April 28, 2015 4:53 PM

Heavily amended ethics reform bill passes the Texas Senate

Senators voted unanimously to adopt Watson’s language that requires disclosure even when lobbyists split the check

After a lengthy and sometimes heated debate, the Texas Senate on Tuesday passed an “ethics reform” bill that had been watered down in committee and was then loaded up with amendments on the floor.

As announced by Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick from the dais, the vote on final passage of Senate Bill 19 by Sen. Van Taylor, R-Plano, was 30 to 1. The vote count after that was unanimous, however.

Among other big changes, the Senate unanimously approved amendments by Sen. Kirk Watson, D-Austin, requiring disclosure of lobbyists paying for legislator meals of at least $50 – even if they split the check.

"The goal of the amendment is to support meaningful disclosure," Watson said, noting that the language was similar to a bill that he’s not had any luck passing. “They (lobbyists) can still split the bill," Watson said, but added that under his amendment a detailed report would still be required about what was spent.

Before the bill came to the floor, it had been significantly weakened in several ways.

For instance, a provision was cut that would have barred lawmakers from participating in the public debt business. That’s been a top priority of Gov. Greg Abbott, who originally proposed it. This proposal would not prevent lawmakers from doing public debt work, but they would have to disclose it.

By Scott Braddock