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TexasSB 589th Legislature Regular SessionSenate

Relating to the creation of the Dementia Prevention and Research Institute of Texas.

Sponsored By: Greg Bonnen, Tom Craddick, Pat Curry, Joan Huffman (Republican), Todd Hunter, Senfronia Thompson

Signed by Governor

Education--Higher--Health InstitutionsEducation--Higher--Institutions & ProgramsElectronic Information SystemsGovernorHealth--Other Diseases & Medical ConditionsMental Health & Substance AbuseOpen MeetingsPurchasing--GeneralState Agencies, Boards & Commissions--Newly ProposedState Finances--Management & ControlALZHEIMER'S DISEASEAUDITS & AUDITORSINTERNETLIEUTENANT GOVERNORPARKINSON'S DISEASERECORDS MANAGEMENTRESEARCH & DEVELOPMENTSPEAKER OF THE HOUSEBAYLOR COLLEGE OF MEDICINEDEMENTIA PREVENTION & RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF TEXASRICE UNIVERSITYTEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY SYSTEMTEXAS STATE UNIVERSITY SYSTEMTEXAS TECH UNIVERSITY SYSTEMUNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON SYSTEMUNIVERSITY OF NORTH TEXAS SYSTEMUNIVERSITY OF TEXAS SYSTEMCOMPTROLLER OF PUBLIC ACCOUNTSTREASURY SAFEKEEPING TRUST COMPANY, TEXAS

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

9 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 2 costs, 5 mixed.

Texas creates time-limited dementia research grants

The law creates a Texas institute supporting research and prevention for dementia, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and related disorders. Texas schools, research centers, public and private entities, and partnerships can receive grants for research, equipment, facilities, and prevention programs. The law requires voter approval of a constitutional amendment for its December 1, 2025 start and one-time $3 billion general-revenue transfer. Without that approval, the act has no effect. The institute can also accept gifts and grants, but its authority ends September 1, 2035, unless continued under Texas sunset law.

Research applicants face matching and gift limits

Before payment, recipients must certify qualifying, unspent funds dedicated to the research equal to 50% of the grant. Eligible sources include specified federal, state, private, and drug-development support; required certification must be approved before payment. In-kind work, volunteer services, noncash gifts, preexisting real estate, deferred giving, and other disallowed items do not count. Institute rules must address specified indirect-cost credits, records, and annual review; failure to certify can trigger termination and repayment. Applicants are barred if they gave gifts or grants to the institute, oversight members, or employees on or after January 1, 2026, except items allowed under Penal Code Section 36.10.

Research grants face annual funding limits

The institute can award no more than $300 million in grants per state fiscal year. The oversight committee can approve multiyear grants and must set each award’s total amount. The full award counts against the cap in the fiscal year when the peer review committee approves the project. Payments cover that year’s planned spending, with the rest paid as needed in later years.

Public checks on Texas research spending

The oversight committee must hold a public meeting with notice and public comments at least once each calendar quarter. Closed meetings are limited to specified securities, revenue-sharing, or ongoing fraud, waste, or abuse investigations allowed by open-meetings law. A public report is due each January 31, and an independent annual financial audit goes to the Comptroller for public review. Grant records must be kept at least 15 years; basic applicant details and donor information are public, while most application materials remain confidential. Oversight members serve without pay but receive actual, necessary meeting expenses and costs of other duties approved by the presiding officer. Institute board members are also added to the statutory group defined in Government Code Section 572.003(c).

Research grants require expert review

The oversight committee must hire a chief executive officer and set grant priorities each year. Every grant must go through expert review, which evaluates applications and recommends awards. A program integration committee weighs review results against state priorities and sends a ranked list to the oversight committee. Priorities favor research advances, collaboration, benefits to Texas, and matching support, to the extent possible. The oversight committee must explain departures from expert recommendations, and grant approvals require two-thirds of members present and voting.

Research recipients owe repayments and revenue shares

Grant contracts must require repayment of misused money and may require repayment for other contract breaches. For grant-funded capital improvements, Texas keeps a lien or ownership interest tied to the grant’s share. A sale requires repayment of the grant-funded amount with contract interest and a proportional share of profits. These improvement rules exclude state agencies and public colleges and universities. Every award also requires an intellectual-property agreement allowing Texas to collect royalties, income, securities proceeds, or equity benefits, with standards protecting research incentives.

Applicants can challenge undisclosed research conflicts

Covered people must immediately report unreported potential conflicts to the chief executive, who must notify counsel and the oversight chair. Applicants can request an investigation in writing, with all relevant facts, within 30 days after final funding recommendations are presented. General counsel must investigate and give an opinion; the chief executive or oversight chair decides the response and notifies the requesting applicant in writing. That decision is final unless at least three oversight members request committee consideration. A grant action remains valid unless the decision-maker specifically rules otherwise, so an investigation does not guarantee a new funding decision.

Research officials face strict conflict rules

Required ethics rules bar covered officials, reviewers, employees, and their spouses from specified improper gifts, conflicting work or investments, grant applications, and business or board ties. Peer reviewers cannot use their position to influence grants or contracts for their employer. People with application conflicts must give written notice, step away from decisions, and lose access to related information. Oversight and program integration members must also disclose conflicts publicly; following counsel’s advice and recusal rules establishes compliance, while intentional violations can end review participation. Exceptional waivers require a written proposal, public reporting, approval by a majority present and voting, annual-report disclosure, and retained records.

Research purchasing favors Texas business suppliers

The committee must set purchasing standards for grant recipients, favoring Texas suppliers when reasonably possible. The standards require a good-faith effort toward more than 50% in-state purchases, not a hard quota. Separate standards must ensure purchases from historically underutilized businesses; the law sets no percentage for those purchases. Research contracts between colleges or universities and the institute are exempt from Education Code Section 51.955(b)(1).

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsors

  • Greg Bonnen

    House

  • Tom Craddick

    House

  • Pat Curry

    House

  • Joan Huffman

    Republican • Senate

  • Todd Hunter

    House

  • Senfronia Thompson

    House

Cosponsors

  • Alma A. Allen

    House

  • Carol Alvarado

    Democratic • Senate

  • Rafael Anchía

    House

  • Trent Ashby

    House

  • Jeff Barry

    House

  • Cecil Bell Jr.

    House

  • Keith Bell

    House

  • Salman Bhojani

    House

  • Brian Birdwell

    Republican • Senate

  • César Blanco

    Democratic • Senate

  • Rhetta Andrews Bowers

    House

  • John Bryant

    House

  • Brad Buckley

    House

  • John H. Bucy lll

    House

  • Benjamin Bumgarner

    House

  • Angie Chen Button

    House

  • Donna Campbell

    Republican • Senate

  • Elizabeth "Liz" Campos

    House

  • Terry Canales

    House

  • Giovanni Capriglione

    House

  • Sheryl Cole

    House

  • Nicole Collier

    House

  • David Cook

    House

  • Philip Cortez

    House

  • Charles Cunningham

    House

  • Drew Darby

    House

  • Aicha Davis

    House

  • Yvonne Davis

    House

  • Mano DeAyala

    House

  • Jay Dean

    House

  • Mark Dorazio

    House

  • Harold V. Dutton Jr.

    House

  • Paul Dyson

    House

  • Caroline Fairly

    House

  • Lulu Flores

    House

  • James Frank

    House

  • Cassandra Garcia Hernandez

    House

  • Josey Garcia

    House

  • Linda Garcia

    House

  • Gary Gates

    House

  • Stan Gerdes

    House

  • Charlie Geren

    House

  • Barbara Gervin-Hawkins

    House

  • Jessica González

    House

  • Mary E. González

    House

  • Vikki Goodwin

    House

  • R.D. "Bobby" Guerra

    House

  • Ryan Guillen

    House

  • Erin Gámez

    House

  • Brent Hagenbuch

    Republican • Senate

  • Sam Harless

    House

  • Cody Harris

    House

  • Caroline Harris Davila

    House

  • Richard Hayes

    House

  • Cole Hefner

    House

  • Ana Hernandez

    House

  • Gina Hinojosa

    House

  • Juan "Chuy" Hinojosa

    Democratic • Senate

  • Donna Howard

    House

  • Lacey Hull

    House

  • Nathan Johnson

    Democratic • Senate

  • Jolanda "Jo" Jones

    House

  • Venton Jones

    House

  • Helen Kerwin

    House

  • Ken King

    House

  • Stan Kitzman

    House

  • Marc LaHood

    House

  • Suleman Lalani

    House

  • Stan Lambert

    House

  • Brooks Landgraf

    House

  • Jeff Leach

    House

  • Terri Leo Wilson

    House

  • Mitch Little

    House

  • Oscar Longoria

    House

  • Janie Lopez

    House

  • Ray Lopez

    House

  • AJ Louderback

    House

  • J. M. Lozano

    House

  • John Lujan

    House

  • Christian Manuel

    House

  • Armando "Mando" Martinez

    House

  • Trey Martinez Fischer

    House

  • Don McLaughlin

    House

  • John McQueeney

    House

  • José Menéndez

    Democratic • Senate

  • Will Metcalf

    House

  • Morgan Meyer

    House

  • Terry Meza

    House

  • Borris L. Miles

    Democratic • Senate

  • Joe Moody

    House

  • Penny Morales Shaw

    House

  • Christina Morales

    House

  • Eddie Morales

    House

  • Matt Morgan

    House

  • Sergio Muñoz Jr.

    House

  • Candy Noble

    House

  • Tom Oliverson

    House

  • Claudia Ordaz

    House

  • Angelia Orr

    House

  • Tan Parker

    Republican • Senate

  • Jared Patterson

    House

  • Dennis Paul

    House

  • Angela Paxton

    Republican • Senate

  • Mary Ann Perez

    House

  • Vincent Perez

    House

  • Dade Phelan

    House

  • Mihaela Plesa

    House

  • Richard Peña Raymond

    House

  • Ron Reynolds

    House

  • Ana-María Rodríguez Ramos

    House

  • Ramon Romero Jr.

    House

  • Toni Rose

    House

  • Jon E. Rosenthal

    House

  • Mike Schofield

    House

  • Alan Schoolcraft

    House

  • Matt Shaheen

    House

  • Joanne Shofner

    House

  • Lauren Ashley Simmons

    House

  • John T. Smithee

    House

  • David Spiller

    House

  • James Talarico

    House

  • Steve Toth

    House

  • Chris Turner

    House

  • VanDeaver

    Affiliation unavailable

  • Denise Villalobos

    House

  • Armando Walle

    House

  • Charlene Ward Johnson

    House

  • Royce West

    Democratic • Senate

  • Terry M. Wilson

    House

  • Gene Wu

    House

  • Judith Zaffirini

    Democratic • Senate

  • Erin Zwiener

    House

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 308 • No: 46

Senate vote • 5/12/2025

Record vote

Yes: 0 • No: 0

House vote • 4/24/2025

Record vote

Yes: 121 • No: 23

House vote • 4/23/2025

Record vote

Yes: 127 • No: 21

Senate vote • 3/5/2025

Record vote

Yes: 31 • No: 0

Senate vote • 3/5/2025

Record vote

Yes: 29 • No: 2

Actions Timeline

  1. See remarks for effective date

    5/24/2025House

  2. Signed by the Governor

    5/24/2025House

  3. Sent to the Governor

    5/13/2025House

  4. Signed in the House

    5/13/2025House

  5. Signed in the Senate

    5/13/2025Senate

  6. Reported enrolled

    5/12/2025Senate

  7. Senate concurs in House amendment(s)-reported

    5/12/2025House

  8. Record vote

    5/12/2025Senate

  9. Senate concurs in House amendment(s)

    5/12/2025Senate

  10. Read

    5/12/2025Senate

  11. House amendment(s) laid before the Senate

    5/12/2025Senate

  12. Additional sponsor(s) authorized

    4/24/2025House

  13. Rules suspended

    4/24/2025House

  14. House passage as amended reported

    4/24/2025Senate

  15. Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal

    4/24/2025House

  16. Record vote (RV#462)

    4/24/2025House

  17. Passed

    4/24/2025House

  18. Read 3rd time

    4/24/2025House

  19. Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal

    4/23/2025House

  20. Record vote (RV#370)

    4/23/2025House

  21. Passed to 3rd reading

    4/23/2025House

  22. Read 2nd time

    4/23/2025House

  23. Placed on Major State Calendar

    4/23/2025House

  24. Considered in Calendars

    4/17/2025House

  25. Committee report sent to Calendars

    4/11/2025House

Bill Text

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