Verdict: No flags
No flags Initial review
Sen. Bob Hall R Senate 2
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 definition of telephone call for purposes of
regulating telephone solicitations.
Caption from analyzed text · version I.
Summary Borrows the definition from Section 304.002 for Chapter 302.
The bill adds a definition of "telephone call" to the state's telephone solicitation law by pointing to the definition already used in another chapter of the Business & Commerce Code, Section 304.002. It touches businesses that make telephone sales calls and must follow the solicitation rules in Chapter 302. The same meaning of "telephone call" would then apply in both chapters starting September 1, 2025.
Labels Labels: BUZZER BEATER. Final vote May 30, 2025: the Senate concurred in the House amendments. 3 days before the session ended Jun 2, 2025. BACK FROM THE DEAD. Same text as a bill filed before that died: 88R SB 315 (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 Bob Hall (R) in the Senate. Lead sponsor Rafael Anchía (D) in the House. Party as the Legislative Reference Library lists it for the 89th Legislature. QUICK READ: 75 WORDS. The bill as filed runs 75 words, counting the existing law it amends and the text it strikes. The median 89R bill as filed runs 441 words (derived, 8,702 graded bills, snapshot Oct 19, 2026).
Receipt
The receipt 89R-SB140 · 2024-11-12
ITEM relating to the definition of telephone call for purposes of
regulating telephone solicitations.
WHAT IT DOES Borrows the definition from Section 304.002 for Chapter 302.
The bill adds a definition of "telephone call" to the state's telephone solicitation law by pointing to the definition already used in another chapter of the Business & Commerce Code, Section 304.002. It touches businesses that make telephone sales calls and must follow the solicitation rules in Chapter 302. The same meaning of "telephone call" would then apply in both chapters starting September 1, 2025.
TOTAL No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
LBB estimate · fiscal note version H · source
Sources
Fiscal note · version H · May 16, 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 Nov 12, 2024 Received by the Secretary of the Senate Nov 12, 2024 Filed Feb 3, 2025 Read first time Feb 3, 2025 Referred to Business & Commerce Feb 18, 2025 Scheduled for public hearing on . . . Feb 18, 2025 Considered in public hearing Feb 18, 2025 Left pending in committee Feb 20, 2025 Co-author authorized Feb 27, 2025 Considered in public hearing Feb 27, 2025 Vote taken in committee Mar 4, 2025 Reported favorably w/o amendments Mar 4, 2025 Recommended for local & uncontested calendar Mar 4, 2025 Committee report printed and distributed Mar 6, 2025 Placed on intent calendar Mar 11, 2025 Co-author authorized Mar 11, 2025 Rules suspended-Constitutional 60-Day Mar 11, 2025 Rules suspended-Regular order of business Mar 11, 2025 Read 2nd time & passed to engrossment Mar 11, 2025 Vote recorded in Journal Mar 11, 2025 Three day rule suspended Mar 11, 2025 Record vote Mar 11, 2025 Read 3rd time Mar 11, 2025 Passed Mar 11, 2025 Record vote Mar 11, 2025 Reported engrossed Mar 11, 2025 Received from the Senate Apr 9, 2025 Read first time Apr 9, 2025 Referred to Trade, Workforce & Economic Development May 7, 2025 Scheduled for public hearing on . . . May 7, 2025 Considered in public hearing May 7, 2025 Testimony taken/registration(s) recorded in committee May 7, 2025 Left pending in committee May 14, 2025 Considered in public hearing May 14, 2025 Committee substitute considered in committee May 14, 2025 Reported favorably as substituted May 19, 2025 Comte report filed with Committee Coordinator May 19, 2025 Committee report distributed May 20, 2025 Committee report sent to Calendars May 22, 2025 Considered in Calendars May 24, 2025 Placed on General State Calendar May 26, 2025 Read 2nd time May 26, 2025 Passed to 3rd reading May 27, 2025 Rules suspended May 27, 2025 Additional sponsor(s) authorized May 27, 2025 Read 3rd time May 27, 2025 Passed May 27, 2025 Record vote RV#3651 May 27, 2025 Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal May 27, 2025 House passage as amended reported May 30, 2025 House amendment(s) laid before the Senate May 30, 2025 Read May 30, 2025 Senate concurs in House amendment(s) May 30, 2025 Record vote May 30, 2025 Reported enrolled May 31, 2025 Senate concurs in House amendment(s)-reported May 31, 2025 Signed in the Senate Jun 1, 2025 Signed in the House Jun 1, 2025 Sent to the Governor Jun 20, 2025 Signed by the Governor Jun 20, 2025 Effective on 9/1/25 FILED UNDER SIGNED FOR BY House · 136 yea · 0 nay
Senate · 31 yea · 0 nay
Sources House: Final passage · May 27, 2025. Journal . Published stock for this vote. Snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.
