Bill Text: TX HB845 | 2023-2024 | 88th Legislature | Introduced
Bill Title: Relating to prohibiting a public institution of higher education from providing financial support to nonprofit media organizations.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2023-03-01 - Referred to Higher Education [HB845 Detail]
Download: Texas-2023-HB845-Introduced.html
| By: Patterson | H.B. No. 845 | |
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| relating to prohibiting a public institution of higher education | ||
| from providing financial support to nonprofit media organizations. | ||
| BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: | ||
| SECTION 1. This Act shall be known as the Free Press Act. | ||
| SECTION 2. Subchapter Z, Chapter 51, Education Code, is | ||
| amended by adding Section 51.980 to read as follows: | ||
| Sec. 51.980. FINANCIAL SUPPORT OF NONPROFIT MEDIA | ||
| ORGANIZATION PROHIBITED. (a) In this section, "institution of | ||
| higher education" has the meaning assigned by Section 61.003. | ||
| (b) Notwithstanding any other law, an institution of higher | ||
| education may not use funds from any source to provide financial | ||
| support, including through the purchase of a membership, | ||
| sponsorship, or advertising services, to a media organization that | ||
| is exempt from federal income tax under Section 501(a), Internal | ||
| Revenue Code of 1986, by being listed as an exempt organization in | ||
| Section 501(c)(3) of that code. | ||
| SECTION 3. (a) Except as provided by Subsection (b) of this | ||
| section, Section 51.980, Education Code, as added by this Act, | ||
| applies only to an expenditure of funds that is made on or after the | ||
| effective date of this Act. | ||
| (b) Section 51.980, Education Code, as added by this Act, | ||
| does not affect an expenditure of funds made under the terms of a | ||
| contract entered into before the effective date of this Act. An | ||
| expenditure of funds made under the terms of a contract entered into | ||
| before the effective date of this Act is governed by the law in | ||
| effect on the date the contract was entered into, and the former law | ||
| is continued in effect for that purpose. | ||
| SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023. | ||
