Monitoring the Session

HB 2694

Brazoria Drainage District No. 4 elections move to May

Became law

Verdict: No flags

No flagsInitial review
Rep. Cody VasutRHouse 25

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 election, terms, and resignation of the board of commissioners of the Brazoria Drainage District No. 4.

Caption from analyzed text · version I.

Summary

Four-year staggered terms. Run for another office and you resign.

The bill moves the Brazoria Drainage District No. 4 board elections from November to the May uniform election date in odd-numbered years, with four-year staggered terms starting June 1. It adds a rule that a commissioner who runs for another public office with more than a year and 30 days left in the term automatically resigns. It also drops the special election backup for filling vacancies, leaving remaining commissioners to fill them by appointment, and it sets a transition schedule with May 2027 and May 2029 as the first elections under the new calendar.

Labels

Labels: INSTANT LAW. Took effect immediately, on Jun 20, 2025. 833 of the 1,185 graded 89R laws took effect Sep 1, 2025 (derived from the bill histories, snapshot Oct 19, 2026).DO-OVER. Reworked text of a bill filed before that died: 88R HB 5387 (Died in committee). Filed in 2 sessions, counting this one. Checked against 88R only.TRY NO. 2. Filed in 2 sessions: 88R and 89R. Checked against 88R only.

Receipt

The receipt

89R-HB2694 · 2025-02-12

SOLD BY

ITEM

relating to the election, terms, and resignation of the board of commissioners of the Brazoria Drainage District No. 4.

WHAT IT DOES

Four-year staggered terms. Run for another office and you resign.

The bill moves the Brazoria Drainage District No. 4 board elections from November to the May uniform election date in odd-numbered years, with four-year staggered terms starting June 1. It adds a rule that a commissioner who runs for another public office with more than a year and 30 days left in the term automatically resigns. It also drops the special election backup for filling vacancies, leaving remaining commissioners to fill them by appointment, and it sets a transition schedule with May 2027 and May 2029 as the first elections under the new calendar.

CHARGES

[ ] NONE FOUND

TOTAL

No fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

LBB estimate · fiscal note version E · source

Sources

Fiscal note · version E · May 21, 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. Transmitted to the Governor
  3. Read first time
  4. Referred to Natural Resources
  5. Recommendations filed with the Speaker
  6. Scheduled for public hearing on . . .
  7. Considered in public hearing
  8. Left pending in committee
  9. Considered in formal meeting
  10. Committee substitute considered in committee
  11. Recommended to be sent to Local & Consent
  12. Reported favorably as substituted
  13. Comte report filed with Committee Coordinator
  14. Committee report distributed
  15. Comm. report sent to Local & Consent Calendar
  16. Considered in Local & Consent Calendars
  17. Placed on Local, Consent, and Res. Calendar
  18. Read 2nd time
  19. Passed to engrossment
  20. Nonrecord vote recorded in Journal
  21. Read 3rd time
  22. Passed
  23. Record vote RV#2818
  24. Nonrecord vote recorded in Journal
  25. Reported engrossed
  26. Received from the House
  27. Read first time
  28. Referred to Local Government
  29. Scheduled for public hearing on . . .
  30. Considered in public hearing
  31. Vote taken in committee
  32. Reported favorably w/o amendments
  33. Recommended for local & uncontested calendar
  34. Committee report printed and distributed
  35. Placed on local & uncontested calendar
  36. Laid before the Senate
  37. Read 2nd time & passed to 3rd reading
  38. Vote recorded in Journal
  39. Three day rule suspended
  40. Record vote
  41. Read 3rd time
  42. Passed
  43. Record vote
  44. Senate passage reported
  45. Reported enrolled
  46. Signed in the House
  47. Signed in the Senate
  48. Sent to the Governor
  49. Signed by the Governor
  50. Effective immediately
FILED UNDER

No verified beat found.

SIGNED FOR BY

House · 120 yea · 11 nay

Senate · 30 yea · 1 nay

Sources

House: Final passage · May 16, 2025. Journal. Published stock for this vote. Snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

Senate: Final passage · May 28, 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

Donors

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 29, 2024 to Oct 19, 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$40,000.00

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC

$40,000.00

Cash
$40,000.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$40,000.00

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 · Jun 27, 2025 to Oct 7, 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: 101005740, 101033392, 101072869.

