Halfway through the legislative session, lawmakers say they’re getting along. But they have a long way to go to achieve their goals this year.
Cassandra Pollock
Cassandra Pollock was a state politics reporter for the Tribune. She joined the Tribune full-time in June 2017 after a fellowship during the 85th Texas Legislature. Pollock spent her first two years at the Trib as an engagement reporter, which meant her name likely landed in your inbox every weekday morning with “The Brief,” a newsletter on all things Texas politics and public policy. Pollock is a graduate of The University of Texas at Austin’s School of Journalism. Pollock left The Texas Tribune in 2021.
Posted in
Texas Legislature 2019
Texas House bill would put $9 billion into school finance reform and property tax relief
Members of the Texas House received their first look at the soon-to-be-filed proposal in a one-page summary circulating around the Texas Capitol Monday afternoon.
Posted in
Texas Legislature 2019
Texas Senate unanimously passes $5,000 teacher pay raises, adding librarians
The proposal faces an uphill climb in the lower chamber, with House Speaker Dennis Bonnen saying he prefers to give school districts flexibility on addressing teacher pay.
Posted inState Government
State Rep. Victoria Neave sued over $26,000 in unpaid property taxes
Neave said Thursday afternoon that she had been notified of the lawsuit, which was filed earlier this week.
Posted inState Government
Donald Trump endorses U.S. Sen. John Cornyn for re-election
The president’s support comes 21 months before Election Day.
Posted in
Texas Legislature 2019
After state leaders’ unified rollout, 2.5 percent rollback rate on property tax bill looks unlikely to stick
Weeks after state leaders trumpeted a consensus property tax reform proposal, few seem married to the bill’s pitch to cut the rollback rate to 2.5 percent.
Posted inState Government
Texas House Democrats made big progress in 2018. Will they capitalize on it in 2019?
Some freshman Democrats see an opportunity to be ambitious this legislative session. But more seasoned lawmakers suggest a more measured approach.
Posted in
Texas Legislature 2019
Days after heated meeting, Texas Senate property tax committee passes 2.5-percent rollback rate bill
The Senate panel’s vote came despite fierce pushback from city and county leaders, who say a lower election threshold on increased property tax revenues could hamstring their budgets.
Posted inState Government
Texas House Speaker Dennis Bonnen names committee chairs
Bonnen appointed House members to head more than 30 committees this legislative session.
Posted in
Texas Legislature 2019
Dennis Bonnen says he doesn’t support linking standardized tests to school finance, but declines to offer other specifics
The new House speaker discussed school finance in an interview with Texas Tribune CEO Evan Smith in Lake Jackson.