Monitoring the Session

SB 515

bill putting a nativity scene on the Capitol grounds

Died in committee

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 placement of a nativity scene on the Capitol grounds.

Caption from analyzed text · version I.

Summary

At least the month of December, every year.

The bill orders the State Preservation Board to put up a nativity scene on the State Capitol grounds for at least the month of December every year. It touches the State Preservation Board, which runs the Capitol grounds, and anyone who visits the Capitol during the holidays. Starting in 2025, a nativity scene must appear each December, and it does not count against the existing limit on monuments at the Capitol.

Labels

Labels: QUICK READ: 112 WORDS. The bill as filed runs 112 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).NEVER GOT A HEARING. Filed Dec 2, 2024 and referred to the Senate State Affairs committee. No public hearing. The bill died.

Receipt

The receipt

89R-SB515 · 2024-12-02

SOLD BY

Sen. Mayes MiddletonRSenate 11

ITEM

relating to the placement of a nativity scene on the Capitol grounds.

WHAT IT DOES

At least the month of December, every year.

The bill orders the State Preservation Board to put up a nativity scene on the State Capitol grounds for at least the month of December every year. It touches the State Preservation Board, which runs the Capitol grounds, and anyone who visits the Capitol during the holidays. Starting in 2025, a nativity scene must appear each December, and it does not count against the existing limit on monuments at the Capitol.

CHARGES

[ ] NONE FOUND

TOTAL

No fiscal note in the loaded record.

HISTORY

  1. Received by the Secretary of the Senate
  2. Filed
  3. Read first time
  4. Referred to State Affairs
FILED UNDER

No verified beat found.

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.

Votes

No floor vote loaded for this bill.

Fiscal

No fiscal note in the loaded record.

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 Dec 2, 2024

02/03/2025 S Referred to State Affairs

Texas Legislature Online · Introduced

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

Senate committee · State Affairs · Final status: Died in committee

Companion

HB 1497 by Cain (identical)

Subjects

Holidays

Religion

STATE CAPITOL BUILDING & GROUNDS

STATE PRESERVATION BOARD

Text

The text as introduced · 112 words

By: Middleton
S.B. No. 515

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the placement of a nativity scene on the Capitol

grounds.

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

SECTION 1. Chapter 443, Government Code, is amended by

adding Section 443.01528 to read as follows:

Sec. 443.01528. HOLIDAY NATIVITY SCENE. (a) The State

Preservation Board shall place a nativity scene on the State

Capitol grounds during at least the month of December each year.

(b) A nativity scene described by Subsection (a) of this

section is not a monument subject to the limitation prescribed

under Section 443.0152(a-1).

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