Monitoring the Session

SB 1250

Hinojosa Bill Lets Corpus Christi Swap Water For Hotel Land

Did not pass

Verdict: Smells

SmellsInitial review
Sen. Juan "Chuy" HinojosaDSenate 20
Why it's charged
Bracket bill

THE TEXT

…“described by Section 351.001(7)(B) on or before December 31, 2024,”…

Bill text, Senate committee report version (S)

A cross-referenced city definition plus a past designation deadline aim the new boundary option at a single city, which the sponsor's statement names as Corpus Christi. The caption only says "certain municipalities," so the narrowing is partly disclosed and the benefit matches the stated purpose.

Bracket bill

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 definition of a project financing zone for the purposes of certain municipalities that use certain tax revenue to fund convention center facilities, multipurpose arenas, venues, and related infrastructure.

Caption from analyzed text · version S.

Summary

Any connected shape, no bigger than the 3-mile circle. More hotel tax growth for the convention center.

The bill changes the state hotel-tax law on project financing zones so one kind of city can draw its zone as any connected shape instead of a three-mile circle. The new shape cannot cover more ground than the circle would, and it is open only to a city described by a cross-referenced definition that designated its zone by December 31, 2024. On the ground, the city can drop the water from its zone and add more land with hotels, so more hotel tax growth flows back to its convention center project for up to 30 years.

Labels

Labels: STALLED AFTER COMMITTEE. Voted out of the Senate Economic Development committee 5-0 on Apr 24, 2025. Placed on the intent calendar on Apr 30, 2025. The bill died.

Receipt

The receipt

89R-SB1250 · 2025-02-12

SOLD BY

Sen. Juan "Chuy" HinojosaDSenate 20

ITEM

relating to the definition of a project financing zone for the purposes of certain municipalities that use certain tax revenue to fund convention center facilities, multipurpose arenas, venues, and related infrastructure.

WHAT IT DOES

Any connected shape, no bigger than the 3-mile circle. More hotel tax growth for the convention center.

The bill changes the state hotel-tax law on project financing zones so one kind of city can draw its zone as any connected shape instead of a three-mile circle. The new shape cannot cover more ground than the circle would, and it is open only to a city described by a cross-referenced definition that designated its zone by December 31, 2024. On the ground, the city can drop the water from its zone and add more land with hotels, so more hotel tax growth flows back to its convention center project for up to 30 years.

CHARGES

[x] BRACKET BILLanalysis confidence 60%

THE TEXT

…“described by Section 351.001(7)(B) on or before December 31, 2024,”…

Bill text, Senate committee report version (S)

A cross-referenced city definition plus a past designation deadline aim the new boundary option at a single city, which the sponsor's statement names as Corpus Christi. The caption only says "certain municipalities," so the narrowing is partly disclosed and the benefit matches the stated purpose.

TOTAL

Net to General Revenue · FY 2026($500,000)

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

Sources

Fiscal note · version S · April 26, 2025

Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for SB1250, Committee Report 1st House, Substituted: a negative impact of ($1,300,000) through the biennium ending August 31, 2027. Fiscal implications would grow significantly after 2030, with total revenue foregone by the state by fiscal year 2054 estimated to be $83,400,000 greater than what would be foregone if the city of Corpus Christi kept its currently designated zone.

First year · FY 2026 · ($500,000)

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

  1. Received by the Secretary of the Senate
  2. Filed
  3. Read first time
  4. Referred to Economic Development
  5. Scheduled for public hearing on . . .
  6. Considered in public hearing
  7. Testimony taken in committee
  8. Left pending in committee
  9. Considered in public hearing
  10. Vote taken in committee
  11. Reported favorably as substituted
  12. Recommended for local & uncontested calendar
  13. Committee report printed and distributed
  14. Placed on intent calendar
  15. Not again placed on intent calendar
FILED UNDER

No verified beat found.

