HB5283 - Relating to the operations of the Texas Military Department.

  89R16148 JCG-D     By: Schatzline H.B. No. 5283       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to the operations of the Texas Military Department.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  This Act may be cited as the Texas Military   Forces Modernization and Readiness Act.          SECTION 2.  (a) The Legislature finds that:                (1)  The modernization of training infrastructure and   equipment for the Texas military forces is a critical strategic   imperative for maintaining combat effectiveness and ensuring rapid   response capabilities.                (2)  The Texas Military Department faces a significant   infrastructure crisis, with 96 percent of readiness centers rated   as deficient or failing, and a two-million-square-foot space   shortfall that compromises operational readiness.                (3)  The Texas military forces require dedicated   training centers to prepare forces for evolving multi-domain   threats while ensuring parity with active-duty forces.                (4)  Expanding training infrastructure, increasing   joint training opportunities, and developing a state-controlled   Training Aids, Devices, Simulators, and Simulations (TADSS)   program will enhance readiness, reduce costs, and ensure access to   mission-critical resources.                (5)  Strategic equipment modernization is necessary to   maintain technological parity with active-duty forces and enhance   state-specific operational capabilities.                (6)  A dedicated Texas military readiness fund must be   established to provide sustained financial support for facility   upgrades, equipment procurement, and training infrastructure   expansion.          (b)  The purpose of this Act is to:                (1)  modernize and expand Texas Military Department   facilities to meet current and future operational requirements;                (2)  establish a combat training center for the Texas   military forces to ensure modern warfare readiness;                (3)  expand training facilities, including training   facilities designed to train the Texas military forces for urban   warfare, cyber warfare, air defense, operating unmanned aircraft,   and aviation gunnery;                (4)  develop a program that permits service members in   the Texas military forces to train in realistic environments that   simulate scenarios likely to occur while deployed and provides   visual and interactive aids to reinforce key training points;                (5)  implement a state-funded equipment modernization   program to enhance Texas military forces' operational   effectiveness;                (6)  mandate semiannual joint exercises between Texas   National Guard forces and law enforcement agencies to improve   domestic security coordination; and                (7)  expand equipment acquisition priorities to   include disaster response, counter-drone (CUAS) capabilities, and   mobile surveillance assets for homeland defense.          SECTION 3.  Subchapter C, Chapter 437, Government Code, is   amended by adding Sections 437.120 and 437.121 to read as follows:           Sec.   437.120.     TEXAS MILITARY READINESS FUND. (a) The Texas   military readiness fund is an account established in the general   revenue fund.           (b)  The Texas military readiness fund consists of:                 (1)     money appropriated or transferred to the credit of   the fund; and                 (2)     interest and other earnings on the investment of   money in the fund.           (c)     Money in the fund may be appropriated only to pay for the   facilities, programs, and equipment described by Sections 437.164,   437.165, 437.166, 437.233, and 437.234.           (d)     The department shall establish an oversight board to   monitor expenditures from the fund and the effectiveness of   facilities, programs, and equipment acquired or implemented with   money from the fund.           Sec.   437.121.     REPORTING ON EXPENDITURES FROM TEXAS MILITARY   READINESS FUND. (a) Not later than January 31 and July 31 of each   year, the department shall report to the governor, the lieutenant   governor, the speaker of the house of representatives, and the   members of the legislature on:                 (1)     the expenditures of money from the Texas military   readiness fund established under Section 437.120; and                 (2)  the progress the department has made in:                       (A)     constructing and renovating the facilities   required by Sections 437.164, 437.165, and 437.166;                       (B)     developing the programs required by Section   437.233; and                       (C)     purchasing the equipment required by Section   437.234.           (b)     The report must also include utilization rates by the   Texas military forces of the facilities, programs, and equipment   described by Subsection (a) and the increase in military readiness   resulting from using the facilities and equipment and implementing   the programs described by Subsection (a).          SECTION 4.  Subchapter D, Chapter 437, Government Code, is   amended by adding Sections 437.164, 437.165, and 437.166 to read as   follows:           Sec.   437.164.     MILITARY READINESS: CONSTRUCTION AND   RENOVATION. (a) Based on findings and reports of the real property   advisory council established under Section 437.151, the department   shall construct new facilities and renovate existing facilities to   meet readiness standards set by the department for department   facilities, including the construction and renovation of:                 (1)  readiness centers;                 (2)  training facilities; and                 (3)  other support infrastructure.           (b)     The department shall determine the amount of facility   space necessary to ensure military readiness and construct   facilities or renovate existing facilities to ensure military   readiness.           (c)     As provided by Sections 437.155 and 437.156, the   department may purchase, lease, or otherwise acquire real property   for purposes of this section.           Sec.   437.165.     CONSTRUCTION OF COMBAT TRAINING CENTER. (a)   The department shall construct and maintain a combat training   center for use by the Texas military forces and any military force   engaged in joint operations with the Texas military forces.           (b)  The combat training center shall:                 (1)     provide training on air, land, sea, space,   electromagnetic, and cyber warfare;                 (2)     facilitate joint exercises among forces on state   active duty, the Texas State Guard, and allied military forces;                 (3)     establish a force dedicated to role-playing enemy   forces to enhance the realism of training exercises; and                 (4)     develop training environments to mimic   environments and scenarios likely to occur during military   operations.           Sec.   437.166.     ADDITIONAL TRAINING FACILITIES. In addition   to the facilities required by Sections 437.164 and 437.165, the   department shall construct training facilities to provide training   on:                 (1)  urban warfare;                 (2)  cyber warfare;                 (3)     operating unmanned aircraft for military   purposes;                 (4)  helicopter gunnery; and                 (5)  joint operations with allied military forces.          SECTION 5.  Subchapter E, Chapter 437, Government Code, is   amended by adding Sections 437.233 and 437.234 to read as follows:           Sec.   437.233.     STATE TRAINING AIDS AND SIMULATION PROGRAM;   PROGRAM MANAGER. (a) The department shall establish a program   that:                 (1)     develops and distributes visual and interactive   aids to reinforce key training points; and                 (2)     develops realistic training environments that   simulate scenarios service members will likely encounter while   deployed, including:                       (A)     border security and counter-cartel   operations; and                       (B)  disaster response scenarios.           (b)     The department shall appoint an officer to manage the   program required by this section.           (c)     The officer under Subsection (b) may employ staff as   necessary to develop, update, and maintain the aids described by   Subsection (a)(1) and the training environments and scenarios   described by Subsection (a)(2).           Sec.   437.234.     EQUIPMENT MODERNIZATION. The department   shall purchase:                 (1)     advanced protective gear, including   next-generation body armor and ballistic helmets;                 (2)     communication systems that allow for encrypted   radio and satellite-based communications;                 (3)     unmanned aircraft for use in reconnaissance,   surveillance, and other missions;                 (4)     electronic warfare assets for countering the use   of unmanned aircraft against the Texas military forces; and                 (5)  mobile command and surveillance systems.          SECTION 6.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives   a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as   provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this   Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this   Act takes effect September 1, 2025.