House bill could let SXSW get state funding for event costs

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- South by Southwest could get state funding to help pay costs associated with planning and conducting its annual conferences and festivals if a bill passed by the Texas House on Wednesday makes it all the way through the legislature and off the governor's desk with his signature.House Bill 4811, introduced by Rep. Sheryl Cole, D-Austin, would extend the eligibility for the Major Events Reimbursement Program (MERP) to include South by Southwest.
This comes as the Austin Convention