Texans for Fiscal Responsibility has issued the following vote notice for May 21st, 2025

Texas House of Representatives

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Subject: Senate Bill 33 (SB 33) – Ban on Government Support for Abortion

• Author: State Sen. Donna Campbell (R-New Braunfels)
• Caption: Relating to certain prohibited transactions and logistical support between a governmental entity and an abortion assistance entity or abortion provider for the procurement of an abortion or related services.
• TFR Position: SUPPORT
• Background: 
  • SB 33 stops state and local governments from using taxpayer dollars to support any activity related to abortions, even indirectly. This includes banning contracts with groups that help pay for abortions or assist women with travel, lodging, or child care to get one. It closes loopholes used by some cities to sidestep existing laws and ensures public money isn’t quietly funneled to support abortion access. The bill empowers both Texas citizens and the Attorney General to hold violators accountable in court, even stripping government entities of their usual legal immunity. It protects limited government by keeping cities from acting as de facto abortion funders. It also respects the intent of existing pro-life laws and strengthens local accountability.

Subject: Senate Bill 20 (SB 20) – Criminalizes AI-generated Child Exploitation

• Author: State Sen. Pete Flores (R-Pleasanton)
• Caption: Relating to the creation of the criminal offense of possession or promotion of obscene visual material appearing to depict a child.
• TFR Position: SUPPORT
• Background: 
  • SB 20 strengthens Texas law by criminalizing the possession and promotion of obscene material that depicts minors, including AI-generated and animated content. This bill upholds public safety and protects vulnerable minors by ensuring that individuals engaged in exploiting or distributing harmful content face strict penalties. This is a common-sense bill that promotes and protects the common good and children, and falls within the scope of the proper role of government. For these reasons, TFR supports SB 20.

Subject: Senate Bill 269 (SB 269) – Vaccine and drug harms

• Author: State Sen. Charles Perry (R-Lubbock)
• Caption: Relating to required reports of certain vaccine-related or drug-related adverse events.
• TFR Position: SUPPORT
• Background: 
  • SB 269 ensures that doctors report serious side effects related to experimental or emergency-authorized drugs and vaccines, helping Texas collect critical health and safety data. It empowers patients and policymakers with more accurate data, aiding better decisions and reducing potential future liabilities. The bill places minimal burden on healthcare providers, only applying in clear, serious cases and excluding clinical trials. This reform aligns with conservative values by promoting medical responsibility and oversight through existing federal systems rather than creating a new state agency. Ultimately, it protects Texans while respecting limited government principles and curbing unchecked pharmaceutical influence.

Subject:  Senate Bill 916 (SB 916) – Extends EMS billing protections

• Author: State Sen. Judith Zaffirini (D-Laredo)
• Caption: Relating to consumer protections against certain medical and health care billing by emergency medical services providers.
• TFR Position: SUPPORT 
• Background: 
  • SB 916 extends protections against surprise medical billing by municipal ambulance services through 2027 and limits how much local governments can increase EMS charges annually. It ensures cost transparency and caps price hikes to reflect inflation, not bureaucratic expansion or unchecked spending. The bill holds providers accountable by allowing the state to penalize intentional over-billing and regulatory abuse. SB 916 curbs local government overreach, promotes price stability, and shields taxpayers and patients from unfair billing.

Subject:  Senate Bill 10 (SB 10) – Ten Commandments in Schools

• Author: State Sen. Phil King (R-Weatherford)
• Caption: 
• TFR Position:  SUPPORT
• Background: 
  • SB 10 would require the display of the Ten Commandments in public schools. the bill avoids burdening taxpayers by requiring schools to accept compliant private donations. The Ten Commandments has an undeniable impact on the laws of the United States, and their display promotes recognition of these foundational principles and history, which are essential to a well ordered society. 

Subject:  Senate Bill 24 (SB 24) – Anti-communism education 

• Author: State Sen. Donna Campbell (R-New Braunfels)
• Caption: Relating to the inclusion of an understanding of communist regimes and ideologies in the essential knowledge and skills for the social studies curriculum for certain public school students.
• TFR Position:  SUPPORT
• Background: 
  • SB 24 helps to ensure that Texas students understand the historical failures and human costs of communism, a system that has repeatedly resulted in economic collapse, loss of individual freedoms, and mass suffering. By teaching students about the devastating consequences of these ideologies, the bill fosters critical thinking and helps to safeguard future generations from policies that could lead to economic stagnation and government overreach. From a taxpayer perspective, the bill ensures that public education promotes informed, responsible citizenship, reducing the likelihood of future policies that increase government dependency and economic inefficiency. For these reasons, TFR supports SB 24.

