Senate Bill 13 77, filed by Sen. Charles Perry, would establish a Comptroller‑administered grant program to help rural counties acquire ambulances and certain equipment, presenters told the Senate Committee on Finance.

The bill, as laid out by Perry, provides competing funding tiers based on county population: counties with fewer than 10,000 people would be eligible for up to $5,000, and counties with larger rural populations would be eligible for larger awards (the committee substitute described larger awards up to $350,000 for certain counties). The committee substitute limited eligibility to public providers, prioritized funding based on local provider capacity, allowed counties under 10,000 to use funds for ambulance equipment, and set a sunset date of Aug. 30, 2027.

Why it matters: Rural emergency medical services (EMS) witnesses said rising vehicle and equipment costs and stagnant reimbursement rates have strained budgets and left many counties short of reliable ambulance coverage. Witnesses urged the Legislature to fund purchases that many small counties otherwise cannot afford.

Committee testimony and details

Sen. Perry told the committee that many rural counties “struggle to provide reliable ambulance/transport services” and that long distances to hospitals and small budgets can make response slow and costly. “When someone needs urgent care, waiting too long for the help can be the difference between life and death,” Perry said during his presentation.

The committee substitute, which Perry offered on the floor of the committee, narrowed program eligibility to public providers, prioritized local provider capacity, and included a two‑year sunset (Aug. 30, 2027) so the Legislature can assess the program after initial awards.

Many rural EMS leaders testified in support. Casey Ebrahim, EMS chief for Karnes County and a member of the Texas EMS Alliance board, said costs for apparatus and supplies have risen sharply and urged passage of the substitute language expanding eligible expenses to include equipment. “Rural EMS in Texas is at a really crucial point,” Ebrahim said.

Robertson County paramedic Adam Gallagher, Lamb County Judge and paramedic Mike Deloach, Seminole EMS Chief Carly French and multiple other county EMS directors described steep price increases for ambulances and critical equipment, long delivery timelines and staffing strains. Fayette County emergency services director Joshua Vandever recited the rising prices his county has seen: a vehicle quoted at $239,000 in 2021 rose to $329,000 a year later and recently to $345,000.

Local administration and safeguards

Rick Thompson of the County Judges and Commissioners Association said the program would be run through commissioners courts: counties would solicit proposals from providers, the county would apply to the Comptroller, and the county would contract directly with the selected provider. Thompson said there would be no administrative fee and that the program includes a prohibition on using the funds to replace existing local EMS funding.

What the committee did

Committee members heard testimony from more than a dozen rural EMS officials and county leaders. The committee considered and discussed a committee substitute and closed public testimony; the bill was left pending for further work and to allow the subcommittee process to proceed. The committee did not adopt the bill or record a final vote on floor passage at this hearing.

Ending

Senate Bill 13 77 drew broad support from rural EMS providers and county officials during the Finance Committee hearing, which focused on vehicle and equipment costs, delivery timelines and workforce shortages. The committee substitute narrowed eligibility and added a sunset; the bill remains pending so staff and members can finalize fiscal details and rule language before a future vote.