#statesenatorpaulbettencourt — Public Fediverse posts

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott visited Denton on Monday to sign three bills into law as part of a $10 billion property tax relief package.

https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/news/texas/2025/06/17/524171/texas-gov-greg-abbott-signs-bills-for-property-tax-cuts/

#Elections #Finances #Housing #News #Politics #Texas #ConstitutionalAmendments #GregAbbott #HomesteadExemptions #PropertyTaxBills #PropertyTaxes #StateSenatorPaulBettencourt

A Texas Senate bill that would have raised the victim age range threshold for capital murder punishment, from 10 years old to 15, failed to reach the governor's desk before the lawmaking session ended Monday.

https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/news/criminal-justice/2025/06/03/522885/senate-bill-990-seeking-to-expand-capital-murder-punishment-fails-in-texas-legislature/

#CriminalJustice #Houston #Local #News #Politics #Texas #CapitalPunishment #DeathPenalty #JocelynNungaray #StateSenatorPaulBettencourt #TexasCrime #TexasLegislature

State Sen. Paul Bettencourt led the effort to crack down on squatting with Senate Bills 38 and 1333, which are awaiting Gov. Greg Abbott's signature. The House revised both to strike a balance between the rights of property owners and tenants.

https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/housing/2025/05/29/522576/houston-senators-anti-squatting-bills-set-to-become-texas-law/

#Business #Court #Housing #News #Politics #Texas #2025TexasLegislature #Renters #Squatting #StateSenatorPaulBettencourt #TenantsRights #TexasHousers

Expanded protections and support for virtual education programs across Texas has been greenlighted by Gov. Greg Abbott, who signed a bill to strengthen the framework for K-12 virtual learning. 

https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/news/education-news/2025/05/07/520753/texas-approves-law-modernizing-virtual-education-strengthening-online-learning-options/

#Education #EducationNews #News #Politics #Texas #GovernorGregAbbott #OnlineLearning #StateSenatorPaulBettencourt #TexasLegislature #TexasVirtualAcademy #VirtualLearning

The Texas House Ways and Means Committee left two bills pending Monday that would reduce property tax bills, but appeared poised to approve them.

https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/news/politics/2025/05/05/520553/house-committee-takes-up-senate-property-tax-cut-bills/

#Business #Economy #Education #EducationNews #Finances #News #Politics #Texas #2025TexasLegislature #HomesteadExemption #HouseWaysAndMeansCommittee #PropertyTaxCuts #StateSenatorPaulBettencourt #TexasGovernorGregAbbott

The Texas Senate has passed a bill to ban local governments from adopting guaranteed income programs. The proposed law comes as Harris County’s program is blocked by a court challenge from the state attorney general.

https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/news/harris-county/2025/04/24/519650/houston-senators-bill-to-ban-guaranteed-income-programs-passes-texas-senate/

#Finances #HarrisCounty #Houston #Local #News #Politics #Texas #2025TexasLegislature #HarrisCountyCommissionerRodneyEllis #HarrisCountyGuaranteedIncomeProgram #MollyCook #StateSenatorPaulBettencourt #UpliftHarris20

The Texas Senate has passed a bill to ban local governments from adopting guaranteed income programs. The proposed law comes as Harris County’s program is blocked by a court challenge from the state attorney general.

https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/news/harris-county/2025/04/24/519650/houston-senators-bill-to-ban-guaranteed-income-programs-passes-texas-senate/

#Finances #HarrisCounty #Houston #Local #News #Politics #Texas #2025TexasLegislature #HarrisCountyCommissionerRodneyEllis #HarrisCountyGuaranteedIncomeProgram #MollyCook #StateSenatorPaulBettencourt #UpliftHarris20

The Texas Senate has passed a bill to ban local governments from adopting guaranteed income programs. The proposed law comes as Harris County’s program is blocked by a court challenge from the state attorney general.

