State Senator Paul Bettencourt (TX)
State Government: Agencies/Departments/Divisions | Elected State Legislators
Recent News About State Senator Paul Bettencourt (TX)
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Senator Bettencourt announces support for Texas Education Freedom Act
Senator Paul Bettencourt has announced his support for Senate Bill 2, the Texas Education Freedom Act, joining Chairman Brandon Creighton and other Republican members of the Senate Education Committee.
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Texas lawmakers push forward with new school choice legislation
Today in Austin, Texas, Senator Paul Bettencourt of Houston expressed his support for Senate Bill 2, known as the Texas Education Freedom Act.
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Senator Bettencourt introduces bipartisan-supported "Sensible 4" education reform package
Senator Paul Bettencourt of Houston has introduced a set of bills known as the "Sensible 4" for Public Education ahead of the upcoming 89th Legislative Session, starting January 14, 2025.
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Bettencourt introduces 'Integrity-7' bills focusing on Texas election transparency
Senator Paul Bettencourt of Houston has pre-filed a series of bills known as the "Integrity 7" in anticipation of the upcoming 89th Legislative Session, which is set to commence on January 14, 2025.
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Texas lawmakers discuss ongoing lawsuits blocking school accountability ratings
During the Senate Committee on Education, chaired by Senator Brandon Creighton, Texas Education Agency Commissioner Mike Morath and Senator Bettencourt discussed ISD lawsuits that continue to block the TEA release of A-F School Accountability system ratings in 2023 and 2024.
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Senate committee to review federal fund usage by local governments
On Thursday, September 5th at 11:00 AM CST, Chairman Paul Bettencourt (R-Houston) and the Senate Committee on Local Government will host a hearing to discuss how local governments spend funds directly distributed to them by the federal government. The discussion will include Harris County's use of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds to set up a guaranteed-income pilot program, local government spending of directly distributed federal funds, and study issues about extra-territorial jurisdictions related to the implementation of SB 2038 and HB 3053.
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Texas businesses save $4.5 billion through Senator's SB 2 & 3
In the second Special Session of the 88th Legislature in 2023, Senator Bettencourt (R-Houston) successfully passed SB 2 and SB 3, which have resulted in significant savings for Texas business and property owners. SB 2 provided historic property tax reductions, while SB 3 doubled the franchise tax exemption. This legislative change removed approximately 67,000 Texas small and mid-sized businesses (SMBs) from the franchise tax roll and eliminated the need to file a 'No Tax Due' form.
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Property Tax Reductions Help Texas Rise to Sixth in ALEC's States Economic Outlook Rankings
Austin, TX – Senator Paul Bettencourt (R-Houston) shared insights on Texas's achievement in the American Legislative Exchange Council's Rich States, Poor States: ALEC-Laffer State Economic Competitive Index. Bettencourt noted, "Texas leaping up the rankings in ALEC's Rich States, Poor States up to 6th is a testament to a solid continually growing economy, legislative leadership like Lt Governor Patrick committed to economic freedom, and the passage of a record property reduction bill pouring billions of dollars back into taxpayer's pockets."Moreover, Senator Bettencourt...
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Texas Business and Property Owners Seeing $4.5 Billion Yearly Savings Thanks to SB 2 and SB 3
Austin, TX – In the 2nd called Special Session of the 88th Legislature in 2023, Senator Bettencourt (R-Houston) passed SB 2, which provided historic property tax reductions, and SB 3, which doubled the franchise tax exemption taking around 67,000 Texas small and mid-sized businesses (SMBs) off the franchise tax roll, and eliminated the requirement to file a ‘No Tax Due’ form. SB 3 also eliminated the administrative burden of filing a ‘No Tax Due’ franchise tax return for 2.178 million SMBs. Senator Bettencourt was the author of SB 2 and SB 3, which were sponsored in the...
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Senator Bettencourt says Austin rail project financing is 'likely unconstitutional'
During the 88th legislative session, Senator Paul Bettencourt (SD-7) authored a bill which sought to address the City of Austin’s novel financing mechanism for its $7 billion light rail project. While the House version of the bill (HB3899) was on the floor of the Senate, Bettencourt added an amendment that would explicitly prohibit a municipality from issuing debt backed by maintenance & operations property tax revenue. The amended bill passed the Texas Senate 27-3.