SIXTH DAY --- MONDAY, JANUARY 27, 2025

The house met at 4 p.m. and was called to order by the speaker.

The roll of the house was called and a quorum was announced present (Record 11).

Present — Mr. Speaker(C); Alders; Allen; Anchía; Ashby; Barry; Bell, C.; Bell, K.; Bernal; Bhojani; Bonnen; Bowers; Bryant; Buckley; Bucy; Button; Cain; Capriglione; Cole; Collier; Cook; Cortez; Craddick; Cunningham; Curry; Darby; Davis, A.; Davis, Y.; Dean; DeAyala; Dorazio; Dutton; Dyson; Fairly; Flores; Frank; Gámez; Garcia, L.; Garcia Hernandez; Gates; Gerdes; Geren; Gervin-Hawkins; González, J.; González, M.; Goodwin; Guerra; Guillen; Harless; Harris; Harris Davila; Harrison; Hayes; Hernandez; Hickland; Hinojosa; Holt; Hopper; Howard; Hull; Hunter; Isaac; Johnson; Jones, J.; Jones, V.; Kerwin; King; Kitzman; LaHood; Lalani; Lambert; Landgraf; Leach; Little; Longoria; Lopez, J.; Lopez, R.; Louderback; Lowe; Lozano; Lujan; Luther; Manuel; Martinez; Martinez Fischer; McLaughlin; McQueeney; Metcalf; Meyer; Meza; Money; Moody; Morales, C.; Morales, E.; Morales Shaw; Morgan; Muñoz; Noble; Olcott; Oliverson; Ordaz; Orr; Patterson; Paul; Perez, M.; Perez, V.; Phelan; Pierson; Plesa; Raymond; Reynolds; Richardson; Rodríguez Ramos; Romero; Rose; Rosenthal; Schatzline; Schofield; Schoolcraft; Shaheen; Shofner; Simmons; Slawson; Smithee; Spiller; Swanson; Talarico; Tepper; Thompson; Tinderholt; Toth; Troxclair; VanDeaver; Vasut; Villalobos; Virdell; Vo; Walle; Ward Johnson; Wharton; Wilson; Wu; Zwiener.

Absent, Excused — Bumgarner; Campos; Canales; Garcia, J.; Hefner; Leo Wilson; Turner.

The invocation was offered by Representative Wilson as follows:

Heavenly Father, Proverbs 16:9 reminds us a man's heart plans his steps, but, Lord, you direct them. And that's exactly what we're asking. Lord, we ask that you remain with us as we go through this session protecting our families and looking to your will in all that we do. Lord, we ask that you continue to bless us all. Bless our families. Bless this state. And continue to demonstrate your loving grace. Lord, we ask these things, and we pray as you taught us to pray. Please join me.

Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory for ever and ever. Amen.

The chair recognized Representative J. Jones who led the house in the pledges of allegiance to the United States and Texas flags.

The following members were granted leaves of absence for today because of important business in the district:

Campos on motion of Howard.

J. Garcia on motion of Howard.

Hefner on motion of Patterson.

Leo Wilson on motion of Lowe.

The following member was granted leave of absence for today and tomorrow because of illness:

Bumgarner on motion of Orr.

The following member was granted leave of absence for today and the remainder of the week because of important business:

Turner on motion of Walle.

The following member was granted leave of absence for today and tomorrow because of illness in the family:

Canales on motion of Martinez Fischer.

REPRESENTATIVE TOTH: At the bottom of each page of HR 3 and HR 4, we see the initials SC, HLB, and TS. Does HLB refer to Hugh Brady?

SPEAKER BURROWS: Yes, it does.

TOTH: When you and I spoke last week, you told me that Hugh Brady would not be the parliamentarian. Is that still the case or not the case?

SPEAKER: That is not a proper parliamentary inquiry.

TOTH: I'm sorry. This inquiry seeks clarification on a key detail that governs the conduct of house proceedings. Isn't knowing who the parliamentarian is the basis for a legitimate parliamentary inquiry?

SPEAKER: State that again.

TOTH: Isn't knowing who the parliamentarian is over this house a proper parliamentary inquiry? Shouldn't we know who is calling balls and strikes? I will wait.

SPEAKER: The rules provide that the officers of the house will be appointed, and that will be announced very soon.

TOTH: So Hugh Brady is still our parliamentarian?

SPEAKER: No permanent officers have been appointed yet for this session.

