Texas Legislature
Bills Coauthored
Sen. Paul Bettencourt
84th Legislature Regular Session
Report Date: 3/28/2024

Number of Bills: 75

SB 3 Author: Birdwell
Coauthor: Campbell | Taylor, Van | Hall | Seliger | Bettencourt | et al.
Last Action: 05/05/2015 H Referred to Homeland Security & Public Safety: May 5 2015 5:28PM
Caption: Relating to the powers and duties of the Texas Department of Public Safety, military and law enforcement training, and the investigation, prosecution, punishment, and prevention of certain offenses; creating an offense and increasing a criminal penalty; authorizing fees.

SB 5 Author: Nichols | Nelson
Coauthor: Birdwell | Hancock | Huffines | Lucio | Taylor, Van | et al.
Last Action: 04/15/2015 H Referred to Transportation: Apr 15 2015 12:03PM
Caption: Relating to the allocation to the state highway fund and the available school fund of certain motor vehicle sales, use, and rental tax revenue and to the uses of the revenue allocated to the state highway fund.

SB 6 Author: Taylor, Larry | Campbell
Coauthor: Bettencourt
Last Action: 04/28/2015 H Left pending in committee
Caption: Relating to public school performance ratings.

SB 9 Author: Hancock
Coauthor: Birdwell | Creighton | Bettencourt | Campbell | Hall | et al.
Sponsor: Otto | Bonnen, Greg | Ashby | Burkett | Gonzales, Larry
Last Action: 05/29/2015 S House appoints conferees-reported
Caption: Relating to limitations on the rate of growth of appropriations for certain categories of spending.

SB 13 Author: Perry | Estes | Hall | Schwertner | Seliger
Coauthor: Bettencourt | Rodríguez | West | Garcia
Sponsor: Aycock | Cyrier
Last Action: 05/26/2015 H Placed on General State Calendar
Caption: Relating to measures to support public school student academic achievement and high school, college, and career preparation, including measures to improve and support dual credit courses, the development of public outreach materials, and the development of postsecondary education and career counseling academies.

SB 14 Author: Taylor, Larry | Creighton
Coauthor: Bettencourt
Last Action: 05/19/2015 H Left pending in committee
Caption: Relating to empowering the parents of students to petition for the reconstitution, repurposing, alternative management, or closure of low-performing public school campuses.

SB 17 Author: Estes
Coauthor: Creighton | Hancock | Nelson | Perry | Bettencourt | et al.
Last Action: 05/05/2015 H Referred to Homeland Security & Public Safety: May 5 2015 5:28PM
Caption: Relating to the authority of a person who is licensed to carry a handgun to openly carry a holstered handgun; creating a criminal offense; providing penalties.

SB 18 Author: Nelson | Hinojosa | Seliger
Coauthor: Huffman | Eltife | Bettencourt | Hancock | Nichols | et al.
Sponsor: Zerwas
Last Action: 06/03/2015 E Effective on 9/1/15
Caption: Relating to measures to support or enhance graduate medical education in this state, including the transfer of certain assets from the Texas Medical Liability Insurance Underwriting Association to the permanent fund supporting graduate medical education and the authority of the association to issue new policies.

SB 20 Author: Nelson
Coauthor: Bettencourt | Uresti | Hinojosa | Schwertner | Zaffirini
Sponsor: Price | Cook | Raymond | Kuempel
Last Action: 06/04/2015 E Effective on 9/1/15
Caption: Relating to state agency contracting.

SB 52 Author: Nelson
Coauthor: Bettencourt | Nichols
Last Action: 01/26/2015 S Referred to Finance
Caption: Relating to the computation of the franchise tax; decreasing the rates of the franchise tax.

SB 53 Author: Nelson
Coauthor: Huffman | Schwertner | Huffines | Bettencourt
Last Action: 05/04/2015 H Referred to Appropriations: May 4 2015 7:19PM
Caption: Relating to strategic fiscal reviews of state agencies and programs.

SB 106 Author: Whitmire
Coauthor: Bettencourt | Ellis | West | Garcia | Rodríguez
Last Action: 05/20/2015 H Failed to receive affirmative vote in comm.
Caption: Relating to court jurisdiction and procedures relating to truancy; providing criminal penalties; imposing a court cost.

SB 114 Author: Taylor, Van
Coauthor: Bettencourt | Kolkhorst
Sponsor: Laubenberg
Last Action: 05/29/2015 H Committee report sent to Calendars
Caption: Relating to the applicability of adverse licensing, listing, or registration decisions by certain health and human services agencies.

