Texas Criminal Justice Key Votes
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About the Selection and Descriptions of Key Votes
Vote Smart provides easy access to congressional and state voting records and maintains a collection of key votes grouped by issue. Vote Smart uses the following criteria to select key votes:
- The vote should be helpful in portraying how a member stands on a particular issue
- The vote should be clear for any person to understand
- The vote has received media attention
- The vote was passed or defeated by a very close margin
- Occasionally, if a specific bill is consistently inquired about on the Voter's Research Hotline, the vote will be added
Vote Smart provides a summary of the version of the bill text associated with each selected key vote. Our summaries are written by Vote Smart's staff and interns, who adhere to our strict policies and procedures in order to guarantee absolute impartiality and accuracy. They do not necessarily reflect the content of the final version of the bill, but rather the version voted on in that stage. While many procedural votes take place before a full chamber vote, our voting stages reflect the final reading of each chamber vote. Each key vote selection is reviewed by the project's community of advisors, who are political scientists and journalists from all fifty states.
For more information about the legislative process, see here.
results per page:
| Date | State | Bill No. | Title | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov. 9, 2023 | TX | SB 4 | Amends State Criminal Code to Establish Illegal Entry Across the Border as a Class B Misdemeanor | Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 11) |
| Oct. 12, 2023 | TX | SB 4 | Increases Criminal Penalties for Immigrant Smuggling or Operating a Stash House | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 12) |
| April 27, 2023 | TX | SB 2209 | Prohibits Civilian Oversight of Police | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 11) |
| March 14, 2023 | TX | SB 2 | Classifies Illegal Voting as a Felony | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 12) |
| Aug. 31, 2021 | TX | SB 6 | Amends Cash Bail Laws For Individuals Accused of Violent Crimes | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (26 - 5) |
| July 16, 2021 | TX | SB 3 | Prohibits Teaching "Critical Race Theory" in Public Schools | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 4) |
| May 28, 2021 | TX | SB 19 | Prohibits Contracts with Companies That Discriminate Against Gun Industry | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (19 - 12) |
| May 24, 2021 | TX | HB 1927 | Authorizes Permitless Handgun Carry to Adults 21 and Older | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (17 - 13) |
| May 24, 2021 | TX | HB 1900 | Establishes Penalties for Municipalities that Reduce Police Funding | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 3) |
| May 24, 2021 | TX | HB 2622 | Prohibits the Enforcement of New Federal Gun Laws | Bill Passed - Senate (17 - 13) |
| May 22, 2021 | TX | HB 3979 | Prohibits the Teaching of "Critical Race Theory" in Schools | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 13) |
| May 22, 2021 | TX | HB 9 | Increases the Criminal Penalty for Knowingly Blocking an Emergency Vehicle or Hospital | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 6) |
| May 12, 2021 | TX | HB 574 | Establishes 2 New Classes of Election Fraud Offenses | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 9) |
| April 14, 2021 | TX | SB 20 | Requires Hotels to Permit Guests to Carry Firearms to Private Rooms | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 13) |
| May 26, 2019 | TX | HB 3557 | Increases Penalties for Pipeline Protesting | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (19 - 12) |
| May 22, 2019 | TX | HB 2536 | Establishes Drug-Pricing Transparency Requirements | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 4) |
| May 21, 2019 | TX | HB 1143 | Authorizes Storage and Transportation of Firearms in School Parking Areas | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 6) |
| May 1, 2019 | TX | SB 535 | Authorizes Handguns on the Premises of Places of Worship | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 6) |
| April 3, 2019 | TX | SB 17 | Authorizes Protections for Lawyers that Deny Clients Based on Religious Exemptions | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 12) |
| April 3, 2019 | TX | SB 406 | Amends Conceal Carry Regulations for Local School Marshals | Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 3) |
