About
The Texas Business Roundtable is comprised of the chief executives and government affairs staff of 31 Texas professional, business, and trade associations. The Texas Business Roundtable will assist the state’s leading business associations in their commitment to preserving a strong economic climate for Texas business.
The role of the Roundtable is to foster mutual understanding and collaboration between the business community and the legislature on policy questions of vital importance to all Texans. The group accomplishes this, in part, by providing a forum in which the business community and state leaders can meet and discuss issues of common concern. Roundtable member associations collectively represent hundreds of thousands of Texas businesses and their employees, and a united business community will produce a more vibrant and prosperous Texas economy.
TBR members meet for breakfast each week during the legislative session and host members of the Texas Senate, Texas House of Representatives, and other state leaders for discussions of legislative issues and activity. During campaign season, the group meets with candidates for the legislature and other elective positions in Texas government. The organization does not have a political action committee and does not make contributions.
Texas Business Roundtable activities are directed by Carol Sims, who also serves as Executive Director of the Texas Civil Justice League.
Our Guiding Principles
The associations that comprise the membership of the Texas Business Roundtable are drawn together by a vision for a prosperous Texas. We believe that all Texans should be able to contribute their fullest potential to the economy and enjoy the rewards of their labors. Texans should have access to a quality of life that is second to none – a good home, a good job, affordable health care, and access to retail & recreational opportunities.
For that vision to become a reality, the Texas economy must provide a solid foundation for large and small business expansion and capital investment. Texas businesses should be able to compete and contribute efficiently to provide the necessary goods and services and jobs that Texans need. Government should work in harmony with business to provide and maintain a stable economy that can continue to grow.
The Texas Business Roundtable Believes in the Following Principles:
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- Government should provide only those necessary public services which the private sector cannot efficiently offer, and should provide them at the lowest possible cost.
- Texas must have quality infrastructure – water, transportation, and energy – available for both individual Texans and businesses.
- Our system of public education must produce a skilled workforce that is able to participate in and contribute to a modern economy.
- Texas’ regulatory policies must be rational, ensuring that the public is protected without placing undue constraints on the economy.
- Taxes should be low, fair, reasonable, predictable and understandable, and should be administered efficiently to minimize compliance costs.
- Texas’ judicial policies must be reasoned and balanced.
- Government should pursue pro-growth, non-restrictive economic policies.
We support these principles so that the members our associations represent can contribute fully to the economy, creating jobs and wealth to benefit all Texans.
TBR Member Organizations
American Council of Engineering Companies of Texas
Associated General Contractors – Highway, Heavy, Utilities, Industrial Branch
Associated General Contractors – Texas Building Branch
Association of Electric Companies of Texas
Independent Insurance Agents of Texas
Texans for Lawsuit Reform
Texas Apartment Association
Texas Association of Builders
Texas Association of Manufacturers
Texas Association of Realtors
Texas Automobile Dealers Association
Texas Bankers Association
Texas Cable Association
Texas Chemical Council
Texas Civil Justice League
Texas Dental Association
Texas Food & Fuel Association
Texas Hospital Association
Texas Medical Association
Texas Oil and Gas Association
Texas Package Stores Association
Texas Pharmacy Association
Texas Pipeline Association
Texas Restaurant Association
Texas Retailers Association
Texas Society of Architects
Texas Society of CPAs
Texas Taxpayers and Research Association
Texas Trucking Association
Texas Veterinary Medical Association
Wholesale Beer Distributors of Texas