HB 5389
Perez Bill Opens A Dedicated Account For Pauper Burial Grants
Died in committee
Verdict: Smells
Why it's charged
New fee, fund, board or appointees
THE TEXT
“The deceased paupers grant account is a dedicated account in the general revenue fund”…
Bill text, introduced version (I)
The bill creates a new dedicated account inside general revenue. The caption openly describes a grant program, so the new fund matches what the bill says it does.
New fee, fund, board or appointeesInitial 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 establishment of a grant program to support the disposition of deceased paupers' bodies.
Caption from analyzed text · version I.
Summary
Grants for counties to bury or cremate people with no money. The program is optional.
The bill lets the Health and Human Services Commission set up a grant program that pays counties to bury or cremate people who die with no money and no one to cover the cost. It creates a new dedicated state account, filled by legislative appropriations, gifts and interest, to fund those county grants and the program's administration. Nothing changes on the ground unless the commission chooses to build the program and the legislature puts money in the account, because the bill says the commission "may" act.
Labels
Labels: NEVER GOT A HEARING. Filed Mar 14, 2025 and referred to the House Intergovernmental Affairs subcommittee on County & Regional Government. No public hearing. The bill died.
Receipt
The receipt
89R-HB5389 · 2025-03-14
SOLD BY
ITEM
relating to the establishment of a grant program to support the disposition of deceased paupers' bodies.
WHAT IT DOES
Grants for counties to bury or cremate people with no money. The program is optional.
The bill lets the Health and Human Services Commission set up a grant program that pays counties to bury or cremate people who die with no money and no one to cover the cost. It creates a new dedicated state account, filled by legislative appropriations, gifts and interest, to fund those county grants and the program's administration. Nothing changes on the ground unless the commission chooses to build the program and the legislature puts money in the account, because the bill says the commission "may" act.
CHARGES
[x] NEW FEE, FUND, BOARD OR APPOINTEESanalysis confidence 50%
THE TEXT
“The deceased paupers grant account is a dedicated account in the general revenue fund”…
Bill text, introduced version (I)
The bill creates a new dedicated account inside general revenue. The caption openly describes a grant program, so the new fund matches what the bill says it does.
TOTAL
No fiscal note in the loaded record.
HISTORY
- Filed
- Read first time
- Referred to s/c on County & Regional Government by Speaker
FILED UNDER
No verified beat found.
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 31, 2024 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.
Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC$22,500.00
Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC
$22,500.00
- Cash
- $22,500.00
- Paid by others
- $0.00
- Total
- $22,500.00
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.
TeamSources
Derived itemized flow · Aug 13, 2024 to Jun 23, 2025. 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: 100987465, 101009976.
Texas Sands PAC$12,000.00
Texas Sands PAC
$12,000.00
- Cash
- $12,000.00
- Paid by others
- $0.00
- Total
- $12,000.00
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.
TeamSources
Derived itemized flow · Oct 1, 2024 to Oct 13, 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: 100987465, 101070087, 101072089.
Missing data does not establish zero giving. Display amounts are rounded.
Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC
$22,500.00
- Cash
- $22,500.00
- Paid by others
- $0.00
- Total
- $22,500.00
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.
TeamSources
Derived itemized flow · Aug 13, 2024 to Jun 23, 2025. 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: 100987465, 101009976.
Texas Sands PAC
$12,000.00
- Cash
- $12,000.00
- Paid by others
- $0.00
- Total
- $12,000.00
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.
TeamSources
Derived itemized flow · Oct 1, 2024 to Oct 13, 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: 100987465, 101070087, 101072089.
Votes
No floor vote loaded for this bill.
Fiscal
No fiscal note in the loaded record.
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 Mar 14, 2025
04/07/2025 H Referred to s/c on County & Regional Government by Speaker: Apr 7 2025 5:28PM
Texas Legislature Online · Introduced
Data snapshot Oct 26, 2026 at 4:19 AM CDT. Grades, charges, quotes and corrections follow the published record.
House committee · Intergovernmental Affairs · Final status: Died in committee
Companion
SB 2023 by Blanco (identical)
Subjects
Cemeteries
County Government--General
State Finances--Management & Control
HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES COMMISSION
Text
The text as introduced · 288 words
89R13724 EAS-D By: Perez of El Paso H.B. No. 5389 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT relating to the establishment of a grant program to support the disposition of deceased paupers' bodies. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Chapter 694, Health and Safety Code, is amended by adding Section 694.004 to read as follows: Sec. 694.004. DECEASED PAUPERS GRANT PROGRAM. (a) The Health and Human Services Commission may develop a deceased paupers grant program to award grants from the deceased paupers grant account established by this section to counties for the purpose of paying certain costs associated with the disposition of deceased paupers' bodies in accordance with Section 694.002. (b) The Health and Human Services Commission may award a grant under the grant program to a county to be used for: (1) paying the costs incurred in disposing of deceased paupers' bodies in accordance with Section 694.002; and (2) administering the county's body disposition activities. (c) The deceased paupers grant account is a dedicated account in the general revenue fund and consists of: (1) appropriations of money to the account by the legislature; (2) gifts, grants, and other donations received for the account; and (3) interest earned on the investment of money in the account. (d) Money in the deceased paupers grant account may be used by the Health and Human Services Commission only to: (1) award grants under this section; and (2) administer the deceased paupers grant program under this section. (e) If the Health and Human Services Commission develops a deceased paupers grant program under this section, the executive commissioner shall adopt rules for the administration of that program. SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.