Nonpartisan · Data from OpenStates / Plural Policy · Texas
Judith Zaffirini
Democratic · Senator

Judith Zaffirini

Represents District 21 in the State Senate.

Official site ↗ Email
Votes with Democrats
78%
on 968 party-line votes · Senate Democrats median 90%
Cast a vote
99%
Yea or Nay on 2,166 of 2,168 roll calls · Senate median 100%
Their bills that became law
223 of 404
as a primary sponsor, this session · Democrats median 76
Roll calls on record
2,168
89th Legislature Regular Session
Votes and bills updated Oct 12, 2026 from LegiScan (CC BY 4.0), which republishes the legislature’s own records. Profile details from OpenStates / Plural Policy. Figures cover 89th Legislature Regular Session.

How Judith Zaffirini votes

A party-line vote is a roll call where most voting Democrats and most voting Republicans took opposite sides. Absences and not-voting are never counted. Same method as our Congress pages.

Where Judith Zaffirini sits in the Senate

Each dot is one member of the Senate, placed by how often they voted on the Democratic side of party-line votes. Judith Zaffirini is circled.

Always on the Republican sideAlways on the Democratic side
Times they broke with their party

215 of 968 party-line votes, most recent 10 shown.

SB13 · Relating to a school district's library materials and catalog, the establishment of local school library advisory councils, and parental rights regarding public school library catalogs and access by the parent's child to library materials.
Yea
Senate adopts conference committee report · 2025-05-31 · Passed 23–8 · most Democrats voted the other way
HB3556 · Relating to the construction of structures exceeding a certain height in certain counties containing national wildlife refuges and in adjacent counties.
Yea
Senate adopts conference committee report · 2025-05-31 · Passed 22–9 · most Democrats voted the other way
SR687 · Suspending limitations on conference committee jurisdiction, H.B. No. 3556.
Yea
Read & adopted · 2025-05-31 · Passed 23–8 · most Democrats voted the other way
SB13 · Relating to a school district's library materials and catalog, the establishment of local school library advisory councils, and parental rights regarding public school library catalogs and access by the parent's child to library materials.
Yea
Rules suspended · 2025-05-31 · Passed 23–8 · most Democrats voted the other way
SB13 · Relating to a school district's library materials and catalog, the establishment of local school library advisory councils, and parental rights regarding public school library catalogs and access by the parent's child to library materials.
Yea
Rules suspended · 2025-05-31 · Passed 23–8 · most Democrats voted the other way
HB3556 · Relating to the construction of structures exceeding a certain height in certain counties containing national wildlife refuges and in adjacent counties.
Yea
Senate adopts conference committee report · 2025-05-31 · Passed 22–9 · most Democrats voted the other way
SB2368 · Relating to critical infrastructure and utilities, including affiliation with certain foreign entities of certain persons working or participating in the electricity market; authorizing and increasing administrative penalties.
Yea
Senate concurs in House amendment(s) · 2025-05-30 · Passed 23–8 · most Democrats voted the other way
SB1957 · Relating to the eligibility of a person to serve on a civilian oversight board.
Yea
Senate concurs in House amendment(s) · 2025-05-30 · Passed 23–8 · most Democrats voted the other way
SB509 · Relating to requiring notice to the attorney general in an action under the Election Code seeking a temporary restraining order.
Yea
Senate adopts conference committee report · 2025-05-30 · Passed 25–6 · most Democrats voted the other way
SB1579 · Relating to the appointment of a receiver for and sale of certain parcels of land that are abandoned, unoccupied, tax delinquent, and undeveloped in certain municipalities.
Yea
Senate concurs in House amendment(s) · 2025-05-30 · Passed 25–6 · most Democrats voted the other way
Closest votes they cast

Roll calls decided by the fewest votes, one per bill.

