Monitoring the Session

HB 3371

Metcalf Border Bill Says The Governor “May” Bill Congress $4.72B

Died in committee

Verdict: Smells

SmellsNeeds review
Rep. Will MetcalfRHouse 16
Both charges, and why
List of feelings

THE TEXT

“The governor may submit to the United States Congress an application for reimbursement”…

Bill text, introduced version (I)

The core actions are permissive: the governor "may" apply and the attorney general "may" sue. The only "must" rules apply after the governor freely chooses to act, so the bill orders no one to recover anything.

List of feelings
Delayed start

THE TEXT

“Subsection (e) and this subsection expire August 31, 2026.”

Bill text, introduced version (I)

The required minimum dollar amounts lapse in 2026. If the optional application is not filed by then, the bill's main teeth disappear before they are ever used.

Delayed start

Needs review · 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 the recovery of certain state border security expenditures from the federal government.

Caption from analyzed text · version I.

Summary

Nobody has to do anything. The $4.72B and $6.54B minimums expire August 31, 2026.

The bill lets the governor send Congress a bill for what Texas spent securing the southern border, and lets the attorney general sue the federal government if it goes unpaid. If the governor does apply, the first request must ask for at least $4.72 billion for the 2022-23 budget period and $6.54 billion for the 2024-25 budget period, and any money recovered goes into the state's general revenue fund. Nothing has to happen on the ground, because both the application and the lawsuit are optional, and the required minimum amounts expire on August 31, 2026.

Labels

Labels: ACROSS THE AISLE. Joint authors: 3 Republicans, 1 Democrat. Party as the Legislative Reference Library lists it for the 89th Legislature.GOT HALFWAY. Passed the House on May 8, 2025. Died in the Senate: never got out of the Finance committee.

Receipt

The receipt

89R-HB3371 · 2025-02-26

SOLD BY

Rep. Will MetcalfRHouse 16 Rep. Stan GerdesRHouse 17 Rep. Richard Peña RaymondDHouse 42

+ 1 more author, 4 coauthors

ITEM

relating to the recovery of certain state border security expenditures from the federal government.

WHAT IT DOES

Nobody has to do anything. The $4.72B and $6.54B minimums expire August 31, 2026.

The bill lets the governor send Congress a bill for what Texas spent securing the southern border, and lets the attorney general sue the federal government if it goes unpaid. If the governor does apply, the first request must ask for at least $4.72 billion for the 2022-23 budget period and $6.54 billion for the 2024-25 budget period, and any money recovered goes into the state's general revenue fund. Nothing has to happen on the ground, because both the application and the lawsuit are optional, and the required minimum amounts expire on August 31, 2026.

CHARGES

[x] LIST OF FEELINGSanalysis confidence 50%

THE TEXT

“The governor may submit to the United States Congress an application for reimbursement”…

Bill text, introduced version (I)

The core actions are permissive: the governor "may" apply and the attorney general "may" sue. The only "must" rules apply after the governor freely chooses to act, so the bill orders no one to recover anything.

[x] DELAYED STARTanalysis confidence 35%

THE TEXT

“Subsection (e) and this subsection expire August 31, 2026.”

Bill text, introduced version (I)

The required minimum dollar amounts lapse in 2026. If the optional application is not filed by then, the bill's main teeth disappear before they are ever used.

TOTAL

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

LBB estimate · fiscal note version I · source

Sources

Fiscal note · version I · April 13, 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 State Affairs
  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. Placed on General State Calendar
  15. Read 2nd time
  16. Passed to engrossment
  17. Record vote RV#1740
  18. Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal
  19. Read 3rd time
  20. Passed
  21. Record vote RV#1842
  22. Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal
  23. Reported engrossed
  24. Received from the House
  25. Read first time
  26. Referred to Finance
FILED UNDER

No verified beat found.

SIGNED FOR BY

House · 139 yea · 4 nay

Sources

House: Final passage · May 8, 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

Will Metcalf

Donors

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC$150KAssociated Republicans of Texas Campaign Fund$54KDustin Burrows Campaign$45K

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 · Nov 7, 2024 to Oct 19, 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$149,922.40

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC

$149,922.40

Cash
$70,000.00
Paid by others
$79,922.40
Total
$149,922.40
advertising $37,500.00polling $27,750.00mail $14,372.40fundraiser $300.00

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 · Nov 8, 2024 to Aug 12, 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: 100982185, 100998989, 101030949, 101035543, 101059927, 101068041.

Associated Republicans of Texas Campaign Fund$54,402.88

Associated Republicans of Texas Campaign Fund

$54,402.88

Cash
$0.00
Paid by others
$54,402.88
Total
$54,402.88
television $52,000.00text $1,402.88digital $1,000.00

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 · Jun 25, 2025 to Jan 27, 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: 100998989, 101034987, 101035543.

