News

Explainers

Explainer: What Is Tax Compression?

Introduction As the debate about the superior property tax relief package continues, many would imagine the most common question that TFR gets is whether we support tax compression or increasing the homestead exemption. Although that is a safe assumption, that…

News88th TXLege

Abbott Signs Corporate Welfare Boondoggle Into Law

On Wednesday, Texas Governor Greg Abbott signed legislation purporting to be a “new” economic development tool into law. Despite its similarities to the now-ended Chapter 313 tax abatement program, its supporters insist this new program is a more accountable and…

News88th TXLege

Dismal Legislative Session for Texas Taxpayers

The 88th Texas Legislative Session has come and gone. State lawmakers were faced with a historic budget surplus (over-collected taxpayer dollars) and a historic opportunity to provide Texas taxpayers with much-needed tax relief and a promise for future prosperity. Instead,…

Commentary

Where Are the Fiscal Conservatives?

Lost in all of the noise and chaos surrounding the 88th Legislative Session is the fact that Republican lawmakers, who have enjoyed a comfortable majority in the Texas Legislature for the last two decades, ushered in the biggest spending increase…

Podcast - Taxpayer Talks

Episode 20: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly of the 88th Legislative Session

Episode Description 💰 In our FINAL EPISODE of this season of 𝗧𝗔𝗫𝗣𝗔𝗬𝗘𝗥 𝗧𝗔𝗟𝗞𝗦, we are joined by special guests Vance Ginn, Ph.D., and Bill Peacock to discuss the 88th Legislative Session, what happened, what did not happen, the good, the…

Podcast - The Week Ahead

Episode 15: The Session Comes to a Close With Not Much to Show for It

Episode Description 💰 In our fifteenth and final episode of 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗪𝗘𝗘𝗞 𝗔𝗛𝗘𝗔𝗗, we discuss the end of the 88th Legislative Session and lack of successes for things on Texas Governor Greg Abbott’s “emergency agenda” and items important to Texas…

Statements

TFR Statement on Conference Committee Report for HB 1 – General Appropriations Act

With only a few days left of the ongoing 88th Legislative Session, state lawmakers have presented a Conference Committee Report for House Bill 1 that represents perhaps the largest increase in spending in Texas history; it is certainly the biggest…

Podcast - Taxpayer Talks

Episode 19: Will They Get to Property Tax Relief in Time?

Episode Description 💰 In this episode of 𝗧𝗔𝗫𝗣𝗔𝗬𝗘𝗥 𝗧𝗔𝗟𝗞𝗦, we discuss what still has the potential to get done before imminent key deadlines in the near-ended Texas 88th Legislative Session. Will Texas taxpayers get tangible property tax relief? Will we…

Vote Notices

Vote Notice 5.24.23

Texas Senate Subject: Repealing Onerous Regulation, House Bill 3419 (HB 3419) Subject: Corporate Welfare Revival, House Bill 5 (HB 5) Subject: Harmful History of Communism Curriculum, House Bill 2273 (HB 2273) Subject: Raising Pensions of Lawmakers, While Ignoring Taxpayers, House Bill 2779 (HB 2779) Subject: Anti-Free Enterprise, House Bill 3942 (HB 3942) Subject: Encouraging an Inequitable…

Vote Notices

Vote Notice 5.23.22

Texas Senate Subject: Anti-Free Enterprise, House Bill 3942 (HB 3942) Subject: Alteration in the Way the No-New-Revenue Tax Rate is Calculated, House Bill 4456 (HB 4456) Subject: Anti-Taxpayer, House Bill 100 (HB 100) Subject: Increased Transparency, House Bill 614 (HB 614) Subject: Transparency for Taxpayers, House Bill 1228 (HB 1228) Subject: Restoring Penalty for Illegal Voting, House…

Podcast - The Week Ahead

Episode 14: Legislative Session Ending Soon, What is Still Moving?

Episode Description 💰 In our fourteenth episode of 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗪𝗘𝗘𝗞 𝗔𝗛𝗘𝗔𝗗, we discuss the impending deadlines in both legislative chambers as we enter the final full week of the ongoing 88th Legislative Session and what they mean for things like…

Vote Notices

Vote Notice 5.22.23

Texas Senate Subject: Border Security, House Bill 7 (HB 7) Subject: State Sovereignty to Regulate Oil and Gas Operations, House Bill 33 (HB 33) Subject: Border Security, House Bill 800 (HB 800) Subject: Transparency & Accountability for School Board Grievances, House Bill 890 (HB 890) Subject: Tax Credits & Corporate Welfare, House Bill 1058 (HB…

Vote Notices

Vote Notice 5.21.23

Texas Senate Subject: Medicaid Expansion for Post-Partum Women, House Bill 12 (HB 12) Subject: Prescription Drug Importation Program, House Bill 25 (HB 25) Subject: Further Entrenching the Role of the State in Mental Health, House Bill 400 (HB 400) Subject: READER Act, House Bill 900 (HB 900) Subject: Expanding Gambling, House Bill 1759 (HB 1759)…

Vote Notices

Vote Notice 5.20.23

Texas Senate None Texas House of Representatives Subject: Pro-Property Rights, Senate Bill 785 (SB 785) Subject: Pro-Taxpayer, Senate Bill 1252 (SB 1252) Subject: Corporate Welfare, Senate Bill 2325 (SB 2325) Reminder: Vote Notices are provided to both Texas state lawmakers and the general public in advance of Texans for Fiscal…

Statements

TFR Statement On SB3 – Property Tax Relief

Taxpayers have a lot to be thankful for what seems to be a compromise between the House and Senate with the latest version of Senate Bill 3. As passed by the House, this bill includes $12 billion for a 15-cent…