Two bills presented similar goals: provide state-level financial assistance after governor-declared disasters and create a targeted reimbursement program for Hill Country flood victims.

Representative Chris Darby described House Bill 66 as a new state-administered disaster relief and prevention account at TDEM that would offer matching grants and low-interest loans for political subdivisions, businesses and individuals in governor-declared disaster areas. The program would be funded by legislative appropriations, loan repayments and private donations; recipients would enter written agreements with TDEM and be subject to audits.

Representative Burdell introduced House Bill 164, a narrower measure focused on reimbursement and reconstruction assistance for residents and small businesses impacted by the July Hill Country floods. The bill includes online applications, a priority system for primary residence losses and small businesses, and an expedited review path. It specifies eligibility conditions, such as denial or partial denial from insurers or FEMA, and contemplates legislative appropriations and donations as funding sources.

Witnesses said both mechanisms address real gaps in recovery. Brennan Griffin of Texas Appleseed called HB164 “a promising start for housing recovery” and urged provisions to ensure uninsured residents are not left behind. Doctor Laura Presley of the Texas Disaster Relief Transparency Group urged transparency reporting for donated funds; she presented a scorecard showing that several large funds and platforms had limited public reporting of total donations and disbursements and recommended statutory transparency and timelines linked to state programs.

United Way of Texas urged special attention to asset-limited, income-constrained working households (ALICE). Ashley Harris recommended a set-aside or prioritization weight for ALICE households, simplification of applications and relocation assistance so families are not forced back into high-risk properties.

Kenneth Flippen of the U.S. Green Building Council supported incentives for rebuilding that include mitigation: “We think that this is a well designed bill…there’s a 50% (assistance) if you’re rebuilding in the same floodplain, but 100% if you rebuild higher,” he said, arguing incentives should favor safer rebuilding approaches.

The committee left both bills pending. Sponsors said they will consider adding explicit provisions for uninsured households, transparency requirements for nonprofits receiving donations, and timeline limits for approvals.

Ending: Proponents urged prompt action and clear transparency and prioritization rules so public and private disaster funds reach households and small businesses quickly and equitably.