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The Latest Breaking News from Paul Bettencourt

We ranked Texas senators across the ideological spectrum based on their 2023 votes

Here’s a look at Senate members, ranked from most conservative to most liberal, based on their votes cast during the 2023 regular session and four special sessions.

The Texas Tribune

Tax cuts, teacher pension increases at stake after misinformation-led challenge to 2023 election

Tax cuts were a major legislative priority for Republican leaders, including Gov. Greg Abbott. The governor cannot certify the election results until the challenges are resolved.

The Texas Tribune

Texas homeowners and businesses will get a tax cut after voters approve Proposition 4

The $18 billion property tax-cut package is aimed squarely at lowering school district property taxes, which make up the lion’s share of a Texas landowner’s property tax bill.

The Texas Tribune

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Texas proposition lets voters decide whether to cut property taxes for homeowners and businesses

Proposition 4 could usher in a bevy of property tax changes. That includes using $12.7 billion from a record state budget surplus to lower school district taxes.

The Texas Tribune

GOP senators, open to Paxton conviction, flipped when they realized they were still short the votes

“I feel there were six senators who were ready to be the 21st vote,” said Sen. Nathan Johnson, D-Dallas. “But they didn’t want to be the 20th vote.”

The Texas Tribune

Senate Republicans say House managers failed to meet high burden of proof

Democrats, however, said their GOP colleagues “caved” to outside pressure in voting to acquit and return Ken Paxton to his job as attorney general.

The Texas Tribune

Paxton impeachment trial begins in the Texas Senate

The suspended Texas AG pleaded not guilty to all charges, which include bribery, corruption, and abuse of office. Here's what happened on the first day of his trial in the TX Senate.

WEKU

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Texas Supreme Court lets state law eliminating Harris County elections chief stand, for now

The ruling means the November elections in the state’s largest county will be overseen by two other county officials. Legislators targeted Harris County’s elections department after taking issue with the way the 2022 elections were run.

The Texas Tribune

Houstonians worry new laws will deter voters who don't recall the hard-won fight for voting rights

Texas Republicans passed measures this year to eliminate Harris County’s top election job and give the Republican secretary of state power to take oversight of elections in Houston

The Independent UK

Billions in property tax cuts need Texas voters’ approval before taking effect. Here’s what you need to know.

Legislation passed this month would raise the state’s homestead exemption to $100,000, lower schools’ tax rates and put an appraisal cap on residential and commercial properties, among other measures. But voters must approve a constitutional amendment first.

The Texas Tribune

Gov. Greg Abbott signs $18 billion tax cut package for Texas property owners

At a time when the state has some of the nation’s highest property taxes, the initiative was a cornerstone of his 2022 reelection campaign.

The Texas Tribune

Property tax special session is over, but months of acrimony could complicate Texas lawmakers’ mission as more work awaits

Efforts to repair rifts, particularly among Republican leaders, begin as another contentious special session looms on Gov. Greg Abbott’s call for “school choice.”

The Texas Tribune

Long-awaited $18 billion property tax-cut deal heads to Gov. Greg Abbott

House Democrats attempted to insert benefits for renters and more money for public education into the tax-cuts package in a series of floor amendments but were unsuccessful.

The Texas Tribune

With second special session underway, Texas lawmakers offer opening property tax-cut proposals

A stalemate among Texas’ top Republicans has dragged on for months. Tax-cut proponents in the House and Senate made their first pitches to end the impasse Wednesday.

The Texas Tribune

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The Texas Tribune

First special session ends with no new laws, Texas lawmakers still deadlocked on property taxes

Gov. Greg Abbott quickly called lawmakers back to the Capitol for round two, hoping to break an impasse that has outlasted the regular session and one overtime period.

Ballotpedia

Election legislation roundup: Texas State Legislature

As of June 18, members of the Texas State Legislature, which includes the Texas House of Representatives and the Texas State Senate, have passed 34 bills related to election administration since the beginning of the year. Of those 34 bills, legislators passed zero during the week of June 12-18.

The Texas Tribune

Analysis: The 2023 Texas Senate, from right to left

Here’s a look at Senate members, ranked from most conservative to most liberal, based on votes cast during the 2023 regular session.

The Texas Tribune

Texas senators include more property tax cuts for businesses in new pitch to break impasse with House

The Senate’s latest proposal is an apparent effort to appease Gov. Greg Abbott and the lower chamber. The state’s top Republicans have been at odds for months over how to use the state’s historic budget surplus to cut property taxes.

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The Texas Tribune

Gov. Greg Abbott vetoes more than 70 bills amid property tax impasse

The governor says other issues aren’t as important as breaking a House-Senate stalemate over the best course on reducing property taxes.

The Texas Tribune

Gov. Greg Abbott threatens string of vetoes if lawmakers can’t agree on property tax cuts

With several hundred bills awaiting action by the governor, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick called the veto threat an affront to Texans and the legislative process.

WEKU

Texas Republicans target how elections are run in Democratic-leaning Houston area

Texas Republican lawmakers sent bills to Gov. Greg Abbott's desk that would dramatically interfere with elections administration in the state's largest, Democratic-run county.

The Texas Tribune

Legislature enters homestretch with many of the session’s biggest issues unresolved

The list of potential hurdles includes property tax cuts, school choice, the power grid, the state budget, plus diversity and tenure in higher education.

Ballotpedia

Election legislation roundup: Texas State Senate

As of April 9, Ballotpedia has tracked 113 election-related bills in the Texas State Senate since the beginning of the year. Of the 113, Ballotpedia tracked seven from April 3-9. Republicans sponsored six, while Democrats sponsored one. Five of seven bills are below:

The Texas Tribune

Rift grows between Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and House Speaker Dade Phelan over how to cut property taxes

The Senate wants to raise the homestead exemption. The House wants to tighten the appraisal cap. Both chambers’ leaders are skeptical of each other’s proposal.

The Texas Tribune

Texas Senate passes $16.5 billion package to lower property taxes

The proposals target the taxes homeowners pay and require school districts to lower their tax rates.

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The Texas State Legislature

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