Austin (WBAP/KLIF) – In a final rush to get laws passed in the final hours of the 3rd special legislative session in Austin, lawmakers declined to move on a last minute agenda item added by Governor Greg Abbott involving vaccine mandates. Abbott wanted lawmakers to pass a law aimed at bolstering his executive order banning vaccine mandates for businesses.
Getting a final thumbs up however, were new and highly contested political maps, and decisions on how to spend COVID-19 relief money.
The session gaveled out overnight, with lawmakers also giving a nod to a proposal that will allow voters to decide on whether to increase the homestead property tax exemption.
The proposal raises the exemption from $25,000 to $40,000 for school district property taxes, saving average homeowner about $176 a year.
The proposal was introduced late Monday evening by Republican State Senator Paul Bettencourt.
In reaction democratic Rep. Chris Turner said in a statement that “House Democrats have been fighting for an increase in for decades.” He expressed gratefulness that Republicans have joined them to provide meaningful property tax relief to Texas homeowners.”
Turner’s statement included the years since 2006 that House Democrats have proposed the measure.
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