HB 2545: workforce training grants for rural counties

Caption

relating to the establishment of the Rural Workforce Training Grant Program.

Summary

“Rural” means fewer than 200,000 people. Recipients report how they spent it.

The bill orders the Texas Workforce Commission to set up a Rural Workforce Training Grant Program that pays for job training, apprenticeships and workforce courses. Public, private and nonprofit groups, including business associations, local governments, workforce boards and schools, can get grants if they run training in a county with fewer than 200,000 people. Grant money is limited to listed training costs, recipients must report how they spent it and how participants did, and the commission reports to state leaders every December 1.

Labels

Labels: ZOMBIE BILL. Died 2 times: 88R HB 3723 (Died in committee) and this bill (Did not pass). Checked against 88R only.BACK FROM THE DEAD. Same text as a bill filed before that died: 88R HB 3723 (Died in committee). Filed in 2 sessions, counting this one. Checked against 88R only.TRY NO. 2. Filed in 2 sessions: 88R and 89R. Checked against 88R only.GOT HALFWAY. Passed the House on May 14, 2025. Died in the Senate: received, never referred to a committee.

Receipt

The receipt

89R-HB2545 · 2025-02-06

SOLD BY

Rep. Stan GerdesRHouse 17

Rep. Gary GatesRHouse 28

Rep. Keith BellRHouse 4

+ 2 coauthors

ITEM

relating to the establishment of the Rural Workforce Training Grant Program.

WHAT IT DOES

“Rural” means fewer than 200,000 people. Recipients report how they spent it.

The bill orders the Texas Workforce Commission to set up a Rural Workforce Training Grant Program that pays for job training, apprenticeships and workforce courses. Public, private and nonprofit groups, including business associations, local governments, workforce boards and schools, can get grants if they run training in a county with fewer than 200,000 people. Grant money is limited to listed training costs, recipients must report how they spent it and how participants did, and the commission reports to state leaders every December 1.

CHARGES

[ ] NONE FOUND

TOTAL

Net to General Revenue · FY 2026($233,892)

LBB estimate, flow · fiscal note version I · ( ) = negative · source

Sources

Fiscal note · version I · April 7, 2025

Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for HB2545, As Introduced: a negative impact of ($467,784) through the biennium ending August 31, 2027. The grant amount cannot be determined at this time. It is assumed that any additional funding associated with the grant amount would be determined by the Legislature. The bill would make no appropriation but could provide the legal basis for an appropriation of funds to implement the provisions of the bill.

First year · FY 2026 · ($233,892)

Probable Net Positive/(Negative) Impact to General Revenue Related Funds

LBB published estimates · flow over the stated periods.

Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

HISTORY

Feb 6, 2025Filed
Mar 17, 2025Read first time
Mar 17, 2025Referred to s/c on Workforce by Speaker
Apr 8, 2025Scheduled for public hearing in s/c on . . .
Apr 8, 2025Considered by s/c in public hearing
Apr 8, 2025Testimony taken/registration(s) recorded in subcommittee
Apr 8, 2025Left pending in subcommittee
Apr 25, 2025Recalled from subcommittee
Apr 25, 2025Considered in formal meeting
Apr 25, 2025Reported favorably w/o amendment(s)
May 6, 2025Comte report filed with Committee Coordinator
May 6, 2025Committee report distributed
May 7, 2025Committee report sent to Calendars
May 8, 2025Considered in Calendars
May 10, 2025Placed on General State Calendar
May 13, 2025Read 2nd time
May 13, 2025Passed to engrossment
May 13, 2025Record vote RV#2330
May 13, 2025Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal
May 14, 2025Read 3rd time
May 14, 2025Passed
May 14, 2025Record vote RV#2427
May 14, 2025Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal
May 14, 2025Reported engrossed
May 14, 2025Received from the House

FILED UNDER

TAXPAYER-FUNDED NGOS

THE TEXT

…“the commission shall award grants to public, private, or nonprofit entities, including business associations”…

Bill text, House committee report version (H)

The bill routes state grant money to private groups, nonprofits and business associations to run rural job training.

