89R4470 LRM-D

By: Hughes S.B. No. 1348

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the establishment and powers and duties of the Texas Advisory Committee on Pacific Conflict.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Subtitle C, Title 4, Government Code, is amended by adding Chapter 438 to read as follows:

CHAPTER 438. TEXAS ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON PACIFIC CONFLICT

SUBCHAPTER A. GENERAL PROVISIONS

Sec. 438.001. SHORT TITLE. This chapter may be cited as the Texas Pacific Conflict Stress Test Act.

Sec. 438.002. POLICY STATEMENT. (a) It is the policy of this state to support the civilian and military command of the United States and its efforts to promote and maintain prosperity, peace, and security for the United States and its allies. It is the policy of this state to enhance the defensive posture of this state, to protect the citizens and assets of this state, and to contribute to the broader defensive posture of the United States by reducing security vulnerabilities within this state.

(b) It is the policy of this state to exercise foresight and make reasonable preparations for a potential conflict centered in the Pacific Ocean region which could:

(1) involve attacks on the United States and its allies in the Pacific Ocean region;

(2) involve asymmetrical attacks on the United States homeland; and

(3) cause the disruption or complete severing of supply chains between this state and the People's Republic of China, the Republic of China, or other countries in the Pacific Ocean region.

Sec. 438.003. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter:

(1) "Advisory committee" means the Texas Advisory Committee on Pacific Conflict established under this chapter.

(2) "Critical infrastructure" means a publicly or privately owned system or asset, whether physical or virtual, so vital to this state or to the United States that the incapacity or destruction of the system or asset would have a debilitating impact on state or national security, state or national economic security, state or national public health, or any combination of these, and includes:

(A) an oil and gas production, storage, or delivery system;

(B) a water supply, refinement, storage, or delivery system;

(C) a communications network;

(D) an electrical power delivery system;

(E) an emergency service system;

(F) a transportation system or service;

(G) a personal data or classified information storage system, including a cybersecurity system; or

(H) a military installation.

(3) "Critical procurement" means a purchase made by a state agency, a political subdivision of this state, or a private nongovernmental organization that is critical to the proper functioning of state services, state operations, or the operations of this state's critical infrastructure, or the health, safety, or security of this state's citizens.

(4) "Pacific conflict" means:

(A) a declared war or armed conflict between the United States or any of its allies and another nation that occurs in the land, air, or sea of the Pacific Ocean region and threatens or could reasonably escalate to threaten the supply chains, critical infrastructure, safety, or security of this state or the United States; or

(B) a significant deterioration of diplomatic ties or economic engagement between the United States or its allies and another nation that threatens the status quo of trade, travel, and military operations or exercises in the Pacific Ocean region.

(5) "State supply chain" means the end-to-end process for shipping goods purchased by a state agency or a political subdivision of this state to the state agency or political subdivision, beginning at the point of origin through any point of distribution, including through vendors, to the destination.

(6) "Texas National Guard" has the meaning assigned by Section 437.001.

SUBCHAPTER B. ADVISORY COMMITTEE

Sec. 438.101. ESTABLISHMENT OF TEXAS ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON PACIFIC CONFLICT. The Texas Advisory Committee on Pacific Conflict is established to:

(1) develop state security strategies and policies before a Pacific conflict occurs; and

(2) collect and prepare information to assist in enhancing this state's command-and-control functions in the event of a conflict described by Subdivision (1).

Sec. 438.102. ADVISORY COMMITTEE COMPOSITION AND ADMINISTRATION. (a) The advisory committee consists of the following nine members:

(1) one member appointed by the governor;

(2) a representative of the Texas National Guard, appointed by the governor;

(3) two members appointed by the lieutenant governor;

(4) two members appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives;

(5) the adjutant general or the adjutant general's designee;

(6) the public safety director or the public safety director's designee; and

(7) the chief of the Texas Division of Emergency Management or the chief's designee.

(b) In making appointments to the advisory committee, the governor, lieutenant governor, and speaker of the house of representatives shall appoint individuals who have applicable knowledge of the threats posed to this state in the event of a Pacific conflict.

Sec. 438.103. TERMS; VACANCY. (a) Except as provided by Subsection (b), the appointed advisory committee members shall serve for a term of two years.

(b) Subsection (a) does not apply to the advisory committee members redescribed by Sections 438.102(a)(5), (6), and (7).

(c) If a vacancy occurs on the advisory committee, the appropriate appointing authority shall appoint a successor in the same manner as the original appointment.

Sec. 438.104. ADVISORY COMMITTEE OFFICERS. (a) The member appointed by the governor under Section 438.102(a)(1) shall serve as chair of the advisory committee and must have applicable knowledge of the threats posed to this state in the event of a Pacific conflict and the research and leadership experience to competently and comprehensively perform the advisory committee's duties.

(b) The lieutenant governor shall designate one appointee to serve as vice chair of the advisory committee.

(c) The advisory committee may elect additional officers from among its members.

(d) The advisory committee shall establish and approve duties and responsibilities for advisory committee officers.

Sec. 438.105. REIMBURSEMENT FOR EXPENSES. A member of the advisory committee is not entitled to compensation for service on the committee but is entitled to reimbursement for actual and necessary expenses incurred in performing committee duties as provided by the General Appropriations Act.

Sec. 438.106. MEETINGS. (a) The advisory committee shall meet at least once every three months, with additional meetings on the call of:

(1) a majority of the members of the advisory committee; or

(2) the governor.

(b) Advisory committee meetings are not subject to Chapter 551.

