Overall Vote Recommendation

Yes

Principle Criteria

Free Enterprise

Property Rights

Personal Responsibility

Limited Government

Individual Liberty

Digest

SB 868 seeks to improve wildfire preparedness and emergency response by modifying the allocation of funds in the Texas Rural Volunteer Fire Department Assistance Program. The bill amends Section 614.102 of the Government Code by adding a new subsection (i), which mandates that a minimum of 10 percent of the program’s annual appropriations be directed to volunteer fire departments located in regions classified as high-risk for large wildfires. These classifications are determined by the state fire service or relevant state agency.

The proposed allocation ensures that areas most vulnerable to catastrophic wildfires receive prioritized support for equipment, training, and operational readiness. This targeted funding strategy is designed to strengthen the state’s ability to mitigate the damage caused by wildfires, especially in rural communities where professional fire services are often limited or unavailable.

To ensure fiscal flexibility, the bill includes a provision allowing any unrequested portion of the 10 percent allocation to be redistributed to other volunteer fire departments that have submitted qualifying funding requests. This ensures that all available funds are used efficiently without compromising the intent to prioritize high-risk areas.

The originally filed version of SB 868 included two major components. First, it amended the Insurance Code (Section 2007.002) to remove a statutory cap on the annual funding assessment collected from insurers. Previously, this assessment was limited to the lesser of the total amount appropriated by the General Appropriations Act or $30 million. The bill eliminated the $30 million cap, allowing assessments to match the full appropriated amount—potentially increasing funding for the Rural Volunteer Fire Department Assistance Program.

Second, the bill introduced new Subsections (i) and (j) to Section 614.102 of the Government Code. These required that at least 10 percent of the appropriated funds be designated for departments in areas identified as high-risk for large wildfires. Any unused funds from this allocation could be redirected to other eligible fire departments under the program.

In contrast, the Committee Substitute version of SB 868 retained only the second component—allocating at least 10 percent of the funds to departments in wildfire-prone areas. It entirely removed the provision related to increasing the assessment on insurers. This indicates a narrowing of the bill’s fiscal implications and reflects a more targeted legislative approach focusing solely on improving wildfire risk mitigation through existing resources without altering insurance funding mechanisms.

In summary, the Committee Substitute version simplifies the bill by eliminating the potentially controversial insurance assessment increase while preserving the wildfire-focused fund allocation provision.

Author (1)

Kevin Sparks

Co-Author (5)

Cesar Blanco

Donna Campbell

Peter Flores

Brent Hagenbuch

Lois Kolkhorst

Sponsor (1)

Ken King

Co-Sponsor (2)

Stan Kitzman

David Spiller

Contact the Author

Sen. Kevin Sparks

Capitol Phone:

Capitol Office:

EXT E1.708

E-Mail:

[email protected]

Visit Official Website

Fiscal Notes

According to the Legislative Budget Board (LBB), any costs associated with the implementation of SB 868 can be managed within the existing appropriations and resources already allocated to the Rural Volunteer Fire Department Assistance Program. This suggests that the reallocation of funds—setting aside a minimum of 10 percent for departments in wildfire-prone areas—does not require additional state funding or create new financial obligations for the state.

Importantly, this version of the bill does not include provisions from the originally filed version that would have altered the assessment on insurance providers to potentially increase overall program funding. As such, the bill does not create any new revenue mechanisms or increase existing ones, which further supports the finding of no fiscal significance.

The bill is also not expected to create a significant fiscal impact on local governments. The volunteer fire departments benefiting from the reallocation are already eligible under current law, and the bill merely prioritizes high-risk regions without imposing any mandates or financial burdens on local jurisdictions.

In conclusion, SB 868 is a fiscally neutral policy change that adjusts internal fund allocations to better address wildfire risk without increasing state spending or impacting local government finances.

Vote Recommendation Notes

SB 868 represents a strategically targeted improvement to the Rural Volunteer Fire Department Assistance Program. Following catastrophic wildfires in the Texas Panhandle, the intent behind this bill is clear: bolster emergency preparedness in the areas most vulnerable to wildfire. The bill requires that at least 10 percent of annual appropriations from the assistance fund be earmarked for departments in regions officially designated as high-risk for large wildfires. This prioritization ensures that scarce resources are directed where the need—and the potential impact on life and property—is greatest.

The Committee Substitute notably drops the originally filed provision to eliminate the $30 million cap on funding assessments from insurance companies. While that original fiscal expansion could have enabled significantly more robust support to rural fire departments facing grant backlogs, its removal helps streamline the bill and likely contributed to its unanimous committee support. The revised bill does not increase appropriations or revenue mechanisms, and the Legislative Budget Board has confirmed there are no significant fiscal implications to either the state or local governments.

Given the pressing need to improve fire response infrastructure in wildfire-prone regions—and the fiscally conservative, targeted nature of the proposed changes—this bill aligns well with all five core liberty principles. It supports individual liberty and private property rights by mitigating fire risk, enhances community-level responsibility without expanding government, and operates within the framework of existing programs. Overall, SB 868 is a prudent, liberty-consistent measure deserving of support. As such, Texas Policy Research recommends that lawmakers vote YES on SB 868.

Individual Liberty: The bill indirectly enhances individual liberty by improving the safety and security of residents in rural Texas. Wildfires threaten not only property but also the freedom of individuals to live and operate without undue fear of natural disasters. By ensuring better-equipped volunteer fire departments in high-risk areas, the bill helps protect individuals' ability to live safely in their communities.
Personal Responsibility: The bill supports personal and community responsibility by bolstering the capacity of volunteer fire departments—many of which are staffed and managed by citizens rather than government employees. These departments reflect civic initiative and local problem-solving, and the bill strengthens their ability to fulfill that role effectively without imposing mandates.
Free Enterprise: The bill does not create new regulations or restrictions on private enterprise. Instead, it helps maintain the conditions necessary for rural businesses and agricultural operations to function safely. Wildfires can devastate economic activity in rural areas; protecting infrastructure supports a stable environment for enterprise and commerce to flourish without government interference.
Private Property Rights: The focus on wildfire mitigation directly supports the protection of private property. Fires pose a substantial threat to homes, farms, and businesses. By targeting assistance to areas of greatest wildfire risk, the bill helps secure property rights against natural hazards, thus reinforcing one of the most fundamental liberties.
Limited Government: Crucially, the bill operates within an existing framework—the Rural Volunteer Fire Department Assistance Program—and does not expand state government authority, create new agencies, or increase taxes. It merely reallocates a portion of already-appropriated funds based on data-driven risk assessments. The committee’s decision to remove the proposed increase in insurance assessments further demonstrates a commitment to limited government.

References

Investigative Committee Unveils Findings on 2024 Panhandle Wildfires

Related Legislation

HB 2054 (Same As)

View Bill Text and Status