HB1545

Regular Session

Relating to the sunset review process and certain governmental entities subject to that process.

LowStandard timeline

Low Cost

Effective:2025-06-20

Enforcing Agencies

Sunset Advisory Commission • Texas Juvenile Justice Department • Texas Funeral Service Commission • Credit Union Department • State Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners

Compliance Analysis

Key implementation requirements and action items for compliance with this legislation

Implementation Timeline

Effective Date: June 20, 2025 (Immediate).
Compliance Deadline:
General: Immediate updates to regulatory tracking calendars.
TJJD Contractors: Data collection must begin immediately to support the September 1, 2026 reporting mandate.
Agency Rulemaking:
TJJD: Anticipate policy shifts regarding "regionalization" (diverting youth from state to local facilities) over the next 12-24 months.
Sunset Commission: Will define audit scopes for Funeral Services (if applicable) and Veterinary Board immediately.

Immediate Action Plan

1. Verify Concurrent Legislation: General Counsels for Veterinary and Funeral sectors must immediately confirm the final status of SB 2155 and SB 2721 to determine if HB 1545 applies to them.
2. Update Risk Models: Remove "Regulatory Dissolution" as a near-term risk factor for LCRA (2035) and Credit Union (2031) counterparties.
3. TJJD Data Audit: Juvenile justice contractors must implement data tracking for staff turnover and waitlists immediately to ensure compliance with the 2026 reporting requirement.
4. Lobbying Preparation: Mark your calendar for 2029 (two years prior to 2031 Sunset) to begin preparing legislative agendas for Credit Union and Juvenile Justice reforms.

Operational Changes Required

Contracts

Lower Colorado River Authority (LCRA): The agency is secured until 2035. You may execute long-term water and power agreements with confidence; the counterparty’s governance structure is stable.
Credit Unions: Vendor and technology service agreements with state-chartered credit unions are secure against regulatory dissolution until 2031.
Juvenile Justice: County and private facility contracts must be reviewed for clauses regarding "regionalization" and diversion capacity, as the state is statutorily pivoting away from centralized incarceration.

Hiring/Training

Juvenile Justice Facilities: If you contract with TJJD, you must track staffing levels and turnover rates starting immediately. This data is required for the agency's mandated 2026 report to the Legislature.

Reporting & Record-Keeping

TJJD Contractors: Prepare to report waitlist data for secure facilities and construction progress updates. While the statutory burden is on the agency, the data burden falls on the contractor.
Willed Body Programs (Funeral Services): If SB 2721 failed to pass, you are subject to an immediate limited-scope Sunset review. Ensure chain-of-custody and donation records are audit-ready.

Fees & Costs

No Change: The legislation does not authorize new fee schedules or penalties.

Strategic Ambiguities & Considerations

Conditional Regulation (The "Trigger" Clauses):
Veterinary Board: The extension to 2033 is valid ONLY IF SB 2155 became law. If SB 2155 failed, the Board's status is in legal limbo.
Funeral Commission: The mandate to review willed body programs applies ONLY IF SB 2721 *failed* to pass.
"Prioritizing Local Levels": The mandate for TJJD to prioritize local diversion is vague. Providers should expect subjective enforcement where the State refuses transfers to secure facilities, forcing local entities to absorb higher-risk youth populations.

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Legislative Timeline

This bill's path through the Texas Legislature

Official Analysis

View HRO Analysis View All Bill Documents

BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 1545

By: Bell, Keith

Delivery of Government Efficiency

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

H.B. 1545 is the sunset schedule bill, which is filed each session to make necessary adjustments to better align agencies set for sunset review by the Sunset Advisory Commission in the upcoming biennia and to balance the sunset commission's review workload. The bill also makes certain updates to the Texas Sunset Act.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

ANALYSIS

Sunset Review Cycle Changes

Entities Given 2031 Sunset Date

H.B. 1545 amends the Finance Code to move forward the sunset review of the Credit Union Department and the Credit Union Commission from the 2034-2035 review cycle to the 2030‑2031 review cycle.

