Relating to the Rural Volunteer Fire Department Assistance Program and authorizing an increase in the assessment on certain insurers that fund the program.

89(R) HB 2054 - Introduced version - Bill Text

2025S0023-2 01/16/25

By: King

H.B. No. 2054

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the Rural Volunteer Fire Department Assistance Program

and authorizing an increase in the assessment on certain insurers

that fund the program.

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

SECTION 1. Section 2007.002, Insurance Code, is amended to

read as follows:

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),

Government Code[
; or

[
(2) $30 million
].

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

described by this subchapter.

SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.