Relating to eligibility of certain events under the Events Trust Fund
Summary
HB 370 amends the Texas Events Trust Fund eligibility rules to add new conditions for events seeking state funding. Under the bill, an event must still meet existing requirements such as being selected through a competitive process, being held at a sole site in Texas or a qualifying multi-state region, occurring no more than once per year, generating at least $1 million in incremental tax receipts, and submitting an anti-trafficking plan before the event. The bill also creates a specific exception allowing certain events described in the code to qualify even if part of the event is held outside Texas or the United States.
The bill’s most significant new provision makes any event ineligible for Events Trust Fund support if it allows a biological male to compete in a sport designated for female athletes. It defines how biological sex is determined for this purpose, relying on the athlete’s birth certificate or another government record, and limits the definition to records entered at or near birth or corrected for clerical error. The bill also clarifies that the restriction does not prevent biological males from serving as coaches, support staff, or other non-competing personnel.
Impact
HB 370 would narrow eligibility for state event funding by adding a sex-based participation restriction to the Events Trust Fund statute, affecting event organizers, site selection organizations, and any sporting events seeking public support. It would also preserve and reinforce existing anti-trafficking and economic-impact requirements for funded events while creating a limited exception for certain multi-jurisdictional events. In practical terms, the bill would change how state agencies evaluate applications for event-related financial assistance and could disqualify some events that otherwise meet the fund’s economic criteria.
Sentiment
The available context shows the bill moving through the legislative process without recorded committee testimony or vote details in the provided materials, so there is no direct evidence of formal support or opposition in the transcript record here. Based on the bill text, the measure appears to reflect a policy preference for restricting public event funding to competitions that do not permit biological males in female-designated sports, which suggests support from lawmakers favoring sex-segregated athletic eligibility rules. The absence of recorded votes or discussion prevents a more specific assessment of broader legislative sentiment.
Contention
The main point of contention is the bill’s exclusion of events that allow biological males to compete in female-designated sports, which is likely to draw debate over fairness in athletics, sex classification standards, and the use of state funds. Supporters would likely view the provision as protecting women’s sports and ensuring public money does not subsidize events that conflict with that policy. Opponents would likely argue that the rule is discriminatory, difficult to administer, or overly broad because it ties funding eligibility to athlete sex definitions and participation rules rather than solely to economic impact or event quality.
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.
Relating to the promotion of film and television production in this state, including the eligibility of film or television productions for funding under the major events reimbursement program, the creation of a film events trust fund and a film production tax rebate trust fund, the establishment of virtual film production institutes, and the designation of media production development zones.
Relating to the promotion of film and television production in this state, including the eligibility of film or television productions for funding under the major events reimbursement program, the creation of a film events trust fund and a film production tax rebate trust fund, the establishment of virtual film production institutes, and the designation of media production development zones.
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.