Page 8 - GSABA April 2020 Builder Brief

KRISTI SUTTERFIELD Executive Vice President
Together we are Better
Considering the recent pandemic, the GSABA government affairs leadership and I are closely monitoring what is happening in City Halls across our 22-county jurisdiction. We will continue to keep you updated on city closures and the status of our members obtaining building permits and receiving timely inspections. The Texas Association of Builders (TAB) has been working with the Governor’s office so that construction companies can remain open. We will keep you informed of any changes as they happen.
In other statewide news, Texans headed to the polls on March 3rd to vote in the primary election. Texas is one of 15 states that vote on the first Tuesday in March which is called "Super Tuesday." These
15 states account for approximately 40 percent of the U.S. total population.
Everyone seemed to be focused on the Presidential race in early March. Texas had several races and a few key districts are in a runoff and will be decided in the primary runoff election. At the present time, early voting for the primary runoff will begin on Monday, May 18th and end on Friday, May 22nd with election day being on Tuesday, May 26.
Due to the coronavirus, there has been discussion of moving the primary runoff election date to November. There has also been discussion on how the government can allow people to vote by mail.
On the national level, we have been fighting efforts to incorporate costly energy building code provisions from S. 2137, The Energy Savings and Industrial Competitiveness Act. This comprehensive bill will expand the role of the Department of Energy (DOE) in the code development process by requiring it to establish energy-savings targets which will deny the code consensus bodies freedom in decision making. This is an unprecedented power grab by the federal government and would drive up the cost of housing without proportional savings in energy costs and comes at a time when housing affordability is at a 10-year low.
We will all need to weigh in with our United States Senators and Congressional delegates, when and if, the federal government tries to pass this Act. We will keep you informed of any changes or proposals, we anticipate that there will be amendments to The Energy Savngs and Industrial Competitiveness Act in the very near future.
Your Association is working hard for you during this critical time. Members of the GSABA staff are working in the office on a split schedule with half of the team working remotely one week and the other half working in the office to adhere to social distancing requirements. Please call on us at 210-696-3800 if we can help you in any way.
Warm regards,
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Contact Kristi Sutterfield or Feliz Morin at (210) 696-3800.
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APRIL 2020 | GREATER SAN ANTONIO BUILDERS ASSOCIATION
FROM THE EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT