The Texas Senate on a 21-6 vote approved Senate Bill 19, which bars current statewide officeholders, members of the Legislature and specified political committees from knowingly making or accepting political contributions during certain special legislative sessions.

Senator Paul Bettencourt, the bills author, said the measure is intended to extend to special sessions the same contribution restrictions that apply during the regular session. "This bill will ensure that the same prohibitions in place on accepting political contributions during a regular session apply to a special session," Bettencourt said on the floor. He added a floor amendment limiting the bills application to special sessions that begin before Sept. 1 in odd-numbered years; the chamber adopted that amendment without objection.

The bill prompted procedural and policy debate. Senator José Mens point of order argued SB 19 was outside the governors proclamation calling the special session; Senator Judith Zaffirini (who raised a merits amendment) also argued for parity between officeholders and challengers. The point of order was overruled by the presiding officer, and an amendment offered by Zaffirini to apply identical restrictions to challengers failed 8-19.

Senator Royce West (speaking in opposition) said the bill "doesn't really scratch the surface" of the state's campaign finance issues and warned it simply delays fundraising rather than addressing disclosure or contribution limits. Senator Bettencourt said the adopted amendment and the bill are meant to reduce the possibility that special sessions are used as fundraising opportunities and to discourage extended quorum-break tactics that have led to frequent special sessions.

Procedural steps on SB 19 included a roll call that passed engrossment and a subsequent suspension of the Senates constitutional three-day rule before final passage. The final passage vote was recorded as 21 ayes and 6 nays. The bill, as amended on the floor, applies only to special legislative sessions that begin before Sept. 1 in odd-numbered years.

Details on scope: the bill covers current officeholders (the authors phrasing) and "specific purpose committees" formed to support or oppose those officeholders; it does not create new disclosure requirements or alter existing campaign finance reporting rules, according to exchanges on the floor. Bettencourt said the bill does not create public financing or contribution limits; it bans acceptance of contributions during the covered special session period.

The Senate also recorded contested floor moments: a senator raised a point of order asserting the subject was not in the governors call; that point of order cited Article 3, Section 40 of the Texas Constitution but was overruled. Following adoption of the Bettencourt amendment and defeat of Zaffirinis amendment, the Senate passed SB 19 to final passage.

The lieutenant governors office later addressed an unrelated fundraising email sent during a filibuster break, saying the Senate cannot be used as the backdrop for a fundraiser and emphasizing the chambers resources should not be used for campaign purposes.

What happens next: SB 19 passed the Senate after floor amendments; the Senate record shows the bill now moves to whatever next step the legislative process and the governors calendar require.