Resurrected Bill Granting Charter Schools Property Tax Exemption Squeaks Through Texas House https://thetexan.news/resurrected-bill-g...+-+RSS+Campaign Legislation giving public charter schools a property tax exemption on leased or purchased property was reconsidered and narrowly passed in the Texas House. Holly Hansen
In a surprise turn of events on Friday, lawmakers resurrected charter school-related legislation the chamber had defeated only the day before, passing the measure in a squeaker 68 to 67 vote that defied usual party lines.
House Bill (HB) 3610 authored by Reps. Barbara Gervin-Hawkins (D-San Antonio), Scott Sanford (R-McKinney), and Mayes Middleton (R-Wallisville) sought to remedy scenarios in which public charter schools must pay property taxes on purchased or leased property.
The legislation amends the Education Code to classify open-enrollment charter schools as political subdivisions for the purposes of exempting from property taxation any public property “purchased, leased, constructed, renovated, or improved with state funds after September 1, 2001.”
Although the bill was defeated Thursday, on Friday morning HB 3610 was taken up for reconsideration. -- excerpt, rest at link above --
"I wish it need not have happened in my time," said Frodo.
"So do I," said Gandalf, "and so do all who live to see such times. But that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us."