The latest economy news from The Texas Tribune.
State Sen. Paul Bettencourt's attempt to limit when cities and counties can increase property tax collections without an election drew bipartisan opposition Tuesday. But many supporters also came to the bill's defense. Full Story
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State Sen. Paul Bettencourt says Texans are tired of seeing their property tax bills increase dramatically year after year. But local government officials say his Senate Bill 2 would limit their abilities to raise necessary revenues. Full Story
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A major source of division among cities and state officials is differing opinions on what local control means — and to whom it provides the power to govern. Full Story
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A pair of bills filed Friday would allow any vehicle manufacturer to sell directly to Texans — bypassing the middleman dealers — in the biggest challenge yet to a longstanding state ban on the practice. Full Story
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The Texas House’s chief budget writer filed legislation Friday that would pave the way for lawmakers to claw back billions of dollars that voters approved for state highways, freeing them up for other budget needs. Full Story
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State Rep. Charlie Geren filed a bill this week that aims to overcome the car industry opposition that crushed an autonomous vehicle bill two years ago. But he says there's lots of work left to do on it. Full Story
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Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller on Thursday left the tough talk on immigration in Austin while he held a historic press conference on one of the country's busiest international bridges to Mexico. Full Story
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The Texas’ House’s chief budget writer said that President Trump’s emergence in Washington shouldn’t give state lawmakers license to slice hefty appropriations for border security — at least not yet. Full Story
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In both courthouses and at the Capitol, opponents of a private company’s plans to build a Dallas-Houston bullet train have zeroed on in the firm's claim that it has the authority to take land by condemnation if necessary. Full Story
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Texas Central Partners says global interest in American infrastructure will fund and finance a high-speed rail line from Dallas to Houston. Experts and critics are more skeptical. Full Story
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A private firm's proposed Houston-Dallas bullet train would connect two of America's biggest metropolitan areas. But the 240-mile line would require a lot of country land that many Texans don't want to give up. Full Story
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Texas voters' feelings about the direction of the country and the national economy flipped when Donald Trump's new administration came in — with a notable partisan difference of opinion. Full Story
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A Friday announcement by newly-elected Travis County Sheriff Sally Hernandez that her office would reduce cooperation with federal immigration authorities will set up a showdown with Texas Republican leaders, especially Gov. Greg Abbott and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick. Full Story
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When news of President-elect Donald Trump's deal with Carrier's Indiana plant reached Tyler, Texas, it felt personal. The East Texas city lost hundreds of jobs when its local Carrier plant shut its doors in 2013. Full Story
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Mayor Mike Rawlings blames former pension administration for a "grave breach of trust," but it's unclear who is the target of the state inquiry. Full Story
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A cross-border trade bill designed to beef up staffing at the ports of entry on Texas' southern border has been signed by the president. Full Story
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A recent report identified Dallas and Houston as having among the highest pension shortfalls among local governments in the country. Full Story
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The Legislative Budget Board picked 8 percent as the growth rate in the state’s two-year budget, capping how much lawmakers can spend in next year's legislative session. Lawmakers say the state doesn't have enough money to reach that cap. Full Story
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The president-elect's proposals to expand and fix up U.S. highways seem to be a recipe for more toll roads. Texans from both parties hope to change that. Full Story
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A federal judge in Sherman has blocked a White House effort to make millions more workers eligible for overtime pay, handing a victory to Texas and 20 other states that had challenged the new Labor Department rule. Full Story
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