Homestead exemption clears Texas Senate, awaits uncertain future in House
The Brief
Senate Bill 4 has passed by a unanimous vote in the Texas Senate.
SB 4 would raise the homestead exemption to $140,000 and $150,000 for seniors.
The bill next goes to the Texas House.
AUSTIN, Texas - The plan to increase the Homestead Exemption to $140,000 cleared the State Senate on a unanimous vote.
Under Senate Bill 4, nearly half of the school tax bills that go out in November across Texas could have a zero balance.
What we know
The potential benefits of SB 4 were restated in a statement issued by Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick's office:
"492 school districts (49% of Texas school districts) have an average home value under $140,000, meaning school M&O property taxes will be eliminated for the average homeowner in those districts. Estimates show the average Texas homeowner will save $363.44 due to this increase. When combined with the school tax rate compression already included in the budget, the average Texas homeowner will save $496.57."
Patrick's statement went on to say that once signed into law, SB 4 and SJR 2 will result in a constitutional amendment election in November 2025.
This Homestead Exemption would apply retroactively to 2025 tax bills.
What they're saying
The promise of a "zero balance" from Sen. Paul Bettencourt (R-Houston) got even bigger for homeowners on fixed incomes.
"If you turn that tax bill over in November after this approved, 80 to 90% of Texas seniors and disabled homeowners, 2 million of them will pay no tax," said Sen. Bettencourt.
During floor debate, there was some pushback from state Sen. Lois Kolkhorst (R-Brenham).
"What I would like to say is don't take a victory lap today because our work is really just beginning on what we can do on this," said Sen. Kolkhorst.
Kolkhorst read a statement from a constituent, who said the last property tax cut evaporated because of local tax hikes.
SEN. LOIS KOLKHORST: That $100,000 homestead exemption was a wash for me. In my protest hearing, the RB said my taxes could not be lower and then voted to increase my appraisal $71,000 completely wiping out the increased homestead exemption.SEN PAUL BETTENCOURT: Senator Kolkhorst, that's the exact thing that we fixed. That's exactly. SEN. LOIS KOLHORST: How? SEN PAUL BETTENCOURT: Because. SEN. LOIS KOLHORST: She experienced that last year. SEN PAUL BETTENCOURT: She did. But we had to put the new board of directors in last year.SEN. LOIS KOLHORST: So do you think that just because we elected a board of directors, they're not going to raise her appraisal? No. And I just have to say this and I'm going to. SEN PAUL BETTENCOURT: I have to interrupt.SEN. LOIS KOLHORST: Senator, [this] is one of the most difficult issues that I face in my district. The discussion that followed Kolkhorst reading her constituent's statement.
Patrick jumped into the discussion. He claimed tax reforms made two years ago are helping and will be stronger under SB 4.
"Senator Kolkhorst, I am going to celebrate this bill today. I'm going to shout it from the rooftops because it is a great bill," said Patrick.
It was also noted Gov. Greg Abbott wants additional tax reform, like requiring local tax hike proposals to have a two-thirds majority vote in order to pass.
That prompted a suggestion from Sen. Bettencourt.
"Why don't we apply the two-thirds vote to the elected officials, so they realize they're not supposed to be raising taxes, and they have to have a two-thirds supermajority to do it," said Bettencourt.
Sen. Charles Perry (R-Lubbock) suggested an even wider shift in focus.
"Real tax reform starts at local. And we've been offloading their responsibility to the state budget now for since '19, significantly," said Sen. Perry.
The backstory
Major property tax cuts started in 2015 with the 84th Legislature increasing the homestead exemption from $15,000 to $25,000.
In 2022, the 87th Legislature pushed the exemption to $40,000 per homestead.
In the second special session of the 88th Legislature, the homestead exemption increased to $100,000.
The last tax cut plan back in 2023 sparked an ugly political game of chicken between Patrick, House leaders and Abbott. That dust up dragged into a second special session.
What's next
SB 4 now goes to the Texas House.
House Speaker Dustin Burrows has made his committee assignments, meaning the real political give-and-take is about to begin.
