BILL ANALYSIS C.S.H.B. 500 By: Bonnen Appropriations Committee Report (Substituted) BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Each legislative session, state agencies project the costs of fulfilling their functions and providing important services for the following two-year budget period. This information, combined with the biennial estimate of revenues submitted to the governor and the legislature before the convening of each regular session, can be a key component in the construction of the General Appropriations Act. C.S.H.B. 500 seeks to make supplemental appropriations and give direction and adjustment authority regarding certain appropriations to address revised revenue estimates and supplemental needs. 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 rulemaking authority is expressly granted to the comptroller of public accounts in SECTION 4.02 of this bill. ANALYSIS C.S.H.B. 500 makes supplemental appropriations and reductions in appropriations and gives direction and adjustment authority with respect to the General Appropriations Act (GAA) and the Supplemental Appropriations Act adopted by the 88th Texas Legislature, Regular Session, 2023. General Government C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $1,000,000,000 from the general revenue fund to the Employees Retirement System of Texas (ERS) for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date to be used for a one-time legacy payment to reduce ERS's unfunded actuarial liabilities and long-term interest costs. C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $40,454,048 from the general revenue fund to the comptroller of public accounts for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date to be deposited to the compensation to victims of crime account. C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates any unexpended and unobligated balances remaining as of the bill's effective date from the appropriation made to the comptroller by Section 41, Chapter 10 (S.B. 8), Acts of the 87th Legislature, 3rd Called Session, 2021 (the Supplemental Appropriations Act), for immediate deposit to an account or fund to be managed by the Texas Treasury Safekeeping Trust Company as trustee for the benefit of the State Preservation Board (SPB) to maintain the Bob Bullock State History Museum (estimated to be $104,498,347) to the comptroller for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for deposit not later than August 31, 2025, to the Texas State Buildings Preservation Endowment Fund to be used for purposes provided by applicable state law. The comptroller must transfer the money from the Maintain Bullock State History Museum Fund account held by the trust company to the Texas State Buildings Preservation Endowment Fund as soon as practicable after the bill's effective date. C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $300,000,000 from the general revenue fund to the comptroller for the 2025 state fiscal year (FY 2025) to be deposited by the comptroller to the space exploration and aeronautics research trust fund. C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $100,000,000 from the general revenue fund to the Texas Historical Commission for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date to be used for the commission's courthouse grant program. In addition to the capital budget authority granted by other law, the commission may use $100,000,000 in capital budget authority during that period for the appropriation. C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $145,377,607 from the general revenue fund to the Texas Facilities Commission (TFC) for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the purpose of removing and replacing the State Insurance Building. The bill also appropriates any proceeds from the sale of the building to TFC for that period for the purpose of replacing the building. In addition to the capital budget authority granted by other law, TFC may use $145,377,607 in capital budget authority during that period for the appropriation. C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $75,000,000 from the general revenue fund to SPB for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the purpose of making improvements to senate facilities. SPB may spend this appropriation only with the prior approval of the lieutenant governor. For purposes of the appropriation, the bill exempts SPB from the applicable competitive bidding process for facilities contracts. In addition to the capital budget authority granted by other law, SPB may use $75,000,000 in capital budget authority during that period for the appropriation. C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $75,000,000 from the general revenue fund to SPB for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the purpose of making improvements to house of representatives facilities. SPB may spend this appropriation only with the prior approval of the speaker of the house of representatives. For purposes of the appropriation, the bill exempts SPB from the applicable competitive bidding process. In addition to the capital budget authority granted by other law, SPB may use $75,000,000 in capital budget authority during that period for the appropriation. C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $5,940,000 from the general revenue fund to the comptroller for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date to be used for the administration of the Texas Jobs, Energy, Technology, and Innovation Act established under Subchapter T, Chapter 403, Government Code, as added by Chapter 377 (H.B. 5), Acts of the 88th Legislature, Regular Session, 2023. C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $150,000,000 from the general revenue fund to the Trusteed Programs within the governor's office for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date to make a grant, in a manner consistent with Strategy B.1.3, Homeland Security, as listed in Chapter 1170 (H.B. 1), Acts of the 88th Legislature, Regular Session, 2023 (the General Appropriations Act), to the Lubbock Reese Redevelopment Authority to acquire critical cybersecurity infrastructure. Health and Human Services C.S.H.B. 500 authorizes the Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC), notwithstanding any transfer limitation provided by Chapter 1170 (H.B. 1), Acts of the 88th Legislature, Regular Session, 2023 (the General Appropriations Act), to transfer unexpended balances from strategies in goals other than Goal A, Medicaid Client Services, to strategies in Goal A, Medicaid Client Services, and to transfer unexpended balances between strategies in Goal A, Medicaid Client Services, as listed in that act. Money may be transferred during FY 2025 and during the 2024 state fiscal year and then moved forward to FY 2025. The bill requires HHSC, not later than October 1, 2025, to report to the Legislative Budget Board (LBB) and the governor's office regarding any money transferred and spent as provided by these provisions. C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $150,000,000 to HHSC from the general revenue fund for use during the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date in a manner consistent with Strategy G.4.2, Facility Capital Repairs and Renovation at State Supported Living Centers, State Hospitals, and Other, as listed in Chapter 1170 (H.B. 1), Acts of the 88th Legislature, Regular Session, 2023 (the General Appropriations Act), to complete construction of the El Paso State Hospital, also known as the El Paso Psychiatric Center in El Paso, which is a state hospital facility. In addition to the capital budget authority granted by other law, HHSC may use $150,000,000 in capital budget authority during that period for the appropriation. C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $10,000,000 from the general revenue fund to HHSC for the two‑year period beginning on the bill's effective date to establish a one-time grant to Brazoria County for the purpose of planning and designing an inpatient mental health facility with at least 50 percent forensic capacity on donated land to serve the Brazoria County region. C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $10,000,000 from the general revenue fund to HHSC for the two‑year period beginning on the bill's effective date to establish a one-time grant to Tarrant County for the purpose of planning and designing an inpatient mental health facility with at least 50 percent forensic capacity on donated land to serve the Tarrant County region. C.S.H.B. 500 authorizes HHSC, during FY 2025 and in addition to the number of full-time equivalent (FTE) employees other law authorizes HHSC to employ during that period, to employ 414.0 additional FTE employees out of money appropriated by Chapter 1170 (H.B. 1), Acts of the 88th Legislature, Regular Session, 2023 (the General Appropriations Act), to provide expanded capacity at newly renovated mental health state hospitals. C.S.H.B. 500 amends Section 3.02(a), Chapter 458 (S.B. 30), Acts of the 88th Legislature, Regular Session, 2023 (the Supplemental Appropriations Act), to do the following with respect to the purposes for the money appropriated to HHSC by that act for new capacity for certain mental health services and inpatient facilities: with respect to the $573,000,000 appropriated from the general revenue fund for Strategy G.4.2, Facility Capital Repairs and Renovation, to construct a 250-bed replacement campus for the Terrell State Hospital, including 50 maximum security beds, 140 forensic beds, 35 adolescent beds, and 25 civil beds, the bill increases the total number of beds that replacement campus must contain from 250 to 275 by increasing the number of forensic beds included from 140 to 150 and by increasing the number of adolescent beds included from 35 to 50; with respect to the $452,000,000 appropriated from the general revenue fund for Strategy G.4.2, Facility Capital Repairs and Renovation, to construct a 200-bed replacement for the North Texas State Hospital - Wichita Falls, including 24 maximum security beds, 136 forensic beds, 24 adolescent beds, and 16 civil beds, the bill increases the total number of beds that replacement must contain from 200 to 225 by increasing the number of maximum security beds included from 24 to 25, by increasing the number of forensic beds included from 136 to 159, and by increasing the number of adolescent beds included from 24 to 25; and with respect to the $50,000,000 appropriated from the general revenue fund for Strategy G.4.2, Facility Capital Repairs and Renovation, for pre-planning, planning, land acquisition, and initial construction of a new 50-bed El Paso State Hospital, with 50 percent of the beds to be forensic, the bill removes the specification that the hospital contains 50 beds. C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $7,380,403 from the general revenue fund to HHSC, for the benefit of the Texas Civil Commitment Office, for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date to reimburse the office for offsite health care costs and services related to the supervision and treatment of sexually violent predators. C.S.H.B. 500, contingent on approval by two-thirds of the members present in each house of the legislature, appropriates $12,900,000 from the general revenue fund to HHSC, for the benefit of The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the purposes of building renovations, including patient care areas, patient and visitor areas, physical plant items, and other life and safety updates, at the Harris County Psychiatric Hospital. The legislature expressly finds that there is a demonstrated need for this appropriation of general revenue funds. In addition to the capital budget authority granted by other law, HHSC may use $12,900,000 in capital budget authority during that period for the appropriation. C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $65,000,000 from the general revenue fund to HHSC for the two‑year period beginning on the bill's effective date to establish a one-time grant to Baptist Hospitals of Southeast Texas to provide stroke care services to the southeast region of Texas. C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $328,332,698 from the general revenue fund to the Department of State Health Services (DSHS) for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the expansion of DSHS's laboratory capacity as requested by DSHS in DSHS's 2024 legislative appropriation request exceptional item number one. In addition to the capital budget authority granted by other law, DSHS may use $328,332,698 in capital budget authority during that period for the appropriation. C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $82,568,491 from the general revenue fund and $14,000,000 from federal funds to the Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date to address a budget shortfall associated with children without placement, child protective services staffing, adult protective services staffing, and day care services. Education C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $389,339,579 from the general revenue fund to the Texas Education Agency (TEA) for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the foundation school program. The bill specifies that the sum-certain appropriation to the foundation school program for FY 2025 is $30,406,827,783. C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $934,500,000 from the general revenue fund to TEA for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date to address a reduction of federal money available for the School Health and Related Services (SHARS) program. C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $1,394,000 from the general revenue fund to the Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the following purposes: $930,000 for special education; $314,000 for Strategy D.1.1, Central Administration, as listed in Chapter 1170 (H.B. 1), Acts of the 88th Legislature, Regular Session, 2023 (the General Appropriations Act), to fund previously vacant positions; and $150,000 for transportation. C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $111,022,800 from the general revenue fund to the Texas A&M Forest Service for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the purpose of responding to natural disasters that occurred in the 2022 and 2023 state fiscal years and natural disasters occurring in the future, including responding through the mobilization of ground and aviation resources for wildfire suppression. C.S.H.B. 500 requires the comptroller to immediately transfer $100,000,000 from the general revenue fund to the volunteer fire department assistance account and appropriates $100,000,000 from that account to the Texas A&M Forest Service for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the administration and operation of the rural volunteer fire department assistance program. Of that appropriation, the forest service may not use more than $3,500,000 for administrative expenses. C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $394,000,000 from the general revenue fund to the Texas A&M Forest Service for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the purchase of airplanes for wildfire suppression. C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $4,000,000 from the general revenue fund to the Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM) for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the purpose of developing a first responder database. C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $315,000,000 from the general revenue fund to TDEM for the two‑year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the following purposes: supporting regional emergency management operations facilities and resource staging areas as requested in TDEM's 2024 legislative appropriation request exceptional item number one; enhancing the regional operations centers in San Antonio and Fort Worth; and supporting emergency response operations. C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $89,500,000 from the general revenue fund to the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the purpose of funding higher than projected growth in fundable outcomes for public junior colleges and the application of weights and rates set for FY 2025 in the public junior college funding formula. C.S.H.B. 500, contingent on approval by two-thirds of the members present in each house of the legislature, appropriates $24,945,000 from the general revenue fund to Texas State University for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the purpose of funding construction for the Advanced Law Enforcement Rapid Response Training Center. The legislature expressly finds that there is a demonstrated need for this appropriation of general revenue funds. C.S.H.B. 500, contingent on approval by two-thirds of the members present in each house of the legislature, appropriates $65,000,000 from the general revenue fund to the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center at El Paso for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date to support the development of phase II of a comprehensive oncology center partnership. The legislature expressly finds that there is a demonstrated need for this appropriation of general revenue funds. C.S.H.B. 500, contingent on approval by two-thirds of the members present in each house of the legislature, appropriates $50,000,000 from the general revenue fund to the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date to support the development of a rural cancer collaborative. The legislature expressly finds that there is a demonstrated need for this appropriation of general revenue funds. C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates an amount equal to the sum of $650,000,000 for each institution of higher education that becomes eligible to receive certain distributions from the Texas University Fund on or after the bill's effective date, as certified by the THECB and not to exceed $1,300,000,000, from the general revenue fund to the comptroller for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for deposit by the comptroller to that fund to provide additional money to ensure stable funding for institutions that are eligible to receive the applicable distributions from the fund before the bill's effective date. The Judiciary, Public Safety, and Criminal Safety C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $5,100,000 from the general revenue fund to the Office of Court Administration (OCA) for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date to be used in a manner consistent with Strategy D.1.1, Texas Indigent Defense Commission, as listed in Chapter 1170 (H.B. 1), Acts of the 88th Legislature, Regular Session, 2023 (the General Appropriations Act), for the purpose of providing grants to counties for indigent defense in accordance with all uses authorized by Chapter 79, Government Code, with respect to the Texas Indigent Defense Commission. This appropriation may not be used to offset OCA's administrative support provided to the Texas Indigent Defense Commission except by mutual agreement of OCA and the commission. C.S.H.B. 500 authorizes the comptroller to use general revenue appropriated to the Judiciary Section, Comptroller's Department by Chapter 1170 (H.B. 1), Acts of the 88th Legislature, Regular Session, 2023 (the General Appropriations Act), to provide an annual salary supplement to each business court judge in an amount not to exceed $18,000 for FY 2025. The bill requires the comptroller to adopt rules as necessary to administer these provisions, including rules necessary to provide for associated benefit costs as well as fairness and equity among the business court judges and between the business court judges and district court judges. C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $571,520,355 from the general revenue fund to the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the purpose of providing for the following: correctional security operations; correctional managed health care consistent with Strategy C.1.9, Hospital and Clinical Care, as listed in Chapter 1170 (H.B. 1), Acts of the 88th Legislature, Regular Session, 2023 (the General Appropriations Act); and other operational expenses of TDCJ. C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $301,000,000 from the general revenue fund to TDCJ for the two‑year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the purpose of constructing dormitories within existing security fencing at TDCJ's existing facilities located in areas with a strong labor pool, as requested in TDCJ's 2024 legislative appropriation request exceptional item number 21. In addition to the capital budget authority granted by other law, TDCJ may use $301,000,000 in capital budget authority during that period for the appropriation. C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $214,799,300 from the general revenue fund to TDCJ for the two‑year period beginning on the bill's effective date for major repair and restoration projects at TDCJ's facilities, as requested in TDCJ's 2024 legislative appropriation request exceptional item number nine. In addition to the capital budget authority granted by other law, TDCJ may use $214,799,300 in capital budget authority during that period for the appropriation. C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $110,000,000 from the general revenue fund to TDCJ for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the purchase of the Giles Dalby Correctional Facility in Post, Texas. In addition to the capital budget authority granted by other law, TDCJ may use $110,000,000 in capital budget authority during that period for the appropriation. C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $7,000,000 from the general revenue fund to TDCJ for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the water supply at the Hobby Unit in Marlin, Texas. In addition to the capital budget authority granted by other law, TDCJ may use $7,000,000 in capital budget authority during that period for the appropriation. C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $75,000,000 from the general revenue fund to the Texas Juvenile Justice Department (TJJD) for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the purpose described by Rider 41, page V-38, Chapter 1170 (H.B. 1), Acts of the 88th Legislature, Regular Session, 2023 (the General Appropriations Act), to the bill pattern of the appropriations to TJJD, including completing the construction of the two new facilities that would expand capacity for TJJD by 200 beds. The bill appropriates all unexpended and unobligated balances remaining as of the bill's effective date from appropriations made to TJJD by Chapter 1170 (H.B. 1), Acts of the 88th Legislature, Regular Session, 2023 (the General Appropriations Act), for the construction of two new facilities that would expand capacity for TJJD by 200 beds as provided by Rider 41, page V-38, of that act (estimated to be $0) for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date to TJJD for the same purpose. In addition to the capital budget authority granted by other law, TJJD may use an amount estimated to be $75,000,000 in capital budget authority during that period for the facility completion appropriations. C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $13,300,000 from the general revenue fund to TJJD for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the purpose of reimbursing counties for the costs of holding juveniles for whom TJJD does not have adequate capacity. C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $675,000 from the general revenue fund to TJJD for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the purpose of covering an operational shortfall for TJJD's Office of the Inspector General related to the office filling more employee positions. Natural Resources C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $54,767,800 from the general revenue fund to the Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for deposit to the clean water state revolving fund and use consistent with applicable law. The bill also appropriates $88,165,200 from the general revenue fund to the TWDB for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for deposit to the drinking water state revolving fund and use consistent with applicable law. The bill establishes that it is the intent of the legislature that these appropriations be used by the TWDB to draw down federal matching funds under the federal Infrastructure Investments and Jobs Act and other available federal programs. The bill requires the TWDB, not later than August 31, 2027, to submit to the LBB a report showing the disposition of this money and the amount of federal matching funds that were drawn down with this money. C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $400,000,000 from the general revenue fund to the TWDB for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date to be used for water projects in a manner consistent with Strategy C.1.1, State & Federal Financial Assistance Program, as listed in Chapter 1170 (H.B. 1), Acts of the 88th Legislature, Regular Session, 2023 (the General Appropriations Act). C.S.H.B. 500, contingent on H.B. 16 or similar legislation by the 89th Legislature, Regular Session, 2025, relating to the oversight and financing of certain water infrastructure matters under the jurisdiction of the TWDB, being enacted and becoming law, appropriates $2,500,000,000 from the general revenue fund to the comptroller for FY 2025 to be deposited by the comptroller to the Texas Water Fund. C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $150,000,000 from the general revenue fund to the General Land Office (GLO) for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for continued construction costs at the Alamo, support for new Alamo exhibit and collection costs, and property enhancements to protect the Alamo Complex from encroaching urban surroundings. C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $230,254,228 from the general revenue fund to the GLO for the two‑year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the purpose of providing assistance to the Gulf Coast Protection District. C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $41,400,000 from the general revenue fund to the comptroller for the period beginning on the bill's effective date and ending on August 31, 2025, to be deposited by the comptroller immediately to the game, fish, and water safety account and appropriates $41,400,000 from the game, fish, and water safety account to the Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) for the two-year period beginning on the date on which the comptroller deposits that $41,400,000 to the game, fish, and water safety account for use for any lawful purpose. C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $100,000,000 from the general revenue fund to TPWD for the two‑year period beginning on the bill's effective date for use in a manner consistent with Strategy B.2.1, Local Parks Grants, as listed in Chapter 1170 (H.B. 1), Acts of the 88th Legislature, Regular Session, 2023 (the General Appropriations Act). C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $21,400,000 from the general revenue fund to TPWD for the two‑year period beginning on the bill's effective date for improvements to and repairs of TPWD's headquarters facility. In addition to the capital budget authority granted by other law, TPWD may use $21,400,000 in capital budget authority during that period for the appropriation. C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $100,000,000 from the general revenue fund to the Railroad Commission of Texas (RRC) for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for use in the RRC's well plugging program. Business and Economic Development C.S.H.B. 500, contingent on H.B. 3727, S.B. 1555, or similar legislation by the 89th Legislature, Regular Session, 2025, relating to a grant program to fund certain railroad grade separation projects, being enacted and becoming law, appropriates $350,000,000 from the general revenue fund to the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the purpose of making grants for railroad grade separation projects. C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $52,000,000 from the general revenue fund to TxDOT for the two‑year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the purchase of three new aircraft. The bill appropriates the proceeds from the sale during that period of the aircraft to be replaced and real property owned by TxDOT to TxDOT for that period for the purchase of the three new aircraft. The bill establishes that the appropriation of $52,000,000 is reduced by the amount of the proceeds from the sale of such aircraft and real property. In addition to the capital budget authority granted by other law, TxDOT may use $52,000,000 in capital budget authority during that period for these appropriations. C.S.H.B. 500 requires the comptroller to immediately transfer $200,000,000 from the general revenue fund to the port access account and appropriates $200,000,000 from the port access account to TxDOT for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date to provide funding for maritime port capital improvement infrastructure projects. C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $131,000,000 from the general revenue fund to TxDOT for the two‑year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the purpose of constructing or maintaining the state highway infrastructure in coordination with the Texas Space Commission, as identified in the Texas Space Industry Highway Transportation Needs Assessment report and TxDOT's 2026 unified transportation program. The bill requires TxDOT, in constructing or maintaining the state highway infrastructure, to give consideration for the critical infrastructure needs using local government and private sector partnerships. The bill establishes that it is the intent of the legislature that TxDOT use this appropriation to draw down federal money or other sources of funding to the extent possible. C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $100,000,000 from the general revenue fund to TxDOT for the two‑year period beginning on the bill's effective date for use in a manner consistent with Strategy C.5.1, Aviation Services, as listed in Chapter 1170 (H.B. 1), Acts of the 88th Legislature, Regular Session, 2023 (the General Appropriations Act). C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $68,000,000 from the general revenue fund to the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date to be deposited to the credit of the unemployment compensation fund. C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $30,793,540 from the general revenue fund to TWC for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date to be used for vocational rehabilitation and sustaining the state's required maintenance of effort under federal law. The bill establishes that it is the intent of the legislature that this appropriation be used by TWC to draw down federal matching funds and sustain the state's required maintenance of effort under federal law. The bill requires TWC, not later than August 31, 2027, to submit to the LBB a report showing the disposition of this money and the amount of federal matching funds that were drawn down with this money. C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $100,000,000 from the general revenue fund to TWC for the two‑year period beginning on the bill's effective date for use in a manner consistent with Strategy A.3.1, Local Child Care Solutions, as listed in Chapter 1170 (H.B. 1), Acts of the 88th Legislature, Regular Session, 2023 (the General Appropriations Act). C.S.H.B. 500, contingent on H.B. 14 or similar legislation by the 89th Legislature, Regular Session, 2025, relating to funding mechanisms within the governor's office and the Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUC) to support the deployment of advanced nuclear reactors in Texas, being enacted and becoming law, appropriates $750,000,000 from the general revenue fund to the comptroller for deposit to the Texas Energy Fund. Unexpended and Unobligated Balances C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates all unexpended and unobligated balances remaining as of the bill's effective date from appropriations made by Section 2.09, Chapter 458 (S.B. 30), Acts of the 88th Legislature, Regular Session, 2023 (the Supplemental Appropriations Act), from the Texas Semiconductor Innovation Fund to the trusteed programs within the governor's office for the establishment and administration of the Texas Semiconductor Innovation Consortium (estimated to be $572,830,000) to the trusteed programs for the same purpose for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date. This appropriation may be spent only with prior approval of the LBB. A request for approval of an expenditure submitted by the trusteed programs within the governor's office to the LBB is considered approved by the LBB unless the LBB objects to the request within 30 calendar days after the date the request is submitted to the LBB. C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates all unexpended and unobligated balances remaining as of the bill's effective date from appropriations made by Section 2.28, Chapter 458 (S.B. 30), Acts of the 88th Legislature, Regular Session, 2023 (the Supplemental Appropriations Act), from the general revenue fund to the trusteed programs within the governor's office for the moving image industry incentive program (estimated to be $155,000,000) to the trusteed programs for the same purpose for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date. C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates all unexpended and unobligated balances remaining as of the bill's effective date from appropriations made by Section 2.30, Chapter 458 (S.B. 30), Acts of the 88th Legislature, Regular Session, 2023 (the Supplemental Appropriations Act), from the general revenue fund to the trusteed programs within the governor's office for the purpose of paying legal counsel to represent the trusteed programs in litigation involving children's rights in the case of M.D., et al. v. Abbott, et al. (estimated to be $6,000,000) to the trusteed programs for the same purpose for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date. C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates all unexpended and unobligated balances remaining as of the bill's effective date from appropriations made by Section 2.31, Chapter 458 (S.B. 30), Acts of the 88th Legislature, Regular Session, 2023 (the Supplemental Appropriations Act), from the general revenue fund to the trusteed programs within the governor's office for border operations (estimated to be $300,000,000) to the trusteed programs for the same purpose for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date. C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates all unexpended and unobligated balances remaining as of the bill's effective date from appropriations made by Section 2.32, Chapter 458 (S.B. 30), Acts of the 88th Legislature, Regular Session, 2023 (the Supplemental Appropriations Act), from the Texas Enterprise Fund Account to the trusteed programs within the governor's office for the purpose of economic development initiatives as provided by Section 481.078, Government Code (estimated to be $100,000,000) to the trusteed programs for the same purpose for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date. C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates all unexpended and unobligated balances remaining as of the bill's effective date from appropriations made by Section 2.33, Chapter 458 (S.B. 30), Acts of the 88th Legislature, Regular Session, 2023 (the Supplemental Appropriations Act), from the general revenue fund to the trusteed programs within the governor's office to provide funding to support an economic development office in Taiwan (estimated to be $800,000) to the trusteed programs for the same purpose for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date. C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates all unexpended and unobligated balances remaining as of the bill's effective date from appropriations made by Section 3.02, Chapter 458 (S.B. 30), Acts of the 88th Legislature, Regular Session, 2023 (the Supplemental Appropriations Act), from the general revenue fund to HHSC for purposes specified in that section relating to new capacity for mental health services and inpatient facilities (estimated to be $2,112,200,000) to HHSC for the same purposes for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date. In addition to the capital budget authority granted by other law, HHSC may use an amount equal to the amount appropriated in capital budget authority during that period for the appropriation. C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates all unexpended and unobligated balances remaining as of the bill's effective date from appropriations made by Section 8.36, Chapter 458 (S.B. 30), Acts of the 88th Legislature, Regular Session, 2023 (the Supplemental Appropriations Act), from the general revenue fund to HHSC for the purchase of motor vehicles (estimated to be $2,350,000) to HHSC for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date. In addition to the capital budget authority granted by other law, HHSC may use an amount equal to the amount appropriated in capital budget authority during that period for the appropriation. C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates all unexpended and unobligated balances remaining as of the bill's effective date from appropriations made by Section 9.02(5), Chapter 458 (S.B. 30), Acts of the 88th Legislature, Regular Session, 2023 (the Supplemental Appropriations Act), from the general revenue fund to HHSC for the purpose of purchasing motor vehicles for HHSC's use as authorized by general law (estimated to be $7,850,000) to HHSC for the same purpose for the two-year period beginning on the effective date. In addition to the capital budget authority granted by other law, HHSC may use an amount equal to the amount appropriated in capital budget authority during that period for the appropriation. C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates all unexpended and unobligated balances remaining as of the bill's effective date from appropriations made by Section 8.24, Chapter 458 (S.B. 30), Acts of the 88th Legislature, Regular Session, 2023 (the Supplemental Appropriations Act), from master lease purchase revenue bonds to HHSC to address deferred maintenance needs at state supported living centers and state hospitals as described by Section 10, Chapter 995 (H.B. 2), Acts of the 87th Legislature, Regular Session, 2021 (the Supplemental Appropriations Act) (estimated to be $400,000) to HHSC for the same purpose for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date. In addition to the capital budget authority granted by other law, HHSC may use an amount equal to the amount appropriated in capital budget authority during that period for the appropriation. C.S.H.B. 500, contingent on approval by two-thirds of the members present in each house of the legislature, appropriates all unexpended and unobligated balances remaining as of the bill's effective date from appropriations made by Section 8.25, Chapter 458 (S.B. 30), Acts of the 88th Legislature, Regular Session, 2023 (the Supplemental Appropriations Act), from the Economic Stabilization Fund (ESF), otherwise known as the Rainy Day Fund, to HHSC for projects that have been approved under the provisions of Rider 221, page II-110, Chapter 605 (S.B. 1), Acts of the 85th Legislature, Regular Session, 2017 (the General Appropriations Act), to the bill pattern of the appropriations to HHSC and appropriated again by Chapter 1353 (H.B. 1), Acts of the 86th Legislature, Regular Session, 2019 (the General Appropriations Act) (estimated to be $12,200,000) to HHSC for the same purpose for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date. C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates all unexpended and unobligated balances remaining as of the bill's effective date from appropriations made by Section 8.27, Chapter 458 (S.B. 30), Acts of the 88th Legislature, Regular Session, 2023 (the Supplemental Appropriations Act), from the general revenue fund and federal funds to HHSC for phase 1 of the management information systems modernization and procurement and transition (estimated to be an aggregate of $142,672,493, of which $20,831,840 is estimated to be from the general revenue fund and $121,840,653 is estimated to be from federal funds) to HHSC for the same purpose for the two‑year period beginning on the bill's effective date. In addition to the capital budget authority granted by other law, HHSC may use an amount equal to the amount appropriated in capital budget authority during that period for the appropriation. C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates all unexpended and unobligated balances remaining as of the bill's effective date from appropriations made by Section 4.02, Chapter 458 (S.B. 30), Acts of the 88th Legislature, Regular Session, 2023 (the Supplemental Appropriations Act), from the general revenue fund to TEA to award grants to assist public school districts in implementing school safety initiatives (estimated to be $335,000) to TEA for the same purpose for the two‑year period beginning on the bill's effective date. C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates all unexpended and unobligated balances remaining as of the bill's effective date from appropriations made by Section 4.35, Chapter 458 (S.B. 30), Acts of the 88th Legislature, Regular Session, 2023 (the Supplemental Appropriations Act), from the general revenue fund to TEA for the regulation of library materials sold to or included in public school libraries (estimated to be $2,000,000) to TEA for the same purpose for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date. C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates all unexpended and unobligated balances remaining as of the bill's effective date from appropriations made by Chapter 1170 (H.B. 1), Acts of the 88th Legislature, Regular Session, 2023 (the General Appropriations Act), from the general revenue fund to The University of Texas at Austin for Strategy C.2.7, Digital Molten Salt Reactor, as listed in that act, for the purchase of equipment for a molten salt reactor (estimated to be $0) to the university for the same purpose for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date. C.S.H.B. 500, contingent on approval by two-thirds of the members present in each house of the legislature, appropriates all unexpended and unobligated balances remaining as of the bill's effective date from appropriations made by Section 4.14, Chapter 458 (S.B. 30), Acts of the 88th Legislature, Regular Session, 2023 (the Supplemental Appropriations Act), from the general revenue fund to Lamar University for the purpose of mitigating storm damage and making renovations at the university (estimated to be $3,000,000) to the university for the same purpose for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date. The legislature expressly finds that there is a demonstrated need for this appropriation of general revenue funds. C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates all unexpended and unobligated balances remaining as of the bill's effective date from appropriations made by Section 4.31, Chapter 458 (S.B. 30), Acts of the 88th Legislature, Regular Session, 2023 (the Supplemental Appropriations Act), from the general revenue fund to the Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service for education, response, recruitment, and retention (estimated to be $1,500,000) to the extension service for the same purpose for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date. C.S.H.B. 500, contingent on approval by two-thirds of the members present in each house of the legislature, appropriates all unexpended and unobligated balances remaining as of the bill's effective date from appropriations made by Section 4.34, Chapter 458 (S.B. 30), Acts of the 88th Legislature, Regular Session, 2023 (the Supplemental Appropriations Act), from the general revenue fund to the Texas A&M University System for quantum and artificial intelligence chip fabrication and the Center for Microdevices and Systems (estimated to be $167,000,000) to the university system for the same purposes for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date. The legislature expressly finds that there is a demonstrated need for this appropriation of general revenue funds. C.S.H.B. 500, contingent on approval by two-thirds of the members present in each house of the legislature, appropriates all unexpended and unobligated balances remaining as of the bill's effective date from appropriations made by Section 4.36, Chapter 458 (S.B. 30), Acts of the 88th Legislature, Regular Session, 2023 (the Supplemental Appropriations Act), from the general revenue fund to the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center at El Paso to support the development of a comprehensive oncology center partnership (estimated to be $51,000,000) to the health science center for the same purpose for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date. The legislature expressly finds that there is a demonstrated need for this appropriation of general revenue funds. C.S.H.B. 500, contingent on approval by two-thirds of the members present in each house of the legislature, appropriates all unexpended and unobligated balances remaining as of the bill's effective date from appropriations made by Section 8.51, Chapter 458 (S.B. 30), Acts of the 88th Legislature, Regular Session, 2023 (the Supplemental Appropriations Act), from the general revenue fund to Texas A&M University at Galveston for dock and other infrastructure improvements needed to accept new and larger vessels from the U.S. Department of Transportation and the U.S. Maritime Administration (MARAD) (estimated to be $43,000,000) to the university for the same purpose for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date. The legislature expressly finds that there is a demonstrated need for this appropriation of general revenue funds. C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates all unexpended and unobligated balances remaining as of the bill's effective date from appropriations made by Section 8.53, Chapter 458 (S.B. 30), Acts of the 88th Legislature, Regular Session, 2023 (the Supplemental Appropriations Act), from money received by the state from the federal Coronavirus State Fiscal Recovery Fund established under the federal American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 and deposited to the credit of the coronavirus relief fund to TDEM for the purpose of the acquisition of land for, and construction of, a state operations center (estimated to be $0) to TDEM for the same purpose for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date. C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates all unexpended and unobligated balances remaining as of the bill's effective date from appropriations made by Section 6.03, Chapter 458 (S.B. 30), Acts of the 88th Legislature, Regular Session, 2023 (the Supplemental Appropriations Act), from the general revenue fund to TPWD to acquire real property for use as state parks (estimated to be $125,000,000) to TPWD for the same purpose for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date. In addition to the capital budget authority granted by other law, TPWD may use an amount equal to the amount appropriated in capital budget authority during that period for the appropriation. C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates all unexpended and unobligated balances remaining as of the bill's effective date from appropriations made by Section 9.02(19), Chapter 458 (S.B. 30), Acts of the 88th Legislature, Regular Session, 2023 (the Supplemental Appropriations Act), from the general revenue fund, the oil and gas regulation and cleanup account, and federal funds to the RRC for the purpose of purchasing motor vehicles for the RRC's use as authorized by general law (estimated to be an aggregate of $7,319,038, of which $4,747,416 is estimated to be from the general revenue fund, $1,482,922 is estimated to be from the oil and gas regulation and cleanup account, and $1,088,700 is estimated to be from federal funds) to the RRC for the same purpose for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date. In addition to the capital budget authority granted by other law, the RRC may use an amount equal to the amount appropriated in capital budget authority during that period for the appropriation. C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates all unexpended balances remaining as of the bill's effective date from appropriations made by Section 74, Chapter 465 (S.B. 500), Acts of the 86th Legislature, Regular Session, 2019 (the Supplemental Appropriations Act), from the Texas Infrastructure Resiliency Fund to the TWDB for the purpose of providing matching funds for projects sponsored by municipalities and counties in Texas and approved for the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program administered by FEMA (estimated to be $219,516,698) to the TWDB for the same purpose for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date. The bill, contingent on the failure by a claimant to present a claim to the comptroller for payment in a timely manner as required by applicable state law and the related expiration of a part of the appropriation originally made by Section 74, Chapter 465 (S.B. 500), Acts of the 86th Legislature, Regular Session, 2019 (the Supplemental Appropriations Act), also appropriates an amount equal to the claims expiring because of the failure to be timely presented to the comptroller for payment (estimated to be $0) for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date from the Texas Infrastructure Resiliency Fund to the TWDB for the purpose of providing matching funds for projects sponsored by municipalities and counties in Texas and approved for the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program administered by FEMA. C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates all unexpended balances remaining as of the bill's effective date from appropriations made by Section 75, Chapter 465 (S.B. 500), Acts of the 86th Legislature, Regular Session, 2019 (the Supplemental Appropriations Act), from the Texas Infrastructure Resiliency Fund to the TWDB for the purpose of providing matching funds for projects sponsored by municipalities and counties in Texas and approved for the Public Assistance grant program administered by FEMA (estimated to be $263,978,241) to the TWDB for the same purpose for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date. The bill, contingent on the failure by a claimant to present a claim to the comptroller for payment in a timely manner as required by applicable state law and the related expiration of a part of the appropriation originally made by Section 75, Chapter 465 (S.B. 500), Acts of the 86th Legislature, Regular Session, 2019 (the Supplemental Appropriations Act), also appropriates an amount equal to the claims expiring because of the failure to be timely presented to the comptroller for payment (estimated to be $0) for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date from the Texas Infrastructure Resiliency Fund to the TWDB for the purpose of providing matching funds for projects sponsored by municipalities and counties in Texas and approved for the Public Assistance grant program administered by FEMA. C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates all unexpended and unobligated balances remaining as of the bill's effective date from appropriations made by Section 2.34, Chapter 458 (S.B. 30), Acts of the 88th Legislature, Regular Session, 2023 (the Supplemental Appropriations Act), from the general revenue fund to SPB for the purpose of making improvements to senate facilities (estimated to be $0) to SPB for the same purpose for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date. SPB may spend this appropriation only with the prior approval of the lieutenant governor. For purposes of the appropriation, the bill exempts SPB from the applicable competitive bidding process for facilities contracts. C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates all unexpended and unobligated balances remaining as of the bill's effective date from appropriations made by Section 2.35, Chapter 458 (S.B. 30), Acts of the 88th Legislature, Regular Session, 2023 (the Supplemental Appropriations Act), from the general revenue fund to SPB for the purpose of making improvements to house of representatives facilities (estimated to be $0) to SPB for the same purpose for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date. SPB may spend this appropriation only with prior approval of the speaker of the house of representatives. For purposes of the appropriation, the bill exempts SPB from the applicable competitive bidding process for facilities contracts. C.S.H.B. 500, contingent on approval by two-thirds of the members present in each house of the legislature, appropriates all unexpended and unobligated balances remaining as of the bill's effective date from appropriations made by Section 8.80, Chapter 458 (S.B. 30), Acts of the 88th Legislature, Regular Session, 2023 (the Supplemental Appropriations Act), from the ESF to TDCJ to be used for corrections information technology system projects as provided under Strategy G.1.4, Information Resources, as listed in Chapter 605 (S.B. 1), Acts of the 85th Legislature, Regular Session, 2017 (the General Appropriations Act) (estimated to be $8,000,000) to TDCJ for the same purpose for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date. In addition to the capital budget authority granted by other law, TDCJ may use an amount equal to the amount appropriated in capital budget authority during that period for the appropriation. C.S.H.B. 500, contingent on approval by two-thirds of the members present in each house of the legislature, appropriates all unexpended and unobligated balances remaining as of the bill's effective date from appropriations made by Section 4.33, Chapter 458 (S.B. 30), Acts of the 88th Legislature, Regular Session, 2023 (the Supplemental Appropriations Act), from the general revenue fund to The University of Texas at Austin for research on forward-looking technologies, the operation and establishment of a research and development fabrication facility, a fabrication facility with security clearance requirements to support the defense electronics sector, and a leading edge shared fabrication facility to support U.S. technological and economic advantages and fabricate small run productions for breakthroughs in advanced packaging (estimated to be $0) to the university for the same purpose for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date. The legislature expressly finds that there is a demonstrated need for this appropriation of general revenue funds. C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates all unexpended and unobligated balances remaining as of the bill's effective date from appropriations made by Rider 19, Page I-50, Chapter 1170 (H.B. 1), Acts of the 88th Legislature, Regular Session, 2023 (the General Appropriations Act), to the bill pattern of the appropriations of TFC from the proceeds from the sale of the William P. Hobby, Jr. State Office Building in Travis County to TFC for the sole purpose of funding the Capitol Complex - Phase 2 construction project as identified in that act (estimated to be $53,299,326) to TFC for the same purpose for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date. This appropriation must: be spent on the Capitol Complex - Phase 2 construction project before any other money lawfully available for that project may be spent; and be fully spent not later than the second anniversary of the date of the close of the sale of the William P. Hobby, Jr. State Office Building. The bill reduces by $53,299,326, an amount equal to the proceeds from the sale of the William P. Hobby, Jr. State Office Building in Travis County, the appropriations made by Chapter 1170 (H.B. 1), Acts of the 88th Legislature, Regular Session, 2023 (the General Appropriations Act), from the general revenue fund to TFC for Capitol Complex - Phase 2 construction. In addition to the capital budget authority granted by other law, TFC may use $53,299,326 in capital budget authority during that period for the appropriation. C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates all obligated but unexpended balances remaining as of the bill's effective date from appropriations made by Chapter 458 (S.B. 30), Acts of the 88th Legislature, Regular Session, 2023 (the Supplemental Appropriations Act), or Chapter 10 (S.B. 8), Acts of the 87th Legislature, Third Called Session, 2021 (the Supplemental Appropriations Act), from money received by the state from the federal Coronavirus State Fiscal Recovery Fund established under the federal American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 and deposited to the credit of the coronavirus relief fund to a state agency to that same agency for the purpose for which the money was obligated for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date. C.S.H.B. 500, contingent on approval by two-thirds of the members present in each house of the legislature, appropriates all unexpended and unobligated balances remaining as of the bill's effective date from appropriations made by Section 4.37, Chapter 458 (S.B. 30), Acts of the 88th Legislature, Regular Session, 2023 (the Supplemental Appropriations Act), from the general revenue fund to The University of Texas at Tyler to renovate a facility to add an additional 44 forensic and civil complex medical needs inpatient beds (estimated to be $7,000,000) to the University of Texas Health Science Center at Tyler for the same purpose for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date. The legislature expressly finds that there is a demonstrated need for this appropriation of general revenue funds. Information Technology Appropriations C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $480,000 from the general revenue fund to the Bond Review Board for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the purpose of modernizing the board's state and local debt database. C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $25,664,814 from the general revenue fund to the comptroller for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the purpose of modernizing information technology services. C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $8,666,041 from the general revenue fund to the comptroller for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the purpose of replacing the Uniform Statewide Accounting System (USAS) and Texas Identification Number System (TINS). C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $947,800 from the general revenue fund to the Texas Emergency Services Retirement System for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the purpose of migrating servers to the Texas Data Center Services program with cloud support and services providing data security enhancements. C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $275,000 from the general revenue fund to the Texas Ethics Commission for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the purpose of continued electronic filing system improvements and accommodating statutory changes. C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $6,490,856 from the general revenue fund to TFC for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the purpose of implementing necessary information technology infrastructure upgrades to the bandwidth with networking solutions for Phase 1 of a multi-phase project. C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $980,000 from the general revenue fund to the Texas Historical Commission for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the purpose of replacing outdated legacy systems relating to enhanced historic sites visitation. C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $24,545,000 from the general revenue fund to the Department of Information Resources (DIR) for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the purposes of procurement, licensing, and support of network bandwidth connectivity, security tolls, and services to local governmental entities in three regional security operations centers' service areas and the establishment of four additional regional security operations centers. C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $24,143,334 from the general revenue fund to DIR for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the purpose of supporting software licenses and subscriptions, maintenance costs, and hardware costs and including network detection and response services for agencies' assessment of the state's cybersecurity risk. C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $3,000,000 from appropriated receipts (other funds) to DIR for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the purpose of implementing additional information technology service management system (ITSM) capabilities across DIR and replacing existing legacy systems. C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $231,224 from the general revenue fund to the Texas State Library and Archives Commission (TSLAC) for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the purpose of acquiring equipment and parts to maintain TSLAC's 200-user local area network, wide area network, and telecommunications, allowing for the replacement of obsolete network equipment and the scheduled replacement of desktop and laptop computers. C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $700,000 from the general revenue fund to the State Pension Review Board (PRB) for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the purpose of implementing various one-time enhancements to address improvements identified during the creation of the PRB's three main information technology systems: the Internal Database, the Texas Public Pension Data Center, and the Pension Online Reporting Tool. C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $1,194,904 from interagency contract receipts to the State Office of Risk Management for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the purpose of using a cloud-based solution to integrate all operational systems and statutorily mandated programs. C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $8,436,864 from the general revenue fund and $563,136 from federal funds to DFPS for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the purpose of cybersecurity protections and technologies to address current cybersecurity threats and prepare DFPS to mitigate future risks. C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $2,545,287 from the general revenue fund to DSHS for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the purpose of continuing seat management services. C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $9,949,396 from the general revenue fund to DSHS for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the purpose of integrating the capabilities of the Maternal Mortality Review System (MMRS) and the Maternal Child Health Quality Improvement System (MCHQIS) with the State Health Analytics Reporting Platform (SHARP). C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $744,364 from the general revenue fund and $755,636 from federal funds to HHSC for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the purpose of supporting increased license costs for forecasting and rate setting in service of ongoing Medicaid and Children's Health Insurance Program operations. C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $43,002 from the general revenue fund to HHSC for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the purpose of replacing the Texas Civil Commitment Office's Microsoft Office 2016 with Microsoft Office 365. C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $260,000 from the permanent school fund account to the Texas Permanent School Fund Corporation for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the purpose of replacing outdated personal computers and laptops across the corporation. C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $480,000 from the permanent school fund account to the Texas Permanent School Fund Corporation for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the purpose of upgrading infrastructure to support the corporation's growing data storage, processing, audio/video, and security needs. C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $1,000,000 from the permanent school fund account to the Texas Permanent School Fund Corporation for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the purpose of enhancing the corporation's defenses against cyber threats. C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $730,000 from the permanent school fund account to the Texas Permanent School Fund Corporation for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the purpose of using cloud services and providing the corporation's information technology infrastructure with data backup and recovery, networking, website hosting, and data management. C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $2,071,998 from the general revenue fund to the Texas School for the Deaf for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the purpose of adding security to hardware, software, and support systems, and for service items related to cybersecurity. C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $11,942,000 from the general revenue fund to OCA for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the purpose of replacing the legacy system that provides case management to the appellate courts in Texas. C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $3,943,685 from the general revenue fund to OCA for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the purpose of creating a cloud-based, centralized system for the statutorily defined specialty courts in Texas. C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $19,489,260 from the general revenue fund to TDCJ for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the purpose of purchasing integration solutions for the Centralized Accounting Payroll/Personnel System (CAPPS) and community workstations to be placed in correctional facilities to provide computer access for correctional staff. C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $1,000,000 from the general revenue fund to TDCJ for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the purpose of updating TDCJ's Office of the Inspector General Crime Management System. C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $29,077,480 from the general revenue fund to TDCJ for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the purpose of replacing TDCJ's video surveillance equipment. C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $85,378,000 from the general revenue fund to TDCJ for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the purpose of expanding the use of body-worn cameras systemwide. C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $21,993,600 from the general revenue fund to TDCJ for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the purpose of upgrading TDCJ's telephone systems. C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $29,265,000 from the general revenue fund to TDCJ for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the purpose of replacing aging legacy infrastructure with statewide broadband cabling in TDCJ facilities statewide. C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $562,640 from the general revenue fund to TDCJ for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the purpose of modernizing the Board of Pardons and Paroles' (BPP) telephone system and allowing the BPP to use an automated call distribution system. C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $58,300,000 from the general revenue fund to TDCJ for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the purpose of purchasing an offender management system for incarceration and parole supervision. C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $160,000 from the general revenue fund to the Texas Commission on Fire Protection (TCFP) for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the purpose of equipment and technology improvements to TCFP's sound system. C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $87,000 from the general revenue fund to the Commission on Jail Standards (TCJS) for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the purpose of supporting TCJS's website and portal, purchasing renewal licenses for software, and replacing laptops and other hardware. C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $38,000 from the general revenue fund to TCJS for the two-year period beginning on the effective date for the purpose of cloud maintenance and security. C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $9,000,000 from the general revenue fund to TJJD for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the purpose of modernizing applications. C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $27,471,283 from the general revenue fund to the Department of Public Safety (DPS) for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the purpose of protecting critical data systems and associated supporting infrastructure. C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $20,000,000 from the general revenue fund to DPS for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the purpose of replacing the state's fingerprint matching repository. C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $13,858,646 from the general revenue fund to DPS for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the purpose of making technology improvements to driver license services. C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $5,000,511 