Texas Legislature
Bills Coauthored
Sen. Paul Bettencourt
88th Legislature Regular Session
Report Date: 10/6/2024

Number of Bills: 60

SB 2 Author: Hughes
Coauthor: Bettencourt | Creighton | Flores | Huffman | King | et al.
Last Action: 04/10/2023 H Referred to Elections: Apr 10 2023 3:28PM
Caption: Relating to conduct constituting the criminal offense of illegal voting; increasing a criminal penalty.

SB 12 Author: Hughes
Coauthor: Bettencourt | Birdwell | Creighton | Kolkhorst | Paxton | et al.
Sponsor: Shaheen | Metcalf | Burrows | Harris, Caroline | Isaac
Last Action: 06/18/2023 E Effective on 9/1/23
Caption: Relating to the authority to regulate sexually oriented performances and to restricting those performances on the premises of a commercial enterprise, on public property, or in the presence of an individual younger than 18 years of age; authorizing a civil penalty; creating a criminal offense.

SB 17 Author: Creighton | Campbell | King | Kolkhorst | Middleton | et al.
Coauthor: Bettencourt | Birdwell | Hall | Huffman | Perry
Sponsor: Kuempel | Shaheen | Bonnen
Last Action: 06/17/2023 E Effective on 1/1/24
Caption: Relating to diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives at public institutions of higher education.

SB 24 Author: Kolkhorst | Campbell | Creighton | Hall | King | et al.
Coauthor: Bettencourt | Hancock | Huffman | Hughes
Sponsor: Frank | Noble | Hull
Last Action: 06/18/2023 E Effective on 9/1/23
Caption: Relating to the powers and duties of the Health and Human Services Commission and the transfer to the commission of certain powers and duties from the Department of Family and Protective Services.

SB 29 Author: Birdwell
Coauthor: Bettencourt | Blanco | Campbell | Creighton | Flores | et al.
Sponsor: Lozano | Gerdes
Last Action: 06/02/2023 E Effective on 9/1/23
Caption: Relating to prohibited governmental entity implementation or enforcement of a vaccine mandate, mask requirement, or private business or school closure to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

SB 147 Author: Kolkhorst
Coauthor: Bettencourt | Creighton | Hall | Hinojosa | Middleton | et al.
Last Action: 05/04/2023 H Referred to State Affairs: May 4 2023 8:56PM
Caption: Relating to the purchase of or acquisition of title to real property by certain aliens or foreign entities.

SB 175 Author: Middleton
Coauthor: Bettencourt | Creighton | Hall | King | Paxton | et al.
Last Action: 04/13/2023 H Referred to State Affairs: Apr 13 2023 1:37PM
Caption: Relating to the use by a political subdivision of public funds for lobbying and certain other activities.

SB 176 Author: Middleton
Coauthor: Bettencourt
Last Action: 03/22/2023 S Left pending in committee
Caption: Relating to the establishment of the Texas Parental Empowerment Program and an insurance premium tax credit for contributions made for purposes of that program.

SB 224 Author: Alvarado | Whitmire
Coauthor: Bettencourt | Blanco | Campbell | Eckhardt | Flores | et al.
Sponsor: Leach | Hull | Oliverson | Goldman | Walle
Last Action: 05/29/2023 E See remarks for effective date
Caption: Relating to catalytic converters, including criminal conduct involving catalytic converters; providing an administrative penalty; creating a criminal offense; increasing a criminal penalty; increasing a fee.

SB 249 Author: Hall | Campbell | Perry
Coauthor: Bettencourt | Parker
Last Action: 02/15/2023 S Referred to State Affairs
Caption: Relating to the offense of genital mutilation.

SB 252 Author: Alvarado
Coauthor: Bettencourt | Birdwell | Blanco | Eckhardt | Menéndez
Sponsor: Guillen | Vo | Cortez | Garcia | Neave Criado
Last Action: 06/18/2023 E Effective on 9/1/23
Caption: Relating to the licensing of certain veterans by the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement and the hiring of those veterans by political subdivisions.

SB 260 Author: Kolkhorst
Coauthor: Bettencourt | Springer
Last Action: 04/20/2023 H Referred to Elections: Apr 20 2023 2:20PM
Caption: Relating to confirmation of a voter's residence by a voter registrar.

SB 287 Author: Huffman
Coauthor: Bettencourt | Campbell | Eckhardt | Flores | Hinojosa | et al.
Last Action: 03/07/2023 S Left pending in committee
Caption: Relating to the prosecution of the offense of terroristic threat.

SB 340 Author: Springer
Coauthor: Bettencourt | Eckhardt | Miles | West
Last Action: 02/15/2023 S Referred to Finance
Caption: Relating to a sales and use tax exemption for child and adult diapers.

