House Culture, Recreation & Tourism met on March 2 to hear invited testimony only from the agencies under their purview. This report covers discussions concerning the following agencies:
- Texas Parks and Wildlife
- State Preservation Board
- Texas State Library and Archive Commission
- Texas Economic Development and Tourism Office
This report is intended to give you an overview and highlight 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.
Texas Parks and Wildlife
David Yoskowitz, Executive Director Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission
- Overviews functions of TPWD
- Have seen cumulative degradation of numerous oyster reefs; have restored over 1.7k acres of oyster reefs; 90% of projects have been in Galveston Bay
- Plan to have additional projects in this and surrounding areas in the future
- Texas peace officers have been heavily involved in Operation Lone Star and conduct maritime patrols
- Have more demand for peace officers/game wardens due to the increased demand of our parks
- Overviews exceptional items including funds for updating remote titling systems, Fund 9 construction/repair needs, replacement of vehicles, and targeted salary increases
- Appreciates support as we work to save Fairfield Lake State Park; may have more discussions about this later, but we are doing all we can to save it
- Chair Ashby – Has been a lot of discussion on Fairfield Lake State Park; will have a hearing next week on the efforts to preserve/protect state parks drill down on that topic specifically
- Chair Ashby – Will hear invited testimony
- Chair Ashby – Are ongoing discussions, share your vision of saving the state park; are reasons to be optimistic
- Chair Ashby – Asks about demands of the agency
- Will be increased demand; next five years critical for planning
- Holland – Update on Cultivated Oyster Program?
- Pushing with federal partners, but have streamlined things at a state level
- Holland – Conditionally permitted farming oysters?
- Are able to sell as many as they can produce
- Holland – How are five permits spread out?
- Can get you exact information on that
- Flores – Thanks them for their work; appreciate park service
- Chair Ashby – Had record visitation at state parks last year? Will work collaboratively on how to address growing need
- 6m third highest on record
Texas Economic Development and Tourism Office
Adriana Cruz, Executive Director Economic Development & Tourism Office
- Overviews functions and duties of the Eco Dev & Tourism Office
- Office generates advertising which brings people from outside of the state to visit
- $8 generated for every $1 allocated for advertising
- Leisure and hospitality job levels did not return to pre-pandemic levels until 2022
- Texas has outpaced national travel spending, recovery, and growth
- Have a number of upcoming events to generate travel to the state
- Texas Travel Industry Recovery Grant Program established by SB 8 for reimbursement grants for recovery; opened a new application expanding pool of applications in February
- Sunset recommendations include moving to a bi-annual state tourism plan, increasing research/educational opportunities, and having tourism friendly dedications for communities
- Overviews functions and programs within the Texas Music Office
- Holland and Cruz discuss the 11th consecutive year Texas has won the Governor’s Cup
- Holland – Notes infrastructure, schools, and water
- Flores – $180m for the TTIR; how much has been distributed?
- Broke TTIR up into industry segments; have paid out $9m and $38m in process
- Re-opened to everyone on February 1 of this year; includes additional categories
- Flores – Separate from ARPA funds in our own communities?
- Correct; overviews campaigns to spread awareness of TTIR grants
- Chair Ashby – Has the $25k cap prevented people from getting help?
- Has been unable to help a certain segment of the population who have had greater costs
- Collier – Program has helped many small businesses; are opportunities for additional funding
- Collier – Want to attract/maintain film productions to places like in Fort Worth
- Have seen increased interest in Texas as a filming location
- Are not as competitive as other states as we do not have as large a pool of funds
- Chair Ashby – Will be some legislation filed concerning what you are taking about; incentives being provided in Georgia has led to them having a booming film industry
- Flores and Cruz discuss how the Office advertises the arts of the state
State Preservation Board
Rod Welsh, Executive Director State Preservation Board
- Overviews functions and duties of the Preservation Board
- Multi-year plan; including restoration of the Capitol and other projects
- Have had the resources to address any needs with the Capitol restoration
- Have requested $3m related to maintenance of the history museum
- Requested $540k to underwrite school field trips to the museum
- Texas State Cemetery maintenance; first phase of a three-phase master plan
- Chair Ashby – Finished at the Capitol mall?
- Is the Facilities Commission’s project still in progress, but are on phase II
- Hopefully will be completed in the next two to three years
Texas State Library and Archives Commission
Gloria Meraz, Director Texas State Library and Archives Commission
- Overviews functions and duties of TSLAC including working with the Statewide Broadband Office; waiting on federal grants to support bringing broadband to smaller libraries
- Want to draw as many federal dollars as possible down to invest into our libraries
- Garcia and Chair Ashby thank Meraz for her work
- Collier – Notes Fort Worth has one of the first youth libraries; important for us to invest in these programs