Monitoring the Session

HB 4279

Davis Bill Sends Unclaimed Money To The Phone Companies’ Own Fund

Did not pass

Verdict: Smells

SmellsReviewed
Rep. Yvonne DavisDHouse 111
Why it's charged
Carve-out

THE TEXT

…“only to a scholarship fund established by one or more local exchange companies in this state”…

Bill text, House committee report version (H)

The mandatory stream of unclaimed money goes to one uniquely described private fund, the one the phone companies themselves set up, rather than to the state. The caption does flag 'certain urban scholarship funds', so the narrowness is mostly disclosed.

Carve-out

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 delivery of unclaimed property to certain urban scholarship funds; authorizing administrative penalties.

Caption from analyzed text · version H.

Summary

May becomes must. The state comptroller gets skipped, and a late company pays 10% a day!

This bill changes the law so local phone companies must, not may, send unclaimed money they report to a college scholarship fund for needy urban students instead of turning it over to the state comptroller. It touches local exchange telephone companies and the scholarship fund that those same companies set up. A company that misses the delivery deadline faces a penalty of 10 percent of the money owed for each day it is late, and local governments are exempt from that penalty.

Labels

Labels: GOT HALFWAY. Passed the House on May 13, 2025. Died in the Senate: received, never referred to a committee.

Receipt

The receipt

89R-HB4279 · 2025-03-10

SOLD BY

Rep. Yvonne DavisDHouse 111 Rep. Lauren Ashley SimmonsDHouse 146

ITEM

relating to the delivery of unclaimed property to certain urban scholarship funds; authorizing administrative penalties.

WHAT IT DOES

May becomes must. The state comptroller gets skipped, and a late company pays 10% a day!

This bill changes the law so local phone companies must, not may, send unclaimed money they report to a college scholarship fund for needy urban students instead of turning it over to the state comptroller. It touches local exchange telephone companies and the scholarship fund that those same companies set up. A company that misses the delivery deadline faces a penalty of 10 percent of the money owed for each day it is late, and local governments are exempt from that penalty.

CHARGES

[x] CARVE-OUTanalysis confidence 50%

THE TEXT

…“only to a scholarship fund established by one or more local exchange companies in this state”…

Bill text, House committee report version (H)

The mandatory stream of unclaimed money goes to one uniquely described private fund, the one the phone companies themselves set up, rather than to the state. The caption does flag 'certain urban scholarship funds', so the narrowness is mostly disclosed.

TOTAL

No first-year general revenue figure available here.

LBB estimate · fiscal note version H · source

Sources

Fiscal note · version H · May 4, 2025

Passage of the bill would require local exchange companies to deliver reported unclaimed money to an urban scholarship fund. As a result, there would be an indeterminate reduction in transfers to the state.

LBB published estimates · flow over the stated periods.

Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

HISTORY

  1. Filed
  2. Read first time
  3. Referred to Higher Education
  4. Scheduled for public hearing on . . .
  5. Considered in public hearing
  6. Testimony taken/registration(s) recorded in committee
  7. Left pending in committee
  8. Considered in formal meeting
  9. Reported favorably w/o amendment(s)
  10. Vote reconsidered in committee
  11. Committee substitute considered in committee
  12. Reported favorably as substituted
  13. Comte report filed with Committee Coordinator
  14. Committee report distributed
  15. Committee report sent to Calendars
  16. Considered in Calendars
  17. Placed on General State Calendar
  18. Read 2nd time
  19. Passed to engrossment
  20. Record vote RV#1946
  21. Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal
  22. Read 3rd time
  23. Failed to pass
  24. Record vote RV#2030
  25. Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal
  26. Motion to reconsider spread on the Journal
  27. 1 legislative day notice-to call from Journal
  28. Motion to reconsider called from Journal
  29. Vote reconsidered
  30. Passed
  31. Record vote RV#2254
  32. Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal
  33. Reported engrossed
  34. Received from the House
FILED UNDER

TAXPAYER-FUNDED NGOS

THE TEXT

…“a local exchange company shall [ may ] deliver reported money to a scholarship fund for urban students instead of delivering the money to the comptroller”…

Bill text, House committee report version (H)

The bill requires unclaimed money that would otherwise go to the state comptroller to be routed to a private scholarship fund created by the phone companies.

SIGNED FOR BY

House · 85 yea · 57 nay

Sources

House: Final passage · May 13, 2025. Journal. Published stock for this vote. Snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

All floor motions and other positions below.

Smells

THANK YOU FOR CHECKING THE RECEIPT

CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY

CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY

Yvonne Davis

Donors

Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC$30KTexas Sands PAC$10KTexas House Democratic Campaign Committee Incumbent Protection$7K

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 · Aug 9, 2024 to Jun 22, 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.

Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC$30,000.00

Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC

$30,000.00

Cash
$30,000.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$30,000.00

Also funds 137 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 24, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · Oct 10, 2024 to Jun 22, 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: 100992163, 101033127, 101059987.

Texas Sands PAC$9,500.00

Texas Sands PAC

$9,500.00

Cash
$9,500.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$9,500.00

Also funds 121 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 3, 2024 to Oct 24, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · Dec 12, 2024 to May 18, 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: 100992163, 101059987.

Texas House Democratic Campaign Committee Incumbent Protection$7,000.00

Texas House Democratic Campaign Committee Incumbent Protection

$7,000.00

Cash
$7,000.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$7,000.00

Also funds 0 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · on May 11, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Name match, not a verified identity: normalized filed name and state.

Sources

Derived itemized flow · on May 11, 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: 101059987.

