The House Committee on Culture, Recreation & Tourism met on March 15 to take up several bills. This report focuses on HB 1341 (Leach), HB 559 (White), and HB 1472 (Bucy). HB 1472 was voted out unanimously at the end of the hearing.
This report is intended to give you an overview and highlight of the discussions on the various topics taken up. It is not a verbatim transcript of the discussions but is based upon what was audible or understandable to the observer and the desire to get details out as quickly as possible with few errors or omissions.
HB 1341 (Leach) Relating to waivers for entrance fees to state parks for resident first responders, military service members, and veterans.
- Free entry to state parks for active military, veterans, and first responders
- Fiscal note on the bill, but very worth it to do this
- Already done on the federal level
Justin Halvorsen, Texas Parks and Wildlife – Resource
- K King – Are there any other groups with waived or reduced fees?
- Yes, certain seniors, 50% discount for disabled veterans, those medically disabled
- Clardy – Are the people being discussed the same group with waived fees at the federal level?
- Can get back to you
John Sheppard, Texas Foundation for Conservation – Against
- Instead of the funding mechanism coming out of the state parks account, should come out of GR
- Krause – Are you on, for, or against?
- Registered against
- K King – You’re only against the bill because of the funding mechanism? You would change if this was different?
- Yes
Rep. Leach closes
- Free entrance to federal parks is limited to active military, veterans, etc.; does not include first responders or law enforcement
- Can find $4 million in the state budget, would drive usage of parks
- Rep. K King – What is your take on the funding mechanism?
- Need to talk to the appropriators, fiscal note is based on existing first responders and military visiting state parks who would not be paying fees under HB 1341
- I do not want decreased revenue for parks, but I do not think HB 1341 will result in this
HB 1341 left pending
HB 559 (White) Relating to a fishing license fee waiver for certain residents.
- TPWD keeps reductions for those over 65, HB 559 seeks waiver of fees for Texans over 85
John Sheppard, Texas Foundation for Conservation – On
- Neutral on this bill as it has no fiscal note, but should look at funding sources and be careful of those that support these resources
Rep. White closes
- TPWD does estimate $77k/annually impact
- Clardy – How does it work with combo licenses?
- TPWD estimates a revenue loss the fishing portion, but expecting revenue increase for those seeking hunting licenses
HB 559 left pending
HB 1472 (Bucy) Relating to the eligibility of the Concacaf Gold Cup for funding under the Major Events Reimbursement Program.
- Allows Concacaf Gold Cup to participate in MERP
- Gold Cup will be held in July, Austin FC has chance of hosting Gold Cup; MERP participation would help secure this
- $36 million to Texas & would allow us to bring more events to the state
Andy Loughnane, Austin FC President – For
- Austin is now on the precipice of having a major league team, will join 10 other major league teams & begin playing in April
- In the middle of building a 20,500 stadium, interested in holding events like Concacaf Gold Cup; other stadiums are actively pursuing this event
- Championship has been held in NFL stadiums; Texas wants to compete to obtain this event
- Tight timeline, but hoping bill advances in short order
HB 1472 voted out unanimously