102, Water Code, is amended by amending Subsection (b) and adding Subsection (e) to read as follows:
(b) The loan fund may also be used by the board to provide:
(1) grants or loans for projects that include supplying water and wastewater services in economically distressed areas or nonborder colonias as provided by legislative appropriations, this chapter, and board rules, including projects involving retail distribution of those services; [and]
(2) grants for:
(A) projects for which federal grant funds are placed in the loan fund;
(B) projects, on specific legislative appropriation for those projects; or
(C) water conservation, desalination, brush control, weather modification, regionalization, and projects providing regional water quality enhancement services as defined by board rule, including regional conveyance systems; and
(3) grants to drainage districts established under Section 52, Article III, or Section 59, Article XVI, Texas Constitution, for water supply projects, including projects that contain a flood control component.
(e) The board may not disqualify a drainage district from receiving a grant under Subsection (b)(3) because the district does not:
(1) notwithstanding Section 16.012(m), have historical data about water use;
(2) provide retail water service to consumers; or
(3) have a certificate of convenience and necessity under which it provides retail water or wastewater service.
SECTION ____. Section 15.437(d), Water Code, is amended to read as follows:
(d) In addition to the criteria provided by Subsection (c), the board must also consider at least the following criteria in prioritizing projects:
(1) the local contribution to be made to finance the project, including the up-front capital to be provided by the applicant;
(2) the financial capacity of the applicant to repay the financial assistance provided;
(3) the ability of the board and the applicant to timely leverage state financing with local and federal funding;
(4) whether there is an emergency need for the project, taking into consideration whether:
(A) the applicant is included at the time of the application on the list maintained by the commission of local public water systems that have a water supply that will last less than 180 days without additional rainfall; and
(B) federal funding for which the project is eligible has been used or sought;
(5) if the applicant is applying for financial assistance for the project under Subchapter Q, whether the applicant is ready to proceed with the project at the time of the application, including whether:
(A) all preliminary planning and design work associated with the project has been completed;
(B) the applicant has acquired the water rights associated with the project;
(C) the applicant has secured funding for the project from other sources; and
(D) the applicant is able to begin implementing or constructing the project; [and]
(6) whether the project is a water supply project that contains a flood control component, regardless of whether the applicant holds a certificate of convenience and necessity under which it provides retail water or wastewater service; and
(7) [(6)] the demonstrated or projected effect of the project on water conservation, including preventing the loss of water, taking into consideration, if applicable, whether the applicant has filed a water audit with the board under Section 16.0121 that demonstrates that the applicant is accountable with regard to reducing water loss and increasing efficiency in the distribution of water.
The amendment was read.
Senator J. Hinojosa moved to concur in the House amendment to SB 1967.
The motion prevailed by the following vote: Yeas 29, Nays 2.
Yeas: Alvarado, Bettencourt, Birdwell, Blanco, Campbell, Cook, Eckhardt, Flores, Gutierrez, Hall, Hancock, A. Hinojosa, J. Hinojosa, Huffman, Hughes, Johnson, King, Kolkhorst, Menéndez, Middleton, Miles, Nichols, Parker, Paxton, Perry, Schwertner, Sparks, West, Zaffirini.
Nays: Creighton, Hagenbuch.
SENATE BILL 29 WITH HOUSE AMENDMENTS
Senator Hughes called SB 29 from the President's table for consideration of the House amendments to the bill.
The Presiding Officer laid the bill and the House amendments before the Senate.
Amendment
Amend SB 29 by substituting in lieu thereof the following:
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the formation, governance, and internal management of domestic entities.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 1.002(55-a), Business Organizations Code, is amended to read as follows:
(55-a) "National securities exchange" means:
(A) an exchange registered as a national securities exchange under Section 6, Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (15 U.S.C. Section 78f); or
(B) a stock exchange that:
(i) has its principal office in this state; and
(ii) has received approval by the securities commissioner under Subchapter C, Chapter 4005, Government Code.
SECTION 2. Subchapter B, Chapter 1, Business Organizations Code, is amended by adding Section 1.056 to read as follows:
Sec. 1.056. LAWS GOVERNING FORMATION, INTERNAL AFFAIRS, AND GOVERNANCE OF DOMESTIC ENTITY. The managerial officials of a domestic entity, in exercising their powers with respect to the domestic entity, may consider the laws and judicial decisions of other states and the practices observed by entities formed in those other states. The failure or refusal of a managerial official to consider, or to conform the exercise of the managerial official's powers to, the laws, judicial decisions, or practices of another state does not constitute or imply a breach of this code or of any duty existing under the laws of this state.
SECTION 3. Section 2.115(b), Business Organizations Code, is amended to read as follows:
(b) The governing documents of a domestic entity [may require], consistent with applicable state and federal jurisdictional requirements, may require:
(1) that any internal entity claims shall be brought only in a court in this state; and
(2) that one or more courts in this state having jurisdiction shall serve as the exclusive forum and venue for any internal entity claims.
SECTION 4. Subchapter B, Chapter 2, Business Organizations Code, is amended by adding Section 2.116 to read as follows:
Sec. 2.116. WAIVER OF TRIAL BY JURY. (a) In this section, "internal entity claim" has the meaning assigned by Section 2.115.
(b) The governing documents of a domestic entity may contain a waiver of the right to a jury trial concerning any internal entity claim.
(c) In a lawsuit asserting an internal entity claim, a waiver of the right to a jury trial contained in the governing documents of a domestic entity is enforceable, regardless of whether the applicable governing document is signed by the members, owners, officers, or governing persons.
(d) A person asserting an internal entity claim is considered to have been informed of the waiver of the right to a jury trial contained in the governing documents and to have knowingly waived the right in the action if the person:
(1) voted for or affirmatively ratified the governing document containing the waiver; or
(2) acquired an equity security of the domestic entity or any predecessor to the entity at, or continued to hold an equity security of a domestic entity that has one or more classes of equity securities listed on a national securities exchange after, a time at which the waiver was included in the governing documents.
(e) Nothing in this section prevents an entity from showing that a person asserting an internal entity claim knowingly and informedly waived the right to a jury trial by any evidence satisfactory to the court having jurisdiction, including by the person's consent or acquiescence to the waiver contained in the governing documents.
SECTION 5. Section 21.218, Business Organizations Code, is amended by amending Subsection (b) and adding Subsections (b-2) and (b-3) to read as follows:
(b) On written demand stating a proper purpose, a holder of shares of a corporation for at least six months immediately preceding the holder's demand, or a holder of at least five percent of all of the outstanding shares of a corporation, is entitled to examine and copy, at a reasonable time at the corporation's principal place of business or other location approved by the corporation and the holder, the corporation's books, records of account, minutes, share transfer records, and other records, whether in written or other tangible form, if the records are [record is] reasonably related to and appropriate to examine and copy for that proper purpose. For purposes of this subsection, the records of the corporation shall not include e-mails, text messages or similar electronic communications, or information from social media accounts unless the particular e-mail, communication, or social media information effectuates an action by the corporation.
