BILL ANALYSIS

Senate Research Center	H.B. 1950
	By: King, Ken; Gonz�lez, Jessica (Hancock)
	Natural Resources & Economic Development
	5/8/2023
	Engrossed

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

Tourism in Texas has been an important economic development tool, generating revenue and jobs for the Texas economy. It is an industry that consistently needs to be stimulated, and the major events reimbursement program was created to attract various types of events to Texas. The program permits local governments and organizing committees to apply to the state for help paying for certain eligible costs associated with conducting specifically named major events. H.B. 1950 places several new events on the list of events eligible for program funding and makes certain other changes relating to event eligibility.

H.B. 1950 amends current law relating to the major events reimbursement program, including event funding eligibility, site selection organizations, and single event and single year classifications.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Reenacts Section 478.0001(3), Government Code, as amended by Chapters 10 (H.B. 1472), 102 (S.B. 1265), 605 (S.B. 1155), and 915 (H.B. 3607), Acts of the 87th Legislature, Regular Session, 2021, and amends it to redefine "event."

SECTION 2. Reenacts Section 478.0001(7), Government Code, as amended by Chapters 10 (H.B. 1472), 102 (S.B. 1265), and 915 (H.B. 3607), Acts of the 87th Legislature, Regular Session, 2021, and amends it to redefine "site selection organization."

SECTION 3. Amends Section 478.0051, Government Code, by adding Subsection (c) to authorize an event described by Section 478.0001(3)(FF) (relating to a series of cricket matches or competitions within either the T20 World Cup, sanctioned by the International Cricket Council, or Major League Cricket), notwithstanding Subsection (b) (relating to authorizing a listed event to receive funding through the program only if certain criteria are met), to receive funding through the program if a portion of the event is held at one or more sites located in another state or country.

SECTION 4. Amends Section 478.0052, Government Code, as follows:

Sec. 478.0052. SINGLE EVENT CLASSIFICATION FOR ELIGIBILITY PURPOSES. Provides that for purposes of Section 478.0051 (Events Eligible for Funding):

(1) creates this subdivision from existing text; and

(2) each series of games for the World Cup soccer tournament held in a market area designated for that series is considered a separate, single event.

SECTION 5. Amends Subchapter B, Chapter 478, Government Code, by adding Section 478.00525, as follows:

Sec. 478.00525. SINGLE YEAR CLASSIFICATION FOR ELIGIBILITY PURPOSES FOR CERTAIN SPORTING EVENTS. Provides that a sporting event listed in Section 478.0001(3), for purposes of Sections 478.0051(b)(1) (relating to authorizing a listed event to receive funding through the program only if a site selection organization, after considering through a highly competitive selection process one or more sites not in this state, selects a site in this state for the event to be held) and (3) (relating to authorizing a listed event to receive funding through the program only if the event is held not more than one time in any year), is considered to be held one time in each year if the event is held only one time in any annual season for that sport.

SECTION 6. Amends Section 478.0053, Government Code, as follows:

Sec. 478.0053. EXEMPTION FROM CERTAIN ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENT FOR CERTAIN LARGE VENUES. Provides that Section 478.0051(b)(1) does not apply to an event described by Section 478.0001(3)(M) (relating to the largest event held each year at a sports entertainment venue in this state with a permanent seating capacity, including grandstand and premium seating, of at least 125,000) rather than Section 478.0001(3)(H). Makes a conforming change.

SECTION 7. Amends Subchapter B, Chapter 480, Government Code, by adding Section 480.00515, as follows:

Sec. 480.00515. SINGLE YEAR CLASSIFICATION FOR ELIGIBILITY PURPOSES FOR CERTAIN SPORTING EVENTS. Provides that a sporting event, for purposes of Sections 480.0051(1) and (3), is considered to be held one time in each year if the event is held only one time in any annual season for that sport.

SECTION 8. Provides that this Act, to the extent of any conflict, prevails over another Act of the 88th Legislature, Regular Session, 2023, relating to nonsubstantive additions to and corrections in enacted codes.

SECTION 9. Effective date: September 1, 2023.