REPRESENTATIVE SCHATZLINE: HR 4, Rule 7, Section 21, is unclear about your place in the process after a motion to call the previous question takes place. So my question is, does the motion to call the previous question allow for you to use your own discretion on whether you would recognize it or not?

SPEAKER: HR 4 is not before the house at this time. The chair declines to respond to hypothetical inquiries.

SCHATZLINE: That's fair. Mr. Speaker, I am just trying to get an understanding so I can be very well prepared for amendments that we disagree on this session. So my question is, is it fair to say that if calling the previous question does not give you the ability to deny it, then at any time if 25 members of the body do not agree with an amendment, they just need to sign a motion calling the previous question and bring it to your desk, and you will have to honor that?

SPEAKER: There is no item of business before the house at this time. The chair declines to respond to hypothetical inquiries.

SCHATZLINE: So surely you can see how confusing this is for me and many colleagues. You have spoken about how you want everyone to have a seat at the table, and I am simply asking if you plan to honor the motion of calling the previous question consistently regardless of who the 25 signatures are, or was that just to kill our conservative reforms in the rules package?

SPEAKER: Again, there is no item of business before the house right now on this, and the chair declines to respond to a hypothetical inquiry.

REPRESENTATIVE OLCOTT: Will we be taking up HR 3 this session?

SPEAKER: Mr. Geren has informed the chair that he will not seek recognition on that particular house resolution.

OLCOTT: Does the change to the operational budget for the house require a vote by the members of this body?

SPEAKER: The rules adopted last week, which should remain the same from previous sessions, continue to provide the house committee broad abilities to adopt budgets on that.

OLCOTT: If we do not consider HR 3, the Housekeeping Resolution, will the members of the house have an opportunity to vote on how these funds are allocated within the house?

SPEAKER: You are encouraged to visit with the House Committee on House Administration when they are appointed.

REPRESENTATIVE LUTHER: Has the house ever not adopted the resolution of housekeeping before?

SPEAKER: Chair is not advised.

LUTHER: The reason I am asking this is because I spoke to many other members who indicated that from the 65th Session in 1977 all the way to last session the house has always adopted what we call the Housekeeping Resolution. Why has the speaker chosen to throw out precedent?

SPEAKER: Ms. Luther, I previously advised that we are not advised whether or not that has been a change or anything different.

The chair presented Dr. Sanket Parikh of Sugarland as the "Doctor for the Day."

The house welcomed Dr. Parikh and thanked them for their participation in the Physician of the Day Program sponsored by the Texas Academy of Family Physicians.

Representative Money moved to print remarks between the chair and Representatives Toth, Schatzline, Olcott, and Luther.

The motion prevailed.

The following resolution was laid before the house:

HCR 54, Granting the legislature permission to adjourn for more than three days during the period beginning on Wednesday, January 29, 2025, and ending on Tuesday, February 4, 2025.

HCR 54 was adopted by (Record 12): 116 Yeas, 25 Nays, 1 Present, not voting.

Yeas — Alders; Allen; Anchía; Ashby; Barry; Bell, C.; Bell, K.; Bernal; Bhojani; Bonnen; Bowers; Bryant; Buckley; Bucy; Button; Capriglione; Cole; Collier; Cook; Cortez; Craddick; Cunningham; Curry; Darby; Davis, A.; Davis, Y.; Dean; DeAyala; Dorazio; Dutton; Dyson; Fairly; Flores; Frank; Gámez; Garcia, L.; Garcia Hernandez; Gates; Gerdes; Geren; Gervin-Hawkins; González, J.; González, M.; Goodwin; Guerra; Guillen; Harless; Harris; Hayes; Hernandez; Hickland; Hinojosa; Howard; Hull; Hunter; Johnson; Jones, J.; Jones, V.; King; Kitzman; LaHood; Lalani; Lambert; Landgraf; Leach; Longoria; Lopez, J.; Lopez, R.; Lujan; Manuel; Martinez; McQueeney; Metcalf; Meyer; Meza; Moody; Morales, C.; Morales, E.; Morales Shaw; Muñoz; Noble; Oliverson; Ordaz; Orr; Patterson; Paul; Perez, M.; Perez, V.; Phelan; Pierson; Plesa; Raymond; Reynolds; Rodríguez Ramos; Romero; Rose; Rosenthal; Schofield; Shaheen; Simmons; Slawson; Smithee; Spiller; Talarico; Tepper; Thompson; VanDeaver; Vasut; Villalobos; Vo; Walle; Ward Johnson; Wharton; Wilson; Wu; Zwiener.

