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.
- 2026-10-17 statement — Her campaign tax platform proposes taxing legalized personal-use marijuana, which presupposes legal adult possession, counted as +2 at weight 2
- 2026-09-30 questionnaire — Answered "Strongly Support" on maintaining a legal, regulated hemp marketplace, wrote that she opposes any efforts to restrict the industry and completely opposes all-out prohibition, and called for a common-sense system of regulation and taxation instead, counted as +2 at weight 2
- 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 Defence to prosecution for possession SB 30 — signed on, counted as +1 at weight 3
- 2025-08-15 Regulate and tax cannabis SB 31 — 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 — voted, counted as +2 at weight 3
- 2025-06-01 Texas Compassionate-Use Program HB 46 — voted, counted as +1 at weight 3
- 2025-05-27 Texas Compassionate-Use Program HB 46 — voted, counted as +1 at weight 3
- 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
- 2025-03-19 statement — A filed explanation of a Nay on the hemp-THC ban, objecting that it criminalises lawful non-intoxicating hemp and restricts adult access, counted as +2 at weight 2
- 2024-11-13 Defence to prosecution for possession SB 334 — signed on, counted as +1 at weight 3
- 2024-11-13 Regulate and tax cannabis SB 335 — signed on, counted as +2 at weight 3
- 2023-11-08 Defence to prosecution for possession SB 30 — signed on, counted as +1 at weight 1.8
- 2023-02-24 Defence to prosecution for possession SB 1183 — signed on, counted as +1 at weight 1.8
- 2022-11-14 Regulate and tax cannabis SB 209 — signed on, counted as +2 at weight 1.8
- 2022-11-14 Constitutional amendment directing the legislature to authorize and regulate cannabis SJR 22 — signed on, counted as +2 at weight 1.8
- 2021-05-25 Low-THC cannabis for more conditions HB 1535 — voted, counted as +1 at weight 1.8
- 2021-05-25 Low-THC cannabis for more conditions HB 1535 — signed on, counted as +1 at weight 1.2
- 2021-05-24 Defence to prosecution for small amounts HB 1694 — voted, counted as +1 at weight 1.8
- 2021-05-24 Defence to prosecution for small amounts HB 1694 — signed on, counted as +1 at weight 1.2
- 2021-05-21 Penalties for tetrahydrocannabinols HB 2593 — voted, counted as +2 at weight 1.8
- 2021-05-21 Penalties for tetrahydrocannabinols HB 2593 — voted, counted as +2 at weight 1.8
- 2021-03-25 Medical cannabis for debilitating conditions SB 2040 — signed on, counted as +1 at weight 1.2
- 2021-03-25 Medical cannabis for debilitating conditions SB 90 — signed on, counted as +1 at weight 1.2
- 2021-03-23 Penalties for possession SB 1175 — signed on, counted as +2 at weight 1.2
- 2021-03-23 Penalties for marihuana concentrate SB 151 — signed on, counted as +2 at weight 1.2
- 2021-03-23 Low-THC cannabis for post-traumatic stress disorder SB 327 — signed on, counted as +1 at weight 1.2
- 2021-03-10 Regulate and tax cannabis SB 1345 — signed on, counted as +2 at weight 1.8
- 2021-02-10 Penalties for delivery SB 652 — signed on, counted as +2 at weight 1.8
- 2020-11-12 Constitutional amendment to authorize and regulate cannabis (Senate companion) SJR 16 — signed on, counted as +2 at weight 1.8
Average on the −2 to +2 scale: 1.641. Full method and the bill table.
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Authored2020-11-12
Filed SJR 16 as author, captioned "Proposing a constitutional amendment to authorize and regulate the possession, cultivation, and sale of cannabis."
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Authored2021-02-10
Filed SB 652 as author, captioned "Relating to the criminal penalties for delivery and possession of marihuana and citations given for those offenses."
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Authored2021-03-10
Filed SB 1345 as author, captioned "Relating to the regulation of the cultivation, manufacture, processing, distribution, sale, testing, transportation, delivery, transfer, possession, and use of cannabis and cannabis products; authorizing the imposition of fees ..."
