HB 4640

plumbing board members get a lawsuit shield for good-faith acts

Died in committee

Verdict: No flags

No flagsInitial review

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 the Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners.

Caption from analyzed text · version I.

Summary

And the board can take gifts from any source for exam materials.

The bill shields plumbing board members from civil lawsuits over good-faith acts, lets the board sign agreements with colleges, lets it accept gifts from any source to pay for student exam materials, and lets it hand the approval of settled and default disciplinary orders to its executive director. It touches the Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners, its executive director, Texas colleges, and plumbers and students who deal with the board. On the ground, board members are harder to sue, outside donors can fund exam materials, and some disciplinary orders get signed by staff instead of the full board, starting September 1, 2025.

Labels

Labels: NEVER GOT A HEARING. Filed Mar 12, 2025 and referred to the House Licensing & Administrative Procedures committee. No public hearing. The bill died.

Receipt

The receipt

89R-HB4640 · 2025-03-12

SOLD BY

Rep. Mark DorazioRHouse 122

ITEM

relating to the Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners.

WHAT IT DOES

And the board can take gifts from any source for exam materials.

CHARGES

[ ] NONE FOUND

TOTAL

No fiscal note in the loaded record.

HISTORY

Mar 12, 2025Filed
Apr 3, 2025Read first time
Apr 3, 2025Referred to Licensing & Administrative Procedures

FILED UNDER

SPEECH AND LAWFARE

THE TEXT

“A member of the board is not liable in a civil action for an act performed in good faith while performing duties as a board member.”

Bill text, introduced version (I)

The bill gives plumbing board members a shield from civil lawsuits over good-faith acts done in their board role.

No flags

THANK YOU FOR CHECKING THE RECEIPT

CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY

Mark Dorazio

Donors

Texas Conservative Majority PAC$381K Texans for Truth and Liberty PAC$211K Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC$160K

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 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.

Texas Conservative Majority PAC$381,050.00

Texas Conservative Majority PAC

$381,050.00

Cash: $100,000.00
Paid by others: $281,050.00
Total: $381,050.00

canvassing $239,000.00advertising $25,000.00polling $17,050.00

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 · Aug 14, 2026 to Oct 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: 101069938, 101072345.

Texans for Truth and Liberty PAC$211,000.00

Texans for Truth and Liberty PAC

$211,000.00

Cash: $205,000.00
Paid by others: $6,000.00
Total: $211,000.00

polling $6,000.00

Also funds 44 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jun 24, 2025 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team

Sources

Derived itemized flow · Jun 25, 2025 to Oct 6, 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: 101007777, 101036063, 101041570, 101069938, 101072345.

Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC$160,036.00

Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC

$160,036.00

Cash: $125,000.00
Paid by others: $35,036.00
Total: $160,036.00

mail $35,036.00

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 · Jun 27, 2025 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: 101007777, 101036063, 101041570, 101061158, 101069938.

Money

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

Texas Conservative Majority PAC

$381,050.00

Cash: $100,000.00
Paid by others: $281,050.00
Total: $381,050.00

canvassing $239,000.00advertising $25,000.00polling $17,050.00

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 · Aug 14, 2026 to Oct 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: 101069938, 101072345.

Texans for Truth and Liberty PAC

$211,000.00

Cash: $205,000.00
Paid by others: $6,000.00
Total: $211,000.00

polling $6,000.00

Also funds 44 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jun 24, 2025 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team

Sources

Derived itemized flow · Jun 25, 2025 to Oct 6, 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: 101007777, 101036063, 101041570, 101069938, 101072345.

Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC

$160,036.00

Cash: $125,000.00
Paid by others: $35,036.00
Total: $160,036.00

mail $35,036.00

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 · Jun 27, 2025 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: 101007777, 101036063, 101041570, 101061158, 101069938.

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 Mar 12, 2025

04/03/2025 H Referred to Licensing & Administrative Procedures: Apr 3 2025 12:38PM

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 · Licensing & Administrative Procedures · Final status: Died in committee

Subjects

Education--Higher--Institutions & Programs

Occupational Regulation--Other Trades & Professions

HIGHER EDUCATION COORDINATING BOARD, TEXAS

PLUMBING EXAMINERS, TEXAS STATE BOARD OF

Text

The text as introduced · 320 words

89R9447 JCG-F

By: Dorazio
H.B. No. 4640

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners.

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

SECTION 1. Subchapter C, Chapter 1301, Occupations Code, is

amended by adding Section 1301.160 to read as follows:

Sec. 1301.160. IMMUNITY FROM LIABILITY. A member of the

board is not liable in a civil action for an act performed in good

faith while performing duties as a board member.

SECTION 2. The heading to Section 1301.259, Occupations

Code, is amended to read as follows:

Sec. 1301.259. MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING WITH TEXAS

DEPARTMENT OF LICENSING AND REGULATION .

SECTION 3. Subchapter E, Chapter 1301, Occupations Code, is

amended by adding Section 1301.2595 to read as follows:

Sec. 1301.2595. MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING WITH

INSTITUTION OF HIGHER EDUCATION. (a) In this section,

"institution of higher education" has the meaning assigned by

Section 61.003, Education Code.

(b) The board may enter into a memorandum of understanding

with an institution of higher education to:

(1) support workforce development;

(2) improve services to students; and

(3) coordinate student support services.

(c) A memorandum of understanding under this section must be

approved by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board.

SECTION 4. Subchapter E, Chapter 1301, Occupations Code, is

amended by adding Sections 1301.264 and 1301.265 to read as

follows:

Sec. 1301.264. GIFTS, GRANTS, AND DONATIONS TO PAY FOR

STUDENT EXAMINATION MATERIALS. The board may solicit and accept a

gift, grant, donation, or other item of value from any source to pay

for practical materials for use by students in an examination under

this chapter.

Sec. 1301.265. AUTHORITY TO DELEGATE POWER REGARDING

CERTAIN ORDERS. The board may delegate to the executive director

the authority of the board to approve an agreed order, default

order, or similar order related to the disposition of a contested

case.

SECTION 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.