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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to certain sister-city agreements between governmental |
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entities and foreign countries and communities. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Title 7, Government Code, is amended by adding |
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Chapter 795 to read as follows: |
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CHAPTER 795. SISTER-CITY AGREEMENTS |
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Sec. 795.001. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter: |
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(1) "Foreign adversary" means: |
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(A) China, Iran, North Korea, or Russia; or |
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(B) a country that is a designated country for |
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purposes of Chapter 2275. |
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(2) "Governmental entity" means a state agency or a |
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political subdivision of this state. |
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(3) "Sister-city agreement" means an agreement that: |
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(A) is between a governmental entity and a |
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country other than the United States or a community located in a |
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country other than the United States; |
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(B) is recognized by a nonprofit organization |
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exempt from federal income taxation under Section 501(c)(3), |
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Internal Revenue Code of 1986, that serves as the national |
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membership organization for individual sister cities, counties, |
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and states across the United States; and |
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(C) reflects a commitment to foster and |
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strengthen opportunities for cultural and educational exchange |
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programs and tourism and to encourage other types of bilateral |
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cooperation between the parties to the agreement. |
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(4) "State agency" has the meaning assigned by Section |
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751.001. |
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Sec. 795.002. STATE POLICY REGARDING AGREEMENTS. It is the |
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policy of this state to encourage sister-city agreements between |
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governmental entities and countries that are allies of the United |
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States, including countries designated as major non-NATO allies |
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under federal law and the Republic of China, commonly known as |
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Taiwan, and communities located in those countries. |
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Sec. 795.003. CERTAIN AGREEMENTS PROHIBITED. A |
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governmental entity may not establish, maintain, or renew a |
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sister-city agreement with: |
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(1) a country that is a foreign adversary; or |
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(2) a community located in a country described by |
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Subdivision (1). |
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Sec. 795.004. WITHDRAWAL FROM CERTAIN EXISTING AGREEMENTS. |
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(a) A governmental entity that on September 1, 2025, is a party to a |
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sister-city agreement described by Section 795.003 shall withdraw |
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from the agreement not later than October 1, 2025. |
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(b) This section expires January 1, 2027. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025. |