September 13 , 2019

Inside this edition of Capitol Roundup:

AGC-TBB joins business groups in support of legal challenge opposing Dallas paid sick leave ordinance

Special election to fill three House seats set for Nov. 5

AGC-TBB Executive Committee invites new members to its Legal Affairs Committee

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Quote of the Week:

"Look, I'm a solid NRA guy, but not expanding the background check to eliminate the stranger to stranger sale makes no sense to me and ... most folks."

- Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick


Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick made the comment late last week as he came out in favor of tightening laws around background checks of gun purchasers, particularly in instances of so-called "stranger-to-stranger" sales.

Support from Rio Grande Valley in passing AGC construction defect bills

Rep. Eddie Lucio III (D-Brownsville); AGC President Corbin Van Arsdale; Rep. Oscar Longoria (D-Mission); and Rep. Armando Martinez (D-Weslaco)

A big thank you is owed to these legislators from the Rio Grande Valley for their support on three key AGC bills that passed the Legislature and were signed into law this year.

Thank you to Reps. Lucio, Longoria, and Martinez for their roles in helping pass House Bills 1734, 1999, and 2826, all dealing with construction defects and the right to repair. 
AGC-TBB signs onto amicus brief in legal challenge opposing paid sick leave ordinance in Dallas

AGC Texas Building Branch along with several Texas business groups have joined the Dallas Regional Chamber of Commerce in its court filing opposing the city's paid sick leave ordinance.

The lawsuit filed in federal court by the Texas Public Policy Foundation came two days before the ordinance was scheduled to take effect and about a week after San Antonio city officials agreed with local business groups to postpone implementation of a similar ordinance. 

Dallas, Austin, and San Antonio are among cities that have enacted government-mandated paid sick leave laws in cities across Texas after similar efforts failed in the state Legislature this spring. Each of the local ordinances requires private employers to offer their employees paid sick leave or face penalties. 

The business groups joining the Dallas Regional Chamber in opposing the ordinance, including AGC-TBB, filed an amicus ("friend of the court") brief in the lawsuit as part of an umbrella organization called ASSET - Alliance for Securing and Strengthening the Economy in Texas. AGC-TBB joined other construction groups such as Associated Builders and Contractors of Texas, Texas Association of Builders, Texas Construction Association, along with several other business groups.  Click here to see a full list of supporters. 

The following is a passage from the amicus brief filed with the court: 

"The Dallas Paid Sick Leave Ordinance creates inconsistent regulations, confusion, and unnecessary complications for employers (including the Chamber) and employees across the Dallas region and state of Texas, which deters continued growth. The one-size-fits-all approach mandated in the Ordinance regarding the record-keeping and method of calculating paid sick leave is not practical for businesses currently operating in the region."

"The Chamber is also concerned that the Ordinance violates the Constitutional rights of various employers, employees and businesses. The far-reaching consequences of the Ordinance threaten economic sustainability, business attraction and growth in the Dallas region."
Candidates line up to fill three vacant seats in the Texas House in Nov. 5 special elections

The list of candidates was made final last week to fill three Texas House seats in special elections that Gov. Greg Abbott announced will take place Nov. 5, 2019. Early voting begins Oct. 21.

The House districts that will be filled in the special elections are HD 28, vacated by Rep. John Zerwas; HD 100, vacated by Rep. Eric Johnson; and HD 148, vacated by Rep. Jessica Farrar.

House District 28 candidates:
  • Ana Allred (R-Houston)
  • Gary Gates (R-Rosenberg)
  • Gary J. Hale (R-Katy)
  • Tricia Krenek (R-Katy) 
  • Sarah Laningham (R-Richmond)
  • Clinton D. Purnell (R-Katy)
  • Elizabeth "Eliz" Markowitz (D-Katy)
House District 100 candidates:
  • James Armstrong, III (D-Dallas)
  • Lorraine Birabil (D-Dallas) 
  • Daniel Davis Clayton (D-Dallas) 
  • Sandra Crenshaw (D-Dallas)
  • Paul K. Stafford (D-Dallas)
House District 148 candidates
  • Rob Block (D-Houston) 
  • Kendra Yarbrough Camarena (D-Houston)
  • Carol Denson (D-Houston) 
  • Anna Eastman (D-Houston) 
  • Adrian Garcia (D-Houston) 
  • Terah Isaacson (D-Houston) 
  • Michele Leal (D-Houston) 
  • Mia Mundy (D-Houston) e
  • Penny "Morales" Shaw (D-Houston) 
  • Alva Trevino (D-Houston) 
  • Chris Watt (D-Houston) 
  • Chris Carmona (R-Houston)
  • Luis La Rotta (R-Houston) 
  • Ryan McConnico (R-Houston) 
AGC-Texas Building Branch welcomes new members to its Legal Affairs Committee

The AGC-TBB Executive Committee recently decided to bring in new membership to its Legal Affairs Committee. AGC-TBB welcomes the new members to the committee, all of whom are well-known and outstanding attorneys.
 
The AGC-TBB Legal Affairs Committee members are listed below, with new members in bold:  
 
Tom Vaughn, Vaughn Construction
Steve Nelson, Markel/SureTec
Curt Martin, Peckar & Abramson
Robert Bass, Winstead
Ben Westcott, Andrews Myers
Stephanie Cook, Cokinos ǀ Young
John Slates, Slates Harwell
Jessica Barger, Wright, Close & Barger
Corbin Van Arsdale, AGC-Texas Building Branch
Pat Wielinski, Cokinos ǀ Young (insurance)
Lee Shidlofsky, Shidlofsky Law Firm  (insurance)
 
November 2019
FRI 15th - Board meeting

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