By: Kolkhorst S.B. No. 2900

(In the Senate - Filed March 14, 2025; April 7, 2025, read first time and referred to Committee on Finance; April 22, 2025, reported adversely, with favorable Committee Substitute by the following vote: Yeas 14, Nays 0; April 22, 2025, sent to printer.) Click here to see the committee vote

COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR S.B. No. 2900 By: Nichols

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to a review of certain advisory entities under the jurisdiction of the comptroller of public accounts and to the repeal or redesignation of certain of those entities.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 403, Government Code, is amended by adding Section 403.0148 to read as follows:

Sec. 403.0148. REVIEW OF CERTAIN ADVISORY ENTITIES; REPORT. (a) In this section, "advisory entity" means an entity created by statute or by a state agency that has as its primary function advising a state agency, including an advisory board, an advisory committee, a council, an oversight committee, and a task force.

(b) The comptroller shall review each advisory entity that is part of the office of the comptroller, under the direction of the comptroller, or administratively attached to the office of the comptroller.

(c) A review conducted under Subsection (b) must assess whether each advisory entity:

(1) is necessary; and

(2) promotes the efficient and effective operation of the office of the comptroller.

(d) Not later than December 1, 2026, the comptroller shall prepare and submit a report to the legislature that identifies the advisory entities reviewed under Subsection (b) that are not necessary or that do not promote the efficient or effective operation of the office of the comptroller.

(e) This section expires December 31, 2026.

SECTION 2. Section 403.1041(a), Government Code, is amended to read as follows:

(a) In this section and Section [Sections 403.1042 and] 403.1043:

(1) "Account" means the tobacco settlement permanent trust account established under the agreement.

(2) "Advisory committee" means the tobacco settlement permanent trust account administration [investment] advisory committee established under Section 12.137, Health and Safety Code.

(3) "Agreement" means the Agreement Regarding Disposition of Settlement Proceeds filed on July 24, 1998, in the United States District Court, Eastern District of Texas, in the case styled The State of Texas v. The American Tobacco Co., et al., No. 5-96CV-91. The term includes the subsequent Clarification of Agreement Regarding Disposition of Settlement Proceeds filed on July 24, 1998, in that litigation.

(4) "Department" means the Texas Department of Health.

(5) "Political subdivision" means:

(A) a hospital district;

(B) another local political subdivision that owns or maintains a public hospital; or

(C) a county of this state responsible for providing indigent health care to the general public.

SECTION 3. Section 403.610(b), Government Code, is amended to read as follows:

(b) The governor shall provide written notice of the governor's determination under Subsection (a) to the comptroller, the applicable school district, [the oversight committee,] and the applicant not later than the seventh day after the date the governor makes the determination under that subsection.

SECTION 4. Section 403.615(c), Government Code, is amended to read as follows:

(c) As part of the review, the state auditor shall make recommendations relating to increasing the efficiency and effectiveness of the administration of this subchapter. The state auditor shall submit the recommendations to the governor, comptroller, lieutenant governor, and speaker of the house of representatives[, and oversight committee] not later than December 15 of each year.

SECTION 5. Section 12.137(a), Health and Safety Code, is amended to read as follows:

(a) The tobacco settlement permanent trust account administration advisory committee shall advise:

(1) the department on the implementation of the department's duties under this subchapter; and

(2) the comptroller on the administration of the comptroller's duties under Section 403.1041, Government Code.

SECTION 6. The following provisions of the Government Code are repealed:

(1) Section 403.028(f);

(2) Section 403.1042;

(3) Section 403.602(14), as added by Chapter 377 (H.B. 5), Acts of the 88th Legislature, Regular Session, 2023;

(4) Section 403.618; and

(5) Section 490I.0110.

SECTION 7. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2025.

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