Bill Text: TX HB1985 | 2025-2026 | 89th Legislature | Introduced

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Bill Title: Relating to the age limit for a beginning position in a fire department under municipal civil service.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)

Status: (Introduced) 2025-01-22 - Filed [HB1985 Detail]

Download: Texas-2025-HB1985-Introduced.html

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89R836 MZM-D
By: Hickland H.B. No. 1985

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the age limit for a beginning position in a fire
department under municipal civil service.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Sections 143.023(a) and (b), Local Government
Code, are amended to read as follows:
(a) A person may not take an entrance examination for a
beginning position in a [the] police or fire department unless the
person is at least 18 years of age. [A person may not take an
entrance examination for a beginning position in the fire
department unless the person is at least 18 years of age but not 36
years of age or older.]
(b) A person may not be certified as eligible for a
beginning position in a fire department if the person is 45 [36]
years of age or older.
SECTION 2. Section 143.083(a), Local Government Code, is
amended to read as follows:
(a) If a municipality is unable to recruit qualified fire
fighters because of the maximum age limit prescribed by Section
143.023 and the municipality's governing body finds that this
inability creates an emergency, the commission shall recommend to
the governing body additional rules governing the temporary
employment of persons who are 45 [36] years of age or older.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
Act takes effect September 1, 2025.