Week Of January 10, 2011

Please look for updates from your Legislative & Regulatory Affairs Team most Fridays throughout the 82nd Legislative Session.  These emails will keep you up to date on the happenings in Austin, notify you of legislation that will affect your business and alert you when action needs to be taken.

On January 11th, the Texas Legislature convened to embark on a historic legislative session.  With the projected shortfall of $27 billion for the state’s September 1, 2011 – August 31, 2013 budget and redistricting of Congressional, Texas House and Senate Districts, it will be a tense 140 days.  (For more details regarding these issues and other issues we are monitoring, see my January TNLA Green Article)

On opening day in the Texas House, Speaker Joe Straus, a friend of the nursery/landscape industry was re-elected to another two year term as Speaker.  This has the potential to be very good for our industry and his leadership team will be in place to help protect us from negative legislation.  Last session we received a great deal of support from them on issues that threatened our industry. 

In the Texas Senate, there is currently a move by Senator Patrick to remove the long standing tradition of the 2/3’s Rule.  This rule requires 2/3s of Senator to vote to bring any piece of legislation up for consideration on the floor.  Currently there are 19 Republicans and 12 Democrats; making the magic number of 21 to consider legislation.  Senator Patrick wants this rule removed so that the Democrats will not be able block issues like Voter ID, Immigration Reform, redistricting ect.

The Texas Constitution states that legislation may not be considered on the floor of either chamber until 60 days of 140 day session has passed, unless the Governor declared issues an emergency.  Yesterday afternoon in the House Chamber Governor Perry declared Eminent Domain and Sanctuary Cities as an emergency, so as soon as the House and Senate Committees are appointed they may start working on these issues.  The Senate Committees are pretty much set, but it will be late January or early February before Speaker Straus will make his assignments. 

Things start pretty slow at first, but the session will be in full force by the first week of March.  Your Legislative & Regulatory Affairs Team will be at the Capitol to protect your business interests.  When we ask you to contact your elected officials, it is imperative that you do so.  We only ask when the situation is warranted.

At anytime, please feel free to contact me with your questions and comments about any aspect of the legislative session.