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Signed Into Law
Signed June 20, 2025Effective 2025-09-01
SB1939

Regular Session

Relating to the ship channel improvement revolving fund.

Government Affairs & Regulatory Compliance Analysis

SB1939: Government Affairs Overview

SB1939 is a fiscal governance measure that prohibits the Texas Comptroller from sweeping interest earned on the Ship Channel Improvement Revolving Fund (SCIRF) into the General Revenue Fund. While this legislation imposes no new regulatory burdens or reporting requirements on private industry, it secures the long-term purchasing power of state funds used to finance deep-draft channel projects, directly benefiting maritime, logistics, and industrial members dependent on port infrastructure.

Sen. Juan Hinojosa·Senate Bill·Regular Session

Low
Low Cost
Effective:2025-09-01
Business Impact

Who SB1939 Affects

This legislation has regulatory implications for the following Texas businesses and organizations:

Regulatory Priority: low

Standard regulatory changes (effective 2025-09-01). Review during normal business planning.

💧

Water

Affected business types:

  • Water utilities
  • Wastewater treatment facilities
  • Municipal water districts
  • Agricultural water users
View all water legislation
🚛

Transportation

Affected business types:

  • Trucking companies
  • Towing operators
  • Fleet operators
  • Logistics providers
View all transportation legislation

Estimated Cost Impact

lowMinimal cost impact anticipated.

Enforcing Agencies

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SB1939
Low
Relating to the ship channel improvement revolving fund.
Low Compliance Urgency
Requires routine attention
Cost Impact
Low
Effective
2025-09-01
Enforcing Agencies
Comptroller of Public AccountsTexas Department of Transportation
Primary Author: Sen. Juan Hinojosa
89th Texas Legislature
jdkey.com
01

Compliance Analysis

Key implementation requirements and action items for compliance with this legislation

Implementation Timeline

  • Effective Date: September 1, 2025.
  • Compliance Deadline: N/A. This legislation governs internal state accounting; no private sector action is required.
  • Agency Rulemaking: None required. The retention of interest is self-executing by the Comptroller’s office.

Immediate Action Plan

  • Archive: File this memo under "Infrastructure Funding / State Appropriations."
  • Notify Business Development: Inform teams bidding on marine construction or dredging that SCIRF liquidity is projected to stabilize/increase post-2025.
  • Monitor: Watch TxDOT agendas starting Q4 2025 for new funding opportunities utilizing the accrued interest.

Operational Changes Required

Contracts

No immediate amendments required.

However, for members engaged in Public-Private Partnerships (P3) with Navigation Districts or Port Authorities, this legislation stabilizes the counterparty's funding source. Future agreements relying on SCIRF loans will benefit from a more robust capital pool.

Hiring/Training

None.

No updates to employee handbooks, safety protocols, or compliance training are necessary.

Reporting & Record-Keeping

None.

This bill places the burden of accounting solely on the Comptroller of Public Accounts.

Fees & Costs

No direct impact.

This bill does not authorize new fees or taxes. It strictly concerns the allocation of interest earnings on existing state funds.

Strategic Ambiguities & Considerations

While the statute protects the fund's interest, the Legislative Budget Board notes that the fund remains subject to "funds consolidation review."

  • The Risk: In the event of a state budget shortfall, the Legislature retains the authority via the General Appropriations Act to sweep these funds, overriding this statute.
  • The Watch Item: Members should monitor the Texas Transportation Commission. As the fund balance grows via retained interest, we anticipate TxDOT may issue new "Calls for Projects." The criteria for these future disbursements remain at TxDOT's discretion.

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JD Key Consulting specializes in Texas regulatory compliance strategy. Work directly with James Dickey—former Chairman of the Republican Party of Texas—to understand this bill's impact on your operations and develop an actionable compliance plan.

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Information presented is for general knowledge only and is provided without warranty, express or implied. Consult qualified government affairs professionals and legal counsel before making compliance decisions.

02

Legislative Timeline

This bill's path through the Texas Legislature

Filed
Mar 5, 2025
Passed Senate
Apr 2, 2025
Passed House
May 23, 2025
Signed
Jun 20, 2025
Effective
Sep 1, 2025
TopicsTransportationTransportation--miscellaneousWaterWater--navigation & PortsState Highway FundComptroller of Public Accounts
03

Senate Authors

Sen. Juan HinojosaDemocrat · Primary Author

House Sponsor

Rep. Mary PerezDemocrat · Primary Sponsor

Bill Text(with markup)

View bill text in multiple formats on Texas Legislature website

Fiscal NoteView Original

Related Legislation

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More from Sen. Juan Hinojosa

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Related by Topic

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Quick Reference

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about SB1939

Q

What does Texas SB1939 do?

SB1939 is a fiscal governance measure that prohibits the Texas Comptroller from sweeping interest earned on the Ship Channel Improvement Revolving Fund (SCIRF) into the General Revenue Fund. While this legislation imposes no new regulatory burdens or reporting requirements on private industry, it secures the long-term purchasing power of state funds used to finance deep-draft channel projects, directly benefiting maritime, logistics, and industrial members dependent on port infrastructure.

Q

Who authored SB1939?

SB1939 was authored by Texas Senator Juan Hinojosa during the Regular Session.

Q

When was SB1939 signed into law?

SB1939 was signed into law by Governor Greg Abbott on June 20, 2025.

Q

Which agencies enforce SB1939?

SB1939 is enforced by Comptroller of Public Accounts and Texas Department of Transportation.

Q

How significant are the changes in SB1939?

The regulatory priority for SB1939 is rated as "low". Businesses and organizations should review the legislation to understand potential impacts.

Q

What is the cost impact of SB1939?

The cost impact of SB1939 is estimated as "low". This may vary based on industry and implementation requirements.

Q

What topics does SB1939 address?

SB1939 addresses topics including transportation, transportation--miscellaneous, water, water--navigation & ports and state highway fund.

Q

What are the key dates for SB1939?

Key dates for SB1939: Effective date is 2025-09-01. Consult with legal counsel regarding applicability.

Q

Which Texas businesses are affected by SB1939?

SB1939 primarily affects transportation and logistics companies. These businesses should review the legislation with their legal and compliance teams to understand potential impacts.

Need Strategic Guidance on This Legislation?

JD Key Consulting is an Austin, Texas-based government affairs firm led by James Dickey, former Chairman of the Republican Party of Texas. We specialize in Texas regulatory compliance and legislative strategy for data centers, energy, banking, and manufacturing.

Legislative data provided by LegiScanLast updated: January 11, 2026