BILL ANALYSIS H.B. 1353 By: Guillen Trade, Workforce & Economic Development Committee Report (Unamended) BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE The bill author has informed the committee that certain Texas state agencies currently lack the authority to issue bonds for infrastructure projects related to international cooperation with Mexico, and no clear mechanism exists for working with the North American Development Bank to obtain funds support infrastructure investments in Texas. H.B. 1353 seeks to enhance funding options for economic and environmental infrastructure projects. CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution. ANALYSIS H.B. 1353 amends the Government Code to include the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality and the Public Utility Commission of Texas among the state agencies authorized to issue bonds or other evidence of indebtedness to provide financing for an international cooperation agreement to the same extent and in the same manner that the agency is authorized to issue the bonds or evidence of indebtedness to perform the activity on its own behalf. The bill authorizes a state agency that may issue such bonds or evidence of indebtedness to create a funding mechanism to jointly invest in and leverage funding for infrastructure in Texas with the North American Development Bank. The bill revises the statutory provision conditioning the validity of an international cooperation agreement made by a state agency that involves the use of money appropriated from the state treasury on approval of the agreement by the governor and the Legislative Budget Board by specifying that this condition applies with respect to the use of appropriated money for projects inside or outside of Texas. EFFECTIVE DATE September 1, 2025.
BILL ANALYSIS
# BILL ANALYSIS
H.B. 1353
By: Guillen
Trade, Workforce & Economic Development
Committee Report (Unamended)
H.B. 1353
By: Guillen
Trade, Workforce & Economic Development
Committee Report (Unamended)
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE The bill author has informed the committee that certain Texas state agencies currently lack the authority to issue bonds for infrastructure projects related to international cooperation with Mexico, and no clear mechanism exists for working with the North American Development Bank to obtain funds support infrastructure investments in Texas. H.B. 1353 seeks to enhance funding options for economic and environmental infrastructure projects.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.
ANALYSIS H.B. 1353 amends the Government Code to include the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality and the Public Utility Commission of Texas among the state agencies authorized to issue bonds or other evidence of indebtedness to provide financing for an international cooperation agreement to the same extent and in the same manner that the agency is authorized to issue the bonds or evidence of indebtedness to perform the activity on its own behalf. The bill authorizes a state agency that may issue such bonds or evidence of indebtedness to create a funding mechanism to jointly invest in and leverage funding for infrastructure in Texas with the North American Development Bank. The bill revises the statutory provision conditioning the validity of an international cooperation agreement made by a state agency that involves the use of money appropriated from the state treasury on approval of the agreement by the governor and the Legislative Budget Board by specifying that this condition applies with respect to the use of appropriated money for projects inside or outside of Texas.
EFFECTIVE DATE September 1, 2025.
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE
The bill author has informed the committee that certain Texas state agencies currently lack the authority to issue bonds for infrastructure projects related to international cooperation with Mexico, and no clear mechanism exists for working with the North American Development Bank to obtain funds support infrastructure investments in Texas. H.B. 1353 seeks to enhance funding options for economic and environmental infrastructure projects.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT
It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.
ANALYSIS
H.B. 1353 amends the Government Code to include the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality and the Public Utility Commission of Texas among the state agencies authorized to issue bonds or other evidence of indebtedness to provide financing for an international cooperation agreement to the same extent and in the same manner that the agency is authorized to issue the bonds or evidence of indebtedness to perform the activity on its own behalf. The bill authorizes a state agency that may issue such bonds or evidence of indebtedness to create a funding mechanism to jointly invest in and leverage funding for infrastructure in Texas with the North American Development Bank. The bill revises the statutory provision conditioning the validity of an international cooperation agreement made by a state agency that involves the use of money appropriated from the state treasury on approval of the agreement by the governor and the Legislative Budget Board by specifying that this condition applies with respect to the use of appropriated money for projects inside or outside of Texas.
EFFECTIVE DATE
September 1, 2025.