TAAHP is pleased to announce the launch of its Regulatory Affairs Working Group, a new group focused on federal regulations that affect affordable housing in Texas. The working group operates under the Federal Legislative Advisory Group (FLAG), which functions under TAAHP’s Government Affairs Committee. It brings members together to engage on these rules earlier and more deliberately, before they reach the stage of state implementation.
TAAHP members and committees already weigh in on many rules. The working group adds a dedicated focus at the federal level. It will track developments as they emerge, consider what they mean for Texas, and work with state agencies earlier in the process, while also serving as a resource for members as new federal policies take shape.
The group grew out of TAAHP’s recent work on the PRWORA rulemaking, where the association has been engaging TDHCA on how the new federal requirements are implemented in Texas. That work highlighted the value of getting involved earlier, before federal rules reach the state implementation stage.
The Regulatory Affairs Working Group is chaired by Josh Gold of Nixon Peabody and co-chaired by Taylor Hawes of Coats Rose, both former HUD attorneys. Its membership brings together attorneys, compliance professionals, developers, and public housing authority leaders from across Texas, several of whom previously worked at HUD or other federal agencies.
In the months ahead, the group will be monitoring several federal developments with important implications for Texas. The group will meet quarterly and is planning a roundtable with state agency partners in the next couple of months. It is also beginning to coordinate with peer organizations, including the Texas Apartment Association, on issues of shared interest. For more information, email Ashley Alvarado, TAAHP Regulatory & Policy Manager.