State Sen. Paul Bettencourt

Republican
Current Rating

63

Senate District 7 - Houston
First elected 2014

Previous Ratings on the Fiscal Index

  • Career: B
  • 2021: C-
  • 2019: B-
  • 2017: A-
  • 2015: B

About State Sen. Paul Bettencourt

For ten years, Paul Bettencourt was Harris County’s elected Tax Assessor-Collector and a knowledgeable presence as a conservative activist and radio and television personality. At the Tax Office, Paul introduced best business practices and developed a Customer Service driven organization, introducing the first major tax office Web Site that included the first Online Automotive Registration and Property Tax Payment System in Texas.

Paul Bettencourt received “Taxpayer Advocate of the Year” award from Americans for Prosperity, the “Hero of Faith” award by the Houston Area Pastors Council, and the “Pioneer” award from the Harris County Republican Party. Paul has also held the offices of Republican Party of Texas Treasurer, Vice Chair and Treasurer of the Harris County Republican Party, National Republican Party Delegate from Texas in 2000, 2004, and 2008, and Presidential Elector in the 2012 Presidential Election.

Committee Assignments

Offices

Capitol
P.O. Box 12068
Capitol Station
Austin, TX 78711
p: (512) 463-0107
District
District Director: Elizabeth Stinsman
11451 Katy Freeway, Suite 209
Houston, TX 77079
p: (713) 464-0282

Senate District District 7

State Sen. Paul Bettencourt's Record

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

SB 3, Amendment 4 by Hancock: Requiring intermittent energy providers to cover costs of grid reliability

Senate Journal Page: 448
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SB 650 by Campbell: Prohibiting local governments from subsidizing abortion

Senate Journal Page: 473
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SB 872 by Hancock: Extending the Dry Cleaner Responsibility Program for 20 years

Senate Journal Page: 486
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SB 12 by Hughes: Protecting free Texans' free speech on social media

Senate Journal Page: 497
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SB 7, Amendment 25 by Buckingham: Making ballot harvesting illegal

Senate Journal Page: 534
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SB 7 by Hughes: Safeguarding elections from fraud and interference

Senate Journal Page: 544
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SB 1112 by Bettencourt: Promoting election integrity in the vote by mail process

Senate Journal Page: 624
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SB 1113 by Bettencourt: Requiring voter registrars to clean up voter rolls

Senate Journal Page: 625
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SB 1114 by Bettencourt: Requiring the Secretary of State to verify citizenship of voters

Senate Journal Page: 634
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SB 248 by Johnson: Imposing nanny-state tobacco regulations

Senate Journal Page: 641
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SB 73 by Miles: Expanding local government involvement in Medicaid

Senate Journal Page: 684
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SB 14 by Creighton: Pre-empting local regulations on businesses

Senate Journal Page: 688
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SB 14, Amendment 4 by Menéndez: Protecting equal rights ordinances

Senate Journal Page: 687
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SB 1336 by Hancock: Strengthening the state's spending limit

Senate Journal Page: 690
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SB 1234 by Hughes: Requiring electoral paper trails

Senate Journal Page: 691
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SB 1025 by Birdwell: Constraining the governor's disaster power and protecting republican form of government

Senate Journal Page: 724
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SB 347 by Paxton: Making School Health Advisory Councils open to open records requests

Senate Journal Page: 749
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SB 15 by Nichols: Protecting Texans' consumer data

Senate Journal Page: 758
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SB 19 by Creighton: Ensuring companies who receive tax dollars respect the Second Amendment rights of Texans

Senate Journal Page: 761
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SB 1278 by Hancock: Leveling the playing field for electrical energy providers

Senate Journal Page: 767
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SB 659 by Buckingham: Protecting the property rights of city residents who do not receive city services

Senate Journal Page: 771
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SB 28 by Bettencourt: Promoting fair treatment of public charter schools

Senate Journal Page: 779
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SB 10 by Bettencourt: Prohibiting cities and counties from using public funds to hire lobbyists

Senate Journal Page: 792
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SB 1678 by Campbell: Protecting the speech rights of Texans

Senate Journal Page: 795
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SB 13 by Birdwell: Ensuring Texas tax dollars don't fund energy boycotts

Senate Journal Page: 799
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SB 1282 by Hancock: Promoting a more free electrical market

Senate Journal Page: 831
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SB 1438 by Bettencourt: Protecting property tax reform

Senate Journal Page: 837
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HB 1195 by Geren: Protecting businesses from being taxed on coronavirus aid

Senate Journal Page: 848
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SCR 12 by Creighton: Claiming sovereignty under the 10th Amendment

Senate Journal Page: 868
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SB 1295 by Creighton: Additional funding for public universities without significant reforms

Senate Journal Page: 892
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SB 1585 by Hughes: Protecting property rights from historical designation

Senate Journal Page: 899
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SB 1261 by Creighton: Pre-empting local emissions regulations

Senate Journal Page: 900
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SB 1158: Restricting state funds from investing in companies that censor political speech