SB 361 Author: Eckhardt
Coauthor: Bettencourt | Hall | Nichols | Parker | Springer
Sponsor: Shine
Last Action: 06/16/2023 E Vetoed by the Governor
Caption: Relating to the eligibility of a person employed by a school district as a teacher to serve on the appraisal review board of an appraisal district.

SB 386 Author: Hall
Coauthor: Bettencourt | Creighton | Flores | Hinojosa | Paxton | et al.
Sponsor: Harless | Cook | Neave Criado | Bell, Keith | Moody
Last Action: 06/18/2023 E Effective on 9/1/23
Caption: Relating to the prosecution of a capital murder committed against a peace officer or fireman.

SB 397 Author: Hall
Coauthor: Bettencourt | Parker
Last Action: 04/27/2023 H Referred to Elections: Apr 27 2023 6:39PM
Caption: Relating to the procedures for closing a polling place.

SB 402 Author: Whitmire
Coauthor: Bettencourt | Creighton | Huffman | Miles
Sponsor: Harless
Last Action: 06/18/2023 E Effective on 9/1/23
Caption: Relating to the preference given by trial courts to hearings and trials for murder and capital murder offenses.

SB 435 Author: Middleton
Coauthor: Bettencourt | Eckhardt | Hall | Kolkhorst | West | et al.
Sponsor: Bonnen
Last Action: 05/24/2023 E Effective immediately
Caption: Relating to the disclosure under the public information law of certain evidence of a crime that resulted in the death of a person.

SB 490 Author: Hughes
Coauthor: Bettencourt | Hancock | West | Zaffirini
Sponsor: Harris, Caroline | Klick | Frank | Campos | Collier
Last Action: 05/29/2023 E Effective on 9/1/23
Caption: Relating to itemized billing for health care services and supplies provided by health care providers.

SB 506 Author: Perry
Coauthor: Bettencourt | Birdwell | Blanco | Creighton | Flores | et al.
Last Action: 04/24/2023 H Referred to State Affairs: Apr 24 2023 7:06PM
Caption: Relating to information required to be reported biennially to the legislature by state agencies that administer state taxes or fees.

SB 559 Author: Hughes
Coauthor: Bettencourt | Birdwell | Creighton | Flores | Middleton | et al.
Sponsor: Cain | Schofield | Slawson | Murr | Vasut
Last Action: 05/23/2023 H Placed on General State Calendar
Caption: Relating to discrimination against or burdening certain constitutional rights of an applicant for or holder of a license to practice law in this state.

SB 578 Author: Zaffirini
Coauthor: Bettencourt | West
Sponsor: Thompson, Senfronia | Manuel | Garcia
Last Action: 05/23/2023 E Effective on 9/1/23
Caption: Relating to the confidentiality of certain personal information of an applicant for or a person protected by a protective order.

SB 599 Author: Birdwell
Coauthor: Bettencourt | Hughes
Sponsor: Anderson | Orr | Guillen | Harris, Cody
Last Action: 06/18/2023 E Effective on 9/1/23
Caption: Relating to the carrying or possession of a handgun by a district or county clerk and the issuance of a handgun license to a district or county clerk.

SB 629 Author: Menéndez
Coauthor: Bettencourt | Blanco | Campbell | Eckhardt | Gutierrez | et al.
Sponsor: Talarico | Oliverson | Leo-Wilson | Howard | Zwiener
Last Action: 06/18/2023 E Effective immediately
Caption: Relating to the maintenance, administration, and disposal of opioid antagonists on public and private school campuses and to the permissible uses of money appropriated to a state agency from the opioid abatement account.

SB 651 Author: Perry
Coauthor: Bettencourt | Hall | Hancock
Last Action: 02/17/2023 S Referred to Health & Human Services
Caption: Relating to the repeal of certain contracting requirements under the Medicaid managed care delivery model.

SB 728 Author: Huffman
Coauthor: Alvarado | Bettencourt | Blanco | Eckhardt | Flores | et al.
Sponsor: Leach
Last Action: 06/02/2023 E Effective on 9/1/23
Caption: Relating to the reporting of mental health and intellectual disability information with respect to certain children for purposes of a federal firearm background check.

SB 745 Author: Kolkhorst | Campbell | Hall | Schwertner | Sparks
Coauthor: Bettencourt
Sponsor: Noble
Last Action: 05/29/2023 E Effective on 9/1/23
Caption: Relating to fraud prevention under certain health care programs.

SB 763 Author: Middleton
Coauthor: Bettencourt | Creighton | Hughes | Perry
Sponsor: Hefner | Buckley | Burrows | Harris, Cody
Last Action: 06/18/2023 E Effective on 9/1/23
Caption: Relating to allowing public schools to employ or accept as volunteers chaplains.

