Good bills

Broadband expansion for rural areas, and extra money for state parks

One doesn’t have to look far to find bad bills making their way through the 88th Legislative session in Austin. But here are a couple winding their way through the legislative process which we enthusiastically endorse.

The Senate Finance Committee approved funds to help construct high-speed internet infrastructure in rural areas of Texas. That’s great news for the roughly seven million Texans who live in areas that lack high-speed internet. As we have stated before, high-speed internet services are as important to a business these days as electricity and water infrastructure. It has become that important for rural businesses to be competitive with their urban counterparts. House Bill 9, sponsored by committee chair and Houston Senator Joan Huffman, would build on work from the last session by creating a dedicated fund to expand broadband access.

The bill seeks to distinguish the Lone Star state with a strategic plan to support a state-driven approach to address connectivity needs. The new fund would exist under the Comptroller’s Office and pay out around $1.5 billion over the next two years, delivered in the form of grants or used to supply matching funds for federal subsidies. Current federal programs will match up to three times the amount put forward locally.

As populations continue to grow around metro areas and rural Texas struggles to retain residents, this can only help.

Another good one is a bill to create a centennial trust fund that would both celebrate 100 years of state parks and provide funds for new acquisitions and up-keep for existing parks.

Rep. Armando Walle sponsored the bill, which has broad bipartisan support. Voters would approve creation of this fund via a constitutional amendment on Nov. 7, 2023.

The Senate approved $500 million for the fund while the house has planned to give $1 billion to the centennial parks conservation fund.

The Senate and House will come together to find a comfortable middle for creation of the fund.

As it marks 100 years of state parks, the state last week announced it will open six new parks around Texas, including an additional one in the Hill Country, in the coming years.

LBJ State Park and Enchanted Rock State Natural Area are huge draws for visitors, so we wholeheartedly get behind this initiative.

—K.E.C.