(b-2) This subsection applies only to a corporation that has a class or series of voting shares listed on a national securities exchange or that has made an affirmative election to be governed by Section 21.419. For purposes of Subsection (b), a written demand shall not be for a proper purpose if the corporation reasonably determines that the demand is in connection with:
(1) an active or pending derivative proceeding in the right of the corporation under Subchapter L that is or is expected to be instituted or maintained by the holder or the holder's affiliate; or
(2) an active or pending civil lawsuit to which the corporation, or its affiliate, and the holder, or the holder's affiliate, are or are expected to be adversarial named parties.
(b-3) Subsection (b-2) does not impair any rights of:
(1) the holder or the holder's affiliate to obtain discovery of records from the corporation in:
(A) a civil lawsuit described by Subsection (b-2)(2); or
(B) the derivative proceeding subject to Section 21.556; or
(2) the holder to obtain a court order to compel production of records of the corporation for examination by the holder as provided by Subsection (c).
SECTION 6. Section 21.364, Business Organizations Code, is amended by amending Subsections (d) and (e) and adding Subsection (e-1) to read as follows:
(d) Unless an amendment to the certificate of formation is undertaken by the board of directors under Section 21.155, separate voting by a class or series of shares of a corporation is required for approval of an amendment to the certificate of formation that would result in:
(1) the increase or decrease of the aggregate number of authorized shares of the class or series, except that the number of authorized shares of any class or series may be increased or decreased, but not below the number of shares of the class or series then outstanding, by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the stock of the corporation entitled to vote, as provided by:
(A) the certificate of formation; or
(B) an amendment of the certificate of formation that:
(i) authorized the shares of the class or series;
(ii) was adopted before the issuance of any shares of the class or series; or
(iii) was authorized by one or more resolutions adopted by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the shares of the class or series;
(2) the increase or decrease of the par value of the shares of the class or series, including changing shares with par value into shares without par value or changing shares without par value into shares with par value;
(3) effecting an exchange, reclassification, or cancellation of all or part of the shares of the class or series;
(4) effecting an exchange or creating a right of exchange of all or part of the shares of another class or series into the shares of the class or series;
(5) the change of the designations, preferences, limitations, or relative rights of the shares of the class or series;
(6) the change of the shares of the class or series, with or without par value, into the same or a different number of shares, with or without par value, of the same class or series or another class or series;
(7) the creation of a new class or series of shares with rights and preferences equal, prior, or superior to the shares of the class or series;
(8) increasing the rights and preferences of a class or series with rights and preferences equal, prior, or superior to the shares of the class or series;
(9) increasing the rights and preferences of a class or series with rights or preferences later or inferior to the shares of the class or series in such a manner that the rights or preferences will be equal, prior, or superior to the shares of the class or series;
(10) dividing the shares of the class into series and setting and determining the designation of the series and the variations in the relative rights and preferences between the shares of the series;
(11) the limitation or denial of existing preemptive rights or cumulative voting rights of the shares of the class or series;
(12) canceling or otherwise affecting the dividends on the shares of the class or series that have accrued but have not been declared; or
(13) the inclusion or deletion from the certificate of formation of provisions required or permitted to be included in the certificate of formation of a close corporation under Subchapter O.
(e) Except as provided by Subsection (e-1), the [The] vote required under Subsection (d) by a class or series of shares of a corporation is required notwithstanding that shares of that class or series do not otherwise have a right to vote under the certificate of formation.
(e-1) If the certificate of formation provides that any vote required by Subsection (d) shall be as a single class and without separate voting by class or series, then shares of a class or series that do not otherwise have a right to vote under the certificate of formation shall be treated as having no votes in the vote as a single class.
SECTION 7. Section 21.365(b), Business Organizations Code, is amended to read as follows:
(b) With respect to a matter for which the affirmative vote of the holders of a specified portion of the shares of a class or series is required by this code, the certificate of formation may provide that:
(1) the affirmative vote of the holders of a specified portion, but not less than the majority, of the shares of that class or series is required for action of the holders of shares of that class or series on that matter; and
(2) notwithstanding any other provision of this code, all classes or series of stock shall only be entitled to vote as a single class or series, and separate voting by class or series is not required, for the purpose of approving any matter, including in connection with any fundamental action or fundamental business transaction.
SECTION 8. Section 21.416, Business Organizations Code, is amended by adding Subsection (g) to read as follows:
(g) This subsection applies only to a corporation that has a class or series of voting shares listed on a national securities exchange or that has made an affirmative election to be governed by Section 21.419. The board of directors may adopt resolutions that authorize the formation of a committee of independent and disinterested directors to review and approve transactions, whether or not contemplated at the time of the committee's formation or a petition under Section 21.4161, involving the corporation or any of its subsidiaries and a controlling shareholder, director, or officer.
SECTION 9. Subchapter I, Chapter 21, Business Organizations Code, is amended by adding Section 21.4161 to read as follows:
Sec. 21.4161. DETERMINATION OF INDEPENDENT AND DISINTERESTED DIRECTORS. (a) A corporation that adopts a resolution to authorize the formation of a committee of independent and disinterested directors under Section 21.416(g) may petition a court having jurisdiction to hold an evidentiary hearing to determine whether the directors appointed to the committee are independent and disinterested with respect to any transactions involving the corporation or any of its subsidiaries and a controlling shareholder, director, or officer.
(b) A petition under Subsection (a) shall be filed in the business court unless the corporation's principal place of business in this state is located in a county not contained within an operating division of the business court, in which case the petition may be filed in a district court in the county in which the corporation's principal place of business in this state is located.
(c) In the petition, the corporation shall designate legal counsel to act on behalf of the corporation and its shareholders, other than the controlling shareholder, director, or officer involved in the transaction.
(d) The corporation shall give notice to the corporation's shareholders that:
(1) a petition has been filed under this section;
(2) identifies the court in which the petition is filed and provides the case number for the proceeding;
(3) identifies counsel designated to act on behalf of the corporation and its shareholders, other than the controlling shareholder, director, or officer involved in the transaction; and
(4) the shareholders, other than the controlling shareholder, director, or officer involved in the transaction, have the right to participate in the proceeding in person or through counsel.
(e) If the corporation has a class of its shares listed on a national securities exchange, the notice required by Subsection (d) may be provided through the filing of a current report with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission in accordance with the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (15 U.S.C. Section 78a et seq.), and any rules promulgated under that Act.
(f) Not earlier than the 10th day after the date the notice required under Subsection (d) is given, the court shall hold a preliminary hearing to determine the appropriate legal counsel to represent the corporation and its shareholders, other than the controlling shareholder, director, or officer involved in the transaction, whether or not the same as the legal counsel identified in the petition. Any other legal counsel representing a shareholder, other than the controlling shareholder, director, or officer involved in the transaction, may participate in the hearing to:
(1) object to counsel designated by the corporation in the petition on the ground that the designated counsel is insufficiently independent and disinterested; or
(2) request designation by the court as the appropriate legal counsel.
