With the legislative session now in its final days, here’s an update on the progress of the session’s signature legislation on broadband internet expansion — House Bill 9 and House Joint Resolution 125, both authored by Rep. Trent Ashby, R-Lufkin, and sponsored in the Senate by Sen. Joan Huffman, R-Houston. Both chambers have given approval…
Legislation aimed at putting Texas in the best position possible to draw down the maximum in federal dollars available for expanding broadband access across the state is now headed to the Governor’s desk. SB 1238 by Sen. Robert Nichols, R-Jacksonville, and sponsored on the House side by Rep. Trent Ashby, R-Lufkin, received final approval this…
On March 3, 2023, state Rep. Greg Bonnen, R-Friendswood, filed legislation creating the first Texas Space Commission. We earlier reported that Texas lawmakers included $350 million in their base budgets for the Texas Space Commission. Now that House Bill 3447 has been filed, we have some indications of how those space dollars may be spent….
Texas 2036 Policy Analyst Mitrah Avini offered testimony Tuesday in front of the Senate Committee on Business & Commerce in favor of Senate Bill 1238, which focuses on broadband expansion in the state. Here’s her testimony: Thank you Chair Schwertner, Vice Chair King, and members of the Business and Commerce Committee. My name is Mitrah Avini and I’m a…
Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar announced yesterday the publication of a Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) for the Bringing Online Opportunities to Texas (BOOT) Program. The BOOT program is designed to expand broadband infrastructure in underserved areas of Texas and is funded through federal Capital Projects Fund dollars. The Boot NOFA can be accessed on the…
State Rep. Trent Ashby, R-Lufkin, filed legislation this afternoon that would ask voters in November to approve the creation of a constitutionally dedicated fund for efforts to improve access to broadband service across the state. HJR 125 would amend the Texas Constitution to create a Broadband Infrastructure Fund. Its companion bill, HB 9, would appropriate…