Senate: Final passage · Mar 11, 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 1, 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.
Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC $135,000.00 Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC $135,000.00
Cash $129,000.00
Paid by others $6,000.00
Total $135,000.00 polling $6,000.00
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 · Sep 12, 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.
Report IDs: 100987789, 101010195, 101040645, 101069307, 101073278.
Texans United for a Conservative Majority PAC $116,000.00 Texans United for a Conservative Majority PAC $116,000.00
Cash $110,000.00
Paid by others $6,000.00
Total $116,000.00 polling $6,000.00
Also funds 30 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 · Jun 27, 2025 to Oct 5, 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: 101010195, 101033131, 101073278.
Bryan Hughes Campaign $100,000.00 Bryan Hughes Campaign $100,000.00
Cash $100,000.00
Paid by others $0.00
Total $100,000.00 Also funds 0 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · Sep 29, 2026 to Oct 5, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
Name match, not a verified identity: normalized filed name and state.
Sources Derived itemized flow · Sep 29, 2026 to Oct 5, 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: 101073278.
Money Missing data does not establish zero giving. Display amounts are rounded.
× Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC $135,000.00
Cash $129,000.00
Paid by others $6,000.00
Total $135,000.00 polling $6,000.00
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 · Sep 12, 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.
Report IDs: 100987789, 101010195, 101040645, 101069307, 101073278.
× Texans United for a Conservative Majority PAC $116,000.00
Cash $110,000.00
Paid by others $6,000.00
Total $116,000.00 polling $6,000.00
Also funds 30 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 · Jun 27, 2025 to Oct 5, 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: 101010195, 101033131, 101073278.
× Bryan Hughes Campaign $100,000.00
Cash $100,000.00
Paid by others $0.00
Total $100,000.00 Also funds 0 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · Sep 29, 2026 to Oct 5, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
Name match, not a verified identity: normalized filed name and state.
Sources Derived itemized flow · Sep 29, 2026 to Oct 5, 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: 101073278.
Votes5
Senate May 30, 2025
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.
Sources
Senator Hall moved to concur in the House amendment to SB 140. The motion prevailed by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 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.
House May 27, 2025
Yea 136
Nay 0
Present, not voting 2
Absent 9
Excused 3
Names
Davis, A. Yea Louderback Yea Schoolcraft Yea Allen Yea Hernandez Yea Rodríguez Ramos Yea Hopper Yea Orr Yea Button Yea Johnson Yea Martinez Yea Walle Yea Gervin-Hawkins Yea Bumgarner Yea Buckley Yea Money Absent Harrison Yea Cain Yea Landgraf Yea Noble Yea Tepper Yea Fairly Yea Harris Davila Yea Isaac Yea Garcia Hernandez Yea Bell, C. Yea Ward Johnson Yea Cunningham Yea Geren Yea Turner Yea Manuel Yea Morales, C. Yea Ordaz Yea Harris(C) Present, not voting Vasut Absent Hefner Yea Phelan Yea Alders Yea Cook Yea Lowe Yea Spiller Yea Villalobos Yea Paul Yea Bernal Yea McLaughlin Absent Howard Yea Darby Yea Mr. Speaker Present, not voting Morales, E. Yea Campos Absent Troxclair Yea Gámez Yea Zwiener Yea Gates Yea VanDeaver Yea Wu Absent Hinojosa Yea Capriglione Yea Bonnen Yea Dutton Yea Kerwin Yea Hickland Yea Vo Excused Lozano Yea Frank Yea Talarico Yea Lopez, J. Absent Holt Yea Patterson Yea Dean Yea Barry Yea Leach Yea González, J. Yea Shofner Yea Moody Yea Bryant Yea Bucy Yea Lujan Yea McQueeney Yea Smithee Yea Jones, J. Yea Rosenthal Yea Garcia, J. Yea Pierson Yea Bell, K. Yea King Yea Richardson Yea Hull Yea Simmons Absent Garcia, L. Yea Flores Yea