Retailers Score Major Legislative Victories - Recap of the 87th Texas Legislature
The 87th Session of the Texas Legislature officially concluded and was gaveled Sine Die, on Monday, May 31st. This was a session like no other, given the overlay of the COVID-19 pandemic, a new House Speaker in Dade Phelan, as well as the unprecedented winter storm in February. Despite all of the associated challenges, the Texas Retailers Association (TRA) team went to work on your behalf in the halls of the Capitol building, both virtually and in person, to deliver one of the most successful outcomes for retailers from any state legislative session in recent memory.
Kroger trades $250,000 for naming rights to UNT's food pantry
With a $250K donation from @Kroger, #UNT will continue its efforts to serve students experiencing food insecurity. The support will ensure the UNTPantrycan provide healthy and nutritious food to students in need for years to come.
Texas Retailers from all over the state and the US will join special guests on a virtual zoom meeting to discuss issues that affect the retail industry. Members of TRA will discuss their support or opposition for various bills that affect the grocery industry, tax laws, and labor laws in Texas. Click here for more information
TRA's Statement on Gov. Abbott's Announcement 3/2/2021 - Statewide COVID-19 Restrictions to End 3/10/2021
This afternoon, Texas Governor Greg Abbott announced an Executive Order that effective March 10, 2021, ALL businesses across Texas will be allowed to be open at 100% for occupancy, as well as Ending the statewide face covering/ mask mandate.Click here to see the Executive Order.
The Governor’s new order also states that local governments cannot impose fines to individuals or businesses for not wearing face coverings/ masks. While stressing personal responsibility and continuing to be vigilant to slow the spread of COVID, the Governor stated that individuals and businesses were free to operate as appropriate with respect to individual or business specific restrictions. Our understanding from the Governor’s office is that as a result of the Governor’s action today, retailers in Texas will not be in the position of enforcing or policing the wearing of face coverings, nor face fines or penalties for allowing unmasked customers to be in their stores.
Small Business Administration's Paycheck Protection Program - As updated by the Economic Aid Act
Webinar hosted by NRF on the latest COVID-19 relief deal and the changes to the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). Policy experts from Steptoe provide key updates and answer questions about these changes. (Recorded 1/12/21)
The COVID-19 pandemic and the recent extreme winter weather has affected the retail sector extremely hard. The sudden changes have impacted the entire industry. However, we want to shine a light on some retailers that have stepped up in the midst of this global crisis, to respond to the community with donations, and financial commitments that help to aid those in need during these unprecedented times. To all of these, and more retailers that are doing what they can during this time -- THANK YOU!
New Book Shares 92 year History of Brookshire Grocery Company
“I am excited to have our story shared with our partners, customers and communities,” said Brad Brookshire, chairman and CEO for Brookshire Grocery Co., which was founded in 1928. “My grandfather whole-heartedly believed it was his God-given calling to serve others through the grocery business, and this book illustrates our 92-year commitment to carrying on his great legacy. Our customers and employee-partners can take great pride in knowing they play an important role in our incredible story that continues to unfold.”
The Texas Retailers Association (TRA) supports a business-friendly regulatory environment. TRA member companies are regulated, licensed, inspected, and taxed by agencies in Texas and appreciate the Legislature’s efforts to continue to make Texas retail friendly. TRA supports regulation that is reasonable and allows our members to continue to provide excellent customer service, top quality products and continued business success in the retail industry. Our members take various approaches to provide these services, and TRA supports their efforts to make those choices independently without unnecessary regulatory burdens imposed by either the state or local governments.
Four Texas sites received a total of 19,500 doses of the vaccine on Monday, the first phase of a rollout that will put a quarter-million doses into 110 Texas facilities this week — with more on the way next week.
First, a pinch in the arm.
Then, a sense of relief — and at the same time disbelief — washed over Chad Bush, a North Texas health care worker. Bush, a CT technologist said he was the fourth person at Methodist Dallas Medical Center and among the first people in Texas to get the coronavirus vaccine on Monday. “God, it's just, I can't believe this is happening,” he said in an interview with The Texas Tribune. “And I mean, there's a sense of relief for myself, but a sense of relief knowing that I'm doing what I can as a health care worker to protect other people from this disease as well.”.
As NRF reimagined its annual Retail Advocates Summit this year, the theme was “Agility in a Time of Crisis.” But the first agility that needed to be demonstrated was how to bring more than 200 small retailers and state retail association executives together with members of Congress at a time when a global pandemic makes a trip to Washington impractical, if not impossible.In response, NRF has turned the in-person fly-in into a series of virtual mini-conferences that still let retailers and lawmakers meet “face-to-face” — even if the faces are on computer monitors. Click here to read the full article...
