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Texas property taxes keep rising despite billions in state relief. In this episode of The Right Idea, Derek Cohen sits down with James Quintero, Policy Director at the Texas Public Policy Foundation, to break down why relief isn’t enough and what real reform looks like.They discuss local spending limits, the sales tax swap idea, voter-driven tax cuts, the “Death Star Bill” (Texas Regulatory Consistency Act), and how to rein in runaway local government spending in cities like Austin.
Key topics covered:
* Why property taxes continue climbing despite $18B+ in cuts
* Local spending caps tied to population + inflation
* Sales tax for property tax swap proposal
* Allowing voters to directly cut tax rates via referendum
* Expanding the Death Star Bill / field preemption
* Fixing deceptive local tax ballot language
* Why property taxes continue climbing despite $18B+ in cuts
* Local spending caps tied to population + inflation
* Sales tax for property tax swap proposal
* Allowing voters to directly cut tax rates via referendum
* Expanding the Death Star Bill / field preemption
* Fixing deceptive local tax ballot language
Timestamps:
* 00:08 – Welcome & Introduction
* 00:44 – Hot Take: How to Beat the Texas Heat
* 02:51 – The History of Property Tax “Reform” in Texas
* 06:10 – Relief vs. Real Reform: Why Billions Haven’t Fixed the Problem
* 10:02 – Rep. Cody Vasut on Local Spending Limits
* 10:56 – Why Texas Needs Local Government Spending Caps
* 12:53 – Austin’s Out-of-Control Priorities
* 15:47 – Rep. Jeff Barry on the Sales Tax Swap for Property Taxes
* 22:22 – Voter Power: Tax Cut Elections & Referendums
* 29:54 – The “Death Star Bill” (Texas Regulatory Consistency Act) Explained
* 33:01 – Enforcement Challenges & Next Steps
* 36:55 – Expanding Field Preemption
* 38:18 – Closing Thoughts
* 00:08 – Welcome & Introduction
* 00:44 – Hot Take: How to Beat the Texas Heat
* 02:51 – The History of Property Tax “Reform” in Texas
* 06:10 – Relief vs. Real Reform: Why Billions Haven’t Fixed the Problem
* 10:02 – Rep. Cody Vasut on Local Spending Limits
* 10:56 – Why Texas Needs Local Government Spending Caps
* 12:53 – Austin’s Out-of-Control Priorities
* 15:47 – Rep. Jeff Barry on the Sales Tax Swap for Property Taxes
* 22:22 – Voter Power: Tax Cut Elections & Referendums
* 29:54 – The “Death Star Bill” (Texas Regulatory Consistency Act) Explained
* 33:01 – Enforcement Challenges & Next Steps
* 36:55 – Expanding Field Preemption
* 38:18 – Closing Thoughts
If you’re a Texas homeowner tired of rising property taxes, this episode gives you the clearest picture yet of the solutions on the table for the next legislative session.
Creators and Guests
Host
Derek M. Cohen
Derek M. Cohen, Ph.D, is the Texas Public Policy Foundation's Chief Policy & Research Officer and Right on Crime Senior Fellow. Previously the Vice President of Policy and director of Right on Crime, the Foundation’s criminal justice reform initiative, Cohen was instrumental in the passage of the First Step Act, federal legislation that borrowed from successful changes to prisons and sentencing that he had helped pass in conservative states. In addition to leading the Foundation’s work on criminal justice, he is also the lead researcher of firearms policy.
What is The Right Idea?
The Right Idea: The Texas Public Policy Foundation's weekly look at the people, policy, and politics that drive Texas.