As the Texas Legislature’s first special session of 2025 surpasses its halfway mark, several efforts are underway to address key taxpayer issues, though progress is hampered by the ongoing lack of quorum in the House. Governor Greg Abbott called this 30-day session to tackle priorities including property tax relief, banning taxpayer-funded lobbying, and redistricting, among others.
Efforts to Ban Taxpayer-Funded Lobbying
A major focus of the session is Senate Bill 12 (SB 12), authored by Senator Mayes Middleton (R-Galveston), which aims to end the practice of taxpayer-funded lobbying. This practice sees local governments and entities like the Texas Municipal League (TML), Texas Association of School Boards (TASB), and Texas Association of School Administrators (TASA) using taxpayer funds to advocate for policies often misaligned with taxpayer interests, such as higher taxes or or more corporate welfare. SB 12, which has already passed the Senate, has been championed by Texans for Fiscal Responsibility for stopping this unethical use of taxpayer dollars. However, the bill faces hurdles in the House, where similar legislation (SB 19) stalled in the State Affairs Committee during the regular session. Grassroots support and Governor Abbott’s inclusion of this issue in the session call, signals strong momentum, but swift House action is critical before the session ends.
Property Tax Relief Efforts
Property tax relief remains a top concern, as Texans face one of the nation’s highest property tax burdens. Senate Bill 9 (SB 9), introduced by Senator Paul Bettencourt, proposes reducing the voter-approval tax rate multiplier from 3.5% to 2.5% for most local taxing units, slowing the growth of property tax levies. While this is a small step forward, it falls far short of Governor Abbott’s call for meaningful tax burden reduction and local spending limits. SB 9 leaves loopholes intact, such as higher multipliers for special taxing units (8%) and smaller jurisdictions (3.5%), alongside carveouts for disasters and new property growth. Texans for Fiscal Responsibility is urging bolder reforms, including a 0% voter-approval multiplier, closing loopholes, capping local spending growth, and using state surpluses to eliminate school district M&O taxes. Without these, local overspending and revenue—up 90% over the past decade—will continue to outpace reforms, leaving homeowners, renters, and businesses increasingly burdened.
Quorum-Breaking Stalls Redistricting and House Business
The special session has been disrupted by a quorum-breaking strategy from House Democrats, who have left Austin to prevent the 100-member quorum needed for legislative action in the Texas House. This tactic, aimed at stalling congressional redistricting efforts, has brought House business to a standstill, delaying votes on critical issues like SB 9 and SB 12. Redistricting remains unresolved as the absence of these members prevents progress on new legislative maps. This gridlock frustrates taxpayers expecting timely action on the session’s agenda and underscores the need for restored legislative function to address pressing issues before the session’s close.
Looking Ahead
With the special session nearing its end, the Texas Legislature must act swiftly to deliver on taxpayer priorities. Passing SB 12 to ban taxpayer-funded lobbying and advancing bolder property tax reforms beyond SB 9 are critical to fulfilling Governor Abbott’s call – and the demand of taxpayers everywhere. The quorum break continues to challenge progress, particularly on redistricting, but resolving these issues is essential for Texas taxpayers seeking relief and accountability.
Texans for Fiscal Responsibility will continue to monitor developments closely, advocating for policies that prioritize fiscal responsibility and transparency.
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