Exciting action happens while the legislature is in session:
bills are introduced, debated, passed and signed. However, the Texas Legislature is only in session every other year, specifically the odd numbered years. The interim is when the bills are actually written and legislative committees meet to raise issues for consideration in the next session. There is also less pressure on legislators and staff, so meetings are more easily scheduled.
We have a very important job during the interim to address the concerns and priorities of the business community of Hurst Euless Bedford, Texas and to ensure the issues our elected officials address during next year’s session benefits businesses. The Chamber travels to Austin to meet with members of the legislature, to support issues that attract, and retain jobs and capital investments in Texas.
The Chamber may be working behind the scenes, but now is when the real action takes place. Once bills are written and the session draws near, we find other ways to create an impact.
CLICK HERE
to see the HEB Chamber Interim Legislative Agenda 86
th
Texas Legislature.
The Chamber has also adopted a Federal Legislative Agenda 116
th
U.S. Congress. Our focus areas are infrastructure and education at workforce, health care, immigration, and international trade and investment.
CLICK HERE
for the complete federal agenda.
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Why do our members need the Chamber to be involved in
public policy?
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Running a business is a full time job.
Who has time to stay on top of what is being done in Austin or in D.C.? The HEB Chamber is your watch dog in Austin and Washington D.C. When something is proposed that will negatively impact the business community or worse, your individual business, we let you know.
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What are the issues that we can impact?
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Right now we are focused on
keeping the economic development tools that cities, counties, and school districts need to attract and retain large
businesses
. When a business relocates to HEB, it brings jobs. Those people rent apartments and houses, eat at restaurants, and get laundry done at the neighborhood cleaner. Bringing large businesses to the community is usually a big win for small businesses as well.
Often our focus is on preventing legislation from adversely impacting business.
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Why do we stay focused on issues and not politics?
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Politics is polarizing. Some people hold those who disagree with their politics in contempt.
As your advocate, we will work with elected officials of any party, with any point of view, and help you get results that work for your business
. If we engaged in politics, we would run the risk of losing our seat at the table with elected officials. However, the HEB Chamber does hold candidate forums so our members have the opportunity to meet the candidate and hear their views
. In Austin during the last session, t
he HEB Chamber participated in an
Accountability Index
on votes taken. Follow the link below for more information.
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Encouraging members to vote is another area of emphasis for The HEB Chamber.
T
exas is one of 14 states with primary elections on Super Tuesday in March
. It’s called Super Tuesday because it’s when the greatest number of U.S. states hold primary elections and caucuses, and the results are usually a good indication of which presidential candidate will secure his or her party’s nomination.
In Texas, the primary elections are actually two separate elections that occur on the same date, March 3 (early voting runs from Feb. 18 to Feb. 28.) The Republican and Democratic parties use statewide primary elections to select their nominees for the general election in November. Winners are determined by majority vote. If no single candidate receives more than 50 percent of the votes during the primary, the top two candidates will head to a runoff election in May.
Texas recognizes four political parties-The
Democratic Party
,
Green Party
,
Libertarian Party,
and
Republican Party
. The
Green and Libertarian parties nominate candidates by convention
and their candidates will not appear on the primary election ballot.
CLICK HERE
for more information about the March election and current offices that are included in the election.
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School Property Tax Reductions Critical to
Texas Economic Development
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Your Chamber supports
re-authorization of Chapter 313
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Chapter 313 must be reauthorized in the 87
th
Texas legislative session, or it will
expire on December 31, 2022.
Texas’ success in economic development over the past 25 years is often referred to as the
Texas Miracle
. Texas was endowed with much that is enviable. We are located in the middle of the United States and virtually in the middle of the Americas. The climate is hospitable with adequate rain. Texas is also home to an abundance oil and gas reserves, timber and grasslands. The word
miracle
seems to overlook the contribution of ingenious and industrious Texans.
It took dams and reservoirs to turn rain into an abundant supply of water. It took creativity to develop an electric grid that assures Texans abundant electricity. It was the entrepreneurial spirit of Texans that created bandwidth and infrastructure to support the rise of manufacturing and service businesses. This also attracted 1,000 folks a day to immigrate to Texas from other states and countries.
It was the Texas government which created a low-tax, minimal-regulation environment that is attractive to business owners from other regions and outside the US. Realizing that there is competition from other states and countries for business relocation. Texas also has proactively added incentives to make the decision to locate to the Lone Star State easier. One of these proactive incentives is Chapter 313, the property tax limitation authorization for school districts in Texas to incentivize the location of large, capital intensive businesses in their districts.
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Important CENSUS 2020 Information
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The 2020 Census counts every person living in the 50 states, District of Columbia, and five U.S. territories.
The count is mandated by the Constitution and conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau, a nonpartisan government agency
. The 2020 Census counts the population in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and five U.S. territories (Puerto Rico, American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands). Each home will receive an invitation to respond to a short questionnaire—online, by phone, or by mail.
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Why We Conduct This Count?
The census provides critical data that lawmakers, business owners,
teachers, and many others use to provide daily services, products, and support for you and your community.
Every year, billions of dollars in federal funding go to hospitals, fire departments, schools, roads, and other resources based on census data.
The results of the census also determine the number of seats each state will have in the U.S. House of Representatives, and they are used to draw congressional and state legislative districts.
It's also in the Constitution: Article 1, Section 2, mandates that the country conduct a count of its population once every 10 years.
The 2020 Census will mark the 24th time that the country has counted its population since 1790
.
CLICK HERE
to find out how participating in the Census 2020 can affect your family and community.
The HEB Chamber has joined with our three cities and school district to get a complete count for the 2020 Census. Please encourage your employees to vote!
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Thank You to Our 2020 Business Advocacy Sponsors:
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Sponsorship does not necessarily imply endorsement of the Chamber's policy positions.
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The HEB Chamber is 4-Star accredited by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce
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