Wednesday, March 31, 2021-17th Day (Cont.)

SENATE JOURNALEIGHTY-SEVENTH LEGISLATURE— REGULAR SESSION

AUSTIN, TEXAS

PROCEEDINGS

SEVENTEENTH DAY(Continued)

(Wednesday, March 31, 2021)

AFTER RECESS

The Senate met at 1:15 p.m. and was called to order by the President.

Senator Nelson offered the invocation as follows:

Heavenly Father, You just heard a small sampling of the many thingsfor which we are grateful. We thank You for our many blessings. Thank Youfor our Senate family, for those who protect us, law enforcement andmilitary. Thank You for this great state and this great nation. Father God, aswe enter this holy weekend, we rejoice in remembering Your most perfectsacrifice, the redemption of all sins. Help us to walk in Your ways servingone another with open hearts, extending Your grace daily. We pray that Yourpeace which surpasses all understanding becomes a source ofencouragement. You are the living hope. Finally, Father, as Senators wepray for guidance so that we may better serve the people of this state. Helpus make the right decisions, meeting their needs, protecting the mostvulnerable, respecting all faiths, and honoring Your name. Amen.

RESOLUTIONS SIGNED

The President announced the signing of the following enrolled resolutions in thepresence of the Senate:iiHCRi68, HCRi69.

SENATE RESOLUTION 214

Senator Perry offered the following resolution:

SR 214, Recognizing March 31, 2021, as Lubbock Day.

The resolution was read and was adopted without objection.

GUESTS PRESENTED

Senator Perry was recognized and introduced to the Senate a Lubbock Chamberof Commerce delegation including Curtis Parrish, Lubbock County Judge; Dan Pope,Mayor; Dave Marcinkowski; and Gabe Vitela.

The Senate welcomed its guests.

SENATE RESOLUTION 215

Senator Perry offered the following resolution:

SR 215, Recognizing Eddie McBride on the occasion of his retirement.

The resolution was read and was adopted without objection.

GUEST PRESENTED

Senator Perry was recognized and introduced to the Senate Eddie McBride,President and CEO of the Lubbock Chamber of Commerce.

The Senate welcomed its guest.

MESSAGE FROM THE GOVERNOR

The following Message from the Governor was read and was referred to theCommittee on Nominations:

March 31, 2021Austin, Texas

TO THE SENATE OF THE EIGHTY-SEVENTH LEGISLATURE, REGULARSESSION:

I ask the advice, consent and confirmation of the Senate with respect to thefollowing appointments:

To be members of the Gulf Coast Authority Board of Directors for terms toexpire August 31, 2022:

Lamont E. MeauxStowell, Texas

Kevin M. ScottSanta Fe, Texas

The individuals listed above are being reappointed.

Respectfully submitted,

/s/Greg AbbottGovernor

SESSION TO CONSIDER EXECUTIVE APPOINTMENTS

The President announced the time had arrived to consider executiveappointments to agencies, boards, and commissions. Notice of submission of thesenames for consideration was given yesterday by Senator Buckingham.

Senator Buckingham moved confirmation of the nominees reported yesterday bythe Committee on Nominations.

The President asked if there were requests to sever nominees.

There were no requests offered.

NOMINEES CONFIRMED

The following nominees, as reported by the Committee on Nominations, wereconfirmed by the following vote:iiYeasi31, Naysi0.

504 87th Legislature — Regular Session 17th Day (Cont.)

Member, Board for Lease of Texas Department of Criminal Justice Lands:iiErinElizabeth Lunceford, Harris County.

Member, Board for Lease of Texas Parks and Wildlife Lands: Clifton EarlBickerstaff, Potter County.

Members, Board of Pardons and Paroles:ii David Gutierrez, Bell County;Edward Ray Robertson, Travis County.

Commissioners, Board of Pilot Commissioners for Galveston CountyPorts:iiArden Cyril Hill, Galveston County; Charles Frederick Kuebler, GalvestonCounty; Kelly Kathleen Lovell, Galveston County; Terrilyn Tarlton-Shannon,Galveston County.

Presiding Officer, Brazos County Regional Mobility Authority:iiDaniel BarrettMoore, Brazos County.

Presiding Officer, Cameron County Regional Mobility Authority:iiFrank Parker,Cameron County.

Presiding Officer, Camino Real Regional Mobility Authority:iiJoyce A. Wilson,El Paso County.

Member, Oversight Committee, Cancer Prevention and Research Institute ofTexas:iiDonald R. Margo, El Paso County; Cynthia Barberio Payne, Comal County.

Chair, State Board of Education:iiKeven Mirk Anthony Ellis, Angelina County.

Members, Commission on State Emergency Communications:iiClinton DaleSawyer, Lamb County; Larry Layne VanSteenberg, Montgomery County.

Justice, Court of Appeals, Fourth Court of Appeals District:iiLori IreneValenzuela, Bexar County.

Members, Finance Commission of Texas:iiHector J. Cerna, Maverick County;Lawrence Bryan Long, Dallas County; Sharon McCormick, Collin County; LauraRebecca Nassri Warren, Hildago County.

Presiding Officer, Grayson County Regional Mobility Authority:iiRobertWeldon Brady, Grayson County.

Member, Gulf States Marine Fisheries Commission:iiDouglass WhitcombeBoyd, Kendall County.

Presiding Officer, Hildalgo County Regional Mobility Authority:iiSamuel D.Deanda, Hildago County.

Commissioner, Interstate Commission for Adult Offender Supervision:iiDavidGutierrez, Bell County.

Commissioners, Board of Pilot Commissioners for Jefferson and OrangeCounty:iiChristopher Stephen Guy, Jefferson County; Charles Edward Holder,Orange County; William Gates Jenkins, Jefferson County; Shawn Michael Sparrow,Jefferson County; Milton Bradley Taylor, Orange County.

Wednesday, March 31, 2021 SENATE JOURNAL 505

Members, Board of Directors, Lower Neches Valley Authority:iiSteven RobertLucas, Jefferson County; James Michael Scott, Jefferson County; Charles Spurlock,Tyler County.

Member, Board of Directors, North Texas Tollway Authority: Frankie Gravely,Grayson County.

Members, Parks and Wildlife Commission:iiJames Edward Abell, Smith County;Jeffery Dee Hildebrand, Harris County; Robert L. Patton, Tarrant County.

Member, Public Safety Commission:iiSteven Hall Stodghill, Dallas County.

Member, School Land Board:iiTodd Allen Williams, Dallas County.

Presiding Officer, Sulphur River Regional Mobility Authority:iiJay WileyHodge, Lamar County.

Members, Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission:iiMichael S. Adkins, El PasoCounty; Hasan Mack, Travis County; Deborah Gray Marino, Bexar County.

Members, Texas Farm and Ranch Lands Conservation Council:iiAbby LynnFrank, Washington County; Leslie L. W. Kinsel, La Salle County; Natalie CobbKoehler, Bosque County; Romey Lynn Swanson, Travis County.

Members, Texas Lottery Commission:iiCynthia Anne Foster Lyons Fields, ElPaso County; Erik C. Saenz, Harris County; James Higbie Clement Steen, HarrisCounty.

Members, Texas Low-Level Radioactive Waste Disposal CompactCommission:iiBrandon Troy Hurley, Tarrant County; John J. Mundy, Travis County.

Adjutant General, Texas Military Department:iiTracy Ray Norris, Travis County.

Member, Board of Directors, Texas Mutual Insurance Company:iiBrett BakerFlagg, Denton County.

Members, Texas State Board of Examiners of Marriage and FamilyTherapists:iiRussell Floyd Bartee, Tarrant County; Jodie L. Elder, Dallas County;Daniel Wayne Parrish, Dallas County; Anthony Charles Scoma, Travis County;Jeanene Lea Smith, Travis County; Evelyn Husband Thompson, Harris County.

Members, Texas State Library and Archives Commission:iiDavid ChampionGarza, Cameron County; Bradley Scott Tegeler, Travis County.

Member, Board of Regents, Texas State Technical College System:iiKathy AnnStewart, Tom Green County.

Members, Texas Transportation Commission:iiJames Bruce Bugg, BexarCounty; Robert Carl Vaughn, Dallas County.

Members, Texas Veterans Commission:iiMary Lopez Dale, Williamson County;Mike Perez Hernandez, Taylor County.

Members, Board of Regents, University of Houston System:iiGuadalupe Cantu,Hidalgo County; John A. McCall, Houston County.

Members, Board of Regents, University of North Texas System:iiMelisa A.Denis, Tarrant County; Daniel R. Feehan, Tarrant County.


Presiding Officer, Webb County-City of Laredo Regional MobilityAuthority:iiJed Alton Brown, Webb County.

COMMITTEEiiSUBSTITUTESENATE BILL 5 ON SECOND READING

On motion of Senator Nichols and by unanimous consent, the regular order ofbusiness was suspended to take up for consideration CSSB 5 at this time on its secondreading:

CSSB 5, Relating to the expansion of broadband services to certain areas.

The bill was read second time.

Senator Nichols offered the following amendment to the bill:

Floor Amendment No. 1

Amend CSSB 5 (senate committee printing) in SECTION 6 of the bill asfollows:

(1)iiOn page 7, line 38, strike "September 1, 2022" and substitute "January 1,2023".

(2)iiOn page 7, line 39, strike "January 1, 2023" and substitute "September 1,2022".

The amendment to CSSB 5 was read and was adopted by a viva voce vote.

All Members are deemed to have voted "Yea" on the adoption of FloorAmendment No. 1.

CSSB 5 as amended was passed to engrossment by a viva voce vote.

All Members are deemed to have voted "Yea" on the passage to engrossment.

COMMITTEEiiSUBSTITUTESENATE BILL 5 ON THIRD READING

Senator Nichols moved that Senate Rule 7.18 and the Constitutional Rulerequiring bills to be read on three several days be suspended and that CSSBi5 beplaced on its third reading and final passage.

The motion prevailed by the following vote:iiYeasi31, Naysi0.

The bill was read third time and was passed by the following vote:iiYeasi31,Naysi0.

REMARKS ORDERED PRINTED

On motion of Senator Perry and by unanimous consent, the remarks by SenatorPerry regarding CSSB 5 on suspension of the regular order of business were orderedreduced to writing and printed in the Senate Journal as follows:

President:iiSenator Perry, for what purpose?

