SD 11 SREC: District 129 Newsletter

House Passes Texas Plan for School Finance Reform

After several hours of meaningful debate on Wednesday, the Texas House of Representatives passed House Bill 3, the Texas Plan for School Finance Reform, by a vote of 148-1. The bill invests $9 billion in classrooms and property tax reduction for all Texans.

The budget, House Bill 2 and House Bill 3 all work in tandem with one another to reform school finance, provide property tax relief and deliver meaningful property tax reform -- each bill plays a distinct role in meeting those objectives.

The budget, passed unanimously by the Texas House last week, works with House Bill 3, the Texas Plan for School Finance, to provide property tax RELIEF for all Texans.

House Bill 3 provides a uniform statewide property tax compression so that all Texans -- urban, suburban or rural -- benefit equitably.

The budget devotes $2.7 billion towards property tax reduction, with the option of increasing that amount to lower property taxes even more down the line.

Through House Bill 3 and House Bill 1, we're lowering school district property tax rates by an average of 5.5% statewide. Every Texan will see a property tax rate reduction.

Essentially, Texas has two property tax systems -- one for school districts and one for cities, counties and special taxing districts. School district property tax rates are part of the school finance formula and therefore reformed under House Bill 3. All other property tax rates are reformed under House Bill 2.

House Bill 3 permanently lowers school district property tax rates.

House Bill 3 also empowers voters and protects taxpayers by requiring voters to authorize tax rates above $1.01 in an election. That's three cents lower than current law. Before going to voters for a tax increase, districts must also conduct an efficiency audit to ensure taxpayer dollars are being used responsibly.

House Bill 3 benefits all districts who currently pay recapture, or "Robin Hood", payments because it gives districts the ability to earn and keep more money from local property taxes.

House Bill 3 reduces recapture payments by more than 38 percent this biennium, dropping from $7.7 billion to $4.7 billion.

This legislation reduces recapture by increasing the amount of money guaranteed for each student. House Bill 3 raises the Basic Allotment from $5,140 to $6,030.

Raising the Basic Allotment gives school districts the flexibility to spend funds where they need it most, increases equity within the system and reduces recapture.

House Bill 3 has over 100 co-authors and was passed unanimously out of the public education committee. This is a testament of the House’s unity behind school finance reform this session.

House Bill 3 fundamentally transforms the way Texas invests in its students. This bill puts into motion approximately $9 billion in funding – beyond enrollment growth and current law entitlement over the next two years – and prioritizes students with the highest needs.

House Bill 3 funds its changes through set education budget formulas that provide stability for school districts and ensure that funding will exist beyond the next two years. The investments we make through House Bill 3 today will still exist for the students of tomorrow.

House Bill 3 makes school funding formulas more efficient and equitable. Rather than focusing on how much is being invested in districts and the education system as a whole, House Bill 3 focuses on how much we are investing in classrooms.

Joint Hearing on ITC Fire

Today the House Committees on Environmental Regulation and Homeland Security & Public Safety held a joint hearing on the ITC fire in Deer Park.

The intent of this hearing is to be an informational briefing only. The scope is limited because the ITC facility is classified as an "ongoing response" and the committees did not want to pull resources that could otherwise be used in that effort.

In the coming months, the committees will hold additional hearings to fully investigate this matter. At that time, there will be opportunity for more testimony and to hear from all those involved in the response, assessment and remediation.

Both committees are aware of the public's desire for answers and are committed to investigating this matter fully. We are also committed to hearing community testimony at the next hearing. All members of the committees offer our sympathies to those affected. We also wish to recognize the bravery and diligence of the first responders who are responding to this incident.

House Passes Bill for Houston's Spaceport

This week the House of Representatives passed my House Bill 303, which will help spur economic development at the Houston Spaceport at Ellington Field. The bill is now headed to the Texas Senate for further consideration.

A special thank you to Bob Mitchell, President of the Bay Area Houston Economic Partnership, for his leadership on this issue.

Bob Mitchell and Rep. Paul in the gallery of the House of Representatives after House Bill 303 was passed.

Bills Moving Through Committee

This week I presented three bills to two House committees.

House Bill 3477, which I presented to the House Committee on Land & Resource Management, seeks to ensure that cities cannot place burdensome permitting requirements on homeowners seeking to remodel their own homes.

I also presented two bills to the House Committee on Insurance, of which I am a member, that would make important reforms to the Texas Insurance Code.

A Look Ahead

A preview of next week's legislative events at the Capitol. A calendar is a list of bills that will be considered by the House of Representatives.

Monday

The House Committee on Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence meets at 8:00 a.m. I will present my House Bill 3365, which will provide Good Samaritan protections for volunteers during the response to disasters such as Hurricane Harvey.

The House of Representatives convenes at 10:00 a.m. to consider a calendar.

Tuesday

The House Committee on Insurance, of which I am a member, meets at 8:00 a.m. The House of Representatives convenes at 10:00 a.m. to consider a calendar.

Wednesday

The House Committee on Homeland Security & Public Safety, on which I serve as Vice Chairman, meets at 8:00 a.m.

The House of Representatives convenes at 10:00 a.m. to consider a calendar and House Bill 2, which will provide a major overhaul of the property tax system.

Thursday

The House of Representatives convenes at 10:00 a.m. to consider a calendar.

Friday

The House of Representatives convenes at 10:00 a.m. to consider a calendar.

How to Keep Track of Legislation

To keep track of my legislation, and the legislation of other members, you can visit the Texas Legislature Online by clicking this link: www.capitol.texas.gov.