The bill, H.B. No. 1554, seeks to amend Chapter 752 of the Government Code by adding a new subchapter that prohibits governmental entities from using public funds to provide legal services for individuals who are unlawfully present in the United States. Specifically, it defines "governmental entity" and establishes that, unless mandated by the U.S. Constitution, these entities cannot allocate public money for legal services related to immigration proceedings for such individuals. Additionally, they are barred from seeking reimbursement from the state for any attorney services provided for these purposes.

However, the bill clarifies that this prohibition does not extend to providing legal representation for indigent defendants who are entitled to such representation under the Code of Criminal Procedure. The new provisions will take effect on September 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: ()