Smells

THANK YOU FOR CHECKING THE RECEIPT

CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY

CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY

Juan "Chuy" Hinojosa

Donors

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC$18KTexas Trial Lawyers Association PAC$15KAssociated General Contractors of Texas PAC$15K

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 23, 2024 to Jun 30, 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$17,500.00

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC

$17,500.00

Cash
$17,500.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$17,500.00

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 · Sep 3, 2024 to Jun 27, 2025. 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: 100977616, 101009664.

Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC$15,000.00

Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC

$15,000.00

Cash
$15,000.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$15,000.00

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 · Jul 24, 2024 to Nov 25, 2024. 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: 100977616.

Associated General Contractors of Texas PAC$15,000.00

Associated General Contractors of Texas PAC

$15,000.00

Cash
$15,000.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$15,000.00

Also funds 120 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 19, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · Oct 25, 2024 to Jun 15, 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: 100977616, 101059341.

Money

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

×

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC

$17,500.00

Cash
$17,500.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$17,500.00

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 · Sep 3, 2024 to Jun 27, 2025. 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: 100977616, 101009664.

×

Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC

$15,000.00

Cash
$15,000.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$15,000.00

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 · Jul 24, 2024 to Nov 25, 2024. 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: 100977616.

×

Associated General Contractors of Texas PAC

$15,000.00

Cash
$15,000.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$15,000.00

Also funds 120 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 19, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · Oct 25, 2024 to Jun 15, 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: 100977616, 101059341.

Votes

No floor vote loaded for this bill.

Witnesses4
For
3
Against
0
On
1
Names

For

  • City of Corpus Christi1 registration
  • Nueces County1 registration
  • Texas Travel Alliance1 registration

On

  • Comptroller of Public Accounts1 registration
Sources

4 parsed registrations across the loaded witness lists.

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

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

Fiscal
Net to General Revenue · FY 2026($500,000)

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

Sources

Fiscal note · version S · April 26, 2025

Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for SB1250, Committee Report 1st House, Substituted: a negative impact of ($1,300,000) through the biennium ending August 31, 2027. Fiscal implications would grow significantly after 2030, with total revenue foregone by the state by fiscal year 2054 estimated to be $83,400,000 greater than what would be foregone if the city of Corpus Christi kept its currently designated zone.

First year · FY 2026 · ($500,000)

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 S by claude-opus-5-5, Oct 22, 2026, against the published rubric.

Sources

Texas Senate · Filed Feb 12, 2025

05/16/2025 S Not again placed on intent calendar

Texas Legislature Online · Introduced · Senate Committee Report

Data snapshot Oct 26, 2026 at 4:20 AM CDT. Grades, charges, quotes and corrections follow the published record.

Senate committee · Economic Development · Committee vote 5 aye, 0 nay · Out of committee

Companion

HB 2877 by Villalobos (identical)

Subjects

City Government--Finance

City Government--Land Use & Zoning

Taxation--Hotel, Motel Occupancy

Text

The text as introduced · 236 words

89R9927 CJD-F

By: Hinojosa of Hidalgo
S.B. No. 1250

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the definition of a project financing zone for the

purposes of certain municipalities that use certain tax revenue to

fund convention center facilities, multipurpose arenas, venues,

and related infrastructure.

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

SECTION 1. Section 351.1015(a)(4), Tax Code, is amended to

read as follows:

(4) "Project financing zone" means an area within a

municipality:

(A) that the municipality by ordinance or by

agreement under Chapter 380, Local Government Code, designates as a

project financing zone;

(B) the boundaries of which are :

(i) within a three-mile radius of the

center of a qualified project; or

(ii) if designated by a municipality

described by Section 351.001(7)(B), a contiguous geographic area

the total area of which is less than or equal to the maximum area

allowed under Subparagraph (i) that contains the qualified project;

(C) the designation of which specifies :

(i) for a zone the boundaries of which are

prescribed by Paragraph (B)(i), the longitude and latitude of the

center of the qualified project; or

(ii) for a zone the boundaries of which are

prescribed by Paragraph (B)(ii), the exact boundaries of the zone;

and

(D) the designation of which expires not later

than the 30th anniversary of the date of designation.

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