SB 896 Author: Hughes
Coauthor: Bettencourt
Sponsor: Leach
Last Action: 05/23/2023 H Placed on General State Calendar
Caption: Relating to the stay of proceedings pending an interlocutory appeal of a denial of a motion to dismiss in an action involving the exercise of certain constitutional rights.

SB 921 Author: Hughes
Coauthor: Bettencourt | Hall | Kolkhorst | Middleton
Last Action: 04/03/2023 H Referred to Elections: Apr 3 2023 2:31PM
Caption: Relating to the determination of a majority vote in certain elections.

SB 957 Author: Alvarado
Coauthor: Bettencourt
Sponsor: Walle | Leach | Hull
Last Action: 05/19/2023 E Effective on 9/1/23
Caption: Relating to the designation of a portion of United States Highway 59 in Harris County as the Deputy Sheriff Darren Almendarez Memorial Highway.

SB 994 Author: Schwertner
Coauthor: Bettencourt | Creighton | Flores | Springer
Sponsor: Burrows
Last Action: 06/18/2023 E Effective on 9/1/23
Caption: Relating to the declaration of a candidate's ineligibility on the basis of failure to pay a filing fee or submit a petition in lieu of a filing fee.

SB 1000 Author: West
Coauthor: Alvarado | Bettencourt | Blanco | Gutierrez | Hall | et al.
Sponsor: Shine | Thierry
Last Action: 05/23/2023 H Committee report sent to Calendars
Caption: Relating to a temporary exemption from sales and use taxes for certain clothing and footwear.

SB 1029 Author: Hall
Coauthor: Bettencourt | Campbell | Creighton | Kolkhorst | Parker | et al.
Last Action: 05/06/2023 H Referred to State Affairs: May 6 2023 3:49PM
Caption: Relating to civil liability for, governmental health plan coverage of, and public funding for gender modification procedures and treatments.

SB 1070 Author: Hughes
Coauthor: Bettencourt | Creighton | Hall | Kolkhorst | Middleton | et al.
Sponsor: Jetton | Leo-Wilson | Allison | Murr
Last Action: 06/18/2023 E Effective on 9/1/23
Caption: Relating to the interstate voter registration crosscheck program.

SB 1114 Author: Hancock
Coauthor: Bettencourt | Hall | Kolkhorst
Last Action: 04/12/2023 H Referred to State Affairs: Apr 12 2023 12:21PM
Caption: Relating to the authority of a political subdivision to regulate the use or sale of a product for the purpose of reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

SB 1124 Author: King
Coauthor: Bettencourt | Eckhardt
Sponsor: Neave Criado | Cook
Last Action: 05/24/2023 E Effective on 9/1/23
Caption: Relating to qualifications of a sheriff or a candidate for sheriff.

SB 1216 Author: Paxton
Coauthor: Bettencourt
Sponsor: Hefner
Last Action: 05/23/2023 H Placed on General State Calendar
Caption: Relating to the issuance of a license to carry a handgun to certain active and retired judicial officers.

SB 1249 Author: Hancock
Coauthor: Bettencourt | Menéndez | Miles | Zaffirini
Sponsor: Oliverson
Last Action: 05/19/2023 E Effective on 9/1/23
Caption: Relating to the establishment of a living organ donor education program.

SB 1381 Author: Eckhardt
Coauthor: Bettencourt | Blanco | Flores | Gutierrez | Hall | et al.
Sponsor: Hefner
Last Action: 05/27/2023 E Effective on 1/1/24
Caption: Relating to the eligibility of the surviving spouse of an elderly person who qualified for a local option exemption from ad valorem taxation by a taxing unit of a portion of the appraised value of the deceased person's residence homestead to continue to receive an exemption for the same property from the same taxing unit in an amount equal to that of the exemption for which the deceased person qualified without applying for the exemption.

SB 1396 Author: Middleton
Coauthor: Bettencourt | Campbell | Creighton | Flores | King | et al.
Last Action: 04/25/2023 H Referred to State Affairs: Apr 25 2023 5:13PM
Caption: Relating to a period of prayer and reading of the Bible or other religious text in public schools.

SB 1427 Author: Flores
Coauthor: Bettencourt | Creighton
Last Action: 04/18/2023 H Referred to State Affairs: Apr 18 2023 7:00PM
Caption: Relating to certain criminal conduct and organizations that threaten the security of this state and its residents and borders; increasing criminal penalties.

SB 1565 Author: Hughes
Coauthor: Bettencourt | Paxton | Springer
Sponsor: Paul
Last Action: 06/18/2023 E Effective on 9/1/23
Caption: Relating to requiring the establishment of policy frameworks for research security at public institutions of higher education.

SB 1602 Author: Hughes
Coauthor: Bettencourt | Creighton | Kolkhorst
Sponsor: Cain | Vasut | Schofield | Smith | Thompson, Ed
Last Action: 05/29/2023 E Effective on 9/1/23
Caption: Relating to venue and choice of law for certain actions involving censorship by social media platforms.

