LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD Austin, Texas FISCAL NOTE, 89TH LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION April 1, 2025 TO: Honorable Joan Huffman, Chair, Senate Committee on Finance FROM: Jerry McGinty, Director, Legislative Budget Board IN RE: SB868 by Sparks (Relating to the Rural Volunteer Fire Department Assistance Program and authorizing an increase in the assessment on certain insurers that fund the program.), As Introduced There could be a revenue gain to GR-Dedicated Account 5064, equal to the amount of future legislative appropriations out of the account that exceed $30 million in a fiscal year. The bill would amend the Insurance Code, Section 2007 requiring the Comptroller to assess against certain insurers, the total amount appropriated in the General Appropriations Act from GR-Dedicated Account 5064, Volunteer Fire Department Assistance Fund, excluding specific appropriations to the Texas Emergency Services Retirement System. Current law requires the same assessments, equal to the lesser of the amount above, or $30 million.The bill would amend Government Code, Section 614, requiring that at least 10 percent of appropriations from GR-Dedicated Account 5064 be allocated to providing assistance to volunteer fire departments in high risk wildfire areas of the state. If requested amounts are less than this allocation, the remainder could be used for certain other types of assistance.According to the Comptroller, assessments from fiscal years 2015 to 2024 averaged $21.7 million. To the extent that relevant future GAA appropriations exceed $30 million in a fiscal year, there would be a corresponding increase in account revenue. However, the amounts and timing of any appropriations in excess of $30 million are unknown. Local Government ImpactThe fiscal implications of the bill cannot be determined at this time. Source Agencies: b > td > 304 Comptroller of Public Accounts, 454 Department of Insurance LBB Staff: b > td > JMc, KK, LCO, CSmi
LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
Austin, Texas
FISCAL NOTE, 89TH LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION
April 1, 2025
TO: Honorable Joan Huffman, Chair, Senate Committee on Finance FROM: Jerry McGinty, Director, Legislative Budget Board IN RE: SB868 by Sparks (Relating to the Rural Volunteer Fire Department Assistance Program and authorizing an increase in the assessment on certain insurers that fund the program.), As Introduced
TO: Honorable Joan Huffman, Chair, Senate Committee on Finance
FROM: Jerry McGinty, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE: SB868 by Sparks (Relating to the Rural Volunteer Fire Department Assistance Program and authorizing an increase in the assessment on certain insurers that fund the program.), As Introduced
Honorable Joan Huffman, Chair, Senate Committee on Finance
Honorable Joan Huffman, Chair, Senate Committee on Finance
Jerry McGinty, Director, Legislative Budget Board
Jerry McGinty, Director, Legislative Budget Board
SB868 by Sparks (Relating to the Rural Volunteer Fire Department Assistance Program and authorizing an increase in the assessment on certain insurers that fund the program.), As Introduced
SB868 by Sparks (Relating to the Rural Volunteer Fire Department Assistance Program and authorizing an increase in the assessment on certain insurers that fund the program.), As Introduced
There could be a revenue gain to GR-Dedicated Account 5064, equal to the amount of future legislative appropriations out of the account that exceed $30 million in a fiscal year.
There could be a revenue gain to GR-Dedicated Account 5064, equal to the amount of future legislative appropriations out of the account that exceed $30 million in a fiscal year.
The bill would amend the Insurance Code, Section 2007 requiring the Comptroller to assess against certain insurers, the total amount appropriated in the General Appropriations Act from GR-Dedicated Account 5064, Volunteer Fire Department Assistance Fund, excluding specific appropriations to the Texas Emergency Services Retirement System. Current law requires the same assessments, equal to the lesser of the amount above, or $30 million.The bill would amend Government Code, Section 614, requiring that at least 10 percent of appropriations from GR-Dedicated Account 5064 be allocated to providing assistance to volunteer fire departments in high risk wildfire areas of the state. If requested amounts are less than this allocation, the remainder could be used for certain other types of assistance.According to the Comptroller, assessments from fiscal years 2015 to 2024 averaged $21.7 million. To the extent that relevant future GAA appropriations exceed $30 million in a fiscal year, there would be a corresponding increase in account revenue. However, the amounts and timing of any appropriations in excess of $30 million are unknown.
According to the Comptroller, assessments from fiscal years 2015 to 2024 averaged $21.7 million. To the extent that relevant future GAA appropriations exceed $30 million in a fiscal year, there would be a corresponding increase in account revenue. However, the amounts and timing of any appropriations in excess of $30 million are unknown.
Local Government Impact
The fiscal implications of the bill cannot be determined at this time.
Source Agencies: b > td > 304 Comptroller of Public Accounts, 454 Department of Insurance
304 Comptroller of Public Accounts, 454 Department of Insurance
LBB Staff: b > td > JMc, KK, LCO, CSmi
JMc, KK, LCO, CSmi