The Source
Information in this report comes from reporting by FOX 7 Austin's Rudy Koski.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
7 hours ago
- Yahoo
Paxton presents an opportunity in Texas — if Democrats can take advantage of it
Texas Republicans' messy Senate primary is giving Democrats hope that they could finally have an opening to wedge into higher office in the red state — for real this time. But a potential pileup of candidates as the party sees renewed interest in the race could spoil their chances of finally flipping the Lone Star State. Attorney General Ken Paxton, who endured multiple scandals while in office, is leading in the polls against longtime incumbent GOP Sen. John Cornyn. A Paxton victory could divide Republicans and potentially even sway some to support a Democrat. Nearly two dozen Texas Democratic members of Congress, party leaders and strategists described a sense of opportunity, but were divided on the type of candidate to run. Some argued for a progressive, others thought a more centrist candidate could gain traction, while others weren't even sure Democrats could pull off a win. There are calls both for new blood and for a proven candidate. Rep. Marc Veasey (D-Texas) just wants a candidate who'd 'sound like a Texas Democrat' and could buck national trends.. 'I think this is just a great opportunity for Democrats, and we don't need to blow it,' said Veasey, who said he isn't interested in a run. Flipping Texas is a perennial Democratic dream, but core constituencies have moved further to the right, and Democrats haven't held a Senate seat in the state since 1993. The state's expensive media markets require fundraising prowess. That leaves the party with a crowded field of interested candidates, but none with a proven track record of winning statewide. Plenty of Democrats are skeptical they'd even win against Paxton, whose nomination isn't guaranteed. 'I am hopeful that [Cornyn] could pull it off, because if you're going to have a Republican in Texas, why not let it be John,' said Rep. Sylvia Garcia (D-Texas). Democrats acknowledge they'd stand little chance of unseating Cornyn, who's been a fixture in Texas politics for decades. But Paxton, a Trump loyalist who was impeached by the Republican-held Texas House (and acquitted in the impeachment trial) and faced a federal corruption investigation, has been a polarizing figure in the Texas GOP, and, Democrats hope, an opponent they could defeat. 'Democrats are foaming at the mouth about Ken Paxton,' said Katherine Fischer, deputy executive director of Texas Majority PAC, which works to elect Democrats statewide. 'We're seeing in local elections in Texas and across the country there is already a backlash against Trump and against MAGA. Ken Paxton is about as MAGA as you can get.' First they need to find a viable Senate candidate. After coming up short in previous cycles, many Texas Democrats are hesitant about supporting former Reps. Colin Allred and Beto O'Rourke, both of whom have signaled their interest in another bid. O'Rourke, who unsuccessfully ran statewide in 2018 and 2022, has been hosting packed town halls across the state. Allred, who lost to Sen. Ted Cruz in 2024 by about 8.5 percentage points, has said he was 'seriously considering' another run. 'Well, [Allred and O'Rourke are] both talking about it, and I hope that they will resolve that one person's running and not all,' said Rep. Lloyd Doggett. Allred's failed campaign has left a bad taste among some Texans, especially progressives, who believe he did not run aggressively or do enough grassroots outreach. And while O'Rourke is still a favorite son in Texas Democratic circles, many of those supporters believe he will be haunted by his position against assault rifles in a gun-loving state. 'They both tried it, and especially the last time, the margins were pretty wide,' said Rep. Vicente Gonzalez (D-Texas). 'And I think those are all things to consider.' Joel Montfort, a Texas-based Democratic strategist, agreed: 'Putting the same two guys up over and over, I don't think that's going to deliver us.' That's why some say it's time to try something new. Texas Democrats have talked up potential bids by state Rep. James Talarico, the Democratic seminarian and frequently viral member who helped prosecute Paxton during his impeachment. Talarico told POLITICO: 'I'm having conversations about how I can best serve Texas, and that includes the Senate race. But in my training as a pastor, you learn the importance of listening and how hard it is to truly listen. With so much at stake for Texas, I'm trying to listen more than I talk right now.' His potential candidacy is generating some interest from players who have run successful upstart campaigns. 'It's going to take a Democrat who can make the case against Washington D.C., the status quo, and the powers that to be to win a senate race in Texas,' said Andrew Mamo, a veteran of Pete Buttigieg's presidential campaign who is informally advising Talarico. 'James is one of the rare people in the party with the profile and most importantly the storytelling skills to get that done." State Sen. Nathan Johnson, a Dallas lawyer, is in the mix but he's also eyeing a run for attorney general. Some party insiders privately worry a state lawmaker won't bring the necessary firepower, saying they need to find a candidate with experience running statewide — or at least someone who represents Texas in Congress — due to the sheer amount of resources required to compete in the second-largest state. Veasey and fellow Democratic Rep. Joaquin Castro have both been talked up as potential candidates, though Veasey in an interview ruled out a run. A person close to Castro said he was actively looking at the race. While Democrats across the nation believe backlash against President Donald Trump's unpopular agenda like his DOGE cuts and trade war will help in the midterms, the Democratic dream of winning Texas — which once seemed like only a matter of time — now feels farther away. The party's coalition problems are on stark display in South Texas, where Latino-heavy border districts like Gonzalez's shifted dramatically toward Trump. Gonzalez and other Democrats have been warning of their party's need to reverse their fortunes with Latino voters. 'There is work to be done on Latino erosion," said Tory Gavito, an Austin-based Democratic strategist. "There is work to be done to make sure infrastructure is incredibly sound in places like Houston and Dallas and San Antonio and South Texas.' Progressive Democrats are eager to back a candidate who runs to the left of Allred, based on their belief that working-class voters can be brought back to the party with a populist economic message. 'We've got to have somebody run who's going to be willing to go travel the state, and connect with a diverse set of working-class voters,' said Rep. Greg Casar (D-Texas). 'In Texas, people are looking for somebody that's authentic and real, willing to tell it like it is, that's going to energize our base, but then bring a lot of disaffected voters back to the polls.' Allred is widely seen by Texas Democrats as the preferred candidate of Washington, and some said they're tired of out-of-state consultants in their backyard. 'We don't want people from D.C. telling Texans what to do,' said Nancy Thompson, a Democratic activist and founder of Mothers Against Greg Abbott. A strong contingent of the party, however, believes that running too far to the left would blow up their chances in what remains a socially conservative state. 'You have to have real candidates that are willing to sound like everyday Texans," said Veasey. "Being part of the national team will get your ass killed.'
