89R18085 TJB-D
By: Shofner H.B. No. 5158
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the authority of a political subdivision to spend
public money in support of certain professional associations that
promote or implement diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Chapter 140, Local Government Code, is amended
by adding Section 140.014 to read as follows:
Sec. 140.014. PROHIBITION ON EXPENDITURE OF PUBLIC MONEY IN
SUPPORT OF CERTAIN ASSOCIATIONS. (a) In this section:
(1) "Diversity, equity, and inclusion initiative"
means an initiative that:
(A) is based on the belief that identity
classifications are central to understanding social, professional,
and political disparities;
(B) requires, encourages, or otherwise promotes
organizational practices such as employee hiring and promotion,
resource allocation, or policy formulation to achieve proportional
representation of identity classification groups or to eliminate
perceived systemic differences between them; or
(C) otherwise promotes discriminatory treatment
of a person on the basis of the person's identity classification.
(2) "Identity classification" means a classification
of a person based on the race, color, religion, national origin, or
ethnicity of the person.
(3) "Professional association" means a nonprofit
association or organization that engages in activities in support
of:
(A) similarly situated political subdivisions;
or
(B) a class of professionals.
(b) A political subdivision may not spend public money in
support of a professional association that promotes or implements a
diversity, equity, and inclusion initiative, including by:
(1) paying a membership fee or due to the association;
or
(2) paying for an officer or employee of the political
subdivision to attend or participate in a conference or similar
event hosted by the association.
SECTION 2. The change in law made by this Act applies to an
expenditure made by a political subdivision on or after the
effective date of this Act.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.