Subject:  Senate Bill 379 (SB 379) – Limits SNAP on Junk Food

• Author: State Sen. Mayes Middleton (R-Galveston)
• Caption: Relating to prohibiting the purchase of certain food and drink items under the supplemental nutrition assistance program.
• TFR Position: SUPPORT / AMEND
• Background: 
  • SB 379 promotes responsible stewardship of taxpayer dollars by ensuring that government assistance is used for essential nutrition rather than discretionary or unhealthy food items. While the original Senate version covered a wide variety of unhealthy drinks and snacks, the House Substitute has narrowed the bill significantly by only including sugary drinks. The bill should be amended to return the bill to its original Senate version. By restricting SNAP benefits from covering sugary and processed drinks and snacks, the bill aims to reduce long-term healthcare costs associated with obesity and diet-related illnesses, which are often subsidized by public funds. This policy encourages healthier purchasing habits, fostering self-reliance and financial accountability among recipients. Additionally, the bill ensures that this taxpayer-funded program aligns with its intended purpose—providing basic nutritional support rather than subsidizing junk food consumption.

Subject:  Senate Bill 1036 (SB 1036) – New Regulations on Solar Sales 

• Author: State Sen. Judith Zaffirini (D-Laredo)
• Caption: Relating to the regulation of residential solar retail transactions; requiring an occupational registration; authorizing fees; providing civil and administrative penalties.
• TFR Position: OPPOSE
• Background: 
  • SB 1036 proposes new regulations on residential solar panel sales in Texas. It requires all salesmen and companies that sell or lease solar systems to register with the state and comply with detailed contract, disclosure, and cancellation rules. The bill’s goal is to target deceptive marketing practices. It grants new oversight and enforcement powers to the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR), including the authority to issue penalties and refund orders. Unfortunately, this bill grows government bureaucracy by creating a new regulatory scheme and adding state employees. It imposes over $200,000 annually in costs for enforcement, IT systems, and legal proceedings. These costs ultimately fall on taxpayers, while also potentially increasing costs for legitimate businesses that must navigate new compliance requirements. The bill may hinder market innovation and consumer choice by centralizing authority in a state agency rather than allowing civil remedies and market competition to weed out bad actors. For these reasons, TFR opposes SB 1036.

Subject:  Senate Bill 11 (SB 11) – Prayer in Schools

• Author: State Sen. Mayes Middleton (R-Galveston)
• Caption: Relating to a period of prayer and reading of the Bible or other religious text in public schools.
• TFR Position:  SUPPORT
• Background: 
  • SB 11 supports both family values and fiscal responsibility by giving local communities the choice to allow prayer and Bible reading in schools while ensuring participation is completely voluntary. It respects parental authority by requiring a signed consent form, allowing families to decide what is best for their children. The bill also protects religious freedom without disrupting education, reinforcing the fact that faith and morality play a key role in raising responsible citizens. From a fiscally conservative standpoint, it prevents unnecessary lawsuits by ensuring the Texas Attorney General defends schools that adopt the policy, saving taxpayer dollars. For these reasons, TFR supports SB 11.

Subject: Senate Bill 868 (SB 868) – Rural fire grant reform

• Author: State Sen. Kevin Sparks (R-Midland)
• Caption: Relating to the allocation of money appropriated to the rural volunteer fire department assistance program.
• TFR Position: SUPPORT
• Background: 
  • SB 868 enhances support for rural volunteer fire departments by eliminating funding caps and allowing resources to better match real-world demand. It ensures at least 10% of the money goes to departments in wildfire-prone areas, where the risk to lives and property is greatest. By focusing existing dollars more strategically, the bill helps reduce a massive backlog of unfunded equipment and training requests. It does all this without growing government or creating new programs—just smarter use of what’s already available. The result is stronger local emergency response and better protection for taxpayers’ communities and investments.

