By: Goldman (Senate Sponsor - Springer) H.B. No. 1550

(In the Senate - Received from the House April 17, 2023; April 18, 2023, read first time and referred to Committee on Business & Commerce; May 10, 2023, reported favorably by the following vote: Yeas 11, Nays 0; May 10, 2023, sent to printer.) Click here to see the committee vote

COMMITTEE VOTE

YeaNayAbsentPNV

SchwertnerX

KingX

BirdwellX

CampbellX

CreightonX

JohnsonX

KolkhorstX

MenéndezX

MiddletonX

NicholsX

ZaffiriniX

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the continuation and functions of the Office of State-Federal Relations.

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

SECTION 1. Section 751.003, Government Code, is amended to read as follows:

Sec. 751.003. SUNSET PROVISION. The Office of State-Federal Relations is subject to Chapter 325 (Texas Sunset Act). Unless continued in existence as provided by that chapter, the office is abolished [and this chapter expires] September 1, 2035 [2023].

SECTION 2. Section 751.005, Government Code, is amended by amending Subsection (b) and adding Subsection (f) to read as follows:

(b) The office shall:

(1) help coordinate state and federal programs dealing with the same subject;

(2) inform the governor and the legislature of federal programs that may be carried out in the state or that affect state programs;

(3) provide federal agencies and the United States Congress with information about state policy and state conditions on matters that concern the federal government;

(4) provide the legislature with information useful in measuring the effect of federal actions on the state and local programs;

(5) prepare and supply to the governor and all members of the legislature an annual report that:

(A) describes the office's operations;

(B) contains the office's priorities and strategies for the following year;

(C) details projects and legislation pursued by the office; and

(D) discusses issues in the following congressional session of interest to this state; [and

[(E) contains an analysis of federal funds availability and formulae;]

(6) notify the governor, the lieutenant governor, the speaker of the house of representatives, and the legislative standing committees in each house with primary jurisdiction over intergovernmental affairs of federal activities relevant to the state and inform the Texas congressional delegation of state activities;

(7) conduct frequent conference calls with the lieutenant governor and the speaker of the house of representatives or their designees regarding state-federal relations and programs;

(8) respond to requests for information from the legislature, the United States Congress, and federal agencies;

(9) coordinate with the Legislative Budget Board regarding the effects of federal funding on the state budget; and

(10) report to, and on request send appropriate representatives to appear before, the legislative standing committees in each house with primary jurisdiction over intergovernmental affairs.

(f) The office shall post the report required under Subsection (b)(5) to the office's publicly accessible Internet website.

SECTION 3. The following provisions of the Government Code are repealed:

(1) the heading to Subchapter A, Chapter 751; and

(2) Subchapter B, Chapter 751.

SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.

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