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
137–1
Passed · 3 other
Total votes 141
Aug 21, 2025
D
Democratic53
94% Yea
R
Republican88
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
A.J. Louderback
RRepublican
P
John McQueeney
RRepublican
P
Ken King
RRepublican
P
Mando Martinez
DDemocratic
P
Morgan Meyer
RRepublican
P
Paul Bettencourt
RRepublican
Co
Alma Allen
DDemocratic
Co
Angie Button
RRepublican
Co
Ann Johnson
DDemocratic
Co
Brad Buckley
RRepublican
Co
Candy Noble
RRepublican
Co
Cas Garcia Hernandez
DDemocratic
Co
Charles Cunningham
RRepublican
Co
Christian Manuel
DDemocratic
Co
Cody Vasut
RRepublican
Co
Daniel Alders
RRepublican
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