SB985

Signed by Governor
Authored by Paul Bettencourt (R)
View at Source

Caption: Relating to the combination of certain election precincts.
Initially Referred to Senate State Affairs Committee, chaired by a Republican
Last Referred to House Elections Committee, chaired by a Republican

RPT Priority #2: Secure Texas Elections ENDORSED

SB 985 amends Section 42.0051 of the Texas Election Code to allow commissioners courts in counties with fewer than 1.2 million residents, or with 250,000 residents if county election precincts have between 500 and 750 registered voters, to combine election precincts to reduce election costs. This provision is intended to address precincts with low registered voter counts, enabling efficient use of election resources. The bill prohibits combining precincts if it would dilute voting strength or discourage participation among groups protected by the Voting Rights Act.

Primary authors: Paxton (R)
Co-authors: Hagenbuch (R); Sparks (R)
Sponsors: Hayes (R)
Co-sponsors: Alders (R); Harris (R); Kerwin (R); Little (R); Metcalf (R); Money (R); Oliverson (R); Slawson (R)

Jan 29, 2025


(S) Paxton signed onto the bill as Primary Author
(S) Bettencourt signed onto the bill as Author
(S) Received by the Secretary of the Senate
(S) Filed
 

Feb 13, 2025


(S) Read first time
(S) Referred to the Senate State Affairs, chaired by a Republican
 

Mar 4, 2025


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

Mar 6, 2025


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

Mar 13, 2025


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

Mar 17, 2025


(S) Reported favorably w/o amendments
(S) Recommended for local & uncontested calendar
(S) Committee report printed and distributed
 

Mar 31, 2025


(S) Placed on intent calendar
 

Apr 2, 2025


(S) Sparks signed onto the bill as Coauthor
(S) Co-author authorized
(S) Rules suspended-Regular order of business
(S) Read 2nd time
(S) Amendment(s) offered

20250402_SB985_FA1: Yea 31 (R 20, D 11) - Nay 0 (R 0, D 0)

Yea - A. Hinojosa; Alvarado; Bettencourt; Birdwell; Blanco; 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

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

20250402_SB985_E: Yea 31 (R 20, D 11) - Nay 0 (R 0, D 0)

Yea - A. Hinojosa; Alvarado; Bettencourt; Birdwell; Blanco; 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

You can view which lawmakers have received money from a specific PAC
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(S) Vote recorded in Journal
(S) Three day rule suspended
(S) Record vote
(S) Read 3rd time
(S) Passed

20250402_SB985_3R: Yea 31 (R 20, D 11) - Nay 0 (R 0, D 0)

Yea - A. Hinojosa; Alvarado; Bettencourt; Birdwell; Blanco; 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

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(S) Record vote
(S) Reported engrossed
 

Apr 3, 2025


(H) Received from the Senate
 

Apr 9, 2025


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

Apr 28, 2025


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

May 5, 2025


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

May 6, 2025


(H) Committee report sent to Calendars
(H) Laid out in lieu of companion
(H) Read 2nd time
(H) A Republican amendment (No. 1) from Hayes amended the bill.
(H) Passed to 3rd reading as amended
(H) Record vote

RV#1532: Yea 95 (R 84, D 11) - Nay 46 (R 1, D 45)
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Yea - Alders; Allen; Anchia; Ashby; Barry; Bell, C.; Bell, K.; Bhojani; Bonnen; Bowers; Buckley; Bumgarner; Button; Cain; Campos; Canales; Capriglione; Cook; Craddick; Cunningham; Curry; Darby; Dean; DeAyala; Dorazio; Dyson; Frank; Garcia Hernandez; Garcia, J.; Garcia, L.; Gates; Gerdes; Geren; Gonzalez, M.; Guillen; Harless; Harris; Harris Davila; Harrison; Hayes; Hefner; Hickland; Holt; Hopper; Hull; Hunter; Isaac; King; Kitzman; LaHood; Lambert; Landgraf; Leach; Leo Wilson; Little; Lopez, J.; Louderback; Lowe; Lozano; Lujan; Luther; McLaughlin; McQueeney; Metcalf; Meyer; Money; Morgan; Munoz; Noble; Olcott; Oliverson; Patterson; Paul; Phelan; Pierson; Richardson; Schatzline; Schofield; Schoolcraft; Shaheen; Shofner; Slawson; Smithee; Spiller; Swanson; Tepper; Tinderholt; Toth; Troxclair; VanDeaver; Vasut; Villalobos; Virdell; Wharton; Wilson