Dustin Burrows Campaign$45,000.00

Dustin Burrows Campaign

$45,000.00

Cash
$35,000.00
Paid by others
$10,000.00
Total
$45,000.00
polling $10,000.00

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: 101030949, 101035543.

Money

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

×

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC

$149,922.40

Cash
$70,000.00
Paid by others
$79,922.40
Total
$149,922.40
advertising $37,500.00polling $27,750.00mail $14,372.40fundraiser $300.00

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 · Nov 8, 2024 to Aug 12, 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: 100982185, 100998989, 101030949, 101035543, 101059927, 101068041.

×

Associated Republicans of Texas Campaign Fund

$54,402.88

Cash
$0.00
Paid by others
$54,402.88
Total
$54,402.88
television $52,000.00text $1,402.88digital $1,000.00

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 · Jun 25, 2025 to Jan 27, 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: 100998989, 101034987, 101035543.

×

Dustin Burrows Campaign

$45,000.00

Cash
$35,000.00
Paid by others
$10,000.00
Total
$45,000.00
polling $10,000.00

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: 101030949, 101035543.

Votes2

House May 8, 2025

Yea
139
Nay
4
Present, not voting
4
Absent
1
Excused
2
Names

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

House journal

Sources

Record 1842

HB 3371 was passed by (Record 1842): 139 Yeas, 4 Nays, 4 Present, not voting.

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

  • Yea: 139 (published)
  • Nay: 4 (published)
  • Present, not voting: 4 (published)
  • Absent: 1 (derived from named list)
  • Excused: 2 (derived from named list)

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

House May 7, 2025

Yea
128
Nay
15
Present, not voting
1
Absent
2
Excused
4
Names

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

House journal

Sources

Record 1740

HB 3371 was passed to engrossment by (Record 1740): 128 Yeas, 15 Nays, 1 Present, not voting.

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

  • Yea: 128 (published)
  • Nay: 15 (published)
  • Present, not voting: 1 (published)
  • Absent: 2 (derived from named list)
  • Excused: 4 (derived from named list)

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

Witnesses3
For
1
Against
2
On
0
Names

For

  • Self; City of Eagle Pass1 registration

Against

  • Self2 registrations
Sources

3 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

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

LBB estimate · fiscal note version I · source

Sources

Fiscal note · version I · April 13, 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 Feb 26, 2025

05/12/2025 S Referred to Finance

Texas Legislature Online · Introduced · House Committee Report · Engrossed

Data snapshot Nov 1, 2026 at 1:49 PM CST. Grades, charges, quotes and corrections follow the published record.

Coauthors
Hillary HicklandRHouse 55 Carrie IsaacRHouse 73 Terri Leo WilsonRHouse 23 David SpillerRHouse 68
Sponsors
Lois KolkhorstRSenate 18

House committee · State Affairs · Committee vote 15 aye, 0 nay · Out of committee

Senate committee · Finance · Final status: Died in committee

Subjects

Aliens

Congress

Governor

State Finances--Appropriations

BORDER

FEDERAL RELATIONS

Text

The text as introduced · 359 words

89R14259 CS-D

By: Metcalf
H.B. No. 3371

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the recovery of certain state border security

expenditures from the federal government.

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

SECTION 1. Subchapter F, Chapter 401, Government Code, is

amended by adding Section 401.106 to read as follows:

Sec. 401.106. RECOVERY OF CERTAIN BORDER SECURITY

EXPENDITURES. (a) The governor may submit to the United States

Congress an application for reimbursement requesting payment for

expenses incurred by this state during a period specified in the

application for activities related to securing the southern

international border of the United States of America.

(b) The application for reimbursement must include the

amount of expenses incurred by this state during the period

specified in the application for which this state seeks

reimbursement and clearly provide that payment in full is due from

the federal government as soon as practicable.

(c) If the total amount requested in an application

submitted under Subsection (a) is not paid within a reasonable

period prescribed by Subsection (b), the attorney general may bring

an action in the name of the state against the appropriate agency of

the federal government to recover the amount due as stated in the

application or any part of that amount that remains unpaid.

(d) Any amount received from the federal government under

this section shall be deposited in the state treasury to the credit

of the general revenue fund.

(e) Notwithstanding any other provision of this section,

the initial application for reimbursement submitted by the governor

under Subsection (a) must include a request for payment of at least

the following amounts:

(1) $4,720,000,000 for the state fiscal biennium

ending August 31, 2023; and

(2) $6,540,000,000 for the state fiscal biennium

ending August 31, 2025.

(f) Subsection (e) and this subsection expire August 31,

2026.

SECTION 2. 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.