ADVOCACY
85TH TEXAS STATE LEGISLATURE UPDATE
When the state legislature is in session your chamber advocates on behalf of the
business community on a host of issues (Click here to see our legislative agenda).
We are heading into the final days of the session so I thought an update would be
timely. Of the 7000 bills filed this session we are tracking approximately 100 that
may affect us. Disclosure: the information here is current as of 4/18/2017.
STATE BUDGET
With state revenues down, the budget is facing a $2 billion shortfall. Both the house
and senate versions are very lean but differ greatly on how make up the $2 billion.
The senate version relies on the use of transportation funds allocated by the pas-
sage of Props 1 and 7. Critics of this remedy question the constitutionality of this
method. The house version proposes to use money from the state’s Rainy Day
Fund. This method doesn’t face any legal obstacles but could face the Governor’s
veto pen.
WINDSTORM INSURANCE
Regarding windstorm insurance, we are taking a defensive position. We are track-
ing 17 bills dealing with windstorm insurance. So far there has been very little move-
ment by any of these bills but well will continue to monitor them and come out in full
force to oppose anything that gains traction.
PROTECTING OUR MILITARY BASES
SB 445 and its companion bill HB 277 are bill that we are actively supporting. The
bills prohibit the use of Ch. 313 tax incentives for wind energy projects within 35
miles of a military facility. Members of the South Texas Military Facilities Task Force
have been to Austin regularly to educate members on the importance of this legis-
lation and how wind turbines affect radar and aviation training. SB 445 passed out
of committee this week. HB 277 remains pending at the time of this writing.
FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT: GINNY CROSS, VP GOVERNMENT & COMMUNITY RELATIONS,
UNITED CORPUS CHRISTI CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, [email protected]