THIRTY-SEVENTH DAY
(Continued)
(Monday, May 12, 2025)
AFTER RECESS
The Senate met at 11:14 a.m. and was called to order by President Pro Tempore Creighton.
Pastor Tedrick Woods, Living Word Fellowship Church, Dallas, offered the invocation as follows:
Eternal God, heavenly Father, who is unshaken by time, unchallenged in power, and unmatched in holiness, have mercy upon us. As we gather here today on the Texas Senate floor, under the shadow of uncertainties, we put our confidence and hope in You. We ask Your blessings upon today's Senate session. We pray for our Governor, Greg Abbott; our Lieutenant Governor, Dan Patrick; all 31 Members of the Texas Senate, You know them all by name, and our elected officials across the State of Texas, and every person under the sound of my voice. Uphold us all in Your grace. Continue to sustain all 31 Members of the Texas Senate and their families as they serve their districts. Allow them to lead with love, kindness, and dignity. We thank You for this great State of Texas. We trust that every mother felt Your love and was richly blessed on yesterday for Mother's Day. God of our weary years, God of our silent tears, You who have brought us thus this far. We ask that peace continue to prevail on the Texas Senate floor and throughout the Capitol. Yes, I am aware that others may offer this prayer to another deity or to some form of higher power. However, in the name of Him who is the resurrection and the life, Jesus Christ, who is the lord of lords and king of kings, governor of governors, and the leader of legislators, hear our prayer. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.
LEAVE OF ABSENCE
On motion of Senator Zaffirini, Senator Gutierrez was granted leave of absence for today on account of important business in the district.
MESSAGE FROM THE HOUSE
HOUSE CHAMBER
Austin, Texas
Monday, May 12, 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 housing finance corporations; authorizing a fee.
Relating to the treatment and beneficial use of fluid oil and gas waste and related material, including a limitation on liability for that treatment or use.
Relating to itemized billing for health care services and supplies provided by health care providers.
Relating to implementing an express lane option under Medicaid and the child health plan program.
Relating to support for new businesses.
Relating to the authority of the chief appraiser of certain appraisal districts to consider a property to be a comparable property when using the market data comparison method of appraisal to determine the market value of a residence homestead for ad valorem tax purposes.
Relating to the establishment of a grant program to support the elimination of illegally disposed of scrap tires.
Relating to a requirement that the ballot for an election to amend the state constitution include an estimate of the fiscal impact to the state of the proposed amendment.
Relating to a request by a member of the legislature for an unannounced inspection of a permanent concrete batch plant by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.
Relating to the civil liability of certain businesses in connection with allowing concealed handguns on the business premises.
Relating to the inclusion of the National Sexual Assault Hotline on certain student identification cards issued by a public institution of higher education.
Relating to the authority of a county to cancel subdivisions in the extraterritorial jurisdiction of a municipality.
Relating to measures to encourage the earning of industry-recognized credentials at public institutions of higher education.
Relating to certain claims for benefits or compensation by a death investigation professional.
Relating to creating the criminal offense of promotion or possession of a child-like sex doll.
Relating to tuition and fee exemptions at public institutions of higher education for certain peace officers.
Relating to waiver programs for certain veterans provided by toll project entities.
Relating to a special bill of review to reform a final judgment of forfeiture of a bail bond.
Relating to the eligibility of certain retired or former district court judges for assignment as a visiting judge.
Relating to the investigation of municipal fire fighters in certain municipalities.
Relating to a designation on a person's driver's license or personal identification certificate that the person is a registered sex offender.
Relating to the enforcement and prevention of offenses involving the manufacture or delivery of controlled substances listed in Penalty Group 1 or 1-B, law enforcement officer safety in handling those substances, and the manufacture and proper use of opioid antagonists.
Relating to the issuance of a citation for the offense of the unauthorized use of parking designated for persons with disabilities.
Relating to the filing for record of a plat, replat, or amended plat or replat of a subdivision of real property or a condominium.
Relating to increasing the criminal penalty for certain violations of certain court orders or conditions of bond in cases involving family violence, child abuse or neglect, sexual assault or abuse, indecent assault, stalking, or trafficking.
Relating to the establishment of a public law school in the Rio Grande Valley.
Relating to nonconforming land uses after the adoption of or change to a zoning regulation or boundary.
Relating to the applicability of sex offender registration requirements to the offenses of indecent assault and improper relationship between educator and student.
Relating to a waiver of the preservation of evidence and the return of a seized weapon in a criminal case.
Relating to the regulation of elevator mechanics, elevator apprentices, and contractors; requiring an occupational registration.
Relating to the locations in which certain knives are prohibited.
Relating to collecting and sharing capacity and enrollment information for certain day-care centers.
Relating to the licensing and regulation of music therapists; requiring an occupational license; authorizing fees.
Relating to reimbursement rates for child-care providers participating in the Texas Rising Star Program.
Relating to the authority of a state agency or the state's air quality state implementation plan to impose certain restrictions with respect to a motor vehicle, including a motor vehicle powered by an engine.
Relating to the use of a high occupancy vehicle lane by certain operators of motor vehicles.
Relating to creation of the Adopt-a-County Road program.
Relating to a school psychologist licensed under the Occupations Code.
Relating to the recording and archiving of live video feed by the Texas Department of Transportation.
Relating to the registration of frac tanks; authorizing a fee.
Relating to discount programs provided by toll project entities for certain customers.
Relating to the amendment of an existing comprehensive development agreement for a portion of State Highway 130 to facilitate nontolled transportation projects.
Relating to diagnosis, maintenance, and repair of certain digital electronic equipment.
Relating to a study by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board in coordination with other state agencies on the feasibility of developing clinical sites for nursing students.
Relating to health benefit plan coverage for chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy.
Relating to fentanyl prevention and drug poisoning awareness education for students enrolled in public institutions of higher education.
Relating to advanced air mobility.
Relating to member contributions to the Texas Municipal Retirement System.
Relating to the restriction of access by minors to sexually explicit materials in municipal public library collections; providing a civil penalty.
Relating to wildfire prevention, mitigation, and response at certain wells under the jurisdiction of the Railroad Commission of Texas; authorizing an administrative penalty.
Relating to decedents' estates and other matters involving probate courts.
Relating to the use or purchase or other acquisition of property under the Public Property Finance Act.
Relating to continuing education program contents and format relating to building codes for insurance adjusters.
Relating to the partial count of electronic voting system ballots.
Relating to the sale and distribution of counterfeit or unsafe lighters; imposing a civil penalty.
Relating to issuance of specialty license plates for certain United States Army Rangers.
Relating to the electronic submission of inspection reports and filing fees for the inspection of elevators, escalators, and related equipment.
Relating to the authority of the Texas Water Development Board to provide financial assistance to certain political subdivisions for brackish water desalination.
Relating to the exemption of certain reserve peace officers from regulation as private security personnel.
Relating to the taking of certain depositions and the dismissal of certain civil actions in connection with allegations of family violence and abusive conduct.
Relating to the disposal or storage of high-level radioactive waste.
Relating to liability protections for commercial space flight and exploration.
Relating to venue in certain actions involving private transfer fees for real property.
Relating to regulating charitable bingo and authorizing the establishment of a nonprofit corporation to advertise and promote charitable bingo.
Relating to the investigation of certain motor vehicle collisions by former peace officers.
Relating to proof of identity of a person making an acknowledgment of a written instrument.
Relating to compensation and employment benefits for law enforcement personnel in certain counties.
Relating to the storage of alcoholic beverages by the holder of a passenger transportation permit.
Relating to a study by the Texas Water Development Board on the costs of developing flood infrastructure in this state.
Relating to a study by the Texas Water Development Board of the state environmental review process for certain projects eligible for financial assistance from the flood infrastructure fund and the implementation of streamlining procedures based on the results of the study.
Relating to the retention of certain genetic material and genetic information by the Department of Family and Protective Services.
Relating to the designation of a portion of U.S. Highway 281 in Blanco and Burnet Counties as the Muckleroy Family Memorial Highway.
Relating to reports by certain public institutions of higher education on fraud, waste, and abuse involving state resources.
Relating to certain benefits payable by the Judicial Retirement System of Texas Plan One and the Judicial Retirement System of Texas Plan Two.
Relating to civil liability of property owners relating to motorcycle instruction and training courses.
Relating to the establishment of a grant program to provide financial assistance to counties for transportation assistance to indigent litigants.
Relating to the rights of special forces veterans who hold a license to carry a handgun.
HB 5134
Garcia Hernandez, Cassandra
|
Relating to eligibility to request a deposition before bringing a civil action.
Relating to a beneficiary designation that transfers a motor vehicle to one or more beneficiaries at the owner's death.
Relating to the duty of the attorney general to prosecute criminal offenses prescribed by the election laws of this state.
Relating to restricting the collection and use of DNA samples from children in the managing conservatorship of the Department of Family and Protective Services.
Relating to the evaluation and use of grid enhancing technologies and high-performance conductors.
Relating to medical school admissions, coursework, academic standards, and employment decisions in this state.
Relating to the powers, duties, and governance of the Starr County Drainage District, the change of the name of the Starr County Drainage District to the Starr County Drainage and Groundwater Conservation District, the dissolution of the Starr County Groundwater Conservation District, and the transfer of the assets and liabilities of the Starr County Groundwater Conservation District to the Starr County Drainage and Groundwater Conservation District; authorizing the imposition of a tax.
Relating to volunteer firefighter compensation limits.
Relating to a veteran housing program established by the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.
Relating to the creation of the Montgomery County Water Control and Improvement District No. 7; granting a limited power of eminent domain; providing authority to issue bonds; providing authority to impose assessments, fees, and taxes.
Relating to the powers, duties, and authority to issue bonds of the Fort Bend County Water Control and Improvement District No. 12 related to roads.
Relating to the powers and duties of the Far North Fort Worth Municipal Utility District No. 1 of Tarrant and Wise Counties; providing authority to impose a tax and issue bonds.
Relating to the creation of the Montgomery County Municipal Utility District No. 259; granting a limited power of eminent domain; providing authority to issue bonds; providing authority to impose assessments, fees, and taxes.
Relating to the boundaries of, and validating certain acts and proceedings of, the Driftwood Conservation District.
Relating to the creation of the River Ranch Municipal Utility District No. 1; granting a limited power of eminent domain; providing authority to issue bonds; providing authority to impose assessments, fees, and taxes.
Relating to the eminent domain authority of the Williamson County Municipal Utility District No. 40.
Relating to the creation of the Hills of Walnut Creek Municipal Utility District of Parker County; granting a limited power of eminent domain; providing authority to issue bonds; providing authority to impose assessments, fees, and taxes.
Relating to the creation of the San Benito Municipal Utility District No. 1; granting a limited power of eminent domain; providing authority to issue bonds; providing authority to impose assessments, fees, and taxes.
Urging the U.S. Department of Commerce to maintain the Tomato Suspension Agreement.
Proposing a constitutional amendment to authorize the commissioners court of a county to exempt from ad valorem taxation by each political subdivision that taxes the property the portion of the assessed value of a person's property that is attributable to the installation in or on the property of a rainwater harvesting or graywater system.
Proposing a constitutional amendment relating to the right to own, hold, and use a mutually agreed upon medium of exchange.
SB 17
Kolkhorst
Sponsor: Hefner
|
Relating to the purchase or acquisition of an interest in real property by certain aliens or foreign entities.
(Committee Substitute/Amended)
SB 266
Perry
Sponsor: Craddick
|
Relating to certain tax and fee collection procedures and taxpayer suits.
SB 314
Hughes
Sponsor: Harris Davila
|
Relating to prohibiting certain food additives from being included in free or reduced-price meals provided by school districts.
(Amended)
SB 455
Middleton
Sponsor: Morgan
|
Relating to arbitration provisions in certain surplus lines insurance contracts.
(Amended)
SB 499
Sparks
Sponsor: Darby
|
Relating to the selection by the board of directors of the West Coke County Hospital District of a depository bank for the district.
SB 688
Hughes
Sponsor: Hayes
|
Relating to the date of the meeting of presidential electors of this state.
SB 761
Hinojosa, Juan "Chuy"
Sponsor: Thompson
|
Relating to rights of crime victims, including the enforcement of certain rights of sexual assault victims; authorizing a civil penalty.
(Amended)
SB 771
Hinojosa, Juan "Chuy"
Sponsor: Ashby
|
Relating to a credit or refund for diesel fuel taxes paid on diesel fuel used in this state by auxiliary power units or power take-off equipment.
SB 888
Kolkhorst
Sponsor: Leach
|
Relating to the attorney general's defense of a district or county attorney against certain lawsuits in federal court.
SB 1023
Bettencourt
Sponsor: Troxclair
|
Relating to the calculation of certain ad valorem tax rates.
(Amended)
SB 1349
Hughes
Sponsor: Lopez, Janie
|
Relating to creating the criminal offenses of transnational repression and unauthorized enforcement of foreign law and to a study and law enforcement training regarding transnational repression.
SB 1418
Campbell
Sponsor: Ashby
|
Relating to the terminology used to refer to certain assessment instruments administered to public school students.
SB 1464
Hinojosa, Juan "Chuy"
Sponsor: Villalobos
|
Relating to a hearing on the refusal to issue or the revocation or suspension of a vehicle title.
SB 1490
Bettencourt
Sponsor: Gerdes
|
Relating to adult high school charter program funding.
SB 1502
Bettencourt
Sponsor: Troxclair
|
Relating to the authority of the governing body of a school district to adopt an ad valorem tax rate that exceeds the district's voter-approval tax rate.
SB 1555
Nichols
Sponsor: Patterson
|
Relating to a grant program to fund certain railroad grade separation projects.
SB 1568
Zaffirini
Sponsor: Curry
|
Relating to the issuance of animal friendly specialty license plates.
SB 1569
King
Sponsor: Darby
|
Relating to the availability of certain personal information of a member of the governing board of an institution of higher education, the chief executive officer of the institution, or the chief executive officer of a university system.
SB 1729
Miles
Sponsor: McQueeney
|
Relating to the registration and inspection of vehicles.
SB 1851
Nichols
Sponsor: Harris
|
Relating to the penalty for noncompliance with certain audit requirements by a municipality.
SB 1968
Schwertner
Sponsor: Harless
|
Relating to the licensing and regulation of certain real estate professionals by the Texas Real Estate Commission.
(Amended)
SB 2007
Hagenbuch
Sponsor: Morgan
|
Relating to the voluntary disclosure by an applicant for registration of a motor vehicle of the applicant's military status.
SB 2122
Zaffirini
Sponsor: Darby
|
Relating to imposition of application fees for certain permits and permit amendments for the disposal of oil and gas waste.
(Committee Substitute)
SB 2351
Alvarado
Sponsor: Walle
|
Relating to the construction of certain concrete plants under a standard permit.
SB 2371
Nichols
Sponsor: Perez, Mary Ann
|
Relating to skimmers on electronic terminals; authorizing a civil penalty; creating criminal offenses.
(Amended)
SB 2420
Paxton
Sponsor: Fairly
|
Relating to the regulation of platforms for the sale and distribution of software applications for mobile devices.
(Committee Substitute/Amended)
SB 2476
Nichols
Sponsor: Ashby
|
Relating to transfer of the ownership rights of the Woodlawn Water Supply Corporation to the Angelina and Neches River Authority.
SB 2544
Hancock
Sponsor: Morgan
|
Relating to eligibility for mediation of certain out-of-network health benefit claims.
(Amended)
SB 2774
Hinojosa, Adam
Sponsor: Darby
|
Relating to the classification of certain entities as primarily engaged in retail trade for purposes of the franchise tax.
SB 2776
Hinojosa, Adam
Sponsor: Lujan
|
Relating to the disclosure of certain information by the Texas Juvenile Justice Department.
Respectfully,
/s/Stephen Brown,
Chief Clerk
House of Representatives
GUESTS PRESENTED
Senator Campbell was recognized and introduced to the Senate a delegation of Focal Segmental Glomerulosclerosis, FSGS, advocates and members of the Texas Kidney Foundation including Kristen Hood and her son, Logan; Tiffany Jones-Smith and her husband, Kevin Smith; Jazrome Coulter; the Reverend Patrick Jones; Dr. Hussein Musa; Shaquille Jones; Leonora Walker; Annie Smith; and Ernie Smith.
The Senate welcomed its guests.
PHYSICIAN OF THE DAY
Senator Paxton was recognized and presented Dr. Hanh-Dieu Nguyen of Plano as the Physician of the Day.
The Senate welcomed Dr. Nguyen and thanked her for her participation in the Physician of the Day program sponsored by the Texas Academy of Family Physicians.
SENATE RESOLUTIONS
The following resolutions were offered:
SR 495 by West, Recognizing Jeffrey Hamilton for 50 years of service to Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Incorporated.
SR 507 by Nichols, Recognizing Lance Simmons on the occasion of his retirement.
SR 510 by Hughes, Recognizing Ron Clinton on the occasion of his retirement.
SR 513 by Miles, Recognizing the members of the 4th class of the Miles Ahead Scholars Program.
SR 514 by Kolkhorst, Recognizing Citizens State Bank on the occasion of its 100th anniversary.
HCR 66 (Sparks), Congratulating Tevis and Patricia Herd of Midland on their 60th wedding anniversary.
The resolutions were read and were adopted by a vivia voce vote.
All Members are deemed to have voted "Yea" on the adoption of the resolutions.
HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION 2 ON SECOND READING
Senator Perry moved to suspend the regular order of business to take up for consideration HJR 2 at this time on its second reading:
HJR 2, Proposing a constitutional amendment prohibiting the legislature from imposing death taxes applicable to a decedent's property or the transfer of an estate, inheritance, legacy, succession, or gift.
The motion prevailed by the following vote: Yeas 27, Nays 3.
Yeas: Alvarado, Bettencourt, Birdwell, Blanco, Campbell, Creighton, Flores, Hagenbuch, Hall, Hancock, A. Hinojosa, J. Hinojosa, Huffman, Hughes, King, Kolkhorst, Menéndez, Middleton, Miles, Nichols, Parker, Paxton, Perry, Schwertner, Sparks, West, Zaffirini.
Nays: Cook, Eckhardt, Johnson.
Absent-excused: Gutierrez.
The resolution was read second time and was passed to third reading by the following vote: Yeas 27, Nays 3. (Same as previous roll call)
HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION 2 ON THIRD READING
Senator Perry moved that Senate Rule 7.18 and the Constitutional Rule requiring bills to be read on three several days be suspended and that HJR 2 be placed on its third reading and final passage.
The motion prevailed by the following vote: Yeas 27, Nays 3.
Yeas: Alvarado, Bettencourt, Birdwell, Blanco, Campbell, Creighton, Flores, Hagenbuch, Hall, Hancock, A. Hinojosa, J. Hinojosa, Huffman, Hughes, King, Kolkhorst, Menéndez, Middleton, Miles, Nichols, Parker, Paxton, Perry, Schwertner, Sparks, West, Zaffirini.
Nays: Cook, Eckhardt, Johnson.
Absent-excused: Gutierrez.
The resolution was read third time and was passed by the following vote: Yeas 27, Nays 3. (Same as previous roll call)
HOUSE BILL 206 ON SECOND READING
Senator Birdwell moved to suspend the regular order of business to take up for consideration HB 206 at this time on its second reading:
HB 206, Relating to a limitation on a county's authority to require a cash bond before approving the construction of a pipeline.
The motion prevailed by the following vote: Yeas 27, Nays 3.
Yeas: Alvarado, Bettencourt, Birdwell, Blanco, Campbell, Creighton, Flores, Hagenbuch, Hall, Hancock, A. Hinojosa, J. Hinojosa, Huffman, Hughes, King, Kolkhorst, Menéndez, Middleton, Miles, Nichols, Parker, Paxton, Perry, Schwertner, Sparks, West, Zaffirini.
Nays: Cook, Eckhardt, Johnson.
Absent-excused: Gutierrez.
The bill was read second time and was passed to third reading by the following vote: Yeas 27, Nays 3. (Same as previous roll call)
HOUSE BILL 206 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 HB 206 be placed on its third reading and final passage.
The motion prevailed by the following vote: Yeas 27, Nays 3.
Yeas: Alvarado, Bettencourt, Birdwell, Blanco, Campbell, Creighton, Flores, Hagenbuch, Hall, Hancock, A. Hinojosa, J. Hinojosa, Huffman, Hughes, King, Kolkhorst, Menéndez, Middleton, Miles, Nichols, Parker, Paxton, Perry, Schwertner, Sparks, West, Zaffirini.
Nays: Cook, Eckhardt, Johnson.
Absent-excused: Gutierrez.
The bill was read third time and was passed by the following vote: Yeas 27, Nays 3. (Same as previous roll call)
HOUSE BILL 517 ON SECOND READING
On motion of Senator Schwertner and by unanimous consent, the regular order of business was suspended to take up for consideration HB 517 at this time on its second reading:
HB 517, Relating to the authority of a property owners' association to assess a fine for discolored vegetation or turf during a period of residential watering restriction.
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:
Absent-excused: Gutierrez.
HOUSE BILL 517 ON THIRD READING
Senator Schwertner moved that Senate Rule 7.18 and the Constitutional Rule requiring bills to be read on three several days be suspended and that HB 517 be placed on its third reading and final passage.
The motion prevailed by the following vote: Yeas 30, Nays 0.
Absent-excused: Gutierrez.
The bill was read third time and was passed by the following vote: Yeas 30, Nays 0. (Same as previous roll call)
HOUSE BILL 2756 ON SECOND READING
On motion of Senator Huffman and by unanimous consent, the regular order of business was suspended to take up for consideration HB 2756 at this time on its second reading:
HB 2756, Relating to training on de-escalation, crisis intervention, and behavioral health for correctional officers and certain other employees of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.
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:
Absent-excused: Gutierrez.
HOUSE BILL 2756 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 HB 2756 be placed on its third reading and final passage.
The motion prevailed by the following vote: Yeas 30, Nays 0.
Absent-excused: Gutierrez.
The bill was read third time and was passed by the following vote: Yeas 30, Nays 0. (Same as previous roll call)
COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE
HOUSE BILL 451 ON SECOND READING
On motion of Senator Paxton and by unanimous consent, the regular order of business was suspended to take up for consideration CSHB 451 at this time on its second reading:
CSHB 451, Relating to a screening for the risk of commercial sexual exploitation of certain children.
The bill was read second time.
Senator Paxton offered the following amendment to the bill:
Floor Amendment No. 1
Amend CSHB 451 (senate committee report) by striking SECTION 3 of the bill, the transition language (page 1, line 54 through page 2, line 2), and substituting the following:
SECTION 3. The Department of Family and Protective Services is required to implement a provision of this Act only if the legislature appropriates money to the department specifically for that purpose. If the legislature does not appropriate money specifically for that purpose, the department may, but is not required to, implement a provision of this Act using other money available for that purpose.
The amendment to CSHB 451 was read and was adopted without objection.
All Members are deemed to have voted "Yea" on the adoption of Floor Amendment No. 1 except as follows:
Absent-excused: Gutierrez.
CSHB 451 as amended was passed to third reading without objection.
All Members are deemed to have voted "Yea" on the passage to third reading except as follows:
Absent-excused: Gutierrez.
COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE
HOUSE BILL 451 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 451 be placed on its third reading and final passage.
The motion prevailed by the following vote: Yeas 30, Nays 0.
Absent-excused: Gutierrez.
The bill was read third time and was passed by the following vote: Yeas 30, Nays 0. (Same as previous roll call)
COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE
SENATE BILL 2203 ON SECOND READING
Senator Birdwell moved to suspend the regular order of business to take up for consideration CSSB 2203 at this time on its second reading:
CSSB 2203, Relating to the certification of discovery issues to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality in contested cases referred to the State Office of Administrative Hearings by the commission.
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.
Senator Birdwell offered the following amendment to the bill:
Floor Amendment No. 1
Amend CSSB 2203 (senate committee printing) in SECTION 1 of the bill as follows:
(1) In added Section 2003.047(i)(1), Government Code (page 1, line 36), strike "and".
(2) Strike added Sections 2003.047(i)(2) and (i-4), Government Code (page 1, lines 37-46), and substitute the following:
(2) provide that on a motion made by a party, the administrative law judge shall promptly certify to the commission any issue relating to the scope of discovery under Subsection (g); and
(3) provide that certification of an issue expires by operation of law if the certified issue is not set for the commission's consideration within 15 days after the date the administrative law judge files with the chief clerk a request for the commission to answer the certified issue. [Each agency shall publish the jointly adopted rules.]
(i-4) Following certification to the commission of an issue relating to the scope of discovery under Subsection (g), the administrative law judge may abate the deadline specified by Subsection (e-2) until the first business day following the earlier of:
(1) the commission's consideration of the certified issue; or
(2) the expiration by operation of law of the issue's certification.
The amendment to CSSB 2203 was read and was adopted without objection.
All Members are deemed to have voted "Yea" on the adoption of Floor Amendment No. 1 except as follows:
Absent-excused: Gutierrez.
CSSB 2203 as amended was passed to engrossment without objection.
All Members are deemed to have voted "Yea" on the passage to engrossment except as follows:
Nays: Hagenbuch.
Absent-excused: Gutierrez.
COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE
SENATE BILL 2203 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 CSSB 2203 be placed on its third reading and final passage.
The motion prevailed by the following vote: Yeas 29, Nays 1.
Nays: Hagenbuch.
Absent-excused: Gutierrez.
The bill was read third time and was passed by the following vote: Yeas 29, Nays 1. (Same as previous roll call)
SENATE BILL 705 ON SECOND READING
On motion of Senator Zaffirini and by unanimous consent, the regular order of business was suspended to take up for consideration SB 705 at this time on its second reading:
SB 705, Relating to the air conditioning and refrigeration contractors advisory board.
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:
Absent-excused: Gutierrez.
SENATE BILL 705 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 SB 705 be placed on its third reading and final passage.
The motion prevailed by the following vote: Yeas 30, Nays 0.
Absent-excused: Gutierrez.
