Bill > SB1377

This bill establishes a rural ambulance service grant program administered by the Texas Comptroller to provide financial assistance to ambulance service providers in small, rural counties. The program is designed to support counties with populations of 68,750 or less by offering grants specifically for purchasing ambulances. Eligible counties can apply once per fiscal year for grants ranging from $350,000 to $500,000, depending on their population size. When awarding grants, the Comptroller will consider factors such as the distance to the nearest trauma facility and the county's ability to fund ambulance services. Recipients must use the grant money exclusively to purchase ambulances and cannot reduce the existing budget for their ambulance service provider in the following fiscal year. Counties must purchase the ambulance within five years of receiving the grant, and the Comptroller will create detailed rules for application, disbursement, and monitoring of the grant program. The program is set to begin on January 1, 2026, with the legislation taking effect on September 1, 2025, providing a framework to improve emergency medical services in rural Texas counties.

Budget and Finance

https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=89R&Bill=SB1377