BILL ANALYSIS

Senate Research Center	H.B. 128
89R4427 CS-F	By: Orr et al. (Kolkhorst)
	State Affairs
	5/6/2025
	Engrossed

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

Sister city relationship is a broad-based, long-term partnership between two communities in two countries. A relationship is officially recognized after the highest elected or appointed official from both communities sign off on an agreement to become sister cities.

While designed with good intentions, these relationships have been exploited in the past by our foreign adversaries.

H.B. 128 resolves these concerns by prohibiting sister-city agreements with adversarial nations, but also encouraging those with allies of the U.S.

The intent of H.B. 128 is to promote positive international relations, while simultaneously safeguarding against potential risks associated with partnerships with adversarial nations.

Key Provisions

• H.B. 128 encourages sister-city agreements between governmental entities and countries that are allies of the U.S., including countries designated as major non-NATO allies under the federal law and Taiwan, and communities located in those countries.
• Prohibits the establishment, maintenance, or renewal of a sister-city agreement with a country that is a foreign adversary or a community located in a country described as such.
• Any governmental entity that is a party to a sister-city agreement on September 1, 2025, must withdraw from it no later than October 1, 2025. 

H.B. 128 amends current law relating to certain sister-city agreements between governmental entities and foreign countries and communities.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Title 7, Government Code, by adding Chapter 795, as follows:

CHAPTER 795. SISTER-CITY AGREEMENTS

Sec. 795.001. DEFINITIONS. Defines "foreign adversary," "governmental entity," "sister-city agreement," and "state agency."

Sec. 795.002. STATE POLICY REGARDING AGREEMENTS. Provides that it is the policy of this state to encourage sister-city agreements between governmental entities and countries that are allies of the United States, including countries designated as major non-NATO allies under federal law and the Republic of China, commonly known as Taiwan, and communities located in those countries.

Sec. 795.003.� CERTAIN AGREEMENTS PROHIBITED. Prohibits a governmental entity from establishing, maintaining, or renewing a sister-city agreement with:

(1) a country that is a foreign adversary; or

(2) a community located in a country described by Subdivision (1).

Sec. 795.004. WITHDRAWAL FROM CERTAIN EXISTING AGREEMENTS. (a) Requires a governmental entity that on September 1, 2025, is a party to a sister-city agreement described by Section 795.003 to withdraw from the agreement not later than October 1, 2025.

(b) Provides that this section expires January 1, 2027.

SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 2025.