89R3737 LRM-D
By: Hughes S.B. No. 969
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the reimbursement of state employees for groceries
consumed while traveling on official state business.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 660.113(c), Government Code, is amended
to read as follows:
(c) Except as provided by Section 660.1135, a [A] state
agency may not reimburse a state employee for a meal expense
incurred within the employee's designated headquarters unless the
expense is:
(1) mandatory; and
(2) connected with training, a seminar, or a
conference.
SECTION 2. Subchapter F, Chapter 660, Government Code, is
amended by adding Section 660.1135 to read as follows:
Sec. 660.1135. REIMBURSEMENT FOR GROCERIES PURCHASED
WITHIN EMPLOYEE'S DESIGNATED HEADQUARTERS. (a) In this section,
"groceries" means food items sold at a grocery store, supermarket,
or other similar retail establishment.
(b) A state agency may reimburse a state employee as
provided by Subsections (c) and (d) for groceries purchased within
the employee's designated headquarters if:
(1) the grocery purchase date is the day before or the
day the employee travels to conduct official state business; and
(2) the employee consumes the groceries while the
employee is away from the employee's designated headquarters
traveling for official state business.
(c) A state agency may only reimburse a state employee under
this section for the prorated portion of groceries the employee
consumes each day while traveling for official state business.
(d) A purchase under this section is considered a meal
expense for purposes of determining the limit established by the
travel provisions of the General Appropriations Act for meal
expenses under Section 660.112.
(e) A state agency must develop a policy for authorizing
reimbursements under this section before the agency may reimburse a
state employee under this section.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.