Bill Caption

Relating to the amounts, availability, and use of certain statutorily dedicated revenue and accounts; reducing or affecting the amounts of certain statutorily dedicated fees.

Fiscal Notes

The costs associated with the bill are indeterminate and dependent upon whether or not the State Commission on Emergency Communications reduces the 9-11 emergency services fee for wireless communications and the amount of the fee reduction.

The bill would also result in a reduction of $777,580,000 in amounts available for certification of the 2020-21 General Appropriations Act, associated with the exemption of certain General Revenue-Dedicated account balances from being available for that purpose. 

Bill Analysis

HB 2802 would update references to the 85th Legislature in statutory provisions governing the use of dedicated revenue to reflect the application of those provisions to the current legislature, and to change from August 31, 2019, to August 31, 2021, the date on which dedicated revenues estimated to exceed the amount appropriated are considered available for general governmental purposes, and for purposes of certifying available funds for state budgeting. Dedicated revenues in various accounts or funds would not be available for general government purposes, and would not be available for budget certification.

This bill would also postpone the expiration of provisions governing the use of dedicated revenue from September 1, 2019, to September 1, 2021. 

Among other things in this bill, it would include energy efficiency upgrades for state facilities and a vehicle emissions inspection and maintenance program; reduce the amount of the 50-cent monthly 9-1-1 service fee imposed on each wireless telecommunications connection; and authorize money in the coastal protection fund to be disbursed for those applicable coastal resiliency projects.

Vote Recommendation Notes

Texas Action is neutral on HB 2802 because it does not appear to affect our liberty principles.