Grassroots Priorities 2.0

SJR59

Passed House and Senate
Authored by Brian Birdwell (R)
View at Source

Caption: Proposing a constitutional amendment providing for the creation of funds to support the capital needs of educational programs offered by the Texas State Technical College System and repealing the limitation on the allocation to that system and its campuses of the annual appropriation of certain constitutionally dedicated funding for public institutions of higher education.
Initially Referred to Senate Education K-16 Committee, chaired by a Republican
Last Referred to House Higher Education Committee, chaired by a Republican

SJR 59 proposes a constitutional amendment creating two new funds: the Permanent Technical Institution Infrastructure Fund and the Available Workforce Education Fund. These funds would provide dedicated financial support for capital projects and equipment purchases for educational programs offered by the Texas State Technical College System. The resolution repeals limitations on funding allocations to technical institutions, allowing them to access constitutionally dedicated education funds more equitably. The funds would be administered by the Texas Comptroller, with investments managed to ensure long-term sustainability. If passed by the legislature, the amendment will go before voters in the November 4, 2025, election.

Co-authors: A. Hinojosa (R)
Sponsors: Lambert (R)
Co-sponsors: Bumgarner (R); Davis, A. (D); Dean (R); Guillen (R); Lalani (D); Lopez, R. (D); Lozano (R); Lujan (R); Martinez (D); Morales, E. (D); Patterson (R); Plesa (D); Slawson (R)

Feb 25, 2025

(S) Received by the Secretary of the Senate
(S) Filed

Mar 6, 2025

(S) Read first time
(S) Referred to the Senate Education K-16, chaired by a Republican

Mar 11, 2025

(S) A. Hinojosa signed onto the bill as Coauthor
(S) Co-author authorized

Apr 3, 2025

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

Apr 8, 2025

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

Apr 24, 2025

(S) Reported favorably as substituted
(S) Committee report printed and distributed

Apr 29, 2025

(S) Placed on intent calendar

May 1, 2025

(S) Not again placed on intent calendar

May 8, 2025

(S) Co-author authorized
(S) Placed on intent calendar
(S) Rules suspended-Regular order of business
(S) Record vote
(S) Read 2nd time & passed to engrossment

20250508_SJR59_E: Yea 29 (R 18, D 11) - Nay 2 (R 2, D 0)
Yea - A. Hinojosa; Alvarado; Bettencourt; Birdwell; Blanco; Campbell; Cook; Eckhardt; Flores; Gutierrez; Hagenbuch; Hall; Hancock; Huffman; J. Hinojosa; Johnson; King; Kolkhorst; Menendez; Middleton; Miles; Nichols; Parker; Paxton; Perry; Schwertner; Sparks; West; Zaffirini
Nay - Creighton; Hughes
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(S) Record vote
(S) Three day rule suspended
(S) Record vote
(S) Read 3rd time
(S) Passed

20250508_SJR59_3R: Yea 29 (R 18, D 11) - Nay 2 (R 2, D 0)
Yea - A. Hinojosa; Alvarado; Bettencourt; Birdwell; Blanco; Campbell; Cook; Eckhardt; Flores; Gutierrez; Hagenbuch; Hall; Hancock; Huffman; J. Hinojosa; Johnson; King; Kolkhorst; Menendez; Middleton; Miles; Nichols; Parker; Paxton; Perry; Schwertner; Sparks; West; Zaffirini
Nay - Creighton; Hughes
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(S) Record vote
(S) Reported engrossed
(H) Received from the Senate

May 10, 2025

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

May 20, 2025

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

May 21, 2025

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

May 22, 2025

(H) Committee report sent to Calendars

May 23, 2025

(H) Considered in Calendars

May 25, 2025

(H) Placed on Constitutional Amendments Calendar
(H) Read 2nd time
(H) A Republican amendment (No. 1) from Lambert amended the bill.
(H) Record vote