SB 136 Author: Perry
Coauthor: Bettencourt
Last Action: 01/27/2015 S Referred to Finance
Caption: Relating to zero-based budgeting for state agencies as part of the sunset review process.

SB 137 Author: Perry
Coauthor: Schwertner | Kolkhorst | Taylor, Larry | Bettencourt | Creighton | et al.
Last Action: 01/27/2015 S Referred to Finance
Caption: Relating to the maximum rate of growth of appropriations.

SB 156 Author: Nichols
Coauthor: Huffines | Bettencourt | Creighton
Last Action: 01/27/2015 S Referred to Finance
Caption: Relating to the limitation on increases in the appraised value of a residence homestead for ad valorem taxation.

SB 197 Author: Schwertner
Coauthor: Bettencourt
Sponsor: Keffer
Last Action: 05/26/2015 H Point of order sustained
Caption: Relating to the financial self-sufficiency of the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas.

SB 217 Author: Hinojosa | Birdwell | Campbell | Nelson | Schwertner
Coauthor: Bettencourt
Last Action: 05/01/2015 H Referred to State Affairs: May 1 2015 3:39PM
Caption: Relating to the self-directed and semi-independent status of certain agencies and to the requirements applicable to, and the oversight of, those agencies.

SB 233 Author: Schwertner
Coauthor: Hinojosa | Burton | Birdwell | Fraser | Bettencourt | et al.
Last Action: 04/15/2015 S Left pending in committee
Caption: Relating to limitations on increases in fees and designated tuition charged by public institutions of higher education.

SB 276 Author: Campbell
Coauthor: Bettencourt
Last Action: 03/26/2015 S Left pending in committee
Caption: Relating to state savings and government efficiency achieved through a taxpayer savings grant program administered by the comptroller of public accounts.

SB 309 Author: Campbell
Coauthor: Bettencourt | Huffines
Sponsor: Murphy | Elkins | Galindo | Bohac
Last Action: 05/21/2015 H Committee report sent to Calendars
Caption: Relating to public access to boundary, financial, and tax rate information of certain political subdivisions.

SB 310 Author: Campbell
Coauthor: Kolkhorst | Huffines | Bettencourt
Sponsor: Goldman
Last Action: 05/24/2015 H Committee report sent to Calendars
Caption: Relating to procedures and requirements for the issuance of certificates of obligation.

SB 346 Author: Estes
Coauthor: Birdwell | Hall | Eltife | Perry | Creighton | et al.
Last Action: 02/02/2015 S Referred to State Affairs
Caption: Relating to the authority of a person who is licensed to carry a handgun to openly carry a holstered handgun; creating a criminal offense; providing penalties.

SB 374 Author: Schwertner
Coauthor: Taylor, Van | Bettencourt | Kolkhorst
Sponsor: Dale
Last Action: 06/10/2015 E Effective on 9/1/15
Caption: Relating to requiring state agencies to participate in the federal electronic verification of employment authorization program, or E-verify.

SB 386 Author: Taylor, Van
Coauthor: Bettencourt
Sponsor: Villalba
Last Action: 06/19/2015 E Effective on 9/1/15
Caption: Relating to school marshals for public junior colleges, notifying a parent or guardian whether an employee of a public junior college is appointed school marshal, and the confidentiality of information submitted to or collected by the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement in connection with a certification for appointment as school marshal.

SB 398 Author: Schwertner
Coauthor: Huffines | Bettencourt
Sponsor: Laubenberg
Last Action: 05/21/2015 H Committee report sent to Calendars
Caption: Relating to fingerprints collected by the Texas Department of Public Safety from an applicant for a driver's license or personal identification certificate and used for the department's image verification system.

SB 424 Author: Schwertner
Coauthor: Nelson | Bettencourt | West
Sponsor: Zerwas
Last Action: 05/26/2015 H Point of order sustained
Caption: Relating to the licensing and regulation of hospitals in this state; increasing the amount of administrative penalties assessed or imposed against certain hospitals; authorizing the imposition of a fee.

SB 425 Author: Schwertner
Coauthor: Bettencourt | West
Sponsor: Bonnen, Greg
Last Action: 05/28/2015 E Effective on 9/1/15
Caption: Relating to health care information provided by and notice of facility fees charged by certain freestanding emergency medical care facilities.

SB 444 Author: Hall
Coauthor: Kolkhorst | Huffines | Burton | Creighton | Bettencourt | et al.
Sponsor: Davis, Yvonne
Last Action: 05/21/2015 H Comm. report sent to Local & Consent Calendar
Caption: Relating to the exercise of eminent domain by certain toll road corporations.

