HB 169

Guillen Bill Puts Immigration Enforcement Info In The Tourism Office

Died in committee

Verdict: Smells

SmellsInitial review

Rep. Ryan GuillenRHouse 31

Why it's charged

New fee, fund, board or appointees

THE TEXT

“The office may hire a director of the communications office and staff as necessary”…

Bill text, introduced version (I)

The bill creates a new office inside an agency and authorizes a new director and staff positions. The caption says exactly this, so it is honest growth rather than hidden growth.

New fee, fund, board or appointees

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 establishing a communications office in the Texas Economic Development and Tourism Office.

Caption from analyzed text · version I.

Summary

New director and staff. Welcome to Texas, here’s how the entry laws are enforced.

The bill orders the Texas Economic Development and Tourism Office to set up a new communications office with its own director and staff. That office will run advertising and public service announcements about state and federal laws that businesses and tourists should know, and will put out information on laws about entry into Texas for business, tourism and immigration, including how those laws are enforced. Starting September 1, 2025, the tourism office has a new in-house unit and the authority to hire people to run it.

Labels

Labels: ACROSS THE AISLE. Joint authors: 1 Republican, 1 Democrat. Party as the Legislative Reference Library lists it for the 89th Legislature.NEVER GOT A HEARING. Filed Nov 12, 2024 and referred to the House Trade, Workforce & Economic Development committee. No public hearing. The bill died.

Receipt

The receipt

89R-HB169 · 2024-11-12

SOLD BY

Rep. Ryan GuillenRHouse 31

Rep. Eddie MoralesDHouse 74

ITEM

relating to establishing a communications office in the Texas Economic Development and Tourism Office.

WHAT IT DOES

New director and staff. Welcome to Texas, here’s how the entry laws are enforced.

CHARGES

[x] NEW FEE, FUND, BOARD OR APPOINTEESanalysis confidence 90%

THE TEXT

“The office may hire a director of the communications office and staff as necessary”…

Bill text, introduced version (I)

The bill creates a new office inside an agency and authorizes a new director and staff positions. The caption says exactly this, so it is honest growth rather than hidden growth.

TOTAL

No fiscal note in the loaded record.

HISTORY

Nov 12, 2024Filed
Feb 27, 2025Read first time
Feb 27, 2025Referred to Trade, Workforce & Economic Development

FILED UNDER

GOVERNMENT GROWTH UNDER A CONSERVATIVE BANNER

THE TEXT

“The office may hire a director of the communications office and staff as necessary”…

Bill text, introduced version (I)

The bill creates a new communications office and authorizes a new director and staff at the state tourism office.

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

02/27/2025 H Referred to Trade, Workforce & Economic Development: Feb 27 2025 11:13AM

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 · Trade, Workforce & Economic Development · Final status: Died in committee

Subjects

Business & Commerce--Trade Practices

Governor

Tourism

ADVERTISING

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT & TOURISM OFFICE, TEXAS

Text

The text as introduced · 189 words

89R1837 CXP-D

By: Guillen
H.B. No. 169

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to establishing a communications office in the Texas

Economic Development and Tourism Office.

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

SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 481, Government Code, is

amended by adding Section 481.0065 to read as follows:

Sec. 481.0065. COMMUNICATIONS OFFICE. (a) The office

shall establish and maintain a communications office.

(b) The office may hire a director of the communications

office and staff as necessary to perform the duties of the

communications office under this section.

(c) The communications office shall assist the office in

marketing and promoting the state both domestically and

internationally through advertising, public service announcements,

and other means that focus on state and federal laws that persons

should be aware of when doing business in the state or visiting the

state as a tourist.

(d) The communications office shall prepare and distribute

information regarding laws and programs, including the enforcement

of laws, relating to entry into this state for purposes of business,

tourism, and immigration.

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