SENATE FLOOR ACTION

Monday

April 19, 2021

The Senate suspended the necessary rules to consider and finally pass:

Relating to the civil penalty for certain signs placed on the right-of-way of a public road.

Relating to the continuation and functions of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.

Relating to the continuation and functions of the Department of Agriculture, the Prescribed Burning Board, and the Texas Boll Weevil Eradication Foundation and the abolishment of the Early Childhood Health and Nutrition Interagency Council.

1 Floor Amendment

Relating to recovery of attorney's fees in certain civil cases.

Relating to motor vehicle accidents involving a pedestrian or other vulnerable road user within the area of a crosswalk; creating a criminal offense.

Relating to the establishment and administration of the Texas Woman's University System.

1 Floor Amendment

Relating to marketing and labeling requirements for certain food products, including imitation meat and egg food products.

2 Floor Amendments

Relating to a study of the disaster preparedness for each state military installation.

1 Floor Amendment

Relating to the effect of a disaster on the calculation of certain tax rates and the procedure for adoption of a tax rate by a taxing unit.

2 Floor Amendments

Relating to special purpose territory of the Orange County Navigation and Port District of Orange County, Texas.

Relating to the franchise tax treatment of certain loans and grants made under the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act.

1 Floor Amendment

The Senate suspended the regular order, read third time and finally passed:

Relating to local school health advisory councils and health education provided by public schools, including requirements regarding human sexuality instruction.

Relating to cost recovery for costs arising from the interconnection of certain electric generation facilities with the ERCOT transmission system.

The Senate suspended the regular order, read second time and passed to engrossment:

Relating to recovery of medical or health care expenses in civil actions.

1 Floor Amendment

The Senate adopted the following resolutions:

Urging Congress to repeal the Government Pension Offset and the Windfall Elimination Provision of the Social Security Act.

The following bills were passed on the Local and Uncontested Bills Calendar:

Designating the Bowie knife as the official state knife of Texas.

Designating San Marcos as the official Mermaid Capital of Texas for a 10-year period beginning in 2021.

Designating Fort Davis as the official Highest Town in Texas for a 10-year period beginning in 2021.

Recognizing the 1847 Colt Walker pistol as the official handgun of the State of Texas.

Designating March 10 as Histotechnology Professionals Day for a 10-year period beginning in 2021.

Establishing an America 250 state commission.

Designating the third Tuesday in February as Texas Game Warden Day for a 10-year period beginning in 2021.

Relating to procedures regarding defendants who are or may be persons with a mental illness or intellectual disability.

Relating to certain duties of law enforcement agencies concerning certain information subject to disclosure to a defendant.

Relating to the exclusion of certain payment processing services from the definition of "data processing service" for purposes of sales and use taxes.

Relating to the time for rendering a final order in certain suits affecting the parent-child relationship involving the Department of Family and Protective Services.

Relating to the payment of certain employer contributions for employed retirees of the Teacher Retirement System of Texas.

Relating to instruction in educator training programs regarding digital learning, virtual learning, and virtual instruction.

Relating to service of expert reports for health care liability claims.

Relating to the issuance of a citation for a criminal trespass offense punishable as a Class B misdemeanor.

Relating to preventing the loss of benefits by certain retirees of the Teacher Retirement System of Texas who resume service.

Relating to the confidential and privileged communications and records of victims of certain sexual assault offenses.

Relating to the punishment for the criminal offense of improper sexual activity with a person in custody; increasing a criminal penalty.

Relating to a sales and use tax exemption for firearm safety equipment.

Relating to the taking of a specimen to test for intoxication and retention and preservation of toxicological evidence of certain intoxication offenses.

Relating to the donation of juror reimbursements.

Relating to state agency and local government information management and security, including establishment of the state risk and authorization management program and the Texas volunteer incident response team; authorizing fees.

Relating to establishment of county adult sexual assault response teams.

