Past Contributions

• Texas House committee advances priority property tax legislation, keeping 2.5 percent election trigger

  By Shannon Najmabadi March 28, 2019

  The vote, called around 1 a.m., was 8-3. The lone Democrat who voted in support of the new measure was state Rep. Ryan Guillen, the vice chair of the committee. Full Story 

• Updated property tax reform proposal surfaces in the Texas House

  By Cassandra Pollock and Shannon Najmabadi March 26, 2019

  The House Ways & Means Committee is expected to vote on the bill Wednesday. Full Story 

• When big businesses want to fight their property tax bills, Texas law hands them an easy way, critics say

  By Shannon Najmabadi March 26, 2019

  Supporters of the provision, known as equity appeals, say it's valuable for all property owners and stops taxing units from imposing unfair taxes. Full Story 

• After new admissions scandal, former Regent Wallace Hall says University of Texas' rules are a "joke"

  By Jay Root and Shannon Najmabadi March 15, 2019

  Hall led a heated battle to reform the school's admissions procedures, which led to reforms in 2015. But after a UT tennis coach was accused of taking a bribe to help a student gain admission, Hall says more needs to be done. Full Story 

• UT-Austin fires tennis coach and launches internal inquiry in wake of national bribery scandal

  By Shannon Najmabadi and Jay Root March 13, 2019

  University President Greg Fenves announced the firing in an email and said, "The integrity of UT admissions is essential to our mission as a research university and to the students and families we serve." Full Story 

• Property tax proposal piles one more worry on Texas' rural hospital districts

  By Shannon Najmabadi March 13, 2019

  Hospital leaders say restrictions on their property tax revenue growth could force them to scale back services. Full Story 

• UT System to slash 65 jobs in second round of layoffs

  By Shannon Najmabadi March 12, 2019

  The announcement, made in an internal email, is part of a new but expected wave of cuts aimed at trimming the system's overhead. Full Story 

• Sweeping legislation takes aim at shock emergency room bills in Texas

  By Jay Root and Shannon Najmabadi Feb. 28, 2019

  Committee chairs from both chambers unveiled the proposal on Thursday. Full Story 

• In the Texas House, property tax legislation is being handled with a different speed — and tone

  By Shannon Najmabadi Feb. 28, 2019

  State Rep. Dustin Burrows, author of the House bill, said the House Ways and Means Committee is "not just trying to get something across the finish line as quick as we can." Full Story 

• Texas community colleges warn they may consider tuition hikes in the face of property tax reform

  By Shannon Najmabadi Feb. 19, 2019

  Property taxes are one of three main sources of revenue for community colleges. If growth in those taxes is limited, the colleges say they may have to look elsewhere for revenue. Full Story