HB 2765

relating to the Rural Economic Development and Investment Program
and the Texas economic development fund.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1.  Sections 12.0271(a) and (b), Agriculture Code,
are amended to read as follows:
(a)  From funds appropriated for that purpose, the
commissioner shall establish and administer a financial assistance
program to encourage private economic development in rural areas.
Financial assistance under the program may be provided only to:
(1)  a county with a population of not more than 200,000
(2)  a municipality with a population of not more than
(3)  a public utility owned by a municipality described
(4)  a political subdivision not described by
Subdivision (1) or (2), including a special district, that is
wholly or partly located in a county described by Subdivision (1);
(5)  an economic development corporation, [or]
community development financial institution, or other lender that
primarily represents a county or municipality described by this
(b)  Financial assistance under Subsection (a) may be used
only for a project relating to:
(1)  the acquisition or development of land, easements,
(2)  attracting new private enterprises to the county
(B)  freight storage facilities;
(C)  distribution warehouse centers; [and]
(D)  mineral extraction activities, as defined by
Section 2270.0051, Government Code; and
(E)  other nonretail private enterprises;
(3)  the construction, extension, or other improvement
(A)  water or waste disposal facilities; [or]
(B)  transportation infrastructure; or
(C)  energy generation, transmission, and
(4)  any other activity relating to private economic
development that the commissioner determines will encourage
economic and infrastructure development in a rural area.
SECTION 2.  Section 12.0272(b), Agriculture Code, is amended
(b)  Money in the Texas economic development fund is
dedicated to and may be appropriated only to the department for the
purposes of administering, continuing, implementing, or
(1)  an economic development program originally
established as part of the department's implementation of the State
Small Business Credit Initiative; or [and]
(2)  one or more of the department's economic
(A)  established to encourage the export of Texas
agricultural products or products manufactured in rural Texas; or
(B)  established through an agreement with a
federal agency, foreign governmental entity, local governmental
entity, nonprofit organization, private entity, public university,
or state governmental entity to encourage rural economic
SECTION 3.  Section 12.0273, Agriculture Code, is amended by
amending Subsections (c), (d), and (e) and adding Subsections (e-1)
(c)  The term of a loan made using money from the fund may not
exceed 20 years. [A loan must require monthly payments of principal
and interest beginning not later than the 90th day after the date
(d)  The department shall administer the fund as a perpetual
source of financing for loans and grants under this section. The
department shall use payments of principal and interest to make
additional loans and grants. Subject to Subsection (f), the
department may use any money in the fund to make additional loans
(e)  The cumulative amount of [loans and] grants to any
person using money from the fund may not exceed $1 million.
(e-1)  The maximum aggregate amount of outstanding loans to
any one person at any time using money from the fund may not exceed
(h)  The department may adopt rules for the repayment of a
loan or grant made under this section.
SECTION 4.  Section 12.0273, Agriculture Code, as amended by
this Act, applies only to a loan or grant made on or after the
SECTION 5.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.