Texas Association of Business

TAB, as the Texas State Chamber, champions the best business climate in the world, unleashing the power of free enterprise to enhance lives for generations

[Texas Association of Business @txbiz]

#ICYMI: This week, TAB's @gabperd submitted testimony to the #txlege Senate Committee on Economic Development on how Texas' AI workforce strategy needs to include BOTH digital skills and the hands-on talent needed to build and operate the infrastructure behind them.

Read more from the Rio Grande Guardian: https://t.co/4lyiRM306U

@AngelaPaxtonTX @kevinsparkstx @CarolforTexas @DrSchwertner @SenRoyceWest

[Texas Association of Business @txbiz]

Today, the TAB board of directors named Kelly Keel as the next President & CEO of the Texas Association of Business. Keel brings 25 years of state government experience in state government, most recently serving as executive director of @TCEQ.

Under Kelly’s leadership, TAB will continue to advance pro-business priorities and reforms to keep #Texas the best state for business in the 90th #txlege and beyond.

Read the full release here: https://t.co/NIFUl8BurC

[Texas Association of Business @txbiz]

#Texas has become the nation's economic leader because we have consistently been willing to build, innovate, welcome investment, & prepare our people for what comes next.

When it comes to data centers, we can approach growth responsibly while protecting the reliability & affordability that Texas families & businesses depend on by doing what Texas has always done best: compete, build, & lead.

Read TAB's full testimony to the #txlege House State Affairs Committee this week: https://t.co/RvTa86NSQj @KingForTexas

[Texas Association of Business @txbiz]

Following @GovAbbottPress’ recent directive regarding data center projects in the ERCOT interconnection queue, TAB sent a letter this week expressing our support for the Governor’s efforts and encouraging @PUCTX & @ERCOT_ISO to pair a rigorous review with a clear, transparent & timely process.

Texas businesses thrive when there are clear rules of the road and the regulatory certainty needed to plan major investments with confidence.

Read our full letter: https://t.co/0VUquX59zD

#txlege

[Texas Association of Business @txbiz]

#NEW: Today, @GovAbbottPress announced a new state-of-the-art @bmsnews manufacturing facility in Houston, which is expected to create nearly 500 skilled jobs and accelerate production of next-generation medicines.

This major investment by TAB member Bristol Myers Squibb represents the latest example of #Texas continuing to lead the nation in supporting American innovation & domestic manufacturing.

Read more: https://t.co/ynrVrCQbzN

[Bristol Myers Squibb @bmsnews]

#MEDIA: Today, we announced a $2.3 billion investment to build a new manufacturing campus in Houston, Texas. Read more: https://t.co/8OKBDoewsW

[Texas Association of Business @txbiz]

#NEW: Today @GregAbbott_TX announced an important new health benefits proposal to lower health care costs & expand affordable coverage for Texas businesses & their employees.

“Texas employers have consistently made clear that the growing number of state health insurance mandates is driving up costs and undermining our state’s otherwise pro-business environment. Governor Abbott’s proposal addresses those costs by giving businesses a meaningful new option to provide affordable, federally compliant coverage. More affordable coverage means more employers can offer health insurance, more Texans can gain coverage through their jobs, and our small businesses can remain competitive. TAB has advocated for greater employer flexibility in health coverage and fewer state-mandated coverage requirements for several legislative sessions, and we look forward to working with the Governor and Legislature to get this across the finish line in 2027.”

— TAB SVP & Chief Policy Officer @gabperd

Read our full statement on the Governor's proposal here: https://t.co/kgBpamxBCL
#txlege

[Texas Association of Business @txbiz]

This week, TAB submitted testimony to the #txlege Senate Finance Committee on #datacenter investment.

Data centers are foundational infrastructure for the modern economy, much like highways, rail, and electric transmission were for previous generations.

A recent @PwC analysis estimated Texas data centers generated $2.2B in state and $2.3B in local tax revenue in 2024.

Demand for digital infrastructure will continue to grow. The question is whether Texas will continue to lead, capture the investment and jobs that come with it, and keep the data powering Texans' lives here at home.

Thank you to Chair @joanhuffman & the members of the Senate Finance Committee for their thoughtful review of this important issue.

