March 2017

Houston – The Texas Senate voted 21-10 to approve Senate Bill 151 by Senator Paul Bettencourt (R-Houston), which would require voter approval for a municipality to issue obligation bonds for a pension fund. Originally authorized by the Texas Legislature in 2003, …

AUSTIN – In a unanimous 31-0 vote, the Texas Senate today approved Senate Bill 730 by Senator Paul Bettencourt (R-Houston) to bring property tax relief to small businesses around the state. SB 730 raises from $500 to $2,500 the exemption amount …

AUSTIN – The Senate State Affairs Committee today voted 7-2 to approve Senate Bill 151 by Senator Paul Bettencourt (R-Houston), which would require voter approval for a city to issue pension obligation bonds (POBs). These bonds were originally authorized in …

AUSTIN – Dozens of exasperated Texas taxpayers who have seen average property tax bill increase by 33.7 percent in five years are in Austin today to share their stories with the Senate Finance Committee as it considered property tax reform bills, particularly Senate …

AUSTIN – In recognition that average property tax bills that have risen 21.6 percent from 2013 to 2016, Collin County Commissioners stood up for hard-pressed taxpayers and passed a unanimous resolution in support of Senate Bill 2, the Texas Property Tax …

AUSTIN – The Senate Committee on Intergovernmental Relations unanimously approved Senate Bill 488, the Texas Ballot Integrity Act, by Senator Paul Bettencourt (R-Houston), to prevent local governments from misleading voters at the polls with deceptive ballot language, spending taxpayer money to …

AUSTIN – Senate Bill 2, the Property Tax Reform and Relief Act, by Senator Paul Bettencourt (R-Houston), today passed the Texas Senate on an 18-12 vote. “Texas taxpayers know the truth,” Senator Bettencourt said. “Property taxes are rising too fast. As appraisal values rise, tax …

AUSTIN – The Senate Finance Committee passed Senate Bill 2 by Senator Paul Bettencourt (R-Houston) on a 9-5 vote in favor of regular Texas home and business owners over substantial governmental opposition. Texans traveled from around the state to address committee …

HOUSTON – Recognizing that the property tax burden on business and home owners in Texas is among the highest in the country, the Greater Houston Partnership has endorsed property tax reform and relief and passed a resolution to support Senate …

AUSTIN – State Senators Paul Bettencourt (R-Houston) and Lois W. Kolkhorst (R-Brenham) today filed Senate Bill 1609, which will prevent homeowners’ associations (HOA) from placing burdensome restrictions on religious displays. “A fundamental tenet of American society is the freedom of religious …