Monitoring the Session

HB 1540

bill pushing sunset reviews for eight state bodies two years

Died in committee

Verdict: No flags

No flagsInitial review
Rep. Keith BellRHouse 4

Initial review · graded Oct 19, 2026 · Headline, summary and grade are analysis of the bill text, not a finding about any person · How we grade

Caption

relating to governmental entities subject to the sunset review process.

Caption from analyzed text · version I.

Summary

Mostly 2025 to 2027. Lottery Commission and prisons included.

This bill pushes back the sunset review deadline for eight state bodies by two years, mostly from 2025 to 2027. It touches the Texas Lottery Commission, the prison system and its board, the Texas Ethics Commission, the Department of Information Resources, and four river authorities. On the ground, these bodies keep operating without a sunset decision this session, and their reviews and possible abolition dates move to September 1, 2027.

Labels

Labels: ACROSS THE AISLE. Joint authors: 3 Republicans, 1 Democrat. Party as the Legislative Reference Library lists it for the 89th Legislature.PENDING FOREVER. Heard by the House Delivery of Government Efficiency committee on Apr 30, 2025 and left pending. Never voted out. The bill died.

Receipt

The receipt

89R-HB1540 · 2025-03-14

SOLD BY

Rep. Keith BellRHouse 4 Rep. Terry CanalesDHouse 40 Rep. Lacey HullRHouse 138

+ 1 more author, 1 coauthor

ITEM

relating to governmental entities subject to the sunset review process.

WHAT IT DOES

Mostly 2025 to 2027. Lottery Commission and prisons included.

This bill pushes back the sunset review deadline for eight state bodies by two years, mostly from 2025 to 2027. It touches the Texas Lottery Commission, the prison system and its board, the Texas Ethics Commission, the Department of Information Resources, and four river authorities. On the ground, these bodies keep operating without a sunset decision this session, and their reviews and possible abolition dates move to September 1, 2027.

CHARGES

[ ] NONE FOUND

TOTAL

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

LBB estimate · fiscal note version I · source

Sources

Fiscal note · version I · April 26, 2025

No first-year general revenue figure available here.

LBB published estimates · flow over the stated periods.

Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

HISTORY

  1. Filed
  2. Read first time
  3. Referred to Delivery of Government Efficiency
  4. Scheduled for public hearing on . . .
  5. Considered in public hearing
  6. Testimony taken/registration(s) recorded in committee
  7. Left pending in committee
FILED UNDER

Beats not yet reviewed.

No flags

THANK YOU FOR CHECKING THE RECEIPT

CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY

CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY

Keith Bell

Donors

Josh Stevens$50,000Carla Enna$50,000Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC$35K

Not tied to this bill.

Sources

The author's campaign account only. Own money and internal transfers are separate on the member page.

Derived itemized flow · Oct 31, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Josh Stevens$50,000.00
Carla Enna$50,000.00
Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC$35,000.00

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC

$35,000.00

Cash
$35,000.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$35,000.00

Also funds 124 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 10, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · Jun 30, 2025 to Sep 4, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Report IDs: 101007782, 101027129, 101068150.

Money

Missing data does not establish zero giving. Display amounts are rounded.

×

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC

$35,000.00

Cash
$35,000.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$35,000.00

Also funds 124 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 10, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · Jun 30, 2025 to Sep 4, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Report IDs: 101007782, 101027129, 101068150.

Votes

No floor vote loaded for this bill.

Fiscal

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

LBB estimate · fiscal note version I · source

Sources

Fiscal note · version I · April 26, 2025

No first-year general revenue figure available here.

LBB published estimates · flow over the stated periods.

Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

How this was graded

Analysis of text version I by claude-opus-5-5, Oct 19, 2026, against the published rubric.

Sources

Texas House · Filed Mar 14, 2025

04/30/2025 H Left pending in committee

Texas Legislature Online · Introduced

Data snapshot Oct 26, 2026 at 4:20 AM CDT. Grades, charges, quotes and corrections follow the published record.

