Monitoring the Session

HB 2523

Bill naming State Highway 4 for Deputy Constable Ruben Garcia

Became law, effective Sep 1, 2025

Verdict: No flags

No flagsInitial review
Rep. Janie LopezRHouse 37

Initial review · graded Oct 20, 2026 · Headline, summary and grade are analysis of the bill text, not a finding about any person · How we grade

Caption

relating to the designation of the portion of State Highway 4 in Cameron County as the Deputy Constable Ruben Garcia Highway.

Caption from analyzed text · version I.

Summary

Markers go up along the route in Cameron County.

The bill names the part of State Highway 4 in Cameron County the Deputy Constable Ruben Garcia Highway. It touches the Texas Department of Transportation, which must design and put up markers, subject to an existing condition in the Transportation Code. Drivers will see new highway signs with the name starting September 1, 2025, and nothing else changes.

Labels

Labels: ACROSS THE AISLE. Joint authors: 3 Republicans, 2 Democrats. Party as the Legislative Reference Library lists it for the 89th Legislature.

Receipt

The receipt

89R-HB2523 · 2025-02-06

SOLD BY

Rep. Janie LopezRHouse 37 Rep. Erin GámezDHouse 38 Rep. Ryan GuillenRHouse 31

+ 2 more authors

ITEM

relating to the designation of the portion of State Highway 4 in Cameron County as the Deputy Constable Ruben Garcia Highway.

WHAT IT DOES

Markers go up along the route in Cameron County.

The bill names the part of State Highway 4 in Cameron County the Deputy Constable Ruben Garcia Highway. It touches the Texas Department of Transportation, which must design and put up markers, subject to an existing condition in the Transportation Code. Drivers will see new highway signs with the name starting September 1, 2025, and nothing else changes.

CHARGES

[ ] NONE FOUND

TOTAL

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

LBB estimate · fiscal note version E · source

Sources

Fiscal note · version E · May 5, 2025

No first-year general revenue figure available here.

LBB published estimates · flow over the stated periods.

Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

HISTORY

  1. Filed
  2. Read first time
  3. Referred to Transportation
  4. Scheduled for public hearing on . . .
  5. Considered in public hearing
  6. Testimony taken/registration(s) recorded in committee
  7. Committee substitute considered in committee
  8. Recommended to be sent to Local & Consent
  9. Reported favorably as substituted
  10. Comte report filed with Committee Coordinator
  11. Committee report distributed
  12. Comm. report sent to Local & Consent Calendar
  13. Considered in Local & Consent Calendars
  14. Placed on Local, Consent, and Res. Calendar
  15. Withdrawn from calendar (contested)
  16. Returned to Local & Consent Calendars Comm.
  17. Considered in Local & Consent Calendars
  18. Transferred to Calendars Committee
  19. Committee report sent to Calendars
  20. Considered in Calendars
  21. Placed on General State Calendar
  22. Read 2nd time
  23. Passed to engrossment
  24. Record vote RV#894
  25. Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal
  26. Read 3rd time
  27. Passed
  28. Record vote RV#1037
  29. Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal
  30. Reported engrossed
  31. Received from the House
  32. Read first time
  33. Referred to Transportation
  34. Scheduled for public hearing on . . .
  35. Considered in public hearing
  36. Vote taken in committee
  37. Reported favorably w/o amendments
  38. Recommended for local & uncontested calendar
  39. Committee report printed and distributed
  40. Printing rule suspended
  41. Rules suspended-Intent Calendar
  42. Rules suspended-Regular order of business
  43. Read 2nd time & passed to engrossment
  44. Vote recorded in Journal
  45. Three day rule suspended
  46. Record vote
  47. Read 3rd time
  48. Passed
  49. Record vote
  50. Reported engrossed
  51. Senate passage reported
  52. Reported enrolled
  53. Signed in the House
  54. Signed in the Senate
  55. Sent to the Governor
  56. Signed by the Governor
  57. Effective on 9/1/25
ALSO NOTED · NOT CHARGED (1)

RENAMING AND CEREMONIAL · analysis confidence 95%

THE TEXT

“The portion of State Highway 4 in Cameron County is designated as”…

Bill text, introduced version (I)

The bill's only operative act is a memorial highway name plus the signs that go with it.

FILED UNDER

No verified beat found.

SIGNED FOR BY

House · 134 yea · 0 nay

Senate · 31 yea · 0 nay

Sources

House: Final passage · Apr 30, 2025. Journal. Published stock for this vote. Snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

Senate: Final passage · May 9, 2025. Journal. Published stock for this vote. Snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

All floor motions and other positions below.

