AUSTIN -- When the Texas Association of Business and Chambers of Commerce conducted a survey last year to determine employers' biggest priorities for the 1997 Legislature, tort reform emerged as the No. 1 issue.
The reason, some legislative analysts say, is that tort reform is one of the few business issues state lawmakers will consider this year that won't pit business interests against one another.
"Business won't be playing so much offense this year as defense," said Robert Howden, state director of the National Federation of Independent Businesses. "We have more small-business owners in the Texas Legislature this year than probably ever before in history. That means that small-business owners have that much more clout."
They may need it.
Several proposals being considered by state lawmakers could put small-businessmen at odds with big corporations.
"Some of the toughest and most bitter conflicts in the Legislature involve one segment of business competing with another," said George Christian Sr., an Austin political consultant.
"Nobody ever wins a clear-cut victory in these big high-profile struggles. Some are just showdown issues, where there's not much give."
Various business interests are expected to face off about taxes, tax abatements, electric utility competition and home-equity lending.
And more attention may be focused on those issues this year because there's no state crisis -- in lawsuits or courts -- going on, Christian said.
In past legislative sessions, many business issues weren't top priorities because of problems caused by lawsuits over education funding.
"The business issues could percolate up to the top because there's no crisis," Christian said. "But taxes could be, if the governor pushes a business activity tax, the issue that divides businesses."
Here's how some of the major battles stack up:
Others disagree. "We believe local taxing districts need that option to remain competitive with other states," said Dane Harris, president of the Texas Association of Business and Chambers of Commerce.
Now, it's only allowed for taxes or home-improvement loans. Banks and other lenders say that means you can take out a second loan to build a swimming pool but not to pay for a child's education or medical expenses.
The dispute could be resolved if lawmakers OK a proposal to allow second mortgages to pay for a family's education or medical costs.
Proponents have said this is a badly needed measure in Texas. Critics claim it could land Texas back in the courtroom if it reopens a feud over funding Texas public schools.
Texas relies heavily on property taxes to fund state government, which has prompted industries with large investments in property and buildings to say they carry an unfair burden while other businesses get off easy.
Bush is discussing a plan to reduce property taxes and eliminate the corporate franchise tax, replacing them with a higher sales tax and a new business activity tax.
"There is wide recognition that taxes are too high," Harris said, "but we feel like a reduction should come because of increased efficiencies in school districts and the overall state budget, not because another tax is put on business. Business is already paying 60 percent of school property taxes and a disproportionate share of overall taxes."
While there are disagreements among business interests, there is also plenty to agree on.
An overhaul of tort law last session could be revisited as business interests urge more restrictions on the civil-justice system. Chief among the concerns are efforts to keep out-of-state civil lawsuits out of Texas courts and to limit third-party liability.
The TABCC survey showed that 76 percent of Texas employers want workers' compensation to be the sole remedy for workplace injuries. And, they say, if a premises owner or general contractor provides workers' compensation coverage, it should be excluded from any claims.
With a pro-business governor, a Republican majority in the Texas Senate and a conservative Democrat-controlled House, analysts say business legislation could have one of its best years yet.
"We have a legislature and top state leadership that recognizes the importance of preserving a good business climate," Harris said. "They know the importance of moving the state ahead so that Texas is positioned to assume a worldwide leadership role."