TNLA Heads to Washington with AmericanHort

9/19/2025

This week, from Monday through Wednesday, TNLA was in Washington, D.C. as part of AmericanHort’s Impact Washington Fly-In. Texas brought one of the largest state delegations in the country to advocate and educate our U.S. Senators and Representatives. Nine TNLA members participated alongside more than 120 advocates from across the nation.
These fly-ins are always fast and frantic, as we zigzag across Capitol Hill to meet with as many legislators and staff as possible. But they are also one of the most important ways we make sure the voice of the Texas green industry is heard in our nation’s capital.

Key Issues We Raised

Workforce & Labor (H-2A & H-2B)
Our industry depends on seasonal and year-round workers to grow, install, and maintain landscapes. The H-2A and H-2B visa programs are vital, but both need reform. We called on Congress to expand access, streamline applications, and modernize wage calculations so that businesses can meet labor needs while keeping costs predictable. Without these improvements, growers and landscape businesses face growing shortages that threaten their ability to operate.

Tariffs, Trade & Supply Chain
Tariffs on key horticulture inputs are driving up costs across the board. Many of these products cannot be produced anywhere in the U.S.—leaving green industy businesses no alternatives. We urged Congress to support a transparent and functional exclusion process so businesses can reliably access the inputs they need without being burdened by unfair costs.

Farm Bill
The Farm Bill expires on October 1, 2025. While it’s a cornerstone for agriculture, too often specialty crops and horticulture are left out. Current programs lock our industry out of crop insurance and other protections. We pushed for a bipartisan Farm Bill that reflects the realities of horticulture, ensuring access to risk management tools and expanding support for nursery, greenhouse, and landscape operations.

Why It Matters

From labor shortages to supply chain costs to ensuring our growers have a safety net, these policies directly affect the health and competitiveness of Texas’ horticulture industry. Trips like this Fly-In show how TNLA is actively fighting for our members’ businesses—from Washington, D.C. to back home in Texas.

Questions?

Contact Director of Legislative & Regulatory Affairs, Curtis Smith by email [email protected] or call him at 512-579-3851 or Legislative & Regulatory Affairs Manager, Karan Mehta by email [email protected] or call him at 512-579-3874

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Don’t Miss Your Chance: Apply for the 2025 Texas Garden Retailer Awards

9/4/2025

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The Texas Garden Retailer Awards (TGRA) shine a spotlight on the very best in our industry — and the deadline to enter is October 3, 2025. If you’ve been waiting to start your application, now’s the time!

Why Enter?

Recognition that sets your garden center apart across Texas.
Celebrate your team’s creativity, customer service, and community involvement.
Gold winners automatically advance as finalists for Retailer of the Year in their revenue category.
All winners will be honored at the TNLA Awards Festival during the Lone Star Hort Forum.

How to Apply

Apply Online: Submit your entry at tnlaonline.org/tgra. Entry fee: $225 for TNLA members, $300 for non-members.
Upload Photos + Captions: Provide 20 high-quality photos (1280×1024 pixels, 300dpi) with 1–2 sentence captions each.
Judging Criteria: Applications are reviewed on Innovation, Quality, Merchandising, and Culture. Gold contenders may receive a visit from a TNLA-selected Secret Shopper.

See What a Strong Application Looks Like
Not sure where to start? You’re not alone. That’s why we’ve included a sample application from a past TGRA entrant to give you an idea of how the process works.
This example shows:

The types of photos that highlight merchandising, plant quality, and customer experience.
How short captions (1–2 sentences) can tell a powerful story about your business.
The level of detail that helps judges understand what makes a garden center stand out.

Every garden center is unique — and your story will be different — but seeing a real application can help you feel more confident and inspired as you put yours together.
View An Award Winning TGRA Application HERE

Tips for Success

Start snapping and gathering photos now: Highlight your store in its current seasonal look — fall color, décor, or merchandising displays.
Tell the story: Captions are your chance to explain why each photo matters.
Focus on strengths: Showcase what sets your business apart, from sustainability practices to community events.
Don’t delay: With less than a month until the deadline, completing your entry now ensures you won’t miss out.

Ready to Apply?
Show Texas what makes your business stand out. Submit your application before October 3, 2025:
👉 Apply for the 2025 Texas Garden Retailer Awards

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Texas Water & Green-Industry Roundup

9/4/2025

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Corpus Christi
Status & Restrictions

Stage 3 drought rules remain in effect: no lawn watering.
Hand-watering of trees, garden beds, shrubs, and potted plants is allowed before 10 a.m. and after 6 p.m. using a hose, bucket, or watering can.