(g) After the court determines the appropriate legal counsel under Subsection (f), the court shall promptly hold an evidentiary hearing as to whether the directors on the committee are independent and disinterested with respect to transactions involving the corporation or any of its subsidiaries and a controlling shareholder, director, or officer. The appropriate legal counsel determined under Subsection (f) and legal counsel for the corporation may participate in the hearing. After hearing and reviewing the evidence presented, the court shall make its determination as to whether the directors on the committee are independent and disinterested.
(h) The court's determination that the directors are independent and disinterested under Subsection (g) shall be dispositive in the absence of facts, not presented to the court, constituting evidence sufficient to prove that one or more of those directors is not independent and disinterested with respect to a particular transaction involving the corporation or any of its subsidiaries and a controlling shareholder, director, or officer.
SECTION 10. Section 21.418, Business Organizations Code, is amended by adding Subsection (f) to read as follows:
(f) This subsection applies only to a corporation that has a class or series of voting shares listed on a national securities exchange or has made an affirmative election to be governed by Section 21.419. Regardless of whether the conditions of Subsection (b) are satisfied, neither the corporation nor any of the corporation's shareholders will have a cause of action against any director or officer for breach of duty with respect to the making, authorization, or performance of the contract or transaction because the director or officer had the relationship or interest described by Subsection (a) or took any of the actions authorized by Subsection (d) unless the cause of action is permitted by Section 21.419.
SECTION 11. Subchapter I, Chapter 21, Business Organizations Code, is amended by adding Section 21.419 to read as follows:
Sec. 21.419. PRESUMPTIONS FOR DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS OF CERTAIN CORPORATIONS. (a) This section applies only to a corporation that has:
(1) a class or series of voting shares listed on a national securities exchange; or
(2) included in its governing documents a statement affirmatively electing to be governed by this section.
(b) In taking or declining to take any action on any matters of a corporation's business, a director or officer is presumed to act:
(1) in good faith;
(2) on an informed basis;
(3) in furtherance of the interests of the corporation; and
(4) in obedience to the law and the corporation's governing documents.
(c) Neither a corporation nor any of the corporation's shareholders has a cause of action against a director or officer of the corporation as a result of any act or omission in the person's capacity as a director or officer unless:
(1) the claimant rebuts one or more of the presumptions established by Subsection (b); and
(2) it is proven by the claimant that:
(A) the director's or officer's act or omission constituted a breach of one or more of the person's duties as a director or officer; and
(B) the breach involved fraud, intentional misconduct, an ultra vires act, or a knowing violation of law.
(d) The presumptions established by this section:
(1) are in addition to any legal presumption arising under common law or this code, in favor of any managerial official of a corporation to which this section applies; and
(2) do not abrogate, preempt, or lessen any other defense, presumption, immunity, or privilege under other constitutional, statutory, case, or common law or rule provisions, in favor of any managerial official of any domestic entity, including any corporation to which this section does not apply.
(e) In alleging fraud, intentional misconduct, an ultra vires act, or a knowing violation of the law under Subsection (c)(2)(B), a party must state with particularity the circumstances constituting the fraud, intentional misconduct, ultra vires act, or knowing violation of law.
(f) This section does not limit the effectiveness or applicability of a provision contained in the certificate of formation or similar instrument of a corporation limiting monetary liability of a governing person.
SECTION 12. Section 21.551(2), Business Organizations Code, is amended to read as follows:
(2) "Shareholder" includes:
(A) a shareholder as defined by Section 1.002;
(B) [or] a beneficial owner whose shares are held in a voting trust or by a nominee on the beneficial owner's behalf; or
(C) two or more shareholders acting in concert under an informal or formal agreement or understanding with respect to a derivative proceeding.
SECTION 13. Section 21.552(a), Business Organizations Code, is amended to read as follows:
(a) Subject to Subsection (b), a shareholder may not institute or maintain a derivative proceeding unless:
(1) the shareholder:
(A) was a shareholder of the corporation at the time of the act or omission complained of; or
(B) became a shareholder by operation of law originating from a person that was a shareholder at the time of the act or omission complained of; [and]
(2) the shareholder fairly and adequately represents the interests of the corporation in enforcing the right of the corporation; and
(3) for a corporation with common shares listed on a national securities exchange or a corporation that has made an affirmative election to be governed by Section 21.419 and has 500 or more shareholders, at the time the derivative proceeding is instituted, the shareholder beneficially owns a number of the common shares sufficient to meet the required ownership threshold to institute a derivative proceeding in the right of the corporation identified in the corporation's certificate of formation or bylaws, provided that the required ownership threshold does not exceed three percent of the outstanding shares of the corporation.
SECTION 14. Section 21.554, Business Organizations Code, is amended by amending Subsection (b) and adding Subsections (c), (d), (e), (f), (g), (h), and (i) to read as follows:
(b) The court shall appoint a panel under Subsection (a)(3) if the court finds that the individuals recommended by the corporation are independent and disinterested and are otherwise qualified with respect to expertise, experience, independent judgment, and other factors considered appropriate by the court under the circumstances to make the determinations. An individual appointed by the court to a panel under this section may be a director. An individual appointed by the court to a panel under this section may not be held liable to the corporation or the corporation's shareholders for an action taken or omission made by the individual in that capacity, except for an act or omission constituting fraud or wilful misconduct.
(c) Before the corporation's determination of how to proceed on the allegations under Subsection (a), the corporation may petition the court having jurisdiction to make a finding as to whether the directors identified or appointed under Subsection (a)(1) or (2) are independent and disinterested with respect to the allegations made in the demand.
(d) If a derivative proceeding has been instituted, a petition under Subsection (c) shall be filed in the court in which the proceeding was instituted. If no derivative proceeding has been instituted, a petition under Subsection (c) shall be filed in the business court unless the corporation's principal place of business in this state is located in a county not contained within an operating division of the business court, in which case the petition may be filed in a district court in the county in which the corporation's principal place of business in this state is located.
(e) The corporation must serve a copy of the petition on the shareholder filing the derivative proceeding or making the demand.
(f) Unless extended for good cause, a court in which a petition under Subsection (c) is filed must conduct an evidentiary hearing on the petition on or before the 45th day after the date the petition is filed.
(g) A shareholder on whom a petition is served under Subsection (e) is entitled to be served with all notices and papers filed in the action and to intervene in the action to challenge the petition. Unless good cause is shown, a shareholder who is not already a party to the action must intervene not later than the seventh day before the date the petition is heard by the court.
(h) Unless extended for good cause, not later than the 75th day after the date the petition is filed, the court shall sign an order stating whether the directors are independent and disinterested.
(i) A court's finding that the directors or individuals are independent and disinterested under this section shall be dispositive in the absence of discovery of facts, not presented to the court, constituting evidence sufficient to prove that one or more of those directors or individuals are not independent and disinterested.
SECTION 15. Section 21.561, Business Organizations Code, is amended by adding Subsection (c) to read as follows:
(c) For purposes of Subsection (b), a substantial benefit to the corporation does not include additional or amended disclosures made to the shareholders, regardless of materiality.