Senator Perry:iiA question or two, but mainly a statement and I go ahead and, Iknow we normally do this after the fact, but if we would record what I ’m going to sayin the Journal, ahead of time, if it ’s easier for you guys to take note. Surely toestablish, Senator Nichols, or Chairman Nichols and I, as well as many, have been


working on this initiative for a while. And I want to state that the bill ’s good. It ’s agreat starting point. I mean, it ’s where it needs to be, but for purposes of intent I wantto make sure the concerns I have with where we ’re delegating in a verynonprescriptive way. A lot of times we write legislation assuming that the objective isclear and they have full authority to meet the objective. The bill does a great job ofgiving an objective and it also does a pretty good job of saying who should beresponsible for it. But I want, under no uncertain terms, there to be any confusion asto where we want to be when this process is done. And that ’s pretty much anybodyand everybody in the State of Texas that desires to have broadband availability that ’sreliable and affordable, hopefully, should have that if we meet our objective. With thatthe bill gives some guidance as to an 80-20. I want to make sure what I understand the80-20 to be and what I think it should be. Eighty-twenty is not a endpoint, we had tostart somewhere. It ’s a beginning point of a conversation. If you look at a broadbandmap today, as Chairman Nichols has said, you probably are above 90 percentcoverage in the State of Texas, according to some authorities, which is absolutely nottrue. I know in these conversations we ’ve had, we ’ve got people that have providers,fibers going right down their alleyway but yet no ability to connect to their homebecause the provider said, we won ’t do that. But you can argue that they have accessand it ’s not correct. So, as we go through this I want this council and I want thisdevelopment office to understand objective is for those that desire it and want it, it ’savailable. When we ’re done, we ’ll have demarked those houses. Demarked means thelast mile and I ’m getting into the weeds a little bit, but there ’s the middle mile andthere ’s the last mile, and the last mile is from wherever your provider is to the house.And it ’s that piece that if we ’re not clear in our intentions that we hope to achieve, wewill end up status quo exactly where we are only several millions, hundreds of milliondollars from a federal level in the hole with nothing to show for it. So, I speakspecifically today to the service providers that are critical in making this objectivework. We need all of our service providers on board to meet the objective. And why Isay that is that will mean they will have to be willing to do some things that currentlythey ’re not wanting to do to meet this objective. So, the development office needs tohave the courage, the direction, and the Legislature ’s support to move this agenda towhere it needs to be. And if we do not back that agenda with the full force of theLegislature and the opportunities that we have to going forward, we will have spent,as I say, the first round of money, feds have sent some money to the state already,$347 million. It went to these people that may have had somebody in the area, butthey were not demarked so this requires them to do that. There ’s another round of thatmoney. We need to be actively engaged in those conversations. So, the intent of this isto make it available to those people that want it, not for a provider group to say, we ’rethere, we ’re covered, we don ’t worry about it but yet they never went the last mile,Mr.iChairman.

Senator Nichols:iiOkay, I was waiting for my turn.

Senator Perry:iiI ’m sorry.

Senator Nichols:iiYou ’ve been crystal clear all the way through and we ’ve discussedit over quite a bit. And we ’ve worked on the language to try to accomplish what youand I believe, but just so, to simplify it, when we say a street or a road is covered, has


coverage, to us it means each street address, each address. If you got an addresswhether it ’s a business or a home it ’s either served or it ’s not served. And if it ’s notserved, then the question is can it be served within one billing cycle. And if it can beserved within one billing cycle then it ’s served. And none of the maps to date werelike that. As I explained, they were Census maps and some of my counties the entireCensus, you know, there ’s a whole county, and if one person got the service, theyshowed it was served. The other thing the feds did several years back was they hadtwo definitions from high speed Internet. They had one for the urban areas which is25/3 and then they had a, one for the rural saying it ’s 10/1. I believe that ’s right.Senator Perry:iiRight.

Senator Nichols:iiAnd I ’m going, high speed ’s high speed. So, we made, we werevery clear in here that high speed is 25-30 unless the FCC changes the definitionhigher in which case we automatically go higher.

Senator Perry:iiRight.

Senator Nichols:iiBut, yes, I heard you loud and clear, and I think what you ’re sayingis very important. That ’s certainly my intention as well.

Senator Perry:iiAnd I think we hit it. I think you got there. I just think it ’s importantfor us to set the expectation, what that really means, it means demarked to the house.

Senator Nichols:iiAnd the development office people can come watch this archive.

Senator Perry:iiThat ’s right. That ’s, that ’s where I ’m at is I don ’t want–Senator Nichols:iiGotcha.

Senator Perry:ii–anybody to be able to say we, we saw 80-20 or we saw 95-5 andnothing changed and pat their self on the back. Lot of taxpayer money went tosomebody and nothing got done. But I appreciate you, your office, Tina ’s beenawesome, of making sure those communications have been open. This has been goingon with me for years, truthfully, and I felt like I had a good grasp on it, but it was veryfrustrating to have some communities say, on the map we ’re covered but there ’s onlytwo people that ’s got it in the whole county. So, that ’s what this bill is intended to fix.Thank you, Mr.iChairman.

Senator Nichols:iiThank, thank you for your input.


On motion of Senator Nichols and by unanimous consent, the regular order ofbusiness was suspended to take up for consideration CSSBi507 at this time on itssecond reading:

CSSBi507, Relating to an accommodation process authorizing the use of statehighway rights-of-way by broadband-only providers.

The bill was read second time and was passed to engrossment by a viva vocevote.




Senator Nichols moved that Senate Rule 7.18 and the Constitutional Rulerequiring bills to be read on three several days be suspended and that CSSBi507 beplaced on its third reading and final passage.



SENATE BILL 30 ON SECOND READING

On motion of Senator West and by unanimous consent, the regular order ofbusiness was suspended to take up for consideration SBi30 at this time on its secondreading:

SBi30, Relating to the removal of certain discriminatory restrictions andprovisions from certain real property records.



SENATE BILL 30 ON THIRD READING

Senator West moved that Senate Rule 7.18 and the Constitutional Rule requiringbills to be read on three several days be suspended and that SBi30 be placed on itsthird reading and final passage.



(Senator Hancock in Chair)

MESSAGE FROM THE HOUSE

HOUSE CHAMBERAustin, Texas

Wednesday, March 31, 2021 - 1

The Honorable President of the SenateSenate ChamberAustin, Texas

Mr. President:

I am directed by the house to inform the senate that the house has taken the followingaction:

THE HOUSE HAS PASSED THE FOLLOWING MEASURES:

HB 10 Paddie


Relating to the governance of the Public Utility Commission of Texas, the Office ofPublic Utility Counsel, and an independent organization certified to manage a powerregion.

HB 12 RaymondRelating to a study on a statewide disaster alert system and implementation of thatsystem and to notice to elected officials of a widespread power, water, or natural gasoutage or emergency.

HB 13 PaddieRelating to the establishment of the Texas Energy Disaster Reliability Council.

HB 16 HernandezRelating to the sale of wholesale indexed products by retail electric providers.

HB 17 DeshotelRelating to a restriction on the regulation of utility services and infrastructure basedon the energy source to be used or delivered.

SCR 37 Whitmire Sponsor: MetcalfGranting the legislature permission to adjourn for more than three days during theperiod beginning on Wednesday, March 31, 2021, and ending on Tuesday, April 6,2021.

Respectfully,

/s/Robert Haney, Chief ClerkHouse of Representatives


On motion of Senator Huffman and by unanimous consent, the regular order ofbusiness was suspended to take up for consideration CSSBi24 at this time on itssecond reading:

CSSB 24, Relating to the procedures required before a law enforcement agencyhires a peace officer.




Senator Huffman moved that Senate Rule 7.18 and the Constitutional Rulerequiring bills to be read on three several days be suspended and that CSSBi24 beplaced on its third reading and final passage.





Senator Campbell moved to suspend the regular order of business to take up forconsideration SBi650 at this time on its third reading and final passage:

SB 650, Relating to prohibited logistical support by a governmental entity forprocurement of an abortion or the services of an abortion provider.


Yeas:iiBettencourt, Birdwell, Buckingham, Campbell, Creighton, Hall, Hancock,Huffman, Hughes, Kolkhorst, Lucio, Nelson, Nichols, Paxton, Perry, Schwertner,Seliger, Springer, Taylor.

Nays:iiAlvarado, Blanco, Eckhardt, Gutierrez, Hinojosa, Johnson, Menendez,Miles, Powell, West, Whitmire, Zaffirini.

The bill was read third time and was passed by the following vote:iiYeasi19,Naysi12. (Same as previous roll call)


On motion of Senator Bettencourt and by unanimous consent, the regular orderof business was suspended to take up for consideration SBi244 at this time on itssecond reading:

SB 244, Relating to the application of the open meetings law to the board ofdirectors of certain tax reinvestment zones.




Senator Bettencourt moved that Senate Rule 7.18 and the Constitutional Rulerequiring bills to be read on three several days be suspended and that SBi244 beplaced on its third reading and final passage.




On motion of Senator Kolkhorst and by unanimous consent, the regular order ofbusiness was suspended to take up for consideration CSSBi809 at this time on itssecond reading:

CSSBi809, Relating to health care institution reporting of federal moneyreceived for the coronavirus disease public health emergency.





Senator Kolkhorst moved that Senate Rule 7.18 and the Constitutional Rulerequiring bills to be read on three several days be suspended and that CSSBi809 beplaced on its third reading and final passage.




On motion of Senator Zaffirini and by unanimous consent, the regular order ofbusiness was suspended to take up for consideration CSSBi884 at this time on itssecond reading:

CSSBi884, Relating to the management and operation by The University ofTexas System of a multi-institution center in the city of Laredo.




Senator Zaffirini moved that Senate Rule 7.18 and the Constitutional Rulerequiring bills to be read on three several days be suspended and that CSSBi884 beplaced on its third reading and final passage.




On motion of Senator Creighton and by unanimous consent, the regular order ofbusiness was suspended to take up for consideration CSSBi788 at this time on itssecond reading:

CSSBi788, Relating to the development of model data-sharing agreements forsharing certain student information between public schools, public and privateinstitutions of higher education, and other entities.





Senator Creighton moved that Senate Rule 7.18 and the Constitutional Rulerequiring bills to be read on three several days be suspended and that CSSBi788 beplaced on its third reading and final passage.




On motion of Senator Kolkhorst and by unanimous consent, the regular order ofbusiness was suspended to take up for consideration CSSBi1137 at this time on itssecond reading:

CSSB 1137, Relating to the required disclosure by hospitals of prices for hospitalservices and items; providing administrative penalties.




