1 “There is strength in numbers. Please help us grow as an Association by encouraging your business associates to join TABA and support our industry. TABA’s efforts help keep housing affordable in our community and benefit us all!” - Patrick Johnson, 2016 TABA President In This Issue Upcoming Events Industry News Member Renewals New Members Member Benefits Membership Recruitment Contest 12 N. 5th Temple, TX 76501 | [email protected]| 254-773-0445 Monthly Newsletter of the Temple Area Builders Association August 2016 September 29 TABA Home-PAC Sporting Clay Shootout @ Weber’s Outdoors October 4 TABA Home-PAC Elected Officials Night @ Cathedral Oaks Upcoming Event Calendar TABA Membership Drive and Contest Winners Congrats to Patrick Johnson for winning the Texas Association of Builders (TAB) April-August member recruitment drawing and getting some TAB swag, and to Omega Builders for winning the TABA drawing and receiving a $50 gift card! As TABA members, you have demonstrated your commitment to the industry through your membership with TABA – please encourage those who you do business with to do the same. For more information on our September membership drive, please contact Kacie at 254-773-0445 or [email protected]. Do Business With A Member!
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TABA Membership Drive and Contest Winners · 2016-09-01 · Builders (TAB) April-August member recruitment drawing and getting some TAB swag, and to Omega Builders for winning the
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Department of Labor Overtime Rule
NAHB prepared an FAQ to help members better understand the new overtime rule and how to comply with it. In addition, a webinar replay is available to help members learn what employers need to know before the rule becomes effective on December 1 and to find out which employees will be eligible to receive overtime pay.
There is an NAHB article from June that broadly discusses how to comply - available here
Legislation has been introduced in Congress to help mitigate the impact, but it hasn’t been passed or signed into law. Information on that legislation is available here and here.
There is some discussion in NAHB’s FAQ about sales staff and the effect of commissions on determining the overtime salary threshold. There are some additional links and resources at the end of the NAHB FAQ.
We will work to pass on as much information as possible about how to comply and mitigate the effects of the Overtime Rule when it is available.
TABA Home-PAC Elected Officials’ Appreciation BBQ Sponsored By Tri-Supply
Tuesday, October 4th, 6:00pm - - Cathedral Oaks Event Center Belton, TX Elected Officials, Candidates & Their Spouses Will be Our Recognized Guests!
Reservations requested by Friday, September 30th / Limited Seating 254-773-0445 or [email protected] $15 per person
Technology Solutions - Heart of Texas Landscape & Irrigation - Laura
White Interiors - Tex-Star Plumbing
IBS Registration Now Open
2017 International Builder Show will take place in Orlando Jan. 10-12, 2017
The industry’s premier event is the best opportunity for members to see the latest building products, gain expertise and meet key business partners. Visit
www.buildershow.com for more info on the show and savings on registration!
While a new definition for “waters of the United States” (WOTUS) is still on hold, it’s the elephant in the room for home builders and developers, NAHB told the Army Corps of Engineers in response to its proposal to reis-sue Clean Water Act Section 404 nationwide permits. The Environmental Protection Agency expansion of its WOTUS definition, if allowed to go forward, will jeopardize the residential construction industry’s ability to ob-tain streamlined permits.
With existing nationwide permits (NWPs) set to expire March 18, 2017, the Corps proposed the permits be reissued and modified. NWPs authorize residential developments, utility lines and linear transportation pro-jects, among other activities that have minimal impacts to wetlands, ponds and streams that the federal gov-ernment has determined to be WOTUS.
Many NWPs have threshold disturbance limits. For instance, NWP No. 29 for Residential Developments au-thorizes up to ½-acre impacts to WOTUS. If a project exceeds this limit, the owner must obtain an “individual” permit granted by the Corps on a case-by-case basis only after a rigorous review process, including public notice and permit conditioning.
Builders and developers rely on NWPs for a much faster and cheaper authorization process: For example, a 2002 study found that it takes an average of 313 days and $28,915 to obtain an NWP, while the average time and cost to secure an individual permit were 788 days and $271,596.
NAHB’s comments on the proposal to reissue the NWPs focused largely on the interplay between the new WOTUS definition and the impact limits for the streamlined permits.
If the WOTUS rule takes effect and federal jurisdiction expands to increasingly marginal “waters” – including channels that only flow when it rains, isolated ponds and most ditches – it will be increasingly difficult for build-ers and developers to avoid and minimize impact.
As a result, more activities will exceed the NWP eligibility thresholds, and applicants will be forced to rely upon expensive individual permits. “Simply put: More WOTUS equals more individual permits,” said NAHB Environ-mental Policy Program Manager Owen McDonough.
That will have a huge hit on housing affordability, but do little to protect the environment.
To avoid this undesirable result, NAHB urged the Corps to propose a new rule that limits federal jurisdiction and aligns with the intent of Congress and the rulings of the Supreme Court. And, due to the nationwide stay of the WOTUS rule, NAHB stressed that the Corps should clarify that the rule’s provisions and definitions do not apply to the new NWPs when they are issued.
In the meantime, NAHB ─ along with farmers, states and others ─ continues to challenge the WOTUS rule in the courts.
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The House of Representatives has passed a bill that would stop energy code costs from skyrocketing and give the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) a more common-sense and home buyer-friendly role in writing these codes.
The Senate passed a version of the energy bill that doesn’t address cost, and instead strengthens DOE’s role in writing these codes. NAHB needs the help of all members of the Federation to fix that.
Last week, NAHB alerted builders in those districts where their member of Congress has been appointed to a conference committee to work out the differences and craft the final bill. The ask: Call your representative or senator and ask them to support the House language that would put a stop to DOE lobbying efforts and ensure that any new energy code requirements are cost-effective.
The House version includes NAHB-supported language to:
Keep homes affordable. The additional costs associated with any DOE-supported code change
proposal must be paid back within 10 years. It’s time to ensure that home owners aren’t paying for money- and energy-saving technologies that many be outmoded before they’re even paid for.
End DOE lobbying. The House version prevents DOE from lobbying the code development process on
behalf of certain products or technologies. “The Senate version does not include these protections. At a time when some energy efficiency advocates are pushing for codes that will take 100 years to be paid back, we need reform now,” the alert said.
Texas Senator John Cornyn is part of the conference process — so you can help: These talking points will
help you make your case. You can send a letter to Senator Cornyn via capitolconnect.com/builderlink.
NAHB Members play an important role in keeping building and energy codes effective and affordable.
Learn more about your role as a Member by watching this brief 2 minute video here.
U.S. Bill to Stop Energy Code Costs from Skyrocketing Heads to Finish Line