Monitoring the Session

HB 2128

Spiller Bill Maps Rural Fire Funding Gaps, Fills None

Became law

Verdict: Smells

SmellsReviewed
Rep. David SpillerRHouse 68
Why it's charged
Study, task force, commission, report

THE TEXT

“The service shall conduct a study of rural firefighting”…

Bill text, introduced version (I)

The bill's only operative duty is a study and a later report, with no funding, program or change for rural departments. The caption honestly says it is a study.

Study, task force, commission, report

Reviewed · Nov 1, 2026 · Headline, summary and grade are analysis of the bill text, not a finding about any person · How we grade

Caption

relating to a study of rural firefighting and technical rescue service capabilities.

Caption from analyzed text · version I.

Summary

Nothing changes for rural departments. A report is due December 1, 2026.

The bill orders the Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service to study how rural firefighting and technical rescue services compare with those in cities. The study must look at gaps in funding for staff and equipment, the number of qualified recruits, and access to affordable training, and a report with findings and recommendations is due to the governor, lieutenant governor and speaker by December 1, 2026. Nothing changes for rural fire departments now; the bill produces a report and then expires on September 1, 2027.

Labels

Labels: INSTANT LAW. Took effect immediately, on Jun 20, 2025. 833 of the 1,185 graded 89R laws took effect Sep 1, 2025 (derived from the bill histories, snapshot Oct 19, 2026).

Receipt

The receipt

89R-HB2128 · 2025-01-27

SOLD BY

Rep. David SpillerRHouse 68 Rep. Ken KingRHouse 88 Rep. Angelia OrrRHouse 13

+ 2 more authors, 4 coauthors

ITEM

relating to a study of rural firefighting and technical rescue service capabilities.

WHAT IT DOES

Nothing changes for rural departments. A report is due December 1, 2026.

The bill orders the Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service to study how rural firefighting and technical rescue services compare with those in cities. The study must look at gaps in funding for staff and equipment, the number of qualified recruits, and access to affordable training, and a report with findings and recommendations is due to the governor, lieutenant governor and speaker by December 1, 2026. Nothing changes for rural fire departments now; the bill produces a report and then expires on September 1, 2027.

CHARGES

[x] STUDY, TASK FORCE, COMMISSION, REPORTanalysis confidence 90%

THE TEXT

“The service shall conduct a study of rural firefighting”…

Bill text, introduced version (I)

The bill's only operative duty is a study and a later report, with no funding, program or change for rural departments. The caption honestly says it is a study.

TOTAL

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

LBB estimate · fiscal note version E · source

Sources

Fiscal note · version E · May 22, 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 Agriculture & Livestock
  4. Scheduled for public hearing on . . .
  5. Considered in public hearing
  6. Testimony taken/registration(s) recorded in committee
  7. Left pending in committee
  8. Considered in formal meeting
  9. Reported favorably w/o amendment(s)
  10. Comte report filed with Committee Coordinator
  11. Committee report distributed
  12. Committee report sent to Calendars
  13. Considered in Calendars
  14. Considered in Calendars
  15. Placed on General State Calendar
  16. Read 2nd time
  17. Passed to engrossment
  18. Read 3rd time
  19. Passed
  20. Record vote RV#1403
  21. Reported engrossed
  22. Received from the House
  23. Read first time
  24. Referred to Water, Agriculture, & Rural Affairs
  25. Posting rule suspended
  26. Scheduled for public hearing on . . .
  27. Considered in public hearing
  28. Vote taken in committee
  29. Reported favorably w/o amendments
  30. Recommended for local & uncontested calendar
  31. Committee report printed and distributed
  32. Co-sponsor authorized
  33. Placed on intent calendar
  34. Placed on local & uncontested calendar
  35. Rules suspended-Regular order of business
  36. Read 2nd time & passed to 3rd reading
  37. Vote recorded in Journal
  38. Three day rule suspended
  39. Record vote
  40. Read 3rd time
  41. Passed
  42. Record vote
  43. Senate passage reported
  44. Reported enrolled
  45. Signed in the House
  46. Signed in the Senate
  47. Sent to the Governor
  48. Signed by the Governor
  49. Effective immediately
FILED UNDER

No verified beat found.

SIGNED FOR BY

House · 139 yea · 7 nay

Senate · 31 yea · 0 nay

Sources

House: Final passage · May 6, 2025. Journal. Published stock for this vote. Snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

Senate: Final passage · May 27, 2025. Journal. Published stock for this vote. Snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

All floor motions and other positions below.

Smells

THANK YOU FOR CHECKING THE RECEIPT

CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY

CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY

David Spiller

Donors

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC$40KMax Poynor$10,000Texas REALTORS Political Action Committee$10K

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 · Oct 28, 2024 to Oct 23, 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.

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC$40,000.00

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC

$40,000.00

Cash
$40,000.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$40,000.00

Also funds 124 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 10, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · Jun 24, 2025 to Oct 18, 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: 101009978, 101031338, 101071836.

Max Poynor$10,000.00
Texas REALTORS Political Action Committee$10,000.00

Texas REALTORS Political Action Committee

$10,000.00

Cash
$10,000.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$10,000.00

Also funds 140 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 2, 2024 to Oct 24, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · Dec 12, 2024 to Jun 30, 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: 100987103, 101057871.

