SB 34 Texas Senate · 89th Legislature, 2nd Called Session (2025)

Relating to testimony or the production of evidence before a house of the legislature or a legislative committee.

SB 34 amends Texas law to require witnesses to testify or produce evidence before the state legislature or its committees, with limited exceptions. It prohibits witnesses from refusing testimony based on self-incrimination claims, but if they claim such a risk while testifying, their compelled testimony cannot be used against them in criminal cases (except for perjury charges). Witnesses also gain the right to have legal counsel present during testimony. The bill directly affects citizens, experts, and officials summoned to testify before Texas legislative bodies.
Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Aug 2025
Committee Review
Aug 2025
Senate Passage
Aug 2025
House Passage
Governor
Introduced Aug 15, 2025 Last action Aug 20, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Introduced Engrossed · 3 edits · Aug 18, 2025
MINOR
This bill amends the Texas Government Code regarding witness testimony before legislative bodies. The primary change is a formatting correction that reorganizes the bill's structure and numbering, while preserving the core legal provisions about witness immunity and right to counsel.
TECHNICAL

Reorganized bill structure and line numbering from the original draft format to the final engrossed version format

Corrected section numbering and formatting inconsistencies in the Government Code amendment text

Removed placeholder text and formatting artifacts from the original bill introduction

Floor votes

How they voted

This bill passed the Senate by voice vote (no roll call recorded).
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
22
Key actions
4
Committee
5
Aug 20, 2025
Committee
Referred to House Administration
lower
Aug 20, 2025
Introduced
Read first time
lower
Aug 20, 2025
Introduced
Received from the Senate
lower
Aug 18, 2025
Upper · Passed
Passed
upper
Aug 15, 2025
Upper · Passed
Committee report printed and distributed
upper
Aug 15, 2025
Upper · Passed
Reported favorably w/o amendments
upper
Aug 15, 2025
Upper · Passed
Vote taken in committee
upper
Aug 15, 2025
Committee
Referred to Finance
upper
Aug 15, 2025
Introduced
Read first time
upper
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Photo of Joan Huffman
Joan Huffman
RRepublican
TX
17