Relating to the provisions required in an interstate compact on border security.

89(R) HB 176 - House Committee Report version - Bill Text

89R20541 JCG-F

By: Guillen, Morales of Maverick, et al.

H.B. No. 176

Substitute the following for H.B. No. 176:

By: Bell of Montgomery

C.S.H.B. No. 176

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the provisions required in an interstate compact on

border security.

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

SECTION 1. Section 794.003, Government Code, is amended to

read as follows:

Sec. 794.003. INTERSTATE COMPACT PROVISIONS.
(a)
The

compact authorized by this chapter must provide for joint action

among compacting states on matters that include:

(1) sharing law enforcement intelligence on illegal

activity occurring at the border with Mexico;

(2) sharing state resources in order to build a

physical barrier, a comprehensive technological surveillance

system, or both, on state land to deter or detect illegal activity

occurring at the border with Mexico; [
and
]

(3) sharing other law enforcement resources to ensure

the protection of personnel and property
;

(4)

to the greatest extent possible given the

resources available, ensuring the operational control of the

Texas-Mexico border; and

(5)

providing mutual support for the resources,

including infrastructure, equipment, software, and personnel, that

are necessary or convenient to ensure that the purposes described

by this section are adequately supported and achieved
.

(b)

The compact authorized by this chapter may, at the

discretion of individual states, provide for joint action among

compacting states on the execution and enforcement of agreements or

memoranda of understanding with the United States Department of

Justice, the United States Department of Homeland Security, or any

other federal agency for the purpose of enforcing immigration laws,

including agreements with the United States Immigration and Customs

Enforcement under Section 287(g), Immigration and Nationality Act

(8 U.S.C. Section 1357(g)), or a successor federal program.

SECTION 2. The changes in law made by this Act to Chapter

794, Government Code, apply only to an interstate compact entered

into under that chapter on or after the effective date of this Act.

An interstate compact entered into under that chapter before the

effective date of this Act is governed by the law in effect on the

date the interstate compact was entered into, and the former law is

continued in effect for that purpose.

SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives

a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as

provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this

Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this

Act takes effect September 1, 2025.