Nay - Bernal; Bryant; Bucy; Collier; Davis, A.; Davis, Y.; Dutton; Flores; Gamez; Gervin-Hawkins; Goodwin; Guerra; Hernandez; Hinojosa; Howard; Johnson; Jones, J.; Jones, V.; Kerwin; Lalani; Longoria; Lopez, R.; Martinez Fischer; Meza; Moody; Morales, C.; Morales, E.; Ordaz; Perez, M.; Perez, V.; Plesa; Raymond; Reynolds; Rodriguez Ramos; Romero; Rose; Rosenthal; Simmons; Talarico; Thompson; Turner; Vo; Walle; Ward Johnson; Wu; Zwiener

Absent - Cole; Fairly; Gonzalez, J.; Manuel; Martinez; Morales Shaw

Present, Not Voting - Burrows

Please note: the following statements by legislators do not affect the vote count that was recorded.

Jessica Gonzalez: "When Record No. 1532 was taken, I was in the house but away from my desk. I would have voted no." (view other statements of vote for this Rep)

Rhetta Bowers: "When Record No. 1532 was taken, I was shown voting yes. I intended to vote no." (view other statements of vote for this Rep)

You can view which lawmakers have received money from a specific PAC
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(H) Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal
 

May 7, 2025


(H) Read 3rd time
(H) Passed
(H)

RV#1579: Yea 94 (R 85, D 9) - Nay 52 (R 0, D 52)
View Source

Yea - Alders; Ashby; Barry; Bell, C.; Bell, K.; Bhojani; Bonnen; Buckley; Bumgarner; Button; Cain; Capriglione; Cook; Craddick; Cunningham; Curry; Darby; DeAyala; Dorazio; Dyson; Fairly; Frank; Garcia Hernandez; Gates; Gerdes; Geren; Guerra; Guillen; Harless; Harris; Harris Davila; Harrison; Hayes; Hefner; Hickland; Holt; Hopper; Hull; Hunter; Isaac; Kerwin; King; Kitzman; LaHood; Lalani; Lambert; Landgraf; Leach; Leo Wilson; Little; Lopez, J.; Louderback; Lowe; Lozano; Lujan; Luther; Martinez; McLaughlin; McQueeney; Metcalf; Meyer; Money; Morales Shaw; Morgan; Munoz; Noble; Olcott; Oliverson; Orr; Patterson; Paul; Perez, M.; Phelan; Pierson; Raymond; Richardson; Schatzline; Schofield; Shaheen; Shofner; Slawson; Smithee; Spiller; Swanson; Tepper; Tinderholt; Toth; Troxclair; VanDeaver; Vasut; Villalobos; Virdell; Wharton; Wilson

Nay - Allen; Anchia; Bernal; Bowers; Bryant; Bucy; Campos; Canales; Cole; Collier; Cortez; Davis, A.; Davis, Y.; Dutton; Flores; Gamez; Garcia, J.; Garcia, L.; Gervin-Hawkins; Gonzalez, J.; Gonzalez, M.; Goodwin; Hernandez; Hinojosa; Howard; Johnson; Jones, J.; Jones, V.; Longoria; Lopez, R.; Manuel; Martinez Fischer; Meza; Morales, C.; Morales, E.; Ordaz; Perez, V.; Plesa; Reynolds; Rodriguez Ramos; Romero; Rose; Rosenthal; Simmons; Talarico; Thompson; Turner; Vo; Walle; Ward Johnson; Wu; Zwiener