SIGNED FOR BY

House · 106 yea · 30 nay

Sources

House: Final passage · May 14, 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

Stan Gerdes

Donors

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC$316K Dustin Burrows Campaign$89K Texas Conservative Majority PAC$68K

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 30, 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$316,248.00

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC

$316,248.00

Cash: $220,000.00
Paid by others: $96,248.00
Total: $316,248.00

advertising $74,698.00polling $21,550.00

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 25, 2025 to Sep 29, 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: 101010282, 101029052, 101035831, 101036569, 101070133.

Dustin Burrows Campaign$88,800.00

Dustin Burrows Campaign

$88,800.00

Cash: $75,000.00
Paid by others: $13,800.00
Total: $88,800.00

polling $13,800.00

Also funds 39 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Sep 13, 2025 to Sep 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Name match, not a verified identity: normalized filed name and state.

Team

Sources

Derived itemized flow · Dec 29, 2025 to Jan 26, 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: 101029052, 101035831, 101036569.

Texas Conservative Majority PAC$67,750.00

Texas Conservative Majority PAC

$67,750.00

Cash: $25,000.00
Paid by others: $42,750.00
Total: $67,750.00

canvassing $35,000.00polling $7,750.00

Also funds 42 other sitting lawmakers.

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

TEC account match.

Team

Sources

Derived itemized flow · Feb 13, 2026 to Feb 20, 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: 101036569.

Money

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

×

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC

$316,248.00

Cash: $220,000.00
Paid by others: $96,248.00
Total: $316,248.00

advertising $74,698.00polling $21,550.00

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 25, 2025 to Sep 29, 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: 101010282, 101029052, 101035831, 101036569, 101070133.

×

Dustin Burrows Campaign

$88,800.00

Cash: $75,000.00
Paid by others: $13,800.00
Total: $88,800.00

polling $13,800.00

Also funds 39 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Sep 13, 2025 to Sep 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Name match, not a verified identity: normalized filed name and state.

Team

Sources

Derived itemized flow · Dec 29, 2025 to Jan 26, 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: 101029052, 101035831, 101036569.

×

Texas Conservative Majority PAC

$67,750.00

Cash: $25,000.00
Paid by others: $42,750.00
Total: $67,750.00

canvassing $35,000.00polling $7,750.00

Also funds 42 other sitting lawmakers.

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

TEC account match.

Team

Sources

Derived itemized flow · Feb 13, 2026 to Feb 20, 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: 101036569.

Votes2

House May 14, 2025

Yea: 106
Nay: 30
Present, not voting: 2
Absent: 9
Excused: 3

Names

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

House journal

Sources

Record 2427

HB 2545 was passed by (Record 2427): 106 Yeas, 30 Nays, 2 Present, not voting.

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

Yea: 106 (published)
Nay: 30 (published)
Present, not voting: 2 (published)
Absent: 9 (derived from named list)
Excused: 3 (derived from named list)

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

House May 13, 2025

Yea: 102
Nay: 38
Present, not voting: 2
Absent: 3
Excused: 5

Names

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

House journal

Sources

Record 2330

HB 2545 was passed to engrossment by (Record 2330): 102 Yeas, 38 Nays, 2 Present, not voting.

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

Yea: 102 (published)
Nay: 38 (published)
Present, not voting: 2 (published)
Absent: 3 (derived from named list)
Excused: 5 (derived from named list)

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

Witnesses17

For: 16
Against: 0
On: 1

Names

For

Association of Equipment Manufacturers1 registration
Career Tracks Smithville1 registration
Coalition for the Homeless1 registration
Methodist Healthcare Ministries1 registration
National Association of Social Workers-Texas1 registration
Opportunity Austin1 registration
Texas 20361 registration
Texas Association of Business1 registration
Texas Association of Goodwills1 registration
Texas Association of Manufacturers1 registration
Texas Economic Development Council1 registration
Texas Farm Bureau1 registration
Texas Hospital Association1 registration
Texas Realtors1 registration
UA Local 286 Plumbers & Pipefitters1 registration
United Ways of Texas1 registration

On

Texas Workforce Commission1 registration

Sources

17 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.