Relating to the student union fee at the University of Houston.

Relating to the requirements for meetings held and Internet websites developed by certain special purpose districts.

Relating to information technology purchased through the Department of Information Resources.

Relating to the powers and duties of a domestic relations office.

Relating to the prosecution of and punishment for the criminal offense of failure to report certain sexual offenses committed against a child; increasing criminal penalties.

Relating to members of the clergy who are employed or voluntarily enter inpatient health care facilities to minister during a state of disaster, emergency, or epidemic.

Relating to certain public facilities used to provide affordable housing.

Relating to bonds issued by and the dissolution of municipal management districts.

Relating to probate and guardianship matters and proceedings and other matters involving probate courts.

Relating to the designation of State Highways 118 and 166 as the Davis Mountains Scenic Loop Highway and a historic highway.

Relating to the terms and qualifications of the members of the port commission of, and the powers, duties, and territory of, the Port of Harlingen Authority; authorizing the imposition of a tax.

Relating to the issuance of specialty license plates to honor members of the United States Army Special Forces.

Relating to the continuation and functions of the Credit Union Department and the Credit Union Commission.

Relating to the sunset review process and certain governmental entities subject to that process.

Relating to authorizing the sale of certain real property by the State of Texas to the Port of Corpus Christi Authority of Nueces County, Texas.

Relating to the expiration of a school marshal license issued or renewed by the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement.

Relating to the issuance of specialty license plates to United States Navy submariners.

Relating to eligibility for the exemption from ad valorem taxation of the residence homestead of a totally disabled veteran.

Relating to an exemption from the requirement that the title of a state agency be printed on state-owned motor vehicles.

Relating to the display of the national motto in public schools and institutions of higher education.

Relating to contracting procedures and requirements for governmental entities.

Relating to unemployment compensation eligibility and chargebacks regarding certain persons separated from employment due to being called to military service.

Relating to a sales tax refund for sales tax overpayments by certain oil or gas severance taxpayers.

Relating to the availability of personal information of individuals who are honorably retired from certain law enforcement positions.

Relating to the electronic dissemination of commercial recordings or audiovisual works.

Relating to the disclosure of information collected by a metropolitan rapid transit authority, regional transportation authority, municipal transit department, or coordinated county transportation authority under the public information law.

Relating to a power outage alert system and a study on a statewide disaster alert system.

Relating to the inspection of municipal buildings during a declared disaster.

Relating to suits for tax refunds.

Relating to requiring trauma training for certain attorneys.

Relating to the application for and issuance of a marriage license through the use of remote technology.

Relating to information regarding certain noncompliance by an appraisal district in the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation records of a professional property tax appraiser serving as chief appraiser for the district.

Relating to an exception to the titling requirement for certain vehicles; creating a criminal offense.

Relating to an excused absence from a public institution of higher education for a student called to required military service.

Relating to plot plan requirements for an application for a standard permit for a concrete batch plant issued by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.

Relating to legislative oversight during a public health disaster or public health emergency, including the establishment of a legislative public health oversight board.

Relating to legislative leave for certain peace officers commissioned by the Parks and Wildlife Department.

Relating to reports by the Public Utility Commission of Texas on the ability of electric generators to respond to abnormal weather conditions.

Relating to the exemption from ad valorem taxation for certain solar or wind-powered energy devices.

Relating to the execution of a search warrant for taking a blood specimen from certain persons in certain intoxication offenses.

Relating to criminal liability for reporting false information to draw an emergency response; creating an offense.

Relating to courses in personal financial literacy & economics for high school students in public schools.

Relating to the extended registration of certain county fleet vehicles.

Relating to the composition of the board of directors of the Fort Bend Subsidence District, including a director's qualifications and term.

Relating to the creation and administration of the On-The-Ground Conservation Program by the State Soil and Water Conservation Board.

Relating to participation in the comptroller's contracts for travel services.

