State Rep. Kevin Roberts, R-Houston, has filed House Bill 1290, which aims to reduce regulatory burdens on businesses, except where safety is a concern. The bill would enable businesses to remove one rule for each rule they have to add by requiring the repeal of a state agency rule before a business has to adopt a new state agency rule.

"Many times regulations can serve as a deterrent to someone who is thinking about starting or expanding a business,” Roberts said. "Texas is known for its entrepreneurial spirit, and we want to continue that tradition for many years to come.”

A 2014 report by the National Association of Manufacturers found that the burden of compliance falls disproportionately on small businesses, Roberts said in a statement.

In the National Federation of Independent Business 2016 Problems and Priorities report, small-business owners in Texas cited “uncertainty over government actions” and “unreasonable government regulations” as their top concerns, the statement said.

“In order to keep Texas open for business, we must be mindful of the regulatory burdens that we place on businesses, particularly small businesses,” Roberts said. "House Bill 1290 ensures a predictable regulatory environment for all Texans moving forward.”