Monitoring the Session

SB 2448

new rural workforce grants, paid out to nonprofits

Became law, effective Sep 1, 2025

Verdict: No flags

No flagsInitial review
Sen. Kevin SparksRSenate 31

Initial review · graded Oct 22, 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 the Rural Workforce Development Grant Program.

Caption from analyzed text · version H.

Summary

The nonprofits help rural colleges and school districts match training to local jobs.

The bill tells the Texas Workforce Commission to set up a Rural Workforce Development Grant Program. The program pays grants to nonprofit groups that help rural colleges and school districts line up job training and higher education with local job needs. Grant money can only go to that help, the commission must check how the money is used and report on it every year, and the program starts September 1, 2025.

Receipt

The receipt

89R-SB2448 · 2025-03-13

SOLD BY

Sen. Kevin SparksRSenate 31

ITEM

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

WHAT IT DOES

The nonprofits help rural colleges and school districts match training to local jobs.

The bill tells the Texas Workforce Commission to set up a Rural Workforce Development Grant Program. The program pays grants to nonprofit groups that help rural colleges and school districts line up job training and higher education with local job needs. Grant money can only go to that help, the commission must check how the money is used and report on it every year, and the program starts September 1, 2025.

CHARGES

[ ] NONE FOUND

TOTAL

No first-year general revenue figure available here.

LBB estimate · fiscal note version S · source

Sources

Fiscal note · version S · April 16, 2025

As the amount of funding which the Legislature would appropriate for the Rural Workforce Development Grant Program to fund competitive grants to local entities and non-profits to improve the employability, earnings, and standard of living of rural Texans through job creation, education, and skills training is unknown, the fiscal impact to the state cannot be determined. However, this estimate assumes the Texas Workforce Commission would require additional resources to implement the grant program if funds were appropriated for this purpose. The bill would make no appropriation but could provide the legal basis for an appropriation of funds to implement the provisions of the bill.

LBB published estimates · flow over the stated periods.

Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

HISTORY

  1. Received by the Secretary of the Senate
  2. Filed
  3. Read first time
  4. Referred to Economic Development
  5. Scheduled for public hearing on . . .
  6. Considered in public hearing
  7. Testimony taken in committee
  8. Left pending in committee
  9. Considered in public hearing
  10. Vote taken in committee
  11. Reported favorably as substituted
  12. Recommended for local & uncontested calendar
  13. Committee report printed and distributed
  14. Placed on local & uncontested calendar
  15. Laid before the Senate
  16. Read 2nd time & passed to engrossment
  17. Vote recorded in Journal
  18. Three day rule suspended
  19. Record vote
  20. Read 3rd time
  21. Passed
  22. Record vote
  23. Reported engrossed
  24. Received from the Senate
  25. Read first time
  26. Referred to Trade, Workforce & Economic Development
  27. Considered in public hearing
  28. Reported favorably w/o amendment(s)
  29. Comte report filed with Committee Coordinator
  30. Committee report distributed
  31. Committee report sent to Calendars
  32. Considered in Calendars
  33. Placed on General State Calendar
  34. Read 2nd time
  35. Passed to 3rd reading
  36. Record vote RV#2943
  37. Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal
  38. Read 3rd time
  39. Passed
  40. Record vote RV#3013
  41. Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal
  42. House passage reported
  43. Reported enrolled
  44. Signed in the Senate
  45. Signed in the House
  46. Sent to the Governor
  47. Signed by the Governor
  48. Effective on 9/1/25
FILED UNDER

TAXPAYER-FUNDED NGOS

THE TEXT

…“the commission may award grants to one or more nonprofit organizations to provide technical assistance and support to institutions of higher education and school districts”…

Bill text, House committee report version (H)

The bill routes state workforce money through 501(c)(3) nonprofits, which then advise rural colleges and school districts, instead of having the agency do the work directly.

SIGNED FOR BY

House · 103 yea · 44 nay

Senate · 30 yea · 1 nay

Sources

House: Final passage · May 20, 2025. Journal. Published stock for this vote. Snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

Senate: Final passage · May 1, 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

Kevin Sparks

Donors

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC$60KKyle & Jamie Stallings$25,000Tim Dunn$25,000

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 25, 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$60,000.00

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC

$60,000.00

Cash
$60,000.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$60,000.00

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 · Oct 15, 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.

Report IDs: 101012623, 101029380, 101072732.

Kyle & Jamie Stallings$25,000.00
Tim Dunn$25,000.00
Money

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

×

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC

$60,000.00

Cash
$60,000.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$60,000.00

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 · Oct 15, 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.

Report IDs: 101012623, 101029380, 101072732.

Votes5

House May 20, 2025

Yea
103
Nay
44
Present, not voting
2
Absent
0
Excused
1
Names

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

House journal

Sources

Record 3013

SB 2448 was passed by (Record 3013): 103 Yeas, 44 Nays, 2 Present, not voting.

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

  • Yea: 103 (published)
  • Nay: 44 (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 May 19, 2025

Yea
101
Nay
43
Present, not voting
2
Absent
0
Excused
4
Names

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

House journal

Sources

Record 2943

SB 2448 was passed to third reading by (Record 2943): 101 Yeas, 43 Nays, 2 Present, not voting.

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

  • Yea: 101 (published)
  • Nay: 43 (published)
  • Present, not voting: 2 (published)
  • Absent: 0 (derived from named list)
  • Excused: 4 (derived from named list)

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

Senate May 1, 2025

Final passage

Yea
30
Nay
1
Present, not voting
Not printed
Absent
Not printed
Excused
Not printed
Names

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

Senate journal

Names were not printed for yea. Only the named positions are included in member records.