Texas REALTORS Political Action Committee$12,750.00

Texas REALTORS Political Action Committee

$12,750.00

Cash
$12,500.00
Paid by others
$250.00
Total
$12,750.00
advertising $250.00

Also funds 140 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 2, 2024 to Oct 24, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · Dec 12, 2024 to Oct 1, 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: 100981647, 101005740, 101062767, 101072869.

Texas Food & Fuel Assn. - PAC$11,000.00

Texas Food & Fuel Assn. - PAC

$11,000.00

Cash
$11,000.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$11,000.00

Also funds 65 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Sep 3, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · Dec 12, 2024 to Jun 2, 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: 100981647, 101033392, 101062767.

Money

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

×

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC

$40,000.00

Cash
$40,000.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$40,000.00

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 · Jun 27, 2025 to Oct 7, 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: 101005740, 101033392, 101072869.

×

Texas REALTORS Political Action Committee

$12,750.00

Cash
$12,500.00
Paid by others
$250.00
Total
$12,750.00
advertising $250.00

Also funds 140 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 2, 2024 to Oct 24, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · Dec 12, 2024 to Oct 1, 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: 100981647, 101005740, 101062767, 101072869.

×

Texas Food & Fuel Assn. - PAC

$11,000.00

Cash
$11,000.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$11,000.00

Also funds 65 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Sep 3, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · Dec 12, 2024 to Jun 2, 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: 100981647, 101033392, 101062767.

Votes4

Senate May 28, 2025

Final passage

Yea
30
Nay
1
Present, not voting
Not printed
Absent
Not printed
Excused
Not printed
Names

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

Senate journal

Names were not printed for yea. Only the named positions are included in member records.

The journal row lists three votes in order: passage to third reading, suspension of the three-day rule, and final passage. This entry records final passage. Repeated tallies belong to separate votes.

Sources

HB 2694 (Middleton) Relating to the election and resignation of and filling of vacancies on the board of commissioners of the Brazoria Drainage District No. 4. (viva voce vote) (30-1) "Nay" Sparks (30-1) "Nay" Sparks

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

  • Yea: 30 (published)
  • Nay: 1 (published)
  • Present, not voting: Not printed
  • Absent: Not printed
  • Excused: Not printed

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

Senate May 28, 2025

Suspension of the three-day rule

Yea
30
Nay
1
Present, not voting
Not printed
Absent
Not printed
Excused
Not printed
Names

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

Senate journal

Names were not printed for yea. Only the named positions are included in member records.

The journal row lists three votes in order: passage to third reading, suspension of the three-day rule, and final passage. This entry records suspension of the three-day rule. Repeated tallies belong to separate votes.

Sources

HB 2694 (Middleton) Relating to the election and resignation of and filling of vacancies on the board of commissioners of the Brazoria Drainage District No. 4. (viva voce vote) (30-1) "Nay" Sparks (30-1) "Nay" Sparks

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

  • Yea: 30 (published)
  • Nay: 1 (published)
  • Present, not voting: Not printed
  • Absent: Not printed
  • Excused: Not printed

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

Senate May 28, 2025

Passage to third reading

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.

The journal row lists three votes in order: passage to third reading, suspension of the three-day rule, and final passage. This entry records passage to third reading. Repeated tallies belong to separate votes.

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

Sources

HB 2694 (Middleton) Relating to the election and resignation of and filling of vacancies on the board of commissioners of the Brazoria Drainage District No. 4. (viva voce vote) (30-1) "Nay" Sparks (30-1) "Nay" Sparks

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 May 16, 2025

Yea
120
Nay
11
Present, not voting
2
Absent
4
Excused
13
Names

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

House journal

Sources

Record 2818

HB 2694 (Bonnen, Cain, Capriglione, Cunningham, Harrison, Hull, Metcalf, Oliverson, Patterson, Slawson, and Toth - no) (120 - 11 - 2)

Shared roll motion

The following bills which were considered on second reading on the previous legislative day on the local, consent, and resolutions calendar were laid before the house, read third time, and passed by the following record vote (members registering votes and the results of the vote are shown following the bill number). (Record 2818): 131 Yeas, 0 Nays, 2 Present, not voting.

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

  • Yea: 120 (published)
  • Nay: 11 (published)
  • Present, not voting: 2 (published)
  • Absent: 4 (derived from named list)
  • Excused: 13 (derived from named list)

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

Witnesses1
For
0
Against
1
On
0
Names

Against

  • Self1 registration
Sources

1 parsed registrations across the loaded witness lists.

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

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

Fiscal

No fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

LBB estimate · fiscal note version E · source

Sources

Fiscal note · version E · May 21, 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.

