[{"_1":2,"_112":-5,"_113":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6224712,"mediaKeyId","3549423-e3142e9306397e67f3f656ee454a35a2","parentId",3549423,"title","Senate approves House Bill 229 on foreign collection of governmental biological information after brief privacy objection","audioSeconds",51,"startMs",810000,"endMs",861000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3549423-e3142e9306397e67f3f656ee454a35a2&start=810&end=861","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3549423-e3142e9306397e67f3f656ee454a35a2/thumbnail_810000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6224712/Texas/Senate-approves-House-Bill-229-on-foreign-collection-of-governmental-biological-information-after-brief-privacy-objection","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6224712-a3d00f61eb557b7ae86c984feb4588d8/orig.mp4?Expires=1770757638&Signature=M5m7wlMNzNQ0aDtZD~tUC0z4AqdX-bkOLq6RswJNTle4QFcSSF-4~~yNnEFYqMathdmXyjGnZaXwTcAVLQKADIUhowYvW0UTG8qhJm2aCRqx8TrnkkXljbh3pa89vAkM9V3ldM1terPId~EKCzcWuVS4aaqwUS~r3aA9usRceOtq7qUewqg0FP5TFkbQwDXiYGDkXnszeQDRBdGqfyvJs6V6jpSEerVKENKmiKlYUfPuP1hAqwssNM5is4lI~Zhrr1VdznMAV9JyiqeBuOKl9QuV4kv5xO77sOrnC0mqqk2TBZMpt32FlGm0i5mwaa6668EMmDc0CcM3mDUm~3B7eg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Texas Legislature","date","2025-05-28T00:00:00Z","article","The Senate on May 20 approved House Bill 229, described on the floor as relating to general definitions and the foreign collection of governmental information regarding biological matters. Senator Cook spoke briefly in opposition on the floor, saying the measure “flies in the face of” freedom, safety and privacy, and urging a no vote. The Senate moved the bill to final passage and the announced roll call recorded final passage as reported on the chamber floor.

Senator Middleton had moved to suspend the regular order to take up the bill; the chamber then proceeded with final passage as announced. The floor record shows the motion for final passage was made and the roll call as announced recorded the result.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Senate Session (Part IV) May 28, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Senate passed House Bill 229, described on the floor as relating to collection of governmental information regarding biological matters; Senator Cook briefly objected, citing freedom, safety and privacy concerns, but the bill advanced on final passage.","taxTitle","Senate, Legislative, Texas","taxId",16215,"location","Texas","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6224716,"Senator warns House Bill 521 could create government 'lists' as Senate approves accommodation measure for voters with disabilities",205,709000,914000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3549423-e3142e9306397e67f3f656ee454a35a2&start=709&end=914","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3549423-e3142e9306397e67f3f656ee454a35a2/thumbnail_709000.jpg","/articles/6224716/Texas/Senator-warns-House-Bill-521-could-create-government-lists-as-Senate-approves-accommodation-measure-for-voters-with-disabilities","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6224716-b11f3cd483d1b0fe51b2cf1ce54dc7c3/orig.mp4?Expires=1770757638&Signature=GfPzEAYsuCq78Esc~cYaiPrdnGvLocMx2HG4359JoTzk9ueQCsETxrxUe~1Vm6hA7aWyuSEBQURQG-6dIa-LC02C2pg3xv~jZ05zGli11FpjcdDdhbcIvdVMGSTMPDESVuckt4FW2Tj1z4cGmALdt6D7Yk4OJ-yP7G6lm0gyYMC7yP4cUn6jeFZNe22AZkndD~zAafaARvxVVzfNCIrGKqbhTqiEidK9UEHHxNB9sMqjNsbSrlrP1VLJuOc7L-tuV3oT1NLxwat9AsfQSZoFHqoUMArjcoNcg~-5FMiTDw3elaSvE5~nDVjRJgKkavAEdzj0C4Pw5TKw6R8PImZXXg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Senate on May 20 approved House Bill 521, relating to accommodating voters with a disability. On the floor, Senator Eckhart raised concerns that the bill is part of a broader pattern this session of creating lists of individuals and groups that he said could be used for surveillance and discrimination.

