A little-known and ill-defined provision in state statute offers big tax breaks to landowners who host university research on their property. Two lawmakers are trying — again — to close the “loophole.”
property taxes
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Texas Legislature 2019
After 20 years of agitating for property tax reform, can Paul Bettencourt pull it off?
The “Tax Man,” a Republican senator from Houston, has his best chance yet to shake up Texas’ property tax system. But it’s going to be an uphill battle.
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Public Education
Texas House approves major school finance reform package, adds teacher raises to the bill
The legislation would increase per-student funding, mandate across-the-board teacher pay raises and reduce “Robin Hood” payments made by wealthy districts.
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Texas Legislature 2019
Analysis: A standard test for Texas lawmakers — fixing school finance
Texas lawmakers want to fix school finance, but they can’t avoid looking for voter-pleasing side dishes, like property taxes and teacher pay raises, that could undermine the public education fixes.
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Texas Legislature 2019
Analysis: Texas lawmakers haven’t sworn off culture wars after all
The Texas Legislature is trying to focus on school finance and property taxes. But flashier, more divisive political fights beckon.
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Texas Legislature 2019
Texas House committee advances priority property tax legislation, keeping 2.5 percent election trigger
The vote, called around 1 a.m., was 8-3. The lone Democrat who voted in support of the new measure was state Rep. Ryan Guillen, the vice chair of the committee.
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Texas Legislature 2019
Analysis: Property tax relief — but not for all Texas taxpayers
Giving every property owner in Texas a significant tax cut is expensive, but there are less ambitious plans under consideration along with the big ones.
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Politics
Updated property tax reform proposal surfaces in the Texas House
The House Ways & Means Committee is expected to vote on the bill Wednesday.
Posted in
Texas Legislature 2019
Analysis: Texas lawmakers will obviously need a special session, right? Only if they screw things up.
Halfway through the session, the Capitol’s hallways are full of talk of a special session on school finance and property taxes. That won’t happen — unless the Legislature makes a mess of the time it’s got left.
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Texas Legislature 2019
Texas lawmakers eye a record-breaking rainy day fund withdrawal
Proposals in the Texas House would spend $6.6 billion from the state’s savings account; the Senate would spend $4.4 billion.
