NAHB is seeking prompt action from President Trump and the Administration regarding soaring lumber prices (80% increase since mid-April) and supply shortages that are harming the housing industry. But to support this effort, we need …
New Coastal Building Code Effective September 1
Starting September 1, the Texas Department of Insurance (TDI) will require that builders adhere to the 2018 windstorm provisions of the International Residential Code (IRC) if they are building in coastal areas. TDI adopted the …
Primary Election Runoff Review
Last month, the Republican and Democratic primary runoff elections were finally concluded and all candidates for the November general election were decided. Due to COVID-19, this process took nearly five months from the beginning of early …
City of Houston to Require Floodplain Identification on General Plans
Starting on July 24, 2020, the City of Houston Planning Department will require that the 100-year, 500-year floodplains and floodway be identified on all general plans submitted to the department with the Plat Tracker application. …
Member Newsmaker: Ed Taravella
Edward Taravella is the president of TARACORP, a commercial real estate investment, development and brokerage firm specializing in land and residential subdivisions. TARACORP was formed in 1995 and has been involved in the development of …
Harris County Mandates Masks
Last month, Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo issued an executive order that requires all people 10 years or older wear face coverings while in businesses or on commercial properties, including employees and all visitors and …
OSHA Reverses Course and Now Requires Employers to Track COVID-19 Cases
Article reposted from NAHBNow The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration this week announced a significant reversal of previous policy on an employer’s obligation to record work-related cases of COVID-19 on OSHA injury and illness …
Texas Elections Update
We hope that you and your families are staying safe and healthy during these uncertain times. With so many other important issues that we are facing daily, it is hard to remember that this is …
Odum, Walle Tapped as Relief and Recovery Czars for Houston, Harris County
On April 21, Mayor Sylvester Turner held a press conference announcing former Shell President, Marvin Odum, as Houston’s relief and recovery czar. Odum has previously served as the city’s Chief Recovery Officer for hurricane Harvey. …
Governor Abbott Announces Preliminary Steps to Re-Open Texas
Today, Texas Governor Greg Abbott announced the initial steps and framework to begin the process of reopening the state and our economy. First, the governor has established the Strike Force to Open Texas, which will …
HOME-PAC Political Update
Primary elections were held roughly six weeks ago on March 2 and if a candidate did not receive 50 percent plus one vote in a race, then a runoff election is needed between the top …
City of Baytown Resumes Inspections
When Harris County’s “Stay Home, Work Safe” order went into effect on March 24, the City of Baytown closed its buildings and facilities to the public. However, beginning last week, the City began accepting requests …
Updated TDI Windstorm Code Effective Date Delayed Until Sept 1, 2020
The Texas Department of Insurance released an emergency rule on April 3, 2020 which postpones the effective date of the updated TDI windstorm code to September 1, 2020. Beginning September 1, 2020, the 2018 windstorm …
Coronavirus Could Affect OSHA Compliance on Home Building Sites
Source: National Association of Home Builders The effects of the COVID-19 illness associated with a new coronavirus have already proven to be extraordinarily broad, ranging from the obvious strain on countries’ healthcare systems to a …
EPA Releases Final Navigable Waters Protection Rule
In late January, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Department of the Army published the final Navigable Waters Protection Rule to define “waters of the United States” (WOTUS) in the Clean Water Act (CWA). …