Texas Senate passes $16.5 billion package to lower property taxes
Texas senators on Wednesday unanimously approved Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick’s agenda on property tax cuts this legislative session, which would pump billions of state dollars into public schools and give bigger tax breaks for homeowners and business owners.[San Marcos, TX] [Hays County news] News San Marcos News, San Marcos Record [Texas State]
sanmarcosrecord.comThe Texas House and Senate differ on how to cut property taxes. Here’s what their proposals say.
Cuts to school property tax bills. Bigger tax benefits for homeowners. A controversial idea to limit property tax growth. Here’s what you need to know about the brewing property tax debate at the Texas Legislature.
Texas senators seem open to major change in state’s public education funding formula
Senators in the finance committee asked questions Monday about the pros and cons of basing the amount of money that schools get per student on enrollment instead of attendance. Districts say the change could mean millions in additional funding.
Two years after Texas’ voting rights showdown gripped the nation, lawmakers again push dozens of elections bills
Less than two years after Texas Democrats staged a dramatic showdown to forestall sweeping changes to voting laws, the Legislature is poised to once again revisit how Texas runs elections.Entering the[San Marcos, TX] [Hays County news] News San Marcos News, San Marcos Record [Texas State]
sanmarcosrecord.comTwo years after Texas’ voting rights showdown gripped the nation, lawmakers again push dozens of elections bills
State policymakers have mapped out familiar territory early in the legislative session, with Democrats seeking to expand voting access and Republicans pledging to make elections more secure.
Valley to consider property tax amendments on May 7 ballot
In addition to local city and school elections, Rio Grande Valley voters also have constitutional amendments on their May 7 ballot. Recent legislation lowered school tax rates for homeowners, but did not take into account those elderly and disabled homeowners with frozen taxes. The average homeowner will pay $175 less in school property values using the statewide average rate of $1.17/$100, it estimates. “I want to thank Lieutenant Governor Patrick for making both property tax Senate bills a priority, as all homeowners with homesteads will save money on their property tax bills. Bettencourt said last year that the state’s budget surplus would pay for the first year of tax relief.
myrgv.comCapital Highlights — Two proposed amendments on May ballot
Voters who go to the polls for municipal and school board elections on May 7 will also be asked to decide on two proposed amendments to the Texas Constitution.Deputy Secretary of State Joe Esparza dre[San Marcos, TX] [Hays County news] News San Marcos News, San Marcos Record [Texas State]
sanmarcosrecord.comTexas voters will decide whether to lower their property tax payments after Legislature completes last-minute Hail Mary
If voters approve the measure next year, it will raise the state’s homestead exemption from $25,000 to $40,000 for school district property taxes, netting the average homeowner about $176 in savings.
Senate approves map cementing GOP dominance in upper chamber, dividing up Tarrant county’s voters of color
Democrats criticized Republicans for “targeting” a North Texas district that had been trending Democratic and for not drawing any new districts where people of color would represent a majority of eligible voters.
Texas Senate too late with hastily conjured bill allowing party officials to trigger audits of 2020 election
The bill, approved by the Senate and never considered by the House, would have allowed state and local party chairs to file requests to launch audits, but Republicans say the legislation would not have spawned a debacle akin to the controversial review underway in Arizona.
Texas lawmakers say election legislation is about giving urban and rural voters ‘same access’
Abbott said the bills proposed to the legislature would bolster trust in a free and fair election and root out election fraud, a Texas constitutional obligation. Despite the increased attention on election security, Abbott said he is unaware of any Texas election in 2020 that was altered due to voter fraud. That would increase rural voters’ access to the polls, but handcuff urban areas like Harris County, who increased drive-through voting locations and established a 24-hour polling place. “It helps rural Texans feel like they have the same opportunity as urban Texans.”The election bills have been sharply criticized by voting advocacy groups like MOVE Texas and the Texas Civil Rights Project, who believe the bills would suppress voters rather than increase access. “MOVE Texas condemns in the strongest terms the Governor’s blatant attempts to suppress the voices of eligible voters in our state.
Lines to get driver's licenses are long. Texans are skeptical more money will help.
Shane Washington arrived at a driver's license mega center in South Dallas around 3:30 p.m. one day last month. Long waits for customers like Washington at driver's license centers aren't uncommon throughout the state. Yet despite potential fixes on the horizon, some customers said they aren't convinced wait times will drop long-term. At four yet-to-be-selected urban and rural driver's license offices, weekday hours will be extended to 9 p.m. and the department will produce a report on the results. Read related Tribune coverage Texas lawmakers hope an additional $200 million will decrease dreaded wait times at driver's license centersTexas lawmakers want to fix wait times at driver's license offices.