DeAyala Yea LaHood Yea Dorazio Yea Perez, M. Yea González, M. Yea Morgan Yea Shaheen Yea Plesa Yea Olcott Yea Schofield Yea Little Yea Meyer Yea Schatzline Yea Collier Yea Longoria Yea Curry Yea Dyson Yea Morales Shaw Yea Cortez Absent Guerra Yea Anchía Yea Romero Yea Lopez, R. Yea Bowers Excused Hayes Yea Raymond Yea Reynolds Yea Guillen Yea Bhojani Yea Harless Yea Thompson Yea Muñoz Yea Slawson Yea Luther Yea Cole Yea Gerdes Yea Kitzman Yea Lambert Yea Toth Yea Lalani Yea Leo Wilson Yea Canales Excused Wilson Yea Meza Yea Hunter Yea Craddick Yea Oliverson Yea Rose Yea Tinderholt Yea Ashby Yea Martinez Fischer Yea Wharton Yea Swanson Yea Jones, V. Yea Goodwin Yea Perez, V. Yea Virdell Yea Metcalf Yea Davis, Y. Absent Named positions matched to lawmakers. See the journal for unmatched names.
House journal
Sources
Record 3651
SB 140 was passed by (Record 3651): 136 Yeas, 0 Nays, 2 Present, not voting.
Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.
Yea: 136 (published) Nay: 0 (published) Present, not voting: 2 (published) Absent: 9 (derived from named list) Excused: 3 (derived from named list) House journal . Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.
Senate Mar 11, 2025
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.
Sources
Senator Hall moved that Senate Rule 7.18 and the Constitutional Rule requiring bills to be read on three several days be suspended and that SB 140 be placed on its third reading and final passage. The motion prevailed by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0. The bill was read third time and was passed by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 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 Mar 11, 2025
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.
Sources
Senator Hall moved that Senate Rule 7.18 and the Constitutional Rule requiring bills to be read on three several days be suspended and that SB 140 be placed on its third reading and final passage. The motion prevailed by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 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 Mar 11, 2025
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.
Voice vote. No numeric tally or individual yeas are inferred.
Sources
The bill was read second time and was passed to engrossment 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.
Witnesses6
For 6
Against 0
On 0
Names
For
AARP Texas 2 registrations Self 4 registrations
Sources
6 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 H · source
Sources
Fiscal note · version H · May 16, 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 SB 315 by Sen. Hall, same lead author · Vetoed · same text
Introduced text Last action, Jun 16, 2023: Vetoed by the Governor
Relating to the definition of telephone call for purposes of regulating telephone solicitations. Caption, 88R bill history
Sources
Texas Senate · Filed Nov 12, 2024
06/20/2025 E Effective on 9/1/25
Texas Legislature Online · Introduced · Senate Committee Report · Engrossed · House Committee Report · Enrolled
Data snapshot Oct 26, 2026 at 6:51 AM CDT. Grades, charges, quotes and corrections follow the published record.
Coauthors Sponsors House committee · Trade, Workforce & Economic Development · Committee vote 9 aye, 0 nay, 2 absent · Out of committee
Senate committee · Business & Commerce · Committee vote 11 aye, 0 nay · Out of committee
Companion HB 4719 by Anchía (identical)
Subjects Business & Commerce--General
Business & Commerce--Trade Practices
Utilities--Telecommunications
TELEPHONES & TELEPHONE DIRECTORIES
Text The text as introduced · 75 words
89R1446 SRA-D
By: Hall
S.B. No. 140
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the definition of telephone call for purposes of
regulating telephone solicitations.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 302.001, Business & Commerce Code, is
amended by adding Subdivision (6-a) to read as follows:
(6-a) "Telephone call" has the meaning assigned by
Section 304.002.
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.
Monitoring 
