48
Texas Association of Builders
September/October 2015
Speaking Out
How has your knowledge of our industry
been helpful in your legislative career
when considering the impact legislation
may have on housing affordability and the
state’s economic prosperity?
My father put together a couple residential
developments so I had some early
exposure to the industry. I did everything
from installing water lines to showing lots
while in high school and college. I've also
represented local developers and builders,
and have worked with them through
some struggles. It's not an easy industry,
particularly when government smothers it
with regulation. Most developers and home
builders have that Texas entrepreneurial
spirit. Left alone they'll create jobs and
provide a good product. The objective
from a legislative perspective is to stay
out of the way making sure that regulation
is navigable and no more stringent
than necessary.
Thank you for serving as the author
of House Bill 1455, a TAB legislative
priority, which will help to ensure that
condo unit owners are provided with
adequate information to make informed
decisions that affect their private property
and ensure builders a right to cure. How
has your law practice helped you to
understand the nuances of that bill?
Although I have been to trial representing
local builders on a few construction defect
cases, this was a new issue for me. TAB
did a great job getting me up to speed on
the technical aspects. The exciting thing
about this bill was that the legislature was
being proactive. Other states had seen real
harm to their condo markets. Working
with TAB, Texas was able to head that off
through HB 1455. In this case, we got in
front of a problem before it really began to
harm individual condo owners, developers
and builders.
Speaking of your law practice, please
describe the areas of law you and your
firm specialize in. How do you balance
your private work with the demands of
legislative service?
I practiced as a solo attorney for 14 years
before finally joining a North Texas firm
in 2008, now Eggleston King, LLP. It came
down to getting partners or leaving the
legislature due to the time demands of
public office. We are a business law firm
of eleven attorneys. Most of our clients
are small to midsize businesses in North
Texas. The Barnett Shale play began in
Wise and Parker counties so we have
a number of clients in that industry,
primarily oilfield service companies and
independent operators. We also do a lot of
title and other real property work.
It is estimated that 25% of the final cost of
a home goes towards regulations imposed
by the government. What are your thoughts
on the influence that government has on
rising home costs and other barriers to
homeownership due to tax increases, higher
fees and other regulatory burdens?
When I speak to civic groups and the
like, I usually list four or five things that
Texas must do going forward. Those have
changed over the years...all except one.
The unfailing concern I hear all across the
state is property taxes. And it's not just the
expense, it's also a sincere frustration with
the uncertainty inherent in the system. A
property owner can project principal and
interest expense, the cost of insurance and
even maintenance to a large degree. But
no one can anticipate what their property
taxes will be nor do those taxes ever end.
This won't be fixed until we cap appraisals,
both business and residential. I think it's
imperative for Texas. As for regulation in
general, unless you've been in business
it's hard to understand the compliance
cost. I see over-regulation in virtually
With
Representative
Phil King
Prior to being elected to the Texas House
in 1999, you served as an attorney,
Lt. Colonel in the Texas State Guard,
former captain in the Fort Worth Police
Department, adjunct professor and former
Parker County Justice of the Peace. What
encouraged you to run for public office
and how has your diverse background
influenced your role at the Capitol?
I was raised to give back to my community.
I had been in law enforcement for 15 years
before going to back to law school. When
the local seat opened up in the Texas
House, it seemed like a perfect way to
serve. I have never been a one-issue person.
I feel very privileged to have worked in
a number of fields and I think that has
helped me develop a broad perspective. I
also know what it is like to raise a family on
a civil servant's salary and work your way
through college.
You have always been a great friend of
the home building industry; in fact, the
Texas Association of Builders named you
as Legislator of the Year in the recent past.
