Charles Schwertner Republican

Texas Senate: recorded Yea, and named in the printed Yeas roll, on third-reading passage of CSSB 339, the bill that created the Texas Compassionate-Use Program for low-THC cannabis, which carried 26 Yeas to 5 Nays. The Senate had passed the bill to engrossment earlier the same day by a viva voce vote in which every member was deemed to have voted Yea except five named Nays.

journals.senate.texas.gov, capitol.texas.gov

Texas Senate: recorded Yea, and named in the printed Yeas roll, on the motion to suspend Senate Rule 7.18 and the constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several days, so that CSSB 339 could be placed on its third reading and final passage the same day; CSSB 339 is the bill that created the Texas Compassionate-Use Program for low-THC cannabis. The motion, made by Senator Eltife, prevailed 26 Yeas to 5 Nays.

This is a procedural vote; the third-reading passage that followed it is listed separately.

WeedVoter’s note — shown here, but not counted in the score: This site does not score procedural motions, such as suspending a rule, postponing, recommitting or reconsidering, because such a motion decides how a bill is handled rather than what it does, and its scoring rules read this record as one.

journals.senate.texas.gov

Texas Senate: recorded Yea on the passage of CSHB 1325 to third reading, the 2019 bill on the production and regulation of hemp that brought Texas into line with the federal hemp definition and created the state's licensed hemp programme. The Senate Journal prints: "CSHB 1325 as amended was passed to third reading by a viva voce vote. All Members are deemed to have voted "Yea" on the passage to third reading."

⚠️The journal prints only the tally for this vote and no name-by-name roll. The Texas Senate has 31 members, the journal's opening roll for 15 May 2019 names 31 senators present, and the yeas equal that number, so every senator present is recorded as voting Yea. This attribution is deduced from the size of the chamber and the day's presence roll, not read off a printed list of names.

WeedVoter’s note — shown here, but not counted in the score: This site deliberately does not score HB 1325 (86th Legislature), so a record on it moves no number.

journals.senate.texas.gov, capitol.texas.gov

Texas Senate: recorded Yea on the third reading and final passage of CSHB 1325, the 2019 bill on the production and regulation of hemp, which carried 31 Yeas to 0 Nays. The Senate Journal prints: "The bill was read third time and was passed by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0."

⚠️The journal prints only the tally for this vote and no name-by-name roll. The Texas Senate has 31 members, the journal's opening roll for 15 May 2019 names 31 senators present, and the yeas equal that number, so every senator present is recorded as voting Yea. This attribution is deduced from the size of the chamber and the day's presence roll, not read off a printed list of names.

WeedVoter’s note — shown here, but not counted in the score: This site deliberately does not score HB 1325 (86th Legislature), so a record on it moves no number.

journals.senate.texas.gov, capitol.texas.gov

Texas Senate: recorded Yea on the motion to suspend Senate Rule 7.18 and the constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several days, so that CSHB 1325 could be placed on its third reading and final passage the same day; CSHB 1325 is the 2019 bill on the production and regulation of hemp. The motion, made by Senator Perry, prevailed 31 Yeas to 0 Nays. This is a procedural vote; the third-reading passage that followed it is listed separately.

⚠️The journal prints only the tally for this vote. The Texas Senate has 31 members and the Yeas number 31, so every senator is recorded as voting Yea. This attribution is deduced from the size of the chamber, not read off a printed list of names.

WeedVoter’s note — shown here, but not counted in the score: This site deliberately does not score HB 1325 (86th Legislature), so a record on it moves no number.

journals.senate.texas.gov

Texas Senate: recorded Yea on the third-reading passage of CSHB 3703, widening the medical conditions for which low-THC cannabis may be prescribed under the Compassionate-Use Program, which carried 31 Yeas to 0 Nays.