Sec. 438.107. GIFTS AND GRANTS. The advisory committee may accept gifts, grants, and donations to pay for the advisory committee's activities under this chapter.

SUBCHAPTER C. POWERS AND DUTIES OF ADVISORY COMMITTEE

Sec. 438.201. GENERAL POWERS. (a) The advisory committee may consult with and retain external advisors to provide expertise and collaborative research support.

(b) The advisory committee may conduct field investigations, hold hearings, receive testimony in any form, consult with federal and state officials, and otherwise take any lawful action to carry out the purposes of the advisory committee.

Sec. 438.202. TABLETOP EXERCISE; REPORT. (a) The advisory committee, with assistance from the Texas National Guard, shall conduct a tabletop exercise centered on an invasion of the Republic of China by the People's Republic of China. The exercise must explore the following scenarios:

(1) a scenario that would result in aggression against the armed forces of the United States in the Pacific Ocean region; and

(2) a scenario that would involve intentional or incidental damage to a state supply chain, a critical infrastructure facility, or another asset.

(b) The advisory committee shall produce and submit to the governor a report describing how a Pacific conflict would impact this state not later than May 29, 2026. The advisory committee may request additional tabletop exercise reports following the initial report.

Sec. 438.203. SUPPLY CHAINS AND TECHNOLOGICAL SECURITY AUDIT. (a) The advisory committee, with assistance from the adjutant general, shall investigate critical procurements supplied through a state supply chain that would be disrupted in the event of a Pacific conflict.

(b) The advisory committee shall produce and submit a report of the committee's findings to the governor not later than May 29, 2026.

(c) The initial report must:

(1) identify all critical procurements produced in or by a foreign adversary, a state-owned enterprise of a foreign adversary, a company domiciled within the territory of a foreign adversary, or a company owned by a company domiciled within the territory of a foreign adversary, or substantially sourced from an entity described by this subdivision;

(2) identify all critical procurements manufactured in countries, or by companies, at risk of disruption in the event of a Pacific conflict;

(3) identify all critical procurements sourced from any country or company that relies on a supply chain at risk of disruption in the event of a Pacific conflict;

(4) recommend alternative sourcing strategies for critical procurements, if available;

(5) highlight the difficulty in identifying potential alternative sourcing for critical procurements, if relevant; and

(6) specify the level of risk to this state associated with a disruption described by Subdivision (2) or (3) in supply chain sourcing for each critical procurement that is threatened in the event of the disruption.

(d) The advisory committee may conduct additional investigations following the initial report.

Sec. 438.204. CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE PROTECTION. (a) The advisory committee shall investigate potential threats to critical infrastructure in this state in the event of a Pacific conflict.

(b) The advisory committee shall produce and submit to the governor a report of the committee's findings not later than May 29, 2026.

(c) The initial report must:

(1) identify all critical infrastructure and other assets within this state that could reasonably be targeted in a malicious act by a foreign adversary in the event of a Pacific conflict and would result in a significant negative impact on the public health, safety, economic security, or physical security of this state's citizens;

(2) identify specific risks posed to each critical infrastructure facility or other asset identified under Subdivision (1) in the event of a Pacific conflict, including known vectors of attack such as cyberattack and physical sabotage; and

(3) develop strategies to:

(A) prevent and protect against threats posed to critical infrastructure and other assets identified under Subdivision (1) in the event of a Pacific conflict; and

(B) minimize the damage to this state if a malicious act described by Subdivision (1) succeeds in damaging critical infrastructure in this state.

(d) The advisory committee may conduct additional investigations and produce additional reports as the committee determines necessary.

Sec. 438.205. OTHER INVESTIGATIONS. The advisory committee may investigate additional matters at its own discretion on a majority vote of the committee.

Sec. 438.206. SUBPOENA. (a) The advisory committee may compel by subpoena the attendance of a relevant witness at a hearing or the production for inspection or copying of a record that is relevant to the advisory committee's duties under this chapter.

(b) The advisory committee, acting through the attorney general, may bring an action in a district court to enforce a subpoena issued under this section against a person who fails to comply with the subpoena.

(c) The court shall order compliance with the subpoena if the court finds that good cause exists to issue the subpoena.

Sec. 438.207. CONFIDENTIALITY OF INFORMATION. (a) Except as provided by Subsection (b), any research, data, reports, findings, and other information produced by the advisory committee:

(1) is confidential and excepted from the requirements of Section 552.021; and

(2) shall be maintained by the office of the governor.

(b) The governor may disclose information described by Subsection (a). A disclosure by the governor is not considered a disclosure of confidential information or a disclosure to the public for purposes of Section 552.007 and does not waive the right to assert in the future that the information is confidential or excepted from required disclosure under this section or other law.

Sec. 438.208. PUBLIC REPORT AND POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS. (a) Notwithstanding Section 438.207 and subject to Subsections (b) and (c), the advisory committee shall make available an annual report with narrative and summary findings from the advisory committee's investigations for the purpose of educating the public.

(b) The report may include policy recommendations for consideration by state and local government officials and recommendations to improve the resilience of this state's citizens and critical infrastructure. The report may not include any information the release of which would pose a risk to state security or national security.

(c) The advisory committee may not release the report required by Subsection (a) unless the release is approved by a majority vote of the advisory committee.

Sec. 438.209. EXPIRATION. The advisory committee is abolished and this chapter expires September 1, 2029.

SECTION 2. Not later than October 31, 2025, the governor, the lieutenant governor, and the speaker of the house of representatives shall appoint the members of the Texas Advisory Committee on Pacific Conflict under Sections 438.102(a)(1), (2), (3), and (4), Government Code, as added by this Act.

SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.