Monitoring the Session

HB 503

bill raising rural salary grant population cap to 400,000

Died in committee

Verdict: No flags

No flagsInitial review
Rep. Carl H. TepperRHouse 84

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 the eligibility of certain counties to participate in the rural sheriff's office salary assistance grant program and the rural prosecutor's office salary assistance grant program.

Caption from analyzed text · version I.

Summary

New tier: $650,000 for sheriff’s offices, $375,000 for prosecutor’s offices.

The bill raises the population cap for two state grant programs that help counties pay sheriff's office and prosecutor's office salaries, from 300,000 to 400,000 people. It adds a new, larger grant tier for counties and prosecutor jurisdictions with populations between 300,000 and 400,000: $650,000 for sheriff's offices and $375,000 for prosecutor's offices. More mid-sized counties can now apply to the comptroller for these grants, paid from money the Legislature appropriates for that purpose.

Labels

Labels: GOT HALFWAY. Passed the House on Apr 24, 2025. Died in the Senate: never got out of the Finance committee.

Receipt

The receipt

89R-HB503 · 2024-11-12

SOLD BY

+ 2 more authors, 2 coauthors

ITEM

relating to the eligibility of certain counties to participate in the rural sheriff's office salary assistance grant program and the rural prosecutor's office salary assistance grant program.

WHAT IT DOES

New tier: $650,000 for sheriff’s offices, $375,000 for prosecutor’s offices.

The bill raises the population cap for two state grant programs that help counties pay sheriff's office and prosecutor's office salaries, from 300,000 to 400,000 people. It adds a new, larger grant tier for counties and prosecutor jurisdictions with populations between 300,000 and 400,000: $650,000 for sheriff's offices and $375,000 for prosecutor's offices. More mid-sized counties can now apply to the comptroller for these grants, paid from money the Legislature appropriates for that purpose.

CHARGES

[ ] NONE FOUND

TOTAL

No first-year general revenue figure available here.

LBB estimate · fiscal note version I · source

Sources

Fiscal note · version I · March 9, 2025

There would be an indeterminate cost to the state based on the number of additional counties and prosecutors' offices that would apply for the grant.

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 County & Regional Government 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. 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. Amended 1-Orr
  17. Record vote RV#454
  18. Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal
  19. Passed to engrossment as amended
  20. Record vote RV#455
  21. Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal
  22. Read 3rd time
  23. Passed
  24. Record vote RV#494
  25. Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal
  26. Reported engrossed
  27. Received from the House
  28. Read first time
  29. Referred to Finance
FILED UNDER

No verified beat found.

SIGNED FOR BY

House · 111 yea · 36 nay

Sources

House: Final passage · Apr 24, 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 · Oct 27, 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.

Texas Conservative Majority PAC$100,000.00

Texas Conservative Majority PAC

$100,000.00

Cash
$100,000.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$100,000.00

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 · on Oct 22, 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: 101072176.

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC$25,083.33

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC

$25,083.33

Cash
$25,000.00
Paid by others
$83.33
Total
$25,083.33
fundraiser $83.33

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 Oct 21, 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: 101009037, 101027338, 101072176.

Beef PAC$8,000.00

Beef PAC

$8,000.00

Cash
$8,000.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$8,000.00

Also funds 80 other sitting lawmakers.

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

TEC account match.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · Oct 30, 2024 to Oct 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: 101012320, 101057498, 101072176.

Money

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

×

Texas Conservative Majority PAC

$100,000.00

Cash
$100,000.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$100,000.00

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 · on Oct 22, 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: 101072176.

×

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC

$25,083.33

Cash
$25,000.00
Paid by others
$83.33
Total
$25,083.33
fundraiser $83.33

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 Oct 21, 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: 101009037, 101027338, 101072176.

×

Beef PAC

$8,000.00

Cash
$8,000.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$8,000.00

Also funds 80 other sitting lawmakers.

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

TEC account match.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · Oct 30, 2024 to Oct 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: 101012320, 101057498, 101072176.

Votes3

House Apr 24, 2025

Yea
111
Nay
36
Present, not voting
2
Absent
0
Excused
1
Names

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

House journal

Sources

Record 494

HB 503 was passed by (Record 494): 111 Yeas, 36 Nays, 2 Present, not voting.

