economy

State Rep. John Zerwas, R-Richmond, the author of HB1 talks with Speaker Dennis Bonnen in the House Chamber on March 27, 2019, the day the House will take up HB1, the 2020-21 budget plan.

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.

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A view of the house floor during the second day of the 86th legislative session. Jan. 9, 2019.

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.

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

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.

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Members of the House Committee on Ways and Means listen to testimony on HB 2 on Feb. 27, 2019.

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."

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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State Rep. Drew Springer at his desk on the House floor on Feb. 6, 2019.

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.

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Colorado-based Oskar Blues, maker of Dale's Pale Ale, is opposed to a bill that would require it to pay what critics call an "extortion fee" to beer distributors. Craft brewers are calling on Gov. Greg Abbott to veto the bill, saying it will limit their growth and expansion.

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.

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The Senate Property Tax Committee Hearing on Feb. 6, 2019.

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.

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Property Tax committee Chairman and state Sen. Paul Bettencourt, R-Houston, during the Senate Property Tax Committee Hearing on on Feb. 6, 2019.

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.

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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.

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Gov. Greg Abbott addresses members of the Texas legislature and judiciary at his State of the State address in the House chambers at the Capitol on Feb. 5, 2019.

Gov. Greg Abbott names school finance, property tax reform emergency items

by Emma Platoff

The governor focused on bread-and-butter policy in a forum that has often featured a lot of red meat.

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A man walks through floodwaters after surveying his property in Rockport, which was hit by Hurricane Harvey, on Saturday, Aug. 26, 2017.

Gov. Abbott, other Texas officials urge feds to clear way for Harvey money

by Kiah Collier

The state has been waiting a year for the federal government to set rules for how $4.3 billion in disaster recovery grants can be spent.

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From left: Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, Gov. Greg Abbott and House Speaker Dennis Bonnen speak at a joint press conference addressing property tax reform. Jan 31, 2019.

Analysis: Something’s missing from the opening bid for property tax “relief” in Texas

by Ross Ramsey

The property tax legislation unveiled by state leaders this week carries an implicit promise — that local school districts will get more state money — but doesn't say where that money might come from.

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Domestic abusers can trap their victims with financial debt. This Texas bill seeks to provide a way out.

by Brandon Formby

A bill authored by state Sen. Judith Zaffirini, D-Laredo, would make it a felony to threaten a romantic partner into taking on debt or financing expensive items like cars.

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Short meeting of the Legislative Budget Board to take stock of the health of the Texas economy for 2019 as likely incoming speaker Dennis Bonnen, R-Angleton, greets Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and Sen. Jane Nelson, R-Flower Mound.

Texas lawmakers indicate they may use rainy day fund for school security, hurricane recovery and teachers' pensions

by Edgar Walters

Hurricane Harvey, school safety and teacher pensions all made the list of priorities likely to receive funding from the state's Economic Stabilization Fund.

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U.S. federal government employees, contract workers and other demonstrators march during a “Rally to End the Shutdown” in Washington, D.C. on January 10, 2019.

At least 35,000 Texans with federal jobs aren’t being paid because of the shutdown

by Abby Livingston and Darla Cameron

The partial federal shutdown could come to a head Friday, when tens of thousands of Texas federal workers will miss their paychecks. Meanwhile, officials also worry about small businesses who rely on federal contracts.

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