HB 3547
Paul Bill Zeroes Out Franchise Tax For Space Companies
Died in committee
Verdict: Smells
Why it's charged
Carve-out
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 an exemption from the franchise tax for certain qualified space companies.
Caption from analyzed text · version I.
Summary
Build or launch rockets from Texas, pay no franchise tax. Every other business still pays.
The bill fully exempts space companies from the Texas franchise tax. It covers any business mainly engaged in researching, building, testing or launching satellites, spacecraft, rockets or related technologies from locations in Texas. Starting with reports due on or after January 1, 2026, those companies pay no franchise tax.
Labels
Labels: NEVER GOT A HEARING. Filed Feb 28, 2025 and referred to the House Ways & Means committee. No public hearing. The bill died.
Receipt
The receipt
89R-HB3547 · 2025-02-28
SOLD BY
ITEM
relating to an exemption from the franchise tax for certain qualified space companies.
WHAT IT DOES
Build or launch rockets from Texas, pay no franchise tax. Every other business still pays.
The bill fully exempts space companies from the Texas franchise tax. It covers any business mainly engaged in researching, building, testing or launching satellites, spacecraft, rockets or related technologies from locations in Texas. Starting with reports due on or after January 1, 2026, those companies pay no franchise tax.
CHARGES
[x] CARVE-OUTanalysis confidence 50%
THE TEXT
“A qualified space company is exempted from the franchise”…
Bill text, introduced version (I)
The bill gives one industry a complete exemption from a tax every other business still pays. The caption names the industry openly, so this is a tag for a favor, not a hidden one.
TOTAL
No fiscal note in the loaded record.
HISTORY
- Filed
- Read first time
- Referred to Ways & Means
FILED UNDER
THE TEXT
…“research, development, manufacturing, testing, or launching of”…
Bill text, introduced version (I)
The bill wipes out franchise tax liability for the space industry, a tax break aimed at one named sector.
THANK YOU FOR CHECKING THE RECEIPT
CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY
CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY
Donors
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 · Oct 28, 2024 to Aug 27, 2025. 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.
Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC$25,000.00
Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC
$25,000.00
- Cash
- $25,000.00
- Paid by others
- $0.00
- Total
- $25,000.00
Also funds 124 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · Jul 10, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
TEC account match.
TeamSources
Derived itemized flow · on Jun 25, 2025. 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: 101010120.
Richard Weekley$12,500.00
Richard Weekley
$12,500.00
- Cash
- $12,500.00
- Paid by others
- $0.00
- Total
- $12,500.00
Also funds 0 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · on Jun 27, 2025. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
Name match, not a verified identity: normalized filed name and state.
Sources
Derived itemized flow · on Jun 27, 2025. 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: 101010120.
Missing data does not establish zero giving. Display amounts are rounded.
Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC
$25,000.00
- Cash
- $25,000.00
- Paid by others
- $0.00
- Total
- $25,000.00
Also funds 124 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · Jul 10, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
TEC account match.
TeamSources
Derived itemized flow · on Jun 25, 2025. 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: 101010120.
Richard Weekley
$12,500.00
- Cash
- $12,500.00
- Paid by others
- $0.00
- Total
- $12,500.00
Also funds 0 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · on Jun 27, 2025. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
Name match, not a verified identity: normalized filed name and state.
Sources
Derived itemized flow · on Jun 27, 2025. 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: 101010120.
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 Feb 28, 2025
03/24/2025 H Referred to Ways & Means: Mar 24 2025 2:16PM
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 · Ways & Means · Final status: Died in committee
Companion
SB 1715 by Middleton (identical)
Subjects
Aeronautics
Taxation--Franchise
Taxation--General
Text
The text as introduced · 271 words
89R7718 CJC-D By: Paul H.B. No. 3547 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT relating to an exemption from the franchise tax for certain qualified space companies. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 171, Tax Code, is amended by adding Section 171.089 to read as follows: Sec. 171.089. EXEMPTION: QUALIFIED SPACE COMPANY. (a) In this section: (1) "Qualified space company" means a corporation, partnership, or other business entity primarily engaged in the research, development, manufacturing, testing, or launching of satellites, spacecraft, space vehicles, or related technologies from locations in this state. (2) "Satellite" means an artificial object and its components that is intentionally placed into orbit around Earth or another celestial body, including an object used to facilitate communications, observe weather conditions, or carry scientific instruments or observation platforms used for data collection, broadcasting, or other services. (3) "Spacecraft" means a vehicle or device and its components designed for travel or operation in space, including a crewed or uncrewed vessel used for exploration, transportation, scientific research, communication, or defense purposes. (4) "Space vehicle" means a vehicle or craft and its components that is specifically designed to carry payloads, satellites, equipment, or people into space, including a launch vehicle, rocket, space shuttle, or other system used to transport objects or people beyond the Earth's atmosphere. (b) A qualified space company is exempted from the franchise tax. SECTION 2. Section 171.089, Tax Code, as added by this Act, applies only to a report originally due on or after the effective date of this Act. SECTION 3. This Act takes effect January 1, 2026.