FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 3, 2025
Coalition Applauds Legislation to Modernize Texas’ Regulatory System
House Bills 10 and 11 Would Support Long-Term Economic Growth
Austin, TX – The Coalition for Regulatory Efficiency and Reform (CRER) applauds Rep. Giovanni Capriglione (R-Southlake) and Rep. Dade Phelan (R-Beaumont) for filing pro-growth government efficiency and reform legislation. House Bill 10 (HB 10) would amend Texas’ regulatory framework to make all rules more effective, efficient, and transparent. House Bill 11 (HB 11) would increase occupational licensing agreements with other states to make it easier for professionals who got licensed elsewhere to work in Texas. Together, these bills would modernize the system, fuel long-term economic growth, and help ensure Texas remains the best place to live, work, and do business.
HB 10: Improving the Regulatory Process
HB 10 is designed to streamline regulations and establish a more effective system. Despite Texas’ business-friendly reputation, it is the fifth-most regulated state in the nation.
“Texas needs a more effective regulatory framework – as I have proposed in HB 10,” said Rep. Giovanni Capriglione, Chair of the new House Committee on Delivery of Government Efficiency. “This legislation includes stronger oversight and better mechanisms to ensure agencies thoroughly evaluate their rules, continually streamline and improve them, and provide transparent information to the public. The enhanced process will reduce bureaucratic inefficiencies, while driving the growth of new and existing businesses, creating good jobs, and fueling innovation across our state.”
Policies to modernize the system and combat regulatory accumulation could unlock billions of dollars in economic growth. A January study by the Mercatus Center at George Mason University estimates that even a modest 10 percent reduction in state regulations could expand Texas’ economy by $52 billion by 2037. A 40 percent reduction could yield an economy more than half a trillion dollars larger.
HB 10 would:
· Create a new Regulatory Efficiency Office within the Governor’s Office to support state agencies in modernizing, improving, and reducing regulations on Texans
· Create a state website to serve as a user-friendly portal for new and existing business owners, where individuals can enter the type of business they own or want to start and see all state regulations affecting that business in a single, accessible place
· Require all rules and regulations be written in plain language that is clear and easy to understand
· Increase transparency in the rule review process by requiring more direct notice as well as mandatory solicitation of input from regulated entities and the public on the regulations being proposed or reviewed and the cost and impact of such rules
· Allow a rule to be invalidated if an agency fails to properly perform the statutorily required cost-benefit and impact analyses
· Codify the standard of judicial review of state agency interpretations by providing that courts are not required to give judicial deference to agency interpretations of law or rules
HB 11: Increasing Occupational Licensing Reciprocity
HB 11 is designed to increase occupational licensing reciprocity agreements with other states. Currently, Texas has one of the highest occupational licensing burdens in the nation, with 858 license types. Obtaining required licenses involves submitting an application, paying related fees, and, in many cases, completing numerous hours of education and training.
“More people move to Texas annually than any other state, and many of these individuals are professionals who have already taken the steps to get licensed in their chosen fields,” said Rep. Dade Phelan, Chair of the House Committee on Licensing and Administrative Procedures. “HB 11 would help more of these new Texans get right to work when they arrive here – opening businesses that power local economies, creating greater choices for Texas consumers, and adding to our traditions of productivity and entrepreneurship that make Texas such an attractive place to be. The bill would also streamline licensing overall, reducing barriers to economic activity and growth.”
HB 11 would:
· Create a goal of increasing occupational licensing reciprocity agreements with other states that have licensing standards similar to those in Texas
· Direct each licensing agency to submit a report to the Legislature about the agency’s efforts to obtain reciprocity agreements with other states and its recommendations for reducing licensing requirements in Texas
The Coalition for Regulatory Efficiency and Reform
CRER is a network of industry, policy, and community organizations working to foster a regulatory environment in Texas that advances job creation and long-term economic growth. The group endorses HB 10 and HB 11 as part of its effort to create a best-in-the-nation regulatory model for Texas, where all rules are reviewed on a regular basis through an objective, transparent, and efficient process. The bills include important reforms that are widely supported by Texas voters.
Former Chief Justice of the Texas Third District Court of Appeals Jeff Rose – who presided over countless administrative cases during his time on the bench and recently penned an op-ed calling for state regulatory reform – commended the recently filed legislation.
“Texans are proud of our strong economy and pro-business policies,” Justice Rose said. “But regulatory accumulation and our inefficient system are creating costs that trickle down to individuals, businesses, and families – and that jeopardize our state’s ongoing success. House Bills 10 and 11 would implement sensible reforms that would benefit all Texans. This would improve our regulatory system, stimulate billions of dollars in growth, and help cement Texas’ status as a global economic leader.”
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To learn more about CRER and its effort to pass meaningful state regulatory reform in the 2025 legislative session, visit TxRegReform.com.
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