Relating to the issuance of Family First specialty license plates.

Relating to the designation of the portion of Business Interstate Highway 20-J in Colorado City as the James "Jim" Baum Memorial Highway.

Relating to the disposition of certain controlled substance property and plants seized by or forfeited to a law enforcement agency.

Relating to guardianships, alternatives to guardianship, and supports and services for incapacitated persons.

Relating to the provision of certain massage therapy instruction using distance learning.

Relating to address confidentiality on certain documents for certain federal officials and family members of certain federal officials or federal or state court judges.

Relating to the prosecution of the criminal offense of sexual assault.

Relating to the designation of a portion of State Highway 276 in Hunt and Rains Counties as the Staff Sergeant Shawn Henry McNabb Memorial Bridge.

Relating to the composition of the board of directors of the Booker Hospital District.

Relating to the authorized activities of a holder of a brewpub license.

Relating to the information required to be provided by the chief appraiser of an appraisal district to the comptroller in connection with the comptroller's central registry of reinvestment zones designated and ad valorem tax abatement agreements executed under the Property Redevelopment and Tax Abatement Act.

Relating to the authority of a district engineer for the Texas Department of Transportation to temporarily lower the speed limit at a highway maintenance activity site.

Relating to certificates of public convenience and necessity for certain transmission projects.

Relating to disclosure requirements for agreements consenting to municipal annexation.

Relating to the prosecution of the offense of injury to a child, elderly individual, or disabled individual.

Relating to the creation of the Brazoria County Municipal Utility District No. 83; granting a limited power of eminent domain; providing authority to issue bonds; providing authority to impose assessments, fees, and taxes.

Relating to the regulation of commercial property and casualty insurance and insurance for certain large risks.

Relating to the reporting of certain incidents of sexual harassment, sexual assault, dating violence, or stalking at certain public or private institutions of higher education.

Relating to the evaluation and reporting of investment practices and performance of certain public retirement systems.

Relating to establishing a coordinated system for the dispatch, triage, transport, and transfer of patients in certain trauma service area regional advisory councils; providing rulemaking authority.

Relating to the time frame for passing certain licensing examinations for applicants seeking a license to practice medicine.

Relating to withdrawals of water from the Edwards Aquifer to supply a military installation.

Relating to the adjustment of the average daily attendance of a school district on the basis of a calamity.

Relating to formula funding for excess undergraduate credit hours at public institutions of higher education and to the tuition rate that may be charged for those credit hours.

Relating to the use of opinions from medical professionals in making certain determinations relating to the abuse or neglect of a child.

Relating to directing payment, after approval, of certain miscellaneous claims and judgments against the state out of funds designated by this Act; making appropriations.

Relating to the administration of navigation districts.

Relating to special purpose territory of the Port of Beaumont Navigation District of Jefferson County, Texas.

Relating to certain local government corporations created for the development, construction, operation, management, or financing of transportation projects.

Relating to the conveyance of certain real property by certain navigation districts.

Relating to procurement of a contingent fee contract for legal services by certain governmental entities.

Relating to the applicability of uniform grant and contract management standards to certain Texas Water Development Board programs.

Relating to the regulatory authority of the savings and mortgage lending commissioner; authorizing fees.

Relating to the pledge or encumbrance of an insurer's assets under the Asset Protection Act.

Relating to adding a special purpose territory to the Port of Port Arthur Navigation District of Jefferson County, Texas.

Relating to the applicability of certain provisions mandating the provision by certain health benefit plans of health benefits requiring cost defrayal by this state.

Relating to fees and prices charged by freestanding emergency medical care facilities; providing administrative penalties.

Relating to passenger transportation on state aircraft.

Relating to the applicability of the sales and use tax to medical or dental billing services.

The following bills were removed from the Local and Uncontested Bills Calendar:

Relating to requiring sexually oriented businesses to participate in the federal electronic verification of employment authorization program, or E-verify; creating a criminal offense.