SECTION 16. Section 21.562(a), Business Organizations Code, is amended to read as follows:
(a) In a derivative proceeding brought in the right of a foreign corporation, the matters covered by this subchapter are governed by the laws of the jurisdiction of formation of the foreign corporation, except for Sections 21.555, 21.560, and 21.561, which with respect to foreign corporations are procedural provisions and do not relate to the internal affairs of the foreign corporation, unless applying the laws of the jurisdiction of formation of the foreign corporation requires otherwise with respect to Section 21.555.
SECTION 17. Subchapter F, Chapter 101, Business Organizations Code, is amended by adding Section 101.256 to read as follows:
Sec. 101.256. PRESUMPTIONS FOR GOVERNING PERSONS OF CERTAIN LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANIES. (a) This section applies only to a limited liability company that has a class or series of voting membership interests listed on a national securities exchange. Nothing in this subsection prohibits a limited liability company from adopting, in its company agreement, a provision that duplicates the effect of this section, regardless of whether the limited liability company has a class or series of voting membership interests listed on a national securities exchange.
(b) In taking or declining to take any action on any matters of a limited liability company's business, a governing person or officer, and each affiliate or associate of a governing person or officer, is presumed to act in good faith and in compliance with:
(1) the person's or officer's duties required under common law or the governing documents of the limited liability company; and
(2) the governing documents of the limited liability company.
(c) Neither a limited liability company nor any of the company's members has a cause of action against a governing person or officer or any affiliate or associate of a governing person or officer of the company as a result of any act or omission in the person's capacity as a governing person or officer of the company unless:
(1) the claimant rebuts one or more of the presumptions established by Subsection (b); and
(2) it is proven by the claimant that:
(A) the act or omission of the governing person or officer or affiliate or associate of a governing person or officer constituted a breach of one or more of the person's duties as a governing person or officer to the extent the duty has not been modified or eliminated through an affirmative election contained in the governing documents as permitted by this chapter; and
(B) the breach involved fraud, intentional misconduct, an ultra vires act, or a knowing violation of law.
(d) The presumptions established by this section:
(1) are in addition to any legal presumption arising under common law or this code, in favor of any governing person or officer to which this section applies; and
(2) do not abrogate, preempt, or lessen any other defense, presumption, immunity, or privilege under other constitutional, statutory, case, or common law or rule provisions, in favor of any governing person or officer of any domestic entity, including any limited liability company to which this section does not apply.
(e) In alleging fraud, intentional misconduct, an ultra vires act, or a knowing violation of the law under Subsection (c)(2)(B), a party must state with particularity the circumstances constituting the fraud, intentional misconduct, ultra vires act, or knowing violation of law.
(f) This section does not limit the effectiveness or applicability of a provision contained in the certificate of formation or company agreement or similar instrument of a limited liability company limiting monetary liability of a governing person or officer.
SECTION 18. Section 101.401, Business Organizations Code, is amended to read as follows:
Sec. 101.401. EXPANSION, [OR] RESTRICTION, OR ELIMINATION OF DUTIES AND LIABILITIES. The company agreement of a limited liability company may expand, [or] restrict, or eliminate any duties, including fiduciary duties, and related liabilities that a member, manager, officer, or other person has to the company or to a member or manager of the company.
SECTION 19. Section 101.461, Business Organizations Code, is amended by adding Subsection (c) to read as follows:
(c) For purposes of Subsection (b), a substantial benefit to the limited liability company does not include additional or amended disclosures made to the members, regardless of materiality.
SECTION 20. Section 101.502(a), Business Organizations Code, is amended to read as follows:
(a) Unless otherwise provided by the governing documents of a limited liability company, a [A] member of a limited liability company or an assignee of a membership interest in a limited liability company, on written demand stating a proper purpose, is entitled to examine and copy at a reasonable time at the limited liability company's principal office identified under Section 101.501(c) or another location approved by the limited liability company and the member or assignee, any records of the limited liability company, whether in written or other tangible form, which are reasonably related to and appropriate to examine and copy for that proper purpose. For purposes of this subsection, the records of the limited liability company shall not include e-mails, text messages or similar electronic communications, or information from social media accounts unless the particular e-mail, communication, or social media information effectuates an action by the limited liability company or the company agreement expressly states otherwise.
SECTION 21. Section 152.002, Business Organizations Code, is amended by adding Subsection (e) to read as follows:
(e) Notwithstanding Subsection (b)(2), (3), or (4), a partnership agreement may eliminate any or all of the duty of loyalty under Section 152.205, the duty of care under Section 152.206, and the obligation of good faith under Section 152.204(b), to the extent the governing documents of the partnership include a statement affirmatively electing to do so.
SECTION 22. Subchapter A, Chapter 152, Business Organizations Code, is amended by adding Section 152.006 to read as follows:
Sec. 152.006. CERTAIN PROVISIONS APPLICABLE TO PARTNERSHIPS TRADED ON A NATIONAL SECURITIES EXCHANGE. (a) The provisions of Sections 152.002(e) and 153.163 apply only to a partnership that has a class or series of partnership interests listed on a national securities exchange.
(b) This section may not be construed as prohibiting any partnership from adopting, in its partnership agreement, provisions that duplicate the effect of Sections 152.002(e) and 153.163, regardless of whether the partnership has a class or series of partnership interests listed on a national securities exchange.
SECTION 23. Sections 152.204(a) and (b), Business Organizations Code, are amended to read as follows:
(a) Except as otherwise specified in the partnership agreement, a [A] partner owes to the partnership, the other partners, and a transferee of a deceased partner's partnership interest as designated in Section 152.406(a)(2):
(1) a duty of loyalty; and
(2) a duty of care.
(b) Except as otherwise specified in the partnership agreement, a [A] partner shall discharge the partner's duties to the partnership and the other partners under this code or under the partnership agreement and exercise any rights and powers in the conduct or winding up of the partnership business:
(1) in good faith; and
(2) in a manner the partner reasonably believes to be in the best interest of the partnership.
SECTION 24. Subchapter D, Chapter 153, Business Organizations Code, is amended by adding Section 153.163 to read as follows:
Sec. 153.163. PRESUMPTIONS FOR GENERAL PARTNERS AND OFFICERS OF CERTAIN LIMITED PARTNERSHIPS. (a) In taking or declining to take any action on any matters of a limited partnership's business, any general partner of the limited partnership, including any director, officer, member, or other affiliate of the general partner, is presumed to act in good faith and in compliance with:
(1) the person's duties required under this code, common law, and the partnership agreement of the partnership; and
(2) the partnership agreement of such limited partnership.
(b) Neither a limited partnership nor any of the limited partnership's partners has a cause of action against a general partner of the limited partnership, including any director, officer, member, or other affiliate of the general partner, as a result of any act or omission in the person's capacity as a general partner or as an officer or director of the general partner unless:
(1) the claimant rebuts one or more of the presumptions established by Subsection (a); and
(2) it is proven by the claimant that:
(A) the act or omission of the general partner or any director, officer, member, or other affiliate of the general partner constituted a breach of one or more of the person's duties as a general partner, director, or officer to the extent the duty has not been modified or eliminated through an affirmative election contained in the governing documents as permitted by this chapter; and
(B) the breach involved fraud, intentional misconduct, an ultra vires act, or a knowing violation of law.
