Title GV, Government Code

Sec. 301.005. LACK OF QUORUM. If a quorum is not present in a house of the legislature on the day the legislature is to convene, the presiding officer of that house and the secretary of the senate or chief clerk, as appropriate, shall attend each day until a quorum appears and is…

Sec. 301.006. SELECTION OF OFFICERS. (a) Immediately after election of the speaker of the house of representatives under Section 302.001, the speaker shall take the chair. (b) After the speaker takes the chair, the house of representatives shall choose necessary officers and the …

Sec. 301.011. SHORT TITLE. This subchapter may be cited as the Legislative Reorganization Act of 1961. Acts 1985, 69th Leg., ch. 479, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1985.

Sec. 301.012. PURPOSE. The legislature believes that it must conduct its activities on a full-time and continuing basis in order to achieve efficiency and continuity in performing its duties. It is the purpose of this subchapter to authorize legislative committees and other legis…

Sec. 301.013. SELECTION OF COMMITTEES. (a) In its rules of procedure or in a simple resolution, each house may determine the number, composition, function, membership, and authority of its committees. (b) By concurrent resolution, the two houses may determine the number, composit…

Sec. 301.014. POWERS AND DUTIES OF STANDING COMMITTEES. (a) Each standing committee shall: (1) conduct a continuing study of any matter within its jurisdiction and of the instrumentalities of government administering or executing the matter; (2) examine the administration and exe…

Sec. 301.015. MEETINGS OF STANDING COMMITTEES. (a) When the legislature is in session, each standing committee shall, if practicable, meet regularly according to applicable legislative requirements and rules of procedure. A committee shall meet at other times determined by the co…

Sec. 301.016. SPECIAL COMMITTEES. (a) By rule or resolution, each house acting individually or the two houses acting jointly may create special committees. (b) A special committee shall perform the duties and functions and exercise the powers prescribed by the rule or resolution …

Sec. 301.017. GENERAL INVESTIGATING COMMITTEES. (a) By rule or resolution, each house may create a general investigating committee. (b) The senate general investigating committee must consist of five senators appointed by the president of the senate. The president of the senate s…

Sec. 301.018. GENERAL INVESTIGATING COMMITTEE MEETINGS. (a) Each general investigating committee may begin work as soon as it desires after its members are appointed. Each general investigating committee created under this subchapter shall meet, organize, and adopt rules of evide…

Sec. 301.019. JOINT GENERAL INVESTIGATING COMMITTEE HEARINGS. (a) On a majority vote of each general investigating committee, the committees may conduct joint hearings and investigations. The committees may adopt joint rules to govern the hearings. (b) If the general investigatin…

Sec. 301.020. POWERS AND DUTIES OF GENERAL INVESTIGATING COMMITTEES. (a) Each general investigating committee may initiate or continue inquiries and hearings concerning: (1) state government; (2) any agency or subdivision of government within the state; (3) the expenditure of pub…

Sec. 301.021. GENERAL INVESTIGATING COMMITTEE EMPLOYEES. (a) If for any reason it is necessary to obtain assistance in addition to the services provided by the State Auditor, attorney general, Texas Legislative Council, or Department of Public Safety, each general investigating c…

Sec. 301.022. TESTIMONY UNDER OATH. (a) All legislative committees shall require witnesses to give testimony under oath, subject to the penalties of perjury. (b) The oath required by this section may be waived by any committee except a general investigating committee. Acts 1985, …

Sec. 301.0221. USE OF PSEUDONYM BY VICTIMS OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING. (a) Each legislative committee shall allow a witness who is the victim of an offense under Section 20A.02 or 20A.03, Penal Code, to give testimony to the committee relating to the witness's experience as a victim of…

Sec. 301.023. ADMINISTERING OATHS. (a) The following individuals may administer oaths to testifying witnesses: (1) the president of the senate; (2) the speaker of the house; (3) the chairman or acting chairman of a standing or special committee; and (4) the chairman or acting cha…

Sec. 301.024. PROCESS. (a) A general investigating committee may issue process to compel the attendance of witnesses and the production of books, records, documents, and instruments required by the committee. Any other committee may issue process if authorized by the resolution c…

Sec. 301.025. REFUSAL TO TESTIFY. (a) A witness called by either house or by a legislative committee does not have a privilege to refuse to testify to a fact or produce a document on the ground that the testimony or document may tend to disgrace the person or otherwise make the p…

Sec. 301.026. CONTEMPT OF LEGISLATURE. (a) A person commits an offense if the person: (1) has been summoned as a witness to testify or produce papers by either house or any legislative committee; and (2) refuses to appear, refuses to answer relevant questions, or refuses to produ…

Sec. 301.027. PROSECUTION FOR CONTEMPT OF LEGISLATURE. (a) If a person is summoned by either house or any legislative committee as prescribed by Section 301.024 and fails to appear, refuses to answer relevant questions, or fails to produce required books, papers, records, or docu…

Sec. 301.028. COOPERATION OF OTHER AGENCIES. (a) Each standing committee, including a general investigating committee, may request necessary assistance from all state agencies, departments, and offices, including: (1) the State Auditor; (2) the Texas Legislative Council; (3) the …

Sec. 301.029. APPROPRIATIONS FOR SALARIES, PER DIEM, AND EXPENDITURES. (a) Each house may pay contingent expenses for the entire term of each member of that house. (b) Each house may appropriate money to pay all salaries, per diem, and other expenditures authorized by law. (c) Th…

Sec. 301.031. COMMITTEE STAFF. From its contingent expense fund, each house may provide for necessary clerks, clerical assistance, and staff to each committee created by that house. Acts 1985, 69th Leg., ch. 479, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1985.