H.B. 1545 amends the Government Code to postpone the sunset review of the State Office of Administrative Hearings from the 2026-2027 review cycle to the 2030-2031 review cycle.

H.B. 1545 amends the Human Resources Code to postpone the sunset review of the Texas Juvenile Justice Board and the Texas Juvenile Justice Department (TJJD) from the 2026-2027 review cycle to the 2030-2031 review cycle. However, the bill requires the Sunset Advisory Commission to conduct a limited-scope review of TJJD for the 90th Legislature and does the following with respect to that limited-scope review:

·requires the sunset commission staff evaluation and report to be limited to assessing TJJD's administration of its regionalization duties aimed at prioritizing the use of local levels of the juvenile justice system over placement or commitment to secure facilities operated by TJJD;

·prohibits the sunset commission from reviewing TJJD's office of independent ombudsman as part of the review;

·authorizes the sunset commission's recommendations to the 90th Legislature to include any recommendation the sunset commission considers appropriate based on the review; and

·requires TJJD to submit a report not later than September 1, 2026, to the sunset commission, the speaker of the house of representatives, the lieutenant governor, and the standing committees of each house of the legislature with primary jurisdiction over juvenile justice that includes information about the following:

othe status of the investigation by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) into TJJD and TJJD's progress in addressing findings as detailed in the DOJ's report titled "Investigation of the Texas Juvenile Justice Department," published on August 1, 2024;

othe waitlist of youth committed to TJJD awaiting transfer to state secure facilities from county facilities;

oTJJD's staffing and turnover at state facilities for each fiscal year since fiscal year 2016; and

othe progress on construction of additional state juvenile correctional facilities for which the legislature appropriated funding in the 2024-2025 biennium.

Entities Given 2033 Sunset Date

H.B. 1545 amends the Occupations Code to postpone the sunset review of the State Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners from the 2026-2027 review cycle to the 2032-2033 review cycle.

Entities Given 2035 Sunset Date

H.B. 1545 repeals the session law provision requiring the sunset commission to conduct a limited-scope review of the Texas State Soil and Water Conservation Board for the 90th Legislature regarding the dam structural repair grant program.

Amendments to the Texas Sunset Act

H.B. 1545 amends the Government Code to establish that the provisions of the Texas Sunset Act relating to the review of a state agency by the sunset commission apply to the review of a state agency that is not subject to abolishment in the same manner as the provisions apply to a state agency that is subject to abolishment. Additionally, the bill clarifies that a public member of the sunset commission acts on the legislature's behalf when participating on the sunset commission in furtherance of the legislature's duty to provide oversight of state agencies' implementation of legislative priorities, irrespective of the branch of state government in which that agency is located.

Repealed Provision

H.B. 1545 repeals Section 12, Chapter 358 (S.B. 1424), Acts of the 88th Legislature, Regular Session, 2023.

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2025.

House Authors

Rep. Keith BellRepublican · Primary Author

Joint Authors

Coauthors (1)

John Lujan (R)

Senate Sponsor

Sen. Tan ParkerRepublican · Primary Sponsor

Bill Text(with markup)

