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.