88th Legislature
Special Session 88(1) | May 29, 2023 – June 27, 2023
Special Session 88(2) | June 27, 2023 – July 13, 2023
The second special session ended with the Legislature approving the largest property tax cuts in State History. Gov. Abbott signed the $18 billion package that will provide much needed relieve for millions of Texans. Voters now will have to approve the bill later this year. This priority was a cornerstone for his 2023 campaign. Some of the highlights include:
- A first-ever temporary 20% cap on appraisal increases for properties valued at $5 million or lower that aren’t considered homesteads
- Offers additional cuts for seniors and property owners with disabilities, averaging about $170 more in savings per year
- The amount of a home’s value that can’t be taxed to pay for public schools, from $40,000 to $100,000
- No more than a 5% increase in appraisal growth per year
- Cuts to school taxes for all property owners, dropping property taxes an average of more than 40% for some 5.7 million Texas homeowners
In addition, Abbott also signed SB 2 and SB 3 which will exempt businesses that bring in less than $2.47 million in annual revenue from the franchise tax, doubling the current exemption. You can read more about these bills in “Bills of the Weekâ€.
The Governor still has many priorities so expect more special sessions soon. Below are the priorities for special sessions moving forward.
- Provide more than $5.1 billion to secure the border and fund the Texas National Guard, the Texas Department of Public Safety, and the border wall
- End COVID restrictions and mandates
- Designate Mexican drug cartels as foreign terrorist organizations
- Prosecute fentanyl deaths as murder
- Protect women’s sports and female collegiate athletes
- Focus community colleges on preparing Texas students for high skill careers
- Increase electric power generation to secure the Texas power grid
- Hold rogue district attorneys accountable
- Protect children from life-altering gender mutilation
- Ban illegal DEI hiring practices in our colleges and universities
- Add $1.4 billion to make Texas schools safer
- Require armed security at all schools
- Provide access to mental healthcare for students at all schools
- Require regular safety checks of school buildings
Please check out the “Grassroots America†site below. This is the best all in one site to find how your representative voted and other information. I’ve also included a poll asking members to rate our 88th Legislative Session.
Thank you,
Matthew Okerson
3rd VICE PRESIDENT CAMPAIGN & LEGISLATIVE ACTIVITIES
legislativeaction@newbraunfelsconservatives.com