Senator Kolkhorst moved that Senate Rule 7.18 and the Constitutional Rulerequiring bills to be read on three several days be suspended and that CSSBi1137 beplaced on its third reading and final passage.




On motion of Senator Zaffirini and by unanimous consent, the regular order ofbusiness was suspended to take up for consideration CSSBi930 at this time on itssecond reading:

CSSB 930, Relating to the disclosure of certain information regarding theoccurrence of communicable diseases in residential facilities.





Senator Zaffirini moved that Senate Rule 7.18 and the Constitutional Rulerequiring bills to be read on three several days be suspended and that CSSBi930 beplaced on its third reading and final passage.




On motion of Senator Seliger and by unanimous consent, the regular order ofbusiness was suspended to take up for consideration SBi1103 at this time on itssecond reading:

SB 1103, Relating to the regulation of nurse aides; requiring an occupationalregistration.




Senator Seliger moved that Senate Rule 7.18 and the Constitutional Rulerequiring bills to be read on three several days be suspended and that SBi1103 beplaced on its third reading and final passage.




On motion of Senator Schwertner and by unanimous consent, the regular orderof business was suspended to take up for consideration CSSBi291 at this time on itssecond reading:

CSSBi291, Relating to the posting of certain project information at a commercialbuilding construction site.


All Members are deemed to have voted "Yea" on the passage to engrossmentexcept as follows:

Nays:iiSpringer.



Senator Schwertner moved that Senate Rule 7.18 and the Constitutional Rulerequiring bills to be read on three several days be suspended and that CSSBi291 beplaced on its third reading and final passage.


Nays:iiSpringer.

The bill was read third time and was passed by the following vote:iiYeasi30,Naysi1. (Same as previous roll call)


On motion of Senator Huffman and by unanimous consent, the regular order ofbusiness was suspended to take up for consideration SBi516 at this time on its secondreading:

SBi516, Relating to increasing the criminal penalty for the offense of criminalmischief involving impairment or interruption of access to an automated tellermachine.


All Members are deemed to have voted "Yea" on the passage to engrossmentexcept as follows:

Nays:iiEckhardt.


Senator Huffman moved that Senate Rule 7.18 and the Constitutional Rulerequiring bills to be read on three several days be suspended and that SBi516 beplaced on its third reading and final passage.



Nays:iiEckhardt.


Senator Perry moved to suspend the regular order of business to take up forconsideration SBi155 at this time on its second reading:

SB 155, Relating to the use of information from the lists of noncitizens andnonresidents excused or disqualified from jury service.


Yeas:iiBettencourt, Birdwell, Buckingham, Campbell, Creighton, Hall, Hancock,Huffman, Hughes, Kolkhorst, Nelson, Nichols, Paxton, Perry, Schwertner, Seliger,Springer, Taylor.


Nays:iiAlvarado, Blanco, Eckhardt, Gutierrez, Hinojosa, Johnson, Lucio,Menendez, Miles, Powell, West, Whitmire, Zaffirini.


(President in Chair)

Senator Eckhardt offered the following amendment to the bill:


Amend SB 155 (senate committee printing) as follows:(1)iiIn SECTION 1 of the bill, in amended Section 18.068(a), Election Code

(page 1, lines 25-26), strike "Sections [Section] 62.113 and 62.114," and substitute"Section 62.113,".

(2)iiIn SECTION 1 of the bill, in amended Section 18.068(a), Election Code(page 1, line 31), strike the underlined colon.

(3)iiIn SECTION 1 of the bill, in amended Section 18.068(a), Election Code(page 1, line 32), strike "(1)".

(4)iiIn SECTION 1 of the bill, in amended Section 18.068(a), Election Code(page 1, line 33), strike "; and" and substitute ".".

(5)iiIn SECTION 1 of the bill, in amended Section 18.068(a), Election Code(page 1), strike lines 34 through 36.

(6)iiStrike SECTIONS 2 and 3 of the bill (page 1, line 37, through page 2, line1), and renumber subsequent SECTIONS accordingly.

The amendment to SB 155 was read and failed of adoption by the followingvote:iiYeasi13, Naysi18.

Yeas:iiAlvarado, Blanco, Eckhardt, Gutierrez, Hinojosa, Johnson, Lucio,Menendez, Miles, Powell, West, Whitmire, Zaffirini.

Nays:iiBettencourt, Birdwell, Buckingham, Campbell, Creighton, Hall,Hancock, Huffman, Hughes, Kolkhorst, Nelson, Nichols, Paxton, Perry, Schwertner,Seliger, Springer, Taylor.



Amend SB 155 (senate committee printing) by adding the followingappropriately numbered SECTION to the bill and renumbering subsequentSECTIONS of the bill accordingly:

SECTIONi____.iiSection 16.031, Election Code, is amended to read as follows:Sec.i16.031.iiCANCELLATION ON OFFICIAL NOTICE OF INELIGIBILITY.

(a) Subject to Subsection (c), the [The] registrar shall cancel a voter ’s registration[immediately] on receipt of:

(1)iinotice under Section 13.072(b) or 15.021 or a response under Section15.053 that the voter ’s residence is outside the county;

(2)iian abstract of the voter ’s death certificate under Section 16.001(a) or anabstract of an application indicating that the voter is deceased under Section16.001(b);


(3)iian abstract of a final judgment of the voter ’s total mental incapacity,partial mental incapacity without the right to vote, conviction of a felony, ordisqualification under Section 16.002, 16.003, or 16.004;

(4)iinotice under Section 112.012 that the voter has applied for a limitedballot in another county;

(5)iinotice from a voter registration official in another state that the voter hasregistered to vote outside this state;

(6)iinotice from the early voting clerk under Section 101.053 that a federalpostcard application submitted by an applicant states a voting residence addresslocated outside the registrar ’s county; or

(7)iinotice from the secretary of state that the voter has registered to vote inanother county, as determined by the voter ’s driver ’s license number or personalidentification card number issued by the Department of Public Safety or socialsecurity number.

(b)iiSubject to Subsection (c), the [The] registrar shall cancel a voter ’sregistration [immediately] if the registrar:

(1)iidetermines from information received under Section 16.001(c) that thevoter is deceased;

(2)iihas personal knowledge that the voter is deceased;(3)iireceives from a person related within the second degree by

consanguinity or affinity, as determined under Chapter 573, Government Code, to thevoter a sworn statement by that person indicating that the voter is deceased; or

(4)iireceives notice from the secretary of state under Section 18.068 that thevoter is deceased.

(c)iiThe secretary of state shall adopt rules and procedures requiring a registrar todeliver to a registered voter a written notice that the voter ’s registration is subject tocancellation under this section. The notice must instruct the voter that the voter maysubmit to the registrar proof of residence or life, as appropriate, to prevent thecancellation of the voter ’s registration. A voter ’s registration shall be canceled underthis section if the voter fails to submit to the registrar the required proof on or beforethe 30th day after the date the notice is mailed.

The amendment to SB 155 was read and failed of adoption by the followingvote:iiYeasi13, Naysi18.



SB 155 was passed to engrossment by the following vote:iiYeasi18, Naysi13.




SENATE RULES SUSPENDED(Posting Rules)

On motion of Senator Hancock and by unanimous consent, Senate Rule 11.10(a)and Senate Rule 11.18(a) were suspended in order that the Committee on Businessand Commerce might meet today.

RECESS

On motion of Senator Whitmire, the Senate at 5:05 p.m. recessed until 5:30 p.m.today.

AFTER RECESS

The Senate met at 5:53ip.m. and was called to order by the President.

RESOLUTION SIGNED

The President announced the signing of the following enrolled resolution in thepresence of the Senate:iiSCRi37.

MOMENT OF SILENCE OBSERVED

At the request of the President, the Senate observed a moment of silence in honorof Texas DPS Trooper Chad Walker.

(Senator Huffman in Chair)

(Senator Schwertner in Chair)

(President in Chair)

AT EASE

The President at 10:02 p.m. announced the Senate would stand At Ease subjectto the call of the Chair.

IN LEGISLATIVE SESSION

The President at 10:20 p.m. called the Senate to order as In Legislative Session.

SENATE RULE 11.13 SUSPENDED(Consideration of Bills in Committees)

On motion of Senator Kolkhorst and by unanimous consent, Senate Rule 11.13was suspended to grant the Committee on Health and Human Services permission tomeet while the Senate is meeting today.

SENATE RULES SUSPENDED(Posting Rules)

On motion of Senator Kolkhorst and by unanimous consent, Senate Rule11.10(a) and Senate Rule 11.18(a) were suspended in order that the Committee onHealth and Human Services might meet and hear public testimony in the Betty KingCommittee Room today.


Senator Hughes moved to suspend the regular order of business to take up forconsideration CSSBi7 at this time on its second reading:


CSSB 7, Relating to elections, including election integrity and security; creatinga criminal offense; providing civil penalties.





Senator Menendez offered the following amendment to the bill:


Amend CSSB 7 (senate committee printing) by adding the followingappropriately numbered SECTION to ARTICLE 3 of the bill and renumberingsubsequent SECTIONS of ARTICLE 3 accordingly:

SECTIONi3.___.iiSubchapter A, Chapter 85, Election Code, is amended byadding Section 85.0055 to read as follows:

Sec.i85.0055.iiVOTING AFTER POLLS CLOSE. (a) A voter who has not votedbefore the time for closing an early voting polling place is entitled to vote after thattime if the voter is inside or waiting to enter the polling place at closing time.

(b)iiIf voters are waiting to enter the polling place at closing time, the presidingjudge shall direct them to enter the polling place and shall close it to others. However,if that procedure is impracticable, at closing time the presiding judge shall distributenumbered identification cards to the waiting voters and permit entry into the pollingplace for voting after closing time only by those possessing a card.

(c)iiThe presiding judge shall take the precautions necessary to prevent votingafter closing time by persons who are not entitled to do so.

MENENDEZ JOHNSONALVARADO LUCIOBLANCO MILESECKHARDT POWELLGUTIERREZ WESTHINOJOSA WHITMIREHUGHES ZAFFIRINI



Senator Hughes offered the following amendment to the bill:


Amend CSSBi7 (senate committee printing) as follows:(1)iiIn SECTION 2.07 of the bill, in added Section 86.006(a-2), Election Code

(page 4, line 11), strike "at the time of delivery by a person" and substitute "by aperson at the time of delivery".


