LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD

Austin, Texas

FISCAL NOTE, 89TH LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION

May 14, 2025

TO:	Honorable Joan Huffman, Chair, Senate Committee on Finance
FROM:	Jerry McGinty, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:	HB5246 by Bonnen (Relating to the administration, powers, and duties of the Texas Space Commission, the Texas Aerospace Research and Space Economy Consortium, and other governmental entities and institutions regarding aerospace, aviation, and space exploration initiatives and to the abolishment of the spaceport trust fund.), As Engrossed

Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for HB5246, As Engrossed: a positive impact of $7,206,000 through the biennium ending August 31, 2027.

The bill would make no appropriation but could provide the legal basis for an appropriation of funds to implement the provisions of the bill.

General Revenue-Related Funds, Five- Year Impact:

Fiscal Year	Probable Net Positive/(Negative) Impact to General Revenue Related Funds
2026	$7,206,000
2027	$0
2028	$0
2029	$0
2030	$0

All Funds, Five-Year Impact:

Fiscal Year	Probable Revenue Gain/(Loss) from Spaceport Trust Fund 806	Probable Revenue Gain/(Loss) from General Revenue Fund 1
2026	($7,206,000)	$7,206,000
2027	$0	$0
2028	$0	$0
2029	$0	$0
2030	$0	$0

Fiscal Analysis

The bill would modify the purpose, duties, and makeup of the board of directors of the Texas Space Commission. It would extend the date of Sunset review and abolishment of the Texas Space Commission by one year to September 1, 2033.

The bill would move the administrative attachment of the Texas Aerospace Research and Space Economy Consortium (TARSEC) from the Office of the Governor to the Texas A&M Engineering Experiment Station.

The bill would abolish the Spaceport Trust Fund Account 0806 on September 1, 2025. The balance of the trust fund, with certain exceptions, would be transferred to the General Revenue Fund.

Methodology

The Spaceport Trust Fund 0806 currently has a cash balance of $7,180,000. That amount, plus any interest earned before September 1, 2025, and less any expenditures made before the date of transfer or encumbrances described in the bill, would be transferred to the General Revenue Fund on September 1, 2025.

Technology

No technology impact is anticipated.

Local Government Impact

No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.

Source Agencies:

116 Sunset Advisory Commission, 300 Trusteed Programs Within the Office of the Governor, 304 Comptroller of Public Accounts, 320 Texas Workforce Commission, 405 Department of Public Safety, 601 Department of Transportation, 710 Texas A&M University System Administrative and General Offices, 712 Texas A&M Engineering Experiment Station, 717 Texas Southern University, 720 The University of Texas System Administration, 758 Texas State University System, 768 Texas Tech University System Administration, 769 University of North Texas System Administration, 781 Higher Education Coordinating Board, 783 University of Houston System Administration

LBB Staff:

JMc, KK, KCu, RStu, LCO, NV