from the general revenue fund to DPS for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the purpose of making technology improvements to driver license customer service centers. C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $800,000 from the general revenue fund to DPS for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the purpose of an accounts payable invoice tracking system. C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $5,607,644 from the general revenue fund to DPS for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the purpose of modernizing the Texas Online Private Security (TOPS), Texas Online Metals (TOM), and Vehicle Inspection Connection (VIC) systems. C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $900,000 from the general revenue fund to DPS for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the purpose of purchasing a multi-directional external file sharing solution. C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $23,522,986 from the general revenue fund to DPS for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the purpose of cybersecurity and identity management services. C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $2,141,154 from the clean air account, $2,473,579 from the water resource management account, $1,105,178 from the waste management account, $1,105,177 from the hazardous and solid waste remediation fees account, $1,105,176 from the petroleum storage tank remediation account, and $9,784,080 from the operating permit fees account to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the purpose of establishing a comprehensive risk management framework program and modernizing two legacy applications vital to air and water management. C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $4,874,458 from the clean air account, $4,874,460 from the water resource management account, $3,655,846 from the waste management account, $3,655,844 from the hazardous and solid waste remediation fees account, $3,655,844 from the petroleum storage tank remediation account, and $3,655,844 from the operating permit fees account to the TCEQ for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the purpose of addressing a forecasted increase in data center services. C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $7,685,824 from the general revenue fund to the RRC for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the purpose of developing a new produced water and injection data reporting system. C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $2,748,000 from the general revenue fund to the RRC for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the purpose of developing an oil and gas authorized pit registration system. C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $6,288,068 from the general revenue fund to the RRC for the two‑year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the purpose of modernizing the alternative fuels online system and developing a new gas utilities' audit and market oversight online system. C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $7,728,398 from the general revenue fund to the RRC for the two‑year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the purpose of addressing a forecasted increase in data center services. C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $2,676,054 from the general revenue fund to the TWDB for the two‑year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the purpose of information technology risk mitigation. C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $1,589,344 from the general revenue fund to the Texas Lottery Commission for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the purpose of upgrading the Bingo Operation Service System (BOSS) and the Bingo Service Portal. C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $1,795,158 from the lottery account to the Texas Lottery Commission for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the purpose of transitioning the lottery commission to the financial modules of CAPPS. C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $125,000,000 from the general revenue fund to the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the purpose of replacing the legacy registration and title system. C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $3,264,540 from the unemployment compensation special administration account to TWC for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the purpose of enhancing fraud detection and deterrence efforts pertaining to the unemployment insurance program. C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $3,162,408 from the unemployment compensation special administration account to TWC for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the purpose of implementing items identified in the Texas Cybersecurity Framework Assessment. C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $10,975,221 from the unemployment compensation special administration account to TWC for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the purpose of addressing current mainframe computing needs related to unemployment insurance claims. C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $2,613,576 from the unemployment compensation special administration account to TWC for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the purpose of implementing unemployment insurance State Information Data Exchange System (SIDES) modules. C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $76,212 from the general revenue fund, $1,452,262 from the unemployment compensation special administration account, and $2,705,526 from federal funds to TWC for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the purpose of addressing network deficiencies. C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $585,640 from the general revenue fund to the State Office of Administrative Hearings for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the purpose of providing funding for a full-time data officer and information security officer and implementing recommendations to mitigate cybersecurity risks. C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $731,598 from the Texas Department of Insurance operating account to the Office of Injured Employee Counsel for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the purpose of providing funding for additional FTEs and information technology modernization relating to dispute resolution and case management systems. C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $1,097,040 from the Texas Department of Insurance operating account to the Texas Department of Insurance (TDI) for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the purpose of replacing the Division of Workers' Compensation's claims management system. C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $2,450,000 from the Texas Department of Insurance operating account to TDI for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the purpose of modernizing network adequacy software. C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $13,136 from the general revenue fund to the Texas State Board of Pharmacy for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the purpose of addressing a DIR cost increase for cloud services and Texas.gov fees. C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $3,951,400 from the general revenue fund to the PUC for the two‑year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the purpose of developing a case management system. C.S.H.B. 500 establishes that, in addition to the capital budget authority granted by other law, the state agencies appropriated money under the bill's provisions relating to information technology appropriations may use an amount equal to the total amount appropriated to the agency under those provisions in capital budget authority during the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for those appropriations. Miscellaneous Provisions Motor Vehicle Purchases C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates the following amounts from the specified sources to the following agencies for use during the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the purpose of purchasing motor vehicles for the agency's use as authorized by general law: the Department of State Health Services: $2,465,539 from the general revenue fund, which may also be used for the purchase of three boats for DSHS's oyster program; the Health and Human Services Commission: $7,850,000 from the general revenue fund; the Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired: $510,000 from the general revenue fund; the Texas School for the Deaf: $510,000 from the general revenue fund; the Texas A&M Forest Service: $2,056,918 from the general revenue fund; the Texas Division of Emergency Management: $7,800,000 from the general revenue fund; the Texas Department of Criminal Justice: $43,587,907 from the general revenue fund; the Texas Juvenile Justice Department: a total of $3,990,000 from the general revenue fund allocated as follows: o to the Office of the Independent Ombudsman: $150,000; o to the Office of the Inspector General: $550,000; and o to TJJD: $3,290,000; the Department of Public Safety: $226,884,563 from the general revenue fund, of which DPS may use $6,000,000 for aircraft maintenance and $2,550,000 for aircraft engine overhauls; the Department of Agriculture: $1,500,000 from the general revenue fund; the Texas Animal Health Commission: $920,000 from the general revenue fund; the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality: a total of $1,119,775 from: o the clean air account: $189,841; o the water resource management account: $337,127; o the waste management account: $336,125; o the hazardous and solid waste remediation fees account: $41,000; o the petroleum storage tank remediation account: $107,841; and o the operating permit fees account: $107,841; the General Land Office: a total of $1,000,000 from the following accounts: o coastal protection account: $927,850, of which the GLO may use $850,000 for the replacement of boats; and o permanent school fund (other funds): $72,150; the Parks and Wildlife Department: a total of $9,123,786 from: o the general revenue fund: $6,051,994; o the game, fish, and water safety account: $509,840; and o the state parks account: $2,561,952; the Railroad Commission of Texas: $4,889,841 from the general revenue fund; the Texas Department of Transportation: $38,337,116 from the state highway fund (other funds); the Texas Department of Insurance: $450,000 from the Texas Department of Insurance operating account; the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation: $515,000 from the general revenue fund; the Texas State Board of Pharmacy: $320,000 from the general revenue fund; the Texas Racing Commission: $160,000 from the general revenue fund; the Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners: $116,500 from the general revenue fund; the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission: $1,399,050 from the general revenue fund; the Texas Historical Commission: $560,832 from the general revenue fund; the Health and Human Services Commission for the Texas Civil Commitment Office: $60,164 from the general revenue fund; the Texas Commission on Fire Protection: $225,000 from the general revenue fund; and the Texas Military Department: $1,050,000 from the general revenue fund. In addition to the capital budget authority granted by other law, each agency may use an amount equal to the equal to the amount appropriated in capital budget authority during the two‑year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the appropriation. Limitation, Reporting, and Transfer Provisions of GAA Incorporated by Reference C.S.H.B. 500 establishes that provisions relating to limitations, reporting, or transfer of Article IX, Chapter 1170 (H.B. 1), Acts of the 88th Legislature, Regular Session, 2023 (the General Appropriations Act), and of Article IX, S.B. 1, Acts of the 89th Legislature, Regular Session, 2025 (the General Appropriations Act), are incorporated into C.S.H.B. 500 by reference and apply to the appropriations made by the bill. Interpretation of Legislative Intent C.S.H.B. 500 establishes that money appropriated by the bill must be spent, as nearly as practicable, for the purposes for which the money was appropriated. In the event an agency cannot determine the legislative purpose of an appropriation from the pattern of appropriations, the agency must seek to determine that purpose from the proceedings of the standing legislative committees with primary jurisdiction over appropriations and from the request for appropriations made by the agency. EFFECTIVE DATE Except as otherwise provided, on passage. COMPARISON OF INTRODUCED AND SUBSTITUTE While C.S.H.B. 500 may differ from the introduced in minor or nonsubstantive ways, the following summarizes the substantial differences between the introduced and committee substitute versions of the bill. The substitute includes a provision absent from the introduced appropriating $300,000,000 from the general revenue fund to the comptroller for FY 2025 to be deposited by the comptroller to the space exploration and aeronautics research trust fund. The substitute includes a provision absent from the introduced appropriating $150,000,000 from the general revenue fund to the trusteed programs within the governor's office for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date to make a grant, in a manner consistent with Strategy B.1.3, Homeland Security, to the Lubbock Reese Redevelopment Authority to acquire critical cybersecurity infrastructure. With respect to the $150,000,000 appropriated in both the introduced and the substitute to HHSC from the general revenue fund for use during the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date in a manner consistent with Strategy G.4.2, Facility Capital Repairs and Renovation at State Supported Living Centers, State Hospitals, and Other, to complete construction of the El Paso State Hospital, also known as the El Paso Psychiatric Center in El Paso, which is a state hospital facility, the substitute does not include the introduced version's specification that the hospital contains a 50-forensic bed expansion. Additionally, with respect to the $50,000,000 appropriated to HHSC from the general revenue fund by Section 3.02(a), Chapter 458 (S.B. 30), Acts of the 88th Legislature, Regular Session, 2023 (the Supplemental Appropriations Act), for Strategy G.4.2, Facility Capital Repairs and Renovation, for pre-planning, planning, land acquisition, and initial construction of a new 50-bed El Paso State Hospital, with 50 percent of the beds to be forensic, the substitute amends that act to omit the specification that the hospital contains 50 beds, whereas the introduced did not. The substitute includes a provision absent from the introduced appropriating $65,000,000 from the general revenue fund to HHSC for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date to establish a one-time grant to Baptist Hospitals of Southeast Texas to provide stroke care services to the southeast region of Texas. Whereas the introduced appropriated $24,945,000 from the general revenue fund to Texas State University for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the purpose of funding construction for the Advanced Law Enforcement Rapid Response Training Program, the substitute makes that appropriation to the university for the purpose of funding construction for the Advanced Law Enforcement Rapid Response Training Center. The substitute includes a provision absent from the introduced appropriating $50,000,000 from the general revenue fund to the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date to support the development of a rural cancer collaborative, contingent on approval by two-thirds of the members present in each house of the legislature. The substitute includes related provisions also absent from the introduced establishing that the legislature expressly finds that there is a demonstrated need for this appropriation of general revenue funds. The substitute includes a provision absent from the introduced appropriating an amount equal to the sum of $650,000,000 for each institution of higher education that becomes eligible to receive certain distributions from the Texas University Fund, as certified by the THECB and not to exceed $1,300,000,000, from the general revenue fund to the comptroller for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for deposit by the comptroller to that fund to provide additional money to ensure stable funding for institutions that are eligible to receive the applicable distributions from that fund before the bill's effective date. The substitute includes a provision absent from the introduced authorizing TDCJ, in addition to the capital budget authority granted by other law, to use $110,000,000 in capital budget authority for the appropriation of $110,000,000 made from the general revenue fund to TDCJ for the two‑year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the purchase of the Giles Dalby Correctional Facility in Post, Texas. The substitute includes a provision absent from the introduced appropriating $7,000,000 from the general revenue fund to TDCJ for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the water supply at the Hobby Unit in Marlin, Texas. The substitute also includes corresponding provisions regarding TDCJ's use of its capital budget authority, which were absent from the introduced. Whereas the introduced appropriated $200,000,000 from the general revenue fund to the TWDB for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date to be used in a manner consistent with Strategy C.1.1, State & Federal Financial Assistance Program, the substitute instead appropriates $400,000,000 from the general revenue fund to the TWDB for that period to be used for water projects in a manner consistent with Strategy C.1.1, State & Federal Financial Assistance Program. Whereas the introduced version's appropriation of $2,500,000,000 from the general revenue fund to the comptroller for FY 2025 to be deposited by the comptroller to the Texas Water Fund was contingent on the enactment of legislation by the 89th Legislature, Regular Session, 2025, relating to the allocation of funds deposited to that fund for water infrastructure and supply projects, the substitute instead makes that appropriation contingent on H.B. 16 or similar legislation by the 89th Legislature, Regular Session, 2025, relating to the oversight and financing of certain water infrastructure matters under the jurisdiction of the TWDB being enacted and becoming law. The substitute includes a provision absent from the introduced appropriating $100,000,000 from the general revenue fund to TPWD for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for use in a manner consistent with Strategy B.2.1, Local Parks Grants. The substitute includes a provision absent from the introduced appropriating $21,400,000 from the general revenue fund to TPWD for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for improvements to and repairs of TPWD's headquarters facility. The substitute also includes corresponding provisions regarding TPWD's use of its capital budget authority, which were absent from the introduced. Whereas the introduced appropriated $350,000,000 from the general revenue fund to TxDOT for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the purpose of making grants for the construction of local rail grade crossings, contingent on enactment of legislation by the 89th Legislature, Regular Session, 2025, authorizing TxDOT to make such grants, the substitute instead appropriates $350,000,000 from the general revenue fund to TxDOT for that period for the purpose of making grants for railroad grade separation projects, contingent on H.B. 3727, S.B. 1555, or similar legislation by the 89th Legislature, Regular Session, 2025, relating to a grant program to fund certain railroad grade separation projects being enacted and becoming law. The substitute includes provisions absent from the introduced appropriating $131,000,000 from the general revenue fund to TxDOT for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the purpose of constructing or maintaining the state highway infrastructure in coordination with the Texas Space Commission, as identified in the Texas Space Industry Highway Transportation Needs Assessment report and TxDOT's 2026 unified transportation program and requiring TxDOT, in constructing or maintaining the state highway infrastructure, to give consideration for the critical infrastructure needs using local government and private sector partnerships. The substitute includes related provisions also absent from the introduced establishing that it is the legislature's intent that TxDOT use this appropriation to draw down federal money or other sources of funding to the extent possible. The substitute includes a provision absent from the introduced appropriating $100,000,000 from the general revenue fund to TxDOT for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for use in a manner consistent with Strategy C.5.1, Aviation Services. The substitute omits provisions from the introduced requiring the comptroller to immediately transfer an indeterminate amount of money from the general revenue fund to the Texas Nuclear Power Fund and appropriating an indeterminate amount of money from the Texas Nuclear Power Fund to the PUC for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date to be used for the Texas Nuclear Power Program, contingent on enactment of legislation creating that fund. The substitute includes a provision absent from the introduced appropriating $100,000,000 from the general revenue fund to TWC for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for use in a manner consistent with Strategy A.3.1, Local Child Care Solutions. The substitute includes a provision absent from the introduced appropriating $750,000,000 from the general revenue fund to the comptroller for deposit to the Texas Energy Fund, contingent on H.B. 14 or similar legislation by the 89th Legislature, Regular Session, 2025, relating to funding mechanisms within the governor's office and the PUC to support the deployment of advanced nuclear reactors in Texas being enacted and becoming law.
BILL ANALYSIS
# BILL ANALYSIS
C.S.H.B. 500
By: Bonnen
Appropriations
Committee Report (Substituted)
C.S.H.B. 500
By: Bonnen
Appropriations
Committee Report (Substituted)
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Each legislative session, state agencies project the costs of fulfilling their functions and providing important services for the following two-year budget period. This information, combined with the biennial estimate of revenues submitted to the governor and the legislature before the convening of each regular session, can be a key component in the construction of the General Appropriations Act. C.S.H.B. 500 seeks to make supplemental appropriations and give direction and adjustment authority regarding certain appropriations to address revised revenue estimates and supplemental needs.
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 rulemaking authority is expressly granted to the comptroller of public accounts in SECTION 4.02 of this bill.
ANALYSIS C.S.H.B. 500 makes supplemental appropriations and reductions in appropriations and gives direction and adjustment authority with respect to the General Appropriations Act (GAA) and the Supplemental Appropriations Act adopted by the 88th Texas Legislature, Regular Session, 2023. General Government C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $1,000,000,000 from the general revenue fund to the Employees Retirement System of Texas (ERS) for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date to be used for a one-time legacy payment to reduce ERS's unfunded actuarial liabilities and long-term interest costs. C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $40,454,048 from the general revenue fund to the comptroller of public accounts for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date to be deposited to the compensation to victims of crime account. C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates any unexpended and unobligated balances remaining as of the bill's effective date from the appropriation made to the comptroller by Section 41, Chapter 10 (S.B. 8), Acts of the 87th Legislature, 3rd Called Session, 2021 (the Supplemental Appropriations Act), for immediate deposit to an account or fund to be managed by the Texas Treasury Safekeeping Trust Company as trustee for the benefit of the State Preservation Board (SPB) to maintain the Bob Bullock State History Museum (estimated to be $104,498,347) to the comptroller for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for deposit not later than August 31, 2025, to the Texas State Buildings Preservation Endowment Fund to be used for purposes provided by applicable state law. The comptroller must transfer the money from the Maintain Bullock State History Museum Fund account held by the trust company to the Texas State Buildings Preservation Endowment Fund as soon as practicable after the bill's effective date. C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $300,000,000 from the general revenue fund to the comptroller for the 2025 state fiscal year (FY 2025) to be deposited by the comptroller to the space exploration and aeronautics research trust fund. C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $100,000,000 from the general revenue fund to the Texas Historical Commission for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date to be used for the commission's courthouse grant program. In addition to the capital budget authority granted by other law, the commission may use $100,000,000 in capital budget authority during that period for the appropriation. C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $145,377,607 from the general revenue fund to the Texas Facilities Commission (TFC) for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the purpose of removing and replacing the State Insurance Building. The bill also appropriates any proceeds from the sale of the building to TFC for that period for the purpose of replacing the building. In addition to the capital budget authority granted by other law, TFC may use $145,377,607 in capital budget authority during that period for the appropriation. C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $75,000,000 from the general revenue fund to SPB for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the purpose of making improvements to senate facilities. SPB may spend this appropriation only with the prior approval of the lieutenant governor. For purposes of the appropriation, the bill exempts SPB from the applicable competitive bidding process for facilities contracts. In addition to the capital budget authority granted by other law, SPB may use $75,000,000 in capital budget authority during that period for the appropriation. C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $75,000,000 from the general revenue fund to SPB for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the purpose of making improvements to house of representatives facilities. SPB may spend this appropriation only with the prior approval of the speaker of the house of representatives. For purposes of the appropriation, the bill exempts SPB from the applicable competitive bidding process. In addition to the capital budget authority granted by other law, SPB may use $75,000,000 in capital budget authority during that period for the appropriation. C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $5,940,000 from the general revenue fund to the comptroller for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date to be used for the administration of the Texas Jobs, Energy, Technology, and Innovation Act established under Subchapter T, Chapter 403, Government Code, as added by Chapter 377 (H.B. 5), Acts of the 88th Legislature, Regular Session, 2023. C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $150,000,000 from the general revenue fund to the Trusteed Programs within the governor's office for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date to make a grant, in a manner consistent with Strategy B.1.3, Homeland Security, as listed in Chapter 1170 (H.B. 1), Acts of the 88th Legislature, Regular Session, 2023 (the General Appropriations Act), to the Lubbock Reese Redevelopment Authority to acquire critical cybersecurity infrastructure. Health and Human Services C.S.H.B. 500 authorizes the Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC), notwithstanding any transfer limitation provided by Chapter 1170 (H.B. 1), Acts of the 88th Legislature, Regular Session, 2023 (the General Appropriations Act), to transfer unexpended balances from strategies in goals other than Goal A, Medicaid Client Services, to strategies in Goal A, Medicaid Client Services, and to transfer unexpended balances between strategies in Goal A, Medicaid Client Services, as listed in that act. Money may be transferred during FY 2025 and during the 2024 state fiscal year and then moved forward to FY 2025. The bill requires HHSC, not later than October 1, 2025, to report to the Legislative Budget Board (LBB) and the governor's office regarding any money transferred and spent as provided by these provisions. C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $150,000,000 to HHSC from the general revenue fund for use during the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date in a manner consistent with Strategy G.4.2, Facility Capital Repairs and Renovation at State Supported Living Centers, State Hospitals, and Other, as listed in Chapter 1170 (H.B. 1), Acts of the 88th Legislature, Regular Session, 2023 (the General Appropriations Act), to complete construction of the El Paso State Hospital, also known as the El Paso Psychiatric Center in El Paso, which is a state hospital facility. In addition to the capital budget authority granted by other law, HHSC may use $150,000,000 in capital budget authority during that period for the appropriation. C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $10,000,000 from the general revenue fund to HHSC for the two‑year period beginning on the bill's effective date to establish a one-time grant to Brazoria County for the purpose of planning and designing an inpatient mental health facility with at least 50 percent forensic capacity on donated land to serve the Brazoria County region. C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $10,000,000 from the general revenue fund to HHSC for the two‑year period beginning on the bill's effective date to establish a one-time grant to Tarrant County for the purpose of planning and designing an inpatient mental health facility with at least 50 percent forensic capacity on donated land to serve the Tarrant County region. C.S.H.B. 500 authorizes HHSC, during FY 2025 and in addition to the number of full-time equivalent (FTE) employees other law authorizes HHSC to employ during that period, to employ 414.0 additional FTE employees out of money appropriated by Chapter 1170 (H.B. 1), Acts of the 88th Legislature, Regular Session, 2023 (the General Appropriations Act), to provide expanded capacity at newly renovated mental health state hospitals. C.S.H.B. 500 amends Section 3.02(a), Chapter 458 (S.B. 30), Acts of the 88th Legislature, Regular Session, 2023 (the Supplemental Appropriations Act), to do the following with respect to the purposes for the money appropriated to HHSC by that act for new capacity for certain mental health services and inpatient facilities: with respect to the $573,000,000 appropriated from the general revenue fund for Strategy G.4.2, Facility Capital Repairs and Renovation, to construct a 250-bed replacement campus for the Terrell State Hospital, including 50 maximum security beds, 140 forensic beds, 35 adolescent beds, and 25 civil beds, the bill increases the total number of beds that replacement campus must contain from 250 to 275 by increasing the number of forensic beds included from 140 to 150 and by increasing the number of adolescent beds included from 35 to 50; with respect to the $452,000,000 appropriated from the general revenue fund for Strategy G.4.2, Facility Capital Repairs and Renovation, to construct a 200-bed replacement for the North Texas State Hospital - Wichita Falls, including 24 maximum security beds, 136 forensic beds, 24 adolescent beds, and 16 civil beds, the bill increases the total number of beds that replacement must contain from 200 to 225 by increasing the number of maximum security beds included from 24 to 25, by increasing the number of forensic beds included from 136 to 159, and by increasing the number of adolescent beds included from 24 to 25; and with respect to the $50,000,000 appropriated from the general revenue fund for Strategy G.4.2, Facility Capital Repairs and Renovation, for pre-planning, planning, land acquisition, and initial construction of a new 50-bed El Paso State Hospital, with 50 percent of the beds to be forensic, the bill removes the specification that the hospital contains 50 beds. C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $7,380,403 from the general revenue fund to HHSC, for the benefit of the Texas Civil Commitment Office, for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date to reimburse the office for offsite health care costs and services related to the supervision and treatment of sexually violent predators. C.S.H.B. 500, contingent on approval by two-thirds of the members present in each house of the legislature, appropriates $12,900,000 from the general revenue fund to HHSC, for the benefit of The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the purposes of building renovations, including patient care areas, patient and visitor areas, physical plant items, and other life and safety updates, at the Harris County Psychiatric Hospital. The legislature expressly finds that there is a demonstrated need for this appropriation of general revenue funds. In addition to the capital budget authority granted by other law, HHSC may use $12,900,000 in capital budget authority during that period for the appropriation. C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $65,000,000 from the general revenue fund to HHSC for the two‑year period beginning on the bill's effective date to establish a one-time grant to Baptist Hospitals of Southeast Texas to provide stroke care services to the southeast region of Texas. C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $328,332,698 from the general revenue fund to the Department of State Health Services (DSHS) for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the expansion of DSHS's laboratory capacity as requested by DSHS in DSHS's 2024 legislative appropriation request exceptional item number one. In addition to the capital budget authority granted by other law, DSHS may use $328,332,698 in capital budget authority during that period for the appropriation. C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $82,568,491 from the general