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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to references to "the people's money" in state documents, |
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publications, and notices. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Chapter 2051, Government Code, is amended by |
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adding Subchapter G to read as follows: |
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SUBCHAPTER G. STATE DOCUMENT REFERENCES TO THE PEOPLE'S MONEY |
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Sec. 2051.251. REFERENCES TO THE PEOPLE'S MONEY. (a) A |
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state official or state agency that, in an official document, |
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publication, or notice published or issued in print or on a publicly |
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accessible Internet web page, undertakes to refer to money held by |
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this state, a state agency, or a state official that may be used |
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only for a public purpose of this state may not refer to that money |
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by a term or phrase other than the phrase "the people's money" |
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except as provided by this section. The official or agency shall |
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use the phrase "the people's money" instead of other common terms or |
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phrases for money described by this subsection, including: |
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(1) government funds; |
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(2) government money; |
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(3) public funds; |
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(4) public money; |
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(5) state funds; and |
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(6) state money. |
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(b) Subsection (a) does not apply to: |
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(1) a state statute; |
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(2) the Texas Constitution; |
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(3) a document concerning, or a publication of, state |
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agency rules that for reasons of legal clarity must rely on phrasing |
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used in state statutes or the Texas Constitution; and |
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(4) a reference to money this state holds in trust for |
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the benefit of a person other than this state or a governmental |
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entity of this state. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025. |