A Senate State Affairs committee on June 21 voted to report Senate Bill 19 favorably to the full Senate; the bill would extend the same prohibitions on accepting political contributions that apply during a regular legislative session to special sessions, committee sponsor Senator Bettencourt said.

The bill, filed as a Lieutenant Governor priority measure and carried in committee by Senator Bettencourt, would bar anyone from knowingly making political contributions to a statewide officer, a member of the legislature, or a specific‑purpose committee supporting or opposing those officials during the period beginning on the date a special legislative session convenes and continuing through final adjournment of that special session. The measure also would prohibit covered officers and members from accepting political contributions during that period. “Senate bill 19 will ensure the same prohibitions in place on accepting political contributions during a regular session apply to a special session,” Bettencourt said.

Why it matters: supporters said the bill preserves a separation between official law‑making time and campaign activity, arguing that special sessions have expanded into extended, mini legislative sessions and that fundraising tied to floor actions can create the appearance that money drives policy. Bettencourt told the committee the change would prevent incidents in which fundraising appeals were tied to actions on the Senate floor.

Committee debate centered on scope and fairness. Senator Hall asked whether the prohibition would apply only to incumbents or also to candidates who are not currently officeholders: “Is this gonna apply to everyone who’s running for office or might run for office? Or are we just gonna handicap those who are in office?” Bettencourt replied that applying the prohibition to prospective candidates would likely require a constitutional amendment: “It would probably take a constitutional amendment to talk about people that are filed for office. So this is just the statute and not a constitutional amendment.”

Other members urged refinements rather than a blanket ban. Senator Zaffirini said she was concerned about moving fast with limited public notice and requested more time for consideration: “I worry … that this could have unintended consequences and certainly needs a lot more thought than just suddenly introducing the bills, suspending the rules and hearing it with very little public comment.” Senator Perry suggested procedural workarounds such as requiring a 30‑day notice before a governor’s special session to reduce scheduling conflicts for campaign events.

Bipartisan remarks acknowledged the practical difficulty of timing and compliance. Several senators noted scenarios where previously booked campaign events could fall within a suddenly called special session; one senator suggested thinking through grandfathering or notice rules for planned events. Bettencourt said he would check whether expanding the prohibition to candidates would require constitutional change and said he remained committed to extending the regular‑session rule to special sessions to keep public policy decisions separate from fundraising.

The committee voted to report the bill favorably to the full Senate. The committee clerk announced the tally as eight ayes and three nays. Bettencourt noted the bill would take immediate effect only if it receives a two‑thirds vote in each chamber.

What’s next: The bill is scheduled to move to the full Senate for consideration. If the Senate approves it, the measure’s immediate‑effect provision would still require a two‑thirds vote in both chambers to become effective immediately; otherwise the normal effective‑date rules would apply.