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Mission:
To advocate for pro-business public policy and a regulatory climate supportive of business growth, economic viability and sustainability for all types and sizes of businesses in the El Paso area and to support and synchronize community efforts in the areas of military, healthcare, education, workforce development, transportation, international trade, and infrastructure & development to achieve these objectives.
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Volunteer Leadership |
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| Bertha Gallardo, Chair Las Palmas Del Sol |
Kathleen Walker, Past-chair Cox Smith Matthews |
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Staff |
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| Mica Short Executive Vice President (915) 534-0571 |
Jackie Butler Director of Policy and Programs Focus: Armed Forces and Transportation (915) 534-0528 |
| Ana Luz Hernandez Director of Policy and Programs Focus: Education & Workforce Development (915) 534-0522 |
Meghan Darnell Programs and Events Manager (915) 534-0530 |
Infrastructure and Development
Walter Miller, ChairMissionTo educate the business community on infrastructure and development issues pertaining to the maintenance of existing assets and plans for growth and advocate for realistic and sustainable policy to governmental entities where appropriate.
- Recent Positions
- Smart Growth Principles [Letter] [Resolution]
- SMARTCode
- Solid Waste
- Subdivision Municipal Code Re-Write
- Storm Water Utility
- Municipal Policy for Multifamily Housing
- Northwest Master Plan Support Resoulution
- Impact Fee Resolution
- Annexation Resolution
- Resources
Transportation
Jack Chapman, ChairMission: To promote and advocate for continued development of a regional transportation plan that will serve community’s needs and support future growth.
- Recent Positions
- Resources
- Transportation Links and Information
Healthcare
Marybeth Stevens, ChairMission: Through a collaborative effort of the healthcare sector and all relative entities, identify local healthcare issues of greatest concern and facilitate a cohesive and constructive community-wide healthcare advocacy effort of these issues at the local, state and federal levels, in addition to developing innovative programs to meet the healthcare needs of the community. .
- The Chamber’s Role in Healthcare
- Recent Positions
- Past Positions
- Resources
- Healthcare Reform
- Medicaid Reimbursement Presentations [Presentation 1] [Presentation 2]
- Medicaid Reimbursement Methodologies
- Managed Care Methodologies
Border Affairs & Immigration
Kathleen Walker, Volunteer LeadMission: Formulate and support sound public policy that relates to international affairs in the areas of immigration, trade, and security creating a favorable business environment throughout the region and work to develop recommendations based on committee consensus to the Department of Homeland Security and other policy makers.
- Recent Positions
- Resources
- Ready Lane Press Release and Documents
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Legislative Agendas |
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Metro 8 Chambers of Texas - 2013 Legislative Agenda |
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Chamber 2013 State Legislative Agenda |
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Chamber 2012 Federal Legislative Agenda |
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Chamber 2011 State Legislative Agenda |
Guide to the Texas Legislature
Legislative Process:
How does a bill originate?
A legislator may draft legislation individually or acquire the services of professional staff of the Texas Legislative Council or the engrossing and enrolling department of the senate. Organizations or individuals with a particular interest on a matter may also prepare legislation. The bill is the most common type of legislative document and is the sole means by which laws may be ratified, amended, or repealed. A bill may originate as the idea of a single legislator or may grow out of the recommendations of a standing or special committee of the legislature that has conducted interim studies on issues affecting specific legislation.
Reference: http://www.tlc.state.tx.us/gtli/legproc/process_bill.html
How is a bill introduced?
A bill may be introduced by any member of the legislature in the member’s own chamber, and the steps a bill goes through in each chamber are essentially the same. A bill passed by one chamber must proceed to the other for passage before the governor decides to approve or veto it.
To introduce a bill in the house of representatives/senate, a state representative/senator must file the required number of copies of the bill with the chief clerk of the house/secretary of the senate, who sequentially numbers each bill in the order in which it is received. Both house and senate rules permit unlimited introduction of bills during the first 60 calendar days of each regular legislative session. After the 60-day period, the introduction of any bill into these chambers---other than a local bill or a bill relating to a matter declared by the governor to be an emergency--- requires the consent of at least four-fifths of those members present and voting.
