Sunset Commission Meeting

The agenda and decision materials for the Sunset Commission meeting scheduled for December 11, 2024, are now available.

Texas Economic Development and Tourism Office

Previous Sunset reports on this agency

  • Next Review Date: 2034-2035 Review Cycle - 94th Legislative Session

  • Last Review Cycle: 2022-2023 Review Cycle - 88th Legislative Session

Sunset Documents for 2022-2023 Review Cycle, 88th Legislative Session

Legislative Documents

Final Results of Last Sunset Review

Continue
  • Continue the Texas Economic Development and Tourism Office (EDT) for 12 years and remove the Sunset date of EDT’s enabling statute.
  • Continue the Office of State-Federal Relations (OSFR) for 12 years and remove the Sunset date of the office’s enabling statute.
Eliminating Troubled Lending Programs
  • Eliminate the Product Development and Small Business Incubator (PDSBI) program.
  • Remove the Original Capital Access Program (OCAP) from statute, and require EDT to adopt rules for its new access to capital programs.
Reporting Requirements and Communication
  • Require EDT to develop a plan for administering and communicating about its lending programs. 
  • Require the Annual Bank Report to include additional information on the status of each program to better inform the Legislature.
  • Consolidate four of EDT’s reporting requirements and abolish one.
  • Amend OSFR’s annual reporting requirement to remove outdated provisions and require OSFR to post each annual report on its website.
  • OSFR should consider opportunities for improving the distribution process for its weekly update. (Management action — nonstatutory)
Governance and Advisory Committees
  • Authorize EDT to create advisory committees in rule.
  • Continue the Aerospace and Aviation Advisory Committee and exempt it from automatic abolishment.
  • Continue the Small Business Advisory Task Force and exempt it from automatic abolishment.
  • Repeal outdated and unnecessary statutory provisions relating to OSFR’s federal funds management.
Enterprise Zone Program
  • Expand the definition of “qualified employee” under the Enterprise Zone Program to include remote workers who are residents of Texas and live within 25 miles of the qualified business.
  • Allow EDT to accept electronic signatures from a nominating body applying for a business to participate in the Enterprise Zone Program.
Travel and Tourism
  • Require EDT and its MOU partners to produce the state’s strategic tourism plan biennially, and update statutory submission deadlines.
  • EDT should consider adjusting its community tourism assessment procedures to improve their efficiency and expand their impact. (Management action — nonstatutory)
  • EDT should consider increasing accessible research and educational opportunities for communities attempting to boost their tourism economies. (Management action — nonstatutory)
  • EDT should consider creating a Tourism Friendly Community designation to foster additional economic development across Texas. (Management action — nonstatutory)