Fiscal

Net to General Revenue · FY 2026($233,892)

LBB estimate, flow · fiscal note version I · ( ) = negative · source

Sources

Fiscal note · version I · April 7, 2025

Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for HB2545, As Introduced: a negative impact of ($467,784) through the biennium ending August 31, 2027. The grant amount cannot be determined at this time. It is assumed that any additional funding associated with the grant amount would be determined by the Legislature. The bill would make no appropriation but could provide the legal basis for an appropriation of funds to implement the provisions of the bill.

First year · FY 2026 · ($233,892)

Probable Net Positive/(Negative) Impact to General Revenue Related Funds

LBB published estimates · flow over the stated periods.

Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

How this was graded

Analysis of text version H by claude-opus-5-5, Oct 22, 2026, against the published rubric.

FILED BEFORE

Filed 2 times: 88R and 89R. Checked against 88R only.

88R HB 3723

by Rep. Gerdes, same lead author · Died in committee · same text

Introduced text

Last action, May 5, 2023: Referred to Natural Resources & Economic Development

Relating to the establishment of the Rural Workforce Training Grant Program.

Caption, 88R bill history

Sources

Texas House · Filed Feb 6, 2025

05/14/2025 S Received from the House

Texas Legislature Online · Introduced · House Committee Report · Engrossed

Data snapshot Oct 26, 2026 at 6:51 AM CDT. Grades, charges, quotes and corrections follow the published record.

Coauthors

Benjamin BumgarnerRHouse 63

Aicha DavisDHouse 109

House committee · Trade, Workforce & Economic Development · Committee vote 7 aye, 0 nay, 4 absent · Out of committee

Subjects

Labor--Workforce Development--Rural

State Finances--Management & Control

WORKFORCE COMMISSION, TEXAS

Text

The text as introduced · 402 words

89R9018 KSD-F

By: Gerdes
H.B. No. 2545

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the establishment of the Rural Workforce Training Grant

Program.

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

SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 302, Labor Code, is

amended by adding Section 302.0039 to read as follows:

Sec. 302.0039. RURAL WORKFORCE TRAINING GRANT PROGRAM. (a)

In this section, "program" means the Rural Workforce Training Grant

Program established under this section.

(b) The commission shall establish and administer the Rural

Workforce Training Grant Program for the purpose of providing

targeted funding for job-specific workforce training and related

services to strengthen the skills, resources, and career

opportunities of the rural workforce in this state.

(c) Under the program, the commission shall award grants to

public, private, or nonprofit entities, including business

associations, political subdivisions, local workforce development

boards, and educational institutions, that:

(1) provide on-the-job training, apprenticeships,

workforce education courses, and other job-specific workforce

development activities in a county with a population of less than

200,000; and

(2) apply to the commission in the manner provided by

commission rule.

(d) Grant money awarded to an entity under the program may

be used only to cover costs associated with training materials,

instructors' fees, participant wraparound expenses, facility fees,

administrative costs, and outreach, mentoring, and recruiting

costs for the training, apprenticeship, course, or other activity

for which the money is awarded.

(e) The commission shall require a grant recipient to

provide periodic reports regarding the recipient's use of grant

money received under the program and related training participant

outcomes.

(f) The commission may solicit and accept gifts, grants, and

donations from any public or private source for purposes of the

program.

(g) The commission shall adopt rules for the administration

of the program.

(h) Not later than December 1 of each year, the commission

shall submit to the governor, the lieutenant governor, the speaker

of the house of representatives, and the standing committee of each

house of the legislature with primary jurisdiction over workforce

development matters a report regarding:

(1) the grants awarded under the program during the

most recent state fiscal year; and

(2) the program's effectiveness.

SECTION 2. The Texas Workforce Commission shall adopt the

rules required under Section 302.0039(g), Labor Code, as added by

this Act, as soon as practicable after the effective date of this

Act.

SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.

Verdict: No flags

The receipt

SOLD BY

ITEM

WHAT IT DOES

CHARGES

TOTAL

HISTORY

SIGNED FOR BY

Donors

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC

Dustin Burrows Campaign

Texas Conservative Majority PAC

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC

Dustin Burrows Campaign

Texas Conservative Majority PAC

House May 14, 2025

House May 13, 2025

For

On

88R HB 3723