AUSTIN (June 20, 2009)--Gov. Rick Perry vetoed 37 bills from the recently concluded legislative session, including legislation allowing for the early release of rehabilitated prisoners and an expansion of full-day pre-kindergarten.

Perry's office announced the vetoes Friday, against a Sunday deadline to sign or veto legislation passed during the session.

Perry used a lighter hand with his veto pen this year.

Shortly after his first session as governor in 2001, he set the known record for vetoes by a Texas governor with 83.

He vetoed 49 bills after the 2007 legislative session.

Former Gov. George W. Bush had far fewer vetoes during his tenure.

His highest total for a legislative session was 38 in 1997.

Vetoed Bills
(Source: Texas Governor’s Office)

HB 103 by Brown, Fred Sponsor: Patrick, Dan
Relating to health benefit plans for students at institutions of higher education and the operation of certain health benefit plans through student health centers at certain institutions of higher education.

HB 130 by Patrick Sponsor: Zaffirini
Relating to an enhanced quality full-day prekindergarten program provided by public school districts in conjunction with community providers.

HB 518 by Kohlkorst Sponsor: Van de Putte
Relating to programs to provide student loan repayment assistance for certain correctional officers, for certain speech-language pathologists and audiologists, and for certain mathematics and science teachers.

HB 821 by Leibowitz Sponsor: Watson
Relating to the sale, recovery, and recycling of certain television equipment; providing administrative penalties.

HB 1293 by Eiland Sponsor: Ellis
Relating to the sale and marketing of life insurance and annuities.

HB 1457 by Hochberg Sponsor: Duncan
Relating to procedures concerning verification of certain information submitted in a voter registration application.

HB 2142 by McClendon Sponsor: Carona
Relating to the promotion of toll projects by the Texas Department of Transportation.

HB 2656 by Miller, Doug Sponsor: Duncan
Relating to the composition of the board of trustees of the Teacher Retirement System of Texas.

HB 2692 by Rodriguez Sponsor: Watson
Relating to certain municipal requirements regarding sales of residential properties in certain areas.

HB 2820 by Chisum Sponsor: Wentworth
Relating to contracts by governmental entities for professional services relating to geoscience and landscape architecture.

HB 2888 by Martinez Sponsor: West
Relating to financial assistance administered by the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs.

HB 3148 by Smith, Todd Sponsor: West
Relating to exempting certain young persons who are convicted of an offense involving consensual sex from the requirement of registering as a sex offender in this state.

HB 3202 by Bonnen Sponsor: Jackson
Relating to authorizing the transfer of certain real property held by the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.

HB 3346 by Farabee Sponsor: Averitt
Relating to gas utilities and gas storage facilities.

HB 3481 by Veasey Sponsor: Harris
Relating to the expunction of records and files relating to a person's arrest.

HB 3485 by Coleman Sponsor: West
Relating to certain county, municipal, district, and other governmental functions, procedures, powers, duties, and services, including certain criminal procedures.

HB 3515 by Dunnam Sponsor: Carona
Relating to the creation of the offense of failure to report barratry and solicitation of employment.

HB 3983 by Rodriguez Sponsor: Watson
Relating to the imposition of property taxes on the residential homesteads of low-income and moderate-income persons.

HB 4068 by Gonzales Sponsor: Hinojosa
Relating to the conduct of judicial proceedings and transaction of other essential judicial functions in the event of a disaster.

HB 4685 by Homer Sponsor: Eltife
Relating to the County Court of Titus County.

SB 223 by West Sponsor: Thompson
Relating to allowing a person who successfully completes a term of deferred adjudication community supervision to be eligible for a pardon.

SB 434 by Wentworth Sponsor: Bolton
Relating to the establishment and operation of a public transit motor-bus-only lane pilot program in certain counties.

SB 488 by Ellis Sponsor: Harper-Brown
Relating to the operation of a motor vehicle in the vicinity of a vulnerable road user; providing penalties.

SB 686 by Davis, Wendy Sponsor: Orr
Relating to the installation, maintenance, or operation of natural gas pipelines on state highways and highway and county road rights-of-way.

SB 978 by West Sponsor: Elkins, Coleman
Relating to the creation and financing of public improvement districts.

SB 1206 by Hinojosa Sponsor: Edwards
Relating to the release from the Texas Department of Criminal Justice of certain inmates who complete a rehabilitation program.

SB 1343 by Hinojosa Sponsor: Gonzales
Relating to the formula funding for public institutions of higher education for certain credit hours that do not count toward a degree.

SB 1440 by Watson Sponsor: Madden
Relating to orders and judgments rendered by associate judges in child support and child protection cases and to the investigation of child abuse and neglect.

SB 1760 by Watson Sponsor: Branch
Relating to the administration of the Texas Save and Match Program to assist qualifying beneficiaries under the state's prepaid tuition plans and college savings plans and to the treatment of a beneficiary's assets under prepaid tuition plans and college savings plans in determining eligibility for student financial assistance and other assistance programs.

SB 2141 by Wentworth Sponsor: Hughes
Relating to the statute of repose for engineers and architects.

SB 2169 by Ellis Sponsor: Alvarado
Relating to the establishment of a smart growth policy work group and the development of a smart growth policy for this state.

SB 2325 by Hinojosa Sponsor: Madden
Relating to the confidentiality of certain information pertaining to the State Commission on Judicial Conduct.

SB 2468 by Gallegos Sponsor: Coleman
Relating to the postemployment activities of certain local government officers in certain counties; providing a penalty.

SB 2558 by Gallegos Sponsor: Thompson
Relating to the promotion and marketing of alcoholic beverages.

HCR 161 by Burnam Sponsor: Davis, Wendy
Granting John Cook permission to sue the Benbrook Water Authority.

HCR 252 by Thompson Sponsor: Averitt
Requesting the governor to appoint a Governor's Task Force on Horse and Greyhound Racing.

SCR 59 by Jackson Sponsor: Taylor
Granting MBP Corporation permission to sue the Board of Trustees of the Galveston Wharves.