Monitoring the Session

HB 2702

Veterans Clubs Stay Open In A Disaster, Unless It’s Natural

Died in committee

Verdict: Smells

SmellsReviewed
Rep. Richard Peña RaymondDHouse 42
Why it's charged
The hole

THE TEXT

“This subsection does not apply to an executive order, proclamation, or regulation issued by the governor during a natural disaster.”

Bill text, introduced version (I)

The caption pitches protection for veterans organizations during a declared state of disaster, but the text drops every natural disaster from that protection. Only non-natural disasters remain covered.

The hole

Reviewed · Nov 1, 2026 · Headline, summary and grade are analysis of the bill text, not a finding about any person · How we grade

Caption

relating to prohibiting certain limitations on the operation of certain organizations that benefit veterans during a declared state of disaster.

Caption from analyzed text · version I.

Summary

Governor’s orders can’t limit them, except “during a natural disaster.” Only the other kind counts.

The bill bars the governor's disaster orders that limit when or whether businesses selling alcohol may operate from covering nonprofit veterans organizations that are tax-exempt under federal 501(c)(19). It touches veterans posts and clubs that serve alcohol, and the governor's emergency powers. On the ground, these veterans organizations could keep operating during a declared disaster that is not a natural disaster, even if other bars are ordered closed or limited.

Labels

Labels: ZOMBIE BILL. Died 2 times: 88R HB 558 (Vetoed) and this bill (Died in committee). Checked against 88R only.BACK FROM THE DEAD. Same text as a bill filed before that died: 88R HB 558 (Vetoed). 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.CROSS-PARTY HANDOFF. Lead author Richard Peña Raymond (D) in the House. Lead sponsor Adam Hinojosa (R) in the Senate. Party as the Legislative Reference Library lists it for the 89th Legislature.ACROSS THE AISLE. Joint authors: 4 Republicans, 1 Democrat. Party as the Legislative Reference Library lists it for the 89th Legislature.GOT HALFWAY. Passed the House on May 2, 2025. Died in the Senate: left pending in the State Affairs committee.

Receipt

The receipt

89R-HB2702 · 2025-02-12

SOLD BY

Rep. Richard Peña RaymondDHouse 42 Rep. Terry M. WilsonRHouse 20 Rep. David LoweRHouse 91

+ 2 more authors, 1 coauthor

ITEM

relating to prohibiting certain limitations on the operation of certain organizations that benefit veterans during a declared state of disaster.

WHAT IT DOES

Governor’s orders can’t limit them, except “during a natural disaster.” Only the other kind counts.

The bill bars the governor's disaster orders that limit when or whether businesses selling alcohol may operate from covering nonprofit veterans organizations that are tax-exempt under federal 501(c)(19). It touches veterans posts and clubs that serve alcohol, and the governor's emergency powers. On the ground, these veterans organizations could keep operating during a declared disaster that is not a natural disaster, even if other bars are ordered closed or limited.

CHARGES

[x] THE HOLEanalysis confidence 45%

THE TEXT

“This subsection does not apply to an executive order, proclamation, or regulation issued by the governor during a natural disaster.”

Bill text, introduced version (I)

The caption pitches protection for veterans organizations during a declared state of disaster, but the text drops every natural disaster from that protection. Only non-natural disasters remain covered.

TOTAL

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

LBB estimate · fiscal note version E · source

Sources

Fiscal note · version E · May 14, 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 State Affairs
  4. Scheduled for public hearing on . . .
  5. Considered in public hearing
  6. Testimony taken/registration(s) recorded in committee
  7. Left pending in committee
  8. Considered in formal meeting
  9. Reported favorably w/o amendment(s)
  10. Comte report filed with Committee Coordinator
  11. Committee report distributed
  12. Committee report sent to Calendars
  13. Considered in Calendars
  14. Placed on General State Calendar
  15. Read 2nd time
  16. Passed to engrossment
  17. Record vote RV#1221
  18. Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal
  19. Read 3rd time
  20. Passed
  21. Record vote RV#1321
  22. Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal
  23. Reported engrossed
  24. Received from the House
  25. Read first time
  26. Referred to State Affairs
  27. Scheduled for public hearing on . . .
  28. Considered in public hearing
  29. Testimony taken in committee
  30. Left pending in committee
FILED UNDER

No verified beat found.

SIGNED FOR BY

House · 136 yea · 0 nay

Sources

House: Final passage · May 2, 2025. Journal. Published stock for this vote. Snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

All floor motions and other positions below.

Smells

THANK YOU FOR CHECKING THE RECEIPT

CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY

CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY

Richard Peña Raymond

Donors

PG Rental & Leasing Financial LLC$70KBlackstone Dilworth JR$65,000Wyatt Ranches of Texas LLC$60K

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 · Jul 17, 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.

