Page 8 - GSABA Builder Brief February 2021 Issue

EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT
RALLY DAY IS COMING
Join us on Tuesday, April 13th
Members of the Texas Senate and House of Representatives gathered in their chambers at the Capitol to convene the 87th Legislature on January 12th. Each legislative session 140 days long, and Sine Die (the end of the regular session) is May 31st. Legislators may only vote on emergency legislation during the first 60 days, and Governor Greg Abbott exclusively determines what those items will be.
Members of the House and Senate started filing bills on November 9th, and they can continue to file them with no restrictions until March 12th. This year, we expect over 6,500 pieces of legislation to be filed before the March 12th deadline.
The Texas Legislature only meets in odd number years, and the only thing our elected officials must do each session is pass the state budget. The Senate and the House of Representatives take turns introducing the budget bill. This year, the Senate will introduce the budget (Senate Bill 1), covering the biennium following the legislative session.
We have a very organized and highly effective lobbying team at the Texas Association of Builders (TAB). We need your participation to help us respond to TAB’s calls to action on bills filed that will affect the residential industry. Our grassroots advocacy efforts are critical to the success of the TAB’s legislative agenda.
While we do not have a crystal ball, budget shortfalls and the pandemic’s fallout could make the residential construction industry a target for new taxes and regulations.
TAB has a very successful Voter Voice program where you can get alerts about legislation filed and voted on that will affect you and our industry. Please visit TAB’s website at TexasBuilders.org to sign up under the Government Relations/Advocacy and Action Center. TAB provides talking points and sample letters to send to elected officials. If you need help with your log-in and credentials, call us at 210-696-3800.
Please join us for TAB’s Rally Day on Tuesday, April 13th, in Austin, along with 27 other local associations. We have a bus leaving the Association at 8:30 am and returning at approximately 6:00 pm. We have secured three different meeting rooms at the DoubleTree Suites on 15th Street in Austin. This hotel is across the street from the Capitol, so our legislators can walk from their offices to the hotel.
We have been in touch with all of our elected officials many times. We will host face-to-face meetings following all social distancing guidelines with sanitation protocols in place. Our first meetings will start at 10:00 am, and our last meeting will is at 3:30 pm. We will serve lunch, and refreshments will be available on the bus to and from Austin.
If you would like to drive your car to Austin to participate in the meetings, GSABA will pay your valet parking expense as an incentive!
KRISTI SUTTERFIELD
For Senators and House members who cannot meet with us in person, we are scheduling Zoom calls in advance of Rally Day. Please be sure and read my monthly government affairs email updates so you can join us for these Zoom calls. We have a call scheduled with Senator Jose Menendez on Tuesday, February 9th, at 4:00 pm, and all GSABA members are welcome to join our calls with elected officials. The details and call-in information for these calls will be detailed in my Government Affairs email reports and on the GSABA website at sabuilders.com.
We have a lot at stake this session, and we need you and your voice. This year is critical, with redistricting on the agenda. Redistricting is how new congressional district boundaries are drawn and affects the filing for the 2022 primary elections that will conclude in December. If the Legislature cannot get a redistricting bill passed, Governor Abbott will have to call a Special Session.
Thank you for your continued support of GSABA and our government affairs efforts! Please call on me if I can help you in any way.
Warm regards,
8 FEBRUARY 2021 | GREATER SAN ANTONIO BUILDERS ASSOCIATION