H.B. No. 4751

AN ACT

relating to the establishment and administration of the Texas Quantum Initiative.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Chapter 481, Government Code, is amended by adding Subchapter HH to read as follows:

SUBCHAPTER HH. TEXAS QUANTUM INITIATIVE

Sec. 481.681. DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter:

(1) "Advisory committee" means the advisory committee of the initiative.

(2) "Initiative" means the Texas Quantum Initiative.

(3) "Institution of higher education" has the meaning assigned by Section 61.003, Education Code.

Sec. 481.682. ESTABLISHMENT; PURPOSES. (a) The Texas Quantum Initiative is a program established within the office to:

(1) establish and advance this state's position as a national leader in the quantum industry; and

(2) accelerate the integration of quantum computing, networking, and sensing technology into the economy of this state.

(b) The purposes of the initiative are to:

(1) leverage the expertise and capacity of regulatory stakeholders and institutions of higher education and industry to advise and provide input to the office regarding the comprehensive strategic plan described by Section 481.686;

(2) identify obstacles and provide recommendations to the governor and legislature regarding quantum economic opportunities and technologies;

(3) provide strategic leadership with respect to quantum initiatives;

(4) identify opportunities for workforce training and development related to the research, design, and manufacturing of quantum computing technology; and

(5) identify opportunities to support:

(A) existing quantum computing and networking industries in this state; and

(B) the development of a quantum manufacturing supply chain in this state.

(c) The initiative may establish ad hoc advisory committees as necessary to carry out the initiative's duties under this subchapter.

Sec. 481.683. ADVISORY COMMITTEE COMPOSITION. (a) The initiative is advised by an advisory committee composed of six members appointed by the governor.

(b) In making appointments under Subsection (a), priority shall be given to individuals from the quantum design and manufacturing sectors.

(b-1) Appointments to the advisory committee shall be made without regard to the race, color, disability, sex, religion, age, or national origin of the appointee.

(c) In making appointments under Subsection (a), the governor shall ensure that the members of the advisory committee include:

(1) at least one representative from a quantum infrastructure provider who has demonstrated experience in:

(A) implementing quantum networks in similar settings; and

(B) deploying leading edge quantum computing systems in third-party data centers; and

(2) at least one representative of a manufacturer of a quantum computing system with the ability to enable the creation and deployment of quantum solutions with commercial and practical use.

(d) An advisory committee member serves a six-year term at the pleasure of the governor. The terms of advisory committee members must be staggered so that, to the extent practicable, the terms of one-third of advisory committee members expire on January 31 of each odd-numbered year. An advisory committee member may be reappointed for additional terms.

(e) A vacancy on the advisory committee shall be filled by the governor.

(f) Advisory committee members serve without compensation but are entitled to reimbursement for actual expenses incurred in attending committee meetings. Reimbursements under this subsection may be paid from the fund established under Section 481.688.

(g) Chapter 2110 does not apply to the size, composition, or duration of the advisory committee.

Sec. 481.684. DIRECTOR; STAFF. The office shall hire a director. The director shall hire and direct staff to assist the initiative in performing the initiative's duties under this subchapter.

Sec. 481.685. DUTIES OF ADVISORY COMMITTEE. The advisory committee shall:

(1) advise and provide input to the office regarding the comprehensive strategic plan described by Section 481.686;

(2) solicit recommendations from institutions of higher education, initiative members, and stakeholders on funding and research opportunities related to quantum education and research, design, commercialization, community outreach, and manufacturing projects; and

(3) provide recommendations related to research and funding opportunities pertaining to quantum research, design, commercialization, and manufacturing.

Sec. 481.686. STRATEGIC PLAN. (a) The office shall, in collaboration with the initiative, develop a strategic plan for the promotion of the quantum economy in this state. The plan must include:

(1) a list of potential projects that further the goals of the initiative;

(2) a list of federal grant opportunities that are related to quantum technology and for which institutions in this state are eligible to apply;

(3) an assessment of the availability of external funding sources for each project identified under Subdivision (1);

(4) a description of suggested methods and opportunities the state may use to promote the development of quantum technologies in this state;

(5) a description of suggested approaches the state may use to ensure the quantum leadership of this state by prioritizing commercial and practical utility through investments in necessary foundational infrastructure, including quantum systems and networking equipment, jobs and workforce, and real property; and

(6) any other information the office, in collaboration with the advisory committee, determines is relevant to further the initiative's goals.

(b) The office shall submit the strategic plan required by this section not later than December 31 of each year to the governor, the lieutenant governor, and the speaker of the house of representatives.

Sec. 481.687. BIENNIAL REPORT. Not later than December 1 of each even-numbered year, the office shall prepare and submit to the Legislative Budget Board a written report that outlines:

(1) activities undertaken to meet the purposes of the initiative under Section 481.682;

(2) a summary of the funding and research opportunities identified by the advisory committee with the input of the office;

(3) any legislative recommendations to further the purposes of the initiative;

(4) any prospective grants or funding the initiative expects to apply for or receive; and

(5) any research accomplishments associated with the initiative.

Sec. 481.688. QUANTUM UNIVERSITY AND BUSINESS INNOVATION FOR TEXAS FUND. (a) In this section, "fund" means the Quantum University and Business Innovation for Texas Fund created by this section.

(b) The Quantum University and Business Innovation for Texas Fund is created as a dedicated account within the general revenue fund. The fund consists of:

(1) gifts, grants, or donations to the fund;

(2) money from any other source designated by the legislature; and

(3) interest earned from investing money from the fund.

(c) The office may use money in the fund to:

(1) award grants to state entities, including institutions of higher education, for quantum manufacturing and design projects;

(2) award grants to business entities, including nonprofit organizations with a purpose associated with or significant ties to the quantum industry, to encourage economic development related to quantum manufacturing and design projects; and

(3) pay for staffing costs described by Section 481.684.

(d) Matching funding to state entities for quantum manufacturing and design projects may come from any lawful source, including general revenue, local bonds, grants, or other money from the United States, or private endowments.

SECTION 2. Not later than January 1, 2026, the governor shall make the initial appointments to the advisory committee of the Texas Quantum Initiative established by Section 481.683, Government Code, as added by this Act.

SECTION 3. (a) Notwithstanding any other section of this Act, in a state fiscal year, a state agency to which this Act applies is not required to implement a provision found in another section of this Act that is drafted as a mandatory provision imposing a duty on the agency to take an action unless money is specifically appropriated to the agency for that fiscal year to carry out that duty. The agency may implement the provision in that fiscal year to the extent other funding is available to the agency to do so.

(b) If, as authorized by Subsection (a) of this section, the state agency does not implement the mandatory provision in a state fiscal year, the state agency, in its legislative budget request for the next state fiscal biennium, shall certify that fact to the Legislative Budget Board and include a written estimate of the costs of implementing the provision in each year of that next state fiscal biennium.

(c) This section expires and any duty suspended by Subsection (a) becomes mandatory on September 1, 2029.

SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.

______________________________ ______________________________

President of the Senate Speaker of the House

I certify that H.B. No. 4751 was passed by the House on May 7, 2025, by the following vote: Yeas 94, Nays 21, 1 present, not voting; and that the House concurred in Senate amendments to H.B. No. 4751 on May 29, 2025, by the following vote: Yeas 105, Nays 33, 1 present, not voting.

______________________________ Chief Clerk of the House

I certify that H.B. No. 4751 was passed by the Senate, with amendments, on May 26, 2025, by the following vote: Yeas 25, Nays 6.

______________________________ Secretary of the Senate APPROVED: __________________

Date

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Governor