House Bill No. 188 proposes the establishment of the Texas Rural Emergency Preparedness Fund, aimed at supporting flood-prone communities in enhancing their emergency preparedness and response capabilities. The bill introduces a new subchapter to Chapter 418 of the Government Code, defining key terms such as "eligible entity," "flood-prone area," and "preparedness project." The fund will be a dedicated account within the general revenue fund, consisting of legislative appropriations, grants, donations, federal funds, and interest earned. It will be administered by the division responsible for emergency management, which will provide grants to eligible entities for various preparedness projects, including training, emergency communication systems, and community education programs.

The bill outlines the administration of the grant program, including application procedures, evaluation criteria, and compliance monitoring. It specifies that grants may not exceed $500,000 per eligible entity per fiscal year and must be used exclusively for approved preparedness projects. Additionally, the division is tasked with coordinating the grant program with existing emergency preparedness initiatives to avoid funding duplication and maximize effectiveness. The legislation mandates annual reporting on grant activities and program effectiveness, and it requires the legislature to appropriate $10 million to the fund for the fiscal year beginning September 1, 2025, with grant applications to be accepted starting March 1, 2026.

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