BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 1256

By: Stephenson

Elections

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Interested parties note that currently only nonprofits can donate real property to the state of Texas, but they contend that a member of the legislature who owns office space that is in the legislator's district should be allowed to donate that space to the state since the explicit use of this space is to serve the needs of the representative's constituents and would save taxpayer money. H.B. 1256 seeks to authorize such a donation of office space.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

ANALYSIS

H.B. 1256 amends the Government Code to authorize a member of the legislature or a business entity in which the legislator has a substantial interest to donate the use of office space that the member or entity owns and that is located in the member's district to the house of the legislature in which the member serves to be used for the member's official business. The bill establishes that office space donated in this manner is not a contribution for purposes of statutory provisions relating to the regulation of political funds and campaigns and that acceptance of such a donation is not subject to provisions relating to gifts and grants accepted by members of the legislature for the purpose of funding legislative activity. 

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2013.