H.B. No. 4850
 
 
 
 
AN ACT
  relating to programs to promote economic development in the Office
  of the Governor and to the repeal of the governor's broadband
  development council.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 481.0066(e), Government Code, is amended
  to read as follows:
         (e)  The governor shall appoint an aerospace and aviation
  advisory committee consisting of:
               (1)  seven qualified members to assist in the state's
  economic development efforts to recruit and retain aerospace and
  aviation jobs and investment; [and]
               (2)  one qualified member representing a federal entity
  or the United States armed forces; and
               (3)  one member for each active spaceport development
  corporation in the state who represents the interests of each
  respective spaceport development corporation.
         SECTION 2.  Section 481.167(a), Government Code, is amended
  to read as follows:
         (a)  The office shall establish the Texas Business and
  Community Economic Development Clearinghouse to provide
  information and assistance to businesses and communities in the
  state [through the use of a statewide toll-free telephone service].
         SECTION 3.  Section 481.652(b), Government Code, is amended
  to read as follows:
         (b)  The purposes of the consortium are to:
               (1)  leverage the expertise and capacity of
  institutions of higher education, industry, and nonprofit
  stakeholders to advise and provide input to the office regarding
  [develop] a comprehensive strategic plan to ensure ongoing
  semiconductor innovation;
               (2)  sustain the leadership of this state in advanced
  semiconductor research, design, and manufacturing;
               (3)  provide recommendations to the executive
  committee on research and funding opportunities related to
  semiconductor research, design, commercialization, and
  manufacturing [attract public and private investment in this state
  related to research, development, commercialization, and
  manufacturing of semiconductors];
               (4)  identify and advise the executive committee on
  [expand] opportunities for workforce training and development
  related to the research, design, and manufacturing of
  semiconductors; and
               (5)  establish a forum for public and private
  stakeholders across the semiconductor manufacturing industry in
  this state to focus on education, research and development, and
  commercial production.
         SECTION 4.  Section 481.654, Government Code, is amended by
  amending Subsection (b) and adding Subsection (c) to read as
  follows:
         (b)  The office shall hire or otherwise provide the staff and
  provide the facilities necessary to assist the consortium in
  performing the consortium's duties under this subchapter.
         (c)  The office shall hire an executive director. The
  executive director shall direct staff assigned to report to the
  executive director and assist the consortium in performing the
  consortium's duties under this subchapter.
         SECTION 5.  Section 481.655, Government Code, is amended by
  adding Subsections (a-1) and (a-2) to read as follows:
         (a-1)  An executive committee member appointed under
  Subsections (a)(1) through (3) serves a six-year term at the
  pleasure of the applicable appointing authority.  The terms of
  executive committee members appointed under Subsections (a)(1)
  through (3) must be staggered so that, to the extent practicable,
  the terms of one of those members expires on January 31 of each
  odd-numbered year.
         (a-2)  An executive committee member who is a designee of an
  executive committee member described by Subsection (a)(4) or (5)
  serves a two-year term.
         SECTION 6.  Section 481.656(a), Government Code, is amended
  to read as follows:
         (a)  The executive committee shall:
               (1)  advise and provide input to the office regarding
  the [develop and execute a] comprehensive statewide strategic plan
  to further the purposes [objectives] of:
                     (A)  the consortium as established under Section
  481.652; and
                     (B)  the executive committee under this section;
  and
               (2)  solicit recommendations from consortium members
  on funding and research opportunities related to semiconductor
  research, design, commercialization, and manufacturing[;
               [(3)  appoint an executive director of the consortium
  and determine the title, functions, duties, powers, and salary for
  the executive director; and
               [(4)  prepare and submit the report required by Section
  481.657].
         SECTION 7.  Subchapter GG, Chapter 481, Government Code, is
  amended by adding Section 481.6565 to read as follows:
         Sec. 481.6565.  STRATEGIC PLAN.  The office shall develop a
  strategic plan for the promotion of the semiconductor economy in
  this state.
         SECTION 8.  Section 481.657, Government Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         Sec. 481.657.  BIENNIAL REPORT.  Not later than December 1 of
  each even-numbered year, the office [executive committee] shall
  prepare and submit to the governor and the Legislative Budget Board
  a written report that outlines:
               (1)  activities undertaken to meet the purposes of the
  consortium under Section 481.652;
               (2)  a summary of the funding and research
  opportunities identified under Section 481.656(a)(2);
               (3)  any legislative recommendations to further the
  purposes of the consortium;
               (4)  any prospective grants or funding the consortium
  members expect to apply for or receive; and
               (5)  any research accomplishments associated with the
  consortium.
         SECTION 9.  Section 481.658(b), Government Code, is amended
  to read as follows:
         (b)  Money in the fund may be used to:
               (1)  provide matching funding to state entities,
  including institutions of higher education, for semiconductor
  manufacturing and design projects;
               (2)  award grants to business entities with an
  established presence in this state to encourage economic
  development related to semiconductor manufacturing and design; and
               (3)  subject to Subsection (c), pay for staff support
  services described by Section 481.654(b) [481.656(b)].
         SECTION 10.  Section 490D.051(c), Government Code, is
  amended to read as follows:
         (c)  The criteria established under Subsection (b)(1) must
  include a requirement that not less than 51 percent of [all or
  virtually] all significant parts and processing of a product
  originated in this state.
         SECTION 11.  The following provisions of the Government Code
  are repealed:
               (1)  Section 481.656(b); and
               (2)  Chapter 490H.
         SECTION 12.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.
 
 
  ______________________________ ______________________________
     President of the Senate Speaker of the House     
 
 
         I certify that H.B. No. 4850 was passed by the House on May 7,
  2025, by the following vote:  Yeas 139, Nays 3, 2 present, not
  voting; and that the House concurred in Senate amendments to H.B.
  No. 4850 on May 23, 2025, by the following vote:  Yeas 115, Nays 18,
  2 present, not voting.
 
  ______________________________
  Chief Clerk of the House   
 
         I certify that H.B. No. 4850 was passed by the Senate, with
  amendments, on May 20, 2025, by the following vote:  Yeas 30, Nays
  1.
 
  ______________________________
  Secretary of the Senate   
  APPROVED: __________________
                  Date       
   
           __________________
                Governor