Austin News November 2024
December 13, 2024
The Texas Legislature is back to work this week with early bill filing for the 89th Regular Session.
Empowering Texans.
Protecting Property Rights.
The right to have and hold private property is an absolute necessity for any free and prosperous society.
If we, as a state or nation, choose to ignore the erosion of these fundamental principles in law, we shall eventually lose every other right given to us by God and enshrined in the Constitution of the United States.
Why Property Rights Matter...for Everyone
Property rights are not just about land ownership—they are a cornerstone of freedom, security, and opportunity. They were enumerated in the Bill of Rights at the founding of this nation. They empower individuals, drive economic growth, and create stronger, more resilient communities. Whether you own land, a home, a business or even as a renter, property rights touch every aspect of daily life and shape the future we leave for the next generation.
Private property rights are directly tied to personal autonomy and freedom:
Protection Against Government Overreach: They ensure individuals have control over their assets without undue interference from authorities.
Empowerment: Property ownership empowers individuals by giving them control over their environment, fostering a sense of security and independence.
Freedom of Choice: Property rights allow people to make decisions about how to use, transfer, or preserve their assets, reinforcing their ability to plan their own futures.
Communities flourish when property rights are honored:
Sense of Responsibility: Ownership fosters pride and accountability, as individuals are more likely to maintain and improve their properties.
Social Stability: Secure property rights reduce conflicts over resources and boundaries, promoting harmony and cooperation within communities.
Public Services: Property taxes on privately held assets fund vital services such as education, infrastructure, and emergency response systems.
Property rights fuel economic development and prosperity in several ways:
Investment Confidence: Secure property rights encourage individuals and businesses
to invest in assets, innovate, and expand their operations.
Wealth Creation: Ownership of property provides individuals with the means to generate wealth. For example, owning a home builds equity, which can be used to fund education, start businesses, or retire securely.
Job Creation: With clear property rights, businesses can thrive, creating jobs and contributing to local economies.
Food Security: The farms and ranches of Texas feed not just our state, but the nation and the world. Ninety-nine percent of that production is on private property. Without secure property rights, food supply chains are vulnerable to disruptions, higher costs and less local production.
Global Development: Studies show that nations with strong property rights frameworks tend to have higher GDPs and lower rates of poverty, as citizens have greater
opportunities to participate in economic activities.
Property rights can also encourage sustainable practices:
Responsible Land Use: Owners are incentivized to manage their land sustainably to preserve its value for future generations.
Conservation Initiatives: Programs like conservation easements allow landowners to voluntarily protect natural resources while maintaining ownership rights.
Innovative Solutions: Private ownership often leads to creative approaches to environmental challenges, such as water conservation or renewable energy adoption.
Water: Water is both an essential resource and a shared resource with community and private property rights implications. Water resources are best protected when public and private rights are clearly defined, and private property rights are respected.
Habitats: Texas’ open landscapes provide habitats for wildlife, natural beauty for recreation, and vital ecosystems. In a state where 95% of open space land is privately held, supporting landowners with strong property rights helps to preserve these spaces.
Even those without property are influenced by the broader effects of property rights:
Affordable Housing: Secure property rights for landlords and developers encourage the construction of new housing, increasing supply and reducing costs. Eminent domain and government takings that threaten a landlord with loss of investment real estate, threaten tenants with the loss of their homes.
Tenant Protections: Clear laws around property rights create a balanced framework for landlords and tenants, ensuring fair treatment and dispute resolution. Rental agreements and leases are private property rights in action for non-owners of real estate!
Wealth Equity: Strong property rights help bridge economic divides by enabling marginalized groups to own assets and build generational wealth.
Property rights contribute to national and global stability:
Rule of Law: Countries with clear and enforceable property rights tend to have more robust legal systems and lower corruption levels.
International Investment: Clear property laws attract foreign investment, as businesses feel secure in their ability to operate and grow. This investment fuels local jobs and community investment. On the other side, it is imperative that countries with strong property rights do not let those rights be abused by foreign investments from actual international adversaries to the harm of its own citizens.
Conflict Prevention: Property disputes are a major source of conflict. Strengthening property rights can reduce tensions over resources and land, fostering peace.
The protection of private property rights is a shared responsibility that starts with you! Individuals must actively work together with allied organizations, institutions, and government to protect this precious gift that our nations founders promised to all citizens.
Advocate for Fair Policies: Support laws that respect ownership, ensure fair compensation, and prevent abuse of power.
Educate the Public: Raise awareness about the importance of property rights and how they affect every aspect of life.
Engage in Dialogue: Encourage collaboration between stakeholders, including landowners, tenants, businesses, and policymakers, to address challenges and find solutions.
Conclusion: Why Property Rights Matter for Everyone
Property rights are the foundation of freedom, stability, and opportunity. Whether you own land, rent a home, or run a business, these rights affect your quality of life and your future. By protecting and promoting property rights, we create a society where everyone has the chance to thrive. Let us commit to safeguarding this vital cornerstone of prosperity for current and future generations.
Together, We Make a Difference
Education
STPRA members are kept abreast of critical issues within our areas of focus through events, outreach, and frequent news updates, using electronic and printed media.
Advocacy
STPRA staff and leadership log hundreds of hours and thousands of miles crisscrossing the region every year representing our members to elected officials at the state and regional level.
Protection
As a member of STPRA, you'll join a team working together to preserve the private property rights of all Texans. Our members are the eyes and ears of the association.
Get Involved
By safeguarding the ability of every person to own, use, and transfer property, we empower individuals to build wealth, foster innovation, and preserve liberty.
As a member or donor, you’ll join a team working to preserve the private property rights of all Texans, recognizing these rights as essential to human dignity and the bedrock of a just and prosperous society.
Key Issues Facing Texans
The STPRA Board of Directors has currently identified 10 areas of concern. We provide information and education about these issues and, in some cases, may take positions and work actively towards their resolution.
Border Security & Immigration Reform
Border Security & Immigration Reform
Because of their very direct impact on property owners, STPRA has strived to keep the issues of border security and immigration reform in the consciousness of policy makers and allied state-wide and national groups.
Learn More
Our Members are the Eyes & Ears of STPRA
Are there things happening in your community that could have a significant impact on the rest of us? If you think we need to know, please give us a call or drop us an email. It may just be the next major issue we need to solve in Austin or Washington.
Past Issues of Landline
November 2024
December 12, 2024
It is with a great sigh of relief that I write today’s report.
September 2024
December 12, 2024
We are only as strong as our membership. I want to take the opportunity to thank all of you that have been with us since the beginning
August 2024
December 12, 2024
The STPR Political Action Committee will be hosting a reception for Governor Greg Abbott at our 19th Annual Meeting and Fundraiser.
ADDRESS
P.O. Box 397
Falfurrias, TX 78355
(361) 522-5194
South Texans’ Property Rights Association is a 501(c) (3)
© 2006 – 2025 South Texans’ Property Rights Association. All Rights Reserved.