City of Houston 2023Legislative Report

Big Events

Bill Sponsors / Authors:

Todd Hunter   Rep. Todd Hunter
  R - Corpus Christi

 

Supporting Documents / Links:

Big Events GraphicHouse Bill 3262 - Mass Gatherings

The November 2021 Astroworld Festival tragedy highlighted the need for better coordination between local entities responsible for overseeing mass gathering events.

On December 7th of 2022, the City of Houston passed a comprehensive ordinance regarding outdoor music events. It was Houston’s mission to make sure that events within the City of Houston, no matter if they were held on public or private property, would account for the health and safety of attendees, staff, and workers, by imposing a duty on event organizers to provide a safe working environment and to ensure that people are not exposed to risks to their health and safety.

  • Knowing about events in advance and having input in the plans would help ensure that the organizer has the proper resources in place, including traffic management, security and medical personnel, and that the City can adequately staff HPD, HFD, and EMS personnel in anticipation of large upcoming events.
  • Working in advance with event organizers will also ensure that proper health and safety planning is compliant with current standards when organizers are utilizing other security and medical agencies.
  • Advanced communication will improve the impact that outdoor music events have on surrounding neighborhoods.

The ordinance focuses on outdoor music events with more than 500 people in attendance, are open to the public or require a ticket or entry fee, and take place on private property.

  • This event type has historically caused the most difficulties for Houston’s first responders.

Outdoor music events on private property were not previously regulated in the local code as the same degree that events on public property are under the Special Events ordinance, while indoor events are under the City’s Construction Code, permitting review process, and Fire Code enforcement.

In the aftermath of this tragedy, the governor formed a Task Force on Concert Safety to evaluate ways to improve public safety at concerts and other large-scale events. House Bill 3262 sought to build on the recommendations made by the task force by providing for the extension of powers and duties under the Texas Mass Gatherings Act to a municipality.

Houston looked to support the increased safety measures while maintaining authority to work with local stakeholders – such as the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo – to continue to operate under the local ordinance.

The bill did not pass the House and did not have a Senate sponsor.