A little-known and ill-defined provision in state statute offers big tax breaks to landowners who host university research on their property. Two lawmakers are trying — again — to close the “loophole.”
Shannon Najmabadi
Shannon Najmabadi was a reporter at the Tribune from 2017 to 2021, most recently covering women's health. Her stories — on higher education and other topics — have prompted lawmakers to change three state laws, including one involving a very narrow definition of the word “pickle.” She is a graduate of the University of California at Berkeley and Columbia University.
Posted in
Texas Legislature 2019
Texas House committee advances priority property tax legislation, keeping 2.5 percent election trigger
The vote, called around 1 a.m., was 8-3. The lone Democrat who voted in support of the new measure was state Rep. Ryan Guillen, the vice chair of the committee.
Posted in
Politics
Updated property tax reform proposal surfaces in the Texas House
The House Ways & Means Committee is expected to vote on the bill Wednesday.
Posted inState Government
When big businesses want to fight their property tax bills, Texas law hands them an easy way, critics say
Supporters of the provision, known as equity appeals, say it’s valuable for all property owners and stops taxing units from imposing unfair taxes.
Posted in
Higher Education
After new admissions scandal, former Regent Wallace Hall says University of Texas’ rules are a “joke”
Hall led a heated battle to reform the school’s admissions procedures, which led to reforms in 2015. But after a UT tennis coach was accused of taking a bribe to help a student gain admission, Hall says more needs to be done.
Posted in
Criminal Justice
UT-Austin fires tennis coach and launches internal inquiry in wake of national bribery scandal
University President Greg Fenves announced the firing in an email and said, “The integrity of UT admissions is essential to our mission as a research university and to the students and families we serve.”
Posted in
Demographics
Property tax proposal piles one more worry on Texas’ rural hospital districts
Hospital leaders say restrictions on their property tax revenue growth could force them to scale back services.
Posted in
Higher Education
UT System to slash 65 jobs in second round of layoffs
The announcement, made in an internal email, is part of a new but expected wave of cuts aimed at trimming the system’s overhead.
Posted in
Texas Legislature 2019
Sweeping legislation takes aim at shock emergency room bills in Texas
Committee chairs from both chambers unveiled the proposal on Thursday.
Posted in
Texas Legislature 2019
In the Texas House, property tax legislation is being handled with a different speed — and tone
State Rep. Dustin Burrows, author of the House bill, said the House Ways and Means Committee is “not just trying to get something across the finish line as quick as we can.”
