Bill Sponsors / Authors:

  Rep. Sam Harless
  R - Spring

  Sen. John Whitmire
  D - Houston

 

Supporting Documents / Links:

•   Mayor Sylvester Turner Testimony
  March 29, 2023
•   Texas bill could bring nearly $2B to downtown Houston projects, including modernizing George R Brown
  Houston Chronicle - May 18, 2023

Senate Bill 1057 – Convention Center Funding

Houston needs to modernize and expand the George R. Brown Convention Center (GRB) to remain competitive and attract large conventions, such as the 2028 Republican National Convention (2028 RNC).

• Houston and Miami are finalists for the 2028 RNC, and the site selection will be made by summer 2023.

Allowing Houston to expand the GRB will provide impetus to Houston's bid.

Houston First Corporation (HFC) is the convention and marketing local government corporation for the City of Houston. Legislation is needed that would specifically amend Section 351.1015, Tax Code, to add Houston.

The Texas Legislature passed Senate Bill 748 in 2013 creating Section 351.1015, Tax Code, to allow a municipality with a population of at least 650,000, but less than 750,000, to use certain tax revenue to fund a convention center facility, a multipurpose arena or venue, and related infrastructure. The bill only applies to Dallas and Fort Worth.

• Dallas is using Section 351.1015 to construct a new 2.5-million-square-foot convention center.
• Fort Worth utilized Section 351.1015 to construct Dickies Arena, a 14,000-seat multipurpose arena.

Senate Bill 1057 amends current law relating to the use of certain tax revenue to enhance and upgrade qualified projects and project-associated infrastructure to include the City of Houston.

The legislation was supported by the City of Houston, Greater Houston Partnership, Hotel Association of Greater Houston, and Texas Hotel & Lodging Association.

The bill passed both the House and Senate and will be effective September 1st, 2023.