Texas property taxes

Economic uncertainty, inflation, strict state limits on property tax collections and uncertainty around future federal funds have crimped local budgets.

Here's what we're watching this week at the Legislature.

New laws range from school vouchers and water infrastructure funding to a ban on city and county-funded abortion travel funds.

Texas cities and counties have already had their budgets compressed by a variety of factors, including the state's current property tax limits.

Kerr County Judge Rob Kelly's proposal to stick with the same property tax rate and instead dip into county reserves to pay for post Fourth of July flood recovery met with no major opposition.

On Wednesday, Texas Governor Greg Abbott released his official proclamation announcing a special legislative session. Texas lawmakers will be back in Austin starting on July 21. The session, which originally looked like it would focus on regulating THC, now includes several emergency preparedness topics.

Gov. Greg Abbott on Sunday signed Senate Bill 3070, which will also criminalize the online sale of lottery tickets through couriers.

Texas is slated to spend $51 billion on property tax cuts over the next two years. Some worry that's unsustainable.

One of the most highly debated bills in Texas' 2025 legislative session has passed both chambers and heads to Gov. Greg Abbott for his signature. House Bill 2 provides $8.5 billion for the state's public school system.

The Texas House passed a $337 billion budget for the 2026-27 biennium Friday morning. This came after the chamber spent more than 15 hours debating the proposal. The bill now heads back to a conference committee between both chambers.