By: Harrison H.B. No. 523

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the authority of the legislature, courts, the governor, and other state and local officials regarding declared states of disaster.

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

SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 418, Government Code, is amended by adding Sections 418.007, 418.008, and 418.009 to read as follows:

Sec. 418.007. RECOMMENDATIONS, GUIDELINES, AND COORDINATION. A state or local official may issue recommendations and nonbinding guidelines to assist with a state of disaster declared under this chapter and may coordinate public and private resources to prevent or respond to the disaster.

Sec. 418.008. PROTECTION OF RIGHTS. Notwithstanding any other law, an order issued by the governor or a state or local official under this chapter that regulates and infringes on the rights of any private person must be:

(1) narrowly tailored to serve a compelling public health or safety purpose; and

(2) limited in duration, applicability, and scope to reduce any infringement on individual liberty.

Sec. 418.009. STATE COURT JURISDICTION. (a) District and appellate courts of this state have jurisdiction to hear cases challenging a state or local disaster order, including cases challenging compliance with limitations on orders prescribed under this chapter and other law, and shall expedite hearings for the cases to the extent practicable.

(b) A court may invalidate or enjoin a disaster order, or the application of a disaster order, that is not narrowly tailored to serve a compelling public health or safety purpose because of the order's inequality in application to or impact on groups, situations, or circumstances.

SECTION 2. Section 418.012, Government Code, is amended to read as follows:

Sec. 418.012. EXECUTIVE ORDERS, PROCLAMATIONS, AND REGULATIONS. (a) Under this chapter, the governor may issue, amend, or rescind executive orders, proclamations, and regulations [and amend or rescind them].

(b) Notwithstanding any law authorizing a state or local official to issue an order related to a declared state of disaster and only to the extent allowed under the United States Constitution or Texas Constitution, only the governor may issue an order that from the date the order is issued infringes in a nontrivial manner on a protected constitutional right, including, but not limited to:

(1) the rights to travel, work, assemble, and speak;

(2) the freedom of religious exercise;

(3) the right to contract without state interference;

(4) property rights;

(5) the freedom from unreasonable searches and seizures; and

(6) the freedom to purchase lawfully acquired firearms and ammunition.

(c) An order described by Subsection (b) expires on the 30th day after the date the governor issues the order unless:

(1) the governor or the legislature by law terminates the order on an earlier date; or

(2) the legislature by law extends the order on or before the expiration date.

(d) If the legislature is not convened in a regular or special session, the governor may convene the legislature to consider an order described by Subsection (b). The members of the legislature may remotely vote to approve, extend, or terminate the order:

(1) by an electronic method authorized under the rules prescribed by each house of the legislature; or

(2) as the lieutenant governor or speaker of the house of representatives specifies when the rules do not address an electronic voting method.

(e) The governor may not issue the same or a substantially similar order as an order described by Subsection (b) that has expired unless the governor determines significantly changed circumstances require issuance of the similar order for a period not to exceed three days or a greater period the legislature by law approves [Executive orders, proclamations, and regulations have the force and effect of law].

SECTION 3. Section 418.014(c), Government Code, is amended to read as follows:

(c) A state of disaster may not continue for more than 30 days unless renewed by the legislature by law [governor]. The legislature by law may terminate a state of disaster at any time. On termination by the legislature, the governor shall issue an executive order ending the state of disaster. The governor may not declare a new state of disaster based on the same or a substantially similar finding as a prior state of disaster that the legislature terminated or refused to renew.

SECTION 4. Section 418.0155, Government Code, is amended to read as follows:

Sec. 418.0155. SUSPENSION LIST. (a) The governor's office, using existing resources, shall compile and maintain a comprehensive list of state agency [regulatory statutes and] rules that may require suspension during a disaster.

(b) On request by the governor's office, a state agency that would be impacted by the suspension of a [statute or] rule on the list compiled under Subsection (a) shall review the list for accuracy and shall advise the governor's office regarding any [statutes or] rules that should be added to the list.

SECTION 5. The heading to Section 418.016, Government Code, is amended to read as follows:

Sec. 418.016. SUSPENSION OF CERTAIN [LAWS AND] RULES.

SECTION 6. Sections 418.016(a) and (e), Government Code, are amended to read as follows:

(a) The governor may suspend [the provisions of any regulatory statute prescribing the procedures for conduct of state business or] the orders or rules of a state agency if strict compliance with the [provisions,] orders[,] or rules would in any way prevent, hinder, or delay necessary action in coping with a disaster.

(e) On request of a political subdivision, the governor may waive or suspend a deadline imposed by [a statute or] the orders or rules of a state agency on the political subdivision, including a deadline relating to a budget or ad valorem tax, if the waiver or suspension is reasonably necessary to cope with a disaster.

SECTION 7. Section 418.020(c), Government Code, is amended to read as follows:

(c) Under regulations prescribed by the governor, the governor may temporarily suspend or modify for a period of not more than 60 days any public health, safety, zoning, intrastate transportation, or other [law or] regulation if by proclamation the governor considers the suspension or modification essential to provide temporary housing or emergency shelter for disaster victims.

SECTION 8. Section 418.042(c), Government Code, is amended to read as follows:

(c) All or part of the state emergency management plan may be incorporated into regulations of the division or executive orders [that have the force and effect of law].

SECTION 9. Section 51.408(b), Occupations Code, is amended to read as follows:

(b) An emergency license issued under this section expires on the date indicated by the executive director, but not later than the 90th day after the date the license is issued. If the governor declares a [an extended] state of disaster that the legislature renews under Section 418.014, Government Code, the executive director may extend the term of an emergency license to an expiration date after the 90th day after the date the license was issued.

SECTION 10. The changes in law made by this Act apply only to an order, proclamation, or regulation issued on or after the effective date of this Act.

SECTION 11. 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.