Print 🖨

The House Committee met on Monday, April 3, 2023, to discuss bills on the notice here. This report covers the following bills in order: HB 2608 (Geren), HB 1034 (Stucky), HB 3728 (Anderson), HB 3250 (Manuel), and HB 1962 (Leach). A video archive of the hearing can be found here.

This report is intended to give you an overview and highlight of 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 2608 (Geren) Relating to the use by certain municipalities of certain tax revenue to fund convention center facilities, multipurpose arenas, venues, and related infrastructure.

  • Geren – Applies to project financing zone created for an arena in Fort Worth, extends for 2 years due to 2 years lost during COVID, updates bracket

 

Michael Crum, City of Fort Worth – For

  • Fort Worth supports HB 2608
  • Chair Meyer – Anything more, any questions?
    • No, Rep. Geren described the bill accurately

 

Rep Geren closes

  • Asks that this be sent to Local

 

HB 2608 left pending

 

HB 1034 (Stucky) Relating to authorizing certain counties to impose a hotel occupancy tax and the use of revenue from that tax.

  • Stucky – Seeks to grant Wise County HOT authority to fund historic preservation & restoration, HB 1034 is urgent for Wise County, County museum caught fire & loss is devastating to the County
  • Will allow County to continue preservation & restoration efforts, will also address needs at fairgrounds
  • Gervin-Hawkins – Will this be temporary or into the future?
    • A lot of it is for maintenance, incl. deferred maintenance on courthouse, renovation, etc.; also lost Heritage building to fire and need to replace

 

 

 

J.D. Clark, County Judge of Wise County – For

  • Bill would allow us to fund historic preservation efforts in Wise County; HOT would help create opportunities to open courthouse to public outside normal business hours & build heritage tourism
  • Would also be able to do other preservation projects & heritage tourism activities, promotion of tourism will also promote hotel occupancy across the county
  • Would allow expanded and improved facilities at the Wise County fairgrounds, incl. covered arena; would create mechanism to advertise those facilities and hotels
  • Gives county another tool outside of property taxes to boost economic development

 

Rep. Stucky closes

  • Asks for bill to be sent to Local

 

HB 1034 left pending

 

HB 3728 (Anderson) Relating to the authority of certain municipalities to receive certain tax revenue derived from a hotel and convention center project and to pledge certain tax revenue for the payment of obligations related to the project.

  • CS laid out
  • Anderson – Adds Waco to the Qualified Hotel Project Program, Waco could receive the 10 year rebate under the program
  • Puts in a claw back mechanism to ensure funds are used correctly to encourage tourism

 

CS withdrawn, HB 3728 left pending

 

HB 3250 (Manuel) Relating to the authority of certain municipalities to receive certain tax revenue derived from a hotel and convention center project and to pledge certain tax revenue for the payment of obligations related to the project.

  • Manuel – HOT bill for municipality with 115k pop or more bordering Neches river; impacts Beaumont
  • Jefferson County & Beaumont are growing, would allow area to attract more people and have people stay
  • Chair Meyer – This benefits the city of Beaumont?
    • This will only benefit the City of Beaumont

 

Robin Mouton, Mayor of Beaumont – For

  • Beaumont fits the bracket under the bill, faces high demand and low inventory of hotel space; will allow Beaumont to leverage new revenue for 10 year period without levying new taxes
  • Wil mean increased economic opportunity & will bolster ongoing downtown redevelopment efforts

 

Steve Ahlenius, Beaumont Chamber of Commerce – For

  • Key investment in community and for redevelopment of downtown area
  • Over $80b in eco dev projects in the pipeline, need downtown hotel next to convention center
  • $80b in projects in the pipeline, there is a desperate need for a new hotel downtown

 

HB 3250 left pending

 

HB 1962 (Leach) Relating to the authority of certain municipalities to receive certain tax revenue derived from a hotel and convention center project and to pledge certain tax revenue for the payment of obligations related to the project.

  • CS laid out
  • Leach – Allows Allen to be included in Qualified Hotel Project Program; city is in final stages of committing to large hotel resort worth $100s of millions
  • Allen is at a disadvantage compared to competitors who already have the designation
  • CS will allow for capture of tax revenue form restaurants, bars, and retail establishments at the facilities owned by hotel
  • Bracket also allows McKinney to qualify for Qualified Hotel Project Program, McKinney also has a hotel project and would benefit
  • Supported by Allen EDC, City Council, and McKinney

 

David Ellis, Allen Economic Development Corporation – For

  • EDC and city are seeking to add Allen to list for Qualified Hotel Project Program. Project is a $765m hotel & convention center project
  • Project would not happen but for the Qualified Hotel Program designation
  • Chair Meyer – So project is specifically contingent on this bill passing?
    • Correct, largely due to rapid rise in construction prices

 

CS withdrawn, HB 1962 left pending