Past Contributions

• Dan Patrick says Senate won’t budge on property tax relief — but there’s no House to negotiate with

  By Karen Brooks Harper and Uriel J. García Updated: June 6, 2023

  Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick says the Senate won’t accept a property tax relief bill the lower chamber left behind before adjourning for the special session. A bill targeting migrant smuggling also appears imperiled. Full Story 

• Texas Republicans are fighting over how to split $12.3 billion in property tax breaks between homeowners and businesses

  By Joshua Fechter and Karen Brooks Harper June 1, 2023

  Gov. Greg Abbott and House Speaker Dade Phelan back a plan that spreads property tax relief among all landowners, while Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick’s proposal would give homeowners a bigger boost than businesses. Full Story 

• Late deal sends new economic incentives for businesses to governor

  By Karen Brooks Harper May 28, 2023

  After the previous, widely criticized program expired in December, lawmakers worked hard to craft a plan that won overwhelming support in both chambers. Full Story 

• Historic $321.3 billion Texas state budget heads to comptroller

  By Karen Brooks Harper Updated: May 27, 2023

  About $17 billion worth of commitments lawmakers made in the new budget were snagged in policy fights between the Texas House and Senate on Saturday night. Full Story 

• State budget writers strike deal on $321.3 billion two-year spending proposal

  By Karen Brooks Harper and Joshua Fechter Updated: May 26, 2023

  The proposal would leave billions of anticipated tax revenue untouched at a time when the state has more money coming in than lawmakers are constitutionally allowed to spend. Full Story 

• Texas Senate passes new economic incentive program to lure businesses to the state

  By Karen Brooks Harper May 24, 2023

  Lawmakers hope to hammer out a program to replace the embattled Chapter 313 program before the legislative session ends Monday. Full Story 

• Economic incentives clear Senate committee as negotiations continue

  By Karen Brooks Harper May 21, 2023

  Lawmakers are trying hard to come up with an agreement on how to replace an embattled 20-year tax abatement program for big companies that expired in December. Full Story 

• Texas leaders want a new way to attract businesses here. But they can’t agree on how to do it.

  By Karen Brooks Harper May 19, 2023

  The two chambers have 10 days to cut a deal before the end of the legislative session, and they are miles apart on some of the very foundations of a corporate tax-abatement bill considered to be a priority for Republican state leaders. Full Story 

• State budget leaders adopt some spending plans for 2024-25 but still no compromise on property taxes, power plants

  By Karen Brooks Harper May 15, 2023

  With two weeks to go before the legislative session adjourns, chief budget writers still have not announced compromises on some of the largest fights facing the Texas Legislature. Full Story 

• Bills by the handful perish as Texas House hits crucial late-session deadline

  By James Barragán and Karen Brooks Harper May 12, 2023

  It was a night of frustration, retaliation and, for some, elation as the stroke of midnight spelled doom for a lot of legislation. Full Story