The City of Fort Worth is now Texas’ “aviation and defense” capital, after Gov. Greg Abbott signed a resolution earlier this week.

Abbott signed House Concurrent Resolution 142 — labeling Fort Worth the “official Aviation and Defense Capital of Texas” – on June 17, according to a press release. The governor signed this, along with other business-related bills, at a luncheon for the Fort Worth Economic Development Partnership.

“The laws being signed today reduce barriers for small businesses and prioritize ordinary Texans,” Abbott said in the release.

While speaking at the event, Abbott “touted the role that Fort Worth plays in the Texas economy and in advancing America’s leadership in military capacity and aerospace technology,” according to the release. 

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“Fort Worth has played an integral part in advancing America’s leadership in military capability and aerospace technology, and these contributions have brought profound benefits to our state and nation,” the resolution reads. 

Fort Worth was first established as a “frontier outpost” in 1849. In World War I, the city was home to Camp Bowie, which trained 100,000 soldiers for the Army’s 36th Infantry Division. In World War II, Fort Worth was instrumental in building B-24 and B-32 bombers and became home to Carswell Air Force Base.

The resolution also cited the city’s connection to the development of the F-16, the headquarters of Lockheed Martin’s F-35 Lightning II program, the office of American Airlines, Bell Textron’s helicopter production, and the Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport. 

Abbott also signed a handful of other economic bills at the event. “Most businesses in the state are actually small businesses. They employ about half of all employees around the entire state,” he said in the release.

The governor signed House Bill 346, which allows the secretary of state to “offer expedited business filings” so small businesses can “establish themselves quickly,” and permanently makes a veteran-owned business franchise exemption and filing waiver permanent. The bill takes effect September 1, and its sponsors include Republicans state Rep. Caroline Harris Davila and state Sen. Phil King.

Abbott also signed HB 2464, which “prevents cities from imposing regulations on certain home-based businesses,” according to the release. State Rep. Cole Hefner and state Sen. Mayes Middleton, both Republicans, sponsored the bill, which took effect immediately. 

Abbott signed HB 5195, which directs state agencies to “assess modernization” of their websites to “make it easier to do business,” the release said. Republican state Rep. Giovanni Capriglione and Democrat state Sen. Carol Alvarado sponsored the bill, which takes effect September 1.

Abbott also signed Senate Bill 2206 at the event. According to the release, the measure increases the tax credit for a “research and development franchise” and “creates a refundable franchise tax credit.” Republican state Sens. Paul Bettencourt and Joan Huffman, as well as state Rep. Charlie Geren, sponsored the bill, which takes effect January 1, 2026.

“We wanted to make sure that we passed laws that would improve the process of doing business in the state, and we took strategic steps to achieve just that,” Abbott said in the release.

The measures “build on progress” from the Governor’s Small Business Freedom Council. According to the council’s website, Abbott launched the initiative in December to find ways to “cut unnecessary government regulations that impede small business formation and growth.”

Abbott attended the event alongside Fort Worth Mayor Mattie Parker, Fort Worth EDP President Robert Allen, and others, including state Sens. Kelly Hancock, Bryan Hughes, and Royce West. They were joined by state Reps. Benjamin Bumgarner, Caroline Davila, Charlie Geren, John McQueeney, Morgan Meyer, Katrine Pierson, David Spiller, Tony Tinderholt, and Nate Schatzline.

Schatzline posted on X that it was an “honor” to stand with supporters of legislation to “create an even stronger environment for small businesses,” making Texas the “most PRO BUSINESS state in the USA.”