Read our full testimony: https://t.co/ngYyny5IU6

[Texas Association of Business @txbiz]

#ICYMI: Last week's major announcement from @Saronic on its $3.2 billion investment in Port Alpha in Brownsville, #Texas underscores the growing dominance of our state's booming maritime industry, which is already worth more than $713 billion in total economic value & supports 1.8 million jobs, according to a TAB analysis published earlier this year: https://t.co/yQAFgA2RRQ

Read more via @statesman: https://t.co/RZwA0cE9D6

[Texas Association of Business @txbiz]

ICYMI: As usual, NY’s loss will be #Texas’ gain. #txlege

[Brad Johnson @bradj_TX]

Missed this earlier: Trump put out a post heavily backing data centers across the country, including in Texas. #txlege

[Texas Association of Business @txbiz]

Great news from @txsecofstate: Same-day & next-day processing is now available for ALL types of business filings through the Texas Express expedited filings portal! --> https://t.co/FWfPHxn0B8

Thanks to continued pro-business policies at the #txlege & enhanced efficiencies from state agencies, #Texas is moving at the speed of business!

Learn more: https://t.co/nmp2L6TcWG

[Office of the Texas Secretary of State @TXsecofstate]

"Texas Express doesn’t drive those legal moves on its own. But the full rollout gives companies faster processing for the filings needed to form, register, reorganize, or relocate in the state."

Highlight from today's @BLaw article about how our same-day and next day business filing services are helping businesses as they incorporate in the state: https://t.co/k4A6BeH7dT

[Texas Association of Business @txbiz]

Today's start of trading on the @TXStockExchange is proof that policy matters, & that our state has become a new center of gravity in the financial services universe!

Decades of pro-business leadership has made #Texas a magnet for the financial services industry and the place where more companies choose to incorporate, invest, and grow. Low taxes, a favorable legal climate anchored by our specialized business courts, & voter-approved constitutional bans on capital gains, stock transactions, & inheritance taxes have all made our state more attractive for the financial services industry than any other state.

The rapid rise of #YallStreet — including @CharlesSchwab, @GoldmanSachs, & @jpmorgan expanding their Texas footprints to @NYSE & @Nasdaq opening regional headquarters in Dallas — shows that where opportunity grows, capital follows.

A homegrown national exchange means more jobs, more investment, and more growth opportunities for businesses and communities across the Lone Star State.

TXSE's trading launch today cements our rightful place as a national and global leader in financial services!

Read more: https://t.co/XDBWMy6uGM

#txlege #txbiz #finance #TexasStockExchange

[Texas Association of Business @txbiz]

Happy 250th Birthday, America! 🇺🇸

This #IndependenceDay, we celebrate 250 years of freedom, opportunity, & American enterprise.

At the Texas Association of Business, we’re proud to champion the businesses, entrepreneurs, and innovators who carry that legacy forward by creating jobs, driving investment, and strengthening our nation’s economy. Together, we look forward to building an even stronger, more prosperous future for Texas and America.

Happy Independence Day!

#America250 #July4th #txbiz #USA

[Texas Association of Business @txbiz]

Today’s announcement marks the beginning of an important next chapter for the #USMCA. TAB supports a constructive and transparent ongoing review process focused on strengthening North American competitiveness, modernizing the agreement where appropriate, and maintaining the regulatory certainty that businesses need to invest, hire, and grow.
Texas isn’t just competing with other states, we’re competing with the world.

As the nation’s largest exporting state and the epicenter of North American commerce, #Texas has more at stake in the success of the USMCA than any other state. A strong and competitive North American economy strengthens America’s economic leadership, supports domestic manufacturing, and reinforces Texas’ position as the nation’s premier destination for business investment and job creation.

We look forward to continuing our engagement with the Texas Congressional delegation & federal stakeholders in the years to come to ensure any revisions to the USMCA keep Texas at the center stage of the North American economic landscape.

