HB 354 — County funding of volunteer fire departments that receiv

90R3758 MP-D By: Holt H.B. No. 354 relating to county funding of volunteer fire departments that receive money from an emergency services district.

SECTION 1. Subchapter Z, Chapter 130, Local Government Code, is amended by adding Section 130.915 to read as follows: Sec. 130.915. COUNTY FUNDING OF VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENTS RECEIVING MONEY FROM EMERGENCY SERVICES DISTRICTS. (a) In this section, "volunteer fire department" means an association that: (1) operates fire-fighting equipment; (2) is organized primarily to provide and actively provides fire-fighting services; (3) does not pay its members compensation other than nominal compensation; and (4) does not distribute any of its income to its members, officers, or governing body, other than for reimbursement of expenses. (b) A county may not provide funding to a volunteer fire department if the department has received money from an emergency services district within the preceding county fiscal year.

SECTION 2. Section 130.915, Local Government Code, as added by this Act, applies only to a contract between a volunteer fire department and a county entered into on or after the effective date of this Act.

SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2027.