Monitoring the Session

HB 4196

15-Member Manufacturing Task Force Writes A Report, Then Disbands

Companion SB 2925 became law

Verdict: Smells

SmellsInitial review
Rep. Claudia OrdazDHouse 79
Both charges, and why
Study, task force, commission, report

THE TEXT

…“Task Force on Modernizing Manufacturing is established to study the”…

Bill text, House committee report version (H)

The bill's only action is a study panel that writes recommendations for later legislative action. Any real policy to remove barriers waits on a report due October 1, 2026.

Study, task force, commission, report
New fee, fund, board or appointees

THE TEXT

“(b) The task force is composed of 15 members, consisting of:”

Bill text, House committee report version (H)

The bill creates a new state body with governor-appointed seats. The caption says so openly.

New fee, fund, board or appointees

Initial review · graded Oct 22, 2026 · Headline, summary and grade are analysis of the bill text, not a finding about any person · How we grade

Caption

relating to the establishment of the Task Force on Modernizing Manufacturing.

Caption from analyzed text · version H.

Summary

The only action is the study. Real policy waits on a report due October 1, 2026.

The bill creates a 15-member state task force to study how Texas manufacturers adopt automation and digital technology. It touches the governor's office, which leads and staffs the panel, plus governor-appointed members from manufacturers, organized labor, tech experts and three state agencies. Nothing changes on the ground except that the panel meets, writes a report of recommendations due October 1, 2026, and is abolished September 1, 2027.

Receipt

The receipt

89R-HB4196 · 2025-03-10

SOLD BY

ITEM

relating to the establishment of the Task Force on Modernizing Manufacturing.

WHAT IT DOES

The only action is the study. Real policy waits on a report due October 1, 2026.

The bill creates a 15-member state task force to study how Texas manufacturers adopt automation and digital technology. It touches the governor's office, which leads and staffs the panel, plus governor-appointed members from manufacturers, organized labor, tech experts and three state agencies. Nothing changes on the ground except that the panel meets, writes a report of recommendations due October 1, 2026, and is abolished September 1, 2027.

CHARGES

[x] STUDY, TASK FORCE, COMMISSION, REPORTanalysis confidence 90%

THE TEXT

…“Task Force on Modernizing Manufacturing is established to study the”…

Bill text, House committee report version (H)

The bill's only action is a study panel that writes recommendations for later legislative action. Any real policy to remove barriers waits on a report due October 1, 2026.

[x] NEW FEE, FUND, BOARD OR APPOINTEESanalysis confidence 60%

THE TEXT

“(b) The task force is composed of 15 members, consisting of:”

Bill text, House committee report version (H)

The bill creates a new state body with governor-appointed seats. The caption says so openly.

TOTAL

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

LBB estimate · fiscal note version H · source

Sources

Fiscal note · version H · May 4, 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 Trade, Workforce & Economic Development
  4. Scheduled for public hearing on . . .
  5. Considered in public hearing
  6. Testimony taken/registration(s) recorded in committee
  7. Left pending in committee
  8. Considered in public hearing
  9. Committee substitute considered in committee
  10. Reported favorably as substituted
  11. Comte report filed with Committee Coordinator
  12. Committee report distributed
  13. Committee report sent to Calendars
  14. Considered in Calendars
  15. Placed on General State Calendar
  16. Companion considered in lieu of SB 2925
  17. Laid on the table subject to call
FILED UNDER

GOVERNMENT GROWTH UNDER A CONSERVATIVE BANNER

THE TEXT

“(2) the following members appointed by the governor,”…

Bill text, House committee report version (H)

The bill creates a new temporary state study body with appointed positions, staffed by the governor's office.

Smells

THANK YOU FOR CHECKING THE RECEIPT

CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY

CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY

Donors

Texas Sands PAC$12KRandy Bowling$10,000Bobby Bowling$10,000

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 · Aug 5, 2024 to Oct 21, 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 Sands PAC$12,000.00

Texas Sands PAC

$12,000.00

Cash
$12,000.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$12,000.00

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 · Oct 1, 2024 to Sep 29, 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: 100982219, 101057840, 101072563.