Committee referral on the following:

Relating to the powers and duties of the Lancaster Municipal Utility District No. 1 of Dallas County, Texas; providing authority to issue bonds and impose fees and taxes.

Local Government

Relating to the creation of the Veale Ranch Municipal Management District No. 1; providing authority to issue bonds; providing authority to impose assessments, fees, and taxes; granting the power of eminent domain.

Local Government

Relating to the creation of the Lancaster Logistics District; providing authority to issue bonds; providing authority to impose assessments, fees, and taxes.

Local Government

Relating to the dissolution of the Angelina County Water Control and Improvement District No. 4.

Local Government

Relating to the creation of the Moore's Crossing Municipal Management District; providing authority to issue bonds; providing authority to impose assessments, fees, and taxes.

Local Government

Relating to the creation of the Fort Bend County Municipal Utility District No. 253; granting a limited power of eminent domain; providing authority to issue bonds; providing authority to impose assessments, fees, and taxes.

Local Government

Relating to the powers and duties of the East Montgomery County Municipal Utility District No. 14; providing authority to issue bonds; providing authority to impose assessments, fees, and taxes.

Local Government

Relating to the powers and duties of the East Montgomery County Municipal Utility District No. 13; providing authority to issue bonds; providing authority to impose assessments, fees, and taxes.

Local Government

Relating to the creation of the Montgomery County Municipal Utility District No. 203; granting a limited power of eminent domain; providing authority to issue bonds; providing authority to impose assessments, fees, and taxes.

Local Government

Relating to the creation of the Heritage Ranch Municipal Utility District No. 1 of Grayson County; granting a limited power of eminent domain; providing authority to issue bonds; providing authority to impose assessments, fees, and taxes.

Local Government

Proposing a constitutional amendment authorizing a local option exemption from ad valorem taxation by a county of a portion of the value of the residence homestead of a physician who provides health care services for which the physician agrees not to seek payment from any source, including the Medicaid program or otherwise from this state or the federal government, to county residents who are indigent or who are Medicaid recipients.

Local Government

Relating to the provision and delivery of health care services under Medicaid and other public benefits programs using telecommunications or information technology and to reimbursement for some of those services.

Health & Human Services

Relating to accompanying and filming peace officers of state and local law enforcement agencies for producing reality television programs.

Criminal Justice

Relating to restrictive covenants related to swimming pool enclosures.

Business & Commerce

Relating to the Medicaid eligibility of certain women after a pregnancy.

Health & Human Services

Relating to the transfer of vacation leave time to a sick leave pool in certain counties.

Local Government

Relating to the punishment for the criminal offense of improper sexual activity with a person in custody; increasing a criminal penalty.

Jurisprudence

Relating to changing the eligibility for parole of certain inmates serving a sentence for the offense of online solicitation of a minor.

Criminal Justice

Relating to a local option exemption from ad valorem taxation by a county of a portion of the value of the residence homestead of a physician who provides health care services for which the physician agrees not to seek payment from any source, including the Medicaid program or otherwise from this state or the federal government, to county residents who are indigent or who are Medicaid recipients.

Local Government

Relating to changing the eligibility for release on parole of certain inmates serving sentences for trafficking offenses involving one or more child victims.

Criminal Justice

Relating to notice requirements for a leased dwelling located in a floodplain.

Business & Commerce

Relating to credit toward payment of a fine and costs for certain misdemeanants confined in jail or prison before sentencing.

Criminal Justice

Relating to the establishment of a public law school in the Rio Grande Valley.

Higher Education

Relating to indicators of achievement under the public school accountability system.

Education

Relating to conditions of community supervision prohibiting contact with certain persons.

Criminal Justice

Relating to the eligibility of emergency service dispatchers to participate in a public safety employees treatment court program.

Criminal Justice

Relating to the punishment for the criminal offense of tampering with or fabricating physical evidence.

