State Sen. Kirk Watson

Democrat
Current Rating

N/A

Senate District 14 (Retired) - Austin
First elected 2006

Previous Ratings on the Fiscal Index

  • Career: F
  • 2017: F
  • 2015: F
  • 2013: F
  • 2011: F
  • 2009: F
  • 2007: F

About State Sen. Kirk Watson

Kirk Watson is an Attorney from Austin, Texas. He earned his BS Degree and JD from Baylor University. Senator Watson is former Mayor of Austin and he and his wife, Liz, have two children. Senator Watson has served in the Texas Senate 2007.

Senate District District 14

State Sen. Kirk Watson's Record

  • Pro-Taxpayer
  • Anti-Taxpayer
  • Absent
  • Speaker
  • Absent, Excused
  • Present, not voting
  • Not Applicable
Bill Vote

SB 1, 1st Called, Amendment 3 by Rodriguez: Increasing rollback rate to 6%

Senate Journal Page: 107
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X

SB 1, 1st Called, Amendment 6 by Uresti: Raising the exemption for property tax reform

Senate Journal Page: 108
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X

SB 1, 1st Called, Amendment 5 by Perry: Creating exemption to property tax protections

Senate Journal Page: 109
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Check

SB 14: Comprehensive ethics reform for legislators

Senate Journal Page: 205
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Check

SB 2, 1st Called: School finance reform with tax credit scholarships

Senate Journal Page: 216
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X

SB 1, 1st Called: Property tax reform, rollback rate reduction

Senate Journal Page: 221
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X

SB 3, 1st Called: Prohibiting local overreach regarding bathroom regulations, known as the Privacy Act

Senate Journal Page: 221
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X

SB 9, 1st Called: Strengthening constitutional state spending limit

Senate Journal Page: 223
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X

SB 7, 1st Called: Prohibiting automatic government collection of union dues

Senate Journal Page: 224
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X

SB 4, 1st Called: Prohibiting tax-funded abortions

Senate Journal Page: 226
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X

SB 4: Prohibiting local entities from implementing sanctuary city policies

Senate Journal Page: 244
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X

SB 500: Prohibits elected officials convicted of abuse of office from receiving a publicly-funded pension while serving their sentence

Senate Journal Page: 248
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Check

SB 502: Requiring greater reporting of lobby expenditures to reduce "ticket splitting"

Senate Journal Page: 263
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Check

SB 503: Bars a registered Texas lobbyist from serving in elected office

Senate Journal Page: 264
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SB 504: Bars former legislators from lobbying for two-year legislative cycle following their departure from public office

Senate Journal Page: 278
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Check

SB 5, 1st Called: Strengthening voter fraud prevention

Senate Journal Page: 281
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X

SB 15, 1st Called: Statewide texting while driving ban preemption

Senate Journal Page: 282
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X

SB 6, 1st Called: Municipal annexation reforms

Senate Journal Page: 282
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X

SB 13, 1st Called: Municipal permitting reform

Senate Journal Page: 283
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X

SB 14, 1st Called: Protecting private property rights in trees

Senate Journal Page: 283
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X

SB 505: Prohibits retired officeholders who register as a lobbyist from making a political contribution using their old campaign account

Senate Journal Page: 289
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Check

SJR 2: Applying to Congress to call a convention under Article V of the United States Constitution

Senate Journal Page: 356
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X

SB 7: Relating to improper relationships between teachers and students and reporting of educator misconduct

Senate Journal Page: 456
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Check

SB 6: Prohibiting local entities from regulating restrooms on private property

Senate Journal Page: 531
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X

SB 135: Requiring all state agencies to identify savings

Senate Journal Page: 558
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Check

SB 2: Reducing property tax rollback rate, requiring automatic elections for exceeding that rate

Senate Journal Page: 614
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X

SB 17: Franchise Tax phase-out

Senate Journal Page: 615
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X

SB 730: Personal property tax exemption

Senate Journal Page: 688
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Check

SB 16: Reducing fees for handgun licenses

Senate Journal Page: 692
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X

SB 407: Limiting competition or bidding exemption to the Public Information Act

Senate Journal Page: 725
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Check

SB 88: Prohibiting photo-enforced traffic citations

Senate Journal Page: 759
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X

SB 3: Establishing Education Savings Accounts

Senate Journal Page: 828
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X

SB 13: Prohibiting automatic union dues payroll deductions

Senate Journal Page: 829
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X

SB 151: Requiring voter approval of pension obligation bonds

Senate Journal Page: 829
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X

SB 9: Strengthening the state's constitutional spending limit

Senate Journal Page: 829
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X

SB 799: Re-authorizing hotel occupancy tax in El Paso county

Senate Journal Page: 878
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X

SB 18, Amendment 1 by Seliger: Creating a new finanial assistance grant program

Senate Journal Page: 880
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X

SB 19, Amendment 1 by Schwertner: Reducing permissible public university tuition increases from 3% to 1% annually

Senate Journal Page: 882
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X

SB 19: Performance-based tuition limitations and freeze for four years

Senate Journal Page: 882
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X

SB 737, Amendment 2 by Huffines: Requiring a public hearing before municipalities can increase a fee

Senate Journal Page: 904
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SB 737: Requiring uniform disclosure of fee increases on a municipal budget

Senate Journal Page: 904
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X

SB 488: Reforming the citizen petition and initiative process

Senate Journal Page: 912
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X

SB 18: Prohibiting the practice of setting aside portions of designated tuition for student financial assistance

Senate Journal Page: 926
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X

SB 509: Increasing transparency and strengthening oversight of public pension systems

