Voted for Never-Ending Program, Sidestepping Any Sunset or Review: House of Bad Cards

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.

It has clear merit in terms of improving public safety and emergency coordination. We have no issue with this.

This new 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.

As a new entity in our state government, it's probably best to provide a date for review and potentially sunset if it does not perform as anticipated.

Rep. Tony Tinderholt offered an amendment for review and potentially sunset:

Sec. 421.132. EXPIRATION; TEMPORARY MONITORING AFTER EXPIRATION.
(a) The council is abolished and this subchapter, except for this section, expires September 1, 2035.
(b) To the extent any contract governing grant money under this subchapter, as it existed on August 31, 2035, is in effect after that date, the Texas Division of Emergency Management may continue to monitor and enforce the terms of the contract.
(c) This section expires September 1, 2037.

This simple common sense amendment failed, unfortunately. Every aspect of government must be available for review, and certainly any new entity within government. Voting NAY disallows review and transparency is irresponsible. The YEA votes are correct.

GOP Platform Conflict: Plank 62 emphasizes fiscal responsibility. Lack of sunset provisions violates accountability.

RV#54: Yea 46 (R 42, D 4) - Nay 101 (R 45, D 56)
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Yea - Alders; Bell, C.; Bell, K.; Bryant; Bumgarner; Cain; Cook; Cunningham; Davis, Y.; Dorazio; Gates; Harris Davila; Harrison; Hayes; Hickland; Holt; Hopper; Isaac; Kerwin; LaHood; Leo Wilson; Little; Louderback; Lowe; Lozano; Luther; Money; Morales Shaw; Morgan; Olcott; Oliverson; Pierson; Richardson; Rodriguez Ramos; Schatzline; Schofield; Schoolcraft; Shofner; Slawson; Spiller; Swanson; Tinderholt; Toth; Vasut; Virdell; Wilson

Nay - Allen; Ashby; Barry; Bernal; Bhojani; Bonnen; Bowers; Buckley; Bucy; Button; Campos; Canales; Capriglione; Cole; Collier; Cortez; Craddick; Curry; Darby; Davis, A.; Dean; DeAyala; Dyson; Fairly; Flores; Frank; Gamez; Garcia Hernandez; Garcia, J.; Garcia, L.; Gerdes; Geren; Gervin-Hawkins; Gonzalez, J.; Gonzalez, M.; Goodwin; Guerra; Guillen; Harless; Harris; Hefner; Hernandez; Hinojosa; Howard; Hull; Hunter; Johnson; Jones, J.; Jones, V.; King; Kitzman; Lalani; Lambert; Landgraf; Leach; Longoria; Lopez, J.; Lopez, R.; Lujan; Manuel; Martinez; Martinez Fischer; McLaughlin; McQueeney; Metcalf; Meyer; Meza; Moody; Morales, C.; Morales, E.; Munoz; Noble; Ordaz; Orr; Patterson; Paul; Perez, M.; Perez, V.; Phelan; Plesa; Raymond; Reynolds; Romero; Rose; Rosenthal; Shaheen; Simmons; Smithee; Talarico; Tepper; Thompson; Troxclair; Turner; VanDeaver; Villalobos; Vo; Walle; Ward Johnson; Wharton; Wu; Zweiner

Absent - Dutton

Present, Not Voting - Burrows

Please note: the following statements by legislators do not affect the vote count that was recorded.

Cecil Bell: "When Record No. 54 was taken, I was shown voting yes. I intended to vote no." (view other statements of vote for this Rep)

Mano DeAyala: "When Record No. 54 was taken, I was shown voting no. I intended to vote yes." (view other statements of vote for this Rep)

(Bill summary provided by Texas Policy Research)