(c) The presumptions established by this section:
(1) are in addition to any legal presumption arising under common law or this code, in favor of any general partner or member or managerial official of a general partner to which this section applies; and
(2) do not abrogate, preempt, or lessen any other defense, presumption, immunity, or privilege under other constitutional, statutory, case, or common law or rule provisions, in favor of any managerial official of any domestic entity, including any limited partnership to which this section does not apply.
(d) In alleging fraud, intentional misconduct, an ultra vires act, or a knowing violation of the law under Subsection (b)(2)(B), a party must state with particularity the circumstances constituting the fraud, intentional misconduct, ultra vires act, or knowing violation of law.
(e) This section does not limit the effectiveness or applicability of a provision contained in the certificate of formation or partnership agreement or similar instrument of a partnership limiting monetary liability of a governing person.
SECTION 25. Section 153.411, Business Organizations Code, is amended by adding Subsection (c) to read as follows:
(c) For purposes of Subsection (b), a substantial benefit to the limited partnership does not include additional or amended disclosures made to the limited partners, regardless of materiality.
SECTION 26. Section 153.552(a), Business Organizations Code, is amended to read as follows:
(a) Unless otherwise provided by the governing documents of a limited partnership, on [On] written demand stating a proper purpose, a partner or an assignee of a partnership interest in a limited partnership is entitled to examine and copy, at a reasonable time at the partnership's principal office identified under Section 153.551 or other location approved by the partnership and the partner or assignee, any records of the partnership, whether in written or other tangible form, which are reasonably related to and appropriate to examine and copy for that proper purpose. For purposes of this subsection, the records of the limited partnership shall not include e-mails, text messages or similar electronic communications, or information from social media accounts unless the particular e-mail, communication, or social media information effectuates an action by the limited partnership or the partnership agreement expressly states otherwise.
SECTION 27. Sections 21.552(a) and 21.561, Business Organizations Code, as amended by this Act, apply only to a derivative proceeding instituted on or after the effective date of this Act. A derivative proceeding instituted before the effective date of this Act is governed by the law in effect on the date the proceeding was instituted, and the former law is continued in effect for that purpose.
SECTION 28. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2025.
Floor Amendment No. 1
Amend CSSB 29 (house committee report) as follows:
(1) On page 19, line 22, strike "or similar instrument".
(2) On page 21, line 6, between "agreement" and "may", insert "of a limited partnership".
(3) On page 21, lines 9 through 10, strike "governing documents of the partnership include a statement affirmatively electing to do so" and substitute "partnership agreement expressly provides so".
(4) Strike page 21, line 25, through page 22, line 13 and renumber subsequent SECTIONS of the bill accordingly.
(5) On page 22, line 20, strike "general partner" and substitute "managerial official".
(6) On page 22, line 22, between "affiliate" and "of the", insert "or managerial official".
(7) On page 23, lines 2 through 3, strike "general partner" and substitute "managerial official".
(8) On page 23, lines 5 through 6, strike "general partner" and substitute "managerial official".
(9) On page 23, line 6, between "director" and "of the", insert "or other managerial official or affiliate".
(10) On page 23, line 10, strike "general partner" and substitute "managerial official".
(11) On page 23, line 11, between "affiliate" and "of the", insert "or managerial official".
(12) On page 23, lines 14 through 15, strike "through an affirmative election contained in the governing documents" and substitute "by the partnership agreement".
(13) On page 24, lines 9 through 10, strike "certificate of formation or partnership agreement or similar instrument" and substitute "partnership agreement".
(14) On page 24, line 11, strike "governing person" and substitute "managerial official".
Floor Amendment No. 2
Amend CSSB 29 (house committee report) as follows:
(1) In the SECTION of the bill adding Section 21.419, Business Organizations Code, add the following appropriately lettered subsection to Section 21.419, Business Organizations Code, and reletter subsequent subsections and cross-references to those subsections accordingly:
(____) This section sets out certain presumptions concerning compliance by directors and officers with their duties to a domestic corporation, including the duty of care and duty of loyalty as those duties pertain to transactions with interested persons.
(2) In the SECTION of the bill adding Section 101.256, Business Organizations Code, add the following appropriately lettered subsection to Section 101.256, Business Organizations Code, and reletter subsequent subsections and cross-references to those subsections accordingly:
(____) This section sets out certain presumptions concerning compliance by managerial officials with their duties, if any, to a domestic limited liability company, including any duties that pertain to transactions with interested persons.
(3) In the SECTION of the bill adding Section 153.163, Business Organizations Code, add the following appropriately lettered subsection to Section 153.163, Business Organizations Code, and reletter subsequent subsections and cross-references to those subsections accordingly:
(____) This section sets out certain presumptions concerning compliance by managerial officials with their duties, if any, to a domestic limited partnership, including any duties that pertain to transactions with interested persons.
The amendments were read.
Senator Hughes moved to concur in the House amendments to SB 29.
The motion prevailed by the following vote: Yeas 30, Nays 1.
Nays: Eckhardt.
SENATE BILL 2312 WITH HOUSE AMENDMENT
Senator Hughes called SB 2312 from the President's table for consideration of the House amendment to the bill.
The Presiding Officer laid the bill and the House amendment before the Senate.
Floor Amendment No. 1
Amend SB 2312 (house committee report) as follows:
(1) On page 4, line 3, between "CONFLICT." and "The", insert "(a)".
(2) On page 4, between lines 9 and 10, insert the following:
(b) The advisory committee is administratively attached to the Texas Military Department.
(3) On page 5, strike lines 11 through 17 and substitute the following:
Sec. 438.104. ADVISORY COMMITTEE OFFICERS. (a) The adjutant general or the adjutant general's designee serving on the advisory committee under Section 438.102(a)(5) shall serve as chair of the advisory committee.
(4) On page 7, line 5, strike ""May 29" and substitute "October 1".
(5) On page 7, line 18, strike "May 29" and substitute "October 1".
(6) On page 10, line 7, strike "May 29" and substitute "October 1".
(7) On page 10, line 17, strike "May 29" and substitute "October 1".
(8) On page 13, line 1, strike "31" and substitute "1".
The amendment was read.
Senator Hughes moved to concur in the House amendment to SB 2312.
The motion prevailed by the following vote: Yeas 29, Nays 2.
Yeas: Alvarado, Bettencourt, Birdwell, Blanco, Campbell, Creighton, 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.
Nays: Cook, Eckhardt.
SENATE BILL 1506 WITH HOUSE AMENDMENT
Senator Parker called SB 1506 from the President's table for consideration of the House amendment to the bill.
The Presiding Officer laid the bill and the House amendment before the Senate.
Floor Amendment No. 1
Amend SB 1506 (house committee report) on page 1 as follows:
(1) On line 21, strike "Subdivision (2)" and substitute "Subdivisions (2) and (3)".
