Press Items: Senator Judith Zaffirini — District 21

Austin, TX – True to her tradition, Dean Senator Judith Zaffirini Monday (Nov. 9) was first in line to pre-file 67 Senate bills (SB) and 3 Senate Joint Resolutions (SJR) for the 90th Texas Legislature that convenes on Tuesday, Jan. 12.

The total is nearly double the 34 Senate bills she pre-filed for the 2025 session. Re-elected by 38 percentage points (69-31 percent) on Nov. 3, she begins her second session as the first woman Dean of the Texas Senate.

Her top priorities include expanding access to health care, protecting electricity customers and water resources from the impacts of data center development and increasing access to early childhood and higher education.

The first bills she filed (for the 4th time), SB 31 and SJR 6, would expand Medicaid eligibility under the federal Affordable Care Act, providing more Texans access to affordable health care and bringing the State an estimated $6 billion in federal matching funds.

To address the growing impact of data centers, SB 32 would require the Public Utility Commission of Texas to coordinate with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality to establish a statewide permit for the construction of large data centers.

SB 33 would establish a separate transmission rate class for large computational loads, including qualifying data centers, ensuring the costs of serving these facilities are borne by those customers rather than shifted to residential customers.

SB 34 would authorize counties to regulate the development of data centers and other qualifying large electricity users. Counties could set requirements for water use and buffer zones, review projected electricity use and require permits and impact studies.

SB 35 would require the Electric Reliability Council of Texas to share pertinent large-load interconnection information with the Texas Water Development Board. This coordination would help water planners anticipate demand associated with energy-intensive development and incorporate that information into the State Water Plan.

SB 36 would revise eligibility for data center tax incentives by prohibiting companies from receiving certain state sales tax exemptions and local tax abatements or incentives for the same qualifying facilities.

“Families should not have to pay higher electric bills to subsidize data centers,” she said. “We must ensure these large users pay their share, protect our water resources and use tax incentives responsibly. Equally important, they should be built only in communities in which they are wanted—and not where they are not.”

Reflecting her longstanding commitment to education, SB 37 would provide free, full-day prekindergarten for 4-year-olds and eligible 3-year-olds. Relatedly, SB 39 would establish the Texas Promise Grants to cover tuition for qualifying students at public colleges and universities.

On another related note, SB 38, modeled after the B-on-Time Student Loan Program, would offer zero-interest student loans that would be forgiven for students who earned their degrees timely with at least a 3.0 GPA.

Other education and disability-related measures include SB 91, which would extend the retention of special education classroom recordings from 3 to 12 months; and SB 92, which would improve information provided to families about services for children with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

“Like health care, education is a right, not a privilege,” Dean Senator Zaffirini said. “What’s more, early childhood education is the best predictor of success in higher education. We must help students succeed from their earliest years through college and ensure families can access the services their children need.”

Several of her measures would strengthen protections for survivors of family violence. SB 47 would help prevent abusers from using civil litigation to continue harassment; SB 48 would authorize unpaid leave for survivors or employees whose dependents are victims; and SB 52 would authorize courts to prohibit alleged offenders from remotely controlling devices affecting a victim’s home, vehicle or personal property.

Consumer protection proposals include SB 42, which would require online ticket sellers to display the complete ticket price, including service charges; SB 41, which would prohibit algorithm-based personalized pricing for foods eligible for purchase through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program; and SB 50, which would cap credit card interchange fees.

Dean Senator Zaffirini also pre-filed the following bills:

• SB 80, raising the minimum age to purchase certain semiautomatic rifles from 18 to 21.
• SB 45, extending Hazlewood tuition and fee exemptions to eligible siblings of military personnel killed in action who have no surviving spouse or children.
• SB 51, authorizing enhanced death benefits for surviving families of peace officers killed in the line of duty.
• SB 61, requiring home purchase contracts for properties in colonias to be available in Spanish upon a buyer’s request.
• SB 57, establishing a Texas State Seal of Bilingualism and Biliteracy to recognize public high school students proficient in two languages.
• SB 95, prohibiting invasive visual recording in lactation rooms.
• SB 44, restricting courtroom videography during jury selection and certain proceedings involving children or victims of sexual or violent offenses.
• SB 60, clarifying jury sentencing instructions in capital cases.
• SB 59, requiring reports of abandoned or deteriorated water wells identified during on-site sewage disposal system inspections.
• SB 40, establishing two sales tax holidays for college textbooks purchased by students who meet financial need requirements.
• SB 79 and SJR 8, establishing a Texas Redistricting Commission to draw Congressional and state legislative districts.
• SB 46, requiring disclosures in political advertisements that use altered media or artificial intelligence.
• SB 77, improving public access to electronic government records.
• SB 43, requiring qualifying state agencies to broadcast open meetings.
• SB 85, clarifying access to funding for platting costs associated with water and wastewater services in Webb County colonias.

Dean Senator Zaffirini has passed 1,524 bills, more than any other legislator in Texas history. Demonstrating her bipartisan effectiveness, she has been the highest bill-passing legislator in the Republican-dominated Texas Legislature for six consecutive sessions.

“This diverse legislative agenda reflects both the needs of our constituents and the enormous potential of our state,” Dean Senator Zaffirini said. “I look forward to working with my legislative colleagues to address pressing challenges and build a safer, more prosperous and more equitable Texas.”

Constituents are encouraged to share legislative suggestions and feedback by calling 512/463-0121.

Dean Senator Judith Zaffirini, D-Laredo, pre-filed 67 Senate bills and 3 Senate Joint Resolutions Monday (Nov. 9) for the legislative session that convenes Jan. 12. This is the largest number of bills she has ever pre-filed for a session. Because she and her staff were first in line, and numbers 1-30 are reserved for the lieutenant governor’s priority legislation, hers are Senate bills 31-97.

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