SB1789 · Relating to electric service quality and reliability; providing an administrative penalty.
Nay
Read 3rd time · 2025-04-23 · Failed 0–1
SB844 · Relating to procedures for changes to a zoning regulation or district boundary.
Nay
Three day rule suspended · 2025-04-23 · Failed 0–1
SB19 · Relating to the use by a political subdivision of public funds for lobbying and certain other activities.
Yea
FA5 Nichols · 2025-03-19 · Passed 15–13
SB715 · Relating to reliability requirements for certain electric generation facilities.
Nay
Vote recorded in Journal · 2025-05-08 · Passed 17–14
HJR98 · Applying to the Congress of the United States to call a convention under Article V of the United States Constitution for the limited purpose of proposing one or more amendments to the constitution to impose fiscal restraints on the federal government, to limit the power and jurisdiction of the federal government, and to limit the terms of office of federal officials and members of Congress.
Nay
Adopted · 2025-05-08 · Passed 17–14
Republicans they vote with most

Share of contested roll calls (the losing side got at least 10%) where both voted and landed on the same side. Unanimous votes are left out, because on those everyone agrees.

Robert NicholsRepublican · District 3 · 1,633 shared contested votes
52%
Brian BirdwellRepublican · District 22 · 1,635 shared contested votes
51%
Pete FloresRepublican · District 24 · 1,635 shared contested votes
51%
Their session, month by month

Dark bars are roll calls they were recorded on each month; the red part is the ones without a Yea or Nay (2 in all). Gaps are months the chamber wasn’t voting.

2025-02: 35 roll calls, 0 without a Yea or Nay2025-03: 229 roll calls, 0 without a Yea or Nay2025-04: 769 roll calls, 2 without a Yea or Nay2025-05: 1116 roll calls, 0 without a Yea or Nay2025-06: 19 roll calls, 0 without a Yea or NayFeb 2025Jun 2025
← Texas Delegation
Their bills, from filing to law

Bills Judith Zaffirini was a primary sponsor of this session. Most bills from either party never leave committee; in Illinois many never get past the Assignments or Rules committee.

Introduced404
Out of committee255
Passed one chamber250
Passed both chambers229
Became law223
Never left committee149

For comparison, the median Democratic member of the Senate has 76 bills that became law this session.

What their bills are about
Resolutions 100Education 49Occupational Regulation 44Courts 42Resolutions–Congratulatory & Honorary 36Occupational Regulation–Other Trades & Professions 34
Relating to selection of an attorney by an indigent parent as attorney ad litem for the parent in certain suits affecting the parent-child relationship.
VetoedVetoed by the Governor · 2025-06-22
Relating to the disclosure of confidential juvenile records to a managed assigned counsel program.
VetoedVetoed by the Governor · 2025-06-22
Relating to legal representation of indigent persons in this state and to proceedings before a magistrate including the appointment of counsel for an indigent defendant.
VetoedVetoed by the Governor · 2025-06-22
Relating to the applicability of certain safety provisions and regulatory fees administered by the Railroad Commission of Texas to gas distribution pipelines.
Became lawEffective on 9/1/25 · 2025-06-22
Relating to the appointment of attorneys ad litem and the compensation of certain attorneys ad litem in suits affecting the parent-child relationship filed by a governmental entity.
VetoedVetoed by the Governor · 2025-06-22
Relating to the Cosmetology Licensure Compact; authorizing fees.
VetoedVetoed by the Governor · 2025-06-22
Relating to the ballot application requirements for the election of a precinct chair.
Became lawEffective on 9/1/25 · 2025-06-22
Relating to the creation of the Pura Vida Municipal Management District No. 1; providing authority to issue bonds; providing authority to impose assessments, fees, and taxes; granting a limited power of eminent domain.
Became lawSee remarks for effective date · 2025-06-20
Relating to the creation of certain municipal management districts; providing authority to issue bonds; providing authority to impose assessments, fees, and taxes; granting a limited power of eminent domain.
Became lawSee remarks for effective date · 2025-06-20
Relating to the creation of the Travis County Municipal Utility District No. 40; granting a limited power of eminent domain; providing authority to issue bonds; providing authority to impose assessments, fees, and taxes.
Became lawEffective immediately · 2025-06-20
Relating to sexual assault and other sex offenses.
Became lawEffective on 9/1/25 · 2025-06-20
Relating to the powers, duties, and governance of the Starr County Drainage District, the change of the name of the Starr County Drainage District to the Starr County Drainage and Groundwater Conservation District, the dissolution of the Starr County Groundwater Conservation District, and the transfer of the assets and liabilities of the Starr County Groundwater Conservation District to the Starr County Drainage and Groundwater Conservation District; authorizing the imposition of a tax.
Became lawEffective on 9/1/25 · 2025-06-20
Relating to the access to and use of certain criminal history record information, to the procedure for obtaining that information, and to the correct terminology for certain licenses the issuance of which requires a criminal history background check.
Became lawEffective on 9/1/25 · 2025-06-20
Relating to procedures for a commissioners court to close, abandon, or vacate certain county roads.
Became lawEffective on 9/1/25 · 2025-06-20
Relating to the boundaries of, and validating certain acts and proceedings of, the Creedmoor Municipal Utility District.
Became lawEffective immediately · 2025-06-20

Descriptions are the legislature’s own synopsis. Bill data from LegiScan, CC BY 4.0.