⚠️The journal prints only the tally for this vote. The Senate has 31 members, the journal's roll for the day names the senators present, and the yeas equal that number, so every senator present is recorded as voting Yea.

journals.senate.texas.gov, journals.senate.texas.gov, capitol.texas.gov

Texas Senate: recorded Yea on the motion to suspend Senate Rule 7.18 and the constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several days, so that CSHB 3703 could be placed on its third reading and final passage the same day; CSHB 3703 is the 2019 bill widening the medical conditions for which low-THC cannabis may be prescribed under the Compassionate-Use Program. The motion, made by Senator Campbell, prevailed 31 Yeas to 0 Nays.

This is a procedural vote; the third-reading passage that followed it is listed separately.

⚠️The journal prints only the tally for this vote. The Texas Senate has 31 members and the Yeas number 31, so every senator is recorded as voting Yea. This attribution is deduced from the size of the chamber, not read off a printed list of names.

WeedVoter’s note — shown here, but not counted in the score: This site does not score procedural motions, such as suspending a rule, postponing, recommitting or reconsidering, because such a motion decides how a bill is handled rather than what it does, and its scoring rules read this record as one.

journals.senate.texas.gov

Filed SB 811 (87R) as its primary author on 2021-02-25, creating a defence to prosecution for possessing a small amount when a person seeks emergency help for an overdose.

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Texas Senate: recorded Yea, and named in the printed Yeas roll, on final passage of HB 2593 as amended, moving possession of tetrahydrocannabinols into a new penalty group whose lowest tiers are misdemeanors, out of one where any amount is a felony. The Journal records the vote as 24 Yeas, 7 Nays.

journals.senate.texas.gov, capitol.texas.gov

Texas Senate: recorded Yea, and named in the printed Yeas roll, on the motion to suspend the regular order of business to take up HB 2593 on its second reading; HB 2593 is the 2021 bill moving possession of tetrahydrocannabinols into a new penalty group whose lowest tiers are misdemeanors, out of one where any amount is a felony. The motion, made by Senator Johnson, prevailed 24 Yeas to 7 Nays. This is the procedural vote that brought the bill up; the passage to third reading that followed it, and the final passage, are listed separately.

WeedVoter’s note — shown here, but not counted in the score: This site does not score procedural motions, such as suspending a rule, postponing, recommitting or reconsidering, because such a motion decides how a bill is handled rather than what it does, and its scoring rules read this record as one.

journals.senate.texas.gov

Texas Senate: recorded Yea on the passage of HB 2593 to third reading on its second reading, the 2021 bill moving possession of tetrahydrocannabinols into a new penalty group whose lowest tiers are misdemeanors, out of one where any amount is a felony, which carried 24 Yeas to 7 Nays. The Senate Journal records this vote as the same as the previous roll call, the one taken moments earlier to bring the bill up, in which this member is named in the printed Yeas roll.

Final passage the same day is listed separately.

journals.senate.texas.gov

Texas Senate: recorded Yea, and named in the printed Yeas roll, on the motion to suspend Senate Rule 7.18 and the constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several days, so that HB 2593 could be placed on its third reading and final passage the same day; HB 2593 is the 2021 bill moving possession of tetrahydrocannabinols into a new penalty group whose lowest tiers are misdemeanors, out of one where any amount is a felony.

The motion, made by Senator Johnson, prevailed 25 Yeas to 6 Nays. This is a procedural vote; the third-reading passage that followed it is listed separately.

WeedVoter’s note — shown here, but not counted in the score: This site does not score procedural motions, such as suspending a rule, postponing, recommitting or reconsidering, because such a motion decides how a bill is handled rather than what it does, and its scoring rules read this record as one.

journals.senate.texas.gov

Texas Senate: recorded Yea on the third-reading passage of HB 1694, creating a defence to prosecution for small-amount possession when a person seeks emergency help for an overdose, which carried 30 Yeas to 0 Nays, with one member absent-excused.

