Chairman Gessler Testifies before House Ways and Means Committee

Property Tax Reform and Relief on the Move  |  Chairman Gessler testifies 

Yesterday, Chairman Gessler testified on Texas REALTORS®’ behalf in support of House Bills 8, 9, and HJR 1. View the hearing here: Chairman Gessler's comments for HB 8 at 1:25 and HB 9 at 2:00.

What the bills do:

• HB 8 adds to the state’s portion of local school funding, effectively buying down the local property tax rate (commonly called “compression” in legislative world). This tax relief would apply to all property types.

• HB 9 and HJR 1 together increase the business personal property tax exemption from $2,500 to $250,000 – a ten thousand percent increase. It would put Texas at the second highest exemption of this kind in the country.

  
  

  As a reminder, HJR or SJR means a House or Senate Joint Resolution, and are pieces of legislation that would amend the state constitution – these bills, if passed by the legislature, skip the Governor’s desk and go straight to voters for approval, typically on the next November ballot.

  
  

  In related news, SB 4/SJR 2 (Bettencourt, et al) to increase the homestead exemption to $140,000 passed the Senate 30 – 0, and awaits referral in the House.

  
  

House Committees get Underway, Senate in Full Swing 

Now that Speaker Burrows has appointed all House committees, many are getting underway with organizational meetings and full hearings this week. Over in the Senate, many committees have been on the move for several weeks. In addition to Ways and Means today, Texas REALTORS®  is also following:

TUESDAY, MARCH 4th

• 8:00 am: Senate Business and Commerce (bills of note: SB 1006 by Senator Mayes Middleton on property insurance)

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 5th

• 8:00 am: House Natural Resources (introductory hearing with invited testimony from a variety of state agencies, and specific information on “The State of Water” in Texas)

• 8:00 am: House Trades, Workforce, and Economic Development (introductory hearing with invited testimony from several state agencies on workforce, tourism, and other employment issues)

• 8:00 am: House State Affairs (introductory hearing with invited testimony from several state agencies, including energy and ethics)

• 10:30 am: House Homeland Security, Public Safety, and Veterans Affairs (introductory hearing with invited testimony from several state agencies, including emergency preparedness, law enforcement, and the attorney general)

THURSDAY, MARCH 6th

• 8:00 am: House Land and Resource Management (introductory hearing with invited testimony on land management and housing affordability)

  
  

  10:30 am: House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Property Appraisals (introductory hearing with invited testimony from several state agencies on property tax appraisals and school funding

View these and other hearings and floor sessions at:Senate Livestreams

House Livestreams

In other news.....Last week SB 1333 by REALTOR® champion Sen. Hughes was filed to address law enforcement ability to remove squatters from private property and add criminal penalties. While many “squatters bills” have been filed, SB 1333 is one that is likely to get traction, and the lobby team will be watching its movement closely.

There are several identical bills filed in the House, including HB 3003 by REALTOR® Friend Jeff Leach. With just two weeks left until the bill filing deadline on March 14th, lawmakers will rush to get their priorities on the table.

Texas REALTORS® is tracking over 1,000 bills as of today: 95 are marked for support, 88 for opposition. We continue to track and monitor bills that are supportive of or harmful to Texas REALTORS® positions.