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Coauthored2021-03-23
Signed on as a coauthor of SB 1175 (87R), reducing the criminal and licensing consequences of marihuana and paraphernalia possession, on 2021-03-23.
capitol.texas.gov, capitol.texas.gov, journals.senate.texas.gov
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Coauthored2021-03-23
Signed on as a coauthor of SB 151 (87R), reducing the criminal penalties for possession or delivery of marihuana and marihuana concentrate, on 2021-03-23.
capitol.texas.gov, capitol.texas.gov, journals.senate.texas.gov
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Coauthored2021-03-23
Signed on as a coauthor of SB 327 (87R), the medical use of low-THC cannabis by patients with post-traumatic stress disorder, on 2021-03-23.
capitol.texas.gov, capitol.texas.gov, journals.senate.texas.gov
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Coauthored2021-03-25
Signed on as a coauthor of SB 2040 (87R), authorizing the possession, use, cultivation, sale and research of medical cannabis for patients with certain conditions, on 2021-03-25.
capitol.texas.gov, capitol.texas.gov, journals.senate.texas.gov
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Coauthored2021-03-25
Signed on as a coauthor of SB 90 (87R), authorizing the possession, use, cultivation, distribution and delivery of medical cannabis for qualifying patients, on 2021-03-25.
capitol.texas.gov, capitol.texas.gov, journals.senate.texas.gov
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Vote2021-05-21
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.
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Vote2021-05-21
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.
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Vote2021-05-21
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.
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Vote2021-05-21
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.
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Vote2021-05-24
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.
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Coauthored2021-05-24
Was shown as the Senate co-sponsor of HB 1694, creating a defence to prosecution for small-amount possession when a person seeks emergency help for an overdose, on the motion of Senator Schwertner printed in the Senate Journal.
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Vote2021-05-24
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.
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Vote2021-05-25
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.
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Coauthored2021-05-25
Was shown as a Senate co-sponsor of HB 1535, the 2021 Compassionate-Use Program expansion, on the motion of Senator Schwertner printed in the Senate Journal.
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Vote2021-05-25
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.
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Vote2021-05-26
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.
Why HB 3948 is not scored
Hemp and consumable hemp production and regulation. Read as an industry framework rather than an access measure; the direction is arguable, so it is not scored.
journals.senate.texas.gov, journals.senate.texas.gov, capitol.texas.gov
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Vote2021-05-26
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.
Why HB 3948 is not scored
Hemp and consumable hemp production and regulation. Read as an industry framework rather than an access measure; the direction is arguable, so it is not scored.
journals.senate.texas.gov, journals.senate.texas.gov, capitol.texas.gov
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Vote2021-05-26
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.
Why HB 3948 is not scored
Hemp and consumable hemp production and regulation. Read as an industry framework rather than an access measure; the direction is arguable, so it is not scored.
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Authored2022-11-14
Filed SB 209 as author, captioned "Relating to regulating the cultivation, manufacture, processing, distribution, sale, testing, transportation, delivery, transfer, possession, and use of cannabis and cannabis products; authorizing the imposition of fees ..."
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Authored2022-11-14
Filed SJR 22 (88R) as its primary author on 2022-11-14, a constitutional amendment directing the legislature to authorize and regulate the possession, cultivation and sale of cannabis.
capitol.texas.gov, capitol.texas.gov, journals.senate.texas.gov
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Authored2023-02-24
Filed SB 1183 as author, captioned "Relating to the defense to prosecution for certain offenses involving possession of small amounts of controlled substances, marihuana, dangerous drugs, or abusable volatile chemicals ..."
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Authored2023-11-08
Filed SB 30 as author, captioned "Relating to the defense to prosecution for certain offenses involving possession of small amounts of controlled substances, marihuana, dangerous drugs, or abusable volatile chemicals ..."
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Authored2024-11-13
Filed SB 334 as author, captioned "Relating to the defense to prosecution for certain offenses involving possession of small amounts of controlled substances, marihuana, dangerous drugs, or abusable volatile chemicals ..."
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Authored2024-11-13
Filed SB 335 as author, captioned "Relating to regulating the cultivation, manufacture, processing, distribution, sale, testing, transportation, delivery, transfer, possession, and use of cannabis and cannabis products."
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Vote2025-03-19
Recorded Nay on final passage of CSSB 3 on third reading, the intoxicating-hemp-THC ban, which carried 26 Yeas to 5 Nays.
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Said2025-03-19
Filed a joint reason for vote with three other senators, printed in the Senate Journal, explaining their Nay votes on Senate Bill 3: "We appreciate the intent of Senate Bill (SB) 3 to regulate the consumable hemp market, especially in preventing the sale of intoxicating THC products to minors and ensuring consumer safety through proper labeling and packaging requirements." They continued: "We ultimately voted against SB 3, however, because its overly broad restrictions harm Texas businesses, unnecessarily criminalize legal hemp products, and limit access for adults who rely on nonintoxicating hemp for medical relief."
