Bills › 91st General Assembly
Relating to monetary donations that may be received and gifted by local officials and local employees to offset medical or health care expenses, and making penalties applicable
Sponsored by the Senate Local Government (successor To Sf 261) Committee, Sen. Amy Sinclair (R)
Where it is now
- Done: IntroducedFebruary 11, 2025
- Done: SubcommitteeFebruary 18, 2025
- Done: Senate committeeMarch 10, 2025
- Done: Passes the SenateFebruary 24, 202647–0
- Stopped: House committeeDied when the General Assembly ended
- Next: Passes the House
- Next: To the Governor
- Next: Signed into law
Died when the session ended The 2026 session adjourned on May 3, 2026, the General Assembly’s last regular session. Bills that didn’t pass both chambers died. What’s a funnel?
What’s in it
AI summary Local officials and employees can now receive donations through online fundraising platforms to help pay for medical or health care costs. These donations are limited to $100 from each person every year. This change allows people working for local governments to accept help for diagnosed health conditions without breaking gift rules.1
Read the official explanation
Generally under current law, a public official, public employee, or candidate, or that person’s immediate family member is prohibited from accepting or receiving any gift or series of gifts from a restricted donor.22(4). This bill authorizes local officials and local employees to receive moneys in the form of donations made by other local officials or local employees to offset medical or health care expenses as a result of a diagnosed condition. Such donations are authorized if they are made and received through the use of an online crowdfunding or fundraising platform. An authorized donation from a donor to a recipient under the bill cannot exceed $100 per calendar year. When used in Code chapter 68B (government ethics and lobbying), including in the bill, “local employee” means a person employed by a political subdivision but does not include an independent contractor; and “local official” means an officeholder of a political subdivision.22, as amended by the bill, commits a serious misdemeanor and may be reprimanded, suspended, or dismissed from the person’s position or otherwise sanctioned. A serious misdemeanor is punishable by confinement for no more than one year and a fine of at least $430 but not more than $2,560.
House subcommittee
Named February 26, 2026. On March 2, 2026 it recommended passage.
Three legislators hear a bill first and recommend what the committee should do; it’s the best time to weigh in. How to take part
1 written public comment to its subcommittee: January 15, 2026 (1) · on the Legislature’s site
Fiscal note
Cost: up to $6,200 Compare with other bills
AI summary This bill allows local officials and employees to receive medical donations through crowdfunding platforms as long as the donation does not exceed $100 per calendar year. The fiscal impact of this bill cannot be determined, but it is anticipated to be minimal for the state's judicial branch, indigent defense fund, and the Department of Corrections.3
From the note: 22. The fiscal impact cannot be determined, but is anticipated to be minimal. The average State cost for a serious misdemeanor is between $350 and $6,200. This includes operating costs incurred by the Judicial Branch, the Indigent Defense Fund, and the DOC. The costs would be incurred across multiple fiscal years for prison and parole supervision.
- Gift Law Exception, Crowdfunded Medical Donations · February 23, 2026 · $6,200
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91st General Assembly