revenue fund and $14,000,000 from federal funds to the Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date to address a budget shortfall associated with children without placement, child protective services staffing, adult protective services staffing, and day care services. Education C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $389,339,579 from the general revenue fund to the Texas Education Agency (TEA) for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the foundation school program. The bill specifies that the sum-certain appropriation to the foundation school program for FY 2025 is $30,406,827,783. C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $934,500,000 from the general revenue fund to TEA for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date to address a reduction of federal money available for the School Health and Related Services (SHARS) program. C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $1,394,000 from the general revenue fund to the Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the following purposes: $930,000 for special education; $314,000 for Strategy D.1.1, Central Administration, as listed in Chapter 1170 (H.B. 1), Acts of the 88th Legislature, Regular Session, 2023 (the General Appropriations Act), to fund previously vacant positions; and $150,000 for transportation. C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $111,022,800 from the general revenue fund to the Texas A&M Forest Service for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the purpose of responding to natural disasters that occurred in the 2022 and 2023 state fiscal years and natural disasters occurring in the future, including responding through the mobilization of ground and aviation resources for wildfire suppression. C.S.H.B. 500 requires the comptroller to immediately transfer $100,000,000 from the general revenue fund to the volunteer fire department assistance account and appropriates $100,000,000 from that account to the Texas A&M Forest Service for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the administration and operation of the rural volunteer fire department assistance program. Of that appropriation, the forest service may not use more than $3,500,000 for administrative expenses. C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $394,000,000 from the general revenue fund to the Texas A&M Forest Service for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the purchase of airplanes for wildfire suppression. C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $4,000,000 from the general revenue fund to the Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM) for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the purpose of developing a first responder database. C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $315,000,000 from the general revenue fund to TDEM for the two‑year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the following purposes: supporting regional emergency management operations facilities and resource staging areas as requested in TDEM's 2024 legislative appropriation request exceptional item number one; enhancing the regional operations centers in San Antonio and Fort Worth; and supporting emergency response operations. C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $89,500,000 from the general revenue fund to the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the purpose of funding higher than projected growth in fundable outcomes for public junior colleges and the application of weights and rates set for FY 2025 in the public junior college funding formula. C.S.H.B. 500, contingent on approval by two-thirds of the members present in each house of the legislature, appropriates $24,945,000 from the general revenue fund to Texas State University for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the purpose of funding construction for the Advanced Law Enforcement Rapid Response Training Center. The legislature expressly finds that there is a demonstrated need for this appropriation of general revenue funds. C.S.H.B. 500, contingent on approval by two-thirds of the members present in each house of the legislature, appropriates $65,000,000 from the general revenue fund to the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center at El Paso for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date to support the development of phase II of a comprehensive oncology center partnership. The legislature expressly finds that there is a demonstrated need for this appropriation of general revenue funds. C.S.H.B. 500, contingent on approval by two-thirds of the members present in each house of the legislature, appropriates $50,000,000 from the general revenue fund to the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date to support the development of a rural cancer collaborative. The legislature expressly finds that there is a demonstrated need for this appropriation of general revenue funds. C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates an amount equal to the sum of $650,000,000 for each institution of higher education that becomes eligible to receive certain distributions from the Texas University Fund on or after the bill's effective date, as certified by the THECB and not to exceed $1,300,000,000, from the general revenue fund to the comptroller for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for deposit by the comptroller to that fund to provide additional money to ensure stable funding for institutions that are eligible to receive the applicable distributions from the fund before the bill's effective date. The Judiciary, Public Safety, and Criminal Safety C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $5,100,000 from the general revenue fund to the Office of Court Administration (OCA) for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date to be used in a manner consistent with Strategy D.1.1, Texas Indigent Defense Commission, as listed in Chapter 1170 (H.B. 1), Acts of the 88th Legislature, Regular Session, 2023 (the General Appropriations Act), for the purpose of providing grants to counties for indigent defense in accordance with all uses authorized by Chapter 79, Government Code, with respect to the Texas Indigent Defense Commission. This appropriation may not be used to offset OCA's administrative support provided to the Texas Indigent Defense Commission except by mutual agreement of OCA and the commission. C.S.H.B. 500 authorizes the comptroller to use general revenue appropriated to the Judiciary Section, Comptroller's Department by Chapter 1170 (H.B. 1), Acts of the 88th Legislature, Regular Session, 2023 (the General Appropriations Act), to provide an annual salary supplement to each business court judge in an amount not to exceed $18,000 for FY 2025. The bill requires the comptroller to adopt rules as necessary to administer these provisions, including rules necessary to provide for associated benefit costs as well as fairness and equity among the business court judges and between the business court judges and district court judges. C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $571,520,355 from the general revenue fund to the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the purpose of providing for the following: correctional security operations; correctional managed health care consistent with Strategy C.1.9, Hospital and Clinical Care, as listed in Chapter 1170 (H.B. 1), Acts of the 88th Legislature, Regular Session, 2023 (the General Appropriations Act); and other operational expenses of TDCJ. C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $301,000,000 from the general revenue fund to TDCJ for the two‑year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the purpose of constructing dormitories within existing security fencing at TDCJ's existing facilities located in areas with a strong labor pool, as requested in TDCJ's 2024 legislative appropriation request exceptional item number 21. In addition to the capital budget authority granted by other law, TDCJ may use $301,000,000 in capital budget authority during that period for the appropriation. C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $214,799,300 from the general revenue fund to TDCJ for the two‑year period beginning on the bill's effective date for major repair and restoration projects at TDCJ's facilities, as requested in TDCJ's 2024 legislative appropriation request exceptional item number nine. In addition to the capital budget authority granted by other law, TDCJ may use $214,799,300 in capital budget authority during that period for the appropriation. C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $110,000,000 from the general revenue fund to TDCJ for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the purchase of the Giles Dalby Correctional Facility in Post, Texas. In addition to the capital budget authority granted by other law, TDCJ may use $110,000,000 in capital budget authority during that period for the appropriation. C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $7,000,000 from the general revenue fund to TDCJ for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the water supply at the Hobby Unit in Marlin, Texas. In addition to the capital budget authority granted by other law, TDCJ may use $7,000,000 in capital budget authority during that period for the appropriation. C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $75,000,000 from the general revenue fund to the Texas Juvenile Justice Department (TJJD) for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the purpose described by Rider 41, page V-38, Chapter 1170 (H.B. 1), Acts of the 88th Legislature, Regular Session, 2023 (the General Appropriations Act), to the bill pattern of the appropriations to TJJD, including completing the construction of the two new facilities that would expand capacity for TJJD by 200 beds. The bill appropriates all unexpended and unobligated balances remaining as of the bill's effective date from appropriations made to TJJD by Chapter 1170 (H.B. 1), Acts of the 88th Legislature, Regular Session, 2023 (the General Appropriations Act), for the construction of two new facilities that would expand capacity for TJJD by 200 beds as provided by Rider 41, page V-38, of that act (estimated to be $0) for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date to TJJD for the same purpose. In addition to the capital budget authority granted by other law, TJJD may use an amount estimated to be $75,000,000 in capital budget authority during that period for the facility completion appropriations. C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $13,300,000 from the general revenue fund to TJJD for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the purpose of reimbursing counties for the costs of holding juveniles for whom TJJD does not have adequate capacity. C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $675,000 from the general revenue fund to TJJD for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the purpose of covering an operational shortfall for TJJD's Office of the Inspector General related to the office filling more employee positions. Natural Resources C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $54,767,800 from the general revenue fund to the Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for deposit to the clean water state revolving fund and use consistent with applicable law. The bill also appropriates $88,165,200 from the general revenue fund to the TWDB for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for deposit to the drinking water state revolving fund and use consistent with applicable law. The bill establishes that it is the intent of the legislature that these appropriations be used by the TWDB to draw down federal matching funds under the federal Infrastructure Investments and Jobs Act and other available federal programs. The bill requires the TWDB, not later than August 31, 2027, to submit to the LBB a report showing the disposition of this money and the amount of federal matching funds that were drawn down with this money. C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $400,000,000 from the general revenue fund to the TWDB for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date to be used for water projects in a manner consistent with Strategy C.1.1, State & Federal Financial Assistance Program, as listed in Chapter 1170 (H.B. 1), Acts of the 88th Legislature, Regular Session, 2023 (the General Appropriations Act). C.S.H.B. 500, contingent on H.B. 16 or similar legislation by the 89th Legislature, Regular Session, 2025, relating to the oversight and financing of certain water infrastructure matters under the jurisdiction of the TWDB, being enacted and becoming law, appropriates $2,500,000,000 from the general revenue fund to the comptroller for FY 2025 to be deposited by the comptroller to the Texas Water Fund. C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $150,000,000 from the general revenue fund to the General Land Office (GLO) for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for continued construction costs at the Alamo, support for new Alamo exhibit and collection costs, and property enhancements to protect the Alamo Complex from encroaching urban surroundings. C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $230,254,228 from the general revenue fund to the GLO for the two‑year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the purpose of providing assistance to the Gulf Coast Protection District. C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $41,400,000 from the general revenue fund to the comptroller for the period beginning on the bill's effective date and ending on August 31, 2025, to be deposited by the comptroller immediately to the game, fish, and water safety account and appropriates $41,400,000 from the game, fish, and water safety account to the Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) for the two-year period beginning on the date on which the comptroller deposits that $41,400,000 to the game, fish, and water safety account for use for any lawful purpose. C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $100,000,000 from the general revenue fund to TPWD for the two‑year period beginning on the bill's effective date for use in a manner consistent with Strategy B.2.1, Local Parks Grants, as listed in Chapter 1170 (H.B. 1), Acts of the 88th Legislature, Regular Session, 2023 (the General Appropriations Act). C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $21,400,000 from the general revenue fund to TPWD for the two‑year period beginning on the bill's effective date for improvements to and repairs of TPWD's headquarters facility. In addition to the capital budget authority granted by other law, TPWD may use $21,400,000 in capital budget authority during that period for the appropriation. C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $100,000,000 from the general revenue fund to the Railroad Commission of Texas (RRC) for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for use in the RRC's well plugging program. Business and Economic Development C.S.H.B. 500, contingent on H.B. 3727, S.B. 1555, or similar legislation by the 89th Legislature, Regular Session, 2025, relating to a grant program to fund certain railroad grade separation projects, being enacted and becoming law, appropriates $350,000,000 from the general revenue fund to the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the purpose of making grants for railroad grade separation projects. C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $52,000,000 from the general revenue fund to TxDOT for the two‑year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the purchase of three new aircraft. The bill appropriates the proceeds from the sale during that period of the aircraft to be replaced and real property owned by TxDOT to TxDOT for that period for the purchase of the three new aircraft. The bill establishes that the appropriation of $52,000,000 is reduced by the amount of the proceeds from the sale of such aircraft and real property. In addition to the capital budget authority granted by other law, TxDOT may use $52,000,000 in capital budget authority during that period for these appropriations. C.S.H.B. 500 requires the comptroller to immediately transfer $200,000,000 from the general revenue fund to the port access account and appropriates $200,000,000 from the port access account to TxDOT for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date to provide funding for maritime port capital improvement infrastructure projects. C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $131,000,000 from the general revenue fund to TxDOT for the two‑year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the purpose of constructing or maintaining the state highway infrastructure in coordination with the Texas Space Commission, as identified in the Texas Space Industry Highway Transportation Needs Assessment report and TxDOT's 2026 unified transportation program. The bill requires TxDOT, in constructing or maintaining the state highway infrastructure, to give consideration for the critical infrastructure needs using local government and private sector partnerships. The bill establishes that it is the intent of the legislature that TxDOT use this appropriation to draw down federal money or other sources of funding to the extent possible. C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $100,000,000 from the general revenue fund to TxDOT for the two‑year period beginning on the bill's effective date for use in a manner consistent with Strategy C.5.1, Aviation Services, as listed in Chapter 1170 (H.B. 1), Acts of the 88th Legislature, Regular Session, 2023 (the General Appropriations Act). C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $68,000,000 from the general revenue fund to the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date to be deposited to the credit of the unemployment compensation fund. C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $30,793,540 from the general revenue fund to TWC for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date to be used for vocational rehabilitation and sustaining the state's required maintenance of effort under federal law. The bill establishes that it is the intent of the legislature that this appropriation be used by TWC to draw down federal matching funds and sustain the state's required maintenance of effort under federal law. The bill requires TWC, not later than August 31, 2027, to submit to the LBB a report showing the disposition of this money and the amount of federal matching funds that were drawn down with this money. C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $100,000,000 from the general revenue fund to TWC for the two‑year period beginning on the bill's effective date for use in a manner consistent with Strategy A.3.1, Local Child Care Solutions, as listed in Chapter 1170 (H.B. 1), Acts of the 88th Legislature, Regular Session, 2023 (the General Appropriations Act). C.S.H.B. 500, contingent on H.B. 14 or similar legislation by the 89th Legislature, Regular Session, 2025, relating to funding mechanisms within the governor's office and the Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUC) to support the deployment of advanced nuclear reactors in Texas, being enacted and becoming law, appropriates $750,000,000 from the general revenue fund to the comptroller for deposit to the Texas Energy Fund. Unexpended and Unobligated Balances C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates all unexpended and unobligated balances remaining as of the bill's effective date from appropriations made by Section 2.09, Chapter 458 (S.B. 30), Acts of the 88th Legislature, Regular Session, 2023 (the Supplemental Appropriations Act), from the Texas Semiconductor Innovation Fund to the trusteed programs within the governor's office for the establishment and administration of the Texas Semiconductor Innovation Consortium (estimated to be $572,830,000) to the trusteed programs for the same purpose for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date. This appropriation may be spent only with prior approval of the LBB. A request for approval of an expenditure submitted by the trusteed programs within the governor's office to the LBB is considered approved by the LBB unless the LBB objects to the request within 30 calendar days after the date the request is submitted to the LBB. C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates all unexpended and unobligated balances remaining as of the bill's effective date from appropriations made by Section 2.28, Chapter 458 (S.B. 30), Acts of the 88th Legislature, Regular Session, 2023 (the Supplemental Appropriations Act), from the general revenue fund to the trusteed programs within the governor's office for the moving image industry incentive program (estimated to be $155,000,000) to the trusteed programs for the same purpose for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date. C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates all unexpended and unobligated balances remaining as of the bill's effective date from appropriations made by Section 2.30, Chapter 458 (S.B. 30), Acts of the 88th Legislature, Regular Session, 2023 (the Supplemental Appropriations Act), from the general revenue fund to the trusteed programs within the governor's office for the purpose of paying legal counsel to represent the trusteed programs in litigation involving children's rights in the case of M.D., et al. v. Abbott, et al. (estimated to be $6,000,000) to the trusteed programs for the same purpose for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date. C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates all unexpended and unobligated balances remaining as of the bill's effective date from appropriations made by Section 2.31, Chapter 458 (S.B. 30), Acts of the 88th Legislature, Regular Session, 2023 (the Supplemental Appropriations Act), from the general revenue fund to the trusteed programs within the governor's office for border operations (estimated to be $300,000,000) to the trusteed programs for the same purpose for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date. C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates all unexpended and unobligated balances remaining as of the bill's effective date from appropriations made by Section 2.32, Chapter 458 (S.B. 30), Acts of the 88th Legislature, Regular Session, 2023 (the Supplemental Appropriations Act), from the Texas Enterprise Fund Account to the trusteed programs within the governor's office for the purpose of economic development initiatives as provided by Section 481.078, Government Code (estimated to be $100,000,000) to the trusteed programs for the same purpose for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date. C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates all unexpended and unobligated balances remaining as of the bill's effective date from appropriations made by Section 2.33, Chapter 458 (S.B. 30), Acts of the 88th Legislature, Regular Session, 2023 (the Supplemental Appropriations Act), from the general revenue fund to the trusteed programs within the governor's office to provide funding to support an economic development office in Taiwan (estimated to be $800,000) to the trusteed programs for the same purpose for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date. C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates all unexpended and unobligated balances remaining as of the bill's effective date from appropriations made by Section 3.02, Chapter 458 (S.B. 30), Acts of the 88th Legislature, Regular Session, 2023 (the Supplemental Appropriations Act), from the general revenue fund to HHSC for purposes specified in that section relating to new capacity for mental health services and inpatient facilities (estimated to be $2,112,200,000) to HHSC for the same purposes for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date. In addition to the capital budget authority granted by other law, HHSC may use an amount equal to the amount appropriated in capital budget authority during that period for the appropriation. C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates all unexpended and unobligated balances remaining as of the bill's effective date from appropriations made by Section 8.36, Chapter 458 (S.B. 30), Acts of the 88th Legislature, Regular Session, 2023 (the Supplemental Appropriations Act), from the general revenue fund to HHSC for the purchase of motor vehicles (estimated to be $2,350,000) to HHSC for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date. In addition to the capital budget authority granted by other law, HHSC may use an amount equal to the amount appropriated in capital budget authority during that period for the appropriation. C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates all unexpended and unobligated balances remaining as of the bill's effective date from appropriations made by Section 9.02(5), Chapter 458 (S.B. 30), Acts of the 88th Legislature, Regular Session, 2023 (the Supplemental Appropriations Act), from the general revenue fund to HHSC for the purpose of purchasing motor vehicles for HHSC's use as authorized by general law (estimated to be $7,850,000) to HHSC for the same purpose for the two-year period beginning on the effective date. In addition to the capital budget authority granted by other law, HHSC may use an amount equal to the amount appropriated in capital budget authority during that period for the appropriation. C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates all unexpended and unobligated balances remaining as of the bill's effective date from appropriations made by Section 8.24, Chapter 458 (S.B. 30), Acts of the 88th Legislature, Regular Session, 2023 (the Supplemental Appropriations Act), from master lease purchase revenue bonds to HHSC to address deferred maintenance needs at state supported living centers and state hospitals as described by Section 10, Chapter 995 (H.B. 2), Acts of the 87th Legislature, Regular Session, 2021 (the Supplemental Appropriations Act) (estimated to be $400,000) to HHSC for the same purpose for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date. In addition to the capital budget authority granted by other law, HHSC may use an amount equal to the amount appropriated in capital budget authority during that period for the appropriation. C.S.H.B. 500, contingent on approval by two-thirds of the members present in each house of the legislature, appropriates all unexpended and unobligated balances remaining as of the bill's effective date from appropriations made by Section 8.25, Chapter 458 (S.B. 30), Acts of the 88th Legislature, Regular Session, 2023 (the Supplemental Appropriations Act), from the Economic Stabilization Fund (ESF), otherwise known as the Rainy Day Fund, to HHSC for projects that have been approved under the provisions of Rider 221, page II-110, Chapter 605 (S.B. 1), Acts of the 85th Legislature, Regular Session, 2017 (the General Appropriations Act), to the bill pattern of the appropriations to HHSC and appropriated again by Chapter 1353 (H.B. 1), Acts of the 86th Legislature, Regular Session, 2019 (the General Appropriations Act) (estimated to be $12,200,000) to HHSC for the same purpose for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date. C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates all unexpended and unobligated balances remaining as of the bill's effective date from appropriations made by Section 8.27, Chapter 458 (S.B. 30), Acts of the 88th Legislature, Regular Session, 2023 (the Supplemental Appropriations Act), from the general revenue fund and federal funds to HHSC for phase 1 of the management information systems modernization and procurement and transition (estimated to be an aggregate of $142,672,493, of which $20,831,840 is estimated to be from the general revenue fund and $121,840,653 is estimated to be from federal funds) to HHSC for the same purpose for the two‑year period beginning on the bill's effective date. In addition to the capital budget authority granted by other law, HHSC may use an amount equal to the amount appropriated in capital budget authority during that period for the appropriation. C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates all unexpended and unobligated balances remaining as of the bill's effective date from appropriations made by Section 4.02, Chapter 458 (S.B. 30), Acts of the 88th Legislature, Regular Session, 2023 (the Supplemental Appropriations Act), from the general revenue fund to TEA to award grants to assist public school districts in implementing school safety initiatives (estimated to be $335,000) to TEA for the same purpose for the two‑year period beginning on the bill's effective date. C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates all unexpended and unobligated balances remaining as of the bill's effective date from appropriations made by Section 4.35, Chapter 458 (S.B. 30), Acts of the 88th Legislature, Regular Session, 2023 (the Supplemental Appropriations Act), from the general revenue fund to TEA for the regulation of library materials sold to or included in public school libraries (estimated to be $2,000,000) to TEA for the same purpose for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date. C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates all unexpended and unobligated balances remaining as of the bill's effective date from appropriations made by Chapter 1170 (H.B. 1), Acts of the 88th Legislature, Regular Session, 2023 (the General Appropriations Act), from the general revenue fund to The University of Texas at Austin for Strategy C.2.7, Digital Molten Salt Reactor, as listed in that act, for the purchase of equipment for a molten salt reactor (estimated to be $0) to the university for the same purpose for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date. C.S.H.B. 500, contingent on approval by two-thirds of the members present in each house of the legislature, appropriates all unexpended and unobligated balances remaining as of the bill's effective date from appropriations made by Section 4.14, Chapter 458 (S.B. 30), Acts of the 88th Legislature, Regular Session, 2023 (the Supplemental Appropriations Act), from the general revenue fund to Lamar University for the purpose of mitigating storm damage and making renovations at the university (estimated to be $3,000,000) to the university for the same purpose for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date. The legislature expressly finds that there is a demonstrated need for this appropriation of general revenue funds. C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates all unexpended and unobligated balances remaining as of the bill's effective date from appropriations made by Section 4.31, Chapter 458 (S.B. 30), Acts of the 88th Legislature, Regular Session, 2023 (the Supplemental Appropriations Act), from the general revenue fund to the Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service for education, response, recruitment, and retention (estimated to be $1,500,000) to the extension service for the same purpose for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date. C.S.H.B. 500, contingent on approval by two-thirds of the members present in each house of the legislature, appropriates all unexpended and unobligated balances remaining as of the bill's effective date from appropriations made by Section 4.34, Chapter 458 (S.B. 30), Acts of the 88th Legislature, Regular Session, 2023 (the Supplemental Appropriations Act), from the general revenue fund to the Texas A&M University System for quantum and artificial intelligence chip fabrication and the Center for Microdevices and Systems (estimated to be $167,000,000) to the university system for the same purposes for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date. The legislature expressly finds that there is a demonstrated need for this appropriation of general revenue funds. C.S.H.B. 500, contingent on approval by two-thirds of the members present in each house of the legislature, appropriates all unexpended and unobligated balances remaining as of the bill's effective date from appropriations made by Section 4.36, Chapter 458 (S.B. 30), Acts of the 88th Legislature, Regular Session, 2023 (the Supplemental Appropriations Act), from the general revenue fund to the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center at El Paso to support the development of a comprehensive oncology center partnership (estimated to be $51,000,000) to the health science center for the same purpose for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date. The legislature expressly finds that there is a demonstrated need for this appropriation of general revenue funds. C.S.H.B. 500, contingent on approval by two-thirds of the members present in each house of the legislature, appropriates all unexpended and unobligated balances remaining as of the bill's effective date from appropriations made by Section 8.51, Chapter 458 (S.B. 30), Acts of the 88th Legislature, Regular Session, 2023 (the Supplemental Appropriations Act), from the general revenue fund to Texas A&M University at Galveston for dock and other infrastructure improvements needed to accept new and larger vessels from the U.S. Department of Transportation and the U.S. Maritime Administration (MARAD) (estimated to be $43,000,000) to the university for the same purpose for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date. The legislature expressly finds that there is a demonstrated need for this appropriation of general revenue funds. C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates all unexpended and unobligated balances remaining as of the bill's effective date from appropriations made by Section 8.53, Chapter 458 (S.B. 30), Acts of the 88th Legislature, Regular Session, 2023 (the Supplemental Appropriations Act), from money received by the state from the federal Coronavirus State Fiscal Recovery Fund established under the federal American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 and deposited to the credit of the coronavirus relief fund to TDEM for the purpose of the acquisition of land for, and construction of, a state operations center (estimated to be $0) to TDEM for the same purpose for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date. C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates all unexpended and unobligated balances remaining as of the bill's effective date from appropriations made by Section 6.03, Chapter 458 (S.B. 30), Acts of the 88th Legislature, Regular Session, 2023 (the Supplemental Appropriations Act), from the general revenue fund to TPWD to acquire real property for use as state parks (estimated to be $125,000,000) to TPWD for the same purpose for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date. In addition to the capital budget authority granted by other law, TPWD may use an amount equal to the amount appropriated in capital budget authority during that period for the appropriation. C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates