By: Harris Davila, et al. (Senate Sponsor - King) H.B. No. 346
         (In the Senate - Received from the House May 12, 2025;
  May 12, 2025, read first time and referred to Committee on Economic
  Development; May 23, 2025, reported adversely, with favorable
  Committee Substitute by the following vote:  Yeas 5, Nays 0;
  May 23, 2025, sent to printer.)
Click here to see the committee vote
 
  COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR H.B. No. 346 By:  Schwertner
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
 
  relating to the fee amounts prescribed by the secretary of state for
  expedited commercial and business record searches or filings and
  the exemption from the franchise tax and certain filing fees for
  veteran-owned businesses.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 405.032, Government Code, is amended by
  amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (d) to read as
  follows:
         (a)  The secretary of state may set and collect the
  following:
               (1)  for the expedited handling of a certified record
  search or expedited filing of a document in the security interest
  and financing statement records of the secretary, a fee in an amount
  the secretary of state prescribes [of not more than $15];
               (2)  for the expedited filing or reviewing of a
  document relating to a profit or nonprofit corporation,
  professional corporation or association, cooperative association,
  unincorporated nonprofit association, limited or general
  partnership, or limited liability company, a fee in an amount the
  secretary of state prescribes [of not more than $25];
               (3)  for the expedited access or access by electronic
  data transmittal processes to data that is stored in state computer
  record banks maintained by the secretary, a fee in an amount
  reasonable and necessary to cover the costs of establishing and
  administering the system. Notwithstanding any other provision of
  this code, the secretary is authorized to maintain a system to
  provide expedited access by electronic data transmittal processes
  to all information that is stored in state computer banks
  maintained by the secretary and that is not classified as
  confidential by statute or a court decision; and
               (4)  for the expedited handling of a request for a
  certified copy or certificate of fact relating to a corporation,
  limited partnership, assumed name, trademark document, or other
  document filed for public record with the corporations section of
  the office of the secretary of state, a fee of not more than $10 a
  copy or certificate.
         (d)  In prescribing fee amounts under Subsections (a)(1) and
  (2), the secretary of state may prescribe a varying fee schedule
  based on the type of business organization.  The secretary of state
  shall publish on the secretary of state's Internet website the
  prescribed fee amounts and any varying fee schedule.
         SECTION 2.  The following provisions are repealed:
               (1)  Section 3, Chapter 859 (S.B. 938), Acts of the 87th
  Legislature, Regular Session, 2021, as effective January 1, 2026,
  which amended Section 171.0001(4), Tax Code;
               (2)  Section 7, Chapter 859 (S.B. 938), Acts of the 87th
  Legislature, Regular Session, 2021, as effective January 1, 2026,
  which amended Section 171.063(g), Tax Code; and
               (3)  Section 9, Chapter 859 (S.B. 938), Acts of the 87th
  Legislature, Regular Session, 2021, as effective January 1, 2026,
  which provided for the repeal of Section 12.005, Business
  Organizations Code, and Sections 171.0005, 171.001(d), and
  171.204(d), Tax Code.
         SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.
 
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