HB 3255 Texas House · 89th Legislature (2025)

Relating to the authority of a development corporation created by the Gulf Coast Authority to finance certain projects.

HB 3255 expands the financing authority of a development corporation created by the Gulf Coast Authority to fund specific projects. It allows the corporation to finance educational/housing facilities, health facilities, tax-exempt organizations, hotels (including convention centers), and energy storage infrastructure - both inside and outside Texas. The bill streamlines out-of-state project approvals by requiring the attorney general to review documentation within 12 business days or the project proceeds without approval. It also removes certain compliance requirements (like Sections 501.203-501.257 of the Local Government Code) for this corporation. This technical amendment directly affects the Gulf Coast Authority’s development corporation, enabling broader project financing under existing legal frameworks.
Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Mar 2025
Committee Review
May 2025
House Passage
Apr 2025
Senate Passage
Governor
Introduced Mar 20, 2025 Last action May 1, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Introduced Engrossed · 7 edits · Apr 30, 2025
MODERATE
This bill was significantly restructured and expanded to authorize a development corporation created by the Gulf Coast Authority to finance a broader range of projects, including new categories like telecommunications facilities, natural gas/electricity acquisition, and local government-authorized undertakings. The changes also added new provisions granting the corporation powers of a public facility corporation and clarifying attorney general review requirements for out-of-state projects.
Scope change
The bill's scope expanded from primarily financing projects under Chapter 501 and qualified improvements to include telecommunications infrastructure, energy storage/facilities, and projects authorized by local governments, regardless of whether they meet standard Chapter 501 criteria.
SCOPE

Added new financing categories for telecommunications service facilities, equipment, and features including subscriber numbers and billing systems.

Added authority to finance periodic acquisition of natural gas or electricity for users.

Expanded authority to finance facilities, activities, or undertakings that local governments are authorized to support, even if they don't meet standard Chapter 501 project criteria.

FISCAL

Granted the development corporation all powers of a public facility corporation under Chapter 303 for acquiring natural gas or electricity.

REQUIREMENT

Reorganized attorney general submission requirements for out-of-state projects, clarifying the 12-day window for requesting records.

Added new provision stating that out-of-state projects meeting business development criteria and Texas Economic Development Office standards are considered sufficient for project approval.

ENFORCEMENT

Revised references to Local Government Code sections that do not apply to the development corporation, updating section numbers and scope.

Floor votes · House Apr 29, 2025

How they voted

12717
Passed · 1 other
Total votes 145
Apr 29, 2025
D Democratic59
58 Yea 1 Nay
98% Yea
R Republican86
69 Yea 16 Nay 1
80% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
34
Key actions
8
Committee
9
May 1, 2025
Committee
Referred to Economic Development
upper
May 1, 2025
Introduced
Read first time
upper
Apr 30, 2025
Introduced
Received from the House
upper
Apr 30, 2025
Lower · Passed
Passed
lower
Apr 29, 2025
Lower · Passed
Passed to engrossment
lower
Apr 25, 2025
Lower · Passed
Committee report sent to Calendars
lower
Apr 25, 2025
Lower · Passed
Transferred to Calendars Committee
lower
Apr 21, 2025
Lower · Passed
Committee report distributed
lower
Apr 9, 2025
Lower · Passed
Reported favorably as substituted
lower
Apr 9, 2025
Committee
Recommended to be sent to Local & Consent
lower
Mar 26, 2025
Lower · Passed
Left pending in committee
lower
Mar 26, 2025
Lower · Passed
Testimony taken/registration(s) recorded in committee
lower
Mar 20, 2025
Committee
Referred to Trade, Workforce & Economic Development
lower
Mar 20, 2025
Introduced
Read first time
lower
3 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors