BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 3130

By: Capriglione

State Affairs

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

As Texans increasingly access the Internet on their cell phones and tablet devices, the Department of Information Resources (DIR) has created a secure, centralized application designed specifically for those devices called Texas by Texas (TxT), which is a digital mobile assistant. TxT will be available to download by the end of 2021, allowing Texans to find information and access services from state agencies, local governments, and institutions of higher education. There are concerns, however, that current law does not require state agencies to obtain DIR's approval to build a native mobile application that duplicates the state's official native mobile applications. H.B. 3130 seeks to address these concerns by including native mobile applications in such a requirement relating to state agency contracts for Internet native application development.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

ANALYSIS

H.B. 3130 amends the Government Code to require an applicable state agency to notify the Department of Information Resources of its intent to bid for a contract with a third party for Internet application development that duplicates a function of a native mobile application included as a function of the state electronic Internet portal at the same time that others have the opportunity to bid.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2021.