Overall Vote Recommendation

Vote No; Amend

Principle Criteria

Free Enterprise

Property Rights

Personal Responsibility

Limited Government

Individual Liberty

Digest

HB 13 proposes the creation of the Texas Interoperability Council, a new governmental body within the Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM), aimed at improving the interoperability of emergency communication systems across the state. The council’s core responsibility is to develop and coordinate a statewide strategic plan for ensuring that emergency communication equipment and infrastructure used by first responders can effectively operate together during crises.

The Council is composed of seven members: the chief of TDEM (who serves as the presiding officer) and six others appointed by the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, and Speaker of the House. This group is tasked with implementing emergency alert systems, incorporating modern communication technologies, and setting standards and plans for training and infrastructure development. Additionally, the bill establishes a grant program administered by the Council to provide financial assistance to local governments for acquiring interoperable emergency communication tools and constructing supporting infrastructure.

A notable provision of HB 13 is its explicit exemption of the Council from Texas open meetings and public information laws (Chapters 551 and 552 of the Government Code). This exemption means that the Council’s meetings and documents are not subject to standard public transparency and disclosure requirements.

In practice, the bill empowers the state to build a more cohesive emergency communication network, with an eye toward coordination between jurisdictions and agencies.

The Committee Substitute for HB 13 streamlines and pares down the originally filed version while preserving the bill's core function: establishing the Texas Interoperability Council and creating a grant program to support emergency communications interoperability across the state. However, it makes key structural and administrative changes that alter the scope and oversight of the Council’s operations.

One of the most notable changes is the removal of detailed provisions related to the implementation of the strategic plan and grant program oversight. In the original bill, the Council was explicitly tasked not only with developing but also implementing the plan and managing the emergency communications network. It also laid out procedures for grant applications, contracts with performance requirements, and an option to delegate grant administration to other state agencies. These sections were eliminated in the committee substitute, suggesting a move toward a more generalized framework without prescriptive administrative mechanisms.

Additionally, the substitute version omits provisions related to funding sources. The originally filed bill allowed the Council to use any available funds and accept donations or grants from private and nonprofit sources. These enabling financial provisions are not included in the committee substitute, which may limit the Council’s flexibility in securing or deploying resources unless addressed through separate legislative or appropriations action.

Importantly, both versions maintain exemptions from the Public Information Act and Open Meetings Act, which has drawn scrutiny due to the lack of transparency and public accountability for a state body that will handle significant funds and shape emergency response infrastructure policy. In sum, the Committee Substitute narrows the administrative scope and omits some of the structural guardrails and funding mechanisms originally proposed, potentially favoring simplicity at the expense of clarity, oversight, and fiscal transparency.

Author

Ken King

Ryan Guillen

Todd Hunter

Joseph Moody

Greg Bonnen

Co-Author

Salman Bhojani

Jay Dean

Cassandra Garcia Hernandez

Ray Lopez

John Lujan

Penny Morales Shaw

Sergio Munoz, Jr.

Mihaela Plesa

Sponsor

Charles Schwertner

Contact the Author

Rep. Ken King

Capitol Phone:

(512) 463-0736

Capitol Office:

CAP GW.17

E-Mail:

[email protected]

Visit Official Website

Fiscal Notes

According to the Legislative Budget Board (LBB), the fiscal implications of HB 13 reflect a moderate but sustained cost to the state, primarily through the creation and operation of the Texas Interoperability Council and the administration of a statewide grant program for emergency communication systems. The bill would result in a negative impact of approximately $5.75 million to General Revenue-related funds over the 2026–2027 biennium, with continued costs projected in future years.

To implement the bill, the Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM) would need to establish a dedicated leadership and support team, including a Division Chief, Program Specialists, a Section Chief, and several Systems Support Specialists. This staffing expansion would total approximately 11.3 new full-time equivalents, with annual salary and benefit costs estimated at $1.5 million and operating costs around $800,000. Additionally, a one-time capital expenditure of $1.1 million is anticipated in the fiscal year 2026 for the infrastructure and equipment necessary to launch the initiative.

These cost estimates are independent of any actual grant awards issued under the Council's authority, as the fiscal note does not project the number or scale of grants that may be funded. Moreover, while the bill does not appropriate funds directly, it provides the statutory framework that would support future appropriations to fund both administrative costs and grant disbursements. Notably, no significant fiscal impact on local governments is expected, as the grants would cover equipment and infrastructure costs they might otherwise bear.

In total, the bill presents a moderate and ongoing budgetary commitment for the state, mainly tied to personnel and operational needs rather than the full scale of the grant program itself. Appropriations decisions will ultimately determine the extent to which the Council can fulfill its grant-making functions.

Vote Recommendation Notes

HB 13 arises from urgent lessons learned during the 2024 Panhandle wildfires, where a lack of interoperable communication among first responders significantly impaired emergency response. The bill proposes the establishment of the Texas Interoperability Council to oversee a strategic communications plan and administer grants to local governments to upgrade or build compatible emergency communications infrastructure. This is a well-intentioned and necessary initiative that seeks to address a recognized gap in the state’s disaster response capabilities.

However, while the bill has clear merit in terms of improving public safety and emergency coordination, it contains several provisions that warrant amendment. Most notably, the Council is exempted from the state’s open meetings and public information laws. This exemption undermines core principles of transparency and public accountability, especially concerning an entity that will manage state funds and shape strategic emergency infrastructure policy. These transparency carve-outs should be limited or clarified to ensure that only sensitive security matters are shielded, not general decision-making or financial management.

Fiscally, the bill is projected to cost the state over $5.7 million in the upcoming biennium, largely driven by personnel, infrastructure, and operations costs—not including grant disbursements themselves. While the impact is manageable and justified by the need for improved emergency infrastructure, clearer appropriation mechanisms and accountability for expenditures would strengthen the bill’s alignment with principles of limited and responsible government.

In sum, the bill supports personal responsibility and public safety and could indirectly foster private sector participation in infrastructure development. However, the overbroad transparency exemptions conflict with the principles of limited government and individual liberty. As such, Texas Policy Research recommends that lawmakers vote NO unless the aforementioned amendments are adopted to include more robust oversight and transparency safeguards.

References

Investigative Committee Unveils Findings on 2024 Panhandle Wildfires

Related Legislation

SB 2512 (Same As)

View Bill Text and Status