The 2024 Election and the sweeping government reform proposals emanating from Washington to Austin have ignited a renewed conversation about how to ensure government – at both the federal and state levels – is working for Americans and their businesses. Here in Texas, we have an unprecedented opportunity to lead the nation enhancing government efficiency by both leveraging innovative technology and identifying ways to break down the bureaucratic barriers that impede the growth and operation of our businesses.
Cutting-edge tools like Artificial Intelligence (AI) have the ability to streamline bureaucracy by expediting permit approvals and modernizing agency workflows. AI offers transformative solutions to reduce costs, improve transparency and deliver faster, more reliable services.
More than one-third of Texas’ state agencies had already begun leveraging AI in 2022, according to the Texas Department of Information Resources (DIR), allowing them to find ways to improve how Texans interact with government. However, DIR most recently reported that “less than a quarter of state agencies are currently using or planning to use generative AI for chatbots, workforce productivity, process improvement, coding, and the like.”
As I wrote in the Dallas Morning News at the end of last year, Texas needs to embrace AI to enhance government efficiency, or risk falling behind:
“Texas is home to leaders in the development of AI, putting our state in a prime position to set the standard for responsible AI use. We can lead the nation in demonstrating how AI can streamline government operations, cut costs and improve service delivery, or we can fall behind the curve.
“Being at the forefront of technology development is not enough if we don’t apply these advancements at home to make our tax dollars work harder and cut down on waste.”
Beyond AI, there is work we can do right now to further strengthen our state’s appeal to businesses of all sizes by cutting unnecessary government regulations. The Small Business Freedom Council, on which I am honored to serve as co-Chair, has been tasked by Governor Greg Abbott with identifying “any rules, permits, fees, or regulations in your agency that may hamper small business formation, operation, and growth,” and agencies are required to deliver a report on any challenges and barriers to small business success by Monday, January 13th before the 89th Legislature commences.
As part of the Council’s work, we’ve launched a survey for small businesses to share any regulatory challenges in Texas. If you are a small business and would like to share your experience, click here to complete the survey and help guide our efforts to further enhance our state’s pro-business regulatory environment.
Overall, the formation and work of this Council is an enormous step forward in further empowering our state’s business owners and entrepreneurs to innovate and expand in Texas by eliminating unnecessary barriers that impede their growth. As the Dallas Morning News editorial board rightly pointed out shortly after the Council was established:
“Small business is the heart of Texas’ economy. Overregulation is the heart attack.
“…Some regulation is needed to keep standards high and residents safe. But aspiring small-business owners shouldn’t need to get an honorary degree in business regulation or spend thousands of dollars to hire an expert just to navigate the legal framework.”
This week, we held our second meeting of the Council, and I’m more confident than ever that the Texas business community and our fantastic economic development leaders at the state and local levels will speak with a unified voice to deliver recommendations that will ensure all job creators in our state can continue to thrive.
Members of the Texas Small Business Freedom Council meet on January 8, 2025.
For more information about Governor Abbott’s Small Business Freedom Council, click here.
- Glenn Hamer, President & CEO, Texas Association of Business