News and Commentary

Vote Notices

Vote Notice – 3.15.2023

Texans for Fiscal Responsibility has issued the following vote notice for March 15, 2023 (Day 65 of the 88th Legislative Session): Texas Senate Subject: Supplemental Appropriations Act, Senate Bill 30 (SB30) Texas House of Representatives None Reminder:Β Vote Notices are provided…

News88th TXLege

Appraisal Caps Overwhelmingly Rejected in HB 2 House Hearing

On Monday, the House Ways and Means Committee laid out House Bill 2, the House leadership’s property tax relief package. The legislation is authored by the chairman of the committee State Rep. Morgan Meyer (R-Dallas/Career Fiscal Index “F”). The legislation…

News88th TXLege

Legislation Seeking to Ban Taxpayer-funded Lobbying Gets Hearing in Senate

On Monday, the Texas Senate State Affairs Committee considered legislation seeking to ban the practice of taxpayer-funded lobbying statewide. Though the legislation was left pending, it is likely to be passed out of committee and considered by the overall Senate…

NewsTestimony

House Bill 2: Testimony Before the Texas House Ways & Means Committee

Tim Hardin is the President/CEO of Texans for Fiscal Responsibility. House Bill 2: Texas Property Tax Relief Act The Texas House Ways & Means Committee considered House Bill 2 or the Texas Property Tax Relief Act on Monday, March 13,…

Podcast - The Week Ahead

Episode 5: Property Tax “Relief” Legislation Moving in Texas House

Episode Description πŸ’° In our fifth episode of π—§π—›π—˜ π—ͺπ—˜π—˜π—ž π—”π—›π—˜π—”π——, we discuss the Texas Property Tax Relief Act of House Bill 2 being heard in the Texas House Ways & Means Committee as well as the proposed ban on…

News88th TXLege

Despite Promised Relief, Property Taxes Jumped 12.2% in 2022

Texans for Fiscal Responsibility (TFR) recently published a new report revealing the abysmal numbers related to property tax levies released by the Texas comptroller’s office. The major takeaway? The Texas Legislature continues to trumpet their “historic tax reform” package from…

Podcast - Taxpayer Talks

Episode 9: Bill Filing Deadline Looms. How Will Taxpayers Fare?

Episode Description πŸ’° In this episode of π—§π—”π—«π—£π—”π—¬π—˜π—₯ π—§π—”π—Ÿπ—žπ—¦, we discuss the upcoming bill filing deadline as a part of the ongoing 88th Legislative Session, what priority legislation has been filed that would be beneficial to Texas taxpayers, and potential…

Commentary

Lawmakers Seek to Steal From Taxpayers for More Corporate Welfare

It’s no secret that leadership in the Texas Legislature has been heavily focusing on property tax relief packages in recent weeks. The Texas House and Senate have both filed their proposals, and both seek to provide minimal relief for homeowners….

Podcast - The Week Ahead

Episode 4: Bill Filing Deadline Looms. Where Does That Leave Texas Taxpayers?

Episode Description πŸ’° In our fourth episode of π—§π—›π—˜ π—ͺπ—˜π—˜π—ž π—”π—›π—˜π—”π——, we are joined by Bill Peacock, host of The Liberty Cafe Podcast, and Vance Ginn, Ph.D. to discuss the pro-taxpayer legislation that was filed ahead of the bill filing…

Podcast - Taxpayer Talks

Episode 8: Lawmakers Make Moves Against Taxpayers in Texas

Episode Description πŸ’° In this episode of π—§π—”π—«π—£π—”π—¬π—˜π—₯ π—§π—”π—Ÿπ—žπ—¦, we discuss the efforts to revive corporate welfare in the Texas Legislature as well as the potential consequences for Texas taxpayers expecting tangible property tax relief and a path to the…

News88th TXLege

Corporate Welfare Revival: Taxpayers Face Uphill Battle

Earlier this week, Texas taxpayers bore witness to yet another effort to revive the now-defunct largest corporate welfare program in Texas, the Chapter 313 tax abatement program. To make matters worse, Republican leadership in both chambers of the Legislature and…

Bad Bill of the Week

Bad Bill of the Week – House Bill 508 – Big Government

Legislation Referenced House Bill 508 – State Rep. Gene Wu (D – Houston) Texans for Fiscal Responsibility relies on the support of private donors across the Lone Star State in order to promote fiscal responsibility and pro-taxpayer government in Texas….

Podcast - The Week Ahead

Episode 3: Corporate Welfare Revival Effort

Episode Description πŸ’° In our third episode of π—§π—›π—˜ π—ͺπ—˜π—˜π—ž π—”π—›π—˜π—”π——, we are joined by Robert Montoya, investigative journalist from Texas Scorecard to discuss the ongoing effort to revive the largest corporate welfare program in the state of Texas during…

Podcast - Taxpayer Talks

Episode 7: Reviewing the State of the State Address

Episode Description πŸ’° In this episode of π—§π—”π—«π—£π—”π—¬π—˜π—₯ π—§π—”π—Ÿπ—žπ—¦, we discuss Texas Gov. Greg Abbott’s recent State of the State address and what it might mean for Texas taxpayers. Articles Referenced All previous episodes of the podcast can be found here as…

Bad Bill of the Week

Bad Bill of the Week – House Bill 71 – Digital I.D.

Legislation Referenced House Bill 71 – State Rep. Terry Canales (D-Edinburg) Texans for Fiscal Responsibility relies on the support of private donors across the Lone Star State in order to promote fiscal responsibility and pro-taxpayer government in Texas. Please consider…