Legislative Priorities

 

Mission:

  The mission of our 2025 Legislative Committee is to advocate for Rockwall Area businesses to government leaders while informing, educating, and engaging the Business Community regarding relevant public policy.

Business

Business Regulation

• Promote legislation that reduces red tape and supports business and job growth.
• Promote legislation that limits tax requirements that stifle business growth at all levels.
• Oppose unfunded mandates that create taxation and costs on local businesses.

Economic Development

• Support request to sufficiently fund programs administered through the Economic Development and Tourism division, including replenishing the Texas Enterprise Fund.
• Support government tax policies and incentive programs that are effective in increasing investment to create new jobs and expand economic activity.
• Support the implementation of the new Texas Statewide Economic Development Plan, including supporting target industry and workforce initiatives that improve quality of life for all Texans.
• Support efforts that encourage responsible state rulemaking implementation and ensure final rules comply with legislative intent.
• Review and extend the R&D Tax Credit to remain a leader in transformative research.
• Ensure Texas maintains a low regulatory burden to maintain its competitive, business friendly environment.

Infrastructure

Transportation

• Support policy to prevent the diversion of transportation tax revenue from its intended purpose.
• Promote legislation and funding that maintains and rehabilitates existing and aging infrastructure.
• Advocate for continued support of the county road grant program.
• Support all modes of transportation in the implementation of new infrastructure.
• Ensure Texas maximizes its allocation from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) and that it is used to promote economic development and advance transportation capabilities.
• Advocate for stronger cybersecurity measures to protect sensitive business and consumer data.

Natural Resources

• Support the Texas State Water Plan to ensure we meet future water supply needs for the State’s rapid population and economic growth, including increased base funding for the SWIFT fund at the Texas Water Development Board.
• Promote an “all-inclusive” energy strategy that is balanced and cost effective to ensure a more reliable and consistent electric grid.

Education

• Fully Fund Public Schools by increasing the Basic Student Allotment to $7,655/student.
• Fully Fund State Mandated Safety Requirements by increasing School Safety Allotment to ensure that all campuses have at least one armed security officer present during regular school hours.
• Fully fund Special Education Needs to provide free and appropriate public education.
• Create a Basic Allotment Inflation Index to account for future inflation.
• Support state funding to elevate the teaching profession, providing for additional teacher and staff compensation and continue the current defined benefit pension program for the Teacher Retirement System members to address the need for recruitment and retention of high-quality teachers.
• Encourage the Texas Legislature to continue to reduce state assessments by eliminating those not required by federal law, reducing testing time, and prohibiting standardized tests from serving as the primary indicator of student and school performance.
• Support consistent academic and financial accountability, as well as transparency, for any entity receiving taxpayer funds for educational purposes at the state and local levels..

Healthcare

• Provide stable and predictable funding to support the continued investment in workforce training for Physician, Nurse, Behavioral Health Professionals and Allied Health Professionals to further improve quality of care, patient safety and access to care.
• Support efforts to reduce workplace violence against healthcare workers and support hospitals’ ability to maintain a safe environment.
• Support continued state funding of health and human service programs, including Medicaid reimbursement rates that reduce reliance on supplemental payments and protect access to care.
• Promote access to affordable private health insurance for the uninsured.
• Continue uncompensated care funding critical to financing safety net hospitals.
• Support legislation that removes the federal prohibition on Medicaid service for patients receiving care in “institutions for mental disease”. Bolster mental health by increasing funding for outpatient care and substance abuse.
• Support legislation to improve the administration of health care services and lower administrative burdens for employers.
• Support funding and programs for mental health systems and facilities that can ease the burden of care on existing public and private facilities.

Governance

• Support legislation that upholds local authority and public resource management while opposing any measures that diminish local decision-making authority, including reforms to the formation, management, and oversight of Municipal Utility Districts to enhance local control.
• Support policies that allow the local government to improve the local business community.
• Support local decision-making solutions that enhance transportation efficiency and promote the safe movement of people and goods.
• Support legislation recognizing the demands on high-growth counties, like Rockwall, to make our local decisions regarding our homes, families, and businesses.
• Oppose unfunded mandates or any legislation that undermines the authority of local government or hinders the ability to address citizen priorities and respond to local concerns.
• Increase local decision-making as it applies to land use, development, and local regulations.
• Support efforts to modernize systems across government agencies to reduce administrative burdens, increase efficiency, promote innovation, enhance transparency, and provide cost savings to businesses and taxpayers