BILL ANALYSIS

 

 

Senate Research Center

C.S.H.B. 1545

89R31632 BCH-D

By: Bell, Keith et al. (Parker)

 

Business & Commerce

 

5/22/2025

 

Committee Report (Substituted)

 

 

 

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

 

H.B. 1545 is the sunset schedule bill, which is filed each session to make necessary adjustments to better align agencies set for sunset review by the Sunset Advisory Commission in the upcoming biennia and to balance the sunset commission's review workload. The bill also makes certain updates to the Texas Sunset Act.

 

(Original Author's/Sponsor's Statement of Intent)  

 

C.S.H.B. 1545 amends current law relating to the sunset review process and certain governmental entities subject to that process.

 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

 

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

 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

 

ARTICLE 1. LIMITED-SCOPE REVIEWS

 

SECTION 1.01. TEXAS FUNERAL SERVICE COMMISSION. (a) Requires the Sunset Advisory Commission (Sunset), notwithstanding Section 651.002, Occupations Code, to conduct a limited-scope review of the Texas Funeral Service Commission (TFSC) for the 90th Legislature.

 

(b) Requires that the Sunset staff evaluation and report, in conducting the limited-scope review under this section, be limited to assessing TFSC's administration of functions and duties regarding the regulation of the willed body programs, non-transplant anatomical donation organizations, and anatomical facilities under Section 651.005 (Regulation of Willed Body Programs, Non-transplant Anatomical Donation Organizations, and Anatomical Facilities), Occupations Code, and under Chapters 691 (Donation of Bodies and Anatomical Specimens) and 692A (Revised Uniform Anatomical Gift Act), Health and Safety Code.

 

(c) Authorizes Sunset's recommendations to the 90th Legislature to include any recommendation Sunset considers appropriate based on the limited-scope review conducted under this section.

 

(d) Makes application of this section contingent upon nonpassage of S.B. 2721 or similar legislation of the 89th Legislature, Regular Session, 2025, relating to the licensing and regulation of persons who provide services in relation to the deceased.

 

SECTION 1.02. STATE SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION BOARD. Repealer: Section 12 (relating to requiring Sunset to conduct a certain limited-scope review of the State Soil and Water Conservation Board), Chapter 358 (S.B. 1424), Acts of the 88th Legislature, Regular Session, 2023.

ARTICLE 2. ENTITIES GIVEN 2027 SUNSET DATE

 

SECTION 2.01. TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF INSURANCE. Amends Section 31.004(a), as follows:

 

(a) Provides that the Texas Department of Insurance (TDI) is subject to Chapter 325 (Sunset Law), Government Code (Texas Sunset Act). Provides that, unless continued in existence as provided by that chapter, TDI is abolished September 1, 2027, rather than September 1, 2029.

 

SECTION 2.02. OFFICE OF PUBLIC INSURANCE COUNSEL. Amends Section 501.003, Insurance Code, as follows:

 

Sec. 501.003. SUNSET PROVISION. Provides that the Office of Public Insurance Counsel (OPIC) is subject to Chapter 325, Government Code (Texas Sunset Act). Provides that, unless continued in existence as provided by that chapter, OPIC is abolished September 1, 2027, rather than September 1, 2029.

 

ARTICLE 3. ENTITIES GIVEN 2031 SUNSET DATE

 

SECTION 3.01. CREDIT UNION DEPARTMENT. Amends Section 15.212, Finance Code, to provide that, unless continued in existence as provided by Chapter 325, Government Code, the Credit Union Department and the Credit Union Commission are abolished September 1, 2031, rather than September 1, 2035.

 

SECTION 3.02. STATE OFFICE OF ADMINISTRATIVE HEARINGS. Amends Section 2003.023, Government Code, to require the State Office of Administrative Hearings to be reviewed during the periods in which state agencies abolished in 2031, rather than 2027, and every 12th year after 2031, rather than 2027, are reviewed.

