Bill Tracking List The 82nd Legislative session is ending just as it began focused on the budget. Throughout this session, TTIA has diligently worked to advance and protect the interests of our members and the Texas travel industry, including funding and a variety of other issues. We have tracked an extensive list of bills, working in support of some and against others. We have testified at hearings, strategically partnered with other trade associations, engaged our members whenever key constituent input was needed, and directly lobbied members of the legislature to advocate for sound public policy that benefits the Texas travel industry. As the below bill list shows, many bills have already died. We will continue to monitor and work those remaining bills that are critical to the industry. If you have any questions about any of the bills on this list or any other legislative issues, contact David Teel. Bill Number Author Issue Description Status/Most Recent Action TTIA Action HB 1 Pitts State Budget Appropriations Bill SB 1 Ogden State Budget Appropriations Bill Creates the offense of criminal trespass by an illegal alien and to certain procedures for arresting illegal aliens for committing that criminal offense. Raises the "Arizona" concerns for the state which included negative press and travel boycotts, that could impact the Texas tourism HB 17 Riddle Immigration industry. 5-9-11: Sent to conference committee 4-6-11: Still in Finance Committee 2-9-11: Referred to Criminal Jurisprudence Worked to get funding for state tourism programs Worked to get funding for state tourism programs HB 18 Riddle Immigration HB 235 Aycock School Start Date HB 262 Hilderbran Taxes Would prohibit a city, county or other local government entity from adopting a policy that would not fully enforce state or federal laws, including laws relating to immigrants or immigration. Raises the "Arizona" concerns for Texas, 3-2-11: Heard and left which included negative press and travel boycotts that could pending in Sta teaffairs impact the Texas tourism industry. Committee Would allow schools with 33% or more students with military parents to begin school on the third Monday in 2-15-11: Referred to Public August. Ed. Repeals sections of the Tax Code relating to revenue exemption for the franchise tax 5-4-11: House Committee Report sent to Calendars Worked with author to keep bill from moving. Supported
Bill Tracking List HB 264 Hilderbran Taxes Relating to the use of customs brokers; sales tax exemption HB 146 Laubenburg Taxes Duplicate of HB 262, above HB 476 P. King Taxes Dulicate of HB 262, above HB 579 Callegari Taxes Dulicate of HB 262, above HB 1187 Howard Taxes Dulicate of HB 262, above HB 1411 Bonnen Taxes Dulicate of HB 262, above Relating to the creation of public and private facilities and HB 2432 J. Davis Business infrastructure. HB 2776 Bohac Taxes Dulicate of HB 262, above HB 701 Murphy Taxes Relating to revenue exemption for the franchise tax SB 125 Patrick Taxes Companion to HB 262, above SB 830 Patrick, Dan Taxes Companion to HB 264, above 3-10-11: Referred to Ways & Means Committee 2-11-11: Referred to Ways & Means 2-11-11: Referred to Ways & Means 4-11-11: Left pending in 4-11-11: Left pending in 4-11-11: Left pending in 4-20-11: Committee Report Sent to Calendars 3-16-11: Referred to Ways & Means 4-11-11: Left pending in 1-31-11: Referred to Senate Finance Cmte 3-1-11: Referred to Senate Finance Committee HB 465 Burnam Events Trust Fund Abolishes funding for the Texas Enterprise Fund, the Texas Emerging Technology Fund, the Pan Am Games Trust Fund, Olympic Games Trust Fund, Major Events Trust Fund. 2-17-11: Referred to Economic and Small Business Development Committee HB 466 Burnam Events Trust Fund Will not allow the Governor to enter into any agreements for the Texas Enterprise Fund or Emerging Technology Fund through September 1, 2015. Bill also would prevent a local authority from using the events trust funds. 04-07-11: Left pending in Economic and Small Business Development
Bill Tracking List HB 601 Jackson Business Issue Requires Texas employers to register and participate in the federal E-Verify program which verifies work authorization status for newly hired employees pursuant to the federal Immigration Control and Reform Act. Appears the Committee Chair isn't favorable toward the bill. 2-18-11: Referred to State Affairs Committee HB 735 Patrick, D. SB 309 Harris Events Trust Fund Events Trust Fund HB 972 Hartnett Business Issue HB 1117 HB 1131 Callegari Larson School Start Date Use of Hwy. Funds Relating to the events eligible to receive funding through the major events trust fund. Adds the following events: Academy of Country Music Awards; the National Cutting Horse Association Triple Crown; and the Republican and Democrat Parties National Political Conventions. Also requires the Comptroller to perform a follow-up economic impact study. Companion Bill to HB 735, above. Cancellation of Travel Club Membership. Would allow the purchaser of a travel club membership to cancell that membership within five days after signing the purchase agreement. Provides for penalties on the seller for noncompliance. Allows schools totally or partially within Harris County to apply for an early start waiver to begin school on the second Monday in August. Requires that money in the state highway fund can be used only for highway improvements. 