HB 3 Texas House · 89th Legislature, 2nd Called Session (2025)

Relating to the interoperability of emergency communication equipment and infrastructure in this state, including the creation and operation of the Texas Interoperability Council, a grant program administered by the council, and the purchase of certain public safety radio communication systems.

HB 3 establishes the Texas Interoperability Council to coordinate statewide emergency communication systems, ensuring police, fire, and medical responders can communicate during crises. The bill creates a grant program administered by the council to help local governments (cities, counties, and emergency districts) purchase interoperable radio equipment and build compatible infrastructure. Key provisions require the council to develop a strategic plan for emergency communications and prioritize funding for equipment that works across different agencies. This directly affects local public safety agencies by mandating new communication standards and providing financial support for system upgrades.
Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Aug 2025
Committee Review
Aug 2025
House Passage
Aug 2025
Senate Passage
Governor
Introduced Aug 18, 2025 Last action Aug 27, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Introduced Engrossed · 5 edits · Aug 21, 2025
MODERATE
The bill was reformatted to remove old page markers and standardize the text layout. Substantively, the bill establishes a new Texas Interoperability Council to create a statewide plan for emergency communication systems and administers a grant program to help local governments buy interoperable equipment. It also adds new requirements for governor and council approval of public safety radio purchases to prevent systems that would hinder regional interoperability, with these approval processes transferring from the governor to the council in 2027.
Scope change
The bill's scope expanded to include a formal statewide strategic plan and a new grant program for local governments, while adding specific approval requirements for radio system purchases that were previously absent.
SCOPE

Created a new Texas Interoperability Council with defined membership and duties to develop a statewide interoperability plan.

FISCAL

Established a grant program to assist local governments in purchasing interoperable emergency communication equipment and infrastructure.

REQUIREMENT

Added mandatory approval processes for political subdivisions before purchasing public safety radio systems to ensure they do not impair regional interoperability.

TIMELINE

Set specific effective dates and expiration dates for the new approval requirements, with authority transferring from the governor to the council in 2027.

TECHNICAL

Removed legacy page numbers and formatting artifacts from the original draft text.

Floor votes · House Aug 21, 2025

How they voted

1371
Passed · 3 other
Total votes 141
Aug 21, 2025
D Democratic53
50 Yea 3
94% Yea
R Republican88
87 Yea 1 Nay
98% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
25
Key actions
6
Committee
5
Amendments
2
Aug 22, 2025
Committee
Referred to Disaster Preparedness & Flooding, Select
upper
Aug 22, 2025
Introduced
Read first time
upper
Aug 21, 2025
Introduced
Received from the House
upper
Aug 21, 2025
Lower · Passed
Passed
lower
Aug 21, 2025
Lower · Passed
Passed to engrossment as amended
lower
Aug 21, 2025
Lower · Passed
Amended
lower
Aug 19, 2025
Lower · Passed
Committee report sent to Calendars
lower
Aug 18, 2025
Lower · Passed
Committee report distributed
lower
Aug 18, 2025
Lower · Passed
Reported favorably w/o amendment(s)
lower
Aug 18, 2025
Committee
Referred to Disaster Preparedness & Flooding
lower
Aug 18, 2025
Introduced
Read first time
lower
6 primary · 63 co-sponsors

Sponsors

Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Photo of A.J. Louderback
A.J. Louderback
RRepublican
TX
30
P
Photo of John McQueeney
John McQueeney
RRepublican
TX
97
P
Photo of Ken King
Ken King
RRepublican
TX
88
P
Photo of Mando Martinez
Mando Martinez
DDemocratic
TX
39
P
Photo of Morgan Meyer
Morgan Meyer
RRepublican
TX
108
P
Photo of Paul Bettencourt
Paul Bettencourt
RRepublican
TX
7
Co
Photo of Alma Allen
Alma Allen
DDemocratic
TX
131
Co
Photo of Angie Button
Angie Button
RRepublican
TX
112
Co
Photo of Ann Johnson
Ann Johnson
DDemocratic
TX
134
Co
Photo of Brad Buckley
Brad Buckley
RRepublican
TX
54
Co
Photo of Candy Noble
Candy Noble
RRepublican
TX
89
Co
Photo of Cas Garcia Hernandez
Cas Garcia Hernandez
DDemocratic
TX
115
Co
Photo of Charles Cunningham
Charles Cunningham
RRepublican
TX
127
Co
Photo of Christian Manuel
Christian Manuel
DDemocratic
TX
22
Co
Photo of Cody Vasut
Cody Vasut
RRepublican
TX
25
Co
Photo of Daniel Alders
Daniel Alders
RRepublican
TX
6