PG Rental & Leasing Financial LLC$70,000.00

PG Rental & Leasing Financial LLC

$70,000.00

Cash
$70,000.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$70,000.00

Also funds 0 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Oct 30, 2024 to Sep 28, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Name match, not a verified identity: normalized filed name and state.

Sources

Derived itemized flow · Oct 30, 2024 to Sep 28, 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: 100968808, 101007425, 101036903, 101073060.

Blackstone Dilworth JR$65,000.00
Wyatt Ranches of Texas LLC$60,000.00

Wyatt Ranches of Texas LLC

$60,000.00

Cash
$60,000.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$60,000.00

Also funds 0 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Dec 12, 2024 to Jul 9, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Name match, not a verified identity: normalized filed name and state.

Sources

Derived itemized flow · Dec 12, 2024 to Jul 9, 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: 100968808, 101070449.

Money

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

×

PG Rental & Leasing Financial LLC

$70,000.00

Cash
$70,000.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$70,000.00

Also funds 0 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Oct 30, 2024 to Sep 28, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Name match, not a verified identity: normalized filed name and state.

Sources

Derived itemized flow · Oct 30, 2024 to Sep 28, 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: 100968808, 101007425, 101036903, 101073060.

×

Wyatt Ranches of Texas LLC

$60,000.00

Cash
$60,000.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$60,000.00

Also funds 0 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Dec 12, 2024 to Jul 9, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Name match, not a verified identity: normalized filed name and state.

Sources

Derived itemized flow · Dec 12, 2024 to Jul 9, 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: 100968808, 101070449.

Votes2

House May 2, 2025

Yea
136
Nay
0
Present, not voting
1
Absent
2
Excused
11
Names

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

House journal

Sources

Record 1321

HB 2702 was passed by (Record 1321): 136 Yeas, 0 Nays, 1 Present, not voting.

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

  • Yea: 136 (published)
  • Nay: 0 (published)
  • Present, not voting: 1 (published)
  • Absent: 2 (derived from named list)
  • Excused: 11 (derived from named list)

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

House May 1, 2025

Yea
141
Nay
1
Present, not voting
1
Absent
3
Excused
4
Names

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

House journal

Sources

Record 1221

HB 2702 was passed to engrossment by (Record 1221): 141 Yeas, 1 Nays, 1 Present, not voting.

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

  • Yea: 141 (published)
  • Nay: 1 (published)
  • Present, not voting: 1 (published)
  • Absent: 3 (derived from named list)
  • Excused: 4 (derived from named list)

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

Witnesses4
For
4
Against
0
On
0
Names

For

  • Self2 registrations
  • Self; VFW Department of Texas1 registration
  • The American Legion, Dept of Texas1 registration
Sources

4 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.

Fiscal

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

LBB estimate · fiscal note version E · source

Sources

Fiscal note · version E · May 14, 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 558

by Rep. Raymond, same lead author · Vetoed · same text

Introduced text

Last action, Jun 17, 2023: Vetoed by the Governor

Relating to prohibiting certain limitations on the operation of certain organizations that benefit veterans during a declared state of disaster.

Caption, 88R bill history

Sources

Texas House · Filed Feb 12, 2025

05/15/2025 S Left pending in committee

Texas Legislature Online · Introduced · House Committee Report · Engrossed

Data snapshot Nov 1, 2026 at 1:46 PM CST. Grades, charges, quotes and corrections follow the published record.

Coauthors
Penny Morales ShawDHouse 148
Sponsors
Adam HinojosaRSenate 27

House committee · State Affairs · Committee vote 15 aye, 0 nay · Out of committee

Senate committee · State Affairs · Final status: Died in committee

Subjects

Alcoholic Beverage Regulation

Disaster Preparedness & Relief

Governor

Military & Veterans

State Agencies, Boards & Commissions

Text

The text as introduced · 296 words

89R8684 MCK-F

By: Raymond
H.B. No. 2702

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to prohibiting certain limitations on the operation of

certain organizations that benefit veterans during a declared state

of disaster.

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

SECTION 1. Section 418.012, Government Code, is amended to

read as follows:

Sec. 418.012. EXECUTIVE ORDERS. (a) Under this chapter,

the governor may issue executive orders, proclamations, and

regulations and amend or rescind them. Executive orders,

proclamations, and regulations have the force and effect of law.

(b) An executive order, proclamation, or regulation issued

by the governor under this chapter that restricts the operation of

or the hours of operation for a business that sells alcoholic

beverages may not include an organization exempt from federal

taxation under Section 501(a), Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as an

organization described by Section 501(c)(19) of that code, that

benefits veterans of the United States armed forces. This

subsection does not apply to an executive order, proclamation, or

regulation issued by the governor during a natural disaster.

SECTION 2. Section 418.012, Government Code, as amended by

this Act, applies only to a declaration of a state of disaster

issued or renewed on or after the effective date of this Act. A

declaration issued before the effective date of this Act is

governed by the law in effect immediately before the effective date

of this Act, and that law is continued in effect for that purpose.

SECTION 3. 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.