RV#3510: Yea 133 (R 77, D 56) - Nay 6 (R 5, D 1)
View Source
Yea - Alders; Allen; Anchia; Ashby; Barry; Bell, C.; Bell, K.; Bernal; Bhojani; Bonnen; Bowers; Bryant; Buckley; Bucy; Bumgarner; Button; Campos; Canales; Capriglione; Cole; Collier; Cook; Craddick; Cunningham; Curry; Darby; Davis, A.; Dean; DeAyala; Dorazio; Dyson; Fairly; Flores; Frank; Gamez; Garcia Hernandez; Garcia, J.; Garcia, L.; Gates; Gerdes; Geren; Gervin-Hawkins; Gonzalez, J.; Gonzalez, M.; Goodwin; Guerra; Guillen; Harless; Harris; Harris Davila; Hayes; Hefner; Hernandez; Hickland; Hinojosa; Holt; Howard; Hull; Hunter; Isaac; Johnson; Jones, J.; Kitzman; LaHood; Lalani; Lambert; Landgraf; Leach; Leo Wilson; Little; Longoria; Lopez, J.; Lopez, R.; Louderback; Lowe; Lozano; Lujan; Manuel; Martinez; Martinez Fischer; McLaughlin; McQueeney; Metcalf; Meyer; Money; Moody; Morales, C.; Morales, E.; Morales Shaw; Morgan; Munoz; Noble; Oliverson; Ordaz; Orr; Patterson; Paul; Perez, M.; Perez, V.; Phelan; Pierson; Plesa; Raymond; Richardson; Rodriguez Ramos; Romero; Rose; Rosenthal; Schofield; Schoolcraft; Shaheen; Shofner; Simmons; Slawson; Smithee; Spiller; Swanson; Talarico; Tepper; Thompson; Tinderholt; Toth; Troxclair; Turner; VanDeaver; Villalobos; Vo; Walle; Ward Johnson; Wharton; Wilson; Wu; Zwiener
Nay - Cain; Dutton; Hopper; Luther; Olcott; Schatzline
Absent - King; Virdell
Present, Not Voting - Burrows; Harrison; Vasut
Please note: the following statements by legislators do not affect the vote count that was recorded.
Mihaela Plesa: "When Record No. 3510 was taken, I was in the house but away from my desk. I would have voted yes." (view other statements of vote for this Rep)
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(H) Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal
(H) Adopted as amended
(H) Record vote

RV#3511: Yea 110 (R 63, D 47) - Nay 16 (R 15, D 1)
View Source
Yea - Alders; Allen; Ashby; Barry; Bell, C.; Bell, K.; Bernal; Bhojani; Bonnen; Bowers; Bryant; Buckley; Bucy; Bumgarner; Button; Campos; Canales; Capriglione; Cole; Collier; Cook; Curry; Darby; Davis, A.; Dean; DeAyala; Dyson; Fairly; Flores; Frank; Gamez; Garcia Hernandez; Garcia, J.; Garcia, L.; Gates; Gerdes; Geren; Gervin-Hawkins; Gonzalez, J.; Gonzalez, M.; Goodwin; Harless; Harris; Harris Davila; Hayes; Hefner; Hickland; Hinojosa; Howard; Hull; Hunter; Isaac; Johnson; Jones, J.; Kitzman; LaHood; Lalani; Lambert; Leach; Little; Longoria; Lopez, J.; Lopez, R.; Louderback; Lozano; Lujan; Manuel; Martinez; McLaughlin; McQueeney; Metcalf; Meyer; Moody; Morales, C.; Morales, E.; Morales Shaw; Noble; Ordaz; Orr; Patterson; Paul; Perez, M.; Phelan; Raymond; Richardson; Romero; Rose; Schofield; Schoolcraft; Shaheen; Shofner; Simmons; Slawson; Smithee; Spiller; Swanson; Talarico; Tepper; Thompson; Troxclair; Turner; VanDeaver; Villalobos; Vo; Walle; Ward Johnson; Wharton; Wilson; Wu; Zwiener
Nay - Cain; Cunningham; Dorazio; Dutton; Hopper; Leo Wilson; Lowe; Luther; Money; Olcott; Oliverson; Pierson; Schatzline; Tinderholt; Toth; Virdell
Absent - Anchia; Craddick; Guerra; Guillen; Hernandez; Holt; King; Landgraf; Martinez Fischer; Morgan; Munoz; Perez, V.; Plesa; Rodriguez Ramos; Rosenthal
Present, Not Voting - Burrows; Harrison; Vasut
Please note: the following statements by legislators do not affect the vote count that was recorded.
Janis Holt: "When Record No. 3511 was taken, I was in the house but away from my desk. I would have voted yes." (view other statements of vote for this Rep)
Mihaela Plesa: "When Record No. 3511 was taken, I was in the house but away from my desk. I would have voted yes." (view other statements of vote for this Rep)
Ryan Guillen: "When Record No. 3511 was taken, I was temporarily out of the house chamber. I would have voted yes." (view other statements of vote for this Rep)
You can view which lawmakers have received money from a specific PAC
by selecting the PAC from the list below:

(H) Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal

May 26, 2025

(S) House passage as amended reported

May 28, 2025

(S) House amendment(s) laid before the Senate
(S) Read
(S) Senate concurs in House amendment(s)
(S) Record vote

