Gov. Greg Abbott on Texas bars and restaurants: Expect an announcement Thursday
"We're dealing with something ... that is not just statewide in scope, not just nationwide in scope, but is worldwide in scope," Abbott said. Full Story
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![Gov. Greg Abbott declares a statewide emergency amid new cases of COVID-19 in the state on March 13, 2020 at the state capitol.]()
Credit: Eddie Gaspar/The Texas Tribune -
Most Texans want lower property taxes and more school spending, UT/TT Poll finds
It's not a new contradiction, but it's persistent: Texas voters think that property taxes are too high and that school spending is too low, according to the latest University of Texas/Texas Tribune Poll. Full Story
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Analyzing 2019: The 86th Texas Legislature
Texas lawmakers, convinced that 2018’s voters were telling them to get some serious work done, steered (mostly) away from social and cultural issues to concentrate on “meat and potatoes” items voters demanded, starting with schools and property taxes. Full Story
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![Gov. Greg Abbott addresses state officials at the State of the State address in the House Chambers at the State Capitol on Feb. 5, 2019.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr. / The Texas Tribune -
Analysis: Almost nothing in Texas government has unanimous consent
State officials say local governments shouldn't use taxpayer funds for things some taxpayers don't support. That describes just about everything government does. Full Story
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![A massive protest engulfs the Capitol Rotunda as anti-SB 4 protesters rally on May 29, 2017, the last day of the 85th legislative session.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for the Texas Tribune -
Texas 2019 constitutional amendment election results
Texas voters approved nine amendments to the state constitution, including a proposal making it harder to enact a personal income tax. One amendment was rejected. Full Story
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![Voter wait in line at Austin City Hall to cast their ballots on Nov. 5, 2019.]()
Credit: Eddie Gaspar/The Texas Tribune -
Analysis: Texas doesn’t have an income tax — and isn’t getting one any time soon
Lawmakers want voters to replace the current constitutional hurdle to a personal income tax in Texas with a marginally higher one. Think of it as insurance against something that isn't likely to happen anyway. Full Story
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![State Capitol in the late afternoon on June 12, 2017.]()
Credit: Austin Price for The Texas Tribune -
Analysis: Property tax relief in Texas, perhaps — but not right away
A new state law limits the ability of local governments to raise property taxes without voter approval — but not yet. And some are rushing to get one last big increase. Full Story
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![From left: Sen. Paul Bettencourt, R-Houston; Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick; Gov. Greg Abbott; House Speaker Dennis Bonnen, R-Angleton; and Rep. Dustin Burrows, R-Lubbock, speak at a Jan 31, 2019, news conference addressing property tax reform.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
Analysis: What do Texas voters want? Meat and potatoes, apparently. And cleaner elections.
Texans like the Legislature better now. They're worried about elections. And they have mixed feelings about the country's most prominent politician. Some notes on the latest University of Texas/Texas Tribune Poll. Full Story
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![The State Capitol on May 25, 2019.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
As Texas overhauls schools, property taxes, voters wary, UT/TT Poll says
Texas lawmakers are boasting about ambitious education and property tax legislation they passed this year, but voters don't appear to be completely sold, according to the latest University of Texas/Texas Tribune Poll. Full Story
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Credit: Illustration by Emily Albracht/The Texas Tribune -
Analysis: The Texas legislative session’s over. Now, all lawmakers have to do is sell it to voters.
Lawmakers are finished with the regular session and now enter the political season, figuring out how to discuss their work in a narrative voters will find appealing in next year's elections. Full Story
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![Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, Gov. Greg Abbott and House Speaker Dennis Bonnen at a press conference on the $11.6 billion school finance reform bill. Gov. Greg Abbott signed the bil into law at Parmer Lane Elementary School in Austin on June 11, 2019.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
Are the billions Texas lawmakers committed for schools and lower property taxes sustainable?
An attempt to raise the sales tax to pay for state leaders' ambitious goals failed, raising questions about long-term effects of the property tax limitations in the school finance bill. Full Story
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![Comptroller Glenn Hegar discusses the Biennial Revenue Estimate for the 2020-21 biennium at the state capitol on Jan. 7, 2019.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
“The right man at this point in Texas history”: How Dennis Bonnen led the Texas House
Dennis Bonnen gaveled out on Monday with much of the same widespread support in the Texas House that accompanied his unanimous election to the speaker’s gavel in January. Full Story
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![Speaker Dennis Bonnen during the Texas Fallen Heroes ceremony on May 25, 2019]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera for The Texas Tribune -
Analysis: Do as they say, not as they do
The Texas Legislature did a lot in the 86th regular session, especially if you judge by their spending. Full Story
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![State Rep. John Zerwas, R-Richmond, and State Sen. Jane Nelson, R-Flower Mound, during a budget conference at the Capitol on May 17, 2019.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
To pass school finance and property tax bills, Texas’ legislative leaders chose cooperation over combativeness
In the past, personalities got in the way of policy at the Texas Capitol. This year, state leaders refused to let that happen. Full Story
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![Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, Gov. Greg Abbott and House Speaker Dennis Bonnen before a press conference at the Governor's Mansion on May 23, 2019.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
The property tax reform package is heading to Gov. Greg Abbott's desk
The bill aims to slow rising property tax revenues and make it easier for Texans to understand how their tax bills are determined. The House and Senate both approved it Saturday, and it is expected to soon be sent to Abbott for his signature. Full Story
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![Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick at the dais on the Senate floor on May 25, 2019.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
Texas House, Senate pass school finance bill mandating teacher raises and cutting taxes
The $11.6 billion school finance and property tax reform bill is now poised to head to Gov. Greg Abbott. Full Story
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![House Speaker Dennis Bonnen signs paperwork on the House floor on May 25, 2019.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
Analysis: Texas legislators had a successful session, but not a historic one
Lawmakers delivered on their promises of school finance and property tax reforms, agreeing to spend $11.6 billion on a combination of education changes and tax cuts. It's big, but is it really "transformative"? Full Story
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![Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, Gov. Greg Abbott and House Speaker Dennis Bonnen are joined by state legislators at a press conference at the Governorâs Mansion on May 23, 2019.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
Here's what we know about the Legislature's final property tax reform bill
The final version of the bill is expected to require cities, counties and emergency service districts to hold an election before raising 3.5% more property tax revenue than the previous year. Community colleges and hospital districts would need to do so at 8%. Full Story
![State Capitol in the late afternoon on June 12, 2017.]()
Credit: Austin Price for The Texas Tribune -
Teacher raises and all-day pre-K: Here's what's in the Texas Legislature's landmark school finance bill
The $11.6 billion legislation is on a path to the governor's desk and includes property tax cuts, a hike in per-student funding and money to ease the state's reliance on the "Robin Hood" program. Full Story
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![Corina Pannabecker teaches first grade at Ogden Elementary in San Antonio on April 30, 2018.]()
Credit: Laura Skelding for The Texas Tribune -
Analysis: Texas lawmakers struggling to find a lovable tax
Even in a legislative session that began with estimates of a generous increase in state revenue, lawmakers spent a lot of time talking about big, big tax bills — all the way to the end. Full Story
![From left: Sen. Paul Bettencourt, R-Houston; Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick; Gov. Greg Abbott; House Speaker Dennis Bonnen, R-Angleton; and Rep. Dustin Burrows, R-Lubbock, speak at a Jan 31, 2019, news conference addressing property tax reform.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune
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