Texas Legislature Passes Bill Requiring Professional Sports Team Play National Anthem

The Dallas Mavericks and the Atlanta Hawks stand for the National Anthem prior to tipoff of their NBA game at American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas, on Feb. 10, 2021. Tom Pennington/Getty Images

Texas House passed a bill on Tuesday requiring professional sports teams to play the national anthem before the game starts, otherwise they might lose massive tax subsidies from the state and localities.

Senate Bill 4 (pdf) was passed by the state Senate in April. It went to Gov. Greg Abbott’s office for approval after the House passed it by 110-34.