By Leslie Mireles, Public Policy, Manager
Average reading time: 3 minutes
At the start of the 89th Texas Legislative Session, there was notable momentum behind bills aimed at improving quality of life for Texans. The Dallas Regional Chamber closely tracked and supported legislation tied to re-entry programs, public safety, homelessness, and more issues that directly impact our region and business community.
Gov. Greg Abbott has signed into law two key victories for protecting Texas businesses, and the DRC is already mobilizing our strategy for the interim and laying the groundwork for employment-focused legislation in the 90th Texas Legislative Session in 2027.
Combating organized retail theft
Organized retail theft costs Texas approximately $421 million annually. To address this issue, the legislature passed and Gov. Abbott has signed Senate Bill (SB) 1300 to strengthen prosecution and increase penalties for organized retail theft. Key provisions of the bill, including increased criminal penalties, streamlined prosecution, and clarified evidence standards, provide the necessary tools for the state to combat retail crime.
SB 1300 helps protect retailers of all sizes—particularly small and midsize businesses that may not have the resources to absorb repeated losses. Reducing organized theft not only safeguards businesses’ bottom lines, but also promotes safer shopping environments and helps keep prices stable for Texas consumers.
Protecting infrastructure from copper theft
The increase in value and availability of copper has contributed to a rise in theft and illegal trade, frequently targeting essential infrastructure—including telecommunications, power grids, and utility systems. These crimes result in costly damages and service disruptions that impact businesses and communities alike.
In response, Gov. Abbott swiftly signed SB 1646 into law to help combat the theft, damage, or destruction of copper and brass materials, specifically in relation to critical infrastructure. The bill establishes criminal offenses and compliance requirements for metal recycling businesses.
By protecting infrastructure assets, this legislation supports business continuity across industries, from construction and energy to logistics and communications—ensuring safer, more reliable services for all Texans.
Looking ahead: employment-centered strategies for the 90th Session
While we celebrate the progress made by the 89th Texas Legislature, the work begins for the 90th—and our sights are squarely on expanding access to employment opportunities to help sustain Texas’ rapid growth. Our interim priorities include two key areas: reducing homelessness through employment and expanding second-chance reentry programs.
Connecting employment and homelessness solutions
Employment is a critical step in supporting individuals experiencing homelessness, and better data is essential to improving coordination among service providers, tracking outcomes, and enhancing access to resources that promote long-term stability. For the business community, reducing homelessness means healthier, more vibrant communities and a broadened talent pool. For our region, it means an elevation to our collective quality of life.
Expanding second-chance hiring and reentry pathways
Another key strategy is strengthening reentry programs for individuals with low-level, non-violent offenses—those who often face significant barriers to employment, housing, and education after serving their time. Expanding second-chance opportunities not only improves individual outcomes but also strengthens Texas’ workforce and reduces recidivism. In the next legislative session, we expect to see proposals focused on streamlining the process of addressing low-level, non-violent offenses, particularly using nondisclosure orders. Notable efforts were made in the space through filed bills that sought to automatically seal certain low-level misdemeanor offenses. The movement of these bills reflects a growing, bipartisan recognition of removing barriers for individuals with low-level offenses, expanding the workforce, and, in the long term, helping meet the growing needs of Texas employers. Legislation like this aims for rehabilitation, allowing individuals to successfully reintegrate and grow the state’s talent pipeline.
Both of these efforts are crucial to improving economic mobility, addressing labor shortages that challenge Texas businesses, and enhancing the overall quality of life across our state.
The DRC worked closely with our members, community partners, and elected officials to help advance some meaningful wins not just for the Dallas Region, but for the entire state of Texas this session—and we look forward to continuing those collaborative efforts in the interim to set us up for key progress in the next session.
Do any of these bills affect your business? Send me a note on your thoughts.