Monitoring the Session

HB 3962

Geren Bill Lets One Arlington Race Skip The Competition Test

Companion SB 2004 became law

Verdict: Smells

SmellsReviewed
Rep. Charlie GerenRHouse 99
Why it's charged
Carve-out

THE TEXT

…“Section 478.0001(3)(M-1) may receive funding through the program if”…

Bill text, House committee report version (H)

Beyond adding the race to the list, the bill waives the program's normal competitive site-selection test for this one named event. The caption names the event, so the favor is disclosed, but the waiver is a special exemption no other listed event gets.

Carve-out

Reviewed · Nov 1, 2026 · Headline, summary and grade are analysis of the bill text, not a finding about any person · How we grade

Caption

relating to the eligibility of the INDYCAR Grand Prix of Arlington for funding under the major events reimbursement program.

Caption from analyzed text · version H.

Summary

State reimbursement, no out-of-state site to beat. Penske Entertainment makes the approved list too.

The bill adds the INDYCAR Grand Prix of Arlington to the list of events that can get money from the state's major events reimbursement program, and adds Penske Entertainment to the list of approved site selection organizations. It touches the race's organizers, the local hosts in Arlington, and the state money that flows back from taxes the event generates. On the ground, this one race can get state reimbursement even if it was never picked over an out-of-state site through a competitive process, which the program normally requires.

Labels

Labels: ACROSS THE AISLE. Joint authors: 2 Republicans, 2 Democrats. Party as the Legislative Reference Library lists it for the 89th Legislature.

Receipt

The receipt

89R-HB3962 · 2025-03-06

SOLD BY

Rep. Charlie GerenRHouse 99 Rep. Tony TinderholtRHouse 94 Rep. Joe MoodyDHouse 78

+ 1 more author

ITEM

relating to the eligibility of the INDYCAR Grand Prix of Arlington for funding under the major events reimbursement program.

WHAT IT DOES

State reimbursement, no out-of-state site to beat. Penske Entertainment makes the approved list too.

The bill adds the INDYCAR Grand Prix of Arlington to the list of events that can get money from the state's major events reimbursement program, and adds Penske Entertainment to the list of approved site selection organizations. It touches the race's organizers, the local hosts in Arlington, and the state money that flows back from taxes the event generates. On the ground, this one race can get state reimbursement even if it was never picked over an out-of-state site through a competitive process, which the program normally requires.

CHARGES

[x] CARVE-OUTanalysis confidence 50%

THE TEXT

…“Section 478.0001(3)(M-1) may receive funding through the program if”…

Bill text, House committee report version (H)

Beyond adding the race to the list, the bill waives the program's normal competitive site-selection test for this one named event. The caption names the event, so the favor is disclosed, but the waiver is a special exemption no other listed event gets.

TOTAL

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

LBB estimate · fiscal note version H · source

Sources

Fiscal note · version H · April 20, 2025

No first-year general revenue figure available here.

LBB published estimates · flow over the stated periods.

Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

HISTORY

  1. Filed
  2. Read first time
  3. Referred to Culture, Recreation & Tourism
  4. Scheduled for public hearing on . . .
  5. Considered in public hearing
  6. Committee substitute considered in committee
  7. Testimony taken/registration(s) recorded in committee
  8. Left pending in committee
  9. Considered in formal meeting
  10. Committee substitute considered in committee
  11. Reported favorably as substituted
  12. Comte report filed with Committee Coordinator
  13. Committee report distributed
  14. Committee report sent to Calendars
  15. Considered in Calendars
  16. Placed on General State Calendar
  17. Read 2nd time
  18. Postponed 5/5/25 10:00 AM
  19. Laid out as postponed business
  20. Postponed 5/12/25 10:00 AM
  21. Companion considered in lieu of CSSB 2004
  22. Laid on the table subject to call
FILED UNDER

CORPORATE WELFARE

THE TEXT

…“Section 478.0001(3)(M-1) may receive funding through the program if”…

Bill text, House committee report version (H)

The bill opens state event reimbursement money to one named private racing event and exempts it from the usual out-of-state competition requirement.

Smells

THANK YOU FOR CHECKING THE RECEIPT

CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY

CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY

Charlie Geren

Donors

Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC$100KJon & Rebecca Brumley$50,000Michael Gallagher$40,000

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 · Nov 5, 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.

Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC$100,000.00

Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC

$100,000.00

Cash
$100,000.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$100,000.00

Also funds 137 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 24, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · Jun 26, 2025 to Oct 23, 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: 101004598, 101020024, 101055554, 101067438, 101071413.

Jon & Rebecca Brumley$50,000.00
Michael Gallagher$40,000.00
Money

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

×

Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC

$100,000.00

Cash
$100,000.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$100,000.00

Also funds 137 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 24, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · Jun 26, 2025 to Oct 23, 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: 101004598, 101020024, 101055554, 101067438, 101071413.

Votes

No floor vote loaded for this bill.

Witnesses9
For
8
Against
0
On
1
Names

For

  • Arlington Convention & Visitors Bureau1 registration
  • City of Arlington1 registration
  • Grand Prix of Arlington1 registration
  • Greater Arlington Chamber1 registration
  • Penske Entertainment1 registration
  • Texas Hotel & Lodging Association1 registration
  • Texas Rangers Baseball Club1 registration
  • Texas Travel Alliance1 registration

On

  • Office of the Governor, Economic Development and Tourism Office1 registration
Sources

9 parsed registrations across the loaded witness lists.

Derived stock of witness registrations. Repeated appearances count separately. Organizations and self-representation appear as printed.

House witness list. Source snapshot 2026-10-20, Central time.

