Rep. John Lujan introduced HB 1646, a bill on Health and Special Districts & Authorities, to the Texas House on Tuesday, Dec. 17 during the 89(R) legislative session, according to the Texas Legislature website.
More specifically, the official text was summarized by the state legislature as ’’relating to the amount of an expenditure that may be paid by an emergency services district employee without board approval’’.
The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.
This bill amends the Health and Safety Code to allow an emergency services district employee, who has executed a bond equivalent to the amount required for the district treasurer, to sign an instrument to disburse district funds. However, it restricts expenditures over $50,000, requiring board approval before payment can be made. The bill specifies that this change will apply only to purchases made on or after the Act’s effective date, thereby maintaining existing law for transactions conducted earlier. The Act is set to take effect on Sept. 1, 2025.
John Lujan, the chair of the House Committee on S/C on International Relations, proposed another five bills during the 89(R) legislative session. He is also a member of the House Committee on Appropriations, the vice chair of the House Committee on Appropriations – S/C on Articles VI, VII, & VIII, a member of the House Committee on Local & Consent Calendars, a member of the House Committee on Trade, Workforce & Economic Development, and a member of the House Committee on S/C on Workforce.
John Lujan is currently serving in the Texas State House, representing the state’s 118th House district. He replaced previous state representative Leo Pacheco in 2021.
Bills in Texas go through a multi-step legislative process, including committee review, debates, and votes in both chambers before reaching a final decision. Each session, there are typically thousands of bills introduced, but only a portion successfully navigate the process to become law.
You can read more about the bills and other measures here.
| Legislative Session | Bill Number | Date Introduced | Short Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| 89(R) | HB 1634 | 12/16/2024 | Relating to tuition and fee exemptions at public institutions of higher education for certain students who were under the conservatorship of the Department of Family and Protective Services |
| 89(R) | HB 1621 | 12/13/2024 | Relating to a matching grant program for technological enhancements at hospitals providing mental health care services |
| 89(R) | HB 1611 | 12/13/2024 | Relating to eligibility for custodial officer service in the Employees Retirement System of Texas by certain juvenile correctional officers and caseworkers employed by the Texas Juvenile Justice Department |
| 89(R) | HB 1395 | 11/19/2024 | Relating to the regulation of private passenger vehicle rental companies |
| 89(R) | HB 1211 | 11/12/2024 | Relating to tuition and fee exemptions at public institutions of higher education for certain students who were under the conservatorship of the Department of Family and Protective Services |
| 88(3) | HB 117 | 10/10/2023 | Relating to the punishment for the criminal offense of operation of a stash house; increasing a criminal penalty |
| 88(R) | HB 4985 | 03/10/2023 | Relating to a grant program for technological enhancements at certain health care facilities that provide mental health care services |
| 88(R) | HB 4374 | 03/09/2023 | Relating to substance abuse awareness programs in public schools and public institutions of higher education |
| 88(R) | HB 4140 | 03/08/2023 | Relating to the authority of the Texas Department of Transportation to provide department services on federal military property |
| 88(R) | HB 4210 | 03/08/2023 | Relating to the qualifications to serve as a member of a board of trustees of a military reservation school district and rules adopted by the State Board of Education for the governance of a special-purpose district |
| 88(R) | HB 3540 | 03/06/2023 | Relating to overdose mapping by a local health authority or a law enforcement agency for public safety purposes |
| 88(R) | HB 3571 | 03/06/2023 | Relating to the establishment of the case assistance affiliate program to provide certain assistance to Medicaid recipients and child health plan program enrollees |
| 88(R) | HB 3412 | 03/03/2023 | Relating to the release of a motor vehicle title to a dealer after the discharge of a lien |
| 88(R) | HB 3498 | 03/03/2023 | Relating to the designation of fentanyl poisoning for purposes of the death certificate and to the manufacture or delivery of a controlled substance or marihuana causing death or serious bodily injury; creating a criminal offense; increasing a criminal penalty |
| 88(R) | HB 3217 | 03/02/2023 | Relating to a biennial audit by the Department of Information Resources of state agency information technology infrastructure |
| 88(R) | HB 3284 | 03/02/2023 | Relating to weight limitations for certain natural gas or electric vehicles |
| 88(R) | HB 3121 | 03/01/2023 | Relating to the review by the Sunset Advisory Commission of a state agency’s use of information technology |
| 88(R) | HB 3144 | 03/01/2023 | Relating to designating October as Fentanyl Poisoning Awareness Month |
| 88(R) | HB 3192 | 03/01/2023 | Relating to the designation of fentanyl poisoning for purposes of the death certificate |
| 88(R) | HB 2884 | 02/27/2023 | Relating to the regulation of private passenger vehicle rental companies |
| 88(R) | HB 2932 | 02/27/2023 | Relating to the establishment of and funding for additional program of all-inclusive care for the elderly (PACE) sites; making an appropriation |
| 88(R) | HB 2794 | 02/24/2023 | Relating to the appointment of a guardian ad litem in certain suits filed by the Department of Family and Protective Services |
| 88(R) | HB 2645 | 02/22/2023 | Relating to a pilot program to increase the financial independence of foster youth who are transitioning to independent living |
| 88(R) | HB 2572 | 02/21/2023 | Relating to the central registry of names of individuals found to have abused or neglected a child |
| 88(R) | HB 2503 | 02/17/2023 | Relating to the issuance of specialty license plates for veterans with disabilities and recipients of the Texas Humanitarian Service Medal and federal Humanitarian Service Medal |
| 88(R) | HB 1933 | 02/06/2023 | Relating to the process for rescinding or canceling a dealer’s sale of a used motor vehicle |
| 88(R) | HB 1406 | 01/18/2023 | Relating to the measures to encourage eligible students to claim certain tuition and fee exemptions at public institutions of higher education for students who are or have been in foster or other residential care |
| 88(R) | HB 1018 | 12/15/2022 | Relating to the use, possession, delivery, or manufacture of testing equipment that identifies the presence of fentanyl, alpha-methylfentanyl, or any other derivative of fentanyl |
