NFIB State Director Jeff Burdett and Glenn Hamer, president and CEO of the Texas Association of Business, have written a column on the impact small businesses have on the state’s economy.

This week, Governor Abbott officially proclaimed May 4-10, 2025, as Small Business Week in the Lone Star State – shining a well-deserved spotlight on the true engine of our economy. As co-chairs of the Governor’s Small Business Freedom Council, we’re proud to honor the bold entrepreneurs who power Texas forward. These men and women aren’t just dreamers – they are the builders of opportunity, the backbone of innovation and the reason ’

Small businesses make up 99.8% of all Texas enterprises and employ 44.5% of the state’s workforce – totaling nearly 4.9 million hardworking Texans. From the heart of our booming metropolitan hubs to the main streets of rural communities, these businesses power every corner of the Lone Star State’s economy and drive growth across every industry in Texas.

Governor Greg Abbott has shown his commitment to further enhancing the policies that have built our ‘Texas Miracle’ by signing SB 14 – authored by Senator Phil King – at the end of last month, establishing the Texas Regulatory Efficiency Office – a first-in-the-nation effort to identify and eliminate duplicative and outdated regulations that curb our government efficiency.  By cutting red tape and streamlining state operations, Texas is proving to the world that it is committed to an economic environment in which businesses can thrive.

This important legislation builds on the outstanding work of the Committee on Delivery of Government Efficiency (DOGE) this session, chaired by Rep. Giovanni Capriglione, which he made clear will “set the course for a new era of accountability in Texas government.” Texas is already a premiere destination for businesses of all sizes, but we should always endeavor to make it more attractive by identifying and removing barriers to growth.

Texas legislators are also considering significantly increasing exemptions for business property taxes from $2,500 to $125,000 starting next year – a major win for Texas business owners. House Bill 9, championed by Chairman Morgan Meyer in the House and by Chairman Paul Bettencourt in the Senate, is another step in making sure that Texas is the natural home for all businesses looking to expand. Property taxes are the number one issue many small businesses continue to grapple with, and increasing the business property tax exemption up to $125,000 will provide meaningful relief for our state’s small businesses.

We are encouraged that our state leaders are identifying ways to make Texas an even stronger destination for small business and entrepreneurial growth – making the world’s top economy even better and putting Texas on a path to surpass France to become the 7^th largest economy in the world.

The Texas Association of Business (TAB) and the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) applaud the work of Governor Abbott, Lieutenant Governor Patrick, Speaker Burrows, and the 89^th Texas Legislature for working removing unnecessary barriers that hamper innovation. With the number of new business entities doubling over the past decade, Texas is seizing the opportunity to supercharge our environment for attracting small businesses and entrepreneurs from around the nation and world.

As we continue 2025 Small Business Week in Texas, we encourage all Texans to support local businesses that form the bedrock of our economy. Small businesses are the champions of our economic success story and the gateway to opportunity for millions across the state.

TAB and the NFIB will remain committed to championing policies that honor the contribution of small businesses and clear a path for Texas’ entrepreneurial spirit to reach its full potential. When small businesses win, Texas wins.