The bill to fully fund Texas parks, HB6 by Harvey Hilderbran of Kerrville, has apparently been referred to the committee on Culture, Recreation, and Tourism in the Texas House. It is now up to 95 co-authors, including the addition of Trey Martinez Fischer from Bexar County, who was not on the list as of my post last week.
Examining Speaker Tom Craddick's recent committee appointments, I see that this committee is chaired by none other than Hilderbran, and has six co-authors amongst its seven members. So prospects for the parks funding bill look excellent—even better than excellent—in the Texas House.
But that's just part of the story.
The companion bill in the Texas Senate, SB252—recently filed by GOP Craig Estes of Wichita Falls—has been referred to the Finance Committee. That committee is chaired by a fellow that I am not familiar with—Steve Ogden of Bryan. His bio states that "Ogden has been in the oil and gas exploration business for 20 years and is currently president of Ogden Resources Corporation, an independent oil and gas company based in College Station."
Not knowing much else about Ogden or the other members of the Senate Finance committee, I am not sure what this means for the chances that Texas parks will receive the full funding that they so desperately need. If anyone else has insight on this, please pass it on.
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