Monitoring the Session

HB 4936

Study Prices Out A Marketing Department, Creates Nothing

Did not pass

Verdict: Smells

SmellsReviewed
Rep. Pat CurryRHouse 56
Why it's charged
Study, task force, commission, report

THE TEXT

…“shall conduct a study to evaluate the total costs incurred for”…

Bill text, House committee report version (H)

The only duty is a study and a report due September 30, 2026. Any action on marketing spending or a new department waits for a later Legislature. The caption says plainly that this is a study.

Study, task force, commission, report

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 a study by the Texas Economic Development and Tourism Office regarding the creation of the Department of Marketing Services.

Caption from analyzed text · version H.

Summary

How much do agencies, universities included, spend on marketing? Report due September 30, 2026.

The bill orders the Texas Economic Development and Tourism Office to study how much state agencies, including public universities, spend on marketing. It also asks whether a new Department of Marketing Services should be created to review agency marketing spending, and what its staff and salaries would cost. The office must send a report to state leaders and every legislator by September 30, 2026, and the bill expires September 1, 2027, without creating the department or changing any agency's spending.

Labels

Labels: ACROSS THE AISLE. Joint authors: 4 Republicans, 1 Democrat. Party as the Legislative Reference Library lists it for the 89th Legislature.GOT HALFWAY. Passed the House on May 13, 2025. Died in the Senate: received, never referred to a committee.

Receipt

The receipt

89R-HB4936 · 2025-03-13

SOLD BY

+ 2 more authors

ITEM

relating to a study by the Texas Economic Development and Tourism Office regarding the creation of the Department of Marketing Services.

WHAT IT DOES

How much do agencies, universities included, spend on marketing? Report due September 30, 2026.

The bill orders the Texas Economic Development and Tourism Office to study how much state agencies, including public universities, spend on marketing. It also asks whether a new Department of Marketing Services should be created to review agency marketing spending, and what its staff and salaries would cost. The office must send a report to state leaders and every legislator by September 30, 2026, and the bill expires September 1, 2027, without creating the department or changing any agency's spending.

CHARGES

[x] STUDY, TASK FORCE, COMMISSION, REPORTanalysis confidence 60%

THE TEXT

…“shall conduct a study to evaluate the total costs incurred for”…

Bill text, House committee report version (H)

The only duty is a study and a report due September 30, 2026. Any action on marketing spending or a new department waits for a later Legislature. The caption says plainly that this is a study.

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 Delivery of Government Efficiency
  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 formal meeting
  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. Read 2nd time
  17. Amended 1-Capriglione
  18. Passed to engrossment as amended
  19. Record vote RV#2242
  20. Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal
  21. Read 3rd time
  22. Passed
  23. Record vote RV#2307
  24. Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal
  25. Reported engrossed
  26. Received from the House
FILED UNDER

No verified beat found.

SIGNED FOR BY

House · 110 yea · 32 nay

Sources

House: Final passage · May 13, 2025. Journal. Published stock for this vote. Snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

All floor motions and other positions below.

Smells

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 31, 2024 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.

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC$192,192.00

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC

$192,192.00

Cash
$65,000.00
Paid by others
$127,192.00
Total
$192,192.00
advertising $108,442.00polling $18,750.00

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 24, 2025 to Sep 17, 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: 101010834, 101033425, 101040992, 101069649.

David Jessup$68,091.82
Texas Sands PAC$37,000.00

Texas Sands PAC

$37,000.00

Cash
$37,000.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$37,000.00

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 · Dec 9, 2024 to Oct 12, 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: 101012342, 101040992, 101072660.

Money

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

×

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC

$192,192.00

Cash
$65,000.00
Paid by others
$127,192.00
Total
$192,192.00
advertising $108,442.00polling $18,750.00

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 24, 2025 to Sep 17, 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: 101010834, 101033425, 101040992, 101069649.

×

Texas Sands PAC

$37,000.00

Cash
$37,000.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$37,000.00

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 · Dec 9, 2024 to Oct 12, 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: 101012342, 101040992, 101072660.

Votes2

House May 13, 2025

Yea
110
Nay
32
Present, not voting
2
Absent
2
Excused
4
Names

Named positions matched to lawmakers. See the journal for unmatched names.

House journal

Sources

Record 2307

HB 4936 was passed by (Record 2307): 110 Yeas, 32 Nays, 2 Present, not voting.

Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.

  • Yea: 110 (published)
  • Nay: 32 (published)
  • Present, not voting: 2 (published)
  • Absent: 2 (derived from named list)
  • Excused: 4 (derived from named list)

House journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

House May 12, 2025

Yea
116
Nay
25
Present, not voting
2
Absent
2
Excused
5
Names

Named positions matched to lawmakers. See the journal for unmatched names.

House journal

Sources

Record 2242

CSHB 4936, as amended, was passed to engrossment by (Record 2242): 116 Yeas, 25 Nays, 2 Present, not voting.

Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.

  • Yea: 116 (published)
  • Nay: 25 (published)
  • Present, not voting: 2 (published)
  • Absent: 2 (derived from named list)
  • Excused: 5 (derived from named list)

House journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

Witnesses1
For
1
Against
0
On
0
Names

For

  • Texas Association of Business1 registration
Sources

1 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 13, 2025

05/14/2025 S Received from the House

Texas Legislature Online · Introduced · House Committee Report · Engrossed

Data snapshot Nov 1, 2026 at 3:12 PM CST. Grades, charges, quotes and corrections follow the published record.

