Enrolled Bill Summary

House Bill 525	House Author:  Shaheen et al.
Effective:  6-18-21	Senate Sponsor:  Hall et al.

House Bill 525 amends the Government Code to classify a religious organization as an essential business at all times in Texas, including during a declared state of disaster, and to classify such an organization's religious and other related activities as essential activities even if the activities are not listed as essential in an order issued during the disaster. The bill prohibits a governmental entity from, at any time, prohibiting a religious organization from engaging in such activities or operating in the discharge of its foundational faith‑based mission and purpose or from ordering a religious organization to close or otherwise alter its purposes or activities during a declared state of disaster. Among other provisions, the bill authorizes a person to assert a violation of the bill's provisions in a judicial or administrative proceeding and obtain relief and authorizes the attorney general to bring an action for injunctive or declaratory relief against a governmental entity or an officer or employee of a governmental entity to enforce compliance with the bill's provisions.