Absent - Dean; Schoolcraft

Present, Not Voting - Burrows; Moody

You can view which lawmakers have received money from a specific PAC
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(S) House passage as amended reported
 

May 12, 2025


(S) House amendment(s) laid before the Senate
(S) Read
(S) Senate concurs in House amendment(s)
(S) Record vote
(H) Senate concurs in House amendment(s)-reported
(S) Reported enrolled
 

May 13, 2025


(S) Signed in the Senate
(H) Signed in the House
(E) Sent to the Governor
 

May 24, 2025


(E) Signed by the Governor
(E) Effective on 9/1/25
 


(S) Slawson signed onto the bill as Cosponsor
(S) Oliverson signed onto the bill as Cosponsor
(S) Alders signed onto the bill as Cosponsor
(S) Harris signed onto the bill as Cosponsor
(S) Kerwin signed onto the bill as Cosponsor
(S) Little signed onto the bill as Cosponsor
(S) Metcalf signed onto the bill as Cosponsor
(S) Hayes signed onto the bill as Sponsor
(S) Money signed onto the bill as Cosponsor

Lobbying Against/For/On This Bill

Against

(Thu 3/6/2025) Registering before S State Affairs as Bryce Laake-Stanfield for self
(Thu 3/6/2025) Registering before S State Affairs as Sarah Chen for self
 

For

(Thu 3/6/2025) Testifying before S State Affairs as Ed Johnson for self (with Harris County Ballot Security)
(Thu 3/6/2025) Testifying before S State Affairs as Jennifer Doinoff for self (with Texas Association of County Election Officials)
(Thu 3/6/2025) Testifying before S State Affairs as Ken Moore for self
(Thu 3/6/2025) Testifying before S State Affairs as Laura Rogers for County and District Clerks' Association of Texas (CDCAT)
(Thu 3/6/2025) Registering before S State Affairs as Adam Haynes for Conference of Urban Counties
(Thu 3/6/2025) Registering before S State Affairs as Cary Cheshire for self
(Thu 3/6/2025) Registering before S State Affairs as Dakota-Lee Moyers for self
(Thu 3/6/2025) Registering before S State Affairs as Elisa Tamayo for El Paso County
(Thu 3/6/2025) Registering before S State Affairs as Jay Williamson for County and District Clerks' Association of Texas (CDCAT)
(Thu 3/6/2025) Registering before S State Affairs as Joey Bennett for Secure Democracy USA
(Thu 3/6/2025) Registering before S State Affairs as Josie Castro Garcia for Dallas County
(Thu 3/6/2025) Registering before S State Affairs as Katelyn Caldwell for Harris County Commissioners Court
(Thu 3/6/2025) Registering before S State Affairs as Kimberly Moyers for self
(Thu 3/6/2025) Registering before S State Affairs as Leslie Wentworth for self
(Thu 3/6/2025) Registering before S State Affairs as Lucy Trainor for self
(Thu 3/6/2025) Registering before S State Affairs as Michelle Evans for self
(Thu 3/6/2025) Registering before S State Affairs as Pat Carlson for self
(Thu 3/6/2025) Registering before S State Affairs as Pat Fry for self
(Thu 3/6/2025) Registering before S State Affairs as Rick Thompson for County Judges and Commissioners Association of Texas (CJCAT)
(Thu 3/6/2025) Registering before S State Affairs as Robert Green for self (with Travis County Republican Party)
(Thu 3/6/2025) Registering before S State Affairs as Tom Nobis for self
 

On

(Thu 3/6/2025) Testifying before S State Affairs as Andrew Hendrickson for American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU)
(Thu 3/6/2025) Testifying before S State Affairs as Christina Adkins for Texas Secretary of State
(Thu 3/6/2025) Registering before S State Affairs as Emily French for Common Cause Texas



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