INTERAGENCY WORK GROUP ON BORDER ISSUES

(a) An interagency work group is created to: (1) develop or update a process to allow agencies to work together on issues that face border communities; (2) discuss and coordinate programs and services offered to border communities and residents of border communities; and (3) develop regulatory and legislative recommendations to eliminate duplication and combine program services. (b) The work group is composed of the heads of the following agencies or their designees: (1) the Texas Department of Rural Affairs; (2) the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs; (3) the Texas Water Development Board; (4) the Texas Department of Transportation; (5) the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality; (6) the Texas Workforce Commission; (7) the Department of State Health Services; (8) the Health and Human Services Commission; (9) the General Land Office; (10) the Texas Economic Development and Tourism Office; (11) the Office of State-Federal Relations; (12) the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board; (13) the attorney general's office; (14) the secretary of state's office; (15) the Department of Public Safety; and (16) the Railroad Commission of Texas. (c) The work group shall meet at least once each year in Austin to discuss border issues and to provide information showing the impact each agency has on border communities for use in developing border policy. Text of subsection effective until September 01, 2026 (d) In this section, "border region" means the portion of this state located within 100 kilometers of this state's international border. Text of subsection effective on September 01, 2026 (d) In this section, "border region" has the meaning assigned to "Texas-Mexico border region" by Section 2056.002. (e) In fulfilling its duties, the work group shall consider the effect of policies instituted by the federal government impacting the border region.