all unexpended and unobligated balances remaining as of the bill's effective date from appropriations made by Section 9.02(19), Chapter 458 (S.B. 30), Acts of the 88th Legislature, Regular Session, 2023 (the Supplemental Appropriations Act), from the general revenue fund, the oil and gas regulation and cleanup account, and federal funds to the RRC for the purpose of purchasing motor vehicles for the RRC's use as authorized by general law (estimated to be an aggregate of $7,319,038, of which $4,747,416 is estimated to be from the general revenue fund, $1,482,922 is estimated to be from the oil and gas regulation and cleanup account, and $1,088,700 is estimated to be from federal funds) to the RRC for the same purpose for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date. In addition to the capital budget authority granted by other law, the RRC may use an amount equal to the amount appropriated in capital budget authority during that period for the appropriation. C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates all unexpended balances remaining as of the bill's effective date from appropriations made by Section 74, Chapter 465 (S.B. 500), Acts of the 86th Legislature, Regular Session, 2019 (the Supplemental Appropriations Act), from the Texas Infrastructure Resiliency Fund to the TWDB for the purpose of providing matching funds for projects sponsored by municipalities and counties in Texas and approved for the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program administered by FEMA (estimated to be $219,516,698) to the TWDB for the same purpose for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date. The bill, contingent on the failure by a claimant to present a claim to the comptroller for payment in a timely manner as required by applicable state law and the related expiration of a part of the appropriation originally made by Section 74, Chapter 465 (S.B. 500), Acts of the 86th Legislature, Regular Session, 2019 (the Supplemental Appropriations Act), also appropriates an amount equal to the claims expiring because of the failure to be timely presented to the comptroller for payment (estimated to be $0) for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date from the Texas Infrastructure Resiliency Fund to the TWDB for the purpose of providing matching funds for projects sponsored by municipalities and counties in Texas and approved for the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program administered by FEMA. C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates all unexpended balances remaining as of the bill's effective date from appropriations made by Section 75, Chapter 465 (S.B. 500), Acts of the 86th Legislature, Regular Session, 2019 (the Supplemental Appropriations Act), from the Texas Infrastructure Resiliency Fund to the TWDB for the purpose of providing matching funds for projects sponsored by municipalities and counties in Texas and approved for the Public Assistance grant program administered by FEMA (estimated to be $263,978,241) to the TWDB for the same purpose for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date. The bill, contingent on the failure by a claimant to present a claim to the comptroller for payment in a timely manner as required by applicable state law and the related expiration of a part of the appropriation originally made by Section 75, Chapter 465 (S.B. 500), Acts of the 86th Legislature, Regular Session, 2019 (the Supplemental Appropriations Act), also appropriates an amount equal to the claims expiring because of the failure to be timely presented to the comptroller for payment (estimated to be $0) for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date from the Texas Infrastructure Resiliency Fund to the TWDB for the purpose of providing matching funds for projects sponsored by municipalities and counties in Texas and approved for the Public Assistance grant program administered by FEMA. C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates all unexpended and unobligated balances remaining as of the bill's effective date from appropriations made by Section 2.34, Chapter 458 (S.B. 30), Acts of the 88th Legislature, Regular Session, 2023 (the Supplemental Appropriations Act), from the general revenue fund to SPB for the purpose of making improvements to senate facilities (estimated to be $0) to SPB for the same purpose for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date. SPB may spend this appropriation only with the prior approval of the lieutenant governor. For purposes of the appropriation, the bill exempts SPB from the applicable competitive bidding process for facilities contracts. C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates all unexpended and unobligated balances remaining as of the bill's effective date from appropriations made by Section 2.35, Chapter 458 (S.B. 30), Acts of the 88th Legislature, Regular Session, 2023 (the Supplemental Appropriations Act), from the general revenue fund to SPB for the purpose of making improvements to house of representatives facilities (estimated to be $0) to SPB for the same purpose for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date. SPB may spend this appropriation only with prior approval of the speaker of the house of representatives. For purposes of the appropriation, the bill exempts SPB from the applicable competitive bidding process for facilities contracts. C.S.H.B. 500, contingent on approval by two-thirds of the members present in each house of the legislature, appropriates all unexpended and unobligated balances remaining as of the bill's effective date from appropriations made by Section 8.80, Chapter 458 (S.B. 30), Acts of the 88th Legislature, Regular Session, 2023 (the Supplemental Appropriations Act), from the ESF to TDCJ to be used for corrections information technology system projects as provided under Strategy G.1.4, Information Resources, as listed in Chapter 605 (S.B. 1), Acts of the 85th Legislature, Regular Session, 2017 (the General Appropriations Act) (estimated to be $8,000,000) to TDCJ for the same purpose for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date. In addition to the capital budget authority granted by other law, TDCJ may use an amount equal to the amount appropriated in capital budget authority during that period for the appropriation. C.S.H.B. 500, contingent on approval by two-thirds of the members present in each house of the legislature, appropriates all unexpended and unobligated balances remaining as of the bill's effective date from appropriations made by Section 4.33, Chapter 458 (S.B. 30), Acts of the 88th Legislature, Regular Session, 2023 (the Supplemental Appropriations Act), from the general revenue fund to The University of Texas at Austin for research on forward-looking technologies, the operation and establishment of a research and development fabrication facility, a fabrication facility with security clearance requirements to support the defense electronics sector, and a leading edge shared fabrication facility to support U.S. technological and economic advantages and fabricate small run productions for breakthroughs in advanced packaging (estimated to be $0) to the university for the same purpose for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date. The legislature expressly finds that there is a demonstrated need for this appropriation of general revenue funds. C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates all unexpended and unobligated balances remaining as of the bill's effective date from appropriations made by Rider 19, Page I-50, Chapter 1170 (H.B. 1), Acts of the 88th Legislature, Regular Session, 2023 (the General Appropriations Act), to the bill pattern of the appropriations of TFC from the proceeds from the sale of the William P. Hobby, Jr. State Office Building in Travis County to TFC for the sole purpose of funding the Capitol Complex - Phase 2 construction project as identified in that act (estimated to be $53,299,326) to TFC for the same purpose for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date. This appropriation must: be spent on the Capitol Complex - Phase 2 construction project before any other money lawfully available for that project may be spent; and be fully spent not later than the second anniversary of the date of the close of the sale of the William P. Hobby, Jr. State Office Building. The bill reduces by $53,299,326, an amount equal to the proceeds from the sale of the William P. Hobby, Jr. State Office Building in Travis County, the appropriations made by Chapter 1170 (H.B. 1), Acts of the 88th Legislature, Regular Session, 2023 (the General Appropriations Act), from the general revenue fund to TFC for Capitol Complex - Phase 2 construction. In addition to the capital budget authority granted by other law, TFC may use $53,299,326 in capital budget authority during that period for the appropriation. C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates all obligated but unexpended balances remaining as of the bill's effective date from appropriations made by Chapter 458 (S.B. 30), Acts of the 88th Legislature, Regular Session, 2023 (the Supplemental Appropriations Act), or Chapter 10 (S.B. 8), Acts of the 87th Legislature, Third Called Session, 2021 (the Supplemental Appropriations Act), from money received by the state from the federal Coronavirus State Fiscal Recovery Fund established under the federal American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 and deposited to the credit of the coronavirus relief fund to a state agency to that same agency for the purpose for which the money was obligated for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date. C.S.H.B. 500, contingent on approval by two-thirds of the members present in each house of the legislature, appropriates all unexpended and unobligated balances remaining as of the bill's effective date from appropriations made by Section 4.37, Chapter 458 (S.B. 30), Acts of the 88th Legislature, Regular Session, 2023 (the Supplemental Appropriations Act), from the general revenue fund to The University of Texas at Tyler to renovate a facility to add an additional 44 forensic and civil complex medical needs inpatient beds (estimated to be $7,000,000) to the University of Texas Health Science Center at Tyler for the same purpose for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date. The legislature expressly finds that there is a demonstrated need for this appropriation of general revenue funds. Information Technology Appropriations C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $480,000 from the general revenue fund to the Bond Review Board for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the purpose of modernizing the board's state and local debt database. C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $25,664,814 from the general revenue fund to the comptroller for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the purpose of modernizing information technology services. C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $8,666,041 from the general revenue fund to the comptroller for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the purpose of replacing the Uniform Statewide Accounting System (USAS) and Texas Identification Number System (TINS). C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $947,800 from the general revenue fund to the Texas Emergency Services Retirement System for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the purpose of migrating servers to the Texas Data Center Services program with cloud support and services providing data security enhancements. C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $275,000 from the general revenue fund to the Texas Ethics Commission for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the purpose of continued electronic filing system improvements and accommodating statutory changes. C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $6,490,856 from the general revenue fund to TFC for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the purpose of implementing necessary information technology infrastructure upgrades to the bandwidth with networking solutions for Phase 1 of a multi-phase project. C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $980,000 from the general revenue fund to the Texas Historical Commission for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the purpose of replacing outdated legacy systems relating to enhanced historic sites visitation. C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $24,545,000 from the general revenue fund to the Department of Information Resources (DIR) for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the purposes of procurement, licensing, and support of network bandwidth connectivity, security tolls, and services to local governmental entities in three regional security operations centers' service areas and the establishment of four additional regional security operations centers. C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $24,143,334 from the general revenue fund to DIR for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the purpose of supporting software licenses and subscriptions, maintenance costs, and hardware costs and including network detection and response services for agencies' assessment of the state's cybersecurity risk. C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $3,000,000 from appropriated receipts (other funds) to DIR for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the purpose of implementing additional information technology service management system (ITSM) capabilities across DIR and replacing existing legacy systems. C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $231,224 from the general revenue fund to the Texas State Library and Archives Commission (TSLAC) for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the purpose of acquiring equipment and parts to maintain TSLAC's 200-user local area network, wide area network, and telecommunications, allowing for the replacement of obsolete network equipment and the scheduled replacement of desktop and laptop computers. C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $700,000 from the general revenue fund to the State Pension Review Board (PRB) for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the purpose of implementing various one-time enhancements to address improvements identified during the creation of the PRB's three main information technology systems: the Internal Database, the Texas Public Pension Data Center, and the Pension Online Reporting Tool. C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $1,194,904 from interagency contract receipts to the State Office of Risk Management for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the purpose of using a cloud-based solution to integrate all operational systems and statutorily mandated programs. C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $8,436,864 from the general revenue fund and $563,136 from federal funds to DFPS for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the purpose of cybersecurity protections and technologies to address current cybersecurity threats and prepare DFPS to mitigate future risks. C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $2,545,287 from the general revenue fund to DSHS for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the purpose of continuing seat management services. C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $9,949,396 from the general revenue fund to DSHS for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the purpose of integrating the capabilities of the Maternal Mortality Review System (MMRS) and the Maternal Child Health Quality Improvement System (MCHQIS) with the State Health Analytics Reporting Platform (SHARP). C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $744,364 from the general revenue fund and $755,636 from federal funds to HHSC for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the purpose of supporting increased license costs for forecasting and rate setting in service of ongoing Medicaid and Children's Health Insurance Program operations. C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $43,002 from the general revenue fund to HHSC for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the purpose of replacing the Texas Civil Commitment Office's Microsoft Office 2016 with Microsoft Office 365. C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $260,000 from the permanent school fund account to the Texas Permanent School Fund Corporation for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the purpose of replacing outdated personal computers and laptops across the corporation. C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $480,000 from the permanent school fund account to the Texas Permanent School Fund Corporation for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the purpose of upgrading infrastructure to support the corporation's growing data storage, processing, audio/video, and security needs. C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $1,000,000 from the permanent school fund account to the Texas Permanent School Fund Corporation for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the purpose of enhancing the corporation's defenses against cyber threats. C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $730,000 from the permanent school fund account to the Texas Permanent School Fund Corporation for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the purpose of using cloud services and providing the corporation's information technology infrastructure with data backup and recovery, networking, website hosting, and data management. C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $2,071,998 from the general revenue fund to the Texas School for the Deaf for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the purpose of adding security to hardware, software, and support systems, and for service items related to cybersecurity. C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $11,942,000 from the general revenue fund to OCA for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the purpose of replacing the legacy system that provides case management to the appellate courts in Texas. C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $3,943,685 from the general revenue fund to OCA for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the purpose of creating a cloud-based, centralized system for the statutorily defined specialty courts in Texas. C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $19,489,260 from the general revenue fund to TDCJ for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the purpose of purchasing integration solutions for the Centralized Accounting Payroll/Personnel System (CAPPS) and community workstations to be placed in correctional facilities to provide computer access for correctional staff. C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $1,000,000 from the general revenue fund to TDCJ for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the purpose of updating TDCJ's Office of the Inspector General Crime Management System. C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $29,077,480 from the general revenue fund to TDCJ for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the purpose of replacing TDCJ's video surveillance equipment. C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $85,378,000 from the general revenue fund to TDCJ for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the purpose of expanding the use of body-worn cameras systemwide. C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $21,993,600 from the general revenue fund to TDCJ for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the purpose of upgrading TDCJ's telephone systems. C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $29,265,000 from the general revenue fund to TDCJ for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the purpose of replacing aging legacy infrastructure with statewide broadband cabling in TDCJ facilities statewide. C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $562,640 from the general revenue fund to TDCJ for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the purpose of modernizing the Board of Pardons and Paroles' (BPP) telephone system and allowing the BPP to use an automated call distribution system. C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $58,300,000 from the general revenue fund to TDCJ for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the purpose of purchasing an offender management system for incarceration and parole supervision. C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $160,000 from the general revenue fund to the Texas Commission on Fire Protection (TCFP) for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the purpose of equipment and technology improvements to TCFP's sound system. C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $87,000 from the general revenue fund to the Commission on Jail Standards (TCJS) for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the purpose of supporting TCJS's website and portal, purchasing renewal licenses for software, and replacing laptops and other hardware. C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $38,000 from the general revenue fund to TCJS for the two-year period beginning on the effective date for the purpose of cloud maintenance and security. C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $9,000,000 from the general revenue fund to TJJD for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the purpose of modernizing applications. C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $27,471,283 from the general revenue fund to the Department of Public Safety (DPS) for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the purpose of protecting critical data systems and associated supporting infrastructure. C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $20,000,000 from the general revenue fund to DPS for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the purpose of replacing the state's fingerprint matching repository. C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $13,858,646 from the general revenue fund to DPS for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the purpose of making technology improvements to driver license services. C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $5,000,511 from the general revenue fund to DPS for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the purpose of making technology improvements to driver license customer service centers. C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $800,000 from the general revenue fund to DPS for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the purpose of an accounts payable invoice tracking system. C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $5,607,644 from the general revenue fund to DPS for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the purpose of modernizing the Texas Online Private Security (TOPS), Texas Online Metals (TOM), and Vehicle Inspection Connection (VIC) systems. C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $900,000 from the general revenue fund to DPS for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the purpose of purchasing a multi-directional external file sharing solution. C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $23,522,986 from the general revenue fund to DPS for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the purpose of cybersecurity and identity management services. C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $2,141,154 from the clean air account, $2,473,579 from the water resource management account, $1,105,178 from the waste management account, $1,105,177 from the hazardous and solid waste remediation fees account, $1,105,176 from the petroleum storage tank remediation account, and $9,784,080 from the operating permit fees account to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the purpose of establishing a comprehensive risk management framework program and modernizing two legacy applications vital to air and water management. C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $4,874,458 from the clean air account, $4,874,460 from the water resource management account, $3,655,846 from the waste management account, $3,655,844 from the hazardous and solid waste remediation fees account, $3,655,844 from the petroleum storage tank remediation account, and $3,655,844 from the operating permit fees account to the TCEQ for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the purpose of addressing a forecasted increase in data center services. C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $7,685,824 from the general revenue fund to the RRC for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the purpose of developing a new produced water and injection data reporting system. C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $2,748,000 from the general revenue fund to the RRC for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the purpose of developing an oil and gas authorized pit registration system. C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $6,288,068 from the general revenue fund to the RRC for the two‑year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the purpose of modernizing the alternative fuels online system and developing a new gas utilities' audit and market oversight online system. C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $7,728,398 from the general revenue fund to the RRC for the two‑year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the purpose of addressing a forecasted increase in data center services. C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $2,676,054 from the general revenue fund to the TWDB for the two‑year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the purpose of information technology risk mitigation. C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $1,589,344 from the general revenue fund to the Texas Lottery Commission for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the purpose of upgrading the Bingo Operation Service System (BOSS) and the Bingo Service Portal. C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $1,795,158 from the lottery account to the Texas Lottery Commission for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the purpose of transitioning the lottery commission to the financial modules of CAPPS. C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $125,000,000 from the general revenue fund to the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the purpose of replacing the legacy registration and title system. C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $3,264,540 from the unemployment compensation special administration account to TWC for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the purpose of enhancing fraud detection and deterrence efforts pertaining to the unemployment insurance program. C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $3,162,408 from the unemployment compensation special administration account to TWC for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the purpose of implementing items identified in the Texas Cybersecurity Framework Assessment. C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $10,975,221 from the unemployment compensation special administration account to TWC for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the purpose of addressing current mainframe computing needs related to unemployment insurance claims. C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $2,613,576 from the unemployment compensation special administration account to TWC for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the purpose of implementing unemployment insurance State Information Data Exchange System (SIDES) modules. C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $76,212 from the general revenue fund, $1,452,262 from the unemployment compensation special administration account, and $2,705,526 from federal funds to TWC for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the purpose of addressing network deficiencies. C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $585,640 from the general revenue fund to the State Office of Administrative Hearings for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the purpose of providing funding for a full-time data officer and information security officer and implementing recommendations to mitigate cybersecurity risks. C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $731,598 from the Texas Department of Insurance operating account to the Office of Injured Employee Counsel for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the purpose of providing funding for additional FTEs and information technology modernization relating to dispute resolution and case management systems. C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $1,097,040 from the Texas Department of Insurance operating account to the Texas Department of Insurance (TDI) for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the purpose of replacing the Division of Workers' Compensation's claims management system. C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $2,450,000 from the Texas Department of Insurance operating account to TDI for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the purpose of modernizing network adequacy software. C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $13,136 from the general revenue fund to the Texas State Board of Pharmacy for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the purpose of addressing a DIR cost increase for cloud services and Texas.gov fees. C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $3,951,400 from the general revenue fund to the PUC for the two‑year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the purpose of developing a case management system. C.S.H.B. 500 establishes that, in addition to the capital budget authority granted by other law, the state agencies appropriated money under the bill's provisions relating to information technology appropriations may use an amount equal to the total amount appropriated to the agency under those provisions in capital budget authority during the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for those appropriations. Miscellaneous Provisions Motor Vehicle Purchases C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates the following amounts from the specified sources to the following agencies for use during the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the purpose of purchasing motor vehicles for the agency's use as authorized by general law: the Department of State Health Services: $2,465,539 from the general revenue fund, which may also be used for the purchase of three boats for DSHS's oyster program; the Health and Human Services Commission: $7,850,000 from the general revenue fund; the Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired: $510,000 from the general revenue fund; the Texas School for the Deaf: $510,000 from the general revenue fund; the Texas A&M Forest Service: $2,056,918 from the general revenue fund; the Texas Division of Emergency Management: $7,800,000 from the general revenue fund; the Texas Department of Criminal Justice: $43,587,907 from the general revenue fund; the Texas Juvenile Justice Department: a total of $3,990,000 from the general revenue fund allocated as follows: o to the Office of the Independent Ombudsman: $150,000; o to the Office of the Inspector General: $550,000; and o to TJJD: $3,290,000; the Department of Public Safety: $226,884,563 from the general revenue fund, of which DPS may use $6,000,000 for aircraft maintenance and $2,550,000 for aircraft engine overhauls; the Department of Agriculture: $1,500,000 from the general revenue fund; the Texas Animal Health Commission: $920,000 from the general revenue fund; the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality: a total of $1,119,775 from: o the clean air account: $189,841; o the water resource management account: $337,127; o the waste management account: $336,125; o the hazardous and solid waste remediation fees account: $41,000; o the petroleum storage tank remediation account: $107,841; and o the operating permit fees account: $107,841; the General Land Office: a total of $1,000,000 from the following accounts: o coastal protection account: $927,850, of which the GLO may use $850,000 for the replacement of boats; and o permanent school fund (other funds): $72,150; the Parks and Wildlife Department: a total of $9,123,786 from: o the general revenue fund: $6,051,994; o the game, fish, and water safety account: $509,840; and o the state parks account: $2,561,952; the Railroad Commission of Texas: $4,889,841 from the general revenue fund; the Texas Department of Transportation: $38,337,116 from the state highway fund (other funds); the Texas Department of Insurance: $450,000 from the Texas Department of Insurance operating account; the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation: $515,000 from the general revenue fund; the Texas State Board of Pharmacy: $320,000 from the general revenue fund; the Texas Racing Commission: $160,000 from the general revenue fund; the Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners: $116,500 from the general revenue fund; the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission: $1,399,050 from the general revenue fund; the Texas Historical Commission: $560,832 from the general revenue fund; the Health and Human Services Commission for the Texas Civil Commitment Office: $60,164 from the general revenue fund; the Texas Commission on Fire Protection: $225,000 from the general revenue fund; and the Texas Military Department: $1,050,000 from the general revenue fund. In addition to the capital budget authority granted by other law, each agency may use an amount equal to the equal to the amount appropriated in capital budget authority during the two‑year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the appropriation. Limitation, Reporting, and Transfer Provisions of GAA Incorporated by Reference C.S.H.B. 500 establishes that provisions relating to limitations, reporting, or transfer of Article IX, Chapter 1170 (H.B. 1), Acts of the 88th Legislature, Regular Session, 2023 (the General Appropriations Act), and of Article IX, S.B. 1, Acts of the 89th Legislature, Regular Session, 2025 (the General Appropriations Act), are incorporated into C.S.H.B. 500 by reference and apply to the appropriations made by the bill. Interpretation of Legislative Intent C.S.H.B. 500 establishes that money appropriated by the bill must be spent, as nearly as practicable, for the purposes for which the money was appropriated. In the event an agency cannot determine the legislative purpose of an appropriation from the pattern of appropriations, the agency must seek to determine that purpose from the proceedings of the standing legislative committees with primary jurisdiction over appropriations and from the request for appropriations made by the agency.
