Monitoring the Session

SB 413

school board minutes must show attendance and every vote

Became law, effective Sep 1, 2025

Verdict: No flags

No flagsInitial review
Sen. Mayes MiddletonRSenate 11

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 meetings of the boards of trustees of independent school districts.

Caption from analyzed text · version I.

Summary

Every trustee’s attendance and every vote, on the record.

The bill requires school board minutes to show each trustee's attendance and how each trustee voted on every item voted on at the meeting. It touches the boards of trustees of every independent school district in Texas. Boards must post those minutes and any adopted resolutions on the district website within seven days of the meeting, and the minutes and recording of open meetings must be available to the public, 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.

Receipt

The receipt

89R-SB413 · 2024-11-21

SOLD BY

Sen. Mayes MiddletonRSenate 11

+ 1 coauthor

ITEM

relating to the meetings of the boards of trustees of independent school districts.

WHAT IT DOES

Every trustee’s attendance and every vote, on the record.

The bill requires school board minutes to show each trustee's attendance and how each trustee voted on every item voted on at the meeting. It touches the boards of trustees of every independent school district in Texas. Boards must post those minutes and any adopted resolutions on the district website within seven days of the meeting, and the minutes and recording of open meetings must be available to the public, starting September 1, 2025.

CHARGES

[ ] NONE FOUND

TOTAL

No fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

LBB estimate · fiscal note version F · source

Sources

Fiscal note · version F · May 29, 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 Local Government
  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 as substituted
  12. Recommended for local & uncontested calendar
  13. Committee report printed and distributed
  14. Co-author authorized
  15. Placed on intent calendar
  16. Not again placed on intent calendar
  17. Placed on local & uncontested calendar
  18. Laid before the Senate
  19. Read 2nd time & passed to engrossment
  20. Vote recorded in Journal
  21. Three day rule suspended
  22. Record vote
  23. Read 3rd time
  24. Passed
  25. Record vote
  26. Reported engrossed
  27. Received from the Senate
  28. Read first time
  29. Referred to Public Education
  30. Scheduled for public hearing on . . .
  31. No action taken in committee
  32. Posting rule suspended
  33. Scheduled for public hearing on . . .
  34. Considered in public hearing
  35. Testimony taken/registration(s) recorded in committee
  36. Left pending in committee
  37. Considered in formal meeting
  38. Reported favorably w/o amendment(s)
  39. Comte report filed with Committee Coordinator
  40. Committee report distributed
  41. Committee report sent to Calendars
  42. Considered in Calendars
  43. Placed on General State Calendar
  44. Read 2nd time
  45. Amended 1-M. González
  46. Record vote RV#3616
  47. Passed to 3rd reading as amended
  48. Read 3rd time
  49. Postponed 5/28/25 8:00 AM
  50. Laid out as postponed business
  51. Passed
  52. Record vote RV#3926
  53. Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal
  54. House passage as amended reported
  55. House amendment(s) laid before the Senate
  56. Read
  57. Senate concurs in House amendment(s)
  58. Record vote
  59. Senate concurs in House amendment(s)-reported
  60. Reported enrolled
  61. Signed in the Senate
  62. Signed in the House
  63. Sent to the Governor
  64. Signed by the Governor
  65. Effective on 9/1/25
FILED UNDER

No verified beat found.

SIGNED FOR BY

House · 134 yea · 0 nay

Senate · 30 yea · 0 nay

Sources

House: Final passage · May 28, 2025. Journal. Published stock for this vote. Snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

Senate: Final passage · Apr 10, 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

Mayes Middleton

Donors

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC$1.14MRussell Gordy$300,000Kenneth Fisher$215,000

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 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.

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC$1,140,000.00

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC

$1,140,000.00

Cash
$1,140,000.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$1,140,000.00

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 · Dec 12, 2024 to Oct 21, 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: 101009502, 101012383, 101061137, 101072395, 101072779.