Money

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

×

Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC

$30,000.00

Cash
$30,000.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$30,000.00

Also funds 137 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 24, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · Oct 10, 2024 to Jun 22, 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: 100992163, 101033127, 101059987.

×

Texas Sands PAC

$9,500.00

Cash
$9,500.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$9,500.00

Also funds 121 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 3, 2024 to Oct 24, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · Dec 12, 2024 to May 18, 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: 100992163, 101059987.

×

Texas House Democratic Campaign Committee Incumbent Protection

$7,000.00

Cash
$7,000.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$7,000.00

Also funds 0 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · on May 11, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Name match, not a verified identity: normalized filed name and state.

Sources

Derived itemized flow · on May 11, 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: 101059987.

Votes3

House May 13, 2025

Yea
85
Nay
57
Present, not voting
2
Absent
4
Excused
2
Names

Named positions matched to lawmakers. See the journal for unmatched names.

House journal

Sources

Record 2254

HB 4279 was passed by (Record 2254): 85 Yeas, 57 Nays, 2 Present, not voting.

Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.

  • Yea: 85 (published)
  • Nay: 57 (published)
  • Present, not voting: 2 (published)
  • Absent: 4 (derived from named list)
  • Excused: 2 (derived from named list)

House journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

House May 10, 2025

Yea
49
Nay
79
Present, not voting
3
Absent
3
Excused
16
Names

Named positions matched to lawmakers. See the journal for unmatched names.

House journal

Sources

Record 2030

HB 4279 failed to pass by (Record 2030): 49 Yeas, 79 Nays, 3 Present, not voting. (The motion to reconsider the vote was spread on the journal later today. The vote was reconsidered on May 13, and HB 4279 was passed by Record No. 2254.)

Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.

  • Yea: 49 (published)
  • Nay: 79 (published)
  • Present, not voting: 3 (published)
  • Absent: 3 (derived from named list)
  • Excused: 16 (derived from named list)

House journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

House May 9, 2025

Yea
74
Nay
62
Present, not voting
2
Absent
5
Excused
7
Names

Named positions matched to lawmakers. See the journal for unmatched names.

House journal

Sources

Record 1946

CSHB 4279 was passed to engrossment by (Record 1946): 74 Yeas, 62 Nays, 2 Present, not voting.

Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.

  • Yea: 74 (published)
  • Nay: 62 (published)
  • Present, not voting: 2 (published)
  • Absent: 5 (derived from named list)
  • Excused: 7 (derived from named list)

House journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

Witnesses4
For
4
Against
0
On
0
Names

For

  • Self4 registrations
Sources

4 parsed registrations across the loaded witness lists.

Derived stock of witness registrations. Repeated appearances count separately. Organizations and self-representation appear as printed.

House witness list. Source snapshot 2026-10-20, Central time.

Fiscal

No first-year general revenue figure available here.

LBB estimate · fiscal note version H · source

Sources

Fiscal note · version H · May 4, 2025

Passage of the bill would require local exchange companies to deliver reported unclaimed money to an urban scholarship fund. As a result, there would be an indeterminate reduction in transfers to the state.

LBB published estimates · flow over the stated periods.

Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

How this was graded

Analysis of text version H by claude-opus-5-5, Oct 22, 2026, against the published rubric.

Sources

Texas House · Filed Mar 10, 2025

05/14/2025 S Received from the House

Texas Legislature Online · Introduced · House Committee Report · Engrossed

Data snapshot Nov 1, 2026 at 3:12 PM CST. Grades, charges, quotes and corrections follow the published record.

House committee · Higher Education · Committee vote 9 aye, 2 nay · Out of committee

Subjects

Education--Higher--Student Financial Aid

SCHOLARSHIPS

UNCLAIMED PROPERTY

Text

The text as introduced · 405 words

By: Y. Davis of Dallas
H.B. No. 4279

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

Relating to the urban scholarship; enforcement and authorizing

penalties.

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

SECTION 1. Section 74.3012, Property Code, is amending by

amending Subsections (a) and (b) and adding Subsection (h) to read

as follows:

(a) Notwithstanding and in addition to any other provision

of this chapter or other law, a local exchange company shall [ may ]

deliver reported money to a scholarship fund for urban students

instead of delivering the money to the comptroller as prescribed by

Section 74.301.

(b) A local exchange company shall [ may ] deliver the money

under this section only to a scholarship fund established by one or

more local exchange companies in this state to enable needy

students from urban areas to attend college, technical school, or

another postsecondary educational institution.

(c) A local exchange company shall file with the comptroller

a verification of money delivered under this section that complies

with Section 74.302.

(h) A local exchange company is subject to Subchapter H for

failure to comply with this Section.

SECTION 2. Section 74.706, Property Code, is amended to

read as follows:

(a) A penalty equal to five percent of the value of the

property due shall be imposed on a holder who fails to pay or

deliver property within the time prescribed by this chapter. If a

holder fails to pay or deliver property before the 31st day after

the date the property is due, an additional penalty equal to five

percent of the value of the property due shall be imposed.

(b) A penalty equal to ten percent of the property due per day

shall be imposed on a holder who fails to pay or deliver property

under Section 74.3012 within the time prescribed by this Chapter.

(c)[ (b) ] For purposes of Subsections (a) and (b)

[ Subsection (a) ], "holder" does not include a local governmental

entity or an officer or employee of a local governmental entity who

is performing the officer's or employee's official duties for the

local governmental entity.

SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives

a vote of two-thirds of all members elected to each house, as

provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this

Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this

Act takes effect September 1, 2025.