- 2021 -

Texas Legislative Session

2021 Legislative Agenda

Sales Tax on Professional Services
TXCPA opposes a sales tax on professional services. Such a tax would be extremely difficult to administer and implement and will not raise any significant amount of money to offset any budget deficits
Fingerprinting Extension for CPA License Renewals
(SB 297) and (HB2023) The State Board of Accountancy Sunset legislation from 2019 required CPA licensees to submit fingerprints (one-time) when they renew their licenses. The COVID pandemic has made it difficult for Board and licensees to meet the Aug. 31, 2021 fingerprinting deadline. TXCPA is supporting SB 297 (Senator Perry) to extend the statutory deadline to submit fingerprints while also making sure that licenses continue to be renewed and not suspended during the pandemic.
Civil Liability Reform
The COVID-19 pandemic has placed many businesses and employees in untenable positions regarding employees returning to work in an office environment. TXCPA will monitor all legislation relating to COVID civil liability reform and be part of the discussion among employers, business/trade associations, employees and others to craft a fair approach and solution to the issue.
Proper Regulatory Oversight of Accounting Profession
TXCPA will support legislation that protects the accounting profession from deregulation efforts that lessen CPA requirements, open up the profession to unlicensed persons, or lessen the regulatory oversight of the Texas State Board of Public Accountancy.
Tax Reform
TXCPA will work to ensure that any tax legislation, whether general tax reform, tax increases, or COVID-19 specific reforms, adequately address issues and concerns that are vital to the accounting profession. Any changes to tax rates, filing deadlines, and any imposition of new taxes should properly address business and accounting professional concerns.

News

+ Redistricting Resources & Information (10-1-21)

+ Texas Senators Blast Regulator for Power Grid Winterization Loophole Lawmakers Wrote into Law (9-28-21)

+ Texas Lawmakers Tackle Long-Term Obligations (9-2021)

+ Special Session 3 and a Look Back at a Weird Regular Session (9-15-21)

+ Governor Announces Third Special Session (9-8-21)

+ Special Session 2 – The Sequel (Part 3 Just Around the Corner) (9-7-21)

+ Special Session Take Two (More to Follow?) (8-27-21)

+ Texas Special Session Agenda (7-7-21)

+ Abbott Puts Controversial Issues on Special Legislative Session Agenda (7-7-21)

+ Here We Go Again - Special Legislative Session #1 (7-2-21)

+ Issue #19 - Last Week in the Legislature - TXCPA Success in 2021 (6-11-21)

+ Watch Our Review of the 2021 Legislative session (6-4-21)

+ Issue #18 - Last Week in the Legislature - We Have Been Here Before (5-28-21)

+ Texas Franchise Tax Update: Texas Taxpayers Spared from Tax Increase Arising from PPP Loan Forgiveness (5-28-21)

+ Guidance: Franchise Tax & PPP Loan Forgiveness (5-21-21)

+ Issue #17 - Last Week in the Legislature - Moving Day (5-21-21)

+ SB 297 (Sen. Perry/Rep. Button) – The CPA licensee fingerprinting deadline extension is one its way to Governor Greg Abbott after passage by the Texas House on May 18.

+ Issue #16 - Last Week in the Legislature - Success for TXCPA-Backed Legislation! Abbott Signs Texas Franchise Tax Exception for Forgiven PPP Loans (5-14-21)

+ Issue #15 - Last Week in the Legislature - Strange Times (4-30-21)

+ Texas will gain two seats in Congress (4-26-21)

+ Issue #14 - Last Week in the Legislature - Back to Normal? (4-23-21)

+ Analysis: The Texas Legislature Starts its Race Against the Clock (4-19-21)

+ CPA Licensure Threat Stalls in West Virginia (4-16-21)

+ Issue #13 - Last Week in the Legislature - The Beginning of the End (4-15-21)

+ Issue #12 - Last Week in the Legislature - A Great Week for TXCPA Priorities (4-9-21)

+ What Can Be Learned from the Persistent Electric Power Outages in Texas? (4-1-21)