SB 523 Author: Birdwell | Estes | Fraser | Kolkhorst | Perry
Coauthor: Bettencourt | Creighton | Uresti
Sponsor: Keffer
Last Action: 06/19/2015 E Effective immediately
Caption: Relating to the sunset review of river authorities.

SB 527 Author: Birdwell
Coauthor: Perry | Bettencourt | Nelson
Last Action: 03/24/2015 S Not again placed on intent calendar
Caption: Relating to the designation of a segment of U.S. Highway 287 in Midlothian as the Chris Kyle and Chad Littlefield Memorial Highway.

SB 554 Author: Hancock
Coauthor: Bettencourt
Last Action: 02/18/2015 S Referred to Finance
Caption: Relating to zero-based budgeting for state agencies as part of the sunset review process.

SB 575 Author: Taylor, Larry
Coauthor: Hall | Campbell | Creighton | Perry | Schwertner | et al.
Sponsor: Farney
Last Action: 05/26/2015 H Placed on Major State Calendar
Caption: Relating to health plan and health benefit plan coverage for abortions.

SB 660 Author: Rodríguez
Coauthor: Lucio | Bettencourt
Sponsor: Blanco
Last Action: 05/22/2015 E Effective immediately
Caption: Relating to regional coordinators within the veteran entrepreneur program.

SB 673 Author: Perry
Coauthor: Hall | Huffines | Taylor, Van | Bettencourt | Nichols
Last Action: 02/24/2015 S Referred to State Affairs
Caption: Relating to the funding and issuing of marriage licenses and certifications and the recognition of certain marriages.

SB 677 Author: Creighton
Coauthor: Bettencourt
Last Action: 05/05/2015 H Referred to Appropriations: May 5 2015 5:28PM
Caption: Relating to the savings incentive program for state agencies.

SB 714 Author: Hall
Coauthor: Kolkhorst | Perry | Creighton | Nelson | Burton | et al.
Last Action: 05/22/2015 H Failed to receive affirmative vote in comm.
Caption: Relating to the use of automated traffic control systems and photographic traffic signal enforcement systems.

SB 722 Author: Perry
Coauthor: Nichols | Hall | Campbell | Bettencourt | Taylor, Van | et al.
Sponsor: Burkett
Last Action: 05/24/2015 H Committee report sent to Calendars
Caption: Relating to a disqualification for unemployment benefits for refusing to take or failing a preemployment drug test.

SB 723 Author: Perry
Coauthor: Kolkhorst | Campbell | Nelson | Bettencourt
Sponsor: King, Susan
Last Action: 05/29/2015 H Committee report sent to Calendars
Caption: Relating to mandatory participation in certain TANF employment and other programs by certain persons.

SB 755 Author: Taylor, Van
Coauthor: Bettencourt | Campbell | Menéndez
Sponsor: Button
Last Action: 06/10/2015 E Effective immediately
Caption: Relating to the application of the sales and use tax to certain computer program transactions.

SB 831 Author: Kolkhorst
Coauthor: Hall | Taylor, Van | Perry | Burton | Huffines | et al.
Last Action: 03/03/2015 S Referred to State Affairs
Caption: Relating to voluntary and informed consent to an abortion and prevention of coerced abortions; providing penalties; creating an offense.

SB 850 Author: Taylor, Van
Coauthor: Lucio | Bettencourt
Sponsor: Flynn
Last Action: 05/28/2015 E Effective immediately
Caption: Relating to a public duty justification for conduct of a service member of the Texas military forces.

SB 853 Author: Kolkhorst
Coauthor: Bettencourt
Sponsor: Button
Last Action: 06/01/2015 E Effective immediately
Caption: Relating to the signature requirement for a sales tax permit application filed electronically.

SB 996 Author: Taylor, Van
Coauthor: Bettencourt
Sponsor: Villalba
Last Action: 06/19/2015 E Effective immediately
Caption: Relating to notifying a parent or guardian whether an employee of a school is appointed school marshal and the confidentiality of information submitted to or collected by the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement in connection with a certification for appointment as school marshal.

SB 1000 Author: Kolkhorst
Coauthor: Bettencourt
Last Action: 03/10/2015 S Referred to Intergovernmental Relations
Caption: Relating to the use of sales tax revenue collected under certain contracts.

SB 1034 Author: Rodríguez
Coauthor: Bettencourt
Sponsor: Miller, Rick
Last Action: 06/20/2015 E Vetoed by the Governor
Caption: Relating to voting by mail, including the cancellation of an application for a ballot to be voted by mail.

