Video & Transcript Research : 'tax rate calculation'

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TX

Texas 89th 1st C.S.

Local Government Aug 1st, 2025

Local Government

Transcript Highlights:
  • tax rates at the voter-approval tax rate, and how often voters have approved tax rates in excess of
  • Presently, there are exemptions in the tax rate calculation for special districts, hospitals, jails,
  • The legislature has already authorized exemptions to the tax rate calculations for special districts,
  • The legislature has already authorized exemptions to the tax rate calculations for special districts,
  • We believe, to the tax rate calculations for special districts, hospitals, jails, and other things.
Bills: SB9
Summary: The Senate Committee on Local Government met to hear Senate Bill 9, which would lower the voter-approval tax rate for certain local taxing units from 3.5% to 2.5%. Sen. Bettencourt, the bill author, argued the change would continue the state’s property tax reforms begun in 2019, slow local levy growth, and give voters more say over larger tax increases. He and supporters cited data showing property tax levies have grown faster than population plus inflation, and said the bill would help protect taxpayers while preserving the state’s broader investments in school tax relief, water, rural law enforcement, and ambulance funding. Supporters included the Texas Taxpayers and Research Association, the Texas Association of Business, the Texas Public Policy Foundation, and the Texas Association of Manufacturers. They said the bill would improve transparency, encourage more disciplined budgeting, and create certainty for homeowners and businesses. They argued that lower tax-rate growth would help attract and retain employers and investment, and that voters would still be able to approve higher rates when needed. Local officials and other opponents said the bill would constrain cities and counties facing rapid growth, inflation, infrastructure needs, and public safety costs. Testimony from county judges, city finance officials, firefighters, and urban county representatives emphasized pressures from jail operations, roads, water, EMS, police and fire staffing, and unfunded mandates. Several witnesses asked for carve-outs or exemptions for public safety and disaster-related costs, warning that a one-size-fits-all cap could force service cuts or shift costs elsewhere. The committee heard extensive questioning but no final vote or disposition on the bill was taken in the portion provided.
TX
Transcript Highlights:
  • process and reduced the voter approval tax rate, previously known as the rollback tax rate for cities
  • Draw attention to tax rates.
  • of cities and counties, and how often they have adopted tax rates at the voter approval tax rate.
  • Tax rates matter.
  • Presently, there are exemptions in the tax rate calculation for special districts, hospitals, jails,
Bills: SB9, SB 9
TX

Texas 89th 2nd C.S.

Finance Aug 15th, 2025

Finance

Transcript Highlights:
  • It simply reduces the rollback rate, a.k.a. now the voter-approved tax rate, for taxing jurisdictions
  • It simply reduces the rollback rate, a.k.a. now the voter-approved tax rate, for taxing jurisdictions
Bills: SB2, SB3, SB5, SB9, SB10, SB14, SB16, SB34, SB18
Summary: The Senate Committee on Finance met in the second special session and considered a series of bills, mostly related to flood response, water infrastructure, taxation, school accountability, property fraud, and legislative procedure. Senator Zaffirini presented SB 18 on TCEQ permit exemptions for certain erosion, floodwater, and sediment control dams or reservoirs; Senator Perry presented SB 2 on flood relief preparedness, SB 14 on credit impact fees and water supply/conservation incentives, and SB 5 on Hill Country relief funding; Senator Bettencourt presented SB 3 on early warning flood sirens, SB 9 on replacing STAAR with three annual tests and strengthening A-F accountability, and SB 10 on lowering the rollback tax rate from 3.5% to 2.5%; Senator West presented SB 16 on property transaction ID requirements and new real property theft/fraud offenses; and Chair Huffman laid out SB 34, which changes legislative witness immunity rules from transactional immunity to testimonial immunity consistent with federal law. The committee also heard brief explanations that several bills were the same as versions previously passed by the Senate or committee, and there was limited public testimony, with no witnesses on most bills and only position cards on SB 16. Senator West raised a concern on SB 10 about a possible carve-out for police pay raises, but Senator Bettencourt said no change would be made at that time. For SB 34, Chair Huffman explained the bill would still allow compelled testimony before the legislature but would no longer provide blanket immunity, while preserving the right to counsel. The committee voted favorably on all bills considered. SB 18, SB 2, SB 14, SB 3, SB 16, SB 5, and SB 34 were reported out unanimously or near-unanimously, while SB 9 passed 10-1 and SB 10 passed 8-3. At the end of the meeting, Senator West requested to be shown voting nay on SB 9, and the chair granted unanimous consent. The committee then recessed subject to the call of the chair.
TX

