According to the Legislative Budget Board (LBB), HB 2513 would have no significant fiscal implication to the state. The reasoning is that any potential costs resulting from the implementation of this bill are expected to be absorbed using existing resources. This finding implies that affected state agencies and departments employing fire protection personnel who also serve in the military can accommodate the clarified leave calculation without needing additional funding or appropriations.

Similarly, the bill is not expected to impose any significant fiscal burden on local governments. Although the bill applies to public employees, including those at the municipal or county level, the shift in how paid military leave is calculated—by counting 24- or 48-hour shifts as single workdays—does not materially increase the number of leave days granted. Rather, it adjusts the method of accounting to reflect actual firefighter schedules, making the leave policy more equitable without substantially altering its financial footprint.

The LBB’s fiscal analysis also references a variety of state agencies (e.g., Texas Workforce Commission, Department of Transportation, Health and Human Services Commission) and confirms that none anticipate a measurable budget impact. This broad agency consultation reinforces the conclusion that the bill’s impact on operational costs across state and local systems will be minimal and manageable. Overall, HB 2513 offers policy clarity and fairness with negligible fiscal consequences.

HB 2513, as substituted, warrants a “Yes” vote based on its clear alignment with core liberty principles and its practical, equitable treatment of a distinct class of public employees—fire protection personnel who also serve in the military. The bill amends the Government Code to ensure that a 24-hour or 48-hour firefighter shift is treated as one workday when calculating the 15 days of paid military leave to which eligible public employees are entitled. This adjustment directly addresses a fairness issue that currently requires firefighters to use their personal vacation or sick leave to fulfill military obligations, simply because of how their long shifts are recorded under the existing policy.

This bill advances individual liberty and personal responsibility by supporting public servants who voluntarily take on the dual role of firefighter and military service member. It corrects an unintentional disparity that penalizes these individuals due to the nature of their schedules. At the same time, it preserves limited government principles, as the bill merely clarifies statutory interpretation without expanding the scope of leave benefits or creating new mandates.

Importantly, the bill has no significant fiscal impact on either the state or local governments, as confirmed by the LBB. Any costs that do arise are expected to be absorbed using existing resources, and the streamlined clarification is unlikely to introduce administrative complexity.

In sum, HB 2513 is a narrowly tailored, fiscally responsible measure that ensures fair and consistent treatment of firefighter personnel in military service. It reflects good governance, respects taxpayer resources, and upholds Texas’ longstanding values of honoring public service. Texas Policy Research recommends that lawmakers vote YES on HB 2513.

• Individual Liberty: The bill enhances individual liberty by protecting the rights of firefighters who serve in the military to fulfill their service obligations without losing out on earned leave or being forced to use vacation time. It removes an administrative burden that unfairly penalizes them for working longer shifts, enabling them to serve their country and communities without unnecessary barriers.
• Personal Responsibility: By making it easier for firefighter-military personnel to meet both job and service commitments, the bill honors their personal responsibility. These individuals are stepping up in two demanding public roles, and the policy change ensures they are not punished for taking on those responsibilities.
• Free Enterprise: While this bill affects only public-sector employment, it indirectly supports the principle of free enterprise by not imposing any mandates or restrictions on private employers. It avoids creating a precedent of overly complex or costly benefit changes that could spill over into private-sector expectations.
• Private Property Rights: The bill has no impact on private property rights, as it only applies to government employees and does not involve any use or regulation of private property.
• Limited Government: HB 2513 maintains the principle of limited government by clarifying existing law rather than expanding benefits or creating new entitlement programs. It corrects a technical inconsistency in the way leave is calculated without increasing the overall scope or cost of government programs, as confirmed by the bill’s fiscal note.

• HB 4164 (Same As)