HB 2599
Cain Bill Bars State Ads In Certain Statewide News Sites
Died in committee
Verdict: No flags
Initial review · graded Oct 20, 2026 · Headline, summary and grade are analysis of the bill text, not a finding about any person · How we grade
Caption
relating to prohibiting state agencies from engaging in certain transactions with certain statewide periodicals or Internet news websites.
Caption from analyzed text · version I.
Summary
Only outlets funded by donations, memberships and ad sales together. Agency donations end too.
The bill bars state agencies from using money the Legislature appropriates to buy ads in, or give donations to, certain statewide magazines, periodicals or news websites. It covers only outlets that are supported by donations, memberships, and ad sales together. State agencies lose that spending option starting September 1, 2025, and those outlets lose state ad and donation money.
Labels
Labels: NEVER GOT A HEARING. Filed Feb 10, 2025 and referred to the House State Affairs committee. No public hearing. The bill died.
Receipt
The receipt
89R-HB2599 · 2025-02-10
SOLD BY
ITEM
relating to prohibiting state agencies from engaging in certain transactions with certain statewide periodicals or Internet news websites.
WHAT IT DOES
Only outlets funded by donations, memberships and ad sales together. Agency donations end too.
The bill bars state agencies from using money the Legislature appropriates to buy ads in, or give donations to, certain statewide magazines, periodicals or news websites. It covers only outlets that are supported by donations, memberships, and ad sales together. State agencies lose that spending option starting September 1, 2025, and those outlets lose state ad and donation money.
CHARGES
[ ] NONE FOUND
TOTAL
No fiscal note in the loaded record.
HISTORY
- Filed
- Read first time
- Referred to State Affairs
FILED UNDER
THE TEXT
…“may not use money appropriated by the legislature to place an advertisement in or make a donation to a statewide periodical or Internet news website that is supported by donations, memberships”…
Bill text, introduced version (I)
The bill cuts off state agency ad and donation money to donor- and member-supported statewide news outlets.
THANK YOU FOR CHECKING THE RECEIPT
CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY
CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY
Donors
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 28, 2024 to May 28, 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.
Teans for Lawsuit Reform PAC$5,000.00
Teans for Lawsuit Reform PAC
$5,000.00
- Cash
- $5,000.00
- Paid by others
- $0.00
- Total
- $5,000.00
Also funds 0 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · on Jul 3, 2025. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
Name match, not a verified identity: normalized filed name and state.
Sources
Derived itemized flow · on Jul 3, 2025. 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: 101033926.
Missing data does not establish zero giving. Display amounts are rounded.
Teans for Lawsuit Reform PAC
$5,000.00
- Cash
- $5,000.00
- Paid by others
- $0.00
- Total
- $5,000.00
Also funds 0 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · on Jul 3, 2025. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
Name match, not a verified identity: normalized filed name and state.
Sources
Derived itemized flow · on Jul 3, 2025. 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: 101033926.
Votes
No floor vote loaded for this bill.
Fiscal
No fiscal note in the loaded record.
How this was graded
Analysis of text version I by claude-opus-5-5, Oct 20, 2026, against the published rubric.
Sources
Texas House · Filed Feb 10, 2025
03/17/2025 H Referred to State Affairs: Mar 17 2025 2:32PM
Texas Legislature Online · Introduced
Data snapshot Oct 26, 2026 at 4:19 AM CDT. Grades, charges, quotes and corrections follow the published record.
House committee · State Affairs · Final status: Died in committee
Subjects
Communications & Press
Ethics
State Agencies, Boards & Commissions
State Finances--Management & Control
Text
The text as introduced · 155 words
89R2395 KJE-D By: Cain H.B. No. 2599 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT relating to prohibiting state agencies from engaging in certain transactions with certain statewide periodicals or Internet news websites. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Subtitle F, Title 10, Government Code, is amended by adding Chapter 2278 to read as follows: CHAPTER 2278. PROHIBITED TRANSACTIONS WITH STATEWIDE PERIODICALS OR INTERNET NEWS WEBSITES Sec. 2278.001. DEFINITION. In this chapter, "state agency" has the meaning assigned by Section 2251.001. Sec. 2278.002. CERTAIN TRANSACTIONS WITH STATEWIDE PERIODICALS OR INTERNET NEWS WEBSITES PROHIBITED. A state agency may not use money appropriated by the legislature to place an advertisement in or make a donation to a statewide periodical or Internet news website that is supported by donations, memberships, and the sale of advertising space in the periodical or on the website. SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.