PRESS RELEASE:
New Coalition Launches to Fight Burdensome Business Regulations in Texas
Group advocates for policies that prevent California-style local ordinances from governing private employment practices
AUSTIN, Texas, Oct. 22, 2018 – On behalf of businesses big and small, and representing millions of Texas workers, the Alliance for Securing and Strengthening the Economy in Texas, or “ASSET”, today announced the launch of its coalition to fight for public policies that protect Texas small business owners from burdensome, California-style government regulations.
ASSET, a 501(c)(4), non-profit coalition, believes it is in the best interest of the Texas economy to defend state sovereignty by passing a statewide law to preempt local governments from unilaterally enacting piecemeal local employment and labor laws affecting private employer operational business practices like employer benefits, scheduling, and hiring practices.
“Texas has never had to worry about defending its small-business-friendly title until now. California-style labor policies are creeping into Texas, quickly changing the landscape and adding to the thousands of regulations businesses deal with daily,” said Annie Spilman, spokesperson for ASSET. “As a coalition, ASSET will be a voice for millions of Texans who benefit from a work environment created by private employers in tune with their community—not government. We look forward to working with employers and employees across the state to advocate for public policies that advance the economic future of our state and keep Texas open for business.”
Increasingly, Texas cities have been pressured to expand their regulatory scope and pass local ordinances regarding private employment practices – matters that have been traditionally handled at the state and federal level. Local ordinances have created an inconsistent patchwork of regulations that makes it difficult for cities to attract new business, create jobs, and for businesses to operate across jurisdictions. As a result, Texas businesses are finding it increasingly difficult to operate under these unfunded mandates and burdensome regulations. ASSET believes statewide legislation should be signed into law to prohibit municipalities from instituting local ordinances regulating business practices.
Sixteen of the state’s top business and industry groups have partnered to form the coalition, including:
• Associated Builders and Contractors of Texas
• Texas Association of Builders
• National Federation of Independent Business
• Society for Human Resource Management – Texas & American Staffing Association
• Texas Construction Association
• Central Texas Subcontractors Association
• Texas Hotel & Lodging Association
• Texas Restaurant Association
• Texas Retailers Association
• Texas Association of Business
• U.S. Hispanic Contractors Association
• Texas Food & Fuel Association
• Texas Apartment Association
• Associated General Contractors – Texas Building Branch
• Real Estate Councils of Texas
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