H.B. No. 1545

View bill text in multiple formats on Texas Legislature website

Fiscal NoteView Original

	AN ACT
	relating to the sunset review process and certain governmental
	entities subject to that process.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
	ARTICLE 1. LIMITED-SCOPE REVIEWS
	SECTION 1.01. TEXAS FUNERAL SERVICE COMMISSION. (a)
	Notwithstanding Section 651.002, Occupations Code, the Sunset
	Advisory Commission shall conduct a limited-scope review of the
	Texas Funeral Service Commission for the 90th Legislature.
	(b) In conducting the limited-scope review under this
	section, the Sunset Advisory Commission staff evaluation and report
	must be limited to assessing the Texas Funeral Service Commission's
	administration of functions and duties regarding the regulation of
	willed body programs, non-transplant anatomical donation
	organizations, and anatomical facilities under Section 651.005,
	Occupations Code, and under Chapters 691 and 692A, Health and
	Safety Code.
	(c) The Sunset Advisory Commission's recommendations to the
	90th Legislature may include any recommendation the commission
	considers appropriate based on the limited-scope review conducted
	under this section.
	(d) This section takes effect only if Senate Bill 2721 or
	similar legislation of the 89th Legislature, Regular Session, 2025,
	relating to the licensing and regulation of persons who provide
	services in relation to the deceased does not become law. If
	legislation described by this subsection does become law, this
	section has no effect.
	SECTION 1.02. STATE SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION BOARD.
	Section 12, Chapter 358 (S.B. 1424), Acts of the 88th Legislature,
	Regular Session, 2023, is repealed.
	ARTICLE 2. ENTITIES GIVEN 2031 SUNSET DATE
	SECTION 2.01. CREDIT UNION DEPARTMENT. Section 15.212,
	Finance Code, is amended to read as follows:
	Sec. 15.212. SUNSET PROVISION. The Credit Union Department
	and the Credit Union Commission are subject to Chapter 325,
	Government Code (Texas Sunset Act). Unless continued in existence
	as provided by that chapter, the department and commission are
	abolished September 1, 2031 [~~2035~~].
	SECTION 2.02. STATE OFFICE OF ADMINISTRATIVE HEARINGS.
	Section 2003.023, Government Code, is amended to read as follows:
	Sec. 2003.023. SUNSET PROVISION. The State Office of
	Administrative Hearings is subject to review under Chapter 325
	(Texas Sunset Act), but is not abolished under that chapter. The
	office shall be reviewed during the periods in which state agencies
	abolished in 2031 [~~2027~~] and every 12th year after 2031 [~~2027~~] are
	reviewed.
	SECTION 2.03. TEXAS JUVENILE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT. (a)
	Section 202.010, Human Resources Code, is amended to read as
	follows:
	Sec. 202.010. SUNSET PROVISION. The Texas Juvenile Justice
	Board and the Texas Juvenile Justice Department are subject to
	Chapter 325, Government Code (Texas Sunset Act). Unless continued
	in existence as provided by that chapter, the board and the
	department are abolished September 1, 2031 [~~2027~~].
	(b) Notwithstanding Section 202.010, Human Resources Code,
	as amended by this Act, the Sunset Advisory Commission shall
	conduct a limited-scope review of the Texas Juvenile Justice
	Department for the 90th Legislature.
	(c) In conducting the limited-scope review under this
	section, the Sunset Advisory Commission staff evaluation and report
	must be limited to assessing the Texas Juvenile Justice
	Department's administration of its regionalization duties aimed at
	prioritizing the use of local levels of the juvenile justice system
	over placement or commitment to secure facilities operated by the
	Texas Juvenile Justice Department.
	(d) The Sunset Advisory Commission may not review the office
	of independent ombudsman of the Texas Juvenile Justice Department
	as part of the limited-scope review conducted under this section.
	(e) The Sunset Advisory Commission's recommendations to the
	90th Legislature may include any recommendation the commission
	considers appropriate based on the limited-scope review conducted
	under this section.
	(f) The Texas Juvenile Justice Department shall submit a
	report not later than September 1, 2026, to the Sunset Advisory
	Commission, the speaker of the house of representatives, the
	lieutenant governor, and the standing committees of each house of
	the legislature with primary jurisdiction over juvenile justice
	that includes information about:
	(1) the status of the United States Department of
	Justice's investigation into the Texas Juvenile Justice Department
	and the Texas Juvenile Justice Department's progress in addressing
	findings as detailed in the United States Department of Justice's
	report titled "Investigation of the Texas Juvenile Justice
	Department," published on August 1, 2024;
	(2) the waitlist of youth committed to the Texas
	Juvenile Justice Department awaiting transfer to state secure
	facilities from county facilities;
	(3) the Texas Juvenile Justice Department's staffing
	and turnover at state facilities for each fiscal year since fiscal
	year 2016; and
	(4) the progress on construction of additional state
	juvenile correctional facilities for which the legislature
	appropriated funding in the 2024-2025 biennium.
	ARTICLE 3. ENTITIES GIVEN 2033 SUNSET DATE
	SECTION 3.01. STATE BOARD OF VETERINARY MEDICAL EXAMINERS.
	(a) Section 801.003, Occupations Code, is amended to read as
	follows:
