The bill, H.B. No. 2054, aims to amend the Rural Volunteer Fire Department Assistance Program by increasing the assessment on certain insurers that fund the program. Specifically, it modifies Section 2007.002 of the Insurance Code to remove the previous cap of $30 million on the total amount that can be assessed, allowing for a more flexible funding mechanism based on the needs determined by the commissioner. Additionally, it clarifies that the appropriations from the volunteer fire department assistance fund account will exclude contributions to the Texas Emergency Services Retirement System.

Furthermore, the bill introduces new provisions in Section 614.102 of the Government Code, mandating that at least 10 percent of the appropriations for each state fiscal year be allocated specifically for assisting volunteer fire departments in high-risk areas for large wildfires. It also stipulates that if the assistance requested by these departments is less than the allocated amount, the remaining funds can be redirected to other assistance requests within the program. The bill is set to take effect on September 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Insurance Code 2007.002, Government Code 614.102 (Government Code 614, Insurance Code 2007)