CS/HB 139: Adverse Personnel Actions and Ethics Complaints
GENERAL BILL by State Affairs Committee ; Maney ; (CO-INTRODUCERS) Benarroch
Adverse Personnel Actions and Ethics Complaints; Prohibits agencies & independent contractors from taking specified actions against employees for disclosing certain information to Commission on Ethics; requires that information disclosed include specified violations or alleged violations; requires disclosure of specified information to commission; provides that specified provisions protect employees who submit written complaints to commission or provide information to investigator during investigation of complaint or referral; authorizes certain employees to file complaints in accordance with specified provisions; authorizes such employees to pursue specified administrative remedy or civil action within specified timeframe; authorizes local public employees to file complaint with appropriate local governmental authority; specifies requirements for administrative procedures created by local governmental authorities; authorizes such employees to bring civil actions in court of competent jurisdiction under specified conditions; provides that it is affirmative defense to certain actions that adverse personnel action was predicated on grounds other than exercising of certain protected rights; requires commission to deliver complaints & any amendment thereto to agency conducting certain investigation, upon agency's written request; provides that such delivery does not affect specified exemptions in regard to complaint & amendments; requires that such delivery be within reasonable timeframe; requires that commission redact certain information under specified conditions; requires commission to deliver complaints & any amendment thereto to certain persons upon notarized written request.
Last Action: 3/2/2026 House - Added to Second Reading Calendar
Bill Text: PDF
Bill History
| Date | Chamber | Action |
|---|---|---|
| 10/9/2025 | House |
• Filed |
| 10/21/2025 | House |
• Referred to Government Operations Subcommittee • Referred to Rules & Ethics Committee • Referred to State Affairs Committee • Now in Government Operations Subcommittee |
| 1/13/2026 | House |
• 1st Reading (Original Filed Version) |
| 2/9/2026 | House |
• Added to Government Operations Subcommittee agenda |
| 2/11/2026 | House |
• Favorable by Government Operations Subcommittee • Reported out of Government Operations Subcommittee • Now in Rules & Ethics Committee |
| 2/17/2026 | House |
• Added to Rules & Ethics Committee agenda |
| 2/19/2026 | House |
• Favorable by Rules & Ethics Committee • Reported out of Rules & Ethics Committee • Now in State Affairs Committee |
| 2/24/2026 | House |
• Added to State Affairs Committee agenda |
| 2/26/2026 | House |
• Favorable with CS by State Affairs Committee |
| 2/27/2026 | House |
• Reported out of State Affairs Committee • Laid on Table under Rule 7.18(a) • CS Filed |
| 3/2/2026 | House |
• Bill referred to House Calendar • 1st Reading (Committee Substitute 1) • Added to Second Reading Calendar |