(2) On line 23, strike "or".
(3) On line 24, between "(2)" and "if", insert the following:
if the inmate is serving a sentence for an offense under Section 481.115, 481.1151, 481.116, 481.1161, 481.117, 481.118, or 481.121, Health and Safety Code, begin as soon as practicable after the first anniversary of the date of the denial; or
(3)
The amendment was read.
Senator Parker moved that the Senate do not concur in the House amendment, but that a conference committee be appointed to adjust the differences between the two Houses on the bill.
The motion prevailed without objection.
The Presiding Officer asked if there were any motions to instruct the conference committee on SB 1506 before appointment.
There were no motions offered.
The Presiding Officer announced the appointment of the following conferees on the part of the Senate: Senators Parker, Chair; Flores, Huffman, King, and J. Hinojosa.
SENATE BILL 326 WITH HOUSE AMENDMENT
Senator King called SB 326 from the President's table for consideration of the House amendment to the bill.
The Presiding Officer laid the bill and the House amendment before the Senate.
Floor Amendment No. 2
Amend SB 326 (house committee report) by adding the following appropriately numbered SECTION to the bill and renumbering subsequent SECTIONS of the bill accordingly:
SECTION ____. It is the intent of the legislature that this legislation not be used to punish speech protected by the First Amendment to the United States Constitution or Section 8, Article I, Texas Constitution, that is engaged in by a student enrolled at a school district, open-enrollment charter school, or public institution of higher education unless the speech is accompanied by actions that violate the district's, school's, or institution's student code of conduct.
The amendment was read.
Senator King moved to concur in the House amendment to SB 326.
The motion prevailed by the following vote: Yeas 29, Nays 2.
Yeas: Alvarado, Bettencourt, Birdwell, Blanco, Campbell, Creighton, 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.
Nays: Cook, Eckhardt.
HOUSE BILLS AND RESOLUTION ON FIRST READING
The following bills and resolution received from the House were read first time and referred to the committees indicated:
HB 42 to Committee on Finance.
HB 198 to Committee on Local Government.
HB 247 to Committee on Local Government.
HB 367 to Committee on Education K-16.
HB 449 to Committee on Criminal Justice.
HB 632 to Committee on Health and Human Services.
HB 668 to Committee on State Affairs.
HB 677 to Committee on State Affairs.
HB 766 to Committee on State Affairs.
HB 1105 to Committee on Education K-16.
HB 1160 to Committee on Criminal Justice.
HB 1169 to Committee on Natural Resources.
HB 1592 to Committee on Water, Agriculture, and Rural Affairs.
HB 1778 to Committee on Criminal Justice.
HB 1781 to Committee on Finance.
HB 1868 to Committee on Education K-16.
HB 2017 to Committee on Criminal Justice.
HB 2038 to Committee on Health and Human Services.
HB 2128 to Committee on Water, Agriculture, and Rural Affairs.
HB 2240 to Committee on Jurisprudence.
HB 2316 to Committee on State Affairs.
HB 2510 to Committee on Health and Human Services.
HB 2516 to Committee on Health and Human Services.
HB 2563 to Committee on Natural Resources.
HB 2582 to Committee on Criminal Justice.
HB 2663 to Committee on Natural Resources.
HB 2712 to Committee on Water, Agriculture, and Rural Affairs.
HB 2715 to Committee on Local Government.
HB 2760 to Committee on Economic Development.
HB 2788 to Committee on Economic Development.
HB 3010 to Committee on Finance.
HB 3069 to Committee on Business and Commerce.
HB 3112 to Committee on Business and Commerce.
HB 3120 to Committee on Local Government.
HB 3146 to Committee on Economic Development.
HB 3157 to Committee on Business and Commerce.
HB 3305 to Committee on Local Government.
HB 3348 to Committee on Local Government.
HB 3464 to Committee on Criminal Justice.
HB 3474 to Committee on Finance.
HB 3505 to Committee on Local Government.
HB 3512 to Committee on Business and Commerce.
HB 3560 to Committee on Health and Human Services.
HB 3597 to Committee on Health and Human Services.
HB 3686 to Committee on Criminal Justice.
HB 3783 to Committee on Jurisprudence.
HB 3860 to Committee on Business and Commerce.
HB 4063 to Committee on Business and Commerce.
HB 4081 to Committee on State Affairs.
HB 4214 to Committee on Business and Commerce.
HB 4215 to Committee on Business and Commerce.
HB 4224 to Committee on Health and Human Services.
HB 4273 to Committee on Health and Human Services.
HB 4325 to Committee on Jurisprudence.
HB 4361 to Committee on Education K-16.
HB 4386 to Committee on Business and Commerce.
HB 4395 to Committee on Business and Commerce.
HB 4665 to Committee on Health and Human Services.
HB 4783 to Committee on Health and Human Services.
HB 5032 to Committee on Economic Development.
HB 5180 to Committee on Education K-16.
HJR 34 to Committee on Local Government.
RECESS
On motion of Senator Zaffirini, the Senate at 4:30 p.m. recessed until 4:50 p.m. today.
AFTER RECESS
The Senate met at 5:30 p.m. and was called to order by Senator Flores.
SESSION TO CONSIDER EXECUTIVE APPOINTMENTS
The Presiding Officer announced the time had arrived to consider executive appointments to agencies, boards, and commissions. Notice of submission of these names for consideration was given yesterday by Senator Campbell.
Senator Campbell moved confirmation of the nominees reported yesterday by the Committee on Nominations.
The Presiding Officer asked if there were requests to sever nominees.
There were no requests offered.
NOMINEES CONFIRMED
The following nominees, as reported by the Committee on Nominations, were confirmed by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0.
Member, Board of Directors, Brazos River Authority: Jerry Kennedy Weldon, Erath County.
Members, Council on Cardiovascular Disease and Stroke: Oscar M. Aguilar, El Paso County; Janet Suzanne Hall Hewlett, Williamson County; Alberto Maud, El Paso County; Remedios Perez Morris, Williamson County.
Members, Governing Board, Texas Indigent Defense Commission: James Bethke, Travis County; Alexander Bunin, Harris County; Jay Blass Cohen, Harris County; Valerie Covey, Williamson County; Richard Arlan Evans, Bandera County; Mary Koehler McDonald Medary, Nueces County; James Robert Woolley, Waller County.
Members, Board of Directors, Guadalupe-Blanco River Authority: Stephen Brent Ehrig, Gonzales County; Jennifer Lisa Storm, Hays County.
Members, Board of Directors, Gulf Coast Authority: Amber Marie Batson, Harris County; Kevin Michael Scott, Galveston County.
Member, Gulf States Marine Fisheries Commission: Douglass Whitcombe Boyd, Kendall County.
Members, State Securities Board: Robert Randall Belt, Harris County; David Babson Montgomery, Harris County.
Members, State Soil and Water Conservation Board: Christine Russ Yturria Buford, Cameron County; James Higbie Clement, Kleberg County.
Members, Board of Trustees, Teacher Retirement System of Texas: Laronda Kay Graf, Cass County; John Richard Rutherford, Harris County.