They added that by raising the purchasing age to 21 "the bill prohibits young adults—including veterans under 21—from purchasing CBD products that help manage pain, anxiety, and PTSD symptoms", and concluded: "Had the bill focused solely on intoxicating THC products while preserving access to other safe, regulated hemp strains, we could have supported it."
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Vote2025-04-22
Texas Senate: recorded Nay, and named in the printed Nays 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 Nay, and named in the printed Nays 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 Nay on the motion to concur in the House amendments to SB 3, the intoxicating-hemp-THC ban, which carried 25 Yeas to 6 Nays. They are named in the printed Nays roll in the Senate Journal for that day.
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Vote2025-05-27
The Texas 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.
⚠️The deduction rests on two facts: the Senate has 31 seats, so a tally of 31 Yeas means every seat was filled and every member voted Yea; and this senator is named in other recorded votes printed in the same day’s journal, which establishes they were serving and present that day.
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Vote2025-06-01
The Texas 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.
⚠️The deduction rests on two facts: the Senate has 31 seats, so a tally of 31 Yeas means every seat was filled and every member voted Yea; and this senator is named in other recorded votes printed in the same day’s journal, which establishes they were serving and present that day.
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Vote2025-07-30
Recorded Nay 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 Eckhardt is resolved against the Texas Senate roster to this member, who holds Senate District 14.
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Vote2025-08-01
Recorded Nay on third-reading passage of SB 5 of the first called session, the successor hemp-cannabinoid restriction bill, which carried 21 Yeas to 8 Nays. They are named in the printed Nays roll in the Senate Journal for that day.
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Authored2025-08-15
Filed SB 30 as author, captioned "Relating to the regulation of products derived from hemp, including consumable hemp products and hemp beverages and the hemp-derived cannabinoids contained in those products; requiring occupational licenses and permits; imposing fees ..."
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Authored2025-08-15
Filed SB 31 as author, captioned "Relating to the regulation of the cultivation, manufacture, processing, distribution, sale, testing, transportation, delivery, transfer, possession, use ..."
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Vote2025-08-18
Texas Senate: recorded Nay, and named in the printed Nays 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 Nay, and named in the printed Nays 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 Nay 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. They are named in the printed Nays roll in the Senate Journal for that day.
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Questionnaire2026-09-30
Said Texas should "get over the foolish insistence on prohibition" and move to a common-sense system of regulation and taxation, in the Texas Hemp Business Council’s 2026 candidate questionnaire. The council is a hemp industry trade association; it put twenty questions to 223 candidates for the Texas Legislature and statewide office and publishes the answers it receives in full, without editing. These are the candidate’s own words, submitted by the candidate.
Asked about the future of hemp in Texas, the answer was, in full: "The hemp industry accounts for $5.5B in annual direct sales and $10.3B in total economic impact in Texas. This is a service that Texans overwhelmingly support. I oppose any efforts to restrict this industry and the availability of these products to adult Texans who exercise their right to use and legal and safe manner. The challenge for Texas is get over the foolish insistence on prohibition and work on a common sense system of regulation and taxation that promotes this industry responsibly and creates a stream of revenue to fund government services that serve the people of Texas."
Asked who should be permitted to sell THC, to whom, at what dose, in what form and subject to what safeguards: "The state needs to set a clear and transparent baseline with industry input that is easy to follow and easy to enforce." On the questionnaire’s fixed-choice questions: on maintaining a legal, regulated hemp marketplace, "Strongly Support"; on whether regulation is preferable to prohibition where a product can be made and sold safely, "Yes"; on hemp agriculture, "Strongly Support"; on retail regulation, "Reasonable statewide licensing/registration"; on tax policy, "Yes"; on consumer choice, "Yes".
The council lists her office as "Texas Senate" and her district as "SD-14", the seat she currently holds; the race she is on the 2026 general-election ballot for is Comptroller of Public Accounts, and this record is filed there. The date is the date the council recorded the submission, in Central time.
texashempbusinesscouncil.com, texashempbusinesscouncil.com, texashempbusinesscouncil.com, texashempbusinesscouncil.com
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Said2026-10-17
Her campaign site's Issues page, under Tax Policy, says "the state can update alcohol and tobacco product tax rates, and include legalized personal use marijuana among taxable tobacco products." The same page lists, under Justice and Public Safety, her Senate Joint Resolution 22, "SJR 22 Legal Cannabis - allow public to vote on regulating the possession, cultivation and sale of cannabis." (her filing of that resolution is already on this card).
⚠️The page carries no date and the Internet Archive returned no capture of it, so 2026-10-17 is the date it was read by us, not a publication date.