According to the Legislative Budget Board (LBB), SB 825 is estimated to have no significant fiscal impact on the state. The analysis assumes that the Office of the Governor, which is responsible for conducting the annual immigration impact study under the substitute bill, can absorb the costs associated with the study using existing resources.

This finding suggests that the infrastructure, staffing, and budget currently available to the Governor's Office are considered adequate to fulfill the bill’s requirements without needing new appropriations or reallocations from other state programs. The ability to contract or collaborate with external entities like universities or nonprofit organizations, as permitted by the bill, may also offer cost-effective options for fulfilling the study's mandate without expanding state government operations.

Additionally, the fiscal note concludes that there will be no significant financial burden on local governments, reinforcing the bill’s limited direct economic footprint. However, it’s worth noting that while the study itself is unlikely to generate costs requiring new funding, any future policy recommendations resulting from the data collected could potentially carry financial implications, depending on legislative or executive action taken in response. As it stands, though, SB 825 is considered a low-cost, data-gathering initiative.

SB 825 offers a policy-driven and fiscally restrained approach to addressing the complex and often politicized issue of illegal immigration in Texas. Rather than introducing new enforcement measures or expanding government authority, the bill requires the Office of the Governor to conduct a recurring study examining the economic, environmental, and financial impacts of illegal immigration. The findings must be submitted in a biennial report to legislative leaders, providing data that could inform future decisions on resource allocation and policy development.

While many so-called “fact-finding” initiatives warrant skepticism—often serving more as political messaging tools than meaningful policy development—SB 825 incorporates several safeguards that help address those concerns. By placing the responsibility in the Governor’s Office rather than a law enforcement agency and allowing flexibility to collaborate with universities or nonprofits, the bill creates the conditions for a more balanced and methodologically sound analysis. The biennial timeline also minimizes administrative burden while aligning with the legislative cycle, and the Legislative Budget Board confirms there will be no significant cost to the state or local governments.

Although it does not guarantee objectivity or action, the structure and scope of SB 825 make it a more measured and constructive approach than typical studies used for partisan signaling. It allows lawmakers to gain insight into a key policy area—immigration’s impact on public services and infrastructure—without creating new mandates or bureaucracy. In light of its limited scope, potential value for policy evaluation, and minimal fiscal impact, Texas Policy Research recommends that lawmakers vote YES on SB 825.

• Individual Liberty: The bill does not create or restrict individual freedoms. It mandates a study, not new enforcement mechanisms or regulations. However, there is a latent concern: how the study is interpreted and used in future policymaking could influence individual liberty—particularly for immigrants, legal or not. Still, the bill itself refrains from taking any punitive action or shaping policy outcomes, earning a neutral rating on this principle.
• Personal Responsibility: The bill promotes the idea that the government should be accountable for understanding the consequences of policy challenges—particularly those resulting from federal immigration failures. By quantifying the burdens that illegal immigration may place on state services like healthcare, education, and law enforcement, the bill supports responsible stewardship of taxpayer resources and encourages data-driven debate.
• Free Enterprise: Illegal immigration can distort labor markets, affect wages, and increase costs to employers and public systems. By requiring a study of these economic effects, the bill enables lawmakers to identify market imbalances and economic inefficiencies. This could lead to reforms that promote a more level playing field for employers who follow the law and reduce hidden subsidies created by illegal labor.
• Private Property Rights: There is no direct connection between the bill and property rights. However, if the study eventually leads to policy affecting infrastructure development, land use, or service delivery, downstream implications could arise. As drafted, the bill merely collects information and does not interfere with ownership or usage rights.
• Limited Government: The bill embodies a restrained approach to governance. It does not expand the scope or power of state government, nor does it create a new agency or enforcement mechanism. The study will be conducted using existing resources in the Governor’s Office, with optional collaboration from non-governmental entities. This careful design maintains the integrity of limited government while enhancing oversight and decision-making capacity.