FILED BEFORE

Filed 2 times: 88R and 89R. Checked against 88R only.

88R HB 5387

by Rep. Vasut, same lead author · Died in committee · reworked

Introduced text

Last action, Apr 20, 2023: Referred to Natural Resources

Relating to the election, terms, and resignation of the board of commissioners of the Brazoria Drainage District No. 4.

Caption, 88R bill history

Sources

Texas House · Filed Feb 12, 2025

06/20/2025 E Effective immediately

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

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

Senate committee · Local Government · Committee vote 6 aye, 0 nay, 1 absent · Out of committee

Subjects

BRAZORIA DRAINAGE DISTRICT NO. 4

Special Districts & Authorities--Water Control Improve Dist.

Text

The text as introduced · 785 words

By: Vasut
H.B. No. 2694

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the election, terms, and resignation of the board of

commissioners of the Brazoria Drainage District No. 4.

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

SECTION 1. Section 7, Chapter 991, Acts of the 74th

Legislature, Regular Session, 1995, is amended by amending

Subsections (a) and (f) and adding Subsection (a-1) to read as

follows:

(a) The district is managed by a board of three

commissioners as provided by Chapter 56, Water Code, and each holds

an elected office designated as Place No. 1, Place No. 2, or Place

No. 3. The board shall call and hold elections for the appropriate

number of commissioners on the uniform election date in May

[ November ] of each [ oven ] odd -numbered year. The [ Notwithstanding

Section 56.063, Water Code, the ] commissioners serve staggered

four-year terms, each beginning June [ January ] 1 of the year

[ following ] of the commissioner's election and continuing until the

commissioner's successor in office is elected and has qualified.

(a-1) If a commissioner announces the commissioner's

candidacy, or in fact becomes a candidate, in any general, special,

or primary election for any office of profit or trust under the laws

of this State or the United States other than the office of

commissioner for the district, at any time when the unexpired term

of office then held shall exceed one year and 30 days, such

announcement or candidacy shall constitute an automatic

resignation of the office of the commissioner.

(f) A vacancy in a commissioner's office or other board

office shall be filled by appointment by the remaining

commissioners if less than 290 days remain before the date of the

next regular election of one or more commissioners. [ If the

commissioners do not agree on an appointment before the 61st day

after the date the vacancy occurs, the commissioners shall call and

hold a special election to fill the office before the 121st day

after the date the vacancy occurs ].

SECTION 2. Sections 7(b), (c), (d), (e), and (i), Chapter

991, Acts of the 74th Legislature, Regular Session, 1995, are

repealed.

SECTION 3. (a) The Brazoria Drainage District No. 4 shall

hold the first election to elect commissioners for Place No. 1 and

Place No. 2 as described by Section 7(a), Chapter 991, Acts of the

74th Legislature, Regular Session, 1995, as amended by this Act, on

the uniform election date in May 2029.

(b) The Brazoria Drainage District No. 4 shall hold the

first election to elect the commissioner for Place No. 3 as

described by Section 7(a), Chapter 991, Acts of the 74th

Legislature, Regular Session, 1995, as amended by this Act, on the

uniform election date in May 2027.

(c) The terms of the commissioners for Place No. 1 and Place

No. 2 serving on the board of commissioners of the Brazoria

Drainage District No. 4 on the effective date of this Act expire on

the later of May 31, 2029, or the date the commissioners elected

under Subsection (a) of this section have qualified.

(d) The term of the commissioner for Place No. 3 serving on

the board of commissioners of the Brazoria Drainage District No. 4

immediately before the date of the election held under Subsection

(b) of this section expires on the later of May 31, 2027, or the date

the commissioner elected under that subsection has qualified.

SECTION 4. (a) The legal notice of the intention to

introduce this Act, setting forth the general substance of this

Act, has been published as provided by law, and the notice and a

copy of this Act have been furnished to all persons, agencies,

officials, or entities to which they are required to be furnished

under Section 59, Article XVI, Texas Constitution, and Chapter 313,

Government Code.

(b) The governor, one of the required recipients, has

submitted the notice and Act to the Texas Commission on

Environmental Quality.

(c) The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality has filed

its recommendations relating to this Act with the governor, the

lieutenant governor, and the speaker of the house of

representatives within the required time.

(d) All requirements of the constitution and laws of this

state and the rules and procedures of the legislature with respect

to the notice, introduction, and passage of this Act are fulfilled

and accomplished.

SECTION 5. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives

a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as

provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this

Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this

Act takes effect September 1, 2025.