SB 1933 by Senator Paul Bettencourt starts SOS oversite and follows his SB 1750 moving elections back to the elected County Clerk and Tax Assessor-Collector Senator Paul Bettencourt (R-Houston) hosted a press conference with the House Elections Committee Chair, Representative Reggie Smith (R-Sherman) Senate State Affairs Committee Chair, Senator Bryan Hughes (R-Tyler), Representative Charles Cunningham (R-Kingwood), Representative Tom Oliverson (R-Cypress), Representative Lacey Hull (R-Jersey Village), Representative Valoree Swanson (R-Spring), Representative Mano DeAyala (R-Houston), and Representative Mike Schofield (R-Katy) on […]
Paul Bettencourt
Sen. Bettencourt sees eye-popping savings in unanimously passed record $18 billion Senate plan
SB 26 raises homestead exemption to 100K, lowers rollback rate by 30% & doubles franchise tax exemption Senator Paul Bettencourt (R-Houston), at a press conference with Lt. Governor Dan Patrick (R-Texas) and the entire Texas Senate at his side, announced the passage of the largest property tax relief bill in Texas history. Senate Bill 26 & Senate Joint Resolution 2, authored by Senator Bettencourt, passed out of the Texas Senate unanimously with bipartisan support 30-0. “I […]
Sen. Bettencourt’s bill to make the platting process less complicated passes the Texas Senate
SB2037 makes clear that cities in the ETJ & counties in unincorporated areas may not regulate lot density Senator Paul Bettencourt (R-Houston) passed Senate Bill 2037 out of the Texas Senate to stop the unauthorized over-regulation to approve plats by cities and counties. “SB 2037 increases the affordability of market-built housing by stopping unauthorized over-regulation by local officials,” said Senator Bettencourt. Currently, cities in the extraterritorial jurisdiction (ETJ) and counties in unincorporated areas are abusing their […]
Sen. Bettencourt and Sen. West’s bipartisan Virtual Education bill bolts out of the TX Senate 28-3!
SB 1861 is the result of the Texas Commission on Virtual Education’s recommendations to advise the Legislature on how to improve virtual education in Texas Senator Paul Bettencourt (R-Houston) and Senator Royce West (D-Dallas), the two longest-serving members of the Senate Education Committee, passed Senate Bill 1861 out of the Texas Senate on a bipartisan vote, 28-3. SB 1861 is based on the bipartisan unanimous recommendations of the Texas Commission on Virtual Education. Senator Bettencourt […]
Sen. Paul Bettencourt passes Five more Election Integrity Bills to the full Texas Senate!
Sen. Bettencourt’s SB 1039, lauded by Heritage Foundation & four other Election Integrity bills pass out of Committee Senator Paul Bettencourt (R-Houston) passed five more of his Election Integrity bills out of the Senate Committee on State Affairs, Chaired by Senator Bryan Hughes (R-Tyler), on Thursday, March 30th, 2023. “Senate Bill 1039, which is the best voter audit bill in country, is all about what gets measured gets fixed!” said Senator Bettencourt. Co-authored by Sen. Bryan Hughes, […]
Senator Paul Bettencourt reappointed Chairman of TX Senate Committee on Local Government
Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick reappoints Sen. Bettencourt to lead Senate Committee on Local Government & will also serve on Senate Finance, Education, State Affairs, and Criminal Justice Senator Paul Bettencourt (R-Houston) has been reappointed Chairman of the Senate Committee on Local Government for the 88th Legislative Session by Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick (R- Texas). Senator Drew Springer (R-Muenster) will serve as Committee Vice Chairman. “I’m honored to be reappointed by Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick as […]
Senator Bettencourt Files Sb 465 To Hold Criminals Targeting Catalytic Converters Accountable
SB 465 makes a list of businesses allowed to possess converters & creates an automatic offense to assist prosecutors and law enforcement Senator Paul Bettencourt (R-Houston) filed Senate Bill 465 in response to the 5,300 percent jump in catalytic converter theft insurance claims in Texas since 2019. The spike is fueled by organized criminal rings who target catalytic converters for the precious metals inside them (palladium and rhodium) that are worth more per ounce than […]
Texas Taxpayers Save $8 billion on Property Taxes this year!
A combination of legislative bills, public votes on propositions, and tax rate votes by taxing jurisdictions are responsible for a surprise gift of lower Property Tax Homesteads in mailboxes this year. On Tuesday, December 20th, Senator Paul Bettencourt (R-Houston) hosted a press conference at the Texas Senate District 7 Office in Houston, Texas to explain the astonishing news that many Texas homeowners are finding lower homestead property tax bills this year, despite record rising appraisal […]
Sen. Bettencourt lauds Office of Attorney General Writ to SCOT on Harris Co provisional ballots
Harris County’s November 9th district hearing excluded the AG’s office & Harris County Republican Party Senator Paul Bettencourt (R- Houston) supports the Writ of Mandamus filed by the Attorney General’s Office in the Texas Supreme Court against “The ongoing disregard of the State’s election laws…” Specifically, the writ asks if Harris County is violating their nondiscretionary duties under the Election Code by including votes in the canvas that were not lawfully cast. “The law is clear, the […]
Senate Bill 1111 is Common Sense Election Law
In response to the ruling against Senate Bill 1111, Senator Paul Bettencourt the primary author of SB 1111 issued the following statement: ” Senate Bill 1111 is common sense election law, and I am genuinely disappointed in the ruling; I believe the Attorney General will appeal this decision to the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals. SB 1111 is a common-sense law from years of testimony and floor debate in the Texas Senate. In Harris County, […]