As you know, Luke Gustafson with the Brookshire Brothers company, has ably served as TRA’s Board Chairman for the past two years, however his term as chair came to an end on August 31st. We thank Luke for his service to TRA as our Board Chair and appreciate his leadership and contributions to TRA’s success. On September 1st, Theresa Flores with the Mary Kay company, began her two-year term as TRA’s Board Chair. Theresa brings a strong commitment to TRA, as well as years of service on the TRA Board; we look forward to working with her as our Board Chair over the next two years.
Governor Abbott Expands Capacity for Certain Services in Texas
Governor Greg Abbott today held a press conference to provide an update on the state's ongoing efforts to combat COVID-19. During the press conference, the Governor issued Executive Orders expanding occupancy levels for restaurants, retail stores, office buildings, manufacturing facilities, gyms and exercise facilities and classes, museums, and libraries, and re-authorizing elective surgeries for a majority of the state of Texas. The Governor also announced new guidance related to visitations at nursing homes and long-term care facilities across the state. Click below to read more...
The Texas Retailers Association and the Texas Retailers Association PAC (TRAPAC) endorse the following members of the Texas Legislature for election in the 2020 general election. TRA/ TRAPAC endorsements are based on professional connection to the retail industry (retailers, vendors, supply chain, etc..), support for the retail industry through legislative votes on issues of importance to Texas retailers, and sponsoring of and/ or championing of legislation important to Texas retailers. Click here for full list.
Arlon Joe Williams Jr, 71, loved and devoted husband, father, grandfather, brother and uncle passed away on July 25, 2020 from complications of COVID 19. He joins the Great Reunion and we know the Best is yet to come for him. Joe was born in Childress, Texas on June 4, 1949 to Arlon Joe Williams Sr and Peggy Ileyn Compton Williams. He grew up in Memphis, TX and graduated from Plainview High School in 1967 and then graduated from Texas Tech University in 1971 with a BBA. Click below for more information on Joe's life, career and memorial services.
Texas Governor Issues Statewide Face Covering Order
This afternoon, Texas Governor Greg Abbott announced an Executive Order instituting a statewide face covering mandate Click Here, to go into effect at Noon on tomorrow, Friday, July 3rd. The Governor’s order requires that all persons in Texas (with minimal exceptions) wear a face covering when in public. There is an individual penalty of a warning for first offense and $250 fines for subsequent offenses for failing to comply with this order. As a result of the Governor’s action today, retailers in Texas will no longer be in the position of enforcing or policing the wearing of face coverings, as it is now mandated statewide for all persons.
Late on Friday, June 5th, the Texas Supreme Court issued its decision not to hear the city of Austin’s paid sick leave case (PSL), meaning the Austin ordinance is unconstitutional and voided. The city’s ordinance was struck down as unconstitutional by Texas’ Third Court of Appeals in 2019. Therefore, because the Supreme Court declined to hear the case, the Third Court’s ruling stands.
Texas retailers are pleased the Texas Supreme Court has confirmed the Third Court of Appeals’ ruling on the Austin PSL ordinance. We continue to believe that one size fits all local employment ordinances are unconstitutional, as ruled by the Third Court of Appeals. These mandated employment ordinances are burdensome and hurt job growth. Most retailers in Texas provide quality wage and benefit packages including paid time off.
Texas courts have been clear in stating that cities in Texas do not have the power to mandate paid sick leave. Texas retailers call on other cities in Texas with PSL ordinances to withdraw these unconstitutional ordinances. Lastly, although Friday’s decision was welcome news for Texas retailers in Austin, it’s clear PSL, as well as other anti-business issues will need to be taken up during the next session of the Texas Legislature, so that retailers can have certainty statewide.
AUSTIN - Governor Greg Abbott today announced the third phase of the State of Texas’ plan to safely open the economy while containing the spread of COVID-19. Under Phase III, effective immediately, all businesses in Texas will be able to operate at up to 50% capacity, with very limited exceptions. Business that previously have been able to operate at 100% capacity may continue to do so, and most outdoor areas are not subject to capacity limits. All businesses and customers should continue to follow minimum standard health protocols laid out by the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS).
As with previous phases, the Phase III plan is based on the advice and support of the four doctors on the Strike Force to Open Texas medical team. Via Executive Order, Phase III begins immediately. A breakdown of Phase III can be found below.
Check out the TRA Coronavirus Member Update Dashboard. View the latest up-to-date information directly from each member company and TRA affiliate posting updates related to the Coronavirus pandemic. See comments from: H-E-B, National Retail Federation (NRF), Walmart, Kroger, Lowe's Markets, Albertson's Markets, Target, Brookshire's, Brookshire Brothers, National Grocer's Association (NGA), Retail Leaders Association (RILA), Officer of the Governor Greg Abbott, The Hill, Food Marketing Institute (FMI), Center for Disease Control (CDC), Albertsons, Tom Thumb, Randall's, JCPenney, The Home Depot, Walgreens, Dollar General, Lowe's Home Improvement, Academy Sports & Outdoors, Macy's
Media Inquiries For media calls/ request for comments, please email us here. Texas Retailers Assn. will promptly get back to you regarding your inquiry.
