Texas House Speaker Joe Straus created the Select Committee on Economic Development Incentives, which will assess the economic benefit provided by state and local incentive programs and make recommendations to make those programs more effective and efficient.
The committee will determine the types of economic development projects that offer the most benefit to the state and suggest opportunities to focus on such projects. It will also discuss how to make programs more efficient.
"We owe it to taxpayers to take a detailed look at what has worked and what can be improved. Some incentive programs may need retooling and others may have outlived their usefulness," Speaker Straus said.
The Select Committee on Economic Development Incentives will be chaired by Rep. Angie Chen Button of Richardson, and Eddie Rodriguez of Austin will serve as vice chair. Also serving on the committee will be Reps. Trent Ashby of Lufkin, Joe Deshotel of Port Arthur, John Kuempel of Seguin, Jodie Laubenberg of Murphy, J.M. Lozano of Kingsville, Borris Miles of Houston, Poncho Nevarez of Eagle Pass, René Oliveira of Brownsville, Mary Ann Perez of Pasadena, Drew Springer of Muenster and Jason Villalba of Dallas.
Also today, Speaker Straus appointed and reappointed members to two other committees focused on the Texas economy.
The Joint Interim Committee to Study Education Policy for a Skilled Workforce – will look at career and technology education (CTE) programs. Specifically, members will study how CTE programs can better align with those offered in Texas colleges and with the needs of Texas employers.
Partnership Advisory Commission – advises state agencies that develop or operate projects that combine public and private facilities and infrastructure.
