Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle have already signaled opposition to the proposal from Gov. Greg Abbott, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and House Speaker Dennis Bonnen.
Aliyya Swaby
Aliyya Swaby was the public education reporter for The Texas Tribune, where she worked from 2016 to 2021. Previously she worked at the hyperlocal nonprofit New Haven Independent, where she covered education, zoning and transit for two years. After graduating from Yale University in 2013, she spent a year freelance reporting in Panama on social issues affecting black Panamanian communities. She was an Education Writers Association finalist in 2017 for beat reporting and a Livingston Awards finalist in 2019 for a series on school desegregation.
Posted in
Texas Legislature 2019
A Texas sales tax increase would hit poor people the hardest
Top Republican leaders have proposed raising the sales tax and using the money to lower local property tax rates. Wealthier Texans and businesses would likely benefit, while poorer Texans would likely pay more.
Posted in
Texas Legislature 2019
Property tax reform proposals stall — for now — as top Texas lawmakers scramble for votes
House leadership plans to hold a floor vote on Monday. Meanwhile, the Senate is looking for one more vote to bring the priority measure to the floor.
Posted in
Texas Legislature 2019
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, other top leaders propose raising the sales tax to provide property tax relief
The state’s “Big Three” unveiled the proposal in a joint statement. The idea would need approval from two-thirds of the House and Senate and a majority of Texas voters.
Posted in
Public Education
Texas charter schools are facing more backlash this year, but they could also receive more cash
School finance reform could bring the privately operated public schools a windfall. But traditional public school advocates are still fighting the charters’ expansion.
Posted in
Texas Legislature 2019
Here’s how different proposals at the Texas Capitol could change property tax bills
How would lawmakers’ proposals to provide property tax relief affect tax bills? It depends on where you live and what kind of home you own.
Posted in
Public Education
Texas estimates it may owe feds $223 million after illegally decreasing special education funding
A major flaw in the way Texas spends money on kids with disabilities might lose the state almost a quarter of its annual special education grant.
Posted in
Public Education
Texas House approves major school finance reform package, adds teacher raises to the bill
The legislation would increase per-student funding, mandate across-the-board teacher pay raises and reduce “Robin Hood” payments made by wealthy districts.
Posted in
Public Education
Texas is preparing to tell the feds it can’t promise a special education fix until June 2020
The state indicated in previous communications with the federal government that a fix would be made by this January.
Posted in
Texas Legislature 2019
Texas Senate advances bill to shore up teacher pension fund
The bill would increase state, school district and teacher contributions to the fund, and provide a one-time additional check for retirees.
