Monitoring the Session

HB 8

bill cuts school district max compressed tax rate by $0.0331

Did not pass

Verdict: No flags

No flagsInitial review
Rep. Morgan MeyerRHouse 108

Initial review · graded Oct 22, 2026 · Headline, summary and grade are analysis of the bill text, not a finding about any person · How we grade

Caption

relating to a reduction in the maximum compressed tax rate of a school district.

Caption from analyzed text · version H.

Summary

Every district, 2025-2026 school year. Floor: 90 percent of another district’s rate.

The bill cuts every Texas school district's maximum compressed tax rate for the 2025-2026 school year by $0.0331 below what current law would set. It touches all school districts and their property owners, and it keeps any district's rate from falling below 90 percent of another district's rate. On the ground, school property tax rates drop for 2025-2026, school funding formulas use the lower rate, the lower rate carries into the 2026-2027 calculation, and the section itself expires September 1, 2027.

Labels

Labels: ZOMBIE BILL. Died 2 times: 88R SB 4 by Sen. Bettencourt (Died in committee) and this bill (Did not pass). Checked against 88R only.DO-OVER. Reworked text of a bill filed before that died: 88R SB 4 by Sen. Bettencourt (Died in committee). Filed in 2 sessions, counting this one. Checked against 88R only.TRY NO. 2. Filed in 2 sessions: 88R and 89R. Checked against 88R only.ACROSS THE AISLE. Joint authors: 3 Republicans, 2 Democrats. Party as the Legislative Reference Library lists it for the 89th Legislature.STALLED AFTER COMMITTEE. Voted out of the House Ways & Means committee 12-0 on Mar 10, 2025. Never placed on a calendar. The bill died.

Receipt

The receipt

89R-HB8 · 2025-02-24

SOLD BY

Rep. Morgan MeyerRHouse 108 Rep. Greg BonnenRHouse 24 Rep. Ellen TroxclairRHouse 19

+ 2 more authors, 59 coauthors

ITEM

relating to a reduction in the maximum compressed tax rate of a school district.

WHAT IT DOES

Every district, 2025-2026 school year. Floor: 90 percent of another district’s rate.

The bill cuts every Texas school district's maximum compressed tax rate for the 2025-2026 school year by $0.0331 below what current law would set. It touches all school districts and their property owners, and it keeps any district's rate from falling below 90 percent of another district's rate. On the ground, school property tax rates drop for 2025-2026, school funding formulas use the lower rate, the lower rate carries into the 2026-2027 calculation, and the section itself expires September 1, 2027.

CHARGES

[ ] NONE FOUND

TOTAL

Net to General Revenue · FY 2026($1,395,085,000)

LBB estimate, flow · fiscal note version I · ( ) = negative · source

Sources

Fiscal note · version I · March 2, 2025

Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for HB8, As Introduced: a negative impact of ($2,819,777,000) through the biennium ending August 31, 2027.

First year · FY 2026 · ($1,395,085,000)

Probable Net Positive/(Negative) Impact to General Revenue Related Funds

LBB published estimates · flow over the stated periods.

Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

HISTORY

  1. Filed
  2. Read first time
  3. Referred to Ways & Means
  4. Posting rule suspended
  5. Scheduled for public hearing on . . .
  6. Considered in public hearing
  7. Testimony taken/registration(s) recorded in committee
  8. Left pending in committee
  9. Considered in public hearing
  10. Reported favorably w/o amendment(s)
  11. Comte report filed with Committee Coordinator
  12. Committee report distributed
  13. Committee report sent to Calendars
  14. Considered in Calendars
FILED UNDER

No verified beat found.

No flags

THANK YOU FOR CHECKING THE RECEIPT

CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY

CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY

Morgan Meyer

Donors

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC$530KTexas Conservative Majority PAC$422KTexas Sands PAC$262K

Not tied to this bill.

Sources

The author's campaign account only. Own money and internal transfers are separate on the member page.

Derived itemized flow · Oct 28, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC$530,160.35

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC

$530,160.35

Cash
$275,000.00
Paid by others
$255,160.35
Total
$530,160.35
advertising $220,000.00polling $35,160.35

Also funds 124 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 10, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · Jun 23, 2025 to Oct 16, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Report IDs: 101012321, 101035164, 101040580, 101060247, 101069424, 101072232.

