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HB 191TEXASSession 892State Billdead

Did Not Advance

Texas gives purchasing preference to local businesses in declared disaster areas

Original title: Relating to a preference in state purchasing for certain goods and services used in a disaster area.

Last action · August 20, 2025: Referred to Disaster Preparedness & FloodingSponsor: Wes Virdell

Bill progressHistory & official text ↓

Introduced

Committee

Floor Vote

Passed

Law

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What This Bill Proposed

State agencies and the must prioritize local vendors when buying goods and services for declared disaster areas, starting immediately upon enactment for new procurement requests.

Why it matters

Changes how state contracts are awarded during emergencies by favoring vendors based in the specific where the disaster relief is deployed.

Background

House Bill 191 was introduced in the 89th Legislature, Second Called Session, and referred to the House Committee on Disaster Preparedness & Flooding. context

Who It Would Have Affected

Groups the bill's text would have affected, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.

Directly affected

Local businesses in disaster areas

State agencies and the comptroller must give preference to their bids when procuring goods and services for use in the disaster area.

Directly affected

State agencies and the comptroller

They are required to prioritize local bidders in procurement decisions and adopt implementation rules.

Key Facts

You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does the disaster purchasing preference remain in effect?

It begins on the date the area is declared a disaster and ends on the first anniversary of that date, regardless of any earlier termination of the disaster declaration.

What else do you want to know?

News Coverage

No news coverage found yet. Articles are indexed twice daily.

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Where This Stands

This bill did not become law - Died at adjournment · in House committee.

Procedural history

3 actions

Aug 20, 2025HouseCommittee
Referred to Disaster Preparedness & Flooding
Aug 20, 2025HouseIntroduced
Read first time
Aug 18, 2025HouseIntroduced
Filed

Version history

Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.

View official text →

Lobbying Activity

No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.

Full breakdown

Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.

Connected Entities

Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, Wes Virdell, Government Code and 2 more

otherRobert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act“Governs presidential disaster declarations”Map →

PersonWes Virdell“Bill author in the lower house”Map →

OrganizationGovernment Code“Amended to add Section 2155.454”Map →

Organizationcomptroller“Required to give preference and adopt implementation rules”Map →

otherChapter 418“Governs governor disaster declarations”Map →

Sources

Open source document

capitol.texas.gov

Analysis Score

0–100

Significance20
Lowered because this bill did not pass (its text scored 55)
Controversy15
Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
Entertainment5
Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
Buzz25
Current news / social attention level

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