Subject:  Senate Bill 1188 (SB 1188) – Secures medical records, boosts parental rights

• Author: State Sen. Lois Kolkhorst (R-Brenham)
• Caption: Relating to electronic health record requirements; authorizing a civil penalty.
• TFR Position: SUPPORT
• Background: 
  • SB 1188 strengthens the security, accuracy, and appropriate use of electronic health records (EHRs) in Texas. It mandates that all EHRs be stored on servers physically located in the United States, protecting sensitive medical data from foreign access or breaches. The bill reinforces parental rights by ensuring parents have full access to their minor children’s records and requires that a patient’s biological sex at birth be documented for accurate medical treatment. It also prohibits the use of health records for non-medical purposes such as voter registration or credit score reporting. For these reasons, TFR supports SB 1188.

Subject: Senate Bill 2778 (SB 2778) – Raises ESD employee spending limit

• Author: State Sen. Adam Hinojosa (R-Corpus Christi)
• Caption: Relating to the amount of an expenditure that may be paid by an emergency services district employee without board approval.
• TFR Position: OPPOSE
• Background: 
  • SB 2778 would allow emergency service district employees to make purchases up to $50,000 without requiring board approval, a significant increase from the current $2,000 limit. While intended to improve operational speed, this bill eliminates a key layer of financial oversight and invites a higher risk of misuse or inefficient spending of taxpayer dollars. The lack of board review for such large expenditures shifts control away from elected or appointed officials accountable to the public. Raising the cap 25-fold without requiring additional transparency measures could lead to bloated spending or poor purchasing decisions with larger ramifications. Local government spending should err on the side of scrutiny, not convenience. A more measured increase with oversight provisions would better protect taxpayers.

Subject: Senate Bill 1333 (SB 1333) – Fast-track squatter removal

• Author: State Sen. Bryan Hughes (R-Mineola)
• Caption: Relating to the unauthorized entry, occupancy, sale, rental, lease, advertisement for sale, rental, or lease, or conveyance of real property, including the removal of certain unauthorized occupants of a dwelling; creating criminal offenses; increasing a criminal penalty; authorizing a fee.
• TFR Position: SUPPORT
• Background: 
  • SB 1333 empowers Texas property owners to quickly reclaim their property from squatters without enduring the lengthy and expensive civil eviction process. The bill streamlines law enforcement involvement by allowing sheriffs and constables to remove unlawful occupants after verifying ownership and receiving a sworn affidavit. This avoids court backlogs and taxpayer-funded judicial resources being spent on what are essentially cases of criminal trespass. By criminalizing fraudulent leases and sales of property, it protects legitimate ownership rights and deters abuse. Overall, this legislation is a win for property rights and ensures taxpayer money isn’t wasted enabling squatters. It restores trust in the rule of law and limits costly civil litigation.

Subject: Senate Bill 2237 (SB 2237) – Limits severance for government employees

• Author: State Sen. Paul Bettencourt (R-Houston)
• Caption: Relating to severance pay for certain political subdivision employees.
• TFR Position: SUPPORT
• Background: 
  • SB 2237 limits how much taxpayer money can be used to give severance pay to high-level government employees when they leave their jobs. It puts a cap on these payouts—no more than 20 weeks of salary—and outright bans any severance if the employee was fired for misconduct. This ensures taxpayers aren’t stuck footing the bill for bad behavior or underperformance. The bill also promotes transparency by requiring severance agreements to be posted online. It helps prevent political subdivisions from quietly handing out massive golden parachutes at the public’s expense. By blocking enforcement of unlawful severance judgments, it protects the integrity of the law. This is a common-sense reform that reins in wasteful spending, and is a win for accountability and taxpayer protection.

Subject:  Senate Bill 1202 (SB 1202) – Fast-Track Home Power Backup

• Author: State Sen. Phil King (R-Weatherford)
• Caption: Relating to third-party review of property development documents and inspections of improvements related to those documents, including home backup power installations.
• TFR Position: SUPPORT
• Background: 
  • SB 1202 empowers property owners by cutting red tape and accelerating the installation of home backup power systems. By allowing third-party professionals to conduct reviews and inspections, the bill reduces unnecessary government delays and eliminates burdensome fees when municipalities fail to provide timely guidance. This streamlining of the process strengthens Texas’ energy resiliency while respecting private property rights and free-market principles.

