H.B. No. 4029
 
 
 
 
AN ACT
  relating to the use of municipal hotel occupancy tax revenue by
  certain municipalities.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  The heading to Section 351.1054, Tax Code, is
  amended to read as follows:
         Sec. 351.1054.  ALLOCATION OF REVENUE: ELIGIBLE BARRIER
  ISLAND COASTAL MUNICIPALITY [FOR ECOLOGICAL TOURISM AND SPACECRAFT
  AND SPACEPORT ACTIVITIES BY CERTAIN MUNICIPALITIES].
         SECTION 2.  Sections 351.1054(b) and (c), Tax Code, are
  amended to read as follows:
         (b)  Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, an
  eligible barrier island coastal municipality may use revenue from
  the municipal hotel occupancy tax for:
               (1)  promotional and event expenses for an ecological
  tourism event, including an event for which the primary attraction
  is traveling to an area of natural or ecological interest for the
  purpose of observing and learning about wildlife and the area's
  natural environment, if:
                     (A)  a majority of the event's participants are
  tourists; and
                     (B)  the event substantially increases economic
  activity at hotels and motels within or in the vicinity of the
  municipality; [and]
               (2)  expenses directly related to:
                     (A)  the acquisition of sites to observe
  spacecraft and spaceport activities; and
                     (B)  the construction, improvement, enlarging,
  equipping, repairing, operation, and maintenance of facilities
  utilized by hotel guests to observe and learn about spacecraft and
  spaceport operations; and
               (3)  expenses directly related to the construction,
  improvement, equipping, repairing, operation, and maintenance of
  coastal sports facilities owned by the municipality, including boat
  docks, boat ramps, and fishing piers used by hotel guests, if:
                     (A)  the coastal sports facilities have been used
  in the preceding calendar year a combined total of more than five
  times for district, state, regional, or national sports tournaments
  or events; and
                     (B)  the majority of the events at the coastal
  sports facilities are directly related to a sports tournament or
  event in which the majority of participants are tourists who
  substantially increase economic activity at hotels within or in the
  vicinity of the municipality.
         (c)  A municipality may use for the purposes provided by
  Subsections (b)(1), [and] (2), and (3) not more than the greater of:
               (1)  15 percent of the hotel occupancy tax revenue
  collected by the municipality; or
               (2)  the amount of tax received by the municipality at
  the rate of one percent of the cost of a room.
         SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
  a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
  provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this
  Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
  Act takes effect September 1, 2017.
 
 
  ______________________________ ______________________________
     President of the Senate Speaker of the House     
 
 
         I certify that H.B. No. 4029 was passed by the House on May 4,
  2017, by the following vote:  Yeas 139, Nays 4, 2 present, not
  voting; and that the House concurred in Senate amendments to H.B.
  No. 4029 on May 25, 2017, by the following vote:  Yeas 128, Nays 12,
  2 present, not voting.
 
  ______________________________
  Chief Clerk of the House   
 
         I certify that H.B. No. 4029 was passed by the Senate, with
  amendments, on May 23, 2017, by the following vote:  Yeas 26, Nays
  5.
 
  ______________________________
  Secretary of the Senate   
  APPROVED: __________________
                  Date       
   
           __________________
                Governor