Cain’s bill studying moving agencies out of Austin

The text as introduced · 414 words

By: Cain
H.B. No. 4072

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the relocation of the headquarters for certain state

agencies.

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

SECTION 1. Section 325.008(a), Government Code, is amended

to read as follows:

(a) Before January 1 of the year in which a state agency

subject to this chapter and its advisory committees are abolished,

the commission shall:

(1) review and take action necessary to verify the

reports submitted by the agency under Section 325.007;

(2) consult the Legislative Budget Board, the

Governor's Budget, Policy, and Planning Division, the State

Auditor, and the comptroller of public accounts, or their

successors, on the application to the agency of the criteria

provided in Section 325.011;

(3) conduct a review of the agency based an the

criteria provided in Section 325.011 and prepare a written report;

[ and ]

(4) conduct the evaluation required by Section

325.0085; and

(5) review the implementation of commission

recommendations contained in the reports presented to the

legislature during the preceding legislative session and the

resulting legislation.

SECTION 2. Chapter 325, Government Code, is amended by

adding Section 325.0085 to read as follows:

Sec. 325.0085. RELOCATION OF STATE AGENCY HEADQUARTERS.

(a) For each state agency reviewed under this chapter whose

headquarters is located in Travis County or an adjacent county, the

commission, with the assistance of the Texas Facilities Commission,

shall evaluate the cost savings to this state of relocating the

state agency's headquarters to a location outside of Travis County

or an adjacent county. In determining the cost savings to the

state, the commission shall consider the following factors over a

10-year period:

(1) the cost of leasing or purchasing office space for

the state agency in a location outside of Travis County or an

adjacent county;

(2) the cost of moving the state agency to the new

location;

(3) the market value of any state-owned property

currently being used for the state agency's headquarters, including

the amount of income the state could earn by leasing or selling the

property; and

(4) any other information the commission or Texas

Facilities Commission considers relevant in determining whether

the relocation creates a cost saving to this state.

(b) If the commission determines relocating a state agency

creates a cost saving to this state, the state agency shall relocate

the agency's headquarters to the location determined by the

commission under this section.

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