87R12496 YDB-D
By: Hefner H.B. No. 3901
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to prohibited restrictions on occupancy capacity for
places of worship.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 110.001(a), Civil Practice and Remedies
Code, is amended by adding Subdivisions (3) and (4) to read as
follows:
(3) "Place of worship" means a building or grounds
where religious activities are conducted.
(4) "Public official" means any elected or appointed
officer, employee, or agent of this state or of a governmental
agency or any other public body established by state law.
SECTION 2. Chapter 110, Civil Practice and Remedies Code,
is amended by adding Section 110.0031 to read as follows:
Sec. 110.0031. PROHIBITION ON ORDERS RESTRICTING OCCUPANCY
CAPACITY FOR PLACES OF WORSHIP. (a) A government agency or public
official may not issue an order for purposes of a state of disaster
declared under Chapter 418, Government Code, that restricts the
occupancy capacity for or has the effect of restricting the
occupancy capacity for a place of worship in this state or in a
geographic area of this state.
(b) For purposes of a state of disaster declared under
Chapter 418, Government Code, this section is not considered a
regulatory statute and may not be suspended.
SECTION 3. Chapter 110, Civil Practice and Remedies Code,
as amended by this Act, applies only to a claim or defense that
accrues on or after the effective date of this Act. A claim or
defense that accrued before the effective date of this Act is
governed by the law in effect immediately before the effective date
of this Act, and that law is continued in effect for that purpose.
SECTION 4. 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, 2021.