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SB495

In Calendar Committee in Other Chamber
Authored by Kevin Sparks (R)
View at Source

Caption: Relating to the authority of the Texas Department of Insurance to adopt rules that implement or are based on certain environmental, social, and governance models, ratings, or standards.
Initially Referred to Senate Business & Commerce Committee, chaired by a Republican
Last Referred to House Insurance Committee, chaired by a Republican

TXCE Priority #1: 2025 Legislative Agenda ENDORSED

SB 495 restricts the Texas Department of Insurance from adopting rules based on environmental, social, and governance (ESG) models or standards unless explicitly authorized by statute. The bill defines ESG assessments and prohibits their use in creating regulations that could negatively affect the state's economy, productivity, or competitiveness.

Co-authors: Creighton (R); Hall (R); Middleton (R)
Sponsors: Paul (R)

(S) Paul signed onto the bill as

Nov 22, 2024

(S) Sparks signed onto the bill as Author
(S) Received by the Secretary of the Senate
(S) Filed

Feb 3, 2025

(S) Read first time
(S) Referred to the Senate Business & Commerce, chaired by a Republican

Feb 18, 2025

(S) Scheduled for public hearing on . . .
(S) Considered in public hearing
(S) Testimony taken in committee
(S) Left pending in committee

Feb 19, 2025

(S) Middleton signed onto the bill as Coauthor
(S) Co-author authorized

Feb 27, 2025

(S) Considered in public hearing
(S) Vote taken in committee

Mar 4, 2025

(S) Reported favorably w/o amendments
(S) Committee report printed and distributed

Mar 6, 2025

(S) Placed on intent calendar

Mar 12, 2025

(S) Not again placed on intent calendar

Mar 13, 2025

(S) Hall signed onto the bill as Coauthor
(S) Co-author authorized

Mar 18, 2025

(S) Creighton signed onto the bill as Coauthor
(S) Co-author authorized
(S) Placed on intent calendar
(S) Rules suspended-Regular order of business
(S) Record vote
(S) Read 2nd time

20250318_SB495_2R: Yea 21 (R 20, D 1) - Nay 9 (R 0, D 9)
Yea - A. Hinojosa; Bettencourt; Birdwell; Campbell; Creighton; Flores; Hagenbuch; Hall; Hancock; Huffman; Hughes; J. Hinojosa; King; Kolkhorst; Middleton; Nichols; Parker; Paxton; Perry; Schwertner; Sparks
Nay - Alvarado; Cook; Eckhardt; Gutierrez; Johnson; Menendez; Miles; West; Zaffirini
Absent - Blanco
You can view which lawmakers have received money from a specific PAC
by selecting the PAC from the list below:

(S) Amendment(s) offered

20250318_SB495_2R_FA1: Yea 30 (R 20, D 10) - Nay 0 (R 0, D 0)
Yea - A. Hinojosa; Alvarado; Bettencourt; Birdwell; Campbell; Cook; Creighton; Eckhardt; Flores; Gutierrez; Hagenbuch; Hall; Hancock; Huffman; Hughes; J. Hinojosa; Johnson; King; Kolkhorst; Menendez; Middleton; Miles; Nichols; Parker; Paxton; Perry; Schwertner; Sparks; West; Zaffirini
Absent - Blanco
You can view which lawmakers have received money from a specific PAC
by selecting the PAC from the list below:

(S) Amended
(S) Vote recorded in Journal
(S) Passed to engrossment as amended

20250318_SB495_2E: Yea 21 (R 20, D 1) - Nay 9 (R 0, D 9)
Yea - A. Hinojosa; Bettencourt; Birdwell; Campbell; Creighton; Flores; Hagenbuch; Hall; Hancock; Huffman; Hughes; J. Hinojosa; King; Kolkhorst; Middleton; Nichols; Parker; Paxton; Perry; Schwertner; Sparks
Nay - Alvarado; Cook; Eckhardt; Gutierrez; Johnson; Menendez; Miles; West; Zaffirini
Absent - Blanco
You can view which lawmakers have received money from a specific PAC
by selecting the PAC from the list below:

(S) Record vote

Mar 19, 2025

(S) Rules suspended-Regular order of business
(S) Record vote
(S) Read 3rd time
(S) Passed

