Monitoring the Session

HB 1240

bill sets one official list of border counties

Became law

Verdict: No flags

No flagsInitial review
Rep. Ryan GuillenRHouse 31

Initial review · graded Oct 20, 2026 · Headline, summary and grade are analysis of the bill text, not a finding about any person · How we grade

Caption

relating to certain governmental operations affecting the border region.

Caption from analyzed text · version I.

Summary

53 counties, one list, and other state laws use it.

The bill sets one official list of 53 counties as the Texas-Mexico border region and makes several other state laws use that same list instead of their own definitions. It touches state programs that use the term border region, including border crime grants and governor's office border programs, higher education and medical pilot programs, a health law, transportation planning and a water law. On the ground, some programs that now cover only counties on the border or within 100 kilometers of it would cover a wider set of counties, and the change starts September 1, 2026.

Receipt

The receipt

89R-HB1240 · 2024-11-12

SOLD BY

ITEM

relating to certain governmental operations affecting the border region.

WHAT IT DOES

53 counties, one list, and other state laws use it.

The bill sets one official list of 53 counties as the Texas-Mexico border region and makes several other state laws use that same list instead of their own definitions. It touches state programs that use the term border region, including border crime grants and governor's office border programs, higher education and medical pilot programs, a health law, transportation planning and a water law. On the ground, some programs that now cover only counties on the border or within 100 kilometers of it would cover a wider set of counties, and the change starts September 1, 2026.

CHARGES

[ ] NONE FOUND

TOTAL

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

LBB estimate · fiscal note version F · source

Sources

Fiscal note · version F · May 24, 2025

No first-year general revenue figure available here.

LBB published estimates · flow over the stated periods.

Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

HISTORY

  1. Filed
  2. Read first time
  3. Referred to s/c on International Relations by Speaker
  4. Scheduled for public hearing in s/c on . . .
  5. Considered by s/c in public hearing
  6. Testimony taken/registration(s) recorded in subcommittee
  7. Left pending in subcommittee
  8. Recalled from subcommittee
  9. Considered in public hearing
  10. Recommended to be sent to Local & Consent
  11. Reported favorably w/o amendment(s)
  12. Comte report filed with Committee Coordinator
  13. Committee report distributed
  14. Comm. report sent to Local & Consent Calendar
  15. Considered in Local & Consent Calendars
  16. Placed on Local, Consent, and Res. Calendar
  17. Withdrawn from calendar (contested)
  18. Returned to Local & Consent Calendars Comm.
  19. Considered in Local & Consent Calendars
  20. Transferred to Calendars Committee
  21. Committee report sent to Calendars
  22. Considered in Calendars
  23. Placed on General State Calendar
  24. Read 2nd time
  25. Passed to engrossment
  26. Record vote RV#879
  27. Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal
  28. Read 3rd time
  29. Amended 1-Guillen
  30. Passed as amended
  31. Record vote RV#1023
  32. Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal
  33. Reported engrossed
  34. Received from the House
  35. Read first time
  36. Referred to Economic Development
  37. Scheduled for public hearing on . . .
  38. Considered in public hearing
  39. Left pending in committee
  40. Considered in public hearing
  41. Vote taken in committee
  42. Reported favorably w/o amendments
  43. Committee report printed and distributed
  44. Placed on intent calendar
  45. Rules suspended-Regular order of business
  46. Record vote
  47. Read 2nd time
  48. Amendment(s) offered FA1 A. Hinojosa
  49. Amended
  50. Vote recorded in Journal
  51. Passed to 3rd reading as amended
  52. Record vote
  53. Three day rule suspended
  54. Record vote
  55. Read 3rd time
  56. Passed
  57. Record vote
  58. Senate passage as amended reported
  59. Senate Amendments distributed
  60. Returned to the Senate for further action SCR 52
  61. Returned from the House for further action
  62. Vote reconsidered
  63. Vote reconsidered
  64. Vote reconsidered
  65. Amendment withdrawn
  66. Passed to 3rd reading
  67. Vote recorded in Journal
  68. Three day rule suspended
  69. Record vote
  70. Read 3rd time
  71. Passed
  72. Record vote
  73. Senate passage reported
  74. Reported enrolled
  75. Signed in the House
  76. Signed in the Senate
  77. Sent to the Governor
  78. Signed by the Governor
  79. Effective on . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . September 1, 2026
FILED UNDER

No verified beat found.