Texas Conservative Majority PAC$422,350.00

Texas Conservative Majority PAC

$422,350.00

Cash
$150,000.00
Paid by others
$272,350.00
Total
$422,350.00
canvassing $250,000.00polling $22,350.00

Also funds 42 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jan 23, 2026 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · Feb 18, 2026 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Report IDs: 101040580, 101069424, 101072232.

Texas Sands PAC$262,000.00

Texas Sands PAC

$262,000.00

Cash
$262,000.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$262,000.00

Also funds 121 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 3, 2024 to Oct 24, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · Nov 13, 2024 to Sep 25, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Report IDs: 100988696, 101040580, 101072232.

Money

Missing data does not establish zero giving. Display amounts are rounded.

×

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC

$530,160.35

Cash
$275,000.00
Paid by others
$255,160.35
Total
$530,160.35
advertising $220,000.00polling $35,160.35

Also funds 124 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 10, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · Jun 23, 2025 to Oct 16, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Report IDs: 101012321, 101035164, 101040580, 101060247, 101069424, 101072232.

×

Texas Conservative Majority PAC

$422,350.00

Cash
$150,000.00
Paid by others
$272,350.00
Total
$422,350.00
canvassing $250,000.00polling $22,350.00

Also funds 42 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jan 23, 2026 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · Feb 18, 2026 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Report IDs: 101040580, 101069424, 101072232.

×

Texas Sands PAC

$262,000.00

Cash
$262,000.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$262,000.00

Also funds 121 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 3, 2024 to Oct 24, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · Nov 13, 2024 to Sep 25, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Report IDs: 100988696, 101040580, 101072232.

Votes

No floor vote loaded for this bill.

Witnesses21
For
19
Against
1
On
1
Names

For

  • AT&T1 registration
  • CenterPoint Energy, Inc.1 registration
  • Huffines Libert Foundation1 registration
  • Koch1 registration
  • NFIB1 registration
  • Self1 registration
  • Self; Americans for prosperity1 registration
  • Self; Texans for Fiscal Responsibility2 registrations
  • Texas Apartment Association1 registration
  • Texas Association of Builders1 registration
  • Texas Association of Business1 registration
  • Texas Association of Property Tax Professionals1 registration
  • Texas Building Owners and Managers Association1 registration
  • Texas Hotel and Lodging Association1 registration
  • Texas Oil & Gas Association, Texas Chemistry Council, Texas Association of Manufacturers1 registration
  • Texas Public Policy Foundation1 registration
  • Texas Realtors1 registration
  • Texas Taxpayers and Research Association1 registration

Against

  • Every Texan1 registration

On

  • TEA1 registration
Sources

21 parsed registrations across the loaded witness lists.

Derived stock of witness registrations. Repeated appearances count separately. Organizations and self-representation appear as printed.

House witness list. Source snapshot 2026-10-20, Central time.

Fiscal
Net to General Revenue · FY 2026($1,395,085,000)

LBB estimate, flow · fiscal note version I · ( ) = negative · source

Sources

Fiscal note · version I · March 2, 2025

Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for HB8, As Introduced: a negative impact of ($2,819,777,000) through the biennium ending August 31, 2027.

First year · FY 2026 · ($1,395,085,000)

Probable Net Positive/(Negative) Impact to General Revenue Related Funds

LBB published estimates · flow over the stated periods.

Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

How this was graded

Analysis of text version H by claude-opus-5-5, Oct 22, 2026, against the published rubric.

FILED BEFORE

Filed 2 times: 88R and 89R. Checked against 88R only.

88R SB 4

by Sen. Bettencourt, different lead author · Died in committee · reworked

Introduced text

Last action, Apr 10, 2023: Referred to Ways & Means

Relating to the maximum compressed tax rate of a school district.

Caption, 88R bill history

Sources

Texas House · Filed Feb 24, 2025

04/09/2025 H Considered in Calendars

Texas Legislature Online · Introduced · House Committee Report

Data snapshot Oct 26, 2026 at 4:20 AM CDT. Grades, charges, quotes and corrections follow the published record.