⚠️The journal prints only the tally for this vote. The Senate has 31 members, the journal's roll for the day names the senators present, and the yeas equal that number, so every senator present is recorded as voting Yea.

journals.senate.texas.gov, capitol.texas.gov

Sponsored HB 1694 in the Texas Senate, creating a defence to prosecution for small-amount possession when a person seeks emergency help for an overdose, and moved its third reading and final passage, which carried 30 Yeas to 0 Nays.

journals.senate.texas.gov, capitol.texas.gov

Texas Senate: recorded Yea on the motion to suspend Senate Rule 7.18 and the constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several days, so that HB 1694 could be placed on its third reading and final passage the same day; HB 1694 is the 2021 bill creating a defence to prosecution for small-amount possession when a person seeks emergency help for an overdose. The motion, made by Senator Schwertner, prevailed 30 Yeas to 0 Nays, with Senator Creighton absent-excused.

This is a procedural vote; the third-reading passage that followed it is listed separately.

⚠️The journal prints no list of Yeas for this vote; it names only the absent member. The Texas Senate has 31 members, and 30 Yeas, 0 Nays and the one named absence account for all of them, so every senator other than the absent member is recorded as voting Yea. This attribution is deduced from the size of the chamber and the named absence, not read off a printed list of names.

WeedVoter’s note — shown here, but not counted in the score: This site does not score procedural motions, such as suspending a rule, postponing, recommitting or reconsidering, because such a motion decides how a bill is handled rather than what it does, and its scoring rules read this record as one.

journals.senate.texas.gov

Texas Senate: recorded Yea on the third-reading passage of CSHB 1535, widening the medical conditions qualifying for low-THC cannabis under the Compassionate-Use Program, which carried 31 Yeas to 0 Nays.

⚠️The journal prints only the tally for this vote. The Senate has 31 members, the journal's roll for the day names the senators present, and the yeas equal that number, so every senator present is recorded as voting Yea.

journals.senate.texas.gov, capitol.texas.gov

Sponsored HB 1535 in the Texas Senate, the 2021 Compassionate-Use Program expansion, and moved its third reading and final passage, which carried 31 Yeas to 0 Nays.

journals.senate.texas.gov, capitol.texas.gov

Texas Senate: recorded Yea on the motion to suspend Senate Rule 7.18 and the constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several days, so that CSHB 1535 could be placed on its third reading and final passage the same day; CSHB 1535 is the 2021 bill widening the medical conditions qualifying for low-THC cannabis under the Compassionate-Use Program. The motion, made by Senator Schwertner, prevailed 31 Yeas to 0 Nays.

This is a procedural vote; the third-reading passage that followed it is listed separately.

⚠️The journal prints only the tally for this vote. The Texas Senate has 31 members and the Yeas number 31, so every senator is recorded as voting Yea. This attribution is deduced from the size of the chamber, not read off a printed list of names.

WeedVoter’s note — shown here, but not counted in the score: This site does not score procedural motions, such as suspending a rule, postponing, recommitting or reconsidering, because such a motion decides how a bill is handled rather than what it does, and its scoring rules read this record as one.

journals.senate.texas.gov

Texas Senate: recorded Yea on the passage of CSHB 3948 to third reading, on the production and regulation of hemp and consumable hemp products. The Senate Journal prints: "CSHB 3948 as amended was passed to third reading by a viva voce vote. All Members are deemed to have voted "Yea" on the passage to third reading except as follows: Nays: Johnson."

⚠️The journal prints no list of yeas for this vote; it names only the single dissenter. The Texas Senate has 31 members, all 31 are recorded voting on the suspension motion taken immediately before, and the tally accounts for all 31, so every senator other than the named Nay is recorded as voting Yea. This attribution is deduced from the size of the chamber and the named exception, not read off a printed list of names.

WeedVoter’s note — shown here, but not counted in the score: This site deliberately does not score HB 3948 (87th Legislature), so a record on it moves no number.

journals.senate.texas.gov, journals.senate.texas.gov, capitol.texas.gov

Texas Senate: recorded Yea on the third reading and final passage of CSHB 3948, on the production and regulation of hemp and consumable hemp products, which carried 30 Yeas to 1 Nay. The Senate Journal prints: "The bill was read third time and was passed by the following vote: Yeas 30, Nays 1. Nays: Johnson."