https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/news/harris-county/2025/04/24/519650/houston-senators-bill-to-ban-guaranteed-income-programs-passes-texas-senate/

#Finances #HarrisCounty #Houston #Local #News #Politics #Texas #2025TexasLegislature #HarrisCountyCommissionerRodneyEllis #HarrisCountyGuaranteedIncomeProgram #MollyCook #StateSenatorPaulBettencourt #UpliftHarris20

The Texas Senate has passed a bill to ban local governments from adopting guaranteed income programs. The proposed law comes as Harris County’s program is blocked by a court challenge from the state attorney general.

https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/news/harris-county/2025/04/24/519650/houston-senators-bill-to-ban-guaranteed-income-programs-passes-texas-senate/

#Finances #HarrisCounty #Houston #Local #News #Politics #Texas #2025TexasLegislature #HarrisCountyCommissionerRodneyEllis #HarrisCountyGuaranteedIncomeProgram #MollyCook #StateSenatorPaulBettencourt #UpliftHarris20

The Texas Senate has passed a bill to ban local governments from adopting guaranteed income programs. The proposed law comes as Harris County’s program is blocked by a court challenge from the state attorney general.

https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/news/harris-county/2025/04/24/519650/houston-senators-bill-to-ban-guaranteed-income-programs-passes-texas-senate/

#Finances #HarrisCounty #Houston #Local #News #Politics #Texas #2025TexasLegislature #HarrisCountyCommissionerRodneyEllis #HarrisCountyGuaranteedIncomeProgram #MollyCook #StateSenatorPaulBettencourt #UpliftHarris20

State Sen. Paul Bettencourt emphasizes that Senate Bill 38, passed by the upper chamber on Thursday, is necessary to make it easier for courts to remove squatters. But Democrats and tenants’ advocates say it would undermine due process.

https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/housing/2025/04/10/518484/houston-lawmakers-bill-aimed-at-speeding-eviction-process-passes-texas-senate/

#Business #Housing #News #Politics #Texas #2025TexasLegislature #Eviction #Squatting #StateSenatorPaulBettencourt #TenantsRights #TexasHousers

A Houston lawmaker's bill to make it easier for property owners and landlords to evict squatters could advance to the floor of the Texas Senate within the week.

https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/housing/2025/03/25/516861/bill-to-combat-squatting-set-to-advance-in-texas-senate/

#Housing #Houston #Local #News #Politics #Texas #2025TexasLegislature #89thTexasLegislature #Eviction #Squatting #StateSenatorPaulBettencourt #TenantsRights

Daylight saving time getting you down? The disruptive tradition of losing an hour, just to get that hour back later in the year, could soon end in Texas.

https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/news/texas/2025/03/11/515724/hate-losing-an-hour-texas-lawmakers-might-end-daylight-saving-time/

#News #Politics #Texas #89thTexasLegislature #DaylightSavingTime #Government #StateSenatorPaulBettencourt #TexasBills #TexasNews

Harris County is defending its guaranteed income pilot program against a potential legal challenge from the state.

https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/news/harris-county/2024/01/31/476023/menefee-charts-defense-of-harris-countys-guaranteed-income-pilot-program-to-ag/

#Court #HarrisCounty #Local #News #Politics #CountyAttorneyChristianMenefee #GuaranteedIncomeProgram #StateSenatorPaulBettencourt #TexasAttorneyGeneralKenPaxton #TexasAttorneyGeneralSOffice #TexasConstitution #TexasSupremeCourt #UpliftHarris

State Senator Paul Bettencourt is asking Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton to rule Harris County’s pilot guaranteed income program unconstitutional.

https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/news/harris-county/2024/01/18/474833/paul-bettencourt-challenges-guaranteed-income-harris-county-pilot-program-legality/

