The civic record
Read. Follow. Verify.Texas establishes disaster response grant program to reimburse cities and counties for helicopter operations
Last action · August 20, 2025: FiledSponsor: Donna Howard
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What This Bill Proposed
The Texas must establish a grant program by May 1, 2026, to reimburse municipalities and counties for operating locally owned helicopters in response to s. Eligible local governments can receive up to $750,000 per calendar year, provided they do not recover the same expenses from federal or state funding sources.
Provides dedicated financial reimbursement for local governments deploying aviation assets during major emergencies, capped at $750,000 annually per jurisdiction, with rules to prevent double-funding from other government programs.
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.
Municipalities
Municipalities operating helicopters in multi-county disasters become eligible to apply for state expense reimbursements up to $750,000 annually.
Counties
Counties operating helicopters in multi-county disasters become eligible to apply for state expense reimbursements up to $750,000 annually.
comptroller of public accounts
The comptroller is required to establish, administer, and adopt rules for the new grant program by May 1, 2026.
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
Which local governments are eligible for the disaster response grants?
Is there a limit on how much grant money a local government can receive?
When must the grant program be established?
What else do you want to know?
News Coverage
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Votes, people, money & the original sourceWhere This Stands
This bill did not become law - Died at adjournment · introduced in the House.
Procedural history
1 action- Aug 20, 2025HouseIntroducedFiled
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.
Sponsors
Connected Entities
Sources
capitol.texas.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance20Lowered because this bill did not pass (its text scored 60)
- Controversy10Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment5Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz25Current news / social attention level
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