⚠️The journal prints no list of yeas for this vote; it names only the single dissenter. The Texas Senate has 31 members, all 31 are recorded voting on the suspension motion taken immediately before, and the tally accounts for all 31, so every senator other than the named Nay is recorded as voting Yea. This attribution is deduced from the size of the chamber and the named exception, not read off a printed list of names.

WeedVoter’s note — shown here, but not counted in the score: This site deliberately does not score HB 3948 (87th Legislature), so a record on it moves no number.

journals.senate.texas.gov, journals.senate.texas.gov, capitol.texas.gov

Texas Senate: recorded Yea on the motion to suspend Senate Rule 7.18 and the constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several days, so that CSHB 3948 could be placed on its third reading and final passage the same day; CSHB 3948 is the 2021 bill on the production and regulation of hemp and consumable hemp products. The motion, made by Senator Perry, prevailed 31 Yeas to 0 Nays. This is a procedural vote; the third-reading passage that followed it is listed separately.

⚠️The journal prints only the tally for this vote. The Texas Senate has 31 members and the Yeas number 31, so every senator is recorded as voting Yea. This attribution is deduced from the size of the chamber, not read off a printed list of names.

WeedVoter’s note — shown here, but not counted in the score: This site deliberately does not score HB 3948 (87th Legislature), so a record on it moves no number.

journals.senate.texas.gov

As Chair of the Senate Committee on Business & Commerce, asked the Attorney General for a formal opinion on the operation of the Compassionate-Use Program. The opinion that answered him, KP-0469 of 3 July 2024, states that it was asked whether low-THC cannabis inventory may be transported between department-approved locations "by a licensed dispensing organization before a prescription is issued and filled under the Compassionate-Use Act", and records his request letter as dated 15 December 2023.

The answer was that nothing in the Act or its regulations prohibits it. Identity: the opinion is addressed to the Honorable Charles Schwertner as Chair of the Senate Committee on Business & Commerce, Texas State Senate, and opens "Dear Senator Schwertner".

WeedVoter’s note — shown here, but deliberately left out of the score: Shown, not scored. Asking the Attorney General what existing law already permits takes no position on whether the law should permit more or less, and this site does not read a motive into a request for an opinion. It is printed because it is a documented action about the medical programme. Had he instead voted to widen the programme it would have scored +1 on the medical-access scale, below the +2 reserved for adult-use legalisation — the same narrower-measure-scores-lower step the project takes between the MORE Act and SAFE Banking.

texasattorneygeneral.gov

Signed on as a coauthor of SB 3, the bill restricting consumable hemp products and hemp-derived cannabinoids.

capitol.texas.gov, journals.senate.texas.gov

Recorded Yea on final Senate passage of CSSB 3, the intoxicating-hemp-THC ban, which carried 26 Yeas to 5 Nays.

journals.senate.texas.gov

Texas Senate: recorded Yea, and named in the printed Yeas roll, on passage to engrossment on second reading of CSSB 1870, which would bar a city or county from placing on the ballot any measure — including a charter amendment — directing that state drug or consumable hemp laws not be fully enforced, and from adopting a non-enforcement policy, with civil penalties of $25,000 for a first violation. The Journal records the vote as 23 Yeas, 8 Nays.

WeedVoter’s note — shown here, but not counted in the score: This site does not score floor amendments, because an amendment can point the opposite way to the bill it changes, and its scoring rules read this record as concerning one.

journals.senate.texas.gov, capitol.texas.gov

Texas Senate: recorded Yea, and named in the printed Yeas roll, on third-reading passage of CSSB 1870, which would bar a city or county from placing on the ballot any measure — including a charter amendment — directing that state drug or consumable hemp laws not be fully enforced, and from adopting a non-enforcement policy, with civil penalties of $25,000 for a first violation. The Journal records the vote as 23 Yeas, 8 Nays.