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
State lawmakers support John Horhn as next Jackson mayor
JACKSON, Miss. (WJTV) – State lawmakers are backing Mayor-elect John Horhn to lead the City of Jackson. House leadership expressed interest in working with a new mayor before Horhn was elected. Horhn served more than 30 years in the State Senate, which has given him the opportunity to build relationships with lawmakers. The mayor-elect said he will use his connections to hopefully bring improvements to the City of Jackson. Mayor-elect John Horhn discusses plans for capital city 'I believe there will be a strong renew partnership between the City of Jackson leadership and state leaders. I believe that many of the partnerships that we have seen, that seem to have eroded over the last few years. I think that all of those relationships will be rebuilt and maintained under the leadership of Mayor Horhn,' said Senate Minority Leader Derrick T. Simmons (D-District 12). 'We're excited about new leadership for the City of Jackson and what that may afford, a relationship with the state that is more positive and better for all Mississippians,' House Speaker Jason White (R-Miss.). Simmons attributed Horhn's experience working in the legislature and solving problems for cities and towns will make him a great mayor. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Yahoo
Clay County leader speaks on Royals deal: ‘Hundreds of miles apart'
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Day three of Missouri's Special Session invaded day four as the State Senate approved a stadium finance package to try to keep the Chiefs and the Royals in Missouri. It came in the early hours of Thursday morning, with a vote coming just before 2:30 a.m. Late in 2023, the Royals had publicly narrowed down their stadium sites to two, one in the East Village of Kansas City, Mo., within the downtown loop. The other was in North Kansas City, Mo. and Clay County. Legislator Manny Abarca pleads not guilty to domestic battery charges in Johnson County Then, in February of 2024 and right before the team's April vote, the Royals decided they were going to try to build their ballpark at a different location, the East Crossroads of downtown Kansas City, and south of the downtown loop. The joint vote with a Chiefs renovation at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium failed by 16%. Fast forward to June of 2025 and Clay County leaders are still expressing support for a North Kansas City ballpark. Tuesday, June 3, Clay County Commissioner Scott Wagner and Presiding Commissioner Jerry Nolte both testified in the Committee on Fiscal Oversight. They wanted that committee to pass Senate Bill 3, known as the Show-Me Sports Investment Act. The committee ended up passing it 6-3. Two days later, FOX4 talked to Clay County Commissioner Jason Withington. He said the last time his entity had negotiations with the Royals was in 2023, right before the team decided they weren't going to try to build in Clay County or in the East Village of Kansas City, Mo. 'I just want to make sure people understand that, I know, my phone's been blowing up. 'Oh, we're one step closer to getting the team.' Man, we're still hundreds of miles apart,' Withington said Thursday. Independence police chief on leave, fires back at 'baseless rumors' in FOX4 interview Regardless, the Missouri House of Representatives returns Monday to try to pass the Show-Me Sports Investment Act. The House already passed that bill at the end of May, but it died in the State Senate, which just approved it Thursday morning. Jackson County Executive Frank White released the following statement on the Show-Me Sports Investment Act on Thursday, June 5: For more than 50 years, Jackson County has proudly supported the Kansas City Chiefs and Royals, shouldering the majority of the financial responsibility that has helped keep both teams rooted in our community. Each year, our taxpayers contribute more than $54 million to support the teams – more than the County currently spends combined on parks and playgrounds, roads and bridges, and our public health department. This significant investment reflects our long-standing commitment, but it also underscores the need to balance that support with the many other responsibilities we carry as a county. While it has been an honor to uphold that legacy, it's time for a new chapter, one where Jackson County no longer carries the burden alone. From the beginning of this process, I've been clear: the path forward must include a more equitable sharing of responsibility. The stadium funding plan passed by the Missouri Senate moves us in that direction. It opens the door to meaningful relief for Jackson County taxpayers and creates the opportunity to invest in the essential services our residents rely on every day, from public safety and health care to critical infrastructure, all without increasing taxes. We remain committed to working with our partners at every level to support a future that is more balanced, more sustainable, and ultimately more fair for the people of Jackson County. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