(2)iiIn SECTION 2.09 of the bill, adding Section 86.015, Election Code (page 4,between lines 61 and 62), insert the following appropriately lettered subsection:

(i)iiThe information contained in Subsection (c) is not public information for thepurposes of Chapter 552, Government Code, until after Election Day.

(3)iiAdd the following appropriately numbered SECTION to ARTICLE 3 of thebill and renumber subsequent SECTIONS of ARTICLE 3 accordingly:

SECTIONi3.___.iiSubchapter C, Chapter 33, Election Code, is amended byadding Section 33.063 to read as follows:

Sec.i33.063.iiDELIVERY OF CERTAIN EVIDENCE TO SECRETARY OFSTATE. (a) A watcher may electronically transmit a photo, video, or audio recordingmade by the watcher during the watcher ’s service directly to the secretary of state ifthe watcher reasonably believes the photo, video, or recording contains evidence ofunlawful activity. The means of transmission must be approved by the secretary ofstate.

(b)iiThe secretary of state shall make a photo, video, or audio recordingsubmitted under this section available to the attorney general upon request.

(c)iiExcept as expressly provided by this section, a watcher may not share ortransmit a photo, video, or audio recording, or allow a photo, video, or audiorecording to be shared or transmitted, if the photo, video, or recording was created bythe watcher during the watcher ’s service.

(d)iiThe secretary of state shall adopt rules to administer this section.(4)iiStrike SECTION 3.05 of the bill, amending Section 43.007, Election Code

(page 6, lines 33-69), and substitute the following appropriately numbered SECTION:SECTIONi3.____.iiSection 43.007, Election Code, is amended by amending

Subsection (m) and adding Subsection (m-1) to read as follows:(m)iiIn adopting a methodology under Subsection (f), the county must ensure

that:(1)iiin a county with a population of less than one million:

(A)iieach county commissioners precinct contains at least onecountywide polling place; and

(B)i[(2)]iithe total number of permanent branch and temporary branchpolling places open for voting in a county commissioners precinct does not exceedmore than twice the number of permanent branch and temporary branch polling placesin another county commissioners precinct; and

(2)iiin a county with a population of one million or more, the number ofpolling places located in each state representative district included in the territory ofthe county is calculated by dividing the number of eligible voters residing in thatdistrict by the total number of eligible voters residing in the county and using thenumber generated as a percentage to allocate the same percentage of polling placelocations, rounding up to the nearest whole number, if necessary.

(m-1)iiElection officials and voting equipment, materials, and supplies must beallocated to each polling place based on the same percentage as polling placelocations are determined under Subsection (m) with no greater than a five percentdeviation in the allocation between state representative districts. Each polling placelocation must be able to accommodate 100 percent of the equipment allocated to beoperational at the same time.


(5)iiIn the recital to SECTION 3.09 of the bill (page 7, at the beginning of line33), insert "(f-1),".

(6)iiIn SECTION 3.09 of the bill, amending Section 64.009, Election Code (page7, line 43), between "A person who" and "assists", insert "simultaneously".

(7)iiIn SECTION 3.09 of the bill, amending Section 64.009, Election Code (page7, line 45), between "form" and "that contains", insert ", provided by an electionofficer,".

(8)iiIn SECTION 3.09 of the bill, amending Section 64.009, Election Code (page7, between lines 48 and 49), insert the following:

(f-1)iiSubsection (f) does not apply if the person is related to each voter withinthe second degree by affinity or the third degree by consanguinity, as determinedunder Subchapter B, Chapter 573, Government Code.

(9)iiIn SECTION 3.09 of the bill, amending Section 64.009, Election Code (page7, line 53), strike "upon request" and substitute "if the attorney general has received acomplaint to which the information may be responsive".

(10)iiIn the recital to SECTION 3.17 (page 9, line 31), strike "Section 85.062(b),Election Code, is amended" and substitute "Section 85.062, Election Code, isamended by amending Subsection (b) and adding Subsection (f-1)".

(11)iiAmend SECTIONi3.17 of the bill, amending Section 85.062, ElectionCode (page 9, between lines 45 and 46) by inserting the following:

(f-1)iiNotwithstanding any other provision of this section concerning the locationof temporary branch polling places, in an election in which countywide polling placesare used under Section 43.007, the commissioners court of a county shall employ thesame methodology it uses to determine the location of countywide polling places todetermine the location of temporary branch polling places.

(12)iiIn SECTION 3.21 of the bill, amending Section 127.1232, Election Code(page 10, lines 7-12), strike added Subsection (b) and substitute the following:

(b)iiThe general custodian of election records in a county with a population ofless than 100,000 may, and the general custodian of election records in a county witha population of 100,000 or more shall, implement a video surveillance system thatretains a record of all areas containing voted ballots from the time the voted ballots aredelivered to the central counting station until the canvass of precinct election returns.The video may be made available to the public by a livestream in a county with apopulation of less than 100,000, and shall be made available to the public by alivestream in a county with a population of 100,000 or more.

(13)iiIn SECTION 3.22 of the bill, in added Section 129.003, Election Code(page 10, line 29), between "Title 13" and the underlined comma, insert "or anelection contest under Title 14".

(14)iiIn SECTION 3.22 of the bill, in added Section 129.003, Election Code(page 10, between lines 31 and 32), insert "or in an election contest,".

The amendment to CSSB 7 was read.

Senator West offered the following amendment to Floor Amendment No. 2:


Amend Floor Amendment No. 2 by Hughes to CSSB 7 (senate committeeprinting) by striking Instruction No. 4 and substituting the following:


(4)iiStrike SECTION 3.05 of the bill, amending Section 43.007, Election Code(page 6, lines 33-69), and renumber subsequent SECTIONs accordingly.

Floor Amendment No.i3 was read and failed of adoption by the followingvote:iiYeasi13, Naysi18.



Question recurring on the adoption of Floor Amendment No.i2 to CSSB 7, theamendment was adopted by the following vote:iiYeasi18, Naysi13.



Senator Hinojosa offered the following amendment to the bill:



SECTIONi____.iiChapter 1, Election Code, is amended by adding Section1.0055 to read as follows:

Sec.i1.0055.iiRIGHT TO VOTE. Every citizen of this state, who is qualified tovote under the Texas Constitution and the provisions of this code, has a fundamentalright to vote in any election for which the voter is eligible.

HINOJOSA MENENDEZALVARADO MILESBLANCO POWELLECKHARDT WESTGUTIERREZ WHITMIREJOHNSON ZAFFIRINILUCIO

The amendment to CSSB 7 was read and failed of adoption by the followingvote:iiYeasi13, Naysi18.







SECTIONi___.iiSubchapter A, Chapter 65, Election Code, is amended byadding Section 65.0001 to read as follows:

Sec.i65.0001.iiRIGHT TO HAVE VOTE COUNTED.iiEvery eligible voter whocasts a ballot in an election has a fundamental right to have the voter ’s vote counted.





Senator Zaffirini offered the following amendment to the bill:


Amend CSSBi7 (senate committee printing) by striking SECTION 2.06 of thebill, amending Section 86.0015, Election Code (page 3, lines 44-67), and renumberingsubsequent SECTIONS of ARTICLE 2 accordingly.

ZAFFIRINI LUCIOALVARADO MENENDEZBLANCO MILESECKHARDT POWELLGUTIERREZ SELIGERHINOJOSA WESTJOHNSON WHITMIRE

The amendment to CSSBi7 was read and was adopted by a viva voce vote.


Senator Taylor offered the following amendment to the bill:


Amend CSSBi7 (senate committee printing) by adding the followingappropriately numbered SECTION to ARTICLE 4 of the bill and renumberingsubsequent SECTIONS of ARTICLE 4 accordingly:


SECTION 4.___. Section 276.013(a), Election Code, is amended to read asfollows:

(a)iiA person commits an offense if the person knowingly or intentionally makesany effort to:

(1)iiinfluence the independent exercise of the vote of another in the presenceof the ballot or during the voting process;

(2)iicause a voter to become registered, a ballot to be obtained, or a vote tobe cast under false pretenses; [or]

(3)iicount votes or alter a report to include votes the person knows areinvalid;

(4)iirefuse to count valid votes or alter a report to exclude valid votes; or(5)i[(3)]iicause any intentionally misleading statement, representation, or

information to be provided:(A)iito an election official; or(B)iion an application for ballot by mail, carrier envelope, or any other

official election-related form or document.





Amend CSSBi7 (senate committee printing) by adding the followingappropriately numbered ARTICLE to the bill and renumbering subsequentARTICLES accordingly:

ARTICLE __. ILLEGALVOTINGSECTIONi___.01.iiSection 64.012, Election Code, is amended by adding

Subsection (c) to read as follows:(c)iiIt is an exception to the application of Subsection (a)(1) that the person:

(1)iivoted or attempted to vote a provisional ballot in accordance withSection 63.011; and

(2)iidid not know:(A)iiof the particular circumstances that made the person not eligible to

vote in the election; or(B)iithat those circumstances made the person not eligible to vote in the

election.SECTIONi___.02.iiThe change in law made by this article applies only to an

offense committed on or after the effective date of this Act. An offense committedbefore the effective date of this Act is governed by the law in effect on the date theoffense was committed, and the former law is continued in effect for that purpose. Forpurposes of this section, an offense was committed before the effective date of thisAct if any element of the offense occurred before that date.

HINOJOSA MENENDEZALVARADO MILESBLANCO POWELL


ECKHARDT WESTGUTIERREZ WHITMIREJOHNSON ZAFFIRINILUCIO

The amendment to CSSBi7 was read and failed of adoption by the followingvote:iiYeasi13, Naysi18.





Amend CSSBi7 (senate committee printing) as follows:(1)iiIn SECTION 2.01 of the bill, adding Section 84.0011, Election Code (page

2, line 30), insert "(a)" between the underlined period and "The".(2)iiIn SECTION 2.01 of the bill, adding Section 84.0011, Election Code (page

2, between lines 32 and 33), insert the following:(b)iiThis section may not be construed to prohibit an early voting clerk or

another county official from:(1)iinotifying a voter of the voter ’s eligibility for voting ballot by mail; or(2)iipublishing on the county ’s Internet website:

(A)iiinformation relating to applying and qualifying for an early votingballot by mail; or

(B)iia link to an Internet page from which an individual can request anapplication for an early voting ballot by mail.

