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2027 Texas Legislative Priorities

Advancing Houston’s competitiveness. Strengthening the Texas economy.

When the 90th Texas Legislature convenes in January 2027, the Greater Houston Partnership will advocate for policies that support economic growth, strengthen the region’s talent pipeline, protect critical infrastructure, and ensure greater Houston remains a leading place to live, work and build a business.

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Houston’s priorities are also Texas' priorities.

Representing the business community and leading institutions across the 12-county greater Houston region, the Partnership focuses its state advocacy on issues with a direct or enabling impact on employers, workers, and long-term regional competitiveness. 

Houston’s priorities are also Texas priorities. The region is a global center for energy, trade, manufacturing, healthcare, aerospace, and innovation. Its continued success depends on a strong workforce, reliable infrastructure, resilient communities, and policies that allow businesses to invest and grow. 

The Partnership’s 2027 legislative agenda is organized around six executive priorities, supplemented by issues we will advance alongside regional and statewide coalition partners.

Executive Priorities

Six Priorities for Texas’ Competitiveness

The Partnership’s legislative agenda focuses on six issues with a direct impact on employers, workers and the region’s long-term economic strength.

Early Childhood Education

Strengthen the early childhood education system to support working families, increase workforce participation and improve kindergarten readiness.

EXPLORE THE PRIORITY

Public School Accountability and Funding

Maintain a strong accountability system and support education investments that improve student outcomes and workforce readiness.

EXPLORE THE PRIORITY

Workforce Development

Align education and training with industry demand to close talent gaps and connect more Texans to economic opportunity.

EXPLORE THE PRIORITY

Port Region Infrastructure

Secure investment in freight corridors, maritime infrastructure and transportation connections that support statewide commerce and Houston’s global competitiveness.

EXPLORE THE PRIORITY

Regional Resilience and Flood Mitigation

Advance high-priority flood mitigation projects and strengthen the systems that allow Greater Houston to prepare for, withstand and recover from disruptions.

EXPLORE THE PRIORITY

Local Priorities and State Appropriations

Secure targeted state investment in infrastructure and services that protect statewide economic assets and support continued regional growth.

EXPLORE THE PRIORITY
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Early Childhood Education

Access to affordable, high-quality early childhood education affects both the workforce of today and the talent pipeline of tomorrow. Many working parents struggle to find care that meets their families’ needs, causing some to reduce their hours or leave the workforce entirely. For employers already navigating talent shortages, expanding access to reliable care can help increase workforce participation, improve employee retention, and support a stronger regional economy. High-quality early learning also helps children enter school prepared to succeed. Improving kindergarten readiness is an important first step toward stronger academic outcomes, workforce readiness, and economic mobility. The Partnership supports thoughtful reforms that improve alignment, coordination, and transparency across Texas’ early childhood education system. A clearer statewide structure can help improve access, strengthen outcomes, and position Texas to attract additional public and private investment in early learning. Our focus: Strengthen the early childhood education system to support working families, increase workforce participation, and improve kindergarten readiness.

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Public School Accountability and Funding

A strong, transparent public education system is essential to the future of Houston’s workforce and economy. Texas’ accountability system gives parents, employers, and policymakers a consistent way to evaluate school performance. Clear measures help identify successful approaches, direct support where improvement is needed, and maintain a focus on whether students are acquiring the knowledge and skills required for future success. Accountability must be supported by effective investment. The Partnership supports adequate and targeted funding that preserves high-impact programs, strengthens classroom instruction, and directs new resources toward clear priorities and measurable student outcomes. Employers depend on public schools to prepare the next generation of workers, entrepreneurs, and community leaders. Maintaining both transparency and meaningful investment will be critical to Texas’ long-term economic competitiveness. Our focus: Maintain a strong accountability system and support education investments that improve student outcomes and workforce readiness.

