Passed out of Committee in Other Chamber Authored by Angie Button (R) View at Source
Caption: Relating to the creation and operation of a science park district in certain counties that may impose assessments, fees, and taxes. Initially Referred to House Trade, Workforce & Economic Development Committee, chaired by a Republican Last Referred to Senate Economic Development Committee, chaired by a Republican This bill would cost taxpayers $1,704,770.00 over five years, according to the Legislative Budget Bureau.
HB 112 proposes the creation and operation of science park districts in certain counties with populations of 800,000 or more or those adjacent to such counties. These districts would be established to promote scientific research, technological innovation, workforce development, and commercial expansion. The bill outlines the process for creating a district, requiring a petition from landowners of at least 1,000 contiguous acres and approval by the Texas Economic Development and Tourism Office. A temporary board, appointed by state officials, would oversee initial planning, project approvals, and resource allocations before transitioning to an elected board. The districts would have the authority to engage in infrastructure development, education and training programs, partnerships with research institutions and private companies, and initiatives supporting business growth. They would be eligible for inclusion in tax increment reinvestment zones and tax abatement reinvestment zones. HB112 grants the districts financial powers, including imposing assessments, collecting taxes (with voter approval), issuing bonds, and securing funding through grants and donations. It prohibits the use of eminent domain and mandates annual reporting, public meetings, and audits for transparency.
(H) Button signed onto the bill as Author (H) Filed
Mar 10, 2025
(H) Read first time (H) Referred to the House Trade, Workforce & Economic Development, chaired by a Republican
Mar 18, 2025
(H) Ordaz signed onto the bill as Joint Author (H) Capriglione signed onto the bill as Joint Author (H) Hunter signed onto the bill as Joint Author (H) Bonnen signed onto the bill as Joint Author
Apr 2, 2025
(H) Scheduled for public hearing on . . . (H) Considered in public hearing (H) Testimony taken/registration(s) recorded in committee (H) Left pending in committee
Apr 15, 2025
(H) Considered in public hearing (H) Committee substitute considered in committee (H) Reported favorably as substituted
Apr 22, 2025
(H) Comte report filed with Committee Coordinator (H) Committee report distributed
Apr 23, 2025
(H) Committee report sent to Calendars
Apr 24, 2025
(H) Considered in Calendars
Apr 29, 2025
(H) Placed on General State Calendar (H) Read 2nd time (H) Point of order sustained (H) Returned to committee
Apr 30, 2025
(H) Considered in public hearing (H) Committee substitute considered in committee (H) Reported favorably as substituted
May 7, 2025
(H) Comte report filed with Committee Coordinator (H) Committee report distributed
May 8, 2025
(H) Committee report sent to Calendars (H) Considered in Calendars
May 10, 2025
(H) Bhojani signed onto the bill as Coauthor (H) Placed on General State Calendar
May 12, 2025
(H) Read 2nd time (H) Passed to engrossment (H) Record vote
RV#2221: Yea 88 (R 47, D 41) - Nay 48 (R 32, D 16) View Source
Rhetta Bowers: "When Record No. 2221 was taken, I was absent to attend a meeting of the Committee on Criminal Jurisprudence. I would have voted yes." (view other statements of vote for this Rep)
You can view which lawmakers have received money from a specific PAC by selecting the PAC from the list below:
(H) Reported engrossed
May 14, 2025
(S) Received from the House
May 21, 2025
(S) Read first time (S) Referred to the Senate Economic Development, chaired by a Republican
May 23, 2025
(S) Scheduled for public hearing on . . . (S) Posting rule suspended (S) Considered in public hearing (S) Testimony taken in committee (S) Vote taken in committee
May 25, 2025
(S) Reported favorably w/o amendments (S) Committee report printed and distributed
May 27, 2025
(S) Placed on intent calendar
(H) Parker signed onto the bill as Sponsor
Lobbying Against/For/On This Bill
For
(Fri 5/23/2025) Testifying before S Economic Development as Dana Harris for Samsung Semiconductor (Wed 4/2/2025) Testifying before H Trade, Workforce & Economic Development as Dana Pate for Samsung Electronics America (Wed 4/2/2025) Testifying before H Trade, Workforce & Economic Development as Glenn Hamer for Texas Association of Business (Fri 5/23/2025) Testifying before S Economic Development as Glenn Hamer for Texas Association of Business (Wed 4/2/2025) Registering before H Trade, Workforce & Economic Development as Ainsleigh Broadwell for Texas Instruments (Wed 4/2/2025) Registering before H Trade, Workforce & Economic Development as Ashley McConkey for Texas Instruments (Wed 4/2/2025) Registering before H Trade, Workforce & Economic Development as Christopher Lee for North Texas Commission (Wed 4/2/2025) Registering before H Trade, Workforce & Economic Development as Clifford Sparks for City of Dallas (Wed 4/2/2025) Registering before H Trade, Workforce & Economic Development as Danielle Lobsinger Bush for Texas Healthcare and Bioscience Institute (Wed 4/2/2025) Registering before H Trade, Workforce & Economic Development as Fred Shannon for Applied Materials (Wed 4/2/2025) Registering before H Trade, Workforce & Economic Development as John Kroll for self (with HMWK, LLC) (Wed 4/2/2025) Registering before H Trade, Workforce & Economic Development as Kyle Bush for Texas Association of Manufacturers (TAM) (Wed 4/2/2025) Registering before H Trade, Workforce & Economic Development as Matt Abel for Texas Economic Development Council (Wed 4/2/2025) Registering before H Trade, Workforce & Economic Development as Renzo Soto for TechNet (Fri 5/23/2025) Registering before S Economic Development as Renzo Soto for TechNet (Wed 4/2/2025) Registering before H Trade, Workforce & Economic Development as Stacy Schmitt for self (with Opportunity Austin)