Fiscal

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

LBB estimate · fiscal note version H · source

Sources

Fiscal note · version H · April 20, 2025

No first-year general revenue figure available here.

LBB published estimates · flow over the stated periods.

Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

How this was graded

Analysis of text version H by claude-opus-5-5, Oct 22, 2026, against the published rubric.

Sources

Texas House · Filed Mar 6, 2025

05/12/2025 H Laid on the table subject to call

Texas Legislature Online · Introduced · House Committee Report

Data snapshot Nov 1, 2026 at 3:11 PM CST. Grades, charges, quotes and corrections follow the published record.

House committee · Culture, Recreation & Tourism · Committee vote 7 aye, 0 nay, 2 absent · Out of committee

Companion

SB 2004 by King (identical)

Subjects

Amusements, Games, Sports

Text

The text as introduced · 743 words

89R12520 PRL-F

By: Geren
H.B. No. 3962

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the eligibility of the INDYCAR Grand Prix of Arlington

for funding under the major events reimbursement program.

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

SECTION 1. Sections 478.0001(3) and (7), Government Code,

are amended to read as follows:

(3) "Event" means any of the following and includes

any activity related to or associated with the following:

(A) the Academy of Country Music Awards;

(B) the Amateur Athletic Union Junior Olympic

Games;

(C) the Bassmaster Classic;

(D) a Big 12 Football Conference Championship

game;

(E) the Breeders' Cup World Championships;

(F) the CMT (Country Music Television) Music

Awards;

(G) a game of the College Football Playoff or its

successor;

(H) the Confederation of North, Central America

and Caribbean Association Football (Concacaf) Gold Cup;

(I) a CONVRG conference;

(J) an Elite Rodeo Association World

Championship;

(K) a Federation Equestre Internationale World

Cup Final;

(L) a Federation Internationale de Motocyclisme

(FIM) World Supercross Championship race;

(M) the Formula One United States Grand Prix;

(M-1) the INDYCAR Grand Prix of Arlington;

(N) the largest event held each year at a sports

entertainment venue in this state with a permanent seating

capacity, including grandstand and premium seating, of at least

125,000 on September 1, 2021;

(O) the Major League Baseball All-Star Game;

(P) the Major League Soccer All-Star Game or the

Major League Soccer Cup;

(Q) a mixed martial arts championship;

(R) the Moto Grand Prix of the United States;

(S) the National Association for Stock Car Auto

Racing (NASCAR):

(i) All-Star Race;

(ii) season-ending Championship Race; or

(iii) Texas Grand Prix race;

(T) the National Basketball Association All-Star

Game;

(U) a National Collegiate Athletic Association

Final Four tournament game;

(V) the National Collegiate Athletic Association

men's or women's lacrosse championships;

(W) a national collegiate championship of an

amateur sport sanctioned by the national governing body of the

sport that is recognized by the United States Olympic Committee;

(X) the National Cutting Horse Association

Triple Crown;

(Y) the National Hockey League All-Star Game;

(Z) the National Hot Rod Association Fall

Nationals at the Texas Motorplex;

(AA) a national political convention of the

Republican National Committee or the Democratic National

Committee;

(BB) the National Reined Cow Horse Association

(NRCHA) Championship Series;

(CC) an Olympic activity, including a Junior or

Senior activity, training program, or feeder program sanctioned by

the United States Olympic Committee's Community Olympic

Development Program;

(DD) a presidential general election debate;

(EE) the Professional Bull Riders World Finals;

(FF) the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association

National Finals Rodeo;

(GG) a series of cricket matches or competitions

within the T20 World Cup;

(HH) a Super Bowl;

(II) the United States Open Championship;

(JJ) a World Cup soccer game or the World Cup

soccer tournament;

(KK) the World Games;

(LL) a World Wrestling Entertainment

WrestleMania event; or

(MM) the X Games.

(7) "Site selection organization" means:

(A) the Academy of Country Music;

(B) the Amateur Athletic Union;

(C) Bass Anglers Sportsman Society, LLC;

(D) the Big 12 Conference;

(E) CMT (Country Music Television) Productions

Inc.;

(F) the College Football Playoff Administration,

LLC, or its successor;

(G) the Commission on Presidential Debates;

(H) the Confederation of North, Central America

and Caribbean Association Football (Concacaf);

(I) the Democratic National Committee;

(J) Dorna Sports;

(K) the Elite Rodeo Association;

(L) Encore Live;

(M) ESPN or an affiliate;

(N) the Federation Equestre Internationale

(FEI);

(O) the Federation Internationale de Football

Association (FIFA);

(P) the International Cricket Council;

(Q) the International World Games Association;

(R) Major League Baseball;

(S) Major League Soccer;

(T) the National Association for Stock Car Auto

Racing (NASCAR);

(U) the National Basketball Association;

(V) the National Collegiate Athletic

Association;

(W) the National Cutting Horse Association;

(X) the National Football League;

(Y) the National Hockey League;

(Z) the National Hot Rod Association;

(AA) the National Reined Cow Horse Association

(NRCHA);

(AA-1) Penske Entertainment;

(BB) Professional Bull Riders, LLC;

(CC) the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association;

(DD) the Republican National Committee;

(EE) SX Global;

(FF) the Ultimate Fighting Championship;

(GG) the United States Golf Association;

(HH) the United States Olympic Committee;

(II) World Wrestling Entertainment; or

(JJ) the national governing body of a sport that

is recognized by:

(i) the Federation Internationale de

l'Automobile;

(ii) Formula One Management Limited or its

successor;

(iii) the National Thoroughbred Racing

Association; or

(iv) the United States Olympic Committee.

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