Advocacy That
Moves East Texas
Forward
We advocate for policies, infrastructure, workforce
solutions, and regional collaboration that strengthen
the business climate and economic future of Longview.
110+
YEARS OF ADVOCACY
Business Voice
AT LOCAL, STATE & FEDERAL LEVELS
Workforce &
Infrastructure
FOCUSED
Regional
Collaboration
STRONGER TOGETHER
GOLD SPONSORS
WHAT WE ADVOCATE FOR
Policy priorities built around the H.E.A.R.T. framework
Everything we do, from data and policy positions to regional alignment, supports a stronger business climate for Longview and East Texas.
The Chamber brings employers, community leaders, and policymakers together around issues that affect growth, competitiveness, and quality of place.
01
Workforce &
Education
Building stronger pipelines from classroom to career.
02
Infrastructure, Water & Broadband
Supporting the systems employers need to operate and grow.
03
Business Competitiveness
Advancing policies that support investment and job creation.
04
Quality of Place & Safety
Strengthening the community factors that help attract talent.
OUR ADVOCACY WORK
Local, regional, state, and federal influence
working together.
Federal Advocacy
Protecting competitiveness and reducing federal burdens for employers.
- Protected key tax provisions for small businesses.
- Supported tariff exclusions for small importers.
- Advanced energy, broadband, and workforce visa priorities.
Why it matters: Predictable taxes, fair regulations, broadband, and workforce tools are foundational to business stability.
State Advocacy
Shaping policy that affects talent, infrastructure, and the business climate.
- Supported HB 8 community college funding modernization.
- Strengthened CTE and credentialing pathways.
- Elevated insurance, water, transportation, and mental health issues.
Why it matters: These reforms support employers who need consistent talent pipelines and predictable operating conditions.
Regional Advocacy
The region’s unified voice for major priorities.
- Led the formation of the East Texas Coalition
- Aligned chambers around shared priorities.
- Focused on water, workforce, energy, healthcare, and competitiveness.
Why it matters: Regional alignment increases influence in Austin and Washington.
Local Advocacy
Strengthening civic trust, quality of place, and the local business environment.
- Hosted candidate forums and elected official engagement.
- Delivered scorecards, policy summaries, and briefings.
- Convened employers, ISDs, and community partners around workforce issues.
Why it matters: Local advocacy builds the foundation employers need to recruit, expand, and plan long term.
“We are entering a season where chambers must be catalytic, not just supportive. This work set the stage for the future.”— Andy Hill, Mobberly Baptist Church
“The East Texas Coalition has given our region something it never had before: a permanent, strategic body aligning priorities and strengthening East Texas’ influence.”
— Mark Robinson, AEP/SWEPCO
HOW WE ADVOCATE
Research, relationships, and regional alignment.
The Chamber combines employer input, policy research, direct engagement, and regional partnerships to represent the business community.
- Business surveys and employer date
- Legislative scorecards and issue briefs
- Local, state, and federal delegation meetings
- Coalition building across East Texas
- Policy alignment through the H.E.A.R.T. framework
- Legislative visits to the State and National Capitol
BUSINESS LEADERSHIP RESOURCES
Understanding the Future of
Competitiveness in East Texas
The Texas property tax discussion is evolving. What began as a conversation about taxpayer relief
has become a broader discussion about workforce readiness, educational competitiveness,
infrastructure, public safety, housing, water resources and the long-term capacity of
communities to support economic growth.
These publications are not advocacy documents. They provide context, examine facts, explore
tradeoffs, and encourage thoughtful, business-led conversations before positions are established
and decisions are made.
Volume l
Property Tax Relief &
Community Capacity Brief
A high-level overview of the issues, why they matter to East Texas, and the key questions business and community leaders should be asking.
Volume ll
Property Tax Relief Analysis, Economic Competitiveness & Community Capacity
A research report examining evidence, histortical context, risks, tradeoffs, case studies, and long-term implications.
Volume lll
East Texas Business Leadership Framework
A framework for asking better questions, testing assumptions, evaluating risks, and considering long-term competitiveness.
Reference Guide
Texas State Tax Law Changes Since 2011
A chronological reference covering tax compression, homestead exemptions, appraisal reforms, business personal property exemptions, and sales tax changes.
Why the Longview Chamber Invested in This Work
Businesses depend on affordable communities, but they also depend on reliable
infrastructure, workforce readiness, educational quality, water security, public safety,
housing, and predictable operating environment.
Our goal is to elevate conversations by providing research, encouraging thoughtful
dialogue, and helping leaders evaluate issues through the lens of long-term
competitiveness rather than short-term outcomes.
Because protecting East Texas’ economic future begins with understanding.
Strengthening Longview Through Pro-Growth Federal Policy
Federal tax policy plays a key role in supporting local investment, job growth, and business expansion. The Longview Chamber partnered with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce to highlight how current tax reforms are helping employers reinvest and strengthen operations.
Learn more from the U.S. Chamber about how these policies influence local growth nationwide.
GET INVOLVED
Help shape the future of Longview
Members can engage with advocacy through committee involvement, delegation events, policy input, sponsorship, and legislative updates.
- Join the Advocacy Committee
- Share your policy priorities
- Stay informed with legislative updates
- Participate in delegation events
- Sponsor advocacy initiatives
BOLD LEADERSHIP. FUTURE FOCUSED.
Advocacy is how we help business lead.
Join the Chamber and be part of the work shaping a stronger Longview and East Texas business community.
Research!
Discover a deeper dive with our partners and resources.
- Elected Officials – Find your elected officials from the national, state, county and city levels.
- Civics Review: Branches of the U.S. Government
- Contacting Elected Officials
- United States Senate
- United States House of Representatives
- Texas Statewide Elected Officials
- Texas State Senators
- Texas House of Representatives
- U.S. Chamber of Commerce
- Texas Association of Business
- Texas Chamber of Commerce Executives
- Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives
- Western Association of Chamber Executives
- Texas Oil and Gas Association
- Texas Secretary of State
- Texas Workforce Commission
- Texas Education Agency