HOUSTON PORT REGION LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES
Support environmental policies that are conducive to creating economic opportunity and preserving a sound business environment.
TEXAS 88th LEGISLATIVE SESSION
THE HOUSTON PORT REGION IS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT INDUSTRIAL AND LOGISTIC BASES IN THE WORLD.
Economic Alliance, representing over 200 private sector companies, Port Houston, 12 cities, Harris County and several educational institutions support policies that create an attractive business climate for business and skilled workers to grow.
Objectives of our 88th legislative session priorities are to highlight the following issues related to the Houston Port region:
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ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT INCENTIVES
ELECTRIC RELIABILITY
WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT/COLLEGES
PROPERTY TAX RELIEF
TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS
ASSET PROTECTIONS
Economic Alliance asks for your insight and support to advance solutions that strengthen the long-term growth of the most sought-after region in the world for petrochemical, manufacturing, maritime and logistics operations.
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT INCENTIVES
Support the creation of a new school property tax abatement program (Chapter 313) that attracts new investment and ensures our long-term competitiveness.
ELECTRIC RELIABILITY
Support solutions that improves the operational performance of our existing electric generation fleet and provide targeted incentives to attract new generation.
WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT/COLLEGES
Continued support for the Texas Commission on Community College Finance revised model for funding community colleges.
PROPERTY TAX RELIEF
Support measures to ease the property tax burden and a complete reformation of the industrial and residential property appraisal system.
Maintenance of municipal authority and oppose any measure which jeopardizes the ability to make decisions that impact businesses and quality of life.
TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS
Support the funding and completion of documented transportation projects impacting the state’s most vital economic corridor.
ASSET PROTECTIONS
Support legislation to fund the design and construction of the Coastal Spine Project.
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HOUSTON PORT REGION
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Science-based environmental policy results in measurable improvement to human health and the environment. Economic Alliance supports environmental policies that are conducive to creating economic opportunity and preserving a sound business environment.
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT INCENTIVES
Competitive economic development tools are critical to bringing new businesses to the Houston Port region and growing our economy. Economic Alliance supports the creation of a new school property tax abatement program (Chapter 313) that attracts new investment and ensures our long-term competitiveness.
ELECTRIC RELIABILITY/ERCOT ELECTRICITY MARKET DESIGN
A sustainable and affordable energy supply for all forms of energy promotes the Houston Port region as an economicaly viable location for investment and the creation of jobs. Economic Alliance supports a solution that improves the operational performance of our existing electric generation fleet and provide targeted incentives to attract new generation, rather than just increasing profits for the existing generation fleet.
Creation of a Texas Grid Reliability Fund to provide low-cost financing for new generation.
Lowering investment costs to spur construction of dispatchable generation with temporary tax abatement. Targeted Market Design Changes to Improve Real-Time Reliability.
WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT/ COMMUNITY COLLEGES
Community colleges are an important contributor to the health and vitality of our economic base in the Houston Port Region. Economic Alliance supports the Texas Commission on Community College Finance revised model for funding community colleges.
Shift to funding based on outcomes (degrees, certifications, etc.) and support to high demand fields vs. growth. Financial support for dual credit programs that expediates students into the workforce.
Incentives for community colleges to transfer students to four-year institutions.
Foundational support to smaller community colleges (often in rural areas with smaller business bases). Increase post-secondary learning opportunities to lower-income students.
THE LARGEST GROWTH ENGINE OF ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY OF ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD! The Houston ship channel is our priority based on the economic impact and the unique needs that come along with sustaining investment activity.
opportunity of anywhere in the world! The Houston ship channel is our priority based on the economic impact and the unique needs that come along with sustaining investment activity.
Some of the highest standards of living in the state of Texas and the U.S. are afforded by the direct and indirect jobs that Houston Port region creates:
SOME OF THE HIGHEST STANDARDS OF LIVING IN THE STATE OF TEXAS AND THE U.S. are afforded by the direct and indirect jobs that the Houston Port region creates:
1.3M TEXAS JOBS
3.2M U.S. JOBS
288 35 610 59 10 610 90 225 8 45 45 8 PASADENA DEER PARK SOUTH HOUSTON PEARLAND SOUTHBELT/ ELLINGTON GALENA PARK JACINTO CITY CHANNELVIEW NORTHSHORE DOWNTOWN HOUSTON GREATER EAST END ECONOMIC ALLIANCE HOUSTON PORT REGION PORT HOUSTON HOUSTON SH P CHANNEL
LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES
PROPERTY TAX RELIEF AND REFORM
A fair and equitable tax system facilitates economic investment and job creation in the Houston Port region. Economic Alliance supports measures to ease the property tax burden and a complete reformation of the industrial and residential property appraisal system.
Expansion of the local residence homestead exemption from 20 percent of a property’s appraised value to at least 30 percent. Government can play a critical role in securing a competitive business environment and a stellar quality of life through legislation that fund core services and critical projects. Economic Alliance supports the maintenance of municipal authority and opposes any measure which jeopardizes the ability to make decisions that impact businesses and quality of life.
TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS
Transportation infrastructure investments are critical to meeting the mobility needs of our industries and residents. Economic Alliance supports the funding and completion of documented transportation projects impacting the movement of product and people through the state’s most vital economic corridor.
Beltway 8 Ship Channel Bridge and State Highway 225 – Funding and completion of all 8 direct connectors.
State Highway 225 to Barbour’s Cut Blvd – Engineer, fund and complete a direct connector from State Highway 225 to Barbour’s Cut Blvd.
Grand Parkway/99 - Completion of segments A, B and C and policies that will eliminate the tolls for some heavy haul and truck traffic.
Toll Roads: Protect and grow existing financing mechanisms with no elimination of toll road projects.
Eliminate TxDOT’s designation of SR146 as a truck route through residential portions in the City of Baytown.
Fund the San Jacinto River Bridge replacement, Cedar Bayou Crossing, and Garth Road improvements.
ASSET PROTECTIONS
Investments are needed to address the Houston Port region vulnerability during natural disasters to protect uninterrupted production of commodities, products, and shipping commerce vital to the region, state, and nation. Economic Alliance supports legislation to fund the design and construction of the Coastal Spine Project.
250 PRIVATE SECTOR MEMBERS 12 CITIES PORT HOUSTON HARRIS COUNTY 10 146 146 99 330 PARK SEABROOK SHOREACRES LA PORTE BAYTOWN LYNCHBURG HIGHLANDS MORGAN’S POINT CHANNELVIEW BARBOUR'S CUT CONTAINER TERMINAL BAYPORT CONTAINER TERMINAL
Compiled by members of the Economic Alliance Public Policy Task Force 203 Ivy Avenue, Suite 200 Deer Park, Texas 77536 281.476.9176 allianceportregion.com
