By Conservative State Representative Angelia Orr
When I ran for office, I made a promise to keep more money in your pocket. Last session, I delivered on that promise, passing the largest property tax cut in Texas history—over $18 billion in relief—but I know we can do even better. As I listen to constituents across our community, my heart breaks to see families still struggling to make ends meet due to high property tax bills, mom-and-pop shops closing their doors from unnecessary taxation, and rural Texans being robbed of the opportunity to pass down land and wealth to the next generation.
When I am in budget meetings and voting on tax policy, I am always aware of the responsibility I have to allocate your tax dollars responsibly. It’s more than numbers to me. While other lawmakers may forget, I will never forget that every dollar we have available to spend is linked to a hardworking Texan who expects nothing less than fiscal responsibility.
With that said, I am excited to share the significant tax relief bills we are taking up this session, some of which we passed last week!
First and foremost, you need to know that I am pushing hard to eliminate property taxes entirely. You pay enough to buy your home. You shouldn’t have to pay rent to the government. I am a proud co-author of HB 165, a bill proposing the phase out of property taxes and creating a committee for the interim solely dedicated to providing alternative revenue sources to property taxes. My friends, it’s time to get rid of property taxes, and I am committed to seeing this through to the end. But in the meantime, I will make sure Texans face the smallest property tax bills possible.
One of the most impactful bills is HB 8, which I have co-authored to reduce property tax rates. HB 8 lowers the maximum compressed tax rate that school districts can levy by $0.15 per $100 of property value. What does that mean for Texans? Well, for a homeowner with a $300,000 house, this can provide a $450 annual savings on their property tax bill. This measure provides meaningful relief to homeowners while ensuring that schools continue to receive adequate funding. Lowering school property tax rates is a critical step toward long-term property tax reform and keeping homeownership affordable for hardworking Texans.
I have also co-authored and passed HB 9, and it’s enabling constitutional amendment HJR 1. Right now, small business owners are being crushed by taxes on more than just their land but also their equipment, furniture, and machinery. While big city businesses can afford to set this money aside, these taxes are killing local mom-and-pop shops in our rural towns like Hillsoboro, Clifton, and Groesbeck. I am proud that HJR 1 and HB 9 will increase the tax exemption on business from $2,500 to a $250,000 exemption on property, practically eliminating property taxes for many of the small businesses we know and love in our community. Once passed by both chambers and signed by Governor Abbott, you will see this constitutional measure on your ballot this Fall.
Next, I passed HJR 2, a resolution I co-authored to ban the death tax in Texas. Estate or death taxes are liberal schemes to rob Americans and their family of generational wealth. If you’ve worked your whole life to build a farm, ranch, or small business, you should be able to pass it down to your children without the government taking a cut. Yet, right now, families across the United States risk losing everything to inheritance taxes. While Texas does not have a death tax at this time, HJR offers a constitutional amendment to block estate, inheritance, or death taxes from ever being imposed on the people of Texas, making sure that your hard-earned legacy stays in your family, not in Austin’s coffers.
One more significant initiative we passed is House Bill 22, which will ensure that all intangible personal property—such as stocks, bonds, trademarks, and other non-physical assets—is fully exempt from property taxation. While Texas generally does not tax these types of assets, there have been inconsistencies in the law that allow certain exceptions. HB 22 will close those loopholes and establish a fair and uniform tax structure, ensuring that no Texan is unfairly taxed on their intangible assets. Although this tax currently affects only a small number of Texans, the passage of HB 22 will alleviate the cost burden on ALL Texas businesses by eliminating the need to evaluate their tax liability for intangible property.
I know what these issues mean to Texas families because I’ve seen it firsthand. I’ve met small business owners struggling to expand because of high taxes. I’ve heard from farmers and ranchers worried about their kids losing their land. I’ve talked to retirees worried they’ll have to sell their homes because of rising property taxes.
That’s why I’m fighting for you—and why I won’t stop until we deliver real, lasting tax relief for Texans. We made history last session, and I’m committed to doing it again. Let’s cut taxes, rein in runaway appraisals, and ensure that Texas remains the best place to live, work, and raise a family.
I’m in this fight for you. Let’s get it done!