Loading committees…
SB2753 · 2025-06-01
Relating to the integration of early voting by personal appearance and election day voting, including the manner in which election returns are processed and other related changes. (Senate adopts conference committee report)
Passed · 20-11
Nay
HB40 · 2025-06-01
Relating to the business court. (Senate adopts conference committee report)
Passed · 24-7
Nay
SB268 · 2025-06-01
Relating to the procedure for certain complaints against health care practitioners. (Senate adopts conference committee report)
Passed · 19-12
Nay
HB2885 · 2025-06-01
Relating to allowing the governing bodies of certain political subdivisions to call for a local option election relating to the sale of alcoholic beverages. (Senate adopts conference committee report)
Passed · 28-3
Yea
HB493 · 2025-06-01
Relating to ineligibility to serve as a poll watcher. (Senate adopts conference committee report)
Passed · 23-8
Nay
SB1637 · 2025-06-01
Relating to the prosecution of the offense of deadly conduct. (Senate concurs in House amendment(s))
Passed · 28-3
Yea
SB2972 · 2025-06-01
Relating to expressive activities at public institutions of higher education. (Senate adopts conference committee report)
Passed · 22-9
Nay
HB2885 · 2025-06-01
Relating to allowing the governing bodies of certain political subdivisions to call for a local option election relating to the sale of alcoholic beverages. (Senate adopts conference committee report)
Passed · 28-3
Yea
SR708 · 2025-06-01
Suspending limitations on conference committee jurisdiction on S.B. No. 2972. (Read & adopted)
Passed · 22-9
Nay
SR713 · 2025-06-01
Suspending limitations on conference committee jurisdiction, H.B. No. 40. (Read & adopted)
Passed · 24-7
Nay
SB2972 · 2025-06-01
Relating to expressive activities at public institutions of higher education. (Senate adopts conference committee report)
Passed · 22-9
Nay
SB2753 · 2025-06-01
Relating to the integration of early voting by personal appearance and election day voting, including the manner in which election returns are processed and other related changes. (Senate adopts conference committee report)
Passed · 20-11
Nay
HB40 · 2025-06-01
Relating to the business court. (Senate adopts conference committee report)
Passed · 24-7
Nay
SB268 · 2025-06-01
Relating to the procedure for certain complaints against health care practitioners. (Senate adopts conference committee report)
Passed · 19-12
Nay
HB2885 · 2025-06-01
Relating to allowing the governing bodies of certain political subdivisions to call for a local option election relating to the sale of alcoholic beverages. (Senate adopts conference committee report)
Passed · 28-3
Yea
HB493 · 2025-06-01
Relating to ineligibility to serve as a poll watcher. (Senate adopts conference committee report)
Passed · 23-8
Nay
SB2972 · 2025-06-01
Relating to expressive activities at public institutions of higher education. (Senate adopts conference committee report)
Passed · 22-9 · 2 roll calls that day, voted the same way on each
Nay
HB40 · 2025-06-01
Relating to the business court. (Senate adopts conference committee report)
Passed · 24-7
Nay
SB3059 · 2025-05-31
Relating to the preservation, maintenance, restoration, and protection of the Alamo complex and surrounding area by the Alamo Commission. (Rules suspended)
Passed · 29-2
Yea
SB2337 · 2025-05-31
Relating to the regulation of the provision of proxy advisory services. (Senate adopts conference committee report)
Passed · 21-10
Nay
HB3556 · 2025-05-31
Relating to the construction of structures exceeding a certain height in certain counties containing national wildlife refuges and in adjacent counties. (Senate adopts conference committee report)
Passed · 22-9
Yea
HB5246 · 2025-05-31
Relating to the administration, powers, and duties of the Texas Space Commission and Texas Aerospace Research and Space Economy Consortium, to other governmental entities regarding aerospace, aviation, and space exploration initiatives and activities, and to the abolishment of the spaceport trust fund. (Senate adopts conference committee report)
Passed · 21-10
Nay
SB1405 · 2025-05-31
Relating to increasing access to and reducing taxation of Internet services. (Rules suspended)
Passed · 27-4
Yea
HB3909 · 2025-05-31
Relating to the use of a wireless communication device at a polling place. (Senate adopts conference committee report)
Passed · 27-4
Yea
HB2017 · 2025-05-31
Relating to increasing the criminal penalty and changing the eligibility for community supervision, mandatory supervision, and parole for certain persons convicted of intoxication manslaughter. (Rules suspended)