The bill was read third time and was passed by the following vote: Yeas 30, Nays 0. (Same as previous roll call)
SENATE BILL 2017 ON SECOND READING
Senator Bettencourt moved to suspend the regular order of business to take up for consideration SB 2017 at this time on its second reading:
SB 2017, Relating to the creation of a criminal offense for operating a vehicle under certain circumstances causing a tire of the vehicle to spin, lose traction, or leave the surface of a highway.
The motion prevailed.
Senator Cook asked to be recorded as voting "Nay" on suspension of the regular order of business.
The bill was read second time.
Senator Bettencourt offered the following amendment to the bill:
Floor Amendment No. 1
Amend SB 2017 (senate committee report) in SECTION 1 of the bill as follows:
(1) In the heading to added Section 545.4015, Transportation Code (page 1, line 23), between "OF" and "VEHICLE", insert "MOTOR".
(2) In added Section 545.4015(a), Transportation Code (page 1, lines 25 and 26), strike "vehicle may not" and substitute "motor vehicle may not intentionally".
(3) In added Section 545.4015(b), Transportation Code (page 1, lines 28 and 29), strike "vehicle may not intentionally or knowingly" and substitute "motor vehicle may not intentionally".
The amendment to SB 2017 was read and was adopted without objection.
All Members are deemed to have voted "Yea" on the adoption of Floor Amendment No. 1 except as follows:
Absent-excused: Gutierrez.
SB 2017 as amended was passed to engrossment without objection.
All Members are deemed to have voted "Yea" on the passage to engrossment except as follows:
Nays: Cook.
Absent-excused: Gutierrez.
SENATE BILL 2017 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 2017 be placed on its third reading and final passage.
The motion prevailed by the following vote: Yeas 29, Nays 1.
Nays: Cook.
Absent-excused: Gutierrez.
The bill was read third time and was passed by the following vote: Yeas 29, Nays 1. (Same as previous roll call)
SENATE BILL 1858 ON SECOND READING
On motion of Senator Hagenbuch and by unanimous consent, the regular order of business was suspended to take up for consideration SB 1858 at this time on its second reading:
SB 1858, Relating to eligibility for the bulletproof vest and body armor grant program.
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:
Absent-excused: Gutierrez.
SENATE BILL 1858 ON THIRD READING
Senator Hagenbuch moved that Senate Rule 7.18 and the Constitutional Rule requiring bills to be read on three several days be suspended and that SB 1858 be placed on its third reading and final passage.
The motion prevailed by the following vote: Yeas 30, Nays 0.
Absent-excused: Gutierrez.
The bill was read third time and was passed by the following vote: Yeas 30, Nays 0. (Same as previous roll call)
COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE
SENATE BILL 1400 ON SECOND READING
Senator Kolkhorst moved to suspend the regular order of business to take up for consideration CSSB 1400 at this time on its second reading:
CSSB 1400, Relating to a study on measurable outcomes for certain transfer students for performance tier funding under the public junior college state finance program.
The motion prevailed.
Senator Sparks 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: Sparks.
Absent-excused: Gutierrez.
COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE
SENATE BILL 1400 ON THIRD READING
Senator Kolkhorst moved that Senate Rule 7.18 and the Constitutional Rule requiring bills to be read on three several days be suspended and that CSSB 1400 be placed on its third reading and final passage.
The motion prevailed by the following vote: Yeas 29, Nays 1.
Nays: Sparks.
Absent-excused: Gutierrez.
The bill was read third time and was passed by the following vote: Yeas 29, Nays 1. (Same as previous roll call)
COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE
SENATE BILL 2764 ON SECOND READING
On motion of Senator Cook and by unanimous consent, the regular order of business was suspended to take up for consideration CSSB 2764 at this time on its second reading:
CSSB 2764, Relating to information provided to a purchaser of a manufactured home regarding the ability to elect to treat the home as real property or personal property.
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:
Absent-excused: Gutierrez.
COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE
SENATE BILL 2764 ON THIRD READING
Senator Cook moved that Senate Rule 7.18 and the Constitutional Rule requiring bills to be read on three several days be suspended and that CSSB 2764 be placed on its third reading and final passage.
The motion prevailed by the following vote: Yeas 30, Nays 0.
Absent-excused: Gutierrez.
The bill was read third time and was passed by the following vote: Yeas 30, Nays 0. (Same as previous roll call)
SENATE BILL 748 ON SECOND READING
On motion of Senator Zaffirini and by unanimous consent, the regular order of business was suspended to take up for consideration SB 748 at this time on its second reading:
SB 748, Relating to the regulation of laser hair removal.
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:
Absent-excused: Gutierrez.
SENATE BILL 748 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 SB 748 be placed on its third reading and final passage.
The motion prevailed by the following vote: Yeas 30, Nays 0.
Absent-excused: Gutierrez.
The bill was read third time and was passed by the following vote: Yeas 30, Nays 0. (Same as previous roll call)
SENATE BILL 2519 ON SECOND READING
Senator Bettencourt moved to suspend the regular order of business to take up for consideration SB 2519 at this time on its second reading:
SB 2519, Relating to restrictions on the levy and use of certain ad valorem taxes and on the issuance of certain bonds supported by ad valorem taxes.
The motion prevailed by the following vote: Yeas 22, 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.
Nays: Alvarado, Cook, Eckhardt, Johnson, Menéndez, Miles, West, Zaffirini.
Absent-excused: Gutierrez.
The bill was read second time.
Senator Bettencourt offered the following amendment to the bill:
Floor Amendment No. 1
Amend SB 2519 (senate committee printing) as follows:
(1) Strike SECTION 1 of the bill, adding Section 26.012(16-a), Tax Code (page 1, lines 21 through 42).
(2) Strike SECTION 2 of the bill, adding Section 26.05(e-2), Tax Code (page 1, lines 43 through 58).
(3) Strike SECTION 6 of the bill, providing transition language (page 2, lines 21 through 23).
(4) Renumber the SECTIONS of the bill as appropriate.
The amendment to SB 2519 was read and was adopted without objection.
All Members are deemed to have voted "Yea" on the adoption of Floor Amendment No. 1 except as follows:
Absent-excused: Gutierrez.
SB 2519 as amended was passed to engrossment by the following vote: Yeas 22, 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.
Nays: Alvarado, Cook, Eckhardt, Johnson, Menéndez, Miles, West, Zaffirini.
Absent-excused: Gutierrez.
SENATE BILL 2519 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 2519 be placed on its third reading and final passage.
The motion prevailed by the following vote: Yeas 25, Nays 5.
Yeas: Bettencourt, Birdwell, Blanco, Campbell, Cook, Creighton, Eckhardt, Flores, Hagenbuch, Hall, Hancock, A. Hinojosa, J. Hinojosa, Huffman, Hughes, King, Kolkhorst, Middleton, Nichols, Parker, Paxton, Perry, Schwertner, Sparks, Zaffirini.
Nays: Alvarado, Johnson, Menéndez, Miles, West.
Absent-excused: Gutierrez.
The bill was read third time and was passed by the following vote: Yeas 22, 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.
Nays: Alvarado, Cook, Eckhardt, Johnson, Menéndez, Miles, West, Zaffirini.
Absent-excused: Gutierrez.
REMARKS ORDERED PRINTED
On motion of Senator Eckhardt and by unanimous consent, the remarks by Senators Bettencourt and Eckhardt regarding SB 2519 were ordered reduced to writing and printed in the Senate Journal as follows:
President Pro Tempore Creighton: Senator Eckhardt, for what purpose?
Senator Eckhardt: To ask questions of the author of the bill, of the author of the amendment.
President Pro Tempore: Senator Bettencourt, do you yield for multiple questions from Senator Eckhardt?
Senator Bettencourt: I don't think this will take multiple questions because this is, this is what she's been interested in, but go ahead.
President Pro Tempore: Senator Bettencourt yields. Senator, Chair recognizes Senator Eckhardt on the amendment.
Senator Eckhardt: And my apologies, Senator Bettencourt, I was looking at something else when you were talking. Please, the amendment—
Senator Bettencourt: Let me explain it to you while you're looking for it.
Senator Eckhardt: Yes.
Senator Bettencourt: Okay. It takes out sections one, two, and six. So, what is left in the bill is a strict, just philosophical bill, doesn't have anything to do with a local project. Okay? It just says M&O should be M&O, and I&S should be that service for future projects. So, I tried to simplify this, so we look forward to the future of having a rational discussion that can't be misinterpreted, not just between us but all the taxing jurisdictions. Okay? On this one that, when you have M&O you use it for maintenance and operations, and when you have interest and sinking, you use it for debt.
Senator Eckhardt: So, this amendment would make this purely proactive and not retroactive?
Senator Bettencourt: Right.
Senator Eckhardt: The entirety of the bill?
Senator Bettencourt: Purely proactive.
Senator Eckhardt: And so, this bill would mean that any projects in the future, such as, such as Fort Worth's service center project, wouldn't be able to be financed in the way that it was financed?
Senator Bettencourt: I'm not sure, I'm not advised on that one. But if, if anyone has, this just makes it clear that, so that people don't misinterpret what I think is already in the law. That M&O goes for maintenance and operation, and I&S goes for debt, and that you can't cross the streams between the two. If you want to ask for debt money, go to the public and get debt approval. If you want to spend your maintenance and operation money, spend your maintenance and operation money. So, I'm trying to take out any reference to specific projects and just make the bright line of what the right public policy is, which I believe, I mean, since I've been tax assessor, that's what I've believed. That's why we have a difference between the M&O and the I&S tax rates.
Senator Eckhardt: So, and this amendment clarifies, again, I just want to make crystal clear that this bill, with this amendment on it, would have no retroactive component because there are, there is one project very dear to me—
Senator Bettencourt: That's right.
Senator Eckhardt: —that's in process, but there is also a project I believe that may be interesting to you which is the A&M law school is also, at least potentially, looking at a city ad valorem transfer of M&O into an LGC for construction.
Senator Bettencourt: Well, I'm not advised on that, but I will check that out. I think A&M can do better than that with the status of the Permanent University Fund. But this one is, to go to your main question, this is going forward only, period, has nothing to do with the local project here, period. It's not retroactive. There is a bill in the House that is handling that issue, but this one, I just wanted to make it a bright line, M&O, maintenance and operation, I&S, interest in sinking debt, that's what this bill does for future projects.
Senator Eckhardt: So, with this amendment it wouldn't, it would not have an effect on Project Connect?
Senator Bettencourt: Absolutely, this bill, as it's now amended, would not.
Senator Eckhardt: Thank you for the amendment, and I remain concerned about taking this tool off of the table for other future projects because it has been pretty useful over the years. But thank you very much for answering my questions.
Senator Bettencourt: Okay, thank you.
COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE
SENATE BILL 2878 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 2878 at this time on its second reading:
CSSB 2878, Relating to the operation and administration of and practices and procedures related to proceedings in the judicial branch of state government, including court security, court documents and arrest warrants, document delivery, juvenile boards, and youth diversion; increasing a criminal penalty; authorizing fees.
The bill was read second time.
Senator Huffman offered the following amendment to the bill:
Floor Amendment No. 1
Amend CSSB 2878 (senate committee report) in Article 1 of the bill, by striking SECTION 1.05 of the bill, adding Sections 24.60035 and 24.60036, Government Code (page 1, lines 43 through 51), and substituting the following:
SECTION 1.05. (a) Effective September 1, 2026, Subchapter C, Chapter 24, Government Code, is amended by adding Section 24.60035 to read as follows:
Sec. 24.60035. 490TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT (BRAZORIA COUNTY). The 490th Judicial District is composed of Brazoria County.
(b) The 490th Judicial District is created on September 1, 2026.
The amendment to CSSB 2878 was read and was adopted without objection.
All Members are deemed to have voted "Yea" on the adoption of Floor Amendment No. 1 except as follows:
Nays: Middleton.
Absent-excused: Gutierrez.
Senator Menéndez offered the following amendment to the bill:
Floor Amendment No. 2
Amend CSSB 2878 (senate committee report) by adding the following appropriately numbered SECTIONS to the bill and renumbering the SECTIONS of the bill accordingly:
SECTION ____. Section 53.01(b-1), Family Code, is amended to read as follows:
(b-1) The person who is conducting the preliminary investigation shall, as appropriate, refer the child's case to a community resource coordination group, a local-level interagency staffing group, or other community juvenile service provider for services under Section 53.011, if the person determines that:
(1) [the child is younger than 12 years of age;
[(2)] there is probable cause to believe the child engaged in delinquent conduct or conduct indicating a need for supervision;
(2) [(3)] the child's case does not require referral to the prosecuting attorney under Subsection (d) or (f);
(3) [(4)] the child is eligible for deferred prosecution under Section 53.03; and
(4) [(5)] the child:
(A) is younger than 12 years of age, and the child and the child's family are not currently receiving services under Section 53.011 and would benefit from receiving the services; or
(B) resides in a general residential operation, as that term is defined by Section 42.002, Human Resources Code.
SECTION ____. Section 42.0426(b), Human Resources Code, is amended to read as follows:
(b) A residential child-care facility shall implement a behavior intervention program approved by the department for the benefit of a child served by the facility who needs assistance in managing the child's conduct. The program must include:
(1) behavior intervention instruction for staff members who work directly with children served by the facility, including crisis response training for emergency behavior intervention with a goal of limiting law enforcement involvement; and
(2) training for all employees regarding the risks associated with the use of prone restraints.
SECTION ____. Section 152.00145, Human Resources Code, is amended to read as follows:
Sec. 152.00145. DIVERSION AND DETENTION POLICY FOR CERTAIN JUVENILES. (a) In this section, "general residential operation" has the meaning assigned by Section 42.002.
(b) A juvenile board shall establish policies that prioritize:
(1) the diversion from referral to a prosecuting attorney under Chapter 53, Family Code, of children who are:
(A) younger than 12 years of age [from referral to a prosecuting attorney under Chapter 53, Family Code]; or
(B) residing in a general residential operation, particularly children alleged to have engaged in conduct constituting a misdemeanor involving violence to a person; and
(2) the limitation of detention, to circumstances of last resort, of children who are:
(A) younger than 12 years of age; or
(B) residing in a general residential operation [to circumstances of last resort].
(c) To monitor the success of policies implemented under Subsection (b) for children who reside in general residential operations, a juvenile board shall track:
(1) the number of children referred to the board who reside in a general residential operation;
(2) the number of children described by Subdivision (1) who receive deferred prosecution or are referred to the juvenile probation department; and
(3) the general residential operation where a child described by Subdivision (1) resides.
SECTION ____. Section 53.01(b-1), Family Code, as amended by this Act, applies only to conduct that occurs on or after the effective date of this Act. Conduct that occurs before the effective date of this Act is governed by the law in effect on the date the conduct occurred, and the former law is continued in effect for that purpose. For the purposes of this section, conduct occurred before the effective date of this Act if any element of the conduct occurred before that date.
The amendment to CSSB 2878 was read and was adopted without objection.
All Members are deemed to have voted "Yea" on the adoption of Floor Amendment No. 2 except as follows:
Absent-excused: Gutierrez.
CSSB 2878 as amended was passed to engrossment without objection.
All Members are deemed to have voted "Yea" on the passage to engrossment except as follows:
Absent-excused: Gutierrez.
COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE
SENATE BILL 2878 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 2878 be placed on its third reading and final passage.
The motion prevailed by the following vote: Yeas 30, Nays 0.
Absent-excused: Gutierrez.
The bill was read third time and was passed by the following vote: Yeas 30, Nays 0. (Same as previous roll call)
STATEMENT REGARDING SENATE BILL 2878
Senator Nichols submitted the following statement regarding CSSB 2878:
It is the intent of the Legislature that the newly created District Attorney for the 273rd Judicial District shall have jurisdiction to prosecute felony criminal cases in Sabine County, in both the 1st Judicial District Court and the 273rd Judicial District Court. Likewise, the District Attorney for the 1st Judicial District shall continue to prosecute felony criminal cases in San Augustine County in both the 1st and 273rd Judicial District Courts. Additionally, the County Attorney positions in both counties shall continue to operate as they currently do, and shall remain eligible for their existing state supplemental funding.
NICHOLS
COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE
SENATE BILL 466 ON SECOND READING
Senator Paxton moved to suspend the regular order of business to take up for consideration CSSB 466 at this time on its second reading:
CSSB 466, Relating to the definition of fetal death certificate.
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.
Absent-excused: Gutierrez.
COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE
SENATE BILL 466 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 CSSB 466 be placed on its third reading and final passage.
The motion prevailed by the following vote: Yeas 29, Nays 1.
Nays: Eckhardt.
Absent-excused: Gutierrez.
The bill was read third time and was passed by the following vote: Yeas 29, Nays 1. (Same as previous roll call)
COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE
SENATE BILL 1608 ON SECOND READING
On motion of Senator Campbell and by unanimous consent, the regular order of business was suspended to take up for consideration CSSB 1608 at this time on its second reading:
CSSB 1608, Relating to physical examination requirements for patients admitted to an inpatient mental health facility.
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:
Absent-excused: Gutierrez.
COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE
SENATE BILL 1608 ON THIRD READING
Senator Campbell moved that Senate Rule 7.18 and the Constitutional Rule requiring bills to be read on three several days be suspended and that CSSB 1608 be placed on its third reading and final passage.
The motion prevailed by the following vote: Yeas 30, Nays 0.
Absent-excused: Gutierrez.
The bill was read third time and was passed by the following vote: Yeas 30, Nays 0. (Same as previous roll call)
MESSAGE FROM THE HOUSE
HOUSE CHAMBER
Austin, Texas
Monday, May 12, 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 confirming the provision of certain notices before the full adversary hearing in a suit affecting the parent-child relationship filed by the Department of Family and Protective Services.
Relating to the amount of an expenditure that may be paid by an emergency services district employee without board approval.
Relating to the purchase of service credit by certain members of the Employees Retirement System of Texas.
Relating to the prosecution of the offenses of trafficking of persons, continuous trafficking of persons, and compelling prostitution.
Relating to late payment fees charged by a municipally owned water utility.
Relating to investigations of certain cybercrimes.
Relating to patient data maintained by pharmacy benefit managers.
Relating to group property and casualty insurance policies.
Relating to the rights and liabilities of the owner of the surface estate of the tract of land on which a well to be plugged or replugged by the Railroad Commission of Texas is located.
Relating to certification requirements for a fire marshal and any related employee, officer, inspector, and investigator appointed by certain counties and emergency services districts.
Relating to electronic delivery of notice for certain municipal zoning changes.
Relating to the establishment of the Quad-Agency Child Care Initiative and the Quad-Agency Child Care Initiative Commission.
Relating to the security of certain personal identifying information submitted to or retained by a state agency.
Relating to prohibiting single source continuum contractors and child-placing agencies from imposing certain requirements on or adopting certain policies and procedures related to relative and designated caregivers.
SB 842
Schwertner
Sponsor: Phelan
|
Relating to immunity for ringside physicians assigned to combative sports events.
SB 996
Nichols
Sponsor: Bell, Cecil
|
Relating to fireworks sales to the public by retail fireworks permit holders on certain dates.
SB 1257
Hughes
Sponsor: Leach
|
Relating to required health benefit plan coverage for gender transition adverse effects and reversals.
SB 1841
Johnson
Sponsor: Davis, Yvonne
|
Relating to the confidentiality of certain information collected by certain local governments and airport governing boards.
SB 2419
Paxton
Sponsor: Dean
|
Relating to the authority of a special district to exercise certain powers and duties following municipal disannexation of certain areas.
SB 2550
West
Sponsor: Darby
|
Relating to an exemption of the transfer of certain rights in water from certain disclosure requirements applicable to the transfer of certain interests in real property.
Respectfully,
/s/Stephen Brown,
Chief Clerk
House of Representatives
SENATE BILL 1730 ON SECOND READING
Senator Hall moved to suspend the regular order of business to take up for consideration SB 1730 at this time on its second reading:
SB 1730, Relating to the recovery of damages for injuries arising out of certain uses of force or deadly force.
The motion prevailed by the following vote: Yeas 25, Nays 4, Present-not voting 1.
Yeas: Alvarado, Bettencourt, Birdwell, Blanco, Campbell, Creighton, Flores, Hagenbuch, Hall, Hancock, A. Hinojosa, J. Hinojosa, Huffman, Hughes, Johnson, King, Kolkhorst, Menéndez, Middleton, Miles, Nichols, Parker, Paxton, Schwertner, Sparks.
Nays: Cook, Eckhardt, West, Zaffirini.
Present-not voting: Perry.
Absent-excused: Gutierrez.
The bill was read second time and was passed to engrossment by the following vote: Yeas 25, Nays 4, Present-not voting 1. (Same as previous roll call)
SENATE BILL 1730 ON THIRD READING
Senator Hall moved that Senate Rule 7.18 and the Constitutional Rule requiring bills to be read on three several days be suspended and that SB 1730 be placed on its third reading and final passage.
The motion prevailed by the following vote: Yeas 25, Nays 4, Present-not voting 1.
Yeas: Alvarado, Bettencourt, Birdwell, Blanco, Campbell, Creighton, Flores, Hagenbuch, Hall, Hancock, A. Hinojosa, J. Hinojosa, Huffman, Hughes, Johnson, King, Kolkhorst, Menéndez, Middleton, Miles, Nichols, Parker, Paxton, Schwertner, Sparks.
Nays: Cook, Eckhardt, West, Zaffirini.
Present-not voting: Perry.
Absent-excused: Gutierrez.
The bill was read third time and was passed by the following vote: Yeas 25, Nays 4, Present-not voting 1. (Same as previous roll call)
REMARKS ORDERED PRINTED
On motion of Senator Eckhardt and by unanimous consent, the remarks by Senators Bettencourt and Eckhardt regarding SB 2519 were ordered reduced to writing and printed in the Senate Journal following final passage.
SENATE BILL 2417 ON SECOND READING
Senator King moved to suspend the regular order of business to take up for consideration SB 2417 at this time on its second reading:
SB 2417, Relating to investigations conducted and actions brought by the attorney general under the Texas Free Enterprise and Antitrust Act of 1983.
The motion prevailed by the following vote: Yeas 27, Nays 3.
Yeas: Alvarado, Bettencourt, Birdwell, Blanco, Campbell, Creighton, Flores, Hagenbuch, Hall, Hancock, A. Hinojosa, J. Hinojosa, Huffman, Hughes, Johnson, King, Kolkhorst, Menéndez, Middleton, Nichols, Parker, Paxton, Perry, Schwertner, Sparks, West, Zaffirini.
Nays: Cook, Eckhardt, Miles.
Absent-excused: Gutierrez.
The bill was read second time and was passed to engrossment by the following vote: Yeas 27, Nays 3. (Same as previous roll call)
SENATE BILL 2417 ON THIRD READING
Senator King moved that Senate Rule 7.18 and the Constitutional Rule requiring bills to be read on three several days be suspended and that SB 2417 be placed on its third reading and final passage.
The motion prevailed by the following vote: Yeas 27, Nays 3.
Yeas: Alvarado, Bettencourt, Birdwell, Blanco, Campbell, Creighton, Flores, Hagenbuch, Hall, Hancock, A. Hinojosa, J. Hinojosa, Huffman, Hughes, Johnson, King, Kolkhorst, Menéndez, Middleton, Nichols, Parker, Paxton, Perry, Schwertner, Sparks, West, Zaffirini.
Nays: Cook, Eckhardt, Miles.
Absent-excused: Gutierrez.
The bill was read third time and was passed by the following vote: Yeas 27, Nays 3. (Same as previous roll call)
BILLS AND RESOLUTIONS SIGNED
The Presiding Officer announced the signing of the following enrolled bills and resolutions in the presence of the Senate after the captions had been read:
HB 22, HB 136, HB 166, HB 331, HB 353, HB 467, HB 767, HB 1089, HB 1244, HB 1392, HB 1399, HB 1672, HB 1708, HB 2000, HB 2018, HB 2143, HB 2198, HB 2415, HB 2457, HB 2523, HB 2723, HB 2730, HB 2763, HB 3093, HB 3096, HB 3135, HB 3248, HB 3513, 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, HJR 98, HJR 99.
(Senator Flores in Chair)
SENATE BILL 1946 ON SECOND READING
Senator Zaffirini moved to suspend the regular order of business to take up for consideration SB 1946 at this time on its second reading:
SB 1946, Relating to the creation of a family violence criminal homicide prevention task force.
The motion prevailed.
Senator Sparks 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: Sparks.
Absent-excused: Gutierrez.
SENATE BILL 1946 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 SB 1946 be placed on its third reading and final passage.
The motion prevailed by the following vote: Yeas 29, Nays 1.
Nays: Sparks.
Absent-excused: Gutierrez.
The bill was read third time and was passed by the following vote: Yeas 29, Nays 1. (Same as previous roll call)
(President in Chair)
HOUSE BILL 3204 ON SECOND READING
On motion of Senator Schwertner and by unanimous consent, the regular order of business was suspended to take up for consideration HB 3204 at this time on its second reading:
HB 3204, Relating to the Polytechnic College at Sam Houston State University, including the college's eligibility to participate in certain programs.
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:
Absent-excused: Gutierrez.
HOUSE BILL 3204 ON THIRD READING
Senator Schwertner moved that Senate Rule 7.18 and the Constitutional Rule requiring bills to be read on three several days be suspended and that HB 3204 be placed on its third reading and final passage.
The motion prevailed by the following vote: Yeas 30, Nays 0.
Absent-excused: Gutierrez.
The bill was read third time and was passed by the following vote: Yeas 30, Nays 0. (Same as previous roll call)
SENATE BILL 1986 ON SECOND READING
On motion of Senator Hall and by unanimous consent, the regular order of business was suspended to take up for consideration SB 1986 at this time on its second reading:
SB 1986, Relating to warning labels for opioid prescription drugs.
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:
Absent-excused: Gutierrez.
SENATE BILL 1986 ON THIRD READING
Senator Hall moved that Senate Rule 7.18 and the Constitutional Rule requiring bills to be read on three several days be suspended and that SB 1986 be placed on its third reading and final passage.
The motion prevailed by the following vote: Yeas 30, Nays 0.
Absent-excused: Gutierrez.
