The bill, S.B. No. 73, establishes the unfunded mandates interagency work group within the Texas Government Code. It defines the work group, which includes the state auditor, the director of the Legislative Budget Board, the comptroller, and appointed members from both the Senate and the House of Representatives. The bill outlines the group's responsibilities, including the publication of an advisory list of unfunded mandates following each legislative session. It also specifies that members will not receive additional compensation for their service and may collaborate with agency staff to fulfill their duties.

Key amendments include the definition of "mandate" as a requirement imposed by legislation enacted after January 1, 2025, that necessitates expenditures by political subdivisions. The bill also clarifies the conditions under which a mandate is considered reimbursed by the legislature. Notably, the work group is not required to publish its first report until after September 1, 2025, for legislative sessions beginning before that date. The act will take effect immediately if it receives a two-thirds vote from both houses; otherwise, it will take effect on September 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Government Code 320.001 (Government Code 320)