HB 3990

Hickland Flag Bill Reaches Any Flag A Coworker Can See

Died in committee

Verdict: Smells

SmellsReviewed

Rep. Hillary HicklandRHouse 55

Why it's charged

Dragnet

THE CAPTION

“relating to the display of flags by a building owned or operated by”…

Caption, introduced version (I)

THE TEXT

…“means to exhibit or place an object where a person visiting or”…

Bill text, introduced version (I)

The caption speaks of flags displayed by a building. The definition and ban also reach any flag an employee, agent or volunteer places anywhere a visitor or coworker may see it, which can cover personal items in a workspace.

Dragnet

Reviewed · Nov 1, 2026 · Headline, summary and grade are analysis of the bill text, not a finding about any person · How we grade

Caption

relating to the display of flags by a building owned or operated by the state, a municipality, or a county.

Caption from analyzed text · version I.

Summary

U.S., Texas, city or county flags only, even from volunteers. No penalty in the text.

The bill bars state, city and county buildings from displaying any flag except the United States flag, the Texas flag, or the official flag of a city or county. It also bars those governments from letting employees, agents or volunteers display any other flag anywhere a visitor or worker at the building could see it. U.S. and Texas flags shown at these buildings must be official, in official colors and unaltered, starting September 1, 2025, though the text sets no penalty or enforcement method.

Labels

Labels: PENDING FOREVER. Heard by the House State Affairs committee on Apr 25, 2025 and left pending. Never voted out. The bill died.

Receipt

The receipt

89R-HB3990 · 2025-03-06

SOLD BY

Rep. Hillary HicklandRHouse 55

ITEM

relating to the display of flags by a building owned or operated by the state, a municipality, or a county.

WHAT IT DOES

U.S., Texas, city or county flags only, even from volunteers. No penalty in the text.

CHARGES

[x] DRAGNETanalysis confidence 50%

THE CAPTION

“relating to the display of flags by a building owned or operated by”…

Caption, introduced version (I)

THE TEXT

…“means to exhibit or place an object where a person visiting or”…

Bill text, introduced version (I)

TOTAL

No fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

LBB estimate · fiscal note version I · source

Sources

Fiscal note · version I · April 23, 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

Mar 6, 2025Filed
Mar 27, 2025Read first time
Mar 27, 2025Referred to State Affairs
Apr 25, 2025Scheduled for public hearing on . . .
Apr 25, 2025Considered in public hearing
Apr 25, 2025Committee substitute considered in committee
Apr 25, 2025Testimony taken/registration(s) recorded in committee
Apr 25, 2025Left pending in committee

FILED UNDER

SPEECH AND LAWFARE

THE TEXT

…“employee, agent, or volunteer to display any flag other than:”

Bill text, introduced version (I)

The bill limits which flags public employees, agents and volunteers may show at state, city and county buildings.

Smells

THANK YOU FOR CHECKING THE RECEIPT

CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY

Hillary Hickland

Donors

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC$310K Texas Conservative Majority PAC$135K Court Reform Action for Families Texas PAC$25K

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 24, 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.

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC$310,226.49

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC

$310,226.49

Cash: $50,000.00
Paid by others: $260,226.49
Total: $310,226.49

mail $134,060.64advertising $105,955.50polling $20,210.35

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 Oct 15, 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: 101005755, 101019808, 101048921, 101069141, 101072319.

Texas Conservative Majority PAC$135,152.00

Texas Conservative Majority PAC

$135,152.00

Cash: $10,000.00
Paid by others: $125,152.00
Total: $135,152.00

canvassing $125,152.00

Also funds 42 other sitting lawmakers.

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

TEC account match.

Team

Sources

Derived itemized flow · Sep 8, 2026 to Sep 24, 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: 101069141.

Court Reform Action for Families Texas PAC$25,000.00

Court Reform Action for Families Texas PAC

$25,000.00

Cash: $25,000.00
Paid by others: $0.00
Total: $25,000.00

Also funds 32 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Feb 20, 2026 to Oct 14, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team

Sources

Derived itemized flow · on Sep 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.

Report IDs: 101069141.

Money

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

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC

$310,226.49

Cash: $50,000.00
Paid by others: $260,226.49
Total: $310,226.49

mail $134,060.64advertising $105,955.50polling $20,210.35

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 Oct 15, 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: 101005755, 101019808, 101048921, 101069141, 101072319.

Texas Conservative Majority PAC

$135,152.00

Cash: $10,000.00
Paid by others: $125,152.00
Total: $135,152.00

canvassing $125,152.00

Also funds 42 other sitting lawmakers.

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

TEC account match.

Team

Sources

Derived itemized flow · Sep 8, 2026 to Sep 24, 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: 101069141.

Court Reform Action for Families Texas PAC

$25,000.00

Cash: $25,000.00
Paid by others: $0.00
Total: $25,000.00

Also funds 32 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Feb 20, 2026 to Oct 14, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team

Sources

Derived itemized flow · on Sep 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.

Report IDs: 101069141.

Votes

No floor vote loaded for this bill.

Fiscal

No fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

LBB estimate · fiscal note version I · source

Sources

Fiscal note · version I · April 23, 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 20, 2026, against the published rubric.

Sources

Texas House · Filed Mar 6, 2025

04/25/2025 H Left pending in committee

Texas Legislature Online · Introduced

Data snapshot Nov 1, 2026 at 1:53 PM CST. Grades, charges, quotes and corrections follow the published record.

House committee · State Affairs · Final status: Died in committee

Subjects

City Government--General

County Government--General

State Symbols

FLAGS

Text

The text as introduced · 207 words

89R9917 DNC-D

By: Hickland
H.B. No. 3990

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the display of flags by a building owned or operated by

the state, a municipality, or a county.

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

SECTION 1. Subtitle E, Title 10, Government Code, is

amended by adding Chapter 2207 to read as follows:

CHAPTER 2207. DISPLAY OF FLAGS

Sec. 2207.001. APPLICABILITY. This chapter applies to a

building owned or operated by this state, a municipality, or a

county.

Sec. 2207.002. DEFINITION. In this chapter, "display"

means to exhibit or place an object where a person visiting or

employed at a building may see the object.

Sec. 2207.003. DISPLAY OF FLAGS. (a) A building may not

display and this state or a municipality or county may not permit an

employee, agent, or volunteer to display any flag other than:

(1) the United States flag;

(2) the state flag; or

(3) the official flag of a municipality or county.

(b) A United States flag or state flag displayed at a

building to which this chapter applies must be the official flag in

the official colors and may not be altered.

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