4-4-11: Voted out of Economic and Small Business Development Committee and sent to Calendars 4-29-11: Governor Perry signed into law 4-20-11: Cmte report sent to calendars 02-28-11: Referred to Public Education 4-28-11: Transportation Cmte Report Sent to Calendars Cmte Supported this bill. Supported this bill. SB 135 Wentworth Use of Hwy. Funds HB 1300 Guillen TP&WD Funding Requires that money in the state highway fund can be used only for highway improvements. This would threaten funding for TxDOT's Travel Services Division. Allows TP&WD to raise funds for parks via private contributions, partnerships, commercial advertising/sponsorships in state parks. 3-17-11: Left Pending in Senate Finance 5-18-11: Sent to the Governor for Signature
HB 1301 Guillen TP&WD Funding Bill Tracking List Allows voluntary contributions to TPWD when a person registers or renews registration for a motor vehicle. HB 1326 Guillen Education Provides for a flexible school day. HB 1360 Coleman Billboards Would authorize counties to prohibit new billboards along roads in unincorporated areas. 5-24-11: Senate Cmte. substitute placed on Senate Local and Uncontested Calendar 3-15-11: Heard and Left pending in Public Ed. 3-24-11: Heard and left pending in County Affairs Committee Supported this bill. Worked with the author on subsitute language that was not adopted. SB 1354 Carona Billboards Companion to HB 1360, above 4-27-11: left pending in Intergovernmental Relations HB 1454 Murphy Occupancy Tax Defines the price of a hotel room to be the retail price paid by the person using the room. Addresses theissue of Online Travel Companies not paying occupancy tax on final purchase price of a hotel room. 3-28-11: Heard and left pending in Supported this bill. SB 1577 Ellis Occupancy Tax Companion to HB 1454, above. 3-23-11: Referred to Intergovernmental Relations HB 1555 Thompson School Start Date Allows HISD to obtain an early start waiver for educationally disadvantaged students attending underperforming campuses at risk of being closed by the state. Can use local funds only to finance school days prior to the 4th Monday in August. Estimated to impact less than 4% of HISD students - primarily inner city, minority students at great academic risk. 5-19-11: Conf. Cmte adopts House version (Houston only impact) SB 949 Ellis School Start Date Similar to HB 1555, above but amended in Senate Education Committee to include Dallas ISD. Voted out of Senate Education Cmte and placed on Senate Intent Calendar for floor vote on 4-7-11. Opposed adding DISD.
HB 2485 Hochberg Education Bill Tracking List A school finance bill. TTIA's interest in this bill is that it could be a vehicle for an attempted amendment to change the school start date law. 5-2-11: Sent to Calendars HB 2816 Taylor Education HB 3006 Bonnen Education HB 3011 Giddings Business Use of Customer Zip Codes Eliminates certain mandates on public schools. TTIA's interest in this bill is that it could be a vehicle for an attempted amendment to change the school start date law. Proposes the reduction of the number of days of instruction for school students with option to increase hours of instruction per day. Prohibits businesses from using or retaining customer zip codes. Visiting with the author - expressed concerns that this bill would negatively impact tourism business and marketing operations. 3-16-11: Referred to Public Ed. Committee 3-17-11: Referred to Public Ed. Committee 5-4-11: Sent to Calendars Committee HB 3014 Oliviera Occupancy Tax HB 3740 Guillen The Alamo Repeals the exemption from the state hotel occupancy tax for stays of 30 consecutive or more days. Problemmatic because the anticipated revenue has been factored into the revenue projections for the 2012-2013 state budget. 3-17-11: Referred to Ways and Means Designates the THC as responsible for the preservation, maintenance, restoration and protection of the Alamo and 4-6-11: Left pending in its contents. Transfers any powers or duties from the DRT to Culture, Recreation and THC. Tourism SB 1840 Van de Putte The Alamo Companion to HB 3740, above. HB 3725 Guillen The Alamo Places The Alamo under the jurisdiction of the Texas Historical Commission 3-24-11: Referred to Senate Administration 4-6-11: Left pending in Culture, Recreation and Tourism
