HB 5028

Hayes Bill Lets Hotel Tax Pay For Roads And Parks

Died in committee

Verdict: Smells

SmellsInitial review

Rep. Richard HayesRHouse 57

Both charges, and why

Bracket bill

THE TEXT

“This section applies only to a municipality that borders Lake Lewisville and is certified as a Dark Sky Community by DarkSky International”…

Bill text, introduced version (I)

Two stacked descriptors, a lake border and a private dark-sky certification, aim a Tax Code section at what is likely one city. The caption only says 'certain municipalities' and does not name the place.

Bracket bill

Carve-out

THE TEXT

“Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, a municipality to which this section applies may use revenue from the municipal hotel occupancy tax for:”

Bill text, introduced version (I)

One uniquely described city gets a special exemption from the hotel tax spending limits. It could then spend that money on roads, infrastructure and parks.

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 the use of municipal hotel occupancy tax revenue by certain municipalities.

Caption from analyzed text · version I.

Summary

Caption: “certain municipalities.” Bill: one that borders Lake Lewisville and is a certified Dark Sky Community.

The bill lets a city that borders Lake Lewisville and holds a Dark Sky Community certification spend its hotel occupancy tax money on things the tax normally cannot fund. That city could put the money toward city services for hotels, roads and other public infrastructure, and park beautification, notwithstanding the rest of the hotel tax chapter. The bill takes effect immediately with a two-thirds vote, or on September 1, 2025.

Labels

Labels: NEVER GOT A HEARING. Filed Mar 13, 2025 and referred to the House Ways & Means committee. No public hearing. The bill died.

Receipt

The receipt

89R-HB5028 · 2025-03-13

SOLD BY

Rep. Richard HayesRHouse 57

ITEM

relating to the use of municipal hotel occupancy tax revenue by certain municipalities.

WHAT IT DOES

Caption: “certain municipalities.” Bill: one that borders Lake Lewisville and is a certified Dark Sky Community.

CHARGES

[x] BRACKET BILLanalysis confidence 60%

THE TEXT

“This section applies only to a municipality that borders Lake Lewisville and is certified as a Dark Sky Community by DarkSky International”…

Bill text, introduced version (I)

[x] CARVE-OUTanalysis confidence 55%

THE TEXT

“Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, a municipality to which this section applies may use revenue from the municipal hotel occupancy tax for:”

Bill text, introduced version (I)

One uniquely described city gets a special exemption from the hotel tax spending limits. It could then spend that money on roads, infrastructure and parks.

TOTAL

No fiscal note in the loaded record.

HISTORY

Mar 13, 2025Filed
Apr 3, 2025Read first time
Apr 3, 2025Referred to Ways & Means

FILED UNDER

No verified beat found.

Smells

THANK YOU FOR CHECKING THE RECEIPT

CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY

Richard Hayes

Donors

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC$205K Texas Conservative Majority PAC$40KMichael Tenny$20,000

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 · Oct 28, 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$204,650.12

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC

$204,650.12

Cash: $85,000.00
Paid by others: $119,650.12
Total: $204,650.12

mail $104,250.12polling $15,400.00

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 27, 2025 to Oct 20, 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: 101010307, 101032268, 101069605, 101071583.

Texas Conservative Majority PAC$40,400.00

Texas Conservative Majority PAC

$40,400.00

Cash: $25,000.00
Paid by others: $15,400.00
Total: $40,400.00

polling $15,400.00

Also funds 42 other sitting lawmakers.

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

TEC account match.

Team

Sources

Derived itemized flow · Sep 22, 2026 to Oct 13, 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: 101069605, 101071583.

Michael Tenny$20,000.00

Money

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

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC

$204,650.12

Cash: $85,000.00
Paid by others: $119,650.12
Total: $204,650.12

mail $104,250.12polling $15,400.00

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 27, 2025 to Oct 20, 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: 101010307, 101032268, 101069605, 101071583.

Texas Conservative Majority PAC

$40,400.00

Cash: $25,000.00
Paid by others: $15,400.00
Total: $40,400.00

polling $15,400.00

Also funds 42 other sitting lawmakers.

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

TEC account match.

Team

Sources

Derived itemized flow · Sep 22, 2026 to Oct 13, 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: 101069605, 101071583.

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 Mar 13, 2025

04/03/2025 H Referred to Ways & Means: Apr 3 2025 12:38PM

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

Subjects

Taxation--Hotel, Motel Occupancy

Text

The text as introduced · 203 words

89R15961 CJD-F

By: Hayes
H.B. No. 5028

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the use of municipal hotel occupancy tax revenue by

certain municipalities.

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

SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 351, Tax Code, is amended

by adding Section 351.111 to read as follows:

Sec. 351.111. ALLOCATION OF REVENUE: CERTAIN

MUNICIPALITIES. (a) This section applies only to a municipality

that borders Lake Lewisville and is certified as a Dark Sky

Community by DarkSky International as part of the International

Dark Sky Places Program.

(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, a

municipality to which this section applies may use revenue from the

municipal hotel occupancy tax for:

(1) municipal services necessary for the operation of

hotels located within the municipality;

(2) the development and maintenance of roads and other

public infrastructure; and

(3) the beautification and improvement of public

parks.

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.