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On the legislative front, GHBA is instrumental in shaping local and state legislation to benefit both home builders and home owners. By helping to keep the Greater Houston housing market one of the most affordable, the GHBA contributes to the long-term strength of the local economy. In 2005, the GHBA helped members work with a wide variety of government officials to optimize programs, legislation and processes.
The Government Affairs Committee (GAC) met often during the 79th state legislative session to develop positions on legislation that impacted the home building industry.
GHBA also partnered with other stakeholders to fight legislation that would increase the cost of development and hurt the ability of Texas’ working families to purchase a home. Additionally, it joined the Texas Association of Builders (TAB) and other organizations in passing legislation to curb abuses in the granting of Certificates of Convenience & Necessity franchises (CCN’s) or to private water supply corporations and others by the TCEQ.
More than 100 GHBA members traveled to Austin in March to participate in 2005 Rally Day activities that included meeting with members of the legislature.
The GAC’s contributions and achievements, however, were not limited to state efforts. Committee members helped preserve housing affordability in Pearland by fighting against harmful amendments to the city’s revised Uniform Development Code. Committee members also worked closely with Fort Bend County Commissioners Court to craft a reasonable green space requirement for new development.
Several GAC members were active participants in the newly created City of Houston Planning Commission subcommittees which are charged with reviewing and recommending significant changes to numerous ordinances affecting the homebuilding industry locally.
Committee members were instrumental in revamping and streamlining the City of Houston’s Developer Participation Contract program, cutting months off of the process and reducing the program’s bureaucracy. The GAC was also successful in raising the limit on a single project from $500,000 to
$1 million.
Additionally, the GAC crafted and communicated the association’s position to elected officials regarding various regulatory initiatives being undertaken by counties and municipalities throughout the Houston region.
GHBA’s political action committee, HOME-PAC, is a very important component of the industry’s efforts to ensure a level playing field and protect homebuyers from unnecessary costs. HOME-PAC supports candidates who support homeownership. In 2005, GHBA members contributed over $150,000 to the PAC. |