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Workforce Development

Greater Houston’s continued growth depends on a workforce with the skills employers need. Businesses across energy, healthcare, manufacturing, construction, logistics, technology, and other high-demand industries continue to face talent shortages. At the same time, many Houstonians need clearer pathways into careers that provide family-sustaining wages and opportunities for advancement. Closing this gap requires stronger alignment among employers, school districts, colleges, workforce organizations, and training providers. Programs designed with direct industry input are more likely to provide relevant skills, recognized credentials, and clear connections to available jobs. The Partnership supports policies that expand collaboration between education and industry, strengthen career-connected learning, and prepare more Texans for high-quality careers in growing sectors. Our focus: Align education and training with industry demand to close talent gaps and connect more Texans to economic opportunity.

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Port Region Infrastructure

The Houston Port region is one of Texas’ most important economic assets and a critical gateway for national and international commerce. Port Houston supports more than 1.5 million jobs across Texas. The Houston Ship Channel and the transportation network surrounding it connect the state’s energy, petrochemical, manufacturing and agricultural industries with customers around the world. Port Houston traded with 216 countries in 2024 and ranked first nationally in foreign waterborne tonnage. That economic activity depends on infrastructure that can safely and efficiently move workers, freight, and goods. Critical corridors serving the port region, including the East 610 Loop and State Highway 225 interchange, face capacity, efficiency and safety challenges. Continued investment is also needed in maritime infrastructure, seaport connectivity, and ship channel improvements. These projects are not solely local transportation needs. Congestion or disruption around the port affects supply chains, businesses, and consumers throughout Texas. Our focus: Secure investment in freight corridors, maritime infrastructure, and transportation connections that support statewide commerce and Houston’s global competitiveness.

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Regional Resilience and Flood Mitigation

For greater Houston to remain a globally competitive region, the critical systems supporting its economy must be able to withstand disruption and recover quickly. The Partnership defines resilience through the systems businesses and communities rely on every day: power, water, transportation, telecommunications, healthcare, and flood mitigation infrastructure. When one of these systems fails, the effects can spread quickly across employers, workers, supply chains, and communities. Flood mitigation remains central to this work. Flooding crosses municipal, county, and watershed boundaries and can disrupt highways, ports, utilities, industrial facilities, hospitals, and employment centers. Addressing these risks requires coordinated planning and sustained investment from state, regional, and local partners. Resilience also influences business decisions. Employers and investors consider infrastructure reliability, business continuity, workforce stability, and recovery capacity when evaluating where to expand or locate operations. Our focus: Advance high-priority flood mitigation projects and strengthen the interconnected systems that allow Greater Houston to prepare for, withstand and recover from major disruptions.

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Local Priorities and State Appropriations

Greater Houston’s infrastructure and public systems serve assets that are vital to the entire state. During the 2025 legislative session, Houston and Harris County secured more than $265 million in state funding for water infrastructure, flood mitigation, and related regional projects. The Partnership worked alongside local and state leaders to advance these investments. Continued state support will be needed to address aging infrastructure, strengthen essential services, and accommodate the growth of one of the nation’s largest metropolitan regions. Houston’s water system, for example, serves communities across multiple counties as well as major statewide economic assets, including the Texas Medical Center and Port Houston. Potential local priorities may also include resources addressing homelessness, behavioral health, public safety, and other needs with implications for workforce participation, economic activity, and quality of life. State investment in Houston produces benefits that reach well beyond the city’s boundaries. It protects trade, energy production, manufacturing, healthcare, and logistics systems that support jobs and economic activity throughout Texas. Our focus: Partner with local governments to secure targeted state investment in infrastructure and services that protect statewide economic assets and support the region’s continued growth.

A Stronger Houston Builds a Stronger Texas

Greater Houston’s economy supports jobs, investment, infrastructure, and supply chains across the state. Policies that strengthen the region’s workforce, schools, transportation systems, and resilience will help Texas remain competitive in a rapidly changing global economy. 

Throughout the 90th legislative session, the Partnership will work with members, elected officials and regional partners to advance practical solutions that support long-term economic growth and opportunity.

Download the 2027 Legislative Agenda