89R5661 JON-D
By: Oliverson H.B. No. 1805
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the creation of the Religious Freedom Commission.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subtitle D, Title 4, Government Code, is amended
by adding Chapter 452 to read as follows:
CHAPTER 452. RELIGIOUS FREEDOM COMMISSION
SUBCHAPTER A. GENERAL PROVISIONS
Sec. 452.001. DEFINITION. In this chapter, "commission"
means the Religious Freedom Commission.
Sec. 452.002. ESTABLISHMENT. (a) The commission is
established within the office of the governor.
(b) Chapter 2110 does not apply to the commission.
SUBCHAPTER B. COMPOSITION AND MEETINGS
Sec. 452.051. COMPOSITION OF COMMISSION. (a) The governor
shall appoint seven members to the commission.
(b) A member of the commission must be a resident of this
state.
(c) The commission must include members who:
(1) have demonstrated a significant interest in and
are knowledgeable about issues related to religious liberty; or
(2) have served prominently as leaders of or
spokespersons for organizations that serve members of religious
communities, including the Christian, Hindu, Jewish, and Muslim
communities.
Sec. 452.052. TERMS. (a) Commission members serve
staggered six-year terms with the terms of approximately one-third
of the members expiring February 1 of each odd-numbered year.
(b) Commission members are eligible for reappointment to
another term or part of a term.
(c) The governor shall fill any vacancy in a position on the
commission for the unexpired portion of the term.
Sec. 452.053. PRESIDING OFFICER. The governor shall
designate a member of the commission as presiding officer of the
commission to serve in that capacity at the pleasure of the
governor.
Sec. 452.054. COMPENSATION; EXPENSES. A member of the
commission is not entitled to compensation but is entitled to
reimbursement for the travel expenses incurred by the member while
transacting commission business, as provided by the General
Appropriations Act.
Sec. 452.055. MEETINGS; QUORUM. (a) The commission shall
meet at least quarterly at the times and places in this state the
commission designates.
(b) Four members of the commission constitute a quorum for
transacting commission business.
SUBCHAPTER C. DUTIES
Sec. 452.101. DUTIES OF COMMISSION. The commission shall:
(1) advance the right to freedom of religion within
this state, denounce violations of that right, and recommend
appropriate responses by the legislature to the violations;
(2) identify system-level challenges and solutions
relating to religious liberty for all faith communities;
(3) serve as a principal advisor to the governor
regarding matters affecting religious freedom within this state;
(4) make recommendations regarding:
(A) local and state policies that violate freedom
of religion or that fail to ensure the individual's right to
religious belief and practice;
(B) policies that advance the right to freedom of
religion in this state; and
(C) strategies to address and prevent
faith-related bias incidents; and
(5) engage in education, advocacy, and outreach
efforts to promote understanding and awareness of the importance of
religious liberty.
SUBCHAPTER D. SUPPORT AND FUNDING
Sec. 452.151. SUPPORT. The office of the governor shall
provide administrative support, including staff, to the
commission.
Sec. 452.152. FUNDING. (a) The commission may accept gifts
and grants from a public or private source on behalf of the
commission for the commission to use in performing the duties
assigned to the commission under this chapter.
(b) All legislative appropriations to support the functions
and activities of the commission shall be made as part of the office
of the governor's legislative appropriations request process and
disbursed to the commission.
SECTION 2. As soon as practicable after the effective date
of this Act, the governor shall appoint members to the Religious
Freedom Commission as provided by Chapter 452, Government Code, as
added by this Act. To implement the staggering of terms of members
of the commission provided by Section 452.052, Government Code, as
added by this Act, in making the first appointments to the
commission, the governor shall provide for two of the members to
serve terms expiring February 1, 2027, two of the members to serve
terms expiring February 1, 2029, and three of the members to serve
terms expiring February 1, 2031. Subsequent appointments shall be
for six-year terms, as provided by Section 452.052, Government
Code, as added by this Act.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.