Texas Senate organizes for the session, adopts caucus and rules resolutions and swears in officers

The Texas Senate convened in Austin and completed organizational business, adopting a caucus resolution and a rules resolution and administering the oath of office to its officers before recessing until 1 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 22.

The measures framed how the chamber will operate for the upcoming session. Senator Zaffarini moved adoption of the Senate caucus resolution, and Senator Hughes moved adoption of the rules resolution, both of which passed by unanimous voice or roll-call counts reported by the secretary.

Why it matters: The caucus and rules resolutions set internal operating procedures and committee structures that shape how bills and other measures move through the Senate. The actions taken are routine for the opening of a legislative session but determine committee assignments and other procedural steps that affect the chamber’s work.

Senator Zaffarini introduced the caucus resolution and moved its adoption, saying, “I move adoption.” The secretary called the roll, and the chair announced the resolution was adopted. The roll call read a list of senators by name and the chair said the resolution was adopted after noting unanimous support.

Senator Hughes explained the rules resolution as leaving the chamber’s prior rules largely intact while making “slight changes” to committee structure discussed among members and moved its adoption; the secretary later reported “31 ayes and no nays” and the resolution was adopted.

The chair directed the officers of the Senate to move to the bar for the oath of office. The presiding officer led the oath, saying, “I do solemnly swear that I will faithfully execute the duties of the office of this your office… of the Senate of the state of Texas and will, to the best of my ability, preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution and the laws of the United States and of this state. So help me, God.” Officers then completed the oath.

The body also authorized the president to appoint a five-member committee to notify the House that the Senate was organized and ready to transact business. The secretary named the committee to notify the House as Senator Creighton (chair), with Senators Alvarado, Huffman, Hughes and Parker as members; the named senators were instructed to proceed to the Speaker’s office.

A message from the House was read by Stephen Brown, the chief clerk, informing the Senate that the House was organized and prepared to transact business and that the House had passed a measure described as SCR 7. Brown said the measure directs the State Preservation Board to initiate steps to replace the Children of the Confederacy plaque with a plaque honoring victims of the state’s convict leasing system.

The Senate recessed on a motion by the dean of the Senate; the chair, hearing no objection, announced the Senate would stand in recess until 1 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 22.

Votes at a glance: SR 1 (Senate caucus resolution) — moved by Senator Zaffarini; roll call read by the secretary; result: adopted (roll-call list read; chair announced adoption). SR 2 (rules resolution) — moved by Senator Hughes; result: adopted (reported 31 ayes, 0 nays). Message from the House regarding SCR 7 — reported by Stephen Brown, chief clerk; House action: passed (reported by message to the Senate). Recess motion — moved by the dean of the Senate; result: approved (no objection).

Members noted the return of staff and introduced the doctor of the day, Dr. Liu of Ascension Seton, who was recognized for volunteering medical services for the day.

Procedural notes: Several routine roll-call and unanimous-consent practices were used to expedite the organizational items; where the secretary began to read long roll-call lists and unanimity was evident, the chair curtailed the reading. The session’s procedural actions were administrative and did not include policy debate on substantive bills during this sitting.