HB 4683 Texas House · 89th Legislature (2025)

Relating to the authority of certain municipalities to use certain tax revenue for hotel and convention center projects.

HB 4683 amends Texas tax law to allow specific qualifying municipalities to use certain existing tax revenue for hotel and convention center projects. The bill defines 17 distinct eligibility categories based on population size, geographic location (e.g., bordering specific lakes or rivers), or presence of designated landmarks like museums or parks. Only cities meeting these precise criteria - such as those with populations over 175,000 in certain counties or bordering Lake Lewisville - can utilize this authority for such developments. The bill does not create new taxes or funding but clarifies which existing municipal tax revenues may be directed toward these projects.

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Apr 2025

Committee Review

May 2025

House Passage

May 2025

Senate Passage

Governor

Introduced Apr 3, 2025 Last action May 21, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Introduced → Engrossed · 6 edits · May 16, 2025

MODERATE

The bill text was significantly reorganized and expanded to include many new categories of municipalities eligible to use tax revenue for hotel and convention center projects. The original version had a limited list of specific municipalities, while the engrossed version adds numerous new eligibility criteria based on population, geography, cultural landmarks, and economic conditions. This substantially broadens the scope of municipalities that can access these tax funds.

Scope change

The bill's scope expanded dramatically from a limited list of specific municipalities to a much broader set of eligibility criteria covering dozens of additional municipalities based on various geographic, demographic, and cultural factors.

ELIGIBILITY

Added 40+ new subdivisions to the list of eligible municipalities, including criteria for counties bordering Mexico, municipalities with specific museums, festivals, and geographic features

New eligibility criteria based on proximity to federal facilities, national monuments, and specific rivers and lakes

Added provisions for municipalities with specific cultural institutions like country music halls of fame, railroad museums, and heritage centers

New criteria for municipalities hosting annual festivals (wine, peach, Cajun) and those with specific tourism attractions

Reorganized the structure from a simple numbered list to a more detailed hierarchical format with additional subdivisions

TIMELINE

Added Section 2 specifying that the act takes effect immediately if it receives a two-thirds vote, otherwise September 1, 2025

Floor votes · House May 15, 2025

How they voted

94–32

Passed · 19 other

Total votes 145

May 15, 2025

D Democratic60

50 Yea 1 Nay 9

83% Yea

R Republican85

44 Yea 31 Nay 10

51% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

May 21, 2025

Committee

Referred to Economic Development

upper

May 21, 2025

Introduced

Read first time

upper

May 19, 2025

Introduced

Received from the House

upper

May 16, 2025

Lower · Passed

Passed

lower

May 15, 2025

Lower · Passed

Passed to engrossment

lower

May 7, 2025

Lower · Passed

Committee report sent to Calendars

lower

May 7, 2025

Lower · Passed

Committee report distributed

lower

May 1, 2025

Lower · Passed

Reported favorably w/o amendment(s)

lower

Apr 14, 2025

Lower · Passed

Left pending in committee

lower

Apr 14, 2025

Lower · Passed

Testimony taken/registration(s) recorded in committee

lower

Apr 3, 2025

Committee

Referred to Ways & Means

lower

Apr 3, 2025

Introduced

Read first time

lower

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors