Austin –State Representative Dianne White Delisi, accompanied by a bipartisan group of legislators from both chambers, announced the filing of legislation (HB 548) that would give Texas' military communities the tools they need to help preserve and possibly expand their bases through the upcoming round of Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC). An identical version of the bill (SB 252) has been filed by Senator Craig Estes from Wichita Falls.

Rep. Delisi and Sen. Estes have been working jointly to correct legislation from the last regular session that inadvertently limited the use of 4A/4B economic development funds in a way that hinders communities seeking to preserve local bases. Both bills have bipartisan joint authors and coauthors, indicating a broad range of support across the political spectrum.

"There are no Democrats or Republicans in a foxhole. This is a bipartisan issue that must be addressed," Delisi stated. "This bill is starting out the legislative process with clear support in both chambers."

Committees with oversight of military issues in both chambers have recommended the change in law encompassed in Delisi and Estes' proposed 4A/4B legislation. Delisi has also been working closely with Gov. Rick Perry's military experts on this bill, as reforming 4A/4B funding to allow these uses was a part of the governor's agenda for the military.

The 4A/4B funds refer to voter-approved local sales taxes ranging from one-eighth cent to one-half cent imposed under sections 4A and 4B of the Development Corporation Act. Such voter-approved local sales taxes, first authorized 1989, have been used in a variety of ways by communities to raise funds for economic development projects, including infrastructure development around military bases. A cleanup bill on 4A/4B from the 78th Legislature contained a provision that limited this ability to use these funds to increase the military value of these bases.

The proposed legislation would allow military communities to once again use local 4A/4B funds for the development of military bases and enhances what was in the prior law. It would also allow communities to use these funds to attract new military missions to their bases. In the worst case scenario, the legislation allows for the funds to be used by communities as an economic development tool to counteract the negative impact of actually losing a base.

"While some may believe the legislature seems to focus on a few legislative topics where there are honest differences of opinion, this gathering is proof that some issues truly unite us," Delisi stated. "We can – and will – take action together to help our military bases like Fort Hood and the communities that sustain them."

Fort Hood was responsible for a $3.9 billion annual economic impact in Texas, Delisi noted.

This will be the state's fifth round of BRAC. Started in 1988, there have been three subsequent rounds in 1991, 1993, and 1995. The current round was authorized by Congress in 2001 and will be complete by November of 2005.

"I have confidence in our colleagues that acting upon this legislation will be a big priority," Delisi concluded.