Advocating for the San Antonio business community is part of the San Antonio Chamber’s mission and strength, and to that end, we are currently influencing and tracking what is happening in Austin. Please see below for the 88th Legislative Session update and look for these regular updates to continue each Tuesday throughout the 88th Legislative session.
Economic Development
HB 5 – Texas Jobs and Security Act - support
- House Bill 5, will best position Texas and our community in an ever-increasingly competitive economic development environment and allow our region to continue competing for large-scale economic development investments through maintaining incentives targeting projects in multiple sectors of manufacturing, national security and energy infrastructure industries.
- To remain competitive, we are advocating for establishing this modern, transparent economic development program that will ensure Texas' economic security, promote technological and manufacturing independence, create new capital investments in our communities, giving our children greater opportunities and providing additional resources for local schools.
HB 1515 – support
- Relating to the continuation and functions of the Texas Economic Development and Tourism Office
HB 3600 – support
- Will help bolster the Texas Multimedia Industry and create long-term solutions that will foster sustainable investment in this industry in Texas.
Military Affairs
SB 1524 and HB 4140 – relating to the authority of the Texas Department of Transportation to provide road services on federal military property - support
- Clarifies the original intent of the 87th legislative session’s SB 1910 (HB 3399) and will allow the Texas Department of Transportation to enter into Inter-Governmental Support Agreements, also known as IGSA’s, with the 14 Military installations located in Texas.
- Clarifies that TxDOT may assist federal entities with the provision of any department services. TxDOT will be able to assist with the provision of ancillary services including roadway improvement, relocation, runway aviation, fencing, or extension services.
- This tool is extremely valuable and a differentiator for bases in Texas versus others around the country. It focuses on keeping our military installations and missions strong by lowering the cost of maintenance and repair that can be a deciding factor in basing decisions and helping protect our installations against any future Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) Action.
- The members of the recently formed Texas Coalition of Defense Communities overwhelmingly join us in support of this legislation which adds to protecting our State’s military missions, which contribute over 114 billion dollars to the state economy.
HB 1613 – support
- Relating to the provision of state aid to certain local governments to offset the cost of the exemption from ad valorem taxation of the residence homestead of a 100 percent or totally disabled veteran.
HB 4181, HJR 165 / SJR 73 – support
- Relating to an exemption from ad valorem taxation of the residence homestead of the surviving spouse of a service member killed or fatally injured in the line of duty.
Military Spouse – support
- SB 422 –This bill extends this occupational licensing reciprocity of SB 1200 to military members who often must station in states outside of where they originally obtained their license, but who still wish to provide valuable services, some of which the state is experiencing workforce shortages, such as nursing.
- HB 5289 – Professional Counselor’s Compact
- SB 1978 (HB 3039) – Dentist and Dental Hygienist Compact
- SB 1100 (HB 2557 and HB 5289) – Licensed Professional Counselors Compact
- HB 1875 – Audiology and Speech-language Pathology Interstate Compact
- HB 1683 – Occupational Therapy Licensure Compact
- HB 4857 (SB 1615) – Cosmetology Licensure Compact
- HB 2544 – Physician Assistant Licensure Compact
Aerospace
HB 2678 & SB 2144 – support
- Relating to advanced air mobility technology
Broadband
HB 9 & HJR 125 – support
- Dedicates $5 billion towards expanding and deploying broadband in Texas.
Education
HB 8 – support
- Relating to the administration, coordination, and support of public higher education, including the public junior college state finance program and a Financial Aid for Swift Transfer (FAST) program to enable certain students to enroll at no cost to the student in dual credit courses offered by certain public institutions of higher education
Energy & Sustainability
SB 1110 - opposed
- The Chamber has a long history of advocating for policies that focus on strengthening San Antonio’s diverse business base, providing for an improved quality of life, and promoting an economic development climate conducive to business attraction, retention, and expansion. Our community’s economic success has been driven, in part, by the low-cost and reliable energy that CPS Energy provides.
- This bill has the potential to alter the relationship that has been so successful for our City, providing affordable power to households and businesses and in turn contributing a significant portion of the City’s General Fund.
- We have concerns about the potentially negative impacts of this bill as written to the healthy business climate our city and community enjoy through our municipal utility model.
Healthcare & Biosciences
HB 15 – support
- Relating to the creation of the Mental Health and Brain Research Institute of Texas
Transportation
HB 2230 to extend the 2023 expiration date for Proposition 1 in 2042 – support
HCR 47 to extend Proposition 7 funding from the general sales tax to 2042 and from motor vehicles sales taxes until 2039. This is the companion to SCR 2 (Nichols) that was reported favorable from Senate Transportation on 3/29/2023 – support
HB 2795 & SB 1071 – relating to the amendment of an existing comprehensive development agreement for a portion of State Highway 130 - support
- Allows for an amendment to the SH 130 segments 5&6 agreement in exchange for funding this important non-tolled connector. Legislative approval will support this project being delivered significantly faster than on the typical project funding and development timeline. This project is important for our regions and for the economic prosperity of the State of Texas.
Monitoring:
HB 2127 / SB 814 – relating to the preemption of certain municipal and county regulation.
SB 1419 – relating to limitations on the use of public money under certain economic development agreements or programs adopted by certain political subdivisions (HB 4940 companion bill).
Please contact Cacie Madrid, VP of Public Policy with any questions, at (210) 229 2161.