According to the Legislative Budget Board (LBB), HB 678 would have no significant fiscal impact to the State of Texas. The bill’s primary requirement—adding the contact information for the National Sexual Assault Hotline to student identification cards issued by public institutions of higher education—is considered a minor administrative adjustment. It is assumed that public institutions can implement this change within their current budgetary and operational frameworks without requiring additional appropriations or significant reallocations.

The LBB further states that any implementation costs can be absorbed using existing institutional resources. This includes the minimal design, formatting, and printing adjustments needed to include an additional line of text on ID cards, which are already required to display other hotline numbers. Because most institutions routinely update ID card formats and reissue cards on a regular basis, the added requirement is not expected to generate new printing cycles or significant administrative burdens.

There is also no projected fiscal impact to local government units, as the legislation pertains only to public higher education institutions, which operate under state authority and are not typically governed by local jurisdictions. Multiple public university systems—including the University of Texas, Texas A&M, Texas Tech, and others—were consulted and reported no expected financial burden stemming from the bill’s implementation.

HB 678 is a targeted, narrowly scoped measure that promotes individual well-being and public safety without expanding the size or scope of government in a significant way. It builds upon existing statutory requirements for student identification cards by mandating the inclusion of contact information for the National Sexual Assault Hotline. This change is designed to increase awareness and accessibility of crisis support resources for students in higher education, particularly in light of data showing elevated rates of sexual victimization among college-age individuals.

The measure is consistent with the principle of Individual Liberty by empowering students with the knowledge and tools to seek help in moments of crisis without compelling any particular action. It enhances Personal Responsibility by encouraging self-advocacy and informed help-seeking behavior. Additionally, because the bill imposes no new regulatory burdens on private actors and does not inhibit competition, it respects Free Enterprise. It also has no implications for Private Property Rights, and the fiscal analysis confirms that it creates no significant cost to the state or local governments.

From a Limited Government perspective, HB 678 is a good example of focused legislative action that leverages existing infrastructure (student ID cards) to address a public health concern without growing the bureaucracy or creating new programs. It achieves a compelling public interest—reducing harm and expanding access to services—through a minimalist and cost-neutral intervention. For these reasons, Texas Policy Research recommends that lawmakers vote YES on HB 678.

• Individual Liberty: The bill promotes individual liberty by expanding access to support resources for survivors of sexual assault. By requiring the inclusion of the National Sexual Assault Hotline on student identification cards, the bill empowers students to seek confidential help if and when they choose to. It does not compel behavior or infringe on free choice; instead, it ensures that individuals have vital information readily available, thereby enhancing their autonomy in responding to traumatic events.
• Personal Responsibility: HB 678 complements personal responsibility by equipping individuals with the information needed to act in their own interest. It facilitates self-advocacy without creating dependency or mandating state intervention. The policy assumes that students are capable of managing their own well-being when given the tools to do so. It encourages responsible action in the face of harm, without removing the agency or accountability of the individual.
• Free Enterprise: There is no effect on the private market or on competition. The bill applies solely to public institutions of higher education, which already have administrative procedures in place for issuing student ID cards. It imposes no restrictions, mandates, or costs on private businesses, vendors, or nonprofits, and it does not alter economic activity in any way relevant to the free market.
• Private Property Rights: The legislation does not intrude on private property rights. It pertains only to public, government-issued student identification cards. It does not restrict ownership, use, or control of property, nor does it authorize any form of eminent domain or seizure.
• Limited Government: HB 678 is consistent with the principle of limited government. It achieves a public safety and mental health goal through a very narrow mandate that requires no new government programs, funding, or enforcement mechanisms. The fiscal note confirms there is no significant fiscal impact, and existing institutional resources are sufficient to implement the bill. It represents a minimal and efficient legislative response to a documented problem, rather than an expansion of state control or bureaucracy.