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HB 2054

AN ACT relating to the Rural Volunteer Fire Department Assistance Program

House Bill King
Filed

Filed

Bill introduced by legislator

Committee

Hearing

Passed Cmte

Calendar

Passed

Sent

Enrolled

Governor

Signed

89th Regular Session

Jan 14, 2025 - Jun 2, 2025 • Session ended

Awaiting Committee Assignment

Bill filed, pending referral to House committee

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Fiscal Note

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What This Bill Does

Strengthens the Rural Volunteer Fire Department Assistance Program by requiring insurers to pay an assessment to fund volunteer fire departments, with at least 10% of appropriations specifically allocated to departments in high-risk wildfire areas. The assessment will help these departments receive financial support, with any unused funds from high-risk areas able to be redirected to other eligible fire department assistance requests. The changes will take effect on September 1, 2025, potentially improving rural fire protection and emergency services across Texas.

Subject Areas

Bill Text

relating to the Rural Volunteer Fire Department Assistance Program
and authorizing an increase in the assessment on certain insurers
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1.  Section 2007.002, Insurance Code, is amended to
Sec. 2007.002.  ASSESSMENT.  The comptroller shall assess
against all insurers to which this chapter applies amounts for each
state fiscal year necessary, as determined by the commissioner, to
collect [a combined total equal to the lesser of:
[(1)]  the total amount that the General Appropriations
Act appropriates from the volunteer fire department assistance fund
account in the general revenue fund for that state fiscal year,
other than appropriations for contributions to the Texas Emergency
Services Retirement System made under Section 614.104(d),
SECTION 2.  Section 614.102, Government Code, is amended by
adding Subsections (i) and (j) to read as follows:
(i)  At least 10 percent of appropriations for a state fiscal
year from the fund is allocated for the purpose of providing
assistance to volunteer fire departments in areas of the state
defined by the service as high risk for large wildfires.
(j)  If the amount of assistance requested in a state fiscal
year by eligible departments described by Subsection (i) is less
than the amount allocated under that subsection, the remaining
amount may be used for other types of requests for assistance
SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.

Bill Sponsors

Legislators who authored or co-sponsored this bill.

Bill History

filed

Bill filed: AN ACT relating to the Rural Volunteer Fire Department Assistance Program