	Sec. 801.003. APPLICATION OF SUNSET ACT. The State Board of
	Veterinary Medical Examiners is subject to Chapter 325, Government
	Code (Texas Sunset Act). Unless continued in existence as provided
	by that chapter, the board is abolished September 1, 2033 [~~2027~~].
	(b) This section takes effect only if S.B. 2155 or similar
	legislation of the 89th Legislature, Regular Session, 2025,
	relating to the regulation of veterinary professionals and
	facilities by the State Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners and
	the temporary administration of the board by the Texas Department
	of Licensing and Regulation becomes law. If legislation described
	by this subsection does not become law, this section has no effect.
	ARTICLE 4. ENTITIES GIVEN 2035 SUNSET DATE
	SECTION 4.01. LOWER COLORADO RIVER AUTHORITY. Section
	8503.0021(a), Special District Local Laws Code, is amended to read
	as follows:
	(a) The authority is subject to review under Chapter 325,
	Government Code (Texas Sunset Act), but may not be abolished under
	that chapter. The review shall not include the management of the
	generation or transmission of electricity under the wholesale
	electricity operation of the authority and the authority's
	affiliated nonprofit corporations. The review shall be conducted
	under Section 325.025, Government Code, as if the authority were a
	state agency scheduled to be abolished September 1, 2035 [~~2031~~],
	and every 12th year after that year.
	ARTICLE 5. AMENDMENTS TO THE TEXAS SUNSET ACT
	SECTION 5.01. SUNSET ADVISORY COMMISSION. Section
	325.003(a-1), Government Code, is amended to read as follows:
	(a-1) A public member acts on behalf of the legislature when
	participating on the commission in furtherance of the legislature's
	duty to provide oversight of state [~~executive branch~~] agencies'
	implementation of legislative priorities.
	SECTION 5.02. AGENCY REPORT TO COMMISSION. Section
	325.007(a), Government Code, is amended to read as follows:
	(a) Before September 1 of the odd-numbered year before the
	year in which a state agency subject to this chapter is abolished or
	reviewed, the agency shall report to the commission:
	(1) information regarding the application to the
	agency of the criteria in Section 325.011; and
	(2) any other information that the agency considers
	appropriate or that is requested by the commission.
	SECTION 5.03. REPORTING REQUIREMENTS OF AGENCY BEING
	REVIEWED. Section 325.0075, Government Code, is amended to read as
	follows:
	Sec. 325.0075. REPORTING REQUIREMENTS OF AGENCY BEING
	REVIEWED. Before September 1 of the odd-numbered year before the
	year in which a state agency subject to this chapter is abolished or
	reviewed, the agency shall submit to the commission, the governor,
	the lieutenant governor, and each member of the legislature a
	report that:
	(1) lists each report that the agency is required by a
	statute to prepare; and
	(2) evaluates the need for each report listed in
	Subdivision (1) based on whether factors or conditions have changed
	since the date the statutory requirement to prepare the report was
	enacted.
	SECTION 5.04. COMMISSION DUTIES. Section 325.008(a),
	Government Code, is amended to read as follows:
	(a) Before January 1 of the year in which a state agency
	subject to this chapter and its advisory committees are abolished
	or reviewed, the commission shall:
	(1) review and take action necessary to verify the
	reports submitted by the agency under Section 325.007;
	(2) consult the Legislative Budget Board, the
	Governor's Budget, Policy, and Planning Division, the State
	Auditor, and the comptroller of public accounts, or their
	successors, on the application to the agency of the criteria
	provided in Section 325.011;
	(3) conduct a review of the agency based on the
	criteria provided in Section 325.011 and prepare a written report;
	and
	(4) review the implementation of commission
	recommendations contained in the reports presented to the
	legislature during the preceding legislative session and the
	resulting legislation.
	SECTION 5.05. PUBLIC HEARINGS. Section 325.009(a),
	Government Code, is amended to read as follows:
	(a) Before February 1 of the year a state agency subject to
	this chapter and its advisory committees are abolished or reviewed,
	the commission shall conduct public hearings concerning but not
	limited to the application to the agency of the criteria provided in
	Section 325.011.
	SECTION 5.06. REVIEW OF CERTAIN AGENCIES. Sections
	325.0125(a) and (b), Government Code, are amended to read as
	follows:
	(a) In the two-year period preceding the date scheduled for
	the abolition or review of a state agency under this chapter, the
	commission may exempt certain agencies from the requirements of
	this chapter relating to staff reports, hearings, and reviews.
	(b) The commission may only exempt agencies that have been
	inactive for a period of two years preceding the date the agency is
	scheduled for abolition or review, that have been rendered inactive
	by an action of the legislature, or that the commission determines
	are unable to participate in the review due to a declared disaster.
	ARTICLE 6. EFFECTIVE DATE
	SECTION 6.01. EFFECTIVE DATE. This Act takes effect
	immediately if it receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members
	elected to each house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas
	Constitution. If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for
	immediate effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2025.

LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
Austin, Texas

FISCAL NOTE, 89TH LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION


April 8, 2025

TO:	Honorable Giovanni Capriglione, Chair, House Committee on Delivery of Government Efficiency

FROM:	Jerry McGinty, Director, Legislative Budget Board

IN RE:	HB1545 by Bell, Keith (Relating to the sunset review process and certain governmental entities subject to that process.), As Introduced

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

It is assumed that any costs associated with the bill could be absorbed using existing resources.

Local Government Impact

No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.

Source Agencies:

116 Sunset Advisory Commission

LBB Staff:

JMc, RStu, CMA, MMF

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Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about HB1545

What does Texas HB1545 do?

HB 1545 guarantees regulatory continuity by extending the expiration dates for the Credit Union Department, LCRA, and TJJD, securing the legal basis for contracts and licenses in these sectors for the next decade. However, regulatory oversight for Veterinary Medicine and Funeral Services is strictly conditional based on the passage or failure of separate legislation (SB 2155 and SB 2721), requiring immediate legislative verification by legal counsel in those industries. Implementation Timeline Effective Date: June 20, 2025 (Immediate).

Who authored HB1545?

HB1545 was authored by Texas Representative Keith Bell during the Regular Session.

When was HB1545 signed into law?

HB1545 was signed into law by Governor Greg Abbott on June 20, 2025.

Which agencies enforce HB1545?

HB1545 is enforced by Sunset Advisory Commission, Texas Juvenile Justice Department, Texas Funeral Service Commission, Credit Union Department and State Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners.

How urgent is compliance with HB1545?

The compliance urgency for HB1545 is rated as "low". Businesses and organizations should review the requirements and timeline to ensure timely compliance.

What is the cost impact of HB1545?

The cost impact of HB1545 is estimated as "low". This may vary based on industry and implementation requirements.

What topics does HB1545 address?

HB1545 addresses topics including courts, courts--general, financial, financial--general and juvenile boards & officers.

Legislative data provided by LegiScanLast updated: November 25, 2025

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