In a special legislative session, Texas lawmakers made opening pitches to break an impasse over property tax cuts, with the House proposing a “tax rate compression” and the Senate advocating for targeted tax breaks.
“What we’ve just seen here is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to not only pass a record property tax relief bill but add a tremendous benefit for teachers,” said state Sen., a Houston Republican and author of the bills. “This is a huge win for Texas taxpayers. … It’s astonishing work. I’ve never been prouder to be a member of the Texas Senate.”
Patrick said he was hopeful the House would pass the Senate’s bill when lawmakers return next Wednesday and conclude the special session. He also said he’d asked for a meeting with Phelan to broker a deal. On Wednesday tax-cut writers picked up where they left off — unveiling familiar proposals on how to cut school district property taxes, the biggest slice of a property owner’s tax bill.
More than two-thirds of the $12.3 billion in the House bill for property tax cuts would go to school districts to lower their tax rates. The Senate proposal — essentially the same package senators put up in the waning days of the first special session — would also put tighter revenue caps on school districts, a way to further drive down tax rates.
Abbott initially threw his weight behind the House proposal, which pressures school districts to reduce their tax rates, in late May, touting it as a better way to ultimately eliminate school maintenance and operations taxes — which make up the bulk of a school property tax bill and pay for school expenses like teacher salaries. Some conservatives have sought to get rid of the tax altogether.
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