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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the authority of a political subdivision to spend |
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public money in support of certain professional associations that |
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promote or implement diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Chapter 140, Local Government Code, is amended |
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by adding Section 140.014 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 140.014. PROHIBITION ON EXPENDITURE OF PUBLIC MONEY IN |
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SUPPORT OF CERTAIN ASSOCIATIONS. (a) In this section: |
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(1) "Diversity, equity, and inclusion initiative" |
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means an initiative that: |
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(A) is based on the belief that identity |
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classifications are central to understanding social, professional, |
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and political disparities; |
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(B) requires, encourages, or otherwise promotes |
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organizational practices such as employee hiring and promotion, |
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resource allocation, or policy formulation to achieve proportional |
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representation of identity classification groups or to eliminate |
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perceived systemic differences between them; or |
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(C) otherwise promotes discriminatory treatment |
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of a person on the basis of the person's identity classification. |
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(2) "Identity classification" means a classification |
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of a person based on the race, color, religion, national origin, or |
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ethnicity of the person. |
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(3) "Professional association" means a nonprofit |
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association or organization that engages in activities in support |
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of: |
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(A) similarly situated political subdivisions; |
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or |
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(B) a class of professionals. |
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(b) A political subdivision may not spend public money in |
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support of a professional association that promotes or implements a |
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diversity, equity, and inclusion initiative, including by: |
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(1) paying a membership fee or due to the association; |
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or |
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(2) paying for an officer or employee of the political |
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subdivision to attend or participate in a conference or similar |
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event hosted by the association. |
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SECTION 2. The change in law made by this Act applies to an |
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expenditure made by a political subdivision on or after the |
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effective date of this Act. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025. |