20250528_SJR59_FA1: Yea 29 (R 18, D 11) - Nay 2 (R 2, D 0)
Yea - A. Hinojosa; Alvarado; Bettencourt; Birdwell; Blanco; Campbell; Cook; Eckhardt; Flores; Gutierrez; Hagenbuch; Hall; Hancock; Huffman; J. Hinojosa; Johnson; King; Kolkhorst; Menendez; Middleton; Miles; Nichols; Parker; Paxton; Perry; Schwertner; Sparks; West; Zaffirini
Nay - Creighton; Hughes
You can view which lawmakers have received money from a specific PAC
by selecting the PAC from the list below:

(S) Reported enrolled

May 29, 2025

(H) Senate concurs in House amendment(s)-reported

May 30, 2025

(S) Signed in the Senate

Jun 1, 2025

(H) Signed in the House

Jun 2, 2025

(E) Filed with the Secretary of State

(S) Lujan signed onto the bill as Cosponsor
(S) Martinez signed onto the bill as Cosponsor
(S) Morales, E. signed onto the bill as Cosponsor
(S) Bumgarner signed onto the bill as Cosponsor
(S) Plesa signed onto the bill as Cosponsor
(S) Slawson signed onto the bill as Cosponsor
(S) Lambert signed onto the bill as Sponsor
(S) Patterson signed onto the bill as Cosponsor
(S) Davis, A. signed onto the bill as Cosponsor
(S) Dean signed onto the bill as Cosponsor
(S) Guillen signed onto the bill as Cosponsor
(S) Lalani signed onto the bill as Cosponsor
(S) Lopez, R. signed onto the bill as Cosponsor
(S) Lozano signed onto the bill as Cosponsor

Lobbying Against/For/On This Bill

For

(Thu 4/3/2025) Testifying before S Education K-16 as Corbin Van Arsdale for AGC - Texas Building Branch
(Thu 4/3/2025) Testifying before S Education K-16 as Grace Atkins for Texas 2036
(Thu 4/3/2025) Testifying before S Education K-16 as J.D. Hale for Texas Association of Builders (TAB)
(Thu 4/3/2025) Testifying before S Education K-16 as Tony Bennett for self (with Texas Association of Manufacturers (TAM))
(Thu 4/3/2025) Registering before S Education K-16 as Ana Husted for Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC)
(Thu 4/3/2025) Registering before S Education K-16 as Bri Weber for Texas Solar + Storage Association
(Thu 4/3/2025) Registering before S Education K-16 as Christopher Lee for North Texas Commission
(Thu 4/3/2025) Registering before S Education K-16 as Elizabeth Montgomery for Samsung Semiconductor
(Thu 4/3/2025) Registering before S Education K-16 as Jeff Burdett for National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB)
(Thu 4/3/2025) Registering before S Education K-16 as Jennifer Fagan for Texas Construction Association
(Thu 4/3/2025) Registering before S Education K-16 as Jennifer Perkins for self (with Dallas Regional Chamber)
(Thu 4/3/2025) Registering before S Education K-16 as John Esparza for self (with Texas Trucking Association)
(Thu 4/3/2025) Registering before S Education K-16 as Judd Messer for Advanced Power Alliance
(Thu 4/3/2025) Registering before S Education K-16 as Kolton McDougald for Texas Chemistry Council
(Thu 4/3/2025) Registering before S Education K-16 as Mark Borskey for Association of Equipment Manufacturers
(Thu 4/3/2025) Registering before S Education K-16 as Mark Borskey for Texas Recreational Vehicle Association
(Thu 4/3/2025) Registering before S Education K-16 as Mark Borskey for Texas Trucking Association
(Thu 4/3/2025) Registering before S Education K-16 as Martha Landwehr for BASF Corporation
(Thu 4/3/2025) Registering before S Education K-16 as Matt Abel for Texas Economic Development Council
(Thu 4/3/2025) Registering before S Education K-16 as Mike Meroney for self (with Texas Association of Manufacturers (TAM))
(Thu 4/3/2025) Registering before S Education K-16 as Mireya Zapata for Lumbermen's Association of Texas (LAT)
(Thu 4/3/2025) Registering before S Education K-16 as M. Scott Norman Jr. for Texas Association of Builders (TAB)
(Thu 4/3/2025) Registering before S Education K-16 as Seth Juergens for Texas Realtors

(Thu 4/3/2025) Testifying before S Education K-16 as Mike Reeser for Texas State Technical College
(Thu 4/3/2025) Registering before S Education K-16 as Chad Wooten for TSTC