BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 1918

By: Lopez, Janie

County Affairs

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

A political subdivision that enters into a contingent fee contract for legal services must file the contract with the attorney general for approval. Providing Texans with more information about these contracts would allow transparency and establish trust between citizens and the Office of the Attorney General. H.B. 1918 seeks to require the attorney general to publish these contracts and related information online.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

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. 1918 amends the Government Code to require the attorney general, within 90 days after receiving a contingent fee contract for legal services from a political subdivision, to publish on the attorney general's website the contract and the information related to the contract that is filed by the political subdivision. The bill's provisions apply only to a contract filed on or after the bill's effective date.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2023.