January 15, 2025 On Monday, Comptroller Glenn Hegar released the state’s budget projections for the 2026-2027 biennium. From the announcement, Texas will have $194.6 billion in available revenue to allocate during the legislative session and a $23.76 billion surplus from the 2024-25 biennium.   While the Comptroller signaled a 1.1 percent decrease in revenue compared to […]

January 9, 2024 The Fort Worth Chamber had the pleasure of hosting four Tarrant County state legislators before they head to Austin next week to kick off the 89th legislative session to hear what their priorities are ahead of the busy lawmaking session and what policies they can expect that could impact the business environment. […]

November 19, 2024  With having near certainty on all outcomes from the November 5th election, there was much to dissect at the recent Policy Pulse event held by the Fort Worth Chamber where experts shared their takeaways from the 2024 election from a federal, state, and local perspective.  The conversation covered the outcome of elections […]

11/11/24  With the 2024 state elections behind us, the countdown to the start of the 89th Texas Legislature has begun. The Fort Worth Chamber has released its State Legislative Agenda for the upcoming session. This list of key, broad policy priorities is focused on improving the state of our economy and the interests of the […]

11/6/2024  What’s Ahead in Washington  Former President Donald Trump will be returning to the White House. With Republicans gaining control of the White House, Senate, and potentially maintaining the majority in the House of Representatives, policy proposals that were announced on the campaign trail are anticipated to take up much of the oxygen in 2025.   […]

By Steve Montgomery, President & CEO, Fort Worth Chamber  Education is a cornerstone of economic prosperity, serving as a critical driver for individual and collective advancement.  The relationship between education and economic prosperity is multifaceted, encompassing improved employability, increased productivity, innovation, and societal well-being.  In examining this relationship and the impact education plays in fostering […]

As part of its Leaders in Government series, the Fort Worth Chamber is excited to welcome Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar to Fort Worth on September 10. As Comptroller, Hegar serves as Texas’ chief financial officer – the state’s treasurer, check writer, tax collector, procurement officer and revenue estimator. Hegar was first elected to the position […]

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) finalized its proposed rule to cap credit card late fees earlier this year. It was immediately met with opposition by industry and trade groups. In addition to the CFPB exceeding its authority, there were concerns about the unintended consequences of the proposal. By not allowing credit card companies to […]

On August 23, the Fort Worth Chamber will partner with Tarrant County Judge Tim O’Hare for the annual State of the County address. It’s an exciting time to be in Tarrant County, which has routinely been one of the fastest growing counties in the nation over the past several years. Judge O’Hare will cover a […]

Dating back to last state legislative session in 2023, the Fort Worth Chamber has supported a policy proposal that would provide property tax relief to qualified child care centers across Tarrant County. Beginning as SJR 64, the bill passed with widespread bipartisan support in the Texas Senate and Texas House, setting up a constitutional amendment […]

Last week, the Fort Worth Chamber hosted a “Policy Pulse” conversation on the future of work, collaborating with the American Enterprise Institute and scholar Brent Orrell. Specifically, the presentation zeroed in on how demography and technology are shaping the skills of the future. Orrell highlighted several demographic trends that are shaping the modern economy and […]

The Fort Worth Chamber is partnering with the American Enterprise Institute scholar Brent Orrell on June 13 to facilitate a conversation surrounding education and workforce needs in a rapidly evolving economy. Orrell will explore the impacts of an aging workforce, technological change, demographic trends, and shifting skill requirements. Drawing insights from the collaborative research of […]

In March, the City of Fort Worth proposed a street maintenance fee for residents and businesses during a City Council work session presentation. However, the City recently announced the proposed fee has been parked for now. The proposal would have levied a fee on all business operations, with the amount varying based on business type […]

The Fort Worth Chamber, U.S. Chamber, and other co-plaintiffs secured a win against the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) last week, as Judge Mark Pittman ruled to grant a preliminary injunction of the CFPB’s proposed credit card late fees rule. This means the rule will not go into effect and the status quo will be […]

This week marked a significant stride for the Dallas-Fort Worth region's business landscape as the Fort Worth Chamber (FWC) and the Dallas Regional Chamber (DRC) co-hosted a trip to Washington D.C. The mission was clear: meet with the regional federal delegation, federal policy experts, and diplomats to advocate for pro-growth policies that will bolster the […]

The Fort Worth Chamber recently hosted a panel of public safety leaders: Fort Worth Police Department Chief Neil Noakes, Fort Worth Fire Department Chief Jim Davis, and Tarrant County Commissioner Manny Ramirez. They gathered for a conversation about the importance of public safety in relation to business prosperity. The conversation was moderated by Leah King, […]

