In a recent letter, Governor Greg Abbott encouraged local emergency management directors to exercise their ability to suspend codes and rules at the local level as necessary to help speed up the recovery from Hurricane Harvey.

He began by thanking the officials for their tireless efforts on behalf of their fellow Texans both before and after the storm.

“I write now to recommend that you use the authority granted to you, the emergency management director, by Section 418.1015 of the Texas Government Code, to suspend codes and rules on a local scale as appropriate and necessary to hasten recovery efforts,” Governor Abbott wrote. “While regulations for many state-licensed trades have already been streamlined statewide, there are many trades and practices that are regulated only at the local level.”

Governor Abbott closed his correspondence with the following reminder: “My office and the Governor’s Commission to Rebuild Texas stand ready to help you in this endeavor and will be happy to review any requests to suspend additional state laws or rules that impede your local recovery efforts.”

You can read the full letter here:

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