Katy Edition | January 2023

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 as of Jan. 19. Lawmakers started ling bills Nov. 14 and have until March 10—the 60th day of the session—to submit bills for this Legislature. 2,100+ SESSION THAT WILL SET THE STAGE FOR AN EVEN GREATER TEXAS FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS.” LT. GOV. DAN PATRICK 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 LEGE STICKS WITH ODDYEAR PATH When the Legislature was the authority to call special sessions, which are limited to 30 days. Each special session focuses on specic 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 WARNERCOMMUNITY IMPACT

Early bill lings show education, property tax relief among major priorities for 2023 legislative session

BY HANNAH NORTON

its constitutional spending limits. Lawmakers must vote or pass a bill to exceed the spending cap. Lawmakers began ling bills Nov. 14. Lawmakers are expected to debate property taxes among other items. 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. Gov. Greg Abbott has indicated that lowering property taxes is a top priority this session. Bills have been led to eliminate or reduce schools’ maintenance and operations taxes, which fund operations and employee salaries.

Rep. Andrew Murr, RJunction, 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, DDriftwood, would create a homestead exemption for property that is used to harvest rainwater or gray water. HB 144, led by Rep. Diego Bernal, DSan Antonio, would create an exemption for the parent or legal guardian of someone who receives care in their home while waiting on state support.

As of Jan. 19, more than a week after the Jan. 10 start of the 2023-24 legislative session, Texas lawmakers have led over 2,100 bills. 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. Budgeting for the coming years At a Nov. 30 meeting, the Legislative Budget Board voted unanimously to increase the Legislature’s spending ability by 12.33% for the 2024-25 bud- get. Law makers will now have access to up to $131 billion for the biennium. The state also has a $27 billion sur- plus, which puts the Legislature above

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