Subject: Senate Bill 1470 (SB 1470) – Voter rolls clean-up

• Author: State Sen. Bryan Hughes (R-Mineola)
• Caption: Relating to requiring the Department of Public Safety to share data for the purpose of maintaining the statewide voter registration list.
• TFR Position: SUPPORT
• Background: 
  • SB 1470 requires Texas to use existing government data more efficiently to clean up the state’s voter rolls. When Texans get a driver’s license in another state, it likely means they’ve moved. This bill ensures that the Department of Public Safety shares this data with the Secretary of State, who must use it to identify people who no longer live in Texas and may be voting in two states. It cuts waste by preventing taxpayer dollars from being spent maintaining outdated voter records. The bill also helps guard against fraud and duplication in elections, which promotes confidence in the system. The bill is a low-cost, common-sense reform that uses existing tools to improve government efficiency and election integrity.

Subject:  Senate Bill 1498 (SB 1498) – Expands Civil Asset Forfeiture 

• Author: State Sen. Robert Nichols (R-Jacksonville)
• Caption: Relating to civil asset forfeiture of digital currency or other similar property.
• TFR Position: OPPOSE
• Background: 
  • SB 1498 expands Texas’ civil asset forfeiture laws to include digital currencies, NFTs, and stablecoins, giving law enforcement greater authority to seize these assets during criminal investigations. While aimed at combating crime, the bill widens the scope of civil asset forfeiture. In civil asset forfeiture, the government can seize your property without convicting you of a crime, and incentives policing for profit. This bill increases government overreach, undermines property rights, and creates perverse financial incentives for law enforcement agencies to prioritize asset seizures over due process. For these reasons, TFR opposes SB 1498.

Subject:  Senate Bill 965 (SB 965) – Religious Freedom in Schools

• Author: State Sen. Tan Parker (R-Flower Mound)
• Caption: Relating to the right of a public school employee to engage in religious speech or prayer while on duty.
• TFR Position: SUPPORT
• Background: 
  • SB 965 guarantees public school employees the right to engage in religious speech or prayer while on duty, aligning Texas law with the Supreme Court’s Kennedy decision. It safeguards these rights by requiring any limitations to pass a strict scrutiny test, ensuring government overreach is minimized. It also reinforces limited government by upholding individual liberties. For these reasons, TFR supports SB 965.

Subject:  Senate Bill 1547 (SB 1547) – Restores Fair Record Charges

• Author: State Sen. Judith Zaffirini (D-Laredo)
• Caption: Relating to fees charged by county clerks for certain property records.
• TFR Position: SUPPORT
• Background: 
  • SB 1547 corrects an overreach in a previous law that allowed county clerks to charge excessive fees for electronic copies of real property records. By eliminating the $0.10 per-page charge and aligning fees with the actual cost of production, the bill restores transparency and ensures compliance with existing public records laws.

Subject: Senate Bill 1667 (SB 1667) – Modernizes expunction notice procedures

• Author: State Sen. Judith Zaffirini (D-Laredo)
• Caption: Relating to the procedures for the expunction of arrest records and files; authorizing a fee.
• TFR Position: SUPPORT
• Background: 
  • SB 1667 makes it easier and more affordable for individuals to clear their criminal records through expunction. It requires government agencies to accept expunction notifications electronically, which cuts mailing costs and saves time. If an agency can’t receive notices digitally, a flat $25 fee per agency applies—making the cost more predictable for applicants. The bill also allows courts to keep expunction orders indefinitely, ensuring individuals can access their records later without restarting the process. This bill reduces government spending on paper mailings, standardizes fees, and modernizes processes, all while respecting privacy. It promotes efficiency, protects taxpayers from unpredictable costs, and limits bureaucratic red tape.

Subject: Senate Bill 1818 (SB 1818) – Temporary work licenses for Military 

• Author: State Sen. Kelly Hancock (R-North Richland Hills)
• Caption: Relating to the issuance of a license or provisional license to certain military service members, military veterans, and military spouses to engage in a business or occupation in this state.
• TFR Position: SUPPORT
• Background: 
  • SB 1818 helps military families quickly get to work when they move to Texas. It allows military members, veterans, and their spouses to receive a temporary license to work in their profession for up to six months while their full application is processed. This eliminates long wait times caused by delays from other states in verifying credentials. The bill also gives state agencies the option to issue full licenses immediately, cutting red tape and saving administrative costs. 

