Mike Christen - HoustonNewMedia.org

California-to-Texas migration pattern still holds, according to report

Mike Christen — Wed, 17 Apr 2024 16:00:49 +0000

What states are bringing us the most new Texans? Get the new numbers in this article.

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Voter-approved property tax cuts could spur economic development in Texas, business leaders say

Mike Christen — Thu, 16 Nov 2023 13:49:35 +0000

With Proposition 4 — the state's vast property tax relief package — now approved by voters, some representatives of the business community share that the coming breaks will help foster more economic growth in Texas while others argue it will do little ...

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What Texas businesses need to know after court ruling against law derided as ‘Death Star Bill’

Mike Christen — Tue, 12 Sep 2023 20:02:40 +0000

Passed this year by state lawmakers, the Texas Regulatory Consistency Act would nullify a wide range of local employment laws enacted over the years by Texas cities. Opponents have called it the "Death Star Bill." Now that a district judge called the n...

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X-energy hopes to transform nuclear power in Texas

Mike Christen — Mon, 21 Aug 2023 21:16:54 +0000

A new way to harness nuclear power is gaining momentum, and a small city on the Texas Gulf Coast could be the epicenter of the effort. X-energy says it can build smaller, safe, more cost-effective nuclear reactors that are independent from the state gr...

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Proposed Texas property tax cuts generate skepticism, cautious optimism among businesses

Mike Christen — Wed, 16 Aug 2023 19:57:16 +0000

Texas' plan to spend $18 billion to cut property taxes is in the hands of voters. Click through to learn more about the proposals and to hear reaction from business insiders.

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Arcadia eFuels shifting HQ to Austin, aims to make synthetic kerosene in Texas

Mike Christen — Thu, 27 Jul 2023 20:30:00 +0000

A company developing synthetic fuels that make traditional engines more sustainable is moving its global headquarters to Austin and is in need of office space and key executives. Click through to learn more about Arcadia eFuels, including its plans to ...

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Texas House sends tax relief bills to Gov. Abbott; business leaders celebrate

Mike Christen — Fri, 14 Jul 2023 12:46:39 +0000

The Texas House voted overwhelmingly late July 13 in favor of the property tax cuts approved earlier in the week by the Senate, sending three bills to the desk of Gov. Greg Abbott and moving one of the signature issues of this year's legislative sessio...

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In Austin, race is on to keep up with Tesla, Samsung and other advanced manufacturers

Mike Christen — Thu, 13 Jul 2023 22:51:44 +0000

With a tidal wave of new manufacturing-related work consuming Austin, education institutions of all types and sizes are gearing up to meet demand. Here's a peek into the mobilization.

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Texas’ GDP growth started 2023 with a bang, outpacing US average

Mike Christen — Fri, 07 Jul 2023 17:25:32 +0000

First-quarter real gross domestic product in the Lone Star State grew 3% from the prior quarter, compared with 2% for the United States, according to new data from the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis. The data underscore the sentiment that Texas may b...

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Texas has ‘Best Business Climate’ in US, site selectors say

Mike Christen — Tue, 27 Jun 2023 19:49:13 +0000

It is the second time in five years the magazine has awarded Texas the title of Best Business Climate. "Taking the top spot this year is based not only on the impressive capital investment and job creation numbers, but also for diversity of industries,...

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Texas notches 27th straight month of growth in non-farm jobs in May 2023

Mike Christen — Tue, 20 Jun 2023 12:56:52 +0000

The size of the Texas civilian workforce has surpassed 15 million for the first time, a symbolic level underscoring the continued population growth of the state.

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Mostly wins, some losses for business at Texas Legislature

Mike Christen — Tue, 13 Jun 2023 19:48:04 +0000

Business leaders say there is a lot to celebrate following the end of the 88th Texas Legislature's regular session: "On every metric that a business would look at, Texas is going to be more competitive than it was before this session, when we were alre...

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Abbott signs Texas’ new Chapter 403 tax breaks into law

Mike Christen — Thu, 08 Jun 2023 11:48:09 +0000

Chapter 403 gives Texas school districts the ability to cap the taxable value of a property for up to 10 years, potentially saving companies millions or even billions of dollars over a decade. Click through to read more about how the incentives work.

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How would Texas’ new Chapter 403 incentives work and what do business leaders think of them?

Mike Christen — Mon, 05 Jun 2023 11:59:06 +0000

Pending one more signature, companies seeking to make multimillion-dollar or multibillion-dollar investments in Texas will soon have a new way to access tax breaks. Chapter 403 is the new Chapter 313 — an incentives program breaks based on school prope...

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$1.5B allocated to help more Texans access high-speed internet

Mike Christen — Thu, 01 Jun 2023 14:46:32 +0000

Texas' upcoming investment in broadband internet could generate billions in revenue for the state and create thousands of new job opportunities for those living in rural communities.

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Texas won’t limit real estate deals by citizens, businesses from China

Mike Christen — Thu, 01 Jun 2023 10:00:00 +0000

Senate Bill 147 would have limited land purchases by citizens of nations listed on an annual federal threat assessment — currently China, Iran, North Korea and Russia. But the proposal did not make it through the recently ended legislative session. Inc...

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Texas lawmakers on cusp of reviving school property tax breaks for big, expanding businesses

Mike Christen — Thu, 25 May 2023 21:11:20 +0000

Texas lawmakers appear ready to revive a school property tax abatement program intended to lure major corporate projects to the state. State senators on May 24 voted 27-4 in favor of the Texas Jobs and Security Act, designated as House Bill 5, which wo...

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Climax nears for effort to revive school property tax breaks in Texas

Mike Christen — Wed, 24 May 2023 12:41:55 +0000

It's do or die time for a push by Texas lawmakers to revive and revise a school property tax abatement program that has been used to attract major corporate projects to the state. Chapter 313 died in the last legislative session, but an effort to creat...

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Texas lawmakers approve formation of Texas Space Commission

Mike Christen — Mon, 22 May 2023 12:41:13 +0000

Texas lawmakers approved the creation of the Texas Space Commission and the Aerospace Research and Space Economy Consortium, two organizations aimed at fostering growth in the space and defense industry. The legislation heads next to the desk of Gov. G...

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Unpacking Texas’ incoming business court system

Mike Christen — Wed, 17 May 2023 13:07:41 +0000

Texas lawmakers have approved legislation that establishes a new court specifically for large businesses in Texas. It's an effort to make the state more business-friendly. What kinds of lawsuits will it cover? How will judges be picked? Is this unusual...

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