Key Legislative Priorities of the House of Representatives
This week, Dade Phelan, Speaker of the Texas House of Representatives, shared what he called “additional key legislative priorities of the [House] chamber that are aimed at defending the state’s economic growth over the past two years and creating an opportunity for even more development as the population continues to expand at a rapid pace.”
The bills included in that statement are:
House Bill 5 by Rep. Todd Hunter
House Bill 8 by Rep. Gary VanDeaver
House Bill 19 by Rep. Andrew Murr
Now that we’re into the 8th week of the 88th Session of the Texas Legislature, the priorities of Governor Abbott, Lt. Governor Patrick, and Speaker of the House Phelan, have all been released for our consumption. And while our delegates are elected to represent the citizens of Texas as a whole, as a chamber of commerce, our focus is to help them understand how legislation could possibly affect the businesses of Frisco, Collin, and Denton Counties.
Frisco Chamber Legislative Priorities
The Frisco Chamber’s Legislative Priorities focus on eight key areas:
- Local Governmental Control
- Business Regulation
- Economic Development
- Public Education
- Higher Education and Workforce
- Healthcare
- Infrastructure
- Emergency Management/Disaster Recovery
As your advocates for the business community, the Frisco Chamber has been very active this month at the State Capitol.
Leadership Frisco Capitol Day
Leadership Frisco Class 26, a nine-month community leadership program sponsored by the Frisco Chamber, and their Advisory Council, participated in “Leadership Frisco Day at the Capitol” recently. Attendees had the opportunity to meet with local elected officials, such as Senator Drew Springer, Senator Angela Paxton, Representative Jared Patterson, and Representative Matt Shaheen, to learn about their priorities for the Legislative Session. In addition, the delegation learned about and discussed how the budget surplus could be spent and the impact of proposed legislation on the businesses of Collin and Denton County.
UNT Day at the Capitol
Our advocacy team joined the University of North Texas for their day at the Capitol on February 21st. Students, alumni, professors, staff, parents, and community supporters of UNT grabbed the green in their closets and made a memorable visual representation in the halls.
Photo Credit: University of North Texas
Funding to accommodate the growth expected at UNT and within the North Texas Region was top on the list of requests to the delegates. With more than 44,000 students, UNT is the fourth largest university in Texas but receives 50-70% less funding per student than all but one of the state’s flagship institutions. (Source: UNT Flagship Equity)
Frisco Days at the Capitol
The very next day, the chamber, along with Frisco ISD Administrators and Trustees, and the City of Frisco Council and staff leadership, met with Senator Drew Springer, Representative Jared Patterson, Representative Matt Shaheen, and Representative Mihaela Plesa at the delegation dinner to kick-off “Frisco Days” at the Capitol. Adriana Cruz, Executive Director of the Economic Development and Tourism division within the Office of the Governor, shared insight into the state’s priorities in economic development. Candid conversations about a “new and better economic development tool” (referring to the state’s expired Chapter 313 incentive) fueled optimism that Texas is determined to stay at the top of attracting large investments into our communities through company relocations. As always, your Frisco Chamber shared successes and concerns from our local businesses at the key stakeholder meetings.
Collin and Denton County Days at the Capitol
In late March 2023, the Frisco Chamber joined other area chambers of commerce and members of the business community for Collin County and Denton County days. Between the two events, almost 300 businesses were represented.
Protecting and Promoting Commerce
Do you or your business have questions about the Legislative Session and how proposed legislation may affect you? We invite you to email us your thoughts and we will follow up with you to decide the best route for delivering your message. Also, as we get closer to testimony time during the hearings, we may be asking for businesses to speak on behalf of a specific bill, so please watch for our calls-to-action sent via email and social media. Together, the businesses of Frisco, Collin, and Denton Counties, along with the Frisco Chamber of Commerce, will continue to protect and promote commerce.
