(Thursday, May 8, 2025)

The Senate met at 5:28 p.m. pursuant to adjournment and was called to order by Senator Flores.

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 Presiding Officer announced that a quorum of the Senate was present.

Senator King offered the invocation as follows:

Father in heaven, on these days where we're kind of getting tired, it's towards the end of the session, almost to the weekend, too, we feel that fatigue. But at the same time just help us to always remember what a tremendous honor and privilege it is to get to serve You and serve our constituents in this body. And we just thank You for that privilege. We just pray that each day we would just focus on trying to do what we know to be right in Your eyes. When sometimes we're having difficulty working through that and figuring it out, please just give us the wisdom and the knowledge and the understanding and the patience to get to the right answer. We pray for our families. This time of the session, for them, they're missing us more. They see the chores piling up at home and where they've been having to carry the load for us, particularly our spouses. And so, we just pray for Your blessings for them and for Your care and encouragement for them. And we just thank You, again, for the privilege of serving here. Help us to remember that joy is always a choice and that we always choose to be joyful and upbeat in everything we do. We ask all these things in Jesus' name. 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.

The following bills and resolutions received from the House were read first time and referred to the committees indicated:

HB 180 to Committee on Border Security.

HB 223 to Committee on State Affairs.

HB 610 to Committee on Education K-16.

HB 1027 to Committee on Health and Human Services.

HB 1178 to Committee on Education K-16.

HB 1237 to Committee on Natural Resources.

HB 1506 to Committee on State Affairs.

HB 1535 to Committee on Local Government.

HB 1585 to Committee on Local Government.

HB 1610 to Committee on Administration.

HB 1615 to Committee on Administration.

HB 1620 to Committee on Administration.

HB 1639 to Committee on Health and Human Services.

HB 1813 to Committee on Education K-16.

HB 1902 to Committee on Criminal Justice.

HB 2026 to Committee on Transportation.

HB 2035 to Committee on Health and Human Services.

HB 2071 to Committee on Health and Human Services.

HB 2248 to Committee on Business and Commerce.

HB 2492 to Committee on Criminal Justice.

HB 2513 to Committee on Veteran Affairs.

HB 2522 to Committee on Transportation.

HB 2703 to Committee on Administration.

HB 2802 to Committee on Finance.

HB 3033 to Committee on Finance.

HB 3546 to Committee on State Affairs.

HB 3719 to Committee on Business and Commerce.

HB 3751 to Committee on Transportation.

HB 3778 to Committee on Business and Commerce.

HB 3800 to Committee on Economic Development.

HB 4284 to Committee on State Affairs.

HB 4464 to Committee on Business and Commerce.

HB 4488 to Committee on Finance.

HB 4529 to Committee on Health and Human Services.

HB 4655 to Committee on Health and Human Services.

HB 4666 to Committee on Health and Human Services.

HB 4751 to Committee on Business and Commerce.

HB 4753 to Committee on Local Government.

HB 4850 to Committee on Economic Development.

HB 4877 to Committee on Business and Commerce.

HB 4885 to Committee on Criminal Justice.

HB 4996 to Committee on Criminal Justice.

HB 5342 to Committee on Health and Human Services.

HB 5667 to Committee on Criminal Justice.

HCR 7 to Committee on Administration.

HCR 86 to Committee on Administration.

HCR 92 to Committee on Administration.

HCR 98 to Committee on Border Security.

HCR 126 to Committee on Administration.

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

There was no objection.

The Presiding Officer at 5:36 p.m. announced the conclusion of morning call.

Senator Middleton moved to suspend the regular order of business to take up for consideration CSSB 383 at this time on its third reading and final passage:

CSSB 383, Relating to the interconnection to the ERCOT power grid of certain coastal facilities for the provision of electric service.

The motion prevailed by the following vote:  Yeas 22, Nays 9.

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.

Nays:  Alvarado, Cook, Eckhardt, Gutierrez, Johnson, Menéndez, Miles, West, Zaffirini.

The bill was read third time and was passed by the following vote:  Yeas 22, Nays 9. (Same as previous roll call)

Senator Sparks moved to suspend the regular order of business to take up for consideration CSSB 715 at this time on its third reading and final passage:

CSSB 715, Relating to reliability requirements for certain electric generation facilities.

The motion prevailed by the following vote:  Yeas 19, Nays 12.

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

Nays:  Alvarado, Birdwell, Blanco, Cook, Eckhardt, Gutierrez, Hancock, Johnson, Menéndez, Miles, West, Zaffirini.

The bill was read third time and was passed by the following vote:  Yeas 17, Nays 14.

