Toth’s bill requiring state documents to say “taxpayer money”

The text as introduced · 329 words

89R1167 KJE-D

By: Toth
H.B. No. 2059

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to references to "taxpayer money" in state documents,

publications, and notices.

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

SECTION 1. Chapter 2051, Government Code, is amended by

adding Subchapter G to read as follows:

SUBCHAPTER G. STATE DOCUMENT REFERENCES TO TAXPAYER MONEY

Sec. 2051.251. REFERENCES TO TAXPAYER MONEY. (a) A state

official or state agency that, in an official document,

publication, or notice published or issued in print or on a publicly

accessible Internet web page, undertakes to refer to money

originating from taxes that is held by this state, a state agency,

or a state official and may be used only for a public purpose of this

state may not refer to that money by a term or phrase other than the

phrase "taxpayer money" except as provided by this section. The

official or agency shall use the phrase "taxpayer money" instead of

other common terms or phrases for money described by this

subsection, including:

(1) government funds;

(2) government money;

(3) public funds;

(4) public money;

(5) state funds; and

(6) state money.

(b) Subsection (a) does not apply to a reference to money

this state holds in trust for the benefit of a person other than

this state or a governmental entity of this state.

(c) Subsection (a) does not apply to a legislative document

or publication, including:

(1) a bill, a resolution, an analysis of a bill or

resolution, or a description of the contents of one of those types

of documents, that is used or may be used in the legislative

process;

(2) a state statute; and

(3) the Texas Constitution.

(d) Subsection (a) does not apply to a document concerning,

or a publication of, state agency rules that for reasons of legal

clarity must rely on phrasing used in state statutes or the Texas

Constitution.

SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.