ELEVENTH DAY --- THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2025
The house met at 10 a.m. and was called to order by the speaker.
The roll of the house was called and a quorum was announced present (Record 18).
Present — Mr. Speaker(C); Alders; Allen; Anchía; Ashby; Barry; Bell, C.; Bell, K.; Bernal; Bhojani; Bonnen; Bowers; Bryant; Buckley; Bucy; Bumgarner; Button; Cain; Campos; Canales; Capriglione; Cole; Collier; Cook; Cortez; Craddick; Cunningham; Curry; Darby; Davis, A.; Davis, Y.; Dean; DeAyala; Dorazio; Dutton; Dyson; Fairly; Flores; Frank; Gámez; Garcia, J.; Garcia, L.; Garcia Hernandez; Gates; Gerdes; Geren; González, J.; González, M.; Goodwin; Guerra; Guillen; Harless; Harris; Harris Davila; Harrison; Hayes; Hefner; Hernandez; Hickland; Hinojosa; Holt; Hopper; Howard; Hull; Hunter; Isaac; Johnson; Jones, J.; Jones, V.; King; Kitzman; LaHood; Lalani; Lambert; Landgraf; Leach; Leo Wilson; 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; Schoolcraft; Shaheen; Shofner; Simmons; Slawson; Smithee; Spiller; Swanson; Talarico; Tepper; Thompson; Tinderholt; Toth; Troxclair; Turner; VanDeaver; Vasut; Villalobos; Virdell; Vo; Walle; Ward Johnson; Wharton; Wilson; Wu; Zwiener.
Absent, Excused — Gervin-Hawkins; Kerwin; Schofield.
The invocation was offered by Representative LaHood as follows:
In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Lord, make us an instrument of your peace. Where there is hatred, let us sow love. Where there is injury, pardon. Where there is doubt, faith. Where there is despair, hope. Where there is darkness, light. Where there is sadness, joy. Grant that we may not so much seek to be consoled as to console, to be understood as to understand, to be loved as to love. For it is in giving that we receive, it is in pardoning that we are pardoned, and it is in serving that we lead. Please give us the wisdom and courage to do what is right, not what is easy—not right by our egos or whims, but in your truth for the people we serve, for our districts we represent, and for our great state. We also ask for the complete healing of Representative Wes Virdell. Please bless and send your protection over the members and our families. We ask this in your name. Amen.
The chair recognized Representative Garcia Hernandez who led the house in the pledges of allegiance to the United States and Texas flags.
LEAVES OF ABSENCE GRANTED
The following members were granted leaves of absence for today because of important business in the district:
Kerwin on motion of Curry.
Schofield on motion of Hayes.
CAPITOL PHYSICIAN
The chair presented Dr. George Downham of Willis as the "Doctor for the Day."
The house welcomed Dr. Downham and thanked them for their participation in the Physician of the Day Program sponsored by the Texas Academy of Family Physicians.
MESSAGE FROM THE SENATE
A message from the senate was received at this time (see the addendum to the daily journal, Messages from the Senate, Message No. 1).
BILLS AND RESOLUTIONS SIGNED BY THE SPEAKER
Notice was given at this time that the speaker had signed bills and resolutions in the presence of the house (see the addendum to the daily journal, Signed by the Speaker, Senate List No. 2).
PERMANENT OFFICERS OF THE HOUSE APPOINTED
Pursuant to the House Rules and Housekeeping Resolution, Speaker Burrows announced the appointment of the following permanent officers of the House of Representatives of the Eighty-Ninth Legislature of the State of Texas:
Parliamentarian
Sharon Carter
Assistant Parliamentarian
Thomas G. Samuels
Assistant Chief Clerk
Mark Cervantes
Journal Clerk
Jennifer Teigen Doran
Voting Clerk
Scottie Hagen
Reading Clerks
Mason Roberts and Alyssa Vargas
Sergeant-at-Arms
Kara Coffee
Assistant Sergeant-at-Arms
Brianah Wallace
Committee Coordinator
Stacey Nicchio
Assistant Committee Coordinator
Damian Duarte
Executive Director, House Business Office
Steven D. Adrian
Assistant Director, House Business Office
Scott D. Siebert
OATH OF OFFICE ADMINISTERED
The following appointed officers assembled in front of the speaker's dais:
Sharon Carter, Parliamentarian; Thomas G. Samuels, Assistant Parliamentarian; Stephen Brown, Chief Clerk; Mark Cervantes, Assistant Chief Clerk; Jennifer Teigen Doran, Journal Clerk; Scottie Hagen, Voting Clerk; Mason Roberts and Alyssa Vargas, Reading Clerks; Kara Coffee, Sergeant-at-Arms; Brianah Wallace, Assistant Sergeant-at-Arms; Alec DeGilio, Doorkeeper; Stacey Nicchio, Committee Coordinator; Damian Duarte, Assistant Committee Coordinator; Steven D. Adrian, Executive Director, House Business Office; and Scott D. Siebert, Assistant Director, House Business Office.
