HB 4103

state could run the Eyes of Father Margil site

Died in committee

Verdict: No flags

No flagsInitial review

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 operation and management of the Eyes of Father Margil State Historic Site and Trail by the Texas Historical Commission.

Caption from analyzed text · version I.

Summary

Gift shop money goes to a fund spent without appropriation. Site only, though.

The bill lets the Texas Historical Commission sign a contract with the city that owns the Eyes of Father Margil State Historic Site and Trail in Nacogdoches so the state can take over running it. Any such contract must cover upkeep, a visitor center, artifacts, hiring a director and staff, and taking donations, and the bill creates a new fund outside the state treasury filled by admissions, gift shop sales and donations. If a contract is signed, the state runs the site with its own staff, and the fund's money can be spent without legislative appropriation, but only on the site.

Labels

Labels: PENDING FOREVER. Heard by the House Culture, Recreation & Tourism committee on May 1, 2025 and left pending. Never voted out. The bill died.

Receipt

The receipt

89R-HB4103 · 2025-03-07

SOLD BY

Rep. Joanne ShofnerRHouse 11

+ 3 coauthors

ITEM

relating to operation and management of the Eyes of Father Margil State Historic Site and Trail by the Texas Historical Commission.

WHAT IT DOES

Gift shop money goes to a fund spent without appropriation. Site only, though.

CHARGES

[ ] NONE FOUND

TOTAL

Net to General Revenue · FY 2026($2,283,793)

LBB estimate, flow · fiscal note version I · ( ) = negative · source

Sources

Fiscal note · version I · April 30, 2025

Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for HB4103, As Introduced: a negative impact of ($2,684,356) through the biennium ending August 31, 2027. The bill would make no appropriation but could provide the legal basis for an appropriation of funds to implement the provisions of the bill.

First year · FY 2026 · ($2,283,793)

Probable Net Positive/(Negative) Impact to General Revenue Related Funds

LBB published estimates · flow over the stated periods.

Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

HISTORY

Mar 7, 2025Filed
Mar 27, 2025Read first time
Mar 27, 2025Referred to Culture, Recreation & Tourism
May 1, 2025Scheduled for public hearing on . . .
May 1, 2025Considered in public hearing
May 1, 2025Committee substitute considered in committee
May 1, 2025Testimony taken/registration(s) recorded in committee
May 1, 2025Left pending in committee

ALSO NOTED · NOT CHARGED (1)

NEW FEE, FUND, BOARD OR APPOINTEES · analysis confidence 50%

THE TEXT

“The Eyes of Father Margil State Historic Site and Trail fund is created as a fund outside the state treasury.”

Bill text, introduced version (I)

The bill creates a new dedicated fund outside the treasury that can be spent without legislative appropriation. The caption does mention operation and management of the site, so this is disclosed, but it is still a new fund.

FILED UNDER

GOVERNMENT GROWTH UNDER A CONSERVATIVE BANNER

THE TEXT

“employing for the historic site a director and other employees the commission considers necessary”…

Bill text, introduced version (I)

Any contract the commission signs must provide for state-employed staff, including a director, to run a city-owned historic site.

No flags

THANK YOU FOR CHECKING THE RECEIPT

CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY

Joanne Shofner

Donors

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC$20KMontgomery Bennett$15,000Bill Patton$11,000

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 · Jul 3, 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.

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC$20,000.00

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC

$20,000.00

Cash: $20,000.00
Paid by others: $0.00
Total: $20,000.00

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.

Team

Sources

Derived itemized flow · Jun 23, 2025 to Oct 8, 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: 101007132, 101027774, 101071421.

Montgomery Bennett$15,000.00

Bill Patton$11,000.00

Money

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

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC

$20,000.00

Cash: $20,000.00
Paid by others: $0.00
Total: $20,000.00

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.

Team

Sources

Derived itemized flow · Jun 23, 2025 to Oct 8, 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: 101007132, 101027774, 101071421.

Votes

No floor vote loaded for this bill.

Fiscal

Net to General Revenue · FY 2026($2,283,793)

LBB estimate, flow · fiscal note version I · ( ) = negative · source

Sources

Fiscal note · version I · April 30, 2025

First year · FY 2026 · ($2,283,793)

Probable Net Positive/(Negative) Impact to General Revenue Related Funds

LBB published estimates · flow over the stated periods.

Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

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 Mar 7, 2025

05/01/2025 H Left pending in committee

Texas Legislature Online · Introduced

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

Coauthors

Caroline Harris DavilaRHouse 52

Janis HoltRHouse 18

Helen KerwinRHouse 58

House committee · Culture, Recreation & Tourism · Final status: Died in committee

Subjects

Historic Preservation & Museums

Religion

State Agencies, Boards & Commissions

State Finances--Management & Control

HISTORICAL COMMISSION, TEXAS

Text

The text as introduced · 483 words

89R15040 SCF-D

By: Shofner
H.B. No. 4103

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to operation and management of the Eyes of Father Margil

State Historic Site and Trail by the Texas Historical Commission.

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

SECTION 1. Chapter 442, Government Code, is amended by

adding Subchapter B-3 to read as follows:

SUBCHAPTER B-3. EYES OF FATHER MARGIL STATE HISTORIC SITE AND TRAIL

Sec. 442.068. DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter:

(1) "Commission" means the Texas Historical

Commission.

(2) "Fund" means the Eyes of Father Margil State

Historic Site and Trail fund established under Section 442.0682.

(3) "Historic site" means the Eyes of Father Margil

State Historic Site and Trail in Nacogdoches, Texas.

Sec. 442.0681. EYES OF FATHER MARGIL STATE HISTORIC SITE

AND TRAIL. (a) To the extent authorized by law, the commission may

contract with the municipality that owns the Eyes of Father Margil

State Historic Site and Trail for the commission to assume

operation and administration of the historic site.

(b) A contract executed under Subsection (a) must contain

provisions for:

(1) expanding, renovating, managing, maintaining,

operating, or providing financial support for the historic site,

including administration, construction, and operation of a visitor

center, and related activities;

(2) preserving for the historic site artifacts,

relics, and other items of historical interest;

(3) employing for the historic site a director and

other employees the commission considers necessary to fulfill the

commission's duties and responsibilities under the contract;

(4) accepting donations of money, property, and

historical relics for the historic site; and

(5) acquiring for the historic site property and

historical relics with money available for that purpose.

Sec. 442.0682. EYES OF FATHER MARGIL STATE HISTORIC SITE

AND TRAIL FUND. (a) The Eyes of Father Margil State Historic Site

and Trail fund is created as a fund outside the state treasury. The

commission shall administer the fund but may contract with the

municipality that owns the historic site for administration of the

fund.

(b) The fund consists of:

(1) admissions revenue from the operation of the

historic site;

(2) sales revenue from the operation of the historic

site gift shop; and

(3) donations to the commission for the historic site.

(c) Money in the fund may be spent without legislative

appropriation and only to administer, operate, preserve, repair,

expand, or otherwise maintain the historic site.

(d) Interest and income from the assets of the fund shall be

credited to and deposited in the fund.

Sec. 442.0683. GRANTS; DONATIONS. The commission may

accept a grant or donation for the operation and administration of

the historic site.

SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives

a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as

provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this

Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this

Act takes effect September 1, 2025.