Monitoring the Session

HB 5308

Cortez Bill Gives Adjutant General Final Say On Military Locations

Became law, effective Sep 1, 2025

Verdict: Smells

SmellsReviewed
Rep. Philip CortezDHouse 117
Why it's charged
Caption mismatch

THE TEXT

“The adjutant general is the decision-making authority on all matters concerning the location and maintenance of military forces and facilities in this state.”

Bill text, introduced version (I)

The caption speaks only of procurement and construction, but this clause also gives the adjutant general final say over where military forces are located. The body also makes the office a body politic and corporate, which the caption does not mention.

Caption mismatch

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 certain authorities of the adjutant general for procurement and construction.

Caption from analyzed text · version I.

Summary

Caption: procurement and construction. Bill: the “decision-making authority” on where military forces are located.

The bill makes the state's adjutant general the decision-maker on where Texas military forces and facilities are located and maintained, and lets that office set construction and repair priorities for armories and other military facilities. It also declares the adjutant general a public authority and body politic and corporate with broad powers to buy, build, rent, run and dispose of military property, and to sign agreements with the National Guard Bureau and other government agencies. The Texas Military Department's leader gains clear legal power over military real estate and construction, can hand that power to subordinates, and the change starts September 1, 2025.

Labels

Labels: CROSS-PARTY HANDOFF. Lead author Philip Cortez (D) in the House. Lead sponsor Donna Campbell (R) in the Senate. Party as the Legislative Reference Library lists it for the 89th Legislature.

Receipt

The receipt

89R-HB5308 · 2025-03-14

SOLD BY

Rep. Philip CortezDHouse 117 Rep. Josey GarciaDHouse 124

ITEM

relating to certain authorities of the adjutant general for procurement and construction.

WHAT IT DOES

Caption: procurement and construction. Bill: the “decision-making authority” on where military forces are located.

The bill makes the state's adjutant general the decision-maker on where Texas military forces and facilities are located and maintained, and lets that office set construction and repair priorities for armories and other military facilities. It also declares the adjutant general a public authority and body politic and corporate with broad powers to buy, build, rent, run and dispose of military property, and to sign agreements with the National Guard Bureau and other government agencies. The Texas Military Department's leader gains clear legal power over military real estate and construction, can hand that power to subordinates, and the change starts September 1, 2025.

CHARGES

[x] CAPTION MISMATCHanalysis confidence 40%

THE TEXT

“The adjutant general is the decision-making authority on all matters concerning the location and maintenance of military forces and facilities in this state.”

Bill text, introduced version (I)

The caption speaks only of procurement and construction, but this clause also gives the adjutant general final say over where military forces are located. The body also makes the office a body politic and corporate, which the caption does not mention.

TOTAL

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

LBB estimate · fiscal note version E · source

Sources

Fiscal note · version E · May 22, 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 Homeland Security, Public Safety & Veterans' 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#2357
  18. Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal
  19. Read 3rd time
  20. Passed
  21. Record vote RV#2446
  22. Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal
  23. Reported engrossed
  24. Received from the House
  25. Read first time
  26. Referred to Vet Affairs
  27. Posting rule suspended
  28. Scheduled for public hearing on . . .
  29. Considered in public hearing
  30. Vote taken in committee
  31. Reported favorably w/o amendments
  32. Recommended for local & uncontested calendar
  33. Committee report printed and distributed
  34. Placed on intent calendar
  35. Rules suspended-Regular order of business
  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 on 9/1/25
FILED UNDER

No verified beat found.

SIGNED FOR BY

House · 139 yea · 3 nay

Senate · 30 yea · 1 nay

Sources

House: Final passage · May 14, 2025. Journal. Published stock for this vote. Snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

Senate: Final passage · May 26, 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

Philip Cortez

Donors

Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC$44KTexas Sands PAC$37KPhysicians for Free Market Healthcare PAC$35K

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 28, 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.

Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC$44,000.00

Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC

$44,000.00

Cash
$44,000.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$44,000.00

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 · Dec 6, 2024 to Sep 25, 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: 100985407, 101008363, 101026711, 101035640, 101039466, 101052595, 101071633.

Texas Sands PAC$37,000.00

Texas Sands PAC

$37,000.00

Cash
$37,000.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$37,000.00

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 · Dec 6, 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.

Report IDs: 100985407, 101039466, 101071633.