Passed · 26-5
Nay
SB13 · 2025-05-31
Relating to a school district's library materials and catalog, the establishment of local school library advisory councils, and parental rights regarding public school library catalogs and access by the parent's child to library materials. (Rules suspended)
Passed · 23-8 · 2 roll calls that day, voted the same way on each
Yea
SB37 · 2025-05-31
Relating to the governance of public institutions of higher education, including review of curriculum and certain degree and certificate programs, a faculty council or senate, training for members of the governing board, and the establishment, powers, and duties of the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board Office of the Ombudsman. (Senate adopts conference committee report)
Passed · 20-11
Nay
SB8 · 2025-05-31
Relating to agreements between certain sheriffs and the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement to enforce federal immigration law and a grant program to cover the costs of implementing those agreements. (Rules suspended)
Passed · 20-11
Nay
SB8 · 2025-05-31
Relating to agreements between certain sheriffs and the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement to enforce federal immigration law and a grant program to cover the costs of implementing those agreements. (Senate adopts conference committee report)
Passed · 20-11
Nay
HB3595 · 2025-05-31
Relating to an emergency preparedness and contingency operations plan, including temperature regulation, for assisted living facility residents during an emergency; providing penalties. (Senate adopts conference committee report)
Passed · 21-10
Nay
SB12 · 2025-05-31
Relating to parental rights in public education, to certain public school requirements and prohibitions regarding instruction, diversity, equity, and inclusion duties, and social transitioning, and to student clubs at public schools. (Senate adopts conference committee report)
Passed · 20-11
Nay
SB2373 · 2025-05-31
Relating to financial exploitation or financial abuse using artificially generated media or phishing communications; providing a civil penalty; creating a criminal offense. (Senate concurs in House amendment(s))
Passed · 29-2
Yea
SR715 · 2025-05-31
Suspending limitations on conference committee jurisdiction, H.B. No. 5246. (Read & adopted)
Passed · 20-11
Nay
SR703 · 2025-05-31
Suspending limitations on conference committee jurisdiction, S.B. No. 2308. (Read & adopted)
Passed · 27-4
Yea
SR687 · 2025-05-31
Suspending limitations on conference committee jurisdiction, H.B. No. 3556. (Read & adopted)
Passed · 23-8
Yea
HB3556 · 2025-05-31
Relating to the construction of structures exceeding a certain height in certain counties containing national wildlife refuges and in adjacent counties. (Senate adopts conference committee report)
Passed · 22-9
Yea
HB5246 · 2025-05-31
Relating to the administration, powers, and duties of the Texas Space Commission and Texas Aerospace Research and Space Economy Consortium, to other governmental entities regarding aerospace, aviation, and space exploration initiatives and activities, and to the abolishment of the spaceport trust fund. (Senate adopts conference committee report)
Passed · 21-10
Nay
HB3909 · 2025-05-31
Relating to the use of a wireless communication device at a polling place. (Senate adopts conference committee report)
Passed · 27-4
Yea
SB12 · 2025-05-31
Relating to parental rights in public education, to certain public school requirements and prohibitions regarding instruction, diversity, equity, and inclusion duties, and social transitioning, and to student clubs at public schools. (Senate adopts conference committee report)
Passed · 20-11
Nay
SB2337 · 2025-05-31
Relating to the regulation of the provision of proxy advisory services. (Senate adopts conference committee report)
Passed · 21-10
Nay
SB2373 · 2025-05-31
Relating to financial exploitation or financial abuse using artificially generated media or phishing communications; providing a civil penalty; creating a criminal offense. (Senate concurs in House amendment(s))
Passed · 29-2
Yea
SB13 · 2025-05-31
Relating to a school district's library materials and catalog, the establishment of local school library advisory councils, and parental rights regarding public school library catalogs and access by the parent's child to library materials. (Senate adopts conference committee report)
Passed · 23-8
Yea
SB37 · 2025-05-31