Reference: http://www.tlc.state.tx.us/gtli/legproc/process_intro.html
What are committees?
In order to ease and reduce the volume of work confronting legislators each session to ensure thoughtful deliberation on all proposed measures, the basic business in both chambers is carried out according to the committee system. Committees are created according to the rules of procedure of the respective chambers to consider introduced bills and to advise on their disposition. A large number of bills are never reported out of committee. Therefore, committee action is the first crucial step in the process by which a bill becomes law.
All committee business on a bill is required to be conducted in open meetings. No official action or vote may be taken except in a meeting that is open to the public.Reference: http://www.tlc.state.tx.us/gtli/legproc/process_role.html
http://www.tlc.state.tx.us/gtli/legproc/process_comproc.html
How does the house function?
The house rules provide for four types of printed calendars:
- The Daily House Calendar: “Contains a list of new bills and resolutions scheduled by the Committee on Calendars for consideration by the house and which must be distributed to the members 36 hours before the house may consider those measures.”
- The Supplemental House Calendar: “Must be distributed two hours before the house convenes and which may contain measures passed to third reading on the previous day; measures on the Daily House Calendar for a previous day that were not reached for consideration; measures on the Daily House Calendar for the current day; postponed business from a previous day; and notice to call from the table a measure laid on the table subject to call on a previous day.”
- The Local, Consent, and Resolutions Calendar: “Must be distributed to the members 48 hours before the listed measures may be considered and which contains a list of local or noncontroversial bills scheduled by the Committee on Local and Consent Calendars for consideration by the house.”
- The Congratulatory and Memorial Calendar: “Must be distributed 24 hours before those measures may be considered and which contains a list of congratulatory and memorial resolutions scheduled by the Committee on Rules and Resolutions for consideration by the house.”
Reference: http://www.tlc.state.tx.us/gtli/legproc/process_housecal.html
How does the senate function?
The senate agenda includes the following information:
- notice of intent, giving the number, author or sponsor, and short caption for each measure that may be considered during the day’s session;
- list of senate bills returned from the house with amendments;
- status of bills in conference committees, giving a short caption and brief history of the action on the bills;
- local and uncontested bills calendar;
- gubernatorial appointments to boards and commissions that have been reported favorably from the Senate Committee on Nominations and are awaiting confirmation by the senate;
- committee hearings scheduled, including short captions for all measures scheduled to be considered by the committees;
- regular order of business, listing all bills and resolutions that have been reported favorably from committees in the order in which they were reported to the senate;
- miscellaneous announcements;
- senate floor action, giving the numbers and short captions for and action taken on all measures brought up for consideration during the previous legislative day;
- senate committee action, giving the same information for all measures considered by committees on the previous day; and
- morning call, which includes senate and house bills and resolutions on first reading and referral to committee, the introduction and consideration of memorial and congratulatory resolutions, messages and executive communications, and other motions.
Reference: http://www.tlc.state.tx.us/gtli/legproc/process_senagenda.html
What transpires when a bill is on a chamber floor?
The first floor consideration of a bill occurs on its second reading. After it is read the second time, by caption only, the measure is subject to debate and amendment by the entire membership of the chamber. If no amendment is made, or if those proposed are disposed of, the final action on second reading of a bill in the original chamber is a vote on its passage to engrossment, or passage to third reading, if the bill is being considered in the opposite chamber. The bill then is laid before the body for a third reading and final passage. A bill may be amended again on third reading, but amendments at this stage require a two-thirds majority of the members present for adoption.
After a bill has been read a third time, a vote is taken for final passage. If the bill receives a simple majority vote, it is considered passed, and the chief clerk of the house or the secretary of the senate, as appropriate, confirms the bill’s final passage. When the bill is passed in the originating chamber, all corrections and amendments are incorporated into it, and an exact and accurate copy of the engrossed bill is prepared and sent to the opposite chamber for consideration.
