HB 5236

relating to the determination by a state agency that an area in this
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1.  Subtitle B, Title 10, Government Code, is
amended by adding Chapter 2063 to read as follows:
CHAPTER 2063.  STATE AGENCY DETERMINATION OF AREA AS RURAL
Sec. 2063.001.  DEFINITION.  In this chapter, "state agency"
means a department, commission, board, office, or other agency in
the executive branch of state government, including a university
system or institution of higher education as defined by Section
Sec. 2063.002.  DETERMINATION THAT AREA IS RURAL.  In
addition to any factor prescribed by other law and to the extent
authorized by that law, a state agency shall, when determining
whether an area of this state is a rural area, consider the
(1)  the economic need of the area, including whether
the area has high unemployment or low median income;
(2)  health care accessibility in the area, including
whether the area has limited access to hospitals, doctors, or
(3)  infrastructure development of the area, including
whether the area has adequate roads, public transit, or Internet
(4)  access to and quality of education in the area,
including an assessment of student poverty levels, resource
availability, and school funding levels.
SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.