The first legislative special session of 2023 has concluded, but it left key decisions on property taxes and border security unresolved.
“There was no resolution on either property taxes or increasing border security and stiffening penalties for border-related crimes,” says Texas Tribune political reporter James Barragán, noting they were the only two items on Gov. Greg Abbott’s special session agenda.
As a result, Gov. Abbott promptly called for another special session focused solely on property taxes – but “the House and the Senate are still far apart,” Barragán says. “So we’ll see if they can come to a negotiation and a compromise.”
The divide between Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and Gov. Abbott is also notable. While the Senate stands with Patrick’s plans to decrease taxes by supercharging the homestead exemption, Gov. Abbott has gotten behind the House’s proposal for an across-the-board cut, including business real estate.
Barragán suggests that Patrick’s tactics may be aimed at gaining public support, stating the Lt. Gov. is “taking it to the masses, saying our bill gives you more property tax relief – and we’ll see if that pressure comes to play.”
For more stories from the week in Texas politics, listen to the interview in the audio player above.
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