The bill was read third time and was passed by the following vote: Yeas 30, Nays 0. (Same as previous roll call)
SENATE BILL 3037 ON SECOND READING
Senator Zaffirini moved to suspend the regular order of business to take up for consideration SB 3037 at this time on its second reading:
SB 3037, Relating to the creation of La Cima Municipal Management District No. 1; providing authority to issue bonds; providing authority to impose assessments, fees, and taxes; granting a limited power of eminent domain.
The motion prevailed by the following vote: Yeas 27, Nays 3.
Yeas: Alvarado, Bettencourt, Birdwell, Blanco, Campbell, Cook, Creighton, Eckhardt, Flores, Hagenbuch, Hancock, A. Hinojosa, J. Hinojosa, Huffman, Johnson, King, Kolkhorst, Menéndez, Miles, Nichols, Parker, Paxton, Perry, Schwertner, Sparks, West, Zaffirini.
Nays: Hall, Hughes, Middleton.
Absent-excused: Gutierrez.
The bill was read second time and was passed to engrossment by the following vote: Yeas 27, Nays 3. (Same as previous roll call)
SENATE BILL 3037 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 SB 3037 be placed on its third reading and final passage.
The motion prevailed by the following vote: Yeas 27, Nays 3.
Yeas: Alvarado, Bettencourt, Birdwell, Blanco, Campbell, Cook, Creighton, Eckhardt, Flores, Hagenbuch, Hancock, A. Hinojosa, J. Hinojosa, Huffman, Johnson, King, Kolkhorst, Menéndez, Miles, Nichols, Parker, Paxton, Perry, Schwertner, Sparks, West, Zaffirini.
Nays: Hall, Hughes, Middleton.
Absent-excused: Gutierrez.
The bill was read third time and was passed by the following vote: Yeas 27, Nays 3. (Same as previous roll call)
SENATE BILL 876 ON SECOND READING
On motion of Senator Birdwell and by unanimous consent, the regular order of business was suspended to take up for consideration SB 876 at this time on its second reading:
SB 876, Relating to the designation of a portion of U.S. Highway 377 in Hood and Johnson Counties as the Bob Cornett Parkway.
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:
Absent-excused: Gutierrez.
SENATE BILL 876 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 876 be placed on its third reading and final passage.
The motion prevailed by the following vote: Yeas 30, Nays 0.
Absent-excused: Gutierrez.
The bill was read third time and was passed by the following vote: Yeas 30, Nays 0. (Same as previous roll call)
(Senator A. Hinojosa in Chair)
SENATE BILL 2177 ON SECOND READING
On motion of Senator Hagenbuch and by unanimous consent, the regular order of business was suspended to take up for consideration SB 2177 at this time on its second reading:
SB 2177, Relating to the creation of a grant program to assist local law enforcement agencies in solving violent and sexual 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 except as follows:
Absent-excused: Gutierrez.
SENATE BILL 2177 ON THIRD READING
Senator Hagenbuch moved that Senate Rule 7.18 and the Constitutional Rule requiring bills to be read on three several days be suspended and that SB 2177 be placed on its third reading and final passage.
The motion prevailed by the following vote: Yeas 30, Nays 0.
Absent-excused: Gutierrez.
The bill was read third time and was passed by the following vote: Yeas 30, Nays 0. (Same as previous roll call)
COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE
SENATE BILL 2611 ON SECOND READING
On motion of Senator West and by unanimous consent, the regular order of business was suspended to take up for consideration CSSB 2611 at this time on its second reading:
CSSB 2611, Relating to the status of certain documents or instruments concerning real or personal property; creating the criminal offenses of real property theft and real property fraud and establishing a statute of limitations for those offenses; harmonizing other statute of limitations provisions; increasing a criminal 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 except as follows:
Absent-excused: Gutierrez.
COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE
SENATE BILL 2611 ON THIRD READING
Senator West moved that Senate Rule 7.18 and the Constitutional Rule requiring bills to be read on three several days be suspended and that CSSB 2611 be placed on its third reading and final passage.
The motion prevailed by the following vote: Yeas 30, Nays 0.
Absent-excused: Gutierrez.
The bill was read third time and was passed by the following vote: Yeas 30, Nays 0. (Same as previous roll call)
SENATE BILL 1581 ON SECOND READING
On motion of Senator Blanco and by unanimous consent, the regular order of business was suspended to take up for consideration SB 1581 at this time on its second reading:
SB 1581, Relating to the eligibility of a trustee of certain school districts for employment by those districts.
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:
Absent-excused: Gutierrez.
SENATE BILL 1581 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 SB 1581 be placed on its third reading and final passage.
The motion prevailed by the following vote: Yeas 30, Nays 0.
Absent-excused: Gutierrez.
The bill was read third time and was passed by the following vote: Yeas 30, Nays 0. (Same as previous roll call)
COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE
SENATE BILL 111 ON SECOND READING
Senator Hall moved to suspend the regular order of business to take up for consideration CSSB 111 at this time on its second reading:
CSSB 111, Relating to reporting by school districts regarding special education legal proceedings in which a certain amount of legal fees has been incurred by the district.
The motion prevailed by the following vote: Yeas 25, Nays 5.
Yeas: Bettencourt, Birdwell, Blanco, Campbell, Creighton, 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, Eckhardt, Johnson, West.
Absent-excused: Gutierrez.
The bill was read second time and was passed to engrossment by the following vote: Yeas 25, Nays 5. (Same as previous roll call)
COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE
SENATE BILL 111 ON THIRD READING
Senator Hall moved that Senate Rule 7.18 and the Constitutional Rule requiring bills to be read on three several days be suspended and that CSSB 111 be placed on its third reading and final passage.
The motion prevailed by the following vote: Yeas 25, Nays 5.
Yeas: Bettencourt, Birdwell, Blanco, Campbell, Creighton, 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, Eckhardt, Johnson, West.
Absent-excused: Gutierrez.
The bill was read third time and was passed by the following vote: Yeas 25, Nays 5. (Same as previous roll call)
SENATE BILL 2311 ON SECOND READING
On motion of Senator Paxton and by unanimous consent, the regular order of business was suspended to take up for consideration SB 2311 at this time on its second reading:
SB 2311, Relating to the requirements for the operational plan for certain general residential operations licensed by the Health and Human Services 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 except as follows:
Absent-excused: Gutierrez.
SENATE BILL 2311 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 2311 be placed on its third reading and final passage.
The motion prevailed by the following vote: Yeas 30, Nays 0.
Absent-excused: Gutierrez.
The bill was read third time and was passed by the following vote: Yeas 30, Nays 0. (Same as previous roll call)
COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE
SENATE BILL 261 ON SECOND READING
Senator Perry moved to suspend the regular order of business to take up for consideration CSSB 261 at this time on its second reading:
CSSB 261, Relating to the prohibited manufacture, processing, possession, distribution, offering for sale, and sale of cell-cultured protein.
The motion prevailed by the following vote: Yeas 26, Nays 4.
Yeas: Alvarado, Bettencourt, Birdwell, Blanco, Campbell, Creighton, Flores, Hall, Hancock, A. Hinojosa, J. Hinojosa, Huffman, Hughes, King, Kolkhorst, Menéndez, Middleton, Miles, Nichols, Parker, Paxton, Perry, Schwertner, Sparks, West, Zaffirini.
Nays: Cook, Eckhardt, Hagenbuch, Johnson.
Absent-excused: Gutierrez.
The bill was read second time.
Senator Perry offered the following amendment to the bill:
Floor Amendment No. 1
Amend CSSB 261 (senate committee printing) as follows:
(1) Strike SECTIONS 2 and 3 of the bill, amending Sections 431.021 and 431.0211, Health and Safety Code (page 1, line 29, through page 4, line 38), and substitute the following appropriately numbered SECTION:
SECTION ____. Subchapter B, Chapter 431, Health and Safety Code, is amended by adding Section 431.02105 to read as follows:
Sec. 431.02105. PROHIBITED ACT; TEMPORARY PROVISION. (a) The offering for sale or sale of cell-cultured protein for human consumption within this state is unlawful and prohibited.
(b) A violation of this section may be enforced in the same manner as a violation of Section 431.021 is enforced under Subchapter C.
(c) This section expires September 1, 2027.
(2) Strike SECTION 5 of the bill, amending Section 431.081, Health and Safety Code (page 4, line 67, through page 6, line 44).
(3) Strike SECTION 7 of the bill, adding Section 433.057, Health and Safety Code (page 6, line 69, through page 7, line 15), and substitute the following appropriately numbered SECTION:
SECTION ____. Subchapter D, Chapter 433, Health and Safety Code, is amended by adding Section 433.057 to read as follows:
Sec. 433.057. PROHIBITION ON CELL-CULTURED PROTEIN; TEMPORARY PROVISION. (a) In this section, "cell-cultured protein" has the meaning assigned by Section 431.002.
(b) A person may not offer for sale or sell cell-cultured protein for human consumption.
(c) To the extent another state law conflicts with this section, this section controls.
(d) This section expires September 1, 2027.
(4) Renumber SECTIONS of the bill accordingly.
The amendment to CSSB 261 was read and was adopted without objection.
All Members are deemed to have voted "Yea" on the adoption of Floor Amendment No. 1 except as follows:
Absent-excused: Gutierrez.
CSSB 261 as amended was passed to engrossment by the following vote: Yeas 26, Nays 4.
Yeas: Alvarado, Bettencourt, Birdwell, Blanco, Campbell, Creighton, Flores, Hall, Hancock, A. Hinojosa, J. Hinojosa, Huffman, Hughes, King, Kolkhorst, Menéndez, Middleton, Miles, Nichols, Parker, Paxton, Perry, Schwertner, Sparks, West, Zaffirini.
Nays: Cook, Eckhardt, Hagenbuch, Johnson.
Absent-excused: Gutierrez.
COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE
SENATE BILL 261 ON THIRD READING
Senator Perry moved that Senate Rule 7.18 and the Constitutional Rule requiring bills to be read on three several days be suspended and that CSSB 261 be placed on its third reading and final passage.
The motion prevailed by the following vote: Yeas 26, Nays 4.
Yeas: Alvarado, Bettencourt, Birdwell, Blanco, Campbell, Creighton, Flores, Hall, Hancock, A. Hinojosa, J. Hinojosa, Huffman, Hughes, King, Kolkhorst, Menéndez, Middleton, Miles, Nichols, Parker, Paxton, Perry, Schwertner, Sparks, West, Zaffirini.
Nays: Cook, Eckhardt, Hagenbuch, Johnson.
Absent-excused: Gutierrez.
The bill was read third time and was passed by the following vote: Yeas 26, Nays 4. (Same as previous roll call)
COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE
SENATE BILL 2995 ON SECOND READING
On motion of Senator West and by unanimous consent, the regular order of business was suspended to take up for consideration CSSB 2995 at this time on its second reading:
CSSB 2995, Relating to the displacement of student financial aid at a public institution of higher education.
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:
Absent-excused: Gutierrez.
COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE
SENATE BILL 2995 ON THIRD READING
Senator West moved that Senate Rule 7.18 and the Constitutional Rule requiring bills to be read on three several days be suspended and that CSSB 2995 be placed on its third reading and final passage.
The motion prevailed by the following vote: Yeas 30, Nays 0.
Absent-excused: Gutierrez.
The bill was read third time and was passed by the following vote: Yeas 30, Nays 0. (Same as previous roll call)
COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE
SENATE BILL 2105 ON SECOND READING
On motion of Senator Blanco and by unanimous consent, the regular order of business was suspended to take up for consideration CSSB 2105 at this time on its second reading:
CSSB 2105, Relating to the authority of a county attorney or district attorney to enforce human trafficking awareness and prevention in commercial lodging establishments.
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:
Absent-excused: Gutierrez.
COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE
SENATE BILL 2105 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 CSSB 2105 be placed on its third reading and final passage.
The motion prevailed by the following vote: Yeas 30, Nays 0.
Absent-excused: Gutierrez.
The bill was read third time and was passed by the following vote: Yeas 30, Nays 0. (Same as previous roll call)
COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE
SENATE BILL 2058 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 2058 at this time on its second reading:
CSSB 2058, Relating to publication by the Texas Board of Nursing and the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board of certain nursing education data.
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:
Absent-excused: Gutierrez.
COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE
SENATE BILL 2058 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 2058 be placed on its third reading and final passage.
The motion prevailed by the following vote: Yeas 30, Nays 0.
Absent-excused: Gutierrez.
The bill was read third time and was passed by the following vote: Yeas 30, Nays 0. (Same as previous roll call)
SENATE BILL 2794 ON SECOND READING
Senator Paxton moved to suspend the regular order of business to take up for consideration SB 2794 at this time on its second reading:
SB 2794, Relating to the criminal offense of interference with child custody.
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.
Absent-excused: Gutierrez.
SENATE BILL 2794 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 2794 be placed on its third reading and final passage.
The motion prevailed by the following vote: Yeas 29, Nays 1.
Nays: Eckhardt.
Absent-excused: Gutierrez.
The bill was read third time and was passed by the following vote: Yeas 29, Nays 1. (Same as previous roll call)
COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE
SENATE BILL 2260 ON SECOND READING
Senator Cook moved to suspend the regular order of business to take up for consideration CSSB 2260 at this time on its second reading:
CSSB 2260, Relating to the disclosure and posting of certain information regarding multifamily residential developments that receive certain tax exemptions and the eligibility of those developments to receive those exemptions.
The motion prevailed.
Senators Hancock, Hughes, and Middleton asked to be recorded as voting "Nay" on suspension of the regular order of business.
The bill was read second time.
Senator Cook offered the following amendment to the bill:
Floor Amendment No. 1
Amend CSSB 2260 (senate committee report) as follows:
(1) In SECTION 1 of the bill, in added Section 2306.009(b), Government Code (page 1, line 32), strike "each developer of a" and substitute "the owner of each".
(2) In SECTION 1 of the bill, in added Section 2306.009(c)(6), Government Code (page 1, line 52), strike "(4)" and substitute "(5)".
(3) In SECTION 1 of the bill, in added Section 2306.009(c)(7)(B), Government Code (page 2, line 2), strike "average".
(4) In SECTION 1 of the bill, in added Section 2306.009(c)(7)(B), Government Code (page 2, line 4), between "development" and the underlined semicolon, insert "by income restriction level and number of bedrooms and bathrooms in those units".
(5) In SECTION 1 of the bill, in added Section 2306.009(d), Government Code (page 2, line 10), strike "An" and substitute "Not later than September 1 of each year, an".
(6) In SECTION 1 of the bill, in added Section 2306.009(d), Government Code (page 2, line 11), strike "developer" and substitute "owner".
(7) In SECTION 1 of the bill, in added Section 2306.009(d), Government Code (page 2, line 13), immediately following the underlined period, insert "The notice must include the development's address.".
(8) In SECTION 1 of the bill, in added Section 2306.009(f)(2), Government Code (page 2, line 25), strike "described by Subsection (c) that is".
(9) In SECTION 2 of the bill, in added Section 303.0421(b-1), Local Government Code (page 2, line 49), between "the" and "development", insert "owner of the".
(10) In SECTION 3 of the bill, in added Section 392.005(c)(3), Local Government Code (page 2, line 68), between "the" and "development", insert "owner of the".
(11) In SECTION 4 of the bill, in added Section 394.905(b), Local Government Code (page 3, line 15), between "the" and "development", insert "owner of the".
(12) In SECTION 5 of the bill, in Subsection (a) of the transition provisions (page 3, line 18), strike "developer" and substitute "owner".
The amendment to CSSB 2260 was read and was adopted without objection.
All Members are deemed to have voted "Yea" on the adoption of Floor Amendment No. 1 except as follows:
Absent-excused: Gutierrez.
CSSB 2260 as amended was passed to engrossment without objection.
All Members are deemed to have voted "Yea" on the passage to engrossment except as follows:
Nays: Hancock, Hughes, Middleton.
Absent-excused: Gutierrez.
COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE
SENATE BILL 2260 ON THIRD READING
Senator Cook moved that Senate Rule 7.18 and the Constitutional Rule requiring bills to be read on three several days be suspended and that CSSB 2260 be placed on its third reading and final passage.
The motion prevailed by the following vote: Yeas 27, Nays 3.
Yeas: Alvarado, Bettencourt, Birdwell, Blanco, Campbell, Cook, Creighton, Eckhardt, Flores, Hagenbuch, Hall, A. Hinojosa, J. Hinojosa, Huffman, Johnson, King, Kolkhorst, Menéndez, Miles, Nichols, Parker, Paxton, Perry, Schwertner, Sparks, West, Zaffirini.
Nays: Hancock, Hughes, Middleton.
Absent-excused: Gutierrez.
The bill was read third time and was passed by the following vote: Yeas 27, Nays 3. (Same as previous roll call)
COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE
SENATE BILL 2943 ON SECOND READING
Senator Hagenbuch moved to suspend the regular order of business to take up for consideration CSSB 2943 at this time on its second reading:
CSSB 2943, Relating to the prohibition of certain actions by a state agency against an applicant for or holder of an occupational license.
The motion prevailed by the following vote: Yeas 22, Nays 8.
Yeas: Bettencourt, Birdwell, Campbell, Creighton, Flores, Hagenbuch, Hall, Hancock, A. Hinojosa, Huffman, Hughes, Johnson, King, Kolkhorst, Middleton, Nichols, Parker, Paxton, Perry, Schwertner, Sparks, West.
Nays: Alvarado, Blanco, Cook, Eckhardt, J. Hinojosa, Menéndez, Miles, Zaffirini.
Absent-excused: Gutierrez.
The bill was read second time.
Senator Menéndez offered the following amendment to the bill:
Floor Amendment No. 1
Amend CSSB 2943 (senate committee report) by adding the following appropriately numbered SECTIONS to the bill and renumbering subsequent SECTIONS of the bill accordingly:
SECTION ___. Subtitle C, Title 5, Business & Commerce Code, is amended by adding Chapter 101A to read as follows:
CHAPTER 101A. DISCRIMINATION IN PLACES OF PUBLIC ACCOMMODATION
SUBCHAPTER A. GENERAL PROVISIONS
Sec. 101A.001. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter:
(1) "Commission" means the Texas Workforce Commission.
(2) "Complainant" means an individual who brings an action or proceeding under this chapter.
(3) "Discriminatory practice" means an act prohibited by this chapter.
(4) "Executive director" means the executive director of the commission.
(5) "Gender identity" means the gender-related identity, appearance, or other gender-related characteristics of an individual with or without regard to the individual's designated sex at birth.
(6) "Military veteran" means a person who:
(A) has served in:
(i) the armed forces of the United States or the United States Public Health Service under 42 U.S.C. Section 201 et seq.;
(ii) the state military forces, as defined by Section 431.001, Government Code; or
(iii) an auxiliary service of a branch of the armed forces described by Subparagraph (i) or (ii); and
(B) has been honorably discharged from the branch of the service in which the person served.
(7) "Person" means:
(A) an individual;
(B) a corporation, partnership, association, unincorporated organization, labor organization, mutual company, joint-stock company, and trust; and
(C) a legal representative, a trustee, a trustee in a case under Title 11, U.S.C., a receiver, and a fiduciary.
(8) "Public accommodation" means a business or other entity that offers to the public any good, service, privilege, facility, or accommodation.
(9) "Respondent" means a person charged in a complaint filed under this chapter.
(10) "Sexual orientation" means an individual's actual or perceived heterosexuality, bisexuality, or homosexuality.
Sec. 101A.002. RULES. The commission may adopt rules necessary to implement this chapter.
SUBCHAPTER B. DISCRIMINATION IN PUBLIC ACCOMMODATIONS PROHIBITED
Sec. 101A.051. PUBLIC ACCOMMODATIONS. (a) A person engages in a discriminatory practice and violates this chapter if the person, because of the race, color, disability, religion, sex, national origin, age, sexual orientation, or gender identity of an individual, or because of the individual's status as a military veteran:
(1) refuses, withholds, or denies that individual full and equal accommodation in any place of public accommodation in this state;
(2) publishes, circulates, issues, displays, posts, or mails, either directly or indirectly, any communication, notice, or advertisement to the effect that any good, service, privilege, facility, or accommodation of a place of public accommodation in this state will be refused, withheld, or denied; or
(3) otherwise discriminates against or segregates or separates the individual in a place of public accommodation based on race, color, disability, religion, sex, national origin, age, sexual orientation, or gender identity or based on the individual's status as a military veteran.
(b) This section does not apply to a private club, a place of accommodation owned by or operated on behalf of a religious corporation, association, or society that is not in fact open to the public, or any other establishment that is not in fact open to the public.
(c) This section does not prohibit the provision of a special benefit, incentive, discount, or promotion through a private or public program to assist persons who:
(1) are 50 years of age or older; or
(2) are military veterans or family members of military veterans.
(d) This section does not supersede or interfere with any state law or local ordinance that prohibits a person under the age of 21 from entering a place of public accommodation.
SUBCHAPTER C. ADMINISTRATIVE ENFORCEMENT
Sec. 101A.101. FILING OF COMPLAINT; FORM AND CONTENT; SERVICE. (a) A person claiming to be aggrieved by an alleged discriminatory practice or the person's agent may file a complaint with the commission.
(b) The complaint must be in writing and made under oath.
(c) The complaint must state:
(1) that a discriminatory practice has been committed;
(2) the facts on which the complaint is based, including the date, place, and circumstances of the alleged discriminatory practice; and
(3) facts sufficient to enable the commission to identify the respondent.
(d) The executive director or the executive director's designee shall serve the respondent with a copy of the perfected complaint not later than the 10th day after the date the complaint is filed.
(e) A complaint may be amended to cure technical defects or omissions, including a failure to verify the complaint or to clarify and amplify an allegation made in the complaint.
(f) An amendment to a complaint alleging additional facts that constitute discriminatory practices relating to or arising from the subject matter of the original complaint relates back to the date the complaint was first received by the commission.
(g) If a perfected complaint is not received by the commission on or before the 180th day after the date the alleged discriminatory practice occurred, the commission shall notify the respondent that a complaint has been filed and that the process of perfecting the complaint is in progress.
Sec. 101A.102. STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS. (a) A complaint under this subchapter must be filed not later than the 180th day after the date the alleged discriminatory practice occurred.
(b) The commission shall dismiss an untimely complaint.
Sec. 101A.103. ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION; OFFICE. (a) The use of alternative means of dispute resolution, including settlement negotiations, conciliation, facilitation, mediation, fact-finding, minitrials, and arbitration, is encouraged to resolve disputes arising under this chapter. The settlement of a disputed claim under this chapter that results from the use of traditional or alternative means of dispute resolution is binding on the parties to the claim.
(b) The commission shall establish an office of alternative dispute resolution. At any time after a complaint is received under Section 101A.101, at the request of a party or at the direction of the commission, the matter may be referred to the office of alternative dispute resolution.
Sec. 101A.104. INVESTIGATION BY COMMISSION. (a) The executive director or a staff member of the commission designated by the executive director shall investigate a complaint and determine if there is reasonable cause to believe that the respondent engaged in a discriminatory practice as alleged in the complaint.
(b) If the federal government has referred the complaint to the commission or has deferred jurisdiction over the subject matter of the complaint to the commission, the executive director or the executive director's designee shall promptly investigate the allegations stated in the complaint.
Sec. 101A.105. LACK OF REASONABLE CAUSE; DISMISSAL OF COMPLAINT. (a) If after investigation the executive director or the executive director's designee determines that reasonable cause does not exist to believe that the respondent engaged in a discriminatory practice as alleged in a complaint, the executive director or the executive director's designee shall issue a written determination, incorporating the finding that the evidence does not support the complaint and dismissing the complaint.
(b) The executive director or the executive director's designee shall serve a copy of the determination on the complainant, the respondent, and other agencies as required by law.
Sec. 101A.106. DETERMINATION OF REASONABLE CAUSE; REVIEW BY COMMISSION. (a) If after investigation the executive director or the executive director's designee determines that there is reasonable cause to believe that the respondent engaged in a discriminatory practice as alleged in a complaint, the executive director or the executive director's designee shall review with the commission members the evidence in the record.
(b) If after the review at least two of the three commission members determine that there is reasonable cause to believe that the respondent engaged in a discriminatory practice, the executive director shall:
(1) issue a written determination incorporating the executive director's finding that the evidence supports the complaint; and
(2) serve a copy of the determination on the complainant, the respondent, and other agencies as required by law.
Sec. 101A.107. RESOLUTION BY INFORMAL METHODS. (a) If a determination of reasonable cause is made under Section 101A.106, the commission shall endeavor to eliminate the alleged discriminatory practice by informal methods of conference, conciliation, and persuasion.
(b) Without the written consent of the complainant and respondent, the commission, its executive director, or its other officers or employees may not disclose to the public information about the efforts in a particular case to resolve an alleged discriminatory practice by conference, conciliation, or persuasion, regardless of whether there is a determination of reasonable cause.
Sec. 101A.108. NOTICE OF DISMISSAL OR UNRESOLVED COMPLAINT. If the commission dismisses a complaint filed under Section 101A.101 or does not resolve the complaint before the 181st day after the date the complaint was filed, the commission shall inform the complainant of the dismissal or failure to resolve the complaint in writing by certified mail.
Sec. 101A.109. TEMPORARY INJUNCTIVE RELIEF. (a) If the commission concludes from a preliminary investigation of a discriminatory practice alleged in a complaint that prompt judicial action is necessary to carry out the purpose of this chapter, the commission shall file a petition seeking appropriate temporary relief against the respondent pending final determination of a proceeding under this chapter.
(b) The petition shall be filed in a district court in a county in which:
(1) the alleged discriminatory practice that is the subject of the complaint occurred; or
(2) the respondent resides.
(c) A court may not issue temporary injunctive relief unless the commission shows:
(1) a substantial likelihood of success on the merits; and
(2) irreparable harm to the complainant in the absence of the preliminary relief pending final determination on the merits.
Sec. 101A.110. ELECTION OF REMEDIES. A person who has initiated a court action or who has an action pending before an administrative agency under other law or an order or ordinance of a political subdivision of this state based on an act that would be a discriminatory practice under this chapter may not file a complaint under this subchapter for the same grievance.