EFFECTIVE DATE Except as otherwise provided, on passage.
COMPARISON OF INTRODUCED AND SUBSTITUTE While C.S.H.B. 500 may differ from the introduced in minor or nonsubstantive ways, the following summarizes the substantial differences between the introduced and committee substitute versions of the bill. The substitute includes a provision absent from the introduced appropriating $300,000,000 from the general revenue fund to the comptroller for FY 2025 to be deposited by the comptroller to the space exploration and aeronautics research trust fund. The substitute includes a provision absent from the introduced appropriating $150,000,000 from the general revenue fund to the trusteed programs within the governor's office for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date to make a grant, in a manner consistent with Strategy B.1.3, Homeland Security, to the Lubbock Reese Redevelopment Authority to acquire critical cybersecurity infrastructure. With respect to the $150,000,000 appropriated in both the introduced and the substitute to HHSC from the general revenue fund for use during the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date in a manner consistent with Strategy G.4.2, Facility Capital Repairs and Renovation at State Supported Living Centers, State Hospitals, and Other, to complete construction of the El Paso State Hospital, also known as the El Paso Psychiatric Center in El Paso, which is a state hospital facility, the substitute does not include the introduced version's specification that the hospital contains a 50-forensic bed expansion. Additionally, with respect to the $50,000,000 appropriated to HHSC from the general revenue fund by Section 3.02(a), Chapter 458 (S.B. 30), Acts of the 88th Legislature, Regular Session, 2023 (the Supplemental Appropriations Act), for Strategy G.4.2, Facility Capital Repairs and Renovation, for pre-planning, planning, land acquisition, and initial construction of a new 50-bed El Paso State Hospital, with 50 percent of the beds to be forensic, the substitute amends that act to omit the specification that the hospital contains 50 beds, whereas the introduced did not. The substitute includes a provision absent from the introduced appropriating $65,000,000 from the general revenue fund to HHSC for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date to establish a one-time grant to Baptist Hospitals of Southeast Texas to provide stroke care services to the southeast region of Texas. Whereas the introduced appropriated $24,945,000 from the general revenue fund to Texas State University for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the purpose of funding construction for the Advanced Law Enforcement Rapid Response Training Program, the substitute makes that appropriation to the university for the purpose of funding construction for the Advanced Law Enforcement Rapid Response Training Center. The substitute includes a provision absent from the introduced appropriating $50,000,000 from the general revenue fund to the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date to support the development of a rural cancer collaborative, contingent on approval by two-thirds of the members present in each house of the legislature. The substitute includes related provisions also absent from the introduced establishing that the legislature expressly finds that there is a demonstrated need for this appropriation of general revenue funds. The substitute includes a provision absent from the introduced appropriating an amount equal to the sum of $650,000,000 for each institution of higher education that becomes eligible to receive certain distributions from the Texas University Fund, as certified by the THECB and not to exceed $1,300,000,000, from the general revenue fund to the comptroller for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for deposit by the comptroller to that fund to provide additional money to ensure stable funding for institutions that are eligible to receive the applicable distributions from that fund before the bill's effective date. The substitute includes a provision absent from the introduced authorizing TDCJ, in addition to the capital budget authority granted by other law, to use $110,000,000 in capital budget authority for the appropriation of $110,000,000 made from the general revenue fund to TDCJ for the two‑year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the purchase of the Giles Dalby Correctional Facility in Post, Texas. The substitute includes a provision absent from the introduced appropriating $7,000,000 from the general revenue fund to TDCJ for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the water supply at the Hobby Unit in Marlin, Texas. The substitute also includes corresponding provisions regarding TDCJ's use of its capital budget authority, which were absent from the introduced. Whereas the introduced appropriated $200,000,000 from the general revenue fund to the TWDB for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date to be used in a manner consistent with Strategy C.1.1, State & Federal Financial Assistance Program, the substitute instead appropriates $400,000,000 from the general revenue fund to the TWDB for that period to be used for water projects in a manner consistent with Strategy C.1.1, State & Federal Financial Assistance Program. Whereas the introduced version's appropriation of $2,500,000,000 from the general revenue fund to the comptroller for FY 2025 to be deposited by the comptroller to the Texas Water Fund was contingent on the enactment of legislation by the 89th Legislature, Regular Session, 2025, relating to the allocation of funds deposited to that fund for water infrastructure and supply projects, the substitute instead makes that appropriation contingent on H.B. 16 or similar legislation by the 89th Legislature, Regular Session, 2025, relating to the oversight and financing of certain water infrastructure matters under the jurisdiction of the TWDB being enacted and becoming law. The substitute includes a provision absent from the introduced appropriating $100,000,000 from the general revenue fund to TPWD for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for use in a manner consistent with Strategy B.2.1, Local Parks Grants. The substitute includes a provision absent from the introduced appropriating $21,400,000 from the general revenue fund to TPWD for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for improvements to and repairs of TPWD's headquarters facility. The substitute also includes corresponding provisions regarding TPWD's use of its capital budget authority, which were absent from the introduced. Whereas the introduced appropriated $350,000,000 from the general revenue fund to TxDOT for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the purpose of making grants for the construction of local rail grade crossings, contingent on enactment of legislation by the 89th Legislature, Regular Session, 2025, authorizing TxDOT to make such grants, the substitute instead appropriates $350,000,000 from the general revenue fund to TxDOT for that period for the purpose of making grants for railroad grade separation projects, contingent on H.B. 3727, S.B. 1555, or similar legislation by the 89th Legislature, Regular Session, 2025, relating to a grant program to fund certain railroad grade separation projects being enacted and becoming law. The substitute includes provisions absent from the introduced appropriating $131,000,000 from the general revenue fund to TxDOT for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the purpose of constructing or maintaining the state highway infrastructure in coordination with the Texas Space Commission, as identified in the Texas Space Industry Highway Transportation Needs Assessment report and TxDOT's 2026 unified transportation program and requiring TxDOT, in constructing or maintaining the state highway infrastructure, to give consideration for the critical infrastructure needs using local government and private sector partnerships. The substitute includes related provisions also absent from the introduced establishing that it is the legislature's intent that TxDOT use this appropriation to draw down federal money or other sources of funding to the extent possible. The substitute includes a provision absent from the introduced appropriating $100,000,000 from the general revenue fund to TxDOT for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for use in a manner consistent with Strategy C.5.1, Aviation Services. The substitute omits provisions from the introduced requiring the comptroller to immediately transfer an indeterminate amount of money from the general revenue fund to the Texas Nuclear Power Fund and appropriating an indeterminate amount of money from the Texas Nuclear Power Fund to the PUC for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date to be used for the Texas Nuclear Power Program, contingent on enactment of legislation creating that fund. The substitute includes a provision absent from the introduced appropriating $100,000,000 from the general revenue fund to TWC for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for use in a manner consistent with Strategy A.3.1, Local Child Care Solutions. The substitute includes a provision absent from the introduced appropriating $750,000,000 from the general revenue fund to the comptroller for deposit to the Texas Energy Fund, contingent on H.B. 14 or similar legislation by the 89th Legislature, Regular Session, 2025, relating to funding mechanisms within the governor's office and the PUC to support the deployment of advanced nuclear reactors in Texas being enacted and becoming law.
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE
Each legislative session, state agencies project the costs of fulfilling their functions and providing important services for the following two-year budget period. This information, combined with the biennial estimate of revenues submitted to the governor and the legislature before the convening of each regular session, can be a key component in the construction of the General Appropriations Act. C.S.H.B. 500 seeks to make supplemental appropriations and give direction and adjustment authority regarding certain appropriations to address revised revenue estimates and supplemental needs.
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 rulemaking authority is expressly granted to the comptroller of public accounts in SECTION 4.02 of this bill.
ANALYSIS
C.S.H.B. 500 makes supplemental appropriations and reductions in appropriations and gives direction and adjustment authority with respect to the General Appropriations Act (GAA) and the Supplemental Appropriations Act adopted by the 88th Texas Legislature, Regular Session, 2023.
General Government
C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $1,000,000,000 from the general revenue fund to the Employees Retirement System of Texas (ERS) for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date to be used for a one-time legacy payment to reduce ERS's unfunded actuarial liabilities and long-term interest costs.
C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $40,454,048 from the general revenue fund to the comptroller of public accounts for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date to be deposited to the compensation to victims of crime account.
C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates any unexpended and unobligated balances remaining as of the bill's effective date from the appropriation made to the comptroller by Section 41, Chapter 10 (S.B. 8), Acts of the 87th Legislature, 3rd Called Session, 2021 (the Supplemental Appropriations Act), for immediate deposit to an account or fund to be managed by the Texas Treasury Safekeeping Trust Company as trustee for the benefit of the State Preservation Board (SPB) to maintain the Bob Bullock State History Museum (estimated to be $104,498,347) to the comptroller for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for deposit not later than August 31, 2025, to the Texas State Buildings Preservation Endowment Fund to be used for purposes provided by applicable state law. The comptroller must transfer the money from the Maintain Bullock State History Museum Fund account held by the trust company to the Texas State Buildings Preservation Endowment Fund as soon as practicable after the bill's effective date.
C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $300,000,000 from the general revenue fund to the comptroller for the 2025 state fiscal year (FY 2025) to be deposited by the comptroller to the space exploration and aeronautics research trust fund.
C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $100,000,000 from the general revenue fund to the Texas Historical Commission for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date to be used for the commission's courthouse grant program. In addition to the capital budget authority granted by other law, the commission may use $100,000,000 in capital budget authority during that period for the appropriation.
C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $145,377,607 from the general revenue fund to the Texas Facilities Commission (TFC) for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the purpose of removing and replacing the State Insurance Building. The bill also appropriates any proceeds from the sale of the building to TFC for that period for the purpose of replacing the building. In addition to the capital budget authority granted by other law, TFC may use $145,377,607 in capital budget authority during that period for the appropriation.
C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $75,000,000 from the general revenue fund to SPB for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the purpose of making improvements to senate facilities. SPB may spend this appropriation only with the prior approval of the lieutenant governor. For purposes of the appropriation, the bill exempts SPB from the applicable competitive bidding process for facilities contracts. In addition to the capital budget authority granted by other law, SPB may use $75,000,000 in capital budget authority during that period for the appropriation.
C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $75,000,000 from the general revenue fund to SPB for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the purpose of making improvements to house of representatives facilities. SPB may spend this appropriation only with the prior approval of the speaker of the house of representatives. For purposes of the appropriation, the bill exempts SPB from the applicable competitive bidding process. In addition to the capital budget authority granted by other law, SPB may use $75,000,000 in capital budget authority during that period for the appropriation.
C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $5,940,000 from the general revenue fund to the comptroller for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date to be used for the administration of the Texas Jobs, Energy, Technology, and Innovation Act established under Subchapter T, Chapter 403, Government Code, as added by Chapter 377 (H.B. 5), Acts of the 88th Legislature, Regular Session, 2023.
C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $150,000,000 from the general revenue fund to the Trusteed Programs within the governor's office for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date to make a grant, in a manner consistent with Strategy B.1.3, Homeland Security, as listed in Chapter 1170 (H.B. 1), Acts of the 88th Legislature, Regular Session, 2023 (the General Appropriations Act), to the Lubbock Reese Redevelopment Authority to acquire critical cybersecurity infrastructure.
Health and Human Services
C.S.H.B. 500 authorizes the Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC), notwithstanding any transfer limitation provided by Chapter 1170 (H.B. 1), Acts of the 88th Legislature, Regular Session, 2023 (the General Appropriations Act), to transfer unexpended balances from strategies in goals other than Goal A, Medicaid Client Services, to strategies in Goal A, Medicaid Client Services, and to transfer unexpended balances between strategies in Goal A, Medicaid Client Services, as listed in that act. Money may be transferred during FY 2025 and during the 2024 state fiscal year and then moved forward to FY 2025. The bill requires HHSC, not later than October 1, 2025, to report to the Legislative Budget Board (LBB) and the governor's office regarding any money transferred and spent as provided by these provisions.
C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $150,000,000 to HHSC from the general revenue fund for use during the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date in a manner consistent with Strategy G.4.2, Facility Capital Repairs and Renovation at State Supported Living Centers, State Hospitals, and Other, as listed in Chapter 1170 (H.B. 1), Acts of the 88th Legislature, Regular Session, 2023 (the General Appropriations Act), to complete construction of the El Paso State Hospital, also known as the El Paso Psychiatric Center in El Paso, which is a state hospital facility. In addition to the capital budget authority granted by other law, HHSC may use $150,000,000 in capital budget authority during that period for the appropriation.
C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $10,000,000 from the general revenue fund to HHSC for the two‑year period beginning on the bill's effective date to establish a one-time grant to Brazoria County for the purpose of planning and designing an inpatient mental health facility with at least 50 percent forensic capacity on donated land to serve the Brazoria County region.
C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $10,000,000 from the general revenue fund to HHSC for the two‑year period beginning on the bill's effective date to establish a one-time grant to Tarrant County for the purpose of planning and designing an inpatient mental health facility with at least 50 percent forensic capacity on donated land to serve the Tarrant County region.
C.S.H.B. 500 authorizes HHSC, during FY 2025 and in addition to the number of full-time equivalent (FTE) employees other law authorizes HHSC to employ during that period, to employ 414.0 additional FTE employees out of money appropriated by Chapter 1170 (H.B. 1), Acts of the 88th Legislature, Regular Session, 2023 (the General Appropriations Act), to provide expanded capacity at newly renovated mental health state hospitals.
C.S.H.B. 500 amends Section 3.02(a), Chapter 458 (S.B. 30), Acts of the 88th Legislature, Regular Session, 2023 (the Supplemental Appropriations Act), to do the following with respect to the purposes for the money appropriated to HHSC by that act for new capacity for certain mental health services and inpatient facilities:
with respect to the $573,000,000 appropriated from the general revenue fund for Strategy G.4.2, Facility Capital Repairs and Renovation, to construct a 250-bed replacement campus for the Terrell State Hospital, including 50 maximum security beds, 140 forensic beds, 35 adolescent beds, and 25 civil beds, the bill increases the total number of beds that replacement campus must contain from 250 to 275 by increasing the number of forensic beds included from 140 to 150 and by increasing the number of adolescent beds included from 35 to 50;
with respect to the $452,000,000 appropriated from the general revenue fund for Strategy G.4.2, Facility Capital Repairs and Renovation, to construct a 200-bed replacement for the North Texas State Hospital - Wichita Falls, including 24 maximum security beds, 136 forensic beds, 24 adolescent beds, and 16 civil beds, the bill increases the total number of beds that replacement must contain from 200 to 225 by increasing the number of maximum security beds included from 24 to 25, by increasing the number of forensic beds included from 136 to 159, and by increasing the number of adolescent beds included from 24 to 25; and
with respect to the $50,000,000 appropriated from the general revenue fund for Strategy G.4.2, Facility Capital Repairs and Renovation, for pre-planning, planning, land acquisition, and initial construction of a new 50-bed El Paso State Hospital, with 50 percent of the beds to be forensic, the bill removes the specification that the hospital contains 50 beds.
C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $7,380,403 from the general revenue fund to HHSC, for the benefit of the Texas Civil Commitment Office, for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date to reimburse the office for offsite health care costs and services related to the supervision and treatment of sexually violent predators.
C.S.H.B. 500, contingent on approval by two-thirds of the members present in each house of the legislature, appropriates $12,900,000 from the general revenue fund to HHSC, for the benefit of The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the purposes of building renovations, including patient care areas, patient and visitor areas, physical plant items, and other life and safety updates, at the Harris County Psychiatric Hospital. The legislature expressly finds that there is a demonstrated need for this appropriation of general revenue funds. In addition to the capital budget authority granted by other law, HHSC may use $12,900,000 in capital budget authority during that period for the appropriation.
C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $65,000,000 from the general revenue fund to HHSC for the two‑year period beginning on the bill's effective date to establish a one-time grant to Baptist Hospitals of Southeast Texas to provide stroke care services to the southeast region of Texas.
C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $328,332,698 from the general revenue fund to the Department of State Health Services (DSHS) for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the expansion of DSHS's laboratory capacity as requested by DSHS in DSHS's 2024 legislative appropriation request exceptional item number one. In addition to the capital budget authority granted by other law, DSHS may use $328,332,698 in capital budget authority during that period for the appropriation.
C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $82,568,491 from the general revenue fund and $14,000,000 from federal funds to the Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date to address a budget shortfall associated with children without placement, child protective services staffing, adult protective services staffing, and day care services.
Education
C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $389,339,579 from the general revenue fund to the Texas Education Agency (TEA) for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the foundation school program. The bill specifies that the sum-certain appropriation to the foundation school program for FY 2025 is $30,406,827,783.
C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $934,500,000 from the general revenue fund to TEA for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date to address a reduction of federal money available for the School Health and Related Services (SHARS) program.
C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $1,394,000 from the general revenue fund to the Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the following purposes:
$930,000 for special education;
$314,000 for Strategy D.1.1, Central Administration, as listed in Chapter 1170 (H.B. 1), Acts of the 88th Legislature, Regular Session, 2023 (the General Appropriations Act), to fund previously vacant positions; and
$150,000 for transportation.
C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $111,022,800 from the general revenue fund to the Texas A&M Forest Service for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the purpose of responding to natural disasters that occurred in the 2022 and 2023 state fiscal years and natural disasters occurring in the future, including responding through the mobilization of ground and aviation resources for wildfire suppression.
C.S.H.B. 500 requires the comptroller to immediately transfer $100,000,000 from the general revenue fund to the volunteer fire department assistance account and appropriates $100,000,000 from that account to the Texas A&M Forest Service for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the administration and operation of the rural volunteer fire department assistance program. Of that appropriation, the forest service may not use more than $3,500,000 for administrative expenses.
C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $394,000,000 from the general revenue fund to the Texas A&M Forest Service for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the purchase of airplanes for wildfire suppression.
C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $4,000,000 from the general revenue fund to the Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM) for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the purpose of developing a first responder database.
C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $315,000,000 from the general revenue fund to TDEM for the two‑year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the following purposes:
supporting regional emergency management operations facilities and resource staging areas as requested in TDEM's 2024 legislative appropriation request exceptional item number one;
enhancing the regional operations centers in San Antonio and Fort Worth; and
supporting emergency response operations.
C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $89,500,000 from the general revenue fund to the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the purpose of funding higher than projected growth in fundable outcomes for public junior colleges and the application of weights and rates set for FY 2025 in the public junior college funding formula.
C.S.H.B. 500, contingent on approval by two-thirds of the members present in each house of the legislature, appropriates $24,945,000 from the general revenue fund to Texas State University for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the purpose of funding construction for the Advanced Law Enforcement Rapid Response Training Center. The legislature expressly finds that there is a demonstrated need for this appropriation of general revenue funds.
C.S.H.B. 500, contingent on approval by two-thirds of the members present in each house of the legislature, appropriates $65,000,000 from the general revenue fund to the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center at El Paso for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date to support the development of phase II of a comprehensive oncology center partnership. The legislature expressly finds that there is a demonstrated need for this appropriation of general revenue funds.
C.S.H.B. 500, contingent on approval by two-thirds of the members present in each house of the legislature, appropriates $50,000,000 from the general revenue fund to the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date to support the development of a rural cancer collaborative. The legislature expressly finds that there is a demonstrated need for this appropriation of general revenue funds.
C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates an amount equal to the sum of $650,000,000 for each institution of higher education that becomes eligible to receive certain distributions from the Texas University Fund on or after the bill's effective date, as certified by the THECB and not to exceed $1,300,000,000, from the general revenue fund to the comptroller for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for deposit by the comptroller to that fund to provide additional money to ensure stable funding for institutions that are eligible to receive the applicable distributions from the fund before the bill's effective date.
The Judiciary, Public Safety, and Criminal Safety
C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $5,100,000 from the general revenue fund to the Office of Court Administration (OCA) for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date to be used in a manner consistent with Strategy D.1.1, Texas Indigent Defense Commission, as listed in Chapter 1170 (H.B. 1), Acts of the 88th Legislature, Regular Session, 2023 (the General Appropriations Act), for the purpose of providing grants to counties for indigent defense in accordance with all uses authorized by Chapter 79, Government Code, with respect to the Texas Indigent Defense Commission. This appropriation may not be used to offset OCA's administrative support provided to the Texas Indigent Defense Commission except by mutual agreement of OCA and the commission.
C.S.H.B. 500 authorizes the comptroller to use general revenue appropriated to the Judiciary Section, Comptroller's Department by Chapter 1170 (H.B. 1), Acts of the 88th Legislature, Regular Session, 2023 (the General Appropriations Act), to provide an annual salary supplement to each business court judge in an amount not to exceed $18,000 for FY 2025. The bill requires the comptroller to adopt rules as necessary to administer these provisions, including rules necessary to provide for associated benefit costs as well as fairness and equity among the business court judges and between the business court judges and district court judges.
C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $571,520,355 from the general revenue fund to the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the purpose of providing for the following:
correctional security operations;
correctional managed health care consistent with Strategy C.1.9, Hospital and Clinical Care, as listed in Chapter 1170 (H.B. 1), Acts of the 88th Legislature, Regular Session, 2023 (the General Appropriations Act); and
other operational expenses of TDCJ.
C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $301,000,000 from the general revenue fund to TDCJ for the two‑year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the purpose of constructing dormitories within existing security fencing at TDCJ's existing facilities located in areas with a strong labor pool, as requested in TDCJ's 2024 legislative appropriation request exceptional item number 21. In addition to the capital budget authority granted by other law, TDCJ may use $301,000,000 in capital budget authority during that period for the appropriation.
C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $214,799,300 from the general revenue fund to TDCJ for the two‑year period beginning on the bill's effective date for major repair and restoration projects at TDCJ's facilities, as requested in TDCJ's 2024 legislative appropriation request exceptional item number nine. In addition to the capital budget authority granted by other law, TDCJ may use $214,799,300 in capital budget authority during that period for the appropriation.
C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $110,000,000 from the general revenue fund to TDCJ for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the purchase of the Giles Dalby Correctional Facility in Post, Texas. In addition to the capital budget authority granted by other law, TDCJ may use $110,000,000 in capital budget authority during that period for the appropriation.
C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $7,000,000 from the general revenue fund to TDCJ for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the water supply at the Hobby Unit in Marlin, Texas. In addition to the capital budget authority granted by other law, TDCJ may use $7,000,000 in capital budget authority during that period for the appropriation.
C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $75,000,000 from the general revenue fund to the Texas Juvenile Justice Department (TJJD) for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the purpose described by Rider 41, page V-38, Chapter 1170 (H.B. 1), Acts of the 88th Legislature, Regular Session, 2023 (the General Appropriations Act), to the bill pattern of the appropriations to TJJD, including completing the construction of the two new facilities that would expand capacity for TJJD by 200 beds. The bill appropriates all unexpended and unobligated balances remaining as of the bill's effective date from appropriations made to TJJD by Chapter 1170 (H.B. 1), Acts of the 88th Legislature, Regular Session, 2023 (the General Appropriations Act), for the construction of two new facilities that would expand capacity for TJJD by 200 beds as provided by Rider 41, page V-38, of that act (estimated to be $0) for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date to TJJD for the same purpose. In addition to the capital budget authority granted by other law, TJJD may use an amount estimated to be $75,000,000 in capital budget authority during that period for the facility completion appropriations.
