The Texas Legislature’s special session ended with a bang, but it wasn’t the sound of the property tax bill the governor was hoping for. Will he call state lawmakers back for more?
special sessions
Posted inState Government
Analysis: Broken school finance system spawns wild solutions
In Austin — the poster child for property tax recapture in Texas right now — the school district is telling taxpayers they’ll be sending $2.6 billion to the state over the next five years. That’s inspiring some crazy ideas.
Posted inState Government
Senate approves bill restricting abortion insurance
A bill requiring Texas women to pay a separate health insurance premium to get coverage for non-emergency abortions — what opponents have dubbed “rape insurance” — is close to becoming law.
Posted inState Government
Texas House approves “compromise” city annexation bill
Legislation that would allow Texans to vote on whether cities in large counties can annex areas outside of their limits — a contentious issue that prompted a filibuster in May — got one step closer to Gov. Greg Abbott’s desk Friday.
Posted inState Government
Analysis: Texas state budget tricks are great — until you total them up
A new report says the deferrals and other fiscal tricks lawmakers used this year — and are considering in the current special session — are digging a hole legislators will have to fill when they return to write a new budget in January 2019.
Posted in
TribCast
Abbott v. Perry, school finance, impending Sine Die (podcast)
On this week’s TribCast, Emily talks to Evan, Ross and Patrick about Gov. Greg Abbott’s comparison of his accomplishments to former Gov. Rick Perry’s, whether school finance reform has a real shot in the special session, and how soon the Texas Legislature will adjourn — again.
Posted in
Public Education
Analysis: Even the losers get lucky sometimes
With a little more than a week left for this special session of the Texas Legislature, lawmakers are preparing closing arguments — and obituaries — for their pet issues.
Posted inState Government
Analysis: Hopes of going 20 for 20 in special session circle the drain
In his first special session as governor of Texas, Greg Abbott is watching his hopes for 20 wins on 20 agenda items fall victim to the same legislative discord that marred the regular session earlier this year.
Posted in
Politics
Showdown shaping up in special session
Lawmakers have yet to send Gov. Greg Abbott a single bill to sign from the special session, and with less than two weeks left, it’s highly unlikely Abbott will get his entire 20-item agenda through the process.
Posted inState Government
Analysis: Texas House committee tries shock therapy on school finance
An eye-opening proposal to kill the local school property tax in order to force Texas lawmakers to build a new school finance system won unanimous approval Thursday from the House’s tax-writing Ways and Means Committee.