Relating to the establishment and administration of the Texas Quantum Initiative.

89(R) HB 4751 - Enrolled version - Bill Text

H.B. No. 4751

AN ACT

relating to the establishment and administration of the Texas

Quantum Initiative.

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

SECTION 1. Chapter 481, Government Code, is amended by

adding Subchapter HH to read as follows:

SUBCHAPTER HH. TEXAS QUANTUM INITIATIVE

Sec. 481.681. DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter:

(1)

"Advisory committee" means the advisory committee

of the initiative.

(2) "Initiative" means the Texas Quantum Initiative.

(3)

"Institution of higher education" has the meaning

assigned by Section 61.003, Education Code.

Sec.

481.682.

ESTABLISHMENT; PURPOSES.

(a)

The Texas

Quantum Initiative is a program established within the office to:

(1)

establish and advance this state's position as a

national leader in the quantum industry; and

(2)

accelerate the integration of quantum computing,

networking, and sensing technology into the economy of this state.

(b) The purposes of the initiative are to:

(1)

leverage the expertise and capacity of regulatory

stakeholders and institutions of higher education and industry to

advise and provide input to the office regarding the comprehensive

strategic plan described by Section 481.686;

(2)

identify obstacles and provide recommendations to

the governor and legislature regarding quantum economic

opportunities and technologies;

(3)

provide strategic leadership with respect to

quantum initiatives;

(4)

identify opportunities for workforce training and

development related to the research, design, and manufacturing of

quantum computing technology; and

(5) identify opportunities to support:

(A)

existing quantum computing and networking

industries in this state; and

(B)

the development of a quantum manufacturing

supply chain in this state.

(c)

The initiative may establish ad hoc advisory committees

as necessary to carry out the initiative's duties under this

subchapter.

Sec.

481.683.

ADVISORY COMMITTEE COMPOSITION. (a)

The

initiative is advised by an advisory committee composed of six

members appointed by the governor.

(b)

In making appointments under Subsection (a), priority

shall be given to individuals from the quantum design and

manufacturing sectors.

(b-1)

Appointments to the advisory committee shall be made

without regard to the race, color, disability, sex, religion, age,

or national origin of the appointee.

(c)

In making appointments under Subsection (a), the

governor shall ensure that the members of the advisory committee

include:

(1)

at least one representative from a quantum

infrastructure provider who has demonstrated experience in:

(A)

implementing quantum networks in similar

settings; and

(B)

deploying leading edge quantum computing

systems in third-party data centers; and

(2)

at least one representative of a manufacturer of a

quantum computing system with the ability to enable the creation

and deployment of quantum solutions with commercial and practical

use.

(d)

An advisory committee member serves a six-year term at

the pleasure of the governor. The terms of advisory committee

members must be staggered so that, to the extent practicable, the

terms of one-third of advisory committee members expire on January

31 of each odd-numbered year. An advisory committee member may be

reappointed for additional terms.

(e)

A vacancy on the advisory committee shall be filled by

the governor.

(f)

Advisory committee members serve without compensation

but are entitled to reimbursement for actual expenses incurred in

attending committee meetings. Reimbursements under this subsection

may be paid from the fund established under Section 481.688.

(g)

Chapter 2110 does not apply to the size, composition, or

duration of the advisory committee.

Sec.

481.684.

DIRECTOR; STAFF. The office shall hire a

director. The director shall hire and direct staff to assist the

initiative in performing the initiative's duties under this

subchapter.

Sec.

481.685.

DUTIES OF ADVISORY COMMITTEE. The advisory

committee shall:

(1)

advise and provide input to the office regarding

the comprehensive strategic plan described by Section 481.686;

(2)

solicit recommendations from institutions of

higher education, initiative members, and stakeholders on funding

and research opportunities related to quantum education and

research, design, commercialization, community outreach, and

manufacturing projects; and

(3)

provide recommendations related to research and

funding opportunities pertaining to quantum research, design,

commercialization, and manufacturing.

Sec.

481.686.

