Governor Abbott, Lieutenant Governor Patrick, and Speaker Dade Phelan have all publicly called for the state’s record budget surplus to be used in large part toward property tax relief for Texans. The specifics of different proposals will be debated and ironed out as the session goes along, but both chambers have published their own version of property tax relief, summarized below.

Senate

• Total value: $16.5 billion
• Components: Increased homestead exemption from $40,000 to $70,000, additional homestead exemption increase for senior citizens from $10,000 to $30,000, compression of ISD tax rates, increase from $2,500 to $25,000 the personal property exemption for Texas businesses
• Status: The Senate voted unanimously in favor of its property tax relief legislation, sending it to the Texas House

House

• Total value: $17.3 billion
• Components: Lowers appraisal cap from 10% to 5% for homeowners, extends the appraisal cap to commercial property owners, compression of ISD tax rates
• Status: The House Committee on Ways & Means voted in favor of the legislation, 10-1

Advocacy at Work

The Fort Worth Chamber signed onto a coalition letter urging Congress to explore bipartisan permitting reforms to expedite the construction of new infrastructure. A copy of the letter can be found here.

TOP HEADLINES

National

• Roll Call | Budget blueprint may take a back seat to debt limit in House
• U.S. Chamber | Hundreds of Chambers, Business, Labor and Trade Organizations Call on Congress to ‘Permit America to Build’
• Wall Street Journal | U.S. Pushes for Business Investment in Africa to Counter China’s Reach

State and Local

• Dallas Morning News | Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick says he won’t compromise with House on Senate’s property tax cut plan
• Tribune | Texas Senate budget writers pitch billions for property tax cuts, schools
• Fort Worth Report | Geren’s push for legalized casinos earns support from Fort Worth mayor
• Houston Chronicle | Texas students are behind in education — and they're expected to lose $104B in future earnings
• Fort Worth Report | Meet the local candidates for May elections at upcoming public forums in Fort Worth

UPCOMING DATES

• April 4: Fort Worth City Council Work Session, 1 p.m.
• April 6: Last Day to register to vote in May 6 Local Entity Election
• April 7: Government Affairs Committee Meeting