Latest news with #SJR2
Axios
08-03-2025
- Politics
- Axios
Here are 12 bills headed to the governor as Utah wraps 2025 legislative session
Utah's 45-day legislative session came to a close Friday. What we're watching: Gov. Spencer Cox has until March 27 to sign, veto or allow bills to pass without his signature. He declined to say during a Friday press conference which bills were on his veto list. Here are some of the bills headed to his desk: 🏳️🌈 Pride flags would be banned from being displayed in schools and government buildings under HB 77. The big picture: The bill's Senate sponsor, Sen. Dan McCay (R-Riverton) argued the legislation would neutralize government buildings and classrooms from political speech. The latest: The bill has received staunch pushback from LGBTQ+ and civil rights groups. In a statement, Equality Utah said the bill targets free expression and that it would support legal action to fight it in court. 🗳️ Any citizen-led initiatives that raise taxes would have to win 60% voter approval, rather than a simple majority, under a state constitutional amendment proposed in SJR 2. Case in point: Medicaid expansion and the medical cannabis program that passed in 2018 would have failed under this amendment. Since it's a constitutional amendment, SJR 2 would still have to get voter approval in the 2026 general election. Meanwhile, citizens who initiate a ballot measure would have to foot the bill to print the measure in newspapers, as required by the state constitution, under SB 73. 📱 Cell phones and smart watches would be prohibited in classrooms under SB 178 unless a school district establishes exemptions. 🗳️ Starting in 2026, voters would have to include the last four digits of their driver license or state ID on their mail ballot instead of their signature, per HB 300. To vote by mail, Utahns will have to opt-in before 2029. 🌿 Want to grow dank weed? Under HB 343, you'd have to submit a plan to the state to show your farm won't stink out the neighbors. ⛕ State transportation officials would be allowed to veto some of Salt Lake City's traffic-calming street design efforts under a measure in SB 195 that specifically targets Utah's capital city. 🍸 Bartenders would be allowed to sample cocktails using the " straw test" method in SB 238 to ensure quality. ⚖️ The governor would appoint the chief justice of the Utah Supreme Court if SB 296 passes. Justices currently elect the chief justice by a majority vote. 🌫️ Halogen emissions — a big contributor to winter inversions — would be subject to more study and regulation under HB 420. 👶 Infants could be relinquished to the state without penalty up to 90 days after birth, rather than 30, under SB 57. 🍱 Kids in public schools would have expanded access to free and reduced-price lunches under HB 100. 🚱 Utah would become the first in the nation to prohibit adding fluoride in public water systems if Cox signs HB 81. Zoom out: The move comes soon after U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. opposed the practice.
Yahoo
14-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
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 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 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 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.
Yahoo
14-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
'Texas-sized' relief: Senate passes $22.7 billion school property tax cut package
The Texas Senate on Thursday unanimously passed a $22.7 billion tax relief package, which its author called a "Texas-sized" commitment to reducing school property taxes, though senators from both parties said the Legislature needs to do more to cut down the annual levy. Senate Bill 4 by Sen. Paul Bettencourt, R-Houston, would cut taxes by raising the homestead exemption to a record $140,000, or $150,000 for senior citizens — which would be deducted from the taxable value of an owner's property when calculating school district property taxes. The proposal will now head to the House, where the speaker on Thursday appointed committees, setting the stage for the lower chamber to begin considering legislation. If the Legislature approves SB 4, Texas voters would have the opportunity to amend the Texas Constitution in a statewide election to make the change permanent. Texas House committees appointed, signaling a new phase in 2025 legislative session Bettencourt estimates the higher homestead exemption, combined with additional tax compression measures expected to pass as part of the Senate's proposed budget, homeowners could save about $500 on average each year. The average home appraisal in 49% of the state's nearly 500 school districts is below $140,000, Bettencourt said, meaning many property owners could be spared from paying school maintenance and operations taxes. The homestead exemption does not apply to school interest and sinking taxes, which is a component of the property tax rate that goes toward debt from bond elections. The Senate's