BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research Center S.B. 767 By: Sparks Water, Agriculture and Rural Affairs 2/26/2025 As Filed AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT On May 1, 2024, the Texas House Investigative Committee on Panhandle Wildfires recommended improved wildfire mitigation through better information-sharing and a centralized database of firefighting equipment. While the Texas A&M Forest Service (TAMFS) currently tracks response assets by office location, testimony highlighted the need for statewide, updatable database information that is accessible to fire departments. This would allow departments to share and locate equipment more effectively during emergencies, improving coordination and planning. The committee urged TAMFS, with legislative support, to develop a county-by-county database to create a comprehensive, real-time inventory for wildfire response. This bill directs the Texas A&M Forest Service to create and maintain a real-time, statewide database of firefighting equipment available for wildfire response. The database must include equipment descriptions, fire department contact information, and allow searches by location and equipment type. It must also be accessible to all fire departments, enabling them to update their information. Volunteer fire departments and emergency services districts are included, and the forest service may assist with annual updates or changes in equipment availability. As proposed, S.B. 767 amends current law relating to creating a database of the firefighting equipment in the state available for use in responding to wildfires. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Section 418.004, Government Code, by adding Subdivision (15) to define "forest service." SECTION 2. Amends Section 418.004, Government Code, by adding Section 418.059, as follows: Sec. 418.059. STATEWIDE DATABASE OF FIREFIGHTING EQUIPMENT. (a) Requires the forest services to create and maintain a comprehensive database that shows in real time the statewide inventory of firefighting equipment that is available for use in responding to wildfires. (b) Requires that the database include a description of the type of firefighting equipment each fire department in the state has available for use in responding to wildfires, include contact information for the fire department that has the equipment, be searchable by location and equipment type, and be accessible by all fire departments in the state and allow each fire department to update the information in the database regarding the equipment the fire department has available. (c) Authorizes the forest service to assist fire departments who choose to provide equipment information in updating the database annually or as soon as practicable after any change in the availability of the department's firefighting equipment. (d) Provides that, in this section, "fire department" includes a volunteer fire department or an emergency services district. SECTION 3. Effective date: September 1, 2025.
BILL ANALYSIS
Senate Research Center S.B. 767
By: Sparks
Water, Agriculture and Rural Affairs
2/26/2025
As Filed
Senate Research Center
S.B. 767
By: Sparks
Water, Agriculture and Rural Affairs
2/26/2025
As Filed
AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT
On May 1, 2024, the Texas House Investigative Committee on Panhandle Wildfires recommended improved wildfire mitigation through better information-sharing and a centralized database of firefighting equipment. While the Texas A&M Forest Service (TAMFS) currently tracks response assets by office location, testimony highlighted the need for statewide, updatable database information that is accessible to fire departments. This would allow departments to share and locate equipment more effectively during emergencies, improving coordination and planning. The committee urged TAMFS, with legislative support, to develop a county-by-county database to create a comprehensive, real-time inventory for wildfire response.
This bill directs the Texas A&M Forest Service to create and maintain a real-time, statewide database of firefighting equipment available for wildfire response. The database must include equipment descriptions, fire department contact information, and allow searches by location and equipment type. It must also be accessible to all fire departments, enabling them to update their information. Volunteer fire departments and emergency services districts are included, and the forest service may assist with annual updates or changes in equipment availability.
As proposed, S.B. 767 amends current law relating to creating a database of the firefighting equipment in the state available for use in responding to wildfires.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.
SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS
SECTION 1. Amends Section 418.004, Government Code, by adding Subdivision (15) to define "forest service."
SECTION 2. Amends Section 418.004, Government Code, by adding Section 418.059, as follows:
Sec. 418.059. STATEWIDE DATABASE OF FIREFIGHTING EQUIPMENT. (a) Requires the forest services to create and maintain a comprehensive database that shows in real time the statewide inventory of firefighting equipment that is available for use in responding to wildfires.
(b) Requires that the database include a description of the type of firefighting equipment each fire department in the state has available for use in responding to wildfires, include contact information for the fire department that has the equipment, be searchable by location and equipment type, and be accessible by all fire departments in the state and allow each fire department to update the information in the database regarding the equipment the fire department has available.
(c) Authorizes the forest service to assist fire departments who choose to provide equipment information in updating the database annually or as soon as practicable after any change in the availability of the department's firefighting equipment.
(d) Provides that, in this section, "fire department" includes a volunteer fire department or an emergency services district.
SECTION 3. Effective date: September 1, 2025.