89th Legislature Regular Session

SB 992

Overall Vote Recommendation
Vote No; Amend
Principle Criteria
Free Enterprise
Property Rights
Personal Responsibility
Limited Government
Individual Liberty
Digest
SB 992 modifies the procedure by which the Texas Attorney General approves or denies state agency contracts for outside legal services. The bill mandates that the Attorney General must approve or deny such contracts within 25 days of receiving them from a state agency. If a contract is denied, the Attorney General must provide a written explanation for the decision.

Additionally, the bill amends Section 825.203(c) of the Government Code, removing a provision that explicitly required the Attorney General to act timely on requests for approval of contracts for outside legal services. The bill applies only to contracts submitted on or after its effective date of September 1, 2025.
Author
Robert Nichols
Co-Author
Sarah Eckhardt
Fiscal Notes

According to the Legislative Budget Board's fiscal note, no significant financial impact on the state is anticipated. The bill's requirements—setting a 25-day deadline for the Attorney General to approve or deny contracts for outside legal services—are expected to be handled within existing resources of the Attorney General’s Office. As a result, no additional appropriations or staffing increases are foreseen.

Additionally, no significant fiscal impact is expected for local governments, as the bill primarily affects state agency contracting procedures without imposing new financial burdens on municipal or county entities.

Vote Recommendation Notes

SB 992 seeks to streamline the Attorney General's approval process for state agency contracts for outside legal services by requiring approval or denial within 25 days and providing a written explanation for denials. The bill author intends to eliminate delays that hinder legal work, ensuring state agencies can access specialized counsel efficiently. However, while the bill improves transparency and predictability, it lacks enforcement mechanisms to ensure compliance with the 25-day deadline and does not provide an appeals process for denied contracts. To better align with principles of limited government and free enterprise, amendments should include automatic approval if the Attorney General fails to act within the deadline and a structured review process for denied contracts. These modifications would prevent bureaucratic delays while maintaining necessary oversight.

View Bill Text and Status