approval comes just days after its Committee on Local Government advanced SB 4 and Senate Joint Resolution 2, the proposed state constitutional amendment to ratify the exemption hike. Gov. Greg Abbott and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick both designated property tax relief as a main priority for the 89th Legislature. Bettencourt celebrated the Senate's approval of the higher homestead exemption, which he said is "the most powerful tool that a tax writer can use." "Today, the Texas Senate delivered a win for homeowners statewide," the bill's author said in a statement after the vote. "By passing SB 4 and SJR 2, we are putting real dollars back into the pockets of Texans while ensuring our schools remain fully funded." The bill includes a provision that the state would cover any budgetary gaps that school districts incur due to the increased homestead exemption. Patrick, who presides over the Senate, also praised SB 4's passage, noting he has been pushing for tax relief since well before he was elected lieutenant governor. 'Based on the unanimous 30-0 vote, it is clear senators from both sides of the aisle understand that when an increased homestead exemption and more compression are combined, homeowners receive maximum tax relief benefit," Patrick said. "I thank Sen. Paul Bettencourt for his hard work in carrying SB 4 and SJR 2.' Sen. Lois Kolkhorst, R-Brenham, also praised the bill but said it doesn't go far enough to provide relief to Texans amid soaring inflation costs. "Don't take your victory lap today, because our work is really just beginning on what we can do on this," Kolkhorst said. The senator from east Central Texas argued that any savings from an increased homestead exemption could easily be offset by skyrocketing appraisal values. She suggested dropping the cap on home appraisal increases from 10% to 5% in addition to raising the exemption. Sen. Sarah Eckhardt, D-Austin, who supported the bill, said she is still left with reservations. She said expanding the tax breaks to commercial properties could help lower costs for renters, and she argued that increasing state funding for schools would decrease districts' reliance on property taxes. "The most powerful tool this Legislature could use to provide meaningful and long-lasting property tax relief is for the state to fully fund the state's obligations," Eckhardt said. "If we fully fund our obligations to public education in the form of an increase in the basic allotment, and indexing it so it doesn't lose value to inflation, that would help every taxpayer." This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Texas Senate passes $22.7 billion school property tax cut bill
Yahoo
13-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Senate approves $140K homestead exemption to increase property tax relief
AUSTIN (Nexstar) — Texas Senators voted unanimously to increase the homestead exemption to a record amount for homeowners, but during the debate some lawmakers brought up concerns about local taxing entities offsetting the savings created by the state government. The exemption would allow homeowners to deduct $140,000 off the appraised value of their home that is ultimately taxed by school districts. For senior and disabled homeowners the exemption would be raised to $150,000. The tax exemption, along with a compression element on the average school district tax rate built inside Senate Bill 1, the Senate budget proposal, will combine to provide an estimated $496.57 in tax relief to average homeowners, according to Sen. Paul Bettencourt, R-Houston, the author of the bill. 'Today, the Texas Senate delivered a win for homeowners statewide. By passing SB 4 and SJR2, we are putting real dollars back into the pockets of Texans while ensuring our schools remainfully funded,' Sen. Bettencourt said in a press release following the vote. In his opening remarks on the Senate floor, Sen. Bettencourt said his bill would allow between 80 and 90% of Texas seniors to pay $0 on local school district taxes, which is just a portion of your property tax bill. In fact, the Houston Senator pointed out 49% of the school districts in Texas have an average home value of below $140,000, which means an average homeowner in those districts would also pay nothing on school taxes. Bettencourt said this bill makes sure the state will pay back the school districts for any loss in revenue because of the exemption increase. Just before noon, Sen. Lois Kolkhorst, R-Brenham, rose to question Bettencourt about his bill. She started with her approval of raising the homestead exemption, saying, 'We're going to do something great today.' But she says now is not the time to celebrate and feels more tax reform needs to happen this year to help keep money in Texas taxpayers' pockets. She spoke about her constituents, who tell her the tax breaks the state is providing are providing relief for a year, but then they do not see that relief the year after because other local taxing entities, like cities, counties, and community colleges, raise their taxes. 