Governor Greg Abbott announced the launch of the Texas Jobs Council today, a new advisory board created to strengthen Texas’ workforce development initiatives. The council will deliver a report in November 2026 with recommended executive actions and legislative proposals to further strengthen Texas’ workforce development. The council held their inaugural meeting today.
The Council will focus on:
- Executive actions that can be implemented immediately by state agencies to reduce regulatory burdens and red tape surrounding workforce development
- Policy and legislative recommendations to be presented to the Governor and Legislature ahead of the 90th Legislative Session
Governor Abbott appointed the following members to the Council:
- Co-Chair, Brent Taylor – VP South Teamsters Local 745 & Teamsters Joint Council 80
- Co-Chair, Megan Mauro – Interim President Texas Association of Business
- Tony Bennett – President Texas Association of Manufacturers
- Todd Staples – President Texas Oil and Gas Association
- Hector Rivero – President Texas Chemistry Council
- Scott Norman – President Texas Association of Builders
- Robert Mele – President Teamsters Local 988
- Robert Wayne – Lord Business Manager Plumbers Local Union 68
- Alan Robb – Assistant General International Longshoremen’s Assoc.
- Lacy Wolf – Local 22 President Heat and Frost Insulators Local Union 22
- Mark Maher Jr. – Business Manager International Union of Operating Engineers 450
- Bryan Edwards – Business Manager Pipefitters Local Union 211
The Governor’s full press release can be found here.