Sec. 301.032. GIFTS AND GRANTS. (a) Either house of the legislature may accept gifts, grants, and donations from any organization described in Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code for the purpose of funding any legislative activity. (b) Subject to Subsection (c), a comm…

Sec. 301.033. ALLOCATION OF SPACE IN LEGISLATIVE SERVICES BUILDING. (a) The space in the legislative services office building and parking facilities authorized by Chapter 168, Acts of the 74th Legislature, Regular Session, 1995, is allocated to the legislature and legislative age…

Sec. 301.034. TERMINATION OF MEMBERSHIP ON INTERIM COMMITTEE. (a) A duly appointed senator's or representative's membership on the Legislative Budget Board, Legislative Library Board, Legislative Audit Committee, Texas Legislative Council, or any other interim committee terminate…

Sec. 301.035. JOINT INTERIM COMMITTEE PER DIEM AND TRAVEL EXPENSES. Unless a statute expressly provides otherwise, per diem and travel expenses paid to a member of a joint committee established by statute shall be paid by the house to which the member belongs. The per diem and tr…

Sec. 301.041. COMMUNICATIONS WITH PARLIAMENTARIANS. (a) Communications, including conversations, correspondence, and electronic communications, between a member, officer, or employee of the legislative branch and a parliamentarian appointed by the presiding officer of either hous…

Sec. 301.042. COMMUNICATIONS WITH ENGROSSING AND ENROLLING DEPARTMENT. (a) In this section, "department" means an engrossing and enrolling department maintained by either house of the legislature. (b) Communications, including conversations, correspondence, and electronic communi…

Sec. 301.043. ENGROSSING AND ENROLLING DEPARTMENT RECORDS OF DRAFTING AND OTHER REQUESTS. (a) In this section, "department" has the meaning assigned by Section 301.042(a). (b) Records relating to requests of department staff for the drafting of proposed legislation or for assista…

Sec. 301.051. ISSUANCE OF PUBLICATIONS. Either house of the legislature or a legislative agency may produce and sell or distribute publications that the house or agency determines to be of interest to the legislature or the general public. The sales price of a publication shall b…

Sec. 301.052. DISTRIBUTION OF JOURNALS. (a) The lieutenant governor and speaker shall each appoint an employee to distribute the journal of the respective houses. (b) The employee shall distribute a copy of the journal to: (1) the governor; (2) each member of the legislature; and…

Sec. 301.061. LEGAL REPRESENTATION OF LEGISLATURE. (a) Subject to the requirements of Subsection (b) and to the exception provided in Subsection (c), the legislature, after notifying and consulting the attorney general, may employ counsel, or authorize the counsel of a legislativ…

Sec. 301.071. SALE OF TEXAS FLAGS AND SIMILAR ITEMS. Either house of the legislature may acquire and provide for the sale of Texas flags and other items carrying symbols of the State of Texas. Added by Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 377, Sec. 1, eff. May 29, 1999. Renumbered from Sec.…

Sec. 301.072. STATE BUILDINGS OCCUPIED BY LEGISLATIVE OFFICES AND AGENCIES. (a) This section applies to a state building that is: (1) occupied by a legislative office or agency; (2) located in the Capitol complex, as defined by Section 443.0071; and (3) not described by Section 2…

Sec. 301.073. FACILITIES MANAGEMENT SERVICES FOR SPACE OCCUPIED BY LEGISLATURE. (a) In this section, "facilities management services" has the meaning assigned by Section 2165.007, except that the term does not include utility services or utility expenses. (b) Notwithstanding Sect…

Sec. 301.101. DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter: (1) "Impeding absence" means an unexcused absence by a member of either house of the legislature during a legislative session in which the member is at a location outside of this state for purposes of impeding the actions of the memb…

Sec. 301.102. EXERCISE OF RULEMAKING POWER. This subchapter is enacted by the legislature as an exercise of the rulemaking power granted to each house of the legislature under Sections 10 and 11, Article III, Texas Constitution. Added by Acts 2025, 89th Leg., 2nd C.S., Ch. 8 (H.B…

Sec. 301.103. PROHIBITED ACCEPTANCE OF POLITICAL CONTRIBUTIONS AND MAKING OF POLITICAL EXPENDITURES. Notwithstanding any other law, a member of the legislature or a specific-purpose committee or legislative caucus supporting or assisting the member during an impeding absence may …

Sec. 301.104. REQUIRED RETURN OF PROHIBITED POLITICAL CONTRIBUTIONS. (a) A member of the legislature or a specific-purpose committee or legislative caucus supporting or assisting the member that receives and refuses a political contribution or contributions in violation of this s…

Sec. 301.105. CIVIL PENALTY. In accordance with the procedure provided by this subchapter, a person who accepts a political contribution or makes a political expenditure in violation of this subchapter is subject to a civil penalty in an amount not to exceed $5,000. For purposes …

Sec. 301.106. CIVIL PENALTY: STATEMENT OF FACTS TO PRESIDING OFFICER OF APPLICABLE LEGISLATIVE CHAMBER; CERTIFICATION TO DISTRICT COURT. (a) If a person accepts a political contribution or makes a political expenditure in violation of this subchapter, a statement of facts that, i…

Sec. 301.107. CIVIL PENALTY: DISTRICT COURT DUTIES. (a) The district court to which a statement of facts is certified under Section 301.106(b) shall, not later than 72 hours after the court receives the statement and without any intervention, pleading, or motion, enter an order t…

Sec. 301.108. CIVIL PENALTY: APPEAL AND PROHIBITED CONTINUANCE. (a) The Fifteenth Court of Appeals has exclusive intermediate appellate jurisdiction over a matter arising out of or related to a proceeding under this subchapter. (b) Section 30.003, Civil Practice and Remedies Code…