All Roll Calls
Yes: 394 • No: 71
TexasHB 524689th Legislature Regular SessionHouse
Relating to the administration, powers, and duties of the Texas Space Commission and Texas Aerospace Research and Space Economy Consortium, to other governmental entities regarding aerospace, aviation, and space exploration initiatives and activities, and to the abolishment of the spaceport trust fund.
Sponsored By: Greg Bonnen, Joan Huffman (Republican)
Signed by Governor
AeronauticsBusiness & Commerce--GeneralEconomic & Industrial Development--GeneralEducation--Higher--Institutions & ProgramsGovernorIntergovernmental RelationsLawyersMilitary & VeteransState Agencies, Boards & Commissions--Newly ProposedState Finances--Management & ControlTransportation--AviationLIEUTENANT GOVERNORSPACEPORTSSPEAKER OF THE HOUSETEXAS A&M ENGINEERING EXPERIMENT STATIONTEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY SYSTEMECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT & TOURISM OFFICE, TEXASSPACE COMMISSION, TEXAS
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
9 provisions identified: 4 benefits, 1 costs, 4 mixed.
Broader grants for space and aviation
Beginning September 1, 2025, Texas expands grants to cover aeronautics technology, research, and worker training alongside space-related work. Eligible recipients include industry businesses, nonprofits, government entities, and the Texas Aerospace Research and Space Economy Consortium. Government recipients must sign an agreement with the commission covering the funded project. Approved costs include pay, benefits, travel, conferences, supplies, operations, contracted research, equipment, and facility construction or renovation; other limits remain. The fund also supports other legally authorized purposes, and the commission must set an advance-payment policy; no award amount is set.
Colleges gain a space research network
The Texas Aerospace Research and Space Economy Consortium advises the commission on space and aeronautics research, commercialization, infrastructure, and technology. Texas colleges and universities join by naming a campus liaison; other organizations use an application process. Its committee can accept and spend public or private gifts, grants, and donations for consortium work. Committee members serve without pay but receive actual meeting-expense reimbursement from appropriated consortium money. The consortium's sunset moves one year later, to September 1, 2033, when it ends unless continued by law.
Texas can fund federal space facilities
With governor approval, the commission can make agreements with other states or the federal government, including NASA and Defense. Agreements must serve the commission's legally assigned work. Governor approval also allows available fund money to support space-related NASA or Defense offices, bases, or major facilities in Texas. Funding can also cover relocating or acquiring decommissioned space-industry assets in Texas. The law sets no funding amount.
Texas strengthens space industry promotion
The commission's mission covers civil, commercial, and military space activity and bringing space and aeronautics industries into Texas's economy. It must promote Texas to space industries and create a space and aeronautics economic-development database. It can accept donated goods and services that meet its specifications and cost it nothing. Its sunset moves from September 1, 2032, to September 1, 2033; it ends then unless continued by law.
Space grants face spending and donor limits
Recipients of space exploration or aeronautics research money can spend no more than 5% on indirect costs, such as overhead. The commission cannot award grants to applicants that donated to it or its supporting nonprofit during the preceding year. The commission must also establish controls to keep grants focused on their legally allowed purposes.
Space activities can trigger local closures
The commission can temporarily close a highway, venue, or area within a municipality to support space industries or commission activities. The closure must be necessary, and the municipality's governing body must approve it. These closures support space activities but can disrupt travel and access for nearby residents and businesses. The law sets no closure duration or household reimbursement.
Space grant secrecy limits public access
Commission grant applications are confidential and exempt from the state public-records law. Closed grant discussions require an open-meeting majority finding that public discussion would expose confidential or national-security information, or harm negotiations. The board can also close certain discussions about NASA or Defense facilities and related economic incentives. Votes and final actions must remain public.
Spaceport fund ends; project support continues
On September 1, 2025, the spaceport trust fund ends, and its balance moves to general revenue for legislative appropriation. Money committed under earlier contracts stays available for those contracts unless the aerospace office certifies it will not be paid. Donated money remains bound by its terms, and donors or grantors may request qualifying unused amounts back. Interest, investment income, and specified returned funds go to general revenue. The state aerospace office must continue supporting ongoing projects helped by the former fund. Its broader work focuses on aerospace and aviation research, economic development, planning, and technical support, including a higher-education partnership.
Texas can buy access to space
The commission can buy, lease, or otherwise secure capacity on rockets, satellites, space stations, and other space systems. This expands access but also allows state spending or financial commitments. The board must find a clear public purpose and value after weighing feasibility, cost-effectiveness, alternatives, and benefits. Agreements must protect the state's interests. The board must discuss these findings openly and approve the action by a majority of voting members present and voting.
Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsors
Greg Bonnen
House
Joan Huffman
Republican • Senate
Cosponsors
Donna Campbell
Republican • Senate
Roll Call Votes
House vote • 6/1/2025
Record vote
Yes: 83 • No: 52
Senate vote • 5/31/2025
Record vote
Yes: 21 • No: 10
Senate vote • 5/23/2025
Record vote
Yes: 0 • No: 0
Senate vote • 5/23/2025
Record vote
Yes: 0 • No: 0
House vote • 5/2/2025
Record vote
Yes: 123 • No: 8
House vote • 5/1/2025
Record vote
Yes: 142 • No: 1
House vote • Unknown
Committee vote: Delivery of Government Efficiency
Yes: 12 • No: 0
Senate vote • Unknown
Committee vote: Finance
Yes: 13 • No: 0
Actions Timeline
Effective on 9/1/25
6/20/2025HouseSigned by the Governor
6/20/2025HouseSent to the Governor
6/2/2025HouseSigned in the Senate
6/2/2025SenateSigned in the House
6/2/2025HouseReported enrolled
6/2/2025HouseHouse adopts conf. comm. report-reported
6/1/2025SenateStatement(s) of vote recorded in Journal
6/1/2025HouseRecord vote (RV#4129)
6/1/2025HouseHouse adopts conference committee report
6/1/2025HousePoint of order withdrawn (Article III, Section 30)
6/1/2025HousePoint of order withdrawn (Rule 12, Section 1(d), and Rule 13, Section 10(a),)
6/1/2025HousePoint of order overruled (Rule 13, Section 9(a)(4))
6/1/2025HouseSenate adopts conf. comm. report-reported
5/31/2025HouseRecord vote
5/31/2025SenateSenate adopts conference committee report
5/31/2025SenateSenate adopts resolution to go outside bounds (SR 715)
5/31/2025SenateConf. Comm. Report distributed
5/30/2025HouseConference committee report filed
5/30/2025SenateSenate appoints conferees-reported
5/28/2025HouseSenate grants request for conf comm-reported
5/28/2025HouseSenate appoints conferees
5/28/2025SenateSenate grants request for conference comm.
5/28/2025SenateHouse appoints conferees-reported
5/27/2025SenateHouse requests conference committee-reported
5/27/2025Senate
Bill Text
Engrossed
Enrolled
House Committee Report
Introduced
Senate Committee Report
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