Greetings,

As we head toward the holiday season, legislative committees have been meeting to organize the 87th Legislative session, which will start Tuesday, Jan. 12, 2021. Issues concerning redistricting, economic conditions, racial justice, energy and law enforcement will influence the agenda of the 140-day session. As you receive updates, please let us know if there are any topics you would like to hear more about from Government Relations.

Thank you for your dedication to UTA and Go Mavs!

UTA Government Relations

At the end of fiscal year 2020, the Texas Comptroller published an updated overview of the state economy as we approach the 2021 legislative session. While the Texas economy and state revenues have recovered from the lowest points of the COVID-19 pandemic, revenue is still down compared to the prior fiscal year and the state economy faces an unprecedented degree of uncertainty. The next revenue update will be provided in January 2021.

The Wall Street Journal assesses “The Challenges Weighing on Passing a New COVID-19 Stimulus Bill.” The forces pushing for the passage of a new stimulus bill include the poor economic outlook, the resurgence of COVID-19 in the winter months, and President-Elect Joe Biden’s desire to pass another bill. However, deep divisions separate the House and Senate proposals, and there is ongoing uncertainty over the makeup of Congress following runoff elections.

“Behind Dow 30,000: A Self-Perpetuating Upward Cycle” discusses the stock market boom during the pandemic and potential headwinds. Stock market performance is important for a variety of state funding streams, from pension funds to endowment funds, such as the National Research University Fund, for which UTA may soon be eligible.

December 14 | House Meeting of Presidential Electors

December 15 | Texas Infrastructure Resiliency Fund Advisory Committee

Due to ongoing concerns with COVID-19, Senate committee hearings will not be broadcast live but will be posted to the Senate Hearing Archives and the House Hearing Archieves pages when the meetings conclude.

The Office of the Governor is always looking for people to apply to various boards, including higher education. If you need assistance in applying, please contact Jeff Jeter at jeter@uta.edu. See a full list of available positions.

The University needs the support of its faculty, staff, and alumni to ensure we continue to receive resources to serve our students, conduct research, and expand our programs. For more information on how you can support the University and its legislative goals, contact:

• Jeff Jeter, vice president of Government Relations, at jeter@uta.edu
• Martin Lujan, director of Government Relations, at martin.lujan@uta.edu
• Bogan Pollock, director of Public Policy, at bogan@uta.edu
• Trevor Simmons, senior budget analyst, at trevor.simmons@uta.edu
• Beth Robinson, administrative assistant, at beth.robinson@uta.edu

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