89R16148 JCG-D
By: Schatzline H.B. No. 5283
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the operations of the Texas Military Department.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. This Act may be cited as the Texas Military
Forces Modernization and Readiness Act.
SECTION 2. (a) The Legislature finds that:
(1) The modernization of training infrastructure and
equipment for the Texas military forces is a critical strategic
imperative for maintaining combat effectiveness and ensuring rapid
response capabilities.
(2) The Texas Military Department faces a significant
infrastructure crisis, with 96 percent of readiness centers rated
as deficient or failing, and a two-million-square-foot space
shortfall that compromises operational readiness.
(3) The Texas military forces require dedicated
training centers to prepare forces for evolving multi-domain
threats while ensuring parity with active-duty forces.
(4) Expanding training infrastructure, increasing
joint training opportunities, and developing a state-controlled
Training Aids, Devices, Simulators, and Simulations (TADSS)
program will enhance readiness, reduce costs, and ensure access to
mission-critical resources.
(5) Strategic equipment modernization is necessary to
maintain technological parity with active-duty forces and enhance
state-specific operational capabilities.
(6) A dedicated Texas military readiness fund must be
established to provide sustained financial support for facility
upgrades, equipment procurement, and training infrastructure
expansion.
(b) The purpose of this Act is to:
(1) modernize and expand Texas Military Department
facilities to meet current and future operational requirements;
(2) establish a combat training center for the Texas
military forces to ensure modern warfare readiness;
(3) expand training facilities, including training
facilities designed to train the Texas military forces for urban
warfare, cyber warfare, air defense, operating unmanned aircraft,
and aviation gunnery;
(4) develop a program that permits service members in
the Texas military forces to train in realistic environments that
simulate scenarios likely to occur while deployed and provides
visual and interactive aids to reinforce key training points;
(5) implement a state-funded equipment modernization
program to enhance Texas military forces' operational
effectiveness;
(6) mandate semiannual joint exercises between Texas
National Guard forces and law enforcement agencies to improve
domestic security coordination; and
(7) expand equipment acquisition priorities to
include disaster response, counter-drone (CUAS) capabilities, and
mobile surveillance assets for homeland defense.
SECTION 3. Subchapter C, Chapter 437, Government Code, is
amended by adding Sections 437.120 and 437.121 to read as follows:
Sec. 437.120. TEXAS MILITARY READINESS FUND. (a) The Texas
military readiness fund is an account established in the general
revenue fund.
(b) The Texas military readiness fund consists of:
(1) money appropriated or transferred to the credit of
the fund; and
(2) interest and other earnings on the investment of
money in the fund.
(c) Money in the fund may be appropriated only to pay for the
facilities, programs, and equipment described by Sections 437.164,
437.165, 437.166, 437.233, and 437.234.
(d) The department shall establish an oversight board to
monitor expenditures from the fund and the effectiveness of
facilities, programs, and equipment acquired or implemented with
money from the fund.
Sec. 437.121. REPORTING ON EXPENDITURES FROM TEXAS MILITARY
READINESS FUND. (a) Not later than January 31 and July 31 of each
year, the department shall report to the governor, the lieutenant
governor, the speaker of the house of representatives, and the
members of the legislature on:
(1) the expenditures of money from the Texas military
readiness fund established under Section 437.120; and
(2) the progress the department has made in:
(A) constructing and renovating the facilities
required by Sections 437.164, 437.165, and 437.166;
(B) developing the programs required by Section
437.233; and
(C) purchasing the equipment required by Section
437.234.
(b) The report must also include utilization rates by the
Texas military forces of the facilities, programs, and equipment
described by Subsection (a) and the increase in military readiness
resulting from using the facilities and equipment and implementing
the programs described by Subsection (a).
SECTION 4. Subchapter D, Chapter 437, Government Code, is
amended by adding Sections 437.164, 437.165, and 437.166 to read as
follows:
Sec. 437.164. MILITARY READINESS: CONSTRUCTION AND
RENOVATION. (a) Based on findings and reports of the real property
advisory council established under Section 437.151, the department
shall construct new facilities and renovate existing facilities to
meet readiness standards set by the department for department
facilities, including the construction and renovation of:
(1) readiness centers;
(2) training facilities; and
(3) other support infrastructure.
(b) The department shall determine the amount of facility
space necessary to ensure military readiness and construct
facilities or renovate existing facilities to ensure military
readiness.
(c) As provided by Sections 437.155 and 437.156, the
department may purchase, lease, or otherwise acquire real property
for purposes of this section.
Sec. 437.165. CONSTRUCTION OF COMBAT TRAINING CENTER. (a)
The department shall construct and maintain a combat training
center for use by the Texas military forces and any military force
engaged in joint operations with the Texas military forces.
(b) The combat training center shall:
(1) provide training on air, land, sea, space,
electromagnetic, and cyber warfare;
(2) facilitate joint exercises among forces on state
active duty, the Texas State Guard, and allied military forces;
(3) establish a force dedicated to role-playing enemy
forces to enhance the realism of training exercises; and
(4) develop training environments to mimic
environments and scenarios likely to occur during military
operations.
Sec. 437.166. ADDITIONAL TRAINING FACILITIES. In addition
to the facilities required by Sections 437.164 and 437.165, the
department shall construct training facilities to provide training
on:
(1) urban warfare;
(2) cyber warfare;
(3) operating unmanned aircraft for military
purposes;
(4) helicopter gunnery; and
(5) joint operations with allied military forces.
SECTION 5. Subchapter E, Chapter 437, Government Code, is
amended by adding Sections 437.233 and 437.234 to read as follows:
Sec. 437.233. STATE TRAINING AIDS AND SIMULATION PROGRAM;
PROGRAM MANAGER. (a) The department shall establish a program
that:
(1) develops and distributes visual and interactive
aids to reinforce key training points; and
(2) develops realistic training environments that
simulate scenarios service members will likely encounter while
deployed, including:
(A) border security and counter-cartel
operations; and
(B) disaster response scenarios.
(b) The department shall appoint an officer to manage the
program required by this section.
(c) The officer under Subsection (b) may employ staff as
necessary to develop, update, and maintain the aids described by
Subsection (a)(1) and the training environments and scenarios
described by Subsection (a)(2).
Sec. 437.234. EQUIPMENT MODERNIZATION. The department
shall purchase:
(1) advanced protective gear, including
next-generation body armor and ballistic helmets;
(2) communication systems that allow for encrypted
radio and satellite-based communications;
(3) unmanned aircraft for use in reconnaissance,
surveillance, and other missions;
(4) electronic warfare assets for countering the use
of unmanned aircraft against the Texas military forces; and
(5) mobile command and surveillance systems.
SECTION 6. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
Act takes effect September 1, 2025.