Texas House Bill HB3131

Texas 2009 - 81st Regular

• Out of House Committee: 5/5/09

Caption

Relating to the exclusion of certain payments from the total revenue of a qualified destination management company for purposes of the franchise tax.

Impact

The bill's impact is primarily felt in the tourism and event management industries, where destination management services are critical. By allowing qualified companies to exclude specific revenues from their tax calculations, the bill provides a clearer and financially favorable framework that could enhance the competitiveness of Texas-based destination management firms. This change is expected to stimulate growth within the tourism sector by lowering operational costs for businesses that meet the stipulated criteria.

Summary

House Bill 3131 introduces an amendment to the Texas Tax Code specifically addressing the franchise tax for qualified destination management companies. The bill allows these companies to exclude certain payments made to other persons from their total revenue calculation for tax purposes. This is significant as it recognizes the unique nature of destination management services and provides financial relief to companies within this sector by adjusting their taxable revenue.

Contention

Notably, the bill includes specific definitions for what constitutes a qualified destination management company, including criteria such as revenue percentages, service offerings, and operational capabilities. Some potential points of contention may arise regarding the strict thresholds set for qualification, which could leave smaller firms outside the benefits of the bill. Additionally, the scope of services defined in the bill, like transportation management and event coordination, might be debated in terms of whether they comprehensively cover the needs of all destination management entities.