SB 1092 Author: Taylor, Larry
Coauthor: Bettencourt
Last Action: 04/30/2015 S Removed from local & uncontested calendar
Caption: Relating to the amount that may be donated by contract by certain populous counties to crime stoppers or crime prevention organizations.

SB 1154 Author: Hall
Coauthor: Bettencourt
Sponsor: Raymond
Last Action: 05/22/2015 H Comm. report sent to Local & Consent Calendar
Caption: Relating to the deadline for filing an application for an exemption from ad valorem taxation of the residence homestead of a 100 percent or totally disabled veteran.

SB 1163 Author: Hancock
Coauthor: Hall | Perry | Burton | Huffines | Kolkhorst | et al.
Last Action: 03/17/2015 S Referred to Health & Human Services
Caption: Relating to advance directives and health care and treatment decisions.

SB 1169 Author: Campbell
Coauthor: Bettencourt | Garcia | Lucio
Last Action: 05/14/2015 H Referred to Public Education: May 14 2015 12:12AM
Caption: Relating to suicide prevention training for educators in public schools.

SB 1252 Author: Hall
Coauthor: Kolkhorst | Perry | Taylor, Van | Creighton | Huffines | et al.
Last Action: 05/19/2015 H Motion to suspend posting rule fails
Caption: Relating to an interstate compact on border security and immigration enforcement.

SB 1253 Author: Hall
Coauthor: Campbell | Lucio | Bettencourt
Sponsor: Schaefer
Last Action: 05/11/2015 H Committee report sent to Calendars
Caption: Relating to a ribbon for certain members of the military forces who served in support of operations to secure the Texas border.

SB 1364 Author: Kolkhorst
Coauthor: Bettencourt | Huffines
Sponsor: Burkett
Last Action: 06/18/2015 E Effective on 9/1/15
Caption: Relating to electronic filing of certain reports.

SB 1376 Author: Lucio
Coauthor: Bettencourt | Hinojosa | Nichols | Taylor, Van | Zaffirini
Sponsor: Hunter
Last Action: 05/26/2015 H Placed on General State Calendar
Caption: Relating to natural disaster housing recovery.

SB 1546 Author: Perry | Hall
Coauthor: Taylor, Van | Bettencourt | Creighton | Hancock | Huffines | et al.
Last Action: 03/23/2015 S Referred to Health & Human Services
Caption: Relating to advance directives, including do-not-resuscitate orders; creating a criminal offense.

SB 1564 Author: Burton
Coauthor: Hall | Perry | Bettencourt | Hancock | Huffines | et al.
Last Action: 03/23/2015 S Referred to Health & Human Services
Caption: Relating to the regulation of abortion procedures; providing civil penalties; affecting the prosecution of a criminal offense.

SB 1583 Author: Taylor, Van
Coauthor: Bettencourt
Sponsor: Fletcher
Last Action: 05/26/2015 H Placed on General State Calendar
Caption: Relating to classifying synthetic cannabinoid or cathinone as a Schedule I controlled substance under the Texas Controlled Substances Act; affecting the prosecution of a criminal offense.

SB 1639 Author: Campbell
Coauthor: Burton | Bettencourt | Creighton | Huffines
Last Action: 05/25/2015 H Referred to Land & Resource Management: May 25 2015 3:23PM
Caption: Relating to the procedures for municipal annexations.

SB 1657 Author: Watson
Coauthor: Bettencourt
Sponsor: Miller, Rick
Last Action: 06/10/2015 E Effective immediately
Caption: Relating to approval of the issuance of tax and revenue anticipation notes.

SB 1760 Author: Creighton
Coauthor: Campbell | Bettencourt
Sponsor: Bonnen, Dennis
Last Action: 06/15/2015 E See remarks for effective date
Caption: Relating to the transparent and equitable application of ad valorem tax procedures.

SB 1968 Author: Huffman
Coauthor: Hall | Bettencourt | Campbell | Taylor, Van
Last Action: 05/21/2015 H Left pending in committee
Caption: Relating to the organization of public employees.

SB 2046 Author: Taylor, Van
Coauthor: Campbell | Bettencourt | Huffines
Last Action: 05/21/2015 H Referred to Public Education: May 21 2015 4:10PM
Caption: Relating to equal opportunity for access by home-schooled students to University Interscholastic League-sponsored activities; authorizing a fee.

