Monitoring the Session

HB 5693

Jefferson County drainage elections move from May to November

Became law, effective Sep 1, 2025

Verdict: No flags

No flagsInitial review
Rep. Christian ManuelDHouse 22

Initial review · graded Oct 19, 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 of the commissioners of the Jefferson County Drainage District No. 7.

Caption from analyzed text · version I.

Summary

Sitting commissioners get about six extra months.

This bill moves the board elections for Jefferson County Drainage District No. 7 from May to the November uniform election date in odd-numbered years. It touches the five district commissioners and the voters inside the district, and it extends the terms of sitting commissioners by about six months so they line up with the new schedule. Two seats go on the ballot in November 2025 and three in November 2027, with four-year staggered terms after that.

Labels

Labels: CROSS-PARTY HANDOFF. Lead author Christian Manuel (D) in the House. Lead sponsor Robert Nichols (R) in the Senate. Party as the Legislative Reference Library lists it for the 89th Legislature.

Receipt

The receipt

89R-HB5693 · 2025-04-29

SOLD BY

ITEM

relating to the election of the commissioners of the Jefferson County Drainage District No. 7.

WHAT IT DOES

Sitting commissioners get about six extra months.

This bill moves the board elections for Jefferson County Drainage District No. 7 from May to the November uniform election date in odd-numbered years. It touches the five district commissioners and the voters inside the district, and it extends the terms of sitting commissioners by about six months so they line up with the new schedule. Two seats go on the ballot in November 2025 and three in November 2027, with four-year staggered terms after that.

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. Read first time
  3. Referred to Natural Resources
  4. Transmitted to the Governor
  5. Scheduled for public hearing on . . .
  6. Considered in public hearing
  7. Testimony taken/registration(s) recorded in committee
  8. Left pending in committee
  9. Considered in formal meeting
  10. Recommended to be sent to Local & Consent
  11. Reported favorably w/o amendment(s)
  12. Comte report filed with Committee Coordinator
  13. Committee report distributed
  14. Comm. report sent to Local & Consent Calendar
  15. Considered in Local & Consent Calendars
  16. Placed on Local, Consent, and Res. Calendar
  17. Read 2nd time
  18. Passed to engrossment
  19. Nonrecord vote recorded in Journal
  20. Read 3rd time
  21. Passed
  22. Record vote RV#2818
  23. Nonrecord vote recorded in Journal
  24. Reported engrossed
  25. Received from the House
  26. Recommendations filed with the Speaker
  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 intent calendar
  36. Rules suspended-Regular order of business
  37. Vote recorded in Journal
  38. Read 2nd time & passed to 3rd reading
  39. Vote recorded in Journal
  40. Three day rule suspended
  41. Record vote
  42. Read 3rd time
  43. Passed
  44. Record vote
  45. Senate passage reported
  46. Reported enrolled
  47. Signed in the House
  48. Signed in the Senate
  49. Sent to the Governor
  50. Signed by the Governor
  51. Effective on 9/1/25
FILED UNDER

Beats not yet reviewed.

SIGNED FOR BY

House · 109 yea · 22 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 25, 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 · Jul 23, 2024 to Jun 30, 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.

ENPAC Texas$5,000.00

ENPAC Texas

$5,000.00

Cash
$5,000.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$5,000.00

Also funds 27 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Sep 26, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

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

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · on Nov 10, 2025. 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: 101033978.

Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC$5,000.00

Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC

$5,000.00

Cash
$5,000.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$5,000.00

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 · Jul 7, 2025 to Oct 1, 2025. 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: 101033978.

Texas Sands PAC$4,000.00

Texas Sands PAC

$4,000.00

Cash
$4,000.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$4,000.00

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 · on May 18, 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: 101061945.

Money

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

×

ENPAC Texas

$5,000.00

Cash
$5,000.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$5,000.00

Also funds 27 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Sep 26, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

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

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · on Nov 10, 2025. 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: 101033978.

×

Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC

$5,000.00

Cash
$5,000.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$5,000.00

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 · Jul 7, 2025 to Oct 1, 2025. 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: 101033978.