WeedVoter’s note — shown here, but not counted in the score: This site does not score floor amendments, because an amendment can point the opposite way to the bill it changes, and its scoring rules read this record as concerning one.

journals.senate.texas.gov, capitol.texas.gov

Recorded Yea on the motion to concur in the House amendments to SB 3, the intoxicating-hemp-THC ban, which carried 25 Yeas to 6 Nays.

journals.senate.texas.gov

The Senate passed CSHB 46, the Compassionate Use Program expansion, on third reading by 31 Yeas to 0 Nays. The journal records the totals only and prints no individual names for this vote, so it is recorded here as a unanimous act of the chamber rather than as a named vote.

WeedVoter’s note — shown here, but not counted in the score: This site scores a vote only when its record states the member’s own Yea or Nay in a form its scoring rules read, and this record does not. A vote the journal prints only as a chamber total, with no names, is the usual case.

journals.senate.texas.gov

The Senate adopted the conference committee report on HB 46, the Compassionate Use Program expansion, by 31 Yeas to 0 Nays. The journal records the totals only and prints no individual names for this vote, so it is recorded here as a unanimous act of the chamber rather than as a named vote.

WeedVoter’s note — shown here, but not counted in the score: This site scores a vote only when its record states the member’s own Yea or Nay in a form its scoring rules read, and this record does not. A vote the journal prints only as a chamber total, with no names, is the usual case.

journals.senate.texas.gov

Recorded Yea on passage of SB 5 to engrossment on its second reading in the Texas Senate on 2025-07-30, in the first called session of the 89th Legislature. SB 5 is captioned "Relating to the regulation of certain products derived from hemp, including consumable hemp products and the hemp-derived cannabinoids contained in those products; requiring occupational licenses and registrations; imposing fees; creating criminal offenses; authorizing an administrative penalty."

The Senate Journal prints the whole roll: "SB 5 as amended was passed to engrossment by the following vote: Yeas 21, Nays 8. Yeas: Bettencourt, Birdwell, Blanco, Campbell, Creighton, Flores, Hall, A. Hinojosa, J. Hinojosa, Huffman, Hughes, King, Kolkhorst, Middleton, Nichols, Parker, Paxton, Perry, Schwertner, Sparks, West. Nays: Alvarado, Cook, Eckhardt, Gutierrez, Johnson, Menéndez, Miles, Zaffirini. Absent-excused: Hagenbuch."

The printed surname Schwertner is resolved against the Texas Senate roster to this member, who holds Senate District 5.

journals.senate.texas.gov, capitol.texas.gov

Recorded Yea on third-reading passage of SB 5 of the first called session, limiting consumable hemp products to CBD and CBG, which carried 21 Yeas to 8 Nays.

journals.senate.texas.gov

Filed SB 6 (892) as one of its primary authors on 2025-08-15, regulating consumable hemp products and the hemp-derived cannabinoids in them.

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Texas Senate: recorded Yea, and named in the printed Yeas roll, on passage to engrossment of SB 6 on second reading, the second called session’s bill regulating consumable hemp products and the hemp-derived cannabinoids in them. The Journal records the vote as 22 Yeas, 8 Nays.

journals.senate.texas.gov, capitol.texas.gov

Texas Senate: recorded Yea, and named in the printed Yeas roll, on the motion to suspend the regular order of business to take up SB 6 of the second called session on its second reading, the bill regulating consumable hemp products and the hemp-derived cannabinoids in them. The motion prevailed 22 Yeas to 8 Nays. This is the procedural vote that brought the bill up; the Journal records the passage to engrossment that followed as "Same as previous roll call", and that vote is listed separately.

WeedVoter’s note — shown here, but not counted in the score: This site does not score procedural motions, such as suspending a rule, postponing, recommitting or reconsidering, because such a motion decides how a bill is handled rather than what it does, and its scoring rules read this record as one.

journals.senate.texas.gov

Recorded Yea on third-reading passage of SB 6 of the second called session, the successor hemp-cannabinoid restriction bill, which carried 22 Yeas to 8 Nays.

journals.senate.texas.gov