 

SECTION 3.03. TEXAS JUVENILE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT. (a) Amends Section 202.010, Human Resources Code, to provide that, unless continued in existence as provided by Chapter 325, Government Code, the Texas Juvenile Justice Board and the Texas Juvenile Justice Department (TJJD) are abolished September 1, 2031, rather than September 1, 2027.

 

(b) Requires the Sunset Advisory Commission (Sunset), notwithstanding Section 202.010 (Sunset Provision), Human Resources Code, as amended by this Act, to conduct a limited-scope review of TJJD for the 90th Legislature.

 

(c) Requires that, in conducting the limited-scope review under this section, the Sunset staff evaluation and report be limited to assessing TJJD's administration of its regionalization duties aimed at prioritizing the use of local levels of the juvenile justice system over placement or commitment to secure facilities operated by TJJD.

 

(d) Prohibits Sunset from reviewing the office of independent ombudsman of TJJD as part of the limited-scope review conducted under this section.

 

(e) Authorizes Sunset's recommendations to the 90th Legislature to include any recommendation Sunset considers appropriate based on the limited-scope review conducted under this section.

 

(f) Requires TJJD to submit a report not later than September 1, 2026, to Sunset, the speaker of the house of representatives, the lieutenant governor, and the standing committees of each house of the legislature with primary jurisdiction over juvenile justice that includes certain information.

 

ARTICLE 4. ENTITIES GIVEN 2033 SUNSET DATE

 

SECTION 4.01. STATE BOARD OF VETERINARY MEDICAL EXAMINERS.� (a) Amends Section 801.003, Occupations Code, as follows:

 

Sec. 801.003. APPLICATION OF SUNSET ACT. Provides that, unless continued in existence as provided by Chapter 325, Government Code, the Texas Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners (TBVME) is abolished September 1, 2033, rather than September 1, 2027.

 

(b) Makes application of this section contingent upon the passage of S.B. 2155 or similar legislation of the 89th Legislature, Regular Session, 2025, relating to the regulation of veterinary professionals and facilities by TBVME and the temporary administration of TBVME by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation.

 

ARTICLE 5. ENTITIES GIVEN 2035 SUNSET DATE

 

SECTION 5.01. LOWER COLORADO RIVER AUTHORITY. Amends Section 8503.0021(a), Special District Local Laws Code, as follows:

 

(a) Requires that the review of the authority under Chapter 325, Government Code, be conducted under Section 325.025 (River Authorities Subject to Review), Government Code, as if the authority were a state agency scheduled to be abolished September 1, 2035, rather than September 1, 2031, and every 12th year after that year.

 

ARTICLE 6. AMENDMENTS TO THE TEXAS SUNSET ACT

 

SECTION 6.01. SUNSET ADVISORY COMMISSION. Amends Section 325.003(a-1), Government Code, to provide that a public member acts on behalf of the legislature when participating on Sunset in furtherance of the legislature's duty to provide oversight of state agencies', rather than executive branch agencies', implementation of legislative priorities.

 

SECTION 6.02. AGENCY REPORT TO COMMISSION. Amends Section 325.007(a), Government Code, to require a state agency, before September 1 of the odd-numbered year before the year in which the state agency subject to this chapter is abolished or reviewed, to report to Sunset certain information.

 

SECTION 6.03. REPORTING REQUIREMENTS OF AGENCY BEING REVIEWED. Amends Section 325.0075, Government Code, to make a conforming change.

 

SECTION 6.04. COMMISSION DUTIES. Amends Section 325.008(a), Government Code, to make a conforming change.

 

SECTION 6.05. PUBLIC HEARINGS. Amends Section 325.009(a), Government Code, to make a conforming change.

 

SECTION 6.06. REVIEW OF CERTAIN AGENCIES. Amends Sections 325.0125(a) and (b), Government Code, to make conforming changes.

 

ARTICLE 7. EFFECTIVE DATE

 

SECTION 7.01. EFFECTIVE DATE. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2025.