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AUSTIN – Sen. Paul Bettencourt, R-Houston, explained the Senate’s unprecedented $16.5 billion property tax bills in the Senate Finance Committee hearing on March 15.
After hours of testimony, SB 3 & SB 4, worth $15 billion in property tax relief, were each passed out of the Senate Committee on Finance, Chaired by Sen. Joan Huffman, R-Houston, on a 17-0 bipartisan vote. SB 5 (Parker), the $1.5 billion business tax relief bill will be considered on Monday along with their associated Constitutional Amendments SJR 3, 4, & 5.
“I want to thank the regular citizens of Texas that took the time out of their schedules to come and support $15 billion of property tax relief, and also thank all the members of the Senate Finance Committee for listening to them and voting out SB 3 and SB 4,” said Sen. Bettencourt.
Many groups came to the Capitol to testify on the Senate’s Tax Plan. For example, Christy Gessler, secretary and treasurer for the Texas Realtors testified in favor of SB 3 & SB 4 and said, “We believe in homes for life…Anything that keeps people in their homes for their entire life is wonderful to us.” As a small business owner, she was also supportive of SB 5 as it would save her a days’ time not doing paperwork.
“Giving business owners back their time is also important,” Sen. Bettencourt added.