#HarrisCounty #Local #News #Politics #CountyAttorneyChristianMenefee #GuaranteedIncomeProgram #HighPovertyNeighborhoods #StateSenatorPaulBettencourt #TexasAttorneyGeneralKenPaxton #TexasConstitution #UpliftHarris

Harris County is reporting 59,431 applications for Uplift Harris as of last Thursday. That’s stiff competition for fewer than 2,000 slots in the guaranteed income pilot program.

https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/news/harris-county/2024/01/22/475113/commissioner-rodney-ellis-harris-county-is-prepared-to-defend-its-guaranteed-income-pilot-program-in-court/

#Court #HarrisCounty #Local #News #Politics #GuaranteedIncomeProgram #HarrisCountyCommissionerRodneyEllis #StateSenatorPaulBettencourt #TexasAttorneyGeneralKenPaxton #UpliftHarris

With CenterPoint in the hot seat, Texas policymakers look to harden the state's power transmission and distribution

https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/news/energy-environment/2024/07/25/494589/with-centerpoint-in-the-hot-seat-texas-policymakers-look-to-harden-the-states-power-transmission-and-distribution/

#EnergyEnvironment #Hurricane #InDepth #News #Politics #Texas #Weather #CenterPointEnergy #Florida #FloridaPowerLight #HurricaneBeryl #PowerOutages #PublicUtilityCommissionOfTexas #StateSenatorCarolAlvarado #StateSenatorPaulBettencourt #TexasSenateCommittee

A Senate select committee questioned CenterPoint Energy CEO Jason Wells for hours on Monday regarding the utility’s response to Hurricane Beryl.  Wells resisted suggestions that he should resign.

https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/news/energy-environment/2024/07/29/495127/centerpoint-ceo-rejects-calls-for-his-resignation-at-senate-hearing/

#EnergyEnvironment #HoustonMayor #Hurricane #News #Politics #Weather #CenterPointEnergy #HoustonMayorJohnWhitmire #HurricaneBeryl #JasonWells #PowerOutages #StateSenatorPaulBettencourt #TexasLegislature #TexasSenateCommittee

The Texas Supreme Court has temporarily halted payments under Harris County’s pilot guaranteed income program.

https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/news/harris-county/2024/06/14/490746/texas-supreme-court-halts-payments-under-uplift-harris/

#Court #HarrisCounty #Local #News #Politics #HarrisCountyCommissionerRodneyEllis #HarrisCountyGuaranteedIncomeProgram #Poverty #StateSenatorPaulBettencourt #TexasAttorneyGeneralSOffice #TexasSupremeCourt #UpliftHarris

Senator Bettencourt has pre-filed seven bills to address "election integrity," several of which failed to pass during the last legislative session.

https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/news/politics/elections/2024/11/26/507204/texas-legislature-will-take-up-election-related-measures-again-in-2025/

#Elections #HarrisCounty #Local #News #Politics #Texas #Voting #2025TexasLegislature #ElectionAudit #ElectionIntegrity #StateSenatorPaulBettencourt #TexasElectionCode

The Texas Supreme Court has temporarily halted payments under Harris County’s pilot guaranteed income program.

https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/news/harris-county/2024/06/14/490746/texas-supreme-court-halts-payments-under-uplift-harris/

#Court #HarrisCounty #Local #News #Politics #HarrisCountyCommissionerRodneyEllis #HarrisCountyGuaranteedIncomeProgram #Poverty #StateSenatorPaulBettencourt #TexasAttorneyGeneralSOffice #TexasSupremeCourt #UpliftHarris

The Texas Supreme Court has temporarily halted payments under Harris County’s pilot guaranteed income program.

https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/news/harris-county/2024/06/14/490746/texas-supreme-court-halts-payments-under-uplift-harris/

#Court #HarrisCounty #Local #News #Politics #HarrisCountyCommissionerRodneyEllis #HarrisCountyGuaranteedIncomeProgram #Poverty #StateSenatorPaulBettencourt #TexasAttorneyGeneralSOffice #TexasSupremeCourt #UpliftHarris

