HB 4936 Texas House · 89th Legislature (2025)

Relating to a study by the Texas Economic Development and Tourism Office regarding the creation of the Department of Marketing Services.

HB 4936 directs the Texas Economic Development and Tourism Office to conduct a study on creating a new Department of Marketing Services. The study must examine the department’s structure, funding, and potential operations, including how it would interact with existing state agencies. This bill does not create the department but authorizes a formal assessment to determine if such a department would be feasible. The study’s findings would inform future legislative decisions, but the bill itself only mandates the research process.

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 14, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Introduced → Engrossed · 5 edits · May 13, 2025

MODERATE

The bill was completely rewritten from a proposal to create a new Department of Marketing Services to a study evaluating the feasibility of creating such a department. The original version established a permanent department with a seven-member board, defined roles, and required pre-approval for state marketing expenditures. The new version replaces these provisions with a requirement for the Texas Economic Development and Tourism Office to conduct a study analyzing costs, positions, and potential savings from consolidating marketing services before any department is created.

Scope change

The bill's scope changed from establishing a permanent state agency to conducting a temporary study on the feasibility of creating that agency.

SCOPE

Removed the creation of a permanent Department of Marketing Services with its own board, rules, and approval authority for state marketing expenditures.

REQUIREMENT

Added a requirement for the Texas Economic Development and Tourism Office to conduct a study evaluating total marketing costs, full-time equivalent positions needed, and potential cost savings from consolidating marketing services.

TIMELINE

Changed the timeline from an indefinite department operation to a study report deadline of September 30, 2026, with the Act expiring September 1, 2027.

DEFINITION

Added new definitions for 'Full-time equivalent position' and 'Office' to clarify the scope of the study requirements.

ENFORCEMENT

Removed the requirement that state agencies obtain pre-approval from the department before spending money on marketing purposes.

Floor votes · House May 12, 2025

How they voted

115–25

Passed · 5 other

Total votes 145

May 12, 2025

D Democratic60

59 Yea 1

98% Yea

R Republican85

56 Yea 25 Nay 4

65% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

May 14, 2025

Introduced

Received from the House

upper

May 13, 2025

Lower · Passed

Passed

lower

May 12, 2025

Lower · Passed

Passed to engrossment as amended

lower

May 12, 2025

Lower · Passed

Amended

lower

May 12, 2025

House · Passed

House Vote: pass (115-25-5)

house

May 6, 2025

Lower · Passed

Committee report sent to Calendars

lower

May 6, 2025

Lower · Passed

Committee report distributed

lower

May 1, 2025

Lower · Passed

Reported favorably as substituted

lower

Apr 16, 2025

Lower · Passed

Left pending in committee

lower

Apr 16, 2025

Lower · Passed

Testimony taken/registration(s) recorded in committee

lower

Apr 3, 2025

Committee

Referred to Delivery of Government Efficiency

lower

Apr 3, 2025

Introduced

Read first time

lower

3 primary · 0 co-sponsors