Desalination Decision

After a 13-hour meeting, the City Council voted to cancel the Inner Harbor seawater desalination contract (est. cost had risen to $1.2B, up from ~$160M in 2019).
The city will ask TWDB to redirect ~$210M previously targeted to the project. Some debt from prior planning may remain.
City staff warned that without new supply, Corpus could face an emergency by Dec. 2026, including potential 25% cuts for large industrial users.
Read more here

Bottom line: The Inner Harbor desal plan is off the table for now; expect debate to shift to alternative supply options under close public scrutiny.

Austin
New Irrigation/Plumbing Requirements (new one- and two-family homes permitted after July 10, 2025)

Pressure Regulation

≥ 80 psi: PRV required + pressure-compensating heads
45–80 psi: Pressure-compensating heads required
< 45 psi: No additional pressure requirement

50% Irrigation Cap

Permanent irrigation systems may cover no more than 50% of landscaped area.

Exceptions (do not count toward the 50%)

ROW strips < 6 ft: Drip allowed; excluded from 50% cap
New trees: Individual bubblers on a separate zone; excluded
Foundation watering: Single-zone drip line allowed; excluded
Grandfathering: House building permit submitted before 1/1/2025 → 50% cap does not apply (proof required before inspection)
Existing homes adding irrigation: 50% cap does not apply; pressure controls still apply

Enforcement Timeline

Oct 1, 2025 – Apr 1, 2026: Education period (inspectors note issues, no fails)
Starting Apr 1, 2026: Missing pressure controls or 50% compliance = failed inspection

Houston
What Council Approved

$8.5M to replace ~25,300 aging water meters (many 20+ years old); part of a broader billing and infrastructure modernization push.
12-month pilot: ~25,000 smart meters installed (including ~2,000 in hard-to-connect areas) across all council districts; near-real-time usage data for customers.

Why It’s Happening

Significant water loss and erratic bills tied to failing meter hardware and estimated reads.
The meter project complements ongoing replacement of remote reading devices (RRDs).

What Customers May Notice

Bills may increase after meter swaps (old meters often under-register usage).
Near-real-time usage helps catch leaks/irrigation issues quickly.
Read more here

Central Texas (Highland Lakes)

Lakes Buchanan & Travis are designed to fluctuate—store in wet times, draw down in dry—and have anchored regional supply since the 1940s.
Early-July 2025 rains boosted combined storage from ~51% to >90% within days; first time both were full since July 2019.
Even with higher levels, expect ongoing conservation messaging from utilities.

San Antonio (SAWS)

San Antonio Water System (SAWS) is working to clarify “soil” in the City of San Antonio development code.
Current ordinance (since 2006) requires 4" soil with ≥ 0.25" Soil Organic Matter (SOM) under turfgrass on new construction.
SAWS intends to move toward soil inspections on new builds after definitions are tightened.

East Texas
Groundwater Fight (Special Session)

Governor added groundwater to the call; HB 27 advanced.
Core concept: Pause on new/expanded export permits in the Neches & Trinity Valleys Groundwater Conservation Districts until Nov. 1, 2027, plus a TWDB study to inform future decisions.
The Texas Senate amended the bill, removing the moratorium, and House Author Rep. Cody Harris pushed back, The bill ultimately died in the 2nd special session
Read more here.

Why it matters:
This signals a larger groundwater debate ahead—potentially export guardrails, stronger ties to available water in aquifer, and more monitoring/reporting next regular session (2027).

El Paso / Far West Texas
Rio Grande Compact Settlement (Proposed)

Texas, New Mexico, Colorado (and the U.S.) filed a settlement to end the long-running Rio Grande case.
The deal would tighten operations below Elephant Butte and require New Mexico to curb groundwater depletions so deliveries to Texas are more reliable.
A Special Master hearing is set; Supreme Court has final say.
Read more here

Who it affects in Texas

El Paso municipal customers and irrigators who rely on Elephant Butte releases.
Even with a settlement, Elephant Butte remains extremely low, so expect continued focus on conservation, leak reduction, and diversified supplies in that region.

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TNLA Heads to Washington with AmericanHort

Key Issues We Raised

Why It Matters

Questions?

Don’t Miss Your Chance: Apply for the 2025 Texas Garden Retailer Awards

Texas Water & Green-Industry Roundup

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Upcoming Events

TNLA Heads to Washington with AmericanHort

Key Issues We Raised

​Why It Matters

Questions?

Don’t Miss Your Chance: Apply for the 2025 Texas Garden Retailer Awards

Texas Water & Green-Industry Roundup

Author

Archives

Categories

Why It Matters