Russell Gordy$300,000.00
Kenneth Fisher$215,000.00
Money

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

×

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC

$1,140,000.00

Cash
$1,140,000.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$1,140,000.00

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 · Dec 12, 2024 to Oct 21, 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: 101009502, 101012383, 101061137, 101072395, 101072779.

Votes6

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 Middleton moved to concur in the House amendment to SB 413. 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 28, 2025

Yea
134
Nay
0
Present, not voting
2
Absent
7
Excused
7
Names

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

House journal

Sources

Record 3926

SB 413 was passed by (Record 3926): 134 Yeas, 0 Nays, 2 Present, not voting.

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

  • Yea: 134 (published)
  • Nay: 0 (published)
  • Present, not voting: 2 (published)
  • Absent: 7 (derived from named list)
  • Excused: 7 (derived from named list)

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

House May 27, 2025

Yea
142
Nay
1
Present, not voting
1
Absent
5
Excused
1
Names

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

House journal

Sources

Record 3616

Amendment No. 1 was adopted by (Record 3616): 142 Yeas, 1 Nays, 1 Present, not voting.

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

  • Yea: 142 (published)
  • Nay: 1 (published)
  • Present, not voting: 1 (published)
  • Absent: 5 (derived from named list)
  • Excused: 1 (derived from named list)

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

Senate Apr 10, 2025

Final passage

Yea
30
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.

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

CSSB 413 (Middleton) Relating to the meetings of the boards of trustees of independent school districts. (viva voce vote) (30-0) (30-0)

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

  • Yea: 30 (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 10, 2025

Suspension of the three-day rule

Yea
30
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.

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

CSSB 413 (Middleton) Relating to the meetings of the boards of trustees of independent school districts. (viva voce vote) (30-0) (30-0)

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

  • Yea: 30 (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 10, 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

CSSB 413 (Middleton) Relating to the meetings of the boards of trustees of independent school districts. (viva voce vote) (30-0) (30-0)

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.

Witnesses18
For
14
Against
1
On
3
Names

For

  • Self1 registration
  • Self; Citizens Defending Freedom3 registrations
  • Self; Texas Eagle Forum1 registration
  • Self; Texas Press Association1 registration
  • Self; True texas project1 registration
  • Texas Classroom Teachers Association2 registrations
  • Texas Press Association1 registration
  • Texas State Teachers Association1 registration
  • Texas state teachers association1 registration
  • Texas Taxpayers and Research Association1 registration
  • Texas Values1 registration

Against

  • Self1 registration

On

  • Self1 registration
  • Texas Assoc of School Boards1 registration
  • Texas Education Agency1 registration
Sources

18 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 F · source

Sources

Fiscal note · version F · May 29, 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 Nov 21, 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
Royce WestDSenate 23
Sponsors
Brad BuckleyRHouse 54

House committee · Public Education · Committee vote 12 aye, 0 nay, 3 absent · Out of committee

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

Subjects

Education--School Districts

Open Meetings

INTERNET

Text

The text as introduced · 207 words

By: Middleton
S.B. No. 413

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the meetings of the boards of trustees of independent

school districts.

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

SECTION 1. Section 11.0621, Education Code, is amended to

read as follows:

Sec. 11.0621. MEETINGS. (a) The minutes[ , certified

agenda, or recording, as applicable, ] of a regular or special

meeting of the board of trustees must reflect each member's :

(1) attendance at or absence from the meeting ; and

(2) vote on any item that is voted on by the board at

the meeting.

(b) The board of trustees shall post on the district's

Internet website:

(1) the minutes described by Subsection (a) not later

than the seventh day after the date of a meeting at which a quorum of

the board is present and voting; and

(2) any resolution adopted by the board not later than

the seventh day after the date of the meeting at which the

resolution was adopted .

(c) The minutes and [ or ] tape recording of an open meeting

must be accessible to the public in accordance with Section

551.022, Government Code.

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