The Texas Supreme Court has temporarily halted payments under Harris County’s pilot guaranteed income program.

https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/news/harris-county/2024/06/14/490746/texas-supreme-court-halts-payments-under-uplift-harris/

#Court #HarrisCounty #Local #News #Politics #HarrisCountyCommissionerRodneyEllis #HarrisCountyGuaranteedIncomeProgram #Poverty #StateSenatorPaulBettencourt #TexasAttorneyGeneralSOffice #TexasSupremeCourt #UpliftHarris

The Texas Supreme Court has temporarily halted payments under Harris County’s pilot guaranteed income program.

https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/news/harris-county/2024/06/14/490746/texas-supreme-court-halts-payments-under-uplift-harris/

#Court #HarrisCounty #Local #News #Politics #HarrisCountyCommissionerRodneyEllis #HarrisCountyGuaranteedIncomeProgram #Poverty #StateSenatorPaulBettencourt #TexasAttorneyGeneralSOffice #TexasSupremeCourt #UpliftHarris

Harris County is defending its guaranteed income pilot program against a potential legal challenge from the state.

https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/news/harris-county/2024/01/31/476023/menefee-charts-defense-of-harris-countys-guaranteed-income-pilot-program-to-ag/

#Court #HarrisCounty #Local #News #Politics #CountyAttorneyChristianMenefee #GuaranteedIncomeProgram #StateSenatorPaulBettencourt #TexasAttorneyGeneralKenPaxton #TexasAttorneyGeneralSOffice #TexasConstitution #TexasSupremeCourt #UpliftHarris

Harris County is defending its guaranteed income pilot program against a potential legal challenge from the state.

https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/news/harris-county/2024/01/31/476023/menefee-charts-defense-of-harris-countys-guaranteed-income-pilot-program-to-ag/

#Court #HarrisCounty #Local #News #Politics #CountyAttorneyChristianMenefee #GuaranteedIncomeProgram #StateSenatorPaulBettencourt #TexasAttorneyGeneralKenPaxton #TexasAttorneyGeneralSOffice #TexasConstitution #TexasSupremeCourt #UpliftHarris

Harris County is defending its guaranteed income pilot program against a potential legal challenge from the state.

https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/news/harris-county/2024/01/31/476023/menefee-charts-defense-of-harris-countys-guaranteed-income-pilot-program-to-ag/

#Court #HarrisCounty #Local #News #Politics #CountyAttorneyChristianMenefee #GuaranteedIncomeProgram #StateSenatorPaulBettencourt #TexasAttorneyGeneralKenPaxton #TexasAttorneyGeneralSOffice #TexasConstitution #TexasSupremeCourt #UpliftHarris

Harris County is defending its guaranteed income pilot program against a potential legal challenge from the state.

https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/news/harris-county/2024/01/31/476023/menefee-charts-defense-of-harris-countys-guaranteed-income-pilot-program-to-ag/

#Court #HarrisCounty #Local #News #Politics #CountyAttorneyChristianMenefee #GuaranteedIncomeProgram #StateSenatorPaulBettencourt #TexasAttorneyGeneralKenPaxton #TexasAttorneyGeneralSOffice #TexasConstitution #TexasSupremeCourt #UpliftHarris

Republican-supported candidates won both directorships in the election for at-large directors of HCAD. But total ballots cast in the officially nonpartisan contests came to less than 2% of Harris County registered voters.

https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/news/politics/elections/2024/06/17/490888/republicans-pick-up-two-hcad-board-seats-in-election-marked-by-historically-low-turnout/

#Business #Election2024 #Elections #HarrisCounty #Local #News #Politics #ElectionFatigue #HarrisCountyAppraisalDistrict #HarrisCountyPropertyTaxes #StateSenatorPaulBettencourt #VoterFatigue

