Texas lawmakers took another step Thursday toward expanding internet availability in the state by passing a bill that invests $5 billion for broadband development.

Voters will have the final say this fall before the history-making funds can be used for new fiber.

House Bill 9, filed by Republican state Rep. Trent Ashby of Lufkin, would create the Texas Broadband Infrastructure Fund. The money would be administered by the Texas comptroller’s office and would be the biggest state investment in broadband development to date. The bill is accompanied by House Joint Resolution 125, which proposes a constitutional amendment that would ask Texas voters to approve the historic amount and create the fund.

The proposed legislation — which has cleared both chambers and now heads to Gov. Greg Abbott — is an attempt to fill the gaps in broadband availability statewide. Nearly 7 million Texans don’t have reliable internet service. According to the Broadband Development Office’s map, released earlier this year, most urban areas of the state have broadband availability, while most rural areas have slow service or none at all.

“This bill will have a measurable impact on each one of your districts,” Ashby previously told lawmakers on the House floor, “no matter whether they be urban, suburban or rural.”

If voters approve the $5 billion fund in November, the money will be added to federal dollars that Texas is expected to receive for the same endeavor. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law invests $42.45 billion for the Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment Program, from which Texas will receive some money, though it has not yet been determined how much.

This article was written by JAYME LOZANO CARVER of The Texas Tribune.  The Texas Tribune is a nonpartisan, nonprofit media organization that informs Texans — and engages with them – about public policy, politics, government and statewide issues.  This article originally appeared at:https://www.texastribune.org/2023/05/18/texas-broadband-election-november-2023/