A letter from your NFIB/Texas Executive Director Will Newton
Tuesday, July 18 marked the first day of the 85th Legislature’s first called session. Special sessions can only be called by the governor and can last up to 30 days and legislators can only consider those items the governor declares to be “in the call.” Some years have seen multiple specials and some have seen none. Some specials last the full 30 days without successfully completing the task at hand forcing the governor to convene a special immediately upon adjournment. Some special sessions have lasted less than a week and I can recall at least one special session lasting only one day.
The governor’s original proclamation is limited to allowing the legislature to pass legislation “extending the existence of the Texas Medical Board, the Texas State Board of Examiners of Psychologists, the Texas State Board of Examiners of Marriage and Family Therapists, the Texas State Board of Examiners of Professional Counselors, and the Texas State Board of Social Worker Examiners.” The proclamation further calls for a litany of legislative topics be addressed upon passage of these items. Among those items include four key NFIB/Texas endorsed legislation that will accomplish the following:
1. Property tax reform
2. Constrain the growth of state and local government
3. End the practice of state and local government collecting union dues
4. Speed up local government permitting process
NFIB/Texas wishes Texas lawmakers great success in enacting solid pro-business legislation that will strengthen the state’s economy and make Texas the strongest state for job creators and entrepreneurs.
Thank you,
Will Newton
NFIB/Texas Executive Director
