H.B. No. 503 amends the Local Government Code to expand the eligibility criteria for counties to participate in the rural sheriff's office and rural prosecutor's office salary assistance grant programs. The bill raises the population threshold for "qualified counties" from 300,000 to 400,000, allowing counties with populations of 400,000 or less to qualify for these grants. Additionally, it introduces new grant amounts based on population brackets, including $650,000 for counties with populations between 300,000 and 400,000, and $375,000 for prosecutor's offices in jurisdictions within the same population range.

The bill also specifies that grant funds can be used to increase salaries for various positions within the prosecutor's office, including paralegals and victim assistance coordinators, in addition to hiring additional staff. The changes aim to provide more financial support to rural law enforcement and prosecution offices, thereby enhancing their operational capabilities. The act will take effect immediately upon receiving a two-thirds vote from both houses or on September 1, 2025, if that vote is not achieved.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Local Government Code 130.911, Local Government Code 130.913 (Local Government Code 130)
House Committee Report: Local Government Code 130.911, Local Government Code 130.913 (Local Government Code 130)
Engrossed: Local Government Code 130.911, Local Government Code 130.913 (Local Government Code 130)