Monitoring the Session

SB 1534

Zaffirini Bill Orders A Health Physics Report, Expires In 2027

Became law, effective Sep 1, 2025

Verdict: Smells

SmellsReviewed
Sen. Judith ZaffiriniDSenate 21
Why it's charged
Study, task force, commission, report

THE TEXT

“Not later than December 1, 2026, the board shall prepare”…

Bill text, introduced version (I)

The only duty is to study and report back after the 2026 election, with any real action left to a future legislature. The caption honestly says this is a study and report.

Study, task force, commission, report

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 a study and report by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board regarding health physics education in this state.

Caption from analyzed text · version I.

Summary

Due December 1, 2026, after the election. Nothing changes on the ground beyond the study.

The bill orders the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, working with the Texas Workforce Commission, to study health physics education in Texas. The study must find gaps in college health physics training and assess workforce needs in nuclear energy and radiological safety. A report with recommendations goes to the legislative committees by December 1, 2026, and the provision expires September 1, 2027, so nothing changes on the ground beyond the study itself.

Labels

Labels: NO AUTOGRAPH. Became law without the governor's signature on Jun 20, 2025.CROSS-PARTY HANDOFF. Lead author Judith Zaffirini (D) in the Senate. Lead sponsor Stan Lambert (R) in the House. Party as the Legislative Reference Library lists it for the 89th Legislature.ACROSS THE AISLE. Joint authors: 1 Republican, 1 Democrat. Party as the Legislative Reference Library lists it for the 89th Legislature.

Receipt

The receipt

89R-SB1534 · 2025-02-21

SOLD BY

Sen. Judith ZaffiriniDSenate 21 Sen. Tan ParkerRSenate 12

ITEM

relating to a study and report by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board regarding health physics education in this state.

WHAT IT DOES

Due December 1, 2026, after the election. Nothing changes on the ground beyond the study.

The bill orders the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, working with the Texas Workforce Commission, to study health physics education in Texas. The study must find gaps in college health physics training and assess workforce needs in nuclear energy and radiological safety. A report with recommendations goes to the legislative committees by December 1, 2026, and the provision expires September 1, 2027, so nothing changes on the ground beyond the study itself.

CHARGES

[x] STUDY, TASK FORCE, COMMISSION, REPORTanalysis confidence 90%

THE TEXT

“Not later than December 1, 2026, the board shall prepare”…

Bill text, introduced version (I)

The only duty is to study and report back after the 2026 election, with any real action left to a future legislature. The caption honestly says this is a study and report.

TOTAL

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

LBB estimate · fiscal note version I · source

Sources

Fiscal note · version I · April 6, 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. Received by the Secretary of the Senate
  2. Filed
  3. Read first time
  4. Referred to Economic Development
  5. Scheduled for public hearing on . . .
  6. Considered in public hearing
  7. Testimony taken in committee
  8. Left pending in committee
  9. Considered in public hearing
  10. Vote taken in committee
  11. Reported favorably w/o amendments
  12. Recommended for local & uncontested calendar
  13. Committee report printed and distributed
  14. Placed on local & uncontested calendar
  15. Laid before the Senate
  16. Read 2nd time & passed to engrossment
  17. Vote recorded in Journal
  18. Three day rule suspended
  19. Record vote
  20. Read 3rd time
  21. Passed
  22. Record vote
  23. Reported engrossed
  24. Received from the Senate
  25. Read first time
  26. Referred to Higher Education
  27. Scheduled for public hearing on . . .
  28. Considered in public hearing
  29. Testimony taken/registration(s) recorded in committee
  30. Left pending in committee
  31. Considered in formal meeting
  32. Reported favorably w/o amendment(s)
  33. Comte report filed with Committee Coordinator
  34. Committee report distributed
  35. Committee report sent to Calendars
  36. Considered in Calendars
  37. Placed on General State Calendar
  38. Read 2nd time
  39. Passed to 3rd reading
  40. Record vote RV#3604
  41. Rules suspended
  42. Additional sponsor(s) authorized
  43. Read 3rd time
  44. Passed
  45. Record vote RV#3654
  46. Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal
  47. House passage reported
  48. Reported enrolled
  49. Signed in the Senate
  50. Signed in the House
  51. Sent to the Governor
  52. Filed without the Governor's signature
  53. Effective on 9/1/25
FILED UNDER

No verified beat found.

SIGNED FOR BY

House · 90 yea · 51 nay

Senate · 29 yea · 2 nay

Sources

House: Final passage · May 27, 2025. Journal. Published stock for this vote. Snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

Senate: Final passage · Apr 24, 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

Judith Zaffirini

Donors

Carlos M. Zaffirini Jr$110,000Killam Development Ltd.$73KTexas Trial Lawyers Association PAC$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 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.

Carlos M. Zaffirini Jr$110,000.00
Killam Development Ltd.$72,700.00

Killam Development Ltd.

$72,700.00

Cash
$10,000.00
Paid by others
$62,700.00
Total
$72,700.00
advertising $33,000.00media $29,700.00

Also funds 3 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Dec 9, 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 · Dec 16, 2025 to Aug 20, 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: 101011018, 101057658.

Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC$60,000.00

Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC

$60,000.00

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

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 · Nov 11, 2024 to Aug 31, 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: 100959783, 100987492, 101011018, 101035338, 101057658.

Money

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

×

Killam Development Ltd.

$72,700.00

Cash
$10,000.00
Paid by others
$62,700.00
Total
$72,700.00
advertising $33,000.00media $29,700.00

Also funds 3 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Dec 9, 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 · Dec 16, 2025 to Aug 20, 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: 101011018, 101057658.

×

Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC

$60,000.00

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

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 · Nov 11, 2024 to Aug 31, 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: 100959783, 100987492, 101011018, 101035338, 101057658.

Votes5

House May 27, 2025

Yea
90
Nay
51
Present, not voting
2
Absent
4
Excused
3
Names

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

House journal

Sources

Record 3654

SB 1534 was passed by (Record 3654): 90 Yeas, 51 Nays, 2 Present, not voting.

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

  • Yea: 90 (published)
  • Nay: 51 (published)
  • Present, not voting: 2 (published)
  • Absent: 4 (derived from named list)
  • Excused: 3 (derived from named list)

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

House May 26, 2025

Yea
106
Nay
38
Present, not voting
1
Absent
4
Excused
1
Names

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

House journal

Sources

Record 3604

SB 1534 was passed to third reading by (Record 3604): 106 Yeas, 38 Nays, 1 Present, not voting.

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

  • Yea: 106 (published)
  • Nay: 38 (published)
  • Present, not voting: 1 (published)
  • Absent: 4 (derived from named list)
  • Excused: 1 (derived from named list)

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

Senate Apr 24, 2025

Final passage

Yea
29
Nay
2
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.

The journal row lists three votes in order: passage to engrossment, suspension of the three-day rule, and final passage. This entry records final passage. Repeated tallies belong to separate votes.

Sources

SB 1534 (Zaffirini, Parker) Relating to a study and report by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board regarding health physics education in this state. (viva voce vote) (29-2) "Nays" Hughes, Sparks (29-2) "Nays" Hughes, Sparks

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

  • Yea: 29 (published)
  • Nay: 2 (published)
  • Present, not voting: Not printed
  • Absent: Not printed
  • Excused: Not printed

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

Senate Apr 24, 2025

Suspension of the three-day rule

Yea
29
Nay
2
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.

The journal row lists three votes in order: passage to engrossment, 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

SB 1534 (Zaffirini, Parker) Relating to a study and report by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board regarding health physics education in this state. (viva voce vote) (29-2) "Nays" Hughes, Sparks (29-2) "Nays" Hughes, Sparks

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

  • Yea: 29 (published)
  • Nay: 2 (published)
  • Present, not voting: Not printed
  • Absent: Not printed
  • Excused: Not printed

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

Senate Apr 24, 2025

Passage to engrossment

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 engrossment, suspension of the three-day rule, and final passage. This entry records passage to engrossment. Repeated tallies belong to separate votes.

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

Sources

SB 1534 (Zaffirini, Parker) Relating to a study and report by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board regarding health physics education in this state. (viva voce vote) (29-2) "Nays" Hughes, Sparks (29-2) "Nays" Hughes, Sparks

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.

Witnesses4
For
2
Against
0
On
2
Names

For

  • Self1 registration
  • Texas Economic Development Council1 registration

On

  • Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board1 registration
  • Texas Workforce Commission1 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 I · source

Sources

Fiscal note · version I · April 6, 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 Senate · Filed Feb 21, 2025

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

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

Data snapshot Nov 1, 2026 at 3:19 PM CST. Grades, charges, quotes and corrections follow the published record.

Sponsors
Stan LambertRHouse 71 Suleman LalaniDHouse 76

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

Senate committee · Economic Development · Committee vote 5 aye, 0 nay · Out of committee

Subjects

Education--Higher--Institutions & Programs

Energy--Nuclear

Interim Studies

Labor--Workforce Development

HIGHER EDUCATION COORDINATING BOARD, TEXAS

WORKFORCE COMMISSION, TEXAS

Text

The text as introduced · 246 words

89R8511 CMO-D

By: Zaffirini, Parker
S.B. No. 1534

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to a study and report by the Texas Higher Education

Coordinating Board regarding health physics education in this

state.

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

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

amended by adding Section 61.06696 to read as follows:

Sec. 61.06696. STUDY AND REPORT ON HEALTH PHYSICS

EDUCATION. (a) The board, in collaboration with the Texas

Workforce Commission, shall conduct a study on health physics

education in this state.

(b) The study must:

(1) identify gaps in health physics training programs

provided by institutions of higher education; and

(2) assess workforce needs in the nuclear energy and

radiological safety sectors.

(c) Not later than December 1, 2026, the board shall prepare

and submit to each standing committee of the senate and house of

representatives having primary jurisdiction over higher education

or workforce development a written report that:

(1) summarizes the results of the study conducted

under this section; and

(2) includes recommendations for legislative or other

action based on the results of the study.

(d) This section expires September 1, 2027.

SECTION 2. 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.