FISCAL NOTE, 89TH LEGISLATURE 2nd CALLED SESSION 2025
August 18, 2025
TO:
Honorable Ken King, Chair, House Committee on Disaster Preparedness & Flooding, Select
FROM:
Jerry McGinty, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
HB22 by Bonnen (Relating to the authority of the comptroller to provide funding for the deployment and operation of certain emergency communication equipment.), As Introduced
No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
The bill would expand the allowable uses of the Broadband Infrastructure Fund (BIF) and authorize the Broadband Development Office (BDO) to award contracts, grants, low-interest loans, and other financial incentives to support the deployment and operation of early warning and emergency systems for natural disasters and other emergencies and interoperable emergency communication equipment and infrastructure. The bill would authorize the BDO to coordinate with the Governor's office and the Texas Division of Emergency Management to support the implementation of interoperable communications programs.
According to the Comptroller, the amount and timing of grants and loans that would be awarded from the BIF is unknown. However, this analysis assumes that there would be no significant fiscal impact to the state, as funding in the BIF has already been appropriated and may now be used, without further appropriation, for purposes described in Government Code, Chapter 403. Any grants or loans awarded pursuant to the bill would result in a reduction of funding available for other existing programs of the BDO.
Local Government Impact
There may be an indeterminate revenue gain to certain units of local government to the extent that the expanded allowable use of the BIF would impact certain regions. However, because the amounts and timing of any grants or loans to local entities is not known, the fiscal impact cannot be determined at this time.
Source Agencies:
300 Trusteed Programs Within the Office of the Governor, 304 Comptroller of Public Accounts