Throughout the 2025 legislative session, the Texas Society of Professional Engineers (NSPE-TX) mobilized early, planned strategically, and elevated the voices of engineers across the state to protect and promote the practice of engineering. Behind every effort—whether organizing a high-impact Texas State Capitol (Capitol) event or delivering testimony on licensing issues—were NSPE-TX members: licensed professionals whose expertise and presence at the Capitol made a clear and credible impact. Their involvement showed lawmakers that the engineering profession is paying attention and ready to engage when it counts.

The 89th Texas Legislature (Legislature) convened in January for 140 days of policymaking, but NSPE-TX’s preparation started months earlier. In the fall, the Legislative & Governmental Affairs (L&GA) Committee—composed of NSPE-TX leaders including the President Richard A. Arvizu, P.E., CFM, President-Elect Shauna L. Weaver, P.E., Committee Chair T. Clay Barnett, P.E., CFM, past L&GA chairs, and other officers—began reviewing issue statements and setting strategy for the session. At the same time, TSPE staff and lobbyists traveled to chapter meetings across the state to encourage member readiness in case urgent legislative action was needed. A statewide webinar in December laid the groundwork for NSPE-TX’s signature event: Professional Engineers Day at the Capitol.

PE Day at the Capitol was strategically scheduled early in the session, before committee assignments made it harder to get time with lawmakers. Engineers from across Texas traveled to Austin to meet directly with legislators, share the society’s issue statements, and distribute policy resources. More than 100 members formed over 30 teams to visit 181 offices—nearly every legislative office in the Capitol. The day concluded with an informal gathering open to legislators and staff, offering a relaxed setting for additional conversations and relationshipbuilding outside of office visits.

The value of member relationships proved critical throughout session. NSPE-TX surveyed members in advance to identify contacts in the Legislature, then strategically reached out when key committees were weighing consequential proposals. Over the course of the session, the society tracked 75 bills with potential to impact engineering practice, licensure, or public safety.

Among the most notable efforts:

• SB 681, which shifted professional engineer license renewals from annual to biennial, advanced with TSPE’s support following dialogue with both the licensing board and legislative sponsor.
• HB 2418, which would have automatically waived the FE exam for applicants with 15 years of experience. Coordinated testimony was made by President Richard Arvizu, P.E., CFM, President-Elect Shauna Weaver, P.E., and Julia Harrod, P.E., F.NSPE, past president of TSPE and president-elect of NSPE. Representing NSPE-TX’s Legislative & Governmental Affairs Committee, they appeared before the Texas House Committee on Licensing & Administrative Procedures to outline the risks of bypassing a core step in the licensure process. Their testimony emphasized the importance of maintaining a rigorous and fair path to licensure to protect public health, safety, and welfare. The bill was never voted out of committee.
• HB 1874, which raised concerns about overlap between electricians and engineers by inserting “design” into the Master Electrician’s code, was addressed through proposed TSPE amendments. Though the bill did not pass, NSPE-TX’s engagement built rapport with the sponsor to continue the conversation during the interim.
• NSPE-TX also monitored reciprocity-related bills, particularly SB 716 and HB 710, working behind the scenes to preserve the integrity of Texas’s professional licensing system.

As the session drew to a close, NSPE-TX launched a post-session communications effort, sending monthly updates to all members and more frequent alerts to those closely following legislative activity. With session wrapped, the focus now turns to the interim—and to keeping engineers engaged ahead of what could be another high-stakes session in 2027. When engineers stay involved between sessions, the society is better positioned to respond quickly, build relationships, and shape proposals before they gain traction. Members bring technical expertise, local connections, and a practical perspective that lawmakers value and trust—especially when it comes directly from the professionals doing the work.

Whether visiting offices, testifying in committee, or weighing in through chapter connections, NSPE-TX members proved that advocacy is most effective when it’s personal, professional, and persistent.

To learn more about how NSPE-TX is protecting the engineering profession, shaping policy in Texas, and how you can get involved, visit www.tspe.org