Texas 2025 - 89th Regular

Texas House Bill HB5020 Compare Versions

Version 1 (Old)

Version 2 (New)

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1	1		By: Smithee H.B. No. 5020
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4	6		A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
5	7		AN ACT
6	8		relating to requirements for the exercise of the power of
7	9		impeachment by the House of Representatives and providing that
8	10		officers against whom articles of impeachment are preferred receive
9	11		pay during the pendency of impeachment proceedings.
10	12		BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
11	13		SECTION 1. Section 665.004, Government Code, is amended to
12	14		read as follows:
13	15		Sec. 665.005. POWERS OF HOUSE DURING IMPEACHMENT
14	16		PROCEEDING. (a) When conducting an impeachment proceeding, the
15	17		house or a house committee may:
16	18		(1) send for persons or papers;
17	19		(2) compel the giving of testimony; and
18	20		(3) punish for contempt to the same extent as a
19	21		district court of this state.
20	22		(b) When exercising the power of impeachment, the house or a
21	23		house committee must:
22	24		(1) conduct a thorough, even-handed investigation of
23	25		all articles of impeachment;
24	26		(2) ensure all testimony presented to and considered
25	27		by the House of Representatives is provided under oath;
26	28		(3) provide any officer against whom articles of
27	29		impeachment may be preferred and the officer's legal counsel the
28	30		opportunity to:
29	31		(A) be present during all hearings before the
30	32		House of Representatives and committees of the House of
31	33		Representatives; and
32	34		(B) examine the witnesses and evidence against
33	35		the officer in a hearing before the House of Representatives that
34	36		shall take place at least seven days after all evidence and witness
35	37		testimony transcripts have been provided to the officer; and
36	38		(4) provide the members of the House of
37	39		Representatives at least 14 calendar days to review all records
38	40		pertaining to articles of impeachment before voting on the
39	41		articles of impeachment.
40	42		SECTION 2. Subchapter D, Chapter 665, Government Code, is
41	43		amended by adding Section 665.082 to read as follows:
42	44		Sec. 665.082. PAY DURING SUSPENSION. The suspension
43	45		provided by Article XV, Sec. 5 of the Texas Constitution shall be
44	46		suspension with pay.
45	47		SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
46	48		a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
47	49		provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
48	50		Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
49	51		Act takes effect September 1, 2025.