A lesser-known handout from taxpayers to private entities are local Hotel Occupancy Taxes, which are collected and allocated for the promotion of “tourism and the convention and hotel industry.” Cities may levy up to a seven percent tax on hotel bills,…

As conservatives know, government is an inherently greedy beast. It seizes every opportunity to grow and, in the words of Democrat Rahm Emanuel, it “never lets a good crisis go to waste.” However, in combating the natural trend of bureaucracy to…

State lawmakers should repeal the property tax levied on business personal property and inventory. Only eleven states other than Texas levy such a tax. Texas’ onerous property tax system requires that businesses pay taxes on both the land it occupies and its assets—including the inventory…

Following Gov. Greg Abbott’s announcement that he would be ending his statewide mandatory mask order next week, we at Texans for Fiscal Responsibility asked our subscribers and supporters how they would react to businesses requiring masks. Over a thousand Texans…

Over a decade ago, liberal lawmakers in the Texas Legislature from both parties came together and imposed an onerous tax on Texas’ businesses: the state’s franchise tax also known as the gross margins tax. Since its inception, this tedious tax…

Originally implemented in 2001, property tax abatements have exploded as local governments across Texas compete with each other in an endless cycle of targeted giveaways to big business. The time to end this unfair, costly, and crony practice has come. Defined…

For most of Texas history, tuition rates at public colleges and universities were set by the Texas Legislature. That changed in 2003 when lawmakers “de-regulated” tuition and voted to give the state universities the ability to set their own rates,…

Depending on your perspective, Texas has either held the line by declining to legalize recreational marijuana or lagged behind the nation as more and more states have enacted laws regulating and taxing the sale of the plant and its derivatives….

Following the State of the State address, Texans for Fiscal Responsibility issued the following statement: “As it relates to the Texas budget and other related fiscal matters, Gov. Abbott did not say much. However, the Governor’s speech does not change Texas…

In late January, news broke that Samsung is seeking a 100 percent tax rebate from the City of Austin for more than 20 years in exchange for building a $17 billion facility within its borders. As more continues to unfold…

Following the release of budget proposals by the Texas House and Texas Senate, Texans for Fiscal Responsibility president Cary Cheshire released the following statement: “In light of the continued government shutdowns negatively affecting Texans and the Comptroller’s projection of a…

Compared to most states, Texas is among the most business friendly with no tax on personal income, fewer regulatory barriers relative to many of its neighbors, and an engaged and enterprising workforce. However, the state could be even more business…

With no say in the matter whatsoever, taxpayers across the state have been forced to foot the bill for lobbyists’ advocacy efforts in the Texas Legislature. Worse yet, these tax dollars are spent advocating for policy positions that are often…

As the Texas House looks to continue to organize in preparation of doing the work of the 87th Texas Legislature, lawmakers are set to consider an updated rules package that would reduce transparency and limit individual lawmaker’s ability to affect…

After lawmakers were sworn in, TFR sent the following message to every member of the Texas Legislature congratulating them on their election and informing them about the Fiscal Responsibility Index. Dear Legislator, Congratulations on your election to the Texas Legislature! …