Member, Texas Behavioral Health Executive Council: John Kolbe Bielamowicz, Ellis County.
Members, Texas Board of Occupational Therapy Examiners: Karen McPhail Gardner, Washington County; Chelsea LeAnn Howell, Hidalgo County.
Members, Texas Board of Respiratory Care: Latana Tamichi Jackson, Dallas County; Nathan Andrew Rodrigues, Williamson County; Sonia Kay Sanderson, Jefferson County.
Members, Texas Commission on Fire Protection: Daniel Joseph Buford, Montgomery County; Sue Ann Miner De Villez, Williamson County; Amanda Sue Friedeck, Jim Wells County; Phillip Hamilton, Potter County; Michael Johnson, Galveston County; James Patrick Mallinger, Williamson County; Bob Douglas Morgan, Tarrant County; John David Ortega, Bexar County; Brandon Lee Wade, Nueces County.
Members, Texas Farm and Ranch Lands Conservation Council: Russell Boening, Wilson County; Andrew Culton Polk, Angelina County.
Members, Texas Historical Commission: Garrett Kieran Donnelly, Midland County; Fritz Lee Duda, Dallas County; Edward C. Houghton, El Paso County; Laurie Ellen Limbacher, Travis County; Catherine Marie McKnight, Dallas County.
Members, Texas Military Preparedness Commission: Michael Lynn Boyd, Tom Green County; Garry William Bradford, Nueces County; Todd Michael Fox, Bell County; John M. McLean, Tarrant County; Paul Routh Norwood, Tarrant County.
Members, Governing Board, Texas School for the Deaf: Lisalee Denyse Egbert, Tarrant County; Christopher Jay Moreland, Travis County; Lauren Teruel Ridloff, Travis County; Shawn Partrick Saladin, Hidalgo County.
Members, Texas State Board of Examiners of Professional Counselors: Wan-Yu Elisa Chan, Bexar County; James B. Eby, Wichita County; Steven Wilson Hallbauer, Rockwall County; Corey Brandon Rose, Travis County; Carolyn Jane Stubblefield, Dallas County.
Members, Texas State Board of Examiners of Psychologists: Herman Bernard Adler, Harris County; Ryan Thomas Bridges, Harris County; Andoni Zagouris, Hidalgo County.
Members, Board of Regents, Texas Tech University System: Donald R. Sinclair, Harris County; Dustin R. Womble, Lubbock County.
Members, Texas Transportation Commission: Alejandro G. Meade, Hidalgo County; Robert Carl Vaughn, Dallas County.
Members, Board of Regents, Texas Woman's University: Ellen Anne Amirkhan, Dallas County; Bernadette Carrasco Coleman, Denton County; Kathleen Joy Wu, Dallas County.
Members, Board of Regents, The University of Texas System: Christina Melton Crain, Dallas County; Jodie Lee Jiles, Harris County; Kelcy Lee Warren, Dallas County.
SESSION TO CONSIDER EXECUTIVE APPOINTMENT
The Presiding Officer announced the time had arrived to consider an executive appointment. Notice of submission of this name for consideration was given yesterday by Senator Campbell.
Senator Campbell moved confirmation of the nominee reported yesterday by the Committee on Nominations.
NOMINEE CONFIRMED
The following nominee, as reported by the Committee on Nominations, was confirmed by the following vote: Yeas 24, Nays 7.
Yeas: Bettencourt, Birdwell, Blanco, Campbell, Creighton, Flores, Hagenbuch, Hall, Hancock, A. Hinojosa, J. Hinojosa, Huffman, Hughes, King, Kolkhorst, Menéndez, Middleton, Nichols, Parker, Paxton, Perry, Schwertner, Sparks, West.
Nays: Alvarado, Cook, Eckhardt, Gutierrez, Johnson, Miles, Zaffirini.
Member, Board of Regents, Texas Tech University System: Douglas Michael McReaken, Galveston County.
(Senator A. Hinojosa in Chair)
SENATE BILL 1238 WITH HOUSE AMENDMENT
Senator Kolkhorst called SB 1238 from the President's table for consideration of the House amendment to the bill.
The Presiding Officer laid the bill and the House amendment before the Senate.
Floor Amendment No. 1 on Third Reading
Amend SB 1238 (on third reading) on page 1 as follows:
(1) On line 7, strike "Subsection (d)" and substitute "Subsections (d) and (e)".
(2) Between lines 17 and 18, insert the following:
(e) Subsection (d) may not be construed to prohibit a title insurance company or title insurance agent from imposing a reasonable requirement on a widowed insured or widowed individual seeking insurance coverage for the purpose of determining heirship, probate matters, or other similar issues in the same manner as an insured or individual who is not widowed.
The amendment was read.
Senator Kolkhorst moved to concur in the House amendment to SB 1238.
The motion prevailed by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0.
SENATE RULES SUSPENDED
(Posting Rules)
On motion of Senator Schwertner and by unanimous consent, Senate Rule 11.10(a) and Senate Rule 11.18(a) were suspended in order that the Committee on Business and Commerce might meet at 8:00 a.m. tomorrow and consider the following bills: HB 1041, HB 2286.
SENATE RULES SUSPENDED
(Posting Rules)
On motion of Senator Birdwell and by unanimous consent, Senate Rule 11.10(a) and Senate Rule 11.18(a) were suspended in order that the Committee on Natural Resources might meet upon adjournment today and consider the following bills:
HB 1089, HB 1238, HB 2890, HB 2970, HB 206.
SENATE RULES SUSPENDED
(Posting Rules)
On motion of Senator Hughes and by unanimous consent, Senate Rule 11.10(a) and Senate Rule 11.18(a) were suspended in order that the Committee on State Affairs might meet at 9:00 a.m. tomorrow in the Senate Chamber and consider SB 835.
SENATE RULES SUSPENDED
(Posting Rules)
On motion of Senator Campbell and by unanimous consent, Senate Rule 11.10(a) and Senate Rule 11.18(a) were suspended in order that the Committee on Education K-16 might meet at 5:55 p.m. today in the Press Room, 2E.9.
MOTION TO RECESS
On motion of Senator Zaffirini and by unanimous consent, the Senate at 5:45 p.m. agreed to recess, pending the receipt of committee reports, until 11:00 a.m. tomorrow.
CO-AUTHORS OF SENATE BILL 571
On motion of Senator Bettencourt, Senators Campbell and King will be shown as Co-authors of SB 571.
CO-AUTHOR OF SENATE BILL 614
On motion of Senator J. Hinojosa, Senator Blanco will be shown as Co-author of SB 614.
CO-AUTHOR OF SENATE BILL 636
On motion of Senator Johnson, Senator West will be shown as Co-author of SB 636.
CO-AUTHOR OF SENATE BILL 640
On motion of Senator Johnson, Senator Blanco will be shown as Co-author of SB 640.
CO-AUTHOR OF SENATE BILL 872
On motion of Senator Birdwell, Senator Blanco will be shown as Co-author of SB 872.