Pursuant to Section 301.006, Government Code, Speaker Burrows administered the constitutional oath of office to the appointed officers of the House of Representatives of the Eighty-Ninth Legislature of the State of Texas, all of those present rising together and repeating the following oath, prescribed by the Constitution, as it was read to them, as follows:
"I, ____________, do solemnly swear, that I will faithfully execute the duties of the office of officer of the House of Representatives of the Eighty-Ninth Legislature of the State of Texas, and will to the best of my ability preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution and laws of the United States and of this state, so help me God."
HR 190 - ADOPTED
(by V. Jones)
Representative V. Jones moved to suspend all necessary rules to take up and consider at this time HR 190.
The motion prevailed.
The following resolution was laid before the house:
HR 190, In memory of Antonio Cornelius Baker.
HR 190 was adopted by a rising vote.
HR 135 - ADOPTED
(by Darby)
Representative Darby moved to suspend all necessary rules to take up and consider at this time HR 135.
The motion prevailed.
The following resolution was laid before the house:
HR 135, Recognizing February 6, 2025, as Howard County Day at the State Capitol.
HR 135 was adopted.
On motion of Representative Button, the names of all the members of the house were added to HR 135 as signers thereof.
HR 177 - ADOPTED
(by Slawson)
Representative Slawson moved to suspend all necessary rules to take up and consider at this time HR 177.
The motion prevailed.
The following resolution was laid before the house:
HR 177, Recognizing February 6, 2025, as Hood County Day at the Capitol.
HR 177 was adopted.
On motion of Representative Vasut, the names of all the members of the house were added to HR 177 as signers thereof.
HR 99 - ADOPTED
(by Holt)
Representative Holt moved to suspend all necessary rules to take up and consider at this time HR 99.
The motion prevailed.
The following resolution was laid before the house:
HR 99, Recognizing February 6, 2025, as San Jacinto County Day at the State Capitol.
HR 99 was adopted.
On motion of Representative Toth, the names of all the members of the house were added to HR 99 as signers thereof.
HR 189 - ADOPTED
(by Dyson)
Representative Dyson moved to suspend all necessary rules to take up and consider at this time HR 189.
The motion prevailed.
The following resolution was laid before the house:
HR 189, Honoring former state representative John Raney for his service.
HR 189 was adopted.
On motion of Representative Lambert, the names of all the members of the house were added to HR 189 as signers thereof.
ADJOURNMENT
Representative Hunter moved that the house adjourn until 2 p.m. Tuesday, February 11 in memory of the Honorable John Hirschi of Wichita Falls and the Honorable Dalton Smith of Houston.
The motion prevailed.
The house accordingly, at 10:31 a.m., adjourned until 2 p.m. Tuesday, February 11.
ADDENDUM
SIGNED BY THE SPEAKER
The following bills and resolutions were today signed in the presence of the house by the speaker:
Senate List No. 2
SCR 11
MESSAGES FROM THE SENATE
The following messages from the senate were today received by the house:
Message No. 1
MESSAGE FROM THE SENATE
SENATE CHAMBER
Austin, Texas
Thursday, February 6, 2025
The Honorable Speaker of the House
House Chamber
Austin, Texas
Mr. Speaker:
I am directed by the senate to inform the house that the senate has taken the following action:
THE SENATE HAS PASSED THE FOLLOWING MEASURES:
Relating to the establishment of an education savings account program.
Respectfully,
Patsy Spaw
Secretary of the Senate