One hundred eighty-nine years ago, on March 2nd, 1836, Texas gained its independence from Mexico. As we reflect on this historic day, it’s important to remember the sacrifices and determination of the Texans who fought for their freedom. Their bravery and perseverance laid the foundation for the great state of Texas that we know and love today. However, Texas Independence Day isn’t only about looking back at our past — it’s a time to celebrate our unique culture, traditions, and values that make Texas, Texas. So, let us take a moment to honor our past, celebrate the present, and look forward to a bright future for the Lone Star State.
With that, here’s an update from your State Capitol…
Capitol Update
The work in Austin continues. This past week, the House Committee on Public Education, of which I am a member, held its first hearing. The committee heard testimony from several state agencies under its jurisdiction, including the Texas Education Agency, the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, and the Texas Workforce Commission. I was grateful for the opportunity to learn more about each of these agencies and the important work they’re doing for our students.
One recent development I’d like to highlight was the unveiling of the House’s proposal to once again address rising property taxes. House Bills 8 & 9, establish a property tax relief package of $26.3 billion, which would provide the largest property tax relief package in Texas history.
HB 8 provides an additional 3.31 cents of school district maintenance and operations taxes through compression. This increases the total compression to 10.11 cents and will deliver immediate property tax relief this year. Additionally, HB 9 dedicates $700 million to raising the property tax exemption from $2,500 to $250,000, for small business owners. This is an increase of nearly 10,000% and would be the second-largest personal property exemption in the nation.
I applaud this bold proposal to provide meaningful, lasting property tax relief to Texas taxpayers, and I look forward to working with my House Colleagues to pass this historic legislation.
The mobile office is on the road again and looks forward to seeing you on the following dates, in the following locations: March 5 at the San Augustine County Courthouse from 9:30-11:30 am; March 12 at the Polk County Commissioner’s Court Room in Livingston from 9:30-11:30 am, or at the Tyler County Courthouse in Woodville from 1:30-3:30 pm; March 19 at the Houston County Courthouse Annex in Crockett from 9:30-11:30 am, or at the Trinity County Courthouse in Groveton from 1:30-3:30 pm.
As always, please do not hesitate to contact my office if we can help you in any way. My district office may be reached at (936) 634-2762. Additionally, I welcome you to follow along on my Official Facebook Page, where I will post regular updates on what’s happening in your State Capitol and share information that could be useful to you and your family: https://www.facebook.com/RepTrentAshby/.
