Monitoring the Session

HB 4361

colleges get rules for fast emergency notifications

Became law

Verdict: No flags

No flagsInitial review
Rep. Charlene Ward JohnsonDHouse 139

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 establishing policies regarding the timely issuance of emergency notifications at public institutions of higher education.

Caption from analyzed text · version I.

Summary

In line with the federal Clery Act.

The bill orders the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board to write rules setting standard procedures for colleges and universities to send emergency notifications quickly, in line with the federal Clery Act. The board must consult administrators, faculty, staff and students at public institutions of higher education, and the rules cover emergency alerts through the existing system required under state law. Campuses will get one standard set of procedures for issuing timely emergency alerts, with the rules adopted as soon as practicable after the bill takes effect.

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).

Receipt

The receipt

89R-HB4361 · 2025-03-11

SOLD BY

Rep. Charlene Ward JohnsonDHouse 139 Rep. Donna HowardDHouse 48 Rep. Cassandra Garcia HernandezDHouse 115

+ 2 more authors, 20 coauthors

ITEM

relating to establishing policies regarding the timely issuance of emergency notifications at public institutions of higher education.

WHAT IT DOES

In line with the federal Clery Act.

The bill orders the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board to write rules setting standard procedures for colleges and universities to send emergency notifications quickly, in line with the federal Clery Act. The board must consult administrators, faculty, staff and students at public institutions of higher education, and the rules cover emergency alerts through the existing system required under state law. Campuses will get one standard set of procedures for issuing timely emergency alerts, with the rules adopted as soon as practicable after the bill takes effect.

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 8, 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 Higher Education
  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 public hearing
  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. Read 3rd time
  18. Passed
  19. Record vote RV#1435
  20. Reported engrossed
  21. Received from the House
  22. Read first time
  23. Referred to Education K-16
  24. Scheduled for public hearing on . . .
  25. Considered in public hearing
  26. Testimony taken in committee
  27. Left pending in committee
  28. Considered in public hearing
  29. Vote taken in committee
  30. Reported favorably w/o amendments
  31. Recommended for local & uncontested calendar
  32. Committee report printed and distributed
  33. Co-sponsor authorized
  34. Placed on local & uncontested calendar
  35. Laid before the Senate
  36. Read 2nd time & passed to 3rd reading
  37. Vote recorded in Journal
  38. Three day rule suspended
  39. Record vote
  40. Read 3rd time
  41. Passed
  42. Record vote
  43. Senate passage reported
  44. Reported enrolled
  45. Signed in the House
  46. Signed in the Senate
  47. Sent to the Governor
  48. Signed by the Governor
  49. Effective immediately
FILED UNDER

No verified beat found.

SIGNED FOR BY

House · 148 yea · 0 nay

Senate · 31 yea · 0 nay

Sources

House: Final passage · May 6, 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

Charlene Ward Johnson

Donors

Texas Sands PAC$33KTexas Trial Lawyers Association PAC$33KLegacy 44$25K

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 5, 2024 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.

Texas Sands PAC$33,000.00

Texas Sands PAC

$33,000.00

Cash
$33,000.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$33,000.00

Also funds 121 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 3, 2024 to Oct 24, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · Oct 1, 2024 to Jan 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: 100981582, 101039497.

Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC$32,500.00

Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC

$32,500.00

Cash
$32,500.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$32,500.00

Also funds 137 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 24, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · Jun 23, 2025 to Sep 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: 101008678, 101031228, 101035430, 101039497, 101068178.

Legacy 44$25,343.19

Legacy 44

$25,343.19

Cash
$4,500.00
Paid by others
$20,843.19
Total
$25,343.19
Other filed descriptions $10,000.00mailer $9,036.44digital $1,806.75

Also funds 33 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Oct 21, 2024 to Oct 20, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · Oct 21, 2024 to Oct 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: 100981582, 101031228, 101039497, 101073019.

Money

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

×

Texas Sands PAC

$33,000.00

Cash
$33,000.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$33,000.00

Also funds 121 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 3, 2024 to Oct 24, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · Oct 1, 2024 to Jan 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: 100981582, 101039497.

