State
Energy Expert Warns Texas Grid Is More Fragile Than During Winter Storm Uri
Energy Alliance Policy Director Bill Peacock said the reliability of the state’s grid is not keeping up with the demand for electricity, which follows Texas’ economic growth.
South San Antonio ISD Conservator Recommends TEA Appoint Board of Managers
According to Texas law, the trustees of South San Antonio ISD have not been meeting the standards necessary to maintain its status as an independent school district.
Burrows Hemorrhages Support as Harless Backs Cook
With Harless’ announcement today, only one of Harris County’s nine Republican House members—Lacey Hull—remains aligned with Burrows.
County GOP Chairs Urge Unity, Support State Rep. David Cook for House Speaker
The chairs wrote that any Republican House member who fails to support Cook will be held accountable.
State Archive
Taxpayers Endure Long Wait Times to Testify for Property Tax Reform
Taxpayers had to wait several hours Wednesday before finally being allowed to speak on property tax reform. Earlier this week, Texas Scorecard received an internal memo the Texas Municipal League had distributed to local officials advising them on how to oppose House...
Legislators Question TEC Over Unconstitutional Structure
Is the Texas Ethics Commission structured in a way that violates the Texas Constitution’s separation of powers guarantee? That issue came up this week in a Texas House committee and the TEC didn't have a good answer. At a House Elections Committee hearing on Tuesday,...
House Lawmakers Consider Protecting Homeowners from Excessive Tax Hikes
One of the 86th Texas Legislature’s landmark pieces of legislation, House Bill 2, was finally brought before the House Committee on Ways and Means Wednesday. Chairman Dustin Burrows (R-Lubbock) noted during his opening remarks on HB 2 that over one hundred...
House Committee Considers Ban on Taxpayer Funded Lobbying
A bill to end the onerous practice of taxpayer-funded lobbying was heard today in the Texas House State Affairs Committee. A long-standing practice in the halls of the Texas Capitol, taxpayer-funded lobbying refers to cities, counties, and...
Activists Look to Leach in Fight to Abolish Abortion
Advocates for abolishing abortion in Texas were dealt a strong hand this week when Texas House Speaker Dennis Bonnen referred the legislation to the friendliest possible committee. On Monday, Bonnen referred House Bill 896 by State Rep. Tony Tinderholt (R–Arlington)...
Huberty Threatens Bill Blockade
Legislators are less than two months into the session and some of them are already throwing elbows and resorting to high stakes brinkmanship. Just yesterday State Rep. Dan Huberty (R–Kingwood), who chairs the Public Education Committee, told committee members that...
Poll Shows Overwhelming Support for Property Tax Reform
A new poll from Quinnipiac University shows that Texans polled are overwhelmingly in favor of the legislature’s proposal to limit the annual growth of local property tax rates. “Voters support 77 – 18 percent requiring local governments to get voter approval if they...
Ways and Means Hears Testimony on Property to Sales Tax Swap
The Texas House Committee on Ways and Means heard public testimony Wednesday on a proposal that would potentially give taxpayers property relief if enacted into law. State Rep. Charlie Geren (R–Fort Worth) detailed House Bill 705, a bill that would eliminate the...
Bexar County Commissioner Sides with Local Government Against Taxpayers
Bexar County Precinct 4 Commissioner Tommy Calvert posted anti-taxpayer talking points Tuesday in strong opposition to taxpayers having a voice in their property taxes. A concerned taxpayer sent Texas Scorecard a copy of a post on social media from Calvert to his...