Physicians for Free Market Healthcare PAC$35,000.00

Physicians for Free Market Healthcare PAC

$35,000.00

Cash
$35,000.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$35,000.00

Also funds 33 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jun 30, 2025 to Oct 22, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · Sep 22, 2025 to Oct 15, 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: 101026711, 101035640, 101071633.

Money

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

×

Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC

$44,000.00

Cash
$44,000.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$44,000.00

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 · Dec 6, 2024 to Sep 25, 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: 100985407, 101008363, 101026711, 101035640, 101039466, 101052595, 101071633.

×

Texas Sands PAC

$37,000.00

Cash
$37,000.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$37,000.00

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 · Dec 6, 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.

Report IDs: 100985407, 101039466, 101071633.

×

Physicians for Free Market Healthcare PAC

$35,000.00

Cash
$35,000.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$35,000.00

Also funds 33 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jun 30, 2025 to Oct 22, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · Sep 22, 2025 to Oct 15, 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: 101026711, 101035640, 101071633.

Votes5

Senate May 26, 2025

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.

Sources

The bill was read third time and was passed by the following vote: Yeas 30, Nays 1. (Same as previous roll call)

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 26, 2025

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.

Sources

Senator Campbell moved that Senate Rule 7.18 and the Constitutional Rule requiring bills to be read on three several days be suspended and that HB 5308 be placed on its third reading and final passage. The motion prevailed by the following vote: Yeas 30, Nays 1.

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 26, 2025

Yea
Not printed
Nay
Not printed
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.

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

Sources

Senator Campbell moved to suspend the regular order of business to take up for consideration HB 5308 at this time on its second reading: HB 5308, Relating to certain authorities of the adjutant general for procurement and construction. The motion prevailed. Senator Cook asked to be recorded as voting "Nay" on suspension of the regular order of business. 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 May 14, 2025

Yea
139
Nay
3
Present, not voting
2
Absent
3
Excused
3
Names

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

House journal

Sources

Record 2446

HB 5308 was passed by (Record 2446): 139 Yeas, 3 Nays, 2 Present, not voting.

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

  • Yea: 139 (published)
  • Nay: 3 (published)
  • Present, not voting: 2 (published)
  • Absent: 3 (derived from named list)
  • Excused: 3 (derived from named list)

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

House May 13, 2025

Yea
142
Nay
0
Present, not voting
2
Absent
2
Excused
4
Names

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

House journal

Sources

Record 2357

HB 5308 was passed to engrossment by (Record 2357): 142 Yeas, 0 Nays, 2 Present, not voting.

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

  • Yea: 142 (published)
  • Nay: 0 (published)
  • Present, not voting: 2 (published)
  • Absent: 2 (derived from named list)
  • Excused: 4 (derived from named list)

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

Witnesses4
For
2
Against
0
On
2
Names

For

  • Self2 registrations

On

  • Texas Military Department1 registration
  • Texas military department1 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.

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 22, 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 14, 2025

06/20/2025 E Effective on 9/1/25

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

Data snapshot Nov 1, 2026 at 3:14 PM CST. Grades, charges, quotes and corrections follow the published record.

Sponsors
Donna CampbellRSenate 25

House committee · Homeland Security, Public Safety & Veterans' Affairs · Committee vote 9 aye, 0 nay, 2 absent · Out of committee

Senate committee · Veteran Affairs · Committee vote 5 aye, 0 nay, 2 absent · Out of committee

Subjects

Purchasing--State

ADJUTANT GENERAL

Text

The text as introduced · 216 words

By: Cortez
H.B. No. 5308

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to certain authorities of the adjutant general for

procurement and construction.

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

SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 437, Government Code, is

amended by adding Section 437.054 to read as follows:

Sec. 437.054. ADJUTANT GENERAL: GENERAL POWERS. (a) The

adjutant general is the decision-making authority on all matters

concerning the location and maintenance of military forces and

facilities in this state. The adjutant general may set priorities

for the construction, renovation, repair, and maintenance of Texas

military forces armories, facilities, and improvements owned or

leased by this state. The adjutant general in this capacity is a

public authority and a body politic and corporate and has all powers

necessary for the acquisition , and procurement related to

construction, construction, rental, control, maintenance,

operation, and disposition of Texas military forces facilities and

real property and all associated property and equipment.

(b) The adjutant general may execute the cooperative

agreements with the National Guard Bureau and an interagency

military agreement with a federal, state, or local governmental or

quasi-governmental agency.

(c) The adjutant general may delegate the authority granted

under this section in whole or in part.

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