STRATEGIC PLAN. (a)

The office shall, in

collaboration with the initiative, develop a strategic plan for the

promotion of the quantum economy in this state. The plan must

include:

(1)

a list of potential projects that further the

goals of the initiative;

(2)

a list of federal grant opportunities that are

related to quantum technology and for which institutions in this

state are eligible to apply;

(3)

an assessment of the availability of external

funding sources for each project identified under Subdivision (1);

(4)

a description of suggested methods and

opportunities the state may use to promote the development of

quantum technologies in this state;

(5)

a description of suggested approaches the state

may use to ensure the quantum leadership of this state by

prioritizing commercial and practical utility through investments

in necessary foundational infrastructure, including quantum

systems and networking equipment, jobs and workforce, and real

property; and

(6)

any other information the office, in collaboration

with the advisory committee, determines is relevant to further the

initiative's goals.

(b)

The office shall submit the strategic plan required by

this section not later than December 31 of each year to the

governor, the lieutenant governor, and the speaker of the house of

representatives.

Sec.

481.687.

BIENNIAL REPORT. Not later than December 1 of

each even-numbered year, the office shall prepare and submit to the

Legislative Budget Board a written report that outlines:

(1)

activities undertaken to meet the purposes of the

initiative under Section 481.682;

(2)

a summary of the funding and research

opportunities identified by the advisory committee with the input

of the office;

(3)

any legislative recommendations to further the

purposes of the initiative;

(4)

any prospective grants or funding the initiative

expects to apply for or receive; and

(5)

any research accomplishments associated with the

initiative.

Sec.

481.688.

QUANTUM UNIVERSITY AND BUSINESS INNOVATION

FOR TEXAS FUND. (a)

In this section, "fund" means the Quantum

University and Business Innovation for Texas Fund created by this

section.

(b)

The Quantum University and Business Innovation for

Texas Fund is created as a dedicated account within the general

revenue fund. The fund consists of:

(1) gifts, grants, or donations to the fund;

(2)

money from any other source designated by the

legislature; and

(3)

interest earned from investing money from the

fund.

(c) The office may use money in the fund to:

(1)

award grants to state entities, including

institutions of higher education, for quantum manufacturing and

design projects;

(2)

award grants to business entities, including

nonprofit organizations with a purpose associated with or

significant ties to the quantum industry, to encourage economic

development related to quantum manufacturing and design projects;

and

(3)

pay for staffing costs described by Section

481.684.

(d)

Matching funding to state entities for quantum

manufacturing and design projects may come from any lawful source,

including general revenue, local bonds, grants, or other money from

the United States, or private endowments.

SECTION 2. Not later than January 1, 2026, the governor

shall make the initial appointments to the advisory committee of

the Texas Quantum Initiative established by Section 481.683,

Government Code, as added by this Act.

SECTION 3. (a) Notwithstanding any other section of this

Act, in a state fiscal year, a state agency to which this Act

applies is not required to implement a provision found in another

section of this Act that is drafted as a mandatory provision

imposing a duty on the agency to take an action unless money is

specifically appropriated to the agency for that fiscal year to

carry out that duty. The agency may implement the provision in that

fiscal year to the extent other funding is available to the agency

to do so.

(b) If, as authorized by Subsection (a) of this section, the

state agency does not implement the mandatory provision in a state

fiscal year, the state agency, in its legislative budget request

for the next state fiscal biennium, shall certify that fact to the

Legislative Budget Board and include a written estimate of the

costs of implementing the provision in each year of that next state

fiscal biennium.

(c) This section expires and any duty suspended by

Subsection (a) becomes mandatory on September 1, 2029.

SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.

______________________________

______________________________

President of the Senate

Speaker of the House

I certify that H.B. No. 4751 was passed by the House on May 7,

2025, by the following vote: Yeas 94, Nays 21, 1 present, not

voting; and that the House concurred in Senate amendments to H.B.

No. 4751 on May 29, 2025, by the following vote: Yeas 105, Nays 33,

1 present, not voting.

______________________________

Chief Clerk of the House

I certify that H.B. No. 4751 was passed by the Senate, with

amendments, on May 26, 2025, by the following vote: Yeas 25, Nays

6.

______________________________

Secretary of the Senate

APPROVED: __________________

Date

__________________

Governor