Vera, who planned to testify on election legislation, was a regular at the statehouse. Two weeks ago, lawmakers sang โHappy Birthdayโ to him during a House Elections Committee hearing.
Paul Bettencourt
The 13 election bills to watch as the Texas Legislature heads into its last month
Two years ago, Texas lawmakers focused all their election changes in one bill. There are dozens of proposals this year, and many stem from concerns in Harris County โ the nationโs third-largest county.
Texas Senate passes $16.5 billion package to lower property taxes
The proposals target the taxes homeowners pay and require school districts to lower their tax rates.
To tackle high housing costs, Texas lawmakers push to build more homes
Housing advocates, builders and real estate experts agree that the state simply isnโt building enough homes to keep up with its booming population and economic growth.
The Texas House and Senate differ on how to cut property taxes. Hereโs what their proposals say.
Cuts to school property tax bills. Bigger tax benefits for homeowners. A controversial idea to limit property tax growth. Hereโs what you need to know about the brewing property tax debate at the Texas Legislature.
Texas Houseโs property tax bill calls for $17 billion in cuts, tighter appraisal cap
Texas House Speaker Dade Phelanโs proposal reveals the different roads the Texas House and Senate want to take on property taxes โ and the fight that might emerge between the two chambers this session.
Two GOP legislators in Harris County want to let the state replace local elections administrators
The proposals were filed in response to Harris Countyโs problems at the polls in recent elections.
Texas senators seem open to major change in stateโs 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.
Texas Senate leaders signal intent to spend big on border security
The state has spent $4 billion on border initiatives in the past two years, including $40 million to bus migrants out of Texas into Democrat-led cities.
Hereโs how two Texas constitutional amendments could lower some property taxes
The propositions on the May 7 ballot would lower property taxes by shifting more public school costs to the state. But the measuresโ language can be hard to understand.

