BILL ANALYSIS H.B. 2128 By: Spiller Agriculture & Livestock Committee Report (Unamended) BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE The author has informed the committee that rural communities often face more challenges in maintaining sufficient firefighting and technical rescue services compared to their urban counterparts due to limited funding, shortages of trained personnel, and lack of access to affordable training. To help ensure the state has the data necessary to develop policies supporting rural emergency response efforts, H.B. 2128 requires the Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service to conduct a study to evaluate the disparities between rural and urban firefighting and technical rescue service capabilities and provide recommendations for improvement. 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. 2128 requires the Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service to conduct a study of rural firefighting and technical rescue service capabilities and compare those capabilities with those of urban municipalities. The bill requires the study to consider disparities in the following factors: available funding for personnel and equipment; the number of qualified candidates to fill new or vacant firefighting and rescue personnel positions; opportunities for affordable training for firefighting and rescue personnel; and any other factor the extension service considers relevant. The bill requires the extension service, not later than December 1, 2026, to submit to the governor, the lieutenant governor, and the speaker of the house of representatives a report that includes the findings of the study and any recommendations based on the study. The bill's provisions expire September 1, 2027. EFFECTIVE DATE On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2025.
BILL ANALYSIS
# BILL ANALYSIS
H.B. 2128
By: Spiller
Agriculture & Livestock
Committee Report (Unamended)
H.B. 2128
By: Spiller
Agriculture & Livestock
Committee Report (Unamended)
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE The author has informed the committee that rural communities often face more challenges in maintaining sufficient firefighting and technical rescue services compared to their urban counterparts due to limited funding, shortages of trained personnel, and lack of access to affordable training. To help ensure the state has the data necessary to develop policies supporting rural emergency response efforts, H.B. 2128 requires the Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service to conduct a study to evaluate the disparities between rural and urban firefighting and technical rescue service capabilities and provide recommendations for improvement.
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. 2128 requires the Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service to conduct a study of rural firefighting and technical rescue service capabilities and compare those capabilities with those of urban municipalities. The bill requires the study to consider disparities in the following factors: available funding for personnel and equipment; the number of qualified candidates to fill new or vacant firefighting and rescue personnel positions; opportunities for affordable training for firefighting and rescue personnel; and any other factor the extension service considers relevant. The bill requires the extension service, not later than December 1, 2026, to submit to the governor, the lieutenant governor, and the speaker of the house of representatives a report that includes the findings of the study and any recommendations based on the study. The bill's provisions expire September 1, 2027.
EFFECTIVE DATE On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2025.
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE
The author has informed the committee that rural communities often face more challenges in maintaining sufficient firefighting and technical rescue services compared to their urban counterparts due to limited funding, shortages of trained personnel, and lack of access to affordable training. To help ensure the state has the data necessary to develop policies supporting rural emergency response efforts, H.B. 2128 requires the Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service to conduct a study to evaluate the disparities between rural and urban firefighting and technical rescue service capabilities and provide recommendations for improvement.
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. 2128 requires the Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service to conduct a study of rural firefighting and technical rescue service capabilities and compare those capabilities with those of urban municipalities. The bill requires the study to consider disparities in the following factors:
available funding for personnel and equipment;
the number of qualified candidates to fill new or vacant firefighting and rescue personnel positions;
opportunities for affordable training for firefighting and rescue personnel; and
any other factor the extension service considers relevant.
The bill requires the extension service, not later than December 1, 2026, to submit to the governor, the lieutenant governor, and the speaker of the house of representatives a report that includes the findings of the study and any recommendations based on the study. The bill's provisions expire September 1, 2027.
EFFECTIVE DATE
On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2025.