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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to a study and report by the General Land Office on private |
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landowner participation in border security. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. STUDY. (a) The General Land Office shall |
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conduct a study to identify methods to increase private landowner |
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cooperation with state border security activities, including: |
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(1) cooperation with law enforcement relating to the |
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offense of criminal trespass, as described by Section 30.05, Penal |
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Code; and |
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(2) permission granted to a state entity for: |
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(A) the temporary placement on a landowner's |
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property of personnel, equipment, and infrastructure relating to |
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border security; or |
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(B) property modification for the purpose of |
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supporting border security. |
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(b) The study must consider: |
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(1) methods of incentivizing private landowner |
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participation, including: |
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(A) financial incentives; |
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(B) tax abatements; |
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(C) infrastructure improvements; and |
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(D) installation of utilities; and |
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(2) the amount of money required to provide the |
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incentives described by Subdivision (1). |
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(c) To collect data for the study, the General Land Office |
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shall conduct in-person surveys and focus groups among private |
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landowners, including at least 10 landowners from each county |
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adjacent to the Texas-Mexico border, excluding Jeff Davis County, |
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whose parcel of real property is: |
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(1) adjacent to the Texas-Mexico border; or |
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(2) privately held and closest in proximity to the |
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Texas-Mexico border. |
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(d) In conducting the study, the General Land Office shall |
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collaborate with: |
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(1) the comptroller of public accounts; |
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(2) the Department of Public Safety of the State of |
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Texas; |
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(3) the office of the attorney general; |
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(4) the office of the governor; |
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(5) the Texas Department of Transportation; |
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(6) the Texas Facilities Commission; and |
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(7) the Texas Military Department. |
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SECTION 2. REPORT. Not later than December 1, 2026, the |
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General Land Office shall submit a report on the results of the |
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study conducted under Section 1 of this Act to the legislature and |
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each entity with which the General Land Office collaborates to |
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conduct the study under Section 1. |
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SECTION 3. EXPIRATION. This Act expires August 31, 2027. |
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SECTION 4. EFFECTIVE DATE. This Act takes effect |
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immediately if it receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members |
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elected to each house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas |
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Constitution. If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for |
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immediate effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2025. |