State Senator Paul Bettencourt is asking Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton to rule Harris County’s pilot guaranteed income program unconstitutional.

https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/news/harris-county/2024/01/18/474833/paul-bettencourt-challenges-guaranteed-income-harris-county-pilot-program-legality/

#HarrisCounty #Local #News #Politics #CountyAttorneyChristianMenefee #GuaranteedIncomeProgram #HighPovertyNeighborhoods #StateSenatorPaulBettencourt #TexasAttorneyGeneralKenPaxton #TexasConstitution #UpliftHarris

State Senator Paul Bettencourt is asking Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton to rule Harris County’s pilot guaranteed income program unconstitutional.

https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/news/harris-county/2024/01/18/474833/paul-bettencourt-challenges-guaranteed-income-harris-county-pilot-program-legality/

#HarrisCounty #Local #News #Politics #CountyAttorneyChristianMenefee #GuaranteedIncomeProgram #HighPovertyNeighborhoods #StateSenatorPaulBettencourt #TexasAttorneyGeneralKenPaxton #TexasConstitution #UpliftHarris

State Senator Paul Bettencourt is asking Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton to rule Harris County’s pilot guaranteed income program unconstitutional.

https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/news/harris-county/2024/01/18/474833/paul-bettencourt-challenges-guaranteed-income-harris-county-pilot-program-legality/

#HarrisCounty #Local #News #Politics #CountyAttorneyChristianMenefee #GuaranteedIncomeProgram #HighPovertyNeighborhoods #StateSenatorPaulBettencourt #TexasAttorneyGeneralKenPaxton #TexasConstitution #UpliftHarris

State Senator Paul Bettencourt is asking Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton to rule Harris County’s pilot guaranteed income program unconstitutional.

https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/news/harris-county/2024/01/18/474833/paul-bettencourt-challenges-guaranteed-income-harris-county-pilot-program-legality/

#HarrisCounty #Local #News #Politics #CountyAttorneyChristianMenefee #GuaranteedIncomeProgram #HighPovertyNeighborhoods #StateSenatorPaulBettencourt #TexasAttorneyGeneralKenPaxton #TexasConstitution #UpliftHarris

Senator Bettencourt has pre-filed seven bills to address "election integrity," several of which failed to pass during the last legislative session.

https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/news/politics/elections/2024/11/26/507204/texas-legislature-will-take-up-election-related-measures-again-in-2025/

#Elections #HarrisCounty #Local #News #Politics #Texas #Voting #2025TexasLegislature #ElectionAudit #ElectionIntegrity #StateSenatorPaulBettencourt #TexasElectionCode

Senator Bettencourt has pre-filed seven bills to address "election integrity," several of which failed to pass during the last legislative session.

https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/news/politics/elections/2024/11/26/507204/texas-legislature-will-take-up-election-related-measures-again-in-2025/

#Elections #HarrisCounty #Local #News #Politics #Texas #Voting #2025TexasLegislature #ElectionAudit #ElectionIntegrity #StateSenatorPaulBettencourt #TexasElectionCode

Senator Bettencourt has pre-filed seven bills to address "election integrity," several of which failed to pass during the last legislative session.

https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/news/politics/elections/2024/11/26/507204/texas-legislature-will-take-up-election-related-measures-again-in-2025/

#Elections #HarrisCounty #Local #News #Politics #Texas #Voting #2025TexasLegislature #ElectionAudit #ElectionIntegrity #StateSenatorPaulBettencourt #TexasElectionCode

Senator Bettencourt has pre-filed seven bills to address "election integrity," several of which failed to pass during the last legislative session.

https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/news/politics/elections/2024/11/26/507204/texas-legislature-will-take-up-election-related-measures-again-in-2025/

#Elections #HarrisCounty #Local #News #Politics #Texas #Voting #2025TexasLegislature #ElectionAudit #ElectionIntegrity #StateSenatorPaulBettencourt #TexasElectionCode