Texas Senate

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Subject: House Joint Resolution 34 (HJR 34) – Border security and property taxes

• Author: State Rep. Ryan Guillen (R-Rio Grande City)
• Caption: Proposing a constitutional amendment to authorize the legislature to provide for an exemption from ad valorem taxation of the amount of the market value of real property located in a county that borders the United Mexican States that arises from the installation or construction on the property of border security infrastructure and related improvements.
• TFR Position: SUPPORT
• Background: 
  • HJR 34 protects borderland property owners from being unfairly taxed when they allow the state or federal government to place security infrastructure on their land. Without this amendment, improvements like fencing or surveillance towers could raise a property’s appraised value, causing higher property tax bills for landowners who are simply helping with public safety. The bill respects private property rights by ensuring the government doesn’t punish these property owners with increased taxes. It promotes taxpayer fairness and avoids creating disincentives for cooperating with law enforcement. By shielding these owners from unintended financial burdens, the resolution aligns with principles of limited, fair, and respectful governance, and border security efforts.

Subject: House Bill 18 (HB 18) – Expands rural hospital grants and bureaucracy

• Author: State Rep. Gary VanDeaver (R-New Boston)
• Caption: Relating to the establishment and administration of certain programs and services providing health care services to rural counties.
• TFR Position: OPPOSE
• Background: 
  • HB 18 creates new government programs to prop up rural hospitals with taxpayer-funded grants, training, and administrative offices. It sets up four overlapping grant programs—financial, emergency, innovation, and support—without any guarantee of long-term sustainability. The bill also opens the door to ongoing Medicaid payment increases and new reimbursement mandates, all while bypassing standard fiscal oversight procedures. With an initial cost of nearly $50 million over two years and tens of millions of dollars each year thereafter, this bill represents a sizable expansion of government with no concrete metrics for success. It does not address the structural inefficiencies or overregulation that contribute to rural hospital struggles. While supporting rural access to care is important, this bill increases bureaucracy and taxpayer liability without guaranteeing better outcomes. The focus should rather be on deregulation and market-based reforms—not growing government through grants and mandates.

Subject: House Bill 247 (HB 247) – Border security and property taxes

• Author: State Rep. Ryan Guillen (R-Rio Grande City)
• Caption: Relating to an exemption from ad valorem taxation of the amount of the appraised value of real property located in certain counties that arises from the installation or construction on the property of border security infrastructure and related improvements and to the consideration of the price paid by certain governmental entities for a parcel of or easement in real property purchased for the purpose of installing or constructing such infrastructure when appraising other real property.
• TFR Position: SUPPORT
• Background: 
  • HB 247 is the enabling legislation for HJR 34. It protects borderland property owners from being unfairly taxed when they allow the state or federal government to place security infrastructure on their land. Without this amendment, improvements like fencing or surveillance towers could raise a property’s appraised value, causing higher property tax bills for landowners who are simply helping with public safety. The bill respects private property rights by ensuring the government doesn’t punish these property owners with increased taxes. It promotes taxpayer fairness and avoids creating disincentives for cooperating with law enforcement. By shielding these owners from unintended financial burdens, the resolution aligns with principles of limited, fair, and respectful governance, and border security efforts.

Subject: House Bill 762 (HB 762) – Caps taxpayer-funded severance payouts

• Author: State Rep. Jeff Leach (R-Allen)
• Caption: Relating to severance pay for political subdivision employees and independent contractors.
• TFR Position: SUPPORT
• Background: 
  • HB 762 reins in excessive severance payouts for local government employees and contractors. These payouts are frequently funded with tax dollars, even when individuals are terminated for serious misconduct. This bill stops taxpayer money from being used for bloated exit packages by capping severance at 20 weeks of regular pay and banning it entirely when the termination is for misconduct. It ensures accountability by requiring public disclosure of all severance agreements online. The bill is a win for taxpayers—it curbs waste, increases transparency, and prevents bad actors from cashing in on taxpayer funds. It also serves as a deterrent against mismanagement and abuse within local government operations.

