Senate suspends rule to allow committee meetings; secretary reads and refers a slate of bills

Senator Zaffirini moved and the Senate adopted a suspension of Senate rule 11.13 to allow committees to meet during the reading and referral of bills.

The motion was made “in writing,” and, after being posed by the presiding officer, the chamber heard the secretary read a large slate of bills and resolutions on first reading and referred each to the committee named on the floor. A messenger from the House delivered a message to the Senate before the reading continued. The Senate adjourned under a previously adopted motion until 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, March 11.

“I move to suspend senate rule 11.13 so that committees may meet during the reading and referral of bills,” Senator Zaffirini said when presenting the written motion. The presiding officer asked if there was any objection; none was voiced, and the motion was adopted.

After the motion, the secretary proceeded to read the bills and resolutions on first reading and announced committee referrals as called. The items read included, among many others:

- Senate Bill 1576 by Zaffirini, relating to the qualifications of certain masters, magistrates, referees and associate justices, referred to Jurisprudence. - Senate Bill 1577 by Parker, relating to the temporary sale of alcoholic beverages at certain racing facilities, referred to State Affairs. - Senate Bill 1578 by Parker, relating to a health care provider participation program in certain counties, referred to Local Government. - Senate Bill 1586 by Schwartner, relating to TCEQ permits for certain wastewater treatment facilities, referred to Water, Agriculture and Rural Affairs. - Senate Bill 1596 by Hagenboe, relating to the prohibition of short-barrel firearms, referred to State Affairs. - SCR 27 by Eckhart authorizing burial in the state cemetery, referred to Administration. - SCR 29 by Blanco designating El Paso as the official boot capital of Texas for a specified period, referred to Administration (as read on the floor). - Multiple Senate joint resolutions (SJR) proposing constitutional amendments, including measures on water funding and time observance, which were referred to committees listed on the floor.

A messenger announced a communication from the House before the secretary continued. “I am directed by the house to inform the senate that the house has taken the following action,” the messenger said on the floor.

The Senate concluded the reading and referrals and stood adjourned pursuant to a previously adopted motion until 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, March 11.

Details such as fiscal notes, full bill text, and committee hearing dates were not provided in the reading; the secretary announced only bill numbers, short descriptions, sponsors, and the committee to which each item was referred. The specific effective dates or additional procedural steps for the listed measures were not specified during the reading.