The News

OP-ED: Beware legislators bearing property tax relief — they’re why you need it

Beware legislators bearing property tax relief — they’re why you need it BY REP TREY MARTINEZ FISCHER In the 2017 session,the Texas Legislature saw over 10,000 bills filed. A small number of those bills stood out against the rest, and this year is no exception. Of the thousands of bills already filed in the Legislature,

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Gov. Abbott takes aim at paid sick leave rules in San Antonio, Austin

Gov. Abbott takes aim at paid sick leave rules in San Antonio, Austin BY ALLIE MORRIS, AUSTIN BUREAU AUSTIN — A bill backed by Republican Gov. Greg Abbott would likely kill San Antonio’s ordinance that requires private employers to provide paid sick leave to workers, as well as blocking any future policies like it. Abbott

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After state leaders’ unified rollout, 2.5 percent rollback rate on property tax bill looks unlikely to stick

After state leaders’ unified rollout, 2.5 percent rollback rate on property tax bill looks unlikely to stick BY CASSANDRA POLLOCK AND EMMA PLATOFF Three weeks ago, Gov. Greg Abbott convened state leaders to announce an achievement he hailed as “unprecedented”: The governor, lieutenant governor, House speaker and Republican tax committee chiefs in both chambers had come together on a proposal to

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Texas Sharpens Aim At Surprise Medical Bills In Bipartisan Proposal

Texas Sharpens Aim At Surprise Medical Bills In Bipartisan Proposal BY ASHLEY LOPEZ A bipartisan group of Texas lawmakers announced plans this week to address surprise medical bills in a way they believe would ease the burden on patients in the state. During a news conference Thursday, state Sen. Kelly Hancock, a Republican from suburban Fort

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In the Texas House, property tax legislation is being handled with a different speed — and tone

In the Texas House, property tax legislation is being handled with a different speed — and tone BY SHANNON NAJMABADI City mayors extended an olive branch. Witnesses spoke uninterrupted. A House Democrat said he appreciated the “frame and tone” set by a GOP chair. When the Legislature’s priority property tax reform bill was rolled out by

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Sweeping legislation takes aim at shock emergency room bills in Texas

Sweeping legislation takes aim at shock emergency room bills in Texas BY JAY ROOT AND SHANNON NAJMABADI With more and more Texans seeking relief from shock medical bills, two prominent lawmakers — one Republican, one Democrat — are pushing far-reaching legislation that would bar emergency care providers from sending surprise bills to patients covered by state-regulated plans. Typically,

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