TWELFTH DAY --- TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2025

The house met at 2 p.m. and was called to order by the speaker.

The roll of the house was called and a quorum was announced present (Record 19).

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; Gervin-Hawkins; 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.; Kerwin; 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; Schofield; 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.

The invocation was offered by Representative Howard as follows:

I'm grateful to live in a country where we have a constitutional right to no law respecting the establishment of religion or prohibiting the full exercise thereof—freedom of and from religion. In that spirit and with respect for all Texans of every religion, and of no religion, we seek guidance for the day before us from the god of our understanding––from that moral compass that calls us to recognize our interconnectedness and our collective work––and to bring to that work the better angels of ourselves, on behalf of all Texans, whom we have been given the privilege to serve.

Spirit of life, god of many names, be in our hearts and minds as we come together today. Let us know that each from our own tradition comes today to lift our spirit in unity. We pray that we acknowledge our differences as we seek out our common ground, each of us working toward the good of all. Every discussion and every decision about the use of our institutional resources or power is a reflection of what we value. Our recognition of the inherent worth and dignity of every person—and of the call to promote justice, equity, and compassion in human relations—compels us to honor our common humanity, our shared responsibility, and our commitment to all who are part of the One. May it be so. Amen.

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

The chair presented Dr. Zach Sartor of Waco as the "Doctor for the Day."

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

The following resolution was laid before the house:

HCR 5, Inviting the chief justice of the Supreme Court of Texas to address a joint session of the legislature on February 26, 2025.

HCR 5 was adopted by (Record 20): 148 Yeas, 0 Nays, 1 Present, not voting.

Yeas — 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; Gervin-Hawkins; 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.; Kerwin; 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; Schofield; Schoolcraft; Shaheen; Shofner; Simmons; Slawson; Smithee; Spiller; Swanson; Talarico; Tepper; Thompson; Tinderholt; Toth; Troxclair; Turner; VanDeaver; Vasut; Villalobos; Vo; Walle; Ward Johnson; Wharton; Wilson; Wu; Zwiener.

Present, not voting — Mr. Speaker(C).

Absent — Virdell.

When Record No. 20 was taken, I was in the house but away from my desk. I would have voted yes.

Virdell

Representative Capriglione moved to suspend all necessary rules to take up and consider at this time HR 206.

The motion prevailed.

The following resolution was laid before the house:

HR 206, Congratulating Annette Addo-Yobo of Southlake on her selection as Miss Texas 2024.

HR 206 was adopted.

On motion of Representative Leach, the names of all the members of the house were added to HR 206 as signers thereof.

The chair recognized Representative Capriglione who introduced Annette Addo-Yobo, Miss Texas 2024.

Representative McQueeney moved to suspend all necessary rules to take up and consider at this time HR 217.

The motion prevailed.

The following resolution was laid before the house:

HR 217, Recognizing February 10 and 11, 2025, as Tarrant County Days at the State Capitol.

HR 217 was adopted.

On motion of Representative Lowe, the names of all the members of the house were added to HR 217 as signers thereof.

Representative Harris Davila moved to suspend all necessary rules to take up and consider at this time HR 175.

The motion prevailed.

The following resolution was laid before the house:

HR 175, Recognizing February 11 and 12, 2025, as Texas State Technical College Days at the State Capitol.

HR 175 was adopted.

On motion of Representative Lambert, the names of all the members of the house were added to HR 175 as signers thereof.

The chair recognized Representative Harris Davila who introduced representatives of Texas State Technical College.

Representative Gerdes moved to suspend all necessary rules to take up and consider at this time HR 214.

The motion prevailed.

The following resolution was laid before the house:

HR 214, Recognizing February 11, 2025, as Bastrop County Day at the State Capitol.

HR 214 was adopted.

Representative Walle moved to suspend all necessary rules to take up and consider at this time HR 141.

The motion prevailed.

The following resolution was laid before the house:

HR 141, Recognizing February 11, 2025, as University of Houston Day at the State Capitol.

HR 141 was adopted.

On motion of Representative M. Perez, the names of all the members of the house were added to HR 141 as signers thereof.

Representative Walle moved to suspend all necessary rules to take up and consider at this time HR 195.

The motion prevailed.

The following resolution was laid before the house:

HR 195, Congratulating Mario K. Castillo on his investiture as chancellor of Lone Star College.

HR 195 was adopted.

Representative Harris moved to suspend all necessary rules to take up and consider at this time HR 78.

The motion prevailed.

The following resolution was laid before the house:

HR 78, Recognizing February 11, 2025, as Jacksonville Leadership Day at the State Capitol.

HR 78 was adopted.

Representative K. Bell moved to suspend all necessary rules to take up and consider at this time HR 191.

The motion prevailed.

The following resolution was laid before the house:

HR 191, Recognizing February 11, 2025, as Athens Day at the State Capitol.

HR 191 was adopted.

On motion of Representative Harris, the names of all the members of the house were added to HR 191 as signers thereof.

Representative Hunter moved to suspend all necessary rules to take up and consider at this time HR 210.

The motion prevailed.

The following resolution was laid before the house:

HR 210, Recognizing February 11, 2025, as Corpus Christi Regional Transportation Authority Day at the State Capitol.

HR 210 was adopted.

On motion of Representative Villalobos, the names of all the members of the house were added to HR 210 as signers thereof.

Representative Louderback moved to suspend all necessary rules to take up and consider at this time HR 220.

The motion prevailed.

The following resolution was laid before the house:

HR 220, Recognizing February 11, 2025, as Cuero Chamber Day at the State Capitol.

HR 220 was adopted.

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

The motion prevailed.

The house accordingly, at 2:46 p.m., adjourned until 10 a.m. tomorrow.