Texas Senate, District 24

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.

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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.

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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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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

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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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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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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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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Shown as a cosponsor of HB 46, the Compassionate Use Program expansion, on the motion of Senator Perry.

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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

Signed on as a coauthor of SB 5 (891), regulating consumable hemp products and the hemp-derived cannabinoids in them, on 2025-07-30.

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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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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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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.

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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

In a Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey he recounted a voter asking, on behalf of her veteran husband, "if I would consider supporting the legalization of Marijuana, especially for medical use", and answered: "I sent the nice lady an email committing to support or sponsor a bill in support of changing our laws on Marijuana use, and I was lucky enough to see her a few months later at an event and I told her how here story and the passion in her voice when she told me her story truly inspired me."

⚠️Ballotpedia states the year of this survey but not the day or month, so it is dated to the end of the stated year rather than to the date this site read the page, which would have made it look four years more recent than it is.

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In a later Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey he returned to the same encounter: "Yes, during my first campaign I heard from a potential voter who was very passionate about legalizing cannabis for medical use, and pain management. At the time, I did not have an opinion on the matter. After I heard her story, visited with here a few times and did a ton of research on the topic I was able to speak in a much more educated way on the topic."

⚠️Ballotpedia states the year but not the day or month, so it is dated to the end of the stated year.

WeedVoter’s note — shown here, but deliberately left out of the score: Describes becoming better informed on the subject without stating where he came down. Shown, not scored.

ballotpedia.org

Answered the Texas Hemp Business Council’s 2026 candidate questionnaire, saying Texas should have a responsible hemp industry under a clear regulatory framework rather than eliminate lawful businesses. The Texas Hemp Business Council is a hemp industry trade group; 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.

The council prints the name as "Joe P. Herrera"; this guide uses the spelling on the Secretary of State’s certified list. Asked about the future of hemp in Texas, the answer opened: "Texas should have a responsible hemp industry that supports farmers, small businesses, and consumer choice while putting public safety first. I do not support an unregulated market for intoxicating products, nor do I believe responsible businesses should be eliminated because of bad actors."

The same answer went on: "I would support a clear regulatory framework that limits intoxicating THC products to adults 21 and older, requires licensing and independent product testing, establishes reasonable potency and serving limits, and mandates accurate labeling and child-resistant packaging. Products designed or marketed to appeal to children should be prohibited, and retailers that knowingly sell to minors should face meaningful penalties."

Asked who should be permitted to sell THC, to whom, at what dose, in what form and subject to what safeguards, the answer opened: "I believe THC products should be legal only within a tightly regulated system that protects children and gives adult consumers clear information about what they are purchasing." and continued: "Sales should be limited to licensed and inspected retailers, and purchasers should be at least 21 years old with mandatory identification verification.

I would not support THC products being sold in ways that make them easily accessible to minors." The same answer closed: "My goal would be straightforward: protect children, provide reasonable access for responsible adults, protect legitimate businesses that follow the rules, and make sure Texans know exactly what is in the products being sold." 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 letting adult Texans make their own choices about lawful wellness products, "Yes"; on distinguishing licensed Texas businesses from illicit operators, "Yes"; on retail regulation, "Reasonable statewide licensing/registration"; on whether the state should devote more time and resources to further restrictive legislation in the 2027 session, "No"; on how high a priority further regulation of low-THC hemp products should be, "Not a priority absent demonstrated problems requiring legislative action"; on hemp agriculture, "Strongly Support"; on incentives to keep hemp processing and manufacturing in Texas, "Yes"; on whether state agencies may prohibit products or conduct the Legislature has not expressly prohibited, "Legislature should establish the policy"; on keeping regulatory fees proportionate to the cost of administering the program, "Yes"; on tax policy, "Yes"; on consumer choice, "Yes"; on science- and evidence-based regulation, "Strongly Support"; on reviewing Texas law if federal hemp rules change, "Yes"; on meeting Texas hemp industry representatives during the legislative session, "Yes"; and on considering sponsoring or co-sponsoring legislation after reviewing the industry and constituents, "Yes".

The council also asked for the candidate’s top three priorities for Texas; that answer is not about cannabis and is not reproduced here. The date is the date the council recorded the submission, in Central time.

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