Past Contributions

• In 1997, George W. Bush couldn’t deliver a multibillion-dollar tax reform plan. Will Greg Abbott face a similar fate in 2019?

  By Shannon Najmabadi May 7, 2019

  State leaders are pushing a plan to drive down property taxes using revenue from a one-cent increase to the sales tax. They have said the plan would result in roughly $250 a year in savings on a $200,000 home. Full Story 

• Change in tax bill would let many cities and counties raise property tax levies by more than 3.5%

  By Shannon Najmabadi and Cassandra Pollock May 2, 2019

  The revision was made in the House. But the high-priority property tax bill is expected to head to a conference committee, where negotiations could change or remove the provision. Full Story 

• Here’s how each Texas House member voted on the property tax reform bill

  By Darla Cameron and Shannon Najmabadi May 1, 2019

  One of the Legislature’s priority property tax reform bills, Senate Bill 2, was approved by the House on a 107-40 margin Tuesday. More than 20 Democratic lawmakers broke party ranks to support the measure. Full Story 

• Texas House approves property tax reform bill, setting up negotiations with the Senate

  By Shannon Najmabadi April 30, 2019

  The House approved the bill designed to slow local property tax revenue growth, but made the bill contingent on the passage of a school finance bill, which is still pending in the Senate. Full Story 

• House committee passes Senate property tax bill — after altering it to look more like the lower chamber's version

  By Shannon Najmabadi April 25, 2019

  A House panel lowered the Senate's cap on how much school property taxes can grow without voter approval, a move billed as symbol more than substance. Full Story 

• Texas Senate gives local governments more breathing room for property tax revenue growth

  By Shannon Najmabadi and Emma Platoff Updated: April 15, 2019

  After a key Republican holdout agreed to bring a priority bill to the floor, the upper chamber increased an election trigger on revenue increases from 2.5% to 3.5%. But now both chambers must reconcile how they want to tackle rising school district taxes. Full Story 

• Property tax reform proposals stall — for now — as top Texas lawmakers scramble for votes

  By Cassandra Pollock, Emma Platoff, Aliyya Swaby and Shannon Najmabadi Updated: April 11, 2019

  House leadership plans to hold a floor vote on Monday. Meanwhile, the Senate is looking for one more vote to bring the priority measure to the floor. Full Story 

• Texas Tech Health Sciences Center agrees to stop considering race in admissions, ending federal inquiry

  By Shannon Najmabadi Updated: April 9, 2019

  The medical school reached an agreement with the U.S. Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights. Full Story 

• Here’s how different proposals at the Texas Capitol could change property tax bills

  By Aliyya Swaby, Chris Essig and Shannon Najmabadi April 8, 2019

  How would lawmakers' proposals to provide property tax relief affect tax bills? It depends on where you live and what kind of home you own. Full Story 

• Letting researchers study plants and animals on your Texas land can get you a property tax break

  By Shannon Najmabadi April 8, 2019

  A little-known and ill-defined provision in state statute offers big tax breaks to landowners who host university research on their property. Two lawmakers are trying — again — to close the "loophole." Full Story