“...this is about freedom, safety, and privacy. And with all due respect, senator Middleton's bill flies in the face of all 3 of those principles,” Senator Cook said earlier in related debate, and Senator Eckhart expanded on the lists concern: “We have lists of individuals who are public servants trying to assist people to vote... lists of judges... lists of vendors... Lists of books that were disfavored. Lists of people who were living in ways that were disfavored.”

Senator Eckhart said the session has produced statutes that create “lists” and likened the practice to historical abuses. He asked colleagues to vote no on the bill because, he said, “it's not about accommodating voters with disabilities. It's about creating lists of people who help others vote so that you can catch them.”

On final passage the Senate recorded the vote as 20 ayes and 11 nays, as announced on the chamber floor. The motion to take up final passage was moved on the floor and the bill advanced per the announced roll call.","The Senate approved House Bill 521 relating to accommodating voters with a disability after Senator Eckhart warned on the floor that the bill, and similar measures this session, create lists that could be used to surveil or target people; final passage was recorded on the floor.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6224722,"Senate approves House Bill 3053 restricting municipal and county firearm buyback programs after debate on local control",254,1569000,1823000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3549423-e3142e9306397e67f3f656ee454a35a2&start=1569&end=1823","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3549423-e3142e9306397e67f3f656ee454a35a2/thumbnail_1569000.jpg","/articles/6224722/Texas/Senate-approves-House-Bill-3053-restricting-municipal-and-county-firearm-buyback-programs-after-debate-on-local-control","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6224722-b2af9cef5f46b22dd6784373f2cec5ff/orig.mp4?Expires=1770757638&Signature=dhkAM1EsPFah8V6MkcwRKGZjPd7lW-rtj0OGVR58LzVZMmUT8i2CjwesXeZDYbTX8IE7bxUwwL1kDDNOvXraJsu-1ql~CDBr0wlUph9VSLY9EgbZHFjtqzcwmN~wKjkUKfxCq-B84WfEPzbTGol2tGg-xn~J4rDzhqhg6WRw2IINnS6yP10C~8T5dDvrftWqV18kkvWzi6PaLBI2SerEQBSyEekiiaO0BUnwehar0yEc-EEeYmrfMqAzCJbxWDygmgrzMzH8Mt2wF~kkjpY4jR8P1QtW~WcnCuZcmWOeIeWdxozbVhoijBmnVVNZgvGNS1Bcy4c-9EQUN1uC3bu23Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Senate on May 20 approved House Bill 3053, relating to municipal and county firearm buyback programs, after floor debate in which opponents argued buybacks reduce unwanted firearms and support local control. The measure was recorded on final passage as 20 ayes and 11 nays, according to the chamber roll call announced on the floor.

Senator Menendez urged opposition to the bill, saying that while buyback programs “alone won't change the reality” of firearm deaths, they have proven successful in some cities and provide opportunities to educate the public about safe storage. He cited San Antonio's first gun buyback—held in 2023—saying it “saw an estimated 900 weapons exchanged for gift cards.”

“Some folks have old guns they've inherited that they have no use for and may just need to put food on their table,” Senator Menendez said, describing how programs in El Paso paid gift‑card amounts he listed: “$50 in a gift card for a broken gun, dollars 100 for a handgun, dollars 150 for a long rifle or shotgun, and $200 for an assault rifle.”

Senator Cook also spoke against restrictions on local programs, saying, “No gun buybacks, no extreme risk protection orders, no local raise the age, no safe storage laws. Localities are just trying to save some lives.” Supporters moved final passage on the floor and the vote was recorded as announced.