Randy Bowling$10,000.00
Bobby Bowling$10,000.00
Money

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

×

Texas Sands PAC

$12,000.00

Cash
$12,000.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$12,000.00

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 · Oct 1, 2024 to Sep 29, 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: 100982219, 101057840, 101072563.

Votes

No floor vote loaded for this bill.

Witnesses9
For
8
Against
0
On
1
Names

For

  • Daikin Comfort Technologies North America1 registration
  • Dallas Regional Chamber1 registration
  • San Antonio Chamber of Commerce1 registration
  • Schneider Electric2 registrations
  • Self; TRUE TEXAS PROJECT1 registration
  • Texas Advanced Energy Business Alliance1 registration
  • Texas Association of Manufacturers1 registration

On

  • The Texas Workforce Commission1 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 · May 4, 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 10, 2025

05/14/2025 H Laid on the table subject to call

Texas Legislature Online · Introduced · House Committee Report

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 · Committee vote 8 aye, 2 nay, 1 absent · Out of committee

Companion

SB 2925 by Blanco (identical)

Subjects

Electronic Information Systems

Governor

Labor--Workforce Development

State Agencies, Boards & Commissions--Newly Proposed

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT & TOURISM OFFICE, TEXAS

EDUCATION AGENCY, TEXAS

HIGHER EDUCATION COORDINATING BOARD, TEXAS

MODERNIZING MANUFACTURING, TASK FORCE ON (VQ90D)

WORKFORCE COMMISSION, TEXAS

Text

The text as introduced · 503 words

89R14686 SCR-F

By: Ordaz
H.B. No. 4196

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the establishment of the Task Force on Modernizing

Manufacturing.

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

SECTION 1. Chapter 481, Government Code, is amended by

adding Subchapter HH to read as follows:

SUBCHAPTER HH. TASK FORCE ON MODERNIZING MANUFACTURING

Sec. 481.701. DEFINITION. In this subchapter, "task force"

means the Task Force on Modernizing Manufacturing.

Sec. 481.702. CREATION OF TASK FORCE; COMPOSITION. (a) The

Task Force on Modernizing Manufacturing is established to study the

modernization of manufacturing in this state.

(b) The task force is composed of 11 members, consisting of:

(1) the executive director of the office or the

executive director's designee; and

(2) the following members appointed by the governor,

on the recommendation of the executive director of the office or the

executive director's designee:

(A) two members representing small manufacturers

with an established presence in this state;

(B) two members representing mid-sized

manufacturers with an established presence in this state;

(C) two members representing large manufacturers

with an established presence in this state;

(D) two experts in automation and digital

technologies related to manufacturing;

(E) one member representing the Texas Workforce

Commission; and

(F) one additional member representing the

office.

(c) The executive director of the office or the executive

director's designee shall serve as the presiding officer of the

task force.

(d) The task force shall meet at the call of the presiding

officer.

Sec. 481.703. DUTIES OF TASK FORCE. (a) The task force

shall:

(1) study the current state of manufacturing in this

state, with a focus on the adoption of automation and digital

technologies;

(2) identify barriers to the adoption of automation

and digital technologies in manufacturing;

(3) develop recommendations for policies and programs

to support the modernization of manufacturing in this state,

including incentives for the adoption of automation and digital

technologies; and

(4) evaluate the potential economic effect of

modernizing manufacturing, including job creation and retention,

increased productivity, and competitiveness.

(b) The task force may establish subcommittees as necessary

to carry out its duties under this subchapter.

Sec. 481.704. ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT. The office shall

provide the staff and facilities necessary to assist the task force

in performing the task force's duties under this subchapter.

Sec. 481.705. REPORT. Not later than October 1, 2026, the

task force shall prepare and deliver to the governor, the

lieutenant governor, the speaker of the house of representatives,

and each standing committee of the legislature with primary

jurisdiction over economic development matters a report on the task

force's findings and recommendations for legislative or other

action.

Sec. 481.706. EXPIRATION. The task force is abolished and

this subchapter expires September 1, 2027.

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.