20250319_SB495_3R: Yea 23 (R 20, D 3) - Nay 8 (R 0, D 8)
Yea - A. Hinojosa; Bettencourt; Birdwell; Blanco; Campbell; Creighton; Flores; Hagenbuch; Hall; Hancock; Huffman; Hughes; J. Hinojosa; King; Kolkhorst; Middleton; Nichols; Parker; Paxton; Perry; Schwertner; Sparks; Zaffirini
Nay - Alvarado; Cook; Eckhardt; Gutierrez; Johnson; Menendez; Miles; West
You can view which lawmakers have received money from a specific PAC
by selecting the PAC from the list below:

(S) Record vote
(S) Reported engrossed

Mar 20, 2025

(H) Received from the Senate

Apr 9, 2025

(H) Read first time
(H) Referred to the House Insurance, chaired by a Republican

Apr 23, 2025

(H) Scheduled for public hearing on . . .
(H) Considered in public hearing
(H) Testimony taken/registration(s) recorded in committee
(H) Left pending in committee

Apr 28, 2025

(H) Considered in formal meeting
(H) Reported favorably w/o amendment(s)

May 2, 2025

(H) Comte report filed with Committee Coordinator
(H) Committee report distributed

May 5, 2025

(H) Committee report sent to Calendars

Lobbying Against/For/On This Bill

Against

(Tue 2/18/2025) Testifying before S Business & Commerce as Adrian Shelley for Public Citizen
(Wed 4/23/2025) Testifying before H Insurance as Larry Lineenschmidt for self
(Tue 2/18/2025) Testifying before S Business & Commerce as Larry Linenschmidt for self
(Wed 4/23/2025) Registering before H Insurance as Adrian Shelley for Public Citizen
(Wed 4/23/2025) Registering before H Insurance as Andrew Collier for Freedom to Invest
(Wed 4/23/2025) Registering before H Insurance as Colin Leyden for Environmental Defense Fund
(Tue 2/18/2025) Registering before S Business & Commerce as Cyrus Reed for Sierra Club
(Wed 4/23/2025) Registering before H Insurance as Cyrus Reed for Sierra Club
(Wed 4/23/2025) Registering before H Insurance as Denisce Palacios for Climate Cabinet
(Tue 2/18/2025) Registering before S Business & Commerce as Denisce Palacios for self (with Climate Cabinet)
(Wed 4/23/2025) Registering before H Insurance as Ken Flippin for CHISPA Texas - project of League of Conservation Voters
(Wed 4/23/2025) Registering before H Insurance as Ken Flippin for US Green Building Council
(Tue 2/18/2025) Registering before S Business & Commerce as Luke Metzger for self (with Environment Texas)
(Wed 4/23/2025) Registering before H Insurance as Rebecca Edwards for Texas Impact

For

(Tue 2/18/2025) Testifying before S Business & Commerce as Jason Isaac for self (with American Energy Institute)
(Tue 2/18/2025) Testifying before S Business & Commerce as Tom Glass for self (with Texas Constitutional Enforcement)
(Tue 2/18/2025) Registering before S Business & Commerce as Carrie Simmons for FGA Action
(Wed 4/23/2025) Registering before H Insurance as Carson Clayton for Texas Public Policy Foundation (TPPF)
(Tue 2/18/2025) Registering before S Business & Commerce as Carson Clayton for self (with Texas Public Policy Foundation (TPPF))
(Wed 4/23/2025) Registering before H Insurance as Jason Isaac for self (with American Energy Institute)
(Tue 2/18/2025) Registering before S Business & Commerce as Karr Ingham for Texas Alliance of Energy Producers
(Tue 2/18/2025) Registering before S Business & Commerce as Molly Vogt for American Energy Works
(Wed 4/23/2025) Registering before H Insurance as Tom Glass for self (with Texas Constitutional Enforcement)
(Tue 2/18/2025) Registering before S Business & Commerce as Travis Mccormick for Panhandle Producers & Royalty Owners Association
(Tue 2/18/2025) Registering before S Business & Commerce as Wayne Christian for self

(Tue 2/18/2025) Testifying before S Business & Commerce as Jamie Walker for Texas Department of Insurance
(Wed 4/23/2025) Registering before H Insurance as Jamie Walker for Texas Department of Insurance