SB 1568: Animal Friendly plates, plus more plates for animal welfare

Caption

relating to the issuance of Animal Friendly specialty license plates.

Summary

The Texas Humane Legislation Network weighs in on plate design.

The bill rewrites the existing Animal Friendly specialty license plate section so the state motor vehicle department must issue Animal Friendly plates and also other specialty plates meant to benefit animal welfare and spay-neuter programs in Texas. It touches the department, drivers who buy specialty plates, and the Texas Humane Legislation Network, which the department must consult on plate design. On the ground, more animal-welfare plate designs can be offered starting September 1, 2025.

Labels

Labels: CROSS-PARTY HANDOFF. Lead author Judith Zaffirini (D) in the Senate. Lead sponsor Pat Curry (R) in the House. Party as the Legislative Reference Library lists it for the 89th Legislature.QUICK READ: 102 WORDS. The bill as filed runs 102 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-SB1568 · 2025-02-24

SOLD BY

Sen. Judith ZaffiriniDSenate 21

+ 1 coauthor

ITEM

relating to the issuance of Animal Friendly specialty license plates.

WHAT IT DOES

The Texas Humane Legislation Network weighs in on plate design.

The bill rewrites the existing Animal Friendly specialty license plate section so the state motor vehicle department must issue Animal Friendly plates and also other specialty plates meant to benefit animal welfare and spay-neuter programs in Texas. It touches the department, drivers who buy specialty plates, and the Texas Humane Legislation Network, which the department must consult on plate design. On the ground, more animal-welfare plate designs can be offered starting September 1, 2025.

CHARGES

[ ] NONE FOUND

TOTAL

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

LBB estimate · fiscal note version S · source

Sources

Fiscal note · version S · April 24, 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

Feb 24, 2025Received by the Secretary of the Senate
Feb 24, 2025Filed
Mar 6, 2025Read first time
Mar 6, 2025Referred to Transportation
Apr 23, 2025Scheduled for public hearing on . . .
Apr 23, 2025Considered in public hearing
Apr 23, 2025Testimony taken in committee
Apr 23, 2025Vote taken in committee
Apr 28, 2025Reported favorably as substituted
Apr 28, 2025Recommended for local & uncontested calendar
Apr 28, 2025Committee report printed and distributed
Apr 29, 2025Placed on intent calendar
Apr 30, 2025Co-author authorized
Apr 30, 2025Rules suspended-Regular order of business
Apr 30, 2025Read 2nd time & passed to engrossment
Apr 30, 2025Vote recorded in Journal
Apr 30, 2025Three day rule suspended
Apr 30, 2025Record vote
Apr 30, 2025Read 3rd time
Apr 30, 2025Passed
Apr 30, 2025Record vote
Apr 30, 2025Reported engrossed
Apr 30, 2025Received from the Senate
May 1, 2025Read first time
May 1, 2025Referred to Transportation
May 6, 2025Considered in formal meeting
May 6, 2025Recommended to be sent to Local & Consent
May 6, 2025Reported favorably w/o amendment(s)
May 8, 2025Comte report filed with Committee Coordinator
May 8, 2025Committee report distributed
May 8, 2025Comm. report sent to Local & Consent Calendar
May 8, 2025Laid out in lieu of companion CSHB 3832
May 8, 2025Read 2nd time
May 8, 2025Passed to 3rd reading
May 8, 2025Record vote RV#1869
May 8, 2025Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal
May 9, 2025Read 3rd time
May 9, 2025Passed
May 9, 2025Record vote RV#1890
May 9, 2025Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal
May 12, 2025House passage reported
May 12, 2025Reported enrolled
May 13, 2025Signed in the Senate
May 13, 2025Signed in the House
May 13, 2025Sent to the Governor
May 24, 2025Signed by the Governor
May 24, 2025Effective on 9/1/25

FILED UNDER

No verified beat found.

SIGNED FOR BY

House · 102 yea · 36 nay

Senate · 31 yea · 0 nay

Sources

House: Final passage · May 9, 2025. Journal. Published stock for this vote. Snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

Senate: Final passage · Apr 30, 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

Judith Zaffirini

Donors

Carlos M. Zaffirini Jr$110,000Killam Development Ltd.$73K Texas 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 9, 2025

Yea: 102
Nay: 36
Present, not voting: 3
Absent: 5
Excused: 4

Names

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

House journal

Sources

Record 1890

SB 1568 was passed by (Record 1890): 102 Yeas, 36 Nays, 3 Present, not voting.

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

Yea: 102 (published)
Nay: 36 (published)
Present, not voting: 3 (published)
Absent: 5 (derived from named list)
Excused: 4 (derived from named list)

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

House May 8, 2025

Yea: 93
Nay: 47
Present, not voting: 3
Absent: 5
Excused: 2

Names

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

House journal

Sources

Record 1869

SB 1568 was read second time and was passed to third reading by (Record 1869): 93 Yeas, 47 Nays, 3 Present, not voting.

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

Yea: 93 (published)
Nay: 47 (published)
Present, not voting: 3 (published)
Absent: 5 (derived from named list)
Excused: 2 (derived from named list)

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

Senate Apr 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 Zaffirini moved that Senate Rule 7.18 and the Constitutional Rule requiring bills to be read on three several days be suspended and that CSSB 1568 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 Apr 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 Zaffirini moved that Senate Rule 7.18 and the Constitutional Rule requiring bills to be read on three several days be suspended and that CSSB 1568 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 Apr 30, 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.

Witnesses5

For: 3
Against: 0
On: 2

Names

For

City of Houston1 registration
Myself and TX Humane Legislative Network1 registration
Texas Humane Legislative Network1 registration

On

Dept. of State Health Services1 registration
Texas Department of Motor Vehicles1 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.

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 S · source

Sources

Fiscal note · version S · April 24, 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 24, 2025

05/24/2025 E Effective on 9/1/25

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

Data snapshot Oct 26, 2026 at 4:20 AM CDT. Grades, charges, quotes and corrections follow the published record.

Coauthors

José MenéndezDSenate 26

Companion

HB 3832 by Curry (similar)

HB 4600 by Curry (identical)

Subjects

Animals

Vehicles & Traffic--Equipment

LICENSE PLATES

TEXAS HUMANE LEGISLATION NETWORK (ST5Q2)

MOTOR VEHICLES, TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF

Text

The text as introduced · 102 words

By: Zaffirini
S.B. No. 1568

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the issuance of Animal Friendly specialty license

plates.

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

SECTION 1. Section 504.605(a), Transportation Code, is

amended to read as follows:

(a) The department shall issue specialty license plates

including the words "Animal Friendly . " and shall issue other

specialty license plates designed to benefit animal welfare and

spay-neuter programs in Texas. The department shall design the

license plates in consultation with the Texas Humane Legislation

Network .

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

Verdict: No flags

The receipt

SOLD BY

ITEM

WHAT IT DOES

CHARGES

TOTAL

HISTORY

SIGNED FOR BY

Donors

Killam Development Ltd.

Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC

Killam Development Ltd.

Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC

House May 9, 2025

House May 8, 2025

Senate Apr 30, 2025

Senate Apr 30, 2025

Senate Apr 30, 2025

For

On

Companion