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

Nays:  Alvarado, Birdwell, Blanco, Cook, Eckhardt, Flores, Gutierrez, Hancock, J. Hinojosa, Johnson, Menéndez, Miles, West, Zaffirini.

Senator Hughes moved to suspend the regular order of business to take up for consideration SB 945 at this time on its third reading and final passage:

SB 945, Relating to the adoption of political shareholder proposals by insurers and insurer holding companies.

The motion prevailed by the following vote:  Yeas 20, Nays 10, Present-not voting 1.

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, West, Zaffirini.

Present-not voting:  Miles.

The bill was read third time and was passed by the following vote:  Yeas 20, Nays 10, Present-not voting 1. (Same as previous roll call)

Senator Hughes moved to suspend the regular order of business to take up for consideration CSSB 946 at this time on its third reading and final passage:

CSSB 946, Relating to the prohibition on certain discrimination in the extension of credit to organizations based on social credit or value-based standards.

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)

Senator Hughes moved to suspend the regular order of business to take up for consideration CSSB 1999 at this time on its third reading and final passage:

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 third time and was passed by the following vote:  Yeas 20, Nays 11. (Same as previous roll call)

Senator Hagenbuch moved to suspend the regular order of business to take up for consideration SB 1957 at this time on its third reading and final passage:

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 third time and was passed by the following vote:  Yeas 23, Nays 8. (Same as previous roll call)

Senator A. Hinojosa, on behalf of Senator Creighton, moved to suspend the regular order of business to take up for consideration SB 2138 at this time on its third reading and final passage:

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 third time and was passed by the following vote:  Yeas 23, Nays 8. (Same as previous roll call)

Senator Hughes moved to suspend the regular order of business to take up for consideration CSSB 2337 at this time on its third reading and final passage:

CSSB 2337, Relating to the regulation of the provision of proxy advisory services.

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)

Senator Schwertner moved to suspend the regular order of business to take up for consideration CSSB 2340 at this time on its third reading and final passage:

CSSB 2340, Relating to examination of the records of filing entities and foreign filing entities by the attorney general; creating a criminal offense.

The motion prevailed by the following vote:  Yeas 21, Nays 10.

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

Nays:  Alvarado, Blanco, Cook, Eckhardt, Gutierrez, J. Hinojosa, Johnson, Menéndez, Miles, Zaffirini.

The bill was read third time and was passed by the following vote:  Yeas 21, Nays 10. (Same as previous roll call)

Senator Middleton, on behalf of Senator Creighton, moved to suspend the regular order of business to take up for consideration CSSB 2615 at this time on its third reading and final passage:

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 third time and was passed by the following vote:  Yeas 21, Nays 10. (Same as previous roll call)

Senator Middleton moved to suspend the regular order of business to take up for consideration CSSB 2713 at this time on its third reading and final passage:

CSSB 2713, Relating to preventing discrimination in membership in a professional or trade association.

The motion prevailed by the following vote:  Yeas 22, Nays 9.

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.

Nays:  Alvarado, Cook, Eckhardt, Gutierrez, Johnson, Menéndez, Miles, West, Zaffirini.

The bill was read third time and was passed by the following vote:  Yeas 22, Nays 9. (Same as previous roll call)

Senator Bettencourt, on behalf of Senator Creighton, moved to suspend the regular order of business to take up for consideration CSSB 3016 at this time on its third reading and final passage:

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 third time and was passed by the following vote:  Yeas 20, Nays 11. (Same as previous roll call)

On motion of Senator Kolkhorst and by unanimous consent, Senate Rule 11.10(a) and Senate Rule 11.18(a) were suspended in order that the Committee on Health and Human Services might meet at 6:15 p.m. today in the Press Room, 2E.9.

On motion of Senator Paxton, Senator Hagenbuch will be shown as Co-author of SB 205.

On motion of Senator Middleton, Senator A. Hinojosa will be shown as Co-author of SB 383.

On motion of Senator Paxton, Senator King will be shown as Co-author of SB 466.

On motion of Senator Middleton, Senator King will be shown as Co-author of SB 517.

On motion of Senator Bettencourt, Senators Birdwell, J. Hinojosa, and Kolkhorst will be shown as Co-authors of SB 571.

On motion of Senator Sparks, Senators A. Hinojosa, Hughes, King, and Schwertner will be shown as Co-authors of SB 715.

On motion of Senator Birdwell, Senator King will be shown as Co-author of SB 876.

On motion of Senator Hughes, Senator Hagenbuch will be shown as Co-author of SB 945.

On motion of Senator Hughes, Senator King will be shown as Co-author of SB 946.

