SENATE FLOOR ACTION

Friday

May 9, 2025

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

Proposing a constitutional amendment authorizing the legislature to exempt from ad valorem taxation tangible personal property consisting of animal feed held by the owner of the property for sale at retail.

Relating to advisory bodies for the Department of Family and Protective Services, including the creation of the child protective investigations advisory committee and the abolition of the Family and Protective Services Council.

Relating to committing the criminal offense of endangering a child, elderly individual, or disabled individual by engaging in certain conduct involving a controlled substance listed in Penalty Group 1-B of the Texas Controlled Substances Act.

Relating to certain presumptions applicable to claims for benefits or compensation for certain medical conditions brought by certain first responders.

Relating to creating the criminal offense of trespass on or near school or day-care center property.

Relating to the procedure for the dissolution of the Cedar Creek Hospital District and the disposition of district money.

Relating to the designation of the portion of State Highway 249 in Montgomery County as the Paul P. Mendes Memorial Parkway.

Relating to creation of the gulf coast protection account to be administered by the General Land Office.

Relating to the eligibility of land to continue to be appraised for ad valorem tax purposes as qualified open-space land following a transfer to a person who uses the land in materially the same way as the former owner and to late applications for such appraisal filed by the new owner of the land.

Relating to an exemption from ad valorem taxation of tangible personal property consisting of animal feed held by the owner of the property for sale at retail.

Relating to the appeal of certain actions by the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles related to motor carriers.

Relating to the designation of a portion of State Highway 302 in Ector County as the Trooper Kevin Ramirez Vasquez Memorial Highway.

Relating to the applicability of sex offender registration requirements to the offense of child grooming.

Relating to the Texas Farm and Ranch Lands Conservation Program.

Relating to the designation of a portion of Farm-to-Market Road 1097 in Montgomery County as the Army Specialist Joey Lenz Memorial Highway.

Relating to the designation of a portion of State Highway 34 in Kaufman County as the Officer Jacob Candanoza Memorial Highway.

Relating to the designation of a portion of Farm-to-Market Road 969 in Travis County as the Senior Police Officer Lewis "Andy" Traylor Memorial Highway.

Relating to the designation of a portion of U.S. Highway 287 in Wilbarger County as the Molly Mullens Mile.

Relating to the designation of a portion of State Highway 48 in Cameron County as the Deputy Constable Ruben Garcia Memorial Highway.

Relating to the requirement that a person submit an application for an exemption from ad valorem taxation for certain property used for human burial.

Relating to the authority of the chief appraiser of an appraisal district to require a person allowed an exemption from ad valorem taxation of a residence homestead to file a new application or confirm the person's current qualification for the exemption.

Relating to the designation of a Texas Department of Transportation building in Starr County as the Eduardo "Eddie" Gracia, Jr., P.E., Area Engineer and Maintenance Facility.

Relating to the issuance of specialty license plates for retired firefighters.

Relating to the authority of a defense base development authority to employ and commission peace officers.

Relating to the composition, duties, and personnel of the Moore County Juvenile Board.

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

Urging the Gulf Coast Protection District and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to not compromise navigation safety or two-way traffic vessel movement when implementing a project.

Relating to the continuation of a health care provider participation program by the Harris County Hospital District.

Relating to the management and operation of the Gulf Coast Protection District.

Relating to a requirement that certain hospitals submit a summary of parts of their emergency operations plans to the Health and Human Services Commission.

Relating to compensation and employment condition standards by municipal charter or collective bargaining agreement and to impasse resolution in collective bargaining with certain political subdivisions.

Relating to a hospital's determination to grant, deny, renew, or modify medical staff privileges.

Relating to the area of operations of and certain tax exemptions available to housing authorities.

Relating to the issuance by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality of permits for certain wastewater treatment facilities.

Relating to certain rights of crime victims and witnesses and associated persons and to victim impact statements.

Relating to a capacity cost recovery rider for certain electric utilities.

Relating to prohibiting the dismissal of certain suits affecting the parent-child relationship involving the Department of Family and Protective Services.

Relating to the application for appointment of a guardian and to requiring criminal history record information and other information in connection with the guardianship of a ward or the ward's estate.

Relating to the authority of certain counties to enact certain park use rules.

Relating to the compensation of the chief appraiser of an appraisal district.

Relating to selection of an attorney by an indigent parent as attorney ad litem for the parent in certain suits affecting the parent-child relationship.

Relating to the calculation of the limitation on the total amount of ad valorem taxes imposed by a school district on the residence homestead of an individual who is elderly or disabled.

Relating to notification of the chief appraiser of an appraisal district of the death of a resident of the county in which the district is located and the determination by the chief appraiser of the effect of the decedent's death on the continued eligibility of any property in the county previously owned by the decedent for any exemption allowed for the property.

Relating to the plan required to be adopted by the board of directors of an appraisal district for periodically conducting certain reappraisal activities.

Relating to the adoption of an ordinance issuing a tax increment bond by certain municipalities that have designated a tax increment reinvestment zone.

Relating to the authority of a municipality or county to regulate condominiums.

Relating to municipal regulation of stairway requirements in certain apartment buildings.

Relating to supporting vouchers and other documents attached to annual accounts filed by guardians of the estate.

Relating to designating August as Firearm Safety Awareness Month.

Relating to territory in an emergency services district that is annexed by a municipality.

