Inside this issue
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CCBA February Legislative UpdateThe 84th Session is underway with now House and Senate Committee appointments made and hearings scheduled. CCBA will want to follow the Appropriations discussions this coming week as they discuss education during thier Feb. 10 hearing. To listen live. Additionally, lawmakers in both chambers will come together for a joint session on Feb. 17 to hear Gov. Greg Abbott lay out his State-of-the-State. Now that committees are up bills will start moving through the committee process and HillCo Partners will be monitoring the key bills CCBA has identified. Other events that have occured during the first week of session are previewed below and all CCBA members can log in after they have set up thier HillCo Client account to get more details and to access hearing reports and handouts if available. Events Trust Funds RestructuringGovernor Greg Abbott and Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar announced today a joint proposal to transfer the Major Events Trust Fund, and three other state events trust funds from the comptroller’s office to the Governor’s Economic Development and Tourism Divisions in an effort to “strengthen the state’s economic development strategy.” Both the Governor and the Comptroller are calling on members of the Legislature to work with them in reforming the Funds and restructuring the programs in a w Governor Abbott Announces Restructuring In Economic Development And Tourism DivisionGovernor Greg Abbott hasannounced the restructuring of key Governor’s Office divisions to increase the agency’s focus on economic development and job creation. Under the restructuring, the Texas Film Commission, the Texas Music Office, the Women’s Commission and the Workforce Investment Council will now report to the Director of Economic Development. The move is designed to align these divisions under the Economic Development Director so that each of the agencies is sharply focused on advancing the Governor’s job-creation agenda. TxDOT Achieves Historic Savings In Bond Refinancing The Texas Department of Transportation has achieved the greatest savings on a single bond deal in the state’s history through a $1.68 billion refinancing. TWDB Receives 48 SWIFT Loan Applications Totaling More than $5.5 Billion The Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) announced that for the first round of abridged applications for State Water Implementation Fund for Texas (SWIFT) loans they received 48 applications for more than $5.5 billion in water projects that will benefit Texas. GEER Report Recommendations and Executive Summary of LBB ReportsThe Legislative Budget Board staff has published its Executive Summary of Legislative Budget Board Reports which also includes reports from legislative primers, from the biennial Texas State Government Effectiveness and Efficiency Report: Selected Issues and Recommendations (the GEER contains 49 analyses and 106 recommendations of the effectiveness and efficiency of Texa House Committees AnnouncedToday, Texas House Speaker Joe Straus announced the membership of House committees for the 84th Legislature. There are 38 standing and procedural committees in the House. Speaker Straus also created two select committees. Of those 40 committees, 24 will have new chairmen, including 10 Members who chaired different committees during the 83rd Legislature. Senate Finance Committee Begins Budget Discussions On February 2 the Senate Committee on Finance met to hear a presentation on the revenue estimate from the Comptroller’s office and to begin budget discussions on SB 2, the general appropriations bill. |
