HB4751 - Relating to the establishment and administration of the Texas Quantum Initiative.

      H.B. No. 4751         AN ACT   relating to the establishment and administration of the Texas   Quantum Initiative.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Chapter 481, Government Code, is amended by   adding Subchapter HH to read as follows:   SUBCHAPTER HH. TEXAS QUANTUM INITIATIVE           Sec. 481.681.  DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter:                 (1)     "Advisory committee" means the advisory committee   of the initiative.                 (2)  "Initiative" means the Texas Quantum Initiative.                 (3)     "Institution of higher education" has the meaning   assigned by Section 61.003, Education Code.           Sec.   481.682.     ESTABLISHMENT; PURPOSES.   (a)   The Texas   Quantum Initiative is a program established within the office to:                 (1)     establish and advance this state's position as a   national leader in the quantum industry; and                 (2)     accelerate the integration of quantum computing,   networking, and sensing technology into the economy of this state.           (b)  The purposes of the initiative are to:                 (1)     leverage the expertise and capacity of regulatory   stakeholders and institutions of higher education and industry to   advise and provide input to the office regarding the comprehensive   strategic plan described by Section 481.686;                 (2)     identify obstacles and provide recommendations to   the governor and legislature regarding quantum economic   opportunities and technologies;                 (3)     provide strategic leadership with respect to   quantum initiatives;                 (4)     identify opportunities for workforce training and   development related to the research, design, and manufacturing of   quantum computing technology; and                 (5)  identify opportunities to support:                       (A)     existing quantum computing and networking   industries in this state; and                       (B)     the development of a quantum manufacturing   supply chain in this state.           (c)     The initiative may establish ad hoc advisory committees   as necessary to carry out the initiative's duties under this   subchapter.           Sec.   481.683.     ADVISORY COMMITTEE COMPOSITION. (a)   The   initiative is advised by an advisory committee composed of six   members appointed by the governor.           (b)     In making appointments under Subsection (a), priority   shall be given to individuals from the quantum design and   manufacturing sectors.           (b-1)     Appointments to the advisory committee shall be made   without regard to the race, color, disability, sex, religion, age,   or national origin of the appointee.           (c)     In making appointments under Subsection (a), the   governor shall ensure that the members of the advisory committee   include:                 (1)     at least one representative from a quantum   infrastructure provider who has demonstrated experience in:                       (A)     implementing quantum networks in similar   settings; and                       (B)     deploying leading edge quantum computing   systems in third-party data centers; and                 (2)     at least one representative of a manufacturer of a   quantum computing system with the ability to enable the creation   and deployment of quantum solutions with commercial and practical   use.           (d)     An advisory committee member serves a six-year term at   the pleasure of the governor. The terms of advisory committee   members must be staggered so that, to the extent practicable, the   terms of one-third of advisory committee members expire on January   31 of each odd-numbered year. An advisory committee member may be   reappointed for additional terms.           (e)     A vacancy on the advisory committee shall be filled by   the governor.           (f)     Advisory committee members serve without compensation   but are entitled to reimbursement for actual expenses incurred in   attending committee meetings. Reimbursements under this subsection   may be paid from the fund established under Section 481.688.           (g)     Chapter 2110 does not apply to the size, composition, or   duration of the advisory committee.           Sec.   481.684.     DIRECTOR; STAFF. The office shall hire a   director. The director shall hire and direct staff to assist the   initiative in performing the initiative's duties under this   subchapter.           Sec.   481.685.     DUTIES OF ADVISORY COMMITTEE. The advisory   committee shall:                 (1)     advise and provide input to the office regarding   the comprehensive strategic plan described by Section 481.686;                 (2)     solicit recommendations from institutions of   higher education, initiative members, and stakeholders on funding   and research opportunities related to quantum education and   research, design, commercialization, community outreach, and   manufacturing projects; and                 (3)     provide recommendations related to research and   funding opportunities pertaining to quantum research, design,   commercialization, and manufacturing.           Sec.   481.686.     STRATEGIC PLAN. (a)   The office shall, in   collaboration with the initiative, develop a strategic plan for the   promotion of the quantum economy in this state. The plan must   include:                 (1)     a list of potential projects that further the   goals of the initiative;                 (2)     a list of federal grant opportunities that are   related to quantum technology and for which institutions in this   state are eligible to apply;                 (3)     an assessment of the availability of external   funding sources for each project identified under Subdivision (1);                 (4)     a description of suggested methods and   opportunities the state may use to promote the development of   quantum technologies in this state;                 (5)     a description of suggested approaches the state   may use to ensure the quantum leadership of this state by   prioritizing commercial and practical utility through investments   in necessary foundational infrastructure, including quantum   systems and networking equipment, jobs and workforce, and real   property; and                 (6)     any other information the office, in collaboration   with the advisory committee, determines is relevant to further the   initiative's goals.           (b)     The office shall submit the strategic plan required by   this section not later than December 31 of each year to the   governor, the lieutenant governor, and the speaker of the house of   representatives.           Sec.   481.687.     BIENNIAL REPORT. Not later than December 1 of   each even-numbered year, the office shall prepare and submit to the   Legislative Budget Board a written report that outlines:                 (1)     activities undertaken to meet the purposes of the   initiative under Section 481.682;                 (2)     a summary of the funding and research   opportunities identified by the advisory committee with the input   of the office;                 (3)     any legislative recommendations to further the   purposes of the initiative;                 (4)     any prospective grants or funding the initiative   expects to apply for or receive; and                 (5)     any research accomplishments associated with the   initiative.           Sec.   481.688.     QUANTUM UNIVERSITY AND BUSINESS INNOVATION   FOR TEXAS FUND. (a)   In this section, "fund" means the Quantum   University and Business Innovation for Texas Fund created by this   section.           (b)     The Quantum University and Business Innovation for   Texas Fund is created as a dedicated account within the general   revenue fund. The fund consists of:                 (1)  gifts, grants, or donations to the fund;                 (2)     money from any other source designated by the   legislature; and                 (3)     interest earned from investing money from the   fund.           (c)  The office may use money in the fund to:                 (1)     award grants to state entities, including   institutions of higher education, for quantum manufacturing and   design projects;                 (2)     award grants to business entities, including   nonprofit organizations with a purpose associated with or   significant ties to the quantum industry, to encourage economic   development related to quantum manufacturing and design projects;   and                 (3)     pay for staffing costs described by Section   481.684.           (d)     Matching funding to state entities for quantum   manufacturing and design projects may come from any lawful source,   including general revenue, local bonds, grants, or other money from   the United States, or private endowments.          SECTION 2.  Not later than January 1, 2026, the governor   shall make the initial appointments to the advisory committee of   the Texas Quantum Initiative established by Section 481.683,   Government Code, as added by this Act.          SECTION 3.  (a) Notwithstanding any other section of this   Act, in a state fiscal year, a state agency to which this Act   applies is not required to implement a provision found in another   section of this Act that is drafted as a mandatory provision   imposing a duty on the agency to take an action unless money is   specifically appropriated to the agency for that fiscal year to   carry out that duty. The agency may implement the provision in that   fiscal year to the extent other funding is available to the agency   to do so.          (b)  If, as authorized by Subsection (a) of this section, the   state agency does not implement the mandatory provision in a state   fiscal year, the state agency, in its legislative budget request   for the next state fiscal biennium, shall certify that fact to the   Legislative Budget Board and incl [Text truncated for display. Full text available on Congress.gov.]