🟩An Act relating to the compensation and benefits for certain peace officers commissioned by the state fire marshal
HB 2467
✅ HB 2467: Pay Parity for State Fire Marshal Investigators
What it says it does:
Raises the pay for peace officers working in the State Fire Marshal’s Office. Moves them from Schedule B to Schedule C, the same pay scale used by DPS troopers and other state law enforcement officers.
What it actually changes:
Shifts how these salaries are funded. The raises are paid through the Department of Insurance Operating Account, which is funded by maintenance taxes on insurance companies rather than general revenue. Those taxes can adjust to cover new costs, meaning the funding loop runs through the insurance industry.
Who is pushing for it:
The Texas Municipal Police Association, the Combined Law Enforcement Associations of Texas, the Independent Insurance Agents of Texas, and SAFE-D, the statewide association for fire and emergency districts.
Who benefits:
State Fire Marshal investigators gain pay and benefits equal to other certified officers. Law enforcement associations gain influence by securing a clean win for their members.
Who gets left out or exposed:
Everyday policyholders could eventually absorb higher insurance costs as companies adjust premiums to offset the maintenance tax. Consumers have no direct say in this funding shift.
Why this matters long term:
It’s a fair bill for one group of officers, but it also normalizes funding public payrolls through self-leveling industry taxes instead of the state budget. Over time, this model can hide the true cost of state operations from Texans.
What to watch next:
Track whether the Department of Insurance raises maintenance tax rates to cover these salaries and whether other agencies copy this funding model in future sessions. Transparency in these accounts will matter more each year.
Bottom line:
HB 2467 fixes a real pay gap, but it also shows how the state can quietly move costs off the books and into the private market. Texans deserve to know when “no cost to general revenue” really means “cost passed to you.”
#HB2467 #TexasPolicy #LawEnforcement #Insurance #PublicFunds #KnowBeforeYouVote