SIGNED FOR BY

House · 128 yea · 7 nay

Senate · 23 yea · 8 nay

Sources

House: Final passage · Apr 30, 2025. Journal. Published stock for this vote. Snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

Senate: Final passage · May 28, 2025. Journal. Published stock for this vote. Snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

All floor motions and other positions below.

No flags

THANK YOU FOR CHECKING THE RECEIPT

CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY

CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY

Donors

Not tied to this bill.

Sources

The author's campaign account only. Own money and internal transfers are separate on the member page.

Derived itemized flow · Jul 1, 2024 to Oct 24, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Frontera Texas PAC$160,007.97

Frontera Texas PAC

$160,007.97

Cash
$0.00
Paid by others
$160,007.97
Total
$160,007.97
Other filed descriptions $73,500.00mail $40,000.00mailing $19,429.94texting $18,144.37digital $8,211.55printing $722.11

Also funds 3 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Nov 5, 2024 to Oct 24, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Sources

Derived itemized flow · Dec 30, 2025 to Oct 24, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Report IDs: 101033369, 101062168, 101070155, 101073001.

Texas Sands PAC$120,875.00

Texas Sands PAC

$120,875.00

Cash
$113,500.00
Paid by others
$7,375.00
Total
$120,875.00
polling $7,375.00

Also funds 121 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 3, 2024 to Oct 24, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · Dec 14, 2024 to Sep 25, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Report IDs: 100989191, 101033369, 101062168, 101073001.

Associated Republicans of Texas Campaign Fund$22,795.90

Associated Republicans of Texas Campaign Fund

$22,795.90

Cash
$0.00
Paid by others
$22,795.90
Total
$22,795.90
polling $15,000.00Other filed descriptions $7,352.14texting $443.76

Also funds 20 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Nov 4, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · Dec 15, 2025 to Sep 10, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Report IDs: 101033369, 101070155.

Money

Missing data does not establish zero giving. Display amounts are rounded.

×

Frontera Texas PAC

$160,007.97

Cash
$0.00
Paid by others
$160,007.97
Total
$160,007.97
Other filed descriptions $73,500.00mail $40,000.00mailing $19,429.94texting $18,144.37digital $8,211.55printing $722.11

Also funds 3 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Nov 5, 2024 to Oct 24, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Sources

Derived itemized flow · Dec 30, 2025 to Oct 24, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Report IDs: 101033369, 101062168, 101070155, 101073001.

×

Texas Sands PAC

$120,875.00

Cash
$113,500.00
Paid by others
$7,375.00
Total
$120,875.00
polling $7,375.00

Also funds 121 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 3, 2024 to Oct 24, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · Dec 14, 2024 to Sep 25, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Report IDs: 100989191, 101033369, 101062168, 101073001.

×

Associated Republicans of Texas Campaign Fund

$22,795.90

Cash
$0.00
Paid by others
$22,795.90
Total
$22,795.90
polling $15,000.00Other filed descriptions $7,352.14texting $443.76

Also funds 20 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Nov 4, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · Dec 15, 2025 to Sep 10, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Report IDs: 101033369, 101070155.

Votes9

Senate May 28, 2025

Yea
23
Nay
8
Present, not voting
Not printed
Absent
0
Excused
0
Names

Named positions matched to lawmakers. See the journal for unmatched names.

Senate journal

Sources

The bill was again read third time and was again finally passed by the following vote: Yeas 23, Nays 8.

Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.

  • Yea: 23 (published)
  • Nay: 8 (published)
  • Present, not voting: Not printed
  • Absent: 0 (derived from named list)
  • Excused: 0 (derived from named list)

Senate journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

Senate May 28, 2025

Yea
25
Nay
6
Present, not voting
Not printed
Absent
0
Excused
0
Names

Named positions matched to lawmakers. See the journal for unmatched names.

