SB 395
Middleton Bill Bans Guaranteed Income Programs Unless Recipients Seek Work
Died in committee
Verdict: Smells
Why it's charged
The hole
THE TEXT
“The term does not include a program under which an individual is required to seek employment, perform work, or attend career or job training as a condition of receiving a payment.”
Bill text, introduced version (I)
A local government could keep a regular cash-payment program outside the ban by adding a requirement to seek employment, which the text does not define or measure. The exclusion is narrow on its face, but it is an open door for a nominal condition.
The holeInitial 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 authority of a political subdivision to establish and operate a guaranteed income program.
Caption from analyzed text · version I.
Summary
Local no-strings cash is banned. Add a “seek employment” condition and the ban no longer applies.
The bill bars Texas cities, counties and other local governments from creating or running a guaranteed income program unless state law explicitly allows it. It defines such a program as regular, no-strings cash payments that people can spend on anything, and it excludes programs that require recipients to look for work, work, or attend job training. Local programs already in place may keep paying until January 1, 2026, or until they expire, whichever comes first.
Labels
Labels: NEVER GOT A HEARING. Filed Nov 19, 2024 and referred to the Senate Local Government committee. No public hearing. The bill died.
Receipt
The receipt
89R-SB395 · 2024-11-19
SOLD BY
ITEM
relating to the authority of a political subdivision to establish and operate a guaranteed income program.
WHAT IT DOES
Local no-strings cash is banned. Add a “seek employment” condition and the ban no longer applies.
The bill bars Texas cities, counties and other local governments from creating or running a guaranteed income program unless state law explicitly allows it. It defines such a program as regular, no-strings cash payments that people can spend on anything, and it excludes programs that require recipients to look for work, work, or attend job training. Local programs already in place may keep paying until January 1, 2026, or until they expire, whichever comes first.
CHARGES
[x] THE HOLEanalysis confidence 35%
THE TEXT
“The term does not include a program under which an individual is required to seek employment, perform work, or attend career or job training as a condition of receiving a payment.”
Bill text, introduced version (I)
A local government could keep a regular cash-payment program outside the ban by adding a requirement to seek employment, which the text does not define or measure. The exclusion is narrow on its face, but it is an open door for a nominal condition.
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
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 Nov 19, 2024
02/03/2025 S Referred to Local Government
Texas Legislature Online · Introduced
Data snapshot Oct 26, 2026 at 4:19 AM CDT. Grades, charges, quotes and corrections follow the published record.
Senate committee · Local Government · Final status: Died in committee
Companion
HB 530 by Troxclair (identical)
SB 2010 by Bettencourt (duplicate)
Subjects
County Government--General
Financial--General
Political Subdivisions
Text
The text as introduced · 279 words
89R3393 AMF-F By: Middleton S.B. No. 395 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT relating to the authority of a political subdivision to establish and operate a guaranteed income program. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Chapter 140, Local Government Code, is amended by adding Section 140.014 to read as follows: Sec. 140.014. PROHIBITION ON GUARANTEED INCOME PROGRAM. (a) In this section, "guaranteed income program" means a program under which an individual is issued an unconditional cash payment on a regular basis to be used by the individual for any purpose. The term does not include a program under which an individual is required to seek employment, perform work, or attend career or job training as a condition of receiving a payment. (b) Unless explicitly authorized by law, a political subdivision may not adopt or enforce an ordinance, order, regulation, or other measure that establishes or provides for the operation of a guaranteed income program. SECTION 2. Notwithstanding Section 140.014, Local Government Code, as added by this Act, an ordinance, order, regulation, or other measure that establishes or provides for the operation of a guaranteed income program, as defined by that section, in effect before the effective date of this Act may be enforced until the earlier of January 1, 2026, or the expiration of the ordinance, order, regulation, or other measure. SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2025.