Criminal Justice

Relating to the authority of certain municipal employees to request the removal and storage of certain abandoned or illegally parked vehicles.

Business & Commerce

Relating to a license to carry a handgun for certain young adults who are protected under certain court orders related to family violence.

State Affairs

Relating to expedited death certificates for religious purposes in certain counties.

Health & Human Services

Relating to access to a residence or former residence to retrieve certain personal property.

Criminal Justice

Relating to a requirement that a decree of divorce include the date of the marriage.

Jurisprudence

Relating to the requirement for a deputy sheriff, reserve deputy sheriff, deputy constable, or reserve deputy constable to take an official oath.

Criminal Justice

Relating to designating November 7 as Victims of Communism Day.

Administration

Relating to the vehicles authorized to be equipped with a digital license plate.

Transportation

Relating to the inclusion of a nonprofit attraction on a specific information logo sign.

Transportation

Relating to the rights of victims of sexual assault or other prohibited sexual conduct.

Criminal Justice

Relating to proof of eligibility for medical priority boarding of ferries operated by the Texas Department of Transportation; creating a criminal offense.

Transportation

Relating to the period for which certain land owned by a religious organization for the purpose of expanding a place of religious worship or constructing a new place of religious worship may be exempted from ad valorem taxation.

Finance

Relating to the definition of personal property for purposes of removing personal property from a roadway or right-of-way.

Transportation

Relating to the provision of certain notices in guardianship proceedings.

Jurisprudence

Relating to service of process on institutions and organizations in certain probate proceedings.

Jurisprudence

Relating to a summary of a rule proposed by a state agency.

Business & Commerce

Relating to authorizing a petitioner for a protective order to separate the petitioner's wireless telephone number from the respondent's wireless telephone service account.

Jurisprudence

Relating to the carrying of a handgun by a license holder in a motor vehicle.

State Affairs

Relating to the issuance of bonds by certain conservation and reclamation districts.

Local Government

Relating to the eligibility of the Concacaf Gold Cup for funding under the Major Events Reimbursement Program.

Natural Resources & Economic Development

Relating to the transfer of Midwestern State University to the Texas Tech University System, to certain fees charged by that system's governing board, and to mandatory venue for actions brought against that system or its institutions, officers, or employees.

Higher Education

Relating to regulation of certain facilities and establishments with respect to, civil remedies for certain criminal activities affecting, and certain criminal offenses involving health, safety, and welfare; creating a criminal offense; increasing criminal penalties.

Jurisprudence

Relating to the operations and functions of the Teacher Retirement System of Texas.

Administration

Relating to the review date for certain governmental entities subject to the sunset review process.

Administration

Relating to the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact; authorizing fees.

Health & Human Services

Relating to guardianships of the person of wards with profound intellectual disabilities who are minors or were minors when their guardianship proceedings commenced.

Jurisprudence

Relating to partnerships between the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and nonprofit entities to promote hunting and fishing by certain veterans.

Water, Agriculture & Rural Affairs

Relating to the evaluation of child-care providers participating in the Texas Rising Star Program.

Health & Human Services

Relating to the division of and assumption of road district authority by fresh water supply districts.

Local Government

Relating to carrying and storing a firearm or firearm ammunition by a hotel guest.

State Affairs

Relating to persons authorized to conduct a marriage ceremony.

State Affairs

Relating to taxpayers' suits.

Finance

Relating to health care cost disclosures by health benefit plan issuers and third-party administrators.

Business & Commerce

Relating to the powers and duties of the Parks and Wildlife Department regarding the Texas Water Trust.

Water, Agriculture & Rural Affairs

Relating to public notice of the availability on the Internet of property-tax-related information.

Local Government

Relating to the appointment of appraisal review board members.

Local Government

Relating to the authority of the Texas Windstorm Insurance Association to raise premium rates on association policies.

Business & Commerce