×

Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC

$32,500.00

Cash
$32,500.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$32,500.00

Also funds 137 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 24, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · Jun 23, 2025 to Sep 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: 101008678, 101031228, 101035430, 101039497, 101068178.

×

Legacy 44

$25,343.19

Cash
$4,500.00
Paid by others
$20,843.19
Total
$25,343.19
Other filed descriptions $10,000.00mailer $9,036.44digital $1,806.75

Also funds 33 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Oct 21, 2024 to Oct 20, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · Oct 21, 2024 to Oct 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: 100981582, 101031228, 101039497, 101073019.

Votes4

Senate May 28, 2025

Final passage

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.

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 4361 (Zaffirini) Relating to establishing policies regarding the timely issuance of emergency notifications at public institutions of higher education. (viva voce vote) (31-0) (31-0)

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 28, 2025

Suspension of the three-day rule

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.

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 4361 (Zaffirini) Relating to establishing policies regarding the timely issuance of emergency notifications at public institutions of higher education. (viva voce vote) (31-0) (31-0)

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 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 4361 (Zaffirini) Relating to establishing policies regarding the timely issuance of emergency notifications at public institutions of higher education. (viva voce vote) (31-0) (31-0)

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 6, 2025

Yea
148
Nay
0
Present, not voting
1
Absent
1
Excused
0
Names

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

House journal

Sources

Record 1435

HB 4361 was passed by (Record 1435): 148 Yeas, 0 Nays, 1 Present, not voting.

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

  • Yea: 148 (published)
  • Nay: 0 (published)
  • Present, not voting: 1 (published)
  • Absent: 1 (derived from named list)
  • Excused: 0 (derived from named list)

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

Witnesses5
For
4
Against
0
On
1
Names

For

  • DFER TX1 registration
  • Self2 registrations
  • Texas AFT-AAUP1 registration

On

  • Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board1 registration
Sources

5 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 8, 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 Mar 11, 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.

Coauthors
Alma A. AllenDHouse 131 John BryantDHouse 114 Nicole CollierDHouse 95 Yvonne DavisDHouse 111 Lulu FloresDHouse 51 Linda GarciaDHouse 107 Barbara Gervin-HawkinsDHouse 120 Mary E. GonzálezDHouse 75 Vikki GoodwinDHouse 47 Gina HinojosaDHouse 49 Ann JohnsonDHouse 134 Jolanda "Jo" JonesDHouse 147 Venton JonesDHouse 100 Christian ManuelDHouse 22 Trey Martinez FischerDHouse 116 Christina MoralesDHouse 145 Vincent PerezDHouse 77 Mihaela PlesaDHouse 70 Ron ReynoldsDHouse 27 Jon E. RosenthalDHouse 135
Sponsors
Judith ZaffiriniDSenate 21
Cosponsors
Borris MilesDSenate 13

House committee · Higher Education · Committee vote 11 aye, 0 nay · Out of committee

Senate committee · Education K-16 · Committee vote 9 aye, 0 nay, 2 absent · Out of committee

Subjects

Disaster Preparedness & Relief

Education--Higher--General

Safety

HIGHER EDUCATION COORDINATING BOARD, TEXAS

Text

The text as introduced · 200 words

89R15787 AND-D

By: Ward Johnson
H.B. No. 4361

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to establishing policies regarding the timely issuance of

emergency notifications at public institutions of higher

education.

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

SECTION 1. Subchapter C, Chapter 61, Education Code, is

amended by adding Section 61.070 to read as follows:

Sec. 61.070. COORDINATION OF EMERGENCY NOTIFICATIONS. The

board, in consultation with administrators, faculty, staff, and

students at institutions of higher education, shall adopt rules

regarding standardized procedures for timely issuing emergency

notifications in accordance with the Jeanne Clery Campus Safety Act

(20 U.S.C. Section 1092(f)), including emergency alerts through the

system required under Section 51.218.

SECTION 2. The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board

shall adopt the rules required by Section 61.070, Education Code,

as added by this Act, as soon as practicable after the effective

date of this Act.

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.