HB 4735 Texas House · 89th Legislature (2025)

Relating to rural development funds and insurance tax credits for certain investments in those funds; authorizing fees.

This bill creates tax credits for businesses subject to Texas insurance tax that make cash investments in approved rural development funds. The credits apply to investments supporting rural small businesses located outside cities over 50,000 people or in USDA-designated rural areas. For loans to these businesses, the fund must verify the business was denied financing by a commercial bank or referred by one. The law defines "growth investment" as equity or loans with specific terms, including minimum five-year maturity for debt instruments.
Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Apr 2025
Committee Review
May 2025
House Passage
May 2025
Senate Passage
Governor
Introduced Apr 3, 2025 Last action May 13, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Introduced Engrossed · 6 edits · May 8, 2025
MODERATE
The bill was reformatted from a draft version to an official engrossed version, with significant reorganization of the legislative text. The substantive policy content regarding rural development funds, tax credits, and eligibility criteria remains consistent, though the structure and numbering were adjusted for final passage.
Scope change
The scope of the bill remains focused on rural development funds and insurance tax credits for investments in those funds, with no substantive change to the bill's applicability.
TECHNICAL

The bill text was reorganized and renumbered from a draft format to an official engrossed version, changing the bill number from 'HB 4735' to '89(R) HB 4735' and adjusting section numbering conventions.

New header information was added including the bill number, sponsor names (Ashby, Button, King), and official bill title.

Draft version metadata and placeholder text were removed, including the original bill header and draft-specific annotations.

DEFINITION

The definition of 'jobs created' was modified to clarify that positions requiring less than 35 hours per week may still count if they meet industry standards for full-time employment.

REQUIREMENT

New requirements were added for rural development funds to exit the program after six years, including application procedures and state reimbursement calculations.

ENFORCEMENT

Enhanced enforcement mechanisms were added, including specific timelines for comptroller decisions, grounds for denial, and procedures for correcting violations before tax credit reductions or revocations.

Floor votes · House May 8, 2025

How they voted

11231
Passed · 2 other
Total votes 145
May 8, 2025
D Democratic59
49 Yea 10 Nay
83% Yea
R Republican86
63 Yea 21 Nay 2
73% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
29
Key actions
8
Committee
9
May 13, 2025
Committee
Referred to Finance
upper
May 13, 2025
Introduced
Read first time
upper
May 9, 2025
Introduced
Received from the House
upper
May 8, 2025
Lower · Passed
Passed
lower
May 7, 2025
Lower · Passed
Passed to engrossment
lower
May 1, 2025
Lower · Passed
Committee report sent to Calendars
lower
Apr 30, 2025
Lower · Passed
Committee report distributed
lower
Apr 25, 2025
Lower · Passed
Reported favorably as substituted
lower
Apr 25, 2025
Lower · Passed
Recalled from subcommittee
lower
Apr 15, 2025
Lower · Passed
Left pending in subcommittee
lower
Apr 15, 2025
Lower · Passed
Testimony taken/registration(s) recorded in subcommittee
lower
Apr 9, 2025
Committee
Referred to s/c on Workforce by chair
lower
Apr 3, 2025
Committee
Referred to Trade, Workforce & Economic Development
lower
Apr 3, 2025
Introduced
Read first time
lower
3 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors