The bill amends Chapter 554 of the Government Code to enhance whistleblower protections by explicitly including "wasteful spending" alongside "violations of law" as grounds for protection against retaliation. The heading of the chapter is updated to reflect this addition, and Section 554.002 is revised to prohibit adverse personnel actions against public employees who report either type of misconduct. The bill specifies that reports of violations can be made to appropriate law enforcement authorities or the state auditor's office, depending on the nature of the report.

Additionally, the bill modifies Section 554.004 to establish a presumption that any adverse action taken against an employee within 90 days of their report is retaliatory, unless proven otherwise. It also provides an affirmative defense for employers, allowing them to demonstrate that the action taken was based on unrelated factors. The bill aims to strengthen protections for whistleblowers and encourage the reporting of both legal violations and wasteful spending within governmental entities.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Government Code 554.002 (Government Code 554)
House Committee Report: Government Code 554.002, Government Code 554.004 (Government Code 554)