BILL ANALYSIS

C.S.H.B. 4554

By: Cain

Culture, Recreation & Tourism

Committee Report (Substituted)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

It has been noted that the State of Texas has multiple state symbols, from the mockingbird as the state bird to the bluebonnet as the state flower. However, the state does not officially recognize a state soft drink. There have been calls to designate Dr Pepper as the state soft drink, given the rich history and worldwide consumption of the drink, which was first sold in Waco in 1885 and was introduced nationally at the 1904 World's Fair Exposition in St. Louis, Missouri. C.S.H.B. 4554 seeks to heed these calls by designating Dr Pepper as the state soft drink.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

ANALYSIS

C.S.H.B. 4554 amends the Government Code to designate Dr Pepper as the state soft drink. This designation expires September 1, 2031.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2021.

COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL AND SUBSTITUTE

While C.S.H.B. 4554 may differ from the original in minor or nonsubstantive ways, the following summarizes the substantial differences between the introduced and committee substitute versions of the bill.

The substitute includes a provision absent from the original setting the designation to expire on September 1, 2031.