Beginning 90th Session Planning Early
On December 9, TAAHP officially launched its 90th Legislative Session advocacy cycle with a Legislative Town Hall at the Texas Capitol. This marked the beginning of the association’s work to shape its policy agenda for the next session and reflected a deliberate shift in how and when that work begins.
TAAHP’s first Legislative Town Hall occurred in October 2024, just three months before the 89th Legislative Session, when priorities were nearly finalized. For the 90th Session, TAAHP intentionally moved the conversation earlier. By holding the Town Hall more than a year in advance and before any priorities were drafted, members could help identify priorities rather than just responding to decisions already underway.
Expanding Participation & Perspective
The Town Hall was also intentionally opened beyond TAAHP membership. Non-members, partners, and stakeholders were invited to participate alongside members to ensure the conversation reflected the full range of perspectives shaping housing delivery in Texas. The approach strengthened the discussion, reinforced the value of these forums and served as a membership recruitment effort.
Inside the Legislative Town Hall
The Town Hall was designed to gather high-quality industry input before priorities were set. Rather than advancing specific bills, the focus was on identifying challenges and sorting issues into the most realistic solution lanes ahead of formal 90th Session planning.
Participants examined pressure points showing up in real projects, operations, and financing, and considered whether solutions belong in legislation, agency rules, local action, or education and technical assistance. A structured two-phase format helped keep the conversation focused. The first phase identified and narrowed the most pressing statewide issues. The second phase tested root causes and mapped solution pathways. Together, the process produced a shared foundation for early planning grounded in lived experience, not assumptions.
Key Themes from the Discussion
Across issue areas, participants described a housing system under growing strain. The concern was not a single policy change, but the cumulative effect of increasing complexity, unpredictability, and capital hesitation. Investors and lenders, particularly those outside Texas, are paying closer attention to layered requirements and shifting statutes. While deals continue to move forward, longer timelines, tighter underwriting, and higher perceived risk are becoming more common.
At the same time, the discussion reflected a clear opportunity. State leaders are increasingly acknowledging the housing shortage while rejecting one-size-fits-all approaches from other states. Participants agreed that this creates space for Texas-specific solutions rooted in local control, predictability, and efficient use of resources. The Town Hall reinforced that taking advantage of this moment will require early coordination and meticulous messaging.
Next Steps
The Town Hall was an input session, not a decision-making endpoint. TAAHP staff and GALA will now synthesize the outputs into a structured briefing. Issues pointing toward legislation will move through feasibility and political landscape analysis. Regulatory and QAP items will be routed to the appropriate TAAHP committees. Local and education-focused themes will inform 2026 programming and follow-up discussions.
In the coming weeks, TAAHP will share more information about upcoming events, Government Affairs subcommittee work, and the process for setting legislative priorities for the 90th Legislative Session. This next phase will focus on deeper issue development, coalition-building, and preparing the association to engage effectively once the session begins.
This approach reflects TAAHP’s commitment to early engagement, strong member participation, and a deliberate path toward effective advocacy in the 90th Legislative Session.