Monitoring the Session

SB 1718

Bill Adds NRA Conventions To State’s Event Subsidy List

Became law, effective Sep 1, 2025

Verdict: Smells

SmellsInitial review
Sen. Kevin SparksRSenate 31
Why it's charged
Pitch: Corporate welfare

ACTUALLY

…“the National Rifle Association's Annual”…

Bill text, enrolled version (F)

The bill makes one named private organization's annual event eligible for a state event-reimbursement fund under an economic-development rationale.

Pitch: Corporate welfare

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 eligibility of the National Rifle Association's Annual Meetings and Exhibits or another annual event of the National Rifle Association for funding under the major events reimbursement program.

Caption from analyzed text · version F.

Summary

The committee analysis promises a “pro-second Amendment reputation.” Host cities can seek state reimbursement.

The bill adds the National Rifle Association's Annual Meetings and Exhibits, or any other annual NRA event, to the list of events that can get state money under the major events reimbursement program. It also adds the National Rifle Association of America to the list of site selection organizations whose events qualify. Starting September 1, 2025, Texas cities hosting an NRA annual event can seek reimbursement for event costs from this state fund.

Receipt

The receipt

89R-SB1718 · 2025-02-27

SOLD BY

+ 2 coauthors

ITEM

relating to the eligibility of the National Rifle Association's Annual Meetings and Exhibits or another annual event of the National Rifle Association for funding under the major events reimbursement program.

WHAT IT DOES

The committee analysis promises a “pro-second Amendment reputation.” Host cities can seek state reimbursement.

The bill adds the National Rifle Association's Annual Meetings and Exhibits, or any other annual NRA event, to the list of events that can get state money under the major events reimbursement program. It also adds the National Rifle Association of America to the list of site selection organizations whose events qualify. Starting September 1, 2025, Texas cities hosting an NRA annual event can seek reimbursement for event costs from this state fund.

CHARGES

[x] PITCH: CORPORATE WELFARE

ACTUALLY

…“the National Rifle Association's Annual”…

Bill text, enrolled version (F)

The bill makes one named private organization's annual event eligible for a state event-reimbursement fund under an economic-development rationale.

TOTAL

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

LBB estimate · fiscal note version I · source

Sources

Fiscal note · version I · April 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. 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 w/o amendments
  12. Committee report printed and distributed
  13. Co-author authorized
  14. Placed on intent calendar
  15. Co-author authorized
  16. Rules suspended-Regular order of business
  17. Record vote
  18. Read 2nd time
  19. Amendment(s) offered FA1 Gutierrez
  20. Amendment fails of adoption
  21. Record vote
  22. Passed to engrossment
  23. Record vote
  24. Rules suspended-Regular order of business
  25. Record vote
  26. Read 3rd time
  27. Passed
  28. Record vote
  29. Reported engrossed
  30. Received from the Senate
  31. Read first time
  32. Referred to Culture, Recreation & Tourism
  33. Considered in public hearing
  34. Reported favorably w/o amendment(s)
  35. Comte report filed with Committee Coordinator
  36. Committee report distributed
  37. Committee report sent to Calendars
  38. Considered in Calendars
  39. Placed on General State Calendar
  40. Read 2nd time
  41. Amendment(s) offered 1-Goodwin
  42. Point of order withdrawn (amendment) Rule 11, Section 2
  43. Amendment withdrawn 1-Goodwin
  44. Amendment tabled 2-Goodwin
  45. Record vote RV#3599
  46. Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal
  47. Amendment(s) offered 3-Howard
  48. Point of order withdrawn (amendment) Rule 11, Section 2
  49. Amendment withdrawn 3-Howard
  50. Point of order overruled Rule 4, Section 32(c)(1)
  51. Passed to 3rd reading
  52. Record vote RV#3600
  53. Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal
  54. Read 3rd time
  55. Postponed 5/28/25 8:00 AM
  56. Laid out as postponed business
  57. Rules suspended
  58. Additional sponsor(s) authorized
  59. Passed
  60. Record vote RV#3923
  61. Reason for vote recorded in Journal
  62. House passage reported
  63. Reported enrolled
  64. Signed in the Senate
  65. Signed in the House
  66. Sent to the Governor
  67. Signed by the Governor
  68. Effective on 9/1/25
FILED UNDER

