“Texas-sized” Record $18 billion Tax reduction bill finally passes, Texas taxpayers WIN!!! Senator Paul Bettencourt unanimously passes HJR 2 out of the Texas Senate 

Austin – Senator Paul Bettencourt (R-Houston) sponsored House Joint Resolution 2 authored by  Representative Will Metcalf (R-Conroe), the constitutional amendment for Senator Bettencourt’s $18  billion property tax relief bills, SB 2 & SB 3. HJR 2 passed the entire Senate unanimously with bipartisan  support 31-0. Then the House of Representatives passed the bills SB 2 133-4, and SB 3 131-5, with a  two-thirds majority, and sent them to Governor Greg Abbott (R-Texas) next for his signature review. 

“It’s a ‘Texas-sized’ 18 billion dollar property tax reduction! But wait, we’re not done yet! It’s  another 300 million dollars for doubling the franchise tax exemption so it’s truly a record,” remarked Senator Bettencourt. 

HJR 2, by Rep. Metcalf passed the House 132-5, will put the following on the November 7, 2023, ballot  for Texas voters to approve. 

• Increase Texas homestead exemption to $100k on 5.72 million Texas homeowner’s ISD property  tax bills, effective on this year’s property tax bill. 
• Approve a “catch-up” for over-65 and disabled for the $15k homestead exemption increase  adjustment from May 2022 state-wide election. 
• Approve non-homesteaded real property valued at $5 million and under will receive a 20% circuit breaker on appraised value increases as a 3-year pilot project. The constitutional circuit breaker  will sunset Dec. 31, 2026.  
• Three county citizens will be elected county-wide to each County Appraisal Districts (CAD board)  of directors in non-partisan positions. The CAD board of directors will now select Appraisal  Review Board (ARB) members, in each county of 75k population or greater. 
• Make sure property tax relief does not count towards constitutional spending limit.  

“The ‘Texas Two-Step’ of $100k homestead exemption and a 23.8% m&) property tax rate  reduction means the average Texas homestead will see a 41.5% or $1373 per year in savings.  Every residential and commercial property owner will see huge tax savings this fall. The final  approval will be the voters of the State of Texas on November 7, 2023.” Added Senator Bettencourt. 

The final bill of the 18 billion dollars of property tax reduction, HJR 2, just passed the Senate 31-0. “So, let the people vote on November 7, 2023!” Senator Bettencourt concluded.