(2)iiIn SECTION 2.04 of the bill, adding Section 84.0111, Election Code (page3, between lines 27 and 28), insert the following:

(c)iiThis section may not be construed to prohibit an early voting clerk oranother county official from

(1)iimaking the application form for an early voting ballot available atcounty offices; or

(2)iipublishing on the county ’s Internet website:(A)iiinformation relating to applying and qualifying for an early voting

ballot by mail; or(B)iia link to an Internet page from which an individual can request an

application for an early voting ballot by mail.






Senator Powell offered the following amendment to the bill:


Amend CSSB i7 (senate committee printing) as follows:(1)iiIn SECTION 2.10 of the bill, in amended Section 87.027(i), Election Code

(page 4, line 69 through page 5, line 1), strike "[made within the preceding six yearsand]" and substitute "made within the preceding six years and".

(2)iiIn SECTION 2.11 of the bill, in amended Section 87.041(e), Election Code(page 5, lines 16-17), strike "[made within the preceding six years and]" and substitute"made within the preceding six years and".

POWELL LUCIOALVARADO MENENDEZBLANCO MILESECKHARDT WESTGUTIERREZ WHITMIREHINOJOSA ZAFFIRINIJOHNSON






Amend CSSBi7 (senate committee printing) by adding the followingappropriately numbered SECTIONS to ARTICLE 2 of the bill and renumberingsubsequent SECTIONS of ARTICLE 2 accordingly:

SECTIONi2.____.iiSubchapter B, Chapter 87, Election Code, is amended byadding Section 87.0271 to read as follows:

Sec.i87.0271.iiOPPORTUNITY TO CORRECT DEFECT: SIGNATUREVERIFICATION COMMITTEE. (a) This section applies to an early voting ballotvoted by mail:

(1)iifor which the voter did not sign the carrier envelope certificate;(2)iifor which it cannot immediately be determined whether the signature on

the carrier envelope certificate is that of the voter;


(3)iimissing any required statement of residence; or(4)iicontaining incomplete information with respect to a witness.

(b)iiIf the signature verification committee determines that a timely deliveredballot is unable to be accepted under Section 87.027, the signature verificationcommittee shall, not later than 48 hours after making the determination, notify thevoter of the defect and inform the voter that the voter may come to the early votingclerk ’s office in person not later than the fifth day following the notification to correctthe defect.

(c)iiThe secretary of state may prescribe any procedures necessary to implementthis section.

SECTIONi2.____.iiSubchapter C, Chapter 87, Election Code, is amended byadding Section 87.0411 to read as follows:

Sec.i87.0411.iiOPPORTUNITY TO CORRECT DEFECT: EARLY VOTINGBALLOT BOARD. (a) This section applies to an early voting ballot voted by mail:

(1)iifor which the voter did not sign the carrier envelope certificate;(2)iifor which it cannot immediately be determined whether the signature on

the carrier envelope certificate is that of the voter;(3)iimissing any required statement of residence; or(4)iicontaining incomplete information with respect to a witness.

(b)iiIf the early voting ballot board determines that a timely delivered ballot isunable to be accepted under Section 87.041, the early voting ballot board shall, notlater than 48 hours after making the determination, notify the voter of the defect andinform the voter that the voter may come to the early voting clerk ’s office in personnot later than the fifth day following the notification to correct the defect.

(c)iiThe secretary of state may prescribe any procedures necessary to implementthis section.







Amend CCSBi7 (senate committee printing) in ARTICLE 3 of the bill asfollows:


(1)iiStrike SECTION 3.01 of that article, amending Section 33.006(b), ElectionCode (page 5, line 54, through page 6, line 4).

(2)iiStrike SECTION 3.02 of that article, amending Section 33.051(c), ElectionCode (page 6, lines 5-12).

(3)iiStrike SECTION 3.07 of that article, amending Section 61.014, ElectionCode (page 7, lines 8-23).

(4)iiRenumber remaining SECTIONS of ARTICLE 3 accordingly.

ZAFFIRINI LUCIOALVARADO MENENDEZBLANCO MILESECKHARDT POWELLGUTIERREZ WESTHINOJOSA WHITMIREJOHNSON






Amend CSSBi7 (senate committee printing) by striking the followingSECTIONS from ARTICLE 3 of the bill and renumbering the SECTIONS ofARTICLE 3 accordingly:

(1)iiSECTION 3.06, amending Section 43.031(b), Election Code (page 7, lines1-7);

(2)iiSECTION 3.16, amending Section 85.061(a), Election Code (page 9, lines19-30); and

(3)iiSECTION 3.17, amending Section 85.062(b), Election Code (page 9, lines31-45).






Senator West offered the following amendment to the bill:


Amend CSSBi7 (senate committee printing) as follows:(1)iiStrike SECTION 3.07 of the bill amending Section 61.014, Election Code

(page 7, lines 8 through 23), and substitute the following:SECTION 3.07.iiSection 61.014, Election Code, is amended by amending

Subsections (a) and (b) and adding Subsection (b-1) to read as follows:(a)iiExcept as provided by Subsection (b), a [A] person may not use a wireless

communication device or [within 100 feet of a voting station.[(b)iiA person may not use] any mechanical or electronic means of recording

images or sound within 15 [100] feet of a voting station.(b)iiA person may use a device described by Subsection (a) to record activity of a

voter or watcher at a voting station only if the person reasonably believes the voter orwatcher is engaged in inappropriate behavior or a violation of law.

(b-1)iiA recording made by a person under Subsection (b) may not capture orrecord any information on a voter ’s ballot.

(2)iiStrike SECTION 5.01 of the bill (page 13, lines 12 and 13) and substitute thefollowing:

SECTIONi5.01.iiSections 62.0111 and 85.062(e), Election Code, are repealed.






Amend CSSB 7 (senate committee printing) as follows:(1)iiStrike SECTION 3.09 of the bill, amending Section 64.009, Election Code

(page 7, lines 31-55).(2)iiStrike SECTION 3.10 of the bill, adding Section 64.0322, Election Code

(page 7, line 56, through page 8, line 4).(3)iiRenumber the sections of ARTICLE 3 appropriately.

ZAFFIRINI LUCIOALVARADO MENENDEZBLANCO MILESECKHARDT POWELLGUTIERREZ WEST


HINOJOSA WHITMIREJOHNSON






Amend CSSB 7 (senate committee printing) by striking SECTION 3.13 of thebill, amending Section 85.005, Election Code (page 8, line 34 through page 9, line 7),and renumbering subsequent SECTIONS of ARTICLE 3 accordingly.





Senator Hall offered the following amendment to the bill:


Amend CSSB 7 (senate committee printing) in SECTION 3.22 of the bill, inadded Section 129.003, Election Code (page 10, between lines 50 and 51), byinserting the following:

(f)iiBefore opening the polls for voting, the presiding election judge shallconfirm that each voting machine has any public counter reset to zero and shall printthe tape that shows the counter was set to zero. After closing the polls for voting, thepresiding election judge shall print the tape that shows the number of votes cast. Eachelection judge present shall sign a tape printed under this subsection. Any watcherpresent may sign a tape printed under this subsection.


Senator Hall temporarily withdrew Floor Amendment No.i17.


Senator West offered the following amendment to the bill:


Amend CSSB 7 (senate committee printing) as follows:(1)iiAdd the following appropriately numbered SECTION to ARTICLE 3 of the

bill and renumber subsequent SECTIONS of ARTICLE 3 accordingly:SECTIONi3.____.iiSubchapter B, Chapter 33, Election Code, is amended by

adding Section 33.036 to read as follows:Sec.i33.036.iiTRAINING. (a) To be eligible to serve as a watcher, a person must

complete the training required of election judges under Subchapter F, Chapter 32.(b)iiThe secretary of state shall adopt rules to implement this section.(2)iiIn the recital to SECTION 4.02 of the bill (page 12, line 6), strike

"Subsection (g)" and substitute "Subsections (g) and (h)".(3)iiIn SECTION 4.02 of the bill, amending Section 33.051, Election Code (page

12, between lines 10 and 11), insert the following:(h)iiBefore accepting a watcher, the officer presented with a watcher ’s certificate

of appointment shall require the watcher to take the following oath, administered bythe officer: "I swear (or affirm) that I will not disrupt the voting process or harassvoters in the discharge of my duties."

WEST LUCIOALVARADO MENENDEZBLANCO MILESECKHARDT POWELLGUTIERREZ WHITMIREHINOJOSA ZAFFIRINIJOHNSON


Senator West temporarily withdrew Floor Amendment No.i18.



Amend CSSB 7 (senate committee printing) by adding the followingappropriately numbered SECTIONS to ARTICLE 3 of the bill and renumberingsubsequent SECTIONS of ARTICLE 3 accordingly:

SECTIONi____.iiSection 33.001, Election Code, is amended to read as follows:Sec.i33.001.iiWATCHER DEFINED. In this code, "watcher" means a person

appointed under this subchapter to observe the conduct of an election on behalf of acandidate, a political party, a nonpartisan election observation organization, or theproponents or opponents of a measure.

SECTIONi____.iiSection 33.007(d), Election Code, is amended to read asfollows:

(d)iiThe number of watchers accepted for service on each side of a measure maynot exceed the number authorized by this section. If the number of appointmentsexceeds the authorized number, the authority accepting the watchers for service shall


accept the watchers in the order in which they present their certificates ofappointment. A watcher appointed under Section 33.008 is not subject to thelimitation of this subsection.

SECTIONi____.iiSubchapter A, Chapter 33, Election Code, is amended byadding Section 33.008 to read as follows:

Sec.i33.008.iiAPPOINTMENT BY NONPARTISAN ORGANIZATION. (a) Anonpartisan election observation organization that has been certified by the secretaryof state in accordance with this section may appoint watchers.

(b)iiThe secretary of state shall certify qualifying nonpartisan electionobservation organizations within this state. The secretary of state shall adopt rulesestablishing criteria to determine whether an organization may be certified. The rulesmust require the organization and its appointed nonpartisan watchers to:

(1)iibe impartial in substance and process;(2)iicooperate with election officers;(3)iibe diligent in not obstructing the process;(4)iibe independent from the government, in the interest of promoting the

right to vote;(5)iibe transparent and accountable with regard to funding, including refusal

to accept funding from any source or under any condition that may create a conflict ofinterest; and

(6)iibe vigilant in identifying and addressing potential and actual conflicts ofinterest.

(c)iiAwatcher appointed under this section is not entitled to:(1)iisign the seal of a ballot box under Section 127.066; or(2)iisign the seal of a test material container under Section 127.099.

