Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
House bills would create state disaster loan/grant programs and a Hill Country reimbursement fund; transparency concerns raised
Summary
Lawmakers heard proposals to create a statewide disaster relief account offering loans and matching grants and a targeted Hill Country recovery and reimbursement program. Witnesses supported state help but asked for transparent distribution rules and attention to uninsured households.
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…
Already have an account? Log in
Subscribe to keep reading
Unlock the rest of this article — and every article on Citizen Portal.
- Unlimited articles
- AI-powered breakdowns of topics, speakers, decisions, and budgets
- Instant alerts when your location has a new meeting
- Follow topics and more locations
- 1,000 AI Insights / month, plus AI Chat