Senate journal

Sources

Senator A. Hinojosa moved that Senate Rule 7.18 and the Constitutional Rule requiring bills to be read on three several days be suspended and that HB 1240 be placed on its third reading and final passage. The motion prevailed by the following vote: Yeas 25, Nays 6.

Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.

  • Yea: 25 (published)
  • Nay: 6 (published)
  • Present, not voting: Not printed
  • Absent: 0 (derived from named list)
  • Excused: 0 (derived from named list)

Senate journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

Senate May 28, 2025

Yea
Not printed
Nay
Not printed
Present, not voting
Not printed
Absent
Not printed
Excused
Not printed
Names

Named positions matched to lawmakers. See the journal for unmatched names.

Senate journal

Names were not printed for yea. Only the named positions are included in member records.

Voice vote. No numeric tally or individual yeas are inferred.

Sources

HB 1240 was again passed to third reading by a viva voce vote.

Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.

  • Yea: Not printed
  • Nay: Not printed
  • Present, not voting: Not printed
  • Absent: Not printed
  • Excused: Not printed

Senate journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

Senate May 23, 2025

Yea
23
Nay
8
Present, not voting
Not printed
Absent
0
Excused
0
Names

Named positions matched to lawmakers. See the journal for unmatched names.

Senate journal

Sources

The bill was read third time and was passed by the following vote: Yeas 23, Nays 8.

Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.

  • Yea: 23 (published)
  • Nay: 8 (published)
  • Present, not voting: Not printed
  • Absent: 0 (derived from named list)
  • Excused: 0 (derived from named list)

Senate journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

Senate May 23, 2025

Yea
25
Nay
6
Present, not voting
Not printed
Absent
0
Excused
0
Names

Named positions matched to lawmakers. See the journal for unmatched names.

Senate journal

Sources

Senator A. Hinojosa moved that Senate Rule 7.18 and the Constitutional Rule requiring bills to be read on three several days be suspended and that HB 1240 be placed on its third reading and final passage. The motion prevailed by the following vote: Yeas 25, Nays 6.

Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.

  • Yea: 25 (published)
  • Nay: 6 (published)
  • Present, not voting: Not printed
  • Absent: 0 (derived from named list)
  • Excused: 0 (derived from named list)

Senate journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

Senate May 23, 2025

Yea
23
Nay
8
Present, not voting
Not printed
Absent
0
Excused
0
Names

Named positions matched to lawmakers. See the journal for unmatched names.

Senate journal

Sources

HB 1240 as amended was passed to third reading by the following vote: Yeas 23, Nays 8.

Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.

  • Yea: 23 (published)
  • Nay: 8 (published)
  • Present, not voting: Not printed
  • Absent: 0 (derived from named list)
  • Excused: 0 (derived from named list)

Senate journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

Senate May 23, 2025

Yea
23
Nay
8
Present, not voting
Not printed
Absent
0
Excused
0
Names

Named positions matched to lawmakers. See the journal for unmatched names.

Senate journal

Sources

Senator A. Hinojosa moved to suspend the regular order of business to take up for consideration HB 1240 at this time on its second reading: HB 1240, Relating to certain governmental operations affecting the border region. The motion prevailed by the following vote: Yeas 23, Nays 8.

Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.

  • Yea: 23 (published)
  • Nay: 8 (published)
  • Present, not voting: Not printed
  • Absent: 0 (derived from named list)
  • Excused: 0 (derived from named list)

Senate journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

House Apr 30, 2025

Yea
128
Nay
7
Present, not voting
2
Absent
2
Excused
11
Names

Named positions matched to lawmakers. See the journal for unmatched names.

House journal

Sources

Record 1023

HB 1240, as amended, was passed by (Record 1023): 128 Yeas, 7 Nays, 2 Present, not voting.

Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.