SECTIONi____.iiSection 33.031, Election Code, is amended to read as follows:Sec.i33.031.iiGENERAL ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS. (a) Except as

provided by Subsection (b), to [To] be eligible to serve as aiwatcher, a person must bea qualified voter:

(1)iiof the county in which the person is to serve, in an election ordered bythe governor or a county authority or in a primary election;

(2)iiof the part of the county in which the election is held, in an electionordered by the governor or a county authority that does not cover the entire county ofthe person ’s residence; and

(3)iiof the political subdivision, in an election ordered by an authority of apolitical subdivision other than a county.

(b)iiA person appointed as a watcher under Section 33.008 is not subject to therequirements of Subsection (a) and is eligible to serve as a watcher if the person:

(1)iiis a registered voter in this state; and(2)iiunderstands and agrees to comply with the principles and practices set

forth in the Declaration of Global Principles for Nonpartisan Election Observation andMonitoring by Citizen Organizations and Code of Conduct for Nonpartisan CitizenElection Observers and Monitors, as commemorated by the United Nations on April3, 2012.

SECTIONi____.iiSection 213.013, Election Code, is amended by addingSubsection (d-1) to read as follows:


(d-1)iiIn any recount, a watcher appointed under Section 33.008 may be present.







SECTIONi3.___.iiSubchapter A, Chapter 65, Election Code, is amended byadding Section 65.016 to read as follows:

Sec.i65.016.iiVOTE COUNTING EQUIPMENT. Beginning January 1, 2024, noequipment to count votes shall be used that is capable of being connected to theInternet or any other computer network.

The amendment to CSSB 7 was read and was adopted by the followingvote:iiYeasi30, Naysi1.

Nays:iiEckhardt.



Amend CSSB 7 (senate committee printing) by adding the followingappropriately numbered SECTION to ARTICLE 3 of the bill and renumberingsubsequent SECTIONS of that ARTICLE accordingly:

SECTIONi___.iiChapter 121, Election Code, is amended by adding Section121.004 to read as follows:

Sec.i121.004.iiCOMMUNICATIONS WITH VOTING SYSTEMS VENDORPUBLIC INFORMATION. Notwithstanding any other law, including Chapter 552,Government Code, a written letter, e-mail, or other communication, including acommunication made confidential by other law, between a public official and a votingsystems vendor:

(1)iiis not confidential;(2)iiis public information for purposes of Chapter 552, Government Code;

and(3)iiis not subject to an exception to disclosure provided by Chapter 552,

Government Code.







SECTIONi3.____.iiSection 85.033, Election Code, is amended to read asfollows:

Sec.i85.033.iiSECURITY OF VOTING MACHINE. (a) At the close of earlyvoting each day, the early voting clerk shall secure each voting machine used for earlyvoting in the manner prescribed by the secretary of state so that its unauthorizedoperation is prevented. The clerk shall unsecure the machine before the beginning ofearly voting the following day.

(b)iiA voting machine used for early voting may not be removed from the pollingplace until the polls close on election day.

The amendment to CSSBi7 was read.

Senator Hall temporarily withdrew Floor Amendment No.i22.



Amend CSSBi7 (senate committee report) by adding the following appropriatelynumbered SECTION to ARTICLE 3 of the bill and renumbering subsequentSECTIONS of ARTICLE 3 accordingly:

SECTIONi___.iiSection 127.1301, Election Code, is amended to read asfollows:

Sec.i127.1301.ii[TALLYING, TABULATING, AND REPORTING]CENTRALLY COUNTED OPTICAL SCAN BALLOTS [BALLOT UNDERVOTESAND OVERVOTES]. (a) In an election using centrally counted optical scan ballots,the undervotes and overvotes on those ballots shall be tallied, tabulated, and reportedby race and by election precinct in the form and manner prescribed by the secretary ofstate.

(b)iiAfter January 1, 2024, an authority operating a central counting station underthis chapter may not purchase or use a centrally counted optical ballot scan systemthat uses a data storage disc on which information, once written, is capable of beingmodified.


All Members are deemed to have voted "Yea" on the adoption of FloorAmendment No.i23.





SECTIONi3.__.iiSections 85.001(a) and (e), Election Code, are amended to readas follows:

(a)iiThe period for early voting by personal appearance begins on the 17th daybefore election day and continues through the [fourth] day before election day, exceptas otherwise provided by this section.

(e)iiFor an election held on the uniform election date in May and any resultingrunoff election, the period for early voting by personal appearance begins on the 12thday before election day and continues through the [fourth] day before election day.

The amendment to CSSBi7 was read.

Senator Hall withdrew Floor Amendment No.i24.

Senator Buckingham offered the following amendment to CSSBi7:



SECTIONi4.____.iiChapter 276, Election Code, is amended by adding Sections276.014 and 276.015 to read as follows:

Sec.i276.014.iiPAID VOTE HARVESTING. (a) In this section and Section276.015, "vote harvesting services" means direct interaction with one or more votersin connection with an official ballot, a ballot voted by mail, or an application for ballotby mail, intended to deliver votes for a specific candidate or measure.

(b)iiA person commits an offense if the person, directly or through a third party,knowingly provides or offers to provide the vote harvesting services in exchange forcompensation or other benefit, including benefits to a party whose welfare is ofinterest to the person.

(c)iiA person commits an offense if the person, directly or through a third party,knowingly provides or offers to provide compensation or other benefit to a person, orto another party whose welfare is of interest to the person, in exchange for the voteharvesting services.

(d)iiA person commits an offense if the person knowingly collects or possesses aballot voted by mail or official carrier envelope from a voter in connection with thevote harvesting services.

(e)iiThis section does not apply to acts promoting a candidate or measure that donot involve direct interaction with:

(1)iian application for ballot by mail, in the presence of the voter; or(2)iia voter ’s official ballot, ballot voted by mail, or carrier envelope.

(f)iiIn this section, compensation in exchange for the vote harvesting services isinferred if a person who performed the vote harvesting services for a candidate orcampaign solicits, receives, or is offered compensation from the candidate orcampaign, directly or through a third party, for services other than the vote harvestingservices provided.

(g)iiAn offense under this section is a felony of the third degree.


(h)iiIf conduct that constitutes an offense under this section also constitutes anoffense under any other law, the actor may be prosecuted under this section, the otherlaw, or both.

Sec.i276.015.iiCIVIL LIABILITY FOR UNLAWFUL VOTE HARVESTING.(a) A person who is shown by a preponderance of the evidence to have violatedSection 276.014 is liable to any candidate harmed by the vote harvesting services fordamages and penalties that may be awarded under Subsection (c).

(b)iiA person is harmed by the vote harvesting services if the person candemonstrate that:

(1)iithe person was a candidate for office;(2)iithe liable party committed an offense under Section 276.014; and(3)iianother candidate seeking the same office as the person received a vote

attributable to the offense, regardless of whether the other candidate knowinglyparticipated in the vote harvesting services.

(c)iiA litigant who prevails in an action under Subsection (b) shall recover fromany person who committed the unlawful vote harvesting services damages in anamount including:

(1)iithe amount of any compensation paid to or received by the person inexchange for the vote harvesting services;

(2)iithe fair market value of any benefit given or received in exchange for thevote harvesting services;

(3)iia penalty in the amount of $25,000; and(4)iireasonable attorney ’s fees, court costs, witness fees, and deposition fees.

(d)iiA litigant who prevails in an action under Subsection (b) and shows that thenumber of voters contacted by the vote harvesting services exceeds the number ofvotes by which the litigant lost the election shall recover from the person liable for theunlawful vote harvesting services punitive damages in an amount including:

(1)iiany of the litigant ’s campaign expenditures properly filed on a campaignfinance report in connection with the election; and

(2)iiany fees and expenses incurred by the litigant in filing and securing aplace on the ballot.

(e)iiA person who commits an offense under Section 276.014 and is found liableunder this chapter or other law for any amount of damages arising from the voteharvesting services is jointly liable with any other defendant for the entire amount ofdamages arising from the vote harvesting services.

(f)iiThe cause of action created by this section is cumulative to any other remedyprovided by common law or statute.

(g)iiThe expedited actions process created by Rule 169, Texas Rules of CivilProcedure, does not apply to an action under this section.

(h)iiChapter 27, Civil Practice and Remedies Code, does not apply to a cause ofaction under this section.

(i)iiA cause of action under this section may be brought in the county where anypart of the vote harvesting services occurred.

The amendment to CSSBi7 was read and was adopted by the followingvote:iiYeasi18, Naysi13.






Amend CSSB 7 (senate committee printing) as follows:(1)iiIn the recital to SECTION 1.02, amending Section 13.002, Election Code

(page 1, line 36), between "Subsection (c-1)" and "to read", insert "and amendingSubsection (e)".

(2)iiIn SECTION 1.02 of the bill, in amended Section 13.002, Election Code(page 1, between lines 39 and 40), insert the following:

(e)iiNotwithstanding Section 82.005, a [A] person who is certified forparticipation in the address confidentiality program administered by the attorneygeneral under Subchapter B, Chapter 58, Code of Criminal Procedure, is not eligiblefor early voting by mail [under Section 82.007] unless the person submits anapplication under this section by personal delivery. The secretary of state may adoptrules to implement this subsection.

(3)iiStrike SECTION 2.02 of the bill, adding Section 84.002(c), Election Code(page 2, lines 33 through 41), and renumber subsequent SECTIONS of ARTICLE 2accordingly.

(4)iiStrike SECTION 2.03 of the bill, amending Section 84.011(a), ElectionCode (page 2, line 42 through page 3, line 15), and renumber subsequent SECTIONSof ARTICLE 2 accordingly.

(5)iiStrike SECTION 2.06 of the bill, adding Section 86.0015(b-3), ElectionCode (page 3, lines 44 through 67), and renumber subsequent SECTIONS ofARTICLE 2 accordingly.

(6)iiIn the recital to SECTION 2.11 of the bill, amending Section 87.041,Election Code (page 5, line 12), strike "Section 87.041(e), Election Code, is" andsubstitute "Sections 87.041(b) and (e), Election Code, are".