CO-AUTHOR OF SENATE BILL 945
On motion of Senator Hughes, Senator Kolkhorst will be shown as Co-author of SB 945.
CO-AUTHOR OF SENATE BILL 946
On motion of Senator Hughes, Senator Kolkhorst will be shown as Co-author of SB 946.
CO-AUTHORS OF SENATE BILL 1212
On motion of Senator Paxton, Senators Alvarado and King will be shown as Co-authors of SB 1212.
CO-AUTHOR OF SENATE BILL 1278
On motion of Senator Parker, Senator Blanco will be shown as Co-author of SB 1278.
CO-AUTHOR OF SENATE BILL 1525
On motion of Senator Menéndez, Senator Alvarado will be shown as Co-author of SB 1525.
CO-AUTHOR OF SENATE BILL 1704
On motion of Senator Parker, Senator Miles will be shown as Co-author of SB 1704.
CO-AUTHORS OF SENATE BILL 1802
On motion of Senator Alvarado, Senators Johnson and Miles will be shown as Co-authors of SB 1802.
CO-AUTHORS OF SENATE BILL 1999
On motion of Senator Hughes, Senators A. Hinojosa and King will be shown as Co-authors of SB 1999.
CO-AUTHORS OF SENATE BILL 2138
On motion of Senator Creighton, Senators A. Hinojosa and Sparks will be shown as Co-authors of SB 2138.
CO-AUTHOR OF SENATE BILL 2373
On motion of Senator Johnson, Senator Schwertner will be shown as Co-author of SB 2373.
CO-AUTHORS OF SENATE BILL 2487
On motion of Senator Parker, Senators Bettencourt, Eckhardt, A. Hinojosa, Menéndez, Middleton, Paxton, Sparks, and West will be shown as Co-authors of SB 2487.
CO-AUTHOR OF SENATE BILL 2533
On motion of Senator Middleton, Senator Bettencourt will be shown as Co-author of SB 2533.
CO-AUTHOR OF SENATE BILL 2586
On motion of Senator Flores, Senator King will be shown as Co-author of SB 2586.
CO-AUTHOR OF SENATE BILL 2713
On motion of Senator Middleton, Senator A. Hinojosa will be shown as Co-author of SB 2713.
CO-AUTHOR OF SENATE BILL 2857
On motion of Senator Blanco, Senator Miles will be shown as Co-author of SB 2857.
CO-AUTHOR OF SENATE BILL 3016
On motion of Senator Creighton, Senator Bettencourt will be shown as Co-author of SB 3016.
CO-SPONSOR OF HOUSE BILL 18
On motion of Senator Perry, Senator Blanco will be shown as Co-sponsor of HB 18.
CO-SPONSOR OF HOUSE BILL 879
On motion of Senator Hagenbuch, Senator Blanco will be shown as Co-sponsor of HB 879.
CO-SPONSOR OF HOUSE BILL 2525
On motion of Senator Paxton, Senator Sparks will be shown as Co-sponsor of HB 2525.
CO-SPONSOR OF HOUSE BILL 2809
On motion of Senator Johnson, Senator Blanco will be shown as Co-sponsor of HB 2809.
CO-SPONSOR OF HOUSE BILL 3700
On motion of Senator King, Senator Alvarado will be shown as Co-sponsor of HB 3700.
CO-SPONSOR OF HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION 2
On motion of Senator Perry, Senator Kolkhorst will be shown as Co-sponsor of HJR 2.
RECESS
Pursuant to a previously adopted motion, the Senate at 9:15 a.m. Thursday, May 8, 2025, recessed until 11:00 a.m. today.
APPENDIX
COMMITTEE REPORTS
The following committee reports were received by the Secretary of the Senate in the order listed:
May 7, 2025
WATER, AGRICULTURE, AND RURAL AFFAIRS — CSHB 29
HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES — CSSB 2446, CSSB 466, CSHB 26
CRIMINAL JUSTICE — HB 166, HB 353, HB 2000, HB 2756, HB 3248, HB 3513, CSSB 2611, SB 2794, CSSB 2105, SB 2017, CSSB 1790, SB 1778, SB 1730
FINANCE — HJR 2
EDUCATION K-16 — CSSB 2995, SB 2847, HB 3204, SB 205, CSSB 2619, SB 1903, SB 203, SB 3061, SB 1581, SB 2600
TRANSPORTATION — SB 2799, SB 2790, SB 2688, SB 2515, SB 1230, SB 876, HB 3135, HB 3012, HB 2763, HB 2523, HB 2457, HB 2415, HB 2198, HB 2143, HB 1708, HB 1672, HB 767
LOCAL GOVERNMENT — CSHJR 1, CSSB 2522, HB 1327, CSSB 2639, HB 2723, SB 2137, SB 2519
STATE AFFAIRS — CSSB 2403, CSSB 2459
LOCAL GOVERNMENT — CSSB 3051, CSSB 2655, CSSB 2251, CSSB 2764
JURISPRUDENCE — CSSB 2878
HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES — CSHB 451, CSHB 140, CSHB 109
EDUCATION K-16 — CSSB 1884, CSSB 111, CSSB 582, CSSB 2617, CSSB 1835, CSSB 2751
ADMINISTRATION — HCR 6, HCR 12, HCR 29, HCR 50, HCR 55, HCR 56, HCR 58, HCR 70, HCR 71, HCR 74, HCR 78, HCR 80, HCR 107, HCR 116, HCR 117, SB 2959, HB 3096
May 8, 2025
NATURAL RESOURCES — HB 206, HB 1238, HB 1089, HB 2890
LOCAL GOVERNMENT — CSSB 2063, CSHB 9
EDUCATION K-16 — CSSB 1400
BILLS ENGROSSED
May 7, 2025
SB 250, SB 614, SB 865, SB 872, SB 905, SB 986, SB 1113, SB 1212, SB 1278, SB 1525, SB 1588, SB 1660, SB 1802, SB 1833, SB 1844, SB 2487, SB 2533, SB 2586, SB 2675, SB 2690, SB 2929
BILLS AND RESOLUTIONS ENROLLED
May 7, 2025
SB 305, SB 326, SB 463, SB 769, SB 856, SB 1169, SB 1238, SB 1369, SB 2196, SCR 29, SR 496, SR 503, SR 504
SENT TO SECRETARY OF STATE
May 7, 2025
SJR 18
SENT TO GOVERNOR
May 7, 2025
SB 65, SB 372, SB 412, SB 522, SB 610, SB 765, SB 767, SB 870, SB 879, SB 914, SB 922, SB 1008, SB 1035, SB 1044, SB 1057, SB 1062, SB 1106, SB 1151, SB 1197, SB 1268, SB 1341, SB 1366, SB 1369, SB 1378, SB 1403, SB 1415, SB 1437, SB 1532, SB 1577, SB 1583, SB 1619, SB 1745, SB 1746, SB 1806, SB 1963, SB 2032, SB 2034, SB 2066, SB 2077, SB 2204, SB 2314, SB 2349, SB 2629, SB 2964