Texas continues to lead the nation in housing starts as the recovery of the housing market progresses. The residential construction industry can maintain its status as an economic driver if legislators consider the impact of their decisions on the cost and availability of housing. While market forces do affect affordability, the opportunity for Texans to realize the dream of homeownership is also dependent upon the repercussions of governmental regulations and fees.
Fees and taxes, adequate infrastructure, property rights, tort reform, workforce training, and environmental impacts are only a few of the areas in which the residential construction industry is impacted by the decisions of policy makers at the local, state and national levels.
The TAB Government Relations Team stand ready to work with legislators on the myriad of issues that impact our industry, with the goal of ensuring that the citizens of Texas have access to quality, affordable housing.
A sample of issues that TAB monitors and engages in:
Property Rights
One of the primary principles upon which Texas was built is the right an individual has in his or her property. Since its inception, our association has made defending those rights from unreasonable, or sometimes even illegal, regulations a core tenet.
Taxes
It is imperative that any changes to the current tax system do not place an unfair burden on the home building industry, due to the fact that the cost and availability of housing is significantly impacted by regulatory barriers and taxes.
County Authority
Burdensome land-use authority at the county level such as zoning and various permitting requirements can be increasingly detrimental to the home building industry.
Transportation
A deteriorating Texas road system not only harms Texas travelers and the economy as a whole, it also has a direct effect on the future of the housing development and construction industry.
Career and Technical Education
Over the next five years, 20 percent of skilled workers in the construction industry will retire. It is critical to both the Texas economy and business community that students have the opportunity to learn carpentry, welding, electrical, plumbing, and other skills that can place them into the workforce in well paying jobs as high school graduates.
