Texas Senate reads and refers a large number of bills and resolutions on first reading

The Senate convened and the secretary read a long list of Senate bills and concurrent resolutions on first reading and referred them to the standing committees specified during the reading. The reading covered measures on water infrastructure, education, criminal justice, health and human services, business and commerce, transportation and other topics.

The list included bills described in the reading as, for example, Senate Bill 30 by Schwartner relating to water infrastructure matters under the jurisdiction of the Texas Water Development Board; Senate Bill 33 by Campbell et al. relating to prohibited transactions and logistical support between a governmental entity and an abortion assistance entity; and Senate Bill 36 by Parker relating to Homeland Security activities of certain entities (read for referral to the border security committee). The reading also included measures on school governance and discipline, utility regulation and rate-making, criminal penalties and procedure, taxation and finance, and numerous other policy areas. Several concurrent resolutions were read as well, including ones urging federal action on border security and requesting a congressional balanced-budget requirement.

The reading was a procedural step: each bill and resolution was placed on first reading and assigned to the committee listed in the reading for further consideration. The secretary read committee destinations aloud as part of the roll call of measures; the transcript lists committee names such as Water, Agriculture and Rural Affairs; State Affairs; Business and Commerce; Education K-16; Health and Human Services; Criminal Justice; Transportation; Finance; Natural Resources; Local Government; Jurisprudence; Economic Development; and others.

Because the session consisted of the secretary’s reading of titles and committee referrals, there were no debates or recorded votes in the transcript. The reading covered measures with a wide range of topics and sponsors — bill numbers referenced in the reading extended from the 30s into the 2000s, and many authors’ surnames were identified in the reading (for example, Schwartner, Hughes, Bettencourt, Parker, Campbell, Sparks, Creighton, Birdwell, Perry, West, Huffman, and others as listed during the reading).

Pursuant to a previously adopted motion, the Senate stood adjourned until 11 a.m. Tuesday, March 18, according to the reading at the end of the transcript. The referred measures will proceed to the committees named during the first reading for hearings, consideration, and any subsequent committee actions.