Speaker of the Texas House of Representatives Dade Phelan recently announced the creation of the House Select Committee on Artificial Intelligence & Emerging Technologies. According to a release from Speaker Phelan, the purpose of the committee is to “conduct a comprehensive review of the advancements in artificial intelligence and emerging technologies (AI/ET)”. Specifically of interest […]

Earlier this month, the U.S. Department of Labor’s (DOL) final rule on determining whether a worker is an employee or an independent contractor went into effect. The updated rule rescinds a 2021 version of the rule, and adopts a six factor “economic realities” test for making such a determination. Workers being classified as employees rather […]

In early March, during a Fort Worth City Council work session, City staff and consultants outlined a proposal to fund long-term street maintenance in Fort Worth. The proposed street maintenance fee would be a new fee for residents and businesses on their City of Fort Worth utilities bill, alongside other fees such as stormwater, trash pickup, etc.

A core function of the Fort Worth Chamber is to promote public policy that fosters a strong business climate, and to oppose policies that hinder the ability of businesses to grow and prosper. The recent credit card late fees rule proposed by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau compels us to act in support of small businesses and consumers in Fort Worth and beyond.

The Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce is preparing for its biannual Washington D.C. fly-in presented by Lockheed Martin with the Dallas Regional Chamber. The fly-in will be conducted from April 30 through May 2, with various community leaders from Fort Worth in attendance to advocate as the voice of business with policymakers in Washington.

The Fort Worth Chamber is hosting Fort Worth public safety leaders at its next "Leaders in Government" luncheon on April 9. Fort Worth Chief of Police Neil Noakes, Fort Worth Fire Chief Jim Davis, and Tarrant County Commissioner Manny Ramirez will participate in a panel conversation moderated by Leah King. They will discuss the importance […]

Texas will host its primary elections on Tuesday, March 5. To vote in the primary, Texans must be registered to vote by February 5. Voter registration applications can be found on the Tarrant County Elections website. If you’re unsure of your current voter registration status, that can also be checked online here.

During its first full board meeting of 2024, the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce finalized its Local Policy Priorities, which outline where the organization stands on a variety of local public policy issues, including infrastructure and mobility, and education and workforce. The document not only charts the organization’s course in terms of its public policy advocacy for City, County, and other local-level discussions, but also conveys to its membership and the public where the organization stands on items that are important to the business community.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce kicked off 2024 with its annual State of American Business address, delivered by CEO Suzanne Clark. The address took the ambitious aim of combating negative narratives that permeate conversations around business and politics. Clark highlighted the success of the free enterprise system and the role of American businesses in enhancing […]

With grant money from the EPA, the North Central Texas Council of Governments (NCTCOG) has begun work on a regional Air Quality Improvement Plan (AQIP) for the Dallas-Fort Worth metro area.

In a presidential election year like 2024, the November general election is likely to dominate headlines throughout the year. However, several other important public policy issues are on the horizon in the new year, from local and state to federal items that might impact the Fort Worth business community. Here’s a rundown of some things to watch in 2024.

Policy Pulse December 14, 2023 The filing deadline for the March primary elections in Texas has come and gone, finalizing the field of candidates in various races up and down the ballot. Tarrant County positions such as County Commissioner and Sheriff all the way up to federal positions in the U.S. House of Representatives will […]

In an annual “Investing in America” ranking compiled by the Financial Times and Nikkei, Fort Worth has surged as one of the top cities in the United States for foreign business investment. The state of Texas, and North Texas in particular, solidified several of the top spots in the 91-city rankings. Houston ranked No. 1 […]

In October, an analysis by relocation technology company moveBuddha predicted that Texas would be home to the three largest metro areas in the United States: Dallas-Fort Worth leading the way with 33.9M residents, Houston coming in second with 31.4M, and Austin in third with 22.3M. These three metros, which along with San Antonio form the […]

On November 15, the Fort Worth Chamber hosted its inaugural “Salute to Service” breakfast to empower veterans in their entrepreneurial and business endeavors. Event attendees were treated to a group of speakers including State Senator Kelly Hancock, Councilmember Elizabeth Beck, Councilmember Charles Lauersdorf, Jeffrey King with Falcon Construction, Casey Lawrence with GallantFew, and Steven Gonzalez with Workforce Solutions of Tarrant County.