×

Texas Sands PAC

$4,000.00

Cash
$4,000.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$4,000.00

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 · on May 18, 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: 101061945.

Votes4

Senate May 25, 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 25, 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 Nichols moved that Senate Rule 7.18 and the Constitutional Rule requiring bills to be read on three several days be suspended and that HB 5693 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 25, 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 Nichols moved to suspend the regular order of business to take up for consideration HB 5693 at this time on its second reading: HB 5693, Relating to the election of the commissioners of the Jefferson County Drainage District No. 7. The motion prevailed. Senator Hall 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 16, 2025

Yea
109
Nay
22
Present, not voting
2
Absent
4
Excused
12
Names

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

House journal

The shared roll contains conflicting member evidence. Those positions remain conflicting.

Swanson is listed as excused in the shared roll and nay in this bill's list. That position remains conflicting.

Sources

Record 2818

HB 5693 (Alders, Ashby, Barry, Cain, Cunningham, Gerdes, Harris Davila, Hickland, Hull, Isaac, King, Leo Wilson, Metcalf, Oliverson, Patterson, Shofner, Slawson, Swanson, Toth, Troxclair, Vasut, Wharton, and Wilson - no) (109 - 22 - 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: 109 (published)
  • Nay: 22 (published)
  • Present, not voting: 2 (published)
  • Absent: 4 (derived from named list)
  • Excused: 12 (derived from named list)

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

Witnesses2
For
2
Against
0
On
0
Names

For

  • Jefferson County DD71 registration
  • Self1 registration
Sources

2 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 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 19, 2026, against the published rubric.

Sources

Texas House · Filed Apr 29, 2025

06/20/2025 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

House committee · Natural Resources · Committee vote 11 aye, 0 nay, 2 absent · Out of committee

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

Subjects

JEFFERSON COUNTY DRAINAGE DISTRICT NO. 7 (DG3PA)

Elections--General

Special Districts & Authorities--Water & Utility

Text

The text as introduced · 546 words

89R25301 SCF-D

By: Manuel
H.B. No. 5693

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the election of the commissioners of the Jefferson

County Drainage District No. 7.

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

SECTION 1. Section 4, Chapter 34, Acts of the 57th

Legislature, 3rd Called Session, 1962, is amended to read as

follows:

Sec. 4. The management and control of the District shall be

vested in five Commissioners. Except as provided by this Act, the

General Laws of the State of Texas relating to the Commissioners of

drainage districts shall apply to the Commissioners of the

District. The District shall hold an election on the uniform

election date in November of each odd-numbered year to elect the

appropriate number of Commissioners [ are elected in accordance with

Subchapter D, Chapter 49, Water Code ]. Not more than one

Commissioner shall be elected from any one municipality as long as

five municipalities exist within the district. Commissioners serve

staggered four-year terms. For all purposes, a quorum for doing

business shall consist of a majority of the Commission.

SECTION 2. (a) The Jefferson County Drainage District

No. 7 shall hold an election to elect two commissioners on the

uniform election date in November 2025, as provided by Section 4,

Chapter 34, Acts of the 57th Legislature, 3rd Called Session, 1962,

as amended by this Act.

(b) A commissioner serving on the board of commissioners of

the Jefferson County Drainage District No. 7 elected in May 2022

shall serve until the commissioner's successor has qualified

following the commissioners' election held on the uniform election

date in November 2025. A commissioner elected to succeed that

commissioner serves a four-year term.

(c) The Jefferson County Drainage District No. 7 shall hold

an election to elect three commissioners on the uniform election

date in November 2027, as provided by Section 4, Chapter 34, Acts of

the 57th Legislature, 3rd Called Session, 1962, as amended by this

Act.

(d) A commissioner serving on the board of commissioners of

the Jefferson County Drainage District No. 7 elected in May 2024

shall serve until the commissioner's successor has qualified

following the commissioners' election held on the uniform election

date in November 2027. A commissioner elected to succeed that

commissioner serves a four-year term.

SECTION 3. (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 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.