THE HOME BUILDER
February 2026
Page Two
The HomeFront Government Affairs News and Info
David Lehde Director of Government Affairs
Making Sure Home Building is Not Left Out in the Cold
Primary Election season is upon us. 2026 includes races for U.S. Senator and Governor, the Texas State Senate and House of Representatives, and key County seats. Across the state, more than 20 State House seats were va- cated and will have an open race. The State Senate will see 5 open seats. That, in addition to incumbents up for re-election in both chambers, as well as state- wide and county races, will make for a remarkably busy primary. Several of the heated races will be in the Dallas BA service area. This, along with newly drawn U.S. Congressional Districts, will have a shock effect on municipal races that will come later in the year. For the State and County races, as well as the Congres- sional ballot, March 3 will be Primary Election Day for both parties. Early voting begins on February 17. Any runoffs would occur on May 26. All culminating to a heated General Election Day on November 3. Members should keep an eye out for updates from TAB and Dallas BA. The Dallas BA submitted comments on the proposed WO- TUS Definition. The U.S. En- vironmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently opened public comments on its updated defini - tion of the “Waters of the United States.” The Dallas BA, in Janu- ary, joined other federation mem- bers and associations in offering comments on the proposed rule.
and water resources.
With the enactment of the Clean Water Act in 1972, build- ers and developers have gone through costly measures to deter- mine whether their projects might impact a water body or tributary that could be a “water of the United States.” The definition of WOTUS has a significant impact on both housing affordability and availability. This challenge has become even more difficult with some states operating under the 2023 rule, while 29 states remain under a pre-2015 definition. WOTUS determinations can influence mitigation for some grading and construction activi- ties, as well as affect whether a project may even proceed under a CWA nationwide permit, versus a more time-consuming and ex- pensive individual permit process. In public comments, Dallas BA voiced appreciation that the proposed rule update brings needed clarity regarding jurisdic- tion on permanent, standing, or continuously flowing bodies of water, while also removing con- fusing elements of past WOTUS definitions regarding isolated water features. Dallas BA also supported NAHB’s recommenda- tions for additional clarifications regarding adjacent wetlands and determination for what constitutes a wet season. The proposed rule definition aligns with the Supreme Court’s holdings in two benchmark cases and also respects the authority of states to manage their own land
code changes, favorable local tax structure, more efficient permitting processes and protection from harmful ordinances and regula- tions. HOMEPAC of Greater Dallas, the non-partisan political action committee, is an essential part of the advocacy program. It provides another opportunity for Asso- ciation members to participate in their industry’s advocacy efforts. For more information, visit https://dallasbuilders.org/ homepac/ or contact the Asso- ciation’s Director of Government Affairs.
The right of stakeholders to offer public comments is an im - portant step in the process that eventually yields the final rule. The next meeting of the Dallas BA Government Rela- tions Committee (GRC) will be Wednesday, February 11, at 9 a.m. Dallas BA GRC meetings are hosted at the Dallas BA offices. GRC meetings are open to all Dallas BA members. Members interested in participating should contact the Director of Govern- ment Affairs, David.Lehde@Dal - lasBuilders.com. HOMEPAC of Greater Dallas has announced that registration is open for the current cycle. A core mission of the Dallas Builders Association is advocacy. Suc- cesses have included needed
After Hours
Hosted By:
February 19 6pm - 8pm
Enjoy delicious food and drinks while networking with fellow industry professionals.
This event is free to attend, but advance reservations are requested. Dallasbuilders.org/calendar
2100 N Stemmons Fwy. Dallas, TX 75207
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