SB 1797
Race and ethnicity removed from appointment diversity requirements
Died in committee
Verdict: No flags
Editor's call: No flags. On Nov 1, 2026 the editor checked this charge against the bill's caption and removed it.
Corrected Nov 1, 2026
Corrected Nov 1, 2026 · We checked this summary against the bill text and fixed it.
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 a prohibition against the consideration of race or ethnicity as a factor when appointing the members of a state board, commission, or other state agency with statewide jurisdiction.
Caption from analyzed text · version I.
Summary
The bill removes racial and ethnic diversity instructions from covered state appointments.
The bill deletes race and ethnicity from two state laws that tell the governor and other appointing officials to seek diverse membership on state boards and commissions. It touches the Texas Lottery Commission's appointment rule and the general rule for every statewide state board, commission, or agency whose governing body is appointed. Appointing officials would no longer be told to reflect racial and ethnic diversity, though they would still be told to reflect economic, sex, and geographic diversity.
Labels
Labels: NEVER GOT A HEARING. Filed Mar 3, 2025 and referred to the Senate State Affairs committee. No public hearing. The bill died.
Receipt
The receipt
89R-SB1797 · 2025-03-03
SOLD BY
ITEM
relating to a prohibition against the consideration of race or ethnicity as a factor when appointing the members of a state board, commission, or other state agency with statewide jurisdiction.
WHAT IT DOES
The bill removes racial and ethnic diversity instructions from covered state appointments.
The bill deletes race and ethnicity from two state laws that tell the governor and other appointing officials to seek diverse membership on state boards and commissions. It touches the Texas Lottery Commission's appointment rule and the general rule for every statewide state board, commission, or agency whose governing body is appointed. Appointing officials would no longer be told to reflect racial and ethnic diversity, though they would still be told to reflect economic, sex, and geographic diversity.
CHARGES
[ ] NONE FOUND
TOTAL
No fiscal note in the loaded record.
HISTORY
- Received by the Secretary of the Senate
- Filed
- Read first time
- Referred to State Affairs
FILED UNDER
No verified beat found.
THANK YOU FOR CHECKING THE RECEIPT
CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY
CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY
Donors
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 · Jul 6, 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$1,140,000.00
Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC
$1,140,000.00
- Cash
- $1,140,000.00
- Paid by others
- $0.00
- Total
- $1,140,000.00
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.
TeamSources
Derived itemized flow · Dec 12, 2024 to Oct 21, 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: 101009502, 101012383, 101061137, 101072395, 101072779.
Missing data does not establish zero giving. Display amounts are rounded.
Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC
$1,140,000.00
- Cash
- $1,140,000.00
- Paid by others
- $0.00
- Total
- $1,140,000.00
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.
TeamSources
Derived itemized flow · Dec 12, 2024 to Oct 21, 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: 101009502, 101012383, 101061137, 101072395, 101072779.
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 Senate · Filed Mar 3, 2025
03/13/2025 S Referred to State Affairs
Texas Legislature Online · Introduced
Data snapshot Nov 1, 2026 at 10:30 AM CST. Grades, charges, quotes and corrections follow the published record.
Senate committee · State Affairs · Final status: Died in committee
Companion
HB 3610 by Patterson (identical)
Subjects
Governor
Human Relations
State Agencies, Boards & Commissions
Text
The text as introduced · 186 words
89R12419 CS-F By: Middleton S.B. No. 1797 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT relating to a prohibition against the consideration of race or ethnicity as a factor when appointing the members of a state board, commission, or other state agency with statewide jurisdiction. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Section 467.021(b), Government Code, is amended to read as follows: (b) In making appointments to the commission, the governor shall strive to achieve representation by all the population groups of the state with regard to economic status and [ , ] sex[ , race, and ethnicity ]. SECTION 2. Section 651.009(a), Government Code, is amended to read as follows: (a) In each case in which the governing body of a state board, commission, or other state agency that has statewide jurisdiction is appointed by the governor or another appointing authority, the governor or appointing authority shall ensure that, to the extent possible, the membership of the governing body reflects the [ racial, ethnic, and ] geographic diversity of this state. SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.