Senate Journal Page: 918
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SB 1675 by Campbell: Promoting election integrity in the vote by mail process

Senate Journal Page: 919
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SB 1879 by Bettencourt: Requiring governments to disclose funds spent on taxpayer funded lobbying

Senate Journal Page: 1025
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SB 1111 by Bettencourt: Promoting election integrity by verifying addresses

Senate Journal Page: 1029
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SB 1428 by Bettencourt: Protecting property tax reform in disasters

Senate Journal Page: 1032
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SB 1341 by Springer: Ensuring welfare does not go to ineligible recipients

Senate Journal Page: 1034
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SB 1509 by Creighton: Strengthening ID requirements to vote by mail

Senate Journal Page: 1036
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SB 1589 by Bettencourt: Promoting election integrity in the Office of the Secretary of State

Senate Journal Page: 1039
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SB 566 by Buckingham: Protecting the rights of energy ratepayers

Senate Journal Page: 1048
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SB 1508 by Creighton: Establishing an election integrity division in the Office of the Attorney General

Senate Journal Page: 1049
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SB 2202 by Creighton: Promoting education on America's founding principles

Senate Journal Page: 1050
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SB 678 by Alvarado: Providing government loans to businesses

Senate Journal Page: 1077
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HB 1024 by Geren: Rolling back regulations on businesses

Senate Journal Page: 1078
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SB 1776 by Campbell: Promoting education on America's founding principles

Senate Journal Page: 1080
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SB 247 by Perry: Protecting the speech rights of Texas attorneys

Senate Journal Page: 1097
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SB 1744 by Zaffirini: Increasing the duties of colonia help centers

Senate Journal Page: 1161
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SB 1941 by Gutierrez:Spending state dollars to formulate a plan for hyperemisis gravidarum

Senate Journal Page: 1162
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HB 17 by Deshotel: Protecting consumer choice in energy

Senate Journal Page: 1190
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HB 1927 by Schaefer: Protecting Texans' gun rights from government interference

Senate Journal Page: 1251
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SB 2028, Amendment 1 by Johnson: Directing DHHS to expand Medicaid

Senate Journal Page: 1335
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SB 994 by Powell: Further involving the state in adult education

Senate Journal Page: 1364
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SB 2181 by West: Expanding hotel taxes

Senate Journal Page: 1392
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HB 574 by Bonnen: Strengthening penalties for voter fraud

Senate Journal Page: 1393
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HB 636 by Senfronia Thompson, Amendment 2 by Nichols: Reducing regulations on plumbers

Senate Journal Page: 1429
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HB 636 by Senfronia Thompson: Extending the State Board of Plumbing Examiners

Senate Journal Page: 1430
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HB 1259 by Darby: Spending tax dollars to promote rural veterinarians

Senate Journal Page: 1692
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HB 3979 by Toth: Banning critical race theory in public education

Senate Journal Page: 1702
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HB 428 by Ken King: Requiring health insurance plans cover ovarian cancer screenings

Senate Journal Page: 1724
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HB 3610 by Gervin-Hawkins: Protecting public charter school buildings from taxation

Senate Journal Page: 1759
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HB 3012 by Geren: Allowing the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association or the Women’s Professional Rodeo Association to conduct charitable raffles

Senate Journal Page: 1752
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HB 1967 by Senfronia Thompson: Creating a database about women with uterine fibroids

Senate Journal Page: 1784
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HB 1698 by Raney: Raising vehicle registration fees

Senate Journal Page: 1797
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HB 619 by Senfronia Thompson: Creating a strategic plan to impose regulations on child care

Senate Journal Page: 1800
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HB 1301 by Guillen: Expanding the services provided by colonia self-help centers

Senate Journal Page: 1809
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HB 2209 by Tracy King: Authorizing Dimmit County to collect a hotel tax

Senate Journal Page: 1810
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HB 1501 by Dean: Preventing cities from banning natural gas or propane

Senate Journal Page: 1816
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HB 3271 by Morales Shaw: Creating more government loans for businesses

Senate Journal Page: 1852
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HB 2283 by Phil King: Preventing private individuals and companies from influencing elections

Senate Journal Page: 1859
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HB 1869 by Burrows: Strengthening property tax reform

Senate Journal Page: 1980
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HB 4103 by Burrows: Expanding hotel tax loopholes

Senate Journal Page: 1983
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HB 1818 by Patterson: Imposing regulations on pet stores

Senate Journal Page: 1991
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HB 3807 by Hunter: Requiring local governments to hire lifeguards and post signs

Senate Journal Page: 2000
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HB 2168 by Krause: Expanding charitable raffles

Senate Journal Page: 2029
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HB 1516 by Noble: Efficiency audits for TANF

Senate Journal Page: 2032
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SB 1 by Nelson: The state budget

Senate Journal Page: 2051
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HB 3682 by Perez: Hotel tax bill

Senate Journal Page: 2143
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HB 4305 by Eddie Morales: Hotel tax bill

Senate Journal Page: 2145
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