Reference: http://www.tlc.state.tx.us/gtli/legproc/process_action.html
What happens when a bill returns to its originating chamber?
After a bill has passed through committee deliberation and three readings in the opposite chamber, the bill is sent back to the originating chamber. If no amendments were adopted by the second chamber, the bill is prepared for signing. The enrolled bill then is signed by both presiding officers in the presence of their respective chambers and sent to the governor.
When a bill that has been amended by the opposite chamber is returned to the originating chamber, the originating chamber must concur with all of the amendments made by the opposite chamber before the bill can be enrolled. If the originating chamber does not concur with some or all of the opposite chamber’s amendments, it may request the appointment of a conference committee to resolve the differences between the house and senate versions of the bill.
A conference committee is comprised of five members from each chamber to serve on the committee. A conference committee’s charge is limited to reconciling differences between the two chambers, and the committee, unless so directed, may not alter, amend, or omit text that is not in disagreement. After the committee has reached an agreement, a report is submitted to both chambers for approval or disapproval. Failure of the conference committee to reach agreement kills the measure.
References: http://www.tlc.state.tx.us/gtli/legproc/process_return.html
http://www.tlc.state.tx.us/gtli/legproc/process_concom.html
What occurs when a governor receives a bill passed by both chambers?
Upon receiving a bill, the governor has 10 days in which to sign the bill, veto it, or allow it to become law without a signature. If the governor elects to veto the bill and the legislature is still in session, the bill is returned to the bills original chamber with an explanation of the governor’s objections. A two-thirds majority in each chamber is required to override the veto. If the governor neither vetoes nor signs the bill within the allotted time, the bill becomes law. No law passed by the legislature, except the general appropriation act, shall take effect or go into force until ninety days after the adjournment of the session at which it was enacted, unless the Legislature shall, by a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each House, otherwise direct.
References: http://www.tlc.state.tx.us/gtli/legproc/process_govact.html
http://www.tlc.state.tx.us/gtli/legproc/process_effdate.html
Legislative Resources:
- Legislative Reference Library: http://www.tlc.state.tx.us/gtli/leginfo/serv_lrl.html
- Legislative Information Locator: http://www.tlc.state.tx.us/gtli/leginfo/loctable.html
- FAQ’s: http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/resources/FAQ.aspx
Upcoming Events
District 29 Key Dates:
February - June, 2012: District 29 meetings to obtain citizen input for legislative agenda.
July – October, 2012: District 29 bills drafted and vetted.
Nov. 12, 2012: First day to pre-file bills for the 83rd Legislative Session.
Jan. 8, 2013: First day of 83rd Legislative Session.
March 8, 2013: Last day to file bills.
Other Legislative Dates of Interest Tuesday:
May 29, 2012: Primary election for legislative and other offices is held [Election Code, Sec. 41.007]
Tuesday, July 31, 2012: Primary runoff election for legislative and other offices is held [Election Code, Sec. 41.007]
Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2012: General election for legislative and other offices is held [Election Code, Sec. 41.002]
Monday, Nov. 12, 2012: Prefiling of legislation for the 83rd Legislature begins [House Rule 8, Sec. 7, and Senate Rule 7.04(a)]
Tuesday, Jan. 8, 2013 (1st day): 83rd Legislature convenes at noon [Government Code, Sec. 301.001]
Friday, March 8, 2013 (60th day): Deadline for filing bills and joint resolutions other than local bills, emergency appropriations, and bills that have been declared an emergency by the governor [House Rule 8, Sec. 8; Senate Rules 7.07(b) and 10.01]
Monday, May 27, 2013 (140th day): Last day of 83rd Regular Session; corrections only in house and senate [Sec. 24(b), Art. III, Texas Constitution]