Money

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

×

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC

$40,000.00

Cash
$40,000.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$40,000.00

Also funds 124 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 10, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · Jun 24, 2025 to Oct 18, 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: 101009978, 101031338, 101071836.

×

Texas REALTORS Political Action Committee

$10,000.00

Cash
$10,000.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$10,000.00

Also funds 140 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 2, 2024 to Oct 24, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · Dec 12, 2024 to Jun 30, 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: 100987103, 101057871.

Votes4

Senate May 27, 2025

Yea
31
Nay
0
Present, not voting
Not printed
Absent
Not printed
Excused
Not printed
Names

Senate journal

Names were not printed. No individual positions are inferred.

Sources

Senator Hagenbuch moved that Senate Rule 7.18 and the Constitutional Rule requiring bills to be read on three several days be suspended and that HB 2128 be placed on its third reading and final passage. The motion prevailed by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0. The bill was read third time and was passed by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0.

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

  • Yea: 31 (published)
  • Nay: 0 (published)
  • Present, not voting: Not printed
  • Absent: Not printed
  • Excused: Not printed

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

Senate May 27, 2025

Yea
31
Nay
0
Present, not voting
Not printed
Absent
Not printed
Excused
Not printed
Names

Senate journal

Names were not printed. No individual positions are inferred.

Sources

Senator Hagenbuch moved that Senate Rule 7.18 and the Constitutional Rule requiring bills to be read on three several days be suspended and that HB 2128 be placed on its third reading and final passage. The motion prevailed by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0.

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

  • Yea: 31 (published)
  • Nay: 0 (published)
  • Present, not voting: Not printed
  • Absent: Not printed
  • Excused: Not printed

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

Senate May 27, 2025

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

Senate journal

Names were not printed. No individual positions are inferred.

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

Sources

The bill was read second time and was 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.

House May 6, 2025

Yea
139
Nay
7
Present, not voting
2
Absent
2
Excused
0
Names

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

House journal

Sources

Record 1403

HB 2128 was passed by (Record 1403): 139 Yeas, 7 Nays, 2 Present, not voting.

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

  • Yea: 139 (published)
  • Nay: 7 (published)
  • Present, not voting: 2 (published)
  • Absent: 2 (derived from named list)
  • Excused: 0 (derived from named list)

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

Witnesses16
For
14
Against
0
On
2
Names

For

  • Self; SAFE-D, the Texas State Association of Fire and Emergency Districts1 registration
  • State Firefighters & Fire Marshals Association1 registration
  • State Firefighters' & Fire Marshals' Association1 registration
  • Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association2 registrations
  • Texas 20362 registrations
  • Texas Farm Bureau2 registrations
  • Texas Forestry Association2 registrations
  • Texas Municipal League2 registrations
  • TMPA1 registration

On

  • Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service1 registration
  • Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service (TEEX)1 registration
Sources

16 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 E · source

Sources

Fiscal note · version E · May 22, 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 Jan 27, 2025

06/20/2025 E Effective immediately

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

Data snapshot Nov 1, 2026 at 3:10 PM CST. Grades, charges, quotes and corrections follow the published record.

Coauthors
Richard HayesRHouse 57 Penny Morales ShawDHouse 148 Wes VirdellRHouse 53 Trey WhartonRHouse 12
Sponsors
Brent HagenbuchRSenate 30
Cosponsors
César BlancoDSenate 29 Adam HinojosaRSenate 27

House committee · Agriculture & Livestock · Committee vote 7 aye, 0 nay, 2 absent · Out of committee

Senate committee · Water, Agriculture and Rural Affairs · Committee vote 8 aye, 0 nay, 1 absent · Out of committee

Subjects

Fire Fighters & Police--General

Health--Emergency Services & Personnel

Interim Studies

RURAL

TEXAS A&M ENGINEERING EXTENSION SERVICE

Text

The text as introduced · 236 words

89R3855 CS-D

By: Spiller
H.B. No. 2128

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to a study of rural firefighting and technical rescue

service capabilities.

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

SECTION 1. STUDY ON RURAL FIREFIGHTING AND TECHNICAL RESCUE

SERVICE CAPABILITIES. (a) In this Act, "service" means the Texas

A&M Engineering Extension Service.

(b) The service shall conduct a study of rural firefighting

and technical rescue service capabilities and compare those

capabilities with those of urban municipalities. The study must

consider disparities in:

(1) available funding for personnel and equipment;

(2) the number of qualified candidates to fill new or

vacant firefighting and rescue personnel positions;

(3) opportunities for affordable training for

firefighting and rescue personnel; and

(4) any other factor the service considers relevant.

SECTION 2. REPORT. Not later than December 1, 2026, the

service shall submit to the governor, the lieutenant governor, and

the speaker of the house of representatives a report that includes

the findings of the study and any recommendations based on the

study.

SECTION 3. EXPIRATION. This Act expires September 1, 2027.

SECTION 4. EFFECTIVE DATE. This Act takes effect

immediately if it receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members

elected to each house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas

Constitution. If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for

immediate effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2025.