| April 27, 2017 | TX | HB 89 | Prohibits Contracts with Companies Boycotting Israel | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 5) |
| April 11, 2017 | TX | SB 75 | Requires Parental Consent for Minors to Join Labor Unions | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 11) |
| April 4, 2017 | TX | SB 576 | Establishes Reporting Standards for Sexual Assault on College Campuses | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 1) |
| April 4, 2017 | TX | SB 576 | Establishes Reporting Standards for Sexual Assault on College Campuses | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 1) |
| March 27, 2017 | TX | SB 16 | Reduces Fee for Firearm Carry Licenses | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 5) |
| May 22, 2015 | TX | HB 910 | Authorizes Open Carry of Handguns | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 12) |
| April 30, 2015 | TX | SB 1628 | Amends Existing Law Relating to Insurance Claim Lawsuits | Bill Passed - Senate (21 - 10) |
| April 23, 2015 | TX | SB 158 | Authorizes Grants for Body-Worn Cameras to Certain Law Enforcement Agencies | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 8) |
| April 9, 2015 | TX | SB 10 | Transfers Public Integrity Unit to Texas Rangers | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 11) |
| March 19, 2015 | TX | SB 11 | Authorizes Concealed Carry of Firearms on College Campuses | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 11) |
| March 17, 2015 | TX | SB 17 | Authorizes Open Carry of Handguns | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 10) |
| May 26, 2013 | TX | HB 912 | Limits the Private Use of Unmanned Aircrafts | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (26 - 5) |
| May 26, 2013 | TX | HB 912 | Limits the Private Use of Unmanned Aircrafts | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (26 - 5) |
| May 22, 2013 | TX | HB 950 | Requires Equal Pay for Women | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 13) |
| May 22, 2013 | TX | HB 1009 | Establishes "School Marshal" as a New Category of Law Enforcement for Schools | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 4) |
| April 30, 2013 | TX | SB 1907 | Authorizes Firearms in Vehicles on College Campuses | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 4) |
| April 10, 2013 | TX | SB 1467 | Requires Facilitation of Expansion of Firearms Manufacturers | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 7) |
| May 28, 2011 | TX | HB 1 | 2011-2013 Budget | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (20 - 11) |
| May 23, 2011 | TX | HB 359 | Corporal Punishment in Public Schools | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 2) |
| May 9, 2011 | TX | SB 14 | Voter Identification Requirements | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (19 - 12) |
| May 9, 2011 | TX | SB 1581 | Concealed Handguns on Campus | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 11) |
| May 4, 2011 | TX | HB 1 | 2011-2013 Budget | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 12) |
| Jan. 26, 2011 | TX | SB 14 | Voter Identification Requirements | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 11) |
| May 11, 2009 | TX | HB 1736 | Increasing Wrongful Conviction Compensation | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 4) |
| May 11, 2009 | TX | HB 1736 | Increasing Wrongful Conviction Compensation | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 4) |
| April 15, 2009 | TX | SB 1049 | Increasing Age Restriction on Tobacco Purchases | Bill Passed - Senate (25 - 5) |
| March 31, 2009 | TX | SB 298 | Authorizing Sobriety Checkpoints | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 11) |
| March 31, 2009 | TX | SB 298 | Authorizing Sobriety Checkpoints | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 11) |
| March 19, 2009 | TX | SB 188 | Authorizes Needle Exchange Programs | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 6) |
| March 11, 2009 | TX | SB 362 | Requiring Proof of Identification to Vote | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 12) |
| May 23, 2007 | TX | CSHB 3678 | Religious Expression at Schools | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 3) |
| May 1, 2007 | TX | CSSB 966 | Journalist Confidentiality Protection | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 4) |
| April 27, 2007 | TX | CSSB 308 | Syringe Exchange Program | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 8) |
| April 17, 2007 | TX | CSSB 1909 | Treatment for Drug Possession Offenders | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 10) |
| April 17, 2007 | TX | CSSB 1909 | Treatment for Drug Possession Offenders | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 10) |