SUBCHAPTER D. JUDICIAL ENFORCEMENT
Sec. 101A.151. CIVIL ACTION BY COMMISSION. (a) The commission may bring a civil action against a respondent if:
(1) the commission determines that there is reasonable cause to believe that the respondent engaged in a discriminatory practice;
(2) the commission's efforts to resolve the alleged discriminatory practice to the satisfaction of the complainant and respondent through conciliation have been unsuccessful; and
(3) a majority of the commissioners determines that the civil action may achieve the purposes of this chapter.
(b) The complainant may intervene in a civil action brought by the commission.
Sec. 101A.152. NOTICE OF COMPLAINANT'S RIGHT TO FILE CIVIL ACTION. (a) A complainant who receives notice under Section 101A.108 that the complaint is dismissed or not resolved is entitled to request from the commission a written notice of the complainant's right to file a civil action.
(b) The complainant must request the notice in writing.
(c) The executive director may issue the notice.
(d) Failure to issue the notice of a complainant's right to file a civil action does not affect the complainant's right under this subchapter to bring a civil action against the respondent.
Sec. 101A.153. CIVIL ACTION BY COMPLAINANT. (a) Not later than the 60th day after the date a notice of the right to file a civil action is received, the complainant may bring a civil action against the respondent.
(b) If the commission fails to issue notice of the complainant's right to file a civil action before the 181st day after the date the commission receives a written request under Section 101A.152, the complainant may bring a civil action against the respondent any time within the statute of limitations described by Section 101A.155.
Sec. 101A.154. COMMISSION'S INTERVENTION IN CIVIL ACTION BY COMPLAINANT. After receipt of a timely application, a court may permit the commission to intervene in a civil action filed under Section 101A.153 if:
(1) the commission certifies that the case is of general public importance; and
(2) before commencement of the action the commission issued a determination of reasonable cause to believe that this chapter was violated.
Sec. 101A.155. STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS. A civil action may not be brought under this subchapter later than the second anniversary of the date the complaint relating to the action is filed.
Sec. 101A.156. ASSIGNMENT TO EARLY HEARING. The court shall set an action brought under this subchapter for hearing at the earliest practicable date to expedite the action.
Sec. 101A.157. INJUNCTION; EQUITABLE RELIEF. On finding that a respondent engaged in a discriminatory practice as alleged in a complaint, a court may:
(1) prohibit by injunction the respondent from engaging in the discriminatory practice; and
(2) order additional equitable relief as may be appropriate.
Sec. 101A.158. COMPENSATORY AND PUNITIVE DAMAGES. (a) On finding that a respondent engaged in a discriminatory practice as alleged in a complaint, a court may, as provided by this section, award:
(1) compensatory damages; and
(2) punitive damages.
(b) A complainant may recover punitive damages against a respondent, other than a respondent that is a governmental entity, if the complainant demonstrates that the respondent engaged in a discriminatory practice with malice or with reckless indifference to the state-protected rights of an aggrieved individual.
Sec. 101A.159. ATTORNEY'S FEES; COSTS. (a) In a proceeding under this chapter, a court may allow the prevailing party, other than the commission, a reasonable attorney's fee as part of the costs.
(b) The state, a state agency, or a political subdivision is liable for costs, including attorney's fees, to the same extent as a private person.
(c) In awarding costs and attorney's fees in an action or a proceeding under this chapter, the court, in its discretion, may include reasonable expert fees.
Sec. 101A.160. COMPELLED COMPLIANCE. If a person fails to comply with a court order issued under this subchapter, a party to the action or the commission, on the written request of a person aggrieved by the failure, may commence proceedings to compel compliance with the order.
Sec. 101A.161. TRIAL DE NOVO. (a) A judicial proceeding under this chapter is by trial de novo.
(b) A commission finding, recommendation, determination, or other action is not binding on a court.
SUBCHAPTER E. ENFORCEMENT BY ATTORNEY GENERAL
Sec. 101A.201. ENFORCEMENT BY ATTORNEY GENERAL; PATTERN OR PRACTICE CASE. (a) If the commission determines that a person is engaged in a pattern or practice of discriminatory practices under this chapter or that an alleged violation raises an issue of general public importance, the commission may request the attorney general to file a civil action in district court for appropriate relief.
(b) In an action under this section, the court may:
(1) award equitable relief and other appropriate relief, including monetary damages, a reasonable attorney's fee, and court costs, available under Subchapter D for an action under that subchapter; and
(2) to vindicate the public interest, assess a civil penalty against the respondent in the amount not to exceed the applicable amounts prescribed by Section 301.132, Property Code, for a pattern or practice violation under the Texas Fair Housing Act.
SECTION ___. Section 21.002, Labor Code, is amended by adding Subdivisions (9-a), (11-b), and (13-a) to read as follows:
(9-a) "Gender identity" means the gender-related identity, appearance, or other gender-related characteristics of an individual with or without regard to the individual's designated sex at birth.
(11-b) "Military veteran" means a person who:
(A) has served in:
(i) the armed forces of the United States or the United States Public Health Service under 42 U.S.C. Section 201 et seq.;
(ii) the state military forces, as defined by Section 431.001, Government Code; or
(iii) an auxiliary service of a branch of the armed forces described by Subparagraph (i) or (ii); and
(B) has been honorably discharged from the branch of the service in which the person served.
(13-a) "Sexual orientation" means an individual's actual or perceived heterosexuality, bisexuality, or homosexuality.
SECTION ___. Section 21.005, Labor Code, is amended by adding Subsection (d) to read as follows:
(d) A provision in this chapter prohibiting discrimination on the basis of an individual's status as a military veteran does not affect the operation or enforcement of a program under the laws of this state or the United States that is designed to give a preference to a military veteran in recognition of the veteran's service to this state or the United States, including a preference authorized under Section 302.154 or under Chapter 657, Government Code.
SECTION ___. Section 21.051, Labor Code, is amended to read as follows:
Sec. 21.051. DISCRIMINATION BY EMPLOYER. An employer commits an unlawful employment practice if because of race, color, disability, religion, sex, national origin, [or] age, sexual orientation, or gender identity, or because of the individual's status as a military veteran, the employer:
(1) fails or refuses to hire an individual, discharges an individual, or discriminates in any other manner against an individual in connection with compensation or the terms, conditions, or privileges of employment; or
(2) limits, segregates, or classifies an employee or applicant for employment in a manner that would deprive or tend to deprive an individual of any employment opportunity or adversely affect in any other manner the status of an employee.
SECTION ___. Section 21.052, Labor Code, is amended to read as follows:
Sec. 21.052. DISCRIMINATION BY EMPLOYMENT AGENCY. An employment agency commits an unlawful employment practice if the employment agency:
(1) fails or refuses to refer for employment or discriminates in any other manner against an individual because of race, color, disability, religion, sex, national origin, [or] age, sexual orientation, or gender identity, or because of the individual's status as a military veteran; or
(2) classifies or refers an individual for employment on the basis of race, color, disability, religion, sex, national origin, [or] age, sexual orientation, or gender identity, or because of the individual's status as a military veteran.
SECTION ___. Section 21.053, Labor Code, is amended to read as follows:
Sec. 21.053. DISCRIMINATION BY LABOR ORGANIZATION. A labor organization commits an unlawful employment practice if because of race, color, disability, religion, sex, national origin, [or] age, sexual orientation, or gender identity, or because of the individual's status as a military veteran, the labor organization:
(1) excludes or expels from membership or discriminates in any other manner against an individual; or
(2) limits, segregates, or classifies a member or an applicant for membership or classifies or fails or refuses to refer for employment an individual in a manner that would:
(A) deprive or tend to deprive an individual of any employment opportunity;
(B) limit an employment opportunity or adversely affect in any other manner the status of an employee or of an applicant for employment; or
(C) cause or attempt to cause an employer to violate this subchapter.
SECTION ___. Section 21.054, Labor Code, is amended to read as follows:
Sec. 21.054. ADMISSION OR PARTICIPATION IN TRAINING PROGRAM. [(a)] Unless a training or retraining opportunity or program is provided under an affirmative action plan approved under a federal law, rule, or order, an employer, labor organization, or joint labor-management committee controlling an apprenticeship, on-the-job training, or other training or retraining program commits an unlawful employment practice if the employer, labor organization, or committee discriminates against an individual because of race, color, disability, religion, sex, national origin, [or] age, sexual orientation, or gender identity, or because of the individual's status as a military veteran, in admission to or participation in the program.
SECTION ___. Section 21.059(a), Labor Code, is amended to read as follows:
(a) An employer, labor organization, employment agency, or joint labor-management committee controlling an apprenticeship, on-the-job training, or other training or retraining program commits an unlawful employment practice if the employer, labor organization, employment agency, or committee prints or publishes or causes to be printed or published a notice or advertisement relating to employment that:
(1) indicates a preference, limitation, specification, or discrimination based on race, color, disability, religion, sex, national origin, [or] age, sexual orientation, or gender identity, or based on an individual's status as a military veteran; and
(2) concerns an employee's status, employment, or admission to or membership or participation in a labor union or training or retraining program.
SECTION ___. Section 21.102(c), Labor Code, is amended to read as follows:
(c) This section does not apply to standards of compensation or terms, conditions, or privileges of employment that are discriminatory on the basis of race, color, disability, religion, sex, national origin, [or] age, sexual orientation, or gender identity, or on the basis of an individual's status as a military veteran.
SECTION ___. Section 21.112, Labor Code, is amended to read as follows:
Sec. 21.112. EMPLOYEES AT DIFFERENT LOCATIONS. An employer does not commit an unlawful employment practice by applying to employees who work in different locations different standards of compensation or different terms, conditions, or privileges of employment that are not discriminatory on the basis of race, color, disability, religion, sex, national origin, [or] age, sexual orientation, or gender identity, or on the basis of an individual's status as a military veteran.
SECTION ___. Section 21.113, Labor Code, is amended to read as follows:
Sec. 21.113. IMBALANCE PLAN NOT REQUIRED. This chapter does not require a person subject to this chapter to grant preferential treatment to an individual or a group on the basis of race, color, disability, religion, sex, national origin, [or] age, sexual orientation, or gender identity, or on the basis of an individual's status as a military veteran, because of an imbalance between:
(1) the total number or percentage of persons of that individual's or group's race, color, disability, religion, sex, national origin, [or] age, sexual orientation, or gender identity, or the total number or percentage of individuals who are military veterans:
(A) employed by an employer;
(B) referred or classified for employment by an employment agency or labor organization;
(C) admitted to membership or classified by a labor organization; or
(D) admitted to or employed in an apprenticeship, on-the-job training, or other training or retraining program; and
(2) the total number or percentage of persons of that race, color, disability, religion, sex, national origin, [or] age, sexual orientation, or gender identity or the total number or percentage of individuals who are military veterans in:
(A) a community, this state, a region, or other area; or
(B) the available work force in a community, this state, a region, or other area.
SECTION ___. Section 21.120(b), Labor Code, is amended to read as follows:
(b) Subsection (a) does not apply to a policy adopted or applied with the intent to discriminate because of race, color, sex, national origin, religion, age, [or] disability, sexual orientation, or gender identity, or because of an individual's status as a military veteran.
SECTION ___. Section 21.122(a), Labor Code, is amended to read as follows:
(a) An unlawful employment practice based on disparate impact is established under this chapter only if:
(1) a complainant demonstrates that a respondent uses a particular employment practice that causes a disparate impact on the basis of race, color, sex, national origin, religion, [or] disability, sexual orientation, or gender identity, or on the basis of an individual's status as a military veteran, and the respondent fails to demonstrate that the challenged practice is job-related for the position in question and consistent with business necessity; or
(2) the complainant makes the demonstration in accordance with federal law as that law existed June 4, 1989, with respect to the concept of alternative employment practices, and the respondent refuses to adopt such an alternative employment practice.
SECTION ___. Section 21.124, Labor Code, is amended to read as follows:
Sec. 21.124. PROHIBITION AGAINST DISCRIMINATORY USE OF TEST SCORES. (a) Except as provided by Subsection (b), it [It] is an unlawful employment practice for a respondent, in connection with the selection or referral of applicants for employment or promotion, to adjust the scores of, use different cutoff scores for, or otherwise alter the results of employment-related tests on the basis of race, color, sex, national origin, religion, age, [or] disability, sexual orientation, or gender identity, or on the basis of an individual's status as a military veteran.
(b) Subsection (a) does not apply to an act described by that subsection that is made in conjunction with a preference program for military veterans authorized under a law of this state or the United States.
SECTION ___. The heading to Section 21.125, Labor Code, is amended to read as follows:
Sec. 21.125. CLARIFYING PROHIBITION AGAINST IMPERMISSIBLE CONSIDERATION OF RACE, COLOR, SEX, NATIONAL ORIGIN, RELIGION, AGE, [OR] DISABILITY, SEXUAL ORIENTATION, OR GENDER IDENTITY, OR STATUS AS MILITARY VETERAN, IN EMPLOYMENT PRACTICES.
SECTION ___. Section 21.125(a), Labor Code, is amended to read as follows:
(a) Except as otherwise provided by this chapter, an unlawful employment practice is established when the complainant demonstrates that race, color, sex, national origin, religion, age, [or] disability, sexual orientation, or gender identity, or status as a military veteran, was a motivating factor for an employment practice, even if other factors also motivated the practice, unless race, color, sex, national origin, religion, age, [or] disability, sexual orientation, or gender identity, or status as a military veteran, is combined with objective job-related factors to attain diversity in the employer's work force.
SECTION ___. Section 21.126, Labor Code, is amended to read as follows:
Sec. 21.126. COVERAGE OF PREVIOUSLY EXEMPT EMPLOYEES OF THE STATE OR POLITICAL SUBDIVISION OF THE STATE. It is an unlawful employment practice for a person elected to public office in this state or a political subdivision of this state to discriminate because of race, color, sex, national origin, religion, age, [or] disability, sexual orientation, or gender identity, or because of the individual's status as a military veteran, against an individual who is an employee or applicant for employment to:
(1) serve on the elected official's personal staff;
(2) serve the elected official on a policy-making level; or
(3) serve the elected official as an immediate advisor with respect to the exercise of the constitutional or legal powers of the office.
SECTION ___. Section 21.152(a), Labor Code, is amended to read as follows:
(a) A political subdivision or two or more political subdivisions acting jointly may create a local commission to:
(1) promote the purposes of this chapter; and
(2) secure for all individuals in the jurisdiction of each political subdivision freedom from discrimination because of race, color, disability, religion, sex, national origin, [or] age, sexual orientation, or gender identity, or because of an individual's status as a military veteran.
SECTION ___. Section 21.155(a), Labor Code, is amended to read as follows:
(a) The commission [Commission on Human Rights] shall refer a complaint concerning discrimination in employment because of race, color, disability, religion, sex, national origin, [or] age, sexual orientation, or gender identity, or because of status as a military veteran, that is filed with that commission to a local commission with the necessary investigatory and conciliatory powers if:
(1) the complaint has been referred to the commission [Commission on Human Rights] by the federal government; or
(2) jurisdiction over the subject matter of the complaint has been deferred to the commission [Commission on Human Rights] by the federal government.
SECTION ___. Section 301.003, Property Code, is amended by amending Subdivision (6) and adding Subdivisions (9-a), (9-b), and (10-a) to read as follows:
(6) "Disability" means a mental or physical impairment that substantially limits at least one major life activity, a record of the impairment, or being regarded as having the impairment. The term does not include current illegal use of or addiction to any drug or illegal or federally controlled substance [and does not apply to an individual because of an individual's sexual orientation or because that individual is a transvestite].
(9-a) "Gender identity" means the gender-related identity, appearance, or other gender-related characteristics of an individual with or without regard to the individual's designated sex at birth.
(9-b) "Military veteran" means a person who:
(A) has served in:
(i) the armed forces of the United States or the United States Public Health Service under 42 U.S.C. Section 201 et seq.;
(ii) the state military forces, as defined by Section 431.001, Government Code; or
(iii) an auxiliary service of a branch of the armed forces described by Subparagraph (i) or (ii); and
(B) has been honorably discharged from the branch of the service in which the person served.
(10-a) "Sexual orientation" means an individual's actual or perceived heterosexuality, bisexuality, or homosexuality.
SECTION ___. Sections 301.021(a) and (b), Property Code, are amended to read as follows:
(a) A person may not refuse to sell or rent, after the making of a bona fide offer, refuse to negotiate for the sale or rental of, or in any other manner make unavailable or deny a dwelling to another because of race, color, religion, sex, familial status, [or] national origin, sexual orientation, or gender identity, or because of status as a military veteran.
(b) A person may not discriminate against another in the terms, conditions, or privileges of sale or rental of a dwelling or in providing services or facilities in connection with a sale or rental of a dwelling because of race, color, religion, sex, familial status, [or] national origin, sexual orientation, or gender identity, or because of status as a military veteran.
SECTION ___. Section 301.022, Property Code, is amended to read as follows:
Sec. 301.022. PUBLICATION. A person may not make, print, or publish or effect the making, printing, or publishing of a notice, statement, or advertisement that is about the sale or rental of a dwelling and that indicates any preference, limitation, or discrimination or the intention to make a preference, limitation, or discrimination because of race, color, religion, sex, disability, familial status, [or] national origin, sexual orientation, or gender identity, or because of status as a military veteran.
SECTION ___. Section 301.023, Property Code, is amended to read as follows:
Sec. 301.023. INSPECTION. A person may not represent to another because of race, color, religion, sex, disability, familial status, [or] national origin, sexual orientation, or gender identity, or because of status as a military veteran, that a dwelling is not available for inspection for sale or rental when the dwelling is available for inspection.
SECTION ___. Section 301.024, Property Code, is amended to read as follows:
Sec. 301.024. ENTRY INTO NEIGHBORHOOD. A person may not, for profit, induce or attempt to induce another to sell or rent a dwelling by representations regarding the entry or prospective entry into a neighborhood of a person of a particular race, color, religion, sex, disability, familial status, [or] national origin, sexual orientation, or gender identity or with the status of a military veteran.
SECTION ___. Section 301.026(a), Property Code, is amended to read as follows:
(a) A person whose business includes engaging in residential real estate related transactions may not discriminate against another in making a real estate related transaction available or in the terms or conditions of a real estate related transaction because of race, color, religion, sex, disability, familial status, [or] national origin, sexual orientation, or gender identity, or because of status as a military veteran.
SECTION ___. Section 301.027, Property Code, is amended to read as follows:
Sec. 301.027. BROKERAGE SERVICES. A person may not deny another access to, or membership or participation in, a multiple-listing service, real estate brokers' organization, or other service, organization, or facility relating to the business of selling or renting dwellings, or discriminate against a person in the terms or conditions of access, membership, or participation in such an organization, service, or facility because of race, color, religion, sex, disability, familial status, [or] national origin, sexual orientation, or gender identity, or because of status as a military veteran.
SECTION ___. Sections 301.042(a) and (c), Property Code, are amended to read as follows:
(a) This chapter does not prohibit a religious organization, association, or society or a nonprofit institution or organization operated, supervised, or controlled by or in conjunction with a religious organization, association, or society from:
(1) limiting the sale, rental, or occupancy of dwellings that it owns or operates for other than a commercial purpose to persons of the same religion; or
(2) giving preference to persons of the same religion, unless membership in the religion is restricted because of race, color, [or] national origin, sexual orientation, or gender identity, or because of status as a military veteran.
(c) This chapter does not prohibit a person engaged in the business of furnishing appraisals of real property from considering in those appraisals factors other than race, color, religion, sex, disability, familial status, [or] national origin, sexual orientation, or gender identity, or status as a military veteran.
SECTION ___. Section 301.068, Property Code, is amended to read as follows:
Sec. 301.068. REFERRAL TO MUNICIPALITY. (a) Subject to Subsection (b), the [The] commission may defer proceedings under this chapter and refer a complaint to a municipality that has been certified by the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development as a substantially equivalent fair housing agency.
(b) The commission may not defer proceedings and refer a complaint under Subsection (a) to a municipality in which the alleged discrimination occurred if:
(1) the complaint alleges discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity or based on status as a military veteran; and
(2) the municipality does not have laws prohibiting the alleged discrimination.
SECTION ___. Section 301.171(a), Property Code, is amended to read as follows:
(a) A person commits an offense if the person, without regard to whether the person is acting under color of law, by force or threat of force intentionally intimidates or interferes with a person:
(1) because of the person's race, color, religion, sex, disability, familial status, [or] national origin, sexual orientation, or gender identity, or because of the person's status as a military veteran and because the person is or has been selling, purchasing, renting, financing, occupying, or contracting or negotiating for the sale, purchase, rental, financing, or occupation of any dwelling or applying for or participating in a service, organization, or facility relating to the business of selling or renting dwellings; or
(2) because the person is or has been or to intimidate the person from:
(A) participating, without discrimination because of race, color, religion, sex, disability, familial status, [or] national origin, sexual orientation, or gender identity, or because of status as a military veteran, in an activity, service, organization, or facility described by Subdivision (1); [or]
(B) affording another person opportunity or protection to so participate; or
(C) lawfully aiding or encouraging other persons to participate, without discrimination because of race, color, religion, sex, disability, familial status, [or] national origin, sexual orientation, or gender identity, or because of status as a military veteran, in an activity, service, organization, or facility described by Subdivision (1).
SECTION ___. (a) The changes in law made by this Act to the Business & Commerce Code and the Labor Code apply to conduct occurring on or after September 1, 2025. Conduct occurring before that date is governed by the law in effect immediately before the effective date of this Act, and the former law is continued in effect for that purpose.
(b) The changes in law made by this Act to the Property Code apply only to a complaint filed with the Texas Workforce Commission on or after September 1, 2025. A complaint filed before that date is governed by the law as it existed immediately before the effective date of this Act, and that law is continued in effect for that purpose.
The amendment to CSSB 2943 was read and failed of adoption by the following vote: Yeas 10, Nays 20.
Yeas: Alvarado, Blanco, Cook, Eckhardt, 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.
Absent-excused: Gutierrez.
CSSB 2943 was passed to engrossment by the following vote: Yeas 22, Nays 8.
Yeas: Bettencourt, Birdwell, Campbell, Creighton, Flores, Hagenbuch, Hall, Hancock, A. Hinojosa, Huffman, Hughes, Johnson, King, Kolkhorst, Middleton, Nichols, Parker, Paxton, Perry, Schwertner, Sparks, West.
Nays: Alvarado, Blanco, Cook, Eckhardt, J. Hinojosa, Menéndez, Miles, Zaffirini.
Absent-excused: Gutierrez.
(President in Chair)
SENATE BILL 510 ON SECOND READING
Senator Bettencourt moved to suspend the regular order of business to take up for consideration SB 510 at this time on its second reading:
SB 510, Relating to the failure of a voter registrar to comply with voter registration laws.
The motion prevailed by the following vote: Yeas 20, Nays 10.
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, J. Hinojosa, Johnson, Menéndez, Miles, West, Zaffirini.
Absent-excused: Gutierrez.
The bill was read second time and was passed to engrossment by the following vote: Yeas 20, Nays 10. (Same as previous roll call)
COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE
SENATE BILL 1835 ON SECOND READING
Senator Sparks moved to suspend the regular order of business to take up for consideration CSSB 1835 at this time on its second reading:
CSSB 1835, Relating to the maximum number of nonresident scholarship students permitted to pay resident tuition and fees at certain public institutions of higher education.
The motion prevailed.
Senator Schwertner asked to be recorded as voting "Nay" on suspension of the regular order of business.
The bill was read second time.
(Senator Flores in Chair)
Senator Schwertner offered the following amendment to the bill:
Floor Amendment No. 1
Amend CSSB 1835 (senate committee printing) in SECTION 1 of the bill as follows:
(1) In the recital for amended Section 54.213, Education Code (page 1, line 28), strike "amending Subsection (b) and adding Subsection (c)" and substitute "adding Subsections (a-1) and (c) and amending Subsection (b)".
(2) In amended Section 54.213, Education Code (page 1, between lines 29 and 30), insert the following:
(a-1) This section applies only to a nonresident student who:
(1) is a United States citizen or lawful permanent resident of the United States;
(2) holds a valid United States nonimmigrant visa issued by the federal government; or
(3) is otherwise lawfully present in the United States.
The amendment to CSSB 1835 was read and was adopted by the following vote: Yeas 20, Nays 10.
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, J. Hinojosa, Johnson, Menéndez, Miles, West, Zaffirini.
Absent-excused: Gutierrez.
CSSB 1835 as amended was passed to engrossment by the following vote: Yeas 20, Nays 10. (Same as previous roll call)
(President in Chair)
SENATE BILL 205 ON SECOND READING
Senator Paxton moved to suspend the regular order of business to take up for consideration SB 205 at this time on its second reading:
SB 205, Relating to fetal development instruction included as part of the public school health curriculum in certain grade levels.
The motion prevailed by the following vote: Yeas 26, Nays 4.
Yeas: Bettencourt, Birdwell, Blanco, Campbell, Creighton, Flores, Hagenbuch, Hall, Hancock, A. Hinojosa, J. Hinojosa, Huffman, Hughes, Johnson, King, Kolkhorst, Menéndez, Middleton, Nichols, Parker, Paxton, Perry, Schwertner, Sparks, West, Zaffirini.
Nays: Alvarado, Cook, Eckhardt, Miles.
Absent-excused: Gutierrez.
The bill was read second time.
Senator Menéndez offered the following amendment to the bill:
Floor Amendment No. 1
Amend SB 205 (senate committee report) in SECTION 1 of the bill, in added Section 28.002(x), Education Code (page 1), between "receive" and "instruction", by inserting "age-appropriate and medically accurate" in each of the following places:
(1) lines 27 and 28; and
(2) line 31.
The amendment to SB 205 was read and was adopted without objection.
All Members are deemed to have voted "Yea" on the adoption of Floor Amendment No. 1 except as follows:
Absent-excused: Gutierrez.
Senator Eckhardt offered the following amendment to the bill:
Floor Amendment No. 2
Amend SB 205 (senate committee report) as follows:
(1) In the recital to SECTION 1 of the bill (page 1, line 25), strike "Subsection (x)" and substitute "Subsections (x) and (x-1)".
