The Texas legislative session begins this week. Lawmakers meet in Austin for 140 days every two years to pass new laws and a budget.
The North Texas Commission has laid out its priorities from local government and business leaders. The commission said its priorities include workforce readiness, economic competitiveness and strong local communities.
Workforce readiness includes education and health and well-being. North Texas Commission said the legislature should must adequately fund public education, saying "a skilled workforce is pipeline is fueled by quality education."
"Those are areas from K through 12 to making sure our public schools are well-funded, well-supported," said North Texas Commission Chief Executive Chris Wallace.
In turn, he said a quality education will attract employers to continue economic development.
The North Texas Commission also urges the legislature to expand Medicaid, saying 38 other states have accepted some form of Medicaid expansion already. The commission said a "healthy workforce is crucial to a productive and stable economy."
For health and well-being, the commission says the legislature should also take steps to increase the supply of trained healthcare workers. The commission says the legislature should also fund increased access to mental health services.
"These are about issues, core issues, and it's really stressing good governance over politics," Wallace said.
The North Texas Commission says the legislature should also work to establish a "talent pipeline" and continued economic development.
For infrastructure, the commission said the legislature should invest now to meet the needs of the current population while also planning long-term for continued growth.
"Ensuring adequate water supply, strengthening electric grid resiliency and reliability, providing integrated transportation systems of choice, and expanding access to and adoption of broadband are all necessary to meeting the demands of our rapidly growing region, and continued business development," the commission said.
The state comptroller predicts a $27 billion budget surplus for the next legislature. Wallace says some of that money can be spent now to ensure Texas can stay competitive long-term by expanding transportation and ensuring the electric grid can handle increased population.
"Any sort of one-time expenditures that can set us up for a greater future," he said.
The legislative session begins January 10.
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