Given to Other Chamber Authored by Erin Gamez (D) View at Source
Caption: Relating to border protection and economic development services, programs, and other measures, including establishing an educational center and programs. Initially Referred to House State Affairs Committee, chaired by a Republican This bill would cost taxpayers $9,959,115.00 over five years, according to the Legislative Budget Bureau.
HB 5520, known as the Border Enhancement Act, establishes multiple border security and economic development programs. It requires the Department of Public Safety to designate a Border Security Liaison to coordinate with federal border operations and authorizes the purchase of advanced vehicle inspection equipment, including X-ray scanners. The bill also creates a grant program for courts in the border region, funding judicial personnel and operational costs due to increased caseloads from border-related offenses. Additionally, it provides financial assistance for border infrastructure, including detention facilities, law enforcement services, and roadways. The bill also establishes an education grant program for higher education institutions in the border region and creates the Texas Center for Border Policy, a joint initiative between UT El Paso and UT Rio Grande Valley, to study and improve border policies. Lastly, it launches a Border Protection Economic Development Initiative to attract businesses and promote tourism in border communities.
Mar 14, 2025
(H) Gamez signed onto the bill as Author (H) Filed
Apr 7, 2025
(H) Read first time (H) Referred to the House State Affairs, chaired by a Republican
Apr 28, 2025
(H) Scheduled for public hearing on . . . (H) Considered in public hearing (H) Testimony taken/registration(s) recorded in committee (H) Left pending in committee
Apr 30, 2025
(H) Considered in public hearing (H) Reported favorably w/o amendment(s)
May 6, 2025
(H) Comte report filed with Committee Coordinator (H) Committee report distributed (H) Committee report sent to Calendars
May 8, 2025
(H) Considered in Calendars
May 10, 2025
(H) Placed on General State Calendar
May 13, 2025
(H) Read 2nd time (H) Postponed
May 15, 2025
(H) Laid out as postponed business (H) Postponed (H) Laid out as postponed business (H) Postponed (H) Laid out as postponed business (H) Postponed (H) Laid out as postponed business (H) Postponed (H) Laid out as postponed business (H) Postponed (H) Laid out as postponed business (H) A Democrat amendment (No. 1) from Guerra amended the bill. (H) A Democrat amendment (No. 2) from Guerra amended the bill. (H) A Democrat amendment (No. 3) from Martinez amended the bill. (H) Passed to engrossment as amended (H) Record vote
RV#2804: Yea 62 (R 17, D 45) - Nay 50 (R 47, D 3) View Source
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May 16, 2025
(H) Read 3rd time (H) Point of order withdrawn (H) Postponed (H) Laid out as postponed business (H) A Republican amendment (No. 1) from Lopez, J.; Patterson amended the bill. (H) Passed as amended (H) Record vote
RV#2922: Yea 124 (R 77, D 47) - Nay 2 (R 1, D 1) View Source
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May 19, 2025
(H) Reported engrossed (S) Received from the House
Lobbying Against/For/On This Bill
For
(Mon 4/28/2025) Registering before H State Affairs as Amanda Saldana for Cameron County (Mon 4/28/2025) Registering before H State Affairs as Daniel Woodward for Texas Civil Rights Project (TCRP) (Mon 4/28/2025) Registering before H State Affairs as Kathy Mitchell for self (with Equity Action) (Mon 4/28/2025) Registering before H State Affairs as Steven Deline for self (Mon 4/28/2025) Registering before H State Affairs as Tristan Stitt for self (with Austin justice coalition)