  • Yea: 128 (published)
  • Nay: 7 (published)
  • Present, not voting: 2 (published)
  • Absent: 2 (derived from named list)
  • Excused: 11 (derived from named list)

House journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

House Apr 29, 2025

Yea
139
Nay
8
Present, not voting
2
Absent
1
Excused
0
Names

Named positions matched to lawmakers. See the journal for unmatched names.

House journal

Sources

Record 879

HB 1240 was passed to engrossment by (Record 879): 139 Yeas, 8 Nays, 2 Present, not voting.

Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.

  • Yea: 139 (published)
  • Nay: 8 (published)
  • Present, not voting: 2 (published)
  • Absent: 1 (derived from named list)
  • Excused: 0 (derived from named list)

House journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

Witnesses5
For
1
Against
2
On
2
Names

For

  • Self1 registration

Against

  • Self1 registration
  • Texas Democratic Party1 registration

On

  • Texas General Land Office1 registration
  • The Texas Workforce Commission1 registration
Sources

5 parsed registrations across the loaded witness lists.

Derived stock of witness registrations. Repeated appearances count separately. Organizations and self-representation appear as printed.

House witness list. Source snapshot 2026-10-20, Central time.

Senate witness list. Source snapshot 2026-10-20, Central time.

Fiscal

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

LBB estimate · fiscal note version F · source

Sources

Fiscal note · version F · May 24, 2025

No first-year general revenue figure available here.

LBB published estimates · flow over the stated periods.

Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

How this was graded

Analysis of text version I by claude-opus-5-5, Oct 20, 2026, against the published rubric.

Sources

Texas House · Filed Nov 12, 2024

06/20/2025 E Effective on . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Texas Legislature Online · Introduced · House Committee Report · Engrossed · Senate Committee Report · Enrolled

Data snapshot Oct 26, 2026 at 4:20 AM CDT. Grades, charges, quotes and corrections follow the published record.

Sponsors

House committee · Trade, Workforce & Economic Development · Committee vote 9 aye, 0 nay, 2 absent · Out of committee

Senate committee · Economic Development · Committee vote 4 aye, 1 nay · Out of committee

Subjects

BEE COUNTY (G66I8)

KARNES COUNTY (G73IL)

LOVING COUNTY (G675Z)

MASON COUNTY (G31BT)

MCCULLOCH COUNTY (GA2HC)

MENARD COUNTY (GZ80R)

MEXICO

REAGAN COUNTY

UPTON COUNTY (GW5C5)

WARD COUNTY (GM6MN)

WILSON COUNTY (G56MD)

Crimes--Miscellaneous

Environment--General

BORDER

Text

The text as introduced · 804 words

89R1187 CMO-F

By: Guillen
H.B. No. 1240

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to certain governmental operations affecting the border

region.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Section 2056.002(e)(3), Government Code, is

amended to read as follows:

(3) "Texas-Mexico border region" means the area

consisting of the counties of Atascosa, Bandera, Bee, Bexar,

Brewster, Brooks, Cameron, Crockett, Culberson, Dimmit, Duval,

Edwards, El Paso, Frio, Hidalgo, Hudspeth, Jeff Davis, Jim Hogg,

Jim Wells, Karnes, Kenedy, Kerr, Kimble, Kinney, Kleberg, La Salle,

Live Oak, Loving, Mason, Maverick, McCulloch, McMullen, Medina,

Menard, Nueces, Pecos, Presidio, Reagan, Real, Reeves, San

Patricio, Starr, Sutton, Terrell, Upton, Uvalde, Val Verde, Ward,

Webb, Willacy, Wilson, Zapata, and Zavala.

SECTION 2. Section 61.0821(a), Education Code, is amended

to read as follows:

(a) In this section, "border region" has the meaning

assigned to "Texas-Mexico border region" by Section 2056.002,

Government Code [ means the area composed of the counties of

Atascosa, Bandera, Bexar, Brewster, Brooks, Cameron, Crockett,

Culberson, Dimmit, Duval, Edwards, El Paso, Frio, Hidalgo,

Hudspeth, Jeff Davis, Jim Hogg, Jim Wells, Kenedy, Kerr, Kimble,

Kinney, Kleberg, Live Oak, La Salle, Maverick, McMullen, Medina,

Nueces, Pecos, Presidio, Real, Reeves, San Patricio, Starr, Sutton,

Terrell, Uvalde, Val Verde, Webb, Willacy, Zapata, and Zavala ].

