The Fort Bend Business Coalition (FBBC) has launched a “Key Vote” initiative during the Texas 89th Legislative regular session. The FBBC State Committee, led by Chairman Marvin Marcell, will identify bills that are “Key Votes” in support of Fort Bend business, and a campaign supporting the bills will be implemented by the FBBC and its membership.
House Bill 20
House Bill 20 (HB 20) is the first bill to be designated as a “Key Vote” for Fort Bend business. HB 20 is the product of Representative Gary Gate (HD 28) and has been selected as an emergency priority by Texas Governor Greg Abbott. This designation indicates the bill will be a priority for both the Texas House and Senate to pass in 2025. HB 20 is a “Key Vote” for the FBBC as it ensures Fort Bend businesses will have the required vocational work force for continued growth and prosperity.
Representative Gates’ HB 20 creates the “Applied Sciences Pathway Program.” It enhances cooperation between local school districts and accredited vocational schools to ensure graduates of the program are immediately ready to enter the workforce upon simultaneous graduations from high school and a trade school. The degrees must be in high growth/high wage fields, such as plumber/pipe fitter, electrician, welder, sheet metal worker, carpenter, masonry, diesel/machinery mechanic, aircraft maintenance and heating, ventilating, air conditioning specialist. HB 20 went to a Committee Hearing on March 18, 2025.
About the FBBC “Key Vote” Initiative
The FBBC serves as a trusted communication gateway between elected officials and the Fort Bend business community. Their new “Key Vote” initiative strengths communications between Fort Bend and Austin by directly reporting on the progress of bills of high importance to Fort Bend business, and the votes cast by Fort Bend Legislators on these priority bills. The FBBC expects all eight of Fort Bend elected legislators to support the bills designated as “Key Vote” as these bills are of the highest importance to the Fort Bend business community.
At the conclusion of the current legislative session, the FBBC will release a “score card” of each legislator’s recorded votes on bills designated as “Key Votes.” Each Fort Bend legislator began the 89th Session with a perfect score of 100%. Legislators who do not vote in support of a designated “Key Vote” will receive a drop in score, and their scores will be published by the FBBC. The FBBC “Key Vote” practice is commonly used in the federal government by groups, such as the United States Chamber of Commerce and MoveOn.Org. A “Key Vote” designation is non-partisan activity.
The members of the FBBC State Committee include: Marvin Marcell, Chairman; Diron Blackburn; David Howard; Tim Kaminski; The Honorable Pete Olson, Former United States Congressman, District 22 and Manish Seth.
For more information about the Fort Bend Business Coalition and their “Key Vote” initiation, please contact Dave Johnston at 713.816.7887 or Dave@FortBendBusinessCoalition.com.