CORPORATE WELFARE

THE TEXT

…“the National Rifle Association's Annual”…

Bill text, enrolled version (F)

The bill makes one named private organization's annual event eligible for a state event-reimbursement fund under an economic-development rationale.

SIGNED FOR BY

House · 82 yea · 54 nay

Senate · 20 yea · 11 nay

Sources

House: Final passage · May 28, 2025. Journal. Published stock for this vote. Snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

Senate: Final passage · Apr 29, 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

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC$60KKyle & Jamie Stallings$25,000Tim Dunn$25,000

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 25, 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$60,000.00

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC

$60,000.00

Cash
$60,000.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$60,000.00

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 · Oct 15, 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.

Report IDs: 101012623, 101029380, 101072732.

Kyle & Jamie Stallings$25,000.00
Tim Dunn$25,000.00
Money

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

×

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC

$60,000.00

Cash
$60,000.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$60,000.00

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 · Oct 15, 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.

Report IDs: 101012623, 101029380, 101072732.

Votes8

House May 28, 2025

Yea
82
Nay
54
Present, not voting
1
Absent
6
Excused
7
Names

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

House journal

Sources

Record 3923

SB 1718 was passed by (Record 3923): 82 Yeas, 54 Nays, 1 Present, not voting.

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

  • Yea: 82 (published)
  • Nay: 54 (published)
  • Present, not voting: 1 (published)
  • Absent: 6 (derived from named list)
  • Excused: 7 (derived from named list)

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

House May 26, 2025

Yea
93
Nay
52
Present, not voting
1
Absent
3
Excused
1
Names

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

House journal

Sources

Record 3600

SB 1718 was passed to third reading by (Record 3600): 93 Yeas, 52 Nays, 1 Present, not voting.

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

  • Yea: 93 (published)
  • Nay: 52 (published)
  • Present, not voting: 1 (published)
  • Absent: 3 (derived from named list)
  • Excused: 1 (derived from named list)

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

House May 26, 2025

Yea
86
Nay
53
Present, not voting
1
Absent
9
Excused
1
Names

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

House journal

Sources

Record 3599

Representative Guillen moved to table Amendment No. 2. The motion to table prevailed by (Record 3599): 86 Yeas, 53 Nays, 1 Present, not voting.

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

  • Yea: 86 (published)
  • Nay: 53 (published)
  • Present, not voting: 1 (published)
  • Absent: 9 (derived from named list)
  • Excused: 1 (derived from named list)

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

Senate Apr 29, 2025

Yea
20
Nay
11
Present, not voting
Not printed
Absent
0
Excused
0
Names

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

Senate journal

Sources

The bill was read third time and was passed by the following vote: Yeas 20, Nays 11. (Same as previous roll call)

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

  • Yea: 20 (published)
  • Nay: 11 (published)
  • Present, not voting: Not printed
  • Absent: 0 (derived from named list)
  • Excused: 0 (derived from named list)

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

Senate Apr 29, 2025

Yea
20
Nay
11
Present, not voting
Not printed
Absent
0
Excused
0
Names

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

Senate journal

Sources

Senator Sparks moved to suspend the regular order of business to take up for consideration SB 1718 at this time on its third reading and final passage: SB 1718, Relating to the eligibility of the National Rifle Association's Annual Meetings and Exhibits or another annual event of the National Rifle Association for funding under the major events reimbursement program. The motion prevailed by the following vote: Yeas 20, Nays 11.