(7)iiIn SECTION 2.11 of the bill, amending Section 87.041, Election Code (page5, between lines 13 and 14), insert the following:

(b)iiA ballot may be accepted only if:(1)iithe carrier envelope certificate is properly executed;(2)iineither the voter ’s signature on the ballot application nor the signature

on the carrier envelope certificate is determined to have been executed by a personother than the voter, unless signed by a witness;

(3)ii[the voter ’s ballot application states a legal ground for early voting bymail;

[(4)]iithe voter is registered to vote, if registration is required by law;(4)i[(5)iithe address to which the ballot was mailed to the voter, as indicated

by the application, was outside the voter ’s county of residence, if the ground for earlyvoting is absence from the county of residence;


[(6)]iifor a voter to whom a statement of residence form was required to besent under Section 86.002(a), the statement of residence is returned in the carrierenvelope and indicates that the voter satisfies the residence requirements prescribedby Section 63.0011; and

(5)i[(7)]iithe address to which the ballot was mailed to the voter is an address[that is otherwise] required by Sections 84.002 and 86.003.

(8)iiAdd the following appropriately numbered SECTIONS to ARTICLE 2 ofthe bill and renumber subsequent SECTIONS of ARTICLE 2 accordingly:


Sec.i82.005.iiELIGIBILITY FOR EARLY VOTING [BY PERSONALAPPEARANCE]. Any qualified voter is eligible for early voting by mail or personalappearance.


Sec.i82.007.iiPARTICIPATION IN ADDRESS CONFIDENTIALITYPROGRAM. Notwithstanding Section 82.005, a [A] qualified voter who, [is eligiblefor early voting by mail if:

[(1)iithe voter submitted a registration application by personal delivery asrequired by Section 13.002(e); and

[(2)]iiat the time the voter ’s early voting ballot application is submitted, [thevoter] is certified for participation in the address confidentiality program administeredby the attorney general under Subchapter B, Chapter 58, Code of Criminal Procedure,is eligible for early voting by mail only if the voter submitted a registrationapplication by personal delivery as required by Section 13.002(e).

SECTIONi2.____.iiSection 84.001(a), Election Code, is amended to read asfollows:

(a)iiTo be entitled to vote an early voting ballot by mail, a person [who is eligiblefor early voting] must make an application for an early voting ballot to be voted bymail as provided by this title.


(a)iiAn early voting ballot application must include:(1)iithe applicant ’s name and the address at which the applicant is registered

to vote;(2)iifor an application for a ballot to be voted by mail by an applicant who

will be absent from the applicant ’s [on the ground of absence from the] county ofresidence on election day, the address outside the applicant ’s county of residence towhich the ballot is to be mailed;

(3)iifor an application for a ballot to be voted by mail by an applicant who is65 years of age or older on election day or has a sickness or physical condition thatrequires the applicant to reside in a hospital or nursing home or other long-term carefacility, or with a person related to the applicant within the second degree by affinityor the third degree by consanguinity, as determined under Chapter 573, GovernmentCode [on the ground of age or disability], the address of the retirement center,hospital, nursing home or other long-term care facility, [or retirement center,] or


relative [of a person related to the applicant within the second degree by affinity or thethird degree by consanguinity, as determined under Chapter 573, Government Code],if the applicant is living at that address and that address is different from the address atwhich the applicant is registered to vote;

(4)iifor an application for a ballot to be voted by mail by an applicant who isconfined [on the ground of confinement] in jail as described by Section 84.009(a), theaddress of the jail or of a person related to the applicant within the degree describedby Subdivision (3); and

(5)ii[for an application for a ballot to be voted by mail on any ground,] anindication of each election for which the applicant is applying for a ballot[; and

[(6)iian indication of the ground of eligibility for early voting].SECTIONi2.____.iiSection 84.009, Election Code, is amended by amending

Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (b) to read as follows:(a)iiThis section applies only to an applicant who, at the time the application for

a ballot to be voted by mail is submitted, is confined in jail:(1)iiserving a misdemeanor sentence for a term that ends on or after election

day;(2)iipending trial after denial of bail;(3)iiwithout bail pending an appeal of a felony conviction; or(4)iipending trial or appeal on a bailable offense for which release on bail

before election day is unlikely.(b)iiOn request of the applicant, an application for a ballot to be voted by mail

[on the ground of confinement in jail] may be submitted to the early voting clerk, atthe discretion of the authority in charge of the jail, by personal delivery by the jailauthority or by a designated subordinate of the authority.


(a)iiThe officially prescribed application form for an early voting ballot mustinclude:

(1)iiimmediately preceding the signature space the statement: "I certify thatthe information given in this application is true, and I understand that giving falseinformation in this application is a crime.";

(2)iia statement informing the applicant of the offenses prescribed bySections 84.003 and 84.004;

(3)iispaces for entering an applicant ’s voter registration number and countyelection precinct of registration, with a statement informing the applicant that failureto furnish that information does not invalidate the application; and

(4)iion an application for a ballot to be voted by mail:(A)iia space for an applicant [applying on the ground of absence from

the county of residence] to indicate whether the applicant will be absent from theapplicant ’s county of residence on election day and, if applicable, the date on or afterwhich the applicant can receive mail at the address outside the county;

(B)iia space for indicating the fact that an applicant whose application issigned by a witness cannot make the applicant ’s mark and a space for indicating therelationship or lack of relationship of the witness to the applicant;


(C)iia space for entering an applicant ’s telephone number, with astatement informing the applicant that failure to furnish that information does notinvalidate the application;

(D)iia space or box for an applicant who is 65 years of age or older onelection day or has a sickness or physical condition that requires the applicant toreside in a hospital or nursing home or other long-term care facility, or with a relative,[applying on the ground of age or disability] to indicate that the address to which theballot is to be mailed is the address of a facility or relative described by Section84.002(a)(3), if applicable;

(E)iia space or box for an applicant confined [applying on the ground ofconfinement] in jail as described by Section 84.009(a) to indicate that the address towhich the ballot is to be mailed is the address of a relative described by Section84.002(a)(4), if applicable;

(F)iia space for an applicant [applying on the ground of age or disability]to indicate if the application is an application under Section 86.0015;

(G)iispaces for entering the signature, printed name, and residenceaddress of any person assisting the applicant;

(H)iia statement informing the applicant of the condition prescribed bySection 81.005; and

(I)iia statement informing the applicant of the requirement prescribed bySection 86.003(c).

SECTIONi2.____.iiSections 86.001(b) and (c), Election Code, are amended toread as follows:

(b)iiIf the application complies with the applicable requirements prescribed bythis title [applicant is entitled to vote an early voting ballot by mail], the clerk shallprovide an official ballot to the applicant as provided by this chapter.

(c)iiExcept as provided by Section 86.008, if the applicant is not entitled to votein the election [by mail], the clerk shall reject the application, enter on the application"rejected" and the reason for and date of rejection, and deliver written notice of thereason for the rejection to the applicant at both the residence address and mailingaddress on the application. A ballot may not be provided to an applicant whoseapplication is rejected.

SECTIONi2.____.iiThe heading to Section 86.0015, Election Code, is amendedto read as follows:

Sec.i86.0015.iiRECURRING [ANNUAL] BALLOTS BY MAIL.SECTIONi2.____.iiSections 86.0015(a) and (b), Election Code, are amended to

read as follows:(a)iiThis section applies only to an application for a ballot to be voted by mail

that[:[(1)iiindicates the ground of eligibility is age or disability; and[(2)]iidoes not specify the election for which a ballot is requested or has been

marked by the applicant as an application for more than one election.(b)iiAn application described by Subsection (a) is considered to be an application

for a ballot for each election, including any ensuing runoff:(1)iiin which the applicant is eligible to vote; and(2)iithat occurs before the earlier of:


(A)ii[except as provided by Subsection (b-2), the end of the calendaryear in which the application was submitted;

[(B)]iithe date the county clerk receives notice from the voter registrarunder Subsection (f) that the voter has changed residence to another county; or

(B)i[(C)]iithe date the voter ’s registration is canceled.SECTIONi2.____.iiSection 86.003(c), Election Code, is amended to read as

follows:(c)iiThe address to which the balloting materials must be addressed is the address

at which the voter is registered to vote, or the registered mailing address if different,unless the application to vote early by mail indicates that the voter [ground for votingby mail is]:

(1)iiwill be absent from the voter ’s [absence from the] county of residenceon election day, in which case the address must be an address outside the voter ’scounty of residence;

(2)iiis confined [confinement] in jail as described by Section 84.009(a), inwhich case the address must be the address of the jail or of a relative described bySection 84.002(a)(4); or

(3)iiis 65 years of age or older on election day or has a sickness or physicalcondition that requires the applicant to reside in a hospital or nursing home or otherlong-term care facility, or with a relative, [age or disability] and [the voter] is living ata retirement center, hospital, nursing home or other long-term care facility, [orretirement center,] or with a relative described by Section 84.002(a)(3), in which casethe address must be the address of that facility or relative.

SECTIONi2.____.iiSection 86.004(b), Election Code, is amended to read asfollows:

(b)iiFor an election to which Section 101.104 applies, the balloting materials fora voter who indicates on the application for a ballot to be voted by mail or the federalpostcard application that the voter seeks [is eligible] to vote early by mail as aconsequence of the voter ’s being outside the United States shall be mailed on orbefore the later of the 45th day before election day or the seventh calendar day afterthe date the clerk receives the application. However, if it is not possible to mail theballots by the deadline of the 45th day before election day, the clerk shall notify thesecretary of state within 24 hours of knowing that the deadline will not be met. Thesecretary of state shall monitor the situation and advise the clerk, who shall mail theballots as soon as possible in accordance with the secretary of state ’s guidelines.


(a)iiA qualified voter is eligible to vote a late ballot as provided by this chapter ifthe voter has a sickness or physical condition [described by Section 82.002] thatprevents the voter from appearing at the polling place on election day without alikelihood of needing personal assistance or of injuring the voter ’s health andoriginates on or after the day before the last day for submitting an application for aballot to be voted by mail.

(9)iiStrike SECTION 5.01 of the bill (page 13, lines 12-13) and substitute thefollowing:

SECTIONi5.01.iiThe following provisions of the Election Code are repealed:


(1)iiSections 82.001, 82.002, 82.003, and 82.004; and(2)iiSections 84.002(b), 85.062(e), 86.0015(b-2), and 112.002(b).

ECKHARDT MENENDEZALVARADO MILESBLANCO POWELLGUTIERREZ WESTHINOJOSA WHITMIREJOHNSON ZAFFIRINILUCIO






Amend CSSBi7 (senate committee printing) by striking SECTION 5.01 of thebill, repealing Section 85.062(e), Election Code (page 13, lines 12 and 13), andsubstituting the following appropriately numbered SECTION:

SECTIONi____.iiThe following provisions of the Election Code are repealed:(1)iiSection 85.062(e); and(2)iiSection 127.201(f).

