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Texas Senate adopts series of ceremonial resolutions and receives gubernatorial nominations
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Summary
On March 4, 2025, the Texas Senate adopted a package of ceremonial resolutions recognizing counties, universities, professional days and memorials and received gubernatorial nominations for several state advisory boards and authorities, all by voice vote with no recorded opposition.
The Texas Senate on March 4, 2025, adopted a series of ceremonial resolutions honoring counties, universities, professional observances and memorials and received from the governor a slate of nominations to state authorities and professional licensing boards, the presiding officer announced.
The actions were taken largely by unanimous voice vote or without objection. Senators moved for adoption of individual resolutions recognizing Montgomery County Day, Golden Triangle Days, Texas Southern University Day, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Day, Nurse Day at the Capitol, Cotton Day, and multiple memorial resolutions honoring individuals including Johnny Canales and Judge L. Clifford Davis. The chamber also heard a message from Governor Greg Abbott listing nominations to the Upper Guadalupe River Authority and the Texas State Board of Acupuncture Examiners.
Why it matters: Although ceremonial, these votes form part of the official record and provide formal legislative recognition for communities and organizations that frequently use such observances to raise local issues, recruit attention to causes and support constituent delegations visiting the Capitol.
Votes at a glance
- SR 187 (Creighton et al.) — Recognizing March 4, 2025, as Montgomery County Day at the State Capitol. Moved by Senator Creighton; adopted (no objection).
- SR 135 (Nichols and Creighton) — Recognizing March 2025 as Golden Triangle Days at the State Capitol. Moved by Senator Nichols; adopted (no objection).
- SR 200 (Miles et al.) — Recognizing March 4, 2025, as Texas Southern University Day at the State Capitol. Moved by Senator Miles; adopted (no objection). During remarks, Miles noted a $94,000,000 appropriation the Senate approved in a previous session for health-and-safety repairs at Texas Southern, and senators discussed campus programs including Thurgood Marshall School of Law and an expanding aviation program.
- SR 199 (Miles et al.) — Recognizing March 4, 2025, as Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Day at the State Capitol. Moved by Senator Miles; adopted (no objection).
- SR 191 (Hinojosa) — Memorial resolution honoring Johnny Canales. Moved by Senator Hinojosa; adopted (no objection). Multiple senators spoke in tribute to Canales' role in Tejano music and broadcasting.
- SR 197 (Hall) — Commemorating the 75th anniversary of the Christian Life Commission (Baptist General Convention of Texas). Moved by Senator Hall; adopted (no objection).
- SR 44 (Blanco) — Recognizing April 9 as Education and Sharing Day at the State Capitol (Chabad Lubavitch of Texas). Moved by Senator Blanco; adopted (no objection).
- SR 180 (Cook et al.) — Recognizing March 4, 2025, as Nurse Day at the State Capitol. Moved by Senator Cook; adopted (no objection). Senator Cook said, “Nurses take care of Texas so we must listen to them and take care of them too.” Several senators described workforce pressure, mental-health strain in the profession, and the need for staffing resources.
- SR 171 (Perry) — Recognizing March 4, 2025, as Cotton Day at the State Capitol. Moved by Senator Perry; adopted (no objection).
- SR 198 (Eckhart) — Recognizing March 2025 as Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month and acknowledging the Texas Society of Gastroenterology and Endoscopy legislative advocacy day. Moved by Senator Eckhart; adopted (no objection).
- SR 188 (West) — Memorial resolution honoring L. Clifford Davis. Moved by Senator West; adopted (no objection).
- SR 185 (Creighton) — Commemorating Texas Independence Day 2025. Moved by Senator Creighton; adopted (no objection). Senator Creighton read a historical family letter from March 1836.
- A package of additional predominantly ceremonial resolutions listed on the floor and adopted by voice vote included SR 173, SR 179, SR 181, SR 182, SR 183, SR 184, SR 186, SR 189, SR 192, SR 195, SR 196, SR 201, SR 204, SR 205 and SCR 21. The chair announced these were adopted by voice vote with no recorded opposition.
Nominations submitted to the Senate
- Message from the governor (read by the secretary): Governor Greg Abbott submitted nominations for advice, consent and confirmation to multiple boards. Nominations read included appointments to the Upper Guadalupe River Authority (Richard G. Eastland of Hunt, Thomas W. Weir Labatt III of Kerrville, Jonathan P. Letts of Comfort, Jean C. Stacy Ingram) and to the Texas State Board of Acupuncture Examiners (Elizabeth Lee, Ellie Carlson of Garland, Sherry J. Davidson of Houston, Grama G. Sheikh of Frisco). The message was read into the record; no confirmation votes were recorded on the floor during this session.
Process and context
The items were formal recognitions and memorials typically adopted without extended debate; where senators spoke, remarks were largely celebratory or memorial in nature and directed to visiting delegations. Several visitors and delegations were recognized from Montgomery County, the Golden Triangle (Beaumont/Orange/Port Arthur), Texas Southern University and other institutions. The chamber adjourned until the next scheduled session after adopting the items and offering memorial recognitions.
Ending
The Senate adjourned following the roll call of resolutions and memorial recognitions. Several senators requested that remarks be reduced to writing for the permanent record and moved that the next day's session open in memory of the individuals honored during the sitting.