The Fort Worth Chamber’s investors council was joined by Mayor Mattie Parker on Tuesday for an update on the City of Fort Worth’s new greenspace initiative: Good Natured. Greenspace can be defined as any of the following features:  Mayor Parker argued Fort Worth needs additional greenspace to meet the demands of the city’s record growth, […]

An issue that has emerged more frequently in recent discussions revolves around homelessness and its potential ramifications for businesses in the Fort Worth area.

Early voting began this week for the November 7 Constitutional Amendments election, featuring 14 ballot propositions. The Fort Worth Chamber provided an overview of all 14 earlier this year, which can be viewed here. With several of the propositions impacting business operations in some capacity, outlined below are the pro-business cases for some of the amendments that appear on the ballot.

The Texas Legislature reconvened on October 9 for its third special session of the year. Among the items listed on the call released by Governor Abbott is a “[prohibition of] COVID-19 vaccine mandates by private employers.” At the time of writing, there were two main proposals on the topic; one in the Senate and one in the House.

On October 6, Mayor Mattie Parker updated more than 1,000 local business leaders at the Fort Worth Chamber’s annual State of the City address. With one two-year term in the rearview mirror and embarking on her second term, Mayor Parker described that state of the City as strong, and provided several highlights illustrating the community’s […]

The Wall Street Journal recently published an article illustrating America’s “long-term labor crisis” using a handful of different metrics. What does the statewide and local data say about the same trends in Texas and Tarrant County?

“How important do you think public education is to the health, safety, and welfare of our community?” In a presentation to the Fort Worth City Council on September 19, Pete Geren discussed this question with council members and shared data which painted the picture that Fort Worth area public school students are falling off the pace to remain at grade level in math and reading.

On September 8, the Department of Labor (DOL) announced the publication of a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM), Defining and Delimiting the Exemptions for Executive, Administrative, Professional, Outside Sales, and Computer Employees. Referred to simply as the “overtime rule”, the proposal aims to increase the salary threshold under which employees would be required to receive […]

The Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce hosted its latest Leaders in Government event, presented by Kelly Hart, on Thursday, September 7. U.S. Representative Roger Williams, chairman of the House Committee on Small Business, was the featured speaker. Chairman Williams visited with members of the Chamber’s Business Retention and Expansion Committee as well as the Government Affairs Committee prior to the luncheon, providing updates on issues facing the country’s small businesses.

On November 7, Texans will go to the polls to vote on 14 proposed amendments to the state constitution. Below is a summary of the final seven propositions, in the order they will appear on the ballot. Direct links to each proposition are also included for further reading.

On November 7, Texans will go to the polls to vote on 14 proposed amendments to the state constitution. Below is a summary of the first seven propositions, in the order they will appear on the ballot. Direct links to each proposition are also included for further reading.

The Fort Worth Chamber hosted its annual State of the County, presented by Capital One, on August 17, featuring Tarrant County Judge Tim O'Hare. Judge O’Hare recapped his tenure since coming into office at the beginning of 2023, and provided an overview of the county's current trajectory and future aspirations.

At a Fort Worth City Council meeting on August 8, City Manager David Cooke unveiled a proposed budget for fiscal year 2023-2024. Several additional meetings are scheduled to take place on the budget throughout August and September before finalization, but several items stand out as being of potential interest to the business community. Overview The […]

Texas legislators have one constitutional duty every other year when the Legislature is in session: pass a budget. This biennium’s budget process featured operating with a historic surplus of more than $30 billion, generating robust debate on how to best spend those resources. The final version eclipsed 1,000 pages, so here are some highlights of what is included in the 2024-2025 budget.

The Fort Worth business community secured several public policy wins during the regular session of the 88th Legislature, such as the Texas Jobs, Energy, Technology, and Innovation Act (HB 5), key infrastructure funding, property tax relief, and a boost to Texas community colleges to more adequately prepare the state’s workforce. To inform the business community of other legislative wins, the Chamber will be highlighting a variety of bills that became law this past session. Next up on the list: enhanced film incentives.

The Texas Legislature has reached a long-awaited solution to deliver $18 billion of tax relief to Texans. After several rounds of negotiations from the regular session and two different special sessions, the Texas House and Senate have agreed on a tax relief package that now sits on Governor Abbott’s desk for approval. The Governor has […]

At the conclusion of the 88th regular session of the Texas Legislature, missing from a list of other pro-business policy wins was a resolution on property tax relief. With a record budget surplus, state leaders all agreed that delivering meaningful relief to taxpayers was a top priority. However, agreeing on the delivery mechanism for that relief proved to be more complicated.