Texas 89th Regular

Economic Development May 21st, 2025

Economic Development

Transcript Highlights:
  • This is an omnibus bill consisting of city hotel occupancy tax bills, county occupancy tax bills, and
  • bills, and municipal hotel tax bills.
  • by eligible coastal communities, and the bill modifies the voter approval tax rate formula to include
  • The bill modifies the voter approval tax rate formula to include those hotel funds if they are misspent
  • outside of Chapter 351 of the Tax Code and for unauthorized purposes.
Summary: The Senate Economic Development Committee heard and laid out several measures focused on school safety, Texas-Taiwan relations, defense manufacturing, business formation, hotel tax policy, and NASA relocation. HB 1851 would allow surplus DPS vehicles and law enforcement equipment to be transferred to school districts in economically disadvantaged areas for use by school police and security personnel, with a two-year resale restriction. HCR 127 expressed support for the Texas-Taiwan relationship and trade ties, HCR 118 supported expanding warship manufacturing in Texas, HCR 141 urged Congress to move NASA headquarters to Houston, HB 346 (with a committee substitute) revised business filing and fee authority while making permanent a franchise tax exemption for new veteran-owned businesses, HB 2974 was an omnibus hotel occupancy tax and qualified hotel project bill, and HB 5596 addressed accountability for municipal hotel occupancy tax revenues in coastal communities. Witnesses generally supported the measures, including the Texas Hotel and Lodging Association on HB 2974 and resource witnesses from the Texas Veterans Commission and Secretary of State on HB 346; no opposition testimony was registered on the laid-out bills. After public testimony, the committee took up pending business and adopted committee substitutes where applicable. HB 1851, HB 346, HB 2974, and HB 5596 were each reported favorably to the full Senate, with HB 346 and HB 2974 also recommended for the local and uncontested calendar. HCR 127 and HCR 118 were reported favorably as well, and HCR 127 and HCR 141 were likewise recommended for the local and uncontested calendar. The committee also reported HB 4320 favorably, though the transcript repeats that motion several times. The meeting ended with the committee standing in recess until 7:00 a.m. subject to the call of the chair.
TX
Transcript Highlights:
  • The committee substitute makes permanent the exemption from franchise tax for a new... ...veteran-owned
  • This is an omnibus bill consisting of city hotel occupancy tax bills and county. ...occupancy tax bills
  • . ...bills and municipal hotel tax bills.
  • The bill modifies the voter approval tax rate formula to include those HOP funds if they are spent outside
  • of Chapter 351 of the tax code. ...and for unauthorized purposes.
TX

Texas 89th Regular

Senate Session (Part I) Aug 6th, 2025

Texas Senate Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • current tax rates from 3.5% to 2.5% or less.
  • rate about three times faster than school taxes.
  • They would allow them to increase the tax rate.
  • Committee Substitute Senate Bill 9 relating to the calculation of the voter approval tax rate for certain
  • Senate Bill 9 relating to the calculation of the voter approval tax rate for certain taxing units.
Bills: SB15, SB9, SB7, SB1, SB2, SB67, SB15, SB9, SB7
TX

Texas 89th Regular

Ways & Means Mar 3rd, 2025

Ways & Means

Transcript Highlights:
  • I also wanted to mention that as far as our calculation goes, 26 states have cut income tax rates since
  • However, the that levy loss could be potentially offset by through the calculations of the tax rates
  • The no new revenue calculation or no new revenue tax rate calculation takes that into account.
  • I mean, does that dramatically trigger an increase in the calculation for the no new revenue tax rate
  • In the tax calculation worksheets, when you take that value off the roll, the no new revenue tax rate
Bills: HB8, HB9, HJR1, HB22, HB8, HB9, HJR1, HB22
TX

Texas 89th 2nd C.S.

Ways & Means Mar 3rd, 2025

Ways & Means

Transcript Highlights:
  • However, that levy loss could be potentially offset by through the calculations of the tax rates as valid
  • Value comes off of the tax roll, the no new revenue calculation or no new revenue tax rate calculation
  • It would automatically trigger an increase in the calculation for the no new revenue tax rate.
  • to keep our property tax rate low.
  • tax rate will be higher, and the voter approval tax rate will be higher.
Bills: HB8, HB9, HJR1, HB 22
TX

Texas 89th Regular

Finance May 21st, 2025

Finance

Transcript Highlights:
  • It does not mandate an increase in contribution rates.
  • our sales tax monthly.
  • from their tax liability.
  • In the tax code from state sales tax on the purchase and rental of its vehicles.
  • And may be used against the Texas business franchise tax or the Texas insurance premium tax.
Bills: HB104
TX

Texas 89th 2nd C.S.

Appropriations Apr 15th, 2025

Appropriations

Transcript Highlights:
  • Their average rate of return has been 8%.
  • I don't have a calculator in front of me.
  • OK, so, um, just to clarify, the ESF is a tax on oil and gas severance taxes right?
  • in a, in a traditional sense like a sales tax or property tax.
  • use tax revenues on manufactured housing.
Bills: HB104
TX

