As the global energy landscape continues to evolve, Houston remains at the center of the conversation. The Greater Houston Partnership’s Public Policy Energy Advisory Committee supporting efforts to ensure our region stays competitive, sustainable, and future-ready. Chaired by Jonathan Cox, Global Co-Head of Natural Resources Investment Banking at JPMorgan Chase, the committee convenes key leaders from across the sector to shape energy policy and drive innovation at the local, state, and federal levels. “Everyone has gotten the memo around inbound U.S. investment being critically important,” said Cox. “There’s a tremendous enthusiasm for putting capital, jobs, and infrastructure in the U.S., especially in Texas.” What the Committee is Focused On In 2025, the Energy Advisory Committee is focused on strategies to maintain Houston’s energy leadership while navigating a changing policy and investment environment. Key priorities include: Permitting Reform & Infrastructure Advocacy: Supporting clearer permitting timelines and reforms at both federal and state levels to accelerate CCS, LNG, and nuclear projects. Clean Energy & Technology: Promoting policies that advance emerging technologies like small modular nuclear reactors (SMRs), carbon capture, and clean hydrogen. Electric Grid Modernization: Advocating for reliability, affordability, and long-term energy planning to meet growing demand in the Houston region. Federal & State Policy Alignment: Tracking shifts from sustainability to reliability in federal priorities, while supporting Texas legislation like H.B. 14, which allocates $2B toward advanced nuclear supply chain development. Energy Workforce & R&D: Ensuring Houston has the talent pipeline and R&D infrastructure to remain competitive as the energy sector transforms. “The places where tomorrow’s energy breakthroughs will be invented may not be here unless we act,” Cox noted. “We have to be at the forefront of energy R&D.” What We’re Hearing from Members During the Q2 committee meeting, a roundtable discussion revealed key business concerns and opportunities. These included: Ensuring policy consistency and fiscal incentives to reduce investment uncertainty Advancing clean energy innovation while recognizing the essential role of traditional energy in driving low-carbon solutions Elevating Houston’s role in domestic and international energy investment Increasing collaboration across government, academia, and industry “We’re in a world where we need more energy—not less,” said Cox. “The idea that we can subtract our way to energy transition just doesn’t work technologically.” Looking Ahead: A Platform for Progress The Partnership will continue engaging members to shape the advocacy strategy. Whether you work in oil and gas, renewables, infrastructure, or emerging tech, this committee is your platform to help define the future of energy in Houston—and beyond. “Houston has the talent, infrastructure, and industry depth to lead the next chapter of the global energy story,” Cox said. “But we must stay ahead by investing in innovation, aligning on policy, and preparing our workforce for what’s next.” Ready to get involved? Partnership members are essential to shaping policy that powers Houston’s growth. Contact the member engagement team at member.engagement@houston.org to join the Energy Advisory Committee.

This legislative session, the Governor and state lawmakers prioritized increasing funding for Texas public schools, resulting in a historic $8.5 billion in new funding. The centerpiece is House Bill 2 (HB 2), a 231-page law signed by Governor Greg Abbott on June 4, accounting for $8.1 billion, including $4.2 billion for teacher pay, incentives, and retention.  Houston Area Funding Increases  Under the new formulas, Region IV schools are projected to receive over $1 billion under HB 2. Here are the estimates for the five largest districts in the region:  Houston ISD: $195M  Cypress-Fairbanks ISD: $126M  Katy ISD: $103M  Fort Bend ISD: $80M  Aldine ISD: $61M  Click here to search for individual districts to explore funding changes under HB 2.  Why This Matters for Houston’s Future  A strong public education system is foundational to Houston’s economic future. With more than 1.3 million students enrolled in the region’s schools, today’s learners are tomorrow’s workforce. Ensuring students are equipped with the knowledge, skills, and credentials needed to succeed in college, careers, or military service is essential to meeting the talent demands of our growing economy. Investments like House Bill 2 directly support Houston’s competitiveness by helping develop the educators and systems needed to prepare a workforce that can power the region’s continued growth.  Navigating the Bill  Rather than increasing the basic allotment, which is a pool of funds that can be spent on various eligible programs, lawmakers opted for targeted investments in specific programs, including teacher pay. Here are some of the key provisions in each article.  Article 1: Teacher Compensation & Incentives  Expands teacher designation levels  Boosts performance-based pay and retention bonuses  Establishes required liability insurance and prioritizes high-need campuses  Article 2: Educator Preparation   Limits the use of uncertified teachers  Creates new certification pathways and incentives  Launches state-funded training and mentorship pipelines  Article 3: Educator Rights  Eases job transfer rules and protects pay during unpaid leave  Waives certification fees for high-need subjects  Improves grievance processes and strengthens classroom authority  Article 4: Special Education  Updates funding and terminology for special needs services  Supports visually and hearing-impaired students  Enhances regional training and service delivery  Article 5: Early Childhood Education   Mandates statewide reading/math diagnostics for kindergarten through third grade  Funds extended learning time, pre-K partnerships, and parent-led tutoring  Article 6: College, Career & Military Readiness  Sets new performance goals and funding for dual credit, credentials, and military training  Expands support for career-focused programs like P-TECH and R-PEP  Article 7: School Finance Reforms   Increases aid for small districts, charters, bilingual programs, and school safety  Adds new funding for coastal school operations and insurance  Improves transparency and empowers the Commissioner to fix formula issues  HB 2 represents a sweeping overhaul of how Texas funds, supports, and prepares its educators and students, aiming for stronger outcomes from pre-K through high school and beyond. Click here for a one-pager explaining more about the bill from our partners at Texas 2036.