Senate Journal Page: 942
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Check

SB 750: Repealing restrictions on package store permits a person can hold

Senate Journal Page: 942
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X

SB 626: Requiring separate identification and offer for property sought other than by condemnation

Senate Journal Page: 954
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Check

SB 612: Texas Ethics Commission process reform

Senate Journal Page: 965
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SB 813: Providing recovery of damages, attorneys fees, and costs related to frivolous regulatory actions by state agencies

Senate Journal Page: 994
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SB 627: Strengthening property owner bill of rights in surveys or examinations for eminent domain

Senate Journal Page: 997
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SB 977: Prohibiting use of state money for high-speed rail operated by a private entity

Senate Journal Page: 1034
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X

SB 445: Requiring separate authorization and disclosure of tax-funded lobbying by political subdivisions

Senate Journal Page: 1036
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X

SB 451, Amendment 3 by Hughes: Restricting local short-term rental prohibitions, capping permit fee

Senate Journal Page: 1042
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X

SB 451: Local regulation of short term rental preemption

Senate Journal Page: 1044
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X

SB 979: Prohibiting private entity from using property acquired through eminent domain for rail from other uses; right of repurchase

Senate Journal Page: 1046
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Check

SCR 1: Calling on Congress to repeal the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act

Senate Journal Page: 1159
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X

SB 797: Expanding authority to pledge hotel occupancy tax for the payment of obligations related to hotel projects

Senate Journal Page: 1160
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X

SB 686 (Local & Uncontested): Re-authorizing a hotel occupancy tax in Real County

Senate Journal Page: 1183
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N/A

SJR 43: Prohibiting the use of state funds to pay for the obligations of a local public retirement system

Senate Journal Page: 1197
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X

SB 586: Extension of rural and small telecom subsidies

Senate Journal Page: 1198
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X

SB 715: Requiring municipalities get voter approval before starting annexation process

Senate Journal Page: 1223
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X

SB 1147: Establishing the Texas Music Foundation and related museum

Senate Journal Page: 1244
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X

SB 975: Burdening private rail operators with security regulations

Senate Journal Page: 1256
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X

SB 625: Creating special purpose taxing district information database

Senate Journal Page: 1371
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Check

SB 1812: Prohibiting tax-funded lobbying by appraisal districts

Senate Journal Page: 1522
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X

SB 589: Creating an occupational license for behavioral analysts

Senate Journal Page: 1523
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X

SB 210: Requiring two regulations be repealed for every new one created

Senate Journal Page: 1525
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X

SB 1354: Pledging state HOT and sales tax to hotel projects

Senate Journal Page: 1540
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X

SB 740: Requiring court costs be paid by condemners when they grossly undervalue a property under eminent domain process

Senate Journal Page: 1554
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Check

SB 637: Requiring audits of regional mobility authority to receive state funds

Senate Journal Page: 1558
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X

SB 2056: Expanding certain HOT authorization to finance stadiums

Senate Journal Page: 1588
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X

SB 1289: Requiring domestic steel for government projects

Senate Journal Page: 1604
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Check

SB 1588: Eliminating non-commercial vehicle safety inspections

Senate Journal Page: 1658
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X

SB 636: Requiring greater citizen input before municipalities can change building codes

Senate Journal Page: 1660
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X

SB 1122: Allowing public vote to abolish Dallas County Schools

Senate Journal Page: 1664
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Check

SB 654: Allowing advanced practice registered nurses to service as primary care providers in Medicaid plans

Senate Journal Page: 1719
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SB 764: Accounting of costs incurred by illegal immigrants

Senate Journal Page: 1739
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X

SJR 54: Authorizing municipal charter amendments on uniform election dates

Senate Journal Page: 1741
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Check

SB 200: Creating local government financial and tax rate information database managed by the Comptroller

Senate Journal Page: 1777
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SB 1061: Allowing charter school operators to hold more than one charter if they are for different purposes

Senate Journal Page: 1805
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X

SB 1407: More transparency on property tax bills

Senate Journal Page: 1811
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Check

SB 459: Prohibiting localities from regulating or taxing firearms, ammunition, or knifes above and beyond state law

Senate Journal Page: 1877
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X

SB 1683: Requiring food establishments post allergy information posters

Senate Journal Page: 1929
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X

SB 1605: Creating a database of school district financial information

Senate Journal Page: 1930
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Check

SB 1151: Strengthening free speech protections at public universities

Senate Journal Page: 1959
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X

HB 1449: Prohibiting local governments from imposing certain fees on new construction projects

Senate Journal Page: 2081
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X

SB 95: Allowing raw milk sales and delivery by permit holders

Senate Journal Page: 2119
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Check

HB 1494: Expanding hotel occupancy tax for the arts

Senate Journal Page: 2264
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X

HB 3859: Strengthening right of conscious for child welfare

Senate Journal Page: 2444
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X

HB 3287: Creating additional regulations, mandates, and restrictions on alcohol production/sales

Senate Journal Page: 2490
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Check

HB 3294: Extending major events reimbursement to NASCAR

Senate Journal Page: 2500
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X

HB 490: Creating new hearing aid/cochlear implant insurance mandate

Senate Journal Page: 2513
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X

HB 1290: Requiring state agencies repeal one rule for each one adopted

Senate Journal Page: 2680
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X

HB 3808: Expanding occupations for loan repayment assistance

Senate Journal Page: 2718
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X

HB 967 (L&U): Allowing TexAmericas Center (special purpose district) to "promote economic development"

Senate Journal Page: 3032
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N/A