Economy

Texas House passes bill to prohibit telemarketers from falsifying caller ID

by Alex Samuels

The measure aims to prohibit caller ID spoofing — when callers tamper with information transmitted to people’s phones to disguise their identities. Full Story 

After Supreme Court ruling, Texas bills would bring in $850 million in online sales tax

by Edgar Walters

Lawmakers moved to apply the state's sales tax to goods sold by remote vendors who don't have physical operations in Texas. Full Story 

Report: Slowdowns at border ports of entry could cost Texas billions

by Julián Aguilar

The state stands to lose more than $32 billion in gross domestic product in just over three months as the federal government shifts personnel away from international bridges to deal with a surge of migrants, according to a newly-released study. Full Story 

It's crunch time: Texas bills are going to start dying

by Alana Rocha, Todd Wiseman, Justin Dehn and Richard Loria

Is paid sick leave on life support? Did "constitutional carry" advocates shoot themselves in the foot? With just weeks to go in the session, lawmakers are handling the pressure to get their bills across the finish line in different ways. Full Story 

Trump backs off threat to close southern border immediately

by Felicia Sonmez, The Washington Post

President Donald Trump backed down from his threat on Thursday to close the southern border immediately, telling reporters at the White House that he is giving Mexico a one-year warning before taking action. Full Story 

Five potential impacts if President Trump closed the U.S.-Mexico border

by María Méndez

Across the country, experts and interest groups opposed to a border shutdown are weighing in about how a closure could affect people on both sides of the border. Full Story 

Texas House approves 2020-21 budget plan, with extra $9 billion for school finance, property tax relief

by Edgar Walters, Cassandra Pollock and Alex Samuels

The House also signed off on a $9 billion supplemental budget that would withdraw $4.3 billion from the state savings account. Full Story 

The Texas budget is up for debate in the House. Here are four things to know.

by Edgar Walters

House members have proposed more than 300 amendments to the chamber's spending plan. The proposals that pass could have major implications for hundreds of other issues regulated by the state. Full Story 

Immigration, border security remain the top worries of Texas voters, UT/TT Poll finds

by Ross Ramsey

Ask Texans what problems they're most worried about for the U.S. and for the state, and their eyes turn to the border between Texas and Mexico, the latest University of Texas/Texas Tribune Poll found. Full Story 

In the House, the property tax bill is being handled with a different speed — and tone

by Shannon Najmabadi

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." Full Story 

Watch: A conversation with John Mackey, CEO of Whole Foods Market

by Texas Tribune Staff

At noon Thursday, we're livestreaming our conversation in Austin with John Mackey, CEO of Whole Foods Market, moderated by Evan Smith. Full Story 

In Texas, property tax levies can be as individual as homeowners themselves

by Chris Essig and Brandon Formby

State lawmakers are trying to reform a complicated taxing system where everything from suburban growth to gentrification and a homeowner’s age influence how much Texans pay their local governments. Full Story 

Texas officials call it "property tax relief" — but legislation won't lower tax bills or decrease budgets

by Chris Essig, Ben Hasson and Brandon Formby

The fight over property tax rates is really about state leaders telling local officials how much their revenues can grow before voters get to step in. Full Story 

How do Texas governments calculate your property taxes? Here’s a primer.

by Brandon Formby, Chris Essig and Ben Hasson

Several government entities — from appraisal districts to city councils — play independent roles that collectively determine how much money Texas landowners owe local governments each year. Full Story 

The state of Gov. Greg Abbott’s emergency items: Will property tax and school finance get reformed?

by Alana Rocha, Justin Dehn, Richard Loria, Todd Wiseman and Woojae Julia Song

The governor has laid out his legislative priorities. In our latest "Under the Dome" episode, we look at the challenges lawmakers face in addressing the issues of property taxes and school finance. Full Story 

Analysis: Here’s your property tax cut, maybe. Heads up — it’s expensive.

by Ross Ramsey

A new proposal to cut school property taxes in Texas perfectly outlines the political problem facing lawmakers: It's terribly expensive, and other taxes have to be raised to pay for it. Full Story 

Brewers and distributors reach truce in hopes of allowing take-home beer sales at breweries

by Catherine Marfin

The two beer industry groups struck a deal this week that could end a years-long political fight. Full Story 

Days after heated meeting, Texas Senate property tax committee passes 2.5-percent rollback rate bill

by Brandon Formby, Cassandra Pollock and Edgar Walters

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. Full Story 

Analysis: The challenge of reining in property taxes at no cost to schools

by Ross Ramsey

A Texas Senate committee is moving rapidly to require voter approval for local property tax increases over 2.5 percent. But some want to see the Legislature's school finance bill before they vote on property taxes. Full Story 

Texas’ savings account is poised to hit $15 billion. How much will lawmakers spend?

by Edgar Walters and Chris Essig

As lawmakers debate costly investments in property tax reduction and public schools, they're eyeing the state savings account for a sizable withdrawal. Full Story