Hamer: Texas not only leads in economic performance but also in the health of our governance

On Monday (June 2, 2025), we officially closed out the 89th Texas Legislative Session. I want to thank the outstanding Texas Association of Business policy team for their tireless work and dedication in delivering meaningful results for Texas businesses. 

This includes Megan Mauro, our executive vice president and field general at the Capitol, for her incredible efforts; Gabriela Perdichizzi, for her excellent work on economic development, energy, and the Small Business Freedom Council; and Faith Villarreal, MPA, and Jeff Emerick for their impactful contributions at the Legislature. Special thanks to our Chairman, Bill Jones, for his steady leadership, our board officers for their unwavering support, and State Affairs Chair Samantha Omey for her exceptional ability to navigate complex policy issues.

Our Session Results Report highlights the victories we achieved for Texas businesses. The work continues—TAB will keep advocating for forward-thinking, pro-growth policies.

Key wins included increasing the inventory tax exemption from $2,500 to $125,000, establishing a permanent R&D tax credit now more accessible to entrepreneurs and small businesses, and passing a set of corporate transparency and governance laws that will position Texas as the premier destination for corporate headquarters (leaving Delaware in the dust) and the financial capital of the world (the momentum is Y’all Street, not Wall Street). 

We also secured continued investment in community colleges with a focus on high-value credentials, historic investments in water, advanced nuclear energy, and our K-12 system. Additionally, we supported robust investments in semiconductors, space, quantum, and film. An important set of bills to provide more affordable workforce housing also passed.

We helped preserve Texas’s all-of-the-above energy strategy, which has fueled our economic boom and is more critical than ever with Texas as the epicenter for AI, data centers, and advanced manufacturing. Furthermore, we helped protect ERISA and played a key role in promoting greater transparency in future proposed healthcare mandates. 

There’s always more to do, but the galaxy’s top business climate is even stronger after the 89th Texas Legislative Session. Texas, with the world’s eighth largest economy at $2.7 trillion and this year will likely pass France to enter the G7, is expanding our global footprint. Trade offices will be established in Jerusalem, Israel and the UK in addition to the ones already located in Mexico and Taiwan. A future column will delve into the important ballot initiatives voters will consider in November.

I close with thanks and gratitude for the coordinated work of the best jobs governor in America, Greg Abbott, the leadership and vision of Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and Speaker Dustin Burrows, and the Texas Legislature. Nearly all the measures highlighted above enjoyed broad bipartisan support, and in some cases, near-universal approval. Texas not only leads in economic performance but also in the health of our governance.

Editor’s Note: The above guest column was penned by Glenn Hamer, president and CEO of the Texas Association of Business. The column first appeared in Hamer’s newsletter, Ham[m]er Time!, which appears on his LinkedIn page. The column appears in the Rio Grande Guardian with the author’s permission.

Editor’s Note: Click here to read the Texas Association of Business’s 89th Legislative Session Results Scorecard.

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