AT THE CAPITOL
News from the 88th legislative session
QUOTE OF NOTE
“I’M LOOKING FORWARD TO 2023 AND ANOTHER
STATE COMPARISONS
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Texas ranks in the middle of a sampling of Southern states when it comes to pre-K through 12th- grade overall per-pupil spending. Funding comes from local, state and federal sources. These numbers from the Census Bureau in 2021 show some of the surrounding states:
PRODUCTIVE LEGISLATIVE
NUMBER TO KNOW The number of bills led by Texas lawmakers a month from the start of the Jan. 10 session. Lawmakers started ling bills Nov. 14 and have until March 10—the 60th day of the session—to submit bills for this Legislature. 1,100+ SESSION THAT WILL SET THE STAGE FOR AN EVEN GREATER TEXAS FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS.” LT. GOV. DAN PATRICK LEGE STICKS WITH ODD YEAR PATH When the Legislature was established, lawmakers could travel across Texas on foot or by horse. Journeys were long and dangerous, so lawmakers chose to meet in Austin every two years, according to Dallas Morning News reports. Many states switched to annual sessions in the 1970s, but Texas did not. According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, Montana, Nevada, North Dakota and Texas are the only states that do not meet every year. Sessions are limited to 140 days, according to the Texas Constitution. The governor has the authority to call special sessions, which are limited to 30 days. Each special session focuses on speci c topics chosen by the governor and only laws on those topics can be passed.
$11,075 Louisiana
Arkansas
New Mexico
$10,388 $10,177
Texas
Oklahoma
Mississippi
$9,827 Arizona $8,625
$9,323
$9,284
SOURCE: U.S. CENSUS BUREAU COMMUNITY IMPACT
JOE WARNER COMMUNITY IMPACT
Early bill lings show education, property tax relief among major priorities for 2023 legislative session
BY HANNAH NORTON
average daily attendance threshold. But when a student is frequently absent, their school loses money, even if the school’s day-to-day operations do not change. Bills have been led to raise the allotment and change the per-pupil funding formula. Property taxes Texas has one of the highest property tax rates in the nation. This is because the state does not charge an income tax. Additionally, local property taxes are used to fund schools, city infrastructure, emer- gency services and more. Multiple bills have been led to eliminate or reduce schools’ mainte- nance and operations taxes, which fund day-to-day operations and employee salaries. Rep. Andrew Murr,
R Junction, led two bills to eliminate the tax. HB 29 would create a joint commit- tee that would deal with the details of eliminating the tax, while HB 38 would increase certain state taxes in place of the local property taxes. Homeowners can also receive homestead exemptions, or a reduction in a portion of the home’s value for tax purposes. A $40,000 reduction is available for each homeowner’s primary residence. HB 40, led by Rep. Erin Zwiener, D Driftwood, would create a homestead exemption for property that is used to harvest rainwater or gray water. HB 144, led by Rep. Diego Bernal, D San Antonio, would create an exemption for the parent or legal guardian of someone who receives care in their home while waiting on state support.
A month before the Jan. 10 start of the 2023-24 legislative session, Texas lawmakers had led over 1,100 bills. Thousands more are expected to be led, but only some will become laws. Lawmakers have until the 60th day of the session—March 10—to le prospective pieces of legislation. Education funding and property tax relief are two topics of early lings. Education and public schools Changing the way Texas funds public schools is top of mind for many educators, administrators and parents. Schools receive per-student funding from the state under the basic allot- ment. This is based on average daily attendance, or the number of students in attendance on average. Schools earn $6,160 per student who meets the
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NEW BRAUNFELS EDITION • JANUARY 2023
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