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 establish defined areas and to impose a tax and issue bonds.

Relating to the exemption from ad valorem taxation of intangible personal property.

Relating to the postponement of the delinquency date for a payment of ad valorem taxes imposed by a taxing unit if the office of the collector for the taxing unit is closed on the delinquency date.

Relating to the calculation of certain ad valorem tax rates of a taxing unit for a year in which a property owner provides notice that the owner intends to appeal an order of an appraisal review board determining a protest by the owner regarding the appraisal of the owner's property.

Relating to designating March 17 as Profound Autism Awareness Day.

Designating Galveston as the official Juneteenth Capital of Texas for a 10-year period ending in 2035.

Designating September as Deaf Awareness Month for a 10-year period ending in 2035.

Designating April as Counseling Awareness Month for a 10-year period ending in 2035.

Designating Galveston as the official Mardi Gras Capital of Texas for a 10-year period ending in 2035.

Redesignating Poteet as the official Strawberry Capital of Texas for a 10-year period ending in 2035.

Designating May as Necrotizing Enterocolitis and Breastfeeding Awareness Month for a 10-year period ending in 2035.

Redesignating Dripping Springs as the official Wedding Capital of Texas for a 10-year period ending in 2035.

Redesignating Jim Hogg County as the official Vaquero Capital of Texas for a 10-year period ending in 2035.

Designating La Salle County as the official Wild Hog Capital of Texas for a 10-year period ending in 2035.

Designating Carthage as the official Country Music Capital of Texas for a 10-year period ending in 2035.

Designating September 16 as Lone Star Santas Charities Day for a 10-year period ending in 2035.

Designating Brenham as the official Ice Cream Capital of Texas for a 10-year period ending in 2035.

Designating the Texas Almanac as the official State Book of Texas.

Redesignating Brownsville as the official Bicycling Capital of the Rio Grande Valley for a 10-year period ending in 2035.

Designating Port Aransas as the official Fishing Capital of Texas for a 10-year period ending in 2035.

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

Relating to the use of municipal hotel occupancy tax revenue by certain municipalities.

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.

Relating to the transition of certain veterans' mental health initiatives from the Texas Health and Human Services Commission to the Texas Veterans Commission.

Committee referral on the following:

Relating to a prohibition on certain governmental contracts with foreign adversary companies and federally banned companies; authorizing a civil penalty.

State Affairs

Relating to the applicability of certain laws requiring health care cost disclosures by health benefit plan issuers and administrators.

Health & Human Services

Relating to the determination and reporting of the number of residence homesteads of certain property owners for which the owner is receiving certain ad valorem tax benefits.

Local Government

Relating to the creation of the Texas technology and innovation program.

Economic Development

Relating to the punishment for the criminal offense of attempted capital murder of a peace officer; increasing a criminal penalty; changing eligibility for parole and mandatory supervision.

Criminal Justice

Relating to the creation of the Texas Commission on Teacher Job Satisfaction and Retention.

Education K-16

Relating to developing a strategic plan for the improvement and expansion of early learning and educational opportunities for young children with disabilities.

Education K-16

Relating to the recovery of fees, court costs, and expenses in family law proceedings.

Jurisprudence

Relating to the venue for the prosecution of certain criminal conduct involving theft.

Criminal Justice

Relating to certain procedures in connection with a bond forfeiture.

Criminal Justice

Relating to the maximum amount of operating capital retained in a licensed authorized organization's charitable bingo account.

State Affairs

Relating to cancellation of certain solid waste disposal permits issued by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.

Natural Resources

Relating to statutes of limitation and repose for certain claims involving the construction or repair of an improvement to real property.

State Affairs

Relating to authorizing a beneficiary designation that transfers a manufactured home classified as personal property at the owner's death.

Jurisprudence

Relating to the cancellation of certain consumer transactions.

Business & Commerce

Relating to the exemption of certain activities from regulation as a structural pest control service.

Water, Agriculture and Rural Affairs

Relating to the administration of a retirement health care plan for firefighters and police officers in certain municipalities.

Finance

Relating to allowing the chair of the State Board of Education to employ personnel to assist in performing the board's duties.

Education K-16

Relating to the generation of electric power by a water supply or sewer service corporation.

Business & Commerce

Relating to an early childhood integrated data system.

Health & Human Services

Relating to the recovery of certain costs associated with a gas utility's plant, facilities, or equipment placed in service.

Natural Resources

Relating to the dedication and management of water rights placed in the Texas Water Trust.

Water, Agriculture and Rural Affairs

Relating to the Texas Pharmaceutical Initiative.

Health & Human Services

Relating to an alternative capital recovery process for certain utilities.

Business & Commerce

Relating to the content of certain contracts entered into by governmental entities.

Business & Commerce

Relating to required lease terms for public property leased to a nongovernmental entity.

Business & Commerce

Relating to penalties in certain suits involving a groundwater conservation district; increasing a penalty.

Water, Agriculture and Rural Affairs

Relating to resident tuition rates and fees at public institutions of higher education for certain students in military-related programs.

Veteran Affairs

Relating to the creation of the Montgomery County Municipal Utility District No. 258; granting a limited power of eminent domain; providing authority to issue bonds; providing authority to impose assessments, fees, and taxes.

Local Government

Expressing support for the strengthening of our partnership with Israel and for the creation of a Texas Trade and Investment Office in Israel.

Economic Development