S.B. No. 992 amends the Government Code to establish a clear timeline and process for the approval or denial of state agency contracts for outside legal services by the attorney general. A new subsection (a-1) is added to Section 402.0212, which mandates that the attorney general must approve or deny a contract within 25 days of its receipt from the submitting state agency. If the attorney general denies approval, they are required to provide a written explanation to the agency detailing the reasons for the denial.

Additionally, Section 825.203(c) is revised to remove previous language regarding the timeliness of the attorney general's actions on contract requests. The updated language clarifies that if the attorney general denies a contract request, the board may select alternative outside legal counsel, which must also be approved by the attorney general. The changes made by this Act will apply only to contracts submitted for approval on or after its effective date of September 1, 2025, while contracts submitted prior will continue to be governed by the existing law.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Government Code 402.0212, Government Code 825.203 (Government Code 825, Government Code 402)
Senate Committee Report: Government Code 402.0212, Government Code 825.203 (Government Code 825, Government Code 402)
Engrossed: Government Code 402.0212, Government Code 825.203 (Government Code 825, Government Code 402)
House Committee Report: Government Code 402.0212, Government Code 825.203 (Government Code 825, Government Code 402)
Enrolled: Government Code 402.0212, Government Code 825.203 (Government Code 825, Government Code 402)