No flags

THANK YOU FOR CHECKING THE RECEIPT

CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY

CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY

Janie Lopez

Donors

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC$504KAssociated Republicans of Texas Campaign Fund$489KTexas Conservative Majority PAC$487K

Not tied to this bill.

Sources

The author's campaign account only. Own money and internal transfers are separate on the member page.

Derived itemized flow · Oct 27, 2024 to Oct 24, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC$504,349.82

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC

$504,349.82

Cash
$45,000.00
Paid by others
$459,349.82
Total
$504,349.82
advertising $380,541.56mail $48,297.91polling $30,510.35

Also funds 124 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 10, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · Oct 31, 2024 to Oct 6, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Report IDs: 100977055, 101010818, 101036578, 101036586, 101058662, 101067886, 101070167.

Associated Republicans of Texas Campaign Fund$488,665.88

Associated Republicans of Texas Campaign Fund

$488,665.88

Cash
$0.00
Paid by others
$488,665.88
Total
$488,665.88
television $202,708.00mailers $127,420.46mailer $47,655.97digital $47,523.75canvassing $20,149.00polling $16,200.00Other filed descriptions $10,991.57text $10,252.13radio $5,765.00

Also funds 20 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Nov 4, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · Nov 4, 2024 to Oct 22, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Report IDs: 100977055, 101010818, 101035068, 101036578, 101036586, 101067886, 101070167.

Texas Conservative Majority PAC$486,622.50

Texas Conservative Majority PAC

$486,622.50

Cash
$50,000.00
Paid by others
$436,622.50
Total
$486,622.50
advertising $181,100.00canvassing $140,822.50media $100,000.00polling $5,800.00Other filed descriptions $5,000.00texting $3,900.00

Also funds 42 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jan 23, 2026 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · Feb 13, 2026 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Report IDs: 101036586, 101067886, 101070167.

Money

Missing data does not establish zero giving. Display amounts are rounded.

×

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC

$504,349.82

Cash
$45,000.00
Paid by others
$459,349.82
Total
$504,349.82
advertising $380,541.56mail $48,297.91polling $30,510.35

Also funds 124 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 10, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · Oct 31, 2024 to Oct 6, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Report IDs: 100977055, 101010818, 101036578, 101036586, 101058662, 101067886, 101070167.

×

Associated Republicans of Texas Campaign Fund

$488,665.88

Cash
$0.00
Paid by others
$488,665.88
Total
$488,665.88
television $202,708.00mailers $127,420.46mailer $47,655.97digital $47,523.75canvassing $20,149.00polling $16,200.00Other filed descriptions $10,991.57text $10,252.13radio $5,765.00

Also funds 20 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Nov 4, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · Nov 4, 2024 to Oct 22, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Report IDs: 100977055, 101010818, 101035068, 101036578, 101036586, 101067886, 101070167.

×

Texas Conservative Majority PAC

$486,622.50

Cash
$50,000.00
Paid by others
$436,622.50
Total
$486,622.50
advertising $181,100.00canvassing $140,822.50media $100,000.00polling $5,800.00Other filed descriptions $5,000.00texting $3,900.00

Also funds 42 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jan 23, 2026 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · Feb 13, 2026 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Report IDs: 101036586, 101067886, 101070167.

Votes5

Senate May 9, 2025

Yea
31
Nay
0
Present, not voting
Not printed
Absent
Not printed
Excused
Not printed
Names

Senate journal

Names were not printed. No individual positions are inferred.

Sources

Senator A. Hinojosa moved that Senate Rule 7.18 and the Constitutional Rule requiring bills to be read on three several days be suspended and that HB 2523 be placed on its third reading and final passage. The motion prevailed by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0. The bill was read third time and was passed by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0.

Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.

  • Yea: 31 (published)
  • Nay: 0 (published)
  • Present, not voting: Not printed
  • Absent: Not printed
  • Excused: Not printed

Senate journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

Senate May 9, 2025

Yea
31
Nay
0
Present, not voting
Not printed
Absent
Not printed
Excused
Not printed
Names

Senate journal

Names were not printed. No individual positions are inferred.

Sources

Senator A. Hinojosa moved that Senate Rule 7.18 and the Constitutional Rule requiring bills to be read on three several days be suspended and that HB 2523 be placed on its third reading and final passage. The motion prevailed by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0.

Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.

