Skip to content

Top Issues in the 87th: Key Bills Reach Governor’s Desk (May 20th Update)

Top Issues in the 87th: Key Bills Reach Governor’s Desk (May 20th Update)

Top Issues in the 87th: Key Bills Reach Governor’s Desk  (May 20th Update)

Before the 87th Texas Legislature convened, the Lubbock Chamber highlighted a handful of key issues that we were keeping an eye on throughout the session. Beyond our top issues, we tracked more than 400 pieces of legislation spanning all sectors and topics from agriculture, healthcare, COVID-19, local control, energy, and more.
 
With Sine Die quickly approaching, here is an update on key legislation that has made its way from the legislature to Governor Abbott’s desk.
 
SB 1474 – Relating to the I-27 Advisory Committee.

SB 1474 was sent to the Governor on May 20 following a 31-0 vote in the Senate and a 121-16 vote in the House. It “amends the Transportation Code to establish the I-27 Advisory Committee to provide the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) with information on concerns and interests along the Ports-to-Plains Corridor.” This legislation is a follow-up to HB 1079 passed during the 86th Legislature, which directed TxDOT to complete a feasibility study of the I-27 corridor and the effects that expansion would have on safety and economic activity in West Texas.


HB 1957 – Relating to the labeling of wine as originating from an area of this state or with the name of a vineyard in this state.

HB 1957 was sent to the Governor on May 18 following a 123-21 vote in the House and a 29-1 vote in the Senate. Its aim is to “strengthen the image, integrity, and pricing power of Texas as a formidable winemaking region, which would allow the state to command a greater share of the overall wine consumer market.”

SB 770 – Relating to eligibility for job-training programs provided under the self-sufficiency fund.

SB 770 was sent to the Governor on May 12 following a 31-0 vote in the Senate and a 140-1 vote in the House. It expands eligibility for job-training programs from TANF recipients only to “any individuals the Texas Workforce Commission identifies as being low-income or at risk of becoming dependent on public assistance benefits.” The aim of the legislation is to have “a workforce that is higher-skilled and more job-ready…potentially decreasing future reliance on programs like TANF.”

SB 14 - Relating to the regulation by a municipality or county of certain employment benefits and policies.

The Chamber also sent a letter of support for SB 14 to members of the Texas House of Representatives to help prevent a patchwork of local regulations across Texas that create regulatory hurdles for businesses operating in several different cities. It passed the Senate on a vote of 19-12, and the Chamber supports its passage in the House soon.

Leave a Comment
* Required field

Scroll To Top