SB 19 Texas Senate · 89th Legislature, 2nd Called Session (2025)

Relating to a prohibition on the making and acceptance of political contributions during a special legislative session.

SB 19 prohibits making or accepting political contributions to statewide officeholders, state legislators, or their specific-purpose committees during any special legislative session. The bill requires recipients to refuse and return such contributions within 30 days, with specific rules for mail/delivery timing. Exceptions include contributions intended for elections held during the session period, election contests, or by defeated officeholders. This change applies only to contributions made on or after the bill's effective date.
Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Aug 2025
Committee Review
Aug 2025
Senate Passage
Aug 2025
House Passage
Governor
Introduced Aug 26, 2025 Last action Aug 28, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Introduced Engrossed · 3 edits · Aug 26, 2025
MINOR
The bill was updated from its introduced version to an engrossed version, incorporating formal amendments and reorganizing the text for clarity. The most significant substantive change is the addition of a specific time limit to the restrictions on political contributions, ensuring the rules apply only to special legislative sessions that begin before September 1 in odd-numbered years. Additionally, the bill was amended to reflect that it is sponsored by multiple legislators rather than a single sponsor.
Scope change
The bill's scope was narrowed by adding a specific temporal condition, limiting the prohibition on political contributions to special legislative sessions starting before September 1 in odd-numbered years.
TIMELINE

Added a specific deadline (September 1 in odd-numbered years) to the period during which political contribution restrictions apply to special legislative sessions.

ELIGIBILITY

Updated the sponsor attribution to indicate multiple legislators ('et al.') instead of a single sponsor.

TECHNICAL

Reordered and clarified the text of the political contribution restriction subsection to improve readability and logical flow.

Floor votes · Senate Aug 26, 2025

How they voted

246
Passed · 3 other
Total votes 33
Aug 26, 2025
D Democratic12
5 Yea 4 Nay 3
41% Yea
R Republican21
19 Yea 2 Nay
90% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
32
Key actions
6
Committee
5
Amendments
4
Aug 28, 2025
Lower · Passed
Reported favorably w/o amendment(s)
lower
Aug 28, 2025
Committee
Referred to Elections
lower
Aug 28, 2025
Introduced
Read first time
lower
Aug 27, 2025
Introduced
Received from the Senate
lower
Aug 26, 2025
Upper · Passed
Passed
upper
Aug 26, 2025
Upper · Passed
Passed to engrossment as amended
upper
Aug 26, 2025
Amended
Amendment fails of adoption
upper
Aug 26, 2025
Upper · Passed
Amended
upper
Aug 26, 2025
Introduced
Amendment(s) offered
upper
Aug 26, 2025
Upper · Passed
Reported favorably w/o amendments
upper
Aug 26, 2025
Upper · Passed
Vote taken in committee
upper
Aug 26, 2025
Committee
Referred to State Affairs
upper
Aug 26, 2025
Introduced
Read first time
upper
1 primary · 5 co-sponsors

Sponsors