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Will Texas Bus Illegal Aliens Directly to ICE Facilities?
The proposal aims to disincentivize illegal border crossings.
State Senator Files Legislation Mandating Utilization of E-Verify in Texas
The upcoming Texas legislative session begins January 14.
Lone Star State Leads US in Net Domestic Migration Census Bureau Estimates Show
California, New York, and Florida were among the top states from which those moving to Texas hailed.
Analysis: Tiny County Sees Massive Tax Swing From 2019 to 2022
Loving County provides a snapshot of taxing trends in Texas.
The Archive
Taking Credit for Gutting Tax Cuts
House Republicans are retrospectively arriving at a sweeping consensus—not enough was done to curb property tax increases. But if members supporting the coalition government of liberal House Republicans and Democrats had their way, Texans would pay even more. That’s...
Harless Claims Hijacked Ethics Bill “Was Never Going to Pass”
Just days after the end of the 84th legislative session, one state representative is admitting that provisions added to Gov. Greg Abbott’s landmark ethics legislation by the leadership of the Texas House were designed to kill the bill. State Rep. Patricia Harless...
Abbott: House Hijacking of Ethics Bill Unconstitutional
In an interview with reporters yesterday about the death of his landmark ethics legislation, Gov. Greg Abbott laid the blame for the bill’s death squarely at the feet of State Rep. Byron Cook (R–Corsicana) and the leadership of the Texas House. “It’s important for...
Straus’ Revisionist History
In a recent interview, liberal House Speaker Joe Straus was asked to respond to allegations from many, including Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, that conservative bills went to House Calendars only to die without a vote. Citing the example of SB 1968 by State Sen. Joan Huffman...
Midland County and School Board Talk Taxes
In the petroleum-rich town of Midland, TX, the fluctuation of oil prices and population numbers weigh heavily on property tax-dependent entities, such as the school district and county. With last year’s dip in oil prices and the subsequent effect on mineral valuations...
State Sen Troy Fraser Announces Retirement
A day after the conclusion of the 84th legislative session, State Sen. Troy Fraser (R-Horseshoe Bay) has announced his retirement from the Senate. Fraser leaves office with a lifetime rating of C- on the Fiscal Responsibility Index, and a cumulative 80% on Young...
House Tax Revision
In the days since the legislative session ended, House Speaker Joe Straus and his coalition government of Democrats and liberal Republicans has been bragging about passing the very tax cuts they had opposed. “We cut taxes,” Straus bragged in a statement issued by his...
Dan Patrick Got It Done
On his first vote as a state senator, Dan Patrick voted alone. In the recently concluded legislative session, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and the state senate substantively delivered on every measure he campaigned on last year. A main stay of Patrick’s policy agenda, since...
84th Taxes
Along with strict spending limits, one of our founding policy interests has been to see the state’s business “margins” tax reformed and reduced to the point of elimination. This 84th Session of the Texas Legislature finally saw definitive action on the measure. Both...