  • Yea: 31 (published)
  • Nay: 0 (published)
  • Present, not voting: Not printed
  • Absent: Not printed
  • Excused: Not printed

Senate journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

Senate May 9, 2025

Yea
Not printed
Nay
Not printed
Present, not voting
Not printed
Absent
Not printed
Excused
Not printed
Names

Senate journal

Names were not printed. No individual positions are inferred.

Voice vote. No numeric tally or individual yeas are inferred.

Sources

The bill was read second time and was passed to third reading by a viva voce vote.

Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.

  • Yea: Not printed
  • Nay: Not printed
  • Present, not voting: Not printed
  • Absent: Not printed
  • Excused: Not printed

Senate journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

House Apr 30, 2025

Yea
134
Nay
0
Present, not voting
2
Absent
2
Excused
12
Names

Named positions matched to lawmakers. See the journal for unmatched names.

House journal

Sources

Record 1037

HB 2523 was passed by (Record 1037): 134 Yeas, 0 Nays, 2 Present, not voting.

Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.

  • Yea: 134 (published)
  • Nay: 0 (published)
  • Present, not voting: 2 (published)
  • Absent: 2 (derived from named list)
  • Excused: 12 (derived from named list)

House journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

House Apr 29, 2025

Yea
146
Nay
0
Present, not voting
2
Absent
2
Excused
0
Names

Named positions matched to lawmakers. See the journal for unmatched names.

House journal

Sources

Record 894

CSHB 2523 was passed to engrossment by (Record 894): 146 Yeas, 0 Nays, 2 Present, not voting.

Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.

  • Yea: 146 (published)
  • Nay: 0 (published)
  • Present, not voting: 2 (published)
  • Absent: 2 (derived from named list)
  • Excused: 0 (derived from named list)

House journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

Witnesses7
For
7
Against
0
On
0
Names

For

  • Cameron County1 registration
  • Cameron County Constable Pct. 11 registration
  • CLEAT1 registration
  • Combined Law Enforcement Associations of Texas (CLEAT)1 registration
  • Game Warden Peace Officer Association1 registration
  • Self1 registration
  • Texas Municipal Police Association (TMPA)1 registration
Sources

7 parsed registrations across the loaded witness lists.

Derived stock of witness registrations. Repeated appearances count separately. Organizations and self-representation appear as printed.

House witness list. Source snapshot 2026-10-20, Central time.

Senate witness list. Source snapshot 2026-10-20, Central time.

Fiscal

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

LBB estimate · fiscal note version E · source

Sources

Fiscal note · version E · May 5, 2025

No first-year general revenue figure available here.

LBB published estimates · flow over the stated periods.

Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

How this was graded

Analysis of text version I by claude-opus-5-5, Oct 20, 2026, against the published rubric.

Sources

Texas House · Filed Feb 6, 2025

05/24/2025 E Effective on 9/1/25

Texas Legislature Online · Introduced · House Committee Report · Engrossed · Senate Committee Report · Enrolled

Data snapshot Oct 26, 2026 at 4:20 AM CDT. Grades, charges, quotes and corrections follow the published record.

Sponsors
Adam HinojosaRSenate 27

House committee · Transportation · Committee vote 13 aye, 0 nay · Out of committee

Senate committee · Transportation · Committee vote 8 aye, 0 nay, 1 absent · Out of committee

Subjects

CAMERON COUNTY

Highways

DEPUTY CONSTABLE RUBEN GARCIA HIGHWAY (SF1VD)

DEPUTY CONSTABLE RUBEN GARCIA MEMORIAL HIGHWAY (S520I)

SIGNS

TRANSPORTATION, TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF

Text

The text as introduced · 157 words

89R9097 RDR-D

By: Lopez of Cameron
H.B. No. 2523

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the designation of the portion of State Highway 4 in

Cameron County as the Deputy Constable Ruben Garcia Highway.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 225, Transportation Code,

is amended by adding Section 225.243 to read as follows:

Sec. 225.243. DEPUTY CONSTABLE RUBEN GARCIA HIGHWAY. (a)

The portion of State Highway 4 in Cameron County is designated as

the Deputy Constable Ruben Garcia Highway. The designation is in

addition to any other designation.

(b) Subject to Section 225.021(c), the department shall:

(1) design and construct markers indicating the

designation as the Deputy Constable Ruben Garcia Highway and any

other appropriate information; and

(2) erect a marker at each end of the highway and at

appropriate intermediate sites along the highway.

SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.