SB 2236
Bettencourt’s ‘Certain Preferences’ Bill Protects One Industry: Fossil Fuels
Died in committee
Verdict: Smells
Why it's charged
Carve-out
THE TEXT
“is a company that engages in the exploration, production, use, transportation, sale, or manufacturing of fossil fuel-based energy”
Bill text, introduced version (I)
The caption speaks of 'certain preferences' in general, but the only protection the text creates is for one industry, fossil fuel energy, and the companies tied to it.
Carve-outInitial 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 prohibiting certain preferences in a political subdivision contractor selection process.
Caption from analyzed text · version I.
Summary
Cities and counties can’t screen out bidders over oil or gas ties. No other industry gets it.
The bill bars cities, counties and other local governments from disqualifying a vendor in any way because the vendor is in the fossil fuel business. It also protects vendors that invest in, assist or do business with fossil fuel companies. Local contracting processes started on or after September 1, 2025, can no longer screen out bidders over their ties to oil, gas or other fossil fuel energy.
Labels
Labels: NEVER GOT A HEARING. Filed Mar 11, 2025 and referred to the Senate Local Government committee. No public hearing. The bill died.
Receipt
The receipt
89R-SB2236 · 2025-03-11
SOLD BY
ITEM
relating to prohibiting certain preferences in a political subdivision contractor selection process.
WHAT IT DOES
Cities and counties can’t screen out bidders over oil or gas ties. No other industry gets it.
The bill bars cities, counties and other local governments from disqualifying a vendor in any way because the vendor is in the fossil fuel business. It also protects vendors that invest in, assist or do business with fossil fuel companies. Local contracting processes started on or after September 1, 2025, can no longer screen out bidders over their ties to oil, gas or other fossil fuel energy.
CHARGES
[x] CARVE-OUTanalysis confidence 50%
THE TEXT
“is a company that engages in the exploration, production, use, transportation, sale, or manufacturing of fossil fuel-based energy”
Bill text, introduced version (I)
The caption speaks of 'certain preferences' in general, but the only protection the text creates is for one industry, fossil fuel energy, and the companies tied to it.
TOTAL
No fiscal note in the loaded record.
HISTORY
- Received by the Secretary of the Senate
- Filed
- Read first time
- Referred to Local Government
FILED UNDER
No verified beat found.
THANK YOU FOR CHECKING THE RECEIPT
CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY
CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY
Donors
Donors report through Friends of Paul Bettencourt.
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 Jun 30, 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.
MoneyMissing data does not establish zero giving. Display amounts are rounded.
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 11, 2025
03/25/2025 S Referred to Local Government
Texas Legislature Online · Introduced
Data snapshot Oct 26, 2026 at 4:20 AM CDT. Grades, charges, quotes and corrections follow the published record.
Senate committee · Local Government · Final status: Died in committee
Companion
HB 4314 by Bell, Cecil (identical)
Subjects
Oil & Gas
Political Subdivisions
Purchasing--Local
CONTRACTORS & SUBCONTRACTORS
Text
The text as introduced · 206 words
89R8417 DRS-D By: Bettencourt S.B. No. 2236 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT relating to prohibiting certain preferences in a political subdivision contractor selection process. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Subchapter Z, Chapter 271, Local Government Code, is amended by adding Section 271.909 to read as follows: Sec. 271.909. CERTAIN CONTRACTING PREFERENCES PROHIBITED. (a) In this section, "company" means a sole proprietorship, organization, association, corporation, partnership, joint venture, limited partnership, limited liability partnership, or limited liability company, including a wholly owned subsidiary, majority-owned subsidiary, parent company, or affiliate of those entities or business associations, that exists to make a profit. (b) Notwithstanding any other law, a political subdivision may not disqualify in any way a vendor in a contractor selection process because the vendor: (1) is a company that engages in the exploration, production, use, transportation, sale, or manufacturing of fossil fuel-based energy; or (2) invests in, assists in, or does business with a company described by Subdivision (1). SECTION 2. Section 271.909, Local Government Code, as added by this Act, applies only to a contractor selection process initiated on or after the effective date of this Act. SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.