(2) In SECTION 1 of the bill, immediately following added Section 28.002(x), Education Code (page 1, between lines 40 and 41), insert the following:
(x-1) Before a student may be provided with the instruction on fetal development described by Subsection (x), a school district must obtain the written consent of the student's parent. A request for written consent under this subsection:
(1) may not be included with any other notification or request for written consent provided to the parent; and
(2) must be provided to the parent not later than the 14th day before the date on which the instruction begins.
The amendment to SB 205 was read and failed of adoption by the following vote: Yeas 11, Nays 19.
Yeas: Alvarado, Blanco, Cook, Eckhardt, Hagenbuch, J. Hinojosa, Johnson, Menéndez, Miles, West, Zaffirini.
Nays: Bettencourt, Birdwell, Campbell, Creighton, Flores, Hall, Hancock, A. Hinojosa, Huffman, Hughes, King, Kolkhorst, Middleton, Nichols, Parker, Paxton, Perry, Schwertner, Sparks.
Absent-excused: Gutierrez.
SB 205 as amended was passed to engrossment by the following vote: Yeas 26, Nays 4.
Yeas: Bettencourt, Birdwell, Blanco, Campbell, Creighton, Flores, Hagenbuch, Hall, Hancock, A. Hinojosa, J. Hinojosa, Huffman, Hughes, Johnson, King, Kolkhorst, Menéndez, Middleton, Nichols, Parker, Paxton, Perry, Schwertner, Sparks, West, Zaffirini.
Nays: Alvarado, Cook, Eckhardt, Miles.
Absent-excused: Gutierrez.
SENATE BILL 205 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 205 be placed on its third reading and final passage.
The motion prevailed by the following vote: Yeas 26, Nays 4.
Yeas: Bettencourt, Birdwell, Blanco, Campbell, Creighton, Flores, Hagenbuch, Hall, Hancock, A. Hinojosa, J. Hinojosa, Huffman, Hughes, Johnson, King, Kolkhorst, Menéndez, Middleton, Nichols, Parker, Paxton, Perry, Schwertner, Sparks, West, Zaffirini.
Nays: Alvarado, Cook, Eckhardt, Miles.
Absent-excused: Gutierrez.
The bill was read third time and was passed by the following vote: Yeas 26, Nays 4. (Same as previous roll call)
COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE
SENATE BILL 1950 ON SECOND READING
Senator Creighton moved to suspend the regular order of business to take up for consideration CSSB 1950 at this time on its second reading:
CSSB 1950, Relating to the eligibility of certain individuals for unemployment benefits and the validity of certain claims for unemployment benefits submitted to the Texas Workforce Commission.
The motion prevailed by the following vote: Yeas 20, Nays 10.
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, J. Hinojosa, Johnson, Menéndez, Miles, West, Zaffirini.
Absent-excused: Gutierrez.
The bill was read second time and was passed to engrossment by the following vote: Yeas 20, Nays 10. (Same as previous roll call)
(Senator Flores in Chair)
SENATE BILL 2137 ON SECOND READING
Senator Menéndez moved to suspend the regular order of business to take up for consideration SB 2137 at this time on its second reading:
SB 2137, Relating to the allocation of low income housing tax credits.
The motion prevailed by the following vote: Yeas 24, Nays 6.
Yeas: Alvarado, Bettencourt, Birdwell, Blanco, Campbell, Cook, Creighton, Eckhardt, Flores, Hall, A. Hinojosa, J. Hinojosa, Huffman, Johnson, King, Kolkhorst, Menéndez, Miles, Nichols, Paxton, Perry, Schwertner, West, Zaffirini.
Nays: Hagenbuch, Hancock, Hughes, Middleton, Parker, Sparks.
Absent-excused: Gutierrez.
The bill was read second time and was passed to engrossment by the following vote: Yeas 24, Nays 6. (Same as previous roll call)
SENATE BILL 2137 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 SB 2137 be placed on its third reading and final passage.
The motion prevailed by the following vote: Yeas 24, Nays 6.
Yeas: Alvarado, Bettencourt, Birdwell, Blanco, Campbell, Cook, Creighton, Eckhardt, Flores, Hall, A. Hinojosa, J. Hinojosa, Huffman, Johnson, King, Kolkhorst, Menéndez, Miles, Nichols, Paxton, Perry, Schwertner, West, Zaffirini.
Nays: Hagenbuch, Hancock, Hughes, Middleton, Parker, Sparks.
Absent-excused: Gutierrez.
The bill was read third time and was passed by the following vote: Yeas 24, Nays 6. (Same as previous roll call)
(President in Chair)
SENATE BILL 1723 ON SECOND READING
Senator Creighton moved to suspend the regular order of business to take up for consideration SB 1723 at this time on its second reading:
SB 1723, Relating to the establishment of a rapid DNA analysis pilot program in certain counties.
The motion prevailed.
Senator Cook 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.
Absent-excused: Gutierrez.
SENATE BILL 1723 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 1723 be placed on its third reading and final passage.
The motion prevailed by the following vote: Yeas 29, Nays 1.
Nays: Cook.
Absent-excused: Gutierrez.
The bill was read third time and was passed by the following vote: Yeas 29, Nays 1. (Same as previous roll call)
SENATE BILL 3059 ON SECOND READING
Senator Campbell moved to suspend the regular order of business to take up for consideration SB 3059 at this time on its second reading:
SB 3059, Relating to the preservation, maintenance, restoration, and protection of the Alamo complex and surrounding area by the Alamo Commission.
The motion prevailed.
Senators Eckhardt and Johnson 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, Johnson.
Absent-excused: Gutierrez.
SENATE BILL 3059 ON THIRD READING
Senator Campbell moved that Senate Rule 7.18 and the Constitutional Rule requiring bills to be read on three several days be suspended and that SB 3059 be placed on its third reading and final passage.
The motion prevailed by the following vote: Yeas 28, Nays 2.
Yeas: Alvarado, Bettencourt, Birdwell, Blanco, Campbell, Cook, Creighton, Flores, Hagenbuch, Hall, Hancock, A. Hinojosa, J. Hinojosa, Huffman, Hughes, King, Kolkhorst, Menéndez, Middleton, Miles, Nichols, Parker, Paxton, Perry, Schwertner, Sparks, West, Zaffirini.
Nays: Eckhardt, Johnson.
Absent-excused: Gutierrez.
The bill was read third time and was passed by the following vote: Yeas 28, Nays 2. (Same as previous roll call)
SENATE BILL 2637 ON SECOND READING
Senator Johnson moved to suspend the regular order of business to take up for consideration SB 2637 at this time on its second reading:
SB 2637, Relating to disclosures about certain automated posts on social media platforms; providing a civil penalty.
The motion prevailed by the following vote: Yeas 26, Nays 4.
Yeas: Alvarado, Bettencourt, Birdwell, Blanco, Campbell, Cook, Creighton, Eckhardt, Flores, Hall, Hancock, A. Hinojosa, J. Hinojosa, Huffman, Johnson, King, Kolkhorst, Menéndez, Miles, Nichols, Parker, Paxton, Perry, Schwertner, West, Zaffirini.
Nays: Hagenbuch, Hughes, Middleton, Sparks.
Absent-excused: Gutierrez.
The bill was read second time and was passed to engrossment by the following vote: Yeas 26, Nays 4. (Same as previous roll call)
SENATE BILL 2637 ON THIRD READING
Senator Johnson moved that Senate Rule 7.18 and the Constitutional Rule requiring bills to be read on three several days be suspended and that SB 2637 be placed on its third reading and final passage.
The motion prevailed by the following vote: Yeas 26, Nays 4.
Yeas: Alvarado, Bettencourt, Birdwell, Blanco, Campbell, Cook, Creighton, Eckhardt, Flores, Hall, Hancock, A. Hinojosa, J. Hinojosa, Huffman, Johnson, King, Kolkhorst, Menéndez, Miles, Nichols, Parker, Paxton, Perry, Schwertner, West, Zaffirini.
Nays: Hagenbuch, Hughes, Middleton, Sparks.
Absent-excused: Gutierrez.
The bill was read third time and was passed by the following vote: Yeas 26, Nays 4. (Same as previous roll call)
(Senator Hughes in Chair)
COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE
SENATE BILL 2063 ON SECOND READING
Senator Parker moved to suspend the regular order of business to take up for consideration CSSB 2063 at this time on its second reading:
CSSB 2063, Relating to ad valorem tax protests and appeals on the ground of the unequal appraisal of property.
The motion prevailed by the following vote: Yeas 24, Nays 6.
Yeas: Alvarado, Bettencourt, Birdwell, Blanco, Campbell, Creighton, Flores, Hagenbuch, Hall, Hancock, A. Hinojosa, Huffman, Hughes, King, Kolkhorst, Menéndez, Middleton, Nichols, Parker, Paxton, Perry, Schwertner, Sparks, West.
Nays: Cook, Eckhardt, J. Hinojosa, Johnson, Miles, Zaffirini.
Absent-excused: Gutierrez.
The bill was read second time and was passed to engrossment by the following vote: Yeas 24, Nays 6. (Same as previous roll call)
COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE
SENATE BILL 2063 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 2063 be placed on its third reading and final passage.
The motion prevailed by the following vote: Yeas 24, Nays 6.
Yeas: Alvarado, Bettencourt, Birdwell, Blanco, Campbell, Creighton, Flores, Hagenbuch, Hall, Hancock, A. Hinojosa, Huffman, Hughes, King, Kolkhorst, Menéndez, Middleton, Nichols, Parker, Paxton, Perry, Schwertner, Sparks, West.
Nays: Cook, Eckhardt, J. Hinojosa, Johnson, Miles, Zaffirini.
Absent-excused: Gutierrez.
The bill was read third time and was passed by the following vote: Yeas 24, Nays 6. (Same as previous roll call)
MESSAGE FROM THE HOUSE
HOUSE CHAMBER
Austin, Texas
Monday, May 12, 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 general definitions for and collection of governmental information regarding biological sex.
Relating to disclosures for certain commercial sales-based financing transactions, the effect of certain commercial sales-based financing contract provisions, and the registration of commercial sales-based financing brokers; authorizing a fee and providing a civil penalty.
Relating to the model training curriculum for school district peace officers and school resource officers.
Relating to affidavits concerning cost and necessity of services in civil actions.
Relating to the office of inspector general in certain municipalities and the investigators of those offices.
Relating to the creation of an extracurricular community education grant program.
Relating to consideration of criminal history of applicants for public employment.
Relating to the installation and operation of intermediate bulk container recycling facilities; authorizing a fee.
Relating to the provision of certain information about Medicaid benefits in relation to newborn children.
Relating to the review of claims and recovery of overpayments by Medicaid recovery audit contractors.
Relating to the qualifications for jury service.
Relating to certain death benefits for certain public safety officers under public retirement systems.
Relating to reimbursement of infrastructure costs incurred by a developer of certain housing developments by certain municipalities and counties.
Relating to participation in, administration of, contributions to, and benefits under the Texas Municipal Retirement System.
Relating to conducting an assessment of language accessibility with respect to certain health and human services programs and 2-1-1 services provided by the Texas Information and Referral Network.
Relating to a relative and kinship care grant program administered by the Office of Court Administration of the Texas Judicial System.
Proposing a constitutional amendment to authorize the creation of a regional mobility authority by local law.
Respectfully,
/s/Stephen Brown,
Chief Clerk
House of Representatives
SENATE BILL 1903 ON SECOND READING
Senator Campbell moved to suspend the regular order of business to take up for consideration SB 1903 at this time on its second reading:
SB 1903, Relating to the composition of the board of directors of the Texas Permanent School Fund Corporation.
The motion prevailed.
Senators Eckhardt and Middleton 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, Middleton.
Absent-excused: Gutierrez.
SENATE BILL 1903 ON THIRD READING
Senator Campbell moved that Senate Rule 7.18 and the Constitutional Rule requiring bills to be read on three several days be suspended and that SB 1903 be placed on its third reading and final passage.
The motion prevailed by the following vote: Yeas 28, Nays 2.
Yeas: Alvarado, Bettencourt, Birdwell, Blanco, Campbell, Cook, Creighton, Flores, Hagenbuch, Hall, Hancock, A. Hinojosa, J. Hinojosa, Huffman, Hughes, Johnson, King, Kolkhorst, Menéndez, Miles, Nichols, Parker, Paxton, Perry, Schwertner, Sparks, West, Zaffirini.
Nays: Eckhardt, Middleton.
Absent-excused: Gutierrez.
The bill was read third time and was passed by the following vote: Yeas 28, Nays 2. (Same as previous roll call)
SENATE BILL 72 WITH HOUSE AMENDMENT
Senator Zaffirini called SB 72 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.
Amendment
Amend SB 72 by substituting in lieu thereof the following:
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the regulation of private passenger vehicle rental companies.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Sections 91.001(6) and (7), Business & Commerce Code, are amended to read as follows:
(6) "Rental agreement" means an agreement for 180 [30] days or less that states the terms governing the use of a private passenger vehicle rented by a rental company.
(7) "Rental company" means a person in the business of renting private passenger vehicles to the public for 180 [30] days or less. The term does not include a person who holds a license under Chapter 2301, Occupations Code, and whose primary business activity is not renting private passenger vehicles.
SECTION 2. Subchapter B, Chapter 91, Business & Commerce Code, is amended by adding Section 91.057 to read as follows:
Sec. 91.057. REFUND OF DAMAGE WAIVER CHARGE. A rental company shall issue to a renter a refund of any damage waiver charges charged or collected for a period that exceeds the number of calendar days a damage waiver is in effect if:
(1) the renter returns a rented motor vehicle before the anticipated return date; or
(2) the damage waiver is not in effect for the entire period of the rental agreement because the renter cancels the damage waiver before the anticipated return date, and the rental company confirms that the rented motor vehicle was not damaged before the damage waiver's cancellation.
SECTION 3. The changes in law made by this Act apply only to a rental agreement entered into on or after the effective date of this Act. A rental agreement entered into before the effective date of this Act is governed by the law in effect on the date the contract was entered into, and the former law is continued in effect for that purpose.
SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.
The amendment was read.
Senator Zaffirini moved to concur in the House amendment to SB 72.
The motion prevailed by the following vote: Yeas 30, Nays 0.
Absent-excused: Gutierrez.
SENATE BILL 1143 WITH HOUSE AMENDMENT
Senator Blanco called SB 1143 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 1143 (house committee printing) by striking SECTION 2 of the bill (page 1, line 13, through page 2, line 18) and renumbering the subsequent SECTIONS of the bill accordingly.
The amendment was read.
Senator Blanco moved to concur in the House amendment to SB 1143.
The motion prevailed by the following vote: Yeas 25, Nays 5.
Yeas: Alvarado, Bettencourt, Birdwell, Blanco, Campbell, Cook, Creighton, Eckhardt, Flores, Hall, Hancock, A. Hinojosa, J. Hinojosa, Huffman, Johnson, King, Kolkhorst, Menéndez, Miles, Nichols, Paxton, Perry, Schwertner, West, Zaffirini.
Nays: Hagenbuch, Hughes, Middleton, Parker, Sparks.
Absent-excused: Gutierrez.
SENATE BILL 616 WITH HOUSE AMENDMENT
Senator Schwertner called SB 616 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 616 (house committee printing) by striking page 1, lines 20 through 24, and substituting the following:
(4) the injection of water into a geologic formation that underlies the Edwards Aquifer for an aquifer storage and recovery project that includes an ASR injection well, as defined under Section 27.151, that transects the Edwards Aquifer in:
(A) the area of Williamson County east of Interstate Highway 35; or
(B) Medina County.
The amendment was read.
Senator Schwertner moved to concur in the House amendment to SB 616.
The motion prevailed by the following vote: Yeas 30, Nays 0.
Absent-excused: Gutierrez.
SENATE BILL 1172 WITH HOUSE AMENDMENTS
Senator Perry called SB 1172 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 1172 by substituting in lieu thereof the following:
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to exempting certain transactions from regulation by the Texas Real Estate Commission.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 1101.002, Occupations Code, is amended by adding Subdivisions (4-a), (4-b), and (9) to read as follows:
(4-a) "Mineral" has the meaning assigned by Section 75.001, Property Code. The term includes oil, gas, related hydrocarbons, coal, lignite, uranium, and substances classified as base, industrial, precious, or strategic minerals.
(4-b) "Other energy source" means a natural resource other than water or a mineral that is necessary to produce energy, including geothermal, nuclear, solar, and wind energy.
(9) "Water" means:
(A) diffused surface water;
(B) groundwater, as defined by Section 36.001, Water Code; or
(C) state water, as described by Section 11.021(a), Water Code.
SECTION 2. Section 1101.005, Occupations Code, is amended to read as follows:
Sec. 1101.005. APPLICABILITY OF CHAPTER. This chapter does not apply to:
(1) an attorney licensed in this state;
(2) an attorney-in-fact authorized under a power of attorney to conduct not more than three real estate transactions annually;
(3) a public official while engaged in official duties;
(4) an auctioneer licensed under Chapter 1802 while conducting the sale of real estate by auction if the auctioneer does not perform another act of a broker;
(5) a person conducting a real estate transaction under a court order or the authority of a will or written trust instrument;
(6) a person employed by an owner in the sale of structures and land on which structures are located if the structures are erected by the owner in the course of the owner's business;
(7) an on-site manager of an apartment complex;
(8) an owner or the owner's employee who leases the owner's improved or unimproved real estate; [or]
(9) a transaction involving:
(A) the sale, lease, or transfer of a real property interest in:
(i) minerals, mining, or a quarry;
(ii) standing timber; or
(iii) other energy sources [mineral or mining interest in real property];
(B) the sale, lease, or transfer of a cemetery lot;
(C) the lease or management of a hotel or motel; or
(D) the sale of real property under a power of sale conferred by a deed of trust or other contract lien;
(10) the sale, lease, or transfer of real estate owned or leased by or being acquired by or leased to a limited partnership by:
(A) a general partner of the limited partnership;
(B) an employee of a general partner of the limited partnership who negotiates the transaction in the course of employment; or
(C) an employee of the limited partnership who negotiates the transaction in the course of employment; or
(11) the sale, lease, or transfer of real estate owned or leased by or being acquired by or leased to a limited liability company by:
(A) a manager or managing member of the limited liability company;
(B) an employee of a manager or managing member of the limited liability company who negotiates the transaction in the course of employment; or
(C) an employee or member of the limited liability company who negotiates the transaction in the course of employment.
SECTION 3. 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 1172 (house committee report) as follows:
(1) On page 3, line 13, strike "or".
(2) On page 3, line 24, between "employment" and the period, insert the following:
; or
(12) a person conducting a real estate transaction on behalf of a commercial signage entity
The amendments were read.
Senator Perry moved to concur in the House amendments to SB 1172.
The motion prevailed by the following vote: Yeas 30, Nays 0.
Absent-excused: Gutierrez.
SENATE BILL 985 WITH HOUSE AMENDMENT
Senator Bettencourt called SB 985 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 985 (house committee report) as follows:
(1) On page 1, line 17, strike "or (b)".
(2) Strike page 1, line 20, through page 2, line 3, and substitute the following:
"(c) [(a-1)] In a county that does not participate in the countywide polling place program described by Section 43.007, for a general or special election for which use of county election precincts is required, the commissioner's court [may,] on the recommendation of the county election board, or for a primary election for which use of county election precincts is required, the county executive committee of a political party conducting the primary election, may combine county election precincts notwithstanding Section 42.005 if:"
The amendment was read.
Senator Bettencourt moved to concur in the House amendment to SB 985.
The motion prevailed by the following vote: Yeas 30, Nays 0.
Absent-excused: Gutierrez.
SENATE BILL 1245 WITH HOUSE AMENDMENT
Senator Blanco called SB 1245 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 1245 (house committee report) on line 14, by striking "west of the Pecos River".
The amendment was read.
Senator Blanco moved to concur in the House amendment to SB 1245.
The motion prevailed by the following vote: Yeas 30, Nays 0.
Absent-excused: Gutierrez.
SENATE BILL 1080 WITH HOUSE AMENDMENT
Senator West called SB 1080 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 1080 (house committee report) by adding the following appropriately numbered SECTION to the bill and renumbering subsequent SECTIONS of the bill accordingly:
SECTION ____. Section 51.4014, Occupations Code, is amended by amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (a-1) to read as follows:
(a) Notwithstanding any other law and subject to Subsection (a-1), the department may accept an application from an applicant who is an inmate imprisoned in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice except that the department may not issue the license until the applicant has been released.
(a-1) The department may issue a license to an applicant who is an inmate imprisoned in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice and who is enrolled in or has completed an educational program described by Section 53.0211(b-1)(2) before the applicant has been released.
The amendment was read.
Senator West moved to concur in the House amendment to SB 1080.
The motion prevailed by the following vote: Yeas 30, Nays 0.
Absent-excused: Gutierrez.
SENATE BILL 1025 WITH HOUSE AMENDMENT
Senator Bettencourt called SB 1025 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.
Amendment
Amend SB 1025 by substituting in lieu thereof the following:
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the text of ballot propositions that increase taxes.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 52.072(e), Election Code, is amended to read as follows:
(e) In addition to any other requirement imposed by law for a proposition, including a provision prescribing the proposition language, a proposition submitted to the voters for approval of the imposition, increase, or reduction of a tax shall, except as otherwise required by this subsection, be printed in mixed-case typewritten letters and [specifically state], as applicable:
(1) with respect to a proposition that only seeks voter approval of the imposition or increase of a tax:
(A) state[,] the amount of or maximum tax rate of the tax or tax increase for which approval is sought; and
(B) include, at the top of the proposition in capital typewritten letters of the same font size as the rest of the proposition, the statement "THIS IS A TAX INCREASE"; or
(2) with respect to a proposition that only seeks voter approval of the reduction of a tax, state the amount of tax rate reduction or the tax rate for which approval is sought.
SECTION 2. The changes in law made by this Act apply only to an election ordered on or after the effective date of this Act.
SECTION 3. 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.
The amendment was read.
Senator Bettencourt moved to concur in the House amendment to SB 1025.
The motion prevailed by the following vote: Yeas 25, Nays 5.
Yeas: Alvarado, 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: Cook, Eckhardt, Johnson, Miles, Zaffirini.
Absent-excused: Gutierrez.
SENATE BILL 1267 WITH HOUSE AMENDMENT
Senator Alvarado called SB 1267 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 1267 (house committee report) as follows:
(1) On page 24, line 12, strike "or".
(2) On page 24, line 14, between "contract" and the period, insert the following:
; or
(5) an outboard motor that:
(A) is at least 40 years of age; and
(B) has a capacity of not more than 25 horsepower
The amendment was read.
Senator Alvarado moved to concur in the House amendment to SB 1267.
The motion prevailed by the following vote: Yeas 26, Nays 4.
Yeas: Alvarado, Bettencourt, Birdwell, Blanco, Campbell, Cook, Eckhardt, Flores, Hancock, A. Hinojosa, J. Hinojosa, Huffman, Johnson, King, Kolkhorst, Menéndez, Middleton, Miles, Nichols, Parker, Paxton, Perry, Schwertner, Sparks, West, Zaffirini.
Nays: Creighton, Hagenbuch, Hall, Hughes.
Absent-excused: Gutierrez.
SENATE BILL 1271 WITH HOUSE AMENDMENT
Senator Hancock called SB 1271 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 1271 in SECTION 1 of the bill, in added Section 2204.104(a)(1), Government Code, immediately following "or authority.", by adding "The term includes a school district.".
The amendment was read.
Senator Hancock moved to concur in the House amendment to SB 1271.
The motion prevailed by the following vote: Yeas 28, Nays 2.
Yeas: Alvarado, Bettencourt, Birdwell, Blanco, Campbell, Creighton, Flores, 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.
Absent-excused: Gutierrez.
SENATE BILL 1355 WITH HOUSE AMENDMENT
Senator Parker called SB 1355 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 1355 (house committee report) by striking "letter of" and substituting "written" in each of the following places it appears:
(1) page 1, line 14;
(2) page 2, line 2; and
(3) page 2, lines 8 and 9.
The amendment was read.
Senator Parker moved to concur in the House amendment to SB 1355.
The motion prevailed by the following vote: Yeas 28, Nays 2.
Yeas: Alvarado, Bettencourt, Birdwell, Blanco, Campbell, Cook, Creighton, Eckhardt, Flores, Hagenbuch, Hall, Hancock, A. Hinojosa, J. Hinojosa, Huffman, Johnson, King, Kolkhorst, Menéndez, Middleton, Miles, Nichols, Parker, Paxton, Schwertner, Sparks, West, Zaffirini.
Nays: Hughes, Perry.
Absent-excused: Gutierrez.
SENATE BILL 1759 WITH HOUSE AMENDMENTS
Senator Birdwell called SB 1759 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 1759 by substituting in lieu thereof the following:
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the declaration of an oil or gas emergency by the Railroad Commission of Texas and the liability of a person for assistance, advice, or resources provided in relation to an oil or gas emergency.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Chapter 91, Natural Resources Code, is amended by adding Subchapter U to read as follows:
SUBCHAPTER U. OIL OR GAS EMERGENCIES
Sec. 91.951. DEFINITION. In this subchapter, "oil or gas emergency" means an emergency related to an oil and gas operation, as defined by Section 81.0523, including the uncontrolled release of oil, gas, or produced water from an oil or gas well or other type of well regulated by the commission.
Sec. 91.952. EMERGENCY DECLARATION. (a) The executive director of the commission by proclamation may declare an oil or gas emergency if the executive director finds that an oil or gas emergency has occurred. A proclamation issued under this section must:
(1) be in writing;
(2) be authorized by the executive director; and
(3) include:
(A) a description of the nature of the oil or gas emergency; and
(B) a designation of the area threatened by the oil or gas emergency.
(b) An emergency proclamation issued under Subsection (a) may not continue for more than 30 days unless renewed as provided by this subsection. The executive director of the commission may renew a proclamation in the same manner as the executive director may issue a proclamation under Subsection (a) for an additional 30 days. If the commission determines that the emergency is likely to continue beyond the 60th day after the date the emergency was declared under Subsection (a), the commission may renew the proclamation for additional 60-day periods as necessary for public health and safety until the emergency no longer exists.