C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $13,300,000 from the general revenue fund to TJJD for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the purpose of reimbursing counties for the costs of holding juveniles for whom TJJD does not have adequate capacity.
C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $675,000 from the general revenue fund to TJJD for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the purpose of covering an operational shortfall for TJJD's Office of the Inspector General related to the office filling more employee positions.
Natural Resources
C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $54,767,800 from the general revenue fund to the Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for deposit to the clean water state revolving fund and use consistent with applicable law. The bill also appropriates $88,165,200 from the general revenue fund to the TWDB for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for deposit to the drinking water state revolving fund and use consistent with applicable law. The bill establishes that it is the intent of the legislature that these appropriations be used by the TWDB to draw down federal matching funds under the federal Infrastructure Investments and Jobs Act and other available federal programs. The bill requires the TWDB, not later than August 31, 2027, to submit to the LBB a report showing the disposition of this money and the amount of federal matching funds that were drawn down with this money.
C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $400,000,000 from the general revenue fund to the TWDB for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date to be used for water projects in a manner consistent with Strategy C.1.1, State & Federal Financial Assistance Program, as listed in Chapter 1170 (H.B. 1), Acts of the 88th Legislature, Regular Session, 2023 (the General Appropriations Act).
C.S.H.B. 500, contingent on H.B. 16 or similar legislation by the 89th Legislature, Regular Session, 2025, relating to the oversight and financing of certain water infrastructure matters under the jurisdiction of the TWDB, being enacted and becoming law, appropriates $2,500,000,000 from the general revenue fund to the comptroller for FY 2025 to be deposited by the comptroller to the Texas Water Fund.
C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $150,000,000 from the general revenue fund to the General Land Office (GLO) for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for continued construction costs at the Alamo, support for new Alamo exhibit and collection costs, and property enhancements to protect the Alamo Complex from encroaching urban surroundings.
C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $230,254,228 from the general revenue fund to the GLO for the two‑year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the purpose of providing assistance to the Gulf Coast Protection District.
C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $41,400,000 from the general revenue fund to the comptroller for the period beginning on the bill's effective date and ending on August 31, 2025, to be deposited by the comptroller immediately to the game, fish, and water safety account and appropriates $41,400,000 from the game, fish, and water safety account to the Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) for the two-year period beginning on the date on which the comptroller deposits that $41,400,000 to the game, fish, and water safety account for use for any lawful purpose.
C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $100,000,000 from the general revenue fund to TPWD for the two‑year period beginning on the bill's effective date for use in a manner consistent with Strategy B.2.1, Local Parks Grants, as listed in Chapter 1170 (H.B. 1), Acts of the 88th Legislature, Regular Session, 2023 (the General Appropriations Act).
C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $21,400,000 from the general revenue fund to TPWD for the two‑year period beginning on the bill's effective date for improvements to and repairs of TPWD's headquarters facility. In addition to the capital budget authority granted by other law, TPWD may use $21,400,000 in capital budget authority during that period for the appropriation.
C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $100,000,000 from the general revenue fund to the Railroad Commission of Texas (RRC) for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for use in the RRC's well plugging program.
Business and Economic Development
C.S.H.B. 500, contingent on H.B. 3727, S.B. 1555, or similar legislation by the 89th Legislature, Regular Session, 2025, relating to a grant program to fund certain railroad grade separation projects, being enacted and becoming law, appropriates $350,000,000 from the general revenue fund to the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the purpose of making grants for railroad grade separation projects.
C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $52,000,000 from the general revenue fund to TxDOT for the two‑year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the purchase of three new aircraft. The bill appropriates the proceeds from the sale during that period of the aircraft to be replaced and real property owned by TxDOT to TxDOT for that period for the purchase of the three new aircraft. The bill establishes that the appropriation of $52,000,000 is reduced by the amount of the proceeds from the sale of such aircraft and real property. In addition to the capital budget authority granted by other law, TxDOT may use $52,000,000 in capital budget authority during that period for these appropriations.
C.S.H.B. 500 requires the comptroller to immediately transfer $200,000,000 from the general revenue fund to the port access account and appropriates $200,000,000 from the port access account to TxDOT for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date to provide funding for maritime port capital improvement infrastructure projects.
C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $131,000,000 from the general revenue fund to TxDOT for the two‑year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the purpose of constructing or maintaining the state highway infrastructure in coordination with the Texas Space Commission, as identified in the Texas Space Industry Highway Transportation Needs Assessment report and TxDOT's 2026 unified transportation program. The bill requires TxDOT, in constructing or maintaining the state highway infrastructure, to give consideration for the critical infrastructure needs using local government and private sector partnerships. The bill establishes that it is the intent of the legislature that TxDOT use this appropriation to draw down federal money or other sources of funding to the extent possible.
C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $100,000,000 from the general revenue fund to TxDOT for the two‑year period beginning on the bill's effective date for use in a manner consistent with Strategy C.5.1, Aviation Services, as listed in Chapter 1170 (H.B. 1), Acts of the 88th Legislature, Regular Session, 2023 (the General Appropriations Act).
C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $68,000,000 from the general revenue fund to the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date to be deposited to the credit of the unemployment compensation fund.
C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $30,793,540 from the general revenue fund to TWC for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date to be used for vocational rehabilitation and sustaining the state's required maintenance of effort under federal law. The bill establishes that it is the intent of the legislature that this appropriation be used by TWC to draw down federal matching funds and sustain the state's required maintenance of effort under federal law. The bill requires TWC, not later than August 31, 2027, to submit to the LBB a report showing the disposition of this money and the amount of federal matching funds that were drawn down with this money.
C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $100,000,000 from the general revenue fund to TWC for the two‑year period beginning on the bill's effective date for use in a manner consistent with Strategy A.3.1, Local Child Care Solutions, as listed in Chapter 1170 (H.B. 1), Acts of the 88th Legislature, Regular Session, 2023 (the General Appropriations Act).
C.S.H.B. 500, contingent on H.B. 14 or similar legislation by the 89th Legislature, Regular Session, 2025, relating to funding mechanisms within the governor's office and the Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUC) to support the deployment of advanced nuclear reactors in Texas, being enacted and becoming law, appropriates $750,000,000 from the general revenue fund to the comptroller for deposit to the Texas Energy Fund.
Unexpended and Unobligated Balances
C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates all unexpended and unobligated balances remaining as of the bill's effective date from appropriations made by Section 2.09, Chapter 458 (S.B. 30), Acts of the 88th Legislature, Regular Session, 2023 (the Supplemental Appropriations Act), from the Texas Semiconductor Innovation Fund to the trusteed programs within the governor's office for the establishment and administration of the Texas Semiconductor Innovation Consortium (estimated to be $572,830,000) to the trusteed programs for the same purpose for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date. This appropriation may be spent only with prior approval of the LBB. A request for approval of an expenditure submitted by the trusteed programs within the governor's office to the LBB is considered approved by the LBB unless the LBB objects to the request within 30 calendar days after the date the request is submitted to the LBB.
C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates all unexpended and unobligated balances remaining as of the bill's effective date from appropriations made by Section 2.28, Chapter 458 (S.B. 30), Acts of the 88th Legislature, Regular Session, 2023 (the Supplemental Appropriations Act), from the general revenue fund to the trusteed programs within the governor's office for the moving image industry incentive program (estimated to be $155,000,000) to the trusteed programs for the same purpose for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date.
C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates all unexpended and unobligated balances remaining as of the bill's effective date from appropriations made by Section 2.30, Chapter 458 (S.B. 30), Acts of the 88th Legislature, Regular Session, 2023 (the Supplemental Appropriations Act), from the general revenue fund to the trusteed programs within the governor's office for the purpose of paying legal counsel to represent the trusteed programs in litigation involving children's rights in the case of M.D., et al. v. Abbott, et al. (estimated to be $6,000,000) to the trusteed programs for the same purpose for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date.
C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates all unexpended and unobligated balances remaining as of the bill's effective date from appropriations made by Section 2.31, Chapter 458 (S.B. 30), Acts of the 88th Legislature, Regular Session, 2023 (the Supplemental Appropriations Act), from the general revenue fund to the trusteed programs within the governor's office for border operations (estimated to be $300,000,000) to the trusteed programs for the same purpose for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date.
C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates all unexpended and unobligated balances remaining as of the bill's effective date from appropriations made by Section 2.32, Chapter 458 (S.B. 30), Acts of the 88th Legislature, Regular Session, 2023 (the Supplemental Appropriations Act), from the Texas Enterprise Fund Account to the trusteed programs within the governor's office for the purpose of economic development initiatives as provided by Section 481.078, Government Code (estimated to be $100,000,000) to the trusteed programs for the same purpose for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date.
C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates all unexpended and unobligated balances remaining as of the bill's effective date from appropriations made by Section 2.33, Chapter 458 (S.B. 30), Acts of the 88th Legislature, Regular Session, 2023 (the Supplemental Appropriations Act), from the general revenue fund to the trusteed programs within the governor's office to provide funding to support an economic development office in Taiwan (estimated to be $800,000) to the trusteed programs for the same purpose for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date.
C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates all unexpended and unobligated balances remaining as of the bill's effective date from appropriations made by Section 3.02, Chapter 458 (S.B. 30), Acts of the 88th Legislature, Regular Session, 2023 (the Supplemental Appropriations Act), from the general revenue fund to HHSC for purposes specified in that section relating to new capacity for mental health services and inpatient facilities (estimated to be $2,112,200,000) to HHSC for the same purposes for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date. In addition to the capital budget authority granted by other law, HHSC may use an amount equal to the amount appropriated in capital budget authority during that period for the appropriation.
C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates all unexpended and unobligated balances remaining as of the bill's effective date from appropriations made by Section 8.36, Chapter 458 (S.B. 30), Acts of the 88th Legislature, Regular Session, 2023 (the Supplemental Appropriations Act), from the general revenue fund to HHSC for the purchase of motor vehicles (estimated to be $2,350,000) to HHSC for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date. In addition to the capital budget authority granted by other law, HHSC may use an amount equal to the amount appropriated in capital budget authority during that period for the appropriation.
C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates all unexpended and unobligated balances remaining as of the bill's effective date from appropriations made by Section 9.02(5), Chapter 458 (S.B. 30), Acts of the 88th Legislature, Regular Session, 2023 (the Supplemental Appropriations Act), from the general revenue fund to HHSC for the purpose of purchasing motor vehicles for HHSC's use as authorized by general law (estimated to be $7,850,000) to HHSC for the same purpose for the two-year period beginning on the effective date. In addition to the capital budget authority granted by other law, HHSC may use an amount equal to the amount appropriated in capital budget authority during that period for the appropriation.
C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates all unexpended and unobligated balances remaining as of the bill's effective date from appropriations made by Section 8.24, Chapter 458 (S.B. 30), Acts of the 88th Legislature, Regular Session, 2023 (the Supplemental Appropriations Act), from master lease purchase revenue bonds to HHSC to address deferred maintenance needs at state supported living centers and state hospitals as described by Section 10, Chapter 995 (H.B. 2), Acts of the 87th Legislature, Regular Session, 2021 (the Supplemental Appropriations Act) (estimated to be $400,000) to HHSC for the same purpose for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date. In addition to the capital budget authority granted by other law, HHSC may use an amount equal to the amount appropriated in capital budget authority during that period for the appropriation.
C.S.H.B. 500, contingent on approval by two-thirds of the members present in each house of the legislature, appropriates all unexpended and unobligated balances remaining as of the bill's effective date from appropriations made by Section 8.25, Chapter 458 (S.B. 30), Acts of the 88th Legislature, Regular Session, 2023 (the Supplemental Appropriations Act), from the Economic Stabilization Fund (ESF), otherwise known as the Rainy Day Fund, to HHSC for projects that have been approved under the provisions of Rider 221, page II-110, Chapter 605 (S.B. 1), Acts of the 85th Legislature, Regular Session, 2017 (the General Appropriations Act), to the bill pattern of the appropriations to HHSC and appropriated again by Chapter 1353 (H.B. 1), Acts of the 86th Legislature, Regular Session, 2019 (the General Appropriations Act) (estimated to be $12,200,000) to HHSC for the same purpose for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date.
C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates all unexpended and unobligated balances remaining as of the bill's effective date from appropriations made by Section 8.27, Chapter 458 (S.B. 30), Acts of the 88th Legislature, Regular Session, 2023 (the Supplemental Appropriations Act), from the general revenue fund and federal funds to HHSC for phase 1 of the management information systems modernization and procurement and transition (estimated to be an aggregate of $142,672,493, of which $20,831,840 is estimated to be from the general revenue fund and $121,840,653 is estimated to be from federal funds) to HHSC for the same purpose for the two‑year period beginning on the bill's effective date. In addition to the capital budget authority granted by other law, HHSC may use an amount equal to the amount appropriated in capital budget authority during that period for the appropriation.
C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates all unexpended and unobligated balances remaining as of the bill's effective date from appropriations made by Section 4.02, Chapter 458 (S.B. 30), Acts of the 88th Legislature, Regular Session, 2023 (the Supplemental Appropriations Act), from the general revenue fund to TEA to award grants to assist public school districts in implementing school safety initiatives (estimated to be $335,000) to TEA for the same purpose for the two‑year period beginning on the bill's effective date.
C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates all unexpended and unobligated balances remaining as of the bill's effective date from appropriations made by Section 4.35, Chapter 458 (S.B. 30), Acts of the 88th Legislature, Regular Session, 2023 (the Supplemental Appropriations Act), from the general revenue fund to TEA for the regulation of library materials sold to or included in public school libraries (estimated to be $2,000,000) to TEA for the same purpose for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date.
C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates all unexpended and unobligated balances remaining as of the bill's effective date from appropriations made by Chapter 1170 (H.B. 1), Acts of the 88th Legislature, Regular Session, 2023 (the General Appropriations Act), from the general revenue fund to The University of Texas at Austin for Strategy C.2.7, Digital Molten Salt Reactor, as listed in that act, for the purchase of equipment for a molten salt reactor (estimated to be $0) to the university for the same purpose for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date.
C.S.H.B. 500, contingent on approval by two-thirds of the members present in each house of the legislature, appropriates all unexpended and unobligated balances remaining as of the bill's effective date from appropriations made by Section 4.14, Chapter 458 (S.B. 30), Acts of the 88th Legislature, Regular Session, 2023 (the Supplemental Appropriations Act), from the general revenue fund to Lamar University for the purpose of mitigating storm damage and making renovations at the university (estimated to be $3,000,000) to the university for the same purpose for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date. The legislature expressly finds that there is a demonstrated need for this appropriation of general revenue funds.
C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates all unexpended and unobligated balances remaining as of the bill's effective date from appropriations made by Section 4.31, Chapter 458 (S.B. 30), Acts of the 88th Legislature, Regular Session, 2023 (the Supplemental Appropriations Act), from the general revenue fund to the Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service for education, response, recruitment, and retention (estimated to be $1,500,000) to the extension service for the same purpose for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date.
C.S.H.B. 500, contingent on approval by two-thirds of the members present in each house of the legislature, appropriates all unexpended and unobligated balances remaining as of the bill's effective date from appropriations made by Section 4.34, Chapter 458 (S.B. 30), Acts of the 88th Legislature, Regular Session, 2023 (the Supplemental Appropriations Act), from the general revenue fund to the Texas A&M University System for quantum and artificial intelligence chip fabrication and the Center for Microdevices and Systems (estimated to be $167,000,000) to the university system for the same purposes for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date. The legislature expressly finds that there is a demonstrated need for this appropriation of general revenue funds.
C.S.H.B. 500, contingent on approval by two-thirds of the members present in each house of the legislature, appropriates all unexpended and unobligated balances remaining as of the bill's effective date from appropriations made by Section 4.36, Chapter 458 (S.B. 30), Acts of the 88th Legislature, Regular Session, 2023 (the Supplemental Appropriations Act), from the general revenue fund to the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center at El Paso to support the development of a comprehensive oncology center partnership (estimated to be $51,000,000) to the health science center for the same purpose for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date. The legislature expressly finds that there is a demonstrated need for this appropriation of general revenue funds.
C.S.H.B. 500, contingent on approval by two-thirds of the members present in each house of the legislature, appropriates all unexpended and unobligated balances remaining as of the bill's effective date from appropriations made by Section 8.51, Chapter 458 (S.B. 30), Acts of the 88th Legislature, Regular Session, 2023 (the Supplemental Appropriations Act), from the general revenue fund to Texas A&M University at Galveston for dock and other infrastructure improvements needed to accept new and larger vessels from the U.S. Department of Transportation and the U.S. Maritime Administration (MARAD) (estimated to be $43,000,000) to the university for the same purpose for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date. The legislature expressly finds that there is a demonstrated need for this appropriation of general revenue funds.
C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates all unexpended and unobligated balances remaining as of the bill's effective date from appropriations made by Section 8.53, Chapter 458 (S.B. 30), Acts of the 88th Legislature, Regular Session, 2023 (the Supplemental Appropriations Act), from money received by the state from the federal Coronavirus State Fiscal Recovery Fund established under the federal American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 and deposited to the credit of the coronavirus relief fund to TDEM for the purpose of the acquisition of land for, and construction of, a state operations center (estimated to be $0) to TDEM for the same purpose for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date.
C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates all unexpended and unobligated balances remaining as of the bill's effective date from appropriations made by Section 6.03, Chapter 458 (S.B. 30), Acts of the 88th Legislature, Regular Session, 2023 (the Supplemental Appropriations Act), from the general revenue fund to TPWD to acquire real property for use as state parks (estimated to be $125,000,000) to TPWD for the same purpose for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date. In addition to the capital budget authority granted by other law, TPWD may use an amount equal to the amount appropriated in capital budget authority during that period for the appropriation.
C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates all unexpended and unobligated balances remaining as of the bill's effective date from appropriations made by Section 9.02(19), Chapter 458 (S.B. 30), Acts of the 88th Legislature, Regular Session, 2023 (the Supplemental Appropriations Act), from the general revenue fund, the oil and gas regulation and cleanup account, and federal funds to the RRC for the purpose of purchasing motor vehicles for the RRC's use as authorized by general law (estimated to be an aggregate of $7,319,038, of which $4,747,416 is estimated to be from the general revenue fund, $1,482,922 is estimated to be from the oil and gas regulation and cleanup account, and $1,088,700 is estimated to be from federal funds) to the RRC for the same purpose for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date. In addition to the capital budget authority granted by other law, the RRC may use an amount equal to the amount appropriated in capital budget authority during that period for the appropriation.
C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates all unexpended balances remaining as of the bill's effective date from appropriations made by Section 74, Chapter 465 (S.B. 500), Acts of the 86th Legislature, Regular Session, 2019 (the Supplemental Appropriations Act), from the Texas Infrastructure Resiliency Fund to the TWDB for the purpose of providing matching funds for projects sponsored by municipalities and counties in Texas and approved for the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program administered by FEMA (estimated to be $219,516,698) to the TWDB for the same purpose for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date. The bill, contingent on the failure by a claimant to present a claim to the comptroller for payment in a timely manner as required by applicable state law and the related expiration of a part of the appropriation originally made by Section 74, Chapter 465 (S.B. 500), Acts of the 86th Legislature, Regular Session, 2019 (the Supplemental Appropriations Act), also appropriates an amount equal to the claims expiring because of the failure to be timely presented to the comptroller for payment (estimated to be $0) for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date from the Texas Infrastructure Resiliency Fund to the TWDB for the purpose of providing matching funds for projects sponsored by municipalities and counties in Texas and approved for the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program administered by FEMA.
C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates all unexpended balances remaining as of the bill's effective date from appropriations made by Section 75, Chapter 465 (S.B. 500), Acts of the 86th Legislature, Regular Session, 2019 (the Supplemental Appropriations Act), from the Texas Infrastructure Resiliency Fund to the TWDB for the purpose of providing matching funds for projects sponsored by municipalities and counties in Texas and approved for the Public Assistance grant program administered by FEMA (estimated to be $263,978,241) to the TWDB for the same purpose for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date. The bill, contingent on the failure by a claimant to present a claim to the comptroller for payment in a timely manner as required by applicable state law and the related expiration of a part of the appropriation originally made by Section 75, Chapter 465 (S.B. 500), Acts of the 86th Legislature, Regular Session, 2019 (the Supplemental Appropriations Act), also appropriates an amount equal to the claims expiring because of the failure to be timely presented to the comptroller for payment (estimated to be $0) for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date from the Texas Infrastructure Resiliency Fund to the TWDB for the purpose of providing matching funds for projects sponsored by municipalities and counties in Texas and approved for the Public Assistance grant program administered by FEMA.
C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates all unexpended and unobligated balances remaining as of the bill's effective date from appropriations made by Section 2.34, Chapter 458 (S.B. 30), Acts of the 88th Legislature, Regular Session, 2023 (the Supplemental Appropriations Act), from the general revenue fund to SPB for the purpose of making improvements to senate facilities (estimated to be $0) to SPB for the same purpose for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date. SPB may spend this appropriation only with the prior approval of the lieutenant governor. For purposes of the appropriation, the bill exempts SPB from the applicable competitive bidding process for facilities contracts.
C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates all unexpended and unobligated balances remaining as of the bill's effective date from appropriations made by Section 2.35, Chapter 458 (S.B. 30), Acts of the 88th Legislature, Regular Session, 2023 (the Supplemental Appropriations Act), from the general revenue fund to SPB for the purpose of making improvements to house of representatives facilities (estimated to be $0) to SPB for the same purpose for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date. SPB may spend this appropriation only with prior approval of the speaker of the house of representatives. For purposes of the appropriation, the bill exempts SPB from the applicable competitive bidding process for facilities contracts.
C.S.H.B. 500, contingent on approval by two-thirds of the members present in each house of the legislature, appropriates all unexpended and unobligated balances remaining as of the bill's effective date from appropriations made by Section 8.80, Chapter 458 (S.B. 30), Acts of the 88th Legislature, Regular Session, 2023 (the Supplemental Appropriations Act), from the ESF to TDCJ to be used for corrections information technology system projects as provided under Strategy G.1.4, Information Resources, as listed in Chapter 605 (S.B. 1), Acts of the 85th Legislature, Regular Session, 2017 (the General Appropriations Act) (estimated to be $8,000,000) to TDCJ for the same purpose for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date. In addition to the capital budget authority granted by other law, TDCJ may use an amount equal to the amount appropriated in capital budget authority during that period for the appropriation.
C.S.H.B. 500, contingent on approval by two-thirds of the members present in each house of the legislature, appropriates all unexpended and unobligated balances remaining as of the bill's effective date from appropriations made by Section 4.33, Chapter 458 (S.B. 30), Acts of the 88th Legislature, Regular Session, 2023 (the Supplemental Appropriations Act), from the general revenue fund to The University of Texas at Austin for research on forward-looking technologies, the operation and establishment of a research and development fabrication facility, a fabrication facility with security clearance requirements to support the defense electronics sector, and a leading edge shared fabrication facility to support U.S. technological and economic advantages and fabricate small run productions for breakthroughs in advanced packaging (estimated to be $0) to the university for the same purpose for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date. The legislature expressly finds that there is a demonstrated need for this appropriation of general revenue funds.
C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates all unexpended and unobligated balances remaining as of the bill's effective date from appropriations made by Rider 19, Page I-50, Chapter 1170 (H.B. 1), Acts of the 88th Legislature, Regular Session, 2023 (the General Appropriations Act), to the bill pattern of the appropriations of TFC from the proceeds from the sale of the William P. Hobby, Jr. State Office Building in Travis County to TFC for the sole purpose of funding the Capitol Complex - Phase 2 construction project as identified in that act (estimated to be $53,299,326) to TFC for the same purpose for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date. This appropriation must:
be spent on the Capitol Complex - Phase 2 construction project before any other money lawfully available for that project may be spent; and
be fully spent not later than the second anniversary of the date of the close of the sale of the William P. Hobby, Jr. State Office Building.