Texas 89th Regular

Ways & Means May 19th, 2025

Ways & Means

Transcript Highlights:
  • or other funding mechanisms, keeping overall tax rates more stable for the residents.
  • to propose the adoption of an M&O tax rate above the voter approval tax rate for a specific purpose.
  • Taxpayers have raised concerns that taxing units re-propose bond propositions and tax rate increases
  • That rate allowed a taxing entity that adopted a rate below the cutoff to... ...be able to bank the difference
  • The unused increment rate gives taxing entities the ability to recapture tax capacity that they did not
TX
Transcript Highlights:
  • This is a property tax rate calculation bill that will ensure that that hotel occupancy taxes are used
  • That amount is factored into the city's voter approval tax rate calculation, thereby reducing the city's
  • a consequence through the tax rate calculation.
  • taxes, this calculation should capture the. the benefit of that and lower the tax rate for everybody
  • This bill, which addresses the calculation of the voter approval tax rate for municipalities that receive
TX
Transcript Highlights:
  • involving high-value commercial and industrial properties by ensuring tax rate calculations reflect
  • By basing tax rate calculations on real collectible revenues, rather than disputed values, Senate Bill
  • tax. rate multiplying when calculating their tax rate, which allows the taxing unit the ability to generate
  • rate calculations, not only for the collectors that actually do the calculations, but also for the tax
  • And in that vein, we do support Senate Bill 2541 in its efforts to simplify the tax rate calculations
TX

Texas 89th Regular

Local Government Apr 14th, 2025

Local Government

Transcript Highlights:
  • litigation involving high-value commercial and industrial properties by ensuring tax rate calculations
  • By basing tax rate calculations on realistic, collectible revenues rather than disputed value, Senate
  • tax rate multiplier when calculating their tax rate, which allows the taxing unit the ability to generate
  • rate calculations, not only for the collectors that actually do the calculations, but also for the taxing
  • And in that vein, we do support Senate Bill 2541 in its efforts to simplify the tax rate calculations
Summary: The committee heard several local government and property tax bills, with most testimony focused on appraisal disputes, tax administration, and development rules. Senate Bill 1052 by Senator Hinojosa would address coastal county appraisal litigation by requiring property owners in certain large-value disputes to report an uncontested taxable value while appeals are pending, so taxing units can base truth-in-taxation calculations on more realistic revenue. Nueces County, Del Mar College, and Corpus Christi ISD testified in support, describing major budget shortfalls caused by refinery valuation disputes; the committee substitute narrowed and clarified the bill’s scope. No opposition was heard, public testimony closed, and SB 1052 was left pending. The committee also heard Senate Bill 1531, which would require local tax collectors to accept common electronic property tax payments such as credit cards, debit cards, and e-checks. Witnesses supported modernizing payment options and the committee substitute removed ACH/electronic funds transfer language to avoid bank-account disclosure concerns. Public testimony closed and the bill was left pending. Senate Bill 325, by Senator Perry, would restore platting and groundwater-certification requirements that were unintentionally weakened by prior legislation; supporters from county government, water groups, and builders’ representatives debated whether the real issue was groundwater protection or road standards for private roads. The bill was left pending after extensive testimony and no vote. The committee then took up Senate Bill 994 and SJR 46, which would exempt certain livestock feed inventory from property tax and provide the constitutional amendment needed for that change. Feed store and Farm Bureau witnesses supported the measure as relief for seasonal inventory taxes, and the bills were left pending. Senator Paxton presented SB 467 and SJR 84 to create a temporary property tax exemption for homes completely destroyed by fire, with refunds or corrected bills based on the date of loss; both were left pending. SB 1237 would clarify charitable property tax exemptions for senior housing and retirement communities, with testimony from Catholic and Baptist retirement organizations and a resident describing rising costs and exemption revocations; it was also left pending. The committee later voted 6-0 to report SB 2073, a pending bill on appraisal district authority to purchase or finance real property, and recommended it for the local and uncontested calendar. Finally, the committee heard SB 2172, SB 2173, and SB 2063, all related to property tax administration. SB 2172 would limit when appraisal districts can require homeowners to reapply for homestead exemptions, requiring a specific reason and written notice; SB 2173 would protect new homeowners from surprise tax liabilities caused by prior owners’ erroneous homestead exemptions, with testimony describing large back-assessment bills; both were left pending. SB 2063 would bar appraisal districts from using market-value evidence in unequal appraisal protests, and testimony sharply divided between taxpayer advocates, who said market data improperly overwhelms equity claims, and appraisal district representatives, who argued market value is inherently tied to equal-and-uniform taxation and cited a recent Texas Supreme Court decision; the bill was left pending after testimony.
TX

Texas 89th 2nd C.S.

Intergovernmental Affairs Mar 18th, 2025

Intergovernmental Affairs

Transcript Highlights:
  • Secondly, the provision of 60% of the tax savings used to reduce affordable rents calculated from the
  • Tax rates change every year.
  • tax revenue.
  • revenue and the equivalent to almost one cent on our total tax rate.
  • I mean, I was looking up some of the tax rates in some of the areas that have these programs, and it's
Bills: HB21, HB211, HB223
TX

Texas 89th 2nd C.S.

Criminal Jurisprudence Apr 1st, 2025

Criminal Jurisprudence

Transcript Highlights:
  • In 2020, the rate was 20.5%, and since then, we've fallen all the way to 14.7% in 2023.
  • It's taxing.
  • schoolyard hypotheticals, despite consistent evidence showing that false rape accusations occur at rates
  • The national reporting rate for rape has plummeted from 40% to just 25% in the last few years, with survivors
  • appreciate each and every one of you for listening to the survivor stories as I know they can sometimes be taxing
Bills: HB47