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

  • Yea: 111 (published)
  • Nay: 36 (published)
  • Present, not voting: 2 (published)
  • Absent: 0 (derived from named list)
  • Excused: 1 (derived from named list)

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

House Apr 23, 2025

Yea
113
Nay
34
Present, not voting
1
Absent
2
Excused
0
Names

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

House journal

Sources

Record 455

HB 503, as amended, was passed to engrossment by (Record 455): 113 Yeas, 34 Nays, 1 Present, not voting.

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

  • Yea: 113 (published)
  • Nay: 34 (published)
  • Present, not voting: 1 (published)
  • Absent: 2 (derived from named list)
  • Excused: 0 (derived from named list)

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

House Apr 23, 2025

Yea
130
Nay
16
Present, not voting
2
Absent
2
Excused
0
Names

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

House journal

Sources

Record 454

Amendment No. 1 was adopted by (Record 454): 130 Yeas, 16 Nays, 2 Present, not voting.

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

  • Yea: 130 (published)
  • Nay: 16 (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.

Witnesses15
For
13
Against
0
On
2
Names

For

  • Combined Law Enforcement Associations of Texas (CLEAT)1 registration
  • Conference of Urban Counties1 registration
  • County Judges and Commissioners Association of Texas1 registration
  • Galveston County District Attorney1 registration
  • Harris County Deputies’ Organization FOP #391 registration
  • Harris County Deputies’ Organization FOP#391 registration
  • Lubbock County DA’s Office1 registration
  • Lubbock County, Sheriffs’ Association of texas1 registration
  • Nueces County1 registration
  • Nueces County District Attorney’s Office1 registration
  • Self1 registration
  • Self; HPOU1 registration
  • Texas Farm Bureau1 registration

On

  • Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts1 registration
  • Texas Distrct and County Attorneys Assn (TDCAA)1 registration
Sources

15 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 first-year general revenue figure available here.

LBB estimate · fiscal note version I · source

Sources

Fiscal note · version I · March 9, 2025

There would be an indeterminate cost to the state based on the number of additional counties and prosecutors' offices that would apply for the grant.

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

04/28/2025 S Referred to Finance

Texas Legislature Online · Introduced · House Committee Report · Engrossed

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

Coauthors

House committee · Intergovernmental Affairs · Committee vote 9 aye, 2 nay · Out of committee

Senate committee · Finance · Final status: Died in committee

Subjects

County Government--Employees/Officers

Courts--Prosecuting Attorneys

Law Enforcement

Salaries & Expenses

State Finances--Management & Control

SHERIFFS

COMPTROLLER OF PUBLIC ACCOUNTS

Text

The text as introduced · 411 words

89R1604 MZM-F

By: Tepper
H.B. No. 503

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the eligibility of certain counties to participate in

the rural sheriff's office salary assistance grant program and the

rural prosecutor's office salary assistance grant program.

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

SECTION 1. Section 130.911(a)(2), Local Government Code, is

amended to read as follows:

(2) "Qualified county" means a county with a

population of 400,000 [ 300,000 ] or less.

SECTION 2. Section 130.911(d), Local Government Code, is

amended to read as follows:

(d) The comptroller shall award a grant to a qualified

county that applies for the grant using money appropriated to the

comptroller for that purpose. The grant must be in the following

applicable amount:

(1) $250,000 if the county has a population of less

than 10,000;

(2) $350,000 if the county has a population of 10,000

or more and less than 50,000; [ or ]

(3) $500,000 if the county has a population of 50,000

or more and less than 300,000 ; or

(4) $650,000 if the county has a population of 300,000

or more and 400,000 or less.

SECTION 3. Section 130.913(a)(2), Local Government Code, is

amended to read as follows:

(2) "Qualified prosecutor's office" means, in a

jurisdiction with a population of 400,000 [ 300,000 ] or less, the

office of a district attorney, criminal district attorney, or

county attorney with criminal prosecution duties.

SECTION 4. Section 130.913(d), Local Government Code, is

amended to read as follows:

(d) The comptroller shall award a grant to a qualified

prosecutor's office that applies for the grant using money

appropriated to the comptroller for that purpose. The grant must be

in the following applicable amount:

(1) $100,000 if the prosecutor's office's jurisdiction

has a population of less than 10,000;

(2) $175,000 if the prosecutor's office's jurisdiction

has a population of 10,000 or more and less than 50,000; [ or ]

(3) $275,000 if the prosecutor's office's jurisdiction

has a population of 50,000 or more and less than 300,000 ; or

(4) $375,000 if the prosecutor's office's jurisdiction

has a population of 300,000 or more and 400,000 or less.

SECTION 5. 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.