Honorable Bryan Hughes, Chair, Senate Committee on State Affairs
FROM:
Jerry McGinty, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
SB2514 by Hughes (Relating to establishing the hostile foreign organizations unit at the Department of Public Safety and training, prohibitions, reporting requirements, and community outreach designed to combat foreign influence; creating a criminal offense.), As Introduced
Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for SB2514, As Introduced: a negative impact of ($11,066,853) through the biennium ending August 31, 2027.
The bill would make no appropriation but could provide the legal basis for an appropriation of funds to implement the provisions of the bill.
General Revenue-Related Funds, Five- Year Impact:
Fiscal Year
Probable Net Positive/(Negative) Impact to General Revenue Related Funds
2026
($6,885,676)
2027
($4,181,177)
2028
($4,181,177)
2029
($4,181,177)
2030
($4,181,177)
All Funds, Five-Year Impact:
Fiscal Year
Probable Savings/(Cost) from General Revenue Fund 1
Change in Number of State Employees from FY 2025
2026
($6,885,676)
19.0
2027
($4,181,177)
19.0
2028
($4,181,177)
19.0
2029
($4,181,177)
19.0
2030
($4,181,177)
19.0
Fiscal Analysis
The bill would establish the Hostile Foreign Organization Unit within the Department of Public Safety (DPS) and direct DPS to create certain recommendations related to identifying, investigating, and monitoring certain foreign government activities and establishing collaboration with certain entities. The bill would also direct the Texas Ethics Commission to develop a training related to hostile foreign actors and establish certain reporting requirements. Under the provisions of the bill, it would be an offense to violate certain provisions.
Methodology
According to DPS, the duties and responsibilities associated with implementing the provisions of the bill could not be absorbed within existing resources. DPS states that 15.0 full-time equivalent positions (FTEs) would be needed to staff the unit including 1.0 Captain, 1.0 Major, 9.0 Sergeants, 1.0 Lieutenant, 1.0 Administrative Assistant III, 1.0 Director VII, and 1.0 Deputy Director II. The agency would also need 4.0 FTEs to indirect support the operations of the unit including 1.0 Criminal Intelligence Analyst III, 1.0 Forensic Specialist, 1.0 Police Communications Operator, and 1.0 Program Specialist V.
This analysis includes $3,402,555 in fiscal year 2026 and $3,402,555 in fiscal year 2027 for salary and benefits. Other costs including consumables supplies, travel, fuel, rent, other operating expenses, and capital expenditures would total $3,483,121 in fiscal year 2026 and $778,622 in fiscal year 2027
It is assumed that any fiscal impact and any impact on state correctional populations or on the demand for state correctional resources resulting from the new offense would not be significant.
Local Government Impact
It is assumed that any fiscal impact to units of local government resulting from the new offense and associated with enforcement, prosecution, supervision, or confinement would not be significant.
Source Agencies:
356 Texas Ethics Commission, 405 Department of Public Safety