April brings even more news and opportunities for TRA to engage in the legislative process with Lt. Governor Dan Patrick releasing the Senate’s Interim Charges earlier this week. To take a deeper dive into both the House and Senate Interim Charges and to discuss the process along with the association’s plan of action, TRA will be hosting a members only call on April 19th so please RSVP for the calendar/zoom information. With fewer members and committees in the Senate (compared to the House) there may be less charges but they are comprehensive and cover many issues important to the retail industry. A complete list of the Senate Interim Charges can be found HERE. Please review these charges and join our call on the 19th to discuss in more detail and bring any additional topics to our attention.
Committees are already posting hearings so expect to see notices from the TRA team with requests for your expertise and participation in those hearings. This process truly sets the stage for the 88th Texas Legislature that is not too far in the future. Given the broad nature of our businesses, this is a great chance to educate and inform our friends in the Capitol of our priorities, positions and concerns as they craft ideas and legislation leading into January.
A few highlights for the Senate Interim Charges that we want to make you aware of follow:
Business and Commerce Committee: Supply Chains: Examine the causes and impacts of recent supply chain disruptions on the Texas economy and individual industries. Study the factors that weaken links in the supply chain and the extent the pandemic has exposed those vulnerabilities. Recommend actions to strengthen the supply chain in Texas and mitigate disruptions in the future.
Cybersecurity: Review current state and federal laws regarding cybersecurity protections and requirements for local governments, state agencies, and critical industries of our state. Make recommendations for legislation to improve resilience and protection against cybersecurity attacks and ensure the privacy protection of the citizens of Texas.
Finance Committee: Property Tax Relief: Examine and recommend ways to reduce Texans' property tax burden. Review and report on proposals to use or dedicate state revenues in excess of the state spending limit to eliminate the school district maintenance and operations property tax.
Inflation: Review and report on the effect inflation is having on the business community and state government, including state salaries, retiree benefits, the state economy, and cost of state services.
Tax Exemptions: Examine Texans' current tax exemptions and report on whether adjustments are merited because of inflation or any other factors.
Natural Resources and Economic Development Committee: Economic Development Programs: Review the programs in Chapters 380 and 381 of the Local Government Code. Consider the benefits of each program in generating economic development. Make recommendations for improvements to Chapters 380 and 381 to increase transparency and accountability and the effectiveness of the program,
State Affairs Committee: Public Safety: Study the impact of how the internal policies of some district and county attorneys' offices to not prosecute certain crimes impact the further occurrence of those crimes and public safety.
Privacy and Transparency: Review the current state laws that protect and secure individuals' biometric identifiers. Explore ways to protect against the use of biometric identifiers for unintended purposes without an individual's consent and make recommendations to the Senate.
Water Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee: Meat Packing Facilities: Study the need for additional meat packing facilities in Texas. Evaluate and report on the increased cost to Texas ranchers and revenue lost in the Texas economy when meatpacking facilities are utilized outside of Texas.
