89R5604 SCF-D
By: Capriglione H.B. No. 1554
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to a political subdivision's authority to use public money
in the provision of legal services for individuals unlawfully
present in the United States.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Chapter 752, Government Code, is amended by
adding Subchapter D to read as follows:
SUBCHAPTER D. PROHIBITED IMMIGRATION ASSISTANCE
Sec. 752.101. DEFINITION. In this subchapter,
"governmental entity" means:
(1) a board, commission, council, department, or other
agency in the executive branch of state government that is created
by constitution or statute, including an institution of higher
education as defined by Section 61.003, Education Code; or
(2) a political subdivision of this state.
Sec. 752.102. PROHIBITION ON USE OF PUBLIC MONEY TO PROVIDE
LEGAL SERVICES FOR UNLAWFULLY PRESENT INDIVIDUALS. (a) Unless
required by the United States Constitution, a governmental entity
may not:
(1) provide public money, including a grant award, to
any person for the provision of legal services in a removal or other
immigration-related civil proceeding regarding an individual who
is unlawfully present in the United States according to the terms of
the federal Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. Section 1101
et seq.); or
(2) seek reimbursement from this state for an attorney
provided for a purpose described by Subdivision (1).
(b) This section does not prohibit a governmental entity
from providing an attorney to an indigent defendant entitled to
representation under Article 1.051, Code of Criminal Procedure.
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.