SENATE FLOOR ACTION

Tuesday

May 20, 2025

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

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.

Relating to the authority of a county commissioners court to adopt an exemption from ad valorem taxation by each taxing unit that taxes the property of the portion of the appraised value of a person's property that is attributable to the installation in or on the property of certain water conservation systems.

Relating to a prohibition on certain persons supporting terrorist activity at public institutions of higher education.

1 Floor Amendment

Relating to early registration for students in military-related programs at public institutions of higher education.

Relating to the establishment of the sickle cell disease registry.

1 Floor Amendment

Relating to the confidentiality of information used to prevent, detect, respond to, or investigate a hostile act of a foreign adversary of the United States.

Relating to the notification of certain persons concerning certain events related to children in the managing conservatorship of the Department of Family and Protective Services.

Relating to the Texas Medical Disclosure Panel.

Relating to a study on the increased incidence of cancer in female firefighters in this state.

Relating to a study by the General Land Office regarding veterans cemeteries in this state.

Relating to the disclosure under the public information law of a motor vehicle license plate number captured in a video recording obtained or maintained by a law enforcement agency.

Relating to certain policies and procedures for health care specialty consultations in certain child abuse or neglect investigations and assessments.

Relating to hospital staffing report and complaint processes and to retaliation and mandatory overtime protections for nurses.

Relating to assisted living facility operations and provision of certain services to assisted living facility residents without a license; creating a criminal offense.

Relating to a paid leave of absence for public employees serving as fire protection personnel who are engaged in certain military service.

Relating to fingerprinting requirements for the issuance of dealer general distinguishing numbers to certain persons.

Relating to the prosecution of the criminal offenses of prohibited barratry and solicitation of professional employment.

Relating to the disclosure of certain fraud detection information obtained in the administration of the unemployment compensation system.

Relating to a grant program for nonprofit organizations supporting employees of the Department of Public Safety; authorizing voluntary contributions.

Relating to vision care benefits, including participation of optometrists and therapeutic optometrists in vision care or managed care plans.

Relating to late applications for the appraisal of land for ad valorem tax purposes as qualified timber land following the death of the owner of the land.

Relating to training on Alzheimer's disease, dementia, and related disorders for certain guardians.

Relating to the transfer of certain real property from the Texas Department of Transportation to the Texas Department of Public Safety.

Relating to the dissolution of the Rose City Municipal Utility District.

Relating to the authority and responsibilities of the Texas Historical Commission; authorizing fees.

1 Floor Amendment

Relating to a governmental body's response to a request for public information.

Relating to fraud prevention and verifying eligibility for benefits under Medicaid.

Relating to civil liability for prohibited barratry.

Relating to electronic delivery of notice for certain municipal zoning changes.

Relating to the regulation of child-care facilities that maintain a certificate to operate issued by the United States Department of Defense.

Relating to access to criminal history record information that relates to providers and provider applicants under Medicaid and other public benefits programs administered by the Health and Human Services Commission.

Relating to the municipal issuance of a document verifying that a certificate of occupancy has been issued for certain buildings.

Relating to a report on governmental opioid antagonist programs to reverse and prevent opioid overdoses.

Relating to programs to promote economic development in the Office of the Governor and to the repeal of the governor's broadband development council.

Relating to the provision of behavioral health crisis services, including measures to fund and support the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline and related services.

Relating to volunteer firefighter compensation limits.

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

Relating to prohibiting an officer or employee of this state or of a political subdivision of this state from distributing certain voter registration application forms and to the notice of availability of such forms; creating criminal offenses.

1 Floor Amendment

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

Relating to the interconnection of a facility in the ERCOT power region to certain other facilities.

The Senate adopted the following resolutions:

Recognizing the Texas Legislative Internship Program Class of the 89th Legislature.

In memory of Christopher Jake Stone.

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

Urging Congress to enhance coordination among federal, state, and local authorities in the deployment of C-UAS technologies for border security.

Paying tribute to the U.S. service members killed in action who are being honored as part of the 2025 Fallen Heroes Memorial Service.

The Senate concurred in House amendments to the following:

Proposing a constitutional amendment affirming the rights and responsibilities of parents.

Relating to the entitlement of certain municipalities to receive tax revenue from certain establishments located near a hotel and convention center project.

Relating to cottage food production operations.

Relating to notaries public; creating a criminal offense; authorizing a fee.

Relating to the amount of an expenditure made by certain political subdivisions for which a competitive procurement method may be required.

Relating to criminal conduct involving the theft, damage, or destruction of copper or brass or involving the unauthorized possession of certain copper or brass material, to transactions of metal recycling entities involving certain copper or brass material, to training on identifying certain copper or brass material, and to studying the effect of certain regulations on incidents of theft of copper or brass material; creating criminal offenses; increasing criminal penalties; providing an administrative penalty.

Relating to status of certain documents or instruments purporting to convey title to or an interest in real property.

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

Relating to the use of a social media platform in furtherance of an offense involving the delivery of a controlled substance; increasing criminal penalties.

Committee referral on the following:

Relating to communications between the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality and the governor, the lieutenant governor, or a member of the legislature.

Natural Resources

Relating to measures to encourage the earning of industry-recognized credentials at public institutions of higher education.

Education K-16

Relating to inspections and examinations by the Railroad Commission of Texas of certain sites and facilities conducted using unmanned aircraft.

Natural Resources

Relating to legislative leave for correctional officers employed by the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.

Criminal Justice

Relating to the establishment of a career and technical education reporting grant program by the Texas Education Agency.

Education K-16

Relating to the provision of financial assistance by the Texas Water Development Board for certain projects.

Water, Agriculture and Rural Affairs

Relating to searches of the state registry of paternity.

Health & Human Services

Relating to discount programs provided by toll project entities for certain customers.

Transportation

Relating to the civil prosecution of offenses involving certain municipal parking ordinances; authorizing a civil fine.

Local Government

Relating to the office of inspector general in certain municipalities and the investigators of those offices.

Criminal Justice

Relating to the authority of a special utility district to issue a public security.

Local Government

Relating to financial assistance for rail facilities.

Transportation

Relating to a sick leave pool for public school employees.

Education K-16

Designating the first Saturday of every month as Small Business Saturday for a 10-year period ending in 2035.

Administration

Designating May 23 as Family Abduction Awareness Day for a 10-year period ending in 2035.

Administration

Urging Congress to reimburse the State of Texas for border security costs incurred under Operation Lone Star.

Border Security

Urging the federal government to curb the mass importation of foreign shrimp into the United States.

Water, Agriculture and Rural Affairs

Expressing support for the expansion of the warship manufacturing industry in Texas.

Economic Development

Expressing support for the strengthening of our partnership with Taiwan.

Economic Development

Designating Slaton as the official Banana Pudding Capital of Texas for a 10-year period ending in 2035.

Administration

Urging Congress to move NASA's headquarters to Houston.

Economic Development