SB 2048 Author: Huffman
Coauthor: Campbell | Nelson | Burton | Bettencourt | Taylor, Van | et al.
Sponsor: Cook | Harless | Geren | Oliveira | Kuempel
Last Action: 05/26/2015 H Placed on General State Calendar
Caption: Relating to a privilege from disclosure to governmental units for certain evidence concerning sermons delivered by a religious leader.

SCR 1 Author: Creighton
Coauthor: Kolkhorst | Campbell | Perry | Huffines | Estes | et al.
Sponsor: Huberty
Last Action: 05/11/2015 H Committee report sent to Calendars
Caption: Claiming sovereignty under the Tenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution over all powers not otherwise enumerated and granted to the federal government by the U.S. Constitution, serving notice to the federal government to halt and reverse certain mandates, and providing that certain federal legislation be prohibited or repealed.

SCR 5 Author: Estes
Coauthor: Birdwell | Nelson | Creighton | Bettencourt | Campbell | et al.
Sponsor: Flynn
Last Action: 06/09/2015 E Signed by the Governor
Caption: Urging Congress to reimburse the State of Texas for bearing the financial burden of the federal government's responsibility to secure the Texas-Mexico international border.

SCR 13 Author: Seliger | Estes | Fraser | Hinojosa | Nichols | et al.
Coauthor: Hancock | Nelson | Bettencourt | Schwertner | Taylor, Van
Sponsor: Anchia
Last Action: 05/28/2015 E Signed by the Governor
Caption: Urging the U.S. Congress to end the ban on crude oil exports.

SCR 28 Author: Lucio
Coauthor: Bettencourt | Nelson | Menéndez
Sponsor: Simmons
Last Action: 06/15/2015 E Signed by the Governor
Caption: Recognizing April 2015 as Autism Awareness Month.

SJR 2 Author: Hancock
Coauthor: Birdwell | Creighton | Bettencourt | Campbell | Hall | et al.
Last Action: 04/14/2015 S Not again placed on intent calendar
Caption: Proposing a constitutional amendment concerning the limitation on the rate of growth in appropriations.

SJR 5 Author: Nichols | Nelson
Coauthor: Birdwell | Hancock | Huffines | Lucio | Taylor, Van | et al.
Sponsor: Pickett | Otto | Harless | Parker | Davis, Yvonne
Last Action: 06/01/2015 E Filed with the Secretary of State
Caption: Proposing a constitutional amendment dedicating a portion of the revenue derived from the state sales and use tax and the tax imposed on the sale, use, or rental of a motor vehicle to the state highway fund.

SJR 11 Author: Perry
Coauthor: Schwertner | Kolkhorst | Taylor, Larry | Bettencourt | Creighton | et al.
Last Action: 02/02/2015 S Referred to Finance
Caption: Proposing a constitutional amendment regarding the maximum amount of appropriations for a state fiscal biennium.

SJR 14 Author: Nichols
Coauthor: Huffines | Bettencourt | Creighton
Last Action: 02/02/2015 S Referred to Finance
Caption: Proposing a constitutional amendment to authorize the legislature to limit the maximum appraised value of a residence homestead for ad valorem tax purposes to 105 percent or less of the appraised value of the property for the preceding tax year and to permit the voters of a county to establish a higher limitation not to exceed 110 percent on the maximum appraised value of a residence homestead in the county.

SJR 22 Author: Creighton
Coauthor: Nichols | Hall | Hinojosa | Nelson | Campbell | et al.
Sponsor: Ashby | Darby | Guillen | Bonnen, Dennis | Keffer
Last Action: 05/21/2015 E Filed with the Secretary of State
Caption: Proposing a constitutional amendment relating to the right to hunt, fish, and harvest wildlife.

SR 428 Author: Nelson
Coauthor: Bettencourt | Birdwell | Burton | Campbell | Creighton | et al.
Last Action: 04/16/2015 S Again read
Caption: Proclaiming April 16, 2015, as Texas Federation of Republican Women Legislative Day.

SR 618 Author: Burton | Campbell | Creighton | Estes | Fraser | et al.
Coauthor: Bettencourt | Birdwell | Eltife | Perry | Seliger | et al.
Last Action: 04/23/2015 S Reported enrolled
Caption: Recognizing April 23, 2015, as Texas Young Republican Federation and Texas Federation of College Republicans Legislative Day.

SR 681 Author: Burton | Birdwell | Campbell | Creighton | Estes | et al.
Coauthor: Bettencourt
Last Action: 05/04/2015 S Reported enrolled
Caption: Recognizing the opening of the Texas Public Policy Foundation's new headquarters.

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