+ Analysis: A Texas state budget — minus $38.6 billion in federal stimulus money (4-7-21)

+ Unemployment in Texas counties is up after February's winter storm hurt the state economy (4-7-21)

+ Issue #11 - Last Week in the Legislature - Almost Feels Like a Real Legislative Session (4-2-21)

+ After slow start, Texas lawmakers pick up the pace on GOP priorities as legislative session passes halfway mark (3-26-21)

+ Issue #10 - Last Week in the Legislature - Halfway Home (Not Counting Special Sessions) - (3-25-21)

+ Issue #9 - Last Week in the Legislature - Off to the Races - The TXCPA legislative agenda made significant progress this week. (3-19-21)

+ Issue #8 - Last Week in the Legislature - The Session Finally Begins (3-12-21)

+ Masks won’t be required at Texas Capitol — but lawmakers face stricter rules in their respective chambers (3-10-21)

+ Texas lawmakers plan slate of bills in response to power outages (3-8-21)

+ Issue #7 - Last Week in the Legislature - The End of the Beginning (3-5-21)

+ Pandemic response tops Texas voters’ legislative priorities, poll finds (3-2-21)

+ How to get involved in the Texas redistricting process(3-2-21)

+ Analysis: A Delay in Drawing New Maps this year could slow next Year's Elections (2-10-21)

+ Issue #5-6 - Last Week in the Legislature - The Lost Week(s) (2-26-21)

+ Issue #4 - Last Week in the Legislature - Hurry Up and Wait (2-11-21)

+ Patrick Starts 2021 Legislative Session with an Unusually Low Profile (2-9-21)

+ Is the Texas Capitol a government building or a petri dish? (1-18-21)

+ Issue #3 - Last Week in the Legislature - The Quiet Before the Storm (2-4-21)

+ House Speaker Appoints New Chairs on Key Committees (2-4-21)
Texas House Committee Appointments: By Member | By Committee (2-4-21)

+ Abbott Unveils Priority Items (2-2-21)

+ Texas Legislative Wrap: Budget, Redistricting and Of Course, COVID (2-2-21)

+ Issue #2 - Last Week in the Legislature (1-28-21)

+ The Texas House and Senate have adjourned until February 9. (1-27-21)

+ Analysis: At a time like this, who needs another emergency? (1-27-21)

+ Gambling Empire Pushes Forward with Goal to Bring Casinos to Texas (1-26-21)

+ Abbott Pushes Legislature to Protect Businesses from Coronavirus-Related Lawsuits (1-26-21)

+ Rep. Charlie Geren and Senator Kelly Hancock have both filed legislation which provides that total revenue under the franchise tax will not include any amount of loan forgiven under the federal Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). HB 1195 | SB No. 372 (1-22-21)

+ Issue #1 - Last Week in the Legislature (1-21-21)

+ Houston Area Reps Discuss Priorities (1-19-21)

+ Fingerprinting Extension Bill (SB 297) Filed by Perry (1-15-21)

+ Senate Committee Appointments Announced (1-15-21)

+ Senate has adopted new rules. The biggest change in the rules from last session is that it only now takes 18 votes (as opposed to 19 last session) to bring a bill to the floor for debate. A few sessions ago the number was 21, but has now dropped in the last several sessions to mirror the number of Republican senators. (1-15-21)

+ Rep. Dade Phelan elected House Speaker (1-12-21)

+ 6 Bills to Watch (1-12-21)

Today's CPA Capitol Interest Column

+ Off and Running (March/April 2021)

+ On Your Mark, Get Set, Go??
(Jan./Feb. 2021)

+ Into The Unknown
(Nov./Dec 2020)

Watch This Discussion on Redistricting

WATCH THE DISCUSSION

Watch Facebook Live with special guests Denise Davis, partner at Davis Kaufman PLLC, and David Hanna, attorney of counsel to Davis Kaufman PLLC. Listen to this highly informative conversation with TXCPA’s Director of Government Affairs and Special Counsel Kenneth Besserman. (Originally broadcast on Oct. 1, 2021.)

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