In 2015, the Texas Legislature adopted House Bill 1295, which added section 2252.908 of the Government Code and applies to all contracts entered into on or after January 1, 2016. The law states that a governmental entity may not enter into certain contracts with a business entity unless the business entity submits a disclosure of interested parties to the governmental entity at the time the business entity submits the signed contract to the governmental entity. The law applies to all contracts/purchases of a governmental entity that require an action or vote by the governing body of the entity.

With regards to City of Georgetown purchases, a vendor that is awarded a contract or purchase that is greater than $50,000 is required to electronically create a Form 1295 through the Texas Ethics Commission website (https://www.ethics.state.tx.us/whatsnew/elf_info_form1295.htm) and submit a signed and notarized copy of the form to the City.  A contract, including City-issued purchase order, will not be enforceable or legally binding until the City receives and acknowledges receipt of the properly completed Form 1295 from the awarded vendor.