Bill Tracking List SB 1841 Van de Putte The Alamo Companion to HB 3725, above. Establishes reporting requirements for the custodian of the HB 3726 Guillen The Alamo Alamo (Daughters of the Texas Republic) 5-3-11: Passed the Senate 5-16-11: Passes out of House CRT 5-20- 11: Sent to Calendars 5-19-11: House Appoints Confereees HCR 29 Hunter Cruise Industry SCR 5 Hinojosa Cruise Industry Companion to HCR 29, above. SB 3 Shapiro Education Requests the Lt. Gov. and Speaker to provide for a joint legislative study on the development and economic impacat of the cruise industry on the Texas coast. Omnibus education bill that gives school boards more flexibility in the management and operation of their schools. TTIA's interest in this bill is that it could be a vehicle for an attempted amendment to change the school start date law. SB 468 Shapiro Education Duplicate of SB 3, above. Would make a stored value card that is unknown to the holder of the property to be presumed abandoned if unredeemed upon expiration date of the card or after five years after it was issued or five years after the card was last SB 362 Carona Gift Cards used. 2-18-11: Referred to Culture, Recreation and Tourism. 3-17-11: Voted out of the Senate and sent to the House. 5-19-11: Adopted by the House 4-14-11: Left pending in Education Cmte. 3-08-11: Left pending in Education Cmte. 2-2-11: Referred to Business & Commerce Committee SB 443 Patrick, D. Education Omnibus bill that proposes measures intended to provide flexibility and costs savings to school districts. Potential vehicle for school start date amendment. 3-8-11: Heard and left pending in Senate Education
SB 738 Shapiro Education Bill Tracking List Omnibus bill relating to alternative methods for operating public schools. Potential vehicle for school start date amendment. 5-21-11: Placed on General State Calendar in the House. HB 400 Eissler Education Ominbus bill relating to flexibility for public schools to administer primary and secondary education efficiently. SB 776 Zaffirini Business Relating to Customs Brokers HB 3284 Guillen Business Companion to SB 776 above Creates the Center for Financial Accountability and Productivity in Public Education to increase productivity in public schools. Possible vehicle for school start date SB 872 Shapiro Education amendment. HB 1589 Eissler Education Companion to SB 872, above. Concerns allocation of proceeds from the state tax on SB 1345 Davis TP&WD and THC sporting goods to TP&WD and THC. 5-12-11: Placed on major state calendar 5-9-11: House Committee Report sent to Calendars 3-28-11: Left pending in 4-12-11: A Pending Item on Education Cmte. meeting agenda 3-15-11: Heard and left pending in Public Education 3-22-11: Referred to Senate Finance. Safeguarded against school start date amendments SJR 53 Ellis Taxes Proposes constitutional amendment requiring periodic review of state and local tax preferences, providing an expiration date for certain tax preferences. 5-9-11: Failed to pass Finance Committee SB 251 West Consumer Credit Services SB 1181 Duncan State Budget HB 3790 Pitts State Budget HB 353 Burnam Tax Discounts Relating to the regulation of activities with respect to certain 2-22-11: Left pending in extensions of consumer credit. Business & Commerce Fiscal Matters Bill: Additional revenue opportunities to help 5-18-11: Placed on Major fund the state budget. House Calendar Fiscal Matters Bill: Additional revenue opportunities to help 5-12-11: Placed on Major fund the state budget. House Calendar Restricts reimbursements and discounts provided to 3-14-11: Left pending in businesses that pay sales tax early. Opposed repeal of 30 day exemption from HOT Tax Opposed repeal of 30 day exemption from HOT Tax
HB 2045 SB 836 Burnam Ellis Bill Tracking List Taxpayer Reimbursement Restricts reimbursements and discounts provided to s businesses that pay sales tax early. Taxpayer Reimbursement s Taxpayer Reimbursement s 3-14-11: Left pending in 3-1-11: Referred to Finance Limits discount allowed for prepayment of sales and use taxescmte. Limits reimbursements provided for the collection of sales SB 837 Ellis and use taxes. Provides for a Sunset review with recommendations to HB 3201 Davis Tax Exemptions either continue or discontinue tax exemptions. Requires Comptroller to study revenue sources as an Repeal Tax alternative to state franchise tax and make HB 795 Zerwas Exemptions recommendations to the Legislature. 3-1-11: Referred to Finance Cmte. 4-26-11: Left pending in 2-22-11: Referred to Ways & Means 5-18-11: Left pending in SB 1905 Uresti Relating to the provision of emergency services in certain State Parks Fees rural counties using admission fees charged at state parks. House Culture, Recreation and Tourism Opposed. Shapriro, Economic 4-12-11: Left pending in Eco. SB 1310 Jackson Development Creation of the Select Committee on Economic Development Dev. Cmte. Supported Would abolish the Texas Historical Commission and the transfer of its duties to the Parks and Wildlife Commission, Texas Historical the General Land Office, and the Texas State Library and 3-17-11: Referred to State HB 2879 King Commission Archives Commission. Affairs TTIA opposed and helped kill this bill