Bill > HB4364

This bill establishes a new 5% fee on remittance transfers (money sent internationally by consumers) to fund border security efforts in Texas. Specifically, remittance transfer providers will be required to collect a fee equal to 5% of the transfer amount from consumers sending money outside the United States and remit these funds to the comptroller for deposit in a new Border Security Enhancement Fund. The fund will be administered by the Texas Department of Public Safety and can only be used for border security activities, including hiring and training border security personnel, constructing border barriers and infrastructure, and creating detention facilities for individuals without lawful immigration status. If a remittance transfer provider knowingly fails to collect the fee, they may face a civil penalty of up to $500,000 or twice the amount of the remittance transfer, which can be pursued by the state attorney general. The bill will take effect on September 1, 2025, and aims to generate additional funding for preventing illegal entry, stopping terrorism, and intercepting contraband at the Texas-Mexico border.