88R9488 RDS-F
 
  By: Paul H.B. No. 3399
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to governmental contracts with companies that engage in
  certain economic boycotts.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Chapter 2274, Government Code, as added by
  Chapter 529 (S.B. 13), Acts of the 87th Legislature, Regular
  Session, 2021, is amended to read as follows:
  CHAPTER 2274. PROHIBITION ON CONTRACTS WITH COMPANIES ENGAGING IN
  CERTAIN ECONOMIC BOYCOTTS [BOYCOTTING CERTAIN ENERGY COMPANIES]
         Sec. 2274.001.  DEFINITIONS. In this chapter:
               (1)  ["Boycott energy company" has the meaning assigned
  by Section 809.001.]
               [(2)]  "Company" has the meaning assigned by Section
  809.001, except that the term does not include a sole
  proprietorship.
               (2)  "Economic boycott" means, without an ordinary
  business purpose, refusing to deal with, terminating business
  activities with, or otherwise taking any action that is intended to
  penalize, inflict economic harm on, limit commercial relations
  with, or limit the activities of a company because the company,
  without violating a federal or state law:
                     (A)  engages in the exploration, production,
  utilization, transportation, sale, or manufacturing of fossil
  fuel-based energy, timber, mining, or agriculture and does not
  commit or pledge to meet environmental standards beyond applicable
  federal and state law;
                     (B)  does not meet, is not expected to meet, or
  does not commit to meeting:
                           (i)  environmental standards or disclosure
  criteria, including disclosure criteria relating to the
  elimination, reduction, or offsetting of greenhouse gas emissions;
  or
                           (ii)  corporate board, employee
  composition, compensation, or disclosure criteria that
  incorporates diversity, equity, and inclusion standards; or
                     (C)  does business with a company described by
  Paragraph (A) or (B).
               (3)  "Governmental entity" has the meaning assigned by
  Section 2251.001.
         Sec. 2274.002.  PROVISION REQUIRED IN CONTRACT. (a) This
  section applies only to a contract that:
               (1)  is between a governmental entity and a company
  with 10 or more full-time employees; and
               (2)  has a value of $100,000 or more that is to be paid
  wholly or partly from public funds of the governmental entity.
         (b)  Except as provided by Subsection (c), a governmental
  entity may not enter into a contract with a company for goods or
  services unless the contract contains a written verification from
  the company that it:
               (1)  does not engage in an economic boycott [energy
  companies]; and
               (2)  will not engage in an economic boycott [energy
  companies] during the term of the contract.
         (c)  Subsection (b) does not apply to a governmental entity
  that determines the requirements of Subsection (b):
               (1)  are inconsistent with the governmental entity's
  constitutional or statutory duties related to the issuance,
  incurrence, or management of debt obligations or the deposit,
  custody, management, borrowing, or investment of funds; or
               (2)  prevent the governmental entity from obtaining
  necessary goods and services in an economically practical manner.
         SECTION 2.  The changes in law made by this Act apply only to
  a contract entered into on or after the effective date of this Act.
  A contract entered into before that date is governed by the law in
  effect on the date the contract was entered into, and the former law
  is continued in effect for that purpose.
         SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.