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Business leaders across Texas applauded the introduction of the Texas Regulatory Consistency Act, which would limit the scope of regulations on small businesses to state and federal law.
HB 2127 has been introduced in the House by Rep. Dustin Burrows (R-Lubbock). Companion legislation, SB 814, has been introduced in the Senate by Sen. Brandon Creighton (R-Conroe).
“From navigating the fallout of the pandemic to battling 40-year high inflation, it’s difficult to overstate how challenging the last several years have been for our small businesses and the communities they support,” said Annie Spilman, state director of the National Federation of Independent Business, in a statement. “Amid rate hikes from the Fed, supply chain disruptions, and a worker shortage, all this uncertainty continues to be exacerbated by local regulations and mandates.
Proponents of the bill note its necessity to avoid a patchwork of regulations that can change from one city to the next. In recent years, Austin, Dallas, and San Antonio passed paid sick leave ordinances, but court rulings have denied implementation.
In May 2021, the Texas House failed to pass Senate Bill 14, which would have prohibited cities and counties from implementing policies that exceed or conflict with federal or state law related to employment leave, hiring practices, employment benefits, or scheduling practices.
“The patchwork of regulations that currently exist in Texas makes it more difficult for a business to operate and create jobs," Spilman said. "The world’s ninth-largest economy shouldn’t be subjected to the whims of rogue regulators, who often pass onerous mandates in the dead of night.
“This year, with a recession all the more certain, the Texas Legislature must finally act to give small businesses greater certainty in the regulatory landscape. For more than five years, our local job creators have asked the Legislature to implement policies that not only stabilize our economy but allow more small businesses to grow and thrive. We hope the 88th Legislative Session delivers a victory for Main Street.”
NFIB is a member of The Alliance for Securing and Strengthening the Economy in Texas (ASSET), a coalition of business organizations, formed to advance policies that foster economic growth and allow the free market to operate without heavy government interference in business decisions.
Other partner organizations include: Associated Builders and Contractors of Texas, Texas Association of Builders, Texas Society of Human Resource Management, Texas Association of Staffing, Texas Construction Association, Central Texas Subcontractors Association, Texas Hotel & Lodging Association, Texas Restaurant Association, Texas Retailers Association, Texas Association of Business, Hispanic Contractors Association, Texas Food & Fuel Association, Texas Apartment Association, Associated General Contractors- Texas Building Branch, Real Estate Councils of Texas, Texas Travel Alliance, Texas Nursery & Landscape Association, and the Theater Owners of Mid-America.