The Fort Worth business community secured several public policy wins during the regular session of the 88th Legislature, such as the Texas Jobs, Energy, Technology, and Innovation Act (HB 5) and a boost to Texas community colleges to more adequately prepare the state’s workforce. To inform the business community of other legislative wins, the Chamber will be highlighting a variety of bills that became law this past session. Next up is a review of the variety of infrastructure bills that have been signed into law.

The Fort Worth business community secured several public policy wins during the regular session of the 88th Legislature, such as the Texas Jobs, Energy, Technology, and Innovation Act (HB 5) which was signed into law by Governor Abbott on June 8. To inform the business community of other legislative wins, the Chamber will be highlighting a variety of bills that became law this past session. Next up is House Bill 8, which will enhance opportunity at Texas community colleges.

The regular session of the 88th Texas Legislature concluded, and the first special session began immediately afterwards. Amidst the attention on the special session(s), several pro-business bills were passed during the regular session, including an economic development incentive bill, a junior college finance program, and infrastructure-related funding.

The passage of House Bill 5, also known as the Texas Jobs, Energy, Technology, and Innovation Act, with widespread bipartisan support, aims to create new high-paying jobs, encourage economic development, attract business investment, and promote energy and water infrastructure development in Texas. The bill provides incentives such as property tax abatements and job creation requirements, and it is expected to keep Texas competitive and maintain its economic prosperity, known as the "Texas Miracle," by attracting businesses and ensuring continued investment and job growth.

The end of the Texas legislative session is rapidly approaching May 29. Several important bills that will impact Texas’ economic prosperity are moving through the legislative process ahead of key deadlines. HB 5 – the Fort Worth Chamber’s top priority – passed the Texas House and was heard by the Senate Business & Commerce Committee […]

One of the Fort Worth Chamber’s top legislative priorities this session cleared an important hurdle last week. On Thursday, May 4, HB 5 passed with widespread bipartisan support by a vote of 120-24. The bill was referred to the Senate Committee on Business & Commerce.

Texas voters demonstrate strong support for a new, transparent, and accountable economic development incentive program, according to a recent Greater Houston Partnership-Morning Consult survey.

Last week, the Fort Worth Chamber joined other advocates for job creation and economic growth by sending out a call to action on HB 5, the Texas Jobs and Security Act.

House Bill 5, the Texas Jobs and Security Act, was recently heard in the Texas House Ways & Means Committee, where it now awaits a vote. HB 5 would create a new economic development program for Texas creating jobs and attracting new investment to our community. The vast majority of Texas voters – 84%, in […]

Priority Workforce and Education Bill Passes the Texas House.

On Wednesday, April 5, members of the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce were joined by Senator Ted Cruz for a discussion about policy issues facing Fort Worth area businesses

Governor Abbott, Lieutenant Governor Patrick, and Speaker Dade Phelan have all publicly called for the state’s record budget surplus to be used in large part toward property tax relief for Texans.

With activity in the Texas Legislature picking up steam, the spotlight on our state’s elected officials brightens.

The Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce hosted Governor Greg Abbott at its “Leaders in Government” event on March 15 at The Worthington Renaissance Hotel.

Following the expiration of Chapter 313 – that state of Texas’ primary property tax abatement tool – at the end of 2022, stakeholders have been seeking an alternative that would keep Texas competitive with other states for capital intensive economic development projects.

Last week, Speaker of the Texas House of Representatives Dade Phelan unveiled a slate of priorities that he hopes will be addressed this session by the chamber over which he presides.

The filing deadline has passed for candidates wishing to seek local office in 2023, finalizing the field of candidates who will appear on the ballot this spring. Two new Fort Worth City Council districts have been created to expand the elected representation of the city’s residents. Get to know the districts and the candidates below.

Earlier this year, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) proposed a rule that would ban non-compete clauses between employers and workers.

Speaker of the Texas House of Representatives Dade Phelan announced the committee assignments for the 88th Legislature today. Members hailing from Tarrant County were placed on various committees spanning several different policy areas.

The Texas Legislature is underway for its 88th regular session. The public policy issues that elected officials will deliberate have an impact on local business in Fort Worth, whether it be tax policy, business regulations, quality of life issues, or a variety of other policy areas that effect businesses’ bottom line.

Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick announced the Texas Senate’s committee assignments this week, establishing the leadership of 17 different committees, special committees, and subcommittees with specific legislative purviews.

The Texas Legislature officially convened last week, setting in motion the 140-day period every other year when elected officials address key issues and priorities of the state government.