12
Texas Association of Builders
January/February 2016
Legislative Interim Charges
Will Keep TAB Busy in 2016
I
t is my sincere pleasure to serve as your
new Chairman of the TAB Government
Relations Committee (GRC). This
committee stays abreast of the many
legislative and regulatory issues that arise at
the state and federal level. Given the amount
of topics that involve the home building
industry, there is never a dull moment in
GRC. I personally enjoy this committee not
only because of the learning opportunity to
become a stronger expert in my field, but
because I am involved with the greater effort
to preserve and strengthen our industry and
the American dream of home ownership.
Currently, the Texas Legislature is operating
during their interim. The interim is a period
of time between legislative sessions, when the
legislative process of introducing and passing
bills is on hold. The interim provides an
opportunity for state agencies to implement
new rules based on recently passed legislation,
for elected officials to be present and active
in their districts, and for the Legislature to
conduct studies on existing policy issues.
The Texas Senate and House of
Representatives recently released interim
charges for committees to study. Over the
course of the next several months, more
than 45 committees will hold public hearings
to obtain expert input on important issues
affecting the state. This will allow legislators
to be educated on the topics at hand and will
help guide the Legislature’s decisions during
the upcoming 85
th
Legislative Session, which
will begin in January 2017.
The TAB Government Relations team and
lobbyists have reviewed the extensive list of
interim charges and identified which charges
are related to the residential construction
and development industry. They will attend
committee hearings, provide witness
testimony as needed and upon request,
schedule TAB members to testify when
needed, and offer expert recommendations
to committees. Considering the length of the
selected interim charges, TAB staff will surely
have their hands full.
If you’re interested in learning the outcome
of the study of these interim charges, attend
future GRC meetings and be sure to sign up
for updates on TAB’s Advocacy & Action
Center at
www.TexasBuilders.org.
The following is a shortened list of some
interim charges that will be closely monitored
by the TAB staff. The complete list is available
on TAB’s website.
Senate Finance Committee
•
Reduce Tax Burden:
Examine and
develop options to further reduce the tax
burden on property owners. (Charge to
a select subcommittee on Property Tax
Reform and Relief)
Senate Higher Education Committee
•
HB 5 Implementation, 60x30TX/
Higher Education Alignment:
Monitor
the ongoing implementation of HB 5
(83R), and examine current projections
for preparation of Texas high school
students for postsecondary education
and workforce training. Examine best
practices and recommend strategies
to align the implementation with
the 60x30TX higher education plan,
including, but not limited to, dual credit,
credit transferability, and fields of study.
(Joint Charge with Senate Education)
Senate Inter-Governmental
Relations Committee
•
Annexation:
Identify areas of concern
in regards to statutory extraterritorial
jurisdiction expansion and the processes
used by municipalities for annexation,
specifically reviewing whether existing
statute strikes the appropriate balance
between safeguarding private property
rights and encouraging orderly growth
and economic development. Make
recommendations for legislative action,
if necessary.
House Committee on
Business & Industry
• Examine the regulatory powers of
property owners associations, and the
procedures available to home owners
when an association restricts individual
or property rights. Review current best
practices to help clarify the balance
of property rights, transparency in
governance, and the best interests of
property owners in the state.
House Committee on
Defense & Veterans’ Affairs
• Explore how encroachment
(environmental, technological, and
architectural) impact the vital missions
of our military bases in Texas and which
policies can be put into place while
retaining respect for private property
By Eddie Martin
Government Relations