S.B. No. 34 aims to enhance wildfire prevention and management in Texas by establishing a collaborative study between the Texas A&M Forest Service and West Texas A&M University. This study will assess fuel loading in wildfire risk zones, evaluate the potential impacts of wildfires on life, property, and natural resources, and recommend legislative changes to improve mitigation efforts. The study is required to be completed by December 1, 2026, and will expire on May 1, 2027. Additionally, the bill mandates the creation of a statewide database of firefighting equipment, which will be maintained by the Texas A&M Forest Service to ensure real-time access to firefighting resources across the state.

The bill also includes provisions to allocate at least 10% of appropriations for volunteer fire department assistance to high-risk areas for large wildfires. Furthermore, it increases the assessment on insurers funding the volunteer fire department assistance fund from $30 million to $40 million. Other amendments include establishing standards for the construction and maintenance of electrical power lines to prevent fire hazards and ensuring that the Texas A&M Forest Service assists fire departments in maintaining updated equipment information in the new database. The act is set to take effect on September 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Government Code 418.004, Insurance Code 2007.002, Government Code 614.102, Natural Resources Code 91.019 (Insurance Code 2007, Government Code 614, Government Code 418, Natural Resources Code 91)
Senate Committee Report: Government Code 614.102, Insurance Code 2007.002, Natural Resources Code 91.019 (Insurance Code 2007, Government Code 614, Government Code 418, Natural Resources Code 91)
Engrossed: Government Code 614.102, Insurance Code 2007.002, Natural Resources Code 91.019 (Insurance Code 2007, Government Code 614, Government Code 418, Natural Resources Code 91)