House committee · Delivery of Government Efficiency · Committee vote 12 aye, 0 nay, 1 absent · Out of committee

Subjects

Governor

Interim Studies

State Agencies, Boards & Commissions

State Agencies, Boards & Commissions--Newly Proposed

State Finances--Management & Control

STAFF DEVELOPMENT & TRAINING

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT & TOURISM OFFICE, TEXAS

MARKETING SERVICES, DEPARTMENT OF (VL1UH)

SENATE, TEXAS

Text

The text as introduced · 978 words

89R14574 GP-D

By: Curry
H.B. No. 4936

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the creation of the Department of Marketing Services.

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

SECTION 1. Subtitle D, Title 10, Government Code, is

amended by adding Chapter 2178 to read as follows:

CHAPTER 2178. DEPARTMENT OF MARKETING SERVICES

SUBCHAPTER A. GENERAL PROVISIONS

Sec. 2178.001. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter:

(1) "Board" means the board of the department.

(2) "Department" means the Department of Marketing

Services.

(3) "State agency" means a department, commission,

board, office, council, authority, or other agency in the executive

or judicial branch of state government that is created by the

constitution or a statute of this state, including a university

system or institution of higher education as defined by Section

61.003, Education Code.

Sec. 2178.002. SUNSET PROVISION. The department is subject

to Chapter 325 (Texas Sunset Act). Unless continued in existence as

provided by that chapter, the department is abolished and this

chapter expires September 1, 2037.

Sec. 2178.003. RULES. The department may adopt rules as

necessary to accomplish its purposes under this chapter.

SUBCHAPTER B. ADMINISTRATION OF DEPARTMENT

Sec. 2178.021. COMPOSITION OF BOARD; TERMS. (a) The

department is governed by a board composed of seven members

appointed by the governor with the advice and consent of the senate.

One member must be employed by an institution of higher education as

defined by Section 61.003, Education Code.

(b) Members of the board serve for staggered six-year terms

with two or three members' terms expiring February 1 of each

odd-numbered year.

Sec. 2178.022. QUALIFICATIONS. (a) To be eligible to serve

as a member of the board, a person appointed to the board must

complete at least one course of a training program that complies

with this section.

(b) A board member must complete a training program that

complies with Subsection (c) not later than the 180th day after the

date the person begins serving as a member of the board.

(c) The training program must provide information to the

person regarding:

(1) this chapter and the board to which the person is

appointed to serve;

(2) the programs operated by the department;

(3) the role and functions of the department;

(4) the rules of the department, with an emphasis on

the rules that relate to disciplinary and investigatory authority;

(5) the current budget for the department;

(6) the results of the most recent formal audit of the

department;

(7) the requirements of Chapters 551, 552, and 2001;

(8) the requirements of the conflict of interest laws

and other laws relating to public officials;

(9) any applicable ethics policies adopted by the

department or the Texas Ethics Commission; and

(10) contract management training.

(d) A person appointed to the board is entitled to

reimbursement for travel expenses incurred in attending the

training program, as provided by the General Appropriations Act and

as if the person were a member of the board.

Sec. 2178.023. VACANCY. A vacancy on the board shall be

filled in the same manner as the original appointment. A member

appointed to fill a vacancy on the board shall serve for the

remainder of the unexpired term.

Sec. 2178.024. OFFICERS. (a) The governor shall designate

a member of the board to serve as presiding officer at the

discretion of the governor.

(b) The board may elect other officers as the board

determines necessary.

SUBCHAPTER C. PURPOSE OF DEPARTMENT

Sec. 2178.041. PURPOSE. The department is responsible for

reviewing each request received by the department under Section

2178.043 and approving or disapproving the expenditure for

marketing purposes that is the subject of the request.

Sec. 2178.042. APPROVAL REQUIRED FOR MARKETING

EXPENDITURE. Notwithstanding any other law, a state agency may not

spend state money for marketing purposes unless the expenditure is

approved by the department in the manner provided by Section

2178.043.

Sec. 2178.043. REQUEST FOR APPROVAL. (a) Subject to

Section 2113.011, a state agency shall apply to the department for

approval of an expenditure of state money for marketing purposes

before making the expenditure.

(b) The department shall review the request and shall

approve or disapprove the expenditure that is the subject of the

request not later than the 90th day after the department receives

the request.

(c) If the department disapproves the expenditure that is

the subject of a request, the department shall provide an

explanation for the denial to the state agency that submitted the

request.

(d) If the department does not respond to a request before

the expiration of the period described by Subsection (b), the

request is considered to be approved and the state agency that

submitted the request may make the requested expenditure.

SUBCHAPTER D. REPORT

Sec. 2178.061. REPORT BY STATE AGENCIES. The department

may require each state agency to report to the department, on a

schedule adopted by the department, the following information for

the period covered by the report:

(1) the agency's use of state money for marketing

purposes;

(2) the agency's use of money other than state money

for marketing purposes;

(3) the effect of each expenditure of money for

marketing purposes by the agency on the duties and functions of the

agency;

(4) the total cost incurred by the agency for

marketing purposes;

(5) the agency's rules and procedures relating to

expenditures for marketing purposes; and

(6) any other information relating to expenditures for

marketing purposes that the department determines is appropriate.

SECTION 2. As soon as possible, the governor shall appoint

the members of the board of the Department of Marketing Services in

accordance with Chapter 2178, Government Code, as added by this

Act. In making the initial appointments, the governor shall

designate two members for terms expiring February 1, 2027, two

members for terms expiring February 1, 2029, and three members for

terms expiring February 1, 2031.

SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.