SB 1849 Author: Kolkhorst
Coauthor: Bettencourt | Blanco | Hall | Miles | Paxton | et al.
Sponsor: Noble
Last Action: 06/18/2023 E Effective on 9/1/23
Caption: Relating to an interagency reportable conduct search engine, standards for a person's removal from the employee misconduct registry and eligibility for certification as certain Texas Juvenile Justice Department officers and employees, and the use of certain information by certain state agencies to conduct background checks.

SB 1927 Author: Hughes
Coauthor: Bettencourt
Last Action: 04/11/2023 S Not again placed on intent calendar
Caption: Relating to the appointment, duties, and removal of the state prosecuting attorney.

SB 1967 Author: Perry
Coauthor: Bettencourt | Paxton
Last Action: 03/21/2023 S Referred to Criminal Justice
Caption: Relating to compensation and leave for certain employees of the office of inspector general of the Texas Juvenile Justice Department.

SB 1979 Author: Hughes
Coauthor: Bettencourt | Kolkhorst | Middleton | Sparks
Sponsor: Harris, Caroline
Last Action: 06/16/2023 E Vetoed by the Governor
Caption: Relating to an annual study by the Texas A&M University Texas Real Estate Research Center of the purchase and sale of single-family homes by certain institutional buyers.

SB 2015 Author: King | Schwertner
Coauthor: Bettencourt | Hughes | Kolkhorst
Last Action: 04/17/2023 H Referred to State Affairs: Apr 17 2023 1:42PM
Caption: Relating to the legislature's goals for electric generation capacity in this state.

SB 2451 Author: Menéndez
Coauthor: Bettencourt
Last Action: 04/28/2023 H Referred to Elections: Apr 28 2023 2:39PM
Caption: Relating to personal information entered on the carrier envelope of a ballot to be voted by mail.

SB 2627 Author: Schwertner
Coauthor: Alvarado | Bettencourt
Sponsor: Hunter
Last Action: 06/09/2023 E Effective on adoption of const. amendment
Caption: Relating to funding mechanisms to support the construction, maintenance, modernization, and operation of electric generating facilities.

SCR 2 Author: Nichols
Coauthor: Bettencourt | Blanco | Hinojosa | Zaffirini
Sponsor: Canales
Last Action: 06/09/2023 E Signed by the Governor
Caption: Extending the duty of the comptroller of public accounts under Section 7-c, Article VIII, Texas Constitution, to deposit certain tax revenue to the state highway fund.

SCR 17 Author: Hughes
Coauthor: Bettencourt | Creighton
Last Action: 04/10/2023 H Referred to State Affairs: Apr 10 2023 3:28PM
Caption: Urging Congress to propose and submit to the states for ratification the "Keep Nine" amendment to the U.S. Constitution.

SJR 29 Author: Paxton
Coauthor: Bettencourt | Creighton | Middleton
Last Action: 04/28/2023 H Referred to Public Education: Apr 28 2023 2:39PM
Caption: Proposing a constitutional amendment establishing a parent's right to direct a child's education.

SJR 35 Author: Birdwell
Coauthor: Bettencourt | Hall | Menéndez | Middleton
Sponsor: Geren
Last Action: 05/24/2023 H Failed of adoption
Caption: Proposing a constitutional amendment clarifying that a voter must be a United States citizen.

SJR 44 Author: Huffman | Hinojosa
Coauthor: Bettencourt | Kolkhorst | Parker | Paxton
Sponsor: Smith
Last Action: 05/23/2023 H Postponed
Caption: Proposing a constitutional amendment authorizing the denial of bail under some circumstances to a person accused of certain violent or sexual offenses or of continuous trafficking of persons and requiring a judge or magistrate to impose the least restrictive conditions of bail that may be necessary to ensure the person's appearance in court as required and the safety of the community, law enforcement, and the victim of the alleged offense.

SJR 52 Author: Birdwell
Coauthor: Bettencourt
Sponsor: Vasut
Last Action: 05/23/2023 H Postponed
Caption: Extending the deadline for the automatic rescission of certain applications made by the Texas Legislature to the United States Congress to call a national convention under Article V of the United States Constitution for proposing any amendment to that constitution.

SJR 59 Author: Birdwell
Coauthor: Bettencourt | Eckhardt | Johnson | Zaffirini
Last Action: 04/06/2023 H Received from the Senate
Caption: Proposing a constitutional amendment regarding the time during which the legislature may act on bills or resolutions during a regular session.

SR 458 Author: Creighton
Coauthor: Bettencourt
Last Action: 04/25/2023 S Reported enrolled
Caption: Recognizing the Spring Fire Department on the occasion of its 70th anniversary.

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