Government Affairs

SEAoT’s Government Affairs Committee (GAC) advocates for the structural engineering profession by helping shape government policy on the state and local level that impacts the practice of structural engineering, which affects the health, safety, and welfare of the public.

Committee Chair: Lance Tyson

 

The SEAoT GAC approach to public policy is based on the following values:

  • Better protect the health, safety, and welfare of the public
  • Better protect client investment and business interests
  • Promote accountability and better uniform code compliance
  • Avoid micromanagement of the profession
  • Minimize impact on the market

 

Current areas of interest include the following:

  1. Structural engineering designation
  2. Adoption of more recent editions of the building code for municipalities
  3. Statewide building code adoption outside municipalities with an emphasis on adopting the structural sections of the IBC as a minimum as it relates to IBC risk category III, IV, and high-rise structures which are designated in the building code based on the following:
      • Risk category III involves buildings and other structures that represent a substantial hazard to human life in the event of failure
      • Risk category IV involves building and other structures designated as essential facilities
  4. Texas Windstorm Insurance Association (TWIA)
  5. Limits of liability pertaining to engineers and clients

If you want to contribute financially to this effort, please see the donate page. If you want to participate in this committee, please reach out to the GAC Committee Chair.

 

Legislative Achievements

  1. 2025 SEAoT helped pass SB 681, which made Texas PE licenses valid for a term of not less than two years.

 

Additional Resources

Structural Engineering Licensure

 

Past Structural Engineering Certification

 

SE Licensure Position Statements

 

Articles

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