How this score is worked out
Seven kinds of act move this number, and they do not count equally. A recorded vote counts 3, and so does authoring a bill or signing an executive action; signing on to somebody else’s bill counts 2. A statement or a questionnaire answer counts 2 as well, and an organisational endorsement counts 1. A vote takes its direction from the bill, whose effect is set out in advance; the rest take it from our reading of what was said, and each one below shows that reading and the reason for it. Acts shown with no number were examined and deliberately left out of the arithmetic, with a reason given.
- 2025-08-19 Consumable hemp, second called session SB 6 — voted, counted as -2 at weight 3
- 2025-08-18 Consumable hemp, second called session SB 6 — voted, counted as -2 at weight 3
- 2025-08-15 Consumable hemp, second called session SB 6 — signed on, counted as -2 at weight 3
- 2025-08-01 Consumable hemp, first called session SB 5 — voted, counted as -2 at weight 3
- 2025-07-30 Consumable hemp, first called session SB 5 — signed on, counted as -2 at weight 2
- 2025-07-30 Consumable hemp, first called session SB 5 — voted, counted as -2 at weight 3
- 2025-05-27 Texas Compassionate-Use Program HB 46 — signed on, counted as +1 at weight 2
- 2025-05-25 Consumable hemp and hemp-derived cannabinoids SB 3 — voted, counted as -2 at weight 3
- 2025-03-19 Consumable hemp and hemp-derived cannabinoids SB 3 — voted, counted as -2 at weight 3
- 2019-05-22 Low-THC cannabis for more conditions HB 3703 — voted, counted as +1 at weight 0.9
- 2019-05-22 Low-THC cannabis for more conditions HB 3703 — signed on, counted as +1 at weight 0.6
Average on the −2 to +2 scale: -1.604. Full method and the bill table.
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Vote2019-05-15
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.
Why HB 1325 is not scored
Production and regulation of hemp — the 2019 bill that brought Texas into line with the federal hemp definition. It is an agricultural and licensing framework rather than an access measure, and it is read the same way as the other hemp-production bills here, so it is not scored. Its votes are still shown.
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Vote2019-05-15
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.
Why HB 1325 is not scored
Production and regulation of hemp — the 2019 bill that brought Texas into line with the federal hemp definition. It is an agricultural and licensing framework rather than an access measure, and it is read the same way as the other hemp-production bills here, so it is not scored. Its votes are still shown.
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Vote2019-05-15
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.
Why HB 1325 is not scored
Production and regulation of hemp — the 2019 bill that brought Texas into line with the federal hemp definition. It is an agricultural and licensing framework rather than an access measure, and it is read the same way as the other hemp-production bills here, so it is not scored. Its votes are still shown.
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Vote2019-05-22
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
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Coauthored2019-05-22
Was shown as a Senate co-sponsor of HB 3703, the 2019 expansion of the medical conditions qualifying for low-THC cannabis, on the motion of Senator Campbell printed in the Senate Journal.
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Vote2019-05-22
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.
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Vote2025-03-19
Recorded Yea on final Senate passage of CSSB 3, the intoxicating-hemp-THC ban, which carried 26 Yeas to 5 Nays.
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Vote2025-04-22
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.
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Vote2025-04-23
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.
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Vote2025-05-25
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.
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Coauthored2025-05-27
Shown as a cosponsor of HB 46, the Compassionate Use Program expansion, on the motion of Senator Perry.
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Vote2025-05-27
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.
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Vote2025-06-01
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.
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Coauthored2025-07-30
Signed on as a coauthor of SB 5 (891), regulating consumable hemp products and the hemp-derived cannabinoids in them, on 2025-07-30.
capitol.texas.gov, capitol.texas.gov, journals.senate.texas.gov
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Vote2025-07-30
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 Flores is resolved against the Texas Senate roster to this member, who holds Senate District 24.
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Vote2025-08-01
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.
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Authored2025-08-15
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.
capitol.texas.gov, capitol.texas.gov, journals.senate.texas.gov
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Vote2025-08-18
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.
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Vote2025-08-18
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.
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Vote2025-08-19
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.