BILL ANALYSIS

Senate Research Center	H.B. 3010
89R21784 CS-D	By: Ashby et al. (Nichols)
	Finance
	5/8/2025
	Engrossed

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

According to a report from Texas 2036 citing the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Texas has experienced the most billion-dollar disasters and extreme weather events in the United States. Rural areas, and especially those with a high poverty rate, often have difficulty recovering from these disasters due to a dearth of financial resources to repair damaged infrastructure. This lack of financial resources leaves children unable to reach their schools, deprives thousands of homes of safe drinking water, and hinders businesses' ability to operate. H.B. 3010 seeks to address these issues by establishing the rural infrastructure disaster recovery program, administered by the Texas Division of Emergency Management, to provide funds to eligible political subdivisions to rebuild and repair critical infrastructure in such a political subdivision that is damaged by a disaster.

H.B. 3010 amends current law relating to the establishment of the Rural Infrastructure Disaster Recovery Program.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

Rulemaking authority is expressly granted to the Texas Division of Emergency Management in SECTION 1 (Section 418.087, Government Code) of this bill.

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Chapter 418, Government Code, by adding Subchapter D-1, as follows:

SUBCHAPTER D-1.� RURAL INFRASTRUCTURE DISASTER RECOVERY PROGRAM

Sec. 418.081. DEFINITIONS. Defines "account," "critical infrastructure," "disaster area," "eligible political subdivision," and "political subdivision."

Sec. 418.082. RURAL INFRASTRUCTURE DISASTER RECOVERY PROGRAM. (a) Requires the Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM) to establish and administer a rural infrastructure disaster recovery program (program) in accordance with this subchapter to benefit eligible political subdivisions. Requires that the program be designed to provide financial assistance in the form of grants to rural communities located in a disaster area for the purpose of rebuilding and repairing critical infrastructure damaged by a disaster.

(b) Authorizes TDEM to make grants in accordance with this subchapter using money appropriated to the division for the purposes of this subchapter.

Sec. 418.083. ELIGIBILITY FOR GRANT. Provides that a political subdivision is eligible to apply to TDEM for a grant under this subchapter if the political subdivision meets certain criteria.

Sec. 418.084. GRANT PROGRAM. (a) Authorizes TDEM to make a grant to an eligible political subdivision using money in the account to assist in the rebuilding or repair of critical infrastructure located in the eligible political subdivision that is damaged by a disaster that may reasonably be considered a public calamity.

(b) Prohibits the proceeds of a grant made by TDEM using money in the account from being used by the eligible political subdivision receiving the grant for any purpose other than the purpose described by Subsection (a).

Sec. 418.085. APPLICATION FOR GRANT. (a) Requires TDEM to establish an application process for a grant under this subchapter.

(b) Requires that an application, at a minimum, include a description of the infrastructure repair or rebuild project for which the applicant is requesting the grant, an estimate of the total cost of the project, documentation that the project does not qualify for federal funding through the Federal Emergency Management Agency, and any other information TDEM requests to determine whether the applicant is an eligible political subdivision.

Sec. 418.086. RURAL INFRASTRUCTURE DISASTER RECOVERY ACCOUNT. (a) Provides that the rural infrastructure disaster recovery account (account) is established as an account in the general revenue fund with the comptroller, to be administered by TDEM.

(b) Provides that TDEM is authorized to use the rural infrastructure disaster recovery account only for making a grant to an eligible political subdivision and paying the necessary and reasonable expenses of administering the grant.

(c) Provides that the account consists of certain monies.

Sec. 418.087. RULES. Requires TDEM to adopt rules necessary to administer this subchapter, including rules establishing procedures for the application for and award of grants, distribution of grants, and administration of grants and the grant program established under this subchapter.

SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 2025.