Relating to the establishment of the Rural Infrastructure Disaster Recovery Program.

89(R) HB 3010 - Enrolled version - Bill Text

H.B. No. 3010

AN ACT

relating to the establishment of the Rural Infrastructure Disaster

Recovery Program.

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

SECTION 1. Chapter 418, Government Code, is amended by

adding Subchapter D-1 to read as follows:

SUBCHAPTER D-1. RURAL INFRASTRUCTURE DISASTER RECOVERY PROGRAM

Sec. 418.081. DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter:

(1)

"Account" means the rural infrastructure disaster

recovery account created under Section 418.086.

(2) "Critical infrastructure" includes:

(A) a road;

(B) a public school;

(C) a hospital or other health care facility;

(D)

a water intake structure, water treatment

facility, wastewater treatment plant, or pump station;

(E)

utility-scale water or wastewater storage,

treatment, or transmission facilities; and

(F)

airport facilities used for the landing,

parking, refueling, shelter, or takeoff of aircraft, maintenance or

servicing of aircraft, aircraft equipment storage, or navigation of

aircraft.

(3)

"Disaster area" means an area in this state

declared to be a disaster area by the governor.

(4)

"Eligible political subdivision" means a

political subdivision that meets the qualifications prescribed by

Section 418.083.

(5)

"Political subdivision," notwithstanding Section

418.004, means a county, municipality, special district, school

district, junior college district, or other political subdivision

of this state.

Sec.

418.082.

RURAL INFRASTRUCTURE DISASTER RECOVERY

PROGRAM. (a) The division shall establish and administer a rural

infrastructure disaster recovery program in accordance with this

subchapter to benefit eligible political subdivisions. The program

must be designed to provide financial assistance in the form of

grants to rural communities located in a disaster area for the

purpose of rebuilding and repairing critical infrastructure

damaged by a disaster.

(b)

The division may make grants in accordance with this

subchapter using money appropriated to the division for the

purposes of this subchapter.

Sec.

418.083.

ELIGIBILITY FOR GRANT. A political

subdivision is eligible to apply to the division for a grant under

this subchapter if the political subdivision is:

(1) a county:

(A) that:

(i) has a population of less than 100,000;

(ii)

has a gross domestic product of less

than $2 billion;

(iii)

has a poverty rate greater than 15

percent; and

(iv)

is located wholly or partly in a

disaster area; and

(B)

for which the total dollar amount of damages

resulting from the disaster, as shown in an assessment of damages

prepared after the disaster, exceeds the amount equal to 10 percent

of the state and local sales and use taxes collected in the county

during the state fiscal year preceding the year in which the

disaster occurs; or

(2)

a political subdivision other than a county that

is wholly or partly located in a county described by Subdivision

(1).

Sec.

418.084.

GRANT PROGRAM. (a) The division may make a

grant to an eligible political subdivision using money in the

account to assist in the rebuilding or repair of critical

infrastructure located in the eligible political subdivision that

is damaged by a disaster that may reasonably be considered a public

calamity.

(b)

The proceeds of a grant made by the division using money

in the account may not be used by the eligible political subdivision

receiving the grant for any purpose other than the purpose

described by Subsection (a).

Sec.

418.085.

APPLICATION FOR GRANT. (a) The division

shall establish an application process for a grant under this

subchapter.

(b) At a minimum, an application must include:

(1)

a description of the infrastructure repair or

rebuild project for which the applicant is requesting the grant;

(2) an estimate of the total cost of the project;

(3)

documentation that the project does not qualify

for federal funding through the Federal Emergency Management

Agency; and

(4)

any other information the division requests to

determine whether the applicant is an eligible political

subdivision.

Sec.

418.086.

RURAL INFRASTRUCTURE DISASTER RECOVERY

ACCOUNT. (a) The rural infrastructure disaster recovery account

is established as an account in the general revenue fund with the

comptroller, to be administered by the division.

(b)

The division may use the rural infrastructure disaster

recovery account only for:

(1)

making a grant to an eligible political

subdivision; and

(2)

paying the necessary and reasonable expenses of

administering the grant.

(c) The account consists of:

(1)

money appropriated, credited, or transferred to

the account by the legislature;

(2) gifts or grants contributed to the account; and

(3)

interest earned on deposits and investments of the

account.

Sec.

418.087.

RULES.

The division shall adopt rules

necessary to administer this subchapter, including rules

establishing procedures for the application for and award of

grants, distribution of grants, and administration of grants and

the grant program established under this subchapter.

SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.

______________________________

______________________________

President of the Senate

Speaker of the House

I certify that H.B. No. 3010 was passed by the House on May 6,

2025, by the following vote: Yeas 147, Nays 1, 1 present, not

voting.

______________________________

Chief Clerk of the House

I certify that H.B. No. 3010 was passed by the Senate on May

26, 2025, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0.

______________________________

Secretary of the Senate

APPROVED: _____________________

Date

_____________________

Governor