(c) If the commission determines that an oil or gas emergency no longer exists, the commission may terminate the proclamation issued under Subsection (a) or allow the proclamation to expire.
Sec. 91.953. EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE. (a) Except in the case of gross negligence, recklessness, or intentional misconduct, a person is immune from civil liability for an act or omission that occurs in giving assistance, advice, or resources, including the use of the person's assets, employees, or contractors, with respect to the response to an oil or gas emergency:
(1) that is declared under Section 91.952; and
(2) in which the assistance, advice, or resources are provided at the request of an authorized representative of a state, local, or federal agency.
(b) The immunities provided by this section are in addition to any other immunity or limitations of liability provided by law.
SECTION 2. Subchapter U, Chapter 91, Natural Resources Code, as added by this Act, does not apply to a cause of action that accrued before the effective date of this Act.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.
Floor Amendment No. 1
Amend CSSB 1759 (house committee report) as follows:
(1) On page 1, line 16, strike "by proclamation".
(2) On page 1, line 18, strike "proclamation" and substitute "declaration".
(3) On page 2, line 3, strike "proclamation" and substitute "declaration".
(4) On page 2, lines 5-8, strike the second sentence of added Section 91.952(b), Natural Resources Code.
(5) On page 2, line 9, strike "60th" and substitute "30th".
(6) On page 2, line 11, strike "proclamation" and substitute "declaration".
(7) On page 2, line 11, strike "60-day" and substitute "30-day".
(8) On page 2, line 15, strike "proclamation" each time it appears and substitute "declaration".
The amendments were read.
Senator Birdwell moved to concur in the House amendments to SB 1759.
The motion prevailed by the following vote: Yeas 30, Nays 0.
Absent-excused: Gutierrez.
SENATE BILL 1786 WITH HOUSE AMENDMENT
Senator Creighton called SB 1786 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.
Amendment
Amend SB 1786 by substituting in lieu thereof the following:
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to public higher education.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 28.0095(a), Education Code, is amended by adding Subdivision (5) to read as follows:
(5) "School district" includes the Windham School District.
SECTION 2. Sections 28.0095(c), (e), and (f), Education Code, are amended to read as follows:
(c) A student is eligible to enroll at no cost in a dual credit course under the program if the student:
(1) is enrolled:
(A) in a grade level from 9 through 12 [high school] in a school district or charter school; and
(B) in a dual credit course at a participating institution of higher education; and
(2) was educationally disadvantaged at any time during:
(A) the school year in which the student enrolls in the dual credit course described by Subdivision (1)(B); or
(B) the four school years preceding the student's enrollment in the dual credit course described by Subdivision (1)(B).
(e) Each school district or charter school shall:
(1) on the [a high school student's] enrollment of a student in a grade level from 9 through 12 in a dual credit course, determine whether the student meets the criteria for the program under Subsection (c)(2); and
(2) notify the institution of higher education that offers the dual credit course in which the student is enrolled of the district's or school's determination under Subdivision (1).
(f) A school district or charter school may make the determination under Subsection (e)(1) based on the district's or school's records, the agency's records, or any other method authorized by commissioner or coordinating board rule. If the district or school bases the determination on a method other than the agency's records, the district or school shall report the method used and the data on which the method is based to the agency for purposes of verification. The agency shall make available to school districts and charter schools any available and relevant data for making the determination required under Subsection (e)(1).
SECTION 3. Subchapter A, Chapter 56, Education Code, is amended by adding Section 56.0035 to read as follows:
Sec. 56.0035. RULES. (a) The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board may adopt rules necessary to carry out the purposes of this chapter, including any rules necessary to administer federal financial aid or grant programs or provide federal money to institutions of higher education under Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. Section 1070 et seq.) or another federal law or program.
(b) Notwithstanding Section 61.0331, the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board is not required to use negotiated rulemaking to adopt rules necessary to administer federal financial aid or grant programs or provide federal money to institutions of higher education under Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. Section 1070 et seq.) or another federal law or program.
SECTION 4. Section 61.003(2), Education Code, is amended to read as follows:
(2) "Public junior college" means any junior college associated with a junior college district described by Subchapter J, Chapter 130 [listed as a public junior college in accordance with Section 61.063].
SECTION 5. Subchapter B, Chapter 61, Education Code, is amended by adding Section 61.0275 to read as follows:
Sec. 61.0275. ADOPTION BY REFERENCE. The board may adopt by reference a manual or policy document as a rule.
SECTION 6. Section 130A.005, Education Code, is amended by adding Subsection (d) to read as follows:
(d) The coordinating board may use the emergency rulemaking procedures established under Section 2001.034, Government Code, to adopt rules necessary to align the funding formulas under this chapter with appropriations or other legislative action. The coordinating board is not required to make the finding described by Section 2001.034(a), Government Code, to adopt rules under this subsection.
SECTION 7. Section 130A.101(c), Education Code, is amended to read as follows:
(c) The measurable outcomes considered for purposes of performance tier funding are:
(1) the number of credentials of value awarded, as determined by the coordinating board based on analyses of wages and costs associated with the credential, including degrees, certificates, and other credentials from credit and non-credit programs that equip students for continued learning and greater earnings in the state economy, with an additional weight for placement of students who earn that credential in a high-demand occupation, as defined by coordinating board rule, or an appropriate proxy determined by the coordinating board based on available data;
(2) the number of students who earn at least 15 semester credit hours or the equivalent at the junior college district and:
(A) subsequently transfer to:
(i) a general academic teaching institution, as that term is defined by Section 61.003; or
(ii) a private or independent institution of higher education, as that term is defined by Section 61.003, that offers four-year degree programs; or
(B) are enrolled in a structured co-enrollment program, as authorized by coordinating board rule; and
(3) the number of students who complete a sequence of at least 15 semester credit hours or the equivalent for dual credit or dual enrollment courses, as defined by coordinating board rule, that apply toward academic or workforce program requirements at the postsecondary level.
SECTION 8. Subchapter C, Chapter 130A, Education Code, is amended by adding Section 130A.102 to read as follows:
Sec. 130A.102. CREDENTIALS OF VALUE. (a) For purposes of Section 130A.101(c)(1), the coordinating board shall designate a credential as a credential of value if the credential:
(1) provides a positive return on investment for a student who received the credential, as measured by earning or being expected to earn cumulative wages at least equal to the cumulative median earnings for high school graduates in this state and earning at least the individual self-sufficient wage, as defined by coordinating board rule, during the period specified by coordinating board rule but not more than 10 years after the date on which the credential is received; and
(2) allows a student who received the credential to recoup the net cost of attendance at a public junior college, including opportunity cost, where:
(A) the net cost of attendance is the net cost of attendance used for purposes of financial aid at the college less any aid received by the student; and
(B) opportunity cost is the difference between cumulative median earnings for high school graduates in this state and cumulative median earnings for students while enrolled in the certificate or degree program leading to the credential for:
(i) a period of two years for an associate degree program;
(ii) a period of four years for a baccalaureate degree program; and
(iii) a period determined by coordinating board rule based on the program's design for a certificate or degree program not described by Subparagraph (i) or (ii).
(b) The coordinating board shall calculate the return on investment for a credential under Subsection (a)(1) using the most current data available to the coordinating board from:
(1) the integrated postsecondary education data system maintained by the National Center for Education Statistics;
(2) wage records obtained from the Texas Workforce Commission;
(3) the American Community Survey by the United States Census Bureau;
(4) the coordinating board's data reporting systems; or
(5) other data sources selected by the coordinating board.
(c) In adopting a definition of individual self-sufficient wage for purposes of Subsection (a)(1), the coordinating board shall ensure the definition is correlated with the statewide median of the self-sufficient wage determined under Section 2308A.012, Government Code.
(d) The coordinating board may designate a credential in education or health care as a credential of value regardless of whether the credential meets the criteria under Subsection (a) if the coordinating board determines the designation is necessary to ensure the workforce needs of this state are met in those fields.
(e) The coordinating board shall adopt rules as necessary to implement this section in alignment with the long-range master plan for higher education in this state developed under Section 61.051(a-1).
SECTION 9. Chapter 2308A, Government Code, is amended by adding Section 2308A.0115 to read as follows:
Sec. 2308A.0115. COORDINATION OF GRANT PROGRAMS FOR SECONDARY AND POSTSECONDARY CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS. (a) For the establishment, implementation, and expansion of secondary and postsecondary career and technical education programs that are aligned with the state workforce development goals, the agency, coordinating board, and commission shall coordinate the competitive grant programs for those programs, including:
(1) the Jobs and Education for Texans (JET) Grant Program under Chapter 134, Education Code;
(2) the grant program established under the Pathways in Technology Early College High School (P-TECH) program under Section 29.556, Education Code;
(3) the Texas Reskilling and Upskilling through Education (TRUE) Program established under Subchapter T-2, Chapter 61, Education Code; and
(4) federal career and technical education grant programs, including grant programs under the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006 (20 U.S.C. Section 2301 et seq.).
(b) In coordinating grant programs under Subsection (a), the agency, coordinating board, and commission shall jointly:
(1) address career and technical education program startup and delivery costs by aligning two or more grant funding streams;
(2) identify and work to reduce duplication in grant programs across the agency, coordinating board, and commission;
(3) identify opportunities to structure grant funding for career and technical education projects that support secondary-to-postsecondary career pathways, including by providing for career and technical education dual credit or the attainment of postsecondary credentials by secondary students;
(4) identify opportunities to structure grant funding for career and technical education projects that are:
(A) aligned with the attainment of credentials of value, as designated by the coordinating board for purposes of Section 130A.101(c)(1), Education Code; and
(B) designed to meet state workforce needs in high-demand fields; and
(5) to the extent possible, prioritize comprehensive funding of facilities, equipment, instructional materials, and faculty and staff for program development and delivery to best meet the state workforce development goals.
SECTION 10. Section 204.0025, Labor Code, is amended to read as follows:
Sec. 204.0025. ADDITIONAL WORKFORCE DATA REPORTING. The commission shall [It is the intent of the legislature that the commission, subject to the availability of federal funding or other resources for the purpose,] work with employers to enhance the reporting of employment and earnings data by employers to the commission as part of an employer's routine wage filings under this subtitle or commission rule and consistent with federal law and regulations. The enhanced wage filings must include information related to wage, industry, occupational field, full-time and part-time status, county of primary employment, remote work status, [occupation] and other important employment information necessary to conduct the assessment required under Section 302.0205 [that would improve the state's labor market information].
SECTION 11. Subchapter A, Chapter 302, Labor Code, is amended by adding Section 302.0205 to read as follows:
Sec. 302.0205. REGIONAL LABOR DEMAND ASSESSMENT. (a) In this section, "institution of higher education" has the meaning assigned by Section 61.003, Education Code.
(b) The commission shall conduct a biennial assessment of available regional labor demands across this state using the best available state and federal labor market data, as determined by the commission, to allow institutions of higher education to better align educational programs with workforce needs. The assessment must:
(1) analyze current and projected workforce needs in each region of this state over a 10-year period, disaggregated to the extent possible by wage, industry, occupational field, full-time and part-time status, county of primary employment, and remote work status; and
(2) identify for each region and county of this state the industries and occupations that lead to an individual self-sufficient wage, as defined by Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board rule in accordance with Section 130A.102, Education Code.
(c) The commission may coordinate with other state agencies, including the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board and the Texas Education Agency, to conduct the assessment under this section.
(d) In conducting the assessment under this section, the commission may:
(1) obtain any data the commission is authorized by law to obtain from a state or federal agency or institution of higher education at no cost to the commission;
(2) obtain expedited access at no cost to the commission to data available through a center for education research established under Section 1.005, Education Code; and
(3) contract with a state agency or institution of higher education to conduct or assist in conducting the assessment.
(e) If the commission contracts with an institution of higher education to conduct or assist in conducting the assessment under Subsection (d)(3), the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board and the Texas Education Agency shall enter into a data sharing agreement with the institution to provide to the institution any data necessary to conduct the assessment.
(f) Not later than March 1 of each odd-numbered year, the commission shall provide the results of the assessment to:
(1) the governor;
(2) the lieutenant governor;
(3) the speaker of the house of representatives;
(4) the standing legislative committees with primary jurisdiction over higher education;
(5) the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board;
(6) the Texas Education Agency;
(7) institutions of higher education; and
(8) public schools.
SECTION 12. Section 28.0095, Education Code, as amended by this Act, applies beginning with the 2025-2026 school year.
SECTION 13. The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board may identify rules required by the passage of Section 56.0035, Education Code, as added by this Act, that must be adopted on an emergency basis for purposes of the 2025-2026 academic year and may use the procedures established under Section 2001.034, Government Code, for adopting those rules. The coordinating board is not required to make the finding described by Section 2001.034(a), Government Code, to adopt emergency rules under this section.
SECTION 14. Not later than December 1, 2026, the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board shall evaluate the data available under Section 204.0025, Labor Code, as amended by this Act, to identify the effects of transitioning to a county-by-county definition of individual self-sufficient wage for purposes of Section 130A.102, Education Code, as added by this Act.
SECTION 15. (a) Section 130A.102, Education Code, as added by this Act, applies to associate degrees awarded by a public junior college beginning with the 2025-2026 academic year. That section applies to other degrees and certificates awarded by a public junior college beginning with the 2027-2028 academic year.
(b) Not later than August 1, 2027, the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, in consultation with the standing advisory committee established under Section 130.001, Education Code, shall adopt rules implementing Section 130A.102, Education Code, as added by this Act, for each certificate program offered by a public junior college.
SECTION 16. (a) Except as provided by Subsection (b) of this section, 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.
(b) Section 130A.101(c), Education Code, as amended by this Act, and Section 130A.102, Education Code, as added by this Act, take effect September 1, 2025.
The amendment was read.
Senator Creighton moved to concur in the House amendment to SB 1786.
The motion prevailed by the following vote: Yeas 30, Nays 0.
Absent-excused: Gutierrez.
(President in Chair)
SENATE BILL 2361 WITH HOUSE AMENDMENT
Senator Kolkhorst called SB 2361 from the President's table for consideration of the House amendment to the bill.
The President laid the bill and the House amendment before the Senate.
Floor Amendment No. 1 on Third Reading
Amend SB 2361 on third reading by adding the following appropriately numbered SECTION to the bill and renumbering subsequent SECTIONS of the bill accordingly:
SECTION ____. CONFLICT. To the extent of any conflict between the amounts allocated under Section 62.021(a), Education Code, as amended by this Act, and amounts allocated under that section as amended by HB 42 or another Act of the 89th Legislature, Regular Session, 2025, relating to the amount and allocation of the annual constitutional appropriation to certain agencies and institutions of higher education and to the permissible uses of that money, the amounts allocated under the other Act prevail.
The amendment was read.
Senator Kolkhorst moved to concur in the House amendment to SB 2361.
The motion prevailed by the following vote: Yeas 30, Nays 0.
Absent-excused: Gutierrez.
SENATE BILL 5 WITH HOUSE AMENDMENT
Senator Huffman called SB 5 from the President's table for consideration of the House amendment to the bill.
The President laid the bill and the House amendment before the Senate.
Amendment
Amend SB 5 by substituting in lieu thereof the following:
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the creation of the Dementia Prevention and Research Institute of Texas.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subtitle E, Title 2, Health and Safety Code, is amended by adding Chapter 101A to read as follows:
CHAPTER 101A. DEMENTIA PREVENTION AND RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF TEXAS
SUBCHAPTER A. GENERAL PROVISIONS
Sec. 101A.001. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter:
(1) "Institute" means the Dementia Prevention and Research Institute of Texas.
(2) "Oversight committee" means the Dementia Prevention and Research Institute of Texas Oversight Committee.
(3) "Peer review committee" means the Dementia Prevention and Research Institute of Texas Peer Review Committee.
(4) “Program integration committee” means the Dementia Prevention and Research Institute of Texas Program Integration Committee.
Sec. 101A.002. PURPOSES. The Dementia Prevention and Research Institute of Texas is established to:
(1) create and expedite innovation in research on dementia, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and related disorders to improve the health of residents of this state, enhance the potential for a medical or scientific breakthrough in research on dementia, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and related disorders, and enhance the research superiority of this state regarding dementia, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and related disorders; and
(2) attract, create, or expand research capabilities of eligible institutions of higher education and other public or private entities by awarding grants to promote a substantial increase in research on dementia, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and related disorders, strategies for prevention of dementia, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and related disorders, and the creation of exceptional jobs in this state.
Sec. 101A.003. SUNSET PROVISION. The Dementia Prevention and Research Institute of Texas is subject to Chapter 325, Government Code (Texas Sunset Act). Unless continued in existence as provided by that chapter, the institute is abolished and this chapter expires September 1, 2035.
Sec. 101A.004. STATE AUDITOR. Nothing in this chapter limits the authority of the state auditor under Chapter 321, Government Code, or other law.
SUBCHAPTER B. POWERS AND DUTIES OF INSTITUTE
Sec. 101A.051. POWERS AND DUTIES. The institute:
(1) may award grants to institutions of learning, advanced medical research facilities, public or private persons, and collaboratives in this state to further the purposes of this chapter and Section 68, Article III, Texas Constitution, including:
(A) research, including translational and clinical research, into the causes of, means of prevention of, and treatment and rehabilitation for dementia, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and related disorders;
(B) research, including translational research, to develop therapies, protocols, medical pharmaceuticals, or procedures for the substantial mitigation of the symptoms of dementia, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and related disorders;
(C) facilities, equipment, and other costs related to research on dementia, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and related disorders; and
(D) prevention programs and strategies to mitigate the detrimental health impacts of dementia, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and related disorders;
(2) may collaborate with relevant state agencies, coordinating councils, and consortiums to enhance health care and research for dementia, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and related disorders;
(3) shall establish the appropriate standards and oversight bodies to ensure money authorized under this chapter is properly used for the purposes of this chapter;
(4) may employ necessary staff to provide to the institute administrative support;
(5) may contract with another state agency to share the cost of administrative services, including grant accounting, grant monitoring, technical and document management of the grant application review process, legal services, and compliance services;
(6) shall monitor grant contracts authorized by this chapter and ensure each grant recipient complies with the terms and conditions of the contract;
(7) shall ensure all grant proposals comply with this chapter and rules adopted under this chapter before the proposals are submitted to the oversight committee for approval; and
(8) shall establish procedures to document compliance by the institute, institute employees, and institute committee members with all laws and rules governing the peer review process and conflicts of interest.
Sec. 101A.052. CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER; CHIEF COMPLIANCE OFFICER; ADDITIONAL OFFICERS. (a) The oversight committee shall hire a chief executive officer. The chief executive officer shall perform the duties required by this chapter and the duties designated by the oversight committee. The chief executive officer must have a demonstrated ability to lead and develop academic, commercial, and governmental partnerships and coalitions.
(b) The institute shall employ a chief compliance officer to monitor compliance with this chapter and rules adopted under this chapter and to report to the oversight committee incidents of noncompliance.
(c) The chief executive officer may hire any other officer position the chief executive officer determines necessary for the institute's efficient operation.
Sec. 101A.053. ANNUAL PUBLIC REPORT; INTERNET POSTING. Not later than January 31 of each year, the institute shall prepare and submit to the governor, lieutenant governor, speaker of the house of representatives, and standing committee of each house of the legislature with primary jurisdiction over institute matters and post on the institute's Internet website a report on:
(1) the institute's activities under this chapter;
(2) a list of recipients of grants awarded during the preceding state fiscal year and the grant amount awarded to each recipient;
(3) any research accomplishments a grant recipient or the recipient's partners achieved during the preceding state fiscal year;
(4) an overview summary of the institute's most recent audited financial statement;
(5) an assessment of the relationship between the institute's grants and research program strategy;
(6) an estimate of the financial cost to this state of dementia, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and related disorders during the most recent state fiscal year for which data is available;
(7) a statement of the institute's compliance program activities, including any proposed legislation or other recommendations identified through the activities;
(8) for the preceding state fiscal year:
(A) a list of any conflict of interest requiring recusal under this chapter or rules adopted under this chapter;
(B) any unreported conflict of interest confirmed by an investigation conducted under Section 101A.254, including any institute actions regarding an unreported conflict of interest and subsequent investigation; and
(C) any waivers granted through the process established under Section 101A.253; and
(9) the institute's future direction.
Sec. 101A.054. INDEPENDENT FINANCIAL AUDIT. (a) The institute shall annually commission a certified public accounting firm to perform an independent financial audit of its activities. The institute shall provide the audit to the comptroller.
(b) The comptroller shall:
(1) review and evaluate the audit and annually issue a public report of that review; and
(2) make recommendations concerning the institute's financial practices and performance.
(c) The oversight committee shall review the annual financial audit, the comptroller's public report and recommendations, and the financial practices of the institute.
Sec. 101A.055. GRANT RECORDS; AUDIT OF ELECTRONIC GRANT MANAGEMENT SYSTEM. (a) The institute shall maintain complete records of:
(1) each grant application submitted to the institute, including each application funded by the institute or withdrawn after submission and the score the peer review committee assigns to each reviewed application in accordance with rules adopted under Section 101A.302;
(2) each grant recipient's financial reports, including the amount of matching money dedicated to the research specified for the grant award;
(3) each grant recipient's progress reports;
(4) the identity of each principal investor and owner of each grant recipient as provided by institute rules to determine any conflict of interest; and
(5) the institute's review of the grant recipient's financial reports and progress reports.
(b) The institute shall keep each record described by Subsection (a) until at least the 15th anniversary of the record's date of issuance.
(c) The institute shall have prepared periodic audits of any electronic grant management system used to maintain records of grant applications and grant awards. The institute shall timely address each weakness identified in an audit of the system.
Sec. 101A.056. GIFTS AND GRANTS. (a) The institute may solicit and accept gifts and grants from any source for the purposes of this chapter.
(b) The institute may not supplement the salary of any institute employee or officer with a gift or grant the institute receives.
Sec. 101A.057. PROHIBITED OFFICE LOCATION. An institute employee may not have an office located in a facility owned by an entity receiving or applying to receive money from the institute.
Sec. 101A.058. COMPLIANCE PROGRAM; INVESTIGATIONS. (a) The institute shall establish a compliance program operating under the direction of the institute's chief compliance officer to monitor compliance with this chapter and rules adopted under this chapter and for use in reporting incidents of noncompliance to the oversight committee.
(b) The chief compliance officer or the officer's designee shall attend and observe meetings of the peer review committee and the program integration committee to ensure compliance with this chapter and rules adopted under this chapter.
(c) The chief compliance officer shall submit a written report to the oversight committee confirming each grant application recommendation included on the list the program integration committee submits under Section 101A.302(a)(2) complies with the oversight committee's rules regarding grant award procedures. The report must contain all relevant information on:
(1) the peer review process for the grant application;
(2) the score the peer review committee assigns to the application;
(3) adherence to the conflict-of-interest notification and recusal process; and
(4) confirmation that a recommended grant applicant did not make any gift or grant prohibited by Section 101A.302(f).
(d) To ensure each grant recipient complies with reporting requirements included in the grant contract and the rules adopted under this chapter, the institute shall implement a system to:
(1) track the dates on which grant recipient reports are due and are received by the institute; and
(2) monitor the status of any required report a grant recipient does not timely submit to the institute.
(e) The chief compliance officer shall:
(1) monitor compliance with this section and the status of any required report a grant recipient does not timely submit to the institute; and
(2) notify the institute's general counsel and the oversight committee of a grant recipient who has not complied with the grant contract reporting requirements to allow the institute to suspend or terminate the contract as the institute determines appropriate.
(f) The chief compliance officer shall establish procedures for investigating allegations against oversight committee members, institute employees or contractors, grant applicants, or grant recipients for fraud, waste, or abuse of state resources. The procedures must include:
(1) private access to the compliance program office, such as a telephone hotline; and
(2) to the extent possible, preservation of the confidentiality of communications and the anonymity of a person who submits a compliance report related to fraud, waste, or abuse or participates in a compliance investigation.
SUBCHAPTER C. OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE
Sec. 101A.101. COMPOSITION OF OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE. (a) The oversight committee is the institute's governing body.
(b) The oversight committee is composed of the following nine members:
(1) three members appointed by the governor;
(2) three members appointed by the lieutenant governor; and
(3) three members appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives.
(c) The oversight committee members must represent this state's geographic and cultural diversity.
(d) In making appointments to the oversight committee, the governor, lieutenant governor, and speaker of the house of representatives:
(1) must each appoint at least one person who is a physician or a scientist with extensive experience working with dementia, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, or related disorders or in the field of public health; and
(2) should attempt to include persons affected by dementia, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, or related disorders or family members or caregivers of patients with dementia, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, or related disorders.
(e) A person may not be an oversight committee member if:
(1) the person or the person's spouse is employed by or participates in the management of an entity receiving money from the institute;
(2) the person or the person's spouse owns or controls, directly or indirectly, an interest in an entity receiving money from the institute;
(3) the person or the person's spouse uses or receives a substantial amount of tangible goods, services, or money from the institute, other than reimbursement authorized by this chapter for oversight committee membership, attendance, or expenses; or
(4) the person is a member of the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas Oversight Committee established under Section 102.101.
Sec. 101A.102. REMOVAL. (a) It is a ground for removal from the oversight committee that a member:
(1) is ineligible for membership under Section 101A.101(e);
(2) cannot, because of illness or disability, discharge the member's duties for a substantial part of the member's term; or
(3) is absent from more than half of the regularly scheduled oversight committee meetings the member is eligible to attend during a calendar year without an excuse approved by a majority vote of the committee.
(b) The validity of an oversight committee action is not affected by the fact that the action is taken when a ground for removal of a committee member exists.
(c) If the chief executive officer has knowledge that a potential ground for removal of a committee member exists, the chief executive officer shall notify the presiding officer of the oversight committee of the potential ground. The presiding officer shall then notify the appointing authority and the attorney general that a potential ground for removal exists. If the potential ground for removal involves the presiding officer, the chief executive officer shall notify the next highest ranking officer of the oversight committee, who shall then notify the appointing authority and the attorney general that a potential ground for removal exists.
