Education And Business Leaders Praise Reforms To School Finance And Property Taxes

May 23, 2019 | Austin, Texas | Press Release

Teach Plus Texas' Lindsay Sobel: "HB 3 provides substantial new funding for education, strategically allocated to ensure a bright future for our students and the Lone Star State" "Texas students deserve a world class education regardless of their zip code. HB 3 provides substantial new funding for education, strategically allocated to ensure a bright future for our students and the Lone Star State." (Lindsay Sobel, Executive Director, Teach Plus Texas, 5/23/19) 

Commit Partnership and InvestEdTX's Todd Williams: "I’m confident our state will remain the economic powerhouse it is today and continue to be a place families are proud to call home." "I couldn’t be more excited about House Bill 3’s ability to create a more equitable school finance system that provides all of our kids the education they deserve. I’m so grateful for Gov. Abbott, Lt. Gov. Patrick, Speaker Bonnen, Chairman Huberty and Chairman Taylor who collectively put together a bold plan and saw it through to fruition. By wholly reworking our finance system to focus on providing students with the resources they need to succeed, I’m confident our state will remain the economic powerhouse it is today and continue to be a place families are proud to call home." (Todd Williams, Chairman and CEO, Commit Partnership and InvestEdTX, 5/23/19)

Texas Public Policy Foundation's Kevin Roberts: "It is a strong plan that will lower the burden on taxpayers, improve educational outcomes, and protect and grow our economy." "The plan delivers on the promise to cut property taxes, fund education, and enact important reforms that will keep Texas the most prosperous state in the nation. TPPF applauds the extraordinary leadership of Governor Abbott, Lieutenant Governor Patrick, and Speaker Bonnen in working together to put the interest of Texans first. It is a strong plan that will lower the burden on taxpayers, improve educational outcomes, and protect and grow our economy." (Kevin Roberts, Executive Director, Texas Public Policy Foundation, 5/23/19)

National Federation Of Independent Business' Annie Spilman: "House Bill 3 is a big deal for small business." "House Bill 3 is a big deal for small business. Property tax rates are a perennial problem that’s gotten worse and worse over the years. We’re at a point now where property taxes in Texas are rising faster than people’s incomes. That affects everybody, but it can be devastating for small businesses. Small business is the engine that drives the state’s economy. We need meaningful reforms that ease the property tax burden on Texans and makes it easier for small businesses to expand and create jobs. On behalf of our small business members, I want to thank Governor Abbott, Speaker Bonnen, and Lieutenant Governor Patrick for coming together and agreeing to this transformative plan." (Annie Spilman, Texas State Director, National Federation Of Independent Business, 5/23/19)

Texas REALTORS® Tray Bates: "We thank our state leaders for delivering substantial reforms that benefit all property taxpayers." "We are pleased to see the state’s increased investment in teachers and classrooms, coupled with transparent property tax notifications and automatic rollback tax-rate elections. We thank our state leaders for delivering substantial reforms that benefit all property taxpayers." (Tray Bates, Chairman, Texas REALTORS®, 5/23/19)

Premont Independent School District's Steve VanMatre: "I applaud Governor Abbott and Senate and the House leadership in putting together this legislation that will ensure more dollars make it into our classrooms, while providing much needed additional compensation for our teachers and property relief for our citizens." "As a district we have made it a priority to maximize every dollar that’s invested in our students, teachers, and the community. I applaud Governor Abbott and Senate and the House leadership in putting together this legislation that will ensure more dollars make it into our classrooms, while providing much needed additional compensation for our teachers and property relief for our citizens." (Steve VanMatre, Superintendent, Premont Independent School District, 5/23/19)