BREAKING NEWS
Texas would need about $81.5 billion a year to end property taxes, officials say
Read full article: Texas would need about $81.5 billion a year to end property taxes, officials sayTexas Republicans have been trying to reduce the state’s high property taxes for years, but some acknowledge eliminating them would be too expensive.
Harris County voter outreach proposal sparks another fight with Texas Republicans
Read full article: Harris County voter outreach proposal sparks another fight with Texas RepublicansThe county plans to ID eligible voters and send them registration forms. GOP officials say it’s an end-run around state law.
Texas senators grill utility executives about massive power failure after Hurricane Beryl
Read full article: Texas senators grill utility executives about massive power failure after Hurricane BerylA special committee of the Texas Senate has convened to hear executives from Houston's largest utility provider explain the massive electricity failure that occurred when Hurricane Beryl hit the city on July 8.
Texas legislators want to help property owners deal with squatters. But the changes could affect tenants.
Read full article: Texas legislators want to help property owners deal with squatters. But the changes could affect tenants.Housing advocates say Texas laws fall short when it comes to property trespassers but they warn changes could worsen the state’s evictions crisis.
Texans get their first crack at electing the people overseeing the state’s complicated property appraisal process
Read full article: Texans get their first crack at electing the people overseeing the state’s complicated property appraisal processIn the state’s larger counties, voters can now elect people to the agencies that appraise property values.
Texas homeowners and businesses will get a tax cut after voters approve Proposition 4
Read full article: Texas homeowners and businesses will get a tax cut after voters approve Proposition 4The $18 billion property tax-cut package is aimed squarely at lowering school district property taxes, which make up the lion’s share of a Texas landowner’s property tax bill.
Senate Republicans say House managers failed to meet high burden of proof
Read full article: Senate Republicans say House managers failed to meet high burden of proofDemocrats, however, said their GOP colleagues “caved” to outside pressure in voting to acquit and return Ken Paxton to his job as attorney general.
Property tax cuts hit the fast track as Texas Senate advances long-awaited agreement
Read full article: Property tax cuts hit the fast track as Texas Senate advances long-awaited agreementThe package could land on Gov. Greg Abbott’s desk by the end of the week. Voters must pass the plan in a constitutional election in November for it to take effect in the 2023 tax year.
With second special session underway, Texas lawmakers offer opening property tax-cut proposals
Read full article: With second special session underway, Texas lawmakers offer opening property tax-cut proposalsA stalemate among Texas’ top Republicans has dragged on for months. Tax-cut proponents in the House and Senate made their first pitches to end the impasse Wednesday.
Gov. Greg Abbott threatens string of vetoes if lawmakers can’t agree on property tax cuts
Read full article: Gov. Greg Abbott threatens string of vetoes if lawmakers can’t agree on property tax cutsWith several hundred bills awaiting action by the governor, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick called the veto threat an affront to Texans and the legislative process.
To tackle high housing costs, Texas lawmakers push to build more homes
Read full article: To tackle high housing costs, Texas lawmakers push to build more homesHousing advocates, builders and real estate experts agree that the state simply isn’t building enough homes to keep up with its booming population and economic growth.
The Texas House and Senate differ on how to cut property taxes. Here’s what their proposals say.
Read full article: The Texas House and Senate differ on how to cut property taxes. Here’s what their proposals say.Cuts to school property tax bills. Bigger tax benefits for homeowners. A controversial idea to limit property tax growth. Here’s what you need to know about the brewing property tax debate at the Texas Legislature.
Texas House’s property tax bill calls for $17 billion in cuts, tighter appraisal cap
Read full article: Texas House’s property tax bill calls for $17 billion in cuts, tighter appraisal capTexas House Speaker Dade Phelan’s proposal reveals the different roads the Texas House and Senate want to take on property taxes — and the fight that might emerge between the two chambers this session.
Texas senators seem open to major change in state’s public education funding formula
Read full article: Texas senators seem open to major change in state’s public education funding formulaSenators in the finance committee asked questions Monday about the pros and cons of basing the amount of money that schools get per student on enrollment instead of attendance. Districts say the change could mean millions in additional funding.
Texas Senate leaders signal intent to spend big on border security
Read full article: Texas Senate leaders signal intent to spend big on border securityThe state has spent $4 billion on border initiatives in the past two years, including $40 million to bus migrants out of Texas into Democrat-led cities.
Two years after Texas’ voting rights showdown gripped the nation, lawmakers again push dozens of elections bills
Read full article: Two years after Texas’ voting rights showdown gripped the nation, lawmakers again push dozens of elections billsState policymakers have mapped out familiar territory early in the legislative session, with Democrats seeking to expand voting access and Republicans pledging to make elections more secure.
Property tax revision, judicial branch expansion among new Texas laws that took effect Jan. 1
Read full article: Property tax revision, judicial branch expansion among new Texas laws that took effect Jan. 1While the Legislature will soon start its new session, some laws passed in 2021 are just now taking effect.
Here’s how two Texas constitutional amendments could lower some property taxes
Read full article: Here’s how two Texas constitutional amendments could lower some property taxesThe propositions on the May 7 ballot would lower property taxes by shifting more public school costs to the state. But the measures’ language can be hard to understand.
Texas voters will decide whether to lower their property tax payments after Legislature completes last-minute Hail Mary
Read full article: Texas voters will decide whether to lower their property tax payments after Legislature completes last-minute Hail MaryIf voters approve the measure next year, it will raise the state’s homestead exemption from $25,000 to $40,000 for school district property taxes, netting the average homeowner about $176 in savings.
Senate approves map cementing GOP dominance in upper chamber, dividing up Tarrant county’s voters of color
Read full article: Senate approves map cementing GOP dominance in upper chamber, dividing up Tarrant county’s voters of colorDemocrats criticized Republicans for “targeting” a North Texas district that had been trending Democratic and for not drawing any new districts where people of color would represent a majority of eligible voters.
With Texas Gov. Greg Abbott’s blessing, lawmakers fast-track property tax cut proposal
Read full article: With Texas Gov. Greg Abbott’s blessing, lawmakers fast-track property tax cut proposalTax relief for property owners joins a packed to-do list for Texas lawmakers — which includes redistricting, COVID-19 vaccine mandates and a spending plan for $16 billion in federal stimulus dollars.
Texas Senate too late with hastily conjured bill allowing party officials to trigger audits of 2020 election
Read full article: Texas Senate too late with hastily conjured bill allowing party officials to trigger audits of 2020 electionThe bill, approved by the Senate and never considered by the House, would have allowed state and local party chairs to file requests to launch audits, but Republicans say the legislation would not have spawned a debacle akin to the controversial review underway in Arizona.
Texas lawmakers say election legislation is about giving urban and rural voters ‘same access’
Read full article: Texas lawmakers say election legislation is about giving urban and rural voters ‘same access’Abbott said the bills proposed to the legislature would bolster trust in a free and fair election and root out election fraud, a Texas constitutional obligation. Despite the increased attention on election security, Abbott said he is unaware of any Texas election in 2020 that was altered due to voter fraud. That would increase rural voters’ access to the polls, but handcuff urban areas like Harris County, who increased drive-through voting locations and established a 24-hour polling place. “It helps rural Texans feel like they have the same opportunity as urban Texans.”The election bills have been sharply criticized by voting advocacy groups like MOVE Texas and the Texas Civil Rights Project, who believe the bills would suppress voters rather than increase access. “MOVE Texas condemns in the strongest terms the Governor’s blatant attempts to suppress the voices of eligible voters in our state.