Legislation affecting Texas live events
Bills and rules the Texas Live Events Coalition is tracking, each verified against official sources. Open any item to see what it does and what it means for your business.
In the Legislature
Bills still moving.
SB 2026 · 89RRelating to the charging of swipe fees on certain electronic payment transaction; authorizing a civil penalty.Scope: Applies to “swipe fees” — defined as the interchange fee plus any applicable assessment fee
What it does
- Scope: Applies to “swipe fees” — defined as the interchange fee plus any applicable assessment fee
- Exclusions: State/local taxes and gratuities listed separately on an invoice must be excluded from the total on which swipe fees are calculated
- Merchant relief: Payment card networks must either deduct these excluded amounts at settlement or rebate merchants for the portion of swipe fees attributable to them
- Prohibition: Issuers cannot adjust fee structures to bypass these rules
- Penalties: Civil penalties up to $1,000 per violation; the Texas Attorney General may seek restitution for overcharged merchants
What it means for you
Applies to “swipe fees” — defined as the interchange fee plus any applicable assessment fee
Most affected
All lec members that accept credit cards as payment.
Interim studies
The Legislature meets in regular session every other year. In between, the Lieutenant Governor and the Speaker give committees topics to study, called interim charges. A study is not a bill and does not change any law. It decides which issues get hearings and formal recommendations before the next session opens in January 2027, and it is often where the next session’s bills begin.
Interim · HouseLivestock shows, county fairs, and rodeosThe clearest early signal of what gets filed in 2027 for temporary vendors, rides, and event permits.
What it does
Directs a House committee to study livestock shows, county fairs and rodeos ahead of the 90th Legislature. Current charges do not guarantee legislation, but they decide which issues get hearings, staff attention and formal recommendations before filing opens.
What it means for you
This is where 2027 bills touching temporary food permits, amusement-ride compliance, temporary alcohol permits and fairground AV will come from. Getting a member in the witness chair during the interim is cheaper than fighting a filed bill in April.
Most affected
Temporary food vendors, event producers, AV and rental companies, performers booked on fair circuits
Next date
Dec 1, 2026: Committee report due late 2026
Interim · SenatePreparing the Texas workforce for AIWatched for worker-classification language, not for AI. Definitions written here travel.
What it does
Charges the Senate Economic Development Committee with examining the responsible adoption of AI across industries and its effect on the Texas workforce, with recommendations before the 90th Legislature.
What it means for you
Nothing about AI directly changes how you book a band. But statutory definitions of "worker," "engagement" and "platform" often get written first in a technology bill and then reused in contractor law. That is why it is worth watching.
Most affected
Independent contractors, freelancers and gig workers across every tracked industry
Next date
Dec 1, 2026: Committee report due late 2026
Enacted
Now law: what members need to know and when it takes effect. Marked “Rules being written” where a state agency is still drafting the rules, which is often a chance to comment.
SB 650 · 89RElectronic age verification for off-premises alcohol salesScanning hardware required for to-go alcohol by Sep 2027. Package stores exempt. TABC rules not written yet.
What it does
Requires a retailer to verify age by scanning the electronically readable information on a driver’s licence or ID for retail sales of alcohol for off-premises consumption. The committee substitute exempted package stores. TABC must adopt implementation rules before enforcement begins.
What it means for you
If you sell alcohol to go — a restaurant with margaritas to-go, a venue selling cans at the door — you need scanning equipment and a documented process by September 2027. Package stores don’t. What counts as compliant equipment is set by TABC rule, which is where the cost actually gets decided.
Most affected
Restaurants and bars with off-premises sales, venues with door sales, hotels with retail alcohol
Next date
Sep 1, 2027: Enforcement begins Sep 1, 2027
§437.01235Duplicate local food fee prohibitionA second jurisdiction cannot charge you an alcohol-code fee if you already paid one to operate.
What it does
Bars a county, city or public health district from collecting a local fee authorised under the Alcoholic Beverage Code where the premises is a food establishment, retail food store, mobile food unit, roadside vendor or temporary food establishment that has already paid an operating fee to another such jurisdiction.
What it means for you
If a city charged you a fee after July 1 for something you already paid another jurisdiction for, you may have grounds to ask for it back. If you have an invoice like that in hand, this is the one to act on first.
Most affected
Mobile food units, temporary food establishments, roadside vendors
SB 1184 · 89RPrivate wine collection purchases by restaurantsRestaurants with a Food & Beverage Certificate can buy from private collections — with two-year records.
What it does
Allows Mixed Beverage, Wine and Malt Beverage Retailer and Private Club permit holders that also hold a Food and Beverage Certificate to buy wine from a private wine collection seller and resell it for on-premises consumption. Eligible wines must be at least ten years old and factory-sealed. The restaurant must keep a record of each purchase for two years.
What it means for you
A new revenue line on your wine list, and a new record you have to keep for two years. Worth doing; not worth doing sloppily.
Most affected
Restaurants and private clubs with a Food & Beverage Certificate
HB 4412 · 89RHotel occupancy tax revenue for public improvementsOne narrowly-defined municipality. Logged as precedent for redirecting HOT revenue.
What it does
Lets a narrowly defined municipality use hotel occupancy tax revenue for public improvement projects benefiting the hotel and tourism industry, capped at 25 percent of project cost, with a duty to maintain historical tourism-promotion spending and a sunset on the use after 2034.
What it means for you
It does not reach your property. It matters because of how it was drafted: it applies only to a municipality described so narrowly that just one city qualifies. That is often how a new use of hotel occupancy tax revenue is tried the first time, before anyone proposes it more widely.
Most affected
Hotels and lodging in the bracketed municipality; everyone else as precedent
SB 2225 · 89RReady-to-drink spirit beverages / Spirit Cooler CertificateA new optional TABC certificate lets more retailers carry low-ABV RTDs. Fee set by TABC.
What it does
Creates an optional TABC Spirit Cooler Certificate allowing qualified retailers to sell ready-to-drink low-alcohol spirits beverages, with conforming changes so wholesalers can supply them. TABC may set a fee sufficient to recover administrative costs.
What it means for you
More of your bar list becomes legal to stock without a different permit. The only open question is what the certificate costs, which TABC decides by rule.
Most affected
Restaurants, bars, venues with concession sales
HB 3486 · 89RSales tax deduction for Texas farm-raised oystersA narrow sales-tax deduction for restaurants buying Texas farm-raised oysters.
What it does
Allows owners of restaurants that purchase Texas farm-raised oysters a deduction from the taxable sales amount used to calculate sales and use tax remitted to the Comptroller.
What it means for you
If you buy Texas farm-raised oysters, there is money in this for you. If you don’t, there isn’t. It is on this list because it reduces the sales tax some restaurants owe.
Most affected
Coastal and seafood-forward restaurants
Died this session
Did not pass. Bills like these often return next session.
HB 4222 · 89RCounty hotel occupancy tax authorizationPassed the House 103–39, died in Senate committee. Expect it back — the nays are the whip count.
What it does
Would have authorized certain counties to impose a hotel occupancy tax, set applicability and rates, and directed the use of that revenue. It passed the House and was sent to Senate Economic Development, where it died without a committee vote.
What it means for you
A county-level occupancy tax on top of existing state and municipal taxes raises the delivered room rate your guests see and the price your venue quotes for a room block. It died this session. Bills like this come back, and the 39 House members who voted no are the starting point for the next fight.
Most affected
Hotels, motels, lodging operators, destination event producers, tourism businesses
Impact: Urgent · High impact · Moderate impact · Watching