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Portrait of Paul BettencourtPhoto: senate.texas.gov

TX · Officeholder

Paul Bettencourt

RState Senator · District 7

Votes by issue

Their recorded votes on bills that divided the chamber (unanimous votes left out), grouped by topic. A bill can sit under more than one topic. "With" and "against" compare each vote with how most Republicans voted. How topics are assigned

Where they stood out

Voted with most of their party on all 583 party-divided votes on file.

How this is counted

Their votes on the most contested roll calls

The votes in their chamber that came out closest and most divided by party, among those they voted on. How we rank

See all their split votes

Substantive votes concern legislation or nominations; procedural votes concern how the chamber considers them. A Yes vote applies to the motion shown, which may not be final passage.

HB 18 · TX SENATE

Relating to a restriction on the acceptance of political contributions and the making of certain political expenditures by a member of the legislature and certain political committees during certain periods in which a member is absent from a legislative session; authorizing a civil penalty

YesVOTED

Motion: Final passage (third reading)

Bars legislators who leave the state to block legislative action, and committees supporting them, from accepting contributions above a daily per diem from any one donor or spending campaign money on travel, food or lodging for the absence; violations carry civil penalties up to $5,000.

AI summary — read the bill text ↗
Passed 18–8·Substantive·Sep 4, 2025Roll call ↗
HB 18 · TX SENATE

Relating to a restriction on the acceptance of political contributions and the making of certain political expenditures by a member of the legislature and certain political committees during certain periods in which a member is absent from a legislative session; authorizing a civil penalty

YesVOTED

Motion: Passage to third reading (second reading)

On the version voted Sep 4, 2025: Bars legislators who leave the state to block legislative action, and committees supporting them, from accepting contributions above a daily per diem from any one donor or spending campaign money on travel, food or lodging for the absence; violations carry civil penalties up to $5,000.

AI summary — read the bill text ↗
Passed 18–8·Substantive·Sep 3, 2025Roll call ↗
HB 7 · TX SENATE

Relating to prohibitions on the manufacture and provision of abortion-inducing drugs, including the jurisdiction of and effect of certain judgments by courts within and outside this state with respect to the manufacture and provision of those drugs, and to protections from certain counteractions under the laws of other states and jurisdictions; authorizing qui tam actions

YesVOTED

Motion: Final passage (third reading)

On the version voted Aug 28, 2025: Bans manufacturing or distributing abortion-inducing drugs in Texas, and mailing, delivering or prescribing them to or from Texas, with exceptions such as medical emergencies. Only private qui tam suits (at least $100,000 per violation) enforce it; women who take the drugs cannot be sued.

AI summary — read the bill text ↗
Passed 17–8·Substantive·Sep 3, 2025Roll call ↗
SB 8 · TX SENATE

Relating to the designation and use of certain spaces and facilities according to sex; authorizing a civil penalty and a private civil right of action

YesVOTED

Motion: Concur in House amendments

On the version voted Aug 28, 2025: Tables an amendment that would strike the bill's provisions barring courts from blocking its enforcement or certifying classes, and making parties who seek such court orders pay the other side's costs and attorney fees.

AI summary — read the bill text ↗
Passed 18–8·Substantive·Sep 3, 2025Roll call ↗
HB 15 · TX SENATE

Relating to certain files maintained by a law enforcement agency regarding certain employees of the agency

YesVOTED

Motion: Final passage (third reading)

On the version voted Aug 28, 2025: Requires law enforcement agencies to keep a confidential file on each officer, holding records outside the personnel file, including misconduct allegations lacking sufficient evidence. Allows review by hiring agencies, the state licensing commission, and complainants and alleged victims; bars other release.

AI summary — read the bill text ↗
Passed 18–9·Substantive·Sep 2, 2025Roll call ↗
HB 27 · TX SENATE

Relating to a groundwater study of certain aquifers underlying the territory of the Neches and Trinity Valleys Groundwater Conservation District by the Texas Water Development Board before the issuance of permits or permit amendments by the district

YesVOTED

Motion: Final passage (third reading)

As amended by the Senate, requires the Texas Water Development Board to study how much groundwater can be pumped indefinitely from aquifers under the Neches and Trinity Valleys district and effects of proposed pumping and exports, reporting by January 12, 2027, without pausing new permits.

AI summary — read the bill text ↗
Passed 26–1·Substantive·Sep 2, 2025Roll call ↗
HB 27 · TX SENATE

Relating to a groundwater study of certain aquifers underlying the territory of the Neches and Trinity Valleys Groundwater Conservation District by the Texas Water Development Board before the issuance of permits or permit amendments by the district

YesVOTED

Motion: Passage to third reading (second reading)

As amended by the Senate, requires the Texas Water Development Board to study how much groundwater can be pumped indefinitely from aquifers under the Neches and Trinity Valleys district and effects of proposed pumping and exports, reporting by January 12, 2027, without pausing new permits.

AI summary — read the bill text ↗
Passed 26–1·Substantive·Sep 2, 2025Roll call ↗
HB 27 · TX SENATE

Relating to a groundwater study of certain aquifers underlying the territory of the Neches and Trinity Valleys Groundwater Conservation District by the Texas Water Development Board before the issuance of permits or permit amendments by the district

YesVOTED

Motion: Adopt Floor Amendment No. 1 (Nichols)

As amended by the Senate, requires the Texas Water Development Board to study how much groundwater can be pumped indefinitely from aquifers under the Neches and Trinity Valleys district and effects of proposed pumping and exports, reporting by January 12, 2027, without pausing new permits.

AI summary — read the bill text ↗
Passed 20–7·Substantive·Sep 2, 2025Roll call ↗
HB 15 · TX SENATE

Relating to certain files maintained by a law enforcement agency regarding certain employees of the agency

YesVOTED

Motion: Passage to third reading (second reading)

On the version voted Aug 28, 2025: Requires law enforcement agencies to keep a confidential file on each officer, holding records outside the personnel file, including misconduct allegations lacking sufficient evidence. Allows review by hiring agencies, the state licensing commission, and complainants and alleged victims; bars other release.

AI summary — read the bill text ↗
Passed 18–9·Substantive·Sep 2, 2025Roll call ↗
HB 7 · TX SENATE

Relating to prohibitions on the manufacture and provision of abortion-inducing drugs, including the jurisdiction of and effect of certain judgments by courts within and outside this state with respect to the manufacture and provision of those drugs, and to protections from certain counteractions under the laws of other states and jurisdictions; authorizing qui tam actions

YesVOTED

Motion: Passage to third reading (second reading)

On the version voted Aug 28, 2025: Bans manufacturing or distributing abortion-inducing drugs in Texas, and mailing, delivering or prescribing them to or from Texas, with exceptions such as medical emergencies. Only private qui tam suits (at least $100,000 per violation) enforce it; women who take the drugs cannot be sued.

AI summary — read the bill text ↗
Passed 17–9·Substantive·Sep 2, 2025Roll call ↗

Showing 10 of 1306 votes in this collection. Coverage may be incomplete; each entry links to the official record.