SB 1361 Texas Senate · 89th Legislature (2025)

Relating to a disaster recovery loan program for small and micro-businesses.

SB 1361 establishes a state-funded disaster recovery loan program for Texas small businesses (21-99 employees) and micro-businesses. It creates a dedicated "small- and micro-business recovery fund" in the general revenue fund and requires the state bank to provide zero-interest loans to community development financial institutions (CDFIs). These CDFIs would then make interest-bearing loans to qualifying businesses that struggle to access capital after disasters. The program aims to help create jobs by expanding capital access for eligible businesses across Texas.

Issues: ✓ Budget & Taxes

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Feb 2025

Committee Review

May 2025

Senate Passage

May 2025

House Passage

Governor

Introduced Feb 18, 2025 Last action May 27, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Introduced → Engrossed · 5 edits · May 14, 2025

MODERATE

This bill updates the Small- and Micro-Business Disaster Recovery Program by clarifying definitions, adding new loan restrictions, and repealing an obsolete subchapter. Key changes include a new minimum loan amount requirement for micro-businesses and updated reporting requirements for financial institutions.

Scope change

The bill maintains the core scope of the disaster recovery loan program but adds new eligibility restrictions and reporting requirements that affect how loans are administered and monitored.

ELIGIBILITY

Added a new provision requiring that loans to micro-businesses must be at least 50% of the total loan amount provided under the program in a fiscal biennium.

DEFINITION

Updated definitions of 'Small business' and 'Program' to clarify the scope of the disaster recovery loan program.

REQUIREMENT

Added new reporting requirements for community development financial institutions, including current loan balances and default rates.

ENFORCEMENT

Repealed Subchapter EE, Chapter 481, Government Code, which appears to be an obsolete or superseded provision.

TIMELINE

Set the effective date of the Act to September 1, 2025.

Floor votes

How they voted

This bill passed the Senate by voice vote (no roll call recorded).

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

May 24, 2025

Lower · Passed

Committee report sent to Calendars

lower

May 24, 2025

Lower · Passed

Committee report distributed

lower

May 22, 2025

Lower · Passed

Reported favorably w/o amendment(s)

lower

May 21, 2025

Lower · Passed

Left pending in committee

lower

May 21, 2025

Lower · Passed

Testimony taken/registration(s) recorded in committee

lower

May 16, 2025

Committee

Referred to Trade, Workforce & Economic Development

lower

May 16, 2025

Introduced

Read first time

lower

May 14, 2025

Introduced

Received from the Senate

lower

May 14, 2025

Upper · Passed

Passed

upper

May 9, 2025

Upper · Passed

Committee report printed and distributed

upper

May 9, 2025

Upper · Passed

Reported favorably as substituted

upper

May 8, 2025

Upper · Passed

Vote taken in committee

upper

May 1, 2025

Upper · Passed

Left pending in committee

upper

May 1, 2025

Upper · Passed

Testimony taken in committee

upper

Mar 6, 2025

Committee

Referred to Business & Commerce

upper

Mar 6, 2025

Introduced

Read first time

upper

2 primary · 2 co-sponsors