HB128

HB128 bars Texas state agencies and political subdivisions from establishing, maintaining or renewing a covered sister-city agreement with China, Iran, North Korea, Russia, or a community in one of those countries. The restriction also reaches countries designated by the governor as threats to critical infrastructure under Government Code Chapter 2275. It is not a ban on every international agreement or private cultural exchange. Final law; official history.

Which agreements qualify? All three parts of the statutory definition matter: the agreement is between a Texas governmental entity and a foreign country or community; it is recognized by a tax-exempt nonprofit serving as the national membership organization for individual sister cities, counties and states; and it commits the parties to cultural/educational exchanges, tourism and other bilateral cooperation. The law’s governmental scope includes state boards, commissions, departments, institutions and officers with statewide jurisdiction—including state colleges/universities—as well as political subdivisions. Final law, Section 795.001; state-agency definition.

Existing agreements had a withdrawal deadline. Entities that were parties to a prohibited agreement on September 1, 2025 had to withdraw by October 1, 2025. The temporary withdrawal section expires January 1, 2027; the ongoing ban on establishing, maintaining or renewing those agreements does not expire with it. This review does not establish that any particular city actually withdrew. Final law, Sections 795.003–.004.

Other relationships are encouraged, not mandated. The law states a policy favoring sister-city agreements with U.S. allies, expressly including federally designated major non-NATO allies and Taiwan. It does not require a city to create a new partnership, appropriate money for one, or itself add countries to the federal ally list. For additional prohibited countries, the referenced governor-designation process requires public-safety consultation and consultation with the Homeland Security Council; the four countries expressly named in HB128 do not depend on a new designation. Final law, Sections 795.001–.002; referenced designation process.