HB 1236

Drone Study Must Recommend Test Sites That Match Or Beat AFWERX

Died in committee

Verdict: Smells

SmellsInitial review

Rep. Ryan GuillenRHouse 31

Why it's charged

Study, task force, commission, report

THE TEXT

“Not later than June 1, 2026, the department shall submit a written report to the governor and the legislature on the study”…

Bill text, introduced version (I)

The only duty in the bill is a study and a report, and any facility network waits on later action. The caption honestly says this is a study.

Study, task force, commission, report

Initial review · graded Oct 20, 2026 · Headline, summary and grade are analysis of the bill text, not a finding about any person · How we grade

Caption

relating to a study on electric unmanned aircraft capable of or designed for vertical take-off and landing and the facilities needed to develop that technology in this state.

Caption from analyzed text · version I.

Summary

Report due June 1, 2026. Nothing built, nothing funded, and the section expires September 1, 2027.

The bill orders the state military department to study what resources Texas has for researching, building and testing electric drones that take off and land vertically. The study must recommend a statewide network of research and test facilities that matches or beats the Air Force's AFWERX technology division, and a report is due to the governor and the Legislature by June 1, 2026. Nothing is built, funded or required beyond the study and report, and the section expires September 1, 2027.

Labels

Labels: NEVER GOT A HEARING. Filed Nov 12, 2024 and referred to the House Delivery of Government Efficiency committee. No public hearing. The bill died.

Receipt

The receipt

89R-HB1236 · 2024-11-12

SOLD BY

Rep. Ryan GuillenRHouse 31

ITEM

relating to a study on electric unmanned aircraft capable of or designed for vertical take-off and landing and the facilities needed to develop that technology in this state.

WHAT IT DOES

Report due June 1, 2026. Nothing built, nothing funded, and the section expires September 1, 2027.

CHARGES

[x] STUDY, TASK FORCE, COMMISSION, REPORTanalysis confidence 85%

THE TEXT

“Not later than June 1, 2026, the department shall submit a written report to the governor and the legislature on the study”…

Bill text, introduced version (I)

The only duty in the bill is a study and a report, and any facility network waits on later action. The caption honestly says this is a study.

TOTAL

No fiscal note in the loaded record.

HISTORY

Nov 12, 2024Filed
Mar 10, 2025Read first time
Mar 10, 2025Referred to Delivery of Government Efficiency

FILED UNDER

No verified beat found.

Smells

THANK YOU FOR CHECKING THE RECEIPT

CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY

Ryan Guillen

Donors

Frontera Texas PAC$160K Texas Sands PAC$121K Associated Republicans of Texas Campaign Fund$23K

Not tied to this bill.

Sources

The author's campaign account only. Own money and internal transfers are separate on the member page.

Derived itemized flow · Jul 1, 2024 to Oct 24, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Frontera Texas PAC$160,007.97

Frontera Texas PAC

$160,007.97

Cash: $0.00
Paid by others: $160,007.97
Total: $160,007.97

Other filed descriptions $73,500.00mail $40,000.00mailing $19,429.94texting $18,144.37digital $8,211.55printing $722.11

Also funds 3 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Nov 5, 2024 to Oct 24, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Sources

Derived itemized flow · Dec 30, 2025 to Oct 24, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Report IDs: 101033369, 101062168, 101070155, 101073001.

Texas Sands PAC$120,875.00

Texas Sands PAC

$120,875.00

Cash: $113,500.00
Paid by others: $7,375.00
Total: $120,875.00

polling $7,375.00

Also funds 121 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 3, 2024 to Oct 24, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team

Sources

Derived itemized flow · Dec 14, 2024 to Sep 25, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Report IDs: 100989191, 101033369, 101062168, 101073001.

Associated Republicans of Texas Campaign Fund$22,795.90

Associated Republicans of Texas Campaign Fund

$22,795.90

Cash: $0.00
Paid by others: $22,795.90
Total: $22,795.90

polling $15,000.00Other filed descriptions $7,352.14texting $443.76

Also funds 20 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Nov 4, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team

Sources

Derived itemized flow · Dec 15, 2025 to Sep 10, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Report IDs: 101033369, 101070155.

Money

Missing data does not establish zero giving. Display amounts are rounded.

Frontera Texas PAC

$160,007.97

Cash: $0.00
Paid by others: $160,007.97
Total: $160,007.97

Other filed descriptions $73,500.00mail $40,000.00mailing $19,429.94texting $18,144.37digital $8,211.55printing $722.11

Also funds 3 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Nov 5, 2024 to Oct 24, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Sources

Derived itemized flow · Dec 30, 2025 to Oct 24, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Report IDs: 101033369, 101062168, 101070155, 101073001.

Texas Sands PAC

$120,875.00

Cash: $113,500.00
Paid by others: $7,375.00
Total: $120,875.00

polling $7,375.00

Also funds 121 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 3, 2024 to Oct 24, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team

Sources

Derived itemized flow · Dec 14, 2024 to Sep 25, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Report IDs: 100989191, 101033369, 101062168, 101073001.

Associated Republicans of Texas Campaign Fund

$22,795.90

Cash: $0.00
Paid by others: $22,795.90
Total: $22,795.90

polling $15,000.00Other filed descriptions $7,352.14texting $443.76

Also funds 20 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Nov 4, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team

Sources

Derived itemized flow · Dec 15, 2025 to Sep 10, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Report IDs: 101033369, 101070155.

Votes

No floor vote loaded for this bill.

Fiscal

No fiscal note in the loaded record.

How this was graded

Analysis of text version I by claude-opus-5-5, Oct 20, 2026, against the published rubric.

Sources

Texas House · Filed Nov 12, 2024

03/10/2025 H Referred to Delivery of Government Efficiency: Mar 10 2025 2:24PM

Texas Legislature Online · Introduced

Data snapshot Oct 26, 2026 at 4:19 AM CDT. Grades, charges, quotes and corrections follow the published record.

House committee · Delivery of Government Efficiency · Final status: Died in committee

Subjects

Aeronautics

Aliens

Criminal Procedure--General

Interim Studies

MILITARY DEPARTMENT, TEXAS

Text

The text as introduced · 265 words

89R2269 JCG-D

By: Guillen
H.B. No. 1236

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to a study on electric unmanned aircraft capable of or

designed for vertical take-off and landing and the facilities

needed to develop that technology in this state.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Subchapter C, Chapter 437, Government Code, is

amended by adding Section 437.120 to read as follows:

Sec. 437.120. STUDY ON eVTOL AIRCRAFT; EXPIRATION. (a) In

this section:

(1) "AFWERX" means the division of the United States

Department of the Air Force charged with researching, developing,

and implementing new technologies for military use.

(2) "eVTOL aircraft" means an unmanned aircraft that

is capable of or is designed for vertical take-off and landing using

electric power.

(b) The department shall conduct a study on the resources

available for the research, development, validation, and

implementation of eVTOL aircraft and similar technologies in this

state.

(c) The study must include recommendations for the creation

of an integrated network of facilities to research, develop, field

test, validate, and implement the use and manufacture of eVTOL

aircraft and similar technologies in this state. The

recommendations regarding an integrated network of facilities must

specify that the facilities meet or exceed the research and

development capabilities of AFWERX.

(d) Not later than June 1, 2026, the department shall submit

a written report to the governor and the legislature on the study

conducted under this section, including the recommendations

required by Subsection (c).

(e) This section expires September 1, 2027.

SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.