Oliverson Religious Freedom Bill Gives Governor All Seven Seats

The text as introduced · 706 words

89R5661 JON-D

By: Oliverson
H.B. No. 1805

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the creation of the Religious Freedom Commission.

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

SECTION 1. Subtitle D, Title 4, Government Code, is amended

by adding Chapter 452 to read as follows:

CHAPTER 452. RELIGIOUS FREEDOM COMMISSION

SUBCHAPTER A. GENERAL PROVISIONS

Sec. 452.001. DEFINITION. In this chapter, "commission"

means the Religious Freedom Commission.

Sec. 452.002. ESTABLISHMENT. (a) The commission is

established within the office of the governor.

(b) Chapter 2110 does not apply to the commission.

SUBCHAPTER B. COMPOSITION AND MEETINGS

Sec. 452.051. COMPOSITION OF COMMISSION. (a) The governor

shall appoint seven members to the commission.

(b) A member of the commission must be a resident of this

state.

(c) The commission must include members who:

(1) have demonstrated a significant interest in and

are knowledgeable about issues related to religious liberty; or

(2) have served prominently as leaders of or

spokespersons for organizations that serve members of religious

communities, including the Christian, Hindu, Jewish, and Muslim

communities.

Sec. 452.052. TERMS. (a) Commission members serve

staggered six-year terms with the terms of approximately one-third

of the members expiring February 1 of each odd-numbered year.

(b) Commission members are eligible for reappointment to

another term or part of a term.

(c) The governor shall fill any vacancy in a position on the

commission for the unexpired portion of the term.

Sec. 452.053. PRESIDING OFFICER. The governor shall

designate a member of the commission as presiding officer of the

commission to serve in that capacity at the pleasure of the

governor.

Sec. 452.054. COMPENSATION; EXPENSES. A member of the

commission is not entitled to compensation but is entitled to

reimbursement for the travel expenses incurred by the member while

transacting commission business, as provided by the General

Appropriations Act.

Sec. 452.055. MEETINGS; QUORUM. (a) The commission shall

meet at least quarterly at the times and places in this state the

commission designates.

(b) Four members of the commission constitute a quorum for

transacting commission business.

SUBCHAPTER C. DUTIES

Sec. 452.101. DUTIES OF COMMISSION. The commission shall:

(1) advance the right to freedom of religion within

this state, denounce violations of that right, and recommend

appropriate responses by the legislature to the violations;

(2) identify system-level challenges and solutions

relating to religious liberty for all faith communities;

(3) serve as a principal advisor to the governor

regarding matters affecting religious freedom within this state;

(4) make recommendations regarding:

(A) local and state policies that violate freedom

of religion or that fail to ensure the individual's right to

religious belief and practice;

(B) policies that advance the right to freedom of

religion in this state; and

(C) strategies to address and prevent

faith-related bias incidents; and

(5) engage in education, advocacy, and outreach

efforts to promote understanding and awareness of the importance of

religious liberty.

SUBCHAPTER D. SUPPORT AND FUNDING

Sec. 452.151. SUPPORT. The office of the governor shall

provide administrative support, including staff, to the

commission.

Sec. 452.152. FUNDING. (a) The commission may accept gifts

and grants from a public or private source on behalf of the

commission for the commission to use in performing the duties

assigned to the commission under this chapter.

(b) All legislative appropriations to support the functions

and activities of the commission shall be made as part of the office

of the governor's legislative appropriations request process and

disbursed to the commission.

SECTION 2. As soon as practicable after the effective date

of this Act, the governor shall appoint members to the Religious

Freedom Commission as provided by Chapter 452, Government Code, as

added by this Act. To implement the staggering of terms of members

of the commission provided by Section 452.052, Government Code, as

added by this Act, in making the first appointments to the

commission, the governor shall provide for two of the members to

serve terms expiring February 1, 2027, two of the members to serve

terms expiring February 1, 2029, and three of the members to serve

terms expiring February 1, 2031. Subsequent appointments shall be

for six-year terms, as provided by Section 452.052, Government

Code, as added by this Act.

SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.