Bill > HB5492

This bill establishes new procedural guidelines for impeachment and removal of public officers in Texas, focusing on transparency, potential conflicts of interest, and cost tracking. The bill requires all witness testimony in impeachment proceedings and trials to be given under oath and in open sessions, ensuring public accountability. It mandates that committee materials related to impeachment must be shared with all house members at least 48 hours before deliberations, promoting informed decision-making. The legislation also introduces provisions to prevent conflicts of interest by prohibiting members from voting in impeachment proceedings involving family members within the third degree of relation. Additionally, the bill requires both the house and senate to keep detailed accounting of all impeachment-related costs and report these expenses to various state officials within 60 days of proceeding conclusion. A key substantive change is that officers can now only be removed for acts committed while holding an elected or appointed office, which modifies previous language that seemed to restrict removal for pre-election actions. The bill is contingent on a related constitutional amendment being approved by voters in 2025 and would take effect on January 1, 2026, if that amendment passes, thereby providing a comprehensive framework for more transparent and structured impeachment processes in Texas.

Government Affairs

https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=89R&Bill=HB5492