Coauthors
Trent AshbyRHouse 9 Jeff BarryRHouse 29 Cecil Bell Jr.RHouse 3 Keith BellRHouse 4 Brad BuckleyRHouse 54 Angie Chen ButtonRHouse 112 David CookRHouse 96 Philip CortezDHouse 117 Tom CraddickRHouse 82 Charles CunninghamRHouse 127 Pat CurryRHouse 56 Drew DarbyRHouse 72 Jay DeanRHouse 7 Mano DeAyalaRHouse 133 Mark DorazioRHouse 122 Paul DysonRHouse 14 Caroline FairlyRHouse 87 James FrankRHouse 69 Gary GatesRHouse 28 Stan GerdesRHouse 17 Ryan GuillenRHouse 31 Cody HarrisRHouse 8 Caroline Harris DavilaRHouse 52 Cole HefnerRHouse 5 Hillary HicklandRHouse 55 Lacey HullRHouse 138 Carrie IsaacRHouse 73 Stan KitzmanRHouse 85 Stan LambertRHouse 71 Brooks LandgrafRHouse 81 Jeff LeachRHouse 67 Terri Leo WilsonRHouse 23 Janie LopezRHouse 37 Ray LopezDHouse 125 John LujanRHouse 118 Armando "Mando" MartinezDHouse 39 John McQueeneyRHouse 97 Will MetcalfRHouse 16 Brent MoneyRHouse 2 Eddie MoralesDHouse 74 Candy NobleRHouse 89 Tom OliversonRHouse 130 Angelia OrrRHouse 13 Jared PattersonRHouse 106 Dennis PaulRHouse 129 Mihaela PlesaDHouse 70 Richard Peña RaymondDHouse 42 Keresa RichardsonRHouse 61 Mike SchofieldRHouse 132 Alan SchoolcraftRHouse 44 Matt ShaheenRHouse 66 Joanne ShofnerRHouse 11 Shelby SlawsonRHouse 59 David SpillerRHouse 68 Valoree SwansonRHouse 150 Carl H. TepperRHouse 84 Gary VanDeaverRHouse 1 Cody VasutRHouse 25 Trey WhartonRHouse 12

House committee · Ways & Means · Committee vote 12 aye, 0 nay, 1 absent · Out of committee

Subjects

Education--Primary & Secondary--Finance

Taxation--School District

EDUCATION, COMMISSIONER OF

Text

The text as introduced · 363 words

89R15152 KJE-F

By: Meyer
H.B. No. 8

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to a reduction in the maximum compressed tax rate of a

school district.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Subchapter F, Chapter 48, Education Code, is

amended by adding Section 48.2554 to read as follows:

Sec. 48.2554. MAXIMUM COMPRESSED TAX RATE FOR 2025-2026

SCHOOL YEAR. (a) Notwithstanding any other provision of this title

or Chapter 26, Tax Code, for the 2025-2026 school year, the

commissioner shall calculate the value of a school district's

maximum compressed tax rate by determining the district's maximum

compressed rate under Section 48.2551 or 48.2552(b), if applicable,

and reducing the tax rate determined under the applicable section

by $0.0331.

(b) If a school district's maximum compressed tax rate as

calculated under Subsection (a) would be less than 90 percent of

another school district's maximum compressed tax rate under

Subsection (a), the district's maximum compressed tax rate is the

value at which the district's maximum compressed tax rate would be

equal to 90 percent of the other district's maximum compressed tax

rate.

(c) Notwithstanding any other provision of this title or

Chapter 26, Tax Code, for purposes of determining funding for

school districts for the 2025-2026 school year, a reference in any

of the following provisions of law to a school district's maximum

compressed tax rate or maximum compressed rate as determined under

Section 48.2551 means the maximum compressed tax rate determined

for the district under this section:

(1) Section 13.054(f);

(2) Section 45.003(d);

(3) Section 45.0032(a);

(4) Section 48.051(a);

(5) Sections 48.2553(a) and (e);

(6) Section 48.2556; and

(7) Section 26.08(n), Tax Code.

(d) For purposes of Section 30.003(f-1), a reference in that

section to Section 48.2551 includes this section.

(e) Notwithstanding any other provision of this title, for

purposes of determining a school district's maximum compressed tax

rate under Section 48.2551 for the 2026-2027 school year, the value

of the district's "PYMCR" is the maximum compressed tax rate

determined for the district under this section for the preceding

school year.

(f) This section expires September 1, 2027.

SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.