Property Tax
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,…
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…
Episode 20: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly of the 88th Legislative Session
Episode Description π° In our FINAL EPISODE of this season of π§ππ«π£ππ¬ππ₯ π§ππππ¦, 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…
Episode 15: The Session Comes to a Close With Not Much to Show for It
Episode Description π° In our fifteenth and final episode of π§ππ πͺπππ πππππ, 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…
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…
Episode 19: Will They Get to Property Tax Relief in Time?
Episode Description π° In this episode of π§ππ«π£ππ¬ππ₯ π§ππππ¦, 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…
Episode 14: Legislative Session Ending Soon, What is Still Moving?
Episode Description π° In our fourteenth episode of π§ππ πͺπππ πππππ, 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…
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…
Texas House Improves Senate’s Property Tax Relief Proposal
On Thursday, the Texas House of Representatives considered Senate Bill 3, or one of the prioritized pieces of legislation included in Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick’s property tax relief package. It passed its initial consideration by a vote of 140…
Episode 18: Texas Lawmakers Are Feeling the Pressure on Property Tax Relief!
Episode Description π° In this episode of π§ππ«π£ππ¬ππ₯ π§ππππ¦, we discuss the potential for renewed life when it comes to tangible property tax relief as a result of the nearly concluded 88th Legislative Session. We also talk about the prospects…
Episode 13: Abbott Plays Hardball on School Choice Effort
Episode Description π° In our thirteenth episode of π§ππ πͺπππ πππππ, we discuss the now weaker version of school choice making its way through the Texas House committee process and recent sentiments from Texas Gov. Greg Abbott on the subject….
Episode 17: Texas House Fails to Deliver on Impactful Border Security Legislation
Episode Description π° In this episode of π§ππ«π£ππ¬ππ₯ π§ππππ¦, we discuss the recent failure by Texas House lawmakers to pass a meaningful border security legislative priority, the childish dialogue between elected leadership in both legislative chambers on potential property tax…
The Petulant Children Squabbling Over Property Tax Relief
If you are a Texas taxpayer and hoping to get tangible property tax relief as an outcome of the ongoing 88th Legislative Session, you might be disappointed. Not only does it look as if nearly no real property tax relief…
A Budget Spending Spree Like No Other
Texas is often thought of as a conservative state. Teachers, for instance, complain about inadequate spending on public education and low salaries. Democrat State Rep. James Talarico (Austin) has argued that the low salaries are βpushing teachers out of the…
Texas House Gives Initial Approval to Corporate Welfare Revival Priority
On Thursday, the Texas House of Representatives considered House Bill 5 (HB 5), or what was dubbed the “Texas Jobs and Security Act” by both the legislation’s author, Republican State Rep. Todd Hunter (Corpus Christi), and Texas House Speaker Dade…