With every session of the Texas Legislature, numerous bills are presented that directly or indirectly affect the interests of nonprofit organizations. The following summary lists bills of interest and concern to leaders in the nonprofit sector in Texas during the 2009 regular session and takes into account the following factors:

Whether a proposed bill strengthens nonprofit organization viability under Texas law or unduly burdens or threatens their status; whether the legal liability of nonprofit board members, officers, staff or volunteers is increased; whether current “charitable immunity” and “good faith” legal protections remain in place; whether laws governing nonprofits are necessary, understandable and based on reasonable public policy concerns; whether nonprofit advocacy is protected; whether ongoing nonprofit organization operations and finances are complicated by new governmental regulations; and whether nonprofit organization disclosure and accountability requirements remain reasonable and balanced.