House passes bill creating space commission working group with bipartisan appointments and sunset
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Summary
The House passed House Bill 96, as twice amended, to create a Space Commission working group with appointments from minority leaders in both chambers and a dissolution date of Dec. 31, 2026; the sponsor introduced an industry expert and the amendment passed as friendly and unopposed (vote: 61–0).
The House of Representatives on the floor passed House Bill 96, as twice amended, establishing a Space Commission working group that includes members appointed by the minority floor leaders of both chambers and that will dissolve on Dec. 31, 2026.
The bill’s sponsor, Representative Hernandez, introduced Dan Crouch of NewSpace Nexus, identified in the record as a certified aerospace incubator in the state. Hernandez described the amendment as bipartisan and said it would ensure representation "for all points of view around the state on space." Dan Crouch was presented to the chamber as an industry expert; the transcript records him as "Dan Crouch from NewSpace Nexus, 1 of the certified aerospace incubators in the state."
An amendment to the bill was read on the floor and explained in detail. The amendment struck specified lines and inserted language to add one member appointed by the minority floor leader of the House of Representatives and one member appointed by the minority floor leader of the Senate. The amendment also added a dissolution provision: "the Space Commission working group shall be dissolved effective 12/31/2026." The floor found no opposition when the amendment was considered and the sponsor then moved final passage of the bill as twice amended.
The House recorded the final passage vote as 61 in the affirmative and 0 in the negative; the Speaker announced that "House Bill 96 is twice amended as duly passed this House." The record shows the passage followed the usual sequence: explanation by the sponsor, consideration of an amendment, and a recorded final vote.
The House transcript contains one substantive floor objection to unrelated bill language earlier in the day: an unidentified representative said the bill’s language turned "the onus from the state to prove guilt back on the landowner and water right owner to prove innocence" and stated they could not support that bill as written. That objection was recorded earlier in the session and is part of the floor record but did not prevent the passage of HB96.
What happens next: the bill, as amended on the House floor, will proceed through any remaining enrollment or transmittal steps required before it is forwarded to the Senate (the transcript records only the House final passage and related floor activity).