Governor Greg Abbott named two of the Greater Houston Partnership’s Executive Priorities as emergency items for the Texas Legislature during his State of the State address Sunday. The governor said he wants lawmakers to immediately begin working on solutions to strengthen the workforce, improve the resilience of vital infrastructure, and make a Texas-sized investment in water security. The Partnership supports significant state investments in water infrastructure to ensure reliable supply, upgrade aging systems, and sustain economic growth amid rising demand. Workforce development is another key priority, advocating for stronger collaboration between education institutions and industry to create clear pathways to high-quality jobs. In a sweeping speech covering everything from the border to breaking ground on a Texas stock market, Gov. Abbott said lawmakers should deliver policy solutions that expand the "Texas Miracle." Education, water, and resiliency are key components of that vision. After the speech, Gov. Abbott released more details about the emergency items. To reach the goal of a "Texas-sized investment" for water, lawmakers must develop a solution to invest $1 billion every year for 10 years to address water supplies and repairs to existing infrastructure. By naming these issues as emergency items, lawmakers in the Texas House can debate legislation on the House Floor before the 60-day bill-filing rule. However, policy issues not designated as emergencies cannot be considered by members of the Texas House until after March 14. Last week, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick outlined the first batch of priority bills expected to be filed in the coming days. Highlights from that list coincide with Abbott’s emergency items, including: $2.5 billion for water investment Improving the resiliency of vital infrastructure, specifically water and power Strengthening accountability measures in public education The Texas Senate is already reviewing at least one of the governor’s emergency items. Meanwhile, the Senate Finance Committee is making steady progress in hearing testimony from various state agencies about funding requests for the 2026-27 biennium.  Later this month, the Texas Education Agency is scheduled to testify in the Senate Finance Committee. That hearing will likely reveal more about funding for the governor’s emergency item related to “life-changing career training” in public schools. Sen. Charles Schwertner and Rep. Gary Gates, both representing districts within the Partnership’s footprint, are set to introduce legislation authorizing funding for programs related to welding, health care, and other industries where high school graduates can directly enter the workforce.  One final highlight from the State of the State address is the governor’s declaration to create a Texas Cyber Command. The governor stated this new agency will strengthen the state’s resilience against cyberattacks. This command will train and recruit to protect infrastructure from digital warfare and criminal actors.   Click here to read the governor’s complete State of the State address.

HOUSTON (January 31, 2025) – The Greater Houston Partnership announced the launch of its new five-year strategic framework, Houston Next: Advancing Opportunity, during its Annual Meeting. This comprehensive plan builds upon the organization’s work to position Houston as a world-class hub for economic growth, innovation, and quality of life. "Our region is on a remarkable trajectory, and rapid economic and workforce changes demand bold action to ensure Houston leads in talent, innovation, and resilience,” said Partnership President and CEO Steve Kean. “By fostering collaboration and creating opportunities for all, we are paving the way for a brighter future. Our new strategic plan will drive growth, create opportunity, and strengthen our community." Over the past six years, the Partnership has made significant progress through its core economic development and public policy work, along with key initiatives such as UpSkill Houston, Houston Energy Transition Initiative (HETI) and One Houston Together. These efforts have laid a strong foundation for the new strategic framework, which focuses on three core pillars: Prosperity, People, and Place, with a particular focus on two strategic imperatives: Talent & Economic Mobility and Resilience. Three Core Pillars Prosperity: This pillar focuses on advancing a strong, diverse economy through proactive economic development that attracts global investment and drives growth across key industries including energy, life sciences, aerospace, advanced manufacturing and digital technology.  People: The focus here is on creating inclusive opportunity and driving economic growth for Houstonians through integrated education and workforce training for high-demand careers.  Place: This pillar aims to build a resilient and vibrant region that supports quality of life and economic growth.  New Strategic Imperatives Talent & Economic Mobility: This imperative focuses on creating a strong, skilled workforce that meets the demands of the future, and creates economic opportunity for more Houstonians. The Partnership will work with employers, education providers, and community organizations to align talent supply with demand, foster inclusivity, and expand apprenticeship programs. Resilience: The goal is to make greater Houston the most resilient coastal city in the world. This involves enhancing critical systems' resilience by convening leading stakeholders who own, operate, and use these systems; advocating for policy solutions that improve infrastructure; and telling Houston's resilience story to attract investment and talent.  "In Houston and at the Partnership, we face the future with optimism and the spirit that together, we can do anything,” Kean said. “Collaboration is Houston’s superpower. And the Partnership’s superpower is our ability to convene, connect, and develop plans with the people, the organizations, and the institutions to get things done." The Partnership is launching a $35 million fundraising campaign to help fund the Houston Next strategic plan.  Lead investors include CenterPoint Energy and Quanta Services, along with Camden Property Trust, Chevron, H-E-B, Houston Methodist, Memorial Hermann Health System, Mustang Cat, Shell, and Steve Kean. The strategic framework was unveiled during the Partnership’s Annual Meeting. The event also introduced Gretchen Watkins, President of Shell USA, as the Partnership’s 2025 Board Chair. Additionally, the prestigious 2025 Robert C. McNair Award for Civic Leadership was presented to the Love family, recognizing their profound contributions to the greater Houston community. Learn more about Houston Next. Read our 2024 Annual Report. Click to expand ### MEDIA CONTACT:     Brina Morales                 Sr. Director, Communications        bmorales@houston.org