Sunday, June 16, 2013 (20th day following final adjournment): Last day governor can sign or veto bills passed during the regular legislative session [Sec. 14, Art. IV, Texas Constitution]
Monday, Aug. 26, 2013 (91st day following final adjournment): Date that bills without specific effective dates (that could not be effective immediately) become law [Sec. 39, Art. III, Texas Constitution]
SAVE THE DATE! - State of the County - June 26th at the Camino Real
Elected Officials
| City Council Information | |||
| Mayor John Cook Phone: (915)541-4145 E- mail address: mayor@elpasotexas.gov |
District 1 Representative Ann Morgan Lilly Phone: 915-541-4151 E- mail address: district1@elpasotexas.gov Contact District 1 |
District 2 Representative Susie Byrd Phone: 915-541-4416 E- mail address: district2@elpasotexas.gov Contact District 2 |
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| District 3 Representative Emma Acosta Phone: 915-541-4515 E- mail address: district3@elpasotexas.gov Contact District 3 |
District 4 Representative Carl L. Robinson Phone: 915-541-4140 E- mail address: district4@elpasotexas.gov Contact District 4 |
District 5 Representative Dr. Michiel Noe Phone: 915-541-4701 E- mail address: district5@elpasotexas.gov Contact District 4 |
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| District 6 Representative Eddie Holguin Jr Phone: 915-541-4182 E- mail address: district3@elpasotexas.gov Contact District 6 |
District 7 Representative Steve Ortega Phone: 915-541-4108 E- mail address: district7@elpasotexas.gov Contact District 7 |
District 8 Representative Cortney Niland Phone: 915-541-4123 E- mail address: district8@elpasotexas.gov Contact District 8 |
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| Commissioner’s Court Contact Information | |||
| County Judge Veronica Escobar Phone: 915-546-2098 E- mail address: CountyJudge@epcounty.com http://www.epcounty.com/judge |
Commissioner Pct. 1 Carlos Leon Phone: 915-546-2014 E- mail address: Commissioner1@epcounty.com http://www.epcounty.com/comm1 |
Commissioner Pct. 2 Sergio Lewis Phone: 915-546-2111 E- mail address: Commissioner2@epcounty.com http://www.epcounty.com/comm2 |
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| Commissioner Pct 3 Vincent Perez Phone: 915-546-2144 E- mail address: commissioner3@epcounty.com http://www.epcounty.com/comm3 |
Commissioner Pct 4 Daniel R. Haggerty Phone: 915-546-2044 E- mail address: commissioner4@epcounty.com http://www.epcounty.com/comm4 |
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| State Delegation Contact Information | |||
| District 79 Rep. Pickett, Joe C. Phone: 915-590-4349 E- mail address: joe.pickett@house.state.tx.us Website |
District 77 Rep. Marquez, Marisa Phone: 915-532-2755 E- mail address: marisa.marquez@house.state.tx.us Website |
District 75 Rep. Gonzalez, Mary (512) 463-0613 Website |
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| District 76 Rep. Gonzalez, Naomi Phone: 915-775-9937 E- mail address: naomi.gonzalez@house.state.tx.us Website |
District 78 Rep. Moody, Joe (915) 875-0150 Website |
District 29 Senator José Rodríguez Phone: 915-351-3500 E- mail address: jose.rodriguez@senate.state.tx.us Website |
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| Congressman Beto O’Rourke 202-225-4831 http://orourke.house.gov |
Congressman Pete Gallego 202-225-4511 Website |
Senator John Cornyn Phone: (210)224-7485 Website |
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| Senator Ted Cruz 202-224-5922 Website |
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Advocacy
- Chamber Advocate Newsletter - http://www.votervoice.net/groups/epcc/newsletter
Active Issues Page:http://www.votervoice.net/groups/epcc/advocacy
This page lists out all of the advocacy campaigns that are currently active for your WBNY system. When there are no campaigns active, it performs as a directory so members can log in, see which officials they match to, and send a message to the officials of their choosing. When you have one campaign active, it shows that one campaign, and when you have multiple campaigns active it lists those campaigns out on an 'Active Issues' page.
Quick Address Look-Up:http://www.votervoice.net/groups/epcc/address
This allows anyone to enter in their address, look-up their officials and send a message to the officials of their choosing.
Chamber Position on Hotel Occupancy Tax