On motion of Senator Alvarado, Senators Eckhardt and Menéndez will be shown as Co-authors of SB 1263.

On motion of Senator Menéndez, Senator Paxton will be shown as Co-author of SB 1679.

On motion of Senator Hall, Senator Paxton will be shown as Co-author of SB 1730.

On motion of Senator Hagenbuch, Senator King will be shown as Co-author of SB 1858.

On motion of Senator Hall, Senator Eckhardt will be shown as Co-author of SB 1986.

On motion of Senator Hughes, Senator Kolkhorst will be shown as Co-author of SB 1999.

On motion of Senator Blanco, Senators Flores, J. Hinojosa, and Middleton will be shown as Co-authors of SB 2105.

On motion of Senator Creighton, Senator King will be shown as Co-author of SB 2138.

On motion of Senator Hagenbuch, Senator King will be shown as Co-author of SB 2177.

On motion of Senator Hughes, Senator King will be shown as Co-author of SB 2337.

On motion of Senator Johnson, Senators A. Hinojosa and King will be shown as Co-authors of SB 2373.

On motion of Senator Bettencourt, Senator A. Hinojosa will be shown as Co-author of SB 2477.

On motion of Senator Johnson, Senator Blanco will be shown as Co-author of SB 2637.

On motion of Senator Hancock, Senator King will be shown as Co-author of SB 2688.

On motion of Senator Birdwell, Senator Eckhardt will be shown as Co-author of SB 2781.

On motion of Senator Paxton, Senators Menéndez and Parker will be shown as Co-authors of SB 2794.

On motion of Senator Menéndez, Senator Eckhardt will be shown as Co-author of SB 2959.

On motion of Senator Parker, Senators Bettencourt, Campbell, Flores, A. Hinojosa, Hughes, King, Middleton, and Paxton will be shown as Co-authors of SCR 19.

On motion of Senator Birdwell, Senator J. Hinojosa will be shown as Co-author of SJR 59.

On motion of Senator Paxton, Senators Blanco, Parker, and Zaffirini will be shown as Co-authors of SR 506.

On motion of Senator Perry, Senator Eckhardt will be shown as Co-sponsor of HB 29.

On motion of Senator Alvarado, Senators Eckhardt, West, and Zaffirini will be shown as Co-sponsors of HB 136.

On motion of Senator Hancock, Senator King will be shown as Co-sponsor of HB 166.

On motion of Senator J. Hinojosa, Senator West will be shown as Co-sponsor of HB 331.

On motion of Senator Nichols, Senator West will be shown as Co-sponsor of HB 1399.

On motion of Senator Menéndez, Senator Eckhardt will be shown as Co-sponsor of HB 1437.

On motion of Senator Johnson, Senator West will be shown as Co-sponsor of HB 1672.

On motion of Senator Nichols, Senator King will be shown as Co-sponsor of HB 2000.

On motion of Senator Zaffirini, Senator West will be shown as Co-sponsor of HB 3135.

On motion of Senator Birdwell, Senators Creighton and Sparks will be shown as Co-sponsors of HJR 98.

On motion of Senator Nichols, Senator West will be shown as Co-sponsor of HJR 99.

On motion of Senator Zaffirini, the Senate at 6:11 p.m. recessed until 9:00 a.m. tomorrow.

The following committee reports were received by the Secretary of the Senate in the order listed:

EDUCATION K-16 — CSSB 2058

LOCAL GOVERNMENT — CSSB 2260

EDUCATION K-16 — CSSB 2928, HB 2081

BUSINESS AND COMMERCE — HB 4215

NATURAL RESOURCES — CSHB 2970

HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES — CSSB 1310

SB 383, SB 517, SB 571, SB 612, SB 715, SB 945, SB 946, SB 1013, SB 1117, SB 1263, SB 1957, SB 1999, SB 2138, SB 2221, SB 2337, SB 2340, SB 2373, SB 2477, SB 2587, SB 2615, SB 2633, SB 2681, SB 2713, SB 2781, SB 2782, SB 3016, SJR 59

SB 29, SB 494, SB 530, SB 703, SB 783, SB 855, SB 906, SB 929, SB 1119, SB 1229, SB 1316, SB 1364, SB 1744, SB 1877, SB 1967, SB 1998, SB 2231, SB 2312, SR 497, SR 498, SR 505, SR 506

SB 29, SB 305, SB 326, SB 463, SB 494, SB 530, SB 769, SB 783, SB 856, SB 1169, SB 1238, SB 1967, SB 2196, SB 2312, SCR 29

SB 262