Monitoring the Session

HB 4988

Bill recognizing the Lipan Apache Tribe of Texas

Died in committee

Verdict: No flags

No flagsInitial review
Rep. Janie LopezRHouse 37

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 state recognition of the Lipan Apache Tribe of Texas.

Caption from analyzed text · version I.

Summary

State law recognizes the tribe as a Native American Indian tribe.

The bill officially recognizes the Lipan Apache Tribe of Texas as a Native American Indian tribe under state law. It touches the tribe and its members, and it renames two headings in the Government Code to add the word "recognitions." Starting September 1, 2025, the tribe would be treated as eligible for programs, services, marketing and sales authorizations, and other benefits open to state-recognized tribes.

Labels

Labels: ZOMBIE BILL. Died 2 times: 88R SB 231 by Sen. Hinojosa (Died in committee) and this bill (Died in committee). Checked against 88R only.BACK FROM THE DEAD. Same text as a bill filed before that died: 88R SB 231 by Sen. Hinojosa (Died in committee). Filed in 2 sessions, counting this one. Checked against 88R only.TRY NO. 2. Filed in 2 sessions: 88R and 89R. Checked against 88R only.NEVER GOT A HEARING. Filed Mar 13, 2025 and referred to the House State Affairs committee. No public hearing. The bill died.

Receipt

The receipt

89R-HB4988 · 2025-03-13

SOLD BY

Rep. Janie LopezRHouse 37

ITEM

relating to state recognition of the Lipan Apache Tribe of Texas.

WHAT IT DOES

State law recognizes the tribe as a Native American Indian tribe.

The bill officially recognizes the Lipan Apache Tribe of Texas as a Native American Indian tribe under state law. It touches the tribe and its members, and it renames two headings in the Government Code to add the word "recognitions." Starting September 1, 2025, the tribe would be treated as eligible for programs, services, marketing and sales authorizations, and other benefits open to state-recognized tribes.

CHARGES

[ ] NONE FOUND

TOTAL

No fiscal note in the loaded record.

HISTORY

  1. Filed
  2. Read first time
  3. Referred to State Affairs
FILED UNDER

No verified beat found.

No flags

THANK YOU FOR CHECKING THE RECEIPT

CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY

CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY

Janie Lopez

Donors

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC$504KAssociated Republicans of Texas Campaign Fund$489KTexas Conservative Majority PAC$487K

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 27, 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$504,349.82

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC

$504,349.82

Cash
$45,000.00
Paid by others
$459,349.82
Total
$504,349.82
advertising $380,541.56mail $48,297.91polling $30,510.35

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 · Oct 31, 2024 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: 100977055, 101010818, 101036578, 101036586, 101058662, 101067886, 101070167.

Associated Republicans of Texas Campaign Fund$488,665.88

Associated Republicans of Texas Campaign Fund

$488,665.88

Cash
$0.00
Paid by others
$488,665.88
Total
$488,665.88
television $202,708.00mailers $127,420.46mailer $47,655.97digital $47,523.75canvassing $20,149.00polling $16,200.00Other filed descriptions $10,991.57text $10,252.13radio $5,765.00

Also funds 20 other sitting lawmakers.

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

TEC account match.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · Nov 4, 2024 to Oct 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: 100977055, 101010818, 101035068, 101036578, 101036586, 101067886, 101070167.

Texas Conservative Majority PAC$486,622.50

Texas Conservative Majority PAC

$486,622.50

Cash
$50,000.00
Paid by others
$436,622.50
Total
$486,622.50
advertising $181,100.00canvassing $140,822.50media $100,000.00polling $5,800.00Other filed descriptions $5,000.00texting $3,900.00

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 · Feb 13, 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: 101036586, 101067886, 101070167.

Money

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

×

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC

$504,349.82

Cash
$45,000.00
Paid by others
$459,349.82
Total
$504,349.82
advertising $380,541.56mail $48,297.91polling $30,510.35

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 · Oct 31, 2024 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: 100977055, 101010818, 101036578, 101036586, 101058662, 101067886, 101070167.

×

Associated Republicans of Texas Campaign Fund

$488,665.88

Cash
$0.00
Paid by others
$488,665.88
Total
$488,665.88
television $202,708.00mailers $127,420.46mailer $47,655.97digital $47,523.75canvassing $20,149.00polling $16,200.00Other filed descriptions $10,991.57text $10,252.13radio $5,765.00

Also funds 20 other sitting lawmakers.

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

TEC account match.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · Nov 4, 2024 to Oct 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: 100977055, 101010818, 101035068, 101036578, 101036586, 101067886, 101070167.

×

Texas Conservative Majority PAC

$486,622.50

Cash
$50,000.00
Paid by others
$436,622.50
Total
$486,622.50
advertising $181,100.00canvassing $140,822.50media $100,000.00polling $5,800.00Other filed descriptions $5,000.00texting $3,900.00

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 · Feb 13, 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: 101036586, 101067886, 101070167.

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.

FILED BEFORE

Filed 2 times: 88R and 89R. Checked against 88R only.

88R SB 231

by Sen. Hinojosa, different lead author · Died in committee · same text

Introduced text

Last action, Feb 15, 2023: Referred to State Affairs

Relating to state recognition of the Lipan Apache Tribe of Texas.

Caption, 88R bill history

Sources

Texas House · Filed Mar 13, 2025

04/03/2025 H Referred to State Affairs: Apr 3 2025 12:38PM

Texas Legislature Online · Introduced

Data snapshot Oct 26, 2026 at 4:20 AM CDT. Grades, charges, quotes and corrections follow the published record.

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

Companion

SB 1634 by Hinojosa, Adam (identical)

HB 4732 by Gámez (duplicate)

Subjects

Amusements, Games, Sports

Courts--General

Legislature

LIPAN APACHE TRIBE OF TEXAS (SI1KK)

NATIVE AMERICANS

Text

The text as introduced · 198 words

89R15186 BEE-D

By: Lopez of Cameron
H.B. No. 4988

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to state recognition of the Lipan Apache Tribe of Texas.

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

SECTION 1. The heading to Title 11, Government Code, is

amended to read as follows:

TITLE 11. STATE SYMBOLS , RECOGNITIONS, AND HONORS; PRESERVATION

SECTION 2. The heading to Subtitle A, Title 11, Government

Code, is amended to read as follows:

SUBTITLE A. STATE SYMBOLS , RECOGNITIONS, AND HONORS

SECTION 3. Subtitle A, Title 11, Government Code, is

amended by adding Chapter 3102 to read as follows:

CHAPTER 3102. STATE RECOGNITION

Sec. 3102.001. STATE RECOGNITION OF NATIVE AMERICAN INDIAN

TRIBE. The Lipan Apache Tribe of Texas is designated and recognized

by this state as a Native American Indian Tribe exercising

substantial governmental powers and duties. The tribe is

recognized as eligible for all programs, services, authorizations,

including marketing and sales authorizations, and other benefits

provided to state-recognized Native American Indian Tribes by the

United States, this state, or any other state because of the tribe

members' status as Native American Indians.

SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.