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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the establishment and administration of the Texas |
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Quantum Initiative. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Chapter 481, Government Code, is amended by |
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adding Subchapter HH to read as follows: |
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SUBCHAPTER HH. TEXAS QUANTUM INITIATIVE |
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Sec. 481.681. DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter: |
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(1) "Executive committee" means the executive |
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committee of the initiative. |
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(2) "Initiative" means the Texas Quantum Initiative. |
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(3) "Institution of higher education" has the meaning |
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assigned by Section 61.003, Education Code. |
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Sec. 481.682. ESTABLISHMENT; PURPOSES. (a) The Texas |
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Quantum Initiative is established to: |
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(1) establish and advance this state's position as a |
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national leader in the quantum industry; and |
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(2) accelerate the integration of quantum computing, |
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networking, and sensing technology into the economy of this state. |
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(b) The purposes of the initiative are to: |
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(1) leverage the expertise and capacity of regulatory |
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stakeholders and institutions of higher education and industry to |
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advise and provide input to the office regarding a comprehensive |
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strategic plan to ensure the development of quantum technologies in |
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this state; |
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(2) identify obstacles and provide recommendations to |
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the governor and legislature regarding quantum economic |
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opportunities and technologies; |
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(3) provide strategic leadership with respect to |
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quantum initiatives; |
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(4) identify and advise the office on opportunities |
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for workforce training and development related to the research, |
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design, and manufacturing of quantum computing technology; |
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(5) support existing quantum computing and networking |
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industries in this state; |
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(6) provide recommendations to the office on research |
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and funding opportunities related to quantum research, design, |
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commercialization, and manufacturing; |
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(7) support the development of a quantum manufacturing |
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supply chain in this state; and |
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(8) develop a comprehensive strategic plan for the |
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state to ensure ongoing quantum leadership, prioritizing |
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commercial and practical utility, through investments in the |
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necessary foundational infrastructure, including quantum systems |
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and networking equipment, jobs and workforce, and real property. |
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Sec. 481.683. ADMINISTRATIVE ATTACHMENT. (a) The |
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initiative is administratively attached to the office of the |
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governor. |
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(b) The office of the governor shall hire or otherwise |
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provide the staff and provide the facilities necessary to assist |
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the initiative in performing the initiative's duties under this |
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subchapter. |
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Sec. 481.684. EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE COMPOSITION. (a) The |
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initiative is governed by an executive committee composed of seven |
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members appointed by the governor. |
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(b) In making appointments under Subsection (a), priority |
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shall be given to individuals from the quantum design and |
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manufacturing sectors. |
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(b-1) Appointments to the executive committee shall be made |
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without regard to the race, color, disability, sex, religion, age, |
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or national origin of the appointee. |
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(c) In making appointments under Subsection (a), the |
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governor shall ensure that the members of the executive committee |
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include: |
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(1) at least one representative from a quantum |
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infrastructure provider who has demonstrated experience in: |
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(A) implementing quantum networks in similar |
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settings; and |
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(B) deploying leading edge quantum computing |
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systems in third-party data centers; and |
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(2) at least one representative of a manufacturer of a |
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quantum computing system with the ability to enable the creation |
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and deployment of quantum solutions with commercial and practical |
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use. |
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(d) An executive committee member serves a six-year term at |
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the pleasure of the governor. The terms of executive committee |
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members must be staggered so that, to the extent practicable, the |
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terms of one-third of executive committee members expire on January |
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31 of each odd-numbered year. An executive committee member may be |
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reappointed for additional terms. |
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(e) A vacancy on the executive committee shall be filled by |
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appointment. The authority that appointed the former member of the |
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vacant position shall appoint a new member to the vacant position. |
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(f) Initial executive committee appointments shall be made |
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by October 1, 2025. This subsection expires December 31, 2025. |
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Sec. 481.685. EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR. The office shall hire an |
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executive director. The executive director shall direct initiative |
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staff and assist the initiative in performing the initiative's |
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duties under this subchapter. |
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Sec. 481.686. DUTIES OF EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE. The executive |
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committee shall: |
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(1) advise and provide input to the office regarding |
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the comprehensive statewide strategic plan to further the purposes |
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of: |
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(A) the initiative under Section 481.682; and |
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(B) the executive committee under this section; |
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(2) solicit recommendations from institutions of |
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higher education, initiative members, and stakeholders on funding |
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and research opportunities related to quantum education and |
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research, design, commercialization, community outreach, and |
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manufacturing projects; and |
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(3) administer funds, including any funds |
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appropriated by the legislature or available under Section 481.689, |
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to support quantum design and manufacturing, capital projects, |
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supply chain development, and other initiatives. |
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Sec. 481.687. STRATEGIC PLAN. (a) The office shall develop |
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a strategic plan for the promotion of the quantum economy in this |
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state. The plan must include: |
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(1) a list of potential projects that further the |
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goals of the initiative; |
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(2) a list of federal grant opportunities that are |
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related to quantum technology and for which institutions in this |
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state are eligible to apply; |
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(3) an assessment of the availability of external |
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funding sources for each project identified under Subdivision (1); |
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and |
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(4) any other information the office and the executive |
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committee determine is relevant to further the initiative's goals. |
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(b) The office shall submit the strategic plan required by |
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this section not later than December 31 of each year to the |
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governor, the lieutenant governor, and the speaker of the house of |
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representatives. |
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Sec. 481.688. BIENNIAL REPORT. Not later than December 1 of |
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each even-numbered year, the office shall prepare and submit to the |
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Legislative Budget Board a written report that outlines: |
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(1) activities undertaken to meet the purposes of the |
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initiative under Section 481.682; |
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(2) a summary of the funding and research |
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opportunities identified by the office; |
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(3) any legislative recommendations to further the |
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purposes of the initiative; |
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(4) any prospective grants or funding the initiative |
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members expect to apply for or receive; and |
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(5) any research accomplishments associated with the |
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initiative. |
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Sec. 481.689. QUANTUM UNIVERSITY AND BUSINESS INNOVATION |
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FOR TEXAS FUND. (a) In this section, "fund" means the Quantum |
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University and Business Innovation for Texas Fund created by this |
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section. |
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(b) The Quantum University and Business Innovation for |
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Texas Fund is created as a dedicated account within the general |
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revenue fund. The fund consists of: |
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(1) gifts, grants, or donations to the fund; |
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(2) money from any other source designated by the |
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legislature; and |
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(3) interest earned from investing money from the |
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fund. |
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(c) The office may invest money from the fund or use money in |
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the fund to: |
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(1) provide matching funding to state entities, |
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including institutions of higher education, for quantum |
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manufacturing and design projects; |
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(2) award grants to business entities to encourage |
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economic development related to quantum manufacturing and design |
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projects; and |
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(3) pay for staff support services described by |
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Section 481.683(b). |
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(d) Matching funding to state entities for quantum |
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manufacturing and design projects may come from any lawful source, |
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including general revenue, local bonds, grants, or other money from |
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the United States, or private endowments. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025. |
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