Economic competitiveness cited in support/opposition

ROUND ROCK, Texas – The Round Rock Chamber today announced that it has taken positions on six key pieces of legislation that will ensure that Round Rock, and the entire state of Texas, maintain their economic development leadership status. The positions align with the chamber’s principles as defined in its legislative priorities and the Agenda for Economic Vitality. The chamber has committed to advocate on behalf of its investors as these bills make their way through the legislative process. The legislative session ends on June 1, 2015. 

The chamber has taken support positions on:

House Bill 26 by Representative Angie Chen Button: HB26 includes a number of economic development incentive reforms. 

House Bill 100 by Representative John Zerwas: HB100 includes funding for post-secondary education capital project funding, especially the health professions #1 building for Texas State University – Round Rock. 

House Bill 1155 by Representative Carol Alvarado: HB 1155 creates a rapid-response workforce program to be used for economic development projects.

The chamber has taken oppose positions on:

Senate Bill 434 by Senator Konni Burton: SB434 would remove the closed-door exemption in the open-meetings law during economic development negotiations.

Senate Bill 558 by Senator Konni Burton: SB558 would remove a governing body’s ability keep proprietary company information confidential during economic development negations.

Senate Bill 1254 by Senator Brian Birdwell: SB1254 would remove a governing body’s ability keep proprietary company information confidential during economic development negations.

“We believe that we must remain diligent in our efforts to preserve a positive business climate for Round Rock. The passage of house bills 26, 100, and 1155 would go a long way in accomplishing this goal,” said Mike Odom, the chamber’s president and CEO. “At the same time, the three pieces of legislation that we oppose are done so in an attempt to prevent putting the state in a real competitive disadvantage. Because of this fact, we believe that it is not in the best interest of Texas to move these bills forward.”

Late last year, the chamber released its 2015 Legislative Agenda, which focused on, among other things, economic development incentives and funding for the construction of the health professions building at Texas State University – Round Rock. The full set of priorities can be viewed here.

About the Round Rock Chamber
The Round Rock Chamber is one of the largest and most active business organizations in Central Texas. Its approximately 1,000 investors collectively employ more than 25,000 people in the area. It is also the region’s only accredited chamber by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. For more information, visit www.roundrockchamber.org.