The bill reduces by $53,299,326, an amount equal to the proceeds from the sale of the William P. Hobby, Jr. State Office Building in Travis County, the appropriations made by Chapter 1170 (H.B. 1), Acts of the 88th Legislature, Regular Session, 2023 (the General Appropriations Act), from the general revenue fund to TFC for Capitol Complex - Phase 2 construction. In addition to the capital budget authority granted by other law, TFC may use $53,299,326 in capital budget authority during that period for the appropriation.
C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates all obligated but unexpended balances remaining as of the bill's effective date from appropriations made by Chapter 458 (S.B. 30), Acts of the 88th Legislature, Regular Session, 2023 (the Supplemental Appropriations Act), or Chapter 10 (S.B. 8), Acts of the 87th Legislature, Third Called Session, 2021 (the Supplemental Appropriations Act), from money received by the state from the federal Coronavirus State Fiscal Recovery Fund established under the federal American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 and deposited to the credit of the coronavirus relief fund to a state agency to that same agency for the purpose for which the money was obligated for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date.
C.S.H.B. 500, contingent on approval by two-thirds of the members present in each house of the legislature, appropriates all unexpended and unobligated balances remaining as of the bill's effective date from appropriations made by Section 4.37, Chapter 458 (S.B. 30), Acts of the 88th Legislature, Regular Session, 2023 (the Supplemental Appropriations Act), from the general revenue fund to The University of Texas at Tyler to renovate a facility to add an additional 44 forensic and civil complex medical needs inpatient beds (estimated to be $7,000,000) to the University of Texas Health Science Center at Tyler for the same purpose for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date. The legislature expressly finds that there is a demonstrated need for this appropriation of general revenue funds.
Information Technology Appropriations
C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $480,000 from the general revenue fund to the Bond Review Board for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the purpose of modernizing the board's state and local debt database.
C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $25,664,814 from the general revenue fund to the comptroller for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the purpose of modernizing information technology services.
C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $8,666,041 from the general revenue fund to the comptroller for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the purpose of replacing the Uniform Statewide Accounting System (USAS) and Texas Identification Number System (TINS).
C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $947,800 from the general revenue fund to the Texas Emergency Services Retirement System for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the purpose of migrating servers to the Texas Data Center Services program with cloud support and services providing data security enhancements.
C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $275,000 from the general revenue fund to the Texas Ethics Commission for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the purpose of continued electronic filing system improvements and accommodating statutory changes.
C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $6,490,856 from the general revenue fund to TFC for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the purpose of implementing necessary information technology infrastructure upgrades to the bandwidth with networking solutions for Phase 1 of a multi-phase project.
C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $980,000 from the general revenue fund to the Texas Historical Commission for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the purpose of replacing outdated legacy systems relating to enhanced historic sites visitation.
C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $24,545,000 from the general revenue fund to the Department of Information Resources (DIR) for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the purposes of procurement, licensing, and support of network bandwidth connectivity, security tolls, and services to local governmental entities in three regional security operations centers' service areas and the establishment of four additional regional security operations centers.
C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $24,143,334 from the general revenue fund to DIR for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the purpose of supporting software licenses and subscriptions, maintenance costs, and hardware costs and including network detection and response services for agencies' assessment of the state's cybersecurity risk.
C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $3,000,000 from appropriated receipts (other funds) to DIR for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the purpose of implementing additional information technology service management system (ITSM) capabilities across DIR and replacing existing legacy systems.
C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $231,224 from the general revenue fund to the Texas State Library and Archives Commission (TSLAC) for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the purpose of acquiring equipment and parts to maintain TSLAC's 200-user local area network, wide area network, and telecommunications, allowing for the replacement of obsolete network equipment and the scheduled replacement of desktop and laptop computers.
C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $700,000 from the general revenue fund to the State Pension Review Board (PRB) for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the purpose of implementing various one-time enhancements to address improvements identified during the creation of the PRB's three main information technology systems: the Internal Database, the Texas Public Pension Data Center, and the Pension Online Reporting Tool.
C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $1,194,904 from interagency contract receipts to the State Office of Risk Management for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the purpose of using a cloud-based solution to integrate all operational systems and statutorily mandated programs.
C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $8,436,864 from the general revenue fund and $563,136 from federal funds to DFPS for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the purpose of cybersecurity protections and technologies to address current cybersecurity threats and prepare DFPS to mitigate future risks.
C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $2,545,287 from the general revenue fund to DSHS for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the purpose of continuing seat management services.
C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $9,949,396 from the general revenue fund to DSHS for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the purpose of integrating the capabilities of the Maternal Mortality Review System (MMRS) and the Maternal Child Health Quality Improvement System (MCHQIS) with the State Health Analytics Reporting Platform (SHARP).
C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $744,364 from the general revenue fund and $755,636 from federal funds to HHSC for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the purpose of supporting increased license costs for forecasting and rate setting in service of ongoing Medicaid and Children's Health Insurance Program operations.
C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $43,002 from the general revenue fund to HHSC for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the purpose of replacing the Texas Civil Commitment Office's Microsoft Office 2016 with Microsoft Office 365.
C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $260,000 from the permanent school fund account to the Texas Permanent School Fund Corporation for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the purpose of replacing outdated personal computers and laptops across the corporation.
C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $480,000 from the permanent school fund account to the Texas Permanent School Fund Corporation for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the purpose of upgrading infrastructure to support the corporation's growing data storage, processing, audio/video, and security needs.
C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $1,000,000 from the permanent school fund account to the Texas Permanent School Fund Corporation for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the purpose of enhancing the corporation's defenses against cyber threats.
C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $730,000 from the permanent school fund account to the Texas Permanent School Fund Corporation for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the purpose of using cloud services and providing the corporation's information technology infrastructure with data backup and recovery, networking, website hosting, and data management.
C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $2,071,998 from the general revenue fund to the Texas School for the Deaf for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the purpose of adding security to hardware, software, and support systems, and for service items related to cybersecurity.
C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $11,942,000 from the general revenue fund to OCA for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the purpose of replacing the legacy system that provides case management to the appellate courts in Texas.
C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $3,943,685 from the general revenue fund to OCA for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the purpose of creating a cloud-based, centralized system for the statutorily defined specialty courts in Texas.
C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $19,489,260 from the general revenue fund to TDCJ for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the purpose of purchasing integration solutions for the Centralized Accounting Payroll/Personnel System (CAPPS) and community workstations to be placed in correctional facilities to provide computer access for correctional staff.
C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $1,000,000 from the general revenue fund to TDCJ for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the purpose of updating TDCJ's Office of the Inspector General Crime Management System.
C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $29,077,480 from the general revenue fund to TDCJ for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the purpose of replacing TDCJ's video surveillance equipment.
C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $85,378,000 from the general revenue fund to TDCJ for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the purpose of expanding the use of body-worn cameras systemwide.
C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $21,993,600 from the general revenue fund to TDCJ for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the purpose of upgrading TDCJ's telephone systems.
C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $29,265,000 from the general revenue fund to TDCJ for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the purpose of replacing aging legacy infrastructure with statewide broadband cabling in TDCJ facilities statewide.
C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $562,640 from the general revenue fund to TDCJ for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the purpose of modernizing the Board of Pardons and Paroles' (BPP) telephone system and allowing the BPP to use an automated call distribution system.
C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $58,300,000 from the general revenue fund to TDCJ for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the purpose of purchasing an offender management system for incarceration and parole supervision.
C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $160,000 from the general revenue fund to the Texas Commission on Fire Protection (TCFP) for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the purpose of equipment and technology improvements to TCFP's sound system.
C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $87,000 from the general revenue fund to the Commission on Jail Standards (TCJS) for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the purpose of supporting TCJS's website and portal, purchasing renewal licenses for software, and replacing laptops and other hardware.
C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $38,000 from the general revenue fund to TCJS for the two-year period beginning on the effective date for the purpose of cloud maintenance and security.
C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $9,000,000 from the general revenue fund to TJJD for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the purpose of modernizing applications.
C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $27,471,283 from the general revenue fund to the Department of Public Safety (DPS) for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the purpose of protecting critical data systems and associated supporting infrastructure.
C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $20,000,000 from the general revenue fund to DPS for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the purpose of replacing the state's fingerprint matching repository.
C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $13,858,646 from the general revenue fund to DPS for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the purpose of making technology improvements to driver license services.
C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $5,000,511 from the general revenue fund to DPS for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the purpose of making technology improvements to driver license customer service centers.
C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $800,000 from the general revenue fund to DPS for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the purpose of an accounts payable invoice tracking system.
C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $5,607,644 from the general revenue fund to DPS for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the purpose of modernizing the Texas Online Private Security (TOPS), Texas Online Metals (TOM), and Vehicle Inspection Connection (VIC) systems.
C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $900,000 from the general revenue fund to DPS for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the purpose of purchasing a multi-directional external file sharing solution.
C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $23,522,986 from the general revenue fund to DPS for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the purpose of cybersecurity and identity management services.
C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $2,141,154 from the clean air account, $2,473,579 from the water resource management account, $1,105,178 from the waste management account, $1,105,177 from the hazardous and solid waste remediation fees account, $1,105,176 from the petroleum storage tank remediation account, and $9,784,080 from the operating permit fees account to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the purpose of establishing a comprehensive risk management framework program and modernizing two legacy applications vital to air and water management.
C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $4,874,458 from the clean air account, $4,874,460 from the water resource management account, $3,655,846 from the waste management account, $3,655,844 from the hazardous and solid waste remediation fees account, $3,655,844 from the petroleum storage tank remediation account, and $3,655,844 from the operating permit fees account to the TCEQ for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the purpose of addressing a forecasted increase in data center services.
C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $7,685,824 from the general revenue fund to the RRC for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the purpose of developing a new produced water and injection data reporting system.
C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $2,748,000 from the general revenue fund to the RRC for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the purpose of developing an oil and gas authorized pit registration system.
C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $6,288,068 from the general revenue fund to the RRC for the two‑year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the purpose of modernizing the alternative fuels online system and developing a new gas utilities' audit and market oversight online system.
C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $7,728,398 from the general revenue fund to the RRC for the two‑year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the purpose of addressing a forecasted increase in data center services.
C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $2,676,054 from the general revenue fund to the TWDB for the two‑year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the purpose of information technology risk mitigation.
C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $1,589,344 from the general revenue fund to the Texas Lottery Commission for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the purpose of upgrading the Bingo Operation Service System (BOSS) and the Bingo Service Portal.
C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $1,795,158 from the lottery account to the Texas Lottery Commission for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the purpose of transitioning the lottery commission to the financial modules of CAPPS.
C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $125,000,000 from the general revenue fund to the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the purpose of replacing the legacy registration and title system.
C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $3,264,540 from the unemployment compensation special administration account to TWC for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the purpose of enhancing fraud detection and deterrence efforts pertaining to the unemployment insurance program.
C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $3,162,408 from the unemployment compensation special administration account to TWC for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the purpose of implementing items identified in the Texas Cybersecurity Framework Assessment.
C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $10,975,221 from the unemployment compensation special administration account to TWC for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the purpose of addressing current mainframe computing needs related to unemployment insurance claims.
C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $2,613,576 from the unemployment compensation special administration account to TWC for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the purpose of implementing unemployment insurance State Information Data Exchange System (SIDES) modules.
C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $76,212 from the general revenue fund, $1,452,262 from the unemployment compensation special administration account, and $2,705,526 from federal funds to TWC for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the purpose of addressing network deficiencies.
C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $585,640 from the general revenue fund to the State Office of Administrative Hearings for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the purpose of providing funding for a full-time data officer and information security officer and implementing recommendations to mitigate cybersecurity risks.
C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $731,598 from the Texas Department of Insurance operating account to the Office of Injured Employee Counsel for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the purpose of providing funding for additional FTEs and information technology modernization relating to dispute resolution and case management systems.
C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $1,097,040 from the Texas Department of Insurance operating account to the Texas Department of Insurance (TDI) for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the purpose of replacing the Division of Workers' Compensation's claims management system.
C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $2,450,000 from the Texas Department of Insurance operating account to TDI for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the purpose of modernizing network adequacy software.
C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $13,136 from the general revenue fund to the Texas State Board of Pharmacy for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the purpose of addressing a DIR cost increase for cloud services and Texas.gov fees.
C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates $3,951,400 from the general revenue fund to the PUC for the two‑year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the purpose of developing a case management system.
C.S.H.B. 500 establishes that, in addition to the capital budget authority granted by other law, the state agencies appropriated money under the bill's provisions relating to information technology appropriations may use an amount equal to the total amount appropriated to the agency under those provisions in capital budget authority during the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for those appropriations.
Miscellaneous Provisions
Motor Vehicle Purchases
C.S.H.B. 500 appropriates the following amounts from the specified sources to the following agencies for use during the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the purpose of purchasing motor vehicles for the agency's use as authorized by general law:
the Department of State Health Services: $2,465,539 from the general revenue fund, which may also be used for the purchase of three boats for DSHS's oyster program;
the Health and Human Services Commission: $7,850,000 from the general revenue fund;
the Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired: $510,000 from the general revenue fund;
the Texas School for the Deaf: $510,000 from the general revenue fund;
the Texas A&M Forest Service: $2,056,918 from the general revenue fund;
the Texas Division of Emergency Management: $7,800,000 from the general revenue fund;
the Texas Department of Criminal Justice: $43,587,907 from the general revenue fund;
the Texas Juvenile Justice Department: a total of $3,990,000 from the general revenue fund allocated as follows:
o to the Office of the Independent Ombudsman: $150,000;
o to the Office of the Inspector General: $550,000; and
o to TJJD: $3,290,000;
the Department of Public Safety: $226,884,563 from the general revenue fund, of which DPS may use $6,000,000 for aircraft maintenance and $2,550,000 for aircraft engine overhauls;
the Department of Agriculture: $1,500,000 from the general revenue fund;
the Texas Animal Health Commission: $920,000 from the general revenue fund;
the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality: a total of $1,119,775 from:
o the clean air account: $189,841;
o the water resource management account: $337,127;
o the waste management account: $336,125;
o the hazardous and solid waste remediation fees account: $41,000;
o the petroleum storage tank remediation account: $107,841; and
o the operating permit fees account: $107,841;
the General Land Office: a total of $1,000,000 from the following accounts:
o coastal protection account: $927,850, of which the GLO may use $850,000 for the replacement of boats; and
o permanent school fund (other funds): $72,150;
the Parks and Wildlife Department: a total of $9,123,786 from:
o the general revenue fund: $6,051,994;
o the game, fish, and water safety account: $509,840; and
o the state parks account: $2,561,952;
the Railroad Commission of Texas: $4,889,841 from the general revenue fund;
the Texas Department of Transportation: $38,337,116 from the state highway fund (other funds);
the Texas Department of Insurance: $450,000 from the Texas Department of Insurance operating account;
the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation: $515,000 from the general revenue fund;
the Texas State Board of Pharmacy: $320,000 from the general revenue fund;
the Texas Racing Commission: $160,000 from the general revenue fund;
the Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners: $116,500 from the general revenue fund;
the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission: $1,399,050 from the general revenue fund;
the Texas Historical Commission: $560,832 from the general revenue fund;
the Health and Human Services Commission for the Texas Civil Commitment Office: $60,164 from the general revenue fund;
the Texas Commission on Fire Protection: $225,000 from the general revenue fund; and
the Texas Military Department: $1,050,000 from the general revenue fund.
In addition to the capital budget authority granted by other law, each agency may use an amount equal to the equal to the amount appropriated in capital budget authority during the two‑year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the appropriation.
Limitation, Reporting, and Transfer Provisions of GAA Incorporated by Reference
C.S.H.B. 500 establishes that provisions relating to limitations, reporting, or transfer of Article IX, Chapter 1170 (H.B. 1), Acts of the 88th Legislature, Regular Session, 2023 (the General Appropriations Act), and of Article IX, S.B. 1, Acts of the 89th Legislature, Regular Session, 2025 (the General Appropriations Act), are incorporated into C.S.H.B. 500 by reference and apply to the appropriations made by the bill.
Interpretation of Legislative Intent
C.S.H.B. 500 establishes that money appropriated by the bill must be spent, as nearly as practicable, for the purposes for which the money was appropriated. In the event an agency cannot determine the legislative purpose of an appropriation from the pattern of appropriations, the agency must seek to determine that purpose from the proceedings of the standing legislative committees with primary jurisdiction over appropriations and from the request for appropriations made by the agency.
EFFECTIVE DATE
Except as otherwise provided, on passage.
COMPARISON OF INTRODUCED AND SUBSTITUTE
While C.S.H.B. 500 may differ from the introduced in minor or nonsubstantive ways, the following summarizes the substantial differences between the introduced and committee substitute versions of the bill.
The substitute includes a provision absent from the introduced appropriating $300,000,000 from the general revenue fund to the comptroller for FY 2025 to be deposited by the comptroller to the space exploration and aeronautics research trust fund.
The substitute includes a provision absent from the introduced appropriating $150,000,000 from the general revenue fund to the trusteed programs within the governor's office for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date to make a grant, in a manner consistent with Strategy B.1.3, Homeland Security, to the Lubbock Reese Redevelopment Authority to acquire critical cybersecurity infrastructure.
With respect to the $150,000,000 appropriated in both the introduced and the substitute to HHSC from the general revenue fund for use during the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date in a manner consistent with Strategy G.4.2, Facility Capital Repairs and Renovation at State Supported Living Centers, State Hospitals, and Other, to complete construction of the El Paso State Hospital, also known as the El Paso Psychiatric Center in El Paso, which is a state hospital facility, the substitute does not include the introduced version's specification that the hospital contains a 50-forensic bed expansion. Additionally, with respect to the $50,000,000 appropriated to HHSC from the general revenue fund by Section 3.02(a), Chapter 458 (S.B. 30), Acts of the 88th Legislature, Regular Session, 2023 (the Supplemental Appropriations Act), for Strategy G.4.2, Facility Capital Repairs and Renovation, for pre-planning, planning, land acquisition, and initial construction of a new 50-bed El Paso State Hospital, with 50 percent of the beds to be forensic, the substitute amends that act to omit the specification that the hospital contains 50 beds, whereas the introduced did not.
The substitute includes a provision absent from the introduced appropriating $65,000,000 from the general revenue fund to HHSC for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date to establish a one-time grant to Baptist Hospitals of Southeast Texas to provide stroke care services to the southeast region of Texas.
Whereas the introduced appropriated $24,945,000 from the general revenue fund to Texas State University for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the purpose of funding construction for the Advanced Law Enforcement Rapid Response Training Program, the substitute makes that appropriation to the university for the purpose of funding construction for the Advanced Law Enforcement Rapid Response Training Center.
The substitute includes a provision absent from the introduced appropriating $50,000,000 from the general revenue fund to the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date to support the development of a rural cancer collaborative, contingent on approval by two-thirds of the members present in each house of the legislature. The substitute includes related provisions also absent from the introduced establishing that the legislature expressly finds that there is a demonstrated need for this appropriation of general revenue funds.
The substitute includes a provision absent from the introduced appropriating an amount equal to the sum of $650,000,000 for each institution of higher education that becomes eligible to receive certain distributions from the Texas University Fund, as certified by the THECB and not to exceed $1,300,000,000, from the general revenue fund to the comptroller for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for deposit by the comptroller to that fund to provide additional money to ensure stable funding for institutions that are eligible to receive the applicable distributions from that fund before the bill's effective date.
The substitute includes a provision absent from the introduced authorizing TDCJ, in addition to the capital budget authority granted by other law, to use $110,000,000 in capital budget authority for the appropriation of $110,000,000 made from the general revenue fund to TDCJ for the two‑year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the purchase of the Giles Dalby Correctional Facility in Post, Texas.
The substitute includes a provision absent from the introduced appropriating $7,000,000 from the general revenue fund to TDCJ for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the water supply at the Hobby Unit in Marlin, Texas. The substitute also includes corresponding provisions regarding TDCJ's use of its capital budget authority, which were absent from the introduced.
Whereas the introduced appropriated $200,000,000 from the general revenue fund to the TWDB for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date to be used in a manner consistent with Strategy C.1.1, State & Federal Financial Assistance Program, the substitute instead appropriates $400,000,000 from the general revenue fund to the TWDB for that period to be used for water projects in a manner consistent with Strategy C.1.1, State & Federal Financial Assistance Program.
Whereas the introduced version's appropriation of $2,500,000,000 from the general revenue fund to the comptroller for FY 2025 to be deposited by the comptroller to the Texas Water Fund was contingent on the enactment of legislation by the 89th Legislature, Regular Session, 2025, relating to the allocation of funds deposited to that fund for water infrastructure and supply projects, the substitute instead makes that appropriation contingent on H.B. 16 or similar legislation by the 89th Legislature, Regular Session, 2025, relating to the oversight and financing of certain water infrastructure matters under the jurisdiction of the TWDB being enacted and becoming law.
The substitute includes a provision absent from the introduced appropriating $100,000,000 from the general revenue fund to TPWD for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for use in a manner consistent with Strategy B.2.1, Local Parks Grants.
The substitute includes a provision absent from the introduced appropriating $21,400,000 from the general revenue fund to TPWD for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for improvements to and repairs of TPWD's headquarters facility. The substitute also includes corresponding provisions regarding TPWD's use of its capital budget authority, which were absent from the introduced.
Whereas the introduced appropriated $350,000,000 from the general revenue fund to TxDOT for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the purpose of making grants for the construction of local rail grade crossings, contingent on enactment of legislation by the 89th Legislature, Regular Session, 2025, authorizing TxDOT to make such grants, the substitute instead appropriates $350,000,000 from the general revenue fund to TxDOT for that period for the purpose of making grants for railroad grade separation projects, contingent on H.B. 3727, S.B. 1555, or similar legislation by the 89th Legislature, Regular Session, 2025, relating to a grant program to fund certain railroad grade separation projects being enacted and becoming law.
The substitute includes provisions absent from the introduced appropriating $131,000,000 from the general revenue fund to TxDOT for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the purpose of constructing or maintaining the state highway infrastructure in coordination with the Texas Space Commission, as identified in the Texas Space Industry Highway Transportation Needs Assessment report and TxDOT's 2026 unified transportation program and requiring TxDOT, in constructing or maintaining the state highway infrastructure, to give consideration for the critical infrastructure needs using local government and private sector partnerships. The substitute includes related provisions also absent from the introduced establishing that it is the legislature's intent that TxDOT use this appropriation to draw down federal money or other sources of funding to the extent possible.
The substitute includes a provision absent from the introduced appropriating $100,000,000 from the general revenue fund to TxDOT for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for use in a manner consistent with Strategy C.5.1, Aviation Services.
The substitute omits provisions from the introduced requiring the comptroller to immediately transfer an indeterminate amount of money from the general revenue fund to the Texas Nuclear Power Fund and appropriating an indeterminate amount of money from the Texas Nuclear Power Fund to the PUC for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date to be used for the Texas Nuclear Power Program, contingent on enactment of legislation creating that fund.
The substitute includes a provision absent from the introduced appropriating $100,000,000 from the general revenue fund to TWC for the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for use in a manner consistent with Strategy A.3.1, Local Child Care Solutions.
The substitute includes a provision absent from the introduced appropriating $750,000,000 from the general revenue fund to the comptroller for deposit to the Texas Energy Fund, contingent on H.B. 14 or similar legislation by the 89th Legislature, Regular Session, 2025, relating to funding mechanisms within the governor's office and the PUC to support the deployment of advanced nuclear reactors in Texas being enacted and becoming law.