Read TAB's full statement here: https://t.co/aErbkJjggM

https://t.co/SJBEJgL4tP

#Texas #Trade #USMCA #NorthAmerica #Manufacturing #Mexico #Canada #Jobs #Economy #Business

[Texas Association of Business @txbiz]

For the FOURTH year in a row, #Texas has been named the #1 Best Business Climate in the nation by @bizfacilities magazine, which made clear that "Texas provides business the resources required to grow and evolve in today’s economic landscape."

With no personal income tax, a highly skilled workforce, & a reasonable regulatory environment, it's no surprise that 57 Fortune 500 HQs & more than 3.5 million small businesses call the Lone Star State home.

Read more from @GovAbbottPress: https://t.co/C3pvNFTilc

#txbiz #jobs #economy #business #workforce

[Texas Association of Business @txbiz]

"This is not a theoretical conversation. #Texas already has hundreds of data centers operating across our state today, demonstrating that economic growth and responsible resource management can coexist.

"Many of these facilities have been part of their communities for years and the industry is already deploying more efficient cooling technologies, expanding water recycling and reuse strategies, and implementing other measures designed to improve efficiency and reduce consumption."
-TAB Senior Vice President & Chief Policy Officer @gabperd

WATCH TAB's full testimony before the #txlege House Natural Resources Committee today on how #Texas can continue to support innovation while remaining good stewards of water and other key resources that make our economy the strongest in the nation:

@CodyHarrisTX #txbiz #business #datacenters #innovation #water

[Texas Association of Business @txbiz]

#NEW: Based on recommendations from the Texas Jobs Council, @GovAbbottPress today released directives for #Texas state agencies to take immediately that will help ensure our state is prepared to meet the needs of employers to fill high-demand jobs.

“Texas’ economic success has always been tied to the strength of its workforce. Employers across the state understand that our future depends on building strong pathways from education to employment, expanding workforce training opportunities, and ensuring Texans are prepared for the high-demand careers that will drive our economy forward. We are confident the recommendations issued today will strengthen our workforce and expand opportunity across the state.”
- TAB Interim President & CEO and Texas Jobs Council Co-Chair @MeganMauroTX

Read more about the full list of recommendations for @TXWorkforce, @teainfo, @TXHigherEdBoard, & @tdlrlicense here: https://t.co/IDS61AV9yd #Jobs #Workforce #Skills #Training #Apprenticeships

[Texas Association of Business @txbiz]

#ICYMI: "Capital follows where there is confidence, and right now there is a tremendous amount of confidence in Texas." - TAB's @gabperd

Read more in the latest report from @FoxNews that shows how #Texas is not only attracting more residents, but also generating more economic output & creating more wealth per resident thanks to our state's tax structure & predictable regulatory environment for businesses: https://t.co/iBIoZdu5vh #txlege

[Texas Association of Business @txbiz]

#ICYMI: Last week in @DMNOpinion Chairman Jay Dean emphasized that the #txlege "has piled on more state insurance mandates than nearly every other state, far beyond what federal law already requires."

"This overregulation is crushing," particularly for small employers, which are seeing their insurance premiums rise 15-20% in 2026, far above the national average.

The answer to this problem? Give small employers a real choice.

Read more on the importance of addressing the Texas-sized healthcare mandate problem: https://t.co/XfD0UlbgOj

[Texas Association of Business @txbiz]

Despite being the top state for business, #Texas ranks among the HIGHEST in the nation for healthcare mandates that exceed federal requirements, with businesses & their employees feeling the brunt of excessive regulation.

Today, TAB's Faith Villarreal testified before the Texas House Insurance Committee to discuss the needs of #Texas employers when it comes to keeping healthcare costs in check.

Watch the full testimony & read more in our latest blog, where you can learn how Texas businesses can participate in TAB's 2026 Employer Healthcare Survey to help inform future policy decisions in the 90th #txlege & beyond: https://t.co/35audpRbrb

[Texas Association of Business @txbiz]

#Texas again leads the nation with more Fortune 500 companies than any other state!

As @GovAbbottPress pointed out:

"The world's leading businesses invest with confidence in Texas because of our welcoming business climate, predictable regulatory environment, and skilled and growing workforce. People and businesses are choosing Texas because Texas works."

https://t.co/7PHazhQScA @FortuneMagazine #txlege