The amendment to CSSB i7 was read.

Senator Hall withdrew Floor Amendment No.i27.

Senator Alvarado offered the following amendment to the bill:


Amend CSSBi7 (senate committee printing) by striking SECTION 5.03 of thebill (page 13, lines 21-22) and substituting the following:

SECTIONi5.03.ii(a) The secretary of state is required to conduct a thoroughanalysis and produce a report that assesses whether this Act, were it to beimplemented, would produce a disparate impact on women, the elderly, persons withdisabilities, students, or racial and ethnic minorities.

(b)iiIf the report produced by the secretary of state concludes that a disparateimpact on women, the elderly, persons with disabilities, students, or racial and ethnicminorities is likely to arise from the implementation of this Act, this Act has no effect.

(c)iiThe report produced under this section is a public record.SECTIONi5.04.ii(a) Subject to Section 5.02 of this Act and except as provided

by Subsection (b) of this section, this Act takes effect on the later of:


(1)iithe date the secretary of state publishes the report described by Section5.03(a) of this Act in which the secretary of state concludes that no provision of thisAct will produce a disparate impact on women, the elderly, persons with disabilities,students, or racial and ethnic minorities; or

(2)iiSeptember 1, 2021.(b)iiSection 5.03 of this Act takes effect September 1, 2021.

ALVARADO MENENDEZBLANCO MILESECKHARDT POWELLGUTIERREZ WESTHINOJOSA WHITMIREJOHNSON ZAFFIRINILUCIO




Senator Hall again offered the following amendment to the bill:


Amend CSSB 7 (senate committee printing) in SECTION 3.22 of the bill, inadded Section 129.003, Election Code (page 10, between lines 50 and 51), byinserting the following:

(f)iiBefore opening the polls for voting, the presiding election judge shallconfirm that each voting machine has any public counter reset to zero and shall printthe tape that shows the counter was set to zero. After closing the polls for voting, thepresiding election judge shall print the tape that shows the number of votes cast. Eachelection judge present shall sign a tape printed under this subsection. Any watcherpresent may sign a tape printed under this subsection.


Senator Hall offered the following amendment to Floor Amendment No. 17:


Amend Floor Amendment No. 17 by Hall to CSSB 7 (senate committee printing)(page 1, lines 10-11) strike "Any watcher present may sign a tape printed under thissubsection."

The amendment to Floor Amendment No.i17 to CSSB 7 was read and wasadopted by a viva voce vote.



Question recurring on the adoption of Floor Amendment No.i17 to CSSB 7, theamendment as amended was adopted by a viva voce vote.

All Members are deemed to have voted "Yea" on the adoption of FloorAmendment No. 17 as amended.

Senator West again offered the following amendment to the bill:


Amend CSSB 7 (senate committee printing) as follows:(1)iiAdd the following appropriately numbered SECTION to ARTICLE 3 of the

bill and renumber subsequent SECTIONS of ARTICLE 3 accordingly:SECTIONi3.____.iiSubchapter B, Chapter 33, Election Code, is amended by

adding Section 33.036 to read as follows:Sec.i33.036.iiTRAINING. (a) To be eligible to serve as a watcher, a person must

complete the training required of election judges under Subchapter F, Chapter 32.(b)iiThe secretary of state shall adopt rules to implement this section.(2)iiIn the recital to SECTION 4.02 of the bill (page 12, line 6), strike

"Subsection (g)" and substitute "Subsections (g) and (h)".(3)iiIn SECTION 4.02 of the bill, amending Section 33.051, Election Code (page

12, between lines 10 and 11), insert the following:(h)iiBefore accepting a watcher, the officer presented with a watcher ’s certificate

of appointment shall require the watcher to take the following oath, administered bythe officer: "I swear (or affirm) that I will not disrupt the voting process or harassvoters in the discharge of my duties."

WEST LUCIOALVARADO MENENDEZBLANCO MILESECKHARDT POWELLGUTIERREZ WHITMIREHINOJOSA ZAFFIRINIJOHNSON


Senator West offered the following amendment to Floor Amendment No. 18:


Amend Floor Amendment No. 18 by West to CSSB 7 (senate committeeprinting) by striking Instruction No. 1.

The amendment to Floor Amendment No.i18 to CSSBi7 was read and wasadopted by a viva voce vote.


Question recurring on the adoption of Floor Amendment No.i18 to CSSB 7, theamendment as amended was adopted by a viva voce vote.

All Members are deemed to have voted "Yea" on the adoption of FloorAmendment No. 18 as amended.


Senator Hall again offered the following amendment to the bill:




Sec.i85.033.iiSECURITY OF VOTING MACHINE. (a) At the close of earlyvoting each day, the early voting clerk shall secure each voting machine used for earlyvoting in the manner prescribed by the secretary of state so that its unauthorizedoperation is prevented. The clerk shall unsecure the machine before the beginning ofearly voting the following day.

(b)iiA voting machine used for early voting may not be removed from the pollingplace until the polls close on election day.


Senator Hall offered the following amendment to Floor Amendment No. 22:


Amend Floor Amendment No. 22 by Hall to CSSB 7 (senate committee printing)(page 1, lines 14) by inserting after "day." the following:ii"A defective, or in need ofrepair, machine may be removed from service and replaced."

The amendment to Floor Amendment No.i22 to CSSB 7 was read and wasadopted by the following vote:iiYeasi22, Naysi9.

Yeas:iiBettencourt, Birdwell, Buckingham, Campbell, Creighton, Hall, Hancock,Hinojosa, Huffman, Hughes, Kolkhorst, Nelson, Nichols, Paxton, Perry, Powell,Schwertner, Seliger, Springer, Taylor, West, Zaffirini.

Nays:iiAlvarado, Blanco, Eckhardt, Gutierrez, Johnson, Lucio, Menendez,Miles, Whitmire.

Question recurring on the adoption of Floor Amendment No.i22 to CSSBi7, theamendment as amended was adopted by the following vote:iiYeasi18, Naysi13.



CSSB 7 as amended was passed to engrossment by the following vote:iiYeasi18,Naysi13.




CO-AUTHOR OF SENATE BILL 5

On motion of Senator Nichols, Senator Menendez will be shown as Co-author ofSBi5.


On motion of Senator Hughes, Senator Taylor will be shown as Co-author ofSBi7.


On motion of Senator Hughes, Senator Taylor will be shown as Co-author ofSBi12.


On motion of Senator Nichols, Senator Blanco will be shown as Co-author ofSBi15.

CO-AUTHORS OF SENATE BILL 24

On motion of Senator Huffman, Senators Eckhardt, Hinojosa, Kolkhorst, Lucio,Menendez, and Powell will be shown as Co-authors of SBi24.


On motion of Senator Zaffirini, Senator Miles will be shown as Co-author ofSBi33.


On motion of Senator Perry, Senator Creighton will be shown as Co-author ofSBi152.


On motion of Senator Lucio, Senators Hinojosa and Menendez will be shown asCo-authors of SBi179.


On motion of Senator Bettencourt, Senator Creighton will be shown asCo-author of SBi244.


On motion of Senator Lucio, Senator Campbell will be shown as Co-author ofSBi460.


On motion of Senator Nichols, Senator Lucio will be shown as Co-author ofSBi507.


On motion of Senator Huffman, Senator Bettencourt will be shown as Co-authorof SBi516.



On motion of Senator Bettencourt, Senator Hancock will be shown as Co-authorof SBi581.


On motion of Senator Campbell, Senator Taylor will be shown as Co-author ofSBi650.


On motion of Senator Buckingham, Senator Alvarado will be shown asCo-author of SBi674.


On motion of Senator Kolkhorst, Senator Buckingham will be shown asCo-author of SBi679.


On motion of Senator Hinojosa, Senator Campbell will be shown as Co-author ofSBi780.


On motion of Senator Creighton, Senator Bettencourt will be shown asCo-author of SBi788.


On motion of Senator Kolkhorst, Senators Hinojosa, West, and Zaffirini will beshown as Co-authors of SBi809.


On motion of Senator Blanco, Senator Campbell will be shown as Co-author ofSBi886.


On motion of Senator Eckhardt, Senators West and Whitmire will be shown asCo-authors of SBi891.


On motion of Senator Alvarado, Senators Buckingham, Huffman, and Nelsonwill be shown as Co-authors of SBi1065.


On motion of Senator Kolkhorst, Senator Bettencourt will be shown asCo-author of SBi1137.


On motion of Senator Hughes, Senator Johnson will be shown as Co-author ofSBi1376.



On motion of Senator Campbell, Senator Menendez will be shown as Co-authorof SBi1441.


On motion of Senator Campbell, Senator Menendez will be shown as Co-authorof SBi1443.


On motion of Senator Bettencourt, Senator Campbell will be shown as Co-authorof SBi1968.

RESOLUTIONS OF RECOGNITION

The following resolutions were adopted by the Senate:

Memorial Resolutions

SRi217iby Springer,iIn memory of Christopher Ray Vardy.

SRi218iby Lucio,iIn memory of Paul Douglas Wooderson.

ADJOURNMENT

On motion of Senator Whitmire, the Senate at 1:38ia.m. Thursday, April 1, 2021,adjourned until 1:40ia.m. today.

AAAPPENDIXAA

COMMITTEE REPORTS

The following committee reports were received by the Secretary of the Senate inthe order listed:

March 31, 2021

BUSINESS AND COMMERCE — SBi1210, SBi1181, SBi1202, SBi1216, SBi790,SBi918, SBi874, SBi760, SBi1284, SBi1523, SBi1280, SBi195, SBi1203, SBi783

TRANSPORTATION— SBi935, CSSBi1308, SBi1323

LOCAL GOVERNMENT— CSSBi796, CSSBi709, SBi479, SBi186, CSSBi230

BUSINESS AND COMMERCE — CSSBi965, CSSBi415, SBi1368, CSSBi14,SBi398

BILLS ENGROSSED

March 31, 2021

SBi5, SBi24, SBi30, SBi244, SBi291, SBi507, SBi516, SBi650, SBi788, SBi809,SBi884, SBi930, SBi1103, SBi1137


RESOLUTIONS ENROLLED

March 31, 2021

SCRi37, SRi214, SRi215, SRi217, SRi218


Wednesday, March 31, 2021-17th Day (Cont.)

Documents

Transcript of Wednesday, March 31, 2021-17th Day (Cont.)