A new bill authored by State Rep. Morgan in the Texas House seeks to establish crimes related to transnational repression and unauthorized enforcement of foreign laws within Texas, according to the Texas Legislature website.
The bill on City Government, County Government, and Purchasing category, introduced as HB 133 during the 89(1) legislative session on Friday, July 18, was formally listed with the short title: ’Relating to a limit on political subdivision expenditures’.
The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.
In essence, this bill establishes criminal offenses related to transnational repression and unauthorized enforcement of foreign laws, aiming to curb such activities occurring within Texas. It creates crimes for individuals acting as agents of foreign governments or terrorist organizations if they commit offenses to coerce, discourage, or retaliate against protected conduct or outrageously pressure someone to act on behalf of a foreign entity. The bill mandates punishment enhancement for such offenses, with penalties reaching up to a first-degree felony. It also criminalizes unauthorized enforcement of foreign laws by foreign agents. Additionally, the Department of Public Safety is tasked with devising a training program for peace officers to identify and counteract transnational repression, with a requirement for continuous updates on emerging threats. A study on the extent of transnational repression must be conducted, with findings reported to the legislature by March 1, 2026. The bill takes effect on Sept. 1, 2025.
Matt Morgan, a member of the House Committee on Insurance, proposed no other bills during the 89(1) legislative session. He is also a member of the House Committee on Land & Resource Management.
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.
| Bill Number | Date Introduced | Short Description |
|---|---|---|
| HB 5018 | 03/13/2025 | Relating to requiring the election of the governing body of a taxing entity |
| HB 5017 | 03/13/2025 | Relating to the effects of unresponsive insureds for a personal automobile insurance policy |
| HB 4780 | 03/13/2025 | Relating to election judges and clerks |
| HB 4671 | 03/12/2025 | Relating to the appointment of election officers to serve during certain elections |
| HB 4603 | 03/12/2025 | Relating to eligibility for mediation of certain out-of-network health benefit claims |
| HB 4579 | 03/12/2025 | Relating to prosecution for the criminal offenses of sale, distribution, or display of harmful material to a minor and sexual performance by a child; increasing criminal penalties |
| HB 4471 | 03/12/2025 | Relating to the appointment of a signature verification committee in certain counties |
| HB 4469 | 03/12/2025 | Relating to the creation of the Texas Advanced Research Institute |
| HB 4461 | 03/11/2025 | Relating to the issuance of obligations by certain counties to pay the unfunded liabilities of the county to a public retirement system |
| HB 4392 | 03/11/2025 | Relating to prohibited insurance discrimination on the basis of an insured’s marital status following the death of the insured’s spouse |
| HB 4268 | 03/10/2025 | Relating to recoverable depreciation for property damage claims under an insurance policy |
| HB 4092 | 03/07/2025 | Relating to the effect of payments made after the deadline for presuit notice in actions against an insurer related to certain claims for property damage |
| HB 4074 | 03/07/2025 | Relating to licensing requirements for insurance umpires and appraisers; authorizing fees; providing an administrative penalty |
| HB 4062 | 03/07/2025 | Relating to the amount of a large risk that is exempt from certain property and casualty insurance policy form requirements |
| HB 3983 | 03/06/2025 | Relating to the regulation of risk pools primarily consisting of political subdivisions |
| HB 3790 | 03/05/2025 | Relating to increasing the criminal penalty for certain offenses committed by an alien |
| HB 3658 | 03/03/2025 | Relating to continuing education program contents and format relating to building codes for insurance adjusters |
| HB 3531 | 02/28/2025 | Relating to the voluntary disclosure by an applicant for registration of a motor vehicle of the applicant’s military status |
| HB 3517 | 02/28/2025 | Relating to the prosecution of the criminal offense of unlawfully publishing a vote |
| HB 3479 | 02/27/2025 | Relating to the Rio Grande vegetative management program |
| HB 3377 | 02/26/2025 | Relating to the authority of certain cities to use certain tax revenue for hotel and convention center projects and other qualified projects |
| HB 3367 | 02/26/2025 | Relating to the eligibility to vote in an election |
| HB 3095 | 02/20/2025 | Relating to damage liability for a collision with a motorist who failed to establish financial responsibility |
| HB 2275 | 01/30/2025 | Relating to arbitration provisions in certain surplus lines insurance contracts |
| HB 2272 | 01/30/2025 | Relating to confirmation of a voter’s residence by a voter registrar |