The journal row lists three votes in order: passage to engrossment, suspension of the three-day rule, and final passage. This entry records final passage. Repeated tallies belong to separate votes.

Sources

CSSB 2448 (Sparks) Relating to the establishment of the Rural Workforce Development Grant Program. (viva voce vote) (30-1) "Nay" Middleton (30-1) "Nay" Middleton

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

  • Yea: 30 (published)
  • Nay: 1 (published)
  • Present, not voting: Not printed
  • Absent: Not printed
  • Excused: Not printed

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

Senate May 1, 2025

Suspension of the three-day rule

Yea
30
Nay
1
Present, not voting
Not printed
Absent
Not printed
Excused
Not printed
Names

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

Senate journal

Names were not printed for yea. Only the named positions are included in member records.

The journal row lists three votes in order: passage to engrossment, suspension of the three-day rule, and final passage. This entry records suspension of the three-day rule. Repeated tallies belong to separate votes.

Sources

CSSB 2448 (Sparks) Relating to the establishment of the Rural Workforce Development Grant Program. (viva voce vote) (30-1) "Nay" Middleton (30-1) "Nay" Middleton

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

  • Yea: 30 (published)
  • Nay: 1 (published)
  • Present, not voting: Not printed
  • Absent: Not printed
  • Excused: Not printed

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

Senate May 1, 2025

Passage to engrossment

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.

The journal row lists three votes in order: passage to engrossment, suspension of the three-day rule, and final passage. This entry records passage to engrossment. Repeated tallies belong to separate votes.

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

Sources

CSSB 2448 (Sparks) Relating to the establishment of the Rural Workforce Development Grant Program. (viva voce vote) (30-1) "Nay" Middleton (30-1) "Nay" Middleton

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.

Witnesses16
For
15
Against
0
On
1
Names

For

  • Hamlin Municipal Development District1 registration
  • National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB)1 registration
  • Self; Children at Risk1 registration
  • Self; Collegiate Edu-Nation1 registration
  • Texas 20361 registration
  • Texas Associatin of Goodwills1 registration
  • Texas Association of Manufacturers1 registration
  • Texas Economic Development Council1 registration
  • Texas Farm Bureau1 registration
  • Texas Hospital Association1 registration
  • Texas medical association1 registration
  • Texas Realtors1 registration
  • Texas Retailers Association1 registration
  • The National Association of Social Workers- Texas Chapter1 registration
  • United Ways of Texas1 registration

On

  • Texas Workforce Commission1 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.

Senate witness list. Source snapshot 2026-10-20, Central time.

Fiscal

No first-year general revenue figure available here.

LBB estimate · fiscal note version S · source

Sources

Fiscal note · version S · April 16, 2025

As the amount of funding which the Legislature would appropriate for the Rural Workforce Development Grant Program to fund competitive grants to local entities and non-profits to improve the employability, earnings, and standard of living of rural Texans through job creation, education, and skills training is unknown, the fiscal impact to the state cannot be determined. However, this estimate assumes the Texas Workforce Commission would require additional resources to implement the grant program if funds were appropriated for this purpose. The bill would make no appropriation but could provide the legal basis for an appropriation of funds to implement the provisions of the bill.

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.

Sources

Texas Senate · Filed Mar 13, 2025

05/30/2025 E Effective on 9/1/25

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

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

Sponsors
Trent AshbyRHouse 9 David SpillerRHouse 68 Stan LambertRHouse 71

House committee · Trade, Workforce & Economic Development · Committee vote 9 aye, 1 nay, 1 absent · Out of committee

Senate committee · Economic Development · Committee vote 5 aye, 0 nay · Out of committee

Companion

HB 4479 by Ashby (similar)

Subjects

Charitable & Nonprofit Organizations

Labor--Workforce Development--Rural

State Finances--Management & Control

EDUCATION AGENCY, TEXAS

HIGHER EDUCATION COORDINATING BOARD, TEXAS

WORKFORCE COMMISSION, TEXAS

Text

The text as introduced · 351 words

By: Sparks
S.B. No. 2448

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to rural workforce development.

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

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

amended by adding Section 302.021 to read as follows:

Sec. 302.021. RURAL WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT. (a) The purpose

of this section is to enhance the employability, earnings, and

standard of living of the people living in rural communities of this

state, through job creation and expansion, education, and skills

training.

(b) The commission, in consultation with the Texas

Education Agency and the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board,

shall administer a rural workforce development program to support

measurable programs advancing college and career readiness, skill

development, and work experience opportunities, including:

(1) recruiting and retaining businesses for

high-wage, high-demand careers aligned to the commission's

regional labor market information under Section 302.002 and the

occupational shortage areas reported under Section 302.019;

(2) working with one or more institutions of higher

education, as defined by Section 61.003, Education Code, to support

attainment of the coordinating board's long-range master plan for

higher education developed under Section 61.051, Education Code,

and to ensure students cost-effectively attain degrees and

postsecondary credentials of value; and

(3) working with participating rural school districts

to attain or maintain the highest or second highest performance

rating category under Chapter 39, Education Code.

(c) The commission may award grants to local entities that

perform activities related to the purposes of this section.

(d) The commission may award grants for technical

assistance to one or more nonprofit organizations with experience

in improving outcomes, including students' college and career

outcomes, in rural communities in this state. The nonprofit

organization shall assist a rural community's alignment of

workforce, higher education, and education goals, including access

and attainment of postsecondary credentials and degrees.

(e) The commission may accept gifts, grants, and donations

from any public or private source for the purposes of the program

and shall administer the program using money appropriated to the

commission or money received from other sources.

SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.