Austin, TX – The Property Tax Reform & Relief Act failed to pass during the first called special legislative session. The Texas Senate passed out Senate Bill 1 during the first week of the special session. The House of Representatives passed a different version of the bill out of their chamber which called for a conference committee to resolve differences between the two versions of the bills. Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick appointed Senator Brandon Creighton (R-Conroe) to the conference committee. Unfortunately, the House failed to appoint conferees and then adjourned Sine Die which killed the bill and resulted in zero relief for Texans outrageous property taxes. “The disagreement between the chambers centered on how much the rollback rate should change,” said Senator Creighton. “I am disappointed in the House leadership for leaving the job early and failing to work with the Senate on this critical issue. The House version simply provided no relief and I could not support that.” Under current law voters in a city, county or special district can petition for an election to roll back the tax rate if the city’s new revenue exceeds 8 percent. The House version of the bill would have required an automatic election when a taxing entity’s new property tax revenue exceeds 6 percent. The Senate wanted to force an election if new revenue exceeded 4 percent.  Senator Creighton asked Governor Abbott in May to call a special session to address meaningful property tax reform. In June Governor Abbott announced he would bring the Legislature back for a first special session. “I am proud of the Senate for not settling for the House Leadership property tax plan,” said Senator Creighton. “Senate District 4 and all Texans deserve true relief which is why I’m asking Governor Abbott for a second special session to bring meaningful property tax reform into law.”

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Senator Brandon Creighton represents Senate District 4, which encompasses Chambers, Jefferson and parts of Montgomery, Harris and Galveston Counties.