SECTION 3. Section 61.506(b), Education Code, is amended to

read as follows:

(b) Each of the pilot programs must provide services to an

economically depressed or rural medically underserved area of the

state. One pilot program must be located in an urban area, one

pilot program must be located in a rural area, and the remaining

pilot program or programs must be located in the Texas-Mexico

border region as defined by Section 2056.002 [ 481.001 ], Government

Code.

SECTION 4. Section 772.0071(a)(2), Government Code, is

amended to read as follows:

(2) "Border region" has the meaning assigned to

"Texas-Mexico border region" by Section 2056.002 [ means the portion

of this state that is located in a county that:

[ (A) is adjacent to an international border;

[ (B) is adjacent to a county described by

Paragraph (A); or

[ (C) is served by a prosecuting attorney whose

jurisdiction includes a county described by Paragraph (A) or (B) ].

SECTION 5. Section 772.011(d), Government Code, is amended

to read as follows:

(d) In this section, "border region" has the meaning

assigned to "Texas-Mexico border region" by Section 2056.002 [ means

the portion of this state located within 100 kilometers of this

state's international border ].

SECTION 6. Section 772.051, Government Code, is amended by

amending Subdivision (1) and adding Subdivision (2-a) to read as

follows:

(1) "Border crime" has [ and "border region" have ] the

meaning [ meanings ] assigned by Section 772.0071.

(2-a) "Border region" has the meaning assigned to

"Texas-Mexico border region" by Section 2056.002.

SECTION 7. Section 120.001(1), Health and Safety Code, is

amended to read as follows:

(1) "Border region" has the meaning assigned to

"Texas-Mexico border region" by Section 2056.002, Government Code

[ means the area consisting of the counties immediately adjacent to

the international boundary between the United States and Mexico ].

SECTION 8. Section 201.109(b), Transportation Code, is

amended to read as follows:

(b) In carrying out this section, the commission shall

provide for:

(1) maximizing the generation of revenue from existing

assets of the department, including real estate;

(2) increasing the role of the private sector and

public-private projects in the leasing of real estate and other

assets in the development of highway projects;

(3) setting and attempting to meet annual revenue

enhancement goals;

(4) reporting on the progress in meeting revenue

enhancement goals in the department's annual report;

(5) contracting for an independent audit of the

department's management and business operations in 2007 and each

12th year after 2007;

(6) developing a cost-benefit analysis between the use

of local materials previously incorporated into roadways versus use

of materials blended or transported from other sources; and

(7) increasing private investment in the

transportation infrastructure, including the acquisition of

causeways, bridges, tunnels, turnpikes, or other transportation

facilities, in the Texas-Mexico border region, as defined by

Section 2056.002, Government Code [ including the counties of

Atascosa, Bandera, Bexar, Brewster, Brooks, Cameron, Crockett,

Culberson, Dimmit, Duval, Edwards, El Paso, Frio, Hidalgo,

Hudspeth, Jeff Davis, Jim Hogg, Jim Wells, Kenedy, Kerr, Kimble,

Kinney, Kleberg, La Salle, Live Oak, Maverick, McMullen, Medina,

Nueces, Pecos, Presidio, Real, Reeves, San Patricio, Starr, Sutton,

Terrell, Uvalde, Val Verde, Webb, Willacy, Zapata, and Zavala ].

SECTION 9. Section 6.112(a), Water Code, is amended to read

as follows:

(a) In this section, "border region" has the meaning

assigned to "Texas-Mexico border region" by Section 2056.002,

Government Code [ means the portion of this state located within 100

kilometers of this state's international border ].

SECTION 10. This Act takes effect September 1, 2026.