89R11665 DNC-F     By: Smithee H.B. No. 76       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to the use by a political subdivision of public funds to   pay bail bonds.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Chapter 140, Local Government Code, is amended   by adding Section 140.014 to read as follows:          Sec. 140.014.  RESTRICTION ON USE OF PUBLIC FUNDS BY   POLITICAL SUBDIVISIONS TO PAY BAIL BONDS. (a)  A political   subdivision may not spend public funds to pay a nonprofit   organization that accepts and uses donations from the public to   deposit money with a court in the amount of a defendant's bail bond.          (b)  If a political subdivision engages in an activity   prohibited by Subsection (a), a taxpayer or resident of the   political subdivision is entitled to appropriate injunctive relief   to prevent further activity prohibited by that subsection and   further payment of public funds related to that activity.          (c)  A taxpayer or resident who prevails in an action under   Subsection (b) is entitled to recover from the political   subdivision the taxpayer's or resident's reasonable attorney's fees   and costs incurred in bringing the action.          SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.