Sec. 101A.103. TERMS; VACANCY. (a) Oversight committee members appointed by the governor, lieutenant governor, and speaker of the house serve at the pleasure of the appointing authority for staggered six-year terms, with the terms of three members expiring on January 31 of each odd-numbered year.
(b) If a vacancy occurs on the oversight committee, the appropriate appointing authority shall appoint a successor in the same manner as the original appointment to serve for the remainder of the unexpired term. The appropriate appointing authority shall appoint the successor not later than the 30th day after the date the vacancy occurs.
Sec. 101A.104. OFFICERS. (a) The oversight committee shall elect a presiding officer and assistant presiding officer from among its members every two years. The oversight committee may elect additional officers from among its members.
(b) The presiding officer and assistant presiding officer may not serve in the position to which the officer was elected for consecutive terms.
(c) The oversight committee shall:
(1) establish and approve duties and responsibilities for committee officers; and
(2) develop and implement policies that distinguish the responsibilities of the oversight committee and the committee's officers from the responsibilities of the chief executive officer and institute employees.
Sec. 101A.105. EXPENSES. An oversight committee member is not entitled to compensation but is entitled to reimbursement for actual and necessary expenses incurred in attending committee meetings or performing other official duties authorized by the presiding officer.
Sec. 101A.106. MEETINGS. (a) The oversight committee shall hold at least one public meeting each quarter of the calendar year, with appropriate notice and a formal public comment period.
(b) The oversight committee may conduct a closed meeting in accordance with Subchapter E, Chapter 551, Government Code, to discuss issues related to:
(1) managing, acquiring, or selling securities or other revenue-sharing obligations realized under the standards established as required by Section 101A.305; and
(2) an ongoing compliance investigation into issues related to fraud, waste, or abuse of state resources.
Sec. 101A.107. POWERS AND DUTIES. (a) The oversight committee shall:
(1) hire a chief executive officer;
(2) annually set priorities for each grant program established under this chapter; and
(3) consider the priorities set under Subdivision (2) in awarding grants under this chapter.
(b) The oversight committee shall adopt a code of conduct applicable to each oversight committee member, program integration committee member, peer review committee member, and institute employee that includes provisions prohibiting the member, employee, or member's or employee's spouse from:
(1) accepting or soliciting any gift, favor, or service that could reasonably influence the member or employee in the discharge of official duties or that the member, employee, or spouse knows or should know is being offered with the intent to influence the member's or employee's official conduct;
(2) accepting employment or engaging in any business or professional activity that would reasonably require or induce the member or employee to disclose confidential information acquired in the member's or employee's official position;
(3) accepting other employment or compensation that could reasonably impair the member's or employee's independent judgment in the performance of official duties;
(4) holding a personal investment or financial interest that could reasonably create a substantial conflict between the private interests and official duties of the member or employee;
(5) intentionally or knowingly soliciting, accepting, or agreeing to accept any benefit for exercising the member's official powers or performing the member's or employee's official duties in favor of another;
(6) directly or indirectly leasing to an entity that receives a grant from the institute any property, capital equipment, employee, or service;
(7) submitting a grant application for funding by the institute;
(8) serving on the board of directors of an organization established with a grant from the institute; or
(9) serving on the board of directors of a grant recipient.
Sec. 101A.108. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY. The oversight committee may adopt rules to administer this chapter.
Sec. 101A.109. FINANCIAL STATEMENT REQUIRED. Each oversight committee member shall file with the chief compliance officer a verified financial statement complying with Sections 572.022, 572.023, 572.024, 572.025, 572.0251, and 572.0252, Government Code, as required of a state officer by Section 572.021 of that code.
SUBCHAPTER D. OTHER INSTITUTE COMMITTEES
Sec. 101A.151. PEER REVIEW COMMITTEE. (a) The oversight committee shall establish a peer review committee. The chief executive officer, with approval by a simple majority of the oversight committee members, shall appoint as members to the peer review committee:
(1) experts in fields related to dementia, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, or related disorders, including research, health care, dementia, Alzheimer's disease, and Parkinson's disease treatment and prevention, and other study areas; and
(2) trained patient advocates who meet the qualifications adopted under Subsection (c).
(b) The oversight committee shall adopt a written policy on in-state or out-of-state residency requirements for peer review committee members.
(c) The oversight committee shall adopt rules regarding the qualifications required of a trained patient advocate for membership on the peer review committee. The rules must require the trained patient advocate to successfully complete science-based training.
(d) A peer review committee member may receive an honorarium. Subchapter B, Chapter 2254, Government Code, does not apply to an honorarium the member receives under this chapter.
(e) The chief executive officer, in consultation with the oversight committee, shall adopt a policy regarding honoraria and document any change in the amount of honoraria paid to a peer review committee member, including information explaining the basis for that change.
(f) A peer review committee member may not serve on the board of directors or other governing board of an entity receiving a grant from the institute.
(g) Peer review committee members serve for terms as determined by the chief executive officer.
Sec. 101A.152. PROGRAM INTEGRATION COMMITTEE. (a) The institute shall establish a program integration committee to carry out the duties assigned under this chapter.
(b) The program integration committee is composed of:
(1) the chief executive officer, who serves as the presiding officer of the program integration committee;
(2) three senior-level institute employees responsible for program policy and oversight, appointed by the chief executive officer with the approval of a majority of the oversight committee members; and
(3) the executive commissioner or the executive commissioner's designee.
Sec. 101A.153. HIGHER EDUCATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE. (a) The higher education advisory committee is composed of the following members:
(1) one member appointed by the chancellor of The University of Texas System;
(2) one member appointed by the chancellor of The Texas A&M University System;
(3) one member appointed by the chancellor of the Texas Tech University System;
(4) one member appointed by the chancellor of the University of Houston System;
(5) one member appointed by the chancellor of the Texas State University System;
(6) one member appointed by the chancellor of the University of North Texas System;
(7) one member appointed by the president of Baylor College of Medicine; and
(8) one member appointed by the president of Rice University.
(b) The higher education advisory committee shall advise the oversight committee on issues, opportunities, the role of higher education, and other subjects involving research on dementia, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and related disorders.
Sec. 101A.154. AD HOC ADVISORY COMMITTEE. (a) The oversight committee, as necessary, may create additional ad hoc advisory committees composed of experts to advise the oversight committee on issues relating to prevention of or research on dementia, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and related disorders or other issues related to dementia, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, or related disorders.
(b) Ad hoc committee members serve for the terms the oversight committee determines.
Sec. 101A.155. EXPENSES. Members of the higher education advisory committee created under Section 101A.153 or an ad hoc advisory committee created under Section 101A.154 serve without compensation but are entitled to reimbursement for actual and necessary expenses incurred in attending committee meetings or performing other official duties authorized by the presiding officer.
SUBCHAPTER E. DEMENTIA PREVENTION AND RESEARCH FUND
Sec. 101A.201. DEMENTIA PREVENTION AND RESEARCH FUND. (a) In this subchapter, "fund" means the Dementia Prevention and Research Fund established under Section 68, Article III, Texas Constitution. The fund is a special fund in the treasury outside the general revenue fund to be administered by the institute.
(b) The fund consists of:
(1) money transferred to the fund under Section 68, Article III, Texas Constitution;
(2) money the legislature appropriates, credits, or transfers to the fund; and
(3) gifts and grants, including grants from the federal government, and other donations received for the fund.
(c) The fund may only be used for the purposes authorized under Section 68, Article III, Texas Constitution, including:
(1) the award of grants for research on or prevention of dementia, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and related disorders and research facilities in this state to conduct that research;
(2) the purchase of, subject to the institute's approval, research facilities by or for a state agency or grant recipient; and
(3) the operation of the institute.
Sec. 101A.202. AUTHORIZED USE OF GRANT MONEY; LIMITATIONS. (a) A grant recipient awarded money from the fund may use the money for research consistent with the purposes of this chapter and in accordance with a contract between the grant recipient and the institute.
(b) Except as otherwise provided by this section, grant money awarded under this chapter may be used for authorized expenses, including:
(1) honoraria;
(2) travel;
(3) conference fees and expenses;
(4) consumable supplies;
(5) operating expenses;
(6) contracted research and development;
(7) capital equipment; and
(8) construction or renovation of state or private facilities.
(c) A grant recipient awarded money under this chapter for research on dementia, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, or related disorders may not spend more than five percent of the money for indirect costs. In this subsection, "indirect costs" means business expenses not readily identified with a particular grant, contract, project, function, or activity that are necessary for the general operation of the organization or the performance of the organization's activities.
(d) Not more than five percent of the total amount of grant money awarded under this chapter in a state fiscal year may be used during that year for facility purchase, construction, remodel, or renovation purposes, and those expenditures must benefit research on dementia, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, or related disorders.
(e) Not more than 10 percent of the total amount of grant money awarded under this chapter in a state fiscal year may be used during that year for prevention projects and strategies to mitigate the incidence of dementia, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, or related disorders.
SUBCHAPTER F. CONFLICTS OF INTEREST: DISCLOSURE; RECUSAL
Sec. 101A.251. CONFLICT OF INTEREST. (a) The oversight committee shall adopt conflict-of-interest rules, based on standards applicable to members of scientific review committees of the National Institutes of Health, to govern oversight committee members, program integration committee members, peer review committee members, and institute employees.
(b) An oversight committee member, program integration committee member, peer review committee member, or institute employee shall recuse the member or employee, as provided by Section 101A.252(a), (b), or (c), as applicable, if the member or employee, or a person who is related to the member or employee within the second degree of affinity or consanguinity, has a professional or financial interest in an entity awarded a grant or applying for a grant from the institute.
(c) For purposes of Subsection (b), a person has a professional interest in an entity awarded a grant or applying for a grant from the institute if the person:
(1) is a member of the board of directors, another governing board, or any committee of the entity, or of a foundation or similar organization affiliated with the entity, during the same grant cycle;
(2) serves as an elected or appointed officer of the entity;
(3) is an employee of or is negotiating future employment with the entity;
(4) represents the entity;
(5) is a professional associate of a primary member of the entity's project team;
(6) is, or within the preceding six years has been, a student, postdoctoral associate, or part of a laboratory research group for a primary member of the entity's project team;
(7) is engaged or is actively planning to be engaged in collaboration with a primary member of the entity's project team; or
(8) has long-standing scientific differences or disagreements with a primary member of the entity's project team, and those differences or disagreements:
(A) are known to the professional community; and
(B) could be perceived as affecting objectivity.
(d) For purposes of Subsection (b), a person has a financial interest in an entity awarded a grant or applying for a grant from the institute if the person:
(1) directly or indirectly owns or controls an ownership interest, including sharing in profits, proceeds, or capital gains, in an entity awarded a grant or applying for a grant from the institute; or
(2) could reasonably foresee that an action taken by the oversight committee, the program integration committee, a peer review committee, or the institute could result in a financial benefit to the person.
(e) Nothing in this chapter limits the oversight committee's authority to adopt additional conflict-of-interest standards.
Sec. 101A.252. DISCLOSURE OF CONFLICT OF INTEREST; RECUSAL. (a) If an oversight committee member or program integration committee member has a conflict of interest described by Section 101A.251 regarding an application before the member for review or other action, the member:
(1) shall provide written notice to the chief executive officer and the presiding officer of the oversight committee or the next ranking member of the committee if the presiding officer has the conflict of interest;
(2) shall disclose the conflict of interest in an open meeting of the oversight committee;
(3) shall recuse themselves from participating in the review, discussion, deliberation, and vote on the application; and
(4) may not access information regarding the matter to be decided.
(b) If a peer review committee member has a conflict of interest described by Section 101A.251 regarding an application before the member's committee for review or other action, the member:
(1) shall provide written notice to the chief executive officer of the conflict of interest;
(2) shall recuse themselves from participating in the review, discussion, deliberation, and vote on the application; and
(3) may not access information regarding the matter to be decided.
(c) If an institute employee has a conflict of interest described by Section 101A.251 regarding an application before the employee for review or other action, the employee:
(1) shall provide written notice to the chief executive officer of the conflict of interest;
(2) shall recuse themselves from participating in the review of the application; and
(3) may not access information regarding the matter to be decided.
(d) An oversight committee member, program integration committee member, peer review committee member, or institute employee with a conflict of interest may seek a waiver as provided by Section 101A.253.
(e) An oversight committee member, program integration committee member, peer review committee member, or institute employee who reports a potential conflict of interest or another impropriety or self-dealing of the member or employee and who fully complies with the recommendations of the institute's general counsel and recusal requirements is considered in compliance with the conflict-of-interest provisions of this chapter. The member or employee is subject to other applicable laws, rules, requirements, and prohibitions.
(f) An oversight committee member, program integration committee member, peer review committee member, or institute employee who intentionally violates this section is subject to removal from further participation in the institute's grant review process.
Sec. 101A.253. EXCEPTIONAL CIRCUMSTANCES REQUIRING PARTICIPATION. The oversight committee shall adopt rules governing the waiver of the conflict-of-interest requirements of this chapter under exceptional circumstances for an oversight committee member, program integration committee member, peer review committee member, or institute employee. The rules must:
(1) authorize the chief executive officer or an oversight committee member to propose granting a waiver by submitting to the oversight committee's presiding officer a written statement about the conflict of interest, the exceptional circumstance requiring the waiver, and any proposed limitations to the waiver;
(2) require a proposed waiver to be publicly reported at an oversight committee meeting;
(3) require a majority vote of the oversight committee members present and voting to grant a waiver;
(4) require any waiver granted to be included in the annual report required by Section 101A.053; and
(5) require the institute to retain documentation of each waiver granted.
Sec. 101A.254. INVESTIGATION OF UNREPORTED CONFLICTS OF INTEREST. (a) An oversight committee member, program integration committee member, peer review committee member, or institute employee who becomes aware of an unreported potential conflict of interest described by Section 101A.251 shall immediately notify the chief executive officer of the potential conflict of interest. On receipt of the notification, the chief executive officer shall notify the institute's general counsel and the oversight committee's presiding officer, who shall determine the nature and extent of any unreported conflict.
(b) A grant applicant seeking an investigation regarding whether a prohibited conflict of interest was not reported shall file a written request with the chief executive officer. The applicant must:
(1) include in the request all facts regarding the alleged conflict of interest; and
(2) submit the request not later than the 30th day after the date the chief executive officer presents to the oversight committee final funding recommendations for the affected grant cycle.
(c) On receipt of notification of an alleged conflict of interest under Subsection (a) or (b), the institute's general counsel shall:
(1) investigate the matter; and
(2) provide to the chief executive officer and the oversight committee's presiding officer an opinion that includes:
(A) a statement of facts;
(B) a determination of whether a conflict of interest or another impropriety or self-dealing exists; and
(C) if the opinion provides that a conflict of interest or another impropriety or self-dealing exists, recommendations for an appropriate course of action.
(d) If the conflict of interest, impropriety, or self-dealing involves the oversight committee's presiding officer, the institute's general counsel shall provide the opinion to the next ranking oversight committee member who is not involved with the conflict of interest, impropriety, or self-dealing.
(e) After receiving the opinion and consulting with the oversight committee's presiding officer, the chief executive officer shall take action regarding the recusal of the individual from any discussion of or access to information related to the conflict of interest or other recommended action related to the impropriety or self-dealing. If the alleged conflict of interest, impropriety, or self-dealing is held by, or is an act of, the chief executive officer, the presiding officer of the oversight committee shall take actions regarding the recusal or other action.
Sec. 101A.255. FINAL DETERMINATION OF UNREPORTED CONFLICT OF INTEREST. (a) The chief executive officer or, if applicable, the oversight committee's presiding officer shall make a determination regarding the existence of an unreported conflict of interest described by Section 101A.251 or other impropriety or self-dealing. The determination must specify any actions to be taken to address the conflict of interest, impropriety, or self-dealing, including:
(1) reconsideration of the application; or
(2) referral of the application to another peer review committee for review.
(b) The determination made under Subsection (a) is considered final unless three or more oversight committee members request that the issue be added to the agenda of the oversight committee.
(c) The chief executive officer or, if applicable, the oversight committee's presiding officer, shall provide to the grant applicant requesting the investigation written notice of the final determination, including any further actions to be taken.
(d) Unless specifically determined by the chief executive officer or, if applicable, the presiding officer of the oversight committee, or the oversight committee, the validity of an action taken on a grant application is not affected by the fact that an individual who failed to report a conflict of interest participated in the action.
SUBCHAPTER G. PROCEDURE FOR AWARDING GRANTS
Sec. 101A.301. PEER REVIEW PROCESS FOR GRANT AWARD. The institute shall establish a peer review process to evaluate and recommend all grants the oversight committee awards under this chapter.
Sec. 101A.302. GRANT AWARD RULES AND PROCEDURES. (a) The oversight committee shall adopt rules regarding the procedure for awarding grants to an applicant under this chapter. The rules must require:
(1) the peer review committee to score grant applications and make recommendations to the program integration committee and the oversight committee regarding the award of grants, including providing a prioritized list that:
(A) ranks the grant applications in the order the peer review committee determines applications should be funded; and
(B) includes information explaining each grant applicant's qualification under the peer review committee's standards for recommendation; and
(2) the program integration committee to submit to the oversight committee a list of grant applications the program integration committee by majority vote approved for recommendation that:
(A) includes documentation on the factors the program integration committee considered in making the recommendations;
(B) is substantially based on the list submitted by the peer review committee under Subdivision (1); and
(C) to the extent possible, gives priority to applications with proposals that:
(i) may lead to immediate or long-term medical and scientific breakthroughs in the areas of prevention or treatment for dementia, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and related disorders;
(ii) strengthen and enhance fundamental scientific research on dementia, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and related disorders;
(iii) ensure a comprehensive coordinated approach to research on dementia, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and related disorders;
(iv) are interdisciplinary or interinstitutional;
(v) align with state priorities and needs, including priorities and needs outlined in other state agency strategic plans, or that address federal or other major research sponsors' priorities in scientific or technological research in the fields of dementia, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and related disorders;
(vi) are matched with money provided by a private or nonprofit entity or institution of higher education;
(vii) are collaborative between any combination of private and nonprofit entities, public or private agencies or institutions in this state, and public or private institutions outside this state;
(viii) benefit the residents of this state, including a demonstrable economic development benefit to this state;
(ix) enhance research superiority at institutions of higher education in this state by creating new research superiority, attracting existing research superiority from institutions outside this state and other research entities, or attracting from outside this state additional researchers and resources; and
(x) expedite innovation and product development, attract private sector entities to stimulate a substantial increase in high-quality jobs, and increase higher education applied science or technology research capabilities.
(b) A peer review committee member may not attempt to use the committee member's official position to influence a decision to approve or award a grant or contract to the committee member's employer.
(c) A program integration committee member may not discuss a grant applicant recommendation with an oversight committee member unless the program integration committee has submitted the list required under Subsection (a)(2).
(d) Two-thirds of the oversight committee members present and voting must vote to approve each grant award recommendation of the program integration committee. If the oversight committee does not approve a grant award recommendation of the program integration committee, a statement explaining the reasons the recommendation was not followed must be included in the minutes of the meeting.
(e) The oversight committee may not award more than $300 million in grants under this chapter in a state fiscal year.
(f) The oversight committee may not award a grant to an applicant who has made a gift or grant to the institute, an oversight committee member, or an institute employee on or after January 1, 2026. This section does not apply to gifts, fees, honoraria, or other items also excepted under Section 36.10, Penal Code.
Sec. 101A.303. MULTIYEAR PROJECTS. (a) The oversight committee may approve the award of grant money for a multiyear project.
(b) The oversight committee shall specify the total amount of money approved to fund the multiyear project. For purposes of this chapter, the total amount is considered to have been awarded in the state fiscal year the peer review committee approved the project. The institute shall disburse only the money to be spent during that fiscal year. The institute shall disburse the remaining grant money as the money is needed in each subsequent state fiscal year.
Sec. 101A.304. CONTRACT TERMS. (a) Before disbursing grant money awarded under this chapter, the institute shall execute a written contract with the grant recipient. The contract shall:
(1) specify that except for awards to state agencies or public institutions of higher education, if all or any part of the grant amount is used to build a capital improvement:
(A) the state retains a lien or other interest in the capital improvement in proportion to the percentage of the grant amount used to pay for the capital improvement; and
(B) the grant recipient shall, if the capital improvement is sold:
(i) repay to this state the grant money used to pay for the capital improvement, with interest at the rate and according to the other terms provided by the contract; and
(ii) share with this state a proportionate amount of any profit realized from the sale;
(2) specify that if the grant recipient has not used awarded grant money for the purposes for which the grant was intended, the recipient shall repay that grant amount and any related interest applicable under the contract to this state at the agreed rate and on the agreed terms;
(3) specify that if the grant recipient fails to meet the terms and conditions of the contract, the institute may terminate the contract using the written process prescribed in the contract and require the recipient to repay the awarded grant money and any related interest applicable under the contract to this state at the agreed rate and on the agreed terms;
(4) include terms relating to intellectual property rights consistent with the standards developed by the oversight committee under Section 101A.305;
(5) require, in accordance with Subsection (b), the grant recipient to dedicate an amount of matching money equal to one-half of the amount of the grant awarded and specify the amount of matching money to be dedicated;
(6) specify the period in which the grant award must be spent; and
(7) include the specific deliverables of the project that is the subject of the grant proposal.
(b) Before the institute may disburse grant money, the grant recipient must certify the recipient has available an unexpended amount of money equal to one-half of the grant amount dedicated to the research specified in the grant proposal. The institute shall adopt rules specifying a grant recipient's obligations under this chapter. At a minimum, the rules must:
(1) allow an institution of higher education or a private or independent institution of higher education, as those terms are defined by Section 61.003, Education Code, a research institute or center affiliated with the institution, or a not-for-profit hospital system, to credit toward the recipient's matching money the dollar amount equivalent to the difference between the indirect cost rate negotiated by the federal government for research grants awarded to the recipient and the indirect cost rate authorized by Section 101A.202(c);
(2) specify that:
(A) the recipient of more than one grant award under this chapter may provide matching money certification at an institutional level;
(B) the recipient of a multiyear grant award may yearly certify matching money; and
(C) grant money may not be disbursed to the recipient until the annual certification of the matching money has been approved;
(3) specify that money for certification purposes may include:
(A) federal money;
(B) the fair market value of drug development support provided to the recipient by the National Institutes of Health or other similar programs;
(C) this state's money;
(D) other states' money; and
(E) nongovernmental money, including money from private sources, foundation grants, gifts, and donations;
(4) specify that the following items may not be used for certification purposes:
(A) in-kind costs;
(B) volunteer services provided to the recipient;
(C) noncash contributions;
(D) the recipient's preexisting real estate, including buildings, facilities, and land;
(E) deferred giving, including a charitable remainder annuity trust, charitable remainder unitrust, or pooled income fund; or
(F) any other items the institute determines;
(5) require the recipient's certification to be included in the grant award contract;
(6) specify that the recipient's failure to provide certification serves as grounds for terminating the grant award contract;
(7) require the recipient to maintain adequate documentation supporting the source and use of the money required by this subsection and to provide documentation to the institute on request; and
(8) require the institute to establish a procedure to annually review the documentation supporting the source and use of money reported in the required certification.
(c) The institute shall establish a policy on advance payments to grant recipients.
(d) The oversight committee shall adopt rules to administer this section.
Sec. 101A.305. PATENT ROYALTIES AND LICENSE REVENUES PAID TO STATE. (a) The oversight committee shall establish standards requiring all grant awards to be subject to an intellectual property agreement that allows this state to collect royalties, income, and other benefits, including interest or proceeds resulting from securities and equity ownership, realized as a result of projects undertaken with grant money awarded under this chapter.
(b) In determining this state's interest in any intellectual property rights, the oversight committee shall balance the opportunity of this state to benefit from the patents, royalties, licenses, and other benefits that result from basic research, therapy development, and clinical trials with the need to ensure that essential medical research is not unreasonably hindered by the intellectual property agreement and that the agreement does not unreasonably remove the incentive of the individual researcher, research team, or institution.
(c) The oversight committee may authorize the institute to execute a contract with one or more qualified third parties for assistance with the management, accounting, and disposition of this state's interest in securities, equities, royalties, income, and other benefits realized from grant money awarded under this chapter. The institute shall implement practices and procedures for the management, accounting, and disposition of securities, equities, royalties, income, and other benefits the institute determines are in this state's best interest.
Sec. 101A.306. PREFERENCE FOR TEXAS SUPPLIERS. In a good faith effort to achieve a goal of more than 50 percent of purchases from suppliers in this state, the oversight committee shall establish standards to ensure grant recipients purchase goods and services from suppliers in this state to the extent reasonably possible.
Sec. 101A.307. HISTORICALLY UNDERUTILIZED BUSINESSES. The oversight committee shall establish standards to ensure grant recipients purchase goods and services from historically underutilized businesses as defined by Section 2161.001, Government Code, and any other applicable state law.
Sec. 101A.308. GRANT COMPLIANCE AND PROGRESS EVALUATION. (a) The institute shall require as a condition of a grant awarded under this chapter that the grant recipient submit to regular inspection reviews of the grant project by institute employees to ensure compliance with the terms of the grant contract and ongoing progress, including the scientific merit of the research.
(b) The chief executive officer shall report at least annually to the oversight committee on the progress and continued merit of the projects awarded grants by the institute.
Sec. 101A.309. MEDICAL AND RESEARCH ETHICS. A project awarded a grant under this chapter must comply with all applicable federal and state laws regarding the conduct of the research or a prevention project.
Sec. 101A.310. PUBLIC INFORMATION; CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION. (a) The following information is public information and may be disclosed under Chapter 552, Government Code:
(1) a grant applicant's name and address;
(2) the amount of money requested in an applicant's grant proposal;
(3) the type of research on dementia, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, or related disorders to be addressed under a grant proposal; and
(4) any other information the institute designates with the consent of a grant applicant.
(b) To protect the actual or potential value of information submitted to the institute by an applicant for or recipient of a grant under this chapter, the following information submitted by the applicant or recipient is confidential and is not subject to disclosure under Chapter 552, Government Code, or any other law:
(1) all information, other than the information described under Subsection (a), contained in a grant application, peer review evaluation, award contract, or progress report relating to a product, device, or process, the application or use of the product, device, or process, and all technological and scientific information, including computer programs, developed wholly or partly by the applicant or recipient, regardless of whether patentable or capable of being registered under copyright or trademark laws, that has a potential for being sold, traded, or licensed for a fee; and
(2) the plans, specifications, blueprints, and designs, including related proprietary information, of a scientific research and development facility.
