What happened: Gov. Greg Abbott launched the Small Business Freedom Council to identify and reduce unnecessary regulations for Texas businesses.

Tell me more: Gov. Abbott emphasized fostering an environment where small businesses can thrive, calling on state agencies to identify barriers to success.

• The Small Business Freedom Council will review these recommendations and provide a report for further action.

In his own words: “One of my priorities as Governor is to empower small business owners and entrepreneurs by providing the best environment for small business growth… Together, we will ensure that Texas remains the best place to live, work, and start a business,” —Gov. Greg Abbott

TLR Thoughts: Gov. Abbott’s initiative marks meaningful progress toward fostering small business growth in Texas. However, even the most business-friendly regulatory environment won’t be enough to protect small businesses from the crippling effects of meritless lawsuits and exploitative legal tactics. It’s critical to pair regulatory reform with a strong commitment to ending abusive litigation tactics that are resulting in company-crippling judgments.

Read the full press release here.