SENATE FLOOR ACTION

Friday

May 26, 2023

The Senate adopted the following resolutions:

In memory of Harold Lee Cook III.

Suspending limitations on conference committee jurisdiction on S.B. 30.

Suspending limitations on conference committee jurisdiction on H.B.1.

In memory of the life of Dustin Lee Mortenson.

In memory of the life of Lucas Maurice Lowe.

Directing the governor of the State of Texas to posthumously award the Texas Legislative Medal of Honor to U.S. Army Sergeant Major Jerry L. Bell.

Directing the governor of the State of Texas to posthumously award the Texas Legislative Medal of Honor to U.S. Army Master Sergeant Mike C. Peña.

The Senate concurred in House amendments to the following:

Relating to requiring public institution of higher education students who compete in intercollegiate athletic competitions to compete based on biological sex.

Relating to local mental health authority and local behavioral health authority audits and mental and behavioral health reporting, services, and programs.

Relating to the creation of a criminal offense concerning the failure of certain persons to report abuse, neglect, or exploitation in boarding home facilities.

Relating to the issuance or amendment of a certificate of public convenience and necessity that authorizes the construction of an electrical substation.

Relating to repayment of certain mental health professional education loans.

Relating to the issuance of a temporary teaching certificate to and requirements regarding educator certification for certain persons with experience as instructors for the Community College of the Air Force.

Relating to the requirement that providers of active shooter training at public schools and institutions of higher education obtain a certificate issued by the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement.

Relating to the authority of a taxing unit to sell certain seized or foreclosed property to an owner of an abutting property without conducting a public sale.

Relating to the eligibility of certain events for funding under the Major Events Reimbursement Program.

Relating to the division of certain emergency services districts.

Relating to the issuance of Support Adoption specialty license plates and to the Support Adoption account and certain voluntary contributions to that account.

Relating to certain regulations adopted by governmental entities for the building products, materials, or methods used in the construction of residential or commercial buildings.

Relating to authorizing certain political subdivisions to change the date on which their general election for officers is held.

The Senate refused to concur in House amendments and requested the appointment of a Conference Committee on the following:

Relating to the establishment and administration of Health and Human Services Commission programs providing mental health services to certain individuals in this state.

The Senate granted the request for the appointment of a Conference Committee on the following:

Relating to agreements authorizing a limitation on taxable value of certain property to provide for the creation of jobs and the generation of state and local tax revenue; authorizing a fee; authorizing penalties.

Relating to measures to address public safety threats in this state presented by transnational criminal activity, including by establishing a Texas Border Force, and to compensate persons affected by those threats; increasing criminal penalties; creating criminal offenses.

Relating to the protection of minors from harmful, deceptive, or unfair trade practices in connection with the use of certain digital services and electronic devices, including the use and transfer of electronic devices to students by a public school.

Relating to access to certain law enforcement, corrections, and prosecutorial records under the public information law.

Relating to public education and public school finance, including the rights, certification, and compensation of public school educators, contributions by a public school to the Teacher Retirement System of Texas, and an education savings account program for certain children.

Relating to the requirements to access the online tracker of an application for a ballot to be voted by mail.

Relating to the creation of a workplace violence hotline and a requirement that employers post notice regarding the hotline.

Relating to conduct constituting the criminal offense of illegal voting; increasing a criminal penalty.

Relating to the continuation and functions of the Public Utility Commission of Texas and the Office of Public Utility Counsel, and the functions of the independent organization certified for the ERCOT power region; increasing an administrative penalty.

Relating to teacher requirements for high quality prekindergarten programs.

Relating to the elimination of regular mandatory vehicle safety inspections for noncommercial vehicles and the imposition of replacement fees.

Relating to the reporting of political contributions, including in-kind contributions, and expenditures made using a credit card.

Relating to posting and other requirements applicable to certain governmental bodies under the open meetings law.

Relating to the discipline of judges by the State Commission on Judicial Conduct and the legislature.

Relating to the operation and administration of and practices and procedures regarding proceedings in the judicial branch of state government, including the service of process and delivery of documents related to the proceedings, the administration of oaths, and the management of the Texas Indigent Defense Commission, and the composition of certain juvenile boards; establishing a civil penalty; increasing certain court costs; authorizing fees.

Relating to municipal regulation of subdivisions and approval of subdivision plans or plats.

Relating to the Texas Industry-Recognized Apprenticeship Programs Grant Program.

Relating to the allocation of certain federal money provided under the Cranston-Gonzalez National Affordable Housing Act.

Relating to organized crime, racketeering activities, and collection of unlawful debts; providing a civil penalty; creating criminal offenses.

Relating to increasing the minimum term of imprisonment and changing the eligibility for community supervision and parole for certain felony offenses in which a firearm is used or exhibited, to certain consequences on conviction of certain of those offenses, and to increasing the criminal penalty for the offense of unlawful possession of a firearm by a person convicted of a felony.

Relating to Medicaid coverage and reimbursement for non-opioid treatments.

Relating to the creation of the Deer Creek Ranch Municipal Utility District No. 1 and the Montgomery County Municipal Utility District No. 236; granting a limited power of eminent domain; providing authority to issue bonds; providing authority to impose assessments, fees, and taxes.

The Senate adopted conference committee reports on the following bills:

Relating to supplemental appropriations and reductions in appropriations and giving direction and adjustment authority regarding appropriations.

Relating to paid leave by certain state employees for the birth or adoption of a child.

Relating to access to certain investigational drugs, biological products, and devices used in clinical trials by patients with severe chronic diseases.

Relating to powers and duties of navigation districts and the boards of trustees of municipal port facilities.

General Appropriations Bill.

Relating to parental rights regarding a threat assessment of a student conducted by a public school's threat assessment and safe and supportive school team.

Relating to pedestrian use of a sidewalk.

The Senate confirmed all nominees as reported by the Committee on Nominations.