(c) The following information is confidential and not subject to disclosure under Chapter 552, Government Code:
(1) information that directly or indirectly reveals the identity of an individual who reports fraud, waste, or abuse of state resources to the institute's compliance program office, seeks guidance from the office, or participates in an investigation conducted under the compliance program;
(2) information that directly or indirectly reveals the identity of an individual who is alleged to have or may have planned, initiated, or participated in activities specified in a report submitted to the office if, after completing an investigation, the office determines the report to be unsubstantiated or without merit; and
(3) other information collected or produced in a compliance program investigation if releasing the information would interfere with an ongoing compliance investigation.
(d) Subsection (c) does not apply to information related to an individual who consents to the information's disclosure.
(e) Information made confidential or excepted from public disclosure by this section may be made available, on request and in compliance with applicable laws and procedures, to the following:
(1) a law enforcement agency or prosecutor;
(2) a governmental agency responsible for investigating the matter specified in a compliance report, including the Texas Workforce Commission civil rights division or the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission; or
(3) a committee member or institute employee who is responsible under institutional policy for a compliance program investigation or for a review of a compliance program investigation.
(f) A disclosure under Subsection (e) is not a voluntary disclosure for purposes of Section 552.007, Government Code.
(g) The institute shall post on the institute's Internet website records that pertain specifically to any gift, grant, or other consideration provided to the institute, an institute employee, or an oversight committee member, in the employee's or member's official capacity. The posted information must include each donor's name and the amount and date of the donor's donation.
SECTION 2. Section 51.955(c), Education Code, is amended to read as follows:
(c) Subsection (b)(1) does not apply to a research contract between an institution of higher education and the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas or Dementia Prevention and Research Institute of Texas.
SECTION 3. Section 572.003(c), Government Code, is amended to read as follows:
(c) The term means a member of:
(1) the Public Utility Commission of Texas;
(2) the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality;
(3) the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission;
(4) the Finance Commission of Texas;
(5) the Texas Facilities Commission;
(6) the Texas Board of Criminal Justice;
(7) the board of trustees of the Employees Retirement System of Texas;
(8) the Texas Transportation Commission;
(9) the Texas Department of Insurance;
(10) the Parks and Wildlife Commission;
(11) the Public Safety Commission;
(12) the Texas Ethics Commission;
(13) the State Securities Board;
(14) the Texas Water Development Board;
(15) the governing board of a public senior college or university as defined by Section 61.003, Education Code, or of The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Tyler, University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Texas State Technical College--Harlingen, Texas State Technical College--Marshall, Texas State Technical College--Sweetwater, or Texas State Technical College--Waco;
(16) the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board;
(17) the Texas Workforce Commission;
(18) the board of trustees of the Teacher Retirement System of Texas;
(19) the Credit Union Commission;
(20) the School Land Board;
(21) the board of the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs;
(22) the Texas Racing Commission;
(23) the State Board of Dental Examiners;
(24) the Texas Medical Board;
(25) the Board of Pardons and Paroles;
(26) the Texas State Board of Pharmacy;
(27) the Department of Information Resources governing board;
(28) the board of the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles;
(29) the Texas Real Estate Commission;
(30) the board of directors of the State Bar of Texas;
(31) the Bond Review Board;
(32) the Health and Human Services Commission;
(33) the Texas Funeral Service Commission;
(34) the board of directors of a river authority created under the Texas Constitution or a statute of this state;
(35) the Texas Lottery Commission; [or]
(36) the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas; or
(37) the Dementia Prevention and Research Institute of Texas.
SECTION 4. (a) Not later than December 31, 2025, the appropriate appointing authority shall appoint the members to the Dementia Prevention and Research Institute of Texas Oversight Committee as required by Section 101A.101, Health and Safety Code, as added by this Act. The oversight committee may not act until a majority of the appointed members have taken office.
(b) Notwithstanding Section 101A.101, Health and Safety Code, as added by this Act, in making the initial appointments under that section, the governor, lieutenant governor, and speaker of the house of representatives shall, as applicable, designate one member of the Dementia Prevention and Research Institute of Texas Oversight Committee appointed by that person to serve a term expiring January 31, 2027, one member appointed by that person to serve a term expiring January 31, 2029, and one member appointed by that person to serve a term expiring January 31, 2031.
(c) Notwithstanding Section 101A.104, Health and Safety Code, as added by this Act, the governor shall designate a member the governor appoints under Subsection (b) of this section to serve as the initial presiding officer of the Dementia Prevention and Research Institute of Texas Oversight Committee.
(d) Not later than January 31, 2026, the Dementia Prevention and Research Institute of Texas Oversight Committee established under Section 101A.101, Health and Safety Code, as added by this Act, shall hold its first meeting at a location determined by the presiding officer of the Dementia Prevention and Research Institute of Texas Oversight Committee designated under Subsection (c) of this section.
SECTION 5. If the voters approve the constitutional amendment proposed by the 89th Legislature, Regular Session, 2025, providing for the establishment of the Dementia Prevention and Research Institute of Texas, establishing the Dementia Prevention and Research Fund to provide money for research on and prevention and treatment of dementia, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and related disorders in this state, and transferring to that fund $3 billion from state general revenue, the Dementia Prevention and Research Institute of Texas established by Chapter 101A, Health and Safety Code, as added by this Act, is eligible for funding to be deposited under the authority of Section 68, Article III, Texas Constitution, for the institute to engage in any activities serving the purposes of that constitutional provision.
SECTION 6. This Act takes effect December 1, 2025, but only if the constitutional amendment proposed by the 89th Legislature, Regular Session, 2025, providing for the establishment of the Dementia Prevention and Research Institute of Texas, establishing the Dementia Prevention and Research Fund to provide money for research on and prevention and treatment of dementia, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and related disorders in this state, and transferring to that fund $3 billion from state general revenue is approved by the voters. If that amendment is not approved by the voters, this Act has no effect.
The amendment was read.
Senator Huffman moved to concur in the House amendment to SB 5.
The motion prevailed by the following vote: Yeas 29, Nays 1.
Nays: Hall.
Absent-excused: Gutierrez.
SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION 3 WITH HOUSE AMENDMENT
Senator Huffman called SJR 3 from the President's table for consideration of the House amendment to the bill.
The President laid the bill and the House amendment before the Senate.
Amendment
Amend SJR 3 by substituting in lieu thereof the following:
proposing a constitutional amendment providing for the establishment of the Dementia Prevention and Research Institute of Texas, establishing the Dementia Prevention and Research Fund to provide money for research on and prevention and treatment of dementia, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and related disorders in this state, and transferring to that fund $3 billion from state general revenue.
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Article III, Texas Constitution, is amended by adding Section 68 to read as follows:
Sec. 68. (a) The legislature shall establish the Dementia Prevention and Research Institute of Texas to:
(1) award grants to institutions of learning, advanced medical research facilities, public or private persons, and collaboratives in this state to provide money for:
(A) research into the causes of, means of prevention of, and treatment and rehabilitation for dementia, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and related disorders;
(B) research, including translational research, to develop therapies, protocols, medical pharmaceuticals, or procedures for the substantial mitigation of the symptoms of dementia, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and related disorders;
(C) facilities, equipment, and other costs related to research on dementia, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and related disorders; and
(D) prevention programs and strategies to mitigate the detrimental health impacts of dementia, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and related disorders;
(2) support institutions of learning and advanced medical research facilities and collaboratives in this state in all stages of:
(A) discovering the causes of dementia, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and related disorders;
(B) developing therapies, protocols, medical pharmaceuticals, or procedures for the substantial mitigation of the symptoms of dementia, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and related disorders from laboratory research to clinical trials; and
(C) developing programs to address access to advanced treatment for dementia, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and related disorders; and
(3) establish the appropriate standards and oversight bodies to ensure the proper use of funding authorized under this section, including facilities development.
(b) The members of the governing body and any other decision-making body of the Dementia Prevention and Research Institute of Texas may serve six-year terms.
(c) The Dementia Prevention and Research Fund is established as a special fund in the state treasury outside the general revenue fund to be administered by the Dementia Prevention and Research Institute of Texas. The comptroller of public accounts shall credit to general revenue interest due to the fund.
(c-1) On January 1, 2026, the comptroller shall transfer $3 billion from this state's general revenue fund to the Dementia Prevention and Research Fund. The transfer made under this subsection is not an appropriation of state tax revenues for the purposes of Section 22, Article VIII, of this constitution. This subsection expires January 1, 2029.
(d) The Dementia Prevention and Research Fund consists of:
(1) money transferred to the fund under this section;
(2) money the legislature appropriates, credits, or transfers to the fund; and
(3) gifts and grants, including grants from the federal government, and other donations received for the fund.
(e) Notwithstanding any other provision of this constitution, the Dementia Prevention and Research Institute of Texas, as established by general law, may use money in the Dementia Prevention and Research Fund only for the purpose of funding:
(1) grants for research on dementia, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and related disorders, research facilities, and research opportunities in this state:
(A) for the prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation of dementia, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and related disorders and the mitigation of the incidence of and detrimental health impacts from dementia, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and related disorders; and
(B) to develop therapies, protocols, medical pharmaceuticals, or procedures for the substantial mitigation of the symptoms of dementia, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and related disorders;
(2) the purchase, construction, or renovation, subject to the institute's approval, of facilities by or on behalf of a state agency or grant recipient; and
(3) the institute's operation.
(f) Not including any unspent money appropriated to the Dementia Prevention and Research Institute of Texas carried forward from the preceding state fiscal year, the legislature may appropriate not more than $300 million from the Dementia Prevention and Research Fund to the institute for a state fiscal year.
(g) Before the Dementia Prevention and Research Institute of Texas may award a grant authorized under this section, the grant recipient must have available an unexpended amount of money equal to one-half of the grant amount dedicated to the research specified in the grant proposal.
(h) The reasonable expenses of managing the assets of the Dementia Prevention and Research Fund shall be paid from the fund.
SECTION 2. This proposed constitutional amendment shall be submitted to the voters at an election to be held November 4, 2025. The ballot shall be printed to permit voting for or against the proposition: "The constitutional amendment providing for the establishment of the Dementia Prevention and Research Institute of Texas, establishing the Dementia Prevention and Research Fund to provide money for research on and prevention and treatment of dementia, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and related disorders in this state, and transferring to that fund $3 billion from state general revenue."
The amendment was read.
Senator Huffman moved to concur in the House amendment to SJR 3.
The motion prevailed by the following vote: Yeas 30, Nays 0.
Absent-excused: Gutierrez.
SENATE BILL 1273 WITH HOUSE AMENDMENT
Senator Hughes called SB 1273 from the President's table for consideration of the House amendment to the bill.
The President laid the bill and the House amendment before the Senate.
Floor Amendment No. 1
Amend SB 1273 (house committee report) as follows:
(1) On page 1, between lines 20 and 21, insert the following:
(4) "University system" has the meaning assigned by Section 61.003.
(2) On page 2, between lines 6 and 7, insert the following appropriately lettered subsection and reletter subsequent subsections and cross-references to those subsections accordingly:
(____) If the governing board of a university system has designated under Section 51.956 a research security officer for each institution of higher education under the governing board's management and control, the chancellor of the university system shall designate one of the research security officers to serve as a voting member on the council. The other research security officers designated by the governing board under Section 51.956 to serve in an institutional capacity shall serve as nonvoting members on the council.
The amendment was read.
Senator Hughes moved to concur in the House amendment to SB 1273.
The motion prevailed by the following vote: Yeas 29, Nays 1.
Nays: Cook.
Absent-excused: Gutierrez.
SENATE BILL 1422 WITH HOUSE AMENDMENT
Senator Hughes called SB 1422 from the President's table for consideration of the House amendment to the bill.
The President laid the bill and the House amendment before the Senate.
Floor Amendment No. 1
Amend SB 1422 (house committee report) on page 1 as follows:
(1) On line 7, between "MACHEN" and "BRIDGE", insert "MEMORIAL".
(2) On line 9, between "Machen" and "Bridge", insert "Memorial".
(3) On line 13, between "Machen" and "Bridge", insert "Memorial".
The amendment was read.
Senator Hughes moved to concur in the House amendment to SB 1422.
The motion prevailed by the following vote: Yeas 30, Nays 0.
Absent-excused: Gutierrez.
SENATE RULE 7.07(b) SUSPENDED
(Permission to Introduce)
(Motions In Writing)
Senator Zaffirini submitted the following Motions In Writing:
Mr. President:
The following members hereby request to suspend Senate Rule 7.07(b) to permit the introduction of bills and resolutions as follows:
SB 3067 by Bettencourt, Relating to restrictions on the use of certain ad valorem taxes and on the issuance of certain bonds supported by ad valorem taxes.
SB 3070 by Hall, Relating to the abolishment of the Texas Lottery Commission and the transfer of the administration of the state lottery and the licensing and regulation of charitable bingo to the Texas Commission of Licensing and Regulation; creating a criminal offense.
SB 3071 by Bettencourt, Relating to the authority of a property owner to obtain an injunction restraining the collection of ad valorem taxes by a taxing unit if the taxing unit adopts a tax rate that exceeds the voter-approval tax rate and subsequently takes an action that constitutes a material deviation from the stated purpose of the tax increase.
The Motions In Writing were read and prevailed without objection.
Senator Eckhardt asked to be recorded as voting "Nay" on the motion to introduce SB 3071.
SENATE BILLS ON FIRST READING
The following bills were introduced, read first time, and referred to the committees indicated:
SB 3067 by Bettencourt
Relating to restrictions on the use of certain ad valorem taxes and on the issuance of certain bonds supported by ad valorem taxes.
To Committee on Local Government.
SB 3068 by Creighton
Relating to the name of and appointment of directors for the Harris-Montgomery Counties Management District.
To Committee on Local Government.
SB 3069 by Creighton
Relating to the creation of the Montgomery County Management District No. 3; providing authority to issue bonds; providing authority to impose assessments, fees, and taxes.
To Committee on Local Government.
SB 3070 by Hall
Relating to the abolishment of the Texas Lottery Commission and the transfer of the administration of the state lottery and the licensing and regulation of charitable bingo to the Texas Commission of Licensing and Regulation; creating a criminal offense.
To Committee on State Affairs.
SB 3071 by Bettencourt
Relating to the authority of a property owner to obtain an injunction restraining the collection of ad valorem taxes by a taxing unit if the taxing unit adopts a tax rate that exceeds the voter-approval tax rate and subsequently takes an action that constitutes a material deviation from the stated purpose of the tax increase.
To Committee on Local Government.
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 21 to Committee on Local Government.
HB 30 to Committee on Local Government.
HB 74 to Committee on Transportation.
HB 106 to Committee on Business and Commerce.
HB 144 to Committee on Business and Commerce.
HB 145 to Committee on Business and Commerce.
HB 216 to Committee on Health and Human Services.
HB 346 to Committee on Economic Development.
HB 541 to Committee on Health and Human Services.
HB 565 to Committee on State Affairs.
HB 644 to Committee on State Affairs.
HB 954 to Committee on Local Government.
HB 1306 to Committee on Criminal Justice.
HB 1443 to Committee on Criminal Justice.
HB 1527 to Committee on Education K-16.
HB 1557 to Committee on Transportation.
HB 1677 to Committee on Local Government.
HB 1777 to Committee on Transportation.
HB 1916 to Committee on Jurisprudence.
HB 1936 to Committee on Transportation.
HB 1968 to Committee on State Affairs.
HB 2001 to Committee on Criminal Justice.
HB 2025 to Committee on Local Government.
HB 2073 to Committee on Criminal Justice.
HB 2180 to Committee on Criminal Justice.
HB 2239 to Committee on Criminal Justice.
HB 2266 to Committee on Natural Resources.
HB 2462 to Committee on Transportation.
HB 2560 to Committee on Transportation.
HB 2564 to Committee on Economic Development.
HB 2598 to Committee on Education K-16.
HB 2686 to Committee on Transportation.
HB 2963 to Committee on Business and Commerce.
HB 3005 to Committee on Business and Commerce.
HB 3045 to Committee on Finance.
HB 3161 to Committee on Finance.
HB 3370 to Committee on Local Government.
HB 3371 to Committee on Finance.
HB 3418 to Committee on Criminal Justice.
HB 3462 to Committee on Local Government.
HB 3486 to Committee on Finance.
HB 3487 to Committee on Finance.
HB 3488 to Committee on Criminal Justice.
HB 3709 to Committee on State Affairs.
HB 3801 to Committee on Health and Human Services.
HB 3815 to Committee on Transportation.
HB 3909 to Committee on State Affairs.
HB 4023 to Committee on Criminal Justice.
HB 4027 to Committee on State Affairs.
HB 4157 to Committee on State Affairs.
HB 4170 to Committee on Jurisprudence.
HB 4202 to Committee on Jurisprudence.
HB 4213 to Committee on Jurisprudence.
HB 4263 to Committee on Criminal Justice.
HB 4285 to Committee on State Affairs.
HB 4377 to Committee on Health and Human Services.
HB 4426 to Committee on Natural Resources.
HB 4486 to Committee on Finance.
HB 4743 to Committee on Health and Human Services.
HB 4763 to Committee on Education K-16.
HB 5424 to Committee on Local Government.
HJR 175 to Committee on Business and Commerce.
HOUSE BILL 201 REREFERRED
(Motion In Writing)
Senator Zaffirini submitted a Motion In Writing requesting that HB 201 be withdrawn from the Committee on Criminal Justice and rereferred to the Committee on State Affairs.
The Motion In Writing was read and prevailed without objection.
HOUSE BILL 272 REREFERRED
(Motion In Writing)
Senator Zaffirini submitted a Motion In Writing requesting that HB 272 be withdrawn from the Committee on Criminal Justice and rereferred to the Committee on State Affairs.
The Motion In Writing was read and prevailed without objection.
HOUSE BILL 380 REREFERRED
(Motion In Writing)
Senator Zaffirini submitted a Motion In Writing requesting that HB 380 be withdrawn from the Committee on Criminal Justice and rereferred to the Committee on State Affairs.
The Motion In Writing was read and prevailed without objection.
SENATE RULES SUSPENDED
(Posting Rules)
On motion of Senator Bettencourt and by unanimous consent, Senate Rule 11.10(a) and Senate Rule 11.18(a) were suspended in order that the Committee on Local Government might meet and consider the following bills today:
HB 21, HB 30
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 upon adjournment today in the Senate Chamber and consider SB 3070.
MOTION TO ADJOURN
On motion of Senator Zaffirini and by unanimous consent, the Senate at 6:01 p.m. agreed to adjourn, pending the receipt of committee reports, until 11:00 a.m. tomorrow.
CO-AUTHOR OF SENATE BILL 205
On motion of Senator Paxton, Senator King will be shown as Co-author of SB 205.
CO-AUTHORS OF SENATE BILL 466
On motion of Senator Paxton, Senators Creighton, A. Hinojosa, and Kolkhorst will be shown as Co-authors of SB 466.
CO-AUTHOR OF SENATE BILL 1310
On motion of Senator Cook, Senator Hall will be shown as Co-author of SB 1310.
CO-AUTHOR OF SENATE BILL 1368
On motion of Senator Miles, Senator Alvarado will be shown as Co-author of SB 1368.
CO-AUTHOR OF SENATE BILL 1528
On motion of Senator West, Senator Blanco will be shown as Co-author of SB 1528.
CO-AUTHOR OF SENATE BILL 1544
On motion of Senator A. Hinojosa, Senator J. Hinojosa will be shown as Co-author of SB 1544.
CO-AUTHOR OF SENATE BILL 1723
On motion of Senator Creighton, Senator Parker will be shown as Co-author of SB 1723.
CO-AUTHOR OF SENATE BILL 1730
On motion of Senator Hall, Senator Kolkhorst will be shown as Co-author of SB 1730.
CO-AUTHORS OF SENATE BILL 1858
On motion of Senator Hagenbuch, Senators A. Hinojosa and Hughes will be shown as Co-authors of SB 1858.
CO-AUTHORS OF SENATE BILL 1946
On motion of Senator Zaffirini, Senators J. Hinojosa and Menéndez will be shown as Co-authors of SB 1946.
CO-AUTHORS OF SENATE BILL 1950
On motion of Senator Creighton, Senators King and Kolkhorst will be shown as Co-authors of SB 1950.
CO-AUTHORS OF SENATE BILL 1986
On motion of Senator Hall, Senators Cook and Menéndez will be shown as Co-authors of SB 1986.
CO-AUTHORS OF SENATE BILL 2063
On motion of Senator Parker, Senators A. Hinojosa and Kolkhorst will be shown as Co-authors of SB 2063.
CO-AUTHORS OF SENATE BILL 2137
On motion of Senator Menéndez, Senators Alvarado and Miles will be shown as Co-authors of SB 2137.
CO-AUTHOR OF SENATE BILL 2260
On motion of Senator Cook, Senator Bettencourt will be shown as Co-author of SB 2260.
CO-AUTHOR OF SENATE BILL 2519
On motion of Senator Bettencourt, Senator A. Hinojosa will be shown as Co-author of SB 2519.
CO-AUTHOR OF SENATE BILL 2611
On motion of Senator West, Senator Miles will be shown as Co-author of SB 2611.
CO-AUTHOR OF SENATE BILL 2764
On motion of Senator Cook, Senator Bettencourt will be shown as Co-author of SB 2764.
CO-AUTHOR OF SENATE BILL 2794
On motion of Senator Paxton, Senator Bettencourt will be shown as Co-author of SB 2794.
CO-AUTHORS OF SENATE BILL 2943
On motion of Senator Hagenbuch, Senators Creighton and Kolkhorst will be shown as Co-authors of SB 2943.
CO-AUTHOR OF SENATE BILL 2995
On motion of Senator West, Senator Menéndez will be shown as Co-author of SB 2995.
CO-AUTHORS OF SENATE BILL 3059
On motion of Senator Campbell, Senators Bettencourt and Hagenbuch will be shown as Co-authors of SB 3059.
CO-AUTHORS OF SENATE RESOLUTION 395
On motion of Senator King, Senators Bettencourt, Hall, Hancock, Kolkhorst, Middleton, and Paxton will be shown as Co-authors of SR 395.
CO-SPONSOR OF HOUSE BILL 21
On motion of Senator Bettencourt, Senator Cook will be shown as Co-sponsor of HB 21.
CO-SPONSOR OF HOUSE BILL 388
On motion of Senator Hughes, Senator Blanco will be shown as Co-sponsor of HB 388.
CO-SPONSORS OF HOUSE BILL 451
On motion of Senator Paxton, Senators Creighton and J. Hinojosa will be shown as Co-sponsors of HB 451.
CO-SPONSORS OF HOUSE BILL 517
On motion of Senator Schwertner, Senators Cook, Creighton, A. Hinojosa, and Kolkhorst will be shown as Co-sponsors of HB 517.
CO-SPONSOR OF HOUSE BILL 668
On motion of Senator Kolkhorst, Senator A. Hinojosa will be shown as Co-sponsor of HB 668.
CO-SPONSOR OF HOUSE BILL 748
On motion of Senator Paxton, Senator A. Hinojosa will be shown as Co-sponsor of HB 748.
CO-SPONSOR OF HOUSE BILL 1893
On motion of Senator King, Senator West will be shown as Co-sponsor of HB 1893.
CO-SPONSORS OF HOUSE BILL 2756
On motion of Senator Huffman, Senators Blanco, Cook, J. Hinojosa, and Menéndez will be shown as Co-sponsors of HB 2756.
CO-SPONSOR OF HOUSE BILL 4751
On motion of Senator Parker, Senator Schwertner will be shown as Co-sponsor of HB 4751.
CO-SPONSORS OF HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION 2
On motion of Senator Perry, Senators Bettencourt, Birdwell, Creighton, A. Hinojosa, and Sparks will be shown as Co-sponsors of HJR 2.
ADJOURNMENT
Pursuant to a previously adopted motion, the Senate at 9:40 a.m. Tuesday, May 13, 2025, adjourned, in memory of Robby Burdge, 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 12, 2025
LOCAL GOVERNMENT — CSHB 3307
HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES — CSSB 2919, HB 879, HB 116, SB 1782
BUSINESS AND COMMERCE — CSHB 12, CSSB 1705, CSSB 2696
LOCAL GOVERNMENT — CSSB 1944, CSSB 2215
ADMINISTRATION — HCR 7, HCR 75, HCR 86, HCR 92, HCR 93, HCR 126, SB 644, HB 2703, HB 1610, HB 1615, HB 1620
LOCAL GOVERNMENT — HB 30, HB 21
May 13, 2025
HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES — CSSB 1232
BILLS ENGROSSED
May 12, 2025
SB 111, SB 205, SB 261, SB 466, SB 705, SB 748, SB 876, SB 1400, SB 1581, SB 1608, SB 1723, SB 1730, SB 1858, SB 1903, SB 1946, SB 1986, SB 2017, SB 2058, SB 2063, SB 2105, SB 2137, SB 2177, SB 2203, SB 2260, SB 2311, SB 2417, SB 2519, SB 2611, SB 2637, SB 2764, SB 2794, SB 2878, SB 2995, SB 3037, SB 3059
BILLS AND RESOLUTIONS ENROLLED
May 12, 2025
SB 5, SB 72, SB 266, SB 499, SB 616, SB 688, SB 771, SB 842, SB 888, SB 985, SB 996, SB 1025, SB 1080, SB 1143, SB 1172, SB 1245, SB 1257, SB 1267, SB 1271, SB 1273, SB 1349, SB 1355, SB 1418, SB 1422, SB 1464, SB 1490, SB 1502, SB 1555, SB 1568, SB 1569, SB 1729, SB 1759, SB 1786, SB 1841, SB 1851, SB 2007, SB 2351, SB 2361, SB 2419, SB 2476, SB 2550, SB 2774, SB 2776, SCR 4, SJR 3, SR 495, SR 507, SR 510, SR 513, SR 514