SB 969

relating to the reimbursement of state employees for groceries
consumed while traveling on official state business.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1.  Section 660.113(c), Government Code, is amended
(c)  Except as provided by Section 660.1135, a [A] state
agency may not reimburse a state employee for a meal expense
incurred within the employee's designated headquarters unless the
(2)  connected with training, a seminar, or a
SECTION 2.  Subchapter F, Chapter 660, Government Code, is
amended by adding Section 660.1135 to read as follows:
Sec. 660.1135.  REIMBURSEMENT FOR GROCERIES PURCHASED
WITHIN  EMPLOYEE'S DESIGNATED HEADQUARTERS. (a) In this section,
"groceries" means food items sold at a grocery store, supermarket,
or other similar retail establishment.
(b)  A state agency may reimburse a state employee as
provided by Subsections (c) and (d) for groceries purchased within
the employee's designated headquarters if:
(1)  the grocery purchase date is the day before or the
day the employee travels to conduct official state business; and
(2)  the employee consumes the groceries while the
employee is away from the employee's designated headquarters
traveling for official state business.
(c)  A state agency may only reimburse a state employee under
this section for the prorated portion of groceries the employee
consumes each day while traveling for official state business.
(d)  A purchase under this section is considered a meal
expense for purposes of determining the limit established by the
travel provisions of the General Appropriations Act for meal
expenses under Section 660.112.
(e)  A state agency must develop a policy for authorizing
reimbursements under this section before the agency may reimburse a
state employee under this section.
SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.