Subject: House Bill 2715 (HB 2715) – Local official removal process reform

• Author: State Rep. Pat Curry (R-Waco)
• Caption: Relating to the removal from office of certain officers of  political subdivisions.
• TFR Position: SUPPORT
• Background: 
  • HB 2715 simplifies and modernizes the process for removing local officials from office when they violate public trust. Instead of relying on various local judges or attorneys, all removal petitions must now go to the presiding judge of the administrative judicial region, ensuring greater consistency and impartiality. The bill also eliminates outdated requirements mandating specific county or district attorneys to prosecute these cases, reducing the potential for local bias or conflicts of interest. These changes promote clearer legal procedures and reduce bureaucratic complexity. This reduces redundant government roles, supports more efficient use of taxpayer-funded legal resources, and enhances accountability without growing government power or cost. Overall, the bill enforces limited government ideals by strengthening checks on local officials through an efficient and neutral judicial process.

Subject: House Bill 3260 (HB 3260) – Expanded apprenticeship subsidies

• Author: State Rep. Keith Bell (R-Forney)
• Caption: Relating to the Texas Industry-Recognized Apprenticeship Programs Grant Program.
• TFR Position: OPPOSE
• Background: 
  • HB 3260 allows the Texas Workforce Commission to issue partial, milestone-based reimbursements to employers participating in the Industry-Recognized Apprenticeship Grant Program. Rather than waiting until a full apprenticeship and a year of post-employment are completed, businesses would get funding earlier as certain steps are completed. The bill also gives TWC new authority to set standards for which jobs and programs qualify. While the goal is to encourage more employers to offer apprenticeships, the bill risks expanding government subsidy programs without strong oversight or fiscal safeguards. Faster and more frequent reimbursements could increase program costs and reduce accountability for whether training results in lasting employment. Shifting certification power to a state agency could also politicize which industries and programs receive taxpayer-funded benefits. From a limited government perspective, the program represents another layer of workforce intervention and spending. Instead, Texas should prioritize private-sector driven training without long-term taxpayer liability.

Subject: House Bill 4163 (HB 4163) – Local Ag Mandates

• Author: State Rep. Ryan Guillen (R-Rio Grande City)
• Caption: Relating to the authority of a city to impose certain governmental requirements on an agricultural operation.
• TFR Position: SUPPORT
• Background: 
  • HB 4163 protects farmers and ranchers from unnecessary and burdensome city regulations that interfere with normal agricultural operations. The bill prohibits cities from enforcing mandates like forcing farmers to mow or clear public road rights-of-way next to their land. By preventing cities from overregulating agriculture, the bill reinforces private property rights and shields small producers from costly compliance requirements. The bill promotes regulatory consistency and curtails the scope of municipal overreach into private land use.

Subject: House Bill 5195 (HB 5195) – State Website modernization 

• Author: State Rep. Giovanni Capriglione (R-Southlake)
• Caption: Relating to modernization of state agency Internet websites and digital services.
• TFR Position: SUPPORT
• Background: 
  • HB 5195 pushes Texas state agencies to bring their websites into the 21st century. It encourages a review of outdated digital systems to cut red tape and make government more accessible for taxpayers and small businesses. The bill focuses on low-cost improvements like clearer navigation, mobile-friendliness, and fewer paperwork burdens. It empowers agencies to eliminate duplicative manual processes and reduce regulatory friction that slows down entrepreneurship. By leaning on the Department of Information Resources to provide templates and technical help, it avoids unnecessary bureaucracy and spending. The bill fosters consistency across agency websites, saving time and money for Texans navigating government services. This is a smart, market-friendly way to improve efficiency without growing government.

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Reminder: Vote Notices are provided to both Texas state lawmakers and the general public, sharing Texans for Fiscal Responsibility’s position on issues eligible to be rated as a part of the Fiscal Responsibility Index. Notices are provided prior to votes being taken in each legislative chamber.

Disclaimer: We reserve the right to consider amendments to legislation that may be introduced without notice as a part of issues to be rated on the Fiscal Responsibility Index. We will make every effort to provide notice on amendments that are pre-filed.