News

Austin, TX – The Criminal Justice Committee chaired by Senator John Whitmire (D-Houston), passed a serious crackdown bill on catalytic converter theft; SB 224 by Senator Carol Alvarado (D-Houston). Senator Middleton’s (R-Galveston) SB 432 and Senator Bettencourt’s (R-Houston) SB 465 were …

Austin, TX – Senator Paul Bettencourt (R-Houston) explained the Senate’s unprecedented $16.5 billion property tax bills in the Senate Finance Committee hearing on Wednesday March 15th, 2023. After hours of testimony, SB 3 & SB 4, worth $15 billion in property …

Austin, TX – Senator Paul Bettencourt (R-Houston) filed SB 2329 & SJR 86 to let Texans vote on keeping Daylight Saving Time. If the voters approve, this would group Texas with Arizona and Hawaii, that stay on one time during the …

Austin, TX – Senator Paul Bettencourt (R-Houston) files Senate Bill 805 to repeal the ability of Housing Authorities and any other taxing units ability to use Public Facility Corporations to take Billions of Dollars of multifamily properties off the tax rolls …

Austin, TX – Senator Paul Bettencourt (R-Houston) filed Senate Bill 465 in response to the 5,300 percent jump in catalytic converter theft insurance claims in Texas since 2019. The spike is fueled by organized criminal rings who target catalytic converters for …

Austin, TX – Senator Paul Bettencourt (R-Houston) states his support for TEA Commissioner Mike Morath installing a Board of Managers for HISD, the state’s largest school district. “I’ve watched, at best, an ineffective HISD Board of Trustee Governance for 8 years …

Austin, TX – Senator Paul Bettencourt (R-Houston) and Senator Royce West (D-Dallas) filed SB 1861 based on the bipartisan unanimous recommendations of the Texas Commission on Virtual Education. Senator Bettencourt and Senator West served on the Commission, which was chaired by …

Austin, TX – Senator Paul Bettencourt (R-Houston) has been reappointed Chairman of the Senate Committee on Local Government for the 88th Legislative Session by Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick (R- Texas). Senator Drew Springer (R-Muenster) will serve as Committee Vice Chairman. "I'm …

Houston, TX – Senator Paul Bettencourt (R- Houston) comments on a long awaited verdict argued in October of 2022 by the Supreme Court of Texas. The Houston Independent School District (HISD) tried to prevent the TEA conservator from making district level …