Texas Senate
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Texas House of Representatives
Subject: Pro-Property Rights, Senate Bill 785 (SB 785)
- Author: State Sen. Brian Birdwell (R-Granbury)
- TFR Position: Support
- Background: SB 785 seeks to amend current law relating to the ownership of geothermal energy and associated resources below the surface of the land by clarifying that the landowner owns the geothermal energy and associated resources and is entitled to drill for or produce those resources. SB 785 secures property rights for property owners. For this reason, TFR supports SB 785.
Subject: Pro-Taxpayer, Senate Bill 1252 (SB 1252)
- Author: State Sen. Paul Bettencourt (R-Houston)
- TFR Position: Support
- Background: SB 1252 seeks to provide additional transparency at the ballot box, where local governments tend to make things as deceptive as possible. This requires the words “THIS IS A TAX INCREASE” to be included in any proposition that increases the tax rate. TFR recommends an amendment that also includes the same language if the rate is not lowered to the No New Revenue Rate. TFR supports SB 1252.
Subject: Corporate Welfare, Senate Bill 2325 (SB 2325)
- Author: State Sen. Judith Zaffirini (D-Laredo)
- TFR Position: Oppose
- Background: SB 2325 seeks to change the name of “Formula One automobile race” to “The Formula One United States Grand Prix” to ensure that Circuit of the Americas (COTA) is eligible to receive funding from the major events reimbursement program. Government should not be in the business of stealing from taxpayers to give corporate welfare in the form of reimbursement for major events. This practice is antithetical to free enterprise and TFR opposes all subsidies and corporate welfare. For this reason, TFR opposes SB 2325.
Reminder: Vote Notices are provided to both Texas state lawmakers and the general public in advance of Texans for Fiscal Responsibility’s position on issues to be rated as part of the Fiscal Responsibility Index prior to votes being taken in each legislative chamber.
Disclaimer: We reserve the right to consider amendments to legislation that may be introduced without notice as a part of issues to be rated as part of the Fiscal Responsibility Index. We will make every effort to provide notice on amendments that are pre-filed.
