Relating to the creation of a select interim committee to review and make recommendations for substantive changes to ethics laws.

89(R) HB 1555 - Introduced version - Bill Text

89R18384 TYPED

By: Shaheen

H.B. No. 1555

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the creation of a select interim committee to review and

make recommendations for substantive changes to ethics laws.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. INTERIM STUDY REGARDING ETHICS LAWS. (a) A

select interim committee is created to study and review the

statutes and regulations related to ethics, including campaign

finance laws, lobby laws, and personal financial disclosure laws.

(b) The study must consider:

(1) the purposes of the current laws and whether the

laws accomplish those purposes;

(2) the effectiveness of the current laws; and

(3) what changes, if any, should be made to more

effectively accomplish the purposes of the laws.

(c) The committee is composed of:

(1) four members appointed by the lieutenant governor

as follows:

(A) three senators, one of whom the lieutenant

governor shall designate as co-chair of the committee; and

(B) one member of the public;

(2) four members appointed by the speaker of the house

of representatives as follows:

(A) three state representatives, one of whom the

speaker shall designate as co-chair of the committee; and

(B) one member of the public; and

(3) the presiding officer of the Texas Ethics

Commission on the effective date of this Act.

(d) The committee shall convene at the call of the

co-chairs.

(e) The committee has all other powers and duties provided

to a special or select committee by the rules of the senate and the

house of representatives, by Subchapter B, Chapter 301, Government

Code, and by policies of the senate and house committees on

administration.

(f) Not later than December 20, 2026, the committee shall

report the committee's findings and recommendations to the

lieutenant governor, the speaker of the house of representatives,

and the governor. The committee shall include in its

recommendations specific statutory and rule changes that appear

necessary from the results of the committee's study under

Subsection (a) of this section.

(g) Not later than the 60th day after the effective date of

this Act, the lieutenant governor and the speaker of the house of

representatives shall appoint the members of the committee created

under this section.

(h) The Texas Legislative Council and the Texas Ethics

Commission shall provide any necessary staff and resources to the

committee created under this section.

SECTION 2. ABOLITION OF COMMITTEE. The committee is

abolished and this Act expires December 21, 2026.

SECTION 3. EFFECTIVE DATE. This Act takes effect September

1, 2025.