LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD Austin, Texas FISCAL NOTE, 89TH LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION April 1, 2025 TO: Honorable Ken King, Chair, House Committee on State Affairs FROM: Jerry McGinty, Director, Legislative Budget Board IN RE: HB1805 by Oliverson (Relating to the creation of the Religious Freedom Commission.), As Introduced Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for HB1805, As Introduced: a negative impact of ($748,321) through the biennium ending August 31, 2027. The bill would make no appropriation but could provide the legal basis for an appropriation of funds to implement the provisions of the bill. General Revenue-Related Funds, Five- Year Impact: Fiscal Year Probable Net Positive/(Negative) Impact toGeneral Revenue Related Funds2026($378,508)2027($369,813)2028($378,508)2029($369,813)2030($378,508)All Funds, Five-Year Impact: Fiscal Year Probable Savings/(Cost) fromGeneral Revenue Fund1 Change in Number of State Employees from FY 20252026($378,508)2.52027($369,813)2.52028($378,508)2.52029($369,813)2.52030($378,508)2.5 Fiscal AnalysisThe bill would amend the Government Code to establish the Religious Freedom Commission (Commission) within the Office of the Governor (OOG). The Commission would be comprised of seven members appointed by the Governor according to certain qualifications. A member of the Commission would be entitled to reimbursement for travel expenses. The Commission would be tasked with promoting religious freedom, identifying challenges and solutions related to religious liberty, and serving as an advisor to the Governor on religious freedom issues including making recommendations regarding local and state policies that violate or fail to ensure an individual's right to religious belief and practice. The OOG would provide administrative support to the Commission.
LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
Austin, Texas
FISCAL NOTE, 89TH LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION
April 1, 2025
TO: Honorable Ken King, Chair, House Committee on State Affairs FROM: Jerry McGinty, Director, Legislative Budget Board IN RE: HB1805 by Oliverson (Relating to the creation of the Religious Freedom Commission.), As Introduced
TO: Honorable Ken King, Chair, House Committee on State Affairs
FROM: Jerry McGinty, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE: HB1805 by Oliverson (Relating to the creation of the Religious Freedom Commission.), As Introduced
Honorable Ken King, Chair, House Committee on State Affairs
Honorable Ken King, Chair, House Committee on State Affairs
Jerry McGinty, Director, Legislative Budget Board
Jerry McGinty, Director, Legislative Budget Board
HB1805 by Oliverson (Relating to the creation of the Religious Freedom Commission.), As Introduced
HB1805 by Oliverson (Relating to the creation of the Religious Freedom Commission.), As Introduced
Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for HB1805, As Introduced: a negative impact of ($748,321) through the biennium ending August 31, 2027. The bill would make no appropriation but could provide the legal basis for an appropriation of funds to implement the provisions of the bill.
Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for HB1805, As Introduced: a negative impact of ($748,321) through the biennium ending August 31, 2027. The bill would make no appropriation but could provide the legal basis for an appropriation of funds to implement the provisions of the bill.
The bill would make no appropriation but could provide the legal basis for an appropriation of funds to implement the provisions of the bill.
General Revenue-Related Funds, Five- Year Impact:
2026 ($378,508)
2027 ($369,813)
2028 ($378,508)
2029 ($369,813)
2030 ($378,508)
All Funds, Five-Year Impact:
2026 ($378,508) 2.5
2027 ($369,813) 2.5
2028 ($378,508) 2.5
2029 ($369,813) 2.5
2030 ($378,508) 2.5
Fiscal Analysis
The bill would amend the Government Code to establish the Religious Freedom Commission (Commission) within the Office of the Governor (OOG). The Commission would be comprised of seven members appointed by the Governor according to certain qualifications. A member of the Commission would be entitled to reimbursement for travel expenses. The Commission would be tasked with promoting religious freedom, identifying challenges and solutions related to religious liberty, and serving as an advisor to the Governor on religious freedom issues including making recommendations regarding local and state policies that violate or fail to ensure an individual's right to religious belief and practice. The OOG would provide administrative support to the Commission.
The Commission would be tasked with promoting religious freedom, identifying challenges and solutions related to religious liberty, and serving as an advisor to the Governor on religious freedom issues including making recommendations regarding local and state policies that violate or fail to ensure an individual's right to religious belief and practice. The OOG would provide administrative support to the Commission.
Methodology
It is anticipated the OOG would need an additional 2.5 FTEs: 0.5 General Counsel III, 0.5 Financial Analyst III, 0.5 Information Specialist III, and 1 Program Specialist IV. The total estimate for FTE-related costs, including travel and various other operating costs, is anticipated to be $748,321 for the 2026-27 biennium.
Technology
No technology impact is anticipated.
Local Government Impact
No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.
Source Agencies: b > td > 300 Trusteed Programs Within the Office of the Governor, 304 Comptroller of Public Accounts
300 Trusteed Programs Within the Office of the Governor, 304 Comptroller of Public Accounts
LBB Staff: b > td > JMc, WP, LCO, KCu, NV
JMc, WP, LCO, KCu, NV