Register Now for TAB’s 2023 Legislative Conference

posted on 10.31.2022

- Jan. 31 Event Tees Up Newsroom, Business Issues

Registration is open for TAB’s 2023 Legislative Day Conference on Jan. 31 in Austin. All station owners, general managers, news directors and sales managers are encouraged to attend and help advance Texas broadcasters’ agenda in the five-month session.

TAB once again will be advancing a package of bills to address myriad Open Government concerns that either one chamber or the other has supported in the past two sessions. The third try may prove to be the charm as it often is with major legislative initiatives.

While the 2021 session saw three different Ad Tax bills, TAB ensured there was no serious consideration given and has been monitoring activity on this front nationwide during the interim, helping to tamp down a Digital Ad Tax in Maryland.

The state’s burgeoning $44 billion budget surplus – which includes $27 billion from recent economic activity, the state’s $14 billion savings account and $3 billion in remaining funds from the American Rescue Plan Act – almost certainly precludes the need for significant changes to state tax policy in general.

But a desire by legislative leaders to direct as much as half of the surplus toward reducing the local property tax burden on businesses and homeowners could prompt them to consider new economic development strategies needed to sustain such reductions over the long term.

TAB is on high alert for those opportunities, as well as onerous advertising regulations that seek to stymie market growth of new products such as cell- and plant-based meat substitutes or require excessive, time-consuming on-air disclosures.

REGISTER

Legislative Conference Details

The Jan. 31st event runs from 10AM to 2PM and features in-depth policy briefings on TAB’s agenda, as well as major state issues that will dominate the session which runs from Jan. 10 to May 29.

The briefings will be followed by face-to-face discussions between lawmakers and broadcasters over lunch, which is co-sponsored to date by Audacy, Cox Media Group, Gray Television and Sinclair Broadcast Group.

Overall, TAB’s Legislative Conference focuses on building or strengthening personal relationships which are especially key as lawmakers’ schedules grow increasingly hectic throughout the session.

And while TAB will be pushing several bills for passage, broadcasters must be prepared to defend policy victories secured in past sessions ranging from Open Government to newsroom protections to tax regulations.

Home Away from Home

TAB member station newsrooms are invited to check in at their home away from home when in Austin – the TAB office just a couple blocks from the Capitol.

The space includes the TAB Board Room where group interviews can be conducted, as well as individual offices – both private and open – where journalists can work on stories. We even have a couple parking spaces to share on occasion. 

Just call ahead so we can be sure we can accommodate you!

Questions? Contact TAB’s Oscar Rodriguez or call (512) 322-9944.
 

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