The debate on the Senate floor included points about local control, the role of buybacks in broader strategies to reduce gun violence, and examples from cities that held buyback events. The bill advanced on final passage as printed on the chamber roll call.","The Senate passed House Bill 3053, relating to municipal and county firearm buyback programs, after floor debate in which several senators argued buybacks can reduce unwanted firearms and that the bill undermines local control; the Senate recorded final passage by the roll call announced on the floor.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6224726,"Senate passes House Bill 1106 on child abuse definitions after floor debate over LGBTQ youth protections",385,950000,1335000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3549423-e3142e9306397e67f3f656ee454a35a2&start=950&end=1335","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3549423-e3142e9306397e67f3f656ee454a35a2/thumbnail_950000.jpg","/articles/6224726/Texas/Senate-passes-House-Bill-1106-on-child-abuse-definitions-after-floor-debate-over-LGBTQ-youth-protections","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6224726-cbad7ae7df23650c9efcd78b2a246f22/orig.mp4?Expires=1770757638&Signature=ALjPmlBgawOU6A3kMkGSFT141pmLtrHV-UfZb4OsT6nqQlppi1kSbgfJIBKZi97xYFs7DAMD-bkJfM45T2tevnu0uYGA1l5bzQ3A1DdwkNGuFKvFMUkGYXwhrADpa~scYZbNmdLmxwNvQ9kU~imMI4zIdqo4RFVIXJkEb9Q4rzZuKPvolbHQtkhBTAm~rEJ3YxQyJbtk~amRgBGeCp027YSv5TcvZ5mMMJksA5UgO892unjuf724-YFOjTvQkK3sqzLWI6-7lsVDkbWXy0tjATLcWVwrO2YRstIMkvTbuy5zBFy4m3vpZDmlTlPWahUibEaa6pbELXuYkagIuRnWEg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Senate on May 20 passed House Bill 1106, relating to the definitions of child abuse and neglect, after a floor debate in which opponents said the measure could harm LGBTQ youth; the measure passed on final reading, 29 ayes and 11 nays, according to the senator-appointed roll call.

Senator Menendez spoke in opposition on the floor, saying the bill “doesn't promote the safe supportive environment that all children are entitled to” and urging colleagues to vote no. He warned the bill could remove protections for LGBTQ youth and said that excluding acknowledgment of a child's preferred pronouns or name from an abuse definition could cause “irreparable harm.”

“Members, where could this lead us to? I think it could lead us to more LGBTQ plus youth self harm and suicide,” Senator Menendez said on the floor, and he cited statistics he attributed to recent studies and advocacy groups. He read a passage he identified as from The Trevor Project: “LGBTQ young people are not inherently prone to suicide risk because of their ****** orientation or gender identity, but rather placed at a higher risk because of how they are mistreated and stigmatized in society.”

Senator Menendez also warned that the bill could open the door to conversion therapy, calling it “a dangerous and discredited” practice and saying some researchers consider it “a form of child abuse and human rights violation.” He described downstream harms including youth homelessness and increased vulnerability to exploitation.

Senator Cook responded on the floor, saying “no child in Texas has ever been removed, because their parents affirmed or or misgendered them,” and argued the bill’s language could make it harder for complaints from LGBTQ children to be considered. Senator Hall moved final passage before the roll call that recorded the 29–11 result.

The debate on the floor included extended remarks and statistical claims by opponents about suicide risk and the effect of anti‑transgender laws; those claims were attributed to senators during debate. The Senate’s action was a final passage vote on the captured House bill as announced on the chamber floor.

The measure will proceed according to the Legislature’s process for enrolled house bills after final passage on the Senate floor.","The Senate approved House Bill 1106, which revises definitions of child abuse and neglect, after floor debate in which Senator Menendez and others warned the measure could harm LGBTQ youth. The bill passed on final reading per the roll call printed on the floor.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Senate approves House Bill 229 on foreign collection of governmental biological information after brief privacy objection

Senator warns House Bill 521 could create government 'lists' as Senate approves accommodation measure for voters with disabilities

Senate approves House Bill 3053 restricting municipal and county firearm buyback programs after debate on local control

Senate passes House Bill 1106 on child abuse definitions after floor debate over LGBTQ youth protections