public hearing before any budget-execution move

The text as introduced · 673 words

89R2027 RDS-D

By: Johnson
S.B. No. 950

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to a public hearing requirement for a proposal by the

governor or the Legislative Budget Board to affect appropriations

and certain actions of the governor during a state of disaster.

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

SECTION 1. Section 317.005, Government Code, is amended by

amending Subsections (a) and (b) and adding Subsection (a-1) to

read as follows:

(a) After a [ governor's ] proposal under this chapter is

published in the Texas Register, the Legislative Budget Board shall

[ may ] conduct a public hearing on the proposal. The board shall

give notice of a hearing under this section in the manner provided

by law for notice of regular meetings of the board. The board also

shall provide notice by mail of its meetings to each member of the

Legislature. The notice of the meeting must include a description

of the nature of the proposal or order to be considered. [ If the

agenda includes a public hearing on a proposal, the notice must so

state. ]

(a-1) After a hearing under Subsection (a) and at a meeting

held not less than 10 days after the date notice of the meeting was

given in the manner provided for regular board meetings, in

response to a [ governor's ] proposal by the governor, the board,

subject to the restrictions provided by Subsection (e), may:

(1) ratify the proposal by adopting an order changing

the relevant appropriation in the manner specified in the proposal;

(2) reject the proposal; or

(3) recommend changes in the proposal.

(b) After a hearing under Subsection (a), in [ In ] response

to a proposal by the board, the governor may take any action

specified by Subsection (a-1) [ (a) ] for board action on a

[ governor's ] proposal by the governor .

SECTION 2. Section 418.012, Government Code, is amended to

read as follows:

Sec. 418.012. EXECUTIVE ORDERS. (a) Under this chapter,

the governor may issue executive orders, proclamations, and

regulations and amend or rescind them. Executive orders,

proclamations, and regulations have the force and effect of law.

(b) The governor shall limit an executive order,

proclamation, or regulation issued, amended, or rescinded under

this chapter to address only the specific conditions or

requirements of the disaster or imminent disaster that is the

subject of an executive order or proclamation under Section

418.014(a).

(c) Not later than Monday of each week during a declared

disaster, the governor shall publish on the governor's Internet

website a list in chronological order of all executive orders,

proclamations, and regulations issued, amended, or rescinded by the

governor under this chapter during the previous seven-day period.

SECTION 3. Section 418.057, Government Code, is amended to

read as follows:

Sec. 418.057. DISASTER WEB PORTAL. (a) The division shall

develop a comprehensive disaster web portal. The web portal must:

(1) provide disaster information to the public,

including information on programs and services available to

disaster victims and funding for and expenditures of disaster

assistance programs;

(2) include information on disaster response and

recovery activities; and

(3) provide information on obtaining assistance from

the Federal Emergency Management Agency, state agencies, organized

volunteer groups, and any other entities providing disaster

assistance.

(b) Not later than Monday of each week during a declared

disaster, the division shall publish on the web portal a list in

chronological order of all executive orders, proclamations, and

regulations issued, amended, or rescinded by the governor under

this chapter during the previous seven-day period.

SECTION 4. Section 317.005, Government Code, as amended by

this Act, applies only to a proposal under Chapter 317, Government

Code, made on or after the effective date of this Act. A proposal

under Chapter 317, Government Code, made before the effective date

of this Act is governed by the law in effect when the proposal was

made, and the former law is continued in effect for that purpose.

SECTION 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.