Relating to the governance of public institutions of higher education, including review of curriculum and certain degree and certificate programs, a faculty council or senate, training for members of the governing board, and the establishment, powers, and duties of the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board Office of the Ombudsman. (Senate adopts conference committee report)
Passed · 20-11
Nay
HB3595 · 2025-05-31
Relating to an emergency preparedness and contingency operations plan, including temperature regulation, for assisted living facility residents during an emergency; providing penalties. (Senate adopts conference committee report)
Passed · 21-10
Nay
SB2308 · 2025-05-31
Relating to the establishment of a consortium to conduct United States Food and Drug Administration's drug development clinical trials with ibogaine to secure the administration's approval of the medication's use for treatment of opioid use disorder, co-occurring substance use disorder, and any other neurological or mental health conditions for which ibogaine demonstrates efficacy and to the administration of that treatment. (Senate adopts conference committee report)
Passed · 27-4
Yea
SB2337 · 2025-05-31
Relating to the regulation of the provision of proxy advisory services. (Senate adopts conference committee report)
Passed · 21-10
Nay
HB2017 · 2025-05-31
Relating to increasing the criminal penalty and changing the eligibility for community supervision, mandatory supervision, and parole for certain persons convicted of intoxication manslaughter. (Senate adopts conference committee report)
Passed · 26-5
Nay
SB3059 · 2025-05-31
Relating to the preservation, maintenance, restoration, and protection of the Alamo complex and surrounding area by the Alamo Commission. (Senate adopts conference committee report)
Passed · 29-2
Yea
SB1506 · 2025-05-30
Relating to the frequency with which the Board of Pardons and Paroles reconsiders inmates for release on parole. (Senate adopts conference committee report)
Passed · 27-4
Nay
SB17 · 2025-05-30
Relating to the purchase or acquisition of an interest in real property by certain aliens or foreign entities; creating a criminal offense; providing a civil penalty. (Senate adopts conference committee report)
Passed · 23-8
Nay
SJR27 · 2025-05-30
Proposing a constitutional amendment regarding the membership of the State Commission on Judicial Conduct, the membership of the tribunal to review the commission's recommendations, and the authority of the commission, the tribunal, and the Texas Supreme Court to more effectively sanction judges and justices for judicial misconduct. (Senate concurs in House amendment(s))
Passed · 27-4
Yea
SB21 · 2025-05-30
Relating to the establishment and administration of the Texas Strategic Bitcoin Reserve for the purpose of investing in cryptocurrency and the investment authority of the comptroller of public accounts over the reserve and certain other state funds. (Senate adopts conference committee report)
Passed · 23-8
Yea
SB1362 · 2025-05-30
Relating to prohibiting the recognition, service, and enforcement of extreme risk protective orders; creating a criminal offense. (Senate concurs in House amendment(s))
Passed · 20-11
Nay
SB905 · 2025-05-30
Relating to the licensing and regulation of speech-language pathologists and audiologists. (Senate concurs in House amendment(s))
Passed · 29-2
Yea
SB710 · 2025-05-30
Relating to the establishment and use of a written electronic communications system accessible to the public by certain municipal entities. (Senate concurs in House amendment(s))
Passed · 29-2
Yea
SB509 · 2025-05-30
Relating to requiring notice to the attorney general in an action under the Election Code seeking a temporary restraining order. (Senate adopts conference committee report)
Passed · 25-6
Yea
SB510 · 2025-05-30
Relating to the failure of a voter registrar to comply with voter registration laws. (Senate concurs in House amendment(s))
Passed · 20-11
Nay
SB2155 · 2025-05-30
Relating to the regulation of veterinary professionals and facilities by the State Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners and the temporary administration of the board by the Department of Licensing and Regulation. (Senate adopts conference committee report)
Passed · 29-2
Yea
Complete voting record from LegiScan (showing the 60 most recent of 2168 total roll-call votes this session).
Voting data provided by LegiScan, licensed under CC BY 4.0.
Capitol Office
📍Room 1E.13, P.O. Box 12068 Capitol Station, Austin, TX 78711
District Office
📍1407 Washington St., Laredo, TX 78040
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