BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 636

By: Walle

Intergovernmental Affairs

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

According to HUD, homelessness grew by 12 percent in 2023. The bill author has informed the committee that these growing rates present challenges for both government and nongovernmental agencies in acquiring and maintaining data on Texans experiencing homelessness and housing insecurity. H.B. 636 seeks to address this issue by providing for the implementation of a homeless data sharing network through which homeless response systems and data warehouse vendors are able to share and assess real‑time data on homelessness throughout Texas.  

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. 636 amends the Government Code to require the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (TDHCA), using available resources and in collaboration with the Texas Homeless Network, to implement a homeless data sharing network through which homeless response systems and data warehouse vendors are able to share and assess real-time data on homelessness throughout Texas. The bill requires TDHCA, in implementing the homeless data sharing network, to do the following:

· collaborate with health benefit plan issuers and managed care organizations to identify individuals experiencing homelessness and connect and refer those individuals to available services and resources, including housing navigation assistance, for the purpose of improving health outcomes; and

· ensure that information shared through the network that is confidential under state or federal law is not disclosed.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2025.