Coauthors
Janie LopezRHouse 37

House committee · Delivery of Government Efficiency · Final status: Died in committee

Companion

SB 2401 by Parker (identical)

Subjects

ANGELINA & NECHES RIVER AUTHORITY

LOWER NECHES VALLEY AUTHORITY

SABINE RIVER AUTHORITY OF TEXAS

TRINITY RIVER AUTHORITY OF TEXAS

Amusements, Games, Sports

Corrections--Jails & Prisons

Corrections--Parole, Probation & Pardons

Criminal Procedure--General

Education--School Districts

Ethics

Special Districts & Authorities--Miscellaneous

Special Districts & Authorities--River Authorities

State Agencies, Boards & Commissions

Sunset--Commission Bills

Sunset—Required Reviews

CRIMINAL JUSTICE, TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF

ETHICS COMMISSION, TEXAS

INFORMATION RESOURCES, DEPARTMENT OF

LOTTERY COMMISSION, TEXAS

Text

The text as introduced · 664 words

89R10574 BCH-D

By: Bell of Kaufman
H.B. No. 1540

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to governmental entities subject to the sunset review

process.

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

SECTION 1. TEXAS LOTTERY COMMISSION. Section 467.002,

Government Code, is amended to read as follows:

Sec. 467.002. APPLICATION OF SUNSET ACT. The commission is

subject to review under Chapter 325 (Texas Sunset Act). Unless

continued in existence as provided by that chapter, the commission

is abolished and this chapter, Chapter 466 of this code, and Chapter

2001, Occupations Code, expire September 1, 2027 [ 2025 ].

SECTION 2. TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE. Section

492.012, Government Code, is amended to read as follows:

Sec. 492.012. SUNSET PROVISION. The Texas Board of

Criminal Justice and the Texas Department of Criminal Justice are

subject to Chapter 325 (Texas Sunset Act). Unless continued in

existence as provided by that chapter, the board and the department

are abolished September 1, 2027 [ 2025 ].

SECTION 3. TEXAS ETHICS COMMISSION. Section 571.022,

Government Code, is amended to read as follows:

Sec. 571.022. SUNSET PROVISION. The commission is subject

to review under Chapter 325 (Texas Sunset Act), but is not abolished

under that chapter. The commission shall be reviewed during the

periods in which state agencies abolished in 2027 [ 2013 ] and every

12th year after that year are reviewed.

SECTION 4. DEPARTMENT OF INFORMATION RESOURCES. Section

2054.005, Government Code, is amended to read as follows:

Sec. 2054.005. SUNSET PROVISION. [ (a) ] The Department of

Information Resources is subject to Chapter 325 (Texas Sunset Act).

Unless continued in existence as provided by that chapter, the

department is abolished and this chapter expires September 1, 2027

[ 2025 ].

SECTION 5. ANGELINA AND NECHES RIVER AUTHORITY. Section

8501.0015(a), Special District Local Laws Code, is amended to read

as follows:

(a) The authority is subject to review under Chapter 325,

Government Code (Texas Sunset Act), but may not be abolished under

that chapter. The review shall be conducted under Section 325.025,

Government Code, as if the authority were a state agency scheduled

to be abolished September 1, 2027 [ 2025 ], and every 12th year after

that year.

SECTION 6. LOWER NECHES VALLEY AUTHORITY. Section

8504.0021(a), Special District Local Laws Code, is amended to read

as follows:

(a) The authority is subject to review under Chapter 325,

Government Code (Texas Sunset Act), but may not be abolished under

that chapter. The review shall be conducted under Section 325.025,

Government Code, as if the authority were a state agency scheduled

to be abolished September 1, 2027 [ 2025 ], and every 12th year after

that year.

SECTION 7. SABINE RIVER AUTHORITY OF TEXAS. Section 2A(a),

Chapter 110, Acts of the 51st Legislature, Regular Session, 1949,

is amended to read as follows:

(a) The district is subject to review under Chapter 325,

Government Code (Texas Sunset Act), but may not be abolished under

that chapter. The review shall be conducted under Section 325.025,

Government Code, as if the district were a state agency scheduled to

be abolished September 1, 2027 [ 2025 ], and every 12th year after

that year.

SECTION 8. TRINITY RIVER AUTHORITY OF TEXAS. Section

1A(a), Chapter 518, Acts of the 54th Legislature, Regular Session,

1955, is amended to read as follows:

(a) The Authority is subject to review under Chapter 325,

Government Code (Texas Sunset Act), but may not be abolished under

that chapter. The review shall be conducted under Section 325.025,

Government Code, as if the Authority were a state agency scheduled

to be abolished September 1, 2027 [ 2025 ], and every 12th year after

that year.

SECTION 9. EFFECTIVE DATE. This Act takes effect

immediately if it receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members

elected to each house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas

Constitution. If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for

immediate effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2025.