'We must battle every day to leave the money in the pockets of the people because we spend it better than we do,' Kolkhorst said. She said she looks forward to working with Sen. Bettencourt on a package of bills that will restore faith in taxpayers to believe when tax cuts happen they will truly lower property taxes. 'Is this the beginning of lots of reforms in the 89th session that will result in our homeowners and our small businesses feeling the real benefit of a, once again historic surplus, going back to them?' Kolkhorst questioned. Sen. Bettencourt responded saying he had additional bills coming, but said this current bill is not an omnibus bill. 'This is the best tool, the best thing I can do as a tax writer, to get people that result,' Bettencourt said. After Sen. Kolkhorst finished her questioning, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick addressed her saying, 'I am going to celebrate this bill today. I'm going to shout it from the rooftops because it is a great bill.' The lieutenant governor pointed out that although appraised values go up, local taxing entities can not have their revenue exceed 3.5% from the year before, meaning tax rates must go down too. However, a taxing entity can increase it's revenue over that 3.5% but it must be approved by a majority of voters in an election. Sen. Joan Huffman, R-Houston, also spoke during the debate. She read off data from the Texas Comptroller comparing the taxing rate differences from different taxing entities across the state from 2022 to 2023. The data shows the schools take up about 48.5% of the total tax levies and they did go down by 10.31% in that one year. But she says total tax levies from cities went up 10.38%, counties went up 10.76%, and special districts went up 22.23%. 'I think it's critically important that we try to get a handle on what's going on at the local level,' Sen. Huffman said. Governor Greg Abbott raised similar concerns during his State of the State address. He is insupport of requiring a supermajority, or two-thirds, of voters to approve a tax rate increaseor bond election. The lieutenant governor mentioned those comments during the meeting and said, 'Ifit's an emergency item we'll pass that before March 17.' It is now up to the House of Representatives to pass its version of property tax relief. If that happens and the governor signs off on the bill, then Texas voters will have the final approval to raise the homestead exemption at the ballot. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
11-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Bill to cut Texas property taxes advances to Senate
AUSTIN (KXAN) — A bill aimed at lowering property taxes unanimously passed a Texas Senate committee Tuesday, clearing the way for a vote before the full Senate. The Senate Local Government Committee voted 6-0 to approve Senate Bill 4, which aims to raise the state's homestead exemption to $140,000. The homestead exemption is the amount of a home's value that is exempt from taxation. Changing the exemption would require approval by Texas voters to amend the state's constitution. Committee members also approved Senate Joint Resolution 2, which would put that question on the ballot, if SB 4 passes. State Sen. Paul Bettencourt, R-Houston, filed SB 4 last week, along with 28 other senators. The bill was also a priority for Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick. 'By following up on the largest, grandest, hugest property tax reduction in AmericanHistory, $22.7 Billion to be exact, SB 4 and SJR 2 provide more meaningful reduction toTexas homeowners by raising the Homestead Exemption to $140k. This will be providingan estimated $500 savings to the average homeowner annually,' Bettencourt said in a news release. The bill also includes a 'hold-harmless provision' that ensures the state will cover any lack of funding resulting from the homestead exemption increase, the release said. Gov. Greg Abbott declared property tax relief an emergency item, clearing the way for lawmakers to swiftly pass legislation this session. The governor also called on the state to pass a law that will make it harder for a local taxing entity to raise its rates. In November 2023, Texans voted to increase the homestead tax exemption and provide property tax relief. This came after Abbott signed Senate Bill 2 and Senate Bill 3, which were both property tax relief bills that provided an $18 billion tax cut for property owners in Texas. In conjunction with SB 1, the General Appropriations Act, SB 4 will reduce the statewide average ISD tax rate from $0.9766 to $0.9086, which is expected to save homestead property owners an additional $133.13. 'Senate Bill 4 maintains its protections for over-65 and disabled homestead exemption owners,' Bettencourt said. Now that SB 4 and SJR 2 passed in the Senate, the Texas House will now have an opportunity to vote. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