Nays — Cain; Harris Davila; Harrison; Holt; Hopper; Isaac; Kerwin; Little; Louderback; Lowe; Lozano; Luther; McLaughlin; Money; Morgan; Olcott; Richardson; Schatzline; Schoolcraft; Shofner; Swanson; Tinderholt; Toth; Troxclair; Virdell.

Present, not voting — Mr. Speaker(C).

Absent, Excused — Bumgarner; Campos; Canales; Garcia, J.; Hefner; Leo Wilson; Turner.

Absent — Martinez Fischer.

When Record No. 12 was taken, I was shown voting yes. I intended to vote no.

Pierson

Representative Tinderholt moved to print all remarks on HR 4 on Thursday, January 23.

The motion prevailed.

Representative Rosenthal moved to suspend all necessary rules to take up and consider at this time HR 114.

The motion prevailed.

The following resolution was laid before the house:

HR 114, Commemorating January 27, 2025, as International Holocaust Remembrance Day.

The chair recognized Representative Rosenthal who addressed the house, speaking as follows:

For those of you who don't know me well, I'm the only direct descendant of Israel in this body. My father was Jewish, and my mother was a nondenominational Christian, so I was raised in a multireligious household. We celebrated all of the holidays, and we respected everybody. I was raised mostly Jewish, and I was bar mitzvahed and confirmed. My family lived in Israel for a year—I lived in Jerusalem, so I have a deep connection to Israel. Today, I'm addressing you, and I'm so happy to see you standing with me, to recognize Holocaust Remembrance Day. January 27 is observed annually as International Holocaust Remembrance Day to commemorate the victims of the Holocaust and to ensure that future generations understand the importance of preventing hatred, prejudice, and discrimination.

This year marks the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz on January 27—Auschwitz concentration camp where more than 1.1 million men, women, and children were brutally murdered by the Nazi regime during the Holocaust. The Holocaust was the systematic, state-sponsored persecution and murder of approximately six million Jews by Nazi Germany and its collaborators in WWII. Millions of others were also persecuted and murdered, including Roma, Poles, disabled individuals, LGBTQ individuals, Soviet prisoners of war, and political dissidents. The memory of the Holocaust serves as a stark reminder of the devastating consequences of intolerance, bigotry, and hatred. And it underscores the importance of promoting respect for human rights, equality, and the dignity of all people.

Members, antisemitism remains a disturbingly persistent, pervasive, and growing problem. There has been a sharp rise in antisemitism, hate, and extremism this past year in Texas, across the country, and, really, around the world. On this day, I encourage you all to reflect on the lessons of the Holocaust. We should work together to build a future that values the humanity of each individual, free of antisemitism, hatred, and bigotry. This day calls for the education of future generations about the history and impact of the Holocaust, the importance of combating bigotry, discrimination, intolerance, and all forms of hate to ensure that "never again" means never again. In Israel, it's very common to commemorate this by saying, "Never again," and I'm going to teach you how to say it in Hebrew. I hope you'll try this with me: le'olam lo. It means "never again." Le'olam lo.

HR 114 was adopted.

On motion of Representative Raymond, the names of all the members of the house were added to HR 114 as signers thereof.

Representative Raymond moved to print remarks by Representative Rosenthal on HR 114.

The motion prevailed.

The chair recognized Representative E. Morales who addressed the house, speaking as follows:

As you all know, Texas House District 74—which I proudly represent—by geographic mass is the largest district, not only in Texas, but in the United States. And within HD 74—we have eleven counties that represent HD 74. One of them happens to be one of the crown jewels of HD 74, which is Presidio County.

I'd like to take the opportunity to recognize our county judge, Joe Portillo. If you could stand up—he's up there at noon. Give him a round of applause. County judge Joe Portillo is a former law enforcement officer. He's got some great undercover stories that you'd like to listen to. But on top of that, he is a trailblazer in what he's doing, not only for Presidio County but joining forces hand in hand with the other county judges to make sure that West Texas and the border is represented at its top. Thank you, Judge Portillo, for what you do—for your community and for us here in the legislature. Round of applause.

Representative Tepper moved to print remarks by E. Morales.

The motion prevailed.

Representative E. Morales moved that the house adjourn until 10 a.m. tomorrow.

The motion prevailed.

The house accordingly, at 4:26 p.m., adjourned until 10 a.m. tomorrow.