Kolkhorst’s bill on citizenship for state agency leaders

The text as introduced · 257 words

By: Kolkhorst
S.B. No. 2542

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the citizenship status of certain employees of this

state.

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

SECTION 1. Chapter 651, Government Code, is amended by

adding Section 651.011 to read as follows:

Sec. 651.011. CITIZENSHIP REQUIREMENT FOR LEADERSHIP OF

ENTITIES ON HOMELAND SECURITY COUNCIL. (a) An employee of an entity

described by Section 421.021(a) must be a citizen of the United

States if the employee:

(1) is the executive director of the entity;

(2) is a deputy executive director of the entity;

(3) is an assistant director of the entity; or

(4) has a title that is functionally equivalent to a

title described by Subdivisions (1) through (3).

(b) The executive director of an entity described by Section

421.021(a) may extend the citizenship requirement under this

section to any other position not listed under Subsection (a) if the

position is allowed to interface with:

(1) proprietary data or information deemed critical to

the operation of the agency; or

(2) systems that can influence the functionality of

critical infrastructure.

SECTION 2. Section 651.011, Government Code, as added by

this Act, applies only to a person hired on or after the effective

date of this Act. An employee hired before the effective date of

this Act is governed by the law in effect immediately before the

effective date of this Act, and the former law is continued in

effect for that purpose.

SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.