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

  • Yea: 20 (published)
  • Nay: 11 (published)
  • Present, not voting: Not printed
  • Absent: 0 (derived from named list)
  • Excused: 0 (derived from named list)

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

Senate Apr 28, 2025

Yea
20
Nay
11
Present, not voting
Not printed
Absent
0
Excused
0
Names

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

Senate journal

Sources

SB 1718 was passed to engrossment by the following vote: Yeas 20, Nays 11.

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

  • Yea: 20 (published)
  • Nay: 11 (published)
  • Present, not voting: Not printed
  • Absent: 0 (derived from named list)
  • Excused: 0 (derived from named list)

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

Senate Apr 28, 2025

Yea
11
Nay
20
Present, not voting
Not printed
Absent
0
Excused
0
Names

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

Senate journal

Sources

The amendment to SB 1718 was read and failed of adoption by the following vote: Yeas 11, Nays 20.

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

  • Yea: 11 (published)
  • Nay: 20 (published)
  • Present, not voting: Not printed
  • Absent: 0 (derived from named list)
  • Excused: 0 (derived from named list)

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

Senate Apr 28, 2025

Yea
20
Nay
11
Present, not voting
Not printed
Absent
0
Excused
0
Names

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

Senate journal

Sources

Senator Sparks moved to suspend the regular order of business to take up for consideration SB 1718 at this time on its second reading: SB 1718, Relating to the eligibility of the National Rifle Association's Annual Meetings and Exhibits or another annual event of the National Rifle Association for funding under the major events reimbursement program. The motion prevailed by the following vote: Yeas 20, Nays 11.

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

  • Yea: 20 (published)
  • Nay: 11 (published)
  • Present, not voting: Not printed
  • Absent: 0 (derived from named list)
  • Excused: 0 (derived from named list)

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

Witnesses10
For
3
Against
6
On
1
Names

For

  • National Rifle Association1 registration
  • Self; Texas State Rifle Association1 registration
  • Texas Hotel and Lodging Association1 registration

Against

  • Self4 registrations
  • Self; GIFFORDS1 registration
  • Texas Gun Sense1 registration

On

  • Texas Economic Development & Tourism, Office of the Governor1 registration
Sources

10 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

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

LBB estimate · fiscal note version I · source

Sources

Fiscal note · version I · April 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 F by claude-opus-5-5, Oct 22, 2026, against the published rubric.

Sources

Texas Senate · Filed Feb 27, 2025

06/20/2025 E Effective on 9/1/25

Texas Legislature Online · Introduced · Senate Committee Report · Engrossed · House Committee Report · Enrolled

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

Coauthors
Sponsors
Cosponsors

House committee · Culture, Recreation & Tourism · Committee vote 6 aye, 1 nay, 2 absent · Out of committee

Senate committee · Economic Development · Committee vote 3 aye, 2 nay · Out of committee

Companion

HB 2385 by Guillen (identical)

Subjects

Amusements, Games, Sports

Weapons

Text

The text as introduced · 769 words

89R8516 PRL-D

By: Sparks
S.B. No. 1718

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the eligibility of the National Rifle Association's

Annual Meetings and Exhibits or another annual event of the

National Rifle Association for funding under the major events

reimbursement program.

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

SECTION 1. Sections 478.0001(3) and (7), Government Code,

are amended to read as follows:

(3) "Event" means any of the following and includes

any activity related to or associated with the following:

(A) the Academy of Country Music Awards;

(B) the Amateur Athletic Union Junior Olympic

Games;

(C) the Bassmaster Classic;

(D) a Big 12 Football Conference Championship

game;

(E) the Breeders' Cup World Championships;

(F) the CMT (Country Music Television) Music

Awards;

(G) a game of the College Football Playoff or its

successor;

(H) the Confederation of North, Central America

and Caribbean Association Football (Concacaf) Gold Cup;

(I) a CONVRG conference;

(J) an Elite Rodeo Association World

Championship;

(K) a Federation Equestre Internationale World

Cup Final;

(L) a Federation Internationale de Motocyclisme

(FIM) World Supercross Championship race;

(M) the Formula One United States Grand Prix;

(N) the largest event held each year at a sports

entertainment venue in this state with a permanent seating

capacity, including grandstand and premium seating, of at least

125,000 on September 1, 2021;

(O) the Major League Baseball All-Star Game;

(P) the Major League Soccer All-Star Game or the

Major League Soccer Cup;

(Q) a mixed martial arts championship;

(R) the Moto Grand Prix of the United States;

(S) the National Association for Stock Car Auto

Racing (NASCAR):

(i) All-Star Race;

(ii) season-ending Championship Race; or

(iii) Texas Grand Prix race;

(T) the National Basketball Association All-Star

Game;

(U) a National Collegiate Athletic Association

Final Four tournament game;

(V) the National Collegiate Athletic Association

men's or women's lacrosse championships;

(W) a national collegiate championship of an

amateur sport sanctioned by the national governing body of the

sport that is recognized by the United States Olympic Committee;

(X) the National Cutting Horse Association

Triple Crown;

(Y) the National Hockey League All-Star Game;

(Z) the National Hot Rod Association Fall

Nationals at the Texas Motorplex;

(AA) a national political convention of the

Republican National Committee or the Democratic National

Committee;

(BB) the National Reined Cow Horse Association

(NRCHA) Championship Series;

(BB-1) the National Rifle Association's Annual

Meetings and Exhibits or another annual event of the National Rifle

Association;

(CC) an Olympic activity, including a Junior or

Senior activity, training program, or feeder program sanctioned by

the United States Olympic Committee's Community Olympic

Development Program;

(DD) a presidential general election debate;

(EE) the Professional Bull Riders World Finals;

(FF) the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association

National Finals Rodeo;

(GG) a series of cricket matches or competitions

within the T20 World Cup;

(HH) a Super Bowl;

(II) the United States Open Championship;

(JJ) a World Cup soccer game or the World Cup

soccer tournament;

(KK) the World Games;

(LL) a World Wrestling Entertainment

WrestleMania event; or

(MM) the X Games.

(7) "Site selection organization" means:

(A) the Academy of Country Music;

(B) the Amateur Athletic Union;

(C) Bass Anglers Sportsman Society, LLC;

(D) the Big 12 Conference;

(E) CMT (Country Music Television) Productions

Inc.;

(F) the College Football Playoff Administration,

LLC, or its successor;

(G) the Commission on Presidential Debates;

(H) the Confederation of North, Central America

and Caribbean Association Football (Concacaf);

(I) the Democratic National Committee;

(J) Dorna Sports;

(K) the Elite Rodeo Association;

(L) Encore Live;

(M) ESPN or an affiliate;

(N) the Federation Equestre Internationale

(FEI);

(O) the Federation Internationale de Football

Association (FIFA);

(P) the International Cricket Council;

(Q) the International World Games Association;

(R) Major League Baseball;

(S) Major League Soccer;

(T) the National Association for Stock Car Auto

Racing (NASCAR);

(U) the National Basketball Association;

(V) the National Collegiate Athletic

Association;

(W) the National Cutting Horse Association;

(X) the National Football League;

(Y) the National Hockey League;

(Z) the National Hot Rod Association;

(AA) the National Reined Cow Horse Association

(NRCHA);

(AA-1) the National Rifle Association of

America;

(BB) Professional Bull Riders, LLC;

(CC) the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association;

(DD) the Republican National Committee;

(EE) SX Global;

(FF) the Ultimate Fighting Championship;

(GG) the United States Golf Association;

(HH) the United States Olympic Committee;

(II) World Wrestling Entertainment; or

(JJ) the national governing body of a sport that

is recognized